Jake Ross2: Aha, the chapter that some of us have been all waiting for. Something big's gonna happen with Jake Long, something that will affect his future actions...Mwahahahaha!...Sorry. Enjoy!
Chapter X
Jake sat cross-legged on the roof of the electronics shop. He took in the hot midday air with dull recognition. He was hungry but he didn't care, he had to think of a way to defeat the Dark Hunter. What was it that spurred such a person to do things like that; to actually hunt down magical creatures and actually kill them? The Huntsclan did that all the time, but that was because of their families or their personal vendettas against the magic community. What was the Dark Hunter's problem with them?
He heard the door open and knew it was Fred.
The Australian young man took a position behind Jake with one foot on the edge, "Hey Jake, you okay?"
Jake rolled his eyes, "I think that's a very crappy question to ask don't you think so Fred?"
Fred shook his head, "Come on Jake, I know you're better than this. You can face this guy head on and defeat him. Your life isn't even that bad,"
Jake glared at Fred, "Did you lose your father during the Week Long War? Did your house get burnt to the ground? Did you get banished from Draco Isle, even if it was only temporary? Did your good friend just get killed? Does your family have to hide right now because a maniac is trying to kill them? I don't think so, so just keep your snout out of my business and focus on the prize-The Dark Hunter,"
Fred sighed, "Jake, I didn't mean to sound uncaring, I understand how you feel-,"
Jake gave Fred a look.
Fred cleared his throat, "I mean, I can't even begin to imagine how you feel, but all I know is that I got your back mate. We're all brothers; we dragons need to stick together. We shouldn't be fighting brother dragon,"
Jake growled softly and then his demeanor softened, "Look Fred, I'm sorry, it's just that I've been under all this stress and problems and what has happened,"
"It's okay Jake-boy," replied Fred with a grin, "I forgive ya,"
"Great," replied Jake with a laugh, "but now I'm trying to formulate a plan to capture the Dark Hunter,"
"He's worse than the Dark Dragon isn't he?" Fred asked with a fearful look.
Jake nodded, "He's not as powerful or strong as a dragon but he might as well be one. He is fast, agile, and very flexible. He avoided most of my attacks with ease and as my grandfather said he was so silent, swift and deadly that he killed Yiin right behind his back within a minute."
Fred rocked back and forth slowly, a bit unnerved, Jake put out a hand to steady him, "Don't faint Fred, I don't want to have to carry you,"
The two dragons laughed lifting the damp spirits that they were in just slightly.
"So," began Fred, "Do you have a plan?"
Jake thought for a while, "Hmm, perhaps I do, listen I need you to…"
XX
They were in Central Park; the remainder of the small group, Jake, Serra, Fu Dog, Fred, Scarlet and Guardian Knight. Spud and Trixie were admonished to flee to Draco Isle, where they would be safe until the Dark Hunter was properly dealt with. It would be dangerous for anyone close to Jake to be in the city.
Jake had also wanted Rose to leave, which sparked another argument making the dragon permit his girlfriend to stay.
Fred and Scarlet would be the bait for this cleverly devised plan of Jake's.
It was night so the park was almost empty except for a few people that had decided to stay back and watch the stars. Guardian was crouched atop the branch of a tree observing them keenly, Serra was flying higher giving aerial surveillance while Fu Dog sat in the bushes holding a sphinx-hair net.
Jake was a distance away pretending to mingle with the people that were watching the stars.
Fred sighed to himself, "I doubt the Dark Hunter will attack tonight," he said to Scarlet, "he probably suspects a trap,"
Scarlet frowned, "Perhaps, but I trust Jake. He usually knows what he is doing,"
Fred laughed lightly, "Usually, what about the unusual times?"
Scarlet managed a small laugh, "Yea well, let's just say that some of Jake's enemies have proved to be unpredictable,"
"I hope this Dark Hunter proves to be predictable, I would hate having to end up someone's ornament or something," replied the Australian.
Scarlet shook her head with a rueful smile, "Don't worry Fred, I don't think any of us will let that happen to you,"
"I would hope so," replied Fred with a grin, "I'd hate to return to Australia in pieces, I'd-," a flash of something shiny.
"MOVE!" shouted Scarlet as she plowed into Fred throwing the dragon out of the way of a dart; the venomous dart hit the young woman square in the chest, she fainted instantly, falling into Fred's arms.
"Sabrina," Fred managed surprised, he growled as he placed her on the floor gently, "Dark Hunter show yourself coward!" he said loudly he entered dragon form with a roar.
Jake managed to persuade the group of astronomers to leave quickly and began running towards the group.
"Serra, get Scarlet to somewhere safe," Jake ordered.
Serra swooped down and swept her into her arms, "I'm taking her back to the Electronics shop, Fu come with me she needs medical attention." She wrapped her tail around the Animal Guardian and flapped her strong wings in the direction of the electronics shop.
Jake, Fred and Rose were the only ones remaining to face the Dark Hunter.
The Dark Hunter stepped out of the bushes, allowing the trio to see him, "Hello there," he said with a humorous voice, "that venom can kill a dragon in ten minutes. It'll probably kill her in five but it's not my fault she wanted to jump in front of the dart," he laughed.
Rose pulled her modified hunt-staff out and leapt toward him, the Dark Hunter twisted out of the way and also drew a modified hunt-staff out.
The Dark Hunter swept his staff across blocking her every move. Rose swept left, he also swept left. Rose swept up, the Dark Hunter swept down overpowering her in some of her attacks. He was well balanced, and from her assessment of his skill from this battle he seemed to be a master of the techniques that she had only begun to show prowess in, techniques that she had been training in all her life.
His technique and demeanor reminded her of someone. They were all so familiar.
The Dark Hunter laughed as he kicked Guardian in her stomach shoving her back with his staff's blunt side so he inflicted minimum damage, "So predictable aren't you? Just like when you were the Huntsgirl,"
Rose frowned beneath the mask that hid her features, "Do I know you?"
"Come now, you can't say you forgot me already?" the Dark Hunter laughed, "I allowed you to beat my in sparring matches a few times so that the Huntsmaster wouldn't throw you out for failing him so many times." He said the word Huntsmaster with a sneer as if it were a curse.
Rose took a few cautious steps forward, "Who are you?"
The Dark Hunter frowned, tempted to reveal to her his identity then threw his hunt-staff at her. Caught of guard the Guardian Knight was knocked into unconsciousness managing a weak sigh.
"Rose!" shouted Jake, he had allowed her to fight him one-on-one because she had earlier told him that there was something familiar about him and that she wanted to find out if she could figure out his human identity, he entered dragon form and both he and Fred leapt forward to take on the Dark Hunter.
The Dark Hunter laughed, "Even both of you against me cannot take me on," he pulled two swords from two sheaths on his back using them to ward off the attacks from the two enraged dragons.
He flipped backwards allowing the two dragons even more room, Jake glanced at Rose's unconscious form that lay crumpled on the floor.
The American Dragon roared breathing a blast of fire that almost engulfed the Australian Dragon.
The Dark Hunter leapt out of the flames and sneered, "You cannot burn me dragon, my suit is fireproof remember," he took a few steps back and threw his swords before him, touching his wrist he brought it in front of him and smiled snapping on sunglasses, "Say goodnight dragons," a blinding red light flashed from the device on his wrist, blinding the dragons and drawing on their energy. Both reverted to human form, exhausted and crumpled on the floor.
"Pathetic example of a dragon," muttered the Dark Hunter, he turned to regard Rose, "as beautiful and as shapely as ever aren't you Rose," he laughed as he gathered her up in his arms, "you'll be coming with me. We have a lot of catching up to do," his laugh echoed in Jake's head as the young dragon slowly lost consciousness.
XX
Slowly vision began to return to him, Jake shot up in bed, "Rose!"
Fred and Fu Dog were sitting beside his bed.
"Welcome back kid," said Fu Dog with a solemn look, "Sabrina's unconscious still. Her body is fighting the poisons and I tried to aide her with an antidote. This poison is deadly to dragons, but probably not as bad to humans,"
Jake rubbed his eyes and the back of his head, "How long have I been out for?"
Fu Dog glanced at Fred who nodded, "Four days,"
Jake's eyes widened, "Four Days?"
"Yea your body has been through a lot, you almost ended up wrecking your human form a well. At this rate your body is deteriorating rapidly. You have to stop stressing yourself and beating yourself up emotionally," replied Fu Dog replied.
Jake's eyes darted around the room, "The Dark Hunter left the three of us for dead. Where's Rose?"
Fu Dog glanced at Fred again and Jake couldn't help but understand their silent communication, Fred got up from his seat, "Jake you should rest, you're tired and your body hasn't fully recovered yet,"
"Where's Rose?" he asked again.
"The kids right Jake, you're tired and your body is mentally, emotionally and physically fatigued," continued Fu.
Jake took a deep breath and sighed closing his eyes for a moment and opening them again, "Where. Is. Rose. Answer the question Fu,"
"The Dark Hunter has her," Fred finally conceded.
Jake rested his head back on his pillow, "I'm going back to sleep, maybe some sleep will help me wake up from this nightmare,"
XX
Jake Ross2: Read Review Please! Tell me what you think so far. And can anyone guess what the twist is going to be in the end? What secret is Lao Shi hiding? Hmmm. Review PLEASE!