Before Setting Sail
Homecoming
"Oh, what to do," Constable Hu sat down at the bar of the restaurant. "What to do…"
The constable's nerves were frayed. Emperor Junjie was back for revenge against the Jade Palace and Hu's career was on the line, in addition to possibly his life if he didn't do things to the Emperor's satisfaction.
"How ya doing constable?" asked the waiter.
"I could be doing better," Hu admitted. "May I see your menu?"
"Coming right up," the waiter took out the menu.
"Thank you," Hu told him. "Now if you excuse me, I wish to look this over."
The waiter nodded and left. Constable Hu sat down and looked through the menu. Then it struck him that Gah-ri and the others didn't even tell him what exactly they wanted. For all Hu knew, he could order the wrong food, give members of the Emperor's entourage food allergies, and land himself in even more hot water.
As Hu fretted over the menu, he did not even notice four hooded figures joining him and sitting next to him at the bar.
"Watcha looking at?" asked the stranger.
"Huh?" Hu turned to the side.
"You know, it's been a long time since we've seen each other," Po told him.
"It's you!" Hu realized but quickly, Po covered his giant mouth.
"Not so loud," Po told him.
"Can we really trust this guy?" asked Luthera.
"We're still on the same page, right?" asked Po.
Finally, Hu nodded his head and settled down.
"I'm glad you've returned," Hu whispered to Po. "The Emperor is a madman and he's throwing his power around like a drunken tyrant!"
"Yeah, we noticed," Po said with a deadpan expression.
"He's even expecting me to bring back the finest cuisine back to the Jade Palace," Hu told Po.
"Well, you certainly look like you could afford it," Rukhmini scanned Hu up and down, noticing that he was a very wealthy elephant. "By the way, have I mentioned that my adoptive daughter is married to a very wealthy elephant like yourself?"
"Eh, that is a very interesting tidbit," Hu looked at Po's friends. "Say Po, where did you meet these people?"
"They're overseas friends of mine," Po told him.
"Glad to meet your acquaintance," Luthera told him.
"Hey there," Akna waved.
"Have I mentioned how much you resemble my son-in-law?" asked Rukhmini.
"Well, uh, it's very nice to meet you people," Hu told them before getting down to business. "In any case Po, are you here for what I assume is defeating those villains currently occupying the Jade Palace?"
"We are," Po confirmed.
"I don't wish to be a pessimist," Hu told him seriously. "But Junjie has hundreds of troops stationed here and fighting all of them off could be difficult."
"We realize that," Po replied. "Which is why other members of my current gang are taking care of it."
"They are, eh?" Hu looked surprised. "There are more team members to your motley crew of friends?"
"Can't reveal who they are," Po told him. "But yes. We've got a plan and it's being carried out right now. I just can't tell you how, kinda like how my dad doesn't share all the family recipe secrets."
Hearing that, Hu felt a bit safer.
"Well then, perhaps I won't need to be spending my own money to appease the Emperor's entourage after all."
"Actually, you should probably still do that," Po told him. "You know, just to be safe."
"Yeah, Junjie might have your head if you go back there empty-handed," Akna nodded.
"You should definitely pay out of your own pockets," Rukhmini nudged Hu.
"I… oh fine," Hu finally gave up, deciding the group did have a point.
oooo
"Free samples, gentlemen?" asked Lucinda.
The mother Luthera walked around, handing out free food samples. Joining them were Zeng, Forouzan, and Mr. Ping.
It helped that Forouzan, Lucinda, and Zeng could walk around freely, considering Junjie never found out that they were part of Po's group while Mr. Ping was also able to slip under the radar.
"You boys look like you could use some refreshment after doing a hard day's work for the Emperor," Forouzan continued handing out food to the rhino soldiers.
As Mr. Ping walked towards a table, he saw a hooded figure motioning him over.
"How's it going so far, dad?" asked Po in disguise.
"Everything is going according to plan," Mr. Ping told him. "Everything should set in after an hour or two."
"The plan you and mom came up with was genius," Po told him.
"Well, the Pirate Queen and I once pulled a similar scheme years ago when it came to plundering this heavily guarded fortress in the Levant," Mr. Ping replied.
"Who knew your pirating days would help get us this far," Po told him.
"Say Dragon Master," a smaller robed figure tugged at Po's sleeve.
Po turned towards the former hamster emperor.
"You're certain this plan will work and I'll be restored to the throne?" asked the hamster.
"Just trust in me and my dad," Po reassured the ex-royal. "I dealt with these villains before in my Dragon Warrior days and my dad knows his way around dealing with large numbers of royal guards and soldiers."
"Very well then," the hamster finally nodded.
"And Klaus," Po turned to his pupil who also wore a robe to hide himself. "We've been over the plan. You know what to do?"
"Yes, focus on Pai Mei since my powers can counter his," Klaus agreed. "Create plenty of openings for my allies to strike him hard and fast."
"Alright Klaus," Po smiled. "I admit I haven't really trained anyone with wind magic before but the time we did put in together will have to do. Tonight's the night you show what you're made of."
"Your teams can concentrate on either Pai Mei or Kim," Peng told Po from the shadows. "I'll take care of the rest."
"Looks like we're all set then," Po grinned.
oooo
"Should Hu not be back by now?" asked Fung.
"Yeah, what's it been already?" noted Tong Fo. "One hour? Two hours?"
Some time had passed in the Jade Palace. And to everyone's impatience, Hu was not yet back with the food.
Finally, Constable Hu opened up the door and brought in the delivery food he had retrieved.
"About damn time," Scorpion narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're late," Junjie told him.
"Well, you know," Constable Hu scratched his head nervously. "You never really specified what food you wanted and I had to take my time to make sure the Emperor and his entourage got the best."
"You saw what I did to Temutai," Pai Mei told him. "Had you come here one minute later, I would have done the exact same thing to you!"
"Er yes," Hu felt a cold sweat go down his neck. "I am sorry I kept you waiting, Master Pai Mei."
"Guess we can go help ourselves to the helpings of food?" asked Hundun.
"By all means," Junjie gestured.
"Finally!" Lidong stomped forward.
"It's about time," Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow rubbed his hands together.
"Your majesty!"
Suddenly, a rhino soldier appeared at the gate.
"I bring bad news!" the rhino told them urgently, not looking too well himself.
"What is it?" demanded Junjie.
"All our forces in the Valley," the rhino told them. "They have…"
At once, the rhino threw up on the floor.
"Food poisoning…" the soldier finished before passing out.
"Somehow, I think I've lost my appetite," Taotie looked grossed out.
oooo
"Well, our work here is done," Mr. Ping smiled triumphantly.
All over the town were sick rhino soldiers who had food poisoning. He, Forouzan, Lucinda, and Zeng had done their jobs well.
"I'm glad we played our part," Lucinda beamed. "Now Luthera and the others can focus on their battles."
"H-Help…" a rhino soldier on the ground crawled forward until he bumped into the hamster who used to be his Emperor.
"If I don't fire you once I become Emperor again," the hamster crossed both arms sternly. "Expect a big pay cut to your salary!"
Mr. Ping turned to the side and saw a familiar sight. Before them were the ruins of the building that had once housed Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop.
Po's goose father sighed in resignation.
"Oh, how I wish I could've taken you to my noodle shop, dear," Mr. Ping told Forouzan.
"It's alright," Forouzan stood next to her lover. "What was once lost can always be rebuilt… just like our love."
"I'm sorry you had to go through this," Lucinda told him.
"Yeah, it would've made a great honeymoon spot," Zeng tried to reassure him.
It was at that moment that staring at the ruins of his former noodle shop began to stir something in Mr. Ping, something that he hadn't felt in a long time. And it was a feeling of vengeance that he hadn't felt since his old pirating days.
"They attack my son, destroy my noodle shop," Mr. Ping said angrily. "And then they have the nerve to attack and occupy the home where I raised Po. I won't allow Junjie to get away with this!"
Mr. Ping walked over to an unconscious rhino soldier with vomit still on his lips and picked up his sword.
"One way or another, Junjie is gonna pay!" Mr. Ping declared.
"I'll be right there by your side, dear," Forouzan promised him.
"Are you going up there to join them?" Lucinda asked. "Luthera did tell us to keep clear of the action."
"Ping and I can handle ourselves," Forouzan told her. "We'll be alright."
Side by side, the former pirating couple walked off to join the fight.
"Uh, good luck?" Zeng waved.
oooo
"You're in on this, Hu!" Junjie pointed a finger at the elephant constable.
"Err, in on what?" asked the elephant.
"You probably have the food poisoned!" Junjie told him.
"I assure you I know nothing of what you're saying!" Hu protested.
Things did not look good for him, however. All the rogues were flanking him from all sides with malicious intentions. And it didn't take a genius to figure out what their intentions were for him.
"But I know!" a voice rang out.
"You!" Junjie growled.
Po stood at the entrance of the door.
"It was our idea to give all your troops food poisoning before we came to face you," Po told them. "Had to make sure we'd get all of you in one place!"
"Even without my imperial army, you and all your friends are no match for my special forces!" Junjie told him.
"Wanna bet?" Po crossed his arms. "Now, Peng!"
At once, Peng leaped down from the ceiling, knocking out Hundun and Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow with a sweeping aerial kick. He landed and punched Fung out. Tong Fo leaped at him, kicking and punching but Peng dodged those moves and struck the loris with his palm, sending the crime lord flying into a pillar.
As Peng took on all of the regular rogues in a manner eerily reminiscent of Tai Lung's ability to take on large amounts of fighters all at once, Po got in front of Kim the Invincible as he moved towards Peng.
"Not so fast Kim," Po told him. "You and I have unfinished business!"
Soon, Po was joined by Luthera and Akna.
"I broke you once before, Dragon Warrior!" Kim growled. "And I can just as easily do it again!"
"This time Po has his friends by his side," Luthera told him.
Luthera swung his sword but Kim caught it with one hand. Po leaped in after that and kicked Kim in the chest, forcing back a step or two.
"How you recovered so fast is beyond me," Kim told him. "But I will happily finish this job once and for all!"
Before long, all of the ordinary Valley of Peace criminals lay there in a heap, courtesy of Peng, including Fung, Tong Fo, Hundun, Scorpion, Dosu, and all the others.
"Ow, my back," Fung groaned as Peng stepped on and over him to face the Emperor.
"It's over, Junjie," Peng told him.
Right as Peng stood up, he was joined by Rukhmini, Klaus, and Colin.
"Is it?" Junjie asked. "Master Pai Mei, please take care of these interlopers."
Pai Mei's hands glowed as he walked towards the second team menacingly.
"This is it, guys," Klaus whispered to his team.
At once, Klaus enveloped his entire group with a magical air bubble.
"What?" Pai Mei looked a bit surprised Klaus was able to manifest his power in a different way.
"Catch us if you can!" Rukhmini taunted as Klaus flew his team out of the Jade Palace and down the steps.
Little did Pai Mei or Junjie even realize, luring Pai Mei out of the palace was part of the group plan. Due to the nature of Pai Mei's powers, the potential for him destroying the Jade Palace in an explosion was too high and they needed to take the fight to a more open area where they could keep him occupied and counter him from all sides.
"Mock me, will you?!" Pai Mei glared angrily as the air bubble flew down the palace steps towards the town.
Pai Mei grabbed a shield and got inside it like it was a bowl. Activating his powerful blast punch, Pai Mei launched himself into the air and towards the group as he blew up the ground beneath the shield to get airborne.
"This is it, Klaus," Peng told him. "Remember your training."
Klaus said nothing as he focused on keeping the air bubble together, flying the group towards the ground level as he took a brief glance to see the murderous kung fu master Pai Mei coming after them with rage and killing intent in his eyes as he rode the shield skillfully like a surfboard down the palace steps.
Po, Luthera, and Akna would fight Kim up high while the agreed upon strategy was that the rest of the party would handle Pai Mei down below.
"Now might not be the most appropriate time to mention this," Rukhmini told the group. "But right after the constable bought all that food, I stole his wallet from right under him."
Everyone in the air bubble gave her a funny look.
"Seriously, Rukhmini?!" Colin demanded.
"What?" Rukhmini stated honestly. "I figured I'd do at least one last heist if we don't make it out of this alive! Besides, my son-in-law is an elephant so it's alright to rob Hu. The guy seemed like he needed to loosen up anyways."
"In what world is it alright to steal from someone in a different country just because your son-in-law is the same species as him in another country?" Colin looked flabbergasted.
The conversation made Klaus briefly lose focus but he quickly got his air bubble back into balance as the group finally got to the ground and town level.
"We're going to have to table this discussion about thievery for another time," Klaus told them. "All of us are sinners to some extent and Po gave all of us a chance. Besides…"
Finally, Pai Mei landed, flipped the shield over onto his hands, and powered it up with the Five Fingered Blast Punch.
"Now we need to deal with a bigger problem," Klaus readied Oogway's staff that Po lent him for the battle.
Once the shield was fully charged up, Pai Mei threw it at them.
To be continued.