Chapter One

Rumble in the Skate Park

"Please be careful as you depart from the airplane and go straight to the baggage pick up. Enjoy New York City," said the overly peppy flight attendant as she escorted the passengers off of the plane, and into the New York central airport. Eve exited the airplane and walked out into the main terminal.

It had been about a year since she had left New York. There wasn't a day that went by when she didn't find herself wishing she had never left. Her physical appearance had not changed too much over the last year. She had grown about two inches and her body had matured more. Today she was wearing a short sleeved dark green shirt with Happy Bunny on the front saying "It's all about me…deal with it." She also wore dark blue baggy jeans and brand new black skater shoes. She also had on a black trench coat and a bright blue back pack.

She walked straight out of the airport terminal and onto the side walk.

The wind blew through her hair and she took in a deep breathe. This place truly felt like home to her. Eve stepped out onto the side walk and hailed a taxi. She got in the back seat and buckled up.

"Where to, Miss?" asked the driver politely. Eve thought for a moment. Then she knew just where she wanted to go. She told the driver the address of an old friend and they were off. She rolled down the window and let the wind blow through her hair. The cab driver turned on the radio but the music seemed to fade into the background.

Eve's train of thought was broken by the cab driver.

"Miss, we're here," said the cab driver.

"Thanks. How much?" She asked.

"$29.56," the cab driver answered. Eve handed him thirty bucks and told him to keep the change. Eve got out of the cab and watched as it drove away. Eve closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and turned around. She now stood at the bottom step of a familiar house. The concrete stairs led up to a red house that was placed right between two others. Memories, both good and bad, rushed back to her. Eve slowly walked up the stairs leading to the front door of the house. When she got to the top of the stairs her heart started to beat faster. She enclosed her hand into a fist and knocked on the door.

"Isn't it a beautiful day Mommy?" Hailey asked.

"Yes it is Hailey," her mom answered as she scooped raw cookie dough onto the clean cookie sheet.

"I love baking cookies with you mommy," said Hailey in her innocent squeaky voice she used to get whatever she wanted.

"You're so sweet Hailey-kin's," said Mrs. Long. So Hailey continued to mix the cookie dough when she heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Hailey shrieked as she hoped off her stepstool and ran for the front door. When she reached the door she grabbed the door knob and opened the door without asking who was at the other side. Hailey looked at the figure that stood in the door way and let out a shrill girly scream.

"Hailey!" Mrs. Long cried out. She ran out of the kitchen as fast as she could. When she arrived in the living room she was surprised at the sight she beheld. There was Hailey in the arms of a teenage girl. The girl was about Jake's new height, since he had grown almost three full inches over the passed year. She had long green hair that went all the way down to the bottom of her back. She turned toward Mrs. Long with a smile and said,

"Mommy look!" Hailey shrieked.

"Hey Mrs. Long," said the green haired teen with a voice she could never forget.

"Eve?" Mrs. Long asked.

"Yep, in the flesh. How are you?" Eve asked putting Hailey on the ground.

"I'm good. So how is L.A?" asked Mrs. Long.

"Okay, but I still prefer New York. Where's Mr. Long?"

"He's on another business trip. He's trying to work hard so he can get a promotion and never have to go on another one again,"

"Well I hope he gets it. So is Jake home?"

"Nope, he's at the skate park with Trixie and Spud," said Hailey.

"Well I'm going to go surprise him," said Eve as she turned toward the door.

"Where are you staying?" asked Mrs. Long.

"Umm, at a hotel," said Eve.

"Nonsense, you can sleep here, in Hailey's room," said Mrs. Long.

"Yea! It'll be just like I have a big sister!" Hailey exclaimed.

"Really? I wouldn't want to impose," said Eve.

"I insist. How long will you be staying?" Mrs. Long asked.

"About a month."

"Well then you can stay here until you leave."

"Alright. I will. Thank you. Well I'm off to go give your son a little surprise," with that Eve walked out the door. Hailey watched as Eve departed and turned back to her mother. She saw that her mom had a strange look upon her face.

"Mommy are you okay?" Hailey asked.

"Yes I'm fine. Let's go finish those cookies," said Mrs. Long.

The wind rushed through Jake's hair s he sped down the Half pipe on his skate board. Jake squatted down and got ready for the perfect moment to jump and get maximum air. The board now was ascending up the wall of the pipe and the edge was coming up. Jake waited for his ample opportunity and just before he hit the edge he jumped and soared up into the air. As he went up he grabbed the front of his board, pulled it up, and started to spin. The loved the feeling he got when he was skating. It felt like freedom. No responsibilities, no worries, just fun. He was now falling back toward the half pipe so he came out of his trick and landed on his feet perfectly.

"Yo, Jakey that was insane!" Trixie yelled from the other end of the half pipe.

"Yeah dude that was like sick," said Spud.

"Thanks but I'm just getting warmed up, Check this!" Jake again took off down the half pipe wall at top speed. Jake flew up into the air and was about to do some insane trick when a net came out of no where and wrapper around him. Jake fell to the ground and hit it with a thud. His board flew off and landed on the other side of the skate park.

"I have you now dragon!" a voice called from above. Jake looked up to see the Huntsman on his flying board. Behind him was Rose. It looked like she was trying not to be seen by hiding behind the Huntsman.

"Dragon Up!" Jake yelled but nothing happened.

"The net it sphinx hair, boy. Your powers are useless." Trixie and Spud tried to run over to Jake and help him but were shot at by the Huntsman.

"Now farewell American Dragon!" the Huntsman said as he raised his staff and prepared to fire.

"Aww Man," was all Jake could say.

Eve walked down the street that led to the skate park. She was trying to figure out just how to surprise Jake. She could sneak up on him but he might mistake her for an enemy and attack. She could just walk up to him and say hi but that was not flashy enough. She groaned at her own indecisiveness. She had to make this perfect. The skate park was just ahead now and she could hear voices.

"Yo, Jakey that was insane!" of the bat she recognized that as Trixie

"Yeah dude that was like sick," that was so Spud.

"Thanks but I'm just getting warmed up, Check this!" That voice sent Eve's heart pounding with anticipation. She began to run towards the half pipe with all of her speed. She looked up just in time to see Jake fly up into the air but get shot down by a net. Eve watched as Jake hit the ground hard and his skate board came flying toward her. Eve held out her hand and said,

"Ezeerf!" The board suddenly stopped in mid-air right just before it hit Eve's hand. She grabbed the board and started to run for the half pipe. Again she heard a familiar voice she would rather forget.

"I have you now dragon!" Eve quickened her pace. She had to get to Jake before it was too late. Once she was at the half pipe she had a choice run around or go over.

"Now farewell American Dragon," said the Huntsman and Eve decided. She took a few steps back ran at the half pipe. She used her powerful legs to jump over the half pipe. The Huntsman was about to fire at Jake and Eve didn't know how to stop him. Then a thought came to mind. She took the skate board by the back wheels, brought back her arm, and with all of her strength, threw the skate board at the Huntsman. The board cut through the air like a missile and struck the Huntsman. The board hit him on the left side of his head and knocked him off his hover board. A green blast of energy shot out of his staff and broke the top of a street light. Eve landed on her feet and stared at the Huntsman.

The Huntsman struggled to his feet and looked at the person who had struck him. His eyes widened in shock at whom he beheld.

"YOU!" he exclaimed.

"Yo!" Trixie and Spud both exclaimed simultaneously.

"Eve!" Jake stared at her with wide eyes.

"Did you all miss me?" she said in a cocky tone.

"Huntsgirl attack the shape shifter! I'll handle the dragon." The Huntsman ordered. Rose jumped off the hover board and ran at Eve with her staff held up. Eve just smiled as Rose tried to bring her staff down on Eve's head. But Eve quickly brought up on hand and blocked the blow.

"You'll have to do better than that Huntsgirl," said Eve. Quickly Eve delivered a fierce kick to Rose's stomach. Rose fell to her knees holding her stomach with both hands.

"It seems your Huntsgirl can't fight me any more. I guess it's you and me, Huntsman," Eve said as she twirled Huntsgirl's staff in her hands. The Huntsman looked from Eve to the Huntsgirl and back to Eve.

"Then I shall kill you myself," said the Huntsman. Eve charged the Huntsman and swung the staff with all of her might. The Huntsman also swung his staff and both collided with a loud bang. Eve brought back the Hunts staff and swung it again only to have her attack blocked by the Huntsman. The two continued to fight with the staffs until the Huntsman raised his staff over his head and brought it down with immense power. Eve held up her staff in defense but the blow snapped the staff in half. The Huntsman held up his staff and blasted Eve in the chest. Eve flew across the skate park and landed on something soft. Eve held her chest as the pain seared through it. She looked to see what she had landed on. Beneath her lay Jake with a surprised look on his face. Eve then noticed she was sitting on his lap and both of his hands were on either side of her waist. Eve stood up quickly to escape that weird position.

"Sorry about that," she said to Jake.

"It's okay," he said. Eve faced the Huntsman ready to fight.

"Trixie, Spud get Jake out of that net. I'll handle him," ordered Eve.

"Right!" Trixie and Spud said simultaneously.

"This shall be your end shape shifter. I'm going to kill you just as I did you family!" The Huntsman again took aim at Eve and fired another blast of energy. Eve was ready for the attack but now she felt rage fill her entire body. The blast soared across the gap between the Huntsman and Eve at a quick speed. Eve held out her hands and exclaimed,

"Esrever!" The blast hit Eve's hands, forcing her back a few inches. The blast pushed against her hands, trying to force its way through her hands but not making any progress. Suddenly the blast seemed to bounce off Eve's hands and soar back towards the Huntsman.

"Huntsmaster look out!" Rose yelled as she tackled the Huntsman to the ground. The blast flew over their heads and hit a small skate ramp. The blast of energy left a huge hole in the middle ramp and it collapsed. Eve brought up her hands and crossed them in front of her face. Her nails grew to a length of four feet in the blink of an eye. Trixie and Spud quickly snapped out of the awe they were experiencing from watching Eve deflect the blast and help Jake out of the net.

"Thanks guys. Dragon Up!" Jake exclaimed for the second time. Fire surrounded his body and he morphed into his dragon form and stood at Eve's side.

"We must retreat for now," said the Huntsman. Both him and the Huntsgirl jumped onto their hover board and flew off into the distance.

"Yeah you better run!" yelled Trixie shaking her fist at the retreating enemies. Jake had a bigger priority on his mind then the Huntsclan.

"Eve you're back," he said returning to human form.

"Yeah and you have a little explaining to do, Dragon boy," said Eve after returning her nails to the proper length.