The next morning Jake woke up feeling energized. His entire body was tingling. Instead of throwing on his usual red shirt blue jeans he choose to wear a dark green shirt with black jeans. When he looked at himself in the mirror he gasped. Overnight he had developed some serious pecks! "Now this is what I'm talking about! Look at me now I'm a total babe magnet!"
"Jake hurry up already or you'll miss breakfast!" His mom called up the stairs.
"Coming! Today is the start of my brand new dragon free life. Nothing is going to ruin it." Jake said as he raced down the stairs. His parents and Haley looked at him strangely when he sat down at the breakfast table. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Its nothing Jake its just that you don't usually wear those colors. They look good on you." His dad said.
"Where did you get all those muscles Jake? Have you been working out or something?" Haley asked curiously.
"What happened to your hand Jake? Why is it all bandaged up?" His mom asked.
"Chill family everything cool. I just wanted to try something different that's all. I've been working out in my room and doing well in gym class that's all. Mom don't worry I just fell and cut my hand last night. I cleaned it up and disinfected it last night. You don't have to worry. Wow got to go or I'll be late for school see you later!" he yelled as he grabbed his board and zoomed off.
As he was traveling to school Jake noticed other small, but significant changes in him. His agility, endurance, speed had increased. His mind was able to concentrate better and he was able to sense when magic was nearby without any warning. It was the bomb.
When he arrived at school Trixie and Spud were waiting for him at his locker. "Yo hold it right there Jakey! What's up with you? Spud and me haven't seen you in like a week and now look at you. What's with the new look and why haven't you been hanging out with us," Trixie demanded angrily.
"Seriously dude were worried about you. Your Grampa and Fu aren't working you to hard are they? Maybe you should talk to them about giving you some time off from work." Spud suggested.
"Hey everything cool guys. I've just had a lot of work to do with helping that were jaguar settle into her new home. I'll be minding the store after school all week, but your welcome to drop by. Maybe you can convince Gramps to have a little fun. Look I've got to run I'll see you later." Jake said hurriedly as he tried to discreetly get away from them. He just didn't want to be bothered by them right now.
He headed for the broom closet and made sure no one was looking before he slipped inside. Rose was waiting for him. "I wish we didn't have to meet in secret. But there still so much to do if our plan is to succeed. Love the new look. So remember to meet me on that rooftop to start your crash course training into being a Huntsboy. I'll have everything ready. Don't worry about the Huntsmaster I've mislead him to believe that I'm off hunting magical creatures." Rose assured him.
"Good I can't wait to tell you about all the things that are happening to me. Rose before you go I want to thank you again for all your help." Jake told her. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek before heading to class.
The school day seemed to drag on forever. It seemed like it would never end. Finally the last bell rang and he was free to go. Jake headed to his Grampa's shop just to make sure his dragon half reported there. He come to far to have his plans fall apart. He hid and the alley and then snuck a quick peek inside. His dragon half was busy cleaning the store. Smirking he left ready for his first lesson.
When he arrived Rose was there in her Huntsgirl outfit. She tossed an outfit that was similar to hers except the padding was black instead of gray and it had a weapons holster on the belt. "Change into these. I thought that it might be a little difficult for you to use one of the staffs so I brought you this. It's the dragon dagger. Its been in the Huntsclan for ages past from master to boy." Rose explained as she watched him change. Once he was dressed she began to lecture him. "As you are aware your body has been changing to adapt to the Huntsclan blood in you now. Your body has become more muscular and limber, your agility, endurance, and speed have increased dramatically, your now alert to any possible magical threat. In the next few days more then your dress style will change. Your attitude and your views will be altered as well but that's to be expected. Your sense of loyalty will be to your master. However since we wanted to keep your family out of the fight I have finished the remaining potions. The one that will bind Haley's power and protect your parents from harm and the memory potion that will allow me to explain your appearance to the Huntsmaster when you introduce yourself. When the time comes we will use them, but until then they're safe at my house in my jewelry box. Now its time to start practice that is if you're ready for it. You need to be able to do all the moves I can do only better. Don't hesitate to attack or press and advantage. Ready?" Rose asked
Jake nodded his head and held out his dagger. It was a short dagger with a dragon designed as the hilt. "Lets play. Hiyah!" he shouted taking a stab at her. She jumped over him and landed a swift kick to his back sending him flying but he recovered quickly ready for the next assault.
"Come on you have to be able to do better then that. Anticipate my moves, use your surroundings to your advantage, and trick me into doing something foolish. Come on Jake make me work up a sweat!" Rose shouted at him while attacking him again and again with the staff.
Jake blocked with the dagger then flipped backwards towards the wall where he pushed off into a spiral hitting her square in the chest. He grabbed her braid and pulled her down to her knees pressing the blade to her throat. "Give up yet?" he asked.
"Never!" Rose yelled smacking him in the jaw. She elbowed him in the stomach and stomped him on the foot. Grapping his arm she twisted it behind his head. "Care to break free from this or do you want more pain?" she teased.
Growling angrily Jake forced himself out of the lock and decide to put some distances between him and Rose. He raced towards the edge of the roof and jumped to the next one. Rose pursued him intent on making him surrender.
She lost sight of him as he dropped down into an alley. She descended the fire escape cautiously. She held her staff close to her but ready for an attack. She heard a noise behind her and whirled around to see only a harmless stray cat. That was her mistake as she was tripped up by someone and then tied up. "So how I do for my first lesson?" Jake whispered into her ear.
"Much better then I expected. Your skills are quite impressive and you seem to be able to use that dagger without any problems. Not to mention you look really cute in that Huntsboy uniform but don't get cocky. We still have a lot of work to do." Rose informed him as they walked back to the rooftop.
"What do you mean more work? I thought that everything was going fine. I mean phase one is complete. I'm no longer a dragon. Phase two is going smoothly which is you teaching me what I need to know and helping me out during my transition. Step three is all ready I mean with the extra potions squared away and my plan to deal with my friends. The only thing that really needs to be complete is phase four."
"There's a lot more to being a member of the Huntsclan then being able to handle weapons and do kick butt moves. You have to be ready to obey your master no matter what, to hunt down magical creatures and not feel sorry for them when you attempt to slay them. To be prepared to fulfill your destiny of slaying dragons. Do you really think you can handle all that?" Rose asked as they changed back into regular clothes. Jake had taken her idea and donned gloves to cover up his mark.
"No sweat Rose. The Huntsclan instincts may still be working their way through me, but there nothing I can't handle. So far the potion hasn't had any adverse side effects on me and were going to keep monitoring me to make sure of that. I got to split now. My mom would kill me if I'm not home soon. Any homework?" Jake wondered
"Just keep your body in shape and practice with the dagger. I'll meet you here same time tomorrow for practice. If something comes up call me. Bye Jake." Rose said.
For the rest of the week Jake's family and friends began to notice a change in Jake's demeanor. One moment he was calm and rational the next he be short and hot tempered. He wouldn't talk to his family and when he did it was quick and to the point. He spent hours locked in his room practicing with his dagger, doing pushups, pull-ups and other exercises, and meditating. His schoolwork was done on time for a change but it wasn't like his old funky style. He still hung out with Trixie and Spud but now it seemed like a chore he had to do. They just didn't interest him much anymore. The only place he hadn't changed was when he was with Grampa and Fu.
Jake decide to actually make an appearance in the shop to see how his old dragon self was doing while he was busy preparing for his new destiny. He timed it just right so no one would see the American Dragon and Jake Long at the same time. "Yo Fu what's up? You placed any bets lately? I heard the magical games are about to start up again."
"Kid what's with you lately. I mean whenever I try to talk to you about anything normal or ask your opinion on something you seem to lose track of what I'm saying. Not that I'm complaining about all the help you've been giving me lately and spending all that time doing your duties when you could be out with your friends but still. What's up?"
"Nothing Fu. For the first time in a long while everything is completely normal. I've got my personal life squared and my dragon duties are a piece of cake. Why's everybody worried?" Jake asked.
"Maybe because of your conflicting behavior young one. It seems I rarely see you in your normal form these days. Your mother has called me and is worried that I'm pushing you to hard with your dragon studies. I told her I'm doing nothing she wouldn't want you to do." Grampa said coming into the front of the shop.
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees and Jake looked at his Grampa weirdly. For a second his face was full of anger, hatred, and contempt with plenty of rage. He flexed his muscles and took a threatening step towards him. A moment later his face relaxed and he was full of cheer and laughs. "I'm sorry if my new style isn't to everyone's taste, but I'm a teenager. Teenagers rebel and try to find themselves. Maybe I just want to try to act a little more mature I mean that's what you're always telling me to do."
"Jake please don't pretend. I know what's going on. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I've been where you are before." Grampa told him placing a hand on his shoulders.
Jake looked at him nervously. Did he suspect the truth? "What are you talking about? "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Jake I know that older women may be attractive but they can also cause a lot of problems. Especially if there not your own species. Eva is a fine girl, but I don't think she's interested in you that way." Grampa told him.
Jake let out a laugh. He thought he was in love with Eva! Man he must be senile or something. Eva was cool and all but she was no Rose. Rose was everything he could ever hope for. She was breaking several rules of her clan to help him and keep his family safe. She even suggested that since Eva was the one who had told him about the potion they should leave her alone. "Gramps I can assure that's not the case. I'm not in love with Eva. I will admit that I am in love with someone else though. In fact I have to go see her right now, but I promise to tell you and Fu all about my date tomorrow. Bye."
"I can't believe you told him you were going on a date with me. Are you trying to ruin everything we worked for? What if he investigates your claim?" Rose hissed at him later. They were doing their final Huntsclan exercises before tomorrow's big event when they plan to stage an attack so he could be introduced to the Huntsmaster.
"Chill babe. Everything cool. I will tell them the truth. I just won't mention everything we did on our date. Like how your teaching me to stalk magical beings and capture them. How long do we have to wait here anyways for that gargoyle to come by anyways?" Jake asked impatiently.
"Patience is a virtue. Watch carefully and do what I do. Remember this is your last test. No mistakes at all." Rose hushed. She was staring intensely at the building across the street. Suddenly one of the stone gargoyles took flight. "That's are cue. Ready?" He nodded and they both launched themselves across the street.
Together they both managed to hurt the gargoyle pretty badly. They had it cornered ready for slaying but that was not their goal. "Tell whatever friends you have that the Huntsmaster and Huntsgirl want to meet with the dragons tomorrow at four o clock near Milliard Fillmore Junior High." Huntsgirl said threateningly before they both vanished in a puff of smoke.
"The trap is set for tomorrow. The Huntsmaster and I will be waiting on the roof across from the school for your Grampa and your dragon self. I'll make sure to slip the memory potion in his coffee before hand so when you show up I don't have so much explaining to do." Rose said.
"Don't worry nothing short of the bubonic plague will stop me from being there." Jake assured her as the two kissed.
The next day Jake crouched on the windowsill beneath the roof of the targeted building. He gripped the Dragon Dagger tightly in his hand. He could hear above him the Huntsmaster and Huntsgirl pacing around waiting for their guest to arrive. They weren't disappointed. Ten minutes later Gramps, Fu, and his former dragon self appeared. "We got your message. Now what was so important you all that you had to go beat up a poor gargoyle?" the American Dragon demanded.
"The message is simple. We want to slay you. But there's also a little surprise we want to show you." Huntsgirl said mysteriously.
"Yeah right lady. Like you two have anything new to show us. Come on lets take them. We outnumber them three to two." Fu pointed out.
"I agree lets get this over with." Gramps said.
"You're going to regret that old man. Huntsgirl attack!" Huntsmaster ordered as he went after Gramps. Huntsgirl jumped at the American Dragon and Fu striking as hard and fast as she could. She had to keep these two occupied for a few more minutes till it was time to show them her surprise.
"Stand still so I can slay you dragon. You and your pupil will make excellent pelts in my lair." Huntsmaster said as he shot a laser blast at Gramps.
"I think not. I believe you are the one in trouble." Gramps said tripping him up. Huntsgirl was forced to retreat from a fire blast from her opponent. "Ready to surrender?" American Dragon asked.
That's when they heard a new voice say, "Heyah!" The Huntsboy landed a nice solid kick in the American Dragon side before making a small slice in Gramps and drop kicking Fu. "What never seen a Huntsboy before? Well you have now. Thanks for inviting me to the party Huntsgirl." Huntsboy said over his shoulder as he continued to attack.
"No problem. This is the boy I was telling you about Huntsmaster. The newest member of our clan. As you can see he's quite good. With his help will defeat the dragons." Huntsgirl said proudly.
"Yes, but not here or now. I want to talk to this newcomer myself. Lets retreat to the Hunts Lair." Huntsmaster said teleporting the three of them across town.
Rose removed her mask and bowed before her master as custom. "I found him at school Huntsmaster. He had no clue what his destiny was or that he was special. I've been training him all week."
"I can see that Huntsgirl. You also gave him the dagger, which he has mastered. This alone proves he's of our blood. Remove your mask and introduce yourself boy." Huntsmaster ordered.
He removed his mask and bowed to show his respect. "My name is Jake Long sir and I'm honored to be part of your clan. I hope to help the Huntsgirl in our mission to slay the American Dragon once and for all."