fiction | Part of the journey is the end

5. Welcome to the circus

Ta Lo was holding a remembrance ceremony at the shores. Ying Nan said they honored those who gave their lives so they would see another day.

Shang-Chi tried not to feel guilty, but he couldn't help it. Even though his father had saved him in the end, how many died before that?

Shang-Chi, Xialing, Katy, Trevor, and the rest of Ta Lo were holding lanterns. " Farewell, Dad, " Shang-Chi said, releasing a lantern.

Shang-Chi's eyes were glossy. Even though his dad treated him like he was nothing and had been disappointed in him for most of his life, he couldn't go through with killing him in the end.

"Shaun, about your dad—" Tony said hesitantly.

"I know you'll go after him, it's alright. I'll help you," he said in a defeated tone. "Just...please don't kill him. Put him in prison, he's not powerful without the rings and he won't escape if you take down the entire organization."

Tony studied him and smiled sadly. He nodded. "Alright."

Kate was aching with sympathy. She was going to put her mom in prison too; she had to atone for her crimes just like Wenwu. "I'm turning in my mom too. She works for a mob boss in New York," she said quietly, causing Shang-Chi's face to crumple.

"Mum, we'll be okay ," Xialing said, releasing her lantern.

Shang-Chi hoped his mother would be proud of him now.

As the villagers placed their lanterns by the water one by one, Katy rested her head on Shang-Chi's shoulder as he looked towards the lights and saw the Great Protector flying above them.

All of them let out soft smiles. Ta Lo was a magical place.

Cut to Shang-Chi and Katy getting drinks with Soo and John again. "I seriously thought we were going to die. And I'd only learned how to shoot a bow, like, a day earlier, now I'm on a battlefield, killing all these Soul Eaters with Shaun's aunty, who's this awesome, magical kung fu goddess," Katy rambled.

The Avengers chuckled.

"Katy learned how to shoot a bow and arrow a day earlier and she's the reason that the Dweller-in-Darkness didn't suck out the Great Protector's soul," Clint said, amazed.

"Katy's just that good," Kate said.

"She's right, though. Your aunt is an awesome, magical kung fu goddess," Peter told Shang-Chi.

"She taught me a lot," said Shang-Chi. He couldn't wait to meet her.

Maybe all secret relatives aren't bad, T'Challa thought.

"And I'm hanging on to the Great Protector with my sister at this point, trying not to get eaten by the Mega Soul Eater," Shang-Chi said. "Oh, the Mega Soul Eater was such a nasty bitch," Katy said.

They laughed loudly.

"While everyone else is dealing with hexes, the multiverse, Kingpin, soul-sucking creatures from other dimensions, and getting framed for murder, we were fixing the boat," Bucky told Sam.

"Do you want to deal with all of that?"

"God, no."

"Yeah. It was trying to eat our dragon's soul," Shang-Chi said.

"I can't believe Shaun has a dragon on his side. So cool," Scott said.

"I can't believe it myself," Shang-Chi said.