Participating in a Xiaolin Showdown for the first time was a tad confusing at first for the new monks. Jack took quick notice of Apikalia and Amber, due to the elements the two wielded in battle. This made taking down his robots when he faced them for newly revealed Shen Gong Wu. Which had him losing two out of the three times he came to face them. Just the bots he tried to improve still fell when Ping Pong and Trent showed what they could do. Sound and plants left Jack ready to pull his hair out by the root.
Left then to have fun with him as Jack wanted nothing to do with Wuya at first. She warned him these new moms were nothing like the ones he faced. Which he learned the first two times he faced them one on one. Apikalia through use of her Kuʻialua and art of dancing native to her hometown. Won easily and left Jack with scrap metal when she used her element only once. Amber had an electric touch that made touching her more troublesome in and out. Left Jack doing everything himself when he bots fell in seconds before her. Trent was someone he should have won earplugs with when the show started. He lost control of his bots and his sanity until he was left with high pitch ding in his ears.
Now Ping Ping …
The plants around him came to life when he wasn't starstruck by Jack or Wuya the first time he came face to face with them. Left his fellow xiaolin monks and dragons to give him space when he sprouted off bits of background information about them. Going as far to get too close to Wuya and Jack for an autobiography or even ask questions that get personal. Weird Wuya to the point she has to push him away from her actual person when that grin starts to give her chills. Jack's ego each time got a little inflated by the way he was treated each time while welcoming the way he was praised. Chase rarely cared about being pointed out while Hannibal was willing to answer any questions that benefited him.
8*8
Kaori surprised the monks with a traditional dish called Sekihen for breakfast one morning. Omi was curious why such a dish was being served to him. He recalled that it was only made for special occasions to everyone. Not like Raimundo cared since smell alone had him wanting the first bowl. Kimiko wanted the recipe as Clay was impressed with how much was made for all. Ping Pong was already listening to what could be happening for this to be served. Amber and Apikalia were already wondering as Trent noticed Chen hadn't joined them.
"You are right about today being a special day," Master Fung addressed them all, "Today our new apprentices will learn their elemental loves."
"Really?" Ping Pong was excited.
"Sweet." Amber and Trent agreed with Ping Pong.
"…" Apikalia blinked out of shock.
When the bowls were passed out and hop sticks were given to one monk at a time with excited energy. Ping Pong was too busy gesturing and asking questions when he moved around. Staying in one place as he turned in place without paying much attention to Master Fung.
"Lesson on the art of deception will take place," Master Fung popped Ping Pong's bubble, "Good luck everyone."
"Oh dear," Kaori was shocked, "Back in my day, I kinda was a Master at lying."
That was something that Amber, Kimiko, and Trent figured about her with her past. Omi didn't understand what she meant with Clay explaining to him. Raimundo wasn't any help when he tried to get Apikalia to trade seats with him. He could get some advice from Kaori about how she was so good at lying. Ping Pong was trying to come up with a plan of what he was going to do.
"After we eat," Master Fung went on, "The apprentices must make it to the top of a cliff."
"By lying to each other?" Ping Pong asked everyone.
"I don't see it going well." Clay was already worried.
"Let us enjoy our meal and then do the task at hand." Apikalia picked up her chopsticks.
Everyone started eating at their own paces with individual plans forming within their head while wearing fake smiles. Only honest one that was eating away without a problem was Ping Pong. Which worried Omi since he went through this same learning process. Down went his chopsticks when the memory of betrayal came to his mind. Jack and how he taught him a few tricks while at the temple. Which distracted everyone from the intruder that flew into the temple using a hoverbot. Zipping through the air as he was searching for someone using the x-ray lens of his goggles. Signs he was crying could be clearly seen when he stopped above the bathhouse.
Didn't stop him from entering to go into the man's side to find someone. That someone he found without a stitch of clothes on as he sat in a pool. His face was covered by a washcloth since he was lost in thought over today. Trying to figure out how he could help the monks out if their lesson wasn't learned. Was forgotten when a certain someone asked him if he was descent.
"Not comfortable with nude form?" Chen asked Jack.
"That's not why I came here," Jack looked away, "Can you cover up?"
"Just ask me what you came here to bother me," Chen revealed his face, "I don't have the time."
"Ok," Jack covers his eyes, "How can I get your dad to favor me?"
"Selfishly choose power over love," Chen answered Jack, "He hurt my aunt and turned his back on his friends for fasle hoods from Hannibal Bean."
That bit of information had Jack more interested in making Chase favor him over the idea of creating an apprentice. This bit of information had Chen asking Jack to repeat what he said with mild interest.
8*8
Chen ended up coming with three monks to fetch the certain Shen Gong Wu awoken and gave Dojo a blistering rash. It was a bladed Wu with dragon mouth for hilt called Blade of the Pack. This somehow bothered Chen since he was visited by Jack those hours ago for advice on his father. He didn't ride with four monks that went to fetch the Wu since he used the Wings of Tinabi. First was in the northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province. Chen and Jack both claimed wu and showdown became a trivia contest, who knew Chase Young. Try as he might, Jack failed at winning all three rounds against Chen.
Away the monks flew off with the blade as Chen advised Jack to not take the easy path. Which he didn't listen to since the second time they met up in Catacombs of Paris. The Wu was a bladed staff called the Claymore of Inner Darkness, Almost turned Chen into a dark version of himself, if it wasn't for Trent and Amber. Which left Chen disappointed in Jack when he made the terms for the showdown. How they two both held on to the Wu first one to let go was the one that lost. Chen won despite Jack not giving into the fear of seeing a darker version of himself. Fact he didn't have the actual physical strength to shake Chen's hold on the staff. Which resulted in Jack watching Chen fly off with the monks and staff.
"This is bothering me," Amber thought over Jack's persistence toward getting Wu, "Why is Jack trying harder than usual?"
"Are we on the verge of discovering our elemental attacks?" Ping Pong asked back,
"Mind to share," Apikalia looked to Chen for an answer, "Since you been coming with us on the last two."
"How does one seek affection from your loved ones ? " He asked them.
"Through achievements." Omi, and Raimundo guessed.
"Hardwork." Apikalia, Clay, and Ping Ping gave their answers.
"Notable actions." Trent, Kimiko, and Amber thought aloud.
Chen accepted all of them with a nod of head before actually giving an answer. Knowing each one of them was right in a way since parents displayed love differently.
"I fear Jack is working at the wrong angles to catch the attention …." Chen didn't want to say it.
"Chase." Omi finished for him.
"We all know," Amber recalled what Chase could do, "How good he can manipulate."
Everyone went quiet after that and recalled the lesson on deception they learned in the morning. Some of them can twist information or fake certain facial expressions. Others can cut through horse pucky and get to the point. Ones that were too trusting that others noticed and took advantage of.
"Until then, Master Fung wants to see the apprentices," Chen looked to Trent, Amber, Ping Pong, and Apikalia, "Others go do your chores."
The group was split in half with one going to meet with Master Fung and others to Kaori.
