Time has passed since the time all four Dragons have gathered to the temple to save the world from evil. They still continue to search for the Shen Gong Wu and battle evil to protect the world. However time can only remain the same for so long before something changes. Change is a big part of life and while many are accepting of a change of pace there are others who fear the course of change. Some even change without realizing it and not always for the better.
~X~
"We've got one more Shen Gong Wu to add to our collection guys." Raimundo said with pride as he held up the newest activated Wu in his hands. The Culver Crystal, it allowed the user to create blinding spheres of light in order to help them escape. They were flying on Dojo and heading back to the temple after another successful battle against their enemies.
"Good thing Jack didn't get it. He's already a weasel and he don't need anything else to help him run away." Clay joked, happy as the rest of his friends that they got the Wu instead of their enemies.
Kimiko nodded in agreement, "I gotta say Rai, I'm impressed that you were able to come up with such a good plan," Raimundo felt his cheeks heat up at her compliment and a proud smile formed on his face. "Not to mention that it actually worked." His smile turned into a frown when he heard her giggle.
With a roll of his eyes he let go of her insult of him and sat up proudly on the enlarged Dragon's body. "Well as your leader it's my job to make sure we win every showdown and get all the Wu."
Kimiko and Clay couldn't help but chuckle at his new behavior. "Who would have thought that Raimundo knew how to act serious." Kimiko giggled when once again their leaders proud smile turned into a frown.
Clay grinned, "Maybe he's actually still on the Heylin side and is just trying to trick us." He joked. It had been many years since Raimundo first betrayed them and they've been able to joke with him about it for some time now. It's become one of their usual jokes whenever he acts different from his usual behavior.
"That joke is getting old," Raimundo mumbled, crossing his arms and glared at his two chuckling teammates.
"Oops, I think we made him mad. Better watch out or he'll blow us off." Clay laughed, one arm holding his stomach at the fun he and his friends were having.
Kimiko giggled at the sight of Raimundo, who did look ready to blow them both off the flying Dragon's back. "Relax Rai, you know we're just messing with you." She scooted closer to their grumbling leader and rested a hand on his shoulder.
Raimundo looked at her smiling face and felt himself calm down in a matter of seconds. "Yeah, I know," he couldn't help but smile back at her. It seemed like she always knew what to say to make him feel better. His smile didn't last when he saw the grin on Clay's face grow in size. It looked like he was ready to burst out with laughter but was holding it in for some reason. "What are you laughing about now?" he questioned, not liking the look he was getting from his friend.
"Oh, no reason." Clay just continued on grinning and enjoying the sight before him. It was so obvious to him but for his two friends they didn't have a clue on what they were really doing and that just made him laugh.
Raimundo rolled his eyes on at his friend. He was really going to have to talk with them about the jokes. He was their leader now and he believed he deserved some respect for that. He was ready to tell them just that when he noticed Omi sitting behind Clay, head resting in his hands as he stared at the passing clouds. "Everything ok, Omi?" he asked his little friend, making both Clay and Kimiko turn to look around at the yellow monk.
Omi however didn't hear him. His mind seemed to be elsewhere, eyes holding a distance look in them and a slight frown on his face.
"Hey, Omi?" Clay tapped their little friend, suddenly worried at his strange behavior.
Jumping at the sudden touch Omi looked around and saw his three friends looking concerned. "What is wrong? Why do you all look so concerned? Are we being followed by the enemy?" he quickly jumped to his feet and started looking all around the open sky for where their enemy could be hiding.
"No, we're not being followed, but Omi are you ok?" Kimiko asked, looking worried at the usual hyper active monk. On most hunts he was usually full of energy and boosting about how it was his great efforts that helped them get the Wu. But this time she didn't hear one peep out of the little guy.
Omi stopped his search for the enemy and turned his attention back on his friends. "I am fine. Why would you think otherwise?"
Kimiko didn't by it and neither did the others. "Well you just looked sad before and-"
"Oh, I was not sad. I am just feeling above the weather that is all." Omi interrupted, a wide grin on his face.
"It's under the weather." Raimundo corrected, regretting not getting Omi that book of slangs for Christmas.
"I stand corrected." Omi crossed his arms and turned away from his friends to write down the new saying on a notepad he kept with him. It came in handy during situations like this whenever he got his slang wrong.
"May I have your attention lady and gentlemen. We have arrived at the Xiaolin Temple and I hope you enjoyed your flight of airline Dojo." The four couldn't help but roll their eyes at the corny lines Dojo suddenly felt the need to say every time they had to fly with him.
"Well it's been fun guys but I got some stuff to do." Clay was the first to jump off , tipping his hat to his friends and headed towards the temple.
"Still have more college application to fill out?" Kimiko asked as she and Raimundo both jumped off of Dojo together.
"You got it," Clay said, heading for the room. They've been at the temple for a few years now and while it was lots of fun fighting bad guys and collecting all of the Wu Clay knew that once all of it was over he would have to go back to Texas and he didn't want to be stuck without a job. He's been able to continue his education at the temple with the help of tutors like the others but he was the oldest and in another few months he would be done with high school and be going on to college. He had a few ideas what he wanted to do with his life but he wanted to research more about which school would be best for him.
"Wow, Clay sure is determined." Kimiko commented, impressed with his focus on school. She still had three years left of high school so she couldn't even imagine what was going through his head. She herself still didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. Many people believed that she would take over her father's company but the thought of being the CEO of a giant gaming company didn't excite her. She loved what her father did but it didn't feel like the life for her.
Raimundo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you only ever see him this focus when he's making one of his famous larger than life Texas style sandwiches," the two laughed at this, knowing how true it was, before Raimundo cleared his throat and looked a little nervous. One hand going behind his neck and the other shoved in his pocket. "So since Clay is probably gonna be stuck in his room all night feel like going into town and catching a movie together?" he asked, trying to sound cool but feel his heart speed up at what her answer might be.
Kimiko smiled at the invitation. "Sure, sounds like fun."
Raimundo returned the smile with one of his own. "Great," the two walked off together discussing what they might want to see.
Dojo watched the three Dragons-in-Training run off to do their own things, a smile on his face. It was nice seeing them all relax and enjoying life with how much pressure is on them. "So what about you kid?" Dojo shrunk in size and wrapped himself around Omi's large head. "You got any plans for tonight?"
Omi merely sighed, a frown on his face as he stared at the empty courtyard before him. "Sadly, I do not." He sat down on the ground, pulling at the grass beneath him and appeared to be sulking.
"What's wrong?" Dojo has never seen him looking this depressed before.
Omi sighed once more as he told his old friend his problems. "Everyone is preparing themselves for the future and it would appear that they've forgotten about me."
Dojo rolled down so that he was wrapped around his arm and patted his shoulder. "No they haven't. Sure they may be thinking of the future but that doesn't mean they've forgotten about you. You guys are the four chosen ones."
"But they have," he twisted one strand of grass in his hand as he spot, eyes focused on the green blade held between his two fingers. "Raimundo has been made leader and despite many doubts has been successful in planning missions and retrieving the Shen Gong Wu."
"Kid, are you sure you're not just Jealous of Raimundo?" Dojo had a feeling that was part of the problem. Omi had grown up alone and wasn't used to sharing praises with others.
"Perhaps," he agreed and Dojo nearly fell over. Omi always denied being jealous. "It is just, I am most confused about my spot on the team," he left the grass go and watched as it flew away with the wind. "Clay has his muscles and strength, Kimiko knows how to work the technology and use many devices, and Raimundo is a fighter but now he is making plans that lead us to victory. It makes me wonder if I am even needed anymore."
Dojo felt his heart nearly break at this. He hadn't realized how much he was going through. "Hey, it's going to be alright. You know that the team will always need you and nothing can ever change that."
Omi didn't look convinced, "Dojo, how many remaining Shen Gong Wu are left?"
Dojo had to think about this for a moment. "Well Dashi and I never actually counted but if I remember correctly there should be quite a few more left." Now that he thought about maybe it would be best to keep track of the Wu and how many there really are. Of course he'll need to convince Master Fung to get a pad lock for the vault first.
"With only a few Shen Gong Wu remaining and all of us getting stronger what is left?" Omi felt his depression getting worse as he spoke of his fears. "Once all of the Wu are collected and we finally defeat Chase Young and the rest of the Heylin side what will be left to do? The others will leave the temple and I will be left all alone, again." he whispered the last part. He did not want to think of his lonely childhood. While he enjoyed being raised with Master Fung and the other monks it was not the same to having friends that were his age and made him feel like he had a real family.
Everything suddenly made sense and Dojo felt sorry for the kid. He has been orphan all his life and now he's scared that the friends he had grown so close too will leave him. "Kid, I know you're scared but even if the others do leave it doesn't mean you'll be left alone." He patted his shoulder in reassurance, wishing there was more he could do.
Omi looked at the green dragon resting on his arm and smiled. "Thank you, Dojo, I-!" he jumped to his feet when he felt something headed his way. He readied himself into a fighting position, getting out the Orb of Tornami in case he was jumped. Dojo didn't know what was happening but he stayed close, wrapping himself around Omi even more and started to shake. "Something is coming." Omi muttered, eyes darting back and forth around the temple but saw no sign of anyone hiding. He was ready to call for the others when a great shadow appeared above him. He looked up at the sky and gasped when he saw what looked like a fiery comet headed his way. Eyes widening when he saw that it was heading there way and it a matter of moments would crash land and crush them. He and Dojo screamed, running at top speed as the comet was getting closer and closer to them. They jumped out of the way just in time and watched as it flew by, taking most of the temple wall with it and continued to fly by before finally crashing into the forest nearby.
"What is the world is that?" Dojo cried, shaking at the sudden attack and hoped no one was raiding the temple. He was a fifteen-hundred year old Dragon for pete sack. There was only so much he could take.
"I am not sure." He didn't know but he was going to find out. Breaking out into a run he headed in the direction of which it had landed. It was easy enough to track, it has practically left a trail when it crashed landed, making a path of broken trees and bamboo sticks on the ground, some on fire from the impact. The two walked through the broken path and soon enough found where it landed, a giant crater had been made when it crashed and with ease Omi jumped in. In the middle of hole, surrounded by smoke and small fires was the object of the sudden mayhem. "It looks like some sort of pod." he stepped carefully towards the object, being caution in case someone or something jumped out of it and attacked him. A brown pod like sphere with markings that looked similar to the ones he's seen around the temple in the designs and in some of the old scrolls. With a quick touch the pod opened and a hologram appeared.
"Omi, I do not mean to frighten you but the future needs your help."
Dojo and Omi gasped when they saw the hologram and who was speaking to them. "It is me!" Omi looked in wonder at his future self being shown in the hologram. He was taller and seemed very fit and thin, his robes were white with a blue dragon running along the back and arms.
"What is with your future selves sending us messages about the world being in trouble." Dojo grumbled, thinking of the last time his future self sent them a message about the world being threatened by evil.
"I am the you of twenty years from now. Much has happened and I fear I am not able to properly defend the world without some help. I need you to travel to the future and help me conquer the evil that is threatening the world."
Omi nodded and made a fist. "I shall do my best future me!" without so much as a second thought he readied the Orb of Tornami, planning to freeze himself once more and go help his future-self.
"Hold it," Dojo slapped his large yellow head and frowned. "Do you not remember what happened the last time you froze yourself and went into the future?" he scolded, crossing his arms.
Omi thought for a moment before a bashful smile appeared on his face. "Oh yes, I momentarily forgot." He blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed that he almost caused the future to be taken over by evil..again. "But if I cannot freeze myself than how will I get to the future? The Sands of Time were destroyed."
Dojo thought about this. The kid was right, the time traveling Wu was vaporized when they were in the parallel universe so they had no other Wu to help them travel to the future. "I have no idea." He was stumped. He knew Dashi should have created a backup of the Wu.
"If you combine the Serpent's Tail with the Denshi Bunny and focus your chi it will allow you to create enough cosmic force to open a time vortex."
"It will?" Omi questioned, looking at Dojo who only shrugged his shoulder. Neither one knew this could happen if you combined the two Wu together.
"If so Dashi never told me." Dojo explained, looking at the hologram. In theory combining the two Wu together made sense but he still wasn't so sure about it. Neither he had never thought of using the two Wu that way and he wondered if Dashi ever did. "Well the guy always did like to think outside the box so it's possible." If it was true then it would certainly explain a few things, like how Dashi would suddenly disappear on him or how he suddenly started to use slang so well.
"The future is in desperate need of your help. Please...hurry."
The message cut out, leaving the two to stand and think about what they had just learned. "We must hurry. The future is in trouble!" well at least one of them. Omi raced out of the forest and headed for the vault while Dojo wasn't so sure about this. The last time they messed with the future the results were disastrous and he did not want a repeat of last time.
"Shouldn't we get the others to help?" he asked once they entered the vault, looking nervous and unsure about the whole thing.
Omi stopped short, he just grabbed the Serpent's tail when Dojo asked about the others. The last time he went alone he was not able to accomplish much on his own but he felt his pride and feeling take over his mind. "No," he walked down the stairs and headed for where they held the Denshi Bunny. "I am sure I can accomplish this on my own and besides the future me only said I was needed, not the others."
Dojo raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure this isn't just because you're still upset?" he had a feeling it was but he knew how stubborn Omi could be.
Omi growled and glared at the green dragon. "If that is how you feel then perhaps I should not allow you to accompany me." He said with a haughty voice, grabbing the Denshi Bunny as he did so.
"Alright, I won't say anything else," Dojo grumbled before jumping off his shoulder. "Just meet me outside the vault. If we're time traveling then I'm making sure that I am packed and prepared." He said, slithering out of the vault and to pack all that he deemed necessary for the trip.
Omi nodded before looking around the vault and decided to take some extra Wu just in case. He had the Orb of Tornami on him like he always does but it never hurt to be safe rather than sorry. So he took the newly acquired Culver Crystal just in case there were some situations that were better to run away from then fight. Who knew what kind of evil they were facing and it may come in handy to make quick escapes so they could plan and better prepare themselves for the fight. With everything ready he ran out to the yard and saw Dojo waiting for him with a suitcase full of who-knows-what. "Are you ready?"
Dojo only shrugged, "As ready as I'll ever be." He still wasn't so sure about this plan but if Omi was up for it then so was he.
"Very well, then prepare yourself my friend as we proceed to go into the future!" he exclaimed, holding the two Wu in his hands.
"Omi, no offense but we've already done this so no reason to get all excited." Dojo reminded him, jumping up on his shoulder and patted his large head.
Omi frowned and let out a low groan. "Who cares. We are going to the future...again!" he cried out. With a deep breath Omi activated the two Shen Gong Wu and proceeded to go into the future. "Serpent's Tail! Denshi Bunny!" focusing his chi he combined the two together and within seconds the power of the two collided and a vortex was opened in front of them. "Amazing." Omi gasped at the sight of the brightly glowing portal that had appeared before them. Dojo wasn't as amazed and gulped at the sight, still nerves about this whole trip. Without wasting a second Omi ran towards the portal, Dojo wrapped securely around his arm, and jumped in. The two were off to save the future.