From the very first blink, Joshua, now Shen, knew immediately that he was in a new life.
A pampered one.
As he awoke into a baby peacock, his eyes opened to a lit room. Shen could tell from the very lighting to the well-decorated walls that this room wasn't just any random room that you would find in a normal scenario. This was a room fit for a king.
Or more like a future lord.
His new parents showered him with love from the moment he laid eyes on them, and as they did what any parents would do, Shen was almost sick from the constant attention and love. He didn't mind, though. It was comforting and rather nice to be cared for.
Until then, the system arrived.
Sitting in a room, playing with a pair of dolls like a normal peacock would, a large text box appeared. It displayed itself as if he was watching a screen, but Shen couldn't touch it nor feel it with his white wings.
[Greetings, User, I am the system gifted to you by my creator.]
Shen read the text.
The bold words and robotic-like structure of the sentence reminded him of his old life when he'd spend half the time hunched over his chair, playing games on his computer. It was a grasp of familiarity. It was a breath of fresh air from getting used to having a beak, walking around on four toes, having a body full of feathers and plumage, and to top it all off, a large tail that obstructed him every time he turned.
He put on a smirk of delight.
[Because of my creator's obsession with the creation of your past world's creations, my name is known as Vega or V for short.]
Shen's smirk would fall into a disappointed sigh.
"Vega," He later chuckled lightly at the name, "how I miss those games..."
[Loading up stats...]
"Stats? Like-" Shen paused and scanned the big room, 'definitely not the best idea to speak aloud,'
As another dark red text box appeared, Shen wondered for a moment if the system could be seen by any other animal that may walk past. Specifically his parents. Shen's red eyes narrowed at what he would call the doorframe, expecting a head or body to walk past unexpectedly. After a while, he turned to look back at the text box but made sure to keep the animal dolls in his wings.
Shen had to stay prepared as he read the now-appearing text.
[User's stats:
Name: Shen
Skills: N/A
To avoid confusion, the stats have been simplified to your liking, just as my creator intended. If you need to see your stats or need any help, think 'Vega' and then state your question. I will help to the best of my abilities.]
'Skills?' Shen tilted his head, 'Vega, could you explain what that means?'
[Skills are given to you to enhance and aid the user in conflict. They are earned through rigorous training, but the benefits are a necessity.]
He nodded when he read that.
In fact, Shen stood, dropped the dolls, and walked out of the room, deep in thought. He stepped past the well-made and ordained rooms of his family's home, really messing with his mind as he reached a corner.
"There you are, Shen,"
His father stood with much poise; his colourful feathers and tall stature brought a type of higher-order feel whenever one laid eyes on him. To Shen, however, there was the fatherly affection brought through his father's old eyes.
"Afternoon, Father," Shen looked up at him with a knowing smile, "I'll be at the training grounds,"
His father chuckled, shaking his head, then stepped past him, patting Shen's shoulder lightly, "Tonight's the fireworks. You wouldn't want to miss it,"
"I won't,"
Shen received a nod from his father, and the blue peacock walked away, keeping his top posture.
'What a strange man, or peacock, I should say,' Shen continued to move, now at a quickened pace, not wanting to meet any more individuals.
When he reached the training ground, he let out a sigh of relief.
Soon, a weapon was in his feathers, and Shen gripped the long, wooden handle of this curvy blade, the metal gleaming in the afternoon sun. He stood, breathing deeply. Then, Shen groaned in annoyance, not really knowing what he was doing.
'This system I have...' He gazed down at the blade and his eyes widened with curiosity, '...in a world, I thought I knew,'
He looked forward, eying the walls before him and looked over his shoulder, and Shen's pupils followed the towering building that stretched into the sky. The home of the peacocks who ruled Gongmen City.
'Hmm...' Shen tapped the bottom of his beak slowly, 'I should ask my parents for a trainer of some kind,'
Nevertheless, he couldn't help but stare at the bold sun above his head that brought light to the land of this familiar yet unknown world. He couldn't help but think of the future, forgetting all about his past.
'Why do I worry about a plot that will never come to be?' Shen stared at the weapon he held once more, '...Vega, how does one gain a skill?'
[To gain skills, you shall use them in action for the skill to be gained. For example: Swinging a sword or thrusting a spear a few times]
Shen nodded.
With a simple swipe, he swung the blade lazily.
[Skill Earned: Polearm(Apprentice Level)]
'That easy?' Shen tilted his head, 'Vega, What does this...level mean?'
[There are three levels to each skill:
1st level: Apprentice
2nd level: Seasoned
3rd level: Master
Despite the name, you have been boosted in said weapon you have trained with, and you are pretty much better than the average opponent]
After reading the text, Shen sliced the air with the blade. The unnatural bends and stretches his body had to do disappeared and were only replaced with the near-fluid yet hesitant movements of his limbs.
'Strange,' He thought, taking a moment to breathe, 'this...is the first time I've trained with this weapon, and yet it feels like countless hours have been wasted,'
A mischievous smirk crossed Shen's beak.
'Vega, if I do anything, do I get a skill for it?' His eyes narrowed, 'If I cook food, or if I...talk with a female, would it work?'
[It has only been designed for combat purposes. Only weapons, and to an extent, Kung Fu, are the only things that will trigger a skill]
Shen scoffed and sighed with disappointment right after.
'...At least I can be unstoppable in combat,' He shrugged, continuing to slice the air in the training ground, the weapon whooshing with each thrust and strike.
It took only a few seconds for Shen to halt completely, his body almost dropping in exhaustion. He heaved, his tongue hanging out of his beak.
"My...body," He coughed, dropping the weapon and wrapping his wings around himself, his thin legs quivering, "What...the..."
It clicked. Shen had realised how important endurance and agility were and also how they couldn't be earned through the system and only through extensive labour.
'I'm a young peacock, I have all time in the world,' Luckily, Shen was able to stand, 'It didn't cross my mind...how foolish I was...'
His feathers gripped his white robe as Shen made it to the steps of the palace, and seated himself on one of the rows. On that warm step, he pondered once again. His thoughts raced like a stormy sea, evident in the faraway gaze of his red pupils.
'Why was I rushing?' Shen shook his head, 'If I'm not going to attack Po's village, I don't really have anything to do,'
He thought about possible threats. Tai Lung may be a threat, but what would happen now? Would Oogway still not choose him? Would one of the Furious Five become the Dragon Warrior? If Po was not to be forced out of that village, would destiny somehow still turn him into the Dragon Warrior?
'Whatever happens now, I shall work myself to the bone,' Shen stood, massaging his temple, 'I could learn Kung Fu, but let's start small,'
Shen made his way back over to the middle of the training ground, inhaling deeply through his nostrils and breathing out through his beak, trying to calm his head with the cool air. Right after, his training began. The weapon sliced the air with less force, as Shen focused on conserving his energy.
To build, one must forge their foundation.
A beautiful mansion or palace cannot stand without the support of its interior. If all is rotten, everything will collapse. That is why Shen trained, with many breaks, until the sun disappeared into the horizon, and with the effort done, he sighed, put the weapon away, and walked back into the palace.
However, now was not the time to sleep.
The stairs leading up to the throne room intimidated Shen a little, but he was no unfit bum, like his previous self, so, with each step, he made his way to the top. He made it to the throne room, his talons clacking against the floor.
"Evening, Shen,"
He paused on the last step of the stairs raised his head to the voice, and tensed at who it was.
"Evening, Soothsayer," Shen looked at the goat with a warm gaze in greeting. She didn't look old or young, but Shen was certain she had lived for many years at this point, possibly as long as his parents had been alive, "I am not late, am I?"
"You may not be late..." Soothsayer paused, and grinned, "...but you are at the last step,"
Shen looked down and saw he had indeed made it to the final step. He let out a light laugh.
"I shall not keep you waiting," She bowed, "go, and enjoy the fireworks, with your parents, of course,"
After the Soothsayer walked back down the stairs, presumably to one of the other floors of the tower, Shen stared curiously as her shadow disappeared down the staircase. This was an animal to look out for. In the meantime, the fireworks were more important, and just as Shen looked back into the room, a burst of red flickered in his eyes.
It came from outside.
The blast from the fireworks made out his parent's silhouettes, who watched this display from one of the balconies.
Shen walked over to meet them.
"You finally made it,"
Besides his father, he saw his mother. A peahen with brownish feathers, an absolute contrast to his father's attention-grabbing feathers of bright colours. She, however, was just a bird that could be overlooked, but not forgotten.
"The fireworks are brighter than last year," Shen's mother continued, urging him in between them, "it's quite beautiful,"
Shen nodded, captivated by the erupting fireworks.
His body burned with an intense inspiration, much like the explosions before him, and soon enough, Shen let out a small smirk. This is what the original Shen must've felt. To watch these fireworks blow up into the sky, his mind immediately thought of the explosive potential of the craft.
'I...get it,' Shen thought, feeling his limbs tense with excitement, 'these dark thoughts...I have them too,'
He knew of the desires that Shen had that led to many experiments with the intricacies of the fireworks, which was how the cannons came to be.
'Should I...follow them?'
There wasn't much he could do at this point. Sure, he was the heir to the throne of Gongmen City and had all the time in the world to do whatever. So, if he was going to be productive, he might as well try and do what the original Shen did.
Experiment and improve.
___
A/N: Updates will be slow.