Jermaine smiled pleased that he had actually managed to properly wrap his gift to his mom. He was happy to be spending the weekend with her and his stepdad Amil, but he was worried about Stacey. He knew it was a big deal for her becoming a member of the Bombay Art Society and he hoped her show went well without him there to support her.
"Stacey's a tough chick, if she can't handle some lamebrain critics then no one stands a chance. Time to shake some booty and surprise Mom," Jermaine said to himself as he exited his bedroom and headed to the kitchen were his mom and Amil were sitting down enjoying a scrumptious breakfast of blueberry pancakes, melon balls, and freshly squeezed orange juice, his mother's favorite. "Morning Amil, Happy Birthday Mom! Here I gift wrapped your present."
"Oh thank you Jermaine I'm sure whatever you got me it's a wonderful gift. Oh honey your first rap demo track. I'm so proud of you I'll cherish it forever. Thank you honey," Taranee said kissing him on the cheek causing him to blush.
"Mom stop your making me blush. So Amil my man what did you get this fabulous woman for her most special day?"
"I think I'll save my gift for last. Here Taranee I think you need to open this gift first," Amil said handing her a small brown package. Her eyes were filled with tears as she accepted the box. "Peter was my best friend and I'm glad he knew how to plan ahead. He bought you enough birthday and anniversary gifts to last you a lifetime."
"That's was one of the reasons I loved him so much. I miss him, especially at times like these, but these small gestures remind me he's never gone from my heart. Oh look Jermaine its traditional death mask from Africa."
"It looks just like him sniff. Here let me put it with the rest of the collection. Oh man Dad I miss you so much. I wish you had lived long enough to see me get my first girlfriend or discover my destiny. Still Amil is a pretty good guy and he makes mom happy," Jermaine whispered as he added the mask to his mother's collection. Wiping the tears from his face he rejoined his mom and Amil in time to see his mom grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh Amil I can't believe you got tickets! I thought they were sold out! Jermaine, Amil got us tickets to the Broadway Musical of "The Little Mermaid!" Amil this is such a wonderful gift."
"I thought that it would be a chance for us to spend some family time together. After the musical we can go for a walk in Central Park, then have a wonderful dinner at your favorite restaurant my dear. We really didn't get a chance to last time you were here. I also got tickets to Knick game tomorrow. I know how much you miss watching basketball games live," Amil told him.
"You are the best stepdad a kid could ask for. Yo what are we standing in this apartment for? Let's go out and hit the streets and have a grand time hommies!"
Jermaine was having a lot of fun being back in the Big Apple. He loved the smell of concrete and gasoline, he enjoyed taking the subway to places, and it was just the feeling of so many people going places that made him really happy to be a city boy. "Yeah the Temple is great and all, but I need a dose of city to keep me sane yo!"
"Really Jermaine your acting like you've been away for years instead of just a few months. Can't we just enjoy this day?" Taranee asked her son as they walked to the theater.
"Let the boy have some fun Tara. He's earned a little rest from his training. I have a suggestion, why not send his demo into that radio station contest after your birthday dinner? I heard the track already and he is good Tar very good," Amil suggested as they raced across the streets.
"Yeah that would be off the hissy! Mom could we? I mean I don't want to tread on your special day, but this opportunity might not come again right?"
"Don't worry Jermaine I was already planning on burning a copy and submitting it for you. Ah we've arrived. Oh I'm so excited! This is my favorite movie of all time and I've heard they've incorporated at least ten new songs to the musical. I can't believe you got such great seats! Ahh is everyone settled? Okay let's sit back and enjoy the show!" Taranee whispered excitedly.
Jermaine was surprised to find himself enjoying the musical considering he wasn't a big fan of The Little Mermaid. These actors were good and the music wasn't have bad. He smiled to himself as he watched Ariel come to the stage and capturing the audiences attention.
It was during the second act when Prince Erik was singing one of the new songs about searching for his lost love when chaos broke. The audience was totally captivated by the song that they didn't notice when a certain Le Mime darted across the stage. "What's that lamebrain doing here?" Jermaine wondered as Le Mime started his act.
"What the? Hey buddy get off the stage we're trying to perform a musical here! Hey are you deaf or something? I told you to get off the stage now," hissed the actor playing Prince Erik. The other actors were all doing the same thing.
Suddenly Le Mime stopped doing his impression of being trapped in a glass box and looked at the actors with an evil grin. Using his magic he lassoed the group of actors both on stage and off until the entire cast was on stage. Clapping his hands three times a burst of magical energy swirled around the actors transforming them into mute mimes. With a tip of his hat Le Mime danced away leaving the actors desperately trying to sing.
"I don't believe this! The musical is ruined! How are they suppose to complete the show if they can't sing?" Taranee asked on the verge of tears.
"Looks like the directors and managers don't know what to do either. I guess we could always get our tickets refunded, but that really doesn't solve the problem now does it? Jermaine do you know that mime?" Amul asked.
"Yeah I do. That lamebrain is one of my teams' weaker enemies. He's known as Le Mime, but it's strange to see him acting on his own. Usually he teams up with one of our more powerful foes. I knew that he had magical gifts, but to turn everyone into mute mimes is a new one on me. I really don't want to bail on your special day Mom, but I got to track down that wickedy wacked mime and see if I can reverse the damage he threw down. You understand right?"
"I understand Jermaine. If anyone can save my special day from getting ruined further you can. You have your Elemental Wu and Weapon to defend yourself?"
"Yeah and for extra protection I brought the Jet Bootsu yo. I better get going before that mime gets to far away. Why don't you two go to park without me? It shouldn't take that long to track down Le Mime so I'll meet up with you two at the restaurant for dinner. See ya!" Jermaine said racing out the theater and changing into his Xiaolin robes. When he got outside he nearly had an aneurysm.
Le Mime had been very busy. Everywhere as far as the eye could see the people of New York City had been turned into mute mimes. Several of the street performers had been trapped in invisible boxes and the buildings had new black and white color scheme. If something wasn't done soon the Big Apple would become home of the worlds largest gathering of mimes. "How am I suppose to locate that stupid Le Mime in all this mess? Better get an aerial view. Jet Bootsu Gravity!"
Half an hour later Jermaine was seriously pissed off. His home city was turning into one of his worst nightmares and everywhere he looked his favorite forms of entertainment were gone. Le Mime was taking away everything that made NYC the best place in the world. "When I find that mime I'm going to give him a thrashing he's never going to forgot. Now where is his trail leading? Oh no he's in the Park! Mom! Amul!" he screeched as he landed in the grounds and took off running. He had to find his folks before it was to late.
He had just taken the path that would lead him to the Central Park Zoo when he spotted Le Mime. The French Mime was exiting the zoo and since he couldn't hear any sounds coming from there he assumed that he had turned the animals into mutes as well. He wasn't about to let Le Mime do the same thing to the rest of Central Park. "Yo Le Mime I think its time you got a new act! Wudai Blackhole Gravity!"
Le Mime blocked the attack by creating a mirror wall sending it right back at Jermaine. Growling the teen pushed forward and tried a sweep kick to knock Le Mime off his feet, but the French dude was just to fast on his feet. No matter how many times Jermaine punched, kicked, or attacked he couldn't land a single blow. Tiring of the game Le Mime trapped Jermaine in a box and danced away.
"The guys are never going to let me live this down if I don't figure a way out of this jam. Now how did Kimiko say they escaped this trap? Oh yeah they imagined a door and they got out like this ow! Okay so the dude learned some new tricks. Okay so I can't imagine a doorway, but maybe I can move this box somewhere else. Soul of Gravity!" His Soul Pendant lit up and with its powers he tossed the invisible box straight into a nearby dumpster for three points. "Oh yeah I'm the best. Now I better go find that Mime. What the? Who would be calling me on my phone? Hello Jermaine here."
"Jermaine thank goodness your okay. Listen I know you haven't stopped that crazy mime because he just turned your mother and our stagecoach driver into mimes. I managed to avoid his magical attack and I'm trying to comfort your mom. I saw Le Mime is it head off towards the Sports Arena. Hurry and put an end to this mischief already will you please?"
"No sweat Amul no one messes with my mom on her birthday and
gets away with it. That mime is going down!"
Le Mime was having the time of his life as he transformed New York's finest athletes into mute, helpless mimes. He laughed silently enjoying his victory. His victory was short lived as someone gave him a good quick kick to the side. Pulling himself up by means of invisible pole he looked into the eyes of an angry Xiaolin Dragon.
"Yo punk where do you get off ruining my mom's birthday? I know you're weak and pathetic, but I never imagine you take out your frustrations on my peeps. What are you hoping to gain by turning New York into the biggest mime convention ever? Well answer me dammit!"
"My what colorful language you have. I knew city boys had their own lingo, but I never imagine they'd be as rude as you are," Le Mime replied in a heavy French accent.
Jermaine's jaw dropped and bounced back up in shock. Le Mime could talk and in perfect English? What the heck was going on?
"You seem surprised to hear me speak. Did you really believe I was as mute as the creatures I created? Please we mimes are allowed to talk just not during our act. I've studied at the best mime's schools and picked up English along the way. Now you said you were wondering about my plans well why don't I share them with you!" Le Mime said using his magical powers to chain Jermaine to the ground.
"As you can imagine it isn't easy being a magical mime. Everyone hates and under appreciate you. Time and time again I would join the villains of the world offering my unique talents, but would anyone take me seriously? No they all laugh in my face and call me a faux. So since your little pals have dealt harsh punishment to my old comrades I decide to spring into action to show the world how much of a threat I am. By using my magical talents I can turn anyone I chose into a mime like me. Once this city is completely mimefied I shall send my army to wreak havoc worldwide. Now doesn't that sound like fun?"
"You're doing all this because some people laughed at you? Man you are pathetic and weak. But you know something Le Mime I know a thing or two about pantomiming as well!" Jermaine yelled as jumped up into the air and twisted around causing his chains to break. Quickly he slipped on his Grava Guard and pulled out the Goliath Slingshot. "Yo I can understand wanting respect from the man, but hurting innocent people especially my Mom on her birthday is a big no no. I hope you know how to make invisible casts because when I'm done with you your going to need them. Grava Guard, Goliath Slingshot Gravity!"
"Ha your mini pebbles are no match for my magic skills. Observe Mon Amie, » Le Mime said creating invisible scoopers and sending Jermaine's attack right back at him. « Unless you can quickly learn how to fight back with invisible powers you are surely going to lose mon amie »
Jermain was running around dodging everything that came his way. He had to do something and fast if he was going to stop Le Mime once and for all. But what ? Suddenly an idea sprang into his head and he hoped it would work. « You know you said I could only defeat you if I had invisible powers. Well guess what I do ! And for nearly ruining my mom's birthday you get a taste of my new Shoku level powers. Shoku Subspace Blackhole Gravity ! »
All around Le Mime the space and gravity changed and altered until he was trapped in his own invisble container. With further persuading from Jermaine Le Mime reversed what he had done and was carted off to jail for disturbing the piece leaving Jermaine just enough time to get to the restraunant in his new Shoku robes.
Upon arriving he spied his mom and stepdad already at their table enjoying their meal. There was a plate of his favorite food meatballs and spagettie waiting for him. « Sorry I'm late I had to take care of something. Mom I'm so sorry that one of my enemies ruined your special day. Guess I can't even have one normal day in my life »
« Oh Jermaine any day I get to spend time with my son and husband is a good day in my books. My birthday wasn't a total loss. I recieved some nice presents, I had a wonderful walk in the park, and I'm eating in my favorite restraunt. Not to mention you have earned the rank of Shoku which makes me happy. Why don't we blow out the candles together okay ?'' Taranee suggested to her son and that's what they did.