Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for a new chapter. By the way, D.J. Scales' correlated story The Elemental Dragon Girl: Search for the Noble Animals got a fourth chapter.

Chapter 11: A Not So Befuddled Mind

When Trixie and Spud arrived at Canal Street Electronics to study for their Government-issued standardized tests, Jake had a grave face. "Jakey, what's wrong?" Trixie asked.

"Trixie, my Dad found out Eli Pandarus bought the MGI." Jake told her.

"That's terrible!" Spud exclaimed in horror. "The MGI of all things? How could he?" He asked and then thought it over. "By the way, what's the MGI?"

"The MGI is the Manhattan Genius Institute, Spud." Jake explained. "And that's another reason we must study for the standardized test: whoever gets a good enough grade might enter the Institute and hopefully find out what Pandarus is up to."

"Well, I don't like using my head and it'll likely ruin my chances of becoming a mime but I'll do it." Spud replied.

"A mime?" Jake asked in confusion.

"After reviewing my academics, my Guidance Counselor said I should be a street performer." Spud proudly answered.

"Spud, I'm sure the Counselor would've said something else had you shown how smart you are." Jake commented.

"Yeah, but than my life would be all work and no play." Spud replied. They then started studying.

One test later, to the amazement of their classmates, Spud passed and was invited to join the Manhattan Genius Institute. That afternoon, Jake and Trixie went to Canal Street Electronics. "Young ones, where's Spud?" Lao Shi asked.

"Spud's readying himself for his first day at the Manhattan Genius Institute, G." Jake answered.

"Spud?" Lao Shi asked in skepticism.

"Yes, Grandpa." Jake confirmed. "Spud's a genius but doesn't usually show it."

After thinking it over, Lao Shi decided to ignore it and address the reason he called Jake. "Jake, a sewer troll informed me that someone stashed a magical artifact in the sewers. It's your mission to rescue them."

"Come on, old man." Fu pleaded. "Is this more urgent than going to Las Vegas to check if Helmut and Ulf's tigress Sasha is the talisman-powered tiger? Vegas is part of America after all."

"The Elemental Dragon is already handling the case, Fu." Lao Shi replied while glaring at Fu.

The next day, at the Manhattan Genius Institute, Spud was befuddling his classmates and his teacher by being more concerned with his mime act than his studies. Most of them were assuming Spud cheated his way in.

After classes ended, Spud joined his friends at Lao Shi's shop. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help, guys." He said upon being told of their failed attempt to retrieve the artifact.

"Speaking of that, did you find anything suspicious at the Institute, Spud?" Jake asked.

"Yes." Spud answered. "My new classmates don't know how to live."

"I meant about Pandarus and whatever he plans to use the Institute for, Spud." Jake replied.

"Wait a minute!" Trixie was shocked. "Was that real? I thought you were just tricking Spud into using his brain."

"No, Trixie. As someone who spent most of his life being home-schooled, I understand the desire for fun." Jake explained.

"Touché, Jakey." Trixie replied.

"Guys, I found out what the artifact is!" Fu Dog exclaimed. "It's Pandora's Box!"

"Hmmm." Spud was thinking it over. "Pandora. Pandarus. Pandora. Pandarus. Trixie, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"That Pandora and Pandarus are related?" Trixie asked.

"No, but that's also a good theory" Spud commented. "I was thinking those would be great names for a pair of detective pandas."

Once again, Lao Shi decided to ignore Spud. "Young dragon, we must recover Pandora's Box before Pandarus figures out how to open it." He warned his grandson.

"It must be what Pandarus bought the Manhattan Genius Institute for." Trixie theorized. "He must be hoping one of the students figures out how to open it so, if they ask you to open the box, don't open it. Got it, Spud?"

"No problem, Trixie!" Spud replied, not really caring about being a genius. "I've been purposefully failing tests so I'll be kicked out. One more failure and I'm back to Millard Fillmore Middle School!"

On the next day, Spud and his classmates were shown a box and tasked with figuring out how to open it. To their confusion, their teacher also told them to be kind to frogs. Spud's classmates struggled so much trying to figure out the box's secret they gave up and Spud wasn't even trying. However, things changed when one of his classmates and their teacher challenged Spud's intelligence and he decided to explain that he already figured out how to open the box: one had to think of it in 3D. After his demonstration, Pandarus' goons captured him.

Fortunately, Jake and Trixie managed to break into the Manhattan Genius Institute. Seeing Pandarus forcing Spud to reveal how to open Pandora's Box, Jake dragoned up and jumped into action. "American Dragon, you might have prevented me from releasing Tso Lan but you won't prevent me from opening my ancestor's box."

Thanks to his new wands, Pandarus easily overpowered Jake until Trixie managed to make him lose them. Spud then caught the wands and figured out how to use them against Pandarus and the villain was defeated.

In the next day, Spud was at the skate park teaching his classmates from the Manhattan Genius Institute how to have fun. Jake and Trixie then showed up. "Guys, after solving that code, I've decided to improve my academics." He commented and his friends were happy.

"So, what do you want to be instead of a mime?" Jake asked.

"An one-man-band!" Spud answered and started practicing. His friends were frustrated.

End chapter.