It has come to my attention that this story will be REALLY long. So I will split it into two. I suspect this volume to reach 20 chapters but I could be wrong…and I probably am. So here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Love, Immortal Soup and World Domination

Chapter 4

'Star of Darkness'

The four Xiaolin dragons fought miraculously against Chase, even Omi, who was usually powerful, seemed to be having a good day. Chase however, was not. Already he had suffered minor wounds from them and he was beginning to falter.

Suddenly, as a great relief to the Heylin warrior Dojo, a small green dragon, slithered up to a standing Omi. Dojo whispered something in the monk's ear and Omi nodded departing from the fight. Chase frowned, where were they going?

He needed to follow, his tiger instincts told him too and they were never wrong.

Side-stepping a kick from Raimundo, the dragon of wind he sent him flying back with a punch. Then, he tried to pass the remaining three but failed. Kimiko having blocked his way with her famous fire kick was backed up by Clay and together, they stopped him. Omi finally disappeared from view out the crumpled entrance with Dojo.

The Heylin warrior had no idea where they were going but he had an idea it wasn't good. A strange vibe travelled up Chase's spine making him shiver. But still, he fought on.

Chase knew why they were here; they wanted the Fountain of Wui for they had the Eagle Scope. Together, both these shen-gong-wu could give them the answer to anything they wanted. But what they really wanted it for was to find out how to defeat evil itself. He would not allow that.

His thoughts were interrupted as a certain Heylin Witch came trampling down the stairs screaming at him. Chase could only make out the words 'Shen-gong-wu' and 'activated.' Chase scowled. He couldn't exactly retrieve the shen-gong-wu right now so he would have to pass this one up. Again, Chase dodged a fist from Clay and a flip from Kimiko.

But then another voice found its way to his ears.

"Chase! What's going on!?" it was the girl. She had awoken. That was even more bad news. She needed her rest to recuperate. She had seen the fight and she was scared that was obvious but Chase still wondered. Something told him that that girl was special and would come in handy if trained properly. Maybe he could take her in? It was possible. His thoughts were shattered at Kimiko dived at him again.

Raimundo seeing the girl suddenly stopped fighting as he gawked at her drooling. The girl just stared at him confuzzled about his reaction. (Ha ha! I LOVE that word! Confuzzled. Heehee.)

Chase took this opportunity by grabbing Clay and Kimiko and hurling them both into the dazed Raimundo. The three crashed brutally into one of the walls of his citadel leaving a looming hole in their wake. Chase growled at them as they started to get up again.

He clicked his fingers and a whole armada of jungle cats appeared on top of the stair case being Wuya and the girl. Raimundo, Kimiko and Clay looked nervously at the cats not wanting to fight them.

Chase heard Raimundo murmur something about their last encounter with the felines.

Chase stood upright and clicked his fingers again a small evil smirk plastered on his pale face. The cats lunged forwards and in a split second the Xiaolin dragons were in a 'cat fight' with them.

Chase, content with this, retreated back to Wuya and Hikara. He stomped right up to Wuya and pointed angrily at the girl.

"What is she doing up Wuya!?" he hissed. "She should be resting not running around in a tattered dress!"

Hikara looked down at herself suddenly realising that the dress was practically hanging off of her. A small burning sensation covered her cheeks as she brought her hands up to her chest.

"You" he commanded. "What's your name?" Hikara mentally thanked god the man wasn't a pervert for he didn't glance at her body but directly into her eyes. She would admit, she was in a state where anyone would take her. Thankfully she wasn't the only girl there.

"Thank you Wuya."

However, Hikara was practically frozen to the spot. Should she tell him? Or should she just stand there and look at him? The young girl was suddenly scared of him. Those eyes bored right into her own and that made her feel funny and queer inside not to even mention the fact he was an all powerful warrior.

She diverted her gaze down to the marble floor and heard Chase sigh. Again, he asked her what her name was. "What's your name?" he commanded again. Still, Hikara wouldn't answer.

Then, she heard Wuya butt in. "You're not much good with females are you Chase?" she heard Chase scoff at the Heylin witch.

How could she freeze up like this? Now she had no chance of having Chase as a master.

It was then Wuya appeared in front of her crouched down looking up into her bangs and messy, purple hair. The witch's green eyes looked into her own but still Hikara looked away. "Just tell me what your name it young one and I promise he'll leave you alone" she told the girl gently. There was no authority in it just kindness and gentleness. Hikara loosened up a bit. Perhaps Wuya would be one to thrust around here. "My-my name is Hi-Hikara miss" she told her. Wuya smiled and looked at Chase. "There" she told him strictly "her name is Hikara can we go get the shen-gong-wu now?"

Hikara suddenly tensed up again. Her eyes widened in fear. In her mind images flashed before her. One was of a black and red tiger and another of Shadow. The third was of a young monk, then a jungle, mist, two evil eyes and a……glittering star necklace? Was that the shen-gong-wu they were going to look for?

She shook her head and suddenly realising what was going on. She looked up at Chase and Wuya. "Shadow!" she cried at him. Chase raised an eyebrow and Wuya looked puzzled. "What are you saying?" Chase asked, still in a commanding tone of voice. Hikara's eyes darted back towards the cats and kids fighting. "Shadow!" she yelled at them pointing towards the entrance. "My friend Shadow! He's in danger! Please I need your help!" Chase and Wuya still stared at her. Hikara drooped but then a thought accured to her. She gulped and yelled again.

"I know where your shen-gong-wu is!"

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The black and red tiger padded along the jungle floor, his ruby, slit eyes scanning his surroundings. Wearing a displeased frown on his face, his red eyes flashed with anger.

"God damn it!" he cursed wildly, narrowly dodging some quick sand. "Why does my damn shen-gong-wu have to be in a jungle!? Dashi, why to you torment me." Shadow could have sworn he heard some distant laugh from the heavens.

The tiger was no ordinary tiger of course. Yes, its personality resembled that of Shadow. The dark hedgehog had two forms. A black and red tiger and another that no body knows of. Not even Dashi, who was the supposed wise and greatest of all warriors, had never laid eyes on Shadow's true form.

The dark tiger had left his throne to look for his shen-gong-wu; it was called 'The Star of Darkness." A simple necklace with a pure, crystallised, multi-coloured star on the end. But, it was also a very dangerous wu to fall into the wrong hands and Shadow was going to make sure he reached it first. The Heylin overlord needed that shen-gong-wu and believed that if either Chase Young or the Xiaolin Monks were to get it first, it would mean the end of the world.

Years ago Shadow was in procession of the shen-gong-wu as a gift from Dashi. But back then it was called 'The Star of Light' until Shadow turned to the Heylin Side. This resulted in a disastrous change in the shen-gong-wu.

The 'Star of Darkness' is a shen-gong-wu that acts according to the owners soul. If the owner were light hearted like the Xiaolin monks then it would become the 'Star of Light' then, it would produce light magic. However, if the owner were evil the star would be labelled the 'Star of Darkness' and would omit powerful, dark, Heylin magic from it. Magic seen as vitally powerful and if one were to take a full head on blow from it, it would mean death.

But Shadow did not use the shen-gong-wu for its magic, oh no he didn't need that, he used it to maintain his power. The 'Star of Darkness' was used as a vessel for Shadow's extra power and it also kept him from losing control. Shadow's final transformation was too powerful for him to handle, which is why he hid away underground for 1500 years. He was afraid that if he got angry enough he would transform WITHOUT the 'Star of Darkness' into his vicious state.

The world, as he knew it, would come to abrupt stop and cease to exist. For Shadow would lose total control and destroy everything.

Shadow had lost the shen-gong-wu years ago in the great fight against Dashi however (It was then Shadow erupted in anger.) Somehow, Dashi had kicked the shen-gong-wu from him over the edge of a cliff into a raging river, never to be seen again.

But now Shadow could regain his loss.

Shadow could sense it's activation from miles away. It was the only shen-gong-wu he could sense but he didn't need any of the others.

Shadow sighed "I sense it, but I can't see it……….wait!" the tiger grinned on his spying it and leaped into a tree.

On a lily pad in the centre of a large swamp was his 'Star of Darkness.'

The tiger leaped onto a rather large rock in the swamp and continued to jump from rock to rock until he grabbed the shen-gong-wu. "The only wu I'll ever want" he murmured and was about to call on the portal to his empire when-

"There it is!" a voice yelled to the left of him.

Flipping through the trees, a suspected young monk jumped down onto a rock in a fighting stance. He had a rather……large head if one were to describe him and wore a red and black robe with a blue slash around his waist. Shadow frowned. "Just my luck. Right at the last moment this guy has to show up."

The young monk suddenly raised his eyebrows at the sight before him. Shadow glowered at the large-headed kid trying to obtain the wu without trouble.

He had the look as to say 'Back off kid. This shen-gong-wu is mine!'

However, the young monk simply bowed to him in a respectful manner.

"Honourable tiger" he began, Shadow was quite surprised at this. "I must let you know that I need that shen-gong-wu you have for the sake of the world."

Shadow laughed. Really, he physically laughed. The tiger opened his jaw and let out an evil, raspy chuckle.

The young monk was now more confused then ever.

For one, tigers didn't laugh and two, he had never seen this tiger working with Chase before. It had to be one of Chase's minions for a normal tiger didn't go after shen-gong-wu. That was obvious.

But what if it WAS a normal tiger?

Shadow stood there quite motionless with an amused grin upon his furry face. He wore the shen-gong-wu loosely around his neck. He knew full well that this was Omi, the Xiaolin Water dragon, part of a team of four dragons. Wind, water, fire and earth.

"I am sorry young monk but I can not allow you to have procession of this…… trinket" he stated looking down at his wu.

The monk seemed to frown. "I'm afraid you do not understand I-"

"Of course I understand" Shadow cut in. "It is you who does not understand young one." Shadow frowned at the monk. He had no idea did he?

The monk frowned harder until a little voice appeared behind Omi.

"Is that-" A small green dragon appeared behind Omi slithering along the muddy floor.

The dragon's jaw fell open and he pointed frantically at Shadow. "You're-!"

"Dojo!" Shadow grinned at the small dragon happy to see his little 'friend.' "It's been so long how are you doing?"

Dojo frowned. "Peachy. Ever since you killed Dashi I've been just……peachy."

Shadow laughed at his sarcasm while Omi nearly fell off the rock in shock. The monk pointed to Shadow enraged. "HE KILLED GRAND MASTER DASHI!!!!!!!??????"

Dojo plugged his ears from the sound. The kid could yell, Shadow gave him that. "Technically," Dojo began "it was a fair Xiaolin Showdown. Only one thing was different." Dojo glared at Shadow.

Shadow shrugged. "Both I and Dashi are honourable warriors and are always true to our word."

Dojo sighed he was right. "I guess you're right there."

Omi however didn't believe a word of it neither did he care about HOW Dashi had died. To Omi, all that mattered right now was that SHADOW, standing here in front of him, had KILLED Grand Master DASHI!!!! Though, even if Omi was still only a child he had a lot to learn in his life of a Xiaolin dragon.

"If he killed Master Dashi how can he be honourable!? In fact, who the heck is he!?" Omi yelped again to Dojo.

Dojo shook his head at the monk. He would have to summarise the whole story in simple words for him to understand. He pointed to the Heylin warrior.

"This is Shadow the hedgehog Grandmaster of Heylin." Omi nodded yet he still wanted to learn more.

In a way, the young monk was feeling quite proud of himself to be standing in front of a Grand Master regardless if he was good or evil.

Dojo sighed seeing the expression on his face. It was indicating:

'I want to learn more Dojo.'

Dojo frowned at him regretting telling him of the activation of the most sacred of shen-gong-wu. Just why did Shadow have to have a complicated background?

"1500 years ago Shadow and Dashi challenged each other. Shadow wanted world domination and Dashi wanted to stop him in the name of good. So both Grandmasters participated in a shen-gong-wuless showdown using nothing but sheer will power and Xiaolin arts. Except. There was a catch."

"What was the catch Dojo?" Omi asked him both angered and intrigued in Shadow's life. The green dragon bowed his head in misery.

"The catch was it was a fight to the death."

Omi gasped. Standing before him now was Shadow who had participated in the fight.

So if he was still here then-finally, it clicked inside the young monks head. In fury Omi pointed dangerously at the hedgehog "You will PAY for what you did Shadow! I swear my life on it!" Dojo looked at the monk. For once Omi had not made a mistake in his sentence and that was rare. Omi always got phrases wrong but this time he made no mistakes, he was serious.

Omi got into a fighting stance ready to lunge at Shadow who in return returned a calm face with a slight smirk on his fury mouth.

Dojo pondered about the ordeal at hand. Omi was obviously enraged at Shadow for killing Dashi but Shadow looked on not caring that the kid in front of him was prepared to rip him to shreds. Actually, it was rather typical of Shadow's response for as far back as Dojo could remember Shadow didn't give a heck about anything. Obviously, he hadn't changed one bit in the past 1500 years. Chase had traded his soul and had changed entirely. But Shadow traded his soul too and he was still light-hearted and hadn't changed a bit. Again Dojo wondered if Shadow had NOT traded his soul or he just didn't do it the same way as Chase.

Shadow stared at the young boy in silence amused at his sudden outbreak. He could feel the boy's energy and it was certainly strong but not even close to his. Shadow always remained calm. He hated getting angry and he was scared of it too. He knew what would happen if he became too angry.

Shadow had only noticed an ominous mist now settling around them. But it didn't bother him. He liked the dimness of the mist it was good for hiding in battle.

But then, Shadow caught note of something lurking in the mist. His ears pricked up at the aura. He knew it from somewhere, but where? Suddenly, invisible to the young monks eyes but not to Shadow's. Behind the dark tiger two yellow, poisonous eyes appeared in the forestation and mist. They were slit resembling those of a furious cat.

Suddenly Omi saw the eyes recognising them straight away. "Chase Young" the monk sounded, grabbing Shadow attention. The large headed kid took a fighting stance and Shadow began to wonder:

"Chase Young? Not the same Chase Young from 1500 years ago is it?"

Shadow couldn't believe that after all these years Chase was still alive.

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Okay….yeah. Not much of a cliffy but the next chapter has SOOOO much action in it! And…it's terribly sad. I was nearly crying writing it so please…..Read and Review.