The Gem of The Past pt 5



Shadow froze solid.

“Ch-Ch-Chase… Y-Young?” She squeaked.

Her hands and legs began trembling wildly as she stumbled to side, leaving a red smear where her shoulder had been.

“No, no, no, no… this can’t be right…” she laughed nervously. “Y-you… you’re… but, y-you can’t be… oh, no…” A shaking hand gripped Shadow’s head as pain consumed her every thought. She felt her throat narrow with fearful confusion, making her words quiet and whispered. “No… no, it can’t be… Ooohhh…” Shadow moaned in agony as her head throbbed.

Chase smirked as he placed the last puzzle piece into her mind. Now, all that was left was—

Shadow yelped as an excruciating pain enveloped her every nerve, ramming her clean off her stride and onto the floor with a loud thud. She hissed and clutched her head in torture; her whole body felt like it would explode with the horrendousness of it. Then, at the very brink, it all came back to her.

It all came back to her.

Her family; becoming a Wanderer; obtaining the Gem of The Past; staying with Chase; learning martial arts; the Soup; the evil tasks; losing power to Shadow of the Night; and the fossilization.

And as these memories came back - as these past joys and tortures returned - her forehead began to give off a very bright red glow. The glow brightened steadily, and the imprisoned monks watched in awed fear as the light got even brighter. Brighter and brighter and i>brighter and just as it seemed when it could get no brighter, Dojo – who had been completely forgotten about – shot out from Clay’s hat shaking like a Hawaiian in the Arctic.

“GAAAAAAAH!!!!!! The Gem of The Past has revealed itseeeeeeeeelf!!!!!!!!!!!”

On cue, the blood red light shattered calmly into a shower of little red sparks. Now, all of them could clearly see a red Gem sitting upon Shadow’s forehead.

As the last of the sparks vanished a set of red lines appeared, moving along her head like quicksilver to curve into a swirl on each side of the Gem.

Several moments went by where Shadow just lay there. Eventually, the girl groaned and slowly lifted a hand to her head.

“Ooohhh… man, did that hurt!”

Achingly, Shadow stood up and stretched backwards, hearing her spine crinkle like bubble-wrap, then turned back to an unsurprisingly unmoved Chase Young.

“Well, Chase, I must say you know how to make an introduction. Oh, and uh, thanks for restoring my memory, by the way.” The girl added sarcastically.

Chase chuckled. “Same ol’ Shadow.”

Shadow frowned. “Yeah, except now, ‘same ol’ Shadow’ remembers you, and where I’ve seen you. Or, rather,” Shadow paused. “When I’ve seen you.”

Chases smile didn’t falter. “Yes; you do. Now that I’ve properly introduced myself,” The warlord gestured up to his prisoners. “Perhaps you would like to fill your friends in.”

Shadow grimaced angrily and stepped back in a fighting stance. “Oh, they’ll find out everything; later.”

Lightning sprang at Chase with shocking speed. “Monkey Strike!!!”

Chase narrowed his eyes and barred his teeth with displeasure. Shifting into kicking stance, he snarled, “Repulse the Monkey!””

The moment Shadow came within reach Chase back-flipped, making sure to deal the girl a crushing kick to the stomach as a good reminder of which attack never to use.

Shadow shrieked as she went flying over Chase, her gut harshly trampled. As Young landed soundlessly, Shadow sharply twisted her body and caught the thin pillar she had been tossed to. It hurt her muscles tremendously, but knew she had no other choice. Shadow spun around the pillar until she was aimed at Chase again, and let go.

“DEFY the Repulser!!!!”

Shadows foot caught Chase square in the neck before he could even block. The overlord was thrown back sharply, and hurtled into the stone door hard.

Shadow didn’t waste a moment of the preciously-won time. Immediately, Lightning darted across the floor and snatched up the Orb of Tornami and Reversing Mirror she had dropped upon being round-house kicked. She bolted straight up to the wall her fellow monks were trapped against and skidded with Mirror brandished high. Aiming it as closely as she could, the fifth monk shouted, “Reversing Mirror!”

The white beam of counter-energy zoomed up from the magical Mirror. Up and up, closer and closer, and as the counter-energy hit the high wall it pooled around the magical bindings like water, doing its job perfectly. The Heylin shackles dissolved like soaking cotton candy, instantly releasing Omi, Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo.

They all soared downward and landed smoothly onto the marble floor. Kimiko and Clay withdrew their Star Hanabi and Fist of Tebigong. The Wu in Shadows hands glinted yellow, but the light faded as she handed them back over to Raimundo and Omi.

“What’d you do?” Rai asked, turning the Reversing Mirror over in his hands curiously.

“What – to the Shen-Gong-Wu? Oh, I didn’t do anything; it did something to me.”

Before any of them could inquire further, a dark aura encased Lightning, lifting her off the ground hastily. Just as suddenly, she was hurled across the Palace with bone-crushing force. The monks heard Shadow cry out in agonizing pain and slump to the floor. Chase effortlessly rose from the floor.

“I’m not sure how you learned ‘Defy the Repulser,’ Shadow of the Day, but it would do you well not to use a move you haven’t practiced.”

Shadow rubbed her sensitive shoulder and turned to face Young, a smirk creasing her lips. “I just did, didn’t I? I must have mastered it, since it worked on you.”

Then, Chase did something Shadow didn’t expect at all;

He laughed.

He threw his head back in a full, wicked, truly amused laugh.

“Ah Shadow, it seems your memory is still quite hazy. You are not just fighting a Heylin overlord,” The warrior remarked with a devious smirk.

Then, his eyes went bloodshot.

The armor melted into Chase’s rapidly toughening flesh as he transformed into a five-hundred pound killing machine; his dragon form.

The color drained from Shadows face at seeing the oh-so-familiar dragon before her, and tittered nervously. “Oh, uh, hehe… yeah; kinda… forgot about the whole… lizard-thing… ”

The dragon stomped closer, and Shadow, after stumbling to her feet, backed away timidly. “You may be able to trick my human form, but my true form is not so easy to fight, you will soon find.”

Shadow seemed quite frightened – for a moment. Then Shadow looked him over briefly, and the fear seemed to vanish from her eyes.

“Y’know, Chase,” She began conversationally, “I think I liked you better before. You’re actually scarier as a human.”

Shadow was not there for long. In a flashing instant, the two where flying in every direction around the Palace. Chase was throwing every attack imaginable at Shadow, who was just barely escaping the evil lord’s clutches.

“Any day now, guys!!!” Shadow shouted down to her fellow monks, and leapt off of a pillar that Chase promptly destroyed.

The four answered to the request immediately and charged at their friend’s attacker. Every Shen-Gong-Wu they had was being used to hold off the deadly claws and jaws of Chase’s dragon body, but despite all their experience and effort they couldn’t hit the overlord hard enough to faze him.

Shadow jumped out of the fray briefly and hid behind a giant chunk of the ruined pillar. “There must be some way to beat him!” She whispered to herself. “I know him best; I should know his weak—”

Then, an idea hit her.

The Dragon of Lightning hid behind the rubble and waited until Raimundo got rammed in the chest by Chase’s tail and was thrown right near her hiding place. Shadow grabbed his upper arm and gently dragged him behind the crumbled pillar before Chase could notice.

“Rai! Raimundo, you okay?” She whispered, quickly covering him from a blast of fire.

Rai grunted, but sat up in a jip. “Yeah, I’m fine. C’mon, let’s go—”

Shadow covered his mouth. “Shh! I’ve got a plan!”

“Really? Well, spill!”

“What’s Chase’s element?”

“Wha—? I dunno; water?”

“And what’s his armor made of?”

“Metal?”

“Right; and what’s my element?”

“Lightning – ooohhh, I see where you’re going with this.” Raimundo remarked with a sly smirk. “But he’s in his dragon form right now.”

It was Shadow’s turn to smirk. “That’s where you come in.”

She whispered a few things to the Brazilian and soon they were both back in the fight. Shadow and Raimundo tried doubling up with their elements, and did some pretty good damage to the overlord throughout the fight. Good, but still not enough to hurt him seriously.

“Now?” Raimundo shouted as he leapt to avoid another tail whip.

“Not yet!” Shadow confirmed.

Rai jumped behind the warlord and speared his back with a sharp and precise blast of wind. It earned a snarl, but only angered the warrior more. Raimundo dodged another tail whip swiftly.

“Now!?”

“Now!!” Shadow shouted.

Raimundo immediately withdrew the Sword of the Storm and started whipping it in Chase’s direction. “Sword of the Storm!!!! Typhoon Boom; WIND!!!!!”

Chase turned and crossed his lizard arms in front of his face to hold back the tornado-strength winds whipping across his scales.

“It’s going to take more than that, Dragon of the Wind!” Chase growled over the whistling jet stream.

“Oh, you’re right,” Raimundo mocked. The Shoku warrior mumbled a few inaudible incantations, and thrust the swirling sword forward. The power of the tornado amplified to the greatest strength the world had known since… ever.

The strength of the vortex was so powerful that it blew Chase clean off his scaly feet. Raimundo changed the flow of the current with his wind-bending powers so Chase was lifted nearly fifty feet into the air.

“Now, Omi!!” Raimundo shouted across the room. “Blast him with the Orb!!!”

Omi didn’t ask; he had no time to ask. The roundest monk blasted the orb beneath his small body, propelling the boy high-high up to Chase’s altitude.

“Orb of Tornami!!!!!!” The bald one screamed, and aimed the jet of water straight at the giant lizard. “Water!!!!”

Omi hit his target without flaw.

Chase was hurtled clear out of the jet stream and zipping through the air drenched in water from head to toe. All five of the monks winced in unintentional sympathy as they heard and saw the lizard man crash against the wall. Just as soon as the excess water splashed against the marble, Chase plunged to the ground with unstoppable speed.

Unstoppable by anything, save for the ground.

Shadow cringed and closed her eyes only seconds before the dragon smashed into the ground. She hoped he wasn’t dead; even if he was evil, he was still like a father to her. In a twisted, love/hate sort of way, but still…

Chase was in so much pain that holding onto his transformation was no longer possible. With a weak shimmer, Young quietly reverted back to his human form. The Heylin lord caught a moan of pain before it could escape and instead tried to move his scorching arms.

“Eye of Dashi! Thorn of Thunderbolts! LIGHTNING!!!!!”

Young never got the chance.

In a flashing instant, Chase’s body was consumed by a lightning blast too strong for even him to endure. His entire self felt like every last nerve had been set on white-fire. It was all too intense, too powerful; his soaking clothes and metal armor acted as perfect conductors.

The warrior arched to the sky with an ear-splitting roar that was not in any way human. Shadow held the Shen-Gong-Wu tight in her trembling hands and halfhearted watched his pain. In the pit of her stomach was a mixture of hurt sorrow and wicked delight at hearing that excruciating howl.

Lightning closed her eyes and turned her head away. Shadow didn’t want to look, but she knew Chase deserved every last ounce of pain felt. It was nothing compared to what she had to endure all those years ago.

Past her shut eyes, Shadow could hear the roar getting louder, stronger, more intense, more inhuman, until finally the dragon lord’s mind and body caved into the strain of it all. His cry died away with a sigh and his body dropped dead-still.

Immediately, Shadow cut off all the lightning power.

Long moments went by; moments of silent shock and nervous tension. None of them let their guard down; they were too frightened that Chase would spring back alive and jump at them faster than thought. But finally, the silence was broken.

Kimiko hesitated at first. “He-he’s not… is he?” She couldn’t get herself together enough to utter the word.

“Probably is.” Raimundo stated simply, no sympathy in his tone whatsoever.

“He isn’t.” Shadow said as she put the Wu back in her robes, her eyes never leaving Young’s unmoving figure. “Or at least, he shouldn’t be.”

There was another long pause, until Shadow began moving toward Chase’s figure.

“You’ll get shocked,” Clay protested quietly.

“No, I won’t.” She reassured.

As Lightning lowered her knee to the floor a mixture of emotions and impulses clamored around in her mind. She could hear them.

“Please be alive – ‘bout time he saw the light – how could you do such a thing – at last – he had it coming from the start – do I really want him dead—” The voices shouted, approved, accused, demanded reason, and quarreled; Shadow could hardly hear her own mental voice over them all.

Trying to ignore them, Shadow looked over Chase’s body a few times – grateful that his eyes were closed – and placed two fingers on his neck. Ironically, the moment she touched him all those voices went dead silent.

The residual lightning energy pulsed through Chase’s neck straight into Shadow’s arm, but it hurt no more than a static shock from a doorknob. Shadow shook it off and focused on her fingers.

…

One second.

…

Two seconds.

…

_Thum-bum

“He’s alive,” Shadow announced. There wasn’t any real emotion in her tone; it was just a simple statement.

Lightning heard four sighs from behind her; two were of relief, one was definitely aggravation, and one could’ve meant anything at all.

There was another long pause.

“So… what now?” Raimundo questioned.

Shadow called back her memory of seeing Chase hold up Davy Jones Medallion to taunt her. “You agreed that should I win the Xiaolin Showdown I would receive Davy Jones Medallion. I believe as you said yesterday—” His right hand had lowered and tucked the necklace away, under his red sash.

Shadow stood up and stepped over Chase to his right side, then kneeled over again. Slowly, she reached for the very edge of his sash and slid it back and forth carefully.

Omi raised an eyebrow. “Shadow… what are you doing?”

Shadow didn’t reply, but instead delicately removed the shimmer of gold that had just appeared from under his sash. Medallion in hand, Lightning stood up and slipped the notorious necklace around her neck, pulling her long, messy brown hair over it. Shadow turned to her friends.

“Well, I got what I came for. I say we get out of here,” she shot an apprehensive look down at Chase. “Preferably before he wakes up and serves our heads to his warriors for a midnight snack.”

Kimiko nodded. “Best news I’ve heard all day.”

Relieved that it was all over, Lightning sighed and strode with her friends. To them, things were looking pretty good.

Shadow purposefully hung back to avoid the questions that where no doubt waiting to be answered. She had a lot of explaining to do on the trip back. Shadow made a mental note that if Master Fung didn’t have her head for doing what she did, she would never again go looking for a fight with Chase Young. Just seeing the man scared her senseless; it was a wonder she’d went looking for him, even without her memory. It was his eyes… his eyes…

They all walked stiffly down the many flights of stairs. Shadow’s memories flourished with every step she took. She could see the distant image of Chase Young in her mind’s eye walking out from under a tunnel behind the west waterfall, quite pleased with day’s events. She saw him stride up beside the miserable girl who was on her knees, washing the stain-glass windows for the third time in a row.

Enjoying yourself, Shadow?
…
I believe I just asked you a question.
… No, not very much.
Good. Once you’re done scrubbing the windows spotless, you can draw me a bath.
… Polish the armor and make the bed?
Ah, it seems repetition does aid the memory, my little Nachitah.
… Please don’t call me that…
The memories showed Chase spin on a heel and deliver a harsh slap to the girl’s face. She yelped in pain and barely caught herself on an arm before hitting the floor.
I will address you as whatever I wish, Chakuna. Am I understood?
… yes, Master Chase…
You would do well, Shadow, to remember your place.

Those were the beginning years of Chase’s evil ways. After the first year of abuse, Shadow had grown accustom to the corporal punishments delivered to her daily. If everything she did wasn’t flawless down to the most microscopic level, she was in for a world of pain.

She remembered the punishment for severe crimes; a bloody trip to The Room. Oh, she hated The Room. The Room was where Chase dragged her by the neck and unleashed his fury on her every time she messed up big time. It was black as midnight in there, so only the dragon lord could see what was going on. Every trip left more stains on the floor and walls. She would smell the dried blood from previous tortures caked onto the marble, and it only heightened her fear of what Chase would do to her that time around. She feared The Room – just as much as she feared Chase Young.

Just as much as she still feared Chase Young.

Just as much as she felt the sudden vibrations in her feet coming from the level he was on right now.

Just as much as— Wait – vibrations? His level – Oh, no!

“GUYS, RUUUUUN!!!!!!!!!!”

She had no time to explain; only time to react. Shadow tore through the four in utter mortification at what would soon be upon them if they didn’t get out soon. She was thankful that her friends trusted her judgment and soon were darting out beside her.

“He’s awake already?!” Clay shouted over his own bounding steps.

“I don’t know how either!!” Shadow shouted back.

Any other comments made were unheard as the five flew for the door like it was their last day on Earth. For all they knew, it could very well be just that. Shadow heaved and pumped her legs as hard as she could, yet somehow she felt like she was moving slower. Assuring herself that it was mere paranoia, Lightning focused on her destination.

But the feeling persisted; it was more than just paranoia. Her legs grew heavy fast from the sudden burst but Shadow demanded herself to keep running. She then noticed something: Omi, Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo were all ahead of her. Hadn’t they been behind her before?

Shadow’s legs felt insanely heavy. Lightning tried to push through the weight, but her muscles resisted. They were steadily growing heavier and heavier, until Shadow could barely move them at all. It felt like someone had tied lead weights to them.

Someone who was trying to separate her from the others.

“Shadow! Come on!!!” Raimundo shouted to her as he fumbled for the door’s secret switch frantically.

Shadow pushed and strained – even tried pulling her stubborn legs along with her hands. “Guh, I would if I could!! He’s using a Slug Spell on me!!!”

Raimundo and Clay darted back to help her, but Shadow shook her head vigorously.

“No! You all go!! He could get you if you stay!!”

“We know!” Clay replied without a falter in his step.

Just as Wind and Earth made it to their jeopardized friend, Shadow heard the crashing roar of the waterfalls behind them change dangerously. She didn’t even need to look back to see what was happening because Omi and Kimiko screamed at what was right behind her. Raimundo and Clay panicked and hurried as they struggled to move their fellow monk.

Both of the waterfalls bent toward the other and intertwined to form a roaring, raging ocean in the air. Each cascade flowed, feeding ostensibly endless amounts of water to the colossal skyward sea that gushed and churned with the raging fury of its creator.

Shadow’s eyes grew huge as all the events – all the puzzle pieces – fell dead into place.

Clay and Raimundo finally managed to outdo the incantation and grabbed Lightning by the waist as they witnessed the ocean become even more enraged.

“We’re outta here!!” Raimundo screamed over the roaring waters and ran as hard as his legs could carry himself and Shadow.

Shadow didn’t hear him; deep in her heart, the unthinkable truth sat in stone:

They weren’t going to make it.

No…

She wasn’t going to make it. They were going to pay the deadly price of her idiocy.

Immediately, the entire sea charged through the air with an ear-splitting roar that echoed through the lands. All its power – all its purpose – was centered on Lightning.

All other sound was completely swallowed by the water, but Shadow saw. She saw Kimiko scream in horror and press herself uselessly against the gateway. She saw Omi’s terror-stricken face as the boy desperately tried grasping hold of and controlling his element. She saw Clay and Raimundo force their eyes away from the aqua monster behind them and push their muscles to the limit.

Shadow felt her throat close up in mortified horror. She didn’t feel alive anymore; she felt like she was back on that island. She felt like a fossil, and that none of this was even happening. Everything seemed to be in slow motion; it didn’t seem real. This couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be… and yet… it was. This all was very, very real. Despite her denial, the very real truth was right there, in that aqua monster, as it roared and surged toward her:

This was the end for them all. The valiant Xiaolin warriors of the elements would fall away from this world… forever.

They would pay the price…

And it would be all her fault…

No.
She couldn’t let it happen…

No.
She couldn’t let them get hurt because of her…

No.
This was all her fault…

No.
She couldn’t let that monster kill her friends if she had the power to stop it…

No.

No.

NO!!!

“NOOOOOO!!!!!!”

In one frantic move Shadow spun free of Raimundo and Clay’s grip, grappled deep inside for the power that had let her control the fire, and forced it to unleash itself as she whipped her outstretched hands back at Omi, Clay, Kimiko, and Raimundo.

The mysterious Chi instantly took the shape of wind and threw the four warriors back, slamming them against the stone door violently.

The ground beneath Shadows feet shook viciously, erratically, as the savage waves exploded onto the slick marble floor with ferocity unimaginable.

That was the last her friends ever saw of Shadow.

‘-,-‘-,-‘-,-‘

The sight of her four comrades crashing against the door was the last thing she took in before the predatory waves threw themselves upon her, around her, and inside her.

In less than a second, Shadows entire being was swallowed up by the sea.

The bewitched water grabbed Shadow tightly and mercilessly as it pulled her in. The ocean wound itself around her small figure with bone-crushing power, showing no mercy in its fury and thirst for revenge on this little peasant girl. The aqua prison churned and thrashed, throwing Shadow every which-way inside the chaotic blue.

Shadow could feel her head spin as she was tossed and stirred around by the prison. She could feel the pressure of the water tighten around her like an anaconda’s body preparing to kill.

But she didn’t fight the waves; that would be suicide. Fighting the water was what Chase wanted her to do, just so he could throw her desperate hope aside with the rest of her. Shadow was smart enough to know that these waters were too harsh for her to fight. All she could do was drift and let the dragon lord have his way until he was finished.

Shadow was not ashamed of what she had done. If Omi and the others could get out before Chase could get to them, her efforts would not be wasted. The waters had been grabbing for her and only her. It would have caught them all if she hadn’t blasted them away. Her friends would be safe; even if it meant spending herself to ensure it.

The Lightning Dragon felt a small twinge in her lungs as the need for fresh air was sparked. She looked up – if the direction her head was facing even was up – and saw that the ceiling of Chase’s Palace was pressed with water as well. She was strong; she could hold her breath for a little longer…

Swish.

Shadow twisted her legs around so she spun smoothly in the sea. Was that…? Did one of her friends get caught in the waves with her?

Ripple.

She saw it that time. The good thing was that it wasn’t one of her friends. The bad thing was… it wasn’t one of her friends.

Lunge.

Shadow darted up through the water in just the nick of time. Looking down, she spotted Chase as he flew through the water, just missing his target.

Her lungs ached with the need for air. She could hold on longer…

Chase slowed his path and easily turned to face his prey. His snake pupils were wide with predatory instinct, and the curled wicked smile marking his face didn’t do Shadow’s mind much good either.

Shadow knew exactly what it meant; Chase had her right where he wanted her. He was going to win, and he knew it.

Then again, Shadow was never a big fan of details.

The warriors attacked at light-speed, gliding through the ocean as if it were air. Their fists collided in a giant pulse that sent them both hurtling backwards. Chase held his arms out and stopped himself from colliding with a wall. Shadow wasn’t so lucky.

She was flung back with great speed and bounded into the ceiling. Shadow caught her breath, but wasn’t able to stop the few bubbles that floated… down?

Confused, Shadow peered along the supposed ceiling, and saw Kimiko point to her and shout some inaudible alert to the others. Raimundo and Omi ran into view, saw Shadow, and dashed for the water prison holding her.

Her diaphragm began to spasm with want; she needed air.

Weakly, Shadow extended a hand to Omi as he made it to the outside. Omi saw the need in his friend’s eyes and urgently reached for the offering.

The waters surface instantly solidified at the yellow monks touch.

Fear crossed over Raimundo’s face and he began kicking and punching the frosty barrier. Shadow felt her heart sink with the rest of her.

She spun around to face Young. He was floating in the very center of the round water arena – Shadow couldn’t recall when the waters had calmed – with his arms crossed and a smirk of devious triumph creasing his lips.

Her eyes darted around frantically for another open surface. Shadow flew left; the surface froze. Lightning dashed right; it was solid ice.

Chase’s smirk widened at every attempt his prey made. Her desperation for oxygen was shutting down her common sense, leading her to think she could make it out before he caught her inches in time. The extremity of her need was growing more and more amusing to him, but he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt just this once.

Shadow looked at him with a deep hatred obscured only by her hysterical need for some kind of air, and then she saw it right before her eyes. There it was – the last opening to the surface.

And it was behind Chase Young.

Perfect.

Her chest felt hollow and her diaphragm was pulled in so tight that it burned. She was getting past Chase – one way or another.

Closing her eyes and preying that she would be fast, Shadow pulled her feet back and kicked off the ice wall, shooting through the sea with rocket speed. She didn’t dare open her eyes as the water whipped around her face, she just preyed that she’d make it in time.

Chase watched calmly as Shadow zoomed closer, and lazily drifted aside so she could pass.

Her lungs where on fire.

Shadow didn’t even register that she hadn’t been stopped by Chase; she was too desperate. Every movement in her body, every thought through her brain, was centered on getting to the surface. She felt her momentum wane, and immediately thrashed her arms away from her in a frenzied swim to the light. Her eyes shot open and fixed on her goal ahead. Her chest was going to explode any second now and it hurt to move but she had gotten too far to stop now. Her throat was on lock down, keeping every last shred of air she still had and held it as her life elixir. For all Shadow cared, it was her life elixir.

Oh, she was so close! She could make it to the air! She knew she could! Her shoulders ached and jerked as her diaphragms need spread to the rest of her body, but she was so close!!!! It was only two feet away from her grasp! One foot! Two inches!!!

Shadow’s heart flooded with victory as cold air flew around her hand when it breached the outside world. She was alive! Her wrist was up and—

The surface froze solid around her forearm.

A second went by where Shadow didn’t even realize what had just happened. But once the terrible truth dawned on her, Lightning lost it completely.

The girl screamed and thrashed her legs at the ice wall that kept her life away. She was so CLOSE!!! She couldn’t let some stupid ice stop her; not now! Not with her being so close to victory! She screamed and screamed and pounded and kicked and rammed and beat and bashed and hit and cracked and—

In seconds, Shadow realized that screaming probably wasn’t the smartest move she could’ve made.

‘-,-‘-,-‘-,-‘

Omi clawed his way up the ice ball with Kimiko, Clay and a very pissed-off Raimundo. He had seen the pain on his friend’s face when the water turned to ice under his fingers. He had to help her get out; Chase Young could be in there! Oh, he would never forgive himself if he failed her.

The yellow monk clawed his little fingers deep into the ice and scurried up the round wall like a miniature Spider Man. Through the frozen waters, he could faintly make out a blotch of red monk robes shoot up through the water. She must have seen another opening! Oh, she was moving so fast through the water! Omi’s heart lifted with hope that she might make it after all. The red edged up and up and there! She was at the top! Wait… she stopped. Why was she stopping!?!? She was there and she stopped!

Omi suddenly felt a rush of panic sweep over his tiny self.

“Shadow is in great danger!!” Omi cried and threw himself upward to the very top of the prison.

Chase Young, his hair glossy and damp with water, was waiting for him.

The evil man smirked wryly by the scowl Omi threw him as the other three appeared right behind the round boy.

“The battle is over,” Chase declared, and gestured to his left. “As is the challenger.”

Omi looked over, and saw a pale white fist stuck above the ice. It writhed and yanked erratically in frantic desperation to break free, but to no avail.

Raimundo snarled at Young. “YOU are – THE world’s – most EVIL – DEMÔNIO!!!!” and charged to aid the struggling hand.

Chase snapped his fingers, sending the Wind Dragon hurtling backwards into his friends.

“There’s no point in trying. She will be gone before you can even break through.”

All four turned and watched in horror as the fists yanks and spasms slowly, sluggishly became less and less frenzied. The tight fingers began to lose their grip on each other as the wrist twitched weakly.

“Shadow… no…” Raimundo breathed pleadingly, letting the tears come.

The thumb gave one last twitch in response… then the whole hand fell still.

No sign of struggle from below…

No sign of Shadow from above.