To say Jade was hesitant was an understatement, she was downright unnerved by the demon sorcerer's advice and directions. Shendu had instructed her to return to the scene of her transformation, to catch the scent of those who held the remaining 11 Talismans. Just thinking about them made the dragoness scales itch with a craving, a desire to have all the Talismans for herself.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the young dragoness stalked through the shadows of the night and slipped into the bank where everything took place. Even as a 20 foot long dragon, Jade found herself as sneaky as ever, and she was sure no one saw her slip past the police and secret agents still lingering around.
Dropping down into the room, she began to sniff at the ground where she remembered seeing the Dakr Hand Enforcers. Apparently she could track their scent, if not Shendu would instruct her how to make a Talisman locator so she could find the Dark Hand and take what she needs.
The dragon had also mentioned something about the Shadowkhan, Shendu's mysterious and deadly ninjas that he could conjure at will. Jade was kind of excited at that idea, to have a group of ninjas at her command like some general, but first she would need the Talismans.
Sniffing around the area like a dog, Jade managed to acquire a funny fish smell tingling with the scent of the Enforcers.
"Fisssh?" she murmured to herself, claw hand raising to her chin as she mulled over the unexpected smell.
"If they sssmell like fisssh… they mussst be near the ocean!" she exclaimed excitedly, following the scent of fish. Jade stuck to the shadows as she slowly worked her way through the city until she came upon an old warehouse outside of china town.
The warehouse was near the docks, and the scent of fish was overpowering in the air. Jade had to hold her hands over her nostril to try buffer out the stench, it was foul.
Shendu found this very amusing, and the Dragoness hissed at him for silence to stop his happy laughing at her expense.
"When you get inside, the Talismans will bow to your will as they did to mine, trussst me" Shendu hissed as Jade slowly moved towards the warehouse and slithered through an old open window.
"Why would the Talisssmansss do that?" she hissed softly, claws clicking lightly as she walked through the seemingly deserted building.
That small habit annoyed her, it took her minutes to figure out how to use her body. Yet she couldn't figure out how to not click her claws with each step.
"Child I promised you my assistance did I not? My power is yours" that didn't make Jade feel any better, it just made her feel nervous.
Pushing open a door, Jade froze in fright as she half entered a room only to realize there were several people inside.
Even worse, Jade groaned as she realized it was all 4 Enforcers. Finn, Chow, Ratso and that crazy guy Hak Foo, were all standing their looking speechless at Jade.
"Umm… Hi?" she offered waver her hand at them sheepishly, no one moved at first, then Finns voice split the air.
"Shen-dude your back?" Jade swore she heard a slap noise from Shendu as Finn spoke, but ignored it.
"That's not Shendu you idiot" growled out Chow to silence his idiotic companion, Jade wanted to slowly slither out of the room, but the glint of the Talismans sitting around the room made her stay. She felt that sense of longing return, that desire to have the Talismans all to herself.
"I'm not SSShendu but he did sssend me" hissed Jade making the 3 Enforcers jump back at the hissing noise, but Hak Foo just looked at her in a bored manner.
"The Talisssmansss, hand them over" Jade said trying to sound tough and puffing out her chest to look larger.
The Enforcers all gave each other a look before grinning darkly, Jade didn't like that look. It reminded her of all the times in the past the Dark hand were about to do something evilish.
"Sorry not Shen-dude, but the Talismans are ours" chuckled Finn holding up the Rooster talisman in a boastful manner, Jades eyes narrowed and she heard Shendu snarl in anger.
"They are fools, the Talismans belong to us!" snarled Shendu, but only Jade could hear him speak.
As if complying to Shendu's voice, the Talismans suddenly began to glow and float towards Jade, much to the Enforcers horror as they all lunged at the Talismans to try and prevent them leaving.
Jade wasn't sure what was happening, and ducked with a hiss of surprise as the Dog Talisman flew towards her, missing its mark and disappearing behind her.
Looking confused, Jade didn't have time to avoid the other Talisman as they slammed into her body.
Each talisman burned like fire against her flesh, melting its way inside her very being and making her shudder as power filled her coils.
One after the other, the Talismans melted into her form, making the dragoness feel all giddy as energy and power rushed through her, fueling her with the magical energy of the Zodiac spirit animals.
"Well shit" was all Rasto could say as the Enforcers took on a look of panic, Jade shivered momentary before looking at them all smugly.
"Excellent girl, now all you need is Hak foo and you'll be set to leave this place" Jade internally grimaced at that news, turning her eyes towards the red haired body builder looking individual with the small eyes and blue skin tight shirt.
Not Hak Foo, she hated that weirdo and his many attempts to rip apart her Uncle Jackie and herself. But Shendu insisted, saying he was the only reliable individual who could help, as apparently her new dragon form was forbidden from using the items needed to free his siblings.
Groaning in irritation, Jade cleared her throat before speaking.
"Hak Foo" the man stood a little taller as his name was spoken. "I need the assssissstance of an…"
"Of a skilled warrior" offered Shendu, remembering the human had an ego the size of a dragon.
"Of a ssskilled warrior like yourssself to asssssissst me in my quessst, I may faccce many dangersss that only sssomeone like yourssself iss sssuitable to battle" Shendu liked the Chan girls tongue, he could practically see Hak Foo's ego bubbling with pride at being complimented by a dragon.
"Dragon seeks great warrior?" question Hak Foo flexing his muscles, Jade tried not to roll her eyes at his antics.
"Are you not great warrior?" questioned Jade sounding skeptical, Hak foo stepped forward.
"Will fight for dragon" he proclaimed loudly, causing the other 3 Enforcers to drop their jaws in shock.
"Excellent, we leave immediately" announced Jade, gesturing for Hak Foo to follow.
She didn't fool around, she wanted to be gone of this place as soon as possible. With Hak Foo in tow, Jade snuck out of the building the way she came and slithered into the shadows, wondering what came next in this grand plan of Shendu's.
)))))))))((((((((
Torhu sighed softly to himself, eyes running over the ancient looking book before him as Uncle and Jackie once more began to yell at one another about what happened to Jade. It'd been over a day and Captain Black hadn't found any leads on her, since then Uncle had demanded Torhu to help him research a cure for Jade. Thus why he sat at a table with a stack of books before him.
He missed Jade, that small innocent girl with the fiery attitude was fun to be around. Despite what Jackie believed, Torhu knew Jade was a skilled and talented warrior, and could easily hold her own against the Dark Hand enforcers. He knew this from personal experience when fighter her previously.
But he couldn't understand that fear and panic in her eyes, when Jackie said they were going to try and cure her. She looked so afraid, and what she said before that struck him as odd.
'I like this' what had she meant by like this? Did she like all her new power, the body, did she not want to be changed back into a human. Torhu sighed and rubbed his temple, mind stewing over why Jade would want to be a monster like that.
Standing up, Torhu went for a small walk around the shop to stretch his legs and hopefully clear his mind. He needed some fresh air, so strolling towards the door, he went outside and just looked around blandly at the city scape.
"PSSSSSTTTTTT" Torhu blinked and shook his head, thinking the noise was in his head.
Or so he thought until a crumpled soft drink can smacked into his head lightly, grabbing his attention instantly. He turned his head to glare at his attacker, expecting to see a bunch of undisciplined street kids, but what he saw was far worse.
He saw a pair of glowing brown eyes in the ally way beside the shop, which hastily retreated into the darkness with a shimmer of jade colored scales and orange hair.
The big man didn't need to guess who it was, and he didn't stand around idly like an idiot. With surprising speed for a man his size, Torhu charged into the alley way and came face to face with a dragon.
"Torhu!" hissed the dragon in relief, just before he felt scaly arms wrap around his waist in a tight hug.
"Jade!" he exclaimed back, awkwardly hugging the dragon in return.
After a moment, Jade suddenly pulled back looking fearful, trying to hide herself in the shadows of the alley way. Confused Torhu stepped closer, hands held before him in a calming jester.
"Easy Jade, everything is goi"
"I need my booksss" she blurted out before he could finish.
"You're… Books?" questioned Torhu in bewilderment, Jade looked a little embarrassed and drew a deep breath.
"The booksss I had at SSSection 13… The Demon Archivesss…" she added meekly, even as a dragon, Torhu could see Jade was trying to act all innocent like what she said wasn't important.
He saw her do it's a few times to Jackie when she got back from school, apparently she had a few issues with classmates at school and often got into fights.
"Why do you need the Demon Archives Jade?" Torhu folded his arms over his chest looking at her expectantly.
Jade fidgeted nervously, her serpentine body clumping together as she tried to look small.
"Becaussse…. I'm trying to figure out if I'm a Demon…" blurted out Jade almost shamefully, looking at Torhu with pleading eyes.
"Pleassse Big T, you're the only one I trussst to help me" she pleaded again, surprising Torhu for a brief moment.
With a loud sigh, the giant of a man agreed to help her. But only if she promised to explain to him why she wanted to remain a dragon, this time it was Jades turn to look surprised then she look embarrassed.
"Becaussse….. I can make a differencce like thisss Big T…. I now control all the Talisssmansss and I plan to ussse them for good" she hissed softly, Torhu couldn't see any Talismans in her hands, or anywhere on her body, as if sensing his disbelief Jade sighed loudly.
"Their inssside me Torhu, jussst pleassse get me the book" Torhu was hesitant at first, but slowly he turned around and strolled back into the store.
"You trust that buffoon?" question Shendu skeptically to Jade, the dragoness growled in irritation.
"He'sss a good guy, he'ss been like the brother I never had sssincce he changed sssidesss" hissed Jade in return, hands clenched shut in fear of her new powers.
She was glad she managed to keep control of herself, she already blown up a car, phone booth and dumpster by accident as she tried to figure out how to use the Talismans inside her. Needless to say Shendu found it near hysterical to watch.
"A brother?" Shendu was confused, she sounded so close to this Torhu guy, but calling him a brother confused the dragon.
Sure he had 'emotions' for his siblings, but they'd always grown up bickering and plotting against the other. Trying to see Jade with one didn't make sense, or was human sibling different to demons, Shendu had to pause as he reflected on the vague memories over his centuries of imprisonment.
In that moment of silence, the big form of Torhu returned with a book in hand. And Jade looked excited as she lunged closer to Torhu to thank him.
The giant man didn't seem fazed by the dragonesses thank you hug, or stop her from taking the book with her tail and holding it out of the light and into darkness.
"Come home Jade" this made Jades thankful expression dropped instantly, she became nervous and fidgety, shying away from Torhu as if scared of him.
"I can't Torhu, I got sssomething important to do" she said slinking into the darkness, her scales trembling.
"Let us help you" but as soon as he spoke, there was a crash as Jade suddenly bolted away from him, disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"Jade" he sighed to himself in sadness.
AU:
Okay so I'm happy and bitter at the same time with this story.
Happy that people are liking it so much.
Bitter because its more popular than my main work I been writing which is Shattered mind (Jurassic park fanfic)
But I suppose I shouldn't be displease, it means I'm doing something right and I'm glad that people are enjoying this so much. I may just have to keep writing on it if its so popular.
But question for everyone, how did you stumble upon my story? I'm curious as to how my readers actually found my work as I have troubles finding stories with specific themes and stuff.