CHAPTER TWENTY

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER, PT. 4

Far, far into the past, long after Long Oah, Blossom, Shin, Xan and Richard were gone…

"It's been a while, hasn't it, brothers and sisters?" Shendu asked his family as they stood on Reunion Hill, overlooking the valley. All of them were in demon form, and all were contemplative. They hadn't seen each other in at least a few centuries.

"…so…what have you all being doing?" Xiao asked.

"I tried going straight for a while." Tchang admitted. "Tried to be a Gladiator, as you can see." He was wearing very fine armor that was extremely impressive and probably very expensive. "It was fun for quite a while, but I kept winning my freedom as I changed my form over and over, and eventually I just got tired of it. It just simply didn't…well, stick."

Tso Lan was standing next to Dai Gui, who sat calmly on the ground, humming. "My brother here and I had been visiting Africa. It was down there that…well, I…I made a mistake. A big one. My brother paid for it."

Dai Gui stopped humming and looked at his brother. "It…it happens." He told him. "I cannot stay angry at you forever. You were only trying to improve me…"

Po Kong was picking her teeth. "I've been trying different cuisine around the world, but Japan's got the best, I have to tell you."

"You should cut down on the fatty foods." Bai Tsa said.

"She should cut down on the fatty PEOPLE." Hsi Wu corrected.

Po Kong "harrumphed" and Bai Tsa spoke up. "I'd been spending time with…with that sailor I wrote to you all about."

"Oh, yes, he sounds quite noble. A Coast Guard hero, AND a talented painter." Tso Lan complimented. "You said he painted a beautiful one of you…how is he?"

"A sorcerer killed him." She muttered quickly.

"Oh." The others were silent for a while. Then Hsi spoke up.

"I tried going straight as well, went over to the New World, to the place Nick said would be called America. It's a fascinating place. I almost settled down as a shaman, but…well, then the settlers showed up and started invading my lands, and…"

"Did it get messy?" Tchang asked, a hint of bloodlust in his voice.

"Very."

"Gooood."

"What about you, Xiao?" Shendu asked.

"Oh, I visited Spain. It's a very interesting country…"

"It is, isn't it?' Tchang agreed. He'd visited it too. "But I can't stand those…those castanet things."

"And they're a bit too interested in sex for my tastes."

Shendu snickered. "No such thing as too much sex. Anyhow, while you were all out having so-called "vacations", I've built up a very large kingdom, and nobody can challenge me-"

"EXCEPT FOR US."

They all turned to their left and saw, down in the valley, huge armies amassing. At the front…the Eight Immortals.

"Well, well. This is a surprise." Shendu admitted.

"Demon! Your tyrannical rule ends here!" Lo Pei shouted. "ATTACK!"

The armies charged forward. The demons rushed to meet them. What occurred was a fantastic battle.

At first, it seemed as though the demons had the upper hand. When someone managed to stab a spear into Bai Tsa's back, she turned into water. "All right!" The group that had crowded around her shouted. A moment later though, she rose up from the puddle she'd become, turning back to normal with a banshee shriek.

"Oh f-" They didn't even have time to finish their sentence. A summoned tidal wave washed them away. "It appears…you are ALL WASHED UP." The Water Demon cackled.

Meanwhile, Tso Lan was leisurely scratching an itch on his chin as a large part of one of the armies marched towards him, completely surrounding him. "You're finished, Demon of the Moon!" The commander shouted. "You're completely outnumbered!"

"And you…are completely outclassed." He said simply, raising a claw. They all began to hover up into the air, higher, higher. "What amateurs." He muttered. When they'd risen about 100 feet high into the air he clapped his hands and they fell down. The resulting "KASPLAT" and "CHACHUNK" as heavily armored bodies hit the ground wasn't a pretty combination to hear, and the sight was just as disgusting, if not more so. Tso simply turned away, a cruel smile forming. "Serves you right for challenging he who has mastered gravity."

Tchang Zu was having a field day with the armies, sending out bolts of lightning everywhere. It was like swatting flies for him, their armor was VERY conductive.

"HEY!" Po Kong called out. "How many have you gotten?"

"179…"

KAZAAAP!

"Make that 202."

"Ha! I've got you beat. I've gotten 267…"

"AAAA-"

GULP!

"268."

Po Kong was simply pigging out on any humans that got too close, and unfortunately the commanders of the armies kept ordering troops to rush her and stab her with their spears, swords, etc. It was a banquet for her.

Meanwhile, Dai Gui stood looking at the soldiers who were now behind a very fierce-looking commander with long hair and who smelled a lot like whiskey.

"If you want, you can run." He suggested quietly. "I might let you go. Dai Gui is not interested in wasting time. I must return to rebuilding my underground kingdom."

"You wrecked eighteen villages, fourteen towns and 12 cities all in the Southeast section of China in the name of your kingdom!" The commander shouted. "You die today! CHARGE!"

"Once more, I'll have to get my hands dirty." Dai said, digging into the earth just as they charged at him. He vanished deep down.

"Hey…where'd he go?" Someone called out. They all looked around. No sign.

Suddenly something quickly jumped up from the ground, screams were cut short as a pair of jaws snapped. The group of soldiers and their commander turned to look…nothing…where about 6 soldiers and their horses had been standing.

A loud burp came up from the hole Dai Gui had dug.

"Oh dear." The commander gulped as a pair of horns surfaced up above, rushing through the ground and towards him and his men.

"Boy, this brings back memories." Hsi Wu said calmly as he watched Xiao blow and blow, sending soldiers flying up into the air. Occasionally Hsi would swoop up, grab one, and break his neck, tossing him aside. Xiao snickered. "I guess when it comes to fighting, I blow the competition away!"

Hsi whacked him. "OW! What was THAT for?"

"For making a poor pun." Hsi told him. "Now stand back and watch REAL power." He held up a clawed hand to the sky, and began to chant. "Summon darkness, summon darkness…"

The sky became dark. The sun was shrouded by dark clouds, and none of the soldiers on the ground near Hsi and Xiao could see anything.

Except for the pair of red eyes that raced towards them from above.

Shendu was doing the best, with his Talisman powers, he simply tore through the armies like they were paper, completely losing himself to demonic bloodlust, laughing madly. The resulting slaughter frightened even Tchang Zu, and the blood flowed so thickly it could have turned a river completely red.

But, as I said before, it only started OUT in the demon's favor.

"They're weakening." Lo Pei said. Sure enough, the armies going against the demons kept on coming, and the demons were getting sloppy in their fighting. Bai Tsa had three men pulling on her tentacles, giving her a headache so great she couldn't form into water. Po Kong was simply swarmed by men who jabbed her over and over with spears. Xiao opened up his mouth to give another deep breath…someone tossed a bomb right in. POW, he fell to the ground, dazed, and was swarmed. When Hsi tried to come to his aid someone threw a net over him and pinned him to the ground.

Tchang Zu's legs had been tied together by bolos, and he hopped around a few times, outraged, before falling over on the ground. Tso Lan's mastery of gravity wasn't enough to stop a chi spell that a few dozen sorcerers in the army managed to pull off, sending him flying across the plains, hitting a rock hard and almost breaking his back. Dai Gui tried to help his brothers, but when he appeared above ground a chi spell got him too, sending him hovering into the air in a bubble or sorts which he couldn't break, and Shendu was caught off guard by a stun spell, falling to the ground, unable to do anything but blink.

Lo Pei motioned for the other immortals to move forward. One approached Tchang Zu, the first one. "I heard you went to Spain." He said. Tchang Zu's eyes focused in on the human who was speaking. "Cao Guojiu? But you're just an actor!"

"I also heard you don't like the castanets." Cao said, raising a pair of red castanets up. "Tell me if you find this annoying." He began to snap them quickly, dancing to a Latin beat. Tchang Zu growled in pain, and the castanets began to glow with a bright green light. "What the?" Dai exclaimed.

VOOM! The light shot out, hitting Tchang Zu. He was enveloped and sent flying, far, far away…to the New World, in what would become Hollywood, California. A large portal door opened up and he sailed right through with a cry.

Po Kong gasped. "I-Impossible! How on Earth did you…"

Another immortal named Zhang Guo Lao walked up to her, holding up a large looking drum. "This drum from a village you devoured in Japan!" He shouted angrily. "It's time you paid for your gluttonous evil!" As Zhang banged it over and over, chanting, the drum glowed with the same light that the castanets had had. Po Kong squirmed, trying to stand up, but she had such little upper body strength that it was impossible, AND a pathetic sight to see. She was enveloped in the light and sent flying, all the way to Japan itself.

Xiao Fung groaned in pain. His mouth felt like it was on fire, and what was about to happen wouldn't make him feel much better. Zhongli Quan approached, fair flowing gently. She held up a fan. Her face was set in stone. "I take no joy in this. This must simply be done." She waved it at him, chanting. "Oh, crap!" He managed to get out before he was enveloped and sent flying to the New World, like his brother…only he landed into a portal located in a dark, huge forest instead of in the rolling hills of California.

Hsi tried to escape, tried to break free of the net, but his body was very weak. All he could do was twitch his tail and struggle vainly as the immortal Han Xiang Li approached him, pointing something at the Sky Demon. His eyes widened.

"A flute. Look familiar? It belonged to a girl and her father, both of whom you killed!"

It had belonged to his beloved, to Haruno. He had no qualms about what he'd done to her father, but for anyone to suggest he would have ever harmed the beautiful and lovely Haruno, the woman who turned night into day with a smile…

He lost it, screaming and howling, tearing at the net as best he could, shredding it. "I'LL KILL YOU! YOU STUPID HUMAN, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, I'LL KILL YOU, I'LL KILL-"

She tooted it. Her fellow immortals chanted. It glowed with light and shot out at him just as he dived at Han.

"I'LL-"

A few moments later he was flying through the air. Another moment later he'd been sent to a place in what would become Boston, Massachusetts in North America, specifically Fenway Park.

Tso Lan was utterly silent as the next immortal approached. He Xiangu looked intently at him, a lotus in his hand. "Aren't you going to toss an insult at me too, foul demon?"

"You can send me to Hell or to Oblivion itself. It won't matter. One day we'll break out. Then you will be sorry." He said.

"In the future we might pay. But not today." The immortal told him, chanting. Tso Lan let out a horrid scream as he was sent up, up, up…all the way up into space. A portal opened and he vanished straight into it.

Dai Gui mumbled in pain. The immortal Lan Caihe approached him. The shell on Dai Gui's back was partially cracked, and he was panting heavily.

"No…fair…" He managed to get out as Lan held up a flower. A dandelion, as a matter of fact. "No fair…ganging up…on Dai Gui…"

"Life's not fair. Get used to it." Lan said, chanting. Dai didn't even have the strength to cry out as he was sent up and flying, all the way to Spain, disappearing into a portal to join his brothers and Po Kong.

Bai Tsa had actually been stuffed inside of a bottle, and she couldn't get out. Her watery form was spitting out curses by the dozen as Li Tieguai picked it up, shaking it.

"Cramped, isn't it? I heard that you've been sleeping with pretty much every hot sailor you can get your hands on…how much sex does a demon really need?"

"It's not about the sex, it's about the-oh, you wouldn't understand!"

"I don't need to. You're going to somewhere far away from your "escorts"!"

"You annoying little fools, I'll kill you f—king b—tards, I'll-"

He tossed the bottle down and held up a gourd. Bai Tsa immediately tried to escape and using the last of her strength broke out…

Too late. The chi spell of the gourd struck her, sending her flying all the way through the air, straight to Rome, Italy as a matter of fact. She went through the portal with a cry of "What a world!".

Only Shendu was left. He staggered up and faced down Lo Pei, fury raging in his eyes.

"You may have beaten my brothers and sisters, but they don't have my power!" He snarled. "As Nick might have put it, "I'm the shiznit", or "the one with all the juice, man".

"I know all about you, Shendu. You and your brother Xan were two sides of the same coin, both inheritors of the Ultimate Evil. Now he is gone, and only you remain…" Lo Pei cracked his knuckles. "That cannot be allowed."

"Die, you old fool!" Shendu snarled, spitting fire.

"Energy scroll!" Lo Pei shouted, thrusting out his hand. A scroll flew out from his sleeve, hitting the blast of fire with an energy bolt and both vaporized in the air. "Now take this!" Lo Pei thrust out both hands, and two scrolls shot out, hovering in the air. A large gong was sounded, chanting filled Shendu's ears. Suddenly he felt something strange…it was like something was being ripped away from his very soul…

And then he realized what. Jets of light shot from his body, forming into small, stone talismans with crests of animals upon them. He gasped. "How…how on Earth?"

"The boy's influence over you has done nothing!" Lo Pei told him. "Our spells have not only banished your family to the netherworld plane, but they have wiped them of your memories of the one who dared to interfere with the Time Stream. But I know if I send you into that void, a new, stronger evil will come forth. Therefore…"

Lo grinned in a wild fashion. "You shall be punished…in a more…creative fashion."

Shendu didn't even have time to let out a good scream as the spell struck him, turning his memory inside out and twisting his body into a circular statue. A moment later all went dark…

It was over. It was all over…

PRESENT…

"It's all over, after a hectic day of slaughter and carnage; it appears the sun has finally shone through on this darkened world. Riots are quieting down across San Francisco and all over the globe, and tomorrow has been declared a national day of mourning for all of the dead that perished in the San Francisco riots that took place as little as 24 hours ago. 845 are dead, 1034 are severely injured and 64 are missing. All of us here at Channel 18 News give our condolences to the families whose loved ones have suffered. Now all America and the world can do…is move on, taking the lessons we have learned from our suffering into the future, so that the mistakes of the past cannot be repeated. I'm Willy Little, reporting for Channel 18 News-"

BEEEEOOOOP.

"Good, I'm tired of listening to the news reports."

"I'm just glad all the demons seemed to have vanished off the streets and that things have quieted down."

"Hmm…I do not trust this boy. His chi flow is verrrry strange."

"I can sense it too, sensei. But he seems nice enough. Jade, are you sure this boy is the one you saw in your vision?"

"I'm totally positive! And I'm sure he needs our help."

"I can sense his chi flow too, I've never SEEN such raw power that's yet to be manifested!"

"You want I should wake him up?"

"What, by whacking him in the face?"

"Jade!"

"El Toro isn't the paragon of perfection, Paco!...Jackie is!"

"El Toro Fuerte is an expert in everything! Your little mouse man comes second!"

"Jackie!"

"El Toro!"

"JACKIE!"

"EL TORO!"

"Jackie, I swear I didn't take anything from his wallet or his backpack. His stuff's all over there, next to that gong."

"…are you suuure?"

"Yes. Oh, here. I uh…"borrowed" a towel from a hotel. Soak it in water and put it on the kid's-oh wait, he's waking up!"

Nick blinked his eyes. "Ouch! Oh, my heaaaaaad! What hit me?" He groggily asked.

"We were hoping you could tell us." A voice asked. It had a distinctly Chinese accent. Nick looked at the owner.

"OH…MY…GOD! JACKIE CHAN!" He bounded up from the couch he'd been lying on and began eagerly shaking the action star's hand. "Can I have your autograph I am like a HUGE fan and my mom thinks you're super cute and you were so cool in "The Drunken Master" and-"

"Woah, woah, I am not a movie star!" Jackie insisted.

"And how do you know his name?" Uncle asked.

"Well, it's a long story…" He grinned mischievously. "Billy goat."

WHACK!

"OW!"

"Do not insult Unclllle! One more thing!"

"How do I have powers?"

"Yes. One MORE thing…"

"How did I get here in the first place?"

"One MORE thing-"

"Stop interrupting you?"

WHACK!

"Okay, okay, I'll stop! Sheesh!"

"The first boy is too polite, now this one is too ruuuuude!" Uncle complained.

Nick rubbed his sore head. "Sorry...but seriously, Mr. Chan, can I have your autograph?" Nick asked with puppy-dog eyes.

"I am an archaeologist. Not a movie star." Jackie insisted.

"Uh, actually you are." Nick said. "At least, where I come from. And you're also a character in a cartoon show, along with Jade, Tohru (who used to work for the Dark Hand) Uncle, Paco, El Toro, Viper, etc, etc."

SFX: Cricket's chirping

"……"

"……"

"……woaaaaah. Coooool!" Jade beamed. "You're from another world?"

"Another version of Earth, to be precise! It's a lot like yours, only magic's way, WAY more harder to find, and most people don't believe it exists, and demons don't show up every now and then. Unless they get elected or hide away during an attack on their country…"

"Huh?" Jackie asked, blinking.

Jade snickered. "I get it!"

Nick smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, my world's pretty dang tame compared to yours. You probably want me to tell the whole story, right?" Nick asked, sitting down. Uncle nodded. "Start at beginning. That is best way."

Nick began to tell his story, starting from the moment he and his family and his best friend Matt had arrived at the movies…

"And then when I saw them getting taken away, I had to do SOMETHING, so I ran right in after them! And that's when I met Joe, Sylvia and Captain Blue, I was totally geeking out!…"

Then after that tale, he told them about visiting Lilo and Stitch's world…

"So there I was, with Keoni dead and Kaiser laughing his head off, I just LOST it, I swore at him and tackled him and we went right out the friggin' window, can you believe that? Then…"

Then Nick's tale arrived at his time with the kids…

"I mean, who knew their father was such a man-slut? And a freak! I don't even wanna know what he put in the lotion. Anyhow, Dai taught me some blocking techniques, Xan instructed me on aura manipulation…"

Finally his trip to Hell…

"Seriously though, what's an archangel doing down in Hell anyway? But all the same after arriving at the door and they'd gone through one by one, I bid my buddy Mark and the rest of them farewell and I stepped on through, and that's how I ended up here."

Silence.

Then…

"Oh wow." Jade gaped. "That's an amazing story!"

"You were friends with demons? Tohru! Get my pufferfish!"

"Yes, sensei-"

"Woah, relax! They didn't put a bug on me or anything. I'm not wearing a wiretap. They're not as evil as you think they are, although I'm pretty sure Xiao Fung's a total freak-a-leek and Shin IS gay and Po Kong eats too much and Xan's possibly psychopathic, but other than that they're normal. As normal as demon normal gets anyway."

"…right." Uncle took the others aside. "Excuse us."

When they were all in the kitchen, Uncle's face turned sour. "Uncle does not trust him. His chi flow is incredibly unusual. That is not good siiiiiign!"

"Well he is supposed to be a chosen." Torhu spoke up. "Maybe being a chosen has-"

"It is not simply that. He has…darkness in him. Incredible darkness that could easily slip out."

"But he looks harmless." Viper said, looking back into the living room. Nick gave the peace sign and grinned in a silly fashion.

"His POTENTIAL is what scares Uncle." Uncle said. "He has the potential to be the single biggest threat to all of humanity. Uncle can tell. Uncle knows these things."

"Hey, is this "South Park Season 8"?" Nick asked from the living room, picking up a DVD case from near the television. Jade walked in and went up to Nick, looking at the DVD case. "Yeah."

"Does it have "Good Times With Weapons"? That's my favorite episode!" Nick asked.

Jade's eyes lit up. "You…you watch South Park"?"

"You bet your sweet bippy I do!" Nick told her. "Isn't Cartman such an a-hole?"

Jade walked back into the kitchen with a spring in her step. "Anyone who likes "South Park" is okay by me. I say we trust him."

"Besides, he smells of nice."

"…what?" Jackie asked.

"I can smell the bad ones." Paco boasted. "This one smells like bubble gum and vanilla. He is a nice person. He can be trusted."

"Paco's nose sense is NEVER wrong!" El Toro said proudly, rubbing Paco's hair in a playful manner.

Jackie groaned. "But the show does not expand-oh…forget it. I will have to call Captain Black…see if he can pull some strings…"

Torhu noticed the necklace Nick had on. "Sensei…look at it."

Uncle's eyes peered keenly at it. "It's…glowing." Uncle gasped. Indeed, it was. "Oh, that's cool!" Jade exclaimed.

"Yeah, I think it has something to do with my aura." Nick thought out loud. "I wonder if I can manifest my powers now…"

He cupped his palm. "Okay, uh, BRING THE HEAT."

A small flame popped up. "Cool!...woah, feelin' dizzy here!" Nick muttered, suddenly falling over on his back. The flame vanished the moment he hit the ground. "Ugh…head…hurts…"

"Uncles believes you have been using your aura for so long that was powers you have are depleted." Uncle explained. "You need lots of rest."

"Gee, thanks, uh…I'll just stagger over to the couch." Nick moaned, getting up. Jade ran over to him. "Here, lemme help you over." "No, thanks, I can-oh, who am I kidding? Mahalo plenty, Jade. I'm so tuckered out!" He thanked her. Jade beamed. "Ooh, I just love Hawaiian!"

Tohru walked over with Nick and Jade. "So, um, tell me…in your world, is there still fish?"

"Unfortunately. I don't really like fish."

Tohru immediately smiled. "Finally, someone who understands! I HATE fish!"

"Shrimp is pretty good though, especially in that sauce…"

"Shrimp doesn't count, but you're right. Say, how about I make you some hot chocolate?"

"I'd love some!"

Jackie rubbed the back of his head. "Why do I get the feeling I've just invited trouble into my house?" He walked over to the phone and picked it up, dialing. A few moments later…

"Hello? Captain Black? Yes, it's me, Jackie. Listen, something very strange has happened, and I need you to come over here, and to bring some custody papers with you…"

"Well Paco, I have the feeling we'll be staying here for a while…at least until all the demons are gone." El Toro said.

"Cool! I get to live in San Fran!"

Nick let out a "phew". He opened his backpack. "I wonder if my apple juice is still-"

He stiffened.

Uh…oh…

"Mr. Grey, is something wrong?" Tohru asked.

"Um…did you guys see a green book that fell out when I fell down?" Nick asked.

"No…" They all told him.

Aw, dang!

A knock came at the door. "Uh…I'll get it." Paco said, going to the door.

"Hello, how can I-Ay Caramba!"

There stood, in the streets and at the door, about fifty-something ninjas in black suits, with blue skin and wearing white tabi socks. They had solid red eyes…and no souls.

Shadowkhan.

"Oh, bad day…" Jackie groaned.

"How is this possible? Shendu does not have the power to control them anymore!" Uncle gasped. "Only Tarakudo could have…"

"Talk later." Jackie said, getting into a fighting position. Jade nodded. "Right, kick butt now-"

"Jade, leave this to the adults." Nick immediately said, knowing that was what Jackie wanted him to say.

"Awwwww!" She complained.

El Toro spoke up. "Jackie, you take the ones on the right…" Crick-crack. He cracked his knuckles and then his neck. "I'll take the ones on the left."

"Go get 'em, El Toro!" Paco shouted as the raging bull pile drived into the Shadowkhan that were trying to get inside the shop. Jackie, Uncle, Tohru, Viper and Jade snuck out, with Paco right behind. Mr. Ryu looked at Nick, who looked very dizzy.

"Will you be okay if you stay here?" He asked.

"Just…kick their butts." Nick said, sitting down on the couch, rubbing his head.

"Right." Mr. Ryu put his bandanna back on and grabbed a nearby fireplace poker. "GARAAAAHHHH!" He shouted, rushing out of the shop.

The scene was explosive. Jackie was jumping here and there, punching and kicking. One Shadowkhan tried to grab him from behind and succeeded, upon which three others advanced on him. But Jackie suddenly flipped over the soulless ninja, breaking his grip, landing right behind him and kicking him squarely in the back. The kick sent him flying into the advancing others and all of them collapsed. Another one tried to grab him but THIS time he was ready, he stepped to the side, quickly grabbed the ninja's arm and tossed him to the ground, leaping up into the air a moment later and bringing down his foot. POW!

POW! The raging bull that was El Toro sent a large group of ninjas flying through the air with a single wide sweep of his arm. Paco meanwhile, had grabbed onto one's neck and was banging his head against the back of the ninja's, something which made it hard to tell who was hurting more. El Toro suddenly climbed up onto a nearby fire escape and looked down, seeing more ninjas were advancing on his protégé Paco! So…

"FLYING PRESS!" He shouted, jumping off, arms extended. He flattened all of them just as Paco gave one last head-butt and knocked the ninja away and into the path of the bull's fall. El Toro stood up and dusted himself off as Paco cheered and jumped up and down in joy. "El Toro Fuerte is the greatest!" He shouted.

The Shadowkhan ninja were advancing on Viper, who grinned slyly at them as she slowly walked back towards the wall of the shop. "Keep your eyes on the prize, boys…" She said softly. Suddenly she jumped up and kicked off the wall, slamming into one with both her knees. She then got into a quick handstand and twisted her body, legs out, whacking all the ninja around her away. She then jumped off and struck a sexy-looking pose. "Eyes on the prize."

Uncle meanwhile, calmly watched as the ninja approached him. One raced towards him, a dagger of some kind drawn. He stepped to the side and grabbed the ninja by the neck. "Hotcha!" He snapped, squeezing on a pressure point. The ninja gasped and fell down, groaning. "Who else wants a piece of Uncle?" He asked. Seeing one of their own be downed so easily the ninjas decided to take their leave and gang up on someone else…

Tohru, who was swinging and swinging away. He kept knocking Shadowkhan aside with heavy punches. One leapt on his head and began trying to break his neck…big mistake. The sumo raced backwards and slammed his body into a nearby brick wall, crushing the ninja. It slid down the wall and turned into black smoke that vanished into the night. He then picked up a nearby trash can and slammed it over another ninja, cap and all. He picked the can up and shook it like a martini, then put it down and kicked it. WOOSH! It went through the air like a football, and Jade cheered, raising her hands in a "touchdown" gesture.

Mr. Hao Ryu had gone quite loco. He was swinging the poker back and forth, his backpack deposited on a nearby curb. He kept whacking them on arms, heads and in some cases balls, but he didn't seem satisfied with this. Then he remembered. He ran to his backpack and pulled out…

Two red, white and blue socks that had baseballs in them. "Ameri-chucks!" He laughed, rushing forward, socks spinning. The Shadowkhan looked at him with confused, stupefied expressions, that seemed to say "WTF?!?". They stared at him as he spun them around going "Hwoaaaah-aaahhhh" and other exclamations before finally shrugging at each other and jumping at him.

"HWOAH! HIYAH! KYAAAWOAAAH!" He knocked them all away, they all went flying to the ground, groaning horribly in pain. Hao grinned and winked at them. "Don't mess with the American way of life."

Nick walked outside, much to everyone's surprise. "Hey, save some for me!" He shouted. A few Shadowkhan saw him and immediately rushed at him. Nick held his grandpa's walking stick and slammed it into their chests, sending them flying back and into the streets. Nick then deposited the stick down on the ground and held his hands together.

"Okay…concentrate…focus the aura on my feet…omm…ommmm!"

The ninja's rushed at him…

He leapt UP into the air and twirled around, thrusting his feet at the wall…

Stuck it. They stared up as he stared down at them, his aura keeping him tethered to the wall.

"Surprise!" He snickered, poking two straight in the eyes. They shouted in pain and staggered off, clawing at their eyes. Nick then jumped off and thrust his feet forward, kicking the other two in the face. After stepping off of the black smoke that remained of them, he looked to his left and saw one…with his back turned.

AND he was trying to grab Jade!

Nick focused his aura on his hands, forming the Sign of the Tiger and then…

"KAIOOOOO!!!" He shouted, rushing forward. Everyone gasped. The ninja turned around just in time to see…

POINK!

Red eyes went wide.

KRAKOOOOOWWW!!!

The ninja exploded instantly into black smoke that swirled around Nick and Jade, who had fallen back. Nick looked stupefied and he stood there, hands thrust forward, blinking slowly. Finally he fell over on his butt, groaning. After a few moments of fatigue he looked around.

"Oh…wow…" He muttered. There were no more Shadowkhan ninjas and now all of the Chan clan members and their allies were looking right at him. They were surprised, not only at what he'd just done, but somehow, in some way, his clothes had changed! He now had on his "Martial Arts" garb! But the only thing Nick could think to say was:

"…I overdid it, didn't I?"

"Yes, you most certainly diiiid!" Uncle cried out. He waved his hand in the air, blowing black smoke away. "How can Uncle breath with all of this smoke? And you should be more careful! Almost blew up niece!"

"…sigh…yes Uncle…" Nick sighed.

"One more thing! Next time, do not do it so close to shop! Look! Window is broken!"

Sure enough, the front window to "Uncle's Rare Finds" had been shattered completely. Glass was scattered everywhere on the ground.

"One MORE thing! You have woken neighbors with loud rackeeet!"

Lights were going on all around them. People were staring out their windows at the assorted people in front of the antique shop.

"One MORE thing!"

"This is gonna take a while…" Nick moaned to himself. "At least things can't get worse. Still…where did the Emerald Book of Ages go?"

DOWN IN HELL…

"Well…I'm certainly glad I found THIS before anyone else. Aren't you proud of me, Grand Lord?"

"Indeed." The Grand Lord of Hell told his most faithful servant. "Clever of you to pick up the Book of Ages. However it is in major disrepair, it will need much time to heal…and then it shall be a perfect tool for our purposes."

Tchang said nothing, he just glared.

"I know you're hurt and you feel betrayed that I'm letting you hang like that, and that I tricked that good friend of ours…a bit late in remembering him, weren't you Tchang? But I think one day you'll forgive me…"

Xan smirked as he held the Book of Ages in his hands. "NOT. Mwa-ha-ha-ha…HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA!!!"

MEANWHILE, AT THE UNITED NATIONS…

"The chaos has apparently subsided around the globe." The German ambassador told the UN after looking at a recent news report that had just taken place. "Looks like San Fran got it under control. Maybe we should, uh…wait on the invasion."

The British representative "harrumphed". The French representative patted her on the back. "Calm down. Besides, the paperwork and red tape we'd have to go through for an invasion would take weeks! Let's just wait, all right? See if things improve?"

"…oh, fine. Bloody hell, cockney American b-----ds, grumble grumble…"

MEANWHILE, BACK IN SAN FRAN…

King growled angrily at the demons that had assembled before him. Only Tchang Zu was absent, for obvious reasons.

"You two endangered my chosen." He hissed at The Sky Demon and the Ocean Demon. "I will say this only once…you are NOT to kill them or to scar their precious flesh in any way!"

They all grumbled in assent. "The chaos you caused proved to be good punishment, but you can no longer punish openly. Look above you."

The sky had turned back to it's normal blue color, clouds of white puffed idly by, and a gentle breeze now blew. "Things have been set right that were wrong once before. But there is still a great wrong that needs to be addressed…the bell. MY bell. Until they move it back, the city will still be punished, only their righteous atonement shall be more…"

He grinned in a wild fashion. "Secretive."

Shendu rubbed his chin. "Oh really? From what I understand, you're letting us live so we can punish this city for moving the Bell of the Heavens. But tell me, why does this Bell matter so-"

King suddenly raised his hand, stretching all three clawed digits. Shendu was slowly raised in the air, being strangled by some unseen force.

"Ever seen "Star Wars", Fire Demon?" King asked. "It is a very, very good series. But most memorable is the interesting way Darth Vader, the main villain of the first movies, takes care of people…WHO TALK TOO MUCH."

Shendu nodded eagerly. "I'll stop!" He squeaked. "Honest!"

King nodded and gave them a nasty little grin, clenching his fist. Shendu fell to the ground, groaning in pain. He stood back up.

"By the way, Shendu…how did you summon those Shadowkhan?" Tso Lan inquired. "I must admit, I thought you had lost that ability…"

"I can't summon them." The Fire Demon muttered angrily. "I haven't got the mask anymore…I don't know who does."

King rubbed his scaly chin. "Oh, I shall find out who did summon them…and they will be…" He smiled in a sadistic fashion. "Punished."

Hsi Wu spoke now. "So, what would you have US do, noble demon? What would you want us to do here in this city?"

"Why…change." King said, clapping his hands. In a moment, they'd transformed into their human selves. They looked a lot like they had been back when they were kids, only slightly older and wearing modern clothes, much to each other's surprise. "You'll be blending in at a school where two very special chosen will be going to…I've acquired living quarters for you in a large mansion about two blocks away from the school. It's magically protected to keep any unwanted intruders from coming in...they shall need an invitation."

"That's ironic." Hsi Wu thought.

"You'll be very impressed with your new home when you see it." King explained calmly. "The day after tomorrow will be your first day at the school, so I'll need to teach you a few things about being human in this day and age. But for now…I'll show you to your new home."

King clapped his hands again, and they were whisked through the air, quickly deposited on a sidewalk in front of a large, brick mansion. It had huge iron bar gates, a long driveway, a fountain in the middle of the circular end of the driveway, bushes lining up and down and HUGE grassy fields. The windows were large and painted a dazzling white, there were chimneys and a large tool shed to the left of the house, and a pool in the back, the size of an Olympic swimming pool. Most interestingly of all…

"The garage." King told them as they approached it. He opened it up. It was enormous, with many cars lining up and down it.

Xiao saw a shiny, stream-lined red car. "W-w-what is THAT?" He asked. Whenever the windows of the realm they were trapped in had appeared, he'd become fascinated by the more and more luxurious items people had acquired over time. Specifically, cars. He had a taste for expensive things, and this looked expensive as hell!

"That's a Ferrari."

"F-F-Ferrari…" He moaned in a "oh wow" tone.

"Yes, you might get a chance to use it. But, uh, you will have to be on your best behavior here." King explained. "This house belongs to an old friend of yours, Shendu. In fact, he's employed some OTHER old friends you know of as his servants."

The Fire Demon blinked a few times. "Wait…do you mean to say…"

"It's amazing how quickly one can rebuild one's fortune when he makes the right friends." King said with a smile. "Julian! Adam! Clancy! James! Come on out!"

"Oh, no." Shendu groaned. "What?" Dai Gui asked. "Who's Julian?"

A man with long, white/blond hair that ended in a ponytail, wearing a green leisure suit, a golden tie and slick black shoes stepped out from the doorway. Behind him was an Irish gentleman with red hair and a fairly long nose, wearing what looked like a white disco suit, a grey-skinned man with a band-aid on his nose and greasy black hair, and last but not least, a Chinese gentleman who had distinct yellow/orange sunglasses and a black leather jacket.

"Oh f—k me." Shendu muttered.

"Who on EARTH are they?" Julian Ellis Valmont asked.

"Hey, I think I've seen that face before, it's hard to forget something so froggy." Adam Finn thought out loud.

"Is her hair really blue?" Clancy Ratso asked.

"Hold on…" James Chow said, taking his sunglasses off for a moment. "Yep. Blue."

"The Dark Hand?" Bai Tsa asked. "You got them back in power just so-"

"They could house you? Yes. Sometimes a little evil's necessary to accomplish a greater good. And what I'm doing is for the greater good. Besides, for the most part they've cleaned up…" King glared threateningly at the four in the doorway. "Haven't you?"

They all nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes!" "You betcha!" "You got it, Mr. Snakey!" "Sure thing, boss!"

"It's easy for me to create money and other valuable items. Plus I've got…contacts…around the world. They, as the young people say, took the Dark Hand from off the streets and "hooked them up"."

"It does feel good being back on top." Valmont sighed happily.

"As long as he keeps his criminal activities away from San Francisco, I don't care what he does." King told them simply. "Though he hasn't had a lot of time, what with taking care of this house, reorganizing all of his criminal files, trying to get Hak Foo back into shape…"

"Poor guy's gone to seed." Ratso lamented. "Gained 30 pounds." Finn added. "All went to his thighs." Chow agreed.

"And dealing with the occasional problems the employees of his employees create…"

"What?" Shendu wanted to know. "They have people working under THEM?"

"I own a wedding reception business. Now I can sing Disco at weddings again!" Finn said happily.

"And I own every single Sunglasses Hut in San Fran!" Chow told them.

"And I finally got my degree in Theoretical Physics AND I own every comic book store in town!" Ratso said, practically giggling with anticipation.

"And of course, he has-"

"Daddy, who's, like, at the door?" A girl with white hair with a long pink strip running through it walked into the garage, pushing the Dark Hand's Enforcers aside to see. She had a very nice-looking face, pink lipstick, a "Hello Kitty" t-shirt that didn't cover her belly button, a blue skirt and white sneakers, was wearing an ankle bracelet and an "I Support AIDS Awareness" red bracelet on her wrist. She had pink earrings, bright blue eyes and her fingernails were painted bright pink. She put her hands on her hips and looked the demons all over.

"Hey, who are these kids? That one with the ponytail is like, so totally cuuuute! Oh, hey, I know you! You're that guy in the funny snake costume! That outfit is like, so totally convincing, it really looks like…I dunno, real!"

"…yes, indeed. Everyone…" He took in a deep breath. "Meet Sandi Valmont, Julian's only daughter."

"Like, hiiii!"

Shendu groaned and slapped his hand to his face. "This…is going to take some serious getting used to." He thought to himself. "Having to live with these morons, that dumb…yet oddly sexy…girl and my stupid family to boot! Could it get any worse?!?"

"Oh, I almost forgot." King added. "You're not allowed to kill any members of the Dark Hand either, OR to kill any members of their family. They are as precious as the chosen."

"…just kill me now." Shendu begged his family. "If any of you have any love for me, then kill me now."

Up in Heaven…

"Shin, Demon of Shadow from the East, you shall now be executed for invading Heaven and directly violating our sacred laws!" Michael commanded, raising his sword high. The Heavenly Host were all watching and cheering as Shin sat calmly on his knees, head bowed slightly. Azrael and Gabriel's scythes held him there by the flats of their blades. Gabriel looked at him with the faintest trace of pity.

Michael pointed his sword at the demon, eyes set with determination. It bothered him a little to kill someone who was being so calm and who had been so openly weeping before, but it had to be done. "Do you have anything to say before your judgment, demon?"

"Hold on, Mike, maybe…"

"Gabriel, who is in charge again?"

"…"

"Now then…demon, speak your final words now."

Shin was quiet at first. Then he spoke.

"I don't understand why you're doing this. It's wrong. I know you're lost without His presence, but just…just blindly clinging to tradition won't solve every problem you have…you shouldn't be such conformists…"

"It's solved our problems before, and it is not simply tradition." Michael told him in a determined tone. He raised the sword high. "It is the will of GOD!"

"WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THAT?!?"

Everyone gasped and turned around to see who was speaking. It was none other than Raphael, holding tightly onto Richard with one hand and holding his mighty spear in the other.

"STOP! Leave that innocent alone!" Raphael demanded.

"RICHARD!" Shin shouted. "You're okay!" His face lit up. Richard gave Shin a big grin. "Nick led us outta Hell! He's stwong! We came to bweak you outta hewe like Nick did!"

Azrael raised a single eyebrow. "This is interesting." He said in his monotone.

Gabriel gaped. "The Demon of Light!?! That's impossible, he was sent to Hell! Nobody is supposed to be able to break ANYONE out of Hell unless they have blessings of the Lord himself!"

Raphael smiled simply. "The one who did it was the Chosen. Nick Grey, Warrior of the Undefeated Heart." He turned to Shin. "Shin! I know why you came up here." Raphael told him. "You are a Passion-Bearer. By coming up to Heaven, you made sure your powers could not be used for evil. You faced your end with a dignity that would do the Son proud."

Shin shrugged. "I guess. Um…can I just go back down to Earth to-"

"You can go back down to Earth. You're needed at a certain time period." Raphael said. Uriel, who had been behind Shin with his bow and arrow, ready to put it through the demon's head, stepped forward. "Now hold on a freaking minute here!"

"Hey, no different sound!" Gabriel realized. "I guess "freaking" really IS officially off the swear list!"

"You don't have the right-"

Raphael raised a hand, sternly staring at Uriel and shutting the Archangel of Fire up. "Heavenly Law states that in the event a decision of any archangel is made, they must include every single archangel. Which means if you four wanted something done, you should have come to me. Because you didn't, your decision, according to the law, is put off. And in the event of an execution for a possible suspect, the suspect is off the hook for a period of two weeks…"

"So we hold him here for two weeks, big dea-" Uriel muttered. But Raphael raised his hand.

"Hold on. You still don't get to keep him here at all. Because he WASN'T sent by Hell. As you all know, I am He who Heals, and as such I can trace magical and physical damage done to someone…or tell what they've done to THEMSELVES."

Gabriel understood. "Oh…you're right! Go ahead, examine him. If he did invoke a Blessed Passing, then he's not one of Hell's legions and it will be safe to let him go."

Michael rubbed his chin. "It can't hurt. Let him stand up."

"WHAT? BUT-"

Michael tossed him a glare. "WHO'S in charge?"

"You're in charge!" Everyone responded.

Azrael and Gabriel withdrew their scythes. Uriel grumbled but put down his bow. Shin stood up as Raphael floated over to him, putting Richard down. The archangel put his hand over Shin's head and closed his eyes. "Come forth." He demanded.

Shin's eyes fluttered open, revealing all-white eyes. He screamed suddenly, involuntarily. A shadowy aura flared up, revealing a shaft of gold in the middle. Both colors rose up through the air and revealed something above everyone's heads…a magical spell, written in demon blood. Its symbols were displayed prominently in white on the aura before them, like a giant billboard.

"You see? A Blessed Passing. He is free."

Withdrawing his hand, Raphael pulled a hair off of his head and put it into Shin's throat. Shin swallowed immediately, and suddenly began coughing. The aura receded back into him, and what wounds he had on were healed.

"A little "hair of the dog that bit you" and now you're fine. Here, I shall show you the closest ladder down to Earth." Raphael offered.

Shin turned to Richard. "What about Richard?"

"Richard will be fine up here." Raphael insisted. "He'll be visiting you and Nick and the others in the future, down at San Francisco. But for now, you must find your path on Earth, and become something other than Demon of Shadow…and never forget that you hold a great burden on your shoulders."

Shin nodded, understanding. He waved goodbye to Richard, who tearfully waved back. Raphael picked Shin up and carried him far, far into the city of Heaven, to a doorway in a nearby building. He opened it up…

Shin awoke suddenly on a wooden table, the smell of flowers and the buzzing of hornets filling his ears. He also saw someone was staring at him. He stood upright and rubbed the back of his head. She was a human in a white t-shirt, with white and red sneakers and a white skirt. The T-shirt read "I Scream for Ice Cream."

"Uh, hi! Where'd you come from?"

"Ultimately, nothingness." Shin answered enigmatically. "Literally, from Zhen Wu and Darlene Well. Where am I?"

"New England!" She answered cheerfully. "Where everything's prettier and more ethical! You look hungry. Want an ice cream? It's on the house. I work here at Tulmeadow, I make the BEST shakes…"

MUCH LATER, AND FAR AWAY…

Jade woke up to hear someone sighing. She looked across from her bed to see the window open…

She went to it and looked up. Nick was on the roof, sighing. She shimmied up the pipe next to her window and joined him.

"Nice moves." Nick complimented. "Good upper body strength. I had to kinda hover up, not strong enough to really lift myself up here on my own strength…" He sighed.

"Powers still weak?" Jade asked.

"Yeah, but…hey, it'll get better, somehow." Nick insisted. "I just…don't know how. I wish I did. I know I'm young, I shouldn't have all the answers, but I just think I should know more than I should…I just feel like it's my duty, like I'm one of the few sane people in the world…"

"And that I ought to know how to make it better." Jade finished. "I feel that way sometimes too. I think maybe everyone does at some point."

The sky was dark, and it was very close to dawn, but stars twinkling above them gave away nothing. The moon was out, a crescent.

"…I get that I'm here to make things better. I thought I could by treating the demon kids like…well, the way they DESERVED to be treated, like good, normal people! I believed them when they said that demons are just people who look different, and every generation's had their demons."

"Yeah. Witches, the Axis Powers, the KKK, the Communists, the Terrorists, it's always something different."

"Don't forget the Great Satan himself…Bush!" Nick joked. Jade chuckled. "Bush is a turd, Kerry is a douche."

"Hey, he's a war hero-wait, what's a douche? I know what a turd is, but…"

"I thought you watched South Park!"

"I haven't seen every episode."

"I'll show you some more, I collect the DVDs." Jade told him.

Nick smiled. "I'd…I'd like that. Boy…" He looked up at the sky. "You know…looking up at the sky right now…it feels good. And…and it's something anyone can do, no matter what their age, where they're from or where they're going. I learned quickly from my last adventure that being a "person" didn't just mean you had to walk on two legs, and that "family" meant people you cared about, not just people related by blood. How come it seems like people don't want to realize that?"

"People are scared of each other sometimes." Jade explained. "And if they did realize that we're all connected in some way, that means they'd have to care for each other a lot more. And not everyone's ready for that."

"I hope they will be."

"Me too…you know, you've seen a lot."

"Yeah…I…I have, haven't I? But hey, you have too!" Nick insisted.

"Aw, your adventures have been as wild as anything I've done! Science, magic, heaven, hell, the whole shebang!"

"Yeah, but you did it all before I did! You've got "senioritah"!"

Jade and Nick laughed. The wind blew a bit harder, then died down some. They were quiet for a while. The air was still…

"Hey Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"Why you up here anyhow?"

"I woke up early. Something told me to come up here. It's nice, this San Francisco. But I still miss New England and Hawaii. Still, maybe I'll come to like it here."

"Yeah, I did!" Jade said happily. "It's a heck of a town. Got more action that New York sometimes! Man, that reminds me! I gotta go to school, I have to face Drew! I wish he'd stop giving me grief!"

Nick leaned up, hair blowing in the breeze. "If he's giving you trouble, I'll be there on the double! Hey, that rhymes! Oh I love this kind of rhyming, I'm an expert with the timing and I'm-"

"Stop!" Jade giggled. "Don't be cheesy!" She gave him a friendly punch on the arm. "Too bad you didn't get to see Heaven. If you go and get to come back, go and take pictures!"

"Okay, since a lady asked me." He grinned in a silly fashion, looking back over San Fran. "Somewhere, out there…that's where the answer to why I came here is. And once I've figured that out, and saved this world, I can go back to MY Heaven…my home."

"Is your home that good?" Jade asked.

Nick turned to her.

BGM: Look Through My Eyes, by Phil Collins

"Jade, home is where my heart is, and my heart's been all over the place! You know, if I could share what I've seen…if we ALL saw through each other's eyes…I think the world would be better." He sighed. "…man, I feel depressed. I…I couldn't help the kids. Tchang's down in Hell, I don't know where Shin is...or Richard…"

There are things in life you'll learn and…oh, in time you'll see…

Suddenly Nick felt something…something stirred the wind. And a tiny glint of sunlight appeared on the horizon. He looked above.

Cause out there somewhere, it's all waiting…
If you keep beliiiieeeeving…

"What the?" He stood up.

A letter was floating down on pure white parchment, with golden writing. He jumped up and caught it. He opened it up. A hawk was soaring above as well…

So don't run, don't hide…
It will be all right!

"What? A letter? What's it say?" Jade asked.

You'll see, trust me…
I'll be there…watching over you!

The sunrise came, but its light didn't match the intensity of the glowing smile on Nick's face.

"THEY MADE IT!" Nick shouted happily, pulling Jade up and dancing in a circle with her. "It's from Raphael! Shin's going to be coming here in a few months and Richard's in Heaven! They made it! It wasn't all in vain! THEY'RE COMING HERE!"

Jade smiled. "All right! This…is gonna be good!"

Nick began singing in joy, and Jade sang along…

Just take a look…throoouuuugh my eeeeeyes!
There's a better place somewhere out there!
Just take a look…through my eeeeeyes!
Everything changes…you'll be amazed what you'll find…
If you look through my eeeeeeeyeees!

Shin smiled as he sipped the chocolate shake. Then he stopped, bowing his head.

Hsi Wu and the others were outside. Hsi looked depressed too. "…why can't I remember?" he thought. "I wish I knew if…if they were alright." Shin muttered. "Why? And what should I be remembering?" Hsi asked himself.

There will be times…on this journey…
All you'll see is darkness!
Out there somewhere daylight finds you…
If you keep beliiiiiieving!

Suddenly both heard something cry…

So don't run, don't hide…
It will be all right!
You'll see…trust me!
I'll be there…watching over you!

And both looked up and saw a hawk hovering in the air. Shin's smile came back, bigger and better than ever. He waved at it. "Ha ha! Ha ha! I knew it! I KNEW it! I'll be there, guys! I'll be there, I'll find you!...Just wait! Just you wait!"

Hsi and his family saw it. Something inside them stirred.

"I…I think I remember something…" Shendu said.

"…that song, it's familiar." Bai Tsa muttered.

But Hsi remembered something else. He smiled broadly and thought one word

"Reunion."

Just take a look…throoouuuugh my eeeeeyes!
There's a better place somewhere out there!
Just take a look…through my eeeeeyes!
Everything changes…you'll be amazed what you'll find…
If you look through my eyes!

Nick couldn't help it, he stretched his arms to the sky and began to sing as the sun rose higher and higher. His smile was the brightest thing on Earth at the moment. Raphael and Richard, from up in Heaven, smiled down at him from behind a cloud, singing with him.

"All these things that I can change…there's a meaning in everything! And I will find all-I-need…there's so much to understaaaand!"

Take a look…throoouuuugh my eeeeeyes!

"Look through my eyes!"


There's a better place somewhere out there!
Just take a look…through my eeeeeyes!

"Look through my eyes!"


Everything changes…you'll be amazed what you'll find…

The sun rose higher and higher…


If you look through my eyes!

Laughter echoed throughout Hell…

Just take a look…throoouuuugh my eeeeeyes!

"Look through my eyes!"


There's a better place somewhere out there!
Just take a look…through my eeeeeyes!

"Look through their eyes…"


Everything changes…you'll-be-amazed what you'll find…

The hawks soared up, up…

You'll find a better place…


If you look through my eeeeeeyes!

Shin began walking down the road.

You'll find a better place…


Just take a look through my eeeeeeyes!

You'll find a better place…


If you look through my eeeeeeyes!

Nick raised his fist up to the sky in a triumphant gesture.

Take a look through my eyes…

(Music ends.)

I WANNA KNOW…

A GUIDE TO THE MAIN CHARACTERS SO FAR!

NICK GREY

Nick has always been different. Ostracized for his eccentric behavior at a very young age, having to deal with a very difficult, distant brother and divorced parents and to top it all off, his family and best friend were kidnapped once, taken into the silver screen to be sacrificed. Nick ran in to save them, and this decision was the start of many other brave actions he's taken in the name of doing the right and heroic thing. While visiting yet another world, on the island of Kauai, he unlocked abilities that center around elemental powers, AND he is now capable of flying. Nick's elemental abilities are powered by the strength of his heart, as are his natural abilities, such as his flight, super-strength and powerful endurance. He's eccentric, friendly and has a lot of quirks that can drive people nuts…but he's also destined for many great things. He's naïve and innocent, and hates seeing people suffer, and tries to follow superhero rules, like "Superman doesn't kill" and "don't ever let people die on your hands". Nick has unknowingly upset the natural order and is going to pay very dearly for it. His most common exclamations are "Aw dang!" and "JESUS CHRIST", or colorful variations of the latter. He also uses "diet swears" like "fracking" or "aw, shiv" unless he's really ticked-off.

JACKIE CHAN

An archaeologist of the highest caliber, Jackie Chan has saved the world time and time again with the aid of his incredible martial arts skills, quick-thinking mind and knowledge of ancient times. He's the uncle of Jade and the nephew of Uncle, and is quite surprised when a kid shows up on his doorstep, insisting that he HAS to see the people "Who sent them away". A voice of reason, brave and strong, Jackie is quite probably the tie that binds all of the Chan clan together. Has had problems with his parents in the past. His most frequent exclamations are "Bad day", "SorryIwillbringthisbacklaterthankyou" and "Jaaaaade!". He's very brave, but also quite protective of Jade.

JADE CHAN

Jade is Jackie Chan's niece from China, and she's the cleverest little girl around. Brilliant, skilled in marital arts and very good with puzzles, she's a force to be reckoned with, and she's not even in Middle School yet! She's also Uncle's niece as well, and she's the one who convinced Jackie to not only let Tohru help them out but the one who was the first to recognize Nick for what he was…someone who could really help…and who needed help. Although Jade's very quick-thinking and has become more confident about her standings in school, there's still some familiarly jerky faces out there. Guess who they are? Jade is going to be a beautiful woman one day, and is already very pretty. Therefore, she turns heads. Unfortunately, some of them are DEMON heads. Her most frequent exclamation is "Jackiiiieeee!".

UNCLE CHAN

Uncle is cantankerous. Uncle is constantly needing to have the last word. Uncle is grouchy, cranky, annoying, bossy…and a genius when it comes to magic spells. He's a chi wizard AND an expert at martial arts. When you hear him say "Who ELSE wants a piece of Uncle" you'd better run like hell, because someone just went down, and you DON'T wanna be next. He initially distrusts Nick because of Nick's "strange chi flow". Uncle is very wise and knows much of the old ways…and is totally hopeless around technology. He also has a temper when it coems to someone calling him a "billy goat". His most common exclamations are "Jackiiiieee", "Fetch Uncle tea", "One more thing" and "AAAIIIYAAAHHH".

TOHRU

Tohru used to work for the insidious crime organization known as the Dark Hand. Now however, he helps out the Chans all the time, and has moved in with them. Uncle was his former teacher but recently Tohru became a full chi wizard. Tohru is a big sumo wrestler-type who loves eating…and hates fish. DO NOT get Tohru mad. He's also slightly distrustful of Nick for the same reason as Uncle, although he also kinda likes the kid. Tohru is willing to eat almost anything, and despite his big size, is faster than he looks. He's also into curves AND rolls, if any women out there want to know…and he means that in the food sense as well! His most common exclamations are "Be gone!" and, since he's been hanging out with Uncle, "AIIYAHHH".

KING

Before the Demon Sorcerers walked the Earth at all, in the days of Prehistoric Man, when man was just beginning to learn magic, a group of men arrived at what would later become San Francisco…and discovered something amazing. A beautiful golden bell, placed there by angels after Adam and Eve had been expelled from the Garden of Eden. The bell ran when the wind blew, and brought beautiful music to the ears of all that heard it. However the men discovered that another being was there…an anaconda who had made it's home where the bell was. However one of the men could speak the language of animals, and he struck a deal with the magical snake that had become the bell's unofficial guardian. Man could build a home there if it wanted to, but the golden bell could NOT be moved from it's original spot. And so, though the Earth shook and continents shifted, the bell didn't move…but the anaconda lived on, guarding it. As forest grew around the bell, the anaconda adjusted, and continued to love the bell. Then one day, in the 21st century, someone moved the bell…incurring the wrath of King. King is really not evil, but the things he does could be interpreted as evil to a degree. He's not above killing enemies in combat, but despises the idea of killing innocents. He would really just want to leave everyone alone if he could, and would be perfectly content to simply watch Mankind to fulfill its destiny. His most common exclamation is "Oh dear".

SHENDU

The Fire Demon. A Demon Sorcerer who has gained not only mastery over fire, but that of the power of the talismans. Not only that, he is of noble dragon blood, and his strength is tremendous. He is strongest of the demon sorcerers, and the most stubborn, save for Tchang Zu, his brother. Shendu develops a love for Valmont's daughter, Elizabeth. Originally he had no special talent until he tried out a portal summoning spell to prove to his demonic sorcerer father, Long Oah, that he could be good at something. His brother also tried a summoning portal spell, and when the two spells combined in front of their family it resulted in his brother, Xan, being sucked into the combined, enormous portal that resulted. Shendu's father, far from being horrified, was impressed, and decided to teach Shendu the ways of using demonic powers. Shendu became very cruel as a result of the training, although the loss of his brother was traumatic too. He is NOT on good terms with his son…but doesn't know of the existence of Hao…or that Xan isn't gone. His most common exclamation is either "VALMONT!!!" or "CHANNNN!!!". It depends!

XAN

Xan is Shendu's brother, his almost perfect double. Okay, completely perfect, at least in Shendu's eyes. He was always doing better than Shendu in EVERYTHING, whether it was casting spells, contests…even manners and looks. Xan's scales were a shiny gold while Shendu was that of beautiful bronze…but gold beats bronze every day. Shendu finally had enough and tried to show his dad that he could do, at the very least, a better summoning portal spell than Xan. Xan tried to outdo his brother, the spells combined and Xan was sucked into the summoning portal. But Xan didn't die. He's been waiting for a foolish, naïve relative to set him free from Hell…like poor Haoryu. He WOULD have been the TRUE Fire Demon, but because his brother was born just before he was, the honor went to Shendu. Xan has always hated his brother for this, although Shendu has always worked harder at being a good Fire Demon than his brother would have. Xan has a title though…he is Demon of the Sun…and now he seeks revenge. His most common exclamation is a nasty laugh.

DRAGO

Drago is Shendu's son, and is of noble dragon blood. He's quite dangerous, and is capable of breathing fire the same as his father. He has great speed, strength and agility in his human form, but that has changed, due to the incredible power he now has. Absorbing demon chi, pieces of chi left behind by his "aunts and uncles", he has become very powerful, capable of copying the abilities of his family. He also possesses a sense of humor as well, and likes playing jokes on his dad whenever he gets the chance. He originally looked like a normal human, but when he was old enough, his dragon side demanded to be let out…and greedy Drago was only too happy to use it for evil purposes. He doesn't know that his brother is still alive, because he thought that he died in childbirth. He and Jade, in the future, have a tie, though Jade (the present one) doesn't know it. Details are sketchy at best. Usually seen with a posse. His most common exclamation is also "CHANNNN!!!".

HSI WU

The Sky Demon. Hsi Wu is capable of taking on a human form far more easily than all of the other demons, save for three: Tso Lan, Bai San and Shendu. He can fly at incredible speed, has great strength, and great agility. He can also see in the dark. Originally he had a human friend, Haruno, who became his girlfriend quickly. The two saw each other often and they were very, very close. But then one day when Hsi Wu went to pick his girlfriend up for an important date, a trip to her favorite lake, he found something horrific…her father, an important noble, had dealt her a fatal blow to her head after he discovered she'd been seeing "a common boy". She was barely clinging to life when Hsi Wu found her outside her porch. He told her and showed her what he truly was, and she still confessed that she loved him…before dying. A few minutes later her father was agonizingly killed, ripped apart, limb from limb before Hsi Wu ripped his throat out, drinking his blood. When he'd finished, he buried his beloved on a high mountaintop that he always kept a secret eye on, and then burned down the mansion she'd lived in. He now has another love interest…Jade Chan. His most common exclamation is "GIVE IT BACK".

BAI SAN

The Ocean Demon. She commands the waters and has great summoning skill. She can also take a human form quite easily, and has seduced many humans. However, she fell in love with only one, a member of the Chinese Coast Guard named Hwang, who painted her a picture of the sea she loved the most, the sea she called home. For many weeks they were inseparable and she was truly happy, until Hwang was called away to duty. She secretly looked out for him, and always used her magical skills to aid him and the Coast Guard…but then one day Hwang and the Coast Guard faced off against a strange sorcerer who had decided to invade with a demonic army. The Coast Guard held off the demonic army while Hwang went for the sorcerer...a fatal mistake. The sorcerer shot out a bolt of lightning from his fingertips, and Hwang fell into the sea, dying. Bai San cast a spell to try and save him, but it was too late. Moments later a tsunamis wiped out the sorcerer, and thus, the demonic army, and moments later Hwang's body was gently washed up on shore, where he received credit for defeating the sorcerer and a hero's burial at the beach. Bai San kept the painting hidden away…not knowing of the secret it holds. Her most common exclamation is "Hey, no tongue before ten" because she's willing to do it with anyone. Why? It's…complicated.

PO KONG

The Mountain Demon. Po Kong was always the strongest girl in the family, standing up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. Unfortunately she was teased often herself, and as a result, to take the sting away, she began to eat and eat and eat. Soon she got fat. SUPER fat. Then she accidentally destroyed her father's winter home, and he exiled her far away. Thus she became quite bitter towards her father, who was later assassinated. When she heard that he had died, Po Kong danced a jig that made mountains crumble and sent trees flying up from the ground. She still likes to eat a lot, especially Chinese food, and has TRIED to get back on the dating scene, disguising herself as a "Plus-size" model. It's worked pretty well. Unfortunately, Po Kong has one other problem…she can't swim. She almost drowned one time, and had to be saved by Dai Gui, her older brother, whom she dearly adores. She's very much into large men; she's WAY into curves and rolls of all kinds. Her most common exclamations are exclamations revolving around food.

TCHANG ZU

The Thunder Demon. Tchang Zu is just as stubborn, if not more so, then his little brother Shendu. At first he had a very antagonistic view of his brother, and cared a whole lot more about Xan, who was basically the favorite of everyone. But when Xan was lost to the world, and Tchang Zu devastated, Shendu did something Tchang would never forget…he TALKED with him. Just sat down and talked…and you could point to that moment as the moment Tchang Zu stopped really hating his brother. Although their relationship is still trying at times, the two have gotten better at getting along. Tchang Zu hates Hsi Wu with a passion though, because he's SURE that the Sky Demon has been playing pranks on him. In actuality, it's Xiao Fung. He's kind of arrogant…okay, he's a big blowhard sometimes. But deep down, he's not all bad. His most common exclamation is deep booming laughter.

DAI GU

The Earth Demon. Dai Gu is a simple demon who likes being left alone to rest within the earth, listening to what it says to him. He has a deep love of music, and enjoys lying on his back in the fields, and digging through the ground. He used to actually be quite an intelligent person, and had a knack for remembering things, but during a ceremony that his brother Tso Lan used to increase his brother's strength, something went very wrong, and although he gained great strength and fortitude, he lost much of his intellect. Now he is a very down-to-earth person, and can barely remember most of his past. But there is one crystal clear memory…reading to his little sister, Po Kong, the mountain demon. He once saved her life, that he knows, but he can't remember how or when. He cares deeply about her. He has created an amazing kingdom under the Earth, and protects it and the Earth with a passion that would make any radical environmentalist proud. Despite his frightening appearance, he's actually fairly gentle. His most common exclamation is "Dai Gui does not like flowers!".

XIAO FUNG

The Wind Demon. Xiao Fung was constantly tormented for resembling a frog/toad, until Po Kong started standing up for him. He's eternally grateful, and as such always tries to make her happy. He also hates Tchang Zu with a passion and has been playing very nasty pranks on him. Why does he hate him? The Thunder Demon threw him into a lake, and said "Swim for it, froggy" while throwing rocks at him when Xiao Fung was young. The Wind Demon has a hard time forgiving and forgetting. He also has a bad sense of hygiene, and happens to be very good at playing board games. Just don't get him angry. He'll literally blow you away. He's also surprisingly good at healing spells, and is…well…pansexual. This means he's willing to do…IT…with pretty much anything. His most common exclamation is "Alriiiiight", moments before he gets into it.

TSO LAN

The Moon Demon. Tso Lan is the wisest of the demons, and the most well-read. He spends much of his time stargazing and reading books. He enjoys being left alone as much as Dai Gu, who he cares much about. It was because of him that Dai Gu is what he is today, something Tso Lan regrets. Tso Lan also has a liking for his brother Hsi Wu, and the two are quite close. Tso Lan used to live on the moon, but ever since humans began to walk on it, he's been getting to spend less and less time on it. It's gotten to the point where he has to use cloaking spells to keep his appearance a secret. He has a deep love of beautiful things and of the moon, and enjoys the high arts. However, there is something that he hides from the others…a secret hobby of his. Besides being good at keeping secrets, he can also play the violin very well and happens to be extremely good at magic. He has a sense of compassion believe it or not, and doesn't like fighting or violence, even when it's necessary, preferring quick magic spells over hand-to-hand. His most common exclamation is "Oh my!".

SHIN

The Shadow Demon. Shin happened to be one of the most feared demons in China, not because of what he did or because he was the color of night, but because he was the Shadow Demon. His title alone made him feared, even though he was actually a funny and generally nice individual. In his demon form Shin avoided humans for fear of making them afraid and panicked, and often joked around with his friends, the other demons, who were not related. He was simply chosen to be Shadow Demon because of the drawing of demonic lots, something that's only done when you need to have a demon and there's nobody ELSE in the family to fill the position. One day, just for fun, he appeared in Demon form right in front of some newcomers in a town, but unfortunately, one of them had magical talent. He captured Shin, and soon the whole town arrived to destroy the demon after the magician had removed Shin's powers. Shin was presumably massacred, his remains dumped outside of town. Shendu, his best friend, took it VERY hard. However, he isn't really gone, and is planning on seeing Nick again. Doesn't know it, but is destined for a terrible fate…oh, and his most common exclamation is "YIKES!".