A/N I know I said Macey's parents were going to appear in this chapter, but it seems it won't fit very well with this episode/chapter. They will appear soon. I just don't know when. In response to reviews, I'm glad to hear that Macey is a bit more relatable than other OC's! What do you like and dislike about her personality and character? Feel free to critique, praise, just let me know.
Song selection: "Straight to Hell"~ Ozzy Osbourne
Chapter Fifty: The Demon World (s2, ep12, part 2)
Shrieks of pure agony erupted from Shendu. "STOP!"
The other demons immediately stopped torturing him.
"What is it now, Shendu?" Hsi Wu was none too pleased by the interruption. He stared down at the trembling Shendu, frowning profusely, impatience radiating off of him.
"Admittedly, I have failed you, my siblings." A lightning bolt zaps through Shendu, causing the said demon to jolt. "But I may yet save you as well! We can all regain our freedom, even reclaim centuries wasted in this void, if you allow me to pursue one last recourse."
Po Kong harrumphed irritably. "And that would be?"
Shendu paused for effect, then stated very seriously, "The Book of Ages."
The other demons gasped in unison, shocked.
"Ludicrous!"
"Even we never dared to tamper with that!"
"You risk altering the very fabric of reality!"
Shendu's gaze shifted to Bai Tza, who'd spoken last. "Am I to assume this reality pleases you, sister?"
"Hmm…." Po Kong paused, considering this. "These are desperate times."
"Then I will make things right," Shendu vowed desperately, practically begging. "All you need to do is allow me to once more depart this realm and possess a human. The right human."
The demons looked at each other and smirked, knowing exactly whom Shendu had in mind.
MACEY'S POV
Jade's mother looked at me, her gaze imploring, then expectedly at Jackie.
"Oh, uh, this is my best friend, Macey," Jackie said at last, breaking the awkward silence.
"Nice to meet you," I said to Jade's parents. "Jade's told me a lot about you."
Jade looked at her shoes sheepishly.
"It's nice to meet you as well," Jade's mother said, smiling. "We'd better get to our hotel before all the rooms are taken," Jade's father said, his tone clipped. "It was nice meeting you." Jade's parents hugged her, then walked back toward their car, arm in arm.
*JCA*
I paused in the middle of cleaning and glanced out the window to see Jackie sweeping the streets, literally, with Jade standing next to him. I ran out the door, coming to both of their sides.
Jackie, clad in a blue T-shirt, cargo pants, and boots, was leaning over the sidewalk sweeping aimlessly, his movements stiff and robotic. He had his hair up in a- "Ponytail?!" I exclaimed incredulously, causing Jade to jump. "Jackie, since when did you have long hair? I've known you for how long now and you haven't had long hair!" I was wildly confused. Was this some weird lucid dream? I pinched myself repeatedly until my wrists turned red, but I didn't wake up. Okay, since that didn't work, I guess it wasn't a dream.
"Darn," I hissed under my breath.
"What did you do to your hair?" Jade vocalized my confusion, leaning over Jackie's broad shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"More like, what he didn't do to his hair," I muttered in annoyance.
Jackie grunted in frustration. "Your job!"
"Uh, Jackie," I said hesitantly, "if you assigned her a chore, you're kinda supposed to tell her." I'd seen Jackie worried about Jade before, but never snap at her. He was generally very calm and laid-back. Something beyond weird had to be going on for him to snap at Jade. Plus, something was really weird about his voice, it was deeper; opposite of his usual soft-spoken demeanor, and there was no trace of his faint Mandarin accent, which already wasn't very thick, but still somewhat noticeable. He sounded like Jackie, but at the same time, he didn't sound like Jackie, if that makes sense. Oh wait, it doesn't.
Jade raised her eyebrows. "Sweeping dragon doo?" she implied, just as confused as I.
"Where exactly have you been, Jade?" Jackie demanded, pausing mid-sweep. "Where are your uniforms?" He looked at both at us expectantly.
"Someone clue me in!" I hollered, pulling my hair in exasperation. "Because I'm clearly missing something here!"
Jade blinked at him. "Uh, why, exactly, do we have to wear uniforms?"
"Because it's required for all servants of the supreme ruler, his majestic highness, Lord Shendu."
I immediately halted, my blood running cold. "Lord... Shendu?" This had to be a dream. No, a nightmare. A bizarre nightmare. The weirdest nightmare I've ever had. Even weirder than that recurring nightmare I had as a kid where I was chased by a colossal frog.
Jade's jaw dropped. "Are you telling me Shendu rules the world?!"
"Oh, of course not!" Jackie replied, as cheerfully as ever. "Each of the Eight Emporers has his or her own domain."
"Since when?" Jade's voice raised an octave, albeit wavery.
"Since the dawn of history!" Jackie put his hands on his hips and frowned down at her, then at me. "What is wrong with you two today?"
My stomach dropped. This definitely wasn't Jackie.
Something seriously weird is up.
*JCA*
Things were getting even weirder. Jackie had become robotic and emotionless seemingly overnight. Literally a completely different person. Jackie's body was there, but Jackie wasn't there at all. Shendu had completely taken over. Jackie was just...gone. And it hurt, a lot.
Jade and I were in the bathroom getting ready for the day when Jackie ambled in, only to disappear again. "Jackie?" Jade paused what she was doing and glanced over her shoulder. "Jackie, where'd you-"
Jackie grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. "Today, you must scrub master's bath chamber," he ordered, thrusting a scrub brush at her.
"No way." Jade wrinkled her nose and tossed the scrub brush on the floor.
Jackie looked at me promptly and I snapped, "Don't even think about it, Mister. I'm not your au pair girl." I'm your best friend. Jackie, if you're in there, please say something. I miss you.
"Then, fill this tub with fresh muck." Jackie handed her a bucket of pungent-smelling muck. If there was even a word for what the sickening substance was.
I plugged my nose and stifled a gag.
"Eew!" Jade scowled, pushing him away.
"And it's talons today," Jackie continued, ignoring our disgusted reactions. "So don't forget to trim master's toenails." He held up a large set of clippers.
"Jackie!" Jade took the clippers from him and placed them on the floor. "Listen to me! Macey and I don't work for Shendu, and neither do you. Demons don't rule the world, humans do! The demons were banished into the Netherworld by the Eight Immortals a long time ago, then they got out and you and Macey banished them again, but Shendu possessed you, found this magic book, and now none of that ever happened!"
Jackie was silent for a moment, and my heart skipped a beat, hope rising in me that Jackie was still somehow in there.
The hopeful silence was broken by Jackie's laughter. "That's crazy, Jade!" he said through chuckles. "You're crazy. Humans ruling the world…" He continued laughing as if it were the most ridiculous thing someone had ever suggested.
My heart dropped.
My hope was beginning to wane.
*JCA*
Shendu's throne loomed ominously over us as we walked down the glossy hallway leading to the Throne Room. Shendu, in his scaly, gruff, brute dragon form, sat atop the colossal, russet-marble seat.
Shendu's threatening glare darkened upon seeing Jade and I still standing up. "Why do you not bow!?" he hissed, his lizard tongue flickering out, displaying his irk.
"Oh, your scaliness!" Jackie bowed obediently. "Please forgive my slow-witted niece and friend."
Shendu plucked Jackie off the ground by his ponytail. "If they were not excused, they'd be in flames!"
I gulped, stepping back. My anger grew hotter at the thought of Shendu hurting Jade. If he so much as laid a hand on Jade- no, even looked at Jade- it would be the end of him.
Jade glanced at me. "Did you just gulp?"
I nodded, too afraid to speak. I'd always been a coward at heart. I could feel my anxiety tightening my chest, my throat clamping up. Now's not the time to have a meltdown, Macey. You've gotta stay strong for Jade. And for Jackie.
"Now, fetch my dinner!" Shendu bellowed, then dropped Jackie, who landed on the glass floor with a resounding thud.
Jade and I both stepped back and winced at the painful sound.
Jackie scrambled to his feet and bowed. "Yes, Master."
"Jackie?" Jade spoke up tentatively, her voice shaking. I placed my hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "Don't go over there," I whispered, leaning down next to her. "That's not Jackie. He doesn't remember you or me. Stay close to me."
Jade, although disappointed, stepped closer to my side, gripping onto the bottom of my sweatshirt, which was damp from perspiration.
Jackie held up a tray of food. "Tasty treats, for his glorious excellence!" he announced, displaying his offering enthusiastically at Shendu.
Shendu retrieved the plate from Jackie. "What a good slave you make, Jackie Chan," he remarked approvingly as he snacked, smacking his lips obnoxiously loudly.
Jackie beamed, akin to a child who'd just gotten praised. "My job is to serve you, Master!"
My chest grew even tighter, disgust twisting inside me. That might have been Jackie's body and Jackie's voice, but that was not Jackie. This was not the real Jackie, not my Jackie. The real Jackie- my Jackie- despised Shendu and his cronies with a burning passion so deep it was almost disconcerting, and would have done anything in his power to defeat him, even if it meant getting him hurt or killed. The mere thought or idea of becoming Shendu's puppet would have enraged Jackie.
But Jackie wasn't here.
It was my turn to take over.
*JCA*
Jade came running out of the Throne Room, dropping a pair of clippers on the floor. "Gross!" she squealed, shuddering violently.
Jackie frowned down at her. "You forgot Master's clippings."
"He's not your Master," I reminded him flatly, all of my energy drained. I knew trying to convince him that this was all wrong wasn't an option, considering he was brainwashed beyond hope, but I could use the last bit of energy within me to at least try.
"Jackie, there is no way I'm ever going near his feet again." Jade wrinkled her nose, scowling. "And Shendu treats you like a dog on a leash! I can't stand it!"
"Well, what could I do?" Jackie's usually strong shoulders slumped. Even his demeanor and posture were different. Once strong and confident, he now looked like a scared, obedient little kid, slouching and defeated. "I'm just a food servant. His slave."
"The Jackie Chan I knew was nobody's whipping boy," Jade stated determinedly. "He was a hero!" She turned to me. "Macey, can you see if you can try to talk some sense into Jackie while I do research with Uncle?"
I nodded, surprised at her sudden confidence. But really, it shouldn't have surprised me- Jade is a very outgoing, daring girl with a taste for adventure and knowledge. "Sure." I seriously doubted that any amount of persuading with Jackie would do any good at this point, but I had to admire Jade's confidence and courage.
Which was something I sorely lacked.
Maybe I should take a few notes from her.
*JCA*
"And how did I become your friend?"
"Uh….adventure? Uncle?"
I sighed, rubbing my temples to ward off the headache coming on. The past hour I'd spent trying to refresh Jackie's memory of how we met and potentially became friends were beginning to take its toll on me. I was convinced I was never going to get Jackie back. My best friend was gone forever.
A flash of light twinkled from the corner of my eye, and my gaze flitted to the source: a Dog Talisman, lying on the floor next to Jackie. Renewed hope rising, I plucked the talisman off the floor and shoved it in Jackie's face. "Does this ring any bells?" I held my breath, awaiting his answer.
He took the talisman from me, squinting at it, seemingly in deep concentration. Hopefully this would trigger some memory still left in Jackie.
Shendu was obviously not happy with this. He breathed a colossal ball of fire into the air, aimed at Jackie and I.
Jackie's head snapped up as he gasped, grabbing me and pulling me aside. We both crouched on the ground, covering our heads with our hands as more fire split through the air.
"My Talisman!" Shendu roared, blind rage practically radiating off of him.
"I'm sorry, I'll give it back, thank you!" Jackie grabbed my hand and pulled both of us to safety, dodging more fire.
"Jackie?!" I cried, my heart skipping a beat. Was he finally back to his normal self?
Then I realized: the enslaved Jackie would not have pulled us to safety. He would have been apathetic. Actually, he wouldn't have enranged Shendu in the first place.
"Jackie, you're back!" I squealed, practically soaring with relief.
The Dog Talisman activated in his hand, glowing brightly, and sending Shendu careening back into his bed.
Jackie looked down at the talisman in amazement. "How did I do that?" he wondered incredulously. His voice had returned to normal: soft-spoken, laced with a Mandarin accent.
"Forget how," I said, equally as amazed. "How the heck did you not catch fire?"
"Dog makes you immortal," Jackie recalled, turning the Dog Talisman over in his palm, "Ox makes you super strong. What else we got?" He revealed more Talismans, counting them like coins. "Speedy Rabbit, levitating Rooster, invisible Snake, and explosive Dragon. Ooo, good ones!"
Shendu rose, recovering from the previous blow, from his bed.
"Uh, Jackie…." I nudged his shoulder, still keeping my gaze glued to Shendu. "I think we've got bigger fish to fry, if you know what I mean."
Jackie looked back up at Shendu, gasping in alarm. "Let's go!" He stuffed the talismans back in his pocket, grabbing my hand, and pulling us down the hallway, dodging more of Shendu's flames.
"Run like your life depends on it!" Jackie yelled as we rounded the corner.
"It does!"
"Whatever!"
We finally ducked to safety, running out of Shendu's fort and into the street.
Once I regained my bearings, I looked at Jackie, who was had his hands on his knees, panting heavily. "Jackie, are you okay?"
Jackie looked up and nodded. "That was….fun!" He grinned, standing up and straightening his back. "Let's do it again."
I paled. "That's your idea of fun?"
He laughed, with a mixture of relief and amusement.
"You're crazy, Jackie Chan." I shook my head, biting back my own grin. "Just plain crazy. You're gonna get us killed one of these days."
Once our laughs finally died down, Jackie's face softened. "Macey, if I ever said or did anything to offend or hurt you while I was under, I'm so sorry-"
"Don't." I grabbed him and hugged him tightly. "It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're okay and back to the real Jackie."
"How am I back?" Jackie wondered after we pulled apart. "The talis-" He paused, and we both looked at each other.
"Uncle," we said in unison.
"Yes?" We both jumped at the familiar voice to see Jade and Uncle standing on the sidewalk in front of us.
"You really need to stop scaring me like that!" I frowned at Uncle, putting my hands on my hips.
"Aye-ah," Uncle sighed in exasperation, rubbing his head tiredly. "You two are driving Uncle crazy."
Jackie and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.
It was Uncle's turn to frown. "What is so funny?"
At the end of the day, I was just glad to have my best friend back.