Hey! Long time no see, I see. xD Well...I decided to write a new story...and yeah. Well, this takes place in an Alternate Universe, which I think seems pretty cool I guess. I modernized it a bit, so it takes place in the early 21st century...I hope that means our time period. xD It's basically about Po and how he got that the moment we start off with down there. Maybe you guys could guess what's happenin'. =D

Well, I hope you enjoy this.

I don't own Kung Fu Panda. ;)


I guess this is what they meant when they say "Life ain't no walk in the park."

At this time, I suppose it doesn't matter to any other person that my life is taking one of the most twisted turns I've been able to experience. Having already assumed that at least almost everyone went through the same thing made me feel only a bit better. But it didn't ease all the feelings that had started to attack me all at once.

I could feel my heart beating faster, the air becoming thinner as I heard footsteps coming from along the corridors of the hall. Blood began to pump faster as adrenaline rushed through me, but then I felt the reassuring squeeze of my best friend that said "Don't worry; it'll be 'Perfect'.

My mind began racing when I heard the footsteps stop. Then my mind faded away to its reverie…and it only happened in a matter of seconds.


Maybe it was when I turned fourteen that life was finally turning around for me, when I was finally able to grow into my own person and figure out who exactly was the panda that held my soul, and who was the soul that lived inside this body. The day I turned fourteen, the day I celebrated with all of my friends at my father's "Seafood & Soup Bar" playing karaoke, charades, and occasional video games, I started to see the world in a different way. My eyes were opened in a way I never realized before, and figured out a few things about myself. Things I regretted, because they made my life all the much harder.

It was at the age of eleven that I recognized the butterflies in my stomach were because of my crush on Viper, and it was at age twelve that we had our first kiss. What's better than having you're first kiss than with your best friend, I always thought to myself. Being young and careless, kissing was nothing but a game between her and I. We would did it as if it were nothing, and when I did kiss her, I always wondered what sparks or fireworks those older teenagers talked about.

Kissing Viper, I really never saw those. There was no color, no spark of life. It was just lip-on-lip action, and I felt nothing. We dated for about a year, until she broke up with me because she started liking someone else.

It was our other best friend, Crane.

I admit I was upset for a few days, and always wondered what she saw in him. But eventually, I got over it and began dating more often by the age of thirteen. Those relationships, or "hook-ups" as Mantis would refer to them wouldn't last as long as I would have hoped, mostly ending with the girl breaking up with me because they started to become attracted to other guys, and I always thought it was because of me being a panda. Being a panda, I'm bigger than most, fat and heavy, and probably not the most physical attractive.

The summer before my fourteenth birthday, Viper and I had started to hang out together more often, seldom being with Crane at moments also. We often visited the local park, and mostly raced through trees in a zig-zag pattern. Occasionally, we would go for pizza at the outdoor mall or help my father out with some work that needed to be done.

After a few weeks of bein together like this, I began to develop another crush on her. I wondered...why not? She was beautiful, smart, sporty, and always knew how to dress right and use proper make-up. The things she could do with eye-liner and other supplies were remarkable and made her beauty even more radiant.

Or so I thought at that time, anyway.

One night, I looked at the star-shaped clock that hung on my wall, blinking neon colors every so often. '9:12'...maybe I should call...

I picked up my cellphone and dialed her number without thinking. I was going to tell her, whether it would take hours or just mere seconds. It ringed twice before I heard her voice through the other line, her usual calm and slightly girly sounding voice.

"Hello?"

"Yeah...It's me." I said, feeling stupid and dumb. Doesn't she have caller ID? She should have know it was me...

"Oh! Hey, Po. What's up?" She asked carelessly. It was one of those questions that were always asked when started a conversation, other than saying what you were just doing or about to do, it's always asked to know what you were doing, or why you called. It was always the same thing. What's up?

The sky, that's whats up.

"Eh, not much really. I was just bored an--"

"Called me to get rid of your boredom?" she asked knowingly.

"Actually, I wanted to tell you somethin'. It's kinda important, if ya know what I mean."

She didn't answer for a moment, and I was afraid she knew where I was getting at. "Continue."

I hesitated. "Well, ya see...I was thinkin' about all those days we've been spending together and I realized that I..." I stopped. I couldn't say it. The word made me choke.

"That you...?"

"Please," I begged, "Bare with me, it's kinda hard to say. I have found that I got a slight attraction towards--"

She didn't even let me finish. "Oh God, you like Mei Ling!?"

"NO!" I sighed heavily. "I kinda like...you." I whispered. She didn't hear me, I thought that when she didn't respond. I was right of course, because she responded with an irritating,

"What?"

"I said I like YOU, Viper." I answered, more willingly now. After a while, I heard her sigh. Silence dropped by for a visit, and decided to stay for a while. My mind raced. What was I thinking? Of course she would react this way, she has a boyfriend! Plus, we went out befor' and it didn't work out so well...what did I just get into?

"Oh..."

"Yeah... Listen, Viper. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called. I should probably get going. I'm sorry." Before I was able to press the 'End' button, I heard Viper shriek a 'NO!' and I immediately stopped what I was doing. I didn't say anything, I just remained there, silent and confused.

"Po...?"

I sighed in relief. "Yeah?"

"That won't change our friendship, right? Riiight?" The worry in her voice was too familiar, like that day she broke up with me...

I couldn't help but smile. "No, of course not."

I could see the smile grow on her face. "Great. So you'll still drop by one day after school? We made plans about that didn't we? Around the warm months. It's starting to get cold now, don't you hate that?"

"Yeah. The mornings would be as hot as the devil's heck, and then night comes and it gets colder than my dad's giant fridge." Viper giggled. "And don't sweat about it, Vipa-loo. I'll visit when it starts to get warmer, and so I can meet your friends. I doubt any of my friends would want to come though."

Viper groaned, "How many times do you have to call me that?"

I chuckled. "When your parents stop calling you that."

"Hahaha...very funny. Well, I gotta go. My mom wants me to get into the habit of sleeping early." She groaned. "Well...see you soon, Po?"

"Yeah...see you soon."

She didn't wait another second to hang up.


Okay, so I hope you enjoyed this! For those who are wondering whatever happened to "Decode"...I don't know about that. Or when I'll update. I'm working on the next chapter though, so I hope I'm finished with that soon.

So, hope you enjoyed and feel free to drop off a review. ;)

'Till next time!

ADIOS :D