Disclaimer: TMNT and Kung Fu Panda belong to their respective companies, I own nothing.
Chapter 1: Kidnapped by the Kraang
The sun rose from the cloudy depths of night to greet the world in all its splendor, lighting up the darkened sky with it's golden hues and blessing the Valley of Peace below with it's radiant warmth.
The Valley of Peace, for several months now, had been living up to its name as after the defeat of the spirit warrior Kai, most thugs, bandits, and pirates steered clear of the villages in fear of it's greatest warriors; the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five.
High above the village in the Wudang Mountains lay a temple that had been built many centuries ago. A temple where the great Master Oogway had once resided, the Jade Palace, which had been newly rebuilt after Kai had destroyed it many months ago. Normally, it would have taken nearly a year to rebuild the temple after the destruction that Kai had wrought, but with help of the villagers in the valley and the long-thought-slaughtered pandas, they had managed to rebuild the palace in a matter of weeks.
Embedded in the side of the mountains next to the palace was the Dragon Grotto, a sacred area of solitude for one to achieve peace on the small island surrounded by water.
And it was there that Po the panda, the Dragon Warrior, the successor to Oogway, was preparing to practise.
Eyes closed and his chest slowly expanding as he took a deep breath, he stood there waiting patiently.
Finally, a drop fell from the roof of the cavern.
Eyes still closed, Po's foot glided over the spot where several previous drops had fallen. He raised his right arm into the air as the drop fell, the drop landing on his open paw and sliding down his arm while still maintaining its form.
Po's movements were smooth, almost as fluid as the water he was manipulating, the drop crossing from one arm to the other in a series of flawless motions before he leaned to the side, letting the drop flow down his forearm, across his palm and finger, onto a small leaf he stood beside, the weight of the drop causing the leaf to bend over and let the drop fall gently into the polished surface of the cavern pool.
"Well?" Po spoke, opening his eyes and turning around with a smile. "What'd you think?"
Standing behind him at the edge of the Dragon Grotto was Master Tigress, Po's steadfast companion… and recently, his lover. She had gone back to wearing her usual red kung fu vest. She still had her golden hanfu and still wore it, but usually she preferred to wear it during formal occasions.
Tigress felt a shiver go down her spine as she stared at her panda. Her panda. That was something she wasn't sure she would ever get used to thinking, but she was happy that she could be with him.
They had come to the cavern shortly after eating breakfast with Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis. Shifu had gone off on a little trip across the valley, leaving Po to teach today. After some sparring in the Training Hall, they had decided to take a break. Po had asked Tigress if she had wanted to join him in the Dragon Grotto, to which she happily agreed.
Tigress had even asked if Po could demonstrate the inner peace technique for her, to which Po was all too happy to agree to.
"That was very well done, Dragon Warrior." Tigress said, trying her best to hide her growing blush as she addressed her panda formally. "You have clearly found inne-"
Po interrupted her by gently placing a finger on her lips. "I know that's what you saw, Tigress." He said softly. "But I want to know what you, yourself think."
Tigress shifted her feet uneasily. She averted her eyes shyly before she gazed up at him again with a fond smile.
"Po…" She searched for the words, her tongue feeling heavy. "That was… incredible. You were at one with the universe. I could feel your presence all around me… in this cave." She said, feeling silly for saying these flowery words, but they were true nonetheless.
"Would you like to try?"
Tigress blinked at Po, her mouth gaped slightly as Po held his arm out to her.
Shaking her head, Tigress looked away slightly. "No, Po… I… I haven't had the training… I'd look like a fool." She rubbed her arm shyly. Only Po could make her feel this way, nervous and exposed, but she allowed it. Opening up to him was easy. He would never scold her, never tell her she wasn't good enough, only smile at her.
Po kept his arm outstretched towards her. "Come on, it's easy, I'll show you." He said quietly.
Tigress looked down at his paw hesitantly before she slowly yet surely let her paw be held in his grasp. It was one of the few times she actually let someone hold her paw as she felt a warmth spread through her arm upon touching his palm.
With Po's hand guiding her, Tigress leapt onto the rock he stood on in the middle of the pool. Po then gently pulled her hand so that she stood in front of him, facing the water. Tigress felt Po's hand rest on the back of hers, sending a light tremor through her body.
"Close your eyes." Po whispered gently into her ear. "I'll take you through the movements."
Tigress did as she was told, closing her eyes as she felt Po begin to pilot her arms. He brought her into an almost crescent moon-like shape, with her right paw high above and her left paw pushing down. Then, like the water that dripped down from above, they shifted, allowing themselves to flow with their movements together.
Even without the dew drops from above, Tigress could feel her inner energy focusing, her mind easing, letting her chi flow. And Po…
Po was there. Not just behind her, but all around her. His aura was the most assuring thing she had ever felt in her life. His warm, soft hands felt like they belonged with her's. His breath lightly brushed over her ear, sending a wave of calmness that washed over her soul, relaxing her.
It was almost like a dance as she felt him draw her close.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Tigress truly felt at peace as they drew their dance to a close with their final bow to the side.
Tigress' eyes fluttered open, seeing Po's paw still over hers as they stood up in an upright position.
Po beamed happily as Tigress turned to him. "That was great!" He said. "You nai-"
He was silenced when Tigress took his face in her paws and mashed her lips into his. Po's brain turned to mush as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, deepening the kiss.
Taking initiative, Tigress wrapped her arms around her panda's neck, bringing herself up higher. Never had she felt so alive, so… not herself. And she loved it.
Eventually, the two pulled apart for breath as the world came back into focus for them. Tigress looked up at Po, noticing he looked cross-eyed in a daze.
"Po?" She asked amusedly, lightly shaking him by the shoulders. "You okay?"
Po shook his head, scrunching his eyes as he snapped back to reality. "Yeah, yeah." He said with a soft smile. "Totally okay."
Tigress returned the smile as they nuzzled their foreheads together lovingly.
As they pulled apart, Po suddenly felt his eyes drift down to the four turtle talismans tied around his wrist, causing his smile to fade slightly as he gazed upon them somberly.
Tigress was quick to notice this as she too gazed down at the four talismans. "You miss them?" She asked.
Po took in a deep breath before he let out a sigh. "Yeah," He admitted, "almost every day."
Tigress leaned her against her panda's shoulder and nuzzled him in a comforting manner. "You'll see them again, one day." She whispered soothingly. "We all will."
As Po and Tigress made their way back to the courtyard, they found the rest of the Furious Five standing there waiting for them.
"So, how are you feeling, Master?" Crane asked teasingly, with a tip of his straw hat.
"If you're talking about the whole master thing… it just sounds weird hearing you guys call me that." Po admitted. "But if you mean the idea of teaching you guys, then I am excited! Nervous, maybe, but definitely excited!" Po exclaimed.
"Good to hear." Tigress said. "As for the master title, you'll get used to it." She then gave him a playfully cheeky grin. "Who knows? Maybe you'll find us calling you that… awesome?"
Po's eyes widened while Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis looked surprised. "Did… did you just…?" Po stammered before his expression switched to one of pure elation. "Woohoo! This is so awesome!" He shouted as he swept her up in a great big hug, much to Tigress' amusement.
"So, what are we going to learn today, Master?" Monkey asked with a teasing smirk.
Setting Tigress down and letting her join the Five as they stood in formation while Po marched up and down like a drill sergeant.
Admittedly, he looked like a complete goof while doing so but hey, he was trying.
"Right." Po said determinedly. "Well today, we are going to be practicing–"
Po was suddenly cut off as the clouds above the palace seemed to darken a dull gray as they blocked out the sun.
Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis looked around cautiously as thunder began to rumble in the air, lightning cracking before it struck the ground in the middle of the courtyard, forcing them to jump out of the way with a yelp.
As they got up, they saw the spark of lightning lingering there in the middle of the courtyard before it suddenly expanded into a pink triangular portal, one they all recognized as dread filled them.
"The Kraang?!" Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis all exclaimed in shock.
And indeed, several Kraang-droids stepped out of the portal carrying their blasters which were aimed at Po and the Five.
"Kraang has located the ones known as the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five." One of the Kraang-droids stated with it's monotone, almost lifelessly robotic voice.
"Kraang must capture the ones known as the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five." Another Kraang droid said.
With that said, the Kraang immediately fired upon them, forcing Po and the Five to take cover behind the large tree in the courtyard from the pink blaster bolts.
"What the heck are the Kraang doing here?!" Viper cried over the loud noises of blasterfire.
"Yeah, I thought we sent them packing back in Gongmen City!" Mantis added.
From behind the tree, Tigress carefully observed how many Kraang droids there were. There were dozens that filled the courtyard, and more that kept pouring out of the portal.
"How or why they're here doesn't matter." Tigress stated. "But what does is that they're here, in our home." She then turned back to her companions with a smirk as she punched her fist into her palm. "So let's give them a warm welcome."
Grinning back, Po and the Five rushed out from behind the tree, dodging the blaster fire and cutting down any Kraang droids in their way.
Po tucked himself into a ball, rolling into the Kraang like a bowling ball and knocking them down like bowling pins. Coming out of his roll, Po grabbed one of the Kraang droids before they could get shot off, spinning it around like a tornado and smashing any Kraang who were too close.
Tigress sprinted at the Kraang on all fours before flipping into the air, avoiding their blaster fire as she came down and unsheathed her claws, slicing down the two Kraang droids before running forward and landing a drop kick on another one. She grabbed the downed Kraang droid and threw it into several more before going into the fray once more.
Viper snapped her tail like a whip, knocking the blaster out a Kraang droid's hands before slapping it away with her tail. She then quickly slithered out of the way of more blaster fire, with her being too thin and slippery to hit. She then slid up the ankle of one of the Kraang droids, wrapping herself around it's arms and forcing it to fire on it's fellow Kraang.
Crane flapped his wings, sending an air-wave that blasted dozens of Kraang droids back before he swooped down, grabbed one of the downed Kraang and threw it into another group of Kraang. He then landed on the ground, dodging blaster bolts as he kicked one Kraang in the chest before slicing another in half with his wing.
Monkey flipped over the head of one Kraang droid, wrapping his tail around the Kraang's neck before throwing him into a group of Kraang, knocking them over in a comical fashion. He then barely dodged a blaster bolt from another Kraang droid as he jumped up and grabbed the Kraang before rapidly punching and kicking it until it was nothing but scrap metal.
Mantis moved swiftly across the ground, avoiding the blaster fire with ease as he was too small for the Kraang to hit. He then zipped in between several Kraang droids in a little blur before coming to the ground again, the Kraang droids falling to pieces as soon as he landed.
As the fight continued, it seemed the tide was turning more and more into Po and the Five's favor.
And the Kraang quickly seemed to notice this.
"Kraang," One Kraang droid spoke, turning to another droid, "it is time that is known as the time to release the ones known as the Foot-Bots."
The other Kraang nodded before pulling out a remote and pressing a small button.
As Po and the Five finished the last of the Kraang, two new portals opened up in front of them.
Immediately, Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis took combative stances, getting for anything that would come their way.
Out from the two portals emerged two groups of humanoid-like figures, dressed in black robes with red bandanas tied around their masked foreheads with a strange foot symbol on it. Based on their attire, they appeared to be ninjas.
"Okay, this is new." Po remarked as the figures stood up straight and Po and the Five maintained their stances, ready for them to make the first move.
Silently, the Foot ninja moved into defensive positions, and in perfect unison, so much so that it seemed unnatural.
Not giving it much thought, Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis charged forward to take on these new Foot soldiers.
"Take them down!" Tigress yelled.
Though these soldiers seemed to have some skills, they were quickly knocked to the ground by Po and the Five.
"Yeesh, that's it?" Mantis questioned in disappointment. "I was kinda expecting more."
Viper furrowed her brow. "I don't know, something up, guys." She said.
Just then, one of the Foot soldiers got up from the ground, and then another and another and another until all of them were up again once more.
To say Po and the Five were shocked was an understatement. Any normal bandit or pirate would have easily been down for the count for a while after the beating they gave them, yet these guys shook it off like it was nothing.
And to add to their confusion, the Foot soldiers eyes actually glowed red for a brief second.
Before any of them could question what was going on, the Foot soldiers attacked again, forcing Po and the Five to defend themselves.
Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis continued to fight with all their might, but no matter how hard they hit them, the Foot soldiers would just keep getting back up again and again and just wouldn't stay down.
And over time, it seemed that with every move they made on them, the Foot soldiers seemed to know and evade, and even mimic in seconds.
Just what was going on here?
Monkey zigzagged around the courtyard before punching a Foot soldier in the head, only to yelp in pain as his fist bounced off the Foot soldier's head while the Foot soldier stood standing. The Foot soldiers eyes seemed to glow red as he faced the simian master. "They armored up or something?" Monkey cried incredulously.
Mantis zoomed through a group of Foot soldiers, knocking them all down as he landed on the ground. But in a matter of seconds, the Foot soldiers stood up again, their eyes all glowing red for a brief second before they readied themselves again. "Stay down!" Mantis yelled as he leapt towards one of the Foot soldiers, only for that Foot soldier to swat him out of the air like the bug he was.
Viper dodged a sword strike from one of the Foot soldiers, using her tail to knock it out his grip. She then snapped her tail at the Foot soldier, only for him to grab it and pin her down by the throat. "Is it just me… or are these guys getting tougher the more we fight them?" Viper asked through the Foot soldier's tight grip on her windpipe.
Crane swatted one Foot soldier away with his wing before kicking away another. He then attempted to fly into the air, only for another Foot soldier to grab his leg and pull him back down with an astonishing amount of strength, pinning him by the back.
"Get ready to feel the thunder!" Po yelled as he threw one Foot soldier into another before kicking another Foot soldier away. He then proceeded to belly-bump a Foot soldier that attempted to stab him before he was kicked in the back by three other Foot soldiers.
Tigress blocked a punch from one Foot soldier, but didn't react fast enough to stop the other Foot soldier from landing a solid kick to her face. Pain flashed through mind as she shook her head to shake it off, feeling like she had been hit by a metal bar instead of a foot.
How were these people so strong? How was it that they were able to read their moves so easily after only seeing them once?
Something wasn't right here…
A Foot soldier attempted to strike Tigress from behind, and pure instinct took her over as she spun around, claws unsheathed, and sliced his head clean off.
Po and the Five watched in horror as the head rolled off his shoulders and bounced onto the ground. "O-oh my gods!" Tigress cried in a rare show of terror. "I killed him! I-I didn't… wait…"
She stopped dead as she stared at the headless body, wires poking out of it's shoulders as it sparked with electricity before falling to the ground with a clatter of metal.
"Machines?!" Tigress exclaimed as the Foot Bots closed in on them while Po and the rest of the Five looked on in shock.
"These guys are robots?!" Crane exclaimed as the Foot Bots closed in on them, effectively boxing the group in. Po and the Five stood back to back as they readied themselves for another attack.
Suddenly, a small silver ball rolled out onto the ground in front of them. Staring down at it for no more than a second, Po's eyes widened in realization. "Look out!"
But before any of them could move, the silver ball exploded and a large net burst out from within, ensnaring Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis as they fell over and rolled to the ground in a pile of limbs.
And before any of them could try to cut themselves free, the net suddenly lit up a bright pink, electrocuting Po, Tigress, Viper, Crane, Monkey, and Mantis, causing them all to scream in pain before they all passed out.
With their targets incapacitated, the Kraang let their guards down as they stood over the fallen masters.
"Kraang's plan was a success." One of the Kraang droids said. "Kraang has captured the ones known as the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five."
"Yes, now for phase two of that which is known as the plan." Another Kraang droid said as another portal opened behind them.
Silently, the Foot Bots stepped over and grabbed the net, dragging the unconscious Po and Furious Five across the ground and through the portal before being shortly followed by the Kraang.
What do the Kraang have planned for our intrepid band of kung fu masters? Tune in next time!
I'll be honest though, I have a very shaky faith in this story, so if you don't like it, you can just pretend this doesn't exist and that Kung Fu Ninja Turtles 3 was the final story.