Author's Note: So I've been looking at some Xiaolin Showdown videos recounting clips from the TV show and I decided that I wanted to make a Xiaolin Showdown fanfic. It's been hard deciding which martial arts hero would be part of this adventure, and eventually, I decided with Katana. I've always enjoyed her character in all her iterations. So I've decided to include her in the hunt for the Shen Gong Wu.

Hope you enjoy this new story. I know I am. Any and all comments are welcome.

The late night meant it was time for sleep. The Japanese man lead his little daughter over to her bed. Still, the girl couldn't sleep until she heard what she wanted to hear.

"Father, could you tell me a story?" the girl asked.

The father chuckled. "Sure thing. What would you like to hear?"

The girl looked at the adjacent room through her open door. From there, she saw a sheathed katana displayed on top of a shelf. "Tell me the legend of the katana."

"That one? My dear, I've told you that story a hundred times."

"But it's my favorite. Please?" The girl widened her eyes cutely which her father gave in to.

"Tatsu Yamashiro, I can never resist your eyes. Speaking of which, close them and see the story in your head."

Little Tatsu smiled and closed her eyes seeing the events of the story as her father told them.

"1500 ago, there was a woman named Masako. She lived with her family on the countryside. They didn't have much, but they had each other and that was enough. However, one day, a dark force made its way into their land. Their whole village found themselves invaded by an evil enchantress who enslaved everyone there.

"Masako left the village in the dead of night in order to find help. But the legend of her enemy's power reached all over Japan and no one was brave enough to lend her their aid. So instead of finding help, she had to lend it herself. She turned to an elderly blacksmith and asked him for a weapon that would have her defend her village from the forces of evil. The blacksmith heard Masako's pleas and began his work. After three days of waiting, the blacksmith gave a strong, noble sword to Masako. She was finally ready.

"When she returned to her village, Masako confronted the witch and demanded for her departure. She merely laughed at that demand, so Masako unsheathed her katana ready to take on the vile sorceress. The two clashed, magic against blade. In the end, Masako triumphed and had slain the witch with her katana. The village was saved, and Masako was praised for years to come. One day, Masako had heard of evil forces beyond the borders of Japan. She didn't want to leave her home, but she had a responsibility to protect the world from evil. So she left to fight the dark forces all over the world. In the generations after that, the katana has been passed down from one member of the family to the next. And now, it rests here, under our roof, under my care. And one day, Tatsu Yamashiro, it will be yours."

Tatsu yawned tucking herself in her sheets. "I always love that story."

"I know you do." The father kissed her good night and left the room to let her sleep.

Tatsu's father was just about done with the candles and began to put them out. But right when he was done, something landed at his windowsill. He turned and looked curiously at the falcon with a rolled-up piece of paper tied to its leg. He took the paper and unrolled it. He read words written in black ink that filled him with fear and dread.

"He found the sword. He is coming."

Yamashiro dropped the paper and lost his breath. He turned to the katana and didn't waste time taking it from its resting place. He then ran right into Tatsu's bedroom. The rush inside woke her up and she rubbed her eyes.

"Father?" Tatsu asked. "What's going on?"

"There's no time. We're in…"

The distant sound of something snapping outside interrupted him. He breathed loudly before dropping to the floor. He grabbed a part of it and lifted it off easily. Tatsu looked at how a small, but roomy space was hidden underneath. Yamashiro pulled Tatsu out of her bed, gave her the sword, and guided her into the space below.

"Father, what's going on?" Tatsu asked with worry.

"There's no time to explain." Yamashiro said. "Listen. No matter what happens or what you hear, stay down here, keep the sword safe, and don't make a sound. Promise me."

"Father, I…"

"Promise."

Tatsu heard the desperation in her father's voice. She let out a breath and calmed herself down. "Okay. I promise."

Yamashiro lifted the fake floor and placed it back where he found it, which was right above where Tatsu was hiding.

Tatsu kept her word and stayed quiet. All she could hear was the sound of the door breaking followed by a pair of voices. She knew one of them was her father, but the other voice didn't even sound human. It had a hissing, beastly tone.

"Where is the sword, Yamashiro?"

"Not here. Leave."

Tatsu heard the beastly voice growl before it spoke again. "You're trying my patience."

"I don't know exactly what you want from the sword, but you'll never have it. Not as long as I live."

"Well, if that's what it takes…"

The sound of slashing and something falling almost made Tatsu gasp. Thankfully, she covered her mouth before a single sound escaped from it. Tatsu had her fears about what happened, but she made a promise to her father and she wouldn't break it. She continued hearing growls along with slow, heavy footsteps walking above her. She did her best to hold it in. One rasping sound later, and the footsteps lead out of the bedroom. Still, she was too afraid to come out; not of the beast that was up there, but of how she might find her father.

Tatsu stayed in her hiding place. She didn't dare sleep, so she has been awake for two hours. All that time, and she was still afraid to come out. However, she didn't have a choice anymore.

The floor above her began to shake and shift. Tatsu gave a silent gasp as it was lifted up. She expected the worst. However, the person who was then revealed wasn't beastly at all. It was a bald, muscular man with a rectangle head and closed eyes. He wore a brown robe that didn't cover his right side of his chest along with a red string made of beads.

The man offered his hand to the young girl he just found. "Are you Tatsu Yamashiro?"

One look, and Tatsu could tell that this man was friendly. She took his hand and he helped her up. "What… What happened to my father?"

The bald man lowered his head and frowned. "I'm sorry, young one. I came as quickly as I could, but it was already far too late."

Tatsu lost her breath. She fell to her knees and broke down into tears. She still had her arms wrapped around her family's katana. The bald man knelt down in front of her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm very sorry, young one. There's nothing I can do to change what happened. But I can still help you. My name is Master Monk Guan, and I believe I can help you find peace."

Tatsu took the man's words to heart. Her tears settled down and she felt a strong connection form suddenly between her and her sword.

EIGHT YEARS LATER

Armed with her family's blade, Tatsu trained herself to be the most proficient swordswoman in the temple she trained at. Master Monk Guan taught her very well. During her entire time there, she kept her resolve with only one goal in her mind: to avenge her father.

Tatsu ran across the rooftops in the morning that was so early, it was still dark. She sped herself up leaping from one roof of the temple to the next. Her next leap would take her to a bundled up collection of bamboo stalks. She gripped her sword as she came to the edge of the roof. She threw herself right off and flew toward the bamboo. In just a blink, Tatsu landed on the other side of the bamboo with her sword unsheathed. She returned to a standing position and sheathed her sword once again. Right when she did, the bamboo behind her were cut from their roots and fell to the ground.

Tatsu turned to see her master clapping with a smile. "Very good, Tatsu. That might be your best time yet."

Tatsu bowed. "Thank you, Master Monk Guan. I worked very hard."

Guan still had a hard time believing this was the same eight-year old girl he had rescued before. He lowered his head for a brief moment before picking it back up.

"I have some news. I'm afraid your training will not continue under me."

Tatsu widened her eyes. "Master?"

"I am sending you to the Xiaolin Temple under the tutelage of Master Fung." Guan said. "He will continue your training."

"Sir, with all due respect," Tatsu said, "I fail to see why I need to learn under anyone else."

"Because I will not be here for a long while, I'm afraid. I'm going on a journey."

"And I cannot go with?"

"Sadly, no. This is not a quest you are ready for. Not to worry, though. I will have my Staff of Guan with me. Do you understand?"

Tatsu hesitated to answer for a moment, but after some thinking, she nodded with reluctance. "Yes, master. When do I leave?"

"The break of dawn. So I suggest you start packing."

Tatsu nodded. As her master left, she raised her sword in front of her. She unsheathed it by only a bit, just enough to see her reflection in the blade. It was all she needed to strengthen her resolve.