Me: (waving at readers) Thank you for so many reviews! It brought me so much happiness! (paused) Oh and to let you know, I'm back in college now. So expect to be long time, pal. Don't worry I will try my best. (grin) Time for answers to those reviews!
luveroffanfic: Me: Thanks! Oh and I love that cookie.
Lobo: (pouts) I wanna that one…
dArkliTe-sPirit: Me: O.o So true, Roni…
Ariko: (stuck out his tongue at D-Spirit) So nah!
Kosmic: Me: Thanks!
Khu: (sigh) I'm controlled? What a unsurprising. (sip his tea)
Yamato: (grins proudly) Yeah, I'm good, aren't I? (show off his muscles)
TobiasHawk13: Me: (blinks) Ach, don't worry… And really? You're already there in Ireland? (look happily) What was it like?
Zalo: (snort) Probably all green and men in woman's skit.
Me: (glared at Zalo) I swear you're rubbing off on Yamato and it's bad habit as well!
Yamato: Hey!
AkumaOokami: Me: (pat on her) Hey, hey, hey… At least look at bright side!
Yamato: (snort) At bright side of what?
Me: (glare at Yamato) You're making her cry again. Anyway… on Disclaimer, Ciara!
Ciara: Disclaimer: Lady Lizgon does not own Xiaolin Showdown and its characters but her sheng-gong-wu and her ideas.
Yanji: Onto the story, enjoy! And hey girls, can you let me read your hands for your future? OW! (being whacked by an angry Lizgon)
Chapter 22: The Dark Lord
Previously
All they had heard was the sound of the glass shattered louder and saw the shadow body fell backward in slow motion. When they recognized the body, it was Kobo.
In normal motion, Kobo fell on the black ground with a soft thud and the shattered pieces of the mirror fall aimlessly around him on the black ground. The wounded hands he was holding the mirror was bleeding rapidly. The huge gash on his chest where the glass were cut in.
---
Yamato gritted his teeth as he pushed his metal sword against the shield of the black whirlwind. Narrowing his red blood eyes, he growled as he struggled to steps forward heavy to the dark Heylin Tiger of Darkness.
"Khu! Listen to me! Don't let it get you!" He howled, stomping slowly through the heavy black whirlwind. "Listen to me! Khu! Don't BE BASTARD!"
He whirled his metal sword and implanted it into the black ground; spread its power all over the living ground in the color of silver. His red blood eyes flashed, he twisted it around and swung upward with a lightning flash. "Wudai Comet Metal, Steel Spears!"
As the steel-made spears broke through the silver ground, zigzagged toward the silent Heylin Tiger of Darkness.
---
soft light amethyst eyes.
"Who are you?" He demanded the other spirit.
The older spirit smiled.
My name is none of your business, young one. If you wish to know who I am and then I'm your ancestor, the banished Heylin Tiger of Darkness and the older brother of Heylin Tiger of Lightning.
Young boy's eyes widened in recognition and surprise. "That means you're…"
The older spirit grinned his eyes lit sparkles of happiness as he nodded.
Yes.
---
The dark lord grinned as the dark purple aura of light glowered his body as the dull blue form of the spirit snake hissed quietly, his golden eyes glowered darkly at the all chosen ones.
The Dragon of Fire widened her dark blue eyes in pure fear and horror at the spirit snake. "So this is the true form of Ariko…" She whispered quietly so the other dragons can hear her.
The dark spirit of the blue snake stared coldly at them and then suddenly, it smirked in odd way for the regular snake could smile like that.
---
He looked up at the gateway of the void, thinking about his young brother. You better be damn alive when I had a chance to strangling you. If you aren't alive, I must be well able to ask someone to revived you and kill you again.
As soon as they had finished off the dark force of the demon spawns and hopped on the black dragon, flew off to the gateway of the void, as Marcos looked back at the sight of the world for one more last time even if he had came back alive along with his brother and cousin.
Well, this better be damn worth of my time.
---
Afterward
The Xiaolin Dragons stared at the dark spirit in shock and horror as the motionless body of a former Heylin Tiger fell forward and collaged on the black ground.
"So this is real Ariko." Clay said gritting his teeth and stepped back a bit to drawing his fighting position.
The black spirit threw its head back and laughed. A low and cold emotionless laughing send its chill ran down and up in the children's spines as the Dragons shivered.
"Without a body, I don't need a label as 'Ariko'" The black spirit smirked in odd way for a snake to smile at the youth dragons. "I'm sure all you, dragons, know who I am and what I am. I have many names after all eight legions. I rather preferred to known as The Serpent."
Raimundo stepped forward from the lines as he glared at the black spirit with all his hatred. "I don't care who you are or what you are! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM FOR ALL I CARE!" He roared clutching his fist in air with a burning fury in his green eyes.
The Serpent seem like it's laughing at the Dragon of Wind, yet it didn't. "How ironic… It seem like it's repeating the same history itself…"
Raimundo frowned confusingly at the black spirit as the Dragon of Fire stepped forward until she was on Rai's left side, frowning at the snake. "What are you talking about?" She asked.
The Serpent grinned its fangs. "You don't know? You should have to pay attention to the history subject all you have learns from your ancestors." He replied with a hiss. "Now I have all I want. But there are still three left I yet to grasp…"
Omi's gray eyes widened in shock and horror when he realized what was lead to. "Lightning, Wind, and Darkness…"
All Xiaolin Dragons turned their heads to the small monk with confusion and shock on their faces.
---
He manages to sit on the non-exist ground almost as if he's trying to sit on the air. His dark amethyst eyes drifted back to the man he had never met before, yet he knew him too well.
The man still had odd marking on his right cheek under his eyes. An odd amethyst marking… It's matching his soft amethyst eyes.
His dark amethyst eyes widened in realization as his hand flew to his right cheek, trying to see if he did have the same marking. But then, he feels nothing on his cheek and he realized the man in opposite of him looking amused at his behavior.
His hand flew off his cheek as if his hand were burned; he looked down at the ground in shame for his reaction to the man's odd marking.
Shocking, isn't it?
He looked up at the man grinned down at him. "Huh…?"
A forbidden symbol of a marking... The spirit replied as his hand reach for his marking on his right cheek and tracing in trance-like behavior. It's a sign of a rebellious. My young brother had those too.
He stood up and looked down at the man sits monk-like style, looking calmly at the youth. "Tell me… I have a question…" He said hesitatively, unconsciously clenching and unclenching his hands.
His dark amethyst eyes locked the man's light amethyst eyes as they stared at each other silently, the air around them turns into thick…
"What happen to you…" He asked, "after the dark war?"
The spirit smiled slowly at the youth. I'm certain you are perfect well knew what happen, aren't you?
He growled shaking his head, being not too happy with the man. "No. Not that what I meant… I remember Toka, the First Xiaolin Dragon of Fire…. After your death, he burned you to ashes and scattered you all over the world."
The man remained silent as the youth gritted his teeth in fury. "Tell me what happen to you, Xuan. I knew it wasn't true. Because I saw you… in your body that demon took…"
The spirit looked up at the impatient youth. Those things… are not for you to know the truth…
"Bull!" The youth growled at the spirit, raising his hands above his head. "I have to know, Xuan! I have to!"
The man closed his eyes and opened his eyes sudden look serious. If you desire to know you deserved from the truth of my view, then so be it. But I must warn you, this is not what you want to know… the truth can not only hurt, but also kill.
---
The silent Heylin of Darkness leaped backward over the steel-made spikes and landed perfectly graceful on the ground, narrowing his dull, emotionless eyes at the angry Heylin of Metal.
Yamato let out an angry snarl as he stretched his legs and leaped forward, and then suddenly in slow motion…
Yamato growled as he ran toward the silent Heylin and flying his steel-like claws to the motionless puppet. "Iron Claws Metal!" He roared in fury, as he trusted his claws at the puppet.
Slowly, the silent puppet dodged the attack but only the brush of the claws scratched on his left forearm as the blood spitted from the skin to the silver ground.
Then the slow motion went back to normal as they both landed on the opposite of each other. Yamato was taken back in surprise to see the pits of bloodstains on his claws as he knew Khu was really skillful with dodging all his attack but…
Yamato paused. No… Khu isn't there anymore, just a lifeless puppet under the bastard demon's control.
The Heylin Tiger of Darkness turned his head and glanced at the silent puppet stood before him, bleeding continued and the blood pool surround the lifeless fighter. He was uncertain if he had really despised Khu so much; he can kill him without a mercy.
But…
Yamato cursed at his hesitation about taking his leader's life. Why I can't just kill him? Just one spear to stab his heart and that's it. C'mon, Yamato! Your dream will come true if you destroy him so your master will praised you like you want to.
His steel claws stretched as the silver liquid slowly transformed into the spear in his claws, Yamato glared coldly at the lifeless puppet and gritted his teeth tightly. That's it, Yamato! Just quick kill and it will be all over.
…Damnit…
I just… can't… This isn't what I want…
He unconsciously loosed his grasp as the spear fell through his claws and landed on the silver ground with a thunk. Khu would normally not let me win… he would never let me kill him, not if he's just puppet…
The flashback of the past flashed in his mind as the real Khu smiled at him, holding the small Chinese-like tea.
Then, another image of Khu looked seriously, frowning at him. "A fight is not a simple answer, Yamato."
And on the final image appeared after this, Khu laughed carelessly shaking his head. "Just like ol' days, don't you think?"
"D-D-Damn you, bastard…" Yamato growled, clutching his claws as he glared hateful at the puppet. "Wake up, damnit!"
The silent puppet stared lifelessly at him as the tight frown turns into a cold smirk and he clutched the Shadow Blade's hilt.
Yamato reacted quickly as he grasped the puppet's shoulders and shook him hard. "Wake up, Pedsora! Just damn wake up so I CAN KILL YOU!" He yelled angrily, holding back his own tears he wouldn't let puppet see him in state like that.
"…Pity…" The silent warrior said drawing as he smirked at the metal wielder. "Khu never wake up. He's gone… now and forever."
Yamato froze as the familiar words echoed in his mind. Just same words that Master Young spoke when he had that brat in his clutch…
"No…" He could not stop the word escaped from his lips and all sudden he feels the pain in his stomach. Gasping for his precious air, Yamato looked down at the wound in his stomach and looked up at Khu grinning at him as he gritted his teeth. "Damn…. You…"
In sudden he was thrown backward and landed on the rough ground as he grunted in pain. Yamato looked over at the warrior approaching slowly to him as he slowly summoning his entire element.
"Just… that… all?" Yamato huffed grinning lazily at the silent warrior and to his surprise, the warrior smiled coldly back at him.
"I'm not surprise…" The warrior replied monotone. "If there is one thing I knows about you, it's that you never gives up, Yamato."
Yamato grinned back at the warrior. "And I am damn proud of it!" With this, he leaped forward with the steel shard in his hand as he aimed for the warrior's heart, as the warning bells were ignored.
The puppet sidestepped and elbowed the Tiger of Metal's chest hard enough to caused him choked on his air as he seized Yamato's wrists and turned him over his shoulder to slammed him down on the ground.
Yamato gasped in pain as he clutched the wound in his stomach and quickly recovered his reaction, he looked up at the warrior stood towing over and holding the sword over his head.
"If only you can have your chance to kill me." The warrior chuckled darkly, "Too bad you didn't take it when you had your chance… so farewell, my old friend."
Yamato shuttered his eyes as he braced for the final blow. The last image flashed in his mind, he remembered the last time he was forced by stupid mutt Lobo to taking in picture with all gang.
Flashback
"Wha… what the hell!" Yamato growled as a happy werewolf dragged him to the group where they stood outside near the cliff as he glared angrily at Lobo. "Get off of me, you damn mutt!"
"You know, Yam, you're sulking too much. You should go outside and smell the air!" Lobo grinned ignoring Yamato's swearing at him. "And it's so true, your frown really does stuck on your face!"
POW!
"Ow!" Lobo whined rubbing his black eye bruise as he sits sullenly on the solid sand-like ground. "You never take it as a joke."
"Damn right straight, mutt!" Yamato growled glaring deadly at the werewolf.
"Yamato," Khu said sipping his tea and looked boringly at the hotheaded teen. "Just relax. Lobo wishes that we should take a picture, just for a memory that's all."
Yamato tossed his head and glared silently at the calm teen. "So?" He asked grumbled as he stuffed his hands in his pockets jean and looking unhappy.
Suddenly, the youth ran out of the hidden entrance waving the small black camera. "Bro! I found it!" He grinned up at his older brother and turned to Khu. "Who's taking a picture of us?"
Khu smiled down at the youth. "What about this one?" He pointed at the 1,500 years old tiger that transformed into the huge man with brown wolf-like hood.
Lobo snorted looking amused at the "cave-man" warrior. "This? He doesn't even look like werewolf." He said chuckled ignoring the man's deadly silent glare directly in his direction.
Ciara rolled her light hazel eyes and shook her head as she continued reading her ancient book of the spells. "Don't insult him, Lobo. Last time you did and you end up being beaten up by him."
Lobo cringes and shrinks back away from the image of being beating up by the angry warrior for one little insult in his mind. "Gee… thank you for reminding me that."
"Don't mention it." Ciara smiled coldly at the werewolf and turned back to her book as she could see over her book to see Khu talking to the warrior and the warrior seems like as if he looked uncertain about the camera. She don't blame on him because this man had never seen things like that since he live in Master Young's cave for over one thousand years.
"Okay, guys. Get ready!" Khu said walking back to the gang and stood in center of his friends. Yamato was scowling on Khu's right and Lobo grinning insanely on Khu's left.
Ciara sighed, closing her book and take the spot next to Lobo and smiling at the direction of the camera. And then she feels the familiar pressure on her rear and gritted her teeth in anger.
She swing her hands toward the lecherous werewolf, unaware of the camera's light were ticking down to zero.
"PREVERT!"
SMACK!
Yelp!
THUD!
"OW!"
Lobo rubbed his red mark left cheek, grinning idiotic at the huffing Tiger of Wood. "But…" As he failed, Ciara looked away in other direction with an angry huff.
Unaware of what happen to his friends, Khu simply smiled at the camera and holding his tea in his right hand at same time as he crossed his arms across his chest.
Yamato looked scowl as usual but he tried to hide his smile as he was holding the youth, Kobo, on his shoulders smiling happily at the camera.
All of the sudden, the camera took a right moment to clicked its light. And then next thing, the picture comes out, look odd than normal like everyone else.
Lobo looked like frightened, yet grinning like idiot as he fell over being choked by angry Ciara's arms as she had him in her headlock as painful as it looks.
While Ciara strangling the werewolf for being feeling her up, her book fell out of her grasp and laying on the ground next to her feet as the murder look of her face when she wrapped Lobo's neck in death lock.
While Lobo was choking to death, his right arm jerked back and knocked Khu's tea out of his hand as Khu looked stunned at sudden movement.
While Khu looked stunned, the tea fell on Yamato as Yamato yelped, moving almost as if he were to dance because of hot liquid.
While Yamato reacted to the hot liquid, Kobo clutching Yamato's neck with shock-stuck on his face and almost as if he were riding on the angry bull. He had an empty teacup on his hair, soaking him as well.
All they looked like everything happen in frozen motion.
Flashback ended.
Yamato chuckled quietly, remembering the old days he realized he could never be leader, not if he have to give up everything he already had to be the true leader of the Heylin Tigers.
Pedsora… I… I'm sorry for that I didn't realize this… Yamato thought dully, smiling as if he was embracing his own death. You are right… A fight is not a right answer. If only I knew you were still in there, I would be happy to punch the hell out of you for scaring me.
Suddenly, he feels the pressure being replaced by the wind and he opened his crimson eyes to see the warrior weren't being there. He looked stunned and looked over to see the another boy holding Khu down on the ground with a angry and betrayal look on his face.
Who is that boy? Yamato thought confusedly to himself as he was lying on the ground being surround in his own blood pool.
---
While a moment ago, when Khu had Yamato right where he wanted him as he grinned insanely and brought his Shadow Blade down toward the closing eyed Tiger of Metal.
"Die." Khu said simply when the blade's tip barely touched Yamato before the shout startled him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING, ASESO KHU PEDSORA?" Marcos screeched angrily, tackled the attacking warrior to the ground. "What have gotten you in like this!"
The puppet stared at the boy being stunned at the boy's silent attack. After being recovered over quickly, the silent warrior pushed Marcos with his kick as the boy huffed in shock when he was pushed off the warrior.
As Marcos stumped on the ground, the puppet arched his back as he flipped backward and landed on the ground glaring at the older boy. "Who are you, human?" The warrior asked sharply, bracing in battle position.
Marcos stared at his young brother confusedly as he got up and stood dazedly. "Aseso…? Don't you remember me? Your own brother?" He said reaching out to his young brother but his brother moved back with snarl.
"Get away from me!" Khu growled clutching his sword and narrowed his lifelessly amethyst eyes at the older brother. "If you do not interrupt me, I will spare your life. But… if you do, I'll kill you."
Marcos stopped at his track and blinked in disbelief at the young warrior, and then he narrowed his light green eyes angrily at his young brother. "What did you say?" He asked clenching his fist tightly.
It's not the Aseso I know and love… Marcos thought frowning at the young boy. What happen to him?
"SHADOW BLADE, DARKNESS CYCLONE!"
Marcos snapped out of his trance and stared in surprise at the black hurricane with red ball flying rapidly toward him, tearing up the earth to reach for him.
He stepped back in horror at such powerful attack in front of him and he was suddenly pushed down on the ground as he saw another boy holding the huge sword over his shoulder.
"Stay down!" Another boy yelled down at Marcos. "Hold on, you idiot!"
Marcos braced himself, shielding his arms over his head as he watched the boy stood in front of him facing the huge attack.
Yamato yelled out as he swung the huge sword over his shoulder forward so powerful force at the approaching storm. As the powerful force tearing up the silver ground with strange blue lightning all over the ground, as the white glowing ball toward the attack and then it collided the enemy's attack.
The black hurricane cannot hold back the attack and being swallowed by the strange attack. It continued toward to the puppet.
Khu's dull amethyst eyes widened in shock and terror. "No!" He yelled threw his arms over his face as it went flying around him and shattered his own blade with its powerful force. The sharp invisible blade of wind tearing up the silent warrior's clothes, lashing out its wind on his cheek and leaving him bleed.
The huge flash of the white light as Yamato watching it with pure stunned on his face and Marcos stared in horror and stunned while he was shielding his arms over his head.
Until the white light disappeared, revealing the bad wounded Khu panting with angry look and he looked like he could barely to stand still.
Yamato sighed in relief to seeing his leader still being alive, but knowing the puppet still under the stupid lord's control. "Damn…he's still under control." He growled quietly, lowering his huge sword.
Marcos looked up at him in surprise and confused until he realized what's going on. "Aseso…" He whispered, pushing himself off the ground and stood up. "What could we do snap him out of this control?"
Yamato gritted his teeth as he looked back at the older boy and realized that boy does look like mix in between Khu and Raimundo. He assumed that older boy was a Pedsora too but he didn't know if he is Khu's brother or cousin.
"I… don't know." Yamato said finally, looking back to Khu. "Until we had to dosomething or die trying."
---
The Serpent slowly turning into the solid and reptile-like shape yet he still not in full power. He hissed, smiling menacingly down at the Xiaolin Dragons.
"Yes, little monk." The spirit demon purred down at the Dragon of Water. "You always remind me of the idiot Yuiku. You two are so alike, yet powerful monks."
Then suddenly, the serpent opened his mouth and ice water spouted toward the small monk and then again, the familiar invisible force knocked it away stopped the black spirit's attack as he narrowed his cold yellow eyes to the right to see the two figures stood in distance.
"Chase Young…" The Serpent breathed, frowning at the familiar man. "I see…"
---
Kobo groaned, opening his pale silver eyes to see Mistress Lizgon. "Lady Liz Gon…" He gasped in pain, smiling tremblingly at her.
Lizgon looked over at the youth and frowned sadly at him. "Don't talk, Kobo." She said softly, stirring the bowl she was holding in her arms. "You need rest." She put the bowl and took something from the bowl and it looks like herbal green leaves with something blue.
"Where… Ciara…?" Kobo asked coughing weakly as the Mistress dipped the medicine on the young boy's wounds.
"Ciara went back to help Xiaolin Dragons. Now hush up and save your energy."
Kobo sighed in relief and frowned worriedly as he had hoped his brother and his friends was okay.
And then he remembered something as his pale silver eyes widened in terror when he realized his vision.
Snake-like yellow eyes…
The blade struck in the silver ground… with the taint of blood…
The mirror shattered…
The black fox with amethyst eyes howled in pain, being swallowed in darkness…
The wind swept followed by the lightning…
The rod bolted, struck into the body of an immortal demon…
A spirit ancestor of the hybrid child…
"Khu!" He gasped as he sits forward startling the mistress and winced at his wound. "I have to go!"
Mistress Liz Gon blinked at him confusedly, holding the youth's shoulders as he was trashing to get away from her embraces. "What's wrong?"
"Where's my mirror…?"
She was taken back by his demand and frowned. "Kobo… Your mirror is shattered now." She answered as she could feels the youth's shoulders stumped in defeat.
"So I can't stop it… it's coming true."
"Huh?" Mistress blinked at the youth of the light. "Wha…"
"Take me back to them!" Kobo demanded turning around and stared at her with serious look. "Now!"
Mistress Lizgon would have sworn that she saw the spirit of Roba inside the youth and then she knew that look. The same look that Roba gives to her when it happened to his visions…
She narrowed her dark hazel eyes and frowned as she nodded. "Alright… let's go."
---
Ciara ran back to where Xiaolin Dragons and stopped her track when she saw the giant black snake. At first, she thought it was an leviathan serpent and then she realized it was something worse.
Suddenly, a familiar groans next to her as she turned to the familiar werewolf. "Lobo! You're alive!" She said in shock and happy to see him awaken.
"Shut… Up… Ow… My head." Lobo groaned, rubbing his head as he pushed his right arm to get up and glared up at the Tiger of Wood. "I feel like I'm being run over by an oversized snake-like truck."
Then he grinned at Ciara. "Mind if you lend me your hand?" He asked lecherously, knowing he's going to be in deep trouble.
SMACK!
Lobo rubbed his cheek as he grinned at the fuming girl. "Not that what I meant as you think, Ciara." He tried to assume her but the girl refused to listen.
"Pervert… as usual." Ciara growled, stomping off away from the werewolf. "Even in that state you were, you're still lecher like always!"
Lobo shrugged his shoulders and turned around but just stopped his tracked as he gapped at the sight of the giant snake. "Holy…" He breathed.
The black snake glanced at Lobo and Ciara's directions and smirked its creepy face before it return back to his attention on familiar figures.
"Master Young!" Lobo said in surprise and dropped his jaw on the ground. Ciara stared in surprise at the Heylin Witch with same reaction as Lobo did.
"My, my, my, all reunion of the Dragons and Tigers." The dark spirit grinned, eyeing at all of the Xiaolin Dragons and the Heylin Tigers. "Including the infamous Chase Young and the Traitor Heylin Witch Wuya."
Wuya narrowed his cold light green eyes at the evil demon spirit. "Lord Ariko, what a surprise to see you that you are a spirit no more than a solid being." She said in disgusted.
The demon spirit grinned wolfishly down at her. "And then you are sadly mistaken, Wuya."
---
He fell…
He fell…
He fell…
He looked around at his surround, only to see the darkness and wondering what he did something wrong by simple asking the ancestor a single question.
Suddenly, he landed on…something like soft…
Soft?
He looked down and realized he was on the grass. He's back! He grinned as he leaped back on his feet and looking around.
Wait.
He wasn't on the black land, fighting against Yamato. Unless… his amethyst eyes widened as he saw the familiar temple and familiar people.
I'm in my ancestor's own time!
End of Chapter 22
Me: (Yawn) Wow, that's awful long…(look at pages) thirteen pages! (dead faint)
Yamato: (roll his eyes) And she needs her beauty sleep too. Don't rush her to write stuffs again.
Everyone but Lizgon: (stare at Yamato) O.O
Yamato: What! (growling)
Everyone: Nothing. --u
Time for Sneak Peek…
Sneak Peek
The older boy stared down at the dying boy in his arms as his sad eyes clouded with tears. "Brother…"
The dying boy opened his eyes and smiled weakly at his young brother. "…I'm here…"
---
Chase flipped backward and landed on the ground, remain in his fighting position as he glared hateful at the serpent.
As the serpent opened his mouth as the flaming ball blasted from his mouth and it flew toward the older man.
"Master Young!"
End of Sneak Peek.
Zen: I'm very surprised that Lady Lizgon doesn't notice all mess in her room. (looking around)
Zalo: (snort)
Roba: (sighed and looked at the readers) Anyway, good night and good morning. Please don't forget to read and reviews. Thank you.