X-Men Evolution: Genesis of a Dragon pt. 8
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Dear Journal,
Another day, another dollar. If that phrase was true, I'd be rich. Very rich. Anyway, I told Scott Summers about my first date with Rogue before Survivor Series. Man, the poor guy was looking for his jaw when he heard that she kissed me. I don't think he found out about my immunity to her powers yet (Speaking of Scotty, he and Foxy had a fight again. I worry about those two, especially Jason with his big ego.). I've been trying my best to figure it out. Why is it that if she touches anybody else, she absorbs their life force, memories, and abilities, but when she touches me, nothing happens? Is it an aspect of my mutation? Do I cause her powers to shut off in some manner when she does touch me? I come up with a blank. Mr. McCoy can't figure it out either. Speaking of me and Rogue, Kurt has become very wary of me, playing the protective half-brother all of a sudden. I know that Kurt is just trying to watch Rogue's back, but it is a little annoying to be perfectly honest. I'm not the type that...well...is very Foxfire-like, a huge pervert. Mom said I got it from Dad, yet another of his qualities I get, besides his hair, mug, and love for wrestling. I haven't heard much from Pietro. Lance, Todd, and Freddy told me that he could be up to something. I dunno why, but I think of those three as brothers, as well as some of the X-Men, although I haven't really gotten to know them all.
--Jake "Dragon" Wildfire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Jake was sitting in the common room of the Institute, watching a tape of the 1993 Royal Rumble. He had been in the wrestling ring he built, practicing his moves. He looked down at the training uniform that he made. He wore a black bodysuit with long red wrestling tights over them. On each leg was a red dragon. He added yellow kneepads and boots. He also had gold bands with red centers around his upper arms. His costume had no "X" shields on the shoulders, indicating his neutrality. He only wore the costume to train. Rogue sat down on the couch next to him, towel around her neck, and in her uniform.
"Logan training again?" Jake's eyes didn't leave the match. He was watching Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty battle it out for the Intercontinental Championship.
"Yeah, sugah." Rogue panted, dabbing the towel on her face. She then looked at the match. "Who are those guys?"
"Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty." Jake said. "They used to be a tag team called the Rockers. They were high-fliers, and one of the best teams of the early 90s. The storyline for this 1993 match goes that they had a falling out. The team broke up, and Shawn gave Marty the Sweet Chin Music through a barber shop window. The window was part of a set of an interview segment at the time."
"Sweet Chin Music?"
"Shawn's finishing move." Jake smiled. "One of my favorites. Before he does it, he grabs the turnbuckle, and starts tapping his foot on the ground. That's known as "Tuning up the Band". The Music itself is a superkick." The Boston mutant explained.
"Can you do it?"
"Yeah." Jake blushed shyly as Rogue scooted closer.
"Could you show me how?"
"Uh...maybe." Jake nervously scratched his head. "I don't think you are ready to learn that yet." He blushed. "And my chops aren't ready to take it." The wrestler added mentally. As he and Rogue watched the match, in the Dragon Kingdom, the dragon tyrant known as Tyrannis looked over a group of four rather scruffy creatures who were bowing before him in his throne room.
"You four have never failed me." Tyrannis remembered, standing up. "I have a mission of the utmost importance. I trust that Scarpena told you about who you will eliminate this time." The leader, a dragon, spoke up. He was around 5'6", and his green scales shone in the light. His left eye was green, and his right eye was a cybernetic sensor. His wings were slightly gnarled. He wore a short-sleeved gray shirt with a silver scratched and dented chest plate over it, and cloth gray pants. His arms were toned, but sinewy, and his left hand was replaced by a metal claw. His brown hair was in a crew cut. His voice had a nasal, but gruff tone to it.
"Forgive me my lord, but we have better things to do than chase after a human teenager."
"You have heard the legend of the Chosen One, am I not right, Bladus?" Tyrannis asked the green dragon.
"All dragons know the legend, my lord..." Bladus replied. "You believe that this human is the Chosen One?!?!" The other three warriors looked up in shock.
"Yes Bladus, I do. Which is why he must be eliminated now. If he becomes aware of his true destiny, he will use his power against me." Another dragon, around 5'5", a blue-scaled, black-haired, brown-eyed, rather sleek but muscular female dragon dressed like a cross between Mad Max and Xena, spoke up in a dangerous voice.
"Bladus, this mission is sickeningly simple. I wish we had more of a challenge."
"I know my dear Fadora, but if he is the Chosen One, he should prove to be a very nice challenge. After all, the legend says that he is a great warrior." Bladus smirked. "And we all know you love a good challenge." Fadora sighed.
"I hope so." She stood up and crossed her arms. "I don't like wasting my time on weaklings."
"You two and your dragon legends! I think this Chosen One legend is ridiculous!" A purple-furred ape-like creature snapped. His face and hands were blue. He wore a silver chestplate, and a brown loincloth. His right wrist had a laser gun mounted on it, a sword was on his back, and he carried a golden shield on his left arm. His muscular 6'2" body had some scars, indicating he had been in many a fight. "You are insane if you believe humans, as you call them, can possess such powers."
"I warn you, Krodor." Bladus turned to the ape-creature. "We've noticed some humans have been born with special abilities. They have been referred to as 'mutants'. Some of these mutants have very powerful gifts."
"Indeed, Bladus." A green, yellow, and red parrot-like warrior standing at 5'11" nodded his head, licking his beak. Unlike the dragons, his arms and wings were one and the same. His beak was lined with a yellow gold-like metal, and his feet were clad in boots that made room for his talons to go free. His loincloth and breastplate were blue, with purple slash marks painted on it. He had a pair of laser pistols in holsters on his sides. He also had a display device mounted over his right eye. His voice was a cross between stereotypical parrot and Jamaican accent. "Scarpena told me that she has been watching these 'mutants' for quite some time. In fact, she believes that the Chosen One is a mutant. In this place known as 'Bayville', where the Chosen One is located, there are a whole mess of them. For example, one has healing powers and metal claws, another has..."
"Enough, Praktor!" Tyrannis silenced the bird warrior. "It seems obvious to me that the Chosen One has powerful allies. That means you will have to use stealth." Tyrannis then ran his clawed fingers through his blue hair, and thought for a second. "One thing still puzzles me, though..."
"Yes, my lord?" Bladus asked.
"Things have been pretty quiet from Rancor's position. What could he be doing?"
"He could be amassing his resources, preparing for one huge strike." Fadora contributed.
"No...He knows his small band of warriors could never breach my defenses." Tyrannis reasoned. "He might be..." A thought sparked into his head. "Could he...He's probably trying to get to the human world and meet the Chosen One!" The dragon tyrant then turned to the band of four warriors standing before him. "You must eliminate the Chosen One now! Go to the human world and destroy him! And if his prophets are there with him, destroy them as well!"
"Prophets?" Krodor wondered.
"Yes. The legends state that the Chosen One possesses three Prophets. These three chosen people guide and help protect the Chosen One. These three were chosen by fate to guide, aid and protect the Chosen One in his time of need."
"Twists and turns. Gotta love 'em." Krodor wisecracked.
"Go! NOW!!!" Tyrannis ordered impatiently. The warriors bowed and left. Meanwhile, Jake, Rogue, Lance, Toad, Fox, and Kitty were eating together at the cafeteria, talking like a bunch of old friends.
"Hey Dragon, you haven't said much, yo. Going back into your shyness shell?" Toad smirked. Jake was pretty quiet during the whole thing, even more than usual.
"I got you some soda, Kitty." Lance handed Kitty a soda.
"Like, thanks." Kitty took it.
"Jake...Hello..." Fox waved his hand in front of Jake's face. Jake looked like he was in a trance.
"You okay, Jake?" Rogue looked over at the red-haired wrestler. Jake snapped out of his trance.
"Huh? Oh, sorry." Jake sat up.
"You like, zoned out, Wildfire." Kitty reminded him.
"What happened?" Lance quizzed. Everyone looked at Dragon, making him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Well, it's kind of embarrassing." Jake blushed.
"Yo, Lance and I know a guy who wore makeup a couple times for God's sake!" Toad pointed at a sulking Pietro. "What've YOU got to be embarrassed about?"
"I had a very weird dream last night." Jake sighed.
"Jake, it is normal for someone to dream about their girlfriend naked." Fox quipped. Jake, Toad, Rogue and Lance slapped the Detroit native upside the head.
"Not that." Jake simply sighed.
"But you wish, right?" Foxfire ended up with a lunch tray to the face thanks to Kitty. "OW!"
"No. It went kinda like this: I was flying in this void. Black all around me. Suddenly, I saw...Armageddon."
"Armageddon?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah!" Toad piped up.
"Not the next Pay-Per-View, Todd. I saw buildings burning, people running away, volcanoes exploding, natural disasters, Wrath of God-type stuff. It was scarier than Mae Young at the 2000 Royal Rumble."
"Nice job, Jake! You had to remind me of the 2000 Rumble, huh?" Jason snapped. "OW!!" This time, Toad gave him the tray to the head.
"Thank you. Anyway, at the center of this HUUUGE pile of rubble and debris, there was...a blob with wings."
"Are you saying you dreamed that Freddy grew wings and caused the end of the world?" Fox quipped. Rogue held up her fist. "OK! OK! I'll shut up."
"When I took a closer look, the blob turned out to be a big black dragon, around seven feet. He turned to me, and all I saw was these burning red eyes. Suddenly, a voice came to me. Very gruff, yet melodic. It said, "You are the only one that can prevent this, Chosen One. You are the only one that can spare two worlds from this fate." Then, I woke up."
"That's some dream, Dragon." Lance shook his head. "Maybe you read too many fantasy books."
"That sounds so totally 'Dungeons and Dragons' to me." Kitty looked at Toad.
"Don't ask me, yo." Toad held up his hands. "I'm no dream expert."
"You're no anything expert." Fox laughed. "God, I am as funny as I am good- looking!" Fox then pulled a mirror out of his jacket and looked in it. "Man, I am one handsome devil."
"Your comedy sucks, Foxy." Toad grumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear. Avalanche, Shadowcat, Rogue, and Dragon got a good laugh from it. Foxfire shot him a glare.
"Don't. Call. Me. Foxy." Foxfire growled. Unbeknownst to the six mutants, Krodor and Praktor were just outside the school, watching them through the window.
"The one with the bright red hair." Praktor pointed out.
"Scarpena told me! I'm not stupid!" Krodor snapped. "Let's get him now!"
"Wait!" Praktor grabbed the ape-creature's shoulder and pointed to the display device over his eye. "My reader is picking up mutants all over the place. If we attack him now, they will use any abilities they have against us. We must wait."
"I grow tired of waiting!" Krodor warned. "I am a warrior, Beakface! Not a rock!"
"If we wait a little longer, we might find out where we can ambush him." Praktor offered. "We can gather Bladus and Fadora, then attack him then." The ape warrior mulled over the parrot-like creature's statement for a minute.
"Fine. But if we don't find a chance, I'm going in now." Krodor warned. "That is a promise."
"Whatever." Praktor shrugged off the remark. They continued listening to the X-Men and Brotherhood members conversing.
"What do you guys plan to do tonight?" Jake wondered.
"Me, I'm gonna hit the town and get me some girls." Fox cheered.
"You like, mean, stay at the mansion and sit in front of the TV?" Kitty corrected. Fox glared at her through his trademark red shades.
"What Lance sees in you, I'll never comprehend."
"Speaking of Kitty, I plan to take her to the new place in town, that 50's- style malt shop." Lance interjected.
"Like, that's so great Lance!" Kitty hugged her on-again, off-again boyfriend.
"Hmm. That place does have good food there. Hey, how about we make it a double date?" Jake suggested. Rogue looked at him in shock.
"Are you high?" She asked the Boston native. "Ah am not going out with Lance and Kitty in any double date, Dragon. Forget it!"
"Aw c'mon Marie, it'll be fun." Jake tried to convince her.
"No way, Dragon. Ah like you sugah, but Ah'm not going out on any double date."
"Why, afraid Lance will try something?" Fox grinned. Rogue punched him in the face. "OW!!" Kitty stomped his foot. "OW!!!" Lance gave him a hard whap upside the head. "OWW!!!"
"No Ah am not, Foxfire!" The southerner snapped.
"Look Rogue, just give it a try." Jake pleaded. Rogue looked up at him and sighed.
"Fine." She grumbled. "But you owe me big time, Jake."
"Wow, Dragon. Way to work the Boston charm." Toad laughed. Fox looked up at the clock.
"Hey girls, lunch is almost over." Fox reminded. "I got History next. God, I hate History. Who cares about a bunch of old stuff and dead people?" Foxfire grumbled.
"So, 8:00 ok?" Jake asked.
"I don't care." Lance shrugged.
"Me neither." Rogue said.
"Ok." Kitty smiled.
"What's a malt shop?" Krodor turned to Praktor. "You're the genius, you tell me."
"How should I know? I've never heard of a malt shop until now. Humans are strange creatures indeed." Praktor shrugged his feathered shoulders. "They called this ritual a 'double date'. That means only four of those humans will be there." Praktor turned on the DNA reader in his head-mounted display device. "Krodor, the four humans who are undergoing the ritual. They are mutants!"
"What can they do?" Krodor peeked up at them.
"The one in the pink garment and brown hair can phase her body out of the same plane as normal matter."
"Speak normal, Beakface!"
"She can pass through things like walls. The one with the long brown hair is an earthmover. He can bend the earth to his will, but it appears he hasn't fully explored his powers. At his current level, he can create earthquakes. The one with the two-colored hair has...my goodness..." Praktor laughed quietly.
"What?"
"She has the abilities of a soulsucker."
"You mean those creatures that feed on life force?" Krodor remembered. "I heard that they can take on the talents of those they feed on."
"True, she can do that. However, the effect is temporary, and it appears she has no means of controlling it."
"Great." Krodor sighed. "So, when is 8:00?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You stupid bird! 8:00 is when they said they will undergo the 'double date' ritual!" Krodor snapped.
"Oh yeah." Praktor thought for a moment. "I don't know." Krodor raised his powerful fist to strike the parrot-like creature when he heard a ringing in his ear. He then backed off and the powerful ape put his hand to his ear.
"Yeah, Bladus?" Krodor asked.
"Did you find him?" The green dragon's voice could be heard from the hidden device.
"Yeah, yeah." Krodor sighed. "Praktor and I found him. He and three other mutants are engaging in a ritual called a 'double date'."
"I am aware of that ritual." Bladus remembered. "Where is this 'double date' being held and when?"
"At a place called a malt shop. At the time of 8:00."
"Ahh." Bladus responded. "Well, meet me and Fadora at the park. We will plan our strategy there." Bladus ordered, terminating the connection.
"Let's get outta here." Praktor grumbled. "I can't stand being around these humans." The parrot-like creature remembered listening to the conversations of the Bayville students. "They drone on about the most meaningless things."
"They are teenagers, Beakface." Krodor quipped. The ape and parrot-like beasts got up from their hiding spots, and expertly sneaked out of the school. However, they didn't realize that Principal Kelly saw the two as they passed his office window.
"I never took drugs, so why did I just see a blue ape and a parrot? I'm losin' it, I'm losin' it..." Kelly banged his head on his desk. "Oh God, I'm going crazy. Teachers turning into monsters, freak accidents, and now apes and parrots!" He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the office. A teacher saw him leave.
"Where are you going?" The teacher asked him.
"To the nearest mental hospital." Kelly sighed. In another hallway, Pietro caught up with Todd and Lance.
"I see you guys are getting comfy with the newest X-Geek." Pietro growled.
"Jake is not an X-Geek." Lance sighed.
"Yeah, he's neutral." Todd explained. "The only reason why he hangs out with them is to train his powers. You should get to know him better, yo."
"Yeah, Pietro. Jake's pretty cool. Did you know that he knows Hulk Hogan?" Lance agreed.
"I don't care if he knows Jennifer freakin' Lopez!" Pietro yelled. "I hate that lousy good-for-nothing dragon!"
"Man Pietro, first you hate Daniels, then you hate Fox, now you hate Jake." Todd grumbled.
"Toad has a point, Quicksilver." Lance admitted. "You have a lot of enemies here." Avalanche rolled his eyes.
"That stupid scaly wrestler thinks he can get away with his insult towards me!" Pietro grumbled angrily. "He thinks he's so cool. What's Jake got that I don't have?"
"He's got looks." Toad answered.
"He's an heir to a pro wrestling dynasty." Lance added.
"No inflated ego." Toad quipped. "Women like guys without ego problems."
"Besides, Pietro. You said it yourself so many times: You can get any girl you want." Lance groaned.
"But I want Rogue..." Pietro whined.
"Too bad, Maximoff!" Toad had had enough. "Y'know, I'm really surprised that after all the stuff you put Jake through, he still simply shrugs it off! If I were him, I would've beaten you within an inch of your life!"
"Yeah, Pietro." Lance agreed. "How does he do it? He simply puts up with you. I even heard Rogue suggest that Jake give you a broken jaw."
"He nearly did." Toad remembered. "Jake told me. He had gotten so sick and tired of Quickie's antics that he punched Pietro right in the face, and he scoop-slammed him into the sidewalk!"
"Aw man, I wish I was there to see it!" Lance laughed. Pietro was none to happy to hear that remark.
"That's not funny, Lance! I thought he broke my back!" The speedster complained. "That dragon thinks he's so great. He don't know who he's messing with!" He opened his eyes after his grumbling, and he noticed Lance and Todd were gone.
"Guys..." Quicksilver looked around. "Great! I pour my heart out to those clowns and they disappear on me!" He ran after them, avoiding using his speed. He ended up running into Dragon.
"Hey Pietro."
"Don't you even think of 'Hey Pietro'-ing me, Wildfire!" The speedster snapped. "You will not get away with this, Dragon! Rogue is mine, and I will win her heart!"
"A little late, aren't you?" Dragon sighed. "Give it up, and get over it." Jake walked off, leaving the Brotherhood's resident egomaniac to stew in his anger and jealousy. To make things worse for him, Jason Fox passed by.
"Hey fruity." Fox laughed. "What's the matter, little girl? Upset because your secret crush doesn't like you?" An angry Pietro screamed and threw a punch at the Detroit native. Foxfire and Quicksilver started brawling, throwing themselves through a window with a CRASH!! After the brawl, both Quicksilver and Foxfire had to stay in detention. Meanwhile, later that night, Lance, Kitty, Rogue, and Jake arrived at the malt shop. True to Lance's description, the place looked like it was plucked straight from the 1950's, with black-and-white checkerboard tile floors, blue and pink counters, and a small jukebox on every table. Jake and Rogue sat on one side of a booth, while Lance and Kitty were on the other side. Rogue simply sat there with arms crossed and eyes closed, Lance and Kitty read from their menus, while Jake was playing with the table jukebox.
"Hey, you guys wanna hear some Buddy Holly?" Jake asked. Lance nodded indifferently, Kitty nodded and Rogue said nothing. Jake sighed at the sight. "C'mon, Marie. You've said very little. Buck up! This place is really neat. My dad used to go to places like this all the time as a teen. Just like in Happy Days."
"Only we don't have the Fonz." Rogue grumbled.
"I think she's, like, still a little miffed about the whole double date thing." Kitty reasoned.
"Ah just wanna spend some time alone with Jake."
"Next time it'll be just you and me." Jake promised. Marie let out a sigh.
"It'd better be, Jake. Ah'll have to hurt you if that doesn't happen." Lance looked up from his menu.
"Why'd you want to be alone with Jake?" The earth-moving mutant asked. Rogue blushed.
"Ah just do, okay?" Jake started blushing. The conversation was interrupted by a blond waitress who rolled to the table on roller skates, wearing a 50- style waitress outfit.
"What can I get you all?" She asked sweetly, pulling out a pad and pencil.
"Like, a potato salad and a Sprite, please." Kitty ordered.
"Give me a large Diet Coke, and a burger and fries." Lance put down his menu.
"Fruit salad and a vanilla shake." Rogue simply said.
"Uhh." Jake thought for a second. "I'll have uh...uh...ten burgers...ten fries...uh...a large chocolate shake, and for dessert, I'll have the Ultra Sundae Special." The waitress's eyes bulged as Jake made his order. Rogue shook her head, Lance looked like he was about to have a heart attack, and Kitty's jaw unhinged.
"We gotta talk about your appetite, Jake." Rogue sighed.
"Like, Jake, are you totally serious you're going to eat all that?" Kitty sighed.
"Yeah." Jake looked at the wildly disbelieving faces in a puzzled manner. "I've always had a big appetite."
"You must have incredible metabolism, Jake." Kitty reasoned. "You have Blob's appetite, but you don't have his weight, not to mention you keep thin."
"I've always had a big appetite, Kitty. Plus, I've always have been rather slim."
"Ah say you're rather sleek, like an airplane." Rogue reasoned. "Have you noticed that Jake can fly? Maybe that's why he's so thin, to be aerodynamic."
"Yeah, must be." Lance agreed. "You're paying for your food, Wildfire."
"Cool with me." Jake made sure he had his wallet. "I have more than enough." A few minutes later, the four mutants' grub arrived, and they dug in. Soon after, Jake's sundae arrived.
"Want some?" Jake motioned to Rogue. She looked over the huge pile of ice cream.
"Uh...no thanks, Jake. Ah'm tryin' to watch mah figure." Jake was confused.
"You look fine to me." Jake scratched his head.
"Ah don't want any ice cream, Jake." Rogue repeated. She then glared at the snickering Kitty and Lance. Jake quickly ate the whole thing, not noticing Lance, Kitty and Rogue, and all the diner's patrons watching with wide eyes. He then looked around.
"Y'know, it's kind of unnerving and rude to watch someone eat a sundae." Jake said out loud.
"Check...Please." Lance managed to mumble. The four teens then paid for the food, they left the diner and were on their way home in Jake's truck. Suddenly, Krodor jumped out of nowhere and landed on the hood.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!" The mutants screamed. Jake swerved, causing the ape-like warrior to jump off the hood. Krodor did three backward flips, and landed on his feet, pulling his sword out of the scabbard tied on his back. He jumped in the bushes and waited to strike. The four mutants jumped out of the truck.
"What was THAT?!?" Lance yelled.
"It looked like a blue gorilla!" Kitty squeaked in fright.
"Probably some clown in a costume." Jake reasoned.
"Looked like a reject from Lord of the Rings." Rogue tried to joke.
"YAHHH!!!" Krodor leapt out of the bushes, sword over his head.
"AHHH!!!" The mutants, got out of the way, and Krodor slashed Jake's truck.
"Hey! I just waxed!" Jake cried out. Krodor snarled and turned to Jake. He smirked.
"So long, Chosen One." He aimed his laser at Dragon, but Avalanche created an earthquake, causing him to fall on his behind. "Who threw that?!?!"
"I did, you overgrown chimp!" Lance snarled. "Let's rock, monkey-boy!" Avalanche created another earthquake. Krodor jumped, dodging the crack in the earth. "Wha--?"
"Nice try, human." Krodor snarled. "If I must kill you, I must kill you. The Chosen One must die."
"Lance, be careful!" Kitty yelled.
"Don't worry, I got this! OOF!!" Lance reassured loudly. But while Lance was talking to Kitty, Krodor managed to tackle Avalanche to the ground, knocking the earth-mover unconscious. Jake then blasted Krodor's face with a stream of flames from his mouth.
"AAAAHH!!" Krodor screamed. Rogue then downed the ape creature with a sweep kick as he was trying to regain his sight. She then hit him in the chest with an elbow, then smacked his head into the ground, knocking him out cold.
"How's that?" Rogue asked Jake.
"Nice." Jake smiled. Then they were ambushed by Bladus and Fadora. Fadora knocked Rogue away with a shoulder tackle, while Bladus punched Jake hard in the jaw.
"Hang on!" Kitty ran to help, but then... "AAHH!" She was caught in an energy field. Praktor had used the device over his eye to generate it.
"You can phase through matter, but not through energy, mutant." Praktor grinned as best he could. Jake and Rogue were battling Bladus and Fadora.
"Sorry, Chosen One." Bladus smirked. "But you must die."
"Chosen One?" Jake asked. "Why did you call me that?"
"You won't live to know anyway. YAHHHH!!!" Bladus charged Dragon, slashing with his claw arm. Jake dodged and grabbed his arm. "Wha--?" Calling on his wrestling knowledge, Dragon took Bladus down and trapped him in an armbar. Bladus bit Jake's foot with his sharp teeth, forcing Dragon to let go. Meanwhile, Rogue wasn't faring so well against Fadora. The southerner tried to fight the blue dragon, but Fadora was too skilled. She blocked all of Rogue's attacks, punched her hard in the stomach, then knocked her for a loop with a hard spinning kick.
"Uhhh." Rogue held her head, and decided she had enough. "That's it. Ah'm taking you out!" The southerner removed her gloves.
"What are you gonna do, slap me with your gloves?" Fadora mocked. Rogue smirked. "No." Rogue charged the female dragon. "Ah'm gonna show you why they call me Rogue!" She grabbed Fadora's head with her bare hands, but nothing happened. "What the?!?!"
"I know about your power, soulsucker." Fadora laughed as Rogue looked down at her bare hands in shock.
"How?" Rogue wondered mentally. "First, Ah discover Jake's immunity to mah powers, then this! How come Ah can't absorb her?" Rogue's train of thought was derailed by Fadora knocking her out with the hilt of her sword.
"Bladus was right. I did have some fun." She mused. She looked over at Praktor, who was taunting Kitty while she was struggling to get out of the energy field she was trapped in, and at the body of the unconscious Avalanche. She then decided to help Bladus, whom Jake had in a Figure Four.
"AAHHH!!!" Bladus screamed, trying to resist the pressure his legs were under. Fadora then stabbed at Jake with her sword. Jake had to roll and dodge the sword, but he released Bladus in the process. As Bladus clutched his legs, Fadora's sword stabbed into the ground. She tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge. Jake took the opportunity, running to her side, then quickly spearing her. Bladus got up and lifted Jake into the air, slamming him down into the ground. The green dragon then helped Fadora up. "C'mon, Fadora." The dazed blue dragon slowly got up, as did Jake. Meanwhile, Kitty was pounding at the energy field, trying to phase through it.
"Like, what is this?!? Jake!!" She screamed.
"Forget it!" Praktor snickered. "Your powers have limits. You can't phase through an energy field. And the Chosen One is powerless to save you." He pressed a button on his head-mounted device, and an electrical pulse shot through Kitty's body.
"AHHH!!!" She screamed. The pain was so much, she ended up passing out. Jake was having a tough time. It was a like a handicap match for him, facing off against Bladus and Fadora.
"How rude of me, Chosen One." Bladus smirked. "We didn't introduce ourselves. We know who you are, but you have no idea of who we are. I am Bladus, and this is Fadora. The unconscious one is Krodor, a native of Goryon. Praktor, the one who has your friend in the energy field, is from Avicon."
"What's going on?" Jake snarled. "Why are you here?"
"Simple, really." Fadora smirked. "You are the Chosen One. Our employer wants you dead."
"Chosen One?"
"They say that you are destined to save two worlds. We can't allow that." The blue dragon smirked.
"I don't know what this is all about..." Jake assumed a rather unique pose, a cross between a karate and a wrestling pose. "But if I must fight you to find out, I will."
"Good luck, kid." Bladus sneered. "Praktor!" Jake turned around quickly. Praktor hit Jake in the head with a kick. As Jake stumbled back, Bladus grabbed the wrestler and caught him in a headlock.
"Great warrior my scaly tail, Bladus!" Fadora looked at the incapacitated wrestler. "He can barely face one of us. Praktor pulled out one of his laser pistols.
"I say we finish him AAHH!!" Praktor's gun was kicked out of his hand by Jake, then he got kicked in the face. Jake wrapped his arms around Bladus's neck, and flipped him over in a snapmare. Fadora tried to catch the wrestling dragon from behind, but Jake took to the air, flying behind her. When she turned, Jake spat a fireball in her face. He then caught a glimpse of Rogue knocked out. Jake immediately ran to her side.
"Marie...My God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." During Jake's distraction, Fadora snuck up behind him and clubbed him in the head, knocking the wrestler out. She then held up the wrestler by the back of his Brock Lesnar shirt. She put the tip of her sword to his heart.
"Good bye, Chosen One." She smirked. As she was about to drive the sword into his heart, a roar was heard, and a shadow leapt out of the bushes.
Who leapt out of the bushes? Are they friend or foe? Are Jake and his friends doomed? Find out, in Genesis of a Dragon, pt. 9!
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Dear Journal,
Another day, another dollar. If that phrase was true, I'd be rich. Very rich. Anyway, I told Scott Summers about my first date with Rogue before Survivor Series. Man, the poor guy was looking for his jaw when he heard that she kissed me. I don't think he found out about my immunity to her powers yet (Speaking of Scotty, he and Foxy had a fight again. I worry about those two, especially Jason with his big ego.). I've been trying my best to figure it out. Why is it that if she touches anybody else, she absorbs their life force, memories, and abilities, but when she touches me, nothing happens? Is it an aspect of my mutation? Do I cause her powers to shut off in some manner when she does touch me? I come up with a blank. Mr. McCoy can't figure it out either. Speaking of me and Rogue, Kurt has become very wary of me, playing the protective half-brother all of a sudden. I know that Kurt is just trying to watch Rogue's back, but it is a little annoying to be perfectly honest. I'm not the type that...well...is very Foxfire-like, a huge pervert. Mom said I got it from Dad, yet another of his qualities I get, besides his hair, mug, and love for wrestling. I haven't heard much from Pietro. Lance, Todd, and Freddy told me that he could be up to something. I dunno why, but I think of those three as brothers, as well as some of the X-Men, although I haven't really gotten to know them all.
--Jake "Dragon" Wildfire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Jake was sitting in the common room of the Institute, watching a tape of the 1993 Royal Rumble. He had been in the wrestling ring he built, practicing his moves. He looked down at the training uniform that he made. He wore a black bodysuit with long red wrestling tights over them. On each leg was a red dragon. He added yellow kneepads and boots. He also had gold bands with red centers around his upper arms. His costume had no "X" shields on the shoulders, indicating his neutrality. He only wore the costume to train. Rogue sat down on the couch next to him, towel around her neck, and in her uniform.
"Logan training again?" Jake's eyes didn't leave the match. He was watching Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty battle it out for the Intercontinental Championship.
"Yeah, sugah." Rogue panted, dabbing the towel on her face. She then looked at the match. "Who are those guys?"
"Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty." Jake said. "They used to be a tag team called the Rockers. They were high-fliers, and one of the best teams of the early 90s. The storyline for this 1993 match goes that they had a falling out. The team broke up, and Shawn gave Marty the Sweet Chin Music through a barber shop window. The window was part of a set of an interview segment at the time."
"Sweet Chin Music?"
"Shawn's finishing move." Jake smiled. "One of my favorites. Before he does it, he grabs the turnbuckle, and starts tapping his foot on the ground. That's known as "Tuning up the Band". The Music itself is a superkick." The Boston mutant explained.
"Can you do it?"
"Yeah." Jake blushed shyly as Rogue scooted closer.
"Could you show me how?"
"Uh...maybe." Jake nervously scratched his head. "I don't think you are ready to learn that yet." He blushed. "And my chops aren't ready to take it." The wrestler added mentally. As he and Rogue watched the match, in the Dragon Kingdom, the dragon tyrant known as Tyrannis looked over a group of four rather scruffy creatures who were bowing before him in his throne room.
"You four have never failed me." Tyrannis remembered, standing up. "I have a mission of the utmost importance. I trust that Scarpena told you about who you will eliminate this time." The leader, a dragon, spoke up. He was around 5'6", and his green scales shone in the light. His left eye was green, and his right eye was a cybernetic sensor. His wings were slightly gnarled. He wore a short-sleeved gray shirt with a silver scratched and dented chest plate over it, and cloth gray pants. His arms were toned, but sinewy, and his left hand was replaced by a metal claw. His brown hair was in a crew cut. His voice had a nasal, but gruff tone to it.
"Forgive me my lord, but we have better things to do than chase after a human teenager."
"You have heard the legend of the Chosen One, am I not right, Bladus?" Tyrannis asked the green dragon.
"All dragons know the legend, my lord..." Bladus replied. "You believe that this human is the Chosen One?!?!" The other three warriors looked up in shock.
"Yes Bladus, I do. Which is why he must be eliminated now. If he becomes aware of his true destiny, he will use his power against me." Another dragon, around 5'5", a blue-scaled, black-haired, brown-eyed, rather sleek but muscular female dragon dressed like a cross between Mad Max and Xena, spoke up in a dangerous voice.
"Bladus, this mission is sickeningly simple. I wish we had more of a challenge."
"I know my dear Fadora, but if he is the Chosen One, he should prove to be a very nice challenge. After all, the legend says that he is a great warrior." Bladus smirked. "And we all know you love a good challenge." Fadora sighed.
"I hope so." She stood up and crossed her arms. "I don't like wasting my time on weaklings."
"You two and your dragon legends! I think this Chosen One legend is ridiculous!" A purple-furred ape-like creature snapped. His face and hands were blue. He wore a silver chestplate, and a brown loincloth. His right wrist had a laser gun mounted on it, a sword was on his back, and he carried a golden shield on his left arm. His muscular 6'2" body had some scars, indicating he had been in many a fight. "You are insane if you believe humans, as you call them, can possess such powers."
"I warn you, Krodor." Bladus turned to the ape-creature. "We've noticed some humans have been born with special abilities. They have been referred to as 'mutants'. Some of these mutants have very powerful gifts."
"Indeed, Bladus." A green, yellow, and red parrot-like warrior standing at 5'11" nodded his head, licking his beak. Unlike the dragons, his arms and wings were one and the same. His beak was lined with a yellow gold-like metal, and his feet were clad in boots that made room for his talons to go free. His loincloth and breastplate were blue, with purple slash marks painted on it. He had a pair of laser pistols in holsters on his sides. He also had a display device mounted over his right eye. His voice was a cross between stereotypical parrot and Jamaican accent. "Scarpena told me that she has been watching these 'mutants' for quite some time. In fact, she believes that the Chosen One is a mutant. In this place known as 'Bayville', where the Chosen One is located, there are a whole mess of them. For example, one has healing powers and metal claws, another has..."
"Enough, Praktor!" Tyrannis silenced the bird warrior. "It seems obvious to me that the Chosen One has powerful allies. That means you will have to use stealth." Tyrannis then ran his clawed fingers through his blue hair, and thought for a second. "One thing still puzzles me, though..."
"Yes, my lord?" Bladus asked.
"Things have been pretty quiet from Rancor's position. What could he be doing?"
"He could be amassing his resources, preparing for one huge strike." Fadora contributed.
"No...He knows his small band of warriors could never breach my defenses." Tyrannis reasoned. "He might be..." A thought sparked into his head. "Could he...He's probably trying to get to the human world and meet the Chosen One!" The dragon tyrant then turned to the band of four warriors standing before him. "You must eliminate the Chosen One now! Go to the human world and destroy him! And if his prophets are there with him, destroy them as well!"
"Prophets?" Krodor wondered.
"Yes. The legends state that the Chosen One possesses three Prophets. These three chosen people guide and help protect the Chosen One. These three were chosen by fate to guide, aid and protect the Chosen One in his time of need."
"Twists and turns. Gotta love 'em." Krodor wisecracked.
"Go! NOW!!!" Tyrannis ordered impatiently. The warriors bowed and left. Meanwhile, Jake, Rogue, Lance, Toad, Fox, and Kitty were eating together at the cafeteria, talking like a bunch of old friends.
"Hey Dragon, you haven't said much, yo. Going back into your shyness shell?" Toad smirked. Jake was pretty quiet during the whole thing, even more than usual.
"I got you some soda, Kitty." Lance handed Kitty a soda.
"Like, thanks." Kitty took it.
"Jake...Hello..." Fox waved his hand in front of Jake's face. Jake looked like he was in a trance.
"You okay, Jake?" Rogue looked over at the red-haired wrestler. Jake snapped out of his trance.
"Huh? Oh, sorry." Jake sat up.
"You like, zoned out, Wildfire." Kitty reminded him.
"What happened?" Lance quizzed. Everyone looked at Dragon, making him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Well, it's kind of embarrassing." Jake blushed.
"Yo, Lance and I know a guy who wore makeup a couple times for God's sake!" Toad pointed at a sulking Pietro. "What've YOU got to be embarrassed about?"
"I had a very weird dream last night." Jake sighed.
"Jake, it is normal for someone to dream about their girlfriend naked." Fox quipped. Jake, Toad, Rogue and Lance slapped the Detroit native upside the head.
"Not that." Jake simply sighed.
"But you wish, right?" Foxfire ended up with a lunch tray to the face thanks to Kitty. "OW!"
"No. It went kinda like this: I was flying in this void. Black all around me. Suddenly, I saw...Armageddon."
"Armageddon?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah!" Toad piped up.
"Not the next Pay-Per-View, Todd. I saw buildings burning, people running away, volcanoes exploding, natural disasters, Wrath of God-type stuff. It was scarier than Mae Young at the 2000 Royal Rumble."
"Nice job, Jake! You had to remind me of the 2000 Rumble, huh?" Jason snapped. "OW!!" This time, Toad gave him the tray to the head.
"Thank you. Anyway, at the center of this HUUUGE pile of rubble and debris, there was...a blob with wings."
"Are you saying you dreamed that Freddy grew wings and caused the end of the world?" Fox quipped. Rogue held up her fist. "OK! OK! I'll shut up."
"When I took a closer look, the blob turned out to be a big black dragon, around seven feet. He turned to me, and all I saw was these burning red eyes. Suddenly, a voice came to me. Very gruff, yet melodic. It said, "You are the only one that can prevent this, Chosen One. You are the only one that can spare two worlds from this fate." Then, I woke up."
"That's some dream, Dragon." Lance shook his head. "Maybe you read too many fantasy books."
"That sounds so totally 'Dungeons and Dragons' to me." Kitty looked at Toad.
"Don't ask me, yo." Toad held up his hands. "I'm no dream expert."
"You're no anything expert." Fox laughed. "God, I am as funny as I am good- looking!" Fox then pulled a mirror out of his jacket and looked in it. "Man, I am one handsome devil."
"Your comedy sucks, Foxy." Toad grumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear. Avalanche, Shadowcat, Rogue, and Dragon got a good laugh from it. Foxfire shot him a glare.
"Don't. Call. Me. Foxy." Foxfire growled. Unbeknownst to the six mutants, Krodor and Praktor were just outside the school, watching them through the window.
"The one with the bright red hair." Praktor pointed out.
"Scarpena told me! I'm not stupid!" Krodor snapped. "Let's get him now!"
"Wait!" Praktor grabbed the ape-creature's shoulder and pointed to the display device over his eye. "My reader is picking up mutants all over the place. If we attack him now, they will use any abilities they have against us. We must wait."
"I grow tired of waiting!" Krodor warned. "I am a warrior, Beakface! Not a rock!"
"If we wait a little longer, we might find out where we can ambush him." Praktor offered. "We can gather Bladus and Fadora, then attack him then." The ape warrior mulled over the parrot-like creature's statement for a minute.
"Fine. But if we don't find a chance, I'm going in now." Krodor warned. "That is a promise."
"Whatever." Praktor shrugged off the remark. They continued listening to the X-Men and Brotherhood members conversing.
"What do you guys plan to do tonight?" Jake wondered.
"Me, I'm gonna hit the town and get me some girls." Fox cheered.
"You like, mean, stay at the mansion and sit in front of the TV?" Kitty corrected. Fox glared at her through his trademark red shades.
"What Lance sees in you, I'll never comprehend."
"Speaking of Kitty, I plan to take her to the new place in town, that 50's- style malt shop." Lance interjected.
"Like, that's so great Lance!" Kitty hugged her on-again, off-again boyfriend.
"Hmm. That place does have good food there. Hey, how about we make it a double date?" Jake suggested. Rogue looked at him in shock.
"Are you high?" She asked the Boston native. "Ah am not going out with Lance and Kitty in any double date, Dragon. Forget it!"
"Aw c'mon Marie, it'll be fun." Jake tried to convince her.
"No way, Dragon. Ah like you sugah, but Ah'm not going out on any double date."
"Why, afraid Lance will try something?" Fox grinned. Rogue punched him in the face. "OW!!" Kitty stomped his foot. "OW!!!" Lance gave him a hard whap upside the head. "OWW!!!"
"No Ah am not, Foxfire!" The southerner snapped.
"Look Rogue, just give it a try." Jake pleaded. Rogue looked up at him and sighed.
"Fine." She grumbled. "But you owe me big time, Jake."
"Wow, Dragon. Way to work the Boston charm." Toad laughed. Fox looked up at the clock.
"Hey girls, lunch is almost over." Fox reminded. "I got History next. God, I hate History. Who cares about a bunch of old stuff and dead people?" Foxfire grumbled.
"So, 8:00 ok?" Jake asked.
"I don't care." Lance shrugged.
"Me neither." Rogue said.
"Ok." Kitty smiled.
"What's a malt shop?" Krodor turned to Praktor. "You're the genius, you tell me."
"How should I know? I've never heard of a malt shop until now. Humans are strange creatures indeed." Praktor shrugged his feathered shoulders. "They called this ritual a 'double date'. That means only four of those humans will be there." Praktor turned on the DNA reader in his head-mounted display device. "Krodor, the four humans who are undergoing the ritual. They are mutants!"
"What can they do?" Krodor peeked up at them.
"The one in the pink garment and brown hair can phase her body out of the same plane as normal matter."
"Speak normal, Beakface!"
"She can pass through things like walls. The one with the long brown hair is an earthmover. He can bend the earth to his will, but it appears he hasn't fully explored his powers. At his current level, he can create earthquakes. The one with the two-colored hair has...my goodness..." Praktor laughed quietly.
"What?"
"She has the abilities of a soulsucker."
"You mean those creatures that feed on life force?" Krodor remembered. "I heard that they can take on the talents of those they feed on."
"True, she can do that. However, the effect is temporary, and it appears she has no means of controlling it."
"Great." Krodor sighed. "So, when is 8:00?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You stupid bird! 8:00 is when they said they will undergo the 'double date' ritual!" Krodor snapped.
"Oh yeah." Praktor thought for a moment. "I don't know." Krodor raised his powerful fist to strike the parrot-like creature when he heard a ringing in his ear. He then backed off and the powerful ape put his hand to his ear.
"Yeah, Bladus?" Krodor asked.
"Did you find him?" The green dragon's voice could be heard from the hidden device.
"Yeah, yeah." Krodor sighed. "Praktor and I found him. He and three other mutants are engaging in a ritual called a 'double date'."
"I am aware of that ritual." Bladus remembered. "Where is this 'double date' being held and when?"
"At a place called a malt shop. At the time of 8:00."
"Ahh." Bladus responded. "Well, meet me and Fadora at the park. We will plan our strategy there." Bladus ordered, terminating the connection.
"Let's get outta here." Praktor grumbled. "I can't stand being around these humans." The parrot-like creature remembered listening to the conversations of the Bayville students. "They drone on about the most meaningless things."
"They are teenagers, Beakface." Krodor quipped. The ape and parrot-like beasts got up from their hiding spots, and expertly sneaked out of the school. However, they didn't realize that Principal Kelly saw the two as they passed his office window.
"I never took drugs, so why did I just see a blue ape and a parrot? I'm losin' it, I'm losin' it..." Kelly banged his head on his desk. "Oh God, I'm going crazy. Teachers turning into monsters, freak accidents, and now apes and parrots!" He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the office. A teacher saw him leave.
"Where are you going?" The teacher asked him.
"To the nearest mental hospital." Kelly sighed. In another hallway, Pietro caught up with Todd and Lance.
"I see you guys are getting comfy with the newest X-Geek." Pietro growled.
"Jake is not an X-Geek." Lance sighed.
"Yeah, he's neutral." Todd explained. "The only reason why he hangs out with them is to train his powers. You should get to know him better, yo."
"Yeah, Pietro. Jake's pretty cool. Did you know that he knows Hulk Hogan?" Lance agreed.
"I don't care if he knows Jennifer freakin' Lopez!" Pietro yelled. "I hate that lousy good-for-nothing dragon!"
"Man Pietro, first you hate Daniels, then you hate Fox, now you hate Jake." Todd grumbled.
"Toad has a point, Quicksilver." Lance admitted. "You have a lot of enemies here." Avalanche rolled his eyes.
"That stupid scaly wrestler thinks he can get away with his insult towards me!" Pietro grumbled angrily. "He thinks he's so cool. What's Jake got that I don't have?"
"He's got looks." Toad answered.
"He's an heir to a pro wrestling dynasty." Lance added.
"No inflated ego." Toad quipped. "Women like guys without ego problems."
"Besides, Pietro. You said it yourself so many times: You can get any girl you want." Lance groaned.
"But I want Rogue..." Pietro whined.
"Too bad, Maximoff!" Toad had had enough. "Y'know, I'm really surprised that after all the stuff you put Jake through, he still simply shrugs it off! If I were him, I would've beaten you within an inch of your life!"
"Yeah, Pietro." Lance agreed. "How does he do it? He simply puts up with you. I even heard Rogue suggest that Jake give you a broken jaw."
"He nearly did." Toad remembered. "Jake told me. He had gotten so sick and tired of Quickie's antics that he punched Pietro right in the face, and he scoop-slammed him into the sidewalk!"
"Aw man, I wish I was there to see it!" Lance laughed. Pietro was none to happy to hear that remark.
"That's not funny, Lance! I thought he broke my back!" The speedster complained. "That dragon thinks he's so great. He don't know who he's messing with!" He opened his eyes after his grumbling, and he noticed Lance and Todd were gone.
"Guys..." Quicksilver looked around. "Great! I pour my heart out to those clowns and they disappear on me!" He ran after them, avoiding using his speed. He ended up running into Dragon.
"Hey Pietro."
"Don't you even think of 'Hey Pietro'-ing me, Wildfire!" The speedster snapped. "You will not get away with this, Dragon! Rogue is mine, and I will win her heart!"
"A little late, aren't you?" Dragon sighed. "Give it up, and get over it." Jake walked off, leaving the Brotherhood's resident egomaniac to stew in his anger and jealousy. To make things worse for him, Jason Fox passed by.
"Hey fruity." Fox laughed. "What's the matter, little girl? Upset because your secret crush doesn't like you?" An angry Pietro screamed and threw a punch at the Detroit native. Foxfire and Quicksilver started brawling, throwing themselves through a window with a CRASH!! After the brawl, both Quicksilver and Foxfire had to stay in detention. Meanwhile, later that night, Lance, Kitty, Rogue, and Jake arrived at the malt shop. True to Lance's description, the place looked like it was plucked straight from the 1950's, with black-and-white checkerboard tile floors, blue and pink counters, and a small jukebox on every table. Jake and Rogue sat on one side of a booth, while Lance and Kitty were on the other side. Rogue simply sat there with arms crossed and eyes closed, Lance and Kitty read from their menus, while Jake was playing with the table jukebox.
"Hey, you guys wanna hear some Buddy Holly?" Jake asked. Lance nodded indifferently, Kitty nodded and Rogue said nothing. Jake sighed at the sight. "C'mon, Marie. You've said very little. Buck up! This place is really neat. My dad used to go to places like this all the time as a teen. Just like in Happy Days."
"Only we don't have the Fonz." Rogue grumbled.
"I think she's, like, still a little miffed about the whole double date thing." Kitty reasoned.
"Ah just wanna spend some time alone with Jake."
"Next time it'll be just you and me." Jake promised. Marie let out a sigh.
"It'd better be, Jake. Ah'll have to hurt you if that doesn't happen." Lance looked up from his menu.
"Why'd you want to be alone with Jake?" The earth-moving mutant asked. Rogue blushed.
"Ah just do, okay?" Jake started blushing. The conversation was interrupted by a blond waitress who rolled to the table on roller skates, wearing a 50- style waitress outfit.
"What can I get you all?" She asked sweetly, pulling out a pad and pencil.
"Like, a potato salad and a Sprite, please." Kitty ordered.
"Give me a large Diet Coke, and a burger and fries." Lance put down his menu.
"Fruit salad and a vanilla shake." Rogue simply said.
"Uhh." Jake thought for a second. "I'll have uh...uh...ten burgers...ten fries...uh...a large chocolate shake, and for dessert, I'll have the Ultra Sundae Special." The waitress's eyes bulged as Jake made his order. Rogue shook her head, Lance looked like he was about to have a heart attack, and Kitty's jaw unhinged.
"We gotta talk about your appetite, Jake." Rogue sighed.
"Like, Jake, are you totally serious you're going to eat all that?" Kitty sighed.
"Yeah." Jake looked at the wildly disbelieving faces in a puzzled manner. "I've always had a big appetite."
"You must have incredible metabolism, Jake." Kitty reasoned. "You have Blob's appetite, but you don't have his weight, not to mention you keep thin."
"I've always had a big appetite, Kitty. Plus, I've always have been rather slim."
"Ah say you're rather sleek, like an airplane." Rogue reasoned. "Have you noticed that Jake can fly? Maybe that's why he's so thin, to be aerodynamic."
"Yeah, must be." Lance agreed. "You're paying for your food, Wildfire."
"Cool with me." Jake made sure he had his wallet. "I have more than enough." A few minutes later, the four mutants' grub arrived, and they dug in. Soon after, Jake's sundae arrived.
"Want some?" Jake motioned to Rogue. She looked over the huge pile of ice cream.
"Uh...no thanks, Jake. Ah'm tryin' to watch mah figure." Jake was confused.
"You look fine to me." Jake scratched his head.
"Ah don't want any ice cream, Jake." Rogue repeated. She then glared at the snickering Kitty and Lance. Jake quickly ate the whole thing, not noticing Lance, Kitty and Rogue, and all the diner's patrons watching with wide eyes. He then looked around.
"Y'know, it's kind of unnerving and rude to watch someone eat a sundae." Jake said out loud.
"Check...Please." Lance managed to mumble. The four teens then paid for the food, they left the diner and were on their way home in Jake's truck. Suddenly, Krodor jumped out of nowhere and landed on the hood.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!" The mutants screamed. Jake swerved, causing the ape-like warrior to jump off the hood. Krodor did three backward flips, and landed on his feet, pulling his sword out of the scabbard tied on his back. He jumped in the bushes and waited to strike. The four mutants jumped out of the truck.
"What was THAT?!?" Lance yelled.
"It looked like a blue gorilla!" Kitty squeaked in fright.
"Probably some clown in a costume." Jake reasoned.
"Looked like a reject from Lord of the Rings." Rogue tried to joke.
"YAHHH!!!" Krodor leapt out of the bushes, sword over his head.
"AHHH!!!" The mutants, got out of the way, and Krodor slashed Jake's truck.
"Hey! I just waxed!" Jake cried out. Krodor snarled and turned to Jake. He smirked.
"So long, Chosen One." He aimed his laser at Dragon, but Avalanche created an earthquake, causing him to fall on his behind. "Who threw that?!?!"
"I did, you overgrown chimp!" Lance snarled. "Let's rock, monkey-boy!" Avalanche created another earthquake. Krodor jumped, dodging the crack in the earth. "Wha--?"
"Nice try, human." Krodor snarled. "If I must kill you, I must kill you. The Chosen One must die."
"Lance, be careful!" Kitty yelled.
"Don't worry, I got this! OOF!!" Lance reassured loudly. But while Lance was talking to Kitty, Krodor managed to tackle Avalanche to the ground, knocking the earth-mover unconscious. Jake then blasted Krodor's face with a stream of flames from his mouth.
"AAAAHH!!" Krodor screamed. Rogue then downed the ape creature with a sweep kick as he was trying to regain his sight. She then hit him in the chest with an elbow, then smacked his head into the ground, knocking him out cold.
"How's that?" Rogue asked Jake.
"Nice." Jake smiled. Then they were ambushed by Bladus and Fadora. Fadora knocked Rogue away with a shoulder tackle, while Bladus punched Jake hard in the jaw.
"Hang on!" Kitty ran to help, but then... "AAHH!" She was caught in an energy field. Praktor had used the device over his eye to generate it.
"You can phase through matter, but not through energy, mutant." Praktor grinned as best he could. Jake and Rogue were battling Bladus and Fadora.
"Sorry, Chosen One." Bladus smirked. "But you must die."
"Chosen One?" Jake asked. "Why did you call me that?"
"You won't live to know anyway. YAHHHH!!!" Bladus charged Dragon, slashing with his claw arm. Jake dodged and grabbed his arm. "Wha--?" Calling on his wrestling knowledge, Dragon took Bladus down and trapped him in an armbar. Bladus bit Jake's foot with his sharp teeth, forcing Dragon to let go. Meanwhile, Rogue wasn't faring so well against Fadora. The southerner tried to fight the blue dragon, but Fadora was too skilled. She blocked all of Rogue's attacks, punched her hard in the stomach, then knocked her for a loop with a hard spinning kick.
"Uhhh." Rogue held her head, and decided she had enough. "That's it. Ah'm taking you out!" The southerner removed her gloves.
"What are you gonna do, slap me with your gloves?" Fadora mocked. Rogue smirked. "No." Rogue charged the female dragon. "Ah'm gonna show you why they call me Rogue!" She grabbed Fadora's head with her bare hands, but nothing happened. "What the?!?!"
"I know about your power, soulsucker." Fadora laughed as Rogue looked down at her bare hands in shock.
"How?" Rogue wondered mentally. "First, Ah discover Jake's immunity to mah powers, then this! How come Ah can't absorb her?" Rogue's train of thought was derailed by Fadora knocking her out with the hilt of her sword.
"Bladus was right. I did have some fun." She mused. She looked over at Praktor, who was taunting Kitty while she was struggling to get out of the energy field she was trapped in, and at the body of the unconscious Avalanche. She then decided to help Bladus, whom Jake had in a Figure Four.
"AAHHH!!!" Bladus screamed, trying to resist the pressure his legs were under. Fadora then stabbed at Jake with her sword. Jake had to roll and dodge the sword, but he released Bladus in the process. As Bladus clutched his legs, Fadora's sword stabbed into the ground. She tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge. Jake took the opportunity, running to her side, then quickly spearing her. Bladus got up and lifted Jake into the air, slamming him down into the ground. The green dragon then helped Fadora up. "C'mon, Fadora." The dazed blue dragon slowly got up, as did Jake. Meanwhile, Kitty was pounding at the energy field, trying to phase through it.
"Like, what is this?!? Jake!!" She screamed.
"Forget it!" Praktor snickered. "Your powers have limits. You can't phase through an energy field. And the Chosen One is powerless to save you." He pressed a button on his head-mounted device, and an electrical pulse shot through Kitty's body.
"AHHH!!!" She screamed. The pain was so much, she ended up passing out. Jake was having a tough time. It was a like a handicap match for him, facing off against Bladus and Fadora.
"How rude of me, Chosen One." Bladus smirked. "We didn't introduce ourselves. We know who you are, but you have no idea of who we are. I am Bladus, and this is Fadora. The unconscious one is Krodor, a native of Goryon. Praktor, the one who has your friend in the energy field, is from Avicon."
"What's going on?" Jake snarled. "Why are you here?"
"Simple, really." Fadora smirked. "You are the Chosen One. Our employer wants you dead."
"Chosen One?"
"They say that you are destined to save two worlds. We can't allow that." The blue dragon smirked.
"I don't know what this is all about..." Jake assumed a rather unique pose, a cross between a karate and a wrestling pose. "But if I must fight you to find out, I will."
"Good luck, kid." Bladus sneered. "Praktor!" Jake turned around quickly. Praktor hit Jake in the head with a kick. As Jake stumbled back, Bladus grabbed the wrestler and caught him in a headlock.
"Great warrior my scaly tail, Bladus!" Fadora looked at the incapacitated wrestler. "He can barely face one of us. Praktor pulled out one of his laser pistols.
"I say we finish him AAHH!!" Praktor's gun was kicked out of his hand by Jake, then he got kicked in the face. Jake wrapped his arms around Bladus's neck, and flipped him over in a snapmare. Fadora tried to catch the wrestling dragon from behind, but Jake took to the air, flying behind her. When she turned, Jake spat a fireball in her face. He then caught a glimpse of Rogue knocked out. Jake immediately ran to her side.
"Marie...My God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." During Jake's distraction, Fadora snuck up behind him and clubbed him in the head, knocking the wrestler out. She then held up the wrestler by the back of his Brock Lesnar shirt. She put the tip of her sword to his heart.
"Good bye, Chosen One." She smirked. As she was about to drive the sword into his heart, a roar was heard, and a shadow leapt out of the bushes.
Who leapt out of the bushes? Are they friend or foe? Are Jake and his friends doomed? Find out, in Genesis of a Dragon, pt. 9!