A/N:

My excuse for not updating this story: Life.

I've been caught up in school work, writing Jade University, Sands of Darkness, and a whole lot of my other stories. It also didn't help that I had a power outage for three days and had no WiFi. I'll be updating this story more regularly from now on. Also, gonna be adding a few more characters in.

Chapter 3

One week later…

Dark watched from the window of his room as his family climbed into the car. He had barely spent any time with them, instead busying himself with working on expanding the basement even farther. He had a grand plan to have the basement cover all his property, but as of now he wasn't even close.

As the car drove off down the road, Dark grunted, dropping the thick curtain back over the window. Turning, he strode over to his door, glancing out to make sure nobody was nearby. After he had made sure, he walked over to where a mirror was attached to his wall. Taking a deep breath, he stepped towards it, going straight through.

For a few seconds, Dark was surrounded by loud shrieking noises and the crackling of pure energy. Just as he thought he couldn't take it anymore, they faded, and he felt a reassuring heat. Opening his eyes, he smiled as he saw his forge. He picked up his hammer, and glanced at his latest and longest task.

He had been working long and hard on making a new sword, one even better then his current one. He grabbed a pair of tongs, grabbing the unfinished sword and pushing it into the fire of the forge. He waited until the blade was glowing red, then pulled it from the fire, laying across his anvil. Holding the blade with the tongs in one talon, he raised the hammer in his other talon, before bringing it down. The impact sent a flurry of sparks flying through the air.

After a few more strikes, Dark shoved it back into the forge, stirring the coal around. He let the sword sit in the fire for a few more minutes before pulling it out. He placed it on the die for making the fuller and hammered it, starting the center groove. He worked methodically until it was complete, thrusting the sword into the forge again.

There was a crackling sound, and Dark turned to see Shadowspeed stepping out of the mirror he had come through. The speedster had his mask pulled off his face, and his eyes were focused on Dark.

Dark grunted a greeting before turning to the forge, pulling the sword from the fire. The blade glowed a bright cherry red. Placing it on his anvil, Dark grabbed his hammer and did some fine-tuning to the tip and edge. Satisfied, he put his hammer onto its shelf and left the sword on the anvil, letting it cool down some.

"Dark…" Shadowspeed began, but Dark made a gesture, cutting him off. He stepped forward and grabbed a bucket of clay. Taking care, he applied it to the spin of the sword, before putting it back into the forge. He waited until he saw the edges glowing cherry red, then pulled it out of the fire.

"From metal to weapon, I complete thee." Dark said, his voice echoing throughout the forge. He walked over to his quenching tank and held it over the liquid inside. "For thy final edge, I name thee Deathsbane."

He thrust the glowing sword into the liquid, and a cloud of steam rose up, enveloping him. After a few seconds, he pulled the sword out, checking to make sure the blade hadn't warped. He smiled as he saw that it was straight. Walking over to his belt-sander, he started sanding away the dried clay along the spine of the blade. After he had finished that, he changed the belt to a finer grit and started sanding the edge, honing it.

"Dark." Shadowspeed said again, but Dark ignored him. He switched to a polishing belt and gave the sword a mirror-like finish. Turning off the belt-sander, he set the sword down on a work table and went and grabbed a solid block of obsidian. Grinning, he went over and set it down next to the sword, before grabbing a block of wood as well.

"DARK!" Shadowspeed yelled, and Dark turned to him. The speedster was glaring at him, flickers of black lightning arcing around him.

"Now that I got your attention, we've got a visitor." Shadowspeed said, and Dark sighed.

He had been hoping to finally finish up the sword so that he could use it, but now…

"Can't you delay for at least ten minutes?" He asked, turning back to his work. Shadowspeed grunted.

"I'll try." The speedster said, and Dark nodded, picking up the block of obsidian in one talon and the block of wood in the other. The was a crackling sound, but Dark didn't turn. Instead, he focused on the two blocks and muttered. "Stone to wood, yet retain the look and strength after the drilling and sanding is complete."

The block of wood suddenly disappeared, and Dark turned to his drill bit. He set the block of obsidian down and started the drill, drilling easily through the stone. After the hole was large enough, he put it on the tang, filling the tang with molten iron. He muttered a quick cooling spell, and the iron solidified. He grabbed the pommel and stuck it on the end of the tang, before blowing a slight burst of fire over the rest of the tang that showed. As it glowed yellow, he took his hammer and hammered the tang flat, pinning the pommel tightly to the handle.

Going back over to the sander, he switched the belt back to a sanding belt, and started sanding the handle. It took him about seven minutes, but finally the handle was finished. He gave it a quick polish, then tapped it with one claw. It bounced off with a tiny clicking sound, and Dark grinned.

He grabbed the sheath he already had made and slid the sword in, before positioning it on his back so that it would be over his left shoulder. He snapped his talons and his other sword appeared, sitting so the hilt was over his right shoulder. He felt a slight warmth where the sheaths met, then they fused together. He experimentally drew both swords, making sure they could still be drawn. Satisfied, he re-sheathed them, before stepping through the mirror back into his bedroom.

He hurried out onto the balcony and took off, flying down towards the front door where Shadowspeed stood with his mask on, facing a tall man wearing a black cloak and holding a staff. As Dark landed, he saw the mans eyes flicker towards him.

"Dark, he's not leaving." Shadowspeed said, and Dark made a placating gesture.

"First off, my name is Dark, and the speedsters name is Shadowspeed." Dark began, extending on talon. "What's your name?"

The man extended his hand holding the staff, planting it in the ground firmly and leaning on it. He pulled the cowl of his black cloak away from his face, revealing dark green eyes and dark brown hair.

"My name is Michael N. Watcher." The man said, eyeing Dark's extended talon. Dark brought it back and warily eyed the stranger. He noticed the way he carried himself and how he was intently looking at both him and Shadowspeed.

"Well, what can we do for you, Mr. Watcher?" Dark asked. The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You can die." Michael Watcher said, before thrusting a hand towards them and yelling "Ha-di!"

A golden symbol glowed in the air in front of Dark and Shadowspeed. Dark responded by yelling "Shield and protect, from harm and foul!"

An explosion threw the two of them backwards. Dark picked himself up as the man walked forward, his staff glowing slightly. Dark pulled both his swords from their sheaths, crossing them in front of him.

Michael Watcher laughed. "You really think you can stand against me?" He said as his staff shimmered, turning into a sword. "If you want the name I go by most often, it is M.N. Watcher." M.N. Watcher leapt forwards, his word swinging downwards towards Dark's head. Dark rolled to one side before lashing out with one of his swords, using the other for defense. There was a clanging noise as their two sword connected.

As they traded blows back and forth, Dark could feel himself start tiring. M.N. Watcher gradually pushed him backwards, until Dark lashed out at him and with one quick movement, the man knocked the sword out of his grasp, and before Dark could react he had knocked the other one out as well.

As M.N. Watcher raised his sword, Dark felt something stirring deep inside of him. He felt the tips of his claws tingling, and he noticed his opponent hesitate. With a roar, Dark pointed a claw at M.N. Watcher, who flew backwards as an unseen force slammed into him. Dark held out his talons and his swords flew back into his grasp. He twirled them by his sides, his eyes narrowed.

"You can't beat me." Watcher said as he stood up, his sword turning back into a staff. "Even with your magic."

Magic? Dark thought, before glancing down at his arm. Around his ankle he saw a band of bright silver scales, which glowed as if lit within. He heard a distant roar that came from the forest, and he realized what it meant. Dark glared at M.N. Watcher, who glared right back at him.

"What you don't realize is that I am stronger here than you think." Dark said, sheathing his swords. "This is my home and territory, and I am connected to it both mentally and emotionally. And now I am connected to it magically." As he spoke, he raised his talons and the sky darkened. Jagged bolts of lightning arced through the sky as a downpour of rain started. Dark clenched one talon shut and a howling wind started shrieking through the sky.

M.N. Watcher stood his ground for a few minutes, before yelling over the sound of the storm. "This isn't over Dark! I will be back, and when I next show myself you will not be able to best me!" He whirled and silver bolts of lightning started arcing off his cloak and shoes. He turned back to glare at Dark, and Dark saw that his eyes were glowing silver. Suddenly, all the lightning started striking M.N. Watcher, being absorbed into the increasing amount of lightning flickering around him. In a burst of speed and silver lightning, M.N. Watcher disappeared, leaving behind a smoking trail. Dark lowered his arms and the storm dissipated.

Dark spread his wings and lifted off, flying towards the forest. As he neared the clearing where Danksticker lived, he was stunned to see the giant dragon already out of his cave. As Dark landed, he began to kneel, but Danksticker said gently. "No, Dark. We are equals now, as you have gained your magic."

Dark stood, his eyes widening. "Then this is a sign of me having access to my powers now?" He asked, holding up his arms and gesturing at the glowing band of silver scales.

Danksticker nodded. "You have guessed correctly, young one. Yet do not think you are less because you have nothing to shoot for now."

"But… what do I do now?" Dark asked, looking up at Danksticker.

The giant dragon lowered his head until one of his glowing red eyes was right in front of Dark. Dark glanced away, uncomfortable. The giant dragon blinked once.

"You will still need help with your powers, as you are new to understanding them." Danksticker said. "I shall help."

"Really?" Dark asked. The giant dragon nodded, and Dark smiled.

"Oh, thank you Danksticker!" He cried, and the dragon raised his head, a smile crossing his face.

"It is nothing young one. I shall soon be ready to begin your training, however I cannot do it here." Danksticker said. "Construct me a new home closer to your home, and I shall move in as soon as it is complete."

Dark nodded and spread his wings, lifting off. As he flew towards his house, Dark smiled.

I'll unshrink Shadowstrike tomorrow morning. Dark decided. And then I'll get right to work on designing Danksticker's new home.

A/N:

I hope you like where it's going! I'm working on getting the next chapter of Jade University done, so hang in with me if you are a follower of that story!