Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown
~ Chapter Four: Her Fight ~
Seething ash – stained with flecks of festering ember – creeps along the western horizon as Kimiko finally escapes the cavern's underbelly. She peers around the serrated lip, assessing the area before her. Fog trundles along the jagged and dried surface, choking any lingering light as it swirls between the withering trees. Kimiko blinks against the brighter atmosphere. However, her eyes easily adjust. When she senses no danger, Kimiko enters into the Heylin Master's mystic forest. She halts, though, as Heylin magic overwhelms her Xiaolin essence. The dark energy is suffocating. It curls, constricts, seeks and devours her Xiaolin aura, threatening to subdue her, while leaving an unpleasant sensation within her stomach's pit. Inhaling several calming and somewhat endowing breaths, Kimiko endeavors forward.
Kimiko traverses several steps, pauses, reconnoiters her immediate surroundings, and presses forth once more. However, she prolongs her reconnaissance – despite the importance of time – as she ventures further inside. The Heylin-condensed air grows heavy with every step, traveling deeper and deeper with her. Alongside her dwindling air, the mystic forest evolves into a treacherous and claustrophobic state as the trees cluster closer together; naked branches, notched stones, and unfamiliar plant-life replace the deceptively jagged pathway. Yet, Kimiko finds some relief through this development. The closer she reaches for her end goal, the more obstacles she will encounter. This, for a fact, Kimiko is aware through experience. However, this recognition does nothing to alleviate any of the Fire Dragon's increasing apprehension.
Arctic air swirls within the haunting fog. Kimiko hugs herself, clinging onto her fading warmth. Despite her persistence and drive to continue forward, her uncertainty prevails. Kimiko's tiger instincts, however small, implore that she returns. Even though, she is well aware that is impossible at this stage of her journey; Kimiko surrendered her freedom the moment she entered Chase Young's lair. Aside from the Heylin aura, something else – something more sinister – stalks close behind.
A faint breath tickles her ear. Ice shards accumulate along her spine. Kimiko pivots around, while placing herself into a defensive stance. Any hesitation alters into a fierce expression that honors her title as "Dragon." Yet, disappoint alongside confusion surfaces as no enemy lurks behind the young monk. However, Kimiko retains her stance. She still detects the ominous presence, and it is not the Heylin aura churning about.
Kimiko withdraws several paces; she lowers her center of gravity, perceiving her surroundings with a careful eye. Her tiger instincts and guard heighten, while her stance lowers further still.
It is close, real close. Kimiko can sense it.
A sudden movement captures her eye.
"FIRE!" Kimiko screams. Twirling into the air, she unsheathes her element towards her mysterious opponent. An inferno ruptures from her fingertips, consuming the withering life and – unintentionally – pruning the forest. Kimiko stumbles back, and relinquishes her power. Surprise etches itself onto her feature. Never before has her fire, in its weakest form, released that much raw energy before. A sudden fear grapples Kimiko's heart as sedated memories overwhelm the forefront of the Xiaolin's mind. Yet, the young Dragon quickly regains control of herself and her emotions. Movement stirs beneath the sweltering fumes. As the smoke clears, swallowed by the forest itself, Kimiko revises her surroundings once more.
The Fire Dragon's vast conflagration devastated the emaciated land. A clearing – forever scared – now encompasses the area before her. Kimiko's sapphires dance around, seeking out her stalker.
"No," Kimiko murmurs to herself as the Heylin forestry remains absolutely still. "No. This can't b–" Kimiko cuts herself off, while she leaps upwards; a thick, vine-like substance sweeps underneath her feet. "Huh. Guess I spoke to soon." The Xiaolin comments, as she finally faces her opponent. Two, larger-than-life flower buds snake up from the ground. Their vines lash across the haze-glossed air. The plant-like monsters pull back their petals, revealing a jagged membrane not unlike teeth. Directing their attention at Kimiko, the plants roar, and then lunge at their prey.
A fierce smile smears across the Fire Dragon's lips.
Kimiko bounds into the air; she avoids barbed vines and the set of jagged membrane with a single flip. Kimiko perches herself atop a weathered branch. With mild amusement, she watches the plants snap at each other as they detangle their vines.
"This is too easy." Kimiko brags.
However, the Fire Dragon spoke far too soon.
Without any forbearing, one plant propels itself upward with its jaw gaping. Kimiko springs onto an adjacent branch; she stumbles somewhat, but rights herself quick enough. Kimiko twists at the waist. Amusement twinkles within her sapphires as the plant chokes on the previously occupied limb. Yet, her confidence – and any prolonged humor – smolder away. The second plant rears its ugly head, snapping while emanating a low hiss.
"Judolette Flip! Fire!" Kimiko cries. She springs forwards, barely evading the flower's fangs, as fire ripples forth. The blaze scorches her opponent somewhat, distracting it. Kimiko bunny hops across several more tree limbs, and acquires a safer distance. Her breath hitches slightly. "That was close." The Xiaolin comments aloud. By no means did Kimiko expect the plants to maneuver with such speed and agility. Unfortunately, this desolate forest is their "home," so – of course – they have an advantage.
"Guess I should have taken that into consideration." She mutters, while bounding onto another branch. One over-grown weed Kimiko could handle. But, two? No, not a chance. She couldn't – she wouldn't – take that risk. Her Xiaolin Fire may incinerate the plants easy enough. Nonetheless, Kimiko is afraid of reducing the mystic forest alongside them, and she has yet to find the Heylin Moon Flower. Aside from that, she has no backup if something goes horribly wrong.
Despite her constant denial, Kimiko knows that she is not as strong or tactical as her fellow warriors are. Maybe she is as resilient as Clay – a big, fat maybe. However, that's only because she outmatches him in speed and agility. If he threw his weight around wisely, which he often does, Kimiko can never win. Above all else, Clay does not even compare with either Omi or Raimundo. As much as it displeased her Dragon's drive, Kimiko needs to retreat for now. At least until she gains a better understanding of her enemy.
Unfortunately, Fate intertwined.
Engrossed with her escape attempt and revising her plans, Kimiko missteps across the next branch. A small cry escapes past ruby lips as she plummets towards the earth below. Maneuvering on instinct alone, Kimiko clings onto a lower branch. Weakened by her previous fire attack, though, it snaps beneath her sudden weight. Kimiko flails as she falls once more. Limbs tear her clothes and rip her porcelain flesh; she curls into a tight ball to ward away the dead attacks. However, in doing so, she overlooks the tree limbs protruding farther out. Kimiko bashes her head against one such branch. Her vision distorts, while pain ruptures forth; she cannot correct her form before colliding with numerous branches as she continues her descent. Scarcely conscious, Kimiko only just recognizes the ground rushing forth. Its withered form foretells the broken bones and immense pain accosting towards her.
However, it never comes.
Vines lash out, encircling around her battered limbs, and snatch her away. Kimiko blinks. Her sapphires register the two plants, mouths gaping and salivating before her. Their vines secure her wrists and ankles, their barbs biting into her torn flesh and immobilizing the young warrior. The weeds snap at one another, battling each other for the first bite.
Is this how it ends? Kimiko wonders. Thousands of battles. Hundreds of Showdowns. Kimiko fantasied about her death once or twice before. She always assumed she would die fighting, undone by a powerful Heylin warrior such as Chase Young. Instead, she will die alone in a foreign land by two temperamental weeds. Kimiko supposes she has no right to complain. She should have reported her findings about the poison to Master Fung. She should have sought help rather than go it alone. Why did she feel the need to prove herself? Now, Papa would die alongside her. The Tohomiko name no more.
And, yet, Kimiko is at peace with herself. In actuality, she finds some comfort in her death.
No more Training.
No more Showdowns.
No more death-defining, world saving plans.
Only a blissful sleep.
Kimiko's eyes flutter. Her body succumbs to the vines wrenching at her flesh, preparing for her eternal slumber.
You must not give up, young one.
Kimiko's sapphires snap open. The mystic plants hover before her.
You must not give up.
Kimiko yanks against her restraint; the barbs bury deeper, releasing a liquid substance into her bloodstream. The blissful sensations returns. Yet, this time, she struggles against its control.
Rise, Xiaolin Warrior. Rise, Dragon of Fire. Rise, Yin-Yang Daughter.
"Wudai Mars," Kimiko mutters. "Fire."
The Xiaolin Dragon of Fire unleashes a blazing inferno. Its power is unlike anything she has summoned before. The two weeds do not even scream as the flames devour only their forms, leaving nothing but ash. Braced by her element, Kimiko floats onto the ground.
Well done, young one. A melodic voice whispers as Kimiko's vision contorts into nothing more than a colorless mass.