This is an idea I've been entertaining for a while. I watch the episodes 'Dangerous Minds', 'Something Jermaine' and 'Saving Omi' and think 'Gee, what would it be like if Chase had, not an apprentice, but a partner, someone who's been with him a while, knows him, but has a better sense of humor than he does?' So, here this is. If this turns into a romance story, blame me, not my character. I have a penchant for writing those. : ) Oh, and if it seems disjointed it's because I've been writing this on my Mom's computer after my Laptop went out. Major bummer.

Disclaimer: I own Rowan, her equipment, Master Aiello, Marcus and Dierdre Rais. Everything else belongs to Christy Hui

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"You have been given orders to kill Chase Young, young Dragon of Fire." Master Monk Aiello told his young student. The young woman nodded and bowed to her master of most of her life. She walked out, heading for her quarters to retrieve her Wudai Weapons. Aiello sighed. He knew the fate of his young student and he mourned for her. But the Xiaolin side was afraid of having another Chase Young and it was a risk they could not afford to take.

"She will not suffer. Chase Young with not kill her painfully." a deep voice said behind the old master. Aiello turned and bowed to the older monk.

"I defer to your judgement, Master Monk Guan." the old man said and left the room, sadness emanating from him. Guan walked to the window and watched the young dragon take off, heading for the lair of Chase Young. Guan sighed, hoping he was doing the right thing. Finally, when she was out of sight, Guan walked away, tears streaming silently down his face.

---------------------Chase Young's Castle----------------

The young woman knew that slipping in would get her no where. If her information was correct, he had thousands of cats and all of them bound to be loyal to him for eternity, or until their deaths. So, the direct approach it was. She studied the stone door for moment and her sharp eyes caught the cuts for a block of stone that would open the door. She pressed the button and moved back to avoid being crushed. She stepped forward carefully, stepping up onto the slab and walking in confidently. The door closed behind her and she suppressed the surge of nervousness that came as the door slid home.

"Who are you?" a deep voice asked, sending shivers up and down her spine.

"My name is Rowan Marks, Dragon of Fire." she said, pulling her Dao sword from the sheath strapped to her back. The Dragon's Eye Ruby set in the bracelet on her sword arm glowed with fire as it reacted to her slight fear. The sight reassured her and she felt a little better about this. Even if she died, she'd go...down...fighting...

"Son of a bitch. They set me up, didn't they?" she asked herself, rather than the man standing infront of her, hidden in shadows.

"Indeed. They knew I would kill anyone who was sent to kill me, so they sent the woman who had the greatest chance to become what I am. A demon lord and traitor to the Xiaolin side.

You are smarter than they give you credit for however." Chase said, smirking as Rowan sheathed her sword, crossed her arms and stared at him. He could sense her doubt of her masters and decided to exploit it.

"So you say, perhaps we both are wrong." she said. Chase smirked again. Guan, my old friend, you are too smart for your own good, Chase thought, You never thought that she would figure it out. Why, I wonder. Because she is woman? Or because she is like me, foolish, young and talented. You have delivered the perfect weapon into my hands, Guan, and I intend to use it to its fullest potential.

"I don't think so. And I don't believe that you think so either." Chase said. Now he was standing infront of her, golden eyes blazing and his body heat mingling with hers. Rowan backed away from him and pulled her sword.

"Don't." she said, pointing the sword tip at his chest. Chase felt the heat emanating from the tip and decided not to press his luck in that particular direction.

"Then consider their training of late. Have they been as open with new powers and new moves? Or have they been holding back on you?" Chase said, circling her, while staying out of reach of her sword. Sheathing it once again, Rowan considered him and his words. They had been reluctant to teach her new moves and she had been training herself for the past five months. "They have been holding back, haven't they? You've had to study harder, train harder. Teach yourself new moves in the darkness of moonless nights and in the brillance of a quarter, half and full moon, haven't you?" Chase said, approaching her now more confidently as she had sheathed her sword, powering her bracelet down. He came closer to her, letting the heat of his body seep into hers and give him more control over the current situation.

"Don't think that you control all." Rowan whispered. Chase smirked.

"I think you know that I am correct. Is your master not more withdrawn from you, where he was once so warm, comforting and encouraging?" Chase said, coming to stand in front of her, so close she could see the flakes of black in his gold eyes.

"My master Aiello is a good man. I believe that he did not want me to do this, but I must do what I am told." Rowan said, crossing her arms once again and coolly staring Chase in the eyes.

"Do you honestly believe that?" Chase asked, genuinely puzzled. Rowan laughed and pushed her way past him, turning and facing him again.

"I do. My master would never send into a situation he didn't believe I couldn't walk away from." Rowan said confidently. Chase pursed his lips, standing with his back to her, thinking.

"Then come with me and I will show you something." he said suddenly, turning and looking at her doubtful face. "Do not fear, unless you make a move to kill me first, I will do no harm to you." he said. Strangely enough, Rowan believed him. She walked alongside him and kept an eye on him, just in case.

"There is no need to be suspicious." Chase said in amusment as she stopped and looked cautiously inside the room before entering. In truth, she was admiring his handiwork on his palace.

"Not being suspicious, I'm admiring your home. It's quite beautiful." she said, walking in and looking upwards at the image projection above them. Chase smiled slightly. He was always pleased to get compliments on his home. It was one of the few vanities he allowed himself.

"I try. Perhaps I'll show you the bedrooms later." he said pleasently, smiling suggestively at her.

"Perhaps I'll cut your balls off." she said just as pleasently. Chase pursed his lips momentarily.

"Moving along," he said, missing her moment of silent laughter. "Here, a discussion of what your future is." Chase said, activating the spy eye.

"She is too dangerous. She must not be allowed to live." Master Monk Guan said, stepping into the light of the lamps.

"She is young, if we keep a close eye on her, there is no way she will be able to turn like Chase Young." Aiello said, defending his student.

"We kept a close eye Chase Young and he still became evil!! What are we to do? Sit on her to keep her from becoming him?" Guan growled, startling the old monk. "No, she must face Chase Young and she must die!!!" Guan snapped harshly and the older monk bowed, giving in.

"That bastard..." Rowan muttered, sitting heavily on a chair Chase created for her. Chase could sympathize. Even if it hadn't been a trick by Hannibal Roy Bean, Chase knew the betrayal that she was feeling.

"Is this a trick?" she asked suddenly, staring up at him with a combination of anger and hope. He shook his head. Rowan sighed and lowered her head. "I suppose that was a stupid question. Well, I never did like Guan." she said, sitting back and shrugging. Chase smirked, now was the time to strike.

"You could get revenge." Chase said, kneeling in front of her, so he could meet her eyes. "He doesn't have to win. You could strike back and win." he said. Rowan lifted her head and stared at him.

"You mean joining the Heylin side. No." she said, standing up, knocking the chair away and backed away, pulling her sword. "I'll finish the mission I was given, even if it means my death." Rowan said, her sword glowing with a fire that made Chase take a step back.

"So, you wish to die, just because Guan told you to?" Chase asked, pulling out his staff.

"Because my master told me to." Rowan replied, twirling her sword once, twice, three times and then sliced through a pillar, tears streaming from her eyes. As obscenties flew through the air, she fell to her knees and eventually fell silent. Her shoulders stopped shaking and she buried her sword into the marble.

"That son of a bitch." she said, her voice hitching as she sobbed again. After a few moments, she stood up, eyes still red, but clear. She pulled her sword from the marble and the Dragon's Eye Ruby in her bracelet glowed with a fire born of fury.

"How?" she snarled and Chase didn't have to ask what she meant.

"Swear your eternal loyalty to me." Chase said, resting his staff on the floor.

"I'll not be drinking that soup of yours." she added, sheathing her sword.

"I would not ask you to." he said and transformed. To her credit, Rowan didn't step back as he approached.

"Do I not frighten you?" Chase asked, baring sharp teeth. Rowan yawned in his face. Chase chuckled as he transformed back into his human form.

"Then make your vow." he said. Rowan bowed once and made her vow looking him straight in the eye and for a moment, Chase wondered if he had made a mistake.

"I pledge my loyalty to Chase Young as his partner for eternity." she said. Chase blinked.

"Did I miss something? I thought I just heard you say that you swear your eternal loyalty to me as my...Partner." he said. Rowan grinned impishly at him.

"No, you just weren't specific enough." she said. Chase stared at her, wondering whether to be consumed by anger, confusion or mirth. He settled on resignment.

"Fine, just lets get something straight. You do as I say, follow my lead and defer to my judgement. And in return you're my second-in-command, immortal and you can command the cats only in my absence." Chase said, his voice holding a dangerous tone that would make most people shiver and agree. Rowan merely smiled at him.

"That will do nicely. For about a hundred years." she added and skipped out of his reach as he made a half-hearted grab for her.

"I made a mistake, bringing you to the Heylin side, didn't I?" Chase asked as they left for Rowan's old temple.

"No. But if you'd paid more attention, you wouldn't be having this problem." Rowan grinned again. Chase sighed.

----------------------------------The Temple-------------------------

"You-you destroyed...Chase Young?" Guan asked weakly as Rowan walked into the temple. She and Chase had spattered a bit of red coloring on her clothing to make it appear like blood. He'd assured her it came out, but if it didn't, Chase might find himself dethroned.

"Easily." she said, looking him straight in the eyes. Aiello could see she was lying.

"Young lady, what have I taught you about lying to your superiors?" he demanded. Rowan laughed bitterly.

"Appearently what you taught yourself about loyalty." she snapped and a throwing dagger landed in his heart. Aiello crumpled to the ground and lay dead at Guan's feet.

"You have joined Chase Young." Guan said mildly, scanning the shadows. Chase stepped into the late afternoon light coming from the setting sun.

"As my...Partner." he snarled the word and Rowan grinned.

"He wasn't specific enough." she added at Guan's confused look. Chase rolled his eyes and waved his hand at her.

"Use the cats and continue the destruction of your ties to the Xiaolin Side. My fight is with my old friend." Chase said, smiling sadistically. Rowan bowed her head and an army of tigers, panthers and leopards appeared. Rowan pulled her sword and sent a wave of flames at the building, lighting them up. The screams that echoed through the grounds brought an equally sadistic smile to Rowan's face. Guan turned to Chase with a snarl and attacked. Chase laughed as he dodged the attack.

"How dare you turn a warrior of the Xiaolin side to your twisted ways!" Guan snarled. Chase shook his head, eyes never leaving the brown eyes of his opponent.

"How dare you try to kill a young warrior, so full of talent, so full of power, just because that warrior could end up like me. How far the mighty have fallen." Chase taunted sadly. Guan snarled again and ran forward, dodging Chase's block and landing a hit to the back of the knee. Chase growled as his knee buckled. Rolling to the side, the Heylin Prince back flipped to his feet and waited for Guan to charge again. But this time, he was ready for something like this. Calling on long dormant powers of his chosen element, Chase brought a surge of water from a nearby fountain and changed the footing under Guan to mud. Slipping, the Tai Chi master found himself on his back with Chase Young bringing his double-bladed staff down towards his throat. Guan gave a strangled cry and rolled away, making Chase miss and burying his staff into the ground. Swearing furiously, Chase pulled on his staff, doing his best to release it before Guan retalieated. Too late, Chase saw the foot swinging his way. He recieved a mouthful of sandal and went flying backwards.

"This dirty fighting suits you, Guan." Chase panted, getting to his feet and wiping away the blood from his nose.

"No better than it suits you." Guan replied, rolling his shoulder to get rid of some ache.

"True." Chase conceded and dashed around behind Guan and swept his legs from under him, forcing him to fall on his back and knocking the breath from his opponent.

--------------------------------Rowan, other side of the complex--------------------

"Mistress, what do we do with the survivors?" a panther asked, rubbing his head against Rowan's hand. She absently rubbed his head and the panther purred with pleasure.

"Kill them and bring the dragon alive. Chase will need one for his soup." she said, recalling the legend that her former master had showed her before giving her the assignment that started this.

"Mistress, slowly and painfully?" the panther asked, a bit exasperatedly, batting her leg gently with one paw.

"Pardon? I didn't hear you." she said, still stroking his head.

"The survivor's, kill them slowly and painfully?" he repeated hopefully. Rowan shook her head.

"No, quick and painlessly. These people were good to me at one time." Rowan said and walked away, ignoring the screams that came from the monks as their throats were slit, quickly, ruthlessly and painlessly. Rowan watched the battle between Chase Young and Guan. As Guan began to lose, the wind shifted to blow smoke over the battlefield and Rowan caught the whiff of roses.

"Dierdre." she murmured and turned to see her fellow Dragons staring at her blood stained clothing in shock.

"What did you do?" Dierdre Rais whispered, her wind shifting around, stirring her clothes. Rowan felt Chase land behind her and place a hand on her shoulder.

"Doing what I should have done years." Rowan replied, stepping back to stand at Chase's side.

"You betrayed us!" Marcus cried. "You betrayed me!" he yelled. Rowan didn't flinch as he hurled accusations, insults and slurrs her way. She felt Chase stiffen once or twice, but he calmed down quickly.

"Shut up, Marcus." Rowan snapped finally. "We were over the moment you I saw you kissing Dierdre. I am what I am now, so shut the hell up. Let's go." Rowan said and rose in the air. Finding herself alone, she looked down at the Tai Chi master.

"You said that you wanted revenge on them all." Chase said, looking up at her. Rowan bit her lip. She hadn't expected to see them here, true. But she'd wanted her revenge on them all right. She remember the anger and betrayal she had felt when she saw Marcus in a lip lock with her best friend. "If you wish me to kill them, I will." Chase said. Rowan landed next to him and shook her head.

"If it must be done, then let it be me." Rowan said, summoning her power of fire, letting it consume her heart and soul, so neither hurt as she did this. Chase retreated to a safe distance as the battle between the Xiaolin and Heylin Dragons began.

"You can't win against me!" Marcus roared, summoning his own power of water. Rowan tossed her head back and laughed at him, at Dierdre and in someway, herself.

"Don't be so sure!" she cried in return, the power of her Heylin allegiance showing itself. "Heylin Power! Firestorm!" she bellowed, slamming her fist down somewhat dramatically, but Chase had to applaud as flames swept forward and cut both dragons off from each other.

"Marcus!" came the shrill scream as Rowan, sword out and Dragon's Eye Ruby gleaming madly, dashed through the flames, totally unhurt by them and turned it into a fire-lined twister. The dead body of the Dragon of the Wind was tossed from the twister as the Dragon of Water was picked up. Chase could hear the panicked, desperate cries of the dragon as he tried to summon his element to protect him. Chase later rememebered thinking vaguely that it was good thing that Rowan had pledged her loyalty to be his partner, because if she was on the Heylin side against him? He didn't particularly want to think about that too hard. After a few moments, the dead body of the dragon flew out of the twister and landed at Chase's feet. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of burned flesh and gingerly stepped over the body and watched as the twister finally slowed down and it disappeared all together as Rowan came to a stop and dropped to her knee's, exhausted.

"What was that?" Rowan asked, as Chase knelt by her side. Whether she was shaking from exhaustion or fear of that much power, Chase didn't know. He just knew it'd be a good idea to get back to the palace before something happened.

"It was your Heylin Powers surfacing. Your anger triggered them. I'd wager you'll have more surface soon." Chase said, lifting her up and wrapping her arm around his neck.

"You're certaintly going to a lot of trouble for me." Rowan said, leaning on him. Chase shrugged.

"You can't have a good apprentice if you don't invest a little personal interest in them." he said. Rowan laughed.

"Oppurtunist." she accused. Chase chuckled and shook his head.

"Only when the oppurtunity presents itself." he said, grinning at her resigned expression.

"I'm screwed." she said as Chase lifted her into the air, Cats melting into the shadows to meet them back at the palace.

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TBC

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Please R&R!