The Black Dragon Booster
Ch. 1: Stable Girl
"Connor! Connor! Open Up!" 7 year old blonde girl shouted as she banged her fist on the door. The door was suddenly thrown open to reveal the bald form of Connor Penn.
"Shelen, what is it?" He asked worridly.
"He-he's at it again!" She cried, pointing toward the way she had come. "He's hurting Glory!"
"Calm down, Shelen, and tell me what happened." Connor said gently.
"Word said he needed me for something and to bring Gloryfire. He led us to a weird room and told us to stand on a platform. Then he-he tried to stick something on me. Some kind of black gear. Then Glory knocked me out of the way. He began to shake and electricity surounded his body when the gear was activated. Then I ran. I stole one of the dragons at the stables and came here as soon as possible! Please you have to help Glory!" Shelen cried desperatly.
Connor looked at the terrified girl then glared toward the Citadel. He then saddled the fastest dragon he owned and rode to the Citadel. Shelen looked after him with tears still in her eyes. She then saw her childhood friend, Artha staring after his father.
"Where's Dad going?" He asked, worridly.
"Word's going to hurt Gloryfire!" Shelen cried. Artha understood how important Gloryflame was to Shelen. She was convinced she was supposed to take care of the dragon. Artha moved over and, though most his age found it gross, hugged her. She hugged him back as they huddled in the night. When Connor finally returned both children ran up to greet him. When they saw his grave expression, Shelen's hope vanished. She glanced behind her and saw Gloryflame was slung over Connor's dragon's back.
"Glory!" The little girl cried and ran over to the red yellow and orange colored Pack-class dragon. His eyes were closed and his body was limp. Shelen touched his snout to feel his warmth, but there was only cold. Connor dismounted and went over to Shelen. She looked up at him.
"What's wrong with Glory?" Shelen asked him, her fear mounting.
"Shelen...I'm afraid Glory is gone." Connor tried to explain gently.
"What? What do you mean he's gone? He's right here." Shelen said confused. Connor then shook his head.
"No, Shelen. His body is here, but his spirit with your Dad now. I was too late. He-"
"NO!" The little girl shouted. She shook her head rapidly and stepped away, "He can't be gone! I was supposed to take care of him! He's all I have left!"
She then took the dragon's head in her hands and shook him violently.
"Wake up, Glory!" She called to him in vain, "Wake up! Come on, please wake up!"
Her cries became choked sobs and she clung to the dead dragon like he held all of her life. Connor then finally pulled her away.
"We will give him a proper funeral in the morning." Connor promised her. He then lead the two children inside. Shelen slept on the couch of the house and the next day the four- Connor, Lace, Artha, and Shelen-burried Gloryflame and gave him a proper funeral. Even the dragons seemed to morn for the loss of the great dragon. Shelen stayed at the gravesite the whole day. Artha would sometimes join her and brought out a blanket for her to stay warm then the next day things went back to normal. Connor convinced the Government that the Citadel was no place to raise a child. They eventually agreed and Shelen was allowed to legally move into Penn Stables. There wasn't much of an argument from Word since he knew Shelen was useless to him if she didn't cooperate. She then began to work for Connor to pay for her stay in his home. He tried to tell her that she didn't have to, they were like familiy before her father died after all. But she wanted to, it was the best she could think of to repay Connor for all he did for her. Artha even made her feel at home.
Later on she even met Cathrine Highzenrider, or Kelly and they became the best of friends. Life became even better for these normal kids. Until the eggs came to be. Two dragon eggs, one black and gold, the other pure black. The exact day the eggs were laid one went missing. The one that was still there hatched soon after it was laid. A black and gold dragon emerged with tiny frill flap like wings on his back. He was named Beaucephalis, Beau for short. He grew up with the Penns and the two girls. A week after he was born, the dragon's wings dissapeared. Shelen grew fond of the little dragon while Artha began to like virtual dragons better than real ones. The dragons though dissagreed. They bugged Artha every time they wanted attention when Shelen was busy with another.
"Augh! I can't take it anymore!" Artha shouted one day as Beau once again began to bug him.
"He just wants to play." Shelen laughed as she groomed a blue energy-class dragon.
"Well I'm busy!" Atha said to the black and gold lizard that was constantly getting in his personal space. "Why can't you play with him?"
"Do you not see me doing REAL work." She said turning to Artha.
"Parm and I are doing real work!" Artha protested as he returned to his vidd-game controler. Shelen rolled her eyes and returned to grooming the female dragon.
"You're doing better, girl." Shelen cooed to the dragon as she stroked her, "You should be ready to sell soon." She then fed the dragoness a small sugar cube treat.
"Since you're so good with dragons why don't you just get your own?" Artha asked.
"I had a dragon, my dad's dragon, remember?" She snapped glaring at him. He looked bac to his game to keep from looking at her. He knew she wouldn't get a dragon because she thought it would be disrespectful to her father. He had told Gloryfire to protect her after all. One day Artha remembered lightly humoring the subject by sudgesting she get a dragoness since Glory had been male. She gave him a black eye for that and Artha's father had given him a long talk about Shelen's relationship to Gloryfire. He then had to appologize to her about making fun of Glory's death.
"Right, it's just been such a long time..."
"Only 7 years." She retorted. Beau then went up to her and nudged her. Shelen looked up at the dragon and pat him on the snout. Artha sighed and returned to his video game. Shelen then smirked at Beau and he nodded. He walked up to Artha again and snatched the vidd-game controler out of his hands.
"Beau!" Artha scolded but the dragon was out of his reach. Suddenly Artha felt something spray the back of him. He looked behind and saw Shelen giggling and holding the hose.
"Oh, you are so getting it!" Artha yelled in false anger. He then ran at her. She screamed and ran as he tried to grab her.
"Artha get away! You're all wet!" She laughed. Artha continued to chase her in circles, Beau laughing at them. Neather dragon nor humans noticed the dark shape from above watching them as Artha finally caught Shelen from behind and lifted her in a hug. Shelen screaming with laughter and Beau shaking the hose causing both teens to become soaked. The figure smirkked at the humans in interest. The blonde would do nicely, the dragon thought as she spread her wings and dove from the buildingthen swooped over the stables. Shelen was the on;y one to notice, bt she couldn't tell what she had jst seen. And she didn't think she wanted to figure it out.