Chapter 9: The Legend of the Dragon Tooth

It was a typical night for Jake Long. Well, as typical as it could be when you're a fire-breathing dragon hiding the fact you're also the son of a billionaire. Speaking if the devil, said billionaire was just calling him via magic mirror (as typical as it could be when you're a fire-breathing dragon, remember?). "Hi, Dad." Jake greeted Jonathan Long.

"Tell them about me, Dad!" Haley eagerly asked while jumping in joy. "Tell them about me, Mom!"

"Tell us what, Susan?" Lao Shi asked his daughter.

"Haley's about to lose her first tooth!" Susan happily told Lao Shi.

"I'll set the protective enchantments at the manor, Susan." Lao Shi calmly stated. "We can never be too careful with a dragon's tooth at stake."

"Yeah." Jake sarcastically asked. "The Tooth Fairy should get some bodyguards."

"It won't be necessary but thank you for your concern anyway, young dragon." Lao Shi sincerely commented.

"I hope so because I have good news for Jake as well." Jonathan replied. "Guess who's got four tickets to see Shaniqua Chulavista in concert?"

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you, Dad!" Jake happily exclaimed. "Moments like these are what make me believe the good parts of having a billionaire father outweigh the bad ones like the secrecy." He then thought about that. "Speaking of secrecy, how do I explain the tickets to avoid having it known that you're my Dad?"

"I've already set the details with Mr. Spudinski, Jakers." Jonathan answered. "As far as people not in the secret are concerned, he's that high regarded in the company."

"But why four tickets when the kid's group of friends consists of three, John?" Fu Dog asked.

"Jake can use the fourth one to invite Rose." Jonathan suggested.

"I there should be a reason other than money for me to like you, John." Fu commented.

"Cool!" Jake replied. "Rose and I will be on a date."

"Trixie and Spud will be there as well, Jake." Susan replied.

"It'll be a double date, then." Jake argued.

"Tell that to Trixie's face, kid." Fu teased.

LINE BREAK – The next school day

"Wow!" Trixie exclaimed in joy. "And I thought I knew the best connections. Thank you very much, Spud."

"You're welcome, Trixie." Spud replied and then handed over two tickets to Jake. "You who you're inviting, right?"

"Yes, Spud. Thank you." Jake sincerely thanked his friend since Spud was covering up for him.

"Phew." Spud replied. "That makes one of us."

"Excuse me, guys, while I ask Rose." Jake said and then left.

"Okay, Spudinski." Trixie demanded. "Spill the beans."

"We're not having beans for lunch today, Trixie." Spud replied in confusion.

"Tell me how your Dad got these tickets!" Trixie ordered.

"Don't ask me to reveal corporate secrets." Spud replied.

"Corporate secrets?" Trixie asked with money signs on her eyes. "Are you in any secrets from Jonathan Long?"

"I am neither confirming nor denying anything." Spud formally stated.

"Come on, Spud." Trixie pleaded. "Think of all the money we could get from revealing secrets from one of the richest guys in the country."

"Yes!" Jake interrupted them. "Rose said yes!"

"Really?" Trixie was somewhat skeptical.

"Well, she said she had to get her Uncle's permission but, barring a failure to get it, she's going with me."

"Okay." Trixie replied.

Brad then approached Jake. "Long, I've got word you have tickets to Shaniqua Chulavista's show. If Rose is unable to use hers, will you sell it to me?"

"Morton, Spud's the one who got us these tickets." Trixie 'corrected' Brad. "If you want to buy any, talk to him or his agent, namely me."

"You?" Spud asked. "When did you…"

"Play along and you'll be making it up for not revealing Long Enterprises secrets." Trixie replied, unknowingly making Jake sad.

"Trixie, you can't be certain there will be an available ticket for Brad." Jake protested while trying to mask his sadness.

"Think positive, Jakey." Trixie asked. "Brad, if the ticket is available, you'll have to pay fifty bucks and I get ten percent. Cash payments only."

"Deal!" Brad exclaimed.

"The ticket isn't for sale unless Rose isn't using it." Jake protested.

Meanwhile, Fu Dog and Lao Shi were at Long Manor to set protections. "Can't I just pull my loose tooth off and be done with it?" Haley asked.

"Haley, I know baby teeth are supposed to be temporary, but we mustn't lose them earlier or it may cause damage to our later teeth." Jonathan lectured. "Our family's dentist said as much back when Jake started losing his baby teeth."

Fu Dog then approached Haley. "Don't listen to him, kid. Just give me two months' worth of your allowance and I'll rip that tooth off in one minute."

"FU DOG!" Lao Shi angrily shouted.

"Fine." Fu Dog grumbled. "One month and that's my final offer."

"I give you fifty percent of whatever the tooth fairy pays for the tooth." Haley counter-offered.

Fu thought for a while before replying. "No deal, kid."

LINE BREAK – The Show

Jake, Spud and Trixie were about to enter. "Yo, Jakey. Where's Homegirl?" Trixie asked.

"She's not coming." Jake sadly answered. "Said something about her Uncle wanting it to be a "family night" and not believing it safe to be outside at night."

"Couldn't Rose have told us sooner?" Trixie asked with a demanding tone. "Seventy-five dollars down the drain."

"Didn't you say Brad was paying ''fifty'' dollars?" Spud asked in confusion.

"Stacey made a better offer." Trixie explained.

"She didn't think about phoning her Uncle from school." Jake explained.

Eventually, Fu Dog and Luong Lao Shi arrived back home. "I still think we should've stayed there, Gramps." Fu commented.

"You just wanted to eat at my son-in-law's expense." Lao Shi accused his animal companion.

"One can't be too careful with fine food, I mean, a dragon tooth at stake." Fu argued.

"What could possibly happen, Fu Dog?" Lao Shi asked.

As if on cue, the Tooth Fairy showed up and looked like she'd just survived some epic battle. "Were you saying, old man?" Fu asked.

The Tooth Fairy explained that her assistant Dr. Diente stole her wand, made monsters out of her collected teeth and plans to steal Haley's baby tooth.

"We have to call Jake!" Lao Shi exclaimed and tried to reach Jake through the latter's cell phone, only to receive the following message: the number you dialed has been turned off or is outside the coverage area.

Fu face palmed. "The kid is at a theater. Of course he'd keep his phone turned off."

"Then we have no choice, Fu Dog." Lao Shi solemnly declared. "We'll have to rescue Haley ourselves."

"I'll stay here to watch over the Tooth Fairy." Fu offered since he didn't want to face any kind of danger.

"No!" She replied. "I'm going with you. It's my duty to collect Haley's tooth."

"Aw, man." Fu moaned.

As they went towards Long Manor, Dr. Diente and his tooth monsters were patiently waiting for something that made Haley step outside the protective barrier set by her Grandfather. "Any moment now, dragon."

Lao Shi eventually arrived. "Return the Tooth Fairy's wand, you thief!" He demanded.

"Make me, you old dragon." Dr. Diente replied while making the tooth monsters attack Lao Shi. Lao Shi was experienced and swifty enough to dodge their attacks and, when the monsters tried to grab him, he just let them hit each other and collapse. Dr. Diente tried to raise the Tooth Fairy's wand to restore them but Fu Dog grabbed it and handed it back to the Tooth Fairy. "Dr. Diente, you're fired." She said.

"Give me the wand back, or I'll…" Dr. Diente threatened her but Lao Shi flew between them. "On a second thought, I can try again another day." He said and then tried to flee but the tooth monsters were restored and grabbed him.

"The Dragon Council will hear about this, Dr. Diente." Lao Shi lectured.

In the next morning, Jake was told about his Grandfather's adventure. "And to think I used to be afraid of regular dentists." He commented.

"You and your friends didn't have a bad night yourselves, kid." Fu replied. "After all, you got a ride from Shaniqua Chulavista."

"Is everybody alright back home?" Jake asked out of concern.

"You can see for yourself, Jake." Lao Shi replied as he produced the magic mirror. "Hi, Jake." His little sister greeted him.

"Hi, Haley." Jake replied. "Was it scary last night?"

"Actually, I spent the whole night at home so I've missed the whole action like you have." Haley answered. "Did you enjoy the show?"

Jake spent a good time answering that question.

End chapter.