Chapter 1

High atop the skyscrapers of New York City, a pale, gangly red-haired youth, stood poised in triumph. The wind buffeted his frail form, and he was chattering his teeth to pieces, but—he didn't care! For once, out of the last million times, he would win! There was no way those Xiaolin losers would ever get the jump on him this time! Sure, rumor had it that they had, single-handedly, destroyed the evil Heylin sorceress, Wuya, but he had never liked her in the first place! (Well, maybe he had, but he's wasn't going to say anything!)

What did he need her for? He was—Jack Spicer: Lord of Evil! And it was he, who would retrieve this new Shen Gong Wu!

As if inviting him, the Viper's Necklace, hung off of the neck, of one of the stone gargoyles that graced the top of the business building. He had but to glimpse the sickening 300-story drop, and his legs would go into angry convulsions. Still, grabbing onto the ledge, he slowly crawled towards his target.

Now, the moment of truth! Slowly, he stretched out his hand to take hold of the silver-chained amulet. The silver sparkled in the sun, along with the eye of a snake embedded in the center, surrounded by onyx and jade. But just as he was about to claim his prize, a black clawed hand, faster than lightning, snatched the Wu straight off the stone monster's neck!

Scrambling in shock (and because he had a horrible case of vertigo!), Jack grabbed onto the ledge, and looked to see who the hand belonged to.

Standing across from him, a girl about his age, stood in a swaggering stance wearing what looked like a deformed Catwoman costume. Snarling, he jumped back on the roof. "Give it, Ashley. I won't ask twice."

She purred at him, but seemed unperturbed. "One, the name's Katnappé, and two, you're just going to have to be faster than that, Jack."

"Don't start with me, Ashley!"

"Katnappé!"

"Whatever! Just give me the Wu!"

"Or you'll—what?"

All of a sudden, a new voice joined them!

"Sorry to interrupt, I mean, you guys seemed to be having as much fun arguin', as a grizzly with a sack of fresh fish. But the thing is, I've got about twenty minutes to grab this Wu and then go home and pack. So could ya'll just give it to me, and then continue your arguin'?"

The two turned to face the stranger. They almost didn't recognize him without his uniform. Six foot one, blonde, and blue-eyed, Clay Ranger stood in brown cowboy boots, relaxed Levi jeans, and a brown leather jacket. His traditional Stetson hat, was pulled low on his head, shadowing his eyes.

Jack Spicer was the first to challenge him, "Ha! You dare try to challenge the great JACK SPICER, alone? There must be less in your head than I thought!"

The feline thief turned towards him, "Why are YOU challenging him? I'M the one who's got the Viper's Necklace."

Crossing his arms, he looked at her haughtily, "That's just a preliminary, I can get it from you anytime I want. He's my only real threat."

Cats' faces usually don't get red when they're angry, they just strike, fast and hard. Katnappé was no exception…

Before Jack could even bat an eye, she backhanded him with her clawed hand, carving a two inch-long scratch along his cheek, and sending him flying across the rooftop!

Wiping the blood from his face, he gave her a look of pure venom. Smiling sweetly back, she said, "Sorry Jack, What was that about a threat?"

In a look of pure rage, the boy genius flung out his fist, smashing it into her cheek! On instinct, she caught herself on all fours, then using her legs to propel herself, shot back at him! The two began to roll around the roof: pulling hair, throwing punches, fighting tooth and claw, ANYTHING went!

Clay, who had silently been watching the whole thing, shook his head, not at all surprised. Though Jack and Ashley must have been almost twenty years of age by now, they still acted like kids.

Picking up the discarded Shen Gong Wu, that lay abandoned on the rooftop; Clay nonchalantly walked away, leaving the two evil misfits to scrounge around on their own…

Some two miles away, Dojo was looking at a small toyshop (to see if he could find another nice yo-yo), when he saw Clay approach. Abandoning his search, he quickly transformed, and after acquiring his passenger, took off into the sky.

Once they were airborne, Clay took off his hat and began to tie his hair back with a loose rubber band. Ever since his twentieth birthday a couple months ago, he had decided to lose his boyish haircut, and grow it longer. It now reached his shoulders. He still went for being clean-shaven, and didn't like hair to tickle his face, so he often kept his hair tied back.

Dojo, who had been friends with the Texan for about half a decade, knew that this was also a sign of unrest. "Something wrong, Clay? Did the showdown go okay?"

The blond snorted sarcastically, "What showdown? Those two aren't even half a threat to me anymore. They're too much of a threat to themselves. Naw, I just don't like big cities; wasn't raised to be a city slicker. I'm a cowboy, through and through."

Dojo smiled, "Then you'll have no problem at the new temple, all that place has IS open space."

Clay laid down on the dragon's back, and let the air rush past him. "Dojo…you've been to this place, you've met this Master Kama guy, right? What's he like?"

"Who? Kama? He's great; him and Master Fung are really good friends. Their teaching styles are different, but that's probably because of the age difference. Whoops! Look at me, I always was a loudmouth! You're going to have to find out about your new master yourself."
Clay smiled; Dojo was getting wise and keeping his mouth shut. Well, at least he had learned one thing: this was going to be an interesting new school year…

Raimundo took a deep breath, then, stretching out his hand, channeled a narrow stream of energy through it, and out his fingertips. The air in his room began to flow in a steady stream around him, swirling in smooth circular patterns. Slowly but surely, he pushed more and more energy through him, causing the wind to travel faster and faster. He stood one with the wind as he began to give it his all. Hurricane-like currents whipped around him, so swift, that it was beginning to lift him up from the ground! He didn't mind—they were one…

A sudden throbbing came to his heart, jerking him out of his calm and attentiveness. His concentration broken, the wind went abruptly still, dropping the boy hard on the ground. Ignoring the mild aches his sore bones shouted in protest, he shuffled into a sitting position. Gripping his chest, he felt the pain in his heart slowly dissipate.

Sighing, he relaxed; then in a fit of rage, jabbed his fist at the floor! Not again! He had tried this exercise over and over again, with the same exact result! He knew what was causing it, but refused to face what that revelation meant. Instead, he doused himself with water to wash away his frustration.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready to go?"

Turning around, he saw Master Lao-Tai Fung standing in his doorway. Shaking the drips of water from his face, he reached for his tee-shirt. "I'm already packed. I was just getting a last-minute workout in."

Master Fung took a look around the room. It was now totally vacant, except for the two of them and Rai's water bottle. He had helped Omi and Kimiko pack hours ago, but Rai had wanted to do his on his own.

Glancing over at his adopted son, he watched as he pulled his shirt on over toned muscles and scarred flesh. The events of six months ago still amazed him. Raimundo had saved the world from a terrible evil, but at a huge cost. He could tell the eighteen year-old was still recovering, both physically and psychologically.

Rai was about to put on his jacket, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this, now? I can tell something is still bothering you."

Shifting from under his father's touch, he shrugged, "I'm fine, really."

"'The more one tries to hide something, the more it is seen.' I'm worried about you Raimundo. I, and your teammates, have noticed that you don't do your best anymore. And it's not like you don't want to! It's as if you're scared, or downright refuse, to even go near giving your all! Why? Is it the—"

Rai faced him suddenly, "Look! I'm fine! I've been sitting around for way too long! If I stay any longer, I'll only be avoiding the inevitable! If I don't do this now, I'll never do it!"

Lao-Tai turned away, "I know, I know, Raimundo. Just…please take care of yourself."

The Brazilian smiled contentedly, taking the elderly man in a strong embrace. "Don't worry; I'll be fine…father."

Rai felt his old master relax, relieved that his new son was all right. Yet, he himself felt the heaviness sink into his soul, knowing that what he had said, was a lie…