A/N Been a rough week with loads of depression and anxiety- that's why I didn't update for awhile- but on the bright side I'm almost done with my Asian studies project. *wipes sweat bead off of forehead* I want Jackie and Macey to interact more, but I don't want it to seem rushed or forced either. I need advice on how to make my character and story better!

Chapter Twelve - Shell Game (Episode 6, completed)

"We won't waste another day, with all these silly things in our way"- Crossfade, "No Giving Up."

"...so there I was, flying the plane all by myself, no co-pilot!" Jade gestured wildly as her story began to unravel. "And Jackie's hanging out the back, flopping around with no parachute either!" Recalling the situation in itself was causing Jade to grow frequently more excited, as talking about her adventures with Jackie and Macey always did.

"Yeah, right," Drew drawled through a yawn. "I bet the Snake Lady was there, too."

"Viper?" Jade shook her head. "No, that was in New York."

Drew only rolled his eyes in response, unphased by Jade's dramatic account of what had really happened in New York. Although enthralling, the tale was unbelievable in itself, and Drew refused to budge, not falling for a little kid's story.

"Jade?" Miss Hartman's clipped tone brought Jade back to reality. "Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

The students huddled in the nearby desks snickered, eyes on Jade, murmuring amongst themselves. They had grown used to Jade's tales of adventure and malice, but were still amused at her enthusiasm.

"No, Miss Hartman," Jade mumbled, allowing her chin to hit the desk dramatically, heaving a sigh.

Jade hated Mondays.

*JCA*

Three powerful businessmen stood crowded around a wooden table, one white-haired man sitting on the desk, his arms crossed over his shoulder.

"You know, Shendu," Valmont sighed, tilting his head toward the addressed statue, "these Talisman expeditions- let's just say, are raking up some hefty out of pocket expenses." His rich voice was colored with irritation. "And as of yet, there's nothing coming back into my pocket!" Why were his men taking so long for one talisman? After all, it wasn't a hard artifact to find. And once Jackie was defeated, the Dark Hand could take over, collecting all of the talismans as they pleased. The very thought caused a malicious smile to ghost Valmont's lips.

"When and only when your men acquire all twelve talismans-" Shendu's raspy tone emerged from the statue- "the Lost Treasure of Ching-sui Hai shall cover your….expenses….ten times over."

Valmont nodded. "The reputed lost treasure," he confirmed, self-satisfied.

"Ahh." Shendu let out a sigh of discontent. "So we have a skeptic."

A black figure appeared, a golden, twinkling goblet resting in its hands. The figure lifted the lid, revealing gold and other sparkling jewels.

Slack-jawed, Valmont stared at the gold, stunned.

"Patience, Valmont." The sound of a tongue clicking emitted from the statue. "Slow and steady...wins the race."

*JCA*

MACEY'S POV

A line of children waited in front of Aesop the turtle, eyes widened and hands pressed against the glass.

Despite the tourists and passerbys- and the cute animals- Jackie and I were here for other reasons besides the turtle.

"A-ha," I murmured, yanking the talisman directly out of the turtle's shell. The turtle inched back, its head enclosing into its shell.

"Aww, poor thing." I patted its shell reassuringly. "Don't worry. You'll get out of here soon enough." I shuddered, imagining how boring and lonesome it would be to sit in a glass tank all day.

"Hiya, Jackie! Hey Macey!" At the sound of Jade's voice we looked up.

"Jade." Jackie frowned at his niece. "What are you doing here?"

She held up a piece of paper and pencil in response. "Research," she confirmed. "I have a project of my own."

Jackie rolled his eyes, but I nudged him, dragging him out of the tank. Jade followed suit, grasping her pencil and paper and staring almost longingly at Aesop.

We slinked out of the glass tank, emerging in the nearby hallway, walking out onto the nearby pier. A river surrounded us, water beginning to turn dark from the sinking sun.

"Gentleman." A husky voice drawled out from nearby, and Jackie gasped, pulling me behind one of the cardboard boxes.

"Hey!" I pushed his hands off my shoulders. "What the-"

"Shh!" Jackie pointed afront. On the edge of the peer, two men dressed in suits stood. One of them was wearing a velvet, red-colored jacket, appearing to be very wealthy.

"Are you….Carl Kniver?" I recognized one of the voices from the Dark Hand and felt myself begin to glower. Of course the Dark Hand had to be involved in this somehow. Then again, when were they not involved?

"Nivore," the said man corrected, a British accent lacing his rich voice. "Dr. Carl Nivore, in the flesh."

"Why are villains always British?" I murmured to myself, gripping the sides of the cardboard.

"Who's this Nivore guy?" Jade whispered, peering over my shoulder.

"Shh!" Jackie and I hissed in unison, pushing her back against the wall. The girl was likely to get us discovered if she raised her voice any higher.

Nivore knelt down, his hands resting on his knees. "And this fellow," he crooned, tapping something hard, "must be the merchandise of which my friend Valmont spoke." A sigh rippled through his words as he spoke. "Mm, yes. You're a fine specimen, aren't you? Aren't yoouu?" He leveled his voice as if he were talking to a baby or dog.

An annoyed bellow interrupted the greeting. "The money!"

"Norris." Nivore sighed theatrically, and a chef appeared, holding the money. "Pay the man."

Tohru took the briefcase, a cold glare in his eyes, and said nothing.

"Care to join me for dinner?" Nivore turned back to Tohru.

"Thank you." Tohru turned down the offer, shaking his head. "No."

"But we're having quite the delicacy." He licked his fingers, dampening them. "A dish so rare, you might say...it's endangered." He pursed his lips. "Turtle soup."

A gasp escaped Jade's own lips. "Eew," she squealed. "They're gonna eat Aesop." Her eyes widened, then her face fell, a solemn expression in her eyes. "They're gonna eat Aesop…" Her tone grew more sullen.

"Jackie, we have to do something," I whispered, realizing they would not only put the talisman in danger, but the turtle as well.

"Are you sure?" Nivore's silky voice brought my attention back to the two men. "Hmm?"

Tohru nodded, humming, "Y-yes….we uh...uh…" He raised his palm and coughed into his hand. "I must deliver this to Valmont." I realized the twinkling object in his hand was the Rabbit Talisman.

"The talisman!" I exclaimed, and Jackie pulled me back down behind the box again, shushing me.

"Careful!" Jackie yelled, and I slapped his shoulder. Both of the men's attention were on us now, their steely eyes boring into our direction.

"Uh...that one turns you into a chocolate bunny," Jackie blurted out, and I pulled him back by the shirt collar.

"Shh," I hissed, still gripping his shirt collar tightly, the thick material rubbing against my thumb.

"Jackie, we have to save Aesop." A flicker of panic registered in Jade's eyes.

"Talisman first," Jackie began automatically, but Jade shook her head.

"No, Jackie- they're gonna kill Aesop!"

"Turtles are an endangered species," I whispered. "If we don't do something, he'll be another turtle to add to the list."

"Borris, that blazed manatee you prepared last week was absolutely exquisite," I heard Nivore purr approvingly, "and the grilled American condor on a bit of fava bean…." He slurped. "To die for. Don't forget the carrots."

The addressed chef nodded, ducking his head, and went out of sight.

"Why don't we get the talisman while we save Aesop?" I suggested, pulling Jackie down by the shirt collar again. "That Nivore guy has the Rabbit Talisman now. If he's not careful, he'll turn himself into a demon, and he'll become even more powerful." The very thought of a man like Carl Nivore taking control made my gut churn. "It's all tied in one. So we can do both."

Jackie calculated this statement in his head, then nodded. "You take Jade to rescue Aesop. While you're there, you can search for Talisman. I'll distract the Dark Hand."

"They do need distracting," I muttered under my breath as we entered the nearby building, where Borris was beginning to prepare Aesop for a meal.

*JCA*

I ran my hand alongside the wall, feeling for an entrance. The doors to the rooms in this place were hidden- almost like a maze- and the hallways were dark, so we had to feel our way around.

"Ow!" Jade's voice echoed against the wall.

"You okay?" I asked as the child steadied herself.

"Just peachy," she grumbled, holding her head. She poked the wall, and I heard a click noise. "Hey! I found an entrance."

The door opened, revealing a school-cafeteria-like kitchen. A lunch bar was situated near one of the ovens, like one you would see in a high school or middle school.

"That's probably where they're keeping Aesop," I whispered, gripping Jade's shoulder. "Come on." We slunk into the entrance. The smell of carrots wafted through the air, and I inhaled, the strong, sweet scent assaulting my nostrils.

"Where do you think-" I covered Jade's mouth. Just ahead of us, the two men from earlier were gathered in the corner, Aesop hooked on a leash nearby.

"I've gotta stop them!" Jade whispered, and darted ahead.

"Jade, wait-" I extended my hand to stop her, but the determined youngster was already way ahead of me. I sighed, allowing myself to slump against the cool wall. I still wasn't used to this breaking-and-entering stuff.

"Release Aesop, you tortoise-eating creep!" Jade shrieked, directing her index finger at Nivore.

Nivore only smirked. "Such a delightful child," he crooned through a chuckle. "She'll go well with a nice Bearnaise sauce, wouldn't you say, Boris?"

Jade and I gasped in unison. "What?" Eating an animal was one thing, but a human another. But it would make sense if these sick guys were willing enough to eat another human being.

"Only joking, Princess," Nivore assured her, patting her head. "Children are much too common for my sophisticated palette."

"'Sophisticated' my butt," I muttered, sliding more against the wall. Sophisticated was my dad's definition of a lawyer.

"Hey!" Jade's enunciated cry brought me back to the scene unfolding in front of me. "Let me go!"

Nivore had Jade in cuffs. "Not now, Princess." He turned to his chef. "The sooner you find a forklift, the sooner I lift a fork...to my lips."

My gaze darted to my right. The object that had once been resting in Tohru's hands was sitting atop the nearby counter. "The talisman," I whispered, my hand reaching up to grab it.

"I hate to do this, kid," a deep voice erupted behind me. "But you're gonna thank me later."

"Wait- wuhh?" My words were somehow growing slurred.

I heard a loud crack, and my world faded into darkness.

*JCA*

"Valmont," Shendu hissed furiously. "Your men are supposed to acquire Talismans, not sell pets."

Aesop had been taken into consideration after being sold once more. The tortoise, only grateful to have not been dinner, perched near Ratso, lazily chewing on a treat.

"Perhaps if you'd have given fair consideration to the advance I requested," Valmont protested childishly, refusing to be moved, "none of this would have-"

Valmont was cut off by a bright orange fire ball zooming past the villains at lightning speed.

The rest of the Dark Hand stared at Shendu.

"Whoa," Ratso murmured. "I did not know he could do that."

The turtle swallowed his treat, not registering the commotion around him.

*JCA*

MACEY'S POV

I was in a deep, deep sleep. I was having a dream that I'd become a writer, one as famous as Stephen King.

7888"Macey," I heard a soft voice probing. "Macey- wake up. We have the Talisman."

I opened my eyes, blinking and coming back into the world slowly. Jackie breathed a sigh of relief, and I yawned, stretching. "How long was I out?"

"A few minutes," Jackie answered. "Everyone is safe. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Although my head did hurt- more than hurt, actually. It felt like Lars Ulrich was drumming "Nothing Else Matters" in my brain, times a hundred. In an arena.

"I hope someone has ibuprofen," I muttered, rubbing my temples. I must have knocked my head on some- oh yeah, that Nivore guy's assistant must have cracked something down on my skull. Jeez. Could he have done it any harder?

"Whoa," Jade said in awe. "How'd you guys get from here to there so fast?" Her gaze traveled to the water surrounding us. Now that my eyes had adjusted, I could see that we were back on the pier, me sitting on a box, and Jackie and Jade standing.

Jackie held up the Talisman. "And we saved the tortoise," he told her softly. "See? Slow and steady-"

"Wins the race," I finished, a sensation of relief coursing through me.

"The turtle is in good hands." Jackie smiled, and I nodded.

"Can I take another nap?" I asked groggily, my eyes drooping, and Jackie and Jade laughed.

*JCA*

Drew groaned. "Come on! A turbo-turtle?"

Jade had been describing how the Rabbit Talisman had been able to whisk Jackie and an unconscious Macey halfway across the water and back.

"Faster than a speeding rabbit." Jade smirked at her play on words.

"No way," Drew muttered, his head hitting the desk in exasperation. His neighbor's exaggerated stories would never stop.

"Way!" Jade insisted, giving him a defiant glare.

"Yeah, right." Drew yawned. "I bet that super strong Ox guy was there, too."

"El Toro?" Jade shook her head, her hair falling over her eyes. "Nah, that was in Mexico, when I was flying the plane!"