Pet of the Peacock Prince
By Princess Thil Galel
I DO NOT OWN
Thank you
R&R
Please enjoy!
We finally get to meet Autobot Nightfury's OC Xin Jing! On another note, if you love reading 'Pet of the Peacock Prince' I've written a bonus chapter titled 'Someone Understands' some of the thing mentioned in this chapter take place in it. Read and review it and I may make a few more bonus chapters!
And now the Thank Yous: Autobot NightFury, jozs001, sakiko of soleana, eld mcm, and 104lily. Thanks so very much for your thoughtful words!
Xin Jing
The mark was still there. As Shen stood alone in his tent he opened the front of his robe. There, on his exposed chest, was the gray mark. The ash-colored spot marred his white plumage, and stood out like a blob of black ink on an expensive silk scroll. He'd managed to keep it hidden for nearly two days now, thanks to Ah-Mah insisting that he wear both his new scarf and high-collared robes to keep warm. But it was only a matter of time before someone noticed it.
Hopefully, since they would be arriving in Xiangyang City in about an hour, everyone would be too excited to see. If he could sneak off the the hot spring bath without being caught, he should be able to wash it away.
"Shen," came Ah-Mah's voice from outside his tent. "Are you ready to get going?"
The peacock quickly tied his robe closed and wrapped his scarf around his neck. He stepped out of the tent as he slipped a cloak over his shoulders. "Ready when you are." he answered simply. Since the injury to his neck Shen had avoided long conversations and talked sparsely.
Ah-Mah smiled softly, and gestured to the sedan. With a slight limp, the prince made his way to it and climbed on. He gently rubbed his sore thigh, wincing at the sharp stab of pain it brought. A cup of tea was suddenly offered to him. He looked up to see his mother. Hera smiled lovingly at him. "I thought you might like something soothing." she said as he took it. "I made it myself."
Shen took a tentative sip. The taste of jasmine flooded his mouth, along with thick, syrup-like tea itself. He guessed it was from all the honey she poured into it-giving him a half-tea half-honey drink. It took all his control not to grimance, but he managed to smile at the peahen and forced himself to take another sip. The queen smiled broardly, smoothing back his crest. "I hope it's alright-I know I'm not so good at making tea, but I tried my best." she said.
He shook his head as he cleared his throat of the thick liquid. "No, it's good." he said "Just a little thick going down, but the honey helps my throat. Thank you, Mother."
"You're welcome, deary." said the queen. Her doe brown eyes suddenly flickered and a smile spread across her face as she raised her wings. "Amalthea, sweetie dear, come here!" she called. The human, who'd just stepped out of the wolves' tent, glanced at the peahen in confusion, and slight fear.
She quickly went to the sedan, the pink mittens Ah-Mah gave her on her hands. The human bowed slightly, a habit that she hadn't broken even after the royal peahen had insisted she needn't bow to her. "Yes Ma'am?" she said "Can I help you?"
Hera patted the sedan beside Shen. "Climb up, sweetie dear." she said "We'll be in the city soon, and since none of the people have ever seen a human before I want you to ride with us, just to be safe." The peahen giggled "We wouldn't want to lose you in a crowd of over-eager and curious admirers, now would we?"
Amalthea looked at the sedan, her eyes immediately drawn to where the king would soon be seated, and a tremor of fear crawled up her spine. "M'Lady, forgive me but, I don't think that's such a good idea." she said nervously. "The king wouldn't approve of me intruding on his time with his family."
Shen opened his mouth to protest, but the peahen held up a wing. "Drink your tea, deary." she told him, then turned back to the pink haired human. "Nonsense, he won't mind at all. I assure you, it's perfectly fine. Now," she patted the space beside Shen once more. "Hop on up, sweetie dear. You can help keep Shen warm." She chuckled when the two blushed simultaneously, and commented on how adorable it was. They only turned redder.
The human took a seat next to the prince, her legs hanging over the edge and her back facing him. He quietly sipped his syrup-tea, waiting to see if she'd speak. But she didn't, the human just sat beside him silently. The prince gazed at her with his eyebrows knitted together in confusion and concern. She'd been distant recently, and she seemed tired, like she hadn't been sleeping well. But Lang had said she'd been dropping off like a rock every night.
The queen climed up on the other side, seating herself beside Shen. She picked up her sewing and continued embroidering flowers into a handkerchief. "Sweetie dear," said the peahen, "Do you know anything about sewing? I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't really had the chance to talk with you."
"Yes Ma'am. I've sewn my own clothes since I was ten years old." she replied, turning to the queen. "In fact, I use to sew dolls for the children back home. If you recall my Grandpa Oogie's cloak, the gold one with the yin-yang symbol made of clouds, I made him that a few years ago."
"Really?" said Hera, her eyes sparlking. "I didn't know you were so talented. Do you think you'd mind showing me?"
"No Ma'am, I love sewing." said the human. The peahen summoned a wolf with a raised wing, requesting her sewing kit bag. The wolf returned moments later with a silk bag in hand. She thanked him, then began rummaging around inside it.
"I know it's in here somewhere..." the queen murmured. "Ah, here it is." She pulled out a square of milky white silk and a small wooden box. Hera passed them to Shen, who then handed them over to Amalthea. "There's several different colored spools of thread in the box, along with some needles. Feel free to use however many you like."
Shen saw how Amalthea's eyes lit up when she took the sewing materials. He'd have to remember that in the future. She opened the wooden box, her eyes taking in all the different colors, then she selected a silver spool and a needle. As she threaded the needle's eye, King Azure exited his tent. He froze in midstep at the sight of the human sitting beside his son on the sedan. Hera glanced up from her sewing. "Oh, there you are, my love." she said cheerily. "Come and join us."
The older peacock eyed Amalthea as he settled beside his wife. 'Why is that here?' he mouthed to the peahen, stabbing a primary feather in Amalthea's direction. The queen gave him a rather shrewd looked and shook her head, warning him not to start. Hera had had enough of her husband's sour disposition, and she wasn't about to let him start something with her 'Sweetie dear' this early in the morning. Especially after what she'd gone through recently. Besides, if Azure said anything to Amalthea, Hera knew that Shen would immediately jump to her defense, and he'd been through enough as it was.
So, the peahen was putting her foot down. The 'Look' was a warning, but you catch more flies with honey than vinager. When he minded her, she rubbed against his side and whispered something suggestive in his ear that turned his cheeks rosy under his blue feathers.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
The city came into view between the cliffs. Xiangyang City was nestled on the side of the mountain, the palace itself was carved into the very rock. Although the landscape was dull, gray, and stoney, the citizens were anything but. Traditionally in the mountain city, the people all dressed in bright colors, creating the illusion of a year-round festival or celebration. As the royal caravan passed through the gates of the city, Amalthea looked up from her sewing. To her, it looked like an artist's box of paints had exploded.
The wolves ran ahead of the royal family. They streamed through the streets and over the rooftops, clearing the way for the peafowls. None of the guards were shy about being a little snappish in getting the citizens to move, growling and showing their teeth when the people didn't get out of the way fast enough.
Most of the citizens were either rabbits or sheep. Amalthea didn't see a single pig or antelope amongst the crowds gathered on the sides of the streets. But there were plenty of eyes either way. Their gazes first fell on the king and queen's brightly colored plumage, and they became enamored by their beauty. Then their sights shifted ever so slightly to the prince, and their eyes went wide when they beheld his white feathers. Whispers immediately arose.
"That's him, the White Prince of Gongmen!"
"I've never seen him outside the city."
"They say he's either a spirit trying to join the living, or possessed by a demon."
"He's a bad omen if you ask me."
"Yeah, a monster. The devil's parents should have smothered him when he was born."
Their words easily reached the human's ears, and therefore she knew that Shen could hear them as well. Yet his face remained impassive, regal and devoid of emotion. He sat straight and stiffly beside her, eyes staring directly ahead.
But soon their attention turned to the human herself. The murmurs briefly hushed, her presence stunning them into silence. Then the whispers turned rapidly to gasps of fear and awe. Some backed away so quickly they nearly tripped, while others pushed and edged closer. This she'd been expecting, the normal reaction she'd always received.
The stares burning holes through her skin. The whispers grating at her ears like swarms of angry bees. The fear in their eyes as they gazed fixedly at her. Oh, how she hated them for it. Good people, most of them at least, and yet she wanted them all to just disappear.
Her hands tightened, turning into fists around the silk square, the needle pricking her skin.
Stop it, stop staring.
Her hands began shaking, a drop of blood dripping down her finger.
Stop staring!
She couldn't breath. Sweat dripped down her neck, her feathers bristling under her braided hair.
STOP STARING!
A wing suddenly grabbed her hand.
"It's alright. Relax, and breathe." Shen's breath caressed the shell of her ear as he whispered softly, his beak brushing a lock of her hair. "They don't exist, they're not there. It's just you and me, my dear. No one else is here."
Her heart suddenly grew still, skipping a beat in her chest. She turned slightly, finding Shen's face a hair's breath away from her own. Although his expression was serious, his gaze was soft. His grip on her hand was gentle, comforting even. He carefully pried the needle out of her iron-tight hold and stuck it into his collar like a pin. "Best let me hold on to this." he commented, then gave her hand a soothing pat before resting his wing on her thigh.
The palace gates opened just ahead of the sedan, welcoming them inside. A short flight of steps lead up to the large double doors, and standing on those steps was the biggest feline Amalthea had ever seen. It was a she-cat, and she stood a full head over Tai Lung, not to mention that she was just as heavily muscled. Her fur was white, but not as pure white as Shen's feathers. Her's was more of a slightly sandy-white with faint black stripes that were almost brown. A pair of slitted turquoise blue eyes watched them from behind ebony black bangs. That black hair was kept tied back in a bun and held in place by a comb.
A warm smile graced her lips when her eyes landed on the white peacock stepping off the sedan. As she reached the bottom of the steps, the cat spread her arms wide. "Shen, is that really you?" she asked in incredulously. When the prince opened his wings, the two embraced and the feline laughed. "Oh my gods, I can't belief how big you've gotten!"
He chuckled as they broke apart. "How big I've gotten?" he chortled. "Look how tall you are! Last time I checked, we had been the same height. Now look at you!" Shen coughed to clear his voice, the thick syrup-tea still clogging his throat. He gestured to Amalthea, where she still sat on the edge of the sedan, eyeing her surroundings wearily. "Amalthea, my dear, this is Lady Xin Jing." he said, then turned back to the feline. "Xin Jing, this is Amalthea, my..." The peacock couldn't force the 'P' word out of his mouth, so the unfinished sentence hung in the air between the three of them.
Xin Jing seemed to understand the woman's position was a very sensative and touchy subject, and decided to leave the matter be. Hera quickly joined the trio. "Xin Jing, how's my little kitty been?" she asked as she hugged the cat fondly. Looking up at the much taller feline, the queen giggled. "Well, not so little anymore, are we? My, how you've grown into such a pretty young lady."
The cat hugged the peahen back. "Thank you, Lady Hera. And it's good to see you too." she said "How've you been?"
"Oh just wonderful." replied the queen as Azure came up behind her.
Xin Jing briefly nodded to the king. "Good to see you as well, you Majesty." she greeted him with much more formality than she had Shen and his mother. "Shall I escourt you all inside?"
The peacock gave a sharp nod. "If you would?" he said.
With a nod, the feline motioned for the royal family to follow her. Shen turned to where Amalthea still remained perched on the sedan and held out his wing. To his surprise, she didn't move. In fact, she looked more than ready to refuse his offer to join him. He waited, for one heart-stopping moment, but she didn't so much as twitch. A sharp pain struck the white peacock in the chest. She wasn't coming with him.
Without a word, Shen let his wing drop to his side and slowly turned to follow his parents. He didn't hear her get up and follow him. She didn't call out, asking him to wait for her. Nothing. When he reached the top of the steps, he had to force himself not to look back. He feared if he did, she'd see the hurt and betrayal in his eyes.
Amalthea could only watch as the white peacock disappeared behind the double doors of the palace. She couldn't follow him this time, she just wasn't meant to be a part of this piece of his life. At least, that's what her head kept telling her.
"Why didn't you go with him?" asked Ah-Mah as she came to stand by the sedan. "He really wanted to show you around-it's all he talked about yesterday evening."
The human's aquamarine eyes slowly took in her surroundings. A chill creeped up her spine as she did so. "I don't like this place, Nanna. There's something wrong with it." she said. "Something very wrong. Can't you sense it?"
Confused by the statement, the goat looked around, focusing on seeing it with her gift. But she simply shook her head." I don't sense anything wrong here." she replied. "The feel of this place is certainly different from Gongmen, but nothing strikes me as 'wrong'. What exactly do you feel, Sweetheart?"
Amalthea paused at this, concentrating on what she was sensing. Yet she could only shake her head. "I don't know," she said "But I believe we should all be careful during our stay here, Nanna, or I fear we may regret it."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
The peacock prince's ruby eyes trailed over the halls as the young she-cat lead them to the throne room. Shen had slid his hood down once inside, and had even chanced taking the scarf off his sweating neck, but he took care to keep the upper portion of his chest well hidden.
When Xin Jing threw open the throne room doors, Shen briefly took notice of her family's royal crest. A silver mountain. Two felines sitting together on a rather large purple cushion looked up as they entered. One was a beautiful tigress, dressed in what Shen could only describe as an indian gown called a sari-most likely a souvenir brought back from one of Xin Jing's travels. Her coat was of the brightest shade of tiger orange, and her eyes were golden topazes. The other was a mighty lion, his thick dark mane groomed in a precise manner, and his eyes were as blue as Azure's feathers.
The two cats quickle stood, and the queen was the first to spread her arms wide in a welcoming fashion. "My dearest friends!" she greeted, hugging Hera and nodding to Azure. "It does my heart good to see you both again."
Hera returned the hug with a broad smile. "It's wonderful to see you again too, Sya." she said, shaking her head. "It's been far too long."
Azure held out a wing to the lion, keeping up with formalities. But the cat grabbed the offered limb and used it to snatch the peacock forward into his big, brawny arms and lift him off the ground. "Haha! Good to see ya' again, Azure!" the lion exclaimed, either not noticing the bird's struggle, or completely ignoring it.
Azure tried to breathe through the near crushing force of the feline's grip, pushing uselessly against the cat's shoulders as he attempted to maintain his dignity. "Good to see you as well, Lord Gao." he choked out. When he was finally released from the smothering welcome, the peacock cleared his throat and straightened his now wrinkled robe.
But the lion had already moved on to sweep the peahen queen into a hug of her very own, causing her to giggled when her feet left the floor for the briefest moment. Hera had been good friends with the two feline for many years, long before she'd married Azure. Gao gently set the peahen back on her feet. "Hera, you're as loving as ever, dear lady." he teased, "But where is that teeny peachick of your's?"
The queen giggled as she nodded towards her son. Gao turned and went wide-eyed. He glanced back at Hera, then looked at Shen and shook his head in mock disbelief. "No, that can't be right." he said as he walked up to the young prince. "There's no way that's little Shen."
Shen had first met Gao when he'd met Xin Jing, but the lion had returned time after time to visit with Master Rhino. He'd taken a liking to the little prince when the peachick had run into one of his famous bear-hugs. Since Xin Jing had done it, Shen had thought it had looked like fun and practically tackled the big cat. Ever since, Gao had enjoyed seeing the young peacock during his visits, saying he was as warm-hearted as his mother.
While the feline was still talking sarcasticly to his mother, Shen suddenly launched himself at the cat, causing the lion to stumble back. Gao roared with laughter as he returned the peacock's embrace, then ruffled his crest. "Well now, that's the Shen I know!" he chortled as they broke apart. "Good to see you, Sonny. How's that fancy knife-throwning of your's been going? Getting any better?"
"Plenty better, Master Gao." he said, his voice still obviously rough.
"Oh goodness," Sya gasped softly in surprise. "Shen, is your throat sore? You sound so hoarse."
Azure cleared his throat, calling for attention. "I'm afraid we were...attacked on the way here." he said, a burning ember in his onyx eyes. "Or, should I say, Shen's pet got him attacked on the way here? Seeing as it caused him to lag behind." The king waved a wing dismissively. "But that's neither here nor there. Shen was nearly choked by one of his attackers, and also took a senbon needle to the leg."
Xin Jing's eyes went wide. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" she asked in concern. "That must have been awful."
He surpressed the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm perfectly fine." he said. "Besides, Amalthea went through the same situation, and as you can see, we're both still here."
Gao chuckled suddenly, and playfully bumped Shen's shoulder. "Oh ho oh!" he teased, "Sounds like a real cute peahen's name. She you're girl, Boy?"
"Good heavens no!" Azure practically snapped. "That's his pet human's name, Lord Gao. Hardly marriage material-it's barely intelligent to begin with. It can't even read."
Shen felt the familiar fire of his temper starting to burn in his chest, but he turned his expression into a smoothe and confident one. " On the contrary, Father. She does read, just in her own language." he corrected, "After all, she is originally from Japan. No reason that she should even know how to speak chinese, and yet surprisingly, she does. I also find her insight on the books we've read to be rather deep and well thought out."
The young liger raised a brow. "She's from Japan?" she exclaimed. "That's amazing! I've always wanted to go there. Do you think she's tell me about?"
The white peacock smirked. "If you ask her, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to share everything about her homeland."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Amalthea was taken to Shen's quarters by a pair of guards. They kept a set distance away from her, clearly weary of her. But once she was alone inside the strange new room, she forgot the world outside.
She moved about the room, running her fingers along the silk tapestries and curtains. Lightly touching the velvet comforter that would cradle the peacock prince in the night, keeping him warm against the mountain air's chill. Her hand came to rest on one of the pillows at the head of the bed.
Why was she here, in Shen's room? What was she still doing with him? Shouldn't she have simply gone to the Jade Palace with her grandfather? It seemed like it would have been easier. Yet...she couldn't. To abandon her place beside Shen felt...wrong. Like a crime against the natural order.
Fish swam in the waters. Birds flew in the skies. Hunters tracked their prey through the woods. Kung Fu masters fought to protect their homeland. Kings ruled from their thrones. And Amalthea stood by Shen. That was that, no questions asked. But ask questions she did. Something about the peacock kept her close to him, drew her into everything that he was a part of. Including his dangerous world.
Unlike most, she didn't fear death-at least, not her own. Her life meant little to her when there was a choice between her's and someone else, especially if it was someone she loved. That was part of the reason that the attack had hit her so hard. Shen had purposely put himself in harms way for her. It didn't matter that he wasn't going to die, that the flesh wound would heal with only the barest visible scar. It was the possiblity that he could have gotten himself killed, and it would have all been because of her.
She was scared, and confused. Princes don't mix with peasants. And yet he'd rescued her from a certain fate worse than death. Hadn't he saved her from Strika? Nursed her back to health? Stayed by her side that time she'd fallen ill? Begged her forgiveness over something so trivial as a collar? Swore by the rising sun to protect her, and fulfilled that vow to the letter?
'You may be his pet, but Shen really cares about you.'
Hadn't that been what Lang had said?
'It's him, isn't it? You're in love with that bloody peacock freak, aren't you?'
Tai Lung had seemed so sure when he'd spat the accusation in her face. And whenever she'd talked about Shen with Ah-Mah, the goat would always have that strange little knowing smile on her lips, her eyes twinkling with an untold secret.
Was it possible that she l-
"What exactly are you doing?" a whisper next to her ear.
She nearly leaped out of her skin, a startled cry escaping her as she turned to face her possible attacker. The human found herself facing the white prince. He took a half step back, startled by her reaction, and set comforting wings on her shoulders. "Easy," he said gently. "It's just me." Smirking, he added "A bit skittish, are we?"
Amalthea glared briefly at the comment. "How on earth do you keep sneeking up on me?" she demanded. "Gods, you're worse than Tai Lung!"
He winced slightly, his crest flattening a little. "Apologies." he murmured. "I didn't realize that you might still be a little edgy after the 'event'."
She huffed softly. "It's not your fault, and it's not leftover nerves." she stated. "I've just got a lot on my mind is all. You caught me lost in thought."
The peacock nodded, as if he understood her situation. A smirk came out of nowhere, and he suddenly shoved her backwards onto the bed. He pinned her down with a delighted chuckle. "Shen!" exclaimed the human, "What are you doing? Let me up!"
He tapped his beak. "Hmmm, let me think about it-no." he teased, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "You need to relax, and have a little fun." His primary feathers slid under the edge of her gi, flittering across the sensative skin with whispey touches. She bursted into a giggle fit, trying to pin his wings down against her sides, kicking out to push him off.
When he wouldn't relent, Amalthea reached towards the head of the bed. A soft white mass suddenly slammed into the prince's shoulder. Amalthea raised the pillow in her grasp again and hit him a second time, causing him to reel back.
He laughed, it hurt his healing throat but he couldn't care less. They were having fun, and that was all that mattered. The peacock grabbed another pillow and struck back, hitting her torso. She tumbled backwards, landing on the other side of the bed. They briefly stared at each other, sizing the other up. This was a fight neither was going to give up easily.
The prince was the first to move. He lept clean over the bed, swinging the fluffy weapon like a flail. But unlike Shen, Amalthea hadn't grown up an only child. She'd lived with a rough and tumble older brother who'd loved to horseplay. She was no stranger to pillow fights. Her pillow came up just as his went down, they collided in midair, causing Shen's blow to bounce harmlessly off coarse.
Amalthea didn't waste a single moment. He was off balance now, and wide open. Or, so she'd thought. He sidestepped her strike, then spun, using his train to sweep her feet out from under her. The human hit the floor with an 'oof!'. Shen quickly fell on her, pressing her shoulders down with his pillow and using it to pin her arms against her chest. Now, he had her trapped.
"Submit!" he demanded, laughing so hard it made his sides ache. "I've got you completely at my mercy, my dear, so give in!"
"Never!" she declared, laughing just as hard. "I'll admit defeat when I stop breathing!"
"Shen? What on earth are you two doing in here?"
The peacock and the human looked towards the door. Xin Jing stood in the doorway, a hand over her mouth to stop herself from giggling, but a few still slipped out. "Dinner's ready." she chuckled. "If you're done wrestling on the floor with pillows, you're welcome to join us."
Shen looked to Amalthea, who gazed back at him. They shrugged in unision. "Alright." they chimed together. Unable to hold it back any longer, Xin Jing collapsed against the doorframe, howling with laughter.