Chapter 10: Interviewing the Soothsayer
"Greetings everyone it is Shadow and please welcome my next guest the Soothsayer," I said motioning to the elderly goat woman sitting next to me.
"Hello everyone," the Soothsayer said calmly.
"It is an honor to have you here my friend. Let me explain to you how the show works," I said.
"With all due respect Shadow I already know so please ask the questions," Soothsayer told me.
"Very well mam let's begin. Blades of Justice wants to know how long were you held captive by Shen." I asked her.
"Not long at least a few months maybe even a few weeks but it was not a long time," she replied.
"Makes sense now Shen's General wants to know hypothetically do you think Shen would have done what he did to the pandas if you never told his parents the prophecy." I asked her.
Closing her eyes she smoked her pipe for a few minutes before answering. Finally her eyes were open and she said," That is what I always wondered myself. In all honesty I cannot say for Shen was bent on destruction and whether or not I revealed the prophecy he would have killed the pandas for another reason. They were the closest village to Gongmen City so he would have slaughtered them all to prove he was serious about ruling China and would crush anyone who got in his way," the Soothsayer replied sadly. "If only I had foreseen Shen attacking the village I would have tried to stop him but that is the curse of my gift I do not always get to see what I want to see," she added as a tear rolled down her face.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and said," You did save Po from dying so he completed the prophecy".
"Yes, I just wish I could have done more," she told me.
"No one blames you and remember some pandas are still alive," I told her.
"That and Po being alive is the only thing that makes my guilt go away," she said.
"Well Volleyballgirl09 wants to know why you saved Po from the river is that why? So, he could fulfill his prophecy?" I asked.
"That and it was an act of redemption for me. I thought by saving him and helping him discover his past could redeem me for my failure to save the other pandas", she said smoking her pipe.
"Okay, pandamaster97720 asked how did you know that Po would wash ashore near his village and how did you get him out of the water?" I asked.
"I saw a vision of him being there and I pulled him out of the river and carried him. I am old not weak," she said sternly.
"KungFuPandaFanatic wants to know how you are able to see the future." I asked her.
"That is hard to explain you see I was born with the gift of sight. Not sure how or why but I could see into the future. It all started when I was about ten I lived in the Palace at Gongmen City with Shen's grandfather. All the peacocks were kind to me even at one time Shen," Soothsayer told me.
"Tuckeyhunger99 wants to know what Shen was like as a child." I asked her.
"I only met him a few times when his father or grandfather asked me for my advice. He was a very quiet boy and would bring me a white lily every time he saw me. So, sweet and loving to his parents but the peacock I saw return to the city was not the same peacock I watched growing up," Soothsayer said shedding tears.
"Easy mam maybe we should wrap this up I said seeing her in tears," I told her.
"No I am fine I just had to get it out. Please continue with the interview," Soothsayer said regaining her composure.
"Okay, let's continue then," I told her. I picked up another question and began to read. "Cookie M 2012 wants to know if you can see Po's future at the Jade Palace." I asked.
"I am afraid I can have visions automatically but I can see a happy life for him," Soothsayer said now smiling at the audience. "Even love in his future I do see him marrying the one he loves who loves him and they will be together forever but I do not see who it is. But it is someone he has known for a long time," the Soothsayer added.
"Wow sounds like Po will have a happy life," I told the crowd as they cheered for the Soothsayer.
"Now TheHero 314 wants to know what you thought of Shen when he wanted to rule all of China." I asked her.
"I was mortified and hoped he would come to his senses and go onto the path of light. But he remains on the path of darkness and I fear he will never get off that path," she told me.
"Is there anything that can save him?" I asked.
"That my dear Shadow is only answered by Shen himself for he has to want to change and he still allows his anger to control him," Soothsayer said.
"That is so sad," I said frowning.
"Yes, it is I am sorry dear Shadow but I have grown tired I need to rest. Thank you for interviewing me," Soothsayer said as she got up. She bowed to the audience and shook my hand then walked off the stage.
"Thank you for coming and next I will be interviewing Tai-Lung so please send me questions," I said to the audience. Then we went to a commercial break and I went to my dressing room. "Poor Shen I hope he does find a way to redeem himself," I said quietly. Unbeknown to me Lord Shen was being escorted to another room and he heard me.
"Dear Shadow maybe you can be my redemption," he said sadly.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.