I don't own Kung Fu Panda, or any related content. This is my first story so hopefully it turns out well. I have recently redone this chapter just to improve the beginning to the story. Thanks for reading. :)

A loud alarm clock sounded, and Lias rolled over in his bed with a low groan. The limber young man reaches over to slap the snooze button on the blaring machine. Yawning and brushing his short black hair off his forehead, he stumbled towards the bathroom. He pushed open the door groggily before opening up the drawers to pull out what he needs for the day. Lias puts contacts in his light brown eyes with a slight wince of pain. Ducking down to see in the mirror he brushes his hair flat, and to the side with a small kick-up in the front. The teen has to duck his head underneath the shower rod to get into the enclosed space; one of the problems of being almost 6' 3". After the quick rinse off, Lias throws on some street clothes, black jeans and a red Star Wars shirt, and walks out the door. He jogs down the short flight of stairs to the kitchen table.

"Well, good morning, sleeping beauty. You're alarm clock was set awfully early this afternoon." His mom says jokingly while carrying a plate of waffles. She drops them onto the maple table. "You going anywhere special today?"

Lias shrugs, and scoops himself a waffle. "Nah, I'm just going to hang out with Xavier, Brennan, and Alina today. Summer is short, and everyone's going to be off to college, or work soon."

His mom sighs. "Speaking of which, why can't you get a job until university begins? You're almost 19, and doesn't Xavier have a job?"

Lias shakes his head, and finishes his waffle. "No, he got fired 2 weeks ago. I told you."

His mom nods absentmindedly. "That's right. Something about 'accidentally' lighting a table on fire." She put a sarcastic emphasis on the word "accidentally."

"It was an accident... I think." A car honks outside, and Lias jumps up and grabs his bag before running out the door. "Bye, Mom."

"Bye. Make sure you're home for dinner." His mom shouts before he bolts out the door. Lias doesn't really hear her, but figures that it should all be fine.

The humid Oregon air is chilling today. A silver truck is parked outside. A teenage Mexican guy with a round head, dark brown eyes, and short spiked up black hair sticks his head out the window, and shouts."Hurry up! Let's go!"

Lias laughs and shouts. "Relax Xavier." As he hops in the back seat of the truck. A short, white, chubby boy sat up front. His normal high ridged glasses pushed high up on his head. His long brown hair in a curly mess.

Lias punches him in the shoulder. "What's up Brennan?"

"Not much I'm just tired." He says. Lias looks around to see the other occupants. Two teenage girls are sitting in the back with him glaring at each other. The nearest one with short, choppy, spiky black hair with purple streaks in it, and pale skin hugs Lias. She is a bit shorter than him about 5' 8", and quite thin.

He hugs her back with a smile. "Hey Alina."

"Hey." She says, and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. Lias breaks out of the hug, and leans up towards Xavier.

"Umm, dude what is Melissa doing here?" Lias asks.

Xavier smiles. "Well I know that her and Alina don't get along all that well, and I think that best friends' girlfriends should be friends."

Lias rolls his eyes, and slumps backward. "This isn't going to end well." He thought briefly to himself. The short preppy, big breasted, blonde cheerleader smiled at Lias. "Umm, hey Melissa."

Melissa smiles back. "Hey Lias." She says then throws a glare at Alina, and moves to give Lias a hug.

Alina pushes her way inbetween them. "Haha, no way, whore. Hug your own boyfriend."

Melissa rolls her eyes and sits back down. "Whatever. Bitch." She mutters under her breath.

Brennan rolls his eyes. "Xavier their going at it again!" He shouts somewhat sarcastically, but obviously annoyed. Xavier laughs, and turns onto a dirt road.

"Where we going'?" Melissa asks looking out the window at the passing forest scene.

"Wherever suits us." Xavier replies with his typical big grin.

A couple moments pass of quietness. Tired of the awkward silence, Brennan turns to Lias. "You seen the new Kung Fu Panda movie yet?"

Lias sits up excitedly. "Yeah! It was awesome!" He notices Alina staring at him, and blushes. "I mean... umm..."

Alina giggles. "It's okay. I like it when you nerd up, or whatever you call it."

"No, no. It's called nerds unite." Brennan says jokingly. Everyone laughs lightly, and Xavier turns to comment. Just then the car hits a bump, and Xavier swerves off the road. The muddy hillside gives way, and the car slides down the hill. The girls, and Brennan scream.

Once they reach the bottom Lias turns to Brennan. "Nice little girl squeal, bro."

Brennan mutters an obscene insult under his breath as he undoes his seatbelt, and rolls down the window.

Melissa pokes her head out. "What's that?" She asks pointing towards a cave with a dark cloaked figure standing in front of it.

"Oh thank God, people. Maybe he can help us get back up the hill." Xavier says as he and Melissa hop out of the car. Lias, and Alina follow along with Brennan who seems worried about the cloaked figure.

"Hey. Can you help us?" Lias shouts. The figure turns and walks into the cave. Brennan grabs his ears, and falls to the ground. He writhes, and starts muttering incoherent words.

Alina kneels next to him. "Are you okay?" Obvious that he isn't she shouts. "Guys get over here!" Lias sprints over, just as Brennan gets up.

"I'm fine. Let's go. That guy isn't going to hold up forever." He says and starts walking towards the cave. Lias looks at Alina concerned, she just shrugs and follows close behind the other guy. Once inside the hooded figure is standing there. A voice whispers out but it seems loud.

"To this end you have come. For this is your destiny."

Lias turns to the others, and the expressions say that they heard it too. The figure vanishes behind a strange wall of twisted vines. The group walks forward. A large arch stands in front of them. Water seems to be suspended inside it; somehow.. The hooded figure stands beside it with an outstretched arm gesturing towards the portal.

Lias walks up to it. "You sure about this?" He asks as if it had said something to him. The figure nods, and Lias reaches out his hand to touch the water.

Xavier shouts. "Wait! Maybe we shouldn't!" But he was too late. Lias touches the water, and darkness envelopes the group.

"Lo, as it was told, is as it shall happen. For you all have just embarked on an epic journey to a strange world. There you will face adversity, greed, jealousy, pleasure, and death itself. All in the need to return back to your world. And in this quest you shall save another world."

Lias woke up on the floor of a small wooden shop. A nervous-looking goose stood over him. "Excuse me sir. Are you okay?"

Lias sat up, and scampered away. "Where am I?" He half-shouted out of panic. "Why is that goose talking?!" He internally screamed.

The goose laughs casually as if the situation is normal. "Why. You're in the Valley Of Peace, of course."

End Of Chapter 1