Power Rangers Dragons Riders
Chapter 2 First Flight and a New Evil
I do not own Power Rangers, Eragon, or the songs. Keep Holding On by Avril Lavgine and Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John and Tim Rice.
A month had passed since the former wind ringers had bonded with their dragons, and began their training as the next generation of dragon riders. They had learned the basics of magic: Lifting small objects, healing, and enough combat spells to help in an emergency.
"I can't wait until O'card is big enough to fly," said Shane excitedly.
"It shouldn't be too much longer from what I remember Aryonna telling us Dragons can carry a rider at one moth of age," said Dustin.
"You're taking our new training really seriously," said Shane.
"We're the first Dragon Riders in a thousand years. it's a big responsibility," said Dustin.
Shane gave Dustin a look of complete incredulity.
"He's right I don't think the eggs would have hatched for us if there wasn't something big coming," said Tori.
"I wonder what it could be," said Shane.
"I don't know I just hope we're ready for whatever it is," said Tori.
Dustin took a breath and let it out slowly, "We will be. I know it. We're Power Rangers."
Shane sighed, "You mean we were Power Rangers past tense. We don't have our powers anymore."
"You're forgetting; once a Ranger always a Ranger," said Tori.
The other two nodded.
Dustin felt Aurora enter his mind. Dustin you and the others must come to the rookery right away it is time of the next phase of your training.
"Guys, we have to go it's time for the next phase of our training to begin," said Dustin.
"Let's go," said Shane as the three of them headed for the cavern.
When they arrived, they found Aryonna and their Dragons waiting outside each dragon was wearing an ornate leather saddle colored to match his or her scales.
"Welcome, rangers today is a very important day in your training as Riders. It is the day you will take your first flight," said Aryonna.
"Yes!" said Shane as he punched the air enthusiastically.
Dustin gulped when he heard the word flight. He had always been scared of heights and was not looking forward to this phase of training he walked over so that he stood next Aurora.
She entered his mind and tried to quell his fear. You need not worry little one I will not allow any harm to come to you while we are together.
Thank you Aurora I know that I'm safe when I'm with you but I've always been afraid of heights said Dustin as he reached out and ran his right hand, which bore the Gedwëy Ignasia along her flank.
She leaned forward and allowed him to climb into the saddle once he was seated comfortably Aurora returned to her full height.
"Whoa," said Dustin as he gripped loop in the saddle to steady his balance seconds later Aurora's wings unfurled twenty feet on either side of Dustin and with one great flap both dragon and Rider were airborne.
Rising higher and higher with each wing beat. Dustin could not help but feel Aurora's thrill at being in the sky this was her domain and flying with her was the most exhilarating thing he had ever experienced he spoke to her with his mind.
Aurora this is incredible, said Dustin as they went into a steep climb before leveling off a few hundred feet from the ground.
Are you ready to land yet, little one? Asked Aurora.
No, not yet let's have some fun with the others first, said Dustin as Shane and Tori came into view Dustin called his teammates over.
"Let's see who's fastest, first one to the academy and back wins," said Dustin.
"You're on man," said Shane.
"The usual stakes?" asked Dustin.
"You got it," said Shane as he and O'card took off in the direction of the wind ninja academy Dustin and Aurora followed him as fast as they could and within seconds, they had not only caught up with them but also flown past.
When they reached the academy, they flew over it and turned back toward the mountain. Less than a minute later, the three young Riders, and their dragons had landed in a forest clearing about a mile from the rookery. As they dismounted, they heard a voice behind them laugh menacingly.
The three teens turned to find themselves face to face with a man wearing a long black cloak made of snakeskin.
"Who are you?" asked Tori.
"I am the instrument of you destruction," said the stranger sinisterly.
"Oh I'm so scared," said Shane sarcastically.
"You dare mock the great Shade Yoflam?" said Yoflam angrily.
Dustin snickered.
"You pay for that, Rider," said Yoflam.
Dustin ducked just in time to avoid a bolt of violet light he rolled to the side to avoid another attack.
He reached deep within himself and found his store of magic "Resia stenr!" he said causing a stone to rise a few feet off the ground Dustin struggled to keep the stone afloat every second he did drained his energy reserves He felt Aurora join him adding her strength to his to allow him to keep fighting.
"Thyrsta!" he shouted the stone flew like, a bullet.
"Letta sem stenr," whispered Yoflam causing the stone to stop dead and fall harmlessly at his feet.
"You'll have to do better than that," said Yoflam evilly "Permit me to give a demonstration of what true power is Rider. Jierdra!" he shouted pointing at Tori causing her to go flying into a large bolder.
She hit the stone and fell to the ground where she lay unconscious, a small trickle of blood running down the side of her face. Shane ran to her and quickly healed her wounds and she got back to her feet.
"Tori are you okay?" asked Dustin.
"I'll be fine," said Tori.
"I'd leave now if I were you," Dustin said in a voice of forced calm that would have sent a chill down a normal man's spine.
"You are no match for my powers Rider. I control the things that haunt your darkest nightmares," said Yoflam menacingly as he sent a large bolder flying at Dustin.
"Brisingr!" roared Dustin putting the full force of his anger into the spell; the boulder exploded showering the combatants with fragments of stone.
A large fragment struck Yoflam in the forehead and he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. Dustin turned to face the others and took one step before he collapsed. Tori ran to the spot where he lay and knelt down.
"Go get Aryonna, hurry!" she said a note of panic in her voice. Shane quickly leapt onto O'card's Back and took off returning moments later followed by a very concerned looking Aryonna.
"What happened to him?" she asked.
"I don't know he used a spell to blow up a bolder and kill this guy who just showed up out of nowhere and attacked us," said Tori as tears welled up in her eyes. Aryonna checked Dustin's pulse and breathing.
"He will be fine he just needs to rest remember what you've learned about magic the more powerful a spell is the more energy it takes to perform," said Aryonna.
"Shane, help me carry him inside," said Tori Shane nodded and helped her to carry him inside the cave.
"There are sleeping quarters for you and your dragons through there," said Aryonna pointing to an archway on the opposite side of the cavern.
Shane and Tori carried Dustin across the room and through the arch, which led to at least a dozen chambers. They entered the first one to find a bed upon which they laid Dustin as well as what looked like den lined with blankets in which Aurora could sleep.
"He'll be okay," said Shane.
"I'm gonna sit with him for a while," said Tori.
"Okay I'll be in the next room if you need anything," said Shane.
Tori nodded and Shane turned to go.
Tori looked down and her breath caught in her throat when she saw how pale Dustin looked. She took his hand in hers as tears began to flow steadily down her cheeks.
"Dustin, you've been my best friend since kindergarten, and I don't know if you know this, but I love you," She whispered as she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Dustin's lips.
She took a deep breath and began to sing softly.
"You're not alone. Together we stand. I'll be by your side. You know I'll take your hand. When it gets cold and it feels like the end, there's no place to go. You I won't give in. No, I won't give in.
Keep holding on 'case you know we'll make it through, we'll make it though. Just stay strong, 'cause I'm here for you, I'm here for you.
There's nothing you could say. Nothing you could do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth.
So keep holding on, cause you know we'll make it through we'll make it through.
So far, away I wish you here. Before it's too late, this could all disappear, before the doors close and it comes to an end with you by my side I will fight and defend. I'll fight and defend yeah, yeah.
Keep holding on 'cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through. Just stay strong.
'Cause you know I'm here for you. I'm here for you.
There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do there's no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on.
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Hear me when I say, when I say, I believe.
Nothing's gonna change nothing's gonna change destiny whatever's meant be will work out perfectly. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. La, da, da, da. La, da, da, da. La, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da.
Keep holding on. 'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Just stay strong cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you.
There's nothing you could say nothing you could do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on.
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through.
Keep holding on.
Keep holding on.
There's nothing you could say. Nothing you could do. There's no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on. Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through,"
As she finished singing Tori leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to Dustin's lips.
Tori turned around to see Shane standing in the doorway smiling.
"You love him don't you?" he asked. Tori gave no response other than a slight nod.
"He loves you, too. You can see it in his eyes when he looks at you," said Shane.
"How long have you known how he feels about me?" asked Tori.
"Since we were in ninth grade, and Eric Chase dumped you," said Shane.
"I remember that. After it happened I went straight to Dustin and he pulled me into his arms and told me that everything would be alright and held me while I cried, then his mom made us some homemade chocolate chip cookies," said Tori.
Shane turned and walked out of the room again and Tori looked down to see Dustin's eyes open and him smile up at her.
"Did you mean it?" he asked.
"What?" asked Tori.
"When you said you loved me, did you mean it?" asked Dustin.
"I meant every word of it. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone," said Tori as she leaned forward, and captured Dustin's lips in a passionate kiss. He smiled when the kiss ended.
"What?" asked Tori.
"You taste like strawberries," said Dustin.
"It's my lip-gloss," said Tori.
"I like it," said Dustin smiling.
"Good, I'll wear it more often," said Tori as Dustin tried to get up. She put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"Dustin you need to rest. I'll be right here," said Tori as Dustin leaned back. Sinking into the soft mattress. Tori climbed in next to him and laid her head on his chest.
A moment later the sound of claws clicking on the stone floor signaled Aurora's entrance into the room. She looked the young couple.
She spoke to Dustin with her mind.
Hello little one, are you well?
Yes, Aurora I'm fine. Thank you, said Dustin.
Aurora walked to the bed lifted her head so that she was level with Dustin and gently licked his cheek.
Tori smiled as Aurora licked her cheek as well. Tori reached and stoked the golden dragon's snout softly. Aurora walked over and curled up in her den laying her head on her front paws her breathing slow and even.
Dustin smiled her knowing that with help from her and the other dragons they could defeat any enemy.
Dustin shifted his gaze from the golden dragon now sleeping soundly in her den to Tori.
Dustin inhaled taking in the scent of gardenias from her perfume. He sensed that she was still worried. He took a breath and began to sing softly to her as she had done for him.
"There's a calm surrender to the rush of day when the heat of the rolling world can be turned away. An enchanted moment and it sees me through. It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you.
And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are. It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer that we got this far.
And can you feel the love tonight? How it's laid to rest. It's enough to make kings vagabonds believe the very best.
There's a time for everyone. If they only learn that, the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn.
There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors, when the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours.
And can you feel the love tonight? How it's laid to rest. It's enough to make kings vagabonds believe the very best. It's enough to make kings vagabonds believe the very best."
Dustin felt Tori's worry fade to be replaced by a sense of contentment.
"Dustin that was beautiful, you remembered that the Lion King is my favorite Disney movie," said Tori as she turned to look into Dustin's warm honey colored eyes and saw the depth of love that they held.
"It's mine too," said Dustin kissing Tori's lips softly.
