dl-sPirit: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I LOVE YOU!

Raimundo: I thought this chapter was supposed to be longer...

Ferret: Well, she's leaving for her grandparents tomorrow...

Raimundo: Ah.

dl-sirit: Which is why the next chapter will probably be very short (think 'TBD' short)

Raimundo: Where's Roni?

Roni: (in another room) I'M NOT GOING IN!

Ferret: Then YOU do disclaimer!

Roni: Whatever. She doesn't own XS. I'M NOT COING IN!

Raimundo: o.O Wow...

dl-sPirit: Please read this while I drag her in.

Roni: NO!

(Kimiko POV)

I couldn't believe it. This was horrible. Rai's never looked worse. His face was covered in half-healed scars, scrapes, and a few bruises. A line of dried blood ran from the side of his face. His hair was dark from the dirt or whatever he had been in. I've never seen anyone look this beat up. Really, he was a mess. No wonder he didn't want me taking off that cloth…

I crawled closer, trying to get a better look. I prayed that this was the worst of it…but I knew better than that. Lightly, I touched his chest and saw him wince. The cloth also felt wet beneath my fingers. Oh no… "I…I think he's been hurt – in his chest."

"We have to check all of his wounds," Omi said. He actually didn't sound too pleased – not that I blamed him. If Raimundo's face alone was this injured, and his chest was bleeding – did we really want to see it? Still, Omi was right. But it was awkward.

As best as Clay and I could, we tugged off the loose shirt. I heard Jack gagging, and I nearly did it too. If I thought Rai's face was bad… his body was worse. It was pale – no, more like black, blue, and red. I couldn't even start counting the bruises and half-healed scars on him. One of them – near his stomach – had opened, explaining the blood I felt. There was a makeshift bandage on his chest. Was it possible that he had broken a rib? No, because then he'd be dead. Maybe just a fracture. I took a quick look at his wrist – the one that had been broken before he left. It was crooked. I guess it never healed right. There was some sort of wrapping just above it, with some wood – he had broken his arm again? Poor Rai…

"Hey, Omi, Rai needs a bandage. Can I have that sack?" Clay asked. Polite, but firm. I could imagine him being a leader someday. Omi ran over to the sack of scrolls, emptied it, and tossed the bag to Clay. "Thanks, lil' pardner," Clay said. There was a satisfying rip as Clay tore the bag in half, creating two long pieces of cloth, which he tied around the open wound.

"Um, Omi? Can you check those scrolls for any healing shen-gong-wu?" I asked, hearing my nervousness in my voice. Omi nodded and opened a scroll when-

"STOP EVERYTHING! A NEW WU JUST WENT OFF!" Dojo started shaking like crazy. All of us had jumped a foot. We forgot he was there. Omi, quick as lightning, dived into the pile of scrolls and pulled out the Scroll of the Shen-Gong-Wu. In less than two seconds, he had opened it to the new wu.

"The Healing Emerald," he read aloud as he and Jack came closer so Clay and I could watch the animation. Dojo slithered over as well. "It heals physical wounds and restores energy."

"Yeah, but this wu can also sense the user's intentions. If the person had evil intentions, it can really hurt them instead," Dojo added. Jack suddenly looked scared, saying, "Keep that thing away from me!"

"Relax, you're too wimpy to be considered evil," I retorted, rolling my eyes. Jack can be an ok guy, but he was really annoying most of the time.

"Oh, goo- HEY!" I ignored Jack's rant on how he'd get revenge on me for that, instead watching the animation. The shen-gong-wu looked like a diamond in a heart-shaped gem, about the size of my palm. The little stick figure holding it seemed badly injured, barely standing. Then, the Healing Emerald, along with the figure, glowed white, and the figure was suddenly in perfect health.

"Then we must leave at once!" Omi cried, jumping up. All of us were surprised when Dojo shook his head, replying, "No, no, it's right here somewhere…real close…" He looked around, as if expecting the wu to jump out and bite him. We were all confused – then I studied the sketch of the Healing Emerald. It looked familiar – wait a minute. No way. Was it possible?

I looked at the locket Rai gave me, looking closely at the gem. I thought it had looked strange, but beautiful. With some unease, I removed the sapphire/emerald. It glowed momentarily before expanding to fit my hand. Everyone stared at me.

"THAT'S IT!" Dojo shouted, causing all of us to jump a foot again. Mentally swearing, I waited for my heart to slow down. Everyone else seemed equally mad at Dojo. We were all a little edgy. After all, who knew when that dragon would come back to finish us off?

When I couldn't hear my heartbeat anymore, I edged closer to Raimundo, holding the Emerald over his chest. Then, Omi said it – what I feared the most. What made me freeze in my tracks.

"Kimiko, I am not sure that this is a good idea. What if the Healing Emerald senses Raimundo's intentions as evil?" he asked. He was right. I mean, less than two months ago, he made Wuya solid and helped her. Then, he ended up helping Roni, who was hell-bent on destroying the temple. If it sensed him as evil, it could kill him. Then, Dojo replied with the wisest thing I've ever heard him say:

"Then it'll be a quick death. But, if we don't try, he'll die anyways." He looked at me, and I knew he was right. In this condition, he wasn't going to last. We had to try. Carefully, I placed the Emerald down on Rai's chest and whispered, "Healing Emerald."

For a few seconds, it glowed gold. I wasn't sure what that meant. Then, it glowed white, and the glow spread to Rai. Then, it became a bright light, and I couldn't see a thing. When the light died down, there were no more bruises or scars. His wrist was straight. Tentatively, I touched his chest. This time, he didn't wince. Except still being somewhat pale, he looked normal again. Mentally, I jumped for joy.

"Why isn't he awake yet?" Jack asked. I paused. The Emerald's supposed to restore energy. He could wake up now.

"Who knows, pardner. He'll wake up when he's ready to," Clay replied with a shrug. That made me feel a little better. A little. I saw Omi yawning. He was probably tired. Actually, everyone looked a little tired.

"You guys can go to sleep. I'll keep watch," I said. Omi smiled, saying, "Thank you, Kimiko." Within five minutes, he had curled up and fallen asleep, as had Jack and Dojo. Clay soon joined them.

I looked outside the cave, shivering. I wish Rai would wake up…

(---)

A lone figure walked through the fog, shivering. He had no clue where he was, nor what was making those whispering sounds. Why did he get the feeling he wasn't alone? He didn't like it.

It was a dead forest he was in, with a tall mountain to his right. The fog was everywhere, particularly thick near the ground. He couldn't see his own feet. This place was creepy and, yet, it gave a feeling of great tranquility. Like seeing someone die in their sleep.

He had tripped over something. Getting up, he turned around to see a teenage girl, 17 tops, lying there. He recognized her – this was Nahkti. Much to his surprise, part of her was missing, absorbed by the shadows. "Hey, you alright?" He was surprised by the strange echo in his voice. Wait. "Did I die?"

There was a chuckle from in front of him. "No, Dragon of the Wind, you are not dead yet," replied a strange voice. It had an accent he couldn't quite put his finger on, and reminded him of the crisp sound of ringing bells, but sounding feminine. A female, no doubt. Raimundo looked up to see an odd being. She seemed to be comprised of several animals, but with angelic wings and a gold coloring. Strangely, the parts seemed to come together flawlessly, like they belonged.

"Wha- who are you?" Raimundo asked. 'What are you' just felt demeaning to this creature.

"I am Guang, the Guardian Spirit of Light." It was then Raimundo noticed that she had no mouth. How is she-

"I can communicate telepathically, but give the illusion that it is speech." You're talking inside my mind? The being nodded, apparently glad that Raimundo had caught on. "All Guardians can." There are more of you? It nodded again. She then looked down at Nahkti. "I am supposed to be Nahkti's Guardian. You do know she is the Dragon of Light?" The brazilian nodded, unsure of why Guang wanted to talk to him. Then, he remembered something.

"Wait a second, mind telling me where I am?" Guang looked at him once more.

"The Spirit World. Often, those on Death's doorstep come here." Raimundo's eyes widened. "You have nothing to fear. You will be alright." He gave a sigh of relief, then looked down at Nahkti. "What happened?"

"Wulong Shiyu Siwang had no use for his sister's macli. He decided to destroy her instead for self-preservation." Guang looked the Dragon of the Wind right in the eye. "Which brings us to you." What? Raimundo was beyond confused now.

"Light, Shadow, Demon, and Wind. The four things that can defeat Wulong. Grandmaster Dashi used his wind and Wuya's demon powers to take down Wulong the first time. Shixuede was easier to beat. Four Dragons-in-training did the job." Guang looked down at Nahkti sadly. "As the Light is no more, the Shadow is missing, and there is no Dragon of Demon-" She stopped, looking up at Raimundo. The brazilian caught on.

"I have to beat Wulong?" he asked skeptically. Guang nodded enthusiastically. "You have to be kidding." He backed away a foot.

"You cannot abandon your duty as a Xiaolin Dragon! Nahkti is still a Dragon, and the world is at stake! You have to accept your duty!" Raimundo gulped, not particularly like Guang angry.

"I don't even know how to get out!"

"When you are recovered, you will find the way."

"Still – that thing nearly killed me!"

"I know you are frightened – only a fool does not fear Shixuede or Wulong. But, if you will not do it for Nahkti – do it for Kimiko." That struck a sensitive spot. Raimundo wasn't sure what to say. He looked down to the ground. "I-" Looking up, he found that Guang and Nahkti were gone. Guang's words still echoed in his mind. Getting up, he thought for a minute.

Might as well start planning, he thought, continuing his walk, cause this is gonna be the hardest thing I've ever done.

Raimundo: Oh, great.

Ferret: Guang? o.O Talk about weirdness...

dl-sPirit: Ok, I got Roni.

Roni: (is...chibi-fied) Don't. Say it.

Ferret: (opens mouth)

Roni: (shoots black beam at Ferret)

Ferret: Meep.

Raimundo: Uh...just review? Please?