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.
I'm very sorry for a delay. I was hit by a case of sudden writer block. But I guess I'm over it. Thank Gods :.D
OMAC001, oooh yes, I love Dark!Jade stories, so much potential… but it's a real shame there is little genuine Tarakudo and Jade interaction in them despite, you know, she be Queen, he be King. I hope I can… fix this little problem one day not very soon tho
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Chapter 3
It's A Jungle Out There, Part 1
Numerous wooden huts with thatched roofs formed a circle in a jungle clearing. Some were tiny, others large enough to house dozens of guests. Local people, dressed in colorful and light clothes crowded there, hiding from the harsh sunlight in the trees' shadows. Some people threw curious glances at a couple of Asian men, but most were too busy doing their daily chores. The pair waited silently until a tall bulky man walked out of a large shack and approached them.
"Do they know anything?" Jackie immediately asked.
"Some los extranjeros – foreigners – visited these nice people," nodded the man, dressed in a black travelling costume. He wore a red mask with a blue bull symbol on it. "They asked about the jungles and if there were any ruins there".
"Was Daolong Wong with them?"
"Eh, no, they spoke of two women and no man among them," El Toro shook his head, "So, do we follow them?"
"Of course we do!" snorted Uncle, "These jungles ooze dark magic! There must be another artifact somewhere here. We can't let forces of Evil get hold of it."
"I think I have an idea… but first we need a map."
The trio left the village and went onto the road. A couple of teenagers stood by a worn out and mud-covered jeep.
"And then I defeated him in one powerful leg drop!" a boy of the approximately same age as Jade punched the air above him and proudly folded his arms, "This is how I won my first official lucha libre match!"
"Yeah, yeah," sighed the Chinese girl as she rolled her eyes, "You told me that already, Paco… like, a hundred times."
"You have to admit, Yade, it was an impressive battle," the teenager grinned at her. Paco was much taller than Jade now, still lean but somewhat muscular. Just like El Toro, he wore a mask, a black one with golden eagle embroidery on it.
"Don't take it personally, Paco," smirked Jade, "It's… cool, but compared to saving the world? Pfft."
The young lucha frowned and leaned closer to her, about to say something, when they noticed the trio of men arrive.
"Any news?" Jade asked eagerly, easily pushing Paco aside.
Jackie nodded and the whole group got into the jeep. Inside, he showed them a map of a local area. He circled a dark-green region with a red pencil.
"According to local legends, an ancient temple was built somewhere around here centuries ago," he explained.
"Yes, the patriarch warned both them and us not to go there," nodded the champion wrestler, "He said a witch lives there, and that this place is cursed. No villager dares to trespass on that territory."
"This forest is sort of a Mexican Bermuda Triangle. All expeditions trying to find it failed; their members spoke of losing coordination and even hallucinating terrifying monsters. Some didn't return at all, or did but lost their minds."
"Ohhh," Jade's eyes gleamed with excitement, "There has to be something dangerous!"
"Yes, an artifact. And while you chitchat here, Daolong Wong's allies get closer and closer to it!" complained Uncle.
"I still think we should've left the kids at the hotel," Jackie said as he started the car, and the engine rumbled softly.
"As if we'd stay out of this adventure," Paco and Jade smiled at each other.
Jackie and El Toro groaned weakly and shook their heads. The car set off, driving deep inside the green jungle along a muddy route.
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"Why did I agree to this?" Serena Aquilla looked down at a suspiciously brown pool in front of her. The path was thin and surrounded by tall trees, but it was the only visible road in the deep jungle. The woman, dressed in gold and blue Roman armor, was wingless this time. She passed around the mud slowly and carefully, clinging to vines and branches of trees as if fearing to fall.
"You can always spread your real wings and fly, you know," her companion, a grey-scaled mutant, said as she simply hopped from tree to tree, using her tail for balance.
"Have you ever tried peeling mud and leaves off feathers?" the siren glared at Chari, who flapped her tiny black wings and shrugged.
"Eh, I like mud. It's earth, and earth is life."
"And dirt. Lots and lots of dirt," Serena whispered, but didn't press the subject.
The forest around them was truly alive: various insects crawled on the ground, birds fluttered in the blue sky, and small animals watched the two female monsters from bushes and tree branches.
Soon, a tall rock statue of an owl-like monster greeted them with a silent, cold stare. It was covered with dark-red stains, and small old yellow bones surrounded it.
"Warm welcome, I see," Serena commented sarcastically, narrowing her eyes.
"The map," Chari glanced at the siren.
Aquilla took an old yellow scroll out of her pocket and unfolded it. She pointed at a black hieroglyph, which was pulsing and emitting sparks of dark energy. Chari nodded, glancing at the lifeless statue, and even Serena smiled, despite her recent complaints.
Both women went farther, diving into a thin fog, which started right behind the statue. And soon the forest began to change. It wasn't just the cold white mist in the air anymore. No more birds chirping or lonely howls in the distance. No more colorful bugs in the grass or tiny critters hiding in treetops. The atmosphere here was somehow heavier, and shadows lurked everywhere. Even the sky above changed its color from light blue to deep indigo. Sunless, moonless, starless.
Yet both Serena and Chari only moved faster, more steadily. Their eyes flashed in the sudden dark.
Odd, inhuman sounds surrounded the travelers from the jungle's deepest corners: hissing whispers, pained moans, and endless creaking. Without the road to follow they had to make their way through thick bushes and vines, covered with spikes and slime. The ground became softer, making their legs sink into the mud.
A loud, thundering roar rang in the distance, and both women froze in place.
"Something does guard this place."
"And there can be no guardian without a treasure," Serena was covered in leaves and dirt from head to toe, her previously tidy hair bun was a mess, and her shiny new clothes had turned muddy grey. Still, she smiled.
"And pain, lots and lots of pain," Chari licked her palm, which had been scratched by a thorn. A black thick substance akin to smog was escaping from the tiny wound and dissolving in the air. "Let's go, before Chan-zha and his family find it first."
"How? They shouldn't even know where we are," Aquilla frowned.
"They are the heroes, they always do," seeing the blank expression on the siren's face, Chari shrugged, "Seriously, Fate loves and guides such people, sometimes harming the world as a result."
"Cheaters," Serena mumbled under her breath.
The fog was getting thicker and thicker, quieting all sounds and absorbing all objects. Eventually, their voices stopped and silhouettes disappeared among thick tree trunks and tall bushes.
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Green, everything was green: leaves and vines and trees, grass on the ground, even the sky somehow was greenish blue.
"Ugh, why did they leave us behind? That's not fair! We're both almost 18, we can defend ourselves," Jade whined. She and Paco stood by the jeep alone. No sight of Jackie or El Toro or Uncle.
The car was left near a creepy owl statue. The path there became too narrow for the car, yet many footprints could be seen on the ground, both human and animalistic.
"We're on an important task," said Paco with a frown, watching a small green lizard devouring a butterfly.
"Suurree, guarding the car is important," Jade rolled her eyes, "What if… monkeys hijack it, right? Everyone knows they love a good ride!" she flung her arms up.
The Mexican boy only shrugged. Seeing no reaction, Jade began walking down the path.
"Where are you going?!" Paco shouted, as he made a step towards her but didn't dare to leave the car.
"To the temple, they're totally gonna need our help. They always do," Jade stopped and turned back at him.
"But… but the jeep."
"Think of the adventures, Paco! They're gonna fight that freaky thing, the siren lady, other monsters, and find whatever magical trinket is hidden here. Do you want to just sit here and do nothing?"
The young wrestler winced and clenched his fists, but did not move. He looked at the lonely old bones lying on the ground around the statue and red blood stains covering its grey stone body.
"…Or are you afraid we'll get eaten by a nasty evil witch?"
"Los Luchas aren't afraid of anything!" he glared at the girl and pouted.
"Well then, either follow me or don't get in my way," the teenager continued walking away.
A couple of seconds passed, and Jade smirked when he suddenly caught up with her.
"It's a stupid task anyway," Paco mumbled with an annoyed expression.
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Jackie, Uncle and El Toro wandered in the deep jungle. Uncle carried a metal lantern, the only source of light. Its bright green light lit their path, but it could not completely clear a thick fog surrounding them.
The ground was soft and swampy, so they moved forward slowly. The men walked without saying a word, constantly and hastily looking around. Moans and howls reached them from far corners of the jungle, yet no other living beings could be seen but them.
The path was so narrow that El Toro had to slash through bushes, branches, and vines in their way with a steel machete.
"It's good we convinced the children to stay behind," said Jackie. A metal sword was attached to his belt, idle and clean.
"Won't they follow though?" El Toro asked, cutting down a long branch with thin sharp twigs, "They always do."
"I hope Paco will keep her from doing anything stupid this time."
"I doubt anyone can ever stop your niece from doing anything, Yackie. She is a brave young lady."
"I hope also smart enough not to get involved with this."
"Pwah! Nephew never learns," Uncle waved his hand, "You fuss over Jade like a mother hen over a chick."
"Well, excuse me for caring about my niece!"
"You won't be always able to protect her, Jackie. One day, she'll have to look after herself and she'll do it just fine, like she's always done."
"It doesn't mean I can't try," Jackie muttered bitterly.
As they went farther, the fog was getting thicker and thicker. El Toro was walking ahead, slashing and cutting through the branches, vines, and bushes, clearing the path for Uncle and Jackie. Eventually, the path ended in a crossroad. Three ways led ahead, without any sign of where to.
"No one will offer to split, I hope?" El Toro asked.
No one answered.
He looked back and saw Uncle and Jackie far behind, the lantern's green light barely keeping the darkness at bay. The wrestler lowered the machete and looked around, not moving any farther.
Suddenly a cry rang in the distance.
"El Toro, ayuadame!"
"Paco?!"
El Toro looked in the darkness, then back at Jackie and Uncle walking behind.
"This must be the hallucinations Yackie told us about…"
A roar thundered in the same direction, followed by another cry.
"Jaguar Diablo! Bruja, bruja! Ayuada!"
The fighter clenched his fists and shook his head. A new roar rang and suddenly there was no crying anymore.
"Paco! Hold on!" the wrestler rushed ahead, following the left path. Soon he completely vanished in the fog, as did the terrible sounds.
Soon, Uncle and Jackie reached the crossroad. They looked around but saw no one.
"Where's El Toro?"
"Dark magic must have led him astray…" Uncle moved ahead, swinging the lantern right and left. It shone brighter when he looked at the middle path. "There."
So they went on. The fog was getting thicker and thicker until they completely vanished in the dark grey mist.
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"Ugh, stupid forest, stupid bugs, stupid everything."
Jade was walking all alone among tall trees and spiky bushes. She carried a small flashlight, which brightly illuminated her path.
"At least I don't have to listen to Paco's boasting. Oooh, I won a real wrestler competition. Ooh, now I'm a real man!" she grimaced, "Look at me, I'm actually cooler than Jade for once!"
Numerous unblinking yellow eyes watched her from treetops. One could hear bats' wings flapping in the dark sky.
"Ugh, admit it, Jade. You're just jealous," she said to herself, "While you were writing essays and doing math, he was fighting in a wrestler show."
The path forked. Three ways led into darkness. She looked right and left and then headed to the right path without any pause.
"Okay, I admit that, I was jealous. I shouldn't be so mean to him and…" Jade sighed, "Maybe I should've waited for Paco instead of rushing ahead and… why am I talking to myself? Weird."
A loud shriek sounded very close to the girl. The youngest Chan took a fighting stance, raising her fists in a defensive manner, yet nothing jumped at her out of the darkness. Jade frowned, throwing a quick glance at the path leading ahead, and the tall bushes where the cry came from. The shriek repeated. It was thin, pained, and accompanied by the sound of frantic flapping.
Jade walked into the tall grass and bushes, following the sound. Suddenly the Chinese girl found a small clearing. She saw a thick white web hanging from a short tree and a tiny bat captured in it. It was desperately trying to get out, flapping its wings and biting the white strings.
Jade quickly climbed the tree and took a small multitool knife out of her pocket.
"Hello lil fella, you need help?" The bat though began thrashing about and crying even louder. "Hey, it's okay-it's okay! I'm here to help."
It stopped, glaring at her with almost human suspicion.
The teenager quickly cut the web strings and released the flying beast from the sticky white net.
The bat hopped into the air and made a couple of circles around Jade, loudly crying, and then flew away.
"You're welcome," Jade smiled, but before she could climb down, something white and sticky hit her hand. "Agh!"
Jade fell on the ground, hitting her left shoulder. She quickly sprang to her feet and looked up. It was a giant – almost dog-sized – spider. Yellow, black, and red, it stared at Jade with unblinking eyes. A white substance was dripping from its abdomen.
"Sorry, not sorry for spoiling your dinner, eight eyes," she made a step back and raised her right fist and grimaced, looking at her left arm. "Darn."
The spider swiftly jumped at her but Jade evaded the hit. It lightly landed on the ground and once again turned to her, silently watching Jade's every move.
"Go away!" the girl reached for the knife but found nothing in her pocket. "Please?.."
Jade stepped back and bumped into a large tree. She was cornered, with the giant arachnid silently moving in her direction, snapping its mandibles and boldly ignoring the polite request.
It was getting closer and closer, tense, ready to jump.
Young Chan raised her arms and closed her eyes. She heard a loud hiss but… once again, nothing happened. No impact, no attack, no hit.
Jade opened her eyes and saw the spider hurriedly crawling away and hiding in a treetop.
"Thanks?" she blinked, wide-eyed, and scratched her head.
"You're welcome," another familiar voice sounded from behind.
Jade jumped on the spot and turned around. She looked up and saw the grey chimerical mutant handing from a tree.
She stared at the young Chan with a weak smile.
"You!"
"Nice to meet you again, Jade."
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Author's note: I have no idea why it took me so long to finish this chapter, but here it is.
I'll try to write faster next time but probably chapters will be shorter as a result. I spend too much time pondering if a phrase sounds natural, flowing and logical to the point I can't write a single sentence at times. Also, maybe I'll create a new fic, drabble-type, about all Big Bads of JCA. They're like my lil Evil family
Till next time
