Chapter 32 : Faces of Despair

In strategy room,

"The Great Valley has fallen," Emperor Tiger declared firmly with a sound of pride in his tone. "Victory is ours. Thanks to Tigress, the leader of this army," his glance met hers, smiling proudly. "Without her, we would not make this far. You have done well, Tigress."

Tigress smiled back modestly, slightly bowing in respect. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Now I really can see that you are my ancestor successor," he continued. "That's a compliment."

Tigress smiled again ; said nothing this time.

"Shortly, China will be ours," The emperor told her, pacing forth. "And when that day comes, I'll name you the greatest heroes of all time of Darknest Land."

A brief pounding breath of disagreement was heard from another tiger next to Tigress.

"General?" the emperor asked as he narrowed his eyes to him. "Something you want to talk about?"

General Luo had opened his mouth, attempting to say something. But the next second later he closed it again, cancelling his debate intention. "N-nothing, Your Majesty."

The emperor raised an eyebrow, showing an expression of passiveness. "You sure? Well, if you say so."

Tigress smirked tacitly. This general was not good both at pretending and lying. She knew it only by seeing a glimpse of his face. Apparently, he might had managed to deceive the emperor but it didn't work for her.

"So," the emperor started again calmly, turning to Tigress. "The Valley of Peace ; isn't it the most historic place for you?"

"Indubitably, it is, Your Majesty."

"As one of the biggest and strongest valley in the whole China, by all means, we must conquer it to reach our purpose. I want it to be mine. But what makes me wonder is," in here, he stared at Tigress closely. "Isn't it the place where you were raised at? Won't you be meeting a complication to attack both your former master and comrades as we reach there?"

Tigress had already expected the emperor would ask that. That's not a very difficult question to answer. With a deep yet firm voice, she replied. "It's for revenge, Your Majesty."

"Revenge?" the emperor asked back, smirking. "Very interesting."

"I'll just destroy those who have taken the happiness away from us, that's it!"

"Even more interesting, isn't it? Seems like you're having a personal deal you have to finish with them."

"I will make them pay for what they have done to us."

But still, though she never said it, the emperor had already perceived about it. Besides, it was his plan that had tricked her. Tigress now believed that The Dragon Warrior was the empress' murderer, which made his plan get easier than before.

"My wife will be so proud of you."

"She will not die in vain."

"I'm happy to hear that..." He then trailed off, a peculiar look upon his face, as if he was thinking of something else disturbing his mind with the result that Tigress wondered what was happening.

"Your Majesty?" she asked with a polite voice, taking a glance at him. "Is something wrong?"

Slowly, the emperor started to laugh bitterly. "I just remembered something," he answered. "That The Valley of Peace we're speaking of is the residence of your former comrade ; your philistine; The Dragon Warrior. Wouldn't it be exciting if you two can meet again?"

A brief pause moment.

Tigress drew her sword from its scabbard, gazing at the well polished and shiny weapon, which held her own reflection. Soon, she and Po would meet their final destiny.

"Indeed, it would be."

TLoTDaTT

Concerns never leaving Po's face.

Their boat was still sailing slowly through the tranquil river. It had been three hours long since they left The Great Valley, that had been destroyed, for The Valley of Peace.

Mantis bit both of his pincers to reduce a sense of tension he was feeling, to no avail. He could not be as calm as the river that was currently taking their boat, even if only to pretend to look sedate.

Crane and Monkey did not say anything except paddling their boat to move faster with their uptight faces.

Viper just bit her lip, just like her friends, she felt wrought-up and worried.

Yuan Sheng could be the only one on the boat who was looking calm and quiet, despite with his arms cuffed behind his back.

Po tapped his finger repeatedly on the wooden floor as he turned his head to the right and to the left impatiently, hoping to reach his hometown soon.

"Faster, Monkey." Was all the words he kept asking the primate during that cruise.

Monkey didn't need to be told so to paddle faster. He had already put all his strength to make the boat move faster.

They'll not be fine, they'll not be fine, they'll not be fine.

Those unspoken words of discouragement continuously ran through Po's mind.

Viper put the end of her tail on her panda friend's shoulder gently, imposing herself to smile. Po smiled in return, but not lasting for more than two seconds. He was unable to hide solicitudes from his face.

The snake lowered her tail from Po's shoulder as she looked at the agitated panda and tried to pacify him. "We will make it, Po."

Not as usual he used to do, Po didn't reply. His mind brought him to some possibilities that might had been happening to The Valley of Peace.

Some questions were overwhelming his brain ; have the tigers arrived there yet? How are both Master Shifu and his dad ? Are they still alive? Or … are they now dead and killed? What is happening presently with the villagers there?

The citizens of the valley of peace … they were needing him here and now.

But he could do nothing at the moment. Their boat moved very slowly. And he knew they would have been late again to save the innocent people from the attack of the tigers.

Tigress

A face of that tigress crossed through his mind.

She was the best warrior among them, even much more stronger than himself though technically being The Dragon Warrior means you're believed as the strongest one. She had devoted herself only on protecting her people and China from any danger.

But ...

She was becoming the armada leader of Darknest Land now. And the said tiger was now heading to her own hometown as she brought hundreds of armed soldiers to destroy their only beloved valley.

It was hard to believe ; what makes his only tiger best friend change so fast?

Please, Tigress …he thought … please don't kill your own family. Please … please stop this madness …