A/N:Hey there everyone!Hope everyone's having a fantastico' Christmas so far.I know I have.Now,normally the number seven is suppose to be considered bad...but this time it's not.As I begin into this next ch. it's going to be getting a little more serious but it'll still be awesome!Hope y'll are sitting up straight...cause you may just fall out if you're not careful.
Continuing...
Mrs. Long paced the white and mint green squarely tiled floor in a huff,it had been a whole hour since they had heard anything and she was getting more anxious by the second.So much so,she hadn't noticed her youngest son's unpermitted departure.While she treadded back and forth unforgivingly nervous Rose and Haley exchanged random bits of small talk to one another and Mr. Long could only eye his wife uneasily.
"That's it!"Mrs. Long finally snapped expletively into the air,her sudden outburst causing everyone to jolt and turn their attention to her,"I can't take it anymore,I'm finding out once and for all what's wrong with my Father,"she told more to herself through gritted teeth,as she marched by them determinedly,not caring that they stared after her,"Those so-called 'doctors' better know something by the time I get in there or else!"
"Dear..."Mr. Long leaped from his seat and hurried over to place his hands gently but securely around one of her arms to hinder her,"Listen,"he pulled her around just enough so his calm eyes were locked with his wife's mixed ones,as he told her carefully,"Honey,I know you're worried about you're Father.You have been for the last year or so.But you have to wait and let them do their jobs.If you just go in and bust in there like that...it's only going to harm but then it's going to help.Is that alright?"
She looked reluctant for a few seconds yet only nodded slowly and steadily,as she let him lead her back over to sit down,"Yes,yes you're right,I suppose."her words tumbled out in a tangled assort,as she seemed to appear dizzy and lightheaded,placing her hand to her forehead as she felt she was turning clamy under stress,"I just hope things will clear soon."
At that moment Sky and Cassie came scampering up to them and caught all four adults by surprise as the sheepish-looking two skidded to a stop and received suspicious glares from their Mothers,only they were ceased from any means of scolding as a very ill-at-eased looking red-headed young nurse named Melissa who had told them it would take another hour to decipher Laoshi's results approached them with tentative steps of caution,as if she rather turn the other way and run.But instead,she came straight up to them and ushered for the children to go sit with their parents and once they did,she began to explain to them what they had discovered.And what that was,made a chill run down everyone's spine.
On to the final battle...
Rhea shifted her silver eyes onto Laoshi just as the Dark Dragon was starting to near them,for her this was the most mind-bottling task of her life.Would her time trajecting powers could work for this much younger and differing Dragon.Not only was he of a different type of Dragon,there was about a 5-10 chance of her magic having any affect over him whatsoever.Since faith was something she had been unsettled about long ago,it wasn't as easy for her to believe as he did.But something about him made her insides turn inside out and her knees go weak whenever she looked into his eyes...she didn't understand it but couldn't ignore it,as she planted feet firmly to the ground,fought the urge to look at the fast approachment of the Dark Dragon with a solid vehemence about him that seemed to be signalling he was ready to get it on and started to power up her wand which sent strips of orange lightening harmlessly in different places,as it reached it's peak she started exclaiming words strongly and steadily,
"Vu...Yon-oh...Sahtahmoo...Dracura...Timius-tasu...Oh-kimus...Zhay-chazar..."Her words picked up more rapidly and fierecly as she went along,the streaks of aurantium beginning to reach out further and travel zap-by-zap near Laoshi,"Lasumaynow...Vibrtis...Sha-ton..."she sealed her eyes shut,as she shot forth a large stream of her orange illuminating power that could decide fate itself,"Zeenombrelle...Vantosguzam-OH!"
The flow of Rhea's spell was smooth and gentle,which was opposite of what it was when she had used it on the Dark Dragon and his counterparts.Strangely enough,when it reached a slightly groping Laoshi it merely blanketed him in a light lucid luminance that settled on in a thin layer that seemed to absorb into him.The nearly breathless procedure that even made the Dark Dragon pause to await the result of the whole experience,finally subsided and allowed reactions to flourish,as nothing appeared to have happened.Laoshi and Rhea exchanged panic-stricken looks with one another,as the Dark Dragon sneered and started again for them with a clear mind and malevolent intention leering in his persona,
"You really thought that you're pathetic little time-casting spells would work on the Chinese Dragon,didn't you Rheanna?"He inquired her haughtily,as he could clearly detect an opening to make a direct attack on her weakness,"Hah!Insolent girl,you think you could do any better then you're Mother Diana did?The way she defended you when you were just a young girl and although powerful,was nothing but futile when it came time to put what she had to the test.Face the facts child,"his words had seemed to hit home,as he could see the pain and anger arousing back in her face but also that brokenness she had felt so many times,so continued even more browbeatened,"You are nothing but a failure to you're family and to yourself...oh,if only you could see the frightened little child in you're eyes that I looked upon so long ago...you would see that..."
"Enough."Laoshi told him in one,firm-fitted word,which was so strong it silenece the Dark Dragon from even flinching,"We have had...enough,"he stood high and began to bear down heavily on the him,as his words came out fully earnestly and saipently,"All my life,I've lived by one rule...every man for himself.I did what I wanted,when I wanted.Not to say I didn't care about my family..."his eyes lingered off onto his family through portal,they were inches away from the potion and were relying on him every inch of the way,turning back in flash he picked up right back where he left off,"But I had my own life to lead and I thought it couldn't be any better then it was...however,that changed after I met you just tonight.If you've done one thing to me,it's made me realise what's really worth living and fighting for.Even if it wasn't intended...it still occured.Now,"a grin flickered,as an aurantium aura surrounded him and he had the Dark Dragon by the scuff of his neck as they were now floating,"Now I see what I was truely put on here to do...and someday,when my child asks what I was most proudest to have accomplished in my life,you know what I'll tell them?I'll tell them it was the one time I got to really have myself pushed to the limit,before I discoveredwhat destiney truely holds."
"You won't get away forever..."The Dark Dragon roared pierecingly,as he fought to gain a hold over Laoshi but failed,"It is not over Dragon,far from it..."he finally stopped resisting,only as the intense light was completely engulfing the two of them,did he bother to lean forward and hiss at Laoshi in a low,admonishing tone,"Remember...I'll always be on the look out when you less expect it.I have ways,Laoshi.Ways you do not even know of yet and I can never be fully destroyed for I am one of the few chosen ones to be the incarnation of evil itself.I wouldn't mind spreading it around by the way...I only ask of this on the terms that blood is thicker the water.So I shall see you sometime in the future...my cousin."
The word clung like cold winter's chill onto Laoshi,it was so strong that not even the warmth of the fading light could thaw his insides,as the Dark Dragon and wherever his cursed creations had gone seemed to vanish without a trace.The navy Celestial Dragon stood completely blown away,as an elated Rhea ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck which was still a bit surprising since it hadn't been long ago she barely even wanted to look at Dragons much less befriend one,or so she had thought.But Laoshi was so caught up in the Dark Dragon's confession,he couldn't quite understand what she was telling him,
"...and the way we both probably looked when we-"Rhea stopped short her excited babbling but not because of the vacant look on Laoshi's face but of the time that was nearing in the portal and of the shadow minions that were getting ready to throw Laoshi's family into the vat,"My good stars!"she yelped gaspingly,which was enough to startle Laoshi from his daze,"What are you...asleep?Hurry up and go save you're family!"
But it wasn't the sound of the force that snapped him out of his trance,it was the ticking of the Grand Father clock.Climbing her more dangerously towards it final desitination,as it the sun was to rise and his family was to perish.So useing the remainder of Rhea's spell,he used it's essence to make himself go faster,as he sped from where he was and towards the portal at such breakneck speed that he nearly seemed to vanish.The large hand was only a few strokes from striking seven,when Laoshi came onto the scene and gathering all three of his family member in his arms,flew them over near the brick wall and turned back to face the gaping shadowy misty figures that where still by the vat,
"You can tell you're boss I'm ready for him any time he shows his face around Hong Kong or any where else for that matter again,"he told the shivering spectors coolly,as they exchanged frightened glances and materialized away instantly,"I hope you guys are okay..."was the next thing he said to them tiredly,as he turned to them with relief flashing in his burnt umber eyes,"Because I spent all night up fighting the Dark Dragon."
"I'm just glad you've turned out so greatly,dear."His Mother,a medium-sized late-forty-year-old Woman with mostly white mid-back hair lengthed and an also weary look to her,told her son kindly as he shifted back down to normal for the first time and she reached out to pull all her childern in at once,"At first I was so scared we wereall in jeopardy and after the fight you and I had over three years ago after you're Father left..."she began to tell him tearfully as she released him as far as arm's length to talk to him,but she paused upon seeing Rhea not far behind Laoshi,in which she could only smile warmly,"So,who is the lucky girl?"
"Yes Brother,please tell us."Yaisu,Laoshi's highly intelligent but sometimes gloating Eleven-year-old sister,insisted him jeeringly as his Eight-year-old Sister Bolieei could on quell a giggle towards the situtation.
But Laoshi only nodded and turned with a smile to hold out his hand for Rhea to take,she smiled back and a bit timidly started to approach them.After the introductions and everything was made,they all stepped out of the portal and Rhea used the only other she knew,basic travelling spells,and transformed the portal into a way to get back to Hong Kong.So once Laoshi's family was back in,the two were finally alone,
"So what will you do now?"Laoshi inquired her curiously,as she was still staring mutely at the portal and he was starting to feel the need to be with her even if they couldn't live in the same world,"With him gone for now."
"For now?"Rhea repeated him with brief confusion as she turned his silver eyes on him,but she knew immediately what he meant,"I really don't know,"she sighed breathfully,her head every with reflection for all the past years she had had to endure,"I suppose I will go on to become a well-known time-manipulating Sorcerous like my Mother."her eyes grew lighter and spoke to him softheartedly,"I just wanted to thank you for helping me,I never did believe any good could come from Dragons but you proved me incorrect.I just...I just wish I could see you again."
"We will,"Laoshi insisted suddenly,taking her gently by her hands and pulling her in towards him,"Well will see each other again,Rhea..."he looked her in the eyes just as he had when he had tried to gain her trust,"I do not believe this will be our only meeting,because as faith brought us together now...it will bring us together again in the future.I love you."
Rhea was now gasping,as they leaned in nearer,"And I love you too."
The two fell forward and sank into each other's lips,holding on as the dawn was breaking through even more and stretching it's miraculous mix of pale pinks and oranges out across the deep cerlean and purple sky,they were holding each other closely and a since of longing was erupting within them unexpectingly.But when Laoshi finally opened his eyes,he was staring out into the bay area of the ocean.Taking in and out a slow breath of sleeplessness,he allowed his gaze to drift more onto and linger at the cool azure water's surface.However,he could have sworn an image of the Dark Dragon was giving off in it and as some unknown bubbles began to make it dissapear,Laoshi couldn't help but let his brow fall into a troubled expression.For he knew that even though the Dark Dragon was gone for now,had taught him more about himself that he ever thought he would learn,caused him to possibly meet the love of his life and bring him closer to his family...he still had spoken that unforgettable word "Cousin" which was still churning in the Twenty-year-old's head.Laoshi would find out more about that later and keep it to himself,he agreed silently as she turned away and tried to offer his new canine friend a smile as a sign he was okay.But deep inside he knew that the Dark Dragon would strike again and Laoshi would not be his only other target.
Well,this is sort of,semi-the end.But the next ch. will be the conclusion.As of right now the story will focus on the result of Jake's Grandfather's present life and everyone else's.The conclusion will be an awesome one and then I can come out with a new story possibly next year.C yaz soon!
LP