Chapter 16: The Peacock and the Pandas

Foreword: Hello! I usually don't do this, but it's better safe than sorry, I guess. So, if anyone here knows anything about Kung Fu Panda, it's that when a certain peacock gets involved with the Panda Villages, it doesn't end well. This is just one big flashback scene, so it doesn't have a whole lot of impact on the rest of the story thus far. I don't show anything TOO violent, but if bad things happening to an innocent village might be too much and you'd rather skip this chapter, I understand.


Lu Fang ran outside and was immediately met with a beautiful morning.

She smiled and frolicked down the dirt trail, choosing to veer off and bask through the tall grass still wet with morning dew. The village itself was alive and bustling with activity. She strolled through the village center where a tall, white barked oak stood. The entire village had been built around the enormous tree, and with its oddly colored bark, it had become the staple of the village. To honor the gift of nature, the local panda villagers had built a beautiful garden at its base.

She heard her father's voice echo through the village as if it was carried by the wind. Her head spun left and right, trying to get a clear indication of where he could be. Finally, she noticed something towards the edge of the village. Down the only road leading in and out was a group of tightly packed pandas. Without worry in her mind she made her way down to greet them all.

When she arrived, she realized just how thick the pandas had clustered. They acted like a wall of fluff and fur. They stood shoulder to shoulder, pushing and gently shoving each other, as if trying to get a better look at something in the distance. Before she decided to spend the energy to push her way through, she stepped back and listened to the wind once again. She wasn't about to push her way through such a mass if her father wasn't at the other end. It didn't take long to get her answer, however. Over the increasing roar of the mass of pandas, she heard him. He was surely within the sea of pandas, so, Lu Fang pressed her paws together and used them like the tip of a spear, pushing her way through the panda wall.

"Sorry." She'd repeat after bumping into the heavy pandas. "Pardon me. Sorry. Excuse me. Wow! You're big. Sorry." She was bounced around like a ping pong ball, but eventually she saw the light on the other side. She gave it one last push and propelled herself to the other side.

Sure enough, her father was standing tall. Four pandas stood beside him. Two around each shoulder. They were turned down the road, facing a stranger. He was like nothing Lu Fang had ever seen. She was immediately struck with awe at his beauty and elegance. He had a scrawny neck but stood tall enough to nearly match her father in height. What stuck out most, however, was his tail. It was nothing like the small tails the pandas had. My goodness! Lu Fang thought. Look at the colors! Pearly white feathers with black dots. Red circles littered his body.

"I'm telling you…" Lu Fang's father, Zahn, said. "…if you're just passing through, there isn't anything on the other side. The road ends here."

"So, I've finally done it." The bird said, feeling a moment of catharsis. "It ends here." He took in a deep breath and smiled. "I've been on the trail a long time. Perhaps you'd be keen on telling me if I've missed a village. Panda village, preferably. They tend to be more… interested in my wares. Are there many more this far into the mountains?"

Zahn shook his head. "There's nothing further up. If you're looking for other villages like ours, you would've seen them along the road. We're a very tight knit people." Zahn wore an everlasting smile.

"And… you've not heard of me?"

Zahn shook his head. "I don't believe we've seen your kind here before. Welcome."

"Thank you…" The bird said, half-heartedly.

"Please, come in and rest while. We have beds for you and your companions." Lu Fang had been in too much awe to notice the four wolves standing just behind the bird.

"Tempting. Very tempting." The bird said, throwing his feathers beneath his chin, as if in deep thought. His eyes turned towards the sky.

"Don't make me beg." Zahn laughed. "Your friends look tired. And one of them is hurt. Please, we have healers. It will be good for all. You can share your wares, and we will make sure your friend is taken care of. He'll be good as gold in no time."

Lu Fang got a sudden chill down her spine. One of the wolves wore a nasty wound. In the place of an eye was a bandage, soaked red and covering half his face. The sight brought a feeling to her heart she didn't understand. She wasn't comfortable with it. Her breathing grew heavy. There came a desire to run. Still, her father stood his ground, and she did her best to mimic him. If he stood tall, so would she. She watched as the wounded wolf leaned to the bird's ear.

"They're all so cuddly."

"I'm well aware, yes." The bird leaned back and whispered.

"I want to hug them. All of them."

The bird sighed. "I know." He turned his attention back towards the cluster of pandas. Specifically, Zahn. Their smiles matched, but Lu Fang noted how the eyes of the bird remained still as glass. They were cold. Unnatural. "We appreciate the hospitality your kind has offered us before. Would you allow us to return the favor? Perhaps… a gift?"

Lu Fang smiled as the word came from the bird's mouth. Gift! A roar of 'oohs' and 'awes' echoed from the clutter of pandas behind her. Almost as if driven by an unseen force, the pandas took a couple of steps towards the bird. Even Zahn, who was the most stoic panda Lu Fang knew, gave in to his curiosity.

"Let's start with my first offer. Something small. Something modest." The bird smiled and retreated to an enormous cart. The cart itself was draped with a white cloth, but it was clear that whatever was beneath had to be massive. The wolves had rolled it up on wheels. The bird returned to the pandas as he revealed the gift. The 'oohs' and 'awes' and general amusement came to a quick and all too sudden stop. The gift was a blade, curved and sharp as ever and stained red. He held it out for all to see. "I promise, with a gift like this, you can pierce any heart." The bird sat there in silence, then winced and began to pace. He tossed the sword aside. "Pierce any heart? No. No. That simply won't do." The bird grumbled and mumbled. "Not threatening enough." He stopped and once again faced the pandas. Again, his smile returned. This time, Lu Fang saw something sinister hidden behind it. "Not a fan? I understand. I do love theatrics, and a simple sword is far too mundane. Here. Let me reveal the next gift."

In an instant, as if planned, the wolves surrounding the cart cut the ropes that tied the white cloth down, allowing it to catch the wind. What was revealed with nothing like the pandas had ever seen. It was a long, metal tube with the head of a peacock at the tip. The bird retreated atop the mass of metal and looked down on the awestricken pandas. "This is a new invention of mine. I still have a few kinks to work out, but I have no doubt it will serve you well. As a parting gift." The bird smiled wider. "Yes, that will do." He mumbled before speaking louder. "Part of you here and part of you there." His voice shook with excitement. "Parts of you all around."

"Dad?" Lu Fang called out. Zahn quickly snapped towards his daughter. His muscles quickly tightened. He wore an expression of absolute dread. Lu Fang's fur stood straight up like the quills of a porcupine.

"You have to go." Zahn cried out to his daughter.

"What's happening?" Lu Fang felt something unnatural in the air, but Zahn didn't bother explaining. His head turned towards the bird. Once he held a friendly smile and a pleasant demeanor. It was quick to change. He glared up at the bird with a fire in his eyes.

"You think you and a handful of wolves can come in here and threaten us?"

"A handful?" The bird chuckled. "Foolish panda. Look closer."

Zahn did just that. The wolves circled high atop the surrounding hills and peeked out through the edging of the tree line. Dozens of them. No. Zahn shivered. Hundreds. All wearing light armor and holding spears, swords, and hammers. Across the village came a haunting howl.

"Nice army." Zahn said, putting on a facade of stoicism. He was not about to be seen as weak in the face of danger. "We've had our fair share of struggles. A few wolves don't scare us. We won't go down without a fight."

A faint scowl crept across the bird's face. "This isn't the only panda village, correct?" The scowl morphed into a sadistic smile. "Did you ever think about the others?"

Just then, Lu Fang saw it. They all did. Miles behind the bird, where the other pandas had built their villages, was smoke. And where there is smoke, there's fire. What had he done? Zahn thought. Is he a monster?

"Who are you?" Zahn asked. His voice had lost all gusto. What was left was nothing more than a meek, desperate cry for some form of answer.

"I thought you'd never ask. I am Shen. Heir to the illustrious Gongmen City, and I am here to rid the world of you vermin. I'm hoping this new device of mine will suffice in such a task. I've spent a lot of time on it."

"We're just farmers." Zahn gasped.

"Not all of you." There was something hidden behind Shen's eyes as they darted around, shooting down each and every panda within sight. It was as if he was looking for someone. Then everything erupted like thunder.

BOOM.

The tube Shen had been standing on suddenly spit fire. Zahn pulled back as the fireball tore beside him. He fell to the mud as the screams of the pandas echoed across the field. He looked up in a daze and saw the destruction. Where there was once green grass was now nothing but ash and cinder. The village was now at least three pandas down. There was nothing left to recover. His chest tightened when he looked up into the horrified eyes of Lu Fang. "Run."

He stood up and bolted as fast as he could. The mass of pandas quickly followed suit. Some charged with rakes and pitchforks. Some with nothing but their bare paws and claws. Their war cries were quickly silenced by the wolves that began swarming the village. Some pandas attempted to flee into the woods, but just as the brave pandas who had gone for the attack, the wolves were waiting. The rest fled back into the village, hoping to find some form of salvation. Zahn tried to cover Lu Fang's eyes as they ran, but the little panda saw it all. From the tube spat fire. Trees, grass, and pandas entered the swath, but came out as nothing but ash.

Arrows of fire rained down from the wolves atop the hill. Within seconds, and with the aid of the metal tube, the village was set alight. Utter chaos took over. The weapon behind them did not relent.

BOOM.

It echoed every so often.

BOOM.

And every so often, more and more pandas were gone. The small, humble wooden structures they called homes were quickly set on fire, if not immediately turned to rubble. The fire of one hut quickly spread to another. Then three more. Eight. A dozen.

BOOM.

Zahn busted down the door to their home. Lu Fang's mother, Xiu, was crouching beside the table. One paw firmly clutched a knife. The other covered her ear. Uncle Fu stood in the center of the room. He wore a nasty cut across his cheek.

"What's going on?" Xiu asked.

"We're under attack." Zahn answered.

"A batch of wolves ambushed us on the south side of the village." Uncle Fu said. Lu Fang had never seen her old uncle so serious. She knew he had a feisty bone in his body, and she knew he wasn't afraid to fight, but she had only ever known him as the goofy uncle.

"We have to go." Zahn stated.

"I think I'll stay." Uncle Fu said. Lu Fang knew her Uncle Fu and his jokes, but this time she had to take a moment to wonder if he was being serious or not.

Zahn managed a smirk but shook his head. "Not the time, Fu."

Zahn shoved Lu Fang into Uncle Fu's arms then found his wife and pulled her to her feet. Hand in hand, Zahn led Xiu out the back door and away from the building. As they left, Lu Fang looked back and saw a plume of smoke above their neighbor's house. Together, they tore across fields of fire and rubble, eventually splitting down a small alley between two standing buildings. Zahn forced his family to a swift and sudden stop to catch their breaths. Towards the exit of the alley, Zahn watched as a dozen wolves darted past. They ran on all fours like true animals. Zahn turned to speak with Uncle Fu, but he was still at the mouth of the alley. He looked out onto the burning village. A tint of true anger sparkled in his eyes. Anger Zahn hadn't seen in years. He watched the metal tube of evil as it was rolled into the center of the village.

Zahn pulled Fu firmly by the shoulder. "We have to go."

Uncle Fu turned and, just as Zahn did before, pushed Lu Fang into her father's arms. Sorrow overtook the anger and gave away his intentions. "You do." Uncle Fu said through his gapped teeth. "Take Fang and get out of here. Run into the mountains. East."

Xiu opened her mouth. "What about-"

Fu was quick to cut her off. "If you worry about anything other than the ones around you, you and your child are as good as dead." His statement was real. "Get. Go!" Uncle Fu turned and ran out into the field. Zahn and Fang watched as the elderly; nearly senile panda caught two wolves by surprise. Lu Fang watched as he quickly took them to the ground before Zahn could cover her eyes. It was clear they weren't going to get back up.

Zahn watched as Fu turned his sights towards the machine of death. Shen had spun the machine towards the white oak, but Uncle Fu rushed towards its mouth. With all the metal and components, the machine of death must've weighed a few hundred pounds at least, but that didn't stop Uncle Fu. He pulled his paws together, bent low, and began to lift.

Shen sat atop the machine and watched the lone panda. "Impressive." Shen said as the wolves in the rear loaded another titanic metal ball into the tube. With a flick of his feathers, the fuse was lit.

BOOM.

Uncle Fu was gone. The burst of fire, thanks to the increased height, missed the white oak tree. The recoil caused metal to twist and turn. The wheels of the cart the machine rode on busted, and Shen's machine came tumbling to the mud. The bird quickly hopped off and looked wearily at his design. He studied it for a moment.

"Noted." Shen took in all the mechanical flaws that could've happened, spun around, and vanished behind a swath of wolves as they ransacked the village.

Zahn's heart sank, but he couldn't hesitate. He turned and raced down the alley, pulling Xiu by the paw with Lu Fang cradled in his other arm. They tore out of the village through the fields and pastures as fire spewed around them. The howls of the wolves echoed far and loud. Somehow, as Zahn and his family neared the mountains, their echoes only got louder. Still, his legs kept running. If he stopped, they were dead. It wasn't until they reached the heavy forest at the base of the rocky mountains did he even think about slowing down.


A/N: All right... That is the last time I try to dictate the posting schedule in the author notes. It's like the world saw that I was super excited to post these last few chapters and said, "Lol. Nope." All of a sudden, I got super busy. Fun stuff.

Anyhoo, I hope you like this small snippet into Lu Fang's past. If you're wondering how her hatred for the tigers develops, I promise there is more to this flashback, which I'll reveal in an upcoming chapter. I had it originally written all in one chapter but upon rereading, I realized it might be a bit too much for a single chapter, so I decided to split it up. Oh, also the second part is heavily inspired by a scene in a movie I absolutely love, so I'm excited to share.

Hopefully you liked this chapter! Hopefully it wasn't too much.

Oh, and sidenote. Are anyone else's stats not working? Ever since the crash last month, my stats have been frozen so I can't tell how many people are reading my chapters. It stinks, but oh well! I still enjoy writing, and I hope you enjoy reading.