A/N: This story revolves around the Chase/Omi pairing and the Wuya/Raimundo pairing in the chapters to come. Therefore, this story contains underaged characters in implied adult situations. This story will also revolve around themes of abuse, coercion, and non-consensual sexual situations. It also contains child marriages and uncomfortable themes of the same cloth. Proceed knowing you've been warned.

Chapter 1: A Symbol of Peace

The bells were chiming.

Omi shot up from his mat.

The bells chimed once, twice, three times. Omi rushed to put on his robes.

There was a visitor at the gate. Not just any visitor.

Three chimes. An enemy with a symbol of peace.

Omi rushed down the corridors followed closely by Kimiko and Clay. The sounds of the other monks leaving their quarters accompanying their rumbling footsteps. He briefly wondered who this enemy was. They can never trust the symbol of peace if it was presented by Jack Spicer. The evil boy genius had been too untrustworthy in the past. A symbol of peace from him would come with many bad intentions.

Hannibal Bean was out of the question. The creature himself was a symbol of destruction.

Omi's steps faltered when he thought of the empty bedspace in the corner of the personal quarters.

The Heylin witch Wuya was also out of the question. She had made clear he stance with the Xiaolin temple when she whisked away one of the Dragon Warriors.

As he rounded the corner that lead to the main gates, he let himself wonder about the 'what ifs' if Wuya really was the one at the gates. He had forgotten the exact tone of voice Raimundo had spoken in.

It was a saddening thought.

Omi found himself skidding to halt when he saw the figure at the gate. He snapped out of his musings and he immediately felt his limbs move into a defensive stance. The chimes had said a symbol of peace. His muscle memory said enemy.

Omi chose not to pull back his stance. The enemy at the gate was cunning and Omi felt he couldn't stand to let his guard down one second. After all, muscle memory and instinct were usually hard to ignore.

Standing at the gate was the eternal Prince of Darkness himself. Two jungle cats flanked him, they rested on their paws, looking as innocent as domesticated cats only could. Omi knew from memory that the vicious jungle cats were anything but innocent.

"Young monk," Chase greeted, addressing only the Dragon of Water, slit eyes taking in the stance Omi had fallen into. He mentally calculated the moves that could be engaged with that particular stance. He found himself pleased that the stance had taken into consideration the fighting style he had used with when engaging Omi.

The child would be perfect.

"There is no need to be so tense, young one." Chase Young said, straightening his posture. "I brought a Symbol of Peace with me. I do not wish to engage in battle with you." The dragon held out his arm and all watched with wonder when an elegant fiery bird landed on his forearm. Omi's stance faltered when he realised exactly what bird it was.

To say a phoenix was a rare bird would be saying too little.

The phoenix was a prominent symbol for many things. A symbol of peace was one of them.

"I wish to speak with Master Fung." Chase said as he let the phoenix perch on his shoulder. He reached for something in his armour. Omi tensed, it was not uncommon for one to come in the name of peace with every intention to go against it.

The Dragon of Water forced himself to relax, his limbs going lax against his body. Chase Young was an honourable man, he would not oppose the peace he himself had presented.

But when he saw the scroll in the dragon's hand, Omi felt his limbs go rigid. And when he noticed Chase Young's crest on the head of the scroll, all the blood rushed from his face. He felt more than saw Master Fung walk past him toward the eternally young dragon. Master Fung bowed, receiving a nod in return from the ancient being.

"Let us discuss in private." Master Fung said, gesturing to the buildings. "I feel that it is in our best interests to have a clear understanding of your terms."

Chase Young nodded. "I believe so. I would very much like for you to be open to the terms I have come with." The dragon entered the grounds, his jungle cats stood watch outside the gates. He knew that their presence was unwelcome in the Xiaolin temple. However, he let the phoenix fly from his shoulder to circle the smallest monk.

Omi shook himself out of his stupor in time to see the phoenix flying into his small arms. His head snapped up and he caught the gaze of the Prince of Darkness. Chase Young smirked, eyeing the young monk one more time.

"You may keep her if she pleases you, little one." Chase said, taking pleasure in seeing Omi with a gift from himself. The young monk nodded shakily, silently thanking the man. He still shook even when the man's intense gaze had slid off him as he turned away. He was vaguely aware of the phoenix nuzzling against his cheek and of his friends approaching him from behind.

"Why do you think he's here?" Kimiko wondered, coming to a stop beside the still stunned monk. "What do you think was in that scroll?" She stroked the phoenix still in Omi's arms. The grand bird was content being in the small monk's arms.

"I reckon he's up to no good." Clay muttered, the boy was distrustful of anyone on the Heylin side. It only grew worse after what happened with Raimundo. "Once a snake, always a snake."

Kimiko smirked even though it didn't reach her eyes. "Don't you mean lizard?" she quipped, the phoenix was now nuzzling against her hand. It recognised their fiery elemental connection.

Omi swayed where he stood, alerting the others to his pale complexion. Their concerned faces soon filled his vision.

"What's the matter Omi?" Kimiko urged. Omi tried his best to swallow his fear.

Still his voice quavered. "The scroll," The boy stuttered. He took a deep breath before meeting his friends' eyes. "The scroll had his crest on it."

Kimiko gasped as Clay scratched his head in confusion.

"Pardon me for being slow and a little ignorant," Clay started, confusion still in his eyes hidden behind his hair. "But I can't quite grasp the significance of his crest. Why is it such a big deal?"

Kimiko turned to face Clay, answer just on the tip of her tongue before she was interrupted by Omi's shaking voice.

"It's a declaration of intent." His voice faded off into a whisper. The phoenix was suddenly very heavy in his arms.

Peace was not the only thing the phoenix was a symbol for. Omi felt dread pool in the pit of his stomach.

He's lost so much after a similar, less formal declaration had been made. He lost a good friend, a fellow Dragon, and a member of his new self-made family.

He hoped he won't lose much more in the following days to come.

A/N: The subject of The Symbol of Peace and Declaration of Intent are works of the writer's imagination. If the names and functions of said items resemble rituals still practiced or still held in memory, it is only mere coincidence.

If you find anything in this story offensive and if it in my power to correct it, kindly tell me. Thank you for your time.