Sorry this took so long to post. I've been doing a lot of traveling and summer work... Hopefully you enjoy it though...

~! #$%^&*()_+

Upon seeing the teen hit the wall, Randy suddenly rediscovered his ability to leap into action. Shaking his head to clear the colourful doodles depicting possible plans, he leaped into action hoping for the best as he swung his sword at her. "Ninja slice!" he shouted as his sword arced in the air. He wasn't prepared for his sword to phase right through her, resulting him narrowly avoiding a graceless faceplant. "What the juice!" he exclaimed as he staggered in an attempt to regain his balance.

"To be fair, she did say that wouldn't work" chirped the boy, as he suddenly appeared next to him, looking awfully chipper for someone who was just knocked into a wall. Yelping, Randy jumped backwards. "What are you?" he squawked, raising his sword to the now hovering (!) boy. Apparently, this wasn't as intimidating as Randy had hoped, as the boy opposite him stared down the sword with awe. "Is this a real sword?" he said making a move to touch it. Jerking it back, Randy snapped "yes! And I'm a ninja, trying to do his job here!".

The boy looked up, locking eyes with the ninja. "Right, Lunchie over there." he said gesturing to where the green lady seemed to be… encasing herself in a variety of lunch meats?. " Hold on a second"

Turning to face his oldest enemy he allowed his eyes to flash a little before allowing his fists to glow green as he leaped through the layers of meat. "Gotcha!" he shouted as he pulled the elderly ghost through the otherside and whipping out the thermos to capture her. She loudly shouted protests and promises of vengeance before finally the lid of the thermos was shut. Leaving Danny floating in place and Randy trying to protest what just had just occurred before him.

"Well, it's been fun Ninja, but I gotta go" he stated, turning towards the ninja and offering a small salute before disappearing through the ceiling.

"No! Wait! You never answered my question!" fruitlessly cried Randy at the space where the boy once was, before begrudgingly making his way to the nearest bathroom, removing the mask and heading back to his room.

Upon arriving back at their room, Randy found Danny lounging in his bed with his laptop. Looking up at to face him, Danny questioned "so where'd you go?".

Randy sputtered as he pieced together an alibi. "I was- uh, at, the erm classroom! yeah , the one we were in for the intro, I um, thought I uhhh left something there.. But it was a false alarm, so no problem!". Danny looked at him dubiously before replying: "okay… if you say so" before shrugging and going back to what he was doing.

Randy eyed the screen before asking "whatcha doin'?"

Danny looked up again before explaining, "This, this is only the best game ever, you know… Doomed" Randy scoffed crossing his arms.

"Pfft, everyone knows the best games are the grave puncher series"

" Nuh uhh" Protested Danny as he shot Randy a mischievous grin, resulting in the two of them beginning to childishly bicker in good humour about which game was better.

A hundred miles away another boy was receiving another detention slip. "See me after class Mr Long" smirked the Professor as Jake Long made his way to his seat.

Snickers and a series of "ooo"s rang around the room as the teacher finished his claim; but knowing by now that making a scene wasn't the way to deal with his teachers' irrational methods. Jake dropped his head onto his desk as he sat down and muttered a quiet "aw man"

"Hey Jakey, what was it this time? Had to take Haley to school, or you know… duty calls?" Quietly greeted Trixie as he sat down next to her. Ignoring their third friend snickering at the final part, Jake responded, quietly ranting

"Duty call Trix, this totally blows! It's like the third time this week… and it's only wednesday! Why does Rottwood still have it out for me?"

It wasn't uncommon for the professor to pick on the boy. In fact, it was considered stranger if the teacher didn't call him out. It was a rivalry that had sprouted when the boy was in middle school, when the boy started calling out the professors incorrect knowledge, and only escalated from there.

Jake finally thought it was over when he graduated from middle school, but it turns out that fate had other plans, as Rotwood was transferred with them to the nearby high school. It seemed that as time passed their 'rivalry' only increased, as Rotwood's knowledge of Jakes connection to the magical world lead to him pushing the boy harder and harder hoping that it would result in something slipping.

Solemnly, Spud nodded at Jake as Trixie sympathetically patted his shoulder. "That's rough buddy" she commented, before suggesting "maybe your gramps could give you a hand, or a break or somethin' you know? But like, you gotta set your priorities straight boy"

Jake scoffed, shooting Trixie a tired, unconvinced stare. "Sure"

After that, the class passed relatively quickly. 'Professor' Rotwood droned on inaccurate facts about mythical beings. Jake allowed his ramblings to become white noise as he dozed at his desk. While Trixie and Spud nodded passively -and like the rest of the class- pretending they were paying attention.

Then the lunch bell rang, and the class stampeded towards the cafeteria, while Jake reluctantly trudged towards Rottwoods desk. "Sorry about disturbing your class Mr. Rottwood" Jake said boredly, hoping that he would get out of any detention Rottwood had planned.

"Whilst the words may come out of your mouth, I highly doubt that they are sincere Mr Long. But that is not the only reason I asked you to stay… Your grades and attendance are- how to put this nicely- a train wreck, and I - your concerned teacher, and homeroom teacher- am worried that you won't be able to pass this year if you don't fix your grades and attendance"

Jake gawped. "What?" he burst out. "That can't be right!" he cried, "I-I've handed in my projects, done my homework, and haven't even missed any major days! What else- what more could they want from me?"

Rottwood smirked, "Ah yes. The half done projects, the indecipherable homework and the steadily declining days of attendance. The school has already spoken to your parents about other options, but I can help with that. Just tell me what I need to know…"

Jake sputtered "Wha-No way- I mean- I don't know what you're talking about, but even if I did I wouldn't tell you!" before storming out of the classroom feeling like an idiot. Then, as if fate was watching for the perfect moment to further torment the boy, did Jake get a phone call from his grandfather.

Quickly, he picked it up. "Speaking. What's up Gramps?"

"KID!" Yelled the voice on the other end, making the boy wince and pull the phone away from his ear. "Get down here ASAP, no time to explain"

Jake tried to respond, "Wait! Why no-" before cutting himself short, realising he had been hung up on. Letting out a frustrated groan, he hitched up his bag and booked it out of the school.

As he dashed through the busy streets of New York, he couldn't help but worry about what Rottwood had said, and the fact that he would probably end up missing his last two classes, which certainly wouldn't help him in any way. Not to mention Trixies warning, he DID need to sort out his priorities"

Finally catching sight of the familiar electronics shop, Jake practically kicked the door down as he barreled in. "I'm here! What's the problem?" He wheezed through his ragged breathing. His Grampa, hopped off the stool he was sitting on. "Hmmm 9 minutes and 58 seconds… not too bad" he said pensively "but you need to be faster Jake, what if that were an actual emergency? You would likely have been too late" He then scolded. Jake could only stare, as what had just occurred began to sink in… "So there was no emergency? You called me here for no reason, just cause? I'm missing school right now, you realise this, right?"

He realised that he was beginning to sound a bit hysterical towards the end of the sentence, but he couldn't help it. He was so tired of being ragged on from all sides. From school, for not being present as often as he should be. From home, for not getting the grades and achievements like Hayley; and finally, from his Grandfather, for not being the best dragon in the damn world. Who could blame him for finally reaching his snapping point.

"I did call you for a reason, it is to test your ability to be here in an expected time, and Jacob. What is more important here? School, or the fate of the magical community?"

And with that comment, Jake snapped for real.

"I am so SICK of having to choose! I never asked for this! Hell, I never even WANTED this! All I ever get is shit from everyone! 'Jake, why weren't you at school yesterday?', 'Jake, why aren't you as good as Hayley?' 'Jake, you weren't here fast enough" I'm so fucking done with it! I shouldn't have to choose between my own damn future or the well being of a community, like, that's so messed up! I want out! I'm done! Hell, as much as I love this city, I can't stand it right now! It's too much Gramps! I can't take it anymore! Maybe Trixie was right… My priorities aren't straight because I shouldn't be out there risking my neck and future! You managed before I was born, and I'm sure you can manage it without me again!"

At some point within that rant Jake started crying, he didn't notice it then, but he felt the wet tears on his face as he panted, trying to regain his posture after that outburst. Which in turn lead him to feel more frustrated, and humiliated. He aggressively wiped his face with his sleeve jacket before turning on his heel and bolting out the door. Not giving his Grandfather anytime to respond. He was sure that it would be with anger anyways, given the disrespect he made a show of… That being said, Jake had no idea where he was going. He couldn't go back home- he'd get into so much trouble for skipping school. He couldn't go back to school- not after that, he wouldn't be left alone for weeks. And he definitely couldn't go back to the shop- who knows what punishment would await him… So he settled for an old playground he used to visit as a kid.

'Much simpler times' He thought to himself sardonically as he took a seat on a swing. While the events of the day replayed in his mind.

Fear and anxiety began to clutch at his chest as he began to think of consequences. 'Oh god, Gramps is definitely gonna call mum, oh boy I'm dead. I'm going to be murdered'

'I'm missing class right now, that's going to be so much catch up work, If mum doesn't kill me, I'm not going to be sleeping anytime soon. I'm going to fail this year, oh no, oh boy, oh god'

This went on for a while, before the rowdy cries of kids alerted him that school was in fact over. Debating on whether or not he should (or could) go home, Jake slowly made his way back to his house. He was so tired. He really just needed sleep right now. So taking a deep breathe and hoping that no one - especially not his mum- was waiting on the other side. He pushed the door open.

If it wasn't made abundantly clear before, allow this to make it clear. Fate, nor luck, was on Jakes side. For standing there on the other side of the door was his mother.

He sighed, resigning himself to one attempt at getting out of the mess. "Mum, please, not right now…" he almost begged.

Taking one look at her child Susan felt her heart lurch. His eyes were weary, tired, and red and puffy from crying; and his posture was one of complete defeat. Her resolve crumbled… "Oh Jakey" She mumbled sadly, "go get a nap, and clean yourself up for dinner, and then we'll talk" she then instructed softly.

Not wanting to question her, and risk having the slack revoked, Jake took heed of her instructions and made his way upstairs before promptly collapsing onto his bed. His last thought was along the lines of 'Tonight is going to be a long night'

~! #$%^&*()_+

Once again, I am so sorry this took so long... And if you have any critiques or comments I always appreciate them, and feel free to PM me for anything :)