I'd be lying if I said the training wasn't difficult. At some points I could barely keep from collapsing. But with Quiksilva at my side I knew I had to keep fighting and when Armeggaddon stopped using Mag Claw against me I managed to stay upright, panting heavily.
"Impressive, Light Booster. You might actually have a chance against the Shadow Booster." He spoke as Quiksilva stood at my side, letting me lean against him. "Maybe one day anyway."
"If I learned Mag Claw you promised to tell me more about what happened to Bianca." I asked as Armeggaddon stared at me. "You promised me." I added immediately cringing when I noticed just how whiny that sounded. Apparently Armeggaddon thought so too as he gave me a chuckle.
"I believe that was the agreement. Very well, Bianca was the original Light Booster and she worked alongside the other five boosters to keep the peace between the great dragon empires three thousand years ago." Armeggaddon explained as I struggled to stay upright and seeing my discomfort he shook his head. "This will take a long time to explain and clearly you won't be able to stay standing." He pointed out and I went to shake my head until Quiksilva gently nudged me and I almost fell. Silently I sat beside my dragon giving him an eye narrow and he snorted. "You have a link to Bianca, do you not?"
"How did you know that?" I asked and he gave me a cold smile, waving his hand like it didn't matter.
"She was a strong booster but not strong enough to prevent a dragon-human war. When the time came to fight alongside their allies in the other dragonium empires, Bianca was nowhere to be found. I searched for hours to find her only to discover her dragon lying dead and Bianca dying, the Shadow Booster and my student standing over her. He was covered in her blood and as I watched he knelt before her, reaching across to her neck. I tried to reach her in time but I was too late. My student murdered his lover then turned on me, using all the skills I taught him along with one of my dragons, the one he stole from me, to trap me in the Shadow Track." Armeggaddon finished as Quiksilva lay beside me, his head resting on my lap.
"Wait, he stole your dragon and murdered Bianca? But in my visions..." I started to say until Armeggaddon stared at me and I winced.
"She was dying. Your rest is over." He growled and I climbed to my feet knowing it was useless to argue with him. We spent the next two hours sparing though it felt more like real fighting since he never let up until I was knocked to the ground, trying to breathe after he slammed a Mag Blast into my chest. "Get up, no resting." He ordered and I tried to stand only to stumble onto my knees and he shook his head, turning his back on me before he walked away. Not too shocked by his coldness I still felt ashamed at my own weakness, fighting to stop my tears from showing.
He's a bully, Quiksilva spoke into my head as he gently nuzzled my legs and I sniffed. This isn't training its torture. Come on, let's get you something to eat before you pass out he said as he magged me.
Once on his back I wrapped both arms around his neck and once I was settled he took off towards the city, not even noticing Armeggaddon watching us from a distance.
It only took a few minutes to reach the city thanks to Quiksilva's speed and as he slowed I almost fell off, my body badly shaking.
Be careful, he said as he watched me climb off and when I stumbled he nudged me against his side. What did he do to you, he asked as I leant against him and I shook my head. Rayne you can't keep up this pace for much longer or you'll burn yourself out.
"I know but what choice do I have? He just abandoned me and I'm never going back." I replied and he rolled his eyes. "You saw the way he acted when I insulted his precious father. Did he forget Word's the reason that we're on the brink of an all out war?"
You're sounding like Armeggaddon, Quiksilva muttered and I snorted folding my arms against my chest. I know he's lying to you...for all we know he's the one who started the dragon-human war.
"And how would you know that? Besides he's the one training me in the ancient mag techniques and I don't see anyone else willing to train me." I answered as I let out a yawn. "Look can we just find somewhere to rest? I'm about ready to drop."
You look like you're about to...Quiksilva began just as I shivered. Concerned he stared at me, amber eyes staring into mine just as I mumbled something.
"Feel...weird." I gasped as my legs finally gave out and I landed on the floor. Shocked, Quiksilva nudged my head and getting no response he tried again and I groaned this time.
Why didn't you tell me that you weren't well? Quiksilva growled, getting ready to mag me before he paused and let out a growl. Won't help if you fall off my back so what do I do?
"Quiksilva?" A voice asked and my dragon turned his head only for a familar face to appear beside him with his dragon. "Rayne?!"
Hours later...
"Hello, Rayne?" A voice said and getting a groan instead he sighed. "What do you think happened to her?"
"Like I know, Cain." A second voice answered as he sat beside me on the bed, looking at my medallion. "Look just make yourself useful and check on Quiksilva." He added and Cain rolled his eyes as he walked towards the bedroom door. The moment his friend left Moordryd reached for my medallion, carefully pulling it from the gauntlet. As my armor vanished he thought he heard a gasp emerge from my throat. "Rayne?" He whispered as he leant close to my head just as my eyes opened.
"Hmm...what...Paynn!" I growled, slamming him into the nearest wall with a Mag Blast. "Get...away from...me." I sat up so fast I fell to my side, panting as Moordryd climbed to his feet. Ignoring the pain in his back he walked towards me and I growled again, trying to right myself.
"For dragon's sake calm down!" Moordryd yelled as my hand glowed and I growled, unleashing another Mag Blast at his chest. This time he dodged it, surprised as it left a burn mark on the far wall. I continued to glare at him for a full minute before my eyes rolled up into my head. "Scales. Rayne, hey Rayne!" He shouted as he rushed over to my side only to find me out cold again.
"She's back? What happened to her?" Artha asked as he sat on Beau's back, watching as Moordryd stared ahead. "Hey, Paynn."
"How should I know?" Moordryd growled as Decepshun snorted. "Look we found her lying next to her dragon. I bet Armeggaddon had something to do with this."
"Why do you think he did?" Artha asked, getting a glare in reponse. "I was just asking."
"I don't know how but I just do, okay? Now shut up and let me concentrate on winning this race." Moordryd muttered as he turned back to the racetrack, ignoring Artha's eyeroll.
As the start of the race was announced I groaned, tangled up in the bankets that someone had covered me with. Tossing and turning I shuddered as someone spoke into my head.
"You are a disgrace. You call yourself a chosen booster and yet you failed even to subdue Moordryd? Pathetic." Armeggaddon growled as he grabbed me by the throat, slamming me into a wall. "You have no right to wear the Light Booster's armor."
"Let...go. I didn't chose...this." I gasped, fighting to release his grip from my throat but he was just too strong and again I gasped as he slammed me hard into the wall. "I tried to..."
"You tried? You are nothing." Armeggaddon growled, chuckling cruelly when he saw tears start to run down my cheeks. "Stop your whimpering."
Rayne, its going to be okay.
"Who?" I mumbled, seeing spots before my eyes and again I heard that voice.
Don't let him turn you...he's lying about me.
"Shadow Booster?" I whispered and that's when something struck Armeggaddon's back. Momentarily distracted he released his grip and I hit the ground struggling to my feet as he whirled around.
I would never have hurt her...
"I...don't believe you. Stop lying." I muttered as the Shadow Booster emerged from the shadows. "Everyone's a liar."
Please he's the one who...
"Rayne? Hey wake up!" Someone shouted and I groaned, eyes slowly opening to find Moordryd sitting beside me.
"Stay away!" I shouted and he flinched as my eyes glowed sliver. "I won't let you murder me like your predisesor did to Bianca."
"Murdered? What are you talking about?" Moordryd replied as he sat back and I glared at him, eyes returning to green again. "Start making sense."
Instead of answering I moved as far away as I could. "If you come any closer I'll..." I started before he pushed my shoulder with an open palm and I hit the wall.
"Rayne, just stop it. I know Armeggaddon trained you like he did to me. Tell me the truth." Moordryd asked as he leant closer and I snapped at him, almost biting his shoulder. "Hey!" He yelled dodging just in time and I growled at him.
"He told me the truth." I muttered as I focused and he let out a yelp as I used a Mag Rip on him. "You and all the other boosters used me and now that I know the truth..." I trailed off as he gasped, the draconium energy drained into me. Before the Mag Rip could fully recharge me something slammed into my chest and I yelped this time, the energy stream interrupted.
"Back away from her, she's nuts." Cain said as Moordryd shook his head, unable to believe that I'd attacked him. Angry I snarled, snapping at him like a furious dragon.
"Rayne, just listen." Moordryd said, his voice low as he leant close but I snapped at him. Trapped against the wall by Green Trapping gear I barely move my head so I narrowed my eyes at them instead. "Armeggaddon tried to get me to turn against my own father."
"He trained you and you betrayed him. I won't do the same." I growled as they stared at me. I struggled against the gear but even with the mag energy I stole from Moordryd I couldn't escape.
"What Mag move was that?" Cain asked as Moordryd sighed, staring as I relaxed.
"Its Mag Rip and only someone trained in the ancient ways can do that. When I became the Shadow Booster, Armeggaddon trained me. He must have trained Rayne as well and fed her a pack of lies." Moordryd answered as I rested my head against the wall, breathing heavily.
"Hmph. You're the failure not me." I whispered, giving him a cold smile. "Once I call Quiksilva he'll rescue me then I'm going back to my master." Using my telephaic link with my dragon I called him. When he ignored me I frowned. "Quiksilva?"
I'm sorry Rayne but your friends are right. Just listen to them, he said.
"Traitor." I whispered, repeating it so my dragon could hear and he sighed into my head. As my anger at being betrayed grew I felt my mag energy surge and just as I tried to unleash it something smacked into my chest and I landed heavily on the bed. Holding his Jakk stick just near my head Moordryd frowned at me, eyes slightly narrowed. "That goes...for you too."
"You're not making this easy." Moordryd muttered as he nudged me with the stick. "Given up? Then maybe you'll listen. I'm impressed and I don't usually say that."
"Huh? Im...pressed?" I mumbled as I went to sit up only to fall backwards. Silently I watched as he sat beside me, setting the Jakk Stick within easy reach.
"Did you go deaf? Not everyone could learn what you did in a few days. How do you learn it?" Moordryd asked as I stared at him. "It took me a few weeks." He added.
"He trained me...in the ancient ways. Fought and...trained beside me." I muttered as I remembered everything he'd put me through and to Moordryd's shock tears welled in my eyes. "Punished me if I failed until I got it right." I whispered as Moordryd reached over and I flinched as he stroked my forehead.
"Did he hurt you?" He asked as he continued to stroke my forehead as I lay beside him, watching as I shivered. "You can tell me."
"If I messed up he used his Mag techniques on me. It...was so painful and I messed up a lot. I got it right though and he told me he was...impressed." I answered as the tears flowed, my mind awake while my body cried out for rest. "It made me proud...to be strong."
"He pushed you too far. Why didn't you run away?" Moordryd asked as I looked up at him, tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
"Because I wanted to be strong and now...I am." I mumbled as my eyes closed and my body relaxed. In seconds my breathing slowed as I finally fell into a restful sleep.
"Why did I let you leave? If I known Armeggaddon would chose you to train I would have stopped you." Moordryd muttered as he stroked my cheek and I sighed, curling into a ball. Leaving me to rest, Moordryd walked towards the stables looking for my dragon.
Rayne? Quiksilva asked as he lifted his head only to see Moordryd standing in the doorway and my dragon growled. You left her, he growled knowing only I could understand him.
"I know I should have gone after her." Moordryd muttered as he walked towards Quiksilva only for the silver and black draconium dragon to turn his back on the rider. "Look I need to know...is she going to be okay?" He asked, feeling a little silly at asking a dragon for advice. After a few seconds Quiksilva turned his head slightly, looking the rider up and down before he slowly shook his head.
Maybe never again, Quiksilva thought as he stared at Moordryd. I should have protected her better.
"Yeah we both messed up, didn't we?" Moordryd said as he leant against the wall, staring down at the floor. "I was just so angry at what Rayne said about my father. But maybe she is right...just don't tell her I said that." He joked as Quiksilva stepped towards him.
Rayne's stronger then you think, my dragon thought as Moordryd gave his snout a pat. But I wish you or Artha Penn had trained her instead. You wouldn't have pushed her past her limit...or made her cry he snorted.
After everything Armeggaddon had put me through, from the training in Mag techniques to the constant sparring I didn't wake up for almost a day. But even then I was pretty out of it, unable to even understand most of what I was being asked.
"Rayne, you need to eat something." Moordryd said as he sat beside me and I blinked at him, not sure what he was talking about. Getting a blank stare he shook his head and turned to Cain. "At least eat a cookie, you'll feel better." He asked as Cain handed his best friend one. Normally it would have vanished in less then a minute and when I didn't immediately snatch it away he frowned.
"That's weird. Usually when you blink its gone." Cain commented as Moordryd gently handed me the cookie and when I spent the next few seconds staring at it he shook his head. "Okay she's acting really weird."
"What...do you want me to do?" I asked and Moordryd resisted the urge to roll his eyes knowing it wouldn't help me. Slowly he told me to eat what I was holding and after giving him a slightly raised eyebrow I did what he said. "Mmm...tastes nice." I muttered with a mouthful of cookie and Cain grinned. Once I finished my cookie Moordryd handed me a cup. Thankfully I understood that it was a drink and I took a sip, expecting water and not a fizzy drink. I coughed and it went down the wrong way.
"I can't take you anywhere." Moordryd muttered as he gave my back a pat and after I finally stopped coughing, my eyes streaming he let out a chuckle. As I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand I growled.
"Not nice...making fun." I mumbled, lying on my side and he grinned. "Go..away, Paynn." I added closing my eyes and pretending that I was asleep. Apparently it worked and I heard footsteps moving away from the bed. I let out a giggle only for someone to lay beside me and I frowned.
"Like that trick worked on me." Moordryd muttered as he wrapped his arms around my waist and I growled, warning him to stay away. "You're still weak and injured." He said only to regret it when I shrugged him off and rolled, now facing him. Before I could even attempt a Mag Blast he grabbed my wrists and I snapped at his face. "What in the Magna Draconius has Armeggaddon done to you?" He asked as I tried to kick him. "For dragon's sake will you keep still?" He grumbled as he pushed me back and pinned me with his body. I made several half-hearted attempts to push him off before I started to pant, exhausted. When I relaxed he released my arms watching me closely.
"Look just leave me alone." I mumbled closing my eyes so he couldn't see me cry. Moordryd didn't move and I snorted at him. "Are you deaf now? I said leave me alone!" The last word I shouted as I threw my weight forward and he yelped as we ended up falling off the bed.