Chapter Eight

Terra Bluster

Reo banged on Jade's window in mid-air, as he jumped off a switchblade and clung to the side of the wall, hidden in the shadow of the tower. Jade, hidden with Firno as protection in their room because of her injuries, came straight away with a weary smile. Reo didn't smile back, but relaxed as Firno opened the window.

"Just as you planned, Brother. Excellent." Firno spotted then cracks in the crystal and frowned almost looking disappointed "...It didn't break."

"Shoot me." Reo snapped suddenly his eyes determined as he turned to Firno who looked only slightly surprised, Jade however went wide eyed as the thought of both brothers even REMOTELY attacking each other.

"What! Since when was that part of the plan!" She protested; she wanted to stop Firno and Reo from such a thing but even with her burns and wounds partially healed from the crystal earlier she was still achy and sore and she still had broken ribs

"Since now, shoot me Firno! You may not be able to touch it, but, after all, it was an accident." The famous Reo-Smile appeared. Firno sighed; he couldn't just turn a shot on his kin..."Firno..." For a split second, a gentle voice slipped out of Reo, providing Firno the confidence boost he needed; the younger shadow pulled Jade back gently.

"No! You can't just shoot him-" She protested.

"Jade." Reo sighed. "He never misses, and we're on a time limit."

Jade turned away, she couldn't watch as Firno pulled out his crossbow. Reo nodded before making the pendant an easy target, dangling it in the open. Firno aimed, finger wrapped around the trigger...and-

A gloved hand suddenly pulled Reo off the ride by the collar and dangled him in the air. Before the shadow had a chance to fight back, Dark Ace was already flying down to the Hanger with the shadow "No! Reo!" Jade screamed.

"Come on!" Firno pulled on Jade's arm. Just as they reached the door, remaining Talons were at the door. Master Cyclonis taking the lead. Jade gasped and glanced at her side, where Firno was missing. It was the best option; Firno must have melted away into the shadows, but unlike Reo, this pained him to do so. Cyclonis grasped Jade in her crystal's chock-hold and hovered her over to the Chamber.

Firno jumped out of the wall as soon as the doors closed, wincing and composing himself. His brother and his friend were captured, he couldn't save them...or he would get caught and they'll only be in bigger trouble. Firno sat on the bed, head in his hands, condemning himself useless.

*

Reo was thrown into a cell full to the corners with light, the whole cell was wrapped in tendrils of power, drowning him of his strength, Reo only sat there; despite his unbelievable strength, eerie powers and current situation, he was completely calm, sat in the middle of the room with his legs crossed, arms in his lap and eyes closed, meditating.

Ravess, the ego-maniac pink haired commander, and also Snipe's sister, walked in soon enough, giggling at the Shadow Boy's state. "Well, well! Look what we have here?" Ravess grinned, cat-like, Reo said or did nothing, head lifted, keeping his pride up.

"Cat got your tongue, War?" She hissed. Reo grinned, eyes still closed and sniffed.

"No, but I wish the Cat had yours."

Ravess frowned. "What a disrespectful waste of my time. You are on thin ice as it is shadow, if I were you, you'd treat me nicely."

"Unlucky for you, you're not me." On 'me' Reo snapped open his eyes. Ravess attempted not to gulp; his stare was cold and penetrating.

"You're little girlfriend is in the same situation." Ravess glared wondering if that would get any sort of reaction out of him.

"Girlfriend? Ha!" Reo said with a snort looking like he didn't give a damn, inwardly he covered his worry. What have they done to Jade...

"She will soon know-" Ravess was then interrupted by a blonde Talon.

"Commander, t-the girl...she-she's escaped." He stuttered. Reo sniggered as Ravess screeched at the Talon to find Jade, and soon enough, he was alone again.

"Good girl, Jade...good..."

*

"Jade!" Firno stood up as the lilac haired teenager ran in into a small storage locker that the young shadow was hiding out in, the girl hugged him relived he was okay before she pulled back still panting and out of breath.

"No time...save...we must save Reo!" She said as she slowly got her breath back "Come on, he's in the cells" Firno just nodded, both sprinting toward the cells, Firno staying in the darkness as Jade dealt with the Talons it wasn't hard for her to knock them out cold with her bare hands, they soon reached the dark, damp prison cells they didn't even have to call out for Reo as strong light seeped from the bars of the end prison which gave away his location, the two ran to the bars.

"Reo!" Jade smiled, but it soon faded as she noticed the tendrils.

"I was wondering when you two were going to get here." Reo smiled slightly, weakened to much to stand up.

"He's trapped in some kind of strong leech crystal, he can't do anything." Jade said as she noticed the crystal with a frown; whilst Jade picked the lock of the bars Firno stared at the crystal, once they were inside Firno soon had a hold of the crystal hanging from the ceiling, which died at his touch.

"Um...Brother?" Reo questioned, not even a Shadow can do that.

"No time, come on." Firno pulled up his elder brother and the three ran for it.

There was a twang sound from above as Ravess unleashed an arrow, cutting across a thin rope, which then released a crystal, induced metal cage over the three.

"Oh come on!" Jade yelled in frustration. Ravess jumped down from her perch as Talons surrounded them.

"Fools, you didn't actually think you had gotten away, did you?" She giggled coldly. "Knock them out." Before the Shadow Brothers could protect their friend, they were shot with small darts filled with a poison specially concocted for Shadows. They soon fell to the floor in a pile. Jade screamed before she was hit the old fashioned way. With the butt of a sword.

*

"Well done Ravess." Cyclonis grinned as a cage holding Jade rolled into her sight. "You will take them aboard your ship to Terra Bluster, it seems she needs to learn her lesson once more, and what of Reo?"

"...Master he's-" Ravess turned to the cage as it rolled by but the two Shadows had gone. "Where are they you fools?!" The female commander barked at her Talons.

"They?" Cyclonis raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Master, the two Shadows."

"Two? Ravess, there is only one." Cyclonis sighed. "And my weapon is safely locked up, Dark Ace just reported that."

"But...but..."

"Prepare the ship! You leave at dawn."

*

Jade awoke to spot her two best friends talking to each other, both with the same evil grin "That 'Duplicate Me' idea was ingenious, Brother." Reo whispered.

"Naturally." Firno laughed slightly and Reo punched his shoulder brotherly manner as the two talked.

"Cyclonis will be fooled, at least for a while, I'm not quite an artist when it comes to moulding raw shadow..."

"You did a good job though, I take it the crystal has completely worn off?"

"It remains pieces in the Wasteland, thanks for that by the way."

"Of course-hey, she's waking up."

Jade groaned and rubbed her head. "What hit me?" She moaned.

"A Talon, I think his name is Roberto-" Firno was soon interrupted by Jade's giggles.

"I didn't mean it literally, Firno." She turned to Reo. "Hey, the pendant's gone!" She smiled.

"Yes, we dealt with it when you were being transported before following." Reo said with a smile, though Jade's arms, hugging him tightly, soon muffled that smile.

Firno sniggered, amused, and Reo felt slightly warm in the face; he didn't realize he was blushing JUST a tiny but. this must be what Jade called a hug...it was...nice once you got used to it.

"Blushing now are we, guys?" Firno grinned as Jade pulled away.

"No!" Both Jade and Reo yelled suddenly as they looked away from each other looking equally embarrassed.

"Uhm anyway...Welcome back, Reo." Jade smiled gently.

"I don't feel welcome." Reo sighed and frowned. "We're on Ravess ship heading for Terra Bluster." Jade gulped at that "…Uhoh…" Terra Bluster was known for a Cyclonian training ground, she spent five years there learning to fight and defend; it as now that she realized, that Cyclonis was making her have the ultimate punishment now...this was going to be hell.

*

Both stow-aways were there at hand as soon as a tired, bruised and bleeding Jade stumbled into the room before collapsing on all fours; the training here was extremely harsh and Jade coming back to the small room the three shared exhausted was happening on a daily basis now, but none worse then this.

"What the hell happened?!" Reo yelled at the sight of her ankles one was so badly damaged he could see the tissue underneath all the blood, it was a miracle she got here on her own too feet! "Why are you late?" Was his second question.

"I had to run the entire Terra with a Talon whipping at my ankles." Jade sobbed softly with pain as Firno picked her up and set her gently on the bed before he set about cleaning and bandaging her ankles and other wounds.

"What?!" They both shouted in an outburst appalled; they weren't even human and from what Jade had taught them the thought of one human hurting another like this especially someone they cared about was NOT going to go down well with either shadow.

"Which one?" Reo growled, his clenched fists shaking.

"The beefy red head outside- Reo don't!" Jade suddenly said as she realized the strength of the question, a little surprised at his reaction, only time she'd ever seen him this mad was when he almost killed Aerrow; Reo stood at the window, watching the named Talon bullying on some other females.

"That's it!" Before the other two had a chance to blink, react or protest Reo was already out of the window and charging for the appointed coach.

"What the-" The Talon soon had his mouth full of thick mud and grass as Reo rugby tackled him to the ground, the other small girls ran for it there and then thankful to be away from the man's bullying.

"How DARE you treat my friend so shamefully!" Reo yelled a glare on his face and grabbed the bloody whip before throwing it hard against the man's back as he yelped in pain and surprise. Jade and Firno watched from the window, Jade wasn't a cruel person at all but after what that man had done to her she be lived a little revenge was in order and she watched no longer caring what Reo did and just grinned and enjoyed the sight.

"Shouldn't we stop him?" Firno asked amused though he made no move or indication he was going to stop Reo either

"Nope..." Jade sighed happily as she watched Reo beat the bully at his own game and chuckled softly before she sighed "I love him..."

"What?" Firno asked with a raised eyebrow and a looking her direction.

"A-as a friend! T-that's all!" Jade suddenly added stuttering a little and looking all embarrassed again Firno grinned, amused again; Jade and his brother sure did give him the chuckles at how they acted around each other.

Meanwhile outside the Talon was trying to avoid the whip "Who are you?!" The Talon bellowed obviously 1) Pissed off and 2) Didn't know who he was talking to.

"You're worse nightmare." Reo certainly did look a nightmare in the curtain of rain and lightning that had been around all day his green eyes piercing into the other with and intense glare; Reo took a leaf out of Jade's book. "Do you want me to shoot you in the crotch?"

"N-no!" The talon squeaked in fear.

"Then start running!!" Reo chased the Talon around the running area with the whip for a bit until the Talon did it himself, sobbing slightly in the rain several girls that had been bullied earlier cheered.

Reo came back to the window, smiling and looking rather pleased with himself "It'll do for now." Jade was laughing hard when he climbed in. "What?"

"You sure showed that guy who's boss!" She giggled. Reo stood taller with his hands on his waist looking damned proud of himself as he smirked.

"Of course."

"Oh, of course, no-one even touches a hair on Reo's girl." Firno sniggered amused as he watched Reo's reaction; which was to drop his arms and look away.

"Firno, stop with the fantasies, Jade is not my girl." He said but he blushed anyway.

*

Things were getting worse by the day, even though the bully had been sent back to Cyclonia, after ranting madly about a demon attacking him with his own whip, and even if the training was lessened, it was still exhausting for Jade especially with the state her ankles were in; each time both boys protested and told her to take a day off and each time she refused saying it'd just be worse on her the next day "I spent 5 years here I know hoe this place runs trust me it's better just to get it over with"

Reo had to feel sorry for her, as the days wore on after her training she would lie in bed with barely any the strength to move, and he wanted to cheer her up, hear her laugh like she did when he punished her coach. He thought for a moment as Firno cleaned up the bandages after finishing patching her up again.

Soon, an idea sprang to mind and Reo crouched by a dark corner and started his little idea.

"Reo? What are you doing?" Jade peered as far as her strength would let her, which wasn't much. Reo soon turned around with his hands cupped as if trying to contain something, wisps of shadow, like smoke were seeping between his fingers and disappearing in the air. Jade leaned back wondering just what he was doing and raised an eyebrow "What is that?"

The elder brothers hands opened, revealing a scarlet, palm sized dragon. The small dragon seemed to be still, when suddenly it stretched open its tiny wings and yawned; Jade practically cooed over it. "Wow! She's gorgeous!" the teenage whispered amazed, Reo just smiled and let the small dragon fly around. "Reo…how did you make her?!" the girl asked her friend amazed.

Reo just shrugged as if it was nothing big "Talent." Reo said simply.

Jade was obviously thrilled with her gift, and she tried not to tear with happiness. Reo was being so…nice, so gentle, not minding when she hugged him, always listening to her, treating her like she MEANT something to him, and he was smiling more then ever; there was no doubt to her now, that this feeling that she held in he heart was real now.

"Thank you Reo." Jade said softly a bright smile on her face.

"It's not a problem...want one Brother?" Reo sniggered as the dragon nuzzled in Firno's hair spikes and walked around as if the blonde shadows hair was a nest.

"I'll pass." Firno scooped up the crimson bundle and placed her back in Jades hands, who smiled and stroked the tiny dragons head as it cooed.

"I think Ravess will like one..." Reo grinned a mischievous look on his face Jade stared at him and tried not to gape at him; her dreams had come true.

"Why?" the lilac haired girl asked, though was already thinking along the same lines as Reo; it had been AGES since she'd thrown a prank on ANYONE and after all she'd been through on Bluster it would be well worth the laugh; at least this time she would have friends who would laugh with her.

"I only live once, I might as well live well, this time, I'll take a leaf out of your book, Jade." Reo stated as started creating another dragon from the shadows again.

"Yes! I KNOW you'll love this Reo!" Jade smiled, Firno shook his head, amused as he observed the two of them but he smiled. "Oh, yes this should be good. indeed"

*

Reo, Firno and Jade (who was crutched by the brothers) were soon at the door of Ravess's chambers; the lilac haired woman was already busy practising her violin, causing the storm outside to riot. Inside Reo's palms was another dragon, but a wilder willed and...noisy one. "Let it go." Jade whispered excitedly; she was tingling with excitement, something she hadn't felt since Firno was 'born'. Reo nodded lead the black dragon through the ajar door and opened his hands letting the dragon fly into the room.

Ravess soon realized that she wasn't alone, and was soon swatting at the dragon who was shrieking and cawing with the most HORRENDOUS out of tune voice ever heard, Ravess tried to swat the dragon away and even shot at it a few times but it merely went out of her reach and dodged her arrows; the talons in he squad all hurried to help and of course they just all managed to cause chaos tripping over furniture and each other.

The three outside watched hands pressed over their mouths as they watched the hilarious scene before they heard someone get too close to where they were hiding and decided now was a good time to scurry away, mouths covered by sleeves or hands. When they finally got back to their room they all burst out laughing in union. "I told you, you would love it!" Jade chuckled as she flopped on the bed and played with her dragon "Did you see Ravess's face! I've never seen her that red before!"

"Indeed I did." Reo sniggered; he gave the dragon a short life so it would fade away so as not to be seen again. As the three settled into usual conversation, Reo suddenly fell silent, soon followed by Firno.

"...Boys?" Jade asked a little confused as she looked between the both of her friends.

"Shh...Firno...You hear that, right?" Reo whispered.

"Yes...prepare for impact!" Firno suddenly said, arms over his head. Jade curled up as best as she could, above her, Reo acted like a shield as the place suddenly shook horribly, there was the sound of explosions and parts of the ceiling came crashing down above them, they were being attacked.

Jade groaned as she and Firno pushed debris of the roof off them before she spotted four Skimmers zoom past their new hole in the ceiling, and whispered. "The Storm Hawks?..."

"Oh not again!" Reo growled.

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