Genesis of a Dragon pt. 11
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Dear Journal,
Well, here we go! I'm going to the Dragon Kingdom. Wolverine, Storm, Lance, Kitty, Kurt and Fred are coming along with me, Rogue, Toad, and Foxfire. I have no idea what this place is like, nor do I have any idea what we'll do what we get there. For now, I guess we'll have to get used to the fact we'll be staying for a while. I'm really worried, and quite scared. Who knows what'll happen in another dimension? I tell you, being a destined hero is not going to be easy. I feel there'll be many dangers, but it'll be worth it.
-Jake "Dragon" Wildfire
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"FOOLS!" Tyrannis yelled at the top of his gruff voice. "You are all pathetic fools!!" The black dragon snapped at the four mercenaries. "I ask you to kill one pathetic human child, and you fail me miserably!"
"My Lord, please understand." Bladus pleaded. "We had the Chosen One where we wanted him, but the Prince showed up."
"He and his lousy friends showed up out of nowhere. We had no chance." Fadora added.
"No kidding." Krodor grumbled, massaging his jaw. "First the Lover knocks me out, then the old healer. I barely got a punch in." Praktor laughed.
"I managed to nearly capture a mutant." The parrot-man remembered. "Rancor and the others managed to save them, unfortunately. I would've loved to study the strange properties of the X-Gene."
"You and your trivial pursuits." Fadora grumbled. "Who cares about a lousy rogue strand of DNA?"
"That 'lousy rogue strand of DNA', as you so affectionately refer to it, has given these humans great powers. One of the mutants we attacked has great potential. The one called Avalanche has power over the earth, for example. If his powers grow, he could bend the very ground we stand on to his will!" Praktor snapped. Scarpena walked into the room, worry on her face.
"Finally, someone competent arrives." Tyrannis grumbled. The dragon sorceress bowed. "You have news?"
"I fear the Chosen One is coming to our world. He has his Prophets, and some help. Some mutants from his world are with him."
"Beautiful." Bladus grumbled. "What kind of powers do they possess?"
"I do not know yet." Scarpena replied. I will find out when they arrive."
"Do it." Tyrannis ordered.
"As you wish, my Lord." Scarpena bowed, and walked out of the room. The Dragon Tyrant turned to the mercenaries.
"Since I am in a good mood right now, I will give you fools another chance. I want the Chosen One and his Prophets dead. I want their heads presented to me. Get out, and I do not wish to see any of you clowns again until you have their heads!"
"As you wish, my Lord." Bladus and Fadora bowed. They quickly left the throne room, Krodor and Praktor behind them.
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"WHOAAAAAA!!!!" Everyone but Logan, Storm, and the dragons yelled. They were falling down a blue-and-black swirly "tunnel".
"This is insane, yo!" Toad yelled.
"Ja, zis is really crazy!" Kurt agreed.
"I think I'm gonna hurl." Lance moaned.
"Whatever you do Lance, don't puke!" Foxfire warned.
"What's going on here?!?!" Rogue screamed.
"We are traversing dimensions." Rancor explained calmly.
"I do zat when I teleport." Kurt said. "I jump into anozer dimension vhen I teleport."
"Incredible." Tralos remarked.
"How much longer is this fancy ride going to take?" Logan grumbled.
"I should end in a couple seconds." Rancor said. He saw a light at the end of the "tunnel". "Here we go."
"I gotta hurl!" Lance moaned. The heroes fell into the light.
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Bladus muttered as he, Fadora, Krodor, and Praktor walked down a corridor of the castle that Tyrannis stole from Rancor's family.
"What's wrong?" Fadora put a consoling hand on Bladus's shoulder.
"I can't believe that the Chosen One is alive." Bladus grumbled.
"What about the mutants?" Krodor moaned. "If this Chosen One has brought them, we could be in big trouble."
"We should attempt to capture them alive. We can study the X-Gene's properties, and hopefully use them to make us stronger."
"How, Beakface?" Krodor grumbled. "Transfer their powers to us?"
"It is possible." Praktor scratched his chin. "That gem. You know, the one with a different color on each face."
"The Jewel of Power." Bladus said. "That thing is believed to mystically enhance the powers of those who are exposed to its glow."
"That thing is unpredictable!" Fadora snapped. "It can give anyone any power and/or any kind of transformation! No way of predicting what kind of power it allows a person. Legends say one dragon got exposed to it and gained the strength of 50 dragons. Another dragon got exposed and got transformed into an ooze creature."
"You saying you found a way to over come that problem?" Krodor raised his blue eyebrows.
"No, but if Scarpena would let me examine it, I might find a way." Praktor replied.
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"WHOAA!!!" The mutants landed, their bodies piled up.
"Where are we?" Logan grumbled.
"The Dragon Kingdom." Rancor replied simply.
"Looks more like a post-apocalyptic wasteland to me." Fox quipped. He was definitely correct in his observation. The mutants and dragons landed in what appeared to be a junkyard. They were surrounded by piles of dirt, twisted metal, and destroyed machinery.
"Goddess. This is it?" Storm looked at the buildings around them. They were ruined, tops blasted off, windows broken, covered in rust, and generally conveying a mood of deep depression and tragedy.
"It wasn't always like this." Tralos sighed. "These buildings used to be proud, shiny and beautiful. This is Dracopolis, the main city of the Dragon Kingdom. This city used to be a bright light, but thanks to Tyrannis, it's now a dim broken bulb."
"It pains me to see this city like this." Windrazor sadly sighed.
"We must get to the castle. Tyrannis himself is there." Rancor pointed to a huge black castle. Based on its sight, it appeared to be at the very center of the city. It towered over the ruined skyscrapers, its very presence indicating immense evil and terror.
"No problem." Lance smirked.
"I guess I won't get that feast anytime soon, huh?" Blob looked over at Gwen.
"I guess not, Frederick. Forgive us." Blob smiled.
"S'Alright. And call me Freddy." The large mutant sighed.
"Goddess, this place is completely ruined." Storm sighed. She heard rumblings from a pile of junk behind her. Wolverine jumped in front of her, claws unsheathed.
"Come out of there, now!" Logan snapped at the pile. Two humanoid figures leapt out, ready for battle.
"You challenge us?" One of them said. The speaker looked like a wolfman. His brown fur and long white hair was unruly. He wore a silver chestplate, silver armbands, brown tattered boots, and a tattered brown loincloth and cape. A scabbard was hidden underneath the cape. His belt had a ring on it, which was used to attach a laser crossbow. He had a jagged sword drawn. The other character was just as strange-looking. He looked like a Ninja Turtle on steroids. His pink hair was in a big flattop. He had a red bandanna around his head, and he had a birdlike beak. His shell was covered in spikes, and each hand had three fingers and a thumb. He wore a brown loincloth, fabric strips wrapped around his forearms and calves, and he had a laser crossbow drawn at them. He had a patch of metal on his neck, with ten green lights on them.
"What're those things?" Kitty wailed.
"It's alright, Wolverine." Rancor pulled Logan back gently. "Tolkar. Rahnzor. Good to see you again."
"Prince Rancor!" The wolfman's yellow eyes bulged, quickly sheathing his sword. "Forgive me. We were merely defending our home."
"The furball is Tolkar." Tralos introduced in a disgusted manner. "The overgrown tortoise is Rahnzor. They live in this junkyard as scavengers." (A/N: Guess which movie I'm paying a tribute to with these two. It's one of my favorites.) The old dragon sighed. "They are friends of Windrazor and Rancor's."
"Indeed." Windrazor slithered over to the tortoise creature, and shook his hand. "How have you been?"
"Fine. We have been surviving." Rahnzor replied in a mechanical-sounding voice. Rogue noticed that the lights on the metal patch on his neck pulsated as he talked.
"Is that an artificial voice box?" Rogue pointed at it.
"Yes." Rahnzor replied, shaking his head sadly. "I was attacked by some of Tyrannis's infernal metal soldiers. They slashed my throat, destroying my vocal chords. I survived, but lost my natural voice. I am doomed to sound like those infernal soldiers for the rest of my days." A small tear left one of his green eyes. "I used to sing. I was a terrific singer."
"I'm, like, real sorry." Kitty put a hand on his shoulder. The tortoise-man looked at Shadowcat.
"It was not your fault. Who are these strange creatures?" Rancor put a hand on Jake's shoulder.
"Tolkar, Rahnzor, I want to introduce you to the one who will save us all. Jake Wildfire is our destined hero. We have brought his three Prophets with him as well." Rancor laughed. "Rogue, Todd, Jason, introduce yourselves."
"Mah name's Marie, but everyone calls me Rogue." Rogue said.
"Jason Fox, World's Sexiest Man." Jason took off his shades. "Man, is everyone in this Kingdom as ugly as you guys? OW!" Kitty smacked him upside the head.
"Like, be nice!" Kitty glared.
"Todd Tolensky, but everyone calls me Toad." Toad sighed.
"Toad is the Sage. Jason..." Windrazor started.
"Call me Fox." Jason said.
"Fox is the Warrior, and Rogue is the Lover." Windrazor explained. "These people are humans. However, there is a new form of humans coming about, called mutants. These humans happen to be mutants."
"Mutants, huh?" Rahnzor looked them over. "They do not look like mutants to me, except this one." The tortoise-man pointed to Kurt. "He resembles those blue elves that live in the Devil Forest."
"Kurt Wagner." Kurt introduced himself. "I'm known as Nightcrawler."
"Kitty Pryde." Kitty waved nervously. "I'm called Shadowcat because I can pass through things. If I pass through machinery, it shorts out."
"If Tyrannis's metal soldiers could fear, they would fear her." Rahnzor quipped.
"Metal soldiers?" Storm asked. "You mean, knights?"
"No, robots." Tralos told the weather goddess. "Tyrannis uses robotic soldiers to tighten his iron grip."
"The good news is, they are not very smart. Bad news is: they are incredibly tough." Gwen sighed. "They travel in groups, rarely alone. That makes them even more dangerous."
"Sounds like fun." Logan smirked. "The name's Logan, but everyone calls me Wolverine." The feral mutant unsheathed his claws. "I don't play games, bub." Windrazor smirked.
"I think I will enjoy fighting alongside you, Wolverine." The legless yellow dragon said.
"Wolverine possesses strong senses, an incredible healing factor, and unbreakable metal claws." Rancor told Rahnzor and Tolkar.
"My name is Ororo Munroe, but I am also known as Storm."
"Ms. Munroe can, like, control the weather." Kitty explained.
"A weather witch." Rahnzor said. "I didn't think they existed." Ororo looked slightly offended. "Sorry."
"Lance Alvers." Lance smirked. "Everyone calls me Avalanche."
"Lance possesses power over the earth." Tolkar put his hand on Avalanche's head.
"What're you --?" Lance wondered.
"I am reading your power." Tolkar said.
"He has that strange ability to predict what kind of abilities a creature has. You see, his species has the power to read DNA." Rahnzor explained.
"Interesting." Tolkar said. "Your powers are not fully grown. Eventually, you will be able to bend the very ground we stand on to your will."
"Cool!" Toad remarked.
"What does Nightcrawler do, besides being blue and furry?" Tralos quipped.
"Kurt can teleport, and stick to walls." Rogue told the dark red dragon.
"Quite a rag-tag bunch if I say so myself." Gwen laughed. "Then again, we were all mismatched. A prince, two knights, and a healer."
"Yeah. I'm the best-looking of the bunch, though." Fox quipped. "I mean, I got a really great costume! Chicks dig the costume." Foxfire pointed to his outfit. It was an orange bodysuit with a black chest. An orange "X" crossed the chest, with a red HBK-style broken heart in the center. A white stripe went down each leg, and he had white kneepads, white boots, white gloves, and orange "X" shields on his shoulders.
"I'm sure they do, yo." Toad rolled his eyes. "I'm sure they do."
"The day a woman finds Foxfire attractive is the day I lose my invulnerability." Blob quipped.
"Invulnerable, huh?" Tralos said. "Looks like the Gods are indeed smiling on us."
"Yes." Gwen said. "The Gods are indeed."
"Come." Tolkar waved with his hand. "We have a safe area hidden here." The mutants followed the six Dragon Kingdom natives. Rahnzor pulled a lever, and a fake pile of junk opened up, revealing a staircase. The mutants followed the six freedom fighters down the stairs, except for Storm. She looked at the tunnel, and shivered slightly. Fox noticed this.
"Oh God, her claustrophobia!" Foxfire grumbled. "Lousy fear of closed spaces." Storm glared at the Detroit mutant.
"He didn't mean it." Jake sighed. Rancor looked at her and nodded at Tralos, smiling. The old dark red dragon walked to her.
"I am sorry, but I cannot go in there." Storm sighed. "I do not like tunnels."
"That is no problem." Tralos put a hand on her cheek. Storm's eyes glowed and she fell asleep. The old dragon carried her over her shoulder.
"What'd you do to her?" Blob pointed at the seemingly unconscious Ororo.
"She's alright." Gwen waved. "Father just put her to sleep so we can traverse the tunnel."
"Yeah." Fox grinned. "No loud screaming and thunderbolts. Hallelujah!"
"Fox, do us a favor." Logan glared at the orange-haired Prophet. "Shut up."
"Now that we can rejoice!" Toad grinned, laughing.
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"Whaddaya mean I cannot examine your crystal?!?!" Praktor snapped at Scarpena. The two creatures were in the room of the Dragon Sorceress. She had candles all over the place, and numerous old bookshelves full of spell books. The only other furnishings...well, the only visible furnishings were a crystal ball, a bubbling cauldron, and a podium, used to place a book on. Scarpena glared at the parrot-man.
"I do not have the crystal!" She growled. "I had sent a party to retrieve the crystal from the Mountains of Pygor. Those lousy mechanical soldiers were able to retrieve the crystal, but they were attacked by Rancor and his party. The Prince is beginning to fancy himself a dragon version of Robin Hood. Rancor stole the crystal."
"If he has it, how come he hasn't been affected by its blasted glow?"
"Sunlight does not create the crystal's infamous aura, fool." Scarpena grumbled. "Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me. It requires an incantation." The Dragon Sorceress smirked at Praktor. "I do have it in one of my books."
"I can hardly believe that I need the aid of magic." Praktor sighed. "I am a scientist. There is a logical explanation for everything. Even the crystal. If I find it, I can examine it and discover a logical explanation for its power. I might even find a way to predict what kind of power it will give."
"You are a fool, Praktor." Scarpena walked to a shelf and grasped a book. "Magic has no 'logical explanation'. It can do things the machines and science you worship find impossible. The crystal is not meant to be harnessed in that manner. The blessings and curses it creates are for a reason, only known by the Gods."
"Aw, for the love of Altos!" Praktor cried out, flicking his arm/wing in frustration. "You are nuts! You dragons never cease to amaze me! You live in a combination of science and magic!"
"Magic exists for a reason, just like you or I exist." Scarpena simply replied, reading through the book. "Find the crystal and bring it to me."
"Do not order me around until you get some sense." Praktor growled.
"You want power? Get the crystal." Scarpena growled. "Unless you want to be pounded repeatedly by the Chosen One and his friends."
"Fine." Praktor grumbled, walking out of the chamber. He passed by Krodor when he went to the hall. The blue ape-man was leaning against the chamber wall next to the door, smirking with arms crossed.
"You just won't admit you're wrong, Beakface." Krodor grinned.
"Shut up, you savage." Praktor grumbled. "The Jewel of Power is not magical. It has a logical explanation for its abilities."
"How do you explain the fact it has a different color on each face?" Krodor raised a blue eyebrow.
"Don't make me laugh." Praktor scoffed. "Impurities in a crystal's molecular structure cause it to have certain colors. The crystal must have grown under strange circumstances to have impurities like that."
"It's magic. It needs an incantation to work."
"It's coincidence. The crystal emits a pulse of mutagenic radiation at certain intervals. It's pure coincidence that matches the incantation chant times with the pulses. I've just explained not just the incantation, but why the crystal empowers people different ways."
"Good theory, but you got some holes." Krodor started counting on his fingers. "One, I've seen the crystal. Each face is a perfect color, no colors leaking into other faces. Y'know, no red face with specks of blue on it, for example. And, it emits radiation. What's the source? What kind of radiation is it? And how does the crystal create this radiation?" Praktor thought it over, but he couldn't come up with an answer, only shrugging. Krodor smirked. "See? Some things can't be explained logically." Praktor grumbled.
"Just because something has no explanation now, it does not mean that it is magic!" Praktor groaned. "It just can't be explained currently."
"Fine, be that way. You never could admit you're wrong. We'd better get out of here. If Tyrannis finds us, he'll gut us alive." Krodor sighed. Praktor followed the ape-man.
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"Hmmm..." Tyrannis mused, staring at his throne room, its ornate statues and beautiful decorations. "The amulet...I must have the amulet...Where could it have gone..."
"My lord..." A nasal and gravelling voice said. Tyrannis looked in front of him, and saw a black dragon with green hair, tied back in a ponytail. He was clad in silver armor, and he bowed toward Tyrannis. However, this dragon was similar to Windrazor in two aspects: He had no legs, and his face and body were sleeker than other dragons. One could assume that Windrazor and this dragon were from the same region.
"Ahhh. Shadowracer." The dragon tyrant smirked. "I trust you know about the amulet and the Chosen One business."
"Indeed I do, your lordship. I must ask you, why was I not included in the attack in the human world?" Shadowracer rose.
"I made the mistake of believing the four mercenaries could destroy four simple human children." Tyrannis grumbled. He looked up at the one he named Royal Guard Captain. "Shadowracer, I trust you've found out that the Chosen One is here. Not just here, but he has brought some allies from his world."
"Indeed." Shadowracer nodded. "I have begun amassing forces to attack them."
"Actually, I was hoping you'd recover the amulet."
"Recover it, my lord? I would gladly do so, but I have no idea where the artifact is."
"In the human world." Scarpena walked up to the dragon tyrant and his Royal Guard Captain. "It makes perfect sense. Rancor would not expect us to keep the amulet there." Tyrannis mulled over the statement.
"Indeed." He agreed. "But where?"
"Somewhere associated with the Chosen One. Maybe with a friend or a place." Scarpena suggested.
"The town that he lives in. What is it called? Bayville?" Shadowracer said. "I suggest it might be there, my lord."
"Indeed." Tyrannis said. "Fine. Shadowracer, amass all the forces you need. Go to this 'Bayville' and find the amulet half!"
"My lord, they might have defenses." Scarpena cut in. "They might require assistance."
"Agreed." Tyrannis turned to the sorceress. "Go to the human world with Shadowracer, and retrieve the amulet piece! If you encounter any resistance, destroy it." Scarpena looked shocked at the order, but she obeyed.
"Yes, my lord." Scarpena and Shadowracer bowed. They then left the throne room.
"Soon, Rancor...Soon, Chosen One...The three of us shall meet, and two will fall. Humanity will get its revenge for turning on the dragons, and their world will fall to us, its rightful rulers." Tyrannis smirked as his twisted mind came up with ideas about what he'd do with the humans.
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"So, you guys are almost the only ones here?" Wolverine asked Rancor. The team of mutants and dragons were traveling in an underground tunnel. An unconscious Ororo was carried over Tralos's shoulder. The old dragon seemed to not mind carrying her, and she had a peaceful look on her face. Kurt couldn't help but notice it.
"Uh, Tralos?" Kurt asked.
"Yes, Kurt?"
"If Storm wakes up here..." Kurt started to warn the old dragon.
"She will only wake when I determine." Tralos said. "As soon as we get back above ground, I shall wake Storm from her slumber." At the same time, Rancor and Wolverine were talking.
"Most of the dragons evacuated the city when Tyrannis put the forcefield up." Rancor grumbled.
"Forcefield?" Rogue asked.
"Yes, a forcefield." Windrazor confirmed. "Created by a combination of an emitter in Tyrannis's castle and reinforced by Scarpena's evil magic."
"Magic and science, side-by-side." Kurt shook his head. "I see it, but I still can't believe it." The group continued on silently, until Kitty spoke up.
"Why are we underground? Can't you dragons, like, fly? You do have wings."
"We can, but Tyrannis has ways of shooting down aerial targets." Tralos said. "Trust me, they're not very pretty."
"Storm can, like, provide fog as cover."
"Will you knock off the yappin'?" Foxfire grumbled. "If any of your big mouths wake up Storm, and we're not out of this tunnel, we're roasted."
"She will only wake once I say. Not before." Tralos sighed.
"Are all humans this loudmouthed?" Rahnzor pointed at Fox.
"No, just the Warrior." Rancor smirked.
"Hey, without me, you can't beat Tyrannis. Watch what you say." Fox smirked.
"Ah hope Foxy don't go on an ego trip." Rogue grumbled.
"I think it might be a little late." Gwen sighed. The team stopped at what resembled a manhole.
"We're here." Tolkar said. He stood ahead of Rancor, and lifted the cover. The wolf-man pulled himself up through the hole, as if he was checking to see if it was safe. The others waited for a minute.
"What's the hairball doing?" Logan asked.
"Making sure everything's safe." Rancor answered.
"All clear." Tolkar called out. The manhole cover was in the middle of what looked like the remnants of a medieval-themed hotel lobby. The wolf-man helped pull up the others, except for one problem. Thankfully, Fred was the last one to try. "He's stuck!"
"Told you. You need to lose weight, fat boy." Foxfire smirked. Fred glared at the orange-haired Detroit native.
"You are so lucky you are needed as part of a legend."
"Like, what's this?" Kitty held up a jewel. It looked like two pyramids glued together at their bases, about the size of a small football. Each face was a different color: Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, and white.
"The Jewel of Power." Windrazor laughed. "Rancor and I stole it from Tyrannis a while back.
What'll happen to the X-Men back in Bayville? Can they successfully defend the amulet half from Scarpena and Shadowracer's forces of android soldiers? How does the Jewel of Power fit into all this? Find out in Genesis of a Dragon, part 12! Suggestions for next chapter welcome.
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Dear Journal,
Well, here we go! I'm going to the Dragon Kingdom. Wolverine, Storm, Lance, Kitty, Kurt and Fred are coming along with me, Rogue, Toad, and Foxfire. I have no idea what this place is like, nor do I have any idea what we'll do what we get there. For now, I guess we'll have to get used to the fact we'll be staying for a while. I'm really worried, and quite scared. Who knows what'll happen in another dimension? I tell you, being a destined hero is not going to be easy. I feel there'll be many dangers, but it'll be worth it.
-Jake "Dragon" Wildfire
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"FOOLS!" Tyrannis yelled at the top of his gruff voice. "You are all pathetic fools!!" The black dragon snapped at the four mercenaries. "I ask you to kill one pathetic human child, and you fail me miserably!"
"My Lord, please understand." Bladus pleaded. "We had the Chosen One where we wanted him, but the Prince showed up."
"He and his lousy friends showed up out of nowhere. We had no chance." Fadora added.
"No kidding." Krodor grumbled, massaging his jaw. "First the Lover knocks me out, then the old healer. I barely got a punch in." Praktor laughed.
"I managed to nearly capture a mutant." The parrot-man remembered. "Rancor and the others managed to save them, unfortunately. I would've loved to study the strange properties of the X-Gene."
"You and your trivial pursuits." Fadora grumbled. "Who cares about a lousy rogue strand of DNA?"
"That 'lousy rogue strand of DNA', as you so affectionately refer to it, has given these humans great powers. One of the mutants we attacked has great potential. The one called Avalanche has power over the earth, for example. If his powers grow, he could bend the very ground we stand on to his will!" Praktor snapped. Scarpena walked into the room, worry on her face.
"Finally, someone competent arrives." Tyrannis grumbled. The dragon sorceress bowed. "You have news?"
"I fear the Chosen One is coming to our world. He has his Prophets, and some help. Some mutants from his world are with him."
"Beautiful." Bladus grumbled. "What kind of powers do they possess?"
"I do not know yet." Scarpena replied. I will find out when they arrive."
"Do it." Tyrannis ordered.
"As you wish, my Lord." Scarpena bowed, and walked out of the room. The Dragon Tyrant turned to the mercenaries.
"Since I am in a good mood right now, I will give you fools another chance. I want the Chosen One and his Prophets dead. I want their heads presented to me. Get out, and I do not wish to see any of you clowns again until you have their heads!"
"As you wish, my Lord." Bladus and Fadora bowed. They quickly left the throne room, Krodor and Praktor behind them.
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"WHOAAAAAA!!!!" Everyone but Logan, Storm, and the dragons yelled. They were falling down a blue-and-black swirly "tunnel".
"This is insane, yo!" Toad yelled.
"Ja, zis is really crazy!" Kurt agreed.
"I think I'm gonna hurl." Lance moaned.
"Whatever you do Lance, don't puke!" Foxfire warned.
"What's going on here?!?!" Rogue screamed.
"We are traversing dimensions." Rancor explained calmly.
"I do zat when I teleport." Kurt said. "I jump into anozer dimension vhen I teleport."
"Incredible." Tralos remarked.
"How much longer is this fancy ride going to take?" Logan grumbled.
"I should end in a couple seconds." Rancor said. He saw a light at the end of the "tunnel". "Here we go."
"I gotta hurl!" Lance moaned. The heroes fell into the light.
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Bladus muttered as he, Fadora, Krodor, and Praktor walked down a corridor of the castle that Tyrannis stole from Rancor's family.
"What's wrong?" Fadora put a consoling hand on Bladus's shoulder.
"I can't believe that the Chosen One is alive." Bladus grumbled.
"What about the mutants?" Krodor moaned. "If this Chosen One has brought them, we could be in big trouble."
"We should attempt to capture them alive. We can study the X-Gene's properties, and hopefully use them to make us stronger."
"How, Beakface?" Krodor grumbled. "Transfer their powers to us?"
"It is possible." Praktor scratched his chin. "That gem. You know, the one with a different color on each face."
"The Jewel of Power." Bladus said. "That thing is believed to mystically enhance the powers of those who are exposed to its glow."
"That thing is unpredictable!" Fadora snapped. "It can give anyone any power and/or any kind of transformation! No way of predicting what kind of power it allows a person. Legends say one dragon got exposed to it and gained the strength of 50 dragons. Another dragon got exposed and got transformed into an ooze creature."
"You saying you found a way to over come that problem?" Krodor raised his blue eyebrows.
"No, but if Scarpena would let me examine it, I might find a way." Praktor replied.
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"WHOAA!!!" The mutants landed, their bodies piled up.
"Where are we?" Logan grumbled.
"The Dragon Kingdom." Rancor replied simply.
"Looks more like a post-apocalyptic wasteland to me." Fox quipped. He was definitely correct in his observation. The mutants and dragons landed in what appeared to be a junkyard. They were surrounded by piles of dirt, twisted metal, and destroyed machinery.
"Goddess. This is it?" Storm looked at the buildings around them. They were ruined, tops blasted off, windows broken, covered in rust, and generally conveying a mood of deep depression and tragedy.
"It wasn't always like this." Tralos sighed. "These buildings used to be proud, shiny and beautiful. This is Dracopolis, the main city of the Dragon Kingdom. This city used to be a bright light, but thanks to Tyrannis, it's now a dim broken bulb."
"It pains me to see this city like this." Windrazor sadly sighed.
"We must get to the castle. Tyrannis himself is there." Rancor pointed to a huge black castle. Based on its sight, it appeared to be at the very center of the city. It towered over the ruined skyscrapers, its very presence indicating immense evil and terror.
"No problem." Lance smirked.
"I guess I won't get that feast anytime soon, huh?" Blob looked over at Gwen.
"I guess not, Frederick. Forgive us." Blob smiled.
"S'Alright. And call me Freddy." The large mutant sighed.
"Goddess, this place is completely ruined." Storm sighed. She heard rumblings from a pile of junk behind her. Wolverine jumped in front of her, claws unsheathed.
"Come out of there, now!" Logan snapped at the pile. Two humanoid figures leapt out, ready for battle.
"You challenge us?" One of them said. The speaker looked like a wolfman. His brown fur and long white hair was unruly. He wore a silver chestplate, silver armbands, brown tattered boots, and a tattered brown loincloth and cape. A scabbard was hidden underneath the cape. His belt had a ring on it, which was used to attach a laser crossbow. He had a jagged sword drawn. The other character was just as strange-looking. He looked like a Ninja Turtle on steroids. His pink hair was in a big flattop. He had a red bandanna around his head, and he had a birdlike beak. His shell was covered in spikes, and each hand had three fingers and a thumb. He wore a brown loincloth, fabric strips wrapped around his forearms and calves, and he had a laser crossbow drawn at them. He had a patch of metal on his neck, with ten green lights on them.
"What're those things?" Kitty wailed.
"It's alright, Wolverine." Rancor pulled Logan back gently. "Tolkar. Rahnzor. Good to see you again."
"Prince Rancor!" The wolfman's yellow eyes bulged, quickly sheathing his sword. "Forgive me. We were merely defending our home."
"The furball is Tolkar." Tralos introduced in a disgusted manner. "The overgrown tortoise is Rahnzor. They live in this junkyard as scavengers." (A/N: Guess which movie I'm paying a tribute to with these two. It's one of my favorites.) The old dragon sighed. "They are friends of Windrazor and Rancor's."
"Indeed." Windrazor slithered over to the tortoise creature, and shook his hand. "How have you been?"
"Fine. We have been surviving." Rahnzor replied in a mechanical-sounding voice. Rogue noticed that the lights on the metal patch on his neck pulsated as he talked.
"Is that an artificial voice box?" Rogue pointed at it.
"Yes." Rahnzor replied, shaking his head sadly. "I was attacked by some of Tyrannis's infernal metal soldiers. They slashed my throat, destroying my vocal chords. I survived, but lost my natural voice. I am doomed to sound like those infernal soldiers for the rest of my days." A small tear left one of his green eyes. "I used to sing. I was a terrific singer."
"I'm, like, real sorry." Kitty put a hand on his shoulder. The tortoise-man looked at Shadowcat.
"It was not your fault. Who are these strange creatures?" Rancor put a hand on Jake's shoulder.
"Tolkar, Rahnzor, I want to introduce you to the one who will save us all. Jake Wildfire is our destined hero. We have brought his three Prophets with him as well." Rancor laughed. "Rogue, Todd, Jason, introduce yourselves."
"Mah name's Marie, but everyone calls me Rogue." Rogue said.
"Jason Fox, World's Sexiest Man." Jason took off his shades. "Man, is everyone in this Kingdom as ugly as you guys? OW!" Kitty smacked him upside the head.
"Like, be nice!" Kitty glared.
"Todd Tolensky, but everyone calls me Toad." Toad sighed.
"Toad is the Sage. Jason..." Windrazor started.
"Call me Fox." Jason said.
"Fox is the Warrior, and Rogue is the Lover." Windrazor explained. "These people are humans. However, there is a new form of humans coming about, called mutants. These humans happen to be mutants."
"Mutants, huh?" Rahnzor looked them over. "They do not look like mutants to me, except this one." The tortoise-man pointed to Kurt. "He resembles those blue elves that live in the Devil Forest."
"Kurt Wagner." Kurt introduced himself. "I'm known as Nightcrawler."
"Kitty Pryde." Kitty waved nervously. "I'm called Shadowcat because I can pass through things. If I pass through machinery, it shorts out."
"If Tyrannis's metal soldiers could fear, they would fear her." Rahnzor quipped.
"Metal soldiers?" Storm asked. "You mean, knights?"
"No, robots." Tralos told the weather goddess. "Tyrannis uses robotic soldiers to tighten his iron grip."
"The good news is, they are not very smart. Bad news is: they are incredibly tough." Gwen sighed. "They travel in groups, rarely alone. That makes them even more dangerous."
"Sounds like fun." Logan smirked. "The name's Logan, but everyone calls me Wolverine." The feral mutant unsheathed his claws. "I don't play games, bub." Windrazor smirked.
"I think I will enjoy fighting alongside you, Wolverine." The legless yellow dragon said.
"Wolverine possesses strong senses, an incredible healing factor, and unbreakable metal claws." Rancor told Rahnzor and Tolkar.
"My name is Ororo Munroe, but I am also known as Storm."
"Ms. Munroe can, like, control the weather." Kitty explained.
"A weather witch." Rahnzor said. "I didn't think they existed." Ororo looked slightly offended. "Sorry."
"Lance Alvers." Lance smirked. "Everyone calls me Avalanche."
"Lance possesses power over the earth." Tolkar put his hand on Avalanche's head.
"What're you --?" Lance wondered.
"I am reading your power." Tolkar said.
"He has that strange ability to predict what kind of abilities a creature has. You see, his species has the power to read DNA." Rahnzor explained.
"Interesting." Tolkar said. "Your powers are not fully grown. Eventually, you will be able to bend the very ground we stand on to your will."
"Cool!" Toad remarked.
"What does Nightcrawler do, besides being blue and furry?" Tralos quipped.
"Kurt can teleport, and stick to walls." Rogue told the dark red dragon.
"Quite a rag-tag bunch if I say so myself." Gwen laughed. "Then again, we were all mismatched. A prince, two knights, and a healer."
"Yeah. I'm the best-looking of the bunch, though." Fox quipped. "I mean, I got a really great costume! Chicks dig the costume." Foxfire pointed to his outfit. It was an orange bodysuit with a black chest. An orange "X" crossed the chest, with a red HBK-style broken heart in the center. A white stripe went down each leg, and he had white kneepads, white boots, white gloves, and orange "X" shields on his shoulders.
"I'm sure they do, yo." Toad rolled his eyes. "I'm sure they do."
"The day a woman finds Foxfire attractive is the day I lose my invulnerability." Blob quipped.
"Invulnerable, huh?" Tralos said. "Looks like the Gods are indeed smiling on us."
"Yes." Gwen said. "The Gods are indeed."
"Come." Tolkar waved with his hand. "We have a safe area hidden here." The mutants followed the six Dragon Kingdom natives. Rahnzor pulled a lever, and a fake pile of junk opened up, revealing a staircase. The mutants followed the six freedom fighters down the stairs, except for Storm. She looked at the tunnel, and shivered slightly. Fox noticed this.
"Oh God, her claustrophobia!" Foxfire grumbled. "Lousy fear of closed spaces." Storm glared at the Detroit mutant.
"He didn't mean it." Jake sighed. Rancor looked at her and nodded at Tralos, smiling. The old dark red dragon walked to her.
"I am sorry, but I cannot go in there." Storm sighed. "I do not like tunnels."
"That is no problem." Tralos put a hand on her cheek. Storm's eyes glowed and she fell asleep. The old dragon carried her over her shoulder.
"What'd you do to her?" Blob pointed at the seemingly unconscious Ororo.
"She's alright." Gwen waved. "Father just put her to sleep so we can traverse the tunnel."
"Yeah." Fox grinned. "No loud screaming and thunderbolts. Hallelujah!"
"Fox, do us a favor." Logan glared at the orange-haired Prophet. "Shut up."
"Now that we can rejoice!" Toad grinned, laughing.
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"Whaddaya mean I cannot examine your crystal?!?!" Praktor snapped at Scarpena. The two creatures were in the room of the Dragon Sorceress. She had candles all over the place, and numerous old bookshelves full of spell books. The only other furnishings...well, the only visible furnishings were a crystal ball, a bubbling cauldron, and a podium, used to place a book on. Scarpena glared at the parrot-man.
"I do not have the crystal!" She growled. "I had sent a party to retrieve the crystal from the Mountains of Pygor. Those lousy mechanical soldiers were able to retrieve the crystal, but they were attacked by Rancor and his party. The Prince is beginning to fancy himself a dragon version of Robin Hood. Rancor stole the crystal."
"If he has it, how come he hasn't been affected by its blasted glow?"
"Sunlight does not create the crystal's infamous aura, fool." Scarpena grumbled. "Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me. It requires an incantation." The Dragon Sorceress smirked at Praktor. "I do have it in one of my books."
"I can hardly believe that I need the aid of magic." Praktor sighed. "I am a scientist. There is a logical explanation for everything. Even the crystal. If I find it, I can examine it and discover a logical explanation for its power. I might even find a way to predict what kind of power it will give."
"You are a fool, Praktor." Scarpena walked to a shelf and grasped a book. "Magic has no 'logical explanation'. It can do things the machines and science you worship find impossible. The crystal is not meant to be harnessed in that manner. The blessings and curses it creates are for a reason, only known by the Gods."
"Aw, for the love of Altos!" Praktor cried out, flicking his arm/wing in frustration. "You are nuts! You dragons never cease to amaze me! You live in a combination of science and magic!"
"Magic exists for a reason, just like you or I exist." Scarpena simply replied, reading through the book. "Find the crystal and bring it to me."
"Do not order me around until you get some sense." Praktor growled.
"You want power? Get the crystal." Scarpena growled. "Unless you want to be pounded repeatedly by the Chosen One and his friends."
"Fine." Praktor grumbled, walking out of the chamber. He passed by Krodor when he went to the hall. The blue ape-man was leaning against the chamber wall next to the door, smirking with arms crossed.
"You just won't admit you're wrong, Beakface." Krodor grinned.
"Shut up, you savage." Praktor grumbled. "The Jewel of Power is not magical. It has a logical explanation for its abilities."
"How do you explain the fact it has a different color on each face?" Krodor raised a blue eyebrow.
"Don't make me laugh." Praktor scoffed. "Impurities in a crystal's molecular structure cause it to have certain colors. The crystal must have grown under strange circumstances to have impurities like that."
"It's magic. It needs an incantation to work."
"It's coincidence. The crystal emits a pulse of mutagenic radiation at certain intervals. It's pure coincidence that matches the incantation chant times with the pulses. I've just explained not just the incantation, but why the crystal empowers people different ways."
"Good theory, but you got some holes." Krodor started counting on his fingers. "One, I've seen the crystal. Each face is a perfect color, no colors leaking into other faces. Y'know, no red face with specks of blue on it, for example. And, it emits radiation. What's the source? What kind of radiation is it? And how does the crystal create this radiation?" Praktor thought it over, but he couldn't come up with an answer, only shrugging. Krodor smirked. "See? Some things can't be explained logically." Praktor grumbled.
"Just because something has no explanation now, it does not mean that it is magic!" Praktor groaned. "It just can't be explained currently."
"Fine, be that way. You never could admit you're wrong. We'd better get out of here. If Tyrannis finds us, he'll gut us alive." Krodor sighed. Praktor followed the ape-man.
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"Hmmm..." Tyrannis mused, staring at his throne room, its ornate statues and beautiful decorations. "The amulet...I must have the amulet...Where could it have gone..."
"My lord..." A nasal and gravelling voice said. Tyrannis looked in front of him, and saw a black dragon with green hair, tied back in a ponytail. He was clad in silver armor, and he bowed toward Tyrannis. However, this dragon was similar to Windrazor in two aspects: He had no legs, and his face and body were sleeker than other dragons. One could assume that Windrazor and this dragon were from the same region.
"Ahhh. Shadowracer." The dragon tyrant smirked. "I trust you know about the amulet and the Chosen One business."
"Indeed I do, your lordship. I must ask you, why was I not included in the attack in the human world?" Shadowracer rose.
"I made the mistake of believing the four mercenaries could destroy four simple human children." Tyrannis grumbled. He looked up at the one he named Royal Guard Captain. "Shadowracer, I trust you've found out that the Chosen One is here. Not just here, but he has brought some allies from his world."
"Indeed." Shadowracer nodded. "I have begun amassing forces to attack them."
"Actually, I was hoping you'd recover the amulet."
"Recover it, my lord? I would gladly do so, but I have no idea where the artifact is."
"In the human world." Scarpena walked up to the dragon tyrant and his Royal Guard Captain. "It makes perfect sense. Rancor would not expect us to keep the amulet there." Tyrannis mulled over the statement.
"Indeed." He agreed. "But where?"
"Somewhere associated with the Chosen One. Maybe with a friend or a place." Scarpena suggested.
"The town that he lives in. What is it called? Bayville?" Shadowracer said. "I suggest it might be there, my lord."
"Indeed." Tyrannis said. "Fine. Shadowracer, amass all the forces you need. Go to this 'Bayville' and find the amulet half!"
"My lord, they might have defenses." Scarpena cut in. "They might require assistance."
"Agreed." Tyrannis turned to the sorceress. "Go to the human world with Shadowracer, and retrieve the amulet piece! If you encounter any resistance, destroy it." Scarpena looked shocked at the order, but she obeyed.
"Yes, my lord." Scarpena and Shadowracer bowed. They then left the throne room.
"Soon, Rancor...Soon, Chosen One...The three of us shall meet, and two will fall. Humanity will get its revenge for turning on the dragons, and their world will fall to us, its rightful rulers." Tyrannis smirked as his twisted mind came up with ideas about what he'd do with the humans.
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"So, you guys are almost the only ones here?" Wolverine asked Rancor. The team of mutants and dragons were traveling in an underground tunnel. An unconscious Ororo was carried over Tralos's shoulder. The old dragon seemed to not mind carrying her, and she had a peaceful look on her face. Kurt couldn't help but notice it.
"Uh, Tralos?" Kurt asked.
"Yes, Kurt?"
"If Storm wakes up here..." Kurt started to warn the old dragon.
"She will only wake when I determine." Tralos said. "As soon as we get back above ground, I shall wake Storm from her slumber." At the same time, Rancor and Wolverine were talking.
"Most of the dragons evacuated the city when Tyrannis put the forcefield up." Rancor grumbled.
"Forcefield?" Rogue asked.
"Yes, a forcefield." Windrazor confirmed. "Created by a combination of an emitter in Tyrannis's castle and reinforced by Scarpena's evil magic."
"Magic and science, side-by-side." Kurt shook his head. "I see it, but I still can't believe it." The group continued on silently, until Kitty spoke up.
"Why are we underground? Can't you dragons, like, fly? You do have wings."
"We can, but Tyrannis has ways of shooting down aerial targets." Tralos said. "Trust me, they're not very pretty."
"Storm can, like, provide fog as cover."
"Will you knock off the yappin'?" Foxfire grumbled. "If any of your big mouths wake up Storm, and we're not out of this tunnel, we're roasted."
"She will only wake once I say. Not before." Tralos sighed.
"Are all humans this loudmouthed?" Rahnzor pointed at Fox.
"No, just the Warrior." Rancor smirked.
"Hey, without me, you can't beat Tyrannis. Watch what you say." Fox smirked.
"Ah hope Foxy don't go on an ego trip." Rogue grumbled.
"I think it might be a little late." Gwen sighed. The team stopped at what resembled a manhole.
"We're here." Tolkar said. He stood ahead of Rancor, and lifted the cover. The wolf-man pulled himself up through the hole, as if he was checking to see if it was safe. The others waited for a minute.
"What's the hairball doing?" Logan asked.
"Making sure everything's safe." Rancor answered.
"All clear." Tolkar called out. The manhole cover was in the middle of what looked like the remnants of a medieval-themed hotel lobby. The wolf-man helped pull up the others, except for one problem. Thankfully, Fred was the last one to try. "He's stuck!"
"Told you. You need to lose weight, fat boy." Foxfire smirked. Fred glared at the orange-haired Detroit native.
"You are so lucky you are needed as part of a legend."
"Like, what's this?" Kitty held up a jewel. It looked like two pyramids glued together at their bases, about the size of a small football. Each face was a different color: Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, and white.
"The Jewel of Power." Windrazor laughed. "Rancor and I stole it from Tyrannis a while back.
What'll happen to the X-Men back in Bayville? Can they successfully defend the amulet half from Scarpena and Shadowracer's forces of android soldiers? How does the Jewel of Power fit into all this? Find out in Genesis of a Dragon, part 12! Suggestions for next chapter welcome.