Hidden Memories

Chapter 3: Wind Shrine

Note: Once more, bold Aletia's thoughts. Wind's voice... again. New character's thought!

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown. I only own Aletia, her Shen Gong Wu and the Wind Shrine. I also own everyone in the Wind Shrine. I own nothing else.

Aletia was traveling through an empty forest, displeased. The trees and grass rocked kindly around her sweetly, offering protection to the young child. She looked around her with those sapphire eyes of hers, anger within them. She soon halted.

"O.K. Wind! Why am I spending my birthday and the anniversary of my parents' death in a forest! I am three-years-old today and yet I seem to fail to see my birthday present, not that I am expecting a surprise..." she trailed off at the end. However, a strong force was pushing her forward a direction, no matter how hard the girl tried to free herself from its grasp.

"Aletia, I told you! It's a surprise! You'll see when we get closer..." Wind teased. Aletia folded her arms, annoyed. Why did she have to be here? Is this part of Life's struggle to survive? Why was Wind acting mysterious? She had no clue. All she could do was wait until she found her surprise. Her body was pushed further into the green forest...

A wise old man with a beard down to his chest sat in front of many students, whom were all wearing silver robes. They looked like meditating, but the old man would open his hazel eyes, as if on the look out for something. He silently sighed, for he never actually found what he was looking for. An hour passed, then another. Still nothing. Soon, the man stood up, a few cracking noises being heard. He didn't seem to notice.

"Alright, meditation is over, my Wind students," he smiled. He clapped his hands at the failure of people getting out of their stance. "Up, NOW," he said louder. Everyone's eyes went wide open. Many of them blinked, while very few stood up. The old man sighed. "Must I call upon Wind?" he asked them. The ones who were sitting stood up instantly. A smile crawled onto the Old Man's face.

"Master Eskani?" a voice said from the crowd. Master Eskani looked at the pupil.

"Yes, Robert?" he answered.

"When is the new person coming?" Master Eskani thought for a minute, then smiled,

"When they need to. Now, class, time to train against each other. Hurry up now," he ordered. Few groans filled the hall, yet everyone moved out through a passage way, chattering as they went by. Master Eskani looked through the glass ceiling. "When will the chosen one arrive, Wind?" he asked sub-consciously. The old man followed his students, displeased with how things were currently going.

"Is this where I'm supposed to be?" Aletia asked Wind, "A temple with pure white paint?" Man, Wind, why? Is this my surprise? Wind looked at Aletia, rather displeased with her gratitude.

"Yes Aletia, it is," Wind promptly said to the girl. Aletia sighed, allowing her eyes to scan the area closely. She walked slowly through the wide, silver gates. Aletia felt a strange welcoming feeling, as the gates opened slowly, silent. A cool, gentle breeze blew against her bare skin, her hair blowing backwards. Her eyes closed, welcoming this feeling with all her heart. When her eyes opened, she smiled.

Perhaps this present isn't so bad.

Master Eskani was watching his students fight amongst each other in training. Some were kicking and punching, others were pouncing and sword-fighting, while another few were using their wind powers to attack their opponent, as well as fusing another element into it. Master Eskani looked around the hall. Something wasn't right. He knew something wasn't. It wasn't a guess, it was an instinct. No, he only felt this feeling with his brother and his wife and their daughter. Surely the chosen couldn't be... Master Eskani didn't know what to think now, sensing this strange presence. He gazed at his students with his loving eyes, thinking. Now, the old man was trying to think about a different subject.

"Master Eskani!" someone in the temple cried, interrupting his thoughts. The old man looked at the student which had cried out. He gazed into their eyes. Horror. That's what they showed. He said,

"What ever is that matter, Lilac?" The girl before was getting comforted by her best friend, Amber, and her brother, Harry.

"I... I think I saw something walk through the halls. It was moving so... so fast I barely could see it! And then it was right beside me for a sec and then it disappeared! I... I... I think I might be seeing things but..." tears choked the young girl's terrified words. Sure, the girl was only five-years of age but... Master Eskani thought long and hard on how to silence this girl's crying.

"Did you ever think it was the chosen one? What did it look like?" he asked. Master Eskani didn't know how his questions would help, yet any information was useful right now. Lilac thought over what to say.

"Well, it looked like a girl, of the age of two or three. Her hair was brown and extremely curly, and she seemed fascinated by this place. I think she just walked towards me to see what I was doing but... I don't think it was the chosen one. Do you think Wind knows, Master?" Master Eskani mentally kicked himself. Of course! Wind would know!

"Wind? Hey, Wind, are you there?" The Old Man thought. He silently waited for a reply.

"Eskani! Is that you? I haven't contacted you for a while now, after all I am taking care of the 'You Know Who'. It's her birthday today! She so totally wanted to stay at her burnt out house because its also the anniversary of the death of her parents. Anyway, what's up?" Wind asked the teacher. Master Eskani raised an eyebrow in confusion, joy, and guilt.

"Wind, I believe 'You Know Who' has caused some un-intentional trouble. One of my students, Lilac, saw her. She then appeared right behind her and went away in blazing speed. Lilac was in tears. By the way, could you make the young Chosen One of Wind come here? I believe I need to start training with her." Wind just giggled, then said,

"I knew I shouldn't have let her go into the Hall! Anyway I'll—" Wind was suddenly caught off.

"Wind, who are you taking to?" a voice rang through Master Eskani's head. His eyes went wide. The voice sounded strangely familiar... they couldn't be... could they?

"Nothing Aletia. Now, come on! I've got some people I'd like you to meet." And from then on, master Eskani couldn't hear a thing they said. Yet the young child's voice and name was all the old man could think about. That name... why was it so familiar?

Aletia was hiding inside one of the many pillars within the Shrine, her breathing silent. Wind was wanting her to meet a few people, and she felt extremely shy. After a while, she poked her head out, then in again quickly. People were walking by, and she didn't want to get caught. They were talking. What are they talking about? Aletia thought. She started to eavesdrop, no matter how rude it was. The voices were talking quite fast, their Scottish accent really showing up.

"... and apparently, they just let it happen! Let their daughter's wind powers go out of control when they could have easily stopped it! Like, hello, Anna and Joe McCulloch, decedents of the greatest Windmasters to exist, as well as being ones themselves! They are both more powerful than Dashi if they worked at it! And yet they..." the voice finally trailed off, their once loud footsteps disappearing into the distance. Aletia was breathing hard, not believing their words. Her parents... they were called Anna and Joe! Her last name was McCulloch! And... What's a Windmaster?

Master Eskani was worried. He looked through the gates of the temple. They were open. Someone had entered the temple, and not known they had to shut the door. Thoughts spun through his head, yet memories of the long forgotten had came into his fragile mind. After three years, he could properly remember his niece in her mother's arms.
Flashback

A 30-year-old mother lay in a hospital, bed, the whole room pearl white. It would hurt one's eyes if they focused on it. But she didn't seem to care. In fact, she didn't care that her short, black hair was a mess. She didn't care that her Emerald eyes were tired from exhaustion. No, for she was holding a baby girl. Her baby had big, blue eyes which seemed to wander the room, looking for the missing family members.

"Oh hush, little one. Papa and Uncle are going to be here soon." Just as she said that, two men came running into the room, one much older than the other. They both were gasping for breath, yet they desperately wanted to see the baby.

"Sorry... Anna dear... We came... as... soon as we... heard. Sorry again... for not... being there when... you were having... her," the younger man said, even more out of breath than the other. Anna just smiled,

"That's O.K. Joe. And I see that you brought your older brother, Eskani," Anna smiled at him. "Hello again," she said, her smile brighter than it was before. Eskani just smiled himself.

"It seems I'm Uncle Eskani now, and my little brother is now a father! What's her name?" Anna's eyes suddenly opened, eyeing Joe. Joe just nodded.

"Aletia. That's her name," Anna said all-knowingly. "After all, me and Joe did say if we got a boy, we'd call him Aaron, but if we got a girl, Aletia." At the moment she said Aletia, everyone turned to little girl. She hadn't cried once, but it seemed she was smiling. A confused smile, but a smile none the less.

End of Flashback

Master Eskani was trying to think. Think like he has done in the past. How was he going to get one of the two Chosen Ones of Wind to come forth? Ideas came and went, remembering past successes and failures, truths and lies. How was he going to do this? An idea soon came into his head. A smile formed on his wrinkly face, his beard moving in motion of his lips,

"Of course."

Aletia was really ticked off at Wind. Why should she meet any of these people! They speak of nonsense and only nonsense! Why, she should leave! But... something wasn't letting her. A feeling that she felt a long time ago stopping her, curiosity wanting to find out what it meant. How she longed to know...

However, Aletia didn't have long to focus on the feeling, as hand went through the pillar she was in. It grabbed her wrist and pulled her out. Aletia screamed in terror, wishing she really hadn't come. When she actually looked into the person's face, she noticed his hazel eyes were surprised, yet held a joy and kindness.

"H-how are you?" Aletia managed to stutter, before a swarm of people came over. Aletia instantly identified them as monks of this temple, their robes a pure silver, even is some were a bit worn. The hazel-eyes man looked at the girl, his long beard touching the tip, and only the tip, of Aletia's chin.

"I am Master Eskani, child. But, what is your name?" the old man said. Aletia wanted to escape so desperately from 'Master Eskani's' clutches, yet failed to do so.

"Don't worry, he won't bite. He's the Master here, and is extremely kind. There is no need to fret about it. Just tell him your name, and everything will work out." Wind soothed. Aletia absently nodded, and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out of her parted lips. It was as if she'd lost the ability to speak.

"Help! I can't talk! Please help Wind!" Aletia thought, shutting her mouth again, blushing red from embarrassment. Wind never answered her call. Aletia looked up at 'Master Eskani', and felt pangs of guilt. Why couldn't she speak? Was she that scared? Master Eskani looked at her with those loving eyes of his. His eyes... they reminded her of her... father.

"Is something ever the matter?" A voice said in Aletia's mind. It was Master Eskani. The three-year-old was startled at first, but forced herself to talk.

"My name... my name is... MynameisAletia!" she ended quickly. She didn't want to say her name to this stranger, no matter how familiar he seemed to her mind.

"I'm really sorry but, do you think you could say that slower? I'm growing so old now it's hard to keep up with you younglings!" he ended cheerfully. Aletia calmed down from her state from confusion, embarrassed over the fact she had said her name to quickly.

"My name is... Aletia." Aletia finally said. Master Eskani looked confused.

"Do you mean, Aletia McCulloch? Do you?" he questioned. Aletia nodded proudly. Master Eskani smiled. "Then please, do not call me Master Eskani, but Uncle Eskani." Aletia stared at him in shock.

"So... you're my Uncle?" Aletia choked out. The students looked confused. Surely the daughter of two of the greatest Windmasters to ever live is here?

"Indeed I am, Aletia." Master Eskani said softly to the girl. Tears began to stroke the young girl's face, a smile appearing on her face.

"Uncle Eskani!" Aletia yelled, hugging the old man. Soon, she was told everything about the shrine and what happened in it. Soon, she was requested to join. "Of course!" she said. She turned to Master Eskani, saying, "As long as I get to see my Mum and Dad's grave once a week, and see Uncle Eskani!" Master Eskani smiled,

"O.K. Aletia, O.K..."

O.K. How did I do? Yes, a VERY long chapter. Hope you enjoyed it though! R+R!