A/N - Please read!!

Okay, well the origins of this fic actually came about a week before Kung Fu Panda actually hit theaters. I had already done enough research on the movie to know that Shifu was indeed my favorite character, and that's only grown since. What you're about to read is actually a massively extended version of the prologue I've created for my own sequel to the movie. I decided it could hold its own. This super-long "prologue" is so far divided into three parts that might end up as four. Consider it a sneak peek of the larger story which I hope to get up on here before too long. Also know that these chapters will be lengthy…

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Uninvited

The Valley of Peace – containing a peaceful and protected little village cradled by the snow-capped Cliffs of the Great Awakening in the middle of China – was not what anyone would've called "peaceful" during the final years of the Quon dynasty. During this time, long before the Dragon Warrior had even been born, war fell upon the empire against Mongolia. Extra security was instantly set up about the Valley, specifically at the arch of the Thread of Hope – the long series of rope bridges that protected the village from oncoming armies.

Set above bottomless chasms shrouded in cloud, the bridges were so narrow that they only allowed strangers to come in single file. Yet despite the heightened security, the Valley was not entirely spared of enemy attacks – one such example being an ugly assault from a Mongol band of Golden Eagles.

The protectors of the valley – masters in the art of kung fu – were urged to sharpen their skills as they would need them now more than ever. Grand Master Oogway had already trained several courageous individuals that gave their lives to protect the valley.

One of Oogway's most notable students at the time was Captain Chen-Koto, who had spent his whole life mastering battlefield tactics as well as kung fu. After suffering the loss of his wife in the recent assault on the Valley by the Mongol Eagles, Koto left the safety of the Valley of Peace, led the Chinese army into battle against the Mongols, and stood on the frontlines himself. The fight was a close call and several casualties were received on both sides, but – in the end – the captain's skills of strategy and fighting tactics saw China to victory. Celebration and ceremony followed at the Imperial Palace and all across the country, and Emperor Yat-sen himself honored Koto and his soldiers as heroes.

Upon returning home to the Valley, Koto was greeted with reverence and admiration… But no one met him with quite so much exuberance as his young son, who rather unceremoniously ran and leapt into his father's embracing arms upon his return.

With peace rightfully restored once more to the village, Koto spent the next few years as an honorary representative of the Valley of Peace to the emperor. First and foremost, however, his efforts went to properly raising his son. Fortunately, danger was no longer a worry to the citizens of the Valley, and the days passed in a settled peace.

But the Ju-long Alliance was ever on the track to disturb that peace.

The Ju-long Alliance was essentially a gang of pirates that traversed China, and they were known and feared by the entire nation. Their entire activities included not much more than burning towns, looting homes, and kidnapping helpless citizens. But one way or another, they always managed to escape the hands of the law. Its members were bound to the Alliance for life, which resulted in the rise of some very well-trained and dangerously driven criminals.

The leader – at that time – of the Ju-long Alliance was a fierce rhino warrior named Raidon. Word had reached all across China and beyond of Captain Chen-Koto's admirable valor and unstoppable skills, and Raidon had grown curious. He didn't know what kind of animal this guy was, but the moment he had gathered a few of his recruits, he made arrangements to pay this mysterious warrior an undercover visit.

He went with four of his confederates, consisting of a takin, two wolves, and a cobra. They had crossed into the Valley of Peace only days before by passing themselves off as weary travelers. Led by Raidon, the group of marauders walked quietly through the streets of the village, which had gotten fairly quiet in the late evening hours. The rhino leader paused and muttered something to his company about hiding their medallions before they approached two rabbits walking along the street in the other direction.

"Excuse me," Raidon addressed the rabbits, who looked a little startled to see the large animal in their village. "We're looking for Captain Chen-Koto."

Although a bit intimidated, one of the rabbits pointed towards a house near the end of the road. "He-He lives down there. He's probably training, though, and he doesn't like to be bothered when he is…"

"We'll take our chances," Raidon smiled. "Thank you, gentlemen."

The group continued down the road towards the house that the rabbits had pointed out to them. Once they neared it, Raidon stopped his four accomplices. "Wait here," he ordered. "I will give you the signal if needed."

With that, the large rhino carefully stepped into the small house. He looked around and saw no one in the little hallway he had found himself in. It made him wonder once more what kind of animal Captain Chen-Koto was… And how one so powerful and skilled made do with such low ceilings.

Raidon's big, mud-colored ears tilted forward upon hearing noises coming from what seemed to be a room in the back of the house. The sounds were clearly kia – the yells of effort one made during martial arts training. Following the yells, he made his way to the back room of the small house, which was indeed a training room.

Captain Chen-Koto was in the middle of the room. He was training all right, but he wasn't alone. He was training his son, who now looked to be no older than six. They were red pandas – small raccoon-like animals with red and white fur that were about the size of a small dog.

Koto wore a burlap robe of emerald green with a black sash around his waist. The cub donned a burlap tunic of maroon with black slacks and a golden-colored belt. He was less than half the size of his already small father, but he was really quite a powerhouse of energy. Raidon had entered, in fact, just in time to see the boy give a cry of effort and take a few skilled swings with a bamboo bow staff at his father, who quickly blocked them with his own staff and ended the duel.

"Very good," Koto chuckled. "You just need to be a little quicker when you attack, otherwise your opponent will have a stronger opportunity to attack before you do." He beamed and took a step back. "Now show me your blocking stance, say, if someone were to attack from above."

After a slight pause to recall it, the young cub leapt into a defensive bai gong bu position, effectively holding his bamboo staff above and slightly in front of him.

Koto nodded and reached out his staff, gently tapping his son's outstretched foot back a bit. "Lean into it," he advised and proceeded to stand behind his son, wrapping his arms around him and guiding him into the proper positioning of his arms and legs. "Relax."

Once it seemed as though his son had it, Koto slowly stepped back and gave a smile when the small cub maintained the pose and glanced back at him for approval.

"Well done," the father grinned.

"Can I try the kata again?"

Koto shook his head. "No, not tonight."

"One more, Baba, please?"

"That's what you said three duels ago, young man," Koto smiled. "Seriously, if your mama knew I let you stay up this late, she'd have my head." They then stepped back from each other. "Gen Lai!" Koto raised his voice, spun his staff to rest at his side, and gave the traditional salute of his fist planted into his palm.

The cub rested his staff and copied the salute, raising his voice as well. "Xie Xie!" he shouted. The two red pandas bowed their heads to each other.

It wasn't until now that Raidon finally decided to make his presence known. He walked forward as father and son started to part ways, and caused them both to come to a stop when they looked up and saw their massive visitor.

"You're quite skilled for your age, boy." Raidon remarked to the younger of the two red pandas.

The cub smiled a bit and turned to him, leaning forward respectively. "Thank you, sir," he said. "My baba has taught me everything I know."

"Has he now?"

Koto came up behind his son, placing a paw on his shoulder, and looked up at their visitor. "Can we help you, sir?"

"Are you Captain Chen-Koto?" Raidon requested.

"I am," the elder red panda answered cautiously and immediately asked, "who would you be?"

"My name is Hao-Rui," the rhino lied. He kneeled and bowed his head in respect. "And it's an honor to meet the hero of China himself, Captain."

"Um, Sir?"

Raidon lifted his head to see the cub standing in front of him, staring at him in amazement of his size.

"Are you one of those guys that bodyguards the emperor?" the youngster inquired.

"Shifu," Koto again put a paw to his son's shoulder. "Bed," he reminded.

Young Shifu's ears lowered slightly, and, with an affectionate ruffle on the head from his father, the cub quickly hurried back for his room. Once he had left, the two adults turned to each other.

"Despite it coming from his sheer innate curiosity…" Koto smiled a bit and looked up at Raidon. "My son did bring up a reasonable question there."

"Well, I have worked my share in the Imperial Palace, Captain," Raidon admitted, and it wasn't a lie. He had led his men in through the palace gardens once or twice to attempt stealing from the emperor himself.

"Oh, dear…" Koto rolled his eyes with a smirk. "There will be no living with the boy now."

Raidon smiled conversationally. "Your reputation precedes you, Captain. Although I must say you are not what I expected you to be…"

"You're not the first to say that, sir," Koto reassured. "Now, may I ask why you're here?"

"…Well, His Majesty Yat-sen sent me."

Any vestige Koto held of a courteous smile fell off his face instantly. His large ears tilted back slightly in suspicion. "…Is that so? So you're from the palace, then?"

"Yes, sir," Raidon confirmed without hesitation.

"…Come sit down." Koto motioned towards a small table off towards the side of the training area. However, as he followed the red panda to the table, Raidon was aware of the captain's suspicions and prepared for things to get difficult. He glanced quietly out the window to his cobra cohort, who caught the signal in the rhino's slight nod and silently slithered off. Raidon turned back to the table and took a seat before it.

Koto calmly went to the opposite side of the table, but didn't sit down. He frowned deeply before speaking. "I am not a fool, sir," he glared. "If you were really who you say you are, you'd know that the Emperor has been away from the Imperial Palace for the last fortnight. He is not expected to return from Thimphu for another three days."

Raidon snorted slightly, looking a bit perturbed but not defeated. His dark brown eyes met with Koto's deep blue eyes and they stared at each other intensely.

After a moment of silence, a smirk crept up on Raidon's lips. He abruptly let out a hearty laugh and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I see there's no pulling the wool over your eyes, Captain."

"Indeed." Koto glared daggers at the rhino. His ears were pinned flat back against his head as he pointed his staff at Raidon's nose. "Now state your true purpose," he ordered.

"Nor do you let your stature allow said wool to cover one inch of either two feet of you," Raidon smirked and nonchalantly pushed the staff away from his nose, standing. "You caught me…"

Koto watched as the rhino reached into the inside pocket of his tunic and pulled something out, holding it tightly in his fist.

"Captain Chen-Koto… I'd like to offer you this." Raidon held out his hand and opened it, revealing a necklace of black cord with a medallion of flint on it. It had been hand-carved from the rock itself into an ancient Chinese symbol. Koto recognized it as chiang, a symbol of power. "What?" He stared at the medallion incredulously. He looked up to take another look at Raidon, and noticed that the rhino had now undone the first few ties at the top of his tunic. A flint medallion identical to the one in his hand hung around his neck.

"The Ju-long Alliance?" He shot Raidon a glare. "You are requesting that I join the ranks of the Ju-long Alliance??"

"That has been what is anticipated," the rhino leader answered, with a slight curb to his voice that implied that rejection was not a well-received option.

Koto's ears flattened against his head and he didn't so much as flinch. "I would die before I ever put that medallion around my neck."

While not changing his facial expression, Raidon was clearly irked as his ears tilted back. "…Are you not aware of who I am, Captain?"

"You're the leader of Ju-long," Koto answered. "You're Commander Kun-Raidon, son of Commander Kun-Shao, the former leader of Ju-long. You're infamous for your recent assault on the village of Kuò-Lan."

Raidon smirked at the obvious irritancy he had noticed in the red panda's voice. "Seems like you've done your homework on us, Captain. Why is that? Have we intrigued you that much?"

Koto glared and made one swift leap, flipping and grabbing his bow staff from the table and landing in a poised fighting stance, bracing his bamboo weapon. "I've studied so much about the Alliance so that when I met one of its servants, I could defeat him!" he corrected.

He was met by an instant and eager grin from the rhino, and a sudden wave of motion from the main doorway. Raidon's four lackeys – Kuai, the cobra; Lang and Gou, the two wolves; and Shan, the takin – all closed in to stand behind their leader. Koto tried to not let it show as he realized he was in the midst of a prearranged ambush.

Kuai stood poised to strike with his venom, Lang and Gou both wielded heavy iron maces, and Shan brandished a cat-o'-nine-tails. Koto glared and stood sharp as ever, but it was beginning to look like he didn't have much of a chance in the scenario.

Raidon stepped forward once more. "Now why don't we try this again?" He smirked and again held out his hand, offering Koto the flint medallion.

"Baba?"

Raidon and Koto both snapped their heads to the side to see young Shifu standing at the end of the hallway, staring incredulously at the scene before him. Having heard angry voices, he had come out of his room to see what was going on.

"Son, get back to your room," Koto warned, seeing things were about to get ugly.

Shifu looked at the two adults. "I was just…"

"Shifu, do as I say!!" his father ordered and rapidly turned to Raidon. While the rhino was distracted by the cub, Koto suddenly and without warning leapt and sent the medallion flying from Raidon's hand with a lightning-fast kick.

Raidon snarled and with equal speed dropped to all fours and swung his heavy head at the red panda captain, intent on striking him with his horn. In a flash, Koto sprung into action against the rhinoceros and did what he did best – display all explosive force and skill beyond his size. He back-flipped clear from Raidon and instantly turned to block a strike from Kuai, who had tried to bite him from behind.

Shocked, Shifu stood there a moment longer before turning and running as his father had ordered him to do.

"After the boy!!" Raidon commanded Lang, who instantly turned and raced on all fours down the hallway after the cub.

"No!!" Koto yelled and made a dash after him, but was quickly halted by Gou, who violently swung his mace at his head. Koto leapt out of the deadly weapon's way and quickly used it to swing himself up and strike the wolf with a hook kick to the jaw. The red panda then whipped around with his bamboo rod to find himself locking staffs with Raidon. Koto growled and gave the rhino a glare that could kill. "Raidon, I swear, if you so much as touch a single hair on my son, I will outright--!!"

"Now, now, don't get your tail in a knot, Captain," Raidon smirked. "They won't hurt him without an order from me first."

Koto only gave him an acid glare before the two animals exploded into combat again.

Once in his room, young Shifu skidded to a halt and slammed the door behind him. His large ears twitched back at the sound of Raidon's wolf coming down the hallway. "Uh-oh…" he muttered to himself and looked around the room desperately for any means of escape.

Lang came tearing through the canvas of paper across the door and landed on all fours with a snarl. Upon entering, he was surprised to see not a single soul in the room. He looked around and raised his nose, trying to sniff out his prey. The boy was certainly in the room. Rising to his hind legs, he emitted a growl from his throat. "I know you're in here, ya little whelp…" he sneered, his yellow eyes darting back and forth across the room and his ears twitching at the slightest sound.

Someone should've reminded the red panda cub that wolves had a knack for smelling out fear. But whether it was due to this or the fact that the house's old wooden rafters were infamous for incessant creaking, young Shifu was ratted out within two seconds. Lang whipped his head up with a growl, looking straight up at the wide-eyed cub perched up in the rafters. Before Shifu could blink, the wolf sent his mace hurdling like a deadly baton right at him. The cub gasped and tumbled back, slipping off the rafter as the mace crashed straight through it. With a yelp, he fell from the rafter and landed right on top of Lang.

With a snarl, the canine furiously threw his head back and spun around to face the cub. Shifu stumbled back onto his haunches. The wolf growled and lashed his paw up, catching his mace in mid-air before swinging it down at the cub.

With barely any time to think, Shifu used the only thing he had to defend himself – the broken slab of wood that had torn off of the rafter in his fall. Quickly executing the block his father had just taught him, he thrust it out to block the strike of the mace.

He couldn't have been more surprised when it actually worked.

The cub's confidence took a leap and he suddenly felt brave. He quickly evaded another oncoming strike from Lang by ducking and slipping through his legs. In the process, he caused his makeshift staff to swing up, and let's just say the wolf was rendered silent for a moment. Shifu seized this moment to swing his staff at his foe's ankles, making him crash to the floor of his back.

Lang growled and countered the cub's attack, swinging his own arm out and knocking the boy's legs out from under him before leaping up to pounce. Before he knew it, Shifu found himself on his back with the wolf crouched straight over him, his tiny brown nose practically pressed against the big, wet, black nose of the fierce canine fighter. Any fragment of confidence he had just a moment ago was instantly diminished. Lang flashed a baleful grin at the small cub, keeping him pinned down by the shoulders with his huge gray paws. And just when things couldn't seem to get any worse, Shifu found himself in the premonitory presence of not one, but both of Raidon's wolves, who displayed their fangs in a collective sneer.

Koto had just taken down Shan with a swiftly-executed front snap kick to the takin's stomach when Kuai lashed at him with his jaws wide open. The red panda dug his heels into the floor and countered back in a flash. The cobra hissed and pushed, as Koto had literally caught him in mid-strike and was now holding his jaws pried open. The two warriors braced themselves and pushed as hard as they could, trying to overpower each other. Finally, Koto gave a yell and flung the snake to the floor before he knew what hit him. The red panda then made a dart for the hallway, desperate to find and protect his son.

However, at that moment, he caught motion out of the corner of his eye. Whatever it was, it was coming at him fast. With a slight gasp, he managed to backflip out of the object's path before it rasped across his face. Landing on all fours, the miniature captain finally saw the weapon right in front of his face, as it was now driven into the wall directly to the right of his head.

It was a sword – a rather huge one with a hilt forged of brass that was all but dwarfed by the double-edged blade before it. Both blades were made up of wrought iron, the smaller of them more like a dagger and the larger of them almost twice the length of its counterpart. Engraved across the saber-like, larger blade was a rampant green dragon that breathed fire from its mouth. Frills flowed like silk from its forearms and ran down the entire length of the sword. Koto was rendered speechless for a moment.

The Sword of Heroes was the last thing he had expected to see at that moment, let alone did he expect it to see driven into his wall a mere few inches from his face.

TBC…

ACK!! Shifu is at the mercy of the wolves? And what the heck does the Sword of Heroes have to do with anything? This does not bode well!

And now for a brief lesson in some Chinese (and Japanese) terms...

Baba - "papa"

Gen Lai - "salute"

Xie Xie - "thank you"

Koto - "harp" (Japanese)

Raidon - "thunder god" (Japanese)

Kuai - "fast"

Lang - "wolf"

Gou - "dog"

Shan - "mountain"

Please R&R!