Chapter Three: The Curiosity and the Cat
A/N: This used to be one long chapter but because I can, I split it in two. Enjoy. :D
"What should we do?" Kimiko turned to Raimundo.
"We need to track down the Yin Yo-Yo. Maybe when we find who took out who took, their plan will become more apparent," Raimundo said.
"But where do we even start?" Clay questioned.
"The list isn't very long," Kimiko said. "Jack was with us during the time of the attack and Wuya would've have been more showy. So that only leaves Hannibal Bean."
"What would Hannibal Bean want with the Ying Yo-Yo?" Omi asked.
A light went off in Raimundo's mind. "Chase Young!" he exclaimed.
"Um… care to explain that, partner?" Clay tipped his hat up to look at Raimundo with a curious expression.
"It's the perfect revenge! Hannibal doesn't need both yo-yos because he's not going in; he's sending someone in!" Raimundo said, punching his open palm.
"He's going to trap Chase Young in the Ying Yang world," Omi finished
Dojo had just brought the four warriors back from shen gong wu hunting and had filled his bath with hot water. There was nothing better than soaking in a steaming, hot bath after suffering a horrible shen gong wu rash. Bubbles formed, coating the top of the water.
He lowered himself in, taking his brush, scrubbing his back with a fury. If a shen gong wu never revealed itself for another 1500 years it would too soon for Dojo.
"DOJO!" the four warriors cried out.
Jack sat back in chair, feet propped up on his desk. "Uh… not to put a damper on your plans, but don't we still need the Sphere of Yun?"
"I took the liberty of snagging this while I was at the Xiaolin Temple." Hannibal whistled. A black bird circled in the air, dropping a small clear sphere on the table.
"Chase had it, huh?" Wuya scowled in Jack's direction.
"How was I to know? This is why we should have a score board," Jack whined.
"That doesn't matter now," Hannibal said. "By now those pesky warriors have figured out they have some wu missing and now that they have the Mind Reader Conch and Spirit of Hui," he glared at Jack, who recoiled quickly, "we'll have to work quickly if we want this to happen."
"What now?" Jack asked.
"We pay a visit to a very old friend," Wuya cackled.
"Can't you go any faster, Dojo?" Kimiko asked as they crossed the orange horizon.
"Hey, don't blame me. I'm still recovering from out last shen gong wu hunt. Where are we heading anyways?" Dojo asked. They had barely left the temple grounds with little time to explain.
"Chase's castle, pronto!" Raimundo called out from behind Kimiko.
Dojo skidded to a stop, mid-air. His body smashed the four monks between the folds.
"Ch-ch-ch-ch- Chase YOUNG!" Dojo screeched to a stop. "Do you guys mind if I, maybe, hang back. Every time I find myself at Chase's castle, there's almost always a chance of dragon stew. And I'm too young to taste delicious!"
"There's no time!" Raimundo said, prying himself from the dragon's compressed body.
"Fine, but don't except me to do any fighting," Dojo stated.
"Uh… don't worry, we never do," Kimiko scoffed.
Chase moved his arms slowly in front of him. He stood on one leg, bringing the other down in stance form. Energy flowed through him as he trained.
His warrior cats began to move about. They hissed toward the sky and Chase smiled.
"Young warriors, did you come to bring me a snack," he said, eyeing Dojo as the four landed.
"Eeekkk!" Dojo screamed, running up and hiding in Clay's hat.
"We have come to defeat Hannibal's plans and… protect… you?" Omi finished. "That does not seem right."
Chase laughed, sending chills through the bones of the mighty Xiaolin dragons.
"I am sure I can manage without your help," he said, beginning his meditation.
The warriors returned back to the temple, leaving Chase to his business. As they once again landed in the temple gardens, they all contemplated their next move.
"If not Chase, then who would be Hannibal's target?" Kimiko pondered.
"Let's make sure the vault's safe," Raimundo ordered.
The vault was clear of any immediate danger as far as they could detect. After searching high and low, they all determined the vault secured. The only question left was where was Hannibal with the Ying Yo-Yo?
"Well, I'm outta ideas, but I did find out we're missing the Sphere of Yun," Clay said, after appearing from the shen gong wu vault. "You think we missed anything else?"
"No way. We've looked everywhere. The Sphere of Yun and the Ying Yo-Yo?" Kimiko said.
"What could it mean?" Clay deliberated.
"The only way we're gonna know why Hannibal Bean wanted the Ying Yo-Yo so badly is gonna be when he executes the rest of his plan," Kimiko sighed.
"But by then it'll be too late," Omi said.
"What choice do we have? We have no idea where Hannibal is," Raimundo said, shrugging.
"We should get some rest and start up tomorrow. Maybe we'll figure out what his plan is once we get a little shut eye," he added, yawning and stretching.
"But what about Hannibal?" Omi questioned.
"Unless you can think of something, we have no leads and no energy to keep going on like this," Raimundo said.
"Yeah, Omi, we all tired," Kimiko said, rubbing her eyes.
Omi lowered his head in defeat and they all vacated to their bed mats. While the rest of his team slept in their cubicle rooms, Omi sat upright in distress. He couldn't seem to close his eyes and fall asleep without thinking of all the things Hannibal could be doing with the shen gong wu he stole. At his last attempt to force to drone the negative thoughts from his mind, he finally made his decision.
"I am sure the others would not mind if I took a few extra moments to search for Hannibal," he reasoned with himself.
He snuck in the vault, grabbing the Silver Manta Ray and a few other shen gong wu.
"Silver Manta Ray!"
He couldn't think of where to go at first, so he chose to explore the last place they went.
Reaching Chase's castle, Omi thought it best to be discreet. He circled the massive mountain, finding a small cliff fifteen feet down from the entrance of Chase's fortress. Landing and quickly calling back the Silver Manta Ray, Omi began his climb.
Reaching the top, he tried to stay low and out of sight. He didn't want to provoke an unnecessary attack; it would only distract from his initial purpose. The coast was clear as Omi searched the grounds. In fact, he found the place was empty. No warriors or any sign of anyone was apparent. The lack of trouble worried Omi.
He finally made his way to the main hall and there on his throne, at the peak of a tall staircase, was Chase Young. Omi froze, but when no danger came his way, he continued forward.
"Young warrior. Have you decided to join me once again on the Heylin side?" he smiled.
"That will never happen…again." Omi looked around. "Where are your warrior cats?"
"They have to rest sometime. As do you, I presume. Is there any reason why I am being graced be your presence?" Chase asked.
"I am here to find Hannibal," Omi said.
"And you think I'd harbor that bean?" Chase laughed.
"No, but I believe he will come here with the shen gong wu he stole," Omi stated.
"So you've come to protect me, have you? I think I can manage without you," smirked Chase.
Omi paused and then looked back at Chase with an odd expression upon his face.
"Yes, you said that the first time we were here," Omi said, narrowing his eyes.
A bird call confirmed Omi's suspicions, as the silhouette of the Ying-Ying bird circled up above.
Omi did not hesitate to attack. A jump kick almost caught Chase off guard. He instinctively grabbed the monk's leg before impact. He held Omi up, observing at the dragon of the water flail in his grasp.
"Hannibal!" Omi accused.
Chase's face morphed into a slightly skewed Hannibal's appearance. He laughed deeply causing his voice to bounce back in an evil chorus.
"Tell me, son, how did you expect to defeat me, now?" Laughter once again filled the main hall, as Omi stared off in worry.