Backstory

A/N: And now we see why Emma doesn't talk about her family. This is where a lot of her emotional insecurities come into play, so it's pretty crucial to her character. Also, we get to see angsty-Emma and Raimundo being Raimundo. Leader or not, he ain't changing. XD Enjoy!

The Xiaolin Dragons and their newest recruit had thoroughly enjoyed their off day. A water park, a trip to an ice cream store and a drive-in movie... well, fly-in for them, but close enough. They were currently in the rec room, each sprawled out either on the furniture or the floor, holding a conversation.

It had, like most of their conversations, ranged from the most important things to the least important, 'cause it was interesting that way. They were talking about how their families were doing back home when Clay posed the question.

"Emma, how's yer family doin'?" The girl stiffened visibly from her position on the rug. The Dragons exchanged glances before looking back to her.

"I-" she stared at the floor. "I don't know. And I don't CARE."

"What?" Kimiko asked gently.

"I don't- they- I just don't talk to them anymore. I changed my cell phone number, e-mail address and blocked my parents on Facebook. I don't wanna talk to 'em."

"Why not?" Raimundo straightened up from his place next to Kimiko on the couch.

"'Cause I HATE 'EM. Can we drop the subject now?" she snapped.

"Emma. You will have to tell us about your relationship with your family sooner or later. Would it not be more beneficial for everyone if you just told us now?" Omi asked. Everyone gave him a surprised look; he had never been very good at handling social situations like this.

Emma sighed. "Ya wanna know why I hate my family? Fine. It's 'cause they hate me."

"Why's that, Em?" Clay said.

"I'm not what they wanted. Emma the geek, Emma the shut-in, Emma the tomboy. Emma the failure," she added quietly. "They wanted a daughter that they could show off to their friends, a smart, pretty, successful little girl that would sit still and do as she was told.

"When I was a kid, they thought that my individuality was just a 'phase' and that I'd grow into the role they'd chosen for me. No such luck. So they tried again and got my little sister, Sophie.

"And now they had their little angel. Oh, yes, she was perfect. She got good grades, she was adorable, she was great in the kitchen and garden, she wasn't a finicky eater, she never had her head in the clouds." Emma drew a shaky breath before continuing.

"And then they realized that they didn't have to bother with me anymore. They just wrote me off as the 'moody teenage sister' for their social appearances, so they could spend more time showing off the girl they always wanted. Sophie.

"I tried to get them to notice me. I did. I tried raising my grades. I tried flunking. I tried to show them my art, hoping that maybe they'd see that I DID have a special skill, that I WAS just as good as Sophie!

"But I couldn't! They didn't care! Eventually, I realized that they never would. So I decided that as soon as I could, I'd get outta there and never look back. That's one of the reasons I was so thrilled to be with you guys. If they've tried to find me, it's so that they look like good parents instead of people that only see their kids as a means to an end."

"Dang..." Raimundo whispered.

"Oh, it gets better! Sophie was not only a perfect angel onstage, she was a total brat backstage! She'd hit me and bite me and kick me knowing that I couldn't go to Mom and Dad 'cause they wouldn't care! She constantly tormented me 'cause she loved to see others hurting! I dreaded going to school because of the bullies there, and I dreaded coming home because of the bully there!

"I was NEVER good enough. Never. And I couldn't TAKE it. I don't wanna have to take it again. And that is why I don't talk to my family."

The Warriors were all silent, staring at Emma in various states of shock. She hung her head, ashamed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go all full-blown rant on you..."

Clay stood, anger in his eyes. "Sounds t'me like ya had a plenty good reason to! Ah cain't blame ya, an' Ah challenge anyone here t' find a reason to!"

Kimiko nodded and stood as well. "Clay's right! That's not a real family. I may not have had a mom, but at least my dad loved me. That's just WRONG!"

Raimundo joined them. "I'm with you guys. Nobody shoulda gone through that, not even Jack."

Omi was the last to stand. "I agree with the others. Emma, even though your real family didn't care, we do."

"Yeah! We're your family now," Kimiko said, extending a hand to the girl. "Everyone's family here."

Emma gave them a shaky smile and took the offered hand, standing. "Thanks, guys," she said. "That means so much to me."

"Yeah, yeah, we're all sappy here," Rai said, waving his hand. "Now let's go play some Smash Bros!"

At everybody's glare, he shrugged. "What? Just sayin'."