A/N: Helluuuu, everyone! I will admit I meant to get this out sooner than this but apparently life had other plans. Sorry this isn't a longer chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway! Much love to you all!

Chapter Seven

Volcano

The raging inferno within her was blue. Red, orange, yellow- give her any color but blue. Intense heat made her sweat.

"Kimiko…"

The girl, sitting in lotus position, stayed perfectly still. Her head hung low in shame.

"Kimiko?"

The Phoenix appeared before her, an inviting red hue glowing around her. She gracefully approached Kimiko using one of her wings to lift the girl's chin up. Kimiko opened her eyes and looked into the warm embers that were the Phoenix's eyes.

"What is the matter, my child?"

Tears rolled down Kimiko's cheeks, "I… I nearly failed. He almost got me…" She tried looking away but the being before her held firm.

"But he didn't, Kimiko." She tilted her head, "Thanks to your friend, the Yaoguai did not succeed." She let her wing fall but stayed close enough to the young girl.

In her presence, Kimiko nearly forgot all about the blue flames surrounding her.

"Do you know why Hua Shin gave in to the Yaoguai?" The Phoenix asked.

Surprised by this question, Kimiko straightened her back and shook her head, "No."

The Phoenix continued, "It was because he did not rely on his friends to help him. He was too proud to admit that something was wrong and denied any help that came his way." She leaned down, coming beak to face with the Xiaolin Warrior, "That is why you will defeat the Yaoguai, Kimiko. Because of your friends. You are stronger together even when only one of you has to face a challenge. You always have each other to lean on."

Although she did not have a mouth, Kimiko could tell by the tone in her voice that the Phoenix was smiling, "The Yaoguai will not win as long as you have each other. Remember that, my child."

The dream rolled around in her mind as she looked out the front window of the Silver Manta Ray. In the distance lay their destination. The place in which Kimiko will find the Phoenix Spirit, unite with her, and defeat the Yaoguai. Soon it would all be over. She'll have her powers back and all would be right with the world.

Well… At least for the monks. There was still plenty of evil they had to deal with but as far as Kimiko was concerned that was for another episode.

Out in the middle of the Italian riviera, a large volcano was seen from Naples and shadowed over the historic village of Pompeii. Judging from the voice guiding her, Kimiko concluded that the Spirit was in Mount Vesuvius. Not daunting at all.

Clay gave a low whistle as the Ray flew over Naples, "Can you believe all them people down there?"

Everyone looked down at the city and sure enough all the people bustling through the cobblestones were an impressive sight.

Omi let out a gasp, "I have never seen so many people in one place all my life!" He looked over at Raimundo flying the Wu, "Once we are finished, may we explore the wonders of this city?"

The leader shrugged, "Depends on what happens."

Taking his eyes off the sky for a moment to make eye contact with Kimiko, he could see the worry on her face as she bit her lower lip in thought.

Kimiko turned in her seat to face Omi, "I think we can make a stop." She said with a chipper attitude. She looked over at the teenager staring lazily out the window, "Hey Jack, wasn't there something about you buying ice cream for us sometime?"

Glancing at her, the teen replied, "What? That was like, two years ago."

Quick to catch on to what she was insinuating, Omi perked up, "Oh! Yes, Jack Spicer! You did say you would buy us ice cream! And a warrior's word is his word." He added with a dignified hand over his heart.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Fine. I guess if we survive this whole ordeal, I can buy us some ice cream in town." He blinked, "Well, technically it's gelato here but you get the idea."

Slithering onto Jack's shoulders, Dojo raised his hand as if he were in school, "Oh! Oh! I want peach flavored! I haven't had any gelato in so long, my stomach is already buzzing with anticipation!"

As the four in the back began discussing what flavors of gelato they all wanted, from the corner of his eye Raimundo admired the way that Kimiko was smiling at them. Even through all the hardship, she was still trying to brighten their day. She was good at that.

Kimiko caught his eye. She raised an eyebrow at him, "What?" She asked with the smile still plastered on her face.

Raimundo shrugged, "Nothing." He replied in a teasing tone, "You're just cute."

THAT got her entire face to heat up and she looked away with a pout on her lips, "Whatever." She huffed but her tone lacked any true annoyance. This made the boy give her a cocky grin. He chuckled lightly when she smacked his arm.

With the others occupied, Raimundo used the opportunity to talk with Kimiko more. He cleared his throat, "Actually…" His mouth went dry as she gave him her full attention. Bright eyes filled with curiosity.

Raimundo gulped. He knew he should not even mention what was going through his mind but deep down he wanted some resemblance of normalcy in their crazy lives. Was that a terrible thing to ask for?

He shrugged, "Maybe taking a walk around Naples would be a… Romantic thing to do?"

Kimiko giggled, "Roman-tic? Did you do that on purpose?"

He shrugged, "Maybe I did." He didn't. But he continued, "I know I said I want to put this on ice but… That would be something to look forward to. Right?"

The girl of his dreams nodded, the hint of a blush on her face, "I would actually like that, Rai. Something to look forward to like you said."

Raimundo tried his best to give her a suave smile. Though he was sure it was a dopey grin more than anything. He merely responded with, "Cool."

Omi appeared in his line of vision from the backseat, "What is 'cool'?"

The two interrupted Dragons snapped their heads back to the front to avoid eye contact with the small monk.

Kimiko's face reddened as she made a nervous face and said, "Nothing!"

Raimundo fought off his own blush as he responded with, "Nothing to worry about!"

Omi looked between them with suspicious eyes. He looked over his shoulder at Jack and Clay who watched him with interest, "I do not believe everything is cool up here. Kimiko and Raimundo are both very red! Perhaps the Orb-" He pulled the Wu out from his sleeve, "Will help cool them off?"

At this, Jack burst out in hysterical laughter while Clay merely shook his head in amusement at Omi's lack of understanding. Dojo reached out to lower the Orb, "I don't think that's the problem, kiddo."

Having had enough of the peanut gallery, Raimundo shouted, "OH LOOK! WE'RE HERE!" And forced the Silver Manta Ray downwards. Everyone held on for dear life save for Jack who did not believe in seatbelts and was rolling in the air laughing.

….+++++ +++++...

Chase sat upon his throne. Legs crossed with a bored expression as he watched the young monks from the eyeball. They had just arrived over Pompeii making their way towards Mount Vesuvius.

"This will be interesting." Chase muttered to himself. His peace was soon disrupted by Wuya and Hannibal looking over his shoulder.

The witch bounced on the balls of her feet, "I do hope they get destroyed by lava! What a sight that would be!"

Chase had to keep from throwing hands with the bean and the 'housemaid'. He straightened his posture, "As entertaining as that would be, the monks have something even more troublesome waiting for them inside that mountain."

Wuya cast him a confused look, "What do you mean?"

Without even a word of go-ahead, Hannibal took over for Chase, "He means that the Yaoguai has already left some house-warming gifts for our young friends." He grinned when Chase shot him an unamused glare.

Begrudgingly, the reptilian warrior nodded, "Yes. Soon they will have their work cut out for them and be overwhelmed by their opponents. They shall finally be destroyed." He confirmed.

Wuya fist-bumped the air, "YES!" Both her and Hannibal began laughing evilly.

All the while, Chase frowned at the ball showing the Xiaolin Warrior's (and Jack… and Dojos') every move. He knew that the Yaoguai had reached a point where its powers could create certain doom for the monks. Give it the opportunity and good would be vanquished. Yet as he stared down intently at the ball, Chase could not help the frown that deepened on his face. Anticipation coursed through him.

….+++++ +++++...

At the base of the volcano, the group searched for a way in.

Omi poked his head out from behind a boulder to look at Kimiko with a questioning gaze, "Are you certain the Phoenix wants you here?"

The girl nodded as she glided her hands over the wall of the mountain trying to find any hint of an entrance, "Yeah. This is the place alright. But how to get in…" She stuck her tongue out in concentration. Finally, her hand hit a small breeze between the cracks of the volcano, "Bingo!" She shouted over her shoulder, "Clay!"

Rushing to her side, the cowboy took his stance, "Wudai Crater! Earth!" The earth surrounding him engulfed his hands as he made a punching motion with his fists creating a sizable hole in the base of the mountain. There was their ticket in.

Now, the warriors plus Jack had been in their fair share of volcanoes before. Each one with magma threatening to rise to the surface and destroy anything in its path. So color them pleasantly surprised when they walked into the base of the volcano and found that it was silent.

"Oh, this is nice." Jack commented, looking around at the volcanic rock that surrounded them.

"Let's just hope it stays this way." Raimundo said. He grumbled, "It's so dark in here though. I can't see anything."

At this comment, Dojo emerged from Clay's hat with a flashlight in his claws. He grinned, "Handy-dandy flashlight! Never leave home without one!" Handing the light to the leader, the dragon decided to stay perched on the cowboy's hat as they continued forward.

Raimundo clicked on the light, "Thanks, Dojo. Finally good for something."

"Hey! I heard that!"

Catching Raimundo's smirk, Kimiko merely rolled her eyes before the two began taking the lead. Raimundo up front with the flashlight, Kimiko next to him directing their path, Jack (having been shoved ahead) in the middle with Clay and Omi taking up the rear.

They trekked on for what felt like forever down the winding tunnels. Kimiko pointed towards the correct path when they reached a fork in the road, going down, down, down. Deeper into the heart of the volcano until they reached a path with only one road. Before continuing forward, Raimundo held up his hand. The troop stopped.

"Do you hear that?" He whispered.

Straining her ears, Kimiko heard the sporadic bubbling of molten rock. Deep inside her heart she felt the urge to push towards the sound. She nodded, "Follow that sound." She whispered. Raimundo nodded and they continued on.

Making their way down the path that held the sound of bubbling magma, each person was on high alert for any danger save for Jack Spicer who trembled as they continued forward.

He looked around frantically, "I-I don't know about you guys. But does anyone else get the feeling of deja vu down here?"

"You mean when those spiders threatened to devour the whole world?" Dojo asked as he cast his eyes around the walls and ceiling of the cavern. His own nervousness bubbling to the surface.

Jack gulped, "Yeah."

Fighting a groan, Kimiko shook her head, "There's no giant spiders down here. Trust me." She soon regretted her words as the ground beneath them started shaking.

The boy genius let out an undignified scream and practically flung himself at Clay. He shrieked, "Don't let them eat me!"

Trying his best to regain his balance, Clay readjusted Jack so he was not all in his face, "Now hold on there, partner! I don't think it's them spiders. Omi took care of them, remember?" He glanced at the young monk who nodded.

"Indeed!" The shaking knocked the poor boy onto his bum, "Perhaps the volcano is about to explode!" This caused Jack to shriek louder.

All at once the shaking stopped.

The group cast weary glances at each other.

A terrible feeling in her gut caused Kimiko to back up from the walls. The feeling of a thousand eyes on them caused her to gulp, "Uh, guys? I don't think we're alone here…" As she said this, molten rock began seeping from every crack in the walls surrounding them.

For a brief second, the girl thought maybe Omi was right about the volcano erupting. However as the molten rock cascaded down to the ground, Kimiko was horrified to see many clumps rise into the air. All around them the clumps morphed into tall figures. Each with the shape of a person but void of any facial features. The magma seen through the cracks pulsating as if they were pulses.

The featureless heads snapped to face the intruders.

The molten rock had become sentient.

Dojo trembled, "Oh my- AAAAAHHHHH!" His hysterics were warranted as the beings launched themselves at the group.

Forcefully shoving the dragon back into his hat, Clay moved out of the way as a lava monster rushed him. He held on tightly to his hat, "For things made out of the earth, these things sure are nimble!" Clay said as more beings came running towards him.

Raimundo blasted a few with wind, "Any bright ideas to lose these guys?" He kicked away another. Which proved to be a bad idea as the monster roared at him and spat out a large lavaball at him.

"WOAH!" The leader flew out of the way of the oncoming ball.

Kimiko backflipped out of reach as one of the lava beings swiped at her. She landed elegantly on her feet pulling out the Star Hanabi. Using it, she shot her own fireball at the being blasting it into smithereens, "YEAH!" She fist-bumped the air.

Her celebration was short-lived as more beings made their way towards her.

Omi soared through the air, "ORB OF TORNAMI! ICE!" Sending a flurry of water towards the beasts he trapped them in ice. He round-house kicked the still figures shattering them.

Kimiko shot him a thumbs-up as he landed next to her, "Nice job, Omi!"

He bowed, "Thank you, Kimiko!" Striking a pose with her, he continued with, "Now let us kick tail together!"

The girl smirked, "Kick butt."

"That too!" He shouted. They both jumped into the air and continued kicking lava monster butt.

While the others fought on, Jack sat in a corner of the cavern rifling through his pockets, "Come on, come on!" He grumbled. He pulled out a chocolate bar tossing it to the side then pulled out the Tongue of Saipin, "Ugh, there's got to be at least one useful Wu!" Finally he pulled out something useful, "Ah-ha!" He twisted back round to face the chaos, "Thorn of Thunderbolt!"

The lightning cracked from the Wu exploding a hoard of lava monsters.

Omi gasped, "A brilliant idea, Jack Spicer!"

Jack cackled, "They don't call me 'evil boy genius' for nothing!"

Raimundo blew away a being, "Only you call yourself that, Jack!"

The boy genius frowned, "Thorn of Thunderbolt!" Many more beings bursted into ash. Overtaken by a trigger happy finger, Jack continued blasting away the monsters. While he successfully vaporized all the ones present, he eventually started blasting at the walls where they were emerging.

Feeling the ground beneath him begin to shake, Clay rushed forward to grab the Wu away from Jack who stared up at him in surprise, "Easy there, buddy! You're gonna cause a cave in!" Clay's frown deepened as the ground continued shaking.

Raimundo heard cracking sounds coming from above. He looked up at the falling pebbles, "I think it's a little late for that." The crack continued to enlarge through the cavern ceiling. His eyes followed it until they reached a certain figure standing in the way.

Rooted to the spot, Kimiko looked up in shock as the rocks began to fall above her.

"KIMIKO! Watch out!" Running forward, Raimundo pushed her out of the way as the rocks came tumbling down. He only had enough time to move out of the way himself before the boulders blocked the path Kimiko had just been standing on. Debris clouding his senses.

Coughing away the dirt, Raimundo began calling out for the girl, "Kimiko? Kimiko?! Are you okay?!" His heart pounded as he waited for a response.

From the otherside, Kimiko's voice rang out, "I'm okay!"

Each boy let out a breath they had been holding.

Kimiko spoke up once again, "Hey guys? I think I see something down here… A light? I think there might be a way out!"

A prickly feeling made its way up Raimundo's spine, "Just stay there, Kimi! Alright? We'll come to you! No splitting up!" He ordered.

He could hear the girl scoff from the otherside, "Right. And who was the one that shoved me out of the way?"

A twinge of annoyance coursed through the boy, "To save you, girl! Now just stay there!" She really knew how to get under his skin.

Kimiko sighed, "Alright, alright. But you better hurry! I think the light is getting bigger."

Turning to the cowboy, Raimundo stuck his thumb out at the mess they- scratch that, the mess Jack had created, "My man, think you can handle that?"

Clay nodded with a smirk, "Ain't nothin' to it, partner!" Taking his place in front of the group, the Earth Dragon faced the debris and placed his hands over his head taking a deep breath.

Jack tilted his head to the side, "Uh, what's he doing?"

Dojo slithered up to the teen's shoulders, "Bup, bup, bup! No questions. Just watch my buddy Clay at work." Jack pursed his lips but complied and watched the cowboy take a few more deep breaths.

"WUDAI CRATER, EARTH!" With a shove of his fists forward, Clay successfully used his powers to crumble the rubble into dust. His friends cheered him on.

"Outta boy, Clay!"

Omi bounced on his feet, "A most wonderful move, my friend!"

Jack rolled his eyes, "All that for a dust bunny?" Dojo smacked the back of his head with his tail. The teen yelped, "OW!" And rubbed his head glaring at the reptile.

Waving away the dust, Raimundo moved forward, "Alright Kim, Let's get-" He blinked at the empty space before them, "Kimiko?" He glanced behind but found only the other boys with him. Panic started to set in as he continued walking forward, "Kimiko?!" She had mentioned seeing a light at the end of the tunnel but Raimundo could not see anything. Not even any sign of another way out she could have taken.

Raimundo called out again.

No answer came from the darkness.

All at once, the boys started desperately calling out for Kimiko but with no luck.

The girl of fire had disappeared.