A/N: I do not own KUNG FU PANDA or any of its characters, locations, etc. I only own my OC's.

Jia means 'Outstanding/Good person' in Chinese (More on her later!)

BTW with school back in session, I may not be able to post chapters as quickly as I'd like. And I'll be spending more of my time doing homework than writing. UGH! SCHOOL IS KILLER! IT SUCKS AWAY MY CREATIVITY! DX

But don't worry, the story will continue! I will not stop writing it until it is finished!

*Also, I'd like to do a little shoutout to Blue Autumn Mist. Your review was greatly appreciated and I'd like to publicly thank you for such an insightful review. That's the kind of review that lets me know how much you appreciate my fic. Thanks and congragulations! You have been imortalized in the Author's Notes of this fic!*

Enjoy!


Warning from Beyond

He didn't know why, but he just couldn't shake off the feeling that something was very wrong. It was nagging at the back of his mind; that sense of danger that he couldn't seem to ignore. The elderly red panda opened his steel blue eyes to take a look at his surroundings. Everything seemed normal enough. The sun that shone overhead was bright and warm against his body, and the ever peaceful sound of the rustling leaves in the breeze was soothing against his rather large ears. Shifu turned his head towards the training grounds where he could see the young students of the academy continuing their training as Qiang had instructed before his departure. He watched them for a few more moments before finally coming to the conclusion that he shouldn't be acting so paranoid.

Maybe Qiang is right, Shifu thought; perhaps I do need to loosen up. He readjusted his balance atop Oogway's staff before giving off a small yawn. Maybe a little shut eye would do him some good as well. He had after all been woken up at three in the morning by his roughhousing students. And on top of that it had taken him quite some time to finally clean the mud from his fur and night robe, adding to his exhaustion. He closed his eyes and took in slow, steady breaths. His ears fell slightly, and if anyone had been watching him, they would have believed that he was still meditating; but in truth, he had fallen fast asleep.


Pure light seemed to be enveloping him on all sides. He could clearly see it swirling around him like wisps of glowing vapor. Shifu reached a hand forward and found that he could touch it. It ran over his thin fingers like water, and yet it had some structure to it as it felt even more soothing than the finest silk he had ever encountered in his life. A warm wave of peace washed over him as he looked around this serene, wondrous world; and if he didn't know any better, he thought that this place could very well be Heaven.

Does this mean that I'm dead? Shifu asked himself. No, that couldn't be it. He didn't feel like he was dead, then again, it wasn't like he was an expert on that particular subject either. He inwardly chuckled to himself at the thought of actually asking someone who had died what it was like to go down that path.

He took a moment to center himself in his thoughts. Why was he here? Was this a certain state of mind that could perceive things beyond any natural reality? Was this the tranquil place that Oogway had claimed to have visited many times upon entering into a deep trancelike state of meditation? Because if it was, then Shifu could understand perfectly why Oogway had done so. This place was just so peaceful, so calm, that he honestly didn't feel like leaving.

But he knew that he would have to leave sooner or later, it would be extremely selfish of him to isolate himself in such a place when he was needed back on the physical plane. But perhaps he could visit from time to time in the same manor that Master Oogway had done on several occasions. It wouldn't be too difficult. All Shifu had done was literally go to sleep while meditating. Sounded easy enough at least.

"So Shifu, what do you think?"

The red panda's eyes widened at the sound of the familiar voice and he spun around to see none other than Master Oogway walking up slowly towards him, his peach wood staff within his grasp; whole, and in one piece. He gave Shifu a wide, wrinkly smile before stopping in front of him.

Shifu immediately punched his fist into his open palm and bowed respectively to his dearly departed master. "Master Oogway…it has been too long."

"Indeed, my old friend." The ancient tortoise placed a clawed hand atop the red panda's small head. "But time has no meaning in the world beyond mortality. It is simply an illusion," he said before lowering his hand. "It is good to see you Shifu."

Shifu was practically brimming with enthusiastic joy. He beamed up towards Oogway as if he were a cub again.

"You have many questions young one." Oogway stated upon grasping his staff in both of his clawed hands.

Shifu was unsure of what Oogway meant, but he looked around into the white void before turning his attention back to the old tortoise. "Where are we?" He asked, "What is this place?"

Oogway gave an amused chuckle, "Even I cannot answer that, but I've found in my many trips here that it can be anything and everything at the same time."

Shifu tilted his head curiously, "I'm not sure I understand Master."

The tortoise tapped a single claw against the side of his head, "It can be anything that you perceive it to be. It also reflects your state of mind, and by the look of it," Oogway took a look around, "You have achieved inner peace." He smiled down towards his former student. "Not many can say that they have done so. Well done Shifu."

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without your teachings to guide me." Shifu bowed again.

"And the help of your students, I might add."

"Yes…well." Shifu paused, "They have their moments."

Oogway gave another chuckle towards Shifu's statement.

"Will I be able to come here often?" Shifu asked.

"Only when you need to." Oogway said cryptically before turning his head to gaze off into the distance, "Ah, it seems that I'm not the only one here to greet you."

Shifu followed Oogway's gaze and his heart nearly leapt to his throat upon seeing the one person that he had missed more than anyone. She was just the way he remembered her. Silky white fur, deep brown eyes brimmed with an even darker brown fur that hadn't faded with age as his had. Even the sunburst of the light tan coloring on her forehead seemed to glow in the whiteness of her surroundings. And of course she was wearing her favorite red dress that was embroidered with golden lotus flowers.

Jia…

Shifu did not verbally say her name, but he still called out to her and she tilted her head towards him, giving him the most loving smile he hadn't seen for so long. Shifu could feel himself moving forward, he wanted to be with her, to hold her in his arms just once more. But something seemed wrong; he was finding that no matter how many steps he took, he was not getting any closer to her. "Master Oogway, why can't I—" But the old tortoise had disappeared, leaving Shifu to wonder where he had gone.

"Wake up Shifu…"

He looked up unexpectedly towards Jia. The female red panda's voice seemed to have a forceful tone to it, and he could tell that something was troubling her.

"What is it Jia?"

"Wake up Shifu."

There was no doubt now that she was upset about something, her voice was hard, and demanding, as if she was a parent scolding her child.

"But I haven't seen you in so long—"

"Wake up Shifu!" Her eyes were now narrowed towards him as if she were angry with him.

He looked towards her with a puzzling gaze. Why was she acting like this? Had he done something wrong?

"Wake up Shifu!" She now urged in warning. She looked behind her shoulder as if there was danger, but Shifu could see nothing. Jia then suddenly turned back in his direction before sprinting as fast as she could towards him. Shifu followed her lead, and in turn began to quicken his pace to reach her. But it seemed that whatever force that had been keeping him from reaching her earlier was now playing the same cruel joke on the pair of them, because the distance between them wasn't getting smaller anytime soon. It was as if they were being pulled apart from each other like marionettes bending to the will of a puppeteer.

Why can't I reach her? Shifu was beginning to feel frustrated, "Jia! What is it?"

"Wake up Shifu!" She yelled again. "He's coming!"

Shifu's eyes suddenly widened as he looked past her. Standing behind Jia was an ominous, dark clothed figure. Shifu had never seen anything like it before, it stood in the barren scape of blank whiteness, and it seemed to be leaching off of the light around it until nothing but murky grey could be seen. The long ends of its tattered black cloak spread across the ground like the gnarled roots of a tree.

Shifu couldn't help but shudder when a cold chill ran down his spine as the warmth of his own body seemed to be draining away.

"Wake up Shifu!" Jia shouted again; this time almost in desperation towards him as she tried to reach him.

The dark figure behind her lifted its hand in the air and Shifu nearly gasped upon seeing the black blade entangled in its thin fingers. "Jia! Behind you!"

"Wake up Shifu!"

The knife was suddenly flying through the air, aiming directly at her back.

"NO!"

"WAKE UP SHIFU!" Jia screamed before she dissolved into nothing but smoke as the knife went right through her. It was now on a direct course for Shifu. He stood his ground and quickly clasped his palms together, catching the knife as it came within inches of his chest.


Shifu's eyes snapped open and he nearly lost his balance atop Oogway's staff. He readjusted his footing before taking in deep breaths of fresh air in an attempt to calm himself. The vision had seemed so real. He had spoken with Master Oogway, he had seen Jia again, and he could have sworn that he had actually caught the knife.

He frowned upon noticing that something was out of place. He could feel something thin and cold clasped between the palms of his small hands. He looked down and his heart started to pound ferociously against his ribs as he gazed upon the red Chinese dragon that was carved into the black obsidian throwing knife he held within his grasp.

Shifu's ears twitched towards the sounds of a low growl and his eyes widened upon seeing an enormous black clothed wolf with ice-blue eyes emerging from behind one of the cherry trees. The canine's arm was raised above his head, ready to aim another knife.


A/N: OH MY GOSH! HE CAUGHT THE KNIFE! IN HIS SLEEP! :O

HOW DID SHÌ XIĚ GET THERE? I'M THE AUTHOR HERE AND I'M STILL FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

*I just had to put Oogway in this fic, I missed him too much! ^-^

Things are heating up!

R&R please, they make me happy.

And check out my new Avatar for my profile. It should give you a better idea at what the obsidian blades really look like.