A Dragon's Crimson Cry
By: Tippi
A/n
Ch 78 Dark Flight
"News from my loyal servant" the dark dragon said to a hooded and cloaked figure as it entered his lava lair. "The boy has failed his first test then?"
The figure merely nodded.
"Excellent" the dark dragon said with an evil laugh.
~back with Jake~
Jake was preparing for the next test being much more serious than last time.
"Ready to rumble griffin" Jake said to Fu.
"And if I say no" Fu responded poorly dressed as a griffin.
"Jake remember what you know about magical creatures" LS advised. "Goblins have a sensitive sense of smell, brownies like shiny things, and griffins…"
LS was interrupted when Jake gave a groan from Fu giving him a good kick in the stomach.
"Fight dirty" LS finished. "Next foe siren."
"O do I have to wear the wig?" Fu asked.
"Jake's next test is wisdom in battle. Jake must be ready for any creature the council chooses."
"Yo gramps why do they have a statue of the huntsman in a dragon gym" Jake asked for the first time getting a good look at the statues.
"The huntsclan is one of the 13," LS answered "the most dangerous threats to the magical world."
"The dirty baker's dozen" Fu said.
"We keep their statues around to remind us why we must train so hard" LS informed.
Jake did a 180 to take a quick glance at all the statues.
"So if the huntsclan in number 4 who's number 1" Jake asked.
"The dark dragon" LS said bring Jake up to the statue of the dark dragon.
"No one knows who he is or where he came from only that he's been consumed by powerful dark magic" Fu explained. "Only one dragon has ever faced him and lived to tell the tale.
"*chough, chough* He's right over there *chough* it's grandpa" Fu said faking some choughs.
"You, gramps you the man" Jake said.
"It was a long time ago" LS said.
"The council thinks he's gone for good but gramps seems to think otherwise" Fu informed.
"That's 'one' of the reasons why I insisted in training you" LS said.
"Wait you think I'm going to have to face him one day" Jake asked looking up at the statue thinking for a moment he'd seen some one like him before a long time ago in his dreams.
"Enough questions" LS yelled jerking Jake away from his thoughts. "Back to siren training, Fu dog."
"Yeah, Yeah" Fu said dressed in his siren get up. "Come here sailor so I can seduce you to destruction" Fu said in a girly voice.
"Not only is that not seducing but also so wrong in so many ways" Jake said slightly disturbed.
Suddenly a green gas began to fill the room.
"Magical stink bombs" LS exclaimed.
"Hey mate you're stinking up the place" Fred said from an open part in the ceiling.
Growling Jake's wings emerged.
"We're not training to fight Fred Nerk" LS said grabbing Jake's arm. "We're here to train for sirens, ogres, and werewolves" LS said.
"O my" Fu added.
"Sirens, ogres, werewolves" Jake repeated to him self.
~In the arena~
"Okay what's ever coming out of there I'm ready" Jake said.
"Let the test of wisdom in battle begin" Andam announced.
The arena gate opened and Jake got in battle stance. After of few moments of silence and nothing coming out Jake spoke up.
"Uh there's nothing there" Jake said.
"Hey you want us to bash you right now" a small voice said at Jake's feet.
Jake looked down to see three small brownies.
"Sorry I didn't see you down there" Jake said. "Brownies are you kidding" Jake asked Andam.
"The test is mine to administer and I chose brownies" Andam said.
"Remember Jake the test is wisdom in battle" LS reminded him.
"No problem I got plenty of wisdom" Jake said.
While Jake was exchanging words the three little men climbed up his pant leg and running around his chest. The action made a tickling sensation on Jake causing him to laugh un-controllable.
"Ready lads" one brownie asked as they exited Jake's sleeve.
"Right" the other two said as each took a finger and bit down.
"Ouch" Jake cried swinging his arm sending the three brownies flying.
"Jake need a hand there" Fred teased from the stands.
"Hey big Ernie" Fu said pulling out his cell and hitting speed dial. "I want to put 60 bisects on Jake and put a few brownies on the brownies."
Jake was looking around for his foes as they moved quickly hidden by the grass. Jake dragoned up. "Okay lets see what you got now that the Am drag's in the house.
The three ran toward him and jumped out of the grass holding rope. With quick speed they tied Jake up and dropped him to the ground.
"Hey I changed my mind put the biscuits on the brownies and the brownies on the kid, no the other brownies" Fu said into the phone.
"Jake the test is…" LS said.
"Wisdom in battle" Jake finished. "Okay Jake what do you know about brownies. They're small, not that smart…"
"Oi! I herd that" one of the brownies yelled.
"They like shiny things" Jake said then an idea hit him.
Jake grabbed a hand full of sand and throws it up into the air heating it with fire.
"Kricky he's going to set the place on fire again" Fred yelled.
The heat caused it to sparkle getting the brownies attention.
"Oh shiny" the three said leaving Jake no longer being able to focus on anything else.
Jake was now able to cut him self free form the ropes with his claws.
"That's what Grandpa's talking about" LS yelled.
LS saw the council members glare at him. "Um, I mean wise move young dragon."
Sun was up in the stands with a smile on, her hands clenched together in anticipation.
"It's beautiful" the brownies said reaching for the sparkles.
"Hey where'd it go" one asked as the sparkling stopped.
"Brownies like the bling bling" Jake said throwing some sand over his hand and breathing some more fire on it to shine. "Then bring it."
"Right" the three said making a beeline for the new sparkles.
The three jumped into Jake's hand after the sparkles and once in his hand he slammed his other hand down over them.
"O kid you didn't have to pulverize them" Fu said.
The Jake reveled his hand to show the brownies were fine but caught in a make shift cage on claws.
"Hey what's this then" the brownies said.
The score board showed a pass for Jake.
"Am drag representing can I get a woh woh, howler" Jake said breathing a fountain of fire and doing some break dancing moves.
"You have taught you're student well LS" Andam said.
"He is to cocky," Chang said with a glare. "We'll see if he still struts alike a peacock after my test."
Later the entire world's dragons now gathered at the starting line of the final test.
"Your test of courage in flight will be tested by Draco Island its self" Chang said. "You must fly the perimeter of the island through three magical rings," Chang said as she used her fire to form a ring "facing every obstacle in your path. But survival is only half the test, you must also fly faster than your competitor," Chang was saying making two dragons made of fire fly through the ring. "Your competitor shall be of your choosing."
"I get to chose" Jake asked.
"Okay I scanned to competition and I suggest going with the Guatemalan dragon he's got bad allergies and a wing span the size of my pinky" Fu said looking over at the Guatemalan dragon who sneezed into his hanky and gave a wave saying 'hola'.
"No way Fu I want Nerk" Jake said turning to his rival.
"Alright then" Nerk said taking on his dragon form.
"I'm all for confidence kid but he owns this course" Fu warned.
"Jake if you lose…" LS was saying.
"Gramps you told me to take these tests seriously and that's what I'm doing standing up to the challenge" Jake said.
"As you wish young dragon" LS said backing up.
"Very well then" Chang said.
LS felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Sun.
"He has more than one advantage on his side" Sun reassured and she was right.
Almost all dragons when first learning to transform start with a small wing span that can take anywhere from months to years to reach a sizable span. Jake was one of the rare cases that had almost his full wing span from day one. Fred on the other hand waited months to get to a good span and it was still smaller then Jake's current span. Jake's wings could take more air keeping him aloft longer with fewer flaps and it also meant that he had more muscles to move such a wing span making them stronger and more developed. The only thing that would slow him was the obstacles he needed to face. But in a pure no obstacle test of speed Jake would win hands down. But this test was more then speed and Nerk had been through the course before knew what awaited them and could use that to cut in front of Jake and manipulate the obstacles to slow down Jake even feather. They just had to trust in Jake's instincts to get him through to rest of the test.
"Dragons ready" Chang said.
Jake dragooned up and took his position at the starting line next to Nerk. Nerk took a glance at Jake's wings as he un-folded them from his back.
'They may be a about a four foot bigger wing span then me but lets see if he knows how to use it' Nerk thought taking his eyes off Jake and focusing them forward again.
"Begin" Chang shouted.
Both dragons took off. Both were neck and neck as they tried to gain altitude but Jake's bigger wing span allowed him to reach cruising height quicker then Nerk making Jake take a head start. But Nerk took a slight lead once they left the shore line and had maneuver through the large sand dunes. The first ring was held by four fairies that weren't going to make it easy for any passing dragon. After Nerk's three failed attempts to get through the ring, moved around by the fairies, he used his fire breath to burn them and then went through. Jake flew through the ring and took the courtesy to gently place the burnt fairies on the ground. The kindness was met with thanks from the fairies and taking the lead from Nerk.
It was a straight shot to the next obstacle and Jake was able to catch up no more then mere feet behind Nerk.
"Not bad mate lets see you keep up in the trees" Nerk said as they entered the forest.
Jake had to move a bit slower to and tuck his wings a bit and maneuver around the tree branches and trunks.
Nerk true to his over confident nature took a moment to knock the nut out of a squirrel's hands as he passed by. Jake caught the nut and returned it to the tree dwelling rodent.
"Try following this one" Nerk said taking a tree branch bending it back. He let go and the bended branch snapped back into place hitting the on coming Jake sending Jake to the ground.
Nerk laughed before taking off. Jake wasn't going let Nerk win this. Nerk sure of his leading made his way toward the second ring that was in a canyon of rolling boulders. He maneuvered through the boulders that rolled to and fro on the canyon's curved walls. As Nerk was mere feet from the ring he felt a tap on his head and looked up to see Jake had once again caught up. Both flew through the ring at the same time.
"Still trying it's time you learned your place" Nerk said.
"I already know my place, it's in front of you" Jake said placing his hands over Nerk's eyes and pushed his back legs against Nerk's back using it as a lunching pad. Jakes shot to the top of the canyon knocking loss a rock shaped much like a board. He used it to skate board across the canyon until he lost it to a lava pit and went on flying.
"Home stretch Jake-a-roo" Nerk said as they flew toward a field of volcanoes. "Time to heat things up."
As the volcanoes erupted at once sending up flaming hot rocks that the two dragons had to dodge while in flight.
Jake took the lead and yelled "See you at the finish line Nerk."
Jake was about to go through the last ring when a large black arm reached out of a crack in the volcano blocking him.
The hand kept trying to grab Jake as he shot in every which way trying to get away from it.
"Huh that's new" Nerk said coming to a halt watching.
"Wow hands why you only coming after me" Jake asked as he dodged the hand again and flew pass Nerk. The hand then grabbed Nerk pulling him into the mountain side.
"Hey let go" Nerk yelled as the crack closed behind him.
Jake was about to go for the third ring but looked back.
"I'm so going to regret this" he said going to the mountain side and fire breathing a way in.
Jake flew down the tunnel in the volcano and came to a mot of lava surrounding a large rock platform. Jake landing on it to take a moment to gather his bearings not seeing Nerk any where.
"What is this place" Jake asked feeling that it was oddly familiar and had a shiver run up his spine, despite the heat of the magma, like a danger was near.
"Look out it's trap" Nerk yelled from somewhere confirming Jake's feeling.
Suddenly from the lava behind Jake a dark figure arose.
"American dragon I've been expecting you" a dark voice said.
Jake turned to meet the dark dragon face to face.
"You're the dark dragon" Jake said taking a step back as the dark dragon's shadow minions surrounded them.
"And you're LS grandson" the dark dragon said his yellow eyes honed on Jake in a critical and calculating fashion.
"You know who I am" Jake said with surprise.
"I know everything about you and your tests" the dark dragon advised. "How pathetic you work so hard to stay the student of a second rate master."
"He was good enough to beat your sorry behind" Jake informed.
"LS is an old fool" the dark dragon said with an angry roar. "He merely got lucky once but no dragon shall be so lucky again. You have much potential and you are wasting it with him."
"Wasted nothing he's the best master and taught me well" Jake said standing strong.
Jake was talking back to him and facing him without fear. Although he admired that it also irritated him no one has done that and especially not a child.
"He has forgotten to teach you one very important thing" the dark dragon said.
"What" Jake asked not really caring what he had to say?
"To fear me" the dark dragon said as his shadow minions attacked Jake.
Jake fought off the minions as the dark dragon merely watched. Jake was able to disband the shadows and throw them off him then took to the air.
"How'd you like that move" Jake said flying into one of the many tunnels.
"Impressive young one but you can't escape me" the dark dragon yelled after him.
"Over here" Nerk yelled to Jake's right.
As Jake came to him he saw Nerk's arms were chained to the wall.
"Help me" Nerk pleaded. Then shadow minions appeared behind Jake.
"Look out" Nerk warned.
"Again with the shadows" Jake said as he attacked destroying them all before cutting Nerk free of his chains.
"Come on we got to get out of here" Jake said grabbing Nerk's wrist.
"Not going to argue there" Nerk said following Jake into the room of the lava mot.
"There" Jake said pointing to the opening he made to get in.
The dark dragon did his over used rise from the lava to block their way.
"You go I've got tall, dark and ugly" Jake said to Nerk and then Nerk took off.
"You are either very brave or very foolish to face me alone" the dark dragon said then let out a powerful roar that blew Jake back a few feet.
"What are you going to do now youngster" the dark dragon asked.
"Fight back" Jake said.
The two went into battle but any one who knew the dark dragon could tell he was holding back which was the only reason as of currently Jake was able to hold his own.
"You still believe in LS's training" the dark dragon said swing a punch at Jake. Jake was able dodge just in the nick of time. "You are no where near my equal but with proper training you just might reach my power" the dark dragon urged.
"If you are trying to get me to turn on my grandfather forget it" Jake said grabbing the dragon's arm and digging his claws in.
The dark dragon gave a hiss more of annoyance than pain. With a forceful swing of his powerful arm he threw Jake to the ground.
"You are mine now" the dark dragon said leering over Jake.
Suddenly the dark dragon was hit with a blue fire from behind. Nerk flew in aiming some more fire at the dragon's feet breaking away the rock causing the dark dragon to fall through and a minor cave in.
"Come on mate" Nerk said making a u turn toward the exit.
"I'm not going to argue either" Jake said following as the mountain shook.
As Jake was flying out the dark dragon grabbed his leg. Jake was trying to break from his grip but couldn't. Then the minor cave in Nerk set off caused a rock slide and boulders fell into place over the exit causing the dark dragon to loosen his grip letting Jake break free. Jake hissed as one of the dragon's claws came off sticking in his ankle. Jake pulled it from his leg and then looked at the now closed exit.
"You okay" Nerk asked.
"Yeah" Jake answered.
"Good see you at the finish line" Nerk said taking off.
"Not if I see you first" Jake said taking off after him.
"I see them" Fu yelled.
"Is Jake in front" LS asked.
Jake was in front but the rescue and the fighting took much out of him to fast and was starting to lose his steam. As they were about to cross the final ring Nerk got a head and won.
Fu was crying as the rest of the dragons cheered.
"Well done dragon Nerk" Chang said.
"You did great kid" Fu said coming up to Jake as he landed.
"You preformed better then I had hoped I am proud to have been your dragon master" LS said.
"This is whack they can't do this I would of beating Nerk if the dark dragon hadn't gotten in the way" Jake yelled.
All the council gasped and Kulkulkhan exclaimed "the dark dragon."
"He was totally messing with me that's got to be interfere or something" Jake said.
"You're saying you believe the dark dragon is back" Kulde is back.
"Believe nothing we barely got away from the freak" Jake replied.
There were mutters a whispers among the other dragons at that.
"Listen you can take me away from my grandfather but I know this he taught me right from wrong. It's time to take this dragon business seriously I thought that ment show up jerks like Fred Nerk but I now realize it's not. We got to stand together because the dark dragon's back and that's the only way we can defeat him" Jake gave his speech.
"Is any of this true dragon Nerk" Andam asked.
"All of it," Nerk said. "Jake had me beat but then he turned back to save me I wouldn't be here if he didn't."
"Circumstances aside there is no agreeing you failed the test of courage in flight" Chang said.
The score board lit up fail and the crowd booed Chang's decision.
"But sacrificing your own glory to save a fellow dragon in need shows excellent judgment in fire I award you extra credit in my test, just enough to pass" Kulde said.
The score under his judgment in fire changed to pass and the crowd cheered. Jake and Nerk were shaking hands when Chang spoke up.
"Wait, stop this, are we going to throw away one thousand years of tradition on the word of two teenage boys" Chang said.
"Yo Chang, you don't have to take our word you can take this" Jake said dropping the claw.
"Alright give it up for Jake droppin' the claw and walkin' away like a bad boy" Fu said.
"Yo gramps team dragon is back in action. You're suppose to like happy" Jake said.
"Sorry young one, but I fear the dark dragon knew too much about you're tests for his appearance to be mere coincidence" LS explained.
"Meaning" Jake asked.
"Meaning… we may have a dark agent in our mists" LS said and Jake giving a worried look.
"Alright give it up for gramps and his buzz kill makin' Jake look all 'ahoooow'." Fu said.
"It seems our plan failed" the dark dragon said looking at his missing claw.
"Don't worry he will be swayed to join us" the hooded figure said removing the hood revealing councilor Chang. "Just as all dragons will or be destroyed."
The dragon turned and muttered to him self "they shall join us, he will join me."
The three were getting ready to leave and Jake was dragging the heavy bags again.
"Hey Jake" Nerk called "just want to say thanks for everything."
"No problem mate" Jake said as they shacked hands.
"Rematch next year" Nerk said walking away.
"You're on, chump" Jake said as the magical confetti bomb went off in Nerk's pants.
Jake laughed until one went off in his.
"Aw man these are my favorite pants" Jake said.