All right, we're here to my favorite chapter and I've been waiting to write this one. This is my favorite because of the drama that going to happen.
I also want to make a note that there going to be another flashback to Shen's backstory. I'm not really going to fully write his whole backstory cuz I know it's been done before and I only writing out what may have happened to him while he was still young and put little hints on how he may have been before. So jump in this chapter and see gonna happen. Here we go!
Chapter 8: Brutal Conflicts
"He did what?!"
"Shifu, I don't know what happened. He just snapped and started killing everyone," Tigress explained, "Gang is still alive but we don't know where he could be."
She then bowed to her father showing her respect but still felt shame, "Forgive me, master, I should have kept an eye on him."
Master Shifu shook his head, telling his student not to bow, "No Tigress. It is not your fault…it was mine."
"Wh-what?"
"I wanted Shen to learn teamwork. I thought it was time for him to out in the field with all of you. But it seems he was not ready, so I put the blame on myself since I allowed him to be out there" said Master Shifu.
Tigress understood and nodded. Although she didn't want her father to take the blame, he did not predict this to happen. She could see the guilt on her Shifu's face as he rubbed his head. This and the thought of the peacock lord fired up her anger even more. She clutched her fist but took deep breaths so she wouldn't show how much she was upset in front of her teacher, "What will be his punishment then?"
"He will stay indoors for three days and clean up all of the Jade Palace rooms, each one of you will keep an eye on him if he tries anything else," said Shifu.
Tigress once again nodded and walked out of the Hall of Heroes. She closed the doors and turned to her friends, who have many bandages covering most of their deep cuts. She noticed one person is not with them.
"Where is he?" she asked in a stern voice.
"Outside by the Training Hall," said Crane.
Tigress then leaped up and landed on the last step of the stairs and rushed to the Training Hall.
"Do you think it's a good idea to leave her alone with him?" Po said with concern.
Crane frowned and agreed, "You have a point, maybe we should follow her."
Meanwhile, Lord Shen was training himself outside of the Training Hall, using the knife he took. He tested his skills with a wooden poll as his opponent. Moving fast he uses his knife to hit and chipped most of the wood away all while he smiled. He missed having this sort of energy, having to fight and kill all those crows filled him anew. Although he was disappointed that he wasn't able to kill Gang, he thought to himself at least he had made the fool suffer. The next time he'll see him, he will show no mercy.
"Shen."
He heard someone call him from behind and turned. Master Tigress was standing with a powerful glare. The glare, however, didn't seem to intimidate him as he narrowed his eyes, glaring back.
"What do you want female?" Shen said irritated.
Her cat eyes glanced at his wings only to see the knife he was holding. She couldn't believe he kept it after what he did with it, Tigress slowly walked to the peacock with her arm out.
"Give that to me."
Shen looked down at his knife and turned away to get back to his own training.
"It belongs to me now," he said as he ignored Tigress.
He stopped when he felt his arm being pulled back, he curved his neck to see the female tiger grabbing his wing and threw the knife right into the tree. She let go of his arm but still was glaring at Shen.
"First of all, a kung fu master fights with strength and honor," she said, "And second, you use weapons for emergency not to slaughter, you're being punished for what you did today."
Shen did not appreciate that his knife was taken away but he was baffled by the fact he was being punished.
"I'm being punished?" he questioned her as he smirked like this was a funny joke, "On what predicament?"
"For murdering all those crows and disobeying me," said Tigress.
The peacock turned his head away with a 'hmph' and stored his wings in his sleeves like a proper lord would do. He showed no amount of emotion about the dead crows and his expression made that clear to Tigress. His crown of feathers twitched as he eyed her.
"Tell me female, are you the others this ignorant?" said Shen, "We fought before, you know how my battling style works. This is how I always defend myself and rid of problems such as those rats with wings. Do you really expect me to dispose of my kai li fo when it kept me alive for thirty years?"
"But that's not how things work here," Tigress went straight to the point of correcting him.
"And does it look like I care?" said Shen with an unamused tone.
Tigress kept herself from growling.
"Of course I wouldn't expect someone such as yourself to understand the real talent of a warlord."
"You are not a warlord anymore."
Shen was getting pissed off whenever she said that and choose not to respond. He saw the small smile forming on her face, which angered him more and made his feathers flared a bit. An idea came to him that maybe both of them can agree on. Surely she can agree on this if he can convince her, turned to look at the master.
"How about this, since I'm becoming a problem why don't I just leave," he saw her brow raised in suspicion.
"It makes sense if you think about it. You can go on with your life like I was never here, and I can go on with my life. No need to worry about me causing trouble since it will take me years and years to come up with a new plan, quiet and alone."
Tigress rolled her eyes and gave Shen a look of disapproval, "Now it's my turn to ask if you're the ignorant ones because that's not happening."
Shen took a step back from the insult but was confused by this response.
"What? Just days ago none of you wanted me here to begin with. In fact, you're the one who wanted me to leave. So why this change of thought?"
"As much as I want you to disappear I won't allow you to leave."
"And why is that?"
"Because I and everyone else made a promise to Po."
Shen blinked, thinking how this could be about the panda.
"I'm not doing this because I want to, I doing this for Po" Tigress explained as she expresses her anger to the peacock.
"We promise that we would help, despite everything you did he risked his life to save yours from drowning. He had shown nothing but kindness and yet you treat him like dirt. If you're really a lord then should give more respect to the savior who gave you this second chance. Now, where is your honor in that?"
After hearing this Shen wanted to either laugh at her for making this promise or not say anything seeing how angry she was. But hearing that he should give more respect to his called savior Shen lost his temper and exclaimed back at her.
"Honor?" he said with his beak snarling with disgust. "Since when did I ever care about honor. All I care about was taking back what was rightfully mine, and that was my home. I am the true ruler of Gongmen and it was all taken away from me by one panda!"
Shen pointed his feather finger at her as if he was holding a dagger.
"And you, you dare have the right to tell me who I should respect? I will show no veneration to a senseless and repulsive bear. He is the reason why I'm trapped here, but once I have become stronger I will kill everyone here and I will make you watch."
Tigress kept her guard up as the peacock threatened her. His ruby eyes shank to the size of dots and he smiled spitefully, "Happiness must be taken female, and I would surely enjoy taking yours if you get in my way again."
He left it at that and Shen turned his back to her as he went to retrieve his knife.
Tigress was furious by the threat from the peacock, her patience was long gone and exclaimed as loud as she can.
"No wonder you're parents banished you, you are nothing but a disgrace!"
Shen froze on his tracks. He stood very still as if time has frozen around them. He felt something in mind snapped in two. In rage that the female mention of his banishment and his parents, he will not let her get away with this, he will not let her win this argument. Then he remembered what he read from the stolen scrolls, what he read about her history. Shen didn't bother to turn to her but said in his shaky angered voice, just enough for her to hear.
"And the same to you, since your parents didn't want to rise a monster…"
The sky suddenly changed to a darkish bleeding color of red. Tigress was stunned. She felt a heavy pain in her heart at the mention of her parents, whom she never knew. Her eyes were wide and her thoughts were racing–wondering how on earth did he know–but it was soon replaced by blinding rage.
She got on all fours and with incredible fast speed charged right towards the peacock. Shen in a split second used his train to smack her away. He watched with a smile as Tigress hit the wall. She got up and growled and charged again not even thinking straight, she just wanted to hurt Shen.
Shen would dodge every attack and would often throw a punch or kick to Tigress. He was gleefully enjoying taunting the tiger with his smile and messing with her emotions, although the enjoyment didn't last long.
Tigress leaped up so high that the peacock almost missed her. She wasn't even planning on throwing a kick, she instead landed on the lord's back causing him to fall over. Holding him down Tigress threw a punch at his face and even trying to claw at him. Shen managed to throw her off but was breathing in pain, his cuts from the previous battle were still open and burning. He tried his best to ignore them. The two of them made eye contact, Tigress growled out a fierce roar and Shen screeched his peacock call threateningly, they continued to fight.
"Tigress, Shen, Stop!"
Po and the four masters made it to the Training Hall only to witness their friend and the peacock fighting like wild animals. The panda told them to stop but they didn't seem to be listening. Po and his friends rushed to stop fighting, Crane and Viper grabbed Tigress's arms calming her down while Po, Monkey, and Mantis restrained Shen from getting too close.
"Stop! no more fighting," cried Po while not letting go of the peacock.
"Tigress are you okay?" asked Viper seeing how upset she was.
Before Tigress could answer, Shen got himself loose from the panda's grip and use his feet to claw at her, reopening her cuts under her bandages. She reacted and grip her arm in pain.
"I said stop it!" Po just suddenly and without thinking, pushed Shen to the ground enough to be inches away from Tigress. It caught Shen off guard. He turned to glare at the panda only to pause and saw his expression. Po's face was a mix of anger and disappointment, an expression that was familiar to Shen.
"What is wrong with you?" Po said with his eyes narrowing with such disapproval. He didn't wait for Shen to respond and went to check on his friend. The peacock tried to stand back up; it seemed everyone was more concerned with Tigress than him.
"Tigress, are you okay?" Po asked with worry.
She didn't bother to look up at him, she stared at the ground. She was in pain but her mind was in a different place. The words Shen said to her made her lost control, she had never felt this kind of wrath before. But now, she doesn't know what she was feeling, it was a very heavy and melancholy feeling.
"I'm fine…" she said very mellowly and unfeeling. Tigress then started to walk away from the others.
"Tigress, where are you going?" asked Po.
"I...I need to be alone, I'm sorry" Tigress went down the stairs still holding her arm.
"Tigress…" Po whispered to himself becoming very concerned about her.
The four masters also watched her leave with worry, they never seen Tigress this down before, and even when she was she would always hide it. They all turned to Shen and glared at him.
"Okay talk. What did you do?" asked Crane.
Shen stared back at them, his brows became narrowed downward every second that he was staring at them. He had enough of this and thought he too needed to be alone. Without any warning, Shen took a running start, leaped to a near wall and jumped off. He opened his wings and train and glided away from those glaring judging eyes.
"Hey Shen wait!" called Po, but it was already too late.
"We'll follow him, you go check on Tigress," said Monkey as he and others went after the warlord. Po nodded and went downstairs as the clouds rolled in and the sky turned to a darkish blue of the night.
For while he let himself glided with the wind, Shen arched his neck to see he was far away from the Jade Palace. Seeing an opening he landed on a patch of grass in the forest. Shen breathes heavily, his muscles were sore from fighting and also was tired from flying too long. It didn't help that his wounds were still burning his skin.
He examined his wounds, he saw that some were healed but some were turning purple. Shen even found some of his feathers were bent or torn from their spots. He blamed the female for that.
Shen sauntered to a nearby tree, he leads forward letting his back feel the cold bark of the tree. He stood there for while hearing the wind and watched the blank nightly sky. It was a terrible day for him, two battles causing damage to his body and the female tiger insulted him by reminding him of his parents.
Thinking about it Shen's thoughts lead him back to the expression he saw on the panda's face. He had seen that many times before when they face each other, at the fireworks factory and the harbor, but this look was different. He could feel the anger and could see how strong disappointment was toward him. The panda's face reminded him of how his father would look at him. It reminded him of a memory long ago.
"Shen! How many times I have to tell you cannot play in the laboratory" his father said as he made sure to lock the doors, "It is much too dangerous."
"I wasn't playing father I was experimenting," said a teenage Shen, upset that his father pulled him out of the room again.
"But you haven't learned how to properly use the powder" his father explained and went on explaining how the wrong chemicals can be unpredictable.
Shen did not like his father's lectures. He never spends any time to teach with him to make fireworks or anything else, the only when his around was breakfast hour or when he lectures him, like this one. Shen had been sneaking into the lab to test and experiment with his father's powder. He had to teach himself and would have thought his father would be proud, but instead his father was mad and told him he still wasn't ready.
"Oh-no, look at your feet" his father pointed with worry.
Shen looked down to his feet and saw burns and blisters from the sparks of the fireworks.
"I can still walk," but as the young prince tried to walk his leg flinched in pain.
His father rolled his eyes, "This is why you're not ready my son," he said as he uses a cloth to clean the little peacock's feet, "I don't want your feet to look disfigured."
Shen grumbled to himself, "I'm already disfigured."
His father stopped and looked up to his son with shock, "What did you say?"
"I'm disfigured!" cried the prince, "I'm the color of death, and everyone said I am."
"That's not true," said his father, "You are not disfigured nor any color of death."
"Then why I am I like this father?" asked Shen, "Why do I look nothing like you or mother?"
Shen's father paused for a moment, this was a conversation that he and his wife tried to avoid whenever they see their child. They don't really have an answer to it but their son suspected them to know. They would always tell him that he fine just the way he is, but he didn't seem to be satisfied with that anymore.
"We don't know why son," his father answered honestly, "But we told you before there is nothing wrong with you, your perfect just the way you are."
"Well I don't feel perfect," Shen snapped, "And I will soon make those fools pay for what they said about me."
He then flinched when he felt his father grabbed his shoulders and looked at him with a serious and stern look.
"Don't ever think that" he said angrily, "A lord would never think of hurting his own people, he protects them. And whatever they said to you does not mean anything, it just people being unenlightened of what they can't understand. Why do you think this way son? You used to be cheerful and forgiving, you never let any of this bother you."
"How would you know, you're never around!" Shen cried as he glared at his father. His father stared at him after he said that. It was the truth, he was never around when his child needed him. He would see him in the morning or sometimes not at all. He remembered seeing his son smile to him before he left but lately he hasn't noticed he was changing as he got older. The silence was broken when a servant walked in telling Shen's father some important news.
"I'm sorry son," his father said, "Listen we will talk about this again."
But he never came back to talk to him, another false promise he failed to keep and it angered Shen. The next day he used his knife to unlock the door and worked in the laboratory, all day until it was nighttime.
Shen's eyes flew opened after thinking back on that memory. He realized he did it again, he thought back on his past and this was the second time he did today. The image of his father popped in his head, the words he said to him repeatedly.
Shen shook his head irritated, "Stop it, the past means nothing, he means nothing" he said. Frustrated he kicked the tree with such force small leaves fall to the ground. Shen kicked the tree repeatedly and then picked up a long broken twig threw it across the tall grass.
"Ow damn it!"
Shen stopped when he heard someone cried out. That voice sounded very familiar, he walked in the tall grass and looked around. He stared down to a small blackbird trying to crawl his way to a patch of grass.
"YOU!" Shen yelled glaring down at an injured Gang.
The crow quickly turned to see Shen and actually yelped in fear, he was not in good conduction and seeing Shen was the very last thing Gang did not want to see. With all his strength Gang got up to his feet and tried to run, he even tried to flap his wings but the gaping hole in his left-wing only made it worse.
Shen stomped on the poor bird, making him cry out in anguish.
"Ge-get off me!" Gang cried.
"You should have stayed dead," said Shen "Don't fret, I will end your misery."
The peacock smiled as he broke the twig in two, use the one with a sharp edge at the tip.
Gang was breathing harshly, the pain was becoming too much and his shaking fear wasn't helping him.
"You can't kill me," the crow said trying to get himself out of this situation, "You know Master Eagle is looking for me, and he wants me back alive."
Shen's face did not change and leaned forward, "So sorry, but I have no interest in keeping you alive."
Gang sees his smile grew wider and his fear worsens. He knew this peacock was not kidding, in his mind all he could think how crazy this man was. He saw Shen was about to stab him with the stick and he cried out, "No please! Don't kill me, I'll do anything!"
Shen stopped and stared at the fallen grow, his smile lessened but it was still unpleasant.
"Anything?" he said with interest.
He knew where she was, he looked up and saw her sitting next to the peach tree. Po sighed and slowly went up the stone stairs. He made to the top but he stood there for a moment, he wondered if she had noticed she was not alone.
"Tigress" he called out quietly.
She didn't respond or even budge, she only stared directly at the darkish blank sky.
"Can we talk…?" he asked in the same tone hoping to get a response.
He wanted to know what was troubling Tigress, he knew Shen must have said something to her. He never saw her this upset and thought maybe she should talk to get off her chest. But Tigress wasn't the type to open up to her teammates, she never shared anything that was on her mind. That is until their mission at Gongmen City, where she told Po she did understand what he was going through. He frowned when she didn't say anything.
"I'm all right if that's what you are wondering" Tigress finally spoke.
Po relaxed a little, he quietly walked up to her and sat next to her. He turned to look at her but saw her attention was still on the sky. He too looked up and both of them watched as the stars appeared in the night. They stayed like that for minutes, which he didn't mind, he knew she wouldn't open up to him instantly so he gave her time to think about what she had to say. He picked up a peach and ate it quietly while stargazing.
As he was counting the stars to himself he heard her say, "How is your leg?"
He swallowed his peach and looked at her and looked at his leg.
"Okay, doesn't hurt anymore. How's your arm by the way?"
Po noticed she was still clutching it.
"I'll get over it," she said.
But Po knew she was still in pain so he gently took off his bandages. He was glad his leg stopped bleeding and most of his skin under his fur healed up. He held out his arm to Tigress who looked at him with surprise.
"Po your leg-"
"It's okay, I think you need it the most."
Seeing he won't change his mind, Tigress took the bandages and rolled it around her arm, she tied a not to hold it in place. She thanked Po. Tigress stared at the ground instead of the sky, thinking to herself. She let out a soft sigh.
"I let my emotion get the better of me," she said, " I shouldn't have said anything to him but when he…when he mention my parents, I just lost it."
Po nodded understanding and carefully question, "Um…what did he said?"
Tigress didn't say anything for a while, still thinking. The feeling heaviness returning to her heart. She turned her attention to her friend. "You know…I was adopted right?"
"Um, yeah I do know," Po said fiddling his hands wonder where this was going.
"Before Shifu, everyone was afraid of me," she said as her eyes trailed away other directions, "The kids never wanted to play with me, the teachers never came near me, not even the people who came to visit didn't want to adopt me…"
Tigress paused, her shoulders slumped as she thought about her next sentence. Her brows creased in sadness.
"…I guess no one wanted to raise a monster…"
Po blinked putting the pieces together on what happened and frowned.
"But, you're not a monster. You were just super-strong," he said, "Whatever Shen said he's wrong. I don't think your parents gave you up because of that, maybe they still wanted to keep you, but they just couldn't. They did it because they love you and wanted you safe."
Tigress straighten her back and turned her to Po's direction, she could see in his eyes that he meant every word of it and she gave the panda a small smile. The sad feeling was still there but she didn't let bother her.
"Do you sometimes think about them or miss them?" Po asked.
"Po I don't even remember what they looked like. Its hard to miss someone you haven't even met " Tigress then looked up to the stars, "I don't even know if their alive or not."
Po also looked up at the stars but he frowned again, "Yeah, I know what you mean."
Tigress glanced at Po again as he explained.
"I have little memories of my parents, some good ones but, mostly from that night. But I feel I didn't really get to know them that well, and yet I still miss them."
"It still haunts you doesn't it?" Tigress asked.
Po's ears twitched and looked at her with a confused look, "What? No, no it doesn't bother me it's just-"
"Po, stop. We know you're not hardcore material," said Tigress.
The panda sat very still until he finally admitted.
"Okay, it still bothers me" he felt small tears at the corner of his eyes. He let them fall and slowly wiped them away and sniffed. Tigress gently patted his back to comfort him.
"I still cry when I think about it," he said honestly, "But I think my parents would have wanted me to move on. I accepted what happened and I made peace with it. I remember them, they're not gone."
"They're still here with you," Tigress said.
"Not just them. You're here too, I got you, Viper, Crane, Monkey Mantis, Shifu, and my dad. You guys are my family and all of you are part of my story, I wouldn't change it for the whole world " Po said with a smile and confidence.
Tigress smiled back seeing how much wiser Po has become. He was still the same clumsily silly panda but has matured a little. They both looked up when they noticed the dark clouds rolled away, revealing the bright moon joining with stars.
"I wonder if our parents are up there as stars," Po said out aloud.
"Who knows," Tigress said with some wonder in her voice, "No one knows what the spirit realm is like, but it is a nice thought if they are the stars."
Both of them were amazed how close the moon was and both close their eyes feeling the nightly breeze, feeling peace around them.
This little bit at the end with Po and Tigress was inspired by The Little Prince by Mark Osborne (who directed the first KFP). I saw it three days ago with my mom and it was absolutely beautiful. If you guys get the chance to see it, the film is also here on the internet. Honestly, if Mark comes back to Dreamworks he should direct the fourth KFP film with Jennifer cuz this guy really improved his directing skills with Little Prince.
Let me know if you see any mistakes and thanks so much for reading guys!
