Uploaded: 19th March 2005
Notes: This, folks, is the last chapter. Action-packed chapter for the finale.
Warning: Well … it's difficult to write one of these warnings without giving away what happens. But Wuya has all four of the Chosen Ones (and Jack) in her witchy clutches, so I'm sure you can guess that it ain't gonna be pretty. Torture and blood and swearing … Lots of fun. If you didn't like Raimundo before, you're gonna hate him now.
On a side-note, I hope Clay's part came out all right. I know next to nothing about Texas. And Omi's part kinda makes him look as conceited as Jack. How did that happen?
Yay! Thankies, EternalFluffy. I uploaded this earlier and then realised I'd gotten your review. I guess this was a really fast update for anyone who read this today, so ... here you go, FireNeko. And thanks to anyone I haven't mentioned. It's always cool to get people's opinions on this.
Chapter 16: Do or Die
Wuya looked different. She was wearing dark blue and black Heylin robes, and her purple hair was tied up in a bun. Jack and Omi recognised the golden False Fleece draped around her in a tiny cape of sorts; and she had the Sun Chi Lantern hanging around her neck.
She took slow, deliberate steps, her dark eyes regarding each of them in turn. She had an eager, predatory gaze. Jack could feel another allusion to Hansel and Gretel coming. She looked like she wanted to eat them. Damn witch.
"We've … gotta … get out of these … vines," said Clay, trying to pull his legs and arms free.
Jack also tried to break loose, but to no avail. If he could only reach his wrist-watch … "What can we do? We're trapped."
"You could always beg for your lives," Raimundo suggested snidely.
"Drop dead, Rai," Kimiko snapped.
"You've done exceptionally well, Raimundo," Wuya said, keeping her greedily smug expression on her captives.
"Thank you, your Highness," he replied, bending down on one knee and lowering his head respectfully.
"Rai! What are you doing?"
"Bowing down before the Empress of the world. You should be doing the same."
"What?" exclaimed Kimiko. "That's crazy!"
Jack made a snorting noise that resembled a mocking snicker. Empress of the world indeed!
"You don't even rule the world, and yet you're calling yourself Empress. And you called me cocky!"
"Humph!" said Wuya. "Of course I rule this world! The inhabitants just don't know it yet."
"Interesting line of thought you have there, Wu," said Jack, grinning. "That sounds like something I would say. You sure you don't miss me?"
"Of course I don't. Unlike you, I could take over the world from here."
"Tch. You don't have that kind of power," Jack said.
"Of course I do, you fool. I have the essence of Lightning at my disposal. It would be a simple matter to make lightning rain on every person emitting chi energy. But I'll not waste my time showing you. I don't flaunt my abilities needlessly.
"Besides," she said, turning away, "I have bigger fish to fry. Once I find the other elemental temples, I'll have complete control over life and death."
Life and death? thought Kimiko. What's she talking about?
"Thoth spilled the beans, then?" Raimundo asked, without looking up.
Wuya nodded slowly. "Yes …"
Dammit, she got to him first, thought Jack.
Clay let out a low growl. "What did ya do to him?"
"He was being most uncooperative. I had to be a little … persuasive in order to loosen his tongue. But I got the information I was after … in the end."
"And then what?"
"I killed him, of course." There was no remorse in her voice. She spoke casually, as if they were discussing the morning weather. She smirked at the warriors' horrified looks. "He got off easy. Compared to what I'm about to do to you, anyway."
Omi kept a fixed stare on Raimundo as he looked up in adulation at his Empress and then turned his head round to smirk at them, the darkness in his eyes as strong as ever. It wasn't natural …
"What have you done to Raimundo?" Omi asked angrily. Even now, he still had faith in his ex-friend. Raimundo never would have bowed down to Wuya willingly, even if he was working for her. He was a rebel in the face of authority. Why would he treat Wuya with such reverence?
"Hmm? Oh, he's just accepted his role as my loyal slave," she replied. "Isn't that right, boy?" she added, patting him on the head as if he were an obedient dog.
"Slave …?" whispered Kimiko, and Omi looked at Raimundo in shocked disbelief.
We must help him, he thought. But how?
"Perhaps I should make you all my slaves," Wuya decided, after a thoughtful pause.
"Keep dreamin', Wuya," said Clay calmly.
"We will never surrender to you!" said Omi sharply.
"No way I'm ending up like doormat-boy there," said Jack, sounding disgusted.
"We'll never be your slaves, not in a million years," Kimiko said, looking as disgusted as Jack sounded.
"Oh, really? We'll have to see, won't we?"
Wuya fixed a hard, concentrated gaze on Kimiko. Her eyes were powerful and mesmeric, and Kimiko felt sleepy … Wuya could feel her will weakening, and when there was a dip in her mental barrier, she forced her way into her mind …
But Kimiko was not under the same influence of darkness that Raimundo had been; and as soon as Wuya penetrated her mind, she repelled instinctively with her own force, a red aura that forced Wuya's will right back out.
Sensing the heated power of Kimiko's Fire elemental, Wuya broke her stare. This was the reason why the Yizhi spell would only work on one with a weak, or weakened mind, because a strong spirit automatically resisted the effects of any strange presence, much like a body rejecting a donor organ. It was even less likely to work on someone with an element; and if she wasn't careful, Kimiko would break free from the vines. Fire burned Wood.
She had managed to find out one thing before she been driven out, though, something quite important that had been at the top of Kimiko's mind. The warriors were staying in Ping-jing …
"Hmm … your will is strong," she told her. "But there's more than one way to slay a Dragon …"
Wuya smiled, and activated the False Fleece. A harsh, blinding light overtook the area, and the Xiaolin warriors found their memories, thoughts and feelings being mixed into a swirling blender, altering their perception of reality …
Clay stepped underneath the wooden roof of the veranda, into the shade, to take his hat off and wipe the sweat from his forehead. It had sure been one hot summer this year, and after a hard day's work, looking after and rounding up the cattle, one was bound to be feeling a little tired. Still, it was good, honest work, and it was both rewarding and satisfying that he was doing all he could to help his family out.
His favourite horse, Sheba, tossed her mane around. "Steady, Sheba, old girl." He'd always felt he had a special connection with animals, something that his mother had actively encouraged. Far easier to take care of animals on a ranch if there was someone who had a natural affinity for them. It was because of Clay's peaceable, patient temperament rather than any real skill in handling them, though, that the animals on the ranch liked him. In fact, Clay was the only one that the old cow Bessie would trust near her.
"Clay!" A slim blonde-haired woman in a cowboy get-up, complete with hat and boots, greeted him cheerfully.
"Mom …?"
Clay's blue eyes narrowed in confusion, suddenly. Something felt wrong. Had she always been here? Had he always been here? He seemed to recall leaving his home on the ranch for another place, somewhere far away from Texas. But … it seemed like it happened long ago, like a distant memory. He couldn't remember what he'd done there. He shook his head and put his hat back on. It must have been a dream, nothing more.
"What's wrong, Clay?"
"Nothing, mom. Just a weird dream I had."
"You sure 'ave been workin' hard. How 'bout I whip up your fave dinner, hon?"
Clay beamed, a big ray of sunshine that was sure to brighten up anyone else who saw him. Everything was great here; he was happy. He had two loving parents. And plenty of food. Why would he want to leave? He must have been dreaming.
"Thanks, mom."
Omi opened his eyes. It was a beautiful, warm spring morning. The sun shone brightly, the sky clear and blue. The crowd that had gathered to see his ceremony numbered in its thousands, and those that couldn't attend in person were watching the event live on television. Well, his achievements were well known around the world. Throughout the world's cities and villages, people had seen how he had single-handedly taken on Wuya's forces, and everyone knew that he was the one who had defeated her in the final showdown. It had been an easy victory, really; Wuya had underestimated Omi's skill, and she was once again locked away safely within the Puzzle of Gui Xian.
However, Omi couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right … Didn't he have … friends? Where were they?
Master Fung stood with Omi in front of the masses, Dojo coiled around the elder's shoulders.
"What is wrong, Grandmaster?"
Or did he have friends? "I am … unsure …"
"You are nervous?"
"I bet he is," said Dojo.
Yes, that must be what is wrong … He had never been in front of so many people at once. He was a humble boy who had grown up in an obscure, but honest village. But he had been chosen to undertake the task of protecting the world, and he had done this to the best of his ability … He had just saved the entire world, after all. It was only right that the world glorified his exploits in a grand televised event.
Long, in his human form, walked across the podium, gesturing Omi to come closer. Omi shook himself out of his thoughts and did so, and Long held out a black belt.
His voice rang out through speakers, so that all could hear: "For your bravery and for saving the world from Wuya's spell of darkness, I bestow upon you the greatest honour a Xiaolin Dragon can receive. You are hereby known as the greatest warrior of all time!"
Omi bowed, and gratefully received his sash. "Thank you."
There was loud cries of joy as the crowd cheered for him, and Omi grinned widely as the whole world chanted his name …
Kimiko was walking along a white beach, not quite sure what she was doing there. There was something she had to do, something important, but she couldn't quite remember what it was … Something to do with …
Raimundo?
Who was that? She could think of the name, but not the face that went with it. It was all a blur … Where was she? What was she doing here?
The beach was completely empty, save for a solitary umbrella. The sky was overcast, filled with light grey clouds, but Kimiko decided to rest on the sun-bed regardless. It felt like she'd been walking for hours, and maybe she could gather her thoughts here.
"Where is Ping-jing, child?"
"W-what?" The question threw her, not least of all because it was a large green python that was asking it. But then, she felt that, in another time, another place, she had seen weird creatures speak before. The snake had appeared out of the blue, though.
"Don't be scared, child. Embrace your destiny …" The python slowly wrapped its thick coils around her body, its long, dark tongue flickering in and out. The seaside surroundings disappeared in a misty, grey fog, and soon all Kimiko could see in the mist were two black eyes boring deep into her soul.
Strange … in another time and place, she would have been scared, too. But the serpent's eyes held her in place, and she just didn't feel like putting up any resistance … Strange.
Ping-jing … Another forgotten memory … What was Ping-jing? Hadn't she always lived somewhere else? Or … did she leave her family?
"I …"
"You need only think of the place, child. I shall do the rest."
Kimiko paused. Something wasn't right here …
"Perhaps I should help jog your memory …"
A dark symbol appeared in the air above her head, soon followed by another.
"Yi … zhi …?" she read, sounding dazed, and in a dreamy state.
The serpent said nothing. A different yi character appeared, and Kimiko gazed into its power.
"Ping-jing …?" she said finally, her resolve weakening the more she stared at the words in the air.
"Yessss …" hissed the snake. You're mine …
Jack looked on in confusion. What had Wuya done to the other three Xiaolin warriors? They were staring blankly into the distance, as if in a trance. Was that the power of the False Fleece? Raimundo has risen to his feet and was smirking, watching the Heylin witch eagerly as she looked once more into Kimiko's eyes.
"Where is Ping-jing, child?" she asked softly.
"W-what?"
Kimiko's eyes were once more looking dreamy, heavy with subliminal suggestion. They must be trapped within an illusion, Jack thought. And with their minds distracted, they won't be able to stop Wuya from doing anything …
"Don't be scared, child … Embrace your destiny …"
Scared? thought Jack. Destiny? What the hell was Wuya up to?
"I …"
Jack could see that Kimiko was weakening, far more than before. But what could he do to help? He was trapped too …
"You need only think of the place, child. I shall do the rest."
Okay, this is starting to get really creepy, Jack thought. Wuya was projecting her thoughts into Kimiko's illusion, something Jack never thought anyone could do with the False Fleece. No wonder Dojo had told them to be careful.
Wuya said something about memory that Jack didn't quite catch. But then, as if talking to a zombie Kimiko wasn't creepy enough, she started drawing Chinese words in the space in front of her prisoner's eyes.
"Yi … zhi …" said Kimiko.
Jack hoped she wasn't putting a life-threatening curse on her. He looked around, but the other two Dragons were just as dazed as Kimiko, although they weren't speaking out loud.
Tch. Some heroes …
Out of nowhere, something Cloudstorm told him came into his thoughts.
"One with strong willpower will always triumph over one who is weak-minded."
Weak-minded, thought Jack. But these guys aren't weak-minded at all, really, it's just that Wuya's cheating by using the False Fleece.
"Ping-jing?" asked trance-Kimiko.
"Yesss …"
Jack suddenly realised that if Kimiko showed Wuya, in her mind, where Ping-jing was … Wuya would be able to use the Golden Tiger Claws to get there … and then there would be a reason for those idiots at the village to be alarmed.
"Fight it!" he yelled, just as Wuya was about to write the final zhi character to complete the spell. "None of it's real! Wuya's trying to trick you, but you can't listen to any of it! You're stronger than that! SNAP OUT OF IT!"
Kimiko, Omi and Clay were pulled out of their reverie. It seemed that in order for the illusion to work, absolute silence was required from anyone other than the person who used the Fleece.
Clay looked angry, a bitter sadness and sense of loss radiating from his eyes. "None of it … was real …" he said quietly.
"Disappointing," said Omi. Following in Dashi's footsteps and becoming a Grandmaster had been one of his life-long dreams.
Kimiko scowled. "You'll have to do better than that, Wuya."
"No …" whispered Wuya, taking a step backwards. "I was so close …" She whirled round and faced Jack. "You miserable child! Why weren't you affected?"
Jack had a feeling it was because of the Sunbird Down he was wearing underneath his jacket. But there was no way he'd let Wuya know that.
He laughed instead, sticking his tongue out at her. "Ha-ha! So much for your plan to enslave us, Wuya. Are you trying to bore me to death with your suppos-ed evilness, or what?"
Wuya gave him a sharp, murderous look. "That's it. You've annoyed me for the last time, Jack Spicer." She held her hand right next to his head, and a black ball, pulsing with dark energy, formed. "Time to die."
Jack's laugh became nervous, both red eyes looking at what really would be a ball of death. Would she really kill him? After everything he'd done for her?
"Heh, heh … no need to kill me, Wu."
"Oh no?" she said, continuing to pin him under a furious stare that only increased his nervousness. "And why not?"
" 'Why not?' she says. Remember me? Jack Spicer? Your former partner? The person who released you?"
Wuya removed her hand, dispersing the black energy harmlessly, and she folded her arms, deciding to humour him. He's trying to convince me not to kill him … This should be amusing …
"Your point being?"
"The least you could do is not kill me and let me go."
Wuya laughed, a frosty laughter that held no mirth. "Let you go? I don't think so. Aren't you on their side? You just messed up my spell. I'm angry, Jack. Very angry. And I'm not pleasant when I'm angry. People have this odd habit of dying when I'm angry."
Her eyes flashed with a burning rage as she spoke, and yet, at the same time they were glossed over with a chilling cruelness, a complete lack of mercy and compassion. Jack was treading on hot ice.
But, as ever, he remained completely undaunted. "I'm on any side that results in me staying alive," he replied coolly. "I only joined them because you froze my parents. But now that they're okay … well … why should I get killed because of those so-called heroes? I'm not exactly a good guy myself."
"Jack!" Kimiko scolded, feeling betrayed once more. Clay wasn't so surprised, however; he'd never really trusted Jack. Omi was yet again confused by the boy genius' actions: if Jack hadn't been on their side, then why had he just stopped Wuya from manipulating their minds? Or helped them at all, for that matter?
"What?" Jack said innocently, not sounding like he thought he was doing anything wrong. "I'm only looking out for the number one person in the universe – me. You guys were cramping my evil style anyway."
"Same old Jack," grumbled Kimiko.
"No lie," agreed Wuya, a small smile appearing suddenly. "Very well, Jack. I let you off before because you set me free … and I'll do so again now." The vines disappeared into the grass. "But don't let me regret my decision."
Jack couldn't believe his luck, but was cautious enough not to reveal any outer emotions. He deliberately avoided Raimundo's furious scowl. "So … what now?"
"You've been to Ping-jing too, haven't you?"
"Yeah … so what?"
Wuya turned to face them. "Good. Because I've had enough. I think I'll kill the Dragons … starting with the Dragon of Fire."
"Kimiko?" Jack said, keeping his voice carefully neutral.
"Yes … it should prove an interesting test to see where your loyalties truly lie."
"Go ahead," he said calmly, without a trace of concern in his voice. "I don't care about her. Not any more. She's in my way."
"You wouldn't care if anything happened to her?" Wuya asked, still smiling.
"No," said Jack bluntly.
"Jack. …" said Kimiko. Whose side are you on? "I thought you were helping us …"
"Helping you? Ha! That was just a ruse. Why would I want to help you? You never trusted me anyway! Maybe if I join Wuya, you'll finally respect me!"
Kimiko fought very hard not to shout at him. She wanted to be angry, but what was the point? Jack was the proverbial brick wall – you couldn't talk any sense to him. And why was she surprised, anyway? Jack was a jerk. A big fat jerk, who didn't care about anyone but himself.
Raimundo looked at Wuya, who gave the slightest of nods, and then he smirked at Jack knowingly. "You don't mind if anything happens to her?"
"No," Jack repeated, sounding exasperated.
"Not even if I did this?" Raimundo aimed the Star Hanabi at Kimiko, and fired.
Jack didn't flinch.
The blast eroded through the plants, but at the same time caused her to crash on the grass.
"Kimiko!" Omi called. "Are you all right?"
"Ugh …"
Raimundo aimed a kick at her, but she quickly scrambled to her feet. She raised her hand defensively, but was met once again at close range with a destructive blast from the Star Hanabi. He kicked her several times in the ribs.
"Raimundo! Please stop!" cried Omi. "Kimiko is your friend!"
Raimundo didn't stop. He only kicked her harder. On, and on, more, and more, one after the other … He couldn't stop. He was releasing all his pent up rage, all his fury, channelling forceful anger into each one of his blows.
"Pathetic," he sneered finally. "You couldn't even use your element to defend yourself. I can't believe I wasn't made a Xiaolin apprentice …"
He picked Kimiko up. Blood was pouring from her nose and dripping down the side of her face, marred by several bruises, and there was a dark stain in her white top where blood was leaking through. She opened her eyes half-way.
"Raimundo …?"
He punched her hard in the stomach.
"You bastard!" snarled Clay.
"No … " coughed Kimiko, "it's not his fault …"
"Not his fault?" Clay snapped, his voice rising to the level of a roar. He didn't understand. To him, it looked as if Raimundo was enjoying this. It didn't look like he was a mindless zombie at all; you could see in his eyes that he was still very much in control of both his mind and body.
But Kimiko had figured out what Omi had known since they had first seen him in Thoth's temple. This was not the same Raimundo. It felt as though some of his worst traits had been brought to surface and made a hundred times worse. It was almost as if he was a different person. Wuya had definitely done something to him.
"There's … there's something about him … he's different …"
"Yeah," he said, eyes glittering with darkness, "I'm stronger. More powerful than you'll ever be. Wind!" He focused hard, manipulating the air molecules around Kimiko, and she began to choke and cough.
"Careful, don't kill her," Wuya chided gently. "I need her essence." Raimundo had learned to control his element remarkably quickly in the training session that morning, obviously fuelled by the need to outdo the other Dragons. But he still had yet to learn restraint.
He nodded in acknowledgement, and let Kimiko breathe. He resumed his kicking frenzy.
Jack wanted to wince, but forced himself to keep his emotions into check. He had to, if he wanted to get close enough to Wuya to do some real damage. It wasn't hard, seeing as he rarely showed his true feelings, but then he saw Wuya's expression.
A tiny, but self-satisfied smile was on her face, and she looked composed and expectant, a tiger stalking the dark night, lying in wait, poised to strike.
She knows, Jack realised, with horrified despair. She knows I'm bluffing, that I wouldn't let her kill Kimiko. She let me go on purpose. She's just waiting to see how long I'm willing to keep up the pretence.
"Make him stop!" Jack yelled at last, running forward as Raimundo delivered another hard kick to Kimiko's stomach.
"I knew it," Wuya said smugly, her smile becoming larger. Once again vines grew from the ground and ensnared Jack, preventing him from reaching her. "I knew you were on their side. But it doesn't matter … I no longer need your services, pathetic boy. I already got what I wanted from you …"
She kicked him in the back, forcing him to his knees, and then drew the word for float (piao), causing Jack, still bound by rope-like vines, to float in mid-air. "Although, I could use another pet …" She made a circular motion with her right hand, and Jack was turned upside down, his red hair dangling. "Something to … play with."
"Go to hell, bitch!"
"Impudent child!"
She hit him with a black ball from her hand, sending him flying several feet, and he cried out in pain as his back connected with a sharp, jagged rock, before falling onto his stomach.
"You'll soon learn to accept my supremacy over your paltry existence," she said, her wintry voice laced with blazing anger. Lightning from her hands surged through Jack's body … the pain was excruciating and burned through every organ, and his piercing screams filled the air for all of three minutes, although it seemed like it was far longer. Even Clay winced; and Jack was sure that at any second, he was going to die …
But she stopped. And Jack refused to give up. He was panting heavily, and his eyes were half open, his vision blurred; and yet he still found the strength to speak.
"I'll … never … serve you …"
"We'll see how rebellious you are after a few days of torture. I'll show you pain beyond pain …"
Jack … thought Kimiko.
"No …" she said out loud, and Wuya turned her frosty gaze onto her.
"As for you, child," Wuya said, bending down and forcing the badly beaten Dragon of Fire to her feet, "you'll serve me better in death."
"Get bent," Kimiko snarled, still very much full of life, despite her injuries.
"I'm going to savour the taste of your essence," Wuya whispered coldly in her ear, "right down to the very last drop."
Feeling pained and dizzy, Jack watched helplessly as Wuya used the Sun Chi Lantern to drain Kimiko's chi energy. Clay struggled with renewed vigour, trying desperately to use his great strength to his advantage. But it was no use. He was always overwhelmed by greater force from the plants. Omi was faring even worse. He had a suspicion that both their elements were weakened by Wood. But that didn't mean he didn't have a plan …
Jack lay miserably on the ground. "Wuya," he remembered Cloudstorm saying, "can drain people of their jing, provided she's taken their chi first."
No, thought Jack, the full realisation of what he'd done finally crashing down on him. What have I done? This was all his fault … he shouldn't have pissed Wuya off … he should have let her enslave them … at least they'd still be alive … Why couldn't he take things more seriously?
Kimiko …
His thoughts swirled round and round in a spinning vortex of guilt and self-blame. But before he could drown in a whirlpool of despair, another sentence from Cloudstorm's speech rose up to the surface of Jack's sea of memories …
"When all hope is lost, you can always call upon your inner strength."
Inner strength … If there was ever a time he needed some help – well, now was that time.
I … have to do something …
He closed his eyes, and … let go. He forgot that he was lying on the floor, trapped within vines, that Kimiko was about to die, that they were prisoners within the courtyard of Wuya's palace. He reached inside, feeling for an energy within him … and with a sudden, explosive surge of power, he broke free from his verdant bonds. Wuya immediately released Kimiko, dropping her to the ground, and Wuya and Raimundo both watched as Jack, surrounded by an orange aura, suddenly pulled a sword out of the air, as if by magic.
However, Jack was terribly inexperienced, and not very brave, when it came to the crunch. He panicked, his moment of heroism gone. Completely untrained in the art of fighting, he had no idea how to wield a sword properly. He held it shakily, still feeling bruised and in a lot of pain now that the initial rush of power had worn off. Raimundo showed some more mastery of the Wind element, hoisting Jack into the air with a mini-tornado, and this held him just long enough in the air for Wuya to restrain him using a Bind spell instead. The Bind spell conjured a rope and tied arms and legs together. Jack was once again lying on the floor, although this time he had a very hateful glare aimed at Wuya.
"Metal," Wuya said, eyes wide open in incredulous shock. Now she knew what she had sensed back in the Horn of Qilin cave, that familiar and yet unfamiliar presence that she had been unable to identify … It had been Jack all along, although his power hadn't truly manifested itself at the time.
"You … possess the element of Metal …"
Jack's glare intensified. "Bet you wish you hadn't thrown me aside now," he sneered tauntingly.
"On the contrary, Jack," Wuya replied, her voice devoid of any warmth. "It just means you'll have to die today too." She levitated his body, and snapped her fingers, removing the ropes. She then drew a blue hexagon shape in the air. A blue crystal appeared around Jack, and, though he was no longer bound by ropes, he was trapped within a crystalline prison.
"Before I kill you, though," Wuya hissed, "I'll kill your 'girlfriend'. I'll make you watch as she dies, bit by bit, piece by piece."
Once again she picked Kimiko up, this time her hand glowing purple. She turned her head sideways, looking deliberately at Jack. "How do you feel, knowing that you're powerless to prevent her death?"
Jack growled in response, and then slumped his head against the wall of the crystal in defeat. This was it. They'd lost. Game over.
Kimiko shuddered as she felt Wuya's chilling whisper in her ear. "Your essence is mine. Xiqu – "
"Yaargh!" yelled Omi and Clay, exploding out of their plant bonds, much like Jack had. Omi instinctively flew towards Kimiko, but Raimundo prevented him from getting any closer with a few blasts from the Star Hanabi, so he stopped advancing, hovering next to Clay.
"How did you get free?" Wuya asked in amazement. She looked closely at Omi's Jet Bootsu, which were emitting a trail of steam underneath; and then she saw the ice scattered on the floor.
Raimundo wasn't the only one who could manipulate the molecules of his element, Wuya realised. While she and Raimundo had been distracted by Jack's sudden escape, Omi had used the Jet Bootsu to make water vapour from the soles of the boots. He had frozen the water, carefully forming ice around the plants that were holding himself and Clay. Clay had done the rest, smashing them out of the frozen plants with the Third-Arm Sash.
"Clever," Wuya admitted quietly, nodding her head slightly at Omi. "I see you've also gained control of your element. But you're still no match for me."
"Release Kimiko," Omi growled.
"Or what? Am I supposed to be intimidated by your meagre show of force? But if you're really so eager to die …"
She encased Kimiko in another of the crystal prisons and said to Raimundo, "Guard Kimiko. I'm going to have some fun with the little rats."
"What now, Omi?" muttered Clay, who couldn't help thinking that the only rat there was Raimundo, his disposition towards Jack notwithstanding. "This was your plan …"
"Uh … I do not know." They were doing exactly what they'd been warned not to do: taking Wuya head-on. But what else could they do? If they did nothing, they would most certainly die. "But we cannot give up."
Omi and Clay did not charge in to attack, as that hadn't worked last time; and she had all her powers now. So they waited for her to make the first move. They were both tense with anticipation, expecting her to hit them with an elemental attack, a magic spell, or with one of those black balls. Omi figured she would most probably try to hit him with Lightning since he was of the Water element. Clay's Earth element offered him some resistance to Lightning, so she would be more likely to try the Wood element on him again.
But Wuya surprised them with her next attack. Instead of firing Lightning, she shot a spell, a black beam that soared into the air and divided into several streams of dark light, like a firework going off and exploding in the sky. And hordes upon hordes of Huai-Ren appeared out of the ground.
"Crap," said Clay.
While the Huai-Ren were still emerging, she waved her hand, and a black wind howled and wailed around them, forming a twisted, clasping hand of darkness that stole away the Jet Bootsu and the Third-Arm Sash. It was the same Removal spell that she had used to take the Two Ton Tunic from Omi.
"Double crap!" said Clay.
She grinned a toothy grin. "Ready to die?"
This time she did summon the powers of her elementals, seeming to go full out. Everything around them rumbled and shook as gigantic beanstalk-like tentacles erupted from the land. Because of the sheer numbers of Huai-Ren, the two warriors were trapped and could not easily move out of the way. Clay became trapped by the plants once more; but little Omi jumped up high, using the Huai-Ren as stepping stones to avoid the oncoming tendrils. Wuya switched elements, knowing that Omi would be particularly weakened by Lightning. Omi would not be stopped so easily, however, leaping, dodging and ducking away from any Lightning bolts, while at the same time avoiding Raimundo's Wind tornadoes and all of the growling Huai-Ren.
From within his prison, Jack smiled. For the first time since he met the little monk, he found himself respecting him. He admired Omi's skill and bravery. Only Omi would have been able to dodge Lightning – and everything else – like that.
Wuya snarled impatiently, barking an order to Raimundo; and not even Omi could avoid the taller boy as he leaped out of a Tiger Claw portal directly in front of him, to fire a Star Hanabi shot in his chest at point-blank range. Wuya promptly followed up with a lightning blast, and Omi cried out in pain. She flew closer with the Jet Bootsu, and when she was close enough she drew the hexagon shape over Omi, before doing the same to Clay. Now they were all trapped within the strange structures.
"Shit," swore Jack. If only he'd been able to control his element … Why did he always feel so useless?
She made lightning appear within Omi's crystal, eliciting tortured screams; but now the sound was muffled, distorted by the walls of his prison. Clay banged furiously against his walls, hollering for her to stop. To his surprise, she did, but she gave him a disdainful look as she returned to where she'd left Kimiko in her crystal. Wuya had a sense of purpose about her, and that worried him. She was moving in for the kill again …
"Leave Kimiko alone!" he yelled, not quite able to hide the desperation in his voice no matter how hard he tried.
Wuya ignored him. She waved her hand unsympathetically and Kimiko's crystal disappeared; and she caught Kimiko before she reached the floor, roughly jerking her up so that she was forced to stand. Wuya's hand glowed purple.
Both Omi and Jack joined Clay in yelling protests, but Wuya paid no attention to them, knowing full well that there was nothing they could do to stop her this time. Kimiko looked up into cruel, pitiless eyes.
"Die," Wuya rasped coldly. "Xiqu jing …!"
The three boys called out Kimiko's name; and cruel, resounding laughter rang out, mixing with terrified, agonised screams. Kimiko found little solace in the knowledge that they would be the last things she would ever hear …
Notes: This continues in the sequel, which is called Dream Tomorrow. It's also up on this site.
