Chapter 2


Pedrosa Mansion, Tokyo

Alex collapsed on her bed, beaten down by lectures and her ear throbbed from her mother tugging at it so hard. She glanced at her nightstand and read the bright red lights of her alarm clock (which she broke the snooze button off of by pressing it so much…) that read 4:15 pm. So much more time left in the day…so much time to go skating and she was stuck at home for the next month. Joy.

Then, she heard the door creak open and her instincts made her jump up and stand. But it was only her father, Raimundo.

"Hey." he said calmly.

"Sup." Alex said in a tone that clearly stated 'leave me alone'.

Raimundo sat by Alex and signaled that it was time for HIS little 'talk'.

"Don't get TOO upset with yourself, Alex. I would've done the same thing; in fact, I DID do the same thing."

Alex looked up in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Well, yeah." said Rai, giving a small shrug. "I used to get out of martial arts class all the time. So now you know where you get it from."

Alex gave a small smile.

"But just because I did it doesn't mean its right. School's important, no matter how much you hate it. It's like that old story I used to tell you when you were a kid. Do you remember?"

"Yeah. It was that story with that kid and how he turned to the dark side just because he didn't like the good side cause it was too much work. Then he learned his lesson and realized that good was the side where he really belonged."

"Exactly. It's just like the story. So don't beat yourself up. And don't cut anymore classes." he said ruffling Alex's thick, black hair.

"Okay." she said smiling.

Raimundo nodded and left the room, leaving Alex to look out the window and stare at the clouds.

Bailey Ranch, San Antonio, Texas

Clay walked down the hallway and then he heard the phone ring. Then he entered the kitchen where Brendan was eating the chicken wing.

"Howdy." he said while picking up the phone. Omi's voice rang out through the receiver.

"How are you, my friend Clay?"

"Omi? Is that really you?"

"Yes."

Clay was holding his head with his gloved head and his visible blue eye was bulging in surprise and he laughed in disbelief as Brendan was cocking his eyebrow and was wondering who was on that phone that made his Daddy so happy.

"I can't believe it's really you! What has it been, like, fifteen years?"

"Indeed my friend, Clay. Way too long. But I come not to greet, but to report."

"What do you mean?"

"I have come from a message from Master Fung. He fears that there is evil at work now that the shen gong wu are going to be active. We need all the help we can get."

Clay's expression turned from glad to dead serious. "I'll be there right away!"

"Master Fung said that he doesn't want you to help, but he wants to train your son."

"My son?" asked Clay looking at Brendan who was still chewing on the wing, completely unaware that Clay was about to make a decision that would change his life forever.

"D-Does he really think he's ready?"

"Yes, Clay. Your son is fifteen now. That was about the time when you started going to the temple. Remember? Trust me, he's ready."

Clay nodded and agreed to bring Brendan to the temple. When he hung up the phone, he walked over to Brendan who was done with the chicken wing.

"Wooo-ee! That was the best durn chicken wing I've had in a while. What's wrong, Daddy?" he asked when Clay sat down across from him with a serious look on his face.

"Brendan, do you remember those old fairy tales I used to tell you about the mystical items called shen gong wu and the Xiaolin dragons of the elements?"

"Yeah! I remember! I kinda miss those stories…you ended that series with the Spiral of Demons story."

Clay nodded and looked at the floor. "Well…they're real."

There was a long pause until Brendan had time to take in Clay's words. "Say what?"

"Shen gong wu are real, Brendan. So are the elemental dragons. In fact, I used to be one of them."

Brendan's jaw dropped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're saying that all those stories…all those showdowns…actually happened to YOU?"

"Well…yeah. I was the Dragon of Earth. My friend Omi was the Dragon of Water, Kimiko was the Dragon of Fire and Raimundo was the Dragon of Wind."

"So all those people that I thought you made up…they're real? Even the little gecko buckaroo?"

"Yeah. And he's a dragon, not a gecko. Master Fung wants you to join the temple and become the new Dragon of Earth. You're going to have to journey for shen gong wu too, with a bunch of my friend's kids."

Clay stood up and waited for a few minutes to let his son analyze the situation.

"So…I'm gonna train at the temple and become a monk too?"

"Yep, at least that's what I reckon."

"AWSOME!" shouted Brendan, throwing his arms up in the air.

"So we're going to China?" asked Brendan eagerly.

"Looks like it. You better pack your stuff. I'll leave a note for Grandpa."

Without a second's deliberation, Brendan dashed off of the chair and raced down the hallway to get to his room, where he furiously packed for his first journey out of the country…or anywhere for that matter…

Pedrosa Mansion, Tokyo

Raimundo went back to the kitchen to get a drink after mentally patting himself on the back for giving Alex a successful talk without lecturing her. Just then, the phone rang.

"Hmm…wonder who that could be…"

He picked up the phone and answered it and realized it was Clay's voice.

"Clay? Is that really you? How've you been, man?"

Clay was on the other side of the conversation, calling while Brendan was packing like he had ten cups of coffee.

"I've been alright. Listen, Master Fung told me to tell you that the shen gong wu are going to activate and we need your kids to be the new dragons to defend the world."

"Wait, you mean the twins? Be the new dragons of Fire and Wind?"

"Yeah, that's what I reckon. I have a feeling that Jack and Wuya are going to come back too."

Rai nodded. "Should we bring the kids to the temple?"

"That's what I'm doing."

"Alright. I'll meet you at the temple, then?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Then Rai hung up the phone, and their conversation ended. Kimiko then appeared and asked Raimundo who was on the phone.

"It was Clay. I don't know what happened exactly, but Master Fung wants the kids to go to the temple. He thinks that the shen gong wu will activate soon."

Kimiko put her hands on her hips. "Well, it's about time! How long has it been, twenty years?"

"Yeah. But…do you think they're ready for this?"

Kimiko put a hand on Rai's shoulder. "Rai, they were our age when we came to the temple. The twins will be fine. Are Omi's kid and Clay's kid going too?"

"Yeah."

"Well then there you go! Don't worry, Rai. They'll be fine."

Rai nodded and smiled. Then he put his hands to his mouth to amplify his voice.

"Alex! Holly! Come here for a second!"

Holly was listening to her mp3 player, but when she heard her father's voice, she raced down the stairs and was in the kitchen without a moment's notice. Alex on the other hand was waiting until Kimiko called twice and then threatened to put one extra month on her grounding because she really wasn't in the mood with dealing with her parents. But after that, Alex was in the kitchen like a snap of the fingers.

"What's up, Dad?" asked Alex.

"Yeah, why did you call us in here?" said Holly.

Rai took a breath while Holly and Alex sat down.

"Holly, Alex...we have something to tell you…something really important."

"Okay…" said Alex with a confused look in her eyes.

"Your mother and I used to be…Xiaolin Warriors. Well, not just ANY Xiaolin Warriors…we were chosen by fate to be the dragons of the elements. There were dragons of Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Your mother and I were Fire and Wind. Anyway, we used to have battles, or showdowns over mystical items called shen gong wu. And now…it's YOUR turn to be the dragons of Fire and Wind."

The room was silent for a while, but then Alex broke the silence. "So…you're saying that WE have to fight god-knows-what to get these 'mystical items'? Isn't there something called government officials?"

"Well, yeah, but you watch TV. They're not any more help in saving the world there than they are here."

"But why are we fighting for these items in the first place?" asked Holly.

"Because! Evil villans out there are going to use their power to rule the world!" said Rai waving his arms up and down.

"Like who? I'm not scared." said Alex.

"Well, there's Jack and Wuya, Panda Bubba, Katnappe, Tubbimura and…Chase Young (even though he's not after shen gong wu, but world domination.)" said Kimiko.

There was another long pause. "So...how are we going to defeat these people? We don't even know Kung Fu!" said Alex.

"That's why you're going to train at the temple. To learn the Xiaolin martial arts. You guys had better get packing now. We've wasted enough time as it is."

"Wait! How long are we going to stay at this temple?" asked Alex.

"Years and years. Why?" said Rai.

Alex beamed and threw her arms in the air. "NO MORE SCHOOL! SCORE!"

Kimiko smirked. "Oh no, little missy. It's WAY harder than school. You and Holly will go though regular academics at the temple too…but in Chinese!"

Alex paled and put her arms down. "I spoke too soon…"

Xiaolin Temple, China

Omi and Shui were in the courtyard eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new and old dragons.

"Father, I cannot wait to show my new friends around the temple and teach them martial arts!"

Omi smiled. "I cannot wait for the arrival of them either. It has been so long since I have seen my friends."

Master Fung walked by on his cane. "I am also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the dragons and their children."

All of a sudden, Shui started to point to the sky. "Father! What is that?"

Omi and Master Fung looked up and smiled in joy when they saw a jet plane land in the courtyard. "Look, Shui! Your new friends are here!"

When the jet landed, out stepped Raimundo, Kimiko, Holly and Alex. When Holly and Alex stepped off of the plane, they were staring in awe at the temple and its structure. They were gazing at the room and then they tagged behind their parents when they were done looking at the temple. Omi and Raimundo gave each other knuckles and Kimiko gave him a hug.

"Oh, it's been so long, Omi!" said Kimiko.

"TOO long, Kimiko my friend."

Shui had ducked behind Omi's legs because he was shy and he took an occasional peek, then he returned to the safety of his father's garments. He was very excited to make friends with Kimiko and Raimundo's daughters, but he was also very nervous.

"This is my son, Shui." said Omi, pulling to the side and breaking Shui's grip on his pants. Shui was then standing in front of Kimiko and Raimundo.

"H-Hello!" said Shui nervously.

"AW! He's so cute! He looks just you, Omi!" exclaimed Kimiko.

Shui blushed. "Y-You think I'm cute?"

Kimiko smiled and nodded. Shui looked at the ground. "Why thank you, kind stranger!"

"Call me Mrs. Pedrosa."

Omi looked behind Kimiko and Raimundo and saw Holly and Alex.

"Hello. My name is Omi. What're your names? Are you the children of Raimundo and Kimiko?"

"Yes, we are. I'm Holly and that's my sister Alex." said Holly pointing to Alex.

"Sup?" said Alex.

"Nice to meet you, Holly and Alex." said Omi bowing.

Holly returned the bow and elbowed Alex in the ribs when she didn't.

"What was that for!"

"For not bowing back! Don't you have any manners?"

Alex scoffed. "You're just jealous 'cause I'm older than you!"

"Oh, by what, five seconds!" Holly's words were lined with venom in her voice.

"Yeah, by five seconds! I got to see the world five seconds before you and let me tell you it was a GREAT five seconds that YOU MISSED!" screamed Alex.

"Girls, please don't fight." said Kimiko, messaging her temples.

Shui looked into the distance and started to jump up and down.

"Oh! Look! Our final new friend is here!" he said excitedly, brushing off his nervousness like dust on his robe.

A pick-up truck parked outside of the temple and out stepped two cowboys, one smaller than the other. They walked to the temple and all of the older dragon's expressions brightened.

"Clay!" all of the old dragons shouted with joy as they ran up to Clay and Brendan. Clay high-fived Rai, knuckled Omi and Kimiko got another bear hug.

"It's so great to see you again!" exclaimed Kimiko, letting go of Clay's grasp. She turned to Brendan. "Is this your son?"

Brendan smiled and waved. "Brendan's my name."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Brendan. My name is Omi." said Omi bowing. Brendan returned the bow.

When the older dragons were talking and catching up with each other, Brendan walked over to the group of new dragons in his own curiosity.

Shui, Alex and Holly were standing in silence until Brendan, who towered over them in height, came into the scene.

"Howdy!" he said cheerfully. "I'm Brendan. Do you guys have names?"

"Well, I'm Holly, that monk guy over there is Shui and that's my moronic, class-cutting sister, Alex." said Holly.

"Hey! Watch it, LITTLE sis!" Alex said, exercising the word 'little'.

"BY…FIVE…SECONDS!" shrieked Holly.

The twins were glaring daggers at each other for the first time in a while, and Brendan immediately got himself involved…which was probably not a good idea.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, there partners!" said Brendan, putting his arms outstretched in between the two feuding siblings.

"Can't you two just respect each other and not fight?" he asked nicely.

"Respect this!" said Alex.

Brendan felt a tug at his pants, and then when he looked down, he realized what Alex had done…

"No way!" said Rai dropping his jaw to the floor.

"ALEX!" screeched Kimiko.

When Shui and Holly started laughing, Brendan blushed and pulled his pants back up. Alex had just given him a rip down.

Shui, Holly and Alex would not stop laughing, Brendan would not stop blushing and Master Fung, who was watching in the distance, covered his eyes in shame.