[Day of the Snowfield Assault. Location: Jade Creek; Maria, Danny & Xander's house; Den]
The news that the three Origin Kingdoms are going to war takes a while to sink in. For several moments, Maria, Danny, and Xander are lost in their own thoughts.
"After all these years of peaceā¦" Maria sighs. "And we're partly responsible."
"How do you work that out?" Xander asks.
"We helped steal the Kingdom Stone," Danny explains.
"What do we do now?" Maria asks.
"Well, I know what I'm going to do," Xander states with certainty. "I'm going to Shuigang to help."
"What?" Danny and Maria exclaim in surprise.
"Shuigang is my home city," Xander explains. "If I'm going to choose a side, I'm choosing theirs."
"But this isn't our fight!" Danny protests. "I'm from Shang Tu, but I'm not about to go throw my life away!"
"And I'm not helping my home city Shang Mu," Maria adds. "But that's more because Zao's a total silly."
"And how can you be sure Shuigang is the right side to take?" Danny demands.
"I'm going, and there's nothing you can say that will change my mind," Xander retorts defiantly. Without waiting for an answer, he disappears to his room, emerging moments later fully kitted up.
"Come on Xander, this is stupid!" Danny tries one final time to persuade his friend not to go.
"I'm going, and there's nothing you can do about it!" Xander declares as he heads outside. Moments later, the roar of his trike's engine fades into the distance.
"I know he's not the sharpest sword in the dojo, but he's better than this," Danny sighs.
"Patriotism does funny things to people," Maria observes.
"I guess we'd better follow him."
"Really? You too?"
"I'm not interested in joining the fight," Danny assures.
"Good," Maria nods.
"I just want to be there to pull his arse out the fire it'll inevitably end up in."
"And we won't find out what's really going on if we stay here."
"You think there's something more than just a brawl over the Kingdom Stone?"
"With that base in the lake, and the big scary green guy, yes, I do."
Danny thinks for a moment. "OK," he agrees. "We go, but we don't fight. We see what Shang Mu and Shang Tu are up to first, then play it by ear."
"What, no plan?" Maria teases.
"Based on what info?" Danny asks.
"Good point," Maria concedes.
