Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie Chan Adventures because if I did boy would it be a much darker series

Author's note: This story will have FCs and some alterations of the canon and some shout outs to other shows. Don't worry though, if there is need for an explanation, it'll be there

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Chapter 1

From Dawn Till Dusk, Part 1*

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In a darkest of halls stood a slight man. His silhouette was nearly merging with the darkness surrounding him. He reached his hand forward and a glowing orb appeared in it. The light that emerged felt so alien in this place it hurt to even look at it. Numbers appeared on its glass surface. White fog and black smoke were twirling inside the sphere. These two clouds constantly moved, trying to overpower one another. The dark mist was obviously losing, gradually dissolving in the lucent haze.

The glass surface reflected a frown on the young man's face who snapped his fingers. At the sound a new person appeared from of the shadows. Their body was hidden in the darkness. The only clear traits they had were a humanoid bipedal body and a long pointy tail.

"I have a task for you," the man said in a cold tone.

The newcomer looked at the orb, silently nodded and disappeared. The man switched off the orb and his silhouette dissolved into the shadows. The darkness reigned again.

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It was a warm sunny day in San-Francisco when a yellow taxi stopped by a tall two-store building. The house looked old, even ancient and was of an unusual design, a mix of asian elegance and western simplicity . A big "Uncle's Rare Finds" sign hung above the door.

A teenage girl stepped out of the car. She was wearing rather casual clothes: an red hoodie with a yellow Chinese symbol on it and dark-blue jeans as well as a pair of running shoes. Her dark hair was tucked in a ponytail and black sunglasses covered her eyes. After the car drove away, the lean girl carried a small bag to a front door. With a deep sign she opened the door.

"Ayiaaah!" a shrill voice sounded, "The shop closed for inventory! Can't you people read the sign?! Come back tomorrow!" an old Chinese man was busy writing down something in a dusty even older book.

"Sure, I can come tomorrow," the girl shrugged, "Tell uncle Jackie I'll be waiting at Captain Black's."

"Sure-sure, Jade, just let me…" the oldster waved his hand at her and suddenly stopped. He stood up and smiled, almost tossing the book aside, "Jade! Jackie, your niece's arrived! Tohru, make some tea!" he shouted even louder than before.

Two men appeared from other rooms, one holding an ancient vase and another a battered broom. One was a slightly short fit man and another towered over them all with his round muscled stature.

"Hi guys, what's up?" Jade took off her sunglasses and grinned, "Long time no see, amirite?"

A few minutes later the Chan clan gathered in a kitchen, which also was a dining room ("Uncle not rich! One room is enough!"). The place was neat and old-fashioned with all types of ancient vases, books and bottles for herbs laying around. Jade wasn't even sure if normal or magical ones, maybe both. The kitchen/dining furniture smelt of spices and green tea, as well as wood and medicines. The girl couldn't believe how much she missed this scent.

"This year has been pleasantly peaceful, almost no magical or dark artifacts, no curses or demons, - told her Jackie

"A couple of mermaids, one tengu who got lost during a storm and some ancient scrolls which we are still translating," added Tohru taking a sip of tea, "Captain Black thinks that San-Francisco is at its safest right now thanks to our help."

"Awww, you guys had all the fun," the youngest of Chans pouted, "All I did was… studying."

"Oh, Jade, you're finishing school next year. You have to prepare for college, it is very important," tried to reassure her Jackie.

"But Jaackie, I don't want to go to college!" the teenager complained, "I want to kick butts, destroy demons, hunt treasures, work at Section 13… like you do!"

"And to do that you need professional education, like I did," the martial art master smiled and patted his now pretty tall niece. She still looked younger than she actually was – early teen at best despite being almost 18 years old, "That's why your parents sent you here, remember?"

"An entire summer to choose a college here, I know," she sighed, "Well, at least I'm with you. I bet some demon will appear and try to take over the world," she punched the air above her and smiled, "They always do."

"I hope not this time."

"Hope without preparation is useless," pointed out Uncle who was weirdly silent this whole time, "Darkness never sleeps, we should always be ready to face a new threat."

"But sensei," protested Tohru, "After Drago and Shendu were sent to demon world three years ago everything's been rather calm. I think we struck the dark forces really good, it'll take them ages to recover," the big guy got hit by Uncle.

"Foolish ex-apprentice! Darkness and light should always be in harmony, if one side overwhelms another, bad thiiiings will happen! Veeeryy bad things!" he threatened him with a finger.

"Well, I surely hope nothing bad happens during Jade's vacation. I for one am sick of Dark Evil Forces of demons and ghosts and floating heads trying to kill us," shrugged Jackie, "Right, Jade?"

A short pause hung in the room. Jade's heavy bag with clothes was on the floor, but a small backpack she carried around and sunglasses were missing. Along with Jade herself.

"Section 13?" asked Tohru.

"Where else?" the young Chinese man sighed and got up.

"Not before Uncle finishes his tea!"

Jackie Chan shook his head, picked up a mobile phone and dialed a phone number.

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The Section 13 has endured plenty of battles. The whole place was even completely destroyed once and rebuilt later. And though now the base looked almost painfully clean, one could notice marks and dents here and there. A permanent trace of magical fire on the floor, cuts made by some large beasts on the walls, whispers in the corners… Yet people in uniform paid no attention neither to these things nor to a teenage girl passing by. Some of them waved at Jade and even smiled but no one tried to stop her or interrogate. Frankly, they've probably seen weirder things than that.

Jade looked around with a big grin on her face and gleam in her eyes. She moved as if she knew this place like a book. Having entered a large laboratory she turned her head to a man with a long pony-tail. He wore a white coat and safety goggles and was engrossed in a weird looking machine.

"Hi, Kepler," Jade stopped, "What are you doing?"

"EM-fields regulator is glitchy again," the man didn't even turn back to look at her, "If you're looking for Captain Black he's in his office."

"Got it, thanks!"

"Oh, and Jade, if you meet Finn, Rexo…"

"Ratso."

"Yeah, him," he shrugged, "Or Chow, tell them to bring me a set of spare resistors."

"Will do," the girl smiled and continued onward.

Soon she found a study-looking door with a metal plate as well as a colourful grass doll hanging on it. The young Chan quietly leaned against its wooden surface, listening to a deep voice coming from inside.

"…Thus we have successfully driven imps out of San-Francisco's sewage system and put an end to the "exploding restrooms" incidents. No causalities or witnesses. I would call it a clean operation if not… well, you understand. Hence I request new sets of uniform for the agents who went there. 5 sets. And… eh, a set of deodorants for each, too."

Jade covered her mouth with a hand to hold back laughter.

"Yes, ma'am, I am certain it was a gargoyle yesterday. I doubt a bear could flip a bus. Witnesses commented on the creature possessing wings… or a cape. Yes, ma'am, a full report will be ready by tomorrow's morning. Thank you, ma'am, I'll be awaiting for your decision. Black out."

The girl raised her hand and touched the door knob when the lights went out. For a less than a second it became completely dark. When lamps turned on again Jade stood there slightly leaning forward. Her eyes were darkened, shoulders slumped. She turned her head to another direction and started slowly walking. Soon she stumbled upon a robust gate with digital locks. It was round and shiny grey as if made of silver. Several locks were attached to it, along with many weird-looking trinkets: runes, painted scrapes of paper, even flowers. The heavy steel entrance glimpsed in the dull light. Jade raised her hand and touched the surface. All lamps blinked at once in the hallway and the magical trinkets trembled.

"Here you are!" a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and the girl jumped on the spot, turning to face the person and taking a fighting stance, "Hey, Jade, it's just me."

"Ah?!" narrowing her eyes Jade stared at the man. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes.

"Jackie called. He said you'd come by to say hello," the guy in black coat smiled.

His face and even neck were covered in a couple of scars, some visibly fresher and deeper than others. Despite a warm smile he looked tired with dark pouches under green eyes and a stooped posture.

"Back to old business, I see?" the bald man smirked and put his hands in his pockets.

"What?" Jade asked in weak voice.

"Sneaking into the vault. I figured out you'd want to see how we upgraded it since your last visit," the man gently pushed her aside and pointed at the round entrance,"We didn't do much within a year but I think it's safe as possible."

Jade stared at the door wide-eyed and frowned. She scratched her head and shrugged.

"I could swear I was going to your office, Captain Black and not the vault," she noted in a dizzy voice.

"The memory itself carried you here, then?" the man raised his scarred eyebrow and smirked. – Let's go, your uncles and Tohru are waiting for us in a café. With a cake and everything."

Jade looked back at the vault door with a bewildered expression but then just shrugged and followed Augustus.

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"Mister Wong?"**

An old Asian-looking man sat on a soft bed in a light-blue hospital ward. He was wearing a long grey gown. The man was seemingly meditating. A wrinkly face was calm, his eyes closed, long white hair tucked in a bun. He didn't even look at a woman who came in carrying a bouquet and a small bundle.

"A gift from your… niece," the African-American woman in a white coat looked at the flowers in her hands. "Yellow Chrysanthemums, how sweet of her. And some of your favourite caramel scones for good behavior this week," she nodded at a small package in her hand.

"Was there anything else, Doctor Roberta?" he asked in a gravel voice while she put the flowers in a pot by his bed.

"Yes, a note," she took a scrap of paper from her pocket, "I'm afraid we had to read it… just to make sure it has nothing that can worsen your… state."

"As you can know my old eyes don't see as well as they used to," Daolong Wong opened his dull grey eyes and stared at the woman, whose expression changed from a smile into a sad frown, "So could you please read it for me?"

"Ah, sure," she shrugged, "It says… M, E," she started spelling latter after letter, "M, A, D, E, R, H, E, E, H, then… R, E, I, N, O, and finally N, E, K, S, V, E, G… I think your niece forgot to switch the language bar while typing, we can try to decipher it if you…"

"No need to, it's a language beyond your mundane comprehension," he waved his hand at her, "Now leave, I need peace and quiet for my meditation."

"Okay, see you at lunch time," the woman smiled and left the room, closing the door behind her, "Poor Mister Wong, still believes in this "Dark Chi" and "Demons" even after all these years…"

The woman shook her head and headed to the exit. Suddenly she noted a small package in her hand.

"The scones!" she slapped herself on the forehead and returned to his ward. "Sorry, Mister Wong, I forgot to…" she opened the door and froze.

The entire room was as dark as a moonless night. Hundreds of black tentacles wrapped around Daolong Wong, covering him from toes to neck. They were dragging him into the shadows. The Chinese man was repeating four Chinese words – even chanting them like a spell - without a pause.

"What is happening?!" Doctor Roberta dropped the bundle which the darkness sucked in, "Mister Wong, hold on to my hand! I'll save you!" she grabbed a doorknob and reached for the old man.

The shadow vines pulled Daolong Wong farther and farther from her into endless dark pit.

"Oh, you already did, doctor Roberta. Pray we will never meet again," the Chinese wizard smirked smugly and fully disappeared.

And it all was suddenly gone. The room looked completely normal except oddly empty. The yellow flowers in the pot stood out like a little sun among clouds. The woman sat on the floor, shaking and holding to the doorknob as if it was the last thing in the world. With a visible struggle she pulled out a mobile out of her pocket and dialed a phone number.

"I-I n-neeed to speak to… to Augustus Black!"

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A couple of strangers dressed in long black fur coats walked up a wide mountain pass. The sky above them was black and starless, even the moon was absent. But even it wasn't, it would be impossible to recognize the pair because of a thick fog which engulfed the entire path.

Sooner than later a bridge emerged from the fog. It spanned over a dark-blue river which flowed too quietly to be natural. Perhaps beautiful once, the construction now was in ruins. One of the strangers made a deep sigh and tightly grabbed their partner's arm. They slowly but steadily guided them ahead and avoiding holes or half-crushed planks. When they reached the end they found a crushed gate. They entered and the fog suddenly disappeared. As if by magic the thick grey haze wouldn't dare to cross the water. What the pair of travellers saw made them freeze on the spot.

Many wooden buildings surrounded a beautiful garden. They were connected by long galleries all leading to a large castle. Everything bathed in gloomy moonlight. A tall stone wall protected this large settlement, big enough to hold hundreds of people and fortified enough to hold off even more.

One of the travellers removed the hood taking a deep breath. It was an old Asian-looking man with dull eyes, one of them scarred. Another person kept themselves hidden under the fur coat, but a vaguely humanoid face could be seen under the hood. This mysterious character was holding Daolong Wong's arm and gently guiding him across the garden. It was full of brightly coloured flowers and blooming trees with petals and leaves sharp as knives and probably just as deadly.

"Yes!" the man exhaled and grinned, "I can feel the black magic seething in this place. I already feel stronger just by being here."

"To restore your full power we need much more, though," his acquaintance noted in feminine even girlish voice, "What is this place, anyway?"

"Pheh, shouldn't you know that, woman?" the black chi wizard snorted.

"I was given general info but not details," she shrugged. Three gleaming eyes with slit pupils scanned the place, "It's obviously Japanese, ancient… and pretty ruined," added she glancing at rubble beneath her clawed feet, "The last time anyone lived here must've ended quite poorly for its landlords."

"The aura of this place feels… familiar," the human beside her sniffed the air.

His guide threw a silent glance at him and looked around. The place was a mess: though none of the buildings was completely destroyed, they all carried scars of a war long forgotten. Sharp edged holes and black trails of fire on the walls, bare bones and piece of armour on the ground. One of the buildings was relatively untouched with just a couple of dents on the roof. Having spotted it, the mysterious woman directed Daolong Wong forward.

Inside they found a long hallway leading to a number of smaller rooms. The place was plunged into absolute darkness but neither of the travellers seemed to mind.

"Yes, I can sense it clearly now… this place reeks of the shadows and demon blood," the wizard muttered

His guide walked farther, opening doors with her free hand and a long reddish scorpion tail, which popped out from underneath her fur coat. Each room was furnished with a bed, a table and a wardrobe as well as a wall painting depicting a roaring demon head.

"Here seems to be safe enough," the woman led the half-blind man to one of the rooms, "The fog will not let any non-darkling pass," the mutant lit a lantern standing on the table, "So there shouldn't be any intruders," she tilted her head when she saw the ex-wizard gazing at the painting. He was so close he was almost touching it with his nose, "You sure you can take care of yourself?"

"I'm not impotent, Ying'zi!" he snarled in her direction… or where he thought she was, "I don't need sight to see here. The darkness itself will guide me."

"Okay-okay, I'm just doing my job, sudar'," she raised her black hands in a conciliatory gesture, "I want to make sure you will be okay while I'm away."

"I've been though worse," he grumbled, "And where are you going?"

"Phil gave me an address where I can find the first artefact. It should restore your powers if the description's correct. Or make a good walking stick at worst."

"Ah, your master is a wise one, just as I expected," the old man smiled, "Excellent! Go, Ying'zi, and return to me with the staff!"

"I have a name, you know, and it is not a "shadow"," she folded her arms but the wizard ignored it, "Ugh, never mind. Don't step on a shuriken," with these words the woman walked in shadows and disappeared.

It was unsettlingly quiet, while the lamp's light hopelessly battled an all-engulfing darkness. The Chi Wizard took a small package from a pocket and unwrapped it. Underneath the paper was some crispy light-brown pastry covered in caramel. A small note was attached to the wrapping and a short written elaborate text. The old mage winced and set it aside. Without a word he grabbed one of the scones and took a bite out of it, chewing in complete silence.

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Author's Note: Ah, poor, poor Captain Black. So many phone calls. On another hand, he's definitely not left without attention.

* This story is built like a real season with 13 episodes (I may add more later). Each episode has its own plot and title and I plan each episode to take at least 2 chapters, 4 at most.

**As you may note in the "Disclaimer" part I really dislike how little sense make the Time Travel Episodes in JCA (Demon World is not a Time Travel episode)… even by Time Travel episodes standards. Hence in my JCA verse they hadn't happen at all. Don't worry, fan favourite Drago did occupy the 5th season but it was Drago from the present, not future X)

I think putting Daolong Wong in prison would be difficult but a mental hospital, especially thanks to his "magic" talks? Easily.

Oh, and, if you're interested, I'm looking for a beta. English isn't my first language as you may have noticed and I really need someone patient enough to point out any grammar/spelling/sentence problems in my story

Till next time