Author's note: Thanks for all the support from all you guys! Especially Aidyl the Archer! This chap is a bit shorter than the rest but it is transition chapter, so it's not gonna be glamorous.

I don't own KFP, like anyone cares.

Chapter IV – Progress

Not far from Zayn and Daxolus' campsite in the Valley of Peace, Po, Shifu, and the Five were eating supper. The calm night's breeze blew through the Valley, stealing some of tree's leaves and whisking them away to an unknown destination.

Po had made his delicious signature Secret Ingredient Soup which everyone always enjoyed, and was quickly being slurped away by all the warriors that had had a long day and needed the food.

"You've out done yourself again, Po" Mantis commented after swallowing a mouthful of noodles. Everyone nodded their heads in solid agreement.

"Thanks. But my dad makes it the best because…well, he kinda…invented it" Po responded as he wiped his chin of broth that had flung from the noodles he had slurped. Po then noticed how silent that Master Shifu was and decided to chime in. "Master, why are you so quiet tonight? Usually you're in someone's ear about how much better they could be doing or telling us some mumbo jumbo about how 'patience is a virtue!" Po asked whiled mimicking his master the best he could, which Mantis and Crane chuckled at. Shifu only stared at the table for a moment before attempting to answer.

"I just…I just…excuse me" the red panda master said as he got out of his chair from the table and casually walked outside with a questionable look on his face.

"What was that about?" Crane asked while tilting his head in confusion. "It looked as if Shifu was…unfocused."

"I dunno. Maybe he left his staff outside?" Monkey questioned while getting another confused look from Crane. "What do you think Tigress?"

Tigress was off in another direction as her eyes snapped to Monkey.

"Master Shifu is just…feeling something right now. As if he needs to be somewhere" she answered with confidence.

"How'd you deduce that?" Viper asked with her eyes widened.

"I can tell." She lied. The reason she knew was because she had those feelings before when she knew something was out of place or weary. Whenever she felt them, she got the same expression on her face like Shifu had. It was something that had puzzled her all her life. She then thought about Shifu, and why he had left the room with that expression. Maybe something was wrong and he was trying comprehending it for himself. An urge pulled her to know what the problem was and what she could do, if there was, to prevent it.

"I'm going to go check on him" the feline stated as she dropped her empty soup bowl in the kitchen sink and left the room.

Shifu had walked outside to the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom to contemplate the feeling he had somehow obtained. He sat down in lotus position and began to meditate. The picture looked serene and peaceful, but the images he saw were gruesome and horrifying.

Shifu had seen multiple flashes that he assumed were visions of future, but did not want to be confirmed.

Darkness enveloped the Valley…

Black fire surrounded a hooded spectacle…

Po lying on the ground with a sword puncturing through his chest…

Tigress screaming in pain…

The last image shot Shifu out of his trance caused him to immediately sweat profusely. He shuttered at the images he had seen for they had all been terrifying, but meaningless. What was their purpose? How was this going to happen? Who was that hooded stranger? Questions surrounded the master's head until a familiar voice called out to him from behind.

"Master? Are you alright?" It was Tigress. She had finally caught up with him to the peach tree and saw his heated expression. Shifu regained himself and stood up straight to his pupil.

"I'm okay, Tigress. Thank you."

'Liar' Tigress thought to herself. 'Something's not right.'

"Are you sure?" she asked with urgency and hope that he would tell her the truth.

"Yes, I'm fine. Let's just head back inside and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow." With that the two walked back inside to the barracks in silence.

As the morning sun once again peeked over the mountain summits, Zayn slowly arose from his slumber and stretched his arms and legs out, while Daxolus was still sound asleep on his rucksack that acted as his pillow. Zayn cracked his neck and firmly kicked the lemur in his ribs.

"Wake up, Dax…Wake up!" Zayn kicked a bit harder but Dax was a heavy sleeper and didn't have any intent on waking up soon. Zayn could hear him mumble in his sleep which Zayn listened to closely.

"Yes…yes I would love some pineapples, babe… Oooo…someone wants to skip to dessert. Hehe…"Zayn shook his head with irritation.

"Stupid squirrel" he muttered to himself when the lemur shot up out of nowhere.

"I HEARD THAT!" he yelled with anger.

"I don't care. It's sunrise and it's time to go."

"A 'right, a 'right! Lemme get my stuff and we'll be on our way." The lemur slowly stretched out his sleepy muscles and packed his things into his rucksack. Zayn glanced at the pit they had made from last night. It was nothing but ashes and soot and…paper? He noticed a folded sheet of paper in the pit that had somehow managed to not disintegrate in the fire. While Dax was still busy preparing, Zayn reached into the ring of ashes and pulled out the sheet. He quickly shoved it in his pocket and decided he would look at it later.

"All set?" the tiger asked as he stood up.

"Yup! Let's start walkin'" Dax said with enthusiasm.

"I don't think walking is going to get us there soon enough. Hop on my back, I'll carry you" Zayn ordered the rodent.

"Um, you sure big guy? I mean I can run on my-"

"It's alright, I'll get us there fast. Besides, you don't look like you weigh much" Zayn assured him. Dax hesitated for a minute and decided to just agree with the man.

"Okay, but don't go to nuts" Dax reluctantly agreed as he climbed onto Zayn's back and gripped his collar with both hands. It was an awkward feeling, but they both got used to it quickly. "Alright…we need to go that- WAAAAAAYYY!" Suddenly, Dax's body was flailing around as his paw had a death grip on the tiger's collar. Zayn took of full speed to the north and was moving at incredible speed. Daxolus could barely hold on as the air whipped around him and the tiger had refused to slow down no matter how many times he had said to. But Dax eventually got into the groove and found a comfortable position in which he could ride the rest of the way there.

"VALLEY OF PEACE, HERE WE COME! WOOOOO!" Dax screamed in excitement and adrenaline. Zayn looked over his shoulder and smirked at the cheering lemur.

"Pfft. Amateur."