Disclaimer: I do not own champions online, or the Valori. Champions belongs to Cryptic, and the Valori to Phil. I am merely borrowing. Sliakner and the Trio, however, are mine.

Note from the Shadows: This story tells of Raistlen's life before she arrived in Millenium City, and several key moments from that point onwards. Obviously, I can't write everything that happened in her 17,000 year long life, but I can tell the important bits. Please, come read, enjoy, and leave a review if you'd like. You'll be seeing a lot of the Trio in this story, as well.

Warning: There *is* mention of attempted rape in this chapter. Nothing actually happens, but if that could be a trigger, please be cautious.

[Chapter One: From Three to One]

Today was a good day to be Shadow Dancer. All was quiet in her corner of the universe, her cousins resting after their last Game. And, oh, what a fun one that had been! How clever of Shadow Lady, to split the silly little dragonlings into separate clans. Indeed, today was a highly enjoyable day for young Shadow Dancer. She smiled as her helm and armor faded, replaced with a blindfold and elegant ball gown. She shut her eyes, casting her senses out into the darkness.

Plink. What was this? A ripple, in the shadows, creating a song of discord, the inky blackness furling in waves around a planet untouched by the game. Overcome by curiosity, Shadow Dancer sank into the ripple for a closer look.

"Get out of my house!" Keyna screamed at the top of her lungs, backing up into her bedroom. Her hands shook so much that dirt spilled from the flower pot she held. The intruder just advanced, eyes glinting wickedly. "I-I mean it! Out!" He came closer, pinning her against the door.

"That's... Interesting.." Dancer muttered, watching them for a moment. "But attempted rape alone isn't enough to cause this sort of ripple..." She sank back into the darkness.

Julin the nature spirit ran for her life, as fast as she could, not daring to look over her shoulder at the chaos demon tailing her. In she fled to home of a woman many spirits of nature had come to consider a friend. She stopped, staring in horror at the scene before her, then felt clawed hands reaching for her and latching onto her shoulder. "Forgive me, Keyna..." she whispered, bursting forward and melding with the woman- and bringing to demon with her.

"Oh dear darkness..." Dancer whispered as the ripples changed to a wave.

The scream that followed would stick in the minds of all who heard it for all eternity, so unearthly was it. Keyna's attacker stumbled backwards, a scream catching in his own throat as he watched the woman. Her blood seemed to boil beneath her skin, as her figure changed. Her hair, normally held in a ponytail, sprung loose, leaving a snarled mess. Her olive brown skin darkened to the purest of blacks, splots of red that looked disturbingly like blood appearing on the skin. Her clothes were shredded as her body grew, her figure changing. Two horns curled out from her head, vines piercing through the flesh to grow around the woman. Two on her back stuck up, with fanged heads that snapped at the man.

The... Creature turned her gaze towards the man, and stalked forward, vines grabbing him before he could flee, piercing into him. Halfway in, they formed a u-shaped bend, one on either of his side, and pierced as they came back out a good foot above their entry point. Once hooked, the being stepped forward, caressing the man's face with one clawed hand.

She grinned sadistically, red eyes glinting as the vines slowly pulled in opposite directions. The man's scream rang out through the normally peaceful village, causing many to come to investigate. Less then two hours later, the town was a blazing ruin, the beast stalking out.

Dancer watched silently as the beast lay a trail of wreckage across the planet, killing all in her path, then followed her trail through the darkness with her mind as the being traveled onto the next planet. The beast left a song of disharmony in her trail wherever she went, and Dancer followed easily, watching as red ripples of pain followed the beast's trail, all the while wondering how to soothe the being's pain, and bring the three minds to harmony.