Chapter 5

Kaiser left Jack and Wuya's side as she cracked her knuckles heading towards Kari, however Raimundo was in her way so that was her target to attack. Dojo watched on top of Omi's head, seeing Kaiser walking up behind Raimundo. He started to panic some more not wanting to shout to startle everyone. Kaiser's lips tugged into a smirk as she went to punch him. Kari widened her eyes, seeing Kaiser going to attack Raimundo.

"Raimundo get down!!" Kari called while pulling on his pendant, not breaking it but pulling him down. She ducked as well. "Th-that w-was close... " Kari shivered, scared that Kaiser was attacking them. Kaiser let a low growl out as she missed, no matter though. She went and grabbed Raimundo by the back of his hoodie and pulled him away and tossing him away from Kari and following to where he stopped. Raimundo couched from his hoodie being pulled hard as he got up fast.

"Are you serious, again?!" Raimundo Shouted as he looked at Kaiser and noticed her eyes and got a shiver. He was getting a feeling that this fight is going to be worse than the first one. Being an idiot in his thoughts Raimundo felt something hit him in the face. Kaiser smirked more as she landed a kick across his face. Dojo hid his face behind Omi's big globe of a head.

"I can't watch." Dojo stated while shivering, but still watching because he was curious. Raimundo got up holding his jaw. He clapped his hands together causing wind to go her way.

"TYPHOON BOOM!!" Raimundo called out, however Kaiser tucked and rolled out of the way and then ran at him and jabbed him in the nose. Clay winced remembering when he got socked in the face by Kaiser, not pleasant. Raimundo held his nose as it started to bleed and snapped his head in Kaiser's direction as her eyes glowed with a sinister look.

"Time to watch you squirm you little pathetic insect." Raimundo's surroundings changed from trees to dark scary graveyard. He looked around confused, he didn't see Kaiser or anyone of his friends. Raimundo starting to freak out. Out of the ground dead corpses came out and bum rushed towards Raimundo as he started to scream and use his wind to attack them, but it just wouldn't kill them.

"Get away from me!" Raimundo screamed as a few grabbed him scratching and bruising. Raimundo yelled in pain, struggling to get free. While in reality he was flailing freaking out over nothing which make Kaiser laugh hysterically at his suffering. Dojo rushed into Kimiko's bag to get the other scroll fumbling and trying to open it.

"What's going on Dojo?" Clay asked concerned for his friend's safety. As Dojo found the scroll he began looking between the fight and the scroll frantically. Wuya watching in bewilderment as to what Kaiser was doing as she noticed Raimundo's hoodie getting messed up. Chase was watching closely as well. Jack shivered in slight fear.

"Wh-whoa..." He squeaked with a gulp Kari saw this and her pupils constricted in fear as she saw the scene in front of her. She shivered and went to stage one.

"Clay, you have something I can eat?" Kari asked quickly. "I need energy, NOW!!" Kari was getting flustered, looking over her shoulder every so often to see how Raimundo was doing. "I can't.. I can't go into stage 2 like this, I'm pissed but need more energy..." Kari said in a low tone so the Heylin side did not hear her. Clay felt around his satchel to find something until he pulled out a ham and cheese sandwich.

"This is all I got Kari." He said holding it out to her. Kari nodded and took the sandwich and smiled.

"Thanks again, Clay." She stated, sounding sincere towards Clay, Raimundo hearing her words.

"You think you're so strong and try to show off? You're WEAK AND USELESS TO THOSE AROUND YOU!" As Kaiser said that Raimundo heard her as the corpses started to get more violent with him. Raimundo panicked more, how is it they could hurt him, but he couldn't land a hit on them. As the anger in him built up hearing Kari talk to Clay ever so sincerely and kindly after him picking on her. Chase smirked as he watched Kaiser as work, this will show them to exactly why she's called the Mercilus dragon!

Kari looked to Kaiser and put the sandwich in her mouth, taking a bite. "Here, please hold this," Kari handed Clay the rest of the sandwich. "I don't wanna waste it. I'll stay in stage one a little longer to save Raimundo from her illusions. After that I'll eat the rest-" Kari swallowed the bite of food. "And go to Stage two. When that happens hide behind that boulder." Kari pointed to a boulder without looking at it. She then went in with a loud growl, Raimundo hearing it.

"KAISER!!!!!!!!!" She snapped, and kicked Kaiser dead in the jaw, her face showing she was pissed. She then put her right hand on Kaiser's forehead, going into the illusion. "Rai, the hell you doing? Get the fuck up!" Kari growled, being able to see the real world and the illusion Raimundo was in, that way she could still fight off Kaiser. Kari crossed her arms across her small chest. Kaiser held her jaw for a second that slightly shocked her and looked to see it was Kari who kicked her in the jaw. Kaiser soon stood up straight again with a bigger smirk.

"Aw how sweet, come to protect your stupid teammate from the scaries have you Kari?" Kaiser looked at Kari as she thought for a moment before talking again. "You know Kari, I don't see why you picked a group of strangers over someone you've practically grown up with and HAS PROTECTED YOU FROM EVER GETTING HURT!" Vines with thorns pop up to tangle Raimundo and Kari. Kari, who was now facing Kaiser, looked at Raimundo for a moment with a smirk then back to her friend.

"Listen... Kai... I chose them because I saw that I would fit best there. I knew I would not like being on the side you chose to be on and I didn't like it... But here we are... Keep in mind about how i act usually... I'm usually innocent and light hearted, I don't fit in with the side you chose, when I saw them I knew I belonged on their side, but I did not want to believe it..." Kari looked down slightly then looked back up at Kaiser. "I'm sorry... Kaiser..." Kari frowned and snapped her fingers, diminishing the illusion and helping Raimundo stand up. "You need to stay out of both my and her way. understand, I don't want anyone dying... Ever..." Kari glared at Raimundo. "Kimiko, you have the first aid kit?"

"Right here." Kimiko called and took it out of her bag, kneeling down to bandage Raimundo, Omi helping.

Kaiser snapped a bit more with anger at Kari's words. "Side I chose?! I DIDN'T CHOOSE ANYTHING and neither did you! We both had our lives written mostly while we were in our mothers' stomachs!!!! And when we were together all that time, who put you first before herself, who got into all those fights when the bullies came to hurt you huh?! I DID! I didn't rely or have anyone when I needed someone to come to the rescue, I HAD NO ONE because everyone, but you hated me....But I guess that's changed now huh?!" A single tear fell from her eye looking at Kari. Chase and Wuya's eyes widened at Kaiser's BIG outburst. Jack frowned, feeling bad about how Kaiser was treated. Kari gritted her teeth and balled her hands into shaking fists.

"Kari, are you alright?" Omi asked, seeing Kari's anger. Kari nodded.

"Yeh... I'm fine..." She stated and faced Kaiser. "Kai... I'll never hate you..." Is all she replied, not wanting to have an outburst like Kaiser just did since she hated talking about her family.

"Wow... That's really somethin...." Kimiko gasped while bandaging Raimundo's wounds. Raimundo winced as Kimiko was tending to his wounds listening to Kaiser's outburst like everyone else. Was she really that mistreated as a kid just like Kari. Then hearing Kari's response to Kaiser confused him, w-why would she never hate her?

"Indeed..." Omi stated in a low, bewildered tone.

"Clay, give me the rest of that sandwich please. I can feel that this is going to escalate into a battle between me and my friend." Clay handed over the rest of the sandwich to Kari.

"Kari you will never change will you? You've always been so childish and so forgiving making you such an easy target for just about anyone to waltz right up to you and bully you. But I must admit you're a little bit tougher when you stand up for yourself." Kaiser watches as Kari about to eat the food. Then the sound of Dojo clearing his throat getting the monks' attention.

"The Mercilus dragon is a master at illusions, pretty much making up whatever he or she wants. And whoever the target is, will be the only one to feel and see what is happening along with the creator." Raimundo's eyes widened.

"I-it was all an illusion, b-but it felt so real." Raimundo looked at his covered wounds. Kari ate the sandwich and glared at Kaiser, yet there was a hint of sadness deep in her eyes. Energy began to surround her as she went to stage two.

"COME AT ME KAISER! SHOW ME WHAT THE MERCILUS DRAGON OF ILLUSIONS CAN REALLY DO!!!" Kari growled, her personality no longer like her usual one, like her stage one form was showing. Clay and Omi helped Raimundo to the boulder Kari told them to hide behind, Kimiko close by with the first aid kit.

"Are you feeling better Raimundo?" Omi asked as he tightened some bandages around Raimundo's arm. Kimiko bandaging his nose. Raimundo pulled away from Omi as he glared and shouted at him.

"Ow, watch how tight you pull will ya half pint!" Raimundo wincing in pain.

Omi frowned. "But I have to make it tight as to help the wound heal... I could make it tighter for you." Omi teased, pulling tighter slightly, just to mess with the dragon of the wind. Raimundo flicked Omi in the head annoyed at him, if he wasn't in so much pain he'd kick his big yellow head across the forest like a soccer ball. Omi rubbed the spot Raimundo flicked.

"Ouchie!" Omi then loosened the bandages slightly, so he would not make Raimundo even more mad. Raimundo smiled weakly to Omi as a "Thank you that's much better." look appeared on his face.

Kaiser smirked, Kari was really asking for it. Kaiser's eyes gave off a mercilus feeling as her eyes and symbol glowed a lot more intense as she took out two throwing knives and held them in her hands gripped tightly. "Kari as much as I hate to hurt you, I will be showing you no mercy." Kaiser's tone sounded as if her voice was dripping with venom. In a flash she was running at Kari with her blades ready to slash at her. Raimundo was watching out of the corner of his eye. Chase decided to let Kaiser have at it, and then step in to stop her if needed. Kari just stood there as Kaiser ran up to her. Kimiko, Omi and the rest of the xiaolin monks watched since Raimundo was all patched up.

"Kari what are you doing?! Move!" Kimiko gulped.

"This is most unsettling!" Omi squeaked and ducked behind the boulder, yet still peaking back to see the battle. Dojo was behind the boulder taking a peek to see what happens as well while Clay had his hat covering his eyes but looked out every now and again.

Kari still did not move, even after hearing her friends. She let Kaiser stab her in the shoulder and then grabbed her wrist. Raimundo's eyes widened even more mad, but also really concerned as he shouted out.

"Kari be careful!"

"Got that outta your system, Kai?" Kari asked, her voice low and demonic sounding. She tightened her grip, nearly breaking Kaiser's wrist. Kaiser looked at her eyes widened as she growled a bit as she picks her leg up to kick Kari hard in the face to let go. But Kari kept a firm grip "I will make you pay for what you did. I hate fighting you but what you did I CANNOT and WILL NOT accept from you! I've grown up since you've moved Kaiser! I've been in fights before without you there! You say I've never changed," Kari headbutted Kaiser's head, making them both bleed from their forehead. At the sight of blood running down Kari's face made Raimundo jump up, regardless of pain to rush to Kari's aid, that is, until Clay held him back before he could get hurt again. Kari growled with an angry frown. "But you haven't even seen ME!" Kari then kneed Kaiser in the gut, sending her upward into the sky. Kari then vanished and did a drop kick so she would plummet down to the ground. Raimundo watched and awe as Kari kneed Kaiser in the air sending her hitting the ground quite hard and painfully. When Kaiser hit the ground dust came up around her as she coughed. When the dust went away Kaiser slowly but surely sat up pulling down her mask covering her mouth as she spat up blood. At the crook of the side of her lips and around her mouth she had smeared blood. Wuya looked to Chase, this was getting way too ugly faster than the speed of light. Wuya looked to see if Jack hadn't fainted yet from the sight of blood, none of their battles with the monks have ever drawn blood ever. Kari began to emanate a bright flame, the intense causing her wounds to harden quickly while her quick metabolism began healing her wounds even quicker now that they were closed up.

Jack gulped and then rushed in as Kari went for another blow. He pressed a few buttons on his watch to summon his Jack-bots to distract Kari. He then went and helped Kaiser up and back to the heylin side.

'You ok?" He asked, noticing she was back to normal. Kaiser looked at Jack like he was crazy, her body felt kinda heavy and in pain and bloody to top it off.

"Do I look okay Jack?" Kaiser asked raising an eyebrow to him.

"S-sorry, sorry...Force of habit." Jack stated nervously. "Lets get you home. Kay?" Jack gave a smirk over his shoulder to his Jack-bots as they kept Kari occupied. He then stood in front of Chase and Wuya. Kaiser didn't have the energy to talk so she just nodded as she saw Chase and Wuya look at her. Chase leading the way to leave without a word to the monks. He was very impressed with how Jack handled that situation, lets just hope he keeps up the good work. Wuya followed along as she glanced once more time at Kari who was fighting the bots before leaving as well. Kari saw them leave and blasted the last bot. She wanted to chase after them but she did not. Kari gritted her teeth and looked down, balling her handi into fists and growled, holding back tears as she went to stage one.

"Kaiser... Why is this happening to us?!" She thought as she sniffled, hating that tears were forming in her eyes. "NO! No crying!! She thought as she wiped her tears away with her right arm. She then sat down like always and hunched over sadly. She then went and bit down on her right arm, drawing blood as she whimpered sadly, not at the pain but at what just happened, her other hand clenching the ground that was between her legs. "Kaiser... Why, why damn it ?!! WHY?!!!" Her thoughts screamed out in agony. She hated this but at the same time she did not want to forget it so she stayed in stage 1 a little longer, as if to give a moment of silence for Kaiser.

Clay watched Kari, feeling sorry for what happened between her and Kaiser, but nothing could be done now. Raimundo stood up once again ignoring the pain going up to Clay and punching him as hard as he could in his arm.

"What the hell is wrong with you Clay Bailey, have you gone out of your mind?!" Raimundo shouted at him. Clay quickly looked at Raimundo surprised holding his arm from behind punched.

"What are you talkin' bout partner?" Clay asked looking at him super confused. Raimundo wanted to punch him again, but held back.

"You big air head! How could you pick on her about during a FREAKING SHOWDOWN! She's already been though a lot of that already! She doesn't need anymore of that shit from you or any of us! Ya hear me!" Clay leaned back a bit from seeing the rage in Raimundo's eyes. Clay tried to open his mouth to explain what happened at the time, but Raimundo would make a noise each time Clay tried to say a single word. Kari then stood up and growled, heading towards them. She bonked both their heads in anger.

"WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP RAIMUNDO PEDROSA!!!" Kari growled and looked at Raimundo with rage. "I FUCKING TOLD HIM TELEPAHICLY TO DO THAT SO I COULD GO INTO STAGE 2 WITH A FLAME!!! IF YOU WERE THERE I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME!!!" Kari took a stepped closer, making Rai take a step back in fear. "NOW I'M FUCKING PISSED OF BECAUSE OF RECENT EVENTS AND BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE SO DON'T YOU FUCKING TEST ME WIND BOY OR I SWEAR TO GOD YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY BECAUSE I WILL GOUGE OUT YOUR EYES AND BURN THEM ON A STICK!!!!! THEN I WILL FUCKING RIP YOUR VOCAL CORDS SO YOU WILL NOT UTTER A WORD LIKE THIS AGAIN!!! YOU---" Kari would have said more but her voice gave way. Kari widened her eyes in shock and held her throat, coughing up blood due to the fight and her massive lecture. Omi and Kimiko along with Dojo were FAAAAR away from Kai as she lectured Raimundo. Kari gulped and looked down then turned her back to them and sat down like she always did, holding her head up with her right arm, shivering every once and a while.

Raimundo felt awful after Kari yelled at him. This was all his fault. If he was only able to hold his own while fighting Kaiser, Kari wouldn't of have had to save him, she wouldn't of had to fight Kaiser in the first place. What Kaiser said earlier about him being useless to others around him downed onto him like a brick hitting him in the face. Dojo gave a sad look to everyone before speaking up.

"W-we should get you all home, Master Fung is most likely worried so lets not keep him waiting any longer. But on the bright side we got Apollo's Flute and the other shen gong wu!" Dojo added the good news to try and brighten up the mood among them all. Clay nodded to Dojo's words, but not saying any himself. Kari stood up quickly and walked away towards Dojo, Omi and Kimiko. Not even walking near Raimundo because she was still pissed, She wouldn't even look at him and she was obvious about it too. Dojo grew so they could climb onto his back so they could go home. Raimundo climbed on knowing Kari wouldn't want any of his help since he messed up so horribly. Kari puffed out her cheeks as she tried to get on Dojo, not happy with her height.

"Need a lift up Kari?" Clay asked seeing as since she won't let Ramundo help her, be near her, or even talk to her he offered himself. Kari looked at Clay and nodded with a cute smile. She pointed to the tail end, the farthest point from Raimundo since he was sitting in the front, wanting to sit here. Clay picked her up, the girl making a giggling gesture to piss off Raimundo and get back at him for a moment. Clay then easily and set her gently onto Dojo where she wanted to sit. Kari smiled and hugged Clay, saying "Thanks" to the best of her abilities She then sat in her usual way, similar to the butterfly pose in yoga. Clay slightly turned pink as he hid it with his hat as he got onto Dojo. Raimundo saw what happened as he felt that bubbling anger build up inside of him, what the heck is going on with him now's not a time to be worrying about that.

Once everyone was on Dojo took off to the skies heading towards the temple for it was a very very long and tiring day for them. Kari still in her stage one form for the whole ride home, every now and again tugging on Clay's shirt to see if he had any food, because being in stage one costed energy. She didn't mean to but she looked rather cute trying to talk with out words, this making Raimundo even angrier for some reason. Raimundo's anger just kept boiling like a tea kettle on a stovetop about to blow, once he got home back he was going straight to his room.

----- Chase's palace that night -----

Once they returned to Chase's palace Wuya took Kaiser from Jack to help her clean up and fix her wounds and make sure nothing is broken. When Wuya and Kaiser went to Kaiser's room Chase turned to look at Jack.

"Jack I'm very pleased with your quick thinking today, well done and keep up the good work. I am counting on you." Chase said with a mix between a smirk and a smile to Jack. Jack smiled widely and bowed.

"Thank you Chase, sir! I told you I wouldn't let you down!" Jack replied quickly. While in Kaiser's room Snowflake whined at the site of her owner covered in blood.

"You did really well, you did a real number on Raimundo." Wuya laughs a bit healing Kaiser's wrist. Kaiser just sat there on the outside blank faced, but on the inside she was screaming her head off. "What the heck Kari, WHY couldn't you just HATE ME like everyone else in this stupid world." Kaiser thought as it hurt, everything she said earlier was true. But the reason behind why Kaiser protected younger Kari all those times in the past was to protect her from everything Kaiser had been through herself. That's what created who Kaiser was to this very day: a disconnected, bruteful, and mercilus girl that no one loved. At least if she could of helped Kari the same wouldn't happen to Kari like it did for Kaiser.

"Alright all cleaned and bandaged up, just don't go around doing anything crazy alright Kaiser." Wuya said snapping Kaiser out of her thoughts and then nodding her head understanding Wuya. When Wuya left the room Jack came in and smiled at Kaiser.

"Hey, Wuya make your wounds feel better?" He asked, a little curious since he had never seen Wuya heal someone before. Kaiser looked to Jack as Wuya closed the door behind her when she left.

"Yeah, she healed what she could and the rest just cleaned and bandaged." She said simply looking away thinking "Shit, just fucking great. He saw a side of me I didn't want others seeing but I guess it's too late for that." Jack smiled kindly and sat in a chair next to her bed.

"This must be rough for you... I kinda feel bad that you have to go through it all." Jack sighed, giving her a sort of sad look. Kaiser looked to him as she petted Snowflake on the head confused at what he meant by the first part.

"What do you mean rough for me? And if you think I want your pity, you can keep it to yourself." Waiting for Jack to explain as Snowflake mewled happily being petted. Jack sighed.

"I mean your friend, Kari... I'm not giving you pity either, I'm, merely stating the obvious.. That and I was wondering... Maybe we could become friends, cuz it could be a little lonely here without someone to talk to... I mean, REALLY talk to... Listen I just wanted you to know I'm here for you, I'll listen no matter how stupid or dumb the topic... Aw geez, now I'm sounding like a sap!" Jack sighed in anger at himself for sounding the way he did, blushing in embarrassment.

Kaiser looked at him shocked, not expecting him to ask if they could be friends. Something inside her felt... Happy? Kaiser watched as he mumbled to himself and chuckled a bit. She looked to him before she spoke. "It kinda was rough fighting her, but I think it was going to happen sooner or later. I knew she'd never be able to stay here, I would of been the one to help her get out because I know how she truly is at heart. Um, I don't know if I'd be the greatest person to consider a friend, but I uh guess it'll be um... Alright..." Kaiser was getting a bit embarrassed because she didn't have the greatest people's skills as anyone could easily tell. Jack looked at her and smiled.

"Yay! Don't worry, you'll be fine. I just know it. Oh, I should go do my chores right now. I'll see you later Kaiser." Jack smiled like a dork in her direction and then walked out with a wave. Kaiser looked to Jack as she felt a troubled feeling and wanted to stop him before he left her room, but it was too late. Kaiser looked down to Snowflake as she moved to sit criss cross on the bed to groom and pet Snowflake. Jack peeked back in with a giggle. "Oh, before I forget. I'll see you in the morning, have a good sleep!" He then left the girl alone. Kaiser tried again to stop him from leaving her room, as her words got caught up in her throat.

"Why is it so difficult!" Kaiser slightly shouted at herself frustrated that she couldn't bring herself to thank him properly for obvious reasons. Snow laid on her owner's lap while watching Kaiser have a conflict within herself and try to keep her hot headed owner relaxed.

----- Xiaolin Temple -----

Kari rushed to her room immediately after Dojo landed, making eye contact with no one. When Master Fung saw this he quickly went to his other four students to see if something was wrong.

"What happened while you were away?" He asked them, glancing at all five of them. His gaze landed on Raimundo for answers. Raimundo was watching Kari as she rushed off to the direction of her room until a pair of eyes landed on him. He looked and saw that Master Fung was looking at him, wanting to hear what happen from him as Raimundo let out a sad sigh.

"When we found Apollo's Flute: Chase, Jack, Wuya, and Kaiser, the other dragon goes by that name, were there so we were fighting for the wu as Clay and Kari went for the it. Clay and Kari ended up getting into a Shen yu bu dare with Chase and Wuya, and Kari went into snapped stage 2 near the end because what I didn't know and the rest of us didn't know is that she told Clay to make fun of her height." Raimundo says taking a breather before continuing his explanation. "And Kari might of said a few things to Kaiser, after going into stage three, and pissed her off and when the showdown was over Kaiser snapped into stage two, but Kari couldn't fight because she didn't have any energy so Kaiser attacked me for the second time until she trapped me in an illusion until Kari was able to save me and snapped back into stage 2 again." Once again taking a deep breath looking to Fung to see his facial expression as he was talking.

"Then when Jack and the others disappeared while distracting Kari. I.... Maaaaaaay have gotten mad at Clay for picking on her, not knowing that Kari said to do it and I kinda punched him in a arm which is why Kari is really mad at me Master Fung." Raimundo hangs his head down feeling ashamed of himself for acting the way he did. Master Fung raised an eyebrow at Raimundo.

"You say she is mad at you? I was merely asking what happened, not why she was upset." Master Fung then sighed. "And you say she went into Alternate stage 3, correct?"

"Alternate stage what now?" Kimiko asked, a little confused. Master Fung sighed.

"It's another term for her snapped forms." He put simply. "Now then. I will talk with Kari in the morning when she is in stage one, she does not remember events like this when she is snapped. I'll get the details from her."

"That may be a problem for Kari has worn out her voice while shaming Raimundo most greatly." Omi stated and Kimiko giggled. Normally Raimundo would make a creative come back at Omi, but he was too lost in thought as he was having mixed emotions about today's events.

"I can loan her my PDA so she can "talk" with us in away so her voice can heal." She smiled at her solution. Clay nodded his head in agreement to Kimiko's idea as Raimundo gave a small nod of the head also in agreement to the fire dragon's idea. Dojo looked at each of the monks, they had an EXTREMELY long day, having to witness Kari snap into stage three and they all got to see a portion of what Kaiser was capable of doing.

"Alright everyone, go grab something to eat and go rest up!" Dojo said trying to lighten the mood. Raimundo wasn't feeling hungry so he turned and silently walked in the direction of his room for the night. Clay and Dojo watched as Raimundo just walked away silently acting very unlike how he normally acts everyday. Kimiko and Omi frowned and watched, feeling bad since he was the center of why Kari was feeling bad. They wanted to help, but they felt he should do this on their own. So Kimiko, Omi, Clay and Dojo all went to eat, get ready for bed and finally they went to sleep. Kari going back to normal since she skipped dinner as she slept, her stomach growling slightly.