The Price of Freedom

Lillia was practicing in the Training Hall again. The others had yet to come from the council of the Bei-Lang lions. Lillia backflipped going into an air split. She landed on her left foot and slowly came into a finishing pose. "I don't even think Tigress can do better," Maz said from behind. Lillia turned around with a smirk. "Huh, I didn't scare you that time?"

"I heard you a mile away. You breathe very loudly whenever you come near me," Lillia said getting closer to Maz. "Why is that?" She asked mischievously. Maz became nervous for a moment.

"I guess you take my breath away," He replied. Lillia's face emitted a pink hue. She turned around to hide it. Maz suddenly hugged her from behind. Lillia groaned and pushed at him trying to get away.

"I don't do mushy, Maz," she said firmly.

"I know," Maz replied. "But I'll take what I can get." Lillia pouted for a while, but soon gave in as Maz's hands gently rubbed her sides. Just then, Maz's hands grazed over a certain spot on Lillia that made her jump. She gasped and pulled away from Maz. Maz grimaced. He kept forgetting that she had scars from the past. Anything he may do may trigger that past. "I'm-"

"Don't apologize. It wasn't bad or anything," Lillia interrupted. "Gong-Go...use to rub my belly like that. It just felt strange feeling that again." Maz completely understood. Maz hugged her again. Lillia let him. "I still don't like being so close to you."

"Is that because of my smell?" Maz asked, knowing now that he had a scent that Lillia liked.

"No, it's useless. After a while, you'll be able to defend yourself and I'll have to go," Lillia said, releasing herself from Maz's grip.

"But you don't have to," Maz said.

"It wouldn't be for the best. Plus," Lillia's attitude changed to a more sad tone. "The court wouldn't allow you to marry a peasant."

"You're not a peasant," Maz said lifting Lillia's chin. "You're legendary." He kissed her and Lillia easily gave in. Then her ear perked up.

"They're here. Act casual," Lillia said. Maz nodded as Tigress, Po, and Shifu came into the Training Hall.

"I see that you haven't killed Maz yet," Po sighed relieved. Lillia rolled her eyes.

"How was the council?" Maz asked.

"It was fine. Boring at the most," Po said, pretending to be tired. "I'm going to sleep for a while."

"Prince Maz, I would like to speak with you for a moment on what the council said," Shifu said. Maz nodded as he went with the red panda. Tigress came closer to Lillia.

"And how did you and the lion get along?" Tigress asked with a smug smile. Lillia huffed at her.

"Nothing special happened," Lillia replied. "And even if it did, I don't think it would be allowed," She said sadly. She shook her head. "Let's talk more after we get some food." They hastily made their way to Mr. Ping's shop. "Two noodle soup please," She requested.

"So what happened between you and Maz?" She asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Lillia replied. Tigress just smiled. Just then, they heard a scream.

"My money bag," shouted a woman pig. "Thief!" Lillia and Tigress looked to see a small hooded figure running behind an alleyway.

"Come on," Lillia said. They ran after the little thief. They were on his tail, but they soon realized he wasn't your usual thief. As he turned the corner into a dead end, Tigress and Lillia thought they caught him.

"End of the line," Tigress said. The thief dropped the bag and started ninja wall jumping up and over the wall. The two were impressed.

"You get the money back to the lady, I'll get this guy," Lillia said, jumping over the wall and racing after the thief. Lillia had to duck and dodge over several carts and vendors as the thief went through the market place. Then the thief was backed into another wall. He tried to jump out like last time, but Lillia quickly grabbed him. "Oh no, you don't," Lillia said, grabbing him by the foot and letting him dangle in the air.

"Let me go!" He exclaimed. It was then that Lillia realized it wasn't a small adult male criminal. It was a small girl lion.

"A lion? Ugh! I can't get away from them, can I?" Lillia sighed. The girl lion snatched the dagger in Lillia's armor and tried to cut her. "Whoa! Feisty little one," Lillia said grabbing the knife out of the little one's hand. Soon, Tigress came.

"A little girl lion? That's interesting," Tigress commented.

"Let go! I dropped the money!" the little girl squirmed.

"Yes, but you still stole and stealing is wrong," Lillia instructed. "Sometimes." She added earning a glare from Tigress.

"I steal to eat."

"Then beg for food like the rest of the people who want food," Lillia firmly said. "What about your parents?"

"If I had parents, I wouldn't be stealing," the little girl remarked.

"Careful," Lillia said, bouncing her for a second, "I can still drop you."

"So you're an orphan?" Tigress said. The little girl nodded. "What's your name?" She wouldn't speak for a while.

"It's not polite to not answer people," Lillia smirked, bouncing the girl, pretending to drop her.

"Leona!" The little lion exclaimed. "My name is Leona."

"Leona, why are you stealing from people to eat?" Tigress asked kindly. She had gotten better with children ever since Po came to the palace.

"Because I hate people," Leona replied.

"Who doesn't," Lillia said rolling her eyes.

"And why do you hate people?"

"I have my reasons. Now would you put me down! My head's starting to spin," Leona muttered. Tigress grabbed Leona from Lillia and cradled her like a baby. "What are you doing?"

"Well, I know about orphans enough to know that if we let you go, you would run," Tigress said. Leona pouted at being found out.

"You're not thinking of taking her back to the palace, are you?" Lillia sighed, seeing Tigress's look. Tigress showed a small smile.

Soon the two were up at the palace. "A girl lion? Oh my goodness! And she looks so cute," Viper said. Leona huffed.

"I'm not cute."

"I understand the feeling," Po sighed. Tigress shook her head. Just then, Maz came in. Upon seeing him, Leona thrashed around in Tigress's arms trying to get free.

"Leona, what's wrong?"

"Get me away from him! I don't want to see him!"

"Why?" Lillia asked.

"His family are the ones that killed my parents!" Leona declared. Everyone was shocked. Maz simply sighed regretfully.

"They killed even other lions? That's just cruel," Lillia said angrily.

"Look, I'm sorry for what my people did, but I can tell you I'm different," Maz said.

"You people are all the same! That's why I hate all of you!" she shouted continuing to squirm. Lillia rested her hand on Maz's shoulder.

"It's best if you go," Lillia said. Maz nodded as he went to his room. Po managed to get Leona to calm down.

"It's fine, it's fine. We're not going to hurt you," Po soothed. "Do you want something to eat?" Leona nodded.

After everyone was asleep, Maz was still up. "Can't get the thing out of your head, can you?" Lillia said. Maz sighed.

"That's one of the prices I have to pay to get freedom. I have to deal with people who look at me because of my past," Maz sighed. Lillia kissed him out of the blue. Maz blushed looking at her, but then smirked. "I thought you didn't like mushy stuff." Lillia rolled her eyes and pulled Maz's bedsheets over his head.

"Goodnight, Mazy," Lillia smirked.

"Goodnight, Lily," Maz said sweetly and tenderly, making Lillia's heart skip a bit as she looked over her shoulder and smirked at him.

Meanwhile, Leona walked out of the room she was staying at. Though she appreciated the food and rest, she didn't want to stay here with... people. She carefully made her way out of the room. She was just getting to the door when- "So you're going?" Leona jumped. She calmed down when she realized who it was.

"You can't keep me here," Leona said, ready to run.

"I don't intend to," Lillia said, leaning her weight against the wall. "I know your kind. Nothing stops you. So I won't. If you've got to go, you got to go." Leona stared at her for a while and started to make her way out of the door, but she stopped when she heard her say, "They killed my parents too." Leona looked at her. "You can imagine my... frustration when I heard that I had to protect the nephew of one of the most hated men on my list." Leona nodded. "But then I learned that he and I are the same in a lot of ways."

"You like him," Leona said simply.

"What?! Where did you hear that? I mean no, not like you're probably thinking," Lillia said, "His parents were killed as well."

"What? But the Emperor was a part of his family," Leona said.

"I've learned that not everything is as it seems," Lillia smiled. "But if you need to go then go. I won't force you. Just don't steal this time." Suddenly, Leona hugged Lillia around the waist.

"I want to stay with you."

"I thought you hated people."

"I don't hate you," Leona said, actually smiling. "Mmmm, you're very soft." Lillia grimaced as she tried to walk with the child on her waist.

"Ugh!" She groaned.

Continued...