Hello wonderful readers!
Sorry for the slow update, I went to Disney land…'nuff said.
Anyway, this episode is completely in first person. Until the end, anyway, just so you're not confused.
LAST WEEK IT WAS XIAOLIN CHRONICLES 2ND BIRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday to the story, yaaaay!
I didn't have anything planned but I was hoping to get this published at least before then…. I was so busy though there's no way it could have happened haha.
But I love the couples some of you are rooting for! There's ClayxRika, RikaxJack, KimikoXRaimundo (of course) and even still some RikaxChase and KimikoxJaku fans too! Haha I wish I could make ALL of you happy, but there will be some sad faces when this is over, I'm afraid! You'll have to find out and see who steps up to the plate in this dramatic series. Also, as revealed last episode, now there's in even KimikoXArko fans as well! Haha this keeps getting better. I love the enthusiasm you all have for this story and I'm still so glad you like it. Also the theories some of you have for these new villains! Wait to connect the dots some of you are getting very close or on the mark! The comments and reviews are very helpful in that encourage me to keep up the pace (even thought its been slower than I had hoped this summer) But I'm going as fast as I can! So thank you:
Bosscakes, Esha V, Madame Rodoshe, Silenced Oblivion, Nessie, HAIL YOU, Cal, 21 hugs, FanFicNumber 1, Jackisawesome, flawlessprep, JackSpicerrules, karmakrazy, ncp4mebaby465, Xiaofan, Me, bosscakes, Kimiko, Manduka, KaylahAnne, FallenOkami, XxBraveSoulxX, devinkicklighter, PureWonder, mooncrystal rose, Sakura Hostile, 503, JaySettles, JuliaE.K5, FanFicNumber1, ShadowNight6, MusicChannySkyscraper, VanillaStratos, the name be Sam, RainsInDark, faithpeacehope, Baby Gurl365, BRC46290, Zorez, XemlovezyouX11233, 21 hugs, Star0890, Emily the evil one, Cali, HailYou, Dire Heart, TheShadeXBabe, Love Is My Weapon, Addict, all the guests and followers (and anyone else I failed to mention!)
SOME QUESTIONS I NEVER ANSWERED:
Karmakrazy: they're still using the mats! I figured since they still have their small rooms the mats haven't changed. They also have a cloth covering their doorway and not an actual door.
faithpeacehope: There was a war mentioned, yes! This will be happening, don't worry about it
Scarlet-Karma: Heba's attack on Raimundo does not count! This is season four with completely new storyline, so Rai's attack will be coming up as well!
XemlovezyouX11233: What your saying does make sense… sort of yes Raimundo is getting tired… and your almost on the mark too! Good observation. He is getting tired… of what precisely you'll find out!
Thank you all again! And if you have any questions (or any I missed without giving away a spoiler) let me know! I Hope enjoy this episode of:
The Xiaolin Chronicles
Episode 51: Pride and Prejudice: Through the Looking Glass
I am a servant. I work at the diner on the corner of 6th street of Lantau in Hong Kong. Because of my former life, I know Chinese very fluently, as the man I loved spoke it very often. He was also my boss. For years, I had worked under him through loyalty alone, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Do not get me wrong. I was very upset when I first become the servant of my former boss. He had tricked me into becoming his. He made me swear my loyalty to him. It was the only thing I could do at the time to keep his wrath from invading my village and harming my former friends and family. I hated him at first.
But as time ventured, I came to realize that my life serving under him was not so bad after all. I could still be a warrior, and I could last forever, and most importantly, even though I was his servant, he still respected me.
More and more servants continued to be his aid, and I could see my master's plans unraveling with every decade that emerged. He wasn't really ever alone. He had us. I was happy that we could bring him comfort.
But it all ended, even faster than it had begun. My master's plan fell apart. He died, I think, because of it. When he was so close to death, he just abandoned all of us, his loyal servants. And, to make matters worse, I had no idea how to adapt in the real world.
I was terrified. I wandered the streets with little idea of what to do next. 'Next' did not even seem to be an option for a while. I kept praying that one day he would return to come bring me back.
He never did, and next became reality. I had to move on in this metropolitan world, struggling in this foreign existence that was the earth of today.
"Chun, table 8 is ready for their drinks!" The boss yelled at me in Chinese.
"Okay, I'll be right there!" I replied. "I must get more wine stocked in the back!"
I dropped my cloth and raced outside. I suppose it is unusual that an African woman such as myself were to be working on a street corner of a small diner bar in China. I do not think I could have found any occupations had Bao Yu not taken mercy on me when I was lost. She allows me to work in the diner, and sleep in the basement.
It's not much, but it is living.
I walked out into the smoky night, heading down into the basement from the alleyway.
The drumming music and chatter from the diner upstairs echoed into the dark space. I reached out for the bottle that the customers required. My solo presence was interrupted by a shadow.
"Queen Amina."
His shadow.
My spirits must have jumped out of my flesh, because I felt lifeless when I turned around to face him. My nerves were numb and my heart yanked on its strings; I can't imagine the mortified surprise on my features when I looked upon his form.
"Master," I whispered. "you are… alive…"
"As are you." He stepped into the sliver of light that shone into the damp room. He was still perfect, just as I had remembered him. "You still held your immortality, my queen."
His approach forward caused me to step back against the wine barrels.
"Are you afraid, my queen?"
His question caused me to gulp. "I am… pleased and terrified, as always, my lord."
He smirked. He smiled. My heart race was impossible to calculate at this point.
"I did not come here to harm you. You were after all, one of my best jungle cats."
"…But Kortaba was your right hand. Why don't you seek him out?"
"Do I sense I tone of jealousy from the mad ruler of the Zaria plains?"
"…"
"You are to return with me. You are bound by your loyalty to me."
"…I, I don't know."
He tilted his head slightly. "You don't know what?"
"I don't know if I want to go back, my lord."
"…You do not have a choice."
"I, I know. I just…"
"You want to stay here, in this rotting plot, with these rotting mortals?"
"My lord, you have never hated mortals… only to rule them…"
"Well, that plan did not go as well as I would have assumed, did it? I lost you, and the other jungle cats, because of it."
"…"
"You are wasting my time on purpose, aren't you?" He bellowed.
"N-no…" If I had not felt fear from having a vulnerable life from the past few months, I might have remembered.
His face was inches from mine in an instant.
He was Chase Young, after all.
"Queen Amina," he began, "you swore your loyalty to me centuries ago. Time has made you too weak. You used to lead armies into battle, and you even fought me head on. You deserved to become immortal, like me."
I dared to gaze up at him.
"But are not acting that way now. Tell me you do not wish to return to being a warrior?"
I couldn't say no. It would have been a lie, otherwise.
He cupped my chin to keep my gaze. He always did small things to keep me tentative to him, and only him.
He was so unaware of how he made me feel.
"Come home, Amina."
The tears fell from my boney cheeks. I could not hide them any longer.
"Yes, my lord."
…I am a servant.
And, that's probably I'll ever be for the rest of my life.
…
….
…
….
"Cat Ears," Rika read the scroll. Once again, she insisted that she have the scroll as we flew towards our next Wu! I do actually like seeing what's in the scroll myself however…
"What? The name of the Wu is Cat Ears?" Kimiko said. "People put those on when they cosplay!"
"It looks like it's the same as the Monkey Staff," Rika speculated, "The Cat Ears make you more cat-like the longer you wear them."
"Does it even give you nine lives too?" Jaku joked.
"Nope, just cat-like reflexes."
"I've got the willies bad!" Dojo proclaimed. "We must be right below it!"
"Hey, look out!" Arko called out but it was too late. The green fireball hit Dojo on the side and we prepared for a crash landing. I leapt smoothly off the leapt off of Dojo into the grass and the others followed me before he shrunk back to size and rolled into the dirt.
"What was that?" Clay asked, looking around the vast forest area.
"Who else would be capable of controlling green magic?" I asked the group.
"Yes!" The witch declared as she and her team approached. "Two points for taking down a dragon!"
"Good work, hag!" Jill slapped her hand on Wuya's back. "Your practicing of the mythical arts is getting stronger by the day!"
"Jill, I'm not going to tell you again that 'hag' and 'witch' are not the same thing, so do not keep calling me that!"
"Heylin Sisterhood," I addressed, "we are going to get that Wu first!"
"As if, MAN!" Jill pointed at the monks. "The twins are already in the forest getting the Wu!"
"What?" I retreated into the trees to look for it. I hopped through the trees in his search, noticing the cat ears upon piles and piles of logs by the river bank.
I hopped down to run towards the tower of wood, but Mina had slid in my path and tripped me! She rolled back up and stood in my way as Nina ran up the logs towards the Wu.
"No! You will not be getting that!" I attempted to battle with Mina, but Nina was already on her way to the top. She grabbed the Cat Ears and they began to glow.
The twin looked up to see who would be her showdown opponent.
"Mina, or Nina—whoever you are! I challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown!"
I stepped back from Mina to see what was going on with Nina. "Huh? Delilah? What on the planet are you doing here?"
The small girl in pigtails grinned and waved. "Hey, lil' Omi! I missed you, cutie pie!"
"C-cutie pie!" My face was red, but I was most definitely feeling confident then! "Pies are not cute! Explain your reasoning for appearance at this time!"
"What does it look like I'm doing, dork?" I loved it when she made fun of me. "I'm trying to win a Xiaolin showdown thingy! Wanna join me?"
"Uhm.." I was hesitant to answer. I was aware of Delilah's abilities, however I did not wish for her lesser talents to hold me down!
"Yes, let's have a duo showdown. Two against two." Mina agreed.
Nina grinned. "It's all the same to us, we'll still get our Wu."
"In your dreams, you crazy skanks!" Delilah snapped. "The game will be a three legged race! Who ever can make it through the course to the Wu wins!"
"We accept your challenge, Delilah." They said at once.
The area appeared as the logs they had been standing on had spread out across the river, then the extended tower of logs at the end of the river held the Cat Ears.
"Gong Yi Tempai!"
"Hey, Omi is in a showdown!" The monks and Heylin Sisterhood raced to the scene.
"Come on girls!" Jill exclaimed. "Whoop their asses!"
"Huh? Who's that little brat that's working with Omi?" Wuya noticed.
"That brat would be my sister." Jermaine enlightened as he appeared.
"Jermaine!" Kimiko proclaimed.
"Hey partner!"
"What up, guys? Long time no see."
"Jermaine, hey." Raimundo smiled. "What a are you guys doing here?"
"Official school business, sorry; its confidential dog."
"Aw, seriously?"
. "Nah. Actually, we were sent out to capture Nina and Mina. They did murder Anika Remeda when they were snatchin' up all the Rai look alikes, remember?"
"Ohhh, yeah. Wow, those girls are bloody vicious." Jaku commented.
Jermaine loomed over Raimundo's shoulder, as he had noticed something. "Hey!" He pushed Raimundo aside. "What's he doing here?" He pointed at Arko. "Don't worry guys, I got this dude now—"
"No, Jermaine!" Kimiko stepped in front of him. "He's on our side now!"
"What? You serious?"
"Uh, I-I'm sorry… for whatever I did to you." Arko stammered.
"You mean you don't even remember, man?" Jermaine grimaced. "My arm took weeks to heal after you nearly melted it off!"
"Ah. Again, s-sorry."
"Uh, so anyway," Kimiko changed the subject, "what happened to you being on your high school basketball team, Jermaine?"
"Well, I couldn't just let ma lil sis go out and find a bunch o' killers on her own now, could I?"
"Speaking of which, she's teamed up with Omi in a showdown right now!" Dojo pointed to the river.
"Yeah, I noticed."
With their ankles tied to each other, the twins raced against me and Delilah. We had to leap as one across the logs, jumping with their tied legs and relying on one another for support when leaping with the other.
"Left, right! Do a black flip, Omi!"
"Delilah, it is quite good that are able to keep up with me for this!"
"Yeah yeah, just don't fall back! We're almost to the Wu!"
We were head to head with Mina and Nina. "You cannot beat us!"
"We're linked and synchronized; surely you'll end up making a fuss!"
"Two can play that!" Delilah and I reached the pile of logs, they climbed it by swinging one another up at every turn, and the twins followed suit.
"The teams are at the same point!" Jill noticed. "It's a close match! Come on, twins!"
Seeing their opponents beside them, the twins swung over to us and attempted hand to three-legged combat with them atop the logs.
"Kick of DEER!" We ended up knocking the twins off the wood pedastol, and they continued onward until they grabbed the Wu.
"Alright! They won!" The monks rejoined them as they cheered in their victory.
"Oh, dangnabbit, twins!" Katnappe cursed.
"Hph, so much for getting Wu in our collection today," Jill grumbled, "but I suppose it cannot be helped."
"Delilah, huh?" Wuya speculated. "Hmmm ,she's quite skilled."
"Retreat for now, but we'll be back, fools!" The Heylin Sisterhood left without a hitch.
"Alright little sis," Jermaine hi-fived her, "not bad. You too, little Omi."
"Indeed. It was most convenient that you are almost as skilled as I am." I grinned.
Delilah rolled her eyes. "Mmhmm. Any way, here's your precious Wu." She tossed it over to me. "so we chillin' at your place, then?"
"W-what? You wish to return to the temple with us?"
"I told Dee we could stay at the temple if we couldn't find a hotel, that's all." Jermaine clarified.
"Screw a hotel," Raimundo retorted, "come chill with us."
Jermaine chuckled. "Alright then, looks while we'll be staying."
…
…
…
"I think we should train!" Jaku clapped his hands together. "Who's up for a T-tournament?"
"T-tournament? What's that?" Delilah asked.
"They're training tournaments." Kimiko enlightened. "We each go one on one with each other on top of our rickety bridge and only fight hand to hand combat. You keep moving on with every person you beat. Once you're undefeated, you win."
"That sounds like fun!" Delilah exclaimed. "I'm down to play with you guys."
"Everyone should do it." Raimundo alleged. "It'll be more interesting with more people."
"I'm down too." Jermaine decided. "It'd be nice to train and prepare for when we see the twins again."
"Intense, let's do this thing then! I'll go first since I won the last time." Jaku decided.
"Ahh, but I was not apart of the last tournament, Romane." I reminded sincerely. "So you shall only remain winner until you face me!"
"Just because of that comment, I'll save you for last, little Omi." He grinned.
"What makes you think you're going to win past me, Romane?" Raimundo challenged.
"Okay okay, let's git goin' if you're all hyped up for it, then." Clay decided. "Lemme move all the yard sale stuff out of the yard."
"Ugh, you mean all that useless junk you're getting rid of?" Raimundo recalled. "Please do, cowboy."
"Okay, call me when it's my turn!" Kimiko raced into the temple. "I'm going to get Arko so he can join too!"
"Okay, I'm going first." Rika decided. She and Jaku climbed onto the thick, shaky balance beam above everyone that held a net under it.
"Bring it on, Ri-Ri."
Clay was eying intently over at the temple while we watched the showdown.
"Yo, cowboy," Raimundo teased, "aren't you gonna watch? Your girlfriend's battling, after all."
"Huh? Oh…" He hesitated. "Y-yeah, I'm focused."
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this, but two things had been plaguing Clay Bailey's mind at that moment;
The first was Rika had 'dumped' him. They had not necessarily been going out, but ever since their little chat she had been ignoring him.
The second was Arko Delet. That fiend of a warrior, was blackmailing him! Not to mention he felt as if he was betraying Raimundo for not telling him about what Arko had said. Even so… his mind was in a bundle of regret and stress.
While we watched the spar, and I was waiting for my moment to shine, Kimiko was bothering Arko in the temple.
"Arko!" She raced into living room. "Come on, get up! We're playing a training game and you have to participate!"
Arko looked up from the book he was studying and blinked. "It's not like the game you and Raimundo were playing last night, is it?"
She flushed. "You jerk!" She swatted his shoulder. "Y-you weren't supposed to see that!"
"Then maybe you shouldn't be doing stuff like that in the hallway."
"I-w-we thought everyone was in bed, okay? S-sorry…" She turned her head away. "So… how much did you see?"
"Enough." He looked back down at his book.
"Huh? What are you reading?"
"….A book."
"Smartass, lemme see!"
"Go away, please. Shouldn't you be playing with your friends outside?"
"I came in here to get you!" She exclaimed. "Your part of this team now too, whether you like it or not! So you have to come train with us instead of always hiding in a corner!"
"I never hide in a corner—"
"Come on, we want you to join us, now let's go!" She stood over him with her hands on her hips. "I won't stop bothering you until you come outside!"
"Your so perky. It's annoying." He closed the book and sat up.
"And you're too honest." She scolded. "You should try being nicer to people!"
"What would that accomplish?"
"You make friends a lot easier that way, duh!"
He blinked again. "That's stupid. If I'm lying to their face by being nice doesn't that make me, fake?"
"What? No—"
"Sure it does. If I'm being nice to anyone, I'm not being me, and that would mean anyone I'm nice doesn't really know the true me."
"Ugh, I don't think you get it…"
"You're the one teaching me bad things." He smiled then. They made their way out to the yard where everyone was watching the match.
"Arko! Glad you could join us." Jaku approached.
"Ha, you lost already, Jaku?" Kimiko teased.
"I suppose I didn't stretch properly today, that's all." He chuckled half-heartedly. "Pedrosa's got the stage now."
Ah, yes. This was my favorite part of the day, mostly, until the end. And, to make the longer story shorter, I will simply tell you the order in which I defeated my comrades and won every round, which was a simple task for someone like me:
Jaku
Raimundo
Kimiko
Arko
Rika
Clay
And Jermaine.
My final opponent was the lovely Delilah. Oh, how my heartstrings are ripped by her presence!
But I could not falter. And my confidence was most high at the moment of battling with her, since I had already won so much, which was no news to me.
Everyone else seemed to be rooting for my opponent.
"Get that ego tripper, sis!" Jermaine proclaimed.
"Yeah, knock him off his ego, girl!" Raimundo pressed.
"Go Delilah!" Kimiko cheered. "Teach that egg-head a lesson!"
"I am sorry for you losing, Kimiko," I addressed properly, "But calling my head a different shape will not change the fact that I will be victorious of the T-tournament once again!"
"Wanna bet?" Delilah grumbled. Oh, how cute she was, thinking she could win. I went easy on her at first. After she used a roundhouse kick knock from the air, it knocked me off balance when I landed on the beam and began to fall off of it.
"Yeah, I won!" She declared too early. I had already produced a plan of verb, as I was not about to lose. As I had fallen, I grabbed the beam with my arms and swung back up, and while I did, I decided to kick Delilah off as my feet went up in the air. She screamed out as she was knocked off the beam and into the mud puddle in the ground.
"Sis!" The others raced to aid her, which I do not understand, but I suppose I kicked her harder than I had realized. She was coughing as she was helped up by Rika and Jermaine.
"Omi, what is wrong with you?" Jermaine's heavy brows were furrowed, so I assumed he was angry. And if I had to look two times, I would have seen that the others were also most upset.
"Ah, I have won the match! That is what's wrong with me."
"You idiot, Omi." Kimiko rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to go that far!"
"What do you mean? In order to be the best, you must defeat your opponent without any hesitation!"
"It's just a game, stupid." Raimundo smacked his forehead.
"I-I'm okay, guys." Delilah wiped the mud of shame off of her face and clothes as she approached me. "Hey, Omi…"
"Ah, Delilah. It was a nice attempt on your part, however—"
I could not finish my sentence, as she had stunned me. She slapped me across the face! It shocked the others as well, as they watched.
"Omi, you are the biggest jerk I have ever met!" She continued to spat. "You've been actin' all high and mighty ever since we got here!"
"W-what? Of course not 'high and mighty' as you say, just at the appropriate level! I did know I was better at fighting than you, after all, so I tried to go easy on—"
"Zip it, you little shrimp!"
"Shrimp? Who is calling who a demeaning name for a small person! You are just the same size as me!"
"I have had it with you!" She began to stomp away. "Go brag somewhere else instead of being in my face about it!"
"Whoo-hoo, stick it to him, Delilah girl!" Kimiko cheered as she marched away.
I was most confused as I rubbed my burning cheek. "Very well, then. I will respect your response as a tempered loser of this battle, but you did not need to smack me!"
"Somebody's gotta knock some sense into you." Jaku grumbled. "Well, I guess that's the end of our fun for today."
Shaking their heads and groaning in their anguish, the other monks left me alone outside.
This most certainly did not feel like a victory, after all nobody seemed to be on my side about it. I guess they were all tired of losing; but I could not help I had the skills to defeat them!
My confusion towards their soreness became a defensive anger. It was not my fault I had more potential then them! And we had already been through this before, yet just because I won this time they are all being prude about it! How silly…
Anyway, I decided to continue training on my own. I was going to have work on my elemental skills if I wanted to pass the Shoku level.
I began practicing with my powerful Shimo staff, before I knew it, I had been trained all over the yard, and the only thing that had caused me to stop (it was not because I was tired, because I never get exhausted) was that my foot bumped into all of Clay's unwanted possessions!
I caught the mirror that almost hit the floor.
"Phew! That was too close to me being cursed for 7 years! I almost broke Clay's useless mirror!" I pondered the tall object as I speculated my wonderful reflection in it. To think about it now… I almost had no desire to look away.
"You look, very nice, Omi!"
"Why, thank you Omi—"
Oh.
I just talked back to my own reflection!
"Yipe!" I jumped back cautiously. "W-what on this planet-?"
"It is okay, Omi. It is just me, after all, your reflection!"
"Oy, I do not understand!"
"I am simply you, silly! Your perfect image, your conscious, even!"
"I must be having some sort of dream," I scratched my head.
"This is no dream! Like I said, I am just you!"
"Oh-h kay, me, if what your are saying is solid, then tell me who I think is the most strong out of all of the monks!"
"You!"
"Oh my goodness, you are my reflection!" I gasped. "This is most unusual!"
"Well, who better to talk to than yourself, right? Is there something that is bothering you too much, Omi?"
"Well, Omi," I began, "I am not sure if my friends like me very much. They are upset I defeated them all for some reason and I do not know why."
"Isn't it obvious?" My reflection smiled. "Just look at you! You're the perfect image of an incredible warrior! Don't you see? They're just jealous of you!"
I blinked. "Ohhhh, it all makes sense now!"
As I was speaking to myself, the others were laying around and complaining about how they could not be as good as me… or something like that.
"Omi, that little..!" Delilah was sitting at the bar on the kitchen. "I swear I'm gonna punch his lights out the next time I see him!"
"Heh, lil gurl got a bit of a temper, huh?" Clay chuckled.
"Omi's always trippin' like that. I shoulda known he was gonna be that way with you too!" Jermaine his finger. "I'm sorry, Dee."
"He gets annoying like that sometimes." Jaku added. "But I don't think he gets how to be nice to girls either."
"He's a little sexist too." Rika added.
"Yeah," Raimundo agreed, "but everyone's a little bit racist."
"What? That's not what I said—"
"Hey are you two gonna cook us a meal tonight 'er what?" Raimundo slapped his hands on the table.
"What? Who?"
"Why, you and Clay of course!" He pointed to Rika. "Come oooon. I know you two want to spend time making us something nice together, huh?"
"U-uhm!" Rika cleared her throat, and Clay looked in the other direction of her. "I can't. I'm reading a book tonight."
"A cook book?" Raimundo hinted.
"No, just A book. Sorry, but I wasn't planning on cooking tonight." Rika left the conversation with great haste, not wanting to include herself and Clay in the same discussion.
"Uh, yeah. And I'm not very hungry since that whole weird incident, guys. Sorry." Clay left the room too.
"What's eating him?" Raimundo shrugged.
"Hm, who knows?" Arko answered.
"GRRRRRR!" Delilah yelled suddenly. "I'm so mad I could punch a baby!"
"Hey little girl, there will be no assault on infants in this temple!" Raimundo pointed at her. It occurred to Kimiko, for a slight moment, that Raimundo was in a rather good mood today. "Aw, come on. There's no reason to be so mad. Omi's just being Omi."
"Hey, Delilah." Kimiko sat on the stool beside her. "I want you to consider something before you go on a rampage. You know when you act up and your parents decide to discipline you?"
"Yeah."
"Like, when you try to do something bad or act mean towards the other kids?"
"Sure."
"Well, Omi doesn't know what that's like. He never had parents to tell him how to act or how to treat others, so he makes resolutions on his own."
Delilah put her ands on her head. "Oh god, I'm terrible!" She cried. "I never even thought about that!"
"Heh, don't feel bad about it. It's not something you'd normally think about. I think we forget about it sometimes too."
"That's true." Raimundo inclined. "But Omi's also learned a thing or two about manners from us, and we've learned from him not to be such an ego trip! That's just the way he is now I guess."
"Y-yeah." Delilah folded her arms. 'Well, even so! I'm not 'bout to go apologize to him; he was the one being a jerk!"
Kimiko laughed. "You and Omi are kind of alike. Very confident in what you do."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Ha-ha, absolutely nothing. But, you should go back out there and talk to him. Maybe you can explain to him why we're all mad at him, hmm?"
"Well, I guess so…" Delilah scooted out of her seat and lazily stalked outside.
"Should I go out there too? You know, in case they'all start fightin' again—"
"What? No way, Jermaine!" Kimiko chided. "You'd be a third wheel, duh!"
Jaku squinted his eyes at her. "Are you trying to hook them up?"
"What! My sister and Omi?" Jermaine exclaimed.
"Uh, yeah of course! You mean you never noticed it before? Sheesh, guys are so dense."
"Look, Omi's my main homie, but I don't want him dating my sister, alright?"
"Why not?"
"Because of his ego! He's gonna hurt Dee big time!"
"Oh, don't be such a worry wart." Kimiko wafted her hand. "They like each other—"
"Jus' cause they like each other don't mean they supposed to be together." He retorted.
"Hmm, that's true." Arko intruded. "I think some of us in here could learn from that."
"What does that mean?" Raimundo confronted. It occurred to Kimiko then that Raimundo's good mood had vanished—
Then, blah blah blah, Arko and Raimundo get in a fist fight, blah blah blah—
Okay, we'll get back to that! But first, on to ME!
So anyway, Delilah stepped outside and overheard the deep discussion I was having with myself—
"It's just, I am so uncertain." By now I had sat in front of the mirror in the grass with my legs folded for comfort. "I mean, I was okay with Raimundo becoming leader, but not even I could comprehend how most troublesome he would be! If I were leader, I would most definitely not go to parties and such."
"And? What else?"
"When Jaku and Rika joined the temple, I was also worried about them as well, as they can control two elements, and I only one."
"And?"
"Even so, they do not have as much experience as I do, yes? I mean, if they did, they would be much stronger than me; but clearly I can beat them any day."
"Why is it that you want to be the best, Omi?"
I hesitated at my reflection's next question. "Because…" I managed to say, "If I am not the best, then what good am I? I have never been good at anything else but in my duties as a Xiaolin warrior. It has been my dream to become like those before me! So if I am only leveled as average and as good as everyone else, how can I be seen as a legend?"
"Oh, poor Omi…" Delilah had whispered, keeping herself hidden still.
"…And Delilah?" My reflection asked. "What was it about her that troubled you?"
"Oh, nothing really. I simply did not wish to lose to a girl!"
"INCREDIBLE!" Her booming voice caught me off guard and I hopped up to face her.
"D-Delilah!"
"To think I was starting to feel sorry for you!" She yelled. "I came out here to talk to you, but you and the mirror seem to be getting along just fine!"
"Delilah, you do not understand! It talks—"
But when I looked at the mirror, it was my own copy-cat image once again. A regular mirror. "I… what happened?"
"You've gone coo-coo that's what happened!" She continued to yell. "I'm outta here, before I lose it too!"
"D-Delilah, wait-!" Before I could retrieve her, though—
My reflection pulled my hand and yanked me back.
"Do not go, Omi." It wept. "Don't you want me to help YOU?"
"Yes, but I must make sure Delilah is not in need of help!"
"What for? You have told me enough so I can help you, Omi. If you want to be strong, you can't possibly be concerning yourself with the likes of them."
"But, they are my friends!"
"Maybe so, but they are holding you back."
"Do not play tricks with me, me!" I yanked my hand away. "You are beginning to not sound like me, and more like an evil me, or something!" With that, I attempted to turn around and leave—but suddenly, I was in a green meadow, filled with flowers and butterflies.
"What?"
"Sorry, Omi, but I already pulled you into my world." The reflection explained.
"I am in the mirror? I demand that you let me out this instant!"
"I'll handle this." A voice echoed throughout the plains. My reflection me had vanished and a much taller character appeared. He was a very well dressed man in a white suit, and his hair was pulled back and shiny. His plastic grin matched his glowing features. He straightened his suit and approached me.
"Who are you?"
"Sorry about this, Omi, but you're a lot more stubborn than your friends are, it seems."
"Why have you brought me to this place?"
"Relax, this was the only way I could get you to listen. So, will you?"
"Hmph, very well. You may explain, but I wish to leave soon after."
"Okay, then. My name is Narsi—I mean, uh, Narry."
"Harry?"
"No, Narry."
"Larry?"
"No, Narry!"
"…Berry."
"WITH AN 'N', OKAY?"
"Narry?"
"YES! Geez, and don't you forget it, okay? Not that you can forget my gorgeous face."
"Uh, Narry… why did you bring me here?"
"Omi, you and I are very much alike. I could have just sent one of my little lackeys to come convince you, but how shameful would that be on my part? Me not revealing my beautiful face to you, and for me to get to admire yours!"
"Oh, I see…" This man was weird, "well, it seems you have seen my face! It was nice talking to you—"
"Hold on! I'm not done," he ventured, "As I was saying, it wouldn't be right if I sent some sprite or lackey to come talk to you-"
"The only people that possess 'lackeys' are on the Heylin side!" I accused. "Spew your words correctly and speak the truth."
Narry grinned. "I have come to fight you, Omi. A Xiaolin showdown of sorts."
"In order to have a showdown, we would need the Shen Gong Wu—"
"Ah, the Oi Scale," Narry pulled a fin out of his suit pocket. "This Wu allows you to grow any part of your body to a gigantic size—sort of like the lesser level of the Changing Chopsticks."
"H-how did you get that Wu?"
"Someone like me can get whatever they want. I'm beautiful, and beautiful people get whatever they desire."
"Really? Oh…"
"You are superior Omi, from the moment I saw you I could just see the awesome radiating from you!"
"Awesome? Me? Well, I try my best not to show it too much…"
"You should show it twenty-four seven!" He clicked his tongue. "My man Omi, the best of the best! I'd even go as far as to say that you could be the next great Dashi…"
"You think so?" I grinned. This man was not only seemingly well dressed and well mannered, but also very truthful!
"I'm here to help you embrace that side of you that brings you confidence, Omi. But I can only do that if you accept who you are."
"I have accepted, though."
"Not completely. You see, people like your other monk friends out there drag you down. Rather than praise you for all the amazing things you accomplish, they criticize you when you have gone beyond their expectations."
"That is mostly true, though I do not understand their ill behavior towards me…"
"Don't you get it? They're jealous of you, Omi."
"Jealous? Ah, yes. I suppose I have noticed that before. But I cannot help the level of skill I have gotten to."
"And you should not have to help it. You are the bets of the best! You don't need to have any excuse for your pride!"
"I also agree with this!" I stood proudly. "So, why is it you wish to have a showdown with me, if we are so much alike and get along so well?"
"Ahh, I am incapable of helping you unless you accept who you are and join me." He said sadly. "And I know how loyal you are to your monk friends, you would not simply abandon them."
"That is correct."
"Well, I know something you can't refuse; a challenge." He snapped his fingers. "In our Xiaolin Showdown, we will be playing checkers."
"Checkers?" I chuckled. "Oh ho! That is a most easy game!"
"Indeed, it is."
"So if I defeat you in checkers, then I get the Wu!"
"No—"
I gave him a confused stare.
"-If you win, you get the Wu, but you will have to join me."
"What?"
"If you were to allow yourself to lose, Omi, then I will never bother you again. But, I keep the Wu."
"I, but, I—"
"The choice is yours." He grinned. "Or, you can back down from this wu now and call yourself a quitter—"
"Of course I will do no such thing!" I retorted. "I accept your challenge, Narry!"
"Then let's go: Xiaolin Showdown!"
…
…
….
While I was attempting my showdown, Dojo had seen me get pulled into the mirror, so he slithered as fast as he could into the temple.
"GUYS!" He stopped dead in his tracking when he saw the blood on the floor.
"Sheesh! W-what happened in here!"
"Um, it's a long story." Rika told him. Only she Jermaine and Jaku were in the room. "What's wrong? Do you sense a Wu, Dojo?"
"No, not that!" He waved his arms about. "It's Omi! He's been pulled in by a mirror!"
"Uhm, okay?" Jaku scratched his head.
"Ugh! Omi was captured by that janky mirror in Clay's junk pile! It sucked him into some freaky world!"
"Janky?" Rika echoed.
"Man, ain't nobody use that word no more." Jarmaine alleged.
"HELLO? The point is that Omi is in trouble and we got to help him!"
"Right! I shall collaborate with the others and meet you all at the mirror!" Jaku declared.
"Its outside, hurry!"
While they were discussing of me in the room of living, Master Fung and Arko were talking about boring things in the great hall.
With his arms folded and a perplexed look, Fung spoke. "Arko, your behavior was unacceptable—"
"Raimundo hit me first. I didn't try to start a fight, I was only making a point."
"Well, you are very capable of not fighting back, right?"
"You're saying I should have let him keep hitting me?"
"I am saying that turning the other cheek, in your case, may not be such a bad idea."
"What do you mean by that?" He demanded.
Fung sighed. He turned around and stalked over to the light piercing from the window. "Arko, when you all had that party in this temple, do you know what business I was attending to?"
"No. What does this have to do with-?"
"I went to see the five elder monks."
His eyes lit up. Arko had completely forgotten all about the elders, and the law that pursued him.
"I had to inform them you were still alive. They thought you drowned in quicksand after all, remember?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I had to let them know you were with us, and that you intended to be here in accordance to the fact that you are attempting to redeem yourself. I even told them you alone rescued the other Xiaolin warriors from destruction and they decided to stay away from the situation. They are letting you stay here, Arko, under the fact that you do so with good behavior."
"So, what? I'm a prisoner on probation, basically?"
"You should not look at it in such a way." He shook his head and faced Arko again. "What you did today may have not been your fault, or it may have. Either way, you are to act like the better man in any such circumstances. Do you understand?"
Arko groaned a sigh before he nodded his head.
"Alright, then."
"Arko-!" Jaku ran in. "Uhm, sorry Master Fung, is it okay if Arko join us? Actually, we might need your help, too!"
"What ever is the matter, Jaku?"
"Uhm, its Omi, sir; he's missing in action and Dojo said he got swallowed by a mirror!"
"What?"
…
…
…
"Ah-ha! King me!" I proclaimed.
"Omiiii, you're supposed to be losing."
"I am most sorry, Narry! I cannot help it! I cannot just lose for no reason when I know I can win!"
"Suit yourself." The suited man shrugged. He made another move and it was my turn again.
"OMI!" Delilah came racing over to our match.
"D-Delilah?" I stammered, most astounded by her abrupt presence. "How did you get here?"
"I did turn around and notice your reflection pull you in, idiot!" She snapped. "And, I know what you doing right now too! Omi, you shouldn't try to beat this guy!"
"Ah, you see Delilah, it is not a matter of trying—I know I am perfectly capabale of winning this showdown—"
She practically crushed my cheeks when she grabbed my face. "That's what I'm trying to say! Omi, you'd rather lose your humanity and join this creep than just lose for once! You don't have to be perfect at everything, you know! You can lose once and a while—"
"No, I will not lose!" I argued. "You do not understand, nobody does! Any mistakes I make could effect the rest of my choices later on! It is best to always win!"
"Omi, you can't do that. No human can do that! What do you think mistakes are for? Ain't you learned anything with all the adventures you've had with your friends? It's okay to not be perfect because then you can learn from your errors for when it really counts!"
"I understand what you are speaking, Delilah," I responded, "however I will not lower my skills simply because my comrades are unable to win against my most superior skills."
Delilah blinked a few times. I could tell she was processing something most intricate in her mind, or maybe she was just admiring how right I was—
She punched me in the face.
Of course, I had allowed her to do it. But it hurt more than I could have imagined. My head bounced off the grass and I managed to sit back up.
"Hey! No interfering with the showdown, missy!" Narry made no effort but to put his fists on his sides as he continued to sit.
"Delilah… why…"
Why do you think?" She boomed. "Omi, your ignorance is cute sometimes, but most of the time its really annoying!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're being a first class jackass, that's what! You act like your better than everyone and its really annoying, don't you get that? You sit on your high horse like you deserve to be more respected than the rest of us! Haven't you ever tried giving someone else credit been respectful to anyone else but yourself?"
"My friends… once and I while…" I frowned. "But I do not do it as much as I should."
"Omi, we're all pissed off at you right now because you didn't see that before. You are so caught up in your own ego you never bother to think of anyone else. For example in our showdown today: we worked together to get that Wu against the twins. Wasn't it fun to be working alongside someone rather than alone?"
"Indeed, and you surprised me with your skills. Oh my, this is… not good." I kept my eyes down. "I, I have been most selfish lately, haven't I?"
"Most definitely, yeah." She folded her arms.
My face was red. "I am most embarrassed! I thought I was the right one all along and actually I was playing the fool card!"
"Yeah… whatever. As long as you get it." She grinned. "So, what you gonna do now, lil' Omi?"
I decided to say my thoughts outloud, in order to make my decision. "I could certainly win this match easy but then I would have to join Narry and that would be betraying my friends on the other hand I have no desire to lose ever and therefore this makes it hard to suddenly become humiliated and just quit the showdown…" I looked over at her, seeing her brows furrowed and arms folded with a tapping foot.
"On the other hand," I stood up. "For you, I suppose I could suffer a most humiliating defeat, just this once."
She smiled. "Hurray!"
"I quit, Narry!"
"What?" He roared. "How could you just give up, like a loser, just like that?"
"I am afraid so." I bowed. "But it was a fun showdown."
"No…" He stood up as well, and he held terror in his features, "y-you can't! I was so close!" He covered his face. "So close!"
"What up with this guy?" Delilah pointed. "Ain't you happy you won, Harry?"
"It's NARRY!" He screamed. "O-Oh no!" It was then we heard a crackling noise. "My face! My beautiful face!" Narry began to glow a menacing light, and I realized it was emerging from his face! It was cracking like glass and light was bursting from it.
"Omi, let's get out of here!" Delilah grabbed my hand, and I scooped up the Wu as we headed for the exit.
Narry was wobbling about as he held his face and cried. "I-I can do it, wait! Don't do this to me! You can't! I CAN CHANGE HIM, WAIT PLEASE!"
There was an oval shaped hole in the air near us and we hopped in. Before I knew it, we had tumbled out of the mirror and back into the world of reality, and the mirror had shattered behind us!
"Omi, Dee!" Jermaine helped us up. "You guys are alright!"
"Omi, what were you doing? How did you get in that mirror?" Kimiko asked me.
"My reflection pulled me in! And then it was Narry! And then Narry wanted to have a showdown, but I would have to join him if I won! But he was testing my ability to win or lose—and then, Delilah! And she punched me in the eye—and then he started to cry and turn into light—so we—BOOSH! And here we most certainly are!"
"…Anyone else get that?" Clay scratched his head under his hat with a shrug.
Delilah went on to explain what had happened in a clearer way to the rest of the monks.
"Narry was his name?" Raimundo repeated after Delilah finished her story. "Fungie, you know anyone with that name? An old Heylin rival, perhaps?"
"I'm afraid not." The old master shook his head. "But he must have been quite powerful if he was able to perform the tricks you say."
"Why would that Narry guy make Omi want to lose, though?" Jaku asked. "It doesn't make any sense!"
"Yeah, and how did he have a Shen Gong Wu?" Rika questioned.
"Hey guys, you know who else got forced into a showdown was me." Jaku recalled. "Remember that Amelie girl when she turned all those girls into puppets? She had a Shen Gong Wu too."
"Ah, I was not forced, " I corrected, "I decided to go for it! Playing checkers is an easy task for me, after all."
"Has anyone thought to think that maybe Narry wasn't planning on Omi quitting?" Everyone turned to Arko.
"What you mean by that?" Delilah asked.
"I mean, Omi's got the biggest ego ever. We all saw it today how he acted like a cocky bastard."
"Thank you for being so truthful, Arko." I gritted my teeth.
"Maybe he was expecting Omi to keep on playing, and win the Showdown, so he could 'help' Omi, whatever that meant."
"Yeah! I mean, no offense lil Omi. But if I wanted advice on how to be a world class snob…"
I scoffed. "There is no need for such wording of ways! I have changed my direction! I will no longer act superior to all of you!"
"Really? You've changed your ways then and you'll start treating us all like your equal and not your pupils?"
"Precisely."
"Good." Kimiko said. "You can start your changing of ways by doing the dishes tonight."
"Okay."
They exchanged glances.
"What's this?" Raimundo analyzed. "No 'that job is too inferior for the likes of me' quote?"
"Nope."
"No, 'the dishes should be done by a girl since kitchen work is a girl's job' phrase?" Rika sputtered.
"Of course no."
Raimundo grinned. "Good job, Omi. That's acting more like a team player."
"Guys, we're forgettin' the incident today?" Clay referenced.
"You mean that cheap shot fist fight or what happened to Omi?" Raimundo asked sarcastically.
"Rai, you promised!" Kimiko snapped.
"Anyway, I think this is no coincidence that Omi was pursued by some stranger this way. Clay and Jaku have been harassed by others too. But, what are they trying to gain by isolating them and telling them all these weird things?"
"I do not know, young ones." Master Fung began. "But it seems you have a new enemy, and they are trying to make you do something for them."
"Who on earth could it be? All of these things we meet have been different characters all together, and then they turn to light before we can figure out what it was they wanted in the first place!" Raimundo stomped his foot in frustration.
"So, Jaku gets exploited for being a ladies man, Clay is harassed for his appetite and now Omi's ego is somehow a threat too?" Jermaine clarified. "This is whack."
"I can't figure out the connection!" Rika snapped her finger. "But I bet if we do more research, we can find it."
"Research.. Sweet. My favorite thing to do right next to meditating!" Jaku replied perkily.
"Look between the lines, young ones. And be cautious on the road ahead." Master Fung speculated the shattered glass on the floor. "I fear you on a most dangerous path indeed."
"Thank you master Fung." I turned and bowed to him. "We will be most prepared indeed, together." Next, I spun over to Delilah. "I would not have seen the error of my ways had you not bothered to keep helping me. I am quite sorry for my actions this day."
"Wow, I might like the less egotistical Omi." Delilah chuckled.
"I might miss him." Raimundo commented. "Hey Omi, who's still the better in hand to hand; me or you?"
"I AM OF COURSE!" I couldn't help it. It had just burst forth from me!
Delilah and the others laughed though, which made me feel better. At least they did not all hate me at the time…
"Jermaine, are we also 'cool'?"
"Yeah, dog, we cool." We shook hands, and he smiled, leaning towards me. "But if you ever hurt ma little sis again, I'm gonna kick yo ass."
"What!" I yelled in worry.
"Heyyy, Jermaine!" Delilah cut in. "Why you always gotta be over my head, huh? I can kick Omi's ass myself if I have to!"
"Why do either of you have to have your foot near my bottom?"
Another fit of laughter. It felt good indeed to know they were not upset with me. Rather, they were proud of me, which was more comforting then any of the times I had been proud of myself.
"Hey, you guys are still staying for dinner, right?" Raimundo asked the siblings.
"Yeah, of course. But we'll probably head out in the morning. We wouldn't want to burden you with going after the twins when you got your own bigger problems to deal with, it looks like."
"Okay. We'll investigate or whatever tomorrow, then." Raimundo decided. "Let's just enjoy company and food tonight!"
"AND ICEPACKS!" I declared. "I will need one for my eye or else it will become black!"
"Its already swelling." Delilah noticed. She pecked me on the side of my cheek where she had hit me. "Does that help?"
"NO, BUT THAT WAS STILL NICE!"
"I'm going to need ear plugs by the time this night is over." Dojo decided as he plugged his ears.
After our dealings of a troubling, but successful day, my friends—my family and I headed into our home, where at the time, was most peaceful indeed.
…
…
…
…
The man in the suit had ordered a wine glass. The fancy restaurant spun with shimmering dresses, sizzling smells and polished space.
"Ah, there you are." His brother came to the booth and sat across from him. "I was about to leave."
"What? But dear brother, its seafood, your favorite."
"Har har." He fixed his tie. "Anyway, what's this about?"
"Ah, yes. I took the liberty of taking care of Narcissus."
"What! You harnessed his energy?" He yelled in a hushed tone. "Are you kidding me, brother? He was in charge of the child Omi. Why would you take him out?"
"Because, he failed, just like those before him. Those are the rules. We can't afford any slip ups. Plus, that self-loving bastard actually had the gull to go in himself, and show himself to the mortals. He almost gave everything away."
"Even so… you took out one of our own! What if the others-?"
"This loss has only fueled the passion for the others. So they do not suffer the same fate, they will put all their efforts into our plan."
"I see." The brother hesitated. "Then, what is your plan of action this time?"
"No more strangers. We will have to hit them directly with people and situations they are familiar with so they cannot see it coming. They're onto us since all the fools we send have not been successful."
"Hm, very good. Then, what forces shall we target next?"
The older brother drank his wine. "I will allow it to play out based on how their lives go, just as I have been." There was a shock at his fingertips when he placed the cup down. "We will no longer produce characters, but happenings in their lives that will help them change…" He watched the bubbles in his drink float to the top. "I think the leader should be exploited next, don't you?"
"Hm. Whatever you think is best."
"Heh, alright then. I already have an idea… He grinned. "Soon, brother. Soon."
…
…
…
TO BE CONTINUED
GAH! Okay, I had a really hard time writing this one! Because I wanted more to unravel around just Omi's story in this episode, but I decided to just keep it centered around him. This episode was sort of a break form the all the drama yet to come! Sorry if it's short too, but I was brainstorming for the next episodes and now I have it organized (for the most part) and just write instead of being stuck! The next episode will be much longer, and the fist fight that happened in this episode will be revealed later on too!
Okay, thanks for reading and reviewing! It seriously means a lot to me.
You RAWK XD
