Dominic was forced to return to San Francisco mountain when Jade did but by then her rage had dissipated into a deep depression. Her father was gone and she could do nothing to stop the end of the world. But the thing that hurt the most was that she was alone. She hardly moved or ate and stopped keeping an eye on Jade. Jade left her alone too. Her only company was a large black tom cat that she had named Sully. The cat hardly left her alone. At first it was only because she gave him her leftovers but the cat actually did seem to care after a while. He often curled in the crook of her neck when she slept and comforted her when the nightmares returned. Slowly she began to come out of her depressed state. Somehow, she could feel even at a great distance that someone was using her father's talismans and that was when she felt Jade's call that she was obligated to obey. "I'll be back soon Sully." She promised but the cat only yawned in response.
Dominic flew down to the streets below but from there she was forced to walk in human form which was extremely annoying to her. The shop bell rang as she entered and she was shocked to see Toru.
"You!" Dominic growled extending her claws to rip him to shreds.
"Wait!" Jade called jumping in front of her.
Dominic felt old anger rise to the surface and she did not retract her claws.
"He's a good guy now!" Jade insisted.
"What do you want Jade?" Dominic demanded as her gaze grew harsher.
"Valmont has been using the talismans to aid him in a string of robberies." Jackie said stepping into the room.
"And as our resident talisman expert we were hoping you could help us retrieve them." Jade finished.
"No." Dominic refused retracting her claws and turning to leave.
"Please Dominic!" Jade begged cutting her off.
"Why should I?" Dominic demanded.
"Because if you don't then lots of people are going to get hurt!" Jade pleaded.
"And?" Dominic questioned.
"And deep down I know that you could never let that happen." Jade protested.
"As true as that is that's not what I was asking. Why should I help YOU? You who destroyed my father when he was a defenseless statue. You speak of being a good person but you are clearly not. I thought I saw something in you but I should have never given you the dragon talisman and established that bond." Dominic growled.
"The bond that's right! You still have to do what I say!" Jade remembered.
"Jade it's not nice to control people." Jackie scolded.
"And she does not need to be controlled!" Uncle stated entering the room. "Not when we have something to offer her in return."
"I'm listening." Dominic said.
"A spell that will break the bond you have with Jade." Uncle offered.
"So you found something?" Dominic questioned.
"Yes, but the spell will take time to prepare and is very complicated. I will perform it if you help us retrieve the talismans." Uncle stated.
Dominic considered his offer.
"One other stipulation. You must lock the talismans away where they can never be used by humans again. That kind of power is just too much for humans." Dominic stated.
"Of course, they will be safe in section thirteen." Jackie agreed.
"Then I will help you." Dominic agreed.
"Good but first we must find out which book Valmont took." Uncle stated leading her to the back room where every book he had seemed to have been thrown on the floor.
"Piece of cake." Dominic smiled and used her magic to begin organizing the books. Dominic wasn't surprised by Valmont taking a spell book. Once humans had a taste of magic it was hard for them to stop. Toru aided her and she was surprised when he spoke to her.
"If you hurt her, it will be the last thing you ever do." Toru warned.
"You misunderstand." She told him not wavering from her task. "I don't want to hurt her, at least not anymore. I want to get as far away from her as possible.
"Do you think we should tell her?" Jade whispered to Jackie.
"No, it is probably best she not know who we are truly going after." Jackie stated.
The shop bell rang and a masked man entered.
"Go away we are closed for inventory!" Uncle stated.
"We are not customers." The mask man informed him.
"Jackie! A burglar!" Uncle screamed picking up a broom as a weapon.
"Uncle he is no thief." Jackie smiled "He is…" Uncle flicked him on the head.
"Of course he is a thief! He is wearing a mask!" Uncle argued.
"Oh no no no, El Toru Forte never removes his mask." A young boy with him stated.
At that moment Toru entered from the back room as Dominic had finished with the books. "
You!" El Toru Forte yelled. "Dark Hand enemy!" He proceeded to tackle Toru throwing him against the doorway and almost crushing Dominic in the process. The two wrestled around the shop knocking into expensive antiques. Jade gave Dominic a pleading glance.
"Oh no! I am not getting in the middle of that." Dominic protested catching a vase before it hit the ground. "Takes bull in a china shop to a whole new level though."
Jackie struggled to catch an entire shelf of antiques when a woman appeared out of nowhere to help him.
"Thank you." Jackie smiled but he dropped it when he realized who had helped him. "Viper! No thieves allowed in Uncle's shop." He took her arm to escort her out but uncle flicked him again.
"How can she be the thief she is not wearing a mask and wrecking my store!" Uncle argued.
Jackie let go of Viper and hurried to break up the fight.
"Stop! Toru is…" he started but Toru threw El Toru Forte off of him and onto Jackie by mistake. "On our side."
El Toru Forte glanced at Toru.
"Chan speaks the truth." Toru confirmed.
"Sorry" El Toru Forte apologized.
"That looked like it hurt." Dominic commented helping Jackie back up.
"Alright! Viper, El Toru, you made it!" Jade cheered before noticing Paco "Who invited you?"
"I am El Toru's protégé. Where ever he goes, I go." Paco informed her.
"Ok Paco but try not to get in the way while Jackie is kicking butt." Jade sneered.
"But is El Toru Forte that will be kicking the butt Yade." Paco protested.
"Jackie!"
"El Toru" they argued back and forth.
"Jade explain." Jackie interrupted.
"It's your team duh." Jade stated as if it should have been obvious. "The J team, the Chan clan, the Chantastic six."
"Chantastic?" Jackie questioned.
"Six! See you and me make two. Then there's Viper and Dominic. El Toru makes five." Jade stated.
"And I Paco am the sixth member of the Yade team." Paco interrupted.
"I actually had someone less puny in mind." Jade commented looking at Toru. He looked a bit surprised.
"I am honored." He bowed humbly.
Dominic raised an eyebrow at the girl. "Whoa there chickadee. There is no way that is happening." She protested.
"Dominic is right. I'm sorry you all came here for nothing. I didn't realize my niece read so many comic books." Jackie apologized.
Jade glared at the both of them angrily.
"I cannot accept your help." Jackie insisted.
"Never took you for the macho type." Viper commented pinching his cheek. '
"I especially cannot accept help from a super thief." Jackie stated pushing her hand away.
"ex super thief." Viper corrected. "Went legit after the pink puma fiasco."
"Hatcha!" Uncle yelled causing everyone to hurry to the back room to see what the problem was. "The missing book!"
"Which one is it?" Jackie asked.
"A guide to antient artifacts located in Tibet." Uncle informed him. "
Antient magic artifacts I bet." Jade stated.
"Captain Black managed to pull some strings and has a jet waiting." Jackie stated as they gathered supplies.
"Ok team let's move out!" Jade ordered.
"Jade there is no team." Jackie protested.
"Well these J team jackets say you're wrong." Jade countered.
Jackie rubbed his face in frustration.
"Jackie, Dominic come." Uncle ordered.
"Toru watch the shop and Jade. The rest of you get out."
"And you're taking a girl not much older Jade because?" Viper questioned.
"Long story short." Dominic said waving her hands fixing the broken antiques "I can take a talisman hit." They all gave shocked looks as the three departed.
"We will stop for the night." Uncle said as they entered a mostly abandoned village.
"But Uncle we need to hurry." Jackie protested but Uncle flicked him on the head.
"You want uncle to help defeat the ultimate evil yes? Then Uncle needs his rest!" Uncle yelled.
"Ultimate evil?" Dominic thought to herself. The Dark Hand were bad people sure but they were hardly the ultimate evil.
"I could use time to gather my chi." She shrugged.
They found lodging in an abandoned building that still had beds and other furnishings.
"I'll be next door if you need me." Dominic commented heading to a much smaller room. There was only a single bed but she would not be using it. Instead she sat on the floor and began to meditate. Her purple chi swirled around her like fire but she felt something. It was faint but familiar. Dominic decided it wasn't important and to focus on her chi.
Jackie went to use the facilities but quickly shut the door when he saw that Finn and Ratso were there. They did not see him.
"Lucky for us Valmont wore himself out slapping himself silly." Finn commented.
"Yeah I'm bushed." Ratso agreed as they headed back to their room.
Jackie tiptoed behind them and snuck in just before the door shut.
"Goodnight Finn." Ratso said. "Night Ratso." Finn replied as they went to sleep.
Jackie came out of hiding as they started snoring. He grabbed a piece of clothing which turned out to be Chow's pants, and began gathering the talismans until he ran into Viper.
"What are you doing here?" Jackie whispered.
"What's it look like?" Viper whispered showing him the talismans she had gathered.
"Thank you now go away!" Jackie ordered taking the talismans from her.
"Go away yourself I'm the super thief!" Viper reminded him trying to take his bag of talismans.
"Ex super thief!" Jackie reminded her trying to pull the talismans back. The talismans went flying and landed on Hak Foo's face jarring him from his sleep.
"Slumbering bear greets the dawn!" he yelled waking the others.
"Wait a go." Viper sighed.
"Hungry wolf slaughters lamb!" Hak Foo yelled as he attacked Jackie.
Viper whistled and Toru smashed through the wall.
"Toru buddy your alive!" Finn smiled.
"Good to see you." Toru stated as he grabbed Finn, Chow and Ratso in a crushing embrace before throwing them against the wall.
"Toru's a traitor!" Chow growled.
"Then let's give him a taste of talisman!" Finn suggested.
They suddenly realized that they no longer had the talismans.
"Our powers!" Finn protested.
"My pants!" Chow commented noticing they were gone.
They ran over to where the talismans had fallen but before they could gather them all El Toro crashed through the wall.
"Buenos noche' muchachos!" he greeted picking up the bed they were on and threw them through the rooms where Uncle, and Jade and Paco were sleeping.
"They have the talismans!" Jackie informed El Toro.
"Sorry." He apologized. The sound of the crash brought Dominic out of her meditative state.
"You've got to be kidding me!" she sighed getting up to see what the commotion was about.
Chow used the ox talisman to kick Toru, El Toro, Viper and Jackie through two walls into where Valmont was resting. He opened his eyes which were a deep red, and rose ignoring them.
"I trust you all had plenty of rest." He stated only it wasn't Valmont's voice. It was Shendu's. "Now follow me." He ordered.
Jade and Paco approached the fallen team.
"What is going on in here?" Dominic demanded walking up behind them.
"No yelling Uncle cannot sleep…" Uncle stopped short when he noticed Toru. "If you are here who is tending my shop?"
"Don't worry Uncle it's covered." Jade promised.
"I don't know why I'm surprised that you're here." Dominic commented to Jade.
"Look what you did!" Jackie accused Viper.
"Hey it's not my fault you're not a team player." Viper countered.
"We only wish to help." Toru stated.
"And without us you would be pulverized." El Toro commented.
"I was pulverized and the Dark Hand still has all the talismans." Jackie protested.
"Eiyah! Talismans are not important!" Uncle stated.
"Uh need I remind you that is the whole reason I'm here." Dominic stated.
"Si talismans are very important." El Toro argued.
"Not important!" Uncle repeated.
"Very important!" El Toro stated.
With that everyone started arguing.
"They're starting to sound like us." Paco commented.
"And we don't have time for kid's stuff. Come on!" Jade ordered pulling Paco behind her. No one noticed them leave. Jade and Paco followed close behind the Dark Hand. "
We will take them down?" Paco asked. Jade shook her head.
"Their packing talisman power but we're willie." She smiled.
Suddenly Dominic got that all too familiar feeling that something was wrong.
"Uh guys, where are the minis" Dominic asked stopping the arguing.
"Jade!" Jackie realized.
"Paco?" El Toro called hoping that he wasn't gone too.
"This way." Dominic said sensing where Jade was. She was however much faster than the others.
The Dark Hand blasted their way into was must have been an antient chamber.
"The Panku box!" Shendu smiled. "Quickly take it!"
The Dark Hand looked at him like he was crazy.
"Um why don't you take it." Finn questioned.
"I cannot touch it because it is forged of good magic and I most decidedly am not." Shendu informed them. The Dark Hand hesitated.
"Well if nobody else wants it, thank you very much!" Jade said swinging on a rope and swiping the box. Shendu tried to grab her but missed. She and Paco attempted to run but were levitated off the ground by the rooster talisman and pulled back to the Dark Hand. Hak Foo took the box.
"Exterminate the pests!" Shendu ordered.
Finn and Ratso aimed their talismans at the kids.
"Ahem!" A familiar voice called getting everyone's attention. Shendu recognized it as his daughter's voice but when he turned he was surprised to see a familiar looking human instead. The same human that had been there when he had been freed from his imprisonment.
"Who was this girl?" he wondered.
"Put them down now!" Dominic ordered.
"Or what? Finn challenged. "In case you hadn't noticed we have all the talismans!"
Dominic gave a small smile. "Well you asked for it." She shrugged taking off at extremely fast speed (not rabbit talisman speed but still pretty fast) and struck Finn causing him to drop both the rooster talisman and the kids.
Dominic grabbed the talisman and the kids and moving them away from the Dark Hand. She smiled cockily holding up the talisman mockingly.
"Oo you're gonna get it now!" Jade warned. Dominic rushed forward to make another strike but this time she stopped in the center of them. She delivered a sweeping kick knocking everyone but Hak Foo and Shendu off their feet. Hak Foo ended up dropping the Panku box.
"It couldn't be!" Shendu thought as he watched the girl block hits that should have been devastating to someone of her size It wasn't just that. It was the way she moved and acted.
"Look!" Jade exclaimed.
"The J Team!" Paco exclaimed.
Jackie and the others didn't even hesitate to join in the fight. They had a harder time dodging the talisman attacks. Shendu had no choice now but to try and get the Panku box in a protective case but every time he tried to move it, it burned him. Uncle entered and made his way over to some inscriptions on the wall as everyone else fought. Jackie, Viper and Dominic managed to snag talisman after talisman but the Dark Hand managed to swipe a few back. Shendu did manage to get the Panku box into the case and proceeded to escape much to Dominic's notice.
"I got Valmont!" she called casing after him leaving the others to deal with the Dark Hand.
Dominic caught up with him in the hallway. She tackled him to the ground. Something about this guy just vexed her.
"You're toast!" she growled extending her claws and rolling him to face her but she stopped short. Now that she was close to him she could see her father's spirit inside Valmont. Shendu was certain now. He recognized those purple eyes anywhere. Her reaction only confirmed what he knew. He took advantage of her hesitation and kicked her off him. Luckily, they were out of view from everyone so nobody saw it. Shendu grabbed the case and ran. Dominic did not give chase.
"Run!" Finn yelled after all the talismans had been taken from them.
"We have all twelve talismans!" Jackie celebrated.
"Talismans are not important!" Uncle yelled.
"I noticed!" Dominic growled as she came back. "Something you guys wanna tell me?"
"We thought it best not to tell you…" Jackie started.
"What that my father wasn't completely destroyed and is trapped inside Valmont?" She interrupted.
"We were worried that you would side with Shendu because he is your father." Uncle stated. The other members of the J team eyed her suspiciously.
"Fair enough." Dominic glared back. "But it would have been nice to know going into this so it wouldn't shock me so much during the fight."
Jackie looked away awkwardly.
"Here!" Dominic said tossing him the talismans she had. "The talismans part of the bargain."
"Talismans not important." Uncle repeated. "Inscriptions are. Shendu was one of eight demon sorcerers who terrorized the antient world. Each with his or her own magic derived from fire, sky, moon, thunder, earth, mountain, wind and water. One by one the demons were defeated by the eight immortals, The legendary heroes of antient China. The immortals used powerful chi spells to banish the demons to another realm, then used the Panku box to seal them in. Each demon behind its own portal. The only thing which could locate and unlock those portals is the Panku box itself. So, it is a very good thing that Shendu did not get the box."
"Yeah about that." Dominic said awkwardly.
"Eiyah!" Uncle screamed louder than anyone had ever heard him.
"We must get it back before Shendu finds the doors and releases the seven other demons!"
Dominic was sure he was going to have a stroke from the amount of panicky he was displaying. Jackie glared angrily at her.
"Hey don't give me that look I was under the impression that the talismans were the important thing. If you would have told me the truth I probably could have stopped him." Dominic stated.
"Let's not start arguing again." Jade requested.
"I had Captain Black pull more strings to get a ride home for everyone. Consider it my way of saying thank you for all your help." Jackie said.
"Weren't you listening to Uncle the job's not finished!" Jade protested.
Jackie shushed her.
"But Yade is right senor Shendu will release the demons." El Toro protested.
"That's where I come in." Dominic intervened. "As a dragon it is my duty to stop the demons from reclaiming the world. It's actually what we are designed to do."
"And we cannot accept help from a thief." Uncle protested. "I am the wrestler, she is the thief." El Toro corrected.
"Ex thief." Viper reminded him. "Don't worry handsome, next time Jackie's in a pinch, Jade knows who to call. Jade smiled at this.
"Well Yade, El Toro may be the best." Paco started.
"And Jackie may be better." Jade said.
"But the J team is the greatest!" The finished in unison.
"Jackie I must get back to my shop." Uncle demanded.
"Uncle I told you, your shop is in good hands." Jade assured.
True to his word Uncle performed the spell that would break the bond with Jade after they managed to turn Captain Black back to a human from a frog. It involved the consumption of a very bitter potion that seared her insides. Uncle explained that it would not take effect immediately but the bond would now slowly disintegrate over time. Jade wasn't happy about it but Dominic explained that she could now more effectively travel to fight the demons since she was no longer tethered to the girl. Dominic let her keep the scale though. It would help her keep an eye on the girl while she did what needed to be done.
"They are my men and I order them to go." Valmont stated. The Dark Hand moved to leave.
"No they will stay." Shendu ordered stopping them.
"Go!" Valmont insisted.
"Stay!" Shendu ordered. The Dark Hand stood their awkwardly while the two argued.
"Wow talk about your slip personalities." Dominic joked as she appeared out of nowhere.
"You!" Shendu said before turning to the Dark Hand.
"Go I will call you when you are needed."
"No stay." Valmont insisted. Dominic rolled her eyes at their redundant argument.
"Unless you want me to kick your scrawny butts again beat it! This doesn't concern you." She growled.
With that threat, they left leaving her alone with Valmont/Shendu. His eyes glowed red as Shendu took control.
"Who are you?" he asked already knowing the answer. Dominic didn't answer. Instead a white fire surrounded her as she shifted into her dragon form. Shendu narrowed his eyes at her.
"You either have very powerful magic or you are not my daughter half blood." He accused.
Dominic's ears lowered in hurt at that name. "You're right I'm not your blood daughter but you did adopt me."
"Why would I ever do such a thing?" Shendu sneered.
"I don't pretend to know all the answers but I know one thing. You would never release those demons unless they had something over you. Did they threaten you?" Dominic questioned.
Shendu did not answer.
"Then it seems we are both under stipulations." Dominic sighed shifting back into her human form. "I'm not going to stop you."
"Oh?" Shendu questioned studying the girl.
"No, I'm going to tear into those demons and they will regret what they have done to you." Dominic threatened turning to leave.
"I don't recall it was them that destroyed my physical form." Shendu growled.
"That's not what I was talking about." Dominic stated as she disappeared into the shadows.
Shendu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"She couldn't know, could she?" he wondered as he staggered back in shock. "He would never tell anyone let alone a half blood." He didn't have time to dwell on it as Valmont took control again.
"So you have a daughter Shendu?" he grinned darkly.
"Stay out of that Valmont!" Shendu warned.