Chapter Text
In Gongmen City, an overwhelmed and surrendering Master Croc was shoved into a cage as Weimin and his squadron had managed to get him to stand down under their threat.
"Hehe, seems like you froze up real bad, Master Croc." said the Komodo dragon mockingly. "Boop dee doop dee doo!"
"You will not defeat us all."
"Not me, but all of my brothers and sisters can beat down the rest of your Kung Fu masters across China."
"Better stay seated, Master Croc." said the Soothsayer mockingly. "We are about to have some entertainment after a long boring ride."
"I suppose."
"Worry not, the Dragon Warrior and their allies will have it under control."
"What do you mean by 'Their'? Isn't Po y'know, a guy?"
"I believe a change is coming, Master Croc, better be ready for it."
"Hey, you two quiet, off we go with the Chameleon!"
A pair of water monitors escorted the group to Juniper on fast-moving boat. Other villages of China were similarly conquered or raided, with the living Kung Fu masters like Bear, Chicken, Boar, Eagle, Lizard, Ox, Chao, Rooster, Elephant II, Ram, Snow Leopard and more were captured by the forces of the Chameleon, who were fast-moving enough to clear out the nearby cities in a matter of a few days, but in those few days more things happened along.
Tigress began to recover as she coughed, spitting out the poison previously in her system, she recovered her senses and looked around seeing her concerned friends looking over her and in relief over her managing to survive, but mostly Po who was looking over her directly, having given her the treatment to save her life.
"P-Po?" she asked weakly. "Is it you?"
"Yes, Tigress, it's me."
"It's good to see you..." she smiled at him, shocking the rest of the occupants who rarely saw her face get warm like that.
"We're losing her!" shouted Crane in a panic before calming down. "Oh sorry, her reaction caught me off-guard."
Po noticed Zhen in a corner fiddling with a cookie in her hands and only taking small bits of it to eat.
"Zhen."
"What's the matter, Panda?" she asked in a dejected, sad tone.
"Look, I want to talk with you about everything."
"Go on."
"Zhen, I want the truth, the full truth of it all. Of your past, your motives you want me to forgive you, I need to know you."
"I see."
"So, I can know who you really are. I want to trust you, but I can't as long as I don't know what you really are."
"Well, this it, Panda. Time for the crude truth."
Zhen sighed as she for once decided to be honest."
"You see, I didn't mention why I really left the Thieves but it's time that everyone out of the loop knows." she said while glancing at an angry Han.
"I'm listening." said Po sitting down with her.
"It was... 15 years ago, when it happened, when I left."
An argument was breaking out between Zhen and Han, the former was a few years older than when she was adopted, a pre-teen.
"Why can't I go with you?"
"After what happened last year."
"Come on, it was a simple mistake."
"For the last time, Zhen, you do not steal from a caravan of the Chameleon! That's not just a 'mistake'!"
"Why is it always 'Do not do this Zhen!' with you? I wanted to get one of those precious red stones for you."
"We can't risk things too much, Zhen, we're thieves not suicidal lunatics. A red stone isn't worth you getting compromised."
"Maybe it is."
"No, it's not, you can't leave the Den at times like that."
"Please, you never let me leave the Den for too long anyway."
"You're too young, too inexperienced and too reckless."
"Come on, I took care of myself in the streets for years!"
"Those scars from your childhood say otherwise."
"Alright, I got some beatings and scratches but so what? Everyone's got them here."
"It's not about how they gave you a beating Zhen, it's about all our safeties, you've got yet to cover your tracks properly, last time we had to guide the guards into a pub to lose track of them, if those guards get you, they'll beat you up and then find us and retaliate against us as a whole."
"Oh, so now you think I can't do things properly?"
"You are good at stealing, Zhen, at swooping things from underneath some sucker's nose but that hardly makes you a proper master thief in this city."
"Come on, just let me out again with you, I can help this time, I won't fail!"
"No, not again, only the necessary thieves come with me, you stay here with the others they'll watch over you in the meantime."
"But-Han-I."
"No 'buts', Zhen. You'll find a way to entertain yourself. One day you'll be ready but not now."
"Please, give me a chance to be more. This place gets boring to stay in."
"Not again, Zhen. And make do with what you can. Everyone, the festival's starting in 30 minutes, are our casual clothes ready?"
"Eeyup." said a mustang horse thief with a straw hat.
"Got em'." replied a goat thief wearing a feathery collar.
"Always in fashion here." said a boar thief wearing a feathery hat.
"Well, odd choices but off we go, the rest stay here and out of trouble, it won't take longer than a few hours for the ceremony to finish."
The other thieves voiced their agreements and followed Han to the upper city, Zhen looked sadly as they left but huffed and decided to sneak out after all.
"I'll get you one of those gems, Han, you'll be proud of me, I'm sure!"
The other thieves didn't notice her packing her tools and running off to see where her mentor/father figure was going. On the surface, fireworks indicated the celebration of an important festival. Many komodo dragons marched carrying carts with tributes to the Chameleon, with one adorned by a golden statue of a peach tree with valuable rubies as its "fruit" carrying the sorceress herself as the center attraction, she received cheers from the populace, many forced on them by her threat which she was willing to bask in anyway. Han and the others weren't any different, throwing out their praise to seem supportive, even if deep down they had no lost love for the Chameleon or her deeds across Juniper, once she made a motion all the thieves bowed as did the entirety of Juniper and the Chameleon closed her eyes and outstretched her arms to bask in the praise... Not noticing a small fox making her way into the caravan and trying to take the gems out of it.
"You'll finally see what I'm made of, Han."
Then Han noticed her, and she glanced at him from afar, the pangolin motioned her to come down without giving himself away, trying to tell Zhen to get down and back to him, but she refused, she would get the gem and earn his full trust and respect as a thief... Or so she thought and wished she would have, for as soon as she grabbed the precious stone a prehensile tail grabbed her and brought her face-to-face with the Chameleon herself who smirked at the little thief.
"Oh, aren't you a cute thing stealing, from an old lady like me?"
"P-Please, don't hurt me!"
Han tried to speak up but froze when a few of the Chameleon's guards pointed weapons at him and instructed him to get back in line with the others bowing.
"Hurt you? Oh, don't be silly dear."
"Huh?"
The Chameleon put her down next to her spot in her carnival throne and gave the ruby to her.
"Why are you giving me this?"
"You've earned it, and that's only the beginning of your real criminal career."
"Really?"
"Yes, I can take you in, I'll make a great thief out of you, with endless riches. No limitations for you of any kind. Not for such a smart one."
"I'm in."
"Good, now you gotta learn your first rule: Never trust anyone."
But in her excitement, she forgot about one thing. One important thing. Or rather, family. She glanced back as she made herself comfortable in the Chameleon's position but saw Han trying to call her back, she felt tempted to go and looked doubtful until she shook her head and remained in the Chameleon's presence, without further ado the thief was carried away by the sorceress to be her next and newest adoptee. Han was devastated as were the rest of the thieves who watched the young thief leave them behind, discard them as mere trash, sadly.
"Zhen, why?"
Those words echoed in the present, with a distraught Po looking at her.
"I told you before, they were using me, she... gave me an offer I couldn't help but accept."
"But you had a home here they wanted to keep you safe."
"I know, but I just couldn't let myself be small and helpless again, I didn't want to stay here if all I got was limitations."
"Well, you're free to leave anytime soon, Zhen." said Han still bitter at what happened.
"I know. But first, Po, this time I truly am sorry for what happened."
"... Zhen."
"Don't worry, just go on with your life, I already did my part here." she put on her hood and prepared to leave. "Just go and stop the Chameleon when you're all ready."
"Where would you go, thief?" asked a confused Tai Lung.
"Anyplace she can't find me. Or at least where I can divert her forces. Where no one can."
"Wait, Zhen, don't go!" shouted Po.
"Huh?" she looked back, confused.
"Look, I might not still be so sure on trusting you even after all this, but I kind of want to not hold a grudge forever." he relaxed more. "In fact, I think I can see where you come form but I also gotta say something else to you."
"And that is."
"You're way too hung up on the past, and worrying too much about the future too."
"What do you mean?"
"You feared coming back here because of what happened and I kinda think you feared what the Chameleon could do to you if you failed."
"Alright, you kind of caught me."
"Not only that, but you fear that because of what you were born into you would never have a true future unless you did bad stuff."
"Hey, I do have-" she then looked around. "Oh, you're right."
"But the point is all that stuff is pointless to worry about for this long."
"Wait, are you saying I should 'move on'?"
"Of course! Look, long ago I also worried about the past and just a few days ago I worried about my future but I learned many important things about change and letting go of whatever happened to you prior."
"But, I said it not long ago, I don't have anywhere else to go if we defeat the Chameleon."
"Hey, look, if I could go from some noodle seller to a kung fu warrior, I think you could get anywhere if you try hard enough and seek out the opportunities. Nobody said this whole 'live in the moment, steal from the innocents and serve an evil jerk' gig has to be a forever thing."
"But the Chameleon told me, Kung Fu masters don't accept everybody, only those who fit in with them."
"And that's wrong on their parts." added Tigress getting up from her bed.
"Huh?"
"Alright, Tigress, you're on."
"Look, Zhen, what you did was bad but... You're not even close to how bad some Kung Fu Masters were before us."
"Like me, I was a thief too." said Monkey.
"I was never bad but was just a kinda mediocre dancer." said sheepishly Viper.
"I was a janitor, I'll never get over the port-a-potty traumas." followed up Crane, shivering a bit.
"I was an absolute disgrace of a doctor myself, I think I actually lost a fair amount of lives because I kept giving the wrong treatment."
"At least you're good at acupuncture, Mantis."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"But, those are mostly odd jobs and one guy like me in the monkey." Zhen replied, still not convinced of Po's points.
"But do you know about Oogway?"
"That tortoise that kept spouting some wisdomly mush everywhere he went?" she asked confused still.
"He was pretty terrible actually, was a super evil conqueror that worked alongside General Kai!"
"Who?"
"Long story but the point is, he was a real bad guy, worse than most, yet when he was able to see the present for what it is, he changed and became the greatest Kung Fu disciplinarian of all time. The best master is Shifu, though."
"So, you're saying."
"Maybe this will be another nonsensical philosophy rant but... If you do good now, it will become more, you will find your peace this way."
"But if we fail? If I fail at being good."
"You can just try again, I mean you're a thief, where else would you go at rock bottom?"
"Nowhere. I just don't think this is my suit, or what I know to do."
"Look, again, when life gives you lemonades... You make pear juice and blow everyone's mind!"
Tai Lung looked confused at the others who were wondering what he meant.
"Uh, what's that mean?"
"See, I sucked at making philosophy! I can't be a Spiritual Leader... Yet, I guess."
"But wait. I get it!"
"You did-Err, I mean yeah!"
"Just staying where I am is not good, I think I've been limiting myself for so long."
"That's right! Look, your moves, your techniques, your tricks, I see a potential in you to do good. But you can only reach it if you try."
"Are you sure? How can I be sure that you're not lying or using me."
"I'm not telling you to call me the greatest guy ever but... I'll let you decide, we'll go with the Chameleon and stop her once and for all, after I get my Staff back."
"Then... I'm coming with you. I don't know if I'll succeed or lose but... I wanna try this for once."
Po smiled at her.
"Oh, and another thing, you can only heal by making amends so get on with apologizing to the thieves."
"Wait."
"What's that you cannot apologize?"
"I can but, are you sure just your ragtag group can take on the entire force of the Chameleon?"
Po thought over of their last confrontation and figured she'd be stronger and they'd be outnumbered again.
"Err, kinda?"
"Well, that's just wrong."
"She's right, Po, she already saw us in action we cannot do anything she doesn't know already." added Tai Lung.
"And if those arrows nail us we'll be goners for sure." also added Tigress.
"But we can't get an army right now!"
"Says you. But look around."
Po looked at the thieves of the Den and wondered for a bit, with the Five, Zhen and Tai Lung waiting for him to make a decision, Ping and Li looked at each other growing annoyed Po couldn't take an obvious hint.
"Ooooohhhhh, you mean the thieves of the Den!"
"Took you long enough." joked Zhen.
Han however crossed his arms, as did the rest of the thieves.
"Nuh uh, we already made our stance clear."
"Look, Han, you don't have to trust me."
"I won't ever."
"Fine, I'm sorry." she said in an annoyed tone.
"You can't even lie to sway us, Zhen."
"Urgh, fine, I am real sorry for all I did, I shouldn't have left you like that."
"Uh huh, still no."
"Urgh, this is pointless, Po." argued Zhen.
"Well, Monkey you of any help?"
Monkey jumped in with Han and talked amicably with him. Han heard a few words whispered in his ear and nodded before going over to Zhen and Po with a half-annoyed look.
"Alright, your monkey friend made some points but retort on them, Panda and Zhen."
"Well, I go first you guys can do so much more than just evil today!" started Po.
"The Chameleon won't stop at just Kung Fu Masters, you're all on borrowed time."
"Hey, at least we can spend our twilight years in peace before being eviscerated and cooked." claimed a horse thief.
"But will you just coop up and die."
"Just like rats." snarked Tai Lung only to be kicked in the leg by a small brown rat thief.
"Still offensive, sir!"
"I mean if we go we die, if we don't go we die. I prefer to stay comfortable." said a goat thief.
"Come on, you're giving up?" asked Po.
"Ye." replied a tortoise bandit.
"No way, uhm."
"I can try, Po." added Zhen. "Now listen, if you help us you'd not only survive but also be rid of the Chameleon. For good."
The thieves talked among themselves. The Five all looked happy as the crowd changed their minds. Han wasn't too convinced still.
"How are you so sure?"
"Because I have faith in my... Err, friends."
The thieves went silent for a bit.
"And not just that, but Po said it first if we good now we can change our faiths as mere lowlife thieves."
"Uh? What?" asked a boar thief before looking at an equally confused wolf thief.
Then Han realized what she meant (or thought so).
"Wait, I get it, if we do good today we can crush the Chameleon and do more evil for the rest of our lives and just the way we want it!"
"No, that's not what I meant!" Zhen tried to clear her words.
"Sshh, this actually works, thief." said Tai Lung noticing the thieves getting excited.
"Down with the Chameleon!" chanted the crowd.
Zhen was impressed at what happened but looked at Po.
"Okay, so I wanted them to do good for good's sake but-."
"Look, if it helps us when they do good for bad reasons then we can take it. Not all enjoyable restaurants are so because of good food."
"Hey, that's more understandable, you could do with food metaphors."
"Yeah, I guess so-"
"Hey Po!" said Tigress now back in full health. "We got to get ready if we already got them on our side."
"Tigress, I recommend you stay behind you got hurt and-"
She twisted his arm albeit not harming him much.
"Alright, alright, point taken." said Po in a higher pitched voice before she let go, causing him to clutch his arm in pain.
"Well, now we gotta plan our attack don't we?" asked Li.
"Yeah, double dad defense might not be cut out."
"Double what?" asked Tai Lung.
"It's something they came up with, those two." replied Tigress.
"Right."
"Let's go, off to save Kung Fu... For the third time? Or was it the fourth? I lost count."
The rest of the Five all shrugged.
"Nevermind, this is how we'll do things!" began Po as he planned how things will develop in their next move to defeat the Chameleon, with theives and masters gathering around him as he took a table and used a map of Juniper City to ilustrate his points.