Somebody out there wants to kill me. I just know it. Anyway, last chapter, here we are. Song is Why Should I Worry from Oliver and Company Let's go.
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."-Mother Teresa
"Are you sure this is the best choice, Jocie?" Kimiko yelled at her over the wind, "I mean, how useful is the Fist of Tebigong in target practice?"
"Don't worry, I'm not using it." She gave the gang a sideways glance, "I don't need it." She set down said Fist on the platform. "I've got all my power right here." She raised her hand, crackling and flashing with energy. "Go ahead Jack." She sent a sudden jolt at a target before her. It charred and dissipated.
"Hey, I wasn't ready!" Jack fumbled with an arrow and the Bow.
"Clock's ticking, honey." She flicked out another fork of lightning. "Better get going." He eventually did, and though the Bow was never supposed to miss, one did have to hold it steady when using it. The genius missed little over half his targets. Obviously, he'd never handled a bow before, like Jocie had said.
The time slipped away. Jocie took her time, making sure to stay at least two targets ahead of her brother, otherwise, she took the showdown very lightly; over casually, it might be possible to say. What is she doing? Jack thought as he struggled to get ahead, She could've whooped my ass by now, but it's almost like she's not even trying to win, or barely. The dusty gears of his brain began to turn. He took aim and fired. Jocie was only two targets ahead and there were twenty five seconds left; Jack couldn't win.
"Jocie!" Raimundo shouted, "Look out!"
"What?" the blind girl stopped for a second; then something struck her shoulder, "OW! Shhhhhhaaaa-a-a-a-a-a….." she held her shoulder. It wasn't bleeding, but it hurt like all hell and she couldn't move it. "What the hell, Jack? That's cheating!" But he wasn't listening; the Goth was desperately trying to exceed his sister's number of targets; they were tied. On the way to hit Jocie, his arrow had grazed two targets which evidentially counted for him because they disappeared.
Jack only had to hit one target to win. Jocie tried to lift her arm with her other arm. It was no use; the appendage felt like it weighed a ton and a half. Jack took his final aim. Ten, nine, eight. Then he realized that he had never actually activated the Shen Gong Wu and had been using it like a regular bow. Six, five, four. "Bow of Artemis!" He let loose the drawstring and the arrow whizzed forth and so did Jack to victory. Three, two, one.
They were back in the evil lair. "Oh, too bad, lil sis." Jack said patting Jocie on the back.
"Shut up," She said plainly and walked away, dragging her arm like a dead weight. "Let's go guys." The maze was gone and the Xiaolin Dragons ascended the stairs into the regular Spicer household.
On Dojo's back heading back to the temple, the others attempted to cheer Jocelyn up. "It's not that bad, Jocie." Raimundo offered, "I used to lose all the time."
"Well, I did not." Omi declared, "Do not fear, dear Jocelyn, I am sure that your furious skills will triumph next time."
"Mad skills, Omi. Skills that I don't have."
"Don't talk like that," Kimiko said putting a hand on her shoulder. "It was your first showdown, losing is understandable."
Once they touched down, Jocie vanished for a long time. Clay found her in her room. "Come to tell me I'm not a loser?"
"Ya told me ta die, I can not ignore that."
"I'm sorry about that," She moved closer to him, "I was saying things I don't really mean." She leaned forward to try to kiss him, but he back away.
"Ya told me ta die." He repeated more forcefully, "And lovin' you was one of the few things I thought I was doing right. Now that it's wrong, I got nuthin' to live for anymore." He looked at her for a response. Receiving none, he left. Once Clay was gone, a tear ran down Jocie's cheek and chin; she laid down and closed her eyes.
Jocie wasn't at breakfast the next morning. The three of the four Wudai Warriors searched for her; Clay politely refused. They all found her dressed in street clothes by the eastern gate with her bags; she was speaking to Master Fung. "Thank you for understanding." She said handing her robes to him with a bow.
"If you believe it is right, then I trust your decision."
"What's going on?" Kimiko asked, reading Jocie's doleful face.
"Jocelyn has decided to leave the temple and go on her own. I will leave you to say goodbye." He walked away.
Jocie faced the four of them. She sighed. "Omi," she began, "You are one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and one of the bravest." She smiled down at him and patted his head. "Raimundo, what to say. It's been…wild." She offered her hand to him and he took it. "I forgive you." She pecked him lightly on the cheek. "Kimiko, Kimmy, Kim," She smiled, "Sorry we fought. I was my fault." Kim opened her mouth, "No. It was me." She said firmly. They exchanged a sweet hug. "Take care." Half grudgingly, Jocie set her sights to Clay. She stood on her tiptoes to get eye level with him and leaned close so only he would hear. "No regrets, okay?" She smiled sweetly and softly kissed his lips, then she picked up her bags and turned to the gate.
"Where will you go?" Omi asked.
"I dunno, where ever the wind takes me." There was a sudden gust in her face, pushing her back toward the temple. "Are you messing with me, Raimundo?" She glanced over her shoulder with a cocked eyebrow.
"Heh, heh, heh," The Brazilian scratched the back of his neck, "Sorry."
"Fine then, I'll go against the wind." Wind blew from her back, to go against it, she'd need to go back to the temple. "Rai," she growled in a playful manner.
"That one wasn't me, I swear." He put his hands up in defense. Jocie smiled.
"Pleasant journeys." She gave a small salute, "Take care." She descended the stairs before turning around, "Oh, and if I see Jack, I'll give him hell for you." With those words, she turned away and began to walk and as she gained distance, they heard her sing, "Why should I worry? Why should I care? And even when I crossed that line, I got street savorie faire."
-End-
Credits:
Starring: Omi, Raimundo, Kimiko, Clay, Jack, and Jocie
Written by: McMuffinDragon
Edited by: Nobody! No one ever edited this! Can't you tell?
Based on the crazy n'imagination of: McMuffinDragon
Special Thanks:
Christy Hui
WhOdOeSnTlOvErAi13, first to review this story
Tweeker on a Bike, thanks for the many reviews on this and other stories
Tietum, loyal reviewer
The rest of you suck! Just kidding, I love you all!
Last but not Least: Maidenhair, my first reviewer ever and the wonderful person who showed me the wonderful world of fanfiction
So until next time, The Muffin Dragon bids you adieu! –swirls cape and vanishes-
