Chapter 1

It had been two years since Po's arrival to the Valley of Peace and he could not ask for a more pleasant place to spend his days. Mr. Ping had been very eager it would seem to pass on his cooking skills and Po had found his kung fu skills came in hand every so often when preparing meals.

Towns folk took to Po very easily as well. It was not every day that a panda would be seen strolling through the open streets. He had very few friends though, expect for the regulars at Mr. Pings restaurant—more commonly known as the Goose and Panda Noodle Shop—but he was alright with that. The less he stood out, the less chance there was of his past rising to haunt him.

He still kept in shape, though reframed from showing off his vast wealth of strength and kung fu skill in public, instead he choose to spend his training during the wee hours before morning deep within a nearby ironwood forest, a perfect place for punching and heavy lifting.

It was here where his life was about to change…once more.

Po's POV

Po had just finished his pre-morning workout. The forest was still dark, with thick gray clouds shifting across the sky adding the natural gloom. His body was covered in sweat after spending an hour of punch and lifting. He didn't really know why he kept up with his training. There was nothing left for him to fight for. His home, family, kin, all gone. He shook his head to clear the troubling images which formed in his mind. Finishing another set of punches, he leaned over to pic up a large bucket full of water.

He was about to dump it over himself when a creaking noise caught his attention and stepped back just in time to avoid an arrow zipping past.

"You're a fast one ain't ye!"

Turning around, Po saw several bandits emerging from the shadows. There a number of crocs, two lynxes and a rather large ox wielding a bow and cutlass.

"Who are you?" Po demanded.

The ox took on a look of surprise before laughing out loud. "Do you hear him mates?" This here panda never heard of the Feng clan. No wonder ye a dying race. Ye all too stupid."

Po's hand clenched, the muscles in his upper body tighten and swell, though this went by unnoticed by the laughing bandits as he wore a oversize robe.

"So what is it that you want?" Po asked, maintaining a calm tone.

"Well let's see," the thug leader said rubbing an arrow head across the length of his right horn. "We'll start with taking any food you have on you, then move on to whatever else your carrying, and if you're very lucky you might walk away with your life. How's that sound?"

"Sound to me you plan on robbing me."

"Well it looks like you're not as dumb as the rest your kin are…" the ox paused to face palm himself, "oops, I'm sorry, I meant to say were. So what's it to be? The easy way or the hard way?" He then notched an arrow against his bow string. "Personally I like going for the hard way."

"Funny," Po said, an evil grin forming along his face, "so was I."

Tigress's POV

Five kung fu warriors roamed through the ironwood forest, each one trained to master their own unique fighting style. At the head of the group was light orange female tiger. She wore a red vest trimmed in black with a gold leaf pattern on both sides and silk jet black slacks. She wore no sandals as they impaired her running speed—for which she was post proud of.

Her name is Tigress, leader of the Furious Five.

Behind her was Monkey and Mantis, both skilled and brave warriors, yet tend to joke more often. Next came Viper; whose passion for ribbon dancing, blended with her kung fu style has made her swift and deadly though most would never be able to tell by her pleasant outlook on life, treating her team mates as a family. Soaring above them was Crane, a powerful flier who's speed rivaled Tigress—nearly—and used his swift and cunning fighting to outwit any foe.

They were currently on the hunt of some local bandits who had been robbing villagers. Tigress wasn't all that concerned about this, even felt as if it was a waste of her time, but after a stern lecture from her master, she admitted defeat. There was also another reason why she agreed to go. Just before they left, the Grandmaster of the Jade Palace and keeper of the Dragon scroll, Oogway, told her she should keep her eyes open for someone. The ancient turtle would not reveal the person's name, only that he would bring about a great change to the valley and play an important role in her future.

Tigress scoffed at the very idea. She knew full well what her future held. A life time kung fu mastery which will one day lead her to become the new Dragon Warrior.

"Tigress?"

"Uh…" she said turning to her right, "what is it?"

Monkey and Crane looked at one another before turning back to Tigress. "I asked which way should we go?"

Tigress cheeks began to blush slightly and thank every god she knew for making her a tiger as her dark orange fur hid it from the others. So in tuned with her thoughts that Tigress had not realized they stood before a three way fork.

"Monkey you take the left," she ordered, "Viper take right, Mantis head back the way we came in case some of them slip past us, Crane you fly over head for a bird's eye view. If you spot any of us getting into trouble go get the others."

Each member of her team nodded in reply.

"And what about you?" Viper asked in a tender voice.

"Me, I plan on going straight down the middle."

And with that she stormed off running along on all four.

"Just make sure you save some for us." Monkey called after her, his voice no higher than a whisper given the distance between them.

A wide grin formed on her face. As if there'll be anything left when I'm done.

She had been traveling for the past five miles with no trace of the bandits. For a while she feared they were somewhere else, but she could have sworn she picked up a faint scent of something in this direction. She paused when she heard a faint rustling in the bushes. Stood her ground in an attack stance befitting a true Tiger master and spoke in a commanding tone. "Show yourself now or you won't live long enough to regret your actions."

There was no reply.

Tigress's crimson eyes darted from side to side, yet there was no movement, no subtle hints of life within the thick tree line. Whoever you are, you're good I'll grant you—

Her train of thought was broken as she heard a loud scream followed by a large creature tumbling through the trees.

"Oww…oh I stub my little piggy that had roast beef!"

Tigress eyes widened at the sight of a giant panda sitting before her. He held up his right foot paw, giving it a gentle rub. She had never seen one of his kind before. It was rumored that all of them had been whipped out years ago.

"Who are you?" Tigress asked lowering her stance.

"My…" the panda started but winced as he tried to move his foot from side to side which only led to another fit of screaming and whimpering.

"Oh never mind that," she said rolling her eyes annoyed with the panda's high pitch screaming, "just what are you doing out here? Don't you know there are bandits running about."

The panda scoffed as he rubbed his foot once again appearing unfazed by Tigress's aggressive posture. "You mean the Feng clan? Don't worry about them Kitty, they're not worth your trouble."

Tigress's eyes narrowed at being called Kitty. She took it as an insult to everything she stood for. She was about to slam the back of her paw clear through the panda's face when something dawned on her.

Stepping closer, Tigress bent over so that they were at eye level and said, "I don't recall ever saying who I was after."

The panda sat ridge, his lips parted in an oval shape, eyes wide. "You…uh didn't?" he said with a nerves chuckle.

"No," Tigress answered bearing her fangs. "So why don't you tell who you are and what you were doing out here."

The panda's sparkling jade eyes darted from side to side and grinned with a sheepish expression. "I…got to go."

With that he ran off, a cloud of dust rising up in his wake.

Tigress was surprised by the panda's speed, but she was not about to let him slip away. Running along on all four, the tiger gave chase, dodging and weaving between cluster of trees. However try as she might she could not catch her prey which only served to fuel her rage.

Skidding to a stop, she turned around glaring into the darken forest, eyes in search of the panda. However there was nothing, not a single trace of him remained. Even his scent had disappeared as though he was never there to begin with.

With her rage peeked, Tigress threw her head back and released a powerful roar then kicked a nearby tree. The force of her blow caused it to crack in two allowing it to come crashing to the ground.

"Hey what gives!"

Tigress spun around, half expecting to see the panda, only to find herself facing monkey. He stood up on his tale, a look of fear rooted on his face. The fallen tree rested before him, no more an inch from hitting him.

"Monkey," Tigress said, "I'm sorry. I hope you're alright."

"I'll live," Monkey stammered then hoped across the fallen tree, "but what about you?"

"I…I was chasing a panda."

"Panda?" Monkey said with a hint of laughter. "And here I thought you had no sense of humor."

"But it's true."

"That's impossible."

Tigress turned saw Mantis standing on her shoulder. She growled softly at how easily it was for the little bug to slip in without her knowing.

"Everyone knows pandas have died off."

Tigress was feeling extremely annoyed once again. Not only did she lose her prey but now her friends were calling her a liar.

"Forget it," she snapped, "let's just find the Feng Clan and—"

"Oh, almost forgot," Monkey said cutting her off, "it seems that someone already took care of them."

"What?" Tigress asked.

"Yeah, we came across them I guess while you off chasing ghost. They were out cold and butt naked," he them let loose with a hearty chuckle before adding, "Maybe they ran into your phantom panda."

Both Monkey and Mantis fell about with laughter.

Tigress merely growled, her claws extended and slowly crept toward the two.

Oogway's POV

High up a top the tallest mountain peak surrounding the Valley of Peace stood the Jade Palace, a place of great wealth and in depth learning, for it was here where Oogway discovered the secret to balance and harmony. Though normally Oogway is known for his cheerful and pleasant mood, the aged turtle now held a look of grief.

"Zeng," Oogway said.

A moment later, a young gray feather duck wahhled up next to him. "Yes Grandmaster?"

"I have two messages for you to deliver. The first is to Chief Gequ."

"Of course Grandmaster," Zeng said pulling out a scroll and plucking a feather, "and the other."

Oogway closed his eyes as he turned his attention toward the village.