(Hi guys, welcome back to another installment. I noticed some were curious about how I've been focusing on Dustin as of late and not Negi, well let me tell you this part's about Dustin now that the girls and Negi are on his home turf. Nevertheless I'm not going to be excluding Negi out of the action that will be soon to come. Sit back and enjoy.)
Last time, Dustin, Negi, and the girls had toured through New York seeing the sights, meeting up with old friends, and seeing some unwanted people. What new events will befall them now? Nobody knows.
Later the group was outside a small café having a drink, "So then I fired the Spirit force full blast! It launched Alistair far off into the sky, but the folk never found him even though they were on his trail." Dustin explained to his friends.
"Man, you got to have all the action." Elroy sighed.
"Believe me, less action is better." Negi said.
"You don't have to be modest Negi; after all you did a lot of impressive fighting in Kyoto as well." Kaede replied.
"Maybe, but I was barely ready for it." Negi replied.
"Yes we pulled it off like the duo we are!" Dustin chuckled as the two slapped some skin.
"What're you guys muttering about?" Asuna asked while she and the regular girls were sitting at another table.
"Guy stuff!" Negi replied and the girls giggled.
Watching from above them on the café roof was Felix who smirked, "Perfect, if I can take out Dustin right away I'll have one less problem." He opened his jacket revealing a few pockets containing vials of liquids. He took one containing a purple liquid, "A little of this and he will be easy pickings and rendered helpless." He lightly poured it as it dripped landing in Dustin's drink without anyone noticing.
"Well after we finish this, we'll go and check out some of my other fave spots," Dustin said as he downed the remains of his drink and gagged, "Jeez did this go sour already?"
"Strange mine feels alright." Negi said.
"Oh well, pardon me while I visit the John," Dustin joked as he went to the café's bathroom. After washing his hands he let Domino out of his coat and they were ready to go until Dustin clutched his stomach, "Oh man! Something doesn't quite agree with me!"
"Deep breaths man, deep breaths." Domino told him until Dustin kept groaning until he ran to the sink coughing up saliva until he looked at his arm seeing fur was starting to grow.
"Oh God, what's happening to me?!" Dustin cried as he ran into the stall and cried which soon faded into a moaning sound.
"Uh, Dustin you ok?" Domino asked but to his shock coming out from the bottom of the stall was not Dustin but a small white dog with black ears and a single black spot on his back.
"Domino did I get shorter?" Dustin asked.
"I don't think the height should be the most of your worries." The crow answered.
"What do you mean?" Dustin asked until he looked at his reflection in a metal trash receptacle and gasped, "OH MY GOD, I'M SNOOPY!"
"Well technically you'd be a beagle." Domino corrected him.
"I don't care what I am, all I want to know is how I came to be this?!" Dustin barked.
"Hey what's that sound?" a voice asked as the door opened revealing a guy who noticed them, "Hey, how'd you get in here?" he asked the dog and crow.
"Sir you gotta believe me, I'm not really a dog!" Dustin spoke but all the guy could hear were barks.
"Get out of here! Go!" he shooed them as the two bolted out and were chased off from the café.
"I don't get it, what happened back there?" Dustin asked.
"I guess nobody can hear your voice." Domino said.
"Then how come you can?"
"I'm an animal Einstein!"
"Right. I just don't see how this happened to me."
"Ok retrace your steps, what's the last thing you remember doing?"
"Simple I was having my drink and I… Wait a minute, somehting must've been in my drink!"
"What could it have been?" the bird asked.
Dustin's dog eyes widened, "Animal formula! I thought that taste felt familiar."
"Animal formula?" Domino asked.
"Yeah we learned about it in one of our classes. A potion that can turn one into an animal that has the specific animals hair brewed into it. And the only way I know is to brew another potion to reverse it, but brewing the antidote takes a week! And I can't wait that long!"
"Calm down Dustin, let's get back to the girls and I'll explain it to them." Domino said.
"What will our non-pactio partners say if they see me like this?"
"We'll worry about that later, come on!" Domino said as they were about to go around back to the front of the café until Dustin looked and saw an alley cat walking.
"Whoa, a cat… What's going on?" he started shaking, "Can't resist temptation!" he started barking and chased after the screeching cat.
"DUSTIN!" Domino cawed as he flew after his partner.
Meanwhile the girls were waiting, "Man, what is taking Dustin so long?" Asuna asked.
"Hey when the guy has to go, he has to go." Jethro joked.
"Well could you guys tell him to be out soon?" Mana asked.
"Right away," Elroy and Jethro saluted as the two and Negi went to the bathroom, "Dustin?" Elroy asked.
"Dustin, you in here?" Jethro called.
"Dustin, please don't fool around." Negi sighed.
"Guys I don't think he's in there." Elroy said noticing no legs showing in any of the stalls.
"Well then where'd he go?" Jethro asked.
"This is bad." Chamo said.
"You don't think something happened to him did you?" Negi asked.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Elroy said as the three went back to the girls.
"Well?" Mana asked.
"You're probably going to freak out when we tell you this, so brace yourselves." Jethro said.
"Dustin's gone." Elroy said.
The girls shot up from their seats gasping, "What do you mean gone?" Zyphon asked.
"Gone as in 'not there'." Elroy said.
"What happened to him?" Alice gasped.
"I knew it, that brat left us hanging!" Asuna called.
Alicia frowned, "Shows how little you know stupid girl."
"What was that?" Asuna growled.
"We know Dustin more than any of you, and know he wouldn't just up and leave us. That's not his style." The broody twin explained.
"Kay, so then where'd he go?" Haruna asked.
"I don't know, but he'll find his way back to us I'm sure." Alicia said.
Chao turned to Zyphon, "Can't you hone in on him with your radar?"
"I'm trying but his uh… code isn't coming up."
"Indeed my radar isn't picking up anything of Dustin-sensei either." Chachamaru added.
"Then we should search all over." Kazumi suggested.
"I'm with you, let's go." Negi said as they left the café while Rin reached into her pockets pulling out Mini-Toothless.
"Boy, find Dustin and Domino."
"I'm on it." Toothless took off.
Back with the dog and bird, Dustin had finally given up chasing the cat and saw they were in some alleyway.
"Ok where are we?" Domino asked.
"I don't know, I haven't been paying attention to where I was running." Dustin admitted.
"Well that's terrific." Domino sighed.
Felix had been following them while hiding behind a pole smirked, "Yes, now that he's separated from Negi and all his partners, and his spirit energy being useless as a dog, he's right for me to eliminate. He focused dark energy into his finger and aimed it right at Dustin, "Shadow gun."
The blast was fired and almost nailed Dustin had he not moved aside. When he as Domino saw that attack almost nailed him Dustin barked, "Look out! We're under attack!" he took off running with Domino flying after him.
"Oh no ya don't!" Felix said as he got down on all fours like a fox and chased after them.
As Dustin ran he spoke to Domino, "That was a shadow gun blast, which means some dark warrior or such is the one responsible for slipping me that potion!"
"Worry about that later, just keep running! In that form you're unable to perform your spirit attacks or even fly for that matter!"
"Oh where are the guys when I need them?!" Dustin cried as he continued to run with Felix coming after him.
"Run-run as fast as you can, you can't outrun me I'm Felix Fox the dark warrior man!" he said to himself.
Dustin seeing numerous garbage cans ran to them and knocked them down with garbage spilling out.
"What're you doing?" Domino cawed.
"Buying myself time!" he replied as he knocked over more garbage cans as he ran.
Felix then saw the garbage and ended up slipping on the greasy stuff before sliding into a pile of junk. He groaned while getting up and looked around, "Dammit! I lost him! No matter, I'll find him again eventually."
Meanwhile, Negi and the others were looking around New York trying to find Dustin, but saw no sign of him, "He's not around Central park either." Negi said.
"And I've been trying to call his cellphons but it says no service." Konoka added.
"He's a big boy, he can take care of himself." Elroy said.
"Right, Dustin's a fighter." Alice agreed.
Mana whispered to her fellow spirit warrior pactio teammates, "You've also noticed Domino was with him as well?"
"Yeah, if he were here he'd be able to find him for sure." Yuna added.
"Don't worry I got Toothless flying around to see if he can see him." Rin assured them.
Up above Toothless was flying around trying to spot any sign of Dustin or Domino, "Man they could be anywhere, and I've been covering over half of the city so far." He sighed until he ended up flying into a flock of birds that were pecking around him.
"Hey get off me, beat it you buzzards!" he was firing lightning around to scare them off, "I hate being this micro size." He grumbled.
Back with Dustin he and Domino managed to escape whatever was chasing them and found themselves around a suburban area of the city.
"Glad we finally escaped what was shooting at me." Dustin panted like a dog.
"Yeah, but now we're more lost than before." Domino replied.
"I'll find my way back somehow, I know I'll sniff them out like the dog I am… Um after I take a leak."
"I do not need to see you do that." Domino covered his eyes with his wing as Dustin went behind a tree.
"Oh that's the ticket!" Dustin sighed in relief and came back out from behind the tree, "And you know the beauty of this is? I don't have to wash my paws."
"Disturbing." Domino face faulted.
"Sorry, well come on time to see if this nose knows what it knows." Dustin joked as he started sniffing around while following a trail.
"I sure hope you know where you're going." Domino said flying after him.
Dustin followed his nose until it lead him into a backyard, "I think I'm onto something."
"For our sakes you better be." Domino cawed as they looked around.
Dustin then spotted a seven year old little girl playing in some sand, "Hmm, I wonder just how much attention I can get from children."
"Dustin be reasonable about this." Domino warned him.
"Come on maybe I'll get a few pats on the head and see just why dogs love the feeling." Dustin said as he approached with Domino follwing behind.
When they reached the girl she turned around seeing Dog-Dustin present himself to her. Taking Dustin and Domino by surprise the girl grabbed the transformed spirit warrior by the throat holding him up while sporting an overjoyed look on her face. She started cuddling roughly with Dustin while he tried to wiggle free while groaning.
"Hey ma, I found a stray dog! Ma! Oh ma!" the girl called as she carried Dustin off.
Domino sighed, "Somehow I knew something like this was going to happen."
Later Dustin was tied to a fence by a thick rope wrapped around his neck, "Why did I ever think trying to befriend a child was a good idea?" he asked himself as Domino flew over, "Domino, get me out of this."
"Normally I would say I told you so, but we have other matters to deal with." Domino said as he tried picking at the rope in hopes of making it come undone.
But much too soon Domino was caught in a butterfly net courtesy of the girl, "Boy, I found a lost bird," she said proudfully and ran to her house, "Hey ma! I found a lost bird! Ma!" she entered her house, "I got a bird ma! To add to my collection ma. A dog and a bird."
Outside Dustin sighed, "It's gonna be harder for us to get out of here now."
Inside the girls bedroom Domino was locked in a birdcage much to his own dismay, 'This is so humiliating.' He thought.
The girl spoke to herself, "This is great, I have two pets. Hey ma, I have two pets! A sheepdog and a parrot!"
'Parrot? This girl seriously does not know her animals.' Domino thought feeling more embarassed by the minute.
"Hey ma! Can I keep them ma?!"
'She seriously likes to call out to her mother a lot.' Domino thought as he sulked on his bird perch.
Back outside Dustin sat like Snoopy until he saw the girl run up to him, "Hi puppy! My name's Clara. Guess what, mom says I can keep you."
'God no.' Dustin thought.
"Boy, I always wanted a dog," she said while Dustin was trying to scoot away from her until she pulled him back sitting him back down, "I think I'll give you a good dog name."
"Oh somebody just kill me now." Dustin said while Clara only heard barks coming out of his mouth.
"Rex?" she asked herself, "Hey how about Rex?" she asked Dustin who responded with a gagging sound. "Here Rex, here Rex, here!" she motioned for him to come while making a few kissy noises until finally she grabbed Dustin by the two front paws and shook him around while singing horribly with a lot of rhyming in it and danced around stupidly. She dropped Dustin down who looked dizzy from all the shakings he received do to her.
She picked him up against squeezing the daylights out of him while the rope connected to him was being over tugged. She let go and the rope pulled Dustin back so fast he crashed into the fence while Clara continued dancing around stupidly and singing about she and Dustin having Fundamental Friend Dependability.
She grabbed him again and spun him around sending him crashing back into the fence yet again, 'This is killing me., He thought. She struck a pose while Dustin contiued to think, 'Whoever taugh this girl to sing ought to be dragged out into the streets to get shot.'
Clara once again called to Dustin, "Here, Rex! Here, Rex! Here!" she untied the rope from the fence and started tugging on it while it dragged Dustin by the throat practically choking him, "Heel, Rex! Heel! Heel, Rex! Heel!" she dragged him inside the house and into her bathroom.
"First thing to do with you, Rex, is to bathe you."
'Bathe me?' Dustin thought in shock.
"I hope you like baths, 'cause my doggy has to be real clean. Okay, Rex?" she asked as she untied the rope around Dustin's neck, "Okay! In you go, Rex!" she dunked Dustin in the bathtub filled with water and started washing him with suds getting all over as he struggled.
"Oh God get off me! The girls never washed me this hard when I was human!" he called while Clara continued to sing while washing him by dunking him in and out almost like she was trying to drown him.
Dustin getting aggitated by her singing and forceful bathing started lashing about as Clara struggled to keep him under control, "Down, Rex! Heel, Rex! Heel!"
"I can't take this anymore!" Dustin jumped out of the tub and ran around in a circle with Clara chasing him, "Rex, Rex! You naughty dog! Rex! Down boy! Bad dog! Heel, Rex. Heel." Dustin seeing the door shut couldn't escape and jumped back into the tub where Clara started molding the suds in Dustin's head into weird clown like hair styles.
"I'm glad you like baths, Rex." She said.
"Not from you I don't." he grumbled.
She pulled him out of the tub and dried him off, "I want you to be real clean so we can play dress-up."
'I have never been bathed that roughly in my life.' Dustin thought feeling traumatized.
Clara then brought Dustin into her room where Domino noticed him, "What happened?" he cawed in his bird language.
"Don't ask." Dustin barked as Clara ordered him.
"Down, Rex. Down, boy," Dustin sighed as he did so while frowning, "Stay, Rex. Stay. I'm gonna close the door so you won't run away. Then we'll play dress up. Okay?" she smiled while closing the door and walked away.
"Rex?" Domino cawed.
"Yes I know, how demaning." Dustin sighed.
"When are we going to get out of here?" Domino asked.
"As soon as I formulate a plan." Dustin answered.
Clara came back holding some stuff dropping it in front of Dustin, "I always wanted a sheepdog. You stick with me, Rex." She made him stand up and slipped a purple dress on him and put a blue hat on his head while continuing her annoying song.
She sat him on a stool and set up a small table while he crossed his arms clearly not enjoying this. Suddenly Clara was dressed in a long green dress and white apron while dancing from left to right holding a tray of tea still singing. She placed the tray on the table and started pouring the tea, but was so caught up in singing she didn't concentrate on how much she poured into the cup. Some of it spilled out and got on the dress Dustin was forced to wear.
"Hey watch where you're pouring!" Dustin barked in dog language.
Clara noticed the stain frowned at him, "You naughty dog. You got your dress dirty."
"Me? You're the one that wouldn't stop pouring!" Dustin barked.
"I'll have to spank you!"
"What?!" Dustin barked and was suddenly grabbed by Clara who started spanking hm while Dustin cried, "Hey! Let go! Unhand me you coward! OK THAT'S IT!" he struggled to break free.
"DOWN BOY, DOWN!" Clara ordered until he broke free, got out of the dress, and ran to the door banging on it and pulled on the doorknob wanting to get out, "Here Rex! Down Rex! Bad dog! Bad dog! Come back, Rex! Here boy!" Dustin then went to the phone in her room.
"I don't care if Negi and the girls can't hear me, I just have to try," He picked up the phone and dialed. He listened for the dial tone until he heard a click, "Uh-oh." He said noticing Clara ended the call, took the phone putting it back on the receiver and grabbed Dustin by the ear dragging him off.
"Hey, let go of my ear you jerk!" Dustin ordered but only came out as yelps.
Domino watched as Dustin was dragged out of the room, "Oh that poor soul."
Later on Dustin was once again tied to the fence with the thick rope looking disturbed, "If I have to continue putting up with that brats constant singing and tortures I will bite her! Great now I'm starting to think like a dog." He then noticed Clara come back with a scowl on her face.
"You naughty dog, raising all this commotion." She lectured him.
"Me? You're the one who started it all!" he barked still ignoring the fact she cannot hear him.
Clara continued over Dustin's bark, "Mom says if I'm going to keep you I gotta take you to the vet for a checkup."
"What?" Dustin barked.
Clara untied the rope, "You probaby need about a dozen shots."
"Shots?!" Dustin yelped.
"And while I'm at it, I can get you fixed." She added.
"For the love of God not my jewels!" Dustin cried and started gagging when Clara once again tugged the rope as he was dragged by his throat. Soon enough he managed to get on his feet and walked behind her with a frown.
"I'll walk you to the vet, that will be great hey Rex?" she asked and tugged a bit, "Heel Rex, heal!" Dustin continued following from behind frowning with rage while Clara remained unaware and turned back to talk to him, "I'm sure glad I found you."
"Found me? You captured me!" Dustin barked.
"Mom always said we needed a dog to get rid of our table scraps." Dustin only frowned at that.
Clara continued walking with Dustin behind who thought, 'Ok think Dustin, think. How am I gonna get out of this one? Wait a minute, I've seen vets before, and it's always full of wild animals. So just be what I am right now." He smirked as Clara brought him inside the vet's building.
Sounds of animals barking and hissing were heard inside along with people calling trying to keep their pets under control. Dustin made it outside free from his rope leash, "Finally I'm free. Now I gotta get back and save Domino," He ran back to the house entering through a dog door and made it to Clara's room, "Domino!"
"Dustin, how'd you escape?" Domino cawed.
"No time! I'm busting you out here."
"About time," Domino said as Dustin rammed the birdcage making it fall down. The cage got dented and the bars grew wide enough for Domino to slip out, "Finally I'm free!"
"We're not out of the lions den yet, we gotta get out of here first." Dustin said as they ran out of the room and planned to escape out the front door, but when Dustin looked out he slammed the door shut.
"What's wrong?" Domino asked.
"She's coming back! We gotta go another way." Dustin said as they ran from the front door.
Clara barged in holding a new leash she intended to put on Dustin, "Here Rex! Here Rex! Here!" she went to look for her supposed dog.
Dustin and Domino hid around a corner and could hear footsteps, "Move it Domino!" Dustin said as they started making a run for it around the house.
"Rex! You naughty dog Rex!" Clara called as she continued to pursue the two.
The two ran through a hall with multiple doors on both sides, "Quickly Domino, through that door!" Dustin ordered as he and his partner went into a door on the right side.
Clara tip toed to the door they went through smirking, but when she looked inside she didn't see them. As it turned out the two suddenly peeked out from a door on the left side of the all that was further from the one Clara was looking in. When she noticed the two she ran to the door to catch them and entered it.
Suddenly the three were running into multiple rooms only to come out through different doors ranging from being further from the hall, the middle, or closer. In the middle Dustin and Domino stopped in the middle of the hall when they realized what was happening, "I get the feeling I've seen this somewhere before." Dustin said.
"Yeah, but I can't put my talon on it." Domino said beofre they shrugged it off continuing the chase scene with Clara before all three ended up in the hallway together.
Clara seeing the two chased after them out of the hall, "Up the stairs! Up the stairs!" Dustin barked as he and Domino ran up the stairs with Clara scrambling up the stairs after them. However the two ended up back downstairs trying to figure out the best escape route.
"Good thing I jumped from up there." Dustin motioned to the top of the stairs.
"Surprised you're still alive." Domino noted.
"I may not be able to use my spirit attacks as a dog but I can still use it to keep myself from falling down with a crash." He replied.
Clara seeing the two were back downstairs smiled and slid down the railing and was prepared to dogpile (pardon the expression) Dustin but missed and watched Dustin and Domino continue to make a run for it.
The two ran into another room as Domino pointed to a dresser, "Hide in there!" he called as they jumped into a large open drawer and clsoed it while clara ended up bumping her head into the drawer. She felt dazed with stars circling her head while the drawer above her opened up revealing Dustin while the smaller middle drawer above him opened up revealing Domino.
"Let's go!" Domino called jumped out of the drawer landing on Clara's head before hurrying.
"Right behind ya!" Dustin called as he jumped out landing on Clara as well before bolting. Clara frowned having gotten annoyed by this game of cat and mouse.
The two ran into the bathroom hiding behind a whicker basket, "Don't worry Domino we'll be home free soon." Dustin said.
"Is she there?" Domino asked quietly.
"I'll check." Dustin whispered as he slowly poked his head around the corner only for him to come face to face with a smiling Clara and were touching noses, "RUN!" he yelped.
They ran out of the bathroom and headed into the living room with Clara finally grabbing hold of Dustin while he pulled out a cloth on top of a piano that had a fishbowl on top. Dustin kept tugging not wanting to let go until the fishbowl fell from the piano and landed on Clara's head with the water and fish still inside it making it look like she was wearing a diving helmet. She fell down disoriented from the fish bowl landing on her head as she watched Dustin blow raspberries at her before he burst out the door with Domino.
"WE'RE OUT OF HERE!" Dustin called as he and Domino took off.
Back with Negi and the others, they waited around a skatepark, "Still no sign of Dustin anywhere. Maybe we should call his father." Ayaka suggested.
"Good heavens Ms. Ayaka! We can't let Master Roswell hear something's happened to his boy, because the first one he's going to blame is me!" Zyphon cried.
"I did hear my cellphone ring but then it stopped, I'm sure it had to be Dustin, but they hung up so quickly." Negi explained.
"This proves he's still alright, hopefully." Elroy said until Alicia gripped his shoulder.
"Don't even think about it Elroy."
"Wouldn't even try to." Elroy winced.
Meanwhile with Dustin and Domino, Dustin was running through an alley with Domino flying above him, "That was pure torture." Dustin barked to Domino.
"I shudder to think how many other animals have been through that." Domino replied.
"I can't take much more of being a dog. I want to be human again!" Dustin cried until they heard a call.
"Dustin, Domino!"
They looked up as mini-Toothless landed before them, "Toothless!" they cried.
"Dustin?" Toothless noticed the dog.
"Unfortunately." He replied.
"What happened?"
"We'll explain later right now we gotta get back to the guys and find someway to change Dustin back." Domino explained.
"Well let's go." Toothless said about to lead them back to the others until Dustin halted them, "Guys do you hear that?" he asked as they listened closely hearing violin music.
"Yeah, sounds familiar." Domino said.
"Really?" Toothless asked as the crow nodded.
"I'm positive, it's gotta be!" Dustin barked as he and Domino announced, "Aria!"
"Who?" Toothless asked.
"An old friend of Dustin's from spirit training." Domino explained.
"Come on!" Dustin called as they followed him who followed the sound heading back to Central park where they looked ahead.
They saw see a young girl about Dustin's age with short black hair, she was wearing a black shirt with a phoenix symbol on it, a long skirt, and boots her eyes were shut as she played the violin.
Domino flew over, "Aria! Aria!"
The girl's eyes opened showing aquamarine eyes. She saw the bird fly over to her and circling her, "Domino, what're you doing here?"
The crow hugged her, "Oh thank God I found you! We're in a bit of a pickle! I mean today started out so good, and then things went bad and then to worse." he kept rambling.
"Calm down Domino, and tell me what's wrong." Aria calmed the crow.
"It's Dustin."
"What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"Well..." he motioned to the dog approaching with the small dragon on his back.
Aria saw the dog and started sensing the spirit energy from within him, "I feel it, this energy is... Dustin?" Dustin the dog sat on his hind legs, "What happened to you?"
Dustin barked as Domino translated, "Someone spiked his drink with an animal formula."
"Oh dear..." the girl said putting the violin into a case "I better take you to big brother..."
Dustin was shocked and started getting sweaty and embarrassed. Domino seeing this spoke, "Don't tell me you're nervous about seeing him after all these months? Oh you wouldn't want him to see you like this." Dustin nodded while Toothless snickered only to receive a glare from Dustin.
"Don't worry Dustin; I'm sure he won't think less of you for becoming victim to something as sneaky as this. You were one of the best in our class."
"Yeah, I just hope when I change back I'm still in my clothes." Dustin said to himself.
"If not that would be a problem." Domino replied.
Aria picked up Dustin in her arms as she ran with Domino flying at her side, "Let's hope he can get through this quick, Dustin has guests he has to get back to."
"Yeah, they're worried enough as it is." Toothless replied.
"Are you a real dragon?" Aria asked.
"Indeed I am, Toothless the Night Fury pleased to meetcha."
"Aren't you kinda small?"
"I've been shrunken down for traveling purposes."
"Hello, crisis here!" Domino cawed reminding them as they continued on.
Aria went inside a hospital where Toothless and Domino hid in her arms. She ran to the receptionist, "is my brother here?"
"Aria, well your brother's in his office, but he is a busy young man for a junior doctor." She replied.
"I really need to see him, it's see him..." she showed him Dustin.
The receptionist looked at the dog as if examining him and gasped, "Oh, I see. Well if it's a case like that I'm sure he'll have the time."
"Thank you..." Aria said as she ran toward an office.
Domino came out of her arms with Toothless and spoke, "God bless that woman."
"It pays that we have older spirit warriors in several places in the city here," Aria added as she approached a door and knocked quickly, "Burai, it's me can I come in?"
"Enter." A voice said from inside.
Aria entered the office and saw sitting at a desk was a young 19 year old man wearing a doctor's coat, "I'm sorry if I'm bugging I know you're very busy."
"Are you kidding me? This paperwork is murder; you're the highlight of my day." He sighed in relief while clearing his desk, "So what's up?"
"I need your help" Aria said showing Dustin.
"You brought in a stray dog?" Burai asked in confusion.
"It isn't a stray, its Dustin look at the energy."
Burai looked and could sense the spirit energy readings, "Dustin? Dustin Bowers?"
Dustin barked a little embarrassed. Burai looked the dog over, "Hmm, a definite animal potion…" he then began to partly lecture the boy, "Dustin, I would've thought you'd be more aware of what might happen to you when you least expect it."
Domino spoke on behalf of his transformed master, "Well sorry, but we hadn't taken account somebody would just spike his drink out of nowhere."
Burai placed Dustin on the floor, "Nevertheless I know how to deal with this. Aria just in case I want you to turn around." She blushed before doing what she was told.
Dustin looked at Burai nodding his head wanting it to get done. Burai's hands started glowing light blue as he held them above Dustin. It started surrounding Dustin removing the animal formula from within his bloodstreams. Suddenly his dog-like features were fading. Dustin rose to his feet seeing he was human, "My old body! And my old face. It's kinda chilly in here." He looked down seeing he was stark naked, "Oh!"
"Aria don't turn around!" Burai ordered.
"I won't."
"Oh come on I got a class of 32 girls who've seen me like this and they don't have a problem."
Burai spoke to the boy noticing his spirit energy radiating, "Hmm, seems your spirit energy level has dramatically increased since you left for Japan."
"A lot has happened Burai, but what about my clothes?" Suddenly dropping onto the floor was Dustin's outfit and sunglasses.
"What luck, now get dressed before Aria sees something she shouldn't." Burai ordered.
"I teach at an all girls junior high. I've seen things I've only dreamed of seeing."
"Just get dressed." He ordered and Dustin did so while the boy spoke to the girl who was still not facing him.
"So how's your training going with the orchestra?"
Aria spoke while smiling, "It's going great. I'm hearing all the greatest composers and learning some new tricks of my own."
"Yeah she keeps going on and on about all symphony's." Burai added.
"Well I'm glad her training suits her." Dustin said while slipping his shirt on.
Aria smiled as she started to cough with Burai patting her back, "Easy Aria."
Dustin thought to himself while seeing that. After all Aria was a rare case of spirit warrior, 'Even with her little health problem she's still pulling through.'
"So how's Japan been doing for you?" the girl asked.
Dustin smiled, "I have never had a better assignment than this. The school is great, the girls are very-very nice, and to top it off, I got me an armada of partners."
"Well I'm glad you're enjoying your training as well." Aria replied.
Dustin finished getting dressed, "That's about it. And my wallet and cellphone are here too," she spoke to the two, "Sorry but I gotta run, the girls and Negi are probably tearing the city up trying to find me."
"Believe me those girls worry." Domino added.
"We understand. Well I'll see you at the gathering tomorrow." Aria said.
"See you then, come on you two." Dustin said as he, Domino, and Toothless flew out the window.
Aria holding her violin turned to her brother while smiling, "He hasn't changed, I'm glad."
"Yup, he's the same as he was before." Burai agreed.
Back at the skatepark the group were just about ready to call Dustin's dad until, "Hey guys!" they looked seeing Dusitn running over.
"DUSTIN-SENSEI/KUN!" the girls cried as they ran over snuggling and cuddling with Dustin telling him how much they worried about him.
He broke free, "Easy girls, I'm fine really I am."
"Where were you?" Haruna asked.
"You didn't run into any trouble I hope." Negi said.
"I was leaving the bathroom and some mangy mutt snatched my wallet out of my hand. I ran after it until I finally caught him. And by that time I got myself lost into a section of New York I don't go around as much."
"Why didn't you try and call us?" Sakurako asked.
"Phone's battery died on me." Dustin lied.
"Well what matters is you're alright." Negi sighed in relief while the others agreed until Mana approached her partner.
"Mana?" he asked and suddenly received a big clonk on the head leaving everyone surprised, "OW! What was that for?" he rubbed his bruise.
"That was for scaring the daylights out of me." Mana said with a frown.
"Oh come on I didn't mean to…" Dustin was suddenly cut off as Mana smashed her lips agaisnt his resulting in them kissing pationately. The girls gasped while the kids were shocked, especially Alice who had her hands to her mouth.
When the two parted Dustin was lost for words as Mana blushed while speaking, "And that was for coming back safely."
"You're forgiven for the head clonk." Dustin said while blushing.
Konoka smiled, "That's cute."
Asuna scowled, "She should've hit him harder for making everyone worry."
Negi and the other kids piled aorund Dustin, "Man we thought you were a goner." Elroy said.
"You had me at the end of my wits." Negi added.
"Please don't ever scare me like that again master." Zyphon pleaded.
"Come on, you know nothing can keep old Dustin Bowers down." Dustin said proudly as Alice hugged him.
"We were afraid we lost you."
"Oh Alice." Dustin smiled.
McTwisp ate a carrot while Domino perched beside him, "Young love as always." Domino whispered.
"Most definitely." The rabbit agreed.
Alicia approached, "Hey Alicia you worried about me to?" Dustin asked only to receive a bigger clonk on his head form her shocking the girls while Asuna smiled.
"Don't ever do that again." Alicia said stoically.
"I don't supposed I'm gonna get a kiss now am I?" Dustin asked hopefully only for Alicia to reply with, "Don't push it."
"Win some lose some." Dustin replied and they all laughed.
Later that night Elroy, Jethro, Jade, Alice, and Alicia returned home while the others returned to the hotel not telling any of what happened to Darius. In Dustin's room the spirit warrior and Domino were explaining what really went down to Negi and their partners.
"And that's it." Dustin finished.
"You got drugged with an animal potion?" Chao asked.
"Harsh." Yuna admitted.
"I know, but nothing was more disturbing than the hell I went through with that girl!" Dustin explained.
"And her singing stunk!" Domino added.
"And she actually spanked you?" Konoka gasped.
"Yeah, and it hurt!" Dustin rubbed his behind.
Eva was cracking up, "Oh I wished I could've been there to see it."
"Not funny Evangeline." Dustin frowned.
"Well what matters now is you're back to being human again." Setsuna replied.
"But we still have a problem. Some dark warrior is in New York and is out to get you Dustin." Kaede said.
"I know, but there's no way it could be Alistaire, he's not smart enough to hatch a scheme like that."
"Then it's gotta be the Shadow Master." Rin said.
"It's logical." Mana agreed.
"Very much." Zazie put in.
"Well tomorrow the spirit warrior class meeting, we better get some sleep." Dustin said as they all left except for Zazie.
Negi was outside until Kakizaki slid over, "Negi-kun." She purred.
"Yes Kakizaki?" Negi asked.
"Tonight you're sleeping in my bed."
"I am?" he asked.
"Of course, you and I haven't had any alone time in so long." He draped her arms over him.
"Kakizaki, try not to overdo it." Ayaka warned her.
"I won't." she smiled while leading Negi away from everyone.
Back in Dustin's room Dustin laid in his bed while Zazie laid next to him, "I hope I never experience anything like today ever again." Dustin said to himself as Zazie kissed his cheek.
"Just sleep it off, after all tomorrow is another day."
"Yeah, you're right." Dustin said as he held Zazie close as they fell asleep with Dustin hoping he wouldn't have nightmares about that Clara girl.
(And that's the chapter. Quite a number of laughs and all. That whole bit with Dustin turned into a dog was something that came to me like that. And the scene involving him being taken captive by that little girl was all inspiration from the Peanuts classic Snoopy Come Home. Don't miss next time everyone.)