Chapter 9: Controlled by Power

After a short discussion, they gang agreed that they should spend another night at the lake. They were too tired to make the trip home to New York, and it was already midday. They decided that they would camp out in the same place they had the night before, and they would get up bright and early in the morning to make the trip home and get a start on finding Chang and Yanak.

After everyone had arrived at the campsite and they were all done unpacking, they sat down around the burned out campfire once again. No one had any idea how they were going to spend the rest of their day.

"What should we do?" Jake asked, kicking some dirt up into the air. Everyone simply mumbled in reply.

"Oh! I know!" Spud jumped up suddenly and pointed somewhere on the other side of the lake. "Let's go there!"

Everyone turned to see a small amusement park built just across the lake. Though most of it was hidden behind trees, a ferris wheel and part of what looked to be an ancient rollercoaster were clearly visible.

"Spud, we don't have money," Jake snapped his friend out of his daydream.

"Oh," Spud looked down, clearly disappointed. "So what are we gonna do then?"

"We could go out on the lake," Rose shrugged. "Or I guess we could go swimming in it."

Trixie looked down at the seaweed with disgust. "Yeeeeah I think I'm gonna pass on that one."

Jake sighed and sat down on a log next to their extinguished campfire. "I'm thinking we should be thinking about our next move. That way, when we get back to New York, we can get started right away."

"That doesn't sound like fun," Spud complained. "I wanna go to the freakin' amusment park!"

"Yeah Jakey," Trixie added, "I mean when did you get so mature all of a sudden? Maybe Spud's right," she continued, "I think you need to take a break and have some fun."

"Well," Jake smiled a little, "the sooner we get this done and over with the sooner we can go back to having fun," he answered. "As long as Chang and Yanak are still out there, there is way too much to worry about."

Everyone nodded silently in agreement. Though they hated to admit it, they knew that Jake was right. They were all in danger.

Jake sighed and looked off into the distance. "They are probably planning our destruction as we speak…"

XX

"At last," Chang smiled evilly. "Our plan is almost ready to be put into action."

Over the past few days, Chang and Yanak had been busy putting together their army to fulfill their plan. They had managed to come up with a list of names back from the days of the Dark Mafia, and they were eager to see who would return to help them once more.

Chang looked at the list of names and chuckled. "As long as we can get half of these creatures back, the world is ours."

Yanak sighed and shook his head. "I don't see how we are going to convince these creatures that joining us is in their best interest. I mean, what's in it for them?"

Instead of snapping back at the negative response, Chang simply smiled. "You see, Yanak," she began carefully, "there are two things in this world that everybody wants. Two things everyone wants and never has enough of."

She paused for a brief moment to scrutinize the list. "I don't even remember most of these creatures," she mumbled quietly. "This may be more difficult than I thought."

"What two things do you speak of?" Yanak interrupted her thinking, clearly somewhat annoyed by the distraction.

"Money and power," she shot back. "There isn't a creature on this earth that wouldn't jump at the opportunity for either."

Yanak rolled his eyes. "And what makes you think that?"

Chang snorted. "Look at you," she glared back. "If you aren't in this position for power, than why are you here?"

At this, Yanak seemed to be at a loss for words. "I…I wasn't bribed into this. I wanted this for myself…you…you never bribed me with power!" He stammered back.

"Face it, Yanak," she spat back at him, "who is the master here and who is the servant?" She asked but continued before he even had a chance to speak. "I have you eating out of the palm of my hand."

"I have no master!" Yanak hissed back at her. "I am my own master!"

"Then why are you here?" She snapped back. "Why are you here helping ME with MY plan instead of plotting your own?" She paused for him to respond, and when he didn't, she continued. "You know why?" She narrowed her eyes. "Because you know that you don't have the power, and so you joined me."

Yanak was at a complete loss for words. He felt his blood boiling with rage, and he had to fight with himself to remain calm and controlled.

"You are blinded by power, Yanak."

This time, she had sent him over the edge. He was about to lose it when a sharp knock on the door made him forget just how angry he was. He knew exactly who was at the door and why they were there, and he was anxious to see how this would go over.

"You wanted to see me," a young female wearing a dark black cloak squeaked open the door and walked into the room. A hood covered her face, hiding her identity from anyone who might be spying on them.

"Ah yes," Chang smiled evilly. "Come in…sit down."

"Get to the point, dragon!" The girl shot back coolly. "I don't have all day."

Chang sighed. "Alright," she said slowly. "If you must be on your way…we are planning revenge on the American Dragon, an enemy to us both and someone who has ruined plans for the both of us. And we," she continued carefully, "request your assistance."

The young teenager laughed cruelly in reply. "And what makes you think that I would help you, dragons? What's stopping me from slaying you here and now?" Tarah raised her voice and pulled out her staff in the blink of an eye.

"Because," Chang continued without even flinching, "if everything goes according to plan and with your assistance, the American Dragon will fall."

Tarah slowly lowered her staff and looked Chang dead in the eye.

"Truce?" Chang extended her hand.

"For now," Tarah growled.

XX

I know this sucks. It's definitely a filler. And for some reason it just wouldn't come out. BAAH! So very sorry for the wait guys…hope I can get back on some regular updates here soon! The next chapter should be a little more interesting to write. I hope. Lol.

Till then,

~ada