Blood pounded in the back of Jack's head as he and the monks raced to the temple ruins. This had to be a nightmare. In a few seconds his eyes would snap open and he'd be back in his lab working on his newest project, sleep-deprived and running on stale coffee. The monks would be up to their goody-goody shenanigans and Chase would be plotting something that they could somehow foil and everything would go back to the way it was, then the cycle would just repeat itself.

But now both Xiaolin temples were desecrated, Shadow was at large and Aunt Sophie was dead. He didn't know if he could face his mother or Anastasia again.

What was most shocking was that Chase, the immortal who'd long given up his conquest to destroy the Xiaolin, was suddenly enamored with the idea of taking over the world. This wavering, over-the-top-even-for-Chase-behavior was driven by Shadow. In retrospect, Jack should have known. He did realize this somewhere down the line, but by then he was already invested in this project, this attempt to sacrifice his cousin's future for faux security from the wraths of both the Heylin and the Xiaolin.

The genius pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned, "What did I do?"

A soft touch temporarily broke his misery. It was Kimiko. "We're going to figure something out Jack. Don't worry," she said reassuringly.

Clay added, "You can count on us, Spicer."

Then Raimundo had to ruin it, "You better hope for your own sake."

The female monk clucked her tongue, "Watch it, Rai!"

"And why should I?" The Dragon of wind spat, "Every time Spicer shows up, things take a turn for the worst. This pendajo's nothing but trouble!"

Jack clenched his fists until his knuckles were white. He couldn't take Raimundo's judgments anymore. It was hardly the time for them, anyways. "Fuck you, Raimundo!" He shouted. "Some leader you are; Ping Pong would've done a better job if you didn't let him die!"

That clinched it. A surge of testosterone and adrenaline spurt through the Brazilian's bloodstream as he pounced on the boy genius.

The other monks shrieked, watching Raimundo and Jack tumble through the air, plummeting towards the ground at a rapid speed. Jack pounded his fist into the other man's chest while Raimundo did everything he could to knock out the albino's teeth.

Dojo, in a panic, flew downwards towards the falling men. When Raimundo saw the dragon, he shoved Jack away and blasted a gust of air from the soles of his feet. He shot up into the air while Dojo was just barely able to catch the albino on his muscular back. He safely crouched onto the earth.

The aged dragon, though not one for confrontation, demanded that the dragon of wind land at once.

Raimundo rolled his eyes and descended slowly, letting his feet touch the ground. Jack slid off of his perch, wiping his bloody nose.

"What is wrong with you two?!" Dojo pressed, remaining in his intimidating form to keep an upper hand.

Both young men crossed their arms and turned away with a stiff pout. Kimiko growled, "Are you serious? We could have a crisis on our hands and you choose now to fight over something so stupid!?"

The Dragon of wind looked personally offended. "Stupid?" He echoed, glaring at the Japanese girl. "Kim, you know I don't like that shit. Why are you on his side!?"

"Don't bring her into this," Jack protested.

Kimiko sighed, "I'm not on his side! But I'm not on your side, either! I refuse to side with anyone who wants to cause another person so much heartache."

Face growing red, Raimundo sputtered at Jack, "You shithead! This is your fault! I would've been a much better leader if you hadn't," his cheeks flushed. "Ay!"

Clay cleared his throat, responding, "This is entertainin' an' all, but could ya'll hurry it up? Our Wu is in danger!"

Raimundo waved his hand at him, "Go with Dojo. We'll meet you there."

The yellow scaled creature raised a winged eyebrow. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes! And take Kimiko with you," the Brazilian commanded.

Surprisingly, no one argued with him. Maybe because it was Raimundo's first level-headed decision in months. With a last wave and a "good luck" from Jack, the three monks and Dojo were off. That left the two young men alone.

Sighing, Jack confessed, "Look, Raimundo. I'm sorry. I really am."

Frustration rolled off of the Brazilian's skin like sweat. "...Was I giving off signs?"

"Signs?" The boy genius mimicked.

Raimundo scratched the back of his neck, "Why else would you kiss someone? Don't they give signs that they're interested? Was it my body language?"

Jack sucked in the air through his teeth. "Well, yes and no. I did it because you were, I dunno, upset. You just lost Fung and the other monks were gonna strip you of your position. I just thought you needed a little confidence booster. I didn't know it would make you so mad."

Green eyes closed and a humored smirk spread on Raimundo's lips, "I know you were trying to be nice but Kimiko saw us and for a long time she thought I was gay and we figured our own relationship was done for. No offense, Jack, but I'm straight as a board. You confused me!"

The albino shrugged, "So I gave you your first slice of queer crisis? Good. I'm glad it was me and not someone else."

Raimundo snickered. "To be honest, I thought you were into Kim until that night," he added.

"Oh, I was," Jack replied. "And I was interested in a lot of other people."

The Dragon of wind understood. "Gotcha," he said.

Now genuinely smiling, Jack pressed a button on his watch. "Let's get to the temple before Shadow wrecks your shit," he said.

Anastasia watched Sophie pile the Wu together in one heap. She admired the fact that even though they were underground in a dusty cavern, the older woman still had the sense to keep the pile symmetrical and neat.

"What are we going to do with these?" She asked.

Sophie sighed, "I believe we should hold onto them for now. They can't stay here forever. You never know when this thing will collapse."

The younger woman replied, "We could hide them in Jack's safe! He has a collection of Wu there. I know the password from watching him."

Her mother's eyes sparkled. "That's my girl," she said proudly, pecking Anastasia's forehead.

A warmth bloomed in the young girl's heart. She said, "Mother, I know I don't say this often, but thank you."

"Oh? Why?"

"Well, because," Anastasia blushed. "If it weren't for you I don't think I would've come this far. Did you know I've proven a formidable to foe to Chase Young? I didn't think this would be important to me months ago, but it is!"

Sophie grinned and responded, "Darling, you aren't a formidable foe to Chase Young. He's a decorated immortal warrior. You were just lucky. And that curse of yours definitely added to your favor."

Suddenly, Anastasia's heart went ice cold.

Her arm started to burn uncontrollably, until she felt her whole body light with fire. "Mother," she seethed, "This patronization you always seem to revert to is becoming tiresome."

Sophie smirked, "Those are some advanced words, even for you. Well done, dear."

Anastasia used to love the pet names her mother called her, but now her blood was boiling. She hated it when Sophie made fun of her. "Wouldn't you just give me one victory? Why can't I have one, just one day where you aren't constantly pulling me be between your love and your pity? I thought you were my mother!"

Something rumbled above the ground, shaking the foundations they were standing on. A spray of dust hit Anastasia's head. "What was that?" She asked, shining her flashlight into the ceiling.

A hint of worry laced Sophie's voice as she spoke, "Someone must be trying to enter. It's probably Chase Young. We must flee."

The sound of the warlord's name made the Russian's stomach dip. She could run, or she could stay and fight him. She did it before.

Her mother blindly grasped for Anastasia's hand. "Come, dear, we must go!"

"No!" Anastasia retorted. "Look around us, Mother. We have all these powerful Wu. We can use them to our advantage!"

Sophie cracked the back of her hand across the girl's face, "You insolent child! Just do as I say!"

The taste of metal filled Anastasia's mouth and a throbbing heat started in her cheek, almost as powerful as the heart coursing through her veins. She felt her flesh crawl, shivering to try and dispute the warmth. She could taste fresh blood in the back of her throat, she could feel it trickling from her eyes where her tears stung. Her bones crackled, her muscles pulled; something was happening.

"Anastasia," her mother breathed. "What is this?"

Harsh whispers filled Anastasia's mind. Years of belittlement, pressure and unreciprocated feelings spilled over the rim into a steaming pool of vengeance. "I will not do as you say!" She shouted, not hearing how the layers of her voice echoed in different octaves.

Another spray of dust hit them as the cavern shook. "You fool! You'll cave us in!" Sophie whispered in a panic.

Faint voices vibrated against the cavern walls, voices that were familiar to Anastasia.

"We have to get in there!"

"I hear something happening!"

"C'mon, move! Shadow probably left with all the Wu in there!"

The mention of Shadow made Anastasia dark eyes widen. She slowly turned her head to find the blue-haired warrior sliding out of her mother's form, fangs bared.

"What did you do to her?" The younger woman asked, breath hitched.

Shadow grinned maliciously, but only slightly. "Mummy-dearest had a bit of an accident on the way home, sweetheart. But don't worry, you'll see her soon, once I send you and your putrid curse to hell!"

The warrior pounced on Anastasia, digging her nails into her shoulders. The two tumbled backwards into the dirt, clawing and grinding and kicking at each other so savagely no one would've guessed this was supposed to be a magical fight.

Shadow mounted the younger girl in a matter of seconds and clasped her large hands around the pale girl's neck. She squeezed, hard, taking pleasure from seeing Anastasia's eyes nearly pop out of her skull.

The Russian girl could feel the air escaping her lungs, wheezing as the warrior above her awaited her death. But Anastasia wasn't about to let it happen. She hooked her legs under Shadow's shoulders and flipped them over, shooting the blue-haired woman into the wall of the vault.

The powerful effect of the curse was still radiating inside the girl and it was only stronger with each breath she took. She watched the warrior rise from the ground, slowly but surely. A gloved hand wiped some blood from lipstick-smeared lips.

"Beg for mercy," Anastasia barked, basking in the powerful glory of the curse.

Shadow sneered, "Make me."

An earth-shattering quake interrupted them, then a distant cry of, "Clay, don't!"

The vault began to collapse in on itself. Boulders were dropping on them like bombs, crushing everything in their wake. The two women rushed to either side of the vault and reached for a Wu, both hoping to survive the collapse.

Anastasia's fingers curled around a black, oval-shaped talisman, tagged 'Black Beetle' in scribbled, childish handwriting. She thought of Ping Pong vaguely, before shouting the name of her Wu. Before a weighty black ton coated her body, she heard a confident "Sphere of Yun!"

Then everything went dark.

When Anastasia opened her eyes next, she was on her back. She heard muffled, slightly panicking voices. A warm glow bathed her skin from afar. The crescent moon shone in the sky overhead.

Very carefully, she sat up. Her forehead throbbed and when she reached up to touch it, she yanked it back in pain. So much for the Black Beetle. Still, at least she was alive.

Anastasia's eyes roamed the ground, and she gasped at what she saw. Dozens of small lanterns illuminated the area where the vault had collapsed. She didn't know what was going on, but the lack of noise besides the occasional cricket and the ominous orange shadows were starting to scare her.

Just then she heard soft footsteps approaching her. The girl spun around in a panic, launching some stray rocks with her mind in case she needed to make a quick escape.

Omi gracefully deflected her barrage while carrying a pot of tea, before sitting in front of her. "How do you feel, Anastasia?" He asked quietly.

She shrugged. "I'm alright," she replied. "What's going on? Where is everyone?"

He poured the tea. "They're reversing the damage done to the vault. Clay is removing rocks, Kimiko is keeping it bright and warm, Raimundo is making sure they have air and Jack is using a powerful magnet to attract lost Wu."

Anastasia raised an eyebrow. "The vault was destroyed...of course! Clay wanted to trap Shadow in there!" She gasped, "Where is she?"

Pointing a slender finger, the monk gestured behind Anastasia. "In the Sphere of Yun. It appears she is deep in meditation, as she has been for several hours."

A magnificent, clear orb held Shadow, who was floating in the middle of it. Her eyes were closed and her legs were crossed, hands rested on knees. She looked so peaceful. So...not deadly.

"She put herself in there on purpose," the red head observed. "She was the one who activate the Wu, so she can deactivate it any time she likes. The fact that she's meditating makes me think maybe she wants to go somewhere no one can hurt her."

Omi rubbed his pointed chin. "That's an interesting theory. But it must be tested. Where do you think she's trying to go?"

"Who?" Jack's voice replied as he climbed out of the debris, followed by the others.

Not understanding the surge of emotion that took hold of her body, Anastasia sprang up to Jack and threw her arms around him. "Jack! You're alright!" She cried, tears in her eyes.

The genius was shocked and overwhelmed at once. He pulled her closer to him and rested his head on her shoulder. "Anna, I'm so sorry. Your mom...I-I-I..."

He started blubbering and Anastasia shook her head, saying, "It was Shadow. She killed her and took her form. She tricked me into saying things...doing things I didn't mean."

Hugging her again, her cousin assured her, "We're gonna get rid of this bitch. I promise."

Dojo slithered over his shoulder and asked, "Did any of you bother to use the Mind Reader Conch on her?"

Holding the mentioned Wu in his hands, Raimundo smirked, "Dug it out of the rubble. Let's get in that bitch's head!"

It was early morning when the monks, Anastasia and Jack landed on Chase Young's molten porch. Each of them held a concealed Wu on their person, just in case Chase didn't react pleasantly to what they were going to tell him.

He probably wouldn't, but that's what bringing back up is for.

Strangely enough, the immortal was expecting them. He had his door open, and Priya was there alongside her master. When Anastasia saw the warlord, she gasped. His flesh was pallid, wrinkled, his spine crouched, his hair graying.

The others saw it, too. Jack hissed, "It's already started."

"Monks, Spicer, Anna," Chase greeted them, voice hoarse. "I'm not surprised to see you."

The Brazilian monk stepped forward, with the Rio Reverso in one hand, "Chase Young! We have some information about Shadow that you should know."

Chase Young's expression didn't change. He leaned against Priya. "She's the reason that I am aging," he explained somewhat grievously. "I don't remember much after Anastasia and I fought in a showdown. When I regained my memory, I was already graying."

Omi commented boldly, "You came to our temple and massacred our peers."

His topaz eyes actually looked sad. "I am sorry," he confessed. "She cast me under some kind of spell. And now, she is sucking me dry. The Lao Mang Long doesn't work. I can't transform anymore. I am nothing, now."

It hurt Anastasia to see someone so magnificent reduced to this. It...made her heart sink. "She has your soul!" She blurted.

Chase Young's body tensed. He raised his sagging brows. "What?"

The monks and Jack glared at her. She blushed, cleared her throat, and repeated, "Shadow is hiding your soul. She got it from Hannibal when she killed him. She plans to use it to separate herself from you."

For a long time, the man did not speak. He had been broken, truly.

Omi spoke up, "We know she is going to kill you if she wins. It would have been easy to let you die but we'd rather have you around then Shadow."

Chase snickered bitterly, "I loved her. Or, as much as a soulless monster could love someone."

The albino girl's eyes locked with his when he said this, and he reminded her of her mother in a way. Unconditional love did not exist for people like Chase and Sophie. You had to be of some use for them to even consider loving you. Even beyond her grave, Anastasia's mother reminded her how easy it was to break a trusting bond built over such a weak foundation. And the warrior had fallen into that trap. He was grieving this loss, this betrayal.

Anastasia walked up to him and quietly intertwined her fingers with his.

He would not end up dead at the hands of Shadow as Sophie had. No, Chase Young would survive.

Author's Note: Why did it take me so long to update? Yeesh. So how'd you like it? I knew it was a bit of a slow burn here...but it took a while for me to finalize the exact plot. Shadow and Chase are sewn together because of Chase's spell that kept their existences bonded. Shadow cannot live unless Chase is alive. But she doesn't want to be weighed down by this, in case Chase is killed in battle or something, she wants to ensure her survival. She tracked down Hannibal, battled and defeated him with Wuya's help, and collected Chase Young's soul.

She's going to do something really cool with it. If she succeeds, Chase officially loses all his immortality and he will die, which makes sense because he's more than 1, 500 years old. Now if the monks defeat Shadow, well, let's just say Chase will live. That's all I'm going to say. Please review!