All I could feel was my head spinning as though I had been placed in a washing machine going a hundred miles an hour. My vision was nothing but white, that was all I could see. White! Have I gone blind? I panicked as I tried to walk forward, I couldn't even feel the ground beneath my feet but I was too focused on being blind to notice.

Suddenly, I heard someone humming. An old man judging by his voice. I tried to respond and called out in an unknown direction.

"Hello"?

I waited for a reply. Nothing. Great, now my mind was playing tricks on me.

"Greetings young one. I have been waiting for your presence".

... Okay... well that was interesting. Not to mention a little creepy. Before I had the chance to ask what he meant, I heard somebody coming from behind me. Most likely the same old man. I turned around.

Normally I would remain calm and relaxed when dealing with strangers. However, turning around, I saw a giant tortoise with a robe and a cane made out of some kind of wood. I would have smiled now that I knew I wasn't blind, only the tortoise was literally one foot away from where I was standing, scaring the hell out of me and causing me to fall down onto my butt. I was almost certain I was going to have a heart attack, my chest was beating that fast.

The tortoise just smiled as though he was mildly amused with his little "Scare the shit out of the human" routine.

"Is this real"? I asked myself hoping this was all a dream because lets face it. This is too weird for it to be reality.

Then, something hit me. Literally.

"OW"! I yelled out. I looked back at the tortoise to see him lifting his cane from my head back to his side. Three guesses to what hit me.

"What was that for"?! I half yelled, half afraid.

"Did it hurt"?

I looked at the tortoise as I rubbed my head. "...What"?

"Can you feel any pain"?

"Oh no of course not. You only just hit me hard on the head with a blunt weapon. OF COURSE I CAN FEEL BLOODY PAIN"! I yelled in anger.

Expecting the tortoise to leave, I become surprised to see a small smile form upon his face.

"Then everything that's happening right now, is indeed real my friend".

I almost wanted to say something back, but thinking about it he did make a fair point. I got up slowly, keeping my eyes on him at all times in case he tried to hit me again. I decided to see if this walking talking creature knew anything.

"Soooo... where are we"?

Not exactly an uncommon question but at least it was straight to the point.

"Here, There, everywhere. The space between spaces. But I believe you humans call it Limbo".

"Ah ok, well then- WAIT WHAT"!?

Safe to say I wasn't expecting that answer. At least I knew why everything was white and why I couldn't feel any ground.

"How does- I don- wha- that's impossible". I blurted out after spluttering every other answer.

"Nothing is impossible young one". The tortoise replied.

Young one? I'm nineteen years old.

"Well can you at least tell me why I'm here"? I asked, trying my best not to become frustrated, which was slowly becoming a losing battle. However my sudden anger was forgotten upon seeing the tortoise frown. He sighed.

"It seemed that there was an accident back from where you came from".

Call me crazy but I didn't feel too reassured with that answer, and I had a feeling that I shouldn't press on, but I needed to know.
"What kind of accident"? I asked with a slightly shaky voice.

"You were attacked by thieves back on your world, not too long ago. One of them carried a knife and...".

He didn't continue. He knew that I got the message. I just stared at him, thinking that this was a joke.

"Wait, so... I... are you saying that I'm dead"?

He nodded slowly. I looked away, my anger replaced with sadness. I only thought of my family. My mother, my father, even my annoying little sister. I would never see any of them again.

"I'm sorry my friend. Destiny can be cruel". Unknown to me, he smiled. "But it can also be kind".

I looked back at him again.

"What do you mean"?

"Have you not wondered why I have come to you in the first place? I can offer you a second chance".

My eyes grew wide. He continued.

"However it will not be the same life you once knew. Not even the same body you once knew".

Needless to say I became curious. Granted I was upset, very upset, that I wouldn't be going back to my own world. But the thought of another world? That sparked my curiosity.

"And what world would this be"?

"My world of course". The tortoise smiled as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. In the worlds? Hell if I know, screw logic for the moment.
"... Do I have a choice"? I asked, even though I felt it was a stupid question. I don't know why I thought that, it just it.

"Of course you do". He replied.

Honestly, I was planning on staying in limbo, there was nothing left for me on earth or anywhere else after all. But then the tortoise said something which made me think otherwise.

"But before you make a decision, know this. Within this new world, you may find something that will have meaning to not only you, but those you come to know".

"And that would be"?

"Happiness".

That had hit me. Metaphorically this time. My old life was far from perfect. Hell, it wasn't even average. I remembered a lot about all the bad times I had suffered through and how few good times there were. I thought hard about this. If this was what I wanted. I felt as though everything had slowed down for me. Then, for what felt longer than an eternity, I made my choice. I gave a weak smile and nodded. The tortoise smiled and touched me gently on the head. Softly this time, thank God, because it still hurts from where he hit me a little while ago.

The next thing I knew was that the tortoise seemed to be moving away from me, or rather I was moving away from him as I noticed his feet weren't moving. Suddenly, I remembered something I originally thought of just after meeting the tortoise.

"Who are you anyway"? I yelled as though I was trying to talk to him from the opposite end of a football pitch.

"A friend, an ally, a protector. But you can call me Oogway".

"Well Oogway, thank you".

And I meant that too. How many people are given a second chance? Not many at least. But I was glad that I was one of the few who did. Even if it did mean living in another world.

Before long, Oogway looked no bigger from a dot and then finally disappearing all together. Now all I could do was wait as everything white began to turn black. In my head, I was a little scared but my face didn't show it. I allowed my eyes to close and I waited. For what, I don't know but I rather I kept them closed.

A minute of nothing passed. I couldn't help but open one of my eyes and was dumbstruck to find myself in a forest. Of what I only assumed was... bambo. I think. I sat up, realising I was lying with my back on the ground. I tried to move my arm on top of my head. I didn't feel anything. I tried moving my arm again but again, I felt nothing.

I quickly looked down and guess what? MY FREAKING ARM WAS MISSING! I panicked as would anybody who would realise their arm was suddenly missing. Although, that was nothing compared to the rest of my body.

Looking at the whole of my body, I found that it had been replaced by a long slender body leading down into what looked like an even thinner tail. What was worse was that all my limbs were missing! I tried moving what once was my legs to see the lower half of my mutated body respond in the same manner my legs would. I nervously moved my tail slowly up to my face to check my facial features. I felt that my eyes were larger than normal, my head was smaller, an I had two fangs sticking out of my top jaw like a vampire. Putting two and two together, I realized that I had become a snake!

A snake Oogway? REALLY? I mean, yeah I know you said I'd not have the same body. BUT REALLY?! I don't even know what kind of bloody snake I'm meant to be!

My skin was gray with black spots along my back, as I soon figured out as I looked at my tail again, so that narrowed down the choices a bit. I was close to wanting to go insane but knowing that never solves anything, I decided to yell at the sky. Yeah because that's not as crazy, right?

"DAMN IT OOGWAY, IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF A JOKE?! YEAH REAL FUNNY! HA! HA! NOW WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO"!?

A snapping branch from behind caught my attention just before I could yell anything else. I turned round and saw a rhino. It walked on two legs instead of four and was covered in metal armor. It looked at me strangely before advancing, looking quite angry.

As much I wanted to run, or slither away, I didn't know how to. Snakes weren't exactly known for their speed either so even if I did know how to move, I wouldn't get far.

Soon enough, the rhino grabbed me by my throat and lifted me up to his height. Luckily he didn't grab hard enough to choke me but I did have a little trouble breathing.

"And who are you meant to be"? He asked harshly.

"Mike"! I said barely. By the way, I forgot to mention the name's Michael but everyone calls me Mike.

"Hmmm. Your name sounds interesting, like an interesting thing that is a name of interest. That is your name".

"...What"?

That made no sense at all! What did half of what he just said mean?

"I am heading towards a certain town where I plan to get revenge on a vile panda who has ruined my life. Turning it into nothing but a pit of anger and sadness of that which he has caused. Interested in helping"?

Honestly I wanted to say "F-word no" but I knew that if I did, my head would quickly,and painfully, be separated from the rest of my body in a matter of seconds.

"Why do you need my help exactly"? I asked. Surely he wouldn't hurt me for asking a simple question like that. I hope.

"You're a python you idiot! You can help me by crushing the opposition. Literally, in a crushing of pain and killing which will be painful".

A python? that's what I am now? Great. If I ever meet Oogway again, I'LL KILL HIM!

"So, are you in"? The rhino asked with a sinister smile. I eventually nodded.

"Good". That was all he said before walking in whatever direction he was originally heading before finding me. Oh, and he was still half strangling me too.
I kept gasping for air which got his attention.

"Oh, sorry". He grabbed me by the chest. His hand fit all the way around my slender body. I guessed he didn't trust me all that much and was making sure I wouldn't wa-slither away.

All I could think at this point was "F-word my new life".