I do not own Kung Fu Panda, or any of its characters. I do own the OC's.


A New Voice

Chapter 2

When Po opened his eyes he saw a pair of dark jade eyes staring down at him. The panther was looking Po over. Po jumped to his feet. He backed away and bowed to him.

"Forgive me, Dragon Warrior. I was afraid you had hurt yourself." The panther stayed on the jade floor.

Po looked over and saw Master Shifu holding the small panda cub in his arms. Viper and Mantis were examining the small bundle as Shifu soothed it. Tigress stood behind the panther with Monkey and Crane. They looked from him to the panther.

"Po, who is this?" Tigress asked with a growl in her throat.

"I don't know. I had a vision of him this morning, but I have no idea who he is or why he here." Po walked over and the panther rose to his feet. "What's your name big guy?" He was very tall and his black fur glistened with sweat. He had a strange calm to him as he addressed Po.

"I am Tou Mu. I have traveled many miles to bring this cub to you. She must stay with you. You are her only hope Dragon Warrior."

"Him?" Monkey motioned to Po.

"Yes. This child must be kept safe. Only Po has that ability."

"How do you know my name?" Po looked over Tou carefully.

"I have known you since you were her age. You were a very sweet cub, Po." Tou looked over at the female cub and smiled a sad smile. "Please, Po, you must help her. She is all alone in this world. Your destinies are united. She is part of you."

Shifu gave the cub to Monkey. "What do you mean she is a part of him? How do you know Po?"

"I gave Po to Mr. Ping." Tou was now staring at Po.

"What?" Tigress came around to be next to Po. Her voice was a whisper but seem to fill the whole room.

Po didn't move. He was rooted to the spot he stood in, but his face was full of questions.

"Po was very little when his parents were killed. I was instructed by his father to bring him to Mr. Ping, his best friend. I did as he asked. It was very hard to let him go. So I watched over him from afar. Mr. Ping took excellent care of Po, just like your father thought he would." Tou put his paw on Po's shoulder. "Your mother and father loved you very much Po. They would be very proud of you, and what you have become."

"My mother and father?" Po felt the like the ground had been ripped out from under his feet. Shifu came up to him and said something, but Po couldn't make it out. All he kept hearing were the words, your mother and father. They pounded through his skull. Small tears began to fill his eyes.

He had always known Mr. Ping was not his real dad, but he had never thought much about his real parents. Now it was like he had been slapped with it. Tou had told him so casually. Like he thought Po knew, and would just accept it. He had so many questions. Just as he began to speak, Viper asked his first question.

"Who is she?" Viper had taken the cub in her coils and was rocking her.

"She is Po's niece. Her name is Wu Bao." Tou reached over and took the sleeping cub from Viper. He caressed the child's cheek. "Wu, wake up youngling. We are here."

The sleeping cub opened her big green eyes slowly. She looked around the room, and then met the eyes of Po. She sat up in Tou's arm. Her little head cocked to the side. She studied the giant panda who was amazed at this young cub. Tou set her down on the floor in front of Po. Po knelt down to get eye level with Wu. Wu put her little arms out and touched the Dragon Warriors' face.

The Furious Five and Shifu held back and watched the exchange. Viper dabbed a tear from her eye. Mantis and Monkey stood with mouths open as Crane wiped the tears off his own face. Tigress showed no emotion. She was like stone next to Shifu.

Shifu turned and looked at Tigress. He could remember when she was that little. Young Tigress so full of life, her little eyes looking up at him with hope and dreams. Now she was the toughest woman in all of China. Shifu continued to stare at her. She may be the toughest woman in all of China, but she pushed all emotions away. There was a time he could tell you how Tigress felt by looking into her face, but now she was a statue. No longer did her fierce expression betray her. She had learned to be as obtuse as he had been to her. He regretted making her this way. He lived for her smile.

He turned his attention back to Po and Wu. How was Po going to handle all of this? He had a family out there. This little girl was proof of that. Somewhere there may be others, besides Po. And what about Mr. Ping? Po regarded him as his father. What would he tell Po about what this Tou had said.

"Unka Po?" The little girl questioned Po.

"I am Po. You must be Wu." Po smiled at the young cub. She smiled back. Suddenly Wu leapt at Po and grabbed him tightly around the neck. She screamed and tried to get a close to him as possible.

"BAD MAN!" Wu screamed in Po's ear. She was latched on so tight he almost couldn't breathe. His ear drum was vibrating.

Wu was pointing at Crane. Crane turned round and round looking for who little Wu was talking about. The others looked at Crane and then back at Wu. Tou was even struck by this reaction. He walked up to help unlatch Wu from Po, but it was no use. She was stuck to Po like glue. Shifu grabbed a bamboo staff and leapt into the air, landing on Po's other shoulder. Po collapsed to the floor holding the still screaming toddler, and now Master Shifu.

Master Shifu quickly grabbed the girl and unhooked her from Po. He turned her towards him. His face was stern, yet soft. "Why is Crane a bad man?"

Little Wu collapsed suddenly. Po reacted quicker than anyone else. Reaching for Wu he turned and found Viper right there. Shifu turned and ran toward the infirmary with small child in his arms; Viper, Mantis, and Monkey were close behind. Po went to take off after them but Tigress stopped him.

Tou looked to see Tigress was the only one left with he and Po. The look on her face was completely unreadable. She walked up to Tou and looked him dead in the eye. Tou started to back off to go after Wu and the others, but Tigress was too quick and stopped him in his tracks.

"Why don't you wait here? I think it's time you told him the whole story. Starting with what you have to do with Po and his family."

Tou sat down on the steps of the pool. He motioned for Po to sit as well as Tigress. "I know you have lots of questions, Po. I will answer all of them. First, I need to know if Wu will be alright."

"She is in the best hands. No one can help her more than Shifu." Tigress spoke softly.

Po looked towards the door. He believed Tigress, but still he felt an instant connection with that little girl. All he wanted to do was run out the room to her side, but Tigress knew they would only be in the way.

Tou shook his massive black head, and began his tale. "Po, your mother and father were very special. Your mother, Mingyu, was the most beautiful Panda ever. You have her green eyes, Po. I can see her so much in you. She met your father Weimin at the lantern festival in Xi'an. Your mother was a maiden to the empress. She was in the great festival parade when a young warrior caught her eye. Your father approached her that night, and was almost killed for his impertinence in stepping up to a handmaiden of the empress. She slipped him a note secretly. They met at the darkest hour in a small meadow outside the festival. There they talked, and fell in love. She went back to the empress the next day and asked if she may leave the service of the Empress. The empress, a kind woman, granted her request and your mother married Weimin. Mingyu was with child within the year and gave birth to your brother, Yong.

Weimin was so proud, but unfortunately his happiness would be short lived. A fierce battle broke out in the small town Mingyu and Weimin now lived in. Your father took charge of the local men, and defeated the attacking Xiao clan. Weimin was made the governor of the town. He took great pride in this position. I met your father during the battle. He saved my life, and when he took over as governor I became his most trusted advisor. I vowed to give my life for his family.

Your father and mother wanted the people to go into the future with knowledge. Weimin and Mingyu brought many merchants and craftsmen into the village. Mingyu encouraged the villagers to learn from these men and women. One of those men was Mr. Ping. He and Weimin became fast friends. Mr. Ping showed him how to cook, and how to play mahjong. Mingyu loved Mr. Ping for how he treated Yong. He took great care of Yong, and showed him many things in the kitchen.

Soon after this, Weimin and Mingyu welcomed you into the world. You were the light of their lives. They gushed over you Po. Your father and mother felt their family was complete with you. Even though they felt peace at home they continued to feel the only way to grow their village was to continue exposing the village to new things. They brought in teachers from other places to teach all the villagers to strive for more.

As the village began to flourish, Weimin and Mingyu had no idea how much attention they were bringing to the village. Many other neighboring towns were angry because women were allowed to learn, as well as men. The men felt this was a disgrace. Weimin tried to explain that women should be allowed to learn with the men, to support them. No one wanted to hear this. So in the night a group came through. They crept into the home your mother and father. I heard your mother scream." Tou lowered his head. He continued on in a whisper. "When I reached their room your father had grabbed you and thrust you into my hands. I begged him to let me stay and fight. He was a man possessed Po. He begged me to take you to Mr. Ping. He said Mr. Ping would keep you safe until he could return. I asked where Yong was. He said Yong had been taken, but he was going after him. I again offered to go with him, but just then a young tiger jumped into the room and began to attack him. The last thing I heard as I left was your father urging me to run, to not look back." Tou began to sob, his big shoulders shaking.

"I have a brother. Where is he? Did he . . . ?" He met Tou's worried eyes.

Tigress reached over and squeezed Po shoulder.

"I am not sure if he is alive or dead. I found Yong only a few months ago. When I got back to the village that night, I found both your mother dead, your father sword lay on the ground near her. I followed a strange scent out a window and I knew Yong was still alive. It took many years to discover what had happened. He had been taken during the attack, but left in the care of a young family of rabbits. There he grew up moving from place to place. His family was nomads. I finally caught up to them outside of your village. He must have heard of you Po, the Dragon Warrior. I reached his home and discovered he was married and had a little girl, Wu.

I spoke to his wife and waited for him to come home. I was so excited. He walked through the door and I almost hugged him to death. He had no idea who I was, so I explained all of it to him. He wanted to meet you. I was planning on taking him to you, but he disappeared in the night. I went to find him, but it was like he vanished, just like when he was a child. I followed his tracks as far as I could. Suddenly I heard a scream. It was that night all over again. I raced back to the cottage in the woods. I jumped in the back window to make sure I could surprise anyone who may be in the house. And I found . . ."

"And you found Wu slumped over her mother. You brought her to me so I could protect her from whatever is coming after my family." Po stood and made his way to the door.

Tigress caught him by the arm and stared him down. "Po, what are you doing? You can't leave!"

"I'm not, at least not alone." He smiled at Tigress and looked back at Tou.