Back to the present...
Cole picked up his pace as he rounded another block,in a hurry to make a quick stop at home at the townhouse he was staying with his girlfriend Arcelia and her mother.Though he still thought of the predicament his sister was in,she had told him she didn't want any of his assistance and he was not about to do anything otherwise.He would make a few more stops soon and then return for her but in the meantime he was going home to talk things out with Arcelia about his past,the fourteen year old was determined to do whatever it took to become someone different,someone better.
That dream charm isn't going to be enough to talk things out with her,he reminded himself musingly as he sidestepped a vagrant on the large grey curb.If things between us are going to be resolved,then they are going to be resolved for real and not in some ludicrous dream world.
But then as he slowed down to a light stroll,coming up upon the red bricked building,an unconventional feeling surfaced in him as his eyes met pitch black windows.Normally,they would be home early in the week while Cole went to school on account of certain matters inside the states and then outside in Peru,the place Cole had first met them.Curious as to why it seemed vacant,he started up the stoop and sliding his key,opened the door to find an eerie,deserted home with only some furniture still remaining.Stricken,he nearly went inside when he heard a few car honks sound.
In a startled state,he whirled around to find none other then his father parked in front of the house seated in a slightly aged deep blue automobile.He nearly sent the older man a scorned look for his deliberate method of alerting him but instead,found himself coming up alongside the vechile only to be even more surprised to see the door swing open and his father returning in an upright position.
"Get in,Coleton."He directed promptly without meeting the teen's gaze."We need to talk."
Cole felt the urge to kick the door shut and give it a good pummeling just to relieve himself of all that seemed to be going on but finally he just complied,every other thing he wanted to do before this had dissolved into the back of his mind and soon the two when riding in utter silence for what felt like an eternity to Cole.Him and his father hadn't seen much of each other since that time in the hospital and it seemed to Cole it was better that way,why interact now?They never had before.
"Nice car,"He commented briefly almost under his breath after awhile.
"Thanks."Jake replied back a bit more gregariously."Yet it's a bit of an older model compared to-"
"I'm not much in a talking mood,Father."Cole cut him off intolerantly,bearing his sable eyes out at the buildings that went by,his mind absorped deeply in thought."So please,get on to your point."
But to that,he didn't reply and it made the teen wonder why he had just boarded into his father's car in the first place.Perhaps it had just been on impulse.Don't get in the car with strangers.
Finally,the car came to rest in front of an old brownstone."Well,don't just sit there."Jake told him patiently when he saw Cole remaining in his seat."There's something I need to show you."
"If you're prepared to blame me for your daugther's disappearance again,let me just be first to say she went on her own free will."He made it a point to state as he got out,on the offense in case his father was ready to accuse him the second he got out."And..."his brows drew in together as he looked the home over meticulously."This is your home,though...it looks like no one lives here at all."
The dragon nodded meditatively,his coal gaze taking on a faraway look."After your grandmother passed away a few years ago,then your grandfather went away to live near some of his family and although he wanted us to come,I knew I couldn't just leave the city.No matter what,it's my home."
A long time passed at the two stood with their faces turned up to the tall structure that was before them,the place seemed quite in contrast to the lovely little house Cole had visited in the past for the first time just a few days ago in the past.But who would have known in less then twenty years,a haven for a family would be reduced to a mere box with no one life dwelling within it's barren four walls.Nothing was left now,but everlasting memories.Then,he heard his father speak more seriously.
"It's isn't good to let what life dishes you sometimes keep you down,"he turned to look at Cole,which in turn made him face him,as Jake continued."But this whole thing about you two running off into the past,"his voice turned knowing."It doesn't take a genius to figure out you two pulled the fur over Fu Dog's eyes.Now,care to tell me the real reason why you both have been gone so long?"
Staring at him as he talked,Cole realised it had been a mistake to leave as suddenly as they had."She'll be fine,"he sighed deeply after a while and turned back to the brownstone."The Dark Dragon was returning to the past to collect the skulls and use their powers in a sort of reversal spell in an attempt to destroy humans.Wendy and I...received a premonition to go back."
He heard Jake groan miserably."Please tell me you kids didn't alter the time line."
"No,nothing that can't be fixed."Cole assured but then inquired requisitively,staring him down."Where did they go?I need to find Arceila as soon as I can before I leave for the past again."
"This doesn't have to be difficult,"His father told him with a composed firmness,making his way up a little closer and holding his own with his gaze in return."They had to go back to Peru for a week for some of the villagers who've gotten their crops flooded but that isn't important right now."his gaze narrowed."We need to get Wendy out of the past,it's too risky for either of you to be there."
Cole brushed the pang of guilt aside,as he backed away some."I promised her I'd let her do this on her own,"he took out the staff he'd stolen from the Huntsman and teleported off before his father could come any closer."I have the three skulls and so nothing is going to happen even if the Dark Dragon appears.But I'm warning you."his voice and eyes became marked by a solid sense of graveness."Don't try and follow me,Dragon.You'll regret it."
And with that,he left before his father could transform and leap out to seize him.Not for sure whether or not he was running away from facing the unevitable.But he was getting to a better place then this,all the while unsure on whether he was doing the right thing;which he was aching to do.
Back to the past...
He was the second largest dragon Wendy had ever laid her eyes upon,with his long and lethal black claws that protruded out,his glowing amber eyes and the gleam of jagged fangs that briefly caught in the sunlight.Breathing heavily,his malevolent gaze rested on her with a lustfullness about him and made a move for her.But the next moment,she saw a flash of blue and her father zipping forward through the air,ready to deliver a take down and as the two girls watched in expectance to see a fight break loose,the Dark Dragon stretched his arm out and Jake seemed to freeze in mid-flight.
"What the-"Jake gasped shortly,his movements stilted as the older dragon managed to catch him in a protracting beam that surged out of his claws."I...can't...move."he said between bared teeth and strained to look over directly at Rose."Take that other girl and run,he's too powerful!"
Wendy was quick to detect Rose's dismay and reached over to place her hand her arm,causing her to look at her very doubtfully."We can take him."she told her,flashing her a confident smile as she did."With the two of us going at him,we can at least try to break his hold on Jake;trust me."
After a moment,her mother nodded back concurringly."I do."her cerulean eyes abraded on the dragon when they turned as one."Let's go,I'll take left and you take right,is that okay with you?"
"Sure."Wendy approved instantly,recalling some similiarity in Rose's idea as she morphed and the two went together,her tipping some as she sailed off to the side and Rose sprinting off to her left.
Their equal speed and form was neatly executed,as they almost made a unite out of the way they advanced on the Dark Dragon.Rose leaped over her from side to side in their winged attack,until finally they were near enough and letting the Huntress land with her legs spread on her wings,she thrusted her forward and as the larger dragon was focusing on blocking Rose's bullseye kind of kick,he released his hold on Jake and the two younger dragons also came on top of him as well.
"Ready...?"Jake called out bracingly to her.
"Set..."Wendy added with a smirk.
"FIRE!"They announced out in unison and sent a glorious double fire trail that linked together and as Rose got out of the way,sweltered down upon the Dark Dragon,engulfing him in a bright,flaming vortex;which all three watched triumphantly as only a smoldering circle was left in his place as the dark grey smoke cleared and he seemed to have simply gone with the slighty warm breeze.
"Not bad."The American Dragon said in an impressed note as he turned to her."You've got skills there,girl.But uh..."his countenance took on an elasped look."Who did you say your DM was?"
Wendy gave him a questioning look."You mean Dragon Master?I never really had one."
"Then-"
But before he could complete his sentence,an ear-splitting roar filled the air and all three turned to see what appeared to be a darkened thunderhead form above them,though before they managed to get on guard,flashes of white hot lightening streaked down and nearly hit where Jake and Rose now stood but luckily the red dragon had been able to snatch and air lift her before the bolt had pounded into the ground with a rippling effect.Wendy,half shocked and half enraged that he had almost did away with them both,was about to go at him when a transparent encasing rose up from the ground.
She watched as her parents sent an barrage of attacks that proved ineffectual on the hard and very durable surface of the clear dome,her heart swelled up in her throat as she sensed a presence and let out a scream at the looming figure before her.Finally,a steady beating sound rang through out her ears and the young dragoness's legs felt suddenly wobbly as she tried to stan d back up.
"No need,"A sinister voice echoed down it seemed from the great stature at which he stood."It will be much easy to talk if you haven't any ideas at trying to burning my into a living cinder again."
Effort leaped into Wendy,as she used her tail support as she rose slowly."I've tooken down guys your size before."a will drove into her heart for success,with her finding her bearings."It's like the old saying goes;The bigger and more clumbersome they are,the harder they come crashing down."
His nostrils flared at her comment,telling her observingly."I see where you've acquired your wit."
Before he could turn to look over at Jake for emphasis,she hurled a fire ball his way,in which he put out by simply blowing on it with regular exhaled air.Wendy's face waned at the sight of it,which she was thankful for being undetectable because of the coloring of her scales but before either of them could make another move,she noticed him turn his massive ebony head to one side and a stream of relief went through her to see a swarm of dragons ranging in age and size flocking together around.
"You see,that's the difference between you and normal dragons like myself."The dragoness told him with honesty brimming her ocean eyes,bringing herself up taller on her hind legs."Normal dragons do whats good for not only our kind but also for mankind.Because in case you don't know,"she paused to survey the numerous gazes laid opon her,before turning back to him declaringly."Were all human as well as dragon,no creature is better then the other and I'll do whatever it takes to prove-"
Her endearing lecture died as he erupted into a hysterical,chilling fit of cackles."You pathetic child!So sure of yourself and yet so naive..."the lines of laugther dissipated from his face."But no,it isn't true.Let's cut right to the chase,shall we?Which would be that I sent you that foreshadowing."
"Not surprising."Wendy replied,both her voice and eyes reflecting wariness.
"My dear,"He grew fonder."Do you know how special you are?Why you can ever transform?"
"I...We never figured out why.It just happened and my family accepted it.Big deal."
"Oh...but it is."His implied interest in her made her squirm as she continued."For you see,you are a Moon Dragon.A very rare type of dragon who draws all it's abilities from the moon itself and it can only occur in the first few weeks of infancy if exposed to a full moon for a prolonged period of time and if my vision serves me correctly,I believe you are of that type.A geniune Moon Dragoness."
The news both caused a tinge of excitement and apprehension in her."So?"she inquired slowly."It was a long time ago and it couldn't be helped.But...wait,why did you call me and Cole here at all?"
The Dark Dragon scoffed at his mention."Your human brother was merely a side attraction,while the grand finale just happens to be looking me straight in the eyes."he pointed a claw at her."You are it."
Her own claws flew up in defense."Just try and touch me."she told him boldly yet her insides were knotting in fear,making her want to escape.She didn't want to hear the rest,didn't want to hear...
"So long as the skulls are not brought together but are within a certain distance of each other..."
Wendy tried to tune him out,tried with all her might to distance his voice out of her consciousness.
"...and a dragon of light,such as yourself,is brought forth in order to help activate the skulls..."
Fragments of her life drifted by her mind's eye,becoming a dragon,starting a band,finding Cole...
"Through sacrifice,Gwendolyn."He told her without hesistation."You must be sacrificed in order to make my long term dream a reality and eliminate humans off the face of the earth once and for all."
To Be Continued...
A/N:Happy?Hopefully.But there you have it.
LP