After Parmon lent me several books on the history of the Dragon-Human war that occured 3000 years ago I spent some of my spare time, in between training as the Light Booster and practicing for any dragon races, pouring over them in an empty stable stall. With Quiksilva keeping me company I sat cross-legged on the ground and went over everything I had learnt. At first it wasn't easy since I couldn't read the writing but as I soon discovered each symbol was actually a letter and pretty soon I figured it out. It didn't take me long until I had finished one book and started reading the other and as I did I found out something pretty interesting.
"Hey 'silva this one talks about the Light Booster and the Shadow Booster." I told him and he gave a snort as he wandered over and as I read that page I stopped and my eyes went wide. Curious he watched me reread the same page and when I blushed suddenly he blinked before he nudged me, apparently interested. "Um...this says that originally the Dragon Booster and Shadow Booster were enemies but after the Light Booster intervened during one of their many battles she ended up getting hurt by the Shadow Booster's mag-rip when it hit her instead of the Dragon Booster. For some reason the Shadow Booster helped her recover and as time went on they fell in love and became...okay I really don't believe that. Anyway it goes on to say that when the Light Booster passed away from her injuries in a massive battle the Shadow Booster sided with the Dragon Booster and helped stop the fighting, doing this for the one he loved and lost. That's really sweet...and pretty sad." I finished as I closed the book and rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. "So Bianca died but her spirit lived on within this gauntlet. Wow that's amazing."
"What's amazing?" Artha asked as he stood in the doorway and I grinned as I waved him over. "Did you find out anything?"
"Plenty. The Dragon Booster and Shadow Booster worked together to stop the fighting over 3000 years ago. Plus the Light Booster worked alongside them but she ended up getting badly injured and passed away. But the two boosters fought on and the war ended." I explained as I set down the book and that's when he noticed that my cheeks were red.
"Um why are you blushing?" Artha asked me and I shrugged as I tried to change the subject. But he knew something was up and he kept bugging me for an answer. "Come on I can keep a secret." He told me and I raised an eyebrow not very convinced by that but eventually I caved.
"Well the book says that the Light Booster and the Shadow Booster were a couple." I told him and he grinned as he processed that piece of info.
"So does that mean that you and the Shadow Booster are too?" Artha teased and I growled at him turning away as he laughed at me. I was so annoyed by his teasing that I tired to stand and my leg gave way causing me to fall on my rear with a pained yelp. "I was just kidding." He said as he went to help me and I accepted his help despite being embaressed at being so helpless.
"Whatever." I replied now sitting on the blanket again. "So when's your next race anyway? I've spent so much time asleep or out cold that I've lost track of time." At that Quiksilva chuckled and I rolled my eyes at him as he wandered over and nuzzled me, earning a pat on his snout for keeping me company while I healed. As Artha explained that he had another race in two days I was feeling pretty good until I remembered that I wasn't able to race for a while because of my injury and seeing me frown Artha stopped and gave me a pat on the shoulder.
"What's scraping your scales?" He asked and as I sighed I pointed out that I wasn't going to be racing any time soon and he raised an eyebrow at me. "Its not that bad. Anyway you can still...um...hmmm." He muttered as he tried to think up some way of me helping myself or anyone but he couldn't think of anything and my bottom lip quivered. "You're not going to start crying are you?" He asked and I turned my head slightly miserable.
"What did the stable brat do this time?" A male voice asked and as I turned my head I almost grinned until I realized that it was Moordryd and not the Shadow Booster and instantly he noticed that I was glaring at him. "And there she goes again." He muttered crossing his arms against his chest and leaning against the doorway.
"You know that stable brat thing's really scraping my scales." Artha growled and Moordryd just shrugged at him. "Anyway what are you doing here anyway? This is the Penn Stables and not the Dragon Eyes compound in case your eyes are getting bad. Paynn in the rear." He added as he stood up and as Moordryd stormed over I just knew that a fight would break out if I didn't stop it. So I stood which I immediately regretted as I wobbled in place before I fell but Quiksilva rushed forward and managed to catch me using his snout. Seeing me in pain both my friends forgot about their fight for a moment as they hurried over to help me, only to glare at each other and before they could attack each other Quiksilva growled a warning at them and they stopped.
"That's better." I groaned as Quiksilva gently lowered his snout and as I sat a little heavily I let out a breath. "Now could you two take it outside? I'm trying to rest here." I growled and before my eyes both guys looked away looking a little guilty.
"I have to check on Beau but I'll be right back." Artha said as he walked away though he did shoot Moordryd a warning glare before he walked through the doorway of the stable. As soon as Artha was out of earshot Moordryd muttered something about stable brats before he finally noticed that I was still glaring at him, my arms now crossed against my chest and he raised an eyebrow.
"And what's the look for?" He asked a slight smirk appearing on his face as he strolled over to me and before I could stop him he sat beside me and I shifted over, turning my head so I wasn't facing him. "So now you're giving me the cold shoulder?" He said and I snorted as Quiksilva looked on with an amused smile. "Fine then I guess you won't mind if..." He said as he set a hand on my hand and I frowned at him before his fingers moved up my arm. "I do..." He muttered as his hand reached my shoulder and before I could react he pulled me forward and as he kissed me I started to kiss him back only to realize that this was the guy who kept breaking my heart and with a growl I shoved him. Sprawling on his back he blinked up at me as I glared at him, furious that he'd kissed me after everything he'd put me through. "Heh fiesty." He grinned as he sat up and when I kept glaring willing myself not to punch him in the face he rolled his eyes at me.
"How dare you!" I shouted not caring if anyone heard me. "You keep hurting me then you think you can just walz in here and kiss me? Leave me alone, Paynn." I growled and to my shock, and Quiksilva's, Moordryd laughed. Speechless I sat there and once he stopped Moordryd stood up and as I watched he held out his arm and I saw the gauntlet. "Wait a minute you have a gauntlet so that means..." Before I could finish he grinned and as he slipped an eye-shaped medallion into it he spoke.
"Unleash the shadows." He growled and as I watched his racing clothes changed and in seconds I found myself staring at the Shadow Booster. "So now you know. The one you've been crushing on has been me this whole time. What do you think of me now?" He asked but I didn't know what to say and as I sat there I heard Artha's voice. Looking towards the doorway all three of us saw him rush in and stop suddenly as he saw the Shadow Booster.
"Moordryd what are you doing?" He asked and my eyes went wide as I realized that he knew Moordryd's secret identity. "Oh scales." He muttered as I climbed to my feet and as everyone watched I gritted my teeth, my leg throbbing but I ignored it as I gathered my thoughts.
"How could you?!" I yelled at them and as they both cringed Quiksilva hurried to my side, helping me stay upright by standing against my side. Wrapping my arm around his neck I gave him a whispered thank you. "You used me," I growled at Moordryd who had the decency to look a little guilty "and you knew this whole time who he really was and you didn't tell me?" I told Artha who couldn't look me in the face. "You both pretended to be my friends and after everything I've been through you were just using me." I whispered and as I started to walk, holding tightly to my dragon, Moordryd went to step forward and I gave him the coldess glare I could managed."Stay away from me. Both of you stay as far away from me as possible. I never want to see you two again." I muttered as tears started to stream down my face and as I limped past I didn't even look at them.
Once we were outside Quiksilva looked at me, silently asking where to go, and I gave him a tired smile as Moordryd and Artha rushed out. "This is all you wanted from me so take it!" I shouted as I ripped off the gauntlet and medallion before I threw it to the ground right in front of Moordryd before Quiksilva magged me. Now holding tightly to his neck and trying to ignore the sharp pains radiating up and down my leg I asked him to get as far away from the stables as possible. Quiksilva knew it wasn't smart to leave when I was injured or to leave my gauntlet behind but as I began to cry he snort and took off, leaving Moordryd to change back to himself and as Artha watched he bent down and silently picked up my gauntlet and medallion.
"Scales what have I done?" Moordryd muttered as he watched me leave.