A/N : The part with Po trying to trick two guards was taken from a funny scene in a novel called 'Bartimaeus Trilogy : Amulet of Samarkand'. In that book, the imprisoned Bartimaeus was provoking two uttuku -the guards- which led them into a fight. The dialogue I used here are about 97 percent the same as that book.

Chapter 23 : A (Stupid) Trick

Po knew it was absolutely difficult to escape from their cell. Mainly when tens guards were everywhere around their cell. But difficult did not mean it was impossible to do.

He planned to get one of the guards help him, with a little persuasion, if possible. But if it did not work, he had a backup plan.

"Watch and learn," repeated Po as he got up and walked forth, holding the bars. "Psst… hey." The panda whispered and called the closest guard to their cell.

The guard looked around him, confused. He was sure he just heard something. But since he found nothing, he just shrugged and returned to stay sentry.

"Psst…"

Once again, the guard took a look around him in annoyance, noticing all guards doing their job. But none of them that seemed making that noise.

"Psst… hey you over there. Over here."

The guard finally looked behind over his shoulder and found out that it was a panda ; one of the prisoners in a cell. The panda smiled as he held the bars.

"Hey, you. Come here."

Unsurely, the guard pointed at himself using his thumb. "Me?" he asked.

The panda cheerfully nodded.

At first, the guard doubted to come over to Po. As a guard, he was told to not speak any word to the prisoners. It was not explained clearly why. But he only knew it was forbidden.

However, still he stepped his step slowly toward Po. Well, who knows , perhaps this panda had something worth to tell or something like that. Though if the panda was only trying to trick him, he would not be able to escape through the tens guards.

As the guard reach the panda's cell, he aimed his weapon toward Po, demanding him to speak.

"Listen to me," Po started talking. "This is a little personal. But I got an offer for you."

The guard cocked his head to one side. "An offer?"

"Yes, yes," said Po excitedly. "Listen ; I am the warrior of black and white ; The incarnation of Long ; the mighty dragon, who is destined to defeat and destroy Darknest Land Empire. Surely you have heard about me, right?"

The guard nodded but kept listening in silence though he believed that this prisoner probably was nut.

"You're obviously a clever and experienced tiger, working for the most vicious empire. But look, as the dragon warrior, I am even more powerful and awesome than your emperor. The guys over there," he pointed at the four. "were known as the furious five ; the legendary warriors-well-yeah you only see four now. But that's not the point. Hey, if you can get us out of here, I and my friends will recruit you as one of us and together, we'll be a team to protect China and kick some evil's butts. Awesome, isn't it?"

If the guard had possessed more brains, the four have sworn the guard was looking at Po skeptically. Nevertheless, Po kept speaking. "How long have you been cooped up here on guard duty?" he asked. "Ten years? Twenty? That's not an awesome life for a smart and strong creature like you are, isn't it? You might as well be in a cell like this."

The guard retreated with a contemptuous growl. "You must think I am stupid."

Po soon realized that the guards were very loyal and they would never betray their emperor. There was no way for him to trick them by persuading with an offer.

So he decided to use a backup plan.

"No, no…," Po gave a shrug. "That's what your friend over there thinks." Po randomly pointed at one of the soldiers in the corner. "He said you would not join our plan. Still, if you're not interested…" with a half hop, Po turned his back.

"What?" the guard looked at the soldier Po just pointed at. Hurriedly, he took a step aside to see the panda's face, holding his weapon close to Po's back. "Don't you turn your back on me, Panda! What did Li Wen say?"

"Hey!" another guard which his name was just mentioned came hurrying from the far corner of the room. "I heard my name. You know the rule ; Stop talking to the prisoners."

The guard who was talking with Po looked at his friend resentfully. "I can talk if I want to, Li Wen. So, you think I am stupid, do you? Well, I am not, see? What's this plan of yours?"

"Don't tell him , Li Wen!" Po whispered loudly, pretending he had known Li Wen very well. "Don't tell him anything."

Li Wen made a rasping noise with his mouth. "Plan? I know no plan. The prisoner's lying to you, Ru Zhi. What's it been saying?"

"It's all right, Li Wen," Po called, brightly. "I haven't mentioned… you know."

Li Wen was completely confused, puzzled and disoriented as he did not know that the panda was playing on them.

Ru Zhi brandished his spear. "I think it's me who should be asking the question, Li Wen," he said. "You've been plotting with the captive."

"No, you idiot—"

"Idiot, am I?"

Then they started fighting, shouting and landing punches on each other's armored chest.

Within seconds, all soldiers and guards ran toward Li Wen and Ru Zhi, attempting to arbitrate them. But shortly with no idea, they joined the fight.

"Oh, Man!" Po groaned, annoyed knowing both his plans did not work.

This was not what he expected. His backup plan was only to make the prison in chaos so the guards would be too busy to notice their escape. But it was too chaotic now. The guards were more stupid than Po thought.

"Well, genius," Mantis said sarcastically. "seems like we got another more serious problem?"

Monkey murmured. "Po, you said this would be a good idea."

"I thought so," replied Po shortly.

The warriors only watched the fight without able to do anything from behind the bars.

Monkey yawned as if he was bored watching a fighting like that. They were more like street fighters rather than the experienced soldiers. But suddenly—

KABOOM…

A very big explosion just exploded.

Within seconds, the guards that were still fighting thrown everywhere, hitting wall, doors and each other. They fell unconscious.

Po and the four gaped, shocked by the sight they had just seen.

"Wow… Po," Mantis was amazed as he kept looking at the unconscious guards, asking. "Is this part of your plan?"

"I… didn't do it,"

"Uh-huh?"

"Yes, I swear. I even don't know what caused that explosion."

Viper watched at those lying bodies with full of fear in her eyes. "Are they dead?"

"Dunno."

Crane took a look at the unconscious guards. Their faces blackened by the explosion earlier.

"Looks like someone just threw a bomb on them," he mumbled.

"Bomb?" Monkey asked and then corrected. "No. It was gunpowder."

"Gunpowder would cause explosion more than that," Mantis argued. "Don't you see? It was a fireworks. Someone just threw a fireworks here."

"But who?" Viper asked again. "And what for?"

"We did," someone unknown spoke. "We're here to help you."

Po and the four turned their heads to someone who was just speaking. Two mountain cats appeared from the shadow.

Po gawked as he knew who they were. They were the prisoners the guards were searching for ; Dao and Liu's brothers.

"Hai! Lee!" Po shouted out happily.

TLoTDaTT

Tigress and Yuan Sheng were speedy sprinting, hurriedly following Yong the maid heading to the empress' room.

Dying? Tigress thought. Someone who had just adopted her was dying?

But how? She was just fine on the last twenty minutes ago when she was with her.

Did the empress have a deadly disease she never knew? Or... was there an accident happening to her, which Tigress did not know, after she left her room?

As Tigress was busy with her thoughts, they had arrived at the empress' room. Yuan Sheng came in first hurriedly. Concern on his face as he reached her mother's bed.

The prince squatted next to her mother's bed, gripping his mother's wrist tightly. "Mother?" he called softly.

The empress didn't give any respond. Her eyes were closed but still breathing, difficulty. Some maids were standing and surrounding her, speechless. Sadness was pictured on their faces.

Fang Zi the seer was examining the empress, trying to heal the serious wound on her neck desperately.

Tigress slowly approached the bed and crouched next to Yuan Sheng. She could see the prince almost crying to see his mother that way but he was holding the tears back. Never before had she seen the prince this way. Though he sometimes annoyed Tigress, but she felt empathy to see him like this.

"Mother?" Yuan Sheng whispered again though he knew his mother would not be able to respond him.

Tigress in point of fact felt the deepest sadness as well. Moreover when she watched the kindest woman she had ever met in the rest of her life dying. Regardless, since the empress just adopted her, she was her mother now.

Slowly, she touched the empress' arm softly. For the first time, she stared at her adoptive mother closely.

Oh, no!

As if struck by lightning in the broad daylight, Tigress gasped as she covered her mouth. She could feel the tears streaming down her cheek. And for the first time since she was known as the Kung Fu Master, she cried ; something she thought would never do anymore.

She knew there was no way for the empress to survive that night. The wound on her neck was very serious and deadly.

Fang Zi stopped examining, sighing. She lowered her head and shoulder in desperation as she shook her head slowly. She closed her eyes and turned her face away sadly.

"Your Majesty," the old tigress called Yuan Sheng weakly. "I… I am sorry. But she—"

"Don't say it, Fang Zi." Yuan Sheng cut off. He knew his mother was now gone forever. "Please."

Tigress flopped herself onto the floor, shocked.

This… this can't be. This is not true. She must be dreaming. The empress just adopted her a few minutes ago and now, she left her.

"Your… Your Majesty," Fang Zi hardly kept continuing though the prince had asked her not to say that sad news. "She's… she's gone."

Shortly, the maids in the room burst out crying.

Yuan Sheng screaming out loud as his palm punched the floor hardly. Feeling furious and deeply sad. He could not accept the fact that his only mother had died.

Tigress bit her lip and closed her eyes, letting out more tears fall down on her cheek.

This is not fair. Why do people she loves is always going and leaving her ?

Deep down, she was not only sad but also angry. She was so angry to those who had bodly hurted her adoptive mother ; the innocent one.

She vowed to herself ; if she could find the murderer, she would give no mercy to him.

Whomever did this to the empress must pay.

But while they were mourning, no one realized that the emperor was not with them.

Where is he?