Title: The Life and Times of Lord Shen
Summary: A collection of stories on the albino peacock of Gongmen City. (5. beyond the wall: The Soothsayer takes a young Shen to Gongmen City and out of the palace for the first time.)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Kung Fu Panda or its sequel(s) and spin-offs, that's all DreamWorks' honor.
Spoilers: Both Kung Fu Panda movies.
A/N: Thanks again everyone for all the reviews! I always love hearing what people have to say about the fic and knowing they liked it.
Always, with this fic I want to mix on-screen canon with off-screen materials found online, i.e. "Although they still cared for him, Shen's parents were ashamed of his albino coloring and poor health, so they left him in the care of their advisor, the Soothsayer who raised him like her own. Traces of this can be seen as Shen is never outright cruel to the Soothsayer, such as how he releases her before the launch of his armada, meaning that he still respects her for for showing him love" from character page for Kung Fu Panda. So I do want to make this mix of on-screen and off-screen materials as canon-compliant as possible.
I'm gonna try to individually reply to all your kind reviews with 's handy PM feature (except for users not signed in, since that feature's not available with them).
Also, I started a new Shen-centric KFP fic, "Change the Fate's Design," if anyone wants to check it out and leave a review. It should be in continuity with this fic (up to a point).
beyond the wall
Shen had not only got An and himself and probably the other wolf cubs in trouble for refusing to rest, but the prince had also missed his birthday on account of sleeping off another sick bout in bed. But as soon as he was better, and after the Soothsayer had gently lectured him about obeying grown-ups, the old goat gave him his surprise.
"Five years old, and you haven't even been to the city yet-"
"We're going?" The boy asked, his small tail feathers flaring out in pleased surprise.
The Soothsayer chuckled; "Of course, dear."
But before they left, the Soothsayer also showed him the birthday gift An had left him.
The old goat presented him with the wooden boomerang. "You're not touching this until An's showed you how to use it and Master Thundering Rhino approves."
Shen stared, disbelieving. "But that's An's favorite."
"Very generous of him then," was all the Soothsayer said.
As they headed out, Shen said, "An told me all about the city."
"Did he now?"
"Uh huh, he told me what rickshaws were and to watch out for them 'cause they went really fast and could knock you right over-"
And the Prince went on and on about what the older wolf cub told him about Gongmen City, his nanny sharing the occasional remark, wry or common.
As they went down the steps and approached the gate, her face grew serious and the boy slowed down a little, watching her. "You'll see new and different things in the city, dear; but some people will act the same with you as in the palace, particularly like new servants-"
"Oh, I'm used to getting stared at, Nana," Shen reassured her, given that he was five now and far older, and didn't like it when she worried.
She smiled, though the boy noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I suppose you are," the Soothsayer replied.
When the gates opened, Shen tried to rush ahead, but the old goat's grip was firm on his wing. "You have to hold my hand at all times, unless I say otherwise, my Prince; Gongmen City is a big place, to put it mildly."
Shen soon understood what she meant. He had seen the city from the top of the throne room of course, saw how far it stretched and the stacked buildings and the crisscrossing streets, but it was so different walking down those streets and with those buildings towering over him, close enough where he could read their signs and count the lanterns strung between them. And with everyone bustling around-it was overwhelming, intoxicating, all the new sights and sounds and smells, Shen didn't know where to look first, veritably spinning around to see everything.
"Easy, Shen; my arm can't twist that far or fast, and you'll get dizzy," the Soothsayer said as she led him to a bakery for breakfast, saying he'd like the place.
The City was so new and interesting; Shen was too focused on it, and didn't really notice people's stares as they headed to the bakery. He eagerly pointed the racing rickshaws out to the Soothsayer, and practically yanked on her arm when one actually crashed. He hadn't seen all of it, just heard shouts and turned just in time to see the wreckage.
"I have to tell An, he's never seen that happen before!"
"Oh really?" The old goat asked, and refrained from revealing she'd watched the rickshaw crash, and knew why-its driver had noticed his city and province's sole albino heir, and couldn't stop gaping.
"Uh huh, he would've told me if he had!" Shen stared as the Soothsayer stopped before a small building crowded inside. "Is this it?"
"Yes, dear."
"It smells good."
"Trust your scent, it can be the best judge of character," and the Soothsayer said it so sagely that Shen snickered as she smirked.
Shen's self-consciousness returned when they entered the building, closed quarters with not much else to turn to. The other customers quieted down, staring; they retreated so that he and the Soothsayer could walk immediately up to the counter. The old goat led him forward calmly, as if they had waited in line and it was rightly their turn next, and Shen tried to duplicate her calm. He was five now and a Prince, he couldn't let this get to him; the boy tried to block out the whispers, but one little girl's was particularly loud, asking why everyone was acting so funny (and Shen privately agreed with that other child's incredulity, the whole thing was stupid).
"Hello there, Mao," the Soothsayer greeted one of the pig bakers.
"Oh, h-hi there, Miss Soothsayer Ma'am," the pig greeted back, trying not to stare at the Prince, who also avoided his eye, focusing on all the breads and treats on the shelves.
The Soothsayer made her recommendations to Shen, and asked if there was anything that caught his eye. The two eventually agreed to purchase a mix of sun cakes and cream buns, along with two bottles of juice. They left the bakery and its sweet scent and bevy of gawking customers and bakers, sitting on some stone steps and eating, just as Shen had seen some other people do before.
"Slow down, you'll choke," the Soothsayer reminded the boy lightly as he gobbled down his food.
"It'sreallygoodNana-"
"Don't chew with your beak full." Shen swallowed, and reached for another cream bun, but the old goat handed him his bottle instead. "Drink some more first, dear; you need to wash it all down-don't chug it down-"
The Soothsayer rolled her eyes, but smiled fondly as the boy put the bottle down and tore into another cream bun.
"So much for etiquette lessons," she murmured softly.
Shen made sure to swallow before he responded. "I told you they're boring. And, um, tedious-that's the word, right?"
"Yes it is-on both counts," the Soothsayer said, nibbling on another sun cake.
When they were done, Shen asked the Soothsayer if they could see the Kung Fu Academy Master Thundering Rhino talked about.
"He's there today too, right?"
"Yes he is," the old goat nodded. "We'll visit him."
On the way, the Soothsayer caught Shen watching the racing rickshaws again.
"Would my Prince like to ride one?"
The boy's response was to immediately drag her toward one that was dropping off a passenger.
But Shen ducked his head at the antelope driver who gawked, who didn't stop until the Soothsayer snapped her hooves in front of his face and asked that he take them to the alley the Kung Fu Academy was on.
Even with his royal passenger, the driver sped forward. Shen was delighted.
"Can he go faster-?"
"No."
"But, Nana-"
"No-look, we're halfway there."
Still the white peacock turned around as much as he could in his seat to watch everything whip by, even with the Soothsayer's restraining grip. But Shen instantly ducked down at another rickshaw crash, finally realizing the drivers had been watching him and taken their eyes off the road.
"Oh," he said in a very small voice, slumping down further in his seat.
"Straighten up now," the Soothsayer ordered, then said more softly, "It's just a lack of discipline on their part, dear; and they've never seen their prince before."
"I've never been to the city before," the Prince huffed, staring straight ahead and into the back of the antelope driver's head.
The Soothsayer wrapped an arm around him, leaning her chin on his head. Her beard dangled over the boy's face, and he blew at it. "How do you like the city so far?"
Shen played a little with her beard, leaned into her half-armed hug. "It's-"
He stopped and jerked out of her embrace when the driver stopped, jumping down.
"This is it?" The boy asked eagerly, looking the building up and down.
"It would be a poor driver who brought us to the wrong place," the Soothsayer told him, chuckling. Said driver looked a bit chagrined, but the old goat just calmly shook her head at him, smirking, and paid him her coin and with her thanks.
Shen ran ahead into the shop, but stopped inside, staring. There were shelves all around filled with bottles, that either had liquids or herbs or a mix of both, or something else entirely, and other odd looking things, with weird scents and smoke trails curling in the air. At the back was a counter with another filled shelf behind it, someone bustling around in between, out of sight. But the boy realized it was sort of like their apartment back home; the Soothsayer kept strange things too, along with her incense, her herbs and bottles and other curios, not to mention all the medicinal materials for him, either by her own suggestion or the physician's recommendation. Speaking of the physician, this place was like his quarters too, actually. But Shen knew this place was somehow more than the physician's space and the apartment he shared with the Soothsayer-it was as if it took everything from both places and combined them, only to multiply exponentially.
"Are you sure it's the right place?" Shen asked again, looking back up at the Soothsayer.
"There's more than meets the eye," the old goat told him, walking ahead. "Or more than one level to a building."
"Oh, right," Shen replied, embarrassed and feeling dense. He followed after her, missing the small amused smile on the goat's face.
"Now what does this place remind you of, dear?"
Not for the first time Shen wondered if the Soothsayer could also read minds, right here in the present.
"Like our place, and the physician's-"
"So that would make it?..."
"…a medicine shop?"
"Yes, how can I help you?" said the figure at the counter, popping back up with a red bottle in hand.
Shen jumped, his tail feathers flaring up. The counter's figure had been fast-and it was someone white, like him, but furry and with large ears, but not a rabbit. It was a rat, with protruding teeth and a beard like Nana-whom he presumably knew, since he smiled when he caught her eye and bowed to her slightly.
"Ah, what brings you here today? Need anything else for your boy?"
"'He's here, Xu," the Soothsayer said, nodding her head to below the counter.
The rat looked down at him, and Shen shyly went behind the Soothsayer's back a little.
"Ah, so he is." His bow to the white peacock was deeper. "A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Prince Shen."
"Thank you, the pleasure is mine," Shen recited one of the phrases he learned, hoping it was adequate for the shopkeeper.
The rat chuckled. "You do well in your etiquette lessons, hmm?"
"Not really," Shen answered, and stared when the rat full out laughed. The boy shuffled his talons; it was true, though.
"Now Xu, don't make fun," the Soothsayer said, and Shen looked up at her, confused.
"But you make fun," he reminded her, frowning.
"Yes, but I've known you since you were an infant."
"How long's it been, then?" The rat asked, kneeling behind the counter again, looking for something. "How old are you now?"
"I turned five last week," Shen told him, stretching up on his talons, but he barely reached the counter and could not see what the rat was doing.
"Well, Happy Birthday," Xu said, popping back up with some candies.
Shen eagerly grabbed for them, but the Soothsayer stilled his wing, and took the candies instead, pocketing them in her satchel. "You can have them later."
"Spoil his appetite?"
"We just came from the bakery." The rat nodded, looking at them over his shoulder as he organized some bottles behind him. "Shen wanted to see the academy and Master Thundering Rhino."
"Ah, you came at the right time-some students should be sparring in the ring right now-" and the rat nodded to the side, the entrance to stairs.
Shen immediately dashed for it-
"Thank Xu for the candy," the Soothsayer said.
"Thank you, Xu!" The boy kept going-
"Wait for me."
Shen stopped, trying to look patient. The Soothsayer didn't take long thanking and saying good-bye to Xu, and soon she held Shen's wing and let him lead her down the steps.
She whispered to him as the sounds of fighting reached them, "Remember to be especially quiet and respectful-"
Shen nodded, and they stepped out onto a landing, walking to one part of the balcony that was empty. Shen climbed up on the banister to see, and the Soothsayer laid a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. They looked down, and saw a boar and lynx dueling each other.
The boy was instantly mesmerized-
"Hello Prince Shen; Soothsayer," and the boy turned to find Master Thundering Rhino joining them at the banister.
The Soothsayer and Shen greeted the Kung Fu master back, but a second later the boy was absorbed in the fight below again.
Thundering Rhino regarded Shen, leaning against the banister on the other side of the boy.
"The aim of the exercise here is to throw the opponent out of the chalk circle," and Thundering Rhino nodded to the white boundary below. "Who do you think will win, Prince?"
Eyes still on the fight, Shen immediately answered, "The boar. He's bigger."
"That he is," Thundering Rhino conceded, and said nothing more as the students below sparred.
In the end, the lynx won.
As the students bowed to each other and the next sparring match was set up, Thundering Rhino turned to Shen. "Why did she win?"
The boy furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what he saw and trying to pick the best words. "The lynx…she, um, she ducked his punch…but at the same time she grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder…but how, he was bigger, heavier-wasn't he?"
"Yes, he was."
Shen folded his wings on the banister, resting his head against them, thinking hard and remembering. "But his punch…his punch kept going even though it didn't hit anything, so that would've made it easier for her to throw him, if s-she kept going in the punch's direction?"
Thundering Rhino nodded at the boy, smiling. "Yes, she used her opponent's own strength and speed against him. That's a way for a smaller warrior to get the upper hand."
"Does it always work?"
"In the heat of battle, there are few absolutes when it comes to technique. You must always expect the unexpected." Thundering Rhino's eyes went to the ring again, and Shen perked up, watching a pair of smaller rhinos enter the ring. "But that line of strategy is invaluable, and can open many options to you."
Shen and Thundering Rhino continued observing the student matches, the Kung Fu master quizzing the young prince on each one when the winner was declared.
"When can I be down there?" The boy asked Thundering Rhino eagerly, once the Soothsayer said it was time for lunch and began to guide him back up the stairs.
"Once you've learned the basics," was the only answer Master Thundering Rhino gave. Shen remembered to bow and thank the rhino; the Soothsayer did the same. Then the two went up the stairs, said thank you and good bye to Xu again, and left, the Soothsayer hailing another rickshaw.
"We don't want to be late."
"For what?" Shen asked a little anxiously, immediately wondering if there was a lesson today he'd forgotten about. But no, his parents had promised him the day off for his birthday; that surely still stood even though he'd gotten sick over it, he was having it now-
"You'll see, dear," the Soothsayer answered, and Shen calmed down. He tried to figure out the surprise from the directions the old goat gave the driver, but it was useless, even An's information about the city didn't give him any clues (the old goat had told him about it before too).
The rickshaw halted at one of the town squares, where children and their parents crowded around a shadow play being set up.
The Prince was delighted. He leapt out and quickly paced while the Soothsayer paid the driver, then dragged her to the show area.
"Thankyouthankyou-"
The old goat smiled; "You're very welcome, dear."
Shen loved shadow plays, watching the puppets' adventures. He couldn't quite remember when he first saw them, if it was for an earlier birthday or something else-though the boy definitely knew it happened for his last birthday-but his parents had invited shadow show troupes to the palace before, and he got to watch them all. And after his last birthday's performance, he'd requested an audience with the troupe to ask how they did it, and they kindly showed him, and afterward he'd worked on making his own puppets and stage and figuring out the lighting. He loved putting it together, making it all work. Shen had tried to present his play to his parents and the Soothsayer together, but the time was never right, mother and father were always so busy. Finally he couldn't wait any longer and just showed it to the Soothsayer. She enjoyed it, told him she was proud, and Shen basked in that, though he did admit to her afterward that it was all kind of random and that he should write more of a plot to it next time. The boy had been intent on it all working, having action, he hadn't really thought of what the action would mean-so his puppets had performed randomly without rhyme or reason, no cause and effect in place (his parents probably would've been bored by it).
As Shen looked for the best place to watch the shadow play in the city, he realized he hadn't done that yet, and now he had lessons to contend with. But he should find time to do it, it was something he'd told the Soothsayer he would, and she said she'd look forward to it (and he still wanted to show his parents).
The Prince was very particular-he wanted to see, but he also wanted to stick to the edges of the crowd, especially since no one had noticed him yet-
"Mama, is that the Pr-?"
"Hush, dear!"
Shen hid his face in the Soothsayer's skirt, muffling his groan. The city was fun, but tiring too, at least its people were, and only with certain behaviors.
The Soothsayer patted his shoulder; "Here we go, this should be fine."
And the old goat had found a nice spot, even if children and their parents already near it retreated a bit to give them space, but Shen was better able to ignore them if he just focused on the stage.
As the musicians started their music and the performers manipulated their puppets, Shen watched, absorbed in the unfolding story of Sun Wukong, a monkey born from rock that rebelled against heaven, only to be buried under a mountain for his trouble. The Prince felt relieved when the monkey warrior bargained for his freedom by offering his services to a travelling monk on his grand journey.
Shen was mesmerized by the monkey puppet's swiftness and its whirling staff, his imagination exaggerating the action in his head long afterward.
"I want to learn how to use a staff."
The Soothsayer looked down at the boy, as they walked back to the palace.
The old goat thought about it, then nodded her head; "It would suit you."
"You really think so?" Shen asked, excited.
The Soothsayer chuckled. "Now when have I ever led you astray, dear?" The Prince slowly nodded, not having a good answer to that and knowing she had a point. "But I do not know if Master Thundering Rhino will immediately teach you how to use one."
"I can wait," Shen decided, determined. "But I still want to learn now," he added in a rush. "I'll just ask him next time and see what he says."
As they entered the palace gates, the Soothsayer told him they would return to the apartment first and clean up, and he would dress in more formal clothes for dinner with his parents.
"Really?" And Shen's question of reassurance was a bit more reasonable this time. His parents had invited the shadow show troupe for his birthday last year, yes-but they couldn't watch with him or have a dinner with him or anything with him at all since there had been a border skirmish before with a war lord and they'd been embroiled in dealing with that conflict. By the time it passed, Shen had long grown used to being four and had mostly buried any real desire for his parents to actually be there for his birthday celebration, reminding himself they had arranged the fun shadow play for him (even if they couldn't find the time to watch the one he devised himself).
And-the boy frowned inwardly. He couldn't remember the birthdays before, but he was probably too young. The Soothsayer had told him that for his third birthday they'd taken him on a boat ride across one of the larger lakes in the palace gardens after having breakfast with him, but he couldn't remember that.
"Yes, dear," the Soothsayer answered, her voice a little too light and sounding funny to Shen.
The boy quickly washed and dressed, and waited impatiently for the Soothsayer to check him over. Before he gave into the urge to roll his eyes, the Soothsayer said he looked handsome and then they were off. The old goat led him to someplace not far at all, to one of the dining halls on the ground floor.
The Soothsayer bowed to mother and father at the table (laid down with plenty of Shen's favorites) and turned to leave.
"Enjoy, my Prince."
"You're not staying?" The boy asked, bewildered.
The old goat shook her head. "You need time alone with your parents, my dear." Then she smirked; "And I need time to have a game of Pai Sho with Qin, win back some of my earnings..."
And she left, telling him she would come to escort him back to their apartment after dinner.
Which was great. They didn't mention how disobeying his elders got him sick enough to miss his proper birthday. Shen told his parents all about his day in Gongmen City.
"-and I want to learn staff work like Sun Wukong too-"
"Your mother's quite proficient at that," Lord Baojia said, sipping at his wine.
The prince turned eagerly to her, asking, "Could you show me how, please-?"
"Someday, dear," she said, filling his bowl with more rice. "Master Thundering Rhino tells us that you're doing well in your lessons with him."
Shen tried to restrain his joy in a very docile, pleased, "Thank you." Then he asked his parents what they did today.
He knew as they answered that they were editing their response, focusing on what would hold the interest of a five-year-old for at least a little while. The boy supposed it was for the best. His father still let him in the throne room, playing at his talons with his blocks and other toys, while he spoke with his advisers, soldiers, council members, servants and all other manner of people, whether they were local to the court or more from the city or even farther out in the province, or even from someplace outside it-and often enough all the grown-up talk involved in running and protecting Gongmen Province was dreadfully boring to Shen, talk that droned on over his head, especially over matters of the treasury and budget or any other intangibles.
Fights, now those were tangible to his young mind, and his parents answered seriously about those (more border skirmishes with other clans), but didn't spend too much time on them.
Shen wondered if the Soothsayer taught his father mind reading, for Lord Baojia said, "I know much of what goes in the throne room flies over your head, son." His father's tone was not unkind, but he was choosing his words very carefully. "But if you would start observing a little bit more-"
"I can't play anymore?"
Lord Baojia shook his head. "Of course not. I'll let you know on what days you should try to pay attention, since I'll ask you questions afterward about what went on."
Shen nodded, unsure. His father gave a small smile. "I found that watching my father actually work in the throne room and apply my tutors' lessons was more helpful and interesting than recitations."
"You didn't like your lessons either?" Shen asked, looking to his mother as well.
Lady Fen laughed. "I'm not sure of anyone who really does."
Shen conceded, "I like math and science; art, too."
"And Kung Fu," his mother reminded him, sipping at her own glass of wine.
"Uh huh."
"It's a long tradition, you know," his father said, refilling his son's cup with juice. "Going all the way back to when our ancestors united the clan..."
And Shen listened to another war story, followed by a softer story about Qi Xi's love that the boy didn't mind too much since his eyes were starting to droop along with how full his stomach was growing. But Shen admitted the story was actually interesting; it was all about the creation of some star patterns, a runaway princess from the heavens who was bored with courtly life and looking for adventure, company...
"Is my Prince ready for bed?" The Soothsayer asked, opening the door.
"He is," his parents said, while Shen mumbled, "'m not."
But the boy leaned against the old goat as she took him back to their apartment (though not before his parents had hugged him good night).
"Did you have a good birthday?" The Soothsayer whispered to her child.
"The best." Shen yawned. "Did you win?"
The old goat laughed. "Yes, Qin was not pleased; he wants a rematch, later..."
In the apartment, it seemed it didn't take long to dress in his pajamas and wash up before the Soothsayer tucked him into bed, kiss his forehead and wish him good night.
###
The boy slept. Turned in bed. He heard his nanny, her voice low and sounding tense. There was another tense voice. A door creak open. The sound of her hooves retreating.
Shen woke up, tried to get back to sleep. He furrowed into his bed. Frustrated, the boy raised his head.
Someone was staring at him from across the room. Bright gold eyes.
It happened very fast-those eyes rushed him, and the boy bundled up his blankets and pillows in front of him protectively, ducking and scrambling back. Shen was knocked over still, he felt the wind knocked out of him, felt something hard-it snagged on the bundled covering of blankets and pillows, but it still-but not deeply, it didn't feel deep-the attacker hissed as something else crashed into him, and then tossed him away, a horn slipping out of his side-and then the Soothsayer, her horn tipped in red, was carrying Shen away as wolf guards streaked by her and fell upon the figure with the gold eyes, his side leaking. Shen saw other dark, bright-eyed figures, but the wolves fought them off too.
Shen blinked. He felt funny. Yet he knew this wasn't a dream.
The Soothsayer tore at her wrappings and bundled them around Shen. The boy glanced down. Saw red bleed through. He coughed out red too.
Shen laid his head against the old goat's shoulder. She reminded him, "Stay awake, my Prince."
His eyes still shut, and when he opened them he was laid out, the Soothsayer and the physician and other nurses surrounding him. Shen wasn't sure if he'd passed out or if all time had run far away.
The boy felt drained. As if everything had spilled out of him. The Soothsayer rubbed a hoof over his forehead. "Open your beak." He obeyed, and the old goat pressed tightly wound cloth in between. "Bite down." He did. She held him down, other nurses helping her.
Shen's eyes widened at the flash of a needle in the physician's hoof hands and-his talons kicked and his whole body flinched despite the Soothsayer and the others restraining him. They got a more solid grip on him. Shen bit down hard on the cloth, the scream locked in his throat. The needle went in and out like fire-Shen squeezed his eyes shut. They were wet. Soon they rolled up into his skull.
The Prince smelled incense, saw its smoke curl in the air. After a while the needle was gone and bandages were wrapped quickly and tightly around his chest, his stomach. The boy felt numb, adrift. His eyes half-lidded.
"'m sleepy, Nana."
The old goat's breath came out ragged. But her hoof on his shoulder was firm.
"It's all right to sleep now, dear."
Shen closed his eyes, and returned to the dark.
A/N: "The Art of Kung Fu Panda 2" mentioned how the jail for Masters Croc and Storming Ox was the Kung Fu Academy before. They also said that in an earlier, abandoned story concept where the practice of Kung Fu was outlawed, the Kung Fu Academy became more like a secret Fight Club, with a medicine shop front. I was inspired to include the medicine shop, thinking that having one so close to a Kung Fu Academy would also be useful. Xu is an approximation of the character seating at the counter in the medicine shop illustration from the book.
Sun Wukong and Qi Xi are real Chinese legends.
Pai Sho is just a reference to one of my favorite shows, the original animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Shadow puppet play is of course a reference/tie-in to KFP2 opening and credits.
Jazzy Jaz: Thanks, glad you found it cute. More Shen fic is always good, I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Will you write under the same name?
Arecus. Conberma: Thanks! And yeah, the last is a very different reference to a scene in Digimon's first series, the one with Tai and his sister playing soccer (it's explained more in that chapter's A/N). I just thought the reference would really work with this.
Comrade: Thank you! This fic still continues, I want to go up to when he's an adult. Hee, I'm glad you find the grammar works. Yeah, An's story is a little integrated into Shen's, but it's still mostly Shen's. That's a good point about the minimum swearing/cursing makes it fit movie canon more. But I had thought more of how this is Shen's childhood, I didn't think there'd be a lot of cursing. And even when he's older, I don't think he himself will curse that much, if at all—but he'll probably hear it more. I just have Wolf Boss pegged as sorta foul-mouthed when he's older (and if movie canon would let him), though I may have to think more on that.
I'm not sure who this is (there's no name at all on this review): "Aw, cute chapter. And yes, it is... More of notes and flamebait from a plot bunnie that would not leave me, though. Not as good as this story." –but thanks (and what's your fic?)