The nine met with each other back at Laoshi's shop at the request of delivering news in closed quarters.Jake finished twisting the blinds shut and went to have a seat on a box between Rose and Fu;they all sat on boxes except for the Dragon Council which flustered Jake all the more.
What was so important about some talisman that it just had to interrupt his chance and possibly only best chance at becoming a rap artist.Rose seemed to be gazing off into space when he looked at her,wonderingly.
Did she plan on fighting again or dumping him?Jake shuddered slightly.
"Before we reveal our reason for assembling you,let us tell you of some history first."Councilor Kulde began,looking more relaxed then before.
Omina,however,didn't appear to be in the mood for starting out light."It has been called to our attention that a very powerful property has gone-"
"Missing?"Spud finished for her quickly.
"Not exactly."she eyed him,unimpressed.Then she turned to them all."It all began back over several thousand years when dragons had just begun to take on their roles as protectors and their was a talisman that helped."
The councilor that had replaced Chang nodded and continued.
"It gave us strength from it's power as it was the main core of magic for all dragons.The legend goes that a young Dark Dragon also knew about it and endeavoured to steal it to rule us all after humans took over earth."
Jake opened his mouth to speak,lifting a finger.
"Does anyone else know this?!"his grandfather nearly exploded.
"We know you have all fought him,"Kulde spoke to him and then the rest of them calmly."But the legend of the Dark Dragon attempting this is kept within only a few Dragon Council members,even the Talisman is secret."
"So how does this legend go?"Fu Dog urged from his place on the floor.
"Well,five of the most powerful dragons at the time halted his attempt at gaining everyone's magic and ruling but the Dark Dragon stated that if he could not possess it,no one would.So he decided to smash the talisman
and into twenty seperate pieces.The talisman's reaction was to drain any good from his soul and thereby turning him into his pure evil.We've been told that these twenty pieces had bits of dark magic clinging to them also."
"So they had to be safeguarded elsewhere from then on."Rose predicted.
"Yes,"Omina smiled a bit."We have hidden these pieces seperate all this time with only the supposed truth behind them but they are still our core."
"But,they do not supply us with the powers to boost out magic anymore which is why we need Dragon Masters today."Kulde went on to explain as the sun shifted in the blinds."They help young dragons to gain ability."
"Okay,this is one heck of a story but what about the five dragons?"Trixie asked curiously from where she sat with one leg down and arms folded.
"You're looking at their non-blood descendents."The newest member said.
"It has been two weeks and in these two weeks his demise has activated the talisman pieces it seems."Omina continued,concern etched in her blue features."They have scattered out to twenty different countries wordwide.
They need finding.Assembling them,however,could mean either peace in the world or the apocalypse.They are never to be pieced together as one."
The majority exchanged looks when the point became obvious.
Jake was the one to look back at the Council members first."Were going to be spending our entire summer break on a scavanger hunt,aren't we?"
"In that case,"Trixie began with determination."I will definitely be needin' some snazzy new threads before I save the world for the hundredth time."
Later that evening...
Jake finished loading his cargo inside the back of a space-craft appearing shuttle that Spud had been designing for NASA as a prototype for both earth and space.This was with the knowledge that aside from all dragons in the world,there was no other magical creature alive that had any magic.
And wouldn't until Team Dragon got the job done.
"Uh,Spud?"he said uneasily as he turned to look at his friend's cargo.
"Yes."
"Your luggage looks like everything in your room bundled up with..."Jake reached over to move the white thread between his fingers."Dental floss?"
"Well,"Spud said a little defensively."It is 131 feet of threading security."
"Spud,they said only bring the essentials."
"And I did just what they said."
Jake shook his head and went over to Rose,who was talking with Trixie a few yards away.Her and Spud had managed stories to their parents but it was Rose who had a tough time keeping a secret from her leery parents."
The African American girl sighed in exasperation as she looked past Jake towards Spud."Well,better help the Tooth Fairy out of his own teeth trap."
"Since you can't transport magically back home,I booked you a flight."
He watched her dawn an astonished look."Oh Jake,you didn't!"
"It was just a little dip from my college fund,"he smiled,unaffected."But my parents are going to take you to the airport first thing tommorow morning."
Rose turned touched yet saddened."Jake..."
"It's fine,Rose.Really.The only reason we can't take you back in the space and earth travelling thing-a-ma-jig is because we have to get started now."
"Jake,listen to me."she placed her hands on his shoulders,almost urgent."I have been trying to tell you that I'm not going home.Well,just yet anyway."
He looked at her critically and she looked away."After all we went through to help you get a normal life,after all that happened...you still want to go?"
"You sound mad."She noted.
Jake sighed."I'm not.It's just that I don't want you risk hurting your family."
"Or myself?"Rose smiled knowingly."Jake,the way I see it I've already led my normal life out and I still want to keep it but,"she took his hands in her own."If I did,I couldn't be with you and see the world when your seeing it."
He brought her into his arms,stroking her hair while resting her face to his chest as the sun sank."Then you win Rose,were going to see it all together."
Rose sank into his solidness."Together,"she repeated softly,partly to herself.
The two broke apparent as the engines whirled to life inside the giant white and red stripped craft,though the airport around them was deserted for the moment as they had wanted a private lift off,the noise made it seem not so.
"Let's get in."Rose suggested and took off toward the boarding stairs."I've got to get a room with the best view so all the oceans will look more blue."
"Hey,"he gave chase after her."If theres anyone gettin' a room with a good view it's gonna be the Amdrag.But,you know,if you really want it then you can have it.I mean,it's not like it's pending whether you stay or not...right?"
She disappeared up the stairs grinning with him in desperate pursuit.
"Seriously Rose.It's not,is it?"
To be continued...
A/N:The first stop takes place in Canada.BTW,I will allow fan submissions and suggestions for new countries,villians,dragons,scenes and so on after I establish the next part.And trust me,it will really test Jake and Rose's relationship.
LP