CIelo walked cautiously through the ruins of his brother's palace. Recent events had pushed him to investigate things here he had preferred to leave alone. Although raiding the treasure of Shin Shi Wa had provided for his lifestyle as a human, he had been careful to avoid Shendu's store of magical artifacts, as many of them were extremely dangerous. However, recent events involving Drago had led Cielo to the conclusion that he couldn't put this inventory off any longer.
Cielo had been unable to help with recovering the immortal castanets from the wreck of the Oceanic in the arctic circle. Just as extremely high altitudes strengthened his magic, extremely low ones would weaken it. If he went deep under the water, his magic would weaken to the point he could barely move. If he stayed down there too long, he might die. As such, he had stayed above with Gratch. He had managed to prevent Drago from getting the castanets from Uncle, however, and Drago left empty handed.
The mountain demon chi had been collected without assistance by Jackie and Uncle. However, when they returned with a bag full of chopsticks - knowing only one pair held the demon chi - Uncle had taken the expedient course of asking CIelo to identify the pair in question, which he accomplished in minutes. One more chi beyond Drago's reach in Section 13. As Gratch had taken to sleeping IN the vault, any chi stored at Section 13 may as well be on the far side of the moon, for as close as Drago could get to it.
Cielo carefully began sorting through the magical artifacts stored here. It had occured to him that Drago might seek other sources of magical power to aid in recovering the demon chi, as he had failed miserably in his assault on the shop, since Sebastian had been serving tea to everyone for a job well done. He had been forced to flee, muttering about 'super butlers'.
Cielo's sorting system here was very direct. He checked the magic in each relic to determine compatibility with Drago's fire demon chi. Anything he could use with his chi would be phased through a portal and placed in the care of one of the other Battle Masters. They would guard the relics where Drago couldn't get his hands on them. Any artifacts Drago couldn't use were left where they were, unless they would prove useful in fighting him. Those would be transfered to Section 13, to be used to arm the agents.
Cielo pulled out yet another artifact. "Hmm...this one..." He snapped his fingers as he recognized it. "Man, never figured Shendu for the morbid type! He actually kept this here, in the seat of his power?"
"Kept what?"
Jumping, Cielo tossed the sheathed sword into the air. Jade caught it as it came down. "Jade!" Cielo demanded, "how did you get here?"
Smirking, Jade held up her charm, the Tiger Talisman...and a lamb's tail.
Cielo glowered. "You raided my spellbooks...and my mage lab? How did you get Sebastian to let you do that?"
"I told him that he had three options. Option one, he could use his full skill set to prevent me from gaining access, which would probably lead to me getting hurt by his hands, which you wouldn't be happy with. Option two, he could NOT use his full skill set, which means I do get in, and possibly hurt myself messing with your mage goods, which you would not be happy with. Or, option three, he helps me set up the teleportation spell properly, so I get to go see you without getting hurt." Jade smiled. "He chose option three."
CIelo couldn't help but laugh. "You've gotten very good at wrapping people around your finger." He shook his head. "Be careful with that sword, by the way. It's the one that sealed Shendu."
"Wait...you mean this is the IMMORTAL Sword? Like the other Immortal Relics we've been hunting?" She drew the sword, admiring the weight and balance.
"Yes, so be careful. It is still steeped in ancient magics." Cielo stepped forward carefully. His eyes widened as he saw the sword begin to give off a strange energy. "Jade! Careful!"
"Wouldn't it be cool if some of Shendu's demon chi were in here, like with all the others?" Jade asked, excited, as she swung the sword. Then she noticed the glow. "Ci, what-" The sword suddenly flared. "GYAH!"
"JADE!" Cielo struggled forward through the blinding light.
When the light faded, he stared. Jade stood there, changed. She had once more gained two feet in height, and her skin had changed to bronze scales. Horns sprouted from her head in her hair, and her eyes glowed red. Her body was once more adolescent...that of an adolescent dragon. She stared at the claws that had replaced her hands, at the talons that had replaced her feet, at the rippling muscle bursting beneath the scales. "What...what is this?" she demanded.
"Just like when you absorbed the Sky Demon chi, a full instantaneous transformation triggered, incorporating the time magic inside of you." Cielo walked over and lay his hand on her shoulder. "You absorbed the Fire Demon chi...Shendu's chi."
"Ugh! I don't like the idea of having anything of Shendu's inside me," she muttered. She blushed. "Why is it that only sounds dirty as a teenager?"
Cielo smiled. "Well, the Rooster Talisman is technically a part of Shendu, and I understand you swallowed that whole." His joking grin withered under Jade's burning stare. "Sorry."
"Not. Funny." Jade sighed. "Well, at least the activation of the demon chi should have Uncle running here to get it out. I shouldn't have to deal with this too long." She noticed Cielo's concerned expression. "What?"
"Jade...this is the third time your body has absorbed demon chi. Each time, the transformation has been more drastic. It...it might be possible that this time, the demon chi has...bonded to your life force."
"What...what do you mean, Ci?" Jade stared at Cielo, not wanting to accept what he was saying.
"I'm saying...it may not be possible to extract the fire demon chi from you. You may be stuck with it...forever."
To be continued...