South African Dragon: Dikeledi Okafor
Disclaimer: I don't own American Dragon: Jake Long. All I own are my OCs and my original storylines.
A/N: So, a little background. This takes place in the summer of 2086. Jake III and Lin-Lin are still dating, and all that good stuff. Also, for those of you wondering about why Lucile started to train Jake when she was assigned to be Dikeledi's Dragon Master back in JLIII. Well, Kefilwe and Dikeledi were in the hospital longer than Lucile was, and even after the two were released, they went back to South Africa and Dikeledi was assigned a new Dragon Master, who you'll meet in this. With that explained, why don't we begin.
On the Island of Draco, at night, Kefentse Akiloye sat in his prison cell in his dragon form, shackled to the wall, his head lowered. As Councilor Dingane (in his human form) arrived at his cell, Kefentse slowly lifted his head up. Kefentse watched as Dingane opened the cell door and walked inside. Within seconds, Dingane reached the former Dragon Council Agent and current prisoner and slowly sat down.
"Good evening." Dingane told him.
"Good evening." Kefentse returned softly.
"To continue your therapy..." Dingane clasped his hands together. As Kefentse sighed, Dingane continued. "...We already discussed your ordeal when you were being tortured. Why don't we discuss your torturers themselves? What were they like when they were hurting you?"
"They were awful." Kefentse said softly.
"How did your torturer make you feel?" Dingane asked. "How do you feel about your torturer today, after all these years? Have these passed months of talking to me helped?"
"Nothing has changed." Kefentse said. "That day will never stop haunting me. It changed me forever. I'm certain that Letsego and Siboniso feel the exact same way."
"They do." Dingane told him.
"I can picture his face in my head." Kefentse said. "That smug look..."
"Aw." Dingane said. "How often does that happen? How often do you picture his face in your head?"
"Often enough to make me want to break down completely."
"You said that you he had a smug look on his face." Dingane said. "Do you imagine him the exact same way in your mind?"
"Yes." Kefentse's voice sounded a little darker when he answered this question.
Dingane noticed, for his next question was: "When you picture his face, do you feel angry on top of scared and helpless?"
"Yes." Kefentse narrowed his eyes, clenching his trapped and clawed hands into fists. "It makes me angry, very angry. A part of me..." He started, but then he stopped, not wanting to say it.
Dingane had other plans, though. "Go on." He supported.
"A part of me wants to kill him." Kefentse growled.
LINE BREAK
A short time later, inside the Main Hall, Councilor Asil was seated at the large table alone, reading through a letter. As Councilor Dingane walked into the building, Asil found himself lowering it so he could watch Dingane stop in front of the table.
"What are you doing?" Dingane asked.
"Reading through this letter." Asil responded. "It's from Kefilwe Okafor. It seems that the new South African Dragon isn't very popular in her home country, either. She's having a hard time."
"Will the magical population of South Africa ever be happy with their appointed dragon protector?" Dingane asked, putting his hands on his hips.
"Apparently not." Asil said as he set the letter down.
"What is Kefilwe Okafor asking for?" Dingane asked.
"Help."
"Well, does the letter address why the magical population of South Africa is so unhappy with Dragon Okafor?" Dingane asked.
"No." Asil answered. "She just points out all of the issues that have come up due to this unrest in the past several months to a year. That and she asks for help."
"Well, that's helpful." Dingane said sarcastically.
"Indeed." Asil agreed before he changed the subject. "What can I do for you, Councilor?"
"Oh, I just finished my weekly counseling sessions with former Agents Akiloye, Mbeki and Jakande." Dingane announced.
"And how are they doing?" Asil asked.
"Hmm." Dingane replied grimly, shaking his head. "What was done to them was horrible. They must have repressed it for all those years, but now it's coming out. Do you want to know what Akiloye told me just moments ago?"
"Sure." Asil replied.
"He told me that he pictures the face of his torturer as he tortures him." Dingane said. "He describes him as looking smug, like he is enjoying the pain he afflicts upon him. He also tells me that when he pictures his torturer, part of him desires to kill him."
"That isn't good." Asil said.
"No, it's not." Dingane put his hands on his hips. "If I am to help him-if I am to help all three of them-this will require a different, more risky type of counseling."
"Hmm, what did you have in mind, Councilor?" Asil asked.
"I'm thinking that the three of them must face their torturers..." Dingane said. "...Personally, face-to-face, on different terms."
BLACKOUT; PLAY OPENING CREDITS
The next morning, Dingane, Asil, Holly, Agata and Yara were walking together around the Island of Draco. "On different terms?" Holly asked. "Councilor Dingane, that will be extremely difficult, seeing as all eight of them are serving hard time behind bars."
"I know that." Dingane said. "But if I am to help Akiloye, Jakande and Mbeki, this is a risk I feel is best to take."
"Well, what do you plan on doing?" Holly asked.
"I was thinking about paroling their torturers." Dingane said as he and the other Councilors turned around a corner. "Of course, we wouldn't really parole them. They are far too dangerous for that."
"Then why did you say that that was what you would do?" Agata asked.
"I thought this all out during the night as I tried to fall asleep." Dingane explained. "I was also influenced by the letter that Kefilwe Okafor sent us about her daughter's troubles as the South African Dragon. There is too much unrest in South Africa."
"Agreed, but I don't think there is anything we can do about that." Asil said.
"Agreed." Agata said. "Dikeledi Okafor will have to make a personal change to solve this problem, I believe. She has to earn the trust of the magical creatures in South Africa."
"Well, I was thinking that these torturers were a huge part of the unrest all those years ago." Dingane said. "If we pretend to release them and send them back to South Africa, not only could we empower Akiloye, Jakande and Mbeki, but the torturers could lead us to a way to put an end to all this unrest in South Africa."
"How would that empower them?" Yara asked. "That doesn't make sense."
"It's all part of putting an end to the unrest." Dingane smirked. "I don't believe the torturers will become model citizens once we parole them. I expect them to rejoin the group of unhappy magical creatures."
"Go on." Yara urged.
"We go in and re-capture them, plus any other violent magical creatures that we can..." Dingane said. "...And then, Akiloye, Jakande and Mbeki will be given a choice, a choice that can only help them."
"You lost me." Yara said.
"Aw..." Asil smiled. "I assume this has to do with what you told me about Akiloye believing that part of himself wants to kill his torturer. Would I be correct?"
"You would." Dingane replied. "Once the torturers are re-captured, Akiloye will be given a choice, to hurt his torturer, or to not. The choice will be his. I have faith that he will make the right choice."
"That is very interesting." Holly spoke up, smirking. "And maybe, just maybe, worth the risk. Councilors, I think we should discuss this plan at length and then make a decision."
LINE BREAK
"So, it is settled, then." Holly said. A few hours later, inside the Main Hall, the entire Council sat at the large table. "We will try your plan, Councilor Dingane."
"Excellent." Dingane smiled. "Hopefully, it will work."
"Yes." Holly said. "Hopefully."
"When will we start putting this plan into action?" Yara asked.
"Tonight." Holly answered. "I want to have the torturers released tomorrow morning."
LINE BREAK
Later that night, Swanepoel was sitting in his cell, in his dragon form and shackled to the wall, just like Kefentse. His head was lowered, but anyone who had passed by him throughout the eleven years he had been incarcerated could still tell that his years in prison had not aged him well.
When two dragon-formed Dragon Council Agents arrived at his cell, one of them putting a key into the lock of the door, Swanepoel lifted his head up and watched as the Dragon Council Agent opened the cell door, both then walking inside. As the two dragons stopped in front of him, Swanepoel could see that the one that wasn't carrying the keys to the cell was carrying a pair of shackles.
"Taking me somewhere?" Swanepoel asked in English, smirking.
"Yes." The dragon with the keys said before he leaned forward and started to free Swanepoel. As the Agent did this, the Agent with the shackles stepped to the side, allowing the Agent with the keys to move over to Swanepoel's other hand once his first one was free. Quickly, the Agent released Swanepoel's other hand. Then, the Agent with the keys back up, allowing the Agent with the shackles to step in front of Swanepoel as the prisoner slowly got to his feet.
"Hands on your head." The Agent with the cuffs ordered.
"Of course." Swanepoel complied, doing as he was told.
"Now turn around."
"But of course." Swanepoel said before he turned around. Nervously stepping forward, the Agent with the shackles took hold of Swanepoel's hands, one at a time, pulled them behind his back, and handcuffed him.
The Agent who had cuffed Swanepoel turned him around while the Agent with the keys walked up and took him by one of his arms. The Agent who had cuffed him stepped to the side and took his other arm. Then, the two Agents proceeded to march Swanepoel out of the cell.
LINE BREAK
Holly was sitting at a table with Councilor Asil, both of them in a dimly lit room. The door to the room was opened by Councilor Agata, who then stepped to the side, allowing the two Dragon Council Agents to walk Swanepoel in. Within seconds, they stopped the prisoner in front of the table.
"This is a first." Swanepoel said in English, growling. "You bring me out of my cell to talk?"
"You could say that." Asil replied.
"I'm not sure what there is to talk about." Swanepoel said.
"How about your freedom?" Holly told him, smiling when she saw Swanepoel's jaw drop. "Well, how long have you been incarcerated? Ten years? Eleven?"
"About eleven." Asil said.
"And in all that time, you've been no problem for us." Holly said. "You've had perfect behavior."
"It's hard to act up when all you can do is sit in the back of the cell because you're kept in chains." Swanepoel growled.
"Well, it was for the best." Asil told him. "You see, because you've behaved so well, we've started to think about giving you and your friends one more chance."
"My friends?" Swanepoel asked.
"The remainder of your group that wreaked havoc on several of our Agents." Asil said. "We've decided to give you one more chance to live with the rest of society instead of in a prison cell."
"When would I be released?" Swanepoel asked.
"Tomorrow." Asil said. "And then you'd be flown back to South Africa. From there on, it'll be up to you to find your course."
"Are you willing to enter the free world again?" Holly asked, aware of the smirk that was appearing on Swanepoel's face.
"Oh, yes." He said. "Yes, I would..."
"Tomorrow, you and your friends will be brought to us so we can fill out your release paperwork." Asil said.
"Sounds good." Swanepoel continued to smirk.
"I must warn you, though." Holly said. "Any violation of your parole will result in you being brought back here to serve the remainder of your sentence.
"Oh, don't worry." Swanepoel said, clearly lying. "We'll have no problems."
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, the two Agents escorted Swanepoel out of the room, leading him back to his cell. A foot or two down the hall, Councilor Agata and Sillian, both in their human forms, watched, Agata holding a sheet of paper. The two dragons then watched as Asil and Holly both turned and walked out of the room, meeting up with them.
"Is the prisoner far enough out of earshot?" Asil asked.
"I think so, sir." Sillian replied.
"Have you finished the list?" Asil asked Agata.
"Um, not quite." Agata replied.
"You'll need to have it done by tomorrow, preferably by morning." Holly said. "Akiloye, Mbeki and Jakande are still prisoners, and they will need guards. I plan to have the torturers sent back to South Africa in the morning, and then leave with Akiloye, Mbeki and Jakande in the afternoon. So, you'll need to have it done."
"It is almost done, Councilor Jennings." Agata said. "He..." She indicated to Sillian. "...Will act as one of the guards."
"You're going to need two more." Holly said.
"One more, actually." Agata corrected. "Agent Clark and her assistant are always eager to be sent on missions, so I chose them to act as guards as well."
"I don't see why Mr. Long couldn't guard one on his own." Asil suggested.
"Are you sure about that?" Agata asked. "I was thinking about just choosing one more Agent."
"Who?" Asil asked.
"Well, I was kind of thinking of Agent Junie Horrocks." Agata replied.
"An interesting choice." Asil said. "Do you think she'd be willing to do this?"
"Yes." Holly agreed. "This could be sensitive for her, seeing as the original mission was what got her mother killed."
"Well, I suppose it's too late to find out tonight." Agata said. "She could possibly be asleep by now. I'll...I'll talk to her in the morning. Hopefully, she'll complete my list."
LINE BREAK
The next morning, in South Africa, at the Okafor residence, Kefilwe was seated at her kitchen table, eating her breakfast. Hearing the floorboards creak near the entrance to the room, Kefilwe took her spoon out of her mouth and turned her head to the side, seeing her daughter, Dikeledi Okafor, yawn as she stepped into the kitchen.
"Dikeledi..." Kefilwe said in Afrikaans, her daughter stopping in front of her. "...You overslept. Your Dragon Master will be here any second."
"Do I have time to eat?" Dikeledi asked, also in Afrikaans.
"You will probably have to make it quick."
Nodding in understanding, Dikeledi turned and started to walk around the table, but after only two steps, she froze when she heard three knocks against the front door of the house. "That's got to be him." Kefilwe said as she turned her attention back to her breakfast. Picking up her spoon, she added: "You may not have a chance to eat, after all."
Sighing, Dikeledi turned and started to walk out of the kitchen, making her way to the front door. As soon as she reached it, Dikeledi reached out and opened the door, revealing a male Bottle Green-colored dragon with short black hair, who looked to be in his late thirties.
"Master Onkwani." Dikeledi said respectfully as she took a step back. "Please, come inside."
Onkwani chuckled, crossing his scaly arms. "That isn't necessary." He said in Afrikaans. "I am merely here to start today's training. I must ask, are you ready?"
"Well..." Dikeledi briefly considered telling him that she was not ready, but she quickly decided that it was her fault for oversleeping. It would be irresponsible to ask for mercy from her Dragon Master. "...Yes." She finally answered, sounding disappointed.
"Good." Onkwani said, taking a step back. "Then I believe we should get going."
Dikeledi nodded in understanding before she turned her head to the side to call back into the house: "I'm heading out, mother!"
"Be careful, Dikeledi!" Came Kefilwe's response. Upon getting this response, Dikeledi turned her head back to normal and transformed into her dragon form in a bright light. Stepping out of the house, Dikeledi watched as Onkwani turned and flared his wings, flapping them and taking off into the air. Flaring her wings as well, Dikeledi flapped them and took off after her Dragon Master.
LINE BREAK
Together, Dikeledi and Onkwani flew through the air, heading towards the woods. "Dikeledi..." Onkwani said in Afrikaans. "...I am thinking that we will practice your hand-eye coordination."
"Okay." Dikeledi replied, also in Afrikaans.
Unbeknownst to the two dragons, from below, they were being watched. Hovering just above the ground were two female dragons, one a Wild Watermelon-colored dragon with rather long brown hair and one a Wild Strawberry-colored dragon with short black hair. Together, the two dragons started to fly up towards Dikeledi and Onkwani.
"What exactly will you have me do?" Dikeledi asked.
"Aw..." Onkwani smiled. "...A little sparring, a little speed testing."
"We could do the speed testing now." Dikeledi suggested, turning her head to the side to look at her Dragon Master.
"I would like to do the sparring first, Dikeledi." Onkwani replied. That way, the speed testing will actually be a challenge, as you will hopefully be a little worn out from our sparring session." As Onkwani described his plan, Dikeledi turned her head back to normal.
At that moment, the two female dragons swooped up and stopped in front of Dikeledi and her Dragon Master, hovering in the air as Dikeledi and Onkwani reacted with shock. "Hello, Dikeledi!" The Wild Strawberry-colored dragon exclaimed cheerfully in Afrikaans, waving.
"Oh, hi Ozigbodi." Dikeledi returned. "Tupokigwe." She addressed the Wild Watermelon-colored dragon.
"Hello, girls." Onkwani said cheerfully. "Dikeledi is about to start her training for today."
"We thought so." Ozigbodi replied. "It's usually around this time of day."
"Would you two like to watch, as usual?" Onkwani asked.
"Certainly!" Ozigbodi replied. "You know it's always a treat for us to watch our good friend train and grow stronger!" As Ozigbodi said this, Tupokigwe, the Wild Watermelon-colored dragon nodded before she spoke, also in Afrikaans:
"We love watching her grow stronger, getting closer and closer to becoming the brave, supportive South African Dragon she's destined to be."
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, Onkwani flew in-between some trees and landed in a clearing within the woods. Turning around, Onkwani watched as Dikeledi, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe all flew into the clearing and landed in front of him.
"Are you ready?" Onkwani asked in Afrikaans. "Ozigbodi. Tupokigwe. Why don't you sit to the side?" He pointed at them with his clawed hand and indicated that they step away. Without a word, Dikeledi's two friends did as they were instructed.
"Now..." Continued Onkwani, holding up his clawed hands as he took a fighting stance. "...Let's begin. If I manage to beat you, you will have to do tail-ups on one of the trees." He explained as Dikeledi also took a fighting stance. "Am I clear?"
"Yes." Dikeledi responded as her two friends finally sat down to watch.
"We're rooting for you, Dikeledi!" Ozigbodi said.
"Um, thanks." Dikeledi said, turning her head to the side. Both of her friends smiled at her.
"Dikeledi..." Onkwani said warningly, trying to get her to turn her attention away from her friends.
"Oh." Dikeledi started to turn her head back to normal, but before she could meet Onkwani's gaze, she heard the sound of a plane overhead. Lifting her head up, Dikeledi watched as the Dragon Council's plane flew over them, passing by as the plane's pilots prepared to land.
"Dikeledi!" Onkwani snapped, making Dikeledi quickly look back down at him.
LINE BREAK
The plane landed several miles away from the woods, and even after it landed, it still rolled around on the ground for a few moments before it came to a stop.
In his dragon form, Councilor Asil stood in the section of the plane where he and Agent Rose Long had briefed the Agents that had been sent to South Africa to rescue Dingane's Dragon Master a decade ago. Turning around, the Council member looked at the seats where the Agents had sat; Swanepoel, Naudé, Fouché (all in their dragon forms), Neethling and the human-formed werewolf were sitting there now, all of them with their hands shackled in front of them and rested on their laps.
"We're here." Asil said, crossing his scaly arms.
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, everyone was outside the plane. Asil, still in his dragon form, crossed his scaly arms as one dragon-formed Dragon Council Agent released the prisoners. As soon as he was free and the Agent who had freed him walked away, Swanepoel smirked as he started to rub his wrists. He then started to walk over to Councilor Asil, finally reaching his side as he stopped rubbing his wrists, lowering them to his side.
"This is it?" Swanepoel asked in English, making Asil turn his head to the side.
"What?" Asil asked, turning.
"I asked if this is it." Swanepoel repeated as he also turned, the two dragons now facing each other. Swanepoel put his clawed hands on his hips. "You're just going to leave us here?"
"Councilor Jennings and I told you this last night." Asil replied. "It's up to you to find your way."
"I see." Swanepoel replied as Asil took a step back.
"We'll keep in touch, see how you five are doing." Asil told him. "We'll be able to find out what you're up to."
"I'll keep that in mind." Swanepoel smirked.
Nodding, Asil had nothing more to say. Turning, he started to walk away, Swanepoel turning to watch him go. He could see that the other dragon-formed Dragon Council Agents had left Neethling, the werewolf, Naudé and Fouché and were now boarding the plane from the side door.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, on the Island of Draco, Junie and Rodney were seated together at a table in the cafeteria. Junie put her fork into her food and took a bite out of it. Then, she pushed her tray of food over to Rodney, who raised an eyebrow at her.
"You want some?" Junie asked.
Rodney managed a smile. "No." He told her.
"You sure?" Junie asked, slowly pulling her food tray back over to herself.
"Positive." Rodney said after a nod.
"You're not hungry?" Junie frowned at the dragon who had become her boyfriend. "You should eat."
"No, I'm not hungry." Rodney put his hands on the surface of the table. "If I get hungry, I'll have something to eat later."
Junie's frown grew. "Rodney..." She told him. "...You should always keep your strength up. I want you to be okay."
"What, me not being hungry is a cause for alarm?" Rodney asked.
Junie opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, Councilor Agata arrived at the table. "Excuse me." She said, making both Rodney and Junie turn their heads to their sides so they could look at her. Agata smiled. "Agent Horrocks, I need to speak with you. Do you mind if I sit down?"
"Certainly not." Junie smiled.
Without another word, Agata walked around the side of the table and came up alongside Rodney, sitting down next to him as Rodney turned his attention back to Junie. "So, what do you want to talk to me about?" Junie asked.
"The Council is taking a risk to help three former Agents who, in the last year, have become prisoners." Agata said. "The ones who kidnapped the South African Dragon."
"They were on the mission with my mother." Junie said softly.
"Indeed." Agata's face turned grim. "Agent Horrocks, the risk we decided to take was to...'release'..." She used her hands to make air-quotes. "...Your mother's killers."
"What?" Junie's eyes widened.
"It's for the benefit of the prisoners." Agata explained. "We didn't really release them."
"So, they're still in their cells?" Junie gave Agata a confused look.
"No, they're free." Agata said. "We don't intend to keep them that way. We intend to bring them back. You see, the former Agents were tortured by-"
"I know." Junie said.
"It's all a way to help the former Agents." Agata said. "It was Councilor Dingane's idea."
"So, where are the prisoners?" Junie asked.
"In South Africa." Agata said. "That is where you are needed. We're taking the former Agents there, but since they are still prisoners, they will need guards to keep them in line, just to be cautious. We need one more guard, and I was curious if you'd be willing to be that final guard."
Junie frowned. Agata noticed this, as she frowned as well. "You do not want to?" She asked.
"I'm sor-" Junie started to say, but then her face lit up. "Rodney!" She declared, Rodney quickly reacting with shock.
"Wh...What?" He asked.
"You can do it, Rodney!" Junie said. "You can be the final guard!"
"Are you sure about this, Agent Horrocks?" Agata asked.
"Ju...Junie, why me?" Rodney asked.
"Yes!"
"But I-"
"Come on, Rodney!" Junie reached out and took Rodney's hand. "Please? Do it for me? Prove to me that you're strong enough for this."
"But-" Rodney started to say, but when he saw the pleading look in Junie's eyes, he sighed and relented. "Okay." He smiled at her. Giving her hand a squeeze, he added: "I'll do it. I'm strong enough."
LINE BREAK
Back in South Africa, Swanepoel, the werewolf, Neethling, Fouché and Naudé continued to stand in the area where they had been released. Swanepoel, who was facing them all, smiled as he put his clawed hands on his hips.
"Finally..." He said in Afrikaans. "...After eleven years locked up in prison, we're free and back together."
"I am interested to see how South Africa has changed." Naudé said, also in Afrikaans.
"There is only one place to go in order to find out." Swanepoel said.
"Where?" Fouché asked, also in Afrikaans.
"Follow me." Swanepoel ordered, turning and taking a step forward before he spread his wings out, preparing to take off. However, before he could start flapping his wings, he heard Neethling growl in frustration.
Annoyed, Swanepoel turned back around, seeing both Neethling and the human-formed werewolf cross their arms. "What?" Swanepoel asked.
"They didn't give me back my wand." Neethling growled in Afrikaans.
"And they didn't give me back my power bands." The werewolf added, also in Afrikaans.
"Well, that's okay..." Swanepoel smirked as he took a step back. "...As I said, there is only one place we can go..."
The werewolf's eyes widened. "We're going...?"
"That's right." Swanepoel spread his wings. "We're going to visit our dear friend, Wamugunda."
LINE BREAK
Back at the Okafor's home, Kefilwe was putting her dish in her sink. Just after pulling her hands out of the sink, she gasped as she heard a ringing coming from her side. Turning, she spotted her communication device a few inches away, alerting her to an incoming call.
Quickly, Kefilwe stepped over to it and picked it up. Holding it in both hands, Kefilwe pressed a button which caused the holographic image of Councilor Asil, still in his dragon form, to appear. Kefilwe smiled. "Councilor!" She said in English.
"Good day." Asil replied. "I received your letter yesterday, and I have read it."
"Are you calling to tell me that you'll help my daughter out?" Kefilwe asked hopefully.
"As a matter of fact..." Asil smiled. "...I am."
"How?" Kefilwe asked, smiling happily.
"I was just in South Africa a few moments ago." Asil told her. "But now I am on my way back to the Island of Draco. I made a drop-off."
"I don't follow." Kefilwe said.
"The drop-off was a group of prisoners." Asil explained. "They were unhappy when Councilor Dingane was the South African Dragon. They...resorted to violence, which is why they were imprisoned."
"Why did you bring them here?"
"Our hope is that they'll lead us to some of the unhappy dragons who might be willing to commit violence against your daughter." Asil explained. "I'm glad, even though you made a list of problems that your daughter has had to face, that none of them have been instances of violence. We hope to keep it that way. We hope to catch potentially violent dragons before they act."
"What do you want Dikeledi and myself to do?" Kefilwe asked.
"Is your daughter home?" Asil asked.
"No." Kefilwe replied. "She's training with her Dragon Master."
"Well, that's okay." Asil smiled. "I still have to return to the Island of Draco. Do you know what time she will be home?"
"I can't imagine more than a few more hours."
"Well, myself and the rest of the Council will be coming back to South Africa." Asil said. "As I have to go back to get them, it will take a few hours, just enough time for your daughter to get home. I'll contact you again when we're on our way. From there, we'll decide on a place to meet."
LINE BREAK
Back on the Island of Draco, Agata brought Rodney into the Main Hall, where Sillian and Lin-Lin (both in their human forms) and Jake III were all standing before Holly, who sat alone at the large table. As Agata stopped Rodney at Jake's side, Holly blinked in confusion. "Councilor, I thought Agent Horrocks was..."
"She didn't want to do it." Agata replied.
"Oh." Holly said. "So, he will be one of the guards?"
"Yes." Agata replied. "Is there anything else I can do before Councilor Asil returns?"
"Councilor Dingane and Councilor Yara need your help getting Akiloye, Mbeki and Jakande from their cells." Holly told her. Nodding, Agata turned and left to help her two fellow Councilors.
LINE BREAK
Councilor Agata arrived at the prison. As she got closer, she could see that Councilor Yara, in her dragon form, was standing with Siboniso and Letsego near the entrance to the prison. Both Letsego and Siboniso were in their dragon forms and both had their clawed hands shackled in front of them. Both looked confused.
"Councilor." Agata said as she stopped in front of the three dragons. "Councilor Jennings told me that you needed help getting the prisoners from their cells."
"I'm not sure." Yara replied. "We've already got two of them. Councilor Dingane went back inside to get Akiloye. He should be able to handle it, but if you want to check on him, you can."
Agata nodded. "I'll do that." She said before she walked around them and entered the prison. Upon entering, Agata transformed into her dragon form in a bright light. As soon as the transformation was complete, Agata flapped her wings and took off down the halls.
A short time later, Agata turned around a corner and lowered herself to the ground, having gotten close enough to Kefentse's cell. The cell door was open, and within seconds, Kefentse, still in his dragon form and with his clawed hands in shackles, was walked out of the cell by the dragon-formed Councilor Dingane. Quickly, they turned to face her, allowing Dingane to look at her as he came to stand by Kefentse, putting a clawed hand on his shoulder. "Councilor Agata..."
"I see that I'm too late." Agata said. "Councilor Jennings told me that you needed help. I'm sorry that I was too late."
"Don't worry about it." Dingane gave her a reassuring smile. "I entrusted Mbeki and Jakande to Councilor Yara."
"I saw that." Agata replied.
"Well, why don't we go outside?" Dingane suggested. "Hopefully, Councilor Asil will be back soon."
Nodding in agreement, Agata turned and walked back around the corner. Quickly, Dingane and Kefentse followed her lead. "What is this all about?" Kefentse asked in English, in a hushed voice. "Where are you taking me?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Dingane replied with a smirk.
LINE BREAK
Back in South Africa, Swanepoel, Naudé and Fouché, Neethling on Fouché's back and the human-formed werewolf on Naudé's back, landed in front of a building. The building was the mixture of a shop and a house-that was to say that there was a two-story house that was attached to a one story shop.
Neethling and the werewolf quickly got off of Fouché's and Naudé's backs. "How can you be sure that he still lives here?" Fouché asked in Afrikaans.
"I'm certain that he does." Swanepoel replied, also in Afrikaans, before he started to walk over to the shop. As soon as he stopped in front of the front door of the shop, Neethling, the werewolf, Fouché and Naudé walking up behind him, he saw that the there was a sign on the door that said: "Closed."
"It's closed." Naudé said in Afrikaans.
"I guess we now know that he's still here." Fouché crossed her scaly arms. "Either that, or he's abandoned the place."
"The sign doesn't apply to us." Swanepoel decided, putting his index claw into the doorknob, turning it and unlocking the door. A second later, he pushed the door open and walked inside, Naudé, Neethling, the werewolf and Fouché following him in, in that order.
As he walked further into the room, Swanepoel could see that the shop was still kept in nice shape. There was no dust, no cobwebs. All evidence pointed to the place still having inhabitants. Just as Swanepoel stopped in the center of the shop, to the side of a veiled doorway, the others stopping behind him, there came a thud from the other side of the veil, making Swanepoel and the others spin around.
"Who's in there?!" Shouted an angry man in Afrikaans. "If you touch any of my merchandise, I'm going to-" Before he could finish, he, a KU Crimson-colored dragon pushed through the veil and stepped into the shop. Upon seeing Swanepoel and the others, he stopped speaking, his eyes widening. "Swanepoel?" He could only ask.
Swanepoel smirked as he crossed his scaly arms. "Hello, Quaashie." He greeted him. "Surprised to see us?"
"But...But aren't you all supposed to be in prison?" The dragon, Quaashie, asked.
"We were released." Swanepoel told him. "Honestly, we were. The Dragon Council actually released us. We signed our release papers this morning and then we were dropped off here."
"I thought that you would never see the outside world again." Quaashie said. "After killing the South African Dragon's Dragon Master, you got off easily."
"Eleven years is a long time to be locked up." Swanepoel replied, putting his clawed hands on his hips. "Perhaps you were wise to turn down our offer to join our group. While Gedleyihlekisa and Slabbert lost their lives and we spent over a decade locked in a prison cell, you've continued to live a peaceful life."
"Yes, but things haven't gotten any better." Quaashie replied.
"Oh?" Swanepoel asked.
"That Dingane dragon was removed." Quaashie explained, putting his clawed hands on his hips. "And a new South African Dragon was selected. She was replaced. Now, we're back where we were with Dingane."
"Care to elaborate?" Swanepoel asked.
Nodding, Quaashie turned and started to walk over to a stand where many items for sale were kept. "Gather around..." Quaashie turned his head to the side. "...And I'll tell you about the new South African Dragon."
Seconds later, Quaashie sat down at his stand, while Swanepoel, Neethling, Fouché, the werewolf and Naudé stopped on the other side, starting to listen. "The new dragon's name is Dikeledi Okafor." Quaashie explained. "She's about the same as Dingane, in that the problem we all had with him, is present in her." He then sighed. "It almost makes me wish that I took action along with you all those years ago." Then, he smirked. "I've tried to act, I will admit."
"How?" Swanepoel asked.
Before Quaashie could respond, both Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi, both still in their dragon forms, walked through the veil and turned to face their father. "Father, we're home." Ozigbodi declared in Afrikaans.
Immediately, Quaashie jumped from his seat. He quickly then walked around the stand as Swanepoel and the others turned around to face them. Both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe separated from each other, allowing their father to stand in-between them and turn around to face Swanepoel as he, Neethling, Fouché, Naudé and the werewolf all walked over to them.
Smiling, Quaashie put his scaly arms around his two daughters. "This is how." He told them. "I sent my two daughters to make friends with Dikeledi Okafor so that they can influence her actions as the South African Dragon. Their goal has been to manipulate her into taking extra care into helping the magical creatures that live here, to manipulate her into showing real compassion and understanding."
"And how has it worked?" Neethling asked in Afrikaans.
Quaashie frowned as he took his scaly arms away from his daughters. "Not too well." He reported. "They are trying their best, so I can't be unhappy with them, but Dikeledi Okafor is still showing no more true understanding and compassion than Dingane did."
"That's not good." Swanepoel crossed his scaly arms. "It seems clear from my view that you're not taking extreme enough measures."
"You're not thinking about abducting and murdering her Dragon Master, are you?" Quaashie asked.
"No." Swanepoel smiled as he put his clawed hands on his hips. "That plan was Gedleyihlekisa's, and it didn't work. No, I will be taking charge now. My actions will be a bit more straight to the point."
"What do you plan to do?" Quaashie asked.
"We simply go after this Dikeledi Okafor." Swanepoel replied.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Dikeledi reached her home. Landing on the ground, she reverted to her human form in a bright light. Then, she quickly went to the front door, knocking three times. "It's open!" Kefilwe shouted in Afrikaans from inside the house as Dikeledi pulled her hand away.
Quickly, Dikeledi reached for the doorknob and opened the door, walking into the house and closing the door behind her. A few seconds later, Dikeledi stepped into the kitchen, where she found her mother sitting at the table.
Smiling, Kefilwe turned her head to the side, then she got up from her chair and walked over to her daughter. "Dikeledi, I have great news!" She declared.
"What?" Dikeledi asked, also in Afrikaans.
"I sent a letter to the Dragon Council." Kefilwe explained. "I told them about your hardships, and I asked for assistance. They've agreed to help."
"Really?" Dikeledi asked.
"They called me while you were training." Kefilwe explained. "They're coming here."
"How are they going to help?"
"Councilor Asil mentioned something about using some prisoners to lead them to the problem." Kefilwe tried to explain. "You know what? I'll just let him explain when the Council gets here."
"When are they going to get here?"
"Councilor Asil told me that he would contact us once they're on their way." Kefilwe answered. "Hopefully, they'll be arriving soon."
LINE BREAK
Back on the Island of Draco, Councilor Asil had returned. Outside the plane, Councilor Agata stood beside Kefentse, Councilor Dingane stood in-between him and Siboniso, and Councilor Yara stood in-between her and Letsego. All were still in their dragon forms, and all watched as Holly and Councilor Asil, both in their human forms, led Rodney, Jake III, Lin-Lin, Sillian (the three dragons in their dragon forms) over to them. A few seconds later, the two groups met up.
"What is going on?" Kefentse asked in English. "Councilor Dingane told me that you would tell us."
"Indeed we shall." Holly said. "Councilor Asil, please inform them of what is going on." She turned her head to the side to look at Asil.
"Yes, Councilor." Asil replied. "Unfortunately, the magical creatures who murdered Councilor Dingane's Dragon Master and tortured you all of those years ago, have escaped." Seeing the shocked and horrified reactions of Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego, Asil continued: "You have had experience with them, and we require your help to get them back."
"Our help?" Letsego asked, also in English. "But what can we do?"
"More than you know." Asil said.
Holly then spoke up again. "You are, however, still our prisoners. You will be guarded." After saying this, both she and Asil turned around to face the Agents they had chosen to be the guards. "Well, let's see..." Holly started. "...Agent Clark, why don't you and your assistant guard Mbeki?"
Nodding, Lin-Lin walked forward as Jake III swallowed hard. Lin-Lin walked in-between the two Councilors, walking over to Letsego, leaving Jake behind. Sillian, noticing this, turned his head to the side, seeing Jake swallow hard again. Quickly, Sillian used his clawed hand to hit Jake in the back of his shoulder, snapping him back into reality. Quickly, Jake jerked his head to the side to look at Sillian. "What are you waiting for?" Sillian asked him. "Go on."
"Oh." Jake said before he turned his head back to normal. "Sorry." He said before he hurried forward, passing through Holly and Asil.
"Agent McClellan..." Holly continued. "...Why don't you act as Jakande's guard?"
"And that leaves you..." Asil addressed Sillian.
"...To guard Akiloye." Sillian finished for him as Rodney walked forward. "Yes, sir." Then, he started to follow Rodney.
With Sillian and Rodney going over to the prisoners, Asil and Holly turned to face each other. "We should be on our way." Asil told her.
Holly nodded. "I wish you all luck." She said. "I hope this helps."
"Me too." Asil agreed.
LINE BREAK
A short time later, on the plane, as they all made their way to South Africa, everyone was in the back of the plane. Rodney and Sillian both stood together as they watched Councilor Agata rounded Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego together and then crouched down, setting down a device and pressing a button. This caused glowing holographic bars to come from the device, trapping Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego.
"Councilor..." Sillian said as Agata stood up, then turning to face them. "...Aren't...Aren't we supposed to guard them? If you're just going to cage them up, then why are we here?"
"This is just for the ride." Agata smiled. "We can keep them detained on the plane. We can't do that so easily once we get to South Africa. That's why."
"Aw." Sillian said.
Still smiling, Councilor Agata turned and walked away. Alone with Rodney, Sillian turned his head to the side and saw Lin-Lin, now in her human form, standing with Jake III, only Jake was a few inches from her and he wasn't facing her. Lin-Lin didn't seem to notice, as she was focusing on her fingernails. Silently, Sillian turned and started to walk over to her.
"Can I talk to you?" Sillian asked as he stopped in front of Lin-Lin, making her gasp and look up.
"What do you want to talk about?" Lin-Lin asked, crossing her arms.
"Well, first of all, I'd like to talk to just you." To cement his point, after he said this, Sillian pointed to the side at Jake.
"Sure." Lin-Lin said, stepping away from the wall. Then, she turned to face Jake. "Jake?"
Quickly, Jake turned to face her. "Y...Yes, Lin-Lin?" He asked nervously.
"I need to talk to Agent Clark." Sillian said as he also turned to face Jake. "It's kind of personal."
"Personal?" Jake asked.
"Just the two of us." Sillian put his clawed hand on Lin-Lin's shoulder. "It doesn't concern you. Could you step away for a few minutes?"
"Oh." Jake replied. "Um, yeah. Sure."
Sillian and Lin-Lin watched as Jake turned and walked away. A few seconds later, they turned to face each other again. "Okay, so I lied." Sillian admitted.
"What did you lie about?" Lin-Lin crossed her arms again.
"I said that this conversation doesn't concern him." Sillian put his clawed hands on his hips. "That isn't true. This is actually about him. Have you noticed that...he's been acting a little weird today? He seems unfocused."
"Yeah." Lin-Lin replied. "I have noticed that. He's...He's been like that for a few days."
Meanwhile, Councilor Asil was standing in the back of the room, watching all the movement with his scaly arms crossed. Taking a deep breath, as he exhaled, Asil reverted to his human form in a bright light. Then, he reached into his robe and pulled out his communication device.
LINE BREAK
Back at the Okafor's home, both Kefilwe and Dikeledi were sitting at the kitchen table when Kefilwe's communication device started to ring. Almost immediately, Kefilwe grinned.
"Dikeledi, I think that's them!" She said in Afrikaans.
"Then you should pick it up." Dikeledi replied, also in Afrikaans.
Nodding, Kefilwe picked herself up and hurried over to the counter, picking up her communication device. Pressing a button, Kefilwe watched as the holographic image of Councilor Asil appeared.
"You will be happy to know that we are on our way." Councilor Asil said with a smile.
"Good." Kefilwe said, switching to English. "Dikeledi is home. I told her that you are going to help."
"As soon as we get here, we will." Asil nodded. "But before we get here, we have to discuss something important. Where are we going to meet once we land?"
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, at Quaashie's home and shop, Quaashie, now in his human form, sat back down behind the counter, the werewolf and Neethling on the other side. "Aw..." Quaashie said in Afrikaans, smiling. "...I should have known that there was another reason why you were here. You need something from me. What can I get you?"
"Unless you can get me another wand..." Neethling replied, also in Afrikaans. "...Then only Prinsloo needs something." Then, she turned and left, walking over to the still dragon-formed Swanepoel, who was standing in front of the veiled doorway.
"What can I get you, Prinsloo?" Quaashie asked.
"Upon my arrest..." Prinsoo explained in Afrikaans, holding up her wrists. "...The Dragon Council stripped me of my power bands." She lowered her hands as she continued. "Do you still carry them?"
"Of course." Quaashie winked at her.
Meanwhile, Neethling and Swanepoel passed through the veil and stepped into the house, where they found Fouché and Naudé, both in their dragon forms, waiting for them. "I have something important for you two to do." Swanepoel told them in Afrikaans.
"What can we do?" Naudé asked, also in Afrikaans.
"Talk to Quaashie's daughters." Swanepoel crossed his scaly arms. "We're going to need them."
"We can do that." Naudé told him.
"Good." Swanepoel smirked. Then, he turned and started to back into Quaashie's shop. After passing through the veil, Swanepoel turned around, seeing Prinsloo, now in werewolf form, taking her claws away from the band that was around her neck.
Quickly, Swanepoel walked up to the counter as Quaashie started to stand up from his seat. "Sit back down, Quaashie." Swanepoel said with a smile on his face as he put his clawed hands down on the counter, hunching over it. "I need to take a purchase."
"You do?" Quaashie asked.
"Yes."
"What do you need?"
Swanepoel waited until Quaashie had taken his seat before he spoke again. "Do you have any guns?" He asked.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe, in their human forms, were seated at the kitchen table. Both Fouché and Naudé turned and entered the kitchen, spotting them.
"I'll handle this." Fouché growled in Afrikaans, turning her head to the side and looking at Naudé. When she did not answer, Fouché turned her head back to normal and started to walk over to the table. She reached it within seconds, and when she saw that the girls did not notice her presence, she put her hand down to the table and drummed her claws against the wood. This made both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe turn their heads to their sides to look at her.
"We need to talk." Fouché declared. "Do you mind if I sit down?"
LINE BREAK
Moments later, both Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi pushed through the veil and walked into their father's shop. Turning to face the counter, they could see that their father had given Swanepoel a handgun. Swanepoel was too busy inspecting it to notice the two girls had entered.
"Father!" Ozigbodi said in Afrikaans, making Swanepoel drop the gun and spin around to face the girls, just as Fouché walked into the room.
"Didn't you talk to them like I told you?" Swanepoel asked in Afrikaans, sounding annoyed.
"I did." Fouché replied in Afrikaans, turning to face Swanepoel and crossing her scaly arms.
"Then what's the problem?" Swanepoel asked.
"Should we really be going after Dikeledi like this?" Ozigbodi asked. "Yes, she may be a bit aloof, but she's still our friend."
Swanepoel chuckled as he held the gun up, starting to walk over to the two girls. Finally, he reached them, and Ozigbodi swallowed hard. "Are you happy with her work as the South African Dragon?" He asked her.
"N...Not particularly." Ozigbodi replied.
"Then you have to act." Swanepoel told her before he suddenly thrust the barrel of the gun forward, putting it against Ozigbodi's forehead, startling her. "And there's only one thing that you need to keep in mind, my dear girl." Swanepoel growled. "You're either against her or you're against us."
"Swanepoel, stop pointing that gun at my daughter." Quaashie demanded in Afrikaans, putting his hands on his hips.
Upon hearing this, Swanepoel quickly did as he was told. "She's not really your friend." Swanepoel told her. "Remember the mission your father gave you? It was to guide her in the right direction, not to befriend her!"
"To do that, we had to befriend her." Tupokigwe told him in Afrikaans.
"She's not really your friend." Swanepoel repeated. "She's a problem-a problem that I plan to solve. You're going to help."
"But must we really hurt her?" Tupokigwe asked.
"Yes." Swanepoel crossed his scaly arms. "We kill her, the Dragon Council will replace her, and hopefully that replacement will be what we all want in a Dragon of South Africa. If not, then I suppose we will just have to keep revolting until we get one that fits our tastes." Then, he turned around to face Quaashie. "Now, for how we are going to catch her..."
"That could be hard." Quaashie said.
"Not really." Swanepoel smirked. "This plan is where your daughters' relationship with Dikeledi Okafor is really going to come in handy."
"What do you plan on having us do?" Tupokigwe asked nervously.
"Will she train with her Dragon Master tomorrow?" Swanepoel asked.
"Yes." Ozigbodi replied softly.
"And you'll be there?"
"Trust me, Swanepoel." Quaashie said. "They'll be there."
"Good." Swanepoel smirked again. "Quaashie, your daughters are going to be used as bait for Dikeledi Okafor..."
LINE BREAK
Much later that afternoon, near the time of day when most families would be getting ready to sit down for dinner, both Dikeledi and Kefilwe flew through the air. Eventually, they landed in a rather large field, where the Council's plane had already landed.
The two watched as Councilor Asil and Councilor Dingane, both in their dragon forms, walked up to them. They quickly stopped in front of them. "Welcome, Councilors." Kefilwe said in English, smiling at them. "Trust me when I say that I am so happy that you are going to help my daughter."
"We believe you." Asil said. "We just want to do something before all this unrest ends with violence."
"You don't have to tell me." Kefilwe put a clawed hand on her daughter's scaly shoulder.
Asil nodded. "Now, I must admit that I was not being completely honest with you when I called." He admitted. "There was something that I did not tell you."
"What?" Kefilwe asked.
"In that plane..." Dingane spoke up in English, turning and pointing at the plane. "...Are three prisoners." After saying this, he turned back to face the two female dragons. "They are the ones that, last year, attacked you in your home, made you flee to our island, and then abducted you from there." Upon hearing this, both Dikeledi and Kefilwe reacted with shock.
"Why are they here?" Dikeledi demanded in English.
"They are important." Asil said. "Do you remember how I told you about me releasing the prisoners who resorted to violence when Councilor Dingane was the South African Dragon?"
"Yes." Kefilwe replied.
"They were perhaps the biggest problem of the unrest that Dingane faced." Asil said. "Our hope in releasing them is that they will lead us to other potentially violent dragons, as I told you."
"What you don't know..." Councilor Dingane spoke up. "...Is that those three were former Dragon Council Agents, captured and tortured by those dragons."
"They're here..." Asil took over. "...For us to help them personally. Overall our goal is to help all of you. Not just you, Dragon Okafor."
"Councilors!" Came the sound of Sillian's voice from behind Dingane and Asil. Both dragons turned around to see that Sillian, Kefentse, Lin-Lin, Letsego, Jake III, Rodney, Siboniso, Yara and Agata walking towards them. All dragons were still in their dragon forms, and Kefentse, Letsego and Siboniso had been released from their shackles.
"We just finished speaking to the Okafors." Asil declared as the group stopped in front of them. "I believe they understand the plan."
"What do they have to do with this?" Kefentse asked.
"The South African Dragon could be in grave danger." Dingane told him, putting his clawed hands on his hips.
"How long will you be staying here?" Kefilwe spoke up, making both Dingane and Asil turn back to face them.
"As long as it takes to re-capture the prisoners." Asil told her.
"You will need a place to stay?" Kefilwe asked.
"Are you offering?" Dingane asked. When Kefilwe nodded, Dingane smiled. "We were intending to just stay on the plane."
"But if you are willing to have us as your guests, then we would be honored." Asil added.
LINE BREAK
Later that evening, at the Okafor home, everyone was seated at the kitchen table, in their human forms. Dikeledi and her mother sat together, Asil, Dingane, Agata and Yara sat together, Lin-Lin, Jake III and Letsego sat together, and Sillian, Kefentse, Rodney and Siboniso sat together, all of them focusing more on the stew that Kefilwe had cooked them than each other.
Finally, Councilor Asil set his spoon down and looked up at Kefilwe and Dikeledi, smiling at them. "This is quite delicious." He complemented.
"Oh, thank you." Kefilwe replied softly, in English.
"Forgive me for asking, but what is it?" Sillian asked, twiddling his spoon in his bowl. "I'm not too familiar with your culture."
"It's Potjiekos." Kefilwe replied.
"Aw." Sillian replied, looking back down at his food. "Well, I agree with Councilor Asil. It is quite good."
"Thank you." Kefilwe repeated. "Um, about your rooms..." She changed the subject. "...We have two spare bedrooms. I...I don't know how it will be enough."
"It won't be." Dingane replied. "As I said earlier, it was our intention to stay in the plane."
"Will that be comfortable?" Kefilwe asked.
"It will be enough." Agata said.
"How about this?" Asil suggested. "Why don't we stay in the plane, and our Agents and the prisoners can stay here?"
"Are you sure that is wise, sir?" Sillian asked. "The prisoners-"
"You are guarding them." Yara replied. "Everything should be fine."
LINE BREAK
About an hour later, Sillian and Kefentse were in the kitchen, doing the dishes, while Kefilwe stood at her front door, bidding the Councilors, who were just about to leave, goodnight. "Once again..." Councilor Asil said. "Your food was delicious."
"Thank you." Kefilwe, in English, replied yet again. "I'm glad you liked it. And thank you for helping my daughter."
"Do not mention it." Dingane said as he stepped forward. He smiled. "We can't have Dragon Okafor going through what I went through when I was the South African Dragon." Then, he reached out and put a hand on Kefilwe's shoulder. "I just have one question." He changed the subject.
"Yes?" Kefilwe asked.
"Does your daughter have dragon training tomorrow?"
"Yes." Kefilwe replied. "Every day."
"Aw." Dingane sounded excited. Taking his hand away from her shoulder, he asked: "Would you object if we watched in on your daughter's training tomorrow?"
"Certainly not, Councilor." Kefilwe replied.
"Very good." Dingane replied. "I would very much like to watch her. What time does she usually start training?"
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, inside the house, Dikeledi led Rodney, Lin-Lin, Jake III, Siboniso and Letsego down the halls of the house. A few seconds later, Dikeledi stopped them in front of a closed bedroom door. As the Agents and prisoners stopped, Dikeledi turned and opened the door, taking one step into the room and turning to face the others who were all staring into the room.
"This is going to be your room." Dikeledi said in English, pointing at Lin-Lin and Jake."
"So, the next room will be ours?" Rodney asked.
"Actually, my mother wants that other Agent to have the other spare room." Dikeledi put her hands on her hips as Lin-Lin, Jake and Letsego walked by her."
"So, where are we going to sleep?" Rodney questioned as Siboniso stood beside him.
"I'll be sharing my room with you." Dikeledi replied.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, outside the house, Asil, Dingane, Yara and Agata all made their way back to their plane. Without saying a word to Asil, Councilor Dingane hurried forward and forced his way in-between Councilor Yara and Councilor Agata.
"Councilor..." He turned his head to the side to look at Yara. "...May I ask a favor from you?"
"Go ahead." Yara told him, turning her head to the side to look at him.
"Tomorrow, while we watch Dragon Okafor train..." Dingane proposed. "...There is something that I think you should do with Akiloye..."
LINE BREAK
Back at the Okafor's home, Kefilwe stepped into the kitchen, finding that Kefentse and Sillian were finishing with the dishes. As Kefentse stacked the last of the plates with the others, Sillian turned and walked over to Kefilwe, stopping in front of her.
"Find Dikeledi." Kefilwe said in English, putting her hands on her hips. "She'll take you to the room you'll be staying in."
Nodding, Sillian walked around her, allowing Kefentse to nervously approach her. "Yes?" Kefilwe asked, switching to Afrikaans.
"Th...Thank you for the food." Kefentse replied softly, also in Afrikaans. "I...I'm sorry for attacking and abducting you and your daughter. I had no idea that she was going to hurt you." He finished as Kefilwe frowned.
"Well..." She replied, lifting her arms up and crossing them. "...It's in the past."
Before Kefentse could say anything, he heard the sound of Sillian's voice: "Akiloye!"About two seconds later, Sillian returned to the kitchen, stepping into the doorway. "Akiloye, you need to keep up." He told the prisoner he was guarding.
"My apologies..." Kefentse switched to English, starting to walk around Kefilwe.
"Come on." Sillian took a step back, starting to turn so that he could continue walking. "We need to find Dragon Okafor." He started to leave the kitchen before he was even finished speaking. As Kefilwe turned around, Kefentse did as he was told, following after his guard.
LINE BREAK
The next morning, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe, both in their human forms, exited their father's shop/home, followed by Swanepoel and Fouché, who were both in their dragon forms. Both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe came to a stop when Swanepoel and Fouché reached out and grabbed their shoulders, respectively. Then, they both turned around to face them.
"Are you both clear on the plan?" Swanepoel asked them in Afrikaans.
"Perhaps we should run it by them one more time." Fouché said, also in Afrikaans, putting her clawed hands on her hips.
"We are both clear." Ozigbodi assured them in Afrikaans.
"Are you sure?" Fouché asked.
"Yes."
"Then tell us the plan from your understanding." Swanepoel crossed his scaly arms.
Ozigbodi sighed as she crossed her arms. "You're just keeping us from meeting up with Dikeledi." She argued.
"We're not." Swanepoel said, narrowing his eyes.
Putting her hands on her hips, Ozigbodi practically spoke through her teeth: "You're going to follow us to where Dikeledi is. Then, you're going to pretend to kidnap us. Dikeledi will follow."
"Yes, but what if she doesn't follow us?" Tupokigwe asked, also in Afrikaans.
"She will." Swanepoel assured her. "She thinks she's your friend, right?"
"Yes." Tupokigwe responded.
"Then she will come to your rescue." Swanepoel said. "Now, at that point, what will happen?"
"Neethling and Prinsloo will be waiting with a net." Ozigbodi finished.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Onkwani, in his dragon form, landed right at the front door of the Okafor home. Quickly, he lifted his clawed hand up and knocked twice against the door. As he pulled his hand away, the door opened, and Onkwani was shocked to see that Councilor Dingane, in his human form, was the one to open the door.
"Councilor?" Onkwani asked in English.
"Good morning, Master Onkwani." Dingane smiled at him.
"What are you doing here, sir?" Onkwani asked. "Are...Are the other Councilors here?"
"They are." Dingane replied, putting his hand up on the doorframe. "We have business here, with your pupil."
"Should I reschedule today's training?"
"No." Dingane replied. "No, Dragon Okafor can still train. In fact, I'm excited to watch you teach her today."
"Really?" Onkwani asked.
"Yes." Dingane continued to smile as he turned in the doorway so that Onkwani could see that Dikeledi, Sillian, Kefentse, Rodney, Siboniso, Lin-Lin, Jake III, Letsego, Councilor Agata, Councilor Asil and Councilor Yara were all standing about a foot away from the front door. "We all are excited to watch."
LINE BREAK
From below, Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi, both in their dragon forms, watched as Onkwani, Dikeledi, Asil, Dingane, Agata, Yara, Lin-Lin (with Jake III on her back), Letsego, Sillian, Kefentse, Rodney and Siboniso all flew through the air in their dragon forms.
"Here we go..." Tupokigwe muttered in Afrikaans as her sister stared up at the dragons with worry. "...Are you ready?"
"I suppose." Ozigbodi replied softly, also in Afrikaans.
Then, the two sisters flapped their wings and flew up to the others, finally stopping in front of Onkwani and Dikeledi within a few seconds, making the entire group stop.
"Aw..." Onkwani smiled, speaking in Afrikaans. "...There you are. Right on time. I assume that you two are going to watch today."
"You would be correct." Ozigbodi replied, trying to sound excited as she and her sister smiled.
"As it turns out..." Onkwani told them. "...You'll be watching in a rather large group today."
"Oh?" Ozigbodi asked.
"You see them?" Dikeledi asked in Afrikaans, pointing behind her. "They're watching today."
"Nice, big audience." Was all Tupokigwe said.
Then, the two sisters moved to the side and allowed the group to keep moving forward. Quickly, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe swept to the side and joined up with Dikeledi. As they continued to fly, Dikeledi noticed the nervous, apprehensive look that was on Ozigbodi's face.
Growing concerned, Dikeledi turned her head to the side to look at her. "Are you okay?" She asked, making Ozigbodi gasp and turn her head to the side. "Ozigbodi?" Dikeledi asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Ozigbodi gave Dikeledi a false smile. "Perfectly fine. Peachy. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Dikeledi asked.
"No." Ozigbodi said after a brief moment. "No, I can handle it." She assured Dikeledi as she turned her head back to normal.
LINE BREAK
A short time later, in the woods, the tails of Dikeledi and Onkwani clashed with one another. Onkwani was thrown back, but he was able to put his clawed hands on the ground and flip back up onto his feet as Councilor Dingane, Councilor Yara, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe, in their human forms, sat on a log together, watching with Councilor Asil and Councilor Agata, also in their human forms, standing on each side of the log.
Turning his attention away from the sparring session, Dingane turned his head to the side, looking over his shoulder to see that Kefentse, Letsego, Siboniso, Sillian, Rodney, Jake III and Lin-Lin (all of the dragons in their human forms) were all standing together, clearly more focused on each other than the sparring session between Dikeledi and her Dragon Master.
Clearing his throat, Dingane turned his head in the other direction, now looking at Councilor Yara, who turned her head to the side to look at him. "Now would be a good time." He told her.
Nodding, Councilor Yara started to get up. Once she was on her feet, she turned and stepped over the log, starting to walk over to the prisoners and their guards. "I don't see how this solves anything..." Letsego muttered in English, crossing his arms. "...How is just standing here going to help us find the escaped prisoners?" He finished as Yara stopped in-between the group.
"Can I talk with you?" Yara asked as she put a hand on Kefentse's shoulder, making him turn his head to the side.
"You want to talk to him, Councilor?" Sillian asked.
"I do." Yara said as she turned her head to the side to look at Sillian, Kefentse doing the same. "It won't take long."
"Do you also want to talk to the others?" Rodney asked.
"No, just Akiloye." Yara replied before she turned her head back to normal.
"By all means, go right on ahead." Sillian replied. With Sillian's permission, Councilor Yara led Kefentse away. Moments later, they came to a stop, and Yara gently put him up against a tree.
"How long are we just going to sit around here?" Kefentse asked.
"Until Dragon Okafor's training is over." Yara replied, crossing her arms. "That's not quite what I wanted to discuss with you, Akiloye."
"What did you want to discuss?"
"What...are you going to do when we find those magical creatures?" Yara asked. "Have you thought about that?"
"No."
"Well..." Yara put her hand to her chin. "...After what was done to you, I would think that you'd want to get revenge on your torturer."
Kefentse blinked in response. "Part of me does." He replied, then he growled: "Part of me wants to kill him..."
"Part of you?" Yara egged his feelings of anger on. "Why not all of you? Don't you think he deserves it?" She finished with a smirk.
Kefentse blinked in confusion. Yara continued: "What do you have to lose? You're already our prisoner. Just...get a chance to make him feel the pain you feel. Just a little food for thought, Akiloye. That's all." She finished, putting her hands on her hips. "You can go back to your guard now." With that, she turned and walked back over to the rest of the Council.
A few seconds later, Councilor Yara returned to the log and sat back down next to Dingane. "Well?" Dingane asked in a hushed voice. "Did you encourage him to hurt his torturer? Did you encourage him to make the wrong choice?"
"I did." Yara replied, also in a hushed voice. "I just hope I didn't come off as too obvious."
"I doubt that." Dingane replied. "We have plenty more time. You can keep encouraging him to make the wrong choice as the day goes along."
"Councilor, are you sure that encouraging Akiloye to commit violence is wise?" Councilor Asil asked, crouching down and putting a hand on Dingane's shoulder.
"I think so." Dingane replied. "Only through a moral dilemma can Akiloye really be helped. How can he face such a dilemma if there is no temptation?"
Seemingly satisfied with this, Asil took his hand off of Dingane's shoulder and straightened up. As the Councilors began to watch Dikeledi's sparring session, there came a rustling from the trees that were a few feet away from Dikeledi and her Dragon Master.
Just as she was blocking a punch from Onkwani, Dikeledi's ear twitched as she picked up the sound of the rustling leaves. Curious, she turned her head to the side as her Dragon Master took his clawed hand away.
"Dikeledi, what are you doing?" Onkwani asked in Afrikaans, putting his clawed hands on his hips as Dikeledi turned to face the trees.
"I heard something." She answered, also in Afrikaans.
"Is everything okay?" Asil blurted out.
"I assure you, Councilors..." Onkwani switched to English, a smile on his face as he turned to face the Council. "...It's nothing. My student just got a little distracted. That's all."
"Perhaps you should get her back on track." Asil suggested.
"Indeed." Onkwani said before he turned around. However, just as he did turn around, Swanepoel and Fouché burst from the branches of the tree, ready to attack as they flew overhead. Gasping in shock, Dikeledi could only watch as the two dragons flew above her.
"Swanepoel, the Council!" Fouché said in Afrikaans before they started to swoop down, seeing Dingane, Yara, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe rising from the log they were sitting on.
"Don't be concerned." Swanepoel replied, also in Afrikaans. "We're sticking to the plan." A second later, the two dragons came to a stop in front of Asil, Dingane, Yara, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe. Grunting, both Swanepoel and Fouché swung their tails to their sides, Swanepoel hitting Councilor Yara, sending her flying into Dingane and then Asil, all three of them falling to the side, while Fouché hit Councilor Agata, sending her to the side.
"Help!" Tupokigwe shouted in Afrikaans, just seconds before Fouché grabbed her, and Swanepoel grabbed Ozigbodi, both dragons lifting the girls into the air. However, as the two continued to ascend into the air, Fouché froze (while Swanepoel continued to rise in the air) and her eyes widened as she saw that Kefentse, Letsego, Siboniso, Sillian, Jake III, Lin-Lin and Rodney were staring at them, all in shock.
Failing to notice the Agents-or just not caring-but caring that Fouché had stopped, Swanepoel stopped in the air just as he was about to turn and fly away. "Fouché, come on!" He snapped. "We have to get out of here!"
"Sw...Swanepoel, b...but those Agents!" Fouché stammered.
"I don't care! Let's go!" With that, Swanepoel turned and started to fly away. Forcing herself to turn away, Fouché followed him.
As the two dragons preceded to fly away with their "hostages", Dikeledi watched with horror. "Ozigbodi! Tupokigwe! No!" She shouted. Then, Dikeledi started to flap her wings, taking off after the two dragons that had abducted her friends, all while Onkwani watched.
"Dikeledi, get back here!" Onkwani shouted in Afrikaans, but Dikeledi didn't listen; she just kept flying. "DIKELEDI!" Still, Dikeledi only got further and further out of view. Gritting his teeth, Onkwani started to flap his wings, but just as he started to take off after his pupil, Councilor Asil, in his dragon form, swooped up and came down on him, pinning him to the ground.
"No!" Asil warned as Onkwani glared up at him.
"Why?!" Onkwani switched to English.
"Those two are dangerous!"
"You think I don't know that?!" Onkwani spat. "They just took those two girls, and if I don't do something, they could hurt my student!"
"They're going to." Dingane said as he, Yara and Agata all walked up from behind. "They're going to hurt her." He finished as the three came to a halt, Asil getting up off of Onkwani and offering him a clawed hand as Onkwani rolled over onto his back.
"How can you be so certain?" Onkwani narrowed his eyes.
"Because your student hasn't pleased the magical population of South Africa." Asil said. Apparently intrigued by this answer, Onkwani took Asil's clawed hand and grunted as he got to his feet.
"More." Onkwani demanded as he took his claws away from Asil's. "Tell me more."
"It's the same situation as when Councilor Dingane was the South African Dragon." Asil explained. "Those dragons kidnapped and murdered his Dragon Master, as well as eight Dragon Council Agents, plus three Agents that managed to escape with their lives. Seeing as they were able to do all that, I wouldn't be surprised if they were using Dragon Okafor's friends as bait."
"We have to save my student!" Onkwani insisted.
"And we will." Asil promised him. "But just going off alone won't do her any good right now. We need to regroup and face these menaces together."
"We're already in a group." Onkwani said impatiently, putting his clawed hands on his hips. "Let's go!"
"I mean we need to regroup with Dragon Okafor's mother." Asil said. "She should know that her daughter is in need of help."
LINE BREAK
As she got closer and closer to the fleeing Swanepoel and Fouché, Dikeledi started to pant from exhaustion. To her relief, though, she saw the two dragons fly in-between two trees that led to another clearing, where they landed, dropping Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi onto the ground.
Smiling, Dikeledi stopped just in front of the two trees, landing on the ground. Clenching her clawed hands into fists, she prepared to fight the two dragons for her friends' freedom. However, after only one step forward, both Neethling and Prinsloo revealed themselves from behind each of the two trees, Prinsloo tossing Neethling the other side of a large net, which the wizard easily caught. As Dikeledi froze in surprise, the two magical creatures grunted as they threw the net at her.
Dikeledi could do nothing but gasp before the net hit her, throwing her down onto her back, trapped. Grunting, Dikeledi briefly struggled against the net, but it was too large, she was too tangled; there was nothing she could do but give up and watch with wide, frightened eyes as the chuckling Neethling and the grinning Prinsloo walked up to her and looked down at her as they reached her.
"Excellent!" Neethling said in Afrikaans. "She's ours!"
"Say your prayers, South African Dragon!" Prinsloo mocked, also in Afrikaans, just before Neethling turned her head to the side to look at the werewolf.
"Prinsloo, do me a favor and check on the two girls." Neethling said.
"What about Dikeledi Okafor?" Prinsloo asked, also turning her head to the side.
"I'll make sure she won't be a trouble to carry." Neethling replied, making Dikeledi gulp.
"Eh, if you say so." Prinsloo shrugged, turning and starting to walk over to Tupokigwe, Ozigbodi, Fouché, and Swanepoel. Then, Neethling turned her head back to normal to grin down at Dikeledi.
"Please." Dikeledi pleaded in a small, frightened voice. "Let us go. We're no threat to you."
"You're a threat to the South African Magical Community." Neethling growled before she lifted her foot up and brought it down onto Dikeledi's face, sending her into darkness.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Councilor Asil landed right in front of the Okafor home. As Dingane, Agata, Yara, Kefentse, Sillian, Letsego, Lin-Lin and Jake III (who hopped off of her back), Siboniso, Rodney, and Okwani landed behind him, Asil lifted his fist up and pounded frantically against the front door.
He was pounding so hard that, when he pulled his clawed fist away from the door after the third hit, he could see that he had cracked the door. Not wanting to do anymore damage, Asil stopped himself and prepared to wait until the door opened and Kefilwe stepped out.
It did not take long. After only a second after he stopped pounding on the door, Councilor Asil could hear footsteps, and a few seconds later, the human-formed Kefilwe opened the door.
"I need to tell you something..." Asil said. "...About your daughter..."
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's, in the basement, the unconscious Dikeledi was seated on the floor, chained to a thick pipe that was inches away from the wall. Groaning, Dikeledi started to come to, briefly inching her head up before she lowered it again. However, only a few seconds later, she moaned as she managed to fully lift her head up, slowly opening her eyes to see that Swanepoel and Quaashie, both in their dragon forms, were staring at her, Swanepoel grinning evilly and holding his gun.
"Have a nice nap?" He asked her in Afrikaans.
"You...You don't have to do this." Dikeledi tried to reason with her captors.
"Maybe she's right." Came the sound of Ozigbodi's voice. Gasping, Dikeledi turned her head to the side, Quaashie and Swanepoel turning as well, to see Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe in their dragon forms, standing in-between Neethling and Fouché. They were safe.
"What are you talking about?" Swanepoel growled.
"I think she showed some compassion by trying to rescue us." Ozigbodi said nervously. "Don't...Don't you think?"
"Not good enough!" Swanepoel spat. While the utterly confused Dikeledi looked back and forth at Swanepoel and Quaashie, and her two "friends", Swanepoel continued: "She thought you were her friends! It doesn't count! She hasn't showed that kind of compassion for the rest of the magical creatures living in South Africa!"
"It's a start?" Ozigbodi suggested.
"It's too late for that now." Swanepoel crossed his scaly arms.
"Ozigbodi, my daughter, please listen to me." Quaashie tried to reason with his daughter. "You trying to guide her didn't help. She's not what South Africa needs. We can't let her keep this position."
After Quaashie finished speaking, Ozigbodi let his words sink in. Deep down, she knew that they were right. "Yes, father." She said softly, lowering her head and looking down at her feet.
"Tupokigwe, take your sister upstairs." Quaashie said softly.
"Yes, father." Tupokigwe replied, taking her sister by her scaly shoulder and walking away from Neethling and Fouché. Just as the two sisters reached the stairs that led up to the house, they saw Naudé reach the bottom of the stairs, turning and walking over to Fouché. The two sisters ignored her and started to walk up the stairs.
As Swanepoel and Quaashie turned back to face Dikeledi, Naudé stopped in front of Neethling and Fouché. "You wanted to talk to me?" Naudé asked Fouché in Afrikaans.
"Guess who we saw?" Fouché responded, also in Afrikaans.
"Who?"
"Come on, Naudé." Fouché grinned mockingly. "Give me your best guess. Do you want a clue?"
"Oh, just tell her, Fouché." Neethling rolled her eyes.
"Who?" Naudé repeated.
To Naudé's shock, Fouché exploded with anger; snarling, Fouché reached out with her clawed hands and snagged Naudé by her cheeks, pulling her close. "Those three Agents." Fouché growled dangerously. "You know, the ones that killed Slabbert. The ones that you barely got away from as they escaped. Do you remember now?"
Hearing this, Naudé's eyes widened with shock. "I do." She said. "Did...Did you kill them and avenge Slabbert?"
"NO!" Fouché raged, tossing Naudé back. Naudé stumbled, but just as she started to fall, Swanepoel caught her from behind and forced her back into balance. Then, he walked up beside her.
"Why are you shouting?" He growled at Fouché.
"The three Agents that got away!" Fouché declared, crossing her scaly arms. "We need to do something about them!"
"We have the dragon that we need." Swanepoel said. "Right now, they are no concern of mine."
"What about the Dragon Council?" Fouché asked.
"No concern of mine." Swanepoel said. Then, he smirked. "At least, not yet. They will soon see what we are truly capable of and that we will not stop until they give us what we want."
"But the Agents-"
"If you are so concerned about them, then why don't you do something about them?" Swanepoel challenged. "Go ahead and find them. Go ahead and kill them. You have my permission." Then, he added as he turned and started to walk back over to Quaashie and Dikeledi. "You can take Naudé and Neethling with you."
"What?" Naudé reacted, turning her head to the side, but Swanepoel was already out of her view.
"I'm staying here." Neethling crossed her arms.
"That's okay." Fouché smirked, taking a step forward. "You don't have to come." She assured the wizard as Naudé turned her head back to normal.
"I'm...I'm staying here." Naudé said.
"I don't think so." Fouché's smirk widened.
"I...I barely got away with my life the last time!"
"Yes, but you'll have me with you."
"I had Slabbert with me last time! It made no difference!"
"Believe me." Fouché cracked her knuckles. "I'll make a difference. They killed Slabbert. I will kill them. You will help me."
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Councilor Asil landed a few feet away from the airplane that they had taken to get to South Africa. As Onkwani, Kefilwe, Agata, Yara, Dingane, Sillian, Kefentse, Siboniso, Rodney, Lin-Lin and Jake III, and Letsego all landed behind him, Asil reverted to his human form. Then, he turned to face his companions, seeing Jake III hop off of Lin-Lin's back.
"What are we doing here?" Onkwani asked in English, putting his clawed hands on his hips. "Shouldn't we be looking for Dikeledi?"
"Yes." Asil said. "But first I need to get something out of that plane. If you could wait for just a few moments..."
"Do you need any help, sir?" Sillian asked.
"Hmm, perhaps." Asil thought out loud. "Yes, maybe I will need help. Why don't you and Akiloye come with me? Wait outside and I'll call for you if I need any help."
"Okay, sir." Sillian said before he and Kefentse started to walk forward, following Asil as the Councilor turned and started to walk towards the plane.
Moments later, the three stopped in front of the plane. "As I said, wait outside." Asil said. "I will call you if I need help."
"Yes, sir." Sillian replied, just seconds before Asil started to enter the plane.
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's, Swanepoel counted in Afrikaans as he put the bullets of his gun back into the clip. "...Three. Four. Five. Six." He finished putting the last four bullets back in. As Dikeledi stared at him and Quaashie with fear in her wide eyes, Swanepoel grinned evilly as he put the clip back into the gun, then cocked it.
"What do you think, Quaashie?" Swanepoel asked, making Quaashie turn his head to the side. "Where do you think I should shoot her?" He pointed the gun at Dikeledi, making the teenage dragon whimper with fear. "Take note that the area can't be vital. It must cause pain, but must not be fatal, so don't suggest the head or the chest."
"Her knee?" Quaashie suggested, also in Afrikaans.
"I suppose that's good enough." Swanepoel replied, lowering the gun. However, before he could pull the trigger, he was forced to turn around as he heard the sound of Fouché's voice:
"Swanepoel!"
Swanepoel could see that Fouché and a very nervous-looking Naudé were walking towards him. "Yes?" He asked as they stopped in front of them.
"We're going." Fouché declared. "We're taking up your offer to go find and kill those Agents."
"You're telling me this?" Swanepoel raised an eyebrow. "I told you that you had my permission. Just go." Then, he turned back to face Dikeledi. Grinning evilly, Swanepoel pointed the gun at her. However, almost immediately, his grin vanished.
"What?" Quaashie asked, turning his head to the side to look at Swanepoel.
"Perhaps it'd be better if I save the bullets, and instead use them to finish her off." Swanepoel mused. "Do you have a knife?" He turned his head to the side to look at Quaashie.
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, Fouché and Naudé exited the house and started to walk away. "I...I don't know..." Naudé stammered in Afrikaans. "Maybe you should just forget revenge."
"No." Fouché narrowed her eyes, stopping in her tracks.
"But how are we even supposed to find them?" Naudé asked, stopping along with Fouché.
"That doesn't matter." Fouché growled, turning her head to the side. "We'll find them, even if we have to fly all around this damn country."
Then, Fouché flared her wings and turned her head back to normal. Flapping her wings, she took off into the air, leaving Naudé alone to sigh before she flared her wings as well, flapping them and taking off after Fouché.
LINE BREAK
Back at the site of the plane, Kefentse and Sillian watched as Councilor Asil walked towards them. In one hand, he carried three lengths of chains, while in the other, he held a remote-like black object, which he slipped into his Council robes before either Sillian or Kefentse could get a real good look at it. Finally, Asil stopped in front of the two dragons.
"It turns out..." He said. "...That I did not need your help in there. Now, however, I could use some help."
"What can we do?" Sillian asked.
"Each of you take one of these." Asil said, holding out his hand that held the length of chains.
Doing as they were told, both Sillian and Kefentse took one length of chains from Asil as he offered them to them. "Put them over your shoulder." Asil suggested. "That way, you won't have to carry them."
"Yes, sir." Sillian said, he and Kefentse doing as they were told.
Without another word, Councilor Asil transformed into his dragon form in a bright light, and as soon as the transformation was complete, he as well slung the length of chains he possessed over his shoulder. "Well..." He said. "...We should go."
LINE BREAK
A short time later, Asil, Kefentse, Sillian, Siboniso, Rodney, Lin-Lin and Jake III, Letsego, Kefilwe, Agata, Dingane, Onkwani and Yara were all flying through the woods. "Councilor." Onkwani spoke up in English, making Asil turn his head to the side. "This is a waste of time. We have no sense of where to look."
"This is the best we can do for now." Asil said before he turned his head back to normal. "It's not like the directions to where Dragon Okafor is being held are going to come right to us."
At that moment, a rustling came from the trees that were several feet away from the team of dragons, and only a second later, both Fouché and Naudé emerged, heading right for them. Gasping, Asil came to a stop, along with Sillian, Kefentse and all of the others.
"Look!" Fouché growled in Afrikaans, pointing at the Council as she and Naudé continued to fly forward.
"Let's just kill them and get this over with." Naudé muttered, also in Afrikaans.
"I agree." Fouché grinned evilly.
Together, the two dragons came to a halt as Fouché started to glow with chi. Ten separate pieces of chi were shot forward and morphed into an army of ten doppelgangers in front of Asil and his team.
"Not good." Asil muttered.
"Kill them!" Fouché ordered, causing her doppelgangers to all roar and charge forward.
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's, Quaashie, still in his dragon form, came down the stairs, entering the basement, a knife in his clawed hand. "Swanepoel." He said in Afrikaans, making Swanepoel turn away from Dikeledi. "Here's the knife." Quaashie finished as he stopped in front of Swanepoel, handing out the knife.
Smiling, Swanepoel took the knife and then turned back to face Dikeledi, Quaashie stepping up beside him. "P...Please..." Dikeledi begged. "...Please don't do thi-"
However, before she could finish, Swanepoel dropped down into a crouched position, lifted up his arm and brought the knife down into Dikeledi's leg, causing the teenage dragon to scream in pain.
LINE BREAK
Back in the woods, one of Fouché's doppelgangers slammed into Lin-Lin, throwing her backwards. Although Jake III tightened his grip on her scaly shoulders, when the Fouché doppelganger flared its wings, making Lin-Lin come to a screeching halt, Jake gasped as he lost his grip on Lin-Lin, causing him to fall back and plummet to the ground several feet below.
"JAKE!" He could hear Lin-Lin call as he got closer and closer to hitting the ground. A few seconds later, Jake grunted as he landed on his face.
Gritting her teeth, Lin-Lin unsheathed her sword, but just as she started to swing it down on the doppelganger, the doppelganger lashed out with its tail and wrapped it around her wrist, trying to push Lin-Lin's sword back away from it, starting a struggle between the two.
Down on the ground, Jake moaned as he started to pick himself up. Miraculously unharmed, Jake managed to get to his feet, his legs shaking. Breathing heavily, Jake brought his hands up to his chest, patting down against his chest twice, as if he was checking for something.
Being so busy checking to see if he was okay, Jake was completely unaware of the Fouché doppelganger that was swooping down in front of him, an evil smile on its face. It chuckled, holding up its clawed hands, finally making Jake realize the danger he was in; his eyes widened as he slowly took his hands away from his chest.
Back up in the air, Sillian was fighting against one of Fouché's doppelgangers. As the doppelganger forced him back, Sillian caught a side glance below him, making him turn his head to the side and look down to see Jake being forced backwards by the doppelganger.
"Oh, great..." Sillian muttered before he turned his head back to normal.
"Yes, my defeat of you is great." The Fouché doppelganger said in Afrikaans.
After the doppelganger said this, Sillian grunted as he pulled his clawed hands away from the doppelganger's. Then, he opened his mouth and blew out a torrent of fire, which hit the doppelganger and threw it backwards. Closing his mouth, Sillian turned and dove down to help Jake.
Jake's eyes were wide as he watched the Fouché doppelganger open its mouth and blow out a ball of fire into its hand. The Fouché doppelganger then raised the ball of fire over its head and grinned evilly.
"Agent Clark!" Came the sound of Sillian's voice. Before the doppelganger could throw the fireball at Jake, Jake grunted as Sillian swooped down from the side and carried Jake to safety, the doppelganger growling in anger as the fireball in its clawed hand vanished.
Spinning around, the doppelganger watched as Sillian swerved around a tree, hiding himself and Jake behind it. "That will not protect you." The doppelganger declared with a growl, starting to stalk towards the tree. However, after only two steps forward, the Fouché doppelganger grunted and was thrown to the ground as another Fouché doppelganger was slammed down on top of it. With both doppelgangers on the ground and defeated, Lin-Lin lowered herself onto the ground. Smiling, she looked down at them as she repeatedly wiped her clawed hands together. "Gotcha." She said.
Behind the tree, Sillian forced Jake's back up against it. "Hey!" Jake protested as Sillian held onto his shoulders. "Let me go!"
"What's the matter with you?!" Sillian demanded.
"Nothing!" Jake insisted. "For the second time, let me g-!"
"Don't give me that!" Sillian cut him off.
"Um, you do know that we're in the middle of a vicious battle, right?" Jake asked.
"I am more aware of it than you." Sillian narrowed his eyes. "You are too distracted. Because of that, you are unfocused. I notice it, and even Agent Clark notices it."
"How do you know?"
"That's what I talked to her about on the plane."
"Oh." Jake realized.
"Tell me what's the matter."
"Nothing!"
"I don't believe that." Sillian persisted. "What's making you act this way?"
"I'm just-" Jake started to say, starting to understand that the only way that Sillian was going to let him goes was if he sang.
"Just what?"
"I'm nervous." Jake admitted.
"Nervous about what?"
Sighing, Jake lifted his hands up to his chest area, making Sillian pull his clawed hands away. Jake silently unbuttoned the first two buttons of the top of his uniform, allowing Sillian to watch as Jake reached in and pulled out a small, square black box.
"Is that what I think it is?" Sillian asked softly.
"Lin-Lin and I have been together for almost a year." Jake said as he opened up the box, revealing an engagement ring. "In that time, we've had no fall outs, and even though it's been a bit rough with my Aunt Haley dying, we've both been relatively happy. I suppose this is the natural next step." He closed the small box. "I mean, how long does the period of serious dating have to last before we move on as a couple?" He asked as he slipped the box back within his person.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Sillian said softly as Jake buttoned his uniform back up.
"I guess I'm just afraid of the way she's going to react." Jake said with a nervous smile.
"I don't know what to tell you." Sillian said. "Just go for it. I know she cares about you. What's the worst that can happen?" Hearing this, Jake nodded. "Okay." Sillian clasped his clawed hands together. "Now that you have that out of your system, are you ready to get back into the fight?"
"I suppose." Jake said.
"Then let's go." Sillian told him. Then, the two turned back around the tree and charged back into battle.
Meanwhile, as everyone else fought against a Fouché doppelganger, Letsego and Siboniso were hovering a few feet to the side, having separated from the others. Both were watching the entire fight. Seeing a Fouché doppelganger punch Rodney in his scaly belly, and then when he jerked his head forward, head-butting him, and also seeing a Kefentse trying to swipe at another Fouché doppelganger, only to have the doppelganger duck and then kick him in-between the legs; with Kefentse reacting to the pain of getting kicked in his most sensitive area, the doppelganger ascended up in the air slightly and brought its tail down on him, sending Kefentse plummeting down to where Councilor Asil was struggling against a doppelganger, hitting him from above and causing them to both fall to the ground below, Siboniso started to fly in to aid the other dragons, only to get held back by Letsego.
"No." Letsego told her in Afrikaans, making Siboniso pull away and turn to face him. "We should stay out of this fight. It would be better for us if we just wait it out."
"But we used to be Dragon Council Agents." Siboniso countered, also in Afrikaans. "The right thing to do is to help."
"Yes, it is the right thing to do." Letsego nodded. "The smart thing to do would be to hide. They're getting their tails handed to them, and our hero days are over. Do what you wish, but I'm hiding." With that, Letsego turned and started to fly away, heading towards the closest tree to him. After thinking about her situation for a few seconds, Siboniso started to follow after him.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, however, from up above, Naudé and the real Fouché were watching from up above. Both were watching over the battle and both could see Siboniso and Letsego fleeing.
"There." Fouché said in Afrikaans, pointing down at Siboniso and Letsego. "Those are two of them. Let's go!" With that, she dove down after Siboniso and Letsego. Nervously, Naudé dove down after her.
Below, Siboniso caught up with Letsego, who turned his head to the side to look at her. "You decided to come with me?" He asked in Afrikaans.
"Yes." Siboniso replied, also in Afrikaans. "Perhaps this way, while we're undercover, we could come up with a strategy to help the others."
"Hmm, perhaps." Kefentse replied, turning his head back to normal.
"Behind the tree?" Siboniso asked.
"Yes."
However, before they could get any further, Fouché screeched as both she and Naudé came down on them. While Naudé came down on top of Letsego, pushing him down to the ground, Fouché slammed down onto Sibonoso, dragging her down to the ground.
A few seconds later, Siboniso grunted as she hit the ground, Fouché on top of her. As Fouché growled and got off of Siboniso, Siboniso rolled her head to the side to see Letsego and Naudé hit the ground.
"HEY!" Came the shout of Fouché's voice, making Siboniso jerk her head back to normal, seeing Fouché glaring down at her. "Look at me while I kill you!" Fouché shouted, just before fire started to form in her mouth, Fouché preparing to shoot it at Siboniso.
Her eyes widening, Siboniso grunted as she brought her tail up and slammed it into Fouché's chest, making her grunt as she was thrown onto her back. Grunting, Siboniso got to her feet, turning her head to the side to see that Letsego and Naudé had gotten to their feet. Grunting, Letsego tried to slam his tail into Naudé, but Naudé grunted as she back-flipped away from the tail, landing back on her feet. Naudé responded by blowing out a torrent of fire at Letsego, Letsego ducking to avoid the flames.
Hearing an enraged growl, Siboniso gasped and turned her head back to normal, seeing that Fouché had gotten back up on her feet. With an enraged looked on her face, Fouché shot her tail at Siboniso, wrapping it around her neck. As Siboniso's eyes widened and she brought her clawed hands up to the tail, trying to loosen it, Fouché flapped her wings and ascended into the air, taking Siboniso with her, Siboniso kicking her legs in protest as she was lifted into the air. Finally, Fouché stopped several feet above the ground. With a murderous look in her eyes and with her teeth gritted, Fouché began to tighten her grip on Siboniso's neck, making her gasp for breath.
"Die..." Fouché hissed.
Desperate to get free, the choking Siboniso lifted her tail up and hit Fouché in the chest-not hard enough to send her flying backwards, but hard enough to push her back a still feet. Grunting, Fouché was pushed back, but she still kept her hold on Siboniso, even tightening her grip. With a weak, panicked cry, Siboniso tried again, this time much harder. Grunting, Fouché was thrown back a foot, her tail releasing Siboniso's neck, allowing the former Dragon Council Agent to take a deep breath.
"No, no!" Fouché declared as she came back at Siboniso. "I will kill you for what you and your companions did to me!" Upon reaching Siboniso, Fouché grunted as she tried to throw a punch, which Siboniso blocked with her arm.
"What are you talking about?" Siboniso asked, pulling her arm away and then blowing out a small torrent of fire, which Fouché had to duck to avoid. "You angry at us because you went to prison?" She guessed as Fouché lifted herself back up to Siboniso's level.
"Not even close!" Fouché declared, clenching her clawed hand into a fist. Grunting, she tried to backhand Siboniso, but Siboniso managed to grab hold of her wrist before her fist could hit her face.
"Then what did I do?" She asked before she pushed Fouché's hand away, using her own fist as a weapon and punching her in the face.
Reacting with shock and rage, Fouché pulled her hand away as Siboniso took her hand away. "No!" She replied.
"Then what?" Siboniso asked, getting annoyed.
"You took my Slabbert away from me!" Fouché shouted, trying to punch Siboniso again, but the former Dragon Council Agent simply moved to the side.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"Don't play innocent!" Fouché ranted out of anger. "Slabbert and Naudé took you and your two remaining fellow Agents into the woods to finish you off! Naudé is the only one to return!" Fouché then blew a torrent of fire out of her mouth, which Siboniso ducked from. "She said that you three got away and that you killed him!" Grunting, Fouché tried to throw yet another punch, but this time, the visibly angry Siboniso smacked her fist away.
"A lie." She said.
"And I should trust you?!" Fouché spat.
"All you need to do is to look at simple logic." Siboniso growled. "We had just been tortured by your companions, we were blindfolded, our hands were bound. We were helpless. We thought we were going to die. We heard a gunshot. Each of us knowing that we hadn't been hit, we ran. We didn't kill him."
Upon hearing Siboniso's explanation, Fouché gritted her teeth in anger. "Why should I believe you?!" She demanded, trying to swipe at Siboniso's face, Siboniso backing up to avoid the blow.
"Because it's the truth!" She said.
"I-" Fouché started to say, but she immediately trailed off, glancing to the side and looked down at Naudé, who slammed her tail into Letsego, knocking him down. Finally realizing the truth, Fouché's face contorted with rage. "THAT LIAR!"
Siboniso was so confused by Fouché's reaction that she didn't see her tail coming until it was too late. Just as Siboniso reacted with shock, Fouché slammed her tail into her chest, throwing her backwards. With Siboniso out of the picture, Fouché turned and dove down.
Down on the ground, Naudé blew a ball of fire out into her clawed hand. As Letsego watched helplessly, Naudé raised her arm into the air, preparing to throw the fireball down at Letsego. Fortunately for Letsego, before Naudé could do it, Fouché slammed into her from the side, pinning her against the tree, Naudé crying out in pain as her back collided hard with the tree.
"You..." Fouché growled with rage, wrapping her clawed hands around Naudé's neck, Naudé's eyes widening. It was just as she feared: her action against Slabbert's life had been brought to Fouché's attention. "...It was you!" Fouché hissed. "Not the Agents!"
"Fouché, I can explain!" Naudé pleaded, only to gag as Fouché tightened her grip.
"No explaining!" Fouché growled. "Now is the time for dea-!" However, before she could finish, she grunted and collapsed to the ground after Letsego slammed his tail into the back of her head. As Fouché fell to the ground, her clawed hands slipped away from around Naudé's neck, making Naudé sigh with relief.
Her relief, however, did not last, for as Letsego crouched down by Fouché's side, Siboniso landed right beside him. Her eyes widening again, Naudé held up her clawed hands in surrender. "Please don't attack." She pleaded.
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's, Swanepoel unlocked the chains that held Dikeledi to the pipe. As Swanepoel straightened back up, holding the chains along with the bloody knife that he had used to torture Dikeledi, Dikeledi, whose body was covered in blood resulting from the dozen-two dozen stab wounds Swanepoel had inflicted upon her, moaned and fell to the side, hitting the floor.
Smiling with satisfaction, Swanepoel dropped the chains to the floor and tossed the knife over his shoulder. Then, he held out his clawed hand.
"Quaashie, give me my gun." He said softly, in Afrikaans.
With a stone cold look on his face, Quaashie complied, handing Swanepoel the gun. Swanepoel smiled evilly as he took the gun in both of his clawed hands and cocked it. While Swanepoel did this, Dikeledi moaned and rolled over onto belly.
"Good girl." Swanepoel said mockingly. "That is very generous of you to give me a clean shot of the back of your head."
Moaning in pain, Dikeledi weakly managed to turn her head to the side to look at him, fear in her eyes. "It's almost over." Swanepoel told her, starting to walk over to her. As soon as he reached her, Swanepoel towered over her, putting one foot down at one side of her body and his other foot at the other. Then, he pointed the gun down at her.
Whimpering with fear and with tears in her eyes, Dikeledi turned her head back to normal and weakly tried to crawl away. Chuckling evilly, Swanepoel shook his head back and forth and lifted up one of his feet, putting it down on her back, making Dikeledi cry out in pain. Then, Swanepoel fired.
The bullet hit Dikeledi square in the back of her head, blowing off part of her skull and causing blood to pool down both sides of her head.
Smirking with satisfaction, Swanepoel lowered the gun, turning and walking away, stopping in front of Quaashie, who glanced to the side, getting a good side glance at the slain teenage dragon that was lying on the floor.
"Quaashie, I have a job for you and your daughters to do." Swanepoel announced, making Quaashie turn his attention back to Swanepoel.
"What?" Quaashie asked in Afrikaans. "Name it and we will do it."
"Good." Swanepoel's smile widened. "I want you and your daughters to take the body into the woods and string it up for the Dragon Council to find. That way, the Council will see what we are capable of. They will be forced to give into our demand for a more compassionate dragon, but they won't be able to find us."
LINE BREAK
A short time later, back in the woods, all of the Fouché doppelgangers had been reabsorbed by the captured Fouché. Together, Fouché and Naudé were seated on their knees, their hands chained behind their backs and a length of chains wrapped five times around their upper bodies. Councilor Asil, Siboniso, Kefentse and Letsego all stepped up in front of them, Asil holding two more lengths of chains.
"I take it that these two did not torture you?" Asil asked.
"No." Siboniso said, in English. "Our torturers were male, but she..." She pointed at Naudé. "...Was the one who tortured and murdered Agent Thondley. She..." She pointed at Fouché wasn't in the tent while we were being tortured."
"Very well." Asil said. "I can take it from here. Go stand with your guards." Without a word, Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego all did as they were told. "Okay." Asil said as soon as he was alone with the two re-captured dragons, Kefilwe and Onkwani the closest, standing a foot away and watching as he spoke: "You're going to tell me where Dragon Okafor and her two friends are being held."
Fouché smirked. "Not talking." She hissed in Afrikaans.
"What's that?" Asil asked.
"She said that she's not going to talk." Onkwani said in English as he took a step forward.
"You don't have that option." Asil narrowed his eyes at the two prisoners.
"Not talking." Fouché repeated, once again in Afrikaans. "You can't make me."
"Maybe he can't, but I can." Onkwani growled in Afrikaans as he walked up to Asil's side, reaching out and roughly grabbing one of the extra length of chains that Asil was holding. Although shocked at Onkwani's action, Asil could do nothing, so he just watched as he walked over to Fouché.
As soon as he reached Fouché, Onkwani quickly took the length of chains and tightly wrapped it around her snout, making Fouché grunt in pain and forcing her to sit up on her knees as he jerking the chains upwards, forcing Fouché to lift her head up to look him in the eyes."Tell me!" Onkwani demanded, tightening the chains even more, making Fouché release a muffled cry of pain and squeeze her eyes shut. "Tell me where Dikeledi is being held, or so help me, you won't ever be able to open your mouth ever again!"
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe were both in their dragon forms and were waiting outside the house, knowing nothing except that their father needed their help. Finally, the two girls saw the door to the house slowly open, the two girls seeing that it was their father's tail that had opened the door. A second later, Quaashie (with a length of chains wrapped around his shoulder) started to walk out of the house. Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi continued to watch, seeing that their father's back was to them and that he was moving slowly, as if he was dragging something heavy.
A few seconds later, Quaashie, who was dragging Dikeledi's body, got close enough to his daughters. Grunting, Quasshie turned to the side, taking Dikeledi's body with him and dropping it to the ground so that his daughters could see it. In response, Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe both gasped in shock.
"What?" Quaashie asked his daughters in Afrikaans as he turned to face them. Putting his clawed hands on his hips, he continued: "You both knew that we were going to kill her. Don't act so surprised."
"Did she suffer?" Ozigbodi asked her father uneasily, also in Afrikaans.
"What do you think?" Quaashie replied. "Look, my daughters, I need your help."
"What?" Tupokigwe asked in Afrikaans. "With getting rid of the body?"
"Not quite." Quaashie replied. "Swanepoel wants us to display her for the Dragon Council to find."
"Here?" Tupokigwe asked, bewildered.
"No." Quaashie told her. "In the woods."
LINE BREAK
Back in the woods, Asil, Dingane, Agata, Yara, Kefilwe and Onkwani were all huddled together, while Lin-Lin, Jake III, Letsego, Rodney, Siboniso, Sillian and Kefentse (the dragons all still in their dragon forms) were all standing behind where the still bound Naudé and Fouché were seated, Naudé and Fouché's mouths now chained together with the extra chains that Asil had held.
Finally, the dragon-formed Councilors separated, all turning to face the others. After a second or two of no movement, Councilor Dingane and Councilor Yara started to walk forward, reaching the Agents and the prisoners within a few seconds.
"Did you decide on a rescue strategy?" Sillian asked.
"We weren't discussing a rescue strategy." Yara said.
"You weren't?" Letsego asked.
"We were talking about splitting up." Dingane crossed his scaly arms. "Here is what we decided: Akiloye, Mbeki and Jakande, you will be coming with me, Councilor Asil, Master Onkwani and Kefilwe Okafor. The rest of you will go with Councilor Agata and Councilor Yara to take the two re-captured prisoners to the plane."
"But aren't we supposed to be guarding-?" Sillian started, but Yara cut him off.
"We've come to the point where that is no longer necessary." Yara said. "Councilor Asil and Councilor Dingane will be able to handle them from here-on-out."
"The three of you need to come with me." Dingane directed at Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego. "The longer it takes us to find her..." He turned around and started to walk back over to Asil, Agata, Kefilwe and Onkwani. "...The less likely it will be that she will still be alive when we do find her."
Without a word, Letsego, Siboniso and Kefentse all started to leave their guards, Fouché and Naudé both grunting in displeasure as Siboniso walked in-between them. Turning her head to the side, Councilor Yara could see that Letsego and Siboniso were both walking faster than Kefentse, resulting in Kefentse falling a little bit behind.
Yara took this as an opportunity to walk up behind him and put a clawed hand on his scaly shoulder, making him stop in his tracks and turn around to face her. "You shouldn't keep me." Kefentse said softly. "What Councilor Dingane said is true. These creatures are ruthless."
"I know." Yara said. "But what are you going to do when you confront your torturer? Kill him?"
"I-"
"You want to!" Yara urged. "He deserves it! Especially if he hurt Dragon Okafor badly!"
"I hope that she is going to be o-" Kefentse started to say softly, but Yara cut him off.
"Do what your gut tells you!" Yara urged, clenching her clawed hands into fists. "Don't back down! Do what you feel!"
"Akiloye!" Came the sound of Asil's voice from behind, making Kefentse's eyes widened.
"I...I really need to hurry up." Kefentse said, taking a step back.
"Just think about my advice." Yara crossed her scaly arms.
"I...I will." Kefentse replied before he turned and started to run towards Asil, Dingane, Siboniso, Kefentse, Kefilwe and Onkwani.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Dikeledi's body was dropped down onto her back, somewhere in the woods. Standing above her with his daughters, Quaashie removed the chains from around him. "Let's put her up in one of these trees." He said in Afrikaans.
LINE BREAK
High up above the trees, Councilor Asil, Councilor Dingane, Kefentse, Siboniso, Letsego, Kefilwe and Onkwani were all flying through the air, trying to get to Quaashie's as quickly as possible, Fouché having told them how to get there.
"How...How much further do we have to go?" Kefilwe asked in English.
"Now's not the time to focus on how much further we need to go." Asil replied. "We need to just focus on getting there."
"Perhaps he is right." Onkwani said softly in Afrikaans. "You're just going to stress yourself out. We get there when we get there."
Unfortunately for Onkwani, his "supportive words" failed to do what they were intended to do. Groaning in distress, Kefilwe dropped her head. However, as she did so, she caught sight of Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe chaining a limp and bloodied red, purple and black-colored dragon from a tree branch, while Quaashie watched.
Gasping, Kefilwe halted, while Onkwani, who failed to notice that she had stopped, continued to fly with the others. However, it did not take the Dragon Master long to realize that there was no longer a dragon flying at his side, so he came to a stop. Quickly, he turned around to see that Kefilwe was still staring down, almost as if she was in a trance.
"Um..." Onkwani started to saying in Afrikaans, but Kefilwe cut him off by jerking her head up.
"I found my daughter." She said in a hushed voice, in Afrikaans.
"You're sure?" Onkwani asked before he started to fly over to Kefilwe. Within a few seconds, he reached Kefilwe's side and turned around in the air, looking down along with her, seeing Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe leaving Dikeledi's body and flying back over to their father.
"That's her." Kefilwe whispered.
"I recognize her, too." Onkwani whispered back. "It's up to us now."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Kefilwe said. Then, she dove down quickly, Onkwani quickly following her. The two dragons flew down into the thick branches of the tree that was behind Quaashie, and within only a few seconds, Kefilwe landed on a thick branch, able to see Quaashie and his daughters from behind the leaves that covered her. Quickly, Kefilwe got closer to the leaves, while Onkwani landed right behind her. Just as Kefilwe reached the leaves, she heard Quaashie speak to his daughters in Afrikaans:
"Well done, my daughters." He said. "Thank you for helping me. Now, I believe we should start heading back for home." He finished as Onkwani stepped up right behind Kefilwe.
"Should we wait until they leave before we rescue Dikeledi?" Onkwani whispered.
"No." Kefilwe growled, narrowing her eyes. "They hurt my baby girl. They're going down!" Just after saying this, she snarled and flew out from behind the leaves, charging into battle. Quickly, Onkwani followed after her.
Hearing the rustling from the leaves behind him, Quaashie spun around, both him and his daughters gasping when they saw the enraged Kefilwe getting closer and closer. Although Quaashie tried to take a fighting stance, it did no good-Kefilwe merely slammed into him, throwing him backwards. Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe both had to move to the side in order to avoid getting hit by their father as Kefilwe dragged him down to the ground. Both girls turned their heads to their sides and looked down, seeing their father and Kefilwe hitting the ground. However, before the two could do anything to help their father, they heard the sound of Onkwani's flapping wings, making them both lift their heads up and turn them back to normal, seeing Onkwani, whose clawed hands were up, prepared for a fight. He looked angry.
"You two were never in any real danger, were you?" He asked.
"No." Tupokigwe replied nervously.
"But you were being used as bait?" Onkwani narrowed his eyes. "You were just in on the plan?"
"Yes." Tupokigwe replied.
"You were never Dikeledi's friends..." Onkwani muttered. "...You were watching in on our training sessions so you could lure her into a trap!" Grunting, Onkwani quickly attacked, lashing out with his tail, but both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe avoided the attack by flapping their wings and flying further up into the air.
Enraged, Onkwani jerked his head up. "You two never should have been trusted!" He shouted before he grunted and shot his tail upwards, trying to snag one of the two younger dragons he was fighting against.
LINE BREAK
Back at the Council's plane, Councilor Agata pressed a button on the device that created the holographic cage that had contained Kefentse, Letsego and Siboniso on the way to South Africa, caging the still chained and seated Fouché and Naudé. With the prisoners contained, the still dragon-formed Agata straightened up and walked around the cage, Jake III leaning against the wall and watching from a foot or two away, his arms crossed.
As Jake watched Agata meet back up with Yara, Sillian (now in his human form), walked up to his right side. "Hey." Sillian said softly, making Jake turn his head to the side to look at him. "You, uh, know that I said that I think you shouldn't back down and that you should just ask Agent Clark about, well, you know?" He asked as Jake lowered his arms.
"Yeah." Jake replied before he turned to face Sillian.
"Well..." Sillian crossed his arms. "...I think we're going to be here waiting for a little while. Perhaps now would be the ideal time."
"Do you know where she is?"
"She's outside with Agent McClellan."
LINE BREAK
Onkwani's tail wrapped around Tupokigwe's ankle. Grunting, Onkwani pulled the teenage dragon downwards, making her yelp and making her sister look down. "Ozigbodi he-!" Tupokigwe started to plead in Afrikaans, but just as Onkwani finished dragging her down, the Dragon Master grunted as he spun around, tossing Tupokigwe away, Tupokigwe crashing through the leaves that Onkwani and Kefilwe had flown out of.
"Tupokigwe!" Ozigbodi cried for her sister, starting to fly down at Onkwani, slamming into him and dragging him down to the ground just as he turned back around and tried to look up at her. The two dragons hit the ground just a few feet behind where Kefilwe was ducking a swipe from Quaashie. Straightening up, Kefilwe reacted by slamming her tail into Quaashie's chest, throwing him backwards as he cried out in pain.
As Quaashie landed hard on his back, Kefilwe looked up, seeing her daughter still hanging limply from the trees. "Dikeledi!" Kefilwe called. "Dikeledi!" However, she got no response. "Dikeledi!" She tried again, but when her only response was a chuckle from Quaashie as he started to sit up, Kefilwe narrowed her eyes and flared her wings. Flapping her wings, she started to take off into the air, only to be stopped when Quaashie shot his tail at her and wrapped it around Kefilwe's ankle.
"I don't think so." Quaashie said as he slowly started to get to his feet. Pulling his tail downwards, he made Kefilwe grunt in pain as he slammed her down onto her back.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Asil, Dingane, Kefentse, Letsego and Siboniso all arrived at Quaashie's home/shop, all landing on the ground. As they all stared at it, Councilor Asil took a deep breath, exhaling. "This has to be it." He said.
Smiling, Dingane turned around. "Master Onkwani..." He started, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse all stepping to the side so that Dingane could talk to Kefilwe and Onkwani. "Kefi-" However, when he saw that the two were not there, he stopped in his tracks. "Oh crap." He muttered.
"What?" Asil asked, turning around to see the same problem that Dingane saw. "Wh...Where are they?" He asked, prompting Kefentse, Letsego and Siboniso to all turn around as well.
"We must have gotten separated." Dingane replied.
"How could we have lost them?" Asil asked.
"Councilors, we thought that they were right behind us the whole time." Letsego said in English after he, Siboniso and Kefentse all turned back around to face the two Councilors.
"What should we do?" Kefentse asked, also in English.
"There's only one thing we can do." Asil said as he took a step backwards, Dingane turning his head to the side. "We came all this way, so we're going to do what we came here to do: rescue Dragon Okafor."
LINE BREAK
Lying on his back, Onkwani groaned in pain after Ozigbodi had slammed him into the ground. As Ozigbodi hovered over him, from up above in the tree, the leaves rustled before Tupokigwe flew out, leaves stuck in her hair. Within a second or two, she landed beside her sister, who turned to face her. "Are you okay?" Ozigbodi asked in Afrikaans. Tupokigwe responded by spitting out a leaf that had gotten in her mouth. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."
"Let's just get rid of him." Tupokigwe growled, also in Afrikaans. "I want to go home and get these leaves out of my hair."
Tupokigwe then stepped forward and used her foot to roll Onkwani onto his side, making the Dragon Master moan. Ozigbodi then leaned forward and grabbed hold of his wrist, grunting and taking a step back, forcing Onkwani up onto his feet. As soon as Onkwani was on his feet, Ozigbodi let go of him, and she and her sister stepped in front of him together, both watching as the dazed Dragon Master unconsciously took a step back, looking as if he was going to fall over. Both Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi narrowed their eyes and grunted, shooting their tails forward so they could knock Onkwani down.
However, to their surprise, just before their tails hit him, Onkwani seemed to snap out of his trance, for his quickly reached out and grabbed hold of their tails, making both girls gasp. Smirking, Onkwani jumped up off of his feet and performed a back-flip, managing to kick both Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe in their chests, sending them flying backwards.
Grunting, Onkwani landed on his feet, seeing both girls land a few feet away on their backs. Cautious, Onkwani held up his clawed hands, prepared for a fight, but Ozigbodi and Tupokigwe did not get back up. Both were unconscious.
LINE BREAK
Back at the plane, Lin-Lin and Rodney (both in their human forms) were standing just outside. Neither were aware that Jake III was walking up from behind, having exited the plane. "Lin-Lin?" He asked as soon as he reached them, surprising both Lin-Lin and Rodney, making the, both turn around to face them.
"Oh, hey." Lin-Lin smiled.
"Are you two out here for a reason?" Jake asked.
"We're just waiting for the Council to come back." Rodney replied, putting his hands on his hips. "Honestly, I'm more than a little surprised that they told us not to come with."
"Yeah..." Jake replied, trailing off. "...Strange..."
"Get bored inside the plane?" Lin-Lin smirked.
"I guess you could say that." Jake replied, getting nervous.
"Well, it's pretty boring out here, too." Lin-Lin told him.
Jake opened his mouth to respond, trying to think of something to say. The pressure of his situation, and his nerves, however, made it difficult for him to think of the next thing to say. So, while Rodney and Lin-Lin both looked at him as if he were strange, Jake closed his mouth and swallowed hard.
"Are you okay?" Lin-Lin asked. "Jake, you have been acting weird lately."
"I know!" Jake smiled as he finally thought of what to say. "Sillian told me that that was what he talked to you about!"
"He did?" Lin-Lin raised an eye.
"Uh-huh."
"You're not offended about that?" Lin-Lin asked.
"Nah." Jake replied. "It's fine. It's...It's cool."
"Are you-?" Lin-Lin started to ask, but before she could finish, the sound of Sillian's voice cut her off:
"Agent McClellan!" A second later, Sillian walked up beside Jake, putting his hands on his hips. "Agent McClellan, I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"About..." Sillian started to say, but quickly stopped. Turning his head to the side and watching as Sillian put his hand on his chin, trying to think about what to say, Jake's eyes widened as he realized what Sillian was trying to do. "...Well, about, um..."
"Yes?"
"Oh, yes!" Sillian smiled as he took his hand away from his chin. "Silly me! It's the Councilors that needs to talk to you. It was just a slip of the tongue. The Councilors needs to talk to you."
"About what?" Rodney asked.
"They didn't tell me." Sillian continued his lie as he took a step forward.
"Do they want us to come inside?" Rodney asked.
"No, they just need to talk to you." Sillian told him as he walked up to Rodney and took him by his arm, starting to lead him away. "They probably have a small assignment for you." Sillian continued to talk as he passed by Jake.
With Sillian taking Rodney away, Jake took a deep breath and turned his head back to normal. After staring at his confused girlfriend for a moment, he exhaled. "Are you stressed out?" Lin-Lin asked.
"Um..." Jake started to say, but he trailed off when Lin-Lin's eyes widened.
"Is...Is it your Aunt Haley's death again?" She asked. "Is your depression coming back?"
"No, no." Jake assured her.
"Then what is it?"
"I...I just don't know how to tell you..." Jake started, but trailed off.
Blinking, Lin-Lin just became more and more confused. "Tell me what?"
"I...I don't know how you're going to react..." Jake started to ramble.
"React to what?"
"I just...I just think it's the natural next step in our relationship..." At this point in his rant, Jake stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. As of this point, he had taken the biggest step. He had given her the biggest hint he possible could have. The hardest part was practically over.
Lin-Lin, also, had wide eyes. "The...The next...next st...step?" She stammered.
His heart pounding and his breaths coming out heavy, Jake finally decided to make his move. Reaching his hands up to the top of his uniform, Jake started to unbutton it. As Lin-Lin watched, as if in a trance, Jake reached in and pulled out the same black box he had shown Sillian.
"Jake..." Was all Lin-Lin could say.
"Lin-Lin..." Jake's voice cracked repeatedly as he opened up the box, showing Lin-Lin a ring with a stone that was the same color as her dragon form. "...I...I...I...I am ready to take our relationship to the next step. Are...Are you willing? Be...Because, that would make me very happy..."
LINE BREAK
Back in the woods, Seeing that Tupokigwe and Ozigbodi had both failed to get back up, Onkwani found himself lowering his clawed hands. Relieved, the Dragon Master turned around and looked up, seeing that Dikeledi had still not regained consciousness. Flapping his wings, Onkwani started to take off into the air, but he quickly froze, Kefilwe whizzing right by him, Quaashie having thrown her across the forest.
As Onkwani's eyes started to widen, he cried out as the grunting Quaashie tackled him to the forest floor.
LINE BREAK
Back in the plane, Sillian was waiting beside the doorway to the room where Naudé and Fouché were locked up, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. He was looking down at the floor, his head lowered, but when Jake III and Lin-Lin both walked back into the room, Lin-Lin having an unreadable look on her face and Jake looking like he was about to faint, Sillian lifted his head up and stepped away from the wall.
"Hey." He said, making both Lin-Lin and Jake stop and turn around. "H...How did it go?" Sillian asked, noticing the looks on both of their faces. "Di...Did it go well?"
"You knew?" Lin-Lin asked softly.
"I finally got him to tell me what was bothering him." Sillian put his hands on his hips. "Of course I knew. That's why I had to get Agent McClellan back in here."
"How did you break your lie to him?" Jake finally managed to speak up, his voice still cracking.
"Eh." Sillian shrugged his shoulders. "Once we were far enough away, I admitted that I just said that to get him away because you two had something personal and important to talk about. He's fine."
"Good to know." Jake said.
"So?" Sillian pressed forward. "What did she say?"
After a moment, Lin-Lin smirked, and Jake also smiled as she held up one of her hands, showing Sillian the ring that Jake had given her. "You tell me." Lin-Lin answered.
"Wow." Sillian found himself smiling. "Congratulations to both of you. I mean that."
"Thanks." Jake said as Lin-Lin lowered her hand. "I couldn't have done it without your support."
LINE BREAK
At Quaashie's home, Asil, Dingane, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse all arrived at the front door. "Should we just knock?" Dingane asked.
"I don't think they'll react well to seeing us." Kefentse said in English.
"We should just catch them by surprise." Asil decided as he took a step forward, now right in front of the door. "Stand back." He told the others. As Dingane, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse did as they were told, Asil turned and grunted, ramming his shoulder into the door.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Swanepoel, Neethling and Prinsloo were all in the kitchen, at the table, none of them hearing the pound against the door. Neethling and Prinsloo watched as the still dragon-formed Swanepoel poured them each a glass of some kind of alcohol. After pouring the last two glasses, Swanepoel took two of them in each of his hands and used his tail to take the other. Then, he turned around and offered the glass in his tail to Prinsloo and the glass in his right hand to Neethling, both taking the glasses.
"A toast!" Swanepoel said in Afrikaans, a wicked smile on his face as he held up the glass. "To the death of the South African Dragon! May the Dragon Council finally wise up!"
"Agreed." Neethling and Prinsloo said together, both in Afrikaans.
Just as the three clunked their glasses together, Councilor Asil rammed against the front door again. This time, Swanepoel, Neethling and Prinsloo all heard it, and all together, they turned. "What was that?" Prinsloo asked. "It sounds like someone is at the door."
"Aw." Swanepoel smiled, just as Asil slammed against the door for the third time. "I'm willing to bet that that is Quaashie returning from making a display out of Dikeledi Okafor's corpse." He took a drink from his cup, just as Asil slammed against the door for the fourth time, making Swanepoel scowl as he took his glass away from his mouth. "Impatient, isn't he? Neethling, Prinsloo..." He turned his head to the side. "...Can you get that?"
LINE BREAK
Back in the woods, Kefilwe moaned as she rolled over onto her side. Seeing Quaashie pick up Onkwani and throw him backwards, Kefilwe grunted as she struggled to get to her feet. Breathing heavily, Kefilwe turned to stared at Quaashie, who turned to face his fallen daughters. "HEY!" Kefilwe shouted in Afrikaans, narrowing her eyes.
This shout made Quaashie turn back around to face her, seeing Kefilwe open her mouth, fire forming. Quickly, Kefilwe shot the torrent of fire at him. As soon as the fire hit him, Quaashie screamed in pain and was thrown back, landing with a grunt in-between his still unconscious daughters.
With a look of rage on her face, Kefilwe flared her wings and flapped them, taking off into the air, quickly getting right above Quaashie, who moaned as he lifted his head up. However, his dazed look quickly turned into a look of fear as Kefilwe brought her tail down and wrapped it around his neck, quickly pulling him off of the ground and bringing him up to her level.
"P...Please..." Quaashie started to beg in Afrikaans, but before he could finish, Kefilwe used her tail to throw him back down to the ground with all of her might. Quaashie screamed right up to the point where he landed face-first in-between his daughters, left in a battered heap as Kefilwe lowered herself down onto the ground, right in front of where Onkwani was sitting up.
"Take my hand." Kefilwe said in Afrikaans, offering him her clawed hand.
"I'm fine." Onkwani told her, also in Afrikaans. "Don't worry about me. Just get Dikeledi down from that tree."
Hearing her daughter's name, Kefilwe smiled and nodded. Taking her clawed hand away from Onkwani, Kefilwe turned around and looked up, seeing that her daughter still had yet to move. "Dikeledi..." Kefilwe whispered before she flapped her wings and started to fly up to where her daughter was dangling.
A second later, Kefilwe arrived in front of her daughter. "Dikeledi." She said softly, smiling, but when Dikeledi didn't respond, she found her smile fading, just as Onkwani flew up to her side. "Dikeledi?" Kefilwe asked, reaching forward, only to stop as the giant hole in the back of Dikeledi's head finally caught her attention.
"Dikeledi!" Kefilwe cried in panic, reaching down and grabbing her daughter's chin, lifting her head up, only to see Dikeledi's open, glassy and lifeless eyes.
Shrieking in horror and anguish, Kefilwe pulled her clawed hand away, covering her mouth as Onkwani's eyes widened. "No..." Was all he could say.
"Dikeledi, no..." Kefilwe whined as she immediately started to break down. "...No, no, no, no, no, no. Not my Dikeledi. No, no, no. Not my baby girl. No, no, no, no..."
LINE BREAK
Back at Quaashie's home/shop, Dingane, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse all watched as Asil rammed his shoulder into the front door once again. Stumbling away, Asil moaned in pain as he reached up and clutched his scaly shoulder.
"Maybe we should try a different tactic." Dingane suggested.
"Maybe they're not here." Letsego suggested in English.
"Yes." Siboniso agreed, also in English. "What if she lied to us?" As she continued, Asil slowly turned to face them all, taking his clawed hand away from his scaly shoulder. "What if she gave us the directions to the wrong house on purpose? What if this house is completely deserted?"
"Or worse..." Letsego spoke up again. "...What if this is the house of an innocent family, and they're all cowering in fear because we're threatening to break down their door?"
"Then we'll just have to apologize." Asil replied, just as the front door opened, making him turn around, allowing him to see Neethling, whose eyes widened in shock.
"It feels good to be wrong." Letsego said.
"Indeed." Asil smirked. "Hello, wizard. We're here for the South African Dragon." Then, with a grunt, he charged forward, Dingane, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse all following after him.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Swanepoel poured himself another cup of alcohol. As he set down the bottle, picked up the glass, and took a swig, he heard a thud from the front room, followed by a roar from Prinsloo, making him turn around.
"Neethling! Prinsloo!" He called in Afrikaans. "What is going on out there? Is Quaashie home?"
There was another thud before he heard the sound of Prinsloo's voice, who called to him in Afrikaans: "No, Swanepoel! It's the Dragon Council! They've found us!"
Upon hearing this news, Swanepoel went into shock, tightening his grip on his cup to the point where it shattered in his hand. "My gun!" He finally decided, turning and running for the basement.
A few seconds later, Swanepoel swerved around a corner and started to fly down the stairs that led to the basement. Landing on the top step, Swanepoel turned and used his tail to reach for the door to the basement, closing it.
Back in the front room, Councilor slammed his tail into Neethling, throwing her backwards into Prinsloo, who was on all fours, charging forward. Upon hitting Prinsloo, both she and Neethling fell to the floor.
Lowering his fighting stance, Asil turned around to face Dingane, Siboniso, Letsego and Kefentse. "There should be one more." Asil said. "Councilor Dingane, I want you, Mbeki and Jakande to stay and fight these two." He said as Prinsloo and Neethling both started to get up. "Aklioye, you come with me."
Nodding, Kefentse started to run towards Asil, and once he reached the Councilor, Asil turned, both dragons flapping their wings and taking off into the air. As they started to pass by Neethling and Prinsloo, the werewolf growled as she lifted her head up; Asil had already passed her, but Kefentse was still right above her. Snarling, Prinsloo jumped in the air, trying to swipe at Kefentse, but she just missed, falling back to the floor. Having passed by the wizard and the werewolf, Asil and Kefentse flew into the next room.
Back on the basement stairs, Swanepoel breathed heavily as he backed down, slowly taking a step down at a time. Finally, after taking two steps down the stairs, he heard footsteps from behind the door. "The kitchen seems to be empty." Came the sound of Kefentse's voice. It appeared as though he and Asil had entered the kitchen.
Swanepoel started to smile with relief, but when Asil responded: "Wait, there's a door right here!", his smile vanished and was replaced with a look of panic.
"Crap!" Swanepoel hissed in Afrikaans. Quickly, he turned and started to run down the stairs, but it was too late; Asil pulled the door open, the Councilor's eyes widening as he saw Swanepoel reach the bottom of the stairs.
"You're not getting away!" Asil said before he flared his wings jumped down the stairs, gliding down them. "Akiloye, the last one is in the basement!"
Panting, Swanepoel managed to reach the gun that he had dropped onto the floor. However, just as he was crouching down to pick it up, Councilor Asil caught up with him, grabbing him and pulling him away from the gun, eventually slamming him into the pole that Dikeledi had been chained to. As Swanepoel cried out in pain, Asil used his tail to remove the chains he had taken from the plane from around his body.
"No, no, no!" Swanepoel reverted to English as Asil started to pull his scaly arms behind his back. "NO!" He tried to struggle, but Asil responded by pressing him harder against the pole. With Swanepoel briefly in submission, Asil managed to start binding Swanepoel's clawed hands behind his back with the chains.
"You're not taking me back to prison." Swanepoel growled in English. This defiance resulted in him being pressed tighter against the pole.
"Yes, I am." Asil said with a scowl, managing to lock the chains that bound Swanepoel's hands.
"Check the blood on the floor, Councilor!" Swanepoel spat, making Asil's eyes widen before he looked down, seeing that he and Swanepoel were standing in drying blood.
Anger in his eyes, Asil looked back up at his prisoner. "Where is Dikeledi Okafor?" He demanded. "Where is she, and where are her friends?"
Swanepoel chuckled. "Her friends, they are fine." He told his captor. "This blood is not theirs."
"It's Dragon Okafor's..."
"Oh, yes." Swanepoel smiled proudly. "Since we have time before I get put back in my cell, I'd love to pass the time by playing a game. It's a fun game, a guessing game..."
"I'm not playing any games!" Asil said angrily, pressing Swanepoel even more against the pole. "What have you done to her?!"
"There is one bullet missing from that gun on the floor." Swanepoel explained, smiling with satisfaction. "It's the bullet...that killed Dikeledi Okafor..."
Back up in the front room, Neethling was nervously standing behind Prinsloo. Without her wand, she would stand no chance in a fight against three dragons. So, instead she watched as Prinsloo reacted to Letsego and Dingane flying up to her. Grunting, the werewolf used her hand and arm to swat Letsego away, and then she jumped up and kicked Dingane away as well. Quickly, the werewolf landed back down on her feet, while both Letsego and Dingane landed together near the open front door.
"Prinsloo, where's that last one?" Neethling asked in Afrikaans, nervously.
"Not sure." Prinsloo responded, also in Afrikaans, looking in both directions, first to the left and then to the right. However, when Prinsloo heard Neethling cry out in shock, she turned her head back to normal and spun around, seeing Siboniso lower herself to the floor after flinging Neethling into the next room with her tail. As Neethling landed hard on her back, Siboniso spun around to face Prinsloo. "Never thought we'd see you again." Prinsloo said, holding up her clawed hands for a fight.
"Me neither." Siboniso responded, also in Afrikaans and also holding up her clawed hands.
"Perhaps this time, you'll lose your life." Prinsloo suggested, completely unaware that, from behind her, Dingane and Letsego were getting back up onto their feet.
"I don't think so." Siboniso said softly, starting to lower her clawed hands.
"Why not?" The werewolf raised an eye.
"Because..." Siboniso replied, just as Dingane and Letsego started to fly at Prinsloo. Within a second, both Dingane and Letsego tackled Prinsloo, Dingane grabbing onto her right arm and wrapping his tail around her waist, while Letsego grabbed hold of her left arm and wrapped his tail around her neck.
Roaring in shock, the werewolf staggered back and thrust her body to the right and then to the left, trying to shake the two dragons off. Unfortunately for her, she failed. When the two dragons did not go flying off, Prinsloo resorted to roaring in protest.
"Jakande, finish her!" Dingane called, keeping his grip on Prinsloo tight.
Nodding, Siboniso flapped her wings and started to fly towards the struggling werewolf. Upon reaching Prinsloo, Siboniso stopped and managed to deliver a powerful punch to the werewolf's face. Immediately, Prinsloo jerked her head up from the impact. As Siboniso landed on the floor, Prinsloo dropped to the floor with a thud, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, both Letsego and Dingane stood up from the floor. "Well done, Jakande." He complimented her.
"Thank you." Siboniso replied in English.
Meanwhile, Kefentse managed to make it down the stairs to the basement, where he found Councilor Asil standing in front of Swanepoel, seated on the floor, more chains wrapped around his upper body and snout. "Councilor?" Kefentse asked in English.
With a sigh, Asil turned to face Kefentse. "Come here, Akiloye." He said, sounding extremely angry. "I caught him."
"And Dragon Okafor?" Kefentse asked hopefully.
"We were too late." Asil said darkly.
His eyes filling with surprise and sorrow, Kefentse found himself lowering his head as he started to walk towards Asil and Swanepoel. Once he reached Asil's side, Asil turned back around and looked down at Swanepoel while Kefentse looked up, his eyes locking with Swanepoel, who scowled at him.
"Yes." Kefentse's eyes widened. "Yes, this is him. This is the dragon who tortured me! This is him..."
Asil took a deep breath and exhaled before he reverted to his human form. Kefentse turned his head to the side and watched as Asil turned to face him, reaching into his robes. "Well, then..." Asil started, pulling out the black remote-like object. "...You will be needing this."
"Wh...What is it?" Kefentse asked as he turned to face Asil.
When Asil spoke, there was genuine remorse in his tone. "All of this was a test." He explained. "These creatures did not escape like we told you, we released them. It was all to help you, Dragon Okafor, Mbeki and Jakande. We never intended to set them free permanently. We were hoping that they would lead us to more dangerous, unhappy magical creatures before we had you help us re-capture them." Upon hearing this, Swanepoel's eyes widened in shock.
"Help us?" Kefentse asked as he took the remote-like object.
"Councilor Dingane told us that you said you were conflicted." Asil explained. "You told him that a part of you wanted to kill this dragon. Well, now you have a chance to get revenge. If you press the button on that remote, the chains binding him will non-fatally electrocute him for one hour non-stop. The choice is yours, Akiloye: You can inflict back on him all of the pain that he caused you, or you can choose to allow us to take him back to his prison cell completely unharmed. You know the right choice, but you can choose either way. The choice is yours." As soon as Asil had finished explaining the choices, Kefentse found himself turning back to face Swanepoel, who now had a look of genuine fear in his eyes.
"You have as long as you need, Akiloye." Asil said softly, crossing his arms.
Asil watched as Kefentse looked down at the remote, a conflicted and lost look on his face. Completely at Kefentse's mercy, Swanepoel took deep, rapid breaths. Kefentse, however, paid no attention to Asil nor Swanepoel. The only thing he was focusing on was the words that Yara had told him before they had split up:
"Do what your gut tells you! Don't back down! Do what you feel!"
It was done. He had made his decision.
Narrowing his eyes, Kefentse pressed the button on the remote. Immediately, Swanepoel was zapped by his chains, throwing him down onto his back. As the jolts kept coming, jerking him from side to side, tears formed in Swanepoel's eyes.
A homicidal look on his face, Kefentse kept pressing down on the button, hoping to cause Swanepoel nothing but more and more pain.
"Akiloye, stop it!" Asil demanded, his eyes wide with shock.
"Shut your mouth!" Kefentse raged, turning to face Asil. "You have no idea what he put me through! What this vile waste of air is getting isn't retribution enough!"
"I gave you an order, prisoner!" Asil started to get angry.
Snarling, Kefentse ignored him and turned back to face Swanepoel, starting to repeatedly press down on the remote again. Having had enough, Asil growled as he transformed into his dragon form in a bright light. Snarling, the Councilor lunged forward, tackling Kefentse to the floor and then forced Kefentse onto his back, grabbing his scaly wrists and pinning them behind his back. This, however, only encouraged Kefentse to struggle against Asil's grip.
"Enough!" Asil roared, snapping the distressed Kefentse back into reality and making him stop his struggle. With Kefentse now cooperating, Asil sighed and lowered his head. "You made the wrong choice..." He said softly.
LINE BREAK
About an hour later, the entire Council, including Onkwani and Kefilwe (all in their human forms) were outside the plane, while all of the Agents were in the plane, watching over the re-captured prisoners.
Asil, holding a communication device that was omitting a holographic image of Holly, sighed. "It turns out that Mbeki and Jakande's torturers were the two that were killed all those years ago. Akiloye, on the other hand, made the wrong choice."
"That's unfortunate." Holly said softly. "That is the least of our problems, though. Dikeledi Okafor is gone, and now we have to find a new South African Dragon."
"I know."
"How is Councilor Dingane handling this?" Holly asked.
"He feels awful, Councilor Jennings." Asil replied. "I feel awful."
"We should all feel awful." Holly told him.
Several feet away, Councilor Dingane was standing all by himself, his arms crossed as tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. Mustering up the courage, Dingane turned his head to the side, seeing Agata and Yara talking to Kefilwe and Onkwani. Sniffling, Dingane turned, quickly using his hands to wipe the tears from his eyes before he slowly started to walk over to them.
"How is Kefilwe Okafor handling her daughter's death?" Holly asked Asil.
Asil took a deep breath and exhaled before he answered. "I have not yet talked to her, so I do not know. My guess is devastated." Holly nodded. "What we're going to have to do, Councilor, is make two trips." Asil continued.
"Why?"
"I don't want Akiloye, Jakande and Mbeki being held in the same plane as the other prisoners." Asil said. "I'm going to stay with them while Councilor Yara, Councilor Agata and Councilor Dingane bring the others back. Then, I'll bring them back."
"If you insist." Holly said.
Meanwhile, Dingane arrived at Agata's side. As he stopped, he saw the tears in Kefilwe's eyes and the look of utter devastation on Onkwani's face. "Aw..." Agata faked a cheery smile as she put a hand on Dingane's shoulder. "...It looks like Councilor Dingane is here to give you his condolences."
"I don't want your condolences." Kefilwe scowled, even as the tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
"Why not?" Agata asked, taking her hand off of his shoulder.
"I told you that I didn't want yours', either." Kefilwe narrowed her eyes. "I lost my daughter because of you-because of your stupid plan."
"We were only trying to help h-" Yara tried, but Kefilwe cut her off.
"SOME HELP YOU WERE!" Kefilwe shrieked. "I WANTED MY DAUGHTER TO BURY ME, NOT BURY MY DAUGHTER!"
"Please, calm down..." Dingane's voice cracked, tears starting to form in his eyes again.
"NO, I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!" Kefilwe continued to shriek, pointing a finger at all three of them. "I WILL SCREAM IN YOUR FACES ALL I WANT!"
"I understand how terrible you must feel." Dingane said, his voice cracking. "I feel just as bad. This was my plan. I only wanted to help your daughter. If...If I had known that she was going to get killed, I...I never, never would have suggested my plan to the Council. I would have been against it if someone else had brought it up. Please, what can I do to make it up to you? What can I do to make this guilt go away?"
Sniffling, Kefilwe took a step forward, stopping in front of Dingane. "Perhaps it shouldn't go away." She said softly, her voice cracking. "Perhaps guilt is a good thing. Dikeledi would still be here if it weren't for you."
"How can I make it up to you?" Dingane asked.
"You want to make it up to me?" Kefilwe asked. "You really want to?"
"Yes." Dingane continued to let his tears roll down his cheeks. "Anything. I will do anything."
"You don't have to do anything." Onkwani said as he stepped up to Kefilwe's side, took her by the shoulder and took a step back.
"Wh...What?" Dingane asked.
"Her daughter was brutally murdered today." Onkwani said, holding Kefilwe close and trying to comfort her. "She found her daughter's body. She's too distraught to think properly. After some time has passed, and this is applied to you, as well, she will come to realize that it's not your fault. You can't be held accountable for trying to help. Trust me."
LINE BREAK
A few feet away from the plane, Kefentse, Siboniso and Letsego (all in their dragon forms) were seated against a tree, chained to it, pressed side by side. The three watched as Councilor Asil walked towards them, reaching them a few seconds later. Grunting, Asil crouched down, sitting on his knees.
"Why are you here?" Kefentse asked softly, in English.
"I need to talk to you, Akiloye." Asil replied.
"I don't feel like talking."
"Well, we're going to talk." Asil took charge. "We're going to talk about the decision you made."
"I know!" Kefentse said impatiently. "I made the wrong choice! You already told me this!"
"I'm not here to keep telling you that you were wrong." Asil assured him. "I just want to know why you chose to hurt him."
"Like Councilor Yara said: he deserved it."
"That was part of your test." Asil told him. "Councilor Yara is just as disappointed in you as I am. She doesn't believe that he deserved to be subjected to that kind of pain."
"Well, I...I felt that he deserved it." Kefentse said. "In that moment..."
"How about now?" Asil asked. "Do you still feel like you want to kill him?" Kefentse said nothing. The look in his eyes and the way he lowered his head said it all. "So, you do?"
"A part of me still does." Kefentse said as he lifted his head back up. "I don't think that will ever change."
"That's an unhealthy way of looking at it." Asil said, just as the plane's engine started to whir to life.
"Maybe." Kefentse's voice started to crack, tears starting to form in his eyes. "But it's the truth. The truth isn't always pleasant."
"I suppose you are right." Asil said softly before he started to stand back up. "That's all I wanted to talk to you about." He finished. Then, he turned around to see the plane rolling forward, getting ready to take off.
Sighing, Asil turned once again, watching as the plane finally picked enough speed to take off. The wheels left the ground and ascended into the air, taking the re-captured prisoners back to the Island of Draco.
BLACKOUT; END
A/N: And so, with these depressing notes, I end South African Dragon: Dikeledi Okafor. Boy, am I glad to be done with it. It was a long, laborious and stressful write; it took much longer than I thought it was going to take, and it was about ten pages longer than I hoped it would be. With that said, I need to talk about killing Dikeledi off:
My intent was to have her live through this. This was originally supposed to be kind of like "Brother Protector: Holly Jennings" in the sense that the darkest thing about it is the villain's plot. No huge amount of violence (unless you count what Kefentse did to Swanepoel as violent), no characters getting killed off, etc. I guess you could think of it as a "breather" in-between Haley dying at the end of JLIII and another main character kicking the bucket in "Earning the Darkness" (as for who this character is going to be, you're just going to have to find out). Unfortunately, the more I wrote, I kind of feel like I wrote myself into a position where killing off Dikeledi was the best choice. Even in the beginning, I was writing myself into this position. For example, Agata's line about Dikeledi having to make a personal change to appease the unhappy magical creatures. Well, the focus also being on Kefentse and the others made it near impossible to focus on more than a few unhappy magical creatures, and thus the possibility of Dikeledi really growing as the South African Dragon. At the moment, I'm thinking that killing off Dikeledi has given me the chance to make the entirety of the unrest in South Africa the main focus of a "sequel" to this, if you will, which I am going to write, just not right away.
Well, that's my explanation. With that said, I'd really appreciate some feedback. Please review.