A/N :
Wow.. I haven't uploaded anything to this site in so long o.0
Just so everyone knows, this was originally a joke, but it evolved from a single sketch to amuse a friend, to a quick back story on why Dojo got the way he is, to a possible multichaptered story
If you want to see what Dojo looks like, the first picture of a series is on my deviantart account: http:// www .deviantart. com/deviation/49045173/ (that is a colored version.)
If you want to see more pictures or read other bits, my livejournal will be updated usually before this account : http ://www. sontsunami06. livejournal. com
Enjoy!
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Chapter One: The Xiao Pai Stone
"Let's go kids! The xiao pai stone just revealed itself!" Dojo slithered into the kitchen, lugging the wu-scroll behind him.
"The xiao pai stone? What's it do, Dojo?" Kimiko asked, putting away freshley cleaned dishes.
Dojo laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "To be honest... I've..never actually seen this one in action... It was really just a practice wu for Dashi, before he got crackin on getting the rest of the wu workin. Let's see what the scroll says."
Clay plucked the scroll up off the floor and unfurled it, laying it on the countertop for everyone to crowd around.
They waited a few seconds, staring expectantly at the normally animated picture.
"Um... Dojo, nothin's happenin, dude." Rai said, poking the scroll.
"Really Rai? I didn't notice..." Dojo muttered, giving the Brazillian boy a flat look.
"Hmmmm... well, Dashi was in a hurry to get to the next wu when he finished with this one... I guess he didn't log it...come to think of it, he never tested it while I was around... he even hid this one himself..." Dojo said, still staring at the stoic picture.
"Maybe we should get this one ourselves, partner... Grand Master Dashi apparently didn't think bein round this wu was too safe fer ya." Clay said slowly, rolling up the scroll and passing it back to the little green dragon.
"No.. I hope Dashi would have told me if I needed to avoid a wu. besides, I don't have a rash... I think. Hey Kimiko, could you check my tail please?"
"Ew... no, Dojo, you're...fine." Kimiko said, holding out her hands and turning her nose up.
"Let's go then." Dojo slithered outside, the wudai warriors following uneasily.
Once supersized, the dragon and monks took off for Hawaii, Raimundo babbling about the 'surf, sand and babes' the whole way there.
"Alright kids, it's a necklace, with a big blue stone in the middle." Dojo said as the monks spread out on the beach.
Omi was searching up and down the dunes when he heard the familiar sound of whirling blades, Spicer's helipack no doubt.
And then that oh so familiar voice, as Omi looked up to the albino genius.
"I got it! Woohoo! Wonder what it does?" Jack said, twirling the necklace around on his finger.
"Jack Spicer, give us the stone!" Omi demanded, leaping at the floating boy, grabbing him by the pants leg but sliding off after a few seconds.
"Don't think so losers! Xiao Pai Necklace!" Jack cried. The stone glowed white for a few seconds, and then that light split into 7 separate beams that lit onto Jack, Wuya, Omi, Kimiko, Rai, Clay and Dojo. Just as suddenly, all 7 beams converged onto Dojo, and then disappeared, along with the stone.
"Awww man, that was a disappointment. Let's go!" Jack groused, retreating quickly.
Ignoring the small speck of a villain in the sky, the monks rushed to Dojo. The dragon looked at the four for a minute, with a blank look on his face, and then shrugged.
"Must be why Dashi never did anything with it... nothin happened...at least, I don't think so.. I feel fine."
"Are you sure, Dojo? That was pretty creepy." Kimiko said, concern evident in her eyes as she knelt down next to the tiny dragon.
"Yea, don't worry bout it. Let's get back to the temple now, you guys have got a lot of chores in the morning! And I need to get Master Fung his tea." Dojo grinned, shifting to his larger form and staring expectantly at the monks, who hesitantly climbed on his back.
Soon they were a distant smudge on the horizon.
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Back at the temple, everyone was going getting ready for bed, including Dojo. He had already gotten Master Fung his tea, and only needed to check the temple grounds and gates to make sure everything was secure for the night, before he went to sleep himself.
It started simple enough. Just a strange tingling in his spine. Then a pulsing in his body that was harder to ignore. Finally, he had to stop and catch his breath as his heart started to beat wildly and his vision blur. The last thing he saw was the grass in his vision as he slumped over onto the ground and passed out.
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"Nngh... what happened?" Dojo murmured, sitting up. His entire body felt different. Stiffer, less fluid than normal. He pressed his hands to his head to stop the pounding, but nearly screamed when he realized that his face was flat. Well, not flat, but his muzzle had shrunk.
He rolled over, grass poking his newly over sensitive skin. He realized he was facing the outer wall of the temple.
Dojo stumbled into the courtyard on unsteady legs, freaked out to say the least. He had realized pretty quickly that instead of scales and a fluid, snake like body, he was residing in a weak, fleshy human body. Sort of. He still had his tail, he knew that much for sure, but the rest of his body was scaleless and pink.
Who could he turn to for help? He didn't really want to bring this to Master Fung, not because he didn't trust him, but because he didn't want to seem like he couldn't handle it himself. Omi, the lovable little bowling ball, would blab to everyone, just because he couldn't help it. Raimundo would crack jokes, and Kimiko... well, if he had clothes maybe then he could go to kimiko, but he no robes, no nothing, but the scales on his tail. Clay it was.
Dojo slipped through the shadows, missing his own body more and more with every step of his now human feet.
"Where in the world is Clay?" He muttered, sticking his head around another corner. Still nobody. The wind blew through the walkway, pushing his hair forward around his face, and reminding him quickly of the fact that he was completely bare when shivers ran up and down his body.
"I've really gotta get some robes... but that still means finding Clay..." He shook his head, and pressed on, diving from shadow to shadow and praying that he would find the Texan before too much longer.
Dojo stood in the shadows of the walkway entering the training yard, and looked around for any sign of the cowboy. He felt relief wash through him as he saw the very boy he was looking for, lassoing a stump over in the east corner.
"Finally! Clay! Pssssst! Clay... over he-ere!" Dojo muttered, trying to grab the blond's attention without having to leave the safety of the shadows. Thankfully, the boy heard him, and turned. He was obviously expecting a Dragon to be paired off with the voice he heard though, judging by look of surprise on his face under the wide brim of his hat. He watched in shock as Clay slid into ready stance, fists raised, prepared to defend the temple if he had to.
"No, no nonono!" Dojo waved frantically, "It's me, Dojo! I'm serious! See! Tail!" He whipped his heavy tail around to show to Clay, his eyes wide in panic.
"Dojo... what happened to ya, buddy?" Clay asked, staring at the strange looking person in front of him for a moment, before averting his eyes.
"I dunno.. I just woke up like this... but I'd really appreciate it if I could borrow some robes, or something... this is a little too akward for my taste..." Dojo trailed off, playing with the fur on the tip of his tail.
"Um... yea...sure, let's go grab you some clothes, partner.. I don't know how appreciative Miss Kimiko would be if she caught you wanderin the grounds like that." Clay smirked, tilting his hat back and watching the dragon squirm in embarrassment.
Just as Clay was turning to head inside, Dojo ducked into the bushes lining the walkway.
"Whatchya do that fer, Dojo?" Clay asked, looking into the bush curiously.
"Dojo? Dude, is that were the little gecko disappeared to? We can't find him anywhere. Kimiko's totally freaking out." Clay heard Raimundo say as he walked into the training grounds.
"Um..." Clay mumbled, trying to figure out what to say. It was obvious that Dojo didn't want anyone to see him right now, and Clay didn't want to upset the poor dragon.
"Dude, is he here or not? Kimi's gonna have my head on a stick if I don't find the little dude pretty soon... she's spittin fire every time I try and tell her he just fell asleep in the store room again..."
"Well... ya see, I.." Clay wasn't a liar. He couldn't come up with an excuse on the spot like some people could.
Dojo smacked his forehead from the shadows, and stood with a sigh.
"Yea, Rai, I'm here..." He said, crossing his arms over his chest and looping his tail around his hips to cover himself as well as he could.
"DOJO? Dude, what happened to you man?" Rai exclaimed, looking the dragon up and down.
"I'm not sure. But I'd really like to get some clothes. So could you just hold off telling the others till I've figured out what's happened to me?" Dojo asked, getting irritated. He was shivering from the cold, Rai seemed to be checking him out, and there was a twig poking his ass. He really just wanted to get inside already.
"Yea, sure, no problem. I'll go keep the others busy, so Clay can get you some clothes. Good luck." Rai said, bringing his gaze back up to Dojo's face.
"Much obliged, Rai. We'll see ya in a bit, hopefully." Clay smiled, and headed inside. Dojo followed, and frowned. He could swear he just heard Rai say something about his ass...