In the Mikado's dojo, Halberd was sitting on the ground and looked lifelessly at the roof while his chest plate was put at a corner. His tail lightly tapped on the ground. Axia and Drum weren't there, leaving Halberd in his thought. Axia had tried to talk, but Halberd refused to speak with him and ignored the blue dragon until he left.

"Well... I destroy our friendship by keeping my sins a secret," Halberd concluded. He sighed loudly and lowered his head, "I'm an idiot. I doubt him at a time where I should have trusted him."

He then quietly wimped when he was sure no one was there before starting to silently cry. Tears felt from his eyes, but stopped when he heard footstep. He cleaned his eyes and looked at the entrance. He tried to give his serious face and crossed his arms.

"I told you that-" he stopped talking when he saw Hanako coming toward him. He shook his head and said as he lowered his eyes, "-I want to be alone."

Hanako walked closer to the dragon and sat next to him.

Halberd took a deep breath and said, "Why did you come here?"

Hanako worryingly replied, "Because you didn't come to eat with us. I brought something for you," she said, giving bread on the dragon palm.

Halberd looked at the bread and remained motionless. That was until his stomach grunted and he ate it in one bite, "Thank you," he then forced a smile and said, "You can leave me alone now. Please."

Hanako nodded negatively and put her hand on the dragon hand. She asked the question Halberd didn't want to answer, "What happened between you and Ironchain?"

Halberd didn't say anything. He looked at the hand and finally replied, "He and I have a fight."

"But you aren't hurt," Hanako replied.

Halberd nodded and specified, "A verbal fight. I did something really bad. He and I are... were best friend until he realised I knew where Jackknife lived and that I helped him from the start. He's enraged because of this. I betray him because I kept a secret. He thinks that I betray him."

"Why didn't you tell him?"

"Because- Because I didn't want him to be accused of treason because of me," Halberd answered. His close his eyes and barely contain a sob, "It's my fault. We were best friend since we came out of our eggs. I-"

Hanako hugged the dragon and Halberd remained still. He slowly lowered his eyes toward her. He then embraced her.

"You're going to make it up Halberd," Hanako told the dragon.

Halberd sobbed and replied, "I hope and... Thank you."

Chapter 28: The Decision

Ironchain was sitting on the roof of Kuguru home and looked at the sky with only few stars on it, "The light of the city is such a waste," he commented when he remember all the stars he could see from Dragon world. "I wonder if Earth appears as a star back home?"

He heard someone climbing on the roof and saw Kuguru joining him.

She sat by his side and asked, "Why did you suddenly want to go outside?"

Ironchain flinched and replied a little nervously, "You're chamber is... too girly for me."

Kuguru replied, "If you think that's girly, then you are far from it."

"I saw Gao's chamber and it's not like yours. It's just... girly," Ironchain replied, not finding how to explain what he thought of her chamber.

Kuguru nodded and changed the subject, "Are you thinking about Halberd?"

The blue dragon snickered and replied, without losing his calm, "No. I was thinking about the stars. I don't want to think about that bastard."

She sighed. She looked at his face and saw the lips of the dragon slowly dropping as he looked at the moon.

"Can you tell me how you became friend with Halberd?" Kuguru asked.

Ironchain turned toward her and nodded, "I don't mind," he put his claw on his jaw and thought about it for a while, "You remember I said that we knew each other's since we came out of our eggs, correct?"

Kuguru nodded.

"Obviously, it's not possible. We came from two different dragon clans," Ironchain said. He then looked at the moon and said with a small smile, "I was really young back then, as big as my mini form. The two clans met for an alliance during a war between dragons. Drum's father was victorious in the end, but that's not important. Back then, I was shyer than now."

Kuguru lightly chuckled, "Can't imagine it. You aren't shy at all."

Ironchain chuckled, "I'm not anymore. I don't hide between my father legs anymore. Back to the subject, during the meeting, I met Halberd who didn't change that much. He was always standing up with his head up. I thought he was arrogant and I disliked him at first."

Kuguru asked, "What happened for you to become friends?"

Ironchain thought about it and replied, "That's the main question I always asked, even more now. What happened exactly? The only thing I know is that I walked alone during the meeting, too boring for me. He followed me and talked to me. I don't remember the conversation, but he was mostly talking about where I was going and asked if he had done something wrong when I glared at him, hiding my shy the best he could. He knew I was shy as he calmly talked kindly, respecting who I was. That's when friendship sparkled. It burned strongly and suddenly, we were best friend. Sometimes, friendship just happens because we simply talked. I don't know how he said it to me, but I think somethings makes me realised he wasn't arrogant. Now," he lowered his eyes and clenched his fist, "He kept things from me. He never hides anything to me because he trusts me, or so I thought. Maybe he doubted me or doesn't really trust me. That's though is so-" he suddenly aggressively said, "Enraging."

Kuguru let him calm down before asking, "What will happen between you two?"

The dragon sighed and looked at the moon. He whispered, "I don't know. I can't think of what will happen between us. I just don't want to see him as long as possible. I need to process and think. Everything is put in question now."

"You should ask him why he hides it from you," Kuguru suggested.

"Will he answer or remain quiet? I don't know. Well-" the dragon stretched his arms and legs, "I'm tired. Maybe a night sleep will give me an answer."

"You're going to sleep on the roof?"

"Yeah. I'm used to sleep outside before. Also, your chamber is too girly for me," Ironchain replied with a small smirk before turning in his chibi form.

The girl sighed and let him rest for the night.

It was Saturday after school. Gao walked outside with Drum discreetly following him from the sky. Gao checked the indications as he walked until he was in front of Tasuku's apartment. He looked at the sky and said, "Good thing there's an elevator."

Drum watched in the air and started counting the floors. He wondered how high it was since he couldn't sent Jackknife anywhere, "No wonder we couldn't find him," he commented.

Gao entered in the apartment and pressed the forty floors and waited. It took a few minutes, but it was better than by the stairs. He walked outside and moved toward Tasuku home. Once in front of the door, he knocked and waited.

"Who's there?" Tasuku voice cautiously asked.

Gao knew anything could happen to Jack and preferred to be careful. He replied, "It's me Tasuku. I didn't see you at school. I was worried, so I came here."

"How did you get my address? I didn't give it to you," Tasuku asked as he opened the door with a smile.

"The Commander gave it after I asked," Gao replied with a smile. He walked inside and took off his shoes. He saw Jackknife looking at them.

"Hello Gao. It's nice to meet you in better circumstance," Jackknife said.

Gao nodded and replied, "Hello Jackknife."

"Do you need anything?" the boy asked.

"We should open a window. Drum must be waiting outside. He wanted to follow me when I knew I'll come here," Gao said.

Tasuku nodded and opened a window. A minute later, Drum came inside in his mini form and landed in the house. Him and Jackknife glared for a few seconds before Drum sat on a chair.

The boy closed the window and said, "Why did you come here? I still need time to think about what I should do. Should we try to hide again, or try our luck with The Punisher?"

"That's why you didn't come to school today?" Gao asked.

Tasuku nodded.

"This isn't an easy decision. We talked about it, but we can't reach a decision," Jackknife explained.

Drum crossed his arms and said, "It isn't something simple. I'm lucky I haven't to make a choice. You know how powerful The Punisher is right?"

Jackknife nodded, "Extremely powerful. I am strong and experimented, but he is older and stronger. If he attacked as we show up, I don't think the spellcard will be that useful."

Tasuku sat near his friend and looked at Gao, "I know we don't have unlimited time, but what we have isn't enough."

Gao lightly smiled and replied, "Remember what we said. We will support you no matter what. I'm ready to fight by your side no matter what."

Jackknife looked at Drum, "What about you?"

Drum scratched the back of his head and said, "I don't know. I'll get pulverised by my father if I fight by your side and I'll end up like pudding."

Tasuku asked, "But I'll put you in danger Gao. Jack and I shouldn't drag you into this."

Gao adjusted his jacket and replied, "Tasuku. If I don't help you, I'll always regret it. I am the Sunfighter. I won't leave you alone against them."

Tasuku lightly smiled and put his hand on Jackknife snout.

Jackknife commented, "Sounds likes someone I know well."

"I'm not like him," Tasuku defensively replied.

"You don't want to leave me alone against them either. Even when I wanted too."

"Tasuku," Gao said, gaining their attention, "I also thought about it. I think you should talk to The Punisher."

Tasuku took a deep breath and asked, "Why?"

"Because it is the only way to end it once and for all. If you continue hiding, they will find you eventually," Gao started.

"Their might also be some bounty hunter who won't hesitate to put the town in fire and blood to get you. This is something you shouldn't forget. If you get out of the city, they will search for you until the rest of your life," Drum said.

Tasuku put his hand on his chest and partially closed his eyes while Jackknife looked at Drum.

Gao added, "Confronting him, no matter what happen, might be the only way to end this. You won't have to hide anymore. I'll speak on your behalf to The Punisher and try to convince him that Jackknife isn't a bad dragon. I know he has done the right thing and The Punisher is a good dragon."

Jackknife asked, "How can you be sure he might even consider your words?"

"I don't know, but I am willing to try. As I said, I'll be by your side no matter what," Gao said with a smile.

Tasuku opened his eyes and smiled, "You're going to keep your words? No matter how hard it gets, you will speak on Jackknife behalf."

"Yes. It is a promise, but not as the Sunfighter, but as your friend," Gao said with his biggest and confident smile.

The boy put his left hand on his blue hair and smiled, "I didn't thought you would really keep your words no matter what. You are both right. There is a chance to give Jackknife freedom once and for all. Running away will only bring misery to ourselves around us," he clenched his hand and continued, "We aren't alone anymore. You are here, maybe Drum."

"If Gao is that serious, I'll have to help him," Drum sighed.

"There's also Halberd, Baku and Kuguru," Tasuku finished. He then thought about it, "Maybe Ironchain."

"Maybe," Jackknife said.

"That's why," he looked at Jackknife. The dragon nodded, agreeing with his decision, "We will talk to The Punisher. We will convince him that Jackknife isn't guilty of treason. He did it because it was the only right thing to do. Right Jack?"

Jackknife smiled and replied, "With such determination, I can only agree with you."

"Thanks Gao," Tasuku said.

"I know we can do it. Once you called The Commander, I'll talk with The Punisher."

Tasuku nodded. The four talked for an hour before Gao and Drum returned to their home. Tasuku gave his phone number and Gao his own.

Once Tasuku and Jackknife were alone, the green dragon stood up and said with a smile, "You have a great friend Tasuku."

Tasuku nodded, "I know. I believe everything will be alright."

"The hardest thing is to come Tasuku. But we are ready," Jackknife said.

Tasuku nodded and thought how it will all end.

AC: This is the end of chapter 28.

Next chapter: Battle Of Freedom part 1.