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zel-shadedreviews · 18 days ago

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It’s just amazing to have a movie with such a generic title and premise and yet pull it off majestically, where even my child self back then wasn’t a fan of the trailer. This was originally going to be a whole parody of martial arts, before they decided to shift their focus more on the main character’s progression. Looking back at this movie, I’d say that it’s entirely just awesome, overshadowing the Madagascar trilogy and standing on its own two feet. The amount of character, action, comedy, world-building and complexity all from this franchise about a panda learning kung fu which could have been a terribly-forced set of movies.

Set in the Valley of Peace during ancient China, a tournament is held so one of the Furious Five students can be picked by Master Oogway to be the Dragon Warrior. However, a clumsy panda named Po crash-lands in the middle of the ceremony and is chosen instead. With a sloppy set of skills, Po is constantly given task after task by his new master, Shift, who attempts to get rid of him, but the panda is always ready to return. Meanwhile, the criminal, Tai Lung, escapes prison in order to achieve the Dragon Scroll and learn the secret to kung fu. So, it’s up to Po himself to master kung fu his own way and stop Tai Lung from retrieving the scroll.

Like I said, the trailer and marketing was handled poorly, but the movie was just spectacular by bleeding in between its comedy and character development. Its main focus was on Po and his dream of learning martial arts, only for it to blow up in his face. The main storyline focused on his character building, rather than rely on cheaper jokes or fourth-wall breaks, as it clearly had a superior structure. The twist and its build-up weren’t treated with as much focus, as even the wisest of the masters couldn’t decipher its outcome; yet, it managed to tie in with Po’s progression and his lesson on how he could shape kung fu and learn the art his own manner.

The soundtrack was divine, aced by the astounding Hans Zimmer, working with John Powell, who actually visited China’s landscapes in order to take in the culture. Who worked on the score was the China National Symphony Orchestra that used traditional instruments to deliver the culture. Its list of tracks went from thrilling paces to slower tones with wind instruments, while working with the dramatic strings. Jack Black and CeeLo Green collaborating a cover of Kung Fu Fighting, perfectly working to the film’s advantage.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the Valley, where it just looked so peaceful to live in. They knew how to elaborate on the angles focusing on the land with a perfect perspective from the birthplace of the very martial art. The animation was some of the best I’ve seen from DreamWorks where its fight scenes were that well-choreographed, expressing on each solid detail and fighting manoeuvre. Examples would include the prison break by utilising each large weapon and rhino guard to the villain’s advantage with millions of reddened arrows flying down at his hopeful dive. The rope bridge sequence was another staple of the quality, allowing the Furious Five and the villain to exchange their fighting styles.

I adored every attention to detail of these fighting sequences, even the ones that are mixed in comedy such as the final confrontation between Po and Tai Lung. This was where they excelled with impressive choreography, allowing a wide variety of angles to make way for each manoeuvre. Details from Po’s duel with Shifu are also repeated in his final fight, where he’s able to replicate the same tricks towards his opponent and his body weight as an extra weapon.

This brought life into Po’s fighting style, based on Drunken Fist and tai chi, where he uses long attacks and utilises his belly size to deflect any immense hits, especially any paralysing blows when directed to the nerve.

The animal designs are reminiscent of the classic cartoons, adding different body styles to each of them, such as Po with an overweight gut, Shifu’s knee-size height, Oogway’s withered state and Tai Lung’s towering appearance.

With a great premise and display of animation, the characters were given a fresh perspective on their roles. Their main character to actually focus on his development not with one movie, but with the franchise, was Po and his given position as the Dragon Warrior. At first, Po is smacked around by his teammates and secretly ridiculed by them, which begins his own dilemma of developing imposter syndrome, convincing himself that he’s not the ideal warrior. This would then introduce him to his large appetite, where when pushed to the limit, he’s able to execute flexible moves across the surroundings. His own doubts in himself involves the new techniques by his master, the comparison of a peach tree and the real secret of his father’s own noodle soup.

Jack Black, whose popularity was vastly increasing, managed to find a perfect blend between the overly executed fan boy and the outcasted underdog. He was able to balance both his relentless tone and a more sympathetic softer voice more than his previous role in Shark Tale.

Po’s own introduction would then irk the ire of Shifu, a red panda and master of kung fu, who despises the idea of a panda as the Dragon Warrior. From there, he chooses to belittle and throw his new burden into the deepest end, fuelled by the fact that he’d fail his own prized pupils. Eventually, Shifu then sees an amount of potential and promise from Po’s own agility to progress when hungry, causing him to think outside the box and start an entirely new training session. In any other movie, Shifu’s sternness and hatred of Po would have stemmed into a lack of likability, only for him to bare the burden of already letting his guard down towards a former pupil that he trained and saw promise. His own prideful backstory left him bitter and more aggressive in his stern teachings when around the Furious Five and Po, before it returned to bite him in the back during the third act. Dustin Hoffman knew how to deliver such a sharp tongue with his voice work, sounding like a professional and businesslike master who’s been through a lot.

My personal favourite character was the tortoise, Oogway, the creator of kung fu and founder of the valley, where he’s shown as the knowledgable sage, yet doesn’t know the answer to everything, adding a solid reality to his character and the twists in this storyline. From the beginning, he knew that Po would be the Dragon Warrior, only for everyone to severely doubt his choice. When faced with questionable disbelieves, Oogway confirms that “there are no accidents”, comparing Po’s own progression to a peach seed. His own teachings are similar to the wisest sages in media such as Master Yoda, from how the day Po has been through is a gift. His own presence in the movie doesn’t last that long for he accepts his fate and is taken away; I honestly appreciated this choice as it left Shifu to resume the position to train Po and maintain his promise. Randall Duk Kim’s soothing voice as the wisest and calmest of grandfatherly types.

As for the Furious Five, I didn’t care for them as much but grew to appreciate them as they showed decent amounts of personality and aren’t copy-and-pasted; they are each named after their fighting styles and also deliver a great amount of display from how much they’ve trained.

Tigress was the one to stand out the most, presented as the sterner of the Five, silently observing Po’s humiliation, before berating his placement as one of them. It’s because Tigress was fuelled by jealousy as it’s in her own thoughts that Oogway would have chosen her as the successor, which made her more resented towards Po’s own picking. Angelina Jolie did an amazing job as the envious and quiet type, while adding a lot of passion during the action sequences across the bridge.

The nicest to act towards Po are mainly Viper, who more sympathises with the panda, and Mantis, the small and snarky type, healing the wounds with acupuncture. Lucy Liu and Seth Rogan gave good performances into their characters, differing from the bullying types.

There wasn’t much to say about Crane, voiced by David Cross, otherwise he’s kind enough to Po by reconfirming about his placement in his own room rather than the Jade Palace overall. I was also surprised to see Jackie Chan voicing Monkey, where despite his legacy in martial art flicks, he barely uttered a single sentence.

I liked Mr. Ping, Po’s goose father, high-pitched tone from James Hong, who comes off as a genuine parental figure, inspiring his son with his secret recipe, which related towards his own lesson by the end.

The snow leopard, Tai Lung, is an astounding villain, beginning as a prisoner that breaks free of his boundaries and races towards his ultimate goal, the Dragon Scroll. From the way he managed to bypass one thousand rhinos that were armed to the teeth, even flinging one into the air so he could deal with those across the bridge, presented how much he’s learned over the years. For someone who was imprisoned for two decades, Tai Lung immediately regained his incredible strength and sufficient reflexes, able to counteract whatever’s thrown at him and utilise them to his advantage.

Along with his amazing design, he had a great backstory relating to his goal, training underneath Shifu, only for Oogway to foretell a darker fate, which sparked the real monster out of the rejected trainee. Then, along the pathway to vengeance, Tai Lung fought off and dispatched five fully trained pupils, before finally reuniting with his old teacher and former adoptive father, Shifu. The whole fight they shared exchanged blows and words amazingly, where Tai Lung shared his own personal pain that he received from Shifu’s lack of defence. This resulted in the snow leopard to be the one to beat Shifu both physically and verbally, even almost dropping his guard for a split second when faced with a late apology. It was when Ian McShane’s impressive delivery as the arrogant and yet deeply hurt antagonist that sufficiently worked.

This was only the beginning towards a great franchise, where it’s a personal favourite of mine.

Final Rating: A

10/10

#zelshadedreviews #dreamworks animation #dreamworks marathon #Kung fu panda #Kung fu panda review

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greenflamedwriter · 2 years ago

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More Organised Note for Kiss her not Me part three!

On another mission [randomly] Gongyi Xiao went night hunting, to think he was alive to think he could still send letters and fuana to Mu Qingfan to think even Binghe was interested in his garden! Things were really looking up! But of course he came across a tiny Monty Python Rhino a baby one at that and couldn't help but coo, it was so cute! Of course that meant it's mother had to be near so he should be careful…just a peak wouldn't hurt. As he appeared non threatening and held out a branch of berries wondering if it would bite he felt wind blow on the back of his neck. He immedietly leapt upwards avoiding the blow of the Rhino. Ah theres the mother! He leapt to and throw trying to get a good look, it was far away from any civilisation so he didn't have to worry about killing it. As I sat on his sword pulling out his beastiary and doting down the features- one moment he was being careful but then the Rhino began to charge towards him. He figured he was safe from this height but as the rhino leapt Gongyi Xiao almost fell of his sword as it was hurtling right towards him! He cried out trying to draw back then whoosh! He shut his eyes feeling his heart pounding against his chest, until he felt the wind slapping against his face when he opened them he was flying away at a breakneck speed and something was holding him around his middle. He looked up and gaped to see a cultivator all in black with lilac colouring and his face was covered. This man just saved his life! Once they were safe did the cultivator drop Gongyi on his ass and gave him a judmental look. "Are you stupid or something?" The man asked and Gongyi Xiao felt affronted. "This one was just documenting a species for his beastiary. This disciple thanks esteemed immortal master…" Gongyi Xiao bowed waiting before the other scoffed looking away "Bozhan Liu." Hmm, that sounded familiar…Gongyi Xiao nodded "Thanking Master Bozhan." Gongyi Xiao resehathed his sword and placed his book into his pocket as he approached. "What brings you out here?" Gongyi Xiao asked tilting his head to the side. [And in this moment, was when Gongyi Xiao, wifebeamed Liu Qingge the wargod in disguise [sorry for the spoiler but I will write it properally since Shang Qinghua warned Sqq about getting help he did save Liu Qingge with his shidi being all knowing/working with demons Sqq made Liu Qingge lay low and pretend to be dead to draw out Cang Qiongs enemies and with his life debt Liu had no choice but to obey. So laying low he came across this dumbfuck of a cultivator teasing Monty Python Rhinos and almost killed himself.] since Shang Qinghua is a transmigrator and he got through to Shen Qingqiu and Shen Qingqiu being the schemer and Liu Qingge owing him his LIFE, decided to humour him and faked his death, he honestly thought SQQ was lying but after seeing Luo Binghe being exposed as a heavenly demon and proved that SQQ was right that someone might be after him, ended up laying low for years and now is saving this dumbass Huan Hua disciple. But given that he’s fighting beasts its actually no different than before how he lived his life.

Chapter of Shen Qingqiu NOT killing Liu Qingge but faking his death.

Have Shen Qingqiu reminisce serving Gongyi his first sour tea and watched his reaction. Then be irritated when he met up at the brothel with Liu Qingge to make his report about watching Shang Qinghua hanging around demon areas with a strange demon. Mention that he came across a stupid brat who was hanging around Rhinos. Shen: What idiot would do that? Liu Qingge shrugged, a nobody, its been a year and nothing has came from this. Patience Shidi, once the year is out then you can return to Cang Qiong…and this Shen Qingqiu will resign as Peak Lord.

Have Liu Qingge accompany him and assist him and saw how this cultivator would find tons of skinners, only Binghe worked that fast, thanks to this rogue they were able to save so many lives so much faster! Of course those lives wouldn't be in danger if it wasn't for Binghe… Even so- careful Rogue cultivator! If you're too competent you'll die by the protagonists hand thats just the rules of a stallion novel! Gongyi Xiao realised this was audition times as any Disciple who didn't perform well would be cut and made to leave as this was the first day that the Old palace Master went to into secluded cultivation. Since all the disciples grew cocky, everyone watched as Gongyi Xiao wiped the floor with them, finally releasing his pent up frustration and defeating them in seconds. So while Luo Binghe is visitng Mobei-Jun and his [bed] the two are discussing and thats when Luo Binghe makes the decision to create a dream realm and bring in Mobei-Jun and make Gongyi Xiao his left hand for Huan Hua.

Skinner Mission, Gongyi Xiao goes into [City] and here he finds Yang Yixuan, and The monk who lost his legs is Wu Chen, he is part of the Zhao Hua Temple. He is good person Yang lost his father, and when this cultivator was sent from Zhao Hua Temple and promised to save them and failed he was helping him and tried to stop others. Gongyi Xiao dealt with the Skinners, and burned the at the centre of the city. And along with Mu Qingfang and Shen Qingqiu who were also sent assisted in curing the others, Yang Yixuan he took his hand and swapped at the infection while he took a pill. Yang Yixuan asked Gongyi Xiao if it was possible to cultivate- and he saw that he had great potential. Then he thought of Luo Binghe then took a breath. I'll take you to Huan Hua, here he turned towards his friend. He was so optimistic, and handsome but his legs. Even u Qingfang shook his head, and the sect he came from wasn't known for their money. The man may never walk again. But Mu Qingfang agreed to help him with a prosthetic. He even looked at Gongyi in gratitude if it wasn't for him he may have lost both legs! Gongyi Xiao had felt like crap. Also Skinners released in the world, and Gongyi Xiao comes across the Guy from Tian Sect who lost his legs and stayed with him, and hated his friend who was a right bastard. He learns a plot of Su Xiyan and her demon offspring to save Tianglang-Jun and Gongyi Xiao asked if he wanted to join Huan Hua. "hate to say it like this, but we have money, we can help you with the best rescources for your legs, I work with a healer Mu Qingfang on speical herbs and fuana. Its the least I can do." After all, it felt as if it was his fault, Luo Binghe may have released the skinners, but Gongyi Xiao failed to get there in time before the casultys even began their head count. It sucked. And the guilt was fucking crushing him they were just npcs they weren't real. "Are you okay?" "Not really…" Gongyi Xiao spoke and now he's being pitied and helped by the guy with no legs if anyone needs remorse it should be you! After asking Luo Binghe to take them in, along with the hybrid demon children now that Luo Binghe was Palace Master had allowed it and had even put a pavillion to the side to house them and even asked Gongyi Xiao to raise them as disciples. Yang Yixuan joined and they had a medical bay for Wu Chen, Gongyi Xiao was with him in his recovery every step of the way, he was okay and smiley but even he had his bad days and blamed Gongyi Xiao, who nodded and accepted it. Wu Chen apologised and even gave him a gift. Fuana to add to his collection which GOngyi Xiao accepted and the two have been close ever since. Luo Binghe couldn't exactly bully a cripple but it was close. As far as Wu Chen was concerened he was engaged to Gongyi Xiao if he returned a gift- first Shen Qingqiu, Mu Qingfang now this??? When will it end!?

Of course, GOngyi Xiao needed a break, the crippling guilt almost burying him. So he decided to go on a mission…and found a peculiar sort of fellow.

Gongyi Xiao keeps seeing Liu Qingge on his night hunts and ends up getting closed to the quiet cultivator even asks if he would like to join Huan Hua, the other politely declines but Gongyi Xiao says if needs anything their doors will be open. Of course when Liu Qingge IS injured, and see's Luo Binghe for the first time with Gongyi Xiao supporting him his blood dying the yellow uniform, Luo Binghe see's the mans face is covered and yet there is a mole under his left eye. Not too disimilair to Liu Mingyan his wife. Luo Binghe knows who this is, and found it perplexing that Gongyi Xiao has just half dragged the Cang Qiong War god on his doorstep. It should've been a good omen, and yet Luo Binghe was troubled. The war god was speculated to be dead, and if Liu Qingge has ties to Shen Qingqiu that means Luo Binghes secret is also exposed. But the worse part was how Gongyi Xiao was looking at the war god, how he held onto him and dragged him to their medical ward Luo Binghe even followed to help as he held the other side of the mans arm and was chugging vinegar to see how lively Gongyi Xiao was tending to the man like a wife to her husband! Even the other wasn't unaffected even with a mask he could see the harsh blush. And Gongyi Xiao noticed it too. "I understand its may be embarrising to you but is there anything wrong with a little help? No need to get angry." Gongyi Xiao thought it was wounded pride. Both Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge had to stare wondering how someone could be that oblivious?

Yue Yingxang as his disciple, father is the victim since Liu can’t take him as a rogue sy takes him and binghe says yeah disciples that’s okay. After taking care of Wu Chen and seeing him walk for the first time and both celebrated together, Luo Binghe continues to chug vinegar to see Gongyi taking to his new shidi and being jealous and thinking is this what sqq felt like!? He’s so jealous of Yue xang and can see the boy have impure feelings on his Shixiong AND even sy notices and says you havn’t been making eyes at Binghe’s wives he’s a good man but territorial. “I only hang out with Gongyi.” “Huh, I wonder why he’s acting like your flirting with one of his wives.” He only acts like that with his wives. Does lbh see Gongyi as a really close friend almost brother how cute. Yue Xinxang. How dumb is this Shixiong of mine.

Que, Gongyi Xiao coming from another spy mission from Cang Qiong, this time he's met Yue Qingyuan who was overally POLITE and creeped him out a little, but then they bonded over protecting the ones they love who [when they put their minds to it they DO it and if its making the world burn all GYX and YQY can do is stare and watch hoplessly at LBH and SQQ] So after that bonding Gongyi Xiao who judged Yue Qingyuan now understands the man a little, it starts to create the doubt that Gongyi Xiao is becomming just like Yue Qingyuan that silence is just as deadly as abuse itself. But on a random excursion around the Qing jing peak Gongyi Xiao finds his mind drifting wondering what is he even doing? Until he is BLINDED and sees something in the tress. He jumps up to inspect and gapes to see a well worn rusted jade pendent! Gongyi Xiao wrapped it around his neck and kept it on him until he returned to the palace. Luo Binghe notices the red string and asks after it [his hackles rised thinking it was a love token by someone from Huan hua- his Shidi was so self sacrificing he would defiently marry someone from another sect to make relations stronger or something stupid like that-] "Ah Shixiong, this one found it on Cang Qiong and was going to ask Shen Qingqiu about it but…uh it must of slipped my mind. It was there for a while maybe you know whose it was if not I'll just ask Shen Qingqiu." Gongyi Xiao spoke reaching up and pulling the Jade Pendent from his neck missing Luo Binghes stricken face as he revealed it. "It's a little worn from the weather and all those years, but it doesn't seem too bad some cleaning and it should be fine- …Luo Binghe?" He asked noticing the others face Gongyi Xiao held it out "Do you know who this pendent belonged to." Luo Binghe reached out with trembling hands and Gongyi Xiao blanched to see his eyes were sparkling, his voice quiet and broken. "It-" Luo Binghe's voice cracked "It was this Lords…" He reached out with shaky hands taking the pendent and holding it in his hand like it was glass. As if it would vanish before his eyes. And if Luo Binghe cried then Gongyi Xiao was going to cry- he couldn't deal with people crying! And also protagonist! What happened to "After my Scum Shizun tossed tea on my head I will never cry again!" What is this hah? What is this!?!?!?! "This Lord thanks you." Luo Binghe spoke, and Gongyi Xiao tried for an awkward smile, he knew Luo Binghe biggest regret was losing that, he was glad he could help. "I'm sure theres some ways to restore it- we can experiment on other worse items just in case." Luo Binghe nodded "This Lord will like that." So Gongyi Xiao was put to work making sure the demons in the palace knew what they were doing, worked well with the human staff, and was able to return Luo Binghes pendent restored and with other charms to not be affected by future wear and tear. It wasn't until later as Gongyi Xiao was running on his feet he realised something…he was acting like the Head Disciple or some secretary to Luo Binghe.

Gongyi Xiao on a mission with Liu Qingge finds Madame Meiyan, the succubis that was one of Luo Binghes…friends with benefits? She seemed to brighten up and him and Gongyi Xiao also couldn't help but be excited, madame Meiyan was safe to talk to! And he no longer was seen as a rival so he was safe from being killed of from messing with Luo Binghes harem! She spoke to him about his suiter, and Gongyi Xiao couldn't help but think it wasn't in the cards for him.

At one point when it comes Gongyi, he seems to know things and so when interogated, and asked why he was distant from Binghe/Xiao Gongzhu. Gongyi Xiao admits that he spoke with someone a palm reader for fun but they told him events and they came true and because of this he tried to change the future, his death was prophsised along with Binghe merging the realms and that if he saw both Xiao Gongzhu and Luo Binghe together it would trigger his death. Binghe realises that Gongyi Xiao knew about him because of this and still choose to help rather than expose Binghe as a demon. And still approved of the Palace Mistress and Binghe marrying.

And when Gongyi Xiao expressed how it didn't make sense and was too ooc Shang Qinghua slapped his knee and raised a finger "Ha I knew you were a transmigrator! Only they would use phrases like OOC!" And Gongyi Xiao blinked pointing back at him like the spiderman theme. He found airplane, in a meeting both he and Binghe attended in the place of Palace Master he found the mousy man and immedietly caught him out and bothered him each time he visited Shen Qingqiu for tea. He bullied Shang Qinghua to give him an opening, the other introduced him as his own personal secretary.

Mission with Liu Qinqqi don’t wake sleeping beauty. Where beauty who is a skeleton demon has to kiss her first victim to go back to sleep, this is when Liu Qingge meets Yang Yixuan, and they seem to get along well, like a house on fire, they love to fight each other. And seemed to cling to GOngyi Xiao after.

Gongyi goes on a mission with a brothel and ends up paired with SQQ, after defeating a monster learns that Shen Qingqiu who booked a room and invited Gongyi Xiao with the women actually always slept at any brothel but not sleep with women he admits he’s a cutsleeve and Gongyi Xiao doesn’t get the hint and goes oh and realises airplane wrote sqq with depth! Huh…

When lbh leaned Gongyi went to a brothel with sqq I think this may be the time he finally snapped and jump started the trail and betrayed sqq, but then Gongyi Xiao comes in saying Yue Qingyuan banished him from Cang Qiong. After Yue Qingyuan and Gongyi Xiao have a talk, it started as a threat and dick measuring contest but then suddenly a comparison.

"When the person you want to protect is a bad person-"

"My shixiong isn't bad he's…"

"one day you'll wake up and see him becoming the very monster who hurt him and be complacent. You wonder why I let my Shidi get away with so much…but what about that Shixiong of yours?"

Gongyi Xiao opened his mouth then closed it. No- no it was different, it was different because Shen Qingqiu deserved it!

"Was your Shixiong hurt? Abused by a cruel master? So was my Shidi, he had two."

…What!?

"Shen Qingqiu can't see it, but you don't have pure intentions by associating with him, he claims he expects betrayel but deep down he has hope." Yue Qingyuan eyes narrowed.

"My Shidi has been hurt enough, Qui Jianlou was cruel and a monster. And if you plan on hurting him more, this Qingyuan has to humbly request you leave this mountain."

This…Gongyi Xiao looked down and sighed, and Yue Qingyuan was surprised by it, seeing the exhaustion on the young man.

"This one doesn't know what to do. You tell this Gongyi to give up but did you? Would you give up if someone was threatining someone you-" liked? forget that. Gongyi Xiao shut his eyes feeling everything fall through his fingers like sand.

The frustration bled through.

"Hadn't you made an oath?" He asked, missing Yue Qingyuans flinch "To protect the person most close to you?" Yue Qingyuan looked away "Yes. And this lord will do anything to protect those he loves." Gongyi Xiao gaped, to think a sect leader would say such a thing.

"This lord has grown fond of you, he can even see why Shen Qingqiu likes you so." Okay? "But this Qingyuan can't turn a blind eye anymore, not when it's obvious your intentions are impure-" No, no no no-

"You are herby dismissed from this mountain." Shit. Shit shit.

And that was probably what Luo Binghe was thinking when he reported his collasal failure. He pretty much knew he was dead. The deadline for his body was in a weeks time anyway, welp he had a good couple of years. A good run. Better luck next time.

"This is…concerning, but nether the less Liu Mingyan is still stationed at Cang Qiong-"

"YOu can't walk in there The Master is in a meeting-" The screech of Qin Wanrong erupted, and the doors flew open.

And He saw both Gongyi Xiao on the steps of the dias along with Luo Binghe sitting in the throne. Gongyi Xiao's eyes widened, as did Shen Qingqiu looking horrified himself. Shit. Shit. Shit. And Luo Binghe flew forward with demonic speed knocking Shen Qingqiu out and held him in his arms, the panic on his face as well. Shit, shit, shit. Guess the trial was starting now. Luo Binghe pulled himself together "This is good, we'll claim he tried to kidnap you and begin the trial." "What?" "Ning Yingying was going to whistleblow first, but this is better. More people are aware of your relationship with Shen Qingqiu, that scum had many ideas of you so it's not untrue when we tell the public of his perverted ways." "I- Ning Yingying?" "After the emotional toil, and keeping us apart, as well as verbally screaming at her that I was dead, she turned her back and would've gladly claimed Shen Qingqiu assualted her. Now there is no need." And here he was taking another wife plot- Gongyi Xiao thought he could do this. It was just a story, destined to happen, his life was garunteed and yet. This was just too cruel, Justice for Luo Binghe, and Qui Haitang and yet, that wasn't true. After everything Shen Qingqiu had been through, sure he deserved to be locked up. Have his cultivation sealed for all that he had done.

…But…torture? Losing his limbs? his eye and tongue- that…how could he? "Gongyi Xiao?" Gongyi Xiao stood up straight "Very well, but Luo Binghe this one can't lie. Shen Qingqiu may have hurt you but he has been nothing but kind from me." He saw Luo Binghe glare and continued "This one has carried out his task, and has done all he can do, this Xiao will no longer interfere so please…don't ask this of me, don't ask me to lie, shouldn't the evidence against him be enough?" Luo Binghe nodded "Fair enough, Shidi has done well. This Lord will ask no more from him." Gongyi Xiao nodded, he'll just hide in his room for the duration of everything and just deal with it. Shen Qingqiu wasn't real it was fine.

Sqq in the water prison laughed mirthlessly, of course Gongyi is an honourable man and never breaks his promises. He would never betray this lord. Luo binghe was your disciple if you treat him kindly there wouldn’t be a betryael. But Gongyi feels bad and lbh is looking more unhinged since he hadn’t married the palace mistress, yet. So Gongyi thinks he’s gone too far so lbh sees that Gongyi has changed especially since he set sqq free and is in custody of Liu Qingge and is probably escaping to Cang Qiong by now! He should've killed that man when he had the chance! Shen Qingqiu cut a pitiful figure, on his knees wrapped in mortal binding rope. And when Gongyi Xiao appeared, Shen Qingqiu gave a hollow laugh.

"Ah, of course. The honourable Gongyi Xiao would never betray me, he never breaks his promises." He spat bitterly, Gongyi Xiao looked down on him, an umoving jade. He took a step and crouched on one knee.

"Shen Qingqiu, this one never truly betrayed you. How could this lowly one possibly know that you and Shixiong had such a history with his shixiong. If you had been kinder Luo Binghe would have no need to express his revenge."

Shen Qingqiu spat in his face, and Gongyi Xiao blinked. Okay, he shouldn't be surprised.

"You really think he'll be satisfied? You think he wouldn't go to far a beast like that? What would the punishment be, stripping this lord of his title, imprisoned or have his core destroyed?"

Gongyi Xiao face betrayed him, no- Luo Binghe would do worse than that.

And Shen Qingqiu smirked as if he had some feeling.

"Are you okay with this Gongyi Xiao, you know this lord to be cruel. And yet do you think you can stand aside and watch," He laughed mirthlessley "And to think this Master thought you were different, that you weren't like the rest pushing those down to get ahead you're all the same just a matter of time to betray this Master to better your own gain-"

Gongyi Xiao slapped him.

And Shen Qingqiu blinked "Don't you dare shift the blame onto me. You poured tea on Luo Binghes head, gave him a manual that would make him bleed from every orifice! You tried to kill him in a three match against Elder Hammer, you pushed him into an abyss! You tormented that sweet boy and for what? Why? What is your justification to harm a child who had done you no harm!?" Gongyi Xiao stood, looking down on Shen Qingqiu breathing heavily.

"You are not a victim here. So stop trying to blame others over yourself when it is your actions that led you here. No one is to blame, not me, not Luo Binghe, not even your peak. But you. Because you had some sort of twisted sick delight in hurting those weaker than you."

"Is that what he told you? That I was a cruel master? Lies, this Master took in that welp even with his awful cultivation, and gave him a second chance at life. It was not this masters fault that he was stupid-"

"Oh can it, Shen Jiu."

Shen Qingqiu stiffened, and looked up at Gongyi Xiao finally, who wiped the spit from his face, "Qui Jianlou hurt you. And you hurt others, because you thought it was so unfair that life hated you that much." Gongyi Xiao face fell "This Xiao pities you, that instead of turning out better and proving him wrong by being a cultivator, and a Peak Lord, proving that you were better than him…you ended up becomming him instead."

Gongyi Xiao turned around and paused when he heard laughing, he should ignore him. Shen Qingqiu became a rambling lunatic at this point only trolling Luo Binghe and never giving him what he wanted but laughter.

"This Master was wrong, you are exactly like me. A two faced snake who would do anything to ellivate himself!" Gongyi Xiao shut his eyes he knew Shen Qingqiu was baiting him, wanting him to get mad and get close to him and make a mistake. But Gongyi Xiao wasn't stupid.

"He'll kill me but my blood will be on your hands and many more soon. I know beasts like that are never satisified and one day he'll even kill you because you bored him."

…That, felt about right. Men never lasted long in Luo Binghes employ and he was getting worse, more detatched. Other than his adventures were he collects wives he avoids the Huan Hua palace post merge and in turn Shen Qingqiu only keeping him alive to torment- or scratch some type of need- "Gongyi Xiao, are you really okay with this- knowing one day you'll be in my place not knowing what you did wrong-" Gongyi Xiao turned around, giving him a blank stare. Shen Qingqiu smile faded, Gongyi Xiao had no idea what expression he was making it probably wasn't good. But he was tired. If only Shen Qingqiu was more like the two bit scum but no Shang QInghua HAD to make him complex…it made it difficult to completely hate him… He took a breath "Goodbye, Shen Qingqiu." he didn't call him peak lord, he may as well had been abandoned and disowned by the sect when his trial was made with the death of Liu Qingge.

Saves Shen Qingqiu tells Liu Qingge that Luo Binghe was going to do to him "No no one-"

"He would. He dispises Shen Qingqiu, he would rip out his tongue, eye, and legs and arms, take him back to Cang Qiong," "Don't you fucking dare- come with us!" And Gongyi Xiao smiled, then thrusted a small pin at Shen Qingqiu knocking him out. Thanks to Mu Qingfang he was now becomming pretty efficent with acipucture. "Are you sure?" "Its Luo Binghe, he won't hurt me, but you have to understand, he wont kill Shen Qingqiu he will hurt him and make him wish for death and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy…"

Binghe has lost it seeing this as a defiance. Gongyi “I’m sorry Binghe, it seems as if the ones who love you the most in the world even seem to hurt you even if it’s not deliberate.” Gongyi self destructed as he made his stance that merging the realms is stupid. “Would you think a washerwomen and her child would survive if the worlds merge with no defense against demons!?” Gongyi self destructed with a “Your mother would be horrified at the man you had become, she wanted you to stay kind!” Then died. He couldn’t stay with binghe like this. And of course was asleep for five years without realising. Shit.

Once he awakes back at Cang Qiong, he looks to see Ning Yingying crying at his side "Oh Shizun Ying-er is so sorry! This one was stupid! And never meant for Shizun to be hurt, but Yingying was so angry at how cruel Shizun could be and be so unfeeling at the death of her shidi and was so alone on her peak she wished for death, but never-" She sobbed sniffing through tears "Never did she wish Shen Qingqiu to be punished so-" She fell to all fours bowing "This Yingying beds for forgivness!"

What on earth? "Get up silly girl, and what is all the fuss about?"

"You were right! Shizun, That Luo Binghe is truly a beast to do such a thing- to someone who claimed who loved him, he's a monster!"

Shen Qingqiu tensed his last memories coming back "What has he done?"

She sniffed "He murdured Gongyi Xiao, Liu Gingge caught him, Gongyi Xiao was dead in Luo Binghes arms and Liu Qingge has been fighting him for the past two weeks."

"Two weeks? Why has this master slept that long!?"

"Oh Shizun, you awoke but after hearing the news you Qi deviated, you lost your memory. Please don't be rash, Mu Qingfang has just-"

He got up, fuming. Gongyi Xiao died, his eyes burned with tears he promised he would never shed for anyone ever again and yet.

Gongyi Xiao betrayed him, breaking his promise just like so many others and yet, after learning what type of monster that Shixiong was no wonder, a heavenly demon was nothing to sniff at. Which was why Shen Qingqiu tried to kill that beast.

And even after that, knowing for sure what type of torment awaited Shen Qingqiu- instead of washing his hands and letting the scum die he…he came back for him.

Shen Qingqiu stopped walking holding the wall for support, why? He couldn't understand it, everyone left him and the ones who stayed was blackmailed into it like Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge or were too foolish to realise otherwise.

He shut his eyes tears staining his face, that stupid foolish man, believing the good in everybody with that stupid smile of his. Gone like a candle flickering out, one less light.

The only good person, and the ones who were left was scum like him and Luo Binghe. It was time he out down that mutt once and for all.

Ning Yingying filled him in on why Ming Fan was missing, the sects were almost at a full out war. After what happened at Huan Hua, the sects dived on this chance. Two hated Shen Qingqiu and wanted him dead, and with the Nuns married it was garunteed their sect would back up Huan Hua wether they liked it or not, the other sects almost went in the same way and Shen Qingqiu would've been a dead man already, but the love for Gongyi Xiao outdid the hate for Shen Qingqiu [The Qing Jing Peak lord had no clue, that after it was revealed that Liu Qingge was NOT dead, Liu Mingyan and Ning Yingying deviating from the harem and back on Cang Qiong, no one was going to give up Shen Qingqiu to a heavenly demon and he had no clue]

The need to avenge Gongyi Xiao was strong. And With all the strongest fighters, they may have a chance of killing Luo Binghe.

When he arrived at the table with Yue QIngyuan looking puzzled he faltered "Whats going on?"

"There…has been a ceasefire," He looked pained placing down the letter and Shen Qingqiu almost snatched it from his hand "Why?"

"He wants your expertise, and promises full pardon if you help him."

"Its obviously a trap." Yue Qingyuan looked him in the eye and for once Shen Qingqiu was at a loss.

"What does he need?"

"A way to bring someone back from the dead,"

Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but laugh "Oh that is priceless,"

"He'll leave you alone, humour him. Say you tried your best-" "He'll kill me anyway,"

"That'll at least give us enough time to convice the cultivation world that he's unstable, that he's unfit and might turn out like Tianglang-Jun."

Shen Qingqiu took a breath, deep down he did know artifacts, but two weeks? It was already too late.

"And theres another thing."

"What?"

"He keeps kidnapping Mu Qingfang, Liu Qingge has to keep retreiving him and ends up fighting Luo Binghe." Shen Qingqiu could see it now, Yue Qingyuan is begging him to make this end.

And both were also realing from how they saw Gongyi Xiao, their perspectives destroyed. Shen Qingqiu can recal vaguely when he awoke from his state begging Liu Qingge with desperation to save Gongyi Xiao- and when he said he'd be fine, he screamed and cursed and told him to get him, he's dead!

And Liu Qingge left, and Yue Qingyuan realised that Gongyi Xiao saved Shen Qingqiu, something he failed to do so many times and when Shen Qingqiu feinted he barely caught him in time.

He was always too late.

"This Shen will go meet the beast."

"I'm coming with you,"

"The last time the sect leader left the mountain it was under attack-"

"This Lord does not care, I will not lose Shen-Shidi again."

"Huh, you had no trouble before,"

"This Qingyuan arrived at the Qui Manor in ashes!" Shen Qingqiu flinched, he had no idea the death of that brat affected both of them that much [no idiot, you almost died]

"Years wasted by being foolish and trying to rush training, my shizun locked my in the lingxi caves!" Oh those bloody markings. "And thought Shen-Shidi had died, this Qingyuan mourned you,"

"…So why did you not tell me? Why make this Shen think you were ashamed of the background we shared?"

"This Qingyuan will never be ashamed of Shen-Shidi! This Qingyuan was useless and stupid and Shen-Shidi suffered, this Qingyuan was ashamed of himself, that the excuse was never good enough and deserved your ire. Shen Qingqiu suffered for so many years because of this ones stupidity."

He didn't have time for this, so many years waiting, wondering- "Fine, we'll both go and see to this beast."

When he awoke he found himself stunned to be in the Huan Hua Palace along with Qinghua and Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu was alive!? And he was working with Luo Binghe? They looked over a map and seemed to be searching for something. "The holy mausoleum is your only safe bet to bring him back to life. Even then whats stopping him from trying again?"

Oh this passage was from Qing Jing but why was Shen Qingqiu alive, even Luo Binghe discussed with him and both were civil. Even when Qingqiu called him a beast, even when Liu Qingge came to challenge them Xiao Gongyi could only gape thankfull that his mask kept his face hidden. "If you havn't acted like a beast your precous Shidi wont be dead. When Gongyi Xiao returns he will be placed in my custody as you agreed." hmm…what!? Luo Binghe clenched his hands "Only if thats what he wishes…I dare to imagine or assume his wants ever again." What!? It was him? Xiao Gongyi??? Why? "And tell that Shidi of yours to stop destroying my castle." "He believes you shouldn't have that body preserved he assumes the worst from you. And I don't blame him." Shen Qingqiu spoke and Gongyi's eyes bulged, body? preserved what? Shang Qinghua who was also giving information of what he could stared at him strangely. Because Airplane KNEW he didn't write this cool rogue of a cultivator who could just magically find things. And he knew the other was stunned by the table before him, he even felt annoyed Mobei-jun was irratable becuase Binghe was irratable. "Yes, the things Junshang does for love, if Gongyi Xiao even entertained the thought would you marry him my lord?" "What nonsense are you talking about?" "To further pursuade our friend here," He gestured to Gongyi Xiao "The importance of finding the Holy Mauseleum." Luo Binghe locked eyes with the other his eyes dark with passion and Gongyi Xiao was lucky for his mask the way he stiffened.

"If I could tie such an individual to myself I would, this palace, my strength, all of my wives in my harem fade away to nothing. Food tastes like ash and if he were alive before me I would plead to him, give him the world, do his every command. So if an individual were to fail to bring him to me, I would render them limb from limb and dispose of them as they have no use for me."

Oh- okay okay.

"O-Of course my lord." He spoke flustered. Thinking his threat good enough he gazed back to the scowls on the table and Gongyi Xiao was too busy freaking out.

He knew of the affair between him and Mobei-Jun and freaked out and thats how he found Shang Qinghua how the two had tea to discuss demon customs and how normal it was. How normal it was even by human standards for two men to be lovers. The world was still seperate, none of the realms was merged and so far Luo Binghe was trying to bring him back to life. Liu Qingge fought Luo Binghe for Xiao Gongyi's body he announced that he should be put to rest and what vile perversions had he done to the body to keep it from rotting? To shove a soul back inside was unholy, a sin! And why was Xiao Gongyi there? With his face covered with a mask, and trailing behind Shang QInghua? He was assisting Zhuzhi-lang and Tianglang-jun. They were his benefactors, and once Xiao Gongyi hand delivered the palace Master into their hands his debt is repayed! Shen Qingqiu was staring at him through the duration of this meeting. When Shen Qingqiu told him to piss off, Xiao Gongyi responded in kind to go fuck himself. With his hand, in place of a fan.

xiao Gongyi began to give his input, thanks to his expertise he appeared to be a speicilist who liked to go to demonic landsites for fun [not that tianglang jun and zhuzhi lang didnt grill and train him to use the mausoleum properly knowing it was bait for Luo Binghe] Gongyi went along with it, probably another wife plot. If he gave the information then asked for the palace master then it shouldn't be too suspicious.

Okay Gongyi Xiao became a rogue cultivator and also is laying low with Tinaglang jun and zhuzui and both are figuring out a plan to get the old palace master. So Gongyi Xiao ends up going from place to place and with his PIDW knowledge ends up finding things. Tailsmans, sacred treasures, magical herbs and flowers and able to sell them. When a villager asks he delivers he knows where everything is thanks to his memory.

Now being called the Finder, of course Luo Binghe requests his aid to find something The holy mausoleum. He is probably trying to resurect a wife, and yeah Gongyi knows where it is. Thanks to tianglang-jun having to be resurected there with the demon mushroom he is currently using.

Tianlang Jun and Zhuzhi lang seem to think that Gongyi Xiao is there demon son, which comes to a head when Luo Binghe ends up tracking them down to the Mausoleum after baiting Binghe with Gongyi and ask him to bring the Old Palace Master, and both Shen Qingqiu and Liu Gingge and Mobei Jun accompany him. So we have the Qui Haitang plot as she lures Shen Qingqiu away and thats how Meng Mo floods her mind with Shen Qingqius past and she runs away screaming and thats how both Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu end up trapped in a coffin together. Fun times.

And how Tianlang jun almost kills Gongyi Xiao by exposing his demonic heratage and Gongyi Screams that it'll kill him if they flood his meridians with demonic qi hoping that will break his seal- that he is not Su Xiyans son! Its Binghe!

Also Gongyi Xiaos father who was a servant in love with a cultivator at the Palace was a DEMON sympyhiser and the Palace Master killed him and when his wife tried to avenge him, the Old Palace Master killed her too and raised Gongyi Xiao as his own, he was Gongyi Xiaos sole guardian and spoiled him and raised him as his own, until he realised that having a servant as a succesor was not good enough, and Gongyi Xiao was too long, so he kidnapped a princess from another Sect raising her as her own and even did drills of 'kidnap' to warp her memories of her real family and that he saved her.

Have them all seperate as Gongyi Xiao was lost in the crypt and suddenly felt hands touch his as a deluded Old Palace Master felt him up, speaking of his plans. "Oh Su Xuyan, my precious disciple." Gongyi Xiao stiffened up in horror trying not to move. The Old Palace master babbled and he would've hurt him but he spoke about Luo Binghe "It was so easy to pretend, hearing him through the tailsmans pretending it was me with Xiyan as I heard them." Gongyi Xiao swallowed the bile bubbling in his throat especially as the hands trailed further down "And Gongyi Xiao, who looked like her a little but when Binghe came the contrast was startling, to think that vixen was able to trick me that seductive little welp," Gongyi Xiao took measured breaths, glancing around before looking at a smiling statue raising his hand he aimed and shot a blast of qi at it. The Old Palace master startled "Xiyan?" The statue slowly opened its mouth the scream and that was enough as Gongyi was able to run as the screech shattered both their eardrums and the Palace Master had to raise his hands to cover his ears and Gongyi Xiao ran back into the corridor and his eyes spotted his small dagger on the floor he hastily ran towards it to pick it up. Before he could begin to look around to pick a corridor to run towards a voice stopped him "Gongyi?"

His mask was ripped from his face and Luo Binghe stared at him, his face wretched and Gongyi felt guilt that he had done that to him for five years had hurt Luo Binghe but he hadn't thought he would leave such an impact! He was just cannon fodder!

That lapse may have been his error.

There was a cry of outrage as he was suddenly slammed into the wall face first as his hair was pulled back as the Palace Master screamed at him "Xiyan!" He yelled in fury pushing him further into the wall, he cried out "You ungratful bitch- keep still!"

Xiao Gongyi dared do anything in that room in case he triggered any traps, but now he was burning with rage, for this fucking pervert on what he thought he was owed by Su Xiyan and her son.

He screamed in fury pushing all of his power into that one jab and the Old Palace Master flew into the wall with a sickening crack but that wasn't enough as Xiao Gongyi tore into him. Using his bare fists to beat up the Palace Master his body moved but he was weirdly detatched. Unaware he was ontop of the unrecognisble corpse his hate, humilation and contempt all forced into one move.

He hadn't even realised he was crying.

Something touched his shoulder and he flinched looking up into green eyes that looked severe. "Thats enough, Xiao Gongyi."

Shen Qingqiu knew all about revenge and following that path, and to see someone like Gongyi Xiao pushed to that extreme was startling.

Gongyi Xiao looked around almost dazed before landing on Tianglang-Jun he stiffened.

"I'm sorry…you planned so long for your revenge I didn't mean too-"

"This lord did want to honour of avenging Su Xiyan and taking that fools life, but this one isn't angry that it was you. Its better that he's dead."

"Its a shame it was quick." Luo Binghe spoke sneering down at the corpse he kneeled onto one knee about to speak before closing his mouth.

"Are you alright?"

"No," Gongyi Xiao laughed a little before gazing down at his hands "I've never…"

"Killed anyone before?" Xiao Gongyi shook his head feeling lost, the Palace Master was dead?

He was alive just a minute ago, Gongyi Xiao blinked as he was tugged up into Shen Qingqiu's arms dirtying his white robes. He'd hate that.

"We had an agreement beast, now that buisness is settled. He will return to Qing Jing Peak with me."

Luo Binghe almost said no then thought better of it "Of course."

Gongyi Xiao paused looking over to Tianglang-jun and Zhuzhilang "Tell him, about his mother about everything…Binghe deserves a family."

Tianglang-Jun nodded.

Once Gongyi Xiao disapeared did Tianlang-jun turn to see his son look after the spot where the peak lords just left along with Mobei-Jun and his servant.

"Something tells me its not family you need but advice." Luo Binghes cold eyes looked at him and Tianlang-Jun almost hated him on sight. Xiao Gongyi was soft so the resemblence was a dull ache.

But his son looked exactly like Su Xiyan even the cold glare and it hurt to even look at.

"I hurt him, he self detonated because we had a fight and this lord almost destroyed the world. How do you fix that? How do you make someone no longer afraid of you?"

Tianlang-jun looked down crossing his arms "Be human. Be weak, vunerable." His son gave him such a horrfied look it made him laugh "it's true. He see's a demon emporer, a powerful untouchable statue that is leagues ahead of him. Show that your just a man. You'll see, and be pathetic make it seem like you need him. Which you do." He added quickly before Binghe could make a retort.

#SCUM

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reallysaltygentlemen · 2 months ago

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cartoonbabbles · 1 year ago

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no like actually im going insane bc each off the 5+Po WERE denied the ability to learn Kung Fu. Her being dismissed is what makes her similar and what makes her different is how she went about attaining skill, I'll get to that later.

But remember in every single one of the shorts WHO got to become masters. Large, sturdy creatures who were adept at fighting. The studio Crane was at was run by a rhino. Masters Ox, Croc and Flying Rhino were all masters but look at them - they were all big animals with abilities that made them special already apparent. Crane's scrawniness was not only what got him denied from training in the first place, but it's also what made his mom overprotective of him. Viper was denied the ability to train bc of her father's overprotectiveness as well. Mantis wasn't even a martial artist, he was a brawler and a doctor. None of the five were accepted in the traditional manner.

Now for the tangent where I ramble about why I love the chameleon's villain concept so much (and side note i feel like kfp movis get better with age/rewatches. I guarantee you nobody found Tai Lung particularly deep or tragic upon the first watch and I encourage viewers to realize that we've had 8 years to marinate on the 1-3 and make all sorts of connections between the films but I digress). What makes the chameleon work so well for me isn't that she was rejected, it's what she did AFTER she was denied. Like Shen, Kai, and Tai Lung, she became angry. Like them, she swore she would rise to power, and enacted a years-long plan to attain that power. Tai Lung waited. Kai gathered chi. Shen gathered metal. And the Chameleon consolidated power, metal, and trained a protege to steal the keystone to her plan. I feel like it sort of falls apart when we realize she's very VERY loosely tied to Po, and her plans seem very quick but the essence is still there, just different. And I love it b/c we see that she's also cunning like Shen. She isn't someone with massive brute strength or precision like Kai or Tai Lung, so she uses her reputation and strikes fear into the hearts of others.

I'll probably do a "KFP 4 was pretty cool and here's why" post at some point later, but for now I need to pee and go back to class

so like

You guys do realize that the Chameleon wasn't just denied from kung fu schools because she was "too small" but also because of her species, right? right?

Like how Shifu didn't want to give Po a chance because he's a panda? You do realize that was the same with the Chameleon, except she had nobody who had her back.

And unlike characters like Crane (or all of the Five really) who still got to prove themselves even after being dismissed, she was just pushed away and never allowed to pursue her passion. Cause I'd like to remind you that Po didn't know what kung fu was even tho the JP was right there aka the art wasn't widely accessible + there weren't many styles that would be fit for different species. The one thing the Chameleon wanted to do was never something she could learn.

You do realize she still has some underlying insecurities (will make a master post about that later this week) because of all of that, right?

kfp fandom stop dismissing female characters' issues challenge (impossible)

#the chameleon #kfp #kung fu panda 4 #kung fu panda #po #kfp po #kfp chameleon

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comfortmie · 4 years ago

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Flying Rhino - Thundering Rhino

#Art #Kung Fu Panda #Flying Rhino #Master Flying Rhino #Thundering Rhino #Master Thundering Rhino

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mastomysowner · 2 years ago

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The truth about Tai Lung

It’s a translation of this article. Maybe it’s a bit too harsh on Oogway and Shifu, but considering 20 years of hell they put Tai Lung through, I can’t say this harshness is unfounded.

Finally, after some time, we can conduct a thorough investigation of the events shown in the film codenamed "Kung Fu Panda", for the moment has come to expose the villains and clean the true hero’s name. It's time to take a closer look at the official version, which tells about the cheerful, careless Po, the wise and talented masters Oogway and Shifu, as well as the villain Tai Lung, who is responsible for all the bad things that happened.

So, the story begins at the moment when a small nameless fluffy snow leopard falls into the clutches of the kung fu master Shifu, who adopts him. Shifu immediately turns the child into a tool for his interests. He gives him a very meaningful name and begins to train him "until his bones cracked", aiming him for only one thing - to become the Dragon Warrior and get the scroll. Was it out of love? Perhaps. Who doesn't want his son to become the very, very best?

On the other hand, there can be another side - Tai Lung was just a tool with which the red panda expected to get to the Dragon Scroll, i.e. to do what he himself could not do. And I'm afraid that multiple facts speak in favor of the fact that this side was prevalent.

As we remember, Tai Lung, carefully following the instructions of his master (that's right, his master, not his father - remember how he addressed Shifu on the steps of the temple upon his return), almost reaches the heights of Kung Fu. But, according to Shifu and Oogway, he loses his "humanity" in the process, moreover, Shifu himself recognizes this failure. Well, he recognizes it, having lost the battle and being in a hopeless situation. That is, in a situation where a dishonorable one may deceive his more noble opponent and try to play on his feelings. But let's take the official version for the truth. Then the question arises - where did Master Oogway look that entire time? The same turtle that reached the heights of enlightenment, the heights of Kung Fu and told all sorts of wisdom to Po, instructing him on the true path. Was it by chance that he stepped back from pointing out Master Shifu's mistakes? But "there are no accidents." Maybe Master Oogway foresaw everything in the same way as he foresaw the situation with Tai Lung's escape (Oogway knew his student Shifu well, even possibly shaped his personality). He acted consciously and according to a plan, knowing that the Dragon Scroll is empty.

Let's try to guess what goals he pursued. First, he becomes the savior of the village by defeating Tai Lung with his secret technique. Second, the presence of a constant threat makes the post of Oogway important and necessary. Third, a prison fortress was built specifically for the snow leopard following an individual, rather complex (try to build something over an abyss) project: a clearly expensive activity. This, of course, means fund stealing, kickbacks, etc. Fourth, Tai Lung is guarded not just by some warriors, but by the Anvil of Heaven, a special squad of 100 elite rhinoceros warriors, whose commander is a student of Master Flying Rhino. The squad is officially known as fighters against dictatorship and injustice in the country's lands, now these warriors are taken off duty and receive their salaries for guarding just one captive. Fifth, Master Shifu loses his face as the creator of the "monster", and even the one who lost the duel to him. He will no longer be able to threaten the power of Oogway. No wonder the ancient wisdom says, “look for those who gain“.

But back to the snow leopard who graduated, passed all the tests and almost certainly fought the villains (he could not help but want to try his kung fu art on strong, skillful opponents) in real fights. And here he is in front of Master Oogway, having come to the finish line thanks to his talent, and most importantly, hard work. A moment more and he is the Dragon Warrior. So what?

Master Oogway rejects him without a word, understanding the cost of this refusal, even while knowing that the scroll is empty and Tai Lung won't get any superpowers. Not a single word he said trying to prevent a catastrophe. He did not, for example, say "you are not ready yet, you still need to temper your spirit, as you tempered your body". Just one blow crosses out the purpose of life of a young man. What about Tai Lung's "father", Master Shifu?

He also betrays his son and disciple. No words of support or encouragement, no attempt to explain something or object to the turtle. He admits his defeat and discards the tool, which has become unnecessary. After all, his words "I was always proud of you" were just an empty phrase (we will return to this later). What do we have now?

A teenager stubbornly and hardworkingly went to the goal determined by his father and master, overcoming pain. His whole life was devoted to only one thing - to become the Dragon Warrior, obediently following the commands of his teacher. He gave everything for this and now was betrayed even by his father, discarded and devoid of any purpose. A being who realized that his whole life, in fact, was a waste of time and effort. Again, a teenager, it’s important; even an adult in such a situation is unlikely to remain cold-blooded, logical and impartial.

Who, in the heat of rage and disappointment, has not pounded a wall with fists? Who didn't sometimes get angry at parents or teachers? It’s not surprising that Tai Lung experienced a fit of anger and, most importantly, despair. And he began to destroy what came under his paws. Here we move on to the next step.

Was the crime of the snow leopard so great? Nobody talks about killed ones. Was there any point in Tai Lung killing the defenseless and innocent? Destroy everything - yes, the rest is a big question. But let's decide for a moment that there were victims. How can one call the behavior of Masters Oogway and Shifu then? The leopard holding a grudge against them harms the people whom Shifu and Oogway swore to protect, while they hole up in the Jade Temple.

Okay, Shifu believed that the Dragon Scroll was worth even such a sacrifice, but Oogway? He cold-bloodedly left the village to be massacred. He wants Tai Lung to become a villain in the eyes of the civilians.

He's just following through on his plan. Step by step.

Finally, Tai Lung, through rage or through reflection, comes to a major conclusion. If he was rejected, he must take possession of the scroll - to achieve the goal for which he was prepared, to prove that he is the best and strongest. Perhaps he even believes that Oogway simply decided to test his strength, the ability to challenge and defeat Master Shifu and Oogway himself.

And so he goes to the Jade Palace. A fleeting fight with the master and a victory in which the leopard does not seek to kill his opponent. Then the Oogway’s attack. A challenge thrown to the strongest and ... instant defeat. Oogway, who didn't lift a finger to stop the destruction of the village, easily stops Tai Lung's furious attack with a secret move. The play almost reaches its final. If Oogway did not have far-reaching plans, he would simply kill the enemy.

What's next? Prison confinement. Life imprisonment, and not in a normal prison. Imagine for a moment yourself shackled in a heavy, tight stone shell, which does not allow you to breathe and puts an exorbitant burden on your shoulders. You are on your knees, and your arms are stretched out to the sides as if on a rack, twisted by giant stones, hanging down to the bottom of a bottomless abyss. The shackles cut into your wrists until they bleed, trying to tear you in half. But that's not all. Needles driven into your acupuncture points debilitate you. Those pitiful remnants of strength that remain go to hold the shell and stones. It seems to be a nightmare come true, but that's not all.

Around you is only a small island of stone, constant darkness, cold and silence, broken only by the echo of the changing guards or the arrival of jailers. The jailers on whose good will you depend. Hunger, thirst, and even cleaning up your place of detention (you don’t have a toilet and can’t move) are all in their power. Well, we saw the attitude of the commander of the guard towards the prisoner - to step on the tail of a defenseless one and ridiculing him with what hurts the most. I wouldn’t be surprised if, out of boredom, the guards abused the prisoner, but let’s leave it as speculation.

So, is anyone ready to be in this position for at least a couple of days? I think no, but Tai Lung was doomed to live the rest of his life like that. Moreover, as we know, he lived like this for 20 years! But here, too, our hero is at his best. An ordinary creature would go crazy under such conditions, would sink lower than low, turn into an animal in the worst sense of the word, break down. But Tai Lung is not one of those. With his former diligence, despising pain, and having hardened his spirit, he confronts the surrounding nightmare.

He did not just resist. There were painful attempts at weak muscle movements so that the body would not atrophy during the long years of confinement, reproducing and mastering the technique of Oogway's "energy" strikes, a technique that the leopard has seen only once.

And a fierce desire to escape from hell, break free and prove that he is still capable of achieving his goal.

But let's leave our prisoner. Fast forward to those who threw him there. Master Shifu, father, teacher - has he ever visited his son and student? Not! Why would he need a broken tool? The one to which he lost and which he is afraid of. And it is because of this fear that he walked gloomy. Remember how Tai Lung's father was frightened by Oogway's revelation about the escape. How he did not go there himself, but sent his henchman with an order to strengthen the guard and prevent an escape at any cost. Maybe this is what he meant when said "I've always been proud of you."

What is Shifu up to? Now he trains five tools at once. All the same methods and even more violence. He no longer allows even a grain of feelings to manifest itself. And he fails again, Oogway chooses the "true Dragon Warrior", again undoing all the Shifu’s plans with one movement of the paw and humiliating him, showing him his place. However, this time Oogway introduces a new piece into the game - Po. He gives Shifu a briefing about "there are no accidents", "you will find your peace" and all that. He also talks to Po about peaches and so on, i. e. does what he didn't do for Tai Lung.

Then the snow leopard escapes.The goose loses his feather (accidentally?) and now the monster is free. Exhausted by 20 years of imprisonment, but not broken. An elite squad of rhinos, serving - yes, there is official information about this, - under the direct command of Oogway, is trying to kill Tai Lung. But he survives. Without stopping, without trying to kill the enemy on purpose, he rushes to freedom. The captain, who was personally recommended by Master Flying Rhino, failed the mission and is disgraced, just like his teacher.

Everything is just as planned. What about Tai Lung? What did he say to the messenger he left unharmed? "The true Dragon Warrior is coming home." Home! It's unlikely that even the most inveterate villain will call home a place that he hates and is trying to destroy. No, he only hates Shifu and Oogway. And that’s still not a fact.

Another step. And so Oogway "achieves enlightenment" by avoiding Tai Lung and leaving everything to Shifu and panda Po (for whom he had already done a lot)... and to the training he encourages Master Shifu to have. Which he does, forgetting about the Furious Five, who went on a dangerous campaign - to protect their master and the village from a fictional enemy. A training where the fatty Po will suddenly show an unprecedented talent and reach the heights of Kung Fu. Meanwhile, the Furious Five face off against Tai Lung.

This battle is an interesting episode too. Shifu's disciples oppose his creation. But that creation has already managed to step further, and not without the help of the torments sustained in prison. Five attack one (isn't it a strange ratio for the "good side"?), trying to kill him. Different styles, combo attacks, chosen ambush location. All the advantages are on their side. All except skill, hardened spirit and courage.

Tai Lung, already seemingly dead under the furious attack, returns from the foggy abyss to defeat Shifu's minions. But he does not consider them enemies and shows them compassion. All members of the Five return home alive. Immobilized so that they would not be tempted to attack the leopard again, but alive. And Shifu knows how to bring them back to normal. Shifu's pathetic bleating that they were returned alive, because Tai Lung wants to intimidate them, can be easily refuted. If the Crane brought only their heads, the fear effect would have been much greater. But our furry hero is not a killer. He just goes home.

After that, everyone knows about Shifu's discovery that the scroll is empty. About Po leaving and his father revealing a secret to him. About the proud but stupid Shifu who remained in the Jade Palace. About the exodus of the inhabitants from the city. The city that Tai Lung, contrary to the assurances of Shifu and, probably, Oogway, didn’t intend to destroy. And did not destroy, although he could. This is his home and his goal is not to bring destruction, but to find the scroll and finally finish his Path in search of the Dragon Warrior.

And now the words "I'm back, master" are heard. Deceived and betrayed by a red panda who called himself his father and teacher, thrown into hellpit, gone through all the circles of Hell, almost killed in a battle with henchmen, Tai Lung still respectfully calls Shifu his master. But for Shifu, he’s already a discarded and broken toy that has not justified expectations, one who surpassed Shifu and is more noble and courageous. It torments Shifu, who is still not devoid of a bit of feelings, and guilt.

It torments Shifu, who is still not devoid of a bit of feelings, and guilt.Now he says "I'm not your master anymore." And so the fight begins, the fight for an empty scroll. A fight in which the student tries to prove to the master that he is worthy. A fight in which the heartless incarnation of Evil desperaty screams "Whatever I did, I did to make you proud!". And a battle in which the father and the teacher tries to destroy the one who encroached on his power.

All these "sorry and proud" are only said when Shifu is defeated. An attempt to deceive the enemy, to confuse him, to gain an advantage again. And it almost succeeds. Remember how Tai Lung hesitated. And remember how he sought not to kill Shifu, but only to get to his goal - the scroll. No wonder he doesn't finish off Shifu, but starts chasing Po. The one who took possession of everything for which Tai Lung gave whole his life.

The ensuing fight again reveals a lot. Tai Lung is strong despite spending 20 years in immobility. And again he does not kill his enemy. Scroll. That's all he needs... to understand how cruelly Oogway laughed at him. Nothing. Zero. All his suffering, all, all in vain. And a taunting panda to boot. A panda that is not affected by Oogway's technique (remember - a technique that paralyzes, not kills the enemy. Tai Lung just wanted to make Po shut up).

Thus begun the last fight of Tai Lung, who finally lost the reason to live. An empty scroll did what the prison could not do. Tai Lung was broken. And only the remnants of the spirit, attempting to regain himself and find at least some goal, give him the strength to fight. Fight a hopeless battle to the very end, once again stepping through suffering and pain, gathering the last of his strength to attack again.

Given his condition, he couldn't help but fall into the Wuxi Finger Hold, the hardest part of which is cleaning up afterwards. And what about the great and noble loafer and glutton Po? What does our merry and kind guy do? He is consciously, with a smile on his face and mocking words "Nope. I figured it out", performed the technique. Cold-bloodedly carrying out the murder of the defeated and broken enemy. "Skadoosh!"

After that he returned as “the monster slayer”. Returned to Master Shifu, who's by no means lying near death or severely crippled after the battle with Tai Lung (were the latter’s attacks on his adoptive father so cruel?), but is chilling by the pool and not at all grieving for his dead disciple and son.

And now, dear reader, I would like you to think about the question "Who was the true hero and victim of this dramatic story, and who were the main villains." Who deserves to be respect and remembered, and who deserves contempt. And thanks to everyone who read to the end!

#kung fu panda #tai lung #master shifu #master oogway #character analysis #meta

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mysticlibraryhushbats · 3 years ago

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TMNT in Japanese #2

Finally got around to part 2 of TMNT in Japanese. Sorry for the delay!

You can find part 1 about the turtle’s personal pronouns across all tv shows here if you missed it.

The topic this time is sentence endings. In Japanese, these usually end up being some form of です (desu) or ～ます (-masu), plus, if needed, a sentence ending particle such as よ (yo), か (ka) etc. (This is super simplified. If you want more details about actual sentence endings in Japanese, Fluentu does a pretty good article on a few of the most common, but for a deep dive check out Tofugu’s grammar index.)

Oftentimes, in anime, characters have their very own made-up sentence endings that essentially work like a verbal tick that tells the audience something about that character’s personality or key traits. The most famous example I can think of that would be well known even outside of anime is probably Naruto’s だってばよ (dattebayo), dubbed into English as “Believe it!”.

However, sentence endings are mostly used to tell the audience where a character is from. In Japan, each region has its own dialect and features typically used, including sentence endings. For example, if a character ends their sentence with だべ (dabe), it means they’re from Tohoku region. These sentence endings are also often associated with stereotypes. The audience will instantly understand that a character ending their sentence with ある (aru) is Chinese, even though actual Chinese people do not do this when speaking Japanese.

So, what does this have to do with TMNT? Well, a couple of characters in the series possess a unique way of ending their sentences that I have not mentioned so far.

The first is Master Splinter from the 2003 series. He ends his sentences in ～でチュー (-dechuu). If any are familiar with Japanese, you get the joke. It is a reference to the fact that Splinter is a rat. The sound that rats and mice make in Japanese is チュー (-chuu) or チューチュー. So, ～でチュー (-dechuu) is essentially the standard です (desu) in Japanese mixed with the チュー (-chuu) of a rat. I don’t know about you, but I find it hilarious that 2003 Splinter squeaks at the end of his sentences. My guess is that the producers or whoever was in charge of the Japanese version wanted to remind viewers that this Splinter was never human, like his 1987 counterpart, but still, hilarious nonetheless.

This theme of animal related sentence enders also appeared in one of the three Japanese versions of the 1987 series, too. Rocksteady ends his sentences with ～サイ (-sai). Although in this case, rather than ～サイ being the sound a rhino makes, it is simply “rhino” in Japanese.

This language feature, it seems, is mostly used for the 1987 series. Krang ends sentences with ～けん (-ken), which could mean anything really as it has several meanings depending on the kanji but is possibly just there to compensate for Krang’s weird groaning in the original English version (if anyone knows please comment), and the Rat King ends his sentences with ～チュー much like 2003 Splinter. Other mutant characters make animal sounds randomly; Bebop snorts like a pig, and Baxter Stockman makes fly noises.

Anyway, that about does it for this one! I expect there to be about two more posts in this series if anyone is interested.

NOTE: Again, I haven’t watched any of the TMNT series in Japanese, only the movies, and all information here is gleaned from Japanese Wikipedia with commentary based on my own knowledge and opinions, so there are possible inaccuracies.

#tmnt #tmnt in japanese #tmnt 1987 #tmnt 2003 #japanese #linguistics #tmnt splinter #tmnt rocksteady #tmnt in japan #splinter #rocksteady #splinter 2003 #rocksteady 1987

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pat-the-togorian · 2 years ago

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Pat's Febu-Whump Day 28: "You're Safe Now"

I was flying. I wasn’t sure how, but I was. Familiar wingbeats whipped through the air behind me. Sinvulkt? I seemed to be merely an observer; I couldn’t feel her holding onto me, or the old feeling of the wind on my face. As she swooped towards the ground, I recognized a tree covered in claw marks.

As I saw my den, I felt guilt and fear stir in my chest, but the emotions were someone else’s.

Then, I was awake. And it was starting to feel like that was all I knew.

I hurriedly stood up and bolted for the outdoors, carried by the first spark of hope I’d felt in a long time. Was it possible my Master had survived? What about the others? I wanted so badly to track them down and feel their warm embraces again… I only wished I deserved it. I’d never be able to forget the fact that in the end, when everyone needed me the most, I had fled.

“Well, since I’m up, I may as well head out,” I spoke softly to myself. If I didn’t, I was worried I’d forget how to talk at all.

I prowled the usual hunting trails around my cave, in ever-expanding circles. Of course, the local prey population had realized the new predator’s presence, but today, I found even fewer scents than usual. The forest was… eerily quiet.

Togorians weren’t usually seen as anything except for the top of the food chain, but at this moment, even I felt the need to run for cover.

I chose the wrong way to run.

As I streaked past a large bramble of trees and bushes, a lithe but enormous figure darted impossibly quickly towards me, and with one swift headbutt, knocked me into the thick trunk of a nearby tree. Dizzy from the hit, I cursed myself for not bringing my lightsaber or any other gear with me.

I gathered my wits and charged before the massive, rhino-like beast could catch up with how far I’d been thrown. Jumping, I rode its neck with my claws as it bucked and pitched furiously from side to side. I was in over my head, I knew that, but with its size and speed, I knew I couldn’t run from it.

My paws grew weary of their grip.

No, hold on—

I lost one handhold, then another, and vainly tried to grab on with my legs before a final, furious buck sent me hurtling to the ground. My chest and forehead took the brunt of the impact, and I once again dipped towards unconsciousness.

I woke to the smell of searing meat. The creature lay dead on its side, a clean, cauterized wound straight down its spine. Faintly, I heard the whoosh of retreating wingbeats and a primal, avian screech.

How could my Force senses have been so blind? Then again, the last time I’d seen her, she’d had a Light Side presence. I did my best to remember that.

The days continued their monotonous march. It was so incredibly thrilling to think that my Master was close by, but it was also terrifying. After all, I reprimanded myself, the Order that bound us together was gone. She turned away from the Light. I was no one’s Padawan anymore. The last time I’d seen her… it had been a day.

The fact that she had saved my life was the one bright point in the cloud of darkness and uncertainty. If she’d really meant to use that lightsaber to kill me, she’d clearly at least changed her mind since. But how could I judge her for that, when I had actually killed?

My final treatise came down to this: If she accepted…whatever Force alignment I was now, I’d go back to her in a heartbeat.

I just hoped she’d recognize calls to her through the Force.

A horrible pain in my collarbone and shoulder stung me one day as I pounced on an unsuspecting rabbit. Before now, I’d been lucky to be able to butcher and survive off that giant beast, but the moment I put any strain on my right arm and shoulder, I hissed in pain.

This wasn’t good. This wasn’t survival.

I cursed the thick fur around my neck for obscuring the wound and its bruising. All I could do was try and rest, and beg the Force to let it heal before I ran out of stored food.

It began to hurt even when I shifted in sleep, when I cut my daily mark into the tree, when I stood or sat. I started to ration my supply of food, but it went disturbingly fast. I stopped training and the pain became too much to meditate through. The only thing I kept doing, like clockwork, was to emerge at dusk and dawn to call for Sinvulkt, Aheka and Rema through the Force.

M-Master… Aheka… Rema, my sister… I called. The pain is getting worse… I don’t know how much more time I have…

I lambasted myself for my weakness. After running from them, did I really expect them to come back for me? If they could even hear me. Sinvulkt wasn’t even technically my Master anymore… wait.

S-s–sinv.... I struggled to articulate. Only at my lowest had I risked breaking the protocol and calling her by name.

Sinvulkt… if you’re still watching over me… please. I need you.

I fell forward, my right side erupting in agony as I fell on it, but with no strength to catch myself.

I felt fear, regret, and a different type of agony, but I realized that these once again were not my own feelings. And they were approaching.

Wingbeats crested the hill, and with the last of my energy, my ear swiveled to face the wonderful sound. I was found.

Sinvulkt warbled in concern. “Oh, Pat…” she quickly knelt down, hesitant to even touch me. I could feel her tortured emotions through the Force.

I froze, remembering the last time I had heard her voice, trying to wash away the fear I felt at seeing her Dark for the first time. Remember, she saved your life after that.

I burst into relieved yet guilty tears. “I… I… didn’t want to be found this way! I didn’t want to see you if everything had changed… the Order is gone… My rank is gone… I may not even be a true Jedi anymore… why would anyone still care for me?” I sobbed.

“Did you really think the only reason I’d care is because of the Order?” Sinvulkt chided, on the verge of tears.

“The Order was the only stability I’ve ever had,” I confessed. “And I ran from it. Ran from you.”

“The Order failed and endangered all of us again and again! Do you remember every heartbreaking decision Aheka had to make? They tried to make me either destroy Scélérat’s superweapon or leave Aheka, the one who found me…” she took a deep breath. “Rema…” she looked at war with herself over divulging Rema’s secrets. “Rema’s creation and all they did to her was entirely legal.” Then, she looked at me, her sulfur-toned eyes shining golden as they revisited every scar and patch of rough fur on my body. “They either sent you into battle or left you with no choice. They… they used you…”

“So… we’re really safer without it…” I mused. “Right?” I looked into her eyes, not sure I was brave enough to ask what I was really thinking. I hoped my gaze would speak for me. Will you take me back?

In the next instant I was wrapped so quickly and tightly by feathers that my head spun. It had been so long since any touch had been kind, I trembled fiercely for a moment, before my startled relief became silent tears of joy, and relief, and rest.

“I did promise I’d come back,” she whispered in my ear. “And with the Dark Side on my side, nothing will touch you.”

She helped me back into my den and made me as comfortable as she could while she fetched clean water, both for hydration and cleaning the matted fur around my neck where it hurt too much to groom myself anymore. Thank the Force the impact hadn’t broken the skin too deeply. She managed to boil the water, feed me with fruit from the trees she had been living off of, and scan my injury, though she wasn’t sure what else she could do for it. At night, in the cold, her feathers and my fur each kept the other warm, and we both slept deeper when we knew the other was awake. I held her in the nighttime hours and she covered me during the day.

I woke one morning covered in sweat, and at the same time, feeling terribly cold.

“Pat, Pat,” Sinvulkt called into my ear frantically. “You’re burning up!”

I groaned, rolling over painfully. All of her attempts to dress the wound had been for not. Infection had finally caught up with me.

“I’m so sorry,” she wailed. I felt a pang of fear. She’d apologized to me and shown regret before, but never such deep guilt.

An impossibly good idea sprung into my mind. “W-we need to find Aheka,” I slurred. “She can help us.”

Sin looked at me with the most fear I’d ever seen from her. “I… I’ll do it. For you…”

She swept me up, knowing it would be painful and risky to move me, but lethal not to.

“C-can we… fly there? I’ve missed that…” I mumbled into her ear.

“Anything for you,” she whispered, chokingly.

I rejoiced in the wind hitting my face as I drifted off into a feverish sleep.

I awoke at the jarring of our landing. The air smelled different enough that I knew this was another world. Prying one eye open, I caught sight of Sinvulkt’s face, streaked with tears. She laid me down in front of another, larger cave, gave me one last tight, feathered hug, and flew off into the deepening dark.

“H-hello?” I called out. “Rema? Aheka?”

Two sets of frantic footsteps rushed to meet me. “Pat? Pat! How did you… oh dear Force, we need to check you out right away…” Aheka rushed out to me, Rema following close behind.

“Pat!” Rema exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you! How did you get here? Have you seen Sinvulkt?”

“Mmm…yes…” I mumbled. “Bring her back…”

“Well, first, we need to get you medically stable,” Aheka asserted, preparing her Force healing. She let out a pained cry of sympathy. “You have a very badly sprained shoulder and a cracked collarbone,” she reported on her scan. “And this infection is very severe. Nothing I can’t fix, though.”

A horribly familiar voice rang out from the back of the cave. “What’s going o—Pat?”

Scélérat. No wonder Sinvulkt didn’t want to come here.

I hissed and struggled to sit up straight, baring my claws and snarling weakly.

“H-hi, Pat,” Scélérat greeted in nearly a whisper.

“W-what is he doing here?” I growled. “After everything he’s done to us! How could you harbor him?”

“I-I’m…” Scélérat stuttered. “I’m sorry, Pat.”

My energy was gone. All I could do was hold onto Aheka like a shaking leaf.

“Pat! I know this will be a lot to take in… but Scel here has become a Jedi.”

“He what? He wasn’t supposed to have the chance to hurt us again!”

“Pat,” he choked up. He’d cried before, though, when he had tried to charm me into being his sacrifice, or his tool of revenge. “I came back to the Light. And… there’s a path to redemption for you, too.”

That was something new. He’d never suggested I could do something well on my own. Only with some kind of Master…

“R-redeemed…” I whispered, remembering the blood I had shed during Order 66. I stood to benefit from forgiveness as well.

“Take your time, Pat,” Scélérat finished calmly and walked slowly back into the depths of the cave, giving me space.

“Wh-when was the last time you saw Sinvulkt?” I asked Rema as Aheka kept working. The healer butted in.

“Pat, you need to rest. Wherever she is, she’s survived a long time this way. And if we can get you patched up, the sooner you can help us! You always had that knack for finding her!” This was the best incentive I needed, and it seemed to quiet Rema as well. As Aheka Force-suggested I sleep, I felt Rema grab onto my paw. In my last moments awake, I curled it around her hand.

I awoke feeling worlds better, ready to spring to my feet and start searching. Aheka had drained the infection, and fortunately, my sprain and fracture had healed well enough on their own to be a quick fix for the trained healer.

“Easy, Pat, I can’t let you go yet,” Aheka warned, a calming hand on my chest.

I took deep breaths and calmed down, hoping that if anything befell Sinvulkt, I would feel it in the Force again. “Can you at least tell me when the last time you saw her was?” I pleaded.

Aheka hung her head, a momentary lapse in her constant determination. “She brought down a wall of rock to save us from the Clones, and flew back into the fight. She sacrificed so much for us. I’d do anything to bring her into our family again.”

The day of “medical observation” dragged past. Aheka left to search for more food and herbs for healing potions, and Rema joined her for the rehabilitating exercise, not to mention the therapeutic effects of walking in nature. They looked hesitant to leave me alone with Scélérat, but it was clear he’d proven himself to them. I still made sure to stretch, examine my claws, and be alert, to demonstrate that despite Aheka’s refusal to clear me, I was capable of protecting myself. As I stretched my arms again, one of the bandages around my chest folded over, creating a painful rub. I hissed faintly, attracting Scélérat’s attention.

“Are you alright?” He asked, cautiously approaching me.

I gave him the silent treatment.

“Pat, as crazy as it sounds, I can help you. Rema was in bad shape when I made it here. A coma, actually. Aheka was on her last legs. She… helped me learn to assist her with healing. And…” he paused. “There was a time when you could have easily killed me. I thank you for leaving me alive every day.” I raised my arm and beckoned him over, begrudgingly. “Okay, let��s see what we can do,” he muttered gently.

The dull but wonderful feeling of relief rushed into the irritated skin around the now-relieved crease. Tears sprung to my eyes at the gentle touch. I felt gratitude, that was certain. But alongside that… this person, who I’d never have given a second chance, had proven himself worthy.

I still thanked the Force he hadn’t noticed my tears… or if he had, that he’d left me the remainder of my pride.

After that excruciating day of rest, I was cleared from observation, and the three of us charged out blindly to find Sinvulkt. We had decided that for obvious reasons, we shouldn’t bring Scélérat with us. I was still grappling with her new Force presence, and I turned a few times only to circle back. I wasn’t sure where she’d been living all this time—something told me she hadn’t had a home at all.

I doubled back for the dozenth time, cursing myself for my faulty compass and likely drawing the ire of Aheka and Rema, when I realized something: If she always seemed to be behind us, could she possibly be following us?

I turned my back one more time, holding my arms outstretched. “S-Sinvulkt,” I called, still struggling with her name instead of her former title. “You always cared for me. And from what they tell me, you risked your life to save Aheka and Rema too!”

I continued my standoff with the silent wall of forest. “We want to care for you, too,” I whispered.

The sound of rustling branches was unmistakable this time. With my ears and the Force as my guide, I sprinted through the underbrush, catching faint glimpses of a ragged, winged figure flapping tiredly ahead. She didn’t look good, my familiarity told me.

“Don’t run from us, Sin!” Rema called. “We want you back!”

Suddenly, with a sickening crunch, she snapped a fallen branch with her leg and sprawled onto the forest floor, her brutalized wings on full display. Rema and I charged up to her and each took her by the hand, Aheka panting as she rushed up behind us.

“N-no…” Sinvulkt quivered, furiously struggling to get up. “Pat, stay away. It's not safe.” I could tell she was fighting a bitter war inside herself—Flock or forsakenness.

“With you, I always was,” I murmured, grabbing onto both of her arms tightly. She flapped her bleeding wings, trying to take a step back.

“Not anymore," she shook her head. "You are better off with Scélérat."” She looked over my recently-healed chest wound. “He’s a better packmate than I am.”

I shook my head. “Scélérat has… changed a lot and learned a lot. But he wasn’t my discoverer or teacher… I trust you. So… I’m not moving. I’m staying with you, wherever you decide to go.”

Her face screwed up at the choice I implied, massive wings curling around her. The Dark and Light twirled madly around the area, attracted to the conflict like a swarm of moths by a flame.

Rema spread out one of Sinvulkt’s extra appendages with a wince from its owner, and gently shook loose a shower of dirt and loose feathers. Sinvulkt struggled at first, but as the feeling of the long-overdue preening changed from suffering to soothing, she fell limp. Her head fell forward, and I caught her against my chest.

“Let’s take her home,” Aheka whispered, a relieved smile covering her face.

We walked carefully back to the cave, me being especially careful not to wake the sleeping Sinvulkt. When we arrived, Rema and I sat down and preened her wings from tip to tip. By the end, the sunset shone a brilliant orange into the mouth of the cave, and Rema and I nodded off on either side of Sinvulkt, who didn’t seem like she’d slept properly in months. It wasn’t just me who was safe, now. Everyone was. And tomorrow, we’d emerge as one, ready to lend a hand to as many others as we could.

THE END

A/N: So here we are! Everyone's safe... for tonight. I'd like to thank @sinvulkt, my beta reader and the creator of Sinvulkt; as well as @kit-kat-of-midgard and @ct2002-rema, creators of Aheka and Rema. @febuwhump for reblogging my works three times! And last but not least, every one of my readers! It's been an amazing month! And it's only the beginning of The Amazing Adventures of Excentrics Jedi!

You can see more from this universe on our AO3 collection here, as well as our in-character blogs:

@sinvulkt-moeta

@aheka-tyl

@ct2002-rema

@formeralleycat (Me!!)

#taaoej #the amazing adventures of excentrics jedi #febuwhump2023 #febuwhumpday28 #febuwhump #whump writing #star wars fanfiction #star wars oc

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