Chapter 10: Hold Your Horses:

Jackie's POV:

I was in the Temple of Epona, the Protector of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys, and Mules. I have a hunch that the next talisman is the Horse Talisman. Anyway, as I was searching for it, guess who I ran into.

"Chan," says Nichang, with the Enforcers backing her up.

"Oh, it's just you guys," I said.

"Let's teach 'im some manners," says Montana.

I then fought the four. Ox tried to punch me, but I dodged, and he ended up hitting Montana. Nichang tries to attack me, but I dodged, and she ended up hitting Fancy Dan. Things got so confusing for them that they ended up fighting each other, allowing me to take the talisman and go.

"Wait a minute," says Montana, "what in tarnations ahr we doin'?"

They stopped and realized I was getting away with the talisman.

Montana's POV:

Thuh fowar awf us talked it ovher eend we done agreed, High-Falutin' Dan should try t' explain t' She-yn Du.

"Go on," says Nichang.

High-Falutin' Dan the-yn tawks t' She-yn Du. We couldn't har what was goin' awn through thuh do-wr.

"Ya har anything," Ah ask.

"Just that hissing sound his voice makes," says Ox.

The-yn thuh Shadowkhan guh-rab us eend tay-uk us in.

"Master," says Nichang, "we were just... running out of excuses."

"Enough," says She-yn Du, "what we need issss a way to get the talissssmanssss. And I have it that way. Hammerhead found it. That jar containssss my blood. Nichang, if you wish to prove yoursssself, you will trick Chan into drinking it!"

"Disgusting," says Nichang, "but I will do it."

"Oncccce Chan drinkssss it, he will become our most valuable ally."

Jackie's POV:

At the Antique Shop, Uncle is trying to study the Horse Talisman.

"The power involves the body," says Uncle.

"So, maybe it involves martians," says Jade.

"There are no such things as martians," says Uncle.

"That reminds me," says Chuckie, "Did you guys notice Earth and Mars are getting closer?"

"Maybe they're going to merge into Ears," suggests Dill.

I then got a phone call. "Neugog, the Grundle, and Turbo Jet are all back?!"

. . .

I was at the warehouse, and I saw the three. They were attacking a poor old woman. What's strange is how random this is. Neugog wants the best brains, Grundle manipulates kids, and Turbo Jet's just a crook. Still, I had to help her out, and using one of Section Thirteen's gizmos, I managed to take them down. It was surprisingly easy.

"Thank you deary," says the old woman, "here, have a drink."

I then took some, but the old woman then laughed.

"Um... what's the joke?"

The old woman revealed herself to be Nichang, and the other three were the enforcers, which could explain why taking down Neugog, Turbo Jet, and the Grundel was so easy.

"Lian Nichang and the Enforcers?"

"Yes, and you took a special serum, and soon you will be helping us."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever..." I then felt funny, and when it stopped, Nichang held up a mirror and I saw I had fangs.

"I believe the word you are looking for is 'Bad Day.'"

Nichang and the Enforcers, who are still in pain from me beating them down earlier, all laughed.

. . .

At the antique shop, Uncle was checking my fangs.

"So, what's happening to him," asks Jade.

"Jackie must've been tricked into drinking Demon Blood."

"Gross," says Angelica.

"It will turn him into monster that will obey whoever blood belongs to."

"Where did the Big Man get demon blood," I asked.

Uncle hits me. "That was for accepting a beverage from a stranger! Luckily, Uncle can make an antidote."

. . .

First, Uncle gave me something to ingest. It made me puke. Apparently, it wasn't the antidote. It was just good for digestion.

. . .

Uncle then gave me a real antidote. I took it.

"What?"

"Do not look in mirror."

I looked and I was turning to stone.

"I told you not to look!"

"I am going to be a stone monster!"

Then, I guess the Demon Blood cancels out the stone effect. Also, I was getting scaly.

"We try again."

. . .

The next antidote, well, I don't remember, but I have a headache, plus I woke up in bed, injured. I think the antidote was a painful one.

. . .

I was sitting in a chair, with fangs, scales, and claws.

"We have to do something," says Jade.

"What if we trade the Talismans for an antidote," suggests Chuckie.

"Then the Big Man does who knows what with the talismans," says Phil.

Dil was taking pictures of my condition.

"I'm sure Uncle will come up with something," I said.

"Uncle needs cat to sacrifice!"

. . .

At night, we were all sleeping, but then I felt strange. I felt... evil!

Jade's POV:

I decided to check on Jackie, but when I went into his room, he was gone. But there was an open window, and I think I know where he went.

. . .

The guys and I followed Jackie to a tower where a now monstrous Jackie was giving the talismans to Lian Nichang and the Enforcers.

"Good work," says Nichang.

"Ah like that Chan's one awf us now," says Montana.

"Hold it," says Fancy Dan, "let's make sure those kids aren't here."

"We're not here," says Chuckie.

"Get them," says Nichang

Jackie then leaped at us.

"Jackie," I said, "you gotta fight it."

"Hey, now I remember you. You're that white-haired lady who Coco LaBouche works with that double-crossed me on our deal that I'm still regretting to this day!"

"Oh yes, that was a nice day to break a deal."

"Huh, what was the deal."

"To assist LaBouche in convincing my dad to marry her so that she can give Angelica the things she desired."

"That's just low."

"I did say 'I'm still regretting to this day!'"

"Wait," says Nichang, "there is one missing!"

"Guess Monster Jackie didn't think about the Horse!" I said.

Then Uncle came.

"Uncle," I said, "you got the antidote?"

"No, I brought Horse Talisman to trade for their antidote. Plus, I brought failed antidotes..."

Jackie then tried to attack Uncle, but Uncle's flame-throwing antidote blasted him. Uncle then ended up in a fight with the enforcers.

"A lot easier if Uncle's hips were any better!"

The Horse Talisman falls, and Jackie tries to grab it, but I jumped on him.

"Come on, Jackie," I said, "you gotta fight it!"

"You're wasting your time, child," says Nichang, "he's now..." Jackie accidentally scratched her. "OW! Watch where you point those claws!" When she steps on the Horse Talisman, her wounds heal. "Oh, I feel better."

"The Horse Talisman," I said, "it has healing powers!"

I then jumped off Jackie, hoping it would work on Demon Blood too. "Go ahead, take it."

Jackie then picks up the Horse Talisman and it starts turning him back to normal.

"Hey," says Jackie. He then sees Nichang. "Hey!"

"Uh-oh."

Jackie then knocks Nichang down.

"Let's go," says Montana as they all run.

Jackie's POV:

We returned the Horse Talisman to Section 13.

"Glad to have you back," says Jade as she hugs me.

"Glad to be back," I said, "but there is one thing that bugs me. Where did the Big Man get demon blood?"

Montana's POV:

"So, we kahnd awf." Ah done started.

"SSSILENCCCCE! There issss a way to make up for thissss failure."

"What do we have to do," asks Nichang.

"You four musssst find a way to entertain me."

We done looked at each other.

"And if we fail, My Lord..."

"Then you're going to have to entertain the Shadowkhan. So, who'ssss firsssst?"

We all stepped back, except for High-Falutin' Dan.

"Really?"

In the next chapter, the warrior Shikata seeks a worthy opponent and believes Jackie could be the one she seeks.