One of my favourite episodes!
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Chapter 12: Mala Mala Jong
It was mid-afternoon for the Dragons when Dojo had interrupted their breakfast to alert them to a new Shen Gong Wu. Abandoning their training for the day, the group arrived at their destination: a forest filled with tall trees with orange leaves to show the beginnings of Autumn taking place.
"Heart of Jong due...that way!" Dojo pointed as he shrank down, letting the five land on their feet in the soft grass.
"Much obliged, Dojo," Clay tipped his hat as Rory caught the dragon, and they split up to start looking.
"So what's this Heart of Jong look like?" she asked as they wandered around the trees and rustled through the bushes.
"It's about yay-big, grey and red, heart-shaped," Dojo demonstrated, and Rory couldn't help but laugh at his description.
"I don't know why I asked. Anything called the Heart of Jong will stand out around here," she considered, looking around.
"Aha! Success!" they looked around as Omi gave a shout. "My friends, may I present…" he pulled his hand out of the tree burl, expecting to be holding the Heart of Jong. However, he found himself looking at a red furry creature that stared back at him. "A squirrel?" he froze, and a moment later his scream rang out as the squirrel sank its teeth into his hand. "Help! Get the disease-carrying vermin off me!" he pleaded.
"Behold, the mighty Xiaolin Dragon of the Water," Kimiko sighed.
"Not his proudest moment, is it?" Clay considered. Omi continued to scream and run, until he slammed into a tree and bounced backwards.
"We better hurry up," Rory sighed as they started to walk in his direction to help him. "Spicer's almost here," she warned the others.
"I am most dazy and spinny," Omi complained as he sat up. The squirrel scrambled up a tree, chittering angrily at Omi. However, he didn't notice, as his attention was drawn to what had fallen from the tree when he'd hit it. Having expected an apple, he gasped as he realised that it was grey and red, and heart-shaped. "The Heart of Jong! I have jacked the hitpot!" Omi exclaimed, but as he went to grab it, a small sucker planted into it.
"That's 'hit the jackpot'," he looked up as Jack grabbed the Heart of Jong. "As in Jackpot Spicer. It's my nickname, you know," he smirked.
"It is so not," Wuya rolled her eyes.
"They don't need to know that," Jack grumbled at her. "Smell you later, losers!" he taunted, but before he could fly away, a rope caught him around the ankle and yanked him down.
"You'll smell us now, you dirty snake!" Clay called.
"Smell us now?" Kimiko looked at Raimundo, a little amused by Clay's attempt at trash talk.
"Clay's villain-taunting needs serious work," Raimundo considered.
"With Spicer as the villain, I'm not surprised," Rory sighed as they watched Jack struggle against Clay's much stronger grip.
"Hey, let go!" Jack yelled as his helipack struggled with the strain, before completely cutting out. Jack screamed as he fell to the ground, landing on the ground with a thud and dropping the Heart of Jong. He threw himself forwards, grabbing the Heart of Jong at the same time as Omi.
"I challenge you, Jack Spicer, to a Xiaolin Showdown!" Omi shouted as both kept a tight grip. Jack cursed under his breath.
"Name it," he growled.
"The challenge should suit the environment," Omi considered as the others ran over. He looked around, and his eyes settled on the acorns that had fallen from the tree. "We shall gather acorns!" he decided.
"Like a squirrel?" Jack raised an eyebrow at the simple challenge.
"Oh yes! Squirrels are most fearsome opponents!" Omi nodded, looking up at the squirrel that was watching from the tree above. "My Jetbootsu versus your Lotus Twister. Whoever gathers the most acorns in two minutes, wins!" he challenged.
"Done and done," Jack agreed.
"Let's go, Xiaolin Showdown!" the two shouted together. Light exploded out from the Heart of Jong, changing their surroundings and creating more trees that were larger with extra branches. "Gong Yi Tanpai!" they chorused as the timer started on Kimiko's watch.
"Lotus Twister!" Jack immediately activated his Shen Gong Wu. With a laugh, he reached up and around the trees with stretching arms and legs to grab the acorns scattered.
"Jet Bootsu!" Omi called on his own Shen Gong Wu to defy gravity and zip around the trees, collecting more and more acorns. Two piles were collected on thick branches as the four other warriors watched.
"He's fast," Rory commented as they had to work hard to keep their eyes on Omi. Jack's screech earned their attention, and they looked up to see him narrowly avoid a branch that suddenly emerged.
"Nothing's ever simple with these Showdowns," Kimiko said as Omi weaved his way around the branches easily, avoiding them without issue with his smaller frame. "One minute left," she added as she checked her watch.
"What's Spicer up to?" Clay's suspicion-laced question made them look up to where Jack had rushed over to one of the other trees. He peeked out as Omi flew in his direction, and stretched across the two trees, causing Omi to crash into him. The Dragon of Water cried out as he ricocheted off the rubber-like body and flew backwards, landing heavily on the branch where his acorns had been stashed and causing a wave of acorns to fall down, landing on Jack as he ran to catch them. The timer on Kimiko's watch hit zero, and the group was blinded by the light that returned everything to normal. Jack emerged from the acorns just as the Heart of Jong and Jet Bootsu landed in front of him.
"I'll take that, and the Jet Bootsu too!" Jack laughed, standing and admiring the Heart of Jong.
"At last, the Heart of Jong is mine!" Wuya laughed as she flew down.
"You can work on that carefully worded apology now," Jack told her haughtily.
"She's more excited over this than most," Rory said as they overheard her screeches. Raimundo nodded, but before they could question it, Omi fell from the tree with a loud thud.
"Did I win?" he asked as they all ran over to help him.
"No, but you made one squirrel very happy," Dojo told him, jabbing a clawed thumb at the pile of acorns. They looked over, and saw the squirrel that had attacked Omi rolling around in the pile, and despite the loss, they couldn't help but find it amusing.
Omi's sadness over losing another Showdown had them all worried as it continued all the way back to the Xiaolin Temple. He sighed as they walked back to the Vault to return the remaining Shen Gong Wu they had.
"My performance in the Showdown was truly whacky," Omi complained.
"Whack," Kimiko corrected quietly.
"Whack what?" Omi asked, confused, and they all sighed at his inability to grasp slang.
"Never mind," Kimiko shook her head, knowing he'd never understand.
"I sense disappointment," they looked around quickly, not having heard Master Fung approach. He emerged from the shadows of inside the building, offering a gentle smile.
"Shame forbids me from speaking of my whacky failure," Omi replied, eyes on the ground. Kimiko groaned as Raimundo rolled his eyes.
"Omi lost a Xiaolin Showdown," Clay explained for him when Omi refused to elaborate.
"Spicer played dirty, Omi. It happens," Rory patted the boy on the shoulder sympathetically.
"Young monk, you must learn that life is a river. It has ebbs and flows," Master Fung kept his gentle tone, seeing how upset Omi was at losing.
"You mean...you win some, you lose some?" Raimundo tried, not entirely sure he understood the man's cryptic way of speaking.
"Precisely, Raimundo," Master Fung nodded, pleased with his deduction. "While we should endeavour to win all the Shen Gong Wu, it is not the end of life as we know it, if we occasionally lose one," he said, making them all perk up at his words. Even Omi managed to crack a smile. "So, Omi, which Shen Gong Wu did you lose?" he asked.
"The Heart of Jong," Omi answered. For a beat, Master Fung's smile remained. Then it vanished, and all the colour drained from his face as he inhaled sharply. He backed away, looking terrified.
"But that means...the end of life as we know it," the teacher's words had them all taken aback. No matter what happened, he always encouraged positivity. For the man to suddenly change his tune and look genuinely terrified, meant something very bad was going to happen.
The fears of the warriors grew when Master Fung gathered everyone living at the temple inside. He stood in front of them with a scroll depicting a creature that seemed made up of several Shen Gong Wu - all ones they had lost to Jack Spicer.
"In addition to incredible strength, Mala Mala Jong also has the power of each Shen Gong Wu that make up its form. I expect Wuya will attack before dawn," he warned. Dread had settled in the pit of Rory's stomach, and she pulled her legs in close at the thought.
"So, tonight's pot-luck is off then?" Dojo asked, earning several glares. "Just asking!" he offered a weak smile.
"Master, how will we fight this Mala Mala Jong?" Omi asked, raising his hand as he got back on topic.
"You won't, Omi," all of them were surprised by Master Fung's firm words. "You and the other Chosen Ones will take our Shen Gong Wu and flee the temple grounds immediately," all of them were on their feet arguing what he was saying. However, he silenced them all with a raised hand. "The remaining Shen Gong Wu must not fall into Wuya's hands. You will protect them at all costs," Master Fung instructed. "Now go!" he ordered.
"This is crazy," Kimiko mumbled, and Rory nodded as they, Omi and Clay made their way to the vault.
"I didn't spend all this time training to just run and hide!" Raimundo stood up to Master Fung, not following. "I'm not afraid of this Mala Mala-ding Jong thing!" he insisted, which only made their teacher scowl at him.
"Then you clearly do not understand. This is no time for recklessness, Raimundo," Master Fung told him sternly. "Do as you are told!" he spoke harshly, which took Raimundo by surprise and caused his fire to die down a little. The others walked back and guided him away, and Raimundo glared at the ground the entire way.
"I think this is the last of them," Rory passed up the Sword of the Storm and Mantis Flip Coin, and they placed them inside the large chest that had been sitting nearby. Raimundo, who hadn't spoken the entire time they emptied the vault, lifted the chest with Clay, and they carried it out to Dojo.
"It'll be secure, right?" Kimiko asked as Clay balanced it on Dojo's back.
"Of course," Dojo nodded, trying to stay positive after seeing how scared they were.
"Rai, come on," Rory called as they climbed on. He hesitated, but followed, and as they flew off, they saw a glimmer of what seemed like blue flames making its way to the temple.
The group had travelled in tense silence, all thinking about the threat and how they'd left Master Fung and the other monks to face Mala Mala Jong. When a storm broke out, Dojo was forced to land, and they found shelter in a small cave in the mountains.
When thunder boomed, seeming directly over them, Rory couldn't stop a small squeak of fear.
"You alright?" Kimiko put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"F-fine," Rory tried for a small smile, but it vanished when thunder rumbled again. She dug her fingertips into her arms hard enough that she was sure she'd leave bruises. "I'll be okay. I guess," she told Kimiko, looking around at the chest that was sitting slightly open. Kimiko sighed.
"Now what?" she wondered. Omi, Clay and Dojo sat around the lantern they'd lit, while Raimundo was sitting away from them, staring out into the storm. "We just camp out here, and wait?" she asked, turning to the others.
"All we've been told is to get away from the temple and protect the Shen Gong Wu," Rory spoke in a low voice. "I think that's all we can do, for now," she murmured, hugging her legs to her chest.
"How about we sing songs, or tell ghost stories, or uh...oh! Smores!" Dojo suggested brightly. Raimundo threw a rock that hit the cave wall, echoing.
"Mala Mala Jong could be attacking the temple right now! We should be fighting with Master Fung!" he shouted.
"Master Fung ordered us to guard the Shen Gong Wu," Omi reminded him firmly.
"But-"
"All we can do is formulate a plan to defeat Mala Mala Jong, in case…" Omi trailed off, turning away.
"Master Fung fails…" Clay finished Omi's train of thought, seeing the boy's own frustration. Raimundo, however, was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice, and his fists clenched tightly as he eyed the Sword of the Storm.
Sitting around the lantern, Omi, Rory, Clay and Kimiko tried to work on a plan in order to beat Mala Mala Jong.
"It's made up of a lot of different Shen Gong Wu," Rory remembered as she kept close to the others, trying to ignore the storm that waged on outside. "The Helmet of Jong, the Two Ton Tunic, the Fist of Tebigong-" she stopped, flinching at the thunder.
"The Third Arm Sash and Jet Bootsu," Kimiko continued the list for Rory, edging closer to her to lean against her. Rory breathed out, relaxing a little when she felt the natural heat that the Dragon of Fire emitted.
"And the Heart of Jong. That must be the key," Omi realised. "Wuya was most desperate to capture it," he remembered Wuya's reactions to the last Shen Gong Wu they'd found.
"Yeah, and Master Fung was pretty spooked when he found out Wuya got it," Clay nodded.
"The scroll said that the Heart of Jong brings inanimate objects to life," Rory recalled their brief lesson that morning.
"Can't plot the fall of evil on an empty stomach," Dojo called as he returned. "So I made...fresh hot smores!" he held up a steaming plate of smores. "Dig in!" he offered. They looked at him blankly, before returning to their discussion.
"So maybe if we take out the Heart, the whole warrior goes back to being plain old Shen Gong Wu?" Kimiko suggested.
"But it'll be hidden inside the Two Ton Tunic, and that thing's invulnerable," Rory pointed out.
"Then how do we do such a thing?" Omi asked as Dojo continued to offer them smores.
"The Serpent's Tail!" Clay suggested. "We'll go through the Two Ton Tunic and take the Heart of Jong right out!" he explained.
"Rewind, Clay. The Serpent's Tail wouldn't protect us from the Eye of Dashi's lightning blast," Kimiko reminded, thinking back to one of their training sessions. Raimundo's hair had stood on end for a few days, and he emitted static electricity for even longer.
"Oh right," Clay remembered. "We'd be chicken-fried Chosen Ones," he shuddered as Dojo gave up and started eating without them.
"It is a most befuddling conundrum," Omi sighed. "Any ideas, Raimundo?" he asked. However, the only response was silence. "Raimundo?" he called again as they all looked around, only to find that he had vanished.
"He's gone," Kimiko breathed.
"Oh no…" Rory gulped. "And he took the Sword of the Storm with him," she said, seeing that it was missing from the chest.
"We need to stop him!" Kimiko started for the exit, but Clay caught her arm.
"Hold up, lil lady. If Rai really went back to the temple, then we're going to need a plan to stop Mala Mala Jong, or we'll all be in trouble," he told her, trying to stay calm despite their friend running off into danger.
"Clay's right," Rory reached out and took the shorter girl's hand. "We can help Raimundo by figuring out how to stop this thing," she offered a small smile, and Kimiko sighed, but nodded.
"Okay," she agreed, and they all sat back down. "But just how are we going to stop it? We need to get the Heart of Jong out, and we don't have anything that can get through the Two Ton Tunic without leaving us open to the Eye of Dashi," Kimiko pointed out.
"That's it!" Omi gasped, and they looked at him quickly. "We do not have what we need, but we know where it is!" he quickly traced a shape in the dirt that they all recognised.
"The Golden Tiger Claws? That would get you right inside his chest," Rory nodded, but raised an eyebrow. "But it's a little hard to get hold of now," she pointed out.
"But not impossible!" Omi insisted. "If I can retrieve the missing Golden Tiger Claws, I may be able to stop the Heart of Jong!" he declared. "What do you think?" he asked, and they saw his uncertainty even through his confident words.
"It...could work," Clay nodded slowly.
"Emphasis on 'could'," Kimiko used air-quotes, looking less convinced. They all jumped, when Rory shot to her feet, blue eyes going wide.
"Oh no," she breathed, turning to the exit.
"Please tell me that you're just hungry," Clay said, watching as she walked towards the entrance to the cave. Rory didn't respond straight away, focusing on the feeling that had washed over her.
"Omi's plan is going to have to do, because Wuya and Mala Mala Jong are here," the others followed her out, and she pointed down the mountain. They peered out into the rain, and spotted the hulking body of Mala Mala Jong, which was illuminated by the flames that seemed to connect each of the pieces of the Shen Gong Wu that made up its body.
"Omi, you're the only chance we've got. Now go!" Kimiko shouted to their friend, who hesitated.
"What about you?" he asked, worried.
"We'll hold the big guy off till you get back," Clay cracked his knuckles, and both Kimiko and Rory nodded.
"We trust you Omi," Rory managed a smile. "We know you can do it," she told him. Omi took a deep breath.
"Serpent's Tail!" he shouted, and dove into the ground, vanishing from sight as he travelled through solid rock. Dojo gulped, sitting on the chest.
"So I'll just...hang back here?" he suggested as the other three grabbed Shen Gong Wu. "Kind of a...support role?" Dojo offered, voice cracking in fear. Rory shivered as Mala Mala Jong's presence seemed to fill the room for her, feeling like utter chaos. She shook her head, refusing to give into the fear that came from the feeling.
"Tongue of Saiping!" Clay used the Shen Gong Wu in his hands to call on the pandas that were in the bamboo grove at the bottom of the mountain. "Look, it's working! The animals understood me!" he pointed down, and they watched as eagles joined in to delay the monster.
"Yeah! Take that, Mala Mala Jong!" Kimiko cheered. However, it vanished with the Shroud of Shadows, and the animals paused, unsure of what happened. "The Shroud of Shadows! How'd it get that?!" she demanded.
"They can't see him!" Clay groaned as the animals dispersed.
"And neither can we…" Kimiko gulped. "Rory?" she turned to the Dragon of Light hopefully.
"His presence is too strong, and I don't know how to completely lock in on someone's position," Rory gulped. They all jumped when lightning flashed and thunder boomed, and Mala Mala Jong reappeared in front of them. Before they could react, Mala Mala Jong punched Clay with the Fist of Tebigong, and he slammed into the wall of the cave before hitting the ground with a groan.
"Clay!" Rory called as he got back up. With a yell, he stomped a foot, and the cave shuddered. Rocks burst up from the ground, hitting Mala Mala Jong and forcing the monster back as they crashed against the Two Ton Tunic. However, it gave a roar, and smashed through them with the Fist of Tebigong.
"No!" Clay groaned, winded from the burst of power he'd gotten from unlocking his power over Earth.
"Orb of Tornami!" Kimiko sent a wave of water crashing towards Mala Mala Jong. However, it cut through the water with the Sword of the Storm, easily parting it. With the Third Arm Sash, it snatched the Orb of Tornami from Kimiko and swallowed it.
"It's using the extra Shen Gong Wu too!" Rory realised.
"Rory!" Dojo threw her the Monkey Staff, and she caught it easily.
"Monkey Staff!" she shouted, running at Mala Mala Jong with a shriek. With the intention of at least ripping off the Helmet of Jong, Rory leapt up at the monster, only for it to quickly catch the staff in her hand. It threw her off, and Rory crashed into Dojo and the chest with a cry.
"It's shrugging off everything we throw at him," Clay groaned as he staggered over, aching.
"Yeah? Well check this," Kimiko growled as she lifted the Star Hanabi, which had fallen from the tipped over chest. "Star Hanabi!" she shouted, throwing fireballs at the monster. They veered up, hitting the ceiling and causing a stalactite to fall and slam into Mala Mala Jong. The monster seemed to explode, and the Helmet of Jong landed at their feet, still smoking. "Yes!" Kimiko cheered. "We did it! We beat Mala Mala Jong!" she exclaimed.
"No, no we haven't," Rory shook her head. "The presence is still here!" she warned, and they looked around just in time to see the Shen Gong Wu reform. Before they could move, it grabbed all three and slammed them to the ground before catching Dojo as well. Croaking laughter echoed through the cave as they struggled, and they looked up to see Wuya floating over the monster's shoulder.
"End of the road, Xiaolin Warriors! You put up an impressive fight to be sure. But you've lost, all the same," she taunted.
"I see you're as bad for gloating as Spicer," Rory growled as she struggled against the metal that held her down. Wuya growled.
"Despite that comment," Wuya hissed. "I'm in a merciful mood. Pledge your allegiance to me, and I will spare your miserable lives," she offered.
"Never gonna happen," Kimiko denied coldly.
"Not in a million years," Clay agreed with Kimiko.
"And you, Dragon of Light?" Wuya turned her gaze on Rory, who frowned. "You and I could do so much if we work together," she offered.
"Hard pass," Rory kept her voice indifferent.
"So be it. Crush them!" Wuya ordered Mala Mala Jong, who roared in response. They cried out as his grip on them tightened, slowly crushing them as they struggled for breath. Suddenly the monster's grasp lightened, and he groaned. "Don't just stand there! Finish them!" she ordered, but instead Mala Mala Jong dropped the four to the ground. They gasped for breath, barely able to move as they watched the monster thrashed and roared, scratching at the Two Ton Tunic. "What? What could possibly be wrong?" Wuya demanded, before a tear appeared in the air and Omi leapt through, holding the Heart of Jong. There was an explosion of light, and the monster broke apart.
"Omi!" Rory grinned, relieved to see him.
"What? How did you-"
"Golden Tiger Claws," Omi stuck his tongue out at Wuya, who was lost for words.
"They transport you to wherever you're fixing to go," Clay laughed.
"Even into a raging monster's chest," Kimiko smirked.
"And right back out with the Heart of Jong," Rory grinned.
"Sorry to break your heart, Wuya," Dojo taunted, and Wuya screamed loudly. As it echoed through the cave, she flew off, vanishing into the distance as they laughed.
"Congratulations, young ones," Master Fung smiled down at the group. He had been relieved when they had returned, and stunned to see that they had even defeated Mala Mala Jong. While there was still work to be done in repairing the damage done to the temple, Master Fung had gathered them for an announcement. They sat in front of him, all with some form of bandages after their fights. "In defeating Mala Mala Jong, you have demonstrated considerable bravery, skill and cunning," he passed sashes to Kimiko, Clay, Rory and Omi. Omi's hands were wrapped tightly after they'd been burned touching the Golden Tiger Claws, which had been lying in the centre of the Earth for months, but he still clutched the sash close. "You have proven yourselves ready for the next level. Xiaolin Apprentice," he announced as he walked away. Their smiles fell, however, when they realised Raimundo hadn't been given one.
"What, you don't know my sash size?" Raimundo asked, confused.
"I am sorry, Raimundo. But you have proven that you are not yet ready to move on," Master Fung said gravely, having been furious with him for returning to the temple, and in doing so told Wuya exactly where to find the others.
"But I was brave!" Raimundo protested.
"You did not follow my instruction," Master Fung pointed out. "Your rash and impulsive actions led us to the brink of disaster. Your fellow Dragons might have been killed because Wuya discovered their location," he told Raimundo, whose face burned in his shame and humiliation. The others breathed in sharply, surprised. "I suggest you meditate on your failure," with that, Master Fung walked away.
"Rai...I'm so sorry," Kimiko spoke softly, seeing the stunned look on his face as they stood.
"Yeah buddy, I-"
"Yeah, you know, whatever," Raimundo shrugged Clay's hand off when the taller boy touched his shoulder. "If that's the thanks I get for trying to save his neck, fine! Won't happen again," he vowed, storming off.
"Raimundo!" Rory called after him, worried.
"No!" he whirled around, anger blazing in his eyes. "I'm sick of this place. I never should have left Brazil," with that, Raimundo stalked out.
"Should we go after him?" Kimiko asked, but Omi shook his head.
"No, Kimiko. This is a path Raimundo must walk alone," he told her. Rory sighed, turning away, before feeling a flash of two different presences. She looked around, frowning, but it was already gone.
"Come on Rory, we should all get some shut-eye," Clay called over to her as they all decided to leave as well. She didn't move at first, wondering if she'd imagined the presence, before shaking her head.
"You're right," she agreed. "I'm guessing we're gonna have to help repair the temple," Rory sighed, bracing herself for a rough day of hard work.
I will go out of my way to have Rory use the Monkey Staff whenever possible and I regret nothing.
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