Hi! My name is Dadles! This is my first story on Fanfiction, but it's not the first story I've ever done. The parts where our world crosses over with the world of Xiaolin Showdown are in, like, Chapter five, I think? Please visit my profile for the full summary of the story, cos it's worth the trip. This first chapter has a character death, but it's by no means depressing or angsty. Really, I'm not an angsty kind of person.

Prologue

I lay on my deathbed, thinking about her. How unfortunate that she'll have to take this road. I sighed. Fate, I thought. Why does her life have to end? She's so young!

From the corner of my eye, I saw the beginnings of a shimmer in the air. Fate materialized before my eyes to answer my thoughts. I sighed again.

"My dear, dear Daniel. It is her purpose in her life! It's what she was born to do. Do not worry. She will be in my hands."

"It's Dashi in this world. You know that. And it's the fact that she will be in your hands that worries me. Look at what you put me through. How can I not worry?" I sighed again. I will never see my darling Angel again. My only baby, my only heir. Oh Harmony, please forgive me for doing this to our daughter! How much longer do I have left?

My mind ran through my memories yet again, recalling them perfectly, even as I wished to forget...

I remember very clearly the first time I died. I was 17. My mother had disappeared after I was born. Growing up, I heard stories, different reasons why she left us. Some people said she left my father and me because she didn't want me, or rather, the responsibility of raising a child. Others said she died right after birthing me.

I never knew her, nor had I any memory of her. I remember, when I was young, wishing that she would come back to us, back to me. I wanted to show her that even though she left, I still loved her. But as time passed, those feelings and wishes faded away. My mother was just another irresponsible woman, destined for Hell.

The world I grew up in was simple and old-fashioned. The people were narrow-minded and highly religious. As a young man, and as the preacher's son, I was well educated. Countless times, I had proven my worth, both religiously and scientifically. (Back then, science wasn't too greatly appreciated.) I was young and good-looking, I had a good-paying job, and I was popular. I was strong and talented a most everything I did. I didn't know those were only the signs...

I shook my head to clear it of the gruesome details. I fated to die on my way home from work. My father would never know what had really happened to me. I remember, he was excited about this girl he had wanted me to meet. Hope, or some other ridiculously sentimental name...

I was brought harshly and abruptly to my first world to begin my true mission. And now, my 10,000 years were up.

When I looked again, Fate was gone. I knew she had gone back to Opportunity. I briefly wondered how old my daughter would be now, and what she looked like. Does she resent me? Did my mother from that world tell her the truth yet? Or is she still blissfully unaware of the horrors she's about to face?

The curtain rustled. I looked over to my left to see the long, green, sinuous body of my best friend, Dojo, slithering through, wringing his hands.

"How ya doin', Dashi?" The words were whispered so softly, but I could still hear the fear and worry in his voice. His honey-gold eye's were red-rimmed from crying. He wasn't ashamed to cry. His eyes were still shiny and wet. I couldn't fool him; he knew what was going on.

"Have you been crying?" I asked, trying, unsuccessfully, to distract him.

"You know how emotional I get!" he blurted. Good ol' Dojo. Always worrying about me. "Besides," he added. "I have a pretty good reason to."

"Well then, I better get straight to business." I said, smiling. Just have to keep up a light tone and joke around. Maybe it'll make him feel better. I know I'm not scared. I know were I'm going and who I'll be with. My only regret is who I won't be with.

"What do you mean, 'business'? What are we gonna talk about, the market? You're on your deathbed, for Wu's sake! You need your rest!"

"Dojo, I have the rest of eternity to rest. I can do without a little extra. I need to tell you something important: my last instructions for you."

He hesitated. Finally, he slivered onto my bed and sat by my side. "I'm listening." I took a deep breath. Dojo already knew about me and my past. I've told him countless time of my first and only love, as well as my darling little Angel, my only daughter, the only cild I'd ever had. My only heir...

"This is my last world. You already know this, as well as my mission here. I finished my mission and lived my life out to this end. When I die, I'll reside forever in the world I created, along with my dearest Harmony.

"In fifteen hundred years, my daughter, my only heir, will come here. You are NOT to tell ANYONE of this foretelling, or about my origins or past lives. Try to speak of me as little as possible. Keep my secrets until my daughter Angel arrives. When she comes, she will have forgotten her name, but you should be able to see the resemblance between us. When she arrives, you may tell her about me. Only when she exists in this world will my secrets finally be able to be revealed. I need you to be her best friend, just as you have been mine." Already, I could feel my eye-lids growing heavy. This would be my last death. This was something I was familiar with. I could feel myself fading away, succumbing to the darkness. I could finally go to the place I truly belonged...

"No, please! Don't go yet, Dashi! What about me? What am I gonna for 1500 years?"

"Fate has already shown me your future, Dojo. You will find a great friend and master. As long as you stay committed to the Xiaolin Temple, you'll find him someday. You'll be fine. In fact. You'll pretty much be bored. You will welcome the adventures to come." Dojo slowly nodded his head and tried to wipe away the tears streaming down his face. I didn't realize that I myself was crying too, until, failing at stopping his own tears, Dojo began to wipe at mine with the blanket covering me. I felt my energy almost complete dissipate. Fate? I whispered in my mind. It's early.

I have taken the energy so that she may survive long enough for her grandmother to complete your last wishes. I closed my eyes and thanked her. And sending my daughter good wishes and love, I sighed in acceptance.

"Good-bye, Dojo. Thank you." I reached up to hold the dragon closer. He was hugging me so tightly, sobbing. I smiled. "Thank you, for everything you've done, and for being my best friend. I know you'll meet my darling Angel one day, so tell her how much I adore her and convey my love to her. Good-bye, friend. Good-bye..."

And with my last breath, I died, knowing that when I woke up, it would be in the arms of my beloved, in the meadow of my mind.

End of Prologue

REVIEW! Please?