The Last Temptation of Raimundo

One evening at the Xiaolin Temple, the monks were doing some construction. From the sky, a red star was spotted. It wasn't just any star. It was the Heylin Comet. It would remain visible in the sky for the next three days. Until the Comet would pass, the heroes were warned not to use their Shen-Gong-Wu.

Of course, Jack had to abide by the same warning. Wuya warned him that the consequences would be severe. That was why she wanted to tempt the heroes into using their Shen-Gong-Wu. First, she had to cause a catastrophe. She ordered Jack to fire the laser from his telescope at the Heylin Comet. A part of the evil star rained from the heavens and came down on a mountain in Brazil, turning it into a volcano.

Raimundo saw the alert on his cell phone and knew right away that he had to save his hometown. He tried to wake his friends, but couldn't. He had to face the danger on his own by walking on the path of danger. From the vault, Raimundo took the Golden Tiger Claws and the Sword of the Storm. He warped to the base of the volcano and used the Sword of the Storm to drain the water in the river and spray it over the volcano, creating a path away from the city.

Raimundo's friends and neighbors celebrated his heroic efforts throughout the rest of the night. He returned to the temple at dawn, but when he tried to return the Shen-Gong-Wu to the vault, Raimundo had a hard time letting go. The Sword of the Storm tried to grip itself around his wrist, but Raimundo managed to force it off. The Golden Tiger Claws weren't coming off either and began acting on their own. Against his command, the Tiger Claws warped Raimundo back inside his chamber. He tried calling for help, but the Tiger Claws covered his face, making him unable to breathe.

That morning, when Raimundo finally came to, he knew he had to keep the situation a secret. But he couldn't hide the Golden Tiger Claws. He knew his teacher and classmates would notice and reprimand him, but he decided to tell it straight out. "It wasn't my fault. There was this volcano near my hometown. I tried to tell you, but you were all asleep. So I used some of the Shen-Gong-Wu to save everyone. Then we had a big festival and everyone took turns carrying me around."

Kimiko stopped him. "Let me get this straight. There just happened to be a volcano near your hometown where there just happened to be a festival?"

Omi didn't believe him either. "Do we look like we were born next week?"

"You mean born yesterday," Max corrected.

"I don't think he's making this up," said Emily.

"She's right," said Raimundo. "But now the Golden Tiger Claws won't come off. I can't control them."

"I believe you," said Max. "You wouldn't make up something like this if you weren't in a desperate situation."

The Golden Tiger Claws started to get out of control again, warping Raimundo around the construction zone. Clay managed to lasso him and tie his rope around his hand.

"We must keep a close watch on our rebellious monk, as his self-control is no longer in control," Master Fung warned.

"We can't let him near any more Shen-Gong-Wu," Emily said, understanding the situation.

"That won't be easy," said Max. "Rai will try to avoid them, but I have a feeling they'll find their way to him."

Max was right. In two days' time, the Heylin Comet would pass and the Shen-Gong-Wu would still have a mind of their own until then. But as Max warned, the Shen-Gong-Wu would find their way to Raimundo. That night, the Golden Tiger Claws broke free from their bindings and warped Raimundo to the temple vault. When he woke up, Raimundo saw that the Third Arm Sash wrapped itself around his waist and was grabbing the Orb of Tornami. He tried to fight it, but couldn't. He managed to get the Third Arm Sash to lose its grip on the Orb of Tornami, but the Golden Tiger Claws secured the Helmet of Jong on Raimundo's forehead.

The rest of the heroes heard a commotion going on in the vault and were shocked to see their friend having grown large in his physical form and covered in Shen-Gong-Wu. It was like he was becoming a human Mala Mala Jong.

Jack and Wuya were observing the battle. Wuya was impressed that it was one of the Xiaolin warriors who gave in to temptation instead of her partner. This was opportune for her. Once enough Shen-Gong-Wu had attached themselves to Raimundo, he would lose whatever willpower was left in him, giving her the chance to control his body and will.

The next day, Max decided to do some research. After hearing about the news alert regarding the volcano in Brazil, she alerted the others that Raimundo was telling the truth when he said his hometown was about to be destroyed by the lava flow of the volcano and he did go to the rescue. Realizing their mistake, the monks knew that they had to find Raimundo and set things right by being the friends he needed.

The Brazilian was wandering the countryside until he met up with Jack and Wuya. Wuya commanded her partner to give Raimundo the Glove of Jisaku, but he was against the idea. Nontheless, he obeyed her command. Raimundo tried to resist, but couldn't control his body. His free hand slipped inside the Glove.

At that moment, the heroes finally found their friend. They apologized to Raimundo for doubting him and not being there when he needed them. They pleaded for Raimundo to come back to the temple with them. He was having a hard time trying to get back in control, but his friends believed in him and helped him get back to the temple.

With all of the Shen-Gong-Wu covering Raimundo, it was like he was developing another personality. The Raimundo everyone knew and loved was trying to get back in control, but the Shen-Gong-Wu were speaking through him, commanding him.

The Glove of Jisaku activated on its own, attracting all of the Shen-Gong-Wu hidden all over the temple grounds. After gathering all of the Shen-Gong-Wu, Raimundo was carried off by the Longi Kite and taken to the Spicer residence. Wuya was ready to possess his body.

Now that the Heylin Comet finally passed, the heroes were free to use what Shen-Gong-Wu they had left to help Raimundo. They hurried, but they were too late. Wuya had already taken over their friend's mind and body.

Omi called for an all-or-nothing Xiaolin Showdow Cosmic Clash. The Xiaolin team would wager their own Shen-Gong-Wu while Wuya would wager one for every player. The Xiaolin team wagered the Tangle Web Comb, Thorn of Thunderbolts, Lotus Twister, Silk Spitter, and Fist of Tebigong against Wuya's Mantis Flip Coin, Lasso Boa Boa, Orb of Tornami, Third Arm Sash, and Helmet of Jong. The game would be Steal the Wu and whoever would gather the opposing team's Shen-Gong-Wu would be declared the winner. Dojo would be the keeper of the Shen-Gong-Wu collected.

Clay was about to use the Fist of Tebigong, but under Wuya's control, Raimundo used the Third Arm Sash to swipe it. Kimiko tried to use the Tangle Web Comb to ensnare Raimundo, but he escaped using the Mantis Flip Coin and managed to take the Comb from Kimiko. Emily used the Silk Spitter and shot webs at Raimundo's feet, trapping him to the ground. She also used her Luminous Wave to temporarily blind her opponent, giving her the chance to take the Orb of Tornami. While Raimundo was temporarily blind, the heroes took this chance to remove the rest of the Shen-Gong-Wu from his body like the Serpent's Tail, Changing Chopsticks, Longi Kite, and Lasso Boa Boa.

After recovering his vision, Wuya commanded Raimundo to use the Mantis Flip Coin to dodge Max, who launched an attack from the Thorn of Thunderbolts. Omi used the Lotus Twister to stretch his arms far enough to reach the Helmet of Jong and remove it from Raimundo's head. Wuya had enough and used the Shroud of Shadows to conceal Raimundo.

"That's cheating," Kimiko protested. "That wasn't one of the Shen-Gong-Wu wagered."

"What do you expect?" Max asked. "Evil never plays fair."

"How do we fight an enemy we can't see?" Clay asked.

"By relying on a friend who is still with us even though we can't see him," said Emily.

"She is right," said Omi. "I believe deep down inside, Raimundo is trying to fight for us, not against us."

Together, the monks engaged in their Dragon Excume formation. Sensing it, Raimundo heard them and struggled to rejoin his friends. It was true. Inside the monster the heroes were facing was the Xiaolin Dragon of wind, fighting to break free from the monster's control. He began removing the Shen-Gong-Wu from his body, driving Wuya out. He was now back in control and back to normal.

Raimundo was happy to be back to being his own person. He even forgave his friends for not being there for him. That was when the heroes agreed to stand by one another and give their full support.