Good day, all nice and patient peoples! I'm gonna get to the point here, which is what anyone currently reading this wants to see- the next chapter.. Here it is, everyone!

"The Many Tails of Mamas Lyoli: Strikes Back"

The Subway Inn was named appropriately- it was directly under the path of the New York subway. It was a good place to stay; the problem was that the constant rattling of the subway overhead annoyed the visitors. The inn shook, pictures fell off the walls: not a very peaceful place. That would make it a perfect spot to lay low for a while, what with the lack of crowds. That was what Mamas Lyoli was probably doing in there. If she even was there. However, Pancho DID seem scared. He knew his place, and likely wouldn't try to fool two dragons, right? Well, they'd find out soon enough.

"Sigh. May I help you?" asked the troll running the service desk at the Subway Inn. The troll, a she, looked as if she'd seen better days, as well as seen better sleep. She looked around fifty in Jake's opinion, although he did know that trolls lived longer, so she could be... wow.

"Yes, we were wondering if you might have a guest staying here that we are looking for. Her name is Mamas Lyoli", replied Grandpa

"Hm...", said the troll as she thumbed through the guest records, "No, don't see anyone. Sure you've got the right place? I mean, there's the Hawk's Nest down the road... quieter, more popular, pays more...", she sighed.

Jake and Grandpa bowed to her and walked back outside. Outside, you could hear the subway going by, complete with the crashing of pictures and screaming of people inside the inn.

"So... now what, Gramps?", asked Jake. "Apparently, she's not there."

"Not so, Jake", replied Grandpa, "Remember when we were discussing the possibility that Mamas Lyoli may not be Mamas Lyoli at all?"

"Yeah. So you think that Mamas Lyoli is this person's disguise?"

"Not necessarily. I believe that Mamas Lyoli is in fact the one we are dealing with. She has just cleverly checked in under a different name. I do not think that Pancho would've lied to us. Unfortunately, we have no way to find her... in the hotel. We may want to go back to Pancho; maybe we can coax some more information out of him."

(End)

"And what do you suppose that we can ask him? Or, what more than we've already asked?", asked Jake as they neared Pancho's store.

"Well, I am not sure. Maybe he will know where Mamas Lyoli sometimes goes besides the Subway Inn", Grandpa replied, "That is all we can really do at the moment."

"Yeah, I see", Jake said, "Okay, was this the place?"

It was. The actual name of the place, something Jake hadn't noticed before, was Pancho's Potions. (Alliteration...whassupwitdat?) It wasn't the coolest building to be seen on the road, as it was simply brown with the paint peeling, but it seemed to be the second busiest, next to the Hot Dog Stand that was placed right in front of Pancho's store. They were about to walk inside, when Grandpa motioned for him to stay outside. Straining their ears to listen, they overheard the distinct voice of Pancho telling someone inside to "go back there. I'll be back there in a second". "I am not positive, but I have a feeling that we may need to go through the back."

"Er, Gramps, is there a back door?", he asked as he eyed the window. As Pancho was helping a previous customer, he was signaling for a dark figure to go into the back of the store. The figure seemed older, judging by the way she was bent over slightly, and was covered with a long black cape and a black hat...

"It's her! Mamas Lyoli, Grandpa!", Jake whispered fiercely, "She's in the store! All we have to do is jump in there, I go KA-POW, and we're out! It's not like Pancho could do anything to stop us!" He turned back to the window. Pancho was no longer behind the counter. "C'mon! They're both back there now! Let's go an' get 'em both!" But as he continued to watch the window, he soon saw that Grandpa was already inside, scurrying along as an old man does. "Hey! Wait!", Jake exclaimed as he ran inside the store.

"What took you so long, young one?", asked Grandpa, "I thought I would have to do this alone." He peeked around the corner, only to have his face inches away from Pancho's shirt! It was a wonder that Pancho did not know that they had come in. Close by, straining themselves not to breathe heavily, they listened in on the conversation between the two.

"Mamas Lyoli! What a pleasure it is to see you again! How are things?", asked Pancho right off the bat. He seemed happy to see her... maybe just a little too happy.

"Cut it out, Pancho, we don't have to act like that anymore. Or should I say... Natalie?"

Before either Jake or Grandpa could comprehend what she had just said, Pancho's form quickly shifted into that of a young, brown-haired girl. It was Natalie Portman.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: For all of those who didn't read "You Raise Me Up", also by me, Natalie Portman is the girl that Jake rescues from the burning building. If you'd like to know what happens, go ahead and read it already! Ooh, I love a twist, even if it is just minor.)

Jake was just about as surprised as Grandpa. Natalie Portman... a girl from his school... almost revealed him as a dragon... non-magical as he thought... was in reality a shapeshifter. And a deadly one at that. Another apprenticeship- just as Jake had with Grandpa. (And, of course, for those who watch the show, between Rose/Huntsgirl and her uncle- one that as I write this Jake does not know about yet, but will, let me assure you!) Grandpa was flattered since he had just witnessed Pancho change into someone he was not. Was Pancho always... this girl? Like he said, this is why Grandpa did not like shapeshifters.

"Aah, it feels so good to be out of that body, Grandma!", Natalie told Mamas Lyoli, who must've been her Grandma... which meant Mamas was a real person. "You know how much I hate being in guy's bodies. It's just... weird, y'know?"

"Oh, after a while, you get used to it", Mamas replied, "Now, why I am here. Did anyone come and ask about me?"

"Yeah, an' you're not gonna believe who! Jake Long, this kid from my school, he was here! With his grandpa, who is that Lao Shin guy that Pancho knew and you wanted to know if he came. Well, they came! I wonder if Jake was that dragon all along! Whoa."

"Interesting. So they were asking for me, eh?", asked Mamas, "Well then I guess we'll have to pay a little visit to them. How's that dirty little Ivermase?"

"Pancho? Still in the closet. I took his wand away; he's useless. I dunno what we're gonna do Monday when I've gotta go back to school.(It was Saturday.) Y'think this whole thing will be settled by then?"

"Oh, entirely", Mamas replied, "What we came for; it is almost obtainable. Just within our grasp."

Meanwhile, from behind the corner, Jake asked Grandpa, "So they're here for something? Do you know what that is?"

Grandpa, to Jake's surprise, nodded his head- up and down, that is. "In some folklore, there is talk about an ancient stone. The stone looks quite normal, except for the fact that it has a small "S" on it. This stone is supposed to be the lifeforce for a shapeshifter. In only grave times to they need it. They either need it for if one of their own is on his deathbed, or they are appointing a new member into their group."

"Natalie", said Jake. He looked up at Grandpa, "So they're looking for this stone. Looks like any other stone. Except for an S on it. Well, that seems easy enough. There's just one thing. No, two. First, why would them getting it be a bad thing. It doesn't seem like there's any harming it. And second, where is it? And how could they find it if it looks like any other stone? Grandpa, you confuse me sometimes. No, make that most of the time."

"Well then, you will know shortly. As you obviously do not know, the Council does not exactly approve the presence of shapeshifters in this area. However, if the shapeshifters are, in fact, not bad people and have been cleared by the Council, then they are okay. But there is only one in this area. His name is James Corbett. But he is not important as I believe he never comes out of his house. Still, it is easy for them to get into the city as they can simply disguise themselves as someone or something else. In fact, in earlier years, I had a partner in my business that worked alongside me for ten years. I never knew that she was a shapeshifter until the Council literally came to the front door (they don't do that much anymore) of my business and told me of her nature and how she escaped. But, back on topic, shapeshifters lose their powers if they are not exposed to this stone by the age of 15. That's why it is so important. And second, shapeshifters have unlimited resources, if you know what I mean. (Jake didn't. He was a little slow today.) They should have no problem finding it. It's possible they could've been looking for it for years, but the Council had it for some time while their numbers were high. They released it again just recently, although I don't know where. That is what they're looking for, and it would be a bad thing if they were to find it.

"...How right you are!", came a voice from behind them. It was Mamas Lyoli. How long had they been listening in? She walked into the room where they were listening. "You're right, I do need that stone. Do you realize how many possible shapeshifters have been striped of their powers and have been forced to live a normal life? A very good amount. All my brothers and sisters. All my children. Even most of my grandchildren." She motioned toward Natalie, who was staring intently at Jake, "Natalie is the last one. If she is unable to touch that stone, the shapehifters' legacy will be finished as soon as I die. For my great-grandchildren will be unable to have powers because their grandparents do not have them. The powers will be cut of forever. That is why Natalie must touch that stone, and you will not stop us!" She motione for Natalie, and Natalie quickly transformed into a wolf, snarling at them before lunging toward them both.

"DRAGON UP!", yelled Jake as he became a dragon. His Grandpa, also is dragon form, stood beside him. Natalie was able to knock the both of them on the ground, giving her and Mamas just enough time to escape.

"This is the end, Lao! There is no way you could catch us now!", she called as they ran out the door, "But if you wish to try, come and follow us! We will be happy to give you a challenge!" And with that, both of them became ravens and flew off... in an eastern direction.

"Damn, we lost 'em", Jake sighed, "So are we gonna go after them?"

"But of course, Jake! If we are able to stop them, all shapeshifters will forever be gone from here! It is almost mandatory of us. All we will do is follow them. They will, in theory, lead us there, and then we can grab it, and it will all be over. So, are you with me?"

"Aren't I ever?", Jake replied, as they flew out the door and toward Mamas Lyoli and Natalie, hearing the faint beating of a closet door inside the store as they left.

END OF CHAPTER

Alright, I finally finished it! I was hoping to get it up before my Spring Break, but that didn't exactly pan out. So here I am, at 8:00 in the morning, finishing this up after getting to the Dayton Airport from Dallas-Fort Worth at 2:00 last night. Plus a thirty minute drive afterward and the baggage claim took forever! -- Oh well. So, read and review (PLEASE!) And be patient once again and I'll hopefully have the final chapter up soon. Also, be looking for a new one by me after this, called "Dragon in Paradise". (Got the idea on Spring Break, of course.) Have a wonderful day or days!