"Oh, Chase."

"What?" Chase Young asked testily; he was slouched in his throne, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the peace and quiet. Well, he had been enjoying the silence. Now he opened them wide when Wuya plopped down on his lap and rested her large red mane on his shoulder.

"I have some very good news for you," she told him, batting her lashes at him.

"You're not immortal?" Chase guessed flatly, turning away from her.

"No," Wuya answered curtly; she cleared her throat quickly and smiled again, toying with a strand of fabric peeking through his chest plate. "I've heard rumors that a certain redhead and a certain Mohawk are having a spat."

"Really?" Chase asked, bringing his eyes back to her.

"Oh, yes! Stryker even threatened to leave."

This brought a smirk to Chase's face. It was exactly what he needed to bring Stryker to his cause.

"Well, now," he started. "That is good news."

"I knew you'd appreciate it," Wuya said with a grin.

"Yes. I assume you'll want a reward?"

Wuya batted her eyes again. Chase lifted his arm and snapped his fingers; his lions shot into position around him, snarling at the witch.

"I'll let you live," Chase said stalely. "Now get off."

Wuya pursed her lips and did as she was told, crossing her arms across her chest. So much for the open arms welcome. It appeared as if Chase being pleased to see her was nothing more than a façade to help himself, and she didn't know why that surprised her.

Chase glanced at one of his lions and nodded in her direction. The lion did as it was commanded and he tugged on a cord beside him. The drapes behind him pulled back as he stood, revealing a hidden room. Dashi's aura was the only light in the small space; he was meditating silently, looking rather at peace in the Sphere of Yun, until he Chase stepped into the foyer and close the curtain.

"Can't you knock?" The Grand Master retorted, not bothering to open his eyes.

"I have a question for you," Chase said, running a finger across the Sphere as he walked around him.

"I have two words you won't want to hear."

"Come now, Master," Chase sneered. "We both know that you're...inclined to advise those who ask."

Dashi's brow twitched. One of the drawbacks of holding so many prophecies was that, upon request, he had to recite them.

"Now then. I want to hear the one everyone's so anxious about. The one supposedly involving my nephew."

"Is that all?" Dashi laughed. "Fine then...'There will come a time when only four dragons are needed'-"

"Skip to the end," Chase ordered.

Dashi cocked an eyebrow.

"'The first sign is the blue dragon'..."

Chase smirked.

"Now, it might just be me, but I believe I've seen a blue dragon before. You created one."

"The Sapphire Dragon," Dashi said. His eyes were open now as he narrowed them at Chase. "What of it?"

"It's quite strange that you, a man claiming to want balance, would let Victor create something so, well, Heylin."

Dashi scowled at him.

"In the sense that it was so obviously uncontrollable," Chase continued, as if the comment would set his old master at ease. "What exactly were you thinking when you had Victor make it? That you would simply leave it in a volcano and no one would find it? Or..."

Chase gave Dashi a piercing gaze.

"Were you and Victor going to get someone to control it."

Dashi's eye's darkened, enough of an answer for Chase.

"So then the first clue is the Sapphire Dragon," the warlord said with a smirk. "Who's its harbinger, Stryker? That's the big secret?"

Dashi's brow rose, then he smiled, to Chase's surprise.

"No. It's not Stryker."

Chase stared at him, then did his best to regain his composure.

"Who then? Entropy?"

"No. It's not Entropy either," Dashi answered, closing his eyes again. "How arrogant that you assumed the prophecy involved your line."

"You have been saying it since you revealed this blasted thing."

"I have? Oh no, I have never said that one of your relatives is the one. They could be involved, who knows?"

"Don't toy with me, Dashi," Chase growled. "You know very well whether they're involved or not!"

Well that completely depends. What side are they on right now?"

"You know fully well, they're on Jack's-"

He froze again, disbelief and then anger on his face.

"Don't tell me..." he snarled.

"Fine, I won't," Dashi remarked, smirking at the searing anger he felt boiling inside his former pupil. "You always were so touchy, Chase Young."

Chase roared and slammed his fists into the Sphere of Yun, his skin looking strangely green and scaly. He and Dashi locked eyes for a long moment, challenging each other as Chase's eyes glowed and his fangs stared to protrude from his gums. After much inner conflict, Chase pulled away and fixed his hair, his skin returning to its pale shade and his teeth shrinking.

"You and Guan were my best teammates," Dashi growled as the warlord gave him a more controlled glare. "I dare say you were my best friends."

Chase straightened his back and turned, moving the curtain back with a flourish before heading to his room. Dashi shook his head and sighed.

Such a waste, wouldn't you say Master Fung? he thought, closing his eyes.

Yes, Master Fung agreed. But back to what we were discussing. My students are ready to break you free. All we need is a distraction.

Hmmm...

Dashi mentally examined the conversation he had overheard between Chase and Wuya just moments earlier.

I believe we may already have one.