Jack arrived at the temple, very early in the morning, feeling nervous. Walking inside, he took a deep breath. He had his usual morning skating workout, so warm up shouldn't be a problem. He saw how the monks were tiredly approaching, still rubbing their eyes from the morning dirt.
Jack smirked.
They let him choose which hour to start, obviously believing that he might want a late hour. Their faces when he said 5 in the morning were something he will treasure for years. He always woke up very early anyway, his body was automatically telling him, this is the hour where you need to have your morning cigar and figure skating work out. He got used to it and couldn't really give up on it.
The monks approached him slowly and Omi said in a sleepy voice ''I am glad that it was not a prank Jack.'', Jack rolled his eyes, ''Did you eat anything?'', Kimiko asked, Jack thought back at his morning cigar that turned into 3 cigars, ''Yes.'', he answered simply. She nodded, and showed him to follow.
They all went to an area with obstacles, lots and lots of obstacles. He made a face, already regretting his life decisions, ''Are those real crocodiles?'', ''No, but they still bite.'', she answered simply and as the other 3 boys went and sat on the stairs to watch she explained that he had to cross the obstacles and take the puppy plushie. She then took a watch and raised her arm.
He clenched his jaw and took the position. ''At my signal... GO!'', She exclaimed, quickly lowering her arm. He ran, but the moment he put down his foot, a trap (a wood plate with an ark) threw him 100 feet in the air, a faint ''Whaaaaa!'', coming from him. Kimiko slowly turned towards the boys who started laughing like crazy, ''We have a lot of work to do.'', she said.
Well, 3 hours later Jack managed to get half way through the obstacles but bailed at the crocodiles, lifting his palms and walking back with a 'nope', and the others were complaining like 'Dude, you were doing such a good job!'. Anyway they allowed him a break, he was already full of bruises and sweat, having a face that obviously showed just how much he was restraining to curse.
Later:
''C'mon Jack, just punch me already.'', ''I'm not going to punch you Clay!'', ''C'mon Jack, just do it, I wanna see how strong you are.'', ''No!'', ''Clay and Jack have been arguing for half an hour, can someone do something already?'', Kimiko asked exasperated.
''Well then, tell him to punch me Kim.'', Clay said, turning around and pointing at Jack, "No way, Kimiko, you are the responsible adult here, tell him it's a bad idea!", Jack argued while pointing back at Clay.
''Jack, just punch him.'', ''You too Kimiko?'', ''I am not going to retaliate if that is what you're afraid of.'', assured the cowboy. Raimundo started imitating a chicken at Jack, who glared in return, ''It's not that. But why do I have to punch the nicest guy from here? Can't I punch him instead?'', Jack pointed at Raimundo, ''No.'', ''Yes'', the wind, and fire dragon said at the same time, and Raimundo gave Kimiko the most betrayed look he could muster.
''In fact this really reminds me of a scene from world's mightiest heroes where Tony takes it up his aaaaa-crack. His crack! Not something else! His crack! Can't we train outside the temple grounds?'', Jack asked looking at the monks, ''So you can swear? Nah, it's fun to see you struggle like that. Now c'mon do it already!'', Kimiko encouraged impatiently, making the genius sigh and mutter a ''Fine.'', under his breath and looked up at Clay, who smiled reassuringly. He didn't feel reassured.
Wouldn't it be like punching a stone since the cowboy's element is earth? ''You do know how to hold your fist correctly, right?'', Clay asked, ''Of course I do!'', was Jack's annoyed response. He clenched his fist, and threw the punch. A nasty loud crack came out from both Clay's nose and Jack's fist.
''Aaaah-h-h-h-h i-i-i-i-i-i-i i-adidididi- imidmimimididi- adididididididi!'', Jack started grumbling, quickly pacing back and forth, holding his fist, and trying, oh so hard to not curse, but strongly considering unleashing his mighty vocal rage and letting EVERYBODY know just how peeved he was, motherfuckers… bitch ass, titties, son of a- didn't say it! He didn't, just thought it! It doesn't count. He was never more proud of himself.
Clay, on the other hand, backed away hissing, as he grabbed his now broken, nose. Raimundo was trapped between wanting to laugh and being amazed that Jack actually had the strength to break the cowboy's nose. Omi and Kimiko quickly went to aid them.
While training with Omi, Jack already lost all hope. ''OMI! I CAN'T FLOAT ABOVE WATER!'', Jack shouted exasperated as he and Omi were at a lake in the forest, Omi was levitating water and was sitting cross legged on the liquid pillar he was making. ''OH, sorry Jack!'', Omi apologise, jumping down. ''I take a guessing that I should teach you something more simple.'', ''It's 'I guess', Omi. And yes, please!'', Jack groaned. If only he got 1 dollar for each time Omi said a slang wrong... ''Imitate me.'', Omi said, getting on one leg with arms raised.
He started doing his tsunami wave movements, and Jack wasn't doing a good job, especially when Omi rotated himself like a tornado.
Training with Kimiko wasn't any better. While Omi's movements were slow and corrugated, Kimiko's were sharp, and fast. He even fell in one of the flames she had created and ran as fast as he could and jumped into the fountain.
Raimundo's movements were smooth, but even then Omi said ''Already Raimundo's turn and no spark yet?'', ''I don't think he can summon his element like that either.'', Kimiko commented. Jack sighed and kept his arms crossed with an annoyed expression as a blow of wind threw him in the air. Again.
With Clay was just as worse. The earth dragon slammed his foot on the ground, a giant boulder erupting from it and he punched it away. The boulder fell very far, creating a giant, nuclear form like explosion of dust and earth. Jack wanted to give up at that, but tried anyway. He slammed his foot on the ground. He never cursed so loud in his entire life. The words he used were even worse, Raimundo having to cover Omi's ears.
It was already evening and Jack retired to his new room to throw his dirty clothes away and shower, heading outside once he was finished, just to take some air and question some life choices. Damn it, he wanted a cigar so much, but he felt too sore to even breathe. Even the monks were surprised he was still walking. ''Jack?'', Jack was so startled that he bent down to kick the ground. He spun around to see master Fung.
The old master smiled amused and told him, ''Follow me.'', they both walked into a room and the old master asked ''What did you learn today?'', ''Just how many bruises the human body is capable of taking.'', was Jack's dull response. Fung raised an amused brow, but then added ''Besides that?''. This is a very patient man, isn't he? Jack sighed and said ''I didn't manage to summon my element.'', ''Do not worry about that. The monks could not do it from first try either. You cannot learn something new that quickly''.
Master Fung then proceeded to take a pose and make slow kung fu movements. ''You can try if you want.'', Jack looked at Fung, but then shrugged, 'Eh, Why not?' way and started imitating him. ''Learning how to use an element is a difficult task.'', Fung said, ''You don't have to control it, but instead learn to be one with it.'', Jack closely listened to what the master said as he uncosciously did every move correct. And not because the moves were slower.
''But what should I do to summon it? I observed that each one of them has their own style. And each way is different from one another.'', ''Of course it is. But that does not depend on the element but on them.'', Jack raised one eyebrow in confusion. ''Each one of them chose how to move, how to summon the element. Kimiko's, for example, her movements are fast and sharp, just like fire. But it also depends on her personality, on how comfortable she is to summon fire. Because each element is unique and so is the personality of a person.'', Fung explained.
Jack made a face ''Does that mean that the way I will summon my element depends all on me?'', ''Yes.'', ''And that I should chose my own style to be comfortable with?'', ''Yes.'', ''And that I shouldn't imitate them?'', ''Yes.'', ''Then why didn't you say anything earlier?'', Jack asked looking at the master who smiled ''It doesn't hurt to know some more.'', was his simple answer.
Jack sighed loudly. ''You did great, especially on your first day.'', ''How am I supposed to find my own movements?'', ''That all depends on you.'', Fung said, stopping with one leg in the air and palms open, and so did Jack who started grumbling a ''Wow thanks.''.
''Just do something that you believe makes you happy and comfortable.'', ''I don't think building robots count.'', ''You shall find something else.'', Fung smiled, ''I don't know, I can't even make kung fu movements correctly.'', ''Ever since you joined me, you did every single one correct. You even hold your balance well.'', Fung commented.
Jack raised one eyebrow and looked down, instead of the once wooden floor that he was standing on, he saw that he was on a wooden pillar that seemingly rose from the floor, a very tall one. And down, from where the pillars were coming, was water. ''HOLY SH-'', Jack stopped mid cursing and lost his balance, falling into the water below him. From his own pillar, Fung winced and shook his head, then looked down to see Jack swimming to the surface and shaking his head, hair all over his face. ''But you definitely have to work more on your focus.'', Jack made an annoyed face at that.
The next day:
Jack once again woke up at 5 in the morning even though the monks told him they will start at 8. Force of old habits. He did his morning skating workout and after he finished he left outside, he wanted to smoke, and had the good grace not to do it in the temple. Laying down under a tree, he lighted his cigar and took in a deep inhale that half of the thing burned out. He exhaled the smoke and shivered in the morning cold air. Then, his cigar got snatched from his hand, he jumped startled and looked up. Fung put his finger on top of the cigar to light it off and told Jack ''It'll be easier to train if you quit those.'', that was a stern voice. Jack groaned, as Fung put the cigar in a tissue and into his sleeve to throw it away later, ''Come to a morning walk.'', Jack didn't feel like complaining, but he still had an annoyed face. They walked for 1 hour and came back to the temple grounds. The walk was actually very refreshing. He then had tea and breakfast with Fung and the other old masters that were awake at that hour.
Later:
''Ok, and if someone grabs your like this you can push their hand away and go for the jaw.'', Clay explaining as Jack did slowly as he was told. ''Good. Now, if someone grabs you in a choke...'', Clay said grabbing slowly Jack's throat, ''You put your chin down. And you put your leg behind their knee...'', Jack did that bending down, ''And then put your arm straight forward and push up.'', Jack did that and grabbed Clay by the throat ''From here you can punch or elbow them in the chest, stomach, or face.''. Jack nodded and released Clay, ''Good, now let's try again.'', ''GUYS! NEW SHEN GONG WU!'', Dojo shouted.
As the dragon came to them, so did the other monks. Dojo opened the scroll and said ''The Jaguar Claws!'', the image of the scroll showed a figure holding some claws in his hand, ''Whoever shalshes down with them, can release waves of sharp energy from the claws.'', the figure let down his hand towards the opponent and 4 waves cut him down. ''Wow, this wu sure is dangerous.'', Muttered Jack. ''Well, what are you waiting for, pick a wu!'', The monks nodded and ran towards the safe.
''You too, Jack!'', Omi shouted. Jack made a face, eyes wide ''Wait, I'm coming with?!'', ''YES!'', answered all four of them. Jack sweat dropped as he followed them. Each one of them took their signature wu. As Jack came down the stairs he was greeted with memories if the times he stole the wus from there. He cringed as his heart clenched at that. Why did he feel bad?
He picked the only wu he believed he could handle well. The monkey staff. How strange it felt holding it. ''Dude, I lost a bet just now. 10 that you'd choose the Eye of Dashi. You know? Since your element is lightning and all...'', Raimundo said, handing the money to Kimiko, who obviously chose the Monkey Staff.
Jack rolled his eyes and as they got outside Dojo made himself big and waited for them to climb on. The monks did so, but Jack suddenly remembered the time he puked in Clay's hat. ''Can you bent down?'', Dojo lowered his head and Jack climbed on it. ''What are you doing?'', Asked Raimundo, ''The head doesn't ondulate.'', they realised what he meant and looked all at Clay, smirking. The cowboy held his hat protectively. ''Well then, hold on tight.'', Dojo said and took off.
It felt so strange to not fly with his heli pack, or in his jet. He was glad that he was right, standing on Dojo's head helped a lot. He sighed. He hadn't been in a wu hunting for years. Hopefully, he wouldn't get into a showdown.