Chapter 20: Dog Day Afternoon:
Jackie's POV:
I was in the Tomb of Anubis. In his statue hand is the Dog Talisman. I was in a weird tour group.
"Mr. Chan," says an old man who looks like he could be Father Time, "isn't it true this tomb might be cursed?"
"CURSE! NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT A CURSE!"
"I'm not happy."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine," I said.
I grabbed the Dog Talisman.
"Chan!"
We all looked and saw Tohru.
"The Talisman!"
"Uh... what talisman?"
Tohru gets out the dragon statue. "The Dragons say you have it."
"Is this related to the curse," asks an African American girl.
"AGAIN, WITH THE CURSE!"
"Why are you always shouting," I asked.
"MY DAD'S DEAF, OKAY? IT'S NOW A HABBIT FOR ME!"
"You all need to get out of here, this guy's... uh... a treasure hunter."
"That explains alot," says the surfer kid.
Tohru then tried to grab the talisman from me, but I kept trying to keep it from him.
"You know, Tohru, you should really consider joining Section Thirteen. They have doughnuts on Wednesdays. And also, your niece wouldn't feel so ashamed of you being a bad guy."
Tohru just kept trying to take the talisman from me. Then the eyes of Anubis started to glow.
"I think this may be the curse," I said.
"I'M GETTING REALLY SICK OF THAT CURSE!"
Let's just say we were all lucky to get out of that with our lives.
. . .
I was at the airport and said goodbye to the weird people. One of them asked if he could borrow some weird things, but if you ask me, he should ask for something for his throat. I then got a phone call.
It was Jade, "Jackie, hope you didn't forget Uncle's birthday."
I then bought a gift basket and went on my way.
Tohru's POV:
I arrived at the hideout. Nichang and the Enforcers were looking smug.
"It seems the Master's new favorite has come empty handed," says Nichang.
"Where's thuh talisman," asks Montana.
"Maybe he ate it," says Fancy Dan.
"Way to go," says Ox.
What these idiots don't realize is that my true mission is to prevent Shen Du from gaining his true form. The Dark Hand's purpose is to remove magic from the world. Magic is too chaotic and the Director, whose true identity I don't even know, prefers order. If Shen Du were to regain his powers, it would shift the balance over to chaos. However, I must now face the consequences from Shen Du. I entered the room.
"I'm dissssappointed, Tohru," he says, "but then again, you did bring me one talissssman before. That'ssss one more than the otherssss. I won't ssssay their namessss, but their initialssss are MONTANA, FANCCCCY DAN, OX, AND LIAN NICHANG."
"He said our initials," says Ox.
The other three look at him in a confused way.
"I will give you a chancccce to redeem yoursssself," says Shen Du.
"Thank you."
I then got up and it was my turn to look smug as the others were envious of me again, especially Nichang.
Nichang's POV:
"Ah will give ya a chahns ta redeem yourself," says Montana, "we beder git our resumes started, 'cause ah thihnk we're gonna be out awf a job."
"Shen Du always punishes us," says Fancy Dan. "What? Does the new guy get special treatment?"
"I wish there was something we could do about that bootlicker," says Ox.
"For once, you have an excellent idea," I said, "why don't we?"
The three then understood what I was saying. It was time to get rid of Tohru.
Jackie's POV:
We were celebrating Uncle's birthday, but he was not in the mood. I gave him the gift basket, but...
"Chocolate stings my teeth, and cheese... you don't want to know."
Uncle then leaves.
"But Uncle..." says Jade.
"When I am another year younger, we will celebrate."
Uncle's POV:
Uncle was researching the Dog Talisman and discovered it has the ability to grant immortality. Immortality? Uncle then grabs onto the talisman, and it starts to glow.
Jackie's POV:
I had a phone call.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Chan," it was a woman, "I represent an organization, N4CRS, and we are willing to pay you to find an artifact in the Temple of Juatchadoon."
"I don't know..."
"We will pay you handsomely."
"We could use the money. Alright. What is this artifact?"
"The Scepter of the Jade Emperor."
"Okay, I'm in." We hung up. "Now, where have I heard that voice before?"
Nichang's POV:
The Enforcers and I then laughed.
"Now all we need to do is make sure Tohru is there too," I said, "and we will get rid of both our enemies."
Jackie's POV:
I told the others of the job I got.
"Good," says Uncle, "I will go too."
"Awesome," says Jade, "that means we can come too."
"Uh... Uncle, what about..."
A vase then starts falling, and Uncle catches it. We were all surprised.
"Let's go," says Uncle.
"What just happened," asks Tommy.
. . .
We arrived in India to find the Temple of Juatchadoon. The kids stayed with Uncle, so I entered the temple. When I arrived, I found Tohru.
"Tohru? You're here for the artifact?"
"I don't know what artifact you mean. I'm here because I learned you were here."
Tohru then tries to attack me, so we end up fighting, but then something happens. We looked and saw Nichang. She winked and then pulled something, causing the whole room to collapse on us as Nichang left.
Uncle's POV:
With my newly discovered youth, I can do things like hip-hop. I was about to take a bite out of a sandwich...
"Uncle, that's cheese," says Jade.
"Yummy."
"But cheese... something's not right."
I then revealed the Dog Talisman.
"No way."
"Way."
"It's giving you the power to be super cool and stuff."
Tommy and others came.
"I just called Jackie... something's not right."
. . .
We saw Nichang and Enforcers laughing.
"You four hyenas," Uncle says, "where is Jackie?"
"He won't bother us anymore," says Nichang.
Uncle did not take that well, so Uncle threw sandwich at Nichang. Nichang did not enjoy that, so Nichang and Uncle fought. Thanks to Dog Talisman, we are evenly matched.
"Uncle's doing things he shouldn't do," says Dil.
"Go Uncle," says Jade.
"Jade, what's going on," asks Chuckie.
We continued to fight, but then Nichang gets sneaky and knocks Uncle out.
Jackie's POV:
Tohru and I were lucky to survive that.
"Those treacherous swines," says Tohru, "I will gut them like a fish! And I hate fish!"
I tried to look for a way out. I may need some muscles. I couldn't leave Tohru. Besides, I may need the muscles.
"Tohru, listen, we may have to work together to get out."
"Why would you suggest that? We are on opposite sides."
"Because we're both stuck in this predicament thanks to Nichang and the others."
Tohru then shakes my hand, agreeing.
Uncle's POV:
"Uncle," says Uncle.
"Yes, Uncle," says Uncle.
"You must save Jackie. He may need you."
"But I am dead."
"How can you be dead? You have the Immortality Talisman!"
"Oh right."
"One more thing." Uncle then hits Uncle.
. . .
Uncle then wakes up.
"Uncle, you're alright," says Lil.
"Uh... see? Lots of garlic is good for you. Now we must find Jackie. He was at the temple. That's where we go."
Jackie's POV:
Tohru and I were working on getting out.
"So, what can you tell me about yourself," I asked.
Tohru was quiet.
"Okay." I then heard Tohru's stomach. He's probably hungry. He looks like he could eat a lot. "I got some snacks. They're cookies, so they're not..."
Tohru takes them. "I like cookies," he says, "I... left some for you. Didn't want to be rude."
"Thank you."
We continued walking.
"I don't suppose you have some grape soda on you," asks Tohru.
"No, sorry."
"If you don't mind my asking, why do you carry cookies with you?"
"You should really get to know Angelica. She's the blonde."
Uncle's POV:
We arrived at the temple and saw Enforcers there too.
"Uh... Nichang," says Fancy Dan, "you did take out the old guy, right?"
"Of course, I did, you idiot."
"Then who's that?"
They all looked and saw me, alive.
"But... you... how..."
"He's a zombie," says Ox.
"This time, he will not come back," says Nichang as she fights Uncle again.
Jackie's POV:
Tohru and I finally found the exit, so we started digging our way out. We then got out and we saw Uncle fighting Nichang. What did we miss? I know Uncles needs help and Tohru wants revenge, so we joined the fight.
Tohru then grabs Nichang.
"Tohru... you're alright," Nichang tries to look innocent.
"I thought I wouldn't see my friends again," says Tohru, who then squeezes Nichang and throws her.
"You're awn yo-wr own," says Montana, as he, Fancy Dan, and Ox run.
Nichang then decides to do the same. Tohru then looked at us and left.
I then looked at Uncle and I saw the Dog Talisman.
"Uncle, explain."
"When you get to be my age, you long to go back. Thank you for helping me re-experience my youth, Jackie. And for helping me realize what a mistake that was. Being young is too dangerous and exhausting. Uncle needs a rest."
We all then laugh.
Tohru's POV:
I returned and saw Nichang and the Enforcers with Shen Du.
"Tohru, Nichang told me how you tried to harm her and helped Chan fight againsssst them," says Shen Du.
"But I..."
"Enough! I'll give you another chancccce, but for now, the Shadowkhan will teach you to take ssssides."
I looked at Nichang and the Enforcers. This isn't over.
In the next chapter, the Talismans will be stolen by Talon.