Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past
—
A year had passed, and now, on the other side of the world in the bustling metropolis of San Francisco, an archaeologist and his spirited niece had just returned to Section 13—a covert military base hidden beneath the city's busy streets. Their latest mission was a success: retrieving a mystical gold ring with a jade stone embedded within it. The archaeologist, known as Jackie to his friends and Chan to his enemies, was in his mid-thirties. His tan pants and solid blue shirt, which hugged his well-defined frame, showed evidence of his rugged travels. He had warm brown eyes and short black hair that framed a square face. "Captain Black!" Jackie called, stepping out of the concealed telephone booth that served as Section 13's entrance with Jade.
"Jackie! How was the little trip overseas?" Black smiled warmly as he approached the two Chans. "Oh, you know. Same old, same old," Jackie replied with a smile, his bag still at his side. He began debriefing Captain Black, the man in charge of Section 13.
Captain Augustus Black was not only respected for his leadership and efficient operation of the elite special forces base but also for his close ties to high-ranking government officials, including the President himself. His bald head and black trench coat over a maroon turtleneck and gray corporate slacks cut an imposing figure.
"Thank you for retrieving the ring, Jackie," Captain Black told him. "It has caused considerable trouble for our overseas friends."
Retrieving the ring had proven daunting and complex. Once worn, it bestowed upon its bearer the unmatched ability to transform into any person their mind could conjure. This elusive criminal who possessed the ring had evaded capture for months, using the ring's shape-shifting abilities to assume various identities—from security guards to mayors, police officers, and even innocent grannies. It wasn't until Section 13 caught wind of its extraordinary capabilities and sent out Jackie to apprehend the criminal.
As Jackie stood in front of Captain Black, he couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of the situation. "Can't have something like this running amok in the world," he chuckled, reaching into his pocket for the ring—only to find it empty.
When Jackie realized the ring was gone, he frantically looked up to find a perfect replica of himself behind Captain Black, sheepishly waving.
"Bwah!" Jackie yelped, pounding his chest to calm down.
"Is everything alright, Jackie?" Captain Black raised an eyebrow as he turned to see what had startled his friend.
"Ha... ha, very funny, Jade," Jackie scolded without mirth, crossing his arms at his doppelgänger.
"Aww, come on, Uncle Jackie! You ruined the surprise!" the duplicate's high-pitched voice whined, sounding more like a child than a grown man. "Jade… what have I said about playing with things that do not belong to you?" Jackie reminded her.
But Jade wouldn't give up that easily. "Please, Uncle Jackie! It's fate! Jade girl meets Jade Ring! It has to be a sign or something!" she pleaded, flashing a charming smile at both her uncle and the stern Captain Black. Both men exchanged a look before firmly shaking their heads in unison. "No."
"Aww... no fair..." Jade pouted as she reluctantly removed the Jade Ring from her finger and shifted back to her true form: a twelve-year-old girl with short jet-black hair and bright brown eyes. She wore her signature orange hoodie and blue pants. Jade rocked back and forth on her feet as she faced the two older men's disapproving expressions. With a sheepish grin, Jade handed the ring to Captain Black, who held it warily at arms before stashing it away into his pocket.
"Heh... sorry Captain, it won't happen again!" she promised.
"Good. I'll make sure this gets sealed up safely in the vault," Captain Black said, his tone softening as he patted Jade's head to show no real harm was done. Jackie nodded gratefully before turning to leave with Jade in tow. "We'd best get back to the antique shop to let Uncle know we are home."
Just as they turned to leave, Black called after them. "Wait a moment, Uncle is already here. He's over in the magic storeroom researching something...unusual."
Jackie felt his curiosity pique as he looked back at Black. "Unusual... how?"
"My agents recovered a perfectly preserved tomb from within one of Shen Du's hideouts. Uncle has been deciphering the magic on it all morning. He may be able to use your help to figure out what's inside," Black said.
Jackie raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Shen Du? Are we really still recovering his treasures from beneath his castle? I thought we had cleared all that out over a year ago," he said, scratching his head in confusion as he glanced down at his niece. Unlike Jackie, Jade's eyes gleamed as bright as her imagination, her mind racing with excitement, "I bet old dragon breath had a secret hideout where he kept all his most powerful valuables!"
"Jade, you—" Jackie began, but Black chimed in.
"Actually, she's not far off the mark there, Jackie. This tomb was discovered in a completely unexpected area, not one of Shen Du's usual haunts. We only found it because there was a map hidden under a stone slab in his old bedroom—the thing took us months to decipher. It was only thanks to Uncle's and Tohru's researching and deciphering skills that we could glean any sort of information out of it."
Black's statement affirmed Jade's hypothesis, and she cheered with excitement. "Yes! I knew it!" Jade exclaimed.
Jackie could only sigh, both amused and exasperated by her precociousness. "Come on, Jade, let's go see if Uncle needs our help with that...tomb."
Jackie and Jade departed from Captain Black and navigated through the dimly lit hallways. The archaeologist in Jackie couldn't hide his excitement at the discovery of a perfectly preserved artifact in one of Shen Du's ancient lairs. Although he wished he had been the one to stumble upon it, a pang of curiosity clouded his mind as he tried to imagine why the demon dragon had hidden it separately from his other treasures. What made this one special?
With a deep sigh, Jackie pushed those thoughts aside as he continued to follow Jade down the hall toward the artifacts room. As they reached their destination, they were greeted by the familiar scent of ancient artifacts and dusty tomes. Their eyes roamed over shelves filled with mysterious objects collected from all over the world, each one a testament to their past adventures.
They soon spotted Uncle hunched over a large, ornately carved tomb, studying its intricate inscriptions with intense focus. His gray hair spiked messily while his narrowed eyes peered through a looking glass. His usual yellow vest draped over a white button-up shirt, hanging loosely on his thin frame. Uncle remained deathly still while he held his blowfish over the tomb, conducting small magical tests as its secrets waited to be unlocked by his expert eye.
Breaking Uncle's focus, Jade ran up to the edge of the tomb, her eyes shining with wonder. "Wow! Do you think there could be a mummy inside? Or maybe an ancient Chinese warrior captured by Shen Du for experiments?!" She exclaimed, her imagination running wild as she examined the stone box's engravings.
Before Jackie could respond, Uncle straightened up and let out a long groan as his back ignited in a series of pops and cracks. "Aiyaaa! Why must Shen Du write such small characters on such big box!" he complained as he moved to consult one of his many dusty books on demon sorcerers and ancient Chinese relics.
"Beats me! But the symbols are pretty cool!" Jade chimed in unhelpfully.
Meanwhile, Jackie walked along the tomb's opposite edge from Jade, tracing his fingers over the foreign engravings. He couldn't believe how perfectly preserved it looked; not a chip or fingerprint marred its surface. It was as if time had left it untouched, preserved for a world yet to come. "Amazing..." he whispered under his breath, realizing he had never seen anything like it in his long archaeological career. "This doesn't seem like a typical Qing Dynasty tomb that Shen Du would possess," he remarked aloud.
Jade bounced with excitement, spinning to the elder Chan with eager eyes. "Can we open it? Please! Pretty please!" she begged with clasped hands, her pitch growing higher by the second. "I just have to know what's inside!"
Uncle scolded her with a wagging finger. "Hold your horses! Must take precautions first!" He then proceeded to sprinkle some powdery substance over the top of the tomb, muttering a chi spell that would alert them to any traps or dark magic that might trigger when opened. "There! Once spell is done, we will know whether or not what lies within is good... or dark chi."
Jade huffed in frustration, realizing with a sinking feeling that since Shen Du had possessed this tomb, it must contain nefarious magic. "So much for opening it…" But after Uncle put it to the test, the spell came back clean of dark chi, surprising all three Chans in the room. The youngest Chan jumped for joy as Uncle grabbed his ingredients for the next step: a spell to open the tomb.
There were far too many unknowns at play here and Jackie couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding that had settled over him. "Uncle, are you sure it's safe to open this? We don't know what could be inside," he pleaded, gently pushing an eager Jade away from the tomb's edge.
"Aiyaaa! Does smarty pants think he knows better than Uncle!?" Uncle retorted with a raised suspicious eyebrow. "Uncle has been hard at work while lazy nephew has only just arrived!" Jackie's face grimaced as he was chastised by his elder. "But Uncle, surely—ow!" Jackie rubbed his head as Uncle whacked him with his two fingers.
"One more thing!" he continued his tirade. "No trace of bad chi on tomb! Uncle has everything under control!" the old man boasted as he slapped the tomb's lid with confident authority. Jackie sighed, reluctantly accepting Uncle's explanation. He wished he could take the tomb to his university colleagues for study, but he knew that wasn't possible due to its connection to Shen Du and his powerful magic. "...let's get this over with..." he groaned.
Uncle raised his glowing blowfish and lifted one leg as he began to chant the deciphered spell: "Dakai mifeng he, shifang qi nei wu." A dull glow lit up the engravings as Uncle continued the spell; each new verse he cast drew out more light until the dark room was basking in a warm otherworldly green glow.
"Dakai mifeng he, shifang qi nei wu... Dakai mifeng he, shifang qi nei wu..." Uncle continued for several minutes until a soft popping sound broke his concentration.
All eyes focused on the tomb as the lights faded, soon realizing that the lid of the tomb had cracked open slightly. Uncle pointed to Jackie, who then pointed to himself in confusion. "What—?"
"Now nephew will help Uncle and open box!" the elderly Chan instructed.
Jade gave Jackie a wide smile as she practically pushed him towards the edge. Jackie grabbed onto the edge of the lid and slowly shifted it to the side until it fell and clattered on the floor. He breathed heavily as he stood straight up to look within, but as soon as he caught sight of what lay inside, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. "D-Dra-Drago?!" he sputtered.
Within the tomb lay none other than the fearsome son of Shen Du, Drago. But unlike the hot-headed teenager who had absorbed all seven demon chi last year, this Drago was nothing more than a small sleeping child. Jackie couldn't help but notice how perfectly preserved his clothing was. The small demon wore a regal outfit: a wide-sleeved, short, dark-purple robe adorned his torso, paired with loose-fitting dark-blue trousers held up by a matching silk sash. His young form was perfectly still, almost deathlike in the tomb's embrace.
"No!" Jackie cried out in shock and disbelief, stumbling back. His eyes bulged as he grappled with the implications of what they had just unleashed. Uncle and Jade exchanged frightened glances, memories of the monstrous demon form of a powered-up Drago coming to mind.
Jade's face paled as she took a step back. "What do you mean?! He should be-" Before Jade could finish her question, the three Chans were startled as a small green hand reached out into the air from the tomb. The spell that had kept him unconscious was wearing off as he mumbled incoherently, trying to wake up.
"What's going on?" Jade whispered, turning to her Uncles as Jackie stood protectively beside her.
Uncle quickly understood the situation and spoke in a hushed tone. "The Drago we banished away was from the future; the one before us must belong to our timeline!"
Jackie's face twisted in frustration. "Great... and we just released him," he muttered, running a hand through his black hair. "I have to call Captain Black immediately. He needs to see...this...for himself."
Jackie fumbled for his phone but suddenly froze when he heard a young voice that sent shivers down his spine. It was a childlike voice with an eerie reverb, and only one creature could make such a sound—the demon who lay before them, now awake and sitting upright in the opened tomb.
"D-Daddy?" the small green demon croaked, rubbing his eyes as he slowly came to full consciousness. His deep red eyes squinted in the harsh light as he peered out into the room, taking in his surroundings. Catching sight of the three humans, the young demon's brow furrowed in confusion and a hint of defiance. "Hey, you're not my dad!" His eyes bulged open as he frantically scanned the unfamiliar room. "Where...where am I?!" he demanded, a slight whimper lacing his tone.
Jackie cleared his throat. "Um...I'm sorry to tell you this, but your father isn't here right now." Drago's eyes narrowed slightly. "But he promised he'd be here when I woke up! Where is he? Tell me!" Despite his attempt at bravado, there was a slight quiver in his voice.
Before Jackie could respond, the phone in his hand rang loudly, startling everyone in the room. Drago's eyes widened with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "What's that noise? Is it...magic?" Quickly glancing at the caller ID, Jackie flipped it open to show Drago. "It's called a phone. It lets us talk to people who are far away."
"Weird! Bring it to me—I want to see it!" the little demon ordered. "Maybe later. Right now, I need to answer this call. It's important," Jackie explained as he quickly walked to the other side of the room, ignoring the insulted-looking demon child staring after him.
"Captain Black!" Jackie exclaimed; his voice strained as he tried to mask his growing panic.
"Jackie, what's going on over there? Section 13's dark chi sensor is going off..." Captain Black's worried voice came through the phone loud and clear.
Jackie's eyes darted nervously to the young disgruntled demon who was still glaring at him from across the room. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Uh...it's complicated. We found something...unexpected in the tomb."
"What do you mean 'unexpected'? Give me a quick rundown," Captain Black pressed.
Jackie hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Well, we opened the tomb as planned, but instead of treasure or artifacts, we found...someone. Someone we've encountered before, but...different."
"Someone...we've encountered before?" There was a brief pause before Black responded, confusion evident in his voice. "Jackie, who are we talking about here?"
Jackie glanced back at Drago, who was now examining the room with wide-eyed curiosity from the edge of his ancient bed. The archaeologist took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's probably best if you come see for yourself. I can't really explain over the phone."
"Alright, I'm on my way. Stay put and don't do anything until I get there," Captain Black ordered. "Thanks. Please hurry," Jackie urged, ending the call with a long exhale before turning on his heel to approach the demon child.
Drago had his back turned to gaze at the artifacts that lined the wall, not noticing Jackie's approach. But before Jackie could reach him, Jade popped up beside the tomb and leaned over. "Wow! You are so tiny!" she exclaimed with glee. "Look at your little horns and tail!" Drago's red eyes narrowed at her, his cheeks puffing up in indignation. "I'm not tiny! Stop treating me like a baby!" he whined, crossing his arms with as much authority as he could muster.
Jade couldn't help but smirk at his outburst. "Aww, did I hurt your little gecko feelings?" she taunted, leaning closer to him. "Not a gecko! A dragon! ...A really powerful one..." he declared, smoke slipping through his fangs to emphasize his point.
"Jade, stop teasing him," Jackie scolded sternly, trying to prevent the demon from setting the whole room ablaze. "No need to antagonize him." Jade backed off, seeing her uncle's point. Turning to Drago, Jackie spoke in a gentle but firm voice. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. Can you tell us the last thing you remember before waking up here?"
Drago shifted nervously in his seat, unsure if he should trust this new and strange human. After a few moments, he decided to answer. "Um...I was with my dad in this big, dark cave. He said I had to take a nap." His eyes shot up, vulnerability in their depths as he continued, "I... I didn't want to! But he promised when I woke up, he'd be right here with me..." His eyes scanned the cramped room once more before resting on his lap. The silence that followed was heavy as Jackie tried to think of some way to respond. The young demon seemed lost in silent reflection of his circumstances. A forced smile split Jackie's face as he came up with an idea. "You said you wanted to see my phone, right?" He carefully held the device before the young demon, trying to distract him from his somber mood. Small-clawed, green hands took the cell phone, observing it curiously.
Jackie's stomach tightened as he tried to beat down the growing anxiety threatening to rise. "Be careful...it's very deli-" A plastic snap interrupted Jackie as he tried to caution the young demon, but the phone had easily broken in half in Drago's hands. The demon child's eyebrows raised in surprise as Jackie groaned, sliding his hand over his face to mask his annoyance. "Er...never mind..."
Without a second thought, Drago tossed the broken phone behind him as his curious eyes fixed on the ceiling light. "What is that big glowy thing up there?" Jade stepped in to answer as Jackie recovered what was left of his cell phone. "Those are lights. They're powered through electricity—it makes things bright without fire."
"Without...fire?" the demon asked, dumbfounded. "Fire is sacred, it shouldn't be replaced by something dumb like lightning!" Jade crossed her arms at him. "Welcome to the twenty-first century where fire for everything is so out of style!"
"A... what century?" Drago glared back, still confused. "The twenty-first century!" Jade stated clearly. "Obviously you woke up super far into the future. Duh!"
"Jade!" Jackie had hoped to ease into the subject lightly, but as always, Jade beat him to the punch.
"The...future?" Drago whispered. "Pfft! Yeah! Sure," he argued, still unconvinced.
"No! For real. Here, look!" Jade showed him her MooseWorld watch, pressing the button to activate it. "H-h-hey, I'm Marlon Moose!" chimed the little moose band on Jade's wrist.
Drago felt a chill pass through him, for he had never seen such a device before. "What is that?!" He demanded, crawling away from the human child. "A watch. From the twenty-first century," she repeated with thinning patience.
"Wha..." Drago looked around desperately, beginning to grasp what was going on. "How-how long have I been asleep?!" he wailed.
Stepping in front of his niece, Jackie tried to seize control of the situation. "It's okay, no need to panic… everything will be okay!" he promised. However, Drago ignored Jackie's assurances. "I want to go home! Back to the castle!" He whimpered; his eyes wide with fear.
Drago's mention of the castle confirmed Jackie's suspicions: that the demon child had been asleep since Shen Du's rule over 900 years ago. With his voice as delicate as a petal, Jackie gently told the boy, "It's been quite some time since your father put you to bed... I understand your confusion." Drago's eyes hardened with renewed resolve at the mention of his father. "Where is my dad? I need to speak with him! He-he has to be here!" The shock was too much for him to handle as he desperately reached for the only person he knew he could trust—his father, Shen Du.
Jackie rubbed the back of his head, unsure of how to answer him. "Well...you see..."
Jackie began but was interrupted by Uncle, who walked up casually between him and Drago. The elderly man reached out to examine the demon boy closely, taking everyone by surprise.
"Hey! Wh-what do you think you are doing?!" Drago protested as Uncle grabbed his chin and turned his head from side to side. "Get your hands off me!" But Uncle ignored his protests and simply observed, "Hmmm...demon boy possesses a balance of bad and... good chi..." He released the boy's face and walked over to a nearby table covered in his usual ancient texts. "Uncle must do research!" he announced before delving into the tomes at his cluttered desk.
With a defiant scowl, Drago attempted to leap out of the tomb bed. However, his legs were weak from centuries of disuse. He tumbled out ungracefully, landing awkwardly on the cold floor with a pained "Ow!"
Jackie immediately rushed to his side; concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked, reaching out to help the young demon.
"Don't touch me!" Drago snarled, his face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. He tried to push himself up, but his arms trembled under his own weight. "I'm the son of Shen Du! You should respect m-me!" he commanded, his voice cracking slightly as he struggled to maintain his dignity.
Jackie knelt beside him, hands hovering uncertainly. "I understand you're upset, but please, let me help you. You've been asleep for a very long time, and your body needs time to adjust." Drago's eyes darted between Jackie's face and his outstretched hand, torn between his pride and his obvious need for assistance. After a moment of internal struggle, he grudgingly nodded, allowing Jackie to gently help him to his feet. "Easy now," Jackie said softly, supporting Drago's elbow as he swayed slightly on wobbly legs. "Take it slow. How do you feel?"
Drago's tail swished in agitation as he tried to steady himself. "I feel...weird. Everything's all tingly and weak. Why do I feel like this?!" he demanded, though his voice lacked its earlier venom. Before Jackie could explain, they were interrupted by the sound of a doorknob turning.
All eyes shifted to Captain Black as he stormed into the room with a weapon at his side. "Hey Jackie, I got here as soon as I—" Black's words trailed off as he caught sight of the little Drago next to Jackie. His shock was evident as he struggled to comprehend the situation. "Um...Jackie, care to explain?" Black's confusion was palpable as he swiftly put away his weapon.
At once, both Jackie and Jade began explaining what had led up to this moment: from Uncle's deciphered spell to the explanation of Shen Du sealing Drago away, and the tomb acting as more of a time capsule than a tomb. Uncle pitched in from his desk, adding to the cacophony of noise in the room. Feeling overwhelmed by all the overlapping voices, Drago's anxiety exploded into anger as he demanded answers from the humans. "Stop talking!" he cried out, his emotions in turmoil as smoke puffed out with every breath. "I don't know any of you humans! I don't know where I am! I- I want my dad!"
Silence was his only response as the group regarded the little dragon boy with caution. Black cleared his throat, attempting to calm the chaotic emotions of the young demon. "Okay, okay...I think we got off on the wrong foot here," Captain Black offered, thinking of a way to cool the fire demon's temper. Drago arched his eyebrows as he glanced down confused at his clawed feet. "Wrong...foot?"
Clearing his throat, Black continued. "I think introductions are in order. That's the proper thing to do when meeting …new… people, right?" Before Drago could object, Black introduced everyone. "You can call me Captain Black, and this is Jackie, Jade, and Uncle," he said, gesturing towards each person as he spoke.
After hearing the humans' introductions, Drago puffed out his chest slightly, a mix of pride and certainty in his voice. "I am Prince Drago, son of Shen Du! And I..." His words trailed off, nostrils flaring as a powerful source of chi invaded his senses. The source of his fixation emanated from Captain Black's jacket pocket. With quick staggered steps, he closed the distance, reached into Black's pocket, and pulled out a small gold Jade Ring.
"What's this?!" he exclaimed, his eyes growing wide as he studied the small trinket.
"Hey! That's top secret! Hands off!" Black scolded the little demon. But his words fell on deaf ears as Drago had become lost in a sudden trance brought on by the ring, his eyes going dull as he stared blankly ahead.
In his mind's eye, Drago saw the ring he held along with four others—all different gems but sat upon similar gold bands. Their energies cried for reunification. An unfamiliar silhouette appeared out of the darkness, reaching for the rings. It's presence was haunting, lonely, and filled with power…
"Hello? Earth to Drago?" Jade waved her hand in front of his blank face but received no response.
With a swift motion, Captain Black snatched the ring away from Drago before he could possibly slip it on and unleash its magic. The demon boy's eyes widened as he snapped back to reality, rubbing them in frustration. "Ugh...I hate it when that happens," he grumbled.
"You shouldn't touch things that don't belong to you," Captain Black lectured him sternly. He didn't care that Drago was the son of an evil demon sorcerer; he would not tolerate any mischief from him. Meeting Captain Black's eyes with his own, Drago shot back, "Well, I don't think it belongs to you either! It wants to be with the others!" Then he stuck out his tongue at an annoyed Black.
"The ring wants something?" Jade asked incredulously. Suddenly, she remembered overhearing Finn, Chow, and Ratso discussing their time under the older Drago's service and how he used meditation and visions to locate demon chi. "Oh! You had a vision!" she exclaimed excitedly. Drago almost beamed at the mention. "I did!" But then he straightened his back and looked away from her imperiously. "What's it to you, human?" Jade rolled her eyes, unimpressed with Drago's princely arrogance.
"There are more of them?!" Jackie slumped his shoulders at the very idea of another magical item to hunt. "When will it end?!" He added dramatically. "Wait a minute," Captain Black said in a hushed tone, resting a hand on Jackie's shoulder to pull him to the side. "If there are more of these rings out there, we could have a serious situation on our hands." Jackie nodded, his face shifting to worry as his eyes darted towards Uncle. "Yes, we need to let Uncle study the ring immediately," he whispered back. "He might be able to uncover more about these trinkets."
Jade, overhearing the adults, piped up, "Maybe we should call in Tohru too. We might need all hands on deck for this one."
As the three huddled together, urgently discussing their next steps, they failed to notice Drago's growing disinterest. The young demon, seeing his opportunity, quietly backed away from the distracted group and slipped out of the room, a sly smirk on his face as he entered the hallway, eager to explore on his own and find his father.
Realizing that they needed more information on the vision, Jackie anxiously turned to where the demon had been standing moments before. "Drago, can you tell us exactly what you saw?" But as he looked around, he realized Drago was no longer in the room. "Drago?!" both Jackie and Captain Black called out simultaneously. Having a magical demon boy running loose in Section 13 was not something they were prepared for.
Meanwhile, Drago walked confidently through the unfamiliar halls of Section 13. "This building has to be Dad's...surely he must be here somewhere," he muttered to himself.
Jade, having taken off before Jackie or Captain Black, soon found Drago aimlessly walking through the halls. She knew that he was still a dangerous threat and needed to be closely monitored. "And where do you think you're going, dragon boy?" she shouted as she rounded in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "I go where I want! You can't tell me what to do!" Drago declared defiantly with a stomp.
Overhearing the arguing, Jackie and Captain Black quickly located Drago and joined Jade in blocking off his path. "Get out of my way!" Drago barked at them. Captain Black loomed over the demon, "Stay where you are, Drago. You don't have clearance or permission to leave our sight."
"You're not the boss of me! I answer to no human!" the young demon roared over Captain Black's order.
"Oh...this is a very bad day," Jackie declared solemnly as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You're not going anywhere. You are going to stay here until we can figure out what to do with you!" Jade stated as she placed her hands on her hips. "You can't boss me around! I'm a prince!" Drago shouted; his voice filled with indignation. A low growl rumbled from his throat, feeling threatened as they surrounded him.
Jackie quickly stepped between the two children, trying to de-escalate the situation. "Now, now children, let's use our inside voices." He pleaded.
"But Uncle Jackie, he can't just have the run of the place. He's our—"
"Jaade...as of right now, he's our guest," Jackie lightly hinted to her. He didn't want to upset the young demon more than he already was. Not to mention that even though he was a child, Drago still possessed a fire demon-dragon's strength and power. Noticing the boy's features slightly relax when Jackie referred to him as a guest, Jade backed off. "Okay, okay...fine."
Jackie knelt down to be at eye level with Drago; if there was anything he'd learned about taking care of Jade, it was that kids respond better when you see them eye to eye.
"You must be full of questions after your...er...long nap," Jackie asked, smiling as he tried to connect with him. Drago looked down at his feet, his tough façade cracking. "I... I just want to know where my dad is..."
"Shen Du was sealed away in the demon netherworld along with the rest of the demons," Captain Black stated as if he were giving a common report. As Jackie tried to motion for Captain Black to ease off about the banishment of Shen Du and Drago's future self, the little demon was already glaring up menacingly at the most powerful man at Section 13.
"You're a liar!" came Drago's ear-piercing scream at Black's words. "My daddy would never let himself get banished! Never! Now tell me where he is!" he demanded, his voice trembling with both frustration and contempt. "Right now!"
Jade thought back to that time, when the future Drago went toe-to-toe with Shen Du and pulled him into the demon netherworld, just before being yanked down himself. Unafraid, she backed up Captain Black. "Drago, it is true. And we can prove it!" She looked to Captain Black, knowing exactly what would convince Drago. "Let's show him the video—he needs to see it."
"See...what? What do I need to see?" Drago yelled, not as loud this time but still clearly agitated.
"Your father was in a fight with...a..." Jackie stopped himself, thinking of a way to explain this without revealing Drago's future self. "...in a fight with another demon. That demon pulled your father down into the netherworld, banishing them both," he explained. It wasn't technically a lie, and it helped omit their part in Shen Du's banishment.
Drago's glare was unwavering as he spoke with authority, smoke slipping through his fangs. "Prove it," he challenged.
—
Captain Black ushered Jackie, Jade, and Drago into his office where a TV sat prominently on his desk. With a gentle gesture, he lifted Drago and settled him comfortably in the office chair, ensuring he had a clear view of the screen. After a swift scan of his collection of restricted recordings, Captain Black plucked out a VHS tape. Returning to his desk, he held up the tape before Drago. "See this? This is a VHS tape that recorded the fight we discussed." Drago peered at the black box into which Captain Black had removed a different VHS tape, his expression puzzled by the unfamiliar technology. "What is that?" he asked, leaning forward and tapping the screen with his clawed finger.
Captain Black promptly grasped Drago's hand and pulled it away from the screen. "Please refrain from touching the glass. This is called a television, but you can call it a TV. The tape I showed you contains a recording of the fight. It will show you what happened, do you understand?" Drago didn't fully grasp the concept of a TV or even a VHS tape, but his stomach churned with anticipation to witness what had befallen his father. "Um...okay..."
As Captain Black inserted the VHS tape into the machine, he muted the sound to prevent any revealing sounds that might identify the other demon. Given the monstrous form future Drago had taken after absorbing the remaining demon chi, Captain Black knew that young Drago wouldn't recognize his older, shape-shifted self on screen; or are least, he hoped he didn't.
As the screen clicked on, Drago yelped in surprise and promptly hid under the desk.
"Magic?! You're playing tricks on me!" Jade rolled her eyes at him. "Not magic—technology, like my watch, remember?" Drago's eyes shifted to Jade's wrist, the example coming back to him. He gave an uncertain nod.
Jackie patted him on the back to urge him to sit up to view the screen. "Remember, this happened in the past. It cannot hurt you."
Steeling himself, Drago sat up straight in the chair and looked at the screen. His eyes immediately bulged at the sight of a demon he had never seen before. The colossal demon had a mix of different elemental powers at his disposal. He clapped his hands, and a huge chasm erupted in the middle of the coliseum as demon sprites began to spill out of the tear in the ground. "Whoa!" Drago's mouth dropped open, impressed.
Jackie observed Drago's reaction as he watched the screen, a look of bewilderment across his face. He turned back to the video, hoping the boy wouldn't notice that the humans shown were indeed the same people sitting around him now. Luckily, the video was from a high-up view, and they were too small to see. Jade had also made a mental note about the aerial view during the battle. A woman in a helicopter clutched her microphone, looking terrified as she gave what seemed like the most important broadcast of her journalism career. Jade almost felt bad for her, knowing that government agencies had stormed into that area soon after and confiscated all documentation on Drago and Shen Du's final battle. Finally, after some time had passed, the terrified lady onscreen pointed out an equally large demon stepping into the arena—it was Shen Du.
"That's my dad!" Drago said excitedly as he pointed at the screen. This was his first time seeing his father since waking up; his tail began swishing back and forth in excitement as he watched these two demons go toe-to-toe with each other. "That other demon is going to get it now!" He cheered. However, Shen Du struggled to keep the other demon pinned and found himself losing the fight.
Drago's face scrunched up upon realizing that the other demon was winning against his father at every turn. Letting out a low growl, he muttered, "Come on Dad...you can't let that guy win..."
Suddenly, a flash of light shot into Shen Du, powered by the twelve talismans giving him the needed boost to fight back—making them equally matched.
"Yes! Get 'em, Dad!" The little demon child pumped up his fists excitedly at seeing his father turning the tide. But a sudden storm with powerful wind began sucking everything within the coliseum into the portal, catching the winged demon off guard. As he was being pulled into the portal, Drago noticed his father leaning over the other demon. "Take him out, Dad!" Drago sneered, standing in the chair to get a closer view.
But instead of ending it, Shen Du's hand reached towards him, a surprising sign of mercy, one the other demon used to his advantage. With a horrified expression, Drago watched as his father was swung over the edge and plunged into the chasm below. "Daddy!" Drago cried as he crawled onto the desk, his hands gripping the TV by the sides. Black resisted the urge to pull him back, understanding this was an emotional moment for the kid.
Refusing to go down alone, Shen Du grabbed onto the other demon's tail, dragging them both down together. The ground closed behind them as they fell into the portal leading to the demon netherworld.
Drago's eyes darted wildly among those present, a pained look on his face as he realized these people were not making any move to help. "We've got to do something!" he pleaded.
"Drago, that happened a year ago; it's too late. The video records past events, remember?" Jade reminded him gently. "But…but I…we have to free him!" Drago's voice cracked with emotion.
"There is no way out for him; Shen Du is gone and sealed. Sorry, kid," Captain Black stated matter-of-factly, showing little sympathy for young Drago.
"There's nothing we can do, but we'll make sure you're safe and comfortable here," Jackie tried to console the distraught demon child. But Drago longed for his home, humans who obeyed his every command, and most of all, his father. "But I want my dad!" He countered as frustration boiled within him.
"We can't go to the past and change things. What's done is done." Jade persisted.
Drago's eyes burned red and his fists clenched. "I hate you! You humans are useless!" he roared before breathing fire onto the TV, engulfing the desk in flames and sent the TV crashing to the floor.
"Hey!" Captain Black sprang into action alongside Jackie, rushing to extinguish the fire. He swiftly removed his long black jacket to smother the flames consuming important documents, while Jackie stomped out scattered embers from the destroyed TV.
"Oh! Ouch! Hot! Hot!" Jackie winced in pain as the fire burned through the soles of his shoes.
Amidst their frantic efforts to contain the blaze, Captain Black and Jackie failed to notice the little demon slipping out of the room. Jade, however, caught sight of him darting away and chased after him through Section 13's halls, where he outpaced her with his demon-dragon speed. After a few sharp turns, Jade realized she had lost him. "Shoot… where did he go…?" she asked, huffing and planting her hands on her knees. Although uncertain of Drago's whereabouts, she was determined to find him.
As she took off again, she skidded around a corner and collided face-first with Uncle. "Oof!" both Jade and the elder tumbled onto the floor.
"Aiiiyaaaa!" Uncle exclaimed as Jade hurried over to help the elder back up. "First rude demon boy, now Ms. doesn't look where she is going!" he scolded, dusting himself off. Jade's face flushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Uncle, I was just—wait! Did you say Drago came through here?!" she asked hurriedly.
"Ah, yes. He seemed very upset. Didn't even help Uncle up! Very rude boy, no manners!" Uncle recalled out loud, more annoyed than concerned. Hope surged through Jade. "Which way did he go?"
"Hrmm." Uncle turned around and looked back from where he had come. "Drago was running back towards artifacts room," he replied while adjusting his glasses.
"Okaygottagothankyoubye!" Jade blurted out in a single breath as she dashed past Uncle and barreled down the hall toward the artifacts room.
Quickly making her way there, Jade halted right in front of the door, taking a deep breath before she confronted the angry demon. As she reached out to open the door, she caught the muted sound of someone stifling their sniffles. The voice had a reverb and was distinctly demonic and she immediately knew she had found him.
Moving silently, Jade opened the door and tiptoed over to the tomb, where the sound was coming from. "Drago…?" she asked carefully, lifting herself over the edge to look inside. There sat the small demon-dragon, his body huddled down inside, holding his knees with his arms while his tail wrapped around his feet. Drago occasionally wiped at his eyes and face to dry his tears. "What do you want…?" he tried to say with an air of pompous contempt, but his expression betrayed him, and Jade didn't buy his act.
"I just wanted to check on you…" she said somewhat truthfully. "You made a big mess when you ran out… I guess that was pretty hard to watch, huh?" Jade asked as she slid into the tomb next to him.
Drago realized she had noticed his crying and a wave of embarrassment washed over him. "I wasn't crying! Demons don't cry! That's… that's weak human stuff!" he shouted, looking away and wrapping his arms tighter around his knees. Jade thought he looked rather pitiful but, being only a few years older than him herself, she felt she could relate. "Hey, it's okay to cry. Everybody does it!" she soothed, wanting to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but still wary of his emotional state and tendency to lash out.
"Demons don't!" Drago countered pitifully. "We're supposed to make others cry… not cry ourselves…" he said with a slight tremble in his lip. "Dad says that… tears are a disgusting human trait… that it's beneath me…"
Jade tried to imagine a world where Drago was being raised by Shen Du and what it must be like having a demon for a parent. "That's kind of what human adults say too," she offered. "Don't cry, that's for babies," Jade said in a mock adult voice. "I guess demon adults say the same thing. But hey! I've seen adults cry all the time, and they always try to play it off. Besides, we are both kids… I won't tell anyone if you won't." She tried to reassure him, giving him a warm smile.
Drago glared at her. He wanted to counter her words, to find a way to tell her she was wrong. But when he caught her smile and the shine in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel she was being authentic and truthful. His eyes softened as he took a deep breath. "Yeah… I guess so… thanks…" he whispered as he sank his face to his knees.
"Sure thing! I had hoped we could be friends… and I don't rat out my friends!" Jade laughed, finally gathering the courage to pat him on the back. Drago found her touch soothing and thought about her words before giving her a quizzical stare. "You humans talk weird," Drago muttered. He didn't know what rats had to do with friends, not that he ever really had friends before.
Suddenly, an idea came to life in Jade's mind. "Oh, there are a lot of things we humans do that are strange, fun, weird… and silly!" she said, poking him in the side teasingly. Surprisingly, she noticed him flinch and try to hide the small smile that surfaced on his face.
"Are you… ticklish?" Jade asked excitedly. "N-no!" Drago stammered, his eyes going wild as he tried to pull away.
Jade got a mischievous glint in her eye and her hands lunged out, fingers dancing across his side. "Hah! No… stop! Hahah!" Drago wheezed. "Stop it!" he cried-laughed, trying to push her away while sinking deeper into the base of the tomb. "Okay, okay! Only because you asked so nicely!" Jade joked, pulling her hands away. Who knew demons could be ticklish?
Drago quickly scooted away as he turned to face her. Although he placed more distance between them, he had a lingering smile on his face. He didn't mind her company; he was beginning to like this human girl. "So… is there anything fun to do around here?" he asked with a sheepish grin.
Noticing his more open demeanor, Jade finally thought she had broken through his shell. "Oh, you bet there is!" she began to tell Drago all about modern-day games and technology. She spent a fair amount of time explaining MooseWorld and all the park rides. Drago's eyes lit up, fully believing every word. "Can I go to this MooseWorld, too?" he eagerly asked, not fully understanding what a MooseWorld or a park ride was.
Jade wasn't sure she wanted to turn down his request; his excitement was oddly infectious. She decided that maybe what this demon kid really needed was just a chance to be a kid. And what better way to be a kid than to go outside and play?
"You bet!" Jade responded, trying to match his excitement. "We just gotta… grab a few things first." She realized that he wasn't going to exactly blend in as the gears turned in her head. "What things?" Drago asked with an arched eyebrow.
Jade held out her pinkie. "You just have to promise me that you will be on your best behavior. Got it?" Drago stared at her hand, his eyes trailing to meet her determined brown eyes. "Best… behavior…?"
"No fire. No running away. No being a jerk," Jade stated one condition after another. "You're new around here, so you gotta follow my lead, understand?"
"Umm… okay…" Drago reluctantly agreed, seeing his opportunity to see the outside world. "Deal." Jade smiled and wrapped her pinkie around his. "It's a promise then!" she said as they shook on it.
Jade knew the dangers of setting a demon loose, but she couldn't help feeling that this Drago wasn't like the one from the future. Sure, he was still a bit of a hothead, but she couldn't ignore the innocence and vulnerability he exuded. Perhaps he didn't have to turn out like his future self. Maybe he could be his own person, she thought hopefully. Besides, one day out in the world couldn't be that bad of an idea… right?
—
"But Jade... why do I have to wear this...?" Drago complained to the older child, Jade, who had pulled Drago into Section 13's laundry room to find him some new clothes. None of them fit, so she had to improvise, finding him adult clothes big enough to conceal his demonic features—namely his long reptilian tail. She had found a knitted cap that fully covered his spiked head and a large men's coat that reached down to conceal his tail.
Drago's discomfort was immense. "I don't like these clothes! They're too big!" He argued, lifting the edge of the cap that kept falling over his eyes.
"You can't go to MooseWorld looking like one of the attractions! You gotta blend in, look normal, duh!" Jade pointed out. A green scaly little demon would stick out like a sore thumb; their success depended on him not having a tail or horns visible. This would be so much easier with the Jade Ring, she thought. But the ring wasn't an option, not with it being safely secured in Captain Black's pocket.
Drago gazed at his scaly hands, suddenly anxious about his appearance. "What's wrong with how I look?" he whined, his voice trembling.
Jade sighed and gave him a sympathetic look, realizing the little demon's sensitivity. "You look fine for a demon, I guess, but humans might get scared if they see you. The disguise is your secret weapon!" Before Drago could protest further, Jade seized his hand and rushed him out of the room into the hallway. "Come on, this way!" she called back to him as he trailed behind her.
Only a few halls over, Captain Black and Jackie were frantically searching for the two children. After they had extinguished the fire that Drago had started in the office, they rushed up and down the halls, determined to find both Drago and Jade.
"They can't have gone far. We must locate our young troublemaker before he causes more chaos," Captain Black fumed over his ruined office. The desk was charred with ashes still floating in the air. The TV and VHS tape showing Shen Du battling Drago's future self destroyed, and even his favorite black jacket was now gone. Black pondered what to do with a fire-wielding demon on the loose—though imprisoning seemed harsh, how else could he control Drago's destructive tendencies? The future version of Drago that Black knew was impulsive, mischievous, and a menace to society. Now he had to deal with his younger self from their timeline, a child around eight or nine years old who promised to be more than a handful.
As Jackie and Black sprinted down the hall, they glimpsed Jade's bright orange hoodie and an overly dressed child who stood a head shorter than her. They exchanged glances, knowing that the two were up to something.
"Jade! Stop!" Jackie's voice echoed through the halls as they caught up to the two youngsters. He swiftly positioned himself in front of the two children, using the wall as a kickpoint to cut them off. Captain Black took up a blocking stance behind, ensuring they had nowhere to go.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Jackie scolded his niece, his eyes widening as he glanced at Drago. "And... what are you wearing?"
"I-I, um..." Drago attempted to explain, but Jade interjected first.
"Uncle Jackie! It was my idea. I... I wanted to take Drago to MooseWorld. I thought it would cheer him up to explore the sights and see what makes the future awesome," she reasoned, determined not to let Drago take the blame for her impulsive plan. After all, being a demon was trouble enough for him.
"What?!" Jackie and Black shouted in unison. Jackie smacked his forehead. "Jade, that is a terrible idea! What were you thinking?"
"Drago is just a kid! He's homesick, and his dad is gone. What he needs is some fun and games to help him adjust here in the present!" Jade explained, watching Jackie's expression sour. He understood Jade's good intentions, but this was not the appropriate moment for them. "Jaaade..." he began cautiously, trying not to sound too confrontational. "Drago is a demon—we can't allow him to just leave Section 13 without proper clearance. He must remain here."
"Come on, Uncle Jackie, Captain Black! Why don't we rent out the entire park like that one time?" Jade reminded them. Though she was possessed by Shen Du at the time, she knew they had not forgotten. Jackie sighed. "Jade… we see where you are coming from, but what Drago needs right now is structure and time to adjust. The world is completely different from what he's used to. He's not ready."
"I am ready! I want to go!" Drago whined, stamping his foot.
"Sorry, kid," Black finally chimed in. He pulled Drago's knitted cap off and removed the oversized jacket that covered his tail, revealing his demonic nature. "We simply can't take the chance."
"You can't tell me what to do!" Drago glared up at Captain Black, his eyes flashing. Black's patience had worn thin, with his office still smoldering from the little demon's tantrum, he refused to negotiate. "Drago, you are not going—that is final. You're staying here where I can keep an eye on you!" He never normally yelled, and he didn't mean to raise his voice, but Black couldn't help but feel the burden of responsibility settle upon his shoulders. He imagined a future where a demon was still living among them, one that he was responsible for.
"You... you can't keep me here! I'm still a prince! I'll leave and go wherever I want!" Drago's fury was building like molten lava, ready to be unleashed. All of the humans took a step back as Drago's fangs revealed a swirl of flames within. Before he could unleash his fire, a chanting could be heard from down the hall, momentarily distracting the demon boy.
"Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao, Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao!" Uncle chanted.
Horror twisted Drago's face as his inner fire died against his will. "Wha- huh?!" He wailed in surprise. Despite everyone's confusion, Uncle continued his chant: "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao, Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao!" His chi spell had successfully severed Drago's connection to his demon fire chi.
"Hey! Stop! You stupid old man! What... what are you doing!?" The now powerless demon shrieked.
"Uncle has temporarily quelled the demon chi within you! Bad dragon boy will not be able to use fire for a whole week!" Uncle declared with a smirk. "Demon boy is grounded!"
Utter shock froze Drago's face. The realization that the old man was a chi wizard sent a chill through him. His father would often leave him at home alone to fight chi wizards, the stories of their power all too familiar. "Wizard!" he accused, his face contorting in anger as he tried to summon forth his flames again, but only empty breath escaped his lips. Drago growled, stomping and flailing his hands, trying anything that could trigger a combustible response, yet nothing came.
Relief washed over Captain Black as he watched Drago fail again and again to summon his power. His phone chimed, and he turned away to answer it. "Black here. Uh huh. Mhm... great. Thank you." Turning around, Black planted his fists into his sides as he loomed over Drago. The boy's features shifted to panic as he met the steely gaze of the tall and imposing man. "You heard Uncle," Black told Drago. "You're grounded for the whole week. Time to go to your room."
"Room?" Jade asked, stepping next to Drago to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Yes," Jackie answered. "While you two were gone, Captain Black requisitioned a fire safety training room as Drago's new bedroom."
"Correct, and now I've just received the call that it's ready," Captain Black added. He stepped forward and grabbed Drago's wrist, but the demon wouldn't budge, holding his ground. "Come on, Drago. It's time to go." Black ordered the demon child.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Drago seethed as he tried to pull away. Black responded by grabbing Drago's other arm. "I'm done with your games, Drago! Come on!" Black's voice cracked with frustration. Jackie, Jade, and Uncle watched as Captain Black attempted to drag Drago down the hall.
Despite losing his fire, Drago's demonic strength remained, allowing him to resist Black's pull. "You can't make me go!" the demon boy cried out, defiance blazing in his eyes.
"Enough!" Black's patience finally snapped. In one swift motion, Black used all of his strengthand hoisted Drago under his arm. The demon boy flailed and kicked but couldn't escape. "Let me go! Let me go!" His shrill cries echoed down the hall, fading as Black carried him away.
Jade winced as Black hauled Drago off. She was only trying to help, she told herself. Looking up, she noticed Jackie giving her a hard stare, his arms crossed. "Jackie, I-" she started, but Jackie cut her off.
"Jade, you're grounded too," he stated firmly.
"Aww... man..." she whined, not bothering to argue further.
—
After putting Drago to bed, Black secured the Jade Ring in a special vault. The improved casing blocked all magic residue, concealing its presence. Satisfied with this task, he headed to a nearby bar to drown the day's troubles.
Captain Black called out to the bartender for his fourth shot of whiskey. "Make it a double this time," he added, his voice weary. Black pressed his fingertips to his temples, trying to massage away the newly forming headache. His day should have been peaceful, filled with meetings, routine reports, and even a company-wide bowling match—all of which he had missed. Nothing went according to plan today, all because of that little demon. Though the mischievous dragon child had only been awake for a day, exhaustion already overwhelmed Black. He hoped to settle Drago in the coming days and find ways to keep him occupied. Perhaps schooling would provide the structure the young demon the bartender placed his drink before him, Black downed it instantly, his eyes haunted and defeated.
"That seems... potent," a quiet feminine voice from further down the bar interrupted Black's thoughts, startling him. He turned his gaze lazily to find a woman of Asian descent looking back at him. Her reserved expression belied the collection of empty shot glasses before her.
"Rough day?" she asked softly, her tone cautious as she observed him.
"You could say that," Black replied evenly. Though inebriated, Black's training as Section 13's top authority kept him guarded about the military base. His caution remained intact, even while conversing with an attractive stranger in his intoxicated state.
The woman's eyes flickered closed briefly, only to reopen with a newfound clarity.
"Apologies, I should not have pried... I find myself here for similar reasons," she said, offering a small, hesitant smile while absently touching her long black hair as it fell over her shoulder.
Black felt a hint of embarrassment, worried he had offended her. "No, no, it's alright. A new arrival at work has just complicated matters for me is all," he replied vaguely, hoping to keep the conversation going. The woman's eyes darted to the bartender, then back to Black. "Perhaps... we could share the next round?" she suggested, her voice low and uncertain.
"Well, who am I to refuse such an offer?" Black chuckled, raising his glass. "To rough days and unexpected acquaintances."
"Indeed," she replied with a small smile, gently tapping her glass against his.
The night flowed easily as Captain Black and the woman found comfort in each other's company. Her presence offered welcome relief from his trying day. He had learned that she recently arrived in town for work. This was her first visit to San Francisco.
"What brings you to our city?" Black asked, his curiosity piqued.
She paused; her expression guarded. "I... came to study formations in nearby caves—research on minerals and gems," she explained, choosing each word carefully. "Caves, huh? Sounds... dark," Black quipped, earning a polite smile from his companion. "I'm also searching for a specific gemstone," she continued deliberately. "It's... important to my work. I intend to stay until I find it."
"A gemstone hunter, eh? Sounds like quite the adventure," Black remarked, trying to show interest as he circled the rim of the empty glass.
She went on to explain further, her enthusiasm for stones and gems evident in every word—though truth be told, Black wasn't interested in the slightest about rocks or caves. However, he found himself charmed by the way her lips moved when she spoke, and how she tilted her head when listening to his silly rock jokes.
"You know," he said, attempting another geology pun, "I think you're taking me for granite." A delicate chuckle escaped her rosy lips, bringing a blush to Black's face. Her dignified demeanor only enhanced her beauty.
The night gradually quieted down, and as the effects of alcohol waned, Black found himself sober enough to consider heading home. Mindful of tomorrow's work, he settled both their tabs, noting her lingering intoxication. "I could walk you home or arrange a taxi," he suggested, uneasy about leaving such a striking woman on her own in that state.
However, she declined his offer. "How kind, but I only have a short walk to my room at the inn across the street." Black's silence prompted her to continue. "I assure you, I will be fine," she promised.
Just before parting ways, Black suddenly remembered he hadn't introduced himself.
"You can call me Augustus," he said, handing her a piece of paper with his contact details. "Since you're new in town, I could help you explore the city."
Despite her apparent hesitation, she introduced herself in return. "Nice to meet you, Augustus; I'm Lina," she said softly, her honey-brown eyes smiling up at him. "I'll be sure to reach out when I need that… tour," Lina added hesitantly.
"I'm looking forward to it. San Francisco has a lot to offer, you know—I could show you some hidden gems," Black replied warmly, realizing too late he'd made another rock pun.
Lina giggled, "Well, with jokes like that, how can I refuse? See you around, Augustus."
"See you around, Lina," Black replied before exiting the bar. Outside, a curious thought crossed his mind: "Caves in San Francisco?" Fatigued and slightly tipsy, he dismissed it as a product of misremembering the details of their conversation. Hailing a cab, Black headed back to Section 13 with a sense of dread for the impending workday.
Watching Augustus leave, Lina felt a surge of loneliness wash over her. Ever since she had awoken in that cave, each day had been a nightmare as she tried to navigate this unfamiliar world. Gesturing to the man behind the bar to settle her tab, he informed her that the gentleman had already taken care of it. Grateful for the unexpected gesture, she excused herself and made her way towards the exit. Lina hadn't anticipated enjoying Augustus's company, but she desperately needed the distraction after losing track of her ring.
It had been a full year now since she had acquired anything new. The one she had been tracking for the past week seemed almost within reach. Tracing its presence to this city, she was on the brink of finding it when it slipped from her grasp upon reaching the street outside the bar. It felt like a veil had obscured it from her senses, rendering its exact location elusive. Still, she was certain it was nearby. Booking a room at the nearby inn had been wise; she intended to scour every inch of this unfamiliar city until she found what she sought. It was only a matter of time before it revealed itself once again.
Lina crossed the street to the inn and climbed the stairs to her room. Entering the cramped space, her eyes fell upon the beautiful gold ring adorned with a moonstone gem. From the moment she first wore it, Lina realized that its power had merged into her. She had the feeling it was always meant for her, and now the ring remained only as an empty shell. Despite its emptiness, Lina still held onto it for sentimental reasons, just in case. After undressing and stepping into the shower to wash away the day's challenges, Lina reflected on the tumultuous past year and the trials that she had to survive in this strange new era.
When she first emerged from the cave, night had fallen. A bright light had led her to a city she soon discovered was called Hong Kong. The towering skyscrapers, bustling traffic, crowded streets, and dazzling lights—those damn lights—had overwhelmed her at first. People paid little attention to Lina as she stumbled her way to a nearby library. The musty scent of old parchment drew her heightened senses towards the building. She felt an insatiable need to comprehend her surroundings and locate any clues that could explain her situation. She was certain that the library held the answers she sought.
Sifting through volumes of historical records for something familiar, Lina stumbled upon a passage in a book that referenced a dynasty from centuries past. Lina's fragmented memories aligned with the descriptions of ancient China, confirming her earlier suspicions. Despite uncovering this bit of information, a sudden wave of confusion and fear washed over her. She hastily fled from the library into the unfamiliar streets.
Ignoring the unfriendly locals in peculiar attire and their disapproving stares, Lina ran until exhaustion consumed her, nearly collapsing in the street. Breathless, with hands upon shaky knees, Lina caught sight of herself in a shop window and nearly gasped at her appearance. Her emaciated form lacked vitality—malnourished and shapeless—and her cheeks were sunken. Her black hair was tangled with filth, her skin caked with grime and dirt. The images of the skeletons from the cave echoed through her mind, reflecting her current state more than the strangers who gave her a wide berth. The overwhelming realization hit her all at once.
"What... has become of me...?" she murmured, pressing her grimy hands against the glass as she scrutinized her reflection.
Abruptly, a bell chimed as an irate elderly man stormed out of the shop Lina was leaning on, shouting, "Hey! Get off my window! Scram, you weirdo!" Lina hurried away with no destination in mind, stumbling upon a dim alleyway where tears fell freely.
She shook as she tried to gather herself and devise a plan. She knew that her primary objective was to reclaim her lost memories, but to do that, she needed to retrieve her power through the remaining relics like the moonstone ring. But more importantly than that— she needed food.
Lina's stomach erupted into a painful series of growls. She clutched her caved-in stomach and proceeded to venture further into the city, lured by lights and bizarre signs. Soon a tantalizing smell drew her to a nearby restaurant on the verge of closing, where workers were sweeping and counting money as she walked into the store. The young woman behind the counter angrily shouted for Lina to leave, claiming that they were closing. But Lina persisted. "I... require food..." she pleaded.
"No money! No food!" the woman gave Lina a disapproving look as she pointed to the door again. "Get. Out!" Feeling disheartened, Lina brushed aside her unkempt hair, only to discover elaborate gemstones intricately secured to her ear. Her prayers seemed answered as she now possessed a means to acquire food.
Almost ripping one of the earrings out of her ear, Lina offered it to the worker. "Perhaps a barter…?" The woman inspected the earring and, noticing how gaunt Lina looked, decided to accept the accessory as payment. Lina ate her fill, ignoring the heavy spices that burned her tongue, which impressed the chef. Afterward, the shop woman directed her to a place where she could sell the rest of her earrings. Lina received a substantial sum for the jewelry when she sold them to a nearby pawn shop, all except her moonstone ring. Initially hesitant, the merchant gladly accepted the jewelry once he had it appraised.
The money proved more than sufficient to sustain Lina, setting her up for the future with temporary lodging. With funds and a safe place to sleep secured, Lina set out to adjust to this new and confusing world. Most things came easily to her. However, adapting to computers and cell phones was a much different story. Lina slowly grasped the internet's potential, needing several days in the library with "Computers for Dummies" books to learn how to use one. After some time, she finally mastered it and headed to a nearby tech store to purchase a laptop. Lina soon recognized the importance of accessing information in this era—no matter where she was, she might need that information right away.
It took Lina about six months to fully adjust to this new era. She focused on nourishing her body and rebuilding her strength until she began to resemble the version of herself, she recalled from her fragmented memories. Her high cheekbones no longer appeared gaunt, and she developed lean, strong muscles. She spent hours watching television, absorbing the customs of this time to better blend in and adapt her speech. She meditated tirelessly day and night in hopes of discovering the whereabouts of the relics holding her memories, but unfortunately, months passed without success.
Just as she was losing hope, the universe decided to reward her diligence by granting a vision revealing the location of yet another ring. A young man in Europe had been assuming various identities to commit bank robberies. While news outlets portrayed his transformations as tricks of the light or computer malfunctions, Lina knew better. She understood that this man possessed a magical trinket—one that belonged to her. Booking her first plane ticket, Lina chased after the ring to Europe, but she arrived too late. The man had been apprehended, and now the ring was with another. Through her mind's eye, she could see it was on its way to another city—San Francisco.
Lina rushed to San Francisco, only to lose track of the ring after tracking it to this street. The ring's existence was all but wiped from the world as its essence was completely hidden. She felt stuck, and no amount of searching the streets or shops helped. That's when she decided to get a drink, which led her to Augustus.
Lina's thoughts drifted back to the man from the bar. His politeness and silly jokes had been disarming. He was the first person to show her genuine kindness. Despite this, Lina knew she didn't have time to worry about making friends; she needed to know who she was. She couldn't let herself forget that—her goal came first.
Stepping out of the shower and wrapping herself in a towel, Lina walked to the bed and pulled out her laptop. She searched articles and news stories for any mention of a gold ring with a jade stone in it, but nothing came up.
"Surely something so powerful couldn't have gone undocumented for this long, right?" she asked aloud, but there were too many unknowns, too many questions she had no answers for. Still, she knew it was somewhere nearby in the city. Closing the laptop, Lina walked to the window and gazed out at the lights, cars, and people passing by. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of reclaiming what was hers. "You are out there... somewhere." She whispered resolutely. "And soon you will be mine."
—
Authors Note:
Hi there, sorry for the long chapter! There was a lot of ground I wanted to cover when I first wrote this chapter earlier last year.
I've never done a fanfiction before, so I hope whoever ends up reading this enjoys it as much as I have developing it.
Cheers!