Chapter 5 – Identity Revealed
"Thought you missed us?" jeered Ciara as she brought the battleship closer to the stadium.
The announcer stood in shock as he held onto his microphone very tightly. "What is the meaning of all this?" he managed to ask.
"It looks like those three are out to stir up trouble," grumbled the Mystic Flame.
Jakkin scowled. "Oh, we know those dirtbags," he said with discontent. "They're the Pyre Squad, and they belong to a gang of dragons who call themselves the Obsidian Devourers."
"So noteworthy of you to introduce us to the people and tell them what we're all about," said Scorcher.
"Now we're going to show you what we do best!" declared Ciara.
"And that of course, is evildoing!" cackled Cronk as he pushed a button on a remote he was holding. In response, two slots on the battleship's underside opened, and a pair of arms emerged from within. The two arms reached down and grabbed the China Martial Arts Tournament Champion Belt from a velvet cushion where it rested.
"What are you guys doing?!" exclaimed the announcer. "You're ruining the tournament!"
"That's the idea, you chump!" mocked Ciara as she clutched the belt. "We're going to take this champion belt and sell it for millions!"
"But before we go, we must end their tournament with a blast!" laughed Scorcher.
The Pyre Squad aimed the battleship's laser cannon and started firing away all over the stadium. Everyone started panicking and ran all over the place, trying to avoid getting hit. Cynder and her friends remained calm as they make their plan to stop the terrible trio.
"This is outright disgraceful!" said Percival angrily.
"I know! We got to do something!" exclaimed Tails.
"Draco, you and Lily stay with Darky!" shouted Cynder. "Percival and I will take care of the Pyre Squad!"
"Alright, but be careful," warned Draco.
"Come on!" urged Cynder as she and Percival flew straight to the battleship. They tried their hardest to put a dent on the ship, but found that it was very durable to their wing and tail blows.
"Ha! You really think you can deal damage to this cruiser's metal! It's highly resistant!" laughed Ciara.
"Don't think your Alpha form can help too, Cynder," taunted Scorcher. "We've made sure it can sustain damage you would dish out in that form."
The Pyre Squad laughed cruelly, but not for long when Torden made a bull charge at the battleship's hull, causing it to tilt to the side.
"Good going, Torden!" cheered Percival. "You stopped them!"
Torden could only stick his tongue out with pride, but just when it seemed as if they had won, the battleship regains itself showing no signs of damage.
"B-but, but that's impossible!" he spluttered with shock.
"Nice try, fool!" sniggered Cronk. "But not even you can help out your pathetic friends."
"Uh-oh," said Percival. "This can't be good."
The battleship's arms reached out and knocked Torden, then Percival, and finally Cynder, sending them down to the stadium below. Just in the nick of time, Draco and Lily flew to the rescue as they caught the three dragons by their paws. As they recovered, Cynder, Torden, and Percival were able to fly again.
Cynder sighed with relief. "Draco! Lily! Thanks for saving us!"
"It was a pleasure!" exclaimed Lily happily.
"Let's get back down," said Draco. "It seems we're out of options on stopping the Pyre Squad."
"I know," said Cynder sadly. "We really tried…"
The Pyre Squad looked down on the crowd, now at their mercy. "So, any last words before we blow you to kingdom come?"
"As a matter of fact, we do!" said a voice all of a sudden.
Confused, the Pyre Squad scanned around the sky, trying to figure out where the voice came from. It was then when two glowing figures floated upwards facing them. It was Jakkin and the Mystic Flame in their powered forms, and they looked displeased with the trio.
"You have really crossed the line this time," growled Jakkin. "Now get ready for some pain!"
"Oh, really?" sneered Ciara. "Do you think you can beat us when we Cynder's Alpha form won't be able to do damage to us?"
"Don't forget I'm in this, too!" declared the Mystic Flame.
"Who are you, insect?" asked Scorcher.
"Doesn't matter, let's waste these two before we get out of here," said Cronk. "They'll be a piece of cake."
The Pyre Squad fired their shots at Jakkin and the Mystic Flame, only to find that they barely left any burns on them due to the energy shields protecting them.
"Now, show these goons what you're made of!" cried the Mystic Flame.
"You got it!" nodded Jakkin, and he unleashed a barrage of sandstone shards which rip and tore through the stunned Pyre Squad and tarnished their battleship. He then slowly readies himself for a charge attack. The Mystic Flame joined in too. The Pyre Squad were frozen with horror as they watched them glow brightly right before their eyes. At last, Jakkin and the Mystic Flame charged and rammed through the battleship. The cruiser sputtered as electric sparks circled around it, and then it exploded, propelling the Pyre Squad across the horizon.
The crowd ducked and covered as debris fell all over the stadium. The announcer managed to grab the Champion belt when he saw it falling through the debris. Fortunately, it was not dented at the slightest. He then looked up at the sky, hoping to find Jakkin and the Mystic Flame. In an instant, Jakkin landed on the ring, battered but not downed, and in his normal state.
"Jakkin!" called the announcer. "You're alright, but what about…?"
"Don't worry," assured Jakkin. "I got the Mystic Flame. He's safe in my paws."
The announcer wept his brow, relieved that both fighters are okay. Jakkin checked on the Mystic Flame. "Mystic Flame, you're not hurt, are you?"
But Jakkin became surprised when he noticed that the Mystic Flame's mask was gone, disintegrated from the explosion. He saw a familiar face where the mask used to be, that of a cat with purple hair, amber eyes, eyelashes, and a bindi on the forehead, including streams of hair that stretched down with violet tips.
The Mystic Flame was Blaze the Cat.
"I don't believe my eyes!" exclaimed the announcer. "The Mystic Flame's true self has been revealed!"
The crowd was astonished, including Draco, Darky, Lily, and Percival. Cynder and Tails were the only ones who were not surprised.
"I had a feeling that the Mystic Flame was nothing more but a disguise," said Cynder.
"That's my Blaze!" smiled Tails. "She sure loves to impersonate as a man on every occasion, and this wasn't the first time she has done that."
"Blaze?" asked Jakkin doubtfully. "You're the Mystic Flame?"
"You have guessed correctly, Jakkin," replied Blaze. "And I want to thank you for breaking my fall after we have destroyed the Pyre Squad's battlecruiser."
"Um, excuse me, miss," the announcer stepped in. "We could get you a replacement mask, if you feel like you can't fight."
"No, that will not be necessary," said Blaze as she returned to her starting position. "Now is the time to continue the match."
"Um, if you say so," replied the announcer as the stepped down the ring. He then turned to the audience and regained himself. "Ladies and gentleman," he shouted suddenly. "The match between Jakkin and the Mystic Flame has been resumed!"
The crowd cheered wildly and loudly as the two fighters stared at each other.
"Okay, Jakkin," said Blaze. "I am going to test you to see if your worthy of becoming the Champion of this tournament!"
Jakkin smiled confidently. "I am ready whenever you are, Blaze!" he called. "I will win this match for sure!"
"We shall she," replied Blaze. "Do your best!"
"You're on!"
Author's Note: So the secret to the Mystic Flame has been revealed! He, or should I say she, is Blaze the Cat! Who will be the victor and Champion of the tournament? You decide!