The Wrath of the Red Dragon by Emachinescat

A Hardy Boys Fan-Fiction

SUMMARY:Frank and Joe are in college and everything is new. New friends, new classes, even new girlfriends! But when a plot to kidnap Joe goes wrong and the boys are put on their guard, they realize that one of their new friends is wielding a deadly secret.

A/N: Hi, Liz here! This is my newest Hardy Boys story (I'm still working on A Day Off). The plot was formed by my best friend and I at 2 in the morning. It has several original characters, and two of them are lightly based on the two of us. Jasmine Richards is based on myself, while Isabella Starr is based on my friend 's not much action in the first chapter, but things get much more intense as the story progresses, so please read and review!I guess that's all I have to say...so enjoy the story!

The Wrath of the Red Dragon

Chapter One

"I didn't know what was in store, when I walked right through the door. Then I saw you over there, our blue eyes locked in a stare. I didn't know quite what to say. Sometimes words get in the way." -Something More

"Finally! No more classes for the weekend!" eighteen year old Joe Hardy cheered as he and his year older brother plopped down on their beds in their college dorm.

Frank grinned. "Yeah. So…Joe? How was your first week of college?" The brothers had recently began taking college courses, and were staying in a dorm at the school itself.

The blonde, muscular boy rolled his blue eyes and said, "Tough."

"A lot different than high school, huh?"

"Yeah. And it's kinda weird, living away from Mom and Dad. Although it is kinda nice to get away from Aunt Gertrude's constant nagging." Frank threw a pillow at him. "What?" The boys' parents were Fenton and Laura Hardy. Fenton was a nationally acclaimed private investigator, and he had taught the boys everything they knew. They had solved many cases, and were pretty well known themselves. Aunt Gertrude was their father's sister, and although she loved the boys, she had an odd way of showing it.

Frank's dark brown eyes sparkled as he ran a hand absentmindedly through his thick brown hair. "If you wouldn't do everything you can possibly do without killing yourself in the process to bug her, she wouldn't nag you constantly."

"Oh, but big brother," Joe said playfully, "that's what I live for." He paused, then frowned. "How long did it take you to figure out where all your classes were last year?"

Frank, a sophomore, grinned, and said, "I thought Joe Hardy never got lost."

"That was before I saw this place!"

Frank and Joe walked side by side, through the college campus. It was nearing dinnertime, and the boys were planning on heading out to the Taco Bell on their way back to Bayport. The four friends planned to start back to their hometown, which was a two hour drive from campus, and visit home for the weekend.

Before they had gotten to the parking garage, however, Joe suddenly stopped and waved at two girls that were heading the opposite direction. "Izzy! Jazz!" he yelled. The two stopped and headed toward them.

"Who are they?" Frank asked.

"They're freshmen, like me," Joe stated. "We're in calculus together." He grinned at Frank. "I think Jazz digs me," he added.

Frank raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

"Hi, Joe!" a tall, thin girl of eighteen said. She had shoulder length black hair and dark blue eyes. The other girl, who was a few inches taller than her companion, said nothing. She had light brown eyes and brown hair. Blue and pink streaks were visible in her thick hair. She wore slightly baggy clothes and eyed Frank in interest. To Joe's surprise, Frank returned the glance.

"Hi, Jazz!" Joe returned the greeting. He turned to his brother. "Frank, this is Jasmine Richards. And this is Isabella Starr. This is my brother, Frank."

"Hi," Jasmine said shyly.

Frank cleared his throat. "Hey, we're about to grab a bite to eat. You girls want to come with us?"

"Sure," Isabella spoke for the first time that night.

"It's fine with me," Jasmine added.

"Great!"

Since the girls were now with them, the plans changed from Taco Bell to Olive Garden. As they sat at their booth, waiting to be served, Frank turned to Isabella. "So…" he said awkwardly. "Your name is Isabella…?"

The girl smiled shyly. "Yes…and you're Frank?"

Frank nodded, and an awkward silence formed between the two. Joe broke it by saying, "Hey, Frank, what do you think of Izzy's hair? Looks like it was done at an art exhibit instead of a hair salon, eh?"

Isabella glared at him. "I wouldn't talk. At least I have some flavor…while you're just a dull, dumb blonde."

"Oh, really? Well, I—" Joe's retort was cut off by the waiter bringing their food.

While they ate, Frank and Joe listened to the animated talk between the two girls. "You guys are best friends or something, right?" Joe said.

"No, we just talk about stuff we've done together since we were six for no reason," Isabella snapped.

Frank laughed. "She did get you there, Joe."

After dinner, Frank and Isabella went out to the car while Joe and Jasmine took care of the bill. "So…you're a detective, right?" Isabella asked as she looked into Frank's eyes.

"Yes," he answered. He noted an odd look in her eyes. "What's up?" he asked as they reached the car.

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head slightly. Then she added, "I bet you've dealt with gangs a lot, haven't you?"

Frank found her question a little odd but didn't say so. "Yeah, I guess. We've put a few gangsters in jail. Why?"

"No reason. It's getting cold. Let's get in the car." Frank agreed, and soon he was in the drivers' seat and Isabella was beside him. "You know, I think it's really cool what you do," she stated. "You know, detective work. I bet your life is full of action; adventure. Right?"

"It is pretty exciting," Frank admitted. "We've gotten into a lot of dangerous stuff, though. Been in a few scrapes we thought we'd never get out of."

"Hm." Isabella seemed lost in thought.

"What're you thinking about?"

"I dunno…I just think that would be pretty cool, you know. To look into the face of danger."

"I take it you don't scare easy?"

Isabella shook her head. "No." She smiled slightly. "But Jazz is way different. She's so shy, so scared of everything. She's been like that as far back as I can remember…but I think she could be courageous if there ever was a need…if someone she cared about was in danger…she would risk everything for that person."

"Ah."

"I really like you, Frank," Isabella said as she leaned toward him. Their lips met and didn't part for several minutes.

While Frank and Isabella were having their serious conversation, Joe and Jasmine were getting to know each other better as they waited in line to pay the check.

"I don't see how you can be so brave," Jasmine stated, looking into Joe's blue eyes. "I mean, from what I've heard about your adventures, it seems like you guys do a whole lot of dangerous stuff."

"Ahh…not really," Joe said, and Jasmine looked at him curiously. "All we do is defy death on a daily basis and practically save the world from horrible evil doers."

Jasmine laughed. "Have you ever been kidnapped?" she asked, then blushed. "I'm sorry, that was a stupid thing to ask."

Joe grinned. "Not at all. And in answer to your question, I have been kidnapped many times."

Jasmine gasped. "It must be terrible!"

"Well, it is," Joe admitted. "But I know I can always count on Frank to get me out of a tight spot."

"You guys are really close, huh?"

Joe nodded. "Sometimes I wish that Frank wasn't so…overbearing, I guess. I know he cares about me…but he's like protective—to protective, sometimes."

"That's how big siblings are," Jasmine stated. They were now almost to the front of the line. "At least, that's how I am with my little sister."

"Oh, you have a little sister?" Their conversation was put to a halt momentarily while Joe paid. Then the two walked as slowly as possible back to the car.

"Yeah, I do," Jasmine answered, acting as if there hadn't been any interruption whatsoever. "Her name is Angel—she's ten. You know, I get scared really easy, but when it comes to her, I'd do anything to protect her."

"That's Frank for you," Joe said. "He'd die for me."

"Now that's love," Jasmine stated. They slowed their pace toward the car.

"Yeah," Joe said. He cleared his throat. "So…your friend seems a bit weird. How long've you known her?"

"Oh, many years. Although there was a period last year where I felt really distant from her. Actually, it was more like all through high school. I never seemed to be included in her plans, and she always seemed evasive when I asked her what she was doing. But then, a few months ago, she called me, apologized for acting so strange, and then we sort of picked up where we left off. But it really made me wonder, you know?"

"Yeah. Maybe she was just going through some tough stuff at home."

"Probably."

"Well, here we are," Joe said. He and Jasmine got into the back seat. Frank and Isabella looked up from their conversation as the door slammed shut.

"Well, you took long enough," Isabella grinned.

"Sorry," Jasmine apologized. "Long line."

"Uh-huh," said Frank doubtfully.

"But what about you guys?" Joe said. "What've you two been doing in this car…all alone?"

Isabella turned in her seat and slapped him on the arm. "Shut up, blondie."

Joe rolled his eyes, but said nothing more. It was decided that they would take the girls back to campus, then Frank and Joe would head on home. After lightly kissing the girls goodnight, Frank and Joe headed toward Bayport.

"I really like Isabella," Frank commented.

"You know, she's the last person on the planet I'd expect you to like," Joe said.

"Why?"

"She seems so…wild, yet you're so…dull."

"Shut up, Joe! And actually, she's really sweet. And brave."

"Yeah, Jazz's really cool too," Joe said.

Both boys were happy and excited about their newly found dates, but neither one could imagine how dangerous a role these two would play in their lives…

A/N: So, how was chapter one? Please review, and I'll update as soon as possible!

~Emachinescat ^..^