Fireheart

Chapter 5: Lost and Found

88 and 89 sat in the doorway, rubbing their sore heads. After Lao Shi's attack with the broom, he'd made them scrub the spot with toothbrushes to get the tar out of the floorboards. Spud and Trixie were currently in the back room playing "Go Fish" with Fu Dog. Meanwhile, Lao Shi was in the bathroom, still trying to get the tar and feathers off. When he finally came out, the old man's face and hands looked slightly blistered, and some feathers were still sticking to his hair and robe. The dragon master glared at 88 and 89 as he passed them. The two boys cowered under his glaze, then went back to scrubbing.

"Yo Gramps." said Trixie, "You gonna be al- ewwww..." The other two looked up and saw Lao Shi. All three of them winced.

"That looks like it hurts." said Spud, pointing to the blisters on the old man's face.

"Do not worry young ones." said Lao Shi, "Fortunately, the tar they used had cooled down a bit before it hit me." He looked at the cards they were holding. "So, who's winning?"

Fu and Trixie looked over at Spud.

"Hee hee hee, Nobody's gonna win this game!"

They all turned, to see the Oracle Twins standing in the doorway.

"Hi Kara, hi Sara." said Spud "What brings you lovely ladies here?"

"Kara and I just had a vision!" said Sara, "And it's about Rose!"

"What?!" yelled Trixie, Spud and Fu Dog.

Lao Shi stared at the twins in shock. "Rose... alive? But how?"

"We don't know." said Kara, "All we know is, she's alive, and looking for you."

"Looking for me?" asked Lao Shi, "Please, you must tell us quickly, what visions have you seen?"

Kara closed her eyes for a moment. "I see Rose, and an elf, riding a unicorn."

"Oooh! Then they're gonna get chased by something!" blurted Sara.

"Something?!" asked Lao Shi, "What something?!"

"I have no idea!" said Sara, still sounding perky, "But doesn't it sound exciting?!"

88 and 89 came over to the others. "Uh... Are they always like this?" whispered 89.

"Yeah." answered Spud, "You get used to it. Either that or end up in a therapeutic hospital for the mentally unstable."

Lao Shi glared at them, but said nothing. He turned back to the Oracle Twins. "Do you know where Rose is?"

"Kara closed her eyes again. "I see them surrounded by trees."

"And?" asked Trixie.

"That's it." said Kara.

"Sounds to me like they're in some kind of forest." said Fu.

"Thank you, captain obvious." said Trixie, "But the question is, is it in a park, or outside the city?"

"Rose was over Central Park when she was struck down. That is were I will search first." said Loa Shi.

"We're goin' with you." said Trixie, "In case ya' need some back up."

"You and the others will stay here." The Dragon Master said sternly. Trixie opened her mouth to argue, but then she saw the look on the old man's face. He looked ragged, and there was a deep sadness his eyes. No words were spoken, for none were needed. They knew all too well how Lao Shi felt about what had happened to Jake and Rose...

After what seemed like ages, Trixie finally said, "Maybe, we should stay here, in case anybody else drops by."

Spud stared at her. "Huh? But I thought- Ow!" He winced as she dug an elbow into his ribs.

Lao Shi looked gratefully at her, then went up the stairs to the rooftop. A few moments later, a Chinese Dragon soared out over the city...

"Luna, can we stop for a minute? I need to get off." Luna pulled on the unicorn's mane, and Starchaser stopped. Rose slid off his back, leaning against the stallion's flank for support. Luna slid off as well, and Rose turned to look at her. "How can you stand riding bareback like that?" asked Rose, "Didn't you ever think of using a saddle?"

"Saddle? On a unicorn? I don't think so." said Luna, "The last guy that tried that... well, let's just say he still isn't out of the hospital yet..."

Rose opened her mouth to reply.

A twig snapped.

Both girls whirled around, staring into the trees.

"Well, well, well..." said a voice in the trees... Chang stepped forward out of the shadows... "I go out for a nice flight, and look what I've found..." She didn't seem surprised to see Rose standing there. "Huntsgirl... So, you survived my master's attack. Pity, looks like I'll have to finish you myself!" As she spoke, shades suddenly appeared all around them!

Without thinking, Rose leapt onto Starchaser's back, pulled Luna up behind her, and kicked the unicorn into a gallop! Starchaser lunged forward, plowing right through the shades and onward into the forest.

"After them!" cried Chang, dragoning up and taking off after the fleeing stallion.

"Rose, where are we going?!" cried Luna, it was all she could do just to hold on to Rose as the unicorn tore through the undergrowth.

"Anywhere but here!" yelled Rose. She tried to urge the unicorn onward, as shades raced along either side of them. A fireball exploded in front of them, knocking a flaming tree into their path! Starchaser reared, screaming in terror! It was all the girls could do to keep from being thrown. Rose kicked the stallion again, making him jump the log, then she looked back, to see Chang flying close behind them...

"Rose! Look out!" Rose looked ahead, and saw that they were heading straight for a gorge!

Rose looked around, frantic, but shades were blocking them on either side! Their only way out was forward...

Rose urged Starchaser onward, forcing him to keep his gallop. "Are you insane?!!!" yelled Luna, "We'll never make it over that!"

"We will if I can help it!" cried Rose. As they reached the each, Starchaser gave a mighty leap just as Rose cried out, "Wing of the Dragon!!!" Flames erupted from her shoulders, becoming huge, feathered wings... Time slowed... The three hung suspended over the gorge... Then, they were across it! The unicorn landed heavily, falling to his knees and throwing the girls from his back.

Luna got up, running over to her unicorn friend. He was exhausted and gasping for breath, but otherwise looked unhurt. Rose, on the other hand was clutching her injured shoulder, gasping in pain. "Luna..." she gasped, "Don't ever let me do that again..."

Luna went over to Rose and helped her to her feet. "Come on." she said, "We have to get out of here before Chang catches up."

"It's too late for that."

Both girls looked up, to see Chang hovering overhead. They heard a scream from Starchaser, and saw the unicorn struggling wildly as shades swarming upon him, binding him with chains. But the stallion was too weak to fight, and the shades soon overpowered him.

Chang looked down at the pitiful threesome with a cruel smile on her reptilian face. "Oh how the mighty have fallen." She said smugly. The old dragoness flew closer, eyeing her prey as she prepared to strike. She looked at Rose, and their eyes met... "Any last words, Huntsgirl?"

A fireball streaked past Chang, missing her by inches! "What?!" She turned, just as another fireball struck her wing! Reeling in pain, Chang righted herself and looked up, to see an angry Chinese Dragon coming straight for her! Dodging another fireball, the Asian Dragon shot one last look at Rose, then flew off as fast as her injured wing could take her...

Lao Shi watched her until she was out of sight, then looked around. The shades had vanished after Chang had fled, and now only the two girls and the unicorn remained.

Rose stared at the dark blue dragon as he landed. "Lao Shi?..."

He looked up at her, his eyes wide with disbelief. But before Rose could move, the elder dragon had rushed over and grabbed her in a hug. Rose was speechless with shock. Lao Shi rarely, if ever, gave hugs. When she finally found her voice, she said "Ok... Who are you and what have you done with Dragon Master Lao Shi?"

The old dragon smiled down at her, and Rose saw tears shining in his eyes. He hugged her again, saying, "I thought you were dead... but you're safe..." Then he let go and looked down at her. "But, how did you survive that fall?"

"Thank Luna and her unicorn friends." said Rose, "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't still be here..." The old dragon went over to Luna and Starchaser. After pulling the chains off the unicorn and making sure they were unhurt, he took the elf's hand in his claw and said, "You have the thanks of our families for saving Rose."

"Anytime." said Luna.

"I only wish Jake could be here to see you..." said Lao Shi, turning to look at Rose again.

Rose suddenly grabbed the Dragon Master's claw, gripping it tightly. "Lao Shi, Jake is alive!"

"What?! But then, where is he?!" Lao Shi grabbed her shoulders, staring hard into her eyes.

Rose bowed her head, unable to meet the dragon's gaze... "Lao Shi... the dragon that attacked me, the one that was attacking everyone... that, was Jake..."

"What?... but how can that be?!"

Rose looked up again, finally meeting his hard gaze with one her own. "The Dark Dragon was using a spell to possess him... We have to get Jake and find a way to break the curse before it's too late."

The Dragon Master nodded gravely... "A spell... I thought as much, but I never suspected that Jake was the one being possessed..." He let go of her and hovered in the air above them. "We must return to the shop at once."

"Lao Shi wait!" called Rose. "There's something I forgot to tell you... I hurt my shoulder in that fall... According to Luna, I won't be able to fly for at least a week..."

The old dragon sighed, then landed. "Then you will have to ride on me." He said, crouching down for her to mount.

Rose came over to him. "Are you sure about this?" she asked.

"Not to worry." he said, "If I can carry Fu Dog, then I can carry you. But, don't tell Fu Dog I said that..."

"Don't worry, I won't tell." said Rose, smiling at him. Then she climbed onto the old dragon's back. After she was settled, the Chinese Dragon took flight, as Luna mounted Starchaser. Then, with a finally goodbye, they went their separate ways...