As we all should know, there are nine elements for the Xiaolin Dragons. Wait. That can't be right. There are only four: wind, water, fire, and earth.

Or at least that's what we've been taught.

The other five elements and the warriors bearing them vanished from history. They died. Or did they?

This here, is the truth…about the fate of four friends…who lived together and, in a sense, died together.

(---)

1500 years ago…

The elderly monk looked at the four teenagers lined up in front of him. Foreigners. You could never trust them, even if they were Chosen ones.

First was Astra, the Greek Dragon of Lightning. She had so much potential, despite her naïve nature, and had even been selected to become a Wudai Warrior. Then, the battle had started, and she had sided with the traitor. Now, she could never become a Wudai Warrior, much less a Master.

Next was her older sister, Crystal, the Greek Dragon of Shadow. She had always had a temper, but still got along relatively well with everyone. She had almost mastered her element.When the battle started, she simply mowed down anyone against the traitor. What a shame.

Then came Salvador, the Spanish Dragon of both Wood and Metal. Dashi's unofficial second-in-command, Salvador had often led the training sessions when no one else was around. He had been a responsible young man, practicing with both of his elements. But, then the battle started and he chose the traitor over Grandmaster Dashi.

Finally was the traitor herself. Nahkti, the Egyptian Dragon of Light. No one trusted her when she first came. Who could blame them? That twisted scar on her face, distorting her features, and her reputation as a thief was too well known. Plus, the flesh around her left ankle was completely shredded. And now they knew she had planned to betray them all along. Nothing good could ever come out of a bad apple like her. For her treachery, she would be punished.

The monk turned to the first three, ordering, "You three go into the Grand Hall. The Grandmaster is waiting for you." Though sullen and full of rebelliousness, the three Dragons-in-training obeyed and stalked inside. Salvador entered last, throwing a worried look to the last Dragon.

The monk then turned to Nahkti. "Your actions are unforgivable, Nahkti. We gave you a chance, and you turned it down. The Grandmaster, the other monks, and I have decided: henceforth you are no longer a part of the Temple. You will suffer for all eternity. No food will satiate you, nor shall any water. Your flesh shall rot. Pain will be all you have. Until you make up for your mistake, you will never move on."

Nahkti glared at the monk in return. Wait. Did she just give him the finger? Yep, she did. The monk was about to yell at her when hissed, "And, as long as I'm cursed, the demons from the underworld will haunt this wretched place, and burn it to the ground. Everyone will feel the pain I have."

The monk and Dragon glared at each other, until the Egyptian vanished in a bright flash of light. She was never seen again. Everyone assumed she had died.

Everyone… was wrong.