Hola mi amigos! And here is your Cinco de Mayo present, a new chapter! So sit back, have a taco and read the story that strangely captivates you.
:D enjoy :D
Slashes of green and red flashed threw the air around them. Drago had surprisingly agreed to a combat session with Scarlett. She wanted to learn how to fight non-human creatures, obviously with this job she would see deal with demons more than humans. She suspected that Drago just wanted to vent some steam. He was the only one of the sacred animals that could talk, letting the others know just what kind of torture the other animals were going threw. It's like looking for a loved one in a giant crowd. You keep thinking you see or hear them but never do, and every moment that passes without you seeing them, makes you wonder if you will ever see them again.
Scarlett tried to land a solid punch towards his green-scaled face, only to have it deflected. As he tried to counter, the agent squatted down to deliver a strong sweeping kick, as he started to fall she quickly used her momentum to follow her kick. Now facing his back she quickly delivered a solid kick towards his back that sent him flying across the room. After he skid and tumbled on the floor a few feet, Drago regained control and maneuvered his body into a back flip and landing into a threatening fighting pose.
Before either opponent could launch a new attack a strong clapping sound echoed throughout the room. Its source was the tall, black coat wearing leader of section thirteen. Behind him was a young woman with short blond hair, who clearly did not share his appreciation for the full contact display. She did not show a sign of hate or displeasure, more like turning her head before seeing a frightful act in a movie. Once it was clear that neither human nor dragon were going to attack again, she graciously offered them each a towel and a perfectly chilled bottle of water. Scarlett graciously drank the water, not realizing how much her body was craving the much-needed liquid. Drago began whipping the sweat from his scales, carefully sniffing the water for any kind of toxins. He really didn't trust the Horse Master, anyone who was so willing to heal the world without asking for anything in return seem suspicious. Everyone wants something, everyone has a price. Taking a chance he decided to accept the chilled present, taking small sips instead of Scarlett's great gulps.
"You should have hired her years ago Black, there's no way my father would have gotten as far as he did if you would of sent her after him."
"That maybe so but as memory serves, we still beat him pretty bad."
"So what happened to your daddy-dearest, he as fun to fight as you?"
"At last count, the old man banished me and him into another dimension. He was banished with all twelve of the talismans inside him and stood around 50 feet tall."
"Sounds like fun, I always did love a good fight."
"That's horrible!"
"How so?"
"Violence is never a good way to express yourself! With every punch to throw you are damaging your body and your mind!"
"That may be, but if I don't fight then I really will get my mind and body messed up."
This was why Drago didn't trust Naomi Reyes, she honestly thought she lived in a world where she thought everyone could live without violence. He chuckled to himself at the thought of her living in a Barney like world where everyone sings songs and is sickeningly happy all the time. Captain Black brought him out of his own thoughts.
"In all seriousness Drago, what is your dad up to?"
"Just because I'm caught up in all this Masters shit, don't think I'm one of you goody-goodies now. I'm not about to snitch on my father or the other daemons. But I will say this, after Hei'an poses me I just blacked out. When I came to it was after Gwen and Scar woke me up. When I was blacked out, Hei'an somehow got me out of the other dimension and made me open the portal to let him back in this world."
"So you're not sure if Shendu or even the other demons are still in their prisons."
"Not a clue. But even if they did get out, that's not what you should be worried about."
"What is then?"
"Demons are naturally hard headed, it's not easy to get into our heads and a whole nother level to completely take over our minds and bodies and force us to use our powers. Everything that the awaken Masters have told us so far, has been downplayed. This guy is dangerous, very dangerous."
"That's a lot of insight for someone who's not a goody-goody yet."
"It's the damn Loyalty thing, until this Masters thing is settled I'm like possessed to help y'all."
Black gave a slight grin, the green teen reminded him so much of his young cousin. A young man trying to take on the world, torn in different directions for people want him to be and what he wanted. So angry at the world for how they seem him, and yet in the darkest crevasses shines a bit of light. Perhaps Drago wasn't as evil as everyone had suspected.
A few snickers and catcalls caught Black's ears. Some of the other agents had passed the now opened door and taking notice of the red haired agent inside. Her body was shining with a slight glow from her earlier exertion. She chose to wear a matching set of short, tight blue shorts and tank top while her long hair trailed down her back in a high pony tail. It was amazing that her breast had not popped out during her spare with Drago, or maybe they had before he and Naomi arrived. She herself seemed to take no notice to the catcalls, as if it was a common thing to hear. Agent Black went to shut the door, telling himself it was so they all could talk in peace, but deep down wondered if he even believed the lie.
"Wow you seem popular with the agents."
"I guess, every other chick around here dresses like they're heading to a funeral so any dash of color sets them off."
Naomi gave a genuine laugh.
"I doubt it's because of the color, I think they just wanted to see you fight in the tight outfit."
Some may have taken offense to the comment, but Scarlett knew her better. The memories of growing up together in their past life started to flood back to both of them. They remembered the closeness they once shared seemed to bring them back, giving them a second chance to be as close as sisters. The Horse always had a somewhat blunt honesty about her, never intending to hurt anyone but merely stating how the rest of the world may see the situation.
"Well if they're to juvenile to still think that way, than that's their fault. I am proud to be a fit healthy woman, proud of my body and the evolution it took to make me."
Black took a moment to internally shame himself, for the same perverted thoughts had entered his mind. A loud knock came from the sealed door. Another agent was on the other side, whispering something to Captain Black before being dismissed.
"Play time's over everyone. Drago I need you to grab that black pyramid thing and load it in the van, we need to move out now."
"Why what's going on?"
"What's going on is that I've got Finn upstairs with four freaked out kids, a dog who's so frantic he's scratching the doors till his paws bleed, and worse yet Jade was abducted in broad daylight in the school yard."
Tohru sat nervously in the lush waiting room. Gwen had a meeting with her producer, and with all the materials she had to bring he offered to help carry most of it. Perhaps she would never know how much he enjoyed the few hours they've had together. Riding the trolley, strolling the sidewalk, stopping for lunch and listening to the street side bands. It seemed like a real date, something that he had few of in his lifetime. And was it his imagination or did she seem to enjoy it as much as he did? She smiled the whole time, engaged in the conversation and never looked as if she wanted to make a run for it. And now here he was in the heart of Rebel Rose Records, waiting for her to finish her brief meeting with the most influential name in music. He chuckled to himself and debated if it would be rude to ask for a few autographs for his mother.
Gwen gave a sigh of relief. Dante DeRose, her producer and the biggest name in the music industry, was sitting across from her and signing her name off on the new lyrics that Gwen presented. Dante was beyond a genius in the music business, able to find talent in the most unlikely of places and somehow keep her talent on the straight path so as not to lose them to drugs or worse. At first glance many would think she herself was some kind of icon, she didn't dress like the CEO of a company. She has a punkish look to her, a mixture of the old and the new. Today she chose to wear a steam punk inspired corset with a matching ruffled skirt. Throughout the outfit were small blue gems that matched her eyes perfectly, how long must have the artist looked to find them and how on earth did they find so many. But Gwen's favorite part of her boss was her hair. It was short and spikey in different directions, like she was shocked from the static on the carpet and then somehow managed to style it. To match her outfit she had her hair dyed black with tips of gold at the end of each spike. Anyone who knew Dante could tell her mood just by looking at her hair, it rose when she was happy and fell when she was upset. There have been many times when clients have rescheduled their meetings when they saw that her hair had lost its altitude.
"Alrighty girly, I've got a sound booth set up for you on Monday at 7:30, no press or pictures so wear whatever you want, and if all goes well we'll have this cd on the shelves by next month."
"So soon, that doesn't give you a lot of time to promote it."
"Honey trust me, after looking at these lyrics, no one will go without buying your next track. That and also I've been promoting it for the last three months, but now that I see how good it will be, I'll have to turn it up a notch and start shopping for my new celebration car."
"Another one, you have twelve?"
"One for each time you went platinum."
"Atleast you have confidence in this one."
"Oh I have more than that. Ok so now that we have the business crap settle, what's his name?"
"I …. don't know who….. who you're talking about!"
"Interesting, see someone who really didn't know would have asked what I'm talking about, not who I'm talking about. That and the fact that you're face looks like a tomato now tells me otherwise."
Gwen felt the heat flood to and then leave her face. There was no use in denying it, Dante had caught her.
"Come on girl, I've known you for nearly ten years and not once have you ever done a love song, and here you have five!"
"Ok….ok..so maybe there's a slim, maybe certain chance that those songs were inspired by someone."
"Aww, my little girl's got her first crush!"
"Shhhh keep it down!"
Dante gave a slight grin and glanced at the curtained window behind the young singer.
"The only reason why you would tell me to keep it down would be…..because he's here!"
Dante raced for the window, placing her fingers between two of the blinds, and giving her friend one last chance to come clean.
"OK! Ok look before you look there's two things you have to know."
"Ok, now I'm really interested."
"One, his name is Tohru and he's my dad's apprentice."
"Cool, so he can do the magic thing like you?"
"Sorta, but like me don't broadcast that he can."
"I've kept your secret, I think I can keep his."
"And B, I like this guy. Alright, I like him. Which means if you respect me at all, you will show him the same."
Dante gave her friend a shocked look, how could she think she would reject someone. Then it hit her, it was because she liked him and wanted her friend to like him too. Dante gave her friend a fingered 'ok' before they both parted the blinds just enough to see on the other side. Tohru had chosen to stand and admire a painting on the wall, forcing Dante to slightly squat so that she could see his face at the angle.
"Wow."
"Wow good or wow bad?"
"Wow as in wow. That is a big boy."
"Yes but he's really sweet."
Dante gave a sinister grin to her friend.
"So is the big boy, proportionate?"
Gwen gave her boss a firm punch in the arm as her face started to glow the brightest shade of red Dante had ever seen.
"I wouldn't know!"
"Ah well that at least say's where your relationship is. So you gonna ask him to the charity thing in two weeks?"
"The theater play, I don't know."
"Oh come on, look he'd get to see you in a pretty-pretty dress, you'll get your own private box so you can talk all night, and it's all for charity."
As Gwen contemplated the potential date, Dante made a dash for the door and walked out to great the giant in her lobby. Somehow standing next to him made him seem even bigger. She extended her hand to shake his, Tohru gave a smile and accepted hers. He was surprisingly gentle for one so strong, the thought of her own brother came to mind at the comparison. Gwen had registered that Dante had made a run for it and dashed out to the lobby. In her haste she tripped over her own feet and was sent crashing towards the floor. Before she made contact she felt a force on her chest, with a mighty hand Tohru had caught her in mid fall. His face had an honest look of concern, silently wondering if she was all right. Gwen gave a smile and placed her hand on his as a sign of thanks as he helped her to her feet. In this small act Dante knew, she like Tohru and approved of him seeing her best friend.
"Well Gwen you have your appointments for the record, Tohru it was wonderful to meet you but I'm afraid I'm late for a call to Paris."
"Thank you, it was nice to meet you too. Gwen are you alright to walk?"
"Yes I just slipped is all."
Gwen and Tohru made their way to the nearby elevator, just as the doors were closing Gwen caught the sight of her friend making a heart with her fingers. Clearly she approved. Dante's office was at the top of the building, giving them at least a solid fifteen minutes to make it to the bottom floor. As they stood in silence, Gwen kept debating asking Tohru a question that could possibly change the very dynamic of Uncle's shop.
"Um Tohru can I ask you something?"
"Of course, do you need help getting back?"
"No, no I'm fine. But, um, I was wondering. Well have you heard of 'A Night to Remember"?
"Oh yes, the big charity event at the theater house, isn't the play this year RENT?"
"Yes, well I was wondering, if you would well, like to go….with me?"
Tohru needed a moment to process what he thought he just heard. Had the angel he had been dreaming of for the past few weeks just ask him out. Him?
"You mean…as like a body guard?"
"Um no…I was kinda thinking…like a date..butimeaniunderstandifyoudon'twantto."
In all of his dream, he never thought she would be asking him, or at the very least that she would not be shy about it. I mean what was intimidating about him?
"I'd love to. Of course I'll have to find where Uncle put my old suit."
Gwen and Tohru locked eyes just as the doors opened, a smile clearly crossing their faces. They silently made their way threw the building and down the road towards Uncle's shop, each enjoying the sense of knowing how the other felt. Without a sound Gwen slowly slipped her finger around Tohru's own. With nothing to carry back he mirrored her action with his own massive hand. The two decided to continue their walk back to Uncle's, sure they would be tired when they got there but to have that moment last, made it all worth it.
The two were so wrapped up in the moment that neither saw Jackie emerge from an Ice cream shop with two cones in hand. Viper was sitting at one of the outside tables and thanked him for the treat. Both stared at the couple as they walked on, each grinning at one another.
"Well I was wondering when they would start seeing each other. It's been weeks since she's been here and both of them have liked each other from the start."
"Oh like you're one to talk Mr. Chan Man. We've know each other for years and this is the first time you've asked me out on a real date."
"Yes well, was it worth the wait?"
Viper reached across the table to wipe a stray smudge of strawberry ice cream from the tip of Jackie's nose.
"Most definitely."
With her hand so close to his face, Jackie took hold of it with his free hand and placed a gentle kiss in the back of it. That was how the two remained for the rest of their date, eating ice cream while never letting go of each other's hand.
Captain Black made his way to the top floor of Section 13 with Naomi in tow. Drago went to retrieve the pyramid while Scarlet went to change. Went he reached the main entrance, he saw Finn trying to calm the boys while two of his agents were being dragged across the floor as they tried to hang onto a frantic Scruffy's leash.
"What is going on here?"
"I got a call from Frank at school. He said that Jade and Paco had a fight, she storm of off and then was kidnapped by some strange…Hel-lo There!"
Finn was distracted from his story by the sight of the blond beauty he just noticed standing behind Captain Black. True she was pretty but it was her style that closely resembled his that caught his attention. She wore a pink and white boho style scarf dress, with pink and white beads at the base of her front braids. They almost seemed to be matching, as if they had both just stepped out of a 1970's poster.
"UNCLE FINN!"
"Oh right sorry. Anyways the kids had a fight and some scaled thing took off with her."
"It's got to be Drago! That Culo Verde must have done it!"
"I may not know what that means kids, but call me that again and I'll rip that tongue of yours clean out."
Drago made his appearance with the black pyramid in his arms and Scarlett by his side.
"Drago had a sparing session with me, there's no way he was able to slip out and take her. Besides why would he? Jade is a Master, a sister to his own. Even though the noble animals have no loyalty to the other Masters, they tend to leave the others alone out of respect for theirs."
"Then who else could it be?"
"No clue but something tells me if we follow the puppy he'll lead us to her."
"But why would she tell us to bring the pyramid?"
"No clue kid. Naomi, I know you don't fight but I need you to come with me. Jade could be really hurt and without knowing where she is means we may not be able to get her to a hospital."
"I may be against violence but I will stand by to heal those who fight for good."
As the large group made their way to the surface, Eggbert and Royal Medicine had also made their own way. Royal allowed Finn on her back while Paco, Frank, Charlie, Rocko and Captain Black made their way into a Section 13 vehicle. Drago placed the pyramid in the back as he took position on the roof of the vehicle, so that he could jump and attack at any moment. Scarlett and Naomi focused their chi and transformed into their more beast like forms. Scarlett grew her familiar feathers and used her powers to take to the sky. Naomi transformed for the second time in her life, needing a moment to get use to her hoof like legs. Once the masters where ready, Finn release Scruffy from his leash and the chase was on. Scarlett followed the small dog from the skies while the rest followed after him on the ground. Eggbert never took his eyes off his master from within the Section 13 vehicle, until they could develop a different method the animals served a walkie-talkie to their masters. Jade must have mentally told Scruffy of her location, hoping the boys would get enough adults to help her. With Gwen and Lydia not answering their phones, a flying hot head and a passive healer were all they could gather. They only hoped it would be enough.
The sun was beginning to set, it's golden rays casting deformed shadows across the junkyard. What may have appeared frightful in the day was becoming terrifying in the night. A familiar silver haired girl sat in the back of an old 1970 mustang convertible. Time had taken its toll on the old car, where once bright and beautiful red paint covered, now only dents and rusted remains could be seen. The young girl was curled up in the back seat, just waking to the sounds of the nocturnal creatures greeting their new day. She extended her hands above her head as she stretched her compressed muscles, clearly she was getting to big to be able to sleep in a backseat. She took a moment to gather her surroundings, sure enough everything was just as she had left it. Her capture, or should she say captures were still where she left them. Three green-scaled teens took strategic position in the junk yard, keeping an eye out for someone to approach. It had easily been a few hours since the larger one, DJ Fist abducted her from the school's courtyard, whom ever they were waiting for had still not arrived. Jade decided to start asking questions, it wasn't like they could kill her if she spoke out of turn.
"Yo, Pizza Face. Not gonna offer a lady a drink?"
The shortest of the dragon teens turned to face the young girl. She was now standing on the driver's seat, with her arms crossed over the car's windshield. She had a look of carelessness about her, like he was about to explain a long boring history lesson or something. He couldn't help noticing her transformation from the last time he fought her. She had grown taller and was growing into a woman's body. He felt the need to mentally slap himself, she couldn't be more than thirteen or so, far too young for him to have such thoughts. He was violent, not perverted.
"Yo sorry shorty, not much round here. Not unless you wanna cup of ann-freeze."
"Interesting."
"Inneresting how?"
"Well you tried to be courteous, in you own warped way. Before you would have told me to shut up or start babbling on about you plans. Which means you're not runnin this show."
"Say what!"
"Yo dude, little mama got sma-tah."
The obnoxious speedster and quiet mountain member if the team must have heard the conversation and abandoned their posts.
"So then, anyone gonna tell me what's going on. I mean besides the big guy there."
Dj Fist gave a loud grunt as he turned away from the conversation, either he wasn't in a talking mood her he wanted to keep a lookout for their future guest.
" Straight up, but first I gots a question for youz."
"Ask away, not like I'm going anywhere."
Strike Master Ice and MC Cobra exchanged a concern glance. Clearly this question was weighing heavily on them.
"So you were like one of dem broads who took out the badies way back right?"
"Technically. I was the one who actually sealed him up after he kill the others."
"So you remember how bad this guy was?"
Jade took a moment, threw his remark a flood of memories poured threw her mind. Images of the horrors he created, the mindless fighting and brutal chaos.
"He makes Shendu look like a baby garden snake in his flower bed. His is pure evil and worse yet is that he can infect every man, woman and child with his dark essence. If he wins this time he would make the few who survive wish for hell, that would be a paradise compared to what he's got planed."
"So if he like threatened someone, he's pretty good on his promise then."
Jade took a moment to study the three young men, and mentally slapped herself. Her memories of how to read body language was just now catching up to her. The way the stood fidgeting around, the way they avoided looking at any reflection of themselves, the way they had yet to curse, threaten or even hurt her all lead to one thing.
"You guys didn't plan this did you? You're not even evil anymore."
Ice, Fist and Cobra all looked at the young girl in complete aw. Had she developed the power to read minds?
"So if you guys aren't planning this, then why are you going along with it?"
"Yo it's like this G, we wuz tryen to make it on the straight path. Wez even got out of jail for good behavior. Since we stayed here so much we even got a job watching and runnen this place. But then on our first day, wez got caught up in this shit."
"Fo real dog. I mean here we waz setten up for the day when the D-man showed up."
"You mean Drago?"
"Man dude was buggin, we tried tellen him we didn't wanta mess with the magic thang no more but then this weird shadow thing showed up. Made D-man use his powers to make us all scaly again."
"We tried to fight back but he…..he…"
"He threatened someone you love didn't he."
"Ok gurl, you've got to stop with that mind readen shit."
"I can't read minds, this is just how Hei'an operate. During the great battle, he got into our sanctum by threatening the families of the guards. They were so fearful they let him in."
"Then what happened."
"Hei'an set their homes on fire, with the wives and children tied to their beds. He also placed a force field around the house so the guards couldn't stop the fire or get their families out. All they could do was watch and listen to them burn alive."
"So man that's just straight up cold."
"That was him on an off day. Trust me, he's had centuries to plan his new attack and will have more creative ways to kill this time around."
"All the more reason we hadz to getchu. The big guy first had us find and dig up that old pyramid thing and then drive around to gets your attentionz. Don't know what foh."
"Drago had to focus the chaotic energy you all were creating to open the portal. San Francisco already has a funky vibe about it, all you guys did was send a spark that started the fire. So what happened after that?"
"Dude had us runnin around looking for people, checking for a chi trail or something. Told us to tell him if we saw anything weird."
"Weirder than three teen dragons running around California?"
"But then this new dud told us to get youz instead. Told us to bring you here and he'd handle the rest."
Jade took a moment to process the information. They were ordered to bring her here by someone other than Hei'an, meaning she may thankfully not have to fight him tonight. But still that left her with two serious contenders who still wanted revenge.
"Ok boys, if you want out of this I can help. And when I say out I mean out. No more hood, no more gang, no more Hei'an."
"Yo what could you do?"
"I have a few ways. But it's all or nothing guys, answer now or get ready to get the hell out of my way."
Fist made his way to the car, clearly he had heard and understood the entire conversation. He walked up the side of the car, staring so hard at Jade she felt as if he was trying to read her mind. With a firm grip he reached towards her. Right when Jade though he was about to grab her, his arm lowered. He took hold of the door's handle and opened it for her. He placed his free arm across his chest and gave a light bow. Without words he had clearly stated that he was at her service. Jade could only wonder who it was in DJ Fist's life that he treasured so much to protect.
Just as Jade made her way out of the car, a swirling vortex opened in the junkyard. From within, dark sickening creatures emerged, each with pale blue glows for eyes. As the last one emerged, all dozen of them bowed as their keeper stepped out of the swirling mass. He cave a confidant grin towards the crowd, before the battle had begun he already thought he'd won.
It took Scruffy hours to find Jade's location, either her abductors had moved her around or something happened that damaged her metal link. Scarlett saw her first and without waiting for an order swopped down to stand in front of her, she had no idea what state the Dog Master was in or if she was ready for fight. Captain Black drove the vehicle threw the metal gates of the junkyard, causing them to fly threw the air. Naomi and Royal Medicine just made the leap over the flying metal before taking a stand on either side of the vehicle.
"Well well, here I thought I would just be killing the little pup. Oh Hei'an will be so pleased when I tell him I took out not one, but three of you retched whores."
Scarlett and Naomi sent daggers with their eyes at the over confident man, clearly not taking his insult well. Black emerged from his car, locking the boys within and leaving a free standing Finn to watch them. Drago leapt from the roof of the car to Jade's side, not facing Ham but the three dragon teens. He was madder than anyone had seen him before, his fist shaking with the need to attack, dark smoke was pumping threw his nostrils, indicating the furious fire he was holding back.
"Someone explain very fast why I shouldn't kill these three here and now."
"Because it's not their fault."
Jade placed a hand on Drago arm, surprisingly calming him immediately. She then walked towards the three youths, more confused with life than they had ever been before.
"I know Dj's answer but I'll ask you two one last time. Are you in or out, yes or no."
Ice and Cobra took a moment to think, true they had done some serious things in the past but they each wondered, did they do it because they were evil or just because they were good at it. Ice had a solid nod to the young savior before him, with Cobra reluctantly following his lead.
"Drago, Hei'an gave them their dragon powers when you were under his control. They were forced to do this. But since you gave them their powers you should be able to take them back."
"Yah, but the process would leave the four of us weak for a few hours, something tells me you need the back up now."
"No worries, I had a wonderful nap today."
Jade walked to the middle of the junkyard, in clear range for an attack from Ham and his shadowy minions.
"This won't de difficult, unlike me he hasn't had time to recover from the fight we had yesterday. Drago, I need you to take back your dragon powers. Scarlett I'll need you to help move the boys out of range. Naomi, start healing the boys on the sidelines. And lastly I'll need Captain Black and Finn to bring me the item from the back of the van."
Before anyone had time to argue, Ham had silently ordered his minions to attack. His confidence was replaced by annoyance, how dare this child rant about how easily he could be defeated.
Four of the minions raced across the junkyard, each of their fingers sharpened into fine daggers. As the first one leapt to attack, Jade had yet to move. From behind her Scruffy had jumped from her back sunk his fangs deep within the creature's neck. A dark putrid liquid pored threw the wounds, and as the liquid began to cease, the creature slowly began to disappear. While Scruffy had taken out the first minion, Jade was fighting off two others. She dodged their many slashes by leaping back and forth, gaining height by jumping off the various piles of debris. With a strategic jump, she leapt to the air just as two of the creatures launched a stab attack at her. As she reached the air above, both minions had stabbed each other, fading away immediately on impact. As gravity took hold, she used its power to intensify her kick to the chest of the last minion which sent him skidding across till he was at the foot of his master. Ham was boiling mad, the fight was beginning to look like the few others he had faced with her. How he hated this little pup, he refused to let her leave the fight unharmed. True if he killed her, her soul would be reborn but not until after Hei'an had remodeled the world in his image. After that he could spend the rest of eternity hunting her down and killing her over and over again.
Jade seemed to be staring at Ham but in truth she was looking behind him. The moon had risen with the night, it's full circle mass glowing casting light in the darkest shadows. It was full, it was grown, it was completed. Jade took this as a sign from nature.
The middle of Jade's collarbone began to glow a yellowish hue. From beneath her teal clothing, the detailed marks of her dog symbol began to shine threw. The glow began to intensify until it engulfed her whole body. The yellow light was blinding in the dark but several beings forced themselves to watch. Slowly her body began to grow, stretching and filling into another form. As she began to grow so did her animal familiar, Scruffy lacked the yellow glow that Jade did, allowing for an easier view of his transformation. His features became more sharper, his body more solid. His fangs extended till they were the same size as the dagger fingers the shadow creature wield. When his body stopped growing, his size had increased so that he was even bigger and more solid than Sasha. He had become a more primitive and yet nobler version of the dog they once knew. Suddenly Jade's glow began to fade and there before them was an even more shocking sight. In a matter of seconds, Jade had grown into a woman.
She looked similar to her future self when she timed traveled to the past. She still had her solid features, flawless skin and golden eyes. Her hair had grown past her back but still had the same color and style as before. Her teal outfit had changed into some strange design. It resembled a traditional Chinese silk robe, with flowing sleeves and detailed designs of blue, yellow and white. The detail cut out hole where the dress clasped at her neck, was perfectly cut to revile her dog symbol. The dress cut off right above her knees, leaving a pair of blue leggings that ended at her midcalf. Her feet were bare, but her nails in both her feet and hands had extended and sharped into fierce claws. Her ears had morphed to resemble that of Scuffy's as well as a similar curled tail that began to sway behind her. She looked like a heroic deity from an ancient Chinese scroll, but why? Why had Jade undergone such a transformation and the others had not.
Ham's face was paler than the moon behind him. It was her, this was the same woman who had defeated him, his brothers and his master all those years ago. It was as if she had stepped out of his memory, time had not affected her in the least.
While Drago had performed the chi transference while Jade was fighting the shadow minions, the sight of her took his breath away more than the fatigue. There was something about her, yes he was sure he had seen her before but where? How many dog creatures are running around and how often would one see them in their life?
All was quiet, where once the adults and the collection of young boys shouted words of encouragement or warnings of oncoming attacks was nothing. No one knew what to say.
Jaded opened her eyes and began inspecting her clawed hand, flexing the fingers to test the limits of her body. While she seemed to be distracted Ham sent the previous minion to attack. Jade seemed too focused on her nails to notice the creature coming. At the last second, right when everyone thought the ground would be covered in blood, a different substance was seen. At the last moment, with quick and persist speed Jade had in a single motion decapitated the foal creature with the very hand she had been focusing on. The creature's head rolled for a moment before coming to a stop on a random hubcap, before it quickly disappeared. Jade let the putrid ooze drip from her fingers, her eyes locked of Ham's terrified ones. Without bothering to keep it silent he ordered his remaining minions to attack the dog like partners. Scruffy lead the attack, quickly taking out minions before they had time to counter. Jade had leapt from her position, took hold of Ham's neck as he tried to create a portal to sneak away from. Her thumb and forefinger were beginning to dig into his skin, he could feel the blood beginning to drip down his neck. Suddenly he felt both her digest take hold of something solid and with full force ripped the item from his unsliced neck. Blood and flesh scattered the area, the remaining shadows disappearing as soon as Jade's hand retracted. With nothing to hold him up, Ham fell to the Dog Master's feet, desperately trying to hold what little blood he could into his neck. Jade began to slowly walk away from the pathetic creature towards Captain Black and Finn. Both men were so engrossed with the fight in front of them that they had forgotten the pyramid they were holding, or how it's extreme weight was beginning to weigh them down. Jade placed the item she had recovered from Ham's neck into one of the seven empty holes. Once secured inside, the remaining blood began to disappear, revealing a bright yellow gem that began to cast a slight glow. Ham felt his body grow cold as his remaining life was fading away. Suddenly a vortex opened behind him, a single shadow hand reached forth and pulled him within before disappearing completely.
Jade allowed Scruffy to lick the remaining blood from her hands, it was a way for him to show his affection after a great battle. Seeing the coast was clear the boys began to emerge from the car, as the others made their way to the silver haired beauty.
"Yo man…how…how da…whatcha…huh?"
Jade's body began to glow the same yellowish hue that it did before. It engulfed her body as everyone watched her mass begin to shrink. When the light had faded, there stood a miniature version of the woman they had just seen. It was they Jade they knew and loved but in the same dog like form her older self had chosen.
"Each of the Dark Warriors get their powers from one of the seven gems Hei'an gives them and places it in their bodies. In order to remove their powers, we have to cut out the gems. Each of the warriors have their gems in a different place, he should have been glad he wasn't Lam."
"Why where is his gem?"
"Located between the genitals and the anus."
A slight nervous cry of pain came from all the males of the group, Naomi, Jade and Scarlett could not help but slightly laugh at their discomfort. Naomi placed a hand on Jade's shoulder as an indigo light began to glow. Jade could feel all her soar muscles begin to relax, having a healer around defiantly had it's advantages.
"Look I know you all have questions, but truth be told it would be better to tell everyone at once. Besides I'm beyond starving and I have to get the Ice Crew here back to Section 13 so we can figure out what they're gonna do."
Before anyone could disagree with her, Jade began the long walk to the nearest burger joint. Before she was out of sight, Jade turned to the moon once more. Her silver hair shining like stars in the moon's rays. She tilted her head back and let out a beastly howl that filled the night. It was frightful and yet beautiful to hear. Before anyone could stop and remind her that she still had her ears and tail, a satisfied grin covered her face. The sky erupted in strong and distant howls. Something somewhere had heard and answered her call.
Dun dun dun! So whatcha think? Am I getting any better? Any questions answered or only the need for answers increased?
Oh and many thanks to Alana Fox who helped with the design of Dante DeRose. More info about her character will be popping up soon.
Please leave a review :D