The Final Summoning (Release the Dragon)
After returning from Shuggazoom with everyone in tow, two of the four hooded figures immediately brought them aside; offering to help heal anyone who may have been harmed. The whole time this was going on, however; the Hyperforce eyed the foursome with suspicious glances. "Do you have any idea who these people are, Gibson" questioned Chiro, "it seems oddly coincidental that they saved us just as things got hairy."
The blue monkey nodded silently in agreement and was ready to use one of his scanning devices, in hopes of learning the figures true faces. But when he tried to turn it on, the device only seemed to buzz softly and the images on the screen were barely visible. "This...This is peculiar" Gibson murmured, "I had this charged up earlier today, how could it not be working now?"
Curious, everyone looked at the device's screen and saw three words glowing in red letters; "no signal located." Just as the green monkey, Otto took hold of the device and prepared to try and fix it; one of the cloaked figures told him it would do him no good. "So long as you are within this realm, your machines cannot work" he said simply, "with the exception of your mechanical enhancements, of course."
The Hyperforce were quite surprised by this news, to say the least. But they were even more surprised by the fact that these strangers knew about their robotic parts. "Just who exactly are you guys" Nova asked apprehensively, "what's with the hoods and why did you bring us all here?"
Upon hearing this inquiry; the green-eyed stranger from before finished healing one of the Shuggazoom City citizens, approached Nova and took her by her metal paw tenderly. "I understand your cautiousness, Miss Nova; I truly do" he stated, "but all will be revealed...once we find and bring to us the final champion we need." While she still felt hesitant in trusting this stranger, something in his voice seemed to put her slightly at ease.
"I don't know why but his words seem to make me feel...relaxed, for some reason" she thought to herself, "why does his voice sound so familiar?" After a while, the stranger let go of Nova's paw and proceeded out of the room; confusing everyone around him. "Hey, mack; where are you goin'" BT exclaimed, "you just gonna leave us here by ourselves?!"
With a slight smile upon his face, the young hooded figure clapped his hands and several warriors in golden armor entered the room. "While I'm gone, my guards shall attend to you" he stated, "they are skilled in both the arts of combat and healing; thus, you will be safe." Despite the reassuring tone in the figure's words, everyone felt a little on edge with all the armored men and women surrounding them."
"And just where are you goin' off to anyway" Sparx asked with mild exasperation, "gonna swoop in and save another planet-load of people?" The figure chuckled at the red monkey's words and shook his head slightly. "I certainly hope things won't be quite that dire, Master Sparx" he stated, "but if they are, I shall do what I must to aid them."
With that said; he bowed slightly, making sure not to let his hood fall off, and left the room. Meanwhile, Sparx remained frozen still in silence; his mind buzzing with many questions. "Wait...how did he know my name" he thought, "for that matter, how could he understand me; my translator's not even on."
(Line Break)
As the story continues, we find the four figures gathered before the looking glass they peered into earlier. Without pause; the green-eyed stranger rested his hand upon the glass, closed his eyes and began to focus his mind. "Now, Son; I sincerely hope we will find the next champion under...safer circumstances" one of the tall figures said in a male voice, "retrieving the Hyperforce was perhaps, the most harrowing thing I've experienced yet...and I've seen many things in my four-hundred years of life."
The green-eyed figure smiled up at the elder one and assured him all would be well. "Unlike Master Chiro and his compatriots, we shan't find the next champion on a battlefield" he stated, "instead, he shall be found on a racing track." The other figures looked at the young one with confused stares beneath their hoods and asked for an explanation.
"You speak as if we are looking for a horseman...or a racer, Son" said one of the tall figures in a female voice, "what sort of deeds has this kind of individual performed that led you to viewing them as a hero?" The green-eyed figure said nothing in reply for almost thirty seconds. During that time, he kept honing his mind until he found what the location he desired.
Finally, everyone could see an image forming on the looking glass ever so slowly. "Yes, I have found him" the green-eyed figure said with glee, "now...I must decide where and how I should bring him here."
(Scene Change: Planet Draconis, the Dragon Racing Academy)
In another universe, on the far off planet known as Draconis, the humans who lived there coexisted with mighty beasts known as dragons. But centuries ago, there was once a time where both sides were locked in brutal warfare. If left unchecked, this fighting could've destroyed everyone involved.
Then; one day, a lone warrior astride a gold scaled dragon appeared on the battlefield and brought an end to the war. This champion would later become known as the Dragon Booster. Now, ten-thousand years have passed and humans still coexist with the dragons; to race, compete in competitions and fight.
The most prominent thing the humans use these creatures for is a form of competitive sport known as Dragon Racing. All peoples of this world take part in these races for different reasons, however. Some compete for glory, others do so in hopes of becoming stronger than other racers.
But there are some who use Dragon Racing as a cover for more nefarious schemes. One such individual, a man named Wyrd Paynn, desired to rule over both dragons and humans. To achieve this, he sought out to lay claim to a new breed of black and gold dragon. With this creature, Wyrd could control the minds and powers of every dragon on the planet; allowing him to become absolute ruler.
This new breed of Gold Star Dragon (known as Beau) was made possible thanks to the skill of a stable keeper named Connor Penn. Knowing how valuable this dragon was, he entrusted it to whoever it would accept as his rider. Many young racers tried to tame him...but all had failed. But in time, Connor's eldest son managed to earn the right to ride Beau.
His name was Artha Penn, an aspiring sixteen year old dragon racer. From the beginning, that was the main thing he hoped for in life; to become the most skilled and revered racer in all of Dragon City. With the aid of his dearest friend, Parmon (Parm) Sean, his younger brother, Lance and (eventually) Kitt Wonn, a fellow dragon racer; Artha learned the basic "tools of the trade" (as they say.)
He learned the basics of how to use the right type of racing gear, how to manage the use of Beau's energy (known as Draconium) and of course, how to hold his own against other more experienced/aggressive racers. Then; one day, tragedy struck the Penn Family. One day, a rival racing crew known as the Dragon Eyes made an attempt to steal Beau away from Penn Stables.
Thankfully, their efforts were thwarted and Artha was able to lead Beau away to safety. Unfortunately, their successful escape came at a great price. Infuriated with his failure to capture to dragon of legend; the Dragon Eyes crew leader, a lad named Moordryd, set Penn Stables ablaze.
As it burned, Artha and Lance could not find any sign of their father...and they believed him to be dead. In time, Artha returned to his home and discovered a hidden elevator that took him to a strange place hidden beneath the stables. It was an underground cave that contained a hidden Dragon Temple.
It was here that Artha (and later, his brother and friends) came to meet Mortis, one of the last remaining dragon priests. This man helped Artha understand his role in the coming battles that were happening in all parts of the land. But Artha doubted himself, naturally and questioned how he would be able to accomplish such things.
It was here that Mortis entrusted the lad with a sacred relic, one that once belonged to the original Dragon Booster; the Gold Star gauntlet. With this and the amulet he was given by his father, Artha would be able to summon a suit of armor. Upon dawning it, he became the newest Dragon Booster; champion of the planet.
Over the course of his time as this champion, Artha faced many challenges. He had held his own in the toughest of races, came face to face with monstrous dragons (such as the Grey Bone Dragon, Libris) and helped inspire brief instances of cooperation between rival crews on many occasions.
As one would expect, however; Artha could not be open about his deeds to just anyone. Much of the time, he kept his identity as the Dragon Booster secret from the eyes of the people; save for Lance and Parm. Outside of that, he was consistently looked down upon by those around him; often being addressed as only "Stable Boy/Stable Brat."
There was also the fact that, compared to the other racers, Artha lacked the levels of experience he needed to be recognized as a professional racer. Yet; in spite of it all, he continued to do what he could to help both human and dragon-kind. In time, his circle of trust began to grow; after Kitt Wonn discovered Artha's secret identity as the Dragon Booster.
At the same time, Artha's circle of enemies grew just as expansive. Along with the Dragon Eyes causing him quite a bit of grief, as time went on; the Penn Racing Crew discovered a new enemy in the form of Drakkus, a mysterious rider astride a monstrous black draconium psy-class dragon that managed to overpower even Beau. Had it not been for the sudden appearance of Mortis, they would've all met their end then and there.
After escaping the battle, everyone learned that the true identity of the dragon priest was none other than Connor. Understandably so, this reveal shocked the two lads; who once believed him to be dead. But once the shock subsided, everyone stood together and managed to ward off Drakkus.
As time went on, Artha later met a new adversary; another mysterious rider known as the Shadow Booster. This rider, much like Artha, possessed an ancient battle gauntlet. But his was made from black draconium. The dragons and riders who used were believed to have used their powers to manipulate others into following their will.
But there was one who resisted, the original Shadow Booster; a warrior from the ancient Black Draconium Empire. This warrior stood in defiance of his home's oppressive rule over the land, a rule established by a being known as Armeggaddon. To ensure his former master would not trouble human or dragonkind again, this warrior sealed Armeggeddon into The Shadow Track; a place where only the bravest would be able to survive.
Alas; centuries later, he was unknowingly released by Artha Penn. But as Fate would have it; when the original Shadow Booster struck him down, Armeggaddon's essence still lived within the Shadow Booster medallion. In time, it would find its way into the hands of Moordryd and he became the new Shadow Booster.
For a time, he and Artha found themselves locked in furious conflict both as themselves and in their secondary identities. But there came a day where Moordryd began to defy the whims of not only Armeggeddon but his father, Wyrd Paynn as well. This led to the two boosters would form a sort of...mutual respect for one another, if not a friendship.
Then came the day where they both entered the Dragon Racing Academy, a dream both lads had for as long as they could remember. But soon, they would discover that things would be harder than before.
(Line Break)
It had been the first week of Artha's training at the academy and by the end of the seventh day, he appeared on the brink of collapse. "Ouch! I think my...everything hurts now" he moaned loudly, "what about you, Beau?" Without giving him even a sideways glance, the dragon offered his master/friend a soft growl in reply; before collapsing inside of his stable.
Mere seconds later, Artha could hear Beau snoring loudly; which caused him to yawn. "Good idea, boy" he said drowsily, "after all that work...we deserve a good rest." With that said, Artha closed his eyes and slowly began to drift off to sleep.
Unfortunately for him, this respite would not last for very long. In time, the young stable boy began to feel something poke at his sides; which greatly annoyed him. "Mmm...go away, we...we don't want any" he murmured groggily, "come back some other time...like next year."
After that, all seemed perfectly calm; until Artha's ears rang with the sound of a thunderous belch. At the same time, his sinuses became flooded with some kind of rank odor. This combination of things was just enough to rouse the boy from his slumber, however.
"UGH! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT STENCH" he shouted in annoyance, "smells like someone gargled fish water mixed with dragon sweat!" After pushing himself off the ground, Artha found the culprit responsible for his rude awakening...or rather, culprits. Outside of the stable, he spotted Beau laughing over his shoulder.
At the same time, he could also hear three other voices laughing at him. With a knowing grin forming on his face, Artha immediately knew who helped orchestrate his little wakeup call. "Parm, Lance, Kitt; I know you guys are back there" he chuckled, "may as well show yourselves...I'm awake now."
As if on cue, the trio suddenly popped up from behind Beau and burst out into loud fits of laughter. "Sorry, Bro but we didn't want you to sleep in too late" the younger Penn brother chortled, "you've been asleep for almost ten hours." Upon hearing the time, Artha let out a deep groan of dismay and trudged his way out of the stable.
"Time to begin another week of academy training" he sighed, "which means more stress on mine and Beau's bodies." While he did empathize with his best friend's plight to a degree, Parm looked as though he had something of great importance to tell Artha. "I know you are tired but you must listen to me" he urged pleadingly, "I have been sent here by your father, there may be something wrong with him."
Alarmed, Artha rushed out of the stable and went off to find his father; leaving the others behind.
(Line Break)
Deep in the underground dragon temple; Connor Penn stood in silence, rubbing his hand upon his brow as if he were trying to suppress a migraine. In time, Artha and the others arrived there and took notice of the man's odd behavior. "Dad...are you feeling okay" he asked with great concern, "when Parm told me about what's been going on, I rushed over as fast as I could.
Upon hearing this statement, Beau grunted in annoyance at his rider and gave him a look that seemed to say "excuse me...who did all the running?" Meanwhile, Connor took a moment to take in a few calming breaths; hoping they would ease the discomfort he was feeling. Feeling worried for his father; Lance cautiously approached him, took him by the wrist and asked if he was okay.
"I...I'm fine, boys; there's nothing wrong" Connor groaned softly with a smile, "I just...something odd happened while I was in the middle of some meditation exercises." Feeling curious as well as slightly concerned, everyone asked what happened to him earlier. "Did someone try to attack you again" questioned Artha with a light growl, "because if that's the case, I won't let anyone do that to you again!"
Beau growled softly and let out a light roar in agreement, sharing his rider's determination to ward off anyone who would do Connor any harm. The man in question smiled at the both of them and said that nothing of that sort happened. "The truth is, I can't quite explain it very well" Connor murmured, "but while meditating, I...I kept hearing odd whispers in my head."
Upon hearing the notion of strange whispering voices, Parm suddenly began to feel incredibly anxious. "I just know I will regret asking this" he murmured, "but...what did these voices say to you, exactly?" Connor did not answer outright, at first; his head still hurting from what happened earlier.
But after taking a moment to calm his nerves with some tea, he was well enough to speak to them. "These voices...they mentioned your name several times, Artha" Connor revealed, "they said that I must lead you to the old forest...just outside the Wastelands of Loan." Upon hearing this, the Penn Racing Team suddenly became incredibly tense.
"The Wastelands of Loan, are you serious" exclaimed Kitt, "that's just a stone's throw away from the Shadow Track!" In an instant; this revelation caused Parm to take shelter behind his dragon, Cyrano. "Please, don't tell me we have to go back there again" he whimpered, "each time we were anywhere near the Shadow Track or the Wastelands; we were assaulted by the Muhorta, Hydrags, the Prophets Crew and...oh, let us not forget being subjected to our worst fears in the Shadow Track!"
After taking a moment to catch his breath from his little tirade, Parm could see everyone staring at him firmly. "We get it, Professor; you have issues with the Wastelands" Kitt murmured, "but so do the rest of us." With this small statement, Parm snapped out of his alarmed state and chuckled sheepishly.
"There is no reason to fear" Connor assured them, "while it is near the track like you said, Parm; we will be going to the forest outside of Loan." While this reminder filled the young lad with some comfort, Lance felt rather confused. "I never knew there was a forest outside the Wastelands of Loan" he stated, "I thought the humans from back then destroyed it all."
Connor nodded in understanding to his youngest son's confusion, took a knee and placed a hand upon his shoulder. "Much of the forest there still thrives, Lance" he assured, "just as they believed that humans should coexist peacefully with dragons, our ancestors believed that we should have a similar coexistence with nature." While on the outside, Artha appeared blank-faced towards his father's words; inside, he was mildly laughing at the irony of them.
"Shame nobody believes in that unity these days" he thought, "I haven't seen that many trees in Dragon City...or anywhere else, for that matter." When his mind snapped back into reality, Artha asked his father what the voices were telling him. "I can't quite explain it very well, unfortunately" Connor said with a light groan, "but I think...I think the voices said something awaited you in the forest."
Now, the young stable boy had his suspicions about his father's story from the beginning; especially when it involved the Wastelands of Loan. But the fact that these voices were asking him to go to one of the most dangerous places he ever went to was a huge red flag. "Gee, Dad; I'd love to go" Artha murmured uneasily, "but...I've gotta stay and prep for the next training run at the Academy."
Artha stood silent for a moment, after saying this; hoping his excuse would win them over. But when he saw their expressions, the young stable boy knew they were not buying any of it. "I know you are nervous, Son" Connor stated, "but as Parm pointed out, you've ventured into that region many times before and survived."
Despite the truth behind his father's words, it didn't make Artha feel any less nervous. "Look, Bro; if it will make ya feel better, we'll go into the forest with you" Lance offered with a coy smile, "about time you were the scaredy dragon instead of me." As he prepared to soundly swat his brother upside the head for his comments, Artha was surprised to see Beau knock the boy off his feet with a sweep of his tail.
"Thanks for beating me to the punch, boy" he chuckled softly, "now, c'mon; we've gotta get to the wastelands." With that said, he seated himself upon Beau's back and went off on his way. "Hey, wait up" Kitt shouted while mounting up on her dragon, Wyldfyr; "if you think we're gonna sit by while you're racing off into trouble, you're nuts!
A split second later; she, Parm and Lance all rushed after Artha as fast as they could. Meanwhile, Connor watched them ride off into the distance; scratching his chin in contemplation. "Whatever awaits them at the Wastelands, I can't help but feel that it could be something dangerous" he thought to himself, "I should follow them, in case my hunch is correct." With this thought in mind, he rushed off to the back of the temple to retrieve something; hoping he would not be too far behind the children.
(Scene Change: The Dragon Eyes Compound)
In a large, fortified structure outside of the Academy grounds; Moordryd is seen pacing about his quarters. While Artha's week at the Academy may have stressed out his body, he was neck deep in some severe mental stress. The cause of it all came from two sources that held a tight hold on his life.
To start with; his father, Wyrd Paynn, was not only still set on his plans for domination. But when it came to his son's racing career; he pushed him to the point of exhaustion, in hopes that it would "motivate" him into becoming better. Of course, he was still one of the top racers in his class; much like how he was in the typical races.
But whenever he made an ill-thought out choice in battle gear, slipped up on the track or allowed his opponents to gain even a brief advantage over him; Wyrd wasted no time in giving him quite an earful about his "mistakes." On the surface, it looked as though Moordryd took his criticisms with a grain of salt. But deep down, the lad hated every insult his father slung at him.
But as bothersome as his father's behavior was, the "advice" given to him by Armeggeddon was equally uninspiring. Though he was nothing more than a spirit trapped within the Black Draconium amulet, he still exerted a great deal of authority over Moordryd. Whenever the lad was alone, Armeggaddon tried many times over to remind him of his "true goal;" to become the mightiest of dragon racers.
But not only did Moordryd outright ignore his words, much like how he did with his father. But he vowed that he would become the best...but on his terms. "You are making a grand mistake in ignoring me, boy" Armeggaddon's voice growled from the amulet, "need I remind you that much of your success was because of the power I bestowed upon you!"
Moordryd stood silent for a moment or two and then, he burst out into a fit of mocking laughter. "Excuse me, Sir" he retorted disrespectfully, "before you came along, I was already an expert racer; you just gave me an advantage later on in life." Suddenly, the eyes of Armeggaddon appeared over the amulet and glowed red with annoyance at Moordryd.
"That may be true...but even at your level, there is still one opponent you cannot defeat without my help" he said matter-of-factly, "and as luck would have it, he revealed himself to you as the newest Dragon Booster." Upon hearing this, Moordryd found himself looking back on the day in question. While it was true that he learned of Artha's secret, his own identity as the Shadow Booster had been found out as well.
At the same time, Moordryd also discovered Armeggaddon's true intentions. On that day, he learned that the former lord of the Black Draconium Empire had only been "teaching" him so that Moordryd could be used as Armeggaddon's soldier; in hopes of reclaiming his lost empire. Infuriated by this betrayal, Moordryd double-crossed him by joining the Dragon Booster's forces and brought Armeggaddon down.
Certain that their opponent had been vanquished, everyone fled the battlefield as quickly as they could. But unbeknownst to them, Armeggaddon had survived the battle and was secretly recreating his fallen army; the League of Eight. As time passed, however; there had been no physical sign of either of them.
But somehow, he still managed to pester Moordryd through his amulet; thus allowing him to continue in trying to lure the boy back to his side. "Think of what you could receive with such knowledge" Armeggaddon whispered fiendishly, "your father may find it useful...he may even give you the respect you so desperately desire."
That was it; by mentioning his father's approval, Moordryd had reached his breaking point. With a fierce growl, he ripped off the amulet from around his neck and was ready to throw it across the room. When suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching and quickly hid it away in his pocket.
Once that was done, Moordryd dusted himself off and stood at attention; thinking that it might've been his father approaching. But much to his surprise...and mild annoyance, the door swung open to reveal Cain; a fellow member of the Dragon Eyes Crew and Moordryd's closest friend. Of all members of the group, he was the one who always stood by Moordryd; no matter how dangerous his plans were.
However; at the moment, the lad in question was not in the right mood for visitors. "You'd better have a good reason for storming in here, Cain" Moordryd grumbled, "after all the lessons we did at the Academy, I'm too tired for nonsense." Nervously, Cain approached his friend/leader and reported that some racers spotted the Penn Crew heading towards the Wastelands of Loan.
Upon hearing this reveal, Moordryd's mood swiftly changed from annoyed to curious. "Those guys must be out of their minds" he muttered, "why would they go anywhere near a place where they almost got their tails handed to them on multiple occasions?" Eager to learn more, Moordryd decided to venture out and look into the situation himself.
"Inform my father where I'm going immediately, Cain and assemble the rest of the team" he ordered, "if Penn is up to something, we're gonna find out and try and stop him." With that said; Moordryd mounted up on his dragon, Decepshun and raced out of the compound.
(Line Break)
As the hours passed; the Penn Racing Crew had at last reached their destination. As Connor described, the forest life within the Wastelands of Loan appeared ancient but were still thriving. "Okay, we've come to the forest; just as you've asked us to, Mr. Penn" Parm murmured nervously, "s-s-so...what do we do now?"
Much to the poor lad's surprise, everyone stood in complete silence; as if also confused about what to do next. "I don't think we should stick around for too long" Artha murmured tensely, "who knows who or what might be out here with us." The moment his best friend mentioned this, Parm's mind began to think up all the different things that were known to live in this place; from rogue racing crews like the Prophets to dangerous creatures like Hydrags...or the Muhorta.
"Perhaps Artha is right, everyone" the lad murmured, "we probably should leave before..." Just as Parm prepared to slink away from everyone, a soft voice suddenly spoke up; causing him to freeze in his tracks. At first, everyone assumed it was just the wind blowing.
"But then, the voice spoke again; telling them not to leave. "Come to me" it whispered "come deeper into the forest...come to me." After this; Artha, Kitt and even Lance sided with Parm in his mild paranoia about their situation. "Maybe you were right, Professor" the young lady whispered uneasily, "we probably should leave while we still can."
With that said, everyone climbed atop their dragons and prepared to leave the area. But rather than follow the commands of their riders, each one of the Penn Team's dragons suddenly sped off deep into the forest. While all this was going on, Moordryd up on a ledge; watching them all through a pair of binoculars.
"Just where are you off too, Penn" he growled softly under his breath, "what could possibly be of value to you in this..." Before he could finish his sentence, Decepshun suddenly leapt off the ledge and started racing down the hill; as if following the Penn Crew on her own.
"What the...what is wrong with you, Decepshun" roared Moordryd, "I didn't tell you to go after them!" Alas, the dragon didn't listen to him; instead, she chose to follow the whispering voices calling out to her. Back with the Penn Racing Team; their dragons continued to rush headlong into the forest until, at long last, they came to a screeching halt.
After taking a moment to catch their breath, Artha and Co. dismounted and glared daggers at each of the dragons. "Beau, what has gotten into you" Connor said scoldingly, "I'd expect Artha to rush in without warning...but certainly not you." Upon hearing his, the lad in question shouted out in agreement; only to realize that the statement was being directed at him.
"C'mon, Dad; cut me some slack" Artha groaned slightly, "I don't rush in without thinking...anymore." Before anything else could be said, everyone suddenly heard the whispering voices call out to them from behind them. After each of them took in a nervous gulp, the four young racers looked over their shoulders to find...a single odd-looking tree standing behind them.
"Wow, that thing is ugly" Lance chuckled, "just how old do you think that tree is?" Curious, Connor approached the tree and began running his palm slowly along the bark. "This must be one of the planet's oldest trees" he stated, "it might've been here for over a thousand years...or more."
In that moment, Connor couldn't help but marvel at the great tree. Despite its twisted appearance, odd branches and its lack of many leaves; it was quite a beautiful sight. "So...we came all this way...just for a tree" Artha murmured confusedly, "what a ripoff." With that said, he and the rest of his team were ready to leave the forest behind them.
But when they tried to coerce their dragons to walk away, they did not listen. Instead, they remained rooted where they stood; as if they were expecting something. "Beau, what's the matter" he asked, "is there someone...or something here with us?"
The dragon shook its head vigorously, as if to say "no;" then, Beau started pointing towards the tree with his snout. "Why are you so eager about this tree, boy" questioned Artha, "don't tell me you have to...go!" Beau and the other dragons started growling softly in annoyance, wishing they were able to tell their riders what they needed to hear.
Then, without warning; the old tree suddenly started to glow an eerie light. Upon seeing this, everyone suddenly froze stiff; both in awe of the odd phenomenon and in confusion of it. "Okay...something tells me that this is not normal" Kitt murmured, "maybe Parm was right, we should leave!"
As if in response to her rider's words, Wyldfyr gave a soft roar of defiance and planted her feet into the ground slightly. Infuriated by this kind of behavior, the four riders quickly dismounted and started demanding their dragons to fall in line; all while the tree continued to glow. While all this was going on, Moordryd watched over them from behind another tree not too far from the racing team's location.
"Just what are you all up to, brats" he whispered to himself, "whatever it is, that weird glowing tree must be part of it." Wishing to learn more, Moordryd and Decepshun began walking silently through the shadows towards the racing team. Then, the skies suddenly echoed with the loud sounds of a dragon roaring; which caused Moordryd to fall off his saddle in alarm.
Nervous, he climbed back into his saddle and reached for his battle staff; expecting something like a sudden Hydrag or Muhorta attack. But then; he looked ahead and saw Connor's dragon, Pax stomping the ground irritably. This display caused the Penn Racing team's dragons to cease their bickering with their riders.
Then, the tree behind them suddenly stopped glowing; which made everyone feel quite confused. "Okay...whatever that was, it looks like it's all over" Artha murmured, "let's get outta here before anything else..." Before the lad could finish his sentence, a light suddenly started glowing brightly within one of the tree's knotholes.
Then, in an instant; a near blinding flash erupted from within the tree, causing everyone to shield their eyes. At the same time, the whispering voices started calling out to them again. "Come...come to us through the portal" it said softly, "come and you shall be safe."
While still shielding their eyes, Artha and the team were all wondering what sort of "portal" the odd voice was referring to. Then, Kitt slowly moved her hands away from her face and saw a most astonishing sight. Before them was a large swirling vortex that seemed to suddenly appear before the tree.
"By the Magna Draconis" Parm whispered in awe, "what do you make of it, Mr. Penn?" Alas, the stable master was just as much of a loss as he was. But something about the portal seemed...inviting to him.
"Let's not dilly-dally, everyone" he ordered, "best get a move on before it disappears." The moment he said this, the four racers stared at Mr. Penn in utter confusion. "Dad, you're not seriously thinking about going into this thing...are you" Lance asked, "because I don't to lose you again."
Upon sensing his brother's growing anxiety, Artha approached him and patted him lightly on the shoulder. "We won't lose him, Bro" he whispered soothingly, "because we're all gonna go with him." At first, Kitt was ready to call her friend nuts for bringing up such an idea.
But then, she realized that there wasn't any other choice in the matter; besides running. "Whatever happens on the other side of this thing...if I die, I'm never talking to you guys again" Kitt stated, "just to be clear here." With that; everyone seated themselves on their dragons, took in a deep breath and rushed headlong into the portal.
In an instant, they all disappeared inside of it; which caused Moordryd's eyes to almost pop from his head. Then, he noticed that the portal was starting to shrink; which meant it was about to disappear. "Oh no you don't, Penn" he said firmly, "wherever you're going, I'm coming after you!"
With that said, he and Decepshun rushed towards the portal and leapt right into it; just as began to fully close.
(First AN: Another chapter, another hero taken away from his home dimension. But it looks as though Artha Penn is the last of the heroes the mysterious figures have been searching for. What will happen once he, his team and Moordryd arrive on the other side?
Find out in the next chapter.
(Second AN: Sorry if the events of this installment felt a little strange to you all. Due to the Dragon Booster series being cancelled so long ago, many things were left unseen/unanswered for us; such as the whereabouts of Armeggaddon after his defeat and what the Dragon Racing Academy was like.
Regardless, I hope I was able to fill in the blanks well enough for you all.)
(Third AN: Much like with Shuggazoom, I had difficulty in finding info on whether or not Artha's home planet of Draconis had any forestland. But thanks to Darkness Rising, one of my followers/reviewers; he suggested that maybe, the Wastelands of Loan had just what I needed to use. In any case, I hope things made sense for that part of the story for you all.)
(Final AN: Moordryd arriving in wherever the portal took Artha and Co. will serve a purpose, as the story continues. I would tell you what that is...but that would be spoiling the surprise. ;) )