Jake Long III (Season One)
Chapter/Episode Fourteen: Old Going On Young
It was the day after Christmas, and outside Alabama's lair, an old circular Huntsclan hovercraft flew down and landed a few feet away from the front door, the dragon-formed Daichi sitting at the wheel.
Quickly, Daichi jumped over the side, his feet hitting the snow. Then, he walked over to the front door of the lair and opened it, stepping inside, only to stop when he saw both Alabama and Green stepping into the room.
"Did you get it?" Alabama asked.
"It's right outside." Daichi replied. "The leprechauns wanted a lot of money for it, but I managed to get it."
"You better not have given them any of my share!" Green growled as she pointed at him.
"I assure you, Green..." Daichi said, crossing his scaly arms. "...I did no such thing. It all came from my share. Besides..." He smiled. "...You will have all the money you could ever want once we get to Japan."
"When are we leaving?" Green asked with a grin.
"Within the hour." Alabama answered. "I want you two to load up anything that you think we'll need. Then, we'll be on our way." She smiled. "And when we return..."
"I'll be rich!" Green said happily.
"...I'll be as good as new..." Alabama finished.
LINE BREAK
At the Long household, Holly and Councilor Asil, both in their human forms, stood at the door. Holly was standing on the porch while Asil was standing one step lower, behind her. The door opened and Jake III opened the door.
His eyes widened in surprise. "Oh." He said. "Councilors."
"Good morning, Jake." Holly said with a smile. "Do you mind if Councilor Asil and I come inside for a very brief moment?"
"Um, sure." Jake III shifted. "Um, what for?"
"It has to deal with your sister." Holly said.
LINE BREAK
"No." Jake Jr. said. He was sitting at the kitchen table, but his chair was turned so that he was facing Holly, Asil and his son, all of whom were standing in the doorway.
"Excuse us?" Asil replied, a look of confusion on his face.
"No, I won't let you talk to my daughter." Jake Jr. narrowed his eyes.
"Why not?" Holly asked.
"She's not leaving this house." Jake Jr. said.
"Why not?" Holly asked.
"She's grounded."
"But surely you can overlook that for right now." Holly said. "You see, we got a message from a clan of leprechauns in Japan. They need the help of a dragon. They need the help of your daughter."
"Why don't they go to the Japanese Dragon?" Jake Jr. asked.
"For some reason..." Asil answered. "...They requested the assistance of the American Dragon."
"Not my daughter." Jake Jr. replied.
"Mr. Long, please be reasonable." Asil pleaded. "You can't just refuse. It is your daughter's duty. She has a responsibility to the Magical World. If she receives a call for help, she, as a dragon protector, must answer it. You are being a hindrance!"
"I'm not the one stopping you from naming somebody else the new American Dragon." Jake Jr. said, crossing his arms.
"What?" Holly asked, her eyes widening. "You cannot be serious."
"I am." Jake Jr. replied. "She has proven to me that she doesn't deserve the job. Her mother and I are sending her to an all-girl, all-dragon boarding school. We're currently waiting for word on when there will be an opening. You need to name a new American Dragon."
"But who?" Holly asked.
"I'll go to Japan." Jake III suddenly volunteered, making both Holly and Asil jerk their heads to the sides. "I mean it." Jake III said as he turned his head to the side to look at the two Councilors. "I'll go and I'll help out these leprechauns."
"But you aren't a dragon." Asil said. "They need the help of a dragon."
"No, but a dragon can come with me." Jake III said. "Cherri. She can come with me."
BLACKOUT; PLAY THEME SONG
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
A short while later, Jake III stood outside his home, at the bottom of the steps that led to the porch. Standing on the porch was Councilor Asil, who was facing Holly, who was still inside the house.
"You fly Jake over to the Island of Draco." Holly told him. "I'll be right behind you."
"What are you going to do?" Asil asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to talk with Jake Long Junior." Holly said softly. "I'm going to see if I can soften him up."
A few seconds later, Holly turned and stepped into the kitchen, Jake Jr. still facing her in his chair. "Alright, listen to me." Holly said in a stern voice. "I'll let you get away with this this time. Jake can fill in for Rosaline this one time. But you need to sort this out. We're not going to drop your daughter. She's going to remain the American Dragon. Sort this out."
LINE BREAK
On the Island of Draco, Cherri walked around a building's corner, Savannah's wrapped Christmas present in her hands. However, Cherri stopped in her tracks when she saw Councilor Asil standing in front of her.
"Dragon Solorio..." He said. "...You are needed."
"Can it wait?" Cherri asked.
"I am sorry, but it cannot."
"But I need to give this to Savannah." Cherri said, lifting up the present. "I couldn't give it to her before now."
"I am afraid that it will have to wait." Asil said.
"Why?" Cherri raised an eyebrow.
"You are needed in Japan."
"Japan?!" Cherri's eyes widened. "What in the world am I needed for in Japan? I'm not flying all the way to Japan at my age."
"You won't be flying, Dragon Solorio." Asil said with a smile. "You will be taking a plane."
"But why do I need to go?"
"A leprechaun clan in Japan has requested the help of the American Dragon." Asil told her.
"I'm not the American Dragon." Cherri said, taking a step forward. "Rosie Long is. Shouldn't she be the one flying off to Japan? Shouldn't I be able to go visit my friend?"
"Her father is refusing to let her go." Councilor Asil replied.
"So, why me?" Cherri asked. "What about Haley? After all, she is the former American Dragon."
"Well, your pupil offered to go to Japan."
"Jake?"
"Do you have any other pupil?"
"Oh, now I see why I need to go..." Cherri mumbled, narrowing her eyes and slumping. "...Thanks a lot, Jake..."
LINE BREAK
The next morning, the Huntsclan vehicle flew down, passing through branches of trees, landing somewhere in the middle of a forest. Daichi parked the vehicle before both he and Green stood up from their seats, Green jumping out onto the grass before Daichi did the same. Then, Daichi turned and held out a clawed hand, Alabama taking it and then jumping down from the vehicle.
"Are we close?" Alabama asked as she and Daichi parted hands.
"Yes." Daichi replied, turning. "Follow me." He said as he started to walk forward. Alabama and Green then started to follow him.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, a futuristic airplane had landed at an airport, Cherri, in her dragon form, and Jake III standing beside it. With a sigh, Cherri held up a blue iPad-like device. Pressing a button, both she and Jake watched as a holographic map appeared.
"This'll lead us to where the leprechauns want to meet." Cherri said.
"They're somewhere in there." Jake III said, pointing out to the forest that was out in the distance.
"Yeah, but the question is where." Cherri replied before the two of them started to walk forward, heading for the forest. Cherri squinted as she tried to read the map. Finally, after about ten seconds of trying to read the map, she sighed and handed it over to Jake.
"What?" He asked her.
"I can't read it." Cherri replied. "The print is too small. I just can't make it out with these old eyes of mine."
"Um, okay." Jake III replied, taking the device from Cherri, Cherri sighing as she dropped her head.
"Why did you have to throw my name out?" Cherri asked. "Why did you have to volunteer me for this?"
"Because the Council wouldn't have let me come here without a dragon." Jake replied, Cherri looking up.
"Well, then maybe that's the way it should have been." Cherri replied.
"But I want to do this!" Jake III narrowed his eyes, jerking his head to the side. "The whole reason you're training me is so that I can work as a protector for the Magical World!"
"You want to do this?" Cherri asked. "Well, all I wanted to do was visit Savannah."
"You'll be able to." Jake III said as he turned his head back to normal. "The sooner we meet up with these leprechauns, the sooner we'll be able to get back."
A few moments later, the two entered the forest. Continuing on, Cherri turned her head to the side, staring at Jake III, who kept his eyes on the map. "Okay, we're in the forest." Cherri said. "Now where do we go?"
"We keep going forward." Jake told her, still keeping his attention on the holographic map. "I think we're going in the right direction."
"You think." Cherri muttered, turning her head back to normal. "That's just great."
"I'm not all that experienced when it comes to maps, okay." Jake told her.
"Oh, great." Cherri rolled her eyes.
"Hey, don't get rude on me." Jake III tore his attention away from the holographic map and turned his head to the side to look at Cherri. "I'm already having problems with Aunt Haley. I don't want to start having problems with you too." He finished as he turned his attention back to the holographic map.
"Hey, why didn't you invite her to go with you?" Cherri suggested.
"I don't think so." Jake replied dryly.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Daichi led Alabama and Green through a brush and stepped into a clearing. They were approaching a large stone temple, the stones completely lopsided. The entire temple looked unsteady, as if it were about to topple over.
"That's it?" Green asked in disbelief as she, Alabama and the smiling Daichi stopped in front of the temple.
"Oh, yes." Daichi said.
"The potions are in there?" Alabama asked.
"Indeed." Daichi said proudly.
"Take us inside." Alabama ordered.
"Are you sure it's even safe?" Green asked with a nervous look on her face as the three of them started to walk closer to the temple.
"Of course." Daichi replied. "It's kept standing for this long, hasn't it? It's not going to fall now."
Then, the three walked into the un-sturdy temple and stopped, all three of them looking around the temple. It was completely empty. The only thing eye-catching about the interior of the temple was that in the middle of the floor, there was a stairway.
"Where is it?" Green asked with a soft growl as she got impatient, putting a clawed hand on Daichi's scaly shoulder.
"The potions are down there, aren't they?" Alabama asked, pointing to the stairs that led below ground.
"That's right." Daichi replied. "Come on." Then, he started to walk over to the stairs, Green and Alabama starting to follow him.
Within moments, Daichi reached the bottom of the stairs, Green right behind him and Alabama behind her. With both of them at his sides, Daichi pointed out.
Just like up above, the room that they were in now was completely empty. However, on the floor, in the place of a stone tile, there was a glass covering. Underneath the covering was a small wooden box.
"It's under there." Daichi said, lowering his scaly arm.
"This place isn't booby-trapped, is it?" Alabama asked.
"Not that I know of." Daichi replied.
"I'll get the box out." Green quickly said, rushing forward. As soon as she reached the glass plate on the floor, stopping beside it, Green grunted as she slammed the tip of her tail down onto the glass plate, shattering it. Alabama watched eagerly as Green sat down on her scaly knees and reached in with one hand, pulling out the box.
"Bring it over here." Alabama ordered. "And be careful."
Green quickly stood up, turned and walked back over to her two companions. Reaching them, she quickly handed over to Alabama, who took it. "Now give me what's mine." Green said.
"Be patient." Alabama said as she opened the box, seeing four vial-held potions inside the box. Not being able to control her excitement, Alabama started to chuckle.
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL BREAK
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
Alabama quickly pulled out a vial that was filled with black liquid. "Which one is this?" She asked as she turned to face Daichi, who was looking at a holographic image of all four of the potions. He briefly glanced at the vial that Alabama held before looking back at the holographic image.
"That..." He answered before he pointed at one of the holographic vials. "...Is the potion that will age you."
"Alright..." Alabama replied as she put the vial back into the box, taking another vial, which had green liquid with black dots inside, out and turning it to show it to him. "...How about this one?"
"That's the money one." Daichi replied.
"Give it!" Green shouted as she snatched it from Alabama's hand as Alabama turned back. Green grinned happily as she held it close to herself.
"And this one?" Alabama asked, taking out a third vial. Inside the vial was a dark blue potion.
"That's the pain-causing potion." Daichi said as he switched off the hologram that was coming from his iLife. "Which means..."
"...That this is the one that I want..." Alabama said, putting the pain-causing potion back into the box and pulling out a vial that contained a clear liquid.
"Now, a warning." Daichi said as he held up both of his clawed hands. "Don't drink all of it."
"Why not?" Alabama asked, turning her head to the side.
"There's enough in there to kill you." Daichi explained. "If you were to drink all of the aging potion, you would age until you were nothing but dust. Something along those same lines would happen if you were to drink all of that."
"Then how much is enough?" Alabama asked.
"And how does this potion even work?" Green asked, putting even more pressure on Daichi.
As Green walked up to Alabama's said, the two of them now facing Daichi, the male dragon slowly backed up. "I...I don't know." He answered. "Look, my research doesn't tell me everything. It just tells me that these potions do exist and what they do. Nobody knows exactly how you use them, because the creator was murdered shortly after he finished making them!"
"Well, what do you propose we do?" Green narrowed her eyes. "I want my money!"
"You'll get it!" Daichi clenched his clawed hands into fists. "We'll just take these back to America and figure them out there."
"No." Alabama said, narrowing her eyes. "I came here for a reason. I'm not going back to America until I'm young again. Hold this." She ordered Daichi, holding out the box. Sighing, Daichi reached out and took the box, watching as Alabama took off the top of the vial.
"Just be careful." Daichi said before Alabama put the vial in her mouth, tipped her head back and slurped down a little less than a half of the potion. Then, Alabama pulled the vial away and looked back down at Daichi, who looked nervous.
"I'm going to take it that you have no idea how long this thing takes to work." Alabama guessed.
"No one does." Daichi shrugged. However, just a few seconds after saying this, his eyes widened and he gasped as he watched the wrinkles on Alabama's body fade away, the color to her hair returning, the strength of her body also returning. Within ten seconds, she no longer looked like a frail dragon in her late eighties, but now looked like she had when she and Cherri had been criminals together. She looked like she was in her twenties again.
"Amazing..." Was all Daichi could say.
"I take it it worked..." Alabama said with a smirk.
"Do you feel any different?" Daichi asked. "Because it worked."
"I felt something." Alabama continued to smile, while Green crossed her scaly arms in her impatience. "Come on." She said. "Let's get back so that I can look at myself in a mirror."
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, both Jake III and Cherri arrived at the temple, Jake double-tasking, both looking ahead and looking at the holographic map. Together, he and Cherri stopped in their tracks. "Okay, I think this is it." Jake said with a smile as he lowered his hand.
"Oh, yeah?" Cherri crossed her scaly arms. "Then where are the leprechauns?"
"Inside, perhaps." Jake III rolled his eyes. The two then started to walk toward the entrance.
Back inside, Alabama walked up the steps, carrying her vial in one of her hands. Once she reached the top, she stopped and waited for her two companions to meet up with her, Green coming up the stairs from behind her. In that time, both Jake III and Cherri entered the temple. Both Jake and Cherri stopped immediately, and while Cherri gasped, Jake III seemed disappointed.
"Okay, these aren't leprechauns." He said. "They're dragons."
"Cherri!" Alabama said with a fake, forced smile on her face as Daichi walked up the steps and stopped beside her, carrying the box. "What a surprise, my friend!"
"You know her?" Jake III asked, turning his head to the side to look at the shocked Cherri, who could only stare at Alabama with wide eyes.
"Alabama, but-but how?" Cherri managed.
"This." Alabama held up the vial. "It's amazing what a little youth potion can do. Unfortunately, I can't see myself at the moment. I'd love to hear from you. How do you think I look?"
"You...You...You..." Cherri could only stammer as she started to walk over to Alabama, leaving Jake III behind.
"Cherri, don't!" Jake tried to warn her, but Cherri reached Alabama.
"You...You look like you did when we were both young." Cherri said in awe.
"Thank you, my old friend." Alabama replied with a smile on her face before she grunted, punching Cherri in the gut with her free hand, making her grunt in pain and fall over.
"Cherri!" Jake III shouted with panic; he tried to step forward, but Green flapped her wings and flew over to him, landing behind him and putting her arm over his neck, keeping him in place.
"Who is this kid?" Green asked.
"His name is Jake." Cherri replied, looking up at Alabama. "I'm training him. For the Dragon Council." Cherri decided to be specific. "So, Alabama, you tried to kill me the last time we met. Are you going to try and do it again?"
"I know I should." Alabama replied. "I have no doubt that once you got back to those so-called Dragon Councilors, you told them all about me and what I was doing."
"You bet your tail, I did." Cherri smirked.
"They won't be able to bring me down, Cherri." Alabama smiled. "Especially not now. It really is a shame that you had to turn away from what you were good at. Being a lap dog for the Dragon Council doesn't suit you. It didn't suit you. Daichi, give me the aging potion." She held out her hand, Daichi complying, reaching into the box and handing over the aging potion.
"No thanks." Cherri said dryly. "I'm already old enough."
Alabama said nothing as she used her teeth to take off the cap to the vial, then she spat it to the side. "No you're not, Cherri." Alabama smiled as she looked back down at her. "A few sips of this and you'll be ready for burial."
"No!" Jake III protested before he tried to move, but Green held him back.
"Can we just kill these two so we can get back to America?" Green asked impatiently just as Jake narrowed his eyes, eyeing the potion that Green held. Quickly, he snatched it out of her clawed hand. "Hey!" Green shouted, unconsciously releasing Jake III, allowing him to run free. However, Jake quickly stopped and spun around, throwing the vial at Green, who gasped in shock. Mere seconds later, Green found out how the potion worked, for when it hit her, Green burst into dozens of dollar bills, all of which floated to the ground.
Shocked, both Alabama and Daichi looked up, just as Jake III tackled Alabama. As a result, Alabama jerked her arm back, the vial she held smashing into the side of Daichi's face. Alabama was thrown back, flying over the hole in the floor before she landed on her back. Turning her head to the side, her eyes widened and she shouted: "DAICHI!"
Daichi was staggering backwards, a look of terror on his face as he stared at his clawed hands. His hands, as well as his entire body, were starting to age and wrinkle up. His face, where he had taken the hit, on the other hand, was already starting to tear and decompose, as if he were already dead.
Seething, Alabama got to her feet, staring at both Cherri and Jake III. "You killed my employees!" Alabama raged. "Now what do you expect me to do?!"
"By the power the Dragon Council invested in me..." Cherri said. "...I expect you to be taken prisoner by me." Then, Cherri flapped her wings and flew over to Alabama, landing a foot or so in front of her.
With a grunt, Alabama tried to slash at Cherri with her claws, but Cherri managed to duck, lashing out with her tail, but Alabama quickly jumped back.
"Oh, just stop, Cherri!" Alabama gloated. "I've managed to reclaim my youth! You?" Then, with a grunt, Alabama lashed out with her tail, hitting Cherri in the chest, just as Cherri stood up straight. Grunting, Cherri was thrown back, flew across the hole in the floor and landed right beside Jake III.
"You are old and weak." Alabama said with narrowed eyes. "Our positions have been reversed. I shall live long and prosper with my crime ring. I can always get more henchmen. You, though? You've only got a few years tops before you wind up under six feet of dirt."
"You never know..." Cherri told her as she pushed herself up onto her knees.
"True." Alabama smirked. "Both of you are going to die right now."
Then, Alabama flapped her wings and started to fly over to Cherri and Jake. As quickly as she could, Cherri reached over to the box that Daichi had dropped to the floor and grabbed the final vial. Getting to her feet, Cherri threw it at Alabama.
The vial shattered as it hit Alabama, Alabama shrieking as she reeled back and fell down the stairs into the underground room.
Walking up to the top of the stairs, both Jake III and Cherri looked down, seeing Alabama on her back, screaming in agony, the liquid being absorbed by her scaly body.
To Alabama's side was her youth potion, which she had dropped when she hit the ground. The cap off, the youth spilled out uselessly onto the stone floor as Alabama continued to scream in agony.
"Geez!" Jake III exclaimed as he clamped his hand over his ears as Cherri smiled with satisfaction. "What's got her acting up like this?!"
"It's either the potion or the fact that she knows that I won." Cherri replied. "Or perhaps both." Then, she looked down the stairs to look at Alabama again. "Oh, and by the way, Alabama. Working for the Dragon Council suits me. And I'm good at it. I just stopped you, didn't I?"
LINE BREAK
It was the night of the 28th, and on the Island of Draco, Cherri and Jake III were both sitting in the hospital, both of them eating out of paper boxes filled with Japanese food.
"So..." Cherri concluded. "...We did eventually meet up with the leprechaun clan."
Savannah was sitting up in her bed and was also eating some Japanese food. She looked happy to have her friends visiting her and she seemed interested in their story. "So, then what happened?"
"The leprechauns wanted us to help them find some lost gold coins." Jake III seemed disappointed.
"Well..." Cherri smiled. "...If it makes you feel any better, you certainly made me proud to be your trainer when you took out that dragon who was holding you."
In response, Jake III just smiled.
"What about your old friend?" Savannah asked.
"Because we were dealing with the leprechauns..." Cherri explained. "...We had to call Councilor Asil and Councilor Agata to come over and pick her up. I saw her briefly this afternoon once Jake and I got back."
"What are they going to do with her?" Savannah asked.
"Well, they have no idea what that potion did to her." Cherri shrugged her shoulders. "She was still screaming when I saw her. I think the Council gave up on trying to help her. As for her punishment, I think Councilor Yara said something about the Council deciding to keep her locked up in a more secure magical prison rather than here on the island."
"That's good, I suppose." Savannah forced herself to smile.
"Yeah." Cherri smiled. "It looks like Jake and I took down that second magical crime ring. I guess that panther I ran into those few months back will be happy to know that the Magical Mafia won't have any more competition."
Savannah chuckled.
"So..." Cherri then clasped her hands together. "...I know it's a little late, but I wanted to give this to you on Christmas Eve, but I couldn't because of a little party fiasco."
"No." Savannah said, her head now turned to the side. "You didn't."
"I did."
"You did not get me a Christmas present." Savannah argued.
"Oh, but I did." Cherri said, still smiling as she reached down the side of her chair.
"Cherri, please tell me you didn't." Savannah begged.
"Surprise!" Cherri said with a goofy grin on her face as she held up the wrapped present.
"Cherri!" Savannah blushed with embarrassment before Cherri got up from her chair and walked over to the bed, sitting down in front of Savannah as Savannah turned her head back to normal. "Cherri, you really shouldn't have!"
"You're my best friend." Cherri said, holding the present close. "The best I ever had. You're like a sister, and I...I love you, Savannah. How could I not get a present for you?"
"But I don't have anything for you." Savannah said softly.
"You don't need to." Cherri smiled at her friend, holding out the present. "The only thing you need to give me is improvement in your health. Besides, this is a pretty small gift. It's not much, but I hope you like it."
"Cherri..." Savannah sounded touched as she reached out and took the present.
"Well, go on and open it." Jake III said with a smile, watching as Savannah set the gift down on her lap.
"Okay..." Savannah said, keeping her gaze on Cherri as she reached down for the ribbon. However, before she could start to untie the ribbon, she froze, her lips slowly parting.
"Savannah?" Cherri asked, concern in her tone.
Then, Savannah suddenly jerked her left shoulder to the side, her eyes glazing over. "Whoa!" Jake III exclaimed as he quickly rose from his seat. "Wh...What's happening?"
He watched as Cherri lunged forward and grabbed Savannah by her shoulders. Jake's eyes were wide with dread as he watched Cherri place Savannah down on her back.
"I don't know." Cherri said before she turned her head to the side. She was trying to act calm, but Jake III could tell by the look on her face that she was about to start panicking. "Jake, something's seriously wrong. Go get help."
Nodding once, Jake turned and ran, running out of the room and turning, running down the hall. Seconds later, Jake turned around another corner and kept running, only to bump into Holly, who grunted as she fell over into a sitting position, dropping her walking stick.
"Councilor!" Jake III said once he recovered from the surprise. "I'm so sorry!" He apologized as he offered Holly his hand.
"Jake, what's wrong?" Holly asked before she took Jake III's hand.
"Something's wrong with Savannah." Jake tried to be as calm as possible. "Seriously wrong."
LINE BREAK
Moments later, Jake III rushed back into the hospital room, Holly following her as quickly as she could. They both turned to see that Cherri was in tears, and while she was in her human form, her arms were in dragon form, and she was performing compressions on Savannah's chest. Savannah's arm was limply dangling from the side of the bed, the present that she had held now on the floor.
"Cherri!" Jake shouted, making Cherri turn her head to the side.
"She stopped breathing!" Cherri wailed.
"Okay, get let me see." Holly said as she walked forward. "Get off of her, Dragon Solorio."
Cherri slowly got off of her as Holly reached the side of the bed, looking down at Savannah. It was true. Savannah wasn't breathing and her eyes were open and lifeless.
Sighing, Holly looked up and took a step back before she turned to face Cherri and Jake III. "I don't think much can be done." Holly reported sadly. "She's dead."
BLACKOUT; END EPISODE
A/N: Please review.
I thought it was important to put Savannah's death at the end of this one, because what with Alabama trying to get her youth back through a potion, it felt rather thematic. Here we have the villain trying to reclaim youth so she won't die, when one of the previous series' protagonists gets old and meets a natural end.
Oh, and on the topic of Alabama. I didn't mention it in the episodes, but the pain that the potion causes is eternal. So, not only is she going to rot in prison for the rest of her life, she's also going to be in unending agony. Oh YES, I am cruel.