Chapter 2

I don't own KFP characters

So finally, I will get to Po/Shen. The first two chapters were more filler. I had school so sorry this came out a bit later then I planned. I hope that you enjoy. Reviews appreciated.

…

Po creaked open the metal door where a horrific sight met his eyes; the chained, bloodied form of Shen. A single torch lit the area, making the peacock look like something out of a ghost story. Po heard the metal door shut behind him with a loud slam, nearly scraping his back. "Hey, what gives!?" he asked. "Precaution," came the lazy voice of Vachir. Po muttered something under his breath as he turned back to Shen.

The peacock lay on the ground, barely breathing or at least that's how Po saw it. A large collar was strapped around his neck that connected to the stone wall. Po cringed at the sight. It looked like it hurt, a lot. As he walked around, observing the bird, Po failed to see the iron chains on the floor and stumbled in to another wall. "Stupid walls," Po hissed. He turned where the chains were. They were around his ankles and bolted to the floor, near the wall that held the collar. Studying his feet, Po saw that Shen's metal talons had been taken, revealing a far ghastlier sight; the peacock's feet were baring large, angry burn scars. No wonder he hid them. "The consequence for working with those fireworks of his," Po thought sadly as he took note of all the other wounds. Shen's beak had a slight crack in it, like someone had punched him. His robe was torn and tattered in several areas while the chest was almost fully visible. Where the silk fabric used to be, a large, ugly burn was now nestled in its place. He also had many cuts and Po winced at all the places where his feathers were missing, replaced by bloodied patches of skin, staining his remaining feathers a crimson red. Glancing at his right leg, Po saw that the broken leg had healed better than he'd thought.

But the part that surprised Po the most was his missing train. How had he not noticed this. There was no pool of blood behind Shen so it was obvious that someone had cut it off, instead of pulling it out. Either way, Po wouldn't have enjoyed the feeling. He knew just how much Shen needed his tail; for combat, defense and above all, tormenting Po. The train was the peacock's pride and joy. This was enhanced by Shen's royal lineage and his large ego.

The emotions that ran through Po at the moment almost brought him to his knees. What did they do to him? It was so sad to see a person degraded to such a level where they were thrown away to be locked up without the key. Yes, Shen had done things of inexplicable evil, but Po still could see all the pain and suffering, buried under years of anger, denial and ambition. This burden that Po could sense from the bird was one the main reasons why he believed that Shen deserved a second chance; a chance to make wrong, right. He was about to give the peacock a gentle shake when he heard Shen make a soft groan.

…

Zheng flew through the cold mountain, the wind blowing hard against his body, nearly tossing him off course. His beak and the letter he carried by now had icicles hanging off them much to his annoyance. "Why couldn't Shifu do this himself?!" he thought angrily as he began his descent. Hitting the cold ground hard, Zheng lost his balance and fell onto his back. "Stupid ice!" he muttered to himself. Grabbing the letter, which had fallen when he hit the ground, Zheng dusted the snow off his yellow robe and entered the prison. Nervously, he stepped forward, remembering the last time he was here Tai Lung had escaped. "Pardon me," he got the courage to ask a guard, "but where is Commander Vachir?" "Right this way!" the guard said with glee. Zheng gulped as he headed off into the darkness.

"Commander!" the guard addressed his boss, "I got a letter from Shifu for you!" The guard excitingly waved it out of Zheng's reach despite the little bird trying to grab it. "What?" Vachir asked, "and wipe that smirk off your face!" He snatched the letter from the grinning rhino's hand and opened, his eyes growing wider and wider. "What!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Not possible," he breathed, "but if Shifu wishes." The guard and Zheng stood there flabbergasted, as the Vachir proceeded to open the door.

…

Shen's eyes fluttered open slowly, their ruby orbs tried to focus but with a dizzy feeling in his head, he could only make out a fuzzy, black and white image. "How strange," he wondered. Pain was all around him. It always was but this was more intense than previous times. Allowing his eyes to stare at the ground, Shen heard a rattling sound ringing in his ears. As he tried to move his body of the ice cold, stone floor, the noise followed him. Concentrating hard enough, Shen's eyes strained to see a pair of shackles on his ankles. Finally snapping out of his drowsiness, he looked around his new surroundings. "Shen!" the black and white image called out to him. Turning to face the sound, Shen gasped with horror. The panda! He had to get out of here! Someone must have sent him here to kill him. Scrambling to feet as fast he could, Shen tried to raise his train as it was his natural instinct however, he had no train to sport. Completely humiliated by the loss of his feathers, Shen turned to run but felt a sharp tug on his neck and fell to the ground. Tears stinging in eyes and his the burn on his chest flaring in pain, Shen gasped for air, trying to comprehend what happened. Placing his wings onto his neck, Shen felt the collar and realized with horror that he was trapped, with the panda.

"Shen," Po said gently, "it's ok. I just want to help." "I don't want your help!" Shen spat, feeling humiliated to be seen like the way he was in front of his greatest enemy. "You're here to kill me. Don't play dumb." Po looked absolutely shocked. Did this peacock actually think he came all this way just so he could kill him? Po was about to open his mouth when a loud roar was heard from outside and the metal door was opened.

"Congratulations peacock," Vachir said with anger, "you are being released."

Shen smirked at Po and patiently waited to be unchained.

"What about me? I came all this way for nothing?" Po asked with confusion, while Shen continued to smile.

Vachir burst out laughing. "Panda," he said, wiping a tear from his eyes, "you're taking that revolting thing with you back to the Jade Palace."

Both Po and Shen gasped simultaneously.

Just as Shen was going to protest, the rhino guard unlocked him from his chains, scooped him up and threw him out into the snow when they reached the entrance, Po chasing after them.

"Have a nice day!" the guard called and shut the door, leaving the pair in the freezing cold.

"Well then," Po said, looking at the fallen bird. "Shall we get on with our journey?" Shen made no response but instead tried to rise to his feet. He refused to show such weakness. Po watched as the bird tried to get up. He just never gave up. The ice was slippery and Shen struggled to keep his balance. "Oh, here, let me help you," Po offered as he came to his rescue. As Po sprinted, he felt his legs come out from under him and he slid right into Shen with out control. The peacock naturally would've used his talons but without his metal ones, he had no way to hold one and soon found himself going tumbling down the mountain at an uncomfortably high speed, with the panda right on top of him.

…

After tumbling in what had seemed like eternity, the pair hit the bottom and landed in a snow bank. Shen of course, was beyond ok while Po sat up and rubbed his head. "Wow," he said laughing, "that was some crazy ride. I personally would never do that again. How about you Shen. Shen?" Po froze with horror, thinking that he lost and potentially killed the peacock. Shifu would never forgive him for that. "Shen!" Po called out. "Shen!?" A large moan told him that Shen wasn't dead, yet. Digging frantically through the snow, Po finally found the bird. He was cold to the touch which scared Po. Being a panda, Po was fluffy and fat so the he wasn't easily affected by the cold. Shen however, a peacock, was smaller and covered with feathers. To add to that list, he was also severely injured, making him even more vulnerable. Grabbing him, Po sprinted as fast he could, the mountainous region was reaching its end.

Shen woke to a big, fat body pressing against his. His body hurt like crazy and he was pretty sure that was he was going to die. "Let me go!" he screeched despite the pain but Po refused. Shen desperately tried to kick and claw is way out however Po simply held him tighter. "I demand you to release me!" he screamed again. "No Shen," Po told him. "If I leave you here then you will die." "Death would be better than this fate!"

Shen was waiting for this nightmare to end. Why can't someone just kill him? Hadn't he suffered enough? Now his worst enemy was going to take him to his home for what purpose? To teach him a lesson? He knew that fighting Po wouldn't work so he gave up and lay limply in the panda's arms. Po looked down at him, the bird's defeated state tugging at his heart strings.

At last, they were out of the snowy areas of the mountains. The cool breeze still present but not in a bad way. Finding a small cave, Po gently placed the bird down, smoothing out his feathers and making sure that he was comfortable. "Don't you dare touch me!" Shen hissed, batting Po's hands away from him. Po stepped back, his eyes locked with Shen's angry red ones. "I'm going to find some supplies for a fire," he said and walked off, his shoulders slumped. "Must have hurt his feelings," Shen thought before chasing it away. Since when did he care about a stupid panda? Though if Shen had to be honest, he was happy that Po had come to get him. Any more time in that prison and he would've gone mad. Realizing what he was thinking, Shen turned his head in disgust. No, he would wait until he was healed and then take China, then, he would be happy and free.

"Where would I get supplies for my cannons now?" he muttered to himself.

"Did you say something?" came Po's friendly voice, a large bundle of wood in his arms.

"Oh, nothing," Shen replied before going back to his brooding.

…

Good news, Shen's road to redemption is slowly starting. I also found out that the bird Zheng, his name is actually spelled Zeng. Thank you for reading and I promise to update sooner. Also, if anyone has any ideas for villains, other than Shen, please feel free to let me know.