Author's Note: Hey there! Been a while since I've updated this. Well, looks like my muse has managed to draw me back here. (Don't worry, next clouded minds chapter is in progress and is looking to be a massive one.) And this little one-shot is more on the sweet and wholesome side. All I will say is that it takes place before KFP 1. Oh, and just a small thing, I was listening to Stairway to heaven whilst writing this, so feel free to listen while reading if you want. Might help atmosphere wise. Anyway, let's get on with it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!

Enjoy.

To Dream

Shimmering gold illuminates the skies as the very might of the sun banishes the clouds away, bathing the once blue sea in a sheet of its own magnificent light. A beacon, beckoning forth figures of equal, no, greater might. Ushering the plains of the valley of peace to the presence of true legends.

Ancient jade soaks in the blessing of the Gods, forging warriors of strength and skill incomprehensible to the villagers that linger so far below. A thousand steps. A journey to many and a stroll for the palace's heroes. This haven of heroes, this cradle of kung fu history smiles upon the denizens below as it opens its doors to gain their attention, proud to present the heart of its power. Its champions.

The sensational six.

A bright white light booms from the Jade palace's front doors, basking in the glory of its own inhabitant as they step out into the sun's prideful, grateful gaze.

A bo-staff shoots out first, held tightly by a langur holding an excited yet serious expression, wearing the scars on his shirtless torso as its own armour. He leaps out in a sideways flip, sweeping the floor with his staff as he lands. Following through with the momentum, he spins around, sheathing his staff onto his back before throwing out a triple punch combo into the air. After the third punch, master Monkey settles into his stance, a thrilled grin settling on his lips.

Not even a second after, a green blur manages to evade the vigilant eye of the sun, dashing to and thro at speeds that have the Gods struggling to follow. Though it is nearly indecipherable to the naked eye, master Mantis slashes through the air with three flying kicks before landing a fair distance away from his primate brother. Diminutive but deadly.

A pair of wings blast out of the palace's bright light, the avian they belong to flying in between his kung fu brothers and ascending up to greet the Gods' golden eye. He basks in its pleasant, joyous rays that smile upon his wings, fuelling him for whatever battle that awaits. Before long, master Crane flies back down to the steps, landing beside the microscopic mantis on one leg. His beak pokes out of from the straw hat that hides his eyes, remaining calm and collected as he easily maintains his balance.

Green scales shine amidst the sun's watchful rays as the six's serpent master flies out of the palace in a spinning coil. As she lands, she performs two sweeping strikes with her tail before jumping up and spinning her tail upward to deliver a final downward sweep. Her tail hits the ground with the intensity of a whip yet the smile master Viper wears on her face makes the sun shine brighter than before. An expression of happiness, pure and whole to stand alongside her primate brother. A round of applause can be heard from the village that looks like a mere speck from the distance, but the masters smile at it regardless. This both in thanks and in the knowledge of one thing.

They haven't seen anything yet.

Blazing fire shoots out from the palace's entrance, ascending high into the sky at astronomical speed. As it reaches its peak, this fiery blaze reveals itself to be a female tiger, her gorgeous fur and piercing eyes stunning the valley's citizens that look on in awed silence. In an incredible display of skill and focus, she throws out punch after punch, kick after kick, technique after technique in mid-air, making it seem like she is levitating beside the very sun itself. She continues painting her kung fu tapestry as she finally begins her descent, the sun acting as her paint. With each move the masterful tiger performs, another work of art is achieved, the sky a canvas for her undeniable beauty. Her audience can only watch on as master Tigress sticks a flawless landing on one foot, bringing her other foot down into a stomp before taking her famed tiger-style stance beside her serpent sister.

The furious five retain their poses as thunderous footsteps echo from the Jade palace's heavenly light, shaking the very earth in their sheer, unabating power. It takes little time for their sixth member to emerge from their home, a warrior so legendary and bodacious that he needs no introduction, no display of his skill or power. He does not even need a description, that is the depth of his fame and glory. Yet the straw hat that adorns his head is far too cool to ignore, his cape that is so delicately handled by the hands of the wind proves too epic to shrug off, his robes that complement his black and white fur. Badass. He joins his fellow masters with a fighting pose so indescribably awesome that even the great master Tigress finds herself admiring him.

Uproarious cheers and victorious hollers blast from the valley of peace, the villagers beyond honoured to have seen such a wonderful display from their heroes. Though they take this applause in kind, the sensational six keep their gaze focused on the horizon, the sun lighting their destination as if it were a signal. The legendary panda master shares a look with his warrior brothers and sisters, every single one of them exchanging a knowing smile. A great adventure awaits, and new legends shall be told. Without a moment to lose, all six masters make a great leap down the thousand steps, hungry for a battle they will never forget.

Thud.

Managing to kick his way out of dreamland, Po's jade eyes burst open as he falls onto his bedroom floor back-first. His gaze darts around the room, recognising the posters lathering his walls and his unfinished action figure carvings lying on his windowsill. Looking back up to the drab, grey, dull ceiling, a disappointed sigh exits the teenage panda. Another dream that he wished could be real. Another life he wished to be whisked away to.

He picks himself up off the ground, trying to keep the wonder and sense of adventure going as he makes his bed once again. Yet, his cheap bedsheets fail to match the intensity of the roaring sea. The sun's rays peak into his window with complacence, lacking his dreams glorious luminescence. So boring, so mundane. He picks up a broom off his floor, sweeping away crumbs of food and built-up dust until his eyes are drawn to one of his many posters.

A golden shine engulfs the landscape as the furious five leap down the thousand steps with dramatic poses, the Jade palace shrinking behind them. He smiles at the sight, remembering when he had seen them take down boar firsthand. When he had fallen in love with kung fu. Him, a lowly noodle boy. His head droops down a tad, remembering his place within the valley until his eyes flash to the litany of scrolls and parchments holed up in a corner of his room. Each piece of parchment contained a whole new world, filled to the brim with stories and legends of kung fu masters, battles and techniques passed down from generation to generation.

Whilst most of these scrolls are thick, vast, and weathered, the scrolls involving the five are not so vast. Not so ancient. Leaving them with stories left to tell. Yet even in their beginning, their stories manage to captivate him so. He had read about where the masters had come from. A comedian, a doctor, a janitor, a ribbon dancer. An outsider. He finds his smile again as he looks back to his heroes, seeing a manly, strong, handsome panda soar alongside them as an equal. Holding up his broom as a staff and puffing out his chest, the hopeful panda strikes a heroic pose as one thought fills his mind, picturing a bright, adventurous future ahead.

One day, I'll be just like you guys.

As I've said, short but sweet. It's always fun to explore the feelings of a younger Po and tapping into how much of a hopeful kung fu geek he is. A loveable kung fu geek. Some of my favourite one-shots feature this kind of Po and it felt nice to finally write in his perspective. As for the next part of this one-shot collection... I'm gonna be honest, I don't know when the next one will be out. I suppose it will be ready whenever I feel it will be. I just hope it will be soon because I hate leaving people hanging. Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this quick one, and until next time :)