I apologize for the long absence of updates, but I've been working on my most popular story by far with 117 reviews. It was fun to write
I do not own Xiaolin Showdown.
Days Gone By 3
Black boots with straps thudded down a large grandiose hall, a tattered train of black cloth belonging to a long overcoat followed after along with three vicious looking bots floating after their master and creator, acting as guards.
"Jack-Bot 109, bring up the video feed from the troops in France." a large holographic screen began floating next to the broad shouldered teen, displayed on the screen was a couple of bots enforcing their master's rule, "So we have France, huh? Bring up the video feeds in Russia, Germany, and China." the screen divided into three, each screen showing said countries, "We have China and we're close to gaining Germany, Russia's still going strong. I didn't want to do this, but it seems we'll have to send the heavier powered models out there. Jack-Bot 91 remind me to buffer the heavy powered models before they head out."
"Sir," Jack-Bot 139 began,
"What is it?"
"Ashley 'Katnappe' Barnes is currently at the gates."
"Ugh, what does SHE want?"
"Unknown."
"Great." Jack groused, "Can't she see I'm trying to take over the world?" he stopped before a large window revealing the dark outer world beyond his palace, eyes glued on the girl's distant figure, "Let her in, but keep an eye on her."
"Yes, sir." Jack-Bot 139 relayed the message.
"Now let's go see what she wants."
Continuing his walk, Jack kept his eyes trained on the hall ahead where it would soon connect with the main hall leading towards the den. It had been an entire month since the showdown between his forces and the Xiaolin Monks, long story short, he and Wuya had won, and spectacularly so! Speaking of which, Wuya was somewhere within the large palace, the teen just didn't know where exactly, not that he really cared; he had his Jack-Bots to keep him company as well as handle the invasion.
Entering the foyer, he spotted Ashley sitting prettily upon one of the many couches he'd had his bots set up for waiting guests . . . not that he had many.
"What do you want, Ashley?"
"Ah, Jack ~ it's so good to see you again ~ !"
"Again. What do you want?" Jack crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm kinda busy."
"Oh ~ ? With what? According to the teen magazines, you're still single. Did you know they voted you the hottest bad boy of the year?"
"I-I'm in t-teen magazines?!" Jack spluttered a small splash of blush painting his cheeks before regaining his cool, "Look, I . . . you don't need to know what I'm doing!"
"Why?"
"Because it's on a need to know basis and you don't need to know! That's why!"
"Okay, okay." Ashley held her hands out, "Cool your jets. I'm here because a few friends and I are heading to Catatonia Land and a good friend of mine is interested in you so she wanted me to ask you to come along . . . ," she eyed Jack critically, "I don't see why though." she hummed thoughtfully, Jack rolled his eyes at the girl's rambling, "Sure you're voice is a little deeper, you've grown a little taller, gained a few muscles here and there, not to mention you know how to fight, AND you got the whole bad boy image thing going for you, but I still see you as that dorky kid."
"Done?" Jack groused, Ashley shrugged, "Good. Because I need you to tell this friend of yours something . . . I'M. NOT. INTERESTED. I got an entire EMPIRE to run and a WORLD that needs conquering! I can't go running around like some loser teenager!"
"Whatever." Ashley rolled her eyes, hip cocked, "Talk about 'don't kill the messenger'. I can see TEEN MAGAZINE HEADLINES now . . . Jack Spicer, Loner and Heart-Breaker."
"I am not a LONER."
"Oh yeah?" Ashley challenged, "Do you have any friends?"
"I uh . . . no." Jack frowned, "But that doesn't mean I'm lonely! I got my Jack-Bots here!"
"What about Wuya?"
"She's . . . !" Jack hesitated, "Somewhere." frowning a little more, the crimson eyed teen began rethinking his relationships, he REALLY didn't have anyone, his parents saw him as some sort of monster, abandoned him, Wuya was like a caretaker and she seemed fond of him, but she was always gone, doing her own thing . . . the closest thing he had to friends were either his allies who constantly stabbed him in the back or the Xiaolin Monks who were now imprisoned underneath the palace, "Leave."
"Excuse me?"
"I said LEAVE!" Jack pointed viciously towards the door, "NOW!"
"All right, all right!" Ashley began making her way for the exit, "PMS much?"
Glaring after the girl and hearing the front door slam shut, Jack turned his attention back towards the main hall and found it to be extremely . . . empty . . . he felt his shoulders slump a little in defeat.
They DID say it was lonely at the top, but WAS he lonely?
How do you know if you're lonely?
Wasn't he alone all his life?
So what's the difference?
Maybe he didn't HAVE to be lonely. Yeah! He could find himself an Evil Empress to his Evil Emperor, Ashley said the teenagers thought he was hot so he could EASILY have anyone he wanted! But the thing was . . . WHO did he want? Ashley's friend was out of the picture for obvious reasons. He didn't want to go OUT and find someone. He wanted someone close by. The Xiaolin Monks!
D-G-B
"Reports from Germany have come in, they have lost to their metal foes as the Evil Emperor's forces continue swarming the European countries."
"Man! This SUCKS!" Raimundo cried out, pulling at his hair, "We FAILED everyone and they don't even know we let them down!"
"I know what you mean." Kimiko sighed, sitting against the wall of their sterile white prison, arms wrapped around her knees, "I feel so bad."
"Not to mention Jack Spicer has left this whimsical box in here to remind us of our most SHAMEFUL failure." Omi said, watching the images on the TV flash, "It is like he is rubbing pepper in our injuries!"
"It's a TV Omi!" Raimundo exclaimed,
"I think you mean rubbing salt in our wounds." Clay corrected,
"Yes, yes." Omi waved the two off before sighing, "If only Master Fung were here."
At the mention of their late master, Dojo broke out into tears, Kimiko scooping up the dragon into her arms as she glared at Omi who flushed from embarrassment, Raimundo slapping the back of his head.
"Nice going, Omi."
"I am most sorry Dojo." Omi apologized, rubbing the back of his head, "I forgot . . . ,"
"No, no." Dojo waved a clawed hand at him as he sniffed, "It's okay, I know you didn't mean to . . . ."
"How long have we been in here?" Raimundo sighed, "Feels like it's been YEARS."
"I'd say a month." Clay answered as he studied the time stamp on the TV encased behind a thick sheet of glass none of them could crack,
"GAH! THIS IS SO DEPRESSING!" Raimundo shouted, "Hey Jack! Have a little humanity and turn this thing off! I know you can hear me! JACK!"
"Raimundo, please!" Kimiko snapped, covering her ears, "Yelling won't help anything!"
"Then what will!?" Raimundo whirled on the girl, "We've been sitting in here for an entire MONTH and all the contact we have is with each other, the stupid TV, or the stupid bot that brings the chow!"
"And we've already tried everything we could to bust outta here." Clay added,
"Thanks for reminding us Cowboy." Raimundo growled, "As if we don't have the stupid TV reminding us of our failure now we have YOU telling us that everything we tried has failed."
"I'm TRYING to be helpful." Clay growled back, the two boys glaring one another down,
"You have a funny way of showing it, all you've done is sit in your stupid corner!"
"And what have you done, Rai!?" Kimiko challenged, "All you do is complain!"
"Oh! And you don't!?"
"Friends, please." Omi began, "We must not fight one another! Master Fung would be most displeased with us!"
Dojo began crying again, the three older monks turned on Omi with glares of their own.
"Ah ~ don't you love it when friends fight?" a voice hummed, "I know I do."
Everyone turned to the source to find Jack standing in the entryway of their sterile white prison with two bots flanking his sides, he wore a nearly manic smile.
"Jack Spicer, what are you doing here!?" Omi exclaimed,
"Still dramatic, aren't we Omi." Jack grinned, "I just dropped by to see how my favorite prisoners were doing. So, how are you?"
"What do you want?" Kimiko openly glaring at Jack causing his grin to widen,
"Oh nothing ~ I just came to tell one of you that you will be accompanying me upstairs and will live in the palace by my side."
"Like we'd willingly do that." Raimundo spat, he saw Jack's eyes train on him,
"You won't have a choice."
"I won't go without a fight." Kimiko warned,
"Oh Kimiko, cockiness doesn't suit you."
"Wha . . . ?" Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo blinked, Omi didn't get it.
"So who's the unlucky cowboy you're taking?" Clay growled, getting over his initial shock,
"Definitely not you country bumpkin." Jack snickered, he turned his attention to Rai who felt a shiver of fear run down his spine, "The one I want has pretty amazing eyes, a boyish charm, and I know he'll look GREAT at my side. Not to mention he's a pretty good fighter."
"All of those things are true Jack Spicer," Omi began, all eyes falling on him, "But flattery will not get you anywhere for I refuse to go."
"He's talking about Raimundo there buddy." Dojo whispered,
"Oh . . . WHAT!?" Omi cried out, "Why not me!?"
"Yeah! Why NOT him!? I mean, I'm flattered, really, I am . . . but that's not the point!" Raimundo added, "Chase Young wanted him! CHASE YOUNG! Which means Omi must be something special! I'm just nobody!"
"And why NOT me!?" Kimiko huffed, hands on her hips, "Am I not good enough!?"
"Looks like we're not wanted, big guy." Dojo said as he wrapped himself around Clay's shoulder, "Thank goodness."
"Yeah, I hear you partner."
Arching a brow at the three monks currently trying to get him to see their points and arguing amongst themselves, he raised a hand to his Jack-Bots.
"Fetch Raimundo for me."
"Yes, sir." the two bots advanced in the room, the three breaking up their argument causing Raimundo to yelp as he was picked up by the arms,
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't I get a say in this!" Raimundo yelped as he was dragged towards the door,
"Rai!" Kimiko called out,
"You will not take our friend!" Omi shouted,
Before the four could do anything to help their friend, something stopped them, they saw one of the bots using the Ruby of Ramses Shen-Gong-Wu ability WITHOUT said talisman . . . the group had little chance to see their friend as the door shut with what felt like a final farewell.
"Let me go!" Raimundo snapped as he struggled against the hard grasp the robots had on him, "What makes you think I'll listen to anything you say!?"
"You will if you want your family to continue living."
"W-What?"
"You heard me." Jack turned on his heel to level Raimundo with a look, "I chose you which means you are now MINE. You are not allowed to go outside or anywhere else for that matter without an escort, an escort I choose. If you do not have an escort you will be killed along with that family of yours AND your friends. Am I understood?"
Sneering, Raimundo glared at the older teen with hate, grudgingly he nodded, "Yes."
"Good." Jack hummed as he grabbed the Brazilian's chin, their eyes locked momentarily before the older boy moved in, pressing a kiss on the younger's lips causing him to still in shock, smirking, Jack began walking again, "You will be sleeping in my room, dinner will be ready in 5 hours."
Their first KISS! AH! I COULD JUST SQUEAL (even if it was kinda forced)!