Opposite Factions Chapter 7: WHEN THE PAST RETURNS, a dragon booster fanfic

OPPOSITE FACTIONS

Airshadow

CHAPTER VII

WHEN THE PAST RETURNS

Vocabulary.

Ah julk: Nomadic expresion that is loosely translated as "It can't be"

Zhamir: Ancient word that means brother. It's applied to siblings of the same parents, half-siblings, adoptive siblings, male members of the same clan, very close friends, or relations between two or more persons who are under the care of the same tutor.

Zhamirah: Ancient word that means sister. It's applied to siblings of the same parents, half-siblings, adoptive siblings, female members of the same clan, very close friends, or relations between two or more persons who are under the care of the same tutor.

"Silvanna, where were you? Your mother will arrive soon."

The girl turned around to see Mr. Penn and said, "Its Moonracer. I can't find her. She ran away and I lost her while I was playing with Artha."

"Well, she must be within the stables. She's a well-mannered dragon and I don't believe she would have left the place," said Connor Penn with a sigh. "Artha, go with Silvanna to my office and wait there."

"Yes, dad," said Artha.

"Yes, Mr. Penn," said Silvanna at the same time.

Connor Penn set out looking for Silvanna's dragon, as both children ran in the opposite direction towards Mr. Penn's offices.

Silvanna followed Artha, but when they passed in front of a small room, something captured the girl's attention. Silvanna believed she saw the figure of a quadruped dragon inside.

"So, you were here, you mischievous dragon," thought the girl and she immediately entered the room.

"Moonracer, what are you doing here? Mom will come soon and we will go to spend the summer in our other house."

The dragon didn't advance, moreover, it moved away from the girl into the furthest corner... It was weird, usually Moonracer always ran to her. The she-dragon knew that she had candies too share and this time… But no, it wasn't Moonracer! It was a dragon that she had never seen before!

"Come," said the girl amiably. "Don't be shy. I won't hurt you… Would you like a candy?"

----------- o0o -----------

"Moordryd."

The young Paynn watched his father; in spite of his tone, cold and controlled, the boy knew from experience that his father wasn't pleased. From experience, Moordryd knew that he would only be summoned to his Father's citadel for two reasons: a) his father wanted to assign him a mission, or b) his father was going to scold him.

"Moordryd, do you have any idea how many wraith dragons I need for my war?"

"Enough to form an army," responded the boy cautiously.

"May I know why I haven't gotten my army??"

"Dragon City Security and the Dragon Boo-boo…"

"EXCUSES!!" Word Paynn exploded. "I AM TIRED OF HEARING YOUR PATHETIC EXCUSES!"

The correct answer this time was (b), thought Moordryd. The young Paynn withstood the never-ending list of insults and harsh comments that his father was shouting as best he could. He had to make it better next time, if he wanted to please his father.

----------- o0o -----------

Moordryd rode along the freeway that lead to Dragon City's lower levels. Cain followed him very closely and in silence; he knew that it wasn't good idea to bother Moordryd after his father gave one of his habitual scoldings. Surprised, the second in command saw that Moordryd didn't follow the usual way to go to the Squire's End.

"Where are we going, Moordryd?"

"I have some business to take care of."

"What? Will you be going to pay a visit your fiancée, Miss Congeniality?"

"SHUT UP, CAIN!"

Moordryd arrived at the monitoring house of the Building where Silvanna lived. After waiting for some minutes, both teens rode towards the door in the complex where the girl lived.

The door was opened, allowing Moordryd and Cain to come in. Moordryd could see the complex's gardens, the same one that he wasn't able to appreciate during his date night. If the Young Paynn was a gardening fan, he would have appreciated the garden arrangement. The diverse kinds of plants and flowers that could be found there were set in an artistic way.

The garden had a small artificial lake, and trees that gave pleasant shade in the summer's sunny afternoons. Artificial rocks, artistically placed in the garden, were located in order to let the dragons go up and comfortably take in the sun on them.

Moordryd didn't look at the garden; instead he looked at those who were in it. The Savage, leaving the stables, presumably doing his work; a shrew, also well-known with the name of Miss Drakhe, was watching him with a gesture that indicated without any doubt that his visit didn't pleased her at all; and Silvanna, approaching them with clear signs that she was gardening. She had a bunch of strange flowers in one hand and garden scissors in the other.

Also, the stupid Silverwing was there, watching her with his silly expression, thought a displeased Decepshun until she was totally confused; that dragon wasn't Silverwing. It was another female Phantom Class dragon. Decepshun felt puzzled. Where was Silverwing?

The she-dragon felt that "something" was very close to her. When she turned her head around, she growled with annoyance; she had already found the idiot, who moved his ears in a silly attempt to catch her attention. Decepshun growled at the male, but Silverwing seemed not to hear her.

"Silverwing, come here. Decepshun isn't willing to play today," said Silvanna as she approached the enormous male. With visible sorrow and lowered ears, he walked towards the girl who added while she caressed him, "Now, be a nice little dragon and go with Zhulan so he can brush you."

'Play together that IDIOT and I? Neither today, nor ever,' would have answered Decepshun had she the gift of speech as she saw the male move away towards the stables. At the same time, the other female sniffed at the new comers with curiosity.

"WOW! I didn't know that… Elsie was able to afford this kind of luxury," said Moordryd as he watched the exotic dragon, while Elsie accentuated her bitter expression.

"Her name is Moonracer and she's mine," answered Silvanna with naturalness while she caressed the she-dragon.

"I thought that your dragon was Silverwing," said Moordryd while Decepshun used her mag-ray to lower him.

"In fact," replied the girl, "Silverwing was my brother's dragon, but he doesn't love them so much and he gave him to me when we turned fourteen."

"Don't you think that it's a little excessive to have two dragons?" said Moordryd.

"I could have up to four or eight if I wanted," replied the girl between laughs.

"I don't know why you want so many."

"I know," interrupted Cain while he observed Moordryd and Silvanna from his seat. "To create the Society for the Protection of Dragons."

"SHUT UP CAIN!" shouted Moordryd, while Silvanna laughed willingly.

"Oh well, why I have the honor of your visit, Moordryd?" said he girl with a wide smile.

"Well, I just was passing by and I thought I'd come here and pay a visit."

"How kind," responded the girl.

"I didn't know that you liked gardening, Silvanna."

"They are medicinal plants for the dragons. I need some samples for the school's homework."

"I see," replied Moordryd while he thought that in several aspects Silvanna was more than met the eyes.

The sound of steps made the three teens turn around towards the direction from which the noises came.

Moordryd made a sarcastic smile and said, "Wow! There is the The Savage again. I only hope that he hasn't come to give me another rhetoric lesson."

"Watch your language, Moordryd!" Silvanna said dryly as she looked at the Young Paynn with anger. "'Cause with or without the bet, I'll end my dates with you!"

Moordryd looked little surprised at the girl. Silvanna looked at him with a determination that he hadn't seen very often in many rivals. The only occasion she had looked at him in a similar way was in their childhood, when she hit him because Moordryd had drawn a mustache on one of her dolls.

"How feisty!" said Cain in a mocking tone.

"SHUT UP, CAIN!" shouted Silvanna. Cain looked at her with surprise. He always had thought that Silvanna was a sweet idiot, but now she wasn't sweet or an idiot.

"I'm warning you, Moordryd!" replied Silvanna. "While you are in my house…!"

"Zhamira, remember what Grandma taught us about promises."

Silvanna looked around and saw Zhulan, who observed the scene with a calm face. Apparently the boy had the intention to solve everything in a peaceful way. The girl couldn't believe what she had heard and she answered, "Zhamir, do you know who you're defending?"

"Perfectly. But even so, a promise is a promise."

"HE is insulting you!"

"The insult only has a value if you give it."

"AH JULK!" Replied Silvanna upset, as Zhulan smiled in a calm way and retired. A surprised Moordryd and Cain watched the scene. They didn't understand anything of which Silvanna and Zhulan were saying, but it was more than obvious that they understood each other, and it was logical to think that they were speaking a language only known to them.

"Can I know what's happened to you Moordryd? Perhaps the dragon ate your tongue again?" said Silvanna in a clearly mocking tone.

"Well… I didn't know that you spoke nomadic," replied Moordryd as soon as he recovered from his amazement.

Silvanna laughed in a forced way and said, "There are many things that people don't know about me."

After these words the girl retired and Moodryd and Cain did the same.

Definitively, Moordryd thought as he and Cain rode towards Squire End, Silvanna was more than meets the eyes.

"CATCH HIM!"

Moordryd looked at the Dragon Boo Boo with fury. One more time he had managed to frustrate Moordryd's plans, but this one would be the last. The members of the Dragon Eye Crew rushed towards the Dragon Booster. A mag-burst from the Dragon of Legend sent all of them through the air. Moordryd shook the head in frustration; this couldn't be happening again.

The Dragon Booster has prevailed once again! Artha thought the only thing lacking was Moordryd leaving with his tail between his legs, as he always did when things didn't happen as he had planned. Moordryd could easily escape; there were two streets on both sides of where they were, it was only necessary to see which way he would go.

"What you are going to do now, Moordryd? Run away?" said the Dragon Booster with a mocking smile.

"Not me… " said Moordryd with an evil smile. "But you should…"

Without warning Moordryd showed a device that Artha knew very well: a wraith dragon controller. Moordryd pressed the buttons and from no where, six wraith dragons appeared. Four of them just behind Moordryd and the other two by both side streets.

"Let's see how you handle this, Dragon Boo Boo," said the young Paynn with an evil smile as he activated the controls. The wraith dragons began to pursue Artha and Beau.

Artha and Beau ran at high speed, but the wraith dragons pursued them in an implacable way and seemed not to tire.

"ARTHA NEEDS HELP!" shouted Parm who monitored the situation from a nearby roof.

"STAY HERE! I AM GOING TO HELP HIM!" replied Kitt. She only hoped she wouldn't arrive too late.

Artha and Beau turned down another street and to their horror, they found it was a dead end. When they turned back in order to leave, they saw the exit blocked by the wraith dragons and Moordryd smiling triumphantly several feet behind them.

Moordryd was sure of his triumph and raised the controller; the dragons began to move in a threatening manner against Artha and Beau. Artha knew that if he didn't receive aid, they would be lost. Moordryd began to taste his triumph, after many bitter defeats, and he was prepared to activate the attack command.

"WHATT?" shouted a surprised Moodryd, when from out of nowhere, a gloved hand appeared, whose arm was covered by a jacket's gray sleeve, and it snatched the wraith dragon controller from him.

"HEY! YOU!" Shouted Moordryd with rage as Jhanus ran away rapidly with the wraith dragons control. "GIVE ME THAT CONTROLLER BACK!"

Furious, Moordryd ran behind Jhanus, who suddenly turned and waited for Moordryd.

"GIVE ME THAT CONTROLLER BACK!" yelled Moodryd. Jhanus did a negative gesture and raised the hand that had the control.

"What… What are you going to do?" Moordryd asked, although he already knew the answer. Jhanus pushed a button, whereas Moordryd was terrified. Moments later, the young Paynn heard roars behind him. Turning his head around, Moodryd, saw with horror his wraith dragons roaring in a way that didn't foretell anything good.

"YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THIS, GHEMINS!!!"

They were the last furious words that Moordryd said before disappearing into the darkness. Eclypse laughed aloud, it was pleasing for her to watch the Tyrant's son be humiliated in that way. Jhanus pressed other buttons on the controller, then the dragons stopped and calmly returned to Jhanus's side, stopping few feet away from the mysterious rider.

"Where's Moordryd?"

Jhanus and Eclypse looked towards where the voice came. It was Kitt Wonn, who was with the Dragon Booster.

"Where is Moordryd?" the girl repeated. Jhanus indicated in the direction where Moordryd had left.

"What will you do now?" asked the Dragon Booster. Jhanus looked at Eclypse who happily moved her tail and she seemed to wait for something. Jhanus threw the wraith controller in front of the she-dragon and Eclypse, with a mag-ray, threw it against a wall, breaking it.

The wraith dragons shook and roared as if they suffered pain. Moments later, the black draconium energy dissipated and the poor creatures took off the psi gear with a mag-ray.

The dragons looked around, as if they had woken up from a nightmare. They were biped Magma Dragons Class. The scared creatures looked around, waiting for a new misfortune. Beau "spoke" to them for some moments and the expressions of the Ex-Wraith Dragons changed to intense joy. After making a bow to the Legendary Dragon, they left the place.

"What shall we do now?" said the Dragon Booster to Kitt and Jhanus, who without previous warning and without saying "bye", left the place.

"WAIT!" shouted Artha. "I WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU!"

Artha ran behind Jhanus, followed by Kitt Wonn.

----------- o0o -----------

The moons of Abandonn and Drakkus shone in their full splendor as Jhanus reached the peripheries of the exclusive residential zone in Sun City, riding towards the building where Silvanna lived. The mysterious rider avoided the frequented highways and often, Jhanus made maneuvers to lose possible followers.

Jhanus, without previous warning, left the main street and took one from the smaller ones. After some time making rounds through the empty streets, the rider entered an alley; Eclypse knew what she had to do and walked slowly towards the end.

Deep in the alley, on the ground, was a circular black draconium plate with the Diamath family coat of arms. Eclypse sent a mag-ray to this plate, seconds later it shone with a purple color and the plate moved automatically, revealing a switch in the figure of a dragon's paw. Eclypse placed her paw on it and a scanner identified the she-dragon. A few seconds later, the wall at the end of the alley opened, revealing a tunnel into which Jhanus and Eclypse entered.

Dragon and rider thought that nobody had seen how both disappeared in the secret passage, but they were mistaken.

----------- o0o -----------

"Artha, are you sure that this is a good idea?" said an unsure Parm.

Artha, still as the Dragon Booster, looked at Parm without responding. He and his friends had ridden to Sun City following Jhanus, in order to speak with.

The young Penn was more than eager to talk with the mysterious rider. Who knows? Perhaps Jhanus could be a valuable ally to avoid the War between Humans and Dragons.

But it seemed that Jhanus didn't have any interest in chatting because the mysterious rider left as soon as the confrontation with Moordryd finished. Artha and Beau tried to reach Jhanus without much success, thanks to the Rider's maneuvers, they were always behind.

They were only able to see Jhanus come to a secret passage at the base of a building; finding out awhile later, that Silvanna Diamath lived in this building.

Artha and his friends observed the building from the roof of a nearby one. Thanks to the binoculars, they saw Eclypse; walking carefree by the garden before deciding that it was time to rest. They already knew where Jhanus lodged.

"The only way to speak with Jhanus is going, Parm," replied Artha.

"But that would be forced entry!" Parmon replied.

"I don't think that we'll have any problem," responded Artha.

"I hope not, Hero boy," said Kitt. "Otherwise, you'll have to explain to Captain Faier and Mortis what you were doing on private property."

"I haven't anything to explain to Mortis," said Artha a little annoyed. "He isn't my Father."

"I'm thinking this isn't a good idea, Stable Boy."

"I have to try it anyway," said Artha, and looking at Beau, asked him, "Do you think that you can land there?"

Beau agreed with Artha, and without much more discussion, Beau moved to the other side of the roof.

"Ready, Boy?" Artha said. Beau winked an eye. "Then… GO!"

Beau ran at full speed, and as soon as he reached the edge of the roof, he gave a jump and his wings appeared; the Dragon of Legend and the Dragon Booster glided until landing on the other side. When landing on the other roof, Beau couldn't stop and continued sliding while he tried to slow down with his claws; then he did an abrupt turn and Artha flew away.

"BEAU!!!" said an annoyed Artha as soon as he recovered from the fall. While on the opposite roof Kitt, Lance and Parm couldn't contain their laughter. Thanks to their binoculars, they could see everything.

"Beau???" said an almost of familiar feminine voice. Beau turned his head around towards where the voice came and he saw her.

Seven years ago…

"Silvanna? Silvanna?"

Mr. Penn was looking for the little one. He found her together with his son, Artha. They were leaving one of the warehouses of the Penn Stables complex. Apparently they were looking for something.

"Silvanna, where were you? Your mother will arrive soon."

The girl turned around to see Mr. Penn and said, "It's Moonracer. I can't find her. She ran away and I lost her while I was playing with Artha."

"Yes, dad," said Artha.

"Yes, Mr. Penn," said Silvanna at the same time.

Connor Penn set out looking for Silvanna's dragon, as both children ran in the opposite direction towards Mr. Penn's offices.

Silvanna followed Artha, but when they passed in front of a small room, something captured the girl's attention. Silvanna believed she saw the figure of a quadruped dragon inside.

"So, you were here, you mischievous dragon," thought the girl and she immediately entered the room.

"Moonracer, what are you doing here? Mom will come soon and we will go to spend the summer in our other house."

The dragon didn't advance, moreover, it moved away from the girl into the furthest corner... It was weird, usually Moonracer always ran to her. The she-dragon knew that she had candies to share and this time… But no, it wasn't Moonracer! It was a dragon that she had never seen before!

"Come," said the girl amiably. "Don't be shy. I won't hurt you… Would you like a candy?"

The girl extended a hand with the promised candy. The dragon approached and Silvanna could see it better. It was a very pretty dragon, although with a little great snout; Silvanna never had seen a dragon like that. The colors of its scales, golden and black, were unique. It could be that…

A noise from behind caused Silvanna to turn around; she was a little surprised when she saw Mr. Penn.

"Is he Artha's dragon, Mr. Penn? Why didn't he show me?" said the girl as the dragon puppy happily ate the candy that the girl had offered him. "Black and golden…" said thoughtfully the girl while she turned around and watched carefully the little dragon. "Mr. Penn, have you met the Dragon Booster? Will another Dragon-Human war come?"

Connor Penn felt, at first, alarmed; his best kept secret had been discovered by a innocent little child. After hearing Silvanna's last words, he felt astonished.

"How do you know about the Dragon Booster, Silvanna? Who has told you about him?" said Mr. Penn as he knelt down in front of Silvanna.

"Nana," answered the little one. "She says that the Dragon Booster will return someday and will try to stop another war between dragons and humans…"

"Will try?" said Mr. Penn amiably.

"Nana says there will be war," responded the girl, "and she also says that when the Dragon Booster returns, the nomads will be able to fulfill the oath."

Connor Penn began to reflect, Nana must be a Nomad. The nomads hadn't keep their word to help the Dragon Booster, the first Dragon Booster, a long time ago. He almost had forgotten the details, but he knew that the nomads had been waiting for the Dragon Booster's Return for three thousand years in order to fulfill the oath and to integrate themselves completely to Draconia City.

"So, will the Dragon Booster appear soon?" asked Silvanna again.

"I don't' think so," answered Connor Penn. "Probably he is still a boy."

"Yeah, and he also is very young," Silvanna said as she caressed the dragon's snout. "What's his name?"

"Beaucephalis," responded Connor with a smile. "But we call him 'Beau' for short."

"Ahh!" said the girl with a smile that seconds later vanished. The little one turned around to look at Connor Penn and worried, she told him, "You should take care of Beau until the Dragon Booster arrives for him, Mr. Penn. A lot of bad people will want to hurt him."

"I know, little one. I know," answered Mr. Penn with a sigh. "We must leave Beau, Silvanna. And your mother will arrive soon for you and still we must find Moonracer."

"Yes, Mr. Penn… and I won't tell anybody about Beau," said the girl sincerely. She turned around to look at Beau, caressed his snout and said, "I'll return soon, Beau. And when I do, I'll bring more candies to you."

Beau looked happy and licked the girl's face as he moved his tail gladly, while Silvanna laughed. Connor Penn watched the scene thoughtfully. His heart told him that the little one was sincere and seldom had his feelings failed him. Who knows, perhaps she had a role to fulfill before everything was finished.

Connor Penn took the little one's hand and they left together. Soon, Mr. Penn and Silvanna found Moonracer, and minutes after they had found the mischievous dragon, the sound of two carriages approached the stables.

Mr. Penn, together with Silvanna and Moonracer, waited on the stable's patio while the vehicles entered and stopped. One of them was to transport dragons and the other was for the humans. Both were drawn by imposing Bull Class Dragons and had the emblem of the Diamath family.

The door of one of them opened, and Phoebe Diamath left the vehicle followed by her assistant, Syrhan.

"Mommy! Mommy!" shouted Silvanna with joy as she ran to embrace her mother, who knelt down to receive her daughter and to embrace her tightly.

"How was your class, my dear one?" asked Phoebe as she caressed her daughter's hair.

"Very good, Mommy! Mr. Penn taught many things to me about how I should manub… manuber my dragon," responded the little one. The mother couldn't avoid a smile.

"It's maneuver', Silvanna," said Phoebe with a smile and added, "Now, let Syrhan accommodate you for the trip. I must speak with Mr. Penn."

"Yes, Mommy."

Syrhan took Silvanna's small hand and lead her to the carriage. Phoebe became gloomy as soon as her daughter turned her back. Mrs. Diamath glimpsed at the carriage in which Moonracer was going to be transported. The little dragon was going inside the vehicle, as the staff saw that everything was all right. After verifying that everything was all right, Phoebe walked towards Connor Penn.

Silvanna got in the vehicle, and almost immediately the girl knelt down on the back seat so that she could see her mother speaking with Mr. Penn.

After several minutes, Phoebe returned to the vehicle and commanded that they leave the place. Silvanna, who was still looking at Mr. Penn through the back window, started to wave her little hand in a clear gesture of goodbye.

As soon as she lost sight of Penn Stables, Silvanna seated together with her mother, had something very important to ask.

"Mommy," said Silvanna.

"Yes, Silvanna?"

"Will we come back soon from our other house? Artha's birthday is next month and he invited me to his party. Will we come back soon, Mommy? Can I go to Artha's Party?"

Phoebe lowered her head with sadness and said, "No, Silvanna; we won't return to Dragon City… We moved forever to Draconia City."

"But mother… I promised… I said that I would come back…" Silvanna began to sob.

"I can't do anything, Silvanna," answered Phoebe as she felt her daughter's pain break her heart.

"I never had a chance to say goodbye to Artha," said Silvanna as she cried without consolation.

"Come here, my sweet one," said Phoebe as she hugged her little daughter. The good lady tried to comfort her daughter, as Silvanna swore in silence that someday she would come back.

"Beau… Is it you, boy?" said Silvanna, whereas Beau walked towards her. Silvanna caressed his enormous snout while Beau purred happily. Finally he would be able to greet an old friend.

"I'm sorry Beau, I think that… I forgot the candies," said Silvanna with a melancholic smile, but Beau seemed not to mind. Artha stood up and walked towards Beau and Silvanna, who continued to caress the Dragon of Legend.

"How you have grown!" said the girl with a smile as she looked at the dragon. She then directed her glance to Artha, "I see that you're well cared for."

"He's my best friend," replied Artha.

"I can understand that," responded the girl as she moved close to Artha, too close for an upset Kitt Wonn. "Also, my dragons and I…"

A growl distracted the girl. Artha and Silvanna turned around to see who it was and they were a little surprised to see Eclypse with her neck raised and her ear frills unfolded wide. Her ears shook with each growl from the she-dragon, while her eyes shone with cold fury.

Silvanna was surprised that the she-dragon was behaving in such an aggressive form; she was usually calm… Insolent but calm. The girl looked in the same direction that the she-dragon was looking and guessed what was going on.

"Eclypse, what's happened with your manners?" the girl said. "Ah! I know what's going on with you… You are jealous!" The she-dragon moved her head in a disdainful way and the girl laughed adding, "I know you well enough to guess what's going on… Come on, won't you come here and say 'Hello'?"

The she-dragon turned around in a deprecating way, and moved her tail in a way that was rude in dragon society. The she-dragon went towards a nearby elevator that would bring her to the first floor. There, the she-dragon went into a building, presumably to her stables.

Silvanna couldn't stop laughing; when she could control herself, she looked at Artha and Beau and said, "Forgive Eclypse. She is very territorial and doesn't tolerate strange dragons much. But, who knows? Perhaps she and you, Beau, could become good friends."

"I see. Excuse me, where is Jhanus?" asked Artha.

"Jhanus must be resting in the staff's quarters. You shouldn't go there; as far as I've seen, Eclypse isn't very happy with your visit and I can bet that she will be around, keeping an eye out," responded Silvanna.

"But she together with Jhanus helped us to defeat Moordryd!"

"Any way, it's best that you don't go there … So, Moordryd still likes to be naughty," said the girl with irony, who after looking at the Dragon Booster added, "I'm not an idiot, Dragon Booster. I know perfectly what Moordryd and his Daddy are and what they do."

"If you know that, why are you…?"

"Dating Moordryd?" interrupted the girl with a malicious smile. "I lost a bet and I'm paying it."

Artha made a gesture to demonstrate his incredulity. Silvanna suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is it true that Moordryd rode Beau?"

"Yes, what happened is that… How do you know that...? Don't tell me, Moordryd told you?"

"Moordryd told me," said Silvanna with a clever smile. "But, I dare to assume that he forgot' to tell me all the details."

"I wouldn't be surprised."

"Sometimes, I think that Moordryd desperately wishes that somebody would respect him. It's very well-known that he has a level eight self-esteem problem, and it isn't strange, considering the Daddy he has…"

"It seems that you aren't very fond of Word."

"Not at all," whispered the girl, and added with bitterness, "He's cold and cruel… Just as my father was."

Artha looked her with surprise. When he was a kid, he had noticed the pain existing in Silvanna's heart and now, he knew the cause. He felt a deep compassion towards the girl. She, in spite of all she had, must be very unhappy with a father like hers.

He immediately remembered his own father and all the moments, good and bad, that they had had together. The pain of his own loss, dormant for months, woke up in an intense way.

Both teens looked at each other in silence, until Artha finally said, "It's time to go home."

"Take care of Beau and Penn's kids," said Silvanna.

Artha looked at the girl, a little surprised by the worry that she felt for them. Silvanna, thinking that the Dragon Booster didn't understand her reasons said, "The Penn kids' father was very nice to me and Artha had been one of my best friends; I can't approach them or they would be in danger, much more than they are now."

"I will take care of them," said Artha as he rode Beau and who turned around and to try to jump again to the building where their friends waited for them.

"Dragon Booster…"

Artha turned his head to see Silvanna, and the girl added in an enigmatic form, "Beware… of my brother."

Silvanna walked towards the door that lead to the lower floors, and while she went down the stairs, the girl thought that something related to the Dragon Booster was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Artha and Beau met with their friends and together they returned home. While they were riding towards Penn Stables, Artha meditated on Silvanna's warning.