It had been three months since Raimundo was chosen as team leader and the great battle of the Xiaolin warriors and the united Heylin forces they've encountered overtime led by Jack Spicer. The Xiaolin warriors emerged victorious and evil was put to a halt… for a time. No matter how many showdowns were won or lost, evil would still exist. And the search for the remaining Shen Gong Wu continued…
. . .
The Xiaolin Warriors found themselves wandering on the foundation of an old town that stood fifteen hundred years ago. The place was now abandoned and the houses and shacks crumbled. The inhabitant flora took over the town, flourished in green and wildflowers.
"If I remember correctly," said Omi. "this was the town I first met Grandmaster Dashi when I went through Jack Spicer's time machine two years ago…" His small body shuddered. "Just being here gives me the colds…"
"The chills." Clay said.
"That too."
"Come on. The Danger Sneakers have to be here somewhere. Start Looking." Raimundo said, leading the group.
"Remind me what these shoes are good for?" Kimiko asked.
"According to the scroll, the Danger Sneakers warns their user of impending danger." Raimundo replied. "It's like Spider-Man's Spidey Sense when it tingles."
"Makes sense enough."
"Hey, looks like somethin's burnin' behind them trees." Clay said, raising a finger to a thin rise of smoke.
"We must investigate!" Omi exclaimed, leaping ahead.
"Wait up, little dude!" Raimundo yelled following behind.
Kimiko and Clay silently followed and quickly caught up with them. As they got closer to the thick wall of trees, Raimundo glanced through them and grabbed Omi by the collar before he could give away their position.
"Calm down, Omi…!" he whispered. "What if it might be Jack…? You wouldn't want to let him know we were here…!"
Omi slapped Raimundo's hand off from his collar. "It doesn't matter if it's Jack Spicer…!" he whispered back. "I can take him on with my hands tied behind my back…!"
Clay peeked through a small space in between the trees and looked ahead. "It ain't Jack." He said. "Someone's out there, but it ain't him."
The four peeked out together. Thirty feet before them was a concealed figure settled on an old log in front of a burning fire ring. The figure wore a wide bamboo sunhat that stretched beyond his shoulders. The rim of the hat dipped so far that only his lips and the thick straps around his chin could be seen by the monks. His apparel were long dark gray robes with a black sash around his waist. The robes were covered in dust and torn around the sleeves and leggings. Set next to him was a walking stick, a large burlap sack with leather shoulder straps along with a leather chest. The figure reached his hand towards the fire and jerked a stick out from the ground. To Clay, it looked like he was cooking meat. With his strong sense of smell, it was beef. While eating, the figure tilted his head down to read what looked to be a comic book in his other hand.
"Do you think he's looking for the Danger Sneakers too?" asked Omi.
"I doubt it." Kimiko replied. "He's probably just passing by."
"What should we do now?" Raimundo asked. "We need to look for the Wu. We can't just wait until he leaves. Jack could get here any moment."
The robed figure turned to the next page of his book and took another bite of his cooked beef. He was suddenly met with a heavy gust of wind in his face. It blew flying embers towards him and landed on the pages of his book. He took his sleeve and brushed the embers way. It had left tiny burns on one page. He closed the book and stood up abruptly. He looked up. Hovering down from above was a red-headed boy completely covered in gothic clothing with some kind of helicopter device behind his back. Following behind him were dozens of legless robots with broad shoulders and sharp metal claws.
"Too late…" growled Clay.
The figure grit his teeth. "Hey! What's the big idea?!" he yelled with a young adult's voice. "You almost burnt my book!"
"A burnt book is the least of your concerns!" said the gothic redhead. "Your biggest concern ought to be me: Jack Spicer: Evil Boy Genius! Now, where are the Danger Sneakers?"
"Sorry, but I've no clue as to what you're talking about. I'm merely a traveler passing through."
"A likely story. Tell me where the Shen Gong Wu is or else I'll have my Jack-Bots here tear you up until you change your mind."
Jack could not see through the bamboo hat, but the stranger gave him a glare.
"Okay, you're just wasting your time as well as mine! And you're making me mad!" exclaimed the stranger.
The Xiaolin monks kept an eye on the quarrel, still behind the trees.
"Should we do something?" Omi asked. "It is our duty as Xiaolin warriors to aid the elderly."
Raimundo turned to Omi with a raised brow. "Dude, how many old people do you see reading a comic book? He's clearly not old."
"But he's got clothes like an old person!"
"Those clothes don't make him old! And besides, listen to his voice! Does he sound old? He sounds like he's about my age! Kimiko, back me up here!"
"It's not fair!" Kimiko whined.
"What? It ain't fair that Omi keeps judgin' people by their appearances?" Clay asked.
"No! It's not fair that I can't get a good look at this guy's face!" Kimiko replied, crossing her arms and puckering her bottom lip. "It's like he won't let me see it on purpose!"
Raimundo landed himself a faceplam. "That's what you care about?!"
"Jack-Bots, show him we mean business!" ordered Jack.
The monks watched as Jack made the first move. Three of his Jack-bots simultaneously dove in after the robed stranger with their metal claws ready to strike. The stranger reacted as such: he leaped forward with superhuman speed and struck a Jack-Bot to his left with a right-legged butterfly kick to the head. This smashed in half of its face and sent it flying into a large stone, exploding on impact. Still airborn, the stranger completed the butterfly kick full circle with his left leg hitting the Jack-Bot in front of him. The heel of his left foot knocked its head clean off. Sparks and oil spurted out from the opened neck. Back on the ground, the stranger grabbed the last oncoming Jack-Bot to his right with his left hand by the arm. He pulled back his right leg and formed a semi-circle turn. With a powerful swing, he released his grip and sent the Jack-Bot flying at Jack himself. Letting out a girlish shriek, Jack ducked as it flew over him and crashed into three more of his Jack-Bots. All four blew up into pieces on the spot. The monks saw with amazement and shock. Their eyes widened and their mouths opened. Omi's hands pressed into his cheeks with his mouth opened the biggest and his eyes widened the most.
"Consider that a warning!" the stranger yelled. "Either leave now, or prepare to suffer a humiliating defeat!"
Omi gasped as a large opened smile took over the bottom half of his face and his eyes sparkled bright.
"Hey! That's what you say, Omi!" Kimiko pointed out.
"Indeed! There is one other person I know who says that!" Omi said, jumping up and down giggling.
"Hold on, partner. Are you sayin' you know this guy?" Clay asked.
"Yes! But I will answer your questions later! For now, let us help our fellow comrade!" Omi jumped out from behind the trees with the others following behind.
Jack had surrounded the stranger with the rest of his Jack-Bots ready for a full-on assault. Just before he could make the call, the Xiaolin monks landed in the center before him. They formed a circle with the stranger and took their fighting stances.
The stranger looked around as he was joined by a cowboy, a girl in a punk Japanese outfit, a young man in a grey rolled up sweater and green baggy jeans, and a short yellow skinned boy in Xiaolin robes. He let out a short gasp and his eyes widened as he looked at the yellow-skinned boy next to him.
"Not so fast, Jack Spicer!" Omi exclaimed. "We will not let you attack this innocent traveler and take the Shen Gong Wu!" He looked up at the stranger and gave him a discreet wink, looking up at a familiar face under the hat.
Jack let out a groan. "I was hoping you dorks wouldn't show up! That's what I get for wasting time with this guy! Jack-Bots: Attack!"
All the Jack-Bots closed in on the monks and the stranger. The five charged and broke through their lines. Each monk taking them down one by one through fierce punches, kicks, and throws. Explosions scattered as well as scraps of metal and oil.
Omi and the stranger positioned themselves back to back as more Jack-Bots circled them. They turned to one another and gave each other a nod. Together they attacked in synchronized strikes, shouting their techniques in unison:
Fox Pouncing Mouse! Horse Kicking Trough! Monkey Throwing Coconut! Ostrich Stomping Serpent!
They took down the last Jack-Bot standing with one strike, demolishing it completely. The monks and the stranger stood above piles of smashed up and crippled Jack-Bots. They all look up to Jack who was gripping his fists and gritting his teeth.
"You may have won this time, but I'll be victorious with the next Wu!" Jack picked up whatever remains of Jack-Bots he could carry and flew off. "I will have my revenge!"
Once Jack was out of sight, Omi and the stranger faced each other.
"It is a great honor fighting alongside with you once more, my old friend." Omi said, giving a bow.
"Likewise." the stranger said, bowing back. "Aw, forget bowing! C'mere you!" He leaned in and pulled Omi into an embrace. Omi escaped and returned the gesture with a friendly neck grapple. Both exchanged locks and grapples in a laughing frenzy.
Clay, Raimundo and Kimiko viewed the odd reunion with smiles and chuckles.
"Look at you!" the stranger said with his arm around Omi's neck, giving him gentle noogies. "You haven't changed since I last saw you! I was expecting you to grow at least a foot taller!"
"Never judge one's abilities through their appearance!" Omi replied, breaking free from the noogies and pulling the stranger's hat down. "I have become much stronger and faster since you've been gone! You on the other hand are much taller than I remember!"
The stranger chuckled. "I see you're still the hyperactive and egotistical monk I used to know!"
"Yo Omi, you gonna tell us who your buddy is?" Raimundo asked with a grin.
Omi released his grasp and stood next to the stranger. He brushed off his robes and cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce to you a most skilled and worthy Xiaolin warrior and an old friend: Windsor Carradine."
The monks watched as Omi's friend untied the straps from his chin. They mystery of what was under the hat was finally to be revealed. He slipped his hat down to show a young and slim shaped face. His skin was a light tan and his eyes were a deep jet black. His locks consisted of medium lengthened brown hair. He gave the monks and grateful smile and a bow.
"Everyone calls me Wing." he said. "It's an honor to meet you all."
The monks returned the gesture. Raimundo let out a tiny snicker.
"Windsor…?" he whispered to the others, grinning. "I'm gonna have a lot of fun with that name…" He felt a painful jab into his side by Kimiko and stumbled over. He rubbed his side and groaned. "Again girl, you hit hard…!"
"Wing," Omi said. "this is Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo. They too are ongoing Xiaolin Dragons like you and I."
"You're also a Dragon?" Kimiko asked.
"Yes." Wing replied. "I was chosen to become a Dragon four years ago as evil was soon to rise again. It's good to know that there are more Dragons to help fight when it comes."
"I hate to break the news," Raimundo said, still rubbing his side. "but we've been fighting evil for a couple years now."
"Wait, what?!"
"It's true." Kimiko said. "That guy we were just fighting is Jack Spicer. He plans to take over the world with the Shen Gong Wu we've been looking for."
"Not to mention Wuya is free from her second puzzle box as well as Chase Young comin' to destroy us. And now there's a bunch of other villains with a crazy hunger for Shen Gong Wu." Clay added.
Wing froze in place. His eyes widened and his body shuddered as a chill ran up his spine. His breathing began to quicken. "Wuya's out of her puzzle box…? The Shen Gong Wu already revealing themselves…? Chase Young…? And now the destruction of the world is hovering upon us?! What else has happened while I was gone?!"
"Many things." Omi replied. "Master Fung will explain everything when we get back to the temple. But right now, we must find the Danger Sneakers."
"Is that what Jack Spicer was looking for? Is that why you guys are here?"
"Yeah, but without Dojo, it's going to be hard to look for it. And who knows where it could be." Raimundo replied, resting his back against a tree with a large hollow. He looked to the others and took notice of their unusual stares towards him. "Uhhh… what's with the weird looks…?" They pointed towards the hollow in the tree. Raimundo looked in and found something red and sparkling under a pile of leaves. He brushed them away and pulled out a pair of red sneakers with yellow flames decorated towards the toes.
"Well… that was easier than we thought." Clay remarked.
Omi let out a relieving sigh and looked up to Wing. "Now that we found the Shen Gong Wu, we can return to the temple! Master Fung will be very pleased to see you!"
"It's been a long journey for me, so I'll be happy to get back." Wing returned to the fire ring and put it out with dirt. He put his book away in the leather chest and strapped it together with the burlap sack. "If memory serves me correctly, the temple is about a ten mile walk from here."
"Oh we're not walking, my friend." Omi said. "We've got the proper set of legs."
"Don't you mean-?" Raimundo was about to correct Omi's slang, but stopped himself on the circumstances. "No, you're right. Please continue."
Omi grinned and pulled out a small cat-like statue.
Crouching Cougar!
He threw the statue to the ground and backed everyone up. The small statue instantly grew bigger and took the shape of a mechanical feline about the size of an average car. It's back was hollow with six seats. The monks quickly climbed on with Omi taking the driver's seat.
Wing looked up at the large structure with widened eyes. "Whoa! So this is another Shen Gong Wu?"
"That's right!" Raimundo replied. "Get in!"
Wing shrugged and took a high jump with his bags on his back and landed in an empty seat next to Kimiko. "Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do when we get back." he thought.
Kimiko glanced up at Wing. From before, she could only see his chin and lips when he had the hat on. Now that it was off, she could see everything: his smooth cheeks, his little nose, his deep black eyes, and his flowing brown locks. Her hands gripped her jeans tightly. Her cheeks grew warm with a hint of red as her glance turned into a gaze. Her pink lips opened slightly.
Wing sensed that someone was looking his way. His eyes locked with Kimiko's deep blue glittering eyes and found her almost staring at him. His cheeks immediately turned red and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
"W-what is it…?" he asked.
Kimiko bit her lip as her iris' shrunk and quickly looked away. She cleared her throat and wiped her forehead.
"N-nothing…!" she replied with a shaken voice. "It's nothing…"
Once everyone was settled in, the Crouching Cougar bolted forward. The speed of the mechanical cat would get them to the Xiaolin Temple in no time. Wing held on for dear life as the vehicle leaped and shook heavily and the wind pushed his face back. This was only the beginning of his introduction to the Shen Gong Wu and the evil that continues to threaten the temple and the world.