"Ugh!" Raimundo grunted, kicking an empty, wooden bucket on the porch near the training grounds. The four Wudai Warriors were supposed to be meditating, but their minds strayed elsewhere and kept them from concentrating. "It's the third day and time's up. We should be out looking for Akira right now! Not this!"

Omi opened one eye and glanced at Raimundo, who was positively fuming with impatience, "Master Fung was most insistent that we wait until sundown before we begin the search… However, I am beginning to question his certainty in her safety."

"Come on, guys. I'm worried too, but this is Akira we're talking about. She seems like she can handle herself and if Chase really is her brother, than she'll know what to do; better than any of us. And he can't be so cruel as to kill his own sister…right?" Kimiko asked.

"Well, he sure seemed pretty intent on it during the Showdown," Raimundo answered.

"Maybe," Clay said, "but then again, he didn't even touch 'er. Sure gave Spicer a beatin' though."

"Whatever, you three can stay here if you want. I'm going to start looking now!" Raimundo stomped off of the porch and through the training yard.

"Wait up!" Kimiko said as she stood and followed him, with Omi and Clay close behind.

"Actually," a fifth voice called out, "That won't be necessary."

The four turned, facing the far front gate. And there stood Akira; her clothes dirty and wrinkled from the long walk to the Xiaolin Temple. Her face was slightly flushed, with sticky, glistening streams down her cheeks reminiscent of the tears that had been shed, and her eyes a bit red with bags under them from lack of sleep; evidence of her time spent crying. As much she tried to compose herself, it never seemed to work. Her mind would just drift back to Chase.

The three boys quickly rushed over and bombarded her with questions, to which she just shook her head and hesitantly tried to back away. Soon, Kimiko came to her rescue, "Guys, chill out and leave her alone. Can't you see she needs space?"

"But-" they all began in unison.

"Let me handle this." She placed a hand comfortingly on Akira's shoulder.

The three nodded before backing off and leaving; someone needed to inform Master Fung the Akira was back anyway. Still, the pair heard one- although unsure which one- mutter 'what's up with girls' under their breath.

Once they were out of sight, Kimiko took Akira's hand and began leading her to their bedrooms, "Come on," she said gently, "It's about time we had a girl's night anyway. We'll get you cleaned up and then hunt down some chocolate ice cream in the kitchen. Ok?"

Akira nodded solemnly and Kimiko began guiding her back to their quarters.

Chase swore it: The next time he saw that malformed, manipulative bean he would squish him into paste!

He sighed, sulking into his throne and rubbing a throbbing temple. At least he knew that Akira had made it through his territories safely. The grounds were as dangerous as they were barren, and he had sent some of his warriors to guard her in secret as she made her way beyond them. He would never order them to bring her back to him against her will. If he had, it would've only solidated some of her worst fears about him. And if he had chased after her, what could he have said? That he was sorry for turning to the Heylin side? That he was still the same person he had been—still the brother she knew?

Both were lies. All emotion and warmth had been drained away, replaced with nothing but cold, emptiness—and he loved it. The only time he ever felt anything similar to what had been was when he was near her, and it wasn't even on his own accord.

The same as his own natural strengths and prowess in combat, as well as his aptitude in dark magic, each reincarnation of the Dragon of Light had its own abilities that were passed down to the successors. There was, of course, light magic and the power to heal fallen allies. However, there was also an ability that his sister was likely unaware of—one in which he himself had never known until after many battles he had taken notice in a reoccurring pattern between Akira and her opponents and had decided to undertake a bit of research.

Through her chi, Akira could reach out to other lifeforms and either sense or radiate with emotion. It gave her the ability to understand her opponents on another level, or sometimes even render a heart of stone powerless to her sweet and almost sickeningly good disposition—enough so that they would show her mercy in battle. In simpler terms she was—literally—impossible not to love.

That was probably a good thing in the case of a Dragon of Light: None of her predecessors were known for their ferocity in combat.

Maybe the love he felt for his sister hadn't completely dried up, but it only seemed to truly manifest when she stood before him and her own love emanated from her spirit. And what could she truly sense in him when she wasn't blinded by her heart? Loyalty and protectiveness, yes, but no longer an ounce of warmth or compassion—just an empty crater. Had she really been blind for so long or had she been denying it to herself until the truth had been revealed? She was so naïve it was hard to tell which.

"You know, something must really be bothering you, otherwise you would've told me to get out the moment I walked through the door." Chase opened his eyes to glare daggers at the Heylin witch leaning in the doorway. Still, he was forced to admit that she did have a point: He wouldn't be able to focus on necessary matters until this issue with his sister was resolved.

"Stow it, hag! I'm thinking." More than anything, he wanted to protect Akira. 1,500 years ago he had lost her: He wasn't about to lose her again. If it was her forgiveness he wanted, he knew it would easily be granted—all he had to do was play honest. However, if she continued to live with the Xiaolin, it would all be in vain. The two of them would continuously be at odds until either good or evil proved to be the victor. That, in itself, was fine: It would even prove entertaining, like the games they played as children. But if either Wuya or someone such as the likes of Spicer were to hurt her he didn't know what he would have to do. He didn't see it likely that anyone—maybe not even Wuya—could kill her because of her ability, but eternal imprisonment and suffering was very much possible.

"Thinking hard enough that you've lost focus for a change?" she chided mockingly, "So very unlike you." The smirk she bore swiftly cleared when he gave her a voiceless snarl of distaste. "Look, if it's about your showdown with the new girl don't sweat it. I can easily have her begging on her knees for mercy the next time we meet. Say the word and I'll have her served as cat food for your little pets."

He felt like lunging out of his seat and ripping out her throat! He felt like it, but kept control of himself. "No," he seethed, folding his hands in his lap. "The girl is mine to deal with as I so choose."

"If you insist," she said with a wave of her hand. She raised a brow in question, "Thinking of possibly turning her to our side, hmm?"

"Something like that," he lied, "However, it's in her nature to do only what is good. She'll never turn willingly."

"If we had the Indigo Pyramid it would be mere child's play," Wuya ventured, despite knowing Chase's distain for using Shen Gong Wu.

"I believe I said," Chase growled, his reptilian eyes flashing dangerously, "Leave the girl to me!"

It was extremely late—the moon rested high in the air, casting its iridescence upon the entire valley—but Akira couldn't help herself. Quietly, she snuck outside of the Xiaolin Temple and ventured up the mountains to be alone with her thoughts. Her new friends had done all that they could to console her—and she was grateful for that—but her brother had always been the one she ran to for comfort. Never in a million years would she have thought that he would…

She sighed, sitting upon a smooth boulder on the cliff face with her head in her hands. What had happened to the same Chase who had fought for her right to become a Xiaolin warrior? What had happened to the same Chase that dreamed of nothing more than becoming a full Xiaolin Dragon? What had happened to the same brother who she had grown up alongside and laughed with?

Not far from her, she heard the flutter of bird's wings. Eyes shining with unshed tears, Akira looked toward the sound to see the bird from that morning. "Little friend," she asked with a sniffle, picking up the stoic bird gently in her hands and running a finger over its head in a soft caress, "how did you get here? And I thought you hurt your wing."

"Well, aren't you a sweetheart… Moby Morpher!" she heard a deep, rough voice say from behind her.

Turning her head, her eyes widened in shock and she startled back at the sight of a rather large Hannibal Roy Bean. Clutching the bird defensively to her chest, she demanded, "Who are you?"

He shook his head, a kind smile playing on his lips. "Who I am doesn't matter: What I can do for you, Akira Young."

"How do you know my name?" she questioned worriedly, taking a few steps back. As she did, the bird wrestled itself out of her grasp and fluttered over to Hannibal's shoulder.

"Don't be scared, little miss," he reassured her, nuzzling the bird with a tentacle before casting her a sidelong glance. "I'm a friend."

"I don't believe we've met before…"

"No," he shrugged, "So allow me to rephrase that. I'm a friend of your brother's… Or rather, we were friends. A long time ago…"

Hearing this, she frowned, shifting her feet into a guarded stance. "My brother's changed much since my absence. You'll find no such company here."

"Poor dear, you don't understand." He held up his tentacles defensively, as if to fend off a blow, and looked at her with saddened eyes. "I was friends with Chase for longer than you realize. Back when he was… was a better person."

He allowed his words to sink in, watching as her guard lowered upon this. "You knew my brother when he was good?" she asked in disbelief.

"I know it's hard to imagine: After all it was so long ago." Hannibal turned his back to her, beginning to pace and hiding his grin. "But yes, Chase and I know each other very well. You can't imagine the betrayal I felt when he turned to the Heylin."

Akira reclaimed her seat on the stone and stared down at her feet sadly. "I think I have a fairly good idea…"

Hannibal looked at her with a hurt, apologetic expression, "Forgive me: I forgot for a moment that you're his sister. How close you two must have been…" He rested a tentacle consolingly on her shoulder, smirking to himself when she didn't brush it aside.

She nodded, wiping her face to hide more tears.

Hannibal's grip tightened. "Now, now: None of that. You're a strong, little miss, aren't you? Besides, I came to help."

She looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

Stepping away from her, back to a group of bushes, he lied, "When Chase turned against the Xiaolin by drinking the Lao Mang Lone Soup I tried everything to bring him back. However, he couldn't see reason. He's not a bad person, but the effects of the soup have expelled all goodness from his heart. But I have a feeling he may still care about you."

Turning to face her once again, she saw a golden pot in his hold, the moonlight glimmering off its smooth surface. The frightful face of a dragon with its jaws agape stared back at her. As he placed the pot it her hands, a cold shiver ran down her spine. "What is it?" she questioned softly.

"Drink this," he answered, "and you and Chase will become of one mind. I couldn't convince him to change back, but that doesn't mean you can't." He wrapped a tentacle around her shoulders.

She lifted the lid and set it aside, scrunching her nose at the smell. Stream billowed from the pot's contents and wafted in the air in front of her face. "It's an… acquired taste, I'll admit that," Hannibal added.

"Why don't you drink it?" she asked suspiciously.

Well, she wasn't so much a fool as he had thought. Yet still foolish enough. "I've already tried," he moaned, "And I'm too old now to fight back should it come to it. But you—you're young and fit. And you're closer to Chase than anyone else in the world. You might be his only hope."

She gasped, staring back down at the sickly green fluid in the pot.

"Don't you want to save your brother from himself?"

She didn't need much more convincing. Hannibal stepped back as Akira lifted the pot to her lips and drank its contents. He couldn't contain the cold smile that crossed his face as he watched. "You really are a good person, Akira. Stupid, but a very good person."

Her eyes widened. Immeadiately, she dropped the pot, spat what was in her mouth, and stood, ready to fight, but it was already too late. Almost as soon as she rose to her feet, her knees buckled out from under her and she let out a cry of agony. Her head began to pound and the world seemed to spin around her. Quivering, she stared at her hands to find them fading to a black as dark as the shadow of the moon, her fingers elongating into sharp, nimble claws. "W-what—what's happening?! What did you do to me?!" she demanded before letting out a pained scream and falling on her side.

"You and Chase are becoming of one mind... In a manner of speaking, that is." He said, his wicked grin only growing wider. "You're turning to the dark side."

"Never!" she cried out through gritted teeth.

"Oh, don't bother trying to fight it," he laughed, "You can't. Tell me, Akira, how does it feel: All of your pain, anger, and hatred consuming you at once; your blood running cold as death; your soul slowly withering to nothing but ash? It's wonderful, isn't it?"

She only screamed in reply, rolling onto her back as she dug her fingers into her scalp and kicked at nothing. It hurt! Everything hurt and she couldn't stop shaking!

Her teeth turned to two rows of carnivorous fangs; the rest of her skin also turned dark and became covered in a coat of short, thick fur; her ears grew long and narrow and her nose flattened into slits, and her feet gained talons. A pair of bony, gargoyle-like wings jutted from her back. She grew long tail covered in spikes that could be swung like a mace. When she opened her eyes, they were like gazing into an empty void.

She let out an inhumane growl, rolling back onto her stomach, and pounced angrily at Hannibal, but the bean used the Moby Morpher to shrink back to his original size and avoid the attack. Rather than searching for him, she hissed and took to the sky, darting away into the night.

Hannibal continued to grin at his success. Unlike with Chase, he hadn't been hoping to make an ally of Akira. No, let her keep the young Xiaolin monks and her dear brother busy. In the meantime, he would continue with his own plans.