*Connecting...Connecting….Connecting….Connecting…*
*Connection Failed*
"Aw man!"
Jake Long had spent the past hour trying to video chat with his girlfriend in Hong Kong, Rose. With his crappy internet, this was becoming a more unlikely possibility by the second.
"Ugh...forget this, I'll try again later" Jake shut his laptop and walked downstairs. It had been a month since the Dark Dragon had been defeated. Once Jake and his family had to go back to New York, him and Rose promised each other that they would stay in touch. Ever since he got back they talked to each other whenever they could. When they couldn't it was usually due to Jake's dragon duties taking up most of his time.
When Jake got downstairs he was greeted to his Dad, Jonathan, sitting on the couch reading. Jonathan turned and noticed his son's sad expression.
"Couldn't get her again?" Jonathan asked, knowingly. Jake nodded his head and Jonathan gestured for him to sit down next to him. Jake compiled and sat down. "I know the past month has been difficult sport, getting used to change, its been that way with me too".
Jake looked at his dad with a worried expression "So...how does knowing about the Magic World feel?". While Jake saw that his dad took the news well, he knew his had still needed to adjust. You know, with his Wife, Son, and Daughter being dragon's and all.
"It's been...interesting to say the least. Aside from your Grandfather giving me a pretty stern talking to about how I should never tell anyone and the grave consequences for blabbing, it's been going well" Jonathan said. Jake laughed.
"Of course Gramps would say that. He's always been Mr. Strict. But he trust you though, even if it appears like be doesn't" Jake assured his father.
"Me and your grandpa have always had that sort of relationship".
"So where's mom?".
"She and Hayley went out shopping. They just left so they won't be back for a while".
Jonathan got up and walked over to a shelf. He opened up a jar and pulled out a necklace. He walked back over to Jake. "I want you to have this Jake".
Jonathan gave the necklace to Jake. He examined it closely. The necklace was silver, and connected to the chain was a small Dragon with diamond eyes. It was engraved with a bunch of Chinese markings and symbols.
"This looks sick, but why are giving it to me though?" Jake asked.
"When I was your age my uncle gave that to me. It's been passed throughout my side of the family for years. It's not particularly special, but it gives members of out family something to take care of. To remember those who have come before us. Gives us an extra layer of responsibility. I feel that you are ready for that responsibility. Plus I felt it was rather appropriate, because, ya know...dragons and all" Jonathan said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Gee. Thanks dad", Jake smiled as he put the necklace on. Right at that moment his cellphone rang. "Hello?".
"Yo Jake" It was Fu Dog. "Your Gramps wants ya to come over here. Pronto".
"Sure thing" Jake hung up up the phone at looked at his dad. "Gramps needs me over at this shop for something. I'll be back later". Jake then ran up stairs to get his helmet and Skateboard. Soon he was out the door. "See ya Dad!".
o - o - o - o - o
Jake made it to the shop and walked in, where he was greeted by Fu Dog "Sup Jake, the old man is waiting for you in back room".
"Thank-uh… what are you doing…" Jack asked confused. In front of him was Fu Dog in a pink dress posing in front of a camera.
"Yeah...well...ya see I kinda lost a bet with this Leprechaun. So….." Fu Dog tried to explain.
"You couldn't do that in private?".
"Part of the conditions was that I had to do in front of my friends, in addition to taking pictures with them. So uh...get ready to have your picture taken with me after your finished talking".
"Great" Jake sarcastically said.
Jake walked into the back room where his grandfather, Lao Shi was waiting at the table.
"Please sit Young Dragon" Lao Shi gestured to the chair across from him.
"So, uh, what is it you wanted to talk about?", Jake asked as he sat down. Lao Shi pulled out a scroll from within hin robe and spread it out on the table. The scroll contained many symbols, images, and writings.
"Jake, soon the Dragon Council will grant you jurisdiction over all the United States, full time. As such I feel that I should prepare you for the new oddities you will encounter during your travels" Lao Shi began.
"Lay it on me" Jake said, pumped up.
Lao Shi smirked and waved his hands over the scroll. The Image of a bunch of magical creatures appeared on the it. "As you know, groups of creatures like inhabit specific areas of mortal civilization. While you've faced hostile magic entities before, the amount of hostiles grows larger and larger the further you get from New York". The scroll started to show images of what appeared to be large tribes and gangs of creatures.
"So your saying the amount of badies I have fight will increase, am I right?"
"Precisely, but there's more". The scroll showed a group of masked figures. "The U.S. is big place, as a result you will regularly encounter allies in the form of Ninja's".
"Ninja's? Like the one from Norrisville?".
"Sort of. The one you see on the TV and Internet is merely a Ninja in training. The Ninja's you'll be meeting are the more experience, covert Ninja's that have since gotten out of the training phase."
"Huh. I always thought the Ninja looked different throughout the years. Then again, a couple of them were dark-skinned, so maybe I'm just stupid" Jake snickered.
"Anyways, lastly, in addition to the Ninja's you may also encounter Ghosts". The scroll's image changed again to one with ghost in a strange green realm.
"Like that ghost kid from Amity, Right?"
"Yes. Though I doubt you will encounter them very often. Ghost typically stay in their realm. And those who want to wander out don't usually have access to a portal. Those who do however,primarily stay in the place of Origin of said portal. Amity Park for example".
"Well, question? How do you know all this stuff about ghost and ninja's?"
"Ninja's and the Magic community have had close ties for hundreds of years. And the Magic and Ghost communities have known about each other forever, and usually don't like meddling in each others business. Which why if you ever happen to see a ghost, just leave it be, unless it's causing ruckus. Like the Magic community, the Ghost community has its own set of leaders and High ranking officials. Best they stay seperate."
"Okay cool. Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Yes. But the I and the Dragon Council will get into the details when the time comes. I don't want to throw too much information at you".
"Alright, thanks gramps. So...I can go now now?"
Lao Shi smiled "Actually, this shop is due for well overdue cleaning".
"What!".
"I already got the bucket of water ready!" Lao Shi said as he picked up a bucket from under the table.
"Aw man!"
o - o - o - o - o
It took Jake an hour and a half to clean the whole shop. While he was cleaning he found a spot wear Fu Dog threw his half eaten food and it was crawling with Bugs. Jake had to use his bare hand to get all that gunk that was piling up.
"Oh god, guys it was horrible, I found a pair of Gramps' dirty underwear under the couch. It was all stained and damp" Jake said to his two friends Spud and Trixie. The trio were all currently chilling outside the library at a table.
"Boy, that is straight disgusting! You know i'm trying to eat my sandwich, right?" Trixie scolded.
"Hehe, sorry." Jake apologized sheepishly.
"So. Did you dudes see that video of Ninja earlier today?" Spud asked.
"Yeah. It was pretty good for some 800 year old guy" Trixie remarked.
"Actually Gramps told me that the Ninja just a ninja in training" Jake revealed.
"Really? Huh, that explains a lot a actually. I always thought he was just an alien or something" Spud inquired as he happily ate his taco.
"Interesting. On a related. Check this out" Trixie informed. Trixie showed her phone to Jake and Spud. On it showed a live newscast of Danny Phantom fighting a group of ghost at a Nasty Burger.
"Oh man Nasty Burger. Mmm I could go for one of those right now" Spud said with desire.
"Boy you just had 3 Dirty Dan Taco's!" Trixie said as she lightly smacked Spud stomach.
Jake was paying close attention to the events unfolding on screen. Phantom had just taken out 7 ghost in in 4 minutes and was shooting energy blast all over the parking lot. 10 more ghost poured out of the Nasty Burger and were making a beeline for Danny.
"Yo, the ghost kid really has his hands full" Jake said as he pulled back from the phone.
"Sure does. Anyways you know about that competition being hosted by our school right?" Trixie asked.
"Yeah that 2 week long cheerleading competition"
Immediately after Jake said that Spud got a huge grinned on face and stared at the sky. "So many girls in one place! It's like a dream come true!".
While Spud was daydreaming Trixie elbowed him in the side. "OW! Okay, okay i'll stop being creepy haha!".
While Spud and Trixie were talking Jake noticed something strange on top of the library. Upon closer inspection he realized it was a troll stealing one if the statues.
"Ah no. DRAGON UP!" Jake transformed into a skinny eastern style dragon and dashed to the top of library to confront the troll.
"Yo dude! What do you think you're doing?!" Jake yelled. The troll noticed Jake immediately and dashed into quickly into the Tree's. Jake flew high in the sky in order to not get spotted by humans. He used his enhanced vision to keep track of Troll, who at this point was dashing on top of buildings with the statue in tow.
After a few minutes of chasing, the troll stopped and went under a bridge. Jake traveled back down to confront the troll. He landed and spotted the troll with a group under the bridge and walked over to them.
"Yo!" He yelled, getting the Troll's attention. "You can't just steal statues off public property. That's like, not cool man!".
"We have to!" The largest troll said terrified. "Our ancestors are returning! We need this statue in order to keep us safe!".
"How can a statue keep you safe?".
"Mortal statutes provide special shielding from evil enferies that enter this realm!".
The smallest troll spoke up "Without statue we gonna die!".
Jake was getting frustrated at all this, but the Trolls seemed to be telling the truth so he let it go.
"Fine. You can keep it. But if I catch another one of you stealing a statue, you'll be dealing with me. Understand" Jake warned. The trolls nodded, thankful for his mercy. Jake flew away back to Spud and Trixie.
"Now what was that all about?" Trixie asked as Jake landed next to them. Jake turned back to a human and sat back down at the table.
"A troll was stealing a statue. Said something about their ancestors returning" Jake informed them.
"Maybe there's some troll family reunion and they needed protection against their drunk troll uncle" Spud guessed.
"Heh, I doubt it Spud. These guys seemed pretty terrified. I'll ask gramps the next time I see him".
The three friends went back to talking and, unbeknownst to them, a yellow masked figure was watching them in the distance.
"Master Kordo, I have eyes on the one who defeated the Dark Dragon" the Mask figure said, talking into a crystal ball.
"Do you you have reading on his power?" Kordo asked.
"Yes master. As of right now his power is slightly lower than yours at your current stage.
"Thank you. Return to the Ghost Zone. At once".
"Yes". The masked figure threw some dust into the air. And soon…
He was gone.