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More from OkuyasuTheFoolish
After a long hiatus and muse recovery, Part 5 of A Very Different Trial is now here...
Either click the download link to view...or simply tune into the comment box.
Part 1 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13821849/
Part 2 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13834475/
Part 3 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13842767/
And Part 4 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13849901/
...
Life had become very complicated for Taran Zhu after the capture of Garrosh Hellscream. But if the trial had been chaotic…then what happened to bring it to a close was even more so.
The guards assigned to watch Garrosh had brought forth a Pandaren who appeared very similar to Hawkmaster Nurong and proclaimed that they’d been betrayed from within. Upon further investigation (and some needling by the Celestials), it was made clear before the entire court that Kairoz had sought to spring Garrosh from captivity for his own purposes.
When the Dark Portal was mentioned as Garrosh’s likely plan of escape, both the Lady Proudmoore and Lor’themar Theron bore horrified expressions. The courtroom had to be hushed repeatedly by Taran’s judicious use of the Temple’s great bell…but one thing was clear. Whatever had happened involved the Dark Portal, Kairoz…and a strange human that Taran did not truly recognize, or trust, for that matter.
But the matter was settled. Both the Alliance and the Horde would investigate the Dark Portal…and if Garrosh was on the other side, they would hunt him to the ends of wherever he had gone.
For Taran Zhu…it was a point of honor that he made certain another war did not break loose in that courtroom. And he had only just managed to do this…
Now…matters had settled. The Shado-Pan had to rebuild their strength…and with no mantid activity likely for another six to eleven months, this was possible. The Golden Lotus…had been all but destroyed, but the surviving members of the order pledged that they would endure.
They will have to sacrifice a great many traditions in order to do so. Taran reflected, looking out of the window of his room in Kun-Lai. It was not much larger than the other rooms in the Monastery; a plain bed stood in one corner with a table that could seat four next to a closet…where the robes Taran wore for particular ceremonies were stored, along with an extra set of Shado-Pan uniforms. One of which his mother had recently made for him…
Family. Friends. Food. That was what his people’s lifestyle had been centered about. Garrosh had made war against all three…and had his ambition succeeded utterly, Taran would now be dead and the Shado-Pan crushed into the dust.
But he had not succeeded. Where Taran had failed, others had not. His loss to Garrosh humbled him...and taught him that even he, as the Lord of this martial order, had to continue to improve.
To do anything less would be to invite a second failure.
There was a knock at the door; a single, heavy knock that woke him from his thoughts. Before Taran could answer it, there was a second knock. He sighed. It appeared the universe was striving to irritate him. He would not allow it to succeed.
The Lord of the Shado-Pan swung the door open to reveal a huge red-furred Pandaren with kind eyes, a gigantic belly over their waist, and a simple belt over their trousers. Taran didn’t recognize them, but his eyes narrowed to slits. “How did you get in here?”
“I apologize for the sudden…intrusion.” The big Pandaren bowed. “I have come on behalf of…a mutual acquaintance, Taran Zhu.”
“It must be a very important acquaintance for you to address me as an equal.” Taran huffed, gesturing to the table. “Sit down if you wish. I see that matters are intent on…annoying me.”
“Perhaps it is because you are in a stressful position.” The big Pandaren shrugged. “I cannot say for certain.”
Taran held a hand to the bridge of his nose for a moment, breathing out a long, quiet breath and allowing his exasperation to fade. “Perhaps you should tell me who this acquaintance is…”
“I have come on behalf of the Red Crane.”
Taran Zhu froze on the spot, in mid-step. “I see.” His eyes narrowed to slits. This information was of the utmost importance for a Celestial to have sent it in such a fashion…and if anything, this Pandaren was not be speaking with just their own voice. They were speaking on behalf of one of the August Celestials.
“The Celestials have…information for you. And for one of your subordinates.” The strange Pandaren held up a hand. “The Red Crane asks that you do not impart this information to anyone else…unless you are on your deathbed. The same applies for the one person you are permitted to speak to.”
“I understand.” Taran drew in a long breath. “What is the will of the Celestials?”
The big Pandaren leaned in. “This concerns the Trial…”
As they spoke, Taran’s eyes grew wider and wider with shock. The narrative that was related to him…was of the kind that Lorewalker Cho would have loved to hear. Unfortunately…it was the kind of story that could never reach the good Lorewalker’s ears.
…
“And that…is the end of the story. For now.”
Taran’s lips were dry. His eyes were stunned, his jaw hung, rather slack. It was an embarrassing position, to say the least…but considering all of what he had just been told.
Celestials.
“Why do this? Why do any of it?” Taran asked, recovering his voice. His throat was still scratchy. “Why go to that length? Wouldn’t justice have prevailed had things played out?”
The big Pandaren shook their head. “It was…not believed wise at the time to allow such a temptation to remain.”
Taran considered this. “What am I to do now? You have told me of his fate…and of his state.”
“Do you desire revenge, Taran Zhu?” The big Pandaren leaned forward on the table.
The Lord of the Shado-Pan needed not even a second to answer. “No. I do not.”
“Then let events play out as they will in Pandaria.” The huge Pandaren stood to his feet. Taran did as well. At that point…the big Pandaren bowed. “Taran Zhu…our vigil was lax. But now, a new era dawns over this continent…over the people that call this land home.”
Taran Zhu let loose a long sigh. “I will tell only one person of this, as the Celestials have requested. Stranger…what is your name?”
The huge Pandaren froze midstep before he could leave. “You would not know me by the name I give you, Lord Zhu. At least…not right away.” Taran stared into the man’s eyes. Finally, the other Pandaren sighed. “My name is Fat Long-Fat.”
And with that, the big Pandaren left him in his quarters. Taran Zhu drew in a long breath and knelt on the floor of his room. In some senses…what he’d just been told was a form of justice that he couldn’t have put into place. Was this justice? Or was it a trial deferred to another day…until the defendant had a better mindset with which to regard things?
Taran Zhu did not know. But he did know this much…
The last time he had questioned the will of a Celestial, he had fallen to the Sha of Hatred.
He would make no such mistakes this time. So he bowed his head…and prayed, placing his trust in those that had watched over this land for thousands of years.
Either click the download link to view...or simply tune into the comment box.
Part 1 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13821849/
Part 2 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13834475/
Part 3 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13842767/
And Part 4 may be found here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/13849901/
...
Life had become very complicated for Taran Zhu after the capture of Garrosh Hellscream. But if the trial had been chaotic…then what happened to bring it to a close was even more so.
The guards assigned to watch Garrosh had brought forth a Pandaren who appeared very similar to Hawkmaster Nurong and proclaimed that they’d been betrayed from within. Upon further investigation (and some needling by the Celestials), it was made clear before the entire court that Kairoz had sought to spring Garrosh from captivity for his own purposes.
When the Dark Portal was mentioned as Garrosh’s likely plan of escape, both the Lady Proudmoore and Lor’themar Theron bore horrified expressions. The courtroom had to be hushed repeatedly by Taran’s judicious use of the Temple’s great bell…but one thing was clear. Whatever had happened involved the Dark Portal, Kairoz…and a strange human that Taran did not truly recognize, or trust, for that matter.
But the matter was settled. Both the Alliance and the Horde would investigate the Dark Portal…and if Garrosh was on the other side, they would hunt him to the ends of wherever he had gone.
For Taran Zhu…it was a point of honor that he made certain another war did not break loose in that courtroom. And he had only just managed to do this…
Now…matters had settled. The Shado-Pan had to rebuild their strength…and with no mantid activity likely for another six to eleven months, this was possible. The Golden Lotus…had been all but destroyed, but the surviving members of the order pledged that they would endure.
They will have to sacrifice a great many traditions in order to do so. Taran reflected, looking out of the window of his room in Kun-Lai. It was not much larger than the other rooms in the Monastery; a plain bed stood in one corner with a table that could seat four next to a closet…where the robes Taran wore for particular ceremonies were stored, along with an extra set of Shado-Pan uniforms. One of which his mother had recently made for him…
Family. Friends. Food. That was what his people’s lifestyle had been centered about. Garrosh had made war against all three…and had his ambition succeeded utterly, Taran would now be dead and the Shado-Pan crushed into the dust.
But he had not succeeded. Where Taran had failed, others had not. His loss to Garrosh humbled him...and taught him that even he, as the Lord of this martial order, had to continue to improve.
To do anything less would be to invite a second failure.
There was a knock at the door; a single, heavy knock that woke him from his thoughts. Before Taran could answer it, there was a second knock. He sighed. It appeared the universe was striving to irritate him. He would not allow it to succeed.
The Lord of the Shado-Pan swung the door open to reveal a huge red-furred Pandaren with kind eyes, a gigantic belly over their waist, and a simple belt over their trousers. Taran didn’t recognize them, but his eyes narrowed to slits. “How did you get in here?”
“I apologize for the sudden…intrusion.” The big Pandaren bowed. “I have come on behalf of…a mutual acquaintance, Taran Zhu.”
“It must be a very important acquaintance for you to address me as an equal.” Taran huffed, gesturing to the table. “Sit down if you wish. I see that matters are intent on…annoying me.”
“Perhaps it is because you are in a stressful position.” The big Pandaren shrugged. “I cannot say for certain.”
Taran held a hand to the bridge of his nose for a moment, breathing out a long, quiet breath and allowing his exasperation to fade. “Perhaps you should tell me who this acquaintance is…”
“I have come on behalf of the Red Crane.”
Taran Zhu froze on the spot, in mid-step. “I see.” His eyes narrowed to slits. This information was of the utmost importance for a Celestial to have sent it in such a fashion…and if anything, this Pandaren was not be speaking with just their own voice. They were speaking on behalf of one of the August Celestials.
“The Celestials have…information for you. And for one of your subordinates.” The strange Pandaren held up a hand. “The Red Crane asks that you do not impart this information to anyone else…unless you are on your deathbed. The same applies for the one person you are permitted to speak to.”
“I understand.” Taran drew in a long breath. “What is the will of the Celestials?”
The big Pandaren leaned in. “This concerns the Trial…”
As they spoke, Taran’s eyes grew wider and wider with shock. The narrative that was related to him…was of the kind that Lorewalker Cho would have loved to hear. Unfortunately…it was the kind of story that could never reach the good Lorewalker’s ears.
…
“And that…is the end of the story. For now.”
Taran’s lips were dry. His eyes were stunned, his jaw hung, rather slack. It was an embarrassing position, to say the least…but considering all of what he had just been told.
Celestials.
“Why do this? Why do any of it?” Taran asked, recovering his voice. His throat was still scratchy. “Why go to that length? Wouldn’t justice have prevailed had things played out?”
The big Pandaren shook their head. “It was…not believed wise at the time to allow such a temptation to remain.”
Taran considered this. “What am I to do now? You have told me of his fate…and of his state.”
“Do you desire revenge, Taran Zhu?” The big Pandaren leaned forward on the table.
The Lord of the Shado-Pan needed not even a second to answer. “No. I do not.”
“Then let events play out as they will in Pandaria.” The huge Pandaren stood to his feet. Taran did as well. At that point…the big Pandaren bowed. “Taran Zhu…our vigil was lax. But now, a new era dawns over this continent…over the people that call this land home.”
Taran Zhu let loose a long sigh. “I will tell only one person of this, as the Celestials have requested. Stranger…what is your name?”
The huge Pandaren froze midstep before he could leave. “You would not know me by the name I give you, Lord Zhu. At least…not right away.” Taran stared into the man’s eyes. Finally, the other Pandaren sighed. “My name is Fat Long-Fat.”
And with that, the big Pandaren left him in his quarters. Taran Zhu drew in a long breath and knelt on the floor of his room. In some senses…what he’d just been told was a form of justice that he couldn’t have put into place. Was this justice? Or was it a trial deferred to another day…until the defendant had a better mindset with which to regard things?
Taran Zhu did not know. But he did know this much…
The last time he had questioned the will of a Celestial, he had fallen to the Sha of Hatred.
He would make no such mistakes this time. So he bowed his head…and prayed, placing his trust in those that had watched over this land for thousands of years.
Category Story / Fantasy
Species Panda
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 14.9 kB
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