The Rich Spoils

Po bounced giddily as they walked on the dirt path through the forest. "Can you believe we got invited to the Emperor's Palace?! 'Cause I can't believe it!"

"We do this frequently, Po," Tigress said. "It's not that earth-shattering."

"Yeah, but this time there's no war, plague, or some silly romance going on in the palace. It's just a simple banquet! I'm just glad we can finally rest from all the craziness that's been going on," Po said. Tigress smirked a bit. She wasn't sure how true that would be since they were bringing Po. Through bamboo and broadleaf deciduous forests, the team trekked out along scenic roads slowly becoming more formal. From dirt paths to paved roads, they neared the city surrounding the royal palace.

Master Shifu took a long sigh, "Now Po, this new Emperor seems to be friends with us. So please be on your best behavior."

"I'm always on my best behavior."

"No, you aren't," said the others. Po crossed his big arms in a pout.

"Besides, we really don't know why Emperor Heping sent for us. It's... unusual," Shifu said.

"So far he's been living up to his name with the whole Mama Yun incident," Tai Lung muttered; Heping means peace or calm. "But for now, let's keep calm. Just go in, keep an eye on Po, and get out."

"Right."

"Hey! I'm right here," Po exclaimed. The others lightly laughed as they finally crossed the city border. A poorer strip of houses surrounded the outskirts of the palace city on the Southeast side where they entered. People happily carried on with their lives, selling food, trading, and chatting about some gossip. But all ceased when the masters came in. The poor town bowed in respect until they passed on. "Huh, they don't look so... dismal."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Mantis asked.

"Yeah, but... I guess I'm used to the poorer side of town being a... wreck," Po explained.

"Compared to the luxury of the richer side," Tai Lung grunted. They walked on through the middle-class part of the city where the same thing happened. Happy people living modest lives. Clothes washed and shining a little brighter and newer than the poor side of town. Yet they were content, it seemed.

Then they got to the richer side of the city. Elegant buildings and wide miniature palaces stood around Zen gardens, flowering orchards, and amazing sculptures showing the residence's glory and faces.

But the scowls and begrudging bows contrasted the flattery swarmy officials that would slow them down with questions just long enough for others to see. Viper sighed, "I hate coming here sometimes. Why do rich people care so much about us just to inflate their egos?"

"Wealth and status are very important to people who have a lot of it, even if they don't want it," Tai Lung explained. "When you're at the top, everyone can see you, so you have to be careful. You have to care about appearances because they're connected to your power and influence."

"That was... very insightful," Tigress mentioned.

"It's something Shifu told me when I was young," Tai Lung muttered, "The only difference between warriors and these people is the duty to do the right thing, even if it costs us."

"That... doesn't sound awesome," Po whimpered.

Shifu smiled, "It's not. But it does make you more resilient. You can focus on doing the right thing and not worry about what others think about you."

They moved on, finally coming to the grand palace. Fashioned in a lively red with golden dragons coiling down its mighty pillars, the palace held a wide-open flat courtyard. Guards were stationed every ten or twenty feet lining the walls of the square. "They could fit two Jade Palaces here!" Po exclaimed. Just then, he came. The masters saw the approaching palanquin carried by four pigs. A bulky dull green crocodile walked two steps behind the procession. A scabbard strapped to his right matched his large leather breastplate. The palanquin lowered to the ground in front of them. Out of its blush red curtains came a dazzlingly dressed gazelle adorned in the traditional crown. A red silk robe flowed from head to toe while the crown was fashioned into a golden bejeweled headdress of many gems. The masters bowed as he stepped down from his elevated throne.

"Welcome, Masters of the Jade Palace. It warms my heart to see you," He spoke with the plainest tone imaginable. He neither frowned nor smiled, and as the team rose from the ground, Po couldn't tell if he was slightly enraged or deeply troubled by something.

"We're grateful for this momentous occasion, Emperor Heping. We are honored by your presence," Master Shifu said with a bow.

"One of my trusted generals, Pantu, will be attending the banquet." The gazelle pointed to the crocodile. "Please, let us commence." The team followed the royal procession back into the massive walls of the palace. The red gates opened up to another courtyard with several guards stationed atop its walls. Po gulped.

"Are you okay?" Tigress asked. "You seem nervous."

"I feel like they'll attack if I just fart in the Emperor's direction," Po whispered. One of the guards on the walls snapped his glaring eyes straight at Po. The panda whimpered and straightened back up.

They finally got to the main building, decorated in a shining crimson sheen. The hatted roof held banners of the Emperor's clan with a deer-like shadow. The third set of large gates opened and closed behind them, sealing them inside the spacious majestic halls of the palace. Grand crystalline chandeliers hung from the second floor while large silk windows and doors held etchings and weavings of court histories and victorious battles. Po could see his battle with Tai Lung on one of them, but he didn't tell the snow leopard. The weaver put Tai Lung in a very... unflattering position.

The royal procession stopped, making everyone tense. The Emperor gave a loud sigh and took the crown and long robe off, showing a plain jade vest with brown lining. "Ugh! Finally, home sweet home."

"We went a couple yards your Majesty," Pantu commented.

"And yet I felt each of those guards' eyes like I was being watched by a thousand suns," Heping muttered. He turned around and bowed to the masters. "I'm sorry about the... formal antics. You know how much status and image are important to powerful people."

"Unfortunately, we do," Tai Lung muttered.

"Your Highness, I must ask, why the formalities? You don't trust your own guards?" Shifu asked.

"You'd be surprised how much information seeps out of the palace. The only reason why I'm so... informal past this point is because people can't say I was an OPEN disgrace."

"But you're the emperor. Can't you just kill them off?" Mantis asked. The whole team looked at the bug on Po's shoulder with wide eyes. "What? We were all thinking it."

"Then I would have to commit another murder just to keep that one from being a problem and then another, and another," the gazelle dismissively waved his hoof. "After four or five, it becomes too much and harder to rule."

"If it's such a problem just to go outside, why have us come for dinner?" Po asked.

The gazelle sighed, "Because after your involvement with Princess Maoqi's... departure, I figured I should learn more about the best Kung Fu warriors in all of China and... Oh, who am I kidding? My advisor and General Pantu said it would look good for publicity. It would make up for my decision on Princess Maoqi and her... special friend."

"So this is just for show?" Tai Lung asked. Heping nodded. "But you don't really care about what we're doing?"

"You're doing a good job. Did you want more than that?"

"Food?" Po said. The gazelle smiled.

"Right this way." The team went to a long immaculate table with every dish known to animal kind. As they sat, Po was ushered to sit next to the Emperor while Tigress sat on the left. Viper slithered up to her seat.

"Please, allow me," Pantu said, pulling the chair out.

"Oh! Thank you," Viper smiled.

"I have to say, your Highness, even if this is for publicity, it's not very... public," Shifu said, sitting next to Po.

"I know, but it's better than nothing. I also wanted to talk about the decision with Princess Maoqi. I thought you would like a report."

Po and Viper narrowed their eyes. "What happened?" The bear asked.

"They're fine. Well protected. It's just the official was... disposed of."

"You fired him?"

"He was killed," Emperor Heping corrected.

"Uhhhh has the killer been found?"

"No."

"Why?"

Heping smirked, "Because I can't arrest a mountain."

"Uhhhh what?"

"He died in a landslide. Surprisingly, he was on his way towards Princess Maoqi when this happened. He and his men were killed when they tried to take the mountainous path during the night."

"Wow," Po said.

"I tell you so you can tell Princess Maoqi, wherever she is."

The panda relaxed into his chair and sighed, "I'm sure she and Rua will be stoked for that. Oooh rice cakes."

"Nope! That's mine," Tai Lung grumbled.

"Hey!"

"Stop it you two," Tigress grunted.

Heping smiled, "I didn't think your team had such a family dynamic."

"You have no idea," Po smiled back.

The gazelle's smile waned. "I do wish me and brother had a similar relationship."

"Prince Qipian? What do you mean?" Po asked.

"He's... difficult. I believe being a royal since birth has affected his mind. Of course, maybe it's just a want for power."

Shifu rose an eyebrow. "That is dangerous."

"But he's family, unfortunately," Heping sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry, he shouldn't become an issue. For now, let's eat."

The team ate until an hour or so passed.

Tai Lung chuckled as he whispered to Tigress, "Seems like Viper is quite entranced by the croc over there." The tiger looked at her serpentine friend. Viper chuckled and laughed while the smiling crocodile gazed at her with a love-sick grin. Tigress shook her head and smiled, sipping her tea.

"Looks like everyone's finding love."

"You think someone like Po will find it?"

"If they can get past the fangirling," Tigress smirked.

Tai Lung laughed. The Emperor asked them to stay for the night. The team got their private quarters. Po groaned as he plopped onto his mat. "Woof! That was a lot of food."

"I never thought I'd see the day when you were full," Monkey laughed.

Tigress smiled at the team when she noticed someone was missing. "Where is Viper?"

"I'm here," The snake smiled widely, humming to herself as she slithered to her bed.

"Looks like you're over the moon," Tai Lung smirked.

"Oh, uhh... It's nothing really. It's just... it turns out that General Pantu and I have some history. He used to be one of the guards for my family."

"That's... convenient," Tai Lung slowly said.

"That he's here?"

"That he became the general," Tai Lung answered Viper.

"Bureaucracy in China is often done by nepotism," Shifu sighed. "In fact, that's one thing that made Master Oogway different from other masters. He chose by merit... most times."

"Okay, doom and gloom later," Po gently hushed, "Soooo, do you like him?"

"Oh Po, I'm not that love-sick. He's just a nice person, that's all."

"Uh-huh. Where have I heard that before?"

"THAT IS PRIVATE, PO!" Viper snapped, glaring hard with a blushing face at the panda. Po covered his mouth but laughed as the snake quietly hissed in frustration. The room looked at each other.

"Uhhh are we missing something?" Crane asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Just some... mistakes made when we were with Mama Yun," Po chuckled. Viper hissed and slid onto her mat. "Hey, I'm just kidding, Viper."

"Hmph."

"It's not your fault that-"

"We agreed not to talk about it, remember?"

"Alright, sorry, sorry," Po said with a warm smile. Viper rolled her eyes.

"I hope we'll get to hear the story sometime," Tigress mentioned.

"When it's not as embarrassing," Viper replied. Just then, a knock at the door came. Tai Lung opened it. A small goose stood with his wings behind his back.

"I come from General Pantu. He wants to see Master Viper in his quarters."

"Of course. Viper, your crush wants you."

"Tai Lung!" Viper groaned. "I'll be back before it gets dark. Hopefully, this won't take long."

Po smiled, "Be careful."

"I'll be fine, Po," Viper smiled back. With that, she followed the winged creature. Po stared at the door a little longer as she disappeared.

"Are you okay, Po?"

"Hm? Yeah, I'm fine, Tigress. Why?"

"You're frowning."

"I am? Oh, I... didn't notice. A little sleepy, I guess," Po yawned.

"We should all get to sleep," Master Shifu said. Everyone left the common room and went to their quarters.

The moon's place shifted in the sky. Everyone was sound asleep in their private rooms while a slithering snake quietly tried to get to her quarters without anyone noticing.

But the panda's door opened with a small lantern in hand. "Ugh, stupid night peeing. Huh? Viper?"

"Po!" The snake turned her head straight, away from his gaze. "Wh-What are you doing up?"

"Did you just come back?"

"Y-Y-Yeah, sorry. I... uhh... left General Pantu's place late."

Po narrowed his eyes. Though sleepy, he could see the wide-eyed expression on the snake's face. She was shaking. Like she was cold. Po knelt at her height. She wasn't facing him. She was looking down at the ground.

"Viper, are you okay?"

"Yes, yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine, Po!" Viper snapped.

The panda's head jerked back. "Okay, okay," Po replied.

"I'm sorry, I'm just... really tired. I'll talk more in the morning." The snake slithered on trying to get to her room.

"You remember what you told Rua? About being dishonest and not trusting people you should?" Po said.

She stopped and hung her head. She shut her eyes and struggled to keep the emotion yearning for release. Po rounded her and knelt again, facing her. Viper slowly lifted her head. Her face was gently illuminated by the lantern's soft glow. Po delicately stroked her cheek, making her notice the wetness on it. She shut her eyes again and sighed.

He knew.

He knew she was crying.

"Now tell me," Po said seriously, staring straight into Viper's eyes. "What's wrong."

Continued...