A/N This chapter will also stray from the original script, so please bear with me. It is also a bit longer and will veer back to the script eventually. This chapter will contain a lot of Jackie and Macey bonding. We will be seeing Macey's parents very soon, as well! Also, in fear of copyright, I am no longer captioning song lyrics prior to every chapter, but song selections instead.

Disclaimer: I still do not own Jackie Chan Adventures. I know, shocker.

Song selection: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"~ Pat Benatar

Chapter Forty-Six: The New Atlantis (s2 ep10 part 2)

Tension was high within the walls of Valmont's lair. The Dark Hand gazed in amusement as Shendu covered himself over Valmont's body; green scales now visible on Valmont's skin.

Valmont was furious. "Wearing the skirt was demeaning enough," he seethed, writhing against Shendu, "but this over the line!"

Shendu snarled in frustration. "Do you think I am pleased with our union, Valmont?!" he demanded dubiously. "If I am to remain in your pathetic body, I must at least make a few cosmetic improvements. Now hold still while I sprout our tail!" A green tail began to form on Valmont's backside, and the Dark Hand snickered behind their palms. Valmont's intense glare silenced their laughter.

Valmont turned to Bai Tza- the demon sorceress of water, and the sister of Drago- who hovered in the corner. "Good madame," he practically pleaded as Shendu completed the final touches of their now-shared body, "free me of Shendu, I beg you! Look what he did to my head!"

Bai Tza raised Valmont in the air with her tentacles, his body dangling in front of her quite intimidating face. "My answer to you, and my sniveling brother remains...NO!" she bellowed, dropping Valmont onto the floor again as if he had burned her.

"Ohh, nasty piranha!" Finn purred with a chuckle.

Bai Tza whipped to face Finn, glaring. "You!"

"Him?" Finn feigned confusion, gesturing toward a very confused Ratso. "Hey, hey; you're a fish, I'm Finn!" He pointed to himself. "We're sympetico!" This was clearly a stall tactic, and one that would not work on Bai Tza. Not by a long shot.

Bai Tza lifted Finn in the air. "Direct me to a suitable new empire!" she ordered as Finn struggled under the fierce grip of her tentacles.

"Uh, mi casa es su casa, your amphibiousness!" Finn sputtered, kicking and thrashing wildly.

Bai Tza's head jerked up. "A FISH cannery?!" she exclaimed incredulously, dropping Finn on the floor.

"I see your point." Finn struggled to his feet, rubbing his head. "Well, there's lots of nice places here in San Fran. And it's all by the water."

Chow nodded. "Yeah," he agreed a tad bit too enthusiastically. "Great town!" A people-pleaser, as always. Or, in this case, a demon pleaser.

"Oh, except for the earthquakes," Ratso added under his breath, avoiding eye contact with Bai Tza.

"Earthquakes?" Bai Tza echoed apprehensively.

"Uh, that's right," Finn confirmed. "The San Andreas Fault runs right through downtown." His face lit up, a hopeful glint to his eyes. "Better idea! You should move to the East Coast!"

Bai Tza let Finn's latter remark slide and mulled over their previous proposal.

Earthquakes aside, the aspect of San Francisco itself seemed very appealing. Although San Francisco was a hotspot for noisy tourists and mischievous teenagers, the town also had a softer, almost day-dreamy atmosphere to it. It would be the perfect opportunity to escape her pathetic, whiny big brother.

Bai Tza's lips curled up into a rare smile. "Very well," she decided out loud, at last, "your San Fran shall be the cradle of my new undersea empire!"

The Dark Hand stared at her.

"Uh...but isn't your new undersea empire supposed to be…" Ratso gestured vaguely.

"Undersea?" Chow interjected, arching an eyebrow.

Bai Tza's grin only widened. "And so it shall be...once I sink this city!"

*JCA*

This time, I thrust my whole weight into the punch, throwing my wrists against the punching bag. Bruises were beginning to litter my wrist and palm, but I wasn't going to give up just yet. Sweat beaded my forehead, and, even tho my hair was tied into a messy ponytail, stray strands of hair still caked to my neck. Some Nirvana song played from the radio in the corner of the room.

I paused, using a towel to mop sweat off my neck, my breathing slightly levered, then resumed punching.

A firm yet gentle hand readjusted my posture, then turned my knuckles downward. "You'll bruise your knuckles."

"Thanks." I smiled, then flexed my fingers. "How do you do it? It looks so natural."

Jackie knelt down to untie his boots. "Discipline," he said, all the while concentrating on untying his bootlaces, "years and years of discipline and practice. Believe it or not," he added with a chuckle as he stood, slipping his boots off, "I was what they call...a rookie?"- I nodded - "once, myself."

"Nu-uh." I folded my arms over my chest. "You seem so confident and sure of yourself."

Jackie smiled. "That may be true; but sometimes, I am not as confident as I seem." He stretched his arms behind his back. "How did tutoring with Jade go? I'm sorry if she was difficult-"

"No, she actually wasn't at all," I broke in, taking another (much-needed) swig out of my water bottle. "At first, she was having a little bit of a tough time, but then she got the hang of it. Did she tell you she's having trouble sitting still?"

"No." Jackie shook his head, then frowned. "Then again, there are lot of things Jade doesn't tell me." He looked a mixture of offended and irked.

"Jackie, it's normal," I reassured him, launching a side-kick at my punching bag. "A lot of kids her age are weird about stuff like that. Usually, it's because they're unsure of themselves or afraid that they don't have a trusted adult to turn to."

"I know it takes time-" Jackie shrugged, appearing somewhat defeated- "but I'd be honored if Jade became more trusting of me. Keep moving."

"Huh?" I glanced at my wrists, which were still clenched tightly in front of me.

"Your opponent," Jackie elaborated, punching my bag, "is constantly in motion. Standing still, you will become a target." I nodded and started bouncing on both feet, jumping and circling the bag as it swung back and forth. Jackie adjusted my wrists so they shielded my face. "Always protect yourself."

"Don't rush it, Jackie," I said, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my wrist. I dismissed it as a pulled muscle and got down to business.

"Don't rush what?" He looked up.

"Your relationship with Jade." I switched fists. "Slow and steady wins the race, remember?"

"Chinese proverb?" Jackie asked, and I shook my head.

"Nope," I replied, popping the P. "The very wise words of Jackie Chan himself."

Jackie nodded. "I suppose I should take my own advice," he said with a chuckle.

Jackie's cell phone rang, and he stepped outside the dojo door, closing it behind him.

I continued dodging and swinging punches at the moving punching bag while jumping in circles until Jackie returned, taut with anxiety.

"What's up?" I wrapped the towel around my wrist and leaned against the punching bag in a feeble attempt to look tough. My attempt, however, was only proven futile when the bag backfired and sent me landing sideways on the floor. Luckily, the floor was padded, so I suffered no injuries except for a bruised ego.

While I nursed my pride, Jackie stated, "Valmont and his cronies are on the move again. This time with something more powerful than Shendu."

I froze, my ego now forgotten, instead replaced with rising panic. "What- or who- could be more powerful than Shendu?" I would die a very happy woman if I never had to come face to face with Shendu again ever in my life.

Jackie looked wary. "That's what I'm going to find out."

"At least let me help you-" I offered, but Jackie shook his head.

"No, I must do this myself," he said sagely, and I nodded in understanding. "I will call you if things go wrong. Keep an eye on Jade, please."

"Will do, Cap'in." I did an army salute, and he smiled before turning to go, disappearing into the shadowy hallway.

I grinned at the empty space where Jackie once stood.

"Go get 'em, tiger," I muttered, then turned my attention to the punching bag.

*JCA*

I was snapped awake by the sound of vibrating against a hard surface. My eyes shot open. Through sleep-obscured vision, I was able to decipher that it was my cell phone ringing. I fumbled for my phone until I was able pick it up and glanced at the alarm clock. The red digital numbers informed me that it was approximately 2:30 A.M.

I groaned. Who the heck would be calling me at 2:30 in the freaking morning? Anyone who knows me knows that I value my beauty sleep. I actually, I don't value sleep; I cherish it. And what I hate more than mornings is being woken up in the dead of sleep. And once I'm up, I'm up- sleep is no longer an option once I'm woken up.

I answered the phone. "What?!" I demanded hoarsely, pulling the covers over my head.

Jackie's voice crackled through the speaker: "Good news! We defeated Bai Tza and saved San Francisco!"

"Don't know who Bai Tza is, but I'm assuming they're the bad guy," I mumbled, clearing my throat. "Congrats, though."

"Did I wake you?" Jackie's tone morphed from triumphant to concerned.

"No, no," I lied, rubbing my eyes. "I'm, um, wide awake. I'm up, I'm up."

"Bai Tza," Jackie explained as I fumbled for the light switch, "is a demon sorceress, her main specialty being water. Her plan was to claim San Francisco as her own and drown the city. I stopped her-"

"With my help!" Jade chimed in cheerfully on the other line, causing me to jump.

"Jade?" I asked, wide awake now. She was under my watchful eye the whole time. She must have snuck out when I fell asleep. (After she promised me she'd go to bed and stay there.) Wow, guess I really sucked as a babysitter.

"Don't ask," Jackie sighed.

"Jackie and Jade saved San Francisco from drowning," I mumbled, my comprehension still somewhat fuzzy. "Bai Tza defeated. Got it."

"We'll be home in just a few minutes," Jackie announced.

"See you later," I muttered, then hung up the phone. Just as I was about to shut my phone off and at least try to fall back asleep, a new vibrate alerted me of a text message- one from yesterday afternoon. Sighing, I opened the message and saw that it was from my mother.

Macey,

This may or may not come as a startle to you, but your father and I have decided that we are coming to San Francisco to visit next weekend. We will arrive on Friday and expect to leave on Sunday.

I can't wait to meet this Jackie you've told me about. We're so excited to finally see what kind of environment you've been working in!

Looking forward to it,

xXMomxX

I stared at the white screen in front of me, my message box blinking.

I finally dropped my phone onto the coverlet next to me and stared up at the ceiling.

Well, this certainly put a dent in things.