Chapter 20

The next day was the same as any, 6 am wake up call, breakfast, training, chores. But it was also different. Raimundo could tell in the way everyone looked at him, talked to him, it was like he was any of the others. They actually trusted him…

Now he felt like more of a scum then ever!

Sure he had renounced the heylin side, and sure he was loyal to the temple completely. But the fact that the entire reason he had found all this, found Kimiko, was based on a lie was hard for him to bear anymore… at least on his own…

He had to come clean. If they really did trust him now, then they would forgive him right?

Raimundo decided he'd tell Kimiko first. She'd understand, and help him tell the others. He had tried to talk to her all morning, but there was always someone around, and even if there wasn't he didn't know how he'd explain himself.

After he finished his chores he saw Kimiko sitting beside the fountain, alone, there was his chance. Raimundo ducked behind a building before she could see him. "Okay, you have to tell her now. Oh man, where do I start..?"

Rai thought a moment then cleared his throat and talked to an imaginary person in front of him. "Kimiko, listen, Wuya had a plan... to destroy the temple, and…I was supposed to do it. But I wouldn't now! I've changed! And it's because I… its cause I'm in love with you Kim…" He sank against the wall and buried his head in his hand. "Whom I kidding… she'll never buy this…"

Raimundo heard someone humming from around the corner and looked over to see Kimiko walking toward him. He smiled slightly, how could she be so beautiful after scrubbing the temple floors for an hour? Rai got to his feet and took in a deep breath. "Here goes nothing…"

Rai walked around the corner, Kimiko stopped and smiled at him. "Hey, Rai."

"Hey, Kim, listen…" Rai rubbed the back of his head and his eyes focused on his feet. "…I…need to tell you something…"

"Kimiko." Both Dragons turned and saw Chase walking toward them, face stern and even possibly angry. "I don't want you speaking with him." He seemed to glare at Raimundo.

Okay... Now i'm dead!

Kimiko looked at Chase, almost hurt, but before she could speak Chase's features softened and so did his voice. "I wish to speak with him." Kimiko smiled widely at her dad, while Rai's jaw almost dropped. Honestly what guy wouldn't be a little scared to be left alone with his girlfriend's dad?

Chase smiled at Kimiko and motioned for Raimundo to fallow him. Rai looked at Kimiko for help, but she nudged him forward, and watched the two walk through the temple gate.

She had a good feeling about this. Though she wondered what Raimundo was going to tell her. Oh well, he could just tell me later…

Chase had wondered what lies Wuya must have told Raimundo to keep him on her side, and decided that the boy needed to know just what the heylin were capable of doing now that he was part of the temple.

The best way Chase could think to explain, was through example. He told Rai the story of how Hannibal had tricked him, how he had almost lost his humanity, and had lost a good friend.

The two walked the entire time and ended up on the mountain trail that had started it all. Funny, how it seemed like so long but also not so long ago that the fire had burned up the trail.

"…Dashi sacrificed his own soul to save mine, and in the end, I and master monk Guan avenged him."

Raimundo had been listening to Chase's story in silence, as soon as he finished Rai tried to find the right words to say next. "I…I never heard that story that way before…Hannibal really was a monster..."

Chase stopped walking and looked around at the burned up and ash covered clearing they stood in. "Many might think I am a monster, or fire is a monster… but they forget that fire also makes life possible. Every day I try to prove I'm not what people assume me to be." Rai felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Chase, who was smiling kindly at him. "I think we all do."

Rai smiled and nodded in understanding.

Out of almost nowhere a sharp and dark feminine laugh cut through the air and clouds of dark ash picked up and incased the clearing. Chase and Raimundo both took a fighting stance, back to back, and looked around cautiously for the source of the laughter.

Suddenly dozens of large jungle cats appeared out of the the clouds, teeth bared as they started to close in on them. Two cats moved aside as their mistress approached, her partners on either side of her. Rai dropped his stance and turned into a nervous wreck. This can't be happening!

Wuya glanced at Raimundo, he could practically feel the icy furry in her eyes. She then turned to Chase, her eyes stayed the same, it matched the cruel smirk on her face. "Hello Chase."

"Wuya!" Chase remained in his stance, glaring at the witch.

"I'm curious, why are you all the way out here? So far from the temple and anyone to help you should someone decide to...take advantage of your situation..." Again she let out a low dark chuckle that sent a chill up Rai's spine.

The cats growled and closed in more, ready to pounce when ordered.

"Oh, and well done Raimundo," Wuya raised her hand and Raimundo was pulled into her grip. He winced as her nails dug into his shoulder and she hissed in his ear. "Your plan went perfectly."

Chase glared daggers at Raimundo. "You!" his voice was almost reptilian, Cold and dark.

"No! I swear I'm not with them any-" Rai's defense was ignored. And Wuya spared no time in her opportunity to end her long time enemy.

"Attack!"

Two jungle cats lunged at Chase from the sides. He managed to kick one away while catching the other and throwing it into a cat trying to attack him from behind.

He was keeping up a good defense, but more and more kept coming, Chase didn't even noticed they were pushing him back to a ledge. A large tiger took its chance and slashed its claw across Chase's shoulder and sent him falling down the cliff.

"No!" Raimundo finally pulled out of Wuya's grip and started flying toward the Cliffside; A few cats notice him and easily swatted him like a fly, he flew into a rock and slid to the floor unconscious.

Wuya smirked. She'd deal with her rouge apprentice later, for the moment she only thought of ending Chase Young. She went to the edge of the cliff where Chase had fallen. He lay at the bottom, clutching his bloody shoulder in pain as he struggled to his feet. "Yes! Today he shall finally fall!"

Katnappe slid down the cliff with a dozen jungle cats behind her and lunge at Chase. She left a deep claw mark on his cheek before Chase manages to toss her into Jack as he reached the bottom of the cliff. Chase realized he couldn't win the fight with his injured shoulder, so he took his chance to run down the path and try to find a way back to the temple.

Katnappe pulled herself up slightly and went red when she realized she was on top of Jack, he went a way more visible shade when he tried to sit up and put their faces mere centimeters apart. After what felt like an eternity they heard Wuya screeching in anger at them. "Don't just sit there! Get him you fools'!"

Jack shoved Katnappe off him and hit a button on his watch. "Jack Bots- ATTACK!" a dozen bronze robots flew out of nowhere and after Chase. Despite his injury Chase easily avoids the attacks and destroys the robots. Jack watched as the last of his robots blew up and Chase vanished around a corner. "No fair!"

Chase was losing both blood and energy. He wouldn't last much longer if he didn't get away from his pursuers. He continued to run until he finally saw it. The dame, a basic pileup of logs set between to mountains close to the temple. It would be hard but he didn't have much choice. Wuya and her forces rounded the corner and were gaining quickly.

Chase clenched his teeth in pain as he struggled to climb the loose path. A few logs fell as he climbed and kept the cats from trying to come after him. He slipped a few times, but manages to hold on.

Raimundo had come to and was frantically searching the mountain when he came to the ledge and saw Chase climbing the dame. "Chase!"

Wuya looked up and saw Raimundo on the mountain. He was so close to Chase that he could easily kill him with one wind blast. She smiled with glee at the thought. "Now, Raimundo, crush him!"

Raimundo ignored her and tried to climb down the logs, climbing down was harder than climbing up, so he had to shuffle along carefully. Wuya clenched her fist. "Fool! I said crush him!"

Chase stopped to catch his breath, he was weak… Very weak.

Jack felt an idea climb into his mind. Chase was too injured to even climb anymore. Maybe… he could take him. Actually defeat Chase Young! And finally show up Raimundo!

He didn't need to be convinced. Jack stepped forward. "I'll do it Wuya!" he summoned a robot that gave him the Monkey Staff. He took it and instantly started jumping and swinging up the logs like...well a monkey.

Jack quickly gained on Chase, only a few feet behind him. Chase saw him and began climbing again as fast as he could. Raimundo was too focused on his footing to notice Jack. Finally, it's my time to be the best.

Jack leaped forward and landed a harsh kick on Chases face. Wuya grinned wickedly as she saw Chase stumble back from the blow. But he didn't stay down, before Jack could land another hit Chase kicked him square in the gut and sent him falling down the dame.

Jack rolled down the logs until one snapped under his weight and trapped him in place. Raimundo heard the crash and finally looked to see Jack struggling to get free. Despite himself Rai still, sort of, considered Jack a friend. He had grown up with Jack; he couldn't just leave him trapped like that.

Rai glanced at Chase to see him climb the rest of the way up the dame onto the mountain opposite him. Without thinking his actions through, Rai flew into the air to get to get to Jack. What he hadn't thought of was the sudden gust of wind sending an avalanche of logs down the dame and toward Jack.

"Jack!" Katnappe and Raimundo called in unison.

He looked up in time to see the pile of logs coming toward him and only had time to let out a scream before he was buried in the rubble.

There was a silence; the first thing to break it was the sound of the wind as Raimundo landed at the base of the dame. He quickly started trying to move the logs when the invisible force tossed him into a wall, and Wuya ran to the reckage looked for any sign of the fellow heylin.

Raimundo pulled himself to his feet and stood silently with Katnappe and the jungle cats, until Wuya stopped searching. She grabbed something out of the rubble and turned to the crowd, she was staring with disbelieving and…sad…eyes, at the object in her hands… the Monkey Staff.

Katnappe gasped and ran to Wuya's side and gently took the staff from her. She stared at it for a moment then hugged it to her like a lost doll. "Jack…" she began to sob slightly and Wuya placed a hand on a log as one might a headstone. The jungle cats hung their heads in a moment of silence. And Raimundo stared in shock. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real. But it was…

Jack was gone.

Authors Note: Hey people :)

I'd just like to thank you all for your patience and hope you all like the new chapter.

stay tune for the next!