Chapter 13: The Grand Escape


Lu Fang watched as her palace turned to rubble. Everything was gone. Her clothes. Her artifacts. Her curtains and furniture. She silently seethed but managed to keep her breathing steady.

Tai Tzu, cold and calculated, circled the dying fire that left little but a heap of ash. His eyes lit up, somehow brighter than the chaotic marvel that burned before him. He allowed two daggers to dangle between his feathers. Lu Fang wondered to herself if he was waiting for survivors to save and pull from the rubble, or if he would find any at all. As of yet, she had not seen Han or Qin. Lu Fang knew both had perished.

Liang was the only one to scramble from the debris. Fire had scorched his fur. Ash fell from his ears as he hopped his way beside Lu Fang. His little cotton tail was charred and pitch black, but he was alive. His breaths were heavy. His eyes were something to pity. Lu Fang shrugged off the little rabbit and approached the vulture.

"Any survivors?" Lu Fang called out to Tai Tzu.

"Nothing worth keeping." Tai Tzu called back. His red eyes were so fierce, not even Lu Fang could keep eye contact for too long.

"Do you think your vultures will have any luck dealing with the lost souls?"

Tai Tzu laughed. He was nearly in hysterics. "One is dying. Two are injured. Their leader is a big, fat panda. Are you seriously worried?" Tai Tzu's laugher came to a sudden halt once Lu Fang closed the distance. Her pace was quick. Tai Tzu could hardly react as the large panda pulled the vulture by the throat and lifted him up. They came face to face. Lu Fang snarled. Tai Tzu took the long silence to study the panda. Her eyes. Her facial muscles. Everything.

"I've spent my entire life to this cause. I can't let it fall apart. Not now. This crusade will only stop when I am long dead and buried. If they tell the emperor, then the path towards peace will only get harder. So, tell me again, do you think you and your pathetic flock of scavengers can handle them? Or will I have to handle it personally?"

Tai Tzu's eyes widened. Everything clicked. "You're scared, aren't you?"

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" She roared.

Tai Tzu nodded. "Of course." This voice shook. "They are as good as dead."

Lu Fang dropped Tai Tzu like he was a spent chew toy. The bird quickly scrambled across the ash and mud, gasping for breath as he tried to regain his nerves. He stood up as Lu Fang began to pace. "Things will not fall apart. I will not let that happen. Destiny is mine to twist to my desire."

"And it will." Tai Tzu said gently. "The panda doesn't hold a candle to you, my mistress. You-"

Lu Fang spun and locked eyes with the vulture. "You think it's the panda I care about?"

"Uh… Well… Was it the bug?"

Lu Fang's knuckles cracked as her paws formed tight fists. She growled. "That panda is nothing to me. Nothing but a minion. A plaything. A toy, and a means to an end. As is the rest of his pathetic group of warriors." She hissed her words. "The snake. Slippery and slimy. The bird. No match for you and yours. The bug. All he needs is a bit of force and… splat. That stupid monkey. Dumb as a rock. They don't scare me."

"It's the tiger." Tai Tzu whispered. The shimmer in Lu Fang's eyes confirmed his suspicions. Lu Fang turned towards Liang. The little rabbit shook just past the glow of the fire.

"Liang, would you be a doll and do something for me?" Lu Fang said sweetly.

Liang was quick to hop to Lu Fang's side. "Of course." He said, believing it to be a minor task. Retrieve some charred dress from the rubble or help give Han and Qin a burial, if there was anything left to bury.

"So sweet." Lu Fang said, though Liang wasn't able to tell if she was sincere or mocking him. "Would you kindly scout out west for me? I'm afraid our feathered friends have had a much harder time than you would moving through the forest."

Liang turned towards the forest. "The… forest?" He began to shake. "Why?" The words came instinctually, but he knew immediately they could've been his last. He winced as Lu Fang bent down to his level. Her breath smelled of mint, but her fur was as pleasant as burnt grass.

"One more time?" She whispered.

Liang mustered the courage to turn back towards Lu Fang. His eyes darted left and right, refusing to look up at his mistress. "I-I'm scared of the forest."

In a flash, she snatched Liang by the ears and lifted him up. Liang roared with pain. His feet kicked, hoping to find the ground, but he knew it was hopeless. Lu Fang wore no smile as she snarled. "Go from village to village and demand the townsfolk bring the assassins back to me. If they don't, I will personally burn their homes to the ground. Can you do that? Or am I going to have to keep your little foot as a lucky charm?" She began to pull his ears apart. He squirmed harder and faster.

Liang let out a meek squeal. "I'll go! I'll go!"

She dropped him like an expired toy. "That's wonderful. I hardly have the time or energy to spare with such trivial tasks."

"I assure you…" Tai Tzu grumbled, feeling the need to force himself into the conversation. "Those assassins will be hunted down. I'll prove that my vultures are worthy." He glared down at Liang. "Unlike some vermin who've somehow squeezed into your company."

Lu Fang looked down at Liang. "Go."

Her words were quick and demanding, but Liang didn't question them. He turned towards the dark forest and scurried off towards the edge. The trees towered overhead. Liang's legs shook as he neared. He no longer felt the warm glow of the raging fire behind. Though built out of pure chaos and failure, it was oddly comforting. He turned back just once and saw Lu Fang was watching him. Liang swore his heart stopped for a split second, but mustered what courage he could, turned, and hopped his way into the darkness. Immediately, he felt the shock hit him like a ton of bricks. A panic he'd never felt before burned inside him. His heart raced. He closed his eyes and ran. Straight. He didn't know where he was going, so he just kept putting one foot in front of the other. Around trees. Below fallen timber. Over or through small shrubs. It didn't matter.

His mind imagined every horrible thing it could think of. Trees were becoming towering monsters. Roots became venomous snakes. Shrubs became bloodthirsty barbarians. He ran until his foot caught a rock and he tumbled into a shallow creek. Though soaked, his heart didn't stop. He yanked himself from the water but failed to find his feet. The dirt turned to mud. His paws slipped and slid, yet he hardly moved. He reached his paws out and pulled on a few strands of grass and yanked himself to safety.

His energy was sapped. His mind was breaking. He curled into a ball and waited for the monsters to find him. He closed his eyes and listened to their howls and screams and hoots. He cried.

Liang spent an hour waiting, curled up in a tight ball. Finally, his senses found him, and he picked himself up. His nostrils burned and his eyes were still wet. He had shut them so hard for so long that he nearly began to dream. He had forgotten, for a moment, he was in the dark forest. Now, he remembered it all. He slowly hopped his way through the thick trees until he found a trail. Above, the terrifying cries of distant vultures echoed through the night. He knew they weren't his enemy, but he hated the sound nonetheless. It was a haunting wail.

He followed the thin and narrow trail until he came across a pond. Liang stopped for a quick breather and a sip of water, even though the pond was not what he could consider high quality. He forced it down and waited for it to come back up. Luckily, it never did. He raised his head and looked out across the water. There were a dozen shanty buildings strung around a clearing opposite him. Birds flew back and forth, but what caught his eye was one bird in particular. He wore a straw hat and stood on two tall, yet scrawny legs. Liang was quick to recognize the bird as the one who charged through the palace to help his friends. Through the chaos, he remembered him vividly. Liang crouched low and watched the bird as he squeezed through a narrow doorway.

Liang kept low behind the tall grass that surrounded the pond. His eyes never left the house, but he was forced to stop once he came to the edge of the grass. His mind raced as he waited.

Do I make myself known? Liang thought. Perhaps, if these villagers knew they were harboring criminals and assassins, they would turn them over. Then again, they're warriors. Wouldn't they just make an escape? Think! He smiled. I am a servant of the great and mighty Lu Fang! The pride he felt warmed his insides. They will listen to me, or they will burn. His smile didn't last. But, how long until I burn with them?

His gaze diverted for a mere second as two figures moved swiftly from the particular house. Liang followed.

The figures were swift, but Liang managed to keep tabs on both of them. Though he never got a good look at the pair, the distinct orange one wore was too bright and distinct to lose. They stopped in a clearing, so Liang slunk behind a tree. He stood and watched the two. Though words were shared, they spoke softly. Liang was unable to hear them.

Then, they attacked one another. Again and again. Dodging and ducking strikes left and right. Like a dance, but with force and commitment in each attack. Liang shook. This was the enemy, Liang thought. Something sounded odd about that. Enemy? What had they done to him? He looked around, hoping he was not drawing any eyes. When he was sure he was in the clear, he turned back towards the pair.

The power and force in their strikes grew, but they matched their opponents' perfectly. Not a proper hit was laid. The panda and the tiger fought in unison. I have to tell Lu Fang! He thought. I found them. I actually did it! Damn Tai Tzu. This is my victory!

He turned and sped back towards the trail. Now, he was running, but not with fear. While the thought of forest monsters still lingered, this time he chose to run because something in his heart had him excited. He was going to be Lu Fang's hero. He was-

All thoughts stopped when Tai Tzu plummeted in front of him. The bird, though not tall, still had the height to tower over Liang. The little rabbit swallowed the knot in his throat as he looked up at Tai Tzu. The vulture's eyes lit up in the night. Liang cursed himself for not respecting the fear he felt. Forest monsters were real. He was looking at one.

"Greetings." Tai Tzu said politely. He even bowed. "Running from the spooky demons in the forest?"

"I need to speak with Lu Fang." Liang said, hoping to sound imposing. "I h-have news she might want to hear." Dammit!

"Pathetic." Tai Tzu grumbled as he slowly approached the rabbit. Liang tried to backpedal, but a twig beneath him caught his foot and he was sent tumbling to the trail dirt. "You're rather keen on getting on Mistress Fang's good side, aren't you? It's quite sad, really."

Liang reached for the twig he had tripped over. It was small enough to hide in his paw. The thought of it actually being helpful in case things turned sour was, Liang admitted, pathetic, but it made him feel better. It made him feel confident. "What do you want?"

"I want information. That's all." Tai Tzu said. "Did you find the pathetic panda and his minions?"

"I-I… Why do you ask?" Liang decided to play his cards close to his chest.

Tai Tzu laughed. "That's a hard no, then? I asked because I have a score to settle. Seeing as how the palace was torched, I am in dire need of a new rug collection. I was thinking orange and black. Do you think that would look good?"

Liang stood up. The twig never left his paw. "Why are you asking me?"

"Just curious about your tastes. We haven't talked much, so I haven't been able to pin you down. All I know about you is that you're as pathetic as I could've possibly imagined, and you have a…thing… for that whale minion of Mistress Fang."

"She's not a minion." Liang barked.

Tai Tzu laughed hard. "We're all minions. Best accept that. Your whale friend is no different." Tai Tzu looked up into the sky as the echo from his vultures rang in his ears. "I hate to keep you any longer. Come. Let us return to Lu Fang. I look forward to hearing more about yourself."

Tai Tzu began to walk at a brisk pace. Liang was hesitant, but the lingering dread of the forest drew him forwards. He finally dropped the twig and quickly shuffled close to Tai Tzu. Even a psychotic bird was enough to make him feel safe in the dead center of the dark forest. Though the two had a few short exchanges, Tai Tzu's constant petty attitude began to wear on the rabbit.

Liang huffed. Stupid bird. Wait until I tell her what I've found! You'll look like a fool. Maybe I'll even find a way to throw you under. Wouldn't that be great.

The two minions exited the forest and stood before the palace rubble. Lu Fang stood, nearly in the exact pose she was in when Liang had last seen her. Tai Tzu smiled as he gently guided Liang before the giant panda. He shook, closed his eyes, and prepared himself.

"I believe this pathetic thing has something important to tell you." Tai Tzu said with a sneer and a chuckle.

Then, it all clicked. Liang looked at Lu Fang dead in the eye.

"I couldn't find them." Liang said with a confident bow. He would be damned if he would give Tai Tzu the satisfaction of acquiring his precious rug. His desire to please Lu Fang had been worn and replaced with petty and spite. He wanted Tai Tzu to lose. He wanted to watch him burn. He wanted to watch that smug smile fade.

Tai Tzu laughed. "I told you! Pathetic! A failure in every sense of the word."

"I talked with the villagers. They said they had not seen them, and I know they would not lie to me. I can safely say those assassins are not hiding out west."

Lu Fang's lips curled into a hideous frown. "I cannot let them escape."

"What will you do?" Liang said. "Perhaps they've already escaped? Maybe, they snuck out without Tai Tzu's vultures knowing." Liang felt the immediate glare of Tai Tzu on the back of his neck.

Lu Fang shook her head. "I'm tired, Liang. Too tired to care."

"About what?" The answer scared Liang.

"The people of this damned island. Tai? Have your vultures burn every village to ash until you find those assassins. Burn everything to rubble. Give mercy only once those assassins are found."

Liang's heart sank as he looked over at Tai Tzu. His smile was never wider.

Oops.


Tigress rebounded off Po. She came to a quick stop, knee deep in dirt, but still fresh and ready for more. She looked up, snarled, and charged. Po twisted and turned, extending his leg for a mighty kick. Tigress ducked, and knowing Po, readied herself for the belly flop.

The tiger rolled out from beneath, allowing the panda to dig himself into the ground. Before he could lift himself up, she went in for seconds. She pulled the panda by the paw and swung him around, but the panda managed to pull himself free. Tigress was not done. She knew she could not let Po catch a break. She sprang forth, landing a perfect kick to the gut before Po could prepare.

She flipped high, landing on all fours and watched as Po fell backwards. She watched and waited for what was coming next. Instead, Po began to laugh.

"That was awesome!" Po tried to flip himself upright, but the panda overcommitted and landed face first into the grass. "You're learning fast, and you've stopped rebounding off me like most people."

"I have a great teacher." Tigress said.

"I wish I could do more."

Tigress' eyes crossed. "What do you mean?" She helped Po wipe the dust from his fur.

"It's tough to teach someone with a whole different style that your own, you know? You've just got such an aggressive style. It's not a bad thing, just so you know. I guess I just playthings a little more relaxed."

"You want me to be more relaxed?"

"No!" Po said. "Not at all. It's just, I'm not sure if I can help you improve your style. Now, if you ever wanted to fight like I do, then I might have a few things to teach you."

"You've done plenty. There are more than a couple ways to teach, Po. Sitting down at a lecture is only one of them. These little sparring matches we've been doing, they help. Truly."

"Glad to hear." Po forced himself to his feet.

"Because of your… fluff…"

"Thanks for being nice." Po butted in.

"…it allows me to test my strikes more than a tree or a weaker opponent. It gives me a good workout, and I'm grateful." She bowed. "Master."

Po almost melted, but he composed himself enough and bowed back. "Master Tigress."

She straightened herself. "So, are you still having trouble with your chi?"

Po rubbed the back of his head. His face grew warm thinking about it. It was a constant worry of his, and there wasn't a minute that passes when he doesn't think of ways to break the slump. So far, answers haven't presented themselves. "Yeah." Po grumbled softly. "I'll figure it out. Just a little jumbled, I guess."

Before Tigress could speak, they heard it. They were close and coming fast. Too fast. Their terrifying screams echoed through the trees and bushes. Po turned his head towards the sky. Like a black cloud, they came. Vultures. His breathing quickly became fierce and rapid.

"Think they see us?" Po asked.

Tigress shook her head in disbelief. "They're not out scouting." Tigress observed. They formation and the way they flew made it seem like they were on a mission with a specific goal in mind. A raid. "This is bad."

"We have to tell the others."

Po turned to leave, but a quick paw from Tigress yanked the panda back. She stood him stiff and looked deep into his eyes. His labored breathing was opposite of hers. Cool. Calm. Collected. Focused. She held him firm. Po found it hard to make eye contact. His gaze was constantly up at the horde of vultures.

"Look at me." Tigress commanded. Po forced his eyes to do as he was told. "Focus. If things turn sour, we'll need the Dragon Warrior to get us through."

Po shook his head. "We'll need a leader." Po placed a paw on Tigress' shoulder.

"Who says we can't have both?" She said with a smile.

Po smiled back. "Can we run now?"

She nodded.

Po and Tigress bolted back into the forest. They sped along, and for the first time, Po managed to keep pace with the tiger. They reached the edge of the village mere minutes later. The howls of the vultures had gotten worse. Louder. Their shrieks had sent the villagers into a full-blown panic. Tigress looked up. They emerged from the dark clouds and covered the light the full moon provided.

From their black cloud of death, fire rained down. Arrows. They littered the ground and houses alike. One small flaming arrow would turn into a housefire. The housefire would spread to the neighbor. Fields of grass were quickly set ablaze. The screams from the innocent citizens overtook the terrible cries of the vultures above. Po barreled into Chek's house with Tigress hot on his heels. Chek, Mantis, Crane, Viper, and Monkey looked at them with wide eyes. Though confused and scared, they were tense and ready for a fight.

"What's happening out there?" Viper asked.

Tigress looked out the window and watched the fires spread. "It's bad. The vultures. They've found us."

"I don't think so." Po observed. "If they had, why attack the entire village? Why not just come straight for us?"

"Lu Fang is crazy." Chek offered a reasonable solution.

Po joined Tigress and watched as arrows of fire rained down. Swaths of houses, farmland, grass, and flowers turned to cinder. The horrors reflected in both their eyes.

"We have to stop her." Tigress whispered, shaking her head.

"They're going to burn down the entire village. We have to help." Crane said.

"What can we do? There are hundreds of them out there!" Monkey roared.

"We have to think of something." Po said. "Reasonably. Nothing rash, but Crane is right. We're helping."

Tigress pulled herself away from the window. She had seen enough. She had seen the aftermath of what these maniacs can do to a village firsthand, and she would be damned if she was going to let it happen again. "We have to draw them away. If we do that, maybe the attack will stop."

"We hope." Mantis said.

"It's the best chance this village has." Viper agreed with Tigress.

"What do you have planned?" Po asked, turning towards Tigress.

The tiger was already gone. She had leapt through the window and into the hailstorm of arrows. Po watched in horror as she dodged arrows and fire alike. She sprang towards a busted cart in the center of town and pulled the wheel from the rotten thing. She rose up and stood there, waiting for the next volley of arrows. Sure enough, they came.

Using the wheel, she dodged and blocked what she could. Some, she managed to divert back at the vultures using the spin of the wheel. Po was left in shock and amazement. He turned to the rest. "Let's get to it!"

He leapt through the window just as Tigress had done. He somehow managed to squeeze through without knocking down the wall but hit the mud below face first. He roared to life as arrows stuck like pins all around him, but he never stopped moving his feet. Behind him, the Furious Five joined.

"What's the plan now?" Po asked, joining Tigress.

She looked around, too embarrassed to admit she didn't have an actual plan. "Get to cover." She ordered. "Now that we have their attention, we can guide them where we want."

The group scattered like ants. Po and Tigress took cover behind the wooden cart. It quickly caught fire as it became riddled with arrows. The rest of the Furious Five had chosen the safety of a brick well that sat in the middle of town. Unlike their wooden cart, bricks don't catch fire.

"So, just out of curiosity, where do we want to guide them?" Po asked, still unsure of the plan.

Chek stood at the window and, with a thunderous voice, called out to the group. "We have boats! Small, but you should be able to fit! Go to the docks!"

"Docks!" Po cried. "Thank you!" Po waved, but Tigress pulled the panda back behind the cart before the arrows could turn him into a fiery pincushion. Tigress looked around for the docks. They were a set of modest buildings near the edge of the water, closer to the mouth of the creek that led from the pond. From the cart to the docks was nothing but a barren, flat land with swaths of fire raging through. "This is bad." Po tightened his fists, closed his eyes, and held his breath. He spoke softly. "I just want you to know that if we don't survive…" He swallowed the growing knot in his throat. "I think I love you."

"I knew it." A familiar voice whispered in his ear. Po opened his eyes.

It was Mantis.

"WOAH!" Po nearly leapt from his fur. "W-Where's Tigress?"

Mantis pointed towards the docks. Po looked up and over the cart. The tiger was already halfway there. She ducked beneath and around arrows as they littered the ground. She leapt with a roar over a patch of fire and reached the boathouse. With one swift motion, she tore the shoddy wooden door from the hinges and leapt inside. Her burning eyes of amber looked back at Po and the Furious Five.

"Come on!" She roared.

Po turned back towards Mantis. Horror and confusion mixed into one emotion he couldn't understand. "For the record…" Mantis began. "…I love you, too." He gave a cheeky grin.

"I… wha-?" Po was baffled at the humor of the bug.

"I'm just goofing around. I won't tell." Mantis tapped Po on the arm. "Unless you ever want me to."

"GUYS!" Tigress roared again. Monkey, Viper, and Crane had already reached boathouse. "Do you have a death wish?!"

"Oh, right!" Po leapt from the cart with the bug on his shoulder. Arrows continued to pepper the ground. The heat from the flames burned the tip of his fur. He dodged what he could just as Tigress had done, but his movements were far less graceful. He tucked under and rolled through the doorway, knocking Monkey, Viper, and Crane aside like a trio of bowling pins. Tigress was too focused on looking for a suitable boat to notice Po's antics.

The boats were strung along the walls, set up and organized in many shapes, sizes, and fashions. Some were small and could barely fit one person. Others could easily fit a small family. In the center of the room was a gap where a stream of water led to the sea.

"Think one of these will work?" Tigress asked, pressing a boat into the water.

Po went over to see what type of boat she had chosen. "What?"

Tigress looked down at where she had dumped the boat to find it missing. It had already sunk. She groaned and grumbled to herself.

"Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Viper asked.

Po looked around. It wasn't just her. A valley of arrows had littered the ramshackle building. The boathouse was on fire. Frantic, Po pulled boat after boat into the water, hoping one would stay afloat. None did.

"Why are these all full of holes?!"

"It's a village of birds." Mantis called out. "With wings, I doubt they have much use for boats."

"Yeah. Yeah. Makes sense." Po grumbled as he pulled one of the last boats into the water. To his amazement, it remained floating. Though a little water filled the bottom, the flow was slow and nothing they couldn't fit once they'd escaped the vultures. "Got it." He smiled proudly.

"Is that the best you could find?" Monkey had to ask.

"Guys?" Viper said, peeping through the window. "They've landed. They're coming this way."

"All right. In we go." Tigress ordered. Without hesitation, Po and the Furious Five loaded into the boat. Crane, not finding the room, decided to hover above and help push the boat out of the boathouse and into the open sea. Po helped Crane, using his strength to speed up the process just as the vultures swarmed with spears and bows at the ready.

"Duck!" Crane called.

"They're vultures." Mantis said as arrows began bombarding the hull of the boat. "Oh… I get it."

"Mantis! Row!" Tigress commanded.

Mantis saluted. "Yes, ma'am." He said, almost annoyed. He got low to the water and began to paddle with whatever his one good arm could muster. He was too small to fear the arrows, so naturally was the only one not inside the boat to take cover. He wasn't fast enough, however. The vultures kept pace easily. "They're catching up!"

Tigress lifted her head above the sideboards of the boat and watched as hundreds of vultures flooded the sky. With arrows at the ready, she prepared herself. Tigress ducked down and, with all her strength, tore a beam from the boat's stern. Arrows came with force, but Tigress was fast. She leapt up onto the rim of the boat and, using the beam as a shield, caught or deflected what she could.

The beam quickly turned to cinders and ash that fell between her fingers. Another volley, and the boat was set aflame. Mantis saw the futility in paddling, so he leapt back into the flaming boat as the vultures surrounded them. The boat had not gotten a hundred feet into the open water before it came to a sudden stop. The vultures seeing the failed attempt to escape, stopped firing. A moment of eerie silence passed. The vultures hovered above. Their bows were drawn and ready to rain death, but they didn't. Yet.

From the crowd of vultures, Tai Tzu pushed his way to the front. He flew low to the water and seemed to float across the sea as he neared. A constant smile lingered on his face. It was twisted. Sadistic. Confident. His eyes remained still as glass.

"Look at what we have here." Tai Tzu scoffed. "A bunch of strays about to die on a sinking boat in the middle of the sea."

Po stood tall and proud. "If you choose to continue this fight, you'll find out the hard way that the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five always have a few tricks up our sleeves!"

"You don't have sleeves."

Po cursed himself and grumbled.

"Remember. Focus." Tigress was at his side.

"Right!" He once again stood tall. "Tell Lu Fang that if she wants to talk, I'll talk, but only on the condition you allow my friends to leave. Unharmed."

Tai Tzu was holding back the laugher. "Really?" He looked around at the army of vultures that surrounded the sinking boat. "You're going to make demands? I hope you know Lu Fang was looking forward to working with you, Dragon Warrior Po. She truly was, but strong ties such as that can still be severed with the right words and actions. I'm afraid that in order to regain that trust, you'll have to do better than that pathetic offer. Best hurry. Your… boat seems to be sinking rather rapidly."

Po turned to the Furious Five. His eyes were wide and full of uncertainty. His breathing was fast and heavy. "Any ideas?" He whispered. The silence he received was scarier than the vultures or their arrows. He nodded to himself and turned around. He was lost for words.

Tai Tzu shook his head. "Shame. Death it is. Any last words, panda?"

Po hoped the right words would come out, but a looming echo drew their attention. From the horizon came a figure. It moved swiftly through the water. Like a dart. A beautiful, black and white beast. Po's eyes lit up as the sea panda tore through the sea. Tai Tzu was forced to squint in order to get a better look. Now, he was the one hoping to find the right words. The killer whale was approaching far too quickly.

"What the devil?" It was all Tai Tzu could muster before the beast breached. Its mouth opened wide. Tai Tzu scrambled to find his wings. With air beneath his feathers, he took off into the sky as the jaws of the mighty creature slammed shut mere inches from his rear. He flew high and looked down as the beast crashed back into the water. "Screw it. Final words be damned. LOOSE!"

Like a wall of death, the arrows came. Tigress braced herself, but Po was swift and determined. He pulled the tiger down, forcing himself in front of the tiger as the arrows neared. With his eyes shut, accepting his fate, he missed the magnificent sight of the whale as it breached for the second time. Tigress couldn't tell if she should be amazed or horrified, but the behemoth opened its mouth. Inside, sitting on the tongue, was a little rabbit. Liang smiled and waved as the whale landed atop them. Once more, they were all surrounded by darkness.

The curses of Tai Tzu and the rest of the vultures were drowned out as Po and the Furious Five were carried away through the water. Finally, they all thought, they were going back to mainland China. Back home, they hoped.


A/N: Hey! Been a while! Sorry it came so late. Life happens. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for reading! I'm not exactly sure, but I looked at my outline and I think I counted about 6 more chapters until the end, so we're getting close. Of course, that's if I stick to my outline, which I'm terrible at.

Anywho, once again, thanks for reading! I can't thank you guys enough.