Jack stood at Dojo's side while the others ran through the forest searching for the Rod of Asclepius.
"So, who was this Asclepius guy?"
"He was some Greek god of healing and medicine," Dojo informed.
"Okay," Jack put a finger to his lips in thought "I hope they get it," he mumbled.
Jack and Dojo watched as the others scrambled up and down trees, flipped rocks, and talked to forest creatures. Jack rolled his eyes. As he did so, he saw something up in a nearby tree.
"Hey, guys!" he shouted, "Up that tree," he pointed.
"Why thank you Jack," a voice behind him said.
Jack spun around on his good leg, "Katnappè! What are you doing here?"
"Wuya's paying me double time, just for this Shen Gong Wu."
"It's not like you need it," he scoffed.
"Yeah, but you do," she said mockingly, "Kitties," she called, "Rip Jack up a bit."
Tiny furry kittens jumped out of Katnappè's pack and lunged at Jack. With a shrill scream, Jack was sent to the ground.
"I hate cats!" he shouted.
"Too bad, Jack," she giggled as she started climbing the tree.
"Guys!" Jack called, "Hurry! Katnappè's after it too!"
"We'll be right there!" he heard Clay call.
After Jack had thrown the last kitten from his body he turned to Dojo.
"Looks like this one's yours," the dragon said coyly.
"Monkey Staff!"
Jack turned into a monkey and raced up the tree.
"Where's Jack, Dojo?" Kimiko asked when they finally made it back.
Dojo pointed up the tree.
"Oh, no," Kimiko sighed.
"We're doomed," Rai moaned.
"We're not, Jack is," Clay informed.
"That is true," Omi said, "If Jack does not get the Rod of Asclepius, then he will have to wait for his leg to heal naturally."
Dojo hemmed and hawed a bit, "I think he'll get it."
The dragons turned in shock to Dojo.
"I wouldn't be putting him down so early in the game," he explained, "I feel slightly intimidated when I'm around him…"
Eight eyes bulged.
"You?" Kimiko laughed, "Afraid of Jack?"
Dojo shrugged, "He seems a little creepy lately."
"Creepier than normal?" Clay asked.
"Yeah. Like strong creepy…"
Rai rolled his eyes, "Should we be worried?" he humored.
"Maybe," Dojo said with all seriousness.
"I challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown, Katnappè!"
Kimiko ran a hand down her face at the sound of Jack's voice, "This is it."
"Mmhm," Clay nodded.
"My Monkey Staff against your Third Arm Sash!"
"Fine!" Katnappè hissed, "But beating you won't even be a challenge."
"Can it Ashley! First one to the top of that big tree over there wins!"
Katnappè laughed, "You're talking to a cat here, climbing is my fortè!"
"Shut up and let's do this!"
"Xiaolin Showdown!" they shouted together.
The earth began to shake. All the trees crumbled into the earth, leaving one humongous monster standing. The massive tree grew higher into the sky until it came to an abrupt halt. Thick clouds filled the sky. The leaves on the tree became tiny green razors. Jack and Katnappe stood at the bottom.
"Gong Yi Tanpai!"
And they were off.
"Monkey Staff!"
Jack shifted into a monkey as Katnappe was already tackling the tree.
The Wudai warriors stood on a floating rock in their blue armor, watching Jack actually put up a fight.
"Look at him go!" Rai noted.
"You'd think he was after some bananas or something," Kimiko said.
"He's movin' faster 'n a Jackrabbit on a hot skillet!"
Dojo squinted in disgust, "That was a very sad pun, Clay."
"Look!" Omi shouted.
Jack was suddenly in the lead. With a hiss, katnappe used the Third Arm Sash to reach up to a branch that was ahead of Jack.
"Later, Loser," she called as she glided up ahead of Jack, giving him the famed 'loser' symbol.
Jack growled. Slamming his fist into the tree, the entire trunk shook. Katnappe momentarily lost her balance and fell down a branch.
The Xiaolin warriors looked on in amazement.
"How'd he do that?" Rai said in astonishment.
"Looks like he's a lot stronger than we all think," Clay said nervously.
Jack's face was hot with anger. He whimpered a bit as the searing pain in his leg became nearly overwhelming. He pounded the tree again with his fist in disgust and wound up knocking Katnappe down another branch.
"Stop it, you loser," she yelled down to him.
"No!"
Jack let out a monkey screech and in a flash, was behind Katnappe in her shadow.
"Wha-"
She was too slow. Jack grabbed the tail of her costume and tore her from the tree. Katnappe plummeted until her claws finally caught hold of a branch. Jack looked down at her with a wicked grin.
"Later, Loser," he mocked as he scrambled up the tree.
"Third Arm Sash!"
The blue sash reached up and wrapped itself around Jack's monkey tail. With a screech, he momentarily let go of the staff. His tail vanished and the sash sank lifelessly down to Katnappe pulling her down from the tree.
"Monkey Staff!" Jack called as he took the staff up once more.
He wasn't far from the top, but he needed the tail to take the stress off of his leg.
"Looks like I've won, Katnappe!" Jack said as he mounted the top of the tree and Katnappe fell to the gorund.
"Huh?" she looked up miserably into Jack's violent red eyes; they were so far up, but they were so bright and malicious.
Jack took the Rod in his hands and the Showdown came to an end. Katnappe landed gently on the ground. Jack stood above her, looking down at her.
"Jack!" The dragons called.
"You did it!" Kimiko shouted.
"Yeah, even with a busted leg, you still managed to kick Katnappe's butt, big time!" Rai said as he patted him on the back.
"Well," Jack blushed as he looked down at Katnappe once more.
The teenaged girl cowered away in fear. Those eyes were so viscious…
That can't be Jack… her mind struggled to comprehend her defeat, That was some kind of monster…
"What's her problem?" Rai laughed.
"Don't know," Jack laughed, "but I want to go back to the temple and fix my leg. Do you think Master Fung'll let this count towards my task?"
"Why not?" Kimiko said, "You won the Shen Gong Wu all on your own."
"Fair and square," Clay added.
"Yes," Omi began, "But I am most curious, what do you call that move you used?"
"Move?" Jack chuckled, "I don't know any moves."
"The one you used to become Katnappe's shadow…"
"I… That wasn't a move," he chuckled, "It just… Kinda happened…"
"Indeed," Omi said in an ominous tone.
"Omi, give him a break," Kimiko sighed, "He won the Wu. Now let's just get out of here."
Dojo became large again. All of the warriors and Jack mounted his back before he took off into the sky and soared back to the temple.