Kung Fu Panda Fanfic - The Rise of a Hero

(II) Blood of the Past

Monkey: - Po. Po! Can you hear me? Po! -

Viper: - Come on, Po. Wake up. -

Mantis: - Wait. I think he's waking up. -

Po slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry and his head was spinning.

Po: - Guys? -

Crane: - Look. He has blood on his head. -

Tigress: - Calm down. It's not him. - Said Tigress, who broke her muzzle when Po fell on her and her blood muddyed Po's fur.

Po: - What happened? -

Viper: - You tell us. What happened? -

Monkey: - Yes, buddy. You froze. -

Po looked everywhere trying to remember. He was still confused by the blow he received. Until Tigress took him by the shoulders and shook them.

Tigress: - Hey, Po. Look at me. What happened a moment ago? -

Po stared at his bloody face, he was worried, but the words didn't come out. His mind received a download of memories, passages from the past. He wondered what he had seen. And he knew exactly where to find the answers.

Po: - I... I... I have to go. See you at the palace later. - Po got up and left as fast as he could, leaving everyone behind.

Viper: - Po. Wait. -

Tigress: - Viper, leave it. There are things that only he can clarify. -

----O----

I will make a small modification to the sequence of events for an organization issue.

----O----

Meanwhile, at the other end of China, stood the imposing capital city of Gongmen. Being located next to the coast, its commercial port was the most prosperous in the country, making the city enjoy luxuries, wealth, the imperial palace.

For many years, the palace was ruled by the Peacock Dynasty, an unbroken succession of regents respected and loved by their people. Under his rule, China prospered and surpassed enemies from the northwest and those who yearned to cross the East China Sea.

But one day, the lineage of the dynasty was broken. A young and ambitious prince would discover the hidden secret behind the fireworks. The black powder. A powerful weapon capable of destroying entire armies.

Frightened by their fate, the emperor and empress; Prince Shen's parents, sought out a powerful fortune teller to find out the fate of their son. But the news was not good. According to the fortune teller, "Shen would fall at the hands of a black and white warrior", words that the young prince would take at face value.

In his desire for power, the young prince led an army of wolves to end the life of all living creatures that bore that color. Basically, the Pandas.

Shen and his army razed entire villages and slaughtered all the pandas in China. The prince returned to the palace believing himself to be a hero, instead he was greeted as a tyrant. The emperor had no choice but to expel him immediately, denying him any right to the throne, even if it broke his heart. Unaware of what he did, young Shen swore revenge and that one day he would take back what was rightfully his.

Over the years, the Emperor and Empress breathed their last breaths, and the throne, having no heir, was guarded by three of the best Kung Fu masters in all of China: Master Crocodile, Master Ox, and Master Rhinoceros, who maintained the legacy of the dynasty for more than twenty years. But one day, Prince Shen kept his promise. And he appeared before the gates of the palace, accompanied by a small unit of his army of wolves.

Seeing him, the palace guards didn't hesitate to engage them, but Shen killed them one by one with his bare hands as he advanced indifferent towards any of them. He walked slowly, the blood of the guards spattering over his footsteps, staining his white cloak red. Its tail feathers turned a deep scarlet color, while the blood of those who had died by its blade flowed from its wings.

He burst through the doors of the palace, and slowly approached the center of the central square, where the three masters were patiently waiting for him, along with the fortune teller who revealed his misfortune.

Shen: - Good afternoon, gentlemen. Now that I have the honor of returning, I will ask you to leave my home. -

Ox: - Your home? -

Shen: - Didn't you see the peacock painted on? - He got distracted and fixed his attention on the fortune teller. - Oh. Long time no see, old goat. Then... - He takes out the bloody sword from under his tunic and brings it closer to the fortune teller. - It seems that your fortune has run out. - He said with a cynical voice and angry eyes.

Guess: - We'll see that. -

The fortune teller did not flinch at Shen's threats, if not quite the opposite, she stood her ground and faced him with an angry look. Shen looked like he was going to decapitate her, but instead, he regained his stance and walked past her, ignoring her comment.

Rhino: - What do you want? Shen. -

Shen: - What belongs to me by right! - He yelled in anger.

Rhino: - The city is under the protection of the Council. And we will defend it even from you. -

Shen: - I think it's excellent. If not, it would have been a waste of my gift. - Shen stepped away and allowed the masters to see a huge wooden box on wheels pushed by the wolves towards the palace square.

Ox: - What's in the box? -

Shen: - Are you deaf? - Master Ox got seriously upset. - It's a present. One that will tear each one of you to pieces. - Shen began to laugh sinisterly as he looked at them with deep hatred, but master Ox could not maintain his composure.

Ox: - You... Insolent stupid! -

Master Ox jumped on Shen to try to hit him with his battle axes, but he was not prepared for what would happen. Shen had trained in the secrets and fighting styles of Kung Fu. From his tunic he drew a sword that deflected the master's attack and sent him face-first to the ground. Master Crocodile joined the attack but suffered the same fate.

Shen threw some knives hidden under his tunic at him, and Master Crocodile was able to dodge most of them, but two of them pierced his leg and right arm, knocking him out. Finally, Shen plunged his sword in cold blood into Master Ox's shoulder, who was still lying on the ground.

At the shouts of his companion, Master Rhino charged Shen head-on, brandishing his massive and engraved stone hammer. Master Rhino skill was on another level, Shen tried to throw some hidden knives at himself, but they were easily dodged with the huge hammer and its reinforced horn. Finally, before Shen could react, Master Rhino hit him hard with his hammer, sending him flying.

Shen fell several meters but got up after a short time. His right wing was broken, and the hidden blade fragments under his robe were falling apart. He also seemed to have internal bleeding in his left eye, which added even more fear to his cynical face.

Rhino: - It's a warning. You are no match for our Kung Fu. -

Shen: - It could be. - He said while coughing up blood. - But this is. -

Shen jumped on the wooden box, and it collapsed, revealing a huge dragon-shaped piece of metal. It was a powerful cannon, loaded with a shell strong enough to pierce a concrete wall two feet thick. Master Rhino stood his ground against the threat. He had never seen anything like this before in his life. An error that he would not have time to rectify.

Shen turned on the cannon and the projectile shot out at a speed that master Rhino was unable to perceive. As the roar of gunpowder echoed through the palace square, a smoke screen covered the area. They all watched in silence, stunned by the ferocity of the new monster Shen had created.

When the dust fell it revealed a heartbreaking spectacle. The metal bullet had embedded in the palace wall, covered in blood, as well as the wall around it. A few meters ahead, master Rhino stood on his feet, with a huge hole in the middle of his chest that could be seen through.

Masters Ox and Crocodile, as well as the divine, could not do more than watch in silence as the body of master Rhino collapsed on the square, while Shen's dark laughter tore their hearts.