A Dragon's Crimson Cry
By: Tippi
A/N – I'm bring back and old enemy hope you like.
Ch 105 A Rouge Returns
Somewhere just outside of New York an enemy from the past was coming up with an evil plan. 4 years he had gone rouge and 2 years ago he had failed to once again to kill his target.
All he accomplished last time was to injure the older dragon. He fell from the roof and got his own injuries all of which were broken bones and massive pain. The worst was his hurt pride. The pride of an elite 34. (Bet some you forgot about him huh.)
He was going to end it once and for all the kid had lived long enough. He had secretly been following various happenings in the huntsclan, not easy when you basically an outcast who technically banished himself when he wet rouge. But he had managed to get wind of their ultimate plan and it they did not even the boy's abilities would save him from that and if he was to take part in it he would get his status back and be immortalized.
He had packed everything and was ready to head back to New York City, the city of his greatest defeat soon to be the city of his greatest victory.
He grabbed his large pack, slipping it on the took his smaller one but before fastening it to his side he opened it at took out it's single content and held it in his hand to look at it. Held in the palm of his hand was an Aztec crystal skull. Elite 34 placed the skull back in his pack and left giving an evil laugh.
Blood pooled around Jake's feet. Jake was standing in a vast darkness the only light was shining on Jake from above. Jake could hear the screams of pain and fear coming from the darkness as the blood gushed into the light staining Jake's shoes. Jake was paralyzed, unable to lift a finger. Then the light extended into the darkness 13 pedestals surround him each holding a crystal skull. There was an endless field of dead bodies; some Jake recognized some he didn't. And standing in front of him was monster of his worst nightmares, a man engraved in his mind from bad memories.
They locked eyes. Jake looking up the huntsman looking down before he pulled out his weapon and thrust it forward.
Jake shoot up straight in bed gasping for air, everything from his skin to his sheets drench in a cold sweat. Jake looked to the neon green numbers on his clock casting a glow over most of the nightstand. It read 2:32. It was too early to get up but Jake was to wet to get comfortable again. Jake stripped his soaked PJs and put on some dry ones and placed a blanket over the damp sheets. Jake lay in bed just looking up at the ceiling thinking about the nightmare. 'It been years since that man haunted his dreams so why now'
Jake was thinking. It was half an hour before he slowly drifted back into sleep.
~Filmore Middle School~
It was a day from homecoming and Spud was coming up with a brilliant plan to get his supposed love, Stacy.
"Hey, guys what's up" Jake said asking Spud and Trixie as they meet in the cafeteria next the bending machine, Al was currently getting a soda from.
"Spud here signed up for the homecoming float committee" Trixie answered.
"Why" Al asked grabbing his soda and standing up right opening it.
"It's part of my three step plan" Spud said then he went on to explain holding up poorly drawn planning cards. "First, I and Stacy sign up for float committee. Two, those on float committee has access to the prop closet also known as the kissy, kissy closet. Three, me and Stacy kiss and become a couple" Spud finished throwing the cards away.
"Now why would Stacy kiss you if she hates you" Trixie asked.
"Because she won't know it's me" Spud said. "It will be dark and I'll be talking like this" Spud went on using an accent.
"Who is that supposed to sound like" Trixie inquired.
"Ramon the Argentina exchange student" Spud said still using the accent.
"Worse South American accent ever" Al said after he finished a sip of soda.
"Well you're not going to see me signing up for anything just to get all with some… hello" Trixie said suddenly walking off. "Hey" Trixie said coming up next to Kyle Willkins who was writing his name down on the sign up clip board. "Signing up for float committee what a coincidence so am I" Trixie took the clip board putting her name down.
"And good bye morals" Al said.
"Tell me about it" Jake said turning to leave and only took two steps before bumming into Rose causing her to drop her books. "Sorry, I uh… Hey Rose" Jake said realizing who he bumped into.
"Hey yourself" Rose said picking up her books. "Happy Homecoming."
"So how's it going? I mean I haven't seen you in a while" Jake asked.
"You just saw me last week when we stopped the huntsclan from…" Rose said before Jake cut her off.
"But that was Thorn I didn't get to see you as Rose" Jake said.
"Jake… we agreed to keep things strictly professional between us, remember?" Rose asked.
"Yeah, well I don't remember being part of that agreement" Jake answered.
"I'm Sorry but really this is the way it has to be. I'll… see you around ok" Rose said.
"You bet you will" Sun said coming up to the two. "The votes have been tallied and you two have been nominated for homecoming king and queen" Sun said all cheery.
"Excuse me" Rose responded.
"Say the what now" Jake asked.
"The winner will be announced at the homecoming ball on Friday. Isn't that groovy" Sun said.
"Homecoming" Rose said.
"King and queen" Jake said.
"Yeah groovy" Rose said sarcastically and Jake said it like he really means it.
"You and me up for king and queen that's… unexpected" Rose said seeming down on the whole situation.
"Royally, but the people have spoken" Jake said much happier than Rose about it.
"That's going to have to wait" Rose said as her huntsclan communicator went off. "The huntsman had found another Aztec skull" Rose said.
Later in Central Park Zoo…
A group of huntsclan members were before an ancient Mexican based statue of a head before the huntsmaster cracked it open. Thorn leaped forward and grabbed the skull that fell out.
"I get it huntsmaster" Thorn said landing.
"Good we have one last skull to find now" the Hmaster said.
88 and 89 were currently teasing one of the monkeys in its cage.
"Keep quiet and your eyes open" Hmaster yelled at the two new apprentices. "It seems the American dragon has been onto our every move" Hmaster said before he was tripped by a red tail.
"You got that right huntschump" Jake said flying out.
"Destroy the dragon" Hmaster order shooting off a fury of shoots all missing Jake.
88 and 89 yelled dragon and ran off with the skull like the pathetic excuse for hunters they were proving to be.
"I got this one master" Thorn said leaping up grabbing onto Jake's back.
Thorn and Jake crashed into the zoo's service room.
"88 and 89 are getting away with the skull" Thorn said removing her mask.
"Don't worry I get Fu guarding the rear exit" Jake said.
"Well I better get back out there, the Hmaster is getting suspicious" Thorn said putting her mask back on.
"Rose I want you to think about the homecoming dance. Being king and queen wouldn't be that bad" Jake said before she left.
"I'll think about it, see you tomorrow" Thorn said as they both left in different directions.
"Check it 89 we got the skull" 88 said holding it up.
Then the two did a stupid little song and dance walking right up to Jake.
"I'll take that" Jake said pulling the skull out of 88's hands with his tail.
"Now that's what a call a bone headed move" Fu said before Jake grabbed him and flew off.
~At the shop~
"So how do the skulls work" Jake asked as Gramps put the third on the table next to the two they already had.
"Whoever possesses all 13 skulls is granted one irreversible wish" Gramps said.
"And I don't need to tell you what the Hmaster is going to wish if he gets his grubby mits on them" Fu said reading the paper.
"So why don't we destroy the three we have and be done with it" Jake suggested.
"The thing is the skulls only work when all 13 are together and can only be destroyed all together" Fu explained.
"Of course won't want it to be simple now would we" Jake said knowing nothing in the magic world could be simple.
"When we find the last one Rose will wait till it's safe and collect the ones the Hmaster has and we will destroy them" Gramps said.
"And ba da boom Hmaster's master plan goes down the drain" Fu said.
"And I can pursue other things like Rose" Jake said leaning back.
~The float committee at school~
Spud was putting his plan into action as he wrote a love note to Stacy under a false identity. Spud quickly folded it and snuck up behind Stacy slipping it into her notebook. As Spud slipped away the note fell out of Stacy's notebook and landed at Trixie's feet. Seeing the note Trixie picks it up and reads it thinking that it's from Kyle.
Spud was waiting in the props closet when Trixie quickly entered and shut the door. With no words the two started kissing.
"Kyle" Trixie asked since it's pretty hard to see who you're kissing in the dark.
"Uh no se" Spud responded in a fake accent.
"Ramon" Trixie said.
"Stacy" Spud asked.
"Spud" Trixie exclaimed.
"Trixie" Spud exclaimed.
Then both ran out of the closet screaming and kept running in different directions.
~Back at the huntslair~
Hmaster had hacked into the zoo security cameras and saw the conversation Thorn and the dragon had in secret. In a rage he punched to screen destroying it.
"88, 89 I have an assignment for you" Hmaster said. "We have a traitor in our mists."
~At school~
"Thanks for saving me after two days or photo shoots I could really use some downtime" Rose said as she and Jake walked into an empty classroom. "What's this?" Rose asked seeing the desks had been cleared out and now had a disco ball, colored lights and music.
"I thought since homecoming isn't in the cards for us I thought we could have our own" Jake said. "Care to dance?"
Rose took Jake's hand and they began to dance.
"Jake it's not that I don't want to go with you it's…" Rose was saying.
"I know too dangerous" Jake finished.
"I not just that, I want normal life one where I'm not fighting giant snake, magical beetles…" Rose was listing before Jake stopped her.
"Rose I would like normal a life to but that chance slipped by both of us. We didn't even get to choose we were just born into it. We can't be all normal but we can try and make the best with what we have" Jake explained. "That's why I've been thinking after this whole skull thing is over I think you should leave the huntsclan for good."
"But where will I go, it's not like the streets are lined with homes for wayward dragon slayers" Rose said.
"For starters you're not really a dragon slayer, I mean I'm still here" Jake kinda joking one of his masks he used when he was nervous or scared.
"But the…" Rose was about to say.
"If you are going to say the huntsclan said they've lied a lot before, if you're going with the birthmark, I've already told you that" Jake explained. "But the most important one is I know you're not one of them because I feel it in my heart."
"Really" Rose asked.
"Hey my heart hasn't let me down yet. I followed my heart with you, not my head and look at all the good we've been doing" Jake told.
"What was your head saying" Rose asked.
"Something along the lines of hit her with a fireball, run as fast as you can, change your name and move to another city" Jake admitted.
"Wow, that's quite a plan" was all Rose could say.
"Yeah G wouldn't let me do the last two and maybe not the second either" Jake responded. "And getting back two on where to go, remember your dream the huntsclan took you from your family, they're still out there. I want to help you find them it maybe the closes you ever get to a normal life and take it from me a family is something you don't want to go without if you can."
Rose knew where most of that was coming from. It's hard to follow your heart when every other organ in your body is telling you this girl is part of the clan that spilt the blood of your family and your kind. And Jake did know about family maybe more so then most kids, especially teens who are going through the 'I hate you phase' with most of their relatives.
"Thanks Jake, I don't know how to…let's go to the homecoming dance together" Rose suddenly said.
"Really I don't want to make you feel like you…" Jake said.
"No I really want to" Rose reassured him.
"Awesome" Jake exclaimed.
"I'll see you tonight on top of the Panthem building" Rose said.
Unknown to the two 88 and 89 were watching from the skylight.
"That's what they think" 89 said doing a poor evil laugh.
In the school hallway Trixie and Spud were going through their own dilemma.
Trixie closed her locker only to go face to face with Spud and both gave a little scream.
"This is stupid it was just one little, accidently kiss; why can't we get over it. It's not like means anything" Trixie said.
"Maybe, possible, kind of, just maybe, throwing it out there, it maybe did mean something" Spud finally got out.
Trixie stood there for a moment not moving or speaking the starting laughing then suddenly stopped looking at the expression on Spud's face.
"O you were being serious" Trixie concluded. "Spudster there is no way, I doubt, you think?"
Spud just shrugged.
"Well there is one way we could find out" Trixie said pointing at the homecoming sign.
Spud kinda grimaced but agreed.