Snike smiled at Lily. "So, I've never asked this but what did you do to get that scar on your neck?" Snike shuddered and let Lily's hand go.
"I-I've never told you this but...I worked for Drakel." Snike closed his eyes. "He...would punish me if I did something wrong and I almost killed Zane." A tear crept down Snike's cheek. "I struck him here," he pointed to the back of his head, "with a rock. He was in so much pain...I remember his yell when I struck him." Snike buried his face in his hands. "I don't know how they can forgive what the horrible things I've done."
"But Snike, think of the good things you did. You sacrificed yourself for them. I can see it in your memory, men came to kill the ninja but you pushed them out of sight and confronted them." She paused. "I also see Drakel slamming you into a wall (PHHT PHTT)...and you searching for Zane." Snike shook his head and opened his blue eyes.
"I only did what was right-"
"DADDY! HELP!" Snike whipped around faster than lighting, searching for his daughter.
"MARIAH?! MARIAH WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"DADDY I'M BY THE POND! HELP ME!" Snike took off to the south towards the pond.
"SNIKE WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Lily called.
"MARIAH IS IN TROUBLE! SHE'S YELLING FOR ME!" He called over his shoulders.
"I didn't hear anything." Lily whispered. Snike skidded to a halt beside a pond and frantically searched for Mariah.
"Daddy. You have come." Mariah's voice echoed in the woods.
'That's not my daughter.' He thought. "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"
"Hap. I took care of that pesky brat awhile ago. A shame it wasn't that Nindroid's sister."
"It was you that attacked Leah. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" A sword lashed out from nowhere and cut Snike on the arm. "GAH!" Snike clutched the wound. 'Where'd that come from?' The sword lashed out again at Snike's leg. Snike fell to his knees. He hit the ground with his good hand and a purple circle surrounded him. "LIGHT DRAGON IRON SHIELD!" The circle curled over Snike protectively.
"A light dragon eh? The last one I saw was your father. He was weak and I finished him easily." Snike's shield wavered and sweat dripped down his face.
'He killed dad? IMPOSSIBLE!' Snike gasped and the shield grew smaller. 'I can't keep this up, there's only one way. I HAVE TO FIGHT!" Snike broke the shield. "YOU DIDN'T KILL MY FATHER! GULU DID!" Snike got into a battle stance.
"Foolish teen, I AM Grulu." Snike shifted in surprise, leaving a side vulnerable.
"AND YOU GAVE ME A WEAKNESS!" Grulu's sword made a gash on the dragon's side.
'How is he doing that?' Snike watched as a flash of silver went across his vision and pain seared through his face.
"GIVE UP DRAGON OF LIGHT! YOU CAN NEVER DEFEAT ME!"
'How do I beat someone if I can't see his movements?'
"Speed is always an advantage in battle, my son. Just make sure you keep your feet stable and you have level ground." Snike's heard his father's words. He gasped.
"OF COURSE!" 20 yards in front of him there was a hill, right next to the academy. 'I'll have to risk it, for my family. He can't get near Evergreen.' He shot into the sky and towards the hill.
"RUN AS FAST AND AS FAR AS YOU WANT! I CAN FEEL THE VIBRATIONS WHEN YOU MOVE!" Grulu taunted.
'ALMOST THERE! JUST A FEW MORE FEET.'
"HA YOU'RE GETTING BACKUP BUT YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT!" Pain shot up Snike's left wing as he went crashing into the hill.
"Well that worked perfectly." Snike grumbled. He saw the sword, but it was slower. He grabbed it and yanked it out of a shadow's hands. "HEY GRULU! HEAD'S UP!" Snike yelled and kicked Grulu, sending him airborne. Snike dropped the sword, panting, an eye swollen shut. "What a menace." He whispered.
"Snike?" Drake's hoarse voice floated from the academy.
"I...need...to lay down for awhile." Snike collapsed into Drake's arms.
"SNIKE?!"
Ash's POV
I clung to Zane like he would disappear at any moment. Drake just finished filling me in on Zane's actually here but he left, saying he heard voices.
"BUT YOU WHERE DEAD FOR OVER A YEAR!" Jay yelled for the fifth time.
"I THINK HE FIGURED THAT OUT JAY!" Cole snapped.
"I...don't understand. It only felt like seconds that I closed my eyes. How could I be dead for so long and come back? I do remember one name, his name was Evergreen...he looks...strikingly familiar." Zane strained to grab any memory.
"Don't hurt yourself Zane. We'll help you find him."
"SNIKE?! WAKE UP BUDDY WHO WAS THAT GUY?" Zane shot out the door.
"Jeez he's fast."
Evergreen
"Excuse me ma'am but why are you crying?" I asked, she was clearly a Light Dragon. With her golden wings and tail.
"My husband. He took off and I heard his yell. I can't find him anywhere." She sobbed. "And my daughter is nowhere to be found." I felt sympathy for her. I, too, heard the scream.
"I'll help you look for him. What's his name?" The dragon of light rubbed her eyes,
"Snike." I stiffened.
'Does she know?'
"I'm Lily." She looked up. "What's your name?" I stepped into the light, my mechanical part of my face must have frightened her, for she jumped with a gasp.
"I'm Evergreen Phantom. But most people call me Freed due to my resemblance to an anime character." Lily nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "I know who you are now. Your father was a great man." Lily smiled.
"Why don't we go find Snike? I heard him over there by that building." A lie, I can see people crowding over a man with wings. We both started running towards them. It was a short run but it sure winded me...I don't run much. "What happened?" I crouched beside Snike, what happened to my poor friend.
"I don't know. I came outside and he was standing there, like he was in a battle. Then he said he needed to lay down and just collapsed." I checked Snike's pulse and noticed his wing was bent and torn.
"He's in shock. I need bandages, marigold to keep infection out, and poppyseeds for his shock." Everyone just stood there blankly. "Are you telling me that no one here knows how to do first aid?" I asked annoyed.
"Well...my brother does but he's inside on the floor-"
"And why is he on the floor?" I snapped at the emo dude. We're running out if time.
"He broke a lamp so he's picking the pieces up."
'THESE PEOPLE ARE USELESS IN A CRISIS!'
"I know these healing herbs." An Arctic wolf padded out and dropped a mouthful of the plants I needed.
"Thank you..."
"Lachlan. I serve Ash and I am the protector of the ninja."
"I will be in need of some assistance. Would you care to help?" Lachlan's eyes sparkled. I take that as a yes.
