Author's Note: I hope everyone is having a marvellous seasonal holidays!

Bight thank you to InsanityisReality for her awesome beta skills!

A Perfect World

A part of Shendu couldn't believe that this was all real. It felt too good to be true, as if he were in a dream, or one of his own personal fantasies. But, with every thud of his footsteps, he knew it was no dream, and the sheer triumph he felt at having succeeded – finally – was uncontainable! Not only was he back in his rightful spot ruling Asia once more, but Chan and his accomplices were now completely under his thumb. All of his enemies were now finally put in their place. And what was more… he had Valerie.

When he had been rewriting the book, he had been sure not to have them already bound. His siblings would've called it foolishness, and a part of him was slapping himself for not taking the opportunity to already have limitless power. But there was one very good reason why Shendu didn't want to already be bound to Valerie: he wanted to experience it for himself.

When the magic of the Book of Ages had altered reality, it had simply given Shendu all the information and altered memories he would need. Like one of Valmont's computer programmes, the memories had been uploaded onto his mind, though he had never experienced them, it would seem as if he had. And he didn't want simple memories of Valerie binding herself to him, he wanted to experience it first-hand. He wanted to look into her eyes and see that she wanted him in that moment when they became one, just as much as he wanted her. Usually this kind of sentimentality would disgust him, perhaps it was one of the only aspects of his mother that had finally been passed down to him. But still, he didn't regret his decision.

He was still somewhat shocked to see her here with him, allowing him to touch her, to give her gifts, to make her the queen he always knew her to be. He couldn't get enough of this opportunity, which was why, even though he'd said he'd meet her in the banquet hall, he found himself going towards her chambers. Waiting for her would take too long, so he would escort her himself.

Knocking on the door, even though he had the right to just barge in if he wanted, he waited for her to call out softly, "Come in."

He opened the doors and strode in. Valerie was awaiting him in fresh beautiful robes befitting an Empress, the top half of her hair pulled back into a bun with sharp pins, whilst the rest of it was left to cascade down her back, perfectly combed. She stood straight and poised and collected as she awaited him. As he approached she dropped into a low curtsy of respect, perfectly courteous. Whilst Shendu enjoyed this new demeanour of obedience, he couldn't help but somewhat miss that fiery spirit Valerie had shown in the original reality. He'd liked it when she'd fought back.

Valerie arose from her bow and unafraid, cocked a brow at him. "Weren't you supposed to be waiting in the dining hall?"

Ah, there was that fire he loved to see. Valerie was still Valerie, just answering to a different master now. He couldn't keep in his grin.

"I thought perhaps I could escort you there," Shendu said as he hunched to bring his eyes closer to her level. "The evening is beautiful, it would be a shame to waste it."

"A shame indeed." Valerie smiled and walked with him out of her chambers.

They went down to the banquet hall together, side by side, as if they were equals. No slaves impeded their path, and the long and dark corridors were lit with torches that cast dancing shadows. Shendu watched Valerie out of the corner of his eyes, she seemed perfectly relaxed, though her expression seemed distant, as if she were thinking of something. She was so close to him, he could reach out an arm to touch her hair or her arm, and he would feel the rush of power she would give him. But he knew that before the binding such touches would be uncomfortable for her, and so restrained himself, no matter how much he wanted that feel of unlimited power in his veins.

"All of the preparations are going smoothly. Only one more day, and then the following evening, we shall be wed." He spoke without looking down at her, an excited smirk spreading across his snout.

"Yes, I am to see several seamstresses in the city tomorrow to make the final alterations to my attire." Valerie too continued to walk as she spoke, though he saw the smile in her painted lips.

"Could you not do so in the palace?" Shendu looked down at her with a frown. "It would be safer."

Of course, in this new reality, all of his siblings still retained their memories, so they knew of Valerie, and so it was safe to assume that they would want her dead before she would give him an endless supply of power. It was why he insisted on having her in the palace with him and guarded at all times. It was why he had bred a ferocious dragon for her own personal use. It was all to help protect her from his siblings in the case that he could not – and he vowed that he would protect her, no matter the cost.

"Perhaps," she murmured with a nod. "But you're not allowed to see me in it. It is bad luck if you do before the ceremony."

He quirked a brow at her with a cunning smile. "I could astral project myself to spy on you. You would never know."

She shot him a playful glare with a smirk of her own. "You will not, or I will make sure you pay for it –" She froze as the words left her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. She quickly stopped in her tracks and Shendu halted with her, even as she hurriedly bowed low to him as words tumbled out of her mouth. "Please forgive me, My Lord! That was too forward of me,"

"Please, I enjoy your brazen tongue, though you have never stopped it before." He chuckled.

She frowned up at him, and Shendu knew he had said too much. This Valerie didn't remember all the times she had exchanged verbal barbs with him. She would have no idea what he was talking about. This bravery in her was probably brought on by her boldness due to the banter they were sharing and also that he was being so favourable towards her. But he liked this side of her, and so would be sure to encourage it a little more, even if he kicked himself for contradicting the time lines. What he didn't need right now was anything messing up his perfect world.

"In any case," he continued as he redirected the subject back on track, walking forward once more as she caught up with him, although this time with more caution in her steps. "I'm sure you are prepared for the binding that will take place tomorrow. You know what you must do?"

"Yes… Yes, I know…" she murmured softly.

Shendu looked over at her, seeing her frown slightly as if deep in thought. "You are troubled, my dear?"

"It is nothing, My Lord,"

"There is no need for such formalities, when you are to be my wife soon,"

"But then you will be my lord and my husband."

Shendu chuckled darkly. "Then your lord and master now commands you use his name."

"Shendu?" She looked up at him, confused.

The fire demon stopped and turned to her, leaning closer until his face was hovering inches from her own. "Say it again…" he whispered huskily to her.

"Why?"

"I like to hear it upon your lips…"

She swallowed, a little unsure, before she spoke in a heavy whisper: "Shendu…"

Shendu almost purred as a tingling warmth filled his lower belly, a ripple running down his spine. Oh, the things he wanted right now… but he held himself back, settling for grinning at her as his heavily lidded eyes pierced into hers. "Hmmm, I will enjoy hearing it many times in the days… and nights… ahead of us."

She blushed adorably at his heavy hidden meaning, and he chuckled before straightening and carrying on their journey.

The came to the banquet hall, jade floors shined to perfection reflecting the ornate gold ceiling above them. Candles lined the huge table that was filled with food. Shendu pulled out the chair for Valerie at one end, and tucked her in as she sat down, before sitting at the other end of the table. Valerie had the most dinner dishes, and ate with perfect manners. Although Shendu had eaten earlier, he was given a few bits and pieces to nibble on in order to join in with the activity. He'd once told Valerie in the original reality that she would find his eating to be rather disgusting, though Valerie in this reality seemed to have gotten used to it, for she barely noticed. It made him smile smugly.

They ate in silence for a while, but he felt the woman's constantly shift towards him, and he could almost see the wheels turning in her head. He wondered as to what she was thinking. But after a while, she finally glanced up at him, lowering her spoon as she tried to voice her words.

"Shendu… have you ever thought if… there were lives beyond this?" she asked with slight trepidation.

"What?" Shendu blinked in confusion.

"A life beyond this one," she clarified with a gesture to their surroundings.

"Do you mean as in the afterlife?" He cocked a brow, before snorting humourlessly. "I know that there is a hell for my kind. Whether there is a heaven remains to be seen."

"I meant lives as in… what would be different, if we'd chosen different things? If there were different circumstances?" she continued to ask, and Shendu looked up at her, his eyes carefully guarded as a sixth sense of warning began to rear its head inside of him.

"And what, pray tell, has brought this on?" he asked, trying to keep the suspicion out of his voice.

She seemed a little nervous, as if she knew that he suspected something was wrong. "I… It is simply a philosophical question. My mind merely wandered to it."

"It is foolishness."

"Won't you please just entertain me with it? Just for arguments sake?" She smiled at him sweetly, as if nothing at all were wrong. Shendu thought for a moment. If her mind had innocently wandered to this, then it would seem strange of him not to answer, despite the fact that this line of questioning was far too close to recent events for his comfort. But, when she smiled at him that way, who was he to deny her?

The dragon sighed. "Very well. Different lives? I suppose under different circumstances, I might have been my mother's sole child, leaving me the entire earth and my siblings no longer in existence."

"You would enjoy a world such as that." She smirked at him.

"I would certainly get more peace," he chuckled with her.

"A classic one then: in a world where up is down and down is up."

"Then we are all upside down and bats have been standing the right way up for years." He rolled his eyes, the line of questioning beginning to grow tedious.

"What about… a world where humans ruled?"

Shendu grew very still. He looked at her slowly, and saw that she regretted her words as a look of fear entered her eyes. "Now, I believe… you are becoming truly foolish," he said slowly. "Why do you think of such things? Such questions could be dangerous…"

"I–I meant no harm by it," she stammered quickly.

"I know." He hushed her with his soothing voice, working his persuasive tongue to put her at ease once more and back in his good graces. "But please do not think on such things anymore. All is as it should be. You are here with me, and we are to rule this world. What more could we possibly desire?"

"Of course." She nodded dutifully.

They ate again in relative silence. Shendu watched Valerie out of the corner of his eyes. She was ever obedient, having learned from her mistake, but she didn't sacrifice her pride by being humble. At least he still knew that her honour had remained intact during the rewrite.

After a short while, he broke the silence just for the sake of conversation. "I have received a message from my brother, Hsi Wu,"

"And what does the Emperor of the sky wish of you this time?" Valerie asked dryly.

"He has requested we exchange slaves."

"Oh?" She frowned, and Shendu saw something akin to dread form on her face. "Who?"

Shendu couldn't hide his grin. "The youngest Chan, the girl known as Jade."

"What?!" she gasped. Shendu looked at her strangely, and the woman quickly hurried to explain her outburst. "Uh, surely you would offer him a… better slave then one of the cursed ones?"

"Hsi Wu has requested her specifically." Not to mention the fact that Shendu would love to see the girl put through whatever torturous schemes Hsi Wu might have planned.

"Why?"

"It is required in order to form a proper alliance between us brothers." A plan of Shendu's that he'd been in the middle of preparing if he was to survive the political shift that would surely soon happen amongst his brethren once both himself and Hsi Wu were connected to their others…that is, if Jade survived that long.

"Do not send her." Valerie begged hurriedly, her words pulling Shendu from his thoughts sharply.

"What?"

"Please Shendu, she is only a girl, and you know the lengths of cruelty your siblings can go to,"

"She is a slave, and beneath you. You should not concern yourself with her," he told Valerie like a parent repeating a lesson for the twentieth time.

"Then for my peace of mind, let me keep her, just a little while longer. She is only a child…" Valerie's eyes were pleading with him, her voice almost sounding desperate. What had brought this on? "Please, let me have this one thing, if only for a few days…"

There was that look again, the one he could never refuse. He sighed again. "Very well. To please you, I shall make the girl your handmaiden. She will help attend you until the wedding – after which, she will be sent to Hsi Wu's tower in the Americas."

"Thank you, Shendu." Valerie sighed with a smile of relief. Despite the fact that Shendu wanted the Chan girl gone already, he knew the decision was worth it just for that smile.

The meal continued with relative ease. Valerie had a glass of wine, and even Shendu enjoyed a goblet of it. They talked as the dishes were exchanged, and all appeared to be completely normal once more. Shendu's mind was put back at ease. But then, when the meal finished, Shendu's new memories of what they usually did during the rewrite made themselves apparent, and he felt a bubble of excitement in his belly.

"Should we practice before you head back to your chambers?" he asked her.

Instantly Valerie looked up at him with a delighted grin. "Oh, yes please!"

Seeing as the banquet hall was rather large, there was plenty of room on either side of the massive table for their activity. Standing from the table, the two walked around to each other, and Shendu directed Valerie to turn and face towards the wall twenty feet away. A table was against the wall with a fragile blue vase nestled on top.

As another way to help Valerie defend herself from any hostile attacks from his jealous siblings, Shendu had been teaching her in chi-magic, apprenticing her in how to harness her own life energy and turn it into a force to defend herself. It was something that they had both been deeply involved in, and seeing as how Valerie would soon have a boost of power thanks to the binding ceremony that was going to take place, it made sense.

Valerie did as she was told and stood facing towards her target, her stance already a little wider as if prepared for battle. Shendu muttered a few words under his breath, and used his own magic to shrink himself down. His body was merely a shell to house his demon essence, and therefore was easily changeable in certain aspects thanks to magic. It was why Bai Tza could morph her body into different forms like the flow of water. Shendu could shrink himself down or make himself larger, to a certain degree. For the purpose of this lesson, he shrunk himself down from his fifteen foot tall form, to seven feet tall. It made him more on Valerie's level, though he still dwarfed her. He also knew that this height would be much better for when it came to his and Valerie's wedding night…

"Remember: hold out your hand, it will give your mind more focus on its direction," Shendu told her as he loomed behind her, keeping his body as close as he could to hers without actually touching her. "Magic is within you, deep down, I know it. Just reach in and grasp it, and let it out."

Valerie did as he instructed, her face pinching in concentration as she held out her hand towards the vase. Gritting her teeth, he felt her try to reach for her magic. "But… it is difficult…"

"Keep trying," he whispered.

Continuing, Valerie tried to pull on her own chi, though with little success. Shendu knew this would be difficult for her, as mortals found it a little harder to access their chi naturally to use it like this. Chi Wizards were the exception as they had a natural talent for it. But he had to admire Valerie for her persistence. She kept trying until her arm was shaking and he could see her forehead perspiring. He felt a subtle wave of magic filter out of her, though it was only enough to make the vase wobble.

Valerie slumped in exhaustion, looking down dejectedly. "It appears I am doomed to failure."

"No you're not. Don't ever think that." He snapped his red eyes down to her sternly.

"I have all the knowledge – I know exactly how to do this… but… actually doing it…" She looked at the vase, and sighed.

"Try again. Once more."

Setting her jaw, Valerie did once more try to summon her magic. And, whilst she was in the middle of straining her hardest in an attempt to unlock the blast within her, Shendu subtly reached out a claw and touched her shoulder. Valerie gasped, eyes widening and her body went rigid. Power flowed into both of them, and in that moment of uncontrolled energy, a blast shot out of Valerie with such force that it shattered the vase and made a crater in the wall behind it.

"Ah!" Valerie gasped in shock as she quickly retracted her hand.

Shendu broke their contact and the power between them ceased. He smirked down at her. "You see?"

"That was no fair. You did that." She looked up at him with a pout.

"It worked, didn't it?"

"But I will never learn if you keep helping me."

"When we are bound, you will have all of that power at your grasp, and it will be as easy as it just was." He gestured to the damage she had inflicted with a wave of his claws. "That is not me cheating, that is simply me showing you what is definitely to come. It is as you say my dear: you know how to work the magic, you simply lack the proper force. Once our chi's have combined, you will have that force."

Valerie looked at the wall, and then back to him with a slight nod. "I suppose… you are correct."

"I always am." With a snap of his fingers, two slaves appeared and hurriedly went about sweeping up the mess Valerie had made. He then gestured towards the door with a sweep of his muscular arm. "Now, I believe that is enough for one night. Let us both retire."

As was routine, Shendu walked with Valerie alone towards her rooms. It was late in the night by this point, and so the halls were deserted and even the torch light had dimmed, but still they managed to find their way. Remaining in his slightly shrunken form, Shendu walked with Valerie coming up to his chest height, making her still much smaller then him, though they were more compatible in this size…

At last they came to her door, and she turned towards him, a small smile curving her lips as she looked up at him. "As always, thank you for a lovely evening, Shendu."

"I wouldn't have it any other way…" he spoke softly to her, never taking his eyes off of her for a moment. She looked up at him, and he was suddenly held captive by her stare. How long had he waited for those eyes to look upon him so? It was almost too good to be true, and if this all truly was a dream, Shendu knew that he would kill the fool who dared to try and wake him.

He then leaned down towards her, slowly, cautiously, awaiting the moment when she would step away from him or tell him to stop. But she didn't. He approached until he was a hairsbreadth away from her. Then, all at once, he pressed his scaly lips against hers and kissed her.

There was that rush of energy between them with a jolt as their flesh touched, and Shendu felt invigorated by the flush he felt run through him. Valerie gasped at the overwhelming power that filled her, which only allowed Shendu to deepen the kiss further. He was drunk on the power she gave him, addicted to her very presence, longing for all the distances between them to finally close.

Tentatively, he felt her return his kiss, and no sweeter joy had ever swept through him as it did in that moment. He was reminded then, that this was why he hadn't skipped this part when he'd rewritten the Book of Ages, for it was so much better to experience it first-hand. Valerie's kiss was sweet and tender, but he could feel an underlying fire inside of her just waiting to be unleashed. And oh, did he look forward to seeing her lose that control, to bask him in that fire. He was so glad he'd waited for this, for as he'd predicted, the gift freely given was now so much more sweeter to behold.

Valerie moaned, and Shendu shuddered to keep himself in control, but knew that she was starting to feel pain at their contact, and reluctantly broke the kiss. Suddenly the wedding couldn't come fast enough, for with the binding ceremony Valerie would no longer feel pain at their joined touch, and so he would be free to enjoy her without hurting her. But his mind was settled when he realised that he had just kissed her goodnight – something he had once told her he would do. And now she looked up with him, lips slightly swollen and flushed from his kiss, cheeks blushing, and her chest heaving to breathe. He'd never found her more delicious.

He traced a claw through her hair, careful not to touch her in case of triggering the power exchange again. Leaning further down towards her, he brought his snout close to her ear, and his voice came out in a husky purr. "I promise you… that after tomorrow is done, with the next dawn, we shall be married, joined as one. And everything… will be perfect."

"Yes I am!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!"

"No Jade, you're not!" Jackie scowled down at the little girl who was sitting beside him on the floor as the family ate. A meagre meal of bread and dried meat, it had done nothing to improve Jade's mood over her family's treatment.

"Yes I am right, Jackie! This is not the way things are supposed to be!" Jade snapped back just as stubbornly.

Jade's father looked between the two usually close family members with growing trepidation. "Jade, cousin Jackie, could you both please keep your voices down…"

"It is bad enough you snuck away to talk to her Ladyship," Jackie continued to scold the girl, his eyes utterly furious with her. "If anyone knew about it, or worse if she reported you –"

"Val would never do that! She's my friend!" The girl retorted defensively.

"And stop saying her name!" Jackie added quickly. "And she is not your friend, she is to be Shendu's wife."

"Jackie we gotta stop this." She pleaded up to him with horror filled eyes. "You can't let her marry that monster!"

Her uncle, however, didn't seem too worried. "Her fate is chosen, you would do well not to think on it anymore. For all our sakes, Jade, do not get into any more trouble."

"And we should leave this topic of conversation, lest we draw unwanted attention to ourselves…" Jade's mother murmured as she made herself as small as she could possibly be, hunched over her bowl of rice.

"Tch. What, we can't even speak freely in our own homes now?" Jade snapped sulkily.

Jackie glared at her. "No. We cannot."

"Why?"

"If we are discovered to be guilty of treason…" Jackie gulped. "You have no idea of the punishment we will receive."

"What's the big deal? Uncle can just hocus-pocus the demons and –" Jade's eyes widened when she realised that she still hadn't seen Uncle in this new reality. Her heart pounded for a moment as she prayed that nothing had happened to him. "Hey, where is Uncle?"

"Uncle lives in the palace," Jade's father smiled proudly.

Her mother nodded. "He is Emperor Shendu's library boy, very good position,"

Jade groaned. "Great, so not even Uncle is gonna help us take down the demons?"

"We are not going to take down the demons!" Jackie reprimanded her.

"But Jackie –"

"No. It's time you learned what happens to those who break the law." Her uncle said with finality as he stood.

Jade felt her stomach suddenly turn to ice with dread. "Uh… what?"

"No! You cannot! She is too young!" her mother gasped.

"I wish I didn't have to…" Jackie looked down at the ground in regret. "But if she doesn't see sense then she will soon end up dead."

Jade's parents looked at each other. There was a pregnant pause, before the pair of them sighed in defeat. "Very well."

Jackie then walked out of the house, and Jade was compelled to follow him. Despite the fact that apparently there was a curfew and slaves were now meant to be in their homes for the night, Jackie easily avoided detection as he hopped from shadow to shadow, with Jade closely following at his heels. They made their way slowly towards the ramparts of the walls that surrounded the city, and began to climb the stairs up to the top. Jade could see Jackie's shoulders becoming tense with every step they took.

He looked back at her with a guilty look on his face that made her stomach twist as they came to the top. "Please don't hate me for showing you this… but you leave me no choice."

"Why would I hate – ah!"

Jade's gasp of horror couldn't even best describe the atrocity that was in front of her.

The body of a woman was hung up and nailed and chained to a post driven into the top of the wall. The body was stripped down to mere rags that covered the woman's modesty, though only barely. There were lacerations along the flesh so deep that the muscles were now ribbons barely strung together, the dried blood had stained the pale skin to the colour of rust. Burns and marks of stab wounds lined the feet and hands and ribs. This person had obviously been here awhile, for the stench of decay surrounded it until Jade was almost gagging.

But what made Jade nearly start sobbing in horror and grief, was that she recognised the long locks of red hair and the now lifeless green eyes…

"Nat…" the girl whispered, tears stinging her eyes. She forced herself to look away, unable to bear the sight a second longer as she tried to keep her composure.

"A year ago, this woman along with her family tried to lead a rebellion against the demon emperors." Jackie explained to her in a dead voice, as if he too were horrified, but was so tired as well. Jade turned to look at his mournful face, needing something to focus on other than the horrific image behind her. "They tried to use forbidden magic and outlawed martial art skills, thinking it would help them. Lord Shendu used his astral projection powers to spy on the woman and realise her plans. His forces killed her family and captured and then tortured her for months… and then they killed her… her body is now left here to remind those to never again defy the demons."

"Jackie…" Jade whispered, coming up to him and taking hold of his hand in her two little ones, her eyes pleading up at him. "You gotta know this is bad… Shendu can't get away with this."

"I know," Jackie sighed. "But what can I do? I'm just a food servant… his slave…"

"The Jackie Chan I knew was nobody's whipping-boy." Jade told him sincerely, squeezing his hand in an attempt to comfort him. "He was a hero."

Her beloved uncle blinked and looked down at her in surprise. "He was?"

"And you can be again Jackie." She smiled for him. "Help me fix history. Help me re-write the Book of Ages."

Jackie was silent for a moment, his eyes gazing out into the distance. For a wonderful moment, Jade thought he would agree with her, and then they could both try and sneak into the palace and stop Shendu that very night! But then, Jackie looked back out over the city, his hands coming behind Jade in order to push her back down the steps so that they could retreat back the way they had come.

"We will discuss this tomorrow. For now, we should sleep." He murmured.

Jade sighed, knowing that she should be thankful that at least Jackie was now contemplating what she'd said at least…

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