Chapter 17: Dragon Summit

"Are you ready for your first trip to the Isle of Draco, Jake?" Lao Shi asked.

"Yes, G." Jake said as he produced a paper bag. "I'm even taking barf bags albeit I don't understand why Dad said we'd need them."

"Because your father has a weak stomach." Lao Shi bluntly stated.

"He's not the only one, old man." Fu Dog commented while thinking of his own experiences with the magic elevator.

The three of them then went to a train station where they took a magical elevator to the Isle of Draco. "Now I understand why Dad told me to take barf bags with me whenever I came here." Jake commented.

"I'm sorry for not being the one who thought about them." Fu commented. "I could have made a fortune selling those. On a second thought," He then picked a tape recorder from his wrinkles. "Memo to self: buy barf bags to resell them to magical elevator users."

"Fu!" Lao Shi scolded him.

"What?" Fu asked. "You don't think the kid's other Grandpa became what he was by not seizing opportunities, do you?"

"Fu, we're not here for money." Lao Shi reminded his animal companion. "We're here because it's finally time for Jake to be evaluated by the World Dragon Council."

"And it's an important evaluation since I need their approval to keep Gramps as my dragon master." Jake stated.

"Precisely, young one." Lao Shi stated. "Who knows who you'll be assigned to if you fail."

"I thought it was clear I'd be sent to Sun Park." Jake commented.

"Jake, while that was the original idea, the Dragon Council has been considering assigning your sister to her." Lao Shi explained. "Now let's meet the Dragon Council."

"Why, why." A boy with blond hair approached them. "The American Loaded Dragon. I expected you to show up wearing some prep school uniform, mate."

"Did I do something to offend you?" Jake asked with a frown.

"Don't mind him, kid." Fu advised Jake. "He's Fred Nerk, the Australian Dragon. He's the first dragon to be born in Australia. The fame it used to bring him practically vanished when you became the American Dragon. He just resents you."

Jake, Lao Shi and Fu then went to the temple's entrance, where the Dragon Council was waiting for them. "Luong Lao Shi, it's good to see you again." A man in African clothes said and then looked at Jake. "And this must be the American Dragon. I am Councillor Andam, the African Dragon. I'm pleased to meet you."

"I'm pleased to meet all of you as well." Jake politely replied. Looking around, he noticed that one of the Dragon Council members didn't look happy to meet him.

"Honestly, Councillor Andam, it's still too soon to see if it's really a pleasure to meet Dragon Long." The woman what Jake noticed as not being pleased to meet him commented. "I have my doubts about him."

"Give the boy a chance, Councillor Chang." A dragon with white hair and beard and light blue clothes stated. They then went to the council room.

"American Dragon, for the most part, we're pleased with your dragon master's report." The white-haired dragon commented.

"Thank you, Councillor Kulde." Lao Shi humbly replied.

"However, it all changed when he refused to erase the memories of the two humans who discovered his identity." Councillor Chang added. "I should have known better than that to hope he'd be a good dragon in spite of having a human father."

"Hey!" Jake protested. "Don't insult my Dad!"

"Jake!" His grandfather scolded him and then addressed the Dragon Council. "I apologize for my grandson's rudeness."

"Apology accepted, Lao Shi." Councillor Andam replied. "Now, it's time to take the tests. Judgement in Fire, Wisdom in Battle, and Courage in Flight. You know what's at stake."

"My grandson and I know the importance of the tests, Councillor Andam." Lao Shi replied.

"But don't worry, American Dragon." Councillor Chang falsely reassured Jake. "I'll make sure you'll get a good dragon master after you fail."

"Don't you mean 'if' he fails, Councillor Chang?" Councillor Kulde asked.

"If we're going to observe formalities…" Councillor Chang dismissively replied.

After that meeting, Lao Shi gave Jake a tour of the island. "The thirteen biggest threats to the Magical World." Jake said upon seeing the thirteen statues in the room his grandfather took him into.

"Correct, young one." Lao Shi stated in approval.

Jake then stared at the Dark Dragon's statue. "And that's the main reason you're so adamant about being my dragon master in spite of it being against tradition to have dragons receiving training from relatives."

"Correct again, young one." Lao Shi sadly confirmed. "As the first dragon to ever defeat the Dark Dragon, I am worried he'll target my grandchildren for revenge."

"Can we start practicing now?" Jake asked.

Minutes later, Jake started the first test. He successfully managed to melt all ice statues representing magical threats and leave the other statues intact. "You pass." Councillor Kulde proudly stated.

"Beginner's luck." Councillor Chang commented in disdain.

"What's wrong with her?" Jake asked Fu.

"Don't mind her, kid." Fu replied. "She's just a sourpuss."

"I heard that!" Councillor Chang stated.

"I meant that in a good way." Fu meekly replied and then talked to Jake again. "She's the Dragon of Asia. She and the old man go way back when they were young."

"Unresolved love story?" Jake asked, suggesting it's the reason behind her bad mood.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" Fu laughed at the idea. "Kid, don't ever bring it up again but, probably yes." He said the last two words in a matter-of-fact tone. "Now, what's the revenge plan against Fred Nerk?"

"None."

"Good." Fu commented. "Then we can… what?"

"Fu, we have more important things to worry about than a prank war." Jake firmly stated. "Talk to me about that after I win the second test. Then we can focus on personal issues."

"Deal." Fu happily replied and gave a thumbs up. Lao Shi then showed up and started training Jake for the test of Wisdom in Battle.

Meanwhile, Councillor Chang was in a dark cave for a secret meeting with… the Dark Dragon. "Master, the American Dragon passed the first test." She informed him.

"Good." The Dark Dragon commented. "This means he'll face the test of Courage in Flight regardless of how he fares with his Wisdom in Battle, right?"

"Yes, o Dark One." She humbly answered.

"Then I trust you know what to do, my loyal spy." The Dark Dragon commented.

"Yes, Master." She maliciously answered.

When she returned to watch the second test, she found out the African Dragon decided to pick brownies as Jake's opponents. The American Dragon eventually decided to use his fire-breathing on some dirt to make glitter that distracted the brownies, allowing him to win.

As the dragon in charge of managing the test of Courage in Flight, Councillor Chang told Jake the test was about an air race where Jake and a dragon of his choice must race through a course of her choice. "American Dragon, if you win, you pass my test. If your adversary wins, you fail." She explained. "Even if you have somehow passed the other two tests and therefor don't need to pass this one, I hope you take my test seriously."

"Yes, Councillor." Jake humbly obeyed.

"Good." She replied. "Now pick your opponent.

"I choose Fred Nerk." Jake said without hesitation.

During the race, Fred took the advantage but Jake managed to stay close. The race was interrupted when a shadow grabbed the Australian Dragon. After Fred Nerk was taken to a cave, Jake followed him and found the Dark Dragon. "Welcome, American Dragon." The Dark Dragon said.

"What do you want, Dork Dragon?" Jake defiantly asked.

"I want you to be my apprentice." The Dark Dragon answered. "We can take over the humanity so magical creatures will no longer have to live in hiding."

"And what happens to the humans?" Jake asked.

"They'll be our slaves, assuming we let them live." The Dark Dragon remorselessly answered.

"No way!" Jake replied. "My father's side of the family is human."

"You don't need them." He said. "The Dragons are the superior species."

Not wanting to join the world's only evil dragon, Jake fought him and not only rescued Fred Nerk but also took a nail from the Dark Dragon as a souvenir. Jake and Fred resumed their racing and the Australian Dragon won the race. "Good work, Dragon Nerk." The Dragon of Asia commented.

Jake then approached her and handed her the Dark Dragon's lost nail. "The Dark Dragon is back and tried to make me join him, Councillor." Jake explained.

"But the American Dragon refused and then he rescued me." Fred Nerk added.

All dragons there were horrified that the Dark Dragon was back. "Either way, American Dragon, you failed my test as I expected."

"But he still passed the other two and that's enough for him to keep his grandfather as his dragon master." The African Dragon stated.

After that, Jake said his goodbyes to Fred Nerk. "You're not that bad for a loaded brat, mate." The Australian Dragon commented and then hugged Jake. "Goodbye."

"Nice try, Nerk." Jake maliciously as he removed something from his back pocket, tossed it aside and it harmlessly exploded sideways.

"Smarter than I thought, mate." Fred commented and then something on his back pocket exploded.

"You said it, 'mate'." Jake replied with a smile and left.

Back at Canal Street Electronics, Jake, Lao Shi and Fu were telling the other Longs about their adventure via magic mirror. "So, is everything okay now?" Jonathan asked.

"Almost everything." Lao Shi sadly answered. "I don't believe it was a mere coincidence that the Dark Dragon showed up during Jake's tests. I believe there's a dark spy within the Order of the Dragon."

"Aw, man." Jake moaned.

End chapter.