Chapter 18: The American and European Alliance

The working title of this chapter was originally supposed to be "The American and Canadian Alliance" but even though Valerie is Canadian by birth, she was raised in Europe, thus the change. And if you're well-versed in war history, you might get the reference the new title has.

Also, I meant to say that penguins live closer to Antarctica, not the Arctic Circle. Bluebarnowl told me that I got it wrong, so I fixed it. So if you guys read the chapter before I replaced it, don't be confused.

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Even after leaving the ranch, it was safe to say that Mr. Bailey and Valerie did not like each other. Valerie was still convinced that Mr. Bailey was a tyrant. The cowboy only tolerated her because she just wanted what was best for Clay. But if there was one thing they agreed on, it was that Clay deserved to take the Star Hanabi off of his father's hands.

Also, after seeing the Showdown, Mr. Bailey actually realized that there was more at stake if Clay didn't return to the Temple. Valerie didn't think he could admit to anything. Just goes to show that it wasn't wise to judge a book by its cover.

The next morning, everyone was ready to set off to the Temple. Clay even brought his own saddle and put it on Dojo's back. His huge grin showed just how happy he was.

"It was nice meeting you Daddy Bailey," Kimiko said pleasantly.

"Come visit us sometime so we can work you like a dog!" Raimundo said spitefully. Valerie punched him in the shoulder. He yelped and rubbed the sore spot. "Hey, I'm just sayin'."

"Pleasure meetin' y'all," Mr. Bailey said.

"Even me?" Valerie arched an eyebrow.

Mr. Bailey returned the gesture. "For the most part. By the way, where's that little fella?"

Just then they heard Omi scream before a yellow blur flew over Dojo and landed at Mr. Bailey's feet. Omi slowly lifted a pail full of milk and said, "My work here is done." And then he flopped to the ground fainting.

"Now that's a cowboy," Mr. Bailey said impressed.

"You got that right daddy," Clay agreed.

"Probably shouldn't mention that we can't drink unpasteurized milk," Valerie muttered under her breath. Raimundo punched her shoulder to shut her up.

About two weeks later

Valerie gritted her teeth and tried not to think about the newest version of her recurring nightmare. It was almost always the same: a long dimly lit hallway, a flooded floor, her in a heavy wine-colored dress, and the Sapphire Dragon popping out of nowhere to eat her. The newest nightmare had the water up to her waist, forcing her to swim away instead of run.

Yeah; like it was totally possible in her incredibly heavy dress. Seriously, it was like an anchor in the dream! And the Sapphire Dragon still ate her up like an oversized strawberry.

At least the nightmares weren't occurring every night anymore. After Valerie's concussion fully healed and she stopped needing painkillers, the nightmares had been on and off for two whole weeks. She had gotten used to waking up scared and walking around the Temple campus to calm down. She didn't call Eric as much though; only when the nightmare was especially horrifying. There was no need to bother him about every little thing.

But after last night, Valerie needed something to distract her. Like a newly activated Shen Gong Wu. There hadn't been one in weeks and everyone was starting to go crazy. Raimundo was meaner to Omi, Omi was biting back harder, Kimiko sighed a lot more when playing videogames, and even Clay couldn't keep a smile on his face.

Just then Dojo slithered by holding the Ancient Scroll. Everyone crowded around him hopefully.

"What's the word, Dojo?" Clay asked. "We got ourselves a bite this mornin'?"

Dojo shook the Ancient Scroll like it was a jar of pennies. "Zip. Nada. Bumpkis. Not even a nibble."

Everyone groaned audibly. "Is it medically possible to actually die from boredom?" Kimiko asked.

"If it's not, we'll be the first cases," Valerie said flatly.

"It's been, like, forever since the last Shen Gong Wu went active," Raimundo pointed out.

"Two weeks, four days, six hours," Clay confirmed. Everyone hung their head.

"Look toward the bright direction!" Omi yelled, startling everyone. "This only gives us more time to bond together through rigorous training!" He cart-wheeled around for emphasis; everyone just moaned.

Omi gave them all an angry look and pushed them all towards the right. Their feet slid on the grass but no one bothered to give any attention. They were just too bored.

Of course Omi had to go to Master Fung for something to do. Of course.

That was why Valerie found herself strapped to a boulder by rope. She and the others had to pull it up a cliff-which apparently no one knew about till now- using teamwork. While Valerie was used to getting dirt under her fingernails and sweating in the hot sun, she didn't want to lift a freaking boulder up a cliff. Seriously, where did Master Fung get these ideas?

"Come on, Kimiko, pull your weight already," Clay growled to the Asian girl as they slowly went up the cliff side. "You can't expect me to do all the heavy liftin'."

"Why not? You do all the heavy snoring," Kimiko shot back.

"Actually that label belongs to you," Valerie snapped, tired from lack of sleep and excitement. "I've actually woken up in the middle of the night thanks to you."

"Well, maybe if you didn't try to shove a book down my throat, I wouldn't fall asleep from boredom!" Kimiko snarled.

"You're complaining about her when you're on the cell phone 24/7?" Raimundo mimed a phone to his ear. "Oh no way! He said that? Oh, no way, what else did he say?" He started to heave himself up the cliff. "And could you possibly download a more annoying ringtone?"

The whites of Kimiko's eyes turned black. She opened her mouth to oversized proportions to yell at Raimundo until the annoying ringtone of her phone went off.

"You actually brought your cell phone?" The laughter in Clay's throat started to bubble out. "Boy, Raimundo's really got you pegged."

"Oh don't even come at me with that male bonding vibe Clay," Kimiko said as the two boys climbed past her. Valerie held out a hand to help the cowboy up. He whispered a quick thank you.

"Val should join you in your male bonding time," Kimiko said spitefully. "She's tomboyish enough to qualify."

"I'd rather be a tomboy than a girly girl with an annoying ringtone," Valerie said cheekily.

"At least my ringtone is less annoying than Rai's music!"

"What's wrong with my music?" he shot back.

"No one can understand it," Valerie deadpanned.

"Then again, who can understand rap anyway?" Clay added salt to the wound.

"Please my friends," Omi pleaded from higher up the cliff side. "Remember we are most powerful when we work together. We must accept each others' bad points along with the good."

"If you guys had any good points, I-!" Kimiko started to say something snarky, but then the wind picked up and she nearly fell over the edge. And then she finally did, pulling Raimundo, Valerie, Omi, and finally huge Clay down with her. The boulder quickly followed as they fell down into the river.

Hitting the river wasn't nearly as much fun as Valerie hoped it would be. It was brisk, nowhere near as cold as Jack Spicer's flood in Texas, but it was a hard landing and she hurt all over. Air bubbled out through her lips as the boulder dragged her and the others deeper and deeper to the bottom of the river.

Gritting her teeth Valerie wriggled out of her rope and kicked towards the surface. Her head popped out to see Omi sitting on the boulder, completely dry. Valerie quickly made her way to higher ground and wrung the water out of her braid.

Everyone else quickly popped out of the water and gasped for breath. Once they also reached higher ground Kimiko immediately turned on Omi. "Look what you made me do!"

"I was merely attempting to bond our group!" the little man said meekly.

"Well stow it Pollyanna," the Asian girl hissed.

"For real Omi," Raimundo agreed. "Your goody-goody attitude is getting on all of our nerves."

"Woo, ain't that the truth," Clay attested.

"For once we can all agree on something," Valerie said caustically as the group dispersed.

Later

As punishment for the failure of the boulder incident, Master Fung had everyone meditate in the Grand Hall. Valerie blamed Omi for that.

In the meditating position, Valerie could almost relax and let her mind go blank. For a second she could feel the chi swirling inside her, feel the power brimming below the surface of her skin. And then Kimiko ruined it.

"Omi, please tell Clay he's blocking my light."

"Clay, I have a message from-"

"Omi, tell Kimiko that I'll cast my shadow wherever I darn well please."

"Kimiko, Clay responds-!"

"Omi, tell Clay that maybe if his shadow wasn't so fat and huge-"

"Omi, please tell her Royal Pain in the Ass to not complain so much," Valerie said calmly.

"Omi, tell Val that maybe if she wasn't such a b-"

"Omi, tell Kimiko, Clay, and Valerie that THEY'RE GIVING ME A HEADACHE!" Raimundo screamed, shutting everyone up.

"Gang way, party people!" Dojo yelled from the corner. "Shen Gong Wu alert! We got a live one." Everyone was instantly next to him. He pointed to the right. Everyone ran there. "Wait, I think it's this way!" he said with his tail pointing up.

Suddenly Dojo's body converted into a funny pretzel twist. "It's three! It's a Shen Gong Wu hat trick! WAIT! This is ridiculous! It's not three, it's four! FOUR SHEN GONG WU ACTIVATING AT THE SAME TIME!" Dojo screamed in pain as his body convulsed further into a knot.

Valerie pointed her finger in the air and cried: "To the Shen Gong Wu vault!"

"A flock of birds will gather more seeds if they fly in different directions," said Master Fung when everyone was in the vault. He handed the Mantis Flip Coin to Kimiko.

"That means we're splitting up?" Kimiko asked rhetorically. "Good."

Raimundo got the Falcon's Eye. "Fine by me."

"I reckon we could all ride solo for a spell," Clay said as he got the Serpent's Tail.

Omi just sighed dejectedly as he was handed the Star Hanabi. Valerie could see the others quickly walking up the stone steps. She turned to Master Fung. "Think I could get a Wu? I'll probably be joining one of them." Master Fung handed her the Ghost Scythe. "Thanks!"

She quickly ran up the steps to get to Clay. "Hey, Clay, wanna team up?"

The older boy turned to her and thought for a moment. "I'm not so ticked off at you, so sure, why not?"

Why the hell was it so cold flying in the air? You'd think Valerie would have been used to it by now, but no, she had to be shivering in her jean skirt and Batman t-shirt. At least her loose hair offered some warmth.

"The first Shen Gong Wu is called the Lotus Twister," Dojo said.

Omi, who had the Ancient Scroll, explained: "It has the ability to turn your limbs into stretchable rubber."

Kimiko, who looked like a fashionable adventurer, said, "I'm on it." She hopped off of Dojo's back in midflight and landed in a boat with a giant electric fan attached. Since she was in the middle of a swamp, it made sense for the boat to be there.

A little ways away, Omi finally revealed the next Shen Gong Wu. "The Longi Kite: with it, one can sail through the air."

Raimundo, who had been laying on his back for the entire ride, said: "A deserted island? Sweet! Take your time picking me up." He immediately jumped off Dojo's back and fell into the dense foliage of the island forest.

A little more flying later, Omi revealed the third Shen Gong Wu: "The Tongue of Saiping: it allows you to talk to animals."

"How very Dr. Dolittle," Dojo said as snow began to fall from the sky. "I-It's that w-way." With teeth chattering Dojo landed on an icy floor. Clay and Valerie slid off and landed on crunchy snow. Dojo immediately set off to locate the final Shen Gong Wu.

Raimundo was loving it here on the island. No annoying Omis to talk to him about mutual bonding, no cowboys to slow him down, and no girls to yell at him or say snarky things to him in a deadpan voice. All he had was his epic shades and a sunny beach to himself.

And then he stumbled upon the Longi Kite, a jade green dragon that looked way too cool to be a cheap store bought kite. He quickly picked it and was about to turn away when he heard someone running towards him. He looked up and his glasses slid down his face.

There was a girl on the deserted island, a pretty blond thing in a pink bikini. Her hair had been done up with a luxurious comb to keep it together. She ran up to him and smiled.

"Hey, do you mind giving that to me?" she asked, her voice a low purr. Normally Raimundo would be distracted by her sweet voice alone-along with her nice looks-but there was something so familiar about her. Especially those brown eyes…

Oh. Bikini girl was Hazel. Raimundo smirked.

"Well, I'd like to, but I'm pretty selfish," he said as he jumped back from her. She blew air out of her nose-an annoyed gesture-but she didn't come after him. Then Raimundo remembered that she had a twin brother. Where was Theo?

Something hard hit the back of his head. Raimundo crumbled to the ground, cradling his head. He let go of the Longi Kite and looked through disoriented eyes at the Armstrong twins. Both clad in beachwear-Hazel pink, Theo green- they didn't seem evil at all. Only the smug looks on their faces tipped them off.

And then Raimundo's world went black.

It took a while to find the Tongue of Saiping. All the while they walked Valerie kept cursing her idiocy for wearing a skirt. Sure, it was fairly comfortable, but not for flipping Antarctica. She wished she was wearing longer sleeves; her short sleeves and yellow wristbands weren't doing her any good.

"Found it!" Clay announced, pointing to a gigantic block of ice. Inside was a metallic bronze block with a golden circle in the middle. Inside said circle was the mold of a golden tongue.

"I'm not gonna lie, that's kind of gross looking," Valerie admitted as Clay began bashing the ice with his gloved hands. In just two hits the ice cracked and collapsed. Valerie quickly caught the Wu and said, "Can we leave now? I'm freezing my ass out here."

"It is awfully chilly," Clay agreed.

"Greetings, Dragon of the Earth and Dragon of Aether," a prim voice said from their left. It was the obese ninja Tubbimura calling out to them. "If you would be so kind as to hand over the Tongue of Saiping, hai?"

"How about no," Valerie said as Clay charged him. With a snarl the cowboy slammed his gut into the ninja, sending him sliding back on the ice. He crashed into a snowy bank.

Clay was about to go beat him up when Valerie stopped him. "Hold it, I got an idea. Tongue of Saiping!" She held the bronze brick to her mouth, making sure the tongue part was facing outwards. "Penguins, attack Tubbimura!" The golden tongue moved along with hers, making the Shen Gong Wu even more disgusting. But now wasn't the time to gripe.

Valerie lowered the Wu and waited. And waited.

"You sure you used that thing right?" Clay asked her as a now standing Tubbimura prepared to charge them. Suddenly splashes could be heard from the frigid water ten feet away. Angry squawking could be heard as penguins-Emperor penguins, Magellanic penguins, even little Gentoo penguins- angrily waddled over to the shocked ninja and began attacking him, flapping their flightless wings and pecking him with their sharp beaks.

Clay and Valerie looked at each other and then slowly backed away from Tubbimura's frightened shrieking.

When Clay and Valerie finally returned to the Temple-courtesy of Air Dojo- they found that they were the first ones there.

"Bet they weren't as lucky as we were," Valerie said as the two of them loitered around the front entrance. They were in no hurry to change back into their uniforms. Clay was holding the Tongue of Saiping, watching as it glinted just so in the sunlight.

"Hey, Val, I got a question."

"Shoot."

"Why'd you choose me to go along with?"

"Because I couldn't stand the idea of working with Princess or Rai," Valerie admitted easily. "And Omi was pretty annoying too. You're the only one who never really got on my nerves."

"Good to know."

"Yeah, you're like the big brother I never knew I wanted."

Clay gave her a smile. "And you're the little sister I never knew I wanted."

"Raimundo! Clay! Kimiko!" Omi's shrill voice cut through what would have been a sweet moment. "Valerie! I have returned most victorious!"

"Great, Goody Two Shoes is back," Valerie groaned as she heard the pattering of little feet running towards them.

"Valerie, Clay, I am so pleased to see you here!" Omi held up a beautiful bronze lantern. "I have won the Sun Chi Lantern in a Showdown with a twist!"

Valerie didn't much care for all the details, but she was curious about the talisman. Apparently, so was Clay. "What's it do?" the cowboy asked.

"It allows the user to align his chi energy with anyone hit with the lantern's glow," Omi quickly explained. "I cannot wait to show it off to Raimundo and Kimiko! Where are they?"

"They are not here, Omi," Master Fung said gravely. Startled, everyone turned to see the aged monk standing before them. As usual, no one knew how he managed to sneak up on them.

"They have been captured."

"Captured? Both of them?" Omi's voice quavered.

"Hot-headed Rai and Kim?" Valerie scoffed. "They wouldn't go down because of Jack Spicer's robots."

"Val, there were four Shen Gong Wu activated at the same time," Clay said patiently. "Maybe he called in some help."

Realization hit Valerie like a falling anvil. "Oh crap."

"Yes; it is a new tactic by Wuya," Master Fung said, not-so-subtlety pointing out that Jack apparently didn't think of this. "We should have anticipated it."

"We must go after them at once!" Omi said resolutely.

"For once, I'm with the little dude," Valerie said.

"I don't know," Dojo said. "These are some pretty steep odds here."

"There are three of us and most likely four of them," Clay pointed out. "It ain't that steep."

"We'll go at dusk then?" Valerie asked hopefully.

Jack lived in a surprisingly wealthy abode. Though it would explain how he managed to fund all those Jack-Bots.

The house itself was pretty basic if large: it was slightly L-shaped with two pentagon-shaped rooms with windows at the ends. It was a two story with ornately thatched roof tiles and two side doors that led into plazas. It even had a little forest for a backyard.

Guarding the fortress was a giant wall surrounding the perimeter with a few flying Jack-Bots standing guard. The remaining monks and an oversized Dojo were in front of the wall that guarded the front door of the house. Valerie held on to her Ghost Scythe. Clay wielded the Fist of Tebigong. Omi just had the Sun Chi Lantern.

"The Sun Chi Lantern?" Dojo asked incredulously. "Is that the only Shen Gong Wu you brought? I mean, I'm all for packing light, but…"

"It is all that I will need," Omi said stoically. He pulled the thin rope connected to the Lantern and put it over his neck. He turned to the others. "Attempt to follow me and do not get caught." He then jumped upwards and instantly destroyed the two passing Jack-Bots.

Valerie rolled her eyes and jumped upwards, tucking herself in a dive as she flew over the side of the wall. She moved out of the way of a search light just as she landed. She could hear Clay catching up to her quickly. Out of the corner of her vision she could see a little yellow and red blur passing over the side. Time to follow the monk.

Moving as quickly as she could she made her way over to the side of the house. She heard glass breaking; Omi had destroyed one of the search lights. He then opened a window from the outside and slid inside just as a light passed over.

Valerie put one foot on a lower window sill and quickly climbed up to the same window. She could see a search light nearing her. She opened the window and slid inside, her sneakered feet over the edge of the sill just as the search light passed by. She tumbled inside…

…and landed on a Jack-Bot.

With a cry of panic she twisted off its head and leaped aside just as it exploded. Once it died down she threw away the head just as Clay slid through the tiny window. The guy was more limber than Valerie first thought. Must have been from the yoga.

Omi quickly made a shushing motion and opened a door. He quickly ran through the doorway with Valerie and Clay in tow. It was a staircase possibly leading to the basement. Made sense; Jack was an evil genius, or so he said.

It was seriously dark down there, but it was easy enough to spot Raimundo and Kimiko's bright red uniforms-though when they had time to change from their civilian clothes was a mystery. They were chained to a wall by their wrists and had duct tape over their mouths.

"Methinks this be a trap," Valerie said before Omi could walk up to them.

Suddenly five people landed from the ceiling: Jack Spicer, Katnappe, Tubbimura with bandages, and Hazel and Theo. All five looked evil and triumphant. Valerie was less than impressed.

"Did you guys seriously wait up there in the rafters until we showed up?" she asked, hands on her hips and single eyebrow arched.

"You're not as sneaky as you thought," Wuya said hovering out of the shadows. "You're not very quiet when you take out robots."

Wisps of steam escaped from Valerie's head.

"Soon, we'll have all five of the chosen ones out of the way!" Wuya cackled triumphantly.

"And the rest of the Shen Gong Wu will be easy pickings!" For some reason Jack was pointing to his nose.

"Even for Jack," Katnappe teased. Jack just growled.

"The weak talk!" Omi did a front flip over to his captured friends. "But the strong fight!"

"About time!" Hazel said waving her beloved sword. "Komori Sword!" She instantly disappeared into the shadows. Her brother simply shouted "Third-Arm Sash!" and tried to nab the nearest warrior. Clay dodged and with the Fist of Tebigong instantly punched out Jack Spicer, who had been trying to attack him.

Valerie could hear someone behind her. She quickly got out her Wu and shouted, "Ghost Scythe!" She slashed the air behind her. Katnappe suddenly fell to the ground, the Mask of Rio on her face. Her ghostly apparition hovered over her. She growled silently as her eyes darted around fearfully.

Omi quickly took down Tubbimura and was about to say something witty when something knocked him to the floor. Clay whirled around just as something heavy hit him in the chest. He fell to one knee groaning.

Valerie could feel the cool metal of a blade against her neck. "Drop your Wu," Hazel whispered into her ear. Valerie could have sworn she giggled under her breath.

Valerie turned to the others. Tubbimura had landed on Clay and he couldn't get back up. Theo had used his Sash to bind Omi while Jack patted his bulbous head patronizingly. Wuya was gloating, "And so it ends."

"SUN CHI LANTERN!" Omi suddenly shouted. A bright light erupted within the lantern. Something was being drained from Valerie-not an unpleasant feeling. Something inside her had been taken out, something golden and it was merging with all the other golden energy in the air.

Another bright light and Valerie could no longer feel the Komori Sword against her neck. Hazel had been blown back into the wall. Valerie blinked; Tubbimura was no longer on top of Clay and Omi was free from the bindings of the Third-Arm Sash. In fact, he was emitting a golden aura as he struck a kung-fu pose.

Everyone could see that he was the new threat and the bad guys prepared to attack. Omi shouted, "FIRE!" and used his new found strength to send Hazel into a metal shelf. Valerie and Clay quickly moved to where Kimiko and Raimundo were.

With one tug of his giant hands Clay had Kimiko free. With a solid kick Raimundo's chains went clattering to the ground. "Ai, girl, you almost hurt my hand!" the Brazilian boy griped.

"Shut up and watch Omi kick butt."

Just then Tubbimura had been sent back into the same metal shelf Hazel hit with Omi's new earth power. His fat melted into the mold before he toppled to the ground, landing on the pink girl. Valerie could see a shock of black hair from the ninja's head before Theo was knocked into the shelf by Omi's wind power.

Jack held up a metal rod. "Don't make me bust you up little man!"

"AETHER!" Omi front flipped over to Jack and broke the rod with the heel of his foot. "WATER!" He slammed himself into Jack, knocking him to the ground.

After all five warriors hit Dojo's back-he was happy to count all five of them-they flew through the air back to the Temple. Everyone was happy; Clay and Raimundo had taken back the Longi Kite and the Serpent's Tail. Omi was especially happy since he had overall saved the day.

"Omi, I don't know what to say," Kimiko said meekly. She was obviously remembering her harsh treatment of him earlier.

"Thank you sounds about mighty fine place to start," Clay pointed out.

"We never should have doubted the whole team bonding thing you kept talking about," Valerie said.

"Yeah." Raimundo patted Omi's head. "Not to mention you kicked some major butt back there bro."

"It was not me," Omi replied modestly. He held up the still glowing Sun Chi Lantern. "It was all of us."

Back in the Shen Gong Wu Vault

"We've got the Orb of Tornami, the Serpent's Tail…" Kimiko began.

"The Longi Kite." Clay held it up.

"The Tongue of Saiping, which I do not recommend touching." Raimundo made a face.

"Where were you when I used it?" Valerie asked rhetorically.

"We have done well," Omi said satisfied. "But there is one task left to accomplish."

The next day

Everyone had a rope in their hands. The boulder was just over the side of the cliff.

"You all ready now?" Clay asked.

"All together!" Kimiko said.

"On three!" said Raimundo.

"One, two…" Omi sounded off.

"THREE!" everyone said together as they heaved the boulder. The bolder flew through the air over the cliff. It landed right in front of Master Fung.

"Well done, my young dragons," he said.

Everyone threw their hands in the air. "We totally did it!" Valerie shouted.

"We are stupendous!" Omi agreed.

"We rule!" Kimiko.

"We rock!" Raimundo.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!" Clay.

Later on, they all wondered why Master Fung had one foot in a cast.

In this episode, when Tubbimura crashed into the metal shelf, a part of his mask fell away so you could see his hair. Go check out that episode if you want more proof.

So, thoughts anyone?