Opposing Force
Hi everyone, I am so sorry about not updating in months, I just didn't feel up to writing and hit a few writer's blocks, but I am back and ready to continue the adventures of Iris and her brothers.
ShiningGalaxy: Thank you so much for your review, I am so happy you like the story so far and hope you will continue to read the future chapters, thank you.
Onwards we go!
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed across the dark sky of Dragon City. Standing in the half-destroyed Penn Stables, Iris stood at one of the still intact windows, watching the rain patter against the window and the wind sweep up a few loose leaves. Why did Artha have to go out in a storm like this? He should have stayed here where it was safe and dry, but nope, he wanted to go out and catch more criminals. And if that wasn't bad enough, Parm and Lance had gone with him. She had put her foot down about Lance going with them as she felt it was too dangerous for a ten-year-old to go with the two older teens, but Lance had begged her to let him go, blinking his blue eyes at her with his puppy dog look, it was enough to make her cave, she pinched the bridge of her nose and made Parm swear that he would look after them where she couldn't. He had promised and off the boys went.
She felt lonely at the stables, sure Mortis was here, but he was down in the temple most times and never really came up to the surface. Iris hoped to one day have a dragon of her own, as she still did not have one, but she remembered her father, being a dragon breeder, having a book about the different types of dragons that lived in the city and she had thankfully found it, untouched by the fire on a bookshelf. She went to grab it and sat down in a chair and began to read.
Meanwhile, in the downtown city, a local bank was being robbed by a rider and his lime green bull-class dragon. "Everybody drop it and no one gets hurt." The rider threatened a group of Dragon City Security guards, there were crashing sounds from inside the bank before the dragon smashed through the front door, destroying it. People fled the scene as sirens wailed from two city security guards and their blue dragons. The bull-class looked around and ran from the scene, hoping to outrun the security. The rider, clad in his riding gear, smirked as he looked back at the cops that were chasing him, he looked forward and his face, once smug, morphed into shock and he hit the brakes with his dragon. For in front of them, cast in shadow were a dragon and his rider, a flash of lightning lit up the area, revealing none other than the Dragon Booster and his dragon.
"You look kind of lost. Banks the other way. What's say you return that stuff before someone gets hurt." Beau snarled threateningly at the robber and his dragon, but the rider just smirked again and sent his dragon into a charge, thinking he could take this guy on, but at the last moment, Beau leaped out of the way and the dragon collided head-on with a sign-post, which fizzled out and began to topple towards a mother and her child. The woman screamed, shielding her child and prepared to sacrifice her life for her child, but the sign stopped a few inches from them and both looked up. The Dragon Booster was perched on top of his dragon's head as the two were holding the sign-up.
"You know, you might want to move, this thing is kinda heavy." the Dragon booster strained against the weight of the sign and the mother grabbed her child and promptly got out of there.
"A little help would be nice, Beau," Artha asked, Beau glowed a gold color, lifting his rider into the air and the sign was lifted higher and away from people. Beau ran out from under the sign, dragging his rider with him and the sign fell onto the ground, clear of people.
Up on a tall building, Parm and Lance were watching the scene unfold. "Impressive maneuvering, Artha, but the perpetrator is escaping at a rather high rate of speed," Parm informed as he watched the robber and his dragon through his binocs. "Lead the way, Parm," Artha spoke as he and Beau were in pursuit of the criminal.
"Ready? Right, straight then… oh right. I'm losing him." his binocs fizzled as he tried to keep track of the robber. "Tell me about it," Artha grumbled.
Lance flipped down the visor of his helmet. "I'm gonna cut them off," he announced and Fracshun took off. "Lance, where are you going?" Parm asked as the ten-year-old rode off with his dragon. "Oh, Iris will kill me." he moaned, remembering the promise he had made before they left the stables, she had made him swear that he would keep an eye on her brothers, as the oldest out of the teens, she asked him to watch Artha and Lance, but that promise had gone out the window now that Lance had left his side.
"My color senses need tweaking. They're supposed to modulate light wave and radio wave frequencies, but they seem to be malfunctioning." Beau skidded to a stop and Artha groaned. "What's malfunctioning is your directions." He growled into the comm, annoyed that Parm had pretty much lost the robber.
The rider grinned at having seemed to have lost the Dragon Booster and they ran right past Lance and Fracshun. "He's right here!" the boy announced. "Lance? What are you doing here?" Artha questioned.
"I can help."
"Stay with Parm, Lance. Iris will kill all of us if she finds out. The team needs you." Beau took off again after the robber, leaving Lance feeling a little confused.
Beau took a sharp turn and skidded to a stop. In front of them were various air ducts, they had no idea which one to take. "Ah, scales, lost him." Artha hit one of the controls of the saddle in frustration. "No we haven't, I still see him in the duct," Parm announced as he watched the robber in the duct with heat vision.
"How?" Artha questioned.
"Heat. It's just another wavelength my binocs can dial into. I can see the heat imprint right through the metal duct."
Artha dismounted the saddle and approached the air ducts. "Parm, which duct?" he asked, looking around. Getting no answer, he climbed into the first duct he was in front of, sliding down it and hitting a few corners before he landed on the ground with a groan. Sitting up, he had stars floating around his head from the hits. "Uh, the other bottom one." Parm finally spoke sheepishly, meaning Artha had gone down the wrong path.
He shook the stars away. "Good call, Parm." he snapped before spotting something on the ground. It was a jacket. "That's strange." He picked it up and found the symbol of the Grip of the Dragon crew on the back. "Why would a Grip of the Dragon crew member throw away a perfectly good jacket?" he tucked it away and heard voices up ahead.
Following the voices, Artha found himself above the down city council round table room. "Whoa, hey Parmon, our little trail leads to the down city council round table, you might wanna listen in on this," he spoke as the members down below kept arguing.
A fist slammed down hard on the table. "Silence!" it was the council leader Phistus, also the leader of the Grip of the Dragon crew. "I've had enough of your petty bickering! It is our duty to ensure peace between our dragon crews and there would be city-wide chaos. That is what this down city council does, what it's done for centuries. Have you all forgotten that?" he asked, looking around at the various crews and their members.
Moordryd was among them. "The problem isn't each other, it's this so-called hero Dragon Booster." various members murmured in agreement to his words as Artha listened in. If Iris knew about this, she would be very, very unhappy.
"I heard no one has anything to fear from him, unless, of course, you're a thief?" Phistus spoke, Moordryd glared at the council leader, but another member spoke up. "We all do what we must to get out of squires' end and have a chance to race in the elite class."
Phistus agreed. "I admit we all had dreams of greater things. It's just that some of our methods are honorable and some questionable." he directed the last part at Moordryd, who sneered at him.
The doors behind everyone opened up and a male walked in, Artha recognized the person. I know that face, from the robbery.
The guy walked up to Moordryd and whispered something to him. "It seems we have a little problem. My friend here just spent the last twenty minutes hiding from an army of Dragon City Security and the Dragon Booster."
Phistus merely raised an eyebrow at him. "And your point is?"
"Security followed your crew down from a little bank heist."
"My crew? That's a lie!" Phistus growled, his crew would never do that, they were honorable members. Moordryd scoffed and grabbed a radio from within his jacket as a news voice spoke. "Eyewitnesses say that the robber was identified as a Grip of the Dragon crew member. Security is still searching for a green bull-class dragon last seen fleeing the crime scene." members began to murmur amongst themselves and Phistus grew angry. "Lies!
Moordryd stopped the radio and put it away. "Look whose fist is in his mouth now." the teen sneered and Phistus shouted with rage, grabbing his large hammer and smashing it into the table, breaking it. Moordryd grabbed a drain whip, both ready to fight. "You have disgraced the council! And by the ancient rights, I challenge your leadership by dragon jousting."
This is bad, if Moordryd took control over the council, Dragon City would fall into chaos. Artha thought as he watched the scene, but he didn't see that he was standing on a loose pipe and fell through the ceiling, crashing to the ground as a few members winced. Artha sat up. "Nice place you got here, sorry about the mess."
"It's the Dragon Booster, get him!" Moordryd commanded and various members started to close in on Artha before a roar sounded and the wall beside him was smashed as Beau rammed his way in, Beau roared and magged Artha into the saddle. A teen stood with a flash stick, ready to use on Beau, but Artha stopped him. "You might wanna back off quickly, he doesn't like crowds."
Beau snarled and blew a gust of air into the teen's face and he took off. Beau once again roared at the council members who had threatened his rider before the pair took off. Phistus watched them leave.
Moordryd pointed a finger at him. "This isn't over, Phistus, I'll see you at the joust."
Iris watched from the sidelines as Artha and Beau ran through the course in the temple below the stables. Magnetic swords swung at Artha and he used his mag-staff to deflect them. Beau growled and saw swinging mace balls ahead, spinning vertically around posts, the red and blue dragon jumped over the first set with a growl and Artha looked back at the mace ball before he looked forward and his eyes widened when he saw another coming towards him. The teen jumped from his saddle, over the ball, and back down into the saddle.
Parm, Iris, and Mortis watched from the sides. Beau and Artha, now exhausted, made their way over as Artha, out of breath, asked. "Okay. How was that?"
"Better, but the machines are only set to level 2 challenge," Mortis explained to them.
"I still can't believe that Moordryd challenged Phistus to joust. Everyone knows that Phistus is the best jouster in Dragon City." Parm was still reeling about the news of Moordryd challenging Phistus to dragon joust.
"And I still can't believe that you broke your promise to me, Parmon. You knew that it wasn't safe for Lance, yet he still wanted to go and you swore to me that you would keep him, and Artha safe. But not only did you lose Lance after he ran off, you lost Artha too!" Iris recounted, glaring at Parm with a heated look. The seventeen-year-old looked away, knowing he had been careless with watching Lance and should have been more careful.
After the three boys had returned to the stables, Iris had chewed each of them out for being careless, she chewed Parm out the most for breaking her promise to watch Lance and Artha without her. She did not hold back and sent Lance to his room, the boy had tried to say that she couldn't tell him what to do and that she was not his father, but Artha had firmly told him to go to his room. The boy had relented and sulked to his room, slamming the door shut. Iris pinched the bridge of her nose as she stared at Parm and Artha, expressing how worried she was about them being out in the storm at night and how she would be so devastated if anything happened to any of them.
So here they were, down below in the temple, watching Artha and Beau train as Lance was still in his room. "What if Moordryd actually does beat Phistus? Does he automatically get to control the down city council?" Artha questioned with a slight tilt of his head from atop the saddle.
"Yes, but he may be challenged by one other on that day." Artha looked down at his star amulet and Iris could see the gears turning in his head. "I know what you're thinking, Artha. You cannot challenge Moordryd as the dragon booster!" she did not want him to challenge Moordryd because there was a real chance he could get seriously hurt. "You don't know anything about dragon joust!"
Iris is right, but if Moordryd beats Phistus and becomes leader, many powerful crews will be lured to Word Paynn and his false promises." Mortis spoke as he walked past the pair and faced them. "He would then use these lost souls for his own purposes."
"The dragon-human war," Artha growled.
Mortis tapped his staff against the ground. "Again! This time, level 3."
In his lair, Word was watching a small video of the down city council with Moordryd. "Congratulations, Moordryd. The fool Phistus is now ready to fall. You see, my plan worked flawlessly."
Moordryd unfolded his arms. "I'm equally as interested in the rest of your plan. Where is this so-called wraith dragon of yours?" Word put on a pair of control glasses and pressed a button on a remote control in his hand. Moordryd felt the back of his jacket being pulled and he was lifted into the air by an invisible force. "Ah, let me down! Let me down!"
"Of course." Word pressed another button and Moordryd was released, the boy landing on his back with a grunt. "It's simply a matter of my mind-control and invisibility gear." Word pressed a third button and a two-legged dragon, dark purple, shimmered into view. Moordryd looked shocked and slightly afraid of the dragon as it roared at them. The dragon's teeth moved close to Moordryd and he backed up into his father, looking at the older man.
"Be thankful it shall be fighting on your side." Word hands the remote to Moordryd. "Now go, defeat Phistus and deliver control of the down city council to me."
Back at Penn stables, down in the temple, Lance was now out of his room and playing with his remote-controlled dragon. He controlled the dragon to knock over some toys and laughed as he steered the dragon around himself. "Remote control jousting is drac!"
The toy ran over Parm's foot and he yelped. "Lance, I do wish you'd be careful," he said with his hands on his hips. "I wanna help!" Lance said, almost at a yell as he glared at Parm. "Help what? Break my toes?"
Iris had gone back up to the stables to rest as she was tired. Artha and Beau returned after another round at the course. "No more today, Mortis. We're totally exhausted."
"Dragon Booster!" Mortis shouted, causing Artha to flinch away from the loud voice. "You have tasks ahead that require endurance, willpower, and an inner strength you never knew you had. If there's one lesson you must learn, it's to know the true meaning of heart and to never give up."
Artha pondered on those words. "Hmm." he smiled and looked at Beau. "Come on, Beau, let's go!" he turned them around and they ran off to do the course again with newfound strength. Lance looked crestfallen and Mortis took notice, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What troubles you, Lance?"
The boy moved away. "Everybody's always telling me, I'm not big enough for this, I'm too small for that, it stinks!" he kicked the ground with his foot. Mortis knelt beside him. "They're just trying to protect you, even Iris. but remember, it's not how big you are, Lance Penn, it's the size of your heart that matters, and when I look at you, I see courage as big as a mountain." that statement made Lance smile.
The next day was the joust and Budge banged the gong he was holding. "Dragon crews of squire's end, the main event is about to begin!" he announced, electing cheers from all around. Up in the Eye of the Dragon stand, a few members were lazing about when Budge spoke. "Well, it seems we have a special guest at tonight's event. Welcome, Mr. Paynn." Word walked into the stand and sat down. He waved a hand. "Carry on."
"First, the challenger, you know him from street racing and as leader of the Dragon Eye crew, Moordryd Paynn!" Moordryd and Decepshun walked out, decked in joust gear and Moordryd let the visor of his helmet fall as people booed at him.
"And now, spanning a decade of battle competition, he's the grip of the dragon leader, head of the down city crew council, and all-time dragon city jousting champion, I bring you, Phistus!" Budge announced as Phistus and his large green bull class dragon, Brutaris, stepped out of the shadows and Phistus raised his joust into the air as the crowd cheered for him. Moordryd sneered at the cheering and scowled. The pair headed off in different directions of the arena, facing each other at different sides. "It's the best two of three rounds, the rules are simple, if you hit the ground, you lose the round!"
"Combations, take your places!" Moordryd looked over to the side where Cain was hiding near the entrance with the glasses and controller. He held up the controller and gave his friend a thumbs up, telling him without words that he was ready. Moordryd grinned and the visor slid back up as Budge hit the gong and the joust began!
The two dragons charged at each other as their riders aimed their jousting sticks. Cain watched and controlled the wraith dragon to ram into Phistus, he looked back to see what hit him but saw nothing, he looked forward and was knocked clean from his saddle as Moordryd laughed. "Ow, that's gotta hurt," Budge said as Phistus sat up and glared at Moordryd. "So, the first of three rounds go too, Moordryd Paynn!" the crowd booed again, making the teen madder than ever!
"Jousters, prepare for round two!" Budge announced and hit the gong a second time. Moordryd and Phistus got back into place and charged again. Cain sent the wraith dragon at Phistus again, the dragon rammed into Brutaris so badly that Phistus lost his joust and was hit a second time by Moordryd. Phistus yelled out as he fell and landed hard on the ground, the poor guy felt dizzy from the hit, but he shook it off and yelled out in anger at having lost a second time. Word smiled evilly at him as Budge spoke. "Incredible! Phistus has been defeated! I give you the jousting champion of dragon city and according to the ancient laws, the new leader of the down city council, Moordryd Paynn!"
"Yes!" the teen celebrated, holding up his joust even as the crowd booed at him and Word smiled, just what he wanted, but then a new voice spoke up. "Wait a second!"
It was the dragon booster and his dragon. The black and gold dragon Word thought with glee, finally, he would get his hands on that dragon, he just needed the dragon booster out of the way!
"According to the laws, there can be one more challenge today. I challenge you, Moordryd Paynn to dragon joust!" the dragon booster challenged the white-haired teen as his crew members booed at the dragon booster.
Hearing the booing, Phistus shouted, "Silence! This dragon booster has the legal right to challenge." seeing this, Word spoke into an earpiece connected to Moordryd's helmet. "Moordryd, this is the chance we've been waiting for, listen to me, we have a change of plans."
Moordryd smiled as he listened to his father's plan as the crowd grew restless, waiting for his answer to whether he would accept the challenge. "The crowd grows restless, Moordryd," Budge spoke up and the boy looked at the announcer. "Not so fast." He looked at the dragon booster. "I not only accept your challenge, dragon booster, but I with up the anti whereby the winner shall take, the loser's dragon!" hearing this, Beau had a shocked look on his face before he snarled, he would rather die than be part of Moordryd's crew. "Accepted!" the dragon booster said with determination as Word grinned at the news that the winner shall take the loser's dragon.
Both parties went to opposite ends of the arena, the dragon booster had a jousting stick and shield. Beau had on green ramming gear and snarled at Decepshun, who snarled back at the black and gold dragon. Artha looked a little uncertain about what he had signed up for when Parm spoke through his helmet. "Artha, we have a problem. You can't joust, there's something invisible stalking you, my binocs were reading something huge, ten tons at least, fifty meters." Parm, Lance, and Iris stood on the sidelines as Parm explained the strange thing he could see with heat in his binocs.
"Let me see?" Iris took the binocs from him and lifted them to her own eyes, she too, could see the heat vision of what looked like a dragon. "That looks like a dragon, Artha, but we can't see it," she informed her brother. "What? Where?" he asked, looking around. "It's right behind you," Iris said as she kept watch, ignoring Parm's question to give the binocs back.
Artha looked behind him but saw nothing. "I don't see anything, Iris." he heard her yelp as the binocs fizzled and glared at Parm. "What was that noise?"
"His binocs just fried, now we can't see anything," Iris informed him, shoving the binocs to Parm. "Fix them now, Parm. Artha needs us!"
Budge hit the gong and the two riders and their dragons charged forward. Phistus watched the match as Artha spoke into the comm. "I'm getting creeped out, guys. Where is that thing?" the wraith dragon ran up alongside Beau and rammed hard into the black and gold dragon and Artha grunted from the hit, he had just enough time to focus just as they collided and Artha was knocked clean off his saddle. Iris, Parm, and Lance all winced as he hit the ground.
Artha sat up and groaned from the hit. "Hey, Parm, if you don't do something fast, I'm gonna lose everything." Parm used one of his tools to try and fix the binocs. "I'm trying." he lifted them to his eyes and smiled when he could see again. "Yes, they're working, I can see it better now. Iris was right about it being a dragon, it's covered in control gear, but there's no rider."
"It's remote-controlled!" Lance piped up happily.
"Yes! If I can just wire the binocs frequency modulator to the vidd control transmitter, then I can…"
"Take control." Lance finished for him, steering his remote dragon into view. "Lance, I told you not to bring that with you." Iris scolded him gently. The boy huffed. "I wanted to bring it with me." Iris sighed, sometimes it got on her nerves when Lance didn't listen to her.
"Well, not exactly. But if I can send out a signal on every available frequency, maybe I can jam whoever does have control." Parm explained as he grabbed a few tools to do his job.
"Do you think…?" Lance began but was cut off by Parm. "In a moment, Lance."
"But…"
"Lance, he needs to focus on his work. Come on." Iris said as she looked at her brother, who glared and looked away. Iris once again pinched the bridge of her nose, just what was she going to do with Lance if he ever got hurt because he wanted to break the rules?
"Dragon booster, do you wish to be disqualified?" Budge asked as Parm held up the newly modified binocs. "That should do it, I think," he added the last part sounding slightly doubtful. "You think? Please tell me you didn't mess it up?" Iris begged him. "I am sure of it, Iris."
He lifted the binocs to his eyes and unknown to him, Lance held up his controller antenna to the binocs and the frequency caused the dragon to growl and roar. "Artha, I did it, I did it," Parm shouted excitedly until he felt a tap on his shoulder. He put the binocs down and Iris pointed to Lance, who held up his controller to the binocs again. He did it a third time and the dragon fell to the ground. "Looks like it was a good idea to bring that with you after all, Lance," Iris commented with a smile, Proud of her little brother. The comment made Lance smile at her, glad she could now see that bringing his remote-controlled dragon with him was a good idea.
"Oh, that's to say that Lance did it."
Lance smirked. "That's right, Lance did it."
"All right, Lance, you've had your moment, no need to grow a big head," Iris said with a gentle smile. The ten-year-old huffed but heeded her words.
With Cain, the remote was acting up on him. "Come on, come on. Stupid.' he looked out at the wraith dragon still lying on the ground. The gong sounded and the two riders charged forward and met with a resounding crash. For the first time since he began, Moordryd was knocked from his saddle and landed hard on the ground. Phistus smirked at the sight of Moordryd on the ground as Word glared. He put on a spare pair of glasses and saw the wraith was on the ground. "Moordryd, the wraith dragon is down! Do something!" Word shouted to Moordryd through his comms.
"Cain, do something!" he snapped to Cain, who looked frustrated and a bit flustered. "I'm trying, I'm trying, but the stupid thing won't work." he kept pressing buttons, but nothing was working for him.
"Great work, guys," Artha spoke to his team, proud of them, especially Lance for discovering his remote was needed. The boy was very happy to help out and noticed something over to his right. "Hey, Cain's got a remote too. He must be the one controlling that thing down there." Iris saw him too. "You're right, Lance." she patted him on the back for being so observant of his surroundings.
"Well, not anymore. That thing is out of commission." famous last words as Parm's binocs fried up again. Iris face-palmed with a sigh. "Oh no, the dragon. Artha, our transmitter is toast, we've lost our jamming signal." Parm warned Artha as the dragon was now back on its feet. Lance looked over at Cain as he could now regain control of the wraith.
"Wait a sec, it's come back online." he gave a thumbs up to Moordryd once again. The teen smiled, perfect!
"Riders, prepare to joust again!" Budge announced as Artha spoke into his comm. "Parm, do something!" he sounded worried and Iris was too, but she had to be calm for her brother or she would have another panic attack. The gong sounded and the joust began again.
As they charged, Cain steered the wraith to ram into Beau again and Artha cried out as he was hit and saw Moordryd coming at him. They crashed into each other and Artha was sent flying. He yelled out as he hit the ground hard! Phistus stared in shock at the dragon booster's fall and Iris covered her mouth with her hands.
Dragon booster is finished Word thought happily, glad to see the so-called hero down. "Artha's hurt!" Lance whimpered, worried for his brother and Iris wrapped her arms around the boy. The two siblings clung to each other as they watched Beau limp his way along the arena, Artha barely hanging onto the saddle. His hands started to slip from the saddle.
"Come on, Artha, get up. Please get up!" Iris whispered as Lance hugged her around the waist, both hoping their brother got out of this okay. The crowd began to chant Fall, fall, fall, fall. Iris glared at the crowd as they continued chanting. "Artha, please. Remember what Mortis said, 'If there's one lesson you must learn, it's to know the true meaning of heart, and to never give up."
Artha heard the words that Mortis had spoken to him in the temple and that was enough to motivate him to try and get up. He grunted as he struggled to reach the other handle of his saddle as Beau growled at him encouragingly. Artha managed to reach the other handle Moordryd looked shocked to see the dragon booster trying to regain his strength to get back up. "What?"
As he struggled, Artha began to slowly glow a bright green color, as it got brighter, some of that energy was transferred to an exhausted Beau who also glowed bright green and now felt fully boosted by the energy, he gave a loud and triumphant roar as Artha regain his balance in the saddle and the crowd cheered for him.
Phistus was astounded by the dragon booster managing to pick himself up from the hit. This dragon booster truly is the strength of a hero.
Iris and Lance also cheered as Parm smiled, all happy Artha was going to be okay.
"Amazing!" Budge said as he looked at the fight. "Again, until one falls." the crowd cheered louder for the dragon booster as Iris and Lance smiled at each other. "Come on, Artha, you can finish this," Iris whispered to herself as she let Lance go and he knelt beside Parm.
The joust was back on at the sound of the gong and Artha spoke to Parm. "Parm, I'm not gonna survive another hit from that thing," he warned. "I'm trying, Artha, I'm trying, we must find a way to help Artha." Lance looked over at Cain, then at the modified binocs, he grabbed back his remote controller as Parm protested. "Hey, I need that," he complained as Lance extended his antenna.
"There's no time," the boy turned the remote dragon on and steered it towards Cain, who was steering the wraith dragon to ram into Beau. Iris watched it all in slow motion as the two teens got closer to each other and Lance steered his dragon to Cain, she worried that Artha would get hit again and this time not get back up!
Ultimately, it was Lance who got there first, running over Cain's foot, causing the teen to drop the controller and yelp at the pain from his foot. The controller smashed upon hitting the ground, causing the wraith dragon to shimmer into view. The crowd gasped, having never seen this kind of dragon before.
"What?" Budge gasped as Artha looked behind him and saw the dragon slam into him and Beau, the force again caused Artha to be knocked from the saddle as soon as Moordryd's joust stick struck him!
Beau roared and turned his head, snarling at the dark purple dragon, who snarled back before racing off, now no longer under control. It ran right past Cain and out of the arena.
"What is that thing? Who is responsible for this?" Budge questioned as Word took that moment to leave to avoid getting caught. Moordryd, out of his saddle, stammered as Budge stared at him. "Don't look at me, I've never seen that thing before in my life."
"Cheating at joust!" Budge declared angrily.
"Cheating?" Phistus questioned as Moordryd grew more worried. "It is my duty to award tonight's jousting victory to, dragon booster!" Budge announced as Artha rose from the ground. The crowd went wild as Parm, Iris, and Lance all shared high five with each other for their part in helping.
Phistus, though happy dragon booster had won, turned away, sad that he was now no longer the down city council leader anymore. Artha noticed and decided to speak up. "The same cheat happened to Phistus, who as my first and only action, to return the down city council leadership, back to him."
The crowd got louder as Phistus smiled upon hearing that he was once again the leader of the down-city crew council. Moordryd's grey eyes widened. "What? I object! Phistus is not right to lead, have you all forgotten about his crew's little bank heist?"
Phistus snarled at him. "Lies! There's no proof of this!"
"Actually, there is." Dragon Booster spoke and held up the jacket he had found in the ducts after the heist. "This jacket was found on the robber's escape routine."
"There, you see, guilty as charged."
"Somebody tried to frame Phistus for that robbery." the dragon booster explained, pulling the Grip of the Dragon crew symbol off the jacket to reveal it really belonged to a member of the Eye of the Dragon crew member. "Somebody from your crew," Moordryd looked slightly ashamed as the crowd booed at this revelation and Phistus looked shocked by the news.
"Uh, I'll look into that," Moordryd said sheepishly before addressing Phistus. "I guess you're still in charge, for now." he walked off with Desepshun.
"He is innocent and still the rightful leader of your down city council!" the dragon booster declared and the crowd was on their feet, clapping and cheering for Phistus.
"You have great strength and great honor, the down city council could use someone like you, dragon booster." Phistus praised the dragon booster for his words. Artha smiled at him. "I think they're just fine with the man they got." Phistus smiled and the pair fist-bumped, but due to Phistus' strength, it hurt the dragon booster's hand slightly and when Phistus slapped him on the back, it knocked the poor guy over, leaving the council leader a bit shocked by his actions, but no less happy.
Later, at the tents, Lance, Parm, and Iris were waiting for Artha and Beau as they walked up to them, back in normal attire. "How did you possibly find the strength to keep getting up, you were getting absolutely smashed out there?" Parm asked as Iris came over and hugged her brother, who smiled and was happy to return the embrace before they broke apart and Artha spoke.
"Well, I couldn't have done it without you guys."
"The team!" Lance declared with a grin. Artha smiled and walked over, giving Lance a playful head noogie. "Especially you, Lance, you saved the night. In fact, I think your joust with Cain was the best joust of the tournament." Iris smiled as she wrapped an arm around Lance's shoulder.
The boy smiled, and then he noticed something. "Wait, where's my toy dragon?"
They searched for it and Iris eventually found it, she was prepared to pick it up and take it back to Lance when she saw Moordryd and Cain standing near the entrance. An idea filled her head and she turned the toy on, steering it towards Moordryd as he grumbled about losing the match. "This isn't over, dragon booster," he vowed that he would get revenge on the dragon booster as the toy ran over his foot, he cried out in pain, holding his foot and hopping in place. "Who did that? Who did that?"
Picking up the toy, Iris stifled her giggles as she walked away, happy to have gotten a little payback for what Moordryd did to her brother!
Bit of a lengthy chapter this one, but I hope you all like it, please read and review if you wish.