"The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool."
Stephen King
Kung Fu Panda
The Long Night
Chapter XVI: Tenshu
"I will regret it, when I don't move!" the fat panda says while struggling with Temujin and the handcuffs.
"It is useless." the Player says and rips open the Urn, before directing it at him…"Uhhh…." what?
What is this? A cold feeling spreads around the hill…darkness pours itself out of the Urn…What is this!?
The Darkness leaves the Urn and flies at the panda. This one is shocked, when the Darkness hits and begins to engulf him….it is similar to Tian Yi's and the Player game with shadows….but also much more dangerous…
I look down on my paws. They are trembling and my fur stands on end. I look at the panda and see like the shadow vanishes slowly inside of him….the fatty falls on his knees, lowers his head downwards and doesn't move anymore.
"Impressive sight isn't it?" the Player asks while stepping closer to me.
"It is…what happened?" I ask unsure.
"A possession. A real one this time…I tried to imitate it my whole life, but still I can't do it like real ones."
I look at his three eyed face. "A possession? So this was a ghost?"
"No, a shadow. A real one. A shadow is one part of a soul…there are always two…but before you think that: No, the shadow is not the bad part. There are neither good nor bad parts, but only parts. Two parts of one soul."
"And you know why this is so?"
"Don't know completely…otherwise I would be able to create a real shadow. Tenshu's shadow was sealed away back then, while his other part – the light – went to the afterlife. Because his shadow is missing, he is doomed to wander around through the Void his whole existence…and that is endless."
"Sounds cruel…I like It.", Temujin intervenes in our conversation.
"It should be cruel…it was a punishment after all for Tenshu's crimes. But on the other side only cause of this it was possible to bring him back…look, it is finished."
I look back at the panda. He is breathing louder once again and is moving in his kneeing position. Then he lifts up his head finally: his eyes are black like the Players.
"Hahh…finally…" are the first spoken words of Tenshu for generations. Dark steam – similar to the shadow thing – leaves his mouth, while he does this. "It has been so long….Ahh", he stands up and begins to stretch his body….I can't prevent a chuckle, because this looks hilarious on the body of this panda. The Player steps forward and Tenshu looks at him.
"It has been a while Player…a new body what?" he asks. I realize that his voice is a dark distorted alternative to the panda's one.
"Like always, Tenshu….how is the Afterlife?" the Player replies satisfied.
"It was…too long."
"I needed time to prepare and you know this."
"Yeah, of course I do…so how long to the night?"
This guy is as informed as me….was he once a partner of the Player?
"Not long anymore…almost all pieces are in place to begin it."
"I see…so can someone take these handcuffs away from me. The wrists of this panda are starting to hurt."
"Of course…Temujin!" the Player orders, while turning around to us again. I realize that the sun is rising already, while Temujin marches to the panda and releases him.
"Much better…" Tenshu says, before looking at his new body, "Oogway had always an odd sense of humor: A panda? Seriously? Couldn't the Dragon Warrior be someone like…for example a Tiger." he looks to me now, "For example you, White Ghost."
"You know me?" I ask surprised.
"Of course I do….being sealed in an Urn doesn't allow much variety. Seeing like someone is freeing me from these damn Monks was a nice view. I hope you have shown them, who the stronger one is?"
"Of course I did." it is still odd looking at the panda as an ally. I notice that his white color has turned darker now…only the fangs are still missing. I chuckle.
"White, there!" Shari whispers to my ear and I look at what she is pointing: a dark shadow at the sky. It is coming from the west, but it is easy to see for me. It is an Owl.
"Ah it seems, that everyone is gathered what?" the Player says amused.
"Who is this?" I ask.
"Fenghuang…I freed her from a cocky prison Oogway has built for her…and since then she is working for me. I used her even for some fake Shadows." he chuckles.
I growl. "I thought we are partners. Why I don't know about her?"
He looks at me with this glance I hate: Complete disinterest. "You know of her now."
I unleash my claws and grab his throat. "Don't treat me like you underling!"
Temujin has stepped closer ready to attack me, when I show weakness. The Riders are behind me ready to strike as well and Tenshu is watching this scene with an odd interest….this face is simply too hilarious! I look back to the Player, who is struggling with missing air. I let him go and he falls on his knees. "Argh…fuuu…you got me there Bai Fen. For a moment I thought you would kill this body again." he says amused, while getting straight again looking directly at me, "You are right, you are not my underling. But we agreed that I will not tell you all of my plans as well like you will not tell me every one of yours."
"I remember that…but the important things need to be clear. We need to be equal to be partners or not?" I growl back. I change my view to Temujin for a moment to prevent him from moving. I have grabbed the hilt of my Twins already.
The Player thinks about these words. "You are right…I will remember this till the next time. But before this I will need to think, what you need to know to be equal to me."
I dislike the kind he has spelt 'equal'….what has my father said? The Player lies. He has always lied. Better I keep an eye or two on this matter.
Fenghuang has landed already and is coming to us. "We are assembled finally…everyone…" the Player wants to speak, but then stops in the mid of the sentence. He looks surprised…an unfamiliar look. He changes his look to Temujin and Fenghuang fast. "Lady Fenghuang, I know you had a hard ride here, but I will need your help. Temujin yours as well. Come with me.", he says and storms to his tent.
"Hey, what is going on?!" I try to stop him, but he simply dodges me.
"Explain later. Have no time to lose now." he says still before entering the tent. The two follow him. Crap!
I hear a chuckle.
I look behind to look at the fatso laughing in an arrogant manner…I think I will be never able to get accustomed to this panda's look as the well known and infamous General Tenshu. I sigh.
"You wanted to tell something?" I react still provoked.
"You are an interesting fellow, White Ghost. What has the Player promised you for his partnership?"
"None of your business." I snap at him.
"Oh…how pitiful…" seriously this guy with this behavior?! "…but in the end it is unimportant. But be warned: Don't trust him."
"So you are mistrusting him either? Although he was responsible for your resurrection?"
"He was also responsible for my death." he replies amused, while turning away, "So look out, kiddo. You are exactly the type of guy, the Player loves to use…like Me.", then he leaves the hill laughing evilly…I sigh. This panda doesn't fit to this role.
I look back at the tent of the Player. What is he hiding still in front of me?
"What should we do now?" Shari asks me.
"Back to our tents. We will need to wait." I reply and hear Shari sighing loudly. They turn around and I follow their lead, still looking at the tent. You will not be in my way…no one will…I will care for this in person…
Another villian appears :D And it is Po ;-) I am curious what you think about this :-)
I would like to hear your opinion about this story as well :-) You can use the Review-possibility for this ;-)
And when you don't want to wait so long, check out my new work "Crossing the Rubicon". ;-) It is a little bit different, but I try to make it at least equally good like this story here :-) when not better :-P
"Kung Fu Panda" (c) DreamWorks Animation
I own nothing except for the written word.
Characters you don't know are from me. The Idea is also from me.
P.S. I am thinking about changing the pace of updating again *sweating emoticon* sorry for that, but I have not decided still :-) So let's see if you will like it *sweating emoticon*