Shocked by this sudden turn of events Quiksilva stared as his rider and their enemy locked lips. Finally he shook his head and letting out a growl he glared at the Shadow Booster, tempted to mag-blast him but he knew that he might hit me at the same time so he just continued to glare until we finally came up for air and he snorted.
"Wow...why did you...do that?" I sighed and he just laughed before he released me and as I stared at him his dragon magged him onto its back. "Wait where are you going?" I asked and he grinned at me.
"I did that because you're pretty cute when you're angry. Besides Moordryd had his chance so maybe I'll claim you instead. Rayne." Shadow Booster told me before his dragon reared up and as they raced away I gave him a wave, a silly grin on my face as Quiksilva walked over and nudged me.
For a moment he stared, eyes narrowed before he rolled his eyes at me and I grinned. "What? He is pretty attractive. And Moordryd did have his chance and he blew it. Maybe I can make him jealous since the Shadow Booster seems to like me." I told him and he snorted before he magged me. "Hey wait a second he knew my name." I muttered and as I wondered how he knew I finally grinned not really caring. "Doesn't matter anyway because he could have told anyone and he didn't so maybe he wants something from me." I added and Quiksilva snorted clearly not as convinced as I was but he didn't comment and by the time he started to run I felt a lot better about myself.
"You seem to be feeling better, Rayne." Quiksilva said and when I giggled he sighed slowing down a little. "Just be careful trusting that Shadow Booster. He did kidnap you and...are you even listening to me?" He asked suddenly and my head jerked up before I gave him a sheepish grin. "You like him don't you? The Shadow Booster?"
"But if the Shadow Booster knows my identity and wants to be with me then...I dunno." I replied resting my chin on one hand while still holding onto Quiksilva's neck. "I need time to think about all this and we still haven't been in a race yet. Where we know what we're doing." Knowing I had a lot on my mind Quiksilva kept walking, this time in silence and as I sat there my mind kept wandering to that kiss and when I sighed Quiksilva rolled his eyes. When I finally woke from my daze I asked Quiksilva where he was taking us.
"To Penn Stables since I'm sure you don't want to go back to the Dragon Eyes compound." Quiksilva pointed out, laughing at the sour face I pulled at the thought of being near Moordryd for any length of time. "Thought so." He added with a grin on his face. As soon as we neared the stables Quiksilva magged me and I removed the medallion, instantly flashing bcak to my usual self. As we walked side by side I heard Artha's voice and when I turned he waved at me from Beau's back. Giving him a wave I waited for two of my friends to join us and as I stood there Artha jumped down.
"Where did you two vanish to? You stormed out at the racetrack and that's the last we heard from you." Artha asked as he walked over to me and noticing a faraway look on my face he raised an eyebrow. "Okay what did we miss?" He said and Quiksilva snorted at me before he followed Beau towards the stables.
"I had a run in with the Shadow Booster. I wanted to talk to Quiksilva so I transformed into the Light Booster and a few minutes after he found us. At first he attacked me and threw me off Quiksilva then he mentioned making a deal with me, with kind of threw me. But that wasn't the weirdest thing that happened. He...knows I'm Rayne but as far as I know he hasn't told anyone." I explained and as soon as I finished Artha's eyes went wide. "Just calm down, okay? I don't think he wants to hurt me."
"How can you be so sure? Wait is there something you're not telling me?" Artha asked and I couldn't help blushing as I avoided his eyes and he grinned. "Okay what happened?"
"The Shadow Booster...sorta...kissed me." I replied and when he burst out laughing I glared at him. "Okay how is that funny?" I growled as I went to storm away only for the rest of the Penn Racing crew to appear.
"Okay did we miss something?" Kitt asked as Artha laughed and when he could breathe he told them. "I think I got two things; the Shadow Booster and...kiss? That doesn't make sense."
"Artha be quiet." I muttered trying to leave but my friends saw my red face and knew something was up so I couldn't escape. "Its nothing." I added and Lance rushed over blocking the way to the stables and I sighed knowing I had no choice. With my retreat cut off and my friends watching me I finally muttered under my breath. "The Shadow Booster...kissed...me...as the Light Booster." I sighed knowing that my face had to be completely red right there and then.
"Huh...I thought you liked Moordryd." Parmon said and I blinked at him as did everyone else not currently rolling around the ground in a fit of laughter at my expense. "Well you're always staring at him." He added as I continued to stare and I shook my head crossing my arms across my chest.
"Not anymore. Besides he's a jerk who really doesn't care about anyone but himself so..."I answered before I went looking for Quiksilva, leaving my friends more than a little confused.
"Wait so Rayne's dating the Shadow Booster?" Lance asked trying to understand what was going on and when his brother stood up and dusted himself off he tried to explain.
"Rayne liked Moordryd but now she likes the Shadow Booster. They're not really dating though. Hang on...she likes the Shadow Booster?!" Artha suddenly shouted and rushed after me leaving his friends, brother and father to all roll their eyes at him. Now sitting next to Quiksilva I was too confused by my feelings for the leader of the Dragon Eyes and a very dangerous booster to boot to hear Artha enter the stable until he was standing over me, a frown on his face that I knew was for me.
"Before you even say a word I kissed the Shadow Booster because I wanted to." I told him as I remained seated.
"Excuse me but I don't think you realize how dangerous he is. You can't trust him." Artha told me and I suddenly glared climbing to my feet and crossing my arms.
"I'll trust whoever I want, Artha Penn. And you can't stop me." I shot back and Artha just glared back, not sure what he could say. "Look I liked Moordryd and he...didn't want to be seen in public with me." I whispered and Artha softened as I looked at the ground, chewing on my lip. "So I'll just forget I ever liked him."
"Look just be careful, okay? I can't believe that I'm saying this but Moordryd's a better guy then you think. Maybe you should give him another chance." Artha told me and I rolled my eyes at him, clearly not convinced. "Okay fine but don't say I didn't warn you. So are you going to enter tomorrow's race?" He asked and I nodded brightening a little and Quiksilva snorted at me, trying to tell me something.
"Yeah after what happened last time we probably should train a little...okay a lot then." I snorted as Quiksilva stared at me. "Oh yeah and you said you'd train me in mag techniques too." I added and Artha grinned at me.
A few minutes later Artha led me to an underground temple and as I stared at all of the statues, especially the one missing his head, one of them moved and I'm embaressed to admit that I yelped and hid behind Quiksilva. Rolling his eyes at me Artha stepped forward as what I originally assumed was a statue stepped into our path. Confused I could only stare.
"Rayne, I'd like you to meet Mortis." Artha said by way of an introduction but I was so shocked that I didn't react until Quiksilva nudged me and I finally just nodded.
"Um...okay what's going on? Weren't you a statue a moment ago?" I asked and I instantly heard a chuckle coming from Mortis. "Fine everyone laugh at the dumb girl." I grumbled as Quiksilva snorted at me and pushed me forward.
"I had heard that a new Booster was chosen by the gauntlet of the Light Booster. Its a pleasure to meet you, Rayne." He told me and I nodded still unsure just who or what he was. "I am the one who can teach you what you need to know in order to help prevent a dragon-human war. Are you ready to help the Dragon Booster?" Mortis asked me and it took me a few seconds to work out what he wanted of me.
"I think I am. But I...don't know who I am so...what help can I be?" I sighed and Mortis looked at Artha for a moment who shrugged.
"To unlock your full powers you need to strengthen your bond between you and your dragon. And that will help you protect those around you." Mortis told me and I blinked not quite getting it. Seeing the blank look on my face Artha chuckled.
"Mortis means that becoming the Light Booster will help you get your memories back. Though you might want to focus on tomorrow's race first. And not on the Shadow Booster." Artha told me and I frowned as he grinned back at me.
"What was that about the Shadow Booster?" Mortis asked and I groaned, face in my hands as he watched me. Eventually I told him about my encounters with the so called 'dangerous' booster and once I reached the part about being kissed I stopped, face flushing as I remembered the kiss that left me breathless.
"Hmm so the Shadow Booster knows your true identity. This is a probelm." Mortis said as I let out the breath I'd been holding and Artha's jaw dropped for a moment.
"But what about them kissing?" He asked shocked that Mortis hadn't said a word about that and just for a second I heard a quiet chuckle and I grinned, happy that the Dragon Priest hadn't pointed that out. Unlike my so called friends. "What should we do?" Artha finally asked and a short time later I was standing beside Quiksilva as the Light Booster.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I almost came off the track last time." I said as my dragon and I exchanged a look of worry. "Not that I don't trust Quiksilva but with my luck lately..." Suddenly Mortis smacked the staff he was holding into the ground and I jumped as he stared at me.
"You need to practice more and that's why you are here now." Mortis told me and I sighed thinking he could have gotten my attention without making me almost jump out of my armor. Once Quiksilva magged me he shot forward and as he ran I held onto my Jack stick making my knuckles turn white.
As I began to wonder why we were just running something shot toward me and I yelled as I blindly swung the stick at it and by some miracle it missed me and my dragon. Of course my training wasn't over just yet and as I watched something shot towards my head and I almost fell off my dragon who leapt as a tower of some sort burst from the ground and fired a blast of mag energy at me. I cried out as it slammed into my chest and sent me sprawling. Seeing me fall Quiksilva dug his claws in and skidded to a halt before he rushed back to me as the tower receded. Groaning I lay on my back as Quiksilva moved to my side and nudged me checking to see if I was alright.
"Yeah...that hurt." I muttered as I staggered to my feet. Sadly I didn't get a moment to rest when Mortis ordered me to try again and I sighed before Quiksilva magged me and we rushed forward again. This training went on for several more hours until I almost slipped of Quiksilva's back as he gasped. Finally Mortis called a halt to our training and as I climbed down, almost face planting Artha rushed over. Before I did anything else I slipped the medallion from my gauntlet and as I changed back to my street clothes I stumbled and leant against Quiksilva as all my energy vanished. "Whoa that was weird." I said as I rubbed my eyes and Artha wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"Maybe you should sit down for a while. You look a little flushed." He said and I managed a nod as Quiksilva walked beside me, just as exhausted as me. I turned my head slighty then to ask Mortis a question only to discover he had vanished and I blinked. "Yeah he does that a lot. Let's go." Artha told me as I rubbed at my eyes and once we were upstairs I let go of Artha, intending to head for the stables. "Maybe you should keep holding on to me." He told me and I shook my head as I stumbled forward not wanting him to see how tired I really was. I did eventually make it to the stables though I had to lean against the doorway to get my breath back and as I stood there panting Parmon and Kitt rushed over. "Now what?" I mumbled and I growled as I found out that a dozen wraiths were attacking precient.
Before everyone's eyes I took my medallion out and with a tired grin I called out "Unlock the light!" Once the light cleared I jumped on Quiksilva's back and he rolled his amber eyes at me before he rushed away leaving my friends in the dust. Of course we were some distance away before I discovered that I had no clue where precient was and with a snort Quiksilva slowed down and gave me a stare. "I know, I know. Look let's just find the wraiths and kick their butts." I told him and he muttered something I didn't catch. "Huh?"
"I said watch out!" Quiksilva roared and I turned around just as a wraith slammed into us and I almost tumbled off his back as he fell. Instantly he roared leaping to his feet and as three wraiths roared back he charged them.
Using his legs he tripped them up before he headbutted the third, sending it into a wall. Letting out a challenging roar Quiksilva faced down the wraiths who hissed before they turned tail and ran, leaving us feeling pretty proud. Seconds later four more dragons appeared and as Quiksilva sent a mag blast at two that attacked from both sides I used my Jack stick to send the other two flying and pretty soon they left. I let out a laugh before I jumped down and thinking we were safe I relaxed wanting to curl up and sleep. My luck being what it was we were set upon again and again and soon I lost track of how many wraiths showed up, launching their attacks then running away and soon I understood why. They were dileberately trying to wear us down and pretty soon I was panting leaning against Quiksilva who looked just as exhausted, his tongue almost dragging on the ground.
"Need to...take a break." I gasped swinging my Jack stick at a wraith that ventured too close but another just took its place and we found ourselves surrounded. "Not again."
"Its a trap!" Quiksilva yelled and of course he was right as Word was watching us right then, laughing as he watched us struggle against his dragons.
"Yes that right. Soon you'll fall and then you'll be mine to use against the Dragon Booster." He laughed and that's when I fell to one knee, struggling to stay awake and fight back. I heard Quiksilva call out to me trying to get me to stand up and fight but everything started to fade as I began to weave on the spot, my limbs aching as I took a swipe at the wraiths who stayed back and growled at us. Sensing that I was finsihed Word ordered his dragons to drain us of our remaining mag energy and as an black energy drain whip struck us from both sides, fired from two dragon we both cried out. Stronger than me Quiksilva let out a pained roar just as I collapsed and he tried to wake me, nudging me with his head despite his energy being ripped from him.
"Quik...silva." I gasped as I started to pass out but just as my vision faded I heard the sounds of a battle. Unfortuantely I didn't see my rescuer but I did get a glimpse of his boots as he walked over to me. And then I fainted.