Chapter 2 - The Alliance Unfolds
At the front door to the only inhabitable structure in the Land of Nowhere, the mysterious man that appeared in the night knocked with the end of his scepter. He did not get a pleasant welcome. Ten tigers fell from the roof of the cave and began growling at him.
The man did not move. He was neither intimidated nor startled by the jungle cats; he looked to the door and knocked again with a bored and empty look on his face. The tigers then attacked, all pouncing at once with such ferocity clawing at him with vicious claws and blade-like teeth. The man was too quick, however, and with his scepter, he moved fast and spun the scepter rapidly before the cats could get close enough. Moving it in the direction, of which the tigers pounced from, blew the large cats back, hearing the distinct sound of cracking as they landed. They were strong however and got back up, roaring in anguish prepping for another pass. Once again the shadowy stranger swept every single predator away and sent powerful and alien-like blasts at them from his scepter which he had balanced on his shoulders as he spun on the spot. Swiftly, he leaped from where he stood into the hole where the jungle cats emerged. It was a narrow pathway poorly lit and he wedged his blade into the passage's roof and pulled down as he stepped back, falling back to the ledge where the door was located.
The man approached the large door once more whipping dust off his shoulder, and knocked as the passage above him was filled with rubble as well as some making its way down beside him; this time, it opened for him. The strange man then entered the palace of legends, the place where Chase Young lives. As the man in black went deeper into the palace he couldn't help but compliment the beauty of his surroundings, the parlour had huge crashing waterfalls, taller than the cliff the entrance it stood on top of, with large palm trees emitting a humid and pleasant temperature. Each step on the staircase leading into the dojo was gleaming and reflective, almost like walking on blue stained mirrors while the opposing columns were elegantly decorated with smooth spiral designs and Chinese figures. The oversized hall was circular in size and less beautiful than the stairwell as the large carpet had a spiked trimming and the glistening blue flames cackled on the dark walls; many of the opposite rooms were similar to this and almost like a labyrinth. Alas he found someone standing in a room by a grand decorated throne with red leather for comfort, and the young man standing by it seemed like he was being patient, like he was... Waiting.
This someone was Chase Young, he was a young man with long wavy and silky hair, and just as black as his guest's; but natural, even though he was not. He wore plated armour which was light and suiting as Chase was very lean; he also had cat-like eyes, a narrow slit shaped pupil in each eye accompanied by illuminous yellow irises. From the legends that surrounded the palace and Chase Young, it was rumoured that he is a skilled Xiaolin monk who was turned to the dark side by another evil, greater than him at the time but overthrown and reduced to a weak form, incapable of dealing out physical pain. The shadowed man then spoke "Are you Chase Young, supposed prince of darkness and all that?" there was emphasis on the word 'supposed'.
Chase replies with an eerily soothing voice, "I am, but the real question is; who are you?"
"No-one of Interest. Not yet at least" replied the shady man. He paced about the room and arrived at a pedestal where a sort of helmet sat; he picked it up and examined it, then replaced it. Chase watched him very closely while he did this.
"But.." responded Chase, "I'm particularly interested in you because you have power enough to wake me from my slumber when you first arrived into the Land Of Nowhere from another dimension and you also managed to knock my... Friends, unconscious and tear down a section of a ceiling within the space of thirty seconds. So, I'll ask you again stranger, who are you?"
The man hesitated. But soon answered, unwillingly almost. "Alright, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you. My name is Synyster and I have come here in search of power" He spun his scepter twice and then pointed it directly at Chase as he finished his sentence.
"Power?" Chase Questioned. Eyebrow's raised.
"Yes, power. I don't think it's a coincidence that I arrive in the Land of Nowhere"
"Why is that? Because I live here?"
"And why would that be so wrong?"
"Because, you don't belong in this world!" The statement echoed the room, Synyster waiting for it to stop before replying.
"Well, I know that better than anyone. But it will not stop my quest"
Chase hesitated and sat in his throne before replying.
"And why would you come here, to me? When my power is not so easily stolen."
The stranger, Syn, answered. "The Shen Gong Wu is what I am after. Do you not have some? Like the Wushan Geyser sitting on that platform right there?"
Chase raised his eyebrow, stood up again and turned his back, "We have a lot to discuss, such as how you even know the exact name of that particular Shen Gong Wu". "Indeed but first, if you would be so kind, a meal? Inter-dimensional travel wears on the mortal body"
Chase looked offended almost, but proceeded to the next room where the stranger followed of his own accord looking smug.
After a fine meal and a conversation that seemed to last an eternity for Chase, the two men came to an alliance. "So as you possess more Shen Gong Wu, you will become more powerful?" asked Chase.
"Precisely, similar to the creature Mala Mala Jong but better" confirmed Syn. But Chase was wary. "We won't be the only ones looking for them...-"
"Oh, do not fear Chase. I am well aware of the competition: the Xiaolin monks, Wuya, Jack and Hannibal. None of them will be a problem, as a matter of fact, I have plans for each one of them except the monks as they will be unwilling to help" Syn and Chase then exchanged menacing glances and started to grin, acknowledging that the alliance is formed. "This will be the start of something magnificently villainous" proclaimed Chase as he poured wine into two glasses. The two men clanged their glasses together and drank, in celebration. Chase then spoke and grew weak looking, dropping his glass and smashing it. Syn looked troubled but Chase stood up quickly and said firmly "We must leave immediately; a new Shen Gong Wu has revealed itself" Syn looked overjoyed and bounced up from his chair and retrieved his scepter and jacket which he had removed from his person during the meal, "This is an excellent opportunity, we must head out at once; you know what they say, first impressions are everything"
Chase looked confused as they walked towards the exit, "You intend to meet the monks?"
Synyster halted and looked to Chase, "Of course I am, they must realise that they don't stand a chance against us now, they will fall if they don't join us" he smirked.
"I have been down that route, and so has Wuya; they will not be infatuated by evil again"
"They won't have to, once we obtain the Ying and Yang Yo-yo's, we will bring out their true evil. All of them. So then there will be no-body to stop us, now let us go retrieve the new Shen Gong Wu."
"The Draco's Choke is the new Shen Gong Wu" yelled Clay as the monks rode on Dojos back high in the sky as each of the monks were windswept and clinging desperately to the great dragons scaly back. Clay was the only one that could read the Scroll of the Shen Gong Wu on Dojos back this high as he was the heaviest and didn't need to grasp on to him just to stay on. "The Draco's Choke lets us breath fire like a dragon, or like we swallowed a whole bottle of my uncle's homemade Barbecue sauce" continued Clay.
"I could use that" responded Dojo, "The Barbecue, not the Shen Gong Wu encase you were confused. 'Cause I already am a dragon and all that. Mm, Barbecue"
"Dojo, you can't even breathe fire without my uncle's homemade barbeque sauce" roared Clay, Dojo was hesitant in his response and eventually said, "Thanks Clay. Was trying to forget that painful aspect of my already humiliating life"
As the monks landed on a dead mountainside with the smell of ash hanging in the air, some strange sound could be heard and it was similar to miniature helicopter rotors. Jack Spicer appeared. "Guess what losers, you're too late. The Draco's Choke is mine" gloated Jack.
Jack Spicer was an over confident young boy who proclaimed himself as an 'evil boy genius'. Jack also commands an army of useless Robots that never seem to end. In truth however, Jack is a coward when someone more powerful than him (which is basically anybody) threatens him. Jack is always seen wearing a long dark black trench coat with odd eccentric designs at the bottom; and he also wears thick make-up, making his face appear pure white with black markings beneath his eyes, in appearance, a typical Goth. But he had deep red hair that clearly wasn't natural and always had strange goggles with a yellow lens and red spiral on them on his head and rarely uses them.
While the monks watched him laugh Rai decided to lead and make a move. He used his dragon element of Wind and his Wudai weapon to attack. "Blade of the Nebula, Wind!" yelled Raimundo, in order to activate his weapon.
A blast of wind was summoned from the end of Raimundo's eccentric sky blue blade and sent Jack flying far into the distance though his girly screams could still be heard even though they got more faint; dropping the Shen Gong Wu in the process. It fell off the edge of a small cliff and clanked down part of the dead rock that surrounded the area.
"I'll get it" exclaimed Clay as he jumped down from the small peak. However, as he landed he panicked. Chase Young was holding the Draco's Choke, and his new ally was standing behind him, back turned and wielding his scepter pointed to the ground. The other monks joined Clay and they all looked shocked as the dust kicked up around their feet after landing. In his hands the Draco's Choke appeared to be like a small steel plate with a dragon scale design and the edges looked rough and winged like a dragon.
"Chase!" He snapped "Don't be rude. Introduce me to our feeble rivals" smirked Synyster.
"It is you who is feeble, stranger" Defended Omi as he stood prepped for battle. "And who are you exactly?" he asked in a confused high-pitched voice.
"Chase. Please do the honours, I really do feel like I waste my breath by introductions, and unfortunately, I plan on making a lot of them within the next few years" complained Syn, massaging his temple.
"Very well" replied Chase. "This, my young monks, is my ally. He goes by the name of Synyster and is a formidable force. If there was ever a time to join me, it would be now" grinned Chase. He was in absolute glee having being allied with this shady character.
"Who cares? You talk pretty big for a guy about to get their ass handed to them" threatened Rai and then pointed at Synyster "That goes for you too, tough guy"
The monks then gathered in formation to battle while Syn took the Draco's Choke from Chase and prepared to use it pushing Chase aside slightly but ensuring he is still battle ready.
Clay mounted the first attack with his seismic kick raising spiked rocks in the direction of Chase and Syn coming out of the ground beginning to emerge rapidly at Clay's feet and continuing moving towards the two ally's, each spike looking more deadly than the last. It wasn't long before the spikes were inches from Chase, but he jumped to avoid it almost floating in the sky before falling, but Syn used the Shen Gong Wu in the meantime. "Draco's Choke!" roared Syn and then the Shen Gong Wu attached itself to Syn's neck and expanded to cover his mouth giving it a very reptilian appearance before emitting a roar, next he became like a ghost. He walked out from the fully formed spikes and Chase landed beside him. The monks were in shock, "Hey, how did you do that?" complained Kimiko. Syn began to explain, "The Draco's Choke Shen Gong Wu not only allows the user to breath fire, like a dragon. But also to speak the dragon language and use other powers that the dragons had in days of old, not you though Dojo, you are a puny new generation dragon with a serious lack of your true heritage, it's quite shameful really". Rai was frustrated and tried to attack, but this time the Draco's Choke Summoned a small Icy storm and froze the compact twister Raimundo was creating.
Puzzled, the monks then tried to attack all at once, but were soon blown back from another voice from the new Shen Gong Wu, smacking the monks to the ground with a powerful force. As the monks lay on the ground groaning in pain and defeat, the two villains looked at each other and held up another Shen Gong Wu; "Shard of Lightning" the pair shouted, when the monks came to, they were gone.
The monks got up moaning and groaning in pain, helping each other as well, "Didn't we have the Shard of Lightning?" croaked Clay as he got up from the small crater he fell into. "That's what I thought" said Raimundo, standing on top of a low cliff looking into the distance. "This dude must be the real deal, he knew more about that Shen Gong Wu than the scroll, I told you guys I had a weird dream"
Omi then rolled about and got up doing that, once up he had an upset expression. "But how is that possible? Surely the great scroll of the Shen Gong Wu should everything about the Shen Gong Wu" stuttered Omi.
Rai gazed down and simply said "I don't know, we'll figure it out. Come on, let's get outta here Dojo". But Dojo was only waking up now, plucking himself from a rock he had been embedded into with the force of the blast leaving an exact mould of him in it.
"What in the name of Dashi just happened" exclaimed Dojo.