"Speaking"

'Thinking'

"Spirit talking"

"Dragon Talking"

Phillip was a last sleeper, always has been. It may have been because of the amount of hours he stays up or something else. Either way, he usually sleeps longer than most, even past lunch. It was a free day anyway.

Imagine his hatred for Dojo when he was awoken some time around ten. "Hey! You awake yet?"

Phillip looked at Dojo with a death glare. "What?"

Dojo wasn't fazed, seeing as he gotten this a lot lately. "A new Shen Gong Wu activated! Get dressed while I round up the gang!" With that, the dragon left.

Phillip groaned as he got up. These days haven't exactly been peaceful. Training was rough and the others were still ignoring him. So, he felt more willing to sleep than anything. Nevertheless, Phillip dressed and walked out of the Temple. There he saw the group, Master Fung, and some other man walking around.

The man was bulky, to say the least, and brown hair and mustache. He wore a white button-up shirt with a blue sleeveless jacket that didn't even cover his massive chest, blue jeans, brown cowboy boots, a brown belt with a gold buckle, and a white cowboy hat with a blue stripe around it. The most interesting feature was a gold star was held like a tie around his neck.

They were stopped by Dojo, who was now carrying the Ancient Scroll. Phillip walked over to the group, noticing Dojo seemed to remember the star on the man's neck, and listened to the new Shen Gong Wu. The Scroll showed a sphere which let loose a large amounts of water.

Master Fung spoke. "Ah, the Orb of Tornami. It's small mouth holds back a mighty flood."

The man seemed confused. "How do you make that little cartoon yella move like that?"

Clay seemed a lot happier than he should. " This is perfect! Daddy can come along for a Shen Gong Wu round-up! Then you'll see why I've gotta stay here!" Phillip raised an eyebrow at this, but didn't say anything.

Omi, however, did. " And you can tell me the ancient secret of making milk from cow!" Phillip laughed.

_Scene Change_

The group arrived at a small village, via Dojo Express, which Clay's father still had a hard time wrapping his head around. As they walked around a bit, the group found themselves at the center of the village and the new owner of the Orb of Tornami. Jack had beaten them to the Wu again. They ducked behind a wall nearby.

Omi wasn't depressed as he turned to the group. "Jack Spicer already has the Shen Gong Wu, but we can still surprise him. I have a very good plan."

Clay's dad wasn't interested. "What are you? Some kind of lady's knittin' club? Just get in there and hogtie that runt!"

Phillip wasn't interested in the large man. "Okay, Omi. What's the plan?"

Omi would have told them his plan had Clay not obeyed his father and rushed Jack. He tackled Jack, allowing the Orb to fall out of his hands. As the two tussled of a moment, the others ran to the Shen Gong Wu, only for a Jack-bot to grab it and return it to Jack.

Jack turned to the group. "Lokey, lokey, the gangs all here!"

Clay tried intimidating Jack. "Drop the Shen Gong Wu, Jack."

It failed, as Jack turned back to Clay. "Well, Clay, since you asked nicely, I'll...laugh in your sorry bumpkin face!"

Clay's dad tried encouraging Clay. "Boy! Get in there and paste that chump in the chops!" Clay nodded and rushed Jack again. However, Jack was ready. He flew into the air and used the Orb, causing Clay to slip and slide into the others, allowing Jack to escape.

Raimundo turned to Clay, the two still on the ground. "What were you thinking, Clay?"

Omi was just as frustrated. " Yes! I had a very, very good plan! Lots of kicking and flipping and-"

Omi would have continued if Clay didn't speak up. "I'm sorry but I had to prove myself to Daddy."

Clay's daddy walked in. "The only thing you proved is what a mistake I made letting you join this silly Xiao-pow Ringading quest in the first place!" He helped Clay up. "Say good-bye to your pals, Clay, cause your going home to Texas!" The others gasped. "And you ain't coming back!"

_Scene Change_

It was in the late night that the others found themselves within the kitchen doing dishes. Since there were five once, Phillip was allowed to sit this one out. He decided to watch the other doing, for some reason or other. The dishes started with Omi and went down the line until it hit Clay's spot, where it crashed onto the floor, shattered.

Dojo looked at the others. "Don't look at me! I've got stubby, little dragon hands!"

Phillip sighed. "I've got off duty, so don't look at me."

Omi sighed as well. "I miss Clay."

Phillip sighed again. "That makes all of us."

Kimiko seemed as down as the rest of them. "It's not really the same, is it?"

Raimundo turned to Kim. "Well, you can say that again. I still get to make fun of Omi but half the time he doesn't know I'm doing it." Phillip laughed.

Omi spoke to himself. "I wonder what Clay is doing right..." before he registered what Rai just said. "You make fun of me?!"

Raimundo decided on a different approach on the matter"Oh, man. I miss Clay."

Kimiko put hands on her hips. "Too bad his daddy's a stubborn cowboy."

Dojo tried placing a good word for the father. "Yeah but you got a dig the man's sense of style. That tie sly thing really-" Dojo stopped as he started to shake a bit, a usual thing if the topic was a Shen Gong Wu, not people.

Omi seemed confused. "What is it, Dojo?"

Dojo spoke his mind. " I just realized why the Lone Star looked so familiar! It's the Star Hanabi!

Kimiko tried clearing things. "I'm guessing that's a Shen Gong Wu?"

Phillip added. "I'm guessing it's the star tie the old man was wearing." The others looked at him. "I wasn't there long, so shut up."

Dojo placed one of his claws under his chin. "Yeah. It must be inactive, that's why I didn't notice before."

Omi slipped in caution. "But if it activates, Jack and Wuya will be all over it like kiju flies on a sun berry blossom!" Everyone stared at him, confusion etched on their faces. "I miss Clay and his colorful metaphors."

_Scene Change_

The group had just gotten to Clay's house, far within the deserts of Texas. The had a simple wooden house, and land only had cattle and cactus within the first few yards of the area Clay calls home. Omi began to point out several cows he wanted to milk before told they weren't milking cows. He didn't seem to care.

When they landed and told the father that the Star could be the death of him, he didn't waver. "I never heard such hogwash!"

Clay tried defending his friends. "But they wouldn't lie to ya, daddy, 'cept..." Clay turned to Phillip, who placed his hands in the air, tired of everything. Seriously, it was one little secret. What's the big deal?

Clay's father didn't move from his conviction. "The Lone Star has been in the family since the first settler dug it up, right here, back in 1849." He sat down on his chair.

Dojo jumped on to a barrel near the man. "Yeah, but who do you think buried it back in 549?" Phillip stifled a light chuckle.

Omi tried getting the man to reconsider. "It is very dangerous to hold a Shen Gong Wu! Once it becomes active, Jack Spicer and Wuya will stop at nothing to get it!"

Clay sided with Omi. "It's for your own safety, daddy."

Clay's father didn't seem fazed. "The only one that can take that star from me is Clay and that's only after he proves he's a man! A real Texas man!"

Clay tried to object. "But, daddy-"

Only to be interrupted by his own father. "Tell you what. You want to show me what you got? You move that herd down to the river."

Omi was instantly excited. " A herd?! Of cows?! I will finally master the art of the milk cow!" Phillip facepalmed.

Clay's father broke the bubble. "Son, this ain't no dairy farm. It's a beef ranch."

Clay reaffirmed Omi's happiness. "Well, there's Old Bessie out in the barn. She's still a milker."

The old man allowed Omi in on the job. "Alright, have at 'er. The rest of y'all can help Clay. Startin' tomorrow. Crack of dawn." Phillip hated that phrase. It meant he'd have to get up earlier than usual.

Raimundo seemed to understand him. "I'm really more of a 'crack of noon' guy, myself." Clay father looked at him that asked him if he was trying to be funny. Raimundo corrected himself. "Dawns cool too."
When dawn broke, the group kept their promise and awoken. Clay and Phillip were already awake, something unusual for Phillip's behavior, listening to Dojo sing a bit before he was scared off by a female rattlesnake, who seemed to want to be his wife or something and followed him on his way out.

Kimiko walked out first with a blue and pink cowgirl outfit. Raimundo walked out next, sleepily, in his own cowboy outfit. Omi was next, though with a hat the size of his body minus his legs. They allowed him to walk around without a hat for the time being. The group split afterwords: Omi for Bessie and the others for the cattle.

The four grabbed their own horse that lied around the farm and rode them to the pin the cattle was kept in.

Clay opened the door to the pin. "Okay, buckaroos. Let's get this cattle drive amovin'!" As the cattle left the pin, Raimundo fell off his horse and on to the one of the cattle, sleeping.

Kimiko awoken him. "Raimundo!" With this, Raimundo began to jump on to the other cattle back to his horse, only to fall in front of Kimiko and into something Phillip didn't want to get near.

Rai shuddered. "What did I just land in?"

Clay answered. "That would be a cow pie."

Raimundo disagreed. "No! I know pies! Pies have cherry or apple or rhubarb! THIS IS NO PIE!"

Phillip looked down at Rai. "Cow pie. Meaning? Cow poop." Raimundo ran back to the farm to change his pants.

After Raimundo came back, the group began to moved the cattle closer to the river when Phillip noticed a stray off in the horizon.

Clay seemed to notice as well. "Oh, boy. We got a stray. Hey, Kim. You go round him up, we'll get the rest moving to the river."

Phillip mentally facepalmed. ' We're doing that right now.' However, everyone agreed and Kimiko went to handle the cow. The cow made steady progress towards the river and still no sign of that stray within the herd. Just as Phillip was about to head out to help Kim, she appeared with cow in tow. Or would be the cow had her in tow. Either way, Phillip facepalmed once more just to be safe.

Kimiko called at the group. "Howdy!"

Clay noticed Kim. "Kimiko?"

Kimiko looked at the group. "Come on in, the dirt's fine."

A cut rope later, the group found themselves and the cattle at the river, all fine and dandy.

Clay spoke to the group. "Heck of a good day's work, compadres."

Raimundo disagreed again, rubbing his butt. " Tell that to my saddle sores. Where's Omi with my milk?" Luckily, Omi fell out of nowhere in front of the group.

Omi yelled at no one in particular. "YOU WILL BE MILKED TOMORROW!"

Phillip looked at the bald monk. "Omi, what are you doing?"

Omi looked around and found himself with his teammates. "Oh, hello. I was just saying good night to my new friend Old Bessie. How are the cows?"

Clay answered with a sigh. " All at the river. Just like daddy wanted."

Omi seemed happier. "Then the Star Hanabi is ours!"

Clay didn't agree. "Well, I hope so. Daddy don't impress that easily."

The conversations were cut short by Dojo, who seemed to have lost his new admirer. " Guys! I've been looking all over the ranch for you! The Star Hanabi just went active!"

Clay was distraught. "Oh, no. Daddy!" With this, The group rode the horses towards the house. Once they got there, they found Clay dad restrained by two Jack-bots and the Star Hanabi within Jack's hands. They would have gotten closer had Jack not used the Orb to drown the entire place. The desert became a vast ocean with no land within sight except the barn, the roof of Clay's home, and a lone tree. Raimundo tried getting Kimiko into the tree, but failed. Omi wasn't affected by the change in terrain and willed himself to hover above the water. Clay and his daddy were on top of the houses roof. Kimiko was able to keep afloat for who knows how long until she could get to safety. Phillip was able to get to the barn and looked out over to the rest. Kimiko found Dojo somewhere and jumped on a Jack-bot to cover it's eyes. Raimundo did the same thing with another and the two steered the bots into a collision course. Omi saved Bessie and used her kick as a jump start towards the invading bots. Phillip stood up and began his own assault on the Jack-bots. Punches and kicks sent the bots to the scrap yard and the others did there best to do the same. A few moments later, the terrain changed with out their knowing.

They were now on hay bales floating above some fog. Fences lined the border and in the middle was an enormous haystack that fit under the barn

Clay's old man looked confused. "Bessie, you been remodelin'?!" Some saddles came out of nowhere and placed themselves in front of the contestants. Clay got on immediately while Jack's forced him on.

"GONG YI TANPAI!"

The two entered the large haystack and Phillip rounded up bets. Fortunately, nobody was against Clay on this one. Soon, Clay and Jack exited the haystack at the other end.

Clay gave some advice. "Check the bottom, Clay! It's gotta be at the bottom!" Clay charge the end on the haystack with Jack behind him. They exited empty-handed again.

Clay spoke to his dad. "It's not down there!"

Clay's father didn't seem convinced. "But you ain't even digged there yet! Do you need a pitchfork? Somebody get him a pitchfork!" The phase 'Ask and you shall receive" fit nicely here as several pitchforks with wings attacked Clay.

Clay's father wasn't impressed. "Stop wasting time with the little guy! Cowboy up, boy!" Clay used the Serpent's Tail and hide within the hay so the pitchforks couldn't follow him.

Clay's daddy continued to yell. "No, your doing it all wrong!"

Dojo muttered beside Phillip. "I thought soccer dads were bad, yeesh!"

Phillip sighed. 'And I thought the High Expectation Asian Dad memes were bad." Clay was about to rush into the hay again when Jack knocked him out of the way and on to a hay bale.

Jack grabbed the Sword of the Storms. "Bag this! Sword of the Storms!" He spun it around and a storm brewed above them. Lightning streamed across the sky and a twister showed itself to the group. Clay jumped back on to his saddle to escape the fierce winds coming off the twister.

Raimundo pointed back at the tornado. "The Star!" Sure enough, the Star was spinning helplessly with the twister. Jack took this to his advantage and flew into the tornado.

Clay's dad tried motivating Clay. " No time to dillydally, son! Get in there!"

Clay seemed to gain some confidence, as he glided over to his dad and spoke. "Daddy, I love you, ut if you don't mind, zip your yap and let me get the job done my way!" The man seemed shocked for a second before gaining a grin.

Phillip smiled to Clay. "Thank you. I was about to go off on him myself."

Kimiko pushed Clay away from his father. "Um, Clay? I know this is a big daddy-son moment and all but..." The direction she pointed was all she needed to do.

Jack was just seconds away from getting the Star Hanabi. Clay glided over to Jack and stopped Jack from getting the Star with hid rope. Instead, he got Bessie to the face, sending him to the barn's wall and pinned to it by the devil pitchforks. Clay retrieved the Star, which landed on a hay bale, winning him the Showdown.

Once the terrain reverted to normal, with no water everywhere thankfully, Clay's dad walked to him. They shared a grim look before Clay gave the Star back to hid dad.

Clay's father then voiced his opinion on the matter. "Clay, I reckon you've been a man longer than I've realized." This got the group to smile. Clay's father turned to the others. "Gonna be a shame to lose such fine ranch hands but I guess y'all got a bigger job to do. What with saving the world and all."

Clay placed his hands behind his back. "Thanks, daddy."

The man spoke to his son. "Aw, don't thank me. It'd do me proud." The two hugged and all was forgiven.

_Scene Change_

Everyone got ready to head back to the Temple, including Clay.

Kimiko turned to the father. "It was nice to meet you, Daddy Bailey."

Phillip was confused as heck. 'I didn't know that was his name.'

Raimundo turned to Daddy as well. "Come visit us sometime so we can work you like a dog!" His answer was a punch from Kimiko. "Hey, I'm just saying!"

Daddy spoke to the both of them. " Pleasure meeting you both." He turned his around, as if looking for something. "Hey, where's that little feller?"

Phillip pointed to the barn. "Over there, though you might want to wait a bit." Sure enough, Omi came flying out of the barn, only this time, he had a bucket of milk to go with it.

Phillip grinned. "There he is!" Omi landed in front of Daddy, a small amount of milk spilling from the bucket.

Omi spoke. "My work here is done." He faint afterwords.

Daddy smiled at the downed monk. "Now, THAT'S a cowboy."

That's a wrap!

Constructive Criticism is recommended and would be greatly appreciated!

Let the rants begin!