Disclaimer;
Okay by now you all probably know that I didn't create Xiaolin Showdown. It has recently come to my attention that the show was invented not by a guy, as I've thought before, but by a woman named Christy Hui.
At this time I would also like to point out a small misconception, Spice is not worm excrement… really it's not. Whoever said that is a mean poopy head. It is true that 'the Spice must flow', but not out of a worms butt. (I wonder how many people get this joke.) But take heart, for I have a plan to stop the evil Spice trade. We take some C4, duct tape it to some cats, and then unleash the explosive felines onto House Atreides.
Chapter Four
The Chest of Oda
Many men and women worked furiously, digging under the pale moonlight. They had been working almost non stop for two days now. There lives had become relatively simple, dig, carry in more equipment or carry out a collapsed worker, and if they were lucky then some might get a short break. Another group of the workers started to load carts full of large rocks then push them aside. For two days it was the same, carts would leave filled with rocks or other debris, only to return filled with more digging tools.
Alex sat on a large boulder atop of a small hill and stared down at them. A cool breeze blew in from the west and carried the scent of the forest from behind him. He would be glad when they found what it was they had come here for. He enjoyed wandering the forest and countryside, but now he was just bored. Glancing back over to the workers, he found Ayane looking around with the Falcon's Eye. He knew that it wouldn't help her find what they were looking for. They had tried to use the eye when they had first got here but it seemed there was some kind of spell blocking all attempts to pinpoint its exact location.
Alex heard the sound of heavy boots approaching from his right and looked over to see Bob. "How's it going?"
"Slow," Bob replied dryly. "Two of the workers tried to escape."
"And?"
Bob laughed softly to himself. "I broke their legs, broke 'em good too."
"At least you're having fun." Alex slid off the rock and headed back towards their campsite. "Keep watch will you."
The morning sun shined brightly through light, fluffy, white clouds. Raimundo stood next to Kimiko, in the open courtyard, in a basic martial arts stance. They moved forward and punched at the same time, and then each preformed a sidekick. Raimundo turned to his left just in time to see Kimiko's fist speed towards his face. The punch hit him hard on the nose.
"Watch what you're doing," Kimiko snapped.
"Me?" Raimundo could hear Omi and Clay laughing to the side of them. "You're the one who hit me."
"You were suppose to duck and pivot to the right."
"No, you're supposed to turn with me for another kick," Raimundo retorted.
"Not that this ain't funny and all." Clay walked over to the two of them. "But what in Sam hill are you up?"
Master Fung stepped out into the courtyard joined the group. "They are trying to fight as one."
Omi looked up at the master. "What do you mean?"
"They seek to find a common unity together as they fight. But such a task is not easy." The old monk looked down to Omi then over to Raimundo and Kimiko.
"You're not joking." Raimundo robbed his nose.
"What got you two thinkin' 'bout that?" Clay asked.
"When we fought with Alex and Ayane," Kimiko replied. "They fought around each other perfectly. They knew just when to jump or roll to give the other an advantage. I'd be fighting one, then they'd switch and the other would take over like it was all one attack."
Master Fung nodded at this. "Alex and Ayane spent years together, fighting along side each other. Their fighting style and temperaments complements the other well."
"If they can learn this skill, then surly we can as well." Omi stepped over to Master Fung.
"He's gotta point." Raimundo looked over to Master Fung as a realization hit him. "Even though they're evil, they're still Dragons like us right? So anything they can do, we should be able to do also."
"You are correct Raimundo, however, they have also been trained in the ways of the Heylin," Master Fung pointed out. "You must be careful in how you fight evil. Fight too vigorously and you risk becoming evil yourself."
Raimundo and the others nodded and thought about it for a moment. "But we can learn to move like them?"
"Yes," Fung confirmed. "Granted, it may prove easier for some of you than others."
They spent the rest of the morning working on how to fight as one. Try as he might, Raimundo could not quite sync with any of the others. He took small comfort in the fact they he had done slightly better than Clay had. Much to everyone's surprise the only ones to make any real progress were Kimiko and Omi. Raimundo figured that was only because Omi was too short for her to accidentally punch. Omi, being the paragon of modesty that he always was, took it upon himself to brag the entire morning.
They had just finished the morning training when Dojo came speeding out of the temple. "Heads up guy's, we got some new Wu activity."
"A Shen Gong Wu has revealed itself?" Master Fung picked up his loyal dragon.
"Yep, the Ring of E'ten."
"What's that one do?" Raimundo asked.
"It just shoots fireballs and makes the wearer impervious against fire," Dojo stated matter of factly.
"That's not good," Kimiko replied.
"Kimiko is correct." Master Fung looked over to her. "We must not allow the ring to fall into the hands of the fallen Dragons."
"So what are we waitin' 'round here for?" Clay adjusted his hat.
Dojo hopped off Master Fung's hand and transformed into his larger state. The four warriors quickly climbed onto his back and flew off into the bright sky.
Jack Spicer walked through a dense forest in New Zealand, flanked by a squad of his Super Ninja-bots. He hated it when he had to travel far just to get a Shen Wong Wu, but if he was going to defeat his enemies then they were a necessary evil. He had found one along the way by accident and kept it hidden in his pocket. On his way to the forest he had stopped in a small village only to find all of the people missing. As he looked around he saw the smooth yellow stone sitting on a shelf. Recognizing it as a Shen Gong Wu, he took it and left the abandoned village.
He glanced down at his left wrist and looked at his watch, which he configured to double as a tracker. He saw that the Wu was a couple of yards away and hurried over to the spot indicated. He looked around briefly then switched the tracker off. "I've gotta fix this thing so it'll give me more precise locations," Jack said to himself. He then looked over to his head Ninja-bot, SNB-47. "Fan out and start looking for the Wu."
"Yes sir." The bot replied with a metallic version of his own voice.
The goggles on Jack's head beeped. He lowered them over his eyes and read the message. 'Airborne UFO inbound. Stats recognized, inbound object is dragon; designate Dojo. ETA three point seventeen seconds.'
"Great they're here already." Jack activated the glove on his right hand and a brown bag full of his Bot Sensors, digitally formed in his hand. "SNB-39, place these up in the trees around us." The bot complied and set about his task.
Jack then had his Bird-zoka transferred to his hand. He took careful aim and fired six shells at the incoming Xiaolin warriors. Each shell burst in mid flight to reveal a smaller version of his Bird-bots. They were faster and were able to shoot stun beams from their eyes. Jack watched as the warriors fought the bots in the air. It didn't take them long to destroy the aerial bots, but he didn't really care. They had served their purpose and slowed them down long enough for SNB-39 to complete his task. Jack smiled as he returned the Bird-zoka to his backpack and raised his goggles.
The Dragons landed about ten feet away and jumped off of their lizard taxi. Jack reached into his left pocket and pulled a hand full of bot sensors out, then tossed them in front of him. "Welcome Dragons."
"Ordinarily I'd love to kick your butt then gloat about it, but I'd like to get back to my training." Raimundo stepped forward.
"Sorry but this time I'll be doing the butt kicking." Jack pushed a button on his belt and five Jack-bots appeared in front of him.
"Ya know we're just gonna break 'em right?" Clay asked.
"Oh I don't think so." Jack pushed a second button and the sensors in the trees sprang to life. All around them sleek camouflaged robots appeared, each armed with one of his new Repulser Ray Guns. "Meet my new Sniper-bots." He snapped his fingers and the Sniper-bots started to fire at the warriors and their pet dragon.
Jack was pleased with how well his new bots were doing. They fired a continuous shower of blue laser beams forcing the Dragons back. But not one to miss a chance to pour salt on a wound, Jack ordered his Jack-bots to attack. The bots were unaffected by the snipers fire because the beams worked by targeting and overwhelming a persons nerves, giving them the sensation equal to being hit with a bat.
Raimundo and the others desperately leapt and rolled a behind tree to avoid the blue storm raining down on them, while dodging attacks from his Jack-bots. A wave of anger washed over him when two of his snipers exploded. He looked over to see why and saw Clay was using his Big Bang Meteorang to take out his Sniper-bots. Omi had also gotten up into the trees and started to knock down bots while Kimiko and Raimundo finished his Jack-bots.
"I hate when things go wrong," Jack growled as he turned to his Ninja-bots. "Well don't just stand around, go get 'em!"
His Super Ninja-bots rushed forward and attacked Raimundo and Kimiko. They punched and kicked at the two monks and held their advance, but then Clay jumped down behind the bots and started to attack them.
"I can see the Shen Gong Wu." Omi leapt overhead into another branch and destroyed the last Sniper-bot.
"It's mine." Jack activated his hover boots and shot up to tree level and to his left he saw the ring sitting on a branch. He flew over towards the ring but as he did he heard Omi yelling.
"Kaijin Charm, Shimo Staff."
Jack felt something cold and hard hit him on the back which caused him to fall face first into the ground. He looked back up as he stood and saw that Omi had grabbed the ring and was smiling down at him.
"Out your face Jack Spicer." Omi jumped over to his friends.
"That's in your face, cue ball." Jack had a small flash bang form in his hand. He then tossed it forward, when it exploded in a bright flash, he used his hover boots and flew off. "You still haven't seen the last of Jack Spicer."
Jack flew as fast as he could then landed, so they couldn't see him escape. He still had the Wu he had found earlier and didn't want them to take it. He had heard about it from Wuya a while ago. The Healing Stone could heal a person almost instantly, and best of all, it was thought activated. All he needed to do to use it was think about it and he'd be healed.
Jack walked along a narrow path considering what his next move should be when he came around a large tree and saw about forty people lugging various digging equipment. He was about to ask what they where doing when he saw Ayane ordering them to keep moving.
Ayane glanced over and smiled when she saw him. "Hi Jack."
"What are you doing?"
"Oh don't worry about that." Ayane waved a hand then motioned to his left. "Ya got another problem."
Jack looked over and saw Bob barreling at him. Jack let out a high pitched scream as he jumped to the side just in time to avoid the massive kid. He climbed to his feet and tried to run but Bob grabbed his shoulder and slammed him into a tree. "Don't hurt me."
"Ya know I'd like ta let ya go." Ayane walked over to him. "But unfortunately the boss lady told us ta make sure no one finds out about us being here."
Jack felt a jolt of terror race through his shivering body. "I, I won't tell anyone really."
"I believe ya." Ayane leaned in close to Jack. "But Bob, he's not so trusting."
"Isn't there some way we can work this out."
"Nope." Bob raised his fist.
Ayane simply shrugged then turned and walked off. "Bye-bye Jack."
Before jack could say anything Bob's massive fist hit him hard. Jack lost track of time while he tried in vain to squirm free from Bob. It felt like hours had passed while Bob drove his metal knuckled fist into Jack's body over and over. Satisfied with the beating he had just given, he grabbed Jack by the shirt a flung him into the forest, then walked off with Ayane and the dirt covered people.
Jack laid on the ground for a few minutes trying to push the pain that overwhelmed his body to a distant memory. Then he remembered the Healing Stone and a second later the pain was gone. He stood up and gave himself a once over to make sure that he was unhurt then jumped up with joy. As he landed his smile turned into a look of contempt. He glanced in the direction Bob had departed and felt a cold rage rise up in him.
No one did this to Jack Spicer and got away with it. The bullies at his old school used to pick on him, and they were the first ones to feel the wraith of his Jack-bots. He would make Ayane and Bob pay for this. He had a backpack filled with the most deadly weapons in his arsenal and this time he would have surprise on his side. Its time they learned what happens when you cross Jack Spicer, evil boy Genius.
Raimundo and the others had decided to stay awhile and explore the country side. They were having a fairly good time until they came across an abandoned village. Dojo had claimed that he felt lingering magic in the area so they spent almost two hours combing over the village trying to find a sign of the people. As far as Raimundo could tell there were no obvious clues, no signs of a struggle, and nothing out of the ordinary. It looked like all of the people had just gotten up and left.
They tried to use Dojo to track whatever it was he was sensing but all that did was lead them back into the forest. Raimundo now leaned against a wide tree with his hands behind his head and listened to Dojo try, and fail, to explain what he had felt.
"Was it like a Shen Gong Wu?" Omi asked.
"No it was totally different." Dojo shrugged.
"Well whatever you felt, we're not gonna find it." Raimundo looked over towards the others.
"So you just wanna give up?" Kimiko turned to face him. "What if they're in trouble and need help?"
Raimundo put his hands up defensively. "I'm not saying we shouldn't help; all I'm saying is that we got no clue to what's going on and we got no place to start looking."
"He's right 'bout that." Clay nodded
"Perhaps we should continue our search." Omi suggested.
"You gotta trust me on this," Dojo stated. "I know somethings wrong here. Give me another half an hour, huh."
"Fine, but then we go home." Raimundo pulled himself from the tree and followed the others. As they walked deeper into the forest he found himself agreeing with Dojo more with each step. He couldn't figure out what it was but he just knew that he felt something, could sense it, something evil. "Do you guys feel anything?"
"Yeah," Clay replied with a nod. "Glad it's not just me."
After ten minutes they reached the end of the forest and walked up a small hill, but what they saw surprised them. They all ducked down and watched a horde of villagers dragging out large rocks or digging. It was clear that they were trying to excavate something.
"Looks like we found the missing villagers." Raimundo stared down at the exhausted people. Floating a few feet off the ground like she was sitting in a chair was Rin, and Alex stood right by her side. Near the base of the hill he could see Ayane barking orders at the workers.
"What in blue blazes are they up to?" Clay asked softly.
"It would appear that they are in search of something," Omi answered just as softly.
"Whatever it is, I'm sensing some powerful evil coming from down there." Dojo glanced around. The five of them kept watching for another eight minutes, then one of the diggers started to shout. Bob stormed over to him and tossed him aside fairly easily.
"What's the problem?" Alex shouted to Bob. Bob bent down and pick something big up from the hole the man had dug. As Bob carried it over towards Rin and Alex, Raimundo could see that it was a large silver and gold chest. It had some kind of writing or pictographs on it, but he was too far to really make any of them out.
"They've found it!" Rin lowered herself to the ground, knelt down besides the chest, and wiped some of the dirt off.
"Oh no."
Raimundo looked over at Dojo and saw him shaking with fear. "What is that thing?"
"And why's it got you shaken like a long tailed cat in a room full a rockin' chair's?" Clay asked.
"That, that's the Chest of the Oda," Dojo explained. "It's old, so old that it predates Grand Master Dashi."
"What's so special about it?" Kimiko inquired.
"According to legend it contains some ancient Heylin artifacts, one among them being Lady Keirin's scepter. If Rin gets her hands on that then you can stick a fork in us all, cause we're done for."
"Then we must stop her from finding this scepter," Omi declared.
"It's too late for that bowling ball head; she's already got the chest." Raimundo pointed towards Rin. "We need to stop her from opening it."
"Then let us sneak around and ambush them while they are not prepared," Omi said.
Kimiko looked up over the hill with a worried frown. "I think it's too late for that."
Raimundo looked over just as Rin shot a black beam of light towards them. The beam hit the hill, shattering it, and they fell to the ground below.
"Impatient Dragons." Rin floated above the chest. "Where you not satisfied with waiting for me to come for you?"
"Hand over the chest." Raimundo stood ready to fight as the others did the same.
Rin laughed. "I was worried for a while that you might interfere but since you're here, little warrior, I'll take this opportunity to crush you."
Alex stepped forward grinning like always. "I've been aching for a fight for days now."
"Don't hurt them too badly, I only want you to separate them," Rin instructed.
Alex nodded then rushed forward with Bob. Raimundo prepared himself to block when he suddenly felt a hard kick from his side. As he feel he saw Ayane jump over him and head straight for Kimiko. He then rolled to the side to avoid being trampled by Bob and Alex. Getting to his feet he saw the others engaged in battle, rolling or kicking in fluid motions trying to keep from being pushed back.
Alex easily dodged Clay's attack then hit him with three swift sidekicks on the chest followed by two spinning roundhouse kicks. The rapid attack knocked Clay back and onto the ground. As Clay tried to stand up a black ball hit him and quickly enveloped him. Raimundo rushed over to where Clay was but his friend had disappeared.
Raimundo turned back towards Omi and Kimiko only to find Bob Holding Kimiko by the arms over his head. Raimundo felt a wave of anger tear though him and he ran towards Bob. He leapt into a flying dragon kick, but he was too late. Just as his foot touched Bob's chest, another black ball swallowed Kimiko. Raimundo landed then jumped over to Omi. "What have done to my friends?"
"Don't worry little warrior." Rin floated with an evil smile. "You shall be reunited soon enough."
Raimundo tried to push his fear aside as Bob started to close in on one side while Ayane and Alex moved in from the other.
"You will return our friends immediately." Omi stood ready to attack. Raimundo could feel him focusing his power, then all at once he felt it burst. "Tsunami Strike!" A torrent of water lashed out and hit Bob square in the chest, sending him flying back.
Alex sprinted forward then flipped up into the air. "Striking Thunder!" His foot started to crackle as he speed back down to the earth. Raimundo and Omi leapt to opposite sides, but he could still feel the energy when Alex landed between them. The sound of lightning hitting the ground rang in Raimundo's ears as he was sent flying forward.
Raimundo hit the ground and let his momentum carry him back to his feet. He saw Omi try to attack Bob, but he grabbed Omi's kick and tossed him into a waiting black sphere. Raimundo felt helpless as Alex and the others moved in towards him.
"Poor, poor Raimundo." Rin floated up higher now. "I can sense a great deal of anger coming from you. Looking at you now I think I may have underestimated you."
"What are talking about?" Raimundo glanced around looking for a way out of this.
Rin held up the Sphere of Dreams. "I used this to try and find what your greatest desire is and your biggest fear. Instead of seeing monsters or anything entertaining like that I saw something else."
"I've already conquered my fears."
"That's where you're mistaken little warrior." Rin waved a hand. "Everyone has something to fear, even you. You fear for the loss of your friends. Losing them is your greatest fear so I took them from you."
Raimundo felt his frustration and rage boiling over. "I'll find a way to free them."
"Oh you'll try, and you'll fail. They are in a realm of my creation, locked inside by my will."
Raimundo looked around again hopping for anything that could help him. He saw Dojo the slither behind a rock but then the rock floated up, as did Dojo. A light black bubble formed around the dragon and he floated over to Rin's waiting hand. "Let him go."
"Why?" Rin laughed. "I told you I'm taking all of your friends away. I want you to know despair." She waved her hand and a force beam hit him. "I want you to know loss." Another beam hit him. "And I want you know that as of right now, I own you." She pointed her palm at him and a black orb formed around him. "Think about all this then come back and tell me why I should release your friends." She flicked her wrist and he shot back into the forest.
Alex sat alone with Rin in the large tent she had the workers erect for her. She had spent the last hour trying to open the chest but failed every time. She tried using spells, Wu, rocks, and even a gun she took from a villager but nothing seemed to work. Now she floated over it cross legged trying to think of a way to open it. "Something on your mind, Alex."
"Just wondering what its going to take to open that." He pointed to the gold and silver chest. "What's so special about it anyway?"
"I already told you about the scepter, but there're some other items inside that I can use. Long ago the Heylin ruled over the world in what has become known as the golden age of the Heylin," Rin explained. "But the Heylin have a long history of infighting and a dozen warlords began a civil war trying to conquer the others. Eventually a powerful Heylin priest, named Chodin Oda, sealed the warlord's powers into various items and locked them all in this chest.
"He then hid the chest so no one could us the power inside it to challenge him. He did what no one has ever done and unified the Heylin. But eventually he grew old and died; leaving behind no heirs, the Heylin began to fracture and the chest was lost."
"So you're gonna open the chest and us it resurrect the priest?"
"Sadly the priest is dead and no amount of magic can change that. He may be gone but his essence was imbued into this chest. If I can open it and master all of its secrets then I'll become the most powerful Heylin to ever live. I'll be able to return the world to its former glory and you and the others will rule as my dark knights."
Alex smiled at the thought but then remembered Raimundo. "What about Raimundo? He'll come back to stop us."
"I'm counting on it." Rin glanced over towards him with a warm smile, but he knew that smile all to well. Behind that beautifully sweet charade was a evil, twisted thought. "He'll try and you'll stop him and let him go."
"I will?"
"Yep." Rin's smile broadened. "Then he'll be even more distraught. Once he realizes how utterly hopeless his chances are, once he accepts that he only lives because I allow it; then he'll come back to us ready to be shaped into a weapon. One I will use to destroy Fung."
Alex nodded as the full extent of her plan hit him. "He has a strong will, what if he won't turn on his master?"
"That is a possibility, but if he won't live in use to me then he'll watch his friends be destroyed. I'll break his sprit and leave him a cowering shell of a Dragon; then send him back to his beloved master as a prelude of what to expect."
Alex smiled as Rin began to laugh darkly. It would appear that she had quite an unpleasant revenge planned for the man who imprisoned them long ago. A part of him felt sorry for Raimundo, but he shrugged the feeling away. He would probably miss fighting against him, but there was nothing he could do about it. Ah well, that's what he gets for fighting on the wrong side.
Raimundo awoke staring up through the trees at the knight sky. He remembered Rin launching him into the air, and shooting through the forest. He also remembered breaking free of the orb and hitting his head, but his head was fine now. He sat up and put a hand on the back of his head expecting to feel a sharp pain or a bump, but his head was perfectly fine.
"I fixed your head."
Raimundo jumped to his feet and spun around. Standing three feet away was Jack Spicer. "I don't have time for your games!"
"Whoa, easy." Jack held up his hands. "If I wanted to hurt you I wouldn't have healed you."
Raimundo relaxed a little. "What do you want then?"
"I saw part of what they did to you." Jack stepped forward with a fierce look Raimundo had never seen before. "I want you to help me settle a score against them."
Raimundo couldn't hide his surprise. "What?"
"They humiliated me in a way I'll never forgive." Jack's eyes narrowed. "If you help me get even, then I'll help you free your friends." He extended his hand. "We got a deal?"
Raimundo felt uncertain for a moment then remembered what Rin had said, he then reached out and clasped Jack's hand. "Deal."