Chapter 27: The Horn

Jonathan Long was at his office reading reports when his secretary showed up. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, Mr. Long, but the head of the English branch sent this urgent message."

"Thank you." He replied as he took the message and she left. He opened the envelope and was informed that his plans to build a shopping center in London had to be halt because an ancient artifact was found in the area. Upon reading the detailed report and looking at the photograph, he decided to mirror call his father-in-law Luong Lao Shi.

At Canal Street Electronics, Lao Shi answered the call. "Jonathan, Jake still isn't back from school." Lao Shi informed his son-in-law.

"I know that, Lao Shi." Jonathan replied. "It's you I want to talk to." He then showed the photograph to Lao Shi. "Does this seem familiar?"

"Fu Dog?" Lao Shi asked for help from Fu Dog, who checked one of his magical books for confirmation. "Aw man, that's Wagner's Horn!"

"That bad?" Jonathan asked.

"John, that horn can suck people's souls." Fu Dog explained. "Rumor says that a thief James something used it to steal souls to use them on an attempt to free a demon named Astaroth back in the late 19th century but ended up hanged for his crimes. There might be some records in the human world as well."

"So what?" Jonathan asked. "Do I hand it over to the English Dragon or something like that once the authorities decide it's mine to keep?"

"It sounds like the proper course of action but people might find it odd if you neither leave it in a museum nor do you take it back with you to America." Lao Shi replied.

"Sounds like a better option anyway just in case someone tries to steal it to release that Astaroth guy again." Jonathan said. "There are some formalities to handle since the horn legally belongs to my company anyway."

Some days later, Jonathan Long took a plane to London and took the horn with him during the return flight to New York. He was waiting for his luggage when suddenly everyone heard a scream. Everybody went to the area it came from and found two guards in a coma-like state. Other guards showed up to help but Jonathan couldn't help but fear the worst.

After it was confirmed that Wagner's Horn was stolen, Jonathan Long notified Jake and Lao Shi and heard angry shouts from his father-in-law. "Don't you dare use this tone with me."

"What do we do, Grandfather?" Jake asked.

"We must find out who stole the horn before they collect enough souls to release Astaroth or whatever demon they want to." Lao Shi declared.

"Not to worry, old man." Fu replied. "I'll check with my connections."

"Your gambling buddies, Fu?" Jake maliciously asked.

"Don't underestimate them, kid." Fu replied. He turned out to be right as his source at Pandarus Towers revealed that Eli Excelsior Pandarus was behind the theft.

On Lao Shi's advice, he, Fu and Jake enlisted help from Haley, Sun, Trixie and Spud. They went to the hideout where Pandarus' ogre thugs took people for him to steal souls from and were surprised at what they discovered. "Oh might demons from the nether world, answer my call." Pandarus called to a magic mirror.

"What do you want, Pandarus?" One of the demons asked.

"I've collected enough souls to release one of you, mighty Tso Lan." Pandarus answered. "Who do I release first?"

"Me." Tso Lan answered.

"Wait a minute." Another demon demanded. "Why should we let you be the first one?"

"Because I was the one who got in contact with Pandarus, Tchang Zu." Tso Lan answered.

"But I was the first one to be released and reimprisoned." Another demon protested.

"True, Sister Po, but I was the last one so far so I should be the first one this time."

"Shut up, Hsi Wu." Po replied.

Their discussion was interrupted when Jake interrupted them. "Pandarus, you stole from my Dad."

Meanwhile, Spud took advantage of that distraction to grab the horn with his yoyo. "Now, Haley!" He shouted and she destroyed the horn with her fire-breathing, releasing the souls.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Pandarus shouted in horror.

"We should have enlisted a nix's help." Dai Gui stated and Po Kong agreed.

"Pandarus, our deal is off." Tso Lan stated. "Goodbye."

"Those demons would make me the world's most powerful wizard!" Pandarus exclaimed. "Someday I'll make you all pay for it." He said and then fled with his thugs since he didn't like his odds against four dragons.

That night, the dragons reported the news to Jonathan Long. Haley was at home with her parents while the others were at Canal Street Electronics. "I'm sorry for destroying the horn, Dad." Haley said.

"You did what you had to do, Haley." Jonathan reassured his daughter.

"And the insurance money certainly helped." Fu joked.

"I'm donating it to a local museum." Jonathan explained. "I'm just surprised those demons could be released without the box."

"That horn was lost for so long nobody accounted for that possibility until now, Jonathan." Lao Shi explained. "No need to worry now."

End chapter.

Author's Note: Wagner's Horn and Astaroth are elements from an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold.