Kung Fu Panda 3 Chapter 1

   Twenty years ago, long before the Dragon Warrior was chosen, there was a clan of otters that lived in southern China, ruled by two kind-hearted royals who had a daughter named Xiao Lan. Xiao Lan was a local beauty who interacted with everyone in her clan and often went with her parents on business affairs to help strengthen the relationship between the otters and the other clans. However, one clan refused the otter clan's princess because they had accused her of murdering one of their young. This clan was the Southern China Tiger clan. After hearing the accusations, Xiao Lan's parents immediately confronted her with the news, who immediately denied ever murdering from the Southern Tiger clan. She was put on trial by the Southern Tiger clan, where she promised the Tiger clan that she had done nothing and gave them her word as a princess of honor and justice; she was acquitted when the real murderer was captured in front of the Council's eyes. After that, everything seemed to fall into place between the two clans.
   However, on a seemingly normal business visit to the Southern Tiger clan's village, Xiao Lan was captured and beaten by the son of the village headman and his friends, resulting in the clans becoming bitter enemies. Xiao Lan, deciding to take things into her own hands, took an army to the village and ordered that every tiger be killed to restore her honor and the honor of her clan. Many tigers were killed before Xiao Lan's parents intervened and stopped the merciless and meaningless massacre. They promised the headman that they would reform a steady relationship with the Southern Tiger clan in return for their trust and protection. Outraged, Xiao Lan vowed that she would one day kill all the tigers in China, promising to return with the blood of the final slain tiger on her face as a victory prize. With that, she left her family and home behind, the full intent of her word ready to be kept.


*Twenty Years Later*


   In the forests outside the Valley of Peace, a young woman walked through in a blue cloak, concealing her face and her identity to all who approached her. She looked around the forest with a confused expression, apparently and currently lost. Taking out a map, she tried to deem her location, a feat which proved unsuccessful. Sitting down on a nearby boulder, she continued to look at the map to try and figure out exactly where she was.
   "The Valley of Peace." she said to herself, still looking at the map, "The Valley of Peace. How hard could it be to find the Valley of Peace? I don't even know where I am."
   Before she could resume her journey, several crocodiles approached her, making her look up at them in confusion.
   "Hey, you." one crocodile, presumably the leader, said, "Give us all your valuables."
   "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything valuable." the girl answered.
   "No money?"
   "No."
   "No jewelry?"
   "No."
   "Nothing?"
   "Nothing."
   "Well, then I guess we'll have to get rid of you, girly."
   Scared, the young woman began running away from the crocodiles, who were hot on her trail. She tried using the branches around her to try and throw them off, but to no avail. One of the crocs then threw a boomerang underneath her feet, causing her to trip. The crocodiles surrounded her, snickering and getting their weapons ready to strike her.
   "Someone, help me!" she screamed, covering her face with her hands.
   Before the crocodiles could attack, a falsetto kung fu scream came out of nowhere and one of the crocodiles was suddenly on the ground, unconscious. The others barely had time to look around before flashes of black and white came upon them and defeated them in a heartbeat.
   The young woman looked around, amazed at how quickly the warrior had defeated the bandits without that much effort. Said warrior turned around and asked, "Hey, you okay?"
   Looking up at him, she answered, "Yes, I'm just fine. Thank you."
   The warrior gazed upon the girl in shock, then ran away screaming, leaving her sitting there, confused. Standing up, she watched the direction the warrior went then realized something.
   "He must live in the Valley of Peace." she concluded, "I'd better follow him."
   With that, she followed the massive warrior out of the woods and into the vicinity of the Valley of Peace.

   The warrior, on the other hand, was still running at an incredible pace, passing by many who said hello to him.
   "Good afternoon, Dragon Warrior." one pig said as he passed.
   "Good afternoon!" the Dragon Warrior replied.
   Before long, Mr. Ping came out and saw his son dashing towards the Jade Palace, stopping him in the process.
   "Dad, I really have to go!" Po exclaimed, "I have to see something!"
   "You nearly forgot your noodle soup ingredients." Mr. Ping answered, handing Po the ingredients he needed, "It's your turn to cook lunch today."
   "I'm glad I can rely on you, Dad."
   "It's nothing, son. Now hurry and feed the Furious Five. They strive on your existence."
   "Dad, they do not!"
   "No? Then explain how they really needed you to help them last week in the middle of rush hour."
   "Those were bandits! I told you that!"
   "Speaking of bandits, weren't there bandits outside the Valley?"
   "Yeah, I got rid of them. That reminds me, I need to talk to Tigress! Thanks for the ingredients, Dad!"
   Po resumed his dash to the Jade Palace, Mr. Ping watching with a proud smile on his face. Panting got his attention and saw the same young woman in the blue cloak stopping in front of the restaurant to catch her breath. Mr. Ping looked at her with much curiosity.
   "Who are you?" he asked, getting her attention and trying to look at her face.
   "Do you know where a black and white warrior went?" she asked in response, "He saved me and I really want to give my thanks to him."
   "You mean my son, Po, saved you?"
   "Po? As in, the Dragon Warrior Po?"
   "Yes. He went to the Jade Palace, which is just up ahead, dear. I've got to warn you, there are hundreds of steps."
   "Thank you…um…"
   "Mr. Ping."
   "Mr. Ping. Thank you once again."
   She ran in the direction of the Jade Palace, following Po still, when Mr. Ping suddenly commented, "She does look an awful lot like Master Tigress, doesn't she?"

   "Where is Po?!" Monkey screamed in anguish, ready to eat. It was already quarter past noon and Po had yet to show up to cook lunch. Mantis was taking a nap, Viper practicing her ribbon dancing, Crane sweeping the floors, and Tigress was reading a scroll. Monkey looked at his friends and comrades, flabbergasted that they were ignoring the time and the delicious meal that would soon come, "How can you all just sit there! We'll never eat again in our lives!"
   "Stop complaining and wait for Po to arrive." Tigress said in a monotone voice, obviously focused on her scroll, "He must have run into bandits on the way back to Mr. Ping's."
   "How can you just read and ignore our lunch?!"
   "Because I'm not nearly as addicted to Po's soup as you are."
   "But you like it, right?"
   "Very much."
   "Better than Mr. Ping's?"
   "Mr. Ping has Po beat there. Po is a really good cook, since he did learn from his father, but Mr. Ping will always be slightly better."
   "Guys, I'm finally back!" a distant voice yelled, getting the attention of the Furious Five.
   "Well, Po's arrived, Monkey." Tigress said, marking her spot in the scroll and rolling it back up, "You can stop complaining now."
   "Good, I'm starving!" Monkey exclaimed.
   Po then entered the kitchen and put down the supplies Mr. Ping had given him. He then looked at Tigress and asked, "How'd you get back before me?"
   "What are you talking about?" Tigress asked, confused, "I've been here all day, Po."
   "But…I saw you being attacked by crocodile bandits and saved you."
   "I have been here all day, Po! That was not me!"
   "Then who?!"
   Tigress, who had risen from her seat when her temper started to flare, remained silent then exited the kitchen, saying "I'll be in the Training Hall."
   Po, who was now confused, turned to the other members of the Five and said, "Can you guys hold on a second?"
   With that, he followed Tigress outside and managed to catch up to her, grabbing her by the arm.
   "What?!" Tigress asked, now fully enraged.
   "I just don't understand something." Po replied, "If you were here the entire time, then who did I save? She looked almost exactly like you."
   "I have no family, Po! You know that!"
   "What about Master Shifu…and us?"
   Tigress once again didn't reply but looked away from Po instead. Po let go of her arm and said, "I'll call you once lunch is done."
   Po turned around and began walking back to the kitchen, leaving Tigress alone to sort out her thoughts. Tigress turned and watched Po leave, a look of sadness in her eyes.
   "You two seem close." someone said behind her, causing her to turn around in an offensive position, ready to attack. It was the young woman in blue that Po had saved earlier that afternoon, "Easy, Tigress. I'm not a threat."
   "How do you know my name?!" Tigress demanded.
   "You mean you don't remember?"
   "What do you mean by that?"
   "I guess you really have forgotten, haven't you?"
   "Who are you?"
   The young woman pulled the hood of her cloak down, revealing her face. She looked like an exact replica of Tigress, from facial markings to the same color eyes. Tigress' eyes widened in surprise and shock.
   "It's been a long time…Tigress."
   All that could be heard a few seconds later was the sound of Tigress screaming.