Chapter 8: Demons at the Island of Draco

The J-team had a busy morning that day. A problem with the chi containment unit caused all contained demon chi powers to escape. In a timeline where they had no allies from the future, the chi from Dai Gui the Earth Demon made it out of Section 13 and infected Larry, a nerd friend of Jade's. In this one, Rita, Reina and Future Jade captured it before it left Section 13. Eventually, the chi containment unit was restored and all chi powers were once again sealed there. "Phew, I'm glad this was over before my daughters and I left for the Island of Draco." Future Jade commented. "I'd hate having to worry over Larry during the whole thing."

"Larry?" Jade asked in confusion.

"In the timeline I came from, the Earth Demon's chi possessed Larry." Future Jade explained. "I'd hate seeing it all over again or worrying over the possibility of Drago making things worse."

"Well, Jade, you and the demon girls should hurry to avoid missing the flight to New York." Jackie advised her.

"Why would my future self go to New York when she's expected to go to the Island of Draco?" Jade asked.

"New York houses the only place in the United States of America where one can gain access to the Island of Draco." Future Jade answered. "For now."

After all goodbyes were said, Rita, Reina and their mother went to New York and took the elevator ride. "I think I'll never get used to this." Future Jade commented.

"Tell me about it." She and her daughters heard someone reply. "Rose?"

"In the flesh." Rose answered. "What brings you here, Future Jade?"

"The Dragon Council decided my daughters needed a more thorough evaluation. And you?"

"Given my past as Huntsgirl, they want me to be periodically evaluated." Rose explained. "My parents think I'm spending the weekend with friends. Well, if 'boyfriend' counts…"

"Cool."

"Oh, and the Dragon Council wants to see Jake's Dad about him knowing about the Magical World." Rose added.

"Are there other familiar faces around here?" Future Jade asked.

"Unfortunately." Rose muttered as she looked at Greggy.

"I see your point." Future Jade replied as the annoying dragon approached them.

"So, this is what Jade Chan will become in the future?" Greggy was amazed. "I must date her. Hopefully I'll save her from becoming a mother to demons."

"In your dreams, Gregory." Future Jade replied.

"Well, I'll give you time to think about it. Goodbye, Jade, demons, slayer."

Greggy was oblivious to the girls staring at him. Future Jade told Rita and Reina "Don't do it, children. He's not worth it."

They then entered the Dragon Council's meeting room, where the Longs and the aforementioned council were waiting for them. "Mr. Long, as you recently became aware, there's a whole world of magic hidden from mankind and your wife came from a family of dragons even if she herself has no powers of her own. Are you okay with this?" Councillor Kulde asked.

"Yes, Sir." Jonathan Long answered. "Some 'dream' I had back in 1986 helped me to get used to the idea."

The Dragon Council, knowing quite well which 'dream' Mr. Long was talking about, angrily glared at Jake. "Anyway, Mr. Long, do you understand the need to keep us secret from the rest of mankind?" Councillor Andam asked.

"Yes, Councillors." He answered. "But I don't understand this Huntsclan thing. Do you guys really trust Rose?"

"Not entirely but she's been putting quite an effort to prove herself." Councillor Kulkulhan answered, much to Jake's horror. "Well, since you understand, we won't have to erase your memories of us."

"You people do that?" Jonathan asked in shock. "Then how about Trixie and Spud?"

"The American Dragon was supposed to slip a potion to make them forget but he disobeyed us." Councillor Omina answered.

"They're my friends!" Jake exclaimed.

"Silence, American Dragon!" Councillor Kulde ordered. "You're already treading on thin ice with us."

"Any more doubts, Mr. Long?" Councillor Andam asked. "No." "Then you may leave. Lao Shi, Korean Dragon, approach." And so they did. "Has the slayer known as Rose ever given either of you a reason not to trust her?"

"No, Councillors." Both dragons answered.

"Well, since we never got any intelligence saying otherwise, we have no choice but to allow her to remain free." Councillor Kulde replied with a face that clearly said he'd love to put Rose away. "Now bring in demon girls Rita Chan and Reina Chan!"

Rita and Reina approached the Dragon Council. "Rita and Reina Chan, have you done anything to compromise the stability of the timeline even more than your father did?" Councillor Andam asked.

"With due respect, Sir, time is so frail one can't tell how much one's actions alter the future." Reina stated.

"I see." The African Dragon replied. "And what about you, Rita Chan?"

"Well, I removed a nail from someone's shoe and it somehow resulted in a post-apocalyptical future." Rita sarcastically answered.

"Well, that leaves no doubts." Ring commented to her sister. "That demon girl is Jade's daughter."

"There's no place for sarcasm here, Ms. Chan." Councillor Kulde frowned.

"Fine, but I've been staying inside Section 13 whenever I'm not helping my family with the search for the powers of my Granduncles and Grandaunts or coming here." Rita replied.

"Whatever." Councillor Andam replied. "You are free to go. For now. Now bring me Dragon Gregory and his dragon master."

Jake's annoying cousin Greggy and a dragon Jake never saw before approached the Dragon Council. "Dragon Johnson, is your pupil ready for the three tests?" Councillor Kulde asked.

"Yes, Councillors." Johnson answered.

"Excellent." Councillor Andam replied. "The first one will start in two hours. Your student better be ready."

"Yes, Sir." Meeting dismissed.

After everyone left, Rita, Reina, Future Jade, Rose and the Longs reunited. "Jake, what're those tests?" Rose asked.

"I'm curious as well, Jakers." Jonathan added.

"Judgment in Fire, Knowledge in Battle and Courage in Flight." Jake explained. "Each dragon is tested for those three things. I had to pass at least two of them to keep Gramps as my dragon master."

"Who'd be your new dragon master had you failed, Jake?" Rose asked.

"I have no clue, Rose." Jake answered.

"Will Rita and Reina have to go through these tests as well?" Rose asked out of curiosity.

"No." Reina asked. "While my sister and I are dragons, we're not the same kind of dragon this order is made of."

"What exactly does each test consist of, Jakers?" Jonathan asked.

"In the test of Judgment in Fire, we're shown ice sculptures of several magical creatures and asked to melt those who represent threats and not to melt those who don't." Jake answered. "We're evaluated with basis on what we decide to be a threat. In the test of Knowledge in Battle, we're pitted against an adversary or group of adversaries. To make things more interesting, the dragon to be tested isn't allowed to know who he or she is going to fight before entering the arena. In the test of Courage in Flight, the dragon to be tested races against another dragon in an obstacle course located within this island."

"And that was the test he failed." They heard another dragon say.

"Nerk?" Jake asked in shock.

"Correct, mate." Nerk said. "The very same dragon that defeated you in the challenge. And who're these lovely sheilas with you, Jake?"

"Fred Nerk, this is my girlfriend Rose." Jake said while pointed at Rose. "The woman in black is the future self of Jade Chan and the girls with her are her daughters."

"Oh, the famous demon girls who somehow got into the Dragon Council's good graces?" Fred asked in curiosity.

"Exactly." Jake answered. "Girls, this is Fred Nerk, the Australian Dragon."

"Pleased to meet you, albeit I believe the three of you that came from the future might have already known me." Fred replied.

"I won't spoil the future by telling if you're right or wrong, Australian Dragon." Future Jade replied.

A Messenger Fairy then approached. "Former Huntsgirl known as Rose, your presence is being requested back at the Dragon Council's meeting room alone and immediately."

Rose was now worried. "Jake, what do I do?"

"Just go there, Rose. They won't harm you after all you did for their families." Jake said and then turned his attention to Future Jade. "Jade, you're from the future. How did it go in your timeline?"

"I wasn't here in this day of the previous timeline, Jake, so I can't tell." Future Jade answered.

Meanwhile, Greggy was training with his dragon master. "Gregory, I'm glad your fireballs can reach their target but I'm afraid the test of Judgment in Fire requires full blasts. What happened to that fire-breathing that made me think you were ready for this test? Were you on a red-hot pepper diet back then?"

"Uh, perhaps." Greggy guiltily answered.

"I know I told the Dragon Council I wanted a challenge but haven't expected this much." Dragon Master Johnson moaned in frustration.

Minutes later, Greggy was starting his test. He barely passed and that's only because almost every time he tried to melt something that wasn't a threat, he had the same problem with his fire-breathing Jake had when he first met the Huntsgirl and accidentally melt statues that represented actual threats.

"Gregory has been improving a lot ever since the last time I saw him, young dragon." Lao Shi commented. "His dragon master did a good job training him."

"He just got lucky." Jake grunted.

"You're just envious I didn't need extra credit to pass this test, Jake." Greggy replied.

"How did you know I needed extra credit, Greggy?" A confused Jake asked.

"It's Gregory, Jake, and you don't expect to find a dragon who doesn't know that." Greggy replied. "After all, it was announced along with the return of the Dark Dragon."

"Oh, right."

"Excuse me, but I must ready my pupil for the test of Wisdom in Battle." Dragon Master Johnson stated.

"What do you think I must fight, Sir?" Greggy eagerly asked.

"It's Councillor Andam's choice, Gregory." Greggy's dragon master answered. "We're not supposed to know before it's time for the fight to begin."

"It doesn't matter." Greggy arrogantly replied. "I'm sure I'll pass even if I get something harder than mere brownies. In fact, Jake, even your Huntsgirlfriend wouldn't stand a chance against me. Now, if you excuse me, my dragon master wants to train me."

"Brownies, American Dragon?" Rita maliciously asked.

"Don't make fun of them, Rita." Jake replied. "They were quite clever."

"Is there any chance my sister and I test Greggy?" Reina asked. "I'd like to give him a piece of my mind."

"G says no dragon is expected to single-handedly defeat a demon then, I'd answer no." Jake explained.

Minutes later, it was time for the test. "G, do you think Greggy's dragon master trained him for the same possibilities you trained me?" Jake asked.

"I don't know what Dragon Master Johnson expects his pupil to fight, Jake." Lao Shi solemnly answered.

Then, a door of the arena opened and Greggy entered. He, along with every other dragon in the island, stared at the other door as it opened and revealed… Rose in full (minus mask) Huntsclan garb.

"A slayer?" Dragon Master Johnson asked in shock.

"Our main concern about the current American Dragon is his love for that slayer." Councillor Andam explained. "I want his replacement to be able to defeat her."

"Hey, Greggy!" Jake called. "Remember how you said you'd be able to beat her? Aren't you happy you now can prove it?" Jake asked with a malicious smile that clearly said he considered Greggy practically slain.

Greggy was in a pinch: if he fled after all that bragging, Jake would never let him live it down; if he stayed and fought, then the Huntsgirl would be wearing his hide. "Hey, H-h-huntsgirl, you know we're not allowed to kill, right?"

"Sure." Rose replied. "It's not like I wanted to wear some urine-soaked dragon hide." She mocked.

Greggy then looked at his pants and understood what Rose meant. Apparently, several other dragons understood it as well as laughter erupted. "You'll pay for this, Huntsgirl!" Greggy shouted and then assumed his dragon form. He then tried to hit Rose with fire blasts but she simply dodged them while still approaching him. She managed to get close enough to kick Greggy's face. While he was distracted by the kick, Rose kneed his belly and he fell unconscious.

Knowing a dragon's belly to be a weak spot, Jake was worried. "Is he?"

"Don't worry, Jake." Rose said with a reassuring smile. "A dragon has to be particularly weak to die from being kneed on their belly while on dragon form."

That statement didn't make Jake any less worried. However, Greggy slowly regained consciousness. He tried to hit Rose with his tail but she quickly jumped out of the way and landed on his face. She then grabbed his right arm and held it behind his back. "Ouch!" He moaned. "Please, stop!"

"You know what you can do to make it stop, don't you?" Rose asked with her old Huntsgirl malice.

"Fine, I surrender!" He shouted.

"Yeah!" Jake exclaimed and started a dance victory. "Go, Rose! Go, Rose! Go, Rose!"

All other dragons who watched the battle (except for Rita, Reina and Fred Nerk) looked at Jake with reprove for cheering for the slayer instead of cheering for a fellow dragon who happened to be his cousin. "Young dragon, we're supposed to show more family unity." Lao Shi scolded his grandson.

"Sorry, G." Jake replied.

"Come on, old man." Rita pleaded. "You know Greggy deserves it. I only hope this defeat had taught him some humility."

Greggy then approached Jake. "Did you know I'd have to fight the slayer?" He angrily asked.

"No, but I suspected when Councillor Andam asked to speak to her in private." Jake answered.

"You could have warned me, Jake!"

"I'm not sure of it given nobody gave me advanced warning when it was my turn to take the tests." Jake maliciously replied.

"Your cousin is right on this instance, Gregory." Dragon Master Johnson replied. "Now get yourself ready for the test of Courage in Flight."

Unlike what it happened when Jake took the test, it was Councillor Omina and not Chang who explained it. Other than that, it was the same: Greggy had to race an obstacle course against a dragon of his choosing. "I choose Jake Long!" Greggy announced.

"No racing against family!" Councillor Omina replied.

"Don't worry." Councillor Kulde stated. "They're not so loyal."

"No racing against family!" She repeated.

"In that case, I choose the dragon who defeated Jake Long during his test so I can prove I'm superior to Jake!" Greggy replied.

"Make him eat your dust, Fred." Jake asked. "If he can reach it, that is."

"I bet he can't!" Rita exclaimed.

As the race started, Jake's doubts became understood. The dragons weren't even sure if Greggy could reach halfway point by the time Fred finished the race. "I told you he couldn't reach Fred Nerk's dust." Rita gloated.

"Nobody took on the bet, sis." Reina replied.

Fred Nerk won the race as Jake expected. "Where's my son?" Greggy's mother asked in despair.

"I have no clue, Ma'am." Fred Nerk answered. A rescue team was sent to find Greggy, who was lost under rubble. He failed.

Later on, Future Jade and her daughters were readying themselves to leave the Island of Draco. "Mom, do you think something interested happened to your past self while we were away?" Rita asked.

"My memory won't adjust to the changes so I have no idea." Future Jade answered.

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