The Last Chance

20. What Is What?

Po had no words. His head was like empty. What was Shifu doing here? Did he know about...
"Oh, oh... oh! Master Shifu!" Po stuttered and stood stiffly. "Uh... what are you doing here?"
Master Shifu narrowed his eyes. "Same question for you: What are you doing here?"
"Eh... Why shouldn't I be here?" Po asked and looked with worried eyes at his dad.
Shifu snorted. "We are going to make some important arrangements for the festival and what are you doing?"
Po tapped his fingertips nervously. "I- I- I - I'm here... yes... I'm here because of my dad. We wanted to talk about the big dinner."
Mr. Ping looked in surprise. "Dinner?"
"Yessss, dad!" Po hissed emphatically. "The dinner. You know. The dinner for the festival, which you planned for your restaurant."
Mr. Ping didn't know what to say, but then he seemed to understand. "Aha! Yes, the big dinner."
Po laughed. "You see, Master Shifu. I was only planning for the festival, because for the dinner."
Shifu looked at him with an emotionless dark face. But then, he put his palms together and his face muscles relaxed and placed a soft smile on his lips. "So, so. You are making plans for the festival here."
Po smiled. "Yes, that's it what I wanted to do the whole time."
Shifu nodded warmly. "Very interesting. Very interesting. I must admit I was a little bit too skeptical. I thought you were going to hide something special from me."
"Hide?" Po showed himself surprised. "What should I hide, Master Shifu? Nothing."
"Mmmh." Shifu petted his chin. "Well, well. In this case, you allow me to take a look at your room."
Po's smile sank abruptly. "Uh... my room? Why my room?"
Shifu made his steps to the stairs. "Well, you have to understand. If our guests want to know how our Dragon Warrior lives, we should first look whether premises are good enough for a visit."
Shifu had barely touched a stair Po jumped forward and blocked the way.
"No, Master Shifu! I didn't clean my room."
"I don't mind. I know your mess."
With that, Shifu passed the panda and went upstairs.
"No, no!" Po dug his fingers into Shifu's leg. "It's a very dirty room! Really very dirty!"
"I think, I can live with it," Shifu replied and pulled his leg.
"But Master Shifu, Master Shifu!" Po begged and tried to hold Shifu tight. "It's a very horrible sight!"
"That's enough, Po!"
Shifu released himself from Po's grip, ran up the last steps and jumped on the floor. He looked around. Po stumbled next to him on the wooden floor.
"Master Shifu! I can explain it! I..."
He choked on the word. The mattress in the room was empty.
"I... I... I mean... I can explain my room."
Po had no idea what to say and rubbed his head. Shifu's eyes became smaller when he realized two beds in the room.
"What's that?"
"What is what?" Po was still confused.
"This!"
Shifu pointed at the mattress on the floor.
"This? This. Oh, this! Oh, this, eh... that's eh... ah... ehm... that's my... jump mattress. I'm training a new kung fu jump. See."
Po climbed on his bed and jumped with a split on the mattress so that the floor quivered.
"Po!" Mr. Ping cried from the ground-floor. "What are you doing again?! Don't destroy my house!"
Po stood up and rubbed his aching legs. "I'm still working on it."
Shifu narrowed his eyes distrustingly and looked around. But he couldn't see anything. Or more, anyone. With slow footsteps, he walked along the walls and shelves.
"What are you looking for?" Po asked anxiously.
"I'm not sure, Po," Shifu answered. "But I have the feeling that you have..."
"Mister Shifu!"
Both listened attentively. Shortly afterwards there were fast footsteps on the stairs and Gong appeared. "Mister Shifu. What are you doing here? We have to prepare so many things, and what are you doing? You abandon me in the big golden house and leave me without a word. I never saw such a bad behavior."
Master Shifu nodded apologetically. "I'm sorry. I was going to..."
"Mister Shifu!" Gong said darkly. "Do you want a war?"
"No!"
Shifu jumped forward and pulled the gazelle aside to the stairs. "I will be there for you in one minute."
When Gong was gone, Shifu glanced back to Po.
"Po! The jury is still out!" he warned with a raised finger. "We will talk later."
After that, Shifu disappeared. Po sighed in relief. But where was Shen? The panda looked around and under the bed.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound. Po turned around. In a dark corner, the lord climbed down from the ceiling. Panting, the peacock landed carefully on the floor.
"I was afraid that he wouldn't disappear again," he panted.
Po looked at him with admiration. "How did you do that?"
"I'm used to be careful," Shen answered and forced a very soft smile.
But suddenly, he put his wing on his face.
"Are you okay?" Po asked worried.
"Sure. I'm okay, it was just too fast..."
Shen looked exhausted. Suddenly, he lurched and fainted. Po caught him at the last second and held him in his arms.
"Shen? Shen?"
Po looked into his face. But Shen had closed his eyes and didn't reply. But he was still breathing. The panda became frightened when he was seeing a shadow in front of him.
He sighed in relief. "You."
The goat smiled.
"I thought you was gone," Po whispered, still afraid, that someone could hear them.
"They went to the palace," Soothsayer said. "It will be not dangerous for him for the next few hours."
Po's glance wandered back to Shen. "He fell and..."
"Don't worry," the goat said and placed her hoof on Shen's forehead. "He is just tired. And feel reassured. I'm here now."
Po didn't know for whom the words belonged.

Po watched the lord, who had so much sin and blood on his wings. He looked so harmless in the bed. The goat was busy to control his injuries. They looked much better, but they were still too bad to let Shen win a fight.
Po cleaned his throat. "Will he ever be like he used to be?"
The goat took away a towel and wiped over Shen's broken wing. "I hope his bones will heal well. But it will never work if he moves so much."
"I will try to do him this favor."
"Po?" Mr. Ping came in. "That's for you."
He gave him a bowl with soup. Then he looked at Shen.
"How is he?"
"He is sleeping, but he needs more rest."
Mr. Ping petted his chin thoughtfully. "Po? Why was Shifu here? Why is there such a secret?"
Po looked like he wanted to tell him all, but then he decided to keep silent. "Don't worry, dad. I have everything under control. Don't worry."
Mr. Ping looked at his son. "Po? Be careful."
Po nodded. "I promise, dad."
They hugged each other.
"And thank you, dad."
Nobody knew that Shen was watching them through little eyes. Then he closed them exhausted for the rest of the night.