Danny wakes ten minutes later. I'm still alive? How? As his vision comes back into focus, he sees the familiar face of Xander Lykos.

"Good thing I had a spare," the wolf winks, holding up an empty vial.

"How are Rob and Maria?" Danny asks, his voice a little weak. "And yourself?" he adds.

"I got off comparatively lightly, but they were hurt bad," Xander explains. "Luckily there was enough elixir to get us all healed."

"How many vials do we have left?"

"One."

Danny curses violently.

Another ten minutes pass; the Scarves regroup under the balcony with the Grand Masters of Mizu-dojo and Kasai-dojo, Chika Ueno and Hideyoshi Takenaka.

"It is with great sorrow and regret I look upon my actions earlier," Hideyoshi admits. "I allowed Aquila and the power he promised to control me, to corrupt me; I should not have let that happen."

"I've seen someone fall further than you did," Rob assures, referring to Hanna's descent into madness under the influence of the genuine Fire Crystal. "It took a while, but she came to terms with it, and is a better person because of it; it'll be the same for you."

"I am comforted by your words," Hideyoshi thanks. "But they shouldn't have been required in the first place."

"What's done is done," Rob continues. "What matters is we're all still alive, thanks to you. Out of interest, did the fake Crystal-"

"Turn into powder?" Hideyoshi finishes. "Yes."

"And Serpentine?" Danny asks.

"Vanished," Hideyoshi answers. "Escaped while we were tending to you."

"Facing Aquila is a bad idea," Chika interrupts. "He has all five genuine Elemental Crystals; as talented as you four are, you'll be no match for him. I think it best we try to find your friend and escape while we still can."

"We can't, not yet," Danny informs. "Either we go back with Aquila and the Crystals, or we don't go back at all."

"Then stay in the Gotoshi; you're more than welcome in Mizutani," Chika offers.

"And Kasaiyama," Hideyoshi adds.

"Thanks, but our home is the Origin Kingdoms," Rob replies. "Plus Aquila will just hunt us down and kill us anyway; given how he laid waste to so much of Shang Tu without the Elemental Powers, I'd hate to think of how thoroughly he'll raze Kasaiyama and Mizutani to the ground with them. And not just to destroy us; he'll be after you and the other Grand Masters for your betrayal and failure."

"As much as I am afraid to admit it, you speak the truth," Chika admits.

"With the amount of power at his disposal, the entire Gotoshi is in peril," Hideyoshi concludes.

"Not to mention the Origin Kingdoms," Danny adds.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Xander begins, "but it seems we're the only people standing in the way of Aquila taking over or destroying Avalice."

"You're not wrong," Rob confirms quietly.

The seriousness of the situation hits home hard; the whole group falls silent as the enormity of it all sinks in.

"While we were waiting to see Mayor Zao, I asked Lilac and Carol why they did what they did," Maria admits after a few moments. "Y'know, saving the world and all that."

"What did they say?" Rob asks.

"'Someone had to'," Maria answers.

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

The group falls silent once more.

"Now it's our turn," Maria declares.