"Concentrate on how much power you want to use! There we go!" Jade smiles proudly, watching as Chen easily broke one of the dummies in half using super strength. The young man pants for breath after the work out, swinging his arms as he looks down at the dummy. "How'd I do?"

"Great! You've been picking up this thing way quicker than I thought! The meditation must've helped a lot, eh?" Jade states, as Chen grins, proud that he was finally getting somewhere. "Yeah, I guess it has."

The two sat down on the mat for a break, and as Chen looks around he took note that the old dojo was much cleaner than his first visit. Jade must've done some proper cleaning and repairs on this place.

"So-"

Jade's voice brings Chen's attention back to him, and the young man turns to the snake demon.

"Since you've been doing so well, I feel like we can do a bit of friendly sparring, just to see how you go with your powers in battle." Jade suggests, taking a sip of his water bottle. Chen's about to answer when his phone alarm goes off, signalling the end of the lesson. He takes out his phone, checking the time.

"Maybe next time. I gotta go to work. Pigsy told me there's going to be a special guest coming to see MK." He explains, getting to his feet. Jade nods in understanding. "Ah, alright! Just, uh, remember to keep meditating, alright?" He asks.

Chen was already rushing out the door. "Got it, teach! Catch ya later!"

With that, the boy was gone, leaving Jade alone.

The snake demon gets to his feet, stretching a bit. He had to admit, he was a bit disappointed that Chen couldn't spar with them, since it was obvious the young man was doing much better. But there was always next time, right?

Jade moves into another room of the dojo, heading toward the bathroom. He had managed to get the water working in this old place, just so he'd have somewhere decent to live. The technology of this day and age will never cease to amaze him.

Turning the tap on he splashes some water on his face, before looking into the mirror. As he looks up at his reflection, they're met with the sight of a manic smile behind them. Their blood runs cold, a familiar chill running down his spine.

"Well, well, well! What do we have here? If it isn't my old partner." A voice says cheerily behind him, the smile never disappearing or fading for a second.

Jade stands taller, turning to face the figure he'd seen in the reflection. "Chief."

The Chief of War before him looked way different than when he'd last seen him. Instead of the attire he was accustomed to, he was wearing a black suit with blue stripes. But his familiar lifeless eyes stared back at Jade, a wide grin stretched across his face.

"Ah, it's been so long since somebody's called me that." He says with a grin. "And it's been a while since I've seen you. How was that coffin? Dark? Cramped? Perhaps a little claustrophobic? I know how you feel about tight spaces."

Jade doesn't say anything back, instead changing the subject. "If you're here, does that mean our lady...?"

The man chuckles, shaking his head. "Oh, not yet! But she'll be back very soon. But while we're here, was that the Demon Bull Kings off spring I caught skipping out of here? You know how our Lady will feel if she finds you associating with the enemy."

Jade tenses up, jaw clenching slightly. "It's not what it looks like-"

"Oh, don't worry! I won't do anything to him yet. After all, we wouldn't want our dear old friend the Monkey King coming after us yet, do we?"

Jade nods, glancing off to the side to avoid looking at his partner.

"Still, I'm sure when our Lady returns she'll want an explanation on why you're becoming close to him."

The man chuckles once more, placing a hand on Jade's shoulder. His hand felt cold, as if a corpse was touching them.

"Just remember where your loyalties lie, Jade Warrior." The man hisses, before disappearing in a puff of blue smoke.

Jade stares at the spot the man had been, a pit of dread forming.

His Lady was returning, and when she does Chen will most likely be destroyed if he couldn't convince the young man.

... and for some reason Jade didn't want that to happen...

What had he gotten himself into?

—

"Thank you for this amazing turnout!" The Mayor starts, as he stood at a small podium set up in the small noodle shop. Chen sat on a stool next to Pigsy and Tang, watching as Mei cheers excitedly for her best friend. "Woo-hoo! Let's hear it for Monkie Kid! Hero of the city!"

The mayor smiles widely, holding up a strange looking key. "As mayor, I hereby give Monkie Kid the key to our fair city!" He declares, stiffly turning to MK standing next to him, handing him the key. MK gleefully takes it, looking down at it as a strange pulse emanates from it. He takes a moment to look it over, before turning back to the mayor. "Um, what does this key do, exactly?"

Chen face palms as the Mayor explains to the boy.

"Oh, you'll love this. It has the power to open anything!" He says with a wide grin. Mei gets excited, climbing onto the podium. "Ooh, anything? Like a pet shop full of puppies?!" She asks excitedly.

The mayor stares at her with unusually wide eyes, slightly unnerving Chen. "Yes! Or the door to a lions cage, or an orphans piggy bank..." His voice becomes lower, and Chen had to lean forward just to hear the last thing he adds. "Or an imprisoned mystic power source... Whatever you like!" With that he was back to being loud, making Chen wince slightly as he leans against the podium. "Today, you can do no wrong! Cause- I'm the mayor!" He declares with a cackle, before suddenly disappearing in a puff of blue smoke, surprising everyone in the building.

Mei leans on the podium. "Huh. I'm starting to think, that's maybe not the mayor." She says. Chen hums, looking around the shop. "I think he was some sort of magician posing as the mayor." This causes Mei to giggle.

MK was too busy looking at the key to take notice of their conversation. "Wow, a key that can open anything!"

Chen catches sight of the excited grins stretched across Mei and MK's faces, and gets to his feet. "Hey, before you run off we should-"

Before he could say anything else, Mei and MK each grab one of his arms, and quickly drags him out of the noodle shop door. "Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" Mei yells excitedly.

MK beams at Chen, seeing the young man's surprised and annoyed look. "C'mon, Chen! We get to do whatever we want! And I think you need a distraction after... well, you know." He declares.

With that the duo run to the arcade, which happened to be locked that day. As MK opens the door, Chen thinks it over.

He probably could use a break...

—

Chen leans against his bike, watching MK and Mei get attention after winning several prizes. The young man had to admit, he had fun. These last two weeks have been hectic, and some time with his best friends was exactly what he needed.

"Mei! Chen!" MK yells, shaking Mei's shoulders. "Okay, hear me out! We knew the key could magically unlock anything. But maybe, it can also magically lock anything too!"

Chen and Mei share a glance, the young man face-palming for a second time that day. "You literally just described all keys." Mei says, as Chen flicks the boy on his head. "Obvi."

MK scoffs, waving them off. "Sure, yeah, fine. But do you know what this means? Having this key, this power. It's so much responsibility..." MK holds up the key, a mischievous grin on his face.

"But I know what we need to do!"

—

Chen, MK, and Mei stand on the balcony above Pigsy's Noodles, watching with anticipation as Pigsy walks closer to his shop, carrying a bag of groceries in his arms. He hums a tune to himself, oblivious to the snickering kids above him.

Placing the bag down he goes to open the door, only to find it locked. "What the?"
Rolling up his sleeves he prepares himself, lifting the door with all his might, yet once again it doesn't budge. All he manages to do is crack his back.

Chen, MK and Mei all watch as Pigsy runs around the building, trying to find an entrance to his shop only to find everything, from the doors to the windows, is locked.

MK wipes the tears of laughter from his eyes. "I wish we had this key all the time! I don't think I've had this much fun in forever!"
Chen pats him on the back. "You said it! Man, I missed doing this stuff with you guys." He chuckles.

Their fun is short lived as an explosion blows a hole through the wall behind them, knocking the trio to the street below. Mei lands on the street, while the two boys land in the giant dumpsters.

From the smoke and flames emerges Red Son, a smirk covering his features. "Noodle boy! Finally!"
Mei gets to her feet first, followed by MK. "What are you doing in MK's house?!"
"You better not have touched my stuff!"

Red Son scoffs in disgust. "Do you know how long I've been waiting here for you? Your house is... depressing."

Chen groans as he sits up, rubbing his head. What the hell was that?

"I almost feel bad taking things from you. Buuuut I'm going to need that magic key."

Chen freezes, eyes widening. Was that? Oh, it is.

"YOU!"

Chen stumbles to his feet, yelling and cursing as he throws bits and pieces of garbage off of him, clambering out of the bin to face the demon prince. "YOU GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Red Son freezes, eyes widening in shock. "Niúzǎi?"

"You lot have been avoiding me for weeks! Don't think I didn't notice your little bloody robots following me around! Come down here and fight me you coward!" Chen yells angrily, about to climb back up to the balcony.

Red Son stumbles back a bit, scowling at the young man. "I still can't believe you're Niúzǎi." He mutters. "Out of all the peasants in this town-"

"Stop talking and get your sorry behind down here or I'll MAKE you come down here! What? Too scared to fight me now? Worried that I'll beat you this time?!"

Mei puts a hand on Chen's shoulder. "Chen, what are you doing-"

Red Son scoffs in disgust at Chen's angry yells, collecting himself. "As much as I'd love to fight, I'm afraid that my parents and I have other plans." He states. With that his hand bursts into flames and the key that had been laying abandoned on the street flew into his open palm. "Yoink! So long, noodle boy!" He cackles, teleporting to a vehicle hidden in the alley, and zooming away.

Chen growls, his anger getting the best of him. "You're NOT getting away from me this time!"

Before Mei or MK could say anything, Chen had already hopped onto his bike, recklessly speeding after Red Son.

Mei stares after the two demons, confused. "... what just happened?"
MK groans, rubbing his eyes. "It's, uh, a long story. We should go after them, get the key AND Chen back."

"Uh, YEAH we do! He has a lot of explaining to do!" Mei whistles, summoning her bike and chasing after the two boys.

"Wait for me! No, Mei it's all good! I definitely don't want a ride. It's totally fine!" MK mutters sarcastically, pulling his staff from his ear and following his two best friends and enemy.

—

Red Son sped down the street, barging into cars and knocking them aside. The wreckage left behind allowed Chen to know where the demon prince went.

Chen growls as he catches sight of the large vehicle, speeding his bike up till he's side by side with the prince. "Hey, flame head!"

Red Son quickly looks over to him, groaning. "Of course it's you! What, you want another beat down? Sorry to disappoint but I don't have time for your games!"

Chen scowls. "Oh, I'm not looking for another beat down. I'm getting pay back for that calabash!" He yells, moving his bike close enough till he could reach the vehicle. With an angry yell he lashes out with a kick, hitting the side door and leaving a dent.

"Watch it! I JUST made this!" Red Son screams. Chen scoffs. "You don't want me to ruin your car? You deserve more than that for trying to ruin my life!"

—
Mei catches up just in time to see Chen arguing with Red Son, the two screaming at each other and barely watching the road. Mei decides to take this as her chance to speed in front of Red Son, drawing her sword.

Red Son notices her soon enough, having to dodge her sword from hitting his tires. "Can't you and your little peasant friends let me plot in peace? Just ONE TIME?!"

A thump is heard on his tank, and the demon Bull prince quickly looks in his rear view mirror to see Chen had jumped onto the tank.

"Oh COME ON!"

Red Son tries to squash Mei with his vehicle, to at least try and get rid of one of the two. But Mei easily dodges. "Stop wriggling!"

"Does it get boring? Us beating you all the time? You know we're gonna get that key back, right?"

Chen climbs to the passenger side door, about to grab the handle when the larger vehicle lurches to the side, almost throwing the young man off and causing him to have to cling on for dear life. Red son pushes a few buttons, his vehicle dropping a smaller race car onto the road. Whatever was left starts hurtling toward Mei with Chen attached.

Chen quickly jumps off, landing into a stand selling fruit and vegetables. Mei leaps off her own bike, using her sword to cut through the large vehicle and landing on the other side.
Chen growls as he climbs out of the squashed and ruined vegetables, ignoring the distraught owner of the stand as he bitterly watches Red Son drive away, the red-haired demon cackling maniacally. "So long, Rat and Dragon Horse Girl! Here's a tip, next time pick one animal and-"

Her taunt is cut off as MK's staff crashes into his car, destroying it instantly as Red Son is sent flying onto the road, landing face first on the pavement. He groans in pain as MK walks over, picking up the skeleton-like key. "So, looks like you reached the end of the line, Red Son." MK declares, holding the key triumphantly.

"RED BOY!"

MK cringes as he, Red Son and Mei all look over to Chen, who's marching over to them. The young man had an enraged look on his face as he made a beeline for the red-haired demon. "I have HAD IT with you! First you try and kill me and my friends, then you try and brainwash me?!"

Red Son quickly scrambles to his feet, turning to face Chen with an angry expression himself. "In my defense, that wasn't even my idea-"
"I don't care! You were still a part of it!" Chen spat, reaching Red Son and grabbing onto his jacket collar. Before Red Son or Chen could get into another fight, a large gust of wind separates the two, knocking them both off their feet.

MK and Mei rush over to help Chen to his feet, the trio looking over to find Princess Ironfan standing on a nearby building, over-looking the group. She stares down at them coldly, and Chen couldn't help but notice that it seemed more directed at his friends.
"Alright, children. Hand that key over and quit wasting my time." she states, holding out a hand.

Chen scowls, taking a defensive stance. "Why the heck do you need this key, huh?" he asks, as MK and Mei follow his lead, the two holding their weapons. Princess Ironfan's brows furrow slightly at his question, not happy with the enquiry. "That's for us to know and for you to find out, Niúzǎi." she states.
"That's not my name, witch!" Chen spat angrily, to which Princess Ironfan rolls her eyes. "I don't have time for this."

"Well we have time for this!" Chen spat, charging at PIF with MK and Mei following at his heel, determined to take down the princess.
But none of the trio could land a hit on her. Summoning her fan, Princess Ironfan easily dodged their attacks, whacking them back onto the street with a single hit.
MK drops the key, giving Red Son a chance to grab it, scuttling over to his mother as a strong gust of wind picks up. "Come, Red Son. We have things to do."
"Thanks for the key, losers!"

And with that, the two vanish, not leaving a trace behind. Chen, MK and Mei were left to pick themselves up, the young girl looking around for the stolen object. "Did they get away with the key?" she asks. MK nods, dusting himself off. "Yeah. But what I can't figure out is... why?"

"Well whatever it is they wanted it for must be bad, since a key that can open any door is dangerous..." Chen mutters, looking up at the building PIF and Red Son had been a moment before. "We better keep our guard up."

"Hey, Chen. Mind telling me why you went all crazy on Red Son back there?" Mei asks, turning to the young man. "Like, I know he's a bad guy and all, but I've never seen you that angry on, well, anyone really." she says, putting her sword away. Chen sighs, rubbing his eyes. "It's... a long story." he mutters. At this, Mei scoffs. "Well, we have the rest of the day, don't we? Last I checked, you don't got any work today since Piggy's shop is closed now." she giggles, remembering their earlier prank.

Chen and MK share a glance. "I... guess I could tell you what happened to pass the time. But I'd rather it be somewhere other than here..." Chen murmurs, looking around the street. Mei nods in understanding. "Okie dokie! Let's a go!" she declares, heading over to her bike. "Hey Chen, are you gonna pay that dude over there?" she asks, gesturing to the still distraught stand owner.

"Huh. I probably SHOULD pay him back for ruining his stand..."

Mei gasps, holding Shu close. "Oh my gosh! You're joking, right?!" she asks in disbelief, looking at Chen with wide eyes.

The trio had gone back to Chen's apartment, Mei and MK sitting on the couch with Shu on the girls lap, while Chen sat on a kitchen chair opposite to them. Chen had just finished explaining to Mei what had happened that night of the Great Wall Race.

"I wish I were." Chen shrugs. "But there has been some... pretty solid evidence showing that I am related to them, so it's hard to say otherwise." he explains. MK nods, reaching out to the small table where Chen had set up snacks for the two. "Yeah. Plus, Princess Ironfans reaction in the race actually explains a lot."

"So you're really a bull demon? But how? You said Pigsy just found you in ice, right? How did you even get there? I have so many questions!" Mei says. Chen shrugs again. "You're not the only one. But I'm not gonna be the one to go and ask the Bull family what happened. Not after everything they've done." Chen scowls.

Seeing how upset Chen was getting, MK pipes up. "Well, since Mei's up to date with everything, how about we do something? Like play a board game?" he gasps as an idea comes to him. "We could have another sleepover!"

Chen thinks about it for a moment. "Sure, why not?" he chuckles, getting to his feet. He could use the company. "Plus, you'll need a place to sleep for tonight until your house is fixed, MK."

Mei and MK cheer. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You're the best, Chen!" MK yells, hugging Chen tightly. Chen chuckles softly, patting his back. "Alright alright, you can let go now."

MK lets go, taking a step back as he moves over to Mei. "Hey Mei! Where are those video games you got today? We can try them out tonight!" he says, as Chen leaves the room to try and find some blankets and pillows for the duo. Maybe he had a sleeping bag too.

Shu hops off the couch where she'd been sleeping, following Chen into the next room. As the young looks in the cupboards for the blankets, he could hear MK's and Mei's excited chatter, causing him to smile softly.

Gods, he felt so lucky to be their friend, their family. He couldn't imagine a life without knowing them.
Shu meows, brushing against Chen's leg. The young man bends down, giving her a pat as Mei's voice calls out from the next room. "Hey, Chen! Can we dye your hair?! I got some here!" she calls. Chen rolls his eyes. "No."

"Aw, come on! When can I dye your hair?!"
"Never."
"You're no fun!"

Chen chuckles, walking back into the room with Shu on his heels. MK was already setting up the controllers for their gaming session, while Mei was pulling out the games.

Outside, a figure watches the trio intensely from the shadows, his tail flicking back and forth quickly. He chuckles as he watches them.

"Well, things just got a whole lot more interesting."