Note: The name "Frytte" is not "fret" but "fright". Should have probably thought this through, which is why I added one "e" afterwards in the revised version.

Disclaimer: Dragon Booster is not mine. Do not release the lawyers on me.


Against a Fetching, Freaky Foe: Part 2
A Deceptive Stray / Name for New Companion

It was only when Moordryd and Decepshun reached the Dragon Eye compound in Down City that Decepshun finally halted. "I hate it when we have to run without stopping!" Decepshun complained, magging off Moordryd, who looked around with one more alert glance before leading Decepshun back to the Dragon Eye stables. When he saw Cain, Rancydd and Swayy somewhere else, he stopped and went towards them, Decepshun following.

"Hey, boss," Swayy said, looking up. "Where have you been?"

"Mmm, doing a little searching," replied Moordryd, approaching the three. "It's none of your business, though. So what were you all doing while I was gone?"

"Well, I stole a few drakkals from the bank," Rancydd said. He frowned. "The Dragon Booster caught me."

"Not the Dragon Booster!" Cain gasped, clearly exaggerating. Moordryd groaned and shook his head.

"Look, whatever the Dragon Booster does, I want you to stop him in whatever way possible!" the leader ordered. "I mean, it's bad enough when Dragon City Security is after us!"

"Yes, but we're the Dragon Eyes," Cain pointed out with a smirk. "Everybody is afraid of us, so we can easily get our ways with and without force."

"Right," Moordryd nodded as Swayy walked away with a curious look on her face. "But ever since the Dragon Booster started taking a stand against us, he's been influencing a lot of the other crews and citizens of Dragon City to rebel against us. We need to show them that we're in charge here, not them!"

"It's not gonna be easy," Rancydd murmured nervously.

"Hey, you look pooped," observed Cain, looking at Moordryd. "Seriously, what happened to you?"

Moordryd's eyes shifted around. "It's, uh…long story," he stammered. "I don't want to waste my breath telling it."

"Same here," Decepshun added, yawning and swishing her tail around. "Besides, I'm pretty sure we ditched that thing way behind there in Mid City, right, my dear Moordryd?"

There was suddenly a squeal coming as Swayy suddenly came back, a wide adoring smile on her face. "You guys would never believe what I found!" she grinned.

"Yellow-belly-newt?" Cain shrieked, instantly hiding behind Moordryd. "I hate those things, and I know you find them cute!"

"No, even better! Look!" Swayy said, and held up the small dragonoid that was chasing after Moordryd and Decepshun. It yawned and gave a happy squeak.

Moordryd's reaction was immediate as he screamed and hid behind Cain. "Don't let it get near me! Don't let it get near me!" he bawled as Decepshun bared her teeth and growled at the despicable little thing.

"Don't worry, if it does go anywhere near you, you don't have to buy me a chew toy for my next birthday," Decepshun told him, eyes still fixed fiercely on the dragonoid.

Everybody else looked confused. "Moordryd, I know how much you despise cute things, but seriously, what's so bad about this little guy?" Cain asked, giving it a smile and petting it on the head, causing it to squeak again.

"Re-remember how I said it was a long story I didn't want to tell you guys?" Moordryd said. "Okay, I'll tell you in a nutshell. That thing tried to scrape my scales!"

Again, his comrades stared at him like he had gone truly insane. "Well, what did it try doing to kill you?" Cain joked as Rancydd and Swayy laughed. "Give you one of its really cute stares?"

They don't believe me! Moordryd thought angrily. Well, of course they don't believe me. Who'd believe a cute thing would kill you? For dragons' sake, millions of people who've been bitten by miniscule dragons! "I'm serious!" he argued, pointing at the dragonoid in Swayy's hand. "That thing really tried to kill me, and Decepshun! It has three eyes! It can disappear into thin air without any shadow gear! It can fly!"

This only caused Cain, Rancydd and Swayy to continue breaking into fits of laughter. Moordryd patiently (and irritatingly) waited until they were all done with their hysterics. "Okay, really, Moordryd, I really think you need more sleep," Cain suggested, snickering. "You're hallucinating."

"Ha – ha – hallucinating?" Moordryd spluttered. "No, Cain, I'm pretty sure I wasn't hallucinating!"

"I can back him up!" Decepshun supplemented, stepping next to her rider. "I was there. Just ask me."

"That's what all the people who have hallucinations say!" Cain remarked, rolling his eyes. "Besides, I'm pretty sure something that charming wouldn't kill you…"

"Hey, what about me?" Decepshun responded, rather offended. "I'm charming, and I would kill you, if I want to! Ugh, just forget it! Nobody listens to the dragon..."

"Hurt you, yes," Rancydd said. "Kill you, well, I don't think so. Unless, of course, you find it drop dead cute, which, in my opinion, I don't."

"How can you not find it drop dead cute?" Cain marveled, staring open-mouthed at the Dragon Eye thief.

Rancydd shrugged. "Just not really my full taste in drop dead cute," he mumbled.

Swayy blinked as she stared into the face of the dragonoid. "Erk, it does have three eyes," she announced, shuddering slightly. "I doubt that's a problem, though. The Muhorta has multiple eyes, and it tries killing you. However, I don't think it's gonna scrape our scales too badly, Moordryd. Besides, looks aren't everything."

"It isn't," Moordryd agreed. "That's because it does have intentions of ripping me bit to bit. It already did that with my jacket! Look, just put the thing down, will you?"

"I still wanna hold it! It's still cute, y'know!" Swayy protested. Then her eyes widened. "Oh…you mean…that kind of putting down…"

Cain and Rancydd gasped and the dragonoid gave a horrified shriek. Cain ran over to Swayy's side, grasping the small creature in her hands. "That is too low, Moordryd, even for you!" the crew lieutenant retorted. "I highly doubt it will hurt you. C'mon, try petting it!"

"Now you're trying to kill me!" Moordryd cried, jumping behind Decepshun. "Do you have scalers?"

For the first time in his life as a second-in-command, Cain felt more like the superior leader. He narrowed his eyes, pointed at the dragonoid, and in a firm, authoritative voice, demanded, "Moordryd, pet the thing. Now."

Looking as though the apocalypse was upon him, Moordryd stepped away from Decepshun and approached Swayy. He took a few deep breaths, reached out his hand, and placed a finger on the head of the dragonoid, and when it didn't respond, he stroked it tediously while trying to stop his hand from shaking.

The grey dragonoid purred and nuzzled itself against Moordryd's hand (causing Moordryd to feel uncomfortable again). "See?" Cain said smugly, gesturing at the dragonoid. "It didn't even show any signs of hating you!"

"I…guess…" Moordryd replied, a bit uneasy still.

"Oh, what a faker!" Decepshun hissed, storming up to the dragonoid, who buried itself with another tiny screech in Swayy's jacket. "I should know. Back then, I used to do that, millions of times. They don't call me 'Decepshun' for nothing, you know!"

"Moordryd, Decepshun's scaring it!" Swayy yelled, quickly turning away from her leader's black dragon. "Tell her to calm down."

"Why are we still calling it…well, 'it'?" Rancydd questioned, cocking an eyebrow. "Shouldn't we give it a na – "

"No," Moordryd interjected, regaining his integrity as he glared at 'it'. "You only give names to pets and dragons. This isn't a pet, and it's not a full dragon."

"Too bad, I'm keeping it," Swayy replied stubbornly, beaming.

"Let's keep it here in the compound with the other dragons!" Cain suggested just as cheerfully.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" Decepshun growled.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" Moordryd growled.

"That's my human!" Decepshun said, rolling her eyes.

"C'mon, Moordryd, it already proved it isn't gonna hurt you!" Swayy demurred. She placed 'it' down on the ground. "Watch."

'It' bounded over to Moordryd and rubbed against his leg. He gave it a suspicious gaze before sighing. "Fine," he snapped. "Now, what are you gonna call it? I say we call it Doomsdayy."

This time 'it' frowned and hissed at Moordryd. "See? Right there!" Decepshun said, jutting her head at it accusingly. "Guilty as charged!"

"Well, of course, Moordryd, now it wants to kill you," Cain drawled. He snapped his fingers. "I got it! We'll call it…Fluffy!"

A number of groans spread through the other five people (or three people and two dragons, or three people, one dragon, and an unnamed dragonoid). "I think even Moordryd would defend on the dragonoid's case with a name like that!" Rancydd exclaimed, making a gagging noise. Even 'it' stuck its tongue out.

Cain huffed. "I can't see why can't a good name like Fluffy can ever be used in Dragon City," he muttered darkly.

"I'm calling it Frytte," Moordryd decided, looking down at the dragonoid. "Seems to fit it well."

"Yeah, somewhat," Cain mused, nodding. "I still can't really get over the whole three eyes thing."

"So it's decided!" Rancydd said, holding an imaginary gavel and banging it on an imaginary stand. "I dub thee dragonoid Frytte!"

"Hear, hear," Swayy said, picking up Frytte again in her arms.

"Huh, I still think Fluffy would've been a good name…" Cain mumbled dejectedly, folding his arms.

"Shut up, Cain."

"Tell Vizz to run a scan on what type of draconium signal that this thing is giving off," Moordryd ordered, pointing at Frytte. "And experiment a while with it on what its abilities and strengths are."

"Sure thing, boss!" Swayy said, and turned back to her new dragon pet, giving it a childish grin. "We're gonna have soooooo much fun, aren't we now?"

Frytte trilled happily. "I think I'll make it some cookies," Cain suggested, following Swayy as she carried it away. "You think it'll like oatmeal? I ran out of chocolate chips and peanut butter."

Frytte rested its head on Swayy's shoulder and gave a tired sigh, looking rather peaceful. "Tiny dragons or dragonoids like that usually need too much care," Rancydd murmured. "That's why I'm not so fond of baby dragons. I'll take Decepshun to the stables." With that, he walked away.

Moordryd continued staring off at Frytte. Frytte opened its left eye to stare at Moordryd, and Moordryd managed a small, gratuitous smile.

Instead of what the white-haired teenager expected, Frytte opened all its eyes and gave a wicked grin back at him, before yawning – making a dramatic expression of showing off its teeth – and attempting to go to sleep again.

Moordryd's face turned paler than usual.