God... my head... just... Christ it hurts so much! What the hell happened? And why does everything look so... white? And empty? I could have sworn I was up and walking around the city not so long ago. Surely I didn't fall asleep did I? I know I was tired this morning but not enough to suddenly black out, right?

Then again, my dreams were normally more... creative than this, weren't they? Instead of being say, some sort of superhero or being chased by some kind of monster, there was nothing but white for what looked to be miles. Nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to feel. An empty void of nothingness. It was... creepy. Almost like it was a build up to something bad happening? Or maybe I'm in a coma! I don't know. All I do know is that in the short time I've experienced it, this place was giving me an uncomfortable feeling. That humming that was growing certainly didn't seem to be helping either.

Wait. Humming?

Yes, that's what it was. Humming! Like someone singing a tune to a song I didn't recognize. It was growing steadily louder and louder like it was getting closer. Any attempt to look around and try to figure where the source of it was coming from was pointless. I was forced to wait for what felt like minutes when in reality mere seconds passed until at last...

"Hello my young friend." Came an old yet joyous voice. "You seem burdened. Perhaps I could offer you some assistance?"

"Hello?" I called back. "Is someone there? I can't see you!"

An amused chuckle sounded. "Well of course you can't see me. I'm standing right behind you after all."

Oh god. I've seen enough horror movies to know where this is going. I'm about to come face to face with something horrifying or I'm about to get killed. Or both.

I dared to turn around. Slowly. Trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever strange dream creature my brain has created to torment me.

...

I have to say I certainly wasn't expecting, of all things a giant turtle holding a green staff, walking on two legs like a human by the way to be staring at me with a gentle smile on its wrinkled face. Hmm. I guess my imagination isn't as creative as I thought it was. Regardless it didn't make the situation any less odd either. It took my brain a second to understand exactly what I was looking at before needing another three to reboot. I couldn't help but ask the obvious.

"Who are you?"

"To you, a lit candle to keep close in the wandering dark. But Oogway would also work well." He explained in a way just as bizarre as himself.

"So... this has got to be some sort of dream, I mean... there's no way this is real surely?"

That had meant to be a rhetorical question. A way for my mind to rid itself of the growing tension and stress it was beginning to feel. But I received an answer all the same. In the form of a whack to the head with this Oogways staff.

"OW! What the hell was that for?!" I understandably snapped, giving my head a good rub as I glared at the turtle who had no change in his expression at all. Just still smiling like he hadn't just tried to split my head open like a coconut.

"Did it hurt?"

"Did it... what? Are you being serious? Yes of course it bloody hurt!"

"Painful enough to be considered real I take it?"

Surprisingly to myself, I gave the question some thought instead of trying to swipe the stupid stick from his grasp. I mean, okay yeah that was painful. A little too... concentrated if you get my meaning. Sometimes you can feel pain it a dream but it is normally rare and fleeting compared to the real thing. What I was feeling was admittedly genuine. Which also means... shit. It's not a dream at all, is it?

So what in Gods name is going on then?

"Okay fine. That's... one way to prove a point. Not the best way but still a point. So... where exactly is it we're at?"

"Oh you know. Here... there... the space between spaces. Although I believe you may know it better as limbo."

...

"Um... excuse me?"

Limbo? As in the limbo you experience when you die?! Nonononono there must be some confusion. I'm not dead. I can't be dead! I... I don't even remember dying for Gods sake so that can't be right... right?

"Haha, okay yeah. Sure! That's a good joke mate. Way to try and pull one over on the gullible human! HA HA HA so funny! I mean, that's kind of impossible, you know?"

"Oh nothing is impossible young Mike. Otherwise you wouldn't be talking to someone that you would also believe was impossible, would you now?"

He's... everything he's saying makes sense. But I just... I can't quite accept it. I mean, can you blame me? I'm only nineteen for petes sake! My life's supposed to have just begun. There's so much I have yet to do!

"H- How... how is it I died then? How?"

For the first time since meeting him, the turtles expression slowly morphed from amusement to sadness. I could tell from a mile off that I wasn't going to like whatever he was about to tell me.

"Evil exists in many forms across many worlds my friend. Some great enough to threaten nations, and some so small that no-one bats an eye, shameful though that may be. But you, young Mike were victim to the latter. Two thieves rushed you. One of them carried a blade. There were no words, no hesitation, no compassion. A single strike was all it took. And..."

He trailed off. I was more than able to put the remaining pieces together. All I could do in that moment was stand there. In shock. A multitude of emotions raced through me. Anger, sadness, fear and plenty of others swarmed through me. I hadn't even noticed that he had called me by my name despite me never giving it. My first proper thoughts in those seconds were of my family. My mum, my dad and even my annoying little sister.

I was never going to see them ever again...

I don't know how long I was there. Just... frozen on the spot. Could have been minutes, could have been an hour for all I cared. It was only when Oogway spoke again was I able to snap back to reality. I didn't even realize how wet my eyes were until the tears finally fell.

"You have my greatest sympathies my friend. But perhaps it would enlighten you to know that this meeting is not by chance. For one so young in life, the universe would be so kind as to grant you a choice."

"A choice? Please. Unless you're about to bring me back to life, I'm not interested!"

The silence and the return of the turtles smile tended to suggest otherwise.

"Wait. Are you?"

"I can, but also I can not."

"So... is that a yes or a no? I'm really not in the mood for riddles here."

"While I have the power to grant you the chance to live life once more, it shall not be a life spent on familiar grounds. Instead you will find yourself on a new world. A new plane of existence if it is what you choose."

"And which world would this be exactly?"

"The very same world I myself came from."

That's... well, it's a hell of a choice so forgive me if I didn't answer right away. So if I've heard right, I'll be spending this 'second chance' on some other planet? How do you even react to something like that? I mean, what's the alternative? Floating around the emptiness of nothing for the rest of eternity? Obviously I'd rather prefer to be back home but that didn't sound like much of a choice. Just... Christ, man. This is all kinds of messed up. *sigh* Well, guess there's only one choice I can go with, isn't there?

"You may also find that one particular thing that you've been seeking, as well as bestow it onto others should you find it in your heart to do so." Oogway spoke as though he had just read my mind. Maybe he had as far as I knew. I mean yeah, turtles don't really do that. But they're also not six feet tall and capable of speaking perfect english either, are they?

"Oh may I now? And what would that be?"

"Happiness."

I seemed to pause before I could give some witty reply and gave myself a moment to think on his words. My life wasn't perfect. Probably a little below average since we're laying everything out on the table. So maybe there was some wisdom to this guys words. And like I said, not really a lot of other options. Who knows? This might actually end up being a good thing, fingers crossed.

"Okay then, Oogway. I guess you've got yourself a deal."

Oogways smile widened a little and he slowly wandered forth, getting closer and closer until we were but a few feet apart. Soon he raised his right hand. His long claw-like digits moved towards my face before shifting them into a pointing motion. With the final outstretched 'finger' he lightly poked me right in the centre of my forehead. It felt oddly pleasant in a way that's difficult to describe.

Before I could ask what he had done, a feeling of rushing wind surrounded me and the tortoise began to move back. Not on his own accord, his feet weren't moving. It was like something was dragging him. Or... dragging me away! The white space quickly turned black within the span of a second and the last I could see of Oogway was him smiling and waving goodbye. After that... darkness.

I suddenly jolted as though stung and my eyes shot open revealing a blue sunny sky. A very strange thing considering I could have sworn I had never closed them. But strange things were going to be the norm of today I'm sure. Twisting my head I found myself in, of all places a forest. Wait. Is that... bamboo? I'm in a forest of bamboo! Am I somewhere in Southern Asia?

I moved my arm to my head in an attempt to suppress the oncoming headache I could sense growing. Or rather I tried to. Something was wrong. I couldn't feel my left arm at all. Had it fallen asleep? Who knows how long I had been lying down here for. I raised my body to check and what I saw was enough to nearly give me a heart attack. Now it was abundantly clear why I couldn't move my arm. I didn't have one. Nor did I have legs or anything that resembled a human being. Instead I was met with a long slender body with grey scales along with a pattern of black spots. A tail completed the end, which upon moving felt more like a mix of both legs being used. With no arms I used said tail to feel my face and found some startling differences. My head was smaller, my eye bulbous enough to nearly pop out of my skull and a set of fangs protruding from my mouth. I had become a snake. Needless to say I took this transformation quite well.

"WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK HAS HAPPENED TO ME?!"

Sort of.

"Is this some sort of sick joke Oogway?! Change me back right now or I swear to God I'll kill myself just to find you again, and then kill YOU in the afterlife! Do you hear me?!"

Shockingly the sky offered no reply.

Ugh! Great. Now what the hell do I do? I'm all alone in the middle of... of... somewhere! Where do I even go? Is there civilization nearby? Should have gotten turned into a map instead. At least that would have been more useful than this limbless reptile!

I heard a snap from behind. Like something heavy stepping on a branch. I dared to turn and found myself looking at the third strangest thing today. A rhino. An honest to God rhino, standing on two legs just like Oogway! Only this one looked infinitely less friendly. I considered saying something but felt like it would make him even angrier than my presence already had. Before I could come to a decision, he marched on over to me and his height became all the more obvious. Considering how low my head was, this guy was like a freaking giant almost! I felt like I was about to get robbed or beaten to death at any second, sweating buckets in fear of what this bloke was about to try. My body coiled up instinctively without me noticing.

"Who are you?" He growled, kneeling down slightly as to get a better look at me.

"Uh... Mike?" I answered, realizing a little too late that I should have made one up instead.

"Mike huh? That's an interesting sounding name. Like a name of interesting interest that is your name."

... What? Did... did he just have a stroke or something? I've never heard anyone speak like that before.

"Perhaps you could assist me on a journey if you're not too busy then. I am sure I could reward you handsomely for your services should you be willing to help an old rhino out?"

Oh how badly I wanted to say that two letter word in response. But I could also imagine my head being crushed by his hooves did I dare to do so.

"How can I say no?"

"Excellent! Then we are comrades in arms! Like two strangers who have met and have arms that become comrades, yes."

God, I was going to have to deal with that for a good long while wasn't I? Thanks a lot Oogway! Really feeling the happiness here you old leathery looking...

././././././././././././.

And that's the first chapter to a new short project I wanted to try. And for those who've known me the longest, yes this is a rewritten chapter of my original story. So will the next two chapters that follow before the story evolves into a more stand alone arc. Kind of nice to see how I've improved from cringy story writing to somewhat competent storytelling. So feel free to stick around because I have some big plans for this tale. Cheerio!