Chapter 4 Jack and Emerald's Weapon

Abandoned Temple

Emerald was laying down staring at the stars while Jack slept. The fire between them made the cold night air all the more pleasant. She tried to fall asleep but she couldn't.

"Master, could you tell me a story?" asked Emerald

Jack woke up. He looked at her with a tiered look.

"Emerald I have already told you all the stories I know including the ones that my mother and father used to tell me when I was younger."

"I know but your voice helps me fall asleep a lot faster than anything." responded Emerald

"Very well, how about the story of the Traveling Creatures?" asked Jack with a grin

"Yes that is my favorite." answered Emerald.

"Long ago before I met you I heard of a time portal in a far away land. This land was filled with mystical creatures. I was guided by each one of them, first by the great sea creature who's legs were so long that they could reach the depths of the ocean. Then it passed me on to the mountain creature, who had many spikes and a scorpion's tail. It took me through the mountains where I had to pass a test against shadow creatures. After I defeated them, I continued my journey with the sky creature that resembled a red bird that took me up to the guardian of the portal. The guardian and I fought, but the warrior was far to skilled to be defeated by me. He won that battle but allowed me to go. He allowed me to continue my journey and thanks to that I am still traveling." said Jack finishing the story

Emerald was now asleep. Jack was always happy when Emerald slept, it brought him some piece of mind. During their time together Jack began to see Emerald as an apprentice but also as a daughter. He still remembered the story she told him about her home world. How could someone do something so terrible to someone so young, and then turn her into a blood thirsty fiend. According to Emerald in human years she was around eight years old when she saw such a horrible event. Now she was almost thirty because she stopped thinking about herself as a gem and instead she believed herself to be a human like Jack.

Emerald's Dream

Emerald was walking by the streets of Jacks home land. She saw all the people doing their daily routines whether it was working on their shops or walking by the gardens, or making food. The children were laughing and playing. When they saw her they all bowed in respect and she did the same. She was wearing her usual robe and made her way to the palace to meet with Jack and meet his parents. The emperor although now in his golden years was still an image of honor and respect, the empress however was the living image of kindness and went straight to give Jack and Emerald a hug. Emerald bowed to the emperor as did Jack. The emperor walked to them and bowed to them. The emperor had accepted Emerald into their family and she couldn't be happier.

The sky then turned black as a mass of darkness descended upon the land. Everyone went to their battle stations. Emerald and Jack brought out their swords as they saw the darkness take form. The creature had six horns, a green face and red fiery eyebrows. The demon quickly grabbed Emerald, and lifted her up to eye level.

"You shall feel the wrath of Aku, you pesky little gem. For your kind are now dust in the wind yet you stand here mocking me." said Aku as everything began to turn dark.

All that Emerald heard afterwards was Aku's laugh.

Abandoned Temple

Emerald shot up. The sun was barely rising. Emerald got up and and went to the nearby river to wash her face.

"It was just a dream. I will not fail my master." said Emerald.

Emerald then began to practice sword fighting. She does a frontal thrust and then continues with a diagonal slice, and she finishes with a circular slice. She then decides to recall all the great values of the samurai. She kneeled and took her sword in both hands and began to recite.

"Willingness, Truthfulness, Politeness, Simplicity, Courage. With this sword I honor all of those that have come before me, and all that will come after me." said Emerald

She then sheathed the sword and made her way back to the temple.

Aku's Lair

Aku looks at the screen were Emerald was. His eyes keep track of her movements. He quickly grabs the phone and calls the Bounty Hunters R Us lines.

"Hello Bounty Hunters R Us, I would like to make an order. Yes, another one. Yes, yes, another one of those. NO this is not the same guy! Look just send me your biggest and scariest...What? What do you mean that I already ordered him? Oh no wait I remember now, last week's fiasco. Well send me the other one. What? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT HE IS SICK!? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? Oh, oh okay then send the new guy. Thirty minutes or it's free. Thanks."

In front of Aku stood a giant ogre with a battle axe on his back and a cheap cologne smell.

"I see you are here early. Ok let me tell you why you are here. Relax it is not the samurai Jack that I have wanted dead for years. No you will go after his apprentice." said Aku pulling the screen in front of the ogre.

"This is your target. She is a Gem. I don't suspect that you know what that is. Well it's nothing that you should worry your little head about. JUST DESTROY HER!" screamed Aku as the ogre ran to the temple.

Abandoned Temple

Emerald just sat down to have breakfast with Jack.

"So, how did you sleep?" asked Jack

"Well, I had a nightmare. Aku was there attacking your home. And he caught me and then everything turned black. I don't know what that means." said Emerald swallowing her food.

"Do not fret, my little Emerald. Dreams are one thing. Reality is another." said Jack putting his hand on her shoulder trying to calm Emerald.

As they pack their things the ogre's car drives up to them and the busts open revealing the ogre. The ogre pulls out his axe and jumps out. The duo are unfazed by this and Jack merely slices through the ogre like he was paper. The ogre falls down and explodes. Emerald picks up Jack's hat and give it to him. With a smile they continue their travels.

Aku's Lair

Aku was furious.

"GRRRAAAAHHHH! I knew I should have sent the cursed beetles."

Plain

Emerald and Jack are walking by the plain and suddenly by the horizon they see an army of beetle robots. The two samurais brought out their swords and got ready to fight. The beetle army stood up with their blade legs.

The wind blew for a moment and then the battle began. The robot beetles tried to immobilize Jack only for Jack to cut off the first ones head. He then proceeded to cut one in half. He then used its right half to block three other attacks. Jack jumped and faced them head on. He cut off their arms and threw them at the incoming forces. Jack then slashed the three with a circular turn.

Emerald was doing the same she sliced and cut the robots into pieces. Oddly enough some robots managed to cut some parts of her robe. She was fighting like a true samurai. Robot parts laid scattered everywhere. However the battle was not over. The remaining robots pushed Jack away from Emerald. The robots ganged up on her and while one caught her arms one pulled back to land the finishing blow to her gem. Jack saw this and he used his lightning speed to pass his robots and go straight to Emerald.

Time seemed to slow down as the robot brought its weapon down. Emerald felt many emotions. Embarrassment, anger, frustration, and above all else she was disappointed on herself. Until she saw her master with his usual serious look enraged by the robot's actions. She then felt other emotions happiness, calmness, and above all else courage. Suddenly a bright light came out of her chest splitting the robot in two. She could feel a great amount of power coming from the light. The light then enveloped her clothes creating a huge slicing flash of light. Jack hid behind one of the robots to avoid being killed. When the light died out he went to look for Emerald who was passed out on the floor.

Jack rushed to her and held her close.

"Emerald. Emerald. Emerald!" said Jack checking to see if she was okay.

"Um..oh. Master five more minutes please. Why is it so cold here?" asked Emerald

Jack had just noticed. Emerald was in her underwear. He quickly placed his robes on her to cover her.

"Better?" "Yes, thank you. Wait, why am I in my underwear?" "You created a bright light from your gem. It destroyed all the robots and it must have destroyed you clothes as well." explained Jack earning a blush from Emerald.

Emerald quickly got up and recreated her robes and handed Jack his own. She then began to check her gem to see if anything was wrong with it. All seemed fine. She then thought that maybe she had summoned her weapon. Sadly the only weapon around was her regular sword. With everything picked up they continued on their journey.

Aku's Lair

Aku threw his screen and was just screaming and blasting everything in sight. He was angrier than ever before.

"STUPID MECHANICAL PILES OF GARBAGE! Why is it so hard to destroy two tiny warriors? AM I THE GREAT AKU ASKING FOR TOO MUCH!?"

He then calmed down and sat on his throne.

"Well as the old saying goes 'you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.'" said Aku buried in his throne

He then suddenly realized that he had just said the answer to his problem.

"Yes, yes, yes." hissed Aku.

Plain

Jack and Emerald were walking. The precious battles were now a far memory for the two of them. Suddenly Aku emerged from the ground in front of the two samurais. Emerald thought back to her nightmare as she stared at the master of darkness. They both pulled out their weapons and Aku raised his hand.

"Samurai Jack, your apprentice has deceived you. She is not who she claims to be." said Aku trying to trick Jack

"You waste your time Aku. Emerald has never deceived me." responded Jack indignant at Aku

"Oh really then would she mind explaining...her...GOTCHA!" said Aku as he snatched Emerald and pulled her away from Jack.

Jack jumped and struck Aku's shoulder. Aku swatted him away back to the ground.

"MASTER!" yelled Emerald as Aku swallowed her.

Aku began to shrink until he became Emerald's new skin tight suit. It was black and forced Emerald's movements accordingly to his will. Aku's ugly face was printed on her chest with a smile of extreme happiness.

"HAHAHAHAH. Foolish samurai, your compassion and love for this gem shall be your undoing. Now let us end this struggle of our once and for all." yelled Aku as Emerald's new suit.

Aku jumped forward using Emerald's body to attack. He swung her sword at Jacks neck. Jack did a back flip and began attacking but he had to pull his attacks fearing that he would hit Emerald. Aku took advantage of this and began attacking more and blocking less. Akus attacks had made several slashes on Jack and part of his clothes were severely damaged. Emerald meanwhile tried to fight back against Aku's movements, but it was futile.

Aku then tripped Jack. Jack fell in pain. Aku then stepped on the hand that had the sword.

"You are a coward Aku."

"And you are a fool samurai. I do admit this is far easier having a nice firm puppet to take the hits for me. HAHAHAHAH!"

"Master please I can't stop him. Just strike me down." begged Emerald

"No Emerald you can fight him. I believe in you." responded Jack with a calm tone.

Emerald began to cry and she began to pull back but Aku pulled forward. Emerald then remembered when Onyx was forced to transform into Almandine. She began to summon her strength and a light on her chaste appeared.

"What? NO NO NO NO." screamed Aku as the light of Emerald's gem burned him off her.

Aku was now off Emerald and was down in the ground with severe burns. Emerald on the other hand stood with her weapon in hand. Her weapon was a sword similar to Jack's only that this one had a green emerald handle, and a sharp shiny green edge. She helped Jack to his feet and they both stared at Aku with rage in their eyes.

"Master this one is mine." said Emerald

Jack merely stepped aside leaving Emerald to face Aku. Aku got up and prepared himself to fight.

"Insolent, rench, even without the advantage of a shield I, Aku, shall destroy you and your master. GRAH!" said Aku jumping at Emerald.

Emerald simply lifted her sword up to her eyes pointing it at Aku. She then merely twisted her sword while thrusting it and nailing Aku on the chest. Aku screamed in pain, as he pressed his wound. Emerald then jumped high and cut off one of his arms. She kept going. Slicing every part of Aku she could. Aku desperately began to pull away, as he was being reduced to nearly nothing. Emerald then made a wide swing cutting Aku's other arm. Aku then tried to blast her with his heat vision, but she deflected it. She then jumped high and splitter Aku in two.

Emerald saw her work and then saw Aku's remains pull together into a tiny fly. Aku hissed trying to be menacing, but that only got him another sword swing which sent him on his way.

"Run you pathetic insect. Now you know to watch your back because one day it will be your last."