[IC] Kung Fu Panda: The Invading Sun

[Astronaut Jones]

Chapter 1

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it's called the present."

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Valley Village

With the last hump of winter finally over, today's clear skies and radiant sun marked the first true day of spring. The Valley of Peace was hustling and bustling. The streets were filled with tourists and travelers from all over the country for the the Festival of Renewal. It's a rare celebration only held when a new Master of the Jade Palace is officially crowned. And that master is none other than Po, the Dragon Warrior. Well, former, Dragon Warrior. That is what makes this Festival of Renewal extra special, because not only will a new Dragon Warrior be chosen to take Master Po's place, but so too will the Furious Five, for the original legendary fighters have ascended to new titles as, The Five Teachers.

These changes are very serious, and people have different opinions on the matter. Some believe it unwise for Po to take on such an honorary title, while others just wish for things to stay the same. But what cannot be criticized is the wisdom of Master Shifu. If the wise old red panda believes it's time for Po, then so be it. Right?

...
Jade Palace - Palace Arena

Just beyond the steps of the Jade Palace, Master Po and the Five Teachers surveyed the open Valley. In front of them stood an enclosed space, the Palace Arena, which will hold the fates of a new generation of fighters. While they all looked noticeably older, there was still a fire in their eyes that beckoned for adventure. They began talking about their travels across China, and eventually the candidates that they each handpicked. It was a mission set after The Winter Festival, and was Master Shifu's last quest for them to embark on. They were to return after two months, just two days before the Festival of Renewal. While they took pride in their selection, there was an air of doubt that could be sensed among each of them. It was new territory for everyone, and the pressure to uphold their station grew tremendous in the days leading up to the festival.

"We should probably go back to the training hall." Crane sighed.

"Yeah." Monkey also sighed, purposefully louder than Crane's sigh.

"I hope they didn't break anything." Viper's tone was more somber than Crane and Monkey's.

"Doubtful." Mantis lowered his head. Tigress said nothing.

Po's eyes went wide, and in an exaggeratedly curious expression, surveyed each of The Five Teachers. "Hey, what's the matter with you guys?"

"We're getting replaced, Po." Tigress finally spoke.

"It's not exactly the greatest feeling in the world." Crane chirped.

"It also means that we're old!" Monkey chimed in.

"Come on!" Po stepped forward to face them all. "We may look a little saggier, worn out, jaded, sleepier, crankier... uh...what else?"

"Old!" Monkey threw his hands onto his face, overwhelmed with the sudden realization.

"Right. Old. But hey, our time might be up, but we still have a lot left to give." Po stood in front of them with a warm, assuring smile. He started to feel a moment coming on, so he closed his eyes and embraced it. "We owe it to the Valley to keep it a Valley of Peace...and not a Valley of...Destruction! Because they need us. And I need you. We're going to do this together. We're going to pass on the legacy of Master Oogway and Master Shifu and do great things! Right, guys? Guys...?"

Po opened his eyes, but the Five Teachers all vanished. In their place were a group of worker pigs. They had stopped working on the decorations in the Palace Arena and gathered around Master Po, drawn to his invigorating speech.

"He's right!" One of them shouted. "Let's make these decorations for the glory of China!!!" They all charged into different directions, squealing their war cry. The panda sighed. He made his way toward the training hall but decided to take a pit stop by the Palace kitchen to grab some dumplings for himself.

...



Jade Palace - The Training Hall

The training hall was jam packed with fighters. Masters of all levels were doing all sorts of stylishly cool and peculiar work outs. The seven talon rings were slicing through air, the gauntlet of wooden warriors twirled about with their menacing spikes, and the seven swinging clubs of instant oblivion were swinging with...instant oblivion. The exterior courtyard was also filled with sparring matches, while the wooden dummies and inflatable punching bags that lined the perimeter were being put to use. And among the overload of Kung Fu hustle and bustle, Cham-Cham stood with a content look on his face, sweeping the mahogany floors of the corridor leading out into the courtyard.

"Out of the way, runt!" A large tail nudged the Chameleon off to the side. It belonged to Master Sheng, the new leader of the Wool Stealing Crocodile Bandits. "The new Dragon Warrior is here!"

Cham-Cham bowed his head and apologized, to which Master Sheng scoffed. "Ha! What a weakling." He spat on the ground. "There, you missed a spot."

[Duthguy]

Tuzi didn't know how to feel, on the one hand six of the greatest heroes of the Valley of Peace were renouncing their titles and one of them was even permanently retiring, but on the other hand he was chosen to be part of their replacements at least in part due to his father. With the skills he would gain he would no doubt become even more capable of teaching bullies a painful lesson.

Speaking of bullies as he was waiting in the training hall for the Senior Trainer, the Five Teachers as well as his fellow students who he had never met before, he noticed a crocodile bullying a janitor. Based on what he heard the crocodile was apparently Master Po's student, while the janitor seemed to be too scared to even talk back.

Not even the Dragon Warrior was allowed to treat their lessers poorly and Tuzi was certian he would get some praise for making the Crocodile pay for acting like that. So without thinking things through beyond that the rabbit ran up to behind the reptile and jumped as high he could in an attempt to kick the back of their head with both his legs.

[Astronaut Jones]

Just as Cham-Cham was about to mop up Master Sheng's spit, a blur rushed past him. He glanced up and saw a rabbit in full attack mode lunging at Master Sheng with both legs extended for his head. The impact of the blow sent Master Sheng stumbling forward and into a sparring match between a Rooster and a Goose. The two birds stopped their own scuffle and began pecking away at the bumbling intruder.

"Gah! Get off me!" He twirled his bladed spear in the air, forcing the Rooster and Goose to retreat back. Master Sheng leaped to his feet and banged the end of his tail to the ground. "Who did that!?"

Everyone training in the courtyard stopped what they were doing and observed the scene unfolding. Cham-Cham approached the rabbit "Uh, hey. Thanks and all. But you didn't have to do that." The chameleon awkwardly smiled before staring back at Master Sheng, whose eyes glared back in their direction. "Was it you, pipsqueak?" The Croc pointed the bladed end of his spear at Cham-Cham, who nervously looked around and began mopping the ground in a feeble attempt to act inconspicuous.

"Uh, nope. Not me." The chameleon shamelessly pointed at the rabbit, head still down. "It was this guy."

[Double]

Of all the people crowding the Palace Arena, there was one who appeared to be doing no exercises nor sparring. In fact, the turtle was more content to just sit atop one of the walls and take in the breath-taking view of the Valley of Peace below. He may not have wanted to come here at first, but Guai couldn't deny the beauty of the place. That, and he wanted to be distracted from the fact that he would probably have to compete with others in order to stay. It wasn't a prospect the turtle looked forward to, fighting without any cause to do so just seemed like a waste of energy.

He heard a commotion start up somewhere within the Palace Arena. He turned around to look, and from his spot he could see a fight, what could be a real one. Why anyone would think picking fights under the watchful eyes of the Five Teachers - not to mention the Dragon Warrior - was beyond him, but still it seemed to be happening regardless. He sighed heavily, such a waste of energy, it was a pity really. Especially on the big lizard's part. Going out of one's way to antagonize everyone was a quick way to make dangerous enemies. And in a place where they were surrounded by peers who were either equally skilled or more so, being antagonistic was possibly the worst mistake they could make. Looking around, Guai realized that hardly anyone was stepping in to put a stop to it. Instead they just watched, like it was some kind of spectator sport. Well if no one else was to be the voice of reason than Guai would just have to do it.

The turtle leaped down from his spot from the wall and made more leap over the crowds of spectators so he could get close to the argument, "Please, everyone, there's no sense in wasting our energy on such senseless fighting. Why not just take a few breaths, relax, and try to remember why we're all here?" by this point he made sure he put himself between the chameleon and the larger lizard.

[Duthguy]

"Yes it was me alright. And I don't care if Master Po has chosen you as Dragon Warrior or not a bully is a bully." As Tuzi was telling the crocodile what he thought, he didn't notice the turtle who had positioned himself in such a way that the chameleon was at least somewhat safe from any retaliation coming.

Only when the newcomer started talking did the rabbit notice him."You're right I lost my temper, I always do that when I see anyone picking on someone weaker than they are." Following the turtle's advice he did indeed take a few breaths to try and calm down. While he still refused to apologize for what he did he at least wanted to show that as far as he was concerned the fight was over.

He turned his back to the crocodile and began to walk away, certain that any student chosen by Master Po would never attack someone in the back without a very good reason no matter how angry they were.

[knighthawk]

He felt it, that burning desire, the restless legs trembling underneath him. He had to move, he had to do something, he couldn't just stand there anymore! For an hour he had barely moved an inch at a time as he waited for this utter torture to be over. A low primal growl started low in his throat, past his solar plexus chakra and in the very bowls of his being that called for an answer.

"Thank you have a good day. Next?"

FINALLY! He did not merely step but pounced from his place in line to the counter. Teeth bared in thew biggest smile possible on his face.

Two, no, four! Four rising suns, please.

"Sorry, we stopped serving rising suns an hour ago."

Elation turned to shock as he looked behind him to the seven times folded line behind him. A damascus of disappointent, a katana of cruelty! Dropping into a low squat with eyes barely over the counter to portray a childlike innocence, he pleased his case.

But I've been in line for an hour! I was here when the Rising sun was being served.

"And now it is not, nor has it been for an hour now. Please select something else or move on."

All hope dashed, all joy lost. Today would be a cruel day indeed.

Six bao then. Please.

He forlornly paid for his food and started the walk of shame back to the jade palace. But what was this? He cook, the dragon blessed cook had heard his cries and sneaked the makings of a rising sun into the folds of a bun. A secret sun!

Life once more had meaning as his ears flapped with elation. In a burst he was bounding up the stairs five at a time as he came into the dojo with a full stomach and legs trembling with chi.

"WHO'S FIRST?!?"

[Astronaut Jones]

Cham-Cham blankly stared at the commotion. It was comforting to see others stand up and defend him, especially since he didn't have the courage to do it himself. The turtle defused the situation with sound logic, and the rabbit heeded his words, turning his back to Master Sheng with a more calmer demeanor. All eyes seemed to be placed on the Crocodile now, who shamelessly stood his ground.

"Ha! Look at you little ones, so afraid to defend your honor. Why in the world would the Legendary Six pick the likes of you?" The Crocodile moved in a circular motion, twirling about his bladed-spear in a dizzying whirlwind. "The Valley of Peace will be thankful of my uninvited intrusion into the legendary tournament of awesomeness!"

It seemed as though a wave of 'ah's!' jolted through the crowd of martial artists, realizing that this crocodile wasn't handpicked by Master Po, or and of the former Furious Five.

"So let me do their jobs for them by weeding out the weaklings!" Master Sheng ended his dance by letting his spear fly directly at the rabbit. The crocodile then jolted toward the turtle and Cham-Cham, ready to snap its protruding jaw at the turtle's head, and flip overhead to slam his tail down onto the chameleon with all of his might. Just as Master Sheng was in position to double attack the two reptiles in mid-air, an enthusiastic lion bolted onto the scene yelling: "WHO'S FIRST!" With such a loud voice that it caught the crocodile's attention, momentarily putting him off guard.

Cham-Cham threw the mop on the ground and rolled out of the way with his hands shielding the top of his head. Sheng's tail barely grazed him as it came slamming down. "Gah!!!" The Chameleon yelled in fetal position. He hoped the Turtle and Rabbit were as fast to evade the Crocodile's attacks too.

[Duthguy]

Tuzi was shocked that the crocodile wasn't one of his fellow students at all, though it did make his behavior less bizarre. However despite what the crocodile said the spear-attack still took him by surprise. He managed to avoid serious injury by jumping to the side, but the blade sill left a painful cut in his side.

Seeing that the reptile was willing to kill the rabbit knew that street-fighting tactics wouldn't work, he would have to use kung-fu. If he was honest he seriously disliked the fake scared running of the Rabbit Style, but this wasn't the time to be proud. Not only was his life at stake but also those of that chameleon and turtle.

Using the appearance of a loudly yelling lion as a distraction, he ran for it seemingly terrified. Once he had put up a decent distance between him and the fake new Dragon Warrior, he double backed using the various onlookers and pillars as cover. His plan was simple he would get behind his opponent and at the right moment deliver a surprise attack, only to run before Sheng had caught his balance. Rinse and repeat