AN- So. Updates are going to be coming out in less sporadic bursts, but I do have an actual story line to follow with this now- and I'm going to do my best to follow through on it, as well as trying to flesh out the magic as well as some of the training more. I don't want to leave any characters out, as it's moreso between an outcast thrown into their world- thus, anyone in that world that comes into contact has the right to interact- but as time goes on...well. We'll see how and if I'm able to incorporate them.

I also might do some revisiting of some early chapters during slow lulls- touch-up on them properly. But I'm going to put the majority of my focus onto this project when I'm able- after that, I'll work on a few other things before -maybe- coming back to it.

Beyond that, questions are more than welcome in the reviews and/or comments. Leave 'em if you want! Y'know, uh...if anyone does that.

His Qi had been completely upset since the fight against the dark one- no, not in that his Qi was feeling mooded, but rather...out-of-whack. He could control it for brief incraments, but little beyond that- which infuriated him.

He was losing strength- he didn't have the year's-worth of training the others did, so his excelling in Qi was the only thing he truly had going for him as an advantage over most- but now that was being torn apart from him, and it hurt.

Meditation did little- he was certainly steadier in energy than he was in times before, but not by all that much. Shifu had been poring over the scrolls since they had taken them from the Lost Temple, and had begun to train as vigorously as he could- momentarily confronting the human on the nature of his ailment. He refused to take it easy, however- if his Qi would not work, then his body would have to learn to.

Thus, he continued- studying the various types of Kung Fu from the scrolls and practicing putting them into action. He was, of course, slipping up rather frequently- devouring every technique with new hunger nonetheless, until Po walked in one of his breaks.

"Yo'." "Hey." The human looked over, giving a nod and a wave. The Panda looked over to notice the abundance of scrolls in two different piles- eyebrow raising before he looked back at him. "You've been busy."

"If my energy will not fight with me, then I will have to learn myself," he replied. The panda thought for a moment- "Okay. Spar."

"What?"

"C'mon. Spar with me. Show me what you learned." He stepped back, beckoning the human over before raising his fists defensively. Salu'ir paused for a moment before standing- shaking off fatigue and adopting a basic fighting pose.

"So when do we..." "Uh...I guess when one of us attacks?" They stared at each other for a moment before Po cracked a grin- Salu'ir admitting a small, worn smile.

"Alright, we...both count to three and attack then?" "Sounds good to me."

They waited.

"3...2...1...-"

In a blur, black and white met skin and flesh- Po having narrowed in and opened with a kick while Salu'ir had aimed for a sledgehammer blow, the two attacks colliding and stopping. Both hopped back.

Salu'ir, still gaining his balance, blinked as the Panda rolled in- aiming a gnarled paw at his gut. He took it, sputtering for a moment, gasping- before recognizing another fist coming in. He held up his left arm, brushing it to the side, gripping, yanking his defenses open-

Faster than he could realize, the Panda flipped over him, aiming a spinning kick at his back. The human was sent tumbling, slowly getting to his feet and adopting another fighting stance again.

"...hmn. You're trying too hard." "What?"

"No, I did the same thing." Po stood tall, crossing his arms. "You're fighting too much like you're taught. You need to fight like you."

"That...makes no sense. How am I going to fight Balthanax by being my best me?"

"I know it sounds stupid, but...try it. Do what comes to your mind easily, don't try to pinpoint something in the back of your head."

Po adopted his stance. Salu'ir, after a moment of debate, chose his- closest to a Boxer's, with the hands and shoulders a little looser.

A moment of silent tension...

Suddenly, Po shot forward, aiming another kick. He blocked it with the back of his right arm and pressed out in a buffering move, the knock-away pressing him onto his rear. Quickly, he leapt forward- aiming a kick into the floorboards.

Po rolled aside and sprung to his feet, leaving his foot to crash through the wood. He yanked it free in time to face the bear, who was already aiming a knock-away kick at his face.

Slow-Motion seemed to come to him as the foot collided. His breath increased. The room was brighter. The bear's jade eyes were wild with excitement.

He felt it.

Taking the blow and rolling to the side, he tucked a fist into his chest, tapping into his flow of Qi. He could feel it all swarming forward.

Po, dashing forward, feinted a kick before leaping over the human, facing his behind-

Salu'ir pivoted a foot, turning to face his rear as the Panda landed, and extended his Qi-charged fist.

An explosion of force sent the Panda rocketing back, jolting through his arm with enough force to numb it. Orange afterglows still clung to his fingers and thumb, which he utilized as the remaining drifts of Qi to leap into the air, twisting around as he felt it come naturally.

A heat consumed his leg, burning down to his soul. Right as he landed-

He launched the Exploding Kick at the Panda- the blast sending them both away. Po stood, his guard up, after the dust cleared- fur dirtied and matted, but still wild with excitement, not visibly hurt in any large way. He laughed lightly.

"AWESOME!" "T...that was what I was going to say." He looked down at his smoking pant leg, almost burned to a crisp- his leg had -literally- caught on fire, it seemed. Weariness tugged at his being, a gasp coming over him as he fell to his knees. The Panda blinked, hurrying over to offer a hand up- "You okay?"

"..." He could feel it, flexing his fingers. His Qi had been...broken-through, again. Racing through his veins, awakened by combat.

He took his hand, standing- a giant grin on his face. "I feel excellent, to be honest."

Po laughed- before blinking once more as the Human suddenly hugged him. He awkwardly patted his back. "...uh. Hugs are...nice, too."

"...thanks, Po." "Don't mention it."

...

"...want to get something to eat?" "Sure."

He pulled his cloak tighter around his form, careful to keep what he could concealed. He had worn a larger cloak and had equipped a pair of five-fingered gloves that loosely fit him that the geese had put together- and given the winter, it was necessary, as well.

The animals that could see under his hood- that being, most of them- gave him a glance, if they decided to look up at him. Some were confused and continued on- some simply gaped, some appeared angry and some appeared in wonder- but nonetheless, most avoided him- by factor of him following the Dragon Warrior, and him being a taller figure than most others.

They turned and twisted through a few roads before arriving at the main Noodle Shop- entering under the alcove into a small courtyard. Some patrons went about their business, some eyed his cloaked form curiously- pulling his hood farther to hide his face- before a goose-folk erupted from the main kitchen and waddled over, extending his arms- and before you knew it, hugging the Panda. "Po! I was getting worried, you hadn't come down for a while now-"

His eyes darted over to the cloaked human, smile immediately lighting up- something he was somewhat familiar. There was a fire in his eye- something like someone at Best Buy would get. That was a merchant's gaze, hungry for a bargain, a hook and a line thrown out in the form of the delicious smell wafting fourth from his kitchen.

The look flickered for a moment as he got a glimpse up the hood- into the face that was his. Salu'ir shuffled for a moment in discomfort as the Goose took in the information- looking back at Po with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. "...is that the one I've...the one that..."

"Yep. That's him." Po wrapped an arm around the human's shoulder. "'s my pal. Salu'ir. Newcomer."

He, thankfully, kept it ambiguous enough to where unwanted attention was not attracted- most minding their own business besides the awing glances at the Dragon Warrior. The Human extended a hand from his cloak's form- the five, pale fingers offering a handshake. 'Good to meet you, Mr. Ping. You've raised a hero to more than just the Valley and Five- you raised a damned good cook, too." Salu'ir let the statement settle for a moment, the Goose's facial structures twitching. He leapt in for the kill- "Plus, I've heard from Po that what you make is about twice as good as his. I'd like to see it for myself."

The Goose thought for a moment at the words- flattery eventually getting the better of him as he resumed his carefree grin, hugging him around the waist. "Well, a Friend of Po is just as welcome as any of the Five! So-" He led them through the crowded tables and seats to the deck. -"What is it you were feeling like."

"Secret Noodle Soup, of course." Po scratched his belly. "...Dumpling, Dragon Warrior Size? Two of 'em?"

The goose laughed. "Comin' right up!"

Customers came and went- day fading to afternoon, and afternoon to the early stages of night. Po ate heavily and...Salu'ir ate...less, heavily- But thanks to the attitude of the goose and the atmosphere of the cheery Restauarant, they kept eating.

Salu'ir, of course, had no money, so Po had to foot the bill to his dad. Yeah, he's got a debt.

But in the end, it was simply a...merry night. They spent the winter night eating, talking, and laughing over stories. Salu'ir had somewhat explained the idea of some of his century's electrical products- and by god, it was intoxicating, once he understood, to finally have someone to rant to.

Looking back at the Panda over his shoulder, he smirked. The human held up a fist- Po blinking. "What?"

He gestured it forward. Po blinked before softly smiling- returning with his own fist-bump.

And it was peaceful.

...or at least, until they turned the corner.

They were nearly hit by a projectile sheep flung their way, Po catching the elderly lady and setting her down. She fixed her glasses and hobbled off after directing their attentions to a gang of some rather surly wolves- currently harassing a caravan of sheep.

Po stepped forward and entered a fighting stance- before Salu'ir stopped him. "...let's try scare tactics."

He approached, stripping the cloak off and throwing it to the side- letting the frozen winds permeate his clothing and take further grip of his muscles. He clapped thrice- loud and slow, the wolves of the canines slowly turning to look his way.

It was, at this moment, that he crouched, hands tucking in near to his waist. He let out a roar, feeling that tightness in his chest press once more, resisting- that aftereffect of Qiojen's failure-

He willed past it, feeling the rush of Qi, numbing and warming against the winter air, surround him. He willed it forward, from the ground, from every pebble and cobblestone nearby, willed it to flourish, flow through him as a conduit-

He felt it. Love, warmth. The backing of the earth. With a yell, He stood tall once more- feeling a rush of air, a vaccuum, almost.

Perhaps because he was causing the fierce winds, maintaining a surging presence of energy strong enough to disrupt the air around him with every pulsing blast. He gave a sharp inhale, feeling it course through him- flexing a hand's individual fingers along his hand before leveling his gaze at the wolves.

He imagined he looked something...terrifying- acting as a conduit for the Lands' Qi as he was. This theory seemed to prove true, as all of them seemed cowed. All except-

One suddenly lunged forward, a hidden dagger erupting from his wrist and aiming towards his shoulder. He stepped to the side, doing what came first to mind- hands reaching up to take the rest and further the momentum, driving it into the wolf's knee. After which, he gave a straight kick upwards- before a side-kick towards the other clump of wolves, who caught their ally with a sudden hesitation. Huffing, for a moment- they scurried off.

He let the Qi fade, feeling it flow back into the land- a small wave of exhausting euphoria washing over him. That was not -wild- or uncorrupted magic, nay. That was nature.

Qi at it's essence.

He looked back at Po- who gave him a thumbs up. "...nice. Would've gone for breaking the cart with a single kick, though. Scare tactics."

"...good idea. Lot better than mine."

Balthanax wandered down the old graveyards, letting his hand slap the occasional stone with a 'clank'. He breathed heavily for a moment, the musty smell of the old, dead souls resting beneath.

Waiting to be awakened.

He lifted a hand and called out- a dark rift of energy pouring forth a vortex of shadow magic into his palm. The sudden impact of the energies staggered him before he fully mastered them- directing them outwards with a rumbling hiss of his tongue in a long-dead language.

Runes erupted over the sleeping humans, before dark amalgamations passed through their portals- things of flesh and bone and nightmare and rot, not...anything remotely humanoid. Writhing beasts with fangs of darkness.

Here would be his staging ground- the home of his first army. Letting the spell fade, he turned to face the distant Valley.

Soon enough.