Re-edited: January 13th, 2012

New Powers

With Clay

Bel was mocking him. That much he was conscious of. She intentionally left openings so he would attack and then she would block them like they were nothing. Clay was starting to feel the strain the fight had on his bruised body and he had to wonder how much more he could take.

The guardian continued to whip him and hit him with stone pikes which thankfully he had enough energy to dodge. The chamber was pretty much demolished from their high scale assaults but Clay used the wreckage to hide and formulate some sort of plan.

He had to get some time.

"Wudai Iron Palm!"

From his spot he smacked his fist in the wall. It crumbled under his skin and the cracks went on all the way to the ceiling causing it to collapse on top of the guardian. The avalanche kicked up a cloud of dust and Clay felt a small smile lit up his face. It quickly fell when a figure emerged from it and he groaned.

"Not bad, Earth Dragon. But I'm waiting for something else."

"Yeah. I know what' cha waiting for. Mind giving me some advice 'bout it?"

Discovering it is part of the quest. I can't help you."

He shook his head and pounced at her with a stoned fist. She dodged it and he tried to hit her stomach with his knee. Bel caught it with her clawed hands and pushed back the blond. She swept her hair and knocked him in the wall again. Clay ducked under another extent of her locks and smashed his foot in the floor. Stone boards jumped at her but the woman barely flinched. Her claws lengthened and cut through them like butter.

Clay raised a shield that stopped her nails and kicked it towards her. Bel leaped over it and thrust her heel in his chest. Clay rolled on the ground to avoid being stumped on before kicking her in the guts himself.

"Seismic Kick Earth!"

Bel caught his foot before it could make contact but the power put behind the attack threw her a few feet backwards. She came back with an inhuman strength enhanced punch. Clay moved out of the way and his eyes caught the disastrous aftermath of her strike. The crater was about twice his size. The distraction unfortunately didn't give him time to prepare for the kick in the chest that took the breath out of him.

The only thing he could do was gasp for air and grunt in pain.

-(-)-

With Omi

The bald monk was in a game of doge or die. The waves of needle like icicles were relentlessly sent upon him and he had to use every ounce of agility and flexibility to not get stabbed. He leaped over the broken ice on the floor, on the walls, the ceiling…they just kept coming.

On the good side though, he completely forgot of being cold. The barrage of sharp projectiles usually had such an effect.

His keen eyes spotted an opening and water swiftly shot out to throw him towards his opponent. Salaj grinned, ducked to the ground and flung a ball of ice at him.

"Bad move dragon."

His eyes bulged and spun out of the way. He succeeded in avoiding the ball but he was left unbalanced and open for an attack. Salaj took her chance and kneed him in the chest. He was thrown back in the wall clutching his abdomen. The spider web pattern of the ice behind him was proof enough of the power behind her attack.

"If you think I…will back down…then you are madly wrong." He spoke in between gasps.

The monk stood up defiantly and pounced again. Salaj rolled her eyes and leaped over him using his back to boost her speed and momentum and twist in the air whacking over his shoulder with her leg. He stumbled but recovered faster than before.

"Tornado Strike Water!"

He lunged at her two intertwined jets of water bursting out of his hands. the attack followed her knocking down the columns and sprawling chunks of ice all over the room. When she had enough, Salaj spun deflecting the water and turning it into ice.

The ice shaped into serpents and she sent them back at him. Omi tried escaping from their grasps as much as possible but he was getting tired. His moves were sloppy and slower than before and he pondered going with a stronger attack. He doubted it would work against the guardian but he had to get rid of the snakes.

"Wudai Neptune Water!"

Tendrils of pressured water cut through the ice leaving the serpents crippled and falling at his feet. His eyes traveled on their battlefield but no, he couldn't find her. He narrowed his black pools and tensed anticipating an attack.

Icicles spurted out of a wall and Omi back flipped letting them pierced the floor. He sent a wave of water destroying another assault until a chill went down his back. His eyes widened and he pulled his body onwards feeling the air shifting above him as a spear missed. He rolled on his shoulder fixing a glare on the woman armed with ice spears. She shrugged innocently and threw them at him.

The monk summoned a shield that seized the lances and assimilated the ice into it. The water shot out and his vision was blocked for a second but that second was enough for Salaj to burst out of the water and hit him in the ribs. A crack reached his ears but it went ignored to the pain the bloomed in his abdomen.

"You loosing, dragon."

-(-)-

With Clay

He mentally swore stumbling to get up. He was beaten up and only had the outline of what he should do. His foot caught in a hole and he lost his balance falling on his hands and knees. Fingers gripped the earth and he gritted his teeth.

"I didn't come this far to lose. I will win this."

His fist broke through the surface sending ripples that raised the ground like a wave. The dust and debris flew in the air and Bel had to surround herself with her hair for protection.

He began gathering his chi guiding it through his hands and feet and through the ground but not in it. He searched for his new power and there, he found it. Surrounded on all sides without escape he willed it to move against its restrains. Sweat fell on his face and his hands shook clasping the ground.

"Come on, damn it! Move!"

As if saying the magic words, he felt the release and his mind lose the tension. At the same time Bel ran out of the rubble but before she could touch him huge roots spurted from the walls. The plants immobilized her body wrapping tightly around her arms, legs, waist and neck going as far as pulling together her hair.

The silence was shocking. Bel was shocked beyond words by the turn of events. She watched the dragon panting still on his knees, face covered with sweat and grime. She smiled and nodded.

"I hope you will protect them." She then turned into dust leaving only the coiling roots grabbing at the air.

Clay could only sigh and grin.

-(-)-

With Rai

Blasts of lightning littered the ground and sparked through the air. Raimundo barely avoided being cooked alive and he had to wonder if Ashania was really out to get him. On second thought, considering her personality, she could be.

He hid behind a rock trying to calm down and get some air in his lungs. If it wasn't for Master Monk Guan's hellish training I would have been a smoking crater already.

He rolled away as the rock blew up to pieces and saw the guardian ran towards him. Ashania attacked him with a series of punches and kicks that he blocked wincing as her lightning covered body numbed his arms every time. The woman flipped through a few handsprings and threw a blast at him.

Rai tossed an air bullet and the two met in the middle with an explosion. He leaped high in the air and slashed with his leg sending a gust of wind. The dust was blown away and Ashania growled. He vaulted releasing a sharp blade of wind that targeted his opponent.

The guardian leaped out of the way but was caught in the moment. She spun around thwarting the brunet's punch and went for a high hit. He blocked with his forearm and grabbed her wrist ignoring the discharge of energy. Holding it tightly he used the lapse in her guard to deliver a few knock out blows that only made her stagger and shake her head.

"How's that?" He asked punching her jaw.

Her head lolled backwards lifelessly and came back with a smirk covering her lips. "Not good enough, brat!"

The lightning cracked around her and Rai swiftly let go of her arm and stepped back. Her punch was fast; he was on the ground before he knew it. She grabbed his shoulder pushing him on his feet and brought up her knee straight in his stomach. His chest followed with a fist then his face with her elbow and he was left in a heap on the ground.

The woman scowled. "How can you hope to face the world if you're such a wimp." She spat venomously. "Such an arrogant child you are."

He chuckled weakly drawing her piercing glare. "If you call me arrogant…you'd absolutely love Omi."

The kick caught her off ground. She tripped forward into his waiting fist and she was thrown back. She didn't hit the ground though as he slid behind her and chopped her between the shoulder blades. She tried to recover her balance but he was on her in a second. He hit the back of her knee and elbowed the back of her head.

When she didn't feel his presence upon her she turned around. Only to be blown away by a tornado. The small, sharp blades stung. Didn't hurt, but stung. As she was twisted with the winds she caught a glimpse of Raimundo but it was too late for her to debate when she found herself eating the dirt.

She coughed and gagged. She stood up on her hands but fell down again when he swept them from beneath her and thumped her face with a kick. She smiled. "Oh! That was good kid!"

"That enough?" He muttered trying not to show his fatigue.

She laughed quietly shaking her head. "That's not what I'm waiting for."

He frowned. "How can I do it then?"

"Discover it yourself brat!" And she was back on her feet and running at him.

-(-)-

With Omi

I will not lose. I will not lose.

I cannot lose.

Not now…not here.

He grunted stumbling back on his feet. The guardian was eying him blankly.

With a cry he was dashing at her, fist covered in water. She threw her fist to meet his and the two collided.

I shall not refuse this victory to a girl!

They jumped back. Water swirled around Omi and he exhaled, the air morphing into a wisp of white cloud in contact with his warm breath. "I'm not finished yet." The water slithered down his arms like armguards but prolonged taking the shape of swords as they solidify.

"Then let's finish it." She added her hands doing the same.

They crossed blades all the while glaring at each other. Omi ducked under a slash to his neck and tried to stab her. She dodged and thrust her own blades at him. He parried one with a sword and angled his body around the other one using his free blade to cut her on her chest.

Salaj leaned back drawing back her sword that missed and covering an arch with it. The tip scratched slightly Omi's side and the two parted. Only to begin again a furious dance of clangs and clinks that reverberated through the devastated chamber.

Omi jumped away a few feet panting heavily and jabbed his blades in the floor. Huge spikes of ice rose from the ground heading dangerously for Salaj. She kept destroying them with her swords but she was staring to be overwhelmed.

Omi moved towards her swords ready to end the fight and eyes determined to win. She first dodged his attacks but at the same time she had to dodge the spikes. The monk kept on repeating his action but the guardian was staying strong on her feet. She faced both his ongoing ice attack and his assaults, however Omi didn't let that hinder his resolve. He was going to get her in the end. And he was right.

Salaj turned to stop a spike from digging in her back but when she turned to block him…everything stopped. She looked stunned at her chest to see the glassy blade going through and out of her.

"Looks like I won." Omi noted proudly, his face still mounted in a serious scowl.

"Looks like it. Good job dragon." She smiled at him and Omi watched her fade into water that pooled at his feet.

Breathing hard he grinned.

-(-)-

With Kimiko

Nothing worked. Her every attack was thwarted and the woman didn't even broke a sweat doing it. Kimiko was starting to get really pissed.

Kalama leaped at her and aimed a punch to her chest. She blocked it and tried to kick her in the side. She jumped back and threw a ball of molted lava out of her hands. Kimiko rolled on her left and the ball hit a rock splashing itself all over it. She flipped in the air and aimed a burning foot at the guardian that she dodged. The raven haired girl was getting royally pissed by now.

Kalama watched her from the top of a rock and she narrowed her eyes. "You're not thinking before you attack, do you?"

Kimiko stared at her confused and annoyed. "What do you mean I don't think? Of course I think."

The guardian shook her head. "I mean you're doing every move, every attack by instinct. You are focusing on not letting your temper out of control and not on your moves. Think for a second. Every attack of yours had no effect on me."

Kimiko stared blankly. Slowly a thin frown marred her beautiful face as the wheels in her brain worked to throw back a comment. She had to admit that the woman was right and that she had no reply.

"Let's try it again, shall we?"

Kalama pounced at her. Kimiko breathed deeply and leaned back her eyes trailing her opponent's every step. The woman twisted her body and tried a sweep kick. Kimiko back flipped and hit her in the jaw. Kalama half blocked it but the impact was powerful enough to distract her from the young girl's own low kick that threw her off balance.

"Pheonix Strike Fire!"

A bird made of fire formed in the air. Kalama stood up and created a wall of magma that absorbed the bird. Kimiko swiftly ran up to her, leaped over the fence and kicked her in the chest. She delivered a punch to her face but Kalama blocked it and tried kicking her off. Kimiko rolled away and stood throwing fire balls at her. For her part, the guardian was pushed back and when the assault stopped she let her arms down to spot the girl.

That was a mistake. Kimiko maneuvered her leg through her arms and smacked her painfully in the face. Kalama fell down but gripped her ankle and dragged her along. Kimiko yelped as she hit the ground when she felt something pulling her back in the air. A scream escaped her lips and stopped when the wind was knocked out of her and she slid on the floor. She groaned and looked back. Kalama was standing up and dusting herself. She frowned down at her and Kimiko felt her anger boil.

"Anything else?"

-(-)-

With Rai

Ashania was back on her feet and clearly having fun beating the snot out of Raimundo. Rai on the other hand was getting more annoyed and desperate. He also had his fair of lucky shots but every time he pounded Ashania into the ground she would get back up like nothing happened.

He wasn't sure how long he would stand. He was tired and his body has been abused so badly he forgot how to put one foot in front of the other.

He shook his head from is musings and fixed his glare on her moving form. She came from his right with a back kick that Rai dodged and counter-attacked with a punch in her chest. She deflected it with her palm then grabbed his wrist and threw him down bending his arm painfully. He cried out and she laughed.

"Come on, brat! Show me watcha're made off!" He grunted under her weight some insults that the woman brushed off and pulled harder.

Beside the pain his mind was bombarded with, Raimundo was furious. Furious like he had never been before. He wanted to throw that pain back at her and then laughed at her. Let her see how it was to get mocked and trampled all over. That's when he felt an unusual energy coursing through him. It was energizing and it filled every cell of his body.

The grip on his arm slackened and he twisted out of it pushing the woman off with his shoulder. He charged at her and aimed his fist at her face knocking her all the way to the edge. Panting he relaxed when flashes like fireworks around his arm caught his eye.

He stared in shock.

"I didn't thought of anger." Ashania uttered rubbing her cheek. She smiled and gathered her energy in her hands. "Hey brat! Let's do this one more time."

Her voice snapped the boy out of his trance and he nodded smirking. He concentrated on his earlier emotions and felt the surge of that invigorating force spread through him again. He heard Ashania's strike coming at him but he focused on molding his power until it was perfectly balanced…and then released it.

The two met but Rai was not about to give in. He pushed whatever strength he had left and the bluish energy shone brighter and grew, completely overwhelming the guardian's. Ashania was thrown in the chasm and Raimundo fell on his knees watching the sparks die.

"That was…electrifying."

-(-)-

With Kimiko

"Pathetic."

The girl glared at the woman standing above her. She panted feeling hopelessness creeping in her heart but then the words of the dragon rang in her mind. She couldn't give up. She was a Xiaolin Dragon and she was strong enough to learn to control a stupid element and obtain some stupid weapon.

"Listen here!" She struggled to pull herself up. Her body felt like it was made of lead. "I will not lose to someone like you."

She pounced, extinguished flames burning again stronger and hotter than ever. She punched the ground causing the lava in the pools around her to shot up. She kicked at her breaking a lump of rocks in the process. The lava waved with her motion. She twisted burying her knee in her side and backhanded her in the face. The surfaces moved with her swaying from an end to another.

Kalama fell down gasping. Kimiko rocked on her feet and with a last yell brought her hands up. The lava followed her and flowed toward the guardian. Before she was ran over by the molted matter she flashed Kimiko a smile.

The girl gasped and fell on her rear. She was worn out. She wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep.

But Dojo was waiting for her outside.

She groaned.

-(-)-

In a cave deep in a mountain, Wuya was enchanting in a strange old language the incantation that would bring the world to her feet. The torches were illuminating the huge chamber creating shadows reverberating on the walls. In a corner near her, Chase Young was staying and observing her moves. On a statue farther from them Hannibal was restingg on the head of his loyal servant, the Ying-Ying bird.

Chase was still having doubts about Hannibal. He didn't showed them the tomb just from the goodness of his heart. He was absolutely sure he had a plan of his own, but he didn't know what. The only thing he could do was play along and hope he would be strong enough to face an eventual backstab.

He took a glance at the colossal statue dominating the whole chamber. His face wasn't seen. Actually, nobody ever saw his face. He was known only by his cruelness, and by being the pure source of evil…the father of Heylin. Chase frowned and looked back at Wuya. Her hands started to glow a vibrant green and the cover of the grave began to slowly open.

Hannibal grinned evilly showing his yellow teeth and rubbed his tentacles. Everything was perfect.