"Pete the Magik Dragon"

Chapter the Fourth

By GirlX2

-

Peter followed the other dragon all the way to the formidable castle. They landed, and the purple one started to go inside a large door.

'Well?' It turned to him. 'Come on!'

'Listen buddy-'

'My name is not 'buddy' it is Dena.' The dragon snapped. 'Now follow me.'

'Whatever.' Peter snorted and followed. 'Sounds like a girl's name.'

'Well, as I'm a female, that works out.' The dragon led him down a dark stony corridor.

'If you're a chick, why are you so much bigger than me? That's not fair.' Peter whined.

'Female dragon's are larger than males. We have to be in order to protect the hatchlings.'

They entered a large cavern. It was barren, save for a shelf with several bottles, and large fire pit that was burning feebly. Dena sent a puff of fire at it. It sprang up to a roaring blaze.

'You must be real useful at a campsite.'

Dena said nothing but shot him a withering look.

'Hey, just trying to lighten the mood. Now that we're here, what am I supposed to do?'

'Drink this.' Dena clamped her jaws lightly around one of the bottles and laid it on the ground. 'It will heal your chest.'

'How do I know that's not poison? Why should I trust you?' Peter demanded.

'What use are you dead?' Dena demanded. 'Drink it or suffer, I really don't care. I will return shortly.'

With that, she left the cavern. As she left, a giant stone door materialized, sealing Peter inside.

'So much for escaping.' He sighed. The bottle lay before him.

'What have I got to lose?' He clumsily gripped the bottle with his claws and drank. It tasted like mouthwash. A cool sensation spread over his chest.

'She was telling the truth.'

Peter curled up next to the fire.

'I wonder if I can reach the guys from here.'

He closed his eyes, concentrating as before. Waves so faint her could barely see them appeared. They were indistinct. All he could make out was the three of them were together--and very far away.

'Ray! Winston!' He called anyway, hoping that this was the psychic equivalent of yelling. 'Even if they can hear me, they probably can't answer back.

'I'm okay!' He tried again. 'Don't worry about me, take Egon back and get him some help! I'll be okay!

'I think.'

-

The two conscious Ghostbusters had managed to set up a decent camp for the night. Winston built a shelter, and Ray caught several rabbits to roast over the fire.

"It's a good thing you were a Boy scout." Winston fed some sticks into the fire.

Ray shrugged. "I just wish we had more on us than your Swiss pocketknife."

"Well, at least we've got a fire going."

Egon lay close to the fire. He hadn't woken up, but seemed to be in no pain. His breathing was deep and relaxed.

'…Ra…inston!' Both men jumped up.

"What was that?" Winton asked.

"I think it's Peter trying to contact us!" Ray said, excitement in his voice.

"So how do we send a message back?"
"I don't think we can." Ray's enthusiasm faded.

'…k…wor…Egon…help!' The words faded in and out.

"What was he saying?'

"I caught 'Egon' and 'help'." Winston said.

"That could be Peter asking for help, or telling us to help Egon." Ray said.

"Five bucks says it's the latter. He must want us to take Egon back to the present." Winston said.

Ray paled. "We can't do that, Peter could get trapped here!"

A sharp groan interrupted that train of thought. Egon was sitting up, hand to his head.

"Who said my name?"

"Egon, are you okay?" Ray knelt besides him.

"Aside from a whopping headache, I believe I'm alright. Where's Peter?"

"He went with that purple dragon." Winston said.

"WHAT!" Egon tried to jump to his feet and wobbled unsteadily. Winston grabbed his arm.

"Easy Egon."

"What do you mean Peter went with that dragon?" Egon demanded.

"He had to go, or that thing would have ripped us apart." Ray said softly. "Believe me, he didn't want to."

Egon half-sat, half-fell on the ground. "Why are we still here then? We should go after him!"

"You're in no condition to go anywhere, you can barely stand up." Ray pointed out.

"Besides, it's gonna be dark soon." Winston said. "We're gonna go after him in the morning."

Egon sighed heavily. "You're right."

"Are you hungry? Ray caught a couple rabbits."

Egon shook his head. "I feel a little nauseous…I think I'm just going to sleep."

"Okay." Ray watched the blond lay flat. "Are you sure you're okay? That thing blasted you pretty bad."

"I'm fine Ray. I just need some rest." Egon said, his voice unsteady.

"Okay." Ray let it drop.

Egon closed his eyes and sank into sleep.

-

Peter felt waves of warmth wash over him, his chest centered in it. He began to drowse.

'That damn stuff was a sed…' He fell asleep.

-

Egon's eyes opened. The darkening forest had been replaced with a sunny meadow. He stood.

"Ray? Winston?" He called. His voice echoed faintly.

'Alright, I went to sleep in a place that looks nothing like this…my teammates are gone…logic would suggest this is a dream.'

He relaxed slightly. If he was dreaming something as normal and peaceful as a meadow, then the psychic attack was wearing off.

A lone figure appeared at the other end of the clearing. It waved at him, then started forward, quickly.

'Peter?' Egon recognized the silhouette. He started forward.

"Egon, if this is some kind of joke, I can tell you its not funny!" Peter exclaimed as they reached the center together.

"Well, I'm dreaming. I don't know about you."

"That would explain why I'm not scaly." Peter said. "But I just fell asleep at the castle."

"Hmm…"

"So am I in your dream, or vice-versa?"

"I believe after the psychic attack I suffered, and the new telepathic powers you have, it may be both." Egon said after a moment.

"That's just great." Peter groaned. "My subconscious is a chat room. Where's Ray and Zedd?"

"Still awake, probably. Even if they do fall asleep, I doubt either one of them will show up."

"Why's that? That dragon put the whammy on them same as you."

"Not entirely. Let me explain…"

-

Winston watched Egon's eyes twitch. He had fallen into REM sleep very quickly.

"Ray, is that normal?"

"After what he's been through, who knows? We'll do tests once we get home."

Winston frowned at this. "I don't like this, man."

-

"Okay, so you're now Dr. Spock."

"Not at all. If my theory is correct, I am more prone to receive psychic waves from stronger entities I encounter, that's all."

"Like Dena. Egon, when you wake up, tell the guys to go home. You need to make sure you're okay. Not to mention Ray is already hurting."

"No. We're not leaving you here." Egon's expression hardened.

Peter ran a hand through his hair. "I don't like this Spengs."

"Nor do I, but we're stuck with it."

"Well, I've already told you directions to Castle Spooky-Doom, and you've brought me up to speed on your predicament. What do we do now?" Peter said after a pause.

"I don't know. We might-" Egon's voice cut out. Peter's eyes widened as the blond faded from view.

"Egon!"

-

Egon's eyes snapped open. Ray and Winston were strapping on the proton packs against the sunlit sky. Day had broken. He sat up, wooziness and nausea returning.

"Sleeping Beauty's up." Winston nodded at him. "Hungry yet? We've got some rabbit left."

"No…I'm fine." Egon stood, trying not to wince. The headache had gone, but dizziness had taken its place.

"You should eat something. We may have a long walk." Ray said with concern.

"Not as long as you'd think."

-

Peter opened his eyes to see Dena staring down at him.

'You drank it. I didn't think you would.'

'I was thirsty.' Peter said sarcastically.

'Follow me. It's time to meet the master.'

Dena turned to the door, not stopping to watch if he followed. Peter sighed and walked behind her.

'So, is this guy nice?'

'The master is benevolent. If he was not, I would have perished long ago.'

'At his hand, no doubt.'

Dena said nothing as they continued down the stone corridor.

'You seem like an intelligent per…dragon. Why not blow this pop stand, and hang out in the mountains with other dragons?'

'I am the last.'

'What?'

'I am the last of my kind. Besides you, that is.'

'Hey, I'm just 'human scum', remember?' Peter said.

Dena remained quiet as they entered the main chamber. Stone walls rose up what seemed to be hundreds of feet. Before them was a jeweled thrown. A man in dark robes stared intently at the two. He could have passed for Gandalf any day of the week.

"This is the human?" A surprisingly soft voice came fourth.

'Yes master.' Dena bowed slightly.

The man stood and walked to Peter. "You found the Draconic bracelet. I am impressed."

'Yeah, any chance you can get it off?' Peter responded.

The man smirked slightly. "He's got a tongue. Take him back to the cave. If his comrades show up, kill them."

'You said you'd leave them alone if I went with you.' Peter growled at Dena.

'Master, they pose no threat. They have no magic, their weapons are ineffectual-' Dena began.

"You will kill them, or I will kill you Dena." He sat back down.

'Yes master.' Dena said, eyes down.

'Now wait just a damn minute.' Peter growled. 'What do you want with me anyway? You've already got a dragon.'

"Yes, a female dragon. And now I have a male. Soon, I will have an army, and then I will rule the world.'

'Whoa buddy, there is no way I'm going to be a dragon baby-daddy. For one thing, I'm human. I just look like a dragon.' Peter would have paled, if it had been possible.

"It makes no difference." His eyes turned red. "And unless you wish to die, you will do what I say."

Heat was building in Peter's throat. 'Maybe I don't care anymore.'

"Do it or I will kill your friends, even if they don't come here. I am fairly certain you still care about them" The man said, smiling cruelly.

Something snapped. Peter unleashed a fireball. The man was engulfed in flame.

'That was easy.' Peter smirked.

Suddenly, the flames went out. The man was sitting un-burned on his throne. He sighed, and waved his hand slightly.

A bolt of pain tore through Peter's body. He roared and screamed. Dena winced. He sat heavily on the stone floor as the pain receded.

"Try that again, and it will go worse for you. Take him back Dena." The man said coolly.

Dena nodded. 'Come.'

Peter forced himself to his feet and started after her.

-

"I still don't understand how it happened, but if you say Pete contacted you, I believe you." Winston said.

"It makes sense, especially if I'm right about the effects of the psychic attack." Ray said enthusiastically.

"Not to mention the fact Egon was able to predict the broken tree we passed." Winston grinned slightly.

The three men were tromping through the thick underbrush. Egon had explained the dream he'd had; skepticism had melted after passing landmarks he described. The blond man led the front, seemingly feeling better than last night.

"Yes, well, I'm very glad my credibility hasn't waned." Egon said in his usual phlegmatic tones.

Ray flexed his left hand gingerly. His wrist hurt less than yesterday, but it was still stiff.

"I wish we had more than two proton packs." He said mournfully.

"At least they're almost fully charged." Winston reminded him. "They should be fine, assuming we're not attacked before we get to the castle."

"If we were about to be attacked, Peter may try and-" Egon stopped.

"What is it Egon?" Ray asked.

He scientist didn't answer.

"Egon? You okay?" Winston said slowly.

Egon screamed in agony and crumpled to the ground.

"No…" Ray hissed. He tried to run, but tripped in the underbrush. Winston hauled him back to his feet, and the two hurried to Egon.

The blonde's breathing was labored. His eyes were open and unblinking. When Ray grasped his shoulder to upright the man, he cringed. Ray let go.

"Egon, what is it? Another psychic attack?"

"Peter." The word emerged in a gasp.

"Is he okay?" Winston asked, not wanting the answer.

"Hurt." Egon's eyes remained trained on the sky.
"He told you he was-"

"No. I felt it." Egon cut him off. He shuddered.

Ray shot a worried glance at Winston. "That shouldn't be possible. Physical pain can't travel over psychic waves!"

"I think it just did Ray."

Winston gingerly pulled the bespectacled man into a sitting position. Egon flinched at the touch, but allowed himself to be positioned.

"Who did it? That girl dragon?"
"No, it wasn't Dena. Somebody else." Egon closed his eyes. "A man in dark robes."

"You can see him?" Ray asked.

"Sort of. Peter saw him, and the image came with…the pain." Egon said haltingly. He slowly removed his proton pack. "Ray, I'm afraid you'll have to wear this. I'm not sure if I have the stability needed."

"Egon, you can't keep going like this! Why don't we find the caves, and you can wait for us to get Peter." Winston pleaded.

"I'm the only one who can lead you there."

"You can draw a map or something." Ray protested as Egon stood. "You're in no shape to fight anything."

"We're almost there. It would only waste time."

"No Egon. I'm putting my foot down. You are staying right here while Ray and I get Pete outta there." Winston said.

Egon sighed. "If Peter is attacked I'll feel it no matter what."

"But why?" Ray asked quietly.

"I really don't know Ray. Maybe it has something to do with Peter and I always pairing off. Maybe it was because I was closer to him when the psy-blasts hit. More likely, its because of my increased ability." Egon swallowed hard. "But the evidence suggests that Peter and I have psychically bonded, and, at this point, psychic attacks will also hit me, regardless of distance."

"So no matter where you are, you're gonna get blasted each time Peter does." Winston said, somewhat blankly.

"Correct." Egon re-positioned his glasses. "I suggest we get to the castle as quickly as possible. If Peter is attacked with that much force again, its conceivable that I'll be driven unconscious."

Ray slowly put Egon's proton pack on. "I don't like this Egon."

"I know."

-

End of Chapter the Fourth.