Those We Leave Behind

By: Commentaholic - Alpha 02

A/N: Me? A Kung Fu Panda fic? No way!

Yeah, I never expected to write for this fandom either, but here I am.

Well.. um... not really sure what to put here. This is brought on purely by incessent pestering ideas. I'm not a HUGE Kung Fu Panda fan, though I did enjoy the movie. I haven't seen the second one, so don't cite references from that movie to me in attempts that I put those things in there.

This one's another addition to what is I am starting to call my "Doom'n'Gloom Beginnings" series that will now be spanning 2 fandoms, Balto and KFP. You'll find out why I call it that soon enough, right?

Prologue: The Survivors

Mei-long was a beautiful young tiger, only a few years out of childhood and just reaching her teenage years. The years of wanderlust were upon her, and she wanted freedom. The freedom to escape past her enclosed world, beyond the large door blocking her way...

And right now, Mei-long, clad in a blue vest and black pants, stood on tip-toes, trying to reach the latch that kept the massive door locked. Her fingers stretched for the small wooden catch that would unlock the door's complicated seal to what lay beyond. Many times before had she tried this mission, and many times had she been thwarted by the false latches, the tripwires and the interference of her guardians. Not this time, she thought, eyes narrowing, glaring at the ever-elusive door handle. The Masters were distracted and now was finally the chance that Mei Long had been waiting for. Jumping up, her claw grasped the latch that she had figured out to be the correct one, hidden amid an intricately carved dragon that decorated the outer rim of the door. She laughed with excitement as the door began to move, slowly, grinding inwards on old hinges, rusty with disuse.

She was preparing to drop down to slip outside when the door was slammed shut with a rather violent push by an orange, red and black blur. The door shook so much that Mei fell off, landing on her back. So much for the fabled feline grace... Mei grumbled before looking at what caused her fall.

Gasping, Mei scrambled to her feet, bowing, fist against open palm. "Master, I apologize. It will not happen again."

"Oh, I think it will," said a female voice. Mei's chin was raised by a gentle paw, raising her face to look into Master Tigress' face. "That is, if you have inherited your father's determination, Mei." Tigress said, smiling at her daughter. Mei knew her mother well enough to know that behind those smiling eyes was a hidden, lingering sadness.

Tigress turned away, red robe swirling about her as she strode ahead of Mei while they returned to the stone structures that filled the mountain, which had been hollowed out by its inhabitants some thirteen years earlier, sped along by the industrious assistance of the Kung Fu Masters. As they neared the city square, Mei excused herself from her mother's presence.

Tigress watched as her daughter ran off to play with her classmates. The school of Kung Fu that they'd established in this mountain city was doing well, despite everything. Though the inhabitants were not great warriors, originally being from the Valley of Peace, a few children with potential had been found.

Tigress pondered the future of these students, lost in thought, not really watching where she was going. Her subconscious mind guided her through the labyrinthine corridors hewn from the mountain stones themselves. Eventually, Tigress' feet came to a stop and she looked up to find herself in a well-lit chamber... a very familiar one.

At the opposite end of the hall, which was filled with intricate carvings along the walls detailing histories, tales and legends, were two statues. Tigress approached them with respect, for their stone figures depicted two warriors for whom she had great respect.

The one on the left was of her teacher and adopted father, Grandmaster Shifu, who had been slain by Tai Lung, another victim of the Snow Leopard's rage. Tigress reached into her robe, pulling out a domino tile and laying it at the feet of the statue as a symbol of her humble origins at Bao Gu Orphanage and how she had come to be under Shifu's tutelage. She bowed deeply to the statue, eyes filled with sorrow.

When she turned to the next statue, her sorrow only intensified and added to the guilt bubbling up within her.

Po...

The other statue towered over Shifu's, depicting the panda's rather impressive bulk, yet at the same time, not doing it justice. The stonecutters had done it in his memory after it had been learned that he died fighting Tai Lung in a ill-fated attempt to redeem himself by saving Shifu and ultimately failing to stop the raging martial arts prodigy.

And so the Dragon Warrior fell, and soon after he fell, all of China fell under Tai Lung's control and lust for power. Only the refugees from the Valley of Peace had escaped the conquest by fleeing into the mountains.

Tigress placed a shaking hand on Po's statue. "I'm so sorry..." she whispered. Tigress' head bowed and the tears began to flow. She had done this with her stupid pride. Po had died trying to prove himself to the world...

Little did the world know that he had never needed to prove himself to Tigress.

For he had proved himself to her long before the world acknowledged him for the great panda that he was.

-=Flashback=-

"Monster!"

"Freak!"

A young Tigress cowered from the rabble of street urchins as they hurled insults and garbage in equal measure at her. Tears flowed down her face. She never should have left her room at the orphanage...

"Hey!" someone shouted, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size!"

The street urchins turned to see a portly young panda in patchwork pants, arms full of groceries. The panda placed his burden on the ground beside him before approaching Tigress' assailants.

One of them tossed the rock he was holding up and down, "You're protecting this freak, tubby?"

The panda's eyes narrowed, "Yes, I am."

"As you wish, fatso." The group turned on the panda, dishing out the punishment that they'd intended for Tigress. Rocks and branches bored down on him, knocking him off his feet, but he never shouted in pain. He just lay there and took it until the street urchins ended their sport and walked off, no doubt searching for another person to abuse. Tigress waited until they were gone from sight before she darted over to the panda, who lay there bruised and bleeding from numerous wounds.

"Why would you help me?" she asked, tears flowing, "You could have just kept going!"

"Because..." the panda wheezed out, coughing painfully, "A warrior doesn't just stand by and let a beautiful girl get attacked by ruffians."

Tigress blushed at the compliment for a moment before helping the panda sit up. "Come on, we need to get you some help," she said, ignoring the blood that stained her paws as she pulled him to his feet.

"So... What's your name?"

"Po... yours?"

Tigress turned away as they walked together, him leaning on her shoulder, "Most at the orphanage just call me 'The Monster'"

Tigress felt Po's reassuring hand on her shoulder. Well... the hand was really there because he could barely walk on his own after the beating, but it grasped her shoulder reassuringly. "I don't care what the others call you. I want to know your name for yourself," he said, his green eyes meeting her golden ones.

"Tigress."

-=End Flashback=-

Tigress slumped to the ground, unable to hold back the sobs any longer.

Mei stared, wide-eyed, from the shadows. She had followed her mother at a distance, curious. Mei had never been down these halls, nor had she ever seen her mother lose control like this. The young tigress slipped away, running from the hall as fast as her paws could carry her.

A/N: Well, I can say that in the time I was writing this, I watched Kung Fu Panda 2 as well as the Secrets of the Furious Five, so I know a little backstory... though I'm not above tweaking said backstory, as you might have found out.

I hope I've piqued your interest ;)

I know it's sad for now, but it will get better, I promise!

See you all next time on Those We Leave Behind! -snuggles cuddly Mei-long- She's so cute!

-=Commentaholic - Alpha 02=-