Chapter 37 : Double Trouble

Emperor Tiger was standing at the palace terrace. A dozen of armed soldiers made a line form behind him, guarding and protecting their emperor with all their lives.

He shut his eyes, feeling a composure and coolness as the cool breeze caressing his face softly. His long silk robe flapping slowly as the wind blew it.

The emperor inhaled deeply… and exhaled slowly. A smile of satisfaction appeared in the corner of his lips along with both of his eyes open.

By standing there, he got a great view of The Valley of Peace, one of the strongest valleys in the whole China. Oh, no. Maybe it was the strongest and most powerful valley ever since it's a birthplace of Kung Fu and the residence of the most famous kung fu masters ; the dragon warrior and the furious five.

But now, with the arrival of him and his soldiers, The Valley of Peace had turned into The Valley of Pieces within only a few hours. By taking over The Valley of Peace, then it wouldn't take any long time anymore for him to conquer China soon.

The emperor looked up into the dark sky. Cumulonimbus was seen accumulating. It was predictable that rain shortly would be coming to wet this destroyed village.

But before it came, it would be better for him to get back into the hall of warriors. He actually hated being inside the hall. He would rather be in strategy room in his warship, observing on his map and plotting about a new plan for the next attack. Only, he was waiting for someone and had promised that one to meet in the said hall.

The soldiers opened the main door, allowing His Majesty to come in.

The one he wanted to see, General Luo, was seen standing by the moon pool, waiting for him. Where did he come from? The emperor had no idea. That hall probably had plenty of access to get into the hall.

"And I suppose you came with something you have promised me before." Emperor Tiger stated, approaching his general. "So, what news you got from the dungeon?"

The general knelt down on one knee. "An information I'd like to report to you, Your Majesty."

The emperor chuckled. "I'd like to listen."

"I apologise, Your Majesty. I don't think you would."

"Now I'm getting impatient to hear it." He clasped his fingers. "So, what's this news about?"

The general cleared his throat. "One of us was trying to set our prisoner free a few minutes ago. But it looks like that red panda has a ridiculous thought. He persisted to remain in his cell and made his rescuer frustrated." He smiled smugly. "It's all the only thing I could report to you, Your Majesty."

"I see," the empeor put his arms behind his back. "We find ourselves a traitor." He glanced at the general. "Right, General?"

Luo nodded. "Do I need to tell you about this traitor, Your Majesty?"

"Do I need to know it from you, General?" The emperor asked back mockingly. " When I've already had an idea about our traitor?" He smirked, muttering. "Women will always be women."

"You have known that Master Tigress is the one?"

"It wouldn't be a surprise," He cackled. "In spite of the fact that I am annoyed completely."

General Luo noticed the expression on the emperor's face. The said face wasn't showing any expression of shock from someone who just found out about a surprising truth.

"Forgive me if I am wrong, Your Majesty. But you don't look annoyed at all."

"Well, you're not wrong. But not too right."

"I am sorry for my stupidity ; but I'm confused."

"Then let me ask you some questions, General." The emperor said coldly. "The Valley of Peace ; a place where dragon warrior and the furious five live, now has became ours. So, what will China's future be?"

"Will be easier to be ours." The general answered. "But the dragon warrior won't make it easy for us."

"Yes, yes. Of course he will not. And this is where Master Tigress will play her role as the reincarnation of my ancestor. A role where she'll fight against the dragon warrior. Now, I ask you again, what will happen next when the dragon warrior dies in that battle?"

"There's no more will stop us!"

"And it'll make Tigress a great hero for Darknest Land." Emperor Tiger continued Lou's answer. "All will be cheering her and bowing to her." He turned his head to the general. "And you know what it means?"

"She's a threat to your position as the emperor."

"Now you realize it."

"Isn't it unsafe for you, Your Majesty?"

"Of course," the emperor responded calmly. "if she was not a puppet that I'm controlling." He smiled tricky. "She brings good luck to us, yet this puppet must be eliminated soon before it rebels against her own puppeteer."

General Luo grinned. "Now I understand, Your Majesty." Never before had he thought that the emperor would have a very crafty ideas. For the past of few days ago, he was jealous of Tigress for she got a more power from the emperor to lead the armada. Now that feeling didn't bother him anymore.

"You hate her so much, don't you?" The emperor said.

Luo did not answer, sensing it wouldn't be a wise decision to answer so that he chose to be silent.

"It's pointless to hide. And I am highly sure you would like to carry out a task from me."

Luo tilted his head. "And that would be?"

"After Tigress kills the dragon warrior, it's your turn to kill her with your own way. Well, you can do it, General?"

The general felt as if luck was on his side. He smiled. "Your wish is my command, Your Majesty."

The emperor laughed out loud as he shook his head. "I must say it's really too bad for me to have you kill her." He said as if he was pitying himself. "She's a such kind and powerful young lass. But also dangerous to my position. Especially when she finds out that I killed my own wife."

"How do you know she'll do it, Your Majesty?"

"Because," the emperor answered. "my late wife, Shan, had adopted her the night those assassins slashed her neck. That girl, however, will definitely avenge her adoptive mother by killing me."

"But those assassins have been gone," Luo said. "No one knows that it's you who killed the empress, Your Majesty. No one but both of us."

"Sooner of later, she will know. Because she is—"

Suddenly, a noise coming from behind the door interrupted them.

"Open the door! Now!" Someone was banging on the door with a bang.

"Wait. You are forbidden to come in—" one of the guard was trying to stop a stranger from entering the hall of warrior.

"I said open the door!"

"But—"

A roar. "Open it. Now!"

The door opened slowly. An another tiger wearing a similar silk robe to the emperor's rushed in the hall. The emperor's eyes went wide as he noticed that younger tiger coming over him.

"Yuan Sheng!" Emperor Tiger exclaimed, surprised. "How … how could you get in here?! What are you doing here?!"

The prince panted, gasping for air as if he was running a long distance. His eyes showed an anger. Both of his arms were no longer chained. Most likely the guards outside had unlocked it for the prince before he overheard his father.

Yuan Sheng aimed his index finger to the emperor. Eyes full of hatred. "Murderer!" He snarled.

TLoTDaTT

Finally, he managed to climb up all of the thousand stairs. As he reached its top, he collapsed at the top step, breathing hard from exertion. His body sweating.

But he had no plenty time to rest.

The panda tried to stand as he struggled with his belly.

"Phew." He sighed.

Staggering, he continued walking straight to the main gate and peeked in through the crack between the door. Though it was actually too dark to observe, but the light of the moon, at least, helped him to see about fifty soldiers patrolling around the palace arena.

Po rested his back against the gate, trying to figure out a plan. He believed that smacking and whacking those tigers to get into the palace wouldn't be a good idea. Not only because he was outnumbered, but also he did not want to draw any attention.

A smile came up to his lips, recalling there was a secret way in he could use to reach palace dungeon. The soldiers must hadn't discovered about that secret path so it should be clear from any tiger. He tip toed around the fence away from the gate.

TLoTDaTT

The cell where Shifu was being confined had yet changed. It was just still the same when Tigress left it a few hours ago. And since the cell had lost its door, any prisoners with a normal thinking would have a thought about escaping rather than staying there.

But not so with Shifu.

That red panda master still enjoyed meditating whereas Tigress had given him a limited time for him to escape. Now his time was running out.

His ears twitched again as he heard a sound of a footsteps approaching his cell. He put his concecrate to that sound. Tigress had promised him to come again.

But no. He exactly knew that that footsteps definitely didn't belong to Tigress. This one sounds heavier. Its owner must be so fat.

A gasp was heard from behind his back. Shifu turned to see the one who was visiting him. Not surprisingly, he found out that the visitor was no more than his panda student.

"Po?"

Po, with a surprise look upon his face, rushed towards the cell. "Shifu! Oh, Master, are you alright?"

Instead of answering Po's question, the red panda master asked with a worried face. "Where's the others?"

"The others?"

"The four. They're not with you?"

"Mantis, Viper, Crane and Monkey are just fine. They're with my dad." Po grabbed Shifu's wrist. "Now hurry, Master. The soldiers may come anytime."

"I am not going, Panda."

Po frowned. "Master?"

Shifu flung Po's paw. "I'm staying here."

.

A silence.

.

"Hahaha…" Po laughed unsurely. "Good joke, Shifu. But not funny for me. Now let's go."

Shifu gave his student a serious look, gesturing that he was not kidding.

Po gulped, worried. "Shifu?"

"I am not going, Po. You should be going."

"But… but why?" the panda looked frustrated. "I don't understand."

"I purposed the four to know about this too, but since they're not here, it seems that you have to pass it to them." Po bent over. His face was merely centimetres apart from Shifu's, listening to his master's instructions. "Bring all the villagers away from here. Evacuate them to the safest place you can find before dawn comes."

"How about you?"

Shifu let out a sigh. "I'll be fine."

"No, I don't like this plan," Po said out loud. "You once said the same thing the day Tai Lung was coming for dragon scroll back then yet I found you nearly died."

Shifu shook his head. "This time is different."

"What's so different? You'll be killed!"

"So will you!" Shifu exclaimed. "Listen to your master, Po." He said in a lower and calmer tone. "You have to do it to protect our people from danger. And you must know that you're no match for Tigress."

"Neither are you," Po argued. "I mean, yeah, of course you're more powerful, stronger and more awesome than her. Still you never have the heart to hurt your own student, do you?"

"I know. But Tigress herself has no intend to kill me. Just listen to your master, Po, please." The red panda almost sounded begging. "I know you always think that you're always able to save China, but you also have to know that not all things can be solved by dragon warrior."

.

Po stared at his master for a second.

.

Their eyes met.

.

"No," the panda said firmly. "If you're not going, I am not either."

"Don't be stupid, Panda."

"What kind of student I will be if I leave my own teacher to die."

"It always needs a sacrifice to achieve something. Victory will be ours, Po. Be sure about it."

"Your plan told us to escape from this war."

"Any evildoing will never survive for long time," Shifu explained. "Yet, you're not ready for any rage of war."

"And you're telling me that you'll face them… alone?"

Shifu nodded. "Most likely."

"Don't be crazy, Master. You cannot face them alone with your awesome Kung Fu. Need a great strategy to bring them down and—"

Shifu gasped, surprised all of a sudden—

"What?" Po asked as he noticed the change of Shifu's expression. "Did my word just affect you or what?" Shifu looked speechless. "What's wrong with your face." The panda patted his master's cheek. "Can you hear me talking to you?"

"Behind you." The red panda whispered.

"Huh?" Po didn't get it.

"She's right behind you."

Po was still confused. "She's… right behind me? Who?"

Slowly, the panda looked over his shoulder.

And to his surprise, he found someone he really knew very well ; a tigress dressed in armor, standing calmly behind him, with a smirk upon her face. And eventhough that tigress was using a different outfit, Po could still recognized her.

The panda was completely shocked, standing frozen. Feeling of pleasure, shock, confusion and tense mixed up into one. He rubbed his eyes, making sure that he was not hallucinating. He blinked.

"Ti… Tigress?"

The female tiger put her arms on hips. Her voice was icy "Dragon Warrior."