Chapter 01: Mythology
"Young monks, as the sun sets on your time as Wudai Warriors, I feel it is time to explain the events that have occurred during your stay at the Xiaolin Temple."
Omi was on his feet, zooming around Master Fung with a great sense of eagerness. Clay stood a few feet away, lassoing a green monkey that had not yet found its way back into the wild. At the edge of the pond were Kimiko and Raimundo, wrapped in each other's arms.
"You may have noticed," the Xiaolin master continued after calming Omi down, "that the number '4' has played a role in significant events that have occurred over the past four years: four elemental Dragons were selected upon your arrival at the temple; Mala Mala Jong divided himself into quarters rather than ninths; the greatest number of Shen Gong Wu to reveal themselves simultaneously was four, both during the Shen Gong Wu drought and in the treasure cove; the unveiling of 'The Sands of Time', Dashi's second most powerful Shen Gong Wu, as well as Wuya's return to power, occurred in the fourth year after the dawn of the millennium.
"Soon, during your fourth year at the temple, the fourth Heylin Master will reveal himself."
Raimundo interrupted with, "I don't get it. How is the number '4' supposed to explain everything and predict the future?"
"Because there are four corners of the world."
Kimiko gave a soft "Oh!" of realization. Everyone else turned their heads, hoping for clarification, but when she said nothing, their eyes fell back on Master Fung.
"In mythology, four mystical beasts were believed to have existed as guardians, patrolling the four corners of the world and fending off evils that attempted to assume control of their domains.
"The Wake-Star Tortoise
"The Ore-Star Tiger
"The Flare-Star Phoenix
"And the Gale-Star Dragon
"1500 years ago, these beasts raged alongside Dashi against four Heylin Masters: Wuya, Chase Young, Hannibal Roy Bean, and Ark Wing. Each Master had commandeered a corner of the world and ruled as tyrant over the domain. The combined powers of the Xiaolin monks and the Guardians, as the beasts were later labeled, triumphed against the Heylin side, forcing the Masters from their thrones.
"Wuya was locked away in Dashi's puzzle box, and Chase Young, after imprisoning Hannibal Bean in the Ying-Yang World, vanished into the shadows, gradually reclaiming his territory for centuries."
"What about this 'Ark Wing'?" Omi inquired, "If he was a Heylin Master, he would have had an immortal body, like all the others."
An expression both grim and stern flickered on the ancient monks face before he answered.
"He is dead. A casualty of the war he himself began."
He continued in his normal voice, "After the Heylin way subsided, Dashi scattered his tools, the Shen Gong Wu, across the globe; That is, all but one…
"The 'Four-Point Star'"
"I'm guessing this is where the number '4' comes in the most." Clay said in a mixed voice of both awe and boredom.
"Indeed. The 'Four-Point Star' is the Shen Gong Wu that has kept all the others dormant for the past 1500 years. No Shen Gong Wu would activate as long as the 'Four-Point Star' remained undisturbed. The 'Star' was broken into four pieces and placed under the protection of the Guardians, who defended the shards for centuries.
"Four years ago, Dojo's great-great-great-grand uncle, Tiamaut the Gale-Star Dragon, faded away. Not even mystical creatures can survive forever.
"Thanks for bringing that up…" Dojo retorted. He pondered for a moment before he added in a softer tone, "Well, Uncle Tiamaut WAS 10,000 years old…"
"With Tiamaut's passing," Fung continued, "the balance between light and dark was tilted, and thus the Eastern corner of the 'Star' awoke. It was this portion of the star that triggered the revealing of all the Shen Gong Wu so far, in the hopes of stabilizing the cosmic balance of power.
"However, the surviving Guardians are bordering along this world and the next. When they die, the fourth Heylin Master will be revealed, along with the entire 'Four-Point Star'. Should someone on the Heylin side utilize the 'Star's' power, he or she would be able to activate all the dormant Shen Gong Wu prematurely, allowing them to retrieve them immediately and tip the scale of power in their favor.
"On the other hand, should a Xiaolin monk wield the 'Star', then all the Shen Gong Wu could be forced to deactivate for eternity."
"No Wu missions means more chores," Raimundo piped in, "And more chores with no Wu mean more work."
A glare from his teacher silenced the teen. Omi shot him a look too before his face broke out in excitement.
"Master Fung, when we retrieve the 'Four-Point Star', we will be made Xiaolin Dragons?" the Chinese orphan asked in an almost pleading tone.
"Yes. The restoration of the world will be you final Wudai mission.
"To clarify: along with their mortality, the Guardians' powers are draining as well. But their powers are not fading away as they are; instead those powers have been transferred into you.
"It is you destiny to guard the 'Four-Point Star', especially when the second Xiaolin War is about to begin…"