So quick note here guys, now that I'm back in class and since I need to focus on my English homework this is the last chapter for now. I may write more later these next months but if I do the chapters may be shorter. I made this much longer for all of you and I promise after this, we're getting back to the action. I also now have a Tumblr account so if you want to chat or ask me stuff I'll be active on there and my account name is Artsywriter25.

Have fun reading!


Chapter 12: I forgive you

He had no idea why he wanted to wake up early, but he was already outside heading to the small hill, to the peach tree. Po really felt great and couldn't wait to start the day. His mind was occupied by many thoughts on what he could do after, while he climbed the stone stairs heading to his favorite spot. He glanced up to the sky and saw the stars slowly diming one by one, the night changed to a lighter tone of blue.

As he step on the last step he gazed down at the ground and smiled. Bending down on one knee, Po stared at a tiny plant sprouting out of the ground. Three years ago he noticed a little sprout ever since he saved the Valley of Peace from Tai Lung. The plant grown strong and tall, then one day it disappeared but Po soon found out Shifu moved it to his room as a remembrance of Oogway.

"Hey little guy" Po kindly whispered as he gently strokes the small leaves. While observing the plant, it fluttered quietly by the soft winds of nature.

The panda looked up to see the sun peaking out and making its way up to the horizon. He stood up and walked to the center of the hill, the cherry blossoms right underneath him. The sun rose up further, the breeze picking up, Po could feel wind blowing through his fur, and he could sense that seasons were changing. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath letting the air in him and breath out. Po felt his body move on its own, one-foot forward swirled on the dirt, arms moving in circulation. The wind blew more, petals detached themselves from the tree to fly away in new directions or simply dance away to grounds below. Po continued to move his body going in a trance while feeling the nature around him. The wind blew harder once more with a hint of coldness.

One blossom with petals still attached was swiped off from the tree, letting the winds carried it away. The flower was right above Po's head and without opening his eyes; the panda sense the flower and let it touch the tip of his fingers.

"Inner peace, inner peace" his mind repeated as he let the flower dance around his arm and to his other palm. He took the flower in, moving his paws in circles, twirling flower around like a small tornado. Po created new directions for the flower to follow, spinning it and letting it dance as he helps its flow to the ground.

"Inner peace, inner peace…"

Po let himself wonder in his mind, remembering all of thing that happened to him. The panda village where he was born, the massacre that took his parents away, the basket that traveled to the village he calls home, becoming the Dragon Warrior, fighting alongside with his heroes, facing Shen, knowing the truth and forgiving him. It all came back to him like a big wave, but he stayed relaxed. Po had accepted it, all of it. He was soon at peace.

"Inner peace…"

He opened his eyes to see his paw, lowered with the blossom flower gently right beside the growing sprout. Po stayed like that for a few seconds until finally standing up still staring at the small flower. He smiled; he couldn't believe that he actually did it. It took his teacher many years to master inner peace but Po was able to understand it in only a few days. He felt so proud of himself; he felt he now understood who he is now.

He looked at his paws, feeling prideful that he was able to save China with these paws. But the thought of the peacock entered in his mind and made him frowned. These paws were still the same ones that stopped the cannons, every last one of them. When it was all over he climbed on that wreaked ship and saw him on the ground, lost and disordered. Po recalled what Shen said on that day.

"How…how did you do it? How did you find peace…?"

Po sighed letting his arms fall to his side and turned to stare into the distance. In the amazing view of the trees, flowers and mountains, he could see the Student barracks from where he was standing.

It's been a month since he mastered this technique, a month since he saved China and kung fu, and a month since Lord Shen has been staying here. Po had been patient, waiting for Shen to ask him that question again. The reason behind this was to show the peacock what inner peace is and how it could help him. It didn't happened however and the young panda was wondering why.

He hasn't forgotten Ah-Ma's little riddle. It was still stirring at the back of Po's mind, trying to figure it out by himself. For both of them, they need to find the answer from within; Po found what he needed to sort out by achieving inner peace. He found his answer. In his thinking, Shen could find his answer if he showed him the technique. Maybe then he they could finally be on the same page, it wouldn't hurt to try. Although there were also worst-case scenarios if this doesn't work like getting on the peacock's bad side and Po did not want to deal with that. Still, he has to try even if it meant getting chop into little pieces.

Po made up his mind on what he was planning to do today; he has to talk to Shen.


The Furious Five already left to deliver a report to Master Eagle, to their surprised their panda friend wanted to stay behind. Po would have love to meet Master Eagle in person but there was always a next time and he had others things that were important.

He made Shen and himself some breakfast and headed to his room. He knocked on his door and waited. Po's tiny ears twitched to the sound of ruffling paper and things moving around, making him curious as to what the peacock was doing.

"Shen?" he called out, no response.

Then a shadow foamed in front of the door and it sidled opened. Shen's gazed showed he looked pretty cross of being disturbed. Po wasn't even acknowledging his gaze.

"Oh hey, you're wearing the new robe."

"What do you want panda?" Shen rudely demanded.

"I got breakfast" Po showed the two trades in his paws, "Rice porridge and peaches. I thought we could eat together."

The warlord frowned, "No thanks, you may do as you wish but I rather be isolated for today."

Po should have suspected this but he wasn't going to surrender, "Oh c'mon, what's wrong with hanging out with me."

"You should know by now it's everything" Shen remarked.

"Do you…want to talk about?" Po asked hopefully.

"Wha-no! I want you to go away," Shen snapped losing patience as usual.

"Please Shen, I promise won't say a word to bother you or touch anything in your room and I'm really really hungry. I've been staring at the rice bowl since I cooked it."

The peacock sighed seeing he won't be able to get rid of the panda today, "All right fine! As long as you shut up."

Po beamed a victory smile, "Ha knew it would work," he whispered to himself.

"What was that?" Shen turned back sharply.

"Nothing, I didn't say anything" Po's eyes looked in anything direction but the bird.

The peacock let the panda in his room; it was just for one day Shen told himself, although he was a bit worried his notes would be discovered. He hid them under his bed the safest spot for his plans, but he soon realized he made a mistake when he saw only one note was left behind, hiding under the table. He watched as Po set down the two traits on the small table. He just needed stay clam and make sure the panda doesn't noticed it.

Po took a pillow as his seat ready to eat his breakfast.

"So um…" Po tried to come up with something to start up a conversation, "Have you been feeling better since yesterday?"

"I'm quite all right" Shen responded straight forward.

Po was glad to hear that; he then noticed something on floor that made his head titled to the side.

"How did that happen?"

"What?" Shen asked almost nervously.

"Your feet" Po pointed with concerned, "Was that from yesterday or were the scars always there?"

Shen stared down at his feet and frowned. If he could wish back anything it would be having back his metal talons. He hated they were taken away from him and hated not having anything to protect his scared deformed feet. Shen covered them with his long robe and moved to sit on the other side of the table.

"It's none of your business."

Po frowned, he didn't mean to offend the peacock even if he had no clue how he upset him about his feet. Now that he was thinking about it he barley know anything about the warlord. Po considered the thought on asking Shen some question about himself; it would be nice to know more about him and his past. But then again, if Shen got upset about just his feet there no telling what else could set him off.

"Maybe I'll save that for another time" Po thought, "Right now there's other things I need to ask him."

Po already finished his breakfast, had two peaches and glanced at the peacock, who was mostly picking and staring his food as if he had lost interested in eating. Po grimaced with concerned and asked Shen if he was okay, he didn't answer.

"Shen, can I-"

"I thought you said you won't speak a word," Shen reminded him.

The panda's shoulders and ears slumped, "You're right, I did said that. But can I at least ask you something, it's kind of important…"

Shen still didn't look up or he didn't seem phased about being asked for something but he took a few bites of his breakfast.

"Very well," he said after a moment, "But you can only ask me one question."

"Wait, why just one question? What if I have three or more questions?"

"One question, Panda" said the peacock irritated and was not in the mood to play games. The more he was allowing the panda to stay, the possibility of him finding out his plans was at stake.

"Okay…" Po tried to word out the question very carefully, "Shen, do you still…do you still want to find peace?"

Shen's crest twitched and he dropped his spoon in the bowl. His head shot up staring at the panda with an expression Po couldn't read. Po kept things clam by giving a gentle expression in return, as if to show he means no harm.

"I was thinking about what said to me, back at Gongmen. I think maybe we should talk about it."

As Po stared at him he could see in his expression almost a mix of shock, suspicion and maybe a hint of fear. Shen just stared at him back, eyeing him as if the panda was up to something.

"Why?" Shen voice was serious and firm.

"Because, I really want to help you Shen. I can help you find the answer from within by showing you inner peace."

The atmosphere around felt different around them, they weren't looking at each other as enemies but more as individuals standing in the same path, one wanting to understand while the other wanted to avoid everything.

"Can I ask you a question?"

The black and white bear smiled seeing that the conversation was going good so far. He wondered if the peacock was going ask him about the technique, "Yeah sure, ask away."

Shen hesitated but he finally spoke in calmed voice, "Why would you do that for me?"

Po felt his spirits perked up, "It's like I said before, I believe you can change and it's what people do when they care about someone's well being."

What he really wanted to say was 'it's what a friend would do' but he knows he wasn't at that level with the peacock just yet.

Shen almost wanted to laugh, he didn't want believe every word he said. Who in their right minds would want to help someone like him? Why should the panda care about him after what he's done to him?

"What makes you think that I won't use this inner peace against you?"

"Well, I hope you don't" Po starched the back of his head, "I'm just gonna have to trust you."

Shen's brows narrowed, "Trust me? Just like that?"

"Yeah, teammates always trust each other."

"But the truth is I am not" Shen bluntly said, "I am not part of any team nor a companion. In other words I should be nothing to you, yet you keep pushing on and on thinking I'll be a good guy one day. But we both know it's never going to happen."

"That's not true, you're not nothing," the panda tried to reassure, "And you haven't even tried."

"Why would I want to try and practice the one thing that stopped me from taking over China?" Shen exclaimed, "Why do you keep on pursuing on trying to change into something I'm not?"

"I'm not trying to change you into anything, I just want to help" Po frowned, "I don't think it's fair that I found peace and you haven't. I think that's why the prophecy was made, not so we can be enemies but to help each other out."

Shen felt his anger boiled. How dare the panda remind him of the prophecy and for what, to make fun of him?

"You don't know anything, you have no idea how much hell that prophecy gave me!"

"Then talk to me about" Po said in a composed manner, "Help me understand you."

Shen's features and his crest flared, "What's there to understand?! I killed your parents, I killed those crows, and how can you look over past that?"

"Because I forgive you for all of those things" Po told the peacock with such assurance, "That's how I unlock my inner peace, I just let it all go…"

Shen blinked serial times, astonished by the panda's honestly. He was forgiven, by the hero who was supposed to end him. He was forgiven for all of the things he's done. His features settled but his beak was parted, like he wanted to say something but he couldn't let it out. He suddenly stood up, it was so fast it caught Po off guard. He just stood there glazing down to the table.

"I…I'm going for walk."

And then he left in a hurry, leaving the last page under the table and the panda in his room. Po sighed feeling tried and frustrated but mostly defeated.


Shen didn't walk anywhere, there was no place for him to go. He felt trapped. Trapped with so many emotions he couldn't understand, swimming in his mind to the point it became too much. He found himself sitting on the steps of the stairs outside of the Jade Palace, steady his breathing.

He stared down his lap where his wings were folded together and the thoughts of the panda's words occupied him. The words repeated in his head over and over again still trying to make sense out of it. Po said he has forgiven him, no one has ever forgave him for his actions. It was almost unreal for the peacock that he wondered if it even happened. But the real question he was trying figure out was why did he let it made a big impact on himself.

Shen never felt this kind of effect and it actually frighten him. This emotional confusion was stressing out his mind and he cannot allow that. He cannot let his emotions get the better of him. He never needed inner peace in the first place, he was fine. He was alive, he has a brand new plan and a new ally, looking for peace shouldn't matter to him anymore. Nothing else shouldn't matter.

And yet, he couldn't think of anything else, all he was focusing now was how the panda showed him clemency, and felt he doesn't derives it .

"Shen…"

Shen's thoughts were interrupted, the voice bringing him back to reality. He closed his eyes knowing whose voice that was. He felt his presence sitting right beside him, not saying another world after that. After for a while it was the peacock that spoke up.

"How long was I out here…?" Shen spoke in a monotone almost not noticing how soft he has spoken.

"About, four hours…" Po responded in the same whispering tone.

They felt the wind blowing through their fur and feathers and watched the air carrying the leaves away. The stayed like that for a while letting the time pass by. Po played with hands nervously, frowning for what he did.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad…" Po said.

The bird closed his eyes once again and reopened them.

"I wasn't….just, overwhelmed" Shen admitted.

Po bend forward to get a glimpse of his face, he didn't see any signs of anger but he did saw some stress written on the bird's face.

"Do you really forgive me?"

Po was surprise by this, his eyes were wide and had a dumbstruck look that looked too silly then he smiled. "Of course, and I really do mean it" the panda replied with positivity.

"Why would you?" Shen asked this time looking at Po.

"It's the right thing to do" Po shrugged his shoulders.

The peacock still did not want to consider if the bear was telling the truth, like he expected all of it to be a trap. What he said next was something Shen wanted to ask the panda for a long time, he had second thoughts but once he said it he couldn't take it back.

"But, I scarred you, how can… how can you not hate me for that?"

Po wasn't expecting the warlord to say something like that and it really shock him that he could think that way. The way Shen was staring at him was ambiguous, his ruby eyes looked curious but were demanding for an answer and Po could have sworn he saw a little glimpse of hope.

"Lord Shen," Po started by showing respect to the peacock's title, " When I found out what happened, to my parents, I was hurt. Sad, confused, and angry, my story started off really tragically."

Shen felt nervous, not liking how this was going.

"But then, I came to a realization that my story wasn't all that bad. I met my dad, I made friends, I had a new family. That itself made me happy. And when I saw you again I also realized, I have to forgive you. It wasn't a decision it was something I really felt strongly about."

Po saw Shen face was again stunned by his honesty, "No matter what you did Shen, hating you is not the right way. So no, I don't hate you."

The peacock looked down to his lap, "Even after what happened a few days ago…"

"Yeah, that was pretty mess up" Po cringed just thinking about the crows, "But, I think you can do better."

Shen felt different after that, he felt as if something inside him was lifted from his heart. After what the panda said, he looked at him as a different person and not as his enemy. It was an odd feeling the peacock couldn't explain. He heard himself chuckle for no reason, maybe he was graceful that the panda so sympathetic for him.

"You, really don't surrender that easily?" Shen commented than asking.

"I think I answered that one before."

"Hmph."

Seeing the sun was setting a little Po turned to the peacock, "Hey it's past noon, do you wanna grab some lunch?"

Shen didn't feel he wanted to eat anything but h felt he didn't want to back to his room yet, "Fine."

Po stood up filled with energy, "Awesome! Race you down the stairs."

Po raced down a few steps only to trip on his own feet and cried out, falling and bouncing all the way down the stairs. Shen rolled his eyes at this. He opened his fan and leaped off, gliding and made his way to the ground within seconds. He waited until Po bounced on the last step and rolled on to his back.

"I'm okay" he breathed out, "I think I landed on my head but I'm okay."

The panda got up and dusted his pants and belly. When he looked up he frowned, "Hey how did you get here before me?"

"What do you think, I flew" Shen said walking his way to the village while Po tried to catch up with him.

"That's not fair you cheated" Po pouted folding his arms.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know there were rules to follow" Shen replied sarcastically.

As they made they're strode in the village a medium size radish rolls out of nowhere and stops right in front of them. Po picked it up not noticing a little rabbit walking away with familiar toys.

"Nice radish" Po said.

Shen was disgusted, "That was from the ground."

"It's called a five second rule, you ever head that?"

"No but it's still disgusting."

Before Po could take a bite he heard a cry from his father.

"Po help! Help me!"

Po dropped the radish and dashed to his father's restaurant. The peacock just stood there for a second, having no idea nor seen the panda moved so quick before. He tried to catch up ignoring the stares from the villagers as they were lining up to buy something from Mr. Ping.

"NOOO!"

Everyone stopped, wondering who was yelling. A big lantern fell on top of a customer while Shen walked over to the restaurant door. Shen opened it to see Po with a box over his head and banging himself on the wall. He could hear him whimpering very dramatically. Shen could only raise a brow to this weirdness.

"Should I be asking what happened or has he simply lost his mind?" Shen had to ask.

"No, I accidently gave away Po's furious five toys" explained as both birds watch the bear continued to bang his head against the wall, "I'm sorry Po."

Po removed the box hat, "Dad they're hand scale replicas with kung fu action! I made them on the day I fell in love with kung fu."

Po turned to his dad with a look of determination, "I have to find them!"

The panda almost ran into Shen and the peacock quickly moved away watching the panda searching franticly. Shen followed not understanding what's going on. Mr. Ping calling out it was an accident.

"Where are you going?" asked Shen.

"Sorry Shen, but lunch will have to wait. Because we have a new mission, to locate my missing action figures!" Po said heroically then turned back to his panic mode looking at every corner while Shen just stood there.

"And this why I never take you seriously" he said to no one.

They search and search, mostly Po did the looking, but they couldn't find anything. The sky was setting to a yellowish color

"C'mon, where are they?" Po whined looking in the barrel.

The warlord felt this search had gone long enough and he was pretty tried from walking.

"All right Panda, I'm ready to go back."

"What? No no we can't go back now, we haven't find them yet."

"We've been searching for hours."

"It's only been thirty minutes."

"That's long enough for me."

Shen was about to leave and head back to Palace but Po step in his way. He warned Po to move but the warrior refused to move in inch.

"C'mon Shen, this is important to me" Po pleased.

But the peacock was not in mood to continue to search and his only response was giving the panda an obvious look. The kind of look a father would give to their child if they're being too stubborn or throwing a tantrum.

"Panda when was the last time you played with toys?" Shen asked him.

Po blinked, "Um…well I kinda, play my action figures when no one looking…and the ones I made, not pretty much…"

He felt embarrassed for admitting that, he was admitting that to a lord, biting his lip Po didn't look up to Shen knowing he was trying to make a point. He made a quick glance and saw that the bird wasn't really judging him. It was like he grown used to Po's personality and his childishness.

"Don't you think it about time to move on?"

Before he could say anything he heard a voice of a child, playing and calling out the names of the five. Picking up the sound Po turned around and quickly ran up to the wall. He tried to see the other side but couldn't. He shoved and small box and climbed up and saw his action figures.

"Shen! I see them" he whispered. He about to climb over the wall and grab them but stop, noticing a small bunny playing with the dolls. He pretended to fight imagery bandits with the five masters, threating and showing off his moves.

Shen pondered why was the panda just standing there and quietly climbed a stack of boxes to see what he was seeing. He noticed the child playing and trying to do a kick but fell hard on the ground. Shen thought the performance was poorly done as watched with Po. They remained watching and listening till the bunny saw how the Tigress doll was posed.

"Yes, right foot" Po whispered, "That's it. Now shift your weight, twist the hips and recoil and….extended!"

The little bunny made a perfect kick, "Thank you Master Tigress!"

Po was happy for the boy and was impress by his skills. He watched as his mother calls for him and chuckled, "Well done little master."

Shen turned to the Dragon Warrior sensing a change from him and it looked like he was thinking of leaving the toys to the child, which meant they did all that screeching and walking for nothing.

"You're not getting them back are you" he said knowingly.

"Nah.. " Po said still smiling.

They both climbed down and saw the Furious Five coming their way.

"Did you find your dolls?" Tigress asked, "Your father told us he accidentally gave them away."

Po's expression soften, his smile became more tender, "No, I think there right we're there met to be."

He walked up to the five and gave them a loving group hug, "Beside, I got the real thing right here ."

The masters returned the hug to the loving panda and they all headed back home. While walking Shen stayed at the back of the group, slowly following behind. He watched them talked and listening to Po on how his day went. The crest on top of his head drooped a little as he frowned, remembering what the panda said about his peace.

I met my dad, I made friends, I had a new family. That itself made me happy.

Looking at the group, he could see that this was true, the warriors did made the panda happy, they were his family. A family he would never be apart of. He was the outsider only to watch from aside. This thought alone made him feel…broken and uplifted. He didn't like what he was feeling. He walked further away from the group, not wanting to hear their talk any lounger, he just want to back to his room and be alone, that's how things should be and always will be.


The moment he opened his eyes the warlord peacock found himself outside. He was in the middle of large open field, Shen twist his neck looking in all directions. He had no idea how he even got there.

Slowly getting up Shen saw the sky wasn't night but covered up with grey fog. He looked around again, not seeing anything or anyone. There was nothing, just a field of grass and tall dead trees. Now that he thought of it, the place did seem familiar to him.

Shen walked forward to see if there was anything that could help him . He only saw more tall tress but went onward, hoping he would see anything that would explain to him why he was out here. Talking another glance at the trees, he noticed something odd about them. The trees looked like they were painted over with red paint, they look like eyeballs. Then he stopped as he smelled something strong but fowl in the air. It smelled like, smoke.

A sudden sharp pain filled his head. Shen cried out in pain as he clutch his head, like someone use a knife to stab his skull. Out of nowhere flashes of memories came to his mind, memories he refused to remember.

"Wha-what are you two doing?"

"Son, I'm so sorry…"

"Mother?"

"Shen, you are here by banished from Gongmen for crimes that you have committed. You and your army of wolves can never return to this city."

"What!? You can't do this! This is my home!"

"It's already been decided son. You need to leave…now…"

"Are you serious ? You're not going to let me explain why I did it? You're doing this to your own child?!"

"Please Shen, don't make this hard for me. You have to go."

"Father…father you can't-"

"I SAID LEAVE!"

When it was all over, the pain and the memoires, Shen's eyes snapped opened and he shook in fear. He knows where he was. It was happening again.

He heard the screaming. The sky grew a dark shade of red. Shen ran up to the covered snow hill and when he made to the top he saw it all. The smoke, the fire, and the bodies, the pandas were fleeing from the wolves. Their homes were gobbled up in flames, they tried to run away and to find their family members. Some tried to fight back and some failed with their bodies hitting the snow or caught in the flames.

This was different than the last time. Usually the pandas were look more wild creatures terrorizing him, beating him, looking for revenge for the monster who took their lives. But Shen was seeing from a different perceptive, he was seeing his army destroying everything. He has seen this before, he would laugh or just take pleasure of how much destruction he was spreading. But now, now he felt utterly disturbed.

A few pandas noticed him and actually called out for him.

"Help us! Please help us!" they cried.

Shen's body was shaking, maybe from the cold air or maybe it was because he couldn't handle their cries for help. He turned around but fell into the snow, Shen quickly got back up and took off not caring where he was going. As the peacock ran he saw the painted eyes on the trees were staring at him and following him. This made Shen run faster.

When he was far away Shen took a deep breath, his body was tried from the cold snow and the running. He wanted to wake up, he didn't want to be there anymore. Then he heard a noise that made his blood run more colder.

The sound of a crying woman.

Shen slowly turned to see a female panda crying in the snow. She was crying so hard and so loud that it covered the sounds of the wind. Shen immediately knew who the woman was. He froze when the panda got up, she stood there for a few minutes until she finally turned to him. Shen almost felt sick when he saw her body.

Her eyes were gone, they were pitch black and darker than the patches around her face. She was crying bloody tears but that wasn't all that was bleeding. There was a large cut from her chest to her stomach and blood was gradually spilling out. Shen made that cut, to end her life.

The female panda took a step and stopped, looking at the peacock with her black bloody stained eyes.

"Why?" her cracked voiced asked.

"Why?" she asked again.

And then she sprint forward, running to Shen who just stood there not moving. He couldn't make himself move, there was nowhere to go and no escape. She was now in front of him grabbing his shoulders and screamed.

"WHY!?"


Shen woke up gasping and sat up sharply. His breathing was so loud he had to cover his beak to avoid anyone wakening up. His whole body was shanking and drench in sweat. He never had such a nightmare like that before and it was actually more frightening than the ones in the past. The pandas were crying for help, to him, and it really bothered him.

Shen felt alone, he didn't have his friend or the Soothsayer to go and talk to like before. He was alone. He wrapped his wings around himself, it was pathetic of him but it was the only thing to comfort himself. Shen got up from his bed and left his room, he needed some water.

He walked to the kitchen, rubbing his eyes as a way to get the bad memories out from his vision. It was dark in the room. Shen looked through the cabinets for a cup but no luck. He walked to the to other side of the room but suddenly felt he wasn't alone.

"Lord Shen?"

He jumped when he heard a female voice. Shen turned around to see someone sitting right by the doorway. It was the kind snake, Master Viper.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you" she kindly apologized.

Shen clamed down and stared at the snake before him. He almost didn't recognized her without her flower clips, she looked like a regular snake. Taking a breath of relief Shen tried to compose himself, "I'm all right and I wasn't startled."

"Okay" the snake simply said.

The peacock eyed her carefully as if he as expecting the female panda to be there and not her at any moment. "What are you doing up?"

"I was hungry, so I thought of getting a late snack" said Viper, "Do you mind if I ask why are you up?"

"I…" Shen couldn't think of an excuse, "I couldn't sleep."

Viper's mouth lessened sensing something was wrong, "Are you okay?"

"Yes of course," Shen lied turning away, "I just needed something to drink."

But Viper saw Shen's wings were shaking a little bit which made her frown more. She knows something was bothering the peacock. She doesn't ask further more and instead slithered her way up to the table. She took two cups, a pot filling it with hot water, and small packets with herbs inside. Shen saw what she was doing and asked her what was the tea for.

"The tea will help you feel better" the snake comment with a smile.

When the tea was done, she tried move the pot to the cups trying not to burn herself. Without warning Shen helped her move the pot for her, he was surprised himself that he would do that for the warrior who stopped his plans. They took their cups and sat down to the table.

Shen took a sip of his tea, feeling the warm liquid go down his throat. He felt a little better, he really needed that.

"Thank you" he said and was glad the panda wasn't around to hear that.

Viper smiled, "Your welcome, tea always clams the nerves down."

Shen didn't smile back, he looked down to his cup and noticed his wings were shaky, but not as bad as before. He sighed, he couldn't hide anything from this female, she was far different than Tigress's personality. He turned to her seeing her bright blue eyes glowing in the dark. Her eyes were so filled with kindness and understanding, like a mother would have. Those eyes are what got to him.

"I couldn't sleep because, I just had a bad dream" he bluntly said trying not to sound how much it terrified him.

"I see" Viper nodded, "Have you always had night terrors before?"

Shen wasn't sure how to answer that, "…um…" he stayed silence for a while.

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to" Viper said not wanting to force him.

She saw Shen expression unchanged, "But it's okay to be scared."

The peacock sharply turned to her, "I was not afraid, it was just a dream. It meant nothing" he lied to himself.

He wasn't mad at her, he just didn't want to show any signs that he was weak and not to a woman.

"I was not trying to judge you Lord Shen, everyone can get scared sometimes."

Shen did not agree but he choose not yell or even argue a topic that did not matter, "When you're a lord you cannot show fear, you must stay strong in any circumstance. It's what I was always been taught and I never waste time on dwelling in fear."

Viper sipped her tea, "True. But you still have every right to express how you feel. To show bravery you must understand fear, that's what I always told myself when I found my courage."

Shen's crest twitched with interest, he was curious as to how a strong warrior like her can show fear when she display none the first time they met.

"How so?" he asked.

Viper finished her tea and begin her story, " It happened at a festival. My father was fighting a gorilla but his venom couldn't penetrate the armor. I saw he was in trouble and without thinking, I rush over to help."

She remembered one important detail, "You see when I was born I did not have fangs of venom. But, even thought I was scared to fight I was able to find another way to defeat him, I found courage at a very young age. But the most happiest thing about that day, I made my father smiled."

Shen observed the female snake, seeing that one part of her story wasn't true.

"But, you do have fangs" he pointed out.

Viper only giggled and smiled big to showing him her fangs, "Why yes I do. They came in very late but they still do not carry any venom. My three sisters have venom though."

Shen thought about Viper's story, what strike him the most was the fact she was not like any regular snake. She was born imperfect yet she was still loved by her father. The thought didn't made him feel better but now worse. A parent was able to still love their child despite the flaws, why couldn't his parents do the same for him?

"Your father still loved you…" Shen whispered to himself.

"Huh?" Viper titled her head confused.

"Oh I um, I- I apologize, I mean" Shen actually stumbled his words, he almost slipped out what was really troubling him, "I said I'm impress, that you trained with your father without having fangs."

The female snake frowned which made him think he said something wrong.

"I didn't trained with my dad, he wouldn't let me help when I was little."

The peacock sighed, he knew it was too good to be true, "He was disappointed in you wasn't he?"

Viper shook her head, "No nothing like that. I think he was more worried that I didn't had anything to protect myself during that time, he even wouldn't let go anywhere by myself."

It wasn't too far off on how Shen's parents treated him, not letting him do much because they believe he couldn't accomplish things on his own, it's what made his angry flames kelp burning.

"But he was still proud of me and he always let me know."

This stung Shen's heart more deeper, because he knows he could never have that. His head was hurting and didn't want to think any further of the topic.

"Can I have more tea?" he asked to distract himself.

"Of course" Viper generously replied and pour the pot for him, "So, how was your fun adventure with Po?"

Shen frowned annoyingly, "Don't get me started on him. I swear that panda is such a child."

Viper smiled, "That what I like about him, he's a fighter but still a sweetheart and he's able to be cheerful even in the most dangerous situations."

"I'm surprise that hasn't killed him yet" said Shen.

"Eventually it grew on us" she giggled again, "It may grow on you too one day."

Shen couldn't help but laugh quietly, "That would be preposterous."

"We'll see" said Viper, "I think I'm going back to bed."

"Same as I."

They finished their tea and walked back to their rooms.

"Goodnight Lord Shen" Viper called out.

Shen stopped and turned to the female snake, "Why do address my title even though you know I'm not a lord anymore?"

"I know you still want to be address to that, so I'm respecting your wishes" she said.

Shen nodded feeling he could trust the snake, "I appreciate that. Sleep well…Viper."

He closed his door hoping the same will go well for him.


After an uneventful day pasted, the first week was done and the second week already rolled in. Shen have completed his work. All of his notes were stack together and organized. Looking at his calendar, he saw he had only seven days left before exchanging his plans to his Gang. Everything was according to his plan.

All that was left was to wait. He felt thrilled for this to be done but he thought to himself, how much all of this will be worth in end? Will this finally bring him happiness?

He felt odd thinking like that, perhaps he was staring to feel bored now and there was nothing else to think about. He knows this plan would bring happiness, there was no reason to question it now. As he and the others left their rooms to go train, they stopped to see Master Shifu and Tigress standing in front of the hall.

"Everyone, we have some good news" said Shifu. And what was said next made the peacock's heart stop.

"We found Gang" said Tigress, "And we made have an idea where he's located."


All right guys if you see anything mistakes that I miss please let know, see ya next time and wish me luck in school!

P.S. Sorry for the cliffhanger…