Before I start off, I'm SOOOO sorry for my behavior at the beginning of last chap. I've been reading a few too many stories that update based on number of reviews given and I thought I'd give it a try. Sadly, I think I scared all of you away:(

Still, I did get two out of three reviews for the previous chapter. In response…

CelloSolo2007: As always, thank you. I thought I misspelled something…Anyways, I am glad for your review and will be wishful for more soon.

Dragonwolf166: Glad you found it! Yes, it's evil! (Said-food finds its way to me) No no no no…YIPES! You sure you got ALL of your ice cream?

Anyway, thank you for those reviews, again. I feel like starting a Pokemon story, but I'm not sure whether to use a shapeshifter or just do a regular journey. However, I have no wish to keep you from what you came for, so here is Chapter 3…

Chap 3

Grandpa led the trainees (this is how I'll talk about them as one group) and Fu Dog into a small, dark room in the back of his shop.

"Wow," Jake whispered, "Gramps, how come you never…"

"It's nice just to have some secrets to myself, don't you think?" Grandpa interrupted. Fu Dog immediately looked somewhat sheepish and left; to make sure the shop was closed and locked up so no one would disturb them. Grandpa glanced over where Fu had been and then looked back at the trainees.

"Now," Grandpa began, "I will begin to teach you to control your emotions, and through them your powers, through the art of meditation. Please, sit down in whatever comfortable fashion you'd like." Everyone sat down on the heavily carpeted floor. Kaleb and his sister sat "criss-cross-apple-sauce," while Jake sat on his knees and Grandpa sat one leg over-lapping another–that difficult Zen sitting posture.

"Let us begin with the tranquil step," Grandpa continued, "Close your eyes." Everyone closed their eyes. "Now, focus on what gives you the least strife."

Jake was easily falling into this routine. Unlike his other dragon training routines, this new skill didn't require him keeping his dragon shape. Oops, he thought. Think about that causes strife. Now, what doesn't? Oh… He had just remembered Rose, before he knew her as Huntsgirl. She would have been an instant…what did Grandpa call it…oh…focus. Definitely. Except...SHE'S HUNTSGIRL! Calm down Jake. Calm down. Try finding something else, then.

Stacy was having a somewhat harder time focusing. Come on. She thought. There has to be something in this brain of mine worth focusing on. Wait. No. That's Mrs. Tessy. Not something I'd want to remember, much less focus on. Wait. This is good. This is really good. My first letter grade. An A, if I remember correctly. This will be good to focus on.

Kaleb, who actually read quite a bit of fantasy books on meditation and its usefulness in magic, was most likely the first to have already reached the "tranquil step." All right, found my thoughts, he thought. Now then, where is that good thought? Ah, there it is: my first flight. Perfect. As I lifted off my banister...

Grandpa, who of course was meditating during all this, took a moment to view everyone's progress. Hmm. Jake seems to be having a hard time choosing a tranquil moment. Have I pushed him so hard that he can't see the good in his life anymore? Still, at least the changelings have managed to get a focus for their meditation.

"All right, young ones," Grandpa started. Only Kaleb was unsurprised and unshaken at the sudden sound in the room. Stacy fell back, her scratched in "A" turning sharply into a tumble of thoughts again. Jake, on the other hand, lost control completely and shifted to dragon form without any thought to it. His wings banged into the walls loudly, but nothing else suffered damage.

"Sorry, G'," Jake began. But, Grandpa shook his head.

"It is alright, young dragon," at this, Jake winced softly. Inside, he really disliked the title Grandpa gave him; it made him feel like he was immature and unworthy. "This is why we are doing this exercise: to control your powers: yours, Kaleb's, and Stacy's."

At that, Grandpa returned to the group at large. "Now, I noticed that you, Kaleb, weren't startled when I spoke." Kaleb nodded in reply. "I should I have guessed; with great power sometimes comes great control."

Kaleb interrupted him. "Actually, I've read quite a few fantasy books that depict meditation as a tool for controlling magical abilities." Grandpa raised an eyebrow at him.

"Indeed? Then, you may want to pass on your knowledge to your fellow trainees, as they, too, must control their powers," here Kaleb looked sheepish. "Was it your intent to make yourself better than them?"

"No," Kaleb said hurriedly. Stacy glared at him. Jake was busy trying to revert back to human shape; somehow he had gotten stuck in his dragon form. "What I had read wasn't very detailed and I didn't know if it would work. Besides, I was only really doing what you had asked," Kaleb added.

"Hmm…" Grandpa thought about it. He figured, since there wasn't any harm done any way, he might well continue. "All right. But, please, if you know something about meditation, please speak up about it. Now…"

With the villains

"…I will teach you how to use your focus to calm your mind."

"Grr. About time, Old Man," growled Dark Dragon. He seemed very impatient, especially for someone with eternity on their side. "Are you ready yet, Wraith? Wraith! WRAITH!"

The old sage was already out; not like a light, but meditating. He himself was searching for the three hapless trainees who were now stepping into the limitless world of the mind.

Interesting, eh? Now, I know what I said earlier, but I would like at least TWO REVIEWS before I post the next chapter.

Villains spring ambush on me

Villains: We want you to make a bigger part for us!

All right. I will.

Villains: YEAH!

Eventually.

Villains: BOO! We're going to get you! (Throw themselves at me only to find themselves in…the Ghost Zone I love using that place!)

Anyway…R&R!