[Message from KC]: Hey hey hey! Stay outta my shed :D Haha no I'm kidding...or am I? Anyway I recommend listening to Iheartradio (the young the giant station actually). It's what I was listening to while writing this, and reading it over XD anyway! Hope you guys enjoy the update. Read and review. ALSO check my profile page for my deviantArt account, youtube, and other accounts. And feel free to message me with any questions and comments :P Happy Tuesday!
Chapter II.
Amy
Jack paced the floor amidst his old 'lair'. He looked around at the old cybernetic components hanging off of the walls and cluttering the area. He couldn't help but smile and chuckle to himself as he looked at the old arms and heads. Everyone always thought he had a promising career in engineering and robotics, but his love for that too died alongside his other childish desires. Still, Jack stared at the old worktable and thought for a moment.
Maybe…He thought looking from the workbench to the numerous resources, No…I couldn't possibly…and besides I'm sure half of them don't even function properly anymore.
"Still…" He stated aloud, "Even if it doesn't work…it would be a waste to just let all this stuff…sit here…" He stated, moving towards the table. He recalled spending a lot of time, tinkering and fidgeting with whatever mod he was adding to his cybernetic minions. Once he sat behind the workbench it all came back to him, almost like riding a bike. Not even twenty minuets passed before he had a central framework to whatever it was he was creating, and not too much longer after that, before he welded in the artificial intelligence processor to the tiny metal skeletal framework. It almost appeared as though he was making a mini-bot, although what he had started with didn't appear to look like him at all. He had just finished linking together most of the key wiring needed to make the android function, and adding the core power source, along with an alternate USB port near the neck for auxiliary power.
He stayed intent on his work before he heard one of the windows above him in the house shatter. Jack put down what he was doing and headed up the stairs. It was either this enigmatic Amy woman, or something bad. He had hoped it wasn't the latter. He opened the door from the basement and made his way quietly through the house. He peered into the living room, and noticed that there was a young woman laying on the ground, mumbling and groaning as she brushed herself off.
"God…damn…mystical…people…" She growled, kicking the glass on the ground, "And their damn vague directions!"
"Who the hell are you!" Jack shouted as the young woman jumped nearly three feet in the air.
"Good God!" She shouted back, turning to him, "Are you trying to scare the life out of me!" She snapped, waving a finger at him.
"A-are you…" Jack began, stepping towards her cautiously, "Are you Amy?" HE continued. She then looked up at him and gave him a bright smile.
"That depends," She laughed, looking over the scrawny twenty-one year old boy, "Are you Jack?"
"Yeah I am…" Jack nodded, still not letting his guard down. He looked over the woman standing before him with caution.
She was about twenty-four or twenty-five. Her skin was fair, and she had long, wispy, and bright fiery hair that fell down past her back. Her eyes were a deep amber color, which sat very proportionately to her pretty face. He felt awful for thinking it, but he thought she looked like a streetwalker, judging by what she was wearing. She was dressed in a black tank-top, cut off at the midriff, and extremely short denim shorts, to show off her figure. She wore polished black combat boots, and fingerless gloves, along with a hunter green army cap.
"I…talked to some guy…his name was…uh…" Jack thought for a minuet, trying to remember his strange double's name.
"Alberio," The woman smiled, "Yeah…he brought me here to come and get you." She stated walking towards Jack, holding her hands up to let him know that she was unarmed, "You probably know now," She stated holding her hand out, "My name's Amy…I'm one of the thirteen dragon aspects…" Jack shook it accordingly, but gave her the oddest look.
"What's going on exactly?" Jack asked after letting go of her hand, "Alberio…or whatever his name is, didn't explain much! He said you could help me."
"I've got a lot of explaining to do," Amy stated, looking around the area, "And truthfully speaking it's not safe here…or anywhere else for that matter." She continued, seizing Jack by the arm. He still remained pretty guarded. He didn't quite trust this Amy woman, not yet anyway. He had no idea if this was some scheme concocted by the xiaolin or heylin sides, but he still followed her, "You never know who might be listening."
"So where are we going?" Jack asked as the pair walked out into Jack's front yard. There was a jet black motorcycle sitting in the driveway, and Amy gestured him to follow her to it. He laughed once again. He looked to her, and then to the bike. It figured that she would ride a motorcycle.
"Actually," Amy stated, climbing on to the bike, "To the Xiaolin temple…I've got to talk to the other monks…and Nina should be there too-"
"Woah woah!" Jack exclaimed, before climbing on to the motorcycle himself, "Why would I go there! The monks hate me, and besides-"
"They already know," Amy snapped, "That is…about the situation…the elder monks have known for a while…but recently the Mantis Flip Coin was stolen. According to the ancient scrolls…it's…"
"It's what?" Jack asked, beginning to realize the severity of the situation, whatever the situation was, that is.
"It's disappeared," Amy stated, looking up at Jack with concern, "And this has never happened before. Shen Gong-Wu don't just vanish…and there's no evidence it exists anymore."
"…I believe you," Jack stated, getting on to the back of the bike, "But how does this all pertain to me?"
"I'll explain on the way," Amy stated, revving the engine, "But I'm going to warn you…some of the Xiaolin dragons aren't quite ready to accept you so willingly…once you get there just keep your head down, and your mouth shut. Stay out of trouble…understand?"
"Yeah…sure," Jack nodded, giving her yet another strange look, just before Amy took off down the road. He trusted Amy, for whatever reason, he wasn't sure why. However, he still sensed that something was off about her. Not in a bad way, just that her mannerisms struck him as funny, almost familiar.
"We should be at the temple in an hour or so!" Amy shouted over the roar of the motorcycle's engine, "I suppose I should start with what's going on!"
"That would be great!" Jack stated, gripping tightly to her bare waist, as they headed down the road.
"So first let me start off with the dragons!" Amy began, "There are primarily thirteen, but the thirteen aspects only activate when the world is bordering on the edge of peril!"
"Seems standard enough," Jack stated, "With the Shen Gong-Wu going missing…that sounds like world in peril stuff to me!"
"Right!" Amy nodded, "Well the four main elemental dragons stay active at all times to help maintain balance! However in the event they can't, all of the aspects activate to assist them in restoring the balance!"
"So what are their dragon elements?" Jack asked.
"Well obviously there's the four main elements," Amy explained, "Water, Air, Earth, and Fire! But there's other elements that constitute the world as well! The elements of Light and Darkness, the Elemental balance, the Element of Magic, and Time and Space of course!"
"But that only makes ten!" Jack shouted over the engine and the wind whipping past their ears.
"Well obviously!" Amy laughed, "There are the four elements, followed by the Elemental balance dragon, the Dragon of Magic, Space, and Time, leaving us with eight. Then there are two dragons of Light, and two of Darkness!"
"Why two!" Jack asked, sounding confused.
"One male and one female of each!" Amy stated, clarifying, "Therefore is the balance between the light and the darkness between men and women."
"Still," Jack stated, leaning his head on Amy's shoulder, "That only leaves with twelve."
"Well!" Amy continued, "Above all twelve of these aspects, is the primary aspect! The one that has power over them all! The aspect of Life!"
"And one of the dragons is this Life aspect?" Jack asked.
"Well that's the thing," Amy stated, "We haven't found the other aspects yet…so far there are only seven of us…including you!"
"But how do you know I'm one of them?" Jack asked, still skeptical.
"Alberio and Master Shadowheart seem to believe in you!" Amy stated, "And I happen to believe in them…so should you."
"How can I believe in people I don't even know," Jack stated, a little down heartedly.
"Because!" Amy stated, ceasing her ride and startling Jack, "Sometimes…your fate is out if your hands…and…maybe you just don't have a choice…"
"Amy?" Jack asked.
"Never mind…" Amy sighed, revving the engine again, "You're right…how can you trust people you don't know!" She laughed, bouncing right back to her original demeanor.
"So," Jack stated, getting back on subject, "Tell me about Alberio…who uh, er…what is he?"
"He's called a white shadow," Amy stated, a bit more direly than before, "You see…you know how there's the yin-yang world?"
"Yeah," Jack stated, "I'm following so far…"
"Well that world is still a part of ours," Amy continued, "It's just a sub-world…But there are two other worlds that are parallel to ours. The world of the white shadows, and their darker counterparts, the shade."
"I think I get it," Jack stated, putting two and two together. After all, he was a Harvard student, "These White Shadows are all essentially good versions of ourselves right? So these Shade are the evil versions of us right? Well there in our world now, so ergo the balance is thrown off. And I'm guessing it's our job to send them back…restore the balance and all that stuff, right?"
"Sort of," Amy stated, "You're right about the balance being thrown off and you're right about sending them back to their respective worlds…but the thing about the White Shadows and the Shade is that the majority of them don't take a human form. And it's not the White Shadows that are the problem…it's that these greater Shade have begun to organize and found a way to manifest in our world. That and, we believe they…and their leader, whoever it is, were the ones who stole the Mantis Flip Coin, and erased it from existence. It's our job to find out how, and why they're doing this though." Amy concluded.
"Sounds pretty serious," Jack concurred, "Anyone out there that's trying to eliminate the Wu has got to be bad!"
"Nah," Amy nodded, "You're pretty dead on. But the real problem is how the Shade got here in the first place…One thing to remember about the Shade and the White Shadows, is that only the White Shadows can travel between the worlds…so how the Shade got into our world is beyond all of us…not even the members of the Spirit Council can figure it out-"
"Spirit council?" Jack asked, as Amy dismissed him immediately.
"You'll meet them soon enough," Amy smiled, gently craning her neck around to look at him.
"How do you guys even know all this," Jack stated, "It seems to me like we shouldn't know any of this."
"Well Alberio is a White Shadow," Amy stated, "So I would hope he would know."
"That explains a lot," Jack nodded, gripping even tighter to Amy.
"There's not a whole lot known about the Shade," Amy stated, "One of the Old Masters…name's Heiba, apparently was conducting research on the shade and the Shen Gong-Wu. But she disappeared and her notes were lost."
"Maybe we could find them," Jack smiled.
"That would be helpful," Amy sighed, "All I know, or anyone knows for that matter…is that the Shade want the Shen Gong-Wu and the aspects are the only thing standing in the way of their plans…not to mention they can't be killed."
"You're kidding…" Jack stated, sounding a little hopeless.
"Well," Amy sighed, "No one has been able to find out how. Having Heiba's notes might give us an idea of how to do it…not even stabbing them through the heart or cutting off their heads work…"
"Yikes…" Jack began, looking concerned.
"Yeah…" Amy nodded, gesturing Jack to look at her exposed hip. There was a large and dark scar, that Jack was surprised he didn't notice before, "Had a run in with one of them…name was Fayte…I'm sure we'll be seeing him in the future…"
"All this isn't making me feel more at ease," Jack stated, "As if I wasn't nervous enough already…"
"No one ever said it was going to be pretty," Amy stated, "But at least you're somewhat prepared for the road ahead…you can relax a bit for now though…we'll be at the temple soon."
"Great," Jack sighed, staring off into the night sky as the wind blew in his face.
"Here we are," Amy stated proudly, stopping her ride in front of the ever familiar Xiaolin Temple.
It hadn't changed at all. From the white stone walls, to the azure shingled rooftops, and the perfectly kept green gardens, everything remained the same. Jack had memories of this place, not fond ones of course. He bit his lip as Amy headed up the staircase and into the temple. She turned around and smiled at him, gesturing to follow her, however he averted eye contact with her.
"What's wrong?" Amy asked, raising an eyebrow as she adjusted her cap, "Aren't you coming inside? We've got a lot to talk about…"
"I…I can't go in there…" Jack stated, looking all together uncomfortable.
"You'll be fine," Amy smiled, egging him on to follow her, "I promise…" She smiled, extending her hand out to him. Jack gave her a slight smile back as he met her towards the top of the steps.
"Well look what the cat dragged in…" Came the cool voice of a young man Jack used to know very well, despite not being very friendly with him. Raimundo stood, looking down at Amy and Jack from the top of the staircase. His arms were crossed, and he didn't look to thrilled. He was much older now, actually he and Jack must have been around the same age. His hair was a bit longer, and he let his facial hair grow out a bit, and he was a bit ore built than he was seven years ago (although that was to be expected).
"Enough," Amy snapped, shooting him a dark look, as Raimundo lowered his head, "I won't put up with this crap…we've got to work together from now on."
"Laying down the law I see," A lovely and somewhat soft spoken voice chimed with a slight laugh. Kimiko stepped out from behind Raimundo and headed down the steps towards Jack and Amy. She had grown into quite the woman. Petite, but with fair curves, and still as pretty as she was back then. She had obviously grown out of the colored hair phase, for it was now long, hanging down at her back, and a raven black, "I guess someone has to act their age around here." She stated, brushing her hair back and walking past Raimundo.
"Hey!" Raimundo snapped, watching her pass by, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Trouble in paradise it looks like," Jack stated in a flat, albeit cool tone.
"Watch it," Raimundo snapped, moving towards Jack, "Just because you're one of the dragon aspects doesn't mean I have to put up with you and your attitude." He stated, gently pushing Jack backwards.
"Likewise," Jack snapped, brushing Raimundo's hand away from him. The tall Brazilian stared him down (as he was almost a foot taller than Jack). Jack didn't back down though, the two remained in a face off for several long moments. Raimundo then let out a slight laugh and crossed his arms, still looking down at him.
"Enough you two," Kimiko sighed, gently pushing Raimundo and Jack away from one another, before they broke into a fight.
"Yeah enough," Amy added, nodding to Kimiko with a slight smile, "We've got a lot of work to do and a lot to talk about before tomorrow."
"What happens tomorrow?" Jack asked as the four headed up the staircase, even though Jack and Rai locked eyes the entire time.
"We're going to search for inactive Wu," Raimundo stated, softening his demeanor towards Jack a little.
"Whatever these Shade want with the Shen Gong-Wu," Kimiko stated, "It's obviously not good…we've managed to keep the vault locked down, but even still, the Shade managed to get in…"
"Heard about the Mantis Flip Coin," Jack nodded, looking worried as he took the Monkey Staff out of his messenger bag, "You really think that these Shade things have the power to destroy a Shen Gong-Wu?"
"The evidence is pretty clear," Raimundo stated, as the four headed into the temple. For Jack, this was the first time in years, "It went missing and the next day…poof! It was erased from the xiaolin scrolls."
"Even Dojo noticed it's presence even disappeared," Kimiko stated, crossing her arms, "So for now…we've been keeping tabs on all the Wu. Omi and Clay are in the vault right now. We've been watching in shifts to make sure no one outside the temple comes into the vault."
"Speaking of people outside the temple," Raimundo stated, changing his demeanor once again, and turning on Jack, "How can we be sure that he's one of the thirteen aspects." He began, a bit contemptuously.
"Because if I wasn't," Jack snapped, walking right up to Raimundo again, resulting in another face-off, "Why in god's name would I be here with you right now?" He asked, in an equally haughty attitude.
"Stop," Amy stated, shaking her head, trying to maintain order, "Listen-"
"I don't know," Raimundo shrugged, "Maybe you convinced Amy that you might be an aspect to weasel your way back into the temple, like you've done sooo many times in the past, just to steal our Wu."
"After seven years!" Jack asked, rolling his eyes.
"Guys!" Amy growled, trying to command their attention. But to no avail, the two young men were too busy trying to best one another, it was almost as though she, and Kimiko didn't exist.
"Once an evil doer, always!" Raimundo stated, laughing slightly, as he shook his head at Jack.
"GUYS!" Amy shouted, as the two boys looked to her, somewhat startled, "Thank you…" She sighed, after commanding attention, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?" Raimundo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Alberio?" Amy stated, rolling her eyes as Kimiko laughed. Raimundo crossed his arms and gave a sharp look to jack, who was looking back at him triumphantly.
"Alright," Raimundo replied, "But just because you've got that white shadow around doesn't mean I trust you…" He added, walking away from them, looking a little defeated.
"So that went well," Jack sighed, placing a hand on his hip and scratching his head.
"Give it some time," Kimiko stated, "I won't lie…none of us are really ready to let you in, but we don't have much of a choice." She concluded, just before walking away herself. Jack let out another sigh, and rolled his head back, looking up at the sky. He knew Kimiko's intentions were good, but it didn't make him feel better.
"Hey," Amy then stated, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder, "Listen I know that this isn't going to be easy…but-"
"What would you know about it?" Jack asked, harshly as he pulled his shoulder away from Amy, facing away from her.
"I know that you made a lot of dumb choices as a kid," Amy began, still staring at him, as she crossed her arms. Jack turned to face her, giving a dark look as she did so, "Isn't that the reason why you're having so much trouble right now?"
"Fine…" Jack shouted, throwing his hands up, almost as in defeat, "You're right, you win."
"It's not about winning-" Amy began, before being cut off.
"Oh isn't it?" Jack stated, raising an eyebrow, "Isn't this entire cat-and-mouse game with racing to find the shen gong-wu, fighting over them, stealing them…isn't it just like keeping score? And whoever has the most wins? It sure feels like that…"
"Okay…" Amy sighed, rolling her eyes, "Maybe…you've got a point, but don't try to push people away okay? Yeah, it's going to be a while for the monks to trust you, but if you keep giving them reasons not to, you'll never stand a chance here…"
"You make it sound like it's all so easy-" Jack stated, turning back to her.
"You act like they were all so quick to let me in too," Amy laughed, rolling her eyes, "I'm still convinced that Raimundo doesn't like me. Omi can't stand Ninamori-"
"Who?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My partner…" Amy stated with a slight smile.
"Partner?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. He had a feeling he already knew what she meant, but he wanted to avoid offending her, "Like partners as in…work related-"
"It's okay," Amy began with a slight smile, shaking her head, "I'm used to this…we are together."
"Oh…" Jack stated, scratching his head, not looking uncomfortable, but rather, confused.
"What," Amy laughed, "Don't you go to Harvard? Don't act like you've never met a lesbian before." She stated, walking away from him. She then turned and gestured him to follow her.
"Yeah but none that were attractive," Jack stated quietly to himself as he followed after Amy.
"Amy!" Came a new voice from within one of the temple buildings. A short, but thin and somewhat athletic girl, of about nineteen rushed across the way to meet them. She had short, messy, bright blonde hair, despite Jack could tell it was bleached. She had pallid sky blue eyes, which complimented her light skin. She was wearing a hunter green tank top and a thin red scarf, which appeared to be put through the ringer quite a bit, as it was rather frayed and tattered, along with a pair of worn looking grey, fingerless, leather gloves. She had on a rather short pair of khaki shorts on, along with a pair of black gladiator sandals. Two belts hung around her thin waist, each having one or two pouches attached, along with a pouch strapped to one of her legs. The young woman, wrapped her arms around Amy, as though she had not seen her in months. Amy pulled her away, but gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"Jack this is Ninamori," Amy stated, nodding down towards the young woman.
"Nina for short!" She chimed. She seemed sweet and bubbly, and rather open, as she immediately threw her arms around Jack and gave him a tight hug, "I'm so happy to finally meet you Jack-san!"
"Nice…" Jack began, his air circulation being cut off, "To meet…you too…" Nina let him go, and gave him a very warm smile. He felt safe with her, and with Amy too for that matter, but he didn't know quite why. Regardless, he figured it would be best to stand by them for a while, at least until he was back on neutral, or at least better terms, with the Xiaolin Monks.
"Amy-kun," Ninamori then stated, turning to her immediately, "I've been looking at the scroll that Dojo-sama left us…The other dragon aspect is about to reveal itself soon…and another Shen Gong-Wu. We need to go and find them…and well…it…before they both reveal."
"Right," Amy nodded, "Do we have any idea where they might be?"
"A place called the badlands?" She stated, sounding confused.
"South Dakota," Jack added, "It's a national park…"
"Good," Amy nodded, "We'll head there tomorrow…but for now, it's been a long day for all of us. You should get some sleep." She suggested, looking towards Jack.
"No I'm good," Jack stated flatly, "I've got a lot to think about…" He stated, walking away.
"He seems sad," Ninamori stated, watching him walk away, glancing towards Amy at the same time, "So…when are you going to tell him?"
"I due time," Amy stated, crossing her arms, "Let Jack sort out his thoughts for now. He's learned so much today as is…and I'm sure his mind is all kinds of messed up right now. The last thing he needs is something more to think about."
"So…" Ninamori then asked as she and Amy headed across the courtyard and to their dorms, "Do you think he'll go back to his old ways? You know…become evil again?"
"I don't think he ever was evil," Amy stated, "And besides, I don't think Master Shadowheart would let him, even if he tried. He's confused right now…that's all. He just needs someone to rely on, and I hope he can see that in us. Jack has more in common with us, and the monks, than he realizes."
"So," a cold voice of a young echoed throughout the icy, bleak chamber of the looming citadel, "Young Jack seems to be questioning his place in the Council's grand scheme?" She laughed, as she was looking into the glossy surface of an old sliver hand mirror. However, on the surface, was not her reflection, but rather showing the grounds of the Xiaolin temple. She waved her hand over the glassy surface and the image changed to show Jack, sitting on the outer wall of the temple, looking out into the distance.
She laughed as she placed the mirror back into her dark robes. She then turned to her ghastly machine. She looked into its cold metal surface and laughed quietly to herself. It had only been a few hours since she had opened a portal from the dark contraption and sent the beasts from beyond into the world. She sat down in the icy metal chair that sat in front of the machine, and the key system as well. She just sat there for a long amount of time, staring into the cold surface.
Footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, and the corridor behind that lead into it. The sounds grew louder and louder, and with it she grew more and more irritated, as whoever was coming to visit her, was interrupting her meditation. A tall, robed figure entered the room, and threw something towards the young woman sitting within the chair. Without turning to face him, she reached her hand into the air and caught the item. She then stood up, and held the silky pale blue garment in her arms. She let out a sigh and gently brushed the fabric against her face.
"The third arm sash," She then began, a smile twisting underneath her robes, "But you weren't set to raid the temple today Zetsumei…"
"But where would be the fun in that?" The second hooded figure laughed, "That idiot monk, and his bulky friend didn't even see me slip in past their defenses. It was like taking candy from-"
"Zetsumei," She began, taking the third arm sash away from her face. He looked up at her and awaited her to speak, "Do you know why I love the shen gong-wu?"
"No." He responded promptly, looking to her.
"Because they…" She began, placing the third arm sash within her robes, "They are so much like us. They do not belong in this world…and they are made from the one thing we do not have…"
"Master?" The second figure asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Never mind Zetsumei," She sighed, turning away from him and sitting back down in the cold metal seat, "Assemble your team…I've a task for you."
"Yes Master," He stated, bowing before leaving the chamber. She sat, alone in the room, still clutching the sash underneath her robes.
