The Story

Don't own KFP

I told Tigress I would be finished with the book after I got back home, but with everything happening it was hard to get back to normalcy. With the marriage, explaining everything to Krystal, finishing up my schooling and education, and finishing the book was very interesting. However, Krystal has helped me in finishing and editing the book. Knowing me I use to not take criticism well, but ever since...well everything, I've changed a lot. I looked over the laptop on my desk. I printed the last chapter of the book and stacked it after the latest one. Krystal came into my office and had a smile on her face as she looked at the first title page. "What do you think about it," I asked her. She chuckled a bit.

"Give me a little time to read it first," She replied.

"Sorry, I'm not used to this much excitement as of late, and then the whole shifting and stuff. And...I'm just wondering if you like it," I said. She rolled her eyes and smirked.

"Why don't you read it to me," She said giving the stack back. I leaned back in my chair as she tried to rest in my lap. Since we nearly fell off, we decided it would be best to read on the bed. She looked at the title and looked at me strangely.

"I'm still working on the title," I replied.

"Yes, but 'The Story on Which I Was Transported to Another World'? You're this great fan fiction writer and you come up with a title like this? You know you could do better than that. I was expecting something like...I don't know, 'The Story'. Maybe that."

"'The Story', I like that. Simple, easy, and provides some curiosity into it," I said thoughtfully. Krystal smiled. We sat down and started to read it.

I am a human. I want to clean that up so there is no confusion. Being around 19 years of age, life was a little challenging for me, like everyone. There is one thing that makes me different. I don't like being human, but who doesn't. What really makes me unique is that I don't understand human interactions and society. For example, why humans demand privacy yet post and broadcast everything private to everyone and their enemy to see. Also, why people get offended when you're truthful, both men and women. So you see, I'm an awkward person. Being of black skin in the United States of America, I'm not like most people. I have a laughable personality and I talk a lot, which is weird because I'm a kind of introvert though I can speak in front of people just fine. However, with LIFE becoming more hectic as I mature, I've become more introverted, self-conscious, and aware of the time I'm alone.

Like I said, I'm wired weirdly. I'm 6'1", and considered a giant where I live. Name? For the sake of security, my name is John. (Nowhere close to my actual name) I will say that I've never actually liked my name. It's supposed to mean something very special and, well, I don't really see myself as special. Because I have a melancholy attitude, I have a high standard of myself. It helps sometimes, but other times, especially when I make epic fails, it's kind of a hindrance. It's an awkward world for some and others they take to it very well.

I guess it would be better to explain the reason and purpose for this whole story. You see, I was visiting this bookshop for a new book. I was by myself for I told my dad and mom I would be here; I was old enough to drive. Now I know going to Barnes and Nobles is nothing out of the ordinary, but there was this old elderly Chinese woman with a stand for one of my favorite cartoon movies: Kung Fu Panda. I chuckled a bit. I found it ironic that a Chinese woman was selling an American anthropomorphic version of China. I looked at the woman with a smile. She had a mysterious smile on her face. If you've ever had an eerie feeling that you should talk or do something, you know the feeling I was feeling. "Excuse me," I asked her, "how much is the book?"

"I have no book," She said in a thick accent and broken English, "Sold out." That was a little strange to me. I knew she was lying the books were right in front of me. But then she said, "Have book in back for you." I pointed to myself.

"Me," I asked.

"Yes, have special book for you. No charge," she said. I bit down a laugh. It was funny how she said 'no charge'. I shrugged.

"Okay," I replied. I followed to the back of the store where all the classical and old books were. She pulled, what seemed to me, an old Chinese book. I could tell by the way the seam was; it was on the right. She first looked around and gave it to me.

"Read," She practically commanded

"O...kay," I replied slowly opening up the book. In hindsight, it's not always safe to do what others say. That seemingly harmless book opened up into a swirling vortex that sucked me in. I was falling down, or up, I don't know how or where I was falling, but I know I was screaming at the top of my lungs. "AAHHH!" It felt like I was falling slowly but at the same time fast, like when you fall in a dream. Anyways, I remember falling and then slowly stopping in a completely black void. I stood up though I don't know on what. Everything was pitch black, except me. It was as if I were in a painted black room with light coming in somehow. "Okay, where the freak am I?"

"Good question," Said a cheeky voice. I looked around me to see another person in the void. He was very tan, short about 5'7". He had slick shiny black hair, black eyes, and furrowy eyebrows. "And what are you doing here is a better question." He talked fast, but I could tell by his demeanor that he was mischievous and perhaps evil. He stroked his chin, though he had no beard, and he had a plain white shirt, black slacks, and a brown strap around his chest that held a big sword on his back.

"Who are you," I asked.

"Me? I'm the one responsible for the start of your journey," he said with a smile. I looked at him suspiciously.

"Who are you," I reiterated. He seemed to brush me off.

"Don't be worried about me. I'm just making sure that you get to your destination safely. You're assignment's in your book. Oh, and you can't get back to your world until you complete the assignment." He said as he gave me a decoratively designed book. He took his sword out, cut the black void, and made a colorful vortex that looked a lot like the one that sucked me in here in the first place.

"You still haven't told me who you are," I said. He smiled wickedly at me.

"Aw, come on. You should know you're old friend Demi." My eyes widened as he pushed me through the portal. I fell again, this time landing hard on my back. It knocked me out for a moment. When I came through, I groaned.

"Demi," I murmured, "That's impossible." Demi was my idea for another fan fiction that I had, but I never published it because I didn't have enough for the actual story. Demi's real name is Dimension Ripper. He's the one that makes sure all the dimensions are kept in order. But he was just some fan fiction idea, how could he be real. Maybe this fan fiction thing had gone too far. I loved writing stories, reading stories, and making up stories. But for one of my ideas, which I didn't even write, to come to life, in reality, was really worrying me. "How in the world is that possible?" I couldn't be concerned with that. Now I had to figure out where the heck the big jerk put me.

It was then I realized the trip here had changed me. I looked at myself and saw big tan foot paws where my feet should be. My pants had turned to black sweatpants it seemed, I was bare-chested, and I felt something poking out from my tail bone. Reaching behind me I found a tail attached to my body. In short, I was a lion. "WHAT THE HECK!" You would be shocked too if something like this happened. I quickly stood up on my two legs. The blood rushed around in my body, making me stumble a bit. I felt around my head. My usually short hair was replaced with a full headed mane. I noticed that I didn't have my glasses anymore. I didn't need them because my eye sight was fixed. I stumbled to a tree and sat back down. "Okay, calm yourself down, man," I told myself. "You're in a strange place, turned into a lion, one of your crazy fan fiction ideas came to life, threw you here, and you have to complete something for him. Not all that bad." I groaned. "Wow, I give myself bad advice. Okay, let's see where I am exactly." I looked around. I seemed that Demi had dropped me near a lake. My new ears picked up some nearby noise. I looked myself over. I seemed decent enough. I went over the hill. I saw a little village in a big green valley. My eyes slowly went to the tall high mountain in the back of the village. The sun nearly blinded my vision, but I could see a familiar silhouette of a majestic red and jade palace. The Jade Palace.

"I. Am. In the village of Po," I said quite calmly. But then fainted. The next time I came through, I could immediately see I was in some kind of shack. "Ugh, what happened," I mumbled as I came through.

"You passed out," Said a voice. I turned my head to see an old goat lady with small glasses on. But her voice was familiar. I propped up on one arm.

"Aren't you that lady I saw at the bookshop?"

"Not important now," She replied with a little old smile. Never trust your grandmas, kids. Treat them right, but always keep an eye on them. "You must do Demi's assignment. Go to Jade Palace."

"How am I going to do that," I asked, "They won't understand me." Then the old lady did something incredible.

"Don't worry about that, darling. Demi fixed that right up," She said in perfect English, "He made it so you'll be able to communicate with the others and you won't have to learn the language though it would be better for you." I was dumbfounded.

"So, you just talked like that to make it believable," I asked.

"Not important," She replied. She gave me the book that Demi gave me. "Keep the book with you and go to the Jade Palace."

"What makes you think they'll allow me up there. I'll just be a common person to them."

"One, they do allow regular people up the mountain at any time. Two, you'll have something that will attract them to you." I looked at the old goat, strangely.

"What," I asked slowly. Then I heard a cry for help. I rushed off the bed and looked through the window. The Boar Brother bandits were stealing from an old lady. Now, I'm no big hero. I like helping people in the background. But this time, I felt this incredible and undeniable urge to stand up to these thugs. I ran outside and faced them. "Hey," I shouted. "You get away from her. Go on your way." I immediately noticed that the bandits were about the same height as me and seemed to be packing more fat mass. The leader boar smirked evilly.

"Oh yeah, and what are you going to do about it," He said. I finally looked behind them to realized that the massive giant Li-dong was sitting in a corner just looking at the fun. I was about to get pounded. I looked at the little goat lady. I might as well try. I got into a fighting stance. I remembered enough of Tak-won-do from my childhood to at least run from these guys alive. They laughed. I breathed and threw my first punch.

My punch apparently sizzled the large pig because he was on the floor crying in pain. I looked at my hand. It was still flaming. I turned back at the old goat lady, who was smiling.

"Welcome to the Valley of Peace, Lion Warrior," She shouted as she disappeared into the shadows. Hearing a growl, I prepared myself for the next guy. I pounded him with a fire fist just like the other one. I prepared myself for the next one a bit more. I dodged his attacks left, right, and center. I spun around, lunged down, and shot a big blast of air at him, forcing him halfway across the village. I watched as the previously sizzled boar got up and tried to punch me. He did, right in the face, but I didn't flinch, move, or even blink. It didn't hurt me. I smiled, planted my stance, and water-bended some water in a nearby barrel. I threw the water at the boar and froze his face as he plopped to the floor. Then I felt a thump. I looked to see Li-dong had gotten up. I got back into my stance.

"Let's see what you can do to me, ya little runt!" I smirked cockily. Probably the first time I've ever done that in situations like these. I planted my right foot down into the ground. I lifted the earth underneath Li-Dong's feet. "What the-"

"What? You wanted to see what I can do. This is what I can do!" I threw him clear out of the village. I looked around one final time to make sure no more surprises would pop out at me.

"Thank you so much, sir," Said the old lady who was previously in trouble.

"It's okay. I was just doing what any able person would do," I replied as the lady went away.

"That. was. AWESOME!" I heard a voice from behind me. "Dude you were totally amazing! You're being all like' Hah! WHA! YAH! And the bad guys were all like 'Mommy! Help me!'" I smiled. There I saw the reason for me being here. I laughed a bit.

"It's good to see you, Po," I said as I bowed. I had studied the culture of China. He was confused.

"I'm sorry. Not that I wouldn't want to know someone as incredible as you, but do I know you?"

"Oh no, you don't. But I've heard much about you," I replied.

"Oh, you have to come with me to the Jade Palace. The others would be so excited to see you," He said excitedly in his childish expression.

"I would like that. Will they all be there?"

"Oh yeah, they'll be there. Come on," Po said, practically dragging me toward the mountain. "By the way, what's your name?" I nervously thought of something.

"Lion. My name is Lion," I answered. Hey, don't judge me. Like I said, I didn't like my name. I know it's a bit cliche that I use the name that I've used almost every story I made, but it was all I had on the fly.

"Lion, nice name," He said, not seeing through my ruse. I sighed as I saw the long step away up the Jade Palace.

"How do I get into these messes?"

to be continued.