Hi, it's my first story here. And... maybe it is poor stuff what I wrote. But maybe you can assess it better than me. °~°

Don't be angry if I didn't write so detailed things about China and traditions. It's just a story, no study work. ^_°

1. Alive and convicted

Po looked at the broken ship where he had seen Lord Shen the last time. Fireworks filled the sky. Gunpowder and wet wood lay in the air. He wiped over his still wet fur. He felt how his knees trembled a little. What a day. He had defeated a whole army. And he found his inner peace. But despite everything, something heavy pressed on his soul.

"Take it easy Po," Monkey said.

Po turned around and looked at the faces of his friends.

"You did the right thing," Tigress added and gave him a nod.

"Yes," Po said, still a little sad. "Yes, it is, but although I had hoped that he would understand and..."

He interrupted himself and looked back to the sinking shipwreck where some fireworks exploded with loud crack. The colors looked beautiful, but he knew it was tainted with sadness for a creature who had filled with hate and exaggerated proud. After he had given him the decision, he had hoped he would choose the right but it became different.

"Po?"

Shifu's voice brought him back.

The red panda looked at him with serious but warm look.

"It was his own decision, which you couldn't change. You did all things right. He chose the way and got what he deserved."

Po nodded after a while. His teacher was right.

"And see, Po." Shifu pointed behind. "You saved Gongmen City. You saved China. This is more than enought what I thought."

A little smile went over the face of the dragon warrior. "Indeed."

His glance moved back to his friends who were celebrated from some city people.

He sighed deeply and walked to the others into the city center. What would have happened if he had grabbed Shen before the cannon hit him? He had no answer. But maybe it was the best for all. He had found his peace. Forever.

Po took a deep breath and swung his hands in the air.

"Yeeeha! Let's celebration!"

Time flew and Po and his friends went back to Jade palace. After that Po had to think about so many things. About the experience with Shen. And about his family.

Little did Po know what happened in Gongmen City meanwhile...

Gongmen City

Master Croc and Master Ox had the control about the town back. Were busy to clean the town from Shen's henchmen and to rebuild the destroyed places what Shen had damaged and also what he built for his cannon army. Also to clean the river with the broken ships was hard work. Rhino soldiers were come to take an eye about the town, because Shen's henchmen were still around, until they quitted the field.

Master Croc and Master Ox had their headquarters in another house next to the destroyed tower. Both hoped to come back to normal day soon. But before it could happen, something interrupted their hope for peace, when a guard came with fast steps into their house.

"Master Croc! Master Ox!" The rhino cried. "We found something in the harbor."

Master Ox rolled his eyes. He couldn't imagine that the guardians found something which could surprise him.

The rhino bent down and whispered something.

Master Ox, now surprised, and Master Croc stood there with big eyes.

"Sure?" Master Ox asked unbelievingly.

"Really sure," the rhino probated.

Both Masters exchanged glances then they left with fast steps the house.

Some people stood near the harbor around something. Rhinos stood to the left and to the right, their spears downwards.

When the Masters arrived the people and rhinos went apart.

There lay something white dirty on the wooden jetty. Both masters recognized the shape of the ex-lord. The body was wet, covered with softly burned feathers. The robe was cut a little.

"Looks like dead," Master Croc said.

"He's still breathing," a thin sheep in blue purple coat said who was a doctor.

"Will he survive?" Master Ox asked darkly.

"Well, kind of yes, kind of no."

"Yes or no?" he asked impatiently.

"He's in a bad condition, but he seems to be no damaged badly. Maybe with some care..."

"He doesn't deserve care," Master Ox cut his word.

The ox gave one of the rhino guardians a sign and the one drew his sword.

Suddenly there was a movement in the bird body. The two Kung Fu Masters took a fight ready position, the rhinos moved their spears more down and held the head of the peacock. Some people walked back. Everybody was afraid of Shen's possible attack. But he didn't stand up. Instead, the peacock moved a little bit his wings. His eyelids flickered. Then he moved his head. Master Ox tensed his arms to fended Shen's attacking fight but the bird unfit to stand up, because of the rhinos' spears around his neck. Master Ox relaxed a little when he saw the lord was too weak for a fight. Shen opened his beak but he was failing to give a sound, just a coughing cawing. He looked around. First he saw Master Ox and Master Croc next to him. Then his glance wandered with trembling move to the two rhinos with a sword about him. The lord moaned with trembling voice, now knowing in what kind of risky situation he was. His eyes wandered back to Master Ox. The ox crossed his arms and looked down at him with disgusting gesture. Shen looked back, with hate in his eyes. He refused to beg for mercy. After several hard breathings, the lord relaxed his body, showing no fear, and looked at Master Ox with sardonic glance with an ugly smile on his lips. Master Ox narrowed his eyes with rage. That cursed creature showed still no repentance.

The rhino swung the sword about the lord's long neck.

Suddenly Master Ox raised his hand. "Wait."

"Wait?" Master Croc didn't understand. "Wait what?"

"Was that yes or no?" The rhino asked confused.

"Take him into the dungeon," Master Ox said without explanation.

The two rhinos grabbed Shen's wings and dragged him away. Shen moaned a little. His feet and the rest of his previously proud body hanged down and wiped over the floor.

"I don't understand you. Why did you spare him?" Master Croc asked when they entered their quarter again.

Master Ox laughed. "Who said that I will spare him?"

Master Croc stopped with open mouth. "What?"

"Did you forget?"

His partner didn't understand and looked at him with questioning look.

"I will jog your memory."

Master Ox walked to bookshelves and fetched an old pell. With that he went to the table and put it down.

"Here, this was written 30 years ago, shortly after Shen's banishment."

Master Croc sighed. "I remember how Shen's father wrote it with tears, his mother cried next to him and held his shoulder..."

Master Ox snorted and continued: "It implies, if Shen ever comes back, he will be punished for his felony of killing a panda village. His parents had had two options. First, banishing, second prison forever. They decided banishing and he should never come back."

He silenced before he continued: "Now he is back. Normally he has to keep in prison until the end of his life. A very indulgent punishment."

Master Croc scratched his head irritated. Knowing his friend, he wanted to say something more. "And?"

Master Ox didn't reply and took out another paper, the law collection of Gongmen city.

"According the law of the city, Shen's wrongs became higher. With the murder of Master Rhino, he should be executed with: ligature strangulation, decapitation divide into four parts ect.- but..". His hand wandered more down some lines on the paper. "With his try to conquest China, we have to give the maximum penalty."

Master Croc knew what he meant.

"But..."

Master Ox gave him a dirty look. "What is it?"

"It would break his parents' souls."

Master Ox slapped his hand on the table firmly und tapped on the parchment intensively. "It's a rule of Gongmen City. We have to follow these introductions."

Master Croc kept silent for a moment. Then he nodded and looked at an old picture of Shen's parents on the wall. "May they forgive us for this decision."

You became curious? If so, read next chapter if it is ready. ;-)