【Mortal Enemies】

While Master Dragon Omi was tending to other matters, young Tahi continued his training. He practiced his tai chi stances and meditated with the other monks. With the agile precision of his Rooster style he jumped between poles atop a lotus pond. Later raced an obstacle course and dodged sandbags with his pouncing Tiger style. In the late evening he was climbing the giant sequoia trees with his Monkey style at the forest edge of Jing Shi city.

He got to a high branch and sat cross-legged, overlooking the view as the burning sun set.

"Grand Master Omi said training starts at dawn. What's he been so busy with to take up his first day here?"

Tahi took a deep breath and relaxed himself, gently closing his eyes. A few seconds later his sensitive ears detected a whoosh, he opened his eyes and saw a reflective flash. Several feet to his left a sword flew and embedded itself in the trunk. Tahi stared; the hilt was ornate, straps around the handle and a tail of red strings swishing. He was over fifty feet in the air, who could possibly be strong or skilled enough to hurl that sword like a javelin from such a distance and have it stick half-way into the tree like that?

Peering down he could see a lone figure standing at the base. It was somebody dressed in white, but too young to be from the monastery. Tahi determinedly threw himself off his branch, falling as wind whipped through his garments and hair. The ground approached and he expertly swished his arms, a branch sprouting downward and curving, allowing Tahi to slide with his feet. Landing in a crouch as bark and leaves fell, standing to face his attacker.

Another teenager stood before him, strapped up with weapons of all kinds. A scabbard on his back containing three swords, a circular shield on one side of his sash, a metal mask sitting on the other side. His skin was chocolate-brown, he had hooded eyes and a narrow face. He was a few inches shorter than Tahi's full six-feet height, body a slim musculature. At the sight of him Tahi felt a great disharmony, a clash of personalities even though he didn't know this boy. But somehow in his core he felt unrest between them.

"You're the metal raider!" Tahi pointed at the metal mask. "You're the criminal that's been breaking into palaces all across the province!" They started circling each other.

"That's right. I'm the one who's been stealing from the rich and giving to the poor."

"We were taught Kung Fu to keep the balance, not to cause unrest across the country."

"I don't care, I work alone. And until the Heylin return I'm going to continue reforming the world by myself." They stopped and faced each other with the forest on one side and the city on the other.

"Then I'll hand you in to the police!" Tahi flew back to his branch, gripping and spinning over, slinging himself at his opponent "Monkey Strike!"

"Coiling Snake!" the boy's stance changed as he swept the kick aside, Tahi found himself rolling over undulating shoulders and then falling, grunting as he hit the ground and skid. Tahi got on all fours and spat dirt, turning to face the boy who'd barely moved. That style had deflected him perfectly.

"Alright… Pecking Rooster!" he was up on one leg, arms like arched wings. Flying over and rapidly pecking his hands, his enemy blocked every strike without losing so much as a step.

Then his stance morphed into a scurry "Scavenging Rat!" He blurred out of Tahi's vision and struck with two palms, fingers clawed. Again Tahi flew forward and tumbled painfully. A smirk flickered on the boy's face as he took his Rat stance.

The Polynesian boy growled with anger before leaping up once more "Crouching Tiger!"

"Crouching Tiger!" his opponent was learned in the same style, and although their lunges were identical Tahi still found himself blocked off and thrown over, as easily as if he'd never been trained. He hit the ground winded and blinked, thinking that it couldn't be possible. No one had ever been able to beat him so easily, this must be some kind of trick.

"Even with the same style…? How are you doing this? It's like your version of Kung Fu is the anti of mine. Who are you?"

The boy looked over his shoulder, face impassive again. A silver sheen to his robes in the dying light "It's because we're mortal enemies. My name's Jelani."

Wood was a tenacious element, Tahi found himself crouching up yet again. Determinedly he weaved his arms and a tree burst out of the ground below Jelani's feet. It rapidly expanded while the other boy backflipped away, his circular metal shield dislodging and flying like a frisbee. Jelani landed in a perfect squat with one arm up. The tree was sawn right through, the top half falling in a crash and Tahi jumping back as the disc spun past him. The metal circle whizzed around the huge sequoia tree and returned to its owner, hovering in place before him.

Jelani stood with his arm still raised, the sword from earlier flew back, stopping in mid-air before turning itself around and sliding into its hilt with the others.

"Jelani… you're the Dragon of Metal! Aren't we on the same side?"

"Our elements are mortal enemies. And I'll never forgive you for what you've done, Wan!"

"Wan…? My name's Tahi!"

The dark-skinned boy glared without speaking. Finally he closed his eyes and faced away "We'll meet again and I'll make sure you pay, one day..." Turning away he retreated toward the forest path.

Tahi was angry and sore. He didn't have the energy to chase the guy down though he dearly wanted to. How could he have been bested so easily? He'd never before felt so helpless. Clutching his winded side, Tahi began his walk back into the city.

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After climbing back to the monastery he went up to the first monk he could find "I need to speak to Master Dragon Omi!"

And after the message was relayed Omi continued to sip from his tea while sitting on his mat "This is most unpleasant news. I myself have not met this Jelani, Dragon of Metal. But to discover a Xiaolin Dragon is using his elemental kung fu as a vigilante criminal… this is most unfortunate. You must meet me and Master Fung at the crack of dawn outside the meditation hall and we shall discuss the matter."

"Thank you, Master Dragon Omi." Tahi gave another bow and winced, made his way down the halls and left Omi's chambers.

After travelling to his own little room he lay back on his mat and rested, setting an alarm to get up early next day.

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It was before dawn when Tahi woke, his body tense and twitching at remembering how powerless he'd been in his earlier fight. Tahi had time to walk to the bathhouse and shower, scrubbing himself atop the smooth tiles. Changing into clean clothes and stepping out just as dawn light broke on the mountain of Jing Shi city. Ducks and geese could be heard squawking amidst the residential homes. In his green silk robes Tahi made his way over to the meditating chamber, standing there were two adults. The bald Omi stood beside a wizened old man, the famous Master Fung who'd trained the last generation of dragons now an old sage.

Tahi bowed "Master Fung."

"Hello young apprentice." He had twinkling blue eyes. "Let us sit by this pond as we discuss your training."

The lilies sat undisturbed atop the clear surface. Omi and Tahi sat side-by-side while Master Fung sat cross-legged, the serene environment helped to calm the young dragon. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"Jelani was able to defeat me without breaking a sweat. I've never seen anything like it. It was scary as hell…"

"Metal is an element that is righteous, stubborn and independent. It is ambitious, representing the direction West. It is also the natural enemy of the element Wood." Master Fung explained with a finger in the air.

"But if we're natural enemies… how are all five of us supposed to defend the world from the Heylin forces if they ever return?"

"The relationships between the five Chinese elements are complicated, that's why the five of you have been trained apart." Master Fung explained. "Your different styles are representative of the ancient Chinese philosophy of WuXing."

"I may be no Dragon of Wood," Omi began with a hand to his chest. "But I am confident I can help Tahi master his strange element. In Western philosophy, fire and wind are the yang elements. Wind makes fire hotter, which is probably why Raimundo and Kimiko are married and have babies now, even as fellow Master Dragons…" he scratched his chin curiously before continuing "Water and earth are the yin elements, they are less changeable, they co-exist on the world's surface, water smooths the harsh edges of the earth." Omi gave a proud smile at his deduction.

"Wood may be the combination of water and earth in Western philosophy Master Dragon Omi," Fung began "But in Chinese philosophy Wood is the most yang of all the five elements." The old man returned his stare to Tahi "Amongst the five elements you will find positive and negative relationships. After the proper training the five of you will be able to set your differences aside should the need arise for you to fight the Heylin once more."

"So… how do we train me?" Tahi asked.

"There is a sacred temple in a hidden valley known as the Jade Palace. It is a mystical place where dragon masters have trained for thousands of years. There may be no living Dragon of Wood, but there is sure to be a plethora of knowledge amongst the ancient scrolls."

"You're going to take me to this Jade Palace to continue my training?"

"Not yet young dragon." Omi turned to him "There is a particular reason why I was called to Jing Shi city."

"Unlike metal, the element of water is an ally to wood. While metal is your ultimate adversary, water will be able to make you stronger." Fung explained. "The new Dragon of Water is on his way to Jing Shi city. While he assists with your element training, Master Dragon Omi will be able to pass on his knowledge of the element. After the cooperative training is complete you will be able to learn what you can in the mystical Jade Palace."

"Alright," Tahi grinned at the older masters. "Sounds like a plan."

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