Twilight Rising Chapter 23, a Yu-Gi-Oh + Xiaolin Showdown Crossover fanfic

Twilight Rising

Chapter 23

The day was warm and sunny and for the group of apprentices, it was the rare opportunity where training wasn't the day's agenda. For all their efforts dealing with so much over the past few weeks, the master allowed them a day to themselves. Yugi was ever grateful for it, following his friends out as they chatted up on how they would spend the day. A pool day, it was agreed upon, complete with a fresh barbecue which Kimiko made to prepare easily with the use of the Eye of Dashi to start up the coals. Omi was rather perturbed of the sudden day off but as Raimundo and Clay tried to explain to the training-conscious monk, Yugi found himself a place to park it under the shade of a tree. Yes, he was dressed in some swim shorts and ready for the pool that would be created in a moment but he had a bit to write of their previous ventures.

He was falling behind and didn't want to miss a single detail of it while the memories were still fresh. The rumble of the ground drew his gaze up, seeing that their pool was made with a fine Fist of Tebigong to the soft earth followed by the refreshing water from the Orb of Tornami. Swimming hole ready and food grilling had their day of fun kicked off just right. Yugi hummed as he finished the last detail of their fight with Sibini just as Clay decided to crash the one-sided splash war between Omi and Raimundo with a mighty cannonball. "Careful now, guys. Don't want to soak the food." Yugi called as he stood, tucking the book under his arm to go check on the food in question. Alas, the warning he gave went unheeded as Raimundo decided for as small as their little swimming hole was, it was big enough to handle a nice sized wave in which he can surf on.

This, of course, required using the Sword of the Storm and a gut feeling churned in Yugi's stomach as he watched the debacle happen. The water was driven up into a wave, Raimundo at the helm while Omi and Clay helplessly floundered in the body of it, the wind user getting his surf for so long before it all came crashing down...literally. Kimiko was the sole victim of it all as Yugi covered his eyes to avoid seeing the collision of Raimundo's little game. Water coursed harmlessly over his feet, drawing Valtyrion from its slumber and rose from the smaller male's shadow. /What foolissshness are we up to now?/

/Nothing big. Raimundo was trying to surf in a pond much too small./ Yugi replied as the four got their bearings, Kimiko sending the Brazilian a withering glare and would've snapped at him if Dojo hadn't come in at just the right moment. Their fun came to an end just as quick as it began as the dragon told them that another Wu had activated. The Lunar Locket it was called and the ability was an interesting one, Yugi thought as Dojo explained how the magic of the Wu was used to control the phases of the moon. /Ah, a favorite of my masterssss./ Valtyrion whispered. Yugi turned his head toward the shade to ask, setting the cover over the grill just as Dojo was enticed by the scent of the food, gaining a pout from the dragon.

Oh his stomach hated to be teased! But Omi's wily demands of wasting time drove the rest into gear, moving to change quickly out of their swimwear before they were off on Dojo's back to head to the snowy mountain peak where the Wu resided.

"It's about time you teamed back up with me." Jack muttered as he looked at the haggard old ghost that was Wuya. Oh, she really wished she didn't have to be with this foolish, clumsy boy again but alas, he was the only available set of hands she had in getting things together as she so desired. Her old conquest would demand too much and to beg to Chase for his help would be calling her weak. Thus, she was stuck once more with Jack and another of his famous hairbrained schemes that would provide an edge over the monks. The genius had arrived before the others, as expected when you have a vehicle faster than a dragon, but he didn't move to gather the Wu. At least not by his own hand. The witch demanded of his purpose for stopping and the redhead grinned. A question he was waiting for as he called upon his latest creation, Dude-bot. It was a quirky little piece of machinery, one that felt too human to Wuya in which Jack went to explain that he decided to use the Heart of Jong on it to make it so. The idea was outlandish as it was stupid and the witch expected it to blow up in his face like all his other creations. "You just have no vision! Watch! Dude-bot! Collect the Lunar Locket!" Jack ordered and with a happy little titter of bonds and friendship, the bot made to fly over to gather the Wu. Dojo glided into the snowy mountains and each pair of eyes spotted the bot that was well on its way towards collecting the magical item.

Yugi worried that they would miss out on it but Clay promised that they wouldn't, standing upon the dragon's back and ran for his nose. "Seismic Kick...Earth!" Summoning that power along with the additional leverage of using Dojo's snout as a springboard, Clay flung towards the place of the Wu and Dude-bot, landing hard and the vibrations of his move caused a minor avalanche. The bot missed grabbing the Wu, landing it in Clay's hands as the snow carried it towards him and the cowboy grinned. But the bot had other plans as it gave a charming blurb that friendship shouldn't be stained by being mortal enemies before a laser from its robotic eye carved a line into the mountain. The ground shifted underfoot then collapsed, taking Clay with it as the Lunar Locket was lost to the bot that swiped it in its hands, by magnet if one were to get literal about it. Joining the other male on the mountain now to combat their clever foe, Yugi jumped back as Clay came sliding down through the snow before nodding for Raimundo to take the lead this time. "Ya got it, half-pint! Typhoon Boom: Wind!" The controlled tunnel of wind element left from the palm of his hand, sweeping towards the bot and took the locket from the gripping line of magnetism. The Brazilian grinned as he shifted the zephyr to bring the locket back, all ignoring the slight spark of uncontrolled emotion from the bot as it soon lunged for the locket.

It was almost in hand and Raimundo reached to grab it but it was halted in its path, surprising him as Dude-bot stood before them, holding it with one hand while the other held a very perfectly shaped football out of snow. The snowball was harmless enough but the resulting shot Raimundo tried to make was far beyond such, Yugi wincing as the boy went flying overhead. "At least he'll have a soft landing." Yugi mused, tiny claws scratching at his ankles as Valtyrion begged to help. It would be easy for it to slip through all these paltry defenses and snag the Lunar Locket for their use. Such a powerful item didn't deserve to be in any other hands except that of its masters. After all, one of their abilities heavily focused on the phases of the moon and with free control over it, they would be unstoppable. "Stand down, Valtyrion. I'm sure we got this." Yugi murmured as Kimiko leapt in next, giving a mighty upward kick of her own signature move that threw the bot into a shelf of snow, a pile dropping onto its head. Yugi sighed in relief before calling to Kimiko to grab the Wu only for it to die off in his throat as the bot rose from its snowy prison, holding the lump of packed snow above its head. "Aw come on!" he rasped as the bot threw the pile onto Kimiko, leaving her buried. Yugi wanted to resist bringing Valtyrion into the fray, knowing that there was still much concern now that the knowledge of the primal darkness was known to them.

But even for what it was assumed to be, the shade as one connection to them still provided help and from what he read in the scroll, its loyalty to the primal darkness left it little room to cause error for any reason. "I trust you...now go!" Yugi called and the shadow under his feet shot forward as Omi summoned his own element to run the bot into the ground with a jagged spear of ice. Wuya herself was getting annoyed with the clear fooling around of the bot. "We don't have time to play around!" she growled, Omi trying to take on the bot hand to hand only to be flung away himself. The constant assault was starting to take its toll on the human emotion growing within the bot. All it wanted was a friend. Even with the enemy at hand, it hoped that some form of bond could be made. Alas, all it is was a bot made to fight, made to hold this emotional turmoil. It was painful for the bot as the Heart of Jong within was growing restless to the strain of conflict. Yugi looked to the others as they stood, ready to chase down the locket hanging by a mere edge of toppling into the crevasse. Jack huffed as he was harped at by the witch once more, her eye catching the shade shooting for the locket as well. So, the boy was finally putting it to more practical use. This may bode troubling but as long as Jack didn't find himself useless against it while the primal darkness was still at rest, then they would see no issue with just a shade.

A metal claw shot out from the aircraft, aimed for the locket and just before Valtyrion could claim it like a whale cresting from the ocean waves, the claw snatched it from its teeth and the shade snarled in anger. Jack smirked proudly, mostly out of getting back at the shade for the frights it had caused multiple times before, calling to Dude-bot to come along before the apprentices could retaliate against him. Tears, Yugi noted with shocking alarm [bots don't cry, he thought] spilled from the bot's eyes as it wept. It can't stand feeling so human. The pain, the heartache, it was too much for simple circuitry. So with that thought in mind, Dude-bot had ripped the Heart of Jong from its chest and tossed it away, the Wu's energy that gave the bot life dimming from its eyes. "No!" Yugi cried as the heart sailed over their heads, landing in the crevasse and Wuya was absolutely steamed as she demanded for Jack to get down there and retrieve the Wu. Jack swallowed as he looked into the darkness. Too often did he bear witness to the horrors of the dark and hell forbid he decided to go down there while Yugi was around. He was the source for most of those happenings after all. Flying off much to the witch's amusement and displeasure, the others looked down into the crevasse themselves.

No way they could climb down and get back up with ease without piling snow on top of them. /Valtyrion, think you have the strength to bring it up here?/ Yugi asked as the others began to head off to plan on their own though Kimiko stayed back to wait for Yugi. She saw him looking down at his shadow, just a mere glance as it shifted underfoot with the presence of Valtyrion. There were still concerns she held about the primal darkness now that Yugi admitted of its presence being around but if Yugi could trust it, she felt she could do the same. Maybe things would turn out differently if they do return. Yugi would vouch for them, make them see the Xiaolin wasn't something to despise for the mistakes of the past. At least that is what she held deep in her heart with the barest knowledge of their stories.

A sigh left him and once their eyes met, he spoke that they would have to figure out a way down. Still harboring the Indigo Pyramid close, something that even he didn't know of, meant that Valtyrion couldn't take much into its body still and with something like the Heart of Jong, an empty space would benefit carrying it better. Walking with Kimiko now, they left the Heart of Jong on the back burner for the moment but that single moment left the Wu to activate silently on its own, gathering mounds of snow around it and with a low cackle, searing pits of red opened with a fearsome glare.

Within the home of one Jack Spicer, the evil genius was having too much fun with his newly acquired Wu. The sky was clear, the stars were out, the moon visible...and that very moon was being played with as it was moved out of orbit by the hands of the redhead harboring the Lunar Locket. Wuya reprimanded the boy of the moon not being a toy as its use would be beneficial to them once a plan was set for it while they had the Lunar Locket. But as the redhead was about to snap back, a loud crash from below caught their attention. The two looked to each other curiously as the house was empty aside from the two of them. So who or what could be bumping about aside from a malfunctioning bot that Jack decided to not work on among his other useless projects.

With a groan, Jack made his way down to the lab to see the damage caused and what met his eye...was something he wasn't expecting. Large hole taking over most of the wall, something he'll have his bots patch up once the threat was neutralized, the only thing to meet his gaze was a literal snowman. The thing was small and adorable with its small lederhosen, hardly threatening and Jack would've cooed at the thing until the snowman began to show its true colors. The villain's face puckered as the once small snow creature grew into a large, monstrous one, teeth of pure ice bared behind snowy lips as it roared directly into the redhead's face with a blast of icy air.

Jack shook in a mix of the chilled air and terror of the beast before them, quickly dodging out the way as the beast started to tear apart his lab. "Who invited that?!" Jack grumbled, hearing another piece of clearly expensive equipment being tossed aside like cheap trash. Wuya smirked as she looked at the snowy creature that raced their presence. She may not know of its purpose for being there but it was a monster and a likely formidable one at that, striving better on the Heart of Jong than the pathetic bot before. Monsters like this one were ones she could enjoy partnering with when Jack loses his credibility of being useful. And, if she was not mistaken, seems like this particular monster was created by a certain Wu that had been lost to them thanks to Jack's idiocy to begin with.

This was certainly a win-win situation for her more than anything and if she played her cards just right...

"Sometimes we have to lose in order to win."

These were the words to come from Omi that night when losing the Lunar Locket plus the Heart of Jong left them empty handed. Raimundo groaned, not wanting to be given the "Master Fung" treatment. It was just another one of their famous setbacks when it came to being outwitted by the lacking smarts of the evil genius. They weren't prepared for Dude-bot, obviously, but that didn't mean they had to sit on their hands with Jack lording this victory over them. Yugi could agree with the other but Omi also had a point. If there was one thing he learned from years of gaming, that a loss wasn't always the end. One had to learn from their losses in order to find a solution the next time. Before Raimundo could make another rebuttal about needing a lesson taught to them, the master himself appeared to them, bringing them to attention as he spoke. It wasn't a lengthy lesson, much to the Brazilian's relief, but it was one to easily follow. To reclaim what they lost, they just had to catch Jack off his guard and for someone who only has one good plan out of a dozen bad ones, to catch him off guard was easy. With a plan in mind, the group got ready to infiltrate the genius' lab, Yugi raising an arm in the privacy of his room to allow Valtyrion to perch there.

"Ready to go?" he asked the shade purred in response. "I am grateful you are more open to letting me assissst you, little one. The mastersss would berate me if I allowed any harm to come to you." Valtyrion whispered, feeling the smaller male pat its head. Yugi did feel bad that he never counted on Valtyrion for much, knowing that its presence among the others could cause unrest when some were still doubtful of the primal darkness not being as trusting as Yugi would make them out to be. There were still many gaps that needed to be filled, stories to find out. The scroll given gave Yugi some insight but it wasn't enough. But he trusted in his gut that Valtyrion was here for some form of good and guidance.

With a mutual nod, Valtyrion returned to its place within Yugi's soul and the petite male ran out to meet with the others that were waiting for him, unaware of the shadows that lingered in his room, scarlet eyes opening before narrowing pleasantly.

"...biAw..." The presence breathed before it was gone, a piece of parchment fluttering to land on the futon for Yugi's eyes alone once their Wu was reclaimed from Jack's hands,

Upon arriving at the home of the redhead, they were surprised to see the giant hole blasted in the wall that led to the evil lair. This didn't seem like Jack's normal work when something goes awry and blows up in his face. This seemed like it was an intentional break in. But the question now would be just who or what wanted access into his lair. Alas, the answer they wanted isn't what they got as they were met with the howling screeched of monkey Jack who hollered in their faces once spotted. Yugi sighed as he reached forward to clamp a hand over the other's mouth. "Chill out for a few seconds cause this already feels like a weird parallel when you're the one getting their place broken into." Yugi spoke, shoving the genius away who dropped the Monkey Staff, reverting himself back to normal. Jack let out a sigh of relief, speaking that he had no reason to fight with them this time as he had used the Monkey Staff as a means to avoid the giant monster snowman that had raided his lair. Now, to Yugi, of all the things that could come from Jack's mouth that would lead to a ceasefire between them, a giant monster snowman was the last thing he expected. But again, he was dropped into a world of magic, spirits and warriors so a giant monster snowman shouldn't faze him as much as it should. Omi, rather delighted by the idea of a snowman even if it was missed that the thing supposedly was a giant monster, asked if it had a little carrot nose and Jack shrugged.

"No, but it does have the Heart of Jong." That had them alert and would explain many things between the attack on Jack's lair and the redhead's state before they arrived. Knowing what they had to do next, they were prepared to leave before Jack's pitiful voice had them pause. The other was alone and weak, with nothing to defend himself and Wuya gone with the snowman after it had made a mess of things there. He obviously didn't like to be alone so he humbly requested about going with them with the promise he wouldn't do a thing against them while they hunted down the snowman. Yugi sighed as the others began to walk off and it was with Omi's word that the Xiaolin always help the helpless, therefore having his permission for the evil genius to come along with them.

"You know this may become a huge mistake right?" Yugi uttered but Omi was resolute with the decision. Jack was in need and it was only fair even as enemies to aid. The male sighed but didn't argue much anymore, silencing Valtyrion who made to question the purpose of Omi's leadership when he continued to make stupid decision like so. It was just temporary, Yugi murmured, wincing as Omi put the redhead in his place when the other was too enthused with giving the smaller monk a hug. Yeah...temporary was definitely sounding like the game plan when it came to one Jack Spicer.

Returning back to the temple with the evil genius in tow, sun coming up over the horizon, they went in search of the master, Jack obediently following behind until he was told to wait outside. "Need to find ya a place to bunk." Clay spoke before following the others. Jack huffed, crossing his arms petulantly as he mocked the cowboy behind his back before freezing as the familiar sonorous howl of the snowman was heard, the following footsteps that shook the earth making the redhead gape in horror. It was here?! Now?! He wasn't ready to deal with it a second time! Jack tried to scurry off into the building where the others disappeared into but was immediately shoved back out as they were alerted to the presence of the monster snowman and what a monster he was. "Give Raksha Shen Gong Wu!" It roared and Yugi swallowed. He did not expect the snowman to be able to talk freely. The glow of the Heart of Jong was visible in its chest and it was the target they had to aim for but he was sure the beast would not make this easy. He felt like he was facing Wuya's rock golems again but at least this one could be broken down easier now that he had some training under his belt. "Standby, Valtyrion." Yugi whispered, the shadows under his feet quivering in response before the five shot for the creature. The aim was true and it would take just one clear strike at the spot of the heart to bring this monster down but Raksha was prepared for them, turning the spot into a block of packed snow. The solid hit was enough to make Yugi dizzy, the five collapsing in a heap on the ground. A pained breath left him before glancing up, Raimundo dragging him onto his feet so they could move from the colossal foot, melting slowly within the sunlight, from stepping on them.

Yugi thanked him and the wind dragon nodded before taking stance, using his element in hopes to deter the snowman only for the gales to be used against him. The Brazilian was left with ice forming over his skin, completely chilled by the zero degrees temperature and Yugi had to be grateful it wasn't anything life threatening to cause hypothermia. "We need a bit of fire to melt this massive eyesore. Kimiko?" Yugi asked and the fire user nodded. She leapt in for the attack and just when Yugi thought they had the advantage, Kimiko was halted in her attack by the giant hand of Raksha, left shaking with mildly blue lips and skin. This was getting hairier by the second and Yugi personally was running out of options in which to combat Raksha. He had his firelights, sure, but the Sun Chi Lantern was set back in his room so their effectiveness in bulk could be hindered by the snowman's huge form. But Yugi wouldn't know unless he gave it a try. Gathering the lights around him, violet eyes gave a glance over to Omi who gave a nod to him. "Go!" Clay went to rope the Heart from Raksha only for it to miss completely. The malleable snow body was a factor he didn't consider as they had run into what was a solid wall moments ago. This just made things infinitely more difficult. Omi leapt forward with a Leopard Strike, the snowman raising an arm that would've slapped the small monk down if it hadn't lost said arms to the attack.

The large limbs hit the ground and Yugi smirked as he readied to fling the firelight. Can't defend if it had no arms to do so. "Time to perform heart surgery." he whispered as he flung the lights at the monster. If he aimed just right, the heart should pop from the chest and end this whole episode. But to Yugi's horror, Raksha reformed three times the arms that were lost, blocking the lights like they were harmless flies, leaving little holes in the snowy expanse that withered away into nothing. That certainly didn't go as planned and things were only getting worse as they, along with Raimundo and Kimiko who finally warmed up, scattered as the fists landed where they were standing just moments ago. Yugi tried to think of a number of things to halt the monster but nothing was coming to mind.

For snow, it gave Raksha a number of abilities to transform and protect the heart which gave it life. And it didn't help that the buzz of heylin magic in the air meant Wuya wasn't far from it. His element was writhing with the surprising need to extinguish it and this worried the smaller male. His light element never reacted like that before...could it be an imbalance of the lack of darkness? Like how the primal darkness was thrown into a rage when they had no light to keep them grounded? By the gods he hoped that wasn't the case and in a situation like they were now. Wuya fluttered from behind the snowman, grinning wickedly. This was amusing to see and even better, there was an influx in Yugi's element. Oh how the tables had turned~

Perhaps to save his own skin he will reconsider her offer. But until she had the moment to suggest it, there was Shen Gong Wu to pilfer. Looking at the snowman, she commanded the beast to head towards the vault where the other monks had escaped into. Yugi breathed a heavy exhale as he looked to the others. They had to stop Raksha somehow from entering the vault but what could they possibly do in this situation? Think, Yugi...think...

/Little one...asss much as I welcome the thought of you being the brainsss to getting out this predicament...we have company! Above you!/ Valtyrion barked and Yugi turned his head upward to see that the snowman had clambered its way onto the roof of the vault. "We have to stop it from getting insi—" Yugi tried to warn but the beast easily got in, dumping its entire body like a rush of snow from an avalanche and burying everyone under it. They popped their heads free from the snow only for it to pull away from them and formed back into the snowman that was given them right hell to defeat. They stepped back, still with the solid intention to fight Raksha off but they had to give it a bit more heat than what Yugi and Kimiko both can produce. In such a tight space, they had no other option. With a glance back to Kimiko and Raimundo, knowing the two easily had a method worth using here, Yugi pleaded with his violet gaze and the two got right into it.

"Sword of the Storm!"

"Star Hanabi!"

The winds stirred the flames into a tornado of fire, surrounding the giant snowman and the heat from the fires had done just as they hoped, melting away at the massive creature until it was nothing but water to pool at their feet. To be sure they wouldn't see Raksha make a return to cause them issues, Clay took the Fist of Tebigong to cut a hole into the floor, letting the water drain away. Wuya wailed to the loss of her creature, the Heart of Jong being freed from the melting body and with her lack of hands, she couldn't catch the Wu for herself. As it fell, Yugi leapt to catch it but yelped as it slipped from his hands and a similar result met Clay as he tried the same despite having a huge fist over one hand. The fumble from them both left the others to watch helplessly as the heart was lost once again, following the melted snowman into the crack. With no chance of knowing whether the heart was within reach yet again, they lamented over the loss though Clay took it a little harsher than they did as what should've been a dismissive facepalm was a Tebigong to the face. "Clay!" Yugi gasped, jumping up to check on the other to make sure he didn't cause himself to get a nasty shiner from the Wu that was still in hand. While the matter of Raksha was dealt with despite the loss of the Heart of Jong a second time, down in the vault itself was the cunning little snake that was Jack. Sure, he said he wasn't going to fight them, doesn't mean he promised he wouldn't snag Wu while behind enemy lines.

They had their hands full with the giant snowman so this gave him ample opportunity to collect and cash in on the Wu they had. But poor clueless Jack didn't pay any mind to what was happening above so the slow leakage of water into the vault around him would become his downfall. With Silk Spitter and Three Arm Sash under his arm, he went digging for more, humming merrily to himself that he would get away with his haul without notice. But within the depths of the vault, the beast was reforming from the water since the heart was still within its grasp and could allow its body to return to normal. So let it be known that the moment the huge snowy arm came clambering from further in, Jack would've wet his pants in sheer terror as Raksha demanded for the Shen Gong Wu once more.

Above, they had heard the shaking boom of the snowman's voice and were quick to open the vault and descend down, spotting Jack with some Wu in hand and Raksha creeping closer to the other male. "You're a real card, you know that?" Yugi growled as Jack tried to creep away with his bounty and leave the monks to face the monster once more. All he had to do was escape and the monks can clean up. That's the goal for Jack! With such a confined space, it would be useless to combat the monster when they can't even reach the source and Omi ushered everyone back out to give them ample room to fight. There was one viable source that could help them now, Raksha climbing from the vault to face them, and Yugi was ready to command it.

Jack grinned as he saw the snowman was nicely focused and brought out the Tunnel Armadillo, summoning its power to make his getaway, digging away underground and out of sight. He may not have gotten the haul he wanted but what he had in hand would still do him good in the long run. Yugi growled as he peered around the beast before jumping as Raksha turned from them, attention gone and went after Jack in the tunnel he made for himself. Odd, he wondered, catching the sight of Wuya who trailed after it and was left to ponder. A full vault of Shen Gong Wu and still it chased after Jack. Could it want someone else, perhaps? While Yugi was left to mingle in his thoughts, the rest were still pleasantly peeved by the scenario that happened. Vault destroyed? Check. Jack running off with Wu? Check. Giant roving monster that had one weak spot but hard to get to with its ability to shapeshift at will? Definitely check.

Dealing with the giant snowman was going to be the worst of all the things they combated so far, Chase still at the top but at least he wasn't pressed for Wu. "Come on, guys. Better rethink how we're gonna end this giant icicle." Raimundo mumbled, getting a collective agreement from everyone and left the vault. They would be tasked in fixing it but that's after they deal with the problem that was Raksha.

Far from the temple and the monster causing hell for the apprentices, Jack grinned as he opened the hatch and looked at his haul. Jack Spicer, boy genius and biggest two-faced card on the planet. You can't get any better than that! Lost to his sense of immoral victory, the redhead certainly wasn't prepared when the ground shook underneath, shooting him and his vehicle up into the air, gaining a horrid scream from the male before finding himself in a chilling palm. A swallow bobbed his throat as he turned to look behind him, seeing the wicked face of Raksha looking down upon him. "Give Raksha Shen Gong Wu..." The monster hissed, making the redhead shiver more from that expression compared to the below freezing palm on his back. If Jack weren't careful, he wouldn't be alive to see another sunrise so he did what he does best. Beg.

"H-how about an alliance? With my brains and your...shapeshifting thing...we'd be unstoppable!" Jack offered but the monster only narrowed its eyes, grasping the male by his leg and held him upside down to shake him of the Wu he tried to stash back into his coat. Wuya smirked as she watched the scene before her. Poor little Jack, always begging his way out of things far beyond his IQ. He may have the brains but he still puts it to use poorly and as such, when she had this beast on her side, they hardly needed him. He would just slow them down. Raksha, not seeing what it came for, growled as it dropped the redhead. Jack whimpered painfully as he landed hard on his stomach, dislodging the last Wu he had stashed within, the Lunar Locket. The shine of it in the sunlight caught the beady coal eyes of the snowman and it grinned.

The Lunar Locket, just what Raksha was looking for! It went to grab the Wu from the ground, Jack making a weak attempt to grab it but the searing pain to shoot up the front of his body kept him grounded. Shit, he hoped he didn't crack a rib from that. With a laugh that shook the earth, Raksha raised the locket towards the sun and slowly, the bright, lifegiving light was shadowed by the moon. Jack swallowed as he watched all. The temperature was beginning to drop, flowers and trees wilted, rivers and lakes were being covered with frost. This was indeed far beyond what he expected but he should've expected it. For a giant frozen monster like Raksha to continue its existence on the earth...

The earth would have to fall to a second ice age.

"...upper body strength and a killer evil laugh...this guy's got it along with the evil scheme..." Jack whimpered, shivering to the chill in the air. He needed to get some warmer clothing stat.

This was terrible, absolutely terrible. Yugi looked out from the doorway to the snow and ice that covered the land. The petite male should've known this was the goal of Raksha, should've guessed as much after the Lunar Locket was revealed and the snow monster was formed. It wouldn't last in the heat of the sun so it would be in search of the one alternative to make the world a place for it to safely roam. Climate change would be its first goal and it wouldn't take long before everyone was wiped from existence thanks to it. Yugi could feel it in his bones but the concerns of how to rectify this was overshadowed by the thoughts of home. How was his grandfather handling this? His friends too. This churned worry in his stomach and that was felt by Valtyrion as it emerged from his chest to look at him. "What ailsss you, little one?" It asked, pulling itself from the shadowy hole left from its emergence to crawl up and around Yugi's neck. It would do little to be a scarf when its body was just as cold but at least it was a comforting presence regardless of it. Yugi shivered before raising a hand to stroke the crown of its head. He was terribly worried of his friends and family back in Domino. There was no way this ice age would be concentrated to one spot and as such, his grandfather, feeble with age, would suffer the most from these subzero temperatures without his mother there, who was gone on business. "But I'm needed here to figure out how to deal with that snowman. We have to get the locket from it, that's a given, but I just can't focus like this." Yugi whispered.

Valtyrion frowned and would've commented about offering to check when the voices of the others rose in volume, catching Yugi's attention and his eyes narrowed when he saw Jack. So the boy genius came crawling back. Should've known that was going to happen. Yugi lent an ear to the conversation, hearing that the redhead didn't want to commit towards any more bad deeds in their presence, instead wanting to offer his help in dealing with Raksha and the self-created ice age it started. They knew there was an ulterior motive behind it and Jack, like the pigeon he was, wept on how the snowman had cleaned him out not just of the Lunar Locket but the rest of the Wu he had even if it was swiped from them to begin with.

The apprentices looked to one another, wondering if it would even be worth it to help the redhead out. Yugi wasn't feeling it but somehow, he felt that wasn't his own thoughts thinking along those lines. /Valtyrion, I think we can handle things from here so please...go check on my friends and family in Domino. I guess as much you've been my little carrier shade to get letters to my grandfather so I didn't have to mess with the land postal services. You know where to go./ Valtyrion nodded, bowing its head before taking off from his shoulders and flew off. Yugi stepped down as Raimundo questioned just how they would find something that can't be easily seen. For all they know, Raksha was posing as a snowy mountain or hill somewhere in plain sight and they wouldn't know until they stepped foot onto its back. Prompt as always, the master came by with his infinite wisdom, telling them that to find something they could not find, it would be better to have it come to them. Yugi would've asked what he meant before the thought clicked. To bring a snowman out in a vast wasteland of snow and ice, that meant making a spot that didn't conform to the scenery around them. "Guys! I got an idea!" Yugi called as he looked at them before huddling together to hear the plan, Jack valiantly trying to get in on the meeting but couldn't before they split up. This made the redhead huffed, deciding now to sit on the sidelines as they worked. With the chosen Wu in hand, they began with Omi creating a large ball of water up in the air which was quickly followed by the use of the Star Hanabi in conjunction with Kimiko's fire to boil the water.

Yugi smiled as he watched the progression before giving a nod to Raimundo who grinned and sent a gust of wind for the boiling orb hovering above and with it, dispersed the orb into a deluge of searing hot water to make a warm spot around them. Clay, taking the smart approach to the plan, had an umbrella ready but Jack wasn't as lucky, leaving lily white skin to turn lobster red from the heat, causing the male to scream in pain. Yugi snickered before turning as the master warned that a greater evil was on the rise now and they must prepare for its arrival. "Why thank you~" Jack preened and Yugi glanced towards him. "Sure he wasn't talking about you Jack, settle down." A pout crossed his lips as he crossed his arms while afar, a structure of ice made itself home for Raksha.

The beast was content on its icy throne, pleased by the state of the world. Wuya would be as well but still vied for the creature to do more than just sit on its frosty behind and collect more Wu for her. Such a persistent little ghost she was. Raksha had everything it could want. Ice, snow, darkness...the world was already Raksha's to rule. Wuya would've groaned when the beast rose, feeling a disturbance in the frozen wonderland and looked out to see the temple that it resided close to, in the event the apprentices tried anything, was free of snow and ice, a single warm point in its icy world. A growl left the snowman as it stood from the throne ready to handle the problem and Wuya followed, once more begging that they get Wu on the way. If there was one thing she wished out of the entire episode with the snow beast on her side was to gather just what she needed to try for her body again. Perhaps a bonus in claiming little Yugi as the boy would slowly grow out of tune with his element if it continued to be left unchecked as he built upon it. The one fault in his element that he himself didn't know.

They heard it before it actually appeared and they prepared themselves for the snowman this time, hoping the game plan they had in mind would service them well. As Raksha appeared before them, Kimiko was the first to try once more to use her fire to whittle down the beast, aiming for the core that was the Heart of Jong and smiled as the heart was exposed to the air as the body had melted from around it though the heart itself was stubbornly held by ice to keep Raksha in motion. Yugi watched and calculated before giving a nod to Raimundo and Clay, the duo working together as the cowboy made to create a disc of earth to be used. "I got this now! Sword of the Storm: Wind!" The gust flew true, taking the disc and flung it like a frisbee towards the monster's legs, toppling the creature over with a massive thud on the ground with its legs gone.

Yugi hoped that this would keep the beast down but alas, shapeshifting abilities proved to be a right bitch as a new pair grew from the snowy body, kicking at Clay and Raimundo hard. The two went flying and Kimiko growled in anger. She was just about done with this frozen menace as Omi went to leap in and try to melt the snow with water but once again, the error in judgement was sound. The beast took in water like a sponge, filling in the gap left behind by Kimiko, shielding the heart from them and only made the body larger. "You are supposed to melt smaller, not bigger!" Omi gasped before running from the beast as it was about to retaliate. Raksha, luckily, was halted from the chase as Wuya screeched for it to go collect the Wu. The apprentices were still no match to its abilities so why waste time with them? Raksha gave a harsh growl but agreed to Wuya's demands this time while the fire element tried to use the Star Hanabi once more to try and melt down the monster again. The same trick wasn't made to be tried twice as Raksha was prepared for it, sending out a heavy draught of cold air, freezing her in place. She whimpered within the coffin of ice, her single hand that held the Wu dropping it and it skidded toward Jack's feet. Yugi was far beyond pulling his hair, trying to think of what they could do next. Their numbers were dwindling and Jack was useless, pacing wasn't doing him any good as he should be on the offensiv—

Something soft landed underfoot and the petite one looked down to see the Shroud of Shadows there. "But how..." Yugi stopped as he noted that wasn't all that was there, something bundled inside of it and when unraveled, he saw it was the Sun Chi Lantern. He blinked in sheer surprise. He was certain he left the lantern in his room, having forgotten to grab it again when the knowledge of another tango with Raksha was forthcoming. Valtyrion was long gone, its presence absent from his soul so how...? But the reminder of things around him made him realize that there was a reason to this, a reason these items were brought to him. Looking towards the giant snowman that was making its way towards Jack, the Star Hanabi at his feet, the male's eyes narrowed. Strapping the lantern around his waist, Yugi brought the shroud over him and snuck his way towards Jack who cowered under the gaze of Raksha, begging to be spared as he was neutral. Raksha only gave a huff to the spineless redhead as it reached down to grab the Star Hanabi but in the process, Yugi reached for it as well. "I call a Xiaolin Showdown. My Sun Chi Lantern for your Lunar Locket." Yugi spoke, removing the shroud to gaze up at the beast. The male yelped as he was lifted off his feet to face the snowman better as it agreed to the wager. Yugi smirked as he threw in a Shen Yi Bu Dare on top of it, the Golden Tiger Claws for the Heart of Jong. Raksha was ready to roar a protest when Yugi gave a firm point to the center of its face. "Don't give me any lip, buddy. Do you accept or not?"

"Ok, snowman accepts." Raksha said dubiously, Wuya having to commend the male for his steely resolve. The game planned was ice hockey, the first puck in the goal wins. Wager set and game chosen, the two called out for the showdown to begin, snow and ice swirling around them before becoming a giant ice rink. Yugi will admit, the offer of a change of wardrobe was fascinating when it came to showdowns but being enamored by such was a thought for later. His legs shook upon the blades he stood on, looking up to Raksha who's form took on a completely different change, ice encasing most of its body for padding but the Heart was in visible sight. Twice the size and covered in ice, a huge ice hockey stick on top of it hardly fair but Yugi vowed to win it. Stick clicking over the ice, the two eyed each other. "Gong Yi Tan Pai!" The call echoed over the field before Yugi was on the move as their puck, the Star Hanabi, landed on the ice. He was glad he still remembered those days of racing across an ice rink with his friends, the days of laughter as Jounouchi busted his bum more than once while Ryou gracefully performed circles around them all. It took him some time, he remembered fondly, and now those moments were being put to the test. Raksha wasn't prepared for the speedy male to bolt past it but it wasn't left unprepared as it had plenty of reach, hooking the other with the stick of ice and flung him towards his own goal.

Yugi wheezed hard at the throw, skidding over the ice before raising himself, looking up as Raksha came at him rather quickly, the brute of a snowman swinging hard at the puck and it was on a hard beeline for him. "Shit!" Yugi cursed, raising the stick and pain reverberated in his arms as the Wu collided with the stick, saving him from harm and it shot back at the snowman, striking it in the head. Violet eyes blinked before Yugi shook himself back into gear, jumping up and carved his way over the ice, reclaiming the puck and continued on his way past the fallen monster. Raksha blinked incredulously before the beast snarled, melting away and followed after the male, gaining distance over him to plan for its next more. "C'mon, c'mon..." Yugi breathed, seeing the goal ahead and was ready to swing when his vision was filled with white, blinding pain searing through him again as the ice wall made of Raksha's body met him. Dizzy, his gaze rose from the ice and for the briefest moment, dark shadows stood at the other side of the rink, scarlet and crimson watching him patiently. Was he dreaming or delirious? Yugi didn't have much time to think as he squeaked, flung from the snowman as he reformed his body, bouncing the male away with its belly and snickered. Yugi groaned as he landed hard on the ice, head buzzing with a dulled sound before the skating of the coming snowman filled his ears. No, he can't lose here, not like this.

A fist hit the ice as Yugi struggled to get up and once he was back on his feet, his eyes caught sight of Raksha. "Time for winter to come to an end." He whispered, calling upon the power of the Sun Chi Lantern. Hearing him up and moving had Raksha turned to look to him and the beast grinned mockingly. "You can't win. Your element weak to Raksha." It spoke and Yugi huffed. "So says you. Sun Chi Lantern: Light!" Multitudes of firelights came around him, Yugi twirling the hockey stick in hand before grasping it tight, pointing at the hulking ice of a snowman and they shot forward. Raksha went to raise the Lunar Locker, to call on a source of water to create from its own body to block them but before it could, the lights multiplied and became a tornado of fire.

Raksha gaped before it was engulfed in the fire, wailing in pain as its body began to melt to the intense flames as the tiny lights struck at its body. The melting snow carried the Star Hanabi to Yugi's feet and the male smirked as he looked to the dripping form of Raksha, ice that protected the heart melted away and left him the opportunity to finally end this. "Not the right sport but I can't help myself with the opportunity...FOUR!" He winded up for the hit before swinging the stick, slapping the Wu hard and it flew true, aimed right for the heart, and struck. The snowman wailed as the heart was dislodged from its body, sending it and the Star Hanabi into the goal and ending the showdown. The head of Raksha landed before Yugi looked indifferently towards it before raising the hockey stick and struck down, destroying the last reminder of the snowman to haunt them. His eyes were shadowed before blinking once, dropping the stick in shock as the terrain shifted back. The Heart of Jong and Lunar Locket was in his hands now, the calls of delight from the others waking him from the daze he fell into before giving a sigh. That...wasn't something he'd do. Even if Raksha was a pain, he wouldn't go that far to show his distaste for the monster. 'Could I be...no...that's impossible...' The male thought silently before turning his focus back to the lunar eclipse. Holding the locket up, Yugi breathed softly before calling on the Wu's power.

"Lunar Locket!"

The mystic energies of the Wu began its work, Yugi smiling as he moved the moon from the sun, bringing light and warmth back to the world. Much better, he thought. Back in Domino, Valtyrion was a fly on the wall of the living portion of the game shop, the old Motou watching the news report as they began to speak that the strange phenomenon that was the sudden lunar eclipse that nearly brought a second ice age had finally lifted. Temperatures would return to normal in a few days and for people to be conscious of their surroundings until things were normal. "Ahh...he improvesss so nicely~" Valtyrion whispered but knew that it would have to return soon. The light inside of Yugi...it was beginning to shift negatively, a reminder that even for the light, it needed balance.

It can't afford to let it tip in balance towards the wrong end otherwise it won't be able to continue its protection and guidance until the primal darkness returns to the world. The shade was nothing close in power like the true darkness and if left unchecked, it would be easily wiped from existence to Yugi's own light. Mastersss...hopefully the time will arrive soon for you to be back upon the earth...

With things back to normal, though Omi was wisely reprimanded about the idea of making a snowman with all the remaining snow as if they didn't have one hell of an episode with a monstrous one, the master came to them to speak that evil was growing far stronger with each encounter. "As such, we must prepare to face the new challenges that will arise from this. So I come bearing new armor for your further protection." The folded clothes in Fung's arms radiated a powerful energy and each one took their designated armor. Yugi looked to his in awe, the blue cloth soft on his hands with the emblem of light sewn onto the chest. At first, he wouldn't imagine that these simple tunics would provide protection towards the various things they've encounter from massive fires, gale-force winds, and sheer ice cold but Yugi learned to not doubt the things he's been witness to.

He was sure by a normal standpoint, he should've suffered broken bones, nasty bruises, and a concussion but he persevered through it all and made gains from each experience. As the others admired their own armor, Yugi folded his as Fung went to explain that these new garments will become a part of them during future showdowns, the apprentices nodding before they were free to go about their own business. All this and Jack was left to mull over the fact that he lacked awesome armor like theirs. Clearly the thought of it would make the image of evil greater on him. Alas, he wasn't able to mull on the thought forever as Wuya, ever dishonest, came scurrying back to him to be his partner in evildoing. "Can't you at least give an insincere apology!?" The redhead groused and the witch was vehement about doing so, knowing full well if it wasn't for her current state, she wouldn't need Jack but she needed him as much as he needed her to actually make plans work.

"I need you about as much as I need this snow in my pants." He grumbled, taking a handful out in response before shoving it into the witch's face, smirking as it stuck before accepting the apology she didn't give. They were opposites in so much yet somehow they still manage to work well in evildoing...when it goes right, of course. But for now, he had a lab to reconstruct and new plans to work on. The apprentices were getting stronger by the day, Yugi was getting stronger by the day. Jack can't be falling behind the starfish head that constantly mocked his very existence with darkness that would violently ruin his day if they ever found out even half the things he did to the male before knowing of the primal darkness personally.

Jack still wasn't prepared for that supposed meeting again if what Wuya tells him will become a reality.

Night fell and dinner was done, leaving the apprentices to rest and recuperate. Yugi sat on the futon in his room, folded armor tunic set to the side along with the Sun Chi Lantern. The boy was absent in thought though the reason behind it laid within his hands. The parchment that sat innocently on his pillow was cryptic but sound with its simple message.

Come to us soon...

Was this from the primal darkness? The male didn't think they had the physical power to even send things to him but ever since the Shadow of Fear incident, it seems they were trying to reach out to him faster, get him on board to the thought of bringing them back to life to help. But was it truly worth it to go to them now? "The master did say that evil was getting stronger...so it's only right that we gain something stronger, something they are afraid to challenge..." Yugi mumbled but sighed. No, they still had time to train, time to get stronger. Yugi refused to take the easy way out so readily. There was still things to learn, things to figure out. He can't fully put his heart into trusting them yet, even after reading just a fragment of their story. There was more to it, much more that Valtyrion couldn't tell him and other scrolls to hold their story not within the temple.

The male sighed, folding the parchment and tucked it under his pillow before moving the armor and lantern to the side. Best to sleep on it and hopefully, Valtyrion will be back by morning. As the candlelight was extinguished, Yugi settled in to sleep and when he did, the darkness of the room began to coil and shift around him. Scarlet eyes appeared in the room, looking down to him fondly before they narrowed. The air around him...his very aura...it was growing unbalanced. Their little light was growing stronger and this made the primal darkness happy but with such an element like theirs, one without the other would begin to affect him. Clearly that has started but was still mild. Come...come to us soon, little one..., was the whisper on the silent air as the darkness faded away like mist. If they didn't come together soon, the light would eat away at the earth in ways no one was prepared for. They thought the primal darkness was bad enough to be destroyed, they would be in for worse if the primal light saw the same.

The darkness vowed the light will not fall before its return to the land.