Chapter 9: Pyro's Path

Pyro awoke to see Star lying next to him inside a big metal room. He noticed he was in his dragon form again and bumped Star to wake her up. The dragoness's eyes twitched before she fully opened them. Star woke up to see Pyro standing over her. He tried to move around the cage but all four of his limbs were being held down by iron chains.

Star noticed that her legs were chained as well and started to look around. Star finally asked, "Pyro where are we? What is this place?"

Pyro shook his head and said, "I don't know but this cant be good. We need to get out of here now." Star and Pyro started pulling at the chains back and forth trying to get loose.

"Hello 'King Pyro'!" a voice called out. Pyro looked around and saw a window above him. Pyro looked through the glass and saw 'Cornel Jones' standing and watching him with an ugly grin across his face. Pyro growled in anger as flames began to radiate from his body.

Star got scared because she had never seen Pyro so enraged before. Pyro suddenly yelled out, "Why'd you bring us here!" Jones laughed and responded, "I need you to get to that cursed gem. I don't need you exactly just that golden power you possess."

Pyro looked around and noticed that his chains were in a strange machine. Pyro had a flash back of what happened when Sterns captured him and put him in that machine; he remembered the pain the machine caused him as it drained his power.

Jones turned to one of his soldiers and nodded giving him the signal to start the draining process. The soldier walked over to the wall and pulled down a small switch. Pyro started glowing with his golden aura and screamed out in pain as his energy was drained from his body. Pyro roared out in pain over and over again as the machine continued to siphon his powers.

Jones began to laugh as at the young dragon, his pain obviously gave him some amusement. "Sir!" a soldier caught Jones's attention, "We are at 50% power and rising." "Good" Jones replied, "However that's not going to be enough increase the drain now." "Yes Sir!" the soldier said. The soldier turned a small knob on the computer and Pyro started to roar out even louder.

Jones turned around and asked, "How high are we now?" A soldier responded immediately, "60% and rising sir!" Jones turned around and smiled at the screaming dragon. Star could only sit and watch as Pyro screamed in pain.

The fire dragon then closed his eyes and began to concentrate. One of the soldiers suddenly called out to Jones, "Sir we're not getting any more power from the dragon!" "What!"

Jones turned around and glared at Pyro. "Increase drain!" The soldier turned the knob and Pyro began to scream again. The soldier gasped as he said, "Sir were still not getting any power!" Jones continued to glare at Pyro who was now struggling to hold his power back. Jones kept glaring until Star caught his attention. Jones smiled as he got an idea.

Pyro's drainer suddenly turned off and left Pyro gasping for breath. "SO!" Pyro looked up at Jones as he continued to speak, "If you won't give us your power, let's see if your friend will." Pyro gasped and looked at Star as she began to scream out in pain.

"Stop it, leave her alone!" Jones began to laugh and said, "Gladly but only if you give us your power." He looked at Star as she continued to scream. The young king knew he had no choice. He looked up and said, "Fine. You can have my power, just leave her alone."

Jones smiled and told his soldier to shut down Star's drain machine. Star gasped for breath as the pain suddenly stopped. Star looked up at Pyro who was staring down at her with a disappointed look on his face. Pyro's drainer turned back on and he howled in pain. Star picked herself and yelled, "Pyro stop. You can't just let them take your power!" Pyro yelled back, "I don't care what happens to me, as long as you're safe!"

Star's eyes widened at what he just said. Pyro's words left a shocked look on his face. Jones turned around and asked how high their power was now. A soldier responded saying, "Power now at 80% and rising." Pyro could feel his power being drained from his body bit by bit.

"Pyro!" Draco's voice suddenly rung inside Pyro's mind, and Pyro immediately responded. Draco continued to speak, "Remember how you got out of this the last time. Focus your power now!"

Pyro followed his father's instructions and began to channel his power into the very center of his body. Pyro's golden aura appeared and engulfed the young dragon. Star watched as Pyro lifted his body into the air still glowing with a radiant golden light. Pyro unleashed his power and destroyed the machine below him. Pyro was free and went to help Star. He used his sharp fangs to bite through Star's chains and the two dragons made a run for it.

Pyro and Star ran through many doors and openings until they saw a window. Pyro and Star flew for the window but Pyro suddenly stopped in midair. Star flew past him and stopped when he didn't follow. Star asked, "Pyro what's, wrong? We have to go now!"

Pyro was staring at a giant door right in front of him. Star looked at the door and asked, "Do you know what's in there." Pyro shook his head and said, "No, but I have this strange feeling."

"Look, there they are!" a soldier's voice caught the dragon's attention. Many soldiers took aim and started shooting at Star and Pyro. The two fire dragons quickly flew through the window and didn't stop flying until the bunker was fully out of their site.

Pyro looked back at Star and saw she was exhausted; he decided to land and make camp. The two dragons landed deep in the forest and found a place very well hidden so they could rest. Pyro heard Star's stomach growl and decided it was time to hunt. He told Star to stay at the campsite so she could recover while he went hunting.

Star was worried when Pyro left and didn't know what might happen if one of the soldiers were to come along. Star heard the bushes rattle and hid behind a tree. She peeked out from behind the tree to see Pyro dragging the body of a boar into the camp sight. Pyro turned around to see Star hiding and asked, "What's the problem?" Star came out from behind the tree and said, "Nothing. I thought you were one of the soldiers."

Pyro laughed and lit the boar on fire to cook it. Star smelled the burning flesh and got even hungrier. The boar was finally done and the two dragons started eating. It was finally night fall; Pyro and Star finished eating and were lying under the night sky. "Pyro…" Star called out. Pyro whipped his head around and said, "…Yeah." Star began to speak, "Back at the bunker, when they started stealing my power. What did you mean when you said that to me back there?"

Pyro instantly blushed and turned away as he said, "Exactly as I said." Star stood up and said, "Pyro, you can't just give in like that, you're the only one who can fix the gem. If you die then it's all over." Pyro turned around and said, "You were in danger, I didn't know what else to do."

The white dragoness walked up to him and asked, "Pyro why did you go that far for me. I could have taken care of myself." Pyro turned back to her and said, "Star I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe." Star blushed and said, "Do you really mean that." Pyro nodded and leaned against a near by tree. Pyro began to speak again, "Look Star I want to be able to protect you no matter what." Star started walking closer to Pyro as he kept talking. "I'm not sure what to say but I'm going to be there for you." Star walked up to Pyro as he was still talking. Pyro continued, "I'm not good with words but, I just want to say that …"

Pyro was cut off as Star placed her paw on Pyro's cheek, pulled his face towards hers, and gently pressed her lips against his. Pyro had wide eyes, and felt his heart jump as Star broke the kiss. Pyro stared at Star as she said, "You talk too much." Pyro smiled at the white dragoness and the two nuzzled each other. Pyro pulled away from Star and said, "Star … I… I love you." Star smiled and said, "I love you too."

Star moved in again and snuggled up close to him and started nuzzling his neck. Pyro returned to the gesture and started nuzzling her back. Pyro decided to try something. He pulled away from her and nuzzling her neck. As he moved his head up and down he would lick her neck every few seconds. Star couldn't help herself as she began purring loudly. As he continued she could feel her body begin to heat up from the contact.

Star lifted her paw up to Pyro's chest and pushed him against the tree as she kissed him again. The two dragons closed their eyes as they kissed each other. Star slipped her tongue into Pyro's mouth and he went wide eyed for a few seconds. Pyro then closed his eyes and returned the gesture. Star's tongue was nearly touching the back of Pyro's throat and he loved every minute of it.

Pyro began to slide down the tree until he was on his back. Star was on top of Pyro still kissing him. When Pyro and Star finally broke their kiss they were almost breathless. Star nuzzled Pyro under his chin and lay down next to him.

Pyro felt incredible and turned to Star who was still staring at him. "Star if you ever need me, just call me, I'll come. I promise." Pyro said. Star smiled and said, "Okay." The two dragons soon fell asleep. Star was curled up next to Pyro and Pyro had a wing draped over the dragoness to keep her warm.