Jack Spicer stood still. As still as a statue. The stillest that anyone could possibly stay. Omi looked at him with pity as he stood far, far away from him, holding both hands inside his robe sleeves in deep contemplation. The other 3 monks came looking for them and stopped to stare at the sight upon arrival.
Kimiko asked first „What are you two doing?", Jack didn't respond, nor turned to acknowledge them, he just stood still. Did he even breathe? "What's up with him?", asked Raimundo, „Everytime he moves, lightning bolts come out of his body", Omi explained, making the other 3 monks giggle.
„So that's what it is.", Clay responded while tilting his hat, „That explains why the walls look scorched… and broken.", Kimiko said looking at the temple walls, „I bet he did it on purpose.", Raimundo joked, and at that, Jack turned around pointing at him with a glare „Listen here Pedrosa-", BOOM!
All of their eyes widened as the monks narrowly dodged the lightning that poked out of Jack's finger. As the thundering sound left away, they starred in the direction the lightning went, and then back at Jack, who, with wide eyes, remained still in that exact pose, half twisted and finger pointing, „LMAOOOOOO!", Raimundo screamed and started laughing his heart out, kicking the ground and slapping his knee.
„Just calm your mind, Jack.", Kimiko shouted towards him while preparing to hide behind Clay, just in case. Jack closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, then exhaled, and repeated several times, thinking of instant ramen and robots and more unicorns farting rainbows, as Kimiko kicked Raimundo to make him stop laughing.
Jack exhaled for the last time, and slowly moved his finger. When he saw that nothing happened, he lowered his hand slowly, „I can't believe this. First I couldn't summon it and now I can't unsummon it.", he whined. „Don't fret pardner. We've all been like this.", Clay told him as they got closer.
After a long silent moment, Jack asked stupidly „Really?", „Yeah. You should've seen Kimiko. Every time she sneezed she blew fire from both her mouth or her nostrils. And she was always boiling or burning everything she touched. Her nose was so red too, it was actually adorable.", Raimundo snickered, „You were worse!", she protested.
„Yep. Every time I sneezed or better, passed gas, I was sent flying 20 feet in the air. Depending on the force.", He said somewhat proudly. The others rolled their eyes and Clay continued with his story, „Dirt stuck to me like flies on a bitten apple, no matter how many times I took a bath, every time I set foot on the ground I was like a rock and dirt magnet. I had to stay on the wood floor inside the temple for a while.", Omi was last to finish „I didn't have a huge problem, I was just really, really, really thirsty and had to use the toilet 5 times an hour.". „I think that is the worst one!", Jack said looking down at him.
„It's until you get used to it, you just gotta be peaceful about it until you feel your element calming down. I bet you feel it like a storm.", Raimundo explained to him, „More like electricity coursing through my entire body.", „Woah! That's cool!".
Kimiko then told Jack "You also can't just fight it. Don't try to control your element. It's not gonna listen to you like that. Try to work with it instead.", Jack nodded, processing the information.
„Young monks.", they all looked into the direction of the new voice, and saw master Fung waiting for them in the garden, they all went to him, Jack albeit slowly. Master Fung gestured to them to sit down as he too sat on the grass, tucking his hands in his sleeves.
„Have no worries Jack, and trust your friends, you'll get used to it eventually.", "Yes master Fung.", the master smiled and continued „I have called you all here to talk to you about a very important wu.". Dojo came out with the scroll and placed it onto the ground „The Eye of Maru.", he opened it and the scroll showed a picture of a man holding a plate like disk.
„It is a beast wu.", „A beast wu?", asked Jack, confused, „Just like the Sapphire Dragon. But worse.", Dojo explained, „Once activated, it turns into a demon that has a mind of its own.", „A wu that is worse than the Sapphire Dragon? That's not good news.", Raimundo commented as they watched the scroll.
„There's more, there is a possibility to control this wu unlike the Sapphire Dragon.", Dojo told them. „Then what makes it worse?", asked Kimiko, „The way it's activated. It requires the Heart of Jong and a sacrifice. I don't know what kind of sacrifice though, it doesn't work with just any living being.". The kids all shivered at that information.
„Maru was once a powerful demon, but Grand Master Dashi defeated it in battle, and ripped out its heart. Ever since then it's been haunting the lands like a ghoul, in search of it. It's going to be at full power if it gets the heart of Jong.", Dojo explained as the wu on the scroll got combined with the Heart of Jong and transformed into a scary looking demon.
„At full power? You mean it can get activated without the Heart of Jong?", Jack asked confused, „It can, but it doesn't do anything. Literally, the beast is forever hibernating.", answered the green dragon.
„Why is it called the Eye?", asked Clay, scratching his head, „It's because Dashi injured it's eye while fighting it, thus so got the idea of calling it the Eye of Maru.", Dojo explained, and then continued "When creating this wu, master Dashi sealed Maru's soul inside it, to make sure it doesn't haunt the lands anymore. That creature was so putrid that it brought diseases and death wherever it went or haunted.", "God…", Kimiko whispered as they all watched the scroll with disturbed expressions. The drawings showed the beast spreading plagues everywhere, land, animals, people… "This… is a really bad wu…", Raimundo commented, a bit unnerved by it.
Dojo said „If anyone wants to control the beast after giving it the Heart of Jong and the sacrifice, then they have to use the Tonfas of Lei, who was a good friend of Dashi.", Dojo told them.
All the kids looked down at the scroll to see a figure using the tonfas to control the demon, „The tonfas can grant the user the ability to control any beast, like animals, the Sapphire Dragon is the only exception.", „Why?", asked Omi, „Wouldn't it be more useful if they worked on that wu as well?", „The Sapphire Dragon isn't a beast that used to live, breathe and bleed. The demon was.".
„Wow, that dragon is so overpowered. I don't think the Eye of Maru is worse than it.", Jack commented, and continued „I'm glad that we're the ones to have it.", Raimundo nodded, but Dojo corrected him "We don't know how powerful the Eye of Maru is, what we do know is that the world will end if it gets activated. For what we know, they could be equal in power, but like I said, the Sapphire Dragon does not need a sacrifice to get summoned.".
Omi asked a question of his own „So, where are those wus? We should find both the Eye of Maru and the Tonfas of Lei as quickly as possible.", Dojo shrugged and said, „I don't know, they haven't activated yet.".
Then master Fung continued „But it was very important for you to know about them. Soon you will have to go on a trip, Jack needs to find his elemental weapon, and-"‚ „Wait, I have one of those?!", Master Fung ignored the interruption and continued „-and if the forces of evil find out that Jack is progressing in his training they will take measures. You will have to get these wus before they can get their hands on them. Or the world will end.", „ That is such a cliche.", Raimundo commented with his chin on his hand. „Raimundo...", Fung started, but Raimundo showed his palms in surrender „I understand, I understand, we have to take this seriously.".
Master Fung nodded and sighed, "We need to make sure that this wu does not get in the wrong hands, but if it does, we need to have plans formed.", he got up, "We need to think of all possibilities. But for now, you have to focus on your wudai training, you will have to practice on a new orion formation soon. You are dismissed.", he said and walked back into the temple.
„He looked more anxious than a cat waiting for its claws to get clipped.", Clay said looking after him, „I can't blame him. I've seen with my own eyes what that demon can do. Many fought it and lost their lives horribly. Dashi is the only one who defeated it, and even he had a terrible time with it.", Dojo said, closing the scroll.
„We have to make a plan, maybe more plans, I think we should even start looking for those wus before they even activate.", Kimiko said, scratching her temple „We can try, but I don't know if that is possible, we could get lost looking for them.", Dojo said seriously, „My senses only work so much, looking for these wus can throw my them highware, remember when we went after the Sands of time?", Omi looked at him, and said "But Dojo, when I went back in time you and grand master Dashi were arguing about it. You kept saying that you took the Sands of time in Egypt, but he said that you took it to Europe.".
Dojo was stupidly quiet at that, and Clay asked "Is that so?", Kimiko looked at Dojo "You probably got it confused with the Ruby of Ramses.", Raimundo patted Dojo's head "Don't feel bad, things like that tend to happen when you hide hundreds of wus. Squirrels forget where they hide their nuts all the time.", "You did not just compare me with a squirrel!", Dojo glared at Raimundo. "Indeed, those creatures are pure evil.", Omi told him, nodding with raised eyebrows, "You shut your mouth tattle tale!", they all laughed at that.
Jack spoke next, „What if we destroy the Heart of Jong?", Jack asked, all of them looked at him, „What?", „I don't know if it's possible to destroy a wu.", Omi said, and continued „And that would be quite counterproductive for our hard work." „I agree, but Master Fung said that we have to plan ahead. Didn't the reversing mirror got broken once?", Jack asked, „Yes but it fixed itself back, plus, it was still working, Wuya did have some luck in there.", Dojo muttered, then continued „Also, we're talking about the Heart of Jong here. It's going to pull itself back together.", he explained, „I bet you never threw a nuclear bomb at it and that's why you're saying this.", Jack smirked but Dojo pointed at his nose, „It's literally its power! No matter how many times you try to dismember Mala Mala Jong or any creature that it gives life, it will pull itself back together as long as the heart is still in there, same goes for said wu!", he explained. „But what if we take the heart from the demon's chest like we did with Mala Mala Jong!? Master Dashi defeated the demon the same way when it had a heart of its own!", „I'm afraid that would be quite complicated since it's a demon we're talking about. Sure, Jong was one too, but he didn't require a sacrifice to come to life, I wouldn't go inside a demon that wants a sacrifice, those kinds are the worst.".
They all sighed at their failed idea, then Raimundo cheered them up „Hey! Don't look so sad. Because sad backwards is das.", they all looked at him, and he continued „And das not good.", that made them laugh. The leader continued, „We will find a good plan. Until then, let's do something fun!", as they sat in silence, Jack said „Let's go rob a bank!", the monks stared at him chuckling, „Dude, you're good now.", Kimiko said, „Ah yeah, I forgot.", all of them laughed at that.
„I reaaaaallly wanna do something.", Raimundo said, and slowly moved his finger to Jack's shoulder. He didn't touch him yet but was moving closer in slow motion, Jack, Clay and Kimiko shook their heads no! His finger got closer, and Jack, Raimundo and Jack now in his chaotic mode, nodded their heads yes! Raimundo barely touched him, and then a huge lightning struck down.
All of them were charred, hairs sticking in all directions, their clothes caught on fire each there. Kimiko coughed up smoke and glared at the wind dragon, who started laughing, „Awesome! No way!", Jack sighed and smoke came out of his mouth as well.
„I don't understand! What am I doing wrong?! Every time I try to get in the pose we ALL fall!", Jack exclaimed, rubbing his back as he fell for the hundred time, the monks slowly got up and rubbed their sore bodies as well, „You just gotta be in sink with us. Every time we did the wudai formation wrong this would happen.", Raimundo explained, „But I just have to sit there looking cool!", „That's what we thought.", Jack groaned and rubbed his face, then yelped as some zaps appeared on his fingers, he groaned again „Would you just calm down! I don't need you popping out all the time, like yeah, you're awesome, I can charge my robots alone now, I don't need to buy batteries anymore, but I DON'T NEED YOU POPPING OUT WHENEVER YOU WANT!", the monks stared at Jack who was talking alone to his fingers and decided to say something before he finally loses it.
„You just discovered how to summon lightnings a few days ago, and we are also rushing you. We had a looot more time when we were training. We had time to experience with summoning our elements and finding our own styles before learning the wudai formation and getting the elemental wus.", Kimiko said, and continued as she went to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, „We didn't mean to pressure you Jack, it's just that there is no guarantee when those wus would show up, or what the heylin dudes have in mind, you need to master it quickly.", Jack glared at the ground and sighed, then got up, I think I'll go practice my figure skating, do you wanna help me combine these moves with martial arts?", He asked helping Kimiko up, „That's the spirit!", „Practice will have to wait kids, a new wu has revealed itself!". Dojo said coming with the scroll.
As they were flying Dojo explained about the wu „Chan Lee's Spider! It's s small spider now but once activated it becomes huge, the owner can order it to fight another creature.", The figure on the scroll showed a small spider that grew really big and attacked another creature that looked like a dragon. „Neat, we could really use this one!", Raimundo said while Jack complained about it „Speak for yourself, a spider is the last thing I needed to hear.", as they landed in a field with long grass Kimiko rolled her eyes as the boys made a joke about „Don't go in the tall grass.", and they started searching.
Half an hour passed and they found nothing, „Omi?", Kimiko asked as she looked around, „Hey, has anyone seen Omi?", she asked the boys, but then Omi's hands came out of the grass somewhere to her left, „I'm right here Kimiko!", Jack laughed at that and then as he felt something brushing his skin he looked to his right to see Raimundo holding a huge ass spider on his arm. He screamed really loud and fell on his ass and started wiping away his arm, „FUCK YOU RAIMUNDO!".
Clay rolled his eyes and patted Raimundo on the back „Give Jack a break will you?", but then Raimundo felt something crawling on his neck and he screamed and jumped in the air, floating upside down so he would get rid of the spider. Once he saw the alien creature fall, he glared at Clay as he landed „Not cool bro!", „Guys! I think I can see it!", Omi chirped from somewhere in the tall grass.
After a moment of silence has passed… „And where might that be buddy?!", Raimundo yelled and Omi jumped from the grass and pointed down a path, at a tree, "Right there!".
As the others got out of the tall grass they saw a glowing small spider resting on a tree. „Cool! Let's get freaky.", Jack said as he approached the insect with a tree branch, „It's a wu Jack, it's not going to bite you.", Kimiko commented amused.
„I wouldn't expect that coward to be able to touch it even if he's aware that it wouldn't hurt him.", Wuya.
All of them turned around to see the Heylin witch descending from the sky. „Hey! Spiders are scary! And super ugly! Fortunately not as ugly as you.", Jack commented, making the others laugh out loud at that.
Wuya cracked her knuckles with a surprisingly calm face, even though her hands started glowing green,
„Whaaat, that was a compliment.", Jack said and they all dodged a green fire blast. „It's good to see you are still in good shape, your mouth runs faster than the roadrunner, especially when you are anxious.", she laughed and he said „Hey! I'm not anxious. And guess what?!", „What?", she asked, crossing her arms.
Right then Jack sprinted towards her, electricity visibly covering his body as he smirked "My training has been paying off!", he exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock, he stopped in front of her and threw his fists forward after he twisted in an elegant way, and the electricity made a powerful noise while coming out of his hands, cracking angrily.
But just as quickly, they disappeared before hurting Wuya, the sparks going away with crackling noises. She took her hands out of her face and stared at him. He made an extremely nervous sweaty face and choked out an awkward laugh.
She raised an eyebrow and kicked him in the stomach hard enough to throw him in Clay who was just innocently sitting there. They both groaned as Kimiko glared at the witch and jumped in the air, „Judolette flip, fire!", she screamed and threw her leg down, a ring of fire covering her and going after the witch with a roar. Wuya on the other hand just took the blow and walked out of the flames while fixing her hair. Raimundo charged for the sheng gong wu and when he touched it, another hand grabbed it as well, he looked up to see Ashley and rolled his eyes to the 5th universe, her hair looked even worse than last time they've met.
„Ashley, I challenge you to a xiaolin showdown. We are gonna have a pair showdown, Jack, get your ass in here.", „Fine, I'll go with Wuya.". The moment Jack came back to his senses and got up and saw her, he lost his shit laughing, „Ashley, darling, you really gotta sue your hairstylist!", Jack yelled and poked one of the spider's legs with a finger, „I know right?!", Wuya agreed while casually placing her hand on the wu too, „What?! You too?!", Ashley asked as she glared at Wuya, „Hey, what's true is true.".
Raimundo and Jack both laughed at that and Ashley just growled and said „Just name your showdown already.", „Okay, okay, don't spit a hairball. It's a math race. One of us has to run through obstacles that the other has to take down by solving math stuff.". Both evil girls faces dropped and Jack started laughing and slapping his leg and pointing at them, then at the monks then at Raimundo obviously saying that this is the best idea of a showdown ever, „I'M SO STUPID! WHY DID I NEVER CHOSE THIS KIND OF SHOWDOWNS BEFORE?! I WOULD HAVE DESTROYED YOU ALL!", he continued laughing.
Raimundo inhaled "NEEEEEERD!", Jack glared at him, "Hey! It's genius! Genius not nerd! there's a huge dif-", "PICK YOUR WUS ALREADY!", both Ashley and Wuya exclaimed impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah. I am going to go with the Sword of the Storm!", „I'll go with the Eye of Dashi!", Jack, „I'll use the Monkey Staff!", Ashley, „And I will go with the Ruby of Ramses", then all of them yelled „XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN!".
And the world changed, forming a race field with columns, pools, traps, and computers. Raimundo was the one who had to run so he stood on a glowing green path, same did Wuya, only hers glowed red. Both of them having a huge gate in front of them.
Jack and Ashley were in the middle, each having a path of their own, so they had to run to reach the computers.
Enemies looked at each other, then yelled „Gong yi tanpai!", and both Jack and Ashley ran towards their computers, reaching them at the same time. It wasn't a difficult question, Jack merely looked at the equation and typed the answer, then ran towards the next computer while Ashley was scratching her head.
Raimundo's gate opened and he ran quickly. Seeing this Wuya cursed. Ashley finally gave the answer and her gate opened as well. When Jack reached another computer he saw that there was no keyboard, so he figured he had to remember the correct answer, he looked over the next equation and ran. As he did, Raimundo jumped in a pool that was covered above, he swam until he saw a small door. He pushed it but it didn't open. As he looked around he heard a sound, turning his gaze back at the door he saw that it was opening and he got out, shaking the water off his head and looking at Jack who showed him a thumbs up as he ran.
Wuya was still waiting in the water with arms crossed when the door finally opened. She got out and yelled at Ashley, „Think a little faster, please?!", „Shut up, I'm trying!". The monks were cheering the boys from their place, Jack reached another computer with a very long problem, that had just a single number on it.
He smirked and said, „Oh c'mon, this is too easy. I should've picked such a showdown ages ago.", then he wrote down the answer and ran to the next computer. Raimundo saw how the traps in front of him all got deactivated and couldn't help but cup his mouth and yell „NEEEEEERD!", at Jack who in turn stuck out his tongue and showed him the middle finger „Hey! Genius! Not nerd! There's a huge dif-„ and he suddenly transformed into a mass of light and went forward at the speed of a literal lightning, he transformed back into a human as he hit a wall and fell down with a grunt. All the monks hissed, imagining the pain Jack must have felt. Jack saw triple and got up, rubbing his, „Whaat the fuuuck?", he asked, as he tried to register where the computer was.
Meanwhile Wuya decided to use the Ruby of Ramses to fly above the traps because Ashley gave the wrong answer too many times and was not allowed to advance any further. Jack finally managed to regain control over his eyesight and type down the correct and final answer. Raimundo saw how some pillars rose up from a lava river and he jumped over them and finally, at the last pillar, grabbed the spider. That's when the showdown ended.
The monks cheered happily at Raimundo and Jack who both walked towards them, Jack rubbing his nose. They all flew home while Wuya and Ashley started arguing.
„Jack, I hope you know what you're doing.", Kimiko said as Jack held her chin and did her eyeliner. „Puh-lease! I've been doing this for years.". She rolled her eyes and commented „Your hands are shaking.", „Give me a break, will you?", he said as he turned her head slightly to the left to check her first eyeline while squinting his left eye, then squinted the right one for the opposite perspective.
Then continued as he started on her other eye „I didn't build a robot in like… 2 weeks. Of course my hands are shaking.", Raimundo, who was near them, laying on the grass with the other 2 boys, asked „Why do you always do that long line on your left eye and not do it on the other one?".
"I like to say that it's my signature makeup line, but honestly? And don't tell this to anyone please, or I'll die… a robot blew up in my face once and a piece of junk cut me there. I'm just covering it because it's embarrassing." He finished and Omi was suddenly on his left side, "Wait, really?", and he grabbed Jack's face to have a better look at his long line. True to his word, there was a scratch or more likely a scar in there, stopping right under his eye.
"Jack! I hope your eye didn't get hurt too!", The little monk exclaimed while Kimiko started rubbing at his scar to feel how deep it was and Clay and Raimundo came to take a look as well.
Jack looked at all of them and spoke through his squished cheeks "I'm fuaaane, it waj a wong taaaim ago.", Omi released his cheeks and he rubbed them, "I was lucky enough that it didn't touch my eye.".
"... Why are you embarrassed about it?", asked Kimiko, and he gave her an offended look "I'm kind of an expert in robotics, remember? Of course it's embarrassing. I shouldn't have messed up, and it was on something so simple too.", "Jack, you shouldn't think that making mistakes is embarrassing, it can happen to anyone.", Clay told him and Raimundo said "Yeah, once I fell down from my surfing board, and I dare to consider myself an expert at surfing, it happens. Nothing to be ashamed about.", Jack looked at them and smiled, then returned to finish Kimiko's eyeliner.
Once he finished, he inspected both of her eyes, and said "I'm done.", while putting the eye liner back in his pocket, „And you're saying this is water proof?", Kimiko asked as she searched her bag for a small mirror. Once she saw her reflection, she gaped, „Wow, they are perfectly the same. And they look beautiful!", „Told you!", Jack said, crossing his arms proudly.
The boys looked at her as well and either said that she looked nice, or showed a thumbs up. Then she asked, „Wanna finish my makeup?", Jack's smile dropped, „I only know how to do the eyeliner part. Makeup isn't my experience. I don't even know what half of those are for.", „Certainly it cannot be that difficult Jack.", Omi said as he came to them and picked some skincare bottles, „I imagine is like painting on canvas.", „How about we help?", Raimundo said as he took the mascara, and Clay picked up the foundation and concealer while rubbing his head „What is this for?".
10 minutes later:
„Did you seriously use lipstick as blush?", Kimiko asked as she looked in the mirror, Raimundo rubbed his head while smiling and said „I saw it on a tutorial on instagram.", then she continued, „Jack why did you use green eyeshadow? It goes horrible with my eyes, and… did… did you put glitter lipstick over it?", „I didn't know where the real glitter was!", he defended himself, „My lip corner ends here!", she pointed at her lip while Omi was smiling nervously at how much lip stick he used, „And my cheekbones are waaaay too pronounced.", „Sorry...", Clay apologized timidly while picking his fingers.
„That's it. Imma paint your faces.", She said as she grabbed her makeup bag, „NOOOO!".
Half an hour later:
Jack was furiously scratching his face as Kimiko finished with Clay, „How can you suffer all this on your face?! It's so itchy!", „I think it's most beautiful!", Omi said as he looked in the mirror, Raimundo then asked „How do you remember what and when to put on, you have so much stuff! And does it really matter what brush you use?", Kimiko looked at him like he grew a second head, „Of course it does! It just like saying that the Orb of Tornami is used to blow flames.", all of them rolled their eyes and Jack took a napkin to wipe his pink glitter makeup, but only managed to smush it all over his face, „You will have to use the cleansing oil.", she said as she threw him a bottle, „There is cleansing stuff for this?", Clay asked as he looked in the mirror, „Of course it is! You didn't think that I only washed my face with water did you?", „Ugh, this is so complicated!", Raimundo said as he rubbed his temples.
Finally Jack managed to succeed in removing his disney princess face and said „Why'd you make Clay look like Elsa though?", „Because it goes well with his eyes and hair, you can't just apply random colors you know? You gotta make it look good.", she said as she wiped away the atrocity the boys did to her faces, Raimundo with his green makeup and blush on just got up, went to the fountain and stuck his head in it, wiping away all the stuff Kimiko put on. Omi on the other hand was still admiring his silver eyeshadow makeup filled face in the mirror, „I look most pretty, I am never taking this off.", but then Jack suddenly started wiping his makeup away, „NOOOO! BETRAYAL!", the little monk yelled dramatically.
They all laughed at the little moment they had, then looked up at the evening sky. Jack sighed, then asked „Guys, how long did it take for you to control your elements?", they all looked at him. „You're worried.", Kimiko stated, „Can you blame me?", he asked. „Well, for me it took just a few days, but it all just depends, Omi managed to do it in less time than me.", Raimundo told him. „You don't happen to have any riddle advice for me do you?", Jack asked in a joke but still hoping to get an advice.
„Other than practicing and meditating, well, stay happy!", Omi smiled at him, Jack frowned, „My mood depends on this as well? Ah c'mooon! Why didn't you tell me?!", he whined. „In order to be in sink with your chi, you have to be in sink with your body, mind and spirit.", Kimiko explained, then Clay added „Just be yourself. You don't have to be something you don't want to be, don't force yourself, okay buddy?".
Jack looked at them, and only slightly widened his eyes, and as if figuring out what they meant he grabbed his hair, „What am I doing?", he asked himself, then looked at them, „Can I borrow the Golden Tiger Claws?", they looked at him with surprised expressions but nodded anyway. He went to the vault and took the said wu, and as he got out of the temple and told them, „I'm gonna go home, I'll be back in time for training tomorrow, I promise.", he said as he waved and then cut down the air with the claws and jumped into the portal. They all looked at each other at that, curious of what he wanted to do.
When Jack came back home, he went straight to the bathroom, turning on the lights and looking at himself in the mirror. He stared long at his reflection, as if considering and reconsidering something several times. He then sighed as he made his decision. Taking the claws off and washing his hands and face, he looked at himself in the mirror again and carefully took off his red contacts, revealing sky blue eyes. He swallowed, somehow nervously, and then took the scissors.
„Jack is late for breakfast. Do you think he's okay?", Kimiko asked as she finished her food, „Maybe he is eating at his place before coming.", Raimundo said, then Omi added, „In any case, he said he will be back in time for training.", „He left in a rush yesterday, you think we should ask him what's wrong?", Clay asked, „Maybe, when he returns.", Kimiko answered, as they all got up and cleaned the table.
They went into the garden and began their stretches when a portal opened and from it emerged a guy. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at him confused. They approached him as he walked slowly towards them, almost shyly, he looked at them then away blushing slightly. His eyes were blue and hair was cut short and white. Kimiko went in front of him and squinted her eyes, „Jack?", she asked and he smiled awkwardly, then said „I told you guys I'll be back on time for training.".
At the sound of his voice, they were sure it was him, and damn, he looked so different without the red hair, red eyes, goth makeup and piercings. But when they came back from their shock, they all smiled at him.
"Woooah! Look at you!", Raimundo exclaimed, "You look most amazing!", Omi was next „We're glad to see you comfortable being yourself pardner.", Clay smiled at him and patted his back, strong enough to make him cough.
„You don't think I look... weird?", He asked, and the monks made incredulous faces "Why would we think that?!", asked Kimiko, "We would never, you look great!", Omi exclaimed.
All the monks smiled at him and it made him really happy that they accepted him for who he was.
He smiled, blushed, and nodded, "Thanks guys.", he was feeling overwhelmed, and then asked "Can we try the orion formation? I have a feeling that I will do it right this time.", all of them agreed and went deeper into the garden to try again.