Before Setting Sail

Misdirection

"Remember," Junjie told the white messenger goose. "Deliver the news to the Dragon Master or your Emperor here dies."

The white goose gulped, realizing the Emperor's life was in his hands.

"Understood," the goose agreed.

"Great, now go," Junjie ordered.

"So what's next?" asked Tong Fo, walking up to Junjie who stood at the edge of the cliff where the white messenger goose flew off.

"Next, we lead Po on a wild goose chase while we return to the castle," Junjie told him.

"Is this our chance to PLUNDER the place?" asked Temutai.

"That, and much more," promised Junjie. "Fung, is Li-Dong ready?"

"He got the message," promised Fung. "He'll be with the others just like you wanted."

"Good, strong muscle is so hard to find these days," Junjie noted.

oooo

"Dragon Master!"

Po and the others looked up as a white messenger goose flew down.

"I'm the Emperor's messenger goose," the goose informed them.

"That's great," Po remarked. "Got any news on his majesty?"

"I found his Emperor with a bunch of ne'er-do-wells," the goose informed them. "Among that gang is a croc bandit."

"Sounds about right," Po told the rest of his team.

"Good, then we can bring those bandits to justice," Colin got his net gun ready.

"I've always wondered what some of your other villains were like," Akna admitted. "So far we've only went up against Zuma and Sir Alfred together."

"These guys are C-List by comparison," Po told her. "But don't let that fool you. Some of these guys can be dangerous when they put their minds to it."

"In that case," Luthera took out her sword. "Are we ready to do this?"

"Lead the way," Po told the white goose.

oooo

In the Emperor's palace chambers, a hidden door to the wall opened up, revealing Junjie and the Brotherhood of Malfeasance.

"I must say," Junjie told the captive Emperor. "Those underground escape passages you built for yourself were quite ingenious."

"In all this time you thought you'd use them to escape," Tong Fo mentioned. "Never thought they'd be used against you, huh?"

"So now that Po's gone off on a wild goose chase," Fung asked. "Does this mean we get to plunder the castle now?"

"Yes, I believe you promised us riches beyond our wildest imaginations!" Temutai pointed out.

"Never in my craziest dreams did I think I'd get to plunder the Emperor's treasury!" Gah-ri said excitedly.

"Not quite yet," Junjie told them. "Because we have a new plan."

"And what new plan is that?" asked Hundun. "What is so new and innovative that we'd give up taking our gold and indulge in your newest new plan?"

"It's very simple you see," Junjie declared. "Now that we have the Emperor in our power, we have him write and sign a new royal decree!"

"What decree would that be?" asked Taotie, who held the Emperor in one of his mechanical tentacles.

"This hamster will sign a new declaration… declaring me as Emperor of China!" Junjie told them.

"What?!" Fung's mouth opened up wide.

"You?!" Tong Fo looked aghast.

"You wasted our time just to get the throne?!" demanded Temutai.

"Have you stopped to think how me being Emperor can be beneficial to your Brotherhood?" asked Junjie calmly.

"Uh… how do we benefit again?" asked Taotie.

"It's simple," Junjie explained. "Rather than all of you risk prison and become outlaws again by stealing, once I become the Emperor, I can hand over installments of China's treasury as payment… the legal way!"

The Brotherhood of Malfeasance looked at each other and whispered among themselves for a second. What Junjie said did make sense and it did put them at even less risk of being caught and imprisoned.

"You drive a hard bargain but I think your new terms are agreeable," Tong Fo told him.

"Yeah, as long as we get paid, right?" Gah-ri smiled.

oooo

Near the hills to the east of the palace, Po and the Dragon Knights stopped.

"They were here the last time I checked," the white goose told them.

"You sure it was in this direction?" asked Wandering Blade.

"Wait, I see someone," Po pointed out.

At once the earth began to shake.

"Earthquake!" Rukhmini cried.

"No, wait, someone's coming!" Akna pointed out.

"And there's more than one of them," Klaus noted.

A giant crocodile bandit pushed aside two trees. Behind him emerged other warriors, a scorpion, a well-dressed takin with a sword, a cobra, and a brown mantis. And as Po looked around at the ponds nearby, he saw a familiar goldfish he had encountered many years ago.

"Well, I got some news guys" Po told them. "These aren't the bad guys we're looking for."

"I'm sorry Po," the white goose told him. "But they threatened the Emperor's life and made me lead you here!"

"Just get behind us," Luthera told the goose who did what he was told.

"Li-Dong!" Po called out. "You leading this B-Team of goons?"

"B-Team?!" Li-Dong growled angrily. "Who you calling B-Team?!"

"Uh… I did, because you guys aren't the Brotherhood," Po pointed out. "And wow, I haven't seen some of you guys in a while."

"Tell us where the Emperor is!" Luthera pointed her sword at the group.

"I wouldn't know," Li-Dong replied. "No, seriously, I really don't know. The Emperors get changed up so much I really did lose track!"

"Any info you can share about these marauders?" Colin asked Po.

"Yeah," Po pointed out. "Li-Dong is Fung's cousin and the biggest croc in China. That scorpion's name is… Scorpion. She was my second villain after Tai Lung and she dated my dad. The takin is Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow. Yeah, it's a mouthful and he's a mob boss too. The cobra is Fu-xi, a snake who hates all two legged animals. The brown mantis is Dosu and he once dated my friend's girlfriend. Oh yeah, and watch out for that goldfish Mugan. She's tougher than she looks…"

"So none of you even know where the Emperor is?" demanded Klaus.

"No clue, my friend," Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow told him. "Most of us were freed and given simple instructions to keep all of you busy. And now that I'm a free takin, who am I to complain?"

"Hey Fu-xi," Po called out. "Didn't you hate two-leggers? Now I see you working on a team with two-leggers! What's up with that?!"

"That two-legger Junjie set me free," Fu-xi hissed. "I owe him a debt and joining forces with these other two-leggers to take care of you is paying that debt."

"Well, guess we're doing this then?" asked Po.

"Which opponent do you recommend for this old lady, Po?" asked Rukhmini. "I want to get this over with quickly."

"Uh, I don't recommend the goldfish," Po told her. "If we're being honest—"

"Attack!" Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow shouted as the villains surged forward.

"Sorry, don't have time!" Po told the old monkey.

The takin first attacked Luthera with his broadsword. Luthera blocked the blow as the two clashed.

"You look like you're a talented sword wielder, my friend!" Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow told her. "Why don't you join my family? I can make you a very wealthy and influential figure if you become my bodyguard!"

"Not a chance!" Luthera pushed the takin back.

The two of them slashed at each other over and over as Dosu kicked Rukhmini, knocking her down.

"Ow, my back!" Rukhmini cried.

"I'm sorry, Dosu told her. "Let me make it all better for you!"

Dosu grabbed Rukhmini with a greater strength than his small mantis body would indicate and flung her across the air. Rukhmini got a hold of herself mid-air and grabbed a tree, swinging onto the branch.

"Come and get me if you can!" Rukhmini taunted as Dosu angrily flew after her.

On the ground, the venomous cobra stalked Akna who looked at him nervously.

"Any chance we could talk this through?" she asked.

"No, no chance at all, little bird," Fu-xi told her. "We're done talking!"

The cobra whipped her with his tail, knocking her into the air. Akna caught herself mid-air and unleashed the giant metal mechanical fist in her backpack.

"I didn't want to do this but you don't give me much choice!" Akna flew down and drove the metal fist down at the cobra.

Fu-xi dodged gracefully. He coiled his body over and over again, avoiding the hits as Akna threw the giant fist at him.

"I am not impressed," Fu-xi told her.

He slithered around her at a rapid-fire speed, whipping her from all sides with his tail.

"Aaaahhh!" Akna cried as the cobra pummeled her.

Fu-xi dodged another swing of the mechanical fist and head-butted Akna, sending her skidding across the floor.

In the meantime, Colin was struggling against Scorpion. She had grabbed both of his antler swords with her claws. While both of their limbs were engaged, Scorpion had the advantage of still having her stinger tail free to take shots at Colin.

"Stay still and embrace the sting!" Scorpion told him.

Colin was forced to swing his head from side to side to avoid Scorpion's stinger which struck at him repeatedly.

"I still have a fat panda to take care of after I'm done with you!" Scorpion told him. "His skull must sit at the center of my collection."

"With all due respect, miss," Colin told her. "You really need a better hobby!"

Leaping from one pond to another, Mugan struck Klaus over and over again.

"Agh!" Klaus cried. "Stay still!"

"You cannot even track my movements!" Mugan told him. "Pathetic!"

Mugan slapped Klaus mid-air with her tail, knocking him to the ground as she leaped into another pond.

"Agh!" Po cried out as Li-Dong slammed him into a boulder with his tail.

"Leave him alone!" Lucinda cried out.

Li-Dong turned to Lucinda.

"I'll be back for you," Li-Dong promised Po.

The giant croc stomped towards Lucinda.

"Ya got something to say?" Li-Dong demanded.

"Yes, I would very much like for you to stop attacking my daughter's friend," Lucinda told him.

"Fat chance!" Li-Dong raised his hand, intending to attack her.

Quickly, Po leaped behind Li-Dong, putting him in a chokehold.

"Thanks, Blade's mom!" Po told her. "I needed that second wind!"

oooo

"Well then, your majesty, are you ready?" asked Junjie.

The hamster Emperor looked reluctant as he sat at his royal table.

"This… can be done," the Emperor told him. "However, it doesn't change the fact that you're committing treason and I'm doing this under duress!"

"You either sign your signature, signifying your desire to pass on the throne to Junjie with your signature," Hundun told him, pointing a knife at his throat. "Or there will be severe consequences for refusing us your signature signing… so sign!"

"Oh very well," the Emperor relented, seeing the weapon.

The Emperor took out his royal stamp and a parchment of paper. He wrote down a new edict and then placed his official seal on it.

"It's done," the Emperor told them.

"Allow me," Junjie took the paper.

"Everything check out, guy?" asked Fung.

"It's done," Junjie eyed the decree with satisfaction.

"Happy now?" asked the hamster.

"Very," Junjie nodded. "Now, let us go declare my official coronation!"

oooo

"Ready to give up yet, my friend?" asked the takin.

Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow charged at Luthera with a swing but the bear dodged it, countering with a left thrust nearly impaled the takin through the face.

"Whoa!" Jong cried out.

Jong swung at her again but this time, Luthera blocked the blow with her blade in one hand, grabbed the takin's hand with her free hand, and twisted his elbow onto her shoulder, disarming him of his sword.

"Aaaahhh!" Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow cried out.

Before he knew it, Wandering Blade's sword was held across his neck.

"Surrender," she ordered.

"Oh fine," the takin grumbled.

Colin, meanwhile, was doing better after some initial exchanges against Scorpion. Scorpion charged him, intending to hit him with a full dose of her stinger.

Flipping both antler swords upside down, Colin drove them onto the floor, trapping Scorpion's claws.

"No!" she cried.

Then Scorpion realized she still had her trail at her disposal and launched it at Colin's head. The stag avoided it, causing the stinger to strike a rock behind Colin and get stuck.

"It was an honor, ma'am," Colin told her.

In the tree, Rukhmini and Dosu were still exchanging blows with Rukhmini blocking his hits with her staff.

"Give this old lady a break, would you?" asked Rukhmini.

"No chance!" Dosu launched a spin kick at her.

Rukhmini dodged the kick by falling backwards from the branch. Wrapping her tail around the branch, she launched herself back in a loop and kicked Dosu, sending him crashing into a rock on the floor.

"Ugh," Dosu moaned before falling unconscious.

"That's for not respecting your elders!" Rukhmini told her.

Meanwhile, Akna was in a world of trouble as she leaned against a broken log, having taken some punishment from the cobra. The small bird was on the verge of exhaustion from fighting a far stronger, faster, and more skilled foe.

"You will make for a most delicious meal," Fu-xi told her, rearing back his cobra head.

Just as Fu-xi brought his head down, intending to devour her, Akna quickly brought the mechanical hand in her backpack in front of her body. The moment Fu-xi's jaws made contact with the steel, his fangs broke on contact.

"Aaaaahhhh!" Fu-xi screamed in agony at the loss of his fangs.

"Gotcha!" Akna launched herself at him, punching Fu-xi across the jaw with her mechanical fist to knock him out.

Finally, Po brought Li-Dong down with the proper nerve strike on the back of his neck. As he looked up, he saw Klaus fighting Mugan.

The weasel was in trouble as the goldfish was able to hit him while he wasn't able to get in a single hit against her with his blades.

"Klaus, are you alright?" asked Lucinda.

"Nobody asked you!" Mugan leaped out of another pond and struck Lucinda, knocking her down.

"That's it!" Klaus cried. "The gloves are off!"

As Mugan leaped up against, Klaus immediately trapped her in a wind bubble, stopping her cold.

"What is this?!" Mugan cried.

Klaus responded by sucking the air out of her gills.

"Ack!" Mugan cried, struggling helplessly.

It was then that Po realized Klaus was killing her. And no matter how cruel of a kung fu master Mugan was, Po didn't want her death on his conscience.

"Klaus," Po rushed forward. "That's enough! Mugan is defeated!"

"Is it?" Klaus asked. "I've seen the look in this fish's eyes. It's the same eyes I once saw in my sister… someone who's hellbent on hurting and breaking others!"

"Klaus, please," Lucinda told him. "It's alright. You don't need to do this."

Finally, at hearing Lucinda's voice, Klaus calmed down and released his air attack, letting Mugan fall.

Grabbing one of the nearby goldfish bowls, Po caught her in it and placed a lid on it.

"How does it feel to be broken for once?" Po asked her.

"I hate you," Mugan told him bitterly.

"Alright guys," Po told his crew as they tied up the villains. "Let's bring 'em back to the castle for questioning."

oooo

As the group brought back their prisoners on a wagon, they drew closer and closer to the castle.

"Not too long now," Colin was one of the people pulling the cart at the front with Luthera as Po and Klaus maintained their positions in the back.

On the cart were Akna and Rukhmini while Lucinda walked on the left side.

"You were really gonna kill her, weren't you?" asked Po.

"I was," Klaus replied. "But then Luthera's mother's voice stopped me."

"Something tells me this goes deeper than you still having killer tendencies from the old days," Po noted. "Want to talk about it?"

"My sister and I took Lucinda's son from her," Klaus responded sadly. "In the back of my mind I wanted to make amends for what we did. And so I thought if I not only protected Lucinda but took the life of her assailant, I would be able to atone for what happened. But trying to kill that goldfish didn't make me feel any better. And Lucinda didn't want it anyways."

"Trust me," Po told him. "Mugan is a pretty horrible person. But killing her wouldn't have made you any happier or brought you closure. Making amends isn't a one-time thing. It's something you internalize and live out for the rest of your life, with the people you interact with and how you choose to live."

Before Klaus could respond, the group got to the palace and outside there was a large crowd gathered.

"We're here," Luthera looked around. "And just in time for something too."

"Is this a party?" asked Akna.

Finally, at the palace gates, multiple rhino guards stepped out in coronation gear.

"Make way!" a rhino announced. "For the coronation of Emperor Junjie!"

At once, Junjie stepped out followed by the Brotherhood of Malfeasance and more guards. On Junjie's head was the crown that had once been worn by the hamster monarch.

"Greetings, good people of China!" Junjie announced. "I am proud to inform you that from here on out, I will be your absolute monarch!"

"What?!" Po cried out loud. "You've got to be kidding me!"

To be continued.