Disclaimer: Kung Fu Panda and all related characters are property of DreamWorks productions. Some characters were created by Rudyard Kipling, and some are owned by Walt Disney Productions…see if you can pick them out… This is also only takes into account Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2, and some Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness. Kung Fu Panda 3 may bring some inspiration but is AU of this plot line.

The Berserker Saga reading order:

Daddy-Daughter Issues– One-Shot – Shifu and Tigress have a discussion on the events of KFP2… (Completed)

A Completed Collection– One-Shot – Tigress notices something missing from Po's action figure collection… (Completed)

Father's Day– Two-Parter – Mr. Ping helps teach Shifu to be a better adopted father for Tigress while Tigress goes to Po for help with a gift for Shifu… (completed)

Confidence and Courage– multi-chapter – A horrible "accident" shakes Po's confidence in himself and his Kung Fu… (Complete)

Today is a Gift– multi-chapter – An ancient artifact sends Tigress on an amazing yet horrifying adventure… (Complete)

Mist of Pandaria- multi-chapter - The Heroes of the Jade Palace receive a call for help that will lead to Po learning far more of his history than he ever thought possible… (In Production)

The Claws of the Berserker– multi-chapter – The Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five face their greatest enemy yet, a monster, a Berserker that does not want power, wealth, or rule, but to watch all of China burn… and why is Master Shifu determined to keep Tigress out of the fight?

Long, Long Ago in the Land of China, Five young ones, a Tortoise, a Tiger, a Goose, a Lion, and a Bull discovered Kung Fu.

The Five furiously battled to defend China from dangers both inside and out of the land.

As they perfected their arts, the Tortoise rose above the others as a master of inner peace, using it to manipulate not only his own chi but the chi around him.

While the others stood with the Tortoise, and studied under him, the Tiger grew jealous and angry.

He discovered that his inner rage gave him great strength and power, becoming a berserker. He left his former friends and returned to his Jungle homeland and conquered his fellow Tigers. Having conquered his fellow tigers, the powerful Tiger King, now styling himself Shere Khan, returned to take China for his own.

The remaining Four Masters could not overtake Shere Khan's mighty Rage; only the Tortoise was able to match Khan's rage with his own peace, though he could not overtake it.

Not until the Tortoise's student, Shere Khan's own son, confronted him were the Tigers routed from China, only to use his father's Berserker technique against him and take the bloodstained crown of Shere Khan for himself.

And so it was… the cycle of Parent and Child violence continued on within the Jungle Kingdoms until today. Now, the dark shadow of the Berserker once again falls upon the Land of China…

Kung Fu Panda

The Claws of the Berserker

Jade Palace, Many years ago…

Grandmaster Oogway smiled as he watched his apprentice Shifu dueling with his young adopted son. The snow leopard had such potential in both the Kung Fu Warriors eyes, though it saddened the aged Grandmaster that the young one's destiny was far different and difficult than his adopted father foresaw.

Shifu laughed as he just barely missed Tai Lung's snap kick, then followed through with a round house of his own. "Almost got you, Master Shifu!" the young leopard laughed loudly, before moving in for another series of moves.

"MASTER OOGWAY! MASTER SHIFU!" a voice called from the door as Zeng the messenger goose flew into the training hall. "Urgent message from Master Tigress and the Dragon Warrior!"

Tai Lung watched his father stiffen and turn the glare on the goose. "Lungri relinquished that title when he and Master Tigress left the Valley of Peace… What do they want?"

Oogway unrolled the scroll and read, slapping his lips absentmindedly. "It is almost time. She requests your presence, Shifu." He said with a smile.

The red panda's demeanor changed instantly. "T-Time? You mean… it's almost… she's about… WE HAVE TO MOVE!"

"What?" Tai Lung looked confused, before Shifu grabbed his arm and took off in a run.

"WE MUST PACK QUICKLY!" Shifu yelled as Oogway calmly walked behind them.

After a two week boat trip, one that Shifu spent most of it pacing the deck, they finally arrived at a dock at the boarder of the Jungles, a land occupied by several Kingdoms of Elephants, Wolves, Apes, and the one the Kung Fu Masters were traveling toward, the Tiger Empire. "Hurry! We haven't a moment to lose!" Shifu said, dashing off the ramp of their ship, Tai Lung dashing closely behind him. Many strides back Master Oogway slowly strolled behind them.

From the day we arrive on the planet

And blinking, step into the sun

The Door of the royal palace swung open and Shifu and Tai Lung looked around wildly. "Fu…" a blue eyed, white tigress with faded scars across her face moaned from the bed, glancing toward the master.

"I'm here Lynn," Shifu said moving quickly to the bed.

"Bout time," the tall and powerful looking Tiger in dark robes said from the other side of the bed, looking down at his old rival.

There's more to see than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

"Father?" Lynn asked, before her face constricted in pain, as another contraction ripped through her.

"I am here, my dear," Oogway approached the bed, then glanced to the Wolf nursemaid. "What is your name?"

"Raksha," she replied.

Oogway smiled and nodded, "What can you tell me of my daughter's condition, Raksha," he asked, slowly licking his lips in thought as he held his adopted daughter's paw in his clawed hand.

"The baby is coming soon, Master," the wolf said, as Lynn roared in pain.

There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

"Well then," Oogway glanced up at Lungri, "You are about to gain a title far greater than that of the Dragon Warrior, my old student," Oogway glanced down at his daughter's swollen belly, "Father."

"Lungri… Shifu… FATHER!" Lynn cried as Shifu patted her face with a wet towel, and her mate and father held her paws.

"You need to push, dearest," Oogway said, taking his free claw and placing it on her stomach, both Lungri and Shifu watched as it glowed slightly. "My strength shall be your strength," Oogway said, looking at his beloved daughter's face, "my strength shall be your daughter's strength."

But the sun rolling high

Through the sapphire sky

"Almost there, my queen, Almost …" The Wolf said, positioned to catch the cub.

"I… I can't… I'm so tired…" Lynn's eyes almost rolled back in her head as she rested in her best friend's lap.

"Almost, Lynn, come on, you can do this," Shifu said, running the cool towel across her forehead. "Fight, Master Tigress…"

She nodded to him, and then glanced to her mate. Lungri smiled back at her. She squeezed her father's and Lungri's hands tightly and growled as she gave it one last mighty push.

Keeps great and small on the endless round

All in the room held their breath, till finally the room was filled by the sound of a cub's cries.

It's the Circle of Life

And it moves us all

"Master Shifu, would you help me?" Raksha asked, and the Kung Fu warrior timidly moved toward the wolf. "Take that towel, and help me wrap the princess."

Shifu nodded and took the clean white towel, and held it in his arms as the wolf turned to him with the hastily cleaned tiger cub.

Through despair and hope

Shifu watched as the wolf placed the wiggling cub in his arms and wrapped her orange and white furred with stripe like rows of spots over her body, and particularly in a unique pattern upon her face.

Shifu's breath caught in his throat as the child's red eyes blinked open and looked up at him. The sight of the crimson orbs staring up at him curiously caused his heart to warm with emotion.

Through faith and love

Oogway and Shifu smiled at one another as the old Tortoise took the child from his apprentice. "She is flawless and beautiful, my friends," Oogway glanced to the father and exhausted mother. "What shall be her name?"

"Mei Ren…" Lynn breathed, "Her name is Mei Ren…"

"Mystical Gem," Shifu smiled, and ran his hand over the princess' head. "Perfect." And he and Lungri, at least for a moment put aside their differences for the joyful event.

Till we find our place

"Grandmaster," Lungri spoke up as Oogway approached them with the child. "Will she be the next Dragon Warrior? Will she be the next to learn from the Dragon Scroll?"

Oogway smacked his lips a few moments, before kissing the cub's forehead. He glanced from Shifu, to Tai Lung, who was watching silently from the corner of the room, to the Tiger King and his queen, "No," the Grandmaster shook his head, "She will be far more important. She will be his purpose."

"His purpose?" Shifu asked as he and Lungri looked confused. "What does that mean?"

On the path unwinding

Oogway placed the child in her mother's arms, studying her closely. "Master?" Shifu asked.

"I dunno," Oogway shrugged with a broad smile, "We will learn that together."

In the Circle

"Hello, Mei Ren," Lynn spoke softly to the cub cuddling in her arms, "I am so happy to finally meet you… and I promise to do everything to be sure you will always be happy… to be sure you'll always be safe."

"We all make that promise," Shifu spoke up as they all gathered around her. And they all nodded in agreement.

The Circle of Life

CHAPTER 1: The Summons

Jade Palace Training Hall, Valley of Peace, present time…

Master Shifu took a deep breath and took a stoic stance as the doors to the training hall opened and in walked his students, The Furious Five, Po the Dragon Warrior, Tai Lung and, to the Grand Master's curiosity, Tai Lung's wife, Po's elder sister Dao Ming accompanied them, dressed for a fight with her twin hook-blades strapped to her back.

"Dao Ming, I trust you've settled yourself into the Jade Palace well?" the red panda asked as the female panda began doing some stretches.

"Me and Spots broke in our room pretty well, thanks," her green eyes snapped to the suddenly chuckling Mantis and Monkey, "Get your minds out of the gutter boys, and besides, we're married. Get over it!" She said, and they broke into fits of giggles. "These are the finest warriors of the Valley of Peace?" Ming rolled her eyes.

"ENOUGH!" Shifu clicked his staff against the wooden floor to gain their attention. "They'll be time for laughter and fun later," the Grand Master stated, "But first…"

"Broken bones and busted knuckles," Po popped his knuckles with a confident smirk.

"Indeed, Panda," Shifu nodded, "And since you spoke up, you get to take the first warm up match… with Master Tigress."

"Wha?" Po instantly deflated.

"Dragon Warrior vs Master Tigress, two out of three falls," Shifu continued, "Since you two have decided to… explore your relationship, I wish to be sure that your training will not suffer."

"Master Shifu, I swear, I won't…" Po started, but Tigress stepped onto the fighting mat.

"Po, don't tell him," She said, popping her neck, "Show him."

"Um… Ok…" Po awkwardly walked onto the mat.

"So, um, how are we going to do this?" Po asked as he stretched, "So, hold back on some of the punches, make them more like love taps, maybe toss in a few little sneaky grabs…"

"You think because we have become clear on our feelings of each other, I'm going to go easy on you?" Tigress asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"I was kinda hoping…" Po gulped.

"Po, I care for you so very deeply…" Tigress said softly, walking up to him, trailing her paw up his chest, neck to cup his cheek, "I do love you. That's why… I want to be sure you're capable of handling everything that you may face, as I am sure you want the same of me. So, that we'll always be able to return to one another… That's why… We train harder, longer, until the point pain will be but an afterthought!" She said, grabbing his arm, and giving him an over-the-shoulder toss.

She smiled fondly as he screamed before slamming into the mat. "I'm glad you don't hate me…" Po groaned as he rubbed his tail.

"C'mon, Panda," Tigress smiled as she took a stretched and low fighting stance. "Let me see what you got!"

As Po prepared for his counter attack, Shifu studied Tigress, and a wave of déja vu, and in his mind's eye Tigress' orange fur was changed to white and her crimson eyes turned ocean blue. The aged grandmaster shook his head and turned to walk off. "Continue your training, students…" He said walking out of the hall.

Only Tai Lung noted his shift in mood, and excused himself from his wife, who was busy cheering on her brother's girlfriend, who was using her brother as a screaming punching bag.

It took the snow leopard a few moments to pick up his adopted father's trail and followed after past the Peach Tree of Heavily Wisdom, along the mountain path, through the Dragon Grotto on to a high cliff that overlooked the ocean. There Tai Lung found Shifu standing before a small memorial stone.

Master Tigress, Lynn Daughter of Oogway, Master of the Tiger Style, Leader of the Furious Five, beloved wife and mother

"With his return, Shifu," Tai Lung spoke up, "She needs to know."

"I… I can't, Tai Lung," Shifu said, glancing out over the ocean, the view was her favorite in all the Valley. That's why Shifu placed her memorial here, with hopes of one day bring Tigress here. "I've tried, I have since you and Po faced him. But I just can't… if I tell her… I'll have to tell her everything."

"Yes, but she has a right to know," Tai Lung stood next to his father, "She deserves it, if nothing else, she deserves to know."

"If you don't, Khan will tell her," Tai Lung placed a gentle hand on Shifu's shoulder, the first kind contact the leopard had initiated. "I cannot stress how important it is that it comes from you instead of… him…"

"She'll hate me, Tai Lung," Shifu closed his eyes tight, "It was my choices…"

"It was partly your choices, Father, but you didn't force anything to happen with them, any more than you forced things to happen with me," Tai Lung shook his head, "And she may be angry with you, she may even hate you for a time, but I do not see her having the hatred I nurtured… but that's only if you talk to her… tell her what happened. Po's presence would help with that, too… but rage is what Khan wants, and if you don't go to her first, he will strike a fire even the Dragon Warrior won't be able to put out."

"I know… I just…" Shifu started but was distracted as he saw Zeng flying toward them.

"Master Shifu!" the messenger cried, landing before the two warriors.

"What is it?" Shifu asked as the messenger bowed before him, offering a scroll.

"Bandits again?" Tai Lung asked as Shifu studied the scroll and gasped in alarm.

"No, this is from the Emperor himself," He said, noting the seal.

Shifu opened the scroll and scanned the writing quickly. "He has summoned the Dragon Warrior and I to the Forbidden City along with Grandmasters from all over China…"

"What's wrong?" Tai Lung asked, as Shifu turned and started making his way back toward the palace.

"Do you think it's a coincidence that Shere Khan and his minions have ceased any visible activity since the Battle of Pandaria and this summons?" Shifu asked as they quickly approached the training hall.

"PANDA!" Shifu bellowed as he threw open the door to find him face down on the ground with Tigress pulling his right leg backwards.

"Shifu! What's up!" Po grunted, "I was just getting Tigress where I needed her, you just saved her from an epic takedown…"

"Let him go, Master Tigress," Shifu rolled his eyes.

The Tiger Style Master let go and stepped off her boyfriend, then helped him to his feet. "Ugh… gonna feel that in the morning…"

"Don't worry," Tigress smirked, "I will gladly take your mind off of your suffering from your… epic win." She smiled suggestively, causing Shifu to glare, the rest of the Five to snicker, and Dao Ming and Tai Lung to gag.

"Enough of that, Tigress… please…" Shifu finished pleadingly.

"Yes, Master," Tigress flushed and stepped away from her boyfriend.

"Tigress, I'm leaving you in command of the Jade Palace," Shifu stated, "Dragon Warrior, you and I have been summoned to the chambers of the Emperor of China."

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA…" Po's eyes widened as he went into Fanboy overload. "T-T-THE EMPEROR WANTS TO SEE ME?!"

"Among Grandmasters from around all of China, yes," Shifu glanced to his raggedy pants, "Get your nice clothes out. You're the Dragon Warrior, you need to look the part… and no Fanboying."

"But…" Po held up a finger.

"No Fan Boy Ing…" Shifu spelled it out, "I'll meet you at the gate in fifteen minutes. Hurry. Tigress, makes sure he gets his nice clothes."

-KFP-

"I can't believe I'm going to meet the Emperor!" Po exclaimed from inside of his bedroom as Tigress waited patiently outside.

"It is a great honor," Tigress said, leaning her head back, "Please… try to keep self-control, Po…"

"You and Shifu… you make it sound like I have no self-control at all…" she could hear the pout in his voice.

"Again. Please, try to keep self-control, Po," she said again.

Po opened the door and a smile formed on Tigress' face as her eyes traveled over the form of the Dragon Warrior. Po stood tall and proud in the black and gold dragon pattern robes he had gained from Pandaria, a flowing red cape was draped over his broad shoulders, and a rounded hat sat at an angle on his head. "How do I look?"

"Like the Dragon Warrior," She said approaching him, she adjusted his hat properly, then started fixing the folds of his robes. "Almost like my love," She said with a loving smile, "Only he tends to wear some patched up shorts that make him look rather adorable." She said, closing the distance with a kiss.

Po slowly broke the kiss and smiled with laughter in his eyes, "Mei, please try to keep self-control…"

She frowned and gave him a mock glare. "I better get a move on," Po said, hugging her tenderly, "I'll be back soon and we can… continue that all you want."

"Sounds good," She said, pulling away and taking his paw in hers, and they began making their way to the gate. "You and Master Shifu be careful," she ordered.

"Pfft, Nah!" Po waved his free hand, "We planned to do something dangerous and crazy!"

"Master Shifu, never," Tigress smirked, "You… constantly."

"Sometimes I feel like you don't know me at all…" Po shook his head.

"Or all too well?" She said, reluctantly breaking contact as they approached her adopted father at the main gate.

"Both of you, save journey and come home safe," Tigress bowed to them both.

"We will be home soon, Tigress," Shifu nodded, and the two started to walk away from her, but Shifu paused and glanced back to Tigress. "Mei Ren… upon our return… I … I have something… I need to discuss with you."

"I look forward to it, Father," Tigress bowed with a smile, which only made the aged Grandmaster feel worse.

"Come, Panda, we have a long journey," Shifu said, leading the Dragon Warrior down toward the village.

-KFP-

"Oh my… This is… Oh my… And that…" Shifu mostly blocked out Po's childish exclamations at everything in the Forbidden City as they approached the Emperor's Palace.

"Panda, focus…" Shifu said as they approached the entrance.

"Huh?" Po blinked.

"FOCUS!" Shifu barked, and Po gulped and nodded.

"Right! I am so focused I am epically focused!" Po nodded and bowed.

"Panda, this is the Emperor of China and all the Grandmasters of Kung Fu in China," Shifu warned, "This is the largest group of champions of peace that can be assembled and standing before the most powerful political figure in the land. Do you understand?" Shifu asked and Po nodded, "Good, keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking."

"Ready?" Shifu asked, and Po nodded again. "Ok. Let's do this…" He took a deep breath, "Inner Peace…" he said to himself before he opened the door.

They entered to see a rounded chamber with the Emperor seated on the large throne across from the entrance. They glanced around at the various seated masters. Master Croc, Master Ox, Master Bear, Master Chicken, and so many others, it took all of Po's will power not to go wild with fanboy excitement.

Po glanced to see Shifu had frozen in place, with a look of pure terror and shock on his face. "Master Shifu?"

"Shifu!" Po glanced up and blinked in surprise himself. In the center of the chamber was a tall and powerful looking tiger, wearing a sleeveless white with golden dragon printed robe, his scarred face held a bright smile as he stared at the shocked Jade Palace Grandmaster. "It has been way too long, Brother."

"Lungri…" Shifu breathed as he and the tiger king stared at one another.

To Be Continued

Yes my friends, it is back. As you can see I scrapped and remade the previous fic Before the Storm, which will be integrated into this story. I was concerned with it holding too many spoilers which I have in store for this story so here we go. After a way too long hiatus, we are back on track! What is Shere Khan up to? What are his plans for Shifu, Po, and Tigress as well as the rest of the heroes of China? Stay tuned for more EPICNESS!

song credit: "Circle of Life" from The Lion King