Chapter 13

Coral Seaside Village

After several days of traveling along the coast line, Po found himself caught in the midst of a horde of wolves along a hillside overlooking a vibrant city. His arms were held above his head, chained to a thick stone pillar. Salt hung in the air, and the fresh scent of fish and fruit caused Po's stomach to rumble.

"Say fellow, I haven't had a bit to eat," he said glancing about the wolves clustered about, "how about I go down and get a little take away."

"Nothing doing," a wolf snapped, "beside we already gave you three bowls of food on our way here."

Po released a puff of air. "You call that worthless gruel food?"

A wolf to Po's right slammed his club against his waist; however his firm abs muscle merely brushed it leaving the wolf shaken.

"Guess you didn't hear about what happen in the prison," Po said facing the wolf with a smile.

Shen…or rather the fake peacock stood before him, raising one of his feather daggers under Po's chin. "I swear before this day is done you will never smile again."

Po eyed the sly creature. "Just who are you, really?"

The peacock leaned back, a nerves look in his eye. "What are you playing at, I am Lord—"

"You and I both know that's a load a shit," Po whispered shifting forward as far as his chains would allow. "You're not Shen," he muttered then turned his glance to the dark figure, "he is."

The peacock's nerves demeanor deepen and dagger began to sway.

"Come on," Po whispered in a sly voice, an evil grin forming, "what harm will it really do in telling me?"

"I…" the avian began but suddenly shook his head and drove the dagger back against Po's neck forcing him back a little. "It matters not whether you know who I am or not. You're time on this plain of existence is nearly done, he merely wishes you to be here to see what lies ahead for China and the rest of the world."

Po's smile began to fade as he shot a glance from side to side noticing the wolves moving cannon across the clearing. "What are you doing?" He demanded facing the real Shen.

"Bringing about the birth of my new world," the real Shen said, his face hidden in the folds of his dark hood, "but first I must set this one aside, and what better way than in a blaze of fire."

"No!" Po muttered in a harsh whisper turning back to face the village, his eyes focusing on the first group of people emerging from their homes. "NO!"

The river running along Gongmen City

Tigress's POV

Tigress stood at the front of the ship, her eyes glued upon the horizon. Tai Lung had really come through on this one. From first appearance the Chinese junk…Sea Cutter…may look old and raggedy but it was the fastest ship she ever been on. Captioned by a sea rat by the name Rat Reed, who on surface appeared just as shady, but quickly grew to liking, joking about and with his crew dancing about to help lighten the mood. He had asked no question or bothered to be worried over the apparent danger of what they were walking to, only the thrill of adventure the water brought them.

Sadly it had all been lost on her.

She had not slept in the past two days, as her thought were rooted solely on getting to Po. A bright glint of light caught her eye and glanced down to her wrist. A smile formed along her face at the sight of the bracer she wore. On the same night where she broke down and cried in Po's room, she saw that same glint which led her to a small box under his bed, she had not question where the light came from in the dead of night only that it seem too draw her closer. Pulling it out, she found two iron bracers. She remember Po wearing these on the day Tai Lung returned to the Jade Palace, one had a carving a dragon the other of a tiger, and though they did not rightfully belong to her the image of the dragon craving brought a small smile to her lips and thoughts of Po rose to the surface. Since that day she wore the bracer wherever she went.

"Tigress?"

Tigress glanced over her shoulder to see Shifu standing behind her.

"Tigress, you should get some sleep, it isn't healthy for you to be staying up so late."

"Sorry Baba," she said in a calm tone, turning her gaze forward, "but I can't. Every time I close my eyes all I can see is Po's face."

"Tigress, we're two days away from entering what could possibly be our ferocious battle ever. It won't do you or Po any good if you're also fighting fatigued."

"I said no."

"Tigress, as of this moment I am not speaking as your master, but as your father and I'm ordering your to get some sleep, otherwise I will have Mantis place you in a paralyze state and lock you in the cabin till we reach Gongmen city."

Tigress shot the red panda a narrow had been a long time since Shifu ever acted like a father to her, or threaten to induce paralyzed state upon her for that matter. He wouldn't. Though judging by the angry look in his eye and the massive twitch in his ear, clearly answered her question. He would.

"Alright Baba," she said in a low voice, "you win."

She had just turned away from the helm when her heighten senses picked up the faint sound of something in the distance and the smell of wood burning. Glancing down she saw a look of surprise and quickly turned back around, her mouth lowering at the sight of smoke pillowing into the sky close to Gongmen city.

"Po?" She whispered her heart beat slowing to crawl.

Po's POV

Po struggled again his chains, his blood boil. His screams of outrage protest went unheard by the ever pounding boom from Shen's cannon fire setting the village a blaze.

There was a pause in the attack, but the damage was horrifying. Fields of wild rice had been laid to ruin, columns of smoke rose up from destroyed building and those who had survived the ensuing attack were running about too afraid of what was going to think straight.

"Damn you Shen! Why are you doing this? You have me, what right do you have to make these people suffer?"

The real Shen remain silent his gaze rooted on the burning village.

The false peacock warlord turned to face Po, a crazed look in his eyes. "It was these people who shunned me after my family cast me out. They have every right to suffer," he turned back the slumbering village and shouted, "Fire!"

Po's anger flared as they resume their attack. He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't allow another village to suffer the same fate of Sun Plain…or that of Valley of Mist. In a fit of strength, Po pulled upon the chains until finally they snapped. The two wolves at his side were shocked by this but quickly recovered to unleash their swords. Po dodged the first attack followed up with a hefty to the one on his right forcing him back a few steps, Po then swung his arm around wrapping the chain around the wolf's leg. With one hard yank, Po brought the wolf down to the ground and then quickly spun around bringing the wolf with him to slam into the first.

More wolves rushed to attack the panda, but Po's rage was so fierce that he hardly noticed them as he charged head long for the deranged unholy peacock. His anger flared as Shen did not even care to take notice of Po's approach, and as he reached down, Po took hold of the half metal peacock by the front of his robe and lifted him up off the ground where he tore the hood clear off for all to see his disfigured face.

"I ought to tear you apart limb from limb!" he said through clinched fangs.

The deformed peacock gazed into Po's jade eyes completely unfazed by the panda's rage. "I think you already tried that once. And besides, I don't think you'll be doing that, that is unless you wish to watch the rest of those poor villagers burn."

Po's eyes burned with rage, yet as he tore his gaze from the peacock to the village that was still being bombarded.

"I swear to you Shen I will never forgive you for this, and will make sure you burn in hell when I'm done with you."

With that, he dropped Shen and ran off toward the village.

"Hell, my fine friend," he heard the peacock shout over the sounds of cannon fire, "oh I intend to bring hell to this world."