SO SORRY!

I know, I know, it's been ages. A pointlessly long time since my last update, but I have a valid time and tested excuse.

Writers block. Eat me.

I knew what I wanted to do, but I couldn't think of the words to translate my vision into. It was pure evil I tells ya.

Anyways, I'm back in black, I hit the sack, aint you glad I'm glad to be back?

Anyways, I own nothing here.

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The sun was shining down upon the Xiaolin temple. The ancient Chinese structure was clearly in its element, basking in all the glory of a summer's day in the high mountains of ancient mythical China.

Birds sang in the tree's that dotted around the temple grounds, butterflies drifted and fluttered lazily across the temple ground, brushing the plants that grew in the small Zen gardens. The koi fish swam gracefully in the Zen garden pond, moving with a poise and elegance that only koi really can move in. Even one or two mice darted across the ground into the safety of the cracks in the old temple's walls.

And through an open window in one of these walls, lay Jack Spicer, evil genius and hater of all this natural beauty.

For last five days Jack had lain in the hospital ward of the Xiaolin temple. Most of his bandages had been removed now with only the main one across his chest remaining. He had poured away every drink of healing soup that the monks offered to him. He didn't trust them as far as he could throw them, and he knew the feeling was mutual. Every time one of the monks came to deliver any food they would glair and growl at him. They never said a word to him, and Jack was fine with not saying a word back.

Only Omi ever treated him humanely, but even then Omi still had a slightly tense air about him, like he suspected that at any moment Jack would try to assault him.

Jack was surprised. These monks could beat him in seconds, and considering the fact he was incredibly injured, them being paranoid of him was a humorous turn of events.

Of course they had all rights to be paranoid.

Jack had been slowly thinking about how best to take advantage of this situation. He could wait until they all left to get new Shen Gong Wu so he could rob the vault. He could call in his Jack-Bots and have them make a sneak attack on the base, well, that's if he had any left. He could do lots of things to the monks, but for some reason he didn't want to do anything to them.

Jack was evil, a maniacal genius who wanted to take over the world and enslave all people into his evil empire….of evil.

But he just didn't feel like doing anything to the monks…well, at least for now. He considered that he owed them for helping him, even if they did hate him and vice-versa. By helping him, they had portrayed a degree of honour that even Jack couldn't betray.

While he was in the ward, it seemed like Chase was once again trying to take over the world, and a lot of the time it seemed like the monks where busy off fighting him somewhere.

Whenever they left to go fight evil, the temple became oddly, almost eerily silent. Jack would sit, alone in his ward listening to the sounds of the ancient temple around him.

Some people would call it relaxing, spiritual and enlightening. Jack called those people jobless hippies.

Jack sighed and rolled his eyes, placing his hands behind his head. "Man this place sucks."

He chuckled, that sentence summing up everything about the temple. God he missed his filthy, dank basement with its surround sound, HD-TV, two hundred channels, best computer money can buy and an endless supply of junk food and noodles.

Ok, so he didn't see his parents much…Jack suddenly frowned. In fact, Jack couldn't remember when he'd last seen his parents.

He frowned harder as he tried to conjure a mental image. 'What the hell do they even look like?'

He found it rather worrying that he couldn't even remember their faces.

He shrugged. He had stopped caring about them ages ago. It wasn't that he didn't love them; he just didn't care about them. They lived their lives and Jack lived his, that was how it went and that's how it would always go.

People say you can't live without parents, well, Jack considered himself living proof that you could. And anyway, he was an evil genius, he didn't need his parents.

Jack was suddenly distracted by a growling in his stomach. He took a deep breath and placed his hands on his growling belly.

"Damn those monks and their rabbit foot." While Jack had not been drinking the healing soup, he still ate the meals they gave him.

However, the monks seemed to live on a primarily vegetarian diet with the exception of fish, and Jack hated it. He needed a burger, fries, chicken, some meat of some kind please! He didn't care that it was unhealthy, it was tastier then this constant supply of fruit and salad.

Jack sat up, wincing slightly at the pain, but at least it was less than it was before. Healing soup or not, Jack was still getting better. In fact, Jack was surprised at the rate his body was healing. Last time he had taken a beating that was only half that Chase's was he'd spent a month in the hospital. He'd only been here twelve days and he was pretty much ready to walk around.

'In fact, I think that's just what I'm gonna do.' Jack thought, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

Slowly, carefully, he lifted himself onto his feet. At first it hurt, but he found that the pain was quickly fading into nothing but a small tired ache.

He stretched his limbs, flexing his arms and shoulders. He then rotated his head, listening to the small cracking sounds of whatever that was cracking, the same happening when he cracked his fingers.

He breathed out a quick sigh of relief, everything seemed to be in working order, or at least good enough to make his way to the kitchen and try and find something good to eat. He was confident that Clay was a fellow carnivore, and it was extremely likely that the cowboy had some BBQ meat packed away somewhere.

After putting on the rest of his clothes, he proceeded to walk out the room.

He was almost glad he'd been here before, even if it was when he was uncontrollably good. He knew most of the corridors, the rooms, almost everything about this place; it was one of the few things that had made him valuable to the Heylin side.

As he wandered down the hall he passed a window. He turned his head, not really caring what he saw, but really just because he wanted to see something different then the same four walls he'd been looking at for twelve days.

However, when he spotted what was out of the window he stopped, eyes widening in interest.

It was the Shen Gong Wu vault house.

His hunger was slowly being forgotten as his old greed for Wu came seeping back into his mind. Maybe he couldn't steal any Wu for now, but he could just…maybe…poke around and check out what Wu they still had.

Maybe he could even take back the Third Eye of Zheng while he was at it; after all, he had got it first.

He quickly made his way outside, passing quickly through the old, familiar corridors and wooden doors.

He blinked as he stepped outside into the bright sunlight; his eyes burned slightly and he shielded them with a hand.

"Damn sunlight," he muttered as he made his way across the courtyard. He didn't bother to use any stealth since everyone was off stopping his royal king-of-the-jerks, Chase Young.

As he walked up to the huge wooden doors of the vault he stopped, staring at the building. It looked like it had been there since the dawn of time, but Jack knew that was just clever architecture. The building had been destroyed more times then he could count on his fingers, probably his toes as well.

As Jack walked towards the door he grinned, 'I should really take advantage of people's hospitality more often'

He put a hand on the main door and pushed, wincing at the loud creaking noise the door made as it slowly moved open. He may not need to be sneaky, but it didn't mean that he wanted to make much noise; after all, the monks could be back at any moment.

When the great door had been open enough, he peeked his head around, making sure that no one was guarding the place.

He smirked at the empty room before him. However, Jack wasn't about to go barging in. True, he may, at times, be a little bit foolish, but years of fighting the monks had taught him something.

They never let anyone get to their Wu.

However, he had also learned something else. They always guarded them badly. Really badly. But that's what you get when you entrust a dragon to come up with a guard system. Dojo was clever, but he couldn't keep up with the ultra-modern vault-busting methods that Jack came up with.

Jack took a second to hop down the steps and find a nice palm-sized rock. He then returned to the door and threw it into the room.

It landed with a patter in the centre. For a moment nothing happened, then, as if out of no where, a huge log came swinging down from the ceiling. This was followed by several spikes shooting out the walls and three large circular razors swinging out the walls.

Jack yawned. God, these guys have really gotta think of something more original then this Indiana Jones crap.

After the cute little show of backwardness had ended Jack strode confidently into the room. He reached the beginning of the hidden staircase with a smile, and he was just about to step down on the first step to activate the staircase when a voice called out from behind him.

"Ahh, Jack Spicer, I see you are feeling better."

Jack spun around, his face the very picture of shock, panic, and surprise.

Standing, just at the side of the open door, was Master Fung.

He was a tall, thin old man, easily into his eighties, maybe even nineties, and it showed in his thin, Chinese face. He had bright blue eyes and black hair, evident by his moustache and curly Lenin-esque beard. He was bald and had many age lines on his face, but this only made him look wiser and more mature. However, his age was to have no judgement on his health, as he was easily one of the most powerful fighters in the world. The high master of the Xiaolin temple wore very simple robes. A light blue waistcoat, lose white shirt, black pants and simple monk sandals. Around his neck was a small gold medallion with a Chinese symbol engraved into it.

Jack was caught red-handed about to rob the vault, he was betraying his hosts kind hospitality, repaying their completely unasked medial assistance with his own selfish greedy desire for Wu.

Yet, the old man was smiling.

"I trust you are healing well?" Fung asked; that warm, knowing smile still on his face.

Jack looked around, his eyes darting around the room. Where were the monks? Where was the punishment?

Something in the teen's mind suddenly reminded him that he hadn't answered the man's question.

"Erm…yea, I'm doing well, I suppose." He stumbled out.

The old man smiled wider. "Good." and he stepped forward. Jack took in a sharp breath and backed quickly away.

Master Fung chuckled. "Don't worry Jack I'm not going to hurt you."

"Excuse me if I don't believe you." Jack sneered. However, the moment the words left his lips he froze up, eyes widening. 'What the hell was THAT!' Jacks inner voice screamed, 'You've just sneered, at Master friggin' Fung! You know? MR Xiaolin monk master?!'

For a second Master Fung froze, his eyes reflecting something that Jack couldn't recognise, but the thing vanished and Master Fung linked his hands together under the folds of his shirt. He even seemed to chuckle silently.

"Then I excuse you," He stepped aside and gestured towards the door in a calm, flowing way that only someone like him could do. "Would you like to join me for a walk about the temple?"

Jack was at first expressionless, then a smile began to itch its way onto his face. He laughed once, short and a sharp, then again, then broke out into hysterics.

Fung's expression dropped slightly, but his arm didn't.

Jack calmed down, grinning like crazy. "Are you serious? I was just about to rob the Wu vault and now you want me to take a nice summer's stroll with you? You can't be serious, old man."

Fung raised an eyebrow and finally let his arm drop, folding them back under his robe. "Might I remind you that I could be punishing you for being in here?"

Jack's grin dropped as Fung reminded him of this. He ran a tongue across his teeth as he looked down at the floor in thought. He looked back up, resting one hand on the back of his neck.

"Will you not mention this to the others?" Jack's expression was clearly apologetic, "Please? I'm not up for taking any more beatings this month."

Master Fung nodded.

Jack twitched a smile and began walking out of the room, Master Fung following the teen and shutting the huge door behind him.

The two walked side-by-side for a while in silence. Jack was feeling really awkward about the whole scene. He really didn't want to be doing this. His hunger had returned and was nagging annoyingly inside his belly. Plus, he was an evil teenage genius bent on world domination; Master Fung was the Xiaolin equivalent of Obi-Wan. This was hardly the number one place Jack wanted to be right now. There was also a silly little concern running around in his mind about someone seeing him with the old man. How's it going look for any Heylin who could be watching? It'll look like he's gone over to the other side, and that would be very, very dangerous for Jack's health.

His nervousness must have shown on his face as Fung's voice suddenly spoke, bringing Jack back from his thoughts.

"I heard what Chase did to you." Jack looked up at Fung as he continued, "It doesn't surprise me. Chase Young always did have a tight control over those on the Heylin side."

Jack huffed, "You're telling me."

Fung looked at a bird that was flying out of a tree and above their heads. "But that's the way the Heylin side has always been."

Jack blinked. "What'cha mean?"

Fung smiled at the boy. "The very ideas of the paths of Xiaolin monks and Heylin warriors oppose each other. Why do you think we fight?"

Jack shrugged. "I dunno. I always thought it was because we're the bad guys and you're the good guys."

Fung placed one hand behind his back and used the other to stroke his beard. "Yes and no. You see, while at first glance it is indeed a simple matter of good vs. evil, but, under closer inspection, do you really think that each side behaves in those exact mannerisms?"

Jack went to immediately answer yes, but then he thought about it. He'd showed his good side many a time. Rai had crossed sides once, a long time back, in fact, over the years each member of the Xiaolin monks had had a taste of the dark side, and sometimes it had been vice-versa. Even Chase had shown a degree of respect and honour towards his enemy.

Fung watched as Jack frowned in thought at this and the old man smiled. "See?"

"Yea…" Jack said slowly.

Master Fung looked forward again as they approached the Zen pond with the koi. "Our sides are also divided by ideals. We both wish to bring world peace and create equality for all, however, it is how we do this that differs."

Jack smirked. "World peace? Equality? I hardly think we Heylins want that."

Fung raised an eyebrow at Jack. "Oh really? Think about it Jack. If you were to rule the world, what would you do?"

"Well, firstly I would make the monks serve me candy all day, then-" Jack began quickly.

"I meant," Fung interrupted, "What would you do to the world, as a whole."

Jack scratched the side of his face lightly. "I dunno…I'd make everyone the same I suppose, and take all the power and weapons for myself."

Fung raises his other eyebrow. "World peace and equality?"

Jack went to argue but stopped as he realised the old man was right.

Fung smiled. "See, it is only in the ways we wish to achieve these goals that we differ. You wish to achieve them through power, fear and oppression. We wish to achieve them through talk, mediation and understanding."

Jack stopped at the edge of the pond, looking down onto the koi. "If that's true then why do you train in fighting and stuff?"

Master Fung also stopped to look down on the fish. "Because we must keep the balance between good and evil, we must fight so that the balance of power is never upset."

Jack nodded slowly. It really did make sense in a weird kinda way.

Jack sighed, he never used to think about things like this when he was a kid. But he'd grown older, just like everyone else, well, maybe with the exceptions of Chase and Wuya, who never seemed to age. He couldn't have remained a kid forever. He had turned from a foolish, cowardly kid into a slightly less foolish, but much less cowardly teenager. Jack was sure that this life had probably affected him in other ways, but he hadn't really taken any long in-depth looks at himself, so he really didn't know, or care.

But, this is what happens when you live in a reality like this.

He frowned as his eyes followed a black looking koi with a red star on his head, 'Speaking of realities…'

"Hey, err, Master Fung?" Jack didn't like referring to the man as 'Master' but he had no choice as he didn't know the guys first name.

"Yes Jack?" The old man answered calmly.

"I had this really vivid dream the other day." Jack said, still concentrating on the fish. "And I mean really, really vivid dream. Seriously, it was like I was there."

"Really?" Fung turned his head to look at the teenager, "Tell me Jack, what happened in this dream?"

"Well, it wasn't so much what happened, but more like what I was being told, you know?" Jack looked up to the old man and sighed, scratching his cheek again. "This shrink was going on about how Chase Young was like, the epitome of all my fears and stuff."

Master Fung looked back to the pond, stroked his beard and made an understanding 'hum' noise. Jack continued. "Yea, and, erm, the guy said that this world was like, a dream or something. I was just making it all up so I didn't have to face the real world with all my fears and stuff." Jack smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Crazy dream, eh? Do you think it means anything?"

Jack hoped the old man didn't think he was insane or anything, although, he subtly wondered if he really cared or not. Jack suddenly yawned as a strange wave of tiredness overtook him.

Master Fung was silent for a moment before shrugging. "I don't know. Maybe it means you should conquer your fears. Maybe it has something to do with the Third Eye of Zheng, that Wu is very dangerous Jack, but its not yet clear if you've been affected by it or not."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Why? What does it do?" 'Damn I want to sleep.'

"It gives out great power." Fung said slowly. "But at a great cost, as Qin Shi Huang found out..."

Jack gave the old man a concerned yet curious look, but inside he was fighting against another yawn. "Great power?"

The old man frowned and looked down to his feet. "How else do you think he managed to defeat his rivals and rule China for so long?"

Jack had an odd mixture of excitement, as he could be about to develop powers to conquer entire nations, worry, as he didn't know what this 'price' was, and sleepiness.

He blinked as Master Fung turned to look at him. Was it Jack, or did everything seem a bit…whiter?

"I wouldn't worry though," The old man smiled, "You seem to be ok, and besides, soon its sister Wu should reveal itself, so any problems you may have can be solved."

Jack could feel his legs growing weak as sleep crept into them. "Master Fung…I feel…odd."

Jack blinked again, screwing up his eyes. He staggered back, shaking his head. When he looked back his eyes bugged and his mouth dropped in shock.

"Jack? What's the matter? What's wrong?" Dr Morrison's voice coming out of Master Fung's mouth. Master Fung was also wearing the Doctors clothes. The ground had taken on a padded quality, as did everything else around them. They where an odd mixture of white, and whatever colour they were originally. Needless to say, the whole thing was thoroughly disturbing to see.

Jack panicked, but in the same way, he didn't. He was too tired to panic. He finally collapsed onto his side. He was terrified of the way the world around him was morphing, changing, the ground re-shaping itself to become more padded, walls moving closer to make a square around him. Jack blinked again, tears of fear falling from his eyes as the Doctor Morrison-Master Fung person moved closer too him.

He almost choked on fear as Master Fung's face changed, melted and moved until the concerned face of Doctor Morrison was looking down at him.

His eyes finally shut, unable to look at what was happening around him, and his mind blanked out, shutting away the fear.

Jack felt like time had stopped. For what seemed an eternity, all Jack could see was blackness, the void of his sleep, but he could hear something. He could hear himself silently, emotionlessly asking, 'What's happening to me?'

Then Jack Spicer finally opened his eyes.

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Well, I know that wasn't worth it, but hey it IS an update after all.

Anyways, I'm going to try and work on this more sometime. I need to try and get at least another 2-3 chapters done.

Anyways, reviews are nice! They make me smile and go "Woo!"