KUNG FU PANDA

Origins of Lang

Authors note – DON'T WORRY!

I'm still kicking, just had a bad run. Hopefully I can update a bit more, but no promises. Anyway, while I've been kicking myself in the teeth for not updating, just wanted to make sure I'm not on anyone's hit list? No? Great, well enjoy the chapter

I do not own kung Fu panda

Chapter 2 training time

Five years passed…

"Left, Right, Uppercut. Good, now get back into a starting stance. Excellent, now hold….GO! Perfect spin kick Lang, but ease on the landing." Gang looked at his student with a solemn look, noticing how tired he looked. This boy will die if he doesn't get his stamina improved, but his strength is almost perfect he thought looking at a short bamboo staff in the corner. "Lang come here, its time to learn something new."

The young panther looked up; revealing his trademark burns and scars. Walking over to Gang, he eyed him carefully, suspecting the whip on Gang's hip to appear in his oversized hand and beat him. "Lang, in the arena when you fight you don't kill, why is this?" Lang looked up, shocked by the question. When he finally spoke, it was in a hushed whisper. "I made a vow, to never become the monster mistress Shui is," gang raised an eyebrow at him, "you think because the mistress kills people she's a monster… this line of thinking is wrong." The ten year old look up with confusion written all over his face. "how does that not make her a monster? After all the people she's murdered, how can she not to be called a monster?!"

"Don't get me wrong boy, that woman is evil beyond comparison. But the reason she is evil because of the freedom she takes. Think of all the people she's made slaves, the family's she rips apart. Slavery can be a fate worse than death. Next time you see your friends ask them about their family, share their pain."

Lang stayed silent, contemplating what Gang had said. "Why do I need their pain? What good can the past be of any use to me?" Lang asked in a harsh whisper.

"Because anger and pain is what will keep you alive."

Lang looked up astonished at the captain's reply. "When you spare a slave, you doom them to more harsh treatment. When you next fight in the arena and your looking down at your opponent, think what his life will be if you spare him." Lang looked at his 'teacher,' unable to speak as the harsh words sunk in.

"But, I can't kill," Lang spoke in a hushed and timid whisper, "I can't let Mei or De see me do something like that."

"Then I'll teach you how to destroy your opponent without killing them." Gang said as he walked over to the bamboo staff. Picking it up, he tossed it to Lang, who caught it in both hands while stumbling back from the force. Looking at the short staff in his hands, he noted how circles of iron stubs decorated both ends. It felt surprisingly light compared to the massive fist that sent poor Lang flying backwards into the wall meters behind were he originally stood. Picking himself up, he spat out a wad of blood before looking at Gang. The old gorilla captain stood with a grim look on his face. "You will learn how to use that staff like it is an attachment of your own body, or you will die."

"You expect me to learn how to use this thing by myself!?"

"No," came the clipped reply. Gang walked over to the weapons rack and picked up a practice hammer. Give the heavy weapon a few swings to get used to it before he turned back to Lang. the boy was holding the staff like a sword, struggling to keep the 'point' up. "Hold the staff closer to the middle, boy."

Lang did as instructed, immediately finding it easier to hold the staff. Gang nodded in approval. "Good, now let's move onto your form. Move your feet shoulder length apart; it will help you keep balance." Gang nodded in approval before marching across the room. Turning around to face Lang he examined him.

The last years were not kind to the poor panther. Multiple burns ran up and down his arms, the right arm revealing the ring around his lower arm that marked him as property of mistress Shui. The rags he wore covered most of his body, but the parts that did show revealed more burns and long scars, most dealt by either mistress Shui's whip or some contender from the arena who had claw. Lang stood maybe a meter and a half tall, a little muscle from the training but lack of food kept him malnutrition, but Gang saw he would grow taller in the years to come, if he lived that long. Gang eyes drifted up to Lang's face and he cringed. Across Lang's left cheek were three horizontal slash marks, a reminder of just how much of a hell hole this place was.

Flash back, three months…

Lang waited looked down as his last opponent slumped to the ground unconscious, thankful that the fight had gone in his favor. Looking up at the various scums that booed and cheered at the violence, Lang felt repulsion at the feral crowd. Suddenly the mistress stood, silencing the audience as she turned to the slaver that had brought the other fighters to the arena.

They talked quietly, convening over something. Shui hissed something and the slaver was nodding furiously. Turning back to the crowd, she held up her hand to silence the whispering. "as the young little contender seems to have beaten all his opponents, he will get the privilege of fighting our guest's young champion. Bring forth Jin."

On the opposite side of the arena a large door swung open, revealing a young wolf covered in scars of the whip. He seemed to be no older than Lang but looked just as tough. Mistress Shui spoke, "as these champions seem to think they are too good to kill, they will fight till either they both can no longer stand,

Or one triumphs. Because they both seem to bring great sums of gold, the winners owner will claim the others champion. Now, let the battle of the slaves BEGIN."

The two children looked at each other, eyes locking as determination and adrenaline pulsed through them. All of a sudden Jin raced forward, catching him In a uppercut. Lang's stumbled back, shaken from the sudden move. Quickly regaining his bearings he moved just in time to dodge the fist that narrowly missed him. Lang then moved to deliver right hook that caught the young wolf across the jaw, sending him flying backwards. Looking up at Lang, he spat out a wad of blood as well as some teeth.

Backing off Lang readied himself into his stance. Jin did the same. They stared at each other, attempting to get the other to make the first move. Suddenly they raced toward each other. As they collided they used a flow of kicks, jabs and blocks in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Neither took notice of the roaring crowd that cheered them on to beat each other so they could claim the gold that was won by the winner. Back down in the fight ring the two slaves punished each other, both using different fighting styles. Lang was using the moves gang had taught him, while Jin was using a more brutish. After several minutes of beating each other to a pulp, Jin lashed out in an attempt to finish the fight. Three of his extended claws sank into Lang's cheek, running down the side of his face leaving three jagged wounds. Crying out, Lang stumbled away before the wolf could do any more damage.

Looking up Lang saw the crowd cheering down at him, having gone wild at the unexpected attack. Blood flowed from his wound at an astonishing rate, leaving him slightly light headed. Looking at the wolf, Lang felt a terrible hate build inside him. Hate for the crowd. Hate for the mistress. But most of all, hate for his own weaknesses. Standing up, Lang turned and charged. Reaching Jin he released an onslaught on the poor wolf, using every move he knew to take down Jin.

Finally the wolf collapsed, unconscious. The crowd was silent as they stared down, humbled by the carnage that just took place. Finally mistress Shui stepped forward. She said "take the wolf to the sleeping cells, the one next to the panthers." All of a sudden the slaver beside the mistress started yelling at her demanding his slave be returned. When Shui simply hissed at him the poor fool made for the dagger at his side, only to have his head fly from his body as gang stepped from the shadows. Looking away from the bloody spectacle, Shui looked down into the arena. Laying eyes on Lang, a chill ran up his spine at the madness in her crimson eyes.

End flashback

Lang shook himself of the memory as his burly teacher raced toward him, hammer looking to knock some teeth loose. He quickly raised the staff catching the hammer before it caved in his skull. Then, by some strange instinct he moved, only he didn't seem to be in control. His arms moved on their own, twirling staff he smashed it into Gangs back, knocking the gorilla of balance. Moving in for another attack, Lang was stopped by a massive fist that sent him crashing into the wall. Getting back up to attack again he was stopped by Gang's booming voice. "ENOUGH!" the captain of the guard looked at him with a satisfied face. "So the skill with the staff is inherited by the offspring. Tell me Lang, when I attacked you, what did you feel?"

"I don't know, it was just instinct I guess." Lang spoke in a whisper obviously scared of his actions

"This good, but that is enough for tonight now let's get you to the cells before someone notices you're gone." Walking over he shoved Lang towards the cells. Walking through the giant warehouse they made their way down the steps into the slave's quarters. Moans of pain and hunger filled their ears as they entered. Slowly they made their way to Lang's cell, at the very back of the chamber. Stepping inside he waited for gang to lock the door and walk off before making his way to his cot. Laying down he dozed off, exhausted from to nights training.

With mistress Shui...

The tall Komodo dragon paced her quarters, waiting for the Captain to arrive. Where is that bloody Gorilla? Maybe I should look for a new captain…her train of thought was interrupted as the door opened, revealing a tired looking Gang. "You called me mistress?" Shui looked up at the gorilla "yes, a client of mine is demanding more forge worked iron and I have no wish to disappoint. Send out all the slaves to the furthest villages. Find metal and bring it back."

"All of the slaves? Is that really necessary mistress? What if they attempt to escape?" Gang questioned

"Kill the ones that try as an example, I'm sure it will discourage any attempts. Take the wagons to hold the slaves. Once the preparations are set move out and do not delay. My client pays well and is sending a lot of coin our way to get this done." Turning away Shui looked down at a pendant on a table, a pendent with a fiery red eye.

"Soon he will return. And china will burn"

Authors note- So what did you think? I know this chapter was short but i needed it out. Any way I'll try to update a.s.a.p. but am experiencing trouble. But hoped you enjoyed it. Special thanks to pandafan1 for allowing me to right this story.

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