After the ship landed on the Peruvian shore, Tulio and Miguel leaped out onto land excited. "Finally, land!," they staggered on the shore like drunken sailors. Francisco glared at the two men. "When you are finished!," he commanded.

"We're finished," Tulio yelled in jubilation. "Good, I want you two idiots to scout ahead see if there is any danger, any troublesome natives to worry about. Then return."

"What if the danger or the troublesome natives get us first?," Miguel asked.

"Well, that would be a pity wouldn't it? We are here t invade not to have a party, you must expect to be casualties for the glory!" Francisco commanded.

"okay, Altivio!," Miguel whistled at his horse. Like a large puppy, the horse leaped off the boat and slobbered on his master. "Tulio where are you?," Miguel asked . "Down here," answered a muffled voice.

Miguel looked under the horse. Lying face down under the hooves was Tulio. Miguel chuckled and eased his horse off of him. They were almost in the jungle when Francisco called him back. "Oh, and boys you forgot about this.," he threw Bibo to the ground at Miguel's feet. Miguel picked up and cuddled the armadillo who uttered profanities in his animal language at the conquistadore. Tulio nodded at Miguel and the two men left.

"Do you trust them , sir?," one man asked Francisco.

"Of course not, I know nothing about them. I want one of you to follow them, Javert. " he called to a skinny shifty eyed soldier. Javert nodded and left. He then called to of his men over and handed them a letter stamped with the royal seal. "I want you two to send this to Cuba. I need someone to round up these savages and I know of a certain plantation owner who is willing to move his operations to a more uncharted land. In fact he's a very good friend of mine. " The men nodded and left.

"Good catch, Bucky!," Kronk yelled to his little squirrel companion tossing another nut to his friend. This was his favorite part of the day, just being in the jungle and hanging out with his buddy. Well, anyway it was better than being in the palace. It wasn't that he hated the palace. He liked cooking for Kuzco and Talia, and he liked watching the children at squirrel scouts meetings. He hated seeing all of those people in the palace, though. He was shy and sometimes, all right most of the time, came off as stupid and he often felt like people were making fun of him or being mean. Oh not Pacha and Chicha, they were as nice as they could be and so was Talia . Kuzco could be nice most of the time (though sometimes he could get a little sarcastic.). And of course Bucky was never allowed in the palace. No matter how nice he had gotten Kuzco forbade it, apparently he never forgave Buck for the jaguar incident.

Bucky started chittering and pointing excitedly. "What is it little Buddy?.," Kronk asked. He peered over the rocks and saw two strange looking men riding one horse.

"Aww, it's all right, Bucky ," he said, "It's just men on a horse carrying metal sticks? Oh my, we are being invaded! I must defend the palace!" He then picked up the closest weapon he could find a very large stick and jumped to the top of a tree to await the invaders.

Tulio swatted what seemed like the hundredth mosquito that day. He felt the sweat poring down his body from the heat. He wiped his brow as Miguel sighed again. "Don't tell me," Tulio complained. "We're lost again."

"Sort of," Miguel said. Tulio sighed angrily, "But ‘we're expert guides,'" he mimicked Miguel's accent. "Okay, Mr. ‘Expert Guide' find our way out of this one!"

"Why don't we ask directions?," Miguel asked looking up at the tree. "Yeah, from who?" Tulio asked.

"From him," Miguel answered pointing up the tree. Standing was the largest man that either of them had ever seen. He was dressed in a gold and blue uniform and his dark hair hung down his neck. He glared at the two men baring his rippling muscles for them to see. Despite their weapons, he looked like he could rip the two men in half. Miguel and Tulio dismounted the horse.

"Let me talk to him," Miguel offered, "I speak fluent native."

"Since when?" Tulio asked.

"Since now, " Tulio answered he then turned to the native. "How big Brave. Me and friend travel Many Moons and we wish to sleep on Happy Hunting Grounds."

The native stared at them quizzically. "Hi , my name is Kronk. What's yours?"

Tulio and Miguel turned to each other. "He understands us." Miguel whispered. "Yeah, no kidding.," Miguel said sarcastically. He then turned to Kronk. "Pardon me, sir. We have traveled a long way and we are very tired. We just wish to sleep in your village."

Kronk observed the men closely and then dropped the stick. " I don't think you guys are invaders, otherwise you probably would have killed you by now. Come with me, I'll introduce you to the emperor. "

The Spaniards' eyes lit up at the mention of the word "emperor." "As in rich guy?," Tulio asked. Kronk nodded. "Then lead the way, Big Guy." Kronk then turned to Bucky. "I'm sorry Buddy you know the rules." He then turned to the guys. "He's not allowed in the palace. Kuzco never forgave him for scaring a bunch of jaguars back when he was a llama."

"The squirrel was a llama?," Tulio asked confused.

"No, the emperor was a llama," said Kronk. The men stared at the native. "He got better,." Kronk replied.

He then left Bucky with Bibo and Altivio. Bibo was busy chatting up with the squirrel. "How adorable, "Miguel said fondly.

"I know," Kronk agreed. Tulio just rolled his eyes.

"He's in here!," Montey yelled to his companions. He burst open the palace door and found Kuzco, Talia, and Saladin lost in conversation. "Father, Mother!" Montey yelled. "Uncle Kuzco ! Aunt Talia!," Tipo, Chaca, and Kiki yelled after him. "Children, we are very busy!" Saladin told them sternly.

"No, it ‘s all right. What's the matter, kids?" Kuzco asked. The children all started talking at once. "Ah, one at a time please," Kuzco asked. "Montey, you go first."

"Papa, I saw Kronk with two other men. They were weird looking and they had guns. We're being invaded!," Montey gasped.

"Are you sure that's what you saw?," Talia asked her son. The children nodded and the door burst open to reveal Pacha and Chicha . "Pach, old buddy, don't tell me we're being invaded." Kuzco said hoping for a positive answer.

"Okay, I won't tell you." Pacha said.

"Weird looking guys with guns right?," Kuzco asked.

Pacha nodded. "But, I'm sure Kronk can take care of them."

"Yeah I feel safe with Seargent Bucky and his Killer Teeth!", Kuzco answered sarcastically. " He then called his soldiers to him, but gave them specific instructions to not fire until he said so.

"Tell Kronk to send them in, they won't bother us," the emperor declared. "I'll face them first, then they can come in."

Tulio, Miguel, and Kronk walked through the throne room. The two Spaniards looked around the palace in amazement. True, they had seen the wonders of El Dorado, but that palace paled in comparison to this one. The walls splashed with gold and the view from the windows overlooked the entire hillsides in a view. Kronk pushed open the door to the throne room .

The emperor, a thin young man in his mid-twenties glared at the visitors, his arms folded. He was dressed in a red robe and a gold crown. His pointy features stared right at the men. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Your highness," Miguel began.

"Or your llamaness," Tulio corrected. Kuzco glared at Kronk while the blond man continued, "We have traveled a long way and we are very tired and we only wish to sleep in your kingdom."

"No, " Kuzco corrected them, " You are Spaniards and you are very greedy and vindictive and by the way, you only want to have my kingdom."

"Well, we are Spaniards-," Miguel began.

"If we were invading don't you think we would have more people and guns than just the two of us?," Tulio asked.

"I don't know, you might be stupid Spaniards." Kuzco said he raised his arm and several large native soldiers ran to the small part of the throne room, baring their spears at the two men, each one of them baring a look of menacing hatred on their painted faces. Miguel and Tulio held each other tightly stammering in fear.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Talia and Montezuma came rushing through. Talia's eyes widened in recognition and her mouth dropped open in delight. She moved towards the two strangers as if in a dream. "Tulio, Miguel, could it be you?," she asked.

Montey raised his toy sword at the two men standing between them and his mother. "Get back, enemy.," he said. "Or you will feel the wrath of my sword."

"Montey, behave!," Talia corrected, then ran up to Tulio and Miguel excitedly . "I missed you two so much and I'm so sorry. Guys, don't you recognize me , it's Talia ."

"Talia?," Miguel breathed . "Is it really you? " His face broke into a happy smile, then he embraced the young empress. "Oh, Talia! You're here, I can't believe it."

"Believe it," Talia laughed, then ran up to Tulio. Her elder brother's face darkened at seeing her. His eyebrows furrowed in anger. " You can't be my sister. You're lying to me! She's dead!"

"Tulio, I'm not lying to you? Believe me, I am your sister." Talia begged.

"His sister?," Kuzco asked, "He's your brother?"

"I can't believe you.," Tulio said desperately, and prepared to walk away. Talia stopped him at the door.

"Tulio, I know it's hard to accept , I ‘ve been away for so long, but I can prove it. " She held up her cross necklace. "Mama gave this to me before she died. Please, Tulio don't leave I'm your Angelita!"

Tulio eyes widened and he paled. His eyes began to fill, but he wiped them with his hands. "Angel-Talia . I-," but that was as far as he got when Talia threw her arms around her brother and sobbed on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know you can't forgive me." Her voice was choked by the sobs.

Tulio held his sister closer to his chest and kissed the top of her head. "It's all right, Angelita. I forgive you, I have always forgiven you. I just didn't realize it then."

Talia pulled away and smiled. She wiped her large blue eyes with her hands. "You guys look great. I don't remember the goatees, but they are a nice touch."

Miguel laughed, "Us? What about you? You've grown up, at least two inches.," Talia smirked and for the first time, they noticed her body. "You've also grown out." Miguel observed.

A giggle erupted from the empress' throat. "I'm going to have a baby."

Tulio and Miguel's mouth's dropped open in shock. "A baby?," Miguel asked. "Tulio's going to be an uncle?" Talia nodded, "For the second time, actually."

"Excuse me, " Kuzco interrupted them. "Have you forgotten about me? The emperor? The one who decided that because of the fact that you are related to my wife, I will let you leave with your lives."

I guess introductions are in order," Talia said. "Kuzco, this is my brother, Tulio and his friend, Miguel. Guys, this is my husband, Emperor Kuzco and my little bodyguard is our son, Montezuma. "

"Emperor, you're married to the emperor is that great or what?," Miguel cheered in jubilation.

Tulio glanced over at the emperor, the statement on his face was one of pure threat and danger. In the space of a few minutes, he had gone from being happy to be reunited with his little sister, back to protective big brother. "You married- you slept with my sister!," he yelled.

"Well, that's kind of what you do if you marry her, or rather, what you do right before you marry her. " Kuzco said. Tulio's face reddened and he looked like he was about to punch out the emperor regardless of his station. "Some things never change," Talia said, getting between them. "All right! I can vouch for their honesty. They are welcome to stay as my honored guests."

"Not if I forbid it," Kuzco said. "I insist," Talia declared through clenched teeth. "I do not," Kuzco said.

Talia then turned her statement into a look of pure innocence. She looked up at her husband wide eyed, and made little puppy sounds.

"No, not with the face," Kuzco complained. "I taught her that.," Miguel whispered proudly to Tulio.

"I know," Tulio whispered severely.

" I just thought that Montey and our baby would want to know their family, you know, meet their uncle. I mean they need some family to cling to if anything happens. –"

Kuzco held up his hand in protest. "All right, they can stay for a little while. But, boys I'm not as nice as I seem. If I discover I don't like you, don't be surprised if I resurrect an old custom and parts of your entrails have been removed. Have a nice night." He told his servants to make rooms for them and to lead them there. Miguel smiled fondly at the Royal couple as they passed, but though Tulio also smiled his eyes met the emperor's in instant hatred and mistrust. He could tell that the feeling was mutual.

Juan Nuriega looked through the window of his Cuban mansion in disgust. Everything seemed to disgust him these days. Another plantation was being built across the street. More businesses were moving in, that meant more competition and less slaves for him. Also, there was too many questions from some people about his ‘real business.' The plantation he could take or leave , but the thing he really enjoyed was the slave trade and if all of the slaves were going to be given to someone else, what else was there for him to do. He grabbed the cup of coffee from his servant's hands and sipped thoughtfully.

"Is something wrong, Mi amore?," the soft tender voice of Juan's wife Gabriela asked. The small blond woman wrapped her arms around her husband in a loving embrace.

"Just fine, just really terrific.," he droned sarcastically. He looked at his wife's face. She was beautiful despite the faint black and blue mark left around her green eyes from their fight that morning.

"Senor Nuriega?," one of his servants questioned. "Two sailors left this for you. " She held out an envelope marked with the Spanish royal seal. Juan looked at it, in puzzlement. He opened the letter and his puzzlement turned to longing and his longing turned to excitement. He looked up at his wife. "Wonderful news, love. We are leaving Cuba."

"That's wonderful news?," Gabriela asked. Upon her husband's wide eyed glare, she shifted gears. "That's wonderful news!"

"I'm to be assistant viceroy of Cusco. " He said, "My friend, Pedro Francisco has arranged it with the king and queen. We will be leaving soon, so tell our servants to start packing."

"Yes dear.," Gabriela said not wanting to argue with her tempermental husband.

I suppose I should thank him somehow, Juan thought, then a thought hit him. He called his main overseer over. "Pedro, send for those new female slaves. I'm going to give Senor Francisco a little gift of thanks and god willing, he had better pick a certain obstreperous slave. " He demanded, as he planned his journey and the possible invasion.


Continue to Chapter Three