Chapter XLIV
Feast Preparation
"I see you have your progress speaking to Monkey," the peacock recognized the voice mixed with fruit and chuffs. "Where exactly did Grandmaster Oogway invite him to Jade Palace?"
Shen blended noodles with his wooden spoon. "While I comprehend this 'five secret' from Po, Shifu was expecting to bring the colleagues of his kind," the peacock said. "One scroll which either mysteriously misplaced or one of the Dragon Warrior's wondrous lists, Tigress brought the list of four chosen warriors."
The leopard raised his eyebrows. "Auh. No wonder Po keeps opening his restaurant door, mentioning secret stories," Tai Lung chuckled. "He will scrutinize most of the scrolls I read for years."
Knowledge is power. This leopard knows Kung Fu most, as I had studied Cai Li Fo part-time. Segments, metal, and powder for ruling China — No, I cannot go back there.
Shen ignored half of his ill-minded thoughts that he could pass on from the creation of his own: cannons with breathing fires, wolf howls, black smoke billows, and firefly embers. He had stopped his madness behind, but from his conquest attempting to rule China for fear and ambition, the peacock feared listening to all the wails and the people threatening him.
The peacock took his large sip in his beak as Tai Lung crossed his limbs, leaning his back against the door. "Monkey never stops talking about me. He should be ashamed of himself."
"More likely admiring you as the Leopard Master."
"I am still the disgrace in Shifu's monastery."
Shen rotated his head at once before carrying his bowl. "How could you be in disgrace? As I recall, you still have your healing progression when you came."
"These terrible things, which I stumbled both of my masters," the leopard closed his amber eyes. "Oogway did see inside me well, knowing my ambition with lack of wisdom. Even the other who had a great fondness for her adoptive son. Emotions tend to shatter once bad things follow."
The leopard met the peacock's ruby eyes. "When I was a proud student who would have become the Dragon Warrior, the judgment cracked my soul to a thousand pieces. My fortune and achievements drowned into the void."
"By that, you are not close as the worse than I became the poisonous peacock who shattered their bones," Shen clarified. "Instead of considering yourself unworthy, you achieved vitality, making your masters proud. Chasing your dream of being that title but failing miserably hurt your heart, misusing your adaptions of kung fu."
"That happens for those who cannot discipline their mental and physical attributes."
That led Shen to stop his spoon from gathering his pasta noodles. Whether to perceive beyond knowing that each student has mentalities, the peacock had related indignancy part of his whole life. "What makes you think that?" Shen queried Tai Lung.
"Instead of having a title by gloating yourself to let every Master of all of China admire you, those who can master Kung Fu for years, many deliver choices on what they thrive. There could be good and terrible students whose teachers are responsible for creating disciples to mentors. The method of this to my adoptive father was to make me his best student of all and the only one who could be Oogway's successor. Grandmaster Oogway predicted this before. My dream of becoming the Dragon Warrior was distinguished during the years of Kung Fu."
The peacock swallowed a small portion. "Sometimes, I marveled at the difficulties you are encountering. I cannot experience each student's perception, but I reflect on the three warriors in Gongmen City who became guardians, the councils my parents beckoned them," Shen said, placing his bowl on the table. He reflected Rhino, Ox, and Croc. The three warriors stood triumphantly in front of his parents at the tower's front gate. "They were no Dragon Warriors but admirable kung fu masters. Most of the time, my father said a subject could accept the loss of their dreams, but there's always a way to become one."
Tai Lung glanced at the floor. "There is no secret ingredient."
"I beg your pardon?"
Instead, the leopard chuckled, filling his words for Shen. "The panda spoke his sensible reason that I should have reflected on how I earned Kung Fu. Shifu, Oogway, and Xing's grandmother Ming trained me well," he leaned his right shoulder against the shoji door. "Tasks were never easy, letting me read a thousand scrolls of Kung Fu, punching and kicking around a thousand times until my muscles speak no more fires. Everything's sentiment."
"You invigorate what's ahead of you as a good student to Master Shifu," Shen described, standing up from his chair. "The Five are unique, and so to each becoming warriors. The panda appears to be—"
He hummed with determination, "— oddly humble but also encouraging."
Po is not the next Oogway. He is the panda warrior who always sits on everyone but is competent.
Tai Lung approved before he deadened his chuckles. "I should help Shifu and his students in the Creed Room. Are you coming along?"
"I will be there in a moment."
The Creed Room on the second floor of Jade Palace left the middle of an emerald marble round table, the large door swarming thin cold air as Tai Lung and Shen entered in warm garments. The peacock dressed his silver silk robe with plush inside, keeping warm; Tai Lung robed in an indigo top coat with long sleeves, marveling at the three warriors who placed decorations elsewhere while Shifu uttered.
The insect bounded through the chandeliers' gaps, placing silver plates while Monkey tossed chopsticks beside them. Soaring over the enormous winter feast table, Monkey released most napkins beside dinner plates. Grudgingly, Tai Lung slid more dishes using his acrobatic spins and carefully stashed them to where some chairs had no dinner platefuls. Shen passed a small cart full of decorative mats and mugs; Zeng, in a midnight robe and black trousers, had done giving metal stars with Viper, who propelled her lengthy body with intense throws at them toward the ceiling. Monkey threw lantern chandeliers before the remaining stars landed strings, hanging lights above the Creed Table.
Observing this decoration that was left with intricate patterns of silver and white spoke volumes. All twenty-nine seats were placed, silver lantern chandeliers illuminating the whole. But the center table stood none as if Shifu preferred to have the ice dragon sculpture there about a day before the Winter Solstice, wishing for Po, Zeng, and geese servants to work on the statue — Tai Lung craved to support the panda to give ideas on detailing the dragon's scathes. Remembering this like there was no tomorrow, the leopard could see masters bestowing at him, the only youngest Creed member who greeted fellow elders and companions of Grandmaster Oogway, Shifu, and Chen Ming.
Beside Zeng, a vocalist goose in an ocean blue robe chanted elsewhere amidst the table, deafening his timbre with fulfillment when spreading his wings. Shifu sighed next to his adoptive son, whose confusing posture matched. Not again. . .
Later in the evening, Crane flew onto surfaces at Mr. Ping's Noodle Restaurant, the horizon glittering with pale stars and the clouds spreading gray sheets. At the same time, the Dragon Warrior observed lines with lanterns and pennants hanging above. Tigress tied most of the colorful bows with Mei Mei near both archway walls wherever the pandiva owner desired villagers to be astonished, better than a previous holiday. Winter Solstice was almost upon them next week, and the droplets of snow cast down to the Valley.
"Dads, what do you think of this one? Crane and I made it."
Tigress heard the panda asking the goose and the elder panda to manifest Po's new poster. Each soul cherished these words from their beloved goose as if strangers from all of China traveling in the Valley of Peace became no strangers. It was a quote banner that featured Po's fathers serving noodles, including lengthy pasta wrapping elsewhere and under the quote. "There's always room for one more in Mr. Ping's." Po would make sure his peacock student was part of the company.
"It looks great, son!" Mr. Ping spread his beak.
"Wow! It's wonderful, Po," Li Shan simpered.
"I'm glad you love it, guys!"
One of the Four Constellations climbed on the front archway entry. Bao Panda hammered one nail as his sister Nu Hai did the same on the other side; both set the line of holiday lanterns under the restaurant's title. Meanwhile, Jing and Fan Tong, with colorful winter garments and scarves out farther front, formed their snowballs against each other, along with other youth pandas.
"I'll go check with Grandma Panda with your twin cousins, son," Li Shan strolled out, patting his son's back. "Save me some noodles, Little Lotus."
Lei Lei giggled toward Tigress, who sat on the chair eating a Dragon Warrior-size dumpling. She placed and offered her panting beside the feline. Filling such spirits that made Tigress smile again, Lei Lei drew a piggyback ride of herself carrying a lantern with her teacher. The background had detailed bamboo houses of the Secret Panda village with panda villagers.
"Beautiful, Lei Lei," Tigress grinned, droning with comfort and praise. She embraced her student with her left arm.
"Your quote does mean something, Dad," the feline sought Po walking with Mr. Ping close to the archway. "Since the holiday is right around the corner, many visitors will come."
'Thousands will, my son," Mr. Ping simpered. "I'm so happy!"
On structures left with paintings and posters of the Nine, Jade Palace masters, and Gongmen Councils. Mei Mei stepped out and joined her Pandiva sisters, who giggled while covering their muzzles with folding fans. Reflecting on his old lantern that perched beside Tigress and Crane banners close, Po dug his thought of Shen, who accepted his invitation last time during his birthday party a few months ago. Looking away, he let out a long sigh.
"Po, are you alright?" Mr. Ping asked, cleaning his noodle cart with his rag.
"Yeah, it's just—" the panda stuttered, looking down at his feet. "I like to invite my student here for Winter Feast."
Not only did Po mention his fathers (rarely toward Li Shan) about his student, eager enough to bring him here, Tigress stopped chewing her portion of dumplings in her mouth, concerned. "You're not kidding, Po?" Mr. Ping asked.
"Why would I be kidding?" he spread his limbs.
The goose put his rag on the cart handle, flattening his wing on his son's round stomach. "Po, I know it's quite tricky to bring Shen here. Tai Lung might, but I'm certain that he won't."
"Or the Mightiest Warrior, Kai," Crane interfered while wrapping another string of lanterns with Bao Panda. Lei Lei raced toward the bamboo ladder as Tigress finished her final piece of dumpling.
Pandas might have to invite him some other time. They all heard of Kai's story from Li Shan.
"You guys think the Nine are coming by next week?" Po asked Crane and Tigress.
Tigress clasped her paws behind her back. "Xing and the Nine will not come. Shifu said that Master Ming had other plans to visit another time. The Nine of Prosper Valley will join my aunt's old friend in Tanhuang."
"A lumber village!" Po shook his fists rapidly. "One of my customers mentioned that place before. A water deer villager named the yak Master Gidahn sends his chopped timbers toward here, your nephew's Valley, and all across China."
"Fascinating," Tigress grinned.
"Anyway, it's good to have Shen look around this village. After breaks, I will be with him with Crane, Monkey, or anyone. Not a big deal to have him, then Tai Lung next, and Kai too, if he wishes."
"It is up to you, Po," Tigress eyed at Po's emerald eyes. "I am not part of this decision. Only your dads shall decide for them to be here. However, your father Li is still concerned about your student, and there is no doubt that he will refuse to bring Shen into his presence."
I can try. Po squared off his eyes to his feet, muttering under his throat. Once humming, the panda reached toward the kitchen door. "Can we talk in my room upstairs, Tigress?"
Tigress followed Po toward his room from upstairs after entering from the interior. She filled in her inaudible, cooling breaths, reflecting on recent events of Deng Wa's attacks using Wang for weeks. She entered Po's room, where the window registered light giggles and voices at a distance.
Po, carrying a toy figure of Master Thundering Rhino, brushed and blew off dust beside the window. "Have you come over in terms with speaking to Shen, Tigress?"
Po's question led Tigress hardly reflect on Lei Lei, who nursed with the peacock Shen in his room. Thoughts surged with her and her leopard brother strolling toward the cliff with the Sacred Peach Tree as Po and Shen sat on green rugs meditating together, the foliages swimming between these warriors. And in Barrack's kitchen, she focused on eating her noodles with Tai Lung for dinner when most of the Furious Five and two panda teenagers guffawed at Po, whose muzzle was fastened with a pasta drooping. Shen broke his grin at his teacher, dipping his spoon in his noodle bowl with Crane in her opposite direction.
"Most of you speak with your student," the feline said. "But I am not letting myself give in to him."
Po stretched his brows upward, placing his toy back on the counter. "We've talked about this," he approached her. "Shen's not like what he was anymore. He's getting into the best progression so far, Tigress. I mean, look at him. He has been changed."
"Changed, yes," she nodded, then beckoned to shake her head. "That does not mean I can trust him during his clemency path."
"When will you stop being wary?"
"Warriors do not stop wariness, Po," she countered. "It's him whom I am constantly mindful of his opportunities."
Po's eyes squinted with confusion. "What 'opportunities' do you mean by that, exactly?"
"Shen could secretly message his allies, bringing his army to storm the Valley of Peace, giving him a better chance to kill you again. That is my meaning of his possibilities," she flared her eyes.
"You don't know that. Your head is filling clouds, Tigress," he stated. "There is nothing in his room sending secret messages to anyone behind our backs. His army is gone, and no wolves and gorillas are following him anymore — that's done."
"Doesn't mean we are safe from Shen," Tigress showed her silent glare with nonchalance.
She still hates Shen all along.
Po felt his stomach's grip, mortified by hearing her concern.
"Po, you have been giving all of your enthusiasm and compassion to your student, but that will not have him lead his morality, to him gaining his trust in you and the Five. The worst case scenario, while giving all of your trust to the one who almost wiped out all of your people, he could backstab you with anything sha—"
"Tigress. I said it before, and I will repeat it for the last time," Po snapped his green eyes, silencing her with his confident and solemn voice. "Shen. Is. Not. Our enemy."
The whole world inside her deadened, her spine inching cold. Tigress sensed her blood boil drained, avoiding contact with Po's figure as she went for the bamboo door left open.
"It is time to leave the past behind that you are trapping in," Tigress detected the panda's tone soothing. "Please, Tigress. I need you to be honest with me. When are you going to let it all go?"
The panda's voice resonated in her head. Tigress was unable to stop hearing this repeatable and essential query. Her character of tolerance, discipline, stubbornness, and judgment made her overflow with negative minds, her anger constantly churning inside. While slowly draining the rest as she began to wake with her eyes shut, Tigress blew her sigh with embarrassment.
Po expected her to answer him with everything that troubled her the most: trust issues with the Dragon Warrior's former adversary, keeping her distance from Shen. And more frankly, remembering the peacock lord became a sinister being who wounded her after the Fireworks Factory incident. Tigress slowly eyed her shoulder toward Po with complete mortification. The window followed Mr. Ping's chant.
"Your father is calling you," Tigress said, and she sauntered away. "I am going for a walk."
"Tigress, wait!"
Po started dashing toward the stairs, but his foot forced in between the bamboo gap underneath, falling toward the corner before taking the last staircase. The kitchen door took its hard shut, and the panda regained his stance after he pulled his leg out of where he tripped. Po stormed toward the entry, gliding his head at his father's restaurant.
And Tigress was gone.
I didn't mean to say that. Now how will I get to Tigress?
"Po! Zeng has his word from your teacher, son," Mr. Ping stood next to him in between the archway. "Master Shifu wishes to see you."
Deep down, the panda did not put Tigress on the edge as he needed to see her change her heart toward Shen. Not more likely to happen to recognize her well as a hardcore warrior who would easily give in and care to someone — a former criminal. Calling this night for a day with his acceptance of his father's words, Po checked for the avian above the archway.
"Crane, after you finish helping, could you keep company with Tigress?"
Crane leaped and fanned his wings, landing beside his panda brother. "You know we look out for each other, Po," Crane said, folding his arms on his sides. "Is Tigress alright?"
Po let out his tiring sigh. "She has to let out her steam. Tell her we will speak again next time," the bear strolled away. "I will be resting in my room after Shifu. It's almost time to go to bed."
The bird could see Po looking down to his feet, onward to the Palace Stairway, and kept himself going without stopping.