Balthazar had already been on his way to Dave's when he heard the dragon roar. Dave had been running late and he figured that it was time to give the kid a talking to about keeping appointments. The arrival of the dragon did change things somewhat though. Balthazar looked up and grimaced as fire streaked the night sky.
"And this is how the kids celebrates his twentieth birthday," he muttered, quickening his pace.
As he broke into a run he snapped his fingers. A spark flew from them and disappeared into the night. New York was his city; he'd been there longer than any of its inhabitants. It moved with him and he was friends with the city's very bones. He just hoped that they'd remember and come to his aide in this particular instance. Like the people who lived there, New York could be prickly.
He ran to the other side of the subway station as the dragon stormed onto the platform completely. Dave was standing in front of it, his fists clenched. Balthazar's apprentice pushed his hands forward and flung a plasma bolt at it. The dragon reared back and Dave made another one in quick succession. While it was reeling from shock Dave flung himself underneath it and used fire to scorch its stomach.
Balthazar suddenly realized that he wasn't needed. Dave was more than capable of fighting his own battles these days and, though it gave him a pang inside his chest, Dave was grown up. So he leaned up against the subway terminal. It was good work, especially for someone who had never faced a dragon before. He'd taught Dave to be prepared for any occasion and apparently his lessons had worked. Silently he congratulated himself.
The dragon's tail flailed out but Dave wasn't with in its range. He weaved between the dragon's legs and shot a continuous stream of fire at it, followed by two plasma bolts. The dragon burst into pieces of shredded paper, each one slightly singed or on fire. Dave wiped a sheen of sweat off his forehead and glared at Balthazar.
"How long have you been there?" he demanded.
"Couple of minutes," Balthazar shrugged.
"And you just stood there and watched?" said Dave, "Are you insane?"
Balthazar looked off into the distance, thoughtful. Then he held up his fingers an inch apart.
"Little bit," Dave muttered, "Okay."
He ran a hand through his sweaty hair.
"Should have known."
"It was good work," said Balthazar, "You did well."
"No thanks to you."
"No thanks to me," Balthazar repeated, incredulous, "And all those years where I trained you weren't helpful? Because I think they were. Am I wrong?"
Dave threw his hands into the air.
"Yes, you fought by yourself," continued Balthazar, "You didn't need my help."
He received more silence in response.
"That's as it should be," he said, "You're twenty aren't you? What do you want me to do, fight your battles for you forever?"
"Of course not," snapped Dave.
The venom in his voice made Balthazar step back. Dave was flushed. Something was wrong, and it wasn't just the dragon.
"Dave?" he asked, "What's wrong?"
From behind him he heard a noise.
"Him, him, HIM!" Dave yelled.
Balthazar turned around to see Horvath flinging a plasma bolt from his cane. Balthazar was surprised to see his old enemy there, but he was used to Horvath launching sneak attacks. He quickly threw a time displacement spell at him, encasing him completely. He stared at Horvath for a minute as the niggling feeling that he shouldn't have had to do that came to his mind.
The thought was interrupted when there was a loud crash from the subway tracks.
"Balthazar," said Dave, "Is that…a giant metal eagle?"
"Yes," Balthazar said shortly, "Thought we might need transportation."
Dave said nothing as they climbed aboard the eagle. It took off and headed towards the Empire State Building. Balthazar tightened his mouth into a tight line.
"That was Horvath," he said.
"Yeah," Dave said.
Balthazar gave a bitter laugh.
"Looks like he found us. Only took him, what, ten years? He's getting slow. A dragon seems a little ostentatious, even for him, but I suppose that it makes sense in a weird sort of way."
"Yeah."
"Lucky Morgana wasn't there."
"Um, yeah."
He rubbed his chin, trying to find the right way to phrase his next question.
"However," said Balthazar, "I have a feeling that perhaps you should have thrown that displacement spell. Why did you feel the need to tell me him instead of going after him yourself?"
"I…was confused…" mumbled Dave.
That was a little much.
"Dave, you took down a dragon tonight and you couldn't spare enough mental energy to throw a plasma bolt at Horvath?" demanded Balthazar.
"Well-"
"I know you've got the power to incapacitate him," Balthazar said, not adding that Dave could probably do more than that.
"I couldn't think-"
"You lost your focus, is that what you're trying to tell me?"
Dave squirmed.
"I didn't…I couldn't…"
"What do you think I've been teaching you magic for, some little girl's tea party?" snapped Balthazar.
"I was scared!" Dave shouted.
Balthazar's heart sank.
"I was scared…" Dave repeated, this time his voice a whisper.
That had been the last thing that Balthazar had expected. It was also the worst thing that Dave could have possibly said.
A/N: Little bit of trouble with the internet access. Most of the updates might be later on in the day, but they're still going to be daily. Thanks for the reviews!