Chapter 38: Shang vs. 9

Special thanks to SunDragon27, Sunshine5643, darkshadowblazeable, and GOA for reviewing. So here's a new chapter for y'all!

Disclaimer: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown...I'm sad. Plus, if I did own it, let's just say we'd be at about 200 or so episodes and have many more RaiKim hints. We'd also have an awesome anime opening and awesome background music.

Shang raced down the hall. After being separated from his master and the group, he began to receive strange headaches. As the young man ran down the dark, narrow hall, he was overcome by another sharp pain in his head. He fell to one knee, clutching his head. Suddenly, he was flooded by unknown memories. All of which, had to do with the palace. He quickly recovered from the pain and continued through the hall. After several minutes of running, he spotted a small light ahead of him.

"That must be the end." He ran faster towards the light and before he knew it, he was in a large, white room. "It's empty." He looked around, taking in his surroundings. There was nothing. It was just one big, empty room. He spotted a door at the other side of the room and decided to go for it.

"Now did you really think I'd let you leave so easily?" A voice echoed throughout the room, stopping Shang. He stopped right in front of the door as a large wall made of cards blocked his way. He grabbed his sword and jumped back as a man dropped down in front of him.

"You must be 9." Shang said, spotting the number on the man's forehead.

"Hmph. I'm glad you remember me after such a long time," 9 chuckled. "Shang."

"What are you talking about?" Shang asked, holding his blade towards the man.

"Now that hurts. Don't you remember me at all?" 9 asked, a grin appearing on his face. "Fine. I'll tell you." He sat down just as his cards formed a chair behind him. "You used to be a Heylin General, do you know that?"

"Of course!" Shang scowled. 9 slowly had his cards float him higher into the air so that he was out of Shang's reach.

"Good. So I can skip that part." 9 said with a yawn. "You see, 1500 years ago during the war, you were Master Liang's most prized general. You were responsible for many victories. Everyone praised you for your abilities, even Master Liang himself. That was what irked me." 9 said, his tone turning serious. "A child, getting so much attention like that. You were getting what I deserved. A child has no place in war!"

"What are you talking about?"

"My point is, I was the one responsible for your disappearance from the war. I had frozen you in time and stashed you away in the mountains. I blamed the Xiaolin Council for your disappearance and then killed them all so that nobody would discover what had happened. I was seen as a hero." 9 sighed and jumped down from his seat. "I may not know the reason as to how you were freed, but that does not matter any more." He caught his cards and forged a sword from them. "For I am going to do what I should have done all those years ago."

Shang was silent after hearing what had happened. He finally found out how he arrived to be in this new world. He was imprisoned for over 1500 years due to the jealousy of an ally. Or ex-ally. Several thoughts and emotions ran through his mind. He was angry and wanted revenge on 9. He wanted to make him suffer for making him miss out on the rest of his life. But at the same time, he was happy of what happened because if it hadn't, then he would never have met Chase Young and become his apprentice.

Memories began to flood his head again. But they were much more clearer than before. Memories of him inside the palace, living a normal life. Well, as normal as a teen in charge of an army in the middle of a war can get. He was happy. He had made friends with the Heylin Elite Guards and the generals of the Heylin army. He was adopted by Liang and lived in the palace where he underwent rigorous training with Liang.

Then memories of the war came. He was in the middle of a forest, battling the great Xiaolin Warrior, Chase Young. Other memories placed him in the middle of a battle where his forces were winning because of him. He was praised for his strength and valor. Getting all the attention and even earning praise from Liang as well. Everyone was proud...everyone except 9.

He was pulled away from his thoughts when 9 decided to make the first move.

"Pay attention you fool!" Shang quickly rolled out of the way of 9's deadly cards. "You're quick. I see your skills have improved." 9 said. "Let's see you get out of this." He threw his cards into the air and trans-located himself up to the air with his cards. His cards moved on their own and surrounded Shang. "I'll show you that I am the superior force." He slowly raised his arm as a smirk appeared on his face. The Chinese characters on the cards lit up and multiplied. They spun around rapidly, to form a cyclone of cards and trapped Shang in the middle. The boy tried to slice the cards with his sword, but to no avail. "Ha! No normal weapon can cut these cards!" 9 laughed. "Now accept your fate and die!"

"This will not stop me!" Shang shouted. Holding his sword, he started to concentrate all of his chi into the blade, infusing it with his chi. He closed his eyes and swung downwards with his weapon, making the cards disperse.

"How?"

"It is a technique, Master Chase taught me." Shang replied. "By focusing all of my chi into my sword, I can strengthen it. That way, it became a sword of pure energy, able to cut through your cards."

"Grr. You got lucky!" 9 growled. "I guess I will have to do this the hard way then." He held his arms out and called his cards to him. The cards formed weapons shaped like katanas. "Prepare yourself!"

"Let's end this!" Shang and 9 charged at each other and swung their weapons. Their swords clashed in between them and the two were in a deadlock. 9 pulled back one of his swords and lunged it at Shang, but the boy saw this and jumped back to avoid it. 9 ran ahead and kicked Shang to the side.

"Heylin Soul Shock!" A dark bolt of lightning propelled out from 9's fingertips and towards Shang, whom had just recovered from the kick. Shang held up his sword and deflected the lightning back at 9, hitting the Heylin Elite Guard in the stomach. "Stupid brat." He teleported behind Shang and cut him twice in the back before kicking him up into the air. Shang's sword fell out of his grasp as he was propelled towards the ceiling.

The young apprentice regained his composure and flipped in the air. He hovered over the ground and looked down just in time to see 9 flying at him with a black ball of energy in the palm of his hands. Shang knew the attack and quickly created two similar spheres in his hands. the two attacked at the same time, causing an explosion. Shang was sent flying down to the ground at the same time as 9. Shang flipped again and landed safely on the ground, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, 9 lunged forward. Before Shang could react, 9 landed a palm strike. Shang stumbled back, clutching his chest in pain.

"You're too weak, boy." 9 said, insulting Chase Young's apprentice. He went in for another attack with his double-sided blade that he created by combining his two swords, but Shang easily dodged it and smacked him into the ground with the flat of his sword. 9 jumped to his feet and swung wildly at Shang.

"You're the one who's weak." Shang said and swung his sword upwards in a diagonal motion. 9 stumbled forward and stopped behind Shang.

"I-Impossible." Blood splattered out of the large cut on 9's body before he fell to the ground. Shang looked at the body that lay in the pool of blood and shook his head. He had gotten his revenge on the man that ruined his life. He thought back to the memories. They were all so similar to what had happened after he was awakened in this world. Chase Young had taken him in as an apprentice and put him through difficult training. When he'd do well on shen gong wu hunts with Wuya to make sure she doesn't screw anything up, Chase Young would praise him as well...sorta. Then there were the monks and Jack. After the incident with the Shadow Monks, he'd grown a little closer to them. They were like friends, but still enemies at the same time. Though Chase wouldn't approve. Especially if he was friends with "the pitiful worm", Jack Spicer. When he thought about it, his life is the same as before, but better.

When the door opened, Shang withdrew his sword and made his way out of the room. But he wouldn't leave without leaving 9 with a few parting words.

"What a fool." With that, Shang proceeded out of the room and continued with his journey to meet up with the others for the final battle against Liang.

With Omi, he was running through the halls of the palace, cautious of his surroundings. So far, everything was going smoothly. He hadn't encountered any of the Heylin Elite Guards and was nearing the throne room. Just then, he came upon a large, empty room. There was a door at the other side, but everything was too quiet. Everything was clear so he decided to continue to the end of the room. He might not know, but he was being watched.

Behind him, the shadows shifted and formed into the shape of a man. It turned out to be a man wearing a ninja suit. The man raised his daggers and crouched before lunging straight at the young monk.

So what do you think? Was this good or okay? I hope to find out what you think soon. Go ahead and review.

XSrules95