Chapter 28: Friend and Father
The next morning or when Ren's alarm finally went off Drago popped open once more and greeted his hosts.
"Thank you for letting me stay." Drago said to Ren and Linehalt as they ventured down a hall to Nurzak's office.
"Anything for a friend." Ren simply said before he twisted the doorknob and opened the door slowly calling, "Nurzak?"
"Come on in Ren." Nurzak commanded and the boy did so.
"Good morning to you all. I take it you got a good night's rest?" Nurzak said looking the three of them over.
Drago nodded anxious to get to Neathia.
Nurzak must have picked up on it and pushed away some papers as he spoke once more, "I contacted the castle nights and they are sending an escort for Drago. They should arrive soon I'm told."
A knock on the door told them all how soon it was and as two Gundalian guards entered followed by the recognizable Neathian, Rafe.
"I'm here to escort Drago to the castle." Rafe said with a bow of respect to Nurzak.
"Ah yes he is right here. Thank the castle nights for being so quick to answer a request as such." Nurzak said in a formal manner.
Drago floated away from Ren to hover in front of Rafe, who bowed respectfully to Drago.
Drago looked to Nurzak who nodded him onward and per Rafe's instruction he followed him to a portal that brought them to just outside the throne room.
"The Queen is waiting for you inside, so go on in." Rafe said pushing the door open just enough for Drago to go through.
Drago nodded thanks to Rafe and enter the throne room to find Fabia in her human appearance sitting on the throne in a white ornate dress. She definitely had the presence of royalty and smiled warmly as Drago floated close to her and landed on her palm.
"Hello Drago." She said in a hushed tone her grief still evident.
"It's good to see you again, your majesty." He said bowing as best he could.
"Please just call me Fabia." Fabia demanded gaining a hold on her emotions, "Now what is it you wish to speak to me about."
Drago cleared his throat and took a breath, "I was wondering if I could visit the shrine below the castle that is for the Sacred Orb. I wish to speak with Code Eve."
"Of course I see nothing wrong in this, in fact allow me to accompany you down there, but if you wish for me to not stay I shall do as you ask." Fabia said rising to her feet and headed for the door.
A few guards followed her down to the entrance and then with a gesture she ordered them to stay. She went as far as Drago would let her and then allowed him to go it alone the rest of the way. He floated on to where the translucent orb had sat. As soon as he touched it he was transported to the dimension Code Eve resided in and found himself in his original form.
"Hello Drago." Code Eve called in greeting to the Dragonoid.
"You've known I would come back here?" Drago asked.
"Yes." Code Eve said glowing brighter, "I also know it's about the fate of Daniel Kuso."
"I feel an unbalance in power now that he's gone." Drago said lowering his gaze.
"Daniel Kuso is not necessarily gone." Code Eve stated, "Since he is the key to your gate, I brought his soul here."
The next moment a light lowered away from Code Eve and formed into a translucent person Drago knew to be Dan. His eyes were closed for he looked to be sleeping, but Drago could not contain his excitement at seeing his battling partner. He went to pick up the boy, but found his hand to slide through him.
"You are right in thinking that the powers I bestowed upon the two of you are unbalanced. Without him, if you were to undergo another evolution it would be devastating to anyone around you. Daniel Kuso must live as you do." Code Eve explained, "I must ask you to make a hard sacrifice if you want your battling partner to live."
"Anything." Drago said immediately looking back up at Code Eve.
"The sacrifice I ask of you is to relinquish some of your evolution energy so that I may use it for Dan Kuso." Code Eve told Drago and the translucent Dan's eyes flew open, "You will skip an evolution step, but with Dan's key you should be fine. Also I will send you far back in time so that there isn't much problems in returning. Also another thing to know is that Dan won't be completely human."
"What do you mean?" Drago asked as the translucent boy gazed up at him and he gazed back.
"The evolution energy is of Bakugan DNA not human. It won't be much of noteworthy, but he will be affected by things that normally just affect a bakugan and I'll give you back the True bonds card because you'll still be able to merge only this time you can undo it. Use it only when in dire need of it." Code Eve continued, "Now are you ready to give?"
"Yes." Drago said smiling at the boy who could only smile back.
"Then it will begin." Code Eve said surrounding Drago in a bright light.
He could feel the energy drain from him and his body began to glow as it reformed into a cross between his Blitz Dragonoid form and his Mercury Dragonoid form.
The circle dissipated and he gasped at himself as Code Eve gave his new form a name, "You are now Cosmic Dragonoid. Now I will give the boy a body."
Drago watched as the translucent Dan was showered in lights from Code Eve and he fell to his side. He became solid with human features and was swaddled in an outfit that was similar to Shun's castle knight uniform only it was less formfitting and it was only with gold trim and markings. Once Code Eve was finished he went and picked up the sleeping boy and watched as he stirred and opened his eyes.
"Drago?" He said before he yawned, "I had the weirdest dream, I died and ended up in Code Eve an-"
He looked around and Drago let out a laugh.
"It was real?" He said looking back to Code Eve.
"Yes, Daniel Kuso. There will be some memory confusion for a bit since you just came back from the dead and you should know you aren't fully human. I had Drago sacrifice an evolution step to bring you back." Code Eve explained as Dan sat up to gaze at her.
He looked back at Drago, "I guess you could actually say you're my father now, huh?"
Drago chuckled and then added, "So then Code Eve would have to be your mother."
Dan and Drago had a laugh and when they calmed down Code Eve returned to her explaining.
"Dan, Drago, are you both ready to go back in time?" Code Eve asked after she had finished explaining what she needed to Dan.
"Yes." Both Dan and Drago said with a nod.
"I will take you back to the day you died, Daniel. It will be after your friends bring you to your mother so be prepared to explain a lot, but I must have you keep it a secret that you are part bakugan now. Only tell when completely necessary. Do you understand?" Code Eve said.
"Yes." Dan replied, "Thank you for giving me a second chance at life."
"Very well." Code Eve said as a light surrounded them, "You are very welcome Daniel Kuso."
