Well, with term papers fast approaching, I won't be able to write as much. But knowing me, I'll find some time in between everything. I always do need some kind of distraction while I'm doing school work. But then again, don't we all?

"So, is it just me, or are we having a lot of field trips?" Tim asked. The four of them sat at one of the outdoor tables just outside the cafe of their local zoo. All around them, people were walking or tending to their children who were either squealing with delight or throwing a tantrum because they never wanted to leave.

"Aren't we supposed to be studying the animals for biology or something?" Liam asked.

"Please! One time, we were studying physics in class and the school booked a field trip to the amusement part. Now, what do you think we did then? Physics or ride the roller coaster until I puked?" Mavis asked.

"I'm gonna say puke," said Mala.

"Correctomundo, girlfriend!" Mavis said with a wink and thumbs up.

"I just still can't believe he's here," Mala said, angrily glaring at Drago, who sat at a nearby table. The other seats at his table were filled with girls from their grade also on the field trip. Drago simply ignored them, which only made him all the more alluring to them, much to Drago's annoyance. She could still remember when he first showed up in their class during homeroom earlier in the week.

"Class, we have a new student joining us. Please welcome, Damon Lee," the teacher had said. 'Damon Lee' was the alias Drago chose to go by. 'Drago' was the name his mother gave him, but it wasn't exactly a common name among humans. It was probably the same reason Linos chose 'Liam' as his human alias. And to say Drago's addition to the class was very receptive would be an understatement. Mala had rolled her eyes in contempt when she noticed nearly all the girls in class except for herself and Mavis practically swooning and melting at the sight of him, even though Mala knew that deep down, she reacted nearly the same way when she first saw Drago's human form for the first time.

"Mala, I know you're upset about this, but you're going to have to get over it sooner or later," Tim said. "Carrying around all this negative energy isn't going to be good for you or the team."

"And you have to admit, if he hadn't shown up at the aquarium, that hunter would have finished you," said Mavis.

"Fine! Drago saved me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to forgive him!" she argued, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Just a question here: what are you more mad about, Mala? The fact that he tried to take over the world or that he lied and tricked you into helping him?" asked Liam.

"Wha? What's the difference?" she asked.

"One's a generic anger and the other is personal. If I had to guess, I'd say you're more mad about him betraying your trust. Deep down, I think you're not mad at him for trying to take over the world," said Liam.

"It's still bad! He did a horrible thing!"

"Maybe, but you've gotta admit, for the son of Shen Du, he could have turned a lot worse. I'm talking leagues worse! Besides, we all do stupid things when we're teenagers."

"I once drove my parents' car onto the freeway when I was twelve. Don't get me wrong, it was stupid and dangerous and I was grounded for six months… but really cool," Mavis grinned.

"You know, I think I've just gotten so accustomed to you Mavis, that nothing you say surprises me anymore," said Mala.

"Ho ho, don't count your chickens before they hatch, Mala," Mavis warned.

"But back to what I was saying. When you first met Drago, he was a good kid right?"

"Yeah, he was nice and really sweet," Mala said.

"And that all changed when Shen Du took him in?" Liam asked, to which Mala nodded. "Well consider this: Shen Du is like all the other Demon Sorcerers: callous, cruel and violent, not to mention he probably hates half-breeds and wouldn't give Drago any leniency as his son."

"What's your point?" Mala asked.

"My point is, cut the guy some slack."

"Uh, you seem to be forgetting that he nearly destroyed an entire city!"

"Oh come on, Mala, how many of us haven't had our 'car on the freeway' moments? Besides, the news said the entire city was evacuated in time. It's not like he killed anyone," said Mavis. "City destroying is probably just the demon equivalent of taking our parents' car on the freeway when you're not old enough to drive!"

"If I didn't have my mother, I'd probably spend hours trying to get my dad's approval by doing stuff and acting the way he wanted me to act: like a real demon. Hot shot over there probably only turned out the way he did because he was so desperate for any attention from his old man that he completely changed his entire personality just to get a single approving glance or 'I'm proud of you, son'. I mean, imagine how different I would be if I was more like my old man!" Liam suggested.

"Don't even begin to suggest that," Tim shuddered. "We dealt with Tzan Ren once and once was enough!"

"All I'm saying, Mala, is that Drago really could have turned out a lot worse. And now he's turned over a new leaf, begging for a second chance. Come on, I know you must have read his aura and saw the same thing I did."

"Aura?" Tim asked.

Liam took out a piece of paper from his bag and scribbled down two stick figures. "Humans and demon all naturally have an aura, sort of like a life energy that can be used to tell if a person is good or bad. Demons and Chi Wizards can naturally detect and see that aura. A blue aura denotes goodness and benevolence and a red aura denotes corruption and malevolence," he explained, scribbling an outline around each stick figure in blue and red, "or in simple terms: good and evil. Now, a very powerful magic user or demon can produce a false aura to trick others, but that's a very advanced skill that only fully realized Chi Wizards and Demon Sorcerers can attain, one that I'm certain a guy like Drago doesn't have." When Mala stayed silent, Liam continued speaking, "Mala, you know I'm right about this. That guy is swimming in blue aura. If he says he's turning over a new leaf, he means it."

"Ok fine! I read his aura and he's not lying. I was so sure that it was just some kind of trick, like he was trying to fool me again."

"And now you're pissed because you were wrong about that," said Mavis.

"Even if Drago's serious about turning over a new leaf, that doesn't mean I'm just going to forgive him for everything he's done!"

"Oh, Mala, you're totally gonna fall in love," Mavis teased.

"Wh-I am not! Why would you say such a thing?"

"Oh you're gonna sooooo fall in love! Haven't you ever seen in all those movies when the girl says she hates a guy, she totally ends up falling in love with him later and the totally hook up?"

"Well, Mavis, this isn't the movies. This is real life! He betrayed me and broke my heart and I don't think I can ever trust him again!"

"Keyword: 'think'," Tim pointed out.

"Sh-shut up!"

"You're right, Mala. You're not gonna fall in love with Drago, because you're still in love with him!"

"What? Psh, you're crazy, Mavis! No wonder the other kids call you 'Crazy Mavy'." Mala protested.

"You can't pull the wool over my eyes, Mala. I've seen enough rom-coms to know when a girl in love is in denial. And you, my dear, are in deep denial, super deep."

A bright flash suddenly came from within Tim's messenger bag as he scrambled to hide the glow while fishing out the cause without drawing too much attention. "Tim, what is that?" Liam asked.

"Oh, well I did some more research after Kuang lent us his workshop and made some alterations to that tracking spell. This is my grandfather's old compass that he gave to me when I was a kid," he explained, pulling out an old compass. There was a bright green glow surrounding it, which slowly died down.

"You modified the tracking spell?" Mala asked. "I'm impressed, Tim! You'll be a full fledged Chi Wizard in no time!"

"As I was saying, I modified the tracking spell and placed it on my grandfather's compass. Now, instead of redoing the tracking spell each time we want to find the next Coin, the spell informs me when one appears. And then, the compass will lead us straight to it. If it's activating now, there must be a Coin nearby."

"Best not to do this out in the open. Come on," said Liam, as the group moved away from their table to an empty space behind the cafe. Drago noticed them leaving, and quickly abandoned the group of girls that invaded his table to follow.

"What's going on?" he asked, noticing that Mala rolled her eyes just as he joined them.

"We've got a Coin here at the zoo," explained Mavis.

"Hang on, not just one… two!" Tim exclaimed.

"Two? No freakin' way!" Mavis cried.

"Yes, yes freakin' way," Tim affirmed. "It looks like the compass is showing them at opposite sides of the park. We'll have to split up again."

Liam noticed the disgruntled expression on Mala's face and quickly spoke up. "Uh, why don't you and I hit up one end, Drago?"

"Oh, uh sure," he said.

"Great! Mavis and Tim are with me then," Mala said, as she dragged Mavis and Tim off in the direction of one of the Coins.

"Don't take it personally, hot shot," Liam said.
"Exactly how else am I supposed to take it?" Drago asked. The boys made their way to the other direction Tim had specified when they noticed an announcement ring throughout the zoo, noting an emergency that required all guests to immediately vacate the premises.

"Well, my money's on Daolon Wong showing up," said Liam.

"At least we won't have to worry about witnesses," said Drago. The duo ducked behind a corner and shifted into their demon forms. "So, you're a demon too? I didn't think there were any other demons still in this world."

"Yeah, son of Tzan Ren and Hsian Ji," Linos replied.

"So you're not half like me and Mala?"

"No, but I wasn't like the Demon Sorcerers and let's just say that that didn't float well with my father."

"Heh, I know the feeling. But most demons left on Earth are half-human. How'd you wind up here?" Drago asked.

"Well, my father and I had a disagreement. He said that if I liked watching the humans so much, I might as well live among them. It wasn't so much of me coming here as him throwing me out in banishment."

"Oh, so you didn't change yourself to get your father's approval?"

"Why would I do that? I'm me, not my father and I'd never try to be him. Besides, my father tried to kill me on more than one occasion. Why would I want his approval?" Linos explained as Drago remained silent.

"So how are we supposed to find this Coin?" Drago asked, looking around the surrounding trees and bushes for anything shiny.

"You're not." From the canopy above dropped the hunter, who landed before them. "You caught me off guard last time, fire demon, but that won't happen again!" The hunter glared, drawing a collapsible katana.

"You picked the wrong demons to mess with!" Drago growled.

"Man, people really clear out fast!" Mavis exclaimed. "Hm, what to call this one… how about Operation: Animal House? You know, cuz we in a zoo? And there's animals? Huh?"

"We get it, Mavis. Let's get to finding that Coin before Daolon… Wong… shows up," Tim slowly muttered, noticing the Dark Chi Wizard appear before them.

"Tim!" Mavis scolded.

"I know, I know! I'm sorry!"

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore to find you everywhere I go. You children should just give up! The Coins are as good as mine!" Wong declared, clenching his fist tightly.

"You only got one Coin, Daolon Wrong!" Mavis shouted.

"My name is Daolon Wong!"

"Sorry, what was that?" Mavis asked, turning her ear towards him and cupping it with her hand.

"Daolon Wong!"

"Daolon Wrong?"

"Wong!"

"Wrong?"

"Argh, insufferable child!" he cursed, firing a dark energy blast at them.

The three of them managed to dive out of the way. "I'll handle Wong. You two look for that Coin!"

"Roger that! Let's bounce, Tim!" Mavis cried, grabbing the collar of Tim's blazer.

"I suppose I should be thanking that demon hunter. His interference has turned out to be beneficial to me. Even as I speak, he's engaging your other two demon friends on the other side of the park," Wong said.

"Only one of them is my friend!" Mala spat.

"Ok, it should be around here…" Tim said, as he and Mavis approached and large and elaborate fountain.

"Oh come on!" Mavis exclaimed. "Can't that compass narrow it down any further?"

"Unfortunately no. This is as close the compass'll get us. Well, go on," Tim ushered.

"Come again for Callahan? Why do I have to go into the freezing cold water?"

"Because I'm the behind-the-scenes guy who led us to the Coin in the first place! That's why!" But when Mavis wouldn't budge, Tim added, "There's a plate of my mom's apple pie in it for you."

"You've got yourself a deal!" Mavis eagerly chirped. She took off her boots and socks and rolled up her pants to her knees before slowly stepping into the fountain. "Cold, cold, cold, cold," she repeated in a weak and shivering mutter. She bent down and dipped her hands into the freezing water, searching for a silver coin with an animal insignia. "I can't feel my toes!"

"Let the thought of apple pie guide you!"

"Mmmmmm, apple pie," Mavis hummed, licking her lips as her mouth instantly watered. "Oh, oh I think I found it! Weird shape for a coin and looks like a bear," she said, stepping out of the fountain and handing the wet metal to Tim.

"Yeah, you don't see many square shaped coins nowadays. Let's get back to Mala and see if we can regroup with Linos and Drago to find the other one." They made their way back to Mala, only to see her ducking behind a crystal wall that was barely managing to shield her from Daolon Wong's spells. "Mala!" Tim shouted, tossing her the Coin.

Mala looked up when she heard Tim call her name. He caught the incoming Coin in the palm of her hand in time. She glanced at the back of the Coin, reading the inscription before smiling. She dissolved the crystal wall she hid behind and addressed Wong. "Hey, look what I've got!"

"The Bear Coin!" Wong gasped.

"Come and get it!" Mala taunted. Daolon Wong narrowed his eyes and rushed towards her, firing dark energy spells at her as he went, all of which she blocked with her raised arms. Just as Daolon Wong got close enough, Mala took a step back and brought her fist right into Wong's gut. The hit was so strong that it sent him flying all the way to the other side of the zoo grounds.

"Whoa! Hold the freakin' phone! Since when were you that strong?" Mavis cried.

"Since you handed me this," Mala said, tossing the square coin to Mavis. "Strength of the bear."

"Ah yeah! Super strength!" Mavis beamed, excitedly grasping the Coin.

"Well, the fight's not over yet. According to what Daolon Wong said, that hunter is here and fighting Drago and Linos. We should get to them right away," Tim said.

Daolon Wong landed in a large pond with a great splash of water. When he resurfaced, he took a deep breath of air and while coughing the water out of his lungs. A few feet away on land, he noticed the two demons battling the demon hunter and grinned. "Well, at least I won't have to deal with those annoying children." Wong looked down at his staff as he noticed it beginning to glow. "The other Coin? It's here somewhere!" He dug into his robes and pulled out the eight-sided Shark Coin he managed to take. "Looks like you might be of some use to me after all." Wong squeezed the Coin tightly in his hand, activating its power. Gills suddenly sprouted on his neck as did webbing between his fingers. Wong dove into the water and held out his staff, letting the glow it emitted guide him to the Coin. The glow gradually became larger and brighter and Wong noticed something shining at the bottom of the pond. He picked up the tiny object and examined the coin in his hands. It was a smooth, round coin with a turquoise chameleon. "Excellent," he muttered with a wide grin.

When he exited the pond and dried himself off with a spell, he took a closer look at the back of the Chameleon Coin. "Skin of the chameleon," he read aloud, "let's see what that means." He removed the Shark Coin from his hand, causing his gills and webbed hands to disappear, and replaced it with the Chameleon Coin. When he felt its power activate, he looked down at his hands and noticed he was nearly invisible. "Heh, camouflage. It's not perfect invisibility like the Snake Talisman, but it will do," he commented. When he noticed Mala and the two humans in the distance getting closer, Wong slipped away.

"What happened?" Tim asked as they met up with Linos and Drago.

"The demon hunter showed up. We managed to fight him off though; he probably bailed when things got too hot for him," said Drago.

"Have you found the Coin yet?" Mala asked.

"We were too busy fighting the hunter!" Linos added.

"Uh oh…" Tim muttered.

"Excuse me, 'uh oh'? That's not good. People only ever say 'uh oh' when something bad's happened!" Mavis exclaimed.

"Yeah, the second Coin is gone. My compass isn't picking it up!"

"Wong must have gotten it while you were fighting the hunter! You should have paid attention!" Mala scolded, particularly focusing on Drago as she spoke.

"Now hang on, Mala, you can't blame only Drago for that. I was just as focused on fighting that hunter. It's not like he was going to let us take a time out to look for the Coin," Linos said, defending Drago. Knowing Linos was right, Mala gritted her teeth and simply remained silent while Drago did the same, not wanting to have Mala hate him more than she already did by arguing with her.

"Great, so we lost one Coin. At least we managed to get the other one!" Mavis beamed, changing the subject in hopes of lightening the mood.

"So which is this one?" Linos asked as Mavis handed him the Coin for him and Drago to see.

"Super strength," Mavis replied. "Hey, everyone lighten up, ok? All this negative stuff is really bumming me out and when Callahan ain't happy, no one is happy."

"Truer words have never been spoken," Tim silently muttered.

"Come on, look at the big picture! We're 6-2 out of thirteen! We're still in the lead by a huge margin!"

"She's right. Let's just hope that Daolon Wong doesn't keep getting lucky and that the Coins he does have don't do him much good," said Linos.

Next chapter: The group enters the sewers - which may or may not be infested with sewer gators - to find the next Coin. However, there is something lurking in the sewers that the teens will have trouble facing.