Author's note: (One week later) Hey guys! I'm back! Just so you all know, it's going to a while before the action starts but I'm hoping you all can bear with me until it happens! In this chapter, we do get a sneek peek at the villains we will be seeing so I hope you enjoy that. Thanks for reading and, please, tell me what I need to fix. Now, enjoy and let's start the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kung Fu Panda or any of it's characters. All belong to their original owners.
Lord Shen awoke from his dream and found himself in a strange place. Next to him sat a white peahen preparing medicine for her guest. Shen tried to sit up, but a searing pain shot through his body. He let out a small cry of pain, and fell back onto the bed. The peahen heard the cry and sighed. "Oh great! Just when my day couldn't get any better." she mumbled to herself. Shen knew he had seen her before, but he couldn't think of her name.
"Do I know you?" he asked. The peahen looked at him. "Seriously? You don't remember me?" Shen shook his head. She rolled her eyes. "Well daddy, how's it been? Thirty years it's been, hasn't it?" she hissed. With the word daddy as his clue, he immediately felt like a fool. Of course! Shen thought. It's your daughter, idiot! How many white peahens are there!? Mei's sky blue eyes where blazing. It was clear she was angry, but Shen didn't know why. "Well daughter," Shen said. "I must be going." Shen tried to sit up and tried to fight the pain that came with the struggle. "Oh no you don't!" Mei said, pinning him down. "You're still healing. Therefore, you are not allowed to leave this room." she told him. Shen reached for his knives inside his robes, but to no avail. "Where are my-"
"Weapons?" Mei asked with a smile. "Do you think I'm that stupid to leave a master of Cai Li Fo with weapons so that he could kill me!?" she yelled, but she didn't give him a chance to answer. "Well, news flash daddy! Since you think you're so smart, as your daughter, I am no fool! Just as you are not. And if anyone is a fool here, IT WOULD BE YOU!"
Mei was furious. Shen still couldn't understand. She clearly had her father's impatience, but why be mad at him? What had he done to her? Mei sighed, all of her anger dissipating. "I'm not dumb." she said quietly. Mei looked at him, a helpless look in her eyes. "Why is it always you who has to ruin everything?" Shen was speechless. He didn't understand what he had ruined for her. Shen hadn't even been there in the past thirty years. Mei saw his confusion and hung her head.
She spoke quietly, but loud enough so he could hear her. "Please. Do me a favor and go back to sleep." Shen didn't know why, but he found himself settling back into the bed until he was comfortable. "Mei?" Shen asked. Mei looked at him tiredly. "Why don't you like me?" Mei looked him, a touch of anger returning, but she tried to sound gentle. "Think of all the things you've done. Think of what happened after you left. Think about me and how I felt. Think about something other than yourself!" Mei told him pleadingly. She turned away from him. "Now," she said. "go to sleep." At her words, Shen closed his eyes and his mind played memories and dreams for Shen to relive.
"Daddy!" a peahen cheered. Shen walked up to Mei and picked his daughter up. "Greetings my little snowflake." His other three children followed soon after. They all greeted him with hugs and warm smiles.
"Ahem."
All turned their heads to see who it was. "Hello, my love." Shen said putting Mei down. "Shen." Maylin greeted. Shen stood up and gave Maylin a kiss. "So," Maylin asked. "How was the meeting? Didn't get caught in the moment, did you?" Shen looked at her. "No. They said it was fine and Jing hoped she could see them one day." Maylin shook her head. "No way am I letting that maniac come near my kids!" she protested. "If she comes near any one of us, it'll be the end of her." Shen looked at her. "Imagine this." Shen suggested. "Look! Auntie Jing is here!" Shen said in a babyish voice. Maylin pretended to shiver. "Oh, for love of peacocks, no!" Maylin said. "Now that would be my worst nightmare!"
Shen picked Maylin up off her feet and spun her around. "Wouldn't Auntie be what the children would call you if plans had stayed the same?" Shen asked. "Possibly." Maylin said. "But I'm not a scary little ferret who calls everyone darling. Besides," Maylin got to her feet. "I'm not as stuck up as her." Jun and Li walked up to them. "Who's Jing?" Jun asked. Before Shen could stop her, Maylin spoke. "She is a crazy ferret who wants to take daddy away. She hates me because I stole his heart from her. And so, we shall never speak of her gain, right?" Maylin asked. The two boys looked at each other. "Okay..." Li said, and ran off with Jun by his side. "Really? You're going to scare them away from her?" Shen asked. "It's working, isn't it?" Maylin replied. "Daddy? Who is Jing really?" Ai aksed. Shen got down on one knee and looked Ai in the eyes. "Jing is a ferret that I was engaged with way before you hatched." Shen answered. She looked at him. "Did you love her?" Ai asked. Shen shook his head. "No." he said. "I loved your mother much more." Ai nodded, although still confused.
Shen stood up and took his wife in his arms. Maylin rested her head on Shen's shoulder. She sighed and said "How where we ever blessed with such adorable children?" Shen looked over to their children. "You married me." Shen answered. Maylin laughed. "Another question is how I was blessed with such a great husband." she said staring into Shen's eyes. "Again, by marrying me." Shen told her. Maylin laughed again. "Oh, how I love you!" she said. Shen pulled her closer. "I love you too, my love." The two peafowl then shared a tender kiss. Soon, it seemed as if the world had disintegrated around them, as they were both lost in each other's embrace.
A wolf ran through the halls of the Palace of Juéwàng looking for his mistress. Finally, he found her. On a balcony stood a peahen. Her eyes were light violet. Her head was light blue, fading into a light pink, almost exactly like her mother, just the colors switched. "Lady Ying!" the wolf called. "News, Gang?" Ying asked turning to him. Gang bowed before continuing. "Yes. News from Gongmen City." he informed. "Yes?" Ying asked impatiently. Ying began walking around the room out of boredom.
"It's Lord Shen. He has been defeated." Ying stopped in her tracks.
"What?" she asked, turning to face him.
"He was defeated by the Dragon Warrior. He is dead." Gang told her. Ying took a second before sinking to the ground. She let out a cry of sorrow. Over time, her cries developed into laughter. Gang shuffled in place, as he didn't he understand the joke. Ying abruptly stopped laughing to say "Help me up." Gang then took her wing and did as she bid. Ying dusted herself off. "Oh, he was a fool anyway." she said. "My brother," Ying said amusingly. "the sickly peacock. How could he hope for greatness?" All Gang could do was shrug. "Well Sheni bear," Ying said as if he was in the room. "greatness is mine!" Gang was urged to run, but he knew the consequences of disobeying her. Gang's best friend, Fan, lost her flight for not listening to
At that moment, Fan walked in the room, along with her so called "sister," Ting. Fan had black feathers and light blue eyes. As for Ting, she had dark green head feathers that faded into dark blue and her eyes where the same shade of violet as her mother's. "Mother." Ting greeted. "Yes, hello my dears." Ying said without emotion. "What news have you brought, Gang?" Fan asked. Before Gang could answer, Ting cut in. "Fan, you're not fooling anyone with that act." Fan looked at her. "It's not an act. I just want to know what news-"
"No, I mean the act of you being interested."
"I am interested. I am interested in anything my mother needs to know." Fan informed her. Ting pushed her shoulder, sending Fan to take a step back.
"She's not you're mother!"
"She is as much as my mother as she is yours!"
"No she isn't, Ai!"
"Enough!"
Both Fan and Ting turned to face their mother. Seeing their mother's expression, they took their stances and kept their heads high. "Fan, you never yell at your sister!" Ying ordered. "Yes, mother." Fan responded. "And Ting," Ying turned to her. "you are to never call Fan by that name!"
"Yes, mother." Ting said reluctantly. Ying shot a venomous look at her. "Don't get wise with me or I'll break your wings like I did your sister's!" Fan winced. She never liked anyone talking about her wings. It always brought her shame that she could never fly again. She tried many times, but every time it felt as if needles where plunged into her wing with every second, but now was not the time to feel shame or disgrace. Fan had to stay strong around Ying, and so she did. Gang, still in the room, sent a reassuring smile to his friend and Fan smiled back.
Ying turned away from them. "You two are both my daughters. Neither one of you are more than the other. Am I understood?" Ying said glancing at them both. "Yes, mother." they said in unison , and Ying turned to Gang and whispered "Do not tell Fan anything of Shen. It would ruin my plans if you do. Do I make myself clear?" Gang nodded. Ying turned to her daughters. "Now get ready! We have the meeting with the Royal Ladies tonight." she said, and left the room.
Everyone sighed and looked at each other. "Hey Gang. How was your day?" Fan asked. Gang smiled. "Hey Fan. I'm good. You?" Fan looked at him. "Did you see that conversation?" she asked. "Either way, Fan, " said Ting. "you're never going to be Ying's biological daughter."
"You're right. I won't be," Fan replied. "but I will always be her favorite." Fan said smiling, then walked away. Ting stood there, shocked. It was the truth. Although Fan was not her daughter by blood, Ying enjoyed her more. In Ying's eyes, she was tougher and stronger than Ting, not to mention seven years older. It was clear to everyone Fan was the favorite child, even to Ting.
Later that night, inside the Palace of Juéwàng, a meeting commenced. "Greetings everyone." Lady Ying said. "I would like to thank you all for attending the meeting tonight."
"Oh, it's no problem at all, darling." said a ferret.
Ying rolled her eyes. "Does everyone know why we are here?" she asked.
"To take China!" they all said. "Exsssactly." said a python. "But first, we must get rid of the threats." a dhole said. "You're correct, Lady Daiyu."
"Yep. You are totally right!" said a peacock. Ying turned to her brother. "Bao, not now!" she ordered. "Doesss anyone know of any threatsss?" asked the snake. "Yesss, Lady Sying, darling." the ferret said trying to insult the snake. "We are not here for insults, Lady Jing." spat the Lady Daiyu. Jing shook her head and turned away. "I have heard of a Dragon Warrior. He is definitely a threat." added Fan. Ting, standing next to her, rolled her eyes.
"Along with the Furious Five." Daiyu said. "Yesss, but how lure them here isss the quessstion." said Sying.
"I have a plan." Ying said. Everyone turned to her. "What is it, Ying?" Bao asked. Ying glared at him before continuing. "Lady Jing, you rule Měinǚ City, correct?"
"Yes." Jing replied. Ying nodded. "Then we all shall go there with you as my prisoner."
"What?" they all asked in confusion.
Ying looked around the room. "The first move will be mine, then, I will make them think I took over Měinǚ and held you captive." Ying claimed, gesturing to Jing. "Now, all of you follow Lady Jing to Měinǚ, while I plan my attack. Then we'll see who the fools are." Ying ordered, but no one moved.
"Oh yes, I see. I left out an important detail." Ying said. "I meant that you go NOW! Now, now NOW!" she ordered, and all, except Fan, Ting, and Bao, followed Jing out the door. Bao chuckled. "I guess impatience runs in the family, right Ying?" Ying turned to him. "One more word out of you and I'll pull out your tongue!" With that, Ying turned and left the room.
Author's note: Alright! What did you guys think? I wasn't sure how to make the S' long for Lady Sying(since she's a snake), but I tried. Please tell me what I need to fix and what you thought of this chapter. Thank you!