Prologue
Disclaimer: I do not own Kung Fu Panda
Hi readers! First off, I'll just say that this is my first kung fu panda fanfic so I hope that you like it. Secondly, I know that I'm not the best writer. I tend to go with a lot of description instead of dialogue so I hope you don't mind. Finally, I hope that you enjoy my fanfic. I love Lord Shen and I was inspired to write this based on many other Shen-Po friendship fanfictions I read. I especially want to thank Synchronized Harmony for giving me this idea. If you Shen lovers like this type of fanfic, go check Synchronized Harmony out. There are some pretty cool stories. So, please be kind and review.
…
A loud explosion shook the grounds of Gongmen City, seemingly ending the life of Lord Shen for good. As the rubble began to clear, everyone peeked their heads over the bridges and wall to see what was left of the boat that carried insane peacock. He was nowhere to be found.
"Po!" a female tigress called out. "Po!" A sudden noise in water followed by a huge splash making the tiger smile with joy and the crowd cheer with excitement. Tigress reached out with her paw to the panda. Po smiled in return and was heaved out of the water. "I'm glad your ok," Tigress whispered quietly to him. To her shock, Po grabbed her into a hug.
"Po!" came the voices of Mantis, Monkey and Crane. Letting go of Tigress and brushing off his fur, Po was greeted by his friends leaping onto him. "Whoa! Hey guys," Po said, gently pushing them off. "Congratulations Panda," a voice addressed Po. Po turned to face the voice and met the beaming face of Master Shifu. "It seems you mastered inner peace, and at a young age," Shifu told him with a hint of jealousy. Po's smile widened as he scooped the red panda up into his arms only to find that the little animal had slipped away. Po glanced at him and the friends gazed up at the sky, which was illuminated with fireworks from Shen's sunken ship.
…
It had taken a few hours to clear out all of Shen's destroyed ships in the channel as well as the broken bridge. Po was surprised that many citizens pitched in to help out. But soon, it was almost as good as new. When all the buzz had finally died, Po sat down on the dock that looked out into the harbor, thinking about his parents and Shen. He knew that he could either hold on to his anger, like the peacock did, or he could forgive him. Po ultimately knew that in his heart, he could forgive Shen. Despite what he had done, Po wouldn't have been the person he was now if Shen hadn't destroyed his home. Shifu, Masters Storming Ox and Croc and the Five were all deciding what to do with Shen's fallen palace and the surviving wolves. As Po gazed out, he noticed a small object floating out in the distance. This didn't look like a ship so Po decided to investigate.
Shaking out his arms and legs, Po leapt into the freezing water, swimming with all his might. As he reached the object, he began to see that it was not a thing but a person and not just anybody. "Shen!" Po gasped, nearly swallowing water. Shen's body was a mess; his snowy white feathers were burnt and an ash gray color from the explosion and he had a giant bruise on his head. His right leg was also twisted in an unusual shape. Fear crowded his mind. What should he do? But seeing the peacock's broken body, Po felt a pang of pity and before he knew what he was doing, he began dragging the bird to shore. Everyone deserved a second chance, even Shen. Pulling his body off the wood, Po preceded to swim back to shore. "I must be out of my mind," he thought.
Taking Shen to shore was harder then it looked for he was so heavy. Po did not see this coming. Using the last of his strength, Po hauled Shen's body onto the bank. Panting, he pressed his ear to the peacock's chest; to his relief and horror, Shen was alive.
"Po!" Shifu cried out. Po froze; he knew how much trouble he was in now. "There you are! We've been looking for you. It is time to leave are you almost rea-". Shifu froze mid-sentence at seeing the panda's wet body alongside Shen's. "What did you do!?" Shifu demanded, his ears flattened with anger. "Never mind! I'm getting Master Ox." Po watched as the red panda sped away. Fortunately, he left just before Shen woke up.
…
Blinking open his eyes, Shen began to cough, his body shaking from the frigid water. His vision slowly focused on a fat, black and white body of fur. The panda he realized with horror. "Good, you're awake," Po said cheerily. "I didn't ask for you to save me!" Shen spat scornfully but weakly. "I can take care of myself and I certainly don't need help from you," he added, addressing Po as if he was like dirt in his mouth. "Well I couldn't leave you out there to drown. I'm the Dragon Warrior! Saving people is what I do." "Is this panda deaf!?" Shen thought. "I already told you! I don't need your sympathy." "Shen-" Po began before being cut off. "That's Lord Shen to you!" Shen seethed. Po backed away, sadness filling his soul. Here was this incredibly talented, smart, handsome bird that had so much potential, yet he never once used it for good. All Shen did was try and destroy Po, his friends and Kung Fu. There was so much rage in him that Po couldn't help but feel sad. He often pondered on why the peacock carried such an emotional burden.
Every time Po encountered Shen, he noticed that besides a cruel smile or laugh, the bird was never happy, always angry and in some sort of pain. He could see it when Shen told him that his parents didn't love him. Po figured that Shen only told him this because he himself felt that pain, an unwanted child. Po also saw it when he was talking to Shen before the explosion. Shen was clearly affected when Po had found his inner peace. He interpreted this as a sign that all through his life Shen had been hurt in someway that prevented him from finding peace. This would explain why he tried to keep peace from others as well; he couldn't be happy, than nobody can.
Just as Po was about to ask Shen why he acted the way he did, he was interrupted by a war cry. Master Ox barged into the scene, brandishing an axe. "Whoa there. You might want to uh, put the axe down," Po said sheepishly. Ox ignored him as he hauled Shen to his feet, the peacock breathing heavily with rage. But as soon he put wait down on his right leg, it buckled and Shen staggered to the ground. "I can't walk you buffoon!" he hissed. "Very well," Ox said, simply opting to carry a screaming Shen. "Where are we going!?" Shen demanded. "I'm taking you to Chorh-Gom prison where you'll wait for judgment!" With that sentence, Ox was off, leaving Shifu with Po.
"Po. I'm very disappointed with you. You know how dangerous Lord Shen is but you didn't tell me when you found him." Po hung his head in shame. "I was trying to help him," he started. "Now that we know he's alive, there's no telling what the council will decide," Shifu explained. "If I were them, I'd put Shen to death but knowing the council, they'll probably pick a more painful punishment." "But Shifu!" "Panda," Shifu said more calmly, "I understand that you feel sorry for him but I want to make sure that nobody suffers at his hands again. I'll try and reason a fairer punishment. If that makes you happy." Po nodded as he got ready to depart.
…
Shen absolutely hated being carried my Ox, especially to prison. "Let me go!" he screeched. "Be my guest however your leg isn't fully healed so have fun," Ox said. Ox had done the courtesies of bandaging up Shen's broken leg and it healed quick enough to limp on. After what had seemed like days of traveling through the harsh environment of the mountains, Ox and Shen had finally reached Chorh-Gom. "Welcome to your new home," Ox said while dropping Shen to the ground. "I hope you find it comfortable." "Why you, insolent fool!" Shen told him, anger dripping in every part of his voice. His right leg had semi-healed so Shen was able to limp with pain to the door. A gust of wind ruffled his feathers as two rhinos led him inside. Ox watched as Shen disappeared behind the doors. With one last glance, he bounded away, for he knew that the council would be meeting about Shen's ultimate fate. He secretly hoped-for execution but he knew better.
…
As the two-iron door closed behind him, Shen gulped and turned to face the guards. He knew that this would be his permanent home if his life should be spared. Commander Vachir, the head rhino and leader of the prison, strode forward. "Ah, Lord Shen of Gongmen City. I've heard many things about you. What brings you to our little prison," he addressed with a snicker. "Is it true what they say? You committed genocide of pandas and was banished but returned to enact revenge?" Shen merely said nothing but raised his face and stared at the rhino, rage filling his face. "Well if that's a case, then it's a good thing I brought this." Vachir raised a metal color and chains and cruelly smiled.
Shen tried to step back was stumbled due to his leg and was instead roughly shoved forward by the two rhinos that had escorted in. "This isn't happening!" Shen told himself. Vachir grabbed him by his neck and strapped the collar on it. Shen felt mortified; he was lord and now he was being chained like a dog. "Cozy?" the rhino said with a smirk. "I've had better," Shen growled as his wings were tightly forced into a pair of metal cuffs. The cuffs dug into his feathers, rubbing against his skin irritably.
"Just one more little thing we must do," Vachir told him, "then you will be transported to your cell!"
"I can't wait," Shen said, his voice full of sarcasm.
"You have an amazing train of feathers. I wonder how many times have you used it to escape?"
Shen gasped. Not his train! Those feathers, despite being the wrong color, were his pride and joy. "You touch me and I'll have you killed on the spot!" he threatened. "Hah! What are you going to do? Sweep me off my feet?" Vachir mocked, pulling out his axe. Vachir regrettably had left Tai Lung's tail unrestrained when he was a prisoner here. This act had almost cost him his life since the tail had secretly picked the lock using a stray feather. The mistake had shamed the leader of Chorh-Gom prison and Vachir vowed to never do it again.
The two rhinos grabbed Shen and held him tight in their grip as Vachir walked behind him. Shen felt his feathers being touched which caused him to breath rapidly in anger. A swoosh was heard and Shen's feather train was no more. Of course, it would grow back eventually. "Take him away," Vachir ordered as he watched a screaming Shen being dragged into the darkness of the prison, his cries echoing through the walls.
…
Whew! I made it. Next chapter we might discover Shen's fate. I obviously won't kill him because that would make a boring story but I'm not going to make it all happy either. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thank you!