~~what would've happened if just before the carriage that carried the radish basket with Po in it was about to leave, Li Shan found his son and raised him alone? how would Po end up? and what happens when a gorgeous tiger is assigned to now protect this seemingly forbidden village?~~
warning: I don't own kfp! just the AU!
It had been 20 years since lord Shen's attack, and the grieving leader of the pandas, Li Shan, had officially forbid going outside the village.
He had been a bit over-protective of his only family left, his son, Lotus. Of course Lotus had the freedom to do what ever he wanted, like choose who he wanted to marry, (which to everyone's surprise, was non of the girls in the village, despite all the ones who want him) what his activities were and what he would want to do when he was older. But the only thing that Li Shan seemed to be VERY assertive of is when it came to travelling outside the village.
You see, after Lord Shen's homicide, the handful of pandas travelled far and wide to escape and find a new place to start anew. And after climbing a huge mountain - which was very unpleasant for all pandas - they have finally found a safe habitat to live in peace. And Li wasn't planning on letting that peace go again anytime soon. No one goes in, or goes out.
All the pandas were okay with this of course, considering they had everything they needed. A pretty big village, custom made houses, a beautiful field to grow crops, a wonderful lake and waterfall to either drink from or take a swim, a safe environment, what more could the pandas want?
Well... That's where our story begins. Li Shan's son, Lotus, was quite the adventurer! He loved the simple life with the pandas for sure, but there was always more that he yearned that was so close, and yet so far. He researched about the worlds of China and it's respected arts, and even beyond! The panda even learned how to speak Arabic from learning about the Middle East! Yeah, he had a lot of free time.
Some of the pandas loved Lotus but figured him as kind of... Odd. He was always either stuck in a book or scroll about the world beyond, or daydreaming about going on great adventures.
Li Shan was worried about this, because he feared Lotus would leave him and explore the world on his own, so he kept a good eye on him. He liked how his son was educating himself, should his son take the responsibility as leader of the pandas, he would need to learn as much as possible to better their village. But Li can't help but be a little... Anxious. It's not that he doesn't trust his son it's just his paranoia and trauma telling him that Lotus' daydreaming could be.. Dangerous.
Speaking of which, where is that boy? Li Shan was sitting at the dining table for about 20 minutes and his son hasn't even come down? The old panda got up with a bit of struggle with age and walked to Lotus' room, that had the biggest window where Lotus was sitting on. The big window was opened to let the spring air in, ruffling his opened green robe, that was encrusted with the Yin & Yang symbol on his back as he watched over the village. He liked to do this a lot. Since Their house was on the highest peek with a dock and a bridge to go through to reach the village, they had the best view to look over the pandas. There were times where Lotus would just sit here for hours to just stare at the view below. He found it relaxing, just sitting in one spot, looking at the beautiful view, drowning out all of reality to just be in your own little world. Because sometimes... Being in your fantasies can be better than living in reality.
Li Shan put his stubby hand on his boy's shoulder, "Lotus?" He piped up, popping Lotus' world as he looked at his dad with his usual warm smile. "Hey dad! Sorry for keeping you waiting at dinner, I'll patch something together in a moment." Lotus looked back at the view. It was sunset, the most beautiful time of the day in Lotus' opinion. It actually reminded him of his mom in some ways. As warm as the sun, brightening up his cloudy days, having to go away into darkness. The only difference between the sunset and his mom... Is the sun would always come back. Thoughts like this made a tear fall from his jaded eyes that he inherited from his mother. He sniffed.
Li Shan looked to the descending sun as well, and smiled sadly, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah...," Lotus said in a daze, wiping the tear away. The elder panda looked at his son, and hugged him from behind, "It's okay... I miss her too."
A breeze briefly drifted into the room through the window, flowing in some lotus petals. Most likely from the purple lotus tree his mother planted before he was born. That's why she named him that. It was her favorite flower.
Lotus smiled, and gently placed his paw on his father's arm that surrounded his neck, "I'm fine dad, really.." He looked back at him briefly before descending from his room to the kitchen. "I'll make that dinner for us," He called back to his father, who simply sighed. The elder panda picked up a lotus leaf and stroked it gently. Odd indeed. That's probably the best way to describe situations like this.
A four day journey away, there was a humble valley standing on it's own, with it's protectors high in the mountains in the respectable Jade Palace. It was just about to be dusk, and the warriors haven't taken a break from their training since the dawn before. The Furious 5 is what they're called. Lotus studied all about the art of kung fu, including the masters and the history of each. He's most drawn to martial arts than anything else, especially the heroes in the Valley of Peace, such as The great Master Oogway, the strict Master Shifu, and of course, the Furious 5.
5 animals with specific styles and techniques that represented who they were. Oh how Lotus wished he could see them up close instead of in legends, but he knew his father would never approve, he would have found it too dangerous. Like come on, panda asthma and butt kicking action that may involve injuries and in certain cases, death? Not a great mix. End of discussion.
All the members of the Furious 5 were at their respected posts as their teacher, a red panda known as the great Master Shifu himself, watched from the side lines with a disapproving frown on his face. An insect named Master Mantis was skidding across the Field of Fiery Death with much precision, a bird with a straw hat named Crane, flew onto a Jade tortoise, meeting face to face with a primate that wore nothing but shorts that was known as Master Monkey. The primate pounded his chest and shrieked animal noises before starting the sparring match with the crane as they both tried to keep balance on the bowl.
A snake who was honoured the name Master Viper flipped through the 7 Clubs of Doom, not once missing a club to grab onto, nor falling against the pillars that rolled under her tail body, all while maintaining to keep her lotus hair clips in place.
One warrior however, had always stuck out amongst the rest, the unofficial leader of the Furious 5, the brains and bronze of the group, the most eligible bachelorate and hardcore master in all of China, Master Tigress, who was currently fighting ferociously against the Field of Wooden Warriors. She had such impeccable strength, she was able to destroy the warriors with only her numb bare claws, not even receiving a splinter on her lean but fit form. She wore a respectable red vest of kung fu, With golden vines decorating it, and a white belt that held up her black sweat pants, just further more bringing out her beauty.
But still, with all the power and respect she has as her status in her dream, she still felt... Empty... Alone. She never knew her true parents, so she lived in a orphanage where she was outcasted as the monster for her uncontrollable strength and short temper. After 5 miserable years there, Master Shifu started teaching her how to control her strength, and then later adopted her. Still, even then she was alone, for her supposed foster father never showed her love or approval. She figured the only way to please him would be to become the Dragon Warrior, one of the most respected titles in the kung fu world, next to Oogway's name. That was the only person she felt close to. Master Oogway was like the grandfather she never had, he gave her advise and words of wisdom when she needed it, he would tell her stories of times when he was younger, he always reminded her that she was truly destined for great things. And even with him and the supportive Furious 5 she had 'mistakenly' brought together, she still felt alone. She felt as if there was a part of her that needed to be filled. But what was it? Shifu's love? To be the Dragon Warrior? Or was it-
"Master Tigress!" On instinct, Tigress flipped gracefully on the sidelines where Master Shifu was and bowed down respectfully, knowing he would be he only one to call her during training. "Master Shifu, is something wrong?"
Shifu glanced at Zheng, the goose messenger who was standing next to him, and gave him a look that said 'are you sure about this?', when the goose nodded his head, Shifu sighed and gestured Tigress to stand. "Master Oogway would like to speak to you personally, in the scroll room."
The whole room stopped as gasps of surprise filled the air. Even Master Tigress was shocked! The only person who would talk to Oogway personally was Master Shifu. Was Tigress about to be crowned as Dragon Warrior? No no, that can't be, that wouldn't be fair to her teammates, and Oogway promised when the time has come that they would hold a tournament for the title. So what could he possibly want from Tigress?
The duck gestured the feline to follow her as he waddled through the exit to head to the scroll room, Tigress reluctantly followed and looked back at Viper, who gave a confused and a bit of a concerned expression. Tigress simply shrug and slightly shook her head as she felt the exact same thing as Viper.
As they exited she could hear Master Shifu yelling at his students to continue, and walked with Zheng to the green illuminated room where Oogway was standing on his staff to reach a specific scroll on one of the top layers.
The scroll room was a mess as usual, no one bothered to pick it up and clean, since they've considered it delicate and fragile wisdom written by Oogway himself. "Aha. There it is." He said shakily with a weary smile as he chapped his lips and grabbed a jaded scroll. Zheng closed the door behind him as he left the curious cat in the room with the tortoise.
He climbed down his wooden staff and came face to face with his student, who bowed respectfully, "Master Oogway, you wished to speak with me?" The tortoise chuckled, "My dear child, spare me the formalities, for you are my old friend," Tigress stood back up and smiled slightly.
"Of course, Oogway. And you are mine." Oogway 'hmm'd' with a kind smile and sat on the floor at a table, and placed the jaded encrusted scroll before inviting Tigress to sit across from.
Once seated, she curiously looked at the scroll as Oogway slowly opened it with care. "Master, What is that?"
The wise tortoise said nothing as he unrolled the scroll to reveal a series of pictures. What caught Tigress' eye was the upside down view of black and white furry... Bears? Oogway turned the scroll right side up in Tigress' direction to reveal the bears as panda bears doing a technique of some kind, forming a ritual surrounding the younger looking Oogway. She cocked up an eyebrow, "Master?"
Oogway frowned slightly, "500 years ago, I was severely injured from a war, my late brother in arms, Kai, carried me far and long to find a way to cure me, until we came across a humble village of Pandas," He started. "It was then I realised that these pandas are keepers of the sacred art, known as chi."
Tigress was familiar with the word 'chi' but Shifu only brought it up once. "Chi?" She asked again.
"Chi, an energy that flows through all living things. It has such wondrous power, anyone can learn it, but only pandas are the true masters of chi. It can heal and bring longing things to life. It is all surrounded by the balance of one's body, mind, and spirit. The pandas have used this power very well, and was more than willing to teach me how to use it. They're playful and care free nature definitely made an impact on me."
He smiled at the memory, but then falter a bit, "But..."
"But," The feline repeated, now very much intrigued by such a story.
Oogway sighed, "That was a long time ago. The pandas have lost all sense of their chi, but there was one woman who was still determined to learn, she was my little panda apprentice." He chuckled wearily, "Her name was Lily...," Tigress noticed his expression and tilted her head a little, "What happened to her and the pandas?"
"20 years ago, a prince of Gongman city, has been exiled from his home, for he caused..." The tortoise couldn't say, it was too much for him to bare, the pandas have always held a special place in his heart, and for them to have gone through such hell... He shook his head, "Now there aren't much of them left, and Lily has... Passed... Now all that's left is a good amount of them, and they have been forced into hiding. I have had a vision of where they are now, and it is also now that I have an important mission for you."
He rolled up the parchment and gave it to Tigress, "I want you to find them, they shall wait in the Mountains up north, it is a 4 day journey, and I want you to protect them and show them the ways of Chi."
Tigress held the jaded scroll in her numb paws, "Why now? And why me?" She continued to ask. The tortoise simply smiled and walked past her, "Just know this child, you are teaching them something that's always been inside of them but was long forgotten, but soon they will do the same to you." And with that, he left.
Tigress looked down at the scroll in her hands, still with much more questions than answers. She shivered slightly as the spring breeze drifted in the room from the one window, slightly ruffling her fur. Purple lotus petals fell into the room along with the wind, and one particular petal fell on the jaded scroll. She picked it up and looked to where the lotus petals came from. North. Where the mountains are.
She took a deep breath and clutched the petal, contemplating if this was a sign. A sign for what? She didn't know. But she was yet to find out.
~~sooo, what did y'all think of this AU? and I know what you're thinking "but then, how did the furious 5 come together if Po wasn't there?" well my readers and supporters, I have come to a proposition! do you think I should continue this story? choose wisely my friends! if I make this a full AU then I'll put all my explaining into my chapters! but that is up to y'all to decide :3
and I know it sounds a bit skeptical that Tigress, someone who hasn't learned anything about inner peace or chi yet, is given the job to teach the pandas, but it's like what Oogway said, she's teaching them something they've always known but long forgotten, it's only a matter of time for them to teach her ;)
remember to live, laugh, love, have a great day/night, R&R to help me improve, and until next time... Yarart... OUT! XP~~