Brace the Storm: Educate Yourself

Jack and Max were interviewing a candidate who wanted to take part of their arsenal. It was an obese ninja named Tubbimura. He had talents for havoc and destruction, but Max in Jack had no interest in those qualities. Tubbimura mentioned capabilities of bringing mayhem, which was good for them. There was no time to continue the interview. Wuya sensed another Shen-Gong-Wu. It was the Sword of the Storm. Tubbimura decided to seek out the Sword of the Storm on their behalf.

Back at the Xiaolin Temple, Dojo notified the monks that the Sword of the Storm had revealed itself. Unfortunately, its reveal made Dojo's allergies act up. As Omi and Emily were explaining the power of the Sword of the Storm, Raimundo ignored them. All he made himself listen to was gabble and warble. His ignorance also led him into daydreaming that he was a hunky surfer. When he came back into reality, he pretended he was listening and impatiently asked if Omi and Emily would just be quiet and if they could find the Shen-Gong-Wu.

Emily sighed. "Lazy, impatient, hasty, reckless, and so full of himself. And yet, I still feel for him." And she didn't even know why. Was it because Raimundo reminded her of Duke in so many ways? Or was it because Raimundo was so misguided that he needed the strength and wisdom of his comrades more than anyone else? In either case, he was her friend and he needed help.

The Sword of the Storm was located on the beach of Monte Carlo. Already, Raimundo was liking it here. He thought it was almost as good as Rio. While the rest of his friends decided to spread out and search, Raimundo decided to catch some waves. He was about to get into the water when he suddenly tripped and fell. What he thought was a piece of driftwood stuck in the sand turned out to be the Sword of the Storm.

As Raimundo was about to gloat, Tubbimura appeared. It wasn't a Xiaolin Showdown, but they were fighting for the Sword of the Storm. Raimundo was doing well with his martial arts skills, but the extra fat and muscle in Tubbimura's body offered a great defense against attacks. Raimundo tried to use the Sword of the Sword like it was a real fighting tool, but to his lack of understanding, he didn't know the Sword was not meant to be used that way. Instead of clashing with Tubbimura's ninja sword, the Sword of the Storm began transparent and went through it. Raimundo slid across the sand, confused and immobile from his mistake. Tubbimura crushed Raimundo with his weight and picked up the Shen-Gong-Wu.

Raimundo still had some fight in him, but Tubbimura used the Shen-Gong-Wu to create a huge sandstorm and send Raimundo flying. When Tubbimura left, the sandstorm finally subsided and the rest of the monks found Raimundo. He told them what happened, but said it wasn't his fault. But it was his fault. Because he wasn't listening, he didn't understand the power of the Sword of the Storm.

Tubbimura presented the Sword of the Storm to Max and Jack. They didn't give him much praise because they knew if they did, he would want a better salary. So they decided to keep taking advantage of his capabilities.

While everyone else was going about with their activites, Raimundo was still upset for what happened on the beach. He began to think that this was how Kimiko felt with the Tangle Web Comb. Omi decided to give him a little heart-to-heart talk. "Raimundo, my usual fun-loving friend," he said cheerfully. "I am here to turn your frown upside and down."

Raimundo knew Omi was trying to help, but he didn't care. He went back inside the temple.

"I know your most humiliating defeat has saddened you," continued Omi, "Still, you must take hope that you will one day be as skilled and as talented as me."

Raimundo lost it and booted Omi back outside the courtyard.

"That's not how you're going to get to him," Emily said as she helped Omi up. "Saying you're better than him only makes it worse. You really need to be more understanding when it comes to problems like these."

Kimiko decided to take a chance by offering Raimundo a chance to try her new game Goo Zombies 2. But Raimundo didn't want to play. Master Fung knew Raimundo was hard to get through to, but he knew the boy needed his guidance. "You must not dwell in the house of faliure, young one, for you will never leave it."

Raimundo didn't understand phrases of wisdom the same way his friends did and saw them as arguments and speeches of blame. "I shouldn't have lost that fight. I'm more skilled and in way better shape than Tubbimura," Raimundo protested.

"You were defeated by your lack of knowledge, not your opponent," Master Fung advised him. "A drop of knowledge is more powerful than a sea of force."

Raimundo sighed of frustration. "Can't anyone speak normally around here?" he grumbled to himself.

Master Fung told him to broaden his thoughts and listen carefully not just with his ears, but his mind as well. After that, he dismissed himself and took an interest in learning how to play video games with Kimiko.

Emily watched and began to see why she started to feel strongly for Raimundo. He needed to learn to be more understanding and to listen. He may think he knows better than everyone else, but he'll come to learn that he needs the strength and wisdom of the people around him. And she can provide her own strength and wisdom by being understanding of him in return.

While the rest of the monks were sleeping, Raimundo was engrossed in his studies. He wanted to learn all there was to know about every Shen-Gong-Wu in existence. Dojo was still feeling sick and it wasn't from the Sword of the Storm. It was from a new Shen-Gong-Wu that had just revealed itself: the Shroud of Shadows. This was another popular treasure among thieves. Anyone who wrapped themselves in the Shroud of Shadows would become invisible.

The Shroud of Shadows was hidden in a fountain in Tokyo, Kimiko's hometown. She came from the city, but they were brought to the countryside. Raimundo found the Shroud of Shadows, but Max snuck up on him and swiped the Shroud from him. "This one's my favorite. Thanks for finding it for me, Rai."

"Oh, no, you don't," Emily growled. She and Max began fighting with each other, using their martial arts skills. Omi, Kimiko, and Clay were using their skills against Jack and his robots. Raimindo tried to recover the Shroud of Shadows, but Tubbimura got it as well. It was time for them to engage in a Xiaolin Showdown this time. The game was to stand on a rock in the pond. The first to fall into the water would lose the game.

To make the game interesting, Raimundo called for a Shen-Yi-Bu Dare. This was where player raised the stakes by wagering an extra Shen-Gong-Wu in the game. Raimundo wagered the Eye of Dashi and the Two-Ton Tunic against Tubbimura's Sword of the Storm and Fist of Tebigong. As an added twist, players would swap Shen-Gong-Wu through the match.

Tubbimura made the first move by using the Sword of the Storm to unleash a violent wind against Raimundo. The Brazilian saved himself by using the Two-Ton Tunic. He tried to attack with the Eye of Dashi, but Tubbimura defended himself using the Fist of Tebigong to impregnate the attack. Since this battle phase was over, the players had to swap Shen-Gong-Wu. Raimundo got the Fist of Tebigong and Tubbimura got the Two-Ton-Tunic.

Tubbimura used the Sword of the Storm once again, but this time, he tried something different. With a fierce wind, he also unleashed a whirlpool. Raimundo was sent flying into the air. As he was coming down, he used the Fist of Tebigong to keep a tight grip on the stone pillar. He tried to lift himself back up, but was slipping further down. The exchange began again as Raimundo got the Sword of the Storm and Tubbimura got back the Fist of Tebigong.

"The Shen-Yi-Bu has turned against you," Tubbimura told Raimundo. "Best of luck using the Sword without falling!" And he began laughing triumphantly. "You must choose. Drop the Sword of the Storm or fall!"

Raimundo decided to fall. His friends thought he was crazy, but he knew what he was doing. Raimundo did something that no one had ever witnessed before; combine the powers of the Shen-Gong-Wu. With the combined power of the Eye of Dashi, the Sword of the Storm was working like a glide, bringing Raimundo back on top. "Told you I was the Dragon of the wind."

Tubbimura used the power of the Two-Ton Tunic to increase his weight, but he was still being lifted by the wind. "Put me down!"

"Okay," Raimundo said smugly, and he pushed Tubbimura off, letting him fall in the water. "Later," he called as he heard his opponent scream.

The battle was over and Dojo could breathe again. Master Fung was proud of his students, especially Raymundo. He was the first to call a Shen-Yi-Bu Dare in centuries. Everyone thought he was studying, but that was what the Brazilian wanted his friends to think. He was playing Goo Zombies 2. Sometimes, people just have to be the way they are. Sometimes, it can be helped. Most times, it just can't.