Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown or any characters that appear on the show.
Rai was climbing up the unstable cliff face as fast as he could. He was going fast for two reasons. One, the cliff was falling apart and staying still would cause him to fall. Two, Wuya was in the lead and Rai refused to lose his first showdown as Shoku Leader to her.
"Face it Raimundo, you just don't have what it takes," Wuya taunted.
Rai growled but then an idea came to him that was so dumb it might just work.
"I see London, I see France," Rai called out, "I see Wuya's underpants."
"Huh?"
Wuya stopped to check but as she did the rock she held onto broke off and caused her to fall, losing her the showdown and the Wu.
Wuya fumed as she watched Dojo fly off; she couldn't believe that she had been humiliated in a showdown by that two timing wind dragon. She kicked a nearby stone and sent it flying.
"I still haven't forgotten your betrayal," Wuya said out to the shape in the sky she knew to be Dojo, "it's time I settled the score."
"And I am just the bean to help you do it."
Wuya turned to see bad luck incarnate, also know as Hannibal Roy bean, on the Ying-Ying bird.
"Get lost, you demonic vegetable, before I squish you," Wuya threatened, "I'm not in the mood."
"You would be if you heard my proposition," Hannibal replied.
"Proposition?! The last time I listened to you it almost cost me my hair and everything attached. Why do you think I'll listen to you now?"
"Because I'm not going against Chase this time. I'm going against Raimundo."
"Huh?"
"Well you see I still owe that wind dragon a bad turn or ten for what he did to me," Hannibal explained, " I have a plan but I need your help."
Wuya thought for a moment. She didn't trust him but if it would get back at Raimundo…
"Alright, I'll bite, what did you have in mind?"
"I need you to take me to Lady Shiaw and … Hey! Get back here I'm not finished."
Wuya had start walking at the mention of Lady Shiaw.
"Well I'm finished listening, you were a lot better off with the get Chase plan, the worse he can do to me is kill me."
Hannibal flew in front of Wuya on the Ying-Ying Bird.
"Come now I'm sure she wouldn't be like that espesally since you'll help her get something she wants."
"Yes, my head on the platter."
"No! I was talking about something I found out in Rai's mind."
"Been there, done that and unless you plan to entertain her with the jelly bean incident there is nothing worthwhile in that thick skull of his."
"Well that's where you are wrong, take it from someone who has had a more recent and a more thorough trip."
--
Wuya walked down the corridor to where she had been told she would find Lady Shiaw. She still couldn't believe she was doing this. Hannibal was resting comfortably on Wuya's shoulder.
"I don't know what your so worried about," Hannibal said, "everyone has been so helpful."
"Of course," Wuay replied, "they know Lady Shiaw would want the personal satisfaction of dispatching me."
Wuya came to a door, despite her weakened state, Wuya knew that Lady Shiaw was waiting for her on the other side.
"How about we call this whole thing off," Wuya said, "I'm not that mad at Raimundo."
Wuay turned away from the door and came face to face wind some of Lady Shiaw's wind golems. They looked ready to kill.
"But then again, it would be rude to leave without at least saying hello," Wuya added quickly before turning back to the door.
As Wuya and Hannibal entered the room, they were met by two female figures meditating in the center of the room. One looked like a teenager and the other was the reason Wuya was on the verge of wetting herself. The younger one stared on with slight amusement while the older had a look that could make stone flinch.
"I knew you were foolish Wuya, but I didn't think you were this foolish," the older lady said.
"Oh Lady Shiaw, can't we let by gones be by gones?" Wuya said in attempted diplomacy.
"You used my teachings to get your own means."
"Ok, so maybe I took a more liberal view to the temple's principles."
"You tried to invade this temple, tried to steal ancient texts and you tried to have me assassinated."
"Doesn't the fact that I failed on all accounts make up for it?"
"No it just shows that you are incompetent."
Hannibal and the teenager just looked on silently at the exchange. They knew better than to get involved.
"I was following the Heylin way."
"Wuya, if you had ever bothered to listen to my teachings, you would have learned that the way of this temple is to walk the Heylin path to enlightenment, not world domination."
"Since it's the Heylin path, don't you mean enDARKenment."
Wuya laughed at her own joke but stopped when she realised that no-one else was laughing. The teenager only lifted an eyebrow, Lady Shiaw was showing a bit of fang, even Hannibal was giving his partner in crime strange looks. Wuya felt a hand grab one of her shoulders, she didn't need to look to know what it belonged to.
"I've been meaning to have this room painted," Lady Shiaw said dangerously, "Chyr my young pupil, tell me, what do you think of a nice deep red?"
"It might clash with the décor," Chyr answered.
"Well I guess I'll just have to change the décor then."
Something sharp pointed into Wuya's back. The blood left Wuya's face as her life flashed before her eyes. Hannibal took this moment to step in. He leapt of Wuya's shoulder and land in front of Lady Shiaw.
"That is no way to treat guests," Hannibal said, "besides I don't think there is enough Wuya to cover all the walls."
Chyr looked at Wuya, seemingly measuring her up.
"He may have a point," Chyr mused, "this is a pretty big room."
Lady Shiaw's attention had gone from Wuya to Hannibal. Wuya realised her life now depended on the bean, a fact that wasn't very comforting.
"Why are you here?" Lady Shiaw asked.
"I am here to make a proposition," the bean explained.
"There is nothing you can offer me," Lady Shiaw replied.
"Not even Shen Gong Wu?" Hannibal asked.
"Shen Gong Wu? Don't mention those things to me," Lady Shiaw spat, "such ultimate power and Dashi turned it into mere toys."
"A travesty I know," Hannibal agreed, "But one that can be easily undone."
"Don't insult my intelligence," Lady Shiaw threatened, "we both know the only way to perform the ritual that will undo it is through Xiaolin magic."
"True," Hannibal answered, "but we also know that Heylin magic can repeat a Xiaolin ritual, if you have the right ingredients from the first time."
Lady Shiaw looked at the bean suspiciously. Chyr looked on at her teacher, not sure what she was going to do. Finally Lady Shiaw snapped her fingers. The hand and the thing stabbing into Wuya's back vanished and a small hourglass appeared beside Hannibal.
"You have five minutes, make them count."
Author's note: Please let me know what you think. I will raise the rating if people feel that I need to. Title is also up for debate.