A/N I had writer's block for awhile (that's why the last chapter seemed so choppy and bad) but thankfully it's disappeared, and I'm feeling more confident now and I'm putting down another chapter.

"I can't see no reason to fight, I'm living for giving the devil his due"- Blue Oyster Cult, 'Burnin' For You.'

Chapter Five - Episode 3 (part 1)

The Mask of El Toro Fuerte

From a distance, the Dark Hand could see Jackie Chan and his new partner entering the pyramid.

"They're in the pyramid," Finn whispered. "Let's move."

Novince cringed noticeably. "Uh, don't pyramids have mummies inside them, sir?"

"Only in Egypt," Finn answered nonchalantly, not wary of his conrad's fears.

"Why don't we just let Chan find the talisman?" His fear was growing more noticeable now- the rest of the gang threw amused glances at each other, then at Novince.

Finn leaned forward. "Listen, new guy," he commanded. "We don't know what power this ox talisman has. Chan might come busting out of there 50 feet tall with laser eyes."

Novince's eyes widened. "I don't want to fight giant laser eyes," he whimpered. "Everyone after him! Now now now!"

I glanced over my shoulder, seeing no one, besides the trees and padded green rocks surrounding us. Satisfied that no one was nearby, I opened the pyramid door and stepped inside, Jackie following.

We were in Mexico, in the Aztec pyramids. Jackie was convinced that the talisman was there, lodged in one of the walls. I decided to keep all this from my parents- who believed I was working at a local pet store near Chinatown. (Where I would have been working when not writing, had I not decided to join Jackie.)

"Are you positive that it's here?" I asked tentatively, not very happy with our surroundings. The pyramid was musty and dark, and it smelled almost like wet dog; which was more than likely mold. I secretly wished that I had brought a mask.

"My gut tells me it is." Jackie didn't look over his shoulder as I followed him through the weaving tunnels that were beginning to seem endless.

I tripped, nearly colliding with Jackie.

He turned on the light on his hat, and, when my eyes adjusted, I saw a big brick wall ahead of us. It had a small hole in one of the sections.

"Stay close," Jackie warned as a small rat scurried past us.

I shivered. "No problem there."

He exhaled suddenly, and I turned around. "What? What is it?"

Jackie panned the light on the section.

"It's not supposed to be empty, is it?" I proposed.

He shook his head.

The talisman was gone.

"Hand over the talisman, Chan," a familiar voice growled, and we both turned around to see the Dark Hand approaching us.

I sighed. The fools never knew when to learn their lesson.

"Aye-ah!" Jade Chan came pummeling through, pulling Jackie and I with her.

"Jade!" Jackie exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your butt," she replied nonchalantly.

We managed to escape just as the walls started to cave in.

*JCA*

The street market buzzed with usual chatter. People from all over the world were browsing the streets, examining what was for sale.

Jackie emerged from one of the restaurants wearing a sombrero, and carrying one more. "They had your size," he noted sheepishly as he handed one to Jade.

We were in the city to see if the talisman was somehow there. I scanned the shop tables, hoping to catch a sign of the object that was starting to become more or less an obsession.

A little boy came running up to us, holding a flyer.

"Good evening, mis amiga," he greeted, approaching Jade.

Jade scrunched up her nose. "Eew," she squealed. "Are you asking me out?"

The boy laughed. "No," he assured her carelessly. "I'm Paco. I'm a fan of El Toro Fuerte, the wrestler."

Jade scoffed. "Everyone knows wrestling is fake."

Paco gasped. "El Toro is not fake," he defended, as if she'd dishonored his family. "He's the greatest wrestler in the world." He handed me the flyer, which had an image of a muscle-toned wrestler in a red mask. "He's having a big match tonight and he needs an opponent."

Jade shrugged. "Wrestling is fake," she repeated, unmoved. "Jackie is the greatest." She jerked a thumb in Jackie's direction.

"Bring him to wrestle against El Toro," Paco said, sounding a bit skeptical.

"Okay." Jade nodded.

"Thanks!" Paco beamed, and the little boy took off just as quickly as he'd arrived.

"Jade," I chided, grabbing her by the shoulders, "what were you thinking? Jackie and I don't have time to do this!"

"Don't have time for what?" Jackie came to my side.

"Jade just signed you up for a wrestling match," I told him tiredly.

"I told this boy that you were the best wrestler in the world," Jade defended. "You have to prove it!"

"Jade, one should not fight for the sake of fighting," Jackie reprimanded cautiously, "but only when one has no other choice."

Jade considered this. "Makes sense," she agreed, tilting her head to one side. "When you get in the ring and this El Toro guy starts wailing on you, you'll have no other choice!"

"You have an interesting mind, Jade," I sighed as Jackie and I looked at each other, amused.

"You and Macey have nothing better to do tonight," Jade whined.

"Oh?! We don't?" Jackie retorted.

"How about 'search for the ox talisman'?" I suggested.

"But you said yourself, it could be a million miles away," Jade pointed out.

"She has a point, Jackie," I said decisively. "Who knows? Maybe it could turn up at the wrestling match."

"What would a talisman be doing at a wrestling match?" Jackie challenged apprehensively.

I took the flyer from Jade, examining it out of curiosity. If you looked closely, you could see the dark talisman circle on the wrestler's mask.

"Hey." I nudged Jackie. "Look at this."

Jackie notices the talisman lodged into El Toro's mask.

"This must mean he's using it to make himself stronger," I thought out loud.

"That proves wrestling is fake," Jade proclaimed in a self-satisfied tone.

"Poor Paco." I frowned, imagining the look on the child's face when he's going to be told that his hero is fake.

"You and Macey have to go," Jade pleaded.

"The talisman is there," I said carefully. "So, we really don't have a choice."

"You're right," Jackie said. "I'm going to need your help." I nodded. "You may need to create a diversion."

"I thought you were going to the wrestling match," Jade piped up.

"We are," Jackie and I said in unison.

"But," Jackie continued thoughtfully, "we both know the Dark Hand will be there. While I fight El Toro, you can distract the Dark Hand."

I grinned. "Awesome."

Jackie looked at his watch.

There were exactly four hours and counting till the match began.