A/N: I would just like to say that this is my first Kung Fu Panda story. I bought the movie about a week ago (as of March 23rd), and since then, my mind was racing with ideas for stories. The idea for this story actually came to me when me and my two brothers, along with some of their friends, went to a local gym and played basketball. While we were playing, it hit me; "Holy crap, something like this would make a great story for KFP!" Once I got home, I immediately grabbed a pen and paper and started to write an outline for the story you're about to see. Like I said earlier, this is my first KFP story, so please let me know if I get any parts wrong. Enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KUNG FU PANDA IN ANY WAY

FURY BALL

By Spartanguy88

Chapter One

"Tigress, I know what you're thinking about doing; and it's not going to work."

"Oh yeah right Crane. Like you can just suddenly predict my actions."

The tiger and the bird looked at each other with pure determination in their eyes. They each had a smug look on their faces on them as well. The fight between these two adversaries has been raging for almost two and a half hours; and up to this point, Tigress nor Crane had an advantage over the other.

"As a matter of fact," Crane said responding to her most recent statement, " yes I can in this case. To tell you the truth, I'm giving you a chance to give up right now." Tigress looked at
Crane with some confusion replacing determination in her eyes; "Excuse me? But what in the world would make you think I would just give it up now when I'm on the verge of winning?"

Crane stood his ground, unfazed at her bold declaration. "Listen, I'm giving you a choice. You can either agree to a draw, or just keep going and face total humiliation. So, what's it going to be?"

Standing not too far from Crane and Tigress were three other figures. One was a small green preying mantis; standing next to him was a golden-furred primate; and standing next to him was a light green snake. For everyone who knew them, it was easy to remember their names; for they were known as: Mantis, Monkey, and Viper. And right now, they each had a mix of nervousness and anticipation in their eyes.

"The suspense is killing me!" Mantis said loud enough only for his two fellow spectators to hear.

"I know," Monkey said, "I'm not sure how this is going to end either one of them."

Viper couldn't take it anymore, and she yelled out, "Tigress, don't do it! It's too risky! You're gonna-!"

Tigress held her hand up towards the snake and told her, "Viper, I appreciate your concern, but I'm pretty sure I can handle this winged rodent." She then gazed back towards the avian, looking even more resolute than several seconds ago. "Now then, let's see how you can handle this!"

FIVE SECONDS LATER…

"No! Why did she have to do it!" Viper cried; this time for only Mantis and Monkey to hear. Monkey simply continued to observe; while Mantis replied, "Yeah, now she's really in for it…" Crane had witnessed the move Tigress had boasted about, and simply gave a small chuckle, much to her surprise.

"Hey, what's so funny bird-brain? Oh wait, let me guess…" Tigress mocked, "…you've gotten to the point where you're so clueless on what to do, you're laughing at even your own downfall. Is that it?"

Crane glanced at her with a knowing look, and replied, "That's not exactly the way I would put it." He then raised one of his talons and said before making his move, "Can you do me one small favor, my friend?"

"And what would that be?" Tigress asked in return.

Mantis, Monkey, and Viper leaned in; eager to see what would happen next…

Crane placed his foot on a small, red, and round piece of wood, and made it hop over six black pieces. He immediately looked at Tigress and proclaimed, "King. Me."

Tigress' eyes bolted with sudden surprise. Her jaw slowly fell agape. She couldn't believe what he has done. The spectators' gasped at what just occurred.

Crane had just beaten Tigress in a heated and prolonged checkers match.

"Wait, how did- I mean- what did you just- did you have that planned from the very st-!" Tigress stuttered her next few words before giving off a huge sigh and lowered her head in defeat while whispering to herself, "Dammit." Mantis, unable to control the urge not to, burst into laughter. After about ten seconds of laughing, he finally said, "You should've seen the look on your face! It was priceless!" Tigress glared evilly over at the insect and said, "Don't push your luck Mantis…"

Both Viper and Monkey gave a big sigh of relief, both glad the whole ordeal was over. Monkey then smugly looked over at Viper, held out his palm and said, "Pay up Viper. We had a bet…" Viper groaned and handed over, with her tail, a small pouch filled with almond cookies. At that moment, they were all sitting around the table placed in the kitchen of the Jade Palace, the home of the Furious Five. Recently, these five individuals, known widely as "The Furious Five," have gotten into playing checkers against each other; not just because it's a fun and challenging game, but their master, Master Shifu, strongly encouraged them to make it a once-in-a-while, if not daily, basis. In Master Shifu's opinion, he believed that checkers can help one improve on how to strategize against an opponent. There were times though, much like the recently concluded match, that it can get too competitive; even for those watching.

Finally, Tigress looked back towards Crane, who had a "I told you so" look on his face. She clenched her fists together, released them and said, "Wait 'till next time Crane. I'll be prepared the next time we meet face to face."

Crane simply rolled his eyes and started to put all of the pieces into a small bag. Mantis' laughing had finally died down, and it seemed everything would return to normality. Viper then looked around her, feeling as though something was off. She then turned back to everyone else and asked, "Hey, has anyone seen Po recently? You'd think he would've come to watch by now."

Po was a large, often clumsy, but incredibly kind-hearted panda about the same height as Tigress and Crane. He is the most recent addition to the Jade Palace. It was now five months since he personally met the Furious Five and Master Shifu; five months since he embraced his destiny as the Dragon Warrior, and defeated a cold, ruthless snow leopard, whom was known as Tai Lung, with the dreaded Wu Xi Finger Hold; a hold so devastating that even Tigress, the strongest of the Furious Five, came to fear it. Yet despite all that Po has accomplished, he still had much to learn; as he was now practicing from the Thousand Scrolls of Kung Fu.

Mantis looked over at Viper and answered, "Viper, you know how it works for him: We wake up; get in two or three hours of training at the training grounds; then after that he goes down to the Valley to help his dad out at the noodle shop."

Viper replied, "Yeah I know that already, but he usually helps out down there for about three hours, then he comes back to the Jade Palace. It's been five hours since he left for the noodle shop." Everyone else then began to ponder about just that. Finally, Crane spoke up, "You know, come to think of it, he seems to be doing that a lot lately. And he's been going over to the nearby wooded area."

Monkey joined in on the "I Wonder What Po is Up To" club meeting. "About a week ago, I saw him writing something on a sheet of paper. When I walked over and asked what he's writing, he tried to hide it from me, saying it was 'nothing for me to worry about.'" When they asked if he saw anything on the sheet of paper, he shook his head. "I couldn't get a good look."

Tigress then spoke up, "I have no clue what that guy is up to this time, but I say that the next time we see him, we start asking questions." Everyone else murmured at this. Viper then stated, "Well, alright then. But I don't think we should cause any kind of alarm on him. We should do it in a calm and peaceful-"

"HEY GUYS!!!!" Po yelled excitedly as he came right into the doorway. The Furious Five jumped and gasped at his sudden arrival. It also caused Crane to drop the bag of game pieces and they scattered all across the floor. They all then groaned with annoyance in their tones.

As Crane bent down to pick up the game pieces, Mantis snapped, "How many times do we tell you not to do that?!" Po stared at them for about two seconds, then sheepishly smiled at them and said, "Oh right; sorry guys. But seriously, you have got to come with me right now!" Just as the panda was about to rush out the door, Tigress stood up.

"Now hold on a second, we need to talk. What have you been doing all this time?" Tigress demanded. Po slowly turned around to see everyone looking at him, waiting for an answer; minus Crane, for he was busy with the game pieces. Po then said, "I've been working on a project this last week. And I can guarantee all of you, it's totally awesome!"

Crane had finished putting the pieces back into the bag; he looked up to Po. "Po, please don't tell me this is another one of your 'inventions.' Do we even have to remind you the last time you tried to make something?"

Po thought about it, then remembered what his last project was…

TWO WEEKS AGO…

Mantis and Crane were watching Po pull out from a small box, two large sticks connected by a thick piece of string. "Boys.." Po stated, "Behold the future of Kung Fu weaponry. It still has some work to be done on it, but trust me when I say…" he started to wave one end of it around while holding the other, "…the next bad guy we see is gonna be in for quite a surprise!" It was pure irony that hit him when the part of the strange stick that was waving around hit him right in the "family jewels".

As he gasped and groaned at his unexpected injury, Mantis and Crane burst into semi-hysterical laughter. Tears were literally coming out of their eyes for laughing so hard. Crane fell onto his back laughing all the way. Finally, Mantis managed to squeeze in, "You're right about that. The next bad guy we see is gonna laugh himself to death!"

TODAY

Everyone but Po was snickering at the remembrance of Po's experimental weapon test. Po sighed and let off a small and fake chuckle. "Oh yeah, that was quite a riot huh?" After everyone's trip into Hilarious Memory Lane was over, Viper asked, "Now, you were saying about this project you were working on…?"

Po got all excited once again. He said, "Oh right! Come on, it's a lot easier to show you then to explain it. Let's go, come on!" He rushed out the door, leaving a slightly confused group of Kung Fu masters sitting there for a few seconds. Then they all got up and followed suit, while Crane picked up a large straw hat and placed it on his head, wondering as to what Po has to present to them.

A/N: And there you have it, the first part of my first fan fic that is Kung Fu Panda related. That whole, "Po's experimental weapon scene" was actually inspired by this hilarious Youtube video called "Nun Chuck Fail." Look it up and you'll see what I mean. Now please review!