The camp was set up and the dragons were just starting to settle down around it. They knew they probably wouldn't be there long and yet they all felt comfortable just sitting there. Clay was cooking something over the fire, Omi was collecting water from a near by stream and Kimiko and Raimundo were sat happily near the edge of the mountain they were stationed on. They were talking and laughing and as Clay glanced up, it reminded him strongly of the past.
"What do you think about getting a whole load of goo-zombies games before going back?" Asked Raimundo.
"Wow, I'd forgotten about goo-zombies." Sighed Kimiko, "Sure, but I bet we've already got some in the future."
"Maybe, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Said Raimundo.
They both laughed for a moment and then looked down at the temple.
"What do you say to popping in and saying hi to Master Fung if we get the chance?" Asked Raimundo.
"I'd love to." Said Kimiko.
"I bet cheese ball would too." Said Raimundo.
"You know he would." Said Kimiko, "He grew up in that temple."
"So did we in a way." Said Raimundo.
As they sat talking happily, there was a distant boom. They all stood up and looked around. On the very distant horizon, a dark cloud was gathering.
"Chase Young," Said Clay.
"But remember, that cloud appeared about three hours before he even arrived." Said Raimundo, "We've still got some time."
"Still, I'd like to go over our strategy again," Said Kimiko.
"Don't worry about it," Said Raimundo, "It's all down to me anyway, I've got it all up here."
He tapped his index finger of his right hand to his temple.
"That's comforting," Said Kimiko.
"No need for hurtful sarcasm Kim," said Raimundo, "don't worry so much. We'll be fine!"
"I hope so," said Omi, "I do not want to make things any worse for the people of the future."
"I don't think that's physically possible," Said Kimiko.
"Shh!" Said Clay, "Don't jinx it."
They all nodded and sat down, looking out towards the distant deep grey cloud, rising to block the light. This was a day they would never forget. None of them had so far. Omi sighed and looked away.
"Omi?" Asked Kimiko.
"When Chase Young attacks, I will be at his side." Omi sighed.
"That doesn't matter. We got you back in the future," Said Kimiko, "We can get you back in the past."
"You believe so?" Asked Omi.
"We know so." Said Clay.
"Really?" Asked Omi.
"You'd better believe it," Said Raimundo, "You were always one of us at heart, you've just got to tap into it."
"Or we could just pound on Chase Young until he lets you go." Said Kimiko.
"That sounds fun." Said Omi cheerfully.
They all smiled, but none of them settled back into their state of previous relaxation. They all kept glancing back towards the oncoming storm and praying that this plan worked; even Raimundo. After all, no matter how certain a person is, nothing is ever set in stone.
Raimundo, Clay and Kimiko all looked down at the temple, remembering what was happening at this precise moment …
Within the temple walls, an alarm sounded. The dragon of fire was the first to appear, her long black hair tied up in bunches and they wrapped themselves briefly around her shoulders as she turned around hurriedly in the courtyard. She took in a deep breath, both of her bright blue eyes set firmly on the clouds she could see through the pass in the mountains.
Not far behind her, the dragon of earth ran into the courtyard. Holding onto his cowboy hat as she slid to a halt beside her, his broad shoulders making her look small and fragile. An illusion no one was tricked by twice. The cowboy took of his hat and straightened out his blonde hair before placing it back onto of his head. His own blue eyes also settled on the horizon.
Not far behind him, the dragon of wind arrived. His spiky brown hair was swept back by the wind as he ran against it. He stopped and for a moment his green eyes settled on the girl before following the other two's gaze. He took in a breath and released it silently, taking in the sight before him.
"Chase Young," Said Kimiko.
"And Wuya," Said Clay.
"And Omi," Said Raimundo.
"Do not let yourselves be distracted by his presence." Said Master Fung, walking out of the shadows, "It is a mistake which should never be made more than once."
All of the dragons looked around at him. They all had set faces and firm determination present in their eyes. From around the corner, a green dragon slithered across the floor.
"Hey, what's with the gloomy atmosphere?" It asked.
"Look for yourself Dojo," Said Raimundo, allowing him to slither up his arm and look out towards the distance.
"Damn, looks like I'll have to cancel the pizza." Said Dojo, "We're going to battle."
"Looks like," Said Kimiko.
Clay wasn't listening. His eyes were set on the mountains to the right of the pass. Towards the top, a thin trail of smoke was leading up and blending against the grey sky.
"Clay?" Asked Master Fung, "Does something trouble you?"
"No … but who's on the mountain?" Asked Clay.
"Now's not exactly the time to be worrying about campers and mountain goats Clay," said Raimundo.
"No it's just … I feel like we should go up there." Said Clay.
"We can't right now Clay," Said Kimiko, "Wait until after we win."
"Hell yeah!" Said Raimundo, raising his hand to let Kimiko high-five it.
They both laughed and Clay put the smoke out of his mind. Kimiko straightened out her red and white outfit and tightened the straps of her shoes.
"I would not begin to prepare just yet Kimiko," Said Master Fung, "I suspect we have some time before they actually arrive."
"But I wanna kick butt now!" whined Kimiko.
"I sure Raimundo would let you OW!" Said Clay as Raimundo elbowed him.
Clay had been teasing Raimundo ever since he had first admitted to his friend that he liked their teammate. Kimiko, of course, already knew; she just didn't want to say anything about it. As Raimundo turned, red faced to Kimiko, she looked around as if she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
"How about we get set then?" He asked.
"I'm gonna go and get something," Said Clay, "You two get prepared."
As Clay walked away, Raimundo and Kimiko both rolled their eyes. They walked in silence over to the training area and sat down to wait for Clay, not that training would do them any good. If they weren't prepared by now then they wouldn't be prepared after training.
They glanced at each other and smiled before looking away again.
"Do you think we're ever going to actually win this fight?" Asked Raimundo.
"I know we are!" Said Kimiko brightly, her blue eyes sparkling.
"I want to believe that we are, but we never to seem to get any further towards winning," Said Raimundo, "Instead I feel like we're constantly being pushed back to the edge of our own territory."
"We've got allies out there," Said Kimiko, "They're holding our ground for us."
"Like who?" Asked Raimundo.
"We've got Jack Spicer, Jermaine and we've got the other temples across the earth all trying to fight him off." Said Kimiko, "Eventually we're going to win!"
"In theory," Laughed Raimundo, before looking serious, "But they've been attacking us for days on end and we've never had to face anything like this before."
He gestured at the clouds.
"We're heroes," Said Kimiko, "Nothing could happen to us."
On the hilltop, Raimundo suddenly blinked and jogged backwards. He looked around at Kimiko; she had done the exact same thing.
"Did you just feel like …" Began Kimiko.
"We were back down there, having the exact same conversation?" Asked Raimundo.
"A blast from the past." Said Kimiko.
"Weird," Said Raimundo, shivering slightly.
They both glanced at each other and then looked back towards the distance. The dark cloud was slowly smothering more and more sky. It wouldn't be long now and once those clouds covered the entire sky, they wouldn't lift again. They both shivered, paying that the plan would work. Not just for them, but for the entire world.
"You guys alright?" Asked Clay.
"Yeah, we're fine," Said Raimundo.
"The clouds are approaching," Said Omi, "I do not remember what happens in this battle."
"You were distracted by the monks," Said Kimiko, "We're fighting Chase when he opens the portal and Raimundo falls in."
"This isn't going to be an easy battle for any of us to watch," Said Clay, "It was damn painful."
"We were trying to bail out at the last minute," Said Kimiko.
"Dojo lifted us up and then he was hit." Said Raimundo, "I fell off and blew the others out of the way of the portal."
"He saved us and left himself to fall through time," Said Kimiko.
"Our hero," Said Clay.
They all sighed and looked around. Kimiko fingered the eye patch she was wearing.
"Perhaps it'll never happen." She said, "I wouldn't mind no having to wear this thing."
"You still look gorgeous." Said Raimundo.
"My eyes were my best feature." Said Kimiko grumpily, "I want them both back."
"Again," Said Omi, guiltily "Very sorry."
"It wasn't your fault," Said Kimiko.
"But it was," Said Omi, "I agreed to go with Chase Young, I agreed to go into the Ying - Yang world, I agreed to swear my loyalty and I agreed that I should have to honour my word."
"Well when you look at it that way …" Began Raimundo, but Kimiko elbowed him.
"It wasn't your fault Omi," She said softly, "He tricked you into believing that he wasn't as dishonest as we all believed. At some moments in time it was almost possible to agree with you, we just aren't as trusting as you."
She hugged him, "And that's what we love about you."
"Really?" Asked Omi.
"Well, being guys I'm sure we wouldn't use those exact words," Said Clay with Raimundo nodding in agreement behind him, "But more or less, yes that's why we're friends with you."
They all looked around at the approaching clouds and felt a pang of dread. Everything they looked up they were getting closer; swallowing more and more of the daylight and the blue skies. Raimundo felt prepared for the plan, but the others were all feeling distinct doubt. Perhaps it was because they had gone over this day so any times in their minds or perhaps it was because they knew Raimundo just that little too well, but whatever it was, the only person there that day who were feeling confident was Raimundo and the young monks down in the temple below. The eight years the other three had been through had taken whatever gave them that confidence, but Raimundo was determined to restore it. Whatever it took.
(A/N) Sorry it's late. These holidays have been busier than I thought, but hey at least I'm getting it done. My brother's coming home from University in Liverpool and my Aunt's coming down. She's like an older version of my sister.
Tell me what you think.
Lots of luv,
Becky.