Wendy was having the worst time of her life,for even though she had the largest heart of anyone she knew,the situtation was looking bleaker every time she turned around.For although she had managed successfully to get the key with to unlock herself from the shackles and now knew her older guardians had arrived to give her back-up,she still feared in the outcome of it all.And Cole...she had promised she wouldn't give up on him and she wasn't,but her ill will towards his actions didn't evanesce when he finally came back for her after getting back his key and was now preparing to lead her down into the massive underground arena Huntsman mentioned in the conversation she had eavesdropped only a few hours ago.
She turned her head slightly so she could see him as he lead her with her arms,tail and wings tightened together by a specially-designed contraption that allowed for her to only move her head and feet,although the sphinx net muzzle made it so she couldn't shot fire.As her gaze lingered on him,it began to sink in that maybe he didn't have a choose in the matter but as she opened her mouth to ask him,she realised he would take it as just a fruitless attempt to be set free.He didn't trust her and she didn't trust him.
"Were almost here,"he finally spoke,though he was displaying little anger or wantoness towards her as he almost always did."One more flight of stairs and then we'll be going down an elevator shaft to the basement."
"Great."Wendy replied sarcastically,as he prodded her every so often down the staircase and onto the ground floor which was furnished fairly in a more cozy manner,with a giant fire place,trophies and book cases every few feet from each other."You guys sure must do a lot of reading."she observed nonchalantly,as she they went through a few rooms and up to some large,brass elevator doors in what appeared to be a study."It's a shame,kinda.You get to do so much and it's still all for no good."
Cole quirked a brow."What do you mean?You think I actually get time to do everything I want and still fight?"he scoffed when he got her incorrect assumption."Puh,as if I've ever gotten a day off.Not that I'd want it really but even if I decided to,I know exactly what Huntsmaster would say."
"You've never gotten a day off?"She probbed him incredulously.
"Those are my matters,cretiness.Now board."he chided her with very thin paitence to spare and shoved her forward with his staff as there was a soft hum that had been there as the levels rose higher and finally ceased when it all halted and the gates parted open."I don't want to miss a minute of this and the way things are running smoothly now,what chance is there that anything could go wrong?You're ending is going to be enjoyable."
"Why?"she asked him vaguely,her whole self starting to become riddled with apprehension of her chances as survival."You won't be slaying me."
"Doesn't matter."Cole replied with a slight briskness to his tone."Once I get out there and slay both American Dragons,I'll forget we even had the displeasure of meeting."he spoke freely,not feeling any restraint to mask his pure truculence which was so great right now he reveled in it's unique splendor and just to see if it would make him feel even better,he turned to glare at her but found to his surprise that she was slumping miserably to the side wall."What's wrong with you,Dragon?Isn't fighting and trying to move me to the light a key objective to you any longer?"
"Yes,"Wendy told him,holding herself up stiffly and boldly as they reached the floor they were destined to come out off,the floor she knew might lead to her demise because she had completely underestimated it all and was starting to feel more hopeless about."I just wonder how much longer I'm going to go on...but,"she told him with an undaunted smile that lightened up her sapphire eyes and made them look limpid as tears briefly brimmed her them."I've always been taught that family doesn't abandon family...and,whether you believe me or not,I'm not abandoning trying to help you no matter how many times you try to hurt me.Understand?"
He looked long and hard into them,then made a nod for the figures who were awaiting them at the end of the wide,large arena that had bleachers wrapping long and wide around it's oval structure."I don't understand you,Dragon."his whole demeanor was calm and in no way threatening."I could try but I'd still fail to understand why you're so set to try and save me from something I've always wished to happen...no.No,were going out there and were going to fight.That's the only way I'll ever become-"
"A Huntsmaster?"she offered without conviction."That's what you want."
"Yes.More then anything."
She thought for a moment and then put out her claw for him to shake."If you're sure it's what's you want,if it's what you think is going to make you're whole life totally complete,let's hope for a good and clean fight."
Caught off guard,he almost complied but quickly took it upon himself to brush her aside and proceeded out,however he paused and said very carefully."I don't need hope but admitting to what is inevitable is noble of you.I'll give you that much and only that much for now."
"You've taken but you sure as heck haven't given."
With nothing more to say,he began out towards the others.Wendy,who wasn't at all sure what was going to happen when she stepped out,had to think quickly.A part of her wanted to make a run for it but she knew how fast her brother was and she was on his good side now,maybe she could work from there.So with her head held semi-high,the young dragoness followed at her own pace and then in one abrupt moment that took her breath away,was whirled unsparingly into a world of blinding white lights and she could hear uproarious crys echoing all around the stadium.Adjusting her dragon vision,she soon made out that they were coming from Huntsclan members littering every last vacancy outside the ring.She was so dazed at the moment,she didn't even jerk when someone gripped her arm and then gave a firm pull forward to get her moving,as she stood disconcerted.
"Why is there so many?"She managed breathlessly when she finally came to the conclusion it had been Cole,as her eyes still roamed and darted.
"This has been a long awaited event,"came his even voice,who was now reaching to elbow her arm."It shouldn't be that shocking.Now then,are you going to come along or will I have to take you down while you're still in the midst of hopelessly searching for some way to get out?"
His change of attitude didn't matter to her,as she faced who she now made out as her father and aunt,who were trapped behind what would have had to been a unicorn horn-reinforced steel cage and the Huntsman with what appeared to be a trunk beside him.Ignoring every last excruciating factor that was plunging into her soul,including the unexpected sight of the ones she thought would save her needing to be saved themselves,she reluctantly let him lead the way to what she hoped was just a trap.They have a plan,they've got to...but as her and Cole were coming within ten feet of all of them,for some reason or another,she almost allowed her courage to plummet and she had to bare her fangs tightly as Huntsman turned his eyes onto her.Staring longingly at her,like waiting was near to unbearable.
"As you all know,"He spoke out in a loud,clear voice that silenced every last commotion in the stands and made everyone pay absolute attention onto him."This is a time we have been dreaming of for years,the opportunity to slay the Dragon..."his eyes fell to Jake,who stood wisely and without shame,keeping his eyes straight out onto the quiet young and old Huntsclan members;along with Haley who did nearly the same but was concentrating her focus up towards one of the doors."The Dragon who cost me everything one day and a Dragon who's been foolish enough to try to attempt a rescue for his daugther.Well..."he lowered his voice to an audio level only all five could hear."I suppose you've finally lost it,have you American Dragon?It must have taken you every ounce of persuasion to get the second one here to come for you're little 'rescue' mission,has it?Well,for costing me my Niece's life all those years ago,I'm going to let someone do to you what you've deserved all you're life and we both know how much that's going to sting,under the circumstances."
Jake finally turned his eyes to him and spoke very deliberately,as if every word he uttered was thought out and rehearsed for years."You've succeded in the attempts you've made to try and kill a part of my life,Huntsman."he told him without one hint of resentment,his coal eyes now pierecing and totally calm."But...you haven't ended me.Now,you're going to get you're chance to do what you've always wanted...why give it off to that boy?"
Huntsman wasn't at all phased."Because it would be more interesting the way you already know I want things done.It's been far too long and I have no wish to kill you as much as I know the greatest apprentice I have ever had the pleasure of training would like to do the honors."he turned to Cole,who was reserved and seemed to be pensively thinking the situation over."Black...are you ready to begin?If so,bring me the girl and in haste exchange I'll deliver to you both Dragons...which I know with every last ounce of confidence you can take down both in a limited time.Because that's who you are,that's how progressive you are and now it's time to show it.Again,we'll release whenever you're prepared to."
Wendy glanced over from the Huntsman to her father,who finally caught her eye and winked,making her flood with relief and so she gave a small smile in return but froze in the act.He's seen us.She didn't have to turn to see him look at her out of the corner of his eye,she felt the connection they shared spark and it sent an aggressive streak through her.Painfully,she narrowed a peek over at him and their gazes locked just as he turned back around and againist the warning she sent to him,he spoke out forthwith.
"It's a trap,sir.More then likely were going to be ambushed.Should we all take the defensive manuver and get ready for the siege at hand?"
The noises of bombarding were heard all around the upstairs and shook dirt loose from small creases and cracks in the ceiling that were forming from having been hit so hard.Jake and Haley still remained in their state of coolness,as the Huntsman looked as though he were about to lose it but quickly nodded at Cole and took that moment to announce to those who were higher ranked then trainee to prepare for the invasion and for the trainees to assist in every way that they could.Wendy watched as six opposing looking adult figures approached him and seemed like they were listening to his orders,as everyone else jostled about to get out and above ground,probably packing into other elevators.Wendy glanced over at Cole but he was had left her side to join up among the other important-appearing figures.However,she was about to make a break over towards the cage to speak with her father,when to her immense surprise she saw a horde of random dragons emerge from some split rafters above and lift the heavy metal frame off of him and her aunt.Instead of facing off,the Huntsclan members that had assembled around the Huntsman took to fleeing to the nearby walls that slid open and they began punching some in glowing green key pads in the passages.In puzzlement,Wendy watched as a blue dragon came soaring down to her and taking hold of her contraption,succeded instantly in yanking it clean off of her and thusly setting her free but still didn't satisfy her need to now absolutely what was going on.
"Wait,"she halted her before she flew off,taking the mysterious dragon by the wrist and questioning her urgently."What's going on here?"
The dragon frowned in reply and told her with some heaviness."Now that the Huntsclan has resurfaced altogether,the Dragon Council has took it upon themselves to issue a revolution,especially after the first American Dragon's insistance that after thirteen years of still hunting but keeping their trails very hard to follow,that them resorting to using their old methods of travelling means their ready to fight and so are we...in other words,they've assembled every adult Dragon to take on the Huntsclan members that are still apart of the organization after the last time they were thwarted nineteen years ago.In other words,they changed their encryption keys back to normal after they captured you and we were..."she took notice of the battles starting to take place in the arena and told her reassuringly."We've been planning this for a while,dear.You're getting out of here safely,don't even worry."
"You mean..."Wendy gasped in shock."Were all going to war now and it's my fault?"
"It's not anyone's fault."she replied and then flew off to interfere on a intense match.
She was about to go after her,when she saw her father approaching upon her quickly."Dad."she whispered worriedly."Dad,I-I can explain..."
In less then a second,Jake had her engulfed in a short but suffocating embrace."I'm not mad,"he told her,his voice thickly deepened in trying to control his overwhelming alleviation when he held her out at arm's length to examine her throughly."But I'm going to tell you you're not going to be fighting in this,you're going with Haley and you're getting to where it's the safest right now.As for me,I'm staying and finishing off the Huntsman."
A little shooken,she somehow found the ability to stand her ground."You lied to me,Dad...I know Cole is still alive and that's why I came here."her mind was jumbled with thoughts of flying off to find her brother or to just to find someone to take her anger out on,for the first time she really felt betrayed at her father and she wasn't sure why it had taken so long."I came here to try and save him...doesn't that mean anything to you,Dad?He's you're son and you didn't try to save him...so here now I having to."
Her Father's eyes and voice didn't soften."It's too late for you're Brother and it's been for years."his face darkened with grief when he spoke the next words."Honey,he's the greatest threat to the magical world.He's the one who's lead in more fatal attacks in these last two years then anyone of his age ever and he's too much of a threat.The Dragon Council wants...they want him dead,Wendy.He's just too deadly for redemption."
"You're lying."Wendy barbed defiantly,taking a few steps back."He's-I...I know he's bad...but he can change.What I don't get is why you never told me the truth in the first place.Why didn't you save someone who's apart of you?Would you if it'd have been me?"she keenly knew she was venturing into dangerous terrority but she found her tirade like a boost of energy,like a weight lifting off of her."Don't you even care about him?"
"I do."Jake told her,looking her earnestly in the eyes."I do care about you're brother,Gwendolyn.But I've had to accept the truth..."he moved forward as she drew away warily and finally he sighed,stopped and seized her swiftly but gently by the shoulders to pull her forward and told her before he turned her over to Haley."I found out after going through some books you're Mother kept after she left the Huntsclan,that the mark of the Huntsclan is so powerful...that if one of them ever betrayed for the love of a Dragon,that not only would one of their childern be marked but also cursed.The truth is,baby,Cole cannot turn good.His very being is physically bound to his destiney and even if he ever does feel remorse,there's no sure fire way he could go with it,his fate it sealed."
"Come on,Wen.We have to get you out of here and now."
Wendy was left in total shock as her father flew off and before she could act,Haley took her by the arm and proceeded to drag her along as the two made a fleeting escape for a hole that had been made in the ceiling and the sounds of belligerency reached her ears but all she could do was allow herself to be rescued,while at the same time looking down onto the face of her brother's concealed by the pitch black mask as he had returned to do whatever it was he was going to do to her.But now he was watching her leave and she knew they both had heard their father speaking,she could tell by the way he stared at her as she departed and by the feeling of dread that filled her heart at the thought of his actual restriction to the Huntsclan,that he had believed every word their father had spoken and even though it seemed hapless,she knew she wouldn't give up on him.For family didn't abandon family and family was what needed to be restored,curse or not curse,Wendy was keeping her vow.
A/N:More detail next chapter.
LP