Yo,

Let's begin!

(That's all I have to say :))

Susan's POV

My head was spinning terribly when I woke up. My vision was blurred so all I could see were shapes and un-recognisable figures, and my body burned all over.

"Susan"

Blinking repeatedly to clear my vision, I opened my eyes and found myself in the oddest place I'd ever set foot in.

It felt like a void, or realm. There were no visible walls or doors just space, no value of time or night and day.

The realm was clouded in a hazy, yet cheerful, bright spring gold and dotted, floating aimlessly around, were pieces of rocks and flower petals, being carried by a wind I could not feel.

I seemed to just be sitting in mid-air, the air itself flooded with a thick feeling, so it was solid enough to sit on, but also easy to breath in, defying practically every ounce of physics I'd ever learnt in my life.

Life. Was I still living mine? Or had I given it up to that dreadful fiend in exchange for my friend's safety?

I glanced up, remembering the calm voice I'd just heard.

Spirit Yang stood in front of me, his long trailing white robe and hair, fluttering in the breeze, while his calm blue eyes fixed me with a curious stare.

"Yang!"

I practically threw myself at him and he chuckled heartily as I did so.

"Hello, how good to see you again." He smiled. "I've missed you."

"Me too," I sighed and took a deep breath, gazing around the strange realm. "Where are we?"

"The spirit realm." Yang replied sincerely, leading me through the thick gold smog.

"So I did die then?"

"And for a most noble cause." He grinned, his startling eyes sparkling.

I smiled in return, but felt it fall slowly from my face once his back had turned.

"What happened to you? Spirit Yin barely explained." I inquired, turning my attention back to him.

"I was sent on a mission, to simply hunt down the group of Shen's wolf followers that managed to escape when the Dragon warrior fought him." Yang pulled back a curtain of willow tree vines, the large tree itself seemingly rooted in mid-air. "There were only about five and I dispensed of them quickly, however there was one which looked rather like the wolf boss in appearance, he attacked me and I was left injured in the forest, my men all defeated too."

"But you died, you couldn't just die from a wolf's attack, no matter who he was related to." I cut in impatiently.

"Yes, I was getting to that. So, as I was saying, I was left in the forest injured, when An Ling turned up, he noticed my weak posture and striked instantly, I died while in the Yin and Yang palace some days later." He finished grimly.

"But you exiled An Ling years ago, I don't understand how he could return."

"An might have been cruel, he might have been ruthless and a little stupid, but he was persuasive. When he was exiled, he managed to recruit a small number of followers from the underworld, other ghost creatures, and when I was injured, it greatly weakened the bubble of protection spread around the universe from me and Yin, it weakened it so An, with a little help from other ghost creatures was able to escape the underworld and enter the normal realm. Once he'd arrived, he killed me and freed the other snakes too, but not all of them. If he wanted them all free, he'd need to kill Yin too."

"Ok, I understand. But what about Yin? If she's dead wouldn't the other creatures be freed?" I asked inquisitively.

"Yes, and she is dead but the other creatures have not been freed because An needed to be alive to free them, Yin died but then your friends killed An, he had no time to free the other creatures, that is why it was imperative he was killed, even if Yin died."

"Oh," I replied, mulling everything over in my head, it was all getting rather confusing. "But then wouldn't she be here?"

"I am." Called a voice and Spirit Yin appeared beside me so suddenly I thought she'd just popped up from the ground.

"Yin!" I cried and hugged her too.

"I am here," she began answering my question, politely peeling my paws off her. "Because I was killed too. Not by An because otherwise he wouldn't have believed you if you said you were me. By another snake, one I managed to kill to while I was enjoying my last bated breaths. It faded and so did I, An's army was so large he wouldn't notice if one of his snakes had vanished as quite a few were killed during our heist, and most luckily he didn't see me get killed."

"You took a great chance impersonating me, if An had seen me be killed by that other snake, he wouldn't have believed you."

"Oh, well it was the only thing I could think to do in that situation." I replied sheepishly.

"Oh no, we're not blaming you, we're commemorating you on your bravery and belief in luck." Yang grinned, and we stopped walking and settled down on a small hill of mossy grass with a single auburn-coloured tree rooted in it.

"Thank you then." I chuckled. "I'm glad I remembered where everything was in your house though."

"Where's the golden trident of vanishing objects?" Yang jokingly asked.

"Fifth floor, second drawing room, glass and gold cabinet." I answered with a smile and we all laughed.

"Very good." Yin replied. She then looked at me, full in the face and said; "Thank you Susan, you have saved many people' lives with your sacrifice, I hope you understand that."

I gasped quietly at how close my nose was to her face but nodded hurriedly. "I do, and I am very, very glad it was put to good use."

"Oh very." Yang noted. "I do believe An has made his appearance here now too, and he won't be returning to the normal realm in any hurry."

"About that, am I to return too?" I asked, my heart childishly begging for the reply to be yes.

"Yes, you are. That is if you want too?" Yin asked, her eyes already gleaming with the answer she knew I would give.

"Oh yes!" I shrieked, imagining the look on my friends faces when I burst up to them. "Oh please!"

"Certainly, you will be able to return to the Jade palace to meet everyone again shortly, but it might take a little while."

"Oh," my face fell but I tried to disguise it with thankfulness and curiosity. "How long?"

"Around six months. But I assure you, you won't be bored here," Yang smiled, noticing my face and trying to elevate my spirits.

"Only the Dragon Warrior can return to the Spirit realm and go as quickly as he pleases." Yin explained.

"Ah, well thank you Spirits, thank you so much."

Hello,

Next chapter will be up soon!

Here's the answer to the other day's question: It was a flamingo because if you remember when he and Susan were left alone in the forest, they started to play a drawing game with chalk picies on the tree and Monkey first drew a Flamingo. Not a sheep as Susan guessed :) did you get that answer?

I'll see you in the next chapter, thank you for the lovely reviews!

xx