The Curse of Family
Their legs burned as they ran at top speed. Tai Lung carried Crane on his back. The bird told everyone how he tried his best to get to Mr. Ping's shop before they came, but the bandits were too many. Crane must have fought 50 bandits before he got to the shop. At least, that's what Viper said by the groaning bodies the bird left in his wake. "You did well, Master Crane. You did well," Shifu said.
"Focus on getting your rest," Tai Lung grunted. "It'll be a bumpy ride, but-"
"I'll be fine," Crane rasped.
"What about my dads?"
"They tried their best, but the bandits got to the kids before we could," Monkey said as they continued running around the rocky terrain under the lush greenery. Po's panda asthma threatened to take over. The tiger kept holding him back.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not. We can't have you winded before the battle," Tigress warned. "And we can't let our emotions get the better of us in this fight. We have to be controlled. We don't know what our opponent is like other than what the Emperor has told us."
"She's right, Po," Zhen added, "We'll get them back. Either way, they can't do much. They want Mai, remember?"
"That's not much comfort," Jiaohua muttered as he darted in front of them with his brothers. "Prince Qipian has always been spoiled and self-conceited. I wouldn't put it past him to harm the kids just to get my attention. GRRR! I should've never allowed Lin to-"
"Self-loathing ain't gonna get your son back, brother," Hao said.
"He's right," Xuyao wheezed. "And running at full speed towards our opponent doesn't give us strength."
Jiaohua groaned and slowed down. Crane slowly got off Tai Lung's back and stretched his wings. "Okay, I'll see if I can find something." The bird whooshed up and out of sight while the others quickly trudged through the thin forest. Gently, the incline ascended. Rising over the ridge, they saw in the distance a large wooden house carved into the edge of a mountain, high above the forest. It jutted out slightly with a hanging balcony scanning the surrounding greenary. Iron struts and beams underneath held it from collapse, and the avocado-colored hatted roof blended with the green mountain.
Zhen groaned at another house on a cliff. "Not again."
"Don't worry. If all goes well, this place won't be intact when we leave it," Po said grimly.
"Jiaohua, I have to ask you something," Tigress spoke up. "If you knew the danger of letting Lin into the village, why did you let him?"
"The kid needs friends. And with the work I do... that I did, I knew he needed somewhere he could call home, even for a moment," Jiaohua sighed. "It was stupid, but... that wasn't the main reason why I let him stay. I was perfectly content with never letting him go to the village again. But... things changed when he met Lei Lei."
"I know he likes Lei Lei, but... why does that matter?" Tigress asked.
The wolf stopped, halting all the warriors behind him as he turned around with a face none of them expected.
"Would you believe me if my wife and I thought they would make a cute couple when they grew up?" Jiaohua grinned nervously.
"WHAT?!" Hao and Xuyao bashed their brother over the head.
"We've been risking your life and your son's just because you and Mai wanted to SHIP THEM?!" Hao shouted.
"I swear I don't get how you were the Emperor's General and not us," Xuyao groused.
"Hey! I was just saying they would be OWWW!" Jiaohua wailed as his larger brother hit his head again.
"Alright, alright!" Po groaned, "We'll beat up Jiaohua later. Right now, we need to make sure that his 'ship' can still happen."
"Oh don't act like you didn't wish it, too panda," Tai Lung laughed.
"I'm more mature than that."
"By what? Three seconds?"
"Oh this is coming from the snow leopard that went into a hissy fit just because he didn't get a blank scroll!"
"That is completely different and you know it AHH!"
"OWW!"
Before the snow leopard and panda knew it, Tigress had both of them by their ears with a face that was 100% done with their behavior.
"Can we please focus on the fact that Lei Lei and Lin are in the hands of a narcissistic prince?!" She hissed.
"Ahh! Aaah! Okay Okay! Fine!" Po whimpered. Tigress released them, and the boys rubbed their ears.
Shifu shook his head with a sigh. "Sometimes this team acts too much like family."
They made their way towards the royal summer house. As they ascended stone steps, Crane swooped back to them. "Any luck?" Zhen asked.
"They're there," Crane grumbled. "I saw them on the balcony for a moment with the Emperor's brother. They know we're here."
"Good. That will make this quick and easy," Po spoke. His voice had lowered. It was unnervingly calm. Crane stood next to Tai Lung and rested his wing on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" the snow leopard asked.
"I think I know what Po's going to do. Just... I may need your help."
"For what?"
"Not to quiver in fear."
The snow leopard nodded and they went quietly up the stairs with Po taking the lead. Zhen felt something was off. Her eyes fell on her ursine master's back. The aura around him grew heavy, making her ears droop. "Don't be scared," said a kind voice next to her. "You'll be fine."
"It's Po I'm worried about."
"Hmm. He hasn't told you what happened when we went to the palace," Viper stated. The fox shook her head. "Well, just remember. We're doing this for two kids."
"I know."
"I say that because you need to understand what Po's about to do," Viper said gravely. She quickly told Zhen what happened. The fox's eyes widened, and she pointed to Po's back in disbelief. "Yes, the same."
"I... just..."
"Neither did we."
They finally got to the last step. A platform of stone allowed the whole team to see everything. Four red pillars with jade-painted bases stood along a red door, unguarded. Po opened the door and the large darkly lit carven inside was dressed with paintings, vases, gems, and bandits of all kinds. Across a sea of grinning grizzly bandits sat a smug-looking gazelle taller than his brother. He sat on a royal throne only reserved for Heping, and He twirled a little dagger in his hooves while Lei Lei and Lin were tied and held by two large gorillas. Lei Lei wrestled her hardest to get free but pouted that she couldn't. Lin must have been shivering because the gorilla had a hard time holding him. "Stop shaking," grunted the gorilla. "I'm not even hurting you."
"S-S-S-Sorry," the little wolf apologized.
"Ahh! There's the wolf of the hour. And with friends!" Prince Qipian grinned. Tigress tensed at the familiar grin. The kind of grin that would slit a throat if it inconvenienced him. A dangerous sight in this situation. "Now if you'll be so kind as to hand Mai over to me, I'll be thankful."
"This couldn't have been just to get my wife," Jiaohua growled. "You could've had any other woman in China, but you wanted someone who was just a servant. Why?"
"Why? Because she should've fallen for me. Not for some second-rate general," Prince Qipian huffed. "So sue me for being a little short-sighted."
"And a jerk?" Mantis muttered.
"Don't you think it's unwise to be working with a criminal, Masters of the Jade Palace? Especially one that has stolen documents from several officials of my brother's royal court," The gazelle grinned in an unsettling manner. "He could have you branded as traitors."
"I understand taking Lin but why take the panda?" Tai Lung grunted.
"Would you believe us if I said she refused to leave the boy's side?" Qipian chuckled. "Annoyed my guards so much, I ordered them to take her as collateral. So I thought, the more the merrier. Why? Is she your child?"
"Yes, she is," Tigress growled without hesitation. Lei Lei smiled widely.
"Hmm, then what about a trade? I give you the panda back AND Jiaohua's son in exchange for Jiaohua's head."
"Really?" Hao grunted, "So this isn't even for Mai anymore? This is just to have the satisfaction of doing away with our brother?"
"Won't your status be in jeopardy once people know about this," Xuyao asked.
The gazelle laughed, "The great thing about status is that when you know how to play people, they don't get to determine your life. And besides, there aren't many... reputable witnesses here. My brother would be none the wiser."
"And if we tell him?" Tai Lung asked.
"I know about your fight with Pantu. I'll have you know that even harming a royal is an act of treason. And it is your sworn duty to protect the peace at the Emperor's bidding, am I right?" Qipian grinned at the glaring team. Shifu quietly pondered their next move. Even if the Emperor knew about Qipian, things could get messy. "You two, come here." The gorillas holding Lei Lei and Lin stood on either side of Qipian. The gazelle lightly put a knife to Lin's throat. "So what will it be, Masters? Treason, or looking the other way?"
"Don't hurt him!" Lei Lei shouted.
"Hush you little fat brat," Qipian snapped.
The team said nothing. The grinning and snarling horde of bandits stood between them and the kids. Tigress moved forward, but the large bear held her back. "Po?"
"You and Tai Lung make sure to grab the kids. The rest of you, follow my lead."
"Try not to freak us out too much," Monkey murmured.
"No promises," Po grunted lowly, hotly glaring at the gazelle. He stepped forward. The first line of bandits shook as Po spoke. "You know, Heping talked about you. Told us you were cocky, arrogant, and a real thorn in the thumb. Made me feel sorry for him. But he told me something before we left. He heard stories about these people in the West and how messed up their family was. When he told me about that family, I was surprised. Whole clans of people hating each other just because one old guy had a baby with a servant at the request of his wife, two brothers tricking each other, and a brother taking advantage of his sister. It was so... tragic. With a family like that, you don't need enemies."
The first line of bandits shivered to their knees or jumped and ran away. Qipian's proud smile suddenly turned sour as the panda kept walking. Two pigs yelled and tried to swing their massive clubs at him, but Viper and Crane, moving like lightning, struck them across the face, knocking them out cold. The large bear walked on. Two archers fixed their sight on Po, but Shifu and Zhen swiftly crossed the bandits by the tops of their heads. They kicked the archers down. Zhen grabbed the crossbow, aimed, and shot the other archers down. Po kept walking forward and the bandits started darting away or dropping to the ground in fear.
"What's going on?! Kill them!" Qipian shouted but none of the bandits listened.
"But he told me one thing," Po continued, "He said that family is great and can mean well, but there's no excuse for evil. If you're not careful with family, it becomes poisonous. That's when... drastic measures are necessary. Heping said, 'I love my brother. But if it comes to justice or mercy, take justice. Because he's rejected my mercy long enough.'"
"Don't come any closer or I'll kill the kids!" Qipian shouted. His knife quickly pointed to Lei Lei's throat. The panda stopped.
"Meanie!"
"Shut up you little-" Tai Lung and Tigress launched across the remaining bandits and smashed their feet right in the gorillas' faces before Qipian could finish his sentence. The felines snatched Lei Lei and Lin and immediately held them close, covering their eyes.
Walking on, Po stood right in front of the shaking prince, towering over his nerve-wrecked frame. The gazelle launched his dagger forward, but the panda swatted it out of his hand. Po's tense aura swallowed Qipian's hopes controlling the situation. He could hear his bones shaking underneath his fur. Qipian could see the panda's rage poised to strike him down in one blow. Fate came to his door.
"You... you can't kill me," the gazelle stuttered. "I... I'm a royal!"
"Exactly," Po said with chilling gravity. "You should've known better."
"No-No No!" Qipian ran out through a back door towards the balcony. He raced to the railing and scanned the entire forest for some way out. He turned back where a glowering panda slowly approached him. "No! Stay back STAY!"
The old wooden railing cracked behind the gazelle. His arms flailed for balance. He tumbled over the edge and disappeared.
"Crane!" Po shouted. The bird swooped out of the door and dove over the edge. Time ticked on slowly as the silence clung to the air. Suddenly, Crane finally flew back with nothing in his wings or feet. The bird tipped his hat. "It's done," the panda sighed. The two of them went back into the hall room where Jiaohua tightly held his son. Tigress did the same to Lei Lei.
"I knew you would come!" Lei Lei squealed.
"I'm just glad you're safe," Tigress sighed with relief.
"What did Master Po do?" Lin shivered. "It made me... scared."
"I'm sorry, Lin," Po smiled warmly, petting his head, "But it's a... trade secret."
"You think you can teach me that?" Zhen smirked, nudging Po's side.
"Sure, want to have someone you're close to get hurt?" Po smirked back.
"Ah hahaha no."
"That's what I thought."
"What... happened to Qipian?" Shifu asked. Po and Crane looked at each other and took a deep breath. "I am surprised, Po. I... I didn't think you-"
"For a moment, I was mad enough to do it. But... Emperor Heping told me, 'You don't have to kill anyone, but you don't have to save everyone.'"
"Prince Qipian is gone," Crane said firmly.
"Now we can go back home," Jiaohua sighed, "And live in peace."
"Does... this mean we have to move again?" Lin frowned. Lei Lei's eyes shot wide in fear. Tigress looked to Po for a possible answer.
"Yes, but... I think you guys will like this move," the panda smiled.
Continued...