Chapter 4 – Return of the Pyre Squad
Jakkin focused on the four dragons, who were really shocked that he wasn't a Charizard, but a different kind of dragon altogether. He tried to keep them from being the wiser by distancing himself as much as possible before eventually deciding to leave them, but now that they're here and wondering to know more about his secret, he knows that it will better if he just tell them the truth about himself.
"Guys, I am very sorry for the way I behaved earlier…" he said with remorse. "It's just that I thought that you would never understand who I really am."
"I believe we'll understand once you tell us who you are," said Percival.
Cynder, Draco, and Torden nodded in agreement.
"Alright, if you really want to know, I'll tell you," said Jakkin. He cleared his throat. "I am actually a Surian dragon hybrid."
"I never heard of that species before," said Cynder. "What is a Surian?"
"Basically, Surians are a type of Eastern dragon that came to America many eons ago," replied Jakkin. "In case you are wonderin', they are of Chinese origin."
"That explains your appearance," said Draco. "Or at least your head structure, cause don't all Eastern dragons have a serpentine body?"
"Yes, they do," said Jakkin. "But we Surians have a more humanoid body shape."
"Makes sense to me," said Cynder.
"Sorry about the stink, too," went on Jakin. "I'm not just a dragon, but I'm also part skunk."
"How is that possible?" asked Percival. "I mean, dragons are reptiles and skunks are mammals."
"You seem to forget that we Eastern dragons have mammalian traits," said Jakkin. "So our kind is compatible with both sides."
"I still wonder about your Charizard form, though," said Draco.
"To answer that, I am a shapeshifter," replied Jakkin. "I have the ability to transform into a multitude of forms, which lasts for a limited amount of time, though."
"So that's how you were a Charizard when we first saw you," said Percival.
"Yes, very much," said Jakkin. "The effect lasted for about three days, and it was today that I would revert back to the form you see now."
"Is this the reason why you've been acting like this?" asked Cynder.
"Yes, much as I hate to admit it," confessed Jakkin. "I only thought that you would all be disappointed to learn that I am not a Charizard at all."
"To be perfectly honest, Jakkin, we are not," said Cynder. "This group I have formed is meant to have a diverse group of dragons, even if a few of them are Westerns like Percival, Torden, and Lily."
"I feel deeply ashamed of my behaviour and I also want to apologise for breaking the promise I had with Lily," said Jakkin. "To tell you the truth, I do want to be part of your group."
"Say what?" asked Draco.
"I never had any true friends all my life," continued Jakkin. "And so far, you guys were the only ones who have ever been this close me, so much so that I almost felt like you've accepted me as a family member."
"Jakkin, I…" stammered Percival. "I take all back what I have said to you earlier on."
"No need to worry," said Jakkin. "I know that while it is natural to be angry, it's not in you to snap out at me like that."
"I don't know what to say," said Percival. "I never meant to call you a two-faced bumpkin."
"And I'm sorry for calling you and Draco those rude names."
"Jakkin," began Cynder. "Now that we've settled our differences, I was wondering if you are now ready to return to our group."
Jakkin thought for a moment, and smiled. "Oh, what the heck," he said. "Come here for a pawshake."
For a moment it seemed as if everything was getting better, but suddenly, an unexpected tremor started. The dragons were started as the ground continued to quiver.
"What… what's going on?" asked Draco.
"I don't know," said Cynder. "But it's very strange that an earthquake would occur at this time and place!"
Suddenly, the ground cracked upon, and rising out of the surface was a gigantic mechanical monstrosity. Draco and Percival stood horrified and huddled each other as the mecha towered them. Without warning, two arms popped out from the sides of the mecha and reached for the dragons. Cynder and Torden managed to evade just in time, but Draco, Jakkin, and Torden were caught. The giant mecha let out a huge cloud of smoke which made it impossible to see what was happening.
"What is going on?" said Cynder.
Then they heard evil laughter from behind the mecha, and much to her dismay, the Pyre Squad appeared from behind.
"Thought we would drop in to the party!" they jeered.
"You guys again!" hissed Cynder. "What have you done to my friends?!"
"Have a look inside our latest contraption!" sneered Ciara.
Cynder turned around, and to her horror, she saw Draco, Percival and Jakkin trapped inside the mecha. Jakkin tried to break through the polycarbonate window, but to no avail while Draco and Percival looked out with desperate expressions on their faces.
"Cynder, get us out of here!" they pleaded.
Cynder could not bear the situation any longer. "I won't let you get away with this!" she growled to the Pyre Squad.
"You are sadly mistaken," said Scorcher. "Soon we will capture your other friends too!"
"You wouldn't dare!" said Torden angrily. "Lily and I won't fall into your trap, and we'll get our friends out of your ugly machine!"
The Pyre Squad laughed at Torden's declaration. "How ridiculous you are to think that!" mocked Ciara. "This mecha cannot be destroyed, and even if it can, I highly doubt you'll be able to find its weakness!"
"Even so, you wouldn't want anything bad happen to your pitiful friends, would you?" asked Scorcher. "Of course, their lives will be spared, if Cynder cooperates with us."
"Cooperate with a bunch of creeps like you?!" exclaimed Cynder.
"Yes, for we have a generous offer," said Cronk. "Join us, and your friends will be unharmed."
Cynder flinched. There was no way she was going to give in and join in an organisation dedicated to wreaking havoc on the innocent lives, but she was determined to release her friends from their prison.
"I will never join you!" she declared.
"Oh well, suit yourself," said Scorcher, and he took out a remote control and pushed a button on it which started the mecha to move. It advanced on Cynder and Torden, and relinquished two arms which now had laser blasters instead of hands.
"Fire away!" shouted Ciara, and with that the giant robot started to fire its lasers.
"Oh, snap!" groaned Cynder. "Get out of the way!"
Cynder and Torden managed to evade the laser blasts but find themselves under the pursuit of the robot.
"Give it up, already," said the Pyre Squad. "You won't be able to beat us like you did last time!"
Inside the robot, Draco looks on helplessly as it chases after Cynder and Torden.
"This is not looking good," he said glumly. "Cynder and Torden are in serious trouble and there's no way we can help them while we're trapped."
"Don't beat yourself up, Draco," said Jakkin. "We need to find a way to get out of here, or at least disable the robot momentarily."
"He's right," said Percival. "And who knows, it's quite likely that Lily will come back and help them."
Draco felt a bit better from Percival's words. "Thanks, I certainly hope so,"
"Right now, we've got to see how we can get out," said Percival. "This glass is too strong for even our fire breath, so that's out of the question."
"Then maybe we can try to get this thing to collapse which will cause the glass to break when it hits the ground," said Jakkin. "The one way we can do this is if we can sabotage its circuitry."
"That will require finding an opening somewhere," said Draco. "But we're going to have to find it fast so that we can help out Cynder and Torden."
The three dragons looked very hard around their prison hold, but haven't found anything yet. Just then, Draco noticed something peculiar up in the ceiling, and found what looks like a small indention leading to the robot's circuits.
"Hold on a minute," he said as he scratched his head. "I think I might have gotten an idea…"
