Here is my new story "Princess Jackie" This is completed on my deviantART page in which the link is on my profile here. Eventually I will be updating/replacing those chapters with these new edited ones. This is an alternate universe piece where the only canon characters of the Xiaolin Showdown world are Jack Spicer and Chase Young.

Oh and warning this contains a lemon at the end between two guys, so if you don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown and any characters.

The Meeting at the Masquerade Ball

Jack Spicer hated his life. He hated it so much that his parents couldn't even understand. Unfortunately, his parents were the reason for him despising his life. Jack was a prince, or he had been before his parents decided that Jack's abnormal coloring wasn't fit for a prince. So they had Jack dress and act as a girl. For years the citizens of Ireland had known Jack as "Princess Jackie". It was revolting that his parents would stoop so low as to turn their son into a daughter and have since forgotten Jack's true gender.

Jack hated going to the gatherings of nobles. He was certainly not a people person. Jack also didn't like the women who always hung around him, trying to be his friend. He was gay, so it would seem that he was straight as a girl, but they didn't know he was a boy. Unfortunately, Jack didn't find any interest in the male nobles and princes who came to the palace either. They were all the same: shallow, arrogant, egotistical and players. Most days Jack invented robots and other inventions to keep himself occupied, distracting him from whatever daily horror he had done earlier as a girl.

The one-day Jack dreaded most was his eighteenth birthday. That was the prime age for the prince or princess to be courted and married. As tradition his parents announced a grand masquerade ball on his behalf and began preparing for the occasion. The king invited the entire country to attend, along with any visiting travelers. Another tradition involved Jack dancing with all the eligible men, but he knew that none of them would really matter. Jack began to create his mask since the ones his family chose weren't really his style. The colors he picked for his gown were black and red. That was really all he could do about it, his parents chose the style.

Like any prince or princess, Jack wished to fall in love and marry that someone special. Jack was a boy and gay, which meant he would be searching the eligible men in the kingdom and any visiting male who attended the ball. However because everyone believed him to be a woman, things would get messy in the end. After all, the people of the kingdom would never accept that for eighteen years their princess was actually a prince. And the man he chose wouldn't expect or accept it.

Jack only wished to be himself wherever he was. He wanted people to know that he was a boy with unique features that was just as normal as anyone with normal pigmentation. Why couldn't a man be exotic? Jack certainly thought he was. A few years ago he vehemently denied it, but now that he grew into his features, he loved how his skin contrasted with his hair and eyes. Skin as white as snow behind blood red locks. He hoped that someone would see through the lie he'd been living and take him away from the life he never wanted to be himself.

Chase Young was a travelling warrior. He was born and raised in China and well educated. He never stayed in one place too long because he hated a monotonous life. The traveller searched for excitement and adventure. As a traveller, he searched for work wherever he stayed. Only a few days ago he had been in France and had killed an assassin on behalf of the French King.

Now Chase arrived in Ireland. It was a beautiful country and the food and drink proved to be excellent. Chase told himself that staying in a country such as Ireland would not be such a bad idea. However he was a loner, and the idea of settling down without a companion didn't sit right with him.

Chase was eating dinner at the restaurant near the inn he was staying at when he heard the announcement of the princess's masquerade ball that was to celebrate her eighteenth birthday. All visitors were invited as well. Chase hadn't met the royal family of Ireland since his arrival and this would be a perfect opportunity. He also wished to meet this princess. Chase paid for his meal and went back to his room at the inn and thought of a proper outfit for such an affair. Chase also needed to find a mask that best represented himself. The ball was at the end of the week and it was said that this would be when the princess looked for a suitor. Chase doubted that the princess would marry a foreigner of non-royal lineage, but Chase wouldn't let that deter him from properly introducing himself to the princess.

The next day Chase went to Ireland's finest tailor and was fitted in an outfit that represented his Chinese lineage. He had been fitted into a black silk tunic with a green dragon embroidered along the body. Black silk pants and slippers were made just for him as well. There were no rules against representing one's country and Chase felt silly wearing a suit or god forbid one of those ruffled robes. The tunic showed off his well-toned musculature, and made movement easy for him. Chase paid for the clothes and thanked the tailor as he went into a mask shop. He found a black mask with jade stones set in it. Chase was prepared for the ball and was anxious to meet the princess at the ball the following night.

Jack finished making his mask. He made it of black titanium and small chipped rubies were set on the edges. Jack liked the way his mask looked and believed that it showed a bit of his personality. He expected many masks to be crafted of silver and gold, or cloth, or plaster covered in cloth. Jack wanted to get the ball done and over with, feeling that he wasn't going to fall in love.

The night of the masquerade ball came quickly and Jack was dressed in his ball gown and his hair was set in ringlets down his shoulders. It was still fairly short for a girl, but it was about as long as most men ever let their hair grow, or so he thought. Jack pulled his mask over his eyes and looked into the mirror.

"Here goes nothing," Jack muttered as he went to the grand ball room.

Jack hadn't expected so many people to show up at the masquerade ball. The prince knew that most of the royals from around the world and a majority of the rich living in Ireland would be present, but many of the commoners attended as well. He was afraid of this. Jack glided his way through people wanting no one to know that he was the princess, as he had to dance with all the eligible men. As people mingled and danced the crowd swept the young prince up and he made contact with a strong body.

"You should be more careful your majesty. One can get lost in the crowd," Chase said as he helped Jack stand and moved the young prince out of the crowd. Jack blushed and looked up at his savior.

"Thank you sir," Jack said. Jack looked up and down at the man and was intrigued by his outfit. Then he noticed his hair. It was long, black, with a green tinge when the light hit it just right. Jack had never thought a man could pull off hair like that. "You aren't from here are you?"

Chase smiled. "No, I'm a travelling warrior," Chase said. He noticed how white the princess's skin was, and the color of his hair and eyes that were just barely hidden behind his mask were blood red. He found the unique coloring exotic, and beautiful. "I just happened to be in your country and decided to take this chance to meet you and maybe request the honor of a dance." Chase held out his hand with a smile.

Jack smiled softly. "I'd love to grant you that honor," Jack said as he took Chase's hand and the two waltzed around the room with the other guests. Jack never thought he would avoid his boredom. With this mysterious foreigner, he felt he could be himself. He felt that he wouldn't be judged.

After a few minutes of dancing, Chase and Jack went out to the gardens that surrounded the palace. Jack couldn't help but look up at his date and just stare into his gold eyes. Likewise, Chase couldn't tear away from the red orbs of the princess. However, Chase noticed something about the princess. She had the aura of a male. The princess did not squeal or giggle while they danced. She just looked up at him smiling.

"Pardon my intrusion, your majesty, I couldn't help but notice that you seemed relieved to have caught my attention," Chase said. Jack looked to Chase and smiled.

"Please, call me Jackie. Well I was," Jack said. "I mean...I didn't want to have this ball. But it's tradition." Jack sighed and looked to Chase. "And besides why should my people attempt at courting me, when all they've known is a lie."

Princess Jackie's statement stunned Chase. The royal family lied to their people? About what? Why would they lie? Chase was now further curious as to what lie the Irish had been living in regards to the royal family.

"Have you ever felt that all you ever wanted in life was to be yourself?" Jack asked. "No one telling you who you are or who to become. Like you have the choice to live your life the way you want it?"

"I wouldn't know," Chase said almost sympathetically. "I've always known who I was. I've always been what I wanted to be and I've lived life by my rules." Chase looked to Princess Jackie's eyes and saw sadness.

"Well...that's how I feel. I've never been myself for anyone. No one lets me be myself," Jack said. He was opening up to a complete stranger that he had only met moments ago, yet he felt safe with him. "By the way, what's your name?"

"It's Chase," Chase said taking Jack's hand and kissing the back of it. "Pr...Jackie. I know we've only met, but I can't help but be intrigued by you. It's like because I'm not one of your subjects, you have opened up to me. And I have received the privilege of getting to know a bit about the real you."

Jack smiled before kissing Chase softly on the lips. "Thank you Chase. For everything. Now I can actually go fulfill my princess duties and dance with all the other eligible young men who may attempt at courting me. You are welcome back here anytime. I'd like to talk with you more," Jack said before returning to the dance floor and dancing with the other men who were present.

Chase touched his fingers to his lips where Jackie had left a kiss. Chase needed to know more about Jackie. What secrets she was hiding, and why she couldn't be herself around her own people. Chase vowed that he would uncover the princess's secrets and find out her true identity before leaving this country. He wasn't sure what he felt for the young princess, but he wouldn't leave until he was sure of what it was.

Jack had gone to his masquerade ball, believing to be bored. His mysterious companion Chase proved him wrong. Jack hoped that Chase would visit him during his stay in Ireland. He wanted to know Chase more. Sure neither of them took off their masks, but it wouldn't matter too much. They knew each other's names and that's all they needed.

Both men hoped to meet again soon and uncover each other's secrets and understand the chemistry between them.