Chapter 3 – True Form Revealed
It didn't take long for the Pyre Squad to arrive at Australia. After their report at the Obsidian Devourers Headquarters, they've been given orders by the Dark Queen to take care of Cynder and her friends. The Pyre Squad entered a mountainous area, certain that the dragon group will be around. They also brought along a contraption the Dark Queen allowed them to borrow. It was a large mobile prison cell with a polycarbonate window that circles around the middle. Supporting the cell was two hydraulic legs. The Pyre Squad are planning to use it against the dragons.
"This is going to be a day of success for the Obsidian Devourers," said Ciara. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, yes, absolutely!" said Scorcher. "Now that we are well prepared, we shall be able to gain the upper hand on those do-gooder dragons."
"So what are we gonna do with this mecha?" asked Cronk.
"Let's have it underground so that we can catch those meddlesome fools when they least expect it," replied Ciara.
"They will surely be in for a surprise," said Scorcher.
"So you remember the plan, right?" Ciara asked the others.
"Yah, I think so," said Cronk.
"So first we'll wait for them to be at the right spot," said Ciara. "Then when they do, we'll nab the lot but Cynder, because we'll be making sure she'll cooperate with us."
"How will we do that?"
"We're going to give her an ultimatum, you dunce!" exclaimed Ciara. "If she wants her friends to be free, she'll have no other choice but to join the Obsidian Devourers, of course, we're just going to have them sent over to the Dark Queen instead."
"A very rotten trick, I must say," said Scorcher.
"I know, and that's why it's such a brilliant plan!" laughed Ciara.
Scorcher and Cronk grinned. "The Dark Queen will be very pleased with us."
"Right," said Ciara. "Those dragons shall be coming around at any moment, so let's put our plan into action!"
"Aye-aye, captain!" replied Scorcher and Cronk in unison. They reached a spot where they got the mecha create a large hole which it was able to fit inside, then it started burrowing a tunnel through the earth where it laid to wait before it can strike at the right moment.
Jakkin flew across the plains after walking for quite a while and was getting close to a mountain region. Already his mind was overcome with so many emotions. He felt very guilty for what he had said to his friends just now, especially knowing that they did nothing wrong to make him leave in the first place. He wept his brow, unsure of whether he should turn back and confront his friends or continue his path.
My goodness, what have I done? I got so angry that I insulted my friends… Jakkin tried to regain his composure, but he was well aware that the damage was already done. It's quite likely that they already hate me now…
It was almost noon, and Jakkin could sense his Charizard form slowly wearing off. He lowered down to the mountains and searched for someplace to hide for the time being until his regression is finished.
I guess maybe it would be for the best if I come clean to them and show them my true form… Jakkin thought. But how are they going to take someone who is not a western dragon or even a Charizard? One thing they will have to be aware of is that in my base form, I tend to release a very strong scent that only a few can handle.
Meanwhile, Cynder, Draco, Torden, and Percival trudged along the mountain area after an hour of their search for Jakkin. Lily had returned with Darky to their camping spot before they started.
"This is so exhausting," groaned Draco. "How long have we been walking?"
"We can't give up now, Draco," said Cynder. "We still have to look for Jakkin so that we can find out why he has been acting so strange lately."
"Yeah, but searching for him is not that easy," said Percival. "Even if we tried searching for him by air, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack as he could be anywhere."
The dragons continued their search for Jakkin. Finally, as they reached a bend, they smelled something rather unusual.
"What kind of smell is that?" asked Percival as he came close to gagging. "It almost smelt like rotten eggs or something."
"I have no idea where it is coming from," choked Torden as he covered his mouth. "But I know for sure none of us has cracked one open."
"We must be getting close," said Cynder. "I hope…"
Eventually, the dragons encountered a strange-looking creature. He was orange-red, had a very bulky body with some fuzz all over his body. His face had a rather squashy snout, but it was fairly elongated that he looked very much like dragon, though not in the same type as Cynder and her friends. But the most unusual thing about the dragon is that he was wearing similar clothes to Jakkin. Torden was suspicious and believed that this thing must have done something to him, that he immediately rushed towards the dragon.
"Wait, Torden!" called Cynder.
As Torden lunged right at the dragon, he turned around. "What the…?" In the nick of time, the dragon dodged Torden's attack.
"Alright, you creep!" growled Torden. "What have you done with Jakkin?"
"Excuse me, buddy?" grunted the dragon.
"You're wearing his clothes and hat!" exclaimed Torden. "If you've done something to him, then believe me, you're in for a world of hurt!"
"Torden, don't you recognise me? It is me, Jakkin!"
Torden looked at Jakkin sceptically. He doesn't believe that this overweight strange-looking dragon could be the Charizard who tried to leave the group.
"Torden, I believe he is telling the truth," said Percival. "Look closely, I could see the same eye colour and facial expression."
As Torden took a better look, he started to notice the similarities. "Jakkin?" he asked. "Is that really you? You look so different."
"Guys, there's something you should know about me now that you realised this," said Jakkin. "This is actually my true form, and the Charizard one you saw earlier was just a transformed state of mine."
"What?!" gasped the four dragons.
Author's Note: At last, Jakkin shows what he really is! What kind of species is he? That answer will come very soon!
