Chapter two

Kamal awoke abruptly looking at the sky confused. All her muscles ached painfully and resisted all attempts at movement. She pulled herself into a sitting position and rubbed her face. She felt really groggy with her head feeling as if it was stuffed to the rafters with straw and her muscles were like jelly.

Something glinted, catching her attention and she looked down with unfocused eyes and saw a rock, about the size of her fist that glowed gentle in the gloom. She picked it up and looked closely at it trying to see what it was. It looked like a rough uncut diamond with something dark flickering inside it. Without knowing why she shoved the stone roughly in her jacket pocket.

She slowly got to her feet swaying unsteadily but managed to keep her balance before she revisited her previous position. Her head buzzed at the sudden change in altitude and she wretched making her throat muscles sting. "Damn I feel as if I've been drinking," She said aloud, "But I know I haven't touched a drop."

She slowly straightened and for the first time surveyed her surroundings with unfocused eyes.

It was dark, really dark. The car park and club house had gone and she now stood on a rocky surface.

"I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore," she said to herself, her words slurred slightly.

She took a deep, rattling breath then proceeded forwards in an unsteady gait. Suddenly her legs buckled and she fell down a deep hole crashing into rocks as she descended, flopping around like a rag doll. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth to the pain. To her surprise she hit open air so she opened her eyes to look curiously downward. In the great expanse before her she could see as assortment of buildings and fountains.

"Ah Shit!" she gasped as she slammed into a roof then another then another before landing with a gigantic splash in a fountain. She slowly pulled herself out the sloshing water blowing moisture of her off her nose. With a great heave she slid out of the fountain and landed on the tiled floor with a splat feeling very much like a fish; all floppy and wet.

She looked up and she could see two dark figures standing not to far from her. She managed to focus on one who seemed to be wearing some kind of armour and male by the look of his stature. He had long black hair that was tinted green. She tried to clear the blurriness from her eyes but still could not focus on his face.

She got to her feet swaying dangerously and staggered towards him. The figure remained as still as stone.

She giggled suddenly looking at him sidelong with a girlish smile on her face.

"Either you're a tom boy or a very effeminate prick," she giggled insanely to herself before passing out again.

She slowly came too to find herself sprawled face down on a bed.

She pushed herself into a seated position. Her muscles screamed defiance but she ignored it, trying vainly to sit up. She leant against a stone wall and gasped as its chill sent a shock through her body bringing her to her senses.

She glanced about and saw that she was now in a cell. A confused frown came to her face.

How the hell did I get here? She thought to herself staring at the bars.

A dark figure appeared in front of her cell and peered down at her. Two large felines stood beside him; a panther and tiger.

Kamala looked up and quickly studied him. His armour was very samurai like and he wore sandals. Mentally she chuckled. His hair was long and dark with a green shine to it. His eyes were very cat like and brown. He was definitely a pretty boy.

I wonder if he has face lifts or goes to a salon. She smiled at this thought and he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"I see we are awake," he said in a steady light tenor.

Her smile widened to a grin. "Well I can't accuse you of being blind, now can I," she replied with just as steady voice.

The corners of his mouth twitched. "Are you always this rude?" He asked airily.

"Depends on whether you have a sense of humour or not," she laughed lightly which turned in to a harsh cough.

She hit the back of her head on the wall she leaned on in annoyance. She grimaced baring her teeth in a very animal like fashion. A wave of pain flooded over her body making her convulse once. She stared blankly at the air in front of her and breathed deep to ease her muscles.

"Damn," she hissed, "I haven't felt this bad since I was poisoned with Rosmeric."

The guy in the armour raised a questioning eyebrow. "Rosemeric?"

She looked at him as if she just realised he was still there and laughed which appeared to unsettle him.

"What's your name?" He demanded, straightening himself.

"Yankee Doodle," she replied grinning. She lay on her side casually with her head supported on her hand. She grinned wolfishly at him and he grimaced theatrically which caused her to grin harder.

He recovered himself and his face went blank once more. "Where did you come from?"

Kamala seemed to think for a moment before replying. "Tinsel town," she said in a perky squeak and giggle.

He frowned in annoyance. "What is your name?" he repeated with a hint of steel, "I won't ask again."

"Then don't," she said seriously, "I won't tell you because I don't give my name to strangers." She turned over with her back facing him.

"Would it help if I tell you my name?" he asked. His face was expressionless as he said this.

"Why?" Kamala peered at him from over her shoulder again.

"We wouldn't be strangers then."

Kamala sniffed drawing her eyebrows down in to a serious frown. Her eyes became hard and steely, the very colour resembling cold metal.

"Dude, everyone is a stranger to me." She returned to stare at the stone wall. "Even my best friend," she whispered soberly to her self.

The man looked momentarily confused but was distracted by the sound of feathered wings of a crow that came to rest upon his shoulder. Kamala looked back over her shoulder curiously and saw the crow whisper in the man's ear. He looked at her with stern eyes.

"I will return to resume our conversation momentarily," then the corner of his mouth twitched, "Yankee Doodle."

"Not much of conversationalists then are you," she said as he stalked off. She could of sworn she heard him growl and she chuckled. She liked annoying people like that it was one of the few pleasures she got in life.

She rolled onto her back with a sigh of relief. With him gone she could commence first aid upon herself. She prodded her side and hissed as pain shot up her side. She clenched her teeth hard as continued to prod her sides. She had a least four broken ribs and a bruised shoulder. One of her digits on her left hand was broken and her ankle was badly twisted. She knew that within a few days she would heal naturally but she could not wait that long. She knew she had to get out of the cell and find out where exactly she was. If her friend's theory was correct then she was properly in another reality. She swore to herself and decided to think about one thing at a time and the first thing on her agenda was to heal.

She settled her self and tried to find as comfortable spot as was possible then began to relax herself. At first all she felt was a dull ache from all the arrears on her body where she was injured. Slowly an icy tickle began to seep through her veins erasing all pain and stitching together all the broken bones. The lock at her brow glowed intensely as the power grew and moved through her body.

The glow of her lock flickered and died and Kamala lay with a smile of relief on her face.

She got up suddenly to survey her cell in which she was held. She shrugged and chuckled to herself shaking her head. This would not hold her long she thought. She poked one of the bars experimentally and the whole room vibrated as a great rumble echoed through the stone and air and the bars shook violently.

"Ah that was not me," she whispered in surprise. She looked through the bars and another explosion rattled the halls.

Kamala sniffed the air and scowled. She sniffed it again suspiciously and growled a deep rumbling sound.

"Grrrr sulphur and brimstone," her eyes narrowed with intense hatred, "Demons, and if I'm lucky a devil."

She closed her eyes and frowned in concentration, her blonde lock flared. She slowly approached the bars and then suddenly her body melted then exploded into grey swirling mist. The huge cloud of mist still held a certain humanoid form and it passed through the bars unencumbered to the other side. It reformed and solidified into a recognisable human figure and Kamala stood there her face expressionless, but her eyes glinted with repressed malice. She dashed down the hall towards the stairs leaving the cell empty.


The four monks sat quietly on the dragons back enjoying the ride. They knew with certainty verging on the edge of arrogance that whatever happened they would get the wu, they always did.

Raimundo stretched and gazed at the surroundings. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. Something about the surroundings was suspiciously familiar. Then it dawned on him as he stared at the waste land below him just exactly where they were.

"Hey Dojo!" he shouted over the howl of the wind.

"What's up Raimundo?" Dojo replied.

Raimundo looked at the ground again then Dojo. "Is it me or does the landscape look familiar to you?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Dojo coughed slightly. "Ah what do you mean?" Dojo asked trying to be evasive.

The other three looked about curiously. "Ya know partner, I think your right," Clay agreed staring at the ground.

Kimiko gasped, "It's Chase Young's territory. Dojo did you know!" she demanded of the dragon.

The dragon coughed again, "Er no."

Kimiko kicked her heels into his sides and the dragon jolted. "Hey!"

"Tell us Dojo!" Kimiko demanded again.

Dojo sighed, "Okay I admit it I hid the Wu here but I put it here before, I repeat, before Chase Young decided to move in. I didn't know it was on the real estate market then."

"Darn it Dojo you shoulda just 'ave told us before," Clay said disapprovingly.

"I didn't think you'd notice," Dojo confessed.

"Never mind the feline has left the sack," Omi said trying to sound wise, "Let us continue our journey and claim our Shen gon wu."

"Your right," Raimundo said, "and it's the 'cat is outta the bag.'"

Omi looked at Raimundo indignantly, "That makes no sense."

"What ever cue ball," Raimundo replied rolling his eyes.

The landscape below them was dark and gloomy. The ground was sparse and barren; devoid of all life, which gave it a forbidden look which filled you with a certain kind of dread; if you looked at it to long.

Soon the sight of a desolate, ragged mountain came into view. A large jagged ledge jutted out and an entrance to the inside gave the impression of a monster about to devour all who dared to get too close.

The monks looked at each other nervously. They all knew that if the Shen gon wu was inside then the confrontation with the Heylin warrior, Chase Young and the witch, Wuya, could go either way.

Raimundo frowned thoughtfully. As the groups leader it was up to him to come up with a plan. He really did not fancy a confrontation but the only way he could think of was to use the shroud of shadows to get at least one person past with Dojo whilst the others distract the Heylin side.

As silently as they could they landed on the soft dirt of the entrance to Chase Young's stronghold.

Raimundo turned to the others and in a quiet voice, explained his plan.

"Okay guys here's the plan, Kimiko take Dojo and the shroud of shadows and the rest of us will distract the witch and lizard boy. Got it?" He looked at them one after the other and they nodded in agreement, no arguments.

"Good!" he handed the shroud to Kimiko and she disappeared beneath it; Dojo with her, invisible form sight.

Raimundo motioned for the other two to follow him and together they ran into the stronghold


Kimiko set off at run down the towards the stronghold doors. She clutched the shroud to herself tightly afraid it would slip off. She hoped this plan of Raimundo's worked.

She went up to the door and nudged it open ever so slightly so that there was just enough room for her slender body to squeeze through.

Dojo was curled on her shoulders, shaking as Kimiko ran.

They both remained silent as they entered the stronghold and in the courtyard she saw Chase Young and Wuya, the red haired witch, were arguing. Good Kimiko thought. Dojo tugged her ear and pointed to her right.

Sweeping between columns she ran round the edge of the courtyard and stopped behind a pillar. Chase and Wuya continued to argue and as Kimiko peered round the pillar she gasped as Chase was looking suspiciously in her direction. She swore silently, Dojo made tutting noises in her ear but she ignored him. The doors to the entrance suddenly flung open and Raimundo, Omi and Clay leapt in taking up defensive positions. She took that as her cue and dashed off in the direction Dojo indicated to her.

There was inaudible murmuring before the battle began.

Dojo tugged her ear again and pointed to a door some ten metres away. It must be in there she thought in triumph.

Out of nowhere a scabby, brown claw grabbed her by the leg. Kimiko screamed falling with a smack; her face hit the hard floor making a stream of blood flow freely from her nose.

She rolled onto her back dazed. Looking up she saw a shadow loom over and stare down at her with blood red eyes.

She went to scream but before the sound escaped her lips she was hauled roughly to her feet. A large, strong hand clasped her round the mouth tightly.

"Sleep!" something whispered in her ear and she fell into unconsciousness.


Raimundo busted the door open and they leapt through taking up defensive positions not too far from where Chase Young and Wuya stood arguing.
They stopped as soon the three monks had barged in and they turned to face them.

Chase Young stood with his arms crossed calmly behind his back and his eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"What do you want!" He demanded, staring icily at the three monks.

"We are here for the White Dragon Shen gon wu!" Raimundo replied defiantly.

"Yes," Omi second, ""So spoon it over or we will smack it out of you."

"I think he means fork it over," Wuya snickered in Chase's ear who sneered.

Raimundo glanced down at his small friend. "I guess you mean beat it out?" Raimundo asked, "But isn't that a bit excessive?"

Omi looked up indifferently and shrugged. "You wanted a diversion," Omi replied.

Raimundo nodded in agreement then leapt forward, drop kicking Chase who dodged sending Raimundo flipping over his head. He landed on his feet a few metres behind Chase who looked over his shoulder and smirked.

Then Clay and Omi attacked together but were repelled back by Wuya.

Raimundo went to attack again when a scream rang out throughout the courtyard.

"Kimiko!" Raimundo gasped.

Chase looked around holding Omi at arms length who vainly tried to punch his legs.

"I wondered where she got to," Chase Young said curiously.

Clay stared about and when the two monks looked at each other he shrugged.

A low harsh chuckle echoed hollowly sending a chill up Raimundo's spine. The chuckle turned to maniacal laughter but as Raimundo listened he realised that there was another sound. Something groaned gently followed by a grating scrape. Clay cried out to him. Raimundo glanced up as a pillar fell to meet him. He dove out the way just in time as the pillar landed with a violent crash. The ground vibrated; stones danced on the stone surface.

Raimundo rolled to his feet and looked around to discern who pushed over the pillar. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the sight of movement. He whipped round just as another pillar slowly plummeted of its own accord.

Chase Young grabbed Omi by the collar and dashed out of the way before the pillar came in contact with the ground with a resounding crash.

A raucous laugh echoed evilly throughout the courtyard.

Everyone in the room moved involuntarily backwards towards the centre with their backs to each other.

Raimundo sweated anxiously watching for anything in the empty spaces around him. A shadowy flash caught his attention followed by another then another. The sound of patting feet and clicking toenails surrounded them.

Out of the shadows leapt horrific monsters all skeletal and sinewy. Their skin was brown and covered in oozing scab as though they had been horrible burnt. Tuffs of sparse hair covered their heads in wisps. They opened their mouths showing off sharp pointed teeth and a long green tongue that lashed out spraying spittle every where as they growled and hissed at the small group. They pawed the air like cats with long bony fingers as they crawled in a circular motion around the group.

The monks and the Heylin pair watched with weary eyes as the creatures continued to hiss and growl but they still kept their distance as if something was preventing them from attacking.

Raimundo looked up sat Chase Young who stood to his left.

"Friends of yours?" Raimundo asked the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.

"Do they look like friends of mine!" the Heylin warrior replied hotly.

Raimundo cast him a sharp glance. Something had pissed him off as he seemed more irritated than normal; well more than normal can be.

Just then a heavy thud resonated then another, and another. The thuds fell rhythmically coming nearer and nearer.

Raimundo looked up and gasped. Chase Young looked down at the monk then followed his gaze his eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld a monstrous shadow that loomed out of the darkness. This one was different from the others; its body was heavily muscled with a small head, electric blue hair and a spiky beard. Its arms and legs were like tree trunks, with massive feet and hands the size of dust bin lids. Its eyes shone blood red from beneath its heavy set eyebrows, glowing with a deep hunger. The only thing it wore was a loin cloth and in its hand a huge war hammer dull black with age. In the crook of its other arm was the limp form of Kimiko who was slung negligently across its arm. Dojo was draped about her slender shoulders but both were unconscious.

Raimundo stared at her limp form and hot anger exploded with in him.

"What did you do Monster!" he cried glaring at the horrifying creature.

The monster laughed, throwing back its head and roared in mirth, then stared down at Raimundo with a wide grin and with narrowed eyes that hinted something disturbing.

Chase Young glanced at the monster and the look on its face was somewhat familiar. Warning bells rang in his head and turned to the young monk beside him. "Be weary and don't let your anger cloud your judgement!" He warned.

Raimundo did not respond but continued to glare at the monster.

The monster suddenly spoke, a hollow harsh sound that sent chills up Raimundo's spine chilling him to the bone.

"You have something I want," He growled, "you give it to me and I will give the female back."

The monster looked at Chase as he spoke and Raimundo looked at the warrior suspiciously.

"What makes you think I have what you want creature?" Chase Young replied.

The monster chuckled.

"Oh but you do," It said grinning, exposing a pair of pointed canine teeth, "A most powerful thing. The only thing in any universe that can ruin everything my master is trying to achieve."

"If you tell me what this thing is then maybe I can help you," Chase offered eyeing the creature suspiciously.

Again it laughed and grinned manically down at Chase Young who was dwarfed by the immense creature.

"You are," It said, "By giving it too me!"

Chase Young looked at it dubiously. "If you tell me what is it you're looking for then I would be more than happy to give it to you."

"Hah," it barked, "I seek the White Dragon!"

The monks looked at each other who then looked at Chase and Wuya.

"I told you," Wuya scolded glaring at Chase Young.

"Shut up Wuya," Chase retorted thinking, "but what would you want with a shen gon wu creature?"

The monster looked confused. "What would I want with your pathetic artefacts," it roared, "I seek something far more powerful than all your Shen gon wu put together!"

A stunned silence fell over them.

"But I thought the White Dragon was a Shen gon wu," Omi said. He looked up at his friend, his brow creased in confusion.

"So did I lil' partner," Clay replied shifting his hat.

The monster was starting to lose patience. Its face contorted in a grotesque snarl and its eyes narrowed into small angry slits. Its eyes glowed menacingly.

Suddenly it tossed Kimiko's limp body at the group. Raimundo jumped and deftly caught her out of thin air.

"Give me the White Dragon or you will all die," it roared, "I will tear your flesh from your bones and feast upon your still beating heart!"

Raimundo grimaced as horrid images flooded his thoughts. He shook himself and held Kimiko close. She was still breathing which was a good sign but she was still unconscious which worried him. Further more she was incredible pale, paler than normal. Her cheeks were slightly tinged with green which worried him more. What the hell did he do to her, he thought furiously.

"I shall drink your bodily fluids," it raged, "I will take out your intestines and strangle you with them. I shall bathe in your blood, ripe off your head and shit down your neck."

The monster raged on its language becoming more profane and colourful as it went a long.

Raimundo paled visible beneath his dark skin as, even he, had not heard such language before.

A sudden nudge brought his attention away from the raging beast and he glanced down in one jerky movement.

Omi stood beside him, also looking pale beneath his yellow skin, pointed to the ground. Raimundo followed the direction his little friend pointed and Raimundo's eyebrows rose in silent awe.

Hovering over the ground was a light grey mist that swirled gentle and appeared to be moving in the monsters direction. It rolled and tumbled as it moved, swirling about their feet.

The monster raged on but did not seem to notice the curious mist that was now localising about Chase Young's feet.

The monster advanced on the Heylin warrior, its giant footsteps booming as they hit the stone floor.

The mist continued to swirl and circulate ominously in front of Chase Young who remained where he stood glaring at the monster defiantly.

The monster roared in absolute fury and heaved his hammer swinging it at Chase Young. Chase merely stood there waiting for the right moment to dodge or deflect the attack but gaped in surprise as the mist at his feet rose from the floor, ascending rapidly and stopped the hammer making it look as if it was stuck in mid-air.

The mist rapidly began to solidify and take shape revealing the shape and figure of a woman in tight trousers and leather jacket.

The monster glanced down at the puny women and grinned maliciously. The women responded with a sweet smile just before she drove her foot hard into its stomach sending it hurtling through the air and crashing into a stone wall some hundred or so metres away.

The monks stared in wonder and surprise at the women who had not appeared to make any kind of effort in her attack.

Chase Young's eyes widened in surprise, how did she get out, he thought to himself.

"Wasn't she…?" Wuya began but a hand gesture from Chase cut her short.

"Yes she was!" Chase gave the answer to her unasked question. Yet he still wondered, 'how?'

The young women tutted disapprovingly like a scolding mother,

"Matsumoto," she said in a resigned tone, "How many times do I have to tell you, mind your language."

She burst out in sudden laughter at the monster who growled angrily preparing himself for an attack.