Welcome to the first chapter of Kung Fu Panda: Finding Balance. I don't have much to say except I plan to have this story go from 6 months before Po is chosen as Dragon Warrior to, possibly, the end of the third movie. This will be a long journey that we will take together. If there is anything you wished to be improved, just let me know. I am open to any help you might feel is needed. Without any more delay, let us begin.

Note: This is 2020 F-K. I have just run a basic correction for this chapter. I am almost certain there are more errors, but I have cleaned up the most heinous ones. Since I began this story just 2 years ago and through various complaints sent to me, I decided to clean up the entire story a little at a time.

Chapter 1: A Second Chance

It was hell. The flames rose above the trees, ashes rained down like a fresh snow in the middle of winter. The smoke blanketed the scenery so one wouldn't be able to see a few meters away. If I wasn't so use to this lifestyle, I would have believed it were the apocalypse. Yet this hell gives me a rush like nothing else in my life.

A sound beside me captured my attention, "Kyle, get your head in the game! We must pull back and secure the next line before this fire progresses any further!" Even though my fellow forest firefighter was screaming at the top of his lungs, I could barely hear him over the roar of the inferno.

You read that correctly, I am a volunteer smoke jumper. I have been doing it since I was 19 years old. For every summer for 5 years. Even though I have been doing it this long, I was amazed by the ferocity of this particular blaze. We had been flown out to the Idaho and Montana Border to take care of the fire season that exploded earlier this summer. Even though we were undermanned and underfunded, we still pressed on.

"I hear you, Webb. Just enjoying the sight while I can." Webb was one of those work colleagues that always had your back. You would joke when necessary and they were also hard workers. The perfect balance. If you took a first look at the guy, you would not guess that. He had a very hard face that contained a few scars along with a few years. Some people in our group had theories about how he got them, ranging from being in a war, to receiving them from a bar fight. I was never one to guess.

Beyond that thought, I could not imagine that this was only a small fire that was part of the greater +2 million burning acres that engulfed the Northwestern United States. Even with the breathing apparatus, I still felt as if I could not breath.

"Well you can enjoy it later; we have already been separated from the group since the fire caught up with us. It is getting too hot even for our gear."

I only nodded as we started our trek/sprint downhill. 'Thank god we are on top of a mountain or we would surely never make it out of this blaze.' We had almost tripped over the various root system that was tangled underneath the brush. 'Fucking gear. I wish it weren't so vital or I would have left it when the alerts came in about the fire picking up speed.'

When those alerts came in, instead of evacuating to a safer zone our team leader decided that we should finish digging the ditch that we had been working up until the afternoon. He was a fucking idiot. I brought my thought back to the current situation instead of complaining about what had already passed.

We had made it to a dirt road. Looking both ways, we had no idea which route would be better. I then spoke up. "I think we should head right, maybe we could catch a ride from one of the towns from last minute evacuees."

"I agree, we might be pushing our luck, but we might find a better route than just on foot. I also see that the smoke has thinned a little, we should take off the gear that is only weighing us down."

I then looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. "Are you sure that is a good idea? I mean what if we need it later?"

"There won't be a later if that fire catches up with us. It is risky, but it is better than cooking alive."

I decided that it was not best to argue, so I proceeded to shed the tank on my back. I took off the mask covering my face. Once I did, I forced in a breath but could only taste smoke. My breath was only hampered slightly. 'Thank god I have been running for years.' I noticed a slight difference in the difficulty in my breathing, but not much.

We had been running for about 5 minutes when we saw the main road start to diverge around some houses and cabins. "Looks like we found a town. If we are lucky enough, someone might be here to give us a ride. If not, well, we could try to find a car to hotwire."

I looked at Webb unsurely. "You sure that would work?" I knew that stealing someone's car left over car would be forgiven, especially when it is life and death we were talking about.

"Yeah, I learned way back when I was your age."

"You mean back before my parents were born?" He only chuckled at my bad pun. I thought back to my parents, which did end up dropping my smile a little bit.

"Very funny. If we weren't running and suffocating on this smoke, I would wrestle you to the ground."

As we entered further into the town, we noticed how empty it was in both people and spirit. It was eerie, it was like one of those old mining ghost towns that bring tourism to this part of the States. The only sound that filled our ears was our footsteps, our heavy breathing, and the constant reminder of the blaze that was fast approaching. Come to look over our left, we could see the fire set the edge of town on fire.

As we looked over to that direction, we a couple that couldn't be older than 35 years. About 200 meters behind them relative to our position was the fire. I whispered under my breath. "Fucking hell, what are people still doing here." We made it to their position as they were frantically packing their car.

We stopped running while Webb made his way over to them screaming, "What are you guys still doing here! You were supposed to evacuate this location early this morning!"

What I assumed as the husband turned his head our direction. "We never thought the fire would get this far. We are struggling with our bags to get them into the car."

I finally spoke up. "Alright, we will help with your bags and then we are getting the hell out of here."

"Bruce! Where is Elena!" The wife and husband, who I had to assume was Bruce, looked around frantically.

"She must still be in the house." We all looked at the house which had just started catching on fire on the side.

I screamed as I ran to the front door. "I will get her. You get the car started and the moment you see us, put it into gear." I could see Webb about to object but I had already started to sprint towards the door. Without so much as hesitating, I bashed though the door with my shoulder. Thankfully, it collapsed downwards with my momentum. 'Shit, that was awesome.' My thoughts were plagued with the pain that erupted in my shoulder. 'Not the best idea I have ever had, but it worked.'

I focused my eyes around the house to noticed it was getting increasingly smoky. The stairs heading into the second story was in the entrance area with the kitchen located to my right. Not focusing too much on the details, I began my search. I looked for any indication of a child in the building, but I could not see where they possible could have been. That is when I heard some footsteps echoing down from the second story. I raced upstairs to notice that there was a master bedroom, a bathroom and a room I could not identify since the door was closed. Smoke was leaking through the top of the doorway.

I backed up a little bit and charged the second door. I hit it, but it only cracked slightly down the center. I backed up once more and kicked the door in the crack that I left. The door gave way down the center and I heard a scream. Entering the room, I saw that the girl must have been startled by my entrance.

The girl couldn't have been older than 7 years old. She had short hair, a white shirt with some pop singer that I couldn't name, and some jeans along with boots. She was slightly covered in ash. "Let's get you out of here." I grabbed her hand and was relieved to feel no resistance as I pulled us forward. As we exited the room, by now, the rest of the fire had spread through the house and was burning through the supports of the structure. The smoke was thickening, and it felt as if a temperature dial had been dialed up to 11. 'This is not good. If I don't get us out of here soon, the house won't be the only thing burning.'

I picked up the child and ran down the stairs, I put her down once again and we charged down towards the entrance. That is when I looked to my left and noticed that a smaller beam was collapsing down into our path. I gave a slight shove to the little girl and stopped the beam from falling onto her. She stopped for a second. I noticed that the entrance was slowly succumbing to the heat.

"GO! I will be out soon." She ran out of the building to the relief of her parents. The was then placed into the car and the only person who seemed genuinely worried was Webb. I heaved the burning lumber behind me, and I noticed the searing pain in my palms. 'I guess these gloves were never meant for direct contact with burning material.' I shook my head of the thoughts and made my move towards the door. Just then, the front of the entrance of the building collapsed, and with it my hopes.

I then said to myself, "Great, now how do I get out of here." I looked around and tried to think of something quickly. I caught a glimpse of a window that was semi-stable. I made my move toward it to have something blow up beside me and threw me off balance.

At this point, I was dazed. The smoke burning my eyes along with the ringing of my ears left me spinning around trying to gain my bearings. Part of my face and arm were now covered in small lacerations and splinters from wood exploding into my side. I felt a small amount of blood leave each of the wounded areas, but I had to keep pushing. I tried to take a few more steps, with each step came a cry from my muscles that were now lacking in oxygen. I slowed to a crawl until I noticed that I was now laying on my back. 'So, this is it, I always thought the end would be more pleasant.'

"KYLE!" I heard my name. "Kyle!" It now seems to get slightly quieter. "Ky….." It was slowly ending. I head the spinning of tires as a vehicle left. I assumed it was the family along with Webb.

'Good for you Webb, continue on.' I slowly looked back up to the ceiling to notice that it was reaching its breaking point. I could barely hear the cracking of the timber above me as the weight of the ceiling started to cave downwards. My last thoughts were residing on my family. My brothers and parents. I hadn't talked to my parents in forever, so I wasn't going to miss them much and I'm sure they wouldn't miss me. I was always viewed as a failure in their eyes… but my brothers, we had a close bond. The three of us would do everything together. I guess I regret cutting ties my entire family after high school.

I regained my thoughts to see that the roof was now falling in towards me. I closed my eyes to wait for the inevitable, the darkness of death. I'm sure that there will be an impact and a lot of pain, so I just waited.

And waited.

… and waited.

There was nothing, no more sound, no feeling. I opened my eyes to notice that I was in a void, floating in my remaining gear. It seems that my body and clothing had been repaired. If I recall my last memory, I rescued the child from the fire and…. O wait.

I'm dead. I have just died. There can be no other explanation. The darkness and my sudden recovery of my injuries. I did a further body check to see that I still carried my axe on my back, my clothing was still on me and has also somehow been repaired. My pack that carried my phone with solar charger, food, canteen, and first aid along with other emergency equipment had also remained. I brushed my hand through my shortish blonde hair to notice that my helmet was no longer on my head, it probably fell off when I was in the house.

After that, I looked around to notice that nothing was happening. It was just empty darkness. "Hello?" I waited for anything to happen, a response, any kind of effect but nothing happened. It was worth a try.

Just then the darkness seemed to pulse. I know, how can darkness pulse. I did not know but I was not going to question that seeing that all of this was beyond the normal human experience. Just then, a figure seemed to be approaching. One thing that I could make out was that they were simply not human. Their body was out of light, just white that seemed to permeate throughout the surroundings. Their eyes were slightly brighter than the rest of their body. They seemed to in the shape of some animal. Probably a wolf or dog of some kind.

They stopped just short of me and seemed to whisper only one thing to me. "Balance."

After they uttered that word, I felt as if I were going faster than light itself. I closed my eyes hoping that this experience was just over. I wished that I was just back home. Any of them, from all the places I lived in the past five years. From Norway to the Southern Point of Argentina, to my most recent home in the Rockies.

All motion stopped. For the first time something was different since the finding out of my demise. I felt something. A cold breeze met my face and a slight chill went up my spine. I opened my eyes to see that my surroundings had changed. There were bamboo stocks and a light dusting of snow on the ground. The snow confused me the most, I thought it was Summer.

I shrugged my shoulders at my own thought and noticed that I still had my equipment from when I was trapped in the void. I got off the ground and notice that it seemed to be very late, or even very early in the day. I was now shivering. If I didn't find some shelter from this cold. I could be in very big trouble. I made my way over to a far-off ledge and began my search along the base. 'Maybe I can find some cave to reside in while I figure out where I am.

The bamboo and snow would give an indication that I am probably somewhere in Asia. China maybe? Japan? I don't know where bamboo grows or climate zones. Don't judge me.

After a few minutes of searching, I found a small overhang of the ledge that would have to suffice for the night. I made my way over to some bamboo and started to hack away at it with my axe. 'I will need a fire if I am going to survive for the night.' As I collected what I needed for the fire, I looked around to notice that the was little to no light pollution. The clouds would most likely reflect the light, and If I am Asia, there should be some indication to civilization.

I made my way back over to the overhang and started to shave off kindle. I grabbed the shavings and I grabbed my knife and fire started from my emergency equipment and began to strike them with the effect of some sparks. Once the fire started with some effort and cursing, I laid my back down as a pillow and looked towards the ceiling. 'Today is such a screwed-up day. I am somewhere foreign with little supplies. Was I given a second chance? This is going to be hard to explain to some people when I make it back home.' I started to drift off to sleep.

I woke up with a cool breeze to my face and a distance gong. My eyes fluttered open. 'Well it seems I am at least somewhere close to a town or city.' I looked at my fire pit to notice that it had gone out some time ago. My stomach also rumbled to note that it was hungry. I browsed my bag to find my trail mix and I grabbed my water to quench my thirst. 'This will have to do until I can find any sustainable source off food and water.'

I got up from my 'bed', if you can even call it that, and collected my things to get ready for the day ahead. I wondered out of my living area to find that it was lightly snowing. The snow as I made my way through it made the unique crunching sound as I made my way through it. I made my way over to a flatter area to notice that it was made of dirt. 'I guess this make sense, little evidence of people and all. I looked one way and another to notice a sign to my left.

As I approached, I made one not about it. I could not read a single part of it. Instead of the usual letter that I am used to seeing, whether it was Spanish, Germanic, Scandinavian, or English, it was composed of characters. 'Well I guess this proves my theory about China or Japan. More likely China.' I decided to move in the direction that the sign indicated seeing that it was probably my best bet to be saved.

After about half an hour of walking, I made my way over a hill to noticed I had finally made it. The first thing that I took note of was how small the village was, not only that but how there was not lines of electricity or communication approaching the village. There was also a large palace of sorts perched on top of a mountain at the other side of the village from me. Some clouds seemed to linger around it giving it a majestic feeling.

As I made my way down to the first houses I swiftly made my way behind a tree to check my eyes. Did I see that correctly? I looked around the tree to see a few rabbits out on at the front of the house. Not that there was anything wrong with that. No, it was just that they were walking on two legs and wearing clothing. AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER! I could only make out some of the sounds that they were making.

"I love the Winter… It is always… Family."

I couldn't understand what the conversation was about, but I understand that they were speaking, something about family and winter I guess. Writing in Chinese, speaking in English. How odd.

"What the hell." Those were the only words I could form in the moment. My hopes started to fade also as I noted that I was no longer on my own planet. I could be the only human, too. I shook myself out of my depressive thoughts, they would not help. Regardless of whether they are 'animals', I need to get supplies and find out how to still survive. I walked towards the village back on the road, the rabbits stopped their conversation to stop and look at me, with fascination I might add.

I mumbled, "I guess that confirms my theory on the human part." I kept my gaze away from them as best as I could since I, too, wanted to look at them in amazement. The further I went into the town, the more people there were to look at me. Some in amazement and fascination. Others with curiosity and a few, sadly, in fear or worry.

They were all walking the same way, in a rushed manner I might add. I kept going my way though. I heard some grunts of a skirmish as I rounded the corner. There were a group of boars with weapons such as swords and hammers. They seemed to be engaged with a group of five individuals. A snake of sorts, a monkey, a tiger, a crane, and some green bug. A Praying Mantis? I don't know, it seems kind of fast. The first thing I saw was how skilled the five seemed to be, but how many more there were of the boars.

One of the boars who was not engaged with the warriors approached me, he pointed his sword at me. "YOU! Hand over your belongings and I won't dice you with my little friend."

How should I respond? I couldn't utter a single word. Just then he struck out at me, a warning. I felt my cheek to notice that there was blood coming from the wound. That does it.

I pulled my axe off my back and swung the wide end of it at the boars' head. He was out cold with a loud crack. The battle ceased for a second for every single pair of eyes to land on me. They all had wide eyes in surprise. As soon as it ceased, it began once again. This time, a few boars decided that I was now a target. 'Just fuck this day.'

I decided that the group of five were my allies, for now. The boars engaged me with their weapons. I kept up with them as best as I could. I would block as many of their strikes with my axe as I could, but they managed to land a few strikes on my upper body. My jacket received some damage. I would retaliate with some stick of my own.

Even with my limited fighting experience, I was able to overpower them somewhat. They were clumsy and uncoordinated. I as just knocked out my third opponent, one in their ranks screamed, "RETREAT."

Those that were able to flee the scene sprinted as fast as their feet or hoofs would carry them. I strapped my axe to my back once more once I noted no threat. I looked at my surroundings to find that it was littered with unconscious bodies. I kept looking around to find that the group of five warriors were making their way over to me. 'Shit. SHIT. What do I do?' I see that the crane's beak was moving. I regained my bearings.

"Huh?"

"We just want to thank you for your bravery. You seemed to handle yourself well and helped us out during that pinch."

"No problem." My respond was all that I could say, at least it seemed appropriate. It did leave an awkward silence in the air though. I started to back away slowly and it seemed that one of them noticed.

"Hey, we have never seen you in the Valley of Peace before. Nor have we seen your… kind before." It was the Tiger who seemed to speak this in a feminine voice. In a critical and cold tone, I might add. At least I now know I am in a place called the Valley of Peace.

"Uhhh…"

The snake now joined the conversation. "What I think Tigress is trying to say is that we don't have many visitors and your appearance may add for some concern."

Her voice was also female, and a lot softer. "Well I just wondered into this village by accident. happened to come at this time. I have nowhere to stay and was looking for any sign of civilization. I happened to come here at this time, I defended myself and it seemed like you guys needed some help." The tiger narrowed her eyes and let out a small growl. The rest of the group seemed to look at me with a tinge of sympathy.

The female snake spoke once again. "You should accompany us up to the palace. Not many people would help in that situation and it would be a way of thanks. We could see if our Master would allow you to stay the night. That is if you don't mind." The rest of the group, excluding 'Tigress', seemed to node. Tigress seemed to just look at me critically. This is probably something I should reject, something inside me told me I should go with them. That, and I have a feeling they would take 'no' as an answer.

"Lead the way."

Well there is the first chapter. I hope it was enjoyable! Rate and Review.