Disclaimer : I do not own Kung Fu Panda

Chapter 43 : Betrayal of Trust

Tigress had exchanged her armor for the the clothes she used to wear during her old days ; a red vest and a black training pants she took from her wardrobe in her own old room. A sword was placed carefully on her bed. She would never bring that weapon anymore. From now on, she was a new person and her new life would start right once she arrived at Darknest Land.

With a sigh, she observed around her, overcoming with acute nostalgia for her childhood days in this palace. She would be leaving this place as soon as possible.

However, she knew, that whenever she went, her guilt would follow like a shadow, haunting her for the rest of her life.

She dirtied her own hand ... with Po's blood.

Again, why is it Po that had to die?

Why didn't he fight back?

She had locked Shifu in dungeon, she had threated that red panda and Po with a sword but what Po had done was trying to talk to her?

Did he seriously think that they could resolve this war only with only a discussion?

She brought her hand to a jewelry around her neck. A necklace given by the empress. Whenever she missed that woman, she always stared at it and felt her presence next to her.

"I've avenged you," she spoke. "Now, may you rest in peace."

With a firm determination, she took off that necklace and put it gently on her bed right beside the sword with all memories within it she would leave behind. Right now, she was no longer the empress' adopted daughter. She would only be what she wanted, starting from zero.

She walked towards the door and opened it. Before she took another step, she halted. For a moment, she wanted to turn around to look behind her, but soon, she shook her head. There's no turning back.

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~0~0~TLoTDaTT~0~0~

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Yuan Sheng devoured his noodle almost in one slurp. Po and the four watched him in speechless. It was the third bowl now. Well, it was quite reasonable since that prince hadn't eaten anything since the time they dragged him away from his homeland.

Finally, the prince put his now empty bowl. "Alright," he said with mouth full of noodle, still chewing. "just like what I've said earlier, I have -"

"Hey, there's noodle on your lip," Monkey pointed at the prince's face.

"Oh," Yuan Sheng wiped his lip, then proceeded. "Just like what I've said earlier, I have lied to you all in Darknest Land. Even since Tigress had first stepped her feet on my land, I could tell she couldn't forget you, even though I had done anything to make her hate you," here, his eyes laid on Po. "She had refused to join the army when the emperor requested her to conquer China."

"Then why did she lead the army to kill all of us?" Crane asked in curious.

"Perhaps ... mostly it was because of me."

"I knew it," Mantis mumbled in mockery tone.

"And also because she was overcame by grief and anger," Yuan Sheng continued, he raised a paw. "Listen, I hated you back then. My mother was murdered and my hatred towards you made me think that you had banded together with the prisoners to kill my mother."

"Why did Tigress decided to join the army and attempt to kill us just because she thought we were the murderers?" This time, Viper asked.

"Because my mother had adopted her. She was the only one who loved Tigress; the one whose trust just got betrayed by her own adoptive father and comrades."

"And you said, your father killed your mother?" Monkey inquired.

"Yes," Yuan Sheng confirmed it. "He did that to convice Tigress to join his army. To him, Tigress is no more than a talisman which brings him luck in life. Once she isn't needed anymore, she'll be eliminated."

There was a gasp from Po. "You're really telling the truth?!"

"There's no use to lie," Yuan Sheng replied. "At least, at this moment. To be honest, I wouldn't mind if you didn't believe me. But my only wish is to save Tigress from that insane emperor." His gaze met Po's. "Dragon Warrior, I knew Tigress almost got you killed. But believe me, she wasn't being herself. Something, or rather somene, must be forcing her to attack you all last night."

"You look very sure of it," Monkey muttered. "if we didn't come in time, Po and Master Shifu would be died now by Tigress' hands."

"Guys, he seems right." Po said. "Shifu told me that Tigress had attempted to set him free in the dungeon when she was ordered to kill him. Don't you see? Tigress hasn't changed entirely. There's still a good inside of her. And I still believe she'll be back to us once she learns the truth."

"The thing is," Mantis cut in, still thinking it was a trap. "Why didn't just this guy tell Tigress himself?" he reffered to the prince.

"Did you still not believe me?!" Yuan Sheng exclaimed. "I would do it by myself if I had a chance to see her, but I didn't," he empashized his words. "She's in the Jade Palace and my father ... I mean, the emperor sure will order his men to kill me once I'm in sight!"

"Hey, calm down! I was just asking." Mantis raised his front legs in a defensive manner, not expecting his question would make the prince offended.

Po stood and walked toward the window. From there, he could see Shifu and Fang Zi discussing something serious in the yard. Apparently, the villagers were no longer afraid with the tiger's presence around them, though there were at least still about two-three people watched Fang Zi suspiciously. He was out of earshot and had no idea on what they were talking about, but most likely, it was about tonight's attack they were planning to the Jade Palace with the reinforcment from Gongmen City and Shifu was seemingly asking advice from Fang Zi.

There was a great relief in Po that no one in that room knew. Since the beginning, he always believed that Tigress was always the same Tigress he used to know and love. The gash she left him in the chest and stomach might prove him wrong yet what Yuan Sheng just told him had just explained everything. Some people might tell him off to forget her, calling him stupid for believing in someone who destined to kill him. But Po could image it clearly in his mind; Tigress was standing in a dark place, alone and confused. Her arms tied to two strings of ropes and something whispering softly in her ears, commanding her what to do with someone in the dark controlling the said rope, making her to do what the mysterious puppet master bade her and Tigress had no power to refuse.

Regarding tonight's attack - if it was true, there's a possible they would meet Tigress again. If things went wrong, this upcoming attack would make Tigress believe that Shifu and the others didn't have the intention to make peace with her. And she would be stuck forever as a puppet.

"We must go now," Po mumbled. "By tonight, we will have gotten Tigress at any cost."

"You're sure with what you're saying?" Crane asked. "Don't you think she'll be trying to kill us once she sees us again?"

"Well, I got a plan. It's not us who will see Tigress, but him," Po gestured to Yuan Sheng. "I'm pretty sure she'll listen to your word, right?"

There's a nod with an unconvincing answer from the tiger. "Probably."

"So, here's my simple plan," the panda returned to his sitting position, starting the discussion eagerly. "We'll take the prince to the Jade Palace and protect him from soldiers until he finds Tigress. And your duty, prince, is to convince Tigress about your father's scheme. Once Tigress knows the truth, she'll join us to attack the army. Without Tigress on their side, I'm sure the emperor's army will be defeated and victory will be ours."

Monkey yawned in boredom. "Let's wish this will be as easy as it sounds," he said, recalling their failed attempts in the past back in Darknest Land.

"I agree with him," Yuan Sheng stated. "I mean, with the Dragon Warrior."

"I'm still thinking it won't work," Monkey was still being skeptic. "But things couldn't get worse anymore."

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~0~0~TLoTDaTT~0~0~

.

The day started to get dark. Tigress quickened her pace. She must got to the river and found a sampan boat before night comes. Her feet walk down the tranquil bamboo forest. She looked above; some bamboos swayed slowly, accompanied with the sound of dry leaves flying in the wind.

At this moment, she must had been far enough from The Jade Palace. Far enough from residential areas.

But, she felt uneasy somehow.

Her eyes scanned around anxiously. Without looking behind her back, she knew she was being followed. She closed her eyes and focosed on her hearing. They were about twenty meters away. From the sound of their footsteps, they were about ten people in total. Who are they? What do they want with her? She had no idea, but her instinct told her that they had an ill intention to her.

Tigress made a sudden move. She dashed on all fours, keeping away from the pursuers. At the same time, she soon realized that she had just made a wrong decision. Those chasers sure were waiting to attack her until she was being deep enough in the forest to the point there was no one to help her.

Whoosh ...

Tigress jumped above. An arrow was shot through below her and embedded in the spot where she just stood at. As she turned around, she glanced a dozen of tigers chasing her with swords, bows and arrors in their grips.

She was ambushed.

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~0~0~TLoTDaTT~0~0~

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"Thank you for your advice, Mrs. Fang Zi." Shifu said politely as he and that old tigress entered the inn.

"You're welcome," Fang Zi replied. "I like giving advice to people who is in need, but I must admit, your daughter is a little stubborn."

Shifu laughed dryly. "She got it from me ...maybe."

"Like father, like daughter."

As they opened the door to Po's room, they were speechless. That room was empty.

"Huh? Where did they go?" Fang Zi asked.

Shifu sighed and shook his head, as if he had expected this would happen. "It's my students," he mumbled. "They disobeyed me, as usual."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you'll find out soon." Shifu turned to the front door. "Let's go, Mrs. Fang Zi. We'll see them in the Jade Palace."