Raimundo peeked around at the entrance, then motioned for the others to follow him to the door. Omi leapt up and kicked in the trigger, squeaking when Clay pulled him back as the portal slammed down in front of them. He gave Clay a grateful smile as Rai helped Kimiko up and over the slab; the foyer was empty as they had expected, so they raced up the stairs and split up to the search.

"Anyone else feel this is too easy?" Kimiko asked as she warily searched the kitchen, shivering when she came to the cupboard full of canned dragons.

"Silence!" Omi ordered, his head popping out of a suit of armor. "A common error we have been making is to point out the things in front of our faces!"

"Point out the obvious," Rai corrected, staring at the weapons hanging on the wall. "Now if I was an arrogant, half-lizard overlord, where would I hide a Grand Master?"

Ask the man behind the curtain.

The monks perked up, then met Clay at the throne as he pulled back the fabric surrounding it.

"Grand Master Dashi!" Omi cried.

"Hello, young monks," Dashi greeted with a smirk. "You kids are the first welcoming sight I've had in a while."

"Any idea how to get this off?" Raimundo asked as he and the others examined the Sphere.

"Besides breaking it? No. But if you stand back I can take care of that."

The monks gave him quizzical looks, then took a couple steps back. Dashi's aura flashed, and then grew so bright the monks had to shield their eyes. When it diminished, they looked and found that the Grand Master was floating free, the Sphere of Yun back to its normal size at his feet. He smiled at them as their jaws dropped to the ground.

"What do you say we go home?" he asked.

The monks continued to stare at him.

"...What?"

"Could you do that the whole time?" Kimiko asked for them.

"Oh, that? Yes."

"Then, why did you not?" Omi questioned.

"Because..."

Dashi paused, then stroked his chin for a moment.

"Why didn't I?"

"You've gotta be kidding!" Rai cried as the other monks gave groans of indignation. "You mean you were able to get out, you just didn't want to?"

"Oh, believe me, I wanted to!" Dashi assured him. "I just don't know why I didn't..."

"Well, whatever the reason," Clay sighed as Raimundo fumed silently. "Let's talk about it later. We're still in pretty bad territory-"

"You got that right."

Everyone whipped around to see Wuya standing at the curtain, her clawed hands on her hips as she sneered at them. Beside her was the cat with the spots and stripes, its head low as it snarled at them.

"Oh great," Kimiko sighed as she and the boys got into their formation. "Now we're going to smell like moth balls."

"Keep it up and you'll smell like blood," Wuya growled.

Her eyes fell to Dashi, and she felt a smirk pass her lips.

"Dashi," she greeted. "The years have not been kind."

"How original," the Grand Master scoffed. "Now tell me the one about the chicken crossing the road."

As Wuya opened her mouth, Dashi touched Rai and Clay's robes and closed his eyes. The cat pounced at them, but only landed on the floor. Wuya pursed her lips as the lion searched the empty, shadowed room for its prey, then she turned and started for her room. No doubt Chase would be angry about Dashi escaping. She didn't want to be around for that.

Meanwhile the monks reappeared just outside their shrine, still cringing from the sight of the cat leaping for them. They relaxed when they saw where they were.

"Well, that was interesting," Dashi said with a laugh. "Good thing the old witch is so easily distracted."

"Yes, that is a very good thing," Omi said as he brushed off his robe.

"Yeah, yeah, it's great," Raimundo said hastily. "Now let's go get Dojo and head back to the canyon. With any luck Chase hasn't gotten there yet."

"With our luck?" Clay scoffed. "He's probably already got Stryker by his side!"