Sorry this took a while. I really do wanna start updating this faster, and I plan to. As soon as writers block for this story can leave me alone.

This doesn't have much to it, as it's all I had for the moment. Again, my apologies, and I hope to get the next one out sooner than this.

Po honestly couldn't tell why Shen was looking at him with horror and disbelief. As far as he knew, their battle was over. It was difficult and grueling, but there really shouldn't be anything else driving them both to clash. Or at least, Po no longer had a reason to clash with Shen. He was perfectly content with stopping him from taking over China. And he succeeded in going that. Though of course, now he was beginning to take into account that Shen was going to be upset that he lost the Gongmen War. Though he didn't think that that he would lash out at him, considering that neither of them were in any condition to fight again.

The peacock was continuing to stare at the panda, completely dumbstruck. He faded away from his own issues for a while and just focused on the fact that the bear in front of him was now missing half of his right arm. He took into account that the panda was the only reason he was currently alive right now. He was desparate enough to win that henhad his own cannon aimed towards the both of them, and it very nearly killed both of them. Though apparently the panda was conscious enough to save both himself and the peacock from drowning. But it appears that the cost of such an act was much higher on Po's side than it was for Shen.

Saying the peackock was gobsmacked would be an understatement. In fact, there's no word that he can use that can describe this feeling he has in his chest when he sees the panda with half a limb completely gone, and he was still smiling. What kind of masochistic thoughts were going on in this panda's mind?!

"...Panda. What is really going on here? Why are you so relieved to see me that I'm well?" She finally questions after a long prolonged silence. The panda's smile turned into a thin line of confusion.

"Am I not supposed to be glad you're okay?" Po asked curiously.

Putting off his baffled thoughts for a while, Shen shook his head erratically. "For a couple minutes, can you not be such a moron! The Soothsayer told me that you saved me! Why?!"

Po rubbed his neck, still not fully understanding what the big deal was. "Um...I didn't want you to die? I don't think I need a lot of reasons to save you, beyond that. Sure I have other, more important reasons. But the most notable one I'd that I simply didn't want you to die. So I kept you from dying. Easy as that."

"NO! IT SHOULDN'T BE 'EASY AS THAT'! YOU'RE MISSING HALF AN ARM!"

Po blinked as he gazed at his bloodied, bandaged stump where his arm used to be. "...Huh. Oh! Right, that. I kinda had to ditch it off in order to save you. Sure it hurt like hell...but I got over it." Po shrugged.

"...How the hell can you be so calm about this?!" Shen simply found himself unable to fully comprehend Po's mental state, while his own was slowly and surely falling into a state of disbelief and irrational thoughts. The panda is treating the loss of half his right arm as if it were a normal thing. Or at the very least, he wasn't as worried about it as he should have been. Once again, the panda's calmness was beginning to set him off, when it used to be the other way around.

Unbeknownst to Shen, Po was much calmer because of yet another reason. Inner Peace. Coming to terms with what happened in his past has caused a couple changes within him, mentally and emotionally. For a long time, he's been known to lash out at people who treat others terribly, or anything that relates to the sort. But after achieving Inner Peace, he doesn't feel as prone to anger as he used to be. He felt his anger decrease and the calmness within him grow. He's able to think things through a bit more clearly. But since Po is Po...at the very least, the change is noticeable.

He didn't expect his Inner Peace to be able to fill him with such...well...peace. The growing rage and misery he felt when he discovered what's happened to him in his past, and realizing he's lost two homes instead of just one, he could sense it all reduce significantly. All of his anger and his sadness hasn't completely dissipated, but it's to the point where he could barely feel them. He's also filled with...acceptance.

And that's most likely what's gotten Shen so upset. Po is being call while Shen's heart is still filled with chaos. He's come to terms with everything's that's happened. Shen still couldn't believe everything hasn't gone the ways he wanted them to. And he was also greatly thrown off by the fact that Po has shown him mercy despite all the hell he's obviously caused him. He doesn't undersrand how despite everything that's happened, he still hasn't broken. If anything, he's stronger than he's ever been before, despite now lacking half of his right arm.

Shen clenched his wing in aggravation. The panda continues to smile despite all of his suffering. That's a direct mockery to the suffering he's been forced to endure, and he could never smile once unless he was causing suffering to others. Po is just emitting his happiness like it's no big deal. To Shen, that is a very big deal. He always believed that happiness needed to be taken, and he's always tried to take his. He wasted two decades trying to fight his fate. And the only reason he was spared from his demise, was because the panda decided it wasn't to be.

Po decided to answer Shen. "Dude, you're acting like all of my friends. They freaked the hell out when I pulled you out of the water without one of my arms." He sighed as he rubbed this neck again. "The most serious examples were Tigress and Fenghuang. And Dad. Ooooh...Dad...he was not happy. He was very much ready to disembowl you, but I told him that wouldn't be a very good thing to do." Shen blinked in confusion. Po shrugged sheepishly. "Yeah...Dad is awfully protective of me...even though I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

"...he...was prepared...to disembowel me?" Shen said with disbelief.

"Violently!" Po nodded with a smile.

Shen couldn't fathom why the panda chose to smile when he said that part. Maybe he IS crazy... He was about to say something else, but was cut off by a couple calls at once.

"PO!"

"PO!"

"The hell are you doing out of bed, panda!?"

Po turned around to see Tigress, Mr. Ping, and Fenghuang rushing towards him. Mr. Ping flew up and hugged Po around his neck, sobbing loudly. "PO! OH PO, I WAS SO WORRIED YOU WENT AND DISAPPEARED ON ME!" The goose wailed, burying his face into the crook of Po's neck.

"Dad, I was only gone for a couple minutes..." Po rolled his eyes. But nonetheless, he returned the hug. As best as he could, with only one remaining arm to hug with. The disappointment lies in his cuddling capabilities AND cooking prowess being cut in half. The latter really furthered the disappointment for most of the males in the group.

"Can you blame us for being worried you ball of fluff? You might reopen your wounds if you're not careful!" Fenghuang scolded, though it was more out of concern than actual anger. Fenghuang's eyes turned towards Shen, and her expression turned deadpan. "Oh. It's the peacock. The peacock tried to kill my student." Her wings folded slowly. "Hmph. Your face is scarred. Serves you right, asshole."

"What?" Mr. Ping looked towards Shen. His eyes immediately narrowed into menacing daggers. He released himself from Po's one armed hug and also folded his wings. "Ah! So it was YOU who was trying to murder my son with an entire army?"

"THIS is your father?" Shen said, gobsmacked. He turned to Po in aggravation. "You must be be bluffing. This avian isn't your father."

"Sure he is. You just heard me call him Dad. I'm pretty sure you did." Po said as if it were obvious. "Mr. Ping is my father. He raised me, he took care of me, he went on this entire adventure with me to make sure I was safe, offered me encouragement, fed me food, spent holidays with me, kissed my bruises better, fed me food, loves me unconditionally, taught me how to make my own food...speaking of food, I'm getting hungry."

"Yeah. We got that part." Fenghuang rolled her eyes.

Mr. Ping waddled up to Shen until he stopped right in front of him. He then leapt up and grabbed him slightly by the robe, dragging him down until he would make proper eye contact with him. "You sir, are vile and disgusting. You better feel blessed that Po has decided to save instead of leaving you to drown. But it cost him. It COST him!" He shouted angrily. "You're a complete savage! Do you have ANY idea of what you've done to my precious fluffy baby!?"

"Daaad, c'mon..." Po groaned in embarrassment. "It really isn't that big a deal." Though he was currently ignored.

"Thanks to you, my precious little panda cub is missing an arm! I'll have to re-teach him how to cook with one arm! I taught him how to cook with one arm before just in case it was necessary, but I didn't think a day like that would actually come! Not only that, he won't be able to hug me as he was able to before! Now it'll be a bit difficult for him to hold me, or hold many other things in general, but mostly me! There will be some things he won't be able to do for himself anymore!" Mr. Ping narrowed his eyes further. Shen could actually feel his very soul shiver from how piercing the gaze was. "I swear, if it were up to me instead of him, I'd have your heart carved out and bashed with a mallet! Then I'd beat you with the same mallet! See how many times I have to smash it into your head before the skull shatters!"

"Ooookaaaay, that's enough." Fenghuang yanked the goose away from the peacock before he actually tried to follow through with some of his threats. "As fun to watch as those things would be...it would be pretty pointless to kill him after the panda just got through saving his life. So yeah, you're gonna have to not do that."

"THIS ISN'T OVER!" Mr. Ping pointed at Shen menacingly as Fenghuang carried him away so he wouldn't mindlessly attack him.

Shen just stared in utter confusion, watching the owl carry the outraged goose away. Po laughed awkwardly, scratching the top of his head a bit. "Sorry about that...Dad tends to go a bit overboard when it comes to me."

"You call beating me to death with a mallet a bit overboard?"

"Could be worse."

"How in blazes can it possibly get any worse?!"

"...I dunno. I just know that it could get worse."

Shen resisted the urge to facepalm, as well as going back to his prior thoughts about tearing his beak into the panda's neck. He decided against it, since Tigress was still there eying the peacock closely. Her face was blank and her posture as somewhat relaxed, but she wasn't too long him. The very second he tries something hostile towards the panda, he wouldn't have time to react to how fast she'll bring him down.

"...C'mon, Po. You shouldn't be out like this. You still need more time to heal." She commanded, softly gripping onto his remaining arm and pulling as if she were pulling on the arm of a cub. Following Po's reaction, that might not be totally inaccurate.

"Tiiiigresssss..." Po whined, he really didn't want to just sit around and heal. As much as he liked to relax, he also didn't want to be doing nothing all day. He wanted to be out and about after such an intense battle and such intense emotions igniting said battle.

"No backtalk. You went missing and all of our friends are seriously worried when you up and disappeared. You're going to go back and continue to rest. It's not up for discussion."

"Uuugggghhh...fine." Po sighed in annoyance, being dragged away by Tigress, very gently. "But I'm still plenty hungry after that widespread showdown. Can we bring Shen, too?"

"W-What?! I don't want to come with you!" Shen said, once again gobsmacked by Po's attitude towards him. Doesn't he feel any animosity for me at all? Why would he offer to bring me with him?

"Sure ya do! You've been unconscious for three days! That's a pretty long time to go without eating. You've gotta be starvin' by now, dude! C'mon, come eat with me!"

"I'd rather starve." Shen hissed. He didn't care if anyone would have beaten him bloody, he refused to eat with the enemy! That mental decision...was after his stomach began to growl. He pretended it didn't happen. Po merely smirked at the growling stomach that belonged to Shen.

"That sound proved otherwise."

"I told you I shall not-OW!"

"Shen would love to eat with you and your friends." Soothsayer appeared next to him after smacking him in the side, right where the bandages lie.

"Don't put words in my-AGH! Would you STOP THAT?!"

"Shen. You have been defeated. The panda let you live. I will not sit by and watch you die like a fool just because you won't swallow whatever is left of your pride, which is exactly what brought you here in the first place. I don't care what you eat, but do not be mistaken by thinking this is a request. You. Will. Eat." She glared, gently jabbing into his side after each word for emphasis, each time succeeding in making Shen wince in pain.

The peacock scowled angrily as he rubbed the pained spot Soothsayer jabbed him in. He wanted to badly to tell her off for daring to treat him as if he were a mere chick again. She sensed this, and jabbed him again. Shen groaned and almost collasped from the pain. "Agh! Alright! I'll eat, if it will stop you from being such a crazy old woman! First you tend to my wounds and now you're jabbing I to them to force me to eat! Why do you care?!"

"Oh, I've always been like this. You just never paid attention." Because I was so uncomfortably close to losing you. I refuse to watch you throw your life away because you're feeling bitter about your defeat. The panda spared you...it might just be the initial breakthrough we all needed...what YOU needed. He can possibly succeed where myself and your parents have failed...

"So you're eating with us then? Sweet! Let's go!" Po beamed as he rushed onward, suddenly getting over the prospect of sitting around doing nothing, as long as he's gotten some food. Shen sighed, already dreaded how this could end, and reluctantly followed the panda. But not before Tigress got a firm grip on his shoulder. He winced as she dug her claws into said shoulder, making him bleed slightly.

"Behave." That was her first and final warning to him, quick, emotionless, and filled with promises of agony if defied. She then released him and continued onward. He snarled while rubbing the now stinging shoulder. Soothsayer kept watching him intensely, which convinced him that he wouldn't be getting out of this. Begrudgingly, he kept walking, fully expecting to be glared at from all angles.

He was fully surprised by what he saw when the panda arrived to see his friends, gathered around and simply eating the food that was given to them by the very grateful for them liberating the City of Gongmen from Shen's grasp. Though once they took notice of Po, the reaction was instantaneous and unexpected.

"PO!"

Fung, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis shouted immediately, jumping up from their seats and leaping at Po.

"Po! Are you okay, brother?!" Viper gasped, coiling around his shoulder and kissing his cheek a couple times.

"Viper, I'm fine..."

"Dude, you gave up an arm! It must have been pretty painful! You okay?!" Mantis yelled, hopping on top of his head.

"Mantis, it's really not a big deal..."

"You can't go doing things like that, Po! I thought you died for real, darn it!" Fung shouted, chucking his helmet to the ground.

"Fung..."

"Po. Just...just how many times are you going to almost give me a heart attack? Seriously." Crane sighed, ribbing his wing. "Because, I don't want to have to deliver a message to my Mom saying that I'm developing heart problems because of you worrying the heck out of me!"

"Crane, I'm okay..."

"Dude, how are you not dizzy from blood loss?! How are you so casual about this?! Are you still going to be able to cook with a single arm?!" Monkey said, lightly nudging his side.

"I can still cook pretty well, Monkey."

"It is a worrying thought, Po." Tigress said. "Not only is your fighting prowess possibly halved, but also everything else that usually require two hands to accomplish. Not to mention-"

"GUYS!" Po shouted, silencing all of them with the sudden outburst. He sighed tiredly as he pinched his nose. "Okay...look. I know this was a pretty insane decision on my part...but honestly, it was either that, or I let Shen die. And to be honest...the latter REALLY doesn't sound awesome to me. So I did what I had to do with the limited time I had underwater and with debris all over the place. My arm got stuck. I didn't have time to pry it out, nor did I have enough strength to. So...righty had to go. He shall be missed." Po closed his eyes for a bit, then reopened them. "But come on guys! I've heard of legendary warriors who's survived worse than this and they're still always battle ready when necessary!"

Tigress's ears lowered, as well as her head. "Yes, of course there's truth in that. But still, the situation could have been avoided if I had simply gotten there faster. Or maybe-"

"You're thinking too much into this. This is a choice I made, and I don't regret making it." Po said, lightly wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into a hug. "Tigress...it's alright. This is a really tough spot for me...but just like all of the others...I'll find a way to get through it. Besides, I have one arm left, don't I? The thing that matters most is that everyone is alright."

Tigress was at a loss of words. Po still found himself concerning himself more over others than his own well being, and his well being was in critical danger ever since they stepped into this city. He considered the lost limb to be second in concern to everyone else's safety. Sometimes she still finds ways to surprise her. And she can tell he's genuinely not trying to be surprising. He still has the energy to hug her with his single good arm.

...Tigress felt her cheeks beginning to heat up. She didn't know why, but they were definitely feeling warmer. Before she had a chance to hug him back, he released her, and she awkwardly nodded and turned away. Po smiled as he turned towards the food on the table "Alright! Let's see if I still have my eating speed with one paw!"

"Dude, I dunno if you should be pushing yourself like that..." Fung worried, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah Po, this sounds like something you should rest on a bit more." Monkey added.

Po shrugged. "Hey, it's fine. I get it. Just so afraid that I'll be able to best you even with one paw?"

"...You're on!" Mantis shouted as he hopped off Po's head and towards the tables,followed by Monkey and Fung. Po laughed as he leapt towards the table of food, Crane and Viper quickly helping him stay stable when standing on his feet.

Shen watched as Po and his friends casually began eating as they gently worried about Po, but he was well enough to eat on his own at the very least. Though it was clear that participating in any serious actions until he's had enough time to heal from his wounds. Much more than a couple weeks, at the least. At the most, more than a month. Though he doesn't seem to mind to staying in the city that was the cause for most of his childhood trauma, and literally being close in proximity to the person responsible for that trauma. It didn't make any sense.

"I'm beginning to think that panda has too much compassion for his own good." Tai Lung said while leaning against the wall outside. "You seem troubled, Shen. Did the panda throw you for a loop with his selflessness? Trust me buddy, I'm just as shocked as you are."

"What do you want, Tai Lung?" Shen said bitterly, turning his head away from him.

"Just wanted to see your reaction to how quickly Po can recover from things once he has a decent handle on it." The snow leopard grinned. "And I have to say, so far it's been priceless. You have no idea what to do next, do you? I warned you that you wouldn't be coming out of this conflict as the victor. I wanted it to go to him, and I was very impressed. Especially with the choice of showing you mercy when he could have just left you to die."

"I realize this. So why didn't he do that?!"

"I believe you've already heard him. That's not what he wanted, to he defied it and went for something else. Simple as that."

"No one can be that simple in their thinking, not for something like this!"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call this issue simple, so you're right about that. But how he chose to approach it showed me that he can be very mature when the need arises. It doesn't happen often, according to his friends. But when it does, you can bet some will pay attention." Tai Lung turned to the panda in question, who was currently eating as much prepared food as he could grab with one arm, and was still somehow able to outeat Fung, Monkey, and Mantis. He raised an eyebrow. "Okay. That's actually pretty impressive. Hell, what's impressive is the extent of his injuries and he can still find strength to move around."

Shen clenched his wings angrily. "You're not taking this as seriously as you were last time."

"I know. The panda already made his choice. It baffled me greatly, but I also respected it enough to not interfere any further than I needed to." He slowly nodded. "He's chosen to be the bigger man. If it were up to me or Tigress, or any of the Council..well...I believe you already know the answer to that."

"Hey, Shen! Soothsayer said you gotta come eat with us! So you have to eat!" Po waved an empty bowl around while smiling. "There's plenty of dumplings around, if you're feelin' for them!"

"Tch." As much as Shen wanted to go and tell the panda off and deny his charity, denying the emptiness of his stomach was not going to happen. Soothsayer was watching him intently. With a huff and a scowl, Shen reluctantly takes a dumpling bowl and storms away from everyone, the sight of them being so happy while he was still feeling miserable disgusted him. Leaving him alive to suffer obviously wasn't the panda's intention. There was another reason why Po spared him, besides the fact that he simply didn't want him to die. The look in his eyes gave that impression away very clearly.

So perhaps, perhaps, he'll allow himself to live a bit longer to demand to know what that reason was.