.It was a beautiful spring morning at the Xiaolin Temple. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everywhere you looked life was abundant. On morning such as this Master Fung would be working with the Shoku Warriors on perfecting their moves and their ability to travel using their element. Omi was having some quality time with his family while the other monks worked on their homework. Only Dagwood was outside in the greenhouse working on a special project.
"Hello my beauties how are you doing today? With all this extra sunlight and purified water I've been giving you should be extremely healthy. Hmm it looks like my hybrid flowers are doing fine. I might have to regraph my extinct orchids hybrid and I'll have to transplant the hybrid bamboo, but all in all I think you guys are doing great. Here listen to some Mozart while I prepare your new organically enriched soil alright?" he asked as he finished watering the plants and writing down the new data in his notebook.
Ever since his trip to the Enchanted Forest Dagwood had been attempting to grow hybrids of extinct plants by combining a few together or graphing them on to existing plants. His goal was that after much testing he would plant his creations in the wild and hopefully they would take root and grow. If successful he could restore much of the flora beauty around the world while at the same time fixing environmental problems. It was a goal worthy of any botanist and a huge undertaking for a seventeen year old, but he was up to the challenge.
"Alright time to transplant you babies. All right first the bamboo stalks because you're growing so fast. Next I want to move the ferns over here and then the orchids. Hmm I think I'll wait with my tropical plants and work on the trees a little later. Okay that should do it for today. Mom would be so proud of me right now if she could see all my hard work."
"I'm sure she would although I have to wonder if she'd ask where you got the extinct plants," a voice asked.
Twirling around Dagwood's face broke into a huge grin when he saw the orange haired maiden stroking the plants. "Daphne! It's good to see you again. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in the Enchanted Forest protecting the Eternal Spring?"
"I wish young Dagwood I really do. After you and the other monks cured the Spring and defeated Valonia we increased our efforts to protect all of nature. Our efforts have been greatly rewarded. Life has flourished not only in our home, but in the Redwood Forest as well. Things are finally looking up and even Acacia was starting to smile more. Then a few weeks ago we received some appalling news from our sisters who live in the forests of Greece. An intruder broke into one our shrines and stole a powerful talisman, the Elemental Wand. The Wand was originally used to strengthen the elemental spirits and guide them in their task. Now I fear this thief is using it to capture elementals to do his bidding," the nymph explained in a rush.
"This is very troubling. How did this intruder find your sisters shrine? Do you know who he is? More importantly what spirits has he captured already?"
"We're not sure how he found the shrine, but my sisters told me that it was a very fat ninja that broke in and took the Elemental Wand. He has already captured spirits of the natural elements and their combined one. He still hasn't found the complimentary, the combined one for them, or the metaphysical elements. There is still a chance to defeat him."
"Don't worry Daphne I'll help you defeat Tubbymora and free the spirits from their imprisonment. Let me just get a few things and we'll head out," Dagwood promised. He hurried into the Vault and grabbed a few Shen Gong Wu and then he raced into his room grabbed his Elemental Wu and Weapon and hurried back to the greenhouse where Daphne was pacing anxiously. "I'm all set. Think you can transport me with you?"
"It shouldn't be a problem. Hold my hand and don't let go," Daphne instructed as swirl of flower petals covered the two and transported them to the shrine.
"That was some trip! I wish I could do that!"
"Perhaps when you're a Shoku Warrior you will be able to. Come time is of the essences. My sisters are waiting for us in the shrine. Follow me."
A few minutes later Dagwood was standing in a beautiful Greek designed shrine. It was made of marble with columns and arches. Beautiful frescos covered the walls and everywhere you looked there were plants and animals running around. It was such a spectacular place he had to wonder why anyone would wish to disturb the peace and harmony of this place.
"Echo, Acadia, Heliatrope I'm here and I've brought the Dragon of Wood with me. Please come out sisters," Daphne called out.
Three beautiful maidens melted out of the walls of the shrine and hurried over to see the two. Each of the maidens was wearing a green dress with flowers all over them. The only way to tell them apart was their hair color. Echo was silver, Acadia was a dark brown, and Heliatrope's locks were the color of the flower she was named after. The three nymphs smiled when they saw Daphne.
"Oh Daphne we were beginning to think you wouldn't come!" Echo proclaimed.
"We've done our best to fix the damage, but it was almost to much for us," Acadia explained.
"I've been busy trying to cheer up our shrine guardian. He's so sad that he was tricked into letting a thief defile the shrine," Heliatrope told the two.
"I want to talk with this guardian. Maybe he can give us a clue to help us track down Tubbymora and get back the Wand before he causes more trouble. Could you fetch your guardian while I look around here?"
"Their Guardian won't fit inside the shrine you'll have to meet him outside. Why don't you go meet with him and I'll look around for clues alright?" Daphne said. She seemed nervous about something, but Dagwood couldn't figure out what. He handed over the Falcon's Eye, Glove of Jisaku, and the Lotus Twister to help her out. He then followed the other three outside.
"We must warn you our guardian is an old foe of yours. After your last battle we took him in and gave him a home. He's not the same person you remember," Echo, presaged him.
Dagwood nodded in understanding, but was still thrown for a loop when they entered a secluded coppice and saw Cyclops making flower chains to decorate himself. "Oh my God. It's Cyclops! Stand back I'll protect you ladies! Wudai Planet Wood!"
Cyclops screamed in pain as the branches from the nearby trees tried to strangle him. With a garbled roar he broke free and searched the coppice for his attacker. His eye landed on Dagwood and he unleashed a powerful beam of energy at him.
Dagwood rolled out of the way and got ready to attack Cyclops again when a loud piercing whistle caused the two of them to plug their ears. After his head stopped drumming her turned to see Echo and her sisters glaring heatedly at him. "Echo why did you do that? I was trying to help you."
"By attacking our guardian? I told you that he is no longer your enemy. Look at his outfit Dragon. He no longer wears his tribal clothes, but the pure white chiffon to mark him as our shrines Guardian."
"Please you have to understand Dagwood poor Cyclops here had no where to go after his last battle with you and the other dragons. The other Cyclops banished him," Acadia explained.
"Why? I mean isn't he just as big and powerful as the rest of his kind?"
"Actually he's a lot smaller then your typical Cyclops. Also he's no good at smith work or guarding animals for the Olympians. His drooling and out of control appetite is also a problem. The poor guy is only a teenager so he didn't know that working with Valonia and her family would make his life worse. When he finally came back to Greece we took pity on him and trained him to be our guardian. He was doing so well atoning for his past crimes and now this. He really wants to make up for letting Tubbymora steal the Elemental Wand don't you Cyclops?" Heliatrope asked
"Grr ah yeah Grr," Cyclops told her eagerly. He let out something like a purr when the three nymphs started stroking him. He looked over at Dagwood and held out one finger for him to shake to show he meant no harm.
Dagwood shook the finger and stared in amazement. Stranger things then this had happened. "So does you have a name besides Cyclops I can call you? If your going to help me and Daphne catch Tubbymora it would be helpful to call you something else then Cyclops."
"His real name is unpronounceable for humans. If you must call him something then you can call him Ulysses," Echo informed him with amusement. Dagwood understood the joke thanks to Callie telling them all about Greek myths.
"So Ulysses what can you tell me about Tubbymora and the theft? Do you know where he went and what he plans to do with the Wand he stole?"
Ulysses had no clue, but Daphne did. Her search of the shrine had revealed some interesting clues including some cherry blossom petals. Tubbymora was heading back to Japan to steal more elemental spirits. There was no time to lose as the three companions transported themselves to another shrine in Japan hoping they weren't to late to stop Tubbymora.
"Japan is a land filled with dozens of elemental spirits scattered all over the country. My brothers and sisters have many shrines scattered all over the country that house fantastic treasures. If we don't hurry I'm certain that Tubbymora will have burglarized another shrine," Daphne exclaimed worriedly as they raced through the cheery blossom grove.
"Ugh, blah, Tubbymora blah ugh," Ulysses asked spraying them both with salivate. He looked at them apologetic and attempted to wipe them clean using his chiffon, but just seemed to make it worse.
"Okay buddy that's enough for right now. I think I got the gist of what you were jabbering about. I think Tubbymora is using his knowledge of the native myths to locate the shrines and steal spirits of the complementary and metaphysical elements. Daphne what does the shrine we're going to house?"
"It's home to some of the most powerful Elementals in the world. Not to mention there are several sacred treasures that should never be touched by a mortal housed in the shr oh my Gaia what happened here!"
The beautiful Japanese shrine had been obliterated. The roof had been blown clear off and the remaining structure was half buried underneath the earth. The protectors of the shrine were strewn about looking half drowned or burn. Their treasures scattered around the ground and in the midst of all this chaos was Tubbymora stuffing the treasures as fast as he could into a sack. When he heard Daphne screaming he turned around and chortled.
"So it seems I've been discovered. What do you think you three can possibly do to stop me now that I have the Elemental Wand?" he asked displaying the stolen item. It was short silver stick with etchings all over the handle and on top there was an amber jewel wrapped under meshing. The amber glowed brightly like it was almost alive. "I must admit I thought the tales of this magnificent talisman were just legends made up by my grandma, but after much research I found it. Now thanks to Cyclops over there I have nearly captured all the elementals I need to rule the world! Ha Ha Ha!"
"How dare you have the audacity to defile the sanctity of this shrine to satisfy your own greed? What kind of monster tortures spirits by imprisoning them and forcing them do his bidding in your insane quest to take over the world?" Daphne demanded furiously.
"Your not walking out of here Tubbymora with anymore treasures. Release your prisoners at once and return the Wand or face the consequences," Dagwood calmly stated as he slipped on his Woha Armor and twirled his Bunyan Battle-Ax.
"Grr ah Grr Grr ah!" Ulysses added pounding his feet and causing the shrine to shake. He wasn't going to fail in his duties again as a guardian.
Tubbymora looked at them in disbelief and then let out a belly laugh that made their skin crawl. "I'm suppose to be afraid of a pacifist wood nymph, a weak Wudai warrior, and visually challenged Cyclops? I think not, especially when I have the upper hand. Elementals attack!" The amber glowed brightly and then in a blink of an eye several creatures escaped and descended on the trio attacking them with such ferocity it was scary.
Daphne was surrounded by shade demons. Creatures, who were living shadows and brought despair and misery to weary travelers. She struggled to stay alive as they overpowered her and pinned her to the ground. "Stop! You must fight it! You can't let this thief win!"
"I would save my breath nymph. Even if they wanted to break free of my control they can't. As long as I posses the Wand I am all-powerful! Now then there's only one spirit left I need to capture. I was hoping for Dryad, but you'll do for wood!" He laughed as he pulled a screaming Daphne into the Wand.
"DAPHNE NO!" Dagwood screamed in agony at the event he witnessed. He had been battling Will O Wisps, the spirits of light, while Ulysses had to struggle against all the other spirits. He was also in pain at watching his friend being sucked into the Wand.
"How dare you! I order you to release Daphne right now!"
"I don't think so Dragon of Wood. Your little friend was the final piece in the puzzle and now nothing can stop me from ruling the world!" Tubbymora chortled. With a wave of the Wand he released Daphne. Her eyes were blank and all the energy and joy seemed to have been sucked out of her. "Now my dear I want you and the other Elementals to eliminate Dagwood and that slobbering oaf. Make sure it's long and painful"
"As you command Master," Daphne said in dead monotone voice. The other Elementals fell behind her as she led the battalion in a charge that was sure to kill the two former friends.
"We have to do something or will be forced to hurt our friends. Ulysses I have a plan, but your going to have to trust me. Please I know we're former enemies and I attacked you, but I can't free Daphne and the others without your help. Please trust me," Dagwood begged as the two of them were backed into a corner.
"Grr yeah ah Grr!" Ulysses nodded in agreement. He knew he wasn't smart enough to save the Elementals alone and Dagwood was to weak, but maybe together they could make a difference.
As the Elementals advanced Dagwood stood his ground waiting until he could see the white of their eyes or the equivalent. When they were just two feet away he struck. "Shoku Floral Planet Wood!" A combination of branches, flower petals, and leaves swarmed around him and then spiraled through the air on direct course with the Elementals.
The Elementals countered with a combined assault of their own. The two powerful attacks hit each other and soon it was a power struggle to see which one would land. The Elementals kept pooling their powers and Dagwood had to use his Soul Pendant to keep his attack in the game. During this time all Ulysses did was look on while Tubbymora laughed his head off.
"Now's your chance. While their busy and he's distracted. Get that Wand!" Dagwood grunted with effort as he sank to his knees. He knew he was done for in a few minutes if Ulysses didn't come through.
Tubbymora never knew what hit him. He was to busy gloating over his apparent victory. He never knew Ulysses was there until he was right on top of him. With a blast from his powerful eye Tubbymora was kissing dirt and the Wand was in Ulysses hands. Quickly he tossed it to Dagwood who used its powers to set free all the Elemental Spirits.
Needless to say they were plenty pissed. They advanced on Tubbymora ready to slaughter him, but Daphne stopped them. She reminded them of their laws and said that Tubbymora should be tried for his crimes, which they all agreed to. They dragged the fat ninja away while he was blubbering like a baby for mercy.
"Thank you both of you. Without your combined efforts I would have destroyed that which I love. Ulysses you have more then made up for you mistake and Dagwood look at you. You're a Shoku Warrior now and I couldn't be prouder."
"Thanks Daphne it means a lot to hear that. Here return this to your sisters' shrine and make sure its kept safe. Ulysses you're not that bad. Thanks again for your help. Now if someone could return me to the Temple I would be extremely grateful." With a laugh and hearty good bye Dagwood found himself once more covered in flower petals and on his way home.