Epilogue - Return to Normalcy
Ray awoke the next morning in the temple's medical room, lying on a thick, soft bed.
As comfortable as it was, he could not feel a thing. His heart was still numb in reaction to the shock of the night before.
Omi, who had been sitting next to his bed and watching over him all night, noticed that he had opened his eyes and rose to approach him.
The young man was hardly able to register what was going on when he saw his master peer over him.
Ray had been certain that he had died. He had lost his will to live. He figured that if he had nothing to live for, then he would stop living. Yet, here he was; looking up at his teacher, breathing and thinking coherent thoughts once again.
Omi laid the back of his hand gently on Ray's forehead, checking him for a fever, "Welcome home Raymundo. Are you all right?"
At first, the young monk could not speak, as his mind had not fully recovered. However, as he felt Omi's hand move the hair from his eyes, he began to feel a gentle, healing energy radiating from his master.
His mind wrestled back to reality and he was finally able to form words, though they were weak and meager, "U-uncle Omi? What happened? How did you find me?"
The elder monk smiled softly at his disciple, "Dojo told me everything. We followed you to Jacki's house to make sure that you would be safe.
"Besides that," he wiggled a piece of paper in front of Ray's face, "this note would not have convinced anyone. You and I both know that I would never have let you go off into the mountains to train alone. You are my student. I would have at least gone to see you off."
Ray let out a tiny snort, which was the most that he could manage in the realm laughter. A sense of gratitude prevented him from being upset about Dojo breaking their promise and telling his secret.
At the same time, however, every one of the young man's emotions seemed stifled. He could do little except wonder why he was still alive.
Omi could sense the battle that was being waged within Ray's soul, "Raymundo, do not let the words of that witch harm you. I know that you care for her deeply, but she is evil and does not feel the same affection towards you. Her only reason for paying you any mind was so that she could hurt you. Regardless of what sick enjoyment she got from teasing you, it does not mean that you have done anything wrong.
"At any rate, she is our enemy now. I will need you to join us in battle against her if the need arises. Can I trust you to do this?"
It took Ray a long time to answer. He could not imagine bringing harm to someone he cared for. He was about to deny his master's request when something suddenly struck him.
Why do I care about her so much?
As he pondered this question, it became clear to him that he probably only had feelings for Jacki because she was the first girl that he had ever met. Perhaps it was not even love that he felt and simply physical attraction. Either way, the feelings were there. He could not deny their existence.
However, Ray realized that he could not let his emotions get in the way of his judgment. Jacki was not his sole purpose for living. She was his enemy, and he would have to fight her to protect peace in the world.
"Yes, Uncle Omi. I will fight her to the end. It is my duty as a Xiaolin warrior to defeat evil, and I will never again neglect this task."
Pride once again filled Omi's heart as he heard his student's words, "I am glad to hear you say that Raymundo. You have become a fine young man."
"Well," Ray shifted, ignoring his aching muscles, and sat up in his bed, "I did learn from the best."
As his student smiled at him, Omi began to feel tears of joy welling up in his eyes. He put a hand on Ray's shoulder and turned away to hide his crying face, "Thank you. That means a lot to me."
The young monk chuckled softly, "You are welcome, Uncle Omi. And I can see you crying, you know."
Seeing Omi cry did not make Ray think less of the old man. In fact, he felt even more respect for his teacher, as he could tell that Omi must truly care about him.
Knowing that his master would risk death to save him made Ray understand that his existence must have had a purpose beyond what he had previously considered. He was young, strong and full of hope.
Omi could tell that Ray was thinking about something. His gaze became vacant and he did not seem to be focusing on what he was looking at.
The elder monk decided that it would be best to leave him alone to think, "If you are in need of anything, Raymundo, do not hesitate to call for me."
Ray nodded as his master left the room.
The young man chose to take advantage of his recovery time by thinking some things over.
His first issue to address was his purpose in life. What was it? Up until recently, Ray had simply been living and not giving any thought as to what he wanted to do. Sure, he had constantly mentioned bringing honor to his grandfather's legacy, but what did that really mean? What did it mean in terms of action?
Hm…Becoming a great warrior cannot be the only thing I can do to honor my family. That would not be the only thing that my grandfather would want me to do. Uncle Omi has told me a lot about him, so I know he cared about more than just fighting. What else can I do to honor him?
What would you want me to do with my life, Grandfather? The young monk looked up into the sky, as if to seek advice from Raimundo's fallen spirit.
He did not hear a voice, but he did feel a gust of wind breeze by him. Looking around, Ray could not see any open windows that could have let in a draft. A shiver shot down his spine at the thought that it had been a supernatural occurrence.
Then, he understood that it was a message from his grandfather. The breeze felt warm as it wrapped itself around his chest. He felt a new sense of courage and wisdom approach him and he welcomed the knowledge with an open heart.
Thank you Grandfather. I think I understand now.
You want me to be myself, right? You just want me to make the most of myself and do what will make me happy.
You are right. The only thing that matters is that I make my life great. I have to create my own purpose in life. Other people will not do it for me. I will become the strong, courageous and confident man that I have always strived to be, just like you.
The gust swirled around him once more and he smiled as it buffed the top of his head, as if to give him a noogie.
He realized that what other people said about him long longer mattered. What mattered was that he made the most of his life and became someone that he could be proud of. That would bring more honor to his family than anything else.
After two days of rest, Ray felt fully recovered from his traumatic experience and got out of bed with more vigor than ever.
The young monk realized that he had not seen Omi since their first conversation after his rescue. He decided to search for his master so that they could speak of his revelation.
Uncle Omi will be so proud of me! He grew a cheeky grin as he wandered out onto the temple grounds for the first time in nearly a week.
Even the simple act of walking felt surreal. His sense of awareness was keener than ever. Every step on the soft grass seemed as though it was his first. As each blade sprung back under his feet, he almost felt as though he was gliding over the ground. He took a deep breath in and fresh air rushed into his lungs. It cleansed his entire body and filled him with a sense of freedom.
He suddenly had the urge to roll around on the ground, and decided not to deny it. He fell backwards and twirled rapidly, feeling the dew-covered grass soak his robes and send a cool sensation through his entire body. The short, green blades tickled his cheeks and a flower found its way up his nose, causing him to sneeze. He began to laugh in pure ecstasy, filled with the simple joy of being alive.
After trashing about in the grass for what seemed like hours, Ray brought his mind out of its euphoria and back to the mission he had set out for earlier; finding Omi. He rose to his feet and shook the chill off of his clothes.
Minutes of searching turned into hours and Ray began to worry. Where could he be? Even Grandpa Dojo seems to be missing. Uncle Omi never leaves the temple for very long, especially not without leaving someone else in charge…
Even after asking many of the other monks, the young man had no clue as to where his master had gone.
Fear began to creep into his mind. He was not afraid for his master's life. Omi was too strong to be hurt very severely by anything. Rather, being unsure was what frightened Ray the most. He wanted to know what was going on, particularly where his master had gone.
Then, it hit him that this was probably all one big joke. I bet Uncle Omi is just messing with me. He will be back soon. I will just wait. The young man giggled to himself and headed off to the training arena to flex his stiff muscles.
By the end of the day, Omi and Dojo still had not returned.
Yet, Ray refused to let it get to him and was still convinced that it was some sort of prank. Dojo loved playing jokes on people, after all. It had most likely been the devious little dragon's idea.
Ray went to sleep on his mat without giving it another thought.
The following day was similar to the last, unnerving the young man once again. This joke had gone far enough.
He went around asking the other monks where Omi and Dojo were, but got exactly the same responses as the day before. No one knew where they had gone.
All right, where the heck are they?
He sighed in exasperation. I guess I will just train and do my chores as usual.
That evening, Ray had nearly finished his duties when he heard a gong being struck. At first, he feared the worst and thought that Jacki had returned.
But, once he listened closer, he realized that the sound was not that of a warning gong. Contrarily, it was one that signaled an event of salvation.
He contemplated ignoring the alarm and continuing with his chores until another monk rushed up to him from behind, "Raymundo! Come quickly! Master Omi has returned, and he has brought visitors."
The man could barely finish speaking before Ray was on his feet, dashing out of the hall and leaving the floor half-clean.
The evening sky was dark, as the sun had just finished setting. However, it was a clear night, with stars and a half moon gleaming brightly in the atmosphere.
Dojo landed on the lawn and shrank down to size as three riders hopped off his back.
As Ray approached, he could see that Omi was one of them, along with two others that looked quite different from the Xiaolin monks. The young man noticed that one visitor was rather husky and towered over nearly everyone present, while the other was not much taller than he and very slender. Yet, Ray paid little mind to the two new faces, and rushed to meet his master.
"Uncle Omi! You have returned! I am so glad. I was starting to worry when I did not see you yesterday," he glanced back towards the visitors that accompanied his master, "Who are these two?"
Dojo vaulted into Ray's face and began to shake the young monk's head, quite offended at being ignored, "What about me? You weren't worried about old Grandpa Dojo? I feel so unloved," the little dragon covered his face with the back of his arm and began to sob.
"Dojo, I don't think that's what he meant. I'm sure he's just as glad to see you," a woman's voice spoke in a comforting tone as the little dragon let go of Ray's face and fell to the ground.
"Yeah Dojo, y'all shouldn't feel unloved," the burly man, whose speech slightly puzzled Raymundo, knelt down to pat the dragon affectionately on the head.
Dojo looked up, his filling with tears, "Thanks guys. You're the best. I'll leave you all alone now so you can chat," he slithered away and headed into the main temple hall.
The group surveyed one other in the moonlight.
Ray could sense that these visitors were not bad people and was suddenly very excited to meet them. Although, he did not recognize their faces, he felt as though he already knew them somehow.
Omi took the liberty to introduce them all, "Ray, these are my old friends, Kimiko Tohomiko and Clay Bailey," he gestured towards the pair and they smiled, with Clay tipping his large cowboy hat and Kimiko giving a charming wave.
Ray's eyes lit up and he gasped in awe. Kimiko and Clay? The Kimiko and Clay? Wow! I can hardly believe it. I have always dreamed of meeting them. They are living legends!
Omi continued the introductions, "Kimiko, Clay, this is Fong Zhe Raymundo. He is the grandson of our late friend and leader, the grand dragon, Raimundo."
Ray bowed deeply, snapping at the waist so quickly that he nearly tipped over, "I-it is an honor to finally meet the two of you. Uncle, er, Master Omi has told me so much about you," he tried to use his best manners, despite the jumbled mess of excitement and awe racing through his head.
Clay and Kimiko looked at each other and laughed, flattered and amused the young man's reaction.
The cowboy placed a huge hand on Ray's shoulder, "Been all good things, I hope!"
The young man felt dwarfed by Clay's towering stature. However, surprisingly, Ray was not intimidated by it. In fact, there was a kindness that radiated from him that made the young monk feel comfortable in his presence.
"Yes Sir! Good things indeed! I have heard about all of the heroic things that you accomplished while you lived here. I always loved when Uncle Omi told me stories about you when I was young."
"He calls you 'Uncle?' That's so cute Omi!" Kimiko giggled and Omi's face turned a bright red that was even visible in the evening darkness, "It's great to meet you too, Ray."
Ray bowed again, "Thank you very much."
The group was interrupted by the sound of the dinner gong, and Clay's head perked up at the sound.
"Hoo-wee! I'd never ferget that sound. Let's go grab us some grub!" The cowboy rushed off, making himself perfectly at home.
Kimiko and Omi looked at each other and laughed, "Go figure, that's probably the only thing that he remembers about life here, huh?"
"You may be right. He even left his luggage here."
Omi lifted Clay's luggage and observed the ox head printed on the side of each bag, "Ray, would you please take Kimiko and Clay's belongings to my room? You may leave them anywhere and then join us for dinner."
The young man nodded hastily and gathered up the bags, "But, I still have a few chores left to finish."
Omi chuckled, "There will be time later. Right now, we all need some time to unwind and have a good meal."
"Aw, you sound just like old Master Fung," Kimiko gave Omi a big hug and the little monk's cheeks flushed.
"Thanks for taking care of my bags, Ray."
"It is my pleasure, Ms. Kimiko."
She let go of Omi and smiled, even though she was slightly bothered, "Just 'Kimiko' is fine. We're all friends here, right? No need to be so formal," in truth, she had simply been disturbed by how old the title 'Ms.' made her feel.
"If that is what you prefer, Kimiko.
"Now, if you will excuse me," Ray bowed one last time and took his leave, being extremely careful to balance their luggage.
Omi and Kimiko then headed off to the temple, hoping to grab some food before Clay cleared it all out.
"He seems like a great kid, Omi. You've done a wonderful job raising him. I can tell," she noted as they walked.
Omi nodded and glanced admiringly in the direction that Ray had run off, "Yes, he is an amazing young man. He came from a great ancestry as well."
The two both stared up into the sky. Looking closely, they thought for a moment that they could see Raimundo himself, staring down at them from above through the stars.
Dojo accompanied the group of four to dinner, and the atmosphere was refreshing. After some small talk to lighten the mood, they began to converse about where Kimiko and Clay had gone with their lives.
Kimiko had assisted her papa with running their toy-making business until he decided to sell the company and retire. After that, she had founded a school for underprivileged orphans and ran it as headmaster. She had left the school to one of its graduates and withdrawn to the position of a substitute instructor just a few years before Omi contacted her.
Clay, likewise, had gone home to help his father run the Longhorn Ranch. After a few years, his daddy had unfortunately passed away from prostate cancer and Clay had sold the ranch to some fellow cowboys that lived nearby. He had gladly remained as their farm-hand for quite some time, but was delighted to take leave and visit his old friends.
The conversation was a wonderful chance for them to catch up and exchange a number of fun stories. Nevertheless, there was business to be discussed, and Omi was the first to bring it up.
"So Ray," the master began as he swallowed a mouthful of pork dumpling, "I bet you are wondering why I have brought Kimiko and Clay here."
Ray nodded, not speaking since his mouth was filled with rice.
"Well, it is because of the current situation with Jack Spicer's granddaughter," Ray's heart still felt a sting at the mention of Jacki.
"Now that we have a new evil to battle, we will need all of the help that we can get. It was an agreement between the three of us that Kimiko and Clay could leave the temple because we had nothing left to fight against. They had no reason to remain. However, now that the Heylin side has grown capable once again, we may require their assistance.
"We do not know if Jacklyn is acting alone, nor do we know for certain how powerful she has become. It pains me to bring my friends back and pull them from their peaceful lives, but this is what must be done. We, the Xiaolin dragons, must fight the Heylin until the very end. "
Everyone else at the table nodded in mutual understanding of their mission. Their common goal created a bond between them. It gave them reason to continue fighting and cooperate.
In silence, they all agreed to work together and never let personal problems get in the way of their duties. They also came to the consensus that their bond would never break, regardless of what happened. Even under the most pressing circumstances, they would never give up and would fight until their last breath. That was the Xiaolin way, the way of their ancestors and the way of their former leader, Raimundo.
Dojo sighed, not at all happy with what he was about to say, "Well guys, it looks like everything is back to normal."