Yet Another Chacky Faerie Tale.
By: Jeannie Beta: Kanna 2450, thank you so much
Rate: PG 13 for sexuality and possible violent content.
Summery: When Jack travels to the Evil Kingdom TM, he winds up biting off a little more than he can chew.
Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown, nor do I own the original fairy tale. This plot was derived from "The Princess in the Chest" by Andrew Lang, Pink Fairy Book, ….
Notes: Any comments/ criticism would be welcome. Flames however, will be lampooned and laughed at. Also I did deviate a bit from the original story a bit but I wanted to fit the characters in better.

"Once upon a time there was a Xiaolin Temple that fought off evil from the land; However, one day three of the warriors of darkness, the monks together had defeated many times, teamed up and together overthrew it. Then they created a new land of evil and called it the Heylin Empire. The shell of the old temple became the castle of this evil kingdom. These three would have spread evil all over the globe if inner fighting hadn't't divided them.

I can't tell you what the argument that broke up their team was about, all I know was whatever it was turned one against his two teammates. Now the other two were no less evil than their former ally and sealed him into the very temple that they had taken from their enemies. They then declared the place cursed and placed a death sentence on anyone who dares to trespass there. The people in the towns surrounding where the temple once stood are afraid to go near it, but still …"

The storyteller broke off and leaned lazily against what once upon a time had been a signpost, but its signs had long ago fallen off leaving only a half-rotted pole. He was a tall, slender man whose face was obscured by the straw hat on top of his head. His garb suggested that he was yet another of the many travelers that wandered the land looking for work or safety from the darkness that covered the world.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." A youth with red hair, similar colored eyes and pale almost ghostly-like skin interrupted the storyteller impatiently. 'Just ask a guy for directions, he gives you a whole boring history…" he thought, irritated. "Now are you going to tell me the way to the capital or are you going to bore me to death?" Jack Spicer, up and coming boy genius, asked.

"Calm down there, now, I just thought you'd like to know what you are getting into." Jack scoffed at the storyteller impatiently only to receive a good-natured laugh in return.

Jack had immediately disregarded the older man after one glance at his shabby blue tunic, threadbare trousers, shabby slippers and frayed straw hat as no one of importance, even the spear he held in hands was broken and adorned with frayed tatters of bright orange cloth. Jack was unaware that a similar judgment had been rendered upon him as well biased upon the youth's garb and demeanor

His tunic and leggings were costly looking and died a dark black, upon his feet he wore 

cumbersome boots with large copper circles about the heel and just below the knee and shredded cloak that looked like once long ago was black but was now colored an uninspired dark gray hung over his shoulders. The dagger at his side was far to ornamental to be of any practical use and his walking staff looked like one good blow would be the end of it. The storyteller was mildly surprised that the boy hadn't been robbed and killed as of yet for it was apparent that the youth wasn't't from around here.

"More like slow up my chances making it into the big evil league." Jack countered hotly and spun on his heel from the storyteller and began contemplating the paths before him. "I'll find my way there without your help."

"Says the boy going back the way he came." The storyteller said, amusement evident in his voice. Jack flushed and quickly strode past him to examine the roads before him only to yelp when he felt a hand fall upon his shoulder.

"That's the way you want." He heard the stranger from behind and looked as the stranger pointed to the path on the left of Jack.

"I knew that, I was just trying to fool you so you wouldn't follow me. I want to go to the Heylin Capital as soon as possible, so I don't have time to kick your sorry hide." Jack said as he strode down the indicated path.

With a wide grin the stranger, better known as Grand Master Dashi, watched as Jack headed towards his destiny. Once the redhead was out of sight, the wanderer jostled his tunic and out slithered a green, snakelike dragon.

"Dojo, I need you to send a message to the others." He said cheerfully. "I have a plan to get the temple back."

Hannibal Roy Bean paced nervously across the floor as he waited for his servant to return. It had been three days since Wuya had disappeared and the Heylin Mastermind wasn't sure how long the spell would last without it's caster, it didn't help that suitable candidates for sacrifices had been hard to find.

Hannibal knew that one day, Wuya would betray him but he hadn't quite found the countermeasure to take care of her yet, so it was in his best interest to see that they remain allies for the moment. The kingdom was on the verge of collapse, famine threatened the land, and to top it off he'd been forced to kidnapping people at random to keep Chase Young sated in the temple, causing the peasants to mutter treacherously in the dark.

If the rabble were uneasy now, Hannibal could only imagine what they would be like when a dragon roamed the land scouring the kingdom to appease it's unending hunger for human flesh and blood. Pleasant as the thought was, the reality was that it'd leave Hannibal with an empty 

kingdom and a formidable enemy on his tail.

"Curse that vain witch." Hannibal muttered darkly as he prepared to send out his servants to bring him the most easily obtained subject they could find. Before he could issue the order however, the doors to the throne room burst open and in lumbered the massive form of his Cyclops minion, a strange pale redheaded youth dangling from his right hand.

"I said I can walk by myself, thank you very much!" Jack shouted as he struggled to get free. Suddenly, he was dropped onto the floor in an undignified heap. With a surge of energy, Hannibal quickly leaped into the intimidating suit of armor that he wore around company completely unnoticed by his surprise guest.

"Well, well, what do we have here." Hannibal said with a sinister chuckle. Immediately the strange youth fell to his knees in front of him.

"Mr. Hannibal Roy Bean, sir?" The redhead simpered. "Word of your work and kingdom have spread far and wide, I am a huge admirer of your work. My name's Jack Spicer, evil boy genius. I've come to, hopefully, be your apprentice. I hope to one day be nearly as evil as you are, sir."

A sadistic grin all teeth and malice spread across Hannibal's face as he beheld the form at his feet.
"Alright boy, I'll tell you what. I'm going to give you a little test and if you pass it, I will consider making you my apprentice." Hannibal said, laughing in his head at how easy it would be to lead this fool to his end.

"R-really?" Jack asked in disbelief. He had no idea his assent into the evil hierarchy would be this easy.

"Sure thing. Come look out this window." Hannibal said in a velvety tone. Jack eagerly complied, slightly afraid that the other was going to push him to his death. The window looked out into a small valley, in which Jack could make out a large ruined series of buildings in the style of this land, surrounded by a stone wall. "That there is the old Xiaolin Temple, all you have to do is spend the night in there and in the morning we'll discuss your apprenticeship…"

TBC