Chapter 35 : Puppet Girl

"Two villages have been conquered only within a day. And indeed, soon China will be ours." His voice sounded casual, unhurriedly but a bit authoritative. "All will be paid off presently ; China will soon feel the sufferings we have experienced since they isolated us from them. Thanks to you, Tigress."

Tigress listened that compliment that was directing to her. She raised her head slightly to see a satisfaction upon the emperor's face. "It's my honour to serve you and our people, Your Majesty."

Emperor Tiger took a look at his surroundings, studying it. "And this place is called…"

"The Sacred Hall of Warriors," she answered. "Made to honor and commemorate the memories of fallen warriors."

"I see." The emperor nodded in understanding, still scruntinized around him. "This place isn't bad."

He walked around the room, stopped for a moment to examine, study and rub some certain artifacts in there until he finally came to a stop as he stared at a certain artifacts made of wood, placed on a spot right below a painting of an old tortoise.

"What has this thing done so that it's quite appropriate to be here?"

"Oh, it's a staff belongs to deceased Master Oogway ; the creator of Kung Fu."

The emperor smirked. He picked up the staff. "Very good," He commented on the staff in admiration. "So elegant," He stroked it softly. "made of a very high quality wood," and broke it into two pieces all of a sudden. "Too bad it's not as solid as I thought."

For the moment, Tigress felt a bit surprised. But quickly she ignored that feeling.

"I've heard that you're holding the grand master hostage," the emperor continued as he threw down that broken staff to his feet. "Where did you confine him?"

"In… In the dungeon of… this palace, Your Majesty," she answered in a slight stutter because her view was not distracted from that broken staff that was now sprawling on the floor, shuddering somehow. "I've commanded two soldiers to keep an eye of him."

"So, everything has gone well." The emperor rubbed his chin, considering something. "But I think we should change our plan a bit."

Tigress raised an eyebrow, waiting His Majesty to continue his words.

"Don't you wonder why that red panda gave up on us so easily? That's not because he's a weak kung fu master, is it?"

"I have figured it out. He's the type of person who is able to predict what would happen in the future, including, he has known that there's no use to fight us whereas he's able to do it alone by himself."

"You're praising him."

"I'm just telling the truth."

The emperor folded his arms. "Even if you said so, I'm afraid he got another reason for it. Plotting a plan to trick us he might be, perhaps?"

Tigress narrowed her eyes. The emperor might be right. Why didn't she think about it earlier? But what plan Shifu was making could possibly be? She knew Shifu was not an idiot person. And if that red panda was put against His Majesty, then without a doubt, Shifu would win. Even though she hadn't seen the emperor fighting nor performing his Kung Fu, something told her that his ability to fight was not too different with his son, Yuan Sheng.

"And what's your plan, Your Majesty?" Tigress asked.

"A question I've been waiting for from you." The older tiger turned to Tigress. Suddenly, his eyes widened. His forehead frowning as if he was wondering with what he was looking at. Slowly, he stepped approaching Tigress.

Tigress didn't move. The emperor was now merely centimeters apart from her. He leaned his face towards something hanging on Tigress' neck as he held out his right arm to clutch it. "Does this necklace belong to my wife?"

Tigress quickly realized what the emperor meant. "Yes, Your Majesty." She smiled, recalling the moment Empress Shan gave it to her. "She left it to me the night she died."

"I see."

"I wouldn't mind giving this back to you if you want to," Tigress said rapidly. "I know this necklace should be only owned by girl of your family."

"Don't." the emperor paused her when Tigress was about to take off her necklace. "My wife has given it to you, why would you have to give it back to me?"

"But I thought—"

"She has adopted you, right?"

Tigress bowed her head. "That's what she mentioned to me."

She had no idea how the emperor's reaction would be knowing his wife had adopted her as the second born child without him knowing it. Tigress deliberately did not tell the emperor about it because it was not necessary for her. But considering he had already found out about it, she believed there's no need to hide it anymore from him.

"I knew it." The emperor took off his hand from the necklace. "She must love you much."

Tigress did not give him her respond. She did not like this conversation. They were in a period of war yet this talking was not too much important.

"You said something about changing a plan." Tigress reminded him. "And that would be…"

"Oh, you don't like casual conversation, I see." The emperor laughed bitterly. "Very well, let's get to the point." He approached Tigress again.

"Only that?"

"No," he turned his back on Tigress. "I want you to kill him as well."

"Pardon me?"

"Kill him."

It took three seconds for Tigress to convince herself that she did not misheard.

"I've told you, haven't I? We have to change our plan."

"But Your Majesty. It's—"

"Shhh…" the emperor shushed her gently with a gloating smile. "You can do it, can't you? It's way too easy. Image it, Tigress, by killing the grand master of jade palace, all will lose hope and it'll make us easier to take over China."

Tigress actually wanted to blurt out a protest. But she did not know why she wanted to. She herself had no idea. Part of her heart disagreed with that murder plan. Why?

"Or…" emperor Tiger glanced at her suspiciously. "You want to tell me that you cannot do it."

"No." Tigress denied it. "Shifu is not the one I can fight against alone by myself. If the situation doesn't favor me, it's him who will kill me."

"You can't die so easily," he told her. "Why don't you just take this mission as a test for you before facing your philistine. If you make it tonight, so even a dragon warrior is no match for you."

Tigress was still listening.

"But… if you doubt about it … I wouldn't mind. I'm highly sure general Luo would gladly do it for my people and me."

No. Don't. Not Luo. That idiot general would never do it no matter how. He could've earned attention again from the emperor and a more power to lead the army if she just let him to carry out what His Majesty commanded him to do. Moreover, Lou could've seen her as a weak person for not capable of eliminating an old red panda.

The emperor smirked. He had already known what that younger tiger was thinking about. It's not difficult for him to judge that Tigress and his general were rival to get a higher position and higher rank in his empire.

"I see you've made your decision."

"You are correct, Your Majesty," Tigress said firmly. "And with my sword, I promise to present Shifu's lifeless body to you tonight."

"I'd like to accept that present," he smiled in satisfaction. "Although there's nothing below his neck. Now, are you ready, Tigress?"

Tigress did not reply. But by the look in her eyes, it told the emperor that she was ready.

TLoTDaTT

The five warriors ; a panda, a snake, a praying mantis, a monkey and a crane, plus with their hostage, a tiger, were standing with a look of surprised. Shocked as they watched a destroyed village before them with their jaws dropped opened.

"Oh, God," Viper whispered in disbelief tone. "Is this really our valley?"

"Maybe we got the wrong valley?" Mantis mumbled.

"No, Mantis," Po said without expression, toneless. "This… this is our valley ; The Valley of Peace."

But it looks like that the name of The Valley of Peace was no longer appropriate to the village judging by how it looks like now. There's too much buildings and houses that were burned to ashes, leaving only fog and some broken woods scattering in here and there. Everything looked deserted and desolate.

"Where's everybody?" Crane asked to his comrades.

"I don't know," Monkey asnwered. He was gripping a chain that binded Yuan Sheng's arms tightly to the back. That prince looked so tired and exhausted. It was reasonable since they hadn't taken a rest for any single second after they kidnapped him and it had been ten hours passed they walked without taking a break to eat or drink.

Po sighed tiredly, feeling faint. He flopped down onto to the dirt as he bowed his head and lowered his shoulder. All of his friends had a defeat on their faces. "I'm late … again."

Viper slithered towards the panda and wrapped her tail around Po's shoulder. "It's not your fault."

"Someone must be blamed here. I am the dragon warrior who has failed to save people in times of need." He covered his face with both of his paws. "I'm such a loser."

Crane placed his wing on Po's shoulder. "But it's not over yet. See?" he pointed his left wing up towards The Jade Palace from a distance. "The soldiers apparently haven't gone yet. This is our chance to fight them and bring this war to an end."

"Hey, you're right!" Monkey exclaimed. He looked at Jade Palace from a distance, now with a bright face. "Po, my buddy," he patted Po's shoulder, "this could be our chance to get them and make the emperor surrender and finish this war tonight."

"How?" Po asked, somewhat challenging him. "They're the hundreds experienced soldiers yet there's just five of us."

"Don't forget we're the greatest heroes in all of China as well. Oh, come one buddy. What's wrong with you? Where's your spirit of greatness?"

*Gurgle*

Po held his belly, a bit blushing.

"I see," mantis giggled. "That's why you're not like you."

"I can't help. I cannot fight with an empty stomach."

"Don't worry. We still hold the key to end this war even without fighting them if we want to."

"Right. We still have the hostage with us," Viper told him.

Po laughed briefly. Then he looked around with a confused look, as if something was missing. "Speaking of hostage, by the way, Monkey, can you tell me where's that prince?"

"He's right here with—huh?!" the primate was upset, gasping for air as he realized that he did not hold the chain anymore. It's gone along with the prisoner. "Hey! Where's he?!"

"You lost him?!" Mantis was starting to panick. "How come, Monkey?!"

"We lost him! Ow—" Crane groaned. "He must escaped when we're not looking just now."

"Hurry go find him!" Viper exclaimed. "He cannot be far away from here."

They were about to disperse when Po hurriedly stopped them.

"No. Stop."

The four made a sudden stop, frowning in unison. "Huh?"

"Just let him go."

"But buddy," Monkey protested. "Without him we're gonna find it hard to win this war."

"We'll find him so soon. Before we start searching him, I got to go to find my dad and Shifu."

Mantis shook his head. "Po, they both might have been—"

"No way!" Po cut off his words. "They can't be dead, I know it."

"I was about to say they might have been arrested."

"They might have held Shifu hostage. But that soldier must let my dad free."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Don't you realize it?" Po began to explain. "Their only target is me," he placed his paw on his chest. "The Awesome Dragon Warrior, that is destined to destroy that tiger empire. They must be using Shifu as a bait to get me."

"But if their target is you, why wouldn't they just use your father?"

"That's because—because—" then suddenly Po's eyes went widen, as if he just realized something. "Oh, no. What if they really captured Shifu?"

"They're gonna kill him," Crane surmised. "I mean Shifu, just like they did to Dao. But in this case, they make you think that they hold Shifu hostage to get you yet behind it all, they also plan to assassinate him so there will be no more a great kung fu master to protect you."

"A perfect deduction," Mantis commented on Crane. "But it's only 'what if'. What if they don't arrest him."

"Oh, damn it!" Po quickly got to his feet and ran away leaving his friends behind.

"Po!" Monkey called him out. "Where are you going?!" and began running after him. "Wait for us."

Viper, Crane and Mantis stared at each other, confused.

"Do you think Po will really kill Tigress?" Crane suddenly asked his friends.

Mantis just let out a sigh. "I don't know." he turned to the snake next to him. "Viper?"

Viper was seemingly contemplating that question for a while. "I do believe," she answered. "Po knows what's the best to do."