Xiaolin Showdown and it's characters rightfully belong to Christy Hui
I only own my OC, Alice Hanson and her family (Including the OC Shen Gong Wu)
Enjoy!
The Dragon of Ice
Chapter 45: The Bird of Paradise
Now that they were Wudai Warriors, the five monks were having a break from doing their chores.
Kimiko, Raimundo, Clay and Alice sat down to watch Omi play a video game which the young monk had no trouble winning.
"Young monks."Master Fung spoke up.
Omi quickly hid the video game behind him as he and the others stood up when Master Fung walked up to them.
"I see you have time to play, but you have not completed your chores yet."Master Fung reminded.
"Yeah, about that."Raimundo responded. "We figured now that we're Wudai Warriors, we could save our strength for more important things. Like saving the world from evil and stuff."
"If you are to become Dragons one day, you must continue your efforts."Master Fung declared. "Your hard work begins."
"What a bummer!"Raimundo sighed and looked down. "I thought we were done with the hard work."
The young warriors and Master Fung suddenly hear a eerie, loud and screechy noise.
"What is that annoying sound?"Omi asked.
Omi, Alice, Kimiko, Raimundo and Clay headed outside the entrance and saw a old hag was singing outside, but had a terrible voice.
"Ugh."Alice muttered and covered her ears. "And I thought my Aunt Haruka's parrot was annoying."
"The singing old lady is a omen."Master Fung replied. "Follow me, let us know what the omen means."
The five monks followed Master Fung back inside the temple.
"I'm guessing an omen is someone plum tone deaf."Clay whispered.
Inside the temple, Dojo was on top of a table while writing stuff down on a clear dry erase board as the group walked in.
"Dojo, what are you doing?"Omi asked.
"We seem to have a few Wu missing in action."Dojo responded. "So I put together a new system to keep track of them. It's one big mess."
"Dojo, have you seen the sacred Book of Omens?"Master Fung asked.
"Yeah, it's right here."Dojo answered and took out the Book of Omens causing the table to became lopsided. "I was using it to level the table."
"Thank you, Dojo Kanojo Cho."Master Fung replied and took the book from Dojo.
"I guess I can use a holy scroll, instead."Dojo suggested as he tried to set the table in order. "So what omen are you looking for?"
"Some old fossil lady that was carrying a tune outside."Raimundo answered.
Alice lifts up a swirly-eyed Omi, who was hit after Dojo made the table become lopsided.
"Oh, yeah, I remember. The older singing crackpot."Dojo said as he did an impression of the old lady. "It means the coming of the Bird of Paradise."
"Dojo is correct."Master Fung stated as he turned a few pages in the book. "Whoever finds the Bird of Paradise will receive powers like they have never known."
Omi suddenly appeared behind Master Fung and crawled up to read the book.
"Ooh! I must have the Bird of Paradise!"Omi remarked. "For the powers I haven ever known!"
Master Fung abruptly closed the book causing Omi to hit the floor.
"Young Monks."Master Fung declared. "Now that you are Wudai Warriors, you are ready for you first Wudai Quest."
Clay, Alice, Kimiko and Raimundo smiled at the news.
"Killer!"Raimundo remarked. "Anything beats doing chores."
Master Fung gives Raimundo causing the Dragon of Wind to lower his head down.
"You can do your chores when you return."Master Fung answered as he opened the book. "You are to search for the Bird of Paradise. But finding it, will not be easy."
"What do you mean, Master Fung?"Alice asked.
Master Fung set the book down on the table to show the young monks a map of the bird's location.
"It is hidden in the Land of Nowhere, beyond the Valley of Somewhere, but not as far as the Jungle of Neither Here nor There."Master Fung explained.
"Hey! Isn't the Land of Nowhere run by Chase Young?"Dojo asked in fear. "That's one scary neighbourhood!"
"No problemo!"Raimundo remarked. "Let's get down to the Vault and load up on Wu."
The five monks prepare to walk away, but Dojo stopped them.
"Not so fast!"Dojo warned and took out vault access cards. "From now on, you have to check out your Wu. Using your Wu card! It's part of, what I like to call, my Dewey Dojo System!"
Dojo gives the five warriors vault access cards as Master Fung tells them they should not use Shen Gong Wu for the quest.
"I am afraid that no Shen Gong Wu maybe used on the quest."Master Fung admitted and earned gasps from the five monks. "You will rely only on your Wudai Elements."
"We can't bring anything with us?"Kimiko asked.
"You will take a long this leaf."Master Fung replied.
Omi, Alice, Kimiko, Raimundo and Clay looked at the leaf with odd looks.
How would that help them?
"It looks like uh mighty fine leaf but hardly think it's gonna make evil shake in it's boots."Clay commented.
Master Fung brought out a bowl of water and placed the leaf in it causing it to spun a few times.
"You will float the leaf on water and it will point the way."Master Fung instructed.
The leaf suddenly lifted itself up causing Omi to become excited.
"Ooooh-hoohoo! A magical leaf!"Omi giggled. "I am most impressed!"
"You must remain focused."Master Fung warned as the five monks came closer. "If the dark forces of evil were to learn of the Bird of Paradise, the quest could be compromised."
"You can count on us."Omi assured. "Nothing will get passed these lips! Not even sweet and spicy kung pow chicken!"
Kimiko, Raimundo, Clay and Alice looked at Omi with odd looks before bowing at Master Fung before walking out of the room.
However Alice remained in the room to talk to Master Fung.
"Something the matter, Alice?"Master Fung asked.
"Master Fung, I need to ask you something."Alice said with a troubled look. "You know my ancestor, Li-Ming Hazuki. Did she ever learn stuff that we're forbidden?"
"Your ancestor was a honourable warrior, Alice."Master Fung explained. "However there were times that she did somethings that were considered to be unnatural. But don't ever let her ways get to you. It could lead you and your future offsprings down the path of evil."
Alice nodded and bowed at Master Fung.
"I understand, Master Fung."Alice responded firmly. "Thanks for telling me."
Afterwards...
The five monks and Dojo were walking near a field that had a rushing river between it.
Alice wore a blue long spaghetti t-shirt underneath of her short dark pink coat and green boats with black shock underneath of the boots. Her pink hair was tied in a braided ponytail with a ruby red bow.
Kimiko wore an outfit that was similar to the one she wore during the Chameleon incident except her hair was in it's original colour.
"Maybe we should check with leafy to make sure we're on track."Raimundo suggested.
"If you would be so kind, leafy?"Omi requested.
Omi uses leafy to point the way, but it points in the direction of the singing crackpot causing them to frown.
"Kind Strangers."the old woman said with a smile. "Would you help an old lady cross the river? I'm afraid my feet aren't very still."
"Sure."Raimundo answered. "No problem."
"Raimundo!"Omi spoke up and blocked Raimundo's path. "Remember what Master Fung told us about remaining focused."
The old lady suddenly falls into the stream, rushing towards a waterfall.
"Oh my!"the old woman cried out. "Help me! Help me!"
Raimundo quickly rushed to help the old woman and brought her out of the stream.
"Oh, thank you, thank you both so much for your kindness."the old woman remarked and lifted her arm to wrinkle out the water in her skin causing the five monks to shiver in disgust. "There must be something I can do to repay you."
"Well, you can stop doing...that!"Dojo commented and covered his mouth from vomiting.
"Ma'am, here you go."Alice stated as she took out a small box that contained her homemade peach buns. "This is in case you get hungry in your journey back home."
"Why, thank you, young lady."the old woman responded and took the small box. "That is very thoughtful of you."
Clay turned around and notice Jack heading towards the leaf which was still in the water.
"Hey look!"Clay called out. "It's that no good snake in the grass, Spicer!"
The five monks went after Jack, who suddenly flew up with the leaf.
"Soon the Bird of Paradise will be mine and there's nothing that can stop me!"Jack cackled.
Suddenly a crack of lightning fried Jack and sent him crashing down.
Jack activated his parachute, only to get hit by lightning again and crash into the stream.
"This is all my fault."Raimundo said sadly.
"Raimundo, your heart was in the place where it was supposed to be."Omi assured firmly. "You did a honourable thing."
Dojo looked at Alice with a frown.
"Hey pinkie, why did you give that singing crackpot, your peach buns?"Dojo questioned. "It was supposed to be for us."
"Sometimes you gotta learn to think about those need instead of your own stomach."Alice reminded and smirked a little. "And besides Dojo, you do look a little junky."
Raimundo, Omi, Clay and Kimiko laughed lightly at Alice's statement as they continued walking to get to the Bird of Paradise.
"Hey! That's muscle!"Dojo complained. "At least I don't have hair shaped in bunny ears!"
As the five monks and Dojo continued their quest, they were starting to feel that they were being watched by someone.
"Uh, guys?"Dojo asked nervously. "I have this creepy feeling like we're being watched."
"Yes, I do too and I have a pretty good idea by who."Omi stated.
Soon the group arrived in the Canyon of Doom and Agony.
Clay notice a chocolate wrapper on the floor and picked it up.
"Looks like evil boy genius is also evil boy litter box."Kimiko retorted.
Clay tasted the chocolate wrapper.
"It's a few minutes old."Clay complemented and dropped the wrapper. "We can't be far behind."
Omi, Raimundo, Alice, Dojo, Clay and Kimiko went inside the cave.
"Where are we?"Raimundo asked.
"It's the Canyon of Doom and Agony."Dojo replied.
"Catchy title."Alice said sarcastically. "Reminds me of the Queen of Hearts' torture chamber."
"I have never heard of such a place."Omi commented.
"Well the name's kinda new."Dojo explained. "It used to be called Hummingbird Acres, but it attracted too many lookie-loos..."
Suddenly the ground started to shake violently causing the giant rocks to drop towards the group.
The five monks started quickly running to avoid being hit by the rocks.
They ran passed the rocky hands that were trying to smash them and saw a rocky foot blocking their path.
"Try as you wish Chase Young, but you will not stop us from reaching the Bird of Paradise!"Omi yelled out.
Then Chase's fist was slammed into the ground causing Clay, Omi, Alice, Raimundo and Kimiko to be thrown against the walls.
"Yeah but I gotta give him an 'A' for effort so far."Clay complemented.
"Hey guys, hurry!"Kimiko called out. "I think I've found a way out!"
The five monks come across a huge tongue-like rock and started running away from it.
"Whoooooo-weee!"Clay responded. "That's the second biggest tongue ah ever did see!"
The group continued running away from the tongue rock and were then pinned to a dead end.
"We're trapped!"Alice said in shock.
"It appears it is time to kick some tongue!"Omi declared.
"You said a mouthful."Raimundo corrected.
"WUDAI IRON PALM!"Clay, Alice, Omi, Raimundo and Kimiko yelled out.
Clay, Alice, Omi, Raimundo and Kimiko used their martial arts to defeat the tongue like rock.
"I say we mossie on out of here while the mossing is still good."Clay suggested.
The others nodded and quickly ran back down the way they came from.
The canyon started to collapse as the five monks headed to the exit.
"Look out, little buddy!"Clay shouted.
Omi started to climb boulder rubble but Clay used his rope to save him before he could get crushed by the rocks.
"What do we do now?!"Kimiko asked.
"I'll handle this, partner."Clay assured and went up to one of the canyon walls. "It's my element that's making all the ruckus."
Kimiko, Alice, Omi, Raimundo and Dojo watched Clay concentrating as more scary rock like faces began
"Wudai Crater, EARTH!"Clay shouted.
Gathering and focusing himself, Clay uses his new Wudai power to punch a hole in the canyon's side, giving the group easy passage out of the canyon.
"Clay, I never knew you had such wondrous powers."Omi remarked.
"Yeah."Clay agreed. "You and me both."
The five monks continued their quest and soon found themselves in a snow storm with gale force winds that was trying to push them back.
"Hey Dojo, where are we now?!"Kimiko demanded.
"The Labyrinth of Ice!"Dojo shouted. "A cold area that chills your spine and...makes you catch a cold! Achoo!"
Eventually, the snow storm stopped and the group found themselves in a snowfield surrounded by snow icy trees and frozen field with a small path leading to the next destination.
Alice, Clay, Dojo, Omi, Kimiko and Raimundo marvelled at the beauty of the area.
"So pretty..."Omi remarked.
"You guys wanna know why winter is my favourite season?"Alice asked.
"Is because it represents your element, Allie?"Raimundo guessed.
"Cause you can sit by the fire and drink hot cocoa?"Clay suggested.
"Winter is actually my favourite season because it usually means New Years and that means rice cakes."Alice chuckled.
"New Years also means you get loads of presents."Kimiko giggled.
Suddenly a bunch of ice flowers started hitting the group with tiny ice shards causing them to make a run for it to the other side.
"Ice is beautiful, but also dangerous."Alice stated.
Raimundo smirked. "You mean it's just like you, rabbit head."
Alice rolled her eyes and then growling sounds were heard causing the group to become alarmed.
"Dojo, either your stomach is growling or something in it is growling."Omi said.
"Nope."Dojo answered and hid inside Clay's hat. "It's them!"
Clay, Alice, Omi, Kimiko and Raimundo became shocked when six wolves approached while growling at them.
The wolves' heads, shoulders and front legs were made out of crystalline ice. Their faces were opaque white ice with glowing yellow eyes while their snowflake shaped shoulders and legs were translucent cyan ice edged with opaque white and surrounded by large icicles resembling bristly fur.
The rest of their bodies were streaming dark miasma that attenuates into bushy tails.
The six wolves started attacking the five monks.
"What kind of wolves are these?!"Raimundo asked.
"I don't know, partner."Clay replied. "But they look more vicious than bulldogs trapped in a pound."
The wolves started attacking the five monks.
Omi screamed as a wolf grabbed him by the back of his shirt as Raimundo made his hands hold the second wolf's mouth from biting his face.
"Get off my hair, furball!"Kimiko shouted angrily.
Clay grabbed the fourth wolf by it's tail and threw it to the third wolf that was biting off Kimiko's hair.
The fifth and sixth wolves growled viciously as they circled around Alice like she was their prey.
"This area represents my element."Alice whispered. "I have to concentrate."
Alice closed her eyes and brought her hands out to concentrate.
The two wolves growled and launched themselves towards Alice.
"Wudai Saturn, ICE!"Alice yelled out.
Alice unleashed howling blizzard blasts in the area to make the wolves stop attacking her and her friends.
The pink haired girl's new Ice attack also made some frozen flowers to bloom and sparkle a little.
The wolves slowly approached Alice.
"Can you show us the way out of here?"Alice asked.
The wolves obeyed Alice and began leading the group to the exit of the area.
Alice, Clay, Omi, Kimiko and Raimundo were brought out of the Labyrinth of Ice causing the wolves to return back to the area.
"Thank you."Alice said with a small wave.
"Nice work, Allie."Kimiko remarked.
"Alice, did those wolves just obey you?"Omi asked.
"Yeah...they did."Alice commented and looked at her hands. "I guess it must be a family thing."
The group notice familiar tracks on the floor causing them to realise that Jack already passed them.
"Unbelievable that Jack was able to pass those creepy wolves."Raimundo said in disbelief.
After following Jack's trail of litter, the monks found themselves in a dead forest that was surrounded by fog.
Clay picked the empty wrapper and can to taste them which disgusted his friends.
"I never knew following Jack could work up a fellow's appetite."Clay complemented.
Kimiko notice there was no longer any candy wrappers on the ground.
"Hey, the trail stops here."Kimiko said.
"Most peculiar."Omi responded.
A candy wrapper drops in front of the group causing them to look up and saw Jack up on a next in one of the trees.
"Jack Spicer!"Omi shouted. "I demand you stop hiding in the tree and hand over the leaf at once!"
"I'm not hiding!"Jack protested. "I'm being held prisoner!"
"Held prisoner by what?"Omi questioned. "A nest of baby birdies?"
Suddenly a bunch of monstrous squirrels with red glowing eyes appeared on the trees causing Omi's expression to pale, triggering his deepest fear.
The squirrels started breathing fire out causing the five monks to jump out of the way.
Raimundo, Kimiko, Alice and Clay battle the squirrels, but Omi was paralysed with fear and was surrounded by them.
Alice punched a squirrel down before kicking the other three away as Clay notice Omi not fighting.
"You okay there, partner?"Clay asked.
"Uh, I-I have been better."Omi answered.
A few squirrels shot fire towards Omi causing Kimiko to jump in and carry Omi to safety until a squirrel shoved her into the ground.
The Dragon of Fire gets surrounded by squirrels herself and Omi rescues her.
"Thank you, Kimiko, for your help!"Omi thanked. "But I am all good now!"
Raimundo, Alice and Clay went next to their companions as the squirrels recovered and were preparing to attack again.
"I think it's time to fight fire with fire!"Kimiko declared with a frown.
The squirrels shot fireballs at the group causing Omi to end up fainting.
Kimiko dodged the coming fire blasts before leaping up and using her Wudai attack.
"Wudai Mars, FIRE!"Kimiko shouted.
Kimiko uses her new powers to create a wall of fire to repel the squirrel's fire, creating an inferno that chases the squirrels away.
After seeing her mastery of her Xiaolin element, Omi gave a relieved smile as Raimundo congratulated Kimiko.
"Woo, way to go, fire girl!"Raimundo laughed.
"Bravo, Kim!"Alice chuckled.
Kimono smiled back at Raimundo as
Jack called out from the tree-top nest.
"Help!"Jack cried out. "Save me!"
"And exactly why is that?"Clay asked with his arms crossed.
"Because we mean so much to each other?"Jack answered innocently.
"Then you must promise to turn over the leaf!"Omi insisted. "And to turn a new leaf over."
"Okay, okay, you got a deal!"Jack yelled and the nest catches fire. "Just do something!"
"Wudai Neptune, WATER!"Omi yelled out.
"Wudai Star, WIND!"Raimundo shouted.
Omi and Raimundo used their new Water and Wind powers to wash away the fire from the battle.
"Yes! I'm saved!"Jack cheered. "And the leaf is still mine!"
Jack noticed the giant water fist above him causing him to get slammed and be sent flying into the air before landing on Clay's arms.
"Nice catch."Jack commented.
Clay simply dropped Jack and the leaf landed in Omi's hands.
"Well, I think my work is done here."Jack declared.
Alice kicks Jack on the back causing him to be dropped off the tree and land hard on the ground.
"Water."Omi said quietly and makes a small water tornado on the leaf. "Oh magical leaf, which way?"
After seeing the way that the leaf was pointing from, the monks soon come across the Bone Yard.
Clay looked at the sign that said 'Bone Yard' and 'Population: 0'.
"The Bone Yard."Clay read. "Sounds like a nice, quiet place."
"Let's make this fast."Dojo suggested nervously and stared at the bones on the ground. "I wouldn't want to end up as part of the landscape."
Clay, Dojo, Kimiko, Omi, Alice and Raimundo notice a green red parrot sitting on a branch.
"Look it's the bird of paradise!"Omi remarked.
The group rushed up to the parrot.
"Hello."Kimiko greeted. "Are you the Bird of Paradise?"
"Bird of Paradise."the parrot repeated and scratched itself. "Bird of Paradise."
"Yes! We have found it!"Omi cheered. "We have found the mystical bird!"
As Alice opened her mouth to say something, the sky turned dark with clouds swirling as Chase and Wuya appeared above the group.
"And why are you all so interested in this Bird of Paradise?"Chase demanded.
"Because we are Wudai Warriors!"Omi answered. "And that is all you need to know!"
Clay looked at Alice, Dojo, Kimiko and Raimundo.
"Um, that's about all that we do know."Clay whispered.
"The Land of Nowhere is my domain!"Chase announced. "Therefore, the Bird of Paradise belongs to me!"
"No!"Omi yelled out. "The Bird of Paradise is ours!"
"We won't let you have it, Chase!"Alice shouted angrily.
Suddenly a zap of lightning was unleashed in front of the group as Chase appeared with Wuya behind him.
"We'll see about that, my little love."Chase stated with a smirk.
Alice glared at the Heylin Lord as he used his Heylin magic to summon a zombie dragon.
Then the old singing crackpot appeared and walked in front of the dragon.
"Talk about crummy timing."Raimundo mumbled.
"Oh, good."the old woman replied. "I have been looking for you. I have come to pay back your kindness."
The dragon seizes the old woman with its tail.
"Gotta say, I can hardly blame the critter."Clay responded.
"We must focus our new and improved Wudai powers!"Omi declared. "And we must do it together!"
"WUDAI ORION FORMATION!"Clay, Kimiko, Omi, Alice and Raimundo chanted.
Clay glowed in a green colour, Kimiko was red, Omi was white, Alice was purple and Raimundo was blue.
"Wudai Crater, EARTH!"Clay shouted.
Clay uses his earth powers to strike the dragon, which releases the crackpot.
"WIND!"Raimundo yelled out.
Raimundo rides the wind to catch the old woman, hand her to Clay and fly around the Bone Yard with the dragon right on his tail.
The Dragon of Wind leads the zombie dragon straight into another earthen pummelling from Clay as Alice flew forward.
"ICE!"Alice yelled out.
Alice goes in front of the zombie dragon and freezes him into a icy statue.
"FIRE!"Kimiko shouted.
"WATER!"Omi yelled out.
Kimiko and Omi used their Fire and Water powers to turn the zombie dragon into ash.
Raimundo finishes by literally blowing it away.
The five monks land on the ground and reverted back to their normal selves.
"How did they learn to do that?"Wuya asked.
"It would seem that their Wudai power have taken hold."Chase replied.
"Check it and weep, baby!"Jack cackled evilly as he flew away while holding the parrot. "I knew I'd get the bird."
The parrot bit on Jack's fingers causing him to scream like a little girl.
"It appears that despite your impressive performance, you have lost."Chase declared.
"We may be outside, but not down!"Omi reminded.
"I think he means that we're down, but not out."Raimundo corrected.
Seeing this defeat of the monks' mission, Chase and Wuya vanish, leaving the warriors behind with the crackpot.
"Chase didn't get the bird either so he loses too."Alice thought with a hint of amusement.
"Aw, you all look so sad."the old woman said sadly and the group looked at her. "I hope I didn't cause you any trouble."
"No, it's not you it's us."Raimundo assured. "We messed up big time."
Suddenly, to the group's astonishment, the old woman turned into a pink elegant bird—the true Bird of Paradise.
"It's quite the opposite."the Bird of Paradise admitted. "I am the Bird of Paradise."
"But we thought the Bird of Paradise would be a regular bird."Omi said in awe.
"There is no way a bird with a beautiful title can be something regular."Alice reminded with a smile.
"I have come back to pay back your kindness by giving each of you the greatest gift of all."the Bird of Paradise declared.
"Farm equipment?"Clay thought excitedly.
"In recusing me, I have given you the gift of discovering your finest qualities."the Bird of Paradise admitted.
The Bird of Paradise looked at Kimiko.
"Courage."
The mystical bird looked at Omi.
"Loyalty."
The Bird of Paradise looked at Alice.
"Generosity."
The pink bird looked at Clay.
"Strength."
The Bird of Paradise then glanced at Raimundo.
"And Kindness."the Bird of Paradise finished. "Those are the greatest gifts you could ever receive."
"Yeah even if they don't cost anything."Dojo complemented.
"That was the purpose of the quest."the Bird Of Paradise declared. "To arm you with the greatest powers of all, the powers that come from within, that can never be taken away."
The smiles on the five monks' faces vanished when the Bird of Paradise began to sing again.
"Well, she's one mighty impressive bird, but she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket."Clay complemented.
Back at the Xiaolin Temple...
Omi, Clay, Alice, Kimiko and Raimundo met up with Master Fung in the vault room.
"You have done well, young monks."Master Fung stated. "Your one mistake to assume the Bird of Paradise was a bird. Things are not always what they appear."
Omi tried to touch Master Fung, but the old monk revealed to be behind them.
"The evil that you will soon encounter will not be always easy to recognise."Master Fung warned.
Suddenly Master Fung became a group of white birds as illusions of himself appeared above the building.
"That is why you must be cautious and learn to see with your mind."Master Fung instructed. "Not just your eyes."
The birds and Master Fung's illusions vanished as white paper bird cranes landed gently on the five monks' hands.
"Master Fung worked his way through monk school doing magic."Dojo explained with a smile. "I once saw making all of China disappear. It's true."
As Dojo slithered away, the paper cranes turned into washing items causing the five monks to frown in disproval.
Then again, Master Fung did say they were going to do their chores after completing their quest
