OPENING NOTE: To SeraphimEmperor: Spike and I had to remove our old stories to put these rules. He is in the process of rewriting his old story, now called Cataclysmic Reunion. He should have it done by the time this one is done…but I don't know. Spike is pretty lazy :D. j/k

Chatper Three: The Damage Increases

"A Dragoon…" Ben muttered, pacing back and forth. Melissa had told them everything she knew. "You're sure?"

"I saw the Dragoon Spirit." Melissa confirmed.

"But…how?" Mike asked.

"Well, it is fathomable." Charle admitted. "Perhaps it is from a dragon that died recently, or the more probable reason, it simply hasn't been discovered yet. Do you know what Dragon is was?"

Melissa thought for a moment, and then conferred with her own dragon for a moment. She shook her head. "The Dark Dragon didn't get a good enough look, but she'll be on the lookout next time."

"Well," Robert spoke up. "This really sucks. I mean, a Dragoon? How do we fight that?"

Ben shrugged. "Probably like everything else, just fight it until it dies."

"But look! Christie couldn't even destroy that thing and darkness is the element she's strongest against."

"Yeah, well, we're all pretty powerful ourselves, so I think we can handle it."

"How?"

Ben let out a heavy sigh. "I really don't know, but we'll think of something, alright? Right now, I guess we just sit back and wait for Brad to come back."

"What do we do until then?" Mike wondered aloud.

"Practice, I guess. Keep our edge up." Nobody objected. "Okay then, let's find a place…hey, where's Brittany?"

They looked around and saw she was gone.

"I bet I know where." Mike said. "I'll catch up in a bit." He walked outside and sure enough found her atop Charle's house, overlooking the land. Mike transformed and flew up to her. "You like it up here, don't you?"

"I like high places. It helps me get a good view of the terrain."

"Always the lookout."

Brittany's face seemed distraught, which was unusual for her. "I don't like the thought of Brad being out there with that thing."

Mike stood beside her and looked across the city. "Brad's a tough guy. He has the power of lightning to back him up as well. Besides, he had a good head start, and he's pretty fast."

"I guess." She acquiesced.

"C'mon, let's join the others."

Hank was without much to do, so he just stayed with Sean for a bit, but he soon grew restless. He found Charle and spoke to her.

"I need something to get my mind off the situation at hand."

"Anything in mind?" Charle asked.

"Yeah, actually, um…can, uh…can you teach me to read wingly script?"

Charle cocked her head in confusion. "Wanting to expand your vocabulary?"

"Well, not quite. You see…my late wife, as you know, was a wingly. She left some stuff for me to see after she died, and there are a bunch of notebooks with what Sean tells me are wingly symbols…"

"And you're curious to what she wrote." Charle nodded.

"Yep. I wanna know what was really going through her head during those days."

"I understand."

"So…do you have any books or anything to help me out?"

Charle smiled. "We winglies do often use books to obtain knowledge, but in special cases like this, we simply exchange information."

Charle put her hands on the sides of Hank's head. "I must warn you, however. This is the first time your body has been exposed to wingly magic like this…"

"So it's gonna hurt a little, huh?"

"Well…more than just a little."

"What?"

Charle's magic kicked in and ran through Hank's brain. His eyes shot open as his mind was opened and his brain was stretched. It hurt like heck!

"Ngh!" He grunted, grinding his teeth.

"Just hold on." Charle said. "Your body is adjusting."

"My…head…is ripping…apart!" He hissed.

"Just wait." The magic continued to flow through her hands to his head. He let out a grunted yell through his teeth as his face turned red and his eyes began to shimmer from wingly magic. Finally, with a white flash, it was over. Charle removed her hands and Hank fell to his knees, clutching his head.

"There you are." Charle said.

"Geez!" he exclaimed. Charle knelt down and helped him back to his feet and lead him to a window.

"That store right down there. What does it say above the doorway?"

Hank stared at it, amazed. "Traveler's Needs."

"Basically our item shop." Charle explained.

"But…I read it!"

"Exactly."

"Incredible!" Hank was thrilled.

"Now you can understand your late wife even better."

"Yeah, thanks."

Then, Charle added, "But don't worry, Hank. I'm sure she loved you very much."

Hank froze, knowing her words had struck the nail on the head.

Some hours later, the Blue-Sea Dragon sensed the Violet Dragon's presence in the distance and shimmered a bit. Brittany's eyes widened. Brad was near!

"Brad's coming!" She called to the others.

Sure enough, a purple streak shot across the sky.

It was followed by a black one.

"Uh-oh." Melissa said.

Black blasts fired at Brad, but he avoided them and kept flying as fast as he could. The Black Dragoon was hot on his tail. Brad flew towards the Dragoons, hoping they would help shake this black pursuer.

Ben stepped up and fired a bomb ball at the Black Dragoon, which exploded on contact. The Black Dragoon was stunned and crashed into the ground. Brad circled around and flew into Charle's house, crashing through the window and vanishing from sight.

The other Dragoons got a good look at their attacker.

"How's this for a formidable force?" Melissa taunted.

"Lousy, actually." The Black Dragoon scoffed, standing up quickly. "You're three dragoons short and I would bet that number is going to increase very quickly."

All the Dragoons lunged at him. He ducked down and gathered power, then fired a great wave, knocking all five of them away.

"Is that it?" The Black Dragoon laughed. "One shot and you're down?"

Suddenly, a blast knocked him off balance. A wingly landed with stunning grace. It was Caron. She had quickly changed into a warrior garment via magic and now held a spear in her hand and her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She pointed her spear at him.

"And what's this?" The Black Dragoon chuckled. "Another warrior?"

Caron lunged at him and the Dragoon moved aside and fired a blast. Caron spun around and deflected it right back at him. He evaded the hit and Caron jumped at him. She stabbed and he spun away, but Caron was expecting that. She ducked low and spun back the other way, tripping the Dragoon, then lifted her spear and slammed him down. She jumped up with the tip down, but the Black Dragoon rolled away and drew his blades.

He struck left and right, but she evaded both and stuck at him with her spear. He jumped clear over her and lunged for the kill. With a flash, Caron teleported and ended up behind him to fired a blast, knocking him away. The Black Dragoon jumped up and spun, shooting several black blasts from his blades. Caron spun her spear and deflected them all, then fired a white blast, knocking him off his feet.

Caron dove forward, knocking him even further back, then kicked him into a wall. She pointed her spear at him.

"I suggest you leave while you can."

The Black Dragoon considered this. She was a magnificent warrior and other winglies were sure to soon join her. Besides, the Dragoons were getting back up.

"Alright." He said. "You win this one…but I'll be back." He crouched down and shot into the sky, leaving black trail behind him.

"Dang!" Robert exclaimed, walking over to her. "Where did that come from?"

Caron gave a modest shrug. "I'm not only Charle's closest assistant, but I'm also her guardian."

"Didn't know you had it in you!"

"Neither did he, and that's why I won." Caron assured him. "Now that he knows that I am a real threat, he won't take me so lightly next time."

"In other words, don't expect that again?"

"Exactly."

"Wonderful."

Brittany flew to where Brad had crashed and flew inside. He was sitting on the ground, one leg outstretched, breathing heavily, electricity still pulsing through him.

"Brad!" Brittany said, kneeling next to him. "You okay?"

"I'll be fine once my adrenaline kicks out." Brad said with a small smile.

Every now and then, a group of sparks would shoot through his body, showing just how pumped up he was.

The other Dragoons came in.

"You alright, Brad?" Ben asked him.

"I'll be okay." He said through the pants.

"Good. Well…we all got a close encounter with our counterpart. Anybody get a read on his dragon?"

"No, not really." Mike said. "I was kinda busy recovering from the black wave that sent me flying about a hundred feet."

Ben rolled his eyes. "We just weren't ready for it."

"Either way, we were lucky to have Caron around." Melissa said with a dissatisfied sigh.

Hank walked in. "Well, that looked awful painful, everybody alright?"

"Yeah." Came their distressed moans.

"Well, it's nice to see the morale's still up." He muttered. A few sparks caught his eye and he looked down at Brad. "You okay there?"

Brad simply gave a thumbs up, too tired to say anything else.

"So now what do we do?" Mike asked. All eyes turned to Ben.

"What? I'm out of ideas here!"

"Here's a plan!" Brad said. "No more small groups!" More sparks surrounded him.

Charle looked closer. "Bradley, are you sure you're alright?"

He considered it. "Well…my chest kinda hurts like heck." He gave a small chuckle.

Charle knelt down and took his pulse. "This is odd." She said.

"What?" Brittany asked.

"He's been sitting here resting for several minutes and his heart is still beating rapidly."

"That would explain the pounding." Brad muttered.

"It's a bit more serious than you're letting it be." Charle alerted him, still observing his body.

"Why?"

"Your pulse is so rapid because of all the electricity pulsing through your body. It's a perfect circuit continuing non-stop through your system."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"It means you're on constant internal adrenaline."

"Why is that so serious?"

"Adrenaline only lasts so long for a reason. Your heart can only take so much."

Brad cocked his head. "What are you saying?"

"If we don't get your heart rate to slow down, you could die soon."

His eyes shot open. "I suddenly don't feel very well."

"Wait." Brittany said. "How can that be?"

"He used all his strength to escape the Black Dragoon and such an exposure to the Violet Dragon's powers overcame him."

"But can't the dragon just reverse it?" Melissa asked.

"I think the Black Dragoon had something to do with this as well. It seems to have ruptured Brad's system a bit."

"How?"

"He was weakened greatly by fighting the Dragoon, so his body was less resistant."

"Well then, how do we slow him down?" Brittany anxiously asked.

"I'm not sure. We have to find a way to get the electricity to stop."

"Wait," Brittany said. "I have an idea." She transformed into her Dragoon form again. "Maybe if I freeze him his body will cool down."

"It's a good shot." Charle said. "Try it."

Brittany extended her hand and a rush of cold air overcame Brad's body.

"Geez, that's cold!" He exclaimed, shivering already.

Charle checked his pulse a minute later. "It's working; his pulse is slowing."

Brad's eyes were glazing over as he drifted into a cold sleep. But in doing so, Brad had even less control of the electrical current within him. A purple bolt lashed out and shot Brittany across the room.

Both Dragoons fell unconscious.

"What the!" Robert exclaimed.

"The electricity expelled itself." Charle gathered. "Brittany was just in the way." She gave a frustrated sigh. "Also probably the work of the Black Dragoon."

"And now she's out cold." Ben said after looking her over.

"And it looks like Brad is in a cold sleep." Mike observed.

"He would have to stay here for recovery anyway." Charle said. "He was damaged by the Black Dragoon."

Melissa nodded. "Perfect! Just perfect!"

"Geez." Robert said. "He took out half of our forces in less than twenty-four hours."

"I will do all I can to recover them." Charle promised.

"But until then," Robert continued, "We're in trouble."

"Especially if he keeps this up." Mike said. "One by one, he's taking us out."

"All the more reason to take him out quickly." Ben said.

"How?" Melissa asked. "We don't know who he is or where he is."

"All we can do is wait for him to show himself again."

"And take another beating." Rob muttered.

"Not this time." Ben said. "I've figured something out. His powers come from a dragon, so our dragons will be able to sense him coming and that way, we'll have the upper hand."

This calmed them a bit, but they were still uneasy about having such a decrease in number.

"Well," Mike sighed finally. "The sun will be setting soon and our folks will be wondering about us."

"We can teleport you back." Charle offered. "And send decoys to replace your friends while they recover."

"I suppose…" Ben grumbled. "How long will it take?"

"Once Christie is functional again, she can help heal, but that may take some time; the damage is heavy on her. Brad won't take as long. Brittany should wake in due time, but Sean we still do not know about."

"How hopeful." Mike muttered.

"I'm sorry." Charle said. "But that's all we can do."

"I'll just tell the school that Sean is sick." Hank said.

"Okay," Ben sighed. "Let's get going home, and then…try to live a normal life, okay?"

"Man," Rob grumbled. "With the basketball finals going on, I REALLY don't need this."

Melissa heard it all, but she wasn't listening too well. She kept looking over at Sean, wondering when he would wake up…if he would wake up.

"Please wake up." She quietly pleaded.

"You were right!" The Black Dragoon laughed as he entered. "The White-Silver Dragoon was nothing compared to me."

"Did you doubt me?" The voice said with a smirk in its tone.

"For a moment, I admit, but no more! It will take her days to recover, and she will wish that she had never awakened!"

"Awaken? You mean you did not kill her?"

The Black Dragoon hesitated. "No…I couldn't."

"What do you mean?"

"I was distracted…"

"By what?"

"By her…Melissa."

"Ah…I see…" The voice seemed snide. "Be careful, my friend. She may yet be your bane."

He shook his head. "I doubt it."

"Mm…any other damage?"

"I think so. The Thunder Dragoon was beat up pretty good. But then, I was attacked by something."

"What?"

"Not sure…it was humanoid, but it couldn't be human. It had silver hair and flew on-"

"Wings of silver light!" The voice seemed anxious.

"Yes, you know them?"

"Winglies…yes…where was this?"

"I'm not sure. It appeared out of nowhere, like it had some sort of cloaking device. It was like a paradise in the middle of the desert with streams and green growth all through the city."

"Ulara…so, some of them still live." He let out a chuckle. "Yes…this is perfect!"

"For what?" The Black Dragoon asked.

"My escape…"

He told The Black Dragoon his plan.

"If all goes well, it should provide the necessary power to open the portal for me."

"And then you'll have the revenge you wanted?"

"Tenfold." The voice promised.

They finished their planning and The Black Dragoon left. He returned to his home and de-transformed.

Clad in only human flesh once more, he fell onto his bed, eyes wide.

"My God." He whispered. "What have I done?"

"You needn't worry."

That voice again!

He sat up and looked at the Dragoon spirit, and it looked up at him.

"You did what needed to be done."

"No…" He whispered. "I went too far!"

"Why? You're only doing what most humans cannot! You are taking what you want!"

"I could've killed them…"

"But you didn't, keep that in mind."

"Attacking Sean was bad enough, but the others? Why did they have to suffer?"

"Because they challenged you. Had you not fought them, they would have killed you."

"And maybe I should've let them! I shouldn't have attacked Sean."

"Then how would you ever get what you want?" The spirit had asked the right question. "Remember why you do this. With these powers, everything belongs to you; you can have everything you've ever desired."

"Everything…" He repeated, remember all he'd been told.

"Nothing is out of your reach." The spirit cooed. "All your dreams fulfilled…trust in me, dearest friend…trust in me and you will never want again."

He held the Dragoon spirit in both hands and it glowed.

The evil smile returned to his face.

AUTHORS' NOTE: A reluctant enemy...a mysterious voice...and a drastic cut in the Dragoon forces. Things aren't looking good. Please review!