Chapter 5 – Showdown at the Monastery
"Where are we?" asked Darky.
"I believe we have reached Los Angeles," replied Draco.
It has been several hours since Cynder, Draco, and Darky left Texas and now they have reached the west coastal regions of the United States. They tried to find some dragons in Los Angeles, but to no avail. Luckily, they learned about a dragon monastery located just up north in the hillside areas, and as they got there, they heard something happening inside the monastery.
"You know it to be the truth, so you better give it up," said one voice.
"But it is against the Dragon Code," responded the other.
"What is going on?" asked Draco.
"I don't know," said Cynder. "Whatever it is, it sounds like something's not right, so let's go in and investigate."
The three dragons went inside the monastery and there they see two mean looking dragons advancing on a golden dragon.
"This is the last time," said one of the dragons to the golden dragon. "Either you join our cause, or we will have to take drastic measures."
"I'm sorry," said the golden dragon. "I cannot allow you to hurt anybody who choose to follow what they feel is the correct path."
"Treacherous slimeball!" growled the dragon. "You are going to regret this!"
The two dragons moved towards the golden dragon, who defended himself valiantly, but the might of the dragons overwhelmed him.
"That poor dragon!" said Darky. "We got to help him!"
"Let's go in and stop those bullies," said Cynder as she makes her way down the hall. As she did, the two dragons turned around.
"What do you think you're doing here?" they asked.
"If you want the gold dragon, you'll have to go through me first!" snarled Cynder. "I won't allow you to hurt him!"
"So you're challenging us to fight you?" asked the two dragons. "Well, you're going to find out how foolish it is to take on the Obsidian Devourers!"
"Be careful, Cynder," warned Draco.
"Don't worry," replied Cynder. "I can take out these two dragons without any problem."
The golden dragon got out of the way and stood beside Draco and Darky while Cynder readies herself to confront the Obsidian Devourer dragons. Bravely, she took her cape off and stared at them with determination while they smirked at the thought of one dragon going against two. In an amazing fight, Cynder proved to be too much for the Obsidian Devourers to handle. They tried to strike her down with their claws, wings, tails, and fire breaths, but she effortlessly dodged and overwhelmed them with her plasma bursts. Eventually, the Obsidian Devourers were beaten.
"Argh, let's retreat!" they shouted as they hurried out of the monastery. "You haven't seen the last of us!"
Cynder turned to the golden dragon after her victory. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm okay," said the golden dragon. "My name is Percival, and you?"
"I'm Cynder," replied Cynder. "And these are my friends Draco and Darky."
"Pleased to meet you, Percival," said Draco as he gave the dragon a pawshake.
"Hi, Percival!" smiled Darky as he gave Percival a hug.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," bowed Percival. "How could I ever repay you for saving me from those Obsidian Devourers?"
Cynder looked at Draco and nodded when she knew what he was thinking. "Well, Percival," she began. "If you are interested, would you like to join me, Draco and Darky as a group?"
"You mean leave the monastery to go with you?" asked Percival.
"Yes, of course," replied Draco.
Percival thought real hard. "It's not easy for someone initiated in the Dragon Order to leave this monastery," he said. "The curator must grant permission first."
"I believe he does already," said a voice.
Cynder, Draco, and Darky see an elderly dragon appear out of the shadows. "I think the time has come for you to realise your own dreams, Percival," said the dragon.
"Master Tanaka," said Percival. "Are you saying I'm allowed to join these guys?"
"You have my full approval, young dragon," said Tanaka. "It is part of the Dragon Code to connect and offer gratitude to those who help us in dire situations, and this establishment is saved thanks to that brave dragoness."
"It was nothing, really," said Cynder modestly.
"No need to be modest," smiled Tanaka as he beckoned the dragons to follow him inside. "You have certainly proven your worth for my apprentice."
"By the way, who are the Obsidian Devourers?" asked Draco.
"I don't know very much about them," said Tanaka. "Except that they are known to continuously cause trouble."
"I see," said Cynder grimly.
"You must be careful with them," continued Tanaka. "They are very dangerous, and I suspect that those two who attacked our monastery will soon come back with reinforcements."
"This doesn't sound good," said Draco with utmost worry. "How will we ever take down a group of them?"
"Have no fear, young Charizard," smiled Tanaka. "Percival here has been receiving combat training, even though it would be senseless of him to take out two dragons single-handedly."
"And knowing how you managed to do the deed yourself, Cynder," said Percival. "I'm sure you'll have no problem with them."
"Yes, I know, but I think a group of dragons would actually be a bit too much," said Cynder.
"We would definitely need a well-grounded group to be able to foil these creeps," said Draco. "But who do we have?"
"Tanaka, I've made up my mind," said Percival finally. "I am going to join Cynder, Draco, and Darky."
"Cynder!" called a familiar voice. "Count us in too!"
Cynder turned around, and to her astonishment, she saw Lily and Torden standing at the entrance of the monastery. "Lily! Torden! How did manage to find us here?" she asked.
"We learned from a few that you headed to America," replied Lily. "And then some told us that you were at this place."
"So that's how," said Cynder slowly.
"Also," said Torden. "We came across some Charizard named Jakkin, and he told us that you tried to get him to join you guys."
"Has he reconsidered?" asked Draco.
"We tried to get him to join, but he refused," said Lily. "Too bad since he looks like a worthy teammate."
"Well, at least it's great that you have come to America to become part of our group," said Cynder.
Lily offers Cynder a hug. "You know I want to make my friends happy," she said. "After all, that's what everyone says I am good at!'"
But the happy reunion was cut short fire blasts hit the walls of the monastery. Tanaka could only lower his head in disbelief as he knows who are attacking. "They have returned for you," he said solemnly. "It is now up to you dragons to stop them from destroying the monastery."
"So we got ourselves some troublemakers?" asked Torden as he cracked his knuckles. "Not if I have anything to say about it!"
"We're going to give it all we got!" declared Percival.
"Cynder, please let me come with you!" said Darky.
"I'm afraid you will not be able to stand a chance against the Obsidian Devourers, little one," said Tanaka. "I suggest that you stay here with me until they take care of the threat."
Darky pouted as he was eager to prove his worth even if he was just a baby dragon. "Big sis, please?" he begged with his innocent eyes.
"I'm afraid Master Tanaka is right, Darky," said Cynder. "This battle is something very serious, so stay with the old dragon."
So Darky is left in the monastery under the care of Master Tanaka while Cynder, Draco, Lily, and Torden hurried out to be greeted with the same two Obisidian Devourers flanked by a platoon of dragons, all dressed in medieval styled knight costumes. They looked more confident now that they have reinforcements.
"I see that you have got yourselves some backup of your own," the leader sneered. "Well, I'm afraid to say that you are impossibly outnumbered, especially when you're nothing more but a ragtag!"
"I don't think so," said Cynder proudly. "We may seem like a small and unusual group, but that does not make us any less strong."
"We shall see about that, won't we?" laughed the leader of the Obsidian Devourer. "You shall face our true ferocity!"