Hey guys! Thanks for your reviews! Before we go on to ch2 I want to share my opinion on some sad news. So as you heard, Rebel Wilson left KFP3 due to schedule problems. Her character Mei Mei will now be voiced by Kate Huston and the animators have to re-animate the character. Now I have nothing against Kate, she a great actress but I never pictured her to be a panda. I have always seen Mei Mei as Rebel because of their similar personalities, hearing this was a big shock for me. DreamWorks shouldn't replace Rebel completely, just keep her voice recordings and have Kate (if she could sound like her) fill in the small blanks. This could also be a problem for them since Rebel's name appeared in the trailer and she makes an introduction in the artbook.
I don't know. I just have mix feelings about this and hopefully, this sudden change doesn't come back at DreamWorks and bite them in the ass. All right, now that I got that out of my system let's get on with the story.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: A Decision to be Made
For three days, the kung fu masters stayed to help the citizens of Gongmen to clean what was left of their city. The harbor was the filthiest. Hours of pulling out planks of wood, carrying out boats that were half destroyed, some were still on fire from explosions of the cannons. On the streets were covered with rubble and remains of broken bridges. Metal pieces from broken cannons were sold back to cookers, blacksmiths, and many more who use metal for their work.
Then there was the Tower of Sacred Flame, the only place that needed heavy construction. Master Ox and Croc were deeply upset when they heard what happened to the tower. It wasn't just as a training ground, but it was also the home to the peacock clan, and they promised they would take care of it when the tower turned in to the Kung Fu Council. Now it was in ruin with houses beneath it. The masters could only pray to the Gods there were no bodies there too. It would probably take months maybe years to clean it up. The only help they have now was Shen's army.
The gorillas and the wolves that survived the battles were now under the rule of the councils, they were ordered to help the Furious Five. For the ones who were injured were taken to the infirmary to be healed, almost forty wolves and ten gorillas were injured. However, there was one patient the doctors refused to visit.
Po and the Soothsayer were the only ones visiting Shen. They gave him the best medicine, they changed his bandages every day, they even change his clothes so he will be more comfortable. On the third day they went to see if he was awake, the Soothsayer changed the old bandages and check his pulse.
"How's he doing?" Po asked.
The Soothsayer toddled back to a small table with her cane, "He's still resting and his breathing is normal" she said.
Po smiled a little; he was sitting on a pillow right beside the table, he watched as the Soothsayer poured green tea into her cup and his. Po took a few slips of his tea and turned to Shen who was still sleeping. The peacock has been out for three days, which worries the panda. She saw him frowned and gently reached out, patting his paw with her hoof.
"Do not stress panda," said the Soothsayer, "Shen has been through worse, he will make it out of this one."
"I know," said Po, "It's just, I don't know what's gonna happen once he wakes up."
"Knowing Shen, he will be surprised."
"Hope it's not the same reaction as the others," Po thought to himself thinking back to the harbor.
After he told everyone what was on his mind, they couldn't believe it or even think about what he said. The Five immediately jumped on Po, telling him how crazy the idea was and it was not his responsibility on the lord's fate. Shifu and the two masters told him it was too dangerous and unwise to keep Shen alive. But Po made his statement, and the panda wasn't going back on his word, despite his friend's objections.
He didn't mean to make them upset, but the thought of putting Shen on death row wasn't going to solve anything.
"Um, Miss Soothsayer…" the panda started.
"Call me Ah-ma dear," the old goat said holding her tea.
"Okay, Ah-ma, I've been wanting to ask you about something."
Ah-ma stopped drinking her tea and looked up to the panda ready to listen.
"I wanted to ask you about, this prophecy. Why was there one for Shen and me?"
The Soothsayer blinked and sighed, thinking hard on what she should say. She put her cup down, ready to explain. Po could see her eyes were serious but he also saw a hint of sadness.
"It was my fault," Ah-ha said, "I should have never foretold what I saw. His parents were worried about him, so they came to me for advice. I told them that Shen would be fine if he follows another path, but if he continued on the dark path he was on, he will be stopped by a panda. We have not known Shen overheard us; he went to deal with the problem on his own."
Po frowned, rubbing his arm, "Is that why he um, hates me so much?"
The old goat shook her head, "No, it was not hated. It was fear. He may not have shown it but I have noticed it a few times, I saw a constant fear growing inside him. Shen saw you as a threat."
"But I-I wasn't trying to kill him or anything like that" Po explained to her, "Our mission was to bring him to justice."
"Yes but he does not understand that dear."
Po thought for a moment and asked, "So, what should I do Ah-ma? Is there like a fortune that could help me out?"
She paused. Ah-ma pulled out a small clay bowl to her, in the bowl was crumbled leaves and flower petals. She held out her hoof to the panda, confused he held out his hand to her only for her to pull a pitch of fur. He yelped from the sudden pitch, shaking his hand. She put the fur with the crumbled plants and swirled it around. She started in the bowl with focus eyes.
"Unfortunately, I do not see anything," said the Soothsayer, "Perhaps it is better this way."
She smiled to him, "A fortune should not be your guide Po, this is a journey for you and Shen to find the answer within."
Po understood and felt some confidence rising in him, "It's all right, I'll find the answer some way. Just like how I found inner peace."
"Po…"
The two turned to Master Tigress standing by the doorway. She nodded to the Soothsayer and turned to the panda, "Po, We're taking a break, we found a shop selling your favorites."
The panda's eyes went wide, "Dumplings?"
Tigress smiled, "Yes."
"Awesome! Be right there!" Po finished his tea and got up to follow his friend. He stopped realizing he forgot something.
"Oh Ah-ma," he saw the goat turned her gaze to him, "I just wanna say…none of this is your fault. Without your help, I wouldn't be able to put myself back on my path, thank you."
The soothsayer felt something stopped as he said those words. He gave her one of his big smiles before he left the room. After a few seconds, Ah-ma chuckled softly and a few tears ran down on her face, she rubbed them away as she walked back to Shen. She beamed to the sleeping peacock and she lightly stroked his crest features.
"Ah Shen, he reminds me so much of you when you were young and innocent…"
"Po slow down," said Monkey, "They're' not going anywhere."
The happy panda swallowed down four dumplings in his mouth. "Sorry, these are so good. I haven't had any dumplings in a while" he said.
"Hey me too," said Mantis chewing on his snack.
"Well we have been doing a lot," said Viper.
The Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior were staying in the Gongmen motel building. The Five just returned from rebuilding the bridge. For an hour they talked and ate their lunch. While Po was shuffling more dumplings in his mouth, he noticed that his teacher hadn't come for lunch. He asked Tigress but his mouth was so full she couldn't hear a word he was saying.
"Huh?" she asked.
Po swallowed his food, "I was saying where's Master Shifu? I haven't seen him in a while."
"He's with Master Ox and Master Croc," explained Crane, "They went to discuss, well you know."
"Oh." Po's tiny ears dropped to the side and he looked up to his friends. He knew they were going to bring up the topic sooner or later.
"Guys, look I know you're upset about this-"
"We're not upset Po," Viper assured him, "We just want to understand what's going on."
"Yeah and how the heck did you survive that blast!" Monkey exclaimed, "We thought you were a goner."
Po straightens himself on his seat, "I guess I have a lot to explain. Do you guys remember, when I said Shen was there the last time I saw my parents?"
His friends nodded. Po then went on with his story, telling them it was Ah-ma who found him. The two were hiding in an abandoned land that used to be a village of pandas. Po tells them it was where he found out about his past and how he found his inner peace. When he was finished, he could see the shocking faces of the Five. Tigress's expression was mostly mixed, she got up from the table and walked towards the panda. She crouched down in front of Po, she pulled him in a hug. Everyone was surprised by this second unexpected hug, but it was understandable.
"Po, I'm so sorry" Tigress's voice was full of sympathy.
Po didn't know to say, he just hugged her back.
"So let me get this straight, that peacock killed your entire family, all because of a stupid prophecy?" asked Mantis with a look of disbelief.
"Yea…" said Po, his voice was low toned.
"That's…that's just horrible!" Viper said with distress and disgust.
"And that's why having Shen stay with us is a bad idea," said Crane pointing that out.
"Po, listen to me," Tigress said staring straight in the panda's eyes, "Go find Shifu and tell him you changed your mind."
"I'm not changing my mind Tigress," said Po.
The female tiger glared and raised her voice, "Po you can not be serious! You're letting a man who murdered your family stay at the Jade Palace. Do you not hear yourself?"
"I do hear myself."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because-" Po paused. He bit his lips as he thought for a moment. He then admits his reasons, "Because I…I forgave him."
They felt the atmosphere shifted as it became silent. Po felt it more like pressure closing in on him. He hugged himself, gazing at the floor as he collected his words.
"It was hard for me, to accept the nightmares were really my memories," Po almost traded off to remember the screams and the flames but forced himself not to.
"When I found my peace I had to accept what happened to me, who I was, and where I'd come from. That's how I was able to stop Shen, by forgiving him."
His face relaxed. "Back on the boat, he asked me how did I found peace. To me, it sounded like he was looking for the same thing. I've been thinking maybe the prophecy meant something else. Maybe it was foretold because Shen wasn't thinking clearly and needed someone to help him, not the other way around."
The Five were surprised by this answer; they all looked at each other and looked back to the Dragon Warrior.
Po sighed to himself, "I know you guys don't want me to go through this and maybe I am really dumb for doing this but I'm willing to give Shen a chance. You would have to give Tai Lung a second chance if he was still around right?"
"Tai Lung was the same Po," Tigress said with firmly, folding her arms, "He was going to kill Master Shifu for a scroll, you did the right thing by using the Wuxi finger."
"But still…"Po could still see he was losing the battle of the argument, "Look, all I'm asking is for all of you to give him a second chance."
The panda's shoulders slumped and he frowned. He said what he needed to say. Now it was up to the Furious Five, who he knows they won't agree with his methods. He could still read their unsure faces as they process his reasons. After a moment pass, the female snake was the first to slithered forward.
"Po, we saw what Shen is capable of" Viper answered, "Even if we could, he maybe too…deranged for help."
The panda nodded, understanding her worries.
"But, if this what you're inner peace believes, then I won't stop you" she smiled to him, "I'll help you, my brother."
He blinked dumbfound but beamed at his friend, "Thanks Viper."
Mantis hopped to Monkey's shoulder as they also stepped forward.
"Count us in," said Mantis.
Monkey holds up his signature thumbs up to the panda.
"I still think this is a bad idea," said Crane, "But I won't let you handle this alone Po."
All of them then turned to Tigress who hasn't said anything. The female tiger unfolds her arms and walked up to her panda friend with a stern look. Po knows this looks like the back of his hand, he knows she still not agreeing with this.
"You know I care about you Po," Tigress explained, "And you know I'll support you in anything you do. But I just, don't know if I can do the same for this. We can't trust Shen. This is the most dangerous task you're putting yourself in. If he's trying to hurt you again I swear I'll-"
"If he does something, then I'll deal with it and Shifu will decide what his fate will be," said Po.
The four masters glanced back and forth of the tension of the panda and the female tiger. Hearing Po's back-up plan seems to put Tigress's composure more relaxed. He could know she just looking out for him and doesn't blame her after what they all been through. At least she showed a small smile, and that made him happy.
"I guess, that settles its right?" asked Po.
"Yes, it has."
The Five and the Dragon Warrior turned to see Master Shifu, Master Ox and Master Croc behind them. It seemed they had overheard the conversation and Shifu announced the decision had been made.
On the fourth day, Po and gang get themselves ready to head back home, with their bags ready and carrying gifts from the citizens of Gongmen. Po was even given two boxes of radishes as gifts from the kind sheep's'. They made their way outside to the city harbor where the fishermen offered them a ride home.
Shen was safely aboard on the boat with them, still resting from his injuries.
The citizens cheered and waved their good-byes to their heroes. The masters waved back with Po shouting out his farewells to Master Ox and Croc. Then he saw Ah-ma the Soothsayer in front of the crowd, he almost didn't see but he was glad he was able to see one last time. The old goat gave a small shout to Po, enough for him to hear.
"Good luck Po!"
Po called back and waved to her, "Thank you Ah-ma! Things will be better, I promise!"
The goat smiled to herself, watching the boat sailed away and back to the Valley of Peace. She felt someone standing right beside her and he has also watched the boat leave.
"So, the panda is taking him back to his home huh?" the person asked.
Ah-ma turned crooked her glaze to the wolf and nodded, "He will be fine, as long as Shen behaves himself" she said with an almost motherly tone.
Wolf Boss survived the stabbed wound on his upper chest and was making a steady recovery. His voice still tainted since the blow was close to his throat. He would likely still be in charge of his pack, but for now, he was under the orders of the Kung Fu Councils.
"You really believe he would change, after all of the turmoil we caused?"
"It won't be an easy hill for him to climb over, but with Po's help, he will find peace on the other side. He will make it" the Soothsayer said in metaphorical wisdom.
The wolf grunt to himself as he watched the boat disappeared. "Heh, I doubt that."
Finally, he was home, and the first thing he did was to go and see his father. Po carried the two baskets under his arms as walked to his father's noodle shop. Stopping near the entrance, he sees a mother and a small piglet, who giggled when he saw the panda.
His father Mr. Ping, turned around and stared with teary eyes and a wide smile. The old goose rushed to him and gave his son a welcome home hug. Mr. Ping slid off of Po's belly, staring up to the panda.
"S-so, how did it go, did you save China?" he asked, his voice a little shaky.
"Yup," said Po.
Mr. Ping hummed actively, "I knew you would, that's why I have new signs made." He holds up a golden poster with a picture of his son.
"My son saved China, you too can save, buy one dumpling and get one free."
The panda put down the baskets and crouched down to his father's level, "Hey that's a pretty good deal."
"Would you like to try one?" the goose said in a hopeful manner.
"Maybe later," Po said as he deeply inhaled a sigh. He looked at his dad with focus eyes, ready to tell him what he needs to say to him.
"There something I should tell you."
Mr. Ping suddenly became nervous but he gulped it down, he wanted to hear what his son has to say but at the same time, he was worried about what he was going to say.
"While I was gone," Po started, "I found the village where I was born, I found out how I ended up in that radish basket."
"You did?" Mr. Ping asked almost astounded that Po found out about his past so soon.
"I know who I am…"
"You do?"
Po's vision became blurry, his eyes began to fill with tears and said the truth. "… I'm your son."
He picked his father and embraced him in a loving hug. He closed his eyes tight, a few tears ran down his face. Po felt so horrible for leaving his dad worried, not telling him that he loved him. But now he was home, alive, with the goose who raised him all his life.
"I love you, dad."
"I love you too, son" Mr. Ping also cried a few tears.
After their big hug, Mr. Ping went to pick up one of the baskets, "Ah, delicious fat radishes! You'll probably hungry, let me make you something to eat."
"Wha' da you talking about I'll cook," Po said as he greeted the piglet and his mom.
"No, I'll cook. It's the least I could do," said Mr. Ping, "You saved China."
"No, it's the least I could do you raised me," said Po pulling out a panda doll from the basket he was carrying.
"Po."
"Dad."
"Po!"
"Okay, let's both cook together," Po said cheerfully.
"Together," Mr. Ping agreed but changed his mind on the last second, "No, I'll cook ."
They laughed that night as they cooked their favorite meals. There were a lot of other things that Po needed to tell his father afterward, but he would save that for another day.
And that was chapter2! If you see any mistakes, let me know and I'll go in and fix it. Sorry if I made Po a little OOC but I wanted to write how he matured after his adventure in Gongmen. That's another thing I like about Po in the second film, he still has that fanboy goofy personality, but he really developed strongly as a character and I hope we get to see that development in the third film. I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to leave a comment. Thank you, guys!
