Chapter Seven

Drago and Jade walked through the thick forest. The thick, moist air clung to their skin. Drago wiped the sweat off his brow. They were following his father to an ancient Mayan temple, for another talisman. He looked at Jade. "You know Jade, I don't like repeating myself." Drago started. "But, we were supposed to stay at the hotel."

Jade just turned and smiled. "Cha, like I'm going to do that." She said, turning her attention to the temple Jackie had found. He was walking up the stairs. "Anyway, we finished our homework." She looked around at him. She pointed to the large backpack on my back. "Why did you bring that? It wasn't that far."

Drago straitened himself, closed his eyes, and stuck up a finger. "Rule number one in survival: always be prepared." He lectured.

Jade just rolled her eyes at him. "Suit yourself." She started off, but Drago put a hand on her shoulder. She looked around.

"One more thing." Drago said. 'Oh, how I love saying that.' He thought. He loved imitating Uncle and Jackie. He stepped in front of her. "Another rule of survival is: Gentlemen always go in dangerous places before ladies." Drago started off.

Jade just crossed her arms and pouted, before following him. They walked up the stairs, keeping out of sight. They walked through the dark and dusty corridors of the temple. Jade shivered. "This place gives me the creeps."

Drago turned his head around to her. "Well, maybe next time we'll stay at the hotel, so we don't have to go inside some creepy temple." He said. Jade pouted at him again. He just smiled. 'I'm getting good at that.' He thought. They continued on for a few moments, before they heard someone scuffling in the next room. Drago looked over at Jade and put a finger to his lips. She nodded. He looked around the corner. He saw his father, being surrounded by a few of the guards. He looked back at Jade. "It seems dad has some company." He said quietly.

"How's he doing?" Jade asked.

The goons from earlier, he had learned their names, came right over to Jackie and threw him to the floor. He looked back at Jade. "Well, let's just say, he's going to get creamed."

Jade's eyes widened. "We've got to do something." She started looking around.

"Like what?" Drago said. He waved a hand around the room. "There's nothing here and I don't think we can fight them all off by ourselves." Drago looked around to see the large one, Tohru, he though his name was, pick up his father in his large hand. He clenched his fists. "That's it." He shouted. He jumped out of the room and took a fighting stance. "Anyone one want a piece of me." The enforcers looked at him, then to each other, and laughed. Drago growled.

Jackie looked at him. "Drago, what are you doing here?" He said, in utter bewilderment.

Drago looked at him. "I'm saving you, isn't it obvious." He said, before he looked back to the crooks. Some of them moved towards him. He prepared himself to turn into his true form, when he felt a finger behind him. He turned around. When he did, he jumped back and gasped. Right there, was a dead mummy. 'I thought that was only real in movies.' He thought, while patting his heart. It moved forward moaning. Tohru dropped his father and looked at them. Just then, both Drago and Jackie saw who was controlling the mummy. "Jade." They both said quietly. She nodded. Tohru just growled and swatted the mummy away. Jackie quickly grabbed hold of both Drago and Jade and hurried outside. The enforcers hurried after them. They reached outside, only to see that they had motorcycles.

"Why are you both here?" Jackie said, dodging a large branch. "You were supposed to be doing homework." Two enforcers were not so lucky and were thrown off their motorcycles as they hit the branch.

"Lucky for you I breezed through." Jade said. "Tohru was going to squash you like a piñata."

"Thank you." Jackie said. "But don't finish your homework too early. It's too dangerous."

"We didn't have that problem, until this started happening." Drago said. They continued running, until they came upon a few hand gliders. Drago saw this and took off his back pack. He threw it behind him, before they jumped on. The pack fell on Ratso.

They grabbed hold and jumped. Of course, Jackie apologized quickly to the couple. 'Like one should.' Drago thought.

As they flew, Jade turned to him. "What about you pack?"

Drago raised a finger. "Another tip in survival: always bring a back up." He said.

Moments later, they safely reached the ground. The town was not far away, so they walked. As they neared the archeology store, Jade's enthusiasm was growing. Their being in Mexico was very exciting for her. "Mexico is mondo coolio, Jackie."

"It would be if we weren't being chased around all the time." Drago pointed out. Jade just pouted at him.

"The talisman could be a million miles away." Jackie said.

"Well, what should we do?" Drago asked.

Jackie looked at them. "Why don't we ask around? Maybe the locals may know something." He said, before walking up.

Drago gave him a thumbs up. "Alright dad." He looked at Jade. "You heard him, we need to go and interrogate some of the locals." He pointed to himself. "I've seen how they do it in movies so I'll be in charge." Jade wasn't paying attention to him. He looked and saw that she was listening to a mariachi band. He snapped a finger in front of her face.

Jade turned around to face him. "What was that for?" She said, pouting at him again. "I was just listening."

"We need to get back to finding the talismans." Drago said.

Just then, a Mexican boy walked up to them. "Hola, I am Paco. What would a charming seniorita like yourself be doing this evening?" He said, looking at Jade.

"Ewww." Jade said. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

Drago got in front of her and glared at the boy. "Well, she can't." He said, crossing his arms. "We've got important things to do." He grabbed Jade's hand and started over to Jackie.

"Oh, no, no, no." The boy said. Both of them stopped and looked at him. "I am gathering an audience for El Toro Fuerte." He handed them a pamphlet.

"El, who oh, what te." Jade said, trying to comprehend the name.

'What is it with people and strange names?' Drago thought. He took the pamphlet from her hands and examined it.

"El Toro Fuerte." The boy said. "Mexico's mightiest wrestler. He has never lost a match. I want to grow up to be just like him."

Drago gave out a short laugh. "Wrestling." He said. "That is a game for barbarians, besides everyone knows that's all fake."

The boy gasped. "El Toro Fuerte is no fake. El Toro Fuerte is undefeatable." He said, crossing his arms. "Because El Toro Fuerte is the best."

"Oh, really." Jade said. "See that guy over there." Jade pointed. Drago saw that she was pointing at his father. "He's the best wrestler in the world." Drago's eyes shot open. 'What is she doing?' He thought.

"The mouse man." The boy said.

"He can smack your boy down." Jade said.

"Cannot." The boy said.

"Can to." Jade said.

"Cannot." The boy said.

"Can to." Jade said

Drago saw where this was going, once they had repeated themselves a second time, he got in the middle. "Please, let's not repeat ourselves over and over. I can solve this" They both looked at him. He looked at the boy. "Can to." He crossed his arms. Jade smiled pleasantly at him.

"Then the pair should meet, don't you think." The boy said. "I should see the both of you and the mouse man." He looked at them both. "What are your names?"

"Her name's Jade." Drago said pointing at Jade. He pointed to himself. "And I'm Drago." He tapped his head. "Got it memorized."

The boy smiled. "I'll see you two love birds at the match tonight." He said.

Jade and Drago's eyes flew open at what he said. They looked at each other and then looked at Paco. "We're not together." They said in unison.

Paco just laughed. "See you tonight." He started walking away.

Drago growled. "The nerve of that punk."

"Yaeh." Jade said, nodding her head. "Like we would ever be a couple." She turned around and looked as Jackie came out. "Jackie, we have to go to the wrestling match. Nice sombrero."

Drago looked up to see that his father had a large sombrero on. "Got it on sale. Like it. They had some your size." He pulled two sombreros from behind himself and put them on their heads.

"Gracias Amigo." Jade said. "Anyway, I told this boy that you were the best wrestler in the world. You have to prove it."

"Jade one should not fight for the sake of fighting, unless one has no other choice." Jackie said, wagging a finger at her.

"Yaeh." Drago said. "I like my dad. I don't want to end up an orphan." He looked apologetic at Jackie. "Sorry, but it's true." Jackie smiled and ruffled his hair.

Jade shrugged. "Makes sense. When you get into the ring and this El Toro fellow starts wailing on you. You'll have no other choice."

Drago rubbed his chin. "She's right." He blurted out.

"You have an interesting mind, Jade." Jackie said.

"Jackie." Jade said, starting to whine like she usually did. "You have nothing better to do tonight."

"Of course he does." Drago defended his father. Jade crossed her arms and looked at him. "He has to…" Drago rubbed his chin for a moment. "Okay I've got nothing." She smiled victoriously.

"We have to find the Ox talisman." Jackie said. He looked at the poster.

"I sincerely doubt that the Ox talisman is in Mexico." Drago said. "It was probably taken to some far off…"

Jackie interrupted his son. "Or, maybe it never left." The two kids looked at him for an answer. He closed the pamphlet. "We're going to the wrestling match." Jade smiled. Drago just groaned.

Hours later, they arrived at the ticket booth. Jade wasn't happy that his father wasn't going to fight. 'Big relief.' Drago thought. "We came all this way and you're not going into the ring. Jackie." Jade pleaded.

Just then, Paco walked up to them. "Buenos Noches Jade and Drago." He pronounced Jade, Yade.

"Paco hi." Jade said.

Drago got in front of her. "What do you want?" He said, giving him a 'back off' look.

"I just came to see if you would bring the mouse man." Paco said, pointing at Jackie. "I see you have brung a challenger for El Toro Fuerte."

Drago groaned. 'Give me a break.' He thought.

"Not exactly." Jackie said. He moved over to the poster and pointed to the Ox simble. "Paco, can you tell me what this is."

"It is the sign of El Toro Fuerte." Paco said. "For he is strong like the ox." Paco grabbed Jackie's shirt and pulled him down. "I would fear him if I were you." Jade sighed and rolled her eyes. Drago did the same. Paco went over to them and took Jade's hand. "Come Jade, we have seats right in front. He said pulling her along. Drago growled and hurried after them.

When they got to their seats, Drago went between Paco and Jade and sat. He sent a small glare at the boy and then looked on stage. The showman walked up into the stage, holding a blue masked man. He put him into a corner of the ring and grabbed a microphone. "Amigos." He started. "Welcome to Lucho Libre. Tonight two titans will crash here in this very ring." He turned to the blue masked man. "El Buero Maskidor." The man stood nerviously, then the referee tore away his outer shirt. "And the undefeated champion, El Toro Fuerta." A larger man turned around.

Drago scoffed at him. "He doesn't look that tough."

Paco gasped. "El Toro Fuerta is the toughest in all the lands."

Drago crossed his arms. "Is not." Jade said.

"Is to." Paco said.

"Is not." Jade said.

"Is to." Paco said.

Drago rolled his eyes. 'Why must I be in the center of this?' He thought, before looking at Jade. 'Oh, yeah.' "Again I'll be the tie breaker. Is to." Drago held up a hand as Paco started to speak. "Just watch. Maybe you might be right." Paco smiled and turned his attention to the ring.

"Tonight." The announcer started. "One shall drink from the cup of victory and the loser will be unmasked."

The blue masked man turned to them. "Where did they get this mouse man?"

'Mouse man.' Drago thought. Both he and Jade turned toward him. His eyes widened. "Dad." He said.

"Jackie." Jade said. They went over to him. "Awesome. You're going to do it."

"Only because I have no other choice." Jackie said. "If I win, he'll be unmasked and Valmont will not get the talisman."

"There's always another option." Drago said, his face and voice filled with concerned. "You can leave the ring right now and steal it when he's asleep. As I said before, I don't want to be an orphan."

Jackie just smiled and ruffled his hair. "I'll be fine son. How hard could it be? He can't be all that powerful."

Drago looked behind him at El Toro Fuerte. 'Why does he look so much bigger now.' Drago thought. He looked back at his father. He gave a weak smile. "I have full confidence in you." He said. He went back over to his seat and watched intently as the fight began.

Jade sat next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be fine. Uncle Jackie can whomp this guy easy." Drago just smiled. However it didn't last long, for El Toro Fuerte ran right into Jackie, crushing him against the pole. He slumped to the floor. Drago looked at Jade, who gave a slight shrug and smile. "He, he, well he'll get better." Drago turned his attention back to the fight.

Paco was cheering "Toro, Toro Toro." Over and over again.

"I'd like to Toro him if he keeps saying that." Drago mumbled. Jackie quickly got up and jumped onto the bars. He jumped off them and at El Toro. He aimed a kick at him, but missed, landing on his shoulders. El Toro slammed Jackie into the ground. Drago cringed. He then saw El Toro run to the ropes and then back at his father. "Get up dad." Drago shouted, but it was too late. El Toro slammed into his again. He pinned him down, as the referee called him out. He held El Toro's hand up. "The winner."

Paco turned to them. "Do not watch. This is the part where Jackie must lose his mask and regretebly his dignity."

Drago and Jade just stood up and went over to his father. He laid cold for a few minutes, before getting up. By then, there were no other people around. He looked around. "Where is everybody?"

"They left." Jade said. "Everyone left. The match is over. How could you lose?"

"Jade." Drago said, defending his father. "Winning isn't everything. I'm just glad he's alive."

Jade crossed her arms. "Cha, but a winner is better than a loser." Drago sighed.

"The Ox Talisman." Jackie said. "It gives him super human strength."

They stared at him for a moment. "Knew it." Jade said. "Wrestling is so fake."

Drago crossed his arms and shook his head. "Cheating. What has this world come to?"

They walked outside to see that Tohru was on top of a smashed car. Drago's jaw dropped. Jade whistled. "Looks like El Toro has been eating his vegetables."

"The talisman." Jackie stated. "The Dark Hand will send more." He pushed them along.

"More." Paco said, entusiasticly. "This is too exciting." He hurried after them. Drago looked back to see him following them. 'Why must he?' He thought.

Jackie turned around to them. He pointed to the spot. "Stay here."

Jade and Paco groaned. Drago sighed. 'Finaly.' He thought. He saw his father go up and start to talk to El Toro. Suddenly, some noticeable figures started zooming around. He looked at Jade and saw that she had seen them to. 'Is there not one moment of peace.' Drago thought. "Oh, Jackie." Jade called out. "They're here."

A large group of Shadowkahn starting filling the little square. "Wrestlers." Paco asked, excitedly.

Drago gave him a dubious look. "Those aren't wrestlers. Those are shadowkahn, duh." He said as if stating a simple fact. Then the shadowkahn started leaping at the two men in the center. They gave up a good fight and defeated quite a few of them, but there were still more of them. Drago was conflicted. Either he stayed and watched, or he got into the fight. Then, he saw his father beat up a few shadowkahn with a cane. He smiled. 'They can have this fight.' He thought.

Jade was smiling too. "Told you Jackie rocks." She said.

"Indeed." Paco said, studying her. "But El Toro is better."

"Is not." Jade said turning around to face him.

"Is to." Paco chided back.

Drago smacked his forehead. He was getting tired of that argument. He got in between them and pushed them apart. "Will you two stop it?" He said, in an agitated tone. The two looked at him and then at each other. They pouted and crossed their arms and turned around. Drago sighed.

Just then, El Toro, caught up in the moment, picked up his father and threw him. Paco just laughed. "Again."

Drago growled and looked at him. "That's it." He moved his hands together, as if to go for his throat. Jade grabbed him and pulled him back. He struggled in her grasp. "Let me at him." He barked. All the while, Paco had taken a few steps backwards and looked frightened a bit.

Drago finally stopped, when the shadowkahn shot a net at El Toro and took off his mask. "The mask." Paco cried. El Toro charged but his feet became tied. "No." Paco cried out again.

The shadowkahn presented the mask to Tohru, who tore off the talisman. He threw the rest of the mask to El Toro. He went over to Jackie and picked him up. "Dad." Drago cried out, as he and Jade started after them. Drago jumped onto his free arm and bit down. Tohru let out a groan, but then tossed Drago aside. Jade was punching at his stomach, to no avail. Tohru simply pushed her down with a single finger. He went to the car and loaded Jackie inside. He got inside himself and they drove off. Drago growled and chased the car. He heard Jade yell for him to come back, but he did not listen. 'I should've joined the fight.' He thought. 'I could have done something.' He continued running after the car. His demon half kept him fueled and quick.

A few moments later, he arrived a plane. They had loaded up and were about to take off. Drago growled. 'No one takes off with my dad.' He thought. As he approached the plane, he saw Jade and El Toro walk up to the door. 'Well, should have known she'd arrive.' He thought. He ran until he was right behind them. Finn opened the door and El Toro grabbed hold of him. He threw him back into the forest. The other came to look, but Jackie, while being tied up, kicked him out.

El Toro picked him up and put him on the ground. Jade was smiling. "Hola, Jackie." She said, with a pretend Mexican accent. Drago went behind his father and carefully, without El Tor noticing, withdrew a claw from a finger. He sliced off the ropes and got the handkerchief out of his mouth.

"The talisman is on board on a box." Jackie said. "Don't let them take off with it." Jade quickly went inside, before El Toro went after her.

Drago smiled and hugged his father. "Nice to have you back dad."

Jackie hugged him back. "Nice to have you back too, son."

Drago broke off from the hug. "So, should we go in there, or do you think El Toro can handle himself." As he was saying this, the plane was starting to take off. Drago felt something tug on his leg. He looked down and, to his horror, he was tangled in the rope. The plane started to take off, dragging Drago with it. Jackie ran after him, as the plane started to get airborne. The plane was too quick and Jackie was left on the ground.

(On The ground)

Jackie watched as his son was dragged off by a plane. 'I have to do something.' He thought. He noticed the same jeep that had taken him here. He smiled. Jackie ran over to it and turned the key that was still inside. He drove off, following the plane.

(Back up in the air.)

Drago yelled out to him, but he couldn't get close enough. Drago closed his eyes and put a hand over them. He had a fear of heights. "Help." He started to yell. Then, he saw Jade open the door. "Pull me up. Pull me up." He yelled in desperation. Jade took hold of the rope, but it didn't move. He then, saw Jade run back into the plane. "Don't go." He yelled. He hung from his ankle for a moment, before the plane jerked. The rope threw him to the plane, which he hung from the side, as his claws pierced the metal. He quickly climbed inside and closed the door. He started breathing in and out. Then, he saw El Toro struggling with Tohru, as a man slid by unconscious in the swaying plane.

Tohru looked at the man. "If that is the pilot…?"

"Then, who is flying the plane?" El Toro finished.

They all rushed to the front to see Jade at the controls. She looked at them. "A little help here." She said. Drago got beside her. He picked her up and put her down beside the chair. She let out a squeek as she was picked up. Drago usually didn't use his powers around other people, other than his father and Uncle, but hey the plane was crashing. He jerked on the controls. With his super demon strength, he pulled the steering wheel clear off the panel. "Nice going." Jade said. Drago just glared at her. Then, everybody screamed as they saw that they were about to his the village. They rammed into the buildings, shearing off the wings. Eventually, they stopped in front of the fountain. They stopped to see El Toro and Tohru facing off against each other.

Then, Drago's father came driving up. He got out of the vehicle and smiled when he saw Drago. "You okay." He yelled. Drago nodded, clutching his stomach.

"Airsick, are we." Jade said, smirking. Drago just glared at her again. Then, Jade pulled out the ox talisman and threw it to El Toro. "El Toro catch." She said.

El Toro caught it. "Thank you Jade. But I would rather lose with dignity, then win by cheating." He threw the talisman back.

"Whatever." Jade said. She looked at the talisman and had that twinkle in her eye that he had seen too often.

Drago grabbed the talisman out of her hands. "Give me that." He put it into his pocket, as Jade pouted.

Tohru ran at them, throwing them to the wall with a single hit. Drago growled when he saw this. He was tired today of seeing people beat up his dad. He stomped over to Tohru, who was standing up proudly and smirked. "Now who is the mightiest?"

Drago poked him in the back. Tohru turned around to look at him. "I'll give you a hint." He grabbed Tohru by the pants leg and picked him up. He, using his demon strength, twirled him around and threw him through a wall. He smirked and wiped his hands together. "Serves you right, tubby." He called after him. The building collapsed around him.

He turned back to see a saddened Jade. "Aww, I wanted to use the ox talisman." She said, frowning.

Drago frowned at this. He hated letting his anger get the best of him, but he still didn't like that Jade got in so much danger. He sighed. "I promise I'll let you take down the next guy." He said, which caused Jade to give him, wearing a big smile. He gave her the talisman.

Jade showed the talisman to Jackie. "Can I keep it Jackie?" She pleaded.

"No." Jackie said, to which Jade groaned.

"El Toro Fuerta." A familiar voice called out. They turned to see Paco. El Toro frowned and looked away. Paco smiled and put a hand to his arm. "Will you teach me the ways of the wrestler."

El Toro gasped and then smiled. He knelt down and put a hand to Paco's shoulder. "With all the years of my experience."

Drago and the others looked at each and smiled. "You are the greatest." Paco said.

"No." Jade said. Everyone turned to her, as she pointed at Jackie. "Jackie's the greatest."

Paco pointed at El Toro. "No, El Toro."

Drago slapped his forehead. "Here they go again." He mumbled under his breath.