CHAPTER 4
[Down in the Wastelands]
The masked man walked in front of us. "Moordryd, I have who you want. Now let my friends go!" Silence. "Moordryd!" he yelled. Movement behind us caused us to spin around. Next thing we knew, we were secured to the wall by Trapping Gear. Moordryd came out from behind a tall rock. "Good job, you may leave with your friends now." 2 men ran towards their dragons that were tied up and dashed off. The mysterious man followed them. Soon we were by ourselves with Moordryd. "Well, isn't this just a strange turn of events?" He smiled and looked around at us all. He eyes narrowed when he saw there was no 'new' dragon in front of him. "Where's Mirror?" he asked. I opened my mouth to speak, and say that it was me, but stopped when I saw Artha glancing over at me, out of the corner of my eye and shaking his head. "Didn't you hear, Paynn? She has started her own crew. The Destiny Crew. For all the dragons that want to make a change." Parm butted in. Moordryd smirked. "What colour draconium?" All Artha said was "All". "Ok, new subject." Moordryd stated. "What do you know about the Dragon of Legend?" Artha, Kitt, Lance and Parm didn't say a word. "The Dragon of Legend is a black and gold dragon. This dragon has gold draconium in their bones. This dragon has many powers. The Dragon of Legend chooses a rider called the Dragon Booster. The Dragon…" I rambled on, until... "Would you be quiet!?" Moordryd yelled. I stopped puzzled. "But, you wanted to know about the Dragon of Legend." He shook his head in dismay. He pulled out a controller. He pressed a button on it, and I immediately recognised it from when I was a dragon, what Word had used to turn me into a Wraith. Artha was right next to me. "Don't say anything." He whispered. I nodded my head. Seconds later, Wraiths appeared in front of us. I turned my head away. I couldn't look at these dragons, knowing that they were like me. Unable to control themselves when in Wraith form. Moordryd noticed. "Don't like Wraiths, then?" He smirked. I looked at him. "They just scare me, okay?" He looked at me suspiciously. Then he shrugged his shoulders. "Ok. I've never seen you around before. Are you new?" I nodded yes. "Do you know, who the Dragon Booster is, and where I can find him?" "Nope" I replied. Then I saw Artha breathe a sigh of relief. Moordryd didn't notice luckily. The Wraiths were really close to us now, breathing down our necks. "Release the Penn Racing Crew and step away, Moordryd." Said a voice. I looked up, and noticed a gigantic dragon. It was Mortis. "Dragon Priest!" Moordryd said. "Release the Penn Racing Crew and step away" Mortis repeated, more stern this time. Moordryd did. "Artha Penn, where is the young dragon, that Word has been experimenting on?" Mortis queried. I didn't say anything. "She has started her own crew. The Destiny Crew." Artha replied. "Good. It was time, that certain dragons saw their destiny. Mirror has already seen her destiny and known that she would soon make her crew." Moordryd started to slip away. Mortis saw him and used Trapping Gear against him. The young Paynn struggled, but soon gave up. I walked up to him. "Well, now you know what it feels like to get SLAMMED against a wall Moordryd." I smiled and he frowned. We left with Mortis. "The Dragon of Legend and Mirror will be in my father's grip eventually, stable brats!" Moordryd yelled as we left.
[Dragon Booster's 'Underground' Area – The Dragon Temple]
"Excuse me, Mortis?" I asked politely. He turned around. "Yes Mirror. Is something troubling you?" He sounded concerned. I looked at him. "Um, about the offer of becoming a member of Penn Racing Crew?" He smiled at me. "Yes, what about it?" I breathed in and out. "Can I still join the PRC?" He nodded. "If you want to race, you will have to find a dragon willing to race with you. Be warned though. I have had a vision. You will only be able to race, if you are in your human form. You will be most vulnerable to Word at night-time when you will be helping the Dragon Booster." I nodded my head. "Thank you, Dragon Priest. I will join the PRC." He nodded his approval. "Go and see Parm. He will put the PRC star symbol on your clothes and your dragon form. I smiled and left.
[Penn Stables]
Artha and his friends were doing their normal stable jobs. Arthur was talking to Mortis, Kitt was grooming Wyldfire, Parm was working on some gear and Lance was playing on his favourite ViddGame of Battle Ground Dragon with Fracsum watching. I was sitting on a nearby bench watching the scene unfold. Soon I got tired. I went into one of the stable pens and fell asleep. What seems like hours later, I woke up. I stood up and stretched. I went to rub my eyes, but I saw dragon paws instead. I looked at myself in a nearby mirror. I was a dragon again. I was still at Penn Stables. I let out a big yawn. It was a roar really, but who cares. I didn't hear the normal sounds of the stables. I decided to look around. It was day-time outside and the sun hurt my eyes. "Artha, Kitt, Lance, Parm." I called out. "Anybody?" I was really scared now. A movement to my left caused me to growl. Then a movement to the right. In front of me, a hooded figure came towards me. He was dressed in black and purple and rode a black and purple dragon. I started to walk backwards. "Hello Mirror, we meet again." The hood was thrown back. "Moordryd!" I realised. He smiled. "What have you done with my friends?" "Nothing" he said. I looked around, as some Wraiths surrounded me. They seemed familiar somehow. Then I realised. He had turned the Penn Racing Crew into Wraiths. I gulped. "I am not going to let this happen to me" I thought. I ran and did a huge jump over Moordryd's head. "Hey, get back here!" he yelled. I didn't stop.
[Around Dragon City]
I ran down the path with Moordryd right on my tail. I was getting further and further away, when a young dragon joined me. "Are you running away from Moordryd too?" she asked. "Yeah." I told her in dragon tongue. She smiled. "Hmm, he's bad news. He did something to my parents. My name is Shimmer, what's yours?" I told her. "My name is Mirror." We skidded to a halt. Wraiths blocked the path ahead of us. "Scales, looks like we'll have to jump." Shimmer said. "Nope." I bluntly said. "I know a short-cut." Shimmer and I took the short-cut, and came to the edge of Dragon-City. "Wow!" Shimmer exclaimed. "I've never been to the edge of this city." I sniffed the air. "Moordryd is getting close. I know a friend that might be able to keep us safe. For now. Follow me." I darted around corners. "Mirror, wait up." called Shimmer softly. I slowed to a stop. "Sorry. The place is up ahead. Let's get going."