Chapter 20 The Heylin Warriors Rise again
Xiaolin Temple:
"Oh, I can't take this itch ah ah ah ah!" Dojo practically moaned as his Wu senses were going into overdrive.
"Calm down little feller. It will be alright." Clay muttered patting the dragon while the others looked on with Kimiko looking intrigued while also dejected, Omi excited, and rai apprehensive especially since he and Kimiko just had a fight not 12 hours earlier.
"No I'm afraid we've hit the mother of all Shen Gong Wu now and I can't take it!"
"What do you mean dojo?" Rai asked yawning slightly.
"Well, I'm sensing the Woozy Shooter but I'm also breaking out from something way bigger revealing itself. Oh, the pain…." he moaned.
"What could that be I wonder?" Omi contemplated. "There are dozens of powerful Shen Gong Wu like the Spirit wand, Aether Chakrams, and so forth."
"Oh, bigger." Dojo commented before screaming. "And in multiples!"
Rai frowned, "But isn't the only thing stronger than the elemental Wu….." his eyes widened in realization. "The Marshal Baton?!"
"I dunno but it isn't the only one getting ready to go off. I can feel more on the way!" then without warning Dojo pointed his head southward before his tail twisted in another direction followed by his hands moving in two more directions, his eyes soon bulged out facing two more directions and finally his tongue shoot out in agony facing one final direction. "Se-men mu remealed themfeles," he muttered incoherently.
"That would be the 7 Shen Gong Wu Dashi used long ago to create them all!" Kimiko muttered in shock.
"Then I reckon we better mosey on and collect them." Clay replied smoothly.
"A wasteful effort to be honest." a new voice called out and the 4 warriors got into fighting stances as they turned to face the woman who appeared out of nowhere. "First off Jack's busy messing around with his newfound power so he'll probably ignore them especially when Wuya reveals they are totally worthless to go after."
"Who are you?" Rai asked getting a good look at her.
Sharp dark brown hair fell down this woman's back with the front dyed with two streaks of blue. Her outfit was similar in many ways to Falkia only it shimmered in icy blues that radiated little warm. Her eyes, however, were more green than blue and seemed not so much as unkind but wise. She was holding what looked like a spell book in her hand as a sort of weapon while something radiating from her hair told him this was no ordinary person. The said object took the shape of a quill pen and practically radiated magical power.
"I see Lady Thursday forgot to introduce me but eh that's life for you." the woman grinned half-humorously. "Cecilia, Cecilia Saturday at your services Xiaolin warriors."
The three others gasped, "You know about us?" Kimiko asked in surprise.
"Please as if the supernatural world doesn't know about the eternal struggle between the Xiaolin and Heylin. It's been going on for what 9000 years give or take." she frowned. "I can't remember when They decided to create these two opposing sides."
"They?" Rai asked in confusion.
"Give them whatever name you like. Most people call them the devil and God but it's just a name. The great sources of Good and Evil; the eternal twins of the universe you know Ying and Yang? The two who compete for control over the universe even as it fades away into nothing while the living act as their tools in this neverending chess game. Oh right, they don't teach this stuff in school." Cecilia laughed at that bad joke.
"Are you telling us there is a god out there?" Kimiko gasped in surprise.
"Whatever you want to call them is whatever. Believe or not to believe changes nothing they are there and they are constantly fighting for dominance. That's why they created the Xiaolin and Heylin forces long ago before Grand Master Dashi was even born. He just shall we say made things interesting when he created the Wu and formed a more stable version of the Xiaolin teachings and the great being of Good granted him the trinkets to do it such as the Sorceress Quill which I have right here." she pulled the quill out of her hair and sighed. "God this thing is powerful but it really brings out the jealousy in people especially since it can't even compete with the Golden Key."
"Huh?" Rai blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Each of these powerful Wu are strongest on their day of the week but all Wu fall under the authority of the Golden Key hence it's pointless to go after any of the lower 6 wu since it even overrides them well unless you have all the other 6 together maybe," she stated staring at a watch. "Well, I have somewhere to go on the off chance one of those morons are going to come after the Wu but it won't matter we don't have the authority to eliminate the Heylin side anyways."
"Wait before you go, do you know where falkia went?" rai asked looking sad while Kimiko looked guiltily away and Clay and Omi awkwardly turned whistling like nothing is happening.
"Hmm, last I heard she was planning on going to the place where her name comes from but that might not be the case anymore." she frowned in confusion.
"Huh?" Rai looked up in confusion.
"I just received a sort of telepathic message if you will from the Marshall's Baton. See these Wu are linked like sisters so we can receive messages every once in a while mostly telling us if the Wu's been passed on. I think falkia might have remembered the Steward clause."
"The steward clause what's that?" Kimiko spoke up.
"Oh, just a way to give us a break from these frustrating things. We can give temporary stewardship to anyone who understands the rules and regulations that our vow with Dashi entails. It doesn't relieve us of duty just reprieves us of it that's all. Falkia is still lady Thursday till she dies or if she tries the other method abdicates but you can only do that with the blessing of the person who passed the object to you in the first place." Cecilia muttered thoughtfully. "And the Spirit wand's the only thing that can do that now but that thing isn't revealing itself anytime soon. I suspect it will only reveal itself once the Guang Scepter reveals itself. Ah well, that's all I wanted to tell you. So if you don't mind I have ordered from Lady Sunday so if I were you guys I'd hurry and get the Woozy shooter. Last I heard it was over in the land down under. Au Revoir!" and then she vanished disappearing into the shadows.
"Whoa, that's new," Rai stated never seeing magic quite like that but then shook his head. "Looks like trying to find any of those 7 Wu would be pointless let's go get the Woozy Shooter!" he shouted excitedly.
Meanwhile somewhere in the Alps…..
"I hate my life. I hate it I hate it. Why is it so cold here?" Falkia muttered looking around for any clues towards the Spirit wand. "I know Dashi kept one of those stupid Wu of his around here. Now where the hell is-Whoa" she yelped before tripping and sliding down the slope before hitting herself near a cliff which caused something to fall down. She struggled to get up and dusted her clothes off before noticing the object. It was a turquoise bow made of freezing cold metal that glowed almost ominously.
"Great the Frostbow. I spent over 5 hours looking around and all I found was one of the elemental Shen Gong Wu." she then frowned. "That's strange though the last time it was seen was right before Hannibal bean was imprisoned in the Yin-Yang world. What the hell is doing here? Unless…..No, Chase isn't planning that is he?" realization dawned on her. "But that's impossible, the Heylin warrior of ice died centuries ago, he couldn't have stolen their powers somehow could he? If so, then does he have the powers of lightning, metal, and aether too? If so then things are about to get a lot worse for the Xiaolin."
Then without warning, she felt someone's presence behind her and she groaned in confusion turning to blearily see someone picking up the bow before disappearing. "Fuck." she groaned as she collapsed into the snow.
5 hours later she shook herself awake. "Great, I get knocked out by someone and there went the Frost Bow. If that was one of Chase's goons, then they'll need to find the other weapons." she then sighed. "Thank god they were lost a while back otherwise things are about to get a Lot worse ugh. Well, the stupid wand wasn't here so I better move on."
Chase Young's Lair:
"Please forgive us!" Jack and Katnappe begged and groveled at the now free and very pissed off dragon Chase Young.
"You filthy worms better grovel. You're lucky I need you two otherwise you'd be dinner tonight." Chase sighed as he shifted back facing away nonchalantly. "Now do me a favor and leave. Your smell is nauseating."
"Yes, sir. We'll go clean up right away!" Katnappe and Jack quickly ran off fighting one another to rush and get cleaned up.
"Pathetic worms but I need them for now. Now I need to attend to other matters." chase muttered as Wuya looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Jermaine, my temporary apprentice is nearly ready for his final test. He should be back soon with the Frost Bow now that's it's finally back. The time for the Heylin warriors to rise is nearly upon us and with Omi soon to join us this world shall soon belong to darkness forever."
"I like the sound of that but where do I come into this?" Wuya sighed. "I'd rather not be a ghost forever you know."
"I'll retrieve the Serpent's Tail and Reversing Mirror and restore your true form don't you worry. You're the only Heylin left strong enough to become one of the warriors."
"I like that. Ehehehehe!" Wuya cackled. "I can't wait to be all powerful again!"
Chase smirked wickedly at that statement having no intention of doing that. He may need her but that doesn't mean he trusted her after all she is just as evil as he is.
"But first let's give our new comrades one final test before then. I'm sure Jack and Katnappe won't mind playing a game of cat and mouse with the monks especially when we need the Thorn of Thunderbolt." Chase mutters intriguingly. "In the meantime, I'll prepare Jermaine to confront Omi while seeking out the remaining Shen Gong Wu we need to complete our plans," he replied heading off. "And please do not follow me, I hate it when people disturb my naps."
Meanwhile a windmill somewhere in the Netherlands:
"I hope this area doesn't get flooded. Stupid Dashi and his need to hide the Shen Gong Wu in every single country in the entire world!" Falkia muttered climbing up said windmill. "Remind me again how the hell these things appear in the most random of places. Whoa" she gasped as she slipped on the rope before pulling herself up further. "Let's see this time we've got… Oh come on not this stupid thing," she muttered pulling out a round ball that is smooth and colored like a rainbow. "What possible reason would Dashi make something that only changes the color of an object? I don't care if it saves on dye it's useless!" she then threw it at the windmill which shook it and then the grappling hook near the top came loose. "Oh for god sakes!" she yelped falling down and crashing into the garden down below she spits out dirt. "Two down 900 something to go. Where the hell is that Wand?"
Xiaolin Temple:
Two days had gone by and Rai was sick of all the twists and turns. Jack and Katnappe had spent the first entire day playing a sick game on Omi after supposedly being kicked out by Chase and Jack's robot. They had managed to snag some good Wu too including ones like the Thorn of Thunderbolt and a variety of couldn't remember and it wasn't getting any easier either.
Then the next day Jermaine showed up and while it was nice meeting him and everything Omi's insane jealousy drove him literally into the scroll room just to study up on Shen Gong Wu. He still didn't have any idea where Falkia went or where the Spirit Wand went. At this point, he was questioning its, how the hell could this stupid thing be that difficult to find.
"Oh hey Rai, how's it going?" Kimiko asked as she awkwardly noticed him sitting in a corner of said scroll room reading. Apparently, she too was trying to hide from the ongoing bro-war going on in the temple.
"Fine I guess." he sighed turning to look at her. "Let me guess Jermaine and Omi are still at each other's throats."
"Yeah, and I need a place to hide. Look, Rai, I took things to far and-"
"It's fine. I don't expect you guys to understand let alone agree with me on this." Rai replied going back to the scroll.
"Rai, I know you love her and all but face the facts she betrayed us because she had no choice and there's nothing we can do. I'm sorry but it just seems like you're trying to find an answer that doesn't exist." Kimiko stated sadly.
"You don't think I feel that way. This stupid Spirit wand is nearly impossible to find. There's a 1 in what 800th chance it will reveal itself anytime soon and somewhere in my heart, I feel that hopelessness. That all I'm doing is for nothing." he turned to her and she saw some form of doubt before his eyes lite up with determination. "But even if it is worthless, I have to try. I just need to find a different angle that's all," he spoke fervently thinking out loud. "It's too bad Dojo's useless for finding unactivated Shen Gong Wu if only there was a way to find one before it activates."
"The only way to do that is the Sands of Time which is long gone, Rai. Omi knows all of the Shen Gong Wu better than anyone and he says a Wu to find other Wu doesn't exist." Kimiko muttered. "There's no other way to find them then wait for them to reveal themselves."
"Then isn't there a way to make them reveal themselves…..?" Rai began realization dawning on him. "Wait a minute Cecilia said all Wu obey the golden Key so is it possible to have the Golden Key reveal a Shen gong wu."
"Rai, that belongs to Lady Sunday and Cecilia said you can't use it in the first place and based on everything we heard it's unlikely she'd help anyway." Kimiko muttered dejectedly.
"Well, it's worth a shot at the least, I'll go-" he began.
"We've got a Wu alert!" Dojo yelled and he groaned.
"Fine. Let's get this over with." rai muttered as the two ran off for the next Wu.
Meanwhile, somewhere out in the middle of the Sahara desert….
"I hate deserts. I hate them. I hate them. God, where the hell did Dojo bury this one again? It's nothing but rocks, rocks and more rocks." she then sighed. "I feel like this is another dead end great."
Then she spotted a sharp object sticking out of the ground nearby. As she neared, she noticed the sharp-edged signs of a shuriken. "Wait a minute that's the aether shurikens but they were supposed to be in the Parisian Catacombs who the hell moved them here? Well looks it's another bust." then she frowned. "If Chase is collecting the elemental Shen Gong Wu I better do something about these before he finds them."
"Oh really?" Chase purred as she turned to face the villain. "I'm afraid you don't have that authority Lady Ri'vi so stand aside before I make you." he grinned maliciously. "Or would you rather I send my kittens after your little boyfriend."
She glared at him, "Fine tall dark and evil. Take your stupid Wu but just keep in mind that's one less Wu that will activate and I'm one step closer to being allowed to send you to meet your maker."
"Hmph, we'll see about that," he smirked as he passed her and took hold of the Wu. "Until we meet again," he stated as he the wind picked up and he was gone.
"Jerk. Great that leaves only the Cards of Metal, good thing that Wu was lost in the Yin Yang world. And fortunately for the Xiaolin, the Yin yo-yo hasn't revealed itself yet so Chase is one Wu short, I hope." she sighed. "Okay, it looks like the next place to look is the Gold mines of West Africa." and with that, she flew off once more on the hunt for the Spirit Wand.
Chase Young's Lair:
It was the dankest deepest dungeon in his whole lair. It was reserved only for the evilest and most vile Heylin warriors. As it happened, he once tried to imprison Hannibal in here but it failed so it was currently useless except for one tiny detail.
"Uh, Chase where are we going?" Jack asked looking frightened.
"Yeah, this place is giving me the creeps," Katnappe muttered looking at the skeletons hanging from the ceiling, bats gnawing on the remaining rotting flesh.
"Hmph, it's time I gave you morons a chance to defeat the Xiaolin warriors. Now be quiet worms."
Chase lead them down to a stone grave that he effortlessly pulled up with one hand. Beneath the grave laid a set of cards; one iron, one silver, one platinum, one copper and one gold. He then shot them at Jack who ducked in fear. He glowered at the man who quickly picked them up.
"Wait, you've been keeping Wu underneath your own house this whole time?!" Katnappe asked incredulously.
"Centuries ago, when the Xiaolin and Heylin sides were at their height, four Xiaolin monks betrayed the order and became the Heylin warriors; the opposing opposite to the Xiaolin. But due to the nature of the Heylin, these warriors gained their powers by taking rather than giving to one another. Only the strongest of the Heylin were given these powers for generations until Grand Master Dashi came along and wiped them out. The Heylin side has for too long been divided amongst itself fighting within itself for supremacy now is the time for us to join forces so that evil may rise again and become the supreme ruling force of the entire world. But first, we must revive those old teachings and bring the Heylin warriors back only their powers which oppose the 4 elements of the Xiaolin can tip the balance in our favor. As luck would have it, you two are the only decently strong Heylin left so guess who gets to join me in this endeavor?" Chase grinned evilly.
"Alright, now you're talking Chase buddy." Jack looked greedily excited.
"Meow I can't wait to get a fresh set of claws," Katnappe muttered evilly.
"Then stand before me and receive your new powers." Chase began before chanting something in an ancient dark language as Jack was enveloped in a dark grey aura while Katnappe received a bluish-white aura. "Now rise Heylin apprentices of Metal and Ice." they both got up and reluctantly half-bowed to the dragon figure before them. "From now on you two will obey me as your teacher and master forever as we lead this world into a new age of darkness. Now go my new apprentices. The Golden Finger is about to reveal itself and prove yourselves worthy by retrieving it for the Heylin side."
Meanwhile in Rome…..
"Can I get a room to stay in for like a century?" Falkia muttered tiredly before looking at her map. "Good thing dashi gave us these maps just in case Dojo kicked the bucket but would it have killed the guy to label it. That way if none of my locations have the Spirit Wand I can quit searching every random spot on the map. Looks like the next one is in some old ruins nearby." she frowned as she felt the air shift around her, it felt colder. "That's weird why I am getting goosebumps all of a sudden? Ah well, let's see what we have here."
After paying for a night's stay, Falkia made her way over to the next location on the map. The large ruins were nearly breathtaking but she wasn't here for the sights. She sighed seeing from a distance it was the Golden Finger.
"Dashi and his stupid map. Why can't I find one single Shen Gong Wu?" she muttered before her hair stood up on end and she jumped just as a sharp piece of metal shot out of the group.
"Miss me, cousin. Now look who's the weak one." Jack cackled as he sent out more metal spear-like objects at her.
"How the hell did you get the element of Metal?!" Falkia yelped in confusion. "You'd need the cards of metal to pass on that power and they-"
"Let's just say Chase might have kept a few things hidden from the old master." Jack grinned evilly and Falkia groaned.
"How can this stupid week get any worse?" she yelled before she heard the wind whistle and an African American kid dressed like the monks kicked her and she went flying. "Oh come on!"
She flew for a few minutes before falling down onto the Golden Finger where gasps could be heard.
"Hey, get your own Wu!" Jermaine yelled in annoyance.
"Falkia?!" the monks yelped in confusion Rai amongst them.
"Forget about it. Jack and I challenge you three losers to a Showdown um what's it called dojo?" Katnappe muttered irritatedly.
"Well uh, this never happened before-"
"It's a 5-way Showdown All-Star or something like that" Falkia muttered. "And I don't have any Wu to bet and shouldn't even be in this showdown!"
"Ha as if I'd fall for that!" Omi yelled. "You're planning on treating us again!"
"It's trick Omi and I am busy trying to say out of this so why are you complaining?!" Falkia yelled back. "Besides I figure you'd be more concerned with the 3 others." she cried in annoyance.
"Whatever I wager the Lasso Boa-Boa," Jermaine called.
"I wager the Manchurian Musca!" Jack called excitedly. "I can't wait to take you down."
"Oh shut up Jack it's not like she isn't going to forfeit. I wager the Shroud of Shadows."
"I wager the Ruby of Ramses," Omi called.
"The game is battle of the gladiators. Last one standing wins." Chase called evilly. "And since our young miss is missing a Wu how about this one," he shouted before throwing up the Reversing Mirror.
"I am not playing this stupid game!" Falkia called. "I just got done running around the Alps, the Netherlands, a long trek through the Sahara desert and I don't even want to talk about the gold mine. Can I please leave?"
"No!" the other 4 shouted before screaming. "Let's go Xiaolin showdown! Gong Yi tempi!"
The scene transformed into a massive stadium with the remaining characters all standing above.
"Why me?" falkia moaned looking down and groaning louder. "Okay, who thought it was funny to put me in an Amazon outfit!"
She then slowly but surely walked over to the edge of the Coliseum and waited while the other 4 duked it out. In the meantime, she pulled out a white handkerchief and waved it using a spear as a makeshift surrender flag. "I quit! Now can I leave so I can take a nap?!"
"No!" Jack yelled before gunning straight for the monks. He wasn't pulling any punches this time and without warning, he used their very weapons to attack them. The others gasped in shock.
"How's he doing that?!" Rai called out in shock.
"There were 9 elements originally on the Xiaolin side. 4 traitors later and one element dying off and we're left with 4 Xiaolin monks. Jack got ahold of one of the traitor elements courtesy of dark and scary up there."
Rai blinked when he realized who was talking to him he began to say something when.
"It's good to see you again Rai. I'm sorry." Falkia sighed. "But I can't fully apologize just yet and as much as I wish this reunion would last, we both know nothing's changed."
"I know but don't worry we'll find some way out of it." he smiled goofily at her while Clay and Kimiko looked away awkwardly.
"It's fine if you two don't trust me; I don't really deserve it after deceiving you two but if it's any consolation I am trying to abduct so afterward you two can punch me till I'm the color of my clothes," she stated nonchalantly. "If only Dashi was less vague with his stupid maps I'd have abdicated years ago."
"Don't talk about Grand Master Dashi like that!" Omi yelled before suddenly being blasted by ice.
"Of course not I should praise the man for creating a surplus of Shen Gong Wu some of which are useless, others will end the world, let's not forget that part of them form a terrifying killer demon warrior, and some are so powerful that with it darkness will over everything in a blink of the eye. All of these were supposedly made to capture one count it one Heylin sorceress inside the puzzle box Shen Gong Wu while totally ignoring Hannibal bean, Chase Young who go turned evil because of rivalry friendship with Guan which again is thanks to Dashi, and all the other minor and major Heylin forces over the years. I forgot all the work Dashi did for the universe forgive me." Falkia groaned.
"Hey that's uh well I would like to say it's true but I forgot half of that era." Dojo attempted to defend the grand master.
"Not to mention the Wu are so powerful that they've been maintaining the balance between the Heylin and Xiaolin forces for most of civilization so destroying them is out of the question meaning Dashi's so-called saving of the world is only causing more problems in the long run then they were fixing them in the short term."
Katnappe was soon knocked out by Jermaine with the Lasso Boa Boa and before long Jack had been defeated as well. Jermaine and Omi after a heartfelt moment soon reconciled ending the showdown in a draw.
"Next time you guys have a showdown please keep me out of it." Falkia stated calmly. "Before walking away once more.
"Wait!" Rai called and she paused looking downcast.
"I'll see you around Rai." she then sighed. "If you really want to see me again, then ask the Lady Sunday. You can find her on the outskirts of New Orleans." She continued walking off.
"Pathetic but then again I expected no less of you worms," Chase muttered darkly. "We'll meet again young ones."
"Falkia," Rai muttered sadly. "Don't worry if it's the last thing I do I'll find that Shen Gong Wu."
"Hmph, you guys think you're so clever just you wait until next time." Katnappe hissed as she and Jack took off.
"Looks like things are really going downhill fast," Clay muttered. "Now those two are charged up with elemental power."
"Let us hope the next time we meet that we'll be able to conquer it," Omi muttered determinedly.
To be continued….