Chapter 4

Into the Fire

Sorry for the long wait. I ran out of gas.

By morning, Dart's consciousness was making its way back to the waking world. But even as she slept, she went over the previous night's events in her head a few times. She still couldn't believe that she had become an actual dragoon, like the ones in the stories. And Artha found some sort of armor that kept his true identity a secret, ensuring Beau's safety. But little did Dart knew that there was more to the stone that was her source of power.

When she opened her eyes she found that the Penn Brothers and Parm were out of the stable, where they were staying until they can afford getting the house fixed. The heat from the dragoon armor had faded slowly than her transformed state, so she didn't need to see a doctor. The only problem was that she was greatly weakened by the event and that made getting around by herself a hassle. It frustrated her even more when the boys had to leave her behind to rest.

"There is no way Dart had any problems when he became a dragoon for the first time." She groaned in frustration.

Suddenly, the doors to the stable she was in burst open, but not by enemy forces.

"Artha? Parm? What's going on?"

She then noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Lance?"

Artha, remaining on Beau, spoke anxiously.

"Pyrrah of the Dragon Flares has taken Lance. Says he tried to steal her gear. She's now holding him hostage at the Flares' hideout."

Hearing this, Dart struggled to stand.

"Where's my sword?"

Parm waved his hands wildly as Dart struggled to keep standing.

"Don't even think about it, Dart! You're still weak from your transformation, not to mention that such hostility could only make the situation worse."

"Parm's right, Dart. Pyrrah wants me to trade something for Lance. And I have a bad feeling that I know what she wants." Artha replied.

"All the more reason to grab my sword." Dart replied.

Parm gave an exasperated sigh. "You are unequivocally stubborn!"

He then turned his attention to Artha.

"Why did we leave her here?"

Artha answered his question.

"There's somebody here I think can help with everything."

As Beau approached a wall with a saddle hook, Parm spoke.

"But we must plan Lance's rescue. Assuming the crew is the average size of seventy-five to one hundred local members-!"

But Dart cut him off as Beau lifted the hook and the wall opened into some sort of chamber.

"What in the world?"

But before she could say anymore, Beau magged her onto the saddle behind Artha and walked inside with Cyrano and Parm.

"Where are we going?" Parm asked.

"Down." Artha said simply as the chamber began to move downward.

As the chamber stopped, the door opened and revealed to the two newcomers what Artha had seen the other night. Parm was amazed.

"Whoa."

Dart remained apprehensive.

"Where are we?"

It was then that Parm began to babble…again.

"Is this…the ancient Dragon City? *gasp* It is! This is a Dragon Temple! I've seen pictures! My mum teaches about this at Tech Academy! About a time when humans and dragons lived and worked together!"

But before Dart could say anything to shut Parm up, someone else shushed him, their appearance causing Parm to scream and fall off Cyrano. Dart looked around for a weapon when Artha turned and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok, Dart."

Parm began to babble again.

"That is an ancient Dragon Priest! You are a Dragon Priest, right? My mum told me-!"

But the loud sound of the staff the priest tapped on the ground was enough to stop Parm's talking, more or less.

"Oh...uh, ok. I'm…obviously talking too much. I'm just…gonna listen now."

After a moment of pleasant silence, the priest turned to Dart, who was still on edge.

"There is no need to be hostile, Red-Eye Dragoon. I am an ally."

"But are you an ally I can trust?" Dart thought, still suspicious.

From a pocket, the priest pulled out a spherical bottle that Dart immediately recognized.

"That's a healing potion! From Endiness, no less. How?"

The priest approached Beau just as Artha was dismounting.

"We Dragon Priests still remember our roots from across the sea, Dart. We are but few who still trade with our motherland."

After being given the potion, Dart consumed its contents as Artha explained to the priest and herself on what happened.

"…and then Pyrrah took Lance and said that I have two hours to get to this 'Fire Cave'."

It didn't take long before the priest answered the group of teenagers.

"It isn't like the Dragon Flares crew to attack other racers. Did you see any strange devices on Pyrrah's dragon? A black pod, of sorts?"

Artha thought for a moment before he remembered.

"Yeah! I saw something just like that on her saddle!"

The priest spoke in an unfriendly tone.

"Word Paynn."

"Paynn?" Artha echoed before he made the connection. "As in Paynn Incorporated? Moordryd's father?"

The priest began to explain.

"Word Paynn is an old enemy of mine who always felt that he and his dragons should rule the world. For years, he's tried to create Black Draconium control gear that goes beyond helping humans control dragons."

Dart was the one how answered, not liking the idea.

"It helps him control humans!"

The priest nodded.

"Yes. Control the Down City crews to cause fear and chaos, bringing the planet closer to a Dragon-Human War."

"But if Word controls the Down City crews…" Artha trailed off before narrowing his eyes at another connection. "Is he the one responsible for trying to steal Beau, kidnap Dart, and for what happened to my father?"

"I am certain of it." The priest answered.

"Well I'm the Dragon Booster! And I am the one who is supposed to stop the war! And I'm going in!" Artha bellowed.

But Parm and Dart intervened as the latter slid off Beau.

"You're being hot-headed again. Just like the race today!"

"And you and I are partners in this, whether we like it or not! We need to come up with a plan."

The priest then spoke again.

"They are right."

"We are?" The two asked simultaneously.

"Pyrrah and her crew aren't responsible for their actions, Artha. Word Paynn is. You must somehow get close to Pyrrah and get the Black gear from her saddle. That will destroy Word's hold on her. And I have no doubt Dart will be a valuable asset in this mission."

Artha looked at Dart with a confused look.

"What do you mean, 'a valuable asset'?"

Dart was about to react when the priest spoke again.

"As the Red-Eye Dragoon, Dart is invulnerable to fire while in her Dragoon form. This will come in use whenever you are in a fiery situation. The Red-Eye dragon inside the stone will protect her from just about anything Pyrrah can throw at her."

The Draconians and the dragons looked at the priest in confusion.

"The stone?" Parm asked.

Dart answered by pulling out her pendent, the stone shining in the gold clasp, as the priest continued.

"The stone, known as a Dragoon Spirit, contains the soul of a powerful dragon from 14,000 years ago, from a terrible war known as the 'Dragon Campaign.' The stone has, in a way, still maintains the dragon's consciousness, allowing the soul inside to actually choose its master and grants them its power. And I am certain that the Red-Eye will help you in any way he can. But that is a story for another time."

Two hours later, at the entrance to the Fire Caves…

"You know, you didn't have to come along." Artha spoke to Dart as they entered the caves.

Dart folded her arms as she spoke.

"I'm not letting you do this alone. Besides, I was going stir-crazy in those stables."

"But if Paynn knows about the Dragoons, don't you think this will be a great time to capture you." Artha asked.

"Hey. I'm not afraid." Dart retorted.

But before Artha could argue, Beau halted, forcing the duo to quit arguing and look onward. Ahead of them was a lava lake with a miniature volcano in the center. And on the ground in front of them was an armband.

"Lance."

With that, Artha motioned Beau to move on ahead, only to stop at the sight of the Dragon Flares relaxing with their dragon, Pyrrah and a small boy sitting on their dragons in front of a fire geyser.

Pyrrah then spoke.

"Welcome to the cave of the Dragon Flares, Dart Feld and Artha Penn."

Pyrrah then motioned to a solitary Red dragon with Lance sitting on it.

"Lance!" Artha called out.

"You ok?" Dart asked.

Lance folded his arms, his eyes narrowed.

"No! And this place smells worse than a dragon's stall!"

Artha gave a smirk while Dart sniffed the air and found it to be sulfuric. Seeing a black circular object on Pyrrah's dragon, Artha spoke.

"Nice control gear. A gift from Word Paynn?"

Pyrrah spoke again, but this time, Word Paynn spoke through her.

"Very perceptive, young Penn. But enough talk. Now that you're here, where is the Black-and-Gold dragon that your father raised?"

Dart spoke up, remembering the cover story she and Artha conceived.

"Conner Penn's stables were destroyed, and I told the Dragon Booster to keep him in hiding."

"You tell me what I want to know, or I will keep this brat as my newest crewmember." Pyrrah threatened.

Artha then decided to make a bold move.

"Then how about I race you for Lance? If I win, you let us go. You win, and I'll tell you what I know about my father's dragon."

"What are you doing?" Dart hissed at Artha.

But Pyrrah spoke before the dragoon could stop the negotiation.

"How deliciously reckless. So you do know something after all. But how about a little…twist in the bet?"

Dart narrowed her eyes further.

"What twist?"

Pyrrah spoke.

"We shall race through my lava course. You against us. But if you lose, not only will we take your dragon, but we will also deliver the Westerner to someone who would…benefit from her more."

Artha, Beau, and Dart were shocked at this. As was the younger boy as he spoke to Pyrrah.

"Two against one? Where is the honor in that? We are Dragon Flares. Ever since the race today, you've been acting weird."

"My race, my terms!" Pyrrah snapped before returning her attention to Artha. "Finish first through the Fire Gate and you are free~. Lose the race, and you lose everything. And to make sure there are no little tricks…" She then grabs Lance and sets him on her saddle. "…the brat rides with me."

"My name is Lance!" Lance growled.

"Enough!" Pyrrah shouted as she and the boy took off. "Race on!"

Artha scoffed.

"Huh! So much for a fair start."

Dart, however, was far less patient.

"What are you doing standing around? Let's go!"

The race began without a hitch, until the first obstacle. As Pyrrah and the boy made their way across a river of lava, the second team had more problems as the stone path raised different sections every now and then, impeding a smooth ride. But Artha wasn't going to let this deter them.

"Come on! Faster, boy!"

Both dragon and dragoon looked at Artha as Beau forced himself to smash through pillar after pillar of cooled magma in order to keep going. But as they passed a fifth pillar, Dart noticed something about Beau.

"Hold it, Beau!"

Hearing his second rider, Beau halted and began to pant. Artha turned angrily at Dart. "What do you think you're doing!?"

Dart smacked Artha in the back of the head as she scolded him.

"Telling you to cool off and look!"

She then pointed to Beau's body, which was steaming, which was steaming to cool himself off. Seeing the strain their dragon was taking, Artha managed to cool down before speaking.

"I'm sorry, guys. Parm was right. I am a hot-head."

He then looked onward to see Pyrrah and the boy far ahead of them.

"What have I done? We'll never catch Pyrrah!"

But Beau, after cooling down, let out a roar that echoed throughout the cave. Dart smirked.

"I guess that's his way of saying the race is far from over."

With that, Beau took off. But as they closed in, the rock ceiling of the cave began to crumble. Looking ahead, Dart could see that the boy was using his Red Thruster gear to heat up one of the stalactites, the heat causing the ceiling to quake.

Dart got out her sword and stood on Beau. Artha looked at her and called out.

"What are you doing!?"

His answer came as Dart swung her sword while keeping one hand on Artha.

"Providing clear weather!"

But the quaking stopped as the stalactite the boy was firing up broke and fell, destroying the stone bridge of the track. This sudden event caused the boy's dragon to rear up and causing the boy to fall onto a stone slab, his hand inches away from the hot magma.

Seeing this, Dart sheathed her sword as Beau jumped over the gap.

"Let me off here!"

Artha looked to Dart.

"Are you serious?"

But Dart remained steadfast.

"There's no way I'm leaving that boy there. I'll catch up to you two afterwards!"

Realizing what the girl was going to do, Beau magged Dart to the ground as Artha called out.

"You better hurry, Dart!"

Once the racer and their dragon were off, Dart turned her attention to the unconscious boy.

"Only one way." She replied as she took out her pendent. "I don't know how to properly use you, yet. But please, let me become a dragoon."

Hearing her plea, the Dragoon Spirit responded with a familiar red light, enabling Dart to become a dragoon once again. Dart then looked at her wings and smiled.

"Thank you."

With her instincts guiding her, Dart flew downward to the boy, who was regaining consciousness. Landing on the stone, Dart spoke to the boy.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here."

The boy looked up to his rescuer and marveled at the sight, but was uncertain.

"You came back for me? What about the race?"

"Already taking care of as we speak. Now hang on." Dart replied as she picked up the boy and, surprising him further, flew into the air and back on to the track, her armor protecting them from the intense heat.

After setting him down, the boy spoke to the dragoon.

"Thank you!" Dart smirked and flew off, leaving the boy and his dragon behind, just as Pyrrah ordered her dragons to surround Artha.

"You've lost. Now tell me what you know about your father's dragon!"

But before anyone could say anything, Dart dashed in, her sword ready, and called out.

"How about this for an answer, Paynn!"

With one quick swipe, Dart cut the Black control gear in half, the pieces falling to the ground.

With the gear broken, Pyrrah regained herself.

"Wha…what in the world?"

After Lance got down, Artha got off Beau and approached Lance.

"You ok, Lance?"

Lance hugged his brother as he spoke.

"I wanna go home."

With her senses in order, Pyrrah spoke to the Penn brothers.

"Th-that black gear. What happened?"

The boy, whom Dart had saved, approached the Dragon Flare and spoke.

"Pyrrah!"

He then turned to Dart, who was still in dragoon form.

"She came back and pulled me out of the lava spikes. She-both of them risked losing the race to save me!"

Taking this in, Pyrrah spoke to the Penn brothers and Dart, who rejoined the two.

"I am so sorry. I haven't been my lovely self lately, have I?"

She then spoke while slowly casting her gaze to Dart.

"Do you realize that you've both risked losing your dragon, and your brother, to save my younger brother?"

The trio of humans spoke in surprise.

"Younger brother?"

Pyrrah continued.

"I reward your hearts with this Level 4 Red Thruster gear."

As she said it, her dragon magged off the Red gear of itself and onto Beau as Pyrrah continued.

"Take it. And may the fire in your hearts light the way to your destinies."

Dart bowed in thanks, but Artha remembered something and reached into his pocket while he called to Beau.

"Beau, look! I got more candy bars for you."

Beau turned his head to Artha, giving a comical look as the rider pulled out a melting chocolate bar. Dart laughed.

"But they're all melted."

Artha laughed as he spoke to his foster sister.

"Heh. I guess when you're hot, you're hot."

In response to that statement, Beau swung his tail at Artha's legs, causing him to fall onto his back.

"Beau…"

Pyrrah laughed.

"Oh, so I see…'hot shot'."

As the group laughed, Pyrrah pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it to Dart.

"For saving my brother, fire dragoon."

Dart looked at what seems to be a fire charm for a charm bracelet when she noticed what Pyrrah had said.

"You know of the dragoons?"

Pyrrah nodded.

"The story of the dragoons are far from forgotten in most of the crews, my friend."

Please review and no flames.