I DON'T OWN KUNG FU PANDA, JUST THE PLOT OF 'THIS' STORY AND THE OC'S.

Curiosity leads to disaster

Three days have passed, since Athena joined Kaze and Zoten, on their journey for knowledge. All the while, Athena was amazed by how strong Kaze and Zoten were. For the two, when resting, would practice their forms in a slow pace, while she would watch intently. Athena asked many questions, which mostly focused on Zoten and his forms. Zoten was always, more then happy, to explain his style of Kung Fu that Athena asked about. He even began giving her lessons, on basic stances and defenses.

Stopping for the fifth time to rest, Kaze, Zoten and Athena ate a small meal. Getting into position to practice their forms, Zoten stayed with Athena to watch and teach her. While Kaze was off to the side to practice with his plate gauntlets. Kaze smiled, as he watched out of the corner of his eye. Zoten correcting Athena's stance, by lightly tapping her tail up. Zoten focusing on her stance and form, didn't see Athena turn a darker shade of red.

" Good, now slowly move your tail down and snap back to attack." Zoten instructed, as he watched Athena switch positions.

Athena, moving her tail down slowly, snapped it back when it hit the ground. But it went slightly wrong, for instead of snapping straight back. Her tail rounded off and bent slightly in Zoten's direction and end up hitting him across the face. Zoten, not seeing it coming, stumbled back slightly dazed by the hit.

" Oh god..I'm so sorry." Athena gasped, slithering up to Zoten.

" Oww" Zoten smiled, looking at Athena, while rubbing his cheek. " Nice hit"

" Are you two, okay?" Kaze called out, hearing Athena whine.

" Yeah, we're fine" Zoten called back, chuckling " Just a slight hit to the face, that's all."

" Okay...take it easy then." Kaze smiled, returning to his form.

" Will do" Zoten replied " Anyway, Athena, just mak-...Athena?"

Zoten stopped mid-sentence to notice, Athena was no longer in front of him. Looking around, he saw Athena hiding behind a tree. Slithering up to her, he saw Athena's head was bowed low and she was lightly crying.

" Hey, what happened?" Zoten asked, gently, approaching Athena

" I hurt you... I made a mistake and I hurt you." Athena whimpered

" We all make mistakes and we all get hurt" Zoten explained, while trying to look into her eyes. " Hey...look at me."

Athena turned away, feeling ashamed of her mistake. But Zoten went around her, to try and face her.

" Come on, it was nothing, I'm fine...Okay? No harm done." Zoten smiled, still trying to look in Athena's eyes.

Athena kept quietly crying, which really made Zoten feel sorry for her.

" Maybe by losing her mother, she's afraid if she's hurts us, we'll turn against her." Zoten thought, then growing confident, he lowered his head to Athena's level. " Well that's going to change...I'm going to prove to her she's safe."

Using his tail, Zoten cupped Athena's chin to make her look into his eye's. Zoten's deep green eyes met, Athena's luminance yellow eyes. Athena looking in Zoten's eyes, didn't see hate or distaste, but a calm warm trust that soothed her. Then Zoten, closing the distance between them, he lightly kissed Athena on the lips. Athena's eyes widened in shock, but soon calmly closed, as she slowly returned the kiss.

The kiss was gentle and sweet, and sent electricity down their spines, as it lasted for several seconds. Then slowly separating, Athena smiled, as she looked down blushing.

" You truly are one of a kind, Athena, and I want you to know, that I will protect you." Zoten whispered, gently nudging against Athena's forehead.

" Thank you" Athena whispered, happily, as she hummed in content.

" Now come on, we better get back or Kaze will notice we're gone." Zoten smiled, nudging Athena back tot he campsite.

Athena nodded her head, smiling, as Zoten slithered beside her. As they got back, Kaze already had their gear set up and repacked. Looking over, to see Zoten and Athena smiling, Kaze knew that everything was fine.

" So you two ready? Or would you like more time alone." Kaze smirked, while Athena blushed and stuttered.

" I-I...W-we...uh-" Athena stuttered, but was cut off by Zoten.

" Kaze, there's no reason to be jealous, that I now have someone precious to share my life with." Zoten smiled gently, while looking at Athena, then placing a small kiss on her lips.

Kaze smirk turned into a gentle smile, seeing as Zoten didn't hesitate, to kiss Athena in front of him.

" Well then, I hope you two stay happy as you are now, because it's 'those' relationships that last." Kaze replied, while turning back to grab his pack. " Now...shall we get going?"

Zoten and Athena nodded and smiled, for their next stop was only ten miles ahead.

The village of Servus.

With Tigress

Tigress with Kaya and Zahara, watched as Nami, Jiao and Kya performed their forms side by side.

" Now watch as they kick above their heads, not at head level. That is the proper position for executing a flying rhino kick." Tigress explained, pointing as Kya kicked high and strong.

" Oh...Okay" Zahara said, now understanding the fundamentals.

" Can we try?" Kaya asked, hopeful that Tigress would accept

" That kick requires a lot of flexibility and you two haven't learn the full split yet."

" Awww" both girls groaned, making Tigress smile.

" You both we'll learn it soon enough, now go get ready for dinner." Tigress ordered gently, shooing the girls off. " Kya, that includes you as well."

" Five more minutes." Kya replied, still working through her form.

" Kya...now" Tigress growled

" Fine" Kya grumbled, walking back with everyone else.

" She's just as stubborn as you and your forms." a voice chuckled

Tigress smiled, as she turned around to see Viper.

" I've loosened out on my training." Tigress replied, playfully

" Yes, but only after we found out you were pregnant."

" Okay fine, I was crazy for training."

" And Kage." Viper added, chuckling

" Well, that's a different story."

" Really? As a recall your 'first time' together, was in a bathing room, after he came back from battle, literally bleeding to death. Yet that didn't stop you from 'taking' him." Viper smirked, while Tigress blushed

" Viper!" Tigress hissed, shushing her friend. " Of all the places to say that."

" There's no one around...but admit it, you are sometimes reckless."

" I was just emotional" Tigress whispered, turning around

" and-horny" Viper coughed

" What was that?"

" Nothing" Viper smiled innocently

Tigress sighed and walk off with Viper, heading off to the dining hall.

With Kage

Kage like most of his days, sat in the council room, with the other twenty councilmen. They signed forms and went over taxes, immigration, population counts, and other stuff Kage could careless of. Then finishing his last pile of paperwork, he handed it over to Kun, so he could hand it it to the file department. Cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck, Kage looked as the other councilmen continued, filling out their share of paperwork.

" Kun?" Kage called

" Yes, your highness?" Kun replied bowing

" Are there any messengers waiting?"

" None, sir"

" Mmmm...Nothing at all huh?" Kage smiled, as he turned to the councilmen. " We're having an early day, gentlemen, go home and enjoy the rest of the day."

" But your majesty, we haven't finished our work." replied a slightly nervous boar

" As I seen, you all have been working diligently." Kage said strictly but kindly. " As well as, we all seem to only have a few papers left. It can wait till tomorrow morning, can't it?

All members looked at each other and shrugged, as they began to prepare to head home. But as each member left, one member, a rabbit, approached Kage with a sheet of paper.

" Your highness, we just received a report from Onyx city, about your son staying there." announced the rabbit, while handing Kage the paper.

Unrolling the scroll, Kage began to read to himself.

Emperor Kage

We would like to inform you that your son, Kaze, has indeed arrived at our city. But an event on which involves an employee at the hot springs. Broke in to your sons room , the female claims to only want to ask Kaze on a date, and seeming this is most likely the reason. She is still currently under surveillance.

But after four days, we've noticed that Kaze and Zoten have not returned to their rooms at all. Our guards have also, not seen either Zoten or Kaze in the city. We decided to check the hot springs, if they were there. The clerk had no record or physical sighting of Kaze or Zoten visiting the hot springs. We inform you of this, for we are having suspicions and made the decision to tell you.

We will keep you posted, of any other activities related to this.

Sighed, Head of Onyx city security

Kage frowned deeply, at reading the scroll

" Tigress was right, this little vacation was to sudden...Damn! I should of noticed this." Kage growled

" Is everything alright, your majesty?" the rabbit asked nervously, as Kage's knuckles shook.

Stilling his hands, Kage looked at the rabbit, who stepped away.

" Everything is fine...for now." Kage replied, barely holding in his anger. " Your dismissed."

" Yes, thank you, your majesty." the rabbit bowed, before scurrying away.

As the rabbit closed the door, behind him. Kage stomped off to the vast library in the west wing of the palace. As he made his way there, he passed by Slavik, who smiled at him. But Kage kept walking, as if not even noticing he was there, let alone exist.

Slavik, seeing Kage's expression, he knew that look anywhere, for it meant two things. One, someone was going to be killed in a matter of seconds, or he's found out something that should have not been found out.

" Something's definitely wrong... I just hope it's not what I think it is." Slavik thought, turning around to find out, where Kage was heading.

As Kage entered the library, he stomped over to the geographic section and pulled out all maps, that lead to Onyx city. Looking at where Kaze and Zoten, said they were going, Kage noticed a slight indent on one map. As if someone drew on the map but left no mark. Finding a large piece of blank parchment, Kage covered the map and began lightly rubbing the paper, with the side of a charcoal stencil.

Soon a pathway began forming, as it lead from the Jade palace to the Onyx city. But it became worse, for the path continued passed the labeled line ' Great wall of China'. Fear gripped Kage as he continued, sketching, as the path lead further west. The more Kage sketched, the more scared he became, but as the path stopped suddenly. Kage hesitantly lifted the parchment, to reveal where the line stopped and led too.

Kage choked, as he saw the name of the village, he grew up in as a slave.

The village of Servus.

" No...No...No no NO!" Kage yelled, as Slavik slithered up to him.

" It's Kaze and Zoten, isn't it?" Slavik asked, knowing it was the only thing.

Kaze threw the charcoal marker as hard as he come, making it explode, as it hit the far wall.

" I never thought Kaze would make such a reckless move." Kage growled, as he breathed deeply.

" So where are they actually heading?" Slavik asked, seeing Kage take a seat.

Kage placing his head in his palm, pointed to the map on the table. As Slavik studied the map for a few seconds, he too, began shaking with rage.

" Zoten, I swear, if this was your idea. I'm going to make you regret it fully." Slavik hissed to himself, turning to face Kage.

Kage lifted his head to stare at Slavik, who was returning the deadly glare. With just that glare, the two understood, that they had to deal with this, and deal with it quickly.

" So what do we do?" Slavik asked, know Kage had something in his head.

" Nothing." Kage replied, monotonously, looking back to the ground.

" Alright, let's-...Wait, what?...Nothing?" Slavik said, as his mouth dropped from shock.

" You heard me" Kage growled, looking up " Nothing, they made this decision."

" Kage...are you serious? Your just going to let them go...just like that?" Slavik hissed, not believing Kage was letting this slide so easily.

" Slavik" Kage said, with authority " I'm letting this happen, because when they 'do' come back. They will receive the punishment of a lifetime."

" But that's not the point, what if-"

" If I know one thing about Kaze and Zoten, is that they'll live and that when, they get back. I will have a lot to explain to Kaze, when they get back from their trip. The same goes for you and telling your son, where you came from and your past." Kage explained, standing up.

" Kage, you really think they can handle what's out there?" Slavik asked, in a hushed voice. " I mean...the village of Servus is hell on earth. It's a place of suffering, it's basically a slave city. If owners there set their eyes on them, they will try to enslave them."

" If I taught Kaze anything." Kage smiled " It's that the best way to avoid a fight, is to blend in and become one with the crowd."

" Let's just hope they come back soon." Slavik said, with a worried frown.

A bit of a short chapter in such a long time, but don't worry. The next chapter will longer I promise. So what do you think lies within this, 'Hell on earth'?. FIND OUT IN CHAPTER 5!