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REBORN The New Apprentice

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Fanfiction: Xiaolin Showdown © Christy Hui
Chapter 3: The New Apprentice
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A girl stepped out from the doorway and into the courtyard.  The girl had her dark brown hair back in a single braid, a pair of sunglasses on, and wore Xiaolin Apprentice’s robes.  In her right hand was her walking stick.  In other words, it was Selia Maha, to the surprise of Clay.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet-” Began Master Fung, but was cut off with-

“Selia!” Clay said, honestly surprised.  “I didn’ know you were gonna be comin’ here!”

“Is that Clay?” Selia smiled, recognizing the voice.  She put her left hand out to find him.

“Yeah it is, Miss,” Clay answered, gently taking the hand that was searching for him.

During this time, Raimundo, Kimiko, and Omi were stunned silent.  They couldn’t believe that Clay’s story held water, let alone that the girl who gave him the Emerald Phoenix would be the newest edition to the temple.

“Ev’ryone, this is Selia Maha, the one who had th’ Emerald Phoenix,” Clay stated as he helped guide Selia to where the others were.  Master Fung stood where he was and smiled, letting Clay take the reins in the introductions.

“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Selia said with a smile, letting go of Clay’s helping hand she reached out to the monk in front of her, which happened to be Raimundo.

“The name’s Raimundo and I am the Dragon of the Wind!” Rai introduced himself, shaking her hand.

“Raimundo.  Got it,” Selia said.

“I’m Kimiko Tohomiko, Dragon of Fire,” Kimiko was next to shake Selia’s hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kimiko,” Selia said with a smile and a nod.

“And I am Omi, Dragon of Water!  I am the most powerful of the four dragons!” Omi proudly boasted.

“Omi, is it?” Selia checked with him.  “I’ll do my best to remember that,”

“Welcome to th’ group,” Clay said with a traditional Southern welcoming.  “So, what brings you to the Xiaolin Temple?”

“Master Fung contacted my grandpa and asked if I was interested in becoming a Xiaolin Dragon,” Selia beamed happily.  “My grandfather use to attend here in his younger days.” She explained.

“Really?  That is most interesting!” Piped in Omi.

“Yes, your grandfather, Cecil Maha, was one of my most accomplished monks.  It was a sad day when he left us…” said Master Fung, bringing himself back into the conversation as he recounted this to the young monks.

“Why did he leave?” Raimundo asked of Master Fung.

“That’s a story for another day, Raimundo.  For now, let us show Selia around and get her acquainted with the Xiaolin Temple,” was the Master’s reply, brushing aside the matter concerning Selia’s grandfather.

“Yes sir, Master Fung, sir,” Clay replied obediently, as Master Fung left.

“So, is it true that you are blind?” Omi asked the moment he could.

“Omi!  Don’t be so rude!” Kimiko glared at him.  “Sorry, Selia is it?.  Omi’s just not one to think before he speaks,”

“It’s all right, Kimiko,” Selia reassured her with a laugh.  “To answer your question Omi, yes, I am,” She removed her sunglasses with her left hand, revealing her sapphire-blues eyes, her pupils clouded over being the cause of her blindness.  “It’s a hereditary disease, unfortunately.  My Dad didn’t get it from Grandpa, but I was the lucky one who was affected by it when I was 8,” She explained, about to slide the sunglasses back on.

“You don’ have to keep ‘em on if’n you don’ want to, Selia,” Clay told her, noticing what she was doing.

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry about us being bothered by your eyes,” Raimundo quickly added in.

“In fact, your eyes look most interesting, and as Raimundo would say, ‘cold!’” Omi piped in.  Raimundo just rolled his eyes and muttered something about Omi and his inability to speak.

With a smile, Selia quietly put the sunglasses away.  “Thanks, everyone.  I appreciate your kindness,” She gave a bow to the others.

“Ain’t nothin’ to it, Selia,” Was Clay’s modest reply.

“C’mon, we’ll give you a tour of the temple!” Kimiko grabbed Selia’s hand, and the tour began.
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After several funny incidents and a few band-aids later, the crew completed the tour and settled down for lunch.  As the dragons continued through their meal, the conversation at the table was livelier than ever before.  Since the foursome usually didn’t discuss much while eating their meals together, that usually being accomplished while training, it was a nice change.  The group took turns swapping stories about past missions, and asking Selia more about herself.  When lunch was finished, everyone was ready to get back to training.  As the Dragons were ready to head out, Selia stayed behind, noticing the clinking of dishes in the sink meaning that they were only being piled up in the sink for later cleaning.  She picked up her dishes and was about to find her way to the sink when someone gently took the dishes from her.

“Le’ me get that for ya, Selia,” Came Clay’s voice.  He was also carrying Kimiko’s dishes back to the sink, habitually practicing the good manners taught to him by his dad growing up.

“Thanks, Clay.  Question: Do you always leave the dishes for later?” She asked, curious, as she rested her walking stick against the side of the counter.

“Yeah, I don’ see why we’d do otherwise,” Clay analyzed, setting the dishes in the sink.  “It’s jus’ what we’ve always done ‘round here,”

“Well, maybe we can change that starting today,” Selia offered, feeling her way down along the cabinet under the sink and opening a cabinet door.  “Is the dish soap down here?”

“Selia, you meanin’ to clean th’ dishes now?” Clay asked, kneeling down.  “Th’ soap’s right here,” He showed her where it was by placing her hand on it.

“Thank you, and yes, I’m meaning to,” She said, standing back up and closing the cabinet door.  “It just makes cleaning the dishes harder later on in the day,” She stated matter-of-factly, rolling up her sleeves.

“Good point.  But it’s your first day here, and you should just be enjoyin’ yerself before gettin’ int’ the chores we normally do ‘round here.” He reminded her, watching as she prepared the sink to wash dishes in, stopping himself from helping her unless she asked for it.

“As Grandpa likes to quote: don’t put off for tomorrow what you can get done today,” was her reply as she began to do the dishes.  “Mind rinsing and drying these, Clay?”

“Oh!  Sure, no prob’lim,” Clay grabbed a towel and threw it over his shoulder so it’d be in easy grabbing distance.  He then rinsed, dried, and put away the dishes.  “Mind if I ask about yer gran’pa?” He asked, testing the waters of conversation.

“I’m guessing you’re curious about why he stopped being a Xiaolin Warrior?” Selia said with a knowing smile.

“Yeah!” Clay replied eagerly.  “Why’d he leave?”

“For love.”

Clay was caught by surprise, thinking it would be something totally different.

“Love?”

“Yep,” Selia grabbed some more dishes from the counter.  “By that time Grandpa was already blind.  He lost his sight when he was around fourteen, and left the temple in his late twenties.  One day, while doing his chores, a woman came by the temple on official business, seeking assistance to help safely transport needed supplies to the temple. Grandpa swore that he heard an angel’s voice that day,” She laughed at saying this.  “After that encounter, she came back not too long after to finish the delivery.  Grandpa then asked for her name, and it went from there.  Knowing the monk code, Grandpa knew what he had to do if he wanted to live with this woman for the rest of his days.  So, after thinking about this for well over a year, Grandpa told Master Fung that he was leaving and was gone the next day.”

“Then what?” Clay persisted, wanting to know the ending.

“Grandma and Grandpa married and had Dad and my aunts and uncles.  Unfortunately, Grandma died a few years back, but at least I still have Grandpa!” the girl said with a big grin.  She finished with the last dish and set it in Clay’s side of the sink.

“I’m sorry t’ hear that,” The cowboy said quietly as he put away the last dish and hung the towel he’d been using on a hook to dry.

“Don’t be.  She’s in a better place,” Selia finished cleaning out the sink and wiped her hands dry on her robes before rolling her sleeves back down.  “Besides, we should be looking towards a brighter future, not the darker past,”

Clay chuckled.  “Yer beginnin’ t’ sound like Master Fung!”

She laughed.  “Yeah, Grandpa warned me not to be much like Master Fung with his ‘insightful quips.’” She shrugged.  “Oh well.  Guess it’s too late for that, huh?”  With that said Selia picked up her walking stick and worked her way towards the exit to the training grounds, the sounds of the others training audible.  “Let’s go join the others!”

“Comin’!” Clay called back, quickly catching up with her.  The cowboy now looked at life a little bit differently, and at Selia in a new light.
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OOC: And that, ladies and gents, was Chapter 3.  Got around to introducing Selia properly this chapter.  And, for the curious-minded, I hope that Cecil’s story of leaving the temple was satisfactory enough.  Anyone wanna take a guess at the meaning of Selia’s name?

Questions, comments, criticism, and reviews are welcome. Heck, flames are fun, too!
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And here is chapter 3 for your enjoyment.

Please leave comments/reviews here.


Ciao for now,
Maru
© 2009 - 2024 Maruki
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