It had been one week. A long week. Mowgli had spent most of the time recovering from his encounter with the wolves. The cuts had begun to fade into scars. Mowgli had a hard time looking at his chest, they were a painful reminder of the animals he had lived with turn into monsters. He was jumpy, taking in most of the fact he was in a different place compared to India. The valley of peace was beautiful and soothing. He never ventured away from the monastery, too scared to get into trouble again. He spent a lot of time watching Po and the furious five training, waiting till he could join them in learning kung fu. Mowgli was still jumpy around Tigress, Viper and Monkey though. He knew they were not like Kaa, Shere Khan or Louie, but he kept his distance. Determined to not be taken for a victim again. That and the fact he just flat out was not going to blindly trust anyone. Yes, they had saved him, but what's to say they wouldn't turn their backs onto him? Mowgli spent a lot of time hanging around Po, wanting to get to know the bear more. He was fun, and a bit eccentric at times. He loved food, that much was obvious as Mowgli saw him eat almost anything in sight that was edible. He reminded himself of Baloo. Except he was a crazy, fun-loving kung fu panda. Mowgli missed India, but he knew it was just better this way. His friends were safe, his family, from Kaa or Shere Khan. Now, he would make a new home again, in China.

It had been eight days since Mowgli had been brought to the monastery. That morning, Mowgli awoken to a loud bang. He sat up panting hard. He had just been released from another nightmare involving Kaa eating Shanti. He wasn't used to the gong going off despite hearing it already. He flopped back onto the ground, clutching his chest. A knock at the door alerted him.
"Mowgli?" Po asked.
"Po?" Mowgli asked, vaguely remembering the panda's name.
"Are you ready to get up? We're all heading down to breakfast."
"Sure. I'm up." Mowgli said as he got up from his spot on the floor.
"May I come in?" Po asked.
"Sure."
Po slid open the screen door. He peeked his head in, "Had a good rest?"
"Yes. Thank you." Mowgli said.
"Well come on, time to get some grub." Po said excitedly.
Mowgli couldn't help but smile at the panda's enthusiasm. He was a lot like Baloo in that sense. His smile faded as he thought about his papa bear. A father figure he would never see again. Mowgli solemnly walked out of the room. Po noticed the subdued attitude on Mowgli.
"You ok?" Peering at the jungle boy.
"I'm fine." Mowgli said sadly.
Po wasn't convinced. But something told him to just let it go. He would be told when Mowgli was ready to talk about it. Mowgli followed Po and looked around. This was very different from what he was used to at the village. Up ahead he saw Tigress, Mantis, Viper, Crane and Monkey waiting for them.
"Are you ready for breakfast Mowgli?" Tigress asked.
Mowgli nodded his head and everyone heard a loud grumbling coming from Mowgli's stomach. Everyone chuckled a bit and Mowgli sheepishly smiled. He admitted he was hungry.

Mowgli sat at the table with everyone. Po brought out the food and everybody dug in. Mowgli tried egg rolls and found out they tasted good, along with porridge.
"So, am I better enough to start learning kung fu?" Mowgli asked Po.
Po chuckled at how eager he sounded, "Before we do that, we need to see master Shifu. He wants to talk to with us first."
"Why?" Mowgli asked.
"Don't know. I guess we'll find out when we get there." Po said.
Po let out a huge belch and Mowgli couldn't help but giggle. The furious five all held amused smiles. Po blushed heavily, though it was hidden by his fur.
"Alright, we'll meet you guys at the training grounds later."
"See you then Po." Tigress said.
Mowgli watched as the others left and Po gathered the dishes.
"Just need to clean these and we'll be on our way."
"Would you like me to help?" Mowgli asked.
"Sure, that'd be great." Po said.

After finishing up the dishes, Po led Mowgli to where Shifu was. Mowgli looked around as they walked up the stone steps. More like he was ahead of Po, while the panda was panting hard from walking up.
"You ok Po?" Mowgli asked.
"Just gotta catch my breath kid." Po panted out.
Mowgli blinked twice and waited for Po to catch up. He followed the panda further up the steps till they reached the stone opening and in the distance, saw Master Shifu. He was wearing his traditional kung fu robes as he stood on the rock in the middle of the lake. Mowgli watched as his face had an impassive look. He was in deep concentration. Mowgli watched as Shifu suddenly moved. He made out the red panda caught a tiny raindrop and began to move it within his small hands. Mowgli watched in awe as the raindrop flowed over the gentle movements along with Shifu. Shifu guided the raindrop to fall off a plant leaf and into the river next to him.
"What…was…that?" Mowgli asked in awe.
"That was…inner peace." Po said as he too was shocked but more subdued as Mowgli.
"Indeed. Inner peace is an advanced art of kung fu. Perhaps if you stay here long enough you will be able to partake in it Mowgli." Shifu said.
He turned around and faced the two, "I understand that you feel ready to learn the art of kung fu, Mowgli. Which is why I believe that best teacher for you is none other than the Dragon Warrior." He said looking at Po.
"Me?" Po was shocked.
"Po?" Mowgli parroted.
"Yes. Po has basic knowledge of kung fu and I have complete faith in him to show you how to begin. Along with Po, you will also be trained by the five. Each one will be teaching their own style of fighting to help you find what fighting style fits you the most."
Mowgli was floored. He was going to be trained by the Furious Five and Po?! Po, on the other hand was freaking out with excitement. He was going to train his first student! And a human none the less.
"I advise that you start with the others in the training room. They should be there by now doing their morning exercises."
"Yes Master Shifu." Po bowed, before looking to Mowgli, who was staring off into space. He nudged him a bit, making him jump before saying.
"Yes Master Shifu…and thank you." Mowgli stuttered out.
Shifu just smiled and nodded. He then thought of the boys reaction, "Po, before you go, I'd like a word with you."
Po turned to Mowgli, "Just wait for me outside kid. I'll be right back." Po said.
Mowgli nodded and started to backtrack down to the stairs. He stopped at the ledge and sat down, thinking, about how he landed himself in this predicament.

"You wanted to see me Master?" Po asked.
"Yes. I sensed a great deal of fear from the boy when I talked about having him trained with the furious five. I sense he fears them."
"But he doesn't even know them that well and besides they're not bad or anything like-." Po protested.
"No, but he might know of someone similar or like them. I do not know what to make of it. I have his actions around Tigress, Monkey, and Viper and suspect that he has either contact with those of them. Which is why I believe it would be beneficial for you to keep an eye on him during his training sessions with the five."
"You think he might be scared during the training?"
"I honestly do not know. Which is why I ask that you report to me about how he reacts with them."
Po sighed and looked back at where the boy was waiting for him. He bowed to Shifu, "I shall master."
Shifu watched as Po walked back to Mowgli. He watched as the boy stood up and the two began walking down the stone steps.
"We shall free you of your burdens, young one." Shifu said as he watched them go.

Po opened the doors and like before Mowgli saw the furious five training. Tigress and Crane were sparring and Monkey and Mantis were doing their exercises on the rotating bowl and wooden spikes. Mowgli felt his heart starting to beat wildly. He was going to start learning kung fu finally. The Furious Five stopped once they saw Po and Mowgli walk in.
"Hey Po, what did Shifu say?" Mantis asked.
"We are all going to be training Mowgli here kung fu." Po said excitedly practically shaking uncontrollably.
"All of us? How?" Crane asked.
"He wants us to train him in all of our ways to see which fits him more." Po explained.
"I see the logic in that." Tigress said as she thought about it, "What do you think Mowgli?"
Everyone turned to Mowgli who shyly looked at his feet, "I'm…not sure. I don't anything about kung fu, but it sounds cool to know what each of you can do."
"Well, we'll start out slow and work our way up kid." Mantis said as he hopped onto Mowgli's shoulder.
"Let's begin with something simple." Tigress said.
"Now?" Mowgli asked.
Tigress smiled gently, "If you'd like."
Mowgli smiled big and nodded his head. Everyone smiled as they all led him to the punching dummy.
"Let's see how well you can punch first." Po said.
Mowgli got into a clumsy fighting stance and punched the dummy as hard as he could. It wobbled back and came back up. Mowgli punched back again and again. Po noticed he was handling it a lot better than he did when he first tried this. Tigress and the others noted he was quick as he kept punching the dummy. Mowgli punched again with a little more force and made the dummy bounce backwards a bit. As it came closer, Mowgli's heart rate started to quicken as it reminded him of Kaa coming at him. Instead of the dummy, Mowgli was seeing Kaa's face coming at him. His eyes swirling with bright colors. His hot breath as he opened his mouth, ready to devour him. Mowgli was feeling scared and stopped punching, only to be knocked back as it wobbled back at him. Mowgli jumped back and hid behind Po. Po could only stare at what had just happened. The boy had been doing great till he got scared of the dummy. Question is, why?
"Mowgli, it's just a training dummy. It's not going to hurt you." Viper said.
Mowgli could only stare at the dummy and his vision began to clear. He wasn't staring at Kaa anymore, just a dummy. He felt his face get red at how he must be looking in front of the warriors.
"Sorry."
"No need to be sorry kid, you did good. A lot better than when I started out." Po said.
"Po's right. You have good reflexes." Monkey said, snickering a bit as he remembered Po's first time in the room.
Mowgli came from behind Po and stared back at the dummy intently. With a determined face, he started punching the dummy again.