A Faint Light

By Ai Auraine

A girl from the long past returns for Chase Young. The Dragon of Light, his deceased friend, and his lover. But she's not just here for a visit, she's back in the living world because she's on mission: Bring Back the True Chase Young.

Chapter 2: Introductions & Explanations

"Kanna?" I turned. It was Guan.

"What happened?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You know perfectly well what I mean! Chase! What happened to him? A partnership with Wuya against the Xiaolin temple? That can't be Chase! He wouldn't do such a thing!" I yelled although I knew it was him by his reaction to the necklace.

"Kanna.. Princess, calm down. He… ah… let us talk inside. Shall we?" he replied.

"May we join the discussion?" Omi asked.

Guan nodded.

We walked inside one of the temple buildings. We sat at the table, all seven of us. The five of them stared at me while Guan sat still and stiff as he always did. Suddenly a small green dragon burst into the room. "Hey, hey, hey! Where've you all been this day – ay – ay- ay…? Princess Kanna? Is that you?" it said.

My eyes widened. "Dojo?"

"Yes, that's me!"

I laughed, "Hey there!"

He frowned. "Wait a minute. Aren't you supposed to be de – e – ead?"

"C'mere pardner. That's what we're sittin' for," Clay said.

I smiled and then turned to Guan. "Well? Explain."

He sighed. I knew I wasn't going to like what he was going to say.

"I am not entirely sure of what happened. All I know was that after your… death, Chase disappeared for days. When he came back, his eyes were not soft and his words were not kind. He spoke of death and revenge on the Xiaolin... He said he stood by the Heylin side. He destroyed part of the temple and then disappeared. I never heard from him after that yet recently he came and challenged me. We fought for days without stopping yet I made a fatal mistake and lost my spear. And you already know what happens then."

I nodded.

"But that was then. Anyways, I lost our battle and then he said to me, you may have your spear back if you bring me a dragon. So… I used Dojo and brought him to Chase. I later defeated him and Dojo was released. But now, his hatred towards the Xiaolin has grown. He has also freed Wuya as you may have figured by now. And Hannibal Bean has resurfaced. Now, Chase is bent on destroying the Xiaolin and take over the world. He has even gone so far as to manipulate Omi into becoming his apprentice. Very recently, there was a Cosmic showdown that resulted in retreats for both sides. The world is ugly now, Kanna."

"And it's all my fault…"

"No. Whatever Chase did, it was his choice to make."

"But I probably helped him towards that choice. And everything that is challenging the peace of this world stemmed from his transformation. It IS my fault."

"You released your chi in its purest form to save him. You have not done anything wrong. You merely wanted to save Chase from the Atricia."

Suddenly there was screaming. It was Omi. "Released your chi? In its true form? Then that must mean… you are…" Another scream. "Princess Kanna, the Lost Dragon of Light!" Another scream.

"Okay, hold on. Kanna? Princess?" Raimundo asked.

I smiled weakly and turned back to the bald one. "Hold on. What do you mean by 'lost' dragon?"

Guan replied, "We thought you were taken by a demon, meaning you were not dead. So we marked you as merely lost in the scrolls."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up! Pure chi? Save Chase? What are you talking about?" Kimiko said exasperated.

"Yea, and who's Atricia?" Clay added.

"But first of all, who are you?" Raimundo asked looking me straight in the eye.

"I suppose it is time that they learn of your whole identity," Guan said.

I began to argue when I decided it wasn't worth the struggle.

So I began to speak. "From birth, I was the princess. Princess Kanna of the Star Temple, a castle and fort on top of the highest mountain purposed with protecting the Earth and assisting the Xiaolin from above the clouds. Do not misinterpret my title as princess for a royal standing however. My title only marked me as the guardian of the castle to be trained in honing flickers from stars and using even the faintest light to defend from the dark. Unfortunately, I was still much too young to defend my own when the temple was destroyed by pieces of Heylin comet that rained down as it passed. The people of the temple managed to hide me away until it was over. I was collected by those of the Xiaolin Temple to continue to train and given a new title with the same mission. As Omi said, I'm the Dragon of Light or this so called 'Lost' Dragon sworn to fight for the Xiaolin."

I continued, "Here, I met Chase Young, a student in the Xiaolin martial arts. Together we learned much and though he was older by a year than I, I was appointed as a Xiaolin Dragon before him. Yet… I never gloated and he never seemed jealous. We were best of friends after all. We became very close over time. Then before Wuya rose, Chase and I became lovers. In fact, he gave me this necklace, an orb made of jade and amethyst. Throughout the battles, we stayed together. We fought along side Guan and Dashi against Wuya and her army of stone."

"We won, of course," Guan grinned cockily.

"Once Wuya was captured in the puzzle box, life became peaceful again. But something was wrong. Chase disappeared every night for a month until I decided to follow him. I watched and followed from the shadows as he made his way to the sea shore. On the rock, I saw a mermaid. I heard Chase say, 'Atricia' so I assumed it was her name. He walked over to her. They said something to each other and then they kissed. I couldn't believe it. Suddenly, he turned towards where I was hiding. He started to walk towards me when he stopped and turned back towards the fish woman. I quickly left after that."

"That morning, we found a Shen-gon-wu missing," Guan said.

"Yes, and as I followed Chase each night I realized he would bring Atricia one Shen-gon-wu each night. One morning I swiped the Canine Ears –"

"So that's where they went!" Guan accused.

I blushed.

"How come I've never heard of the Canine Ears?" Kimiko asked.

"We obviously don't have it so has it even activated?" Raimundo said.

"Yes, it has activated. It never deactivated since Kanna used it. And we do not know where it is now. But Princess knows of course," Guan replied looking at me.

"Um… yes, I'll show you later. Anyways, I hid in the bushes as always and used the Canine Ears to hear what she was whispering. She was chanting a phrase over and over. I think it was 'Fash londra songho.' The next morning I looked up the words in one of the many scrolls. A few hours later, I found the words on a page referring to siren magic. It was a spell, it said, that infatuated a male so badly, causing them to follow all of the maiden's commands. But the effect wore off within 24 hours so the spell must be cast every night. I decided it was time to end it. I found Chase in the gardens and quickly told him what she was doing. Instead of thanking me or saying sorry he started yelling at me for spying on them."

"So that's what that racket was all about…" Guan said.

"I followed him again. As Atricia started her chant I attacked her. She crashed into a rock on land and since she was no longer touching water she turned into a beast. Chase just sat there looking dazed. The beast and I continuously returned blows, and this went on for awhile until she hit the ground near Chase. Then she grabbed him and threatened to throw him if I attacked her again. I couldn't do it. I could not put Chase at risk. But when she started to walk towards the water, I couldn't help it. I'm not sure how but I felt a part of me leave my body. I saw a bright light come out of my chest and shoot towards to Atricia. As it came closer it took on the shape of a shining dragon. It flew through the monster. The monster glowed white and then disappeared in a swirl of mist. The dragon then flew off into the skies and I felt so weak that I dropped to my knees and loss consciousness."

"We found her and Chase and brought them back to the temple. She and Chase woke up moments after, but Kanna was very weak. We later found that it was your chi that left you."

I nodded. "And without it within me, I couldn't last much longer."

"So how can you be here now?" Raimundo asked.

"I was taken by a bright green light and as you know ill magic has a green aura. And because of that people thought I was taken by a demon. I was actually taken by Lady of the Elements or the Great Dragon."

"You were chosen?"

"Yes, she said it was because she caught my free flying chi and she still needed me. She wouldn't leave me to move on to the true after life. So I was returned my chi and lived in her palace for the last 1500 years. And then just today I was called to be in her presence. I was given a mission."

"And that mission is to take Chase?" Kimiko asked.

"Yes. But first, I must have him come willingly."

"And –"

Suddenly the table started to shake.

"Dojo, is it another Shen-gon-wu?" Omi asked Dojo.

"You bet," he said as he ran out of the room. He came back with a scroll and unrolled it on the table. "It's called the Century Egg. It opens up and reveals a chicken that lays up to one hundred eggs and aims them at your opponent."

"You know, I'm still wondering who came up with these," Raimundo said.

"Let's go! All aboard the Dojo Express!" Dojo yelled from outside.

The four Wudai Warriors got on Dojo's back. "You comin' Miss?" Clay asked.

"Of course. In fact, I'll lead you to the exact location. Sash of Angels!" I yelled as the sash under my sleeves glowed and I sprouted wings and took flight.

"How do you know where it is?" Dojo asked.

"I was with you when you hid it, remember?"

"And you still remember that?"

I laughed. "Of course. Now come on!"

We flew to what is now Uruguay and landed on one of the grassy fields. I pointed at a large rock. "It's under there."

"I got this," Clay said and quickly broke the rock into chunks.

I went over and grabbed the Century Egg when suddenly Omi yelled, "Wuya and Spicer!"

I turned. I saw a pale, red-headed boy and Wuya running towards me. I jumped and so did they. We were all touching the Century Egg. The red-head said to us, "Wuya and… name please."

"I prefer Kanna."

"Wuya and Kanna, I challenge you two to a three-way Xiaolin showdown. I wager my Monkey Staff against Wuya's Serpent's Tail and Kanna's… what Shen-gon-wu do you have?"

"Uhh." I was tossed the Shroud of Shadows by Kimiko. I turned to her. "Thanks."

"Uh… Kanna's Shroud of Shadows. The game is hop-scotch. First two to drop loses."

"Hop-scotch, Jack? How lame…" Kimiko scoffed.

"Shut up, Kimiko. Ever heard of Jack be nimble, Jack be quick? Let's go! Xiaolin Showdown!" Wuya and Jack and yelled.

The land shifted and pretty soon, the three of us stood on a ledge facing a hopscotch tablet floating over a dark ravine. "Gong-yi-tampai!" they yelled.

Wuya was up first. She threw the Serpent's Tail on one of the squares. She made it to the other side gracefully, picked up the Wu, and came back. It was my turn next. I threw the cloth and hopped. I made it to the cloth, picked it up, and hopped back to the platform. On the last jump, Jack stuck out his foot to trip, but with a higher leap, I jumped over him and kicked him off the platform from behind.

When Jack fell, the hopscotch changed into a snail shape.

"Oh no… I'm going to get dizzy and fall," I thought when suddenly, I came up with an idea. I smiled. "This'll be over soon…"

Wuya threw her Wu and was about to start hopping and I followed her, careful not be seen. As she bent down to pick up the Wu, I pushed her off the platform. She screamed, "CHEATER!" I smiled.

Everything from the showdown disappeared in a flash as I stood in front of the Wudai warriors holding the Shen-gon-wu I had retained and won.

"Too easy," Raimundo cheered.

Suddenly, Wuya came up to me. "Who are you and what do you have to do with Chase?"

I stared her in the eye and said, "Aw, c'mon Wuya. I can't believe you don't remember."

She eyed me carefully. "No, I can't recall your face, but your powers last night… they are familiar…"

"They must be, considering they helped put you away those many years ago."

She looked at me shocked. "Princess."