WoF: Lightning Striking

by Thegamersdragon

This is the story of Jack, an average high school student with your average family. However, as Jack finds himself in a strange new world, with himself turned into one of its inhabitants, will he have the courage to become a hero and help a group of dragons known as the dragonets of destiny stop a war? And will he be able to stop the mysterious force that brought him here?

38. Chapter 38

Chapter 38

After what had happened to the assassin, I decided our best course of action was to get everyone inside, and quickly. I didn't need anyone getting hurt if there was to be another bolt of lightning, after all. So, with Singularity, Sahara, Sahara and I all carringing in a wounded Rivlet while Asteroid grabbed Singularity's medicine bag and Tempest holding the door to Rivlet's shack open, we rushed inside.

Once we were in side, Rivlet directed us to his mud pool, where he slept, which would be good for him since mud aided in Mudwing healing. Once there, we helped him into it, though we kept the wound, which was a deep one in his side, out of the mud until Singularity could use the cactus juice on it.

After Asteroid gave Singularity her medical bag, Singularity directed us how to keep pressure around his wound to keep the venom from spreading like she had when we were outside while she pulled out a glass vile, which inside of it held the cactus juice from the desert.

I was honestly impressed with Singularity's seriousness and experience as she poured the liquid onto the wound, with Rivlet hissing and digging his talons into the ground from the pain. Sure, I knew that she had worked with the medical Rainwings back in the rainforest, but just seeing how she acted in a time of crisis was actually quite different from how she acted normally.

Once all of the liquid was poured onto the wound, Singularity had us hold our talons over Rivlet for a minute longer until all of the liquid had gotten into the wound, the trailing black lines that were appearing under Rivlet's scales disappearing. Once certain that the cactus juice had taken its full effect, Singularity had us let go of Rivlet and let him ease himself into the mud, in which he sighed in content as the mud enveloped his scales and wound.

Singularity let out a sigh of relief as she looked towards us. "Well, he should be fine. I don't know much about how well Mudwings heal when in mud, but with the wound treated, we should be able to move again at earliest tomorrow. Now, to ask the question on everyone's minds: What the heck just happened out there?!" Singularity asked, her scales turning green in confusion and worry.

Everyone started talking at once, their confusion and worry easily visible in the faces and voices. After all, the assassin that had been following us for a while now had just been killed in front of our eyes by being completely destroyed by a single bolt of lightning. There are several problems here, of course, such as how it's a clear day and also how lightning typically doesn't have the power to remove all the scales and flesh from a dragon.

I was, of course, worried as well, but I tried to stay calm, knowing that I wasn't about to let myself panic. Deciding to get the others to do the same, I quickly got their attention by looking up and releasing a bit of lightning, quieting them all.

"Look, I don't know exactly what that lightning was," I said, getting everyone's attention. "But I believe that I might have an idea as to who caused it."

Sara looked at me curiously through the confusion on her face. "What do you think it was then, Jack? I mean, lightning doesn't just do...that." Sara said, gesturing back outside with a wing.

"I think, due to the assassin's description, though I don't fully understand why, that it might be Storm that did that." I explained.

Everyone went silent, piecing together what I had said. Sure, it would make sense if the powerful and ancient olden Skywing animus caused the assassin's death and had even been the one aiding him, but the real question was...why? If she was the one that wanted us to finally end her suffering, then why would she be trying to stop us?

"It doesn't fully make sense, I know, but it's the only explanation that really makes sense. And honestly, it's starting to make more and more sense the more that I think about it." I said, which just ended up making everyone look at me questioningly.

"What do you mean?" Sahara asked. "Sure, she would have the power to do what we just saw happen, but why? If she wants us to stop her, why is she against us all of a sudden?"

"Because she's the reason we need to stop her." Asteroid said, understanding as well. "She's the reason the world could be plunged into chaos, and that is exactly why she wanted us to stop her. She knew what she would soon be a part of, and wanted us to stop her before she makes it happen."

"Exactly," I said, agreeing with Asteroid. "I don't know what's changed since the time I talked with her, but something has definitely happened that has caused Storm to...change. Either way, we'll have to be careful now." I said.

Tempest nodded. "The magics of old are quite dangerous, especially in the talons of the truly crazed. If we are not at our best at all times and always watching the shadows, we might not be able to finish this story."

"So...what do we do then?" Singularity asked. "I mean, I doubt we're really that safe in here, since she can use her animus magic at any time. And even if we were to leave, what would we do? She could attack us at any time in almost any way."

"We don't panic." I said, getting everyone's attention. "If I had to guess, she can't attack us directly for some reason, or else she probably would have by now." This got everyone nodding their heads, though some didn't look as convinced as others. "As for what we do what now, we rest and make sure we're ready to move again tomorrow or whenever Rivlet feels well enough for us to leave. Any questions?"

Rivlet spoke up, looking at me wearily due to how he was still recovering from the shock of being stabbed. "Um, yes, I do have to ask two things. Firstly, what is it you will be doing in this time, and secondly, why does everyone keep calling you Jack?"

Smacking my head, I completely forgot to fully fill Rivlet in now that we knew he would be joining us. "I'll let Sara explain the second part," I said, looking towards my sister, in which Rivlet looked even more confused since he knew her as Spark. "As for me, I'll be heading back outside."

"What, why?!" Several of my friends asked while giving me varying looks of worry and confusion. Singularity continued though. "We just saw a dragon get completely turned into a skeleton in less than a second in front of us, and you want to go back out there? What if you get hurt?" Singularity asked, her scales turning a pale blue in worry.

"I need to check the skeleton, just in case there is anything I missed. We were in a hurry, after all, and for all we know there might have been a message or something else." I said, coming up with an explanation. "But just in case, the rest of you stay in here and stay safe. We don't need anyone getting hurt after all."

"That's why you shouldn't be going out there as well." Asteroid said. "I can see many things going wrong with your plan, and it would more than likely be for the best if you were to stay in here with us until it is time for us to leave."

Shaking my head, I knew Asteroid more than likely already knew my actual plan. "I still need to check for myself. And it shouldn't take me too long anyway. So please," I said, looking towards everyone. "Just stay in here and stay safe until I get back, alright?"

The others, after a moment of silence, reluctantly nodded, though Singularity quickly walked up and hugged me. "Stay safe out there, alright? And when you can later, do you think we can talk for a bit?" She asked, giving me a worried look as she pulled away from the hug.

I nodded as I began to head towards the door. "Of course. I always do enjoy our talks, after all. And none of you have anything to worry about, since I will be just fine." The others didn't look too convinced, but that would probably be the best I could get them as I walked out of the mud hut, shutting the wooden door behind me.

Taking several steps outside, I looked around, noting everything of interest around me. For starters, there was no one coming from the village to investigate the huge bolt of lightning that had just appeared, making me wonder if anyone was even able to see or hear it from there. Secondly, at which my eyes widened in surprise, the assassin's skeleton was gone, the only marking of it ever having been there being the large dome of scorched earth where it once sat.

Looking around some more, I didn't notice anything else of importance other than that I was completely alone. I don't mean that in which I was the only one there; I was the only living thing in that area at the moment. The sounds of insects was gone, there were no birds flying by or idly chirping nearby, nor was there any nearby rustling of a squirrel or other small critter.

I took a deep breath, hoping that my assumption would be correct, before I spoke aloud to the empty clearing. "I know you're out here. Come out and explain yourself." I said with confidence, hoping that I was right and that I wasn't just talking to myself.

For a moment, there was silence, making me wonder if I was wrong. However, the sound of slow clapping appeared, coming from a single tree behind me. Turning around, I watched as a familiar dragon appeared from behind the tree, even though it would have been physically impossible for her to be completely hidden behind it.

Standing before me was Storm, though something was off. She still was about three times larger than me, towering over myself to the point where she could easily touch the top of Rivlet's house if she chose to. However, her scales seemed darker, the clouds looking like they held an awaiting storm, and she had a hidden murderous gleam in her eyes as she grinned down at me.

"My my my, I'm quite surprised that the pawn knew that I was here. How ever did you figure that one out, I am quite curious about." She said, speaking in a manner that was different than the last time I had spoken to her, for it felt more sinisterly.

"It was obvious when the way that the assassin was killed by a thunderbolt." I said, watching her carefully. "I also saw a strange shimmer in the sky afterwards, thus leading me to assume that you were watching as well." I said, in which she nodded in a way that she understood, though didn't fully care. "And I would say hello, but I don't believe we've met before, because you're obviously not Storm. So who are you, and what are you planning?"

The dragon smirked at me before waving a talon at me. "Sorry, but I'm not exactly in the mood to monologue my grand skeme right now, especially not to such a lowly pawn. However, I will at least both confirm and deny your assumption of my identity, for I am both Storm and not Storm. I'm her…" The dragon paused, searching for the right words for a moment, "her other half, to say the least. The more ambitious side, I might add. You may call me Tornado, if you don't feel like calling me Storm." She said.

I glared back at her smirk, due to how knowing it was. She knew I couldn't attack or threaten her, because it would mean my death if I did. It still raised the question as to why she wasn't trying to kill me though. "Alright Tornado, then will you at least explain what you are doing here, or why you are so determined to try to kill me and my friends?"

The smirk on her face turned into a grin as she moved her head down to me. "Why, that's all because you annoying pests stand in my way." She said calmly. "I would kill you myself right now, but that would be a waste of effort on my part. As for what I'm doing here besides taking one of my own pawns out of the picture, I just do so enjoy watching the moves my enemy takes. It's so exciting to ponder which move I'll have to take next to counter it. And might I add," she said, reaching down and pulling my head up with a claw of hers, "that my opponent did pick a quite resourceful pawn. Everything I've thrown at you has been tossed away like it's not even a barrier. It does make the game more interesting though."

Pushing myself away from her claw, I looked up at her in anger and confusion. "Is that how you view all of this? A game?! You're willing to put dragon's lives on the line just to entertain yourself?" I asked in disbelief.

She shrugged at me. "Quite possibly, though only for the moment. Once this game is over and you and your little group of "friends"," she said, putting her claws into air quotations, "are all dead and out of the way, then the real fun begins." She said, an evil gleam in her eyes as she rubbed her claws together in anticipation.

"I will not allow that to happen, you know." I said, getting her attention, though this only caused her smirk to return. "Once I have everyone together, we'll find the Sky Tower. Once we get there, we'll open the gate and reach you, and then…"

"And then what?" She asked, interrupting me as her smirk turned into a knowing grin. "What can you and your little friends really do against me, a dragon that has ultimate power at the tips of my talons, a dragon that could wipe you and your little friends directly out of existence itself if I chose to?"

The whole time she had been speaking, she had slowly moved her head closer and closer to me, until she finished with her face and her evil grin a mear foot away from me. And even though my heart was beating the hardest it ever had in my life, I stood my ground, in which I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing how scared I was.

"We'll defeat you, and finally put Storm to rest." I spoke calmly, getting an annoyed look from Tornado as she moved her head away. "I have a plan, a plan that no matter what you do, you won't be able to stop it. And when we're done, nobody will even know you had existed." I said, adding in the last part to intimidate her.

My intimidation worked too well, apparently, in which she had sparks escaping the edges of her mouth, while her expression was that of pure hatred, its look being pointed exactly at me. If looks could kill, not even revival would be able to bring me back by this point.

"We'll see about that when you're dead." She said, before flicking her talons once, causing several of the nearby trees to rise out of the ground and turn into wicked looking spikes. My eyes widened as she flicked her talons once more, sending the spears directly for me.

I went to dodge, but it wasn't needed as Tornado suddenly grasped her head in pain, one hand moving away from her head to quickly flick another talon, sending the spikes away from me and into the ground.

Watching in confusion as to what was happening, Tornado looked at me with a glare before opening a large portal in front of her, its large circular shape colored a greyish blue with swirls going to its center. "This isn't over yet, pawn. But just you wait, for once I can use my power freely, you can consider you and your little friends all dead." She said, spitting the words at me with venom dripping from her voice as she stepped through the portal.

Standing there for a moment longer, I watched as the portal disappeared, not even making a move for it as it ceased to exist. After I had fully gathered myself, I walked slowly to the cabin, before slowing opening the wooden door with a shaking hand.

Standing behind the door were all of my friends, worried and concerned looks on their faces. I didn't have time to say anything to them though, the shock of everything that had just happened fully getting to me, in which I fainted in the doorway, much to the concerned shouts of my friends as I faded from consciousness.

An undetermined amount of time later, I felt my eyes slowly blinking open as I woke up. I felt groggy, having just woken up, and I tried to recall when I fell asleep. After a second of thought, my eyes opened wide as I remembered the events that had just transpired, but as I looked around, I realized I was safely back in Rivlet's hut.

Not only that, but I was also surrounded by my friends, concerned and relieved looks on their faces as I got up. "Jack, what happened to you out there?" Sara asked, still looking concerned as I tried to get up, but I was held down by an equally concerned looking Singularity.

Sighing, I decided to explain what had just transpired, telling my friends about my encounter with Tornado. As I spoke, their looks just turned to contain more confusion and concern, especially with Tornado's long term plans for our group. "As to why I fell unconscious, it was probably due to a mixture of stress and shock to the events that had just occurred. So please, let me get up."

Singularity reluctantly let me get up, though she still seemed concerned for me. It made sense though, since I had just unexpectedly fell unconscious in front of them. "So, other than the obvious that we'll have to be more careful in our journey, what's everyone's thoughts?" I asked, and after a moment, I added in a secondary thought. "And how long was I out for anyway?"

"Several hours." Singularity replied, much to my surprise. "It's almost night now. That's why we were so concerned, especially since we couldn't find any wounds on you, making us wonder if you were poisoned or worse. As for Tornado…" Singularity went silent for a second before continuing. "Can we really defeat a dragon like that?"

Tempest seemed to agree with Singularity's statement, though she didn't look as worried. "What can the likes of us, a peculiar assortment of different dragons, really do against the serpent of the skies?"

"Now hold on you two." Sahara said, stopping Singularity's and Tempest's thoughts. "Sure, it seems like a bad situation, I admit, but you heard what Jack said. He has a plan after all, and that's what really matters." Sahara then turned to me. "So, um, what exactly is this grand plan? It would probably be for the best if we knew it as well."

I shook my head, much to everyone's surprise as I spoke. "No, I can't do that. It's too risky." With everyone's confused expressions, with Sara and Sahara looking like they were about to argue, I explained. "I can't tell anyone this plan, nor can I write it down, because now I know Tornado can be watching at any time, and if she finds out about my plan, she could potentially render it useless. I'm sorry, but for now, I can't tell you my plan. We just have to wait for the right moment is all."

As the others nodded in agreement, though they still didn't look fully convinced, I locked eyes with Asteroid. She cocked her head at me sadly, since I couldn't allow her to know the plan either, and I was doing so by using the method to keep her out that I had remembered. I could tell she understood, though she still didn't like not being able to see my thoughts.

Even then, it was crucial that nobody but me know my plan. Everything would fall apart if Tornado knew the details, and I could only hope she was watching right now, that way she would grow more annoyed at not knowing my plan or having any way of getting to it. Of course, all of the secrecy was due to one major detail about the plan.

There wasn't one.

I had no idea what I was going to do to fight Tornado, let alone completely stop her. But I couldn't let the others know that, nor let Tornado know either. Besides, the others seemed calmer thinking that I did in fact have a plan, so if it made them feel better, I would keep letting them think that until I actually do, in fact, have a plan.

I just hope I'll be able to come up with one before it's too late.

Anyhow, since I was fully up, I went and looked outside. Sure enough, it was dark outside, though not too much, showing that night had only just begun. Turning behind me, I could see Tempest suppressing a yawn, making me realize that for the last few hours, none of my friends in front of me had done anything besides look after me, which ended up making me feel happy inside that they cared so much.

So, since I cared for them so much and since I needed to cheer them up a bit, I fully extended my wings, showing their large span, before engulfing the group into a hug. This of course startled them, since I didn't do this that often, and Sahara even let out a squeak of sorts as I pulled them into a large group hug.

After a second, the others returned the favor, and we stayed like that for a moment. As we embraced, I grinned at the group, once more realizing just how deeply I had bonded with these strange dragons since my arrival here. "I won't let you hurt my friends Tornado." I thought as Singularity leaned her head against my shoulder. "One way or another, I'm going to stop you. And no matter what happens to me, I'll ensure that my friends stay safe."

"No matter what."

Soon after we had parted, the others went their separate ways, most of them heading to a large room that Rivlet had off to the side that allowed them a place to sleep. Once everyone had dissipated, I noticed that the only dragon left other than myself was Singularity, who was holding the door to outside open.

"I was wondering if we could finally talk, like I asked earlier, while looking up at the stars." She said, her scales beginning to ripple and change to match that of the night sky overhead. "Afterall, I feel most comfortable talking to you when I see the stars, but if you want to stay in here…"

"Outside is fine." I said to Singularity, which ended up having her smile softly at me as we both headed outside. Looking around after my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I could see that the wooden spikes were still there, reminding me of the earlier events that had transpired. Singularity noticed them as well, but after a moment of staring at them, she moved her gaze away as she spread her wings, before propelling herself upwards.

Following her, we soon landed on top of Rivlet's house, with the roof not even creaking under us, much to my surprise. I would question this, wondering about the building structure that Mudwings use for their huts, but I decided that could wait as a side question to ask Rivlet later. For now, I huddled next to Singularity, noticing the dip in temperature. No doubt it was almost winter now, and recently the nights had been getting colder as well.

For a while, we just sat there in silence, the two of us just staring at the night sky. No matter how many times I saw it, the night sky was surely amazing here. With no light pollution, almost every star possible littered the sky, its vast beauty standing before me. It was certainly breathtaking, and I could understand how Singularity still enjoyed its sight after all these years.

During that time of silence, I thought back to my secondary dilemma, that of which I would stay here or not. Sure, I should probably be thinking more about how I'm to defeat an all powerful and ancient dragon, but no matter how many times I try to shift the topic aside, I always end up coming back to this topic.

If I went home, I wouldn't have to leave Sara, and I would be able to see my parents again...but at what cost? During my time here in Pyrrhia, I had made so many friends, had so many great experiences (even though many involved me fighting for my life), and have felt the most alive than ever before in my life. So at this point, do I chose to stay with my family, or to stay with my friends?

My parents had always been there for me, but couldn't fully understand me, especially not after the incident, no matter how hard they tried. But they still loved and cared for Sara and I both, and who knows how worried they both have been since Sara and I disappeared? Could I even live with myself if I didn't even let them know what happened to me?

As I thought about this, I realized that if I stayed, then Sara would not only have to go back alone, but she wouldn't be able to talk about where she had gone or what had happened to me, because nobody would believe me. Even if the portal here is still there, Sara wouldn't be able to tell anyone about it, or risk more people coming to Pyrrhia.

I was soon thankfully ripped from my thoughts as Singularity finally spoke. "Jack...I'm going to be honest. This whole adventure and everything on this trip, even though exciting, has scared me." She said, not taking her saddened gaze away from the stars.

"At first, it was exciting to finally be able to explore the world, and it still is. I've seen so much more, so much of the world that had been unknown to me beforehand due to how I had never had the courage to leave the rainforest. Ever since I was attacked by that Mudwing soldier, I was afraid that the rest of the world would treat me the same way," Singularity stopped for a second, rubbing a claw over her scar as she finally looked at me. "...but then I met you."

"You showed me that there were good dragons in the world, dragons that could make a difference, even though you weren't always a dragon yourself. You've shown me so much more than any other dragon has even considered to show me in my entire life, and I would like to thank you for that."

Singularity looked uncertain for a moment, before continuing. "We've done so much together, sharing both our thoughts and our pains, and I honestly can say that my moments with you are the happiest ones I can remember. But lately...things have changed."

I cocked my head at Singularity in confusion as she continued, her face showing her sadness. "Lately, even though I know what we are doing is good and is for the best, I have also been in more fights for my life than any other time in my life. And I have a feeling that until all of this is over, if we even do manage to finish it, which I'm so afraid to even think about, it's just going to get worse."

Tears were beginning to well in Singularity's eyes. "I'm not sure what to do anymore Jack. I can fight, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm a fighter myself. And with the fear of death around every corner, my whole body is telling me to fly away, to run and hide back in the jungle, but I can't...because of you." She said, looking up at me with tear filled eyes.

"I can't leave because I don't want to leave you to have to face Tornado alone, and I know that you need me to even reach her. I don't want to let you down, because you mean so much to me, but I'm so scared...I just don't know what to do right now." Singularity finished, her wings slumping onto the ground as she continued to cry.

Looking at her, I wasn't sure what to do at first. I knew I had to reassure her, but seeing how scared she was, I knew that wouldn't be enough. I felt the same way, after all. I was so scared as well that we were on a pointless journey, and that I was going to get us all killed. Even though everyone else was scared as well, I knew I had to stay strong and set the example for them, and that's why I tried to stay strong.

But seeing Singularity like this in front of me, the dragon that had became one of my best friends, and maybe even something more than that, having fallen to her fear...it left me speechless. I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew that whatever I did would have to not only reassure her, but also give her inspiration to push past the fear and to keep going.

Aw, screw it.

As Singularity cried, I angled my tail around, before coiling it around Singularity's. Singularity looked up at me, wondering what I was about to say, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I wrapped my wings around her, pulling her close to me, so close in fact that I could smell her tears and feel her breath against me.

And then I kissed her.

Singularity's eyes opened wide at what I had done, but soon closed and embraced the kiss. It was weird, kissing as a dragon, but it wasn't unpleasant either, and so we stayed that way a moment longer before stopping, in which I looked into Singularity's eyes, which were fluttering open in happiness and confusion, meanwhile the scales around them had turned a bright pink.

"I won't let anything happen to you Singularity. No matter what happens, I can only believe that things will get better. I'm scared too, but I don't show it because I know that I have to act strong for the rest of you. So please, keep pushing on, because, well...you keep me going as well."

Singularity smiled softly at me once more, the tears fully gone, before wrapping her tail back around mine as well. "Alright, I'll try to be strong. Thank you Jack, for everything."

I nodded as we continued embracing, and we stayed there for a long time, the two of us embracing each other under Pyrrhia's night sky.

Author's Note: ...Yeah, that seems like a good place to end the chapter. It only took, what, about 20 chapters for the ship to be fulfilled? Anyhow, there you go, the Statlarity ship is cannon now, which I honestly wasn't planning on writing at the end of this chapter. It just...happened. Anyhow, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, for next week will be the Skywing Kingdom, where we're going to meet 2 new crucial characters in the story, but you'll have to wait till next week to find out who. Also, thank you The SkrillRider for allowing me to use Rivlet, and I'm glad that I'm writing his character correctly. Hopefully I'll write more with him, but with so many dragons to use at once, it's kinda difficult to get everyone's personalities just right. And we still have 2 more dragons to go! (Maybe this is why authors usually only do groups of 5 at most…) Anyhow, thank you all so much for reading, be sure to tell me what you thought in the comments that I love to read, and the next chapter should be up on time next week.