CHAPTER ONE: CHOICES:
Kimiko opened her eyes slowly, before forcing her newly awoken body upright. The brightly shining sun was pouring in through the small window opposite her. She rubbed her head; it wasn't like her to sleep in so late in the morning. She heard an encouraging whoop, which came from the training area of the temple, alerting her that her friends were already training. Cursing herself for lying in, she thrust off the thin yellow blanket covering her and dressed herself in her Xiaolin robes quickly. If Master Fung knew she had slept in late, she would be doing extra chores for a week; and she definitely didn't want that.
After a quick shower and a bowl of cereal, she dashed into the training area. Raimundo smiled warmly at her,
"Hey guys," He called to Clay and Omi, who were sparring on the other side of the training area using wooden poles. "Look who finally woke up!" Kimiko scowled at Raimundo.
"Good morning Kimiko, I trust you are ready to begin your training now?" Omi asked. Omi turned and smiled at her, diverting his attention from Clay long enough for Clay to take advantage. He swung the wooden pole at Omi's ankles, which knocked Omi cleanly off his feet. He fell onto the stone floor looking shocked.
"Howdy, lil' lady." Clay called, by way of morning greeting. Raimundo laughed at Omi, who was brushing the dirt off his Xiaolin robes, trying to look dignified.
"That was a most shameful attack, Clay, my friend." Omi said, and he regained his defensive stance.
"Sorry, partner! Just couldn't resist seein' the look on yer' face when I knocked yeh' down like that." Clay laughed as Omi frowned.
Kimiko found herself smiling at her friends when something heavy collided with her head. She staggered sideways, looking around for the flying object. Raimundo was laughing loudly. "Wake up, Kimiko!" He laughed as she forced herself upright. She glared angrily at Raimundo who was smiling annoyingly at her. She looked on the ground to see a wooden pole lying on the floor and picked it up; this must have been the object that collided with her head. He was smirking as he took on a defensive stance and held a pole in his hands. "Bring it." He said as Kimiko charged. She poked him sharply in the stomach with the end of the stick and hopped over his head. As she swung the pole to strike him in the back with it, he swung around and struck her across her back, sending her stumbling forwards. Raimundo chuckled as she regained her balance. Kimiko rubbed her back; she was going to get a bruise where he had hit her.
Trying to control her temper, Kimiko turned around and attacked again. Raimundo thrust his pole up to block her attack, when she yanked her pole upright, sending Raimundo's pole flying across the courtyard. She smiled and twirled the pole in her hands, before striking him across the chest with it, causing him to fall backwards. She leapt onto his chest and held the pole inches from his neck with both hands. She smiled at Raimundo, who was looking shocked. His expression flickered from a small smile to looking angry for being defeated. He forced the girl off his chest and stood upright, while she prepared herself for another attack.
Clay and Omi stopped sparring and watched the other two continue to try and beat each other. Clay was nodding in approval while Omi was cheering. In between whoops he said to Clay, "Kimiko is burning very hot this morning!"
Clay smirked, "I think you mean she's on fire this mornin' lil' guy."
"That too!" Said Omi who punched the air as Kimiko forced Raimundo to the floor again.
At that point, Master Fung entered the training area. With an expressionless face he cleared his throat, to stop Kimiko and Raimundo fighting. They froze and stood upright.
"Kimiko," He said and he looked at her. Kimiko looked up at her master. She knew she was either going to be praised or punished.
"Yes, Master Fung?" She asked, looking at his expressionless face, to see if she could read his expression, and gain hints as to her fate.
"You must stop training immediately and begin your chores, young monk." He told her. Kimiko laughed, while the others smiled. When Master Fung turned sharply and left the courtyard, Kimiko stopped laughing. She thought he had been joking. If she was being punished for sleeping in, he wouldn't want her to miss any more training time for chores, would he? Kimiko looked at Omi, Raimundo and Clay to see if they knew what she was meant to do. Raimundo shrugged, while Omi and Clay shook their heads.
Just then, Master Fung returned into the training area carrying a large bucket and a small scrubbing brush. He stopped in front of Kimiko and held them out to her.
"Use these and scrub the floors inside the temple." She raised her eyebrow and took the objects.
"But I can't miss much more training, Master Fung! I need to catch up." She complained, feeling slightly angry that he wanted her to miss even more training for chores which she could complete in her own time.
"Begin now, young monk." He instructed.
"But, Master Fung, I don't understand why-" Kimiko began.
"Kimiko, do as you are told!" He sternly told her, and frowned at her. With a heavy sigh, she carried the bucket of water and hand brush out of the training courtyard and into the temple. She took at deep breath to calm her anger, which was building inside her and miserably set to work.
Raimundo, Clay and Omi watched as a defeated Kimiko left the courtyard. They turned to Master Fung, who was staring in the direction of the mountains overlooking the temple. He turned without another word and left the courtyard. Raimundo glanced into the temple, where Kimiko had begun to scrub the floors. "That was weird." He commented. "Master Fung doesn't normally behave like that. I thought he want her to work extra hard training to make up for sleeping so long, wouldn't he?" Clay shrugged.
"I don't know, but it sure is strange of Master Fung to make her miss trainin' for chores." He said, as he picked up his wooden pole.
"Yes," Omi agreed, "Master Fung is behaving most strangely." Raimundo moved away from Clay and Omi and sat down; he was too deep in thought to encourage his friends as they resumed training.
A dark figure stood on a large pathway, which protruded from the side of the mountain overlooking the Xiaolin Temple. His reptile-like eyes flickered from each of the Xiaolin warriors training in the courtyard. He began to wonder when the other Dragon would appear; he'd been watching for hours now. In the past months, he had laid low, only leaving his home to watch the Xiaolin dragons in training. Chase Young was almost certain of his decision.
"Still watching?" Wuya called from behind him, interrupting his thoughts. She floated next to his right shoulder in her ghostly form.
"I must ensure I make the right decision." He said simply, while the chosen dragon appeared in the doorway of the temple. Wuya muttered disapprovingly and left Chase alone.
Chase watched as the small girl began training with the boy. He looked at the Warriors; they were only teenagers. How could four mere children beat him? He smirked as the girl bested the boy. It would be interesting to see how powerful she would soon become. He squinted enough to see that she was much shorter than the boy she was sparring with. Smaller, but easily stronger than him.
He assessed to each of the warriors in turn. He knew once he delivered the chosen one to the dark side, the remaining three would try to stop him. He needed to be sure that he was choosing the right dragon, and to get an idea of how powerful the Xiaolin Warriors were apart.
Firstly, he looked at tall, well-built cowboy. He had been watching for long enough to know that his name was Clay. He was no older than seventeen. The cowboy had strength, that was certain, but his element was of little use to the ruler of an evil world. Next, Chase looked at the Brazilian the warriors called Raimundo. Chase guessed his age at sixteen. Wuya had told Chase the story of the brief moment when she had ruled the world in the past, and how Raimundo had assisted her, only to betray her at the last minute. Raimundo's element would have been of use to Chase; with the wind element within his grasp, Chase could easily over-power most forces, but the risk of betrayal made choosing Raimundo an unlikely option. Thirdly, he looked at the little thirteen year old Dragon of Water; Omi. Chase had forced Omi to join his side before. Omi was easily the best fighter within the group, but Chase doubted whether Omi could really ever be evil. Then, finally, he diverted his attention to the small sixteen year old girl; Kimiko. Not only would Kimiko's element be the best to use for Chase, but also Chase had scrutinised her expression many times when she was frustrated, and it was clear that she longed to release her anger. Perhaps being evil could offer her a way to release her anger. However, Kimiko would be the most difficult to deliver to the dark side; she was very stubborn and would never choose to join Chase, not unless he forced her.
Kimiko had pushed down Raimundo's guard and forced him down to the floor once again. Chase smiled. He knew now he was making the right decision.
She's beautiful, Chase thought to himself, before frowning. He couldn't allow his mind to wander, particularly whilst the dragons were still united. But she was beautiful. She was slender and her long black hair was hanging softly around her face. Chase had seen her before, but considered her merely a child. She is sixteen now, Chase thought, She is legal. Chase shook his head, disgusted at himself for thinking of her in such a way, but his thoughts soon drifted back to her in the same manner.
Just then, an old man entered the training area and spoke to Kimiko. Chase saw her laugh as the old man left. He shortly returned carrying two things in his arms. He thrust them at her and she walked away miserably, clearly leaving the three other warriors stunned. The old man glanced in Chases' direction. Chase smiled, he knows I'm here. Chases' grin widened; he could use this to his advantage.
With a final glance at the Temple, Chase turned away and snapped his fingers. He disappeared into a cloud of dark green smoke, grinning.