Well, here it is, the first chapter to my Kung Fu Panda 3 story idea. Like I said in my trailer, I don't believe this is how the Movie WILL go,but rather an option it could possibly take...then again there are specific themes that I doubt Dreamworks would even consider. But regardless, Enjoy the first chapter!

Disclaimer: For this and all the following chapters, I don not own Kung Fu Panda or its characters. This particular story idea is mine though as well as any OC's


Kung Fu Panda 3:

Curse of the Shadow Stone

Created by Pandafan91

Chapter 1

My son…is alive!?

One month after the Battle of Gongmen City…

The air was calm and crisp on that quiet late summer morning. The morning dew still evident and apparent all around, as the grass glistened in the early dawn light. Ever since the defeat of the former heir to the royal throne of Gongmen City, Lord Shen, a relative Peace had seemed to envelope the great nation, thanks to the combined efforts of some of China's greatest Heroes and protectors, The Dragon Warrior and the Masters of the Jade Palace, along with the remaining members of the High Council of Gongmen City, Master Storming Ox and Master Croc.

It was thanks to these skilled and valiant Masters of Kung Fu, that the heinous ambitions of the late Lord Shen had been brought to an end at long last, and peace was once again welcomed in the great nation. But peace was not the only thing that the battle had earned the people. For one Clan leader in particular, that battle also seemed to have brought a single spark…of Hope.

High atop of the Great Mountains stationed to the far Northwest, hidden away from the world thanks to the high mountain walls surrounding it, was a secret valley that was seemingly always shrouded in mist. Numerous wooden houses stood about the center of the Valley, forming a single village, with many streets lined with numerous buildings,each home looking much like the last, save for one lone structure, significantly larger than the rest, stationed near the back edge of the village, which served as the village's temple.

Larger buildings with some outdoor tables and chairs, lined the main street of the village, giving it the appearance of a few restaurants or tea houses. Smoke pillowed into the air and the rhythmic clanging of a hammer sounded down the street, all the signs of the local blacksmith was already hard at work despite the early hour of the day. But although the village looked modest enough, the majority of the landscape was occupied mostly by farmland, making the smallish unknown village, a definite self-sustaining farming village for the most part.

Thanks to the mountain walls surrounding the modest valley, there was only one known way in and out, a lone narrow path which leads from the top of the valley and down into the jagged mountain terrain. A path most travelers dared not traverse due to the sheer danger one could face in even trying; Making unwelcomed visitors to the hidden valley, an extremely unlikely occurrence.

Within the Village Temple, a single figure could be seen moving about the halls, gathering various supplies into a rather large travel pack, as he prepared to set out for the perhaps greatest journey of his life. As he donned a black cloak, which completely covered his massive frame, he was about to reach for his straw hat when he stopped to look at the mirror across the room.

There staring back at him in the mirror was a face that he was all too familiar with; the face of a Giant Panda, albeit a bit on the older side compared to the majority of his clan. Granted, he wasn't exactly OLD by any means, but even he had to admit that he was no spring chicken anymore. Several stray wrinkles rimmed his face, his eyes a dark brown and he was also a bit taller than most of his villagers. Yes…HIS villagers…his people… his Kin.

His name was Gang, and ever since THAT night almost 24 years ago, his people had turned to him for leadership, for guidance and for support. As Gang stared at himself in the mirror, images of what took place that awful night rose to the surface of his mind yet again.

The night his entire world was torn asunder.


After digging himself out from underneath a collapsed house, Gang saw that his entire village… his home…was gone. Reduced to little more than ash and the streets now littered with the bodies of his kin, both young and old and his heart felt like it was going to shatter. Quickly, Gang had made his way over into the nearby forest, where he searched for hours trying to find the slightest trace of his wife and infant son.

Just when Gang was about to give up his search and head toward the nearest village, he managed to turn his head just far enough to the right to see something lying in the snow. That's when he had seen her. There, lying face down in the snow with her throat ripped out, a pool of blood formed around her…was the woman he had pledged to spend the rest of his life with. The woman he had finally been able to start a family with, after trying for so long. It was his wife and the mother of his only child. Xiu.

Upon seeing her in such a state, Gang's entire world had simply ceased to exist, as he dropped down to his knees, completely stunned into shock and horror. Eventually Gang managed to gather his strength and crawled over to his wife's corpse, unable to cease his relentless cries. The woman he loved more than any other had just been taken away from him. He lifted her into his arms, not caring how her blood coated his black and white fur and just held her as he cried into the night. Soon though, Gang realized that his son was nowhere to be seen and so reluctantly, the grief stricken giant panda laid his wife back down onto the ground, and brushed his massive paw gently over her face to close her eyes, while he got to his feet reluctantly and searched for his son.

He spent hours searching the forest, checking inside every tree hole, every bush, every brush pile, any possible hiding spot his wife could have potentially used to conceal their baby. In doing so he managed to stumble upon several fellow surviving Pandas. Working together, they began to help in his search, though never did find any trace of his son, and soon feared the worst. With his wife dead chances were high that his son had suffered a similar grim fate.

His people, now reduced to a dangerously small few, had no clue on what they were supposed to do. Why had the royal family attacked them in such a manner? They had done nothing to provoke such a massacre, of that they were certain. The Pandas were just simple farmers who would often trade within the great city known as Gongmen for various supplies, such as clothing, tools, and of course various foods. It was an arrangement that the emperor himself had agreed to, so why would the Emperor's son lead such a savage raid and execute them all, without giving so much as a reason, logical or not? Nobody had any answers.

That night Gang had truly lost everything in which he held dear in his heart. He lost his land in which his people had resided for generations, where his own father had built him a grand house as a wedding present when he married his dearly beloved Xiu. And he had lost his family; his wife now dead and his only child presumably also dead.

He had nothing… or so he thought.

He still had his people, or rather what remained of them. Looking out amongst the small group, counting a grand total of 15 or so survivors, their expressions rooted in fear and hopelessness covering their faces, Gang knew he could not afford the luxury to mourn his own loss. His people needed someone to depend on. They needed Hope. They needed a leader. So…he took charge. He gathered the remaining members of his people, his clan, and after burying what few dead they could find, he set out with his clan to search for a new home, for a fresh start. A place that was safe from the darkness that stirred within the kingdom of the peacocks.

That was twenty-four years ago. Since that day, the Pandas have kept Gang as their clan leader, looking to him for strength and guidance as they created their new life in solitude. Although they were able to survive on their own in their mountain village, they still traded with the nearest village from time to time for things such as tools, clothing, wood and various other items, but trips to their neighbors were few and far between as fear and doubt of an unprovoked attack still hung over their minds.

"If I do not get going, the Villagers will never let me leave. I need to get out of the village before the people wake up and try to stop me." Gang thought, as he turned away from the mirror. With that, Gang picked up his straw hat and placed it on his head. As he shouldered his large pack, he approached the door and picked up a large walking stick, closing the door behind him as he left the temple which had served as his home for the past many years, hoping that it would not be too long before he was able to return.

As the old giant panda looked out about the village, a swirl of wind crept past his face which brought up memories of an event that took place a month ago, where Gang meditated at the top of a hill overlooking the village. It was here where he had constructed a small shrine in memory of his lost wife and son which he visited every day for the past 23 years. He found that meditating daily, helped bring a sense of calm to his otherwise shattered heart, for even after all those years, the pain he felt for the loss of his family was just as great now as the night it happened.


A month ago…

It was early evening as Gang was meditating at the shrine like he had done every day for years when suddenly… he saw something. At first he felt he was simply having a having dream, it would not be the first time he had fallen asleep during such times. But it wasn't until later that he realized that it was no mere dream, but a vision. He had been standing along the edge of a body of water. A harbor perhaps? "What is this?" Gang asked himself when he saw something out in front of him.

Sitting on the deck of a half destroyed naval ship, was something Gang certainly wasn't expecting. A Panda cub. The cub was looking towards something away from Gang. But the more Gang watched the cub, the more an idea in the back of his mind started to take root and began to grow. It couldn't be. It couldn't be him. There was no way that cub could have been his child. His son was dead…wasn't he?

Without meaning too, Gang opened his mouth and called out to the cub in a shocked whisper, "S-Son?" But the cub clearly could not hear the larger Panda, as suddenly there was an all too familiar white peacock who had appeared from beyond a curtain of smoke, now standing menacingly before the cub, cackling madly. "Shen!" Gang roared, as he immediately felt his blood begin to boil, his eyes narrowed and teeth bared at the monster who had annihilated most of his kin.

But as Gang was shouting at Shen, it was only then that he noticed a large object sitting behind the peacock that resembled a large metal Dragon. "What is that?" Gang asked as he watched Shen leap back and up onto the structure and light a fuse. After a few seconds, Gang watched in horror as the large metal Dragon Spat out a ball of Dark fire, hurling right towards the cub he believed might be his own child. "NO!" Gang shouted as he watched the fireball hit the deck in front of the cub, sending the child flying back hundreds of yards and into the water.

After the initial shock of what he had just witnessed wore off, Gang realized the cub had not so much as cried once during the ordeal. "He…He's dead…that monster killed him…again!" Gang had collapsed to the ground, tears streaming his face as he mourned the loss of his child again, while the peacock laughed maniacally in the distance. After clutching the ground beneath him for a few seconds, Gang's sadness, quickly turned into a blinding rage, raise his head and was about to roar at the Peacock, when he stopped himself at the last second.

A figure had suddenly breached the surface of the water gasping for air, with its back to Gang and for a moment, he allowed the delusion to enter his mind that his child had somehow managed to survive and had managed to swim up to the surface. But the thoughts were immediately washed away, as Gang looked out with tears still clouding his vision, and he watched as the figure was now climbing out of the water and onto a still floating piece of ship wreckage.

Wiping his eyes of his tears, Gang had looked out and saw that there was a new Panda standing out on the water with its back to him. A fully grown Panda. He wore no shirt, but had a pair of patchwork shorts on and his entire body was covered in soot and ash. But even from that distance, Gang could still make out that the Panda was relatively young, as well as a bit on the shorter side for his species. Gang stared wide eyed at the newcomer as he wondered, "Who is that? Where did he come from? And what happened to my son!?"

It was then Shen had fired at the Panda with his weapon, now shouting in rage, as Gang watched a second ball of dark fire soar towards the newcomer. "Look out!" Gang roared. But the new Panda appeared to not have heard him, as he appeared to watch the fireball soaring towards him. Gang then watched as the Panda brought his arms forward and to the elder panda's shock, caught the fireball in his bare paws, while being pushed back along the water due to the sheer force of the blast.

Gang stared wide eyed, his gaze rooted on the Panda as he roared in defiance, and leaped into the air, twirling around a few times as Gang watched the ball of fire the Panda was actually now holding turn from a dark red color, to a bright yellow, as the Panda bounced off the wreckage once more and began rolling in place, his form resembling that of a spinning Yin-Yang symbol. When the Panda eventually stopped, he spun around once, his head bent low so that Gang still could not see his face, while the Panda called out, "Skadoosh!" and Gang watched the Panda THROW the ball of fire right back towards Shen's weapon, thus resulting in the entire ship Shen had been standing on to explode, covering the entire harbor in smoke and fire.

Gang watched in shocked silence, his eyes glued entirely on the back of the Young Panda standing in the middle of the harbor breathing heavily, his form slowly becoming enveloped by the smoke from the burning ship. Gang had watched the cub he now knew to be his son blasted into the water just now by that weapon. But where his son had landed in the water…this new Panda had suddenly emerged.

Slowly, as the Panda began to disappear from view, Gang was beginning to understand. That Panda…the young man standing out there in the water, who single-handily destroyed the Monster who took away everything he held dear…he could be only one person. As he allowed himself to indulge in the hope, realizing that the Panda could possibly be the same age as his son. And after all, Xiu was a bit on the shorter side too. Was it possible? Could it be?

It was then, Gang finally found the courage to whisper out to the figure in the distance, "S-Son? Are you… are you alive!?" and as if the Panda in the distance could possibly have heard him right then, he slowly began to turn around to face Gang. But by now the smoke was now completely shrouding the Panda, as his face was brought around to where Gang would have been able to get a good look. "SON!?" Gang called out in desperation, but alas, when the smoke finally dissipated, the Panda was gone.

After staring out into the water for a long moment, Gang finally dropped his head in despair. What was he thinking? That couldn't have been his son. That would mean that this entire time, his only child has been out there somewhere in the world while he hid himself and the remainder of his people away from it, there in the mountains.

In his anger Gang opened his eyes, ready to scream in a blinding rage at the world, when he saw something that made him stop. There, floating in the water lazily, making its way over to him was a single handmade Panda doll. Gang would recognized the toy anywhere, for it was the one and only toy he had been able to make for his Son. "Why…why is that here!?" Gang wondered in shock as he reached out and picked up the Panda doll, lifting it up to his face.

He was certain that this toy had perished in his home village so many years ago. But if it was here…in the same body of water as that Panda that had emerged from…then that could only mean one thing…right? "It can't be…it's impossible…Or maybe…" But as Gang stared at the toy for a long while, his thoughts finally managed to convince him that what he was seeing was real. Gang was meant to see this toy here, because it could only mean one thing.

As Gang finally opened his eyes from the vision, he quickly turned away from the mountains he had been facing, as he whispered his realization, "My son…is alive!?"


Present time…

Gang was now wandering through the village as the memory of the haunting and insightful vision finished replaying in his mind. At first he couldn't believe it. For so long he had spent his life believing that his child was dead, just like his wife. It wasn't possible…was it? But as the days and weeks went on, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that maybe—just maybe—his Son had survived the genocide. He never was able to actually find his son's…body… that day. Maybe he was able to survive after all, just like he had!

But it was also then that Gang realized that staying in those mountains wasn't going to get him any answers. He needed to find out for himself if his vision was true, no matter how uncertain he felt. He needed to at least TRY and find his son. In his heart, his child was alive. He had Hope again, something he had lost so long ago and he wasn't going to just throw it away…not this time.

And although Gang's resolve was steeled, he still had a serious problem to deal with at the time. He couldn't just up and leave his people and expect them to all understand. After all, even after all this time, and the Panda's numbers had more than tripled over the years, the Panda's still looked to Gang for strength, for leadership and guidance. He couldn't just abandon them all for his own selfish reasons, no matter how much he wanted to. So, during the past week, Gang had brought the heads of all the Panda families in his village to his home inside the temple, and revealed to them what he was planning to do. Keeping them in the dark was something he was not willing to do under any circumstances.

Naturally, when he revealed that he wanted to set out to search for his long lost child, the other Pandas were initially against it. Try as they might to not be disrespectful to their leader, it was painfully obvious that nobody wanted Gang to leave the village, and certainly not by himself. But Gang remained true to his wishes and stood his ground, determined to venture out beyond the mountains and find his son. He knew this vision was no hoax. He knew he had to go. But at the same time, he would not leave without his people's blessing, even if he had to get it by force.

After hours of senseless arguing with the eldest members of his clan, Gang managed to convince them to allow him to venture out on this quest. Despite their reluctance, even they knew that if Gang never found his son, that he needed closure at the very least, so he could one day finally put his past behind him. However there was one condition that the elders requested of Gang that night.

They wished that if he were indeed serious about leaving them for a time, then that he must name a successor for the Clan to take his place as the Panda leader, until such a time that he should finally return, with or without his lost child. Gang quickly agreed to the terms, and merely asked for a few days to think of his selection. Although he was in a hurry to set out, he was not about to leave his people in the paws of one who was incapable of leading them. And after five days, Gang finally had chosen the proper Individual to lead his people in his place, and two days after that, here he was now walking just beyond the rear edge of the village up a hill, when he heard a familiar voice calling out to him, "ELDER!"

Gang sighed as he recognized the voice and quickly turned around to see a younger Panda wearing a blue tunic and gray pants running after him in a desperate attempt to catch up. His name was Hui, and he was the Panda that Gang had chosen to step up as the village chieftain in his absence. As the Panda reached Gang though, the young Panda bent over immediately, placing his paws on top of his knees as he tried to catch his breath, causing Gang to simply smirk as he turned around with his back to the Panda while he waited patiently.

After a brief moment of waiting for the Panda to catch his breath, Hui looked up and pleaded with Gang, "Elder Gang! Please, I beg of you, please reconsider this. You cannot simply just leave us like this! We need you here!" Gang sighed in slight frustration at this. For the past two days, Hui had been trying to convince Gang that he was not the right person to lead the Pandas. That someone older and wiser should carry the mantle instead. But Gang had felt differently. Unlike most of the other men in the village, Hui had something that Gang had rarely seen in one so young, a leveled head on his shoulders.

Hui was not just kind to everyone he met, but was rational, always liked to have all his facts straight in any situation and never jumped to any conclusions. He was well like within the village and the next in line to be the head of his own family. As far as Gang was concerned, there was never a more worthy candidate than the young Panda. Now, if he could only convince said Panda of just that.

Gang sighed again, as he turned around to face the Panda for a moment, his stare surprisingly intense, causing the younger Panda to lower his head nervously. After a brief pause, Gang then finally spoke in a serious manner, "My son …who I've thought was dead for the past twenty-four years, is alive…I can feel it. He's out there somewhere and I intend to find him. The village will be fine in your capable hands Hui…you are wise beyond your years, and I have no regrets in naming you my replacement until I can return."

Hui just continued to look down at the ground as he whispered, "But…Elder…What if you're wrong about me? What if I cannot lead the people!? What if I fail!?" Gang simply shook his head as he said, "Young one, I have watched you grow since you were a mere boy. I have seen the way the people treat you, you are well liked and well respected. You're smart and diligent. My decision in naming you leader was not wrong, of that I am certain."

Hui looked up briefly with doubt still swimming across his eyes as he slowly lowered his head once more in doubt. Gang then stepped forward, placing a heavy paw on the Panda's shoulder gaining Hui's attention once more. As Hui looked up into the encouraging smile his Elder was giving him, he knew right then and there, that he had to do this. His Elder was entrusting him with something wonderful, something the older Panda cherished…his People…and Hui knew he couldn't let him down. Not after everything Gang had sacrificed for their own benefit.

Hui stared into Gang's face and slowly nodded his head as he said, "Alright… I…I'll do my best Elder…but please Elder Gang… Promise me that you will hurry back to us!" Gang smiled as he gripped Hui's shoulder and said, "As soon as I find my son, I shall return as quickly as possible. Take care of the clan. I know you will do me proud, Hui." Hui nodded at Gang right then, and for a moment, Gang saw a new strength in the Panda's eyes. A strength that showed determination and it was in that moment, that Gang knew for certain that he had made the right choice.

Quickly, Gang turned around and began to exit the village while Hui called after him, "Be safe Elder…and Good luck. May the gods watch over you… and your son!" Gang turned his head to look back at the Panda and nodded, as he then turned to face forward as he began to leave his home and people behind.

It wasn't long after Gang had reached the top of the hill that he came to the place he was seeking. Placed at the top of the hill at the base of one of the mountain walls was a single pool of water with a waterfall cascading into it that never seemed to overflow. When Gang had first brought his people to these mountains, he had investigated the pool and swam to the bottom of it, discovering a hole of sorts at the bottom of the pool. It wasn't until much later that the Panda's discovered that the water that drained from the pool was being distributed throughout the entire mountain. It was almost like an underground spring that emerged at the top of the mountain walls. This was also the place where the Panda's retrieved their drinking water from, as well as water to clean, wash and cook with.

As Gang reached the waterfall, he took a deep breath before he said, "This is it." He then began walking across the stones to the far left and over towards the waterfall. He had discovered that behind the waterfall was a series of tunnels that would lead down the mountain's back side. Gang kept these tunnels a secret from everyone but the heads of the Panda families, making sure not to allow the village children to discover the tunnels and get lost exploring. However, should the village ever be invaded by bandits, or perhaps…even Lord Shen again, they at least had an escape route planned to get their people to safety, unlike last time when they were caught unprepared.

After Gang stepped through the freezing water, he shook himself dry and began making his way through the tunnels, using his free paw to guide him by holding on to the walls, while using his walking stick, to make sure he did not trip. As he traveled the tunnels, a single thought was going through his mind. "My son…I will find you soon…I promise. Wait for me, just a little bit longer." And with that thought spurring him forward, Gang began to quicken his pace, as he walked deeper into the darkness of the caves; his journey to search for his lost child, finally beginning.


So that's chapter one to the KFP 3: Curse of the Shadow Stone! What did you think? Let me know. I can feel this story is going to be a fun one to write!

I have read so many stories where Po meets his biological father for the first time and instantly at least one of them knows they are related. I wanted to try a story where that at least wasn't the case, so wish me luck!

Thanks for reading and remember...

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