Chapter 13: In The Flesh

Yawning widely, Rory was still waking up after she finished breakfast and made her way to training with Kimiko, Clay and Omi. Her fingers ran along the sash tied around her waist, which was a different shade to the one she'd had as a Dragon-in-Training.

It had already been two weeks since she had become a Xiaolin Apprentice. Two weeks since they'd faced Mala Mala Jong and barely managed to claim victory, and they'd finally managed to get the temple back into shape following the destruction the monster had caused.

Master Fung was waiting for the group, and in front of him was a mat with four different Shen Gong Wu sitting on it. He smiled, nodding at them, but it faded a little when Raimundo stomped over. They all exchanged worried looks. After being told he wasn't ready to become an Apprentice, Raimundo had shut them all out and barely spoken to them.

"Now, my Xiaolin Apprentices," as they sat down, their teacher began the lesson. "With your new ranking comes the learning of new skills," he announced. "Kimiko, if you please," he gestured to the Japanese girl, who smiled and stood up. He handed over the Star Hanabi to her. "Say the name of this Shen Gong Wu, and then your Dragon Element, and you shall unlock a unique power that channels your power into something controllable in the early stages of your Mastery," Master Fung instructed as Raimundo yawned widely.

"Yes, Master Fung," Kimiko studied the Star for a moment, before turning to the training dummies nearby, which they'd built using scraps from the robots they'd destroyed. "Star Hanabi, Fire!" she threw the Star, which smashed through the dummies and flew back into Kimiko's hand.

"Whoa…" Rory breathed. Clay and Omi looked just as impressed as the Star Hanabi smoked, but didn't hurt the girl.

"Big deal," Raimundo rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Since I'm not one of the special 'Xiaolin Apprentices', can I go play Goo Zombies 3?" he requested.

"No, Raimundo," Master Fung sighed as he lifted other Shen Gong Wu.

"But-"

"The zombies will wait in their goo," the teacher said, and Raimundo groaned but didn't argue. "Omi, Clay, Rory, now you try," he handed over the Orb of Tornami, Third Arm Sash, and Eye of Dashi to them. Raimundo slumped back into the grass, but was ignored.

"Orb of Tornami, Water!"

"Third Arm Sash, Earth!"

"Eye of Dashi, Light!" The three activated their Shen Gong Wu together. Omi shot a jet of water at one of the dummies that was still on fire, and was surprised when it froze. The Third Arm Sash turned to stone, smashing through a dummy and the wall behind it, kicking up dust. Rory was forced to plant her feet with light burst out of the Eye of Dashi, hitting a wide range and slicing cleanly through what remained of the dummies.

"Ice?" Omi gasped.

"This Sash is as strong as stone!" Clay laughed as the Third Arm Sash returned to normal, tied around his waist.

"That was...awesome," Rory grinned as she saw the damage done by the Eye of Dashi.

"Wow," Raimundo gave a mocking gasp, rolling his eyes. "Stringing together a couple of words. I can see why that's reserved for apprentice level," he drawled sarcastically. Rory glanced at Clay, who wasn't happy.

"Raimundo, my friend," Omi put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand your disappointment," he soothed.

"This'll be good," Rory muttered as Kimiko and Clay looked just as wary as she felt.

"But this clouded darkness has a sliver of lining," Omi put an arm around him and poked his nose in an attempt to be affectionate. "Because I shall train you night and day!" he exclaimed. Raimundo looked unimpressed.

"Until I'm as good as you?" he guessed. Omi laughed.

"Oh, no," he wiped away a tear of laughter. "You will never be that good. But with my guidance, you may become...adequate!" Omi declared.

"Oh boy," Kimiko put a hand to her face.

"Wow, Omi," Raimundo smiled brightly, eyes big and bright. "You should be a motivational speaker!" he told the boy.

"Really?" Omi gushed, not detecting the sarcasm.

"Oh yeah," Raimundo stood and lifted the Golden Tiger Claws. "You've motivated me right outta here!" his smile dropped to reveal how angry he was.

"Raimundo, no!" Kimiko tried to stop him, but Raimundo ignored her as Omi's smile fell.

"Golden Tiger Claws!" with a shout, Raimundo leapt through a tear he ripped through space, and vanished.

"I think his resentment is getting worse," Rory considered, worried about their friend. Despite his cold and rude attitude towards them, Raimundo was still their friend and teammate, and they didn't want him pulling away any more than he already had.

"Me too," Kimiko sighed. "But all we can do is try to be there. And not rub being Apprentices in his face," she shot Omi a glare, and he gave a sheepish smile in response, putting his hands behind his back in an attempt to look innocent.

"Well, now's a good time to get some training in," Clay told them, hand on the Third Arm Sash. "Then when he cools off, we can see if he wants to just hang out," he suggested. His words encouraged Kimiko and Rory, who nodded. While they were both worried about Raimundo, they were still excited about using the Shen Gong Wu in new ways unique to them.


Training was cut short for the four, when Dojo arrived shouting about a new Shen Gong Wu. Master Fung, who had been supervising their training, led them back inside to the Shen Gong Wu scroll to see what had awakened.

"Ah, here it is," Master Fung spoke as he opened the scroll, and they all peered closely. "The Reversing-" he stopped when a tear appeared, and Raimundo climbed out.

"What is it? What's the Shen Gong Wu?" he asked quickly.

"Where have you been, young man? I've been worried sick and - whoa, wait a second," Dojo frowned, stopping his motherly tirade. "How'd you know there was an active Shen Gong Wu?" he asked suspiciously, folding his arms. Raimundo paled.

"Well, you know. Tiger instincts and all that," he laughed weakly, forcing a smile. None of them looked convinced. "So...what is it?" Raimundo asked, hoping to move off the topic.

"The Reversing Mirror. It reverses the effects of any Shen Gong Wu," Master Fung obliged, explaining the new Shen Gong Wu. "For example, the Two Ton Tunic would become as light as a feather," he explained.

"Whoa," Kimiko breathed.

"Whoa is right," Rory agreed, wondering just what it would do to other Shen Gong Wu.

"Awe isn't gonna get Shen Gong Wu, people. Saddle up!" Dojo shouted impatiently, ready to get moving to find the Reversing Mirror. As they hurried out, Rory glanced at Raimundo again, aware that he was hiding something. He caught her eye for a second, and immediately looked away, almost looking guilty. Rory's suspicions grew, but she put the thoughts away for now, knowing they needed to be focused for the new Shen Gong Wu.


The sky was overcast, and a strong wind was battering the five as Dojo flew towards a lighthouse, certain that he could sense the Shen Gong Wu there.

"Urgh, it's definitely there," Rory groaned, rolling her eyes. "Spicer and Wuya are already there," she warned. Raimundo tensed, but none of them noticed his reaction. As they flew around, they saw Jack's small airship that he'd built, and heard Wuya shrieking.

"The Reversing Mirror is mine!" she screamed, but it was useless as Jack ignored her and walked over to where the Reversing Mirror was stuck to the glass. "I found it first!" Wuya snarled.

"You know what they say. Finders keepers, losers weepers," Jack taunted.

"The only one who will be a weeping loser, is you, Jack Spicer!" Omi declared. "And you, Wuya. You shall weep over your loss as well!" Omi shouted, pointing at the pair.

"Omi's trash talk needs as much work as Clay's," Rory sighed. "That was bad," she commented.

"I have to agree with Rapunzel," Jack said, leaning on the light. "That was the lamest taunt ever," he told Omi, who went red as Rory rolled her eyes. "Stick to the jumping and kicking, Omi," Jack told him. Omi's eyes narrowed.

"As you wish!" Omi shouted, leaping at him. He jumped over Jack's head, knocking him over, and kicked the Reversing Mirror into the air. However, Jack caught it, flying overhead with a laugh.

"Too slow!" he taunted, only for Kimiko to kick him away.

"Got it!" she grinned.

"Jackbots! Attack!" Jack shouted from the ground. He smirked when a large amount of his robots flew up into view, and one grabbed Kimiko. She cried out as it lifted her into the air, and another grabbed the Reversing Mirror from her. Clay leapt in, smashing through the robots with his bulky body to grab the Reversing Mirror. Robots surrounded him to steal it back, only for Rory to intercept, grabbing one and slamming it into another. However, in the distraction, Jack snatched the Reversing Mirror back.

"Yoink!" he laughed as he stole it from Clay, only for Raimundo to block his path and grab the Mirror. It instantly began to glow, and Raimundo smirked.

"Spicer, I challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown," he challenged. Rory shook her head as a strange feeling flickered through her for just a moment before vanishing just as quickly. She frowned, confused by the feeling that had appeared once before.

"What's the matter, Wuya? Got no-one to root for?" Dojo taunted the ghostly woman who looked furious.

"Beat it, pest," she warned in an irritated growl.

"Flashlight Tag is the game," Raimundo challenged Jack. "My Tiger Claws, against your Lotus Twister. First one caught in the lightbeam loses," he decided.

"Whatever, let's go," Jack rolled his eyes as they both lifted their wagered Shen Gong Wu.

"Xiaolin Showdown!" the two shouted as the rest backed away. The lighthouse broke apart, with each part floating in a larger shape with bright light shining in the middle. The four not taking part landed on the rocks outside, looking up as Raimundo and Jack stood on bits of the rocks. "Gong Yi Tanpai!" they shouted, and leapt to cover as a lightbeam immediately came towards them.

"Come on Rai," Kimiko murmured as they watched. While Jack used his rubber-like limbs to climb to safety and hide behind rocks, Raimundo jumped through space to safer spots. Rory didn't realise that she was holding her breath. She believed in him, especially against Jack, but she was worried.

'Rai needs this win,' she thought to herself. 'Who knows what he'll be like if he loses,' she quickly tried to move on past that thought, not wanting to think about it.

"That rat," Clay growled when Jack grabbed Raimundo's legs, holding him in place and preventing Raimundo from moving. As the light moved towards them, Raimundo tried to move, but Jack held him in place easily with his extended arms. However, an idea came to mind, and Raimundo opened a small tear that also appeared behind Jack, who gave a yell when his feet were knocked off the rock he was standing on. He fell, releasing Raimundo, and barely managed to grab hold of some rocks. However, the light passed over him, and he grumbled as it hit him. The light then grew, and the lighthouse returned to normal.

"Alright Raimundo!" Kimiko cheered as they ran over to where he'd landed. He frowned, looking up at them as he held the Golden Tiger Claws, Lotus Twister, and Reversing Mirror.

"Way to go, partner," Clay grinned.

"That was great," Rory praised, but her smile fell when she felt the same pulse again.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Dojo cheered from Clay's shoulder.

"Raimundo, your performance in the Showdown was most impressive!" Omi told him, smiling brightly. "And you are not even a Xiaolin Apprentice!" he reminded with a laugh. The pulse ran through Rory again, who swayed and grabbed Clay's arm.

"You alright partner?" he asked, seeing her going pale.

"You're right Omi, I'm not," Raimundo frowned.

"Raimundo, no!" Rory shouted, taking the others by surprise. Raimundo's angry green eyes met hers for just a moment, before he turned away.

"Where do you want them?" to their horror, he addressed Wuya, whose smirk returned in full force. Rory's legs gave out, partly in disbelief, as the pulsing feeling settled, becoming a consistent feeling.

And it was coming from Raimundo.

"What?"

"Pardon me?"

"Hey…" even Jack spoke up, surprised as Dojo groaned, putting a hand to his face. Wuya laughed, flying over to Raimundo.

"Well done, Raimundo," she praised him.

"Rai, what are you doing?" Kimiko demanded, voice shaking as Clay helped Rory up.

"I'm done with this whole Xiaolin thing!" Raimundo shouted over, smirking. "From now on, you can find me on the Heylin side," he declared. "Golden Tiger Claws!" with a spinning flourish, he cut a tear in the air, and vanished.

"So long, Xiaolin Warriors!" Wuya laughed, disappearing through the tear with him.

"Rory, tell me he isn't serious," Kimiko turned to Rory, but when she saw the tears in Rory's eyes, she knew her answer, and they all fell into stunned silence.


Nobody was in the mood to speak when they returned to the Xiaolin Temple. After relaying the news to Master Fung, the remaining four struggled with what to do. While Clay whittled away at one of his wooden carvings, Kimiko attempted to play one of the latest games that her father had sent her, and Rory sat quietly, thinking about the sensations she'd felt when Raimundo had turned to the Heylin side.

Nearby, Omi groaned as he landed, and leapt into the air again. When he landed, he groaned again, frustrated.

"Let me guess," Kimiko gave up on her game and leaned on one of the small statues. "There's some imperceptible fault in your form that only you could possibly notice," she commented, rolling her eyes.

"Oh no, Kimiko," Omi couldn't help but laugh. "My form is without flaws. Naturally," he bragged.

"Naturally," Kimiko drawled. Omi then sighed, smile falling.

"But still I am dumped in the downs. Even training cannot lift my gloomy spirits," he admitted.

"I know how you feel, Omi," Kimiko admitted quietly.

"Yeah, sitting on my spurs wouldn't hurt as much as this," Clay said, and accidentally cut the head off his carving. He tossed it into the pile, which had all been butchered in the same way.

"I can't believe Rai has gone bad, just because he didn't get promoted to Xiaolin Apprentice," Kimiko grumbled, leaning on Omi's head.

"Maybe that's because he hasn't gone bad!" he suggested, eyes lighting up.

"You care to connect those dots for me?" Clay asked, not understanding Omi's reasoning.

"Maybe Raimundo's enacting some secret elaborate plan designed to...uh...lure evil into a false sense of confidence?" Omi suggested.

"Except for one thing, Omi. I felt it," his smile fell when Rory spoke up, still barely able to believe it. "I felt this...ping, when he didn't get made an Apprentice and stormed out. And then again when he challenged Spicer for the Reversing Mirror," she admitted. "I thought I was imagining things until after the Showdown and it stopped being a weird pulse and...was just...there. This feeling of pride," Rory shook her head.

"Pride?" Kimiko repeated, confused, and Rory lifted her head.

"Each of them has had a different feeling. It's how I can tell them apart. Rai's...it's like this feeling of pride, of superiority," she described the feeling that had emitted from the Dragon of Wind after his Showdown. "Wuya's is...it's scary," Rory shivered.

"Why's it scary?" Clay asked.

"I think the only word I can use to describe it," Rory swallowed as she thought about it. She then looked up, meeting the gaze of her friends. "Is Wrath," she said quietly. A gust of wind suddenly blew past, and Rory's breath caught. "Raimundo's here," she warned them.

"What? Where?" Kimiko asked, eyes wide. She looked around, and her gaze settled on the building nearby as they heard a low rumble. "The Shen Gong Wu Vault!" she gasped. They ran into the building, and found Raimundo standing at the top of the steps with his hood up. In his hands, he held the Serpent's Tail.

"I figured you'd pick up on me being here," Raimundo said, gaze hardening. "What with your walking Heylin detector," he gestured to Rory.

"Raimundo! You have returned!" Omi exclaimed. "See? Secret elaborate plan!" he insisted. "What are you doing with the Serpent's Tail, my clever friend?" Omi asked, smiling brightly at the boy.

"Uh...stealing it?" Raimundo answered, confused by his attitude.

"Or so it would appear!" Omi smiled. "Secret elaborate plan!" he whispered.

"Omi, for the love of-" Rory stopped herself. "There's no plan! He's stealing our Shen Gong Wu! I can sense his presence!" she snapped at him. Omi's smile faded as Raimundo's gaze hardened.

"So you really can sense me now," he murmured.

"He ain't stealing from us on my watch!" Clay shouted. He, Kimiko and Rory leapt at Raimundo.

"Earth!"

"Fire!"

"Light!" they landed in front of him, ready to fight.

"So that's the way it's gonna be," he sighed.

"You tell us, Raimundo," Kimiko said in a low voice, prepared to fight the moment he moved.

"You're the one who betrayed us for Wuya," Rory pointed out, ignoring the part of her that wanted to back down. She didn't want to have to fight Raimundo. He was their friend, and she didn't care what her senses told her.

"You could always drop the Shen Gong Wu and leave," Clay offered.

"Nah, I'm up for a Xiaolin slapdown!" he leapt into the air, and they followed. However, gusts of wind picked up around Raimundo, giving him greater agility to avoid their attacks and knock them aside. When they managed to grab him, he smirked and threw the Serpent's Tail up so it smashed through the glass skylight. Stronger winds immediately began to pick up, battering Kimiko, Clay and Rory while keeping Raimundo aloft.

"No!" Rory cried out as her grip slipped, and they fell to the ground below.

"Omi, stop him!" Kimiko pleaded as they landed in the pot in the centre of the vault. Omi hesitated as he looked up at Raimundo, who landed lightly as he commanded the wind around him. He caught the Serpent's Tail as it fell, and Omi frowned.

"Raimundo, I'm starting to think that you're not enacting some kind of secret elaborate plan!" he warned.

"Nothing escapes you, Omi," Raimundo mocked. Omi sighed.

"Not even you," he warned, ready to fight at last.

"Wrong!" Raimundo smirked. "Serpent's Tail!" he activated the Shen Gong Wu, and flew straight through Omi and through the wall. The others recovered, following with Omi to watch as Raimundo flew off into the distance, laughing loudly.

"He got away…" Rory murmured as Raimundo's presence faded. Omi sniffed, tears filling his eyes.

"Raimundo really has betrayed us," he said quietly, voice shaking. Clay put a comforting hand on his shoulder, not trusting himself to speak as they all stared at the rising sun.


"Raimundo stole our Shen Gong Wu?" Master Fung was surprised at their words. "This is most troubling," he murmured as the four searched for what he might have taken.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, put a padlock on this thing!" Dojo shouted, frustrated that they'd been robbed once again.

"There's a bright side," Clay spoke as he peeked out of the vault. "He only rustled up one. The Serpent's Tail," he announced, making Master Fung stiffen as the others frowned.

"Why would Raimundo take just one Shen Gong Wu?" Omi wondered. Rory folded her arms.

"It's not like he needs it to get in anywhere. He has the Golden Tiger Claws for that," she considered, not sure either.

"That one Shen Gong Wu, is all Wuya needs," they turned to Master Fung as he spoke quietly, looking grim.

"Is the Serpent's Tail really all that?" Kimiko asked, confused.

"You got that ominous thing going on," Dojo accused, eyebrow raised as even he didn't know what Master Fung was thinking. "Care to spill the beans?" he asked.

"On its own, the Serpent's Tail is no great threat," Master Fung admitted. "It makes a solid person ghostly," he reminded, and Dojo frowned.

"But...combined with the Reversing Mirror…" he breathed as he remembered the other Shen Gong Wu that Wuya currently had.

"It would turn a ghostly person solid!" Omi also caught on.

"Wuya!" the others gasped.

"Precisely," Master Fung nodded.

"Then we need to find Raimundo, and fast," Rory gulped, terrified.


"Anything, Dojo?" Kimiko called as the dragon flew through the air, even faster than usual.

"Zip, nada, bupkiss," Dojo admitted. Rory shook her head when Kimiko looked at her, not getting anything either. She'd never actively searched for the presence of someone from the Heylin side, so she had no clue what she was doing.

"Please hurry, if Wuya is restored to her fleshy form, life as we know it may cease to exist!" Omi exclaimed, and Dojo stopped so suddenly they were almost flung from his back.

"I get it! It's important. I'm doing my best. The additional pressure? I do not need!" Dojo snapped at them.

"Sorry," Omi apologised quickly.

"We're sorry Dojo, we know you're doing your best. We're all worried," Rory soothed the dragon. "We don't mean to add to the pressure," she told him and he sighed.

"Forget it. It's just that freshly activated Shen Gong Wu are easy to track. But an old one?" Dojo complained as he continued to fly.

"Try focusing on the Reversing Mirror? It's the most recent, it should be the freshest for you," Rory suggested.

"Even day-old Shen Gong Wu can be tough, the scent fades quickly, I-" Dojo stopped, sniffing the air. "Wait, hold on...I got something! Is that the Serpent's Tail, I-" he began to shudder, almost knocking the group off his back again. "Bingo!" Dojo grinned, angling his course.


Night had fallen by the time Dojo got close enough that Rory was able to sense Raimundo and Wuya. They flew silently as the two came into view, standing in a field with Wuya hovering in front of the Reversing Mirror.

"So that's a yes?" Raimundo was smirking.

"Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!" Wuya shrieked, impatient.

"Okay, okay, just jerking your chain," Raimundo soothed with a laugh, waving her off.

"That's funny," Clay's voice made him whirl around and see the Xiaolin Warriors landing nearby, with Dojo shrinking down. "A jerk, jerking a chain," he frowned as Raimundo scowled.

"A jerk, jerking a chain!" Omi laughed. "Most amusing Clay!" he laughed as Raimundo rolled his eyes.

"You know what I don't miss? Omi constantly missing the-" before he could finish his complaint, Omi leapt at him and kicked the Serpent's Tail from his hand. "Hey!" Raimundo shouted as Rory caught it.

"Missing what?" Omi smirked. Rory waved the Serpent's Tail as he turned to glare at her.

"Give it!" he snapped.

"Not even a please in there," Rory rolled her eyes, and tossed it to Clay as Raimundo took a step towards her. "No manners," she smiled as Clay laughed, catching it easily. Raimundo leapt at the cowboy, but as he reached to grab it, Clay threw it.

"Try again!" he taunted. Raimundo ran at Kimiko as she caught it, but she easily flipped over his head, even while wearing rollerblades.

"Whoops!" Kimiko laughed as she threw it at Omi.

"Cut it out!" Raimundo shouted, but Omi just threw it back to Rory.

"This is fun," she laughed.

"They're making a fool out of you!" Wuya shouted angrily, and Raimundo fished the Golden Tiger Claws from his pocket, eyes narrowed.

"Not anymore! Golden Tiger Claws!" Raimundo vanished through a tear.

"Where is Raimundo?" Omi asked as they looked around. Rory held the Serpent's Tail tightly, trying to figure out where he was.

"Wherever he wants to be," Kimiko gulped. Rory felt Raimundo's presence a beat before he kicked her in the small of her back, and she fell with a cry. The Serpent's Tail sailed through the air, and Omi leapt for it, only for Raimundo to use his power over the Wind to grab it first.

"Go boy! Use it!" Wuya yelled impatiently. "Hurry!" she shouted, willing him to move before they could take it from him again.

"Serpent's Tail!" Raimundo yelled, lifting off the ground.

"Raimundo, don't!" Kimiko pleaded, but it was too late.

"Reversing Mirror!" Wuya activated the mirror behind her, and it began to glow before Raimundo collided with them. There was a flash of light, before a pulse of power exploded out and forced them backwards. Light vanished from the sky above as the moon was eclipsed, and the land around them seemed to wilt at a rapid pace. The rivers dried up, the grass died, and the trees became barren.

"This is bad," Kimiko breathed as Rory sank to the ground, overwhelmed by the sudden explosion of Heylin energy. "Very very bad," she groaned.

"If I had hair, it would be standing on end," Omi gulped.

"If I had boots, I'd be quaking in them," Dojo's voice shook.

"I have both," Rory groaned as she pushed herself back to her feet. "And both are happening right now," she admitted, heart racing in fear. They looked up as they heard a low, creaking laugh. Standing tall over the cracked ground surrounded with green flames, a skinny woman with Wuya's mask stood. She slowly pulled the mask off, revealing pointed ears, sharp teeth, and large, black eyes.

"Wuya?" Omi breathed slowly, stunned.

"In the flesh..." Wuya's laughter grew with the flames around her, and all the group could do was stare helplessly at the powerful witch who now stood before them.


Wuya (briefly) ruling the world is one of my favourite parts of the show, especially when I binged it last year (god has it really already been over a year). So it was a lot of fun to write!

Hope you liked it!

Let me know what you think!