Hi. Me again. So, it is my pleasure to present to you our next writer. If you like crying and feeling really bad for people who don't even exist, then, oh boy, this writer has another story for you that you really need to check out. It's called "Fragile Hearts." I don't know, maybe you've already heard of it. It was sort of a big deal ;) And, apparently it has a friggin' sequel. Prepare for more mental anguish folks. I think we can all agree that "Fragile Hearts" became a modern KFP fandom classic about halfway through. Anyway, I was actually very shocked when this writer sent me a PM telling me they wanted to participate in this. Needless to say, I took up the offer as quickly as humanly possible. So, without further ado, I present to you…

The one...

The only...

S.T. Necro!

Hello everyone, this is S.T. Necro. This one shot is a lot more emotionally tame in comparison to my other one-shots (I've come to notice I'm gaining the reputation as the one whose stories make people cry, not what I expected but cool.) (For someone who didn't expect it, he does it pretty dang well, don't you think?) I just want to say a big thank you to the person that has made this all happen, Starless Echoes, (aww) and I've had a lot of fun taking part in this. I wish the best to every single author who has taken part in this collaboration and everyone who reads it, you lot are what make this community special :) (preach on!)

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP (I wish I did though... *sigh*) (The ever-present words)

Enjoy. (You will)

Humble Beginnings

Summary: After noticing his student put all of his focus into his training without any rest, grandmaster Oogway decides to take matters in his own claws and teach him an important lesson about seeking perfection.

A thick fog surrounded the peaks of the Wu-Dang mountains, acting as a shield to the splendid rays of the morning sun. A tranquil air surrounded these misty guardians as the birthplace of kung fu retained its ancient magnificence, its majesty too impressive for even the heavens to lay eyes on. Despite this, golden skies still attempted to break through these cloudy curtains. But it was to no avail. It seemed that the very mountains themselves didn't want to be disturbed. Or rather, they didn't want to disturb the person inhabiting the sacred ground at the time.

Concealed within this luscious mist was an archaic figure, a turtle who was sitting down in a lotus position and meditating. A multitude of scars painted his shell, silently telling stories of battles both whimsical and tragic; many lifetimes worth of experiences whispered from those devastating cracks in the hardened surface. Though the turtle's face was lined with many wrinkles, a youthful exuberance remained vibrant in his face, his love for life never fading. His eyes remained closed, yet they are able to see far beyond what any opened eyes could even hope to see, for better or for worse. This ancient being, wise beyond measure and skilled beyond belief, was none other than the founder of kung fu himself, grandmaster Oogway.

He had partaken in his favorite pastime of meditation for several hours, the universe speaking to him with as much comfort and passion as an old friend. Jade orbs finally opened up to face the impenetrable mist as the hurried pitter patter of feet had reached the grandmaster's ear.

"You requested my presence, master?" A young voice made its way to the turtle's ear, his slightly cold tone molded from a deep, focused discipline. A soft smile formed on Oogway's face, admiring how respectful his student was at such an early age, yet his joyful expression was tainted with a microscopic anxiety. He turned around to face his pride and joy, his current student. A red panda adorned with brown and dark red robes stood before him, still bowing towards the great master in a humble sense of care. Funny to think that the child was merely ten years old and already any rambunctious tendencies he could have was purged out. An impressive, but worrisome thought.

"Yes, Shifu. Come." Oogway lightly patted the ground beside him before carefully moving his staff out of the way, a silent invitation for his student to clear his mind. Within a few seconds, the red panda had already sat down beside his master and started to get into the lotus position. Jade orbs closed, ready to go into his sense of nirvana again until the sound of continuous shuffling rang from his left side. Already expecting this, the turtle kept his peaceful smile and inquired, "Is everything well, my student?"

Still attempting to settle down into his lotus position, the red panda haphazardly replied, "Of course, master. I'm just trying to maintain proper form." Though he attempted to hide his frustration from his teacher, it simply didn't work. It never did. Unbeknownst to the dedicated student, the wise turtle had sensed his growing frustration with himself as his training continued and little did he realise that his denial had painted a clearer picture of his irritation.

With a small chuckle, the grandmaster reminded the red panda, "This is meditation, Shifu. There is no form. There is no structure. There is merely your mind, and the thoughts that float around." His eyes remained closed as the rustling sounds beside him ceased.

Young blue orbs looked upon the ancient turtle in pure bafflement, "But how can one meditate without the right position?"

Oogway's smile remained on his face as his jade eyes opened once more and looked straight into the confused eyes of his naïve student, his gaze calmer than the soft breeze that caressed the two, "Your search for perfection is admirable, Shifu. But you must remember that when you try to climb the tallest mountain, even the slightest push can throw you down into the depths below." This metaphor flew right past the red panda's head, the turtle's wisdom far too complicated for his young mind to understand.

"Um… I… Uh…"

"Don't worry, my friend." Oogway interrupted the child's babbling, knowing just how embarrassed he would feel at not understanding the riddle set before him. "There are some things in the world that you can only understand in time." His jade orbs shifted their gaze forwards, into the light grey shrouds that surrounded them. With a curious hum, the wise turtle lifted his staff off the ground with one arm, "Much like how expectation upon expectation can take up space in one's mind, blinding us to what is directly in front of us." With that comment, he lightly tapped the small smidge of ground in front of him. As if in response to his delicate action, the clouds around them dissipated in mere seconds, revealing the heavenly glow of the sun. Blue orbs widened in disbelief as they gazed upon the evangelical star, its haze bright but not blinding. Soon his eyes shifted from the golden sheeted sky, towards the valley of peace far below. He admired the beauty of his home bathed in the mystical splendour of the heaven's spotlight; the myriad of colours highlighted by these rays creating an enthralling sculpture of an idyllic village.

"Incredible." He breathed out; His mind snapped out of his strict mentality for the first time in weeks.

Wise jade eyes looked back to said red panda, admiring the child-like awe that had been so rarely seen from him. He was far more mature for his age, that was for sure, and Oogway couldn't figure out if this was a good or a bad thing. Regardless, he didn't think upon his potential future, but rather what he could say to keep his mind easy. "Even the largest of expeditions need to set up camp, just like how even the best of us needs rest." Blue orbs stayed on the shining valley below, completely encapsulated in its picturesque charm but still listening to his master's wise words. "We can never hope to reach the pinnacle of ourselves if we ignore our body's pleas for a break. So, Shifu…" He trailed off, leading the red panda in question to shift his focus back to his master. "Chill out." This informal recommendation caused the red panda's eyes to widen slightly, making the grandmaster chuckle in the process. Jade orbs shifted back towards the sun before closing, the ancient turtle reaching his state of nirvana once more.

As his master had gone back to his meditation, the young red panda thought upon his words for a small while before finally deciding to ignore his seating position for once. With that simple act, he had found his thoughts to be clearer than before, his mind at ease for the first time in weeks.

Steely blue eyes open up from this memory, the older master reminiscing on the wise words of his teacher in the same spot where he had been taught this lesson. He briefly looks up towards the star-studded night sky, a mature sense of appreciation lighting up his usually stern eyes. Thank you, master. A smile lights up the red panda's face as he realises just how uncompromising he had been forty years ago. That without master Oogway's advice, he may never have properly trained Tai Lung and would most likely have scarred away-

"Baba?" Shifu turns his head towards the innocent voice a few feet behind him to see a five-year-old tiger cub, looking around the mystical grounds of the Wu-Dang mountains with an adorable sense of childish wonder. "What is this place?" She asks with an awe-stricken smile on her face.

A small smile graces Shifu's face as he fondly answers, "This is the birthplace of kung fu, it is the sacred ground where master Oogway first founded its principles." His ear twitches at the sound of a light gasp from the tiger cub, her face morphed into shock but her amber orbs clearly displaying her excitement on top of this.

Her face falls however, realising just how important this place is, "I'm not allowed up here, am I?" She asks fearfully, not wanting to anger her father so soon after he had adopted her.

"Of course, you are Tigress. Now come, join me." He replies in his stern but soft voice, maintaining his cold exterior in spite of feeling pity towards the tiger cub. In spite of the care that he had shown towards her, the support he had given in the orphanage, she still fears that he will treat her like everyone else had.

Tigress' smile returns to her face as the cub jogs over to Shifu's spot with a newfound spring in her step. Amber orbs look upon the red panda in intrigue, unfamiliar with his posture, "What are you doing?"

"Meditating, Tigress. It is a way to clear your mind and to find peace even when you feel that you can't." Steely blue orbs shut as he begins his journey to tranquility again. As expected, he hears a short bit of rustling as the tiger cub next to him gets into the same position as him. This sound ceases as she seemingly melts into the lotus position, but the red panda can feel the tiger cub attempting to sneak a peak at him with one eye open. "Tigress, what are you doing?" Shifu inquires, genuinely curious with the little tiger's actions.

Her other eye shoots open in shock, bewildered that he is able to sense her looking at him until she giggles in embarrassment of being caught, "Um, I was just making sure I got it right." With this answer, the red panda hears a slight rustling before she finally settles into the lotus position. A small smile graces Shifu's face, Tigress' attention to the form reminding him of himself all those years ago. As the two meditate in a comfortable, blissful silence, the red panda's mind rests with a newfound sense of tranquility. Grateful for all of the blessings the Gods have given him. His master, his son, his daughter, everything. As his heart climbs higher towards the peak of serenity, as his son reaches the pinnacle of perfection, the red panda is not ready for the single push that will inevitably follow and plunge him into the depths of despair.

Hope you've enjoyed my addition to this collaboration (well, I know I did) and you guys better look forward to the one-shot after mine, cuz while I may not know whose is next, I can guarantee it's gonna be a great read. (It will be) Until next time :)