Hey, I'm back! Sorry about the late update, but I needed more time to think on this chapter. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

The Raccoon, the Panther, and the Divine Gods

Chapter 10- The Halfway Point

Beijing, China: Safe House. Day 4, 12:00 pm: "To locate the Rooster Zodiac Gem, search in the most ancient of farms," Michael said as he finished reading the clue to the next gem. Panda King answered immediately. "McKawa's Farm is the oldest farm in China, located in the valleys near the Himalayas. The gem has to be there." Michael and the others agreed. "You heard the old bear, Uncle Bentley, next stop: McKawa's!" Bentley happily obliged as he locked in the coordinates to beam our favorite trio to the farm. Once more, Michael, Jade, and Prince had vanished in a flash of blue light, and then reappeared in the middle of a big ruckus. On a clear field, dozens of chickens were clucking like mad and the gang saw why: a dozen weasels were trying to steal their eggs!

Suddenly, Michael and the others heard a voice from an old farm house. "Hey, get away from my chickens you stinking varmints! I'd come and chase you off myself, but my bad leg isn't agreeing with me! Leave my chickens and their eggs alone!" "That must be the farmer who owns this land, and he sounds pissed big time!" Michael said. Out on the field, the chickens had formed a tight circle around their precious eggs as the weasels tried to force them away. The weasels were winning as the chicken's defenses were failing. The trio couldn't stand watching anymore! "C'mon you guys, we can look for the gem later! Right now, let's help those chickens!" Michael and Prince nodded as they ran with Jade into the fray. They moment they arrived, the weasels turned on them. One of them came up and bit Michael's right foot. "Ouch!! Let go you little dust rag!" He then kicked the weasel a good distance away from the farm and proceeded to help the others.

Jade was kicking the weasels away and grabbing them by the tails with good reflexes; they have not been able to bite her. After she threw off another four weasels, she stepped on another one's tail and it yelped as it ran away. "That's right, run! Don't mess with me!" Prince was having a ball. He used his magic to conjure up a big cage and zapped the remaining weasels inside it, right before he sent it soaring miles from the farm. "That was rather enjoyable, catching those pests and banishing them. They will be alright; the cage will disappear when they land." It took them an exciting 10 minutes, but they saved the chickens and their eggs. The little birds approached Michael's team and clucked in gratitude. Michael couldn't help but smile. "Hey, all in a day's work, right?" Just then, the door to the farm house opened.

He looked tall, gangly, and wore a straw hat. His hat was so large it blocked his face from view. He held out his hand to all of them and shook them. "Thank you young ones for protecting my chickens and their eggs. They mean a lot to me. Allow me to repay you for your kindness." Prince held out his hands in defense. "You don't have to do that, farmer. We just did what we thought was right." The old farmer nodded. "And by doing an act of kindness, you deserve a reward like this." He reached into his hat, and pulled out the last thing the trio had expected to receive: a small orange gem stone that greatly resembled a rooster! He then handed it to a stunned Michael. "Hey, wait a second! Are you…?" The farmer then took off his hat to reveal an old rooster with dark red feathers and brown eyes. "I am indeed the Rooster Guardian. Michael, you and your companions had put aside your mission to find my gem to help my chickens protect their eggs.

"A real hero always puts protecting innocent lives ahead of his or her quest. Nothing is more important than insuring another's survival in great peril. That is why you deserve my gem." Michael, Jade, and Prince smiled. "Thanks, I didn't expect this whole protecting eggs thing to be a challenge." The guardian laughed. "Some things are not what they seem…remember that for your next challenge." Before they could say anything else, he vanished in breeze of wind. Needless to say, they were confused. "What did he mean by that?" Michael asked. Jade shrugged. "I guess we'll know when we find the next gem." Prince nodded in agreement. After telling Bentley that the 5th gem was secured, they beamed back at the Safe House for the next gem's location.

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Secret location, somewhere in the world: Sly was examining the stone wall with the bars, taking in each and every detail for anything out of place. Carmelita was helping by examining the walls around the cell. They have been at an hour, with no success. "Sly, this place is solid rock, tight as a drum. There is just no way out." Carmelita said frustratingly. The raccoon still felt confident. "If there is anything I learned in all my years as a master thief, there is always a weak spot somewhere." They resumed their search until Carmelita got Sly's attention. "Hey Ringtail, I think you should come over here." Sly then motioned to her side. "What did you find, Gorgeous?" Carmelita pointed at the corner btw the right hand wall and the barred wall. "I can feel air coming from this part of the cell. None of the other places in here had air flowing in. I think this must be the door to this cell." Sly kissed his wife on the cheek. "I love you." She smiled. "I love you too, but let's focus on getting out of here, shall we?"

The raccoon nodded as he and Carmelita studied the wall more carefully. "Neyla could have a switch on the other side of this door, but it could also be password activated. If I know Neyla, she would probably have done just that." "If she is using some kind of password, what could it be?" Carmelita asked. Sly shrugged. "I don't know, maybe Open Sesame?" Just as he said this, the door slid open instantly, providing the much awaited freedom for the distressed couple. Both of them were stunned as they looked at each other, there jaws dropped. "I was just kidding." Sly said. As they moved out of the cell and into an old stone hallway, Carmelita couldn't believe that Neyla used a password so deceptively simple that no one would ever have considered it. "Yeah, well, neither can I." Sly replied as they snuck around.

As they moved, they are seeing more hallways and empty cells just like theirs, creeping them out more. They also feel the further they went to escape, the colder the air felt until they started to shiver. "Sly, what is this place? Why is it so cold?" "I don't know Carmelita, but let's get out of here before Neyla notices our absence." They kept moving until they found a large stair case moving up, so they moved up the stairs quietly. When they got to the top of the stairs, however, they saw some unexpected company: 3 creepy crocodile zombies were moving along the next hallway. The couple hid themselves just before they were spotted. "Okay, now I am more confused than ever," said a shocked Carmelita. "I know what you mean. First we find out Neyla is back from the dead, then we get trapped in what appears to be an old fortress possibly in the far North, and now zombies are patrolling the place. Something very freaky is going on here."

As soon as the zombies were out of sight, Sly and Carmelita moved down the left hallway, continuing to be quiet. They kept alert and their eyes open for Neyla or more zombies. They moved through the hallway lit by nothing but torches when they some noise up ahead. It sounded like heavy machinery moving around. Curious, they moved slowly to the next room to investigate. When they peeked inside, they were once again surprised by what they saw. It was a huge chamber with a giant skylight with the sun shining in the center. There were two strap boards in the center as well. Also, there was a huge machine which sparked with electricity. It was hanging over the two straps, while looking very menacing. Sly was becoming more concerned about their situation. 'Neyla is definitely planning something big, but what?'

He then remembered Neyla telling them about some kind of ceremony in a few weeks. 'What is this ceremony Neyla was talking about? How does it involve all this machinery and the zombies? Well, my wife and I are not sticking around to find out.' Sly turned to his wife, and she was feeling the same way he was. "Let's get out of here right now, Sly." He nodded to her. "I couldn't agree more, darling. Let's split." Just as they had turned to move out of the fortress, they bumped into another few zombies, who unfortunately were walking in their direction. They screeched as they saw them. Sly and Carmelita punched them in the guts and the faces, and then they fell on the floor. Satisfied for themselves, they began to move again. Unfortunately, they bumped into a familiar face: Neyla.

She didn't seem pleased to see them wandering about. "What's this: Sly Cooper and his beloved wife moving around in my little hideaway? I don't think so!" She held out her hands and lifted them up, thus lifting up Sly and Carmelita and thrusting them into the back wall. Neither of them could move. Neyla continued to stare hatefully. "I can't have my favorite couple in the world trying to escape before the big day, now can I? Guess I'll just have to put you two in a cell without a door!" Sly and Carmelita struggled hopelessly against Neyla's power. "Someday Neyla, you'll get what's coming to you!" Sly said in anger. "I will personally turn you inside out!" yelled Carmelita. Neyla laughed at their useless threats as she snapped her fingers and zapped them to another, more tight-drummed cell. "Nothing must go wrong on the day of the ritual…NOTHING! I'll have to keep a closer eye on them from now on." As she laughed she gazed at the huge machine, knowing how its purpose will achieve her goals.

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"So, where do we find the next gem Michael?" Prince asked back at the Safe House. Michael was studying the map once more, and at once the next Zodiac Gem's clue was revealed. "To find the Sheep Zodiac Gem, travel to the bottom of the deepest well in Hong Kong." At once, Jade came up with the answer. "I know where to look. The Ounimata Well, that is the deepest well in China, and it is located in Hong Kong." Michael felt like he could kiss her, but he restrained himself. Instead, he just patted her on the back. "Good thinking, Jade." Jade thanked him. "Come and let's find the gem." Prince said. They all agreed as they stepped into the Deliverer and waited for Bentley to zap them on their way. "Uncle Bentley, beam us away." Michael said enthusiastically. "You got it, kiddo!" They again disappeared in a blue flash.

Michael and his friends appeared in an alley in Hong Kong where no one will spot them. Once they emerged in the city, they began to search for the well. Jade knew where to find the well, so she led the way. Within minutes, they arrived at the Ounimata Well, which was found in the center of a nearby park. It was as big as a small swimming pool. It also looked very old. "This well must be ancient, it looks like it is barely holding itself together," Prince observed. "Oh yeah, but it is considered a piece of Chinese history that should be preserved." Jade said proudly. Michael then looked down into the well. "Well, we found the well, so let's get down there." They nodded. Since there was no rope, Prince used his magic to life himself and his friends into the well. When they were at the bottom, they thanked Prince. "Anytime guys, anytime." They around the area and saw nothing unusual, although the area is big enough for a huge party.

"Man, there's not even a tunnel down here. Maybe the map made a mistake," said Michael. Just then, a cloud of mist appeared that blocked everyone's view. Then a few seconds later, it vanished. However, when it was all clear again, there was a fourth figure in the room. He looked like an old, wooly ram with big curly, horns while wear a cobalt colored robe. "The map never makes mistakes, young Michael Cooper." The old ram said with a smile. After recovering from their surprise, Michael and the others knew instantly who he must be. "Let me guess, the Sheep Guardian?" Michael asked. The guardian nodded. "I have been anticipating your visit for some time, and I am glad you have come." He spread out his arms and suddenly, the whole room was full of…"Sheep Zodiac Gems", said the guardian. Michael turned back to him after staring at all 20 of the cobalt colored treasures.

"Hold one, isn't there supposed to be only one?" he asked. The guardian nodded again. "There is only one, but you must discover which one it is, young raccoon. If you and your friends can find the real Sheep Gem, it is yours. If you choose one of the false gems, then the real one will be lost forever. Choose wisely." Michael, Jade and Prince nodded as they began to observe each of the gems. They spread out to cover them all. The guardian was watching with expectation. They all looked for 3 hours, and they still can't tell the real one from the copies. Then they tried to find it by sensing its energy like they did with the Pig Gem, but the energy seem to come from all of them. "Man, how are we supposed to find the real gem? They all look alike!" Michael said in frustration. Jade put her hand on his shoulder. "We'll a way, Michael. Don't give up."

Michael smiled from her encouraging words. Prince said to him that the answer will show itself somehow. At that moment, Michael remembered what the Rooster Guardian had said: "Some things are not what they seem…remember that for your next challenge." Michael knew that he was referring to finding the correct Sheep Gem. Michael began to look around again, looking for anything that was out of place. Jade and Prince began to search as well. Suddenly, while he was looking at the pile to his left, Michael stopped. He saw something right behind the last row of gems, something shimmering. However, there was nothing there. Michael looked closer and saw that empty spot shimmer again. He kept staring at it, trying to make out the shape of the shimmering space. After several minutes, he finally knows the shape of the invisible object. He then reached out for it, and picked it up. At that instant, all the gems in the well disappeared. And the invisible object in Michael's hand revealed itself: the real Sheep Gem.

"Guys, over here, I found it!" Michael yelled. Jade and Prince ran to him, astounded. "Wow Michael, how did you find it?" Jade asked. "Yes, how were you able to tell the real one from the illusions?" Prince questioned. Michael smiled. "Well, I was looking at the gems over here for anything out of the ordinary. Then I saw something shimmer behind the last row, and reached out for it. It looks like this is the real one!" The guardian clapped at Michael as he approached him and his friends. "Excellent, young one. You have seen past what you can normally see. By careful examining, and faith, you have secured the Sheep Zodiac Gem. Congratulations to you Michael, and your friends." Michael and the others smiled, pleased with themselves at obtaining another gem. Then the guardian sounded serious all of a sudden.

"You all have found half of the Zodiac Gems needed to find and release Shangdi's powerful weapon. But the challenges to claim the remaining six gems will be far more difficult. Do not take them lightly, or you will falter in your quest." "We won't, guardian." Michael said respectfully. Then the old one bowed to them. "Then let me say goodbye, and good luck in retrieving the remaining gems, and keep them safe." He then formed another cloud of mist and everything became foggy. The next thing that Michael and his friends saw was that they were back in the park, right in front of the well. "Wow, that was nice of him. That saved me the trouble of carrying us back up here." Prince said appreciatively. Very pleased with their progress, they contacted Bentley and informed him that they have the next gem. "Awesome work, guys! I'll bring you back right now." And with that last statement, the trio disappeared in blue light. But they didn't know that before they vanished, they were being watched by someone hiding behind a tree.

The person's face hidden behind a cowl, but the voice sounded sinister. "That's right, young Cooper, continue to collect the Zodiac Gems. When you have them all, I shall take them for myself. Then I shall claim the legendary weapon of Shangdi and become invincible!" The person laughed insanely as he slipped away without detection by civilians.