"At first glance, one might think that an albino peacock cannot pose much of a threat to the likes of a tiger, a panda, a rhino, or any other substantial kung fu master. But that misevaluation is the essence of Lord Shen's villain: he is a mysterious, unpredictable, devious creature who carries weapons hidden beneath his feathers, as well as an attitude that he has been deeply wronged in the past." - (The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2, page 47)
7. An Old Enemy
"Shen!" He heard her voice behind him. But he ignored her pleading. With no plan or destination, the white form of the peacock ran through the trees. He avoided the houses in the village purposely. He didn't want to be seen as a coward, but he didn't need a confrontation with opponents at the moment. He wanted to be alone. Just be alone. Everything around him seemed so surreal to him. It was as if he were stumbling through a dream from which he was desperately looking for an exit. But inside, he knew that it was all a reality.
Gasping, he came to a halt on a tree. He leaned against it and gasped for air.
He had so much hoped never to see their faces again. Not as long as he was on earth and could have died with pride. Instead, he felt like a humiliated dog. He had nothing to boast. Nothing to show that he was right about anything.
Tears welled up in his eyes. Angrily, he hit the forest floor with his fist.
That was so unfair! That was so unfair!
Panting, he knelt in the damp leaves. His finger feathers clawed into the earth. Finally, he raised his head resolutely.
He just needed a new plan. There had to be one. He just didn't want his parents to think that he was to blame for everything. He had to prove it.
"It's all a lie!" he hissed. "As soon as I can move my body fully again, I will take revenge on those who did this to me."
He grinned. Yes, he would torture each and every one of them for his defeat! Every one!
Suddenly, he raised his head. His sensitive hearing heard voices. A campfire was burning somewhere between the trees. Who could that be? Shen wasn't exactly curious, but when he briefly heard the howl of a wolf, he was pricked up his ears. Was that his people? What actually happened to them after his "death"? Had they been chased out of the city or some of them arrested? Or even executed?
With an effort, he stood up and walked towards the fire, sometimes with unsteady steps. There he recognized two gorilla figures.
It had to be his people.
Shen looked down at himself. Was there still blood on his shirt? Maybe so much the better. So he could make some impression. He wiped the sheets of paper from his torn robe that had stuck to the fabric and smoothed his feathers. Then he pulled together his wings under his sleeves, as the lords always did, and strode across the grass towards the fire with his head held high.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he greeted everyone.
One of the gorilla's jaws fell open when he saw his former boss approaching. "L-Lord Shen?"
Now a wolf appeared in the light, too. "You here? We thought, you were dead."
Shen slapped on a confident grin. "I'm sorry to have to disappoint you. That was just a strategy."
Why hadn't he thought of it straight away instead of letting himself be dragged to his death? The soothsayer would be surprised that her talk about the future had been completely wrong.
The peacock let his gaze wander. He counted about five gorillas and seven wolves. Another figure sat right in front of the campfire. Probably a wolf too, at least structurally. Still, it was unusually large. Even bigger than Wolf Boss.
The lord cleared his throat. "So? Management report. What actually happened in my absence?"
At that moment, the tall figure by the fire turned to face him. Shen froze from his proud demeanor into sheer horror.
It wasn't a wolf, it was a Komodo dragon.
Shen's eyes widened in horror.
"Xiao Dan?" he breathed in bewilderment.
The Komodo dragon looked in astonishment at the white peacock. But without the horror on his face. The lizard wore gold-plated armor and even a kind of dagger adorned the end of its long reptilian tail.
"Lord Shen?" The lizard didn't seem to know what to say. "That... that's a surprise."
Suddenly, Shen's face took on an aggressive expression and he backed away a little. "What do you want here?!" the white peacock snapped. "You were forbidden to ever enter the country again!"
At first, Xiao Dan stood there completely perplexed. Finally, he seemed to have put his head in order and began to laugh maliciously. "Well, the deadline has expired for me. Especially after your demise, and the demise of this rhino."
Shen hissed like a venomous snake. "I thought, my family made it very clear to you never to let you look into Gongmen City again! You should never come back here!"
Both looked at each other. Then the lizard let out an amused hiss. "Ha! Did you really think I'd let two chickens put me off forever? It was only because of these kung fu master dolls that we were never able to take over the city. Not even after the colorful geese have passed away. But thanks to your people, we had a little more leeway for an invasion…" But then the lizard's expression darkened. "Until that fat panda screwed everything up."
Shen raised his eyebrows. "You say a panda?" His stomach contracted. It annoyed him that of all people his worst enemy could put these shed carriers to flight. Nevertheless, he was halfway happy that Xiao Dan had failed to destroy the city this time as well. And everyone could see that the Komodo dragon leader wasn't happy about his defeat. But in spite of everything, the lizard couldn't resist to teasing the peacock a little.
"Still, our attempted overthrow of the city was all thanks to you," he said with a broad grin.
Shen raised his eyebrows in a sour gesture. "Because of me?"
Xiao Dan giggled. "With your intrusion into the city, you gave us the opportunity what we have been waiting for x years. However, your weapons were too powerful. But after the panda hat eliminated you, well, almost eliminated you, we took the opportunity of confusion to conquer the city. Your people had been an effective red herring."
This confused the white peacock for a moment and made him look into the faces of his former followers.
Shen's wings began to tremble slightly. Not from fear, but from anger. "How dare you to work with Gongmen's worst enemy?!"
One of the wolves stepped forward. "Well, maybe because he pays well."
Shen tried to punch him in the face, but one of the gorillas saw what he was going to do and hit the peacock hard in the ribs. Shen groaned and sank to his knees, but only for a few seconds. Immediately, he was on his feet again and stared grimly around. "That's mutiny!"
Xiao Dan laughed. "That's strategy. There is always an opportunity in chaos. You have to admit, this time our plan was better than before. Not for nothing, we are called the born conquerors."
Shen stared venomously at him. "You're just destroyers!" he snapped. "You just want to destroy Gongmen City."
"Wasn't that your plan, too?" Xiao Dan countered viciously.
Shen growled loudly. "My plan was conquest and power. No pointless destruction without a goal and a plan. It was my endeavor to make myself unforgettable, while your bumbling mindlessness will soon be forgotten again!"
In the next moment, Xiao Dan pulled out his long-curved sword, which Shen silenced at the sight. The Komodo dragon liked the peacock's fear and kept holding the sharp blade in front of the white bird. Shen bowed his head and backed away like an aggressive cat.
The lizard laughed at this gesture. "Still the same little chick from back then, huh?"
Shen hissed angrily. "You won't dare."
Xiao Dan's grin widened. He walked slowly towards the former prince. And with every step Shen backed away, until his retreat was slowed down by a gorilla standing behind him. But before Shen could move elsewhere again, the great monkey grabbed his shoulders and held him tight.
"HEY!" Shen yelled at him, trying to free himself from his strong grips. "I'm your master! You have to obey me!"
Xiao Dan laughed out loudly. "This is my troop now. You're just a joke."
Shen suppressed a scream as the gorilla put pressure on his delicate bones.
"We won't listen to you what you say anymore," the very hairy monster grunted.
Shen would have loved to pull the fur over his ears here and now, but to his horror, more Komodo dragons emerged from the background. Some of them wore black shirts with red belts around their hips, while others were armored similar to Xiao Dan, except that they were not in gold.
Shen desperately looked for a way to defend himself, but he no longer wore knives in his plumage. He'd shot them all at the panda. He didn't even have his lance sword. Not even a little gunpowder. And defense in hand-to-hand combat with his fresh wounds was practically impossible.
"Well, you wanted a memorial?" Xiao Dan sneered. "Fine, we are happy to comply with your request and we will erect a memorial in your honor now. However, as a feathered carcass in the most desolate province." But then he seemed to think twice. "But maybe you could still be useful to us."
Shen raised his eyebrows tightly.
"Your weapons are extremely effective," the lizard said approvingly. "Maybe you could make us a few of these. Your wolves were so free and have already sent us a few smaller ones."
Shen sucked in a sharp breath. "I don't work with scums like you!" he countered resolutely.
The Komodo dragon didn't care about this insult at all. He thrust his sword forward so that it touched Shen's beak tip. Shen hardly dared to breathe. All he could do was stare into Xiao Dan's grinning face.
"To be honest," the Komodo dragon said irrelevantly. "I didn't expect anything else from you either."
He added the pressure of the blade on Shen's beak. The peacock had already fallen back enough that his head pressed against the gorilla's belly.
The lizard laughed. "Well, your daddy won't be able to save you this time. In that case, we will help you to follow him quickly afterwards."
Suddenly, the lizard was hit by a huge blow from the side. A shadow had kicked him in the face with full force, which hurled the lizard a few meters away. Immediately, the shadow jumped at the gorilla and dealt him a hard blow that brought the big animal down.
When the shadow stopped for a second, Shen saw the shape of a peacock. But before he could say anything, the peacock pushed him aside.
"TAKE HIM AWAY! TAKE HIM AWAY!" Liang shouted.
The next moment, Shen felt wings, which were pulling him away. A moment later, he looked into his mother's pleading face. But before she could drag him out of the danger zone, Shen looked back again, where Liang fended off any attacker with wings and feet. Everywhere he could, he gave blows. A wolf lunged at him with a shield and sword. But Liang knocked the shield out of his paws and scratched his face with the claws of his feet.
Meanwhile, Xiao Dan had recovered again. Furiously, he brandished his sword and lunged at the intruder. But Liang dodged him skillfully and kicked him in the breast shield, which pushed the lizard away again.
When Liang looked around for the next attacker, the Komodo dragon paused in amazement. "Lord Liang?"
But immediately the peacock jumped on the gorilla. The big monkey roared and wanted to pounce on the lord with a flying fist. Liang dodged the blow, so that the fist did not hit him, but unfortunately it hit Xiao Dan. The power of the hundredweight monkey threw the leader x meters over the treetops.
Wolves, gorillas and Komodo dragons were so shocked by the sudden departure of their boss that they stood there for a moment as if stunned. But when they came back to their feet, the peacock was gone.
"Are you alright?" Ai asked worriedly after pulling Shen a good distance with her.
"I'm fine!" Shen snapped at her gruffly.
"Are you sure…?"
"I'M FINE!" Angrily, he pushed Ai away. At that moment, Liang appeared next to her, panting.
"How could you embarrass me like that?!" Shen snapped at him. "I would have been able to deal with him alone!"
Lord Liang was still very short of breath, but he immediately took up the conversation.
"Oh ... really?" he gasped with a stern undertone. "Then we were... a little... too early, right?!"
"Please, please!" Ai intervened. "Do not fight!"
Her glance fell on her son. "Shen, we just wanted to keep him from hurting you." She walked up to him. But Shen avoided her again.
"I'm not a little child anymore!" he snapped at her.
Ai sighed heavily. "We just want to protect you..."
"Damn it! I'm sick and tired of your protection! Don't you notice that I've been trying to get away from you all the years?!"
There was silence. Ai looked at him sadly. Shen couldn't stand the sight of her anymore. Just like the reproachful eyes of his father, which is why he defiantly turned his back on them with crossed wings.
In the meantime, Liang had gathered his strength again and looked around to the back. "I don't think that they can follow our trail. It will rain soon."
After pausing for a moment, he went to Shen and waved his wing on Shen to follow him. "It's not far to the hut. Come on, my son."
Liang had just taken a few steps forward when Shen's next words froze him.
"I thought, I'm not your son anymore," Shen reminded him icily of the time.
Liang turned slowly to face him. Shen had put his wings on his hips and was staring at him coldly. "Did you forget that?"
Ai's gaze wandered anxiously between the two peacocks. She feared another conflict. Finally, Liang turned away, humiliated. When Shen saw him leave, he turned away, too.
Ai watched Shen turn a little off the path.
"Shen, where are you going?"
"Leave me alone!"
"Ai let him," she heard Liang speak softly. "Don't make it worse. He has to calm down first."
Ai would have loved to object, but then suddenly several raindrops fell from the sky. The rain could no longer hold back the water and opened its locks unchecked.
Lady Ai looked worried out of the window. It was dark outside and the rain had also gotten heavier. Shen was still sitting under a tree in the same place where they'd left him. Liang was already in bed. The fight from before had pretty much exhausted him. Ai checked again whether he was sleeping. Then she took an umbrella and slipped out through the door.
The rain pelted down continuously on the leaky canopy of the tree under which the white peacock had huddled. He only noticed for a moment when he heard a faint rustling in the grass and slow steps.
"Shen, your bandages are getting wet," Ai said worriedly. "Don't you want to come in slowly?"
But the white peacock kept quiet. Dejected, the peahen looked down. "When you come in, I put a fresh robe on the chair which you can put on. Okay?"
Again she got no answer. With a sad look, Ai went back into the house.
Ai perked up when someone opened the door. She listened. Shuffling footsteps dragged across the floor. They paused for a moment, then they continued until they suddenly fell silent. Lady Ai sank back down on her pillow when she heard the rustle of a blanket. Shen was back in the bunk behind the curtain. At least something to give the peahen some rest for tonight. At least as long as she didn't have to think about Xiao Dan again. He had tried to kill Shen many years ago. He had wanted to execute all of the peacock family...
Almost 40 years ago ...
The Lady from Gongmen City looked around in shock. The bodies of the Komodo dragons lay scattered on the palace courtyard. Right in front of her, the three kung fu masters reared up protectively. In their midst stood the Lord of Gongmen City. Lord Liang was hurt, but he was still alive. Gradually, there was movement among the lizards which were lying on the ground. One in golden armor even ventured close to the palace steps on which the masters and the lord had positioned themselves.
"Leave the city and never come back!" the blue peacock demanded to the fallen warriors.
Xiao Dan hissed at him angrily. When Master Thundering Rhinoceros brandished his hammer threateningly, the lizard backed away.
"Fine. Today you may have won," the Komodo dragon uttered in a tight voice and raised his fist. "But some day, I swear to you, we'll get Gongmen City!" His gaze wandered up to the peahen who was standing on the top of the stairs. The Komodo dragon leader fixed her greedily. "And who knows, maybe we'll even start with your son!"
Startled, Lady Ai hugged the bundle in her wings. The white chick squeaked anxiously. It was still crying.
"Get out of here!" the wounded peacock yelled, pointing to the gate.
The kung fu masters also approached ahead.
The lizards gathered. They hissed for the last time, then they scurried away at breakneck speed.
Lady Ai trembled at that memory and dug her finger feathers into Liang's nightgown. Whoever she addressed a prayer to, she hoped someone would answer it. Nothing should happen to their son.
"That damn peacock clan!" Xiao Dan cursed, still rubbing his aching reptile snout.
The others rubbed their bruises too, and the wolves licked their fur.
"What should we do now?" another Komodo dragon asked. "When they're back in the country, we'd better get out of here."
Xiao Dan turned around in a flash and grabbed his friend by the collar brutally. "Nobody's backing down here!" He snapped angrily. "We already did that 40 years ago! No." He let go of him and grinned. "In the past, they had their kung fu babysitters nearby." His gaze wandered into the forest. "But here they are without protection." The Komodo dragon leader giggled maliciously and stroked his long-curved sword. "Perfect for us."
"What's the use of it?" a lizard wondered. "They no longer have a city that we can take away from them."
Xiao Dan got a mean giggle. "Maybe. Still, I'd love to see their corpses hanging." He looked in the mirror image on his saber with amusement. "How do you say it so beautifully: Vengeance never expires."
So, this is the point where the Kung Fu Panda 2 film and video game meet. Xiao Dan is the main villain of the KFP 2 video game. After the victory over Shen, he tries to conquer Gongmen City with the help of Shen's remaining people and his Komodo dragon soldiers. In this story he will play a bigger role because in this case he will represent an arch enemy of the peacock family. Shen knows him when he was a little chick. More background information will be revealed while the story progresses. If you don't know the Kung Fu Panda 2 video game, you can watch it on youtube.