A/N: Hey kids. Last monologue time (: Thank you so much to all you people who have actually read my creative ramblings, especially to you beautiful reviewers (: Sorry for the incredible slowness. Ive had a really busy month – I've had all my GCSE examinations, my last one is on the 9th, and then I'm finished with school untill September when I'm off to college (: So yeah, I've got an extra long holiday to A. Rewrite my book and send it off to the publishers, B. Get a proper job haha and C. Work on some fanfictions (:
Bonez1925: thank you I was quite worried people would be like, that's not clay! He really was the hardest person to get down. Hopefully, one day, Xiaolin showdown will come back and we may see him more in-depth.
XxX-CURLY-WURLY-XxX: haha first you nearly cry, now I make you hungry, I feel quite bad (: aye it is strange I never used to think about Clay too much, now I can watch through all the episodes (as my download of every single episode is finally complete (: ) I'm like yeah, Clay was an alright guy. Wow, my best friend is intellectual, using words such as 'indeed' I'll try and put some big ones in my next story, to try and keep up (: Thanks again for reviewing!
Raikim luver 4 life: I'm glad you love my story, even if it isn't much of one (: haha. Thank yooou.
AnaXaver: I feel so flattered reading all these reviews, thank you so much (:
I collapsed wearily on my bed, shattered after a hard day of training and planning. Not to mention that a new shen-gong-wu had revealed itself, meaning we had to have the usual tedious battle against Wuya, Chase Young, Jack Spicer, all those guys. I was glad to lie down. I smiled slightly, remembering the day I came to the Xiaolin temple. I figured it would be a laugh, just an easy life, much better than school and doing circus shows day in a day out, surrounded by my huge family. How wrong I'd been. I do love it here though, I never realised how attached I could become to someplace. This really was my home now. Kimiko, Clay and Omi were sleeping in their rooms next to me. I could hear their soft breaths breaking the silence of the night time. I smiled slightly, these guys really were the best. We made a great team. I looked down at my robes. My smile grew wider. And I was their leader.
I guess it took a while for it all to sink in. I mean, deep down, I knew that I could do it. And for weeks, I was so desperate to proove myself that I was good enough. And also, to show Omi that I could do it, I could be his leader even with him doubting me. But still it was such a shock. I was so tired and weary after the battle in the parallel world. It was even more intense than the crazy stuff we usually get thrown at us. I did my best though, I wasn't trying to show off, I wasn't even thinking about being the leader, I just had to protect everyone. That was all I was thinking. So there I was, stood with my fellow xiaolin monks, my best friends, my family. Waiting for Master Fung to announce the leader. As soon as he said my name, I don't know, it just felt like this huge weight of worry had gone, even my injuries seem to dissappear, or at least, they didn't hurt as much. It had changed my life so much... I rolled over to my side. I was rambling now, I wasn't making all that much sense. I closed my eyes and made an attempt to get my thoughts in order, seeing how much I had changed to become this leader, this shoku warrior, the dragon of the wind.
The beginning of my life, before Master Fung came, was nothing special, in comparison to where I am now. Sure, I thought I was special. Everyone did. I was the star of the Pedrosa Circus, my athletic skills where famous all across Rio De Janero. Probably most of Brazil knew of me and my brothers and sisters. But still, my life lacked meaning. I was arrogant, cocky, self-assured. All the fame had got to my head, I didn't really care about people other than my family. I was a popular guy, don't get me wrong. I had my pick of the girls, and they guys were always ready to come out and have a laugh. But I didn't really care that much about them, they were just like props in my materialistic life. But I guess I was getting tired of it all, deep down, I was so lonely. So when Master Fung and Dojo came to the circus and asked my family if they could take me to the Xiaolin temple to own my skills and one day become the dragon of wind, I jumped at the chance. It sounded like something exciting and knew. My mother was unsure of whether to let me go, she was worried about me, and what would happen to the circus once the star had gone. I managed to convince her to let me go though, and I guess she could tell that I was aching, heart and soul for a change. I loved Brazil and the circus more than anything else in the world, and it was painfull to leave, but I knew I could be someone better if I made a fresh start.
And then, I arrived here at the Xiaolin temple. I have to admit, it was a bit of a nasty shock. There was no ocean, no video games, no town. No nothing. Just this big block of buildings in the middle of this wide open strech of land. And no one my age, just this group of old men doing tai-chi. Fortunately, I met Kimiko and Clay, who were both around my age. I was very suprised looking at them, they deffinately weren't the sort of people I would ususally talk to. Clay was some cowboy-type, obviously very down to earth and a bit slow.
"Howdy" he said when he saw me, tilting his hat towards me politely. I rolled my eyes, I was right. The girl, Kimiko, wasn't too bad. She looked like she had some grip on the real world, I could probably hold a conversation with her without feeling too out of place, but looking her up and down. What was she wearing? God knows what look she was going for. I murmered a hello to them both, still rather self-absorbed. I was far cooler than these two, I didn't need to bother about them too much. Kimiko didn't seem to notice, she was too busy chatting insesantly on her mobile.
"Oh my god, you have got to be kidding? He actually said that! Haha. Oh yeah, I just met the other two guys. Yeah yeah. Cowboy and a brazilian kid. No not really. Oh my god, I know right" she managed to say in the space of about five seconds, before bursting out in a fit of hysterics. I remember thinking to myself, the other guy better be good, or I've made the biggest mistake of my life.
As the days went past, I realised that the xiaolin temple was nothing like I had thought it would be. But, I settled in, and I found myself warming up to the others without even realising it. And for the first time, I had proper friends, not the possessions I had back in Brazil. Clay, and his gentle cowboy ways was always ready to talk, and to have a laugh. True I enjoyed winding him up with my pranks, like when I convinced Omi to fill his hat full of milk! But he never really hated me like people would back home. Omi was a big suprise, and quite annoying to. How was it possible that he was so bad at slang? To my suprise, me and Kimiko got on really well, despite her bizarre outfits and hair that changed like the seasons. I guess we bonded over our love of video games. Within days I found that I was no longer the hard, uncaring Raimundo I always used to be, I had friends, good friends, who I really cared about. I was still rebellious, but the training and the friendships had truely changed me. But after a while, my old, materialistic side of me started to take control, and before long, I found myself going against the friends I had made and joining the Heylin side.
I guess my time with Wuya was a real eye-opener. I was used to ditching people to get what I want, I guess this was the same, but on a far greater scale. But unlike the other times, I truelly felt sorry for leaving them behind and I desperately wanted them back. I sighed, I hated remembering those times, but its what made me who I am today. I remember when I finally realised how much these people meant to me.
"Wuya wait, what if these guys swear their loyalty to you, maybe they could live here in the palace, with me?"
"If – they swear their loyalty"
"C'mon guys you wouldn't believe the stuff shes got, toys, video games. Guys, Wuya rules the whole world, so c'mon, join the winning team already! What do you say?"
I so hoped they would, I missed them so much, I waited for their answer expectantly.
"What do we say? How about; Dream on!" Kimiko shouted at me
"I'd rather kiss the backside of a mule," Clay retorted
"Forget it!" Dojo added.
I felt broken, Their words were like cold daggers in my heart. I never blamed them for it, even then, I knew what I was doing was wrong. But still, I wished that they hadn't said no and caused me so much pain and rejection.
I guess I finally found the friends I had always looked for, and when Wuya offered me anything I wanted, it was then that I finally realised I didn't need anything else. The old Raimundo would've stayed with her. Perhaps if it was the old me, Wuya would still be ruling the world right now. But I had changed thanks to Master Fung and my friends, and I cared about them, so I saved the world.
Of course, after that, I was never trusted in the same way again. Omi made sure to that. I knew he never meant any harm, he wasn't used to dealing with people. But still, his comments hurt me deeply, he never let my betrayal go. I remember his thoughts when I used the mind-reader conch
"I am still plagued with doubts over Raimundo's trust-worthiness" those words cut me for so many months. I gradually became colder and more rebellious again, this time, not through arrogance, but through self-doubt and a lack of confidence in myself. I guess I worked hard not to let my new friends see this, I didn't want to loose them again, but still, I was so tired and fed up.
I can't really remember when, but after a while. The coldness seemed to go, and it was replaced with a need to proove myself and help others. I guess thats when the real me came through. I did my best to help save the world, despite my many jokes at the world constantly being threatened by "10'000 years of darkness" but I always worked my hardest to prevent it. And then, when we met the bird of paradise and she gave me the gift of "Kindness" I knew that I had finally become someone real and honourable. I wasn't possessive and cold like I was in Brazil. I wasn't scared of being worthless. I was the dragon of wind, I was the best friend of Clay, Kimiko and Omi. And I was going to show them all that just because I was the last to make apprentice didn't mean I had to be the weakest.
And now, here I was, the leader of the Xiaolin warriors. I had succeeded in transforming my character. And I had people I truely cared about. I smiled secretly to myself. One person in particular.
I guess now that I was a shoku warrior, it was time to tell her my feelings.
But first. I needed some sleep.
A/N: and it is finished! I think thats my longest monologue yet haha. Sorry if it was intensley boring and sentimental haha. No prizes for guessing who my favourite character is haha. Thanks for reading (: