A/N: Hey, guys, guess what! I've got ART!

Kim: Yippee!

Link: Here the url to the Dragon Blood cover:

Eliwood: And here's a shot of Roy and Ryka!

Ed: Shameless self-advertising... (shakes head)

Roy: (BONK) Shaddap. :)

Kim: Hey, wait...where ARE the urls?

Oh, dammit, that's right, won't let me type them in, da buttmunchers... Oh, well, check out my profile, click on my deviantART account, then go look at the two pics entitled "Dragon Blood Cover" and "Half-Dragon Pride." If you get lost, gimme your email and I'll send you the links. Course this all would've been easy if the SITE WOULD ALLOW URLS!

Everyone: O.O (cower)

So, go check 'em out, if you can.Now, onto the chappie. Now, the character I'm introducing has a ridiculous accent, so the misspellings are intentional. And no, I'm not making fun of the French, I'm making fun of a dude who rips apart the French accent. He's a bad guy, so I can do that. XD So, onward!

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Chapter 8: Found and Caught

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Of course, Roy awoke to the morning as fit as fit can be, his wings and any evidence of them gone. Ryka explained to him what she knew of what happened, and he agreed to her plans of working with his flame powers. To his embarrassment, he still had slight problems in that field, sometimes losing control and charring a spot on the roof. He hoped no one in charge of the Mansion repairs would notice.

And so that's what they did for another week or so until he could at last master the ability with little effort. and with that done, Roy had learned all and mastered all that he could. The only thing that was left for him to do was the transformation.

With this in mind, Ryka decided to reward his hard work with a little surprise. Tonight they met on the front steps of the Mansion instead of the roof, and once there, Roy took her hand and followed her northwards.

The SSBM Mansion was surrounding by very interesting and lovely geography. the nearest city was miles away, only a small road crossing its path. Most of the grounds were wide open grassy green plains, but towards the north, the fields became small forests which circled around a small group of rocky mountains, like a leafy moat around a beige stone castle. Most Smashers didn't know it, but there was quite an abundant amount of life, quite literally, right in their backyard.

Roy was at ease as he strolled through the woods behind Ryka, listening to the owls hoot and the crickets serenading the evening. Somehow, a presence of familiarity reached deep inside him and pulled out his worries, pulled out his sorrows, and he felt somehow... at home. It was a very comforting feeling.

But that would be next to nothing compared to what Ryka would show him.

"We're almost there, come on!" Ryka tugged on his arm a bit, and he quickened his pace along the rocky path up the center mountain's side. He grunted as he was pulled through thick brush and bramble, and for a second he had no idea where he was going. When the foliage cleared, he was no longer on a road, but on a cliff overlooking the forests. He gazed outwards, even able to see the silhouette of the Mansion against the navy blue sky, its twinkling stars and moon bathing the treetops in a pearly glow. Roy was taken in by the marvelous view.

"Turn around," Ryka commanded with a grin, and Roy did so, facing something only a half-dragon could consider spectacular. There, burrowing into the cliff's side, was a large cavern leading into the mountain. There was a soft orange glow inside, drawing in an amazed Roy, who slowly stepped within, Ryka right beside him. Inside was a makeshift home: a small, human-sized cot, an area set aside where her belongings sat, and a small fire in the middle, bringing warmth to the otherwise chilly cave. Roy noted the abundance of empty space left open; enough room for a dragon to roam about inside without the inherent feeling of cramping. To understate, Roy was astonished.

"W...wow..." he squeaked out, bright eyes of blue scanning the glowing walls in awe.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Ryka smiled, spinning about the cave until she landed on her cot. "Home sweet home."

"Mmm-hmm," Roy nodded, huddling nearby, in front of the warm fire. "Wow, I wish I knew about this place before..."

Ryka grinned, amused by his unwavering, childish sense of wonder, and scooted over next to him. "Well, then I wouldn't have been able to surprise you, would I?"

Roy chuckled. "Heh, yeah, I guess..." He turned to glance upon Ryka, but his heart leaped all of the sudden. She was looking right at him, and the glow from the fire accented all her soft features, grabbing his attention. But before anything happened, he cleared his throat to get control of himself. "So, um... what're we doing tonight?"

"What else?" Ryka smiled. "Let's try it again."

Knowing what she meant, Roy nodded and faced her, and she adjusted to face him. They were silently soaking up the atmosphere before Ryka spoke again.

"Okay... I've taught you the methods, you just have to apply them." Slowly, with purpose, she took his hands into hers. "If it helps, I'll do it with you."

Roy nodded. "Alright."

"Let's do it."

Simultaneously, they shut their eyes and concentrated like they've done before. And with their connection by hand, their subconscious both triggered the process at the same time, knowing their purpose. Roy felt the tugs and bends, his fingers curling to tighten their grip on Ryka's hands. She didn't back away, but more or less did the same as she experienced the same pains as he did, but bided her strength easily.

Roy was determined to do it this time, hoping and praying his subconscious wouldn't cut him off, yet was still patient enough to take it piece by piece. He began to let his imagination take over, thinking of...

"Boyz! In here! We've found et at last!"

Roy's eyes snapped open in panic as the wind entered and snuffed out the campfire. Someone was nearby!

Stop, stop! he internally ordered, and he felt the tight pulls relax and settle back into human form, if there had been any difference. The girl across from him, however, showed no signs of halting.

"Ryka!" he cried out, still clutching her growing hands as the noise outside the cave grew closer. "Ryka, quick! Someone's coming!"

"Roy...!" she choked out, gasping. "I...I can't... stop it...!"

"RYKA!" Roy was terrified when her fingers between his grew claws and green, scaly skin. He hurriedly withdrew and could only watch helplessly as the glow enveloped her features until she was a dragon once more, limping into an exhausted heap as she had lost the fight with her subconscious.

"Ryka!" Roy knelt beside her large head, hands wrapped around her cheek and neck for support. "Are you okay?"

"R-Roy... get... run... please, run..." she groaned weakly.

"Why?" He briefly turned away as the voices outside got louder and more aggressive.

"Hurry up, jou oafs! I swear, de dragon's in zere, and now is ze chance to take vhat's mine!"

Hearing this, Roy turned back to Ryka, shocked. "...They're... looking for you."

The olive green dragon grimaced.

"...That's why you wanted to keep it a secret. These people have been hunting you down, haven't they...?"

"Roy, please, I don't want you to get hurt..." Ryka pleaded softly.

But Roy refused to run away, giving her a fierce glance of determination. "No. I'm staying right here."

"Roy..."

Both winced as a series of blinding lights shot on and banished the darkness. Shielding his eyes, Roy glanced towards the mouth of the cave, where a good number of uniformed men with odd equipment stood, looking as if ready for a battle. They seemed intimidated by the great dragon behind him, but confused at his own presence.

"Well? Is she zere or not?" An impatient, thick-accented voice spoke out behind the group.

"...um... Well, we've got an... um, issue, Jasper, sir..."

"Oh, move out of ze way, jou brainless mongrel!" A lanky man with a thin, over-groomed mustache and clothing as if he was on an archeological expedition eagerly pushed through the shield of his men to see for himself. Seeing the boy crouched down beside the dragon even got him to stop short, and seconds later, his temper flared again.

"Vhat? Vhat is dat brat doing there?"

"He... he was there when we came in, s..."

"NO EXCUSES!"

As the man continued to bicker with his henchmen, Ryka softly growled, something Roy could translate. "Go... Please, just go..."

"No." Roy didn't know why she was choosing to speak in Dragon Tongue, but he responded all the same. "Stay down. I will protect you." (1) And with that, he stood in front of her, willing to confront this whole group if needed.

It seemed that the odd language the two had exchanged had gained the strange man's attention, his beady eyes trained on Roy as he absentmindedly twirled his mustache in thought.

"Hmm... Most in-ter-resting..." he mused. "Ze boy knows ze tongue of ze dragon..."

Roy retained a dark scowl, spreading his arms out. "Leave her alone."

"Vhat, jou plan to protect zis creature?" the odd man chortled. "HA! Don't make meh laugh!"

Roy's scowl only deepened. "Who are you, and what do you want with her?"

"Who am I? WhhhhhhHHO am I?" the pious man exclaimed, rolling his "h's" profusely, furthering his ridiculous outlook. He gestured to himself and stood with the pride of the greatest thing since sliced bread. "Jasper is ze name, dragon-hunting is my game! I'm one of ze best dragonologists in Europe! I've been hunting zose foul beasts for a good twenty years now!" He leaned dangerously close to Ray's face. "And not once 'ave I let zomeone like jou be in ze way of my bounty!"

"No!" Jasper's cocky, clownish character did not waver Roy's resolve as he stood firm. "I won't let you take her!"

"Grr... jou foolish brat!" Jasper screeched, gesturing towards a still exhausted Ryka. "Don't jou realize vhat zort of gold mine jou are protecting? Zat is no normal dragon!" He chuckled. "I should know, I take zem apart all ze time."

"You sicko!" Roy bellowed, fists clenched as his own temper began to rise.

"But jus look at zat beast!" He began to stroll closer. "Her red hair, her two-toned zkin und wings, her repulsively short znout... Vedy strange features for a dragon, no? Zome call et ze legendary Half-dragon... no one knows vhat the other half is."

Roy took that into consideration. If there were only rumors of half-dragons, and no one knew they were half human, that only made things even more dangerous for them with man like Jasper; greedy "dragonologists" who plundered dragons and sold them for mounds of profit, disregarding any of the "beasts'" feelings. Knowing this, Roy furthered his defensive stance, sneering worse the more Jasper came closer.

"...Jou still don't get et, do you? Zis creature...is my ticket to great richez!" And then he reached out to stroke Ryka's scaly skin.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!" Roy slapped his hand away venomously, giving him a snarl. "You selfish nutcase! Dragonologists are supposed to help dragons! How dare you call yourself one!"

Jasper put on an offended look as he back away. "Oh! Oh, my poor tender heart! Et breaks! Jou hurt my dear delicate feelingz!" There were some laughs from his team behind him, and the face went away. "Vell, if zat's how you feel, go on, continue protecting ze Half-dragon." He backed up behind his men. "Let's zee if my team of trained hunters can break through ze dragon's little defender."

With his eyes more adjusted to the light, Roy noted how buff and well-armed the men really were, holding what looked to be guns containing either tranquillizer darts or lead bullets. But though he was unarmed, Roy was completely calm. even as Ryka tried to get up to probably attack, he lifted his hand and held her back.

"No, wait...!"

"Stay down. I will take care of them."

"Wait, they're...!"

But whatever warning she had didn't come fast enough, as Roy lit his internal glow, and a small flame erupted between the palms of his hands, slowly growing in size. The men stopped their approach, gazing at the fire as if entranced. When it got bigger and bigger, that's when Jasper began to sense an attack.

"Jou idiots! Your cloaks! Hurry!"

Before that warning was given, Roy had commanded the massive ball of fire to be sent towards his adversaries. They barely had enough time to each throw on their own peculiar cloak, and when the fireball connected, it exploded off the strange fabrics, spreading embers every which way. Alarmed, Roy ducked under Ryka's wings, his flames bouncing off the leathery skin until they evaporated into puffs of smoke.

Slowly, Roy peeked out from behind his protective barrier when he was sure it was safe, wondering what went wrong. then he got a good look at the cloaks as they began to remove them. Each were coarsely made, near-blankets almost, with stretched and curved marking as if straight from the tanner. This struck Roy as odd, but before he could ponder it further, Jasper threw off his own cloak and scowled at the youth.

"Harummph!" he huffed. "Dragon powers, eh? Zo zat's why jou protect et! You're jus another dragon sorcerer who doesn't know his place!" (2) The scowl melted into a smirk as he regarded his team. "Good zing I told jou boyz to bring ze heat-resistant cloaks, no?"

The hunter men all guffawed almost mockingly. Slowly Roy moved out from behind Ryka's aquatic blue wing, keeping his eyes trained on the mysterious cloak in Jasper's hands. "Heat-resistance..." Then it hit him hard. "That's...!"

Jasper's form shook with merriment as he laughed at the shocked look on the boy's face. "Hahaha! Jou are a sharp one, Mr. Dragon Sorcerer!" He slung it over his shoulder and stroked it like a mink coat. "Zat's right, pure dragon hide, zkinned straight from ze beast." He then flexed the most wicked smirk. "Zey're better fresh off ze corpse."

Roy gawked in horror at the atrocity before him. Even Ryka behind him shivered, equally sickened, as those hides most likely belonged to dragons she once knew and watched over. But though she was grief-stricken, a quiet rage built up inside of her. I t wasn't meant to be released...

"YOU MONSTER!"

SMACK.

...but then she saw Roy hit the ground when he tried to go for Jasper's throat. The dastard had a surprisingly good arm for dealing punishment to those in his way, as Roy rubbed a red, puffy cheek painfully. And there, Ryka saw another one of her friends being trampled on by this man, this villain who was the very enemy of all dragon-kin. And with this in mind, the weakness gone from her body, Ryka stood on all fours most vigorously, catching everyone's attention. Yet her blue reptilian eyes were trained on Jasper alone, the epitome of all her troubles. It was time to stop running and confront this vile man for all her dragon brothers and sisters.

Everyone had frozen on the spot at this new development, the team looking as if ready to make a run for it. Ryka let out a deafening roar that knocked all the men off their feet, but Jasper stood rigid, roaring back as if answering a challenge. As a furiously agitated Ryka began to approach, his hand dived into a small belt pouch on his hip, pulling out a clump of sparkling crimson dust. And before Ryka could see it in her beastly blind fury, it was too late.

Roy, however, recognized it on the spot. Dragon dust! From her readings, Roy knew the substance well, and from it, he knew exactly what Jasper was planning to do.

"NO! RYKA!"

But his call fell on deaf ears as Ryka ran head first into danger. When she was close enough, Jasper cast the magic dust into the air, all spraying into Ryka's eyes.

"RYKA!"

The dust succeeded in halting her in her tracks, swaying as if intoxicated. Jasper took full advantage of the opportunity and began to chant a certain spell.

"Ivàhsi yüduin! Enimôr taym inspelz! Boyar ugôner gedit!" (3)

The color drained form Roy's face as Ryka settled in a calm state under Jasper's spell. As the entranced dragon stood willingly before her new master, Roy snapped and darted towards her, desperately calling out her name to try and somehow reach her.

"RYKA! RYKA, ANSWER ME! RYK- UNH!" Before he could reach her, however, he felt the hands of one of those massive men deliver a good blow to the back of his head. Losing his momentum, he fell forward to kiss the ground limply, consciousness fading in and out. His eyes were already closed, his world rendered dark, but faint words managed to reach his ears.

"Finally! I was waiting for one of jou to do zomezing about zat pest! Now, chain her up vell!"

"Jasper, sir! What about the boy?"

"Leave him be! I 'ave no need for ze little sorcerer to crowd up my cages!"

And then Roy's consciousness slipped helplessly away.

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(1) In Dragon Tongue, there's no contractions, or words with apostrophes, so that's why it sounds formal. In addition, the concept of names is more complicated and will be explained later on.

(2) Jasper's mistake. He doesn't know of real half-dragons, so he assumes it's dragon sorcery that gives Roy his powers.

(3) Yes, this is a real taming spell from the source, one that if not pronounced exactly will backfire on the castor.

A/N: Woo... big chapter.

Ed: Well, finally! (gets bonked again) OW! That's IT! (transmutes his arm and chases after Roy)

Roy: RUN AWAY! (flee)

Link: ...then again, maybe Monty Python also has a part in Roy's insanity.

Eliwood: Why can't you just ACCEPT it for what it is, like I do!

Link: Because you're his dad. That's way different.

Eliwood: :P

Kim: (sleeping)

Anydangways, review, please! And go check out the fanfic art!