Zypher: Hey everybody and welcome to the next chapter of Darkness Reign. I thank those that enjoyed the last chapter and hope you will enjoy this one.

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Darkness Reign

Chapter 4

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The monks were still training, trying to think of ways to defeat the demons. 'But how? How are we going to do something that seems too impossible as of now? Without any way to get to the core of the earth without getting burned to a crisp, we will never stop them.' Omi thought.

Kimiko saw him concentrating hard and walked over to him. "Omi, is everything alright?" she asked. "No, not really. I'm still thinking of how we are supposed to beat those demons without the Hidoku Mouse."

"I'm sure we'll find out something soon but don't ponder on it so much. We're strong and I know there will be a way to defeat them somehow." Kimiko said. "I do hope you're right about this Kimiko." Omi said before he started to concentrate on his training once more.

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Yami woke up silently and yawned slightly before looking to Aqua and Yugi who were curled up together, still sleeping. He smiled lightly before getting up quietly to head over to the bag of food Yugi brought and took out a piece of seasoned meat, eating silently.

He looked up though when he saw Aqua's collar start to glow and he walked over, seeing what Shen Gong Wu was being revealed this time. "Hmm, the Ring of the Nine Dragons. How interesting. Can't say I'm pleased with the location." Yami muttered before waking them up. "Mmm, what is it, Yami?" Yugi asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"We have ourselves another Shen Gong Wu. The Ring of the Nine Dragons. Able to make up to nine copies of yourself." he explained. "That sounds helpful. Will we be taking the easy way or at least give those monks a chance to get there?" Yugi asked as he got himself dressed in the temporary clothing he brought when he was gone.

"Let's give them a chance and see what they can do. If they can actually beat us there and get out on time then we'll start using the Golden Tiger Claws more often." Yami replied as he picked up the Star Hanabi, Eye of Dashi and the Lotus Twister from the compartment.

"Let's get moving." he said as Yugi climbed onto Aqua's back.

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After Dojo told them of the Wu, they were already on their way there, although now prepared for the cold weather. "Whoo-boy. Who knew we were coming after a Shen Gong Wu in the ice cold area?" Clay said. "Yeah, who knew? I'm more of a sunny person. Not a freeze my tucas off kind of guy." Raimundo mumbled.

"Get used to it. At least you're not the ones getting a Shen Gong Wu rash. Speaking of which, I think I found it. Hold on kiddies, we're going down." Dojo said as he spiraled down to the ground before landing.

They climbed and looked around before Omi spotted the Wu. "Ah, there it is." he called, running towards it. "Yeah and with no sign of Yugi or his little demon pals." Raimundo added, still peeved that he lost the Hidoku Mouse to Yami.

"Maybe not him but you still have me to worry about." Jack announced triumphantly as he came from above. "Jack-bots, take care of them!" They nodded as they went after them. He started for the Wu before Omi could get to it but was electrocuted before he could get there.

"Sorry, but that Wu is ours for the taking." Yugi said as they landed and he ran for it, using the Eye of Dashi on Omi.

"Alright. I got those demons!"

"Always the first to rush in, huh Rai?" Kimiko groused as she watched him before she and Clay started taking out the Jack-bots.

Aqua only sighed and smacked him away with his tail harmlessly before looking back towards Yugi and ran after him, seeing that he might not make it to the Wu in time.

"I got this for you, little one." Aqua said as he ran past him and touched the Wu along with Jack and Omi, who miraculously got back up after being hit by the Eye of Dashi's power and ran for the Wu as well.

"Alright, I'm calling this one. I call a Xiaolin Trio. First to snowboard down the mountain gets the Wu. I'm betting the Jet Bootsu." Jack said.

"Ok then, I'll bet the Eye of Dashi."

"And I'll bet my Orb of Tornami."

"Alright them, prepare to lose."

"Gong-Yi-Tan-Pai!" They shouted and the terrain shifted until a large mountain stood in the center of an endless snow field. Two smaller mountains came up around the sides, one holding Yami and Yugi while the other held the monks in their Wudai attire. "Come on, Aqua! Show them what you got!" Yugi called from the sidelines. Aqua looked over and gave him a thumbs-up. "Don't worry. I will."

Jack only snorted. "Pfft, I'll wear fuzzy pink bunny pajamas if a demon could actually win much lest snowboard." Jack grunted. "Oh? Then be prepared to hold up on that little wager." Aqua said with a smirk. "Enough of this talk. Are we ready to go?" Omi asked, looking to them both.

"Fine."

"Whatever."

When they were given the signal by Dojo, they started heading down the mountain. Jack was ahead with Aqua right behind him. Omi, sadly, was coming up behind them. "I can't lose this. Orb of Tornami!" he said as a stream of water came out towards them.

Aqua heard it coming and moved out of the way just in time. It hit Jack's snowboard and, because of the frigid condition of the showdown, the water froze and he went flying. Aqua slipped past him and gave a mock salute. "Hope your death won't be in vain there, Jack." he preened.

He growled and tried to aim for him as he landed. "Not this time!" Jack growled as he landed on his back. He snarled and tried to get him off but he held on tight around his neck. "Persistent little runt, aren't you?" he hissed as he tried to pull him off. "Only when it comes to claiming the Shen Gong Wu."

Because of his struggling which cause him to flare his wings out at some points, he was starting to slow down and Omi shot past them in a flash, using the Orb of Tornami to make a path of ice to help him. They watched dumbstruck before looking to each other. "Truce?" Aqua asked. "For now." Jack replied and they stopped struggling so Aqua could catch up with Omi.

"Well, this was unexpected." Yugi murmured. "Yes it is but it gives me an idea. Especially since that hag of a ghost isn't even here." Yami said, watching Jack. "What do you mean, Yami?"

"He wants to get all of the Shen Gong Wu, right? Maybe if he swears his loyalty to us, he may get what he wants depending on what it is and it also depends if he's not planning to go back to the Heylin witch or Chase Young after he joins us." he explained and Yugi nodded. "Yeah, I see what you mean now. We do need a touch of technology around." Yugi said as they continued to watch.

"Go Omi! You can win this!" Kimiko cheered. The others cheered as well, gaining glares from Jack and Aqua. "Alright time to speed this up a bit. Jack I need you to get ready to use the Jet Bootsu." Aqua said and he nodded. "Ready?" he asked.

"Born ready." He said as Aqua moved to the edge of the track and jumped off. "Alright now jump off and run down the wall. When I land, jump onto my back or you can run the rest of the way down." Aqua called as he unfurled his wings to slow his descent.

Jack did as he said, running down the wall using the Jet Bootsu. "Yeah but it was nice while it lasted but I have more important things to do and that's getting the Wu." he said as he ran past Aqua. He growled and brought in his wings, falling past Jack quickly before flipping over and landed harshly on the path once more but was back on his way down, now ahead of Omi.

"Hey, no fair!" He shouted from above and aimed the Orb of Tornami at him. "Prepare to be an ice statue." he said. "Orb of Tornami!"

"Well, let's see how you like to be covered in snow. Eye of Dashi!" Aqua said, pointing the Eye of Dashi towards the path Omi was on and made a large gap in the path. "Uh oh. Orb of Tornami!" Omi cried, pointing the orb at the gap in the path and iced over the gap before he could fall through. Aqua laughed at him before continuing on his way down.

From another part of the mountain, Jack was rushing down quickly, getting closer to the Wu. 'Soon, I'll have the Ring of the Nine Dragons which should make my job a lot easier.' he thought as he got closer and closer.

Before he could grab it though, Aqua came past him and grabbed it off the protruding rock. The terrain shifted back once more and Aqua held the Orb of Tornami, Jet Bootsu and Ring of the Nine Dragons. "Well, looks like you'll be wearing those pink bunny pajamas, aren't you?" Aqua said, smirking down at him.

Yami and Yugi came down and looked to him. "Maybe not, depending if he plans to take our proposal." Yami said. Jack looked up to them silently. "What proposal?" he asked, fearing the worse.

"As you can see, that Heylin hag of yours has left you and if you like, we'll be willing to take you in if you swear to us that you won't try to join back on their side or else you will have to deal with the consequences." Yami said.

"Wait, Jack. As much as we despise you, joining their side might mean bad things for you." Kimiko said. Jack stood up and looked to them. "And when did I start listening to the Xiaolin Slowpokes? Maybe I'll finally do something good in life with them on my side." Jack said. "Other way, bean dip." Aqua said haughtily.

"Right."

"Still Spicer, what good will come out of joining them? They already humiliated you, what, twice?" Raimundo said. "Yeah and you four did it just about who knows how many times." Jack countered before turning back to them. "Sure, I'll join you as long as there is some good coming out of it."

"Sure, don't worry, if we gather all the Shen Gong Wu like we intended, you'll have maybe one-third of the world in your favor if you don't go and screw up your stay with us." Yami said as Yugi climbed onto his back once more and they were off.

"Yeah but if you act up or try to communicate with the hag or reptile boy..." Aqua said, slicing a claw over his throat before flying off. Jack gulped before flying off behind them. "Well, this is a bummer. Jack joins their side even with the consequences of going to Chase or Wuya and we can't do squat about it without getting ourselves beat down." Raimundo grumbled.

"Maybe but there could be a possible chance that we can trick them. What do you think, Dojo?" Clay asked. Dojo appeared from under his hat and thought about it. "Chances are we can but we will have to deceive them and they are pretty hard to deceive. One of you guys will have to act that you're not part of the Xiaolin Temple in order to actually get near them." Dojo murmured.

"I vote for Kimiko." Raimundo said. "Me too." Omi said. "Clay?" he asked. "Uh, I guess I'll go for Kimiko as well." Clay said, shrugging his shoulders. "Hey! Don't I get a say in this?" she asked. "Nope, majority wins. Besides, you were the only person who was warming up to Yugi when he came so chances are they may take you in faster than they would Omi or Raimundo. As for Clay, we'll never know what they would think but it may be the same, just a little more reluctant." Dojo said as he jumped out from his hat and became his larger form.

"Come on, its best we try and plan this out flawlessly so they won't suspect anything." Dojo said and they nodded as they climbed onto his back and they were off back to the temple.

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They landed at Jack's home so he could get what he needs. "Pack what you need for now and we'll come back to get the rest." Yami said. "Does that include my evil lair?" he asked. "If we have time. Chances are we'll just make you a new one if you don't act up." Aqua answered.

He nodded and went through everything, bringing only the necessary tools he needed to at least make changes and new robots. "Alright, I'm ready." Jack said and they nodded as they left once more.

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"Hmm, with your absence, Jack was able to join up with the demons. Who knew?" Chase said as he watched. "Well, this is an odd turn of events. What should we do then, Chase? You heard what he said, if he communicates with any of us then he's pretty much dead and he's our only ticket to getting near those demons and to get them on our side." Wuya said.

"Well, I don't know about you but I think I'll have a chance with talking to Jack without them knowing. You just stay here and if I happen to find the Reversing Mirror and Serpent's Tail on my way, I'll return you back to your old self." Chase said as he got up, some of his big cats following as he disappeared out of sight.

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Zypher: And that shall be all for this chapter. I have a feeling I might have a Jack/Chase pairing in here after reading it for the first time. But anyways, I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter and will leave a review. See you all in the next chapter.

Shen Gong Wu used/mentioned:

Jet Bootsu - allows user to defy gravity by floating or by walking vertically/upside-down

Ring of the Nine Dragons - makes up to 9 users in total (maturity, potential, and brains are lowered though in each entity)

Serpent's Tail - allows the user to move through any object (does not protect against energy attacks such as lightning)

Reversing Mirror - reverses the effect of another Shen Gong Wu or anything else that can be reversed (such as an attack or a direction something is going)