Fifteen Hundred Years Ago

He'd beat me. He'd done it before and he'd do it again, with the difference being the outcome of this fight could save or destroy the world. Let me explain.

My name is Lin Zhang, and I am a Xiaolin Dragon…in training. I'm currently at the level of Wudai Warrior. However, I have a problem; my masters have…split up. You see a Heylin warrior by the name of Hannibal Roy Bean convinced one of my masters, Chase Young, to trade his soul for a potion that has turned him evil and now he has captured my other two masters, Grand Master Dashi and Master Monk Guan, leaving me and the other Xiaolin Dragons in training on our own. Well, not entirely on our own, we still have the temple dragon, Dojo, but he's not all that helpful. We had to do something, but no one knew what. So I did what I always did when I was confused about something, I studied. And in my studies, I learned that I could challenge Chase to a showdown and if I won Dashi and Monk Guan would go free…but if I lost, I'd join them in captivity, and since there was no way in hell I could beat Chase in a fight, he'd beaten me before and that was with the other monks by my side, I could never hope to do it alone. True, if I asked the other monks for help we might have a chance, but it'd be slim and I wasn't taking the risk of putting all of us under Chase's control. No, I'd need to try a different approach, but what?

Then it hit me, a trade. Maybe if I gave him some Shen Gong Wu he'd let them go! But which ones should I give him? And would I even be allowed to? I had to try; after all losing a few Wu had to be a better option than losing our masters.

XXXXXXXX

"Shen Gong Wu? I have no need for such trinkets," Chase sneered at me. I was standing in the throne room of Chase's citadel, which I have to admit was pretty amazing. Beautiful gardens and pretty fountains dotted the landscape of the entrance hall. The throne room was a bit darker, alcoves lined the walls, they appeared to be passages of some sort, though where they led was beyond me, and the room was lit entirely by torches which were placed slightly below Chase's throne, with made him look twice as scary. Next to the throne were Dashi and Monk Guan, both in chains. I looked in Chase's golden eyes, searching for any sign of the man I once knew, but all could see was evil. It seemed that my old master, as well as my friend, was gone.

"Though I admire your courage young one, you've decided to face me and at least attempt to fix things, which is more than your fellow monks have done," he continued, "So I'll tell you what, I'll let your masters go," I brightened, maybe he still had some good in him after all, "If," or not, "You swear your eternal loyalty to me."

Now I was confused. How could I be better than two of the greatest Xiaolin warriors of all time? My confusion must have shown on my face because he laughed.

"Confused? You shouldn't be. For the Dragons to pose any sort of threat they need a complete team, without you they will be severely limited in their actions," he said, "Of course, you don't stand much of a chance without your masters anyway, do you?"

"Don't do it Lin!" Shouted Guan, "Forget us, you shouldn't have to sacrifice yourself to save us."

I didn't know how to respond to that. Chase was right on both accounts, the team would be very limited without me, but with two amazing masters they would have a chance at overcoming those limits. And if I refused the Xiaolin ways would surely die off, and evil would rule the world with no opposition what so ever. But what Guan said….he clearly didn't want me to do it, but why? They were ten times more important than I was; they had to train the other monks so that the ways of the Xiaolin could be taught to future generations.

"You swear you'll let them go?" I asked. Chase smiled.

"You have my word," He said. Now I know what you're thinking, as an evil villain Chase's word should mean nothing, but the thing about Chase was that he had an honor code. He always kept his promises and his word was always good. I think it has something to do with his past as a Xiaolin monk, but I have no way of knowing for sure.

I sighed, I couldn't see any better options, "Then I swear my eternal loyalty to you."

Chase snapped his fingers and the chains around Dashi and Guan broke, at the same time I got smaller.

"Wha-"I looked down at my hands, which had turned into…paws? I fell over and turning my head I found out why. I was now a black panther, which explained why I fell trying to stand on two legs. I looked back at Chase.

"Didn't I mention, all the warriors who fall to me are turned into jungle cats," he said. Then I looked around the lair and noticed something I hadn't before, the cats.

There wasn't too many of them, only 20 actually give or take a few. But there was a rather large variety, tigers, lions, panthers, cheetahs, and all sorts of other jungle cats. They stayed hidden in the shadows of the alcoves, which is probably why I hadn't noticed before.

"Lin!" I turned to see Dashi and Monk Guan running towards me, "You'll pay for this Chase!" Guan shouted, "I challenge you-"I cut him off with a loud meow. He turned back to me and I tried to convey my best 'Go home! I didn't sacrifice myself so you could get re-captured!' look.

I guess he got the message, because he sighed, and though he didn't look happy about it, walked away.

"Thank-you Lin," Dashi said, "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten." Then he picked up the Wu I had dropped when I changed, and then followed Monk Guan out.

"Well Lin," Chase said, "Welcome to the Heylin side."