Half an hour after deciding to betray the Royal Magister, Sally is still working out how to commit the act. Having already considered and rejected several options, she starts to formulate a plan that stands a chance of working. Five Crystals, five Headbands, and we need to get all of them out of Shang Tu and into Yamakasai. I also need to break Maria and Danny out of prison, which means I need to take the Water Crystal and Headband with me. And to escape, they'll need to be powered up too. So, I need to take three Crystals and three Headbands into the dungeon. And since there's no way I can sneak in all five of each, the Fire and Metal need to be hidden along our escape route.

Sally sighs as she realises what she must do. This is going to feel weird…

Sally makes sure the door to her lab is securely locked, then returns to the test bench. After checking the Water Headband is still on her head, she lowers her capris to around her knees, places the Wood and Earth headbands inside her thighs at the very top, then pulls her capris up and secures them in place. Yep, very weird. Sally then takes the Wood, Earth, and Water Crystals and hides them under her tank top, between her breasts. Seriously weird.

After a final check to ensure the hidden items don't show through her clothes and won't move, Sally bundles the Fire and Metal Crystals and Headbands into a small backpack, slings it over her shoulder, then walks to the door. Ah, the Headbands are rubbing me… OK, keep control Sal: this is too important to screw up.

Sally takes a deep breath, clears her mind, then leaves the lab.

Ten minutes later, Sally arrives in the same basement room Maria and Danny entered the palace via. Thank the Ancients it's quiet today… Now, where to hide this bag? Sally scans the room and finds a suitable shadowy corner. After stowing the bag out of sight, Sally leans against the crate, taking a moment to steel herself for the next step of the plan.

After I do this, there's no turning back. This is the point of no return.

Sally makes one final check to ensure the bag is hidden, then leaves the room and heads to the dungeon.

Ten minutes later, Sally arrives at the entrance to the dungeon's high security wing. "I'd like to see the two prisoners arrested this morning," she requests of the two guards.

"I'm afraid we cannot allow anyone without the proper clearance," one of the guards informs.

"Sally Nicole Flynn, Military Researcher First Class, on personal appointment by the Royal Magister himself," Sally replies, showing the guards her security pass.

The guard who spoke analyses the card. "Very well, access permitted," he confirms. "But first we must search you for contraband."

This is where it could all go wrong. "Of course," Sally accepts, standing legs apart and arms raised, ready for a pat‑down.

The guards conduct a thorough search, avoiding any contact too intimate and therefore finding nothing. "Thank you for your co‑operation."

"Thank you for being respectful," Sally returns, entering the dungeon. That was scary. But now it's done.

A couple of minutes later, Sally appears in front of the cell holding Maria and Danny to find the lynx is asleep, and the badger has his back to the bars. Danny senses Sally's approach and turns to greet her, holding his tongue at the hedgehog's signal for silence.

Sally places a hand over the lock, then taps into the power of the Water Crystal to form an ice key. It takes several attempts to form a key that works, but eventually a muted click is her reward. The electricity flowing through the bars ceases as Sally nudges the door open and enters the cell.

"I have a gift for you," she greets, her voice a near silent whisper.

"Is that what I think it is?" Danny asks equally quietly, pointing to the Water Headband.

"I have more than that," Sally replies, extracting the Wood and Earth Crystals from her cleavage.

"Are you crazy‽" Danny asks in surprise.

"Shut up and let me help you," Sally instructs, handing the Crystals to Danny.

"Do you have the headbands as well?"

"In an… interesting place." Sally moves so Danny is between her and Maria, then lowers her capris to her knees and recovers the Headbands.

"That must have been interesting," Danny comments, taking the Headbands.

"You have no idea," Sally blushes, pulling her capris back up.

Danny places the Earth Headband on his head, and the Earth Crystal in his pocket, then kneels next to the slumbering lynx. "Maria, time to leave," he whispers in her ear, gently nudging her shoulder.

"I don't wanna go to school today," Maria mumbles, rolling over.

"Then I'll keep the shiny gem and cute headband," Danny replies.

Maria snaps to full alertness. "Shi‑!" she begins, silenced by Danny clamping his hand over her mouth.

"Keep it down," Danny instructs, releasing his grasp.

"Sorry," Maria whispers, sitting up. "Hi, Miss Spiky."

"Hey Maria," Sally replies. "Ready to get out of here?"

"Am I green?" Maria grins, putting on the Wood Headband and placing the Wood Crystal under her dress, between her breasts.

Danny leads the trio out of the cell. However, while Danny and Sally turn towards the exit, Maria turns the other way, in front of Aquila's cell. Maria gets Aquila's attention by knocking on the bars, the Wood Crystal sheathing her hand to protect her from electric shock, then pokes her tongue out cheekily at the dragon before rejoining Danny and Sally.

"Thievery, murder, and now treason," Aquila comments flatly. "And they claim I'm the bad guy."

Ice starts to form on the outside of the door to the high‑security wing. Perplexed, the guards take a step back and prepare to fight.

But they're not ready for what happens next.

The door shatters as it is violently blasted out of its frame, showering both guards with icy shrapnel. Before they can recover their composure, Maria, Danny, and Sally sprint through the opening and down the corridor.

"Breakout in high‑sec!" one of the guards barks into his radio. "Lock down the dungeon!"

As the breakout trio approach the entrance to the dungeon, they aren't surprised to see that the lockdown is in full effect. However, they don't slow down at all. Danny takes the lead, tapping into the Earth Crystal to envelope himself in a protective layer of gravel. Once shielded, Danny taps more power to form a makeshift battering ram, and slams with full force into the door.

Despite the strength of the door, it is no match for Danny's Crystal‑boosted mass and momentum, and it gives way instantly. Danny allows the momentum to carry him brutally through the squad of soldiers on the other side, Maria and Sally following close behind. Now out of the dungeon, Maria takes the lead. Tapping into the Wood Crystal to clad herself in wooden armour, Maria produces several vines and quickly dispatches the next squad, disarming them all in just a few seconds.

The breakout trio fight their way up to ground level and to the basement room through which their escape will be completed. Danny and Maria seal the room shut with a mix of rock and wood, blocking the squad of soldiers chasing after them.

"That should buy us a bit of time," Danny concludes. "Which is good, because I want to know something," he continues, turning to Sally. "What on Avalice has gotten into you‽"

"I get you the Crystals and the Headbands, and break you out of prison, and this is how you thank me?" Sally snaps back, her spines erect.

"You've just thrown away your career! Your entire life!" Danny exclaims. "The entire Shang Tu military will be hunting you down!"

"I don't care!" Sally yells. "I just wanna do the right thing!"

"Shut up, both of you!" Maria interrupts, fighting back tears. "You're both being stupid! Hanna needs our help, and we're going to help her! And then we're going to end the whole silly war! Got it?"

Danny sighs in resignation. "You're right, of course," he admits. "We can argue about this when the Gotoshi is peaceful again."

"Good," Maria acknowledges. "Sally, get the other Crystals and Headbands."

Sally retrieves the backpack from its hiding place.

"Both of you, get down there," Maria commands, pointing at the sewer access.

Danny lifts the cover and descends the ladder, Sally following him down.

Maria takes a moment to compose herself, then descends the ladder, moving the cover back in place on the way.

By the time the soldiers break through the barrier and into the basement room, Maria, Danny, and Sally have made it out of the storm drain, and are halfway to Jade Creek, having shaken their pursuers by weaving through the woodland.

General Gong arrives at the throne room, where the Royal Magister and Neera Li are waiting for him. "They got away," he informs as he enters the room.

"This is a most unacceptable situation," the Magister replies. "I am very disappointed we were not able to recapture them."

"They were using the Crystals to aid their escape," Gong explains.

"I had concluded that would be the case," the Magister agrees. "But what disappoints me most is that we have been betrayed by one of our very best engineers. Because of her actions, Sally Flynn is now an enemy of Shang Tu, and must be hunted and neutralised, along with both Maria Shanmao and Danny Brock."

"But Your Excellency‑" Gong begins.

"Sally's betrayal is inexcusable," Neera interrupts. "We cannot show any leniency."

"Do you judge them with the same wisdom you judged Lilac and Carol a year ago?" Gong retorts.

"How dare you‽" Neera demands. "You know just as well as I do I made the decision that best suited the information we had!"

"They were helping us!" Gong reminds forcefully. "And you had them thrown in‑"

"Enough!" the Magister demands; both Gong and Neera fall silent. "Thank you," the Magister continues. "Both of you will travel to the Gotoshi and recover the Elemental Crystals and the Inhibitor Headbands. And if Sally Flynn and the two Red Scarves refuse to co‑operate, terminate them with extreme prejudice."

"But‑" Gong starts to protest.

"That is a direct order, General," the Magister affirms in a tone that will brook no argument.

"Very well, Your Excellency," Gong acquiesces.