Kung Fu Panda Fanfic - The Rise of a Hero

(IX) The Shadow of Shen

Po and Crane slipped through the streets of Gongmen with the utmost caution. Though empty, they weren't worth the risk of discovery. They tried for a while to find any trace of the other masters, but they had simply vanished, like shadows in the dark night. With no other options, they had no choice but to head straight for the warehouse Shen had fled to after the incidents in the imperial palace.

They approached by the coast, by a rock formation extremely steep and difficult to cross, and for that reason, devoid of guards. Unable to fly, Crane clung to Po's body with his paws as he scrambled up the damp coastal walls. Finally, they made it to the top, and were able to see the front of the warehouse covered in a series of scaffolding and wooden platforms, though it was too far away to attempt to jump over them.

Crane: - Good. And now that? -

Po looked around and saw some huge bamboo stalks within his reach. He took one of them, and looked at Crane with a crazy idea in his head.

Po: - Do you like pole vaulting? -

Crane: - You must be kidding. -

Well no. Po wasn't kidding. Po grabbed Crane and jumped into the void, resting the huge pole on the bedrock. They both swayed and fell onto one of the scaffolding causing some noise. Two guards who were nearby noticed it instantly.

Wolf 1: - Pye. Did you hear that? - They were heard in the distance.

The wolves slowly approached warily. They were looking everywhere looking for the cause of the noise, and from the shadows, Po and Crane fell on them and took them by surprise. Crane kicked one of the wolves hard in the face, knocking it unconscious while Po choked the other to suffocation. Finally, both threw the bodies of the wolves into the sea from the heights.

They moved slowly through the shadows, but had to stop when they saw an observation post near the scaffolding. There was the wolf leader, accompanied by two others. It would be impossible for them to pass by without being detected.

But then Crane had an idea. He took a piece of wood and threw it in the opposite direction. It did not go unnoticed by the keen sense of hearing of the wolves, who, unable to see exactly in the dark night, abandoned their post to investigate.

Finally, they managed to reach the front of the building and enter through one of the windows before one of the mercenary bouncers bumped into them on the platform. Without raising any suspicion, they slipped onto the upper scaffolding of the warehouse. Inside the enclosure there was a prominent layer of smoke, a product of the gasses formed from the smelting of the metal in a huge furnace located on the ground floor. Above the dark smoke, reddened by the heat of the burning metal like volcano lava, Shen's silhouette was perceptible as his angry shouts towards his subordinates could be heard.

They both advanced slowly, but the closer to their goal, the more impatience Po grew, to the point that he advanced onto a vaguely wooden bridge, leaving Crane behind.

Crane: - Po, wait. - He whispered, but Po couldn't hear him, when suddenly:

Shen: - Greetings. Panda. -

It came out of the shadows, taking them both by surprise. Seeing him, Shen unfurled his mighty tail to sow confusion in Po's fluttering heart. But he stood his ground, looking at Shen with a very challenging face.

Po: - Enough of running Shen. Tell me what happened that night. -

Shen: - What night? - He asked cynically.

Po: - ''It's Night.'' -He emphasized the matter.

Shen:- Oh. That night. - He responded cynically as he walked to the side of the platform he was on. - Yeah. I was there. I was there, watching how your parents abandoned you to your luck. An annoying little Panda. -