Authors note: thanks for the reviews! well you wanted to know what happens next so… here you go :) hope you enjoy chapter 4
---------Does anybody know? ---------
"What? You've got to be kidding me! We've got to get Jade home, that whole showdown couldn't have been good for her."
"Jack! This is important! It's the thieving cane and the dimensional gem!"
"Oo they sound cool."
"Yes very cool, so let's go!" Thinking for a moment Jack set the craft into autopilot to go after the thieving cane.
"Jade, you stay in the hover craft and go after the thieving cane, do not get into another showdown alright?" she nodded.
"Now look when you have the thieving cane… or not if the monks get it first I swear its alright… just press this button here and it will take you back to my lab alright? Nothing to worry about." Jack waited while Wuya showed Jade what the cane looked like before giving her his wrist wu finder.
"This will help you find it, just follow the arrows." He said as he activated his heilpack and went off in another direction with Wuya leading the way.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Jack asked as they flew towards the dimensional gem.
"I am sure she will be fine." Wuya said in an almost monotone voice her mind slightly elsewhere.
"Uh hello… evil boy genius to Heylin witch… you there?"
"What? Yes, just focus on what were doing Jack your little friend will be fine." Jack scowled but didn't bother to point out that Wuya was the one who wasn't focusing.
---
Not too long later Jack, Omi and Raimundo sat inside what looked to be a giant bubble big enough to hold a large hill, a tree, and the three of them with seemingly nothing on the outside. Well, nothing they could see anyway. Raimundo had apparently brought the Eye of Dashi along with the falcon's eye and had given the falcon's eye to Omi while he kept the eye of Dashi. The three of them had been looking through a mirror maze for the gem when Raimundo thought that he could clear a path with the eye of Dashi. What ended up happening was a lot of limitless energy being reflected around till it hit the gem causing it to activate. The three of them ended up being sent to this weird bubble dimension without the gem, and thus without a way to get back.
"Man this bites, what the heck kind of dimension is this anyway?" Jack asked out loud as he poked what looked like the sky that touched the edge of the ground in front of him. It felt like a bubble, but it didn't pop.
"We must be putting our heads together to figure out a way out of this predicament."
"Um Omi I hate to bust your bubble but I think we're kinda stuck here…" Rai pointed out as he sat with his back to the tree.
"But surely we cannot sit here and do nothing…"
"Sure we can." Jack said sitting down right where he was. "Wuya saw what happened, she'll get help since she can't just take the gem herself."
"Sounds good to me." Rai said with a casual shrug. Omi sat down with a sigh. They sat in silence for a moment before Jack looked up at Omi.
"Hey baldy, you know a lot about the shen-gon-wu right?"
"This is true; I spend a lot of my time studying about all the shen-gon-wu so that I might be prepared for any battles that may be ahead."
"Uh huh, that's nice; hey I've got a bit of a brain buster for you… I asked Wuya and she had no idea."
"Really? Then please ask me this hard question for I am sure I can answer it with my abundance of knowledge."
"Who created the Shen-Gon-Wu? And for that matter, why?"
"What?" Jack gave an irritated sigh.
"So you don't know ether huh, wonder if anyone does…"
"Why do you care Jack?" Rai asked wondering if he had a specific reason for asking.
"Hey I didn't come up with the question I was asked it and since then it's been bugging me."
"I am also intrigued by this question, especially the 'why'. Dashi used the Shen-Gon-Wu to defeat Wuya, yet they existed before then so… for what purpose were they created?" Omi wondered out loud.
"Perhaps someone was just messing around and made them on accident." Rai suggested not really giving it much thought.
"I really don't think someone would create hundreds of magical, helpful and powerful items just by accident. It is too big of a chance."
"I think you mean coincidence…"
"That too."
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Clay and Kimiko had left the silver manta ray and walked off in opposite directions along the costal line of the ocean. Luckily there was no one at this beach to slow the search; it was winter on this side of the planet. Clay wandered up and down in almost a zigzag like fashion so as not to miss the wu if it was at the top of the beach while he was at the bottom.
"Looks like I've got company." Clay muttered to himself looking at Jacks hover craft that was awkwardly parked on top of a rock cove. Walking over he saw a trail of footprints in the sand that seemed to mill around for a moment before heading back to the rocks. Jack's got a device that can pinpoint a Shen-Gon-Wu, if I follow him I just might get it before he does. Grinning to himself Clay began working his way over the tide pools and over the slippery rock surfaces while making sure to keep an eye out for any Jack-bots. Clay carefully kept his back to a cliff while he tried not to slip into the water which was now about ten feet below him. I sure hope I'm going the right way… Clay thought to himself as he looked at the crashing waves below him. If Jack had flown off in a different direction he was in trouble. Once around the other side clay looked up to see what looked like a hidden alcove nearly completely concealed by rocks. Clay had to tip his hat to stop the sun from blinding him. Looking out from under the rim of his hat he noticed a figure standing near the rock edge seemingly looking out at the ocean, even though from where he was the sun was directly in front of him giving him only a silhouette of the figure he knew it had to be Spicer.
"Jack Spicer you'd best give up any hope of finding the Shen-Gon-Wu before me." He shouted and rushed towards him half blinded by the sun intent on tackling him down. The figure quickly jumped out of the way, skidding on the rocks Clay turned to face his opponent who was not Jack Spicer; it was the girl who had helped him out earlier. Clay blushed embarrassed by his big mistake.
"I-I'm sorry miss I didn't get a proper look at you is all… I thought you were Spicer." The girl simply nodded and shakily got to her feet, she then adjusted the short scarf that was loosely fitted around her neck before glancing around then back at him. What a strange girl… wonder why she doesn't say anything… thinking that perhaps he was the one being rude, after all he had just mistaken her for him and Spicer none the less, Clay tried to introduce himself.
"My names Clay, Clay Bailey; what's your name miss?" The girl just looked at him and started backing up almost as if she was afraid of him.
"I didn't mean to scare you-Woah!" Clay stumbled forward as his feet slipped nearly completely out from under him. This movement caused the girl to retreat a few extra paces before turning to run over to one of the cliff walls which she immediately began to scale. How in the world is she managing to do that in sandals when I can barely keep my balance in my boots? Clay wondered to himself as he watched her climb. Looking further up the cliff face he noticed the thieving cane sitting in a niche on the wall. Cursing to himself he hurried over as fast as he could and began climbing the wall. While Clay climbed as fast as he could manage it was Jade's hand that touched the Shen-Gon-Wu first. Before Clay could attempt to grab the cane to activate a showdown Jade yanked the cane from its holding causing her to loose her footing and fall backwards Clay reached out in hopes of grabbing her but only caused himself to loose his own balance. Jade landed on her hands and knees and quickly picked herself up just as Clay landed on his feet.
"You alright there little lady?" Clay asked concerned. She gave a small nod as she held the cane in both hands. Turning she ran from Clay heading back the way she came.
"Hey now I don't think you should be running over such a slippery surfa-Woah!" Clay continued to slip as he tried to hurry after her. Finding speed was not going to help him here he resumed his usual slower speed.
Jade hurried as quickly as she dared not sure what was keeping her from slipping into the crashing waves below. She simply held her breath and hoped that whatever it was kept it up. She finally reached the beach shores again and with no sign of that cowboy… Clay? Not wanting to stand around and wonder she hurried back to the hover craft and hit the button that Jack had told her would turn it on. The craft whirred into life and a directional consol appeared in front of her asking if she wanted to head to the next Shen-Gon-Wu or head home. Jack had told her to go straight home… but what if he needed her help? Thinking for a moment she pressed one of the options and the craft took off. Finding the control that made the chair recline Jade made it go back as far as it went before lying down on it. Within minutes of curling up on the chair Jade was asleep.
---
Back in the mirror maze Wuya was trying to navigate Dojo to the dimensional gem.
"I told you to go left you stupid pest!" Wuya yelled at Dojo when he decided to take a turn other than the one she had told him to take.
"I refuse to slither over pieces of broken glass." He replied in a matter of fact tone.
"Then fly over it you fool!"
"I only fly in my larger form and I don't feel like doing that in such a small aria surrounded by all these mirrors. Do you know how much bad luck I'd be stuck with if I broke all of these?"
"Oh you big baby." What seemed like several hours of bickering later Dojo made it to the center where the dimensional gem still sat on the center pillar. Dojo picked it up and looked it over.
"How do we know it will open up to the same dimension the others were sent to?"
"One way to find out, activate it already!"
"Alright alright, sheesh… talk about bossy. Dimensional gem!" A beam of light extended from the crystal stopping a few feet from Dojo then expanded to create a door which, of course, led to another dimension. Dojo looked at the door wondering if he had opened it to the right place or not. A few seconds after he had the thought Omi, Raimundo and Jack quickly ran through the door which closed after them.
"I am so glad to be out of there." Raimundo commented looking where the door had once been. Dojo looked back and forth from Omi and Jack who were looking back and forth from him to each other. Not wanting to be the one in the middle of what was going to happen Dojo tossed the gem up into the air and bolted. Both Omi and Jack lunged for the gem grabbing it at the same time.
"Jack Spicer, I challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown! The game is mirror maze, first to the center wins."
"You haven't had enough of these stupid mirrors? Fine, whatever, Gon-Yi-Tempai!" the mirrors mended themselves and rearranged to suit the showdown placing each player back on the outside at opposite ends. Jack used the monkey staff in hopes that the extra agility would help him win the showdown but in the end it was Omi who got to the gem first.
"Enjoy your one win for the day while it lasts Xiaolin losers!" Jack shouted as he flew off.
"You'd think he was the one pulling off most of the wins." Rai commented as he watched Jack fly off.
"Yes, but let us head back to the temple I have a most important question I wish to ask master Fung."
"About the Shen-Gon-Wu right?"
"That is correct." They left the fun house and Dojo transformed into his larger self and carried the two monks back to the temple.
Once back at the temple Omi quickly put away the three Shen-Gon-Wu he had before looking for master Fung. He found his mentor in the training grounds with the others.
"Ah Omi, please join the others, we will be beginning a new segment of training today." Omi quickly ran over to take his place next to Clay.
"Please master Fung I have a most important question I wish to ask you."
"Not now young monk, it will have to wait till after training." When Omi tried to object Rai spoke up.
"It's a killer of a question, maybe master Fung doesn't know."
"Doesn't know? Master Fung knows all, and sees all." Dojo said from around master Fung's neck trying to sound mysterious.
"I dunno… It's just this little question about the Shen-Gon-"
"I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION!" Omi hollered in Raimundo's ear causing him to fall over and the others to jump back in surprise. Panting slightly from yelling so loud Omi turned back to master Fung and bowed respectfully.
"Please I wish to know who created the Shen-Gon-Wu and for what purpose." Clay and Kimiko both looked at mater Fung also wanting to know the answer. Master Fung looked at Omi then at Dojo who looked at master Fung and shrugged.
"Instead of training we will have a study session; I will consult the others and we will meditate on this question." Kimiko gave a small sigh; she would've preferred training to going over a bunch of dusty old scrolls for the rest of the afternoon. Omi looked at Kimiko and smiled.
"Kimiko, perhaps you should check your spider web and see if you can not perhaps find some information there?" Kimiko gave a small smile.
"Why not, I'll bring it to the library, meet you guys there."
----
Jack landed in front of his house; Wuya had flown off to some place at some point during the trip back. He didn't know if she was coming back and at the moment he didn't really care. He had had enough of her rantings and insults to last him a lifetime. Walking down into his lab he noticed his hover craft sitting on its landing pad. Oh yeah, Jade… I hope she's ok… looking around to see if he could spot her he walked over to the hover craft. He gave a small grin when he saw her lying there still asleep on the chair clutching the Shen-Gon-Wu close to her as if to keep them safe. Orb of Tornami, third arm sash, mantis flip coin and thieving staff… she didn't get into a showdown, that's good. From her pale complexion it didn't look like she could've handled another one. Jack turned away with the intent of quietly getting her a blanket when he tripped over his tool box falling face first onto the ground.
"OW! That hurts! Who the heck left that there!... Oppse…" looking up from where he lay he saw Jade peering over the side of the craft a concerned look on her face.
"So much for letting you sleep…" Jade tilted her head to one side.
"I'm fine I just tripped on my stupid tool box." He muttered angrily. Pulling herself over the side of the hover craft to fall over on the other side Jade lay down so that her head was level with his and tilted her head to the side again.
"You're wondering why I'm in a bad mood?" Jade nodded.
"I lost to those stupid Xiaolin monks again… Wuya told me off basically the whole way home… and I lost the monkey staff in the showdown. That was like my favorite Wu." He said almost getting a bit teary eyed at the mention of the loss of his favorite Wu.
Jack tried to work on his Jack-bots to get his mind off the showdown but it didn't really work. Jade did her best to try and cheer him up. In between handing him tools she tried handing him pudding cups but he just passed them back. Next she tried handing him the Shen-Gon-Wu that she had won but he told her that she had won them and that she should hold on to them. It was about nine at night when Jack decided to give up on the robots and go to bed. Jade watched him go a sad expression on her face. She held the soul swapper in her hands tracing her fingers over the fine details of the statue. She rested her head down on the bench thinking that if she rested her eyes for a moment that she would think of a way to cheer Jack up.
About an hour after Jade had fallen asleep a wisp of shadow raised itself from her hand and wrapped around the soul swapper that she still gripped in her hand. There was a brief flash of light as the soul swapper activated, switching the souls of the ones who held it.
Authors note: Sorry this chapter was a bit long. Yeah… its kind of a cliff hanger… ok I guess it just is a cliff hanger. Hope the ending wasn't too confusing. Yes Jade is the only one holding the soul swapper; it will all make sense in the next chapter… promise. Till then, please R&R and I'll see you all in chapter 5!