A couple of middle-aged men pulled up to the closed department store on their motorcycles. But they were not there to shop. It was the dead of night and they also had black ski masks which ment they were lowlifes who were out to make a fast buck.
"Got the stuff?", one asked.
His partner held up a large bag that had a crowbar, a case of lockpicks and gloves. It wasn't that much, but they were planning on hitting a couple of the deluxe joints the place had.
They put on their ski masks and were walking up to the closed door when a shadow flew over them. It was only a moment, but they both froze.
"What was that?", the partner asked sounding nervous, "A cop?"
The other shrugged.
"Nothing, it's probably just a bird or something."
He went over and took out the case, but then the same shadow came over them and didn't disappear.
"Don't even think about it gentlemen."
The two froze and turned to see the most unusual sight: a large pink dragon with a black face mask on its face, gray gloves and boots while its whiskers were sliver that matched the little beard under its chin.
"I'm going to have to ask you to step away from the door."
The two crooks looked confused and then they both took out their pistols before taking aim. The dragon however didn't even flinch.
"Oh, now you're both trying out the most common form of persuasion.", the dragon said rolling its eyes.
The two may have been fast to pull their triggers, but the dragon waved its hand which cause the pistols to fire out not bullets, but streams of colorful bubbles causing the two crooks to look surprised.
"Shall we try this again?", the dragon asked slyly.
Just as the crooks were backing off from the door slowly, they felt the clicking of handcuffs on their wrists and then were quickly subdued before a couple more masked individuals came out wearing costumes similar to the dragon's while giving them a dirty look.
"Let this here be a warning.", one said firmly, "If you ever try to shoplift around here, you will be serving time in the slammer."
The other individual pulled out a cellphone and gave a dial.
"Hello, police department.", the voice on the other end answered.
"Cops, we got a pair of felons here.", the individual answered.
/
A short while later, on a nearby rooftop, Long was dusting his hands and looking pleased.
"We sure nailed that one.", he said proudly.
Din and Li Na were observing the cops escorting the felons into a cruiser and one of the officers was one that got them both a bit worried.
"Isn't that…Officer Yin?", Li Na gulped.
Long flew over and got out his own pair of binoculars and sure enough, there was Officer Yin looking awfully suspicious. Long felt a bit shaken, but quickly brushed it off.
"Please, he's got nothing on us.", he said as he got Din and Li Na away from the edge, "Our face masks keep people from recognizing us remember?"
"And if Lt. Shu send out an arrest warrant for us?", Din countered.
Long chuckled.
"On what charges? Doing her job for her? Succeeding where she fails? We left a note to tell her we apprehended them."
Li Na felt a little better, but Din looked unsure.
"Long, people are going to notice a dragon fighting crime at night and we're going to get caught. Would you mind using your human form once in a while?"
Long looked shocked.
"And how would I explain the magic part?"
Li Na smiled.
"Ever hear of Doctor Strange?"
Long flinched, but then looked curious.
"Strange? Never heard of him."
Din looked thoughtful.
"And our outfits could use a makeover."
Long frowned.
"What's wrong with it?", he asked, "This way I can do my magic without violating the three wishes per day rule."
/
At the police station, Lt. Shu was beside herself as she stood before all the police in the joint.
"Gentlemen, I'm only going to say this one time.", she said harshly, "How the heck are three vigilantes in Halloween costumes finding all the criminals that usually takes us a week to pin down?!"
Most of the officers around flinched at the comment, but Officer Yin held his nerve. Lt. Shu pulled up a board with a photo of Long, Din, and Li Na in their outfits.
"So, anyone care to share what we know?", she asked before pointing to an officer near her, "You!"
The officer quivered but didn't remain silent.
"They leave notes?", he guessed.
Lt. Shu held up a bag labeled "Evidence", but the bag was empty looking insulted.
"Who leaves notes that disappear shortly before we get back?!", she snapped before pointing to another officer, "You!"
"Dissolving paper?", the officer guessed.
Lt. Shu slapped the empty bag in her hand on her desk looking angry.
"Well, I think I can say we know what we don't have on our hands.", she said harshly.
"If you don't count the dragon costume.", an officer piped up.
Lt. Shu looked the officer's way raising an eyebrow.
"Dragon costume?", she asked.
The officer nodded as the photo on the board changed to one of Din, Li Na and Long entering the cinema and another one of them entering the community center during the cosplaying event.
"A few weeks ago, a couple of kids with another individual wearing a dragon costume attended the cinema and a week later at the local cosplaying event at the community center the same trio attend the event. The dragon was the favorite clearly."
"Would it be possible that they were just kids with a good cosplayer who was dressed as a dragon?", an officer suggested.
Officer Yin raised an eyebrow this time.
"A dragon costume that could be operated by a single person?", he countered, "That would take only the finest hydraulic system around. So, either the guy operating that costume is some kind of engineer or we have a serious criminal on our hands."
/
Din and Li Na were soon eating breakfast with Mr. Wang and Mrs. Song with Long who was in his human form and wasn't looking the least bit nervous. They had changed into their usual clothes before they came down, but Li Na and Din were still feeling a rush from last night's activity. After Mrs. Song and Mr. Wang were out of earshot, Din looked Long's way firmly.
"I thought I made it clear that we'd only use those outfits for emergencies the police couldn't handle."
Long smiled.
"I think a burning building with a few pedestrians trapped inside and who would've dies if we weren't there and the police were chasing a truck robber would count as an emergency the police couldn't solve."
Li Na couldn't help but smile also.
"I agree. The two felons on our way back were just a bonus."
Din still looked unsure.
"Okay, but what if Lt. Shu and Officer Yin suspect us of criminal activity?"
Long chuckled.
"Them? They got nothing on us. There's only about several hundred kids who look similar to you and as far as anyone knows, my wish dragon form is just a convincing costume."
Din quickly looked around to see if anyone heard Long which thankfully wasn't an issue since nobody else was around besides him, Li Na, and Long getting their aprons before getting to work for the day. Just as the doors were about to open, a police car pulled up outside and Din and Li Na froze as they noticed Officer Yin and Lt. Shu step out and head for the door. Long didn't even break a sweat as the police knocked on the door. He even walked over and answered it smiling like it was just another sunny morning.
"Good morning officers.", Long said cheerfully, "What brings you here today?"
Lt. Shu frowned as she looked at Long's apron and sandals.
"Are you the owner of this establishment?", she asked firmly.
"Mrs. Song and Mr. Wang own this restaurant.", Long answered still maintaining his smile, "I'm afraid they're not around at this time."
Lt. Shu sighed heavily, but looked Long's way firmly. Din and Li Na came over in case things got too heated.
"I hear you got quite a costume.", Lt. Shu stated, "Won the cosplay display about a week ago."
Din and Li Na froze, but Long seemed to know what to do cause he wasn't breaking a sweat.
"I'm afraid that it's at the cleaners.", Long stated, "It should be delivered later today."
Officer Yin frowned.
"Would you mind if we waited inside?"
/
Din and Li Na were ready to faint as Long led the officers inside and to a table. While the two officers waited, Long met up with Din and Li Na who now both looked about ready to freak out.
"Long, are you crazy?", Din asked, "You'll give yourself away. How are we going to avoid this bullet?"
Long cracked his knuckles.
"Hello? Magical being here.", he stated plainly though quieted so the officers couldn't hear.
Li Na looked thoughtful.
"Long, could you conjure a costume that looks similar to yourself with hydraulics?"
Long smiled.
"One costume to finally get the officers off our backs coming up.", the former emperor stated.
A puff of smoke later, a costume Li Na had asked for had materialized and Long carried it in with Din and Li Na's help as the officers noticed.
"So, this is yours?", Lt. Shu asked clearly questioning Long on the whole thing.
Long nodded eagerly.
"Yes. A buddy of mine built it for me and loans it out to me at times. He doesn't ask questions and neither do I."
Officer Yin didn't look convinced.
"Then how come it had bald patches when it was taken to the cinema?", he asked as he took notes.
"There was an accident in the washer and I lost a bet?", Long suggested.
Lt. Shu rolled her eyes but remained firm.
"Lately we've been getting reports on a trio of vigilantes butting in on our justice system. You wouldn't happen to know anything would you?"
"Not a clue.", Long answered slyly before looking firm himself, "You're not thinking that just cause I have this costume that I'm responsible for a few imposers do you?"
Lt. Shu sighed heavily and got up with Officer Yin both looking firm and disappointed.
"Just don't let us catch you doing anything outside the law.", she warned as she and Yin got to the door.
Once they were outside and into their car, the costume Long had conjured started to vanish away. Luckily the officers saw nothing as they drove away and the costume disappeared into thin air.
"Well, that went well.", Long said smiling.
Din breathed a sigh of relief along with Li Na.
"That was close.", Li Na admitted.
"Too close.", Din added, "Better make sure that they don't have anything on us."
Long rolled his eyes.
"Please, anyone could have a dragon costume with the latest hydraulic system.", he said before realizing what Din was getting at, "Oh, good point."
/
As Lt. Shu and Officer Yin got back to the station, they were greeted by a bunch of other police officers giving all kinds of tips.
"So, it seems like the costume matches some of the shops in downtown Shanghai."
"And Din and Li Na checked out as possible suspects."
Lt. Shu sighed heavily.
"Anything else?"
Another officer raised his hand.
"Yes?", Lt. Shu asked.
The officer held out a slip.
"A list of receipts for numerous shops for the kind of costume we're looking for."
Officer Yin took the paper and frowned. The prices that came up on that list did match the kind of price a costume in question would be.
"How exactly would a place like that eatery get a costume like that?", he asked, "They make good money, but how could they have the funds to get the basic package."
The officer looked thoughtful.
"Maybe it was purchased second hand?"
Lt. Shu didn't look so sure.
"So, once again we got nothing to pin on that trio.", she muttered as she turned to her office, "A trio of vigilantes on the loose and we have no hard proof."
Officer Yin looked just as firm.
"I agree."
/
Long huffed as he hovered in Din and Li Na's bedroom.
"Well, that was quite a strain.", he huffed.
Din looked just as strained.
"I'm thinking we should put the whole superhero thing under wraps for a while."
Li Na and Long both gasped.
"And leave Shanghai in danger?", she asked.
Din frowned.
"Any more hero work, and Officer Yin and Lt. Shu will start getting more suspicious. How are we going to explain that away?"
Long looked thoughtful.
"Use the final wish to make it so that they had no proof on the case?", he suggested.
Li Na and Din both took a moment to silently talk to each other before turning to Long both looking like they were on board.
"Do it.", Din said.
Long snapped his fingers and it looked like nothing happened, but the trio knew better.
"Done and done.", Long said dusting his hands, "Officer Suspicious and Lt. Law and Order have no evidence or suspicion on us."
Din then looked unsure.
"Long, are you sure the masks of our superhero costumes make us unrecognizable?"
Long smiled.
"Sure did.", he answered, "So, what happened to the treasure we found?"
"Mom and Mr. Wang got a call from the Bahamas so it got reclaimed by the government there.", Din reported, "It was claimed and shipped back today."
Long sighed and slumped to the floor looking defeated.
"And just when I thought I'd get to sample being rich again."