The air was growing dry and hot. Even as they soared through the sky, all of the monks could tell the next location wasn't going to be the most comfortable. After arriving back at the temple, they'd only grabbed the scroll before hoping on Dojo and heading off. Since they were already armed, they saw no point in wasting time to switch Wu.

"What Wu will we be searching for?" Omi looked over his shoulder to Kimiko, who'd at his question pulled the scroll from her bag and began to unravel it.

She read,"The Rooster Booster. It enhances the powers of other Shen Gon Wu." The scroll's figures demonstrated by showing the Orb of Tornami releasing a practical tsunami all at once verse its usual limits.

"That's gonna be interesting to experiment with. I wonder how some Wu can really be enhanced?" Clay pondered, a hand to his chin. The Third Arm Sash, would the length increase, or strength? Or what about the Tangle Web Comb? What of their elemental Shen Gon Wu, not only having their own powers but with an additional magic boost, what levels would they be able to unlock with this?

"Who knows. Guess it'll make for some interesting training sessions to come." Raimundo was just as interested as Clay, ever since the first time he had combined two Wu's powers, the combinations and fusions were one of his favorite parts of testing them. Especially as they aged and were given a bit more freedom to do so, fully understanding the items were not toys, but checking what they could do was smart for future strategy. Wildcards are entertaining, but not what's needed in a battle to keep the world safe.

"Well we'll get to find out soon enough." Kimiko tucked the scroll back into her purse and patted it gently. "It'll be in our hands, where it belongs. Also if the name wasn't an obvious enough clue, it apparently looks like a metal rooster." Her face turned unamused at the simplicity.

Dojo landed onto the soft, hot sand. "Ahh- hot, hot hot!" He yelped, quickly taking his smaller size the second everyone was off and making his way onto Clay's shoulders. "I do not need a case of belly burn while I'm already riddled with Wu induced allergies." He rubbed his stomach, now tinted in a light pink color, and sniffled pitifully.
"Speaking of, any idea which direction we should head in?" Raimundo stepped closer to Clay, but before Dojo could answer, the sound of alarm vibrated off of the Danger Sneakers, and another voice called out to them.

"You should head home, monks. No point in wasting your time gettin' something that'll soon be ours." A bird swooped at them, faking out a grab for Dojo before flying towards a tall standing redhead and the small bean on her shoulder. Hannibal hopped onto Ying-Ying as she swooped close, landing in the sand and staring the monks down from their spot on the sandy hill. Raimundo glared at them, standing tall as he could. He wasn't sure if he was annoyed or relieved they'd finally shown back up. He settled for a bit of both, for now at least.

"You're the ones who need to back off!" Kimiko yelled back, fist raised and fire in her eyes. It ignited further as Wuya's condescending laugh was her first response.

"Really, after so many years and that's still the best you can do? How unsurprisingly unoriginal." She grinned as Kimiko's eye twitched. "Someone still hasn't learned very well how to control her temper either, tsk tsk. Do the Xiaolin really need a hot head like that fighting for them?" Before any of them could stop her, Kimiko had gone in for the first attack. Wuya stepped aside as Kimiko flipped into the air, aiming to land a kick on her. Kimiko was quick to flip again, this time anticipating Wuya's dodge and landing instead beside her, delivering a shorter flip and kick the moment she hit the ground. Her temper was still easy to push, but even in times that anger or frustration consumed her, Kimiko had learned to focus it.

Despite this, Wuya still avoided her rebound attack and gave a cocky grin. Kimiko threw a fiery punch, caught in Wuya's equally aflamed hand. The green and red mixed and grew, a powerful display as they continued to fight.

Raimundo took the time to focus on their other threat, despite his size was a far larger threat than anyone would expect. One that needed a constant eye, and one that had lost those eyes as Wuya had drawn them all to herself. A trick they should have expected, as gaining attention was one of Wuya's specialties.

Raimundo's eyes quickly searched the sky while Clay's scanned the sand, a high and low duo that fit perfectly for them.

"There!" Clay pointed forward. Yards away, Ying-Ying was flying low, Hannibal on her back as they searched for the Shen Gon Wu. Raimundo nodded, quickly running forward to follow them. Omi followed him, Clay staying behind to back up Kimiko incase she needed it.

Omi ran quicker, flipping over and in front of Hannibal to block his path. Raimundo continued up from behind, trying to land in an attack while they'd halted in front of Omi. Raimundo skidded to a stop, eyes glued to Hannibal as they quickly took off into the sky, using the little open space they had to gain elevation. Well, two could play at that game.
Raimundo's own elemental power surged through him, and in seconds he was once again tailing Hannibal. If he could keep him busy up here, and Kimiko could keep Wuya busy on the ground, that left Omi, Clay, and Dojo plenty of time to find the Wu.

"Well well looks like it's us facing off again, Raimundo." Raimundo glared, eyes locked on Hannibal as they circled him.

It was a split second reaction, Ying-Ying swooping as Raimundo quickly dropped out of the way, lifting himself back up and spinning to face them again. He could easily keep this up, but it would only be a matter of time before Hannibal realized he was trying to stall him.

Raimundo leaned to the right, narrowly dodging another sharp taloned attack. He turned just in time to avoid their return and second attempt.

"Give it up Hannibal, I'm just too quick." Raimundo smirked at him, continuing to dodge and maneuver around everything Ying-Ying tried to do.

"You can only keep it up for so long, Raimundo. We both know you have a knack for slipping up." Raimundo sneered at Hannibal's mocking words and ducked out of the way.

"Yeah, but not when it's just this easy." Raimundo deliberately waited until the last second to move out of the way to the next attack, now floating on his side and grinning cockily at Hannibal. "See?" He said, getting back an upright position. Before Hannibal could give a searing response, a loud call from below drew their attention away from each other.

"The Wu is gone!" They heard Dojo yell. It took Raimundo a moment to spot him. Thankfully, he was the only bit of green on the landscape.

Hearing this, both Hannibal and Raimundo began heading for the ground, Raimundo headed straight down before turning, flying just above the ground and to what he could now see was the entrance to a cave, almost tucked away below the other rocks and sand.

Kimiko caught a sparking green fist in her hand, a match of physical strength as they pushed each other, both trying to land a blow

"Aw, it must stink that you're still powerless." Kimiko snapped, Shoving her weight forward and pushing Wuya backwards. She stepped in time to keep from falling, but was barely able to block Kimiko's flaming punch.

"You would know wouldn't you? All those years training and you're still about as hot as a flash light." Her lips twisted in an evil, sharp grin as Kimiko's shoulders tensed in anger, the adrenaline doing nothing to help her strength. "Face it, even when I barely have a fraction of my power, I'm still stronger than you could ever hope to be." Wuya said, taking the chance to kick Kimiko in the stomach and send her flying backwards into the sand. She shook her head, brushing the sand from her bangs and got to her feet, teeth clenched in fury. She jumped back, skidding through the fine sand as Wuya landed right where she'd been standing.

"I'm just surprised someone as ancient as you could keep up!" Kimiko smirked as Wuya's face twisted in offense, the sparks at her fingertips growing just a hair larger, shooting just a tad quicker.

Wuya rubbed her fingers together before running in for another punch. Kimiko ducked, hitting her in the gut with a burning punch. Wuya was shot back, leaving a path in the sand and her feet covered.

"Not bad for a matchstick." Wuya brushed away the ash from her dress, undamaged but smoking just a bit. Kimiko stood proud, her hands still ablaze.

"It-It's gone! The Wu is gone!" A loud call rang out around them, Wuya and Kimiko's heads snapped to the direction it came from. An almost completely hidden cave, in fact the only reason they spotted it was the smudge of green. Dojo slithered at the entrance, waving his arms.

Wuya and Kimiko looked at each other before bolting over, trying to beat the other to the cave.

Kimiko, in her haste pulled out the Star of Hanabi, shooting fireballs in front of Wuya's path to keep her back and away, allowing Kimiko to get to the cave first just as Raimundo flew in beside her.

-
Omi, Clay and Dojo immediately split up, Dojo still on Clay's shoulders as they began searching for the Wu.

"It's in this... general direction, I think." Dojo scratched his head, squinting and looking into the vast distance. Clay continued on that way, waiting for anymore hints or better directions from Dojo.
"Are we hot or cold, Dojo?" he asked, still trekking through the sand. Dojo hummed in distress, putting a hand to his chin.

"I... I'm not sure. I'm not getting the same increase of anything that I usually do when a Wu is nearby!" His brows furrowed in worry. "In fact, I'm not itchy at all! My Wu rash has vanished, but that only happens when the Wu is retrieved!" Dojo stretched his arms dramatically downward, gently smacking Clay on the cheek.

Clay pursed his lips and began looking around for where something could actually be hidden. Omi ran over to them, pointing behind him.

"I have found a hidden cave! Dojo, do you think it may be where the Shen Gon Wu is?" As they'd found no other reasonable place for it, Dojo tapped the top of his head, nodding slowly.

"A desert cave definitely sounds familiar. It's worth a shot!" Omi and Clay both nodded in agreement, and Omi lead the way back to the area. It was a cramped entrance, and didn't get too much wider as the cave went on. Omi and Clay were barely able to walk side by side as they continued through. Dojo slithered to Clay's other shoulder, looking at the walls and nodding fervently.

"Yes, yes this is definitely familiar. Long cave, lots of bugs, and the end should be right up ahead!" Along with, he truly hoped, the Wu. The cave was very dim, barely enough light to see in front of their faces.

"Uh, Dojo, can you give us a hand here? We don't have too great of vision in here." Clay asked.

"Oh, right!" Dojo held himself up on Clay's shoulders, shut his eyes tight. He opened them, and a soft lot was being emitted from them. He faced forward, lighting the rest of their now short path. Upon reaching the end, Dojo looked down and gasped loudly.

Omi and Clay stared in confusion, Dojo jumping from Clay's shoulders to the ground, looking at a rock and going around it quickly, worried and stunned.

"It's gone! Where did it go?!" He looked around in a panic.

"What do you mean it is gone?" Omi kneeled down, looking at the ground where Dojo was searching.

"The Wu! It was right here!" Dojo pointed to the rock, an outline of what looked like an odd shaped rooster was all that was left. "That space is too fresh for it to have been gone long either. Ohhh I knew something just wasn't right! Someone nabbed it while we were busy and searching." Dojo slithered past Omi and Clay, leaving them in the dark as he went to the entrance of the cave.

"It-it's gone! The Wu is gone!" He called out, looking to both Kimiko and Raimundo. It only took a moment before they both headed towards him.

Raimundo landed to his feet and they ran into the cave, picking up Dojo along the way.

They ran into the cave, desert crickets running to hide as their hard hitting steps echoed around them. Raimundo and Kimiko stopped right behind Omi and Clay, peering forward where Dojo started pointing. The cave ended, small with only a few rocks, ones that had obviously just been turned over. Bugs, sand, and them were all that the cave had now.

"Are you sure this is where Dashi hid it?" Kimiko looked at Dojo, who just nodded again.

"I know it, for sure. Look at that dirt print, that is definitely the Rooster Booster!" He pointed, and true to his words the indent in the dirt was shaped like an odd and sharp rooster.

"But who could have-" Raimundo started, staring at the spot where Dojo swore the Wu had once sat. Before his question could finish, a loud caw rang outside of the cave. They monks rushed to the exit, looking up to see a single crow flying away, cawing again.

"Well, looks like lizard breath took advantage of all your little distractions." Wuya sneered, glaring up at the bird. "Who knows how far he could be now too." Raimundo stared at her, his shoulders rose in frustration and anger. This was exactly what he was concerned about, getting messed over by some hot shot bad guy because they didn't keep close enough tabs on them.

"Well," she said, turning away from him and flicking her hair back over her shoulder, "maybe next time you kiddies will focus on the real objective, instead of letting yourselves get fooled like this." They could hear the cocky, snide, and condescending smile in her voice, despite losing out herself she could easily take joy in their failure. She took off, following Ying-Ying from below as Hannibal flew off, frustrated at the loss of another Wu.

Raimundo watched her go, anger broiling inside of him. His face red and teeth clenched, he pulled out the Tiger Claws, ripping across the air in one swift motion and jumping through the portal before anyone could even say anything. He landed hard on the ground of Guan's temple, sprinting forward and barely registering his teammates footsteps behind him. He was tired of waiting, and tired of being in the dark. If Guan had any idea where Chase was, and what he was up to, Raimundo needed to know- they all did.

He skidded to a stop, eyes wide with shock. Chase stood not twenty feet away, eyes closed as he practiced his Tai Chi. Raimundo's face twisted to fury at the clear fact Chase was ignoring him.

"What are you doing here?" he snarled, fists clenched as he barely held back from outright attacking him.

Chase's eyes opened and without stopping, he glanced at Raimundo. "Training," he stated simply, smooth and gentle motions continuing as Raimundo practically seethed.

"Training!? What do you think I am, a clown? I'm not here for jokes, Young, I'm here for answers." He took a step forward, causing Chase to finally stop and turn to face him completely.

"I assure you, Pedrosa, I am no comedian either. I'm here to train, drink tea, look at the temple gardens, and, reconnect with Guan." Raimundo grimaced in response. The face almost devoid of emotion that Chase wore was beyond frustrating to him.

"Reconnect? Like what, reconnect his spear with your guts!?" Raimundo shot a fiery and accusatory glance his way. Chase only huffed in response. He turned his head towards the entrance to the nearest building. Only seconds later, Guan was jogging forward, spear in hand. He scanned the area, eyes landing on Raimundo and the other monks, quickly relaxing and a soft, friendly smile taking the place of his battle ready expression.

"It is good to see you all again. What brings you to these temple grounds?" Guan lowered his weapon and stood tall, his eyes locked right in front of him.

"What do you think!? The two hundred pound pile of hair and jackassery over there!" Raimundo gestured, his frustrations reaching a peak as he stared bewildered at how Guan could even pretend to not know.

"Ah. Yes, what exactly did he do this time?" Guan side-eyed him. Chase raised an eyebrow, arms crossed as he looked back.

"I've been here the whole time, Guan. You know that." Chase smiled at him knowingly, and Guan quickly averted his eyes but didn't go back to meeting Raimundo's either.

"He's up to something, he's been missing for months now, suddenly the other two villains show up but he doesn't, and the newest Wu goes missing? Something reeks, and I think it's him." His eyes narrowed and he squared his shoulders, glaring directly at Chase who only met his eyes with an all too cocky expression.

"Raimundo, I understand you're frustrated, but," Guan paused, looking to Raimundo's furious face and to Chase's that he knew was egging him on in his own silent, infuriating way, "Chase has been with me for the last couple of months."

"Been with you? What, fighting? Captured? Holding another weapon hostage?" Guan took a deep breath, clearing his face of emotion as he stepped calmly forward.

"Raimundo. Please, you must control your anger. There is no threat here, I promise you that. I will explain everything as soon as we are inside." Behind him, Chase didn't even wait for acknowledgment before going inside. Raimundo's shoulders seized up, his eyes wide as he looked to Master Monk Guan. Stoic, cold, sturdy, and calm. His face gave no fear, or anger, and somehow made Raimundo feel as if he shouldn't hold them either. He took a calming breath, shoulders slouching to his sides. After another breath, he stood back tall. He may be calm, but he was no one's fool.

The other monks remained silent because of many factors: Chase being there, Raimundo's rage, Guan's side eye glances at Chase, and the speed of the awkward situation. It just left them no room for input, but at least now they could get some answers to their own questions as well.

Omi sniffed the air as they approached what he knew to be the common dining area of the temple. Jasmine tea was being brewed, and the table already had enough cups for all of them, along with sugar and milk. As if they'd been expecting this. That, he didn't like, and didn't trust.

They sat at the table, all scooting far from the last seat empty, save for Guan who remained still. A second later the tea poured. The kettle placed to the middle of the table, and Chase took his seat by Guan, ignoring the looks he'd been receiving since entering the room. As well as the large gap that was placed between himself and the monks. Not that he blamed them.

"So. Explaining?" Raimundo asked, twirling the spoon in his hands but not even bothering to touch the tea. He didn't trust it. He didn't trust anything that was happening here, and the way everyone else avoided their drinks, he knew he wasn't the only one.

Omi didn't touch anything in front of him. He kept his arms folded to his chest, eyes on Guan as they waited for answers.

Clay had taken a look at the tea. It seemed fine to him but even if it was safe, something about drinking the enemies, or maybe ex-enemies, tea just didn't sit right with him, so he'd taken to stirring it slowly and absent mindedly.

Kimiko had been the least subtle. The second the tea had been poured, she picked the cup up and shoved it far, far in front and away from herself. She'd glared, lips puckered in an invitation to question her actions, but none came. She relaxed back, though her arms remained crossed and her eyes shooting daggers.

"There are many details to this, so I will tell you what you need to hear. Months back, we decided we needed to talk, something that has been put off for fifteen hundred years. We went somewhere neither of us had been before. A neutral, or as it could be, area. Then we talked. About many things, and we traveled from one area to another, until it became going places we'd been before and enjoyed. Places we wanted to share with the other." For who knows how long, they'd wanted to show the other. "Our conversations came with us. And now we are here."

"So you two went on a two-month long date," Kimiko sniped at him. "Cool. Doesn't answer much." Guan was taken aback, the smallest hint of pink on his cheeks. Before he could respond, Chase interrupted.

"A month and a half, really. The first two weeks were mainly arguing. After that though it got better. Compromise, teamwork, resolution, all of those buzzwords they tell you in Xiaolin 101." At the growing hostility around him, including a frustrated look from Guan, Chase huffed and put his cup down. "I have reflected upon my past. Guan has as well. Through this we realize errors were made. And now we are trying to correct them, as much as we can." A short version of the long talks they had had, and missing the details that neither of them particularly wanted to discuss with the monks, especially right now.

"Is this your way of saying you're a good guy again? Because so not buying it!" Kimiko snapped.

"You're 'bout as good as nose hair in your soup." Clay nodded, putting the spoon beside his cup and giving a cold look toward the villain.

"Not good, per say. Just less outwardly terrible to you and the future of the world. Probably." Chase casually sipped his tea. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "That last bit was a joke." He paused again, "I'm in no way asking for forgiveness. Or even trust, from any of you. I suppose the most I'm looking for is a mild tolerance." To exist in the closest to peace that he could. He was still hashing out the details of his future, of what he'd do now, what he even wanted to do. The monks didn't look at him, to no surprise, but Guan did. He offered a reassuring smile, an immeasurable amount of pride hidden behind it. He turned back to the monks, deciding to change the subject now while they still could.

"Why did you come here, young ones?" he asked. Eyes on him, Raimundo shifted his position a bit and cleared his throat.

"We were on a Wu hunt, the only major player who didn't show up and could pull off a quick and quiet move like that is him. At least, the only one who wasn't being fought already." Raimundo said. Guan nodded, placing a hand to his chin.

"Well I can promise you, it wasn't him. He was not lying when he said he has been here for a while. Certainly all day." Guan still looked at Chase, who took another drink from his cup. He didn't acknowledge Guan's quick stare that teetered on the brink of being doubtful.

"Okay, well if he didn't take it, then who did? Jack is busy, plus he so wouldn't be able to pull it off. He'd wanna gloat the second he got his hands on the thing." Raimundo leaned on the table and putting his face into one propped up hand.

"Perhaps it was someone we had not previously thought of? We have faced many villains," Omi commented. Kimiko nodded in agreement.

"I don't know; plenty of 'em are no good, but how many were actually evil an' how many were just for hire, or specific circumstances?" Clay crossed his arms and peered at the table as if answers would engrave themselves on it if he looked hard enough.

Lazily waving his hand in the air, Raimundo asked, "What about Ashley? She's greedy, but she's also petty and may not have appreciated our visit earlier."

Kimiko hummed but shook her head. "No way. Selfish, petty, and rude she may be, but flying all the way to a desert just to take something she doesn't need isn't her style. Too much work for so little pay off." She began to tap her fingers against the table, the rhythmic clacking the only sound for a while as the monks continued to ponder just who was left that would actually want the Rooster Booster.

Clay remarked, "It's a basic enough Wu; it just boosts others up. It's not specific to any element." Despite all of them wanting the options narrowed down, he didn't want the fact that the Wu's own wide use made it a bit more difficult.

Raimundo exhaled sharply through his nose before standing up and stretching. "Well. Not that this hasn't just been an absolute treat." He gave a cheesy grin to Guan before turning on his heels. "I think we're going to head back to our temple and try and figure this out."

The others got up as well. Kimiko and Clay followed Raimundo from the room and back to the courtyard, but Omi stayed behind for a moment. He looked at Master Monk Guan and Chase in silence, before turning away. "Thank you for the tea." He ran to catch up with the other monks, leaving an empty tea cup behind.

Chase stared at it solemnly before wordlessly collecting it, along with the other cups that sat still full, and taking them to the sink.

-
When they landed back on the soft and familiar grass of their home, Raimundo tucked the Tiger Claws away and turned to face his team.

"So. What do we make of… any of this?" His shoulders slumped slightly. He'd gone to Guan's for answers, and he guessed they got some, but in the end they just came out still confused about the Wu, and now about Chase as well.

"Well, we have no idea who could have taken the Wu, and apparently Chase and Guan are. Ugh." Kimiko shivered, wrapping her arms around herself at even the thought of them being anything other than hate-filled enemies. Raimundo grimaced, having very similar feelings about that situation.

"You think he might be tryin' to pull one over on Guan?" Clay asked. "Not to doubt his instincts or nothing, but Chase doesn't have the best track record when it comes to not bein' a manipulative little-"
"I am also concerned for Master Monk Guan, but I believe he knows what he is doing. I trust him." Omi cut Clay off, and the other monk looked at him for a moment.

"Okay," Raimundo said, sighing he continued, "I think you're right, Omi. I still say we keep an eye out, but Master Monk Guan knows him right? And he has for centuries. If anyone could see through any stuff he tries to pull, it's Guan. But... that means we are now leadless to just who nabbed the Wu."

"It looks like all we can do right now is make sure we're ready for who or whatever did it." Kimiko said. "The Rooster Booster isn't much until it's mixed with another Wu, right? And all of the Wu are pretty much in our possession, except for what, the three Jack has? And Chase has the Serpent's Tail but, that's it." Not that she could imagine the Rooster Booster even doing much with it anyway. What could someone do there, become extra intangible?

Raimundo nodded, turning back and heading to the Wu vault. They'd lock these away for now. Keeping the Wu they had safe was top priority. Moths fluttered towards the lanterns lighting the stairwell while Raimundo carefully put back the Danger Sneakers, Tiger Claws, and Sword of the Storm. The others closed the drawers of their respective Wu before turning in unison and slumping against the wall, letting out deep, exhausted breaths.

"It never gets easy, does it?" Clay tipped his hat. The others shook their heads.

"And the second we think it might, it gets like five times harder." Raimundo yawned and stretched, back cracking before he went back to slouching, the bags under his eyes exaggerated in the dim light. "Well. It's what we signed up for." He pushed himself off of the wall and started walking up the stairs. He patted Clay's shoulder as he passed him. "Plus, we are pretty good at it. Even when it gets hard." He gave Clay a wink and shoved his hands in his pockets, walking up and waiting for the others to leave so he could relock the vault. A few moths fluttered in and out; he waved one away from his face before closing it.

They left the vault building, walking back to the courtyard. Fresh air and sunshine, even if it wouldn't actually help them figure anything out, would at least be better than being cooped up in a small room to figure it out.

Just as they stepped foot in the courtyard, another set of feet landed hard in front of them. Jack Spicer deactivated his heli-pack, glaring down the monks.

-
Chapter Notes:
Thank you again to Dragonnutt, my wonderful beta reader!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it took a while for certain reasons. But at the least it's a long chapter so, I hope that makes up for the wait!
And here it is, the first ship of the fic: Chuan.