465I disclaim Xiaolin Showdown and all its characters, I in no way profit by writing this fanfiction.
(though, If I DID own XS, Chack would totally be canon and there would be a LOT more seasons, lol)
hope you enjoy the story!
Chapter 39
Clay glanced back at his friends, holding the reins of the Crouching Cougar Shen Gong Wu in a tight, nervous grip as a house began to come into view.
"We're here..." Clay muttered "That's their place, over there." He gestured with his hand towards the old, but Solid looking house just on the horizon. It looked like something you'd see in a western movie... Some low 2 story building made mostly from wood. A bucket of tar and a mountain of shingles sitting beside a ladder indicating that someone was planning on patching up the roof soon.
"That's it, huh? For some reason I thought it'd be bigger..." Raimundo mused, putting a hand to his chin
"Let us just hope they will be willing to listen..."Omi muttered "They seem to gave gone out of their way to Isolate themselves."
"Come on, Omi, Clay is their grandson, I'm sure they'll listen to HIM, at least..." Kimiko said dismissively, giving the yellow monk a small smile "Besides, why WOULDN'T they listen to us...? We're on THEIR side, after all..."
"Who's on whose side now?" came a deep, croaking voice from nearby. The monks turned in unison, and they would see a man in black with a cowboy hat lowered over his face and leaning against a fence post. He was holding a shotgun in one hand, and seemed to be leisurely polishing the barrel. Omi and the rest of the monks leapt from the machine, taking battle ready stances
"We do not wish to start any trouble" Omi said, frowning "We are here to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Yates!"
"Now, ain't that a coincidence..." the man said, looking up from his gun, lifting his hat out of way, wearing a smirk. He had Dark skin, and a thick mustache. he had a heavy brow, and a thick jaw line. 'Neanderthal' would probably come to mind of those who saw him. "Howdy, Clay..."
"Granddaddy!" Clay laughed, rushing over to the old man, who set his gun aside and pulled him into a tight bear hug, lifting the young man off the ground
"...Been a long time since you've come see us, boy!" the man grinned "Your Meema has been missin' you somethin' fierce!"
"Meema?" Raimundo asked, raising an eyebrow. Kimiko, meanwhile, found herself swooning a little. Not by his LOOKS really...But that VOICE, and that demeanor... it had a sort of...Sam Elliot quality to it.
"Ahh...I SO get it now..." she snickered, crossing her arms.
"Get what?" Raimundo asked, raising an eyebrow
"It's a girl thing..." Kimiko said in a 'you'll understand when you grow up' sort of voice, patting his arm as they collected the now shrunken shen gong wu, which Dojo stashed somewhere on his body...probably his ear or his nose.
"It's good to see you, GrandDaddy!" Clay said as his grandfather finally set him down "I just wish I had a better reason to come see you..."
"Tch... You never need a REASON to come see your Grandparents, Clay" the old man scowled as he lightly cuffed the back of the young mans head before ruffling his hair "...But I have to admit, I am a little curious..." he said, motioning for the group to follow him towards the house "as to why you decided to bring the whole dang regiment with you..." he said.
"Well...sorry to say, Grandaddy, but...this ain't a pleasure visit" he said, adjusting his hat, which his grandfather had knocked off his head when he cuffed him.
"So, why DID you come visit?" he asked, picking up his gun and shething it in a long holster on his back "I'm guessin' it has something to do with the Shen Gong Wu, if you had to bring the whole dang entourage..." he muttered "Your daddy told me about the Star Hinabi, after all...Said he was right proud of you for bein' a man and putting him in his place"
"Well...Uh...no, actually..." Clay said, scratching the back of his head, giving a sheepish smile at the thought of his father praising him " ...But, also KINDA yes? It's more about YOU...and Meema..."
"What about us?" the old man asked, his boots clicking as he stepped up onto the large, slightly dusty wooden porch that looked like it had seen a lot of use over the years. Two rocking chairs on the far end with a small table between them, a small bell hanging from the rafters above which covered the porch, a set of wind chimes currently still, since there was no breeze. It was barren at the moment, but was probably a hub of activity for parties or other such family events.
"Well, uh...You see..." Clay rubbed the back of his neck "It's...well..."
"What's the matter boy? Cat got your tongue?" the old man smirked "Spit it out!" he laughed, slapping the young man on the back.
"We know you're the ancient immortals He Xian'gu, and Li Tieguai,and you have the lotus and the gourd, and Hannibal Bean has the Sword of Lü!" Clay almost shouted at the older man, who grew very stiff and still, his hand dropping from Clays back and falling limply to his side. He lowered his head, his hat falling into his face again, and he was silent for a long moment.
"Um...Sir?" Kimiko asked
"...So...Lü IS dead..." he muttered, not even bothering to try denying the truth, or question how they had found out about their past identities "...I'm gonna go ahead and guess that you're here for the gourd, and the Lotus?" he said, looking back up at his grandson with a tired, 'I'm too old for this shit' look on his face.
"...Yessir..." Clay said, sighing heavily "...Before Hannibal Bean or Chase Young comes for them...And You..."
"Come with us to the temple, Mr. Grand Daddy" Omi said, stepping forward "You and your wife will be safer there"
"I ain't goin' NOWHERE, little fella..." the man said, glancing down at the little yellow monk. He put a hand on his head, giving him a light squeeze before cracking his neck "I am RETIRED from all that nonsense and so is your Meema" he frowned " This is MY home, and I AIN'T leavin' "
"But GrandDaddy-"
"No BUTS, Clay" the old man scowled "I am NOT gettin' involved in that business again. That was the past, and this is NOW"
"But-"
"Me and your Meema got as far away from that business as we COULD after the last war..." he said firmly, poking his grandson in the chest "...And I sure as HELL ain't walkin' strait back into another one! Now, you can take those weapons if you want...lock them away in the temple vault, or use 'em...I don't care" He muttered darkly "But you leave your Meema and me OUT of this... I made a vow that I was DONE with all that, centuries ago, and I ain't breaking it NOW...!" He said with a glare, before letting out a heavy sigh as his grandson looked at him with wide, shocked looking eyes. He glanced at the finger digging into his grandsons chest and pulled it away, sighing heavily. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, shaking his head and mumbling incoherently. His eyes looked weary, and troubled "...I'm too old for this nonsense..." He muttered under his breath before looking at his grandson and forcing a tired looking smile. He reached out, gently placing one if his rough, work-worn hands on his grandsons broad shoulders and gently squeezed "'M'sorry for getting rough-mouthed with ya, boy...I'm just...tired...Why don't ya'll come on inside...Your Meema is makin' my favorite ...Rattlesnake Curry"
Clay opened his mouth, but sighed, nodding as he looked back at his friends "...I told ya'll he was stubborn..." he muttered as the old man headed inside.
"We HAVE to convince him to us!" Kimiko said "He could be in danger!"
"The ONLY person GrandDaddy listens to is Meema" Clay informed "...We'll have to convince HER."
"Well, let's not push the issue" Dojo said, slithering out from under Clay's hat "...That could just make it worse..."
"I agree" Raimundo nodded, turning to his friends "Let's just...play nice, for now...be good house guests...We'll bring it up again at the right time..."
The monks nodded to their leader, though Clay still looked a bit doubtful.
"Ya'll gonna jaw all day and let the bugs in?" Clay's grandfather called from inside the house "I don't pay bills so the SCORPIONS can have air conditioning!"
Exchanging looks, the monks collectively sighed...This was going to be harder than they'd hoped it would be...
Hannibal Bean laughed wickedly, his suit of armor covered in the black blood of the beast who now lay dead at his feet, its severed head in one of his curled, metal hands.
"Ah, nothing like getting -A HEAD- in life to make your day..." he said in his usual southern drawl. He glanced over at the corner of the cave, snickering at the enormous creature's equally enormous child as he curled up into a ball, sobbing, with his hands covering his face as he trembled in terror. The demonic legume grinned at the sight of the cowering one eyed giant, and sheathed his sword, giving a mocking polite bow.
"It has been a DELIGHTFUL visit...But I'm afraid I really must be goin' now..." he chuckled as he strode over, patting the shivering creature on the shoulder in an almost gentle manner. Cyclops flinched away from his touch, looking fearfully over as the clanking armor began to stride away,"Pleasure doin' business with you...Oh, and by the way...Do give my regards to Tubbimura on his engagement..." he added before striding off, cackling as the one eyed creature just sobbed even louder, crawling on his knees to his fathers corpse, and wept into his side
Guan cradled the body of his friend close to his own, tears pouring silently down his face as he trudged his way back towards the palace, where Master Fung, Mark, Lan, and the monks of the temple were waiting.
As the bald monk entered the dark temple, the lights turned on as everyone emerged from their hiding places, blowing noise makers and throwing confetti into the air
"SURPRISE!" came a chorus of happy voices, "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Chucky Choo!"
Guan just stared ahead, his knees trembling as grief washed over him. He barely acknowledged the sensation of his legs give out from underneath him, a wail escaping his throat as he sank to his knees heavily, loud sobs coming from the shaking man as he hunched over.
The party goers faces fell in confusion as Master Fung rushed over. "Master Monk Guan, is somethin-" he started, cutting himself off to step back, his hand flying to his mouth in horror at the sight of the headless body in Guans arms, the head itself resting near the body... as it was no longer attached. Guans muscled chest was stained with golden blood as he held the body tightly against his own.
"Guan...What happened...?" the monk asked, kneeling by his friends side and putting his hand on his back.
Through his tears and gritted teeth, Guan choked out "I don't know...I found him like this... at the edge of the temple grounds..."
"Who could have done this...?" Fun asked, shaking his head as he stood, pacing back and forth, his heart racing "Who would do this to a DRAGON ?! Chase Young, perhaps?"
"No..." Guan said, looking up at the monk as he cradled the corpse in one hand before slowly removing his one armed robe, and laid it on the ground. He carefully wrapped his friend in the silk, folding the cloth around him into a small, squarish bundle before holding it to his chest once more "...Chase Young would never do something like this...He wouldn't leave the body and take the heart...When HE kills dragons...he makes them into that wretched soup of his..." he said, one of his hands curling into a fist "...Something like THIS is beyond even HIS depravity... There's only ONE evil in the world who would do something like that..." he said, gritting his teeth, his eyes narrowing on Mark and Lan, who exchanged looks.
"Hannibal Bean..." they spoke in unison.
"Yes...Yes, of COURSE it would be him..." Fung said, as he turned to Guan with a heavy sigh "...I am so sorry, Master Guan...This is truly a tremendous loss...But why would Hannibal bean want a dragons heart...?"
"I can think of a several reasons..." Mark muttered "NONE of them good news for us...There are many dark rituals that involve using a dragons heart... If I had to guess...I'd put my money on he's planning on summoning a new army..."
That made the old monk pause "...An Army...?"
"An army of demons..." Lan clarified, his voice serious for once "...Back in the day, Hannibal controlled the strongest, most evil demons in all the hells, in his attempt to take over the world, and turn the tide of good and evil..." He looked over at the head monk, running a hand though his long hair as he tied it back into a ponytail "WE sealed them away...but...it's been so long, that they're probably all dead, with no mortal lives to claim to fuel their own dark energy...He probably KNOWS that...and wants to make a new one."
"And if we know that Bean, he probably means to build an even STRONGER army..." Mark nodded "A bigger one...a DARKER one..."
"Heavens..." Fung muttered, his eyes widening in horror "...We cannot allow that to happen...!"
"We may not have a choice, mate..." Mark muttered as he turned to Lan. "We need to get in contact with the kids...NOW. Playtime's over."
Happy 2020, everyone!
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, and I hope all of you got lots of presents, and holiday cheer, no matter what holiday you celebrate.
I wanted this chapter to go up on new years, since my holidays got a little busier than I expected, and I had to push back the X-mas deadline, but then my laptop decided that it wanted to die, so I had to take it into the shop to get repaired. And since they were closed new years, I ended up having to wait longer to get my computer back.
Thankfully, I got it taken care of, and now my girl is back up and running, and in my hands again :3
So, here's the belated Xmas/New Years Chapter! I hope it was worth waiting for
hopefully there will be no more nonsense. let's start this new year, and this new decade off right!
love you all!
~Xilex90~
