Jake Long III (Season Two)
Chapter/Episode Eight: Bringing Down The Mafia's Curtain
It was a dark March night, and Trinity was all alone when she reached the storm drain that she had been coming to every night for the past month or so. In her mouth, she carried Fu Dog's tip top hat. Chuckling, she tipped the top hat over, spilling all of the money inside into the darkness of the drain.
With all of the money gone, Trinity lifted her head up, jumped onto the sidewalk and ran off.
LINE BREAK
The next morning, Fu Dog and Jackal could only stare at the empty hat in disbelief. "Why does this keep happening?" Jackal asked with a growl as he and Fu Dog both looked up.
"Does it look like I know?" Fu asked.
"I think it does..." Cadence growled from behind him, prompting Fu to turn around to see the panther. "...I think you're doing something with the money, Fu Dog."
"Cadence, just stop it." Jackal told her.
"I think he's keeping it for himself!" Cadence narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not!" Fu said.
"That's exactly what I'd expect to hear from you!" Cadence exclaimed.
"Do you really think that I enjoy degrading myself like this?" Fu told her.
Roaring with rage, the panther leapt and landed on Fu Dog. "Cadence!" Jackal shouted, watching as, with Fu down, trying to cover up his face, Cadence managed to turn over, now trying to bite at his neck.
"It's over Fu Dog!" Cadence raged. "You're done! Give me your neck so I can snap it!" Fu then howled in pain as Cadence managed to bite down on his neck, forcing Fu Dog to lift his head up. "I just wish I could cause you more pain..." Cadence growled as she narrowed her eyes.
However, before Cadence could snap Fu Dog's neck, she grunted as Jackal, who had charged at her, jumped on her and tackled her, throwing her off of Fu Dog, who started to breathe heavily as he rolled over onto his side.
Getting to his feet after hitting the ground, Jackal turned to see that Cadence was lying on her belly, having hit the alley wall. "Are you hurt?" He asked her.
"No." Cadence replied as she turned her head to the side to look her partner in the eyes.
"You're losing it, Cadence."
"I just finished talking to the boss." Cadence said. "He said that if we don't have all of the money that Fu Dog owes, we'll officially be on strike two."
"We've been on strike two before, Cadence." Jackal said. "It's not about that. This is about that wounded ego of yours."
"Why couldn't you just let me kill him?"
"That won't solve anything, Cadence." Jackal narrowed his eye. "That would just make things worse for us. Do you not get that? Just...calm down. We're going to be okay."
Then, Jackal turned to face Fu Dog, who was on his feet, but trembling as he stared at the two. "Get ready." Jackal growled. "You're going to be doing a lot of performances today."
BLACKOUT; PLAY THEME SONG
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
On the Island of Draco, Cherri, in her human form, was sitting in the cafeteria, eating breakfast. She only looked up when Jake III arrived at the other side of the table, slowly sitting down. "Hey." Cherri smiled. "Training was good today. I'm proud of you."
"Yeah..." Jake III replied. "...The only problem is I don't know what I'm going to do for the rest of the day."
"You could always go home and relax." Cherri suggested before she took another bite of her food.
"Yeah." Jake replied sarcastically. "And have to deal with my worrying parents. They're getting worse by the day. Still no sign of Rosie..."
"Then don't go home."
"Can I hang out with you?"
"I can guarantee you that you will be bored." Cherri smirked.
"Can we train some more?"
"Jake, give this old body a rest, please." Cherri told him.
"Well, then I don't know what I'm going to do."
"Yes, that's the real tragedy of the day..." Cherri said sarcastically as Jake slowly turned his head to the side, his eyes widening as he saw Lin-Lin entering the cafeteria. "...A nineteen year old boy doesn't know what to do for a day."
"Actually, Cherri..." Jake smiled. "...I think I know exactly what I want to do today."
A few moments later, Lin-Lin was seated at a table with a tray of food. She was busy focusing on her food as Jake walked up to the table. "Um, hey, Lin-Lin." Jake said nervously, making Lin-Lin look up at him.
Jake swallowed hard as he waited for Lin-Lin's response. Finally, to his relief, Lin-Lin gave him a small smile. "Hey." She told him.
"Do...Do you mind if I sit down?"
"I...I guess so." Lin-Lin replied.
"Thanks." Jake smiled before he sat down, watching as Lin-Lin turned her attention back to her food. "Um, can I ask you something?" Jake asked her.
"What?" Lin-Lin asked, looking back up at him.
"Look, I...I know that we've only had one date, but-"
"You want to go on another one?" Lin-Lin asked. "I...I don't know..."
"No, it's not that." Jake held up his hands.
"What, then?"
"Do you want to do something with me?" Jake asked. "Perhaps...a walk?"
"Sounds like a date to me."
"It isn't." Jake said. "Well, unless you want it to be. But if you don't want it to be a date, don't think of it like that. It would just be a simple walk. Nice and peaceful."
"I don't know." Lin-Lin said.
"Well, how about this?" Jake suggested. "Fifteen minutes. That's all I ask. And if you don't want to spend any more time with me, then I'll accept that. We can even just walk around the island."
"I...I don't know." Lin-Lin said, but then, she sighed. "I...I really don't know how it could hurt. Al...Alright."
"Awesome!" Jake gave her a big grin. "When?"
"When I'm done eating."
LINE BREAK
Around that same time, Haley, Sillian and Regan, all in their human forms, were walking around in Manhattan. "It's a nice day." Regan stated.
"Yeah, it is." Haley agreed.
Moments later, the three human-formed dragons turned around a corner, only to stop as they saw a large crowd of people, all in a circle in the middle of the street. There were cheers and there were laughs.
"Perhaps we should turn around and go back." Haley suggested as Sillian growled.
"No." Sillian told her, turning his head to the side, Haley doing the same. "I'm going to go check this out. I have a feeling that dog is behind this. You two can stay here if you want to." He finished as he turned his head back to normal. Then, he started to walk over to the crowd, Haley and Regan quickly starting to follow.
Sillian pushed his way up to the front, crossing his arms as he saw that Fu Dog was indeed the focus of all the attention. However, this time, he was with Cadence, and the two were dancing the tango together. As Sillian watched, Regan and Haley caught up with them. Seeing the sight, Haley had to put her hand to her mouth in order to stifle a laugh.
As they danced, Fu Dog kept a smile on his face as he saw how humiliated Cadence looked. "Well, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one suffering." Fu told her. "A-goo-goo."
"Shut it, pooch." Cadence growled.
Unbeknownst to any of the people down in the street, Trinity and Jackal were watching from the roof of a building. Trinity had a goofy grin on her face as she enjoyed the show. "Man, this is great." She said, making Jackal turn his head to the side to look at her, an annoyed look on his face.
"This is better than money." Trinity said. "Before he even thinks of giving us a second strike, he should just take a look at this sight. He'd love it."
"No he wouldn't." Jackal said with a growl as he turned his head back to normal. "All he cares about is the money. It's a business, Trinity. The sooner you grasp that concept, the better."
Back down in the streets, Cadence and Fu Dog ended their dance, both of them getting back down onto all fours, the crowd (except for Sillian) cheering.
"I don't want your applause." Cadence growled as she turned to face the crowd, Fu trotting up to her side. "I want your money! All of it!"
Back on the roof, Trinity's smile vanished. "Aw..." She said as Jackal sighed and turned, starting to walk away. "...It's over."
"Yeah." Jackal said. "Come on, rookie. We got to get down there and meet up with them. We'll count the dough." Then, Trinity turned and started to follow him.
Back down in the streets, everyone had left, save for Haley, Regan and Sillian. Cadence and Fu Dog ignored them as they both looked into the top hat, counting the money. "It isn't enough!" Cadence shouted with anger as she jerked her head up, Fu Dog following her a few seconds later.
"Still?" Fu asked, disappointed. "This was like my tenth performance of the day."
"Ahem." Sillian said, getting the attention of both Cadence and Fu Dog, who turned to face him, Regan and Haley.
"Haley." Fu said with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Fu." Haley waved.
"What did I tell you about busking in the streets?" Sillian asked, his arms still crossed.
"Bite me!" Cadence shot at the head of the Dragon Council Agents.
"Who is this, Fu?" Haley asked. "A friend of yours?"
"Yep." Fu quickly lied while Cadence turned and picked up the top hat with her mouth. "Dear, dear friend. We love each other so much." Rolling her eyes, Cadence started to walk away.
"Look, I'm sorry." Fu said. "Really, I am. I'll get a license."
"You better." Sillian said. "Because this is how it's going to go from now on. I will give you one last chance. But if I catch you doing this again without a license, I'm taking you in. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Fu replied.
LINE BREAK
Jake III was waiting outside the cafeteria; leaning against the wall, his arms were crossed. Finally, Lin-Lin stepped out of the cafeteria. "There you are." Jake III said with a smile on his face as he turned his head to the side.
"Yep, here I am." Lin-Lin said as she turned her head to the side as well.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Jake's smile widened. "Let's get going." The two then started forward. "So, what have you been up to lately?" Jake tried to act casual as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Not much." Lin-Lin replied, sounding annoyed. "Just serving the Dragon Council against my will."
"Oh."
"And you?" Lin-Lin asked.
"Not much, either." Jake said, turning his head to the side again. "Just the usual. You know, daily training, worrying over my missing sister. That kind of stuff."
"Your sister is missing?" Lin-Lin asked as she turned her head to the side again. "For how long?"
"About a month." Jake told her. "She disappeared on the night of that date that Regan set up."
"Do you think she could have been kidnapped?"
"Doubtful." Jake replied. "She is angry at our parents, and it looks like she ran away. I'd...I'd rather just change the subject."
"Oh, okay." Lin-Lin said, turning her head back to normal.
"I haven't heard Sillian complain about your attitude in quite a while." Jake said with a smile on his face.
"Perhaps he would be if he was here." Lin-Lin said. "As it is, he isn't here very often. The Council assigned him and Regan guard duty."
"Yeah, I know." Jake said. "I spent some time with them not too long ago. Sillian didn't mention you."
"I suppose he has bigger things to worry about."
"I'm certain that he does." Jake said with a chuckle.
LINE BREAK
Fu Dog and Cadence returned to their alley, where Trinity and Jackal were waiting for them. Cadence and Fu walked up to them and then Cadence dropped the top hat. "Disappointing." She spat.
"How much?" Jackal asked.
"Not nearly enough." Cadence growled.
"Well, I guess Fu Dog will have to do more performances." Trinity said happily.
"I'm not doing them with him." Cadence declared. "One of you will have to do it."
"He can do it alone." Jackal said.
Fu chuckled nervously. "How about some lunch first?" He asked. "I'm starved."
"No!" Cadence raged, turning her head to the side to look at him.
Unbeknownst to the talking animals, Sillian, now in his dragon form, peered into the alley, watching them. He could see that Fu Dog and Cadence were facing each other, and Cadence was yelling at the shar-pei.
"Go out there now, attract an audience and make the money that you owe!" When Fu hesitated, Cadence roared: "NOW!"
This got Fu Dog's attention; the shar-pei quickly turned and ran out of the alley, Cadence turning to watch him go. As Jackal walked up to his side, Cadence narrowed her eyes. "Come on." She said. "Let's go."
Just as Fu Dog exited the alley, he yelped as Sillian's tail wrapped around his neck, pulling him to the side. Within seconds, Sillian was slamming Fu against the wall of the building, pinning him there.
"Some friend of yours that is." Sillian told him. "Forcing you to do something that you're not supposed to be doing without a license."
"Why are you so hung up about it?" Fu asked. "Just let me-"
"No." Sillian told him.
"You're not a New York cop." Fu told him. "You shouldn't care!"
"It's Magical World related, therefore, I care."
"Sillian, what is going on?" Haley asked as she and Regan walked up beside them. "Why are you attacking Fu Dog?"
"Okay, listen." Fu said. "I'm not going to stop doing these acts. I don't have a choice. Those animals are making me do them. Trust me, I hate degrading myself in front of a crowd of people. Really, I do."
"Then don't let those animals force you." Sillian said.
"It's not that simple." Fu said. "You see, they've got dirt on me."
"Oh, Fu..." Haley rolled her eyes.
"What kind of dirt?" Sillian asked.
"They...They work for the Magical Mafia." Fu told him. "And I...I owe them a lot of money."
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
Sillian tightened his grip on Fu, pressing the shar-pei harder against the wall. "What does that have to do with you busking?" He demanded.
"It's how I'm earning the money back!" The shar-pei exclaimed.
Sillian paused for a few seconds before he took a deep breath. Finally, he spoke again: "Alright, if we promise to take care of those animals for you, then will you stop performing in the streets?"
"No, I think I'll continue degrading myself." Fu said sarcastically. "I just love feeling embarrassed. OF COURSE I WILL!"
Satisfied, Sillian released the shar-pei, who slid down the wall. "Okay..." Sillian said as he took a step back. "...Here's the plan..."
LINE BREAK
Back on the Island of Draco, Jake III and Lin-Lin continued on with their walk. Taking a deep breath, Jake III turned his head to the side to look at her. "You know..." He said, prompting Lin-Lin to turn her head to the side as well. "...I think these fifteen minutes are up."
"Oh, are they?" Lin-Lin asked, a small smile appearing on her face.
"That's right." Jake told her. "That means that you can go back to doing whatever you were doing before."
"I already finished what I was doing before." Lin-Lin replied. "No, if you don't mind, I think I'll continue on."
"I don't mind at all." Jake smiled.
So, the two continued on.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Cadence, Jackal and Trinity all stood on the roof of a building, Fu Dog's top hat beside Trinity. They were staring down at Fu Dog, who was placing an old boom-box down in the middle of the street.
"Fu should probably have this." Trinity said, indicating the hat.
"It'll be fine up here." Jackal told her. "I've even decided that we're going to take the money with us when we leave tonight, regardless of whether he's paid of his entire debt or not."
"Huh?" Trinity asked, surprised, as she turned her head to the side.
"We're getting sick of this." Jackal said with a growl. "We're going to do what we should have done after the dough first vanished. Fu Dog isn't trustworthy. The dough will be a lot safer with us."
Back down in the street, Fu turned on the boom-box, old and loud rap music coming out of it as Fu turned around, a nervous look on his face. "I hope this works..." Fu muttered to himself.
Back up on the roof, the three animals continued to watch, Trinity trembling as they listened to the music. "What's taking so long?" Cadence asked impatiently. "Where's the crowd?"
"Have patience, Cadence." Jackal told her.
"A crowd is usually around him by now." Cadence said, turning her head to the side to look at her partner.
"Give it some more time." Jackal said, although it was clear that he too was losing his patience.
"Ma...Maybe..." Trinity said nervously, turning her head to the side. "...Y...You should go down there and check it out."
Turning her head back to normal, Cadence's jaw dropped as she saw that Fu still had no crowd around him. "This is absurd!" Cadence exclaimed. "Trinity's right!" She declared before she leapt from the high building, coming down the side of the building in a way that made it possible for her to dig her claws into the side of the building, sliding down it.
"Cadence!" Jackal shouted after her. Then, with a sigh, he lifted his head up.
"What's going on?" Trinity asked nervously. "Why isn't anyone coming?"
"I don't know." Jackal growled as he looked back down.
Meanwhile, Cadence reached the bottom of the building and hopped off, all before sprinting to the middle of the street, getting in front of Fu Dog, who turned off the boom-box and then turned to face her.
"I really don't know what's happening." He lied. "Perhaps I just wore out my welcome."
"Shut up!" Cadence hissed before she turned her head back to normal. "Get out here!" She shouted at the top of her voice. "Right now! There's a dog that owes money! Come out here and pay! Come o-!"
However, before she could finish, she grunted as Sillian's tail slammed into her, throwing her over to the building that she had just slid down. Hitting it, she grunted and fell to the ground.
"You just walked right into our trap." Sillian said as he, Haley and Regan all landed on the ground.
Back on the roof, Jackal growled with annoyance as he looked up and turned his head to the side to look at the nervous Trinity. "Stay here and protect the dough." Jackal told her. "I need to go down there." Then, he turned his head back to normal and leapt off of the roof, sliding down the side of the building, just like Cadence had done.
Growling, Cadence got to her feet and she watched as both Regan and Sillian drew their weapons, while Haley took a fighting stance. "I will not be humiliated again!" Cadence declared angrily before she charged for the three dragons, just as Jackal reached the ground.
He watched as Cadence was thrown back by Sillian's tail, hitting the ground with a grunt right in front of him. However, Cadence quickly managed to get back up on her feet.
"Cadence, we should go." He told her. "Fu Dog can't escape us."
"I'm not running!" Cadence declared bitterly. "I refuse to be humiliated once more!" With a grunt, she then charged at Haley, Regan and Sillian again, and once again, she was thrown back, but this time, she was thrown back by the tails of not only Sillian, but also Haley and Regan. Grunting, Cadence landed on her back.
Sighing, Jackal barked as he charged for the three dragons as well, leaping over Cadence, who rolled over. However, just as Cadence got to her feet and just as she turned back around, Jackal grunted as he was thrown back by the dragons, landing right beside Cadence on his back.
"There." Jackal said as he looked up at his partner, who ignored him, just growling. "Now we've both been humiliated. It's not just you. Now, put your ego aside and let's get out of here."
"No!" Cadence told him, charging back at the dragons while Jackal got back up to his feet. Turning around, he watched as Haley, Sillian and Regan once again slammed their tails into Cadence again, throwing her back. This time, Cadence hit the ground back-first before she rolled over onto her belly, right in front of Jackal.
"Cadence, we're going!" Jackal said, looking down on her. "If you don't follow me, I'll be forced to leave you behind!"
"Then leave!" Cadence said as she got to her feet, turning and running at the three dragons again. "I'll make my way back!"
Sighing, Jackal turned and ran over to the building. On the roof, Trinity nervously picked up the top hat with her teeth and then ran over to another edge of the building. Unbeknownst to her, that was when Jackal finished climbing up the side of the building and got up on the roof.
Immediately, he saw Trinity starting to tip the hat over. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Jackal asked, making Trinity gasp and spin around, the top hat plummeting from the side of the building.
"No, you fool!" Jackal raged.
"I...I...I...I...I..." Trinity could only stammer, her eyes wide with fear.
It was then that Jackal realized the truth, that it had been Trinity the entire time that had been getting rid of all the money that Fu owed.
"It was YOU!" Jackal reacted, Trinity gulping.
"You are DEAD!" Jackal shouted before he started to charge for the cat.
"No, no! Please!" Trinity begged, stepping back.
However, just as Jackal jumped into the air, he gasped as Regan's tail wrapped around his neck, pulling him back. Grunting, he landed on his belly, right in front of Regan, who landed on her feet at the edge of the roof.
Growling in anger, Jackal got to his feet and turned to face her. "Stay out of my business!" He growled. However, Regan ignored him and unsheathed her Katana.
"You are under arrest." She told him.
Jackal just snarled before he jumped, tackling her and making her gasp as they fell over the side of the building, Regan dropping her sword on the roof. As the two plummeted to the ground, Regan's back facing the ground, Jackal angrily tried to bite her in the face, but Regan quickly held up her scaly arms in defense.
Then, she flared her wings, making her stop and roll over in the air, throwing Jackal off and causing him to fall. However, Jackal grunted as he managed to push himself to the side, once again digging his claws into the side of the building, sliding down it.
Narrowing her eyes as she watched this, Regan dove down after him.
Meanwhile, Jackal reached the bottom of the building and hopped off, turning to see that Cadence was off of the ground, Haley having her tail around one of Cadence's wrists, while Sillian's was around Cadence's other wrist. Cadence was grunting, trying to free herself, but to no success.
Rolling his eyes, Jackal started to run to her rescue, just missing Regan, who came down on the ground, slamming her fist into the sidewalk.
As Jackal got closer, both Haley and Sillian gasped as they turned their heads back to normal, seeing Jackal getting closer and closer. Finally, Jackal jumped up and slammed into Cadence, making the panther grunt as she was freed from the grasps of the two dragons.
Both Sillian and Haley lowered to the ground and turned around as they saw Jackal and Cadence both getting to their feet, both of them staring at them.
"Can we go now?" Jackal growled.
Cadence growled in anger, but nonetheless, she (reluctantly and bitterly) nodded her head once in response to his question. "Good." Jackal said.
Haley and Sillian both watched as the two animals turned, fleeing down the street. Sillian sighed. "They got away." He said.
"Not all of them." Came the sound of Regan's voice from behind them. Both Haley and Sillian turned around to see a smiling Regan, who re-sheathed her Katana with one hand while holding Cadence up by the scruff of her neck with the other.
Trinity grunted as she struggled against Regan's grasp. However, after about five seconds later, she sighed as she gave up.
LINE BREAK
Now in her human form, Haley was walking alongside Fu Dog a few hours later, Sillian and Regan behind her.
"So..." Haley said. "...Do you think you're going to be okay, Fu Dog?"
"As long as those three don't come back, I should be fine." Fu replied.
"Well, at least one of them won't be coming back." Haley said. "The Council put her away."
"Well, Cadence and Jackal still got away." Fu then sighed. "Don't worry about me, kid. I'll be fine. Unless..." He added hopefully, turning his head to the side, looking up. "...You wouldn't mind if I came to live with you. I seem to recall you making an offer..."
"Sorry, Fu." Haley looked down at him.
"What, the offer's not standing anymore?"
"No." Haley said in a rather sad tone.
"Why not?" Fu asked. "It doesn't have to do with the whole Magical Mafia thing, does it?"
"No." Haley said. "It has to do with my daughters."
"Eh...how so?"
"They destroyed my house." Haley said. "I'm currently living on the Island of Draco. The Council is re-building my house, but I don't think I'll be able to move back in until after my daughters are taken care of."
"Well, there's always after your daughters are taken care of." Fu smiled.
"Yeah." Haley smiled. "There is. I'd love to have you come live with me, Fu Dog."
"I'd love to live with ya, kid." Fu said. "Personally, I'm tired of living on the streets."
"Well..." Haley suggested. "...How about coming to the Island of Draco? You could...always become an Animal Guardian again..."
LINE BREAK
Cadence and Jackal were standing a room that was completely dark except for one overhead light, making them and their boss' desk the only things visible. Jackal kept calm, while Cadence looked humiliated.
"Yet again..." Their boss growled at them. "...You failed me."
"Just give us one more chance." Cadence pleaded. "We ran into a lot of difficulties."
As Cadence spoke, Jackal nodded his head twice. "Yes, boss." Jackal smiled hopefully as he spoke. "We had a lot of problems."
"Oh, what?" Their boss didn't sound like he cared. "The money kept disappearing? That is your greatest failure, yes. However, you have sunken much lower than merely failing to get all of the money that that shar-pei owes. You abandoned your partner!"
"That partner was the reason we failed!" Jackal said. "She was the one who got rid of the money. She sabotaged our mission."
"True..." Their boss said dangerously. "...But I demand repercussions for failures. Seeing as you two left her to fend for herself against those three dragons, she's not going to come back, so therefore she won't be punished by me. You two will have to take her punishment. You are officially at strike two. Disappoint me again, and both of you will sleep with the fishes."
"We won't disappoint you again, boss." Cadence declared, taking two steps forward. "I promise you that we won't be made fools of again. We'll get even with that mangy mutt."
"No, you won't..." Their boss growled.
"Huh?" Cadence asked, shocked.
"You two won't be getting another chance with Fu Dog." Their boss told them. "As far as I'm concerned, that job will go to someone else. You don't deserve a mission like that."
"But-" Cadence tried, but got cut off.
"You two will be sleeping outside tonight." Their boss continued. "Now get out of my sight."
BLACKOUT; END EPISODE
A/N: Don't know how I feel about this one. How about you tell me how you feel. Please leave a review. Oh, and on the topic of Trinity, you can bet that karma came to bite her back. I can guarantee you that her cell mate in magical prison forced her to partake in degrading acts for their amusement.
