******This story is being rewritten! Do not read here, look at the story Reinventing Junzi, please! It's the same story, but better! And different! Thanks so much for reading!******
(So I wrote the first six chapters of this story in 2006 and 2007 and suddenly decided to go back and continue the story now, four years later. Weird, huh? I wrote a couple more chapters and just realized I should go back and edit my other chapters, too. So that's what I did!
I'm really looking for critiques here. I'm hoping to become a professional writer and I'm using fanfiction as practice. Please, please, please be as critical as you can. I need help learning how to write stuff people like to read.
There's going to be a lot of stuff going on in this fic, so hopefully it won't become too jumbled. Jack-centric, but there's also going to be a lot of stuff about Dashi, Chase, Wuya, and Guan in the past.
Definitely will have some spoilers...it takes place after the end of the series. But if you haven't seen the end by now you probably aren't out there reading fanfiction about the show, so I guess it's kinda silly to have that warning… As far as romance goes…well, we'll see. I'd like to wait and see how the story goes and what fits best. Sometimes characters surprise you, y'know?)
Chapter 1 - No Lessons in Victory
Chase Young felt a slight pang of concern as the redheaded boy took his stance. It was good. Not expert, of course. Not even advanced, really. But good. Especially good for Spicer.
The boy had been training at the temple for about three months now. Chase had known about his involvement with the monks since the beginning, of course. He hadn't bothered to pay attention to the details of the child's training. He hadn't even thought the boy would last as long as he did, seeing as how last time he had barely lasted a day.
Silently he cursed that wretched bean and his pet hag. If they hadn't been keeping him so busy he could have been spying on Spicer, at least for the beginning of his training. How had he gotten them to take him back? The thought had troubled Chase from the very beginning. Surely the monks weren't thatfoolish. He had betrayed them and stolen from them. Why would they trust him a second time?
His eyes flickered to the four young dragons, standing nearby. Three red tunics and one midnight black. They had taken him back in. Raimundo. The fearless leader. He had grown strong. His skills now rivaled even Omi's, and this thought concerned Chase greatly. Omi was still uncertain, still power-hungry and still (however loosely) in his control.
The Brazilian boy was an entirely different matter. While potentially not quite as powerful, he was smart. His victories against Hannibal were surprising, but they didn't impress Chase too much. Hannibal was a fool. Self-gratifying, overconfident, over-anxious…he may once have been a master of deception, but fifteen hundred years of isolation had taken their toll. He had lost his touch. He had fooled the monks at first, but they learned quickly.
Raimundo worried Chase. Soon, the boy would grow strong enough to stand up to him as an equal. If not taken care of he could even become strong enough to defeat him. And no amount of trickery or deception would work this time. He would have to kill the child himself.
He turned his mind back to the much less pressing matter at hand. Spicer. There was something different about him. Something had changed, but he couldn't decide what. How much difference could three months of training have made? Chase sized up his opponent. He was dressed in the red robes and black sash of a newcomer at the temple. His hair was wild and unkempt, and the makeup and obnoxious yellow goggles were gone. At a glance the heli-bot was the only thing that remained of the old Jack. His eyes were focused. He held himself confidently; the bumbling and uncertain sway to his step was replaced by carefully placed balance and grace.
Chase was unworried. Concerned a bit, yes. He wondered how they had managed to transform the fool so completely in so short a time. He wished he had been paying closer attention to their obviously new training techniques. He pondered the effect these new techniques were having on the four dragons. But he was not afraid of the boy before him. His concern was for the road the boy had taken, not for the boy himself. Spicer was an insect. A worm. Never in a thousand years would the child be able to compete with the weakest members of the Xiaolin team. Let alone with Chase himself.
Chase made the first move. Like lighting he was at Jack's side, slashing out with a spiked fist. Jack dodged just in time, ducking under his arm and aiming a kick at his enemy's legs. Chase was surprised, but still avoided the kick easily, leaping back a few feet. Jack was at the ready in an instant, looking a tad shaky, but with a smile on his face. He had been dreading this moment for months. The moment when he would leave the safety of the temple to join the others for a 'shen-gong-wu round up' as Clay put it. Just his luck that Chase would show up for this particular one.
On their way there he had asked the others if they would mind letting him be the one to get this wu. They had understood, remembering how the honor of their first victorious showdowns had affected them. Jack had secretly been hoping Ashley would show up. He really wanted to show off his new skills. But, of course, it was no second-rate Vlad or Tubby or Katnappe who was waiting for them.
The others had rushed forward to help, and the only thing in the world Jack had wanted more than their help at that moment was to prove he could do it alone. He had motioned them to stay back and had taken his stance against Chase…
"I see you have improved, Spicer, well done," the smile on Jack's face widened into a toothy grin. He had surprised Chase. "However, you will need more than a few months of training for me to even consider you an opponent."
He turned away and began walking towards the others. The smile vanished from Jack's face and he attacked.
Chase was ready. He blocked Jack's punch with ease, throwing the boy off balance. He aimed a punch at his opponent's head, but Jack dropped to the ground and rolled away. He leapt to his feet just in time to see Chase's foot connect with the side of his head. He flew across the rock plateau and skidded to the ground. His vision was blurred and his head stung, but he climbed to his feet shakily. Chase was advancing on him slowly, an amused grin on his face.
Jack's face burned with embarrassment and anger. He knew he didn't have what it took to fight Chase. He regained his position and stood ready once more.
"Need another lesson, worm?" Chase grinned, "I'd just stay down if I were you."
Jack said nothing, but ran at his enemy. Chase avoided his charge and turned to attack, but Jack was gone. Surprise filled his face and he spun around. The boy was behind him, already swinging at his opponent's face. His fist connected and sent Chase reeling. The Heylin warrior stumbled back a few steps and raised a hand to his mouth. A trickle of blood ran from his lips.
Jack didn't smile at the joyous encouragement of the others. He knew as well as they did that he had just gotten lucky. Chase was underestimating him, and wouldn't do so for long. Once he got serious Jack knew he wouldn't stand a chance.
"Well I see I have underestimated what a few months of time with real warriors can do to a useless fool." Chase scowled over at his opponent.
For the first time since the fight began, Jack spoke to his opponent. "Well, you know, that's how you get to be the best," he grinned wolfishly. "Hanging with the best."
Chase's face darkened. Jack had hit the nerve he was aiming for. Omi had explained all about Chase's past. How he had traded his immortal soul to defeat, not his enemy, but his closest friend. How he had then banished Hannibal away, fearing he would become a threat to his own newfound power. Jack knew that Chase needed to be the best.
"You pathetic insect! How dare you even think about challenging me? A thousand lifetimes of training wouldn't make you an adequate warrior, let alone one worthy to call himself my enemy!" Chase's voice was low, but it trembled with anger.
Jack didn't trust himself to say anything else. Fear was threatening to overwhelm him and the look of fury on Chase's face wasn't helping to calm his nerves. He silently resumed his fighting stance and stood ready.
Hidden in the rocky canyons a centuries-old witch watched the battle with interest.
"He's gotten good," Wuya said, though no one was around. "And in only three months. I didn't think the boy had it in him." She gave a slight chuckle, "but he has no idea what he's up against. Chase could destroy him in an instant, and he might actually do it if the fool keeps goading him on like that."
A twinge of anxiety ran through her, and she frowned. The boy should have quit while he was still alive. This was not his world, and he should have had the sense to stay out of it. He had always been a headstrong little child, too caught up in his foolish dreams to see how horribly outclassed he was.
Wuya had never been one to hide her feelings, form herself or anyone. She was confident and self-assured, and had been her entire life. So when she recognized her own concern for the boy's safety she wasted no time in pretending it didn't exist. She did, however, wonder where these feelings had come from. Back when she didn't have a body she knew she couldn't have cared less. When had her feelings changed?
She thought back on the boy's old home. His parents were so non-accepting. They tried to hide his difference by allowing him to use the basement as his new 'room'. He had taken it as a sign that they approved and were supportive, but Wuya had seen the truth at once.
He was their son, though, and they loved him as parents do. His mother especially. 'My little genius' she would call him. When no one was around, of course.
It disgusted Wuya. She realized that she cared now more than she had then. She was suddenly furious at the boy's parents. True, he was a bumbling fool who was obsessed with inventing and he couldn't even see that they mistreated him, but he deserved better.
He deserved better than them, and he deserved better than this. This world of magic and power and deception and fear. He deserved a normal life. He deserved to be accepted…he deserved someone who loved him for who he was. Someone who would accept his flaws and admire his accomplishments.
The Xiaolin temple could never give him that. They could teach him control and discipline and fighting skills, but they could never nurture or love him. He was too different. It was fine for someone like the Cheese Ball, who had lived there his whole life, but for Jack, and even the other monks, the temple would never be home.
She sighed, her mind buzzing with thoughts. She closed her eyes to clear her head, and a voice from the past rang clearly through her mind. I'm not your mommy. Now pick up your toys, Jacky and let's go home.
Her eyes shot open. Where had that come from? Her gaze wandered to the fight below. Although at this point it wasn't much of a fight. Jack was getting kicked around like a rag doll. But every time he fell to the ground he rose to his feet, refusing to accept defeat. Why are the other monks just standing there? She thought angrily. Why don't they help? Chase is going to kill him…
Jack hit the ground and a sharp crack echoed throughout the jagged rocks. The monks saw their ally wince in pain and pull his arm close to his body. It hung at a weird angle, and they noticed right away that it was broken. Jack was visibly fighting back tears at this point, but again he struggled to his feet. His clothes were tattered and he was bleeding from a dozen different wounds. He trembled with fear and pain and bit his lip to keep it from quivering.
"Jack, no! Stop it, let us help!" Kimiko called.
"You can't beat him, partner, none of us can on our own."
"Please, Jack Spicer, there is no shame in this defeat. It is a battle you cannot win!"
"No!" Jack's voice was surprisingly strong for the beating he had endured, and he turned to face Chase once again. "Stay out of it guys, I said I'd get this one."
"But Jack…" Clay began.
"No!" His voice echoed loudly and he charged Chase once more. The warrior didn't even bother to dodge. He took Jack down with a single devastating punch, and the boy flew across the ledge. His frail body smashed against a large stone and he crumpled to the ground, unmoving. Chase walked over and stood above his still form.
"The world has no use for you, insect," he rose a booted foot above Jacks head. "Now die."
In a flash Chase found himself skidding across the ground. Raimundo was floating between him and Jack's body. His eyes were burning. Chase leapt to his feet, and was instantly surrounded by the other three monks. He then felt the sting of the blow that had sent him flying. The side of his face felt like it was on fire. He stumbled slightly and coughed out a tooth.
Holding one hand to his face he pointed at Raimundo. "You will pay for that, boy."
"I don't think so, dragon breath," the warrior's voice was powerful and calm.
"Chase Young," Omi said, "today you have won. Leave now and we will fight another day."
"Or stay and this'll be our last time together," Clay's normally friendly voice was dark.
Chase fought to keep the surprise and fear from his face. Never had he seen the warriors so serious. Not even when Omi turned to the Heylin side.
"If he is dead then it is no fault of mine," he said, barely keeping his voice steady. "It was he who insisted the fight continue."
"That's why we're giving you this chance," Kimiko's voice came from behind him, deadly serious. "You can leave now, victorious…"
"Or you can stay and fight us," Raimundo finished.
It would have been funny if not for the fact that Jack was most certainly dead. Wuya watched Chase flying off, visibly shaken by the monks' words. Well, what did he expect? For them to just stand by and watch him kill their new friend? He was fortunate that Jack had refused the monks help. If Jack had acted in any way as though he wanted the fight to end, and Chase had not honored that wish…Chase would probably already be dead. The monks took their friendships very seriously, but they took honor just as much so.
Wuya followed the monk's movements as they crowded around Jack's body and carried it carefully into the Silver Manta Ray. She watched and listened as they spoke amongst one another. Jack was not dead! In fact, Dojo (who was not being used as transportation because of the extent of Jack's injuries) said that he had actually seen warriors worse off than that recover in almost no time at all. The temple healers will fix him right up, he said with a smile.
Wuya had nothing left to see here, and she activated the Golden Tiger Claws. Without a glance back at the monks, she leapt into the portal and returned to her quarters at Chase's lair just in time to here him stomping in the door.