Aftermath
"What have you done?"
The question hung like poison in the air.
Shen suddenly felt very young, very little, and very foolish.
"What have you done?"
His parents continued to persist. His contented walls of fulfillment started to fatigue.
"I killed the pandas. I saved us. We are no longer at risk of being overthrown."
Kepa choked on his gasp, while tears started to flood Zhang's head from within. "Tell us this is a joke, son! Tell is this is not true! Please!" she pleaded emptily, her sinking gut already forcing her to digest the truth.
"But it is true, Mama," Shen spoke softly, though hidden, vile resolve filled his voice, "They were going to conquer Gongmen, and so I took the wolves and exterminated the vermin."
"How dare you," his father spoke, shaking his head pitifully before the words came again, a shout this time, "HOW DARE YOU! What you did was disgusting, despicable, and disappointing! To say the least!"
"How dare I?!" barked Shen in reply, "Here we are, warned by our Soothsayer of our own destruction, I go and take matters into my own hands to ensure our safety – and this is what I return to?!"
"You shouldn't have resorted to that," Zhang spoke, voice sickly trembling, "You should have taken more placid measures to uphold the peace of–"
"I AM SICK AND TIRED of doing things the 'peaceful' way!" Shen squawked with rage, "If not for me, then the pandas would have been the architects of our downfall! You would have just blindly negotiated in stupid circles with them until they flanked, surrounded, and killed you!"
"We are not fools, son!" Kepa retorted with red anger, "We are willing to fight in defense of ourselves and others, but protocols should have been followed. Investigations and observations should have taken place first!"
"There you go again with stupid, useless procedures! That wouldn't have brought peace! My actions! My weapons! They are the key to achieving peace! You are aging, senile relics of the past! I do not need you, your guidance or your teachings! Nor do I regret my actions against the pandas!"
"THEN YOU ARE EXILED! AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME! YOU ARE ALL BANISHED!" the king roared. His wife gave a weak gasp, as though fate had stabbed a psychological knife through her heart. "Oh…" is all she can force out of her mangled throat, all she can conjure out of her scarred mind, her tortured heart. But this would only be the beginning. "Antelopes! Suppress these traitors now!"
At the king's command, the royal guard rushed in, spears, swords and lances pointing warningly at Shen and his wolf squad. Shen remained intrepidly dauntless, however, and strutted forward a defiant step and arched his posture even taller – a sign of a peacock's challenge of superiority. His feathertips momentarily brushed his sword before gripping it in a raging heartbeat.
"I REFUSE!" Shen shouted back, thrusting his sword downwards into the floor. He locked eyes with his sire, glimpsing his father's blue eyes beginning to shoot off sparks, "I will not take this as my reward for protecting China!"
"You're RIGHT!" his father thundered, his haze of rage lifting to give solemn, foreboding clarification, "For your crimes, you are very eligible to be deserving of death via public execution!"
Shen could only stare in disbelief and unfocused rage. Torturous hurt started to freeze over and shatter his heart.
"But your mother and I love you too much to be able to do that," the king went on. Shen couldn't know, but his father was barely keeping the crack out of his steeliness of his voice. "We would rather see you and the wolves banished for what you've done rather than condemn you and leave the people to decide your fate," the king went on icily, before motioning to the antelope troops, "Detain them right here whilst Queen Zhang and I discuss banishment terms." The soldiers nodded obediently, the tips of their weapons only a meter's length away from the murderers.
The King and Queen walked away up the stairwell. They arrived at their son's abandoned quarters and entered, reminiscing whilst retrieving all of their son's belongings.
10 years ago…
"Son, we are very unspeakably proud that you stood your ground," Zhang squawked, voice firm yet still nurturing.
"Those are precisely the skills a prince needs," added Kepa.
"But," Zhang continued, a slight sternness descending in the bedroom, "While Riyo might have displayed disrespect to your colour and your health, you need not have gone so far as to leave gaping wounds over his chest and head. He is going to have to miss school while he recuperates because you allowed yourself to utilize thuggishness as a first resort. Going to the principal or telling us would've worked better in many ways."
"That is a coward's way, isn't it?" little Shen had innocently queried, as he sat on his bed and looked at his toes.
"Son," spoke up Kepa, "It is never cowardly to stand for what is right. But you show weakness if you let yourself lash out at anyone freely on a whim because of pride and fraudulence. A quick blow or two could have settled it, but you severely wounded the goose and left him bleeding more than just his pride. You think you served justice but instead you showed others a ruthless, rampaging nature within yourself that surfaces whenever things don't go your way."
"I thought rulers are respected, and the same goes for their kids," pondered Shen.
"Respect is a gift that should be reciprocated," his mother replied, "He provoked you, you righteously retaliated. But you didn't respect him when he acknowledged his mistakes and asked for mercy. All of the witnesses testify that Riyo had verbally yielded, but you only ramped up your attack on him. How do you expect him to respect you now?"
"Because I won?" Shen said a little bluntly.
"Having power doesn't mean you can throw your weight around, child," Zhang chided, softly shaking her head, "It means being able to apply the rules of moral justice in your life."
"And that way of thinking should be intertwined with power," continued Kepa, "Mixed together, melded together – like Yin and Yang – to create harmony for all. That is what is also needed to become a great leader to others."
5-year-old Shen crooned softly in deep thought, a bird's murmur barely above a whisper's level.
"Think about that for a little while, and then get some rest. We will wake you for dinner. You have had a trying day, little one. We are proud of you, but also remember what we said to you just now," the king concluded, before turning on his heel and leaving the room with his wife.
What they couldn't know was that Shen had been visited by 10-year-old Quan, who had heard about the incident, sympathized with the young prince and wanted to offer some consolation to him. The wolf cub's line of thinking – provided by his troubled culture – only fed the embers that had remained in Shen after the king and queen's gentle deliverance of wisdom. Shen overlooked his wrongs, and had asked Quan to sneak in a small crate of kiddies' fireworks for him to "experiment" with. Quan, oh loyal Quan, had ever so readily and happily complied.
And instead of getting his rest, the little prince sneaked out of his room and used his adorable nature to get the palace's scroll keeper to lend him the parchments on his parents' inventions. Shen spent the rest of the afternoon studying up on what made the creations of his parents tick, what ignited them and sent them whooshing off into a colourful, happy light show of oblivion. He had a project in mind, and he wanted to surprise his parents, so he made sure that he hid his work before his parents reentered the room hours later after dusk to collect him for dinner.
6 years ago…
"Heavens' sakes, Shen. This is a lesson we've gone over with you many times!" his mother sighed irritably as she and Kepa marched into his room.
"Mother! Every time the teacher left the room, they all would insult and slight me! They'd take great joy in telling me how my white feathers was a sign that I would doom the kingdom, that I was physically unfit to lead, that even a wolf – a species that they dare to go around discriminating out loud – would make a better leader than me."
"You are falling into their trap. Your peers wouldn't know the ramifications of making you look bad, but if you succumb to their jabs, then the majority of Gongmen will view you the same way. A ruler, when insulted, does not instigate food quarrels in the dining halls nor shirk classes and make a plan to drench the entire syndicate by compromising the classroom roofs just before a downpour of rain – which subsequently caused significant property damage."
"Then what was I to do?!" Shen shot back, his own irritation spiking.
"Ignore them. We know you are capable of fighting back, and it's good that you didn't choose violence this time, but you still reacted by significantly sabotaging the running of the school. Lots of innocents who didn't partake in slighting you have now had their routines and opportunities shoved aside, while workers exploit themselves to try to quickly ensure and reinstate the acceptable quality of the building which is supposed to provide fair opportunities for all children."
"Fair opportunities for all children except me, perhaps," bristled Shen with dry annoyance, "You claim you have the power to enact justice yet why don't you banish the families of those who levy repeat offences on me."
"See it diplomatically, son," Kepa finally spoke up, taking the reins from his wife, "We can banish the offenders, yes, but they have not committed the worst of crimes, and now whole families will be swearing vengeance upon the city which threw them out to die."
"Do we always have to look at things diplomatically?" droned Shen in vexation, a loathing starting to fester towards the d-word.
"If unless there is no other option, then yes," his father replied.
"Speaking of diplomacy," Queen Zhang spoke next, returning her child's attention to her (as well as further bristling his chagrin – the word had been spoken again), "Peacekeeping requires interaction. Shen, are you socializing with others? Or do you just keep to yourself in the playground and the classroom? Maybe that's why they view you as a weak leader. One with responsibilities for the welfare of others needs to communicate and enjoy being able to hang out with them. Treat them wisely and with reverence, and they will reciprocate it – even if it may take them years to do so."
"We have to head to a meeting with the Board of Agriculture now," the king piped up, "We won't be back until late. Let your thoughts dwell on our teachings, son, and collect when the servants tell you that dinner's ready. Goodbye for now, son, we love you."
With that, the king and queen gave affectionate beak nuzzles to the side of their son's head before departing for their carriage.
But Shen didn't dwell on their wisdoms. He got out his projects and tinkered with them. He had gotten more polished and sophisticated with his experimentations, and he was certain that in a year or two he'd be ready to unveil his work and make his parents truly proud of him.
That night he fetched his dinner and brought it up to his room where continued to tinker away until he glimpsed his parents' return onto the castle grounds. Then again he quickly hid is work like he had always been doing day after day since he was 5, quickly got himself ready for bed and was sleeping by the time his parents quietly checked on him, dreaming of the glorious day that would come when he finally revealed a new weapon based upon his parents' design that would usher in a new era.
4 years ago…
"Your mother and I thought it would be for the best that we transfer your education to the boundaries of our castle, with none of your peers to bother you, and with a teacher best suited to not only tutor you, but also to stand in for us when we are away for royal business," King Kepa reported the deliberated decision to his inconvenienced son.
"Sure," Shen thought, his mental vision glowing with the illuminating mists of rage, though he did well to keep it from showing on his physical features, "Now you decide to protect me after all the deliberate harm and joyful damage that those kids I call my classmates wreaked upon me."
The teachers at Shen's school had given their students a special assignment: to individually create a special project that would surprise them and the parents of the student. Shen was thrilled at this opportunity to showcase his years of work, which had climaxed when he had built a small wing-held prototype firearm that he would use to demonstrate the potential fighting prowess of a firework. The day had come when the students would present their projects. The presentations would happen that evening whilst the students left their masterpieces stored in the school's main hall.
Unfortunately whilst waiting for the sun to set, Shen couldn't know that several student jackasses had decided that it would be fun tampering with his creation and watching him fail. The unfortunate events that evening transpired with results such as Shen's firearm backfiring and setting the hall alight. No one had been hurt – everyone had been evacuated in time – and the jackass kids responsible had been expelled, but all of Shen's work had burned to ashes in front of him. His parents decided then to take matters into their own hands to console him.
"Son, why didn't you tell us of your work before tonight brought about its ruination?" the queen queried, motherly concern now flooding into her voice.
"It was meant to be a wonderful surprise for you," Shen whispered before belting out his rage, "It was meant to be a bloody surprise for you before those bastards ruined it! I wanted to impress you, to please you, to finally give you a true reason to be proud of me! Then those eff-tards ruin it all!"
"We are so proud of you, son," Kepa crooned, fatherly warmth leaking in his baritone, "There is no need to invest tirelessly into matters such as this. But if you choose to continue with your work, at least now you will not be disturbed anymore. We've got a kindly old goat to tutor you and act as your caregiver whilst we are away. Your mother and I hope that that does the trick for you, and that you will be able to find fulfillment in your endeavours from this point on."
"I will, Papa," Shen promised, and for the smallest moment his eyes flickered with darkness, "I will."
2 years ago…
When the King and Queen returned from their week-long gathering with other monarchs, they were horrified to find their 13-year-old son comatose and in the healers' wing.
The Soothsayer gloomily reported how this came to be.
The goat and the peachick had just finished another day of tutoring, and Shen had wanted to go out into the city to really enjoy himself with others for, quite possibly, the first time in his life. His kindly goat tutor had recommended that he bring a guard or two for an escort, but Shen had declined, for once seeing himself as an equal being with his people – not one of superior status or royalty.
Unfortunately, Shen's idealism was brutally crushed when he stumbled upon the children who had been expelled because of him (in the children's point of view). Shen's rival contemporaries had swarmed him, dealing blow after blow against the outnumbered prince. By the time nearby adults had realized the unfolding situation, the young peacock had sustained a substantial beating.
At this, the Gongmen monarchs had given orders for the delinquents and their families to be permanently banished from Gongmen.
When the young prince awoke a few days later, his parents hugged them with warm, open, joyful wings. They held him close to their chests, close to their hearts. They promised that they would never lose him again.
So when Shen was well enough, his father and mother sent out messengers who would request for the best kung fu teachers in all the land, for their little boy. All whilst this was happening, Shen continued to work away with his experimental fireworks weapon launcher.
1 year ago…
"Son, you have to rest."
Shen continued sketching away, his father's pleas going unheard. His sire tried again.
"Son, you've been working non-stop for the past two days. You haven't given yourself any sleep, any food or drink, or even any enjoyment."
"This is what I was meant for. What I was born to do. Can't you see that, Papa?" Shen grumbled, though his protestation came out as a croak from his worn out throat.
"This is not you. The growing, handsome prince that I used to know would study hard, play harder, strive to spend every single moment of complete freedom with his parents. What happened to yourself, son?"
"I have to show everyone and you that I am worthy of being your successor."
The answer stopped Kepa cold. A minute of contemplative silence passed before he formed another reply.
"You are worthy of ruling, of leading, of being our son, Shen. You always have," the king spoke softly, though each word was firm and sure. He could hear his wife quietly entering the quarters and he pressed his fatherly request. "But if you keep on expending yourself on little matters such as this, you will not have the energy or the vitality to deal with the larger matters that the future will bring."
The queen then spoke up.
"Shen, you're too young to deeply concern yourself about what is and what will be. Work hard, but with patience. Engage in your endeavours, but also enjoy yourself. One deserves a period of relaxation every now and then. How about we have a family's night out? We can go shopping, dine out, enjoy the people's entertainment–"
"Please," was all that Shen requested, head bowed as his toils slowed for only a moment, "Please leave me be."
The king and queen shared a saddened, resigned glance of surrender. If this was what their son wanted…
"Alright," Zhang replied to her offspring, "Have a wonderful evening son. But please remember to rest yourself – in mind, body and spirit."
Mother and Father left.
But Shen didn't rest that night. Only when he fell severely sick did he learn to rest. But even then he only rested physically. Metaphysically and spiritually however, he still toiled and expended himself away on how to bring about the fruition of his creation.
Over time, Shen healed physically, and his body grew stronger, but his mind and heart slipped further and further away…
Present Time…
"Where did we go wrong? Why did our failures cost us THIS badly?"
Those were the silent, burning reveries that swamped the depths of the King and Queen as they finished collecting the last of their son's property. Shen deserved at least to bring them on his journey as quiet yet persistent reminders of his parents' undying love for him.
"Mai!" the queen summoned her head maiden, who reported swiftly and solemnly.
"Yes Your Majesty?"
"Collect the best food to pack from the kitchen."
The old sheep servant nodded and went off to organize the arrangements. Even if the Queen withheld the purpose of the stored banquet, Mai saw the haunted look in her monarchs' eyes, and she had caught wind of the latest, verbal showdown between parents and child.
The monarchs – the parents – walked back down the flights of stairs. Each step cracked their heart a little more. Each level of descent dragged their spirits down to wallow in further, magnified, unending misery.
By the time they had reached the bottom, Mai had reported back with their request fulfilled.
"Here is all the best food that we managed to pack, as well as 4 large canteens of water," she hollowly declared as she handed them the food bag. Kepa nodded with shattered gratitude as he took the bag with a wing and placed it inside the large travelling rucksack that was his – until now, where he would soon pass this belonging of his off to his son prematurely. He would hand his only son a farewell gift, without even passing away before doing so, and whilst also sending his only child to die.
But somehow, Kepa knew, that when Shen was gone, his time in this world would quickly draw to a close, and that his last breath would be spent on his deathbed in a quiet, pleading apology to a son that was no longer there, no longer his.
Seeing as her husband was quietly engaging an unbearable burden at the moment, the queen gave the order that would start the hasty, private ritual of bitter ordainment.
"Take them outside," she said to the antelope guards, her voice barely concealing the all-consuming guilt of a parent that has failed, and failed hard.
By the time the accused and the enforcers had gathered outside, the king had steadied himself. He had faced the truth that lay deep within the confines of the darkness.
The being that stood in front of him was a being that the King himself had devoted his service to eradicating. Murderer. Terrorist. Slaughterer. Genocidal Xenophobic. It was his duty, his responsibility, his life, to bring justice to his people and punish those who did them wrong.
But despite all that…
The being that stood in front of him was his son.
His only child.
One that he had spent years to raise, to nurture, to teach, to guide. To love.
Kepa and his wife had argued for their son. Defended him with a parent's valour. Made excuses for him. Given him unconditional care. Turned a blind eye to the darkness that had festered in their son's heart until it was too late.
And so, despite the heavy cost of this decision, despite the burden of the consequences that would come, despite the fact that this act would taint his family's honour and tear to pieces his heart, that of his wife and those of their ancestors, he let go.
Of everything that had to do with his son. His name. His birthright. The life and love of a parent. The life and love of his son. Kepa let it all go.
"You, and those who affiliated themselves with you, are hereby banished for all eternity from the province of Gongmen for your genocidal crimes. You will leave by noon. Should you return to this land, every citizen will have the right to kill you, or to report you to higher authorities who will then hunt you down and execute you."
All the while his father said this, Shen kept a livid stare locked onto his parents, and on those around him who remained loyal to them. How dare they. How dare they all.
Shen's father stepped towards him before he could utter a coherent response.
"You will be given this travel pack to assist you in your exile. To remind you of us. To remind you of what you once were. What you could've been. What you could be."
Kepa reached out his wing to hand over the rucksack to his son – no – this criminal.
But Shen refused. He shoved it and his father back. The antelope troops raised their weapons, but relented at the silent, forlorn motion of their queen.
"You think I need this?" the young prince spat, shaking a raging wing at the bag his former father held, "You think I'm weak?! Like always?! NO! I will accept your terms for exile, but I don't need that."
Shen paused, and closed his eyes for a moment, willing away his burning tears. He would not regret this.
"And I don't need you."
He didn't see any change on his faces' parents, nor could he feel their blood freeze with icy dread. So Shen continued and barked out his final challenge with undying hatred in his eyes, and fatal venom in his voice.
"Mark my words! I will be back one day to take what is rightfully mine! And you weaklings will not stop me! Everyone will bow before me!"
He then turned to his squad of wolves.
"Come, my disciples. It seems that Gongmen no longer needs us. For now…"
Away they marched, knowing that with their current, fatigued, bloodied state they were no match for a full, fresh and unhindered army of antelope soldiers. It would be foolhardy to attempt anything provocative for now. So they left.
They left everything and everyone that hated them behind.
Seeing his son disappear out of the palace gates for the final time was the nail that shattered his walls of resolve. Seeing his only child not look back once as he disappeared forever into the hellish horizons made the unmerciful floods flow.
"SHEN! NO! I'M SORRY!" Zhang screamed out suddenly, her desolation ripping apart the heavens.
That was it.
King Kepa collapsed to his knees and wailed pitifully.
"Son! Oh son! What have we done to you…?"
He felt the darkness take over as his sobs mercilessly thrashed his body, and pain struck through and shattered his heart like lightning.
He heard two last pleas before oblivion mercifully pulled him away from this unforgiving, cruel world.
"Kepa!"
"Your Highness!"
"The young prince was banished from the city forever. But he swore revenge on all who had wronged him, and vowed to reclaim everything that was rightfully his. Shen warned that someday he would return. And when he did, all of China would bow at his feet."