I'm VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY sorry for the VERY VERY VERY VERY super duper late update! I can't believe that I haven't updated this story in over a year! O_O

Don't worry, I haven't abandoned this story just yet. The honest truth is that I just never got around (or was too lazy) to type this up. At least now that I've typed this chapter, hopefully future updates will be much more consistent. But like I've said before, if it's been a while since I've updated, feel free to PM me or mention it in your review. Your messages help guarantee faster updates... ;)

On another note, this is OFFICIALLY the 2nd part of The Truth About Shen. You could say that we are entering the frame story of the fanfic. Part 2 has 2 parts (a part within a part, and a story within a story...sounds like Inception, eh?). The first part takes place in the couple months before Shen is born and the second part is about Shen's early life, from a toddler to a full grown adult. That's all I'm going to reveal for now. I will also be inserting in names that do not belong to my imagination. They are Baojia, Fen, Jun, and Mee (as mentioned in chapter 1). They belong to a fellow fanfic writer named Domenic. :)

Oh and Dreamworks owns Kung Fu Panda.

Now here's the actual beginning of part 2...

A long, long, time ago, in Gongmen City, there ruled a powerful family of peacocks. Many knew that they were descendants of the royal family. The family lived in a big tower at the edge of the city. The king and queen's names were Baojia and Fen. They were both very generous and kind to their people, which was why they were well-liked among the people.

One day, the queen was with child. She had become very fatigued and even became sick. People feared that either she or the child would not make it. Fearing his wife's fate, the king hired a female goat to take care of her. This goat was known for being able to cure people from many sorts of ailments, and he hoped that she could help the queen recover. But what the king didn't know was that the goat was also a soothsayer. Her mystical powers was what helped her cure patients, and she was also capable of foreseeing the future.

When the queen found out about the goat's reputation as a soothsayer, she immediately asked if she and the baby were going to survive. The soothsayer replied that both of them were going to make it, but that the baby might turn out to be very sickly. The queen's hopes were sort of reduced from hearing this, but she was happy nevertheless. The soothsayer also added that the queen would have a boy and that he would be an albino.

"Are you sure everything you're saying is true?" the queen asked.

The soothsayer nodded and patted her shoulder. "They don't call me a soothsayer for nothing. And besides, what would I gain from lying to you?"

The queen weakly nodded. She had been lying in bed for the last few days and lately the pain had gotten worse. It's almost time for the queen to give birth, the soothsayer thought. But would she be able to recover?

She asked out loud, "Do you think that His Majesty should be aware of my mystic powers?"

Queen Fen thought about it for a moment, and then nodded. "I am sure Baojia would find out sooner or later anyway," she replied. "I am sure he will understand. After all, he was the one who hired you to assist me. And speaking of him, could you please find my husband for me? I would like to ask him something."

The soothsayer responded with a slight bow. "I will tell the king that you would like a word with him," she said.

"Thank you," the queen whispered and closed her eyes to rest.

The soothsayer set off to find King Baojia. Now where would he be at this time? she thought. It was early in the evening, which meant that the king had just finished his daily stroll on the beach and was probably on his way back to the palace. At least, that was as far as she knew.

King Baojia liked to spend a few hours on the beach because he always felt at peace there. It was basically his way of escaping from reality.

It's thanks to me that the queen is not as sick anymore, the soothsayer thought. Just to make sure that the king was on his way home, she went downstairs and walked over to the front guards. She walked up to them and asked, "Excuse me, but have you seen the king return from his meditation yet?"

They both shook their heads. "No ma'am. He should be back soon though," one of them responded. "Do you need him for anything?"

The soothsayer smiled. "No, I do not need him. However, the queen wants to see him as soon as possible. I guess I'll just wait here until he comes. Thank you though."

Just then the double doors opened with a bang. King Baojia's face had fatigue written all over it, like he had just come back in a rush.

"Are you all right, Your Majesty?" one of the guards asked.

The king nodded. "I'm fine," he replied. "But I'm not sure my wife is."

"What do you mean?" the other guard said with a confused look.

"How is the queen?" Baojia asked the soothsayer.

"She is doing well, Your Majesty," she replied. "The queen is just tired, but she said she wanted to see you as soon as you got back."

"Then see her I will," the king remarked as he made his way up the stairs. "Come with me."

The soothsayer gave a curt nod and followed the king up the stairs. "Tell me," Baojia turned to look at her when they had ascended. "Is her sickness getting any worse?"

She shook her head. "The queen is still in pain, but not as much as before. She said she had wanted to speak with you about something personal. From what she has told me, I think she is going to have a boy."

The king's face broke out into a smile. "A boy, hmm? That is great news. At least now we will have a legitimate heir to the throne." The soothsayer understood what he meant. After all, the men were the only ones who could inherit the throne at the time.

They arrived at the king's personal quarters. "You may come in if you'd like," Baojia told the soothsayer.

"No thank you," she replied. "I will leave you to some privacy. Besides, I am needed in the kitchen."

"All right. I will see you at dinner then," he responded. The soothsayer nodded in response and gently closed the door. She went over to her room to wipe her face before she would head over to the kitchen. But when she walked out of her room, the soothsayer heard loud voices coming from the king's room. Despite the fact she informed the king that she would be in the kitchen, she couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation the king was having with his wife.

"...so, how are you feeling now?" King Baojia asked.

"I'm feeling a little better actually. The pain is more bearable and I am not as tired as before. I think I may be capable of walking around now."

"Now now, you need to take it easy, my dear. For the last 2 weeks you have not been able to sit up, and now you are suddenly capable of walking around again? How is that possible?"

"Well..." here the soothsayer had to lean closer to hear. "Ever since you hired that new servant, she has been coming in here all the time to assist me."

"Was she the goat that just accompanied me back here?" the king asked.

"Yes, Baojia," Queen Fen responded. "She makes her own medicine and administers it to me. The strange thing is that they actually work, unlike what the doctor gave me."

The soothsayer's ears instantly perked up when the king mentioned "the goat". I wonder what else she is going to say about me, she thought.

"Is that so? Well, I had a feeling I made a good decision when I hired her. She is a good servant. She will be rewarded for helping you."

"Yes, perhaps she can help us take care of the baby after it is born," the queen suggested. "And we can also give her a payraise."

The soothsayer smiled. That would be a good idea. Besides, once the baby is born, his parents won't be around to take care of him 24/7. They have too much responsibility over the city.

"However, there is something I'd like to tell you, Baojia."

"What is it?" Baojia whispered. He secretly hoped it was good news.

"I don't know if you knew this at the time you hired her, but the goat is actually a soothsayer. That's why her medicines actually work. And not only that, but she can also predict the future."

"Oh? I was not aware of that. I will find the goat later and thank her at dinner."

The soothsayer took that as her cue to head down to the kitchen. When she did, she was greeted by her worried sister who had already begun to cook dinner.

"What took you so long, Jun?!" she asked nervously. "I thought you had gotten into trouble or something! Did you forget it was time to cook dinner?"

"I-I know, Mei," the soothsayer replied. "And no, I didn't forget. But the queen requested to see me, and then the king asked me some questions about the baby." She did not want to add that she had also eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Oh, well that is good to hear! And how is the queen doing?"

"She's recovering quite well actually. Before, she was not able to sit up in bed, and now she is able to walk around like nothing happened. Isn't that interesting?"

Mei winked at her. "Our healing powers really do run in the family, it would seem. Now let's get to cooking!"

The soothsayer nodded. She didn't want to get into real trouble for serving dinner late, so she decided to begin making the meal. While she was getting out her cookware, a rabbit came up to her and said, "Hey Jun! About time you came. Tonight we're making steamed buns and peking duck, and everything you need is already in the fridge or pantry."

"Thank you," she replied. But as she began preparing to cook, the soothsayer couldn't help but think that something bad was going to happen in the near future. She was not sure what it was going to be (since she hadn't tapped into her psychic powers yet), but she had the feeling that it was going to affect a lot of people.

And just when I haven't updated this fanfic in over a year, I give you guys another cliffhanger! I'm such a nice author huh? XD

Please R&R! Constructive criticism is approved.

Oh and another thing, I first wrote this fanfic back when I was in 8th grade (and now I'm going to be a junior in the upcoming year). So obviously my writing style has changed a bit and my direction for the story has changed as well. Just letting you guys know that in case you noticed anything different. XD