Monkey had figured out that the Yeti was no longer in the lost city seconds before he heard a distant rumble that could only have been an explosion.
"That's outside the city." Monkey muttered. "Oh hell… the fortress!"
He spun round and ran for the nearest exit.
Viper and Mantis stopped dead as they spotted the fortress in the distance, and the right red fireball that shot up from what must have been the western outer wall.
"Oh my god…" Viper whispered. "We're too late."
There was a shout and a moan from behind. Crane was waking up.
"Crane!" Viper gasped. The avian shook his head then stared down at himself. His eyes were unblinking and he was breathing hard, as if he had just woken from a nightmare.
"Viper…" Crane muttered. "Why am I strapped to a pole?"
"Hang on." Viper cut Crane free with a swish from her tail. Crane slid down the pole onto frozen ground.
"Crane, what happened?" Mantis asked, still holding the pole. "You've been out of it for hours!"
"You had us scared to death!" For a moment Crane thought Viper was going to slap him. Her blue eyes were wide as saucers and she was hissing a lot more than usual. "What the hell happened to you?!"
"What do you think?" Crane demanded as he took a step back from the anxious snake.
"It was Ember, wasn't it?" Mantis asked. Viper hissed again. "It used one of its weird mind tricks again, didn't it?"
"Yeah." Crane was still panting. Viper's face softened.
"Crane, are you okay?"
"No… no, I'm not okay. We've got to get back to the fortress, now! We've got to stop him!"
"If you're talking about that explosion just now, we've already guessed who's behind it." Mantis said.
"Not that! Tujiu! We've got to stop him! His treachery… it's even deeper than we thought!"
"Huh?"
"I don't know who, but someone ordered him to kill the emperor's family in that fire three decades ago, and now he's after Xian, too!"
"Wait, what?"
"No time! We've got to get to the fortress!"
With his injured wing still strapped to his side Crane had to use his own spindly legs to traverse the terrain, but he was rapidly going ahead of his friends.
Mantis and Viper stared at each other and went after him.
With some of his string, Po tied a makeshift strap to the handles of the wok and then put said wok on his head like an armored hat.
He strapped the quiver to his back.
He picked up the crossbow and loaded it.
He slid his knife into his belt.
He scoffed five plums in one go then turned to Tigress.
She was still deep under the effects of the elixir, sleeping peacefully in the small lower depression in the wall. Po had wrapped her up in every blanket he had, and hung the curtain he had taken from the mausoleum in front of her to protect her from the wind. He'd placed the top of the curtain in the larger depression above her and held it in place with rocks.
Po brushed the curtain aside and leaned over her. He took in her face, the elegant black stripes, her dark lips. Po touched his own lips and thought about that moment when Tigress had said the words he had been wanting to hear ever since he had realized he'd loved her. He had known from the moment she said it that she hadn't been lying when she said she had fallen for him, and for a time, he had been the happiest man alive.
But now he had a fortress to save.
He had heard the explosion when he had been loading his crossbow, and he knew he couldn't linger. No reminiscing of all the times he and Tigress had together. Just say goodbye and go.
Po brought his face closer to hers.
There was a big chance that he wouldn't be coming back to her. If it came to that, then at the least he would see to it that Tigress would be found. He marveled at how someone as awesome as her could ever have done what she did before. If he was going to his death, then what was the harm in having one last kiss before he left?
No. If he was going to kiss her again, he would do it when she was awake, and when he came back. He was going to come back to her, and when he did, he was going to tell her how he felt, and how much he was going to change for her. No more stuffing himself. No more bad decisions. No more getting up after the morning gong.
Po moved his face away from her lips, then gently pressed his own against her forehead.
I'll come back, Tigress. I promise.
He obscured her with the curtain then stood up.
Crossbow in hand, he strode out the cave.
It was time for some bodaciously awesome payback.
From a high window in the left hand tower, Tujiu watched as the sled slid in a straight line for the outer wall. His keen eyes took in the powder kegs and the flaming torch, and he realized what was about to happen. A malicious grin spread across his face a second before the sled struck the wall.
Even high up in a tower on the other side of the fortress, Tujiu felt the heat slam into his face as a bright crimson fireball erupted where there had once been a stone wall that was bigger than the great wall of China. The insignificant men below had never seen it coming, and were now running around shouting like lunatics. Tujiu couldn't hear what they were saying, but could tell just from their tone that they were in a panic. What the Yeti had just done was a special tactic intended to send the enemy into chaos, and it had worked. More and more Tujiu felt a grudging respect for the creature. Though Hei Nuwang had warned him about the Yeti and its immense power and tactical skill, he had never expected it to pull off something like this.
"It was him, wasn't it?" Sao spoke behind him. When Tujiu turned to face his, he saw that the fox was staring over his shoulder at the commotion below.
Tujiu nodded, and turned back to the window.
"So what, it's just going to come in through the hole it's just made and take on the army single handed?" Sao asked.
"Of course not." Tujiu chuckled.
"Then what?"
"Don't you see? The explosion was a diversion! Look."
Sao looked to were Tujiu was pointing at, and he stared. Down at the wall near the front gate, a hundred feet away from the explosion, a dark figure vaulted over the stone structure. With most of the army at the scene of the explosion, only a dozen or so men were in that part of the courtyard. When they saw the Yeti, honor overcame reason and they drew their weapons to fight.
Tujiu actually gasped when he saw the Yeti reach behind its back and pull out the most magnificent blade he had ever seen.
What came after was even more so. As big as it was, the blade must have been light as a feather in the Yeti's powerful hands, for it sliced through each and every one of those lowly soldiers like they were made of clay. With the swordsmanship and precision only a soldier like Tujiu himself possessed, the Yeti dispatched every single one of the twelve men who dared to oppose it and then quickly made its way through the entrance to the right hand tower before anyone else realized that it was there.
"Magnificent." Tujiu whispered.
"Are you actually admiring that monster?!" Tujiu did not miss the contempt in Sao's exclamation, and scowled.
"Watch your tongue." He growled.
"General, we have to get out of here. It's heading right for us!"
"Did you get the barrels?" Tujiu asked calmly.
"Yes, but I could only carry two." Sao was carrying the two kegs under his arms.
"They will do. Now let's get back to the passage." Tujiu chuckled again. "It's time to bid Xian a sweet farewell."
Sao was furious.
"You're mad! The Yeti is on its way to release Ember, the very thing we've spent months trying to prevent, and all you care about is your fricking grudge!"
Tujiu no longer cared about what Sao was ranting about. His thoughts were filled of glorious images of Xian's demise. Three decades ago Xian had ruined his reputation, and now was setting out to destroy him entirely. He would send that no good blue-blooded feline to hell. He muttered to himself, wanting to make sure he remembered every fantasy so he could decide which one to make reality when the time came.
He snapped out of his thoughts when the entrance doors to the main building opened, and three familiar figures stormed out. Eagle Jr. shouted something to the men, and they stopped panicking somewhat and began gathering snow to toss onto the flaming debris of the soldier's huts that had been caught in the explosion. Xian and Shifu spoke to each other and then rushed back into the main building.
"Perfect." Tujiu laughed. "Sao, come on!"
Sao was very quiet as they rushed back into the passage, disappearing just as the Yeti entered the room they had been standing in moments before and sensed the presence of the bird it hated most.
"Crane, wait just a minute!" Mantis yelled as he and Viper struggled to keep up with the avian. "What do you mean someone ordered Tujiu to kill the royal family?"
"Crane, what happened while you were unconscious?" Viper demanded.
"I don't know!" Crane snapped. "I mean, I had a dream- but…" He struggled to speak further. "Look, I was walking through the mountain, like we're doing now! I started hearing voices!"
"Voices?"
"Some woman and Tujiu were talking, but I couldn't hear them!" Crane spoke in short sentences. "Tujiu was planning to deliberately leave a small gap in the defenses so this woman's goons could sneak through! I don't know why he did it, but he purposely arranged the death of Xian's family, and now he wants to finish the job!"
Viper and Mantis looked at each other, aghast.
"Crane, what exactly did they talk about?" Mantis asked. "Was Tujiu working with or for this woman?"
"I don't know, maybe for! Now come on!"
Crane picked up the pace, eyes set on the fortress and the burning hole in the outer wall, all the while his thoughts filled with what he had envisioned…
After an endless trip through the darkness, Crane realized that the snickering had stopped.
"Great." He said. "Either I'm completely lost or I'm going crazy."
That was when he heard the voices.
"Everything's set. I've left a small gap in the defenses in the south eastern corner of the palace. There are barely half a dozen soldiers patrolling that area, so you can sneak past them as easily as if you were wind."
Crane stiffened. That was Tujiu's voice.
There was another voice, a woman's. It was cold and condescending.
"And you think you would above suspicion once they find this 'small gap'?"
"The patrol will take the blame. They're insignificant lowly guards. Everyone knows that if something goes wrong, it's always the guard's fault."
There was a tiny snicker from the woman, as if she found Tujiu's arrogance amusing.
"Whatever. Just remember to stay out of the way once we invade."
"As you wish, your highness."
There was a pause.
"I suggest you watch your tone, General."
There was a change in the woman's voice that made Crane shiver. It must have had a similar effect on Tujiu, for when he spoke again he was far more reserved.
"Forgive me, my lady. Anyway, the arrangement has been set for two days from now. I trust that when this is all over, I will have what you promised me?"
"What, Commander in Chief isn't enough for you?" The woman said sarcastically. "Yes, as promised, you will have full control of Shambhala and all it's scientific advancements. And that's if you can find it first."
Tujiu huffed.
"Good. Now I am afraid I must go." He said. "The emperor will be requiring my presence concerning adequate protection for prince Xian and his family. Hah, if only he knew…"
The voices faded into nothing.
Crane couldn't believe what he had just heard. He knew Tujiu was trouble, but to participate in a plot to murder the royal family and then laugh about it...
"You monster." Crane muttered. He looked up at the darkness, as if hoping to see the entity which had pulled him into this dream.
"Why are you showing me this?" He called.
The answer came from right behind him. He felt a hand grip his shoulder, and felt claws digging in painfully.
Because you are smart. And the Dragon Warrior has problems of his own.
Crane spun around, but surprise, surprise, the entity was gone. When he looked down at his shoulder, there were shallow puncture wounds visible amongst the feathers.
"God, I hate bad dreams." He said.
He saw a light in the distance the color of amber. Cautiously, he approached it. He slowly realized that it was an ember, drifting in the air but never touching the ground. Crane stopped dead when he saw three figures illuminated in the ember's light.
Hunched over something on the ground was Tujiu, one clawed foot clutching something thin and stain red.
Standing just to the side was Ember, gazing down at the scene in deathly silence.
On the ground, lying face down in a pool of blood, was Xian.
Crane stared in horror at the sight as he understood. Tujiu didn't seem to notice his presence as Crane took another cautious step forward. He suddenly realized that there was something else lying in the red puddle.
He saw Su's medallion, a small crack running down the middle, and next to it, two lily flower headpieces.
Crane struggled to breathe. The entity, or Ember as her name appeared to be, had said that she had been showing him visions because he was smart, and here he was, staring at the body and the objects and understanding their meaning. Was this what she had meant?
Ember turned her dragon masked head to face him. Stared at him through soulless black eyeholes.
She nodded.
There was a flash of red and then Crane woke up.
"Tujiu, where are we going?" Sao demanded as they ran through the dark passage. The fox was lagging behind due to the kegs he was carrying, and he was beginning to lose patience.
"It's General Tujiu, and we're going to the guest rooms!" Tujiu spoke rapidly. "Xian and Shifu are almost certainly heading there to check on the chef and the girl, and we have to intercept them!"
"I thought we were going to let the Yeti kill the emperor." Sao said.
"Of course we are! We're just leading it right to him."
"What?"
"In case you haven't figured it out yet, we are being hunted."
Sao fell silent.
"Yes. It knows we're here. And considering that I had a hand in maiming its mistress, it's not just gong to let me walk away with all my limbs intact. I will bet my right foot that it's following us right now."
Sao started running a little faster.
"I've lost my bearings." He panted. "Are we almost there?"
"Almost." Tujiu said.
The moment he fell silent, they both heard someone yelling for help. It was coming from the other side of the wall.
"I think that's the chef." Sao said.
"We're here." Tujiu said, eyes shining with anticipation. "Once we get out, we go straight to the kitchen and get matches. Then when Xian turns up, we-"
"Kyaaaaa!"
Sao's eyes widened at the sound of a child's scream.
"That's the girl!"
"Here we are." Tujiu pushed on a spot on the wall and a concealed door opened. The two fugitives stepped into the main mess hall. The goose's cries could clearly be heard coming from the kitchen, followed by another cry of pain from the girl.
"General, let's find out what's going on." Sao said.
"No. Those two are unimportant."
"General, we're heading to the kitchen anyway. Besides, you never know when a hostage may come in handy."
Tujiu grumbled, but started for the kitchen anyway. Sao smiled to himself and followed, just as the cub cried out again.
"What the hell is going on in there?" Sao muttered.
Sao reached the kitchen entrance first. It was open just a crack, and quietly he peered through.
The girl was curled up in a black and white ball on the center table, and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Sao couldn't see the chef.
Sao set down the kegs and drew his sword, just as the door flew open.
"Xian! Shifu-"
Di Tan's eyes bulged as he found him himself face to face with a fox nearly two heads taller than him.
"Yuh-You!" He gasped. Then he saw Tujiu standing behind him and all the color drained from his face.
Sao eyed the girl lying on the table. He aimed the sword at Di Tan's throat.
"Get out of the way or you lose your head."
Di Tan gulped.
"If it's Su you want, that's not going to happen." He said, even though he was shaking.
"Suit yourself." Sao swung his blade.
Clang!
Sao's blade connected with a large kitchen knife he had failed to notice.
"Leave her alone!" Di Tan cried, gripping the knife with both wings.
Quickly realizing that the goose had no combat skills, Sao merely swung again.
The sword struck the knife full force, sending the flat of the knife blade smacking into the side of Di Tan's head. The goose went flying into some large pots.
Sao strode straight over to the table. The girl appeared to be having the mother of all headaches; her paws were pressing into her eyes and she was whimpering in agony.
Sao saw something dark red trickling from her paws. Out of curiosity, Sao sheathed his sword, grabbed her wrists and pried them away.
"Son of a-"
The sound of a blade being pulled from its scabbard drowned out his curse.
Blade in hand, Tujiu had been about to finish the stunned goose off when Sao leaned away from the girl in shock.
"What's going on, colonel?" Tujiu demanded.
"General, look at this!"
Tujiu stepped away from Di Tan and went over to the table.
He froze at the sight of the girl's face.
Blood was trickling from Su's screwed shut eyes in tiny streams, and was smeared on her paws where she had been pressing them over her eyes. The girl flinched and cried out as what must be another wave of pain assaulted her head.
"You don't suppose Ember had anything to do with this, do you?" Tujiu asked once he had gotten over the initial shock.
"Without a doubt." Sao spoke. He released Su's wrists, and they went right back over her eyes.
"Shifu…" The girl whimpered unexpectedly. "Mommy… mommy!"
Tujiu and Sao looked at each other, and then they heard the sounds of fighting coming from outside.
"They're here." Tujiu turned to the door and grinned. "Sao, take the top off of one of the kegs. We don't have much time."
Sao did as he was told, his eyes never leaving the child on the table.
"They should still be in the kitchen!" Xian said as he and Shifu burst into the mess hall.
They both skidded to a halt when they saw a stone door that had definitely not been there before, almost directly opposite the entrance to the kitchen.
"What the hell is that?" Xian said.
"Let's get to the kitchen." Shifu said.
Neither of them managed to take a step forward before something massive stepped through the new doorway, wearing unusual black armor and wielding a massive blade.
"Brilliant." Xian said, and leapt into the air, landing a roundhouse kick to the side of the Yeti's head.
The creature growled and swung its blade, but Xian was able to duck the moment he reached the ground, and the blade passed over his head. He somersaulted back to Shifu's side.
"Keep it away from the kitchen!" Shifu muttered quietly. Xian nodded, and the pair moved into combat stances.
They Yeti growled gutturally and lifted its blade in a traditional swordsman position.
"If you value the future of your country, then you will get out of my way." The Yeti spoke coldly.
"The hell we are." Shifu replied, just as icily.
"Xian." The Yeti said. Xian blinked at the sound of his name being spoken. "You know Tujiu wants the same thing I am after. I know you hate him. I know what he did to you, and it's no different than what he did to us. If you know what's good for everyone, you will ensure that that traitor will never lay his filthy hands on the empress."
"Sorry." Xian drew his sword. "But too many people have died for me to trust you."
He lunged, aiming for the Yeti's legs.
The Yeti gave a small sigh and aimed its blade downwards, blocking the sword. The small distraction was enough for Shifu to leap and kick his massive opponent right between the eyes.
The Yeti grunted and stepped back, allowing Xian to stab his weapon into the little gap in between the armor on its legs. Unfortunately, as its hide was as tough as its armor, the sword barely went one inch, and only the smallest bit of blood stained the metal as Xian dodged another swipe of the Yeti's blade and retreated.
Shifu landed by his side, scowling.
"This isn't good." Shifu muttered. "It's even tougher than I thought."
Xian looked down at the blood staining his sword.
"Then let's weaken it." He muttered back.
The master and emperor struck again. The Yeti blocked Xian's sword strike and let hand go from the hilt to block another kick from Shifu.
Xian pulled out one of his concealed knives and left a shallow cut on the Yeti's torso. If they could just keep this up, and make the Yeti bleed from enough places, it might begin to weaken, make bad decisions, or both.
"Xian, look out!" Shifu yelled. Xian ducked the swing the Yeti made for him. Xian rolled between its legs and found another gap in the Yeti's armor, near the Yeti's side. He thrust the sword in, and drew blood.
The Yeti snarled and kicked Xian right in the face. He rolled backward over and over and hit the wall. His sword shattered on impact.
"Xian!" Shifu yelled, but Xian was already getting back to his feet. He dropped what was left of his sword and pulled out three knives. He eyed three gaps in the Yeti's armor.
"Shifu!" Xian yelled.
While punching the Yeti's fist away and kicking it in the chin simultaneously, Shifu spotted the knives Xian was holding. His eyes narrowed. He sprung to the ground, and jabbed the back of the Yeti's leg with his staff, bringing it to its knees. Not wasting any time he leapt onto its shoulder and punched it in the face.
"Now!"
Xian flung all three knives at once, and each one hit their mark.
The Yeti flinched as the knives struck its body. Shifu leapt away and rushed to Xian's side.
"Are you alright?" Shifu asked.
"I'm okay." Xian replied. "Nearly got my nose broken, though. At least I got that big-"
A low pitched sound made them both turn. They were in disbelief. The Yeti was laughing quietly.
"Oh please." It spoke. "'Death of a thousand cuts?' I thought you were trying to kill me, not torture me."
Shifu and Xian gaped as it got to its feet. It pulled one knife from its arm, even though the blade must have surely struck an artery. It removed two more from its thigh and shoulder, then tossed two of them away.
"Let me tell you something." It said. "If you end up battling a man on a mission, don't assume they will consider finishing the fight top priority. You will just be left in the dust."
With frightening speed, it ran. Not for Shifu and Xian, but for the stone door.
"No!" They ran in pursuit, but the Yeti disappeared through the door and slammed it closed.
Xian and Shifu found the grooves in the wall, which until now had been cleverly concealed amongst the stone carvings, and pulled at the door, but it refused to budge.
Xian slammed his fist against the stone surface, leaving a spider web crack.
"Damn it!" He yelled.
"It must be heading for the tomb." Shifu said. "Xian, let's go!"
"Wait just a moment!" Shouted a very familiar voice.
Xian and Shifu spun round.
"You!" Xian growled.
Tujiu and Sao were standing in the kitchen doorway. Tujiu was looking unbelievably smug, and lying curled up in Sao's arms was-
"LET HER GO!" Shifu ran at them in a rage.
Sao brought his sword to Su's throat, forcing Shifu to stop barely five feet in front of them.
Tujiu laughed humorlessly, and Shifu saw that he was carrying an open powder keg under one wing.
"Tujiu, you must have one hell of a death wish." Xian snarled, a couple of feet behind Shifu. "What have you done with Di Tan?"
"Oh don't worry. He's still in the kitchen where he belongs." Tujiu said. "Your little girl, however, is coming with us."
Su cried out. She was in so much pain she seemed oblivious to what was going on around her.
"What do you want with her?" Shifu demanded, his gut stirring with hatred.
"Leverage. I can't have you two getting in my way any longer. If either of you try anything, she dies."
Tujiu and Sao began walking towards the mess hall exit. Shifu and Xian followed them at a distance of five feet, glaring daggers all the while. All was silent except for Su's whimpers and the distant sounds of men battling the fire that was still raging outside.
Shifu's eyes never left Su. She looked like she was crying into her paws, and it took all of his chi to keep from calling out to her, to assure her that everything was going to be okay. For now, he had to concentrate.
Inner peace, as the name implied, worked best when the kung fu master was at peace in his mind. This was always why he was at his strongest after a couple of hours of meditation, or after an enemy had been defeated and peace had been restored to the Valley. But now Su was in danger, he was frustrated from both the current situation and losing the Yeti, and his rage was threatening to overcome reason. If he could just regain that peace, just for at least a moment, then he could take out the pair of them and save her before anyone realized what was coming.
They reached the exit. Tujiu pulled open one of the double doors, setting the keg on the floor as he did so. Sao kept the sword at Su's throat.
"I never liked you." Tujiu said, eyeing Xian. "For years, whenever I looked in your eyes, I knew what you were thinking. General Tujiu, the piece of dirt who caused the death of your family. Before that, I was just the piece of dirt."
"No. You're lower than dirt." Xian said. "You're you."
Tujiu's eye twitched.
"Sao, get behind the door." He said.
Clutching Su, Sao disappeared through the crack in the door.
"Ember's dangerous, Tujiu!" Xian snapped. Shifu kept silent. He was trying hard to focus, but now that he had lost sight of Su it was proving more difficult than ever. "You'll destroy yourself!"
"No, you're the one who is about to be destroyed." Tujiu said. "You were right. I caused the death of your family, accidentally on purpose, of course."
Xian went very quiet.
"What?"
There was a scratching sound. Tujiu held out a lit match and held it over the open powder keg.
"And you don't know how long I wanted to finish the job."
Tujiu let go of the match and raced out the door.
Xian swung his arm and sent Shifu flying.
The powder keg went off.