At "Kung Fu Kubs", a school for young children who want to learn kung fu, a new student was going to be arriving. It was a little, round, panda bear named Po.
Po had no kung fu experience at all. He only knew from watching. He was so thrilled to be taking classes. His father never wanted him to learn Kung Fu. He had always wanted him to do his job as a noodle chef, but he finally broke down and allowed Po to go.
Po stood outside the door of the school. Master Shifu welcomed him in.
Shifu: Good morning, little one. What might your name be?
Po: Po.
Shifu: Aw, yes. This must be your first time ever trying kung fu.
Po: I've tried before, but I always fell down.
Shifu: Then we'll have to work on that. You must understand that all the other students are ahead of you so we'll just have to catch you up as quickly as possible. Don't feel rushed, just keep that in mind.
Po got excited. He was ready to kick some butt. He observed in the big play area, all the little warriors punching, kicking, and slicing objects.
Shifu: Class, I'd like you to meet our new student. This is Po.
The students all lined up before them and bowed gracefully to the newcomer. All, but one. A small snow leopard sat in a chair in the corner of the room. He was surrounded by stuffed animal stuffing and he had his back turned to everyone else.
Shifu: Tai Lung. Please, come join us in greeting Po.
The snow leopard scoffed.
Tai Lung: I'd rather jump off a cliff.
Shifu: Come right now!
Tai Lung stood up and walked though the piles of stuffing over to the others. He bowed ungratefully. The monkey looked up at the panda.
Monkey: Can I fight him first?
Mantis: No. He should take on me first!
Shifu: Po is not yet ready to take on your level. He must start at level one before he may proceed to fight the rest of you.
Tigress: This panda can't fight. He's too plumpy!
Shifu: Tigress! Be respectful to all.
Tigress: Sorry, Master.
Shifu: Well, I see to it, that Po stretches before he trains. Tigress, would you be so kind as to show him around and help him stretch.
Tigress didn't look too happy about this, but she bowed.
Tigress: Yes, Master.
Shifu left the room. Po approached the tiger.
Po: Hi, I'm Po! I'm sure we'll be great friends!
Tigress: Don't address with "Hi", Panda! Don't address me at all! This is a school for kung fu warriors and kung fu warriors only, so I'd be careful if I were you.
It was hard to take Tigress seriously when she had such a cute, high voice.
Tigress: Follow me.
Po did as he was told. They first walked over to a corner with pads, wood blocks, and a bear punching bag.
Tigress: This is where we test our strengths. We have to practice punches and kicks on those pads and that punching bag. Good luck breaking that wooden block in half your forehead.
Po looked at the pieces of wood and gulped.
Tigress: Over here is where we practice our meditating and zen. To be a kung fu warrior, you must become one with earth and nature.
Tigress kept on moving.
Tigress: That's where we eat. I expect you'll be over there a lot.
Po: Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.
Tigress: That's the obstacle course and that's the bad corner. You sit there as a punishment. Tai Lung is usually over there.
Po: What's with all the stuffing everywhere?
Tigress: Tai Lung likes to take his aggression out on stuffed animals. He's already ripped up a whole bunch of my dolls and the others' toys. I don't care if he rips up my dolls though, because I know that warriors don't play with dolls.
Tigress kept her stern expression. Po looked at the stuffing around the bad corner that Tai Lung was sitting in and gulped again.
Po stretched and did a few exercises when Shifu came in.
Shifu: Are we all ready, class?
Po: Yes, sir!
Tigress: You call him, Master, Plumpy!
Po: Oh, sorry. Yes, Master!
Shifu chuckled.
Shifu: I can't wait to get started.