Jake Long III (Season One)
Chapter/Episode Ten: A Long Story of Tragedy Part 2: The Search For A Lost Cause
That night, on the Island of Draco, inside the crypts, Desideria, Santxo, Nephele and Kalle, Nephele, Santxo and Kalle in their dragon forms, came down on the elevator. Once it reached the bottom, the four stepped into the crypt. "You should have done this while we were out covering for you." Nephele growled.
"I tried." Desideria growled back as they started to walk. "There was just one problem: there were too many people. I would have been spotted. It looks like this is the only time we'll be able to look."
As the four walked on, the elevator platform started to rise up, but before it could finish going back up, a flash of a Beau Blue-color swooped down and into the crypt.
"So, what exactly are we looking for?" Kalle asked.
"Right now..." Desideria said as they stopped in their tracks. "...We're going to split up. What we're looking for is a dead dragon to steal chi from. That's what we're looking for."
Up on the ceiling, Melissa watched as the four dragons split up, going to look for buried dragons. Smiling, Melissa detached herself from the ceiling.
As she walked along the rows of buried dragons, looking down at the names on the gravestones, she jerked her head up when she heard the sound of Melissa's wings as Melissa landed behind Nephele, Nephele's ear twitching at the sound. Quickly, Nephele spun around, her cape swishing behind her as she stared at Melissa's smiling face.
"Hey there." Melissa said casually.
With a snarl, Nephele lunged at Melissa. In a flash, Melissa was slammed against the wall of the crypt, Nephele pinning her there. To Nephele's surprise, although she did not show this in her facial expressions, Melissa didn't fight. She just allowed her to hold her captive there. Plus, she was smiling...
Nephele could hear her sister sighing behind her; Desideria was walking up to Nephele with Kalle and Santxo at her sides. "What are you doing, Nephele?"
"We were followed." Nephele growled. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, let me just say that I know everything about you." Melissa continued to smile. "I know that you're not a dragon and you plan to steal chi from one of these corpses. That's the reason you're here."
"Kill her." Santxo ordered.
"Well, let me just say that that's what I want." Melissa said. "Put me out of my misery. That's quite alright with me. However, I won't be able to help you if you kill me."
"How could you help me?" Desideria asked.
"I know whose chi would be perfect." Melissa replied, still smiling. "I also must bring up the fact that I've known about your plans since your first day back in September. I didn't rat you out."
"Why didn't you?" Kalle asked.
"Because, like you, I'm not here to serve the Magical World." Melissa said. "Like you, I'm just here to serve myself. I want to die."
"Then I'll kill you." Nephele growled.
"If you must, then you must." Melissa continued to smile. "Of course, there is someone who is my ideal choice for my killer. I'd much rather die by his claws, thank you very much."
"Alright." Desideria changed the subject. "I want to know which dead dragon you have in mind. Tell me now."
"Councilor Jake Long." Melissa said. "He died a little over a year ago. You know, he was the first American Dragon. Famous magical hero, you know. How would you like to have the chi of the very first American Dragon coursing through your veins?"
"I'd like that very much." Desidera said softly, a small smile appearing on her face. "Nephele let her go."
Without a word, Nephele did as she was told, releasing Melissa and stepping away. "Well, my friend..." Desideria's smile widened. "...Let's go back to my quarters. We'll have a little talk."
BLACKOUT; PLAY THEME SONG
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
The next morning, Haley slowly made her way to the Main Hall. Opening the doors, Haley walked in, where the entire Council was waiting for her. "Welcome, Haley." Holly said with a warm, yet rather sad smile on her face.
"Thanks for agreeing to have this meeting with me." Haley said, reaching the table.
"Don't mention it." Holly replied.
"Now that you've found your children..." Asil, who was sitting next to Holly, began. "...What are you planning to do?"
"Do you even have plans?" Councilor Agata asked.
"The way I see it, Councilors..." Haley wrapped her arms around herself. "...There's only one way to deal with this situation."
"And...what do you suggest?" Asil asked.
"Just like last time." Haley said. "I have to track them down and deal with them. I have to stop them."
FLASHBACK
Haley was lying on her side on the bed she shared with her husband, who was still at work even though it was two in the morning and Haley was fast asleep.
However, a ringing coming from her nightstand woke her up. Moaning, Haley sat up and reached out and grabbed the communication device. Pressing a button, she watched as a holographic image of Holly appeared. Holly looked even more tired than Haley did. This made Haley smirk.
"What's so funny?" Holly asked.
"You know what time it is." Haley replied. "I don't need to ask."
"I want to be asleep right now." Holly narrowed her eyes. "Don't think that I like being up this early in the morning. Rest assured, that smile will be off your face after I tell you what I need to tell you."
"It's already off." Haley said, her smile vanishing.
"I still need to tell you this."
"Go ahead." Haley said.
"Okay, here it goe-"
"Wait!" Haley cut her off.
"What?" Holly raised an eyebrow.
"Do you mind if I yawn first?"
"Go on ahead."
Haley quickly did so, and once Haley finished smacking her lips, Holly opened her mouth again. "Here it goes." Holly began. "I'm just going to come out and say it, Haley: Socorro, Cleo and Kay are gone."
"What?!" Haley's eyes widened.
"They're gone." Holly repeated. "They broke free from their restraints and took off. And, Haley, it gets worse."
"You don't know where they are?" Haley guessed.
"Of course we don't." Holly said. "I mean, it gets worse than that."
"How could it get any worse?"
"How about this?" Holly replied. "The box with the dark magic is gone, too. They must have taken it with them."
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL BREAK
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
A short time later, Haley landed on the Island of Draco and she quickly started to walk along the grass. Moments later, when she entered the lit Main Hall, she was forced to squint her eyes, which were sensitive to the bright light after flying all the way over from her house in the dark.
As her eyes slowly adjusted, she could see Scout, San and Peony, all in their dragon forms, walking towards her. "Oh, so you three know?" Haley asked right before they reached her.
"Councilor Jennings alerted us to their escape, yes." San replied sadly.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Harris." Scout smiled. "We'll find them. They won't be lost forever."
"I hope not." Haley replied.
"They won't be." Peony promised, smiling just like Scout.
"So..." Haley put her clawed hands on her hips. "...You three are going to help me?"
"Of course." All three of her daughter's Dragon Masters told her. "We're going to help you find them." Peony promised.
"If anything happened to any of them..." San said sadly. "...I would never forgive myself."
"Even though it wouldn't be your fault?" Haley asked softly, touched by what San was implying.
"It would be, Mrs. Harris." Peony said. "We were entrusted with taking care of them, keeping them safe. We were not doing our job when we allowed them to open that box."
"You were with me." Haley said, crossing her scaly arms. "I'm just as guilty as you are. So, I really suggest that we stop talking about guilt and start talking about a plan to find my daughters."
"First, we have to find out where they are." San said.
"And that is easier said than done." The sound of Holly's voice came from behind Haley, making her turn around to see Holly walking into the room. "Personally, though..." Holly said as she reached Haley. "...I'm hoping that you might have some sort of idea."
"I'm as clueless as you are." Haley said.
"Oh?" Holly asked. "Haley, do you mind if I speak to you alone?"
"Alone?" Scout asked from behind Haley. "Is there some reason that we can't come with. You're not blaming Mrs. Harris for anything, are you?"
"Of course not." Holly smiled. "I just want to ask her a few questions. Well..." She put her free hand to her chin. "...Technically, we won't be alone. There will be a few Dragon Council Agents."
"What kind of questions are you going to ask?" Haley asked.
"You'll see." Holly said. "Now, please come with me." Then, she turned and started to walk back outside.
LINE BREAK
Haley, now in her human form, sat at a wooden table in a rather small room, sitting across from Holly, who had two dragon-formed Dragon Council Agents standing at each side. "So, let's get to those questions I have." Holly said with a smile on her face.
"Shoot." Haley said.
"Now, don't feel pressured." Holly said. "I think you know this already, but if you don't know what I'm going to ask you, don't stress out and beat yourself up. We'll work this through. Okay, do you know if your daughters had anyplace that they liked to go to?"
"Um..." Haley started, but Holly continued.
"Was there any place that they wanted to go to?" Holly asked. "And if so, where? Maybe they went there."
"Well, no." Haley replied. "Not that I know of."
"There was no place that they liked to be?" Holly asked. "No place that they wanted to go?"
"No." Haley replied. "Not that I know of. Yes, they like a lot of places, but I don't think there is a particular place that they like more than any other place."
"And no places that they wanted to go to?" Holly repeated.
"Um, no." Haley said. "I mean, there might be some place that they want to go to."
"You just don't know?"
"No." Haley confirmed. "I don't. They never came up to me and they never went: 'Mommy, I want to go to California! I want to go to Washington! I want to go to England!'"
"Okay, well..." Holly continued. "...You said that they liked some places. Let's focus on those. Can you tell me one place that each of your daughters liked?"
"Well, all three of them liked the Statue of Liberty."
"Well, I think that would be too risky a place to hide." Holly replied.
"No, I agree completely." Haley nodded once. "It would."
"Can you tell me another place that they liked to go to?" Holly asked.
LINE BREAK
San, Peony and Scout all turned around when they heard the doors to the Main Hall opening, seeing both Holly and Haley walking back in. "What did you discuss together?" Scout asked.
"I simply asked Haley if she had any ideas for where to look for Socorro, Cleo and Kay." Holly said as she and Haley stopped in front of them.
"And?" Peony asked.
"Haley had plenty of ideas." Holly said.
"So, where are we going to start?" Scout asked.
"None of the ideas were good enough." Haley said. "They're all either too obvious places to hide or too far away, as in different states."
"How could a place to hide be too obvious?" Peony asked.
"I'm talking about places like the Empire State Building and Central Park." Haley answered, crossing her arms. "My girls are too smart to hide out in places like those. They would be spotted instantly."
"Really, Central Park?" Peony asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Harris has a point." San replied to Peony, making Peony turn her head to the side.
"So, what now?" Scout asked.
"I don't know." Haley admitted.
LINE BREAK
Early the next morning, Harriet, in her dragon form, was flying through the air, heading for school. As she flew, both of her ears twitched as she heard what sounded like a fireball being shot out from a dragon's mouth, followed by a whizzing sound, like it was falling down from behind her.
Halting, Harriet turned her head to the side, seeing nothing there. "Huh." Harriet shrugged to herself before she turned her head back to normal, only to gasp as a fireball whizzed down from above, barely missing her face.
"What the-?" Harriet exclaimed as she looked up, only to see nothing.
Now visibly nervous, Harriet looked back down and hurried on. She had no idea what was going on. However, as she flew away, Socorro lowered herself down to Harriet's level from behind.
"Hey, Harriet!" Socorro called out with a smirk, making Harriet gasp in shock as she came to a screeching halt. "Don't be afraid." Socorro continued, a mocking smile on her face. "I need to talk to you. I need to tell you something. Something important."
"S...So...Socorro?" Harriet stammered as she turned around to face Socorro.
"Who else could I be?" Socorro replied.
At that moment, Cleo and Kay flew up from below, right behind the startled Harriet. Cleo and Kay quickly grabbed Harriet's arms and forced them behind her back, pinning them there. "Bring her over here." Socorro ordered in a dangerous tone. Within seconds, Cleo and Kay forced Harriet up to Socorro. In the face of Socorro, Harriet was trembling and her eyes were wide.
"Are...Are you afraid of me?" Socorro asked in a mock hurt tone.
"You're...You're going to murder me." Harriet managed.
"Why would you think that?" Socorro's smile turned into a cruel one.
"You're evil now." Harriet continued to tremble, although she now managed to make her voice sound strong. "You were corrupted by dark magic."
"True." Socorro replied. "However, at the moment, we don't know what that means, really."
"It means you're evil now." Harriet said. "That's why you're going to kill me."
"Because I'm evil?"
"And because you never liked me that much."
"You're right in that regard." Socorro said. "I do dislike you. But...I'm not going to kill you."
"You're...You're not?"
"You're too useful to be discarded like that." Socorro said, crossing her scaly arms. "So, in exchange for your life, you're going to tell my mother where I am. Where we are."
"We?" Harriet asked. "You mean, you're going to take me prisoner? Well, how am I going to-?"
"No, you idiot." Socorro snapped. "Where me and my sisters are. You're going to tell her the cave that Cleo, Kay and I are hiding in. Understood?" She finished as she lightly slapped Harriet in the side of the face.
LINE BREAK
At Carter's house, both Carter and Harriet, in their human forms, sat in Carter's kitchen. "So, what should I do?" Harriet asked. "Before they let me go, they pretty much confirmed that the reason they want Haley is so they can kill her."
"Well, that makes sense." Carter said. "Dark magic corruption will make you do things like that."
"Killing your own mother?" Harriet asked. "How could anyone do that?"
"That doesn't really matter, Harriet. All that matters, is that Socorro, Cleo and Kay are planning to kill Haley."
"What should we do?"
"We have to tell her, Harriet." Carter said. "Haley needs to know that her daughters escaped and where they are."
"But-"
"It's quite possible that Haley expects her daughters to react this way." Carter said. "Her daughters were corrupted by dark magic. They aren't her little girls anymore."
Then, Carter stood up from the table, turned and started to walk away. "I'm going to contact her." Carter announced as he left, making Harriet turn her head to the side, watching him as he went.
LINE BREAK
Back on the Island of Draco, Haley was out on the grass, pacing back and forth. However, once she heard a ringing coming from her person, she froze in her tracks. Looking down, she realized that it was her communication device and reverted to her human form in a bright light.
Quickly, Haley reached into her pocket and pulled out her device. Holding it in both hands, she pressed a button that caused a holographic image of Carter to appear. "Carter?" Haley was surprised.
"Haley, your daughters-"
"They escaped." Haley said. "San, Scout, Peony and I are trying to fi-"
"Wait, you know?" Carter's eyes widened.
"You know?" Haley repeated his question right back at him. "How? How do you know that my girls escaped?"
"Harriet."
"How does Harriet know?"
"I-" Carter tried, but before he continued, he took a deep breath and sighed. "Haley, your girls tracked Harriet down and had a little chat with her. They told her where they're hiding."
"Where?" Haley pressed.
"They-" Carter started, but he abruptly stopped when his holographic image briefly faded, becoming static-y.
"Carter?" Haley asked.
Carter sighed before he replied. "Look, Haley, I've got to go. My battery is running out. This thing doesn't have much power left."
"But...But my daughters!"
"Don't worry." Carter assured her with a small smile. "Harriet and I will come on over."
"I'm on the Island of Draco."
"Alright." Carter said. "We'll be there in about a half an hour." Then, his form vanished.
END FLASHBACK
Inside the room that Desideria and Nephele shared, Melissa was sitting on the bed, while Desideria had a chair pulled up, Nephele, Kalle and Santxo all standing behind her. Melissa, Kalle, Santxo and Nephele were all in their human forms.
Melissa smiled as she watched Desideria open her mouth. Then, Desideria spoke: "Tell me more." She said.
"More about what?" Melissa replied.
"Why do you want to die so much?" Desideria clarified. "You look young. Too young to die, or to even want to die."
"Nineteen, in fact." Melissa replied. "I even know one dragon that things I'm too young to 'serve'..." She used air quotes. "...The Council. It's rather a long story-The story of why I want to die."
"Tell me." Desideria growled.
"Why do you want to know so much?"
"Just tell her." Kalle said.
"Fine." Melissa shrugged her shoulders. "I have a heart condition. My doctor gave me a prognosis of about a year. Thanks to this..." She held up her wrist, revealing the device that Asil and Yara had given her. "...I know exactly when I'm going to die."
"If you don't have long left, then why are you rushing your demise?" Desideria asked.
"Oh, you think I should just enjoy the time I have left?" Melissa narrowed her eyes. "Won't happen. Because I don't have just any heart condition. My heart was actually cursed by a witch. The curse causes moments of severe, debilitating pain at times. This..." She reached down to her syringe and pulled it out of her belt and held it up. "...Is the medicine that I'm supposed to register to myself. It barely helps. It's bad enough living through it, I don't want to go through that in the end."
"I see." Desideria replied.
"Glad you do." Melissa replied. "Now, can we get back to talking about our deal?"
"Certainly." Desideria replied.
"I promise to help you get the chi of the first American Dragon." Melissa stated her proposal. "In return, I expect a fight with the dragon that I want to be my killer."
"Who is this dragon?" Desideria asked.
"He's the grandson of the dragon we're going to be stealing from." Melissa smirked. "He must have much of the power that his grandfather had, through...inheritance...
"...So..." Melissa changed the subject. "...When are we going to do this?"
"I'm not sure." Desideria replied.
"How can you not be sure?" Melissa asked.
"I would have liked to perform the theft at night." Desideria replied. "Unfortunately, you taught me that the risk is still too great."
"Then what do you suggest?" Melissa asked.
"We'll just have to see." Desideria told her. "We'll just have to wait until the right time. When the time comes, we'll know."
LINE BREAK
Haley sat alone in the cafeteria, drumming her fingers against the surface of the table. "Hey." Jake III said as he and a human-formed Cherri stepped up to the table.
Haley blinked before she smiled in response. "Hey." She returned before she watched Jake and Cherri sit down across from her.
"So, what are you doing here?" Haley asked.
"We want to talk to you about those three dragons, your daughters." Jake said.
"Um, okay." Haley said. "Go ahead."
"What are you going to do?" Jake III asked. "Are you just going to wait for them to show up again?"
"No, I can't do that." Haley replied. "That would be unwise."
"Then, what are you going to do?" Jake III asked.
"What I did last time." Haley crossed her arms. "I have to track them down and stop them." Then, she sighed, her eyes filling with sadness. "For good, this time."
"You can't do this alone." Jake told his Great Aunt.
"No, I can't." Haley agreed. "Last time, I had several friends to help me. It was a disaster."
"We want to help you." Cherri said with a small smile on her face, Jake III nodding in agreement.
"You...You do?" Haley asked, a small smile appearing on her face. However, the smile quickly vanished from her facial features. "No, I can't allow that. At least...not you, Jake." As she said this, she reached out and put and hand on Jake III's.
However, Jake quickly pulled his hand away. "Hey!" He exclaimed. "I can do it! I've been training! I want to help!"
"You aren't prepared for this, Jake." Haley said sadly. "To my amazement, years of being the American Dragon wasn't enough for me."
FLASHBACK
Inside the small room, Harriet, in her human form, sat across from the human-formed Holly, who had Haley and Carter, who were both in their human forms as well, at her sides.
"Alright..." Holly said. "...Tell me exactly what Socorro, Cleo and Kay said to you. What each of them said to you."
"Socorro was the only one who did any talking." Harriet said.
"Okay, then tell me what Socorro said to you." Holly replied.
"She..." Harriet started, but stopped as she focused on Haley.
Knowing that his pupil was hesitant to say, Carter turned his head to the side to look at Haley. Feeling his eyes on her, Haley turned her head to the side to look at him. "Harriet told me that your daughters want to kill you." Carter said grimly.
Sighing, Haley turned her head back to normal. "Why does this not surprise me?"
"Dark magic corruption, Haley." Carter said.
"Yes." Holly agreed, although Holly didn't take her eyes off of Harriet. "That sounds about right. Remember, the magic thrives off of anger."
Haley clenched her hands into fists. "They have to be stopped." She said.
"That they do." Holly agreed. "Harriet, they told you where they are hiding, did they not?"
"Yes, they did." Harriet said softly.
"Where are they?" Holly asked calmly.
"In a cave." Harriet answered. "In Central Park."
Hearing this, Haley's eyes widened. "Councilor..." She said. "...It seems that we were wrong about my daughters. They're smart enough to hide in some area that we would deem too obvious. It appears that we are the foolish ones."
"Like you said, Haley..." Holly said as she stood up, slowly turning to face Haley. "...Your girls are very intelligent. But...so are you. So are we."
LINE BREAK
"You don't know how grateful we are..." Holly, now in her dragon form, walked across the grass with Haley, also in her dragon form, at her side. Carter, Harriet, San, Scout and Peony, all in their dragon forms, were walking behind them. "...For your offer to help." Holly said.
"Socorro, Cleo and Kay mean a lot to us, as well, Councilor." San said politely. "We have to help. If anything happened to them-"
"At this point..." Haley said. "...Something is going to happen to them. We can't let them keep on running amok. We have to stop them."
"We'll bring them back here." Scout said.
"Hopefully." Haley said.
"In any case..." Holly said. "...You all have a huge battle ahead of you. It will be very dangerous. That's why I want all of you to be armed." As Holly said this, they neared the supply shed, and Haley could see Savannah, in her human form, near the door.
"Agent Rogers will help you select a weapon to arm yourselves with." Holly finished. Then, they reached the shed, Savannah smiling sadly.
"Haley." Savannah said before she held out her hand, a staff that had been retracted into itself. "Take this."
"You're giving me your staff?" Haley raised an eye. "But what if you need it?"
"It's not mine." Savannah said as she brought her free hand to her belt, showing Haley that she still had her staff in her possession. "It's Rose's." Savannah explained. "She knows that you're going after your daughters and she wants you to have this."
"But-"
"Rose wants you to have it." Savannah repeated. Haley said nothing in response as she reached out and took the staff.
"Now." Savannah clapped her hands together. "I'll help each of you select a weapon to use."
The door to the shed was opened and Savannah walked in, San following her, only to stop in the doorway. San watched as Savannah transformed into her dragon form in a bright light. As soon as the light faded and the transformation had been completed, Savannah started to fish through the shelves. Watching, San took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, just as she heard something from Savannah.
"Aw..." Savannah said in a satisfied tone as she stepped away from the shelf and then turned around to face San, a large stick weapon with a crescent moon-shaped blade at the end in her possession. "...This is called a Monk's Spade." Savannah said. "Here." She tossed it over to San, who easily caught it.
Savannah then turned back around and started to fish around the shelves as Peony stepped into the doorway. Quickly, Savannah stepped away and turned to face Peony, two sheathed swords in her possession. "Catch." Savannah said as she tossed one over to Peony, Peony catching it easily. "Check to see what that is." Savannah advised, Peony doing what she was told and unsheathing the blade, holding it up. The blade was a Liuyedao.
"That should do the trick." Savannah said. Sighing, Peony sheathed her blade and turned, walking away and allowing Harriet to step into the doorway. "This one's for you." Savannah said before she tossed it, Harriet easily catching the sword.
"Do me a favor and take a peek at your sword." Savannah said. Harriet did as she was told, unsheathing the sword half-way and staring at a Dōtanuki blade.
Outside, Scout watched as Harriet turned, re-sheathing her Dōtanuki and walking out, allowing Scout to walk up into the doorway, only to see that Savannah already held a weapon in her clawed hands; a Bardiche.
"Yikes." Scout said.
"This will be perfect." Savannah said, as she, instead of tossing Scout the weapon, walked it over to her and gently handed it to her. "The blade is very sharp." Savannah said. "I almost sliced off my hand just taking it off the shelf. Be careful with it."
"No need to tell me twice." Scout replied.
A few seconds later, Scout walked outside, followed by Savannah, who held two steel rods with tips like the ones that arrows had. The two rods had a golden cuff each, large enough to slip a wrist through. Carter stepped up to Savannah, being the only one without a weapon.
"Here." Savannah said as she held them out, Carter taking them.
"What are they?" Carter asked, looking down at them.
"Emeici." Savannah replied. "You'll probably be getting up close and personal with Haley's daughters, so they could be helpful."
"I hope so." Carter said as he looked back up at Savannah. "Thanks, Savannah."
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, Haley and the others were walking along the grass, preparing to leave the island. Haley had pulled Rose's staff out to its full length and was leading the way, with San behind her, Carter and Harriet behind her, Scout behind them and finally, Peony behind Scout.
Upon reaching the edge of the island, they all stood side-by-side in a line. Then, Haley spread her wings and flapped them, taking off, with the others following her.
BLACKOUT; END EPISODE
A/N: Please review.