Holy. Freaking. Moly. This chapter was so hard to write. I don't even know if I did it well. Freaking hell. I suck at emotional moments hahaa...
At least I published it in a fairly timely manner for once.
Hope you enjoy. But if you don't, as always, I ask that you explain why so that I can improve later.
Summary: The paths Shen took in the past seem only to lead deeper into darkness. But through the eyes of those who have woven themselves into his life, a new story unfolds-one leading away from old misery and guilt-that may yet bring him redemption. Slight AU. Chapter 10-Po and the others finally begin to act on a plan to rescue the Five. As usual, when Po is involved, things don't work as well in practice as in theory.
Chapter 10.
Po.
"The kung fu masters are all heavily guarded. There are wolves crawling over literally every inch of the prison," Wing explained to Shifu, Po and several others who assisted in leading the rebellion. They were all gathered around the makeshift map Wing had drawn of Gongmen City. The location of the destroyed Tower of Sacred Flame, the fireworks factory, the prison, and Shen's mansion were marked in red ink on the parchment. "This is going to be a delicate operation. We can't just go busting in the prison. Shen's army is massive, from what I could see of it. Even after freeing the Five, Ox and Croc, we'll still be way outnumbered, not to mention, there are Shen's weapons to worry about."
"Then we'll need to thin out the defenses somehow," Shifu said, rubbing his chin and staring hard at the map.
"As in a diversion?" Lien asked.
Wing gave a wicked grin. "Like a fireworks show?"
"Gongmen City is the birthplace of fireworks. That hardly sounds like a diversion. The people are likely so accustomed to them that they won't care," Shifu argued.
"Yeah, maybe so, but don't we all tell our kiddies not to play with fire indoors?" Wing replied, still grinning as though waiting for everyone to come to the same conclusion he had made minutes ago.
"I remember my friends were trying to blow up the fireworks factory with gunpowder barrels," Po interrupted suddenly. He paused, embarrassed. "And I guess it probably would have worked if I'd listened to Tigress and stayed put…"
Shifu's eyes widened with understanding. "Of course. The Five are going to be one of Shen's priorities. If we want him to reallocate his defenses, we'll need to hit the sensitive points."
"We take out the factory and the cannons along with it, creating a distraction that Shen will definitely have to pay attention to, not to mention, we'll clean out his source of firepower. Then it'll be mano-a-mano from there. No guns, just fists," Wing finished nicely.
"What happens after we break them out?" Po asked. "I mean, I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to kick some serious butt. I'm sure my friends will want a nice warm-up after being stuck in prison for so long."
"Not unless it's necessary," Shifu said sternly. "We'll be in the heart of enemy territory. Shen and his army will have a home-field advantage, even without the cannons. Not to mention, there will be civilians everywhere. A large scale fight could put innocent lives in danger."
"Oh, alright," Po said, slouching a little. He straightened up again abruptly. "How about just a little bit of butt-kicking? You won't even see it. It'll be that little," he said.
Shifu rolled his eyes. "Po, try to show a bit of restraint here."
"Okay, okay, don't worry. I know what's at stake too. Just trying to keep everybody a bit loose," Po said, instinctively shaking out his shoulders. He had to admit, he was tense himself. Everyone was. He had no knowing of what could happen to his friends. Back when they were trying to storm Shen's tower, he got a glimpse of how unpredictable the peacock really was. One moment, he's laughing at someone's expense, then BAM knife in your face, then laughing like a psycho again. Po had to wonder what it was like to be so tightly wound all the time. He looked around at the concentrated faces in the circle. Even now, no one was as tense as the peacock had been when they met. I suppose I'd be a complete nut-bag if I was that neurotic every day of my life.
Po felt a strange, fleeting sensation of pity for Shen. He got over it quickly though. No matter what, that peacock was responsible for the death of his parents, the destruction of a large part of Gongmen City, and many other crimes Po could have no knowledge of.
"What exactly are we going to do once we blow up the factory though? It's not like everyone's going to evacuate the prison, leaving a bunch of kung fu masters unguarded," Po pointed out.
"I can help with that," Lien said. She was a thin little thing, especially compared to the graceful, yet sturdy body of Viper. "It'll be easy for me to slip into the prison if the guards are distracted, which they probably will be in the chaos of trying to decide who will stay and who will go."
"You'll need help though. It'll take too long for you to break all of them out in time," Shifu said.
"Viper can pick locks with her tail," Po said.
"And I have other friends among these refugees who can help as well," Lien added.
"I'd better bring up another important point—one related to the Valley of Peace," Wing said. "We had a bit of trouble getting back into the Valley. I think the wolves are getting a bit suspicious. They were patrolling the river. It's too risky for an entire rescue party to try and make their way to sea the same way the scouting groups have."
"Then we'll have to use the main harbor," Shifu said, gritting his teeth slightly. He turned to Po. "The question is, how are we going to get you there without anyone noticing?"
"Me? Naw, you don't need to worry about me. I learned a lot about stealth in Gongmen City—mostly through mistakes, but that's not the point!" Po said.
Shifu raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because you breathe so loudly, I could fight you in the dark."
"Hey, I'm a big guy. I need a lot of air," Po retorted.
"Especially on the stairs," Wing muttered.
"Stairs are uncool inventions, alright? Don't see why people like to build all these tall things," Po said.
"Let's be serious please," Shifu said. "As for hiding Po and other high-profile people such as myself, I've got an idea."
Once again, Po found himself stuffed in a grain barrel, riding on a cart down the main valley road to the docks. Master Shifu and others who would be recognized by the wolves were also hiding in barrels, but Po couldn't help but think that they were a bit more comfortable than he was.
"I think this situation is a bit unfair in favor of the slightly smaller people," he whispered to Master Shifu who was hiding in the next barrel.
"It's the only option we had besides trying to throw a canvas cloth over you and say we were carting hay. Somehow, I think this is a bit more convincing," Shifu said sardonically, "especially considering hay is not supposed to look like it's moving."
Po grunted uncomfortably in response and tried to peek out from between the slats in the barrel. The view was obscured, but he could still tell it was the familiar environment of the central road leading down from the Jade Palace. A rush of excitement and apprehension passed through him. They would be passing the noodle shop! He watched with increased attention, hoping to catch a sight of his dad.
"What's the big idea? What do you mean you aren't serving noodles today?" The coarse shout made Po tense. The voice he heard next made him gasp involuntarily.
"Well, you see, sir, I can't make noodles because I have no noodles."
Po struggled to see what was going on, the wood of the barrel creaking as he moved.
"Po, calm yourself. You can't risk being seen," Shifu warned him.
"What kind of noodle shop doesn't have noodles?" the wolf growled. "I think you're lying."
"None of you wolves ever pay me. I have no money to purchase my ingredients," Po heard his dad say nervously.
"Stay still, Po," Shifu said. He received no answer, not even the sound of breathing. "Po?"
"And why should we have to pay? We're Lord Shen's army and we—" the wolf could not manage to say anything more since his face was currently mashed into the stone wall. Po breathed heavily, his fist aching in the most satisfying way. He turned around, and the other wolves in the restaurant lurched in fear and surprise.
"If you aren't going to pay money," Po growled, "you can pay in bloody knuckles and broken bones."
"A panda!" the wolves shouted. "Not the panda is he?"
Po lunged forward, and the wolves toppled over themselves, trying to make their way toward the door. One of them tilted his head back and began a howl, but was cut short by Master Shifu who smacked him down with his staff and sent him flying backward into the wall. Po slammed his fist into the face of another wolf. He heard the last one coming up behind him and whipped his other arm around, his elbow catching the wolf right under the jaw. It yelped before collapsing into a dead faint. Only then did Po settle himself and turn to his dad.
"Get inside. Now!" Shifu hissed, pushing them into the kitchen. He waved the rest of the rescue party forward, beckoning for them to continue their way down to the harbor as planned. Then he shut the door to the shop.
"Po! You're alive! You're alive!" his dad cried, voice breaking. He felt Po's face and stomach, as though making sure he was solid. "You're real. You're not dead. They said you were dead!" he sobbed, clutching onto Po who wrapped his arms around his dad's small form. He could feel his face warm as his own tears welled up and ran freely.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come see you before. I wasn't allowed to be seen," Po said. It was too late now, but as if he would stand by and watch the wolves bully his father.
"I knew you weren't dead. I didn't believe them." His voice was muffled as he spoke into Po's fur.
"Listen, I understand you're overjoyed to see each other, I truly do, but I must remind you that we are in a very dangerous situation right now. Mr. Ping, you aren't safe here. Po isn't safe here either. We must get you to the refugee camp somehow…" Shifu ran his hands down his face, his old age starting to show itself. "We've blown our only cover." He opened the door a crack and peered outside. "The wolves are still unconscious, but we have to make sure they can't easily report that they've seen you."
"Is that okay with you, Dad?" Po asked. "You'll be safe at the camp. The wolves won't be able to find you there."
"What about you, Po?" his dad asked. "You just got back. Don't tell me you are going back into all that danger again! What if you die for real this time? Don't do that to me again!"
"I have to," Po said, feeling helpless. "They're all counting on me to help lead them. I'm the Dragon Warrior."
"I don't care! You're my son! Even if you aren't really my son, you're still my son!" Dad protested. "Why can't you just stay here where it's safe? You can stay, and we'll make noodles together, just like before."
Po could see his dad's heart breaking in front of him. "I'll always come back to you, Dad," he said quietly. "No matter how long it takes, or what stands in my way, I'll come back. I won't let you down, just like I won't let anyone else down, ever again. That's why I have to go." He gently picked his father up and set him on the ground.
"Mr. Ping, follow me. I'll be able to get you to the refugee hideout. Po, you wait for me here. Once I drop your father off, we'll need to fight our way out. I don't see any other way," Master Shifu said.
"If we don't want to be seen, the back door is better," his dad interrupted quietly, as though talking was already taking up too much energy. He hung his head as he led Shifu out to the back alley. In one swift motion, Po scooped him up and pulled him into a final, tight hug.
"My little panda," his father murmured. "I'll be waiting for you with a nice dinner."
"Don't worry. I'll be back before the food gets cold," Po said, squeezing his eyes tight and slowly releasing his dad.
Shifu led his dad out the door, checking the alleys to make sure the coast was clear before leaving. Po watched his father go, never looking away until he and Shifu had completely vanished from sight. When the back door clicked shut, Po was left alone in the darkness and silence.
I'm always your son, Dad. There should never have even been a question. I am who I choose to be, and my destiny is what I make it.
As in the moment when the ripples finally settle in the surface of water, Po's mind finally settled, calm and clear. His mother and father were gone forever from his life, but they still lived in him, and their love was still present everywhere around him. Po was not alone the way Shen was alone, and in that moment, he knew when they met again that was why Po would win.
He remembered the meaning of his answer to the Soothsayer's question. He had said, "I am Po," because there was no other answer to give. It was the entire truth—the truth of himself as Master Shifu had explained back in the cave. Every virtue and every flaw he had came together to create his identity and his story. He was a perfect circle of yin and yang, a true warrior of black and white.
But we all are. Everyone is like this, not just me. It's only when we take one side and not the other that we lie to ourselves and become…not us. We're all made up of black and white on the inside, me, Master Shifu, even Tai Lung and Shen. And inner peace comes from the perfect balance between them.
The back door squeaked, and Po lurched up, fists ready.
"Settle down, it's only me. Your father is fine," Shifu whispered, his ears flicking back and forth, scanning the area for hidden dangers. "Back alley. Let's go. Hurry."
They shuffled out into the dark alley, the orange sunset lit shooting through the gaps between buildings that blocked them from the main road. Po did his best to move quickly and quietly, using the walls to balance as he knew he wasn't the most graceful on tiptoe. Shifu, on the other hand, moved like a ghost. He stopped at one of the turns, pressing his back against the corner of a building as he peered around it.
"This place is the end of the back alley. It connects to the main road here. We've gotten quite close to the docks now so it's just a hundred yard stretch to get past the wolves on patrol. Are you ready?" Shifu asked.
"I'm in a state of extreme readiness," Po replied, cracking his knuckles.
"Good, then let's go. Run!" Shifu said, darting out into the central road. Po jumped out after him, sprinting toward the docks which were a straight shot ahead of them. Wolves began appearing out of every side street, and Po tucked his shoulder down, barreling into them.
"Hiyaaaaaaaaah!" he shouted, headbutting a wolf that was stupid enough to jump in his way. Master Shifu was dancing nimbly, putting wolves down as easily as one would smack gnats.
A cluster of wolves leaped on top of Po from every direction, slowing down his charge. He grabbed one by the scruff, and used it to swat the others off of him. The wolves whined as their heads knocked against each other. Po threw the wolf ahead of him, knocking incoming attackers to the ground as he ran over them. They were getting close to the boats, but more and more wolves blocked their path.
"Hold it right there, panda!" one of the wolves commanded. The wolves advanced on them, barring the way onto the boat that would take them into Gongmen. Then something bowled a hole in the group of guards.
"Hurry! Get on!" shouted the ox who had been pulling the barrel cart and had knocked the wolves aside.
Po and Master Shifu punched and kicked their way through the tightening hoard. The ox was at the very edge of the gangplank, reaching his hoof out to them. Wing hung from the edge of the ship, a knife brandished, and he sliced the ropes that kept the ship tied to the pier.
"Jump!" he shouted.
Po pushed down a group of wolves, watching them stack on each other like dominos as they fell, and he climbed them like a staircase, leaping onto the deck of the ship.
"Whoaaaa!" Po yelled, as he began sliding off the side. The ox and two large pigs hastily grabbed onto him and pulled him on board. Master Shifu batted away anyone who tried to follow them onto the ship until they were far enough away that the wolves couldn't jump. Po noticed the other boats in the harbor were starting to take off as well.
"Are they all coming with us?" he asked incredulously.
"Nah, but we don't want the wolves following us in those boats," Wing said with a smirk.
"So we struck a nice little deal with the boat owners while we were waiting for you," Lien continued. "They were more than happy to spite those barbarians."
They watched as the wolves frantically milled about on the docks, running back and forth as they tried to figure out what to do.
"That ought to slow them down for a few days," Shifu said triumphantly. "Good work, all of you. Let's hurry on to Gongmen City."
The other animals on the boat nodded firmly, and they began to dip oars in the water to speed up the boat. The Valley of Peace became distant, and Po turned away toward the horizon. The journey would be a long one, but he was glad to be moving forward. The day of reckoning lay ahead of him, but Po looked into the circle of the fading red sun and knew he was ready.
Shen is up next. Got some character development to do before the story reaches crunch time.