Dragon
Wars
Episode 18: Courageous Hearts
Act One
The year 2038, St. John's, Newfoundland is in trouble at night. The Battery neighbourhood is having dozens of people running around in fear, hearing a roar from afar.
Citizen 1: Everyone, to the safety of your homes!
Citizen 2: The Lunar Flare is coming! IT'S COMING!
Citizen 3: Whatever you do, don't look it in the eye!
Citizen 4: Save yourselves!
Vanessa is there, as a ten-year-old girl. But she doesn't cower and has the confidence to confront the dragon herself, but her uncle, Jacob, steps in front of her.
Jacob: Oh, no, you don't, Vanessa. This ain't your fight. [beat] Not yet anyway.
[dragon roars distantly]
Jacob: You stay here and wait for your father. Your Uncle Jacob is going to make sure this dragon doesn't ruin St. John's.
When Jacob runs off, Vanessa looks at him in thought, and instead of staying put, she follows him all the way to Signal Hill, where the Lunar Flare is on the historical sight
Jacob: Over here! Come and get me, if you dare!
The dragon glows so bright, it nearly blinds Jacob before retreating into Georges Pond. Vanessa is close by, where she notices the dragon glowing under the water. She approaches it, and as she reaches up to touch the water, the dragon lunges at her threateningly, snarling. Jacob hears Vanessa's terrified scream.
Jacob: Vanessa!
Jacob stares at the glowing dragon chasing after Vanessa, and he shoots at it with his pistol, barely having any effect. Then, Stanley arrives at the scene, shooting it with an assault rifle, and it's enough to send it away. Basil starts rushing ahead, urging Dawson to follow him.
Stanley: Quickly, Jacob!
As Stanley disappears behind a tree, he quickly changes direction as a flaming truck is rolling towards them.
Stanley: Ah, ya, ah! Look out!
He and Jacob leap out of its way and onto the road, but they look up to see the Lunar Flare flying towards them. It fires a plasma blast at them, but while Stanley gets out of the way, Jacob is shot directly. Soon afterwards, the dragon causes damage to the neighbourhood before leaving, diving into the sea. As soon as Stanley stands up, groaning, several other soldiers surround him.
Stanley: What happened? Where's Jacob?
Soldier 1: Sorry, sir. He just… froze.
Soldier 2: It's true. I saw the whole thing.
Stanley then moves to go after the Lunar Flare, but he is stopped by Tyler who grabs his shoulder.
Tyler: It's no use, General. It's already gone. We need to regroup.
As Stanley walks off with his troops, he pauses, hearing someone crying from the bushes. He looks over to find Vanessa, sobbing in her scarf.
Stanley: Vanessa? What are you…?
Vanessa: Dad!
The crying Vanessa rushes out of the bushes and hugs her father.
Vanessa: Is it finally gone? It's awful! [sobs]
Stanley can tell that she is terrified, so he hugs her back.
Stanley: Don't worry. It's gone now. [remorsefully] So is your Uncle Jacob.
In the present, Stanley wakes up in bed, meaning it was all a memory in a dream. He gets up, yawning, before he looks at a photo of him with Jacob.
Stanley: Ah, Jacob. Nine years since St. John's. [pauses] Why didn't you… move out of the way?
He looks at the timing on his clock, noticing the time.
Stanley: Ten to six? Augh, I should be on vacation.
Suddenly, his cell phone rings on his dresser, and he picks it up to answer.
Stanley: Hello?
Vanessa: [through phone] Morning, dad.
Stanley: Ah! Vanessa! So good to hear from you. It's almost been two weeks since you left. Any reports?
Vanessa: I was wondering if you got the cages yet.
Stanley: Yes. All six of them, so everything is good. But when will you be back home?
Vanessa: Just a bit. We're snapping pictures here, and then we'll be on our way home.
Stanley: That's good to hear. However, before you'd take off, I should head along over and see this Isla Calypso, so inform Drake for me.
Vanessa: Sure thing, dad. Love you. Bye. [hangs up]
Stanley: Ah, that girl. Wonder if she remembers… Newfoundland.
In the meantime, at the dairy farm, McKenzie wakes up in his bed when the radio clicks on.
Radio DJ: Good morning, Ottawa. Today on this fascinating spring break, we have some good news to hear. The weather shows that we're gonna have two sunny days with 19 degrees Celsius, so the ice will melt and the flowers will be in bloom. Very good news for those who don't have allergies. For sports….
But McKenzie just shuts the radio off. He gets out of bed with all his joints cracking when he moves, then he looks in his bathroom mirror. He pulls down his shirt to show a bunch of wrinkles all over him.
Later, McKenzie slowly walks to the table, and sits down at the table as Patrick, his farmhand, comes in.
Patrick: Good morning, McKenzie. I made you breakfast.
McKenzie looks down at the plate to see his bran shaped as bacon, eggs, and a citrus slice, but a cranberry juice.
McKenzie: Thank you, lad. I see you got creative with the bran today. And… cranberry juice. Again.
Patrick: It's full of vitamins. But before you eat, it's time for the pill.
McKenzie: Oh, crap! I hate the pill.
Patrick shoves the pill into McKenzie's mouth, and he swallows it. He takes a breath, deep in thought.
McKenzie: Patrick, do you think I'm… old?
Patrick: Well, if you're wanting honesty, I do. But that's okay. Not everyone gets to live forever, you know.
McKenzie: But I'm still, um… cool, right? Can't I be cool?
Patrick: Well, that depends… on how you'd want to be cool. But, um… I thought we have milk to ship out.
McKenzie: Ah, yes. Anyway, you do some milking and I'll be back.
McKenzie eats his breakfast before taking his leave, but when he steps outside, he slips down the steps and into a snowbank.
McKenzie: SMITHEE!
All the way on Isla Calypso, the Alpha Team is packing up all their things and getting ready to go. But during that time, Gilbert is looking at the pictures of runes found in the cave a while back.
Dusty: This stinks. And here I forgot that we got school after the weekend.
Quinton: I knew it was coming to an end. While you guys had to forget about everything.
Dusty: What are you talking about?! I'd never forget about my mother!
Rocky: Except for her birthday last year.
Rocky laughs at his own joke, until Dusty conks him on the head.
Ethan: [to Gilbert] What do you make of them?
Gilbert: Hmmm. This looks like… just a typical message. It only talks about it's previous owner by the name of… Sindri the Savage. But, um…. [to Drake] You said when Kane touched the axe, it reacted to him like it was magic?
Drake: Yeah. And when he did, Shadow's heart beat rapidly… like before. So I would take it that it may have been a warning or something.
Gilbert: Well, it doesn't say what powers it has.
Tyler: All I know is… it's turned the world's most famous dragon slayer into an anti-He-Man.
Gilbert: But the message Ethan translated. It was a warning, but next to it is another. "The axe is all-powerful for Sindri the Savage or one of his descendants."
Vanessa: Descendants? So… Gerard Kane came from an ancestry of Vikings.
Tyler: He said his grandma was Cajun, but he might've had relatives from Scandinavia. What else does it say?
Gilbert: Uh…. Nothing. That's it.
Drake: Well, we'd have to assume that Kane would be more powerful than he was before.
Then, a plane's engine is heard. Everyone looks up to see a trio of Lockheed C-130 Hercules planes flying over and landing at the coast. They open the ramps, letting out dozens of soldiers to patrol the area, and Stanley walks upward to the Alpha Team, who salutes to him.
Stanley: At ease. Well, I suppose you're all ready to go home?
Tyler: Yes, sir. We're right on schedule.
Stanley nods his head, agreeing with Tyler. He looks over to see the valley, admiring it.
Stanley: Charlie was right. This place is worth saving. And after all this time, we wanted to burn it to the ground. [to Drake] What about the hostiles?
Drake: Well, the Sea Demons have been driven off, but… Redman is still on the loose.
Stanley: Good to hear. But before we'd take off, how about you give us a tour of the valley? I want to see how this waterfall slide works.
Act Two
In the meantime, Michael is scouting the coast and he picks up some rocks, throwing them at the sea, with Surfboard following him.
Michael: Well, March Break is at an end. Nothing lasts forever, I guess. And I was going to find a hot girl in a skimpy bikini. Maybe with a lovely voice.
Voice: [singing] Swim along, just join in the song. A musical for everyone to have a lot of finny fun.
Michael: [alarmed] Dude! [pauses] Surfboard, did you hear that?
Michael looks around, finding nobody around. He shrugs and walks off, but he stops midway, right before he hears that singing voice again.
Voice: I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand, To have someone understand. I want so much more than they've got planned.
During the singing, Michael follows it all the way to the other side of the rocks, where he finds Neo sitting there.
Michael: Gotcha!
Neo: [startled] AAAAHHHHH!
Michael: [surprised] AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Then Neo throws a seashell at Michael's face, knocking him down. But she quickly aids him.
Neo: Oh, oh, sorry! You startled me there. [pauses] Sir, are you…?
Michael: I'm…. I'm okay.
Michael eyes Neo, then he looks down at her busty chest.
Michael: That's a good load.
Neo: [dense] You, uh…. You heard me? Gosh…. Are you… Michael Czarski?
Michael: Yeah, and I did hear you. That last one was Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
Neo: I know! It's my grandma's favourite movie. That and The Little Mermaid.
Michael: No surprise there. Disney has been known for its princesses. But you do have an awesome voice, though.
Neo: Oh, uh… really?
Michael: Yeah. But… what are you doing here anyway?
Neo: I'm, uh… exploring. I left my crew to just… see what this place is.
Michael: Well, this island is occupied by the Canadian military, so there's no saying yes to coming here.
Surfboard walks over to Neo, sniffing her hair and nibbling it.
Neo: Hey…. [giggles]
Michael: Ah, he likes you, Miss, uh….
Neo: It's Neo. Just… Neo. Nothing else.
Michael: Well, how about we-
Tyler: [from afar] Michael!
Neo: [hurriedly] Uh, I'm sorry, I've got to go. Thank you Michael.
Neo backed into the boulder behind her. She giggles nervously, then with a final "Bye" leaves the coast. Michael looks back before Tyler walks over to him.
Tyler: Michael, there you are. Didn't you hear me? We're leaving.
Michael: Tyler, there's a-
But when he looks back, Neo is already gone.
Michael: Captain, a girl was here. She was… singing like a siren.
Tyler: Alright, I think you've had a bit too much sun. Let's go home. Come on, Surfboard.
Afterwards, everyone is riding on the planes, on their way back home to Canada. But in the leading plane, Stanley talks to Vanessa about something that makes her look terrified.
Vanessa: Oh, really? It's been… really that long?
Stanley: I didn't want to believe it either, but it's really that time. So we'll land in Ottawa, and then we should fly over to Newfoundland tomorrow morning.
Vanessa: Dad, you know why I can't go back there. Not after that Lunar Flare almost killed me and….
Stanley: Now, now, I know how terrifying it was to you. But now you're almost an adult and a dragon rider, there's nothing more for you to be afraid of. And besides, our boys in St. John's are demanding to settle things down with Lunar Flare. Now that we have Dalloway, I'm sure you'll be fine there. Most of all, I should pray for him there.
Vanessa: But still… I'm afraid it would….
Stanley: Hey. Remember what your mother said. Having fear is nothing to be ashamed of, because we all have it. Now be a big girl and think it over.
Stanley takes his leave as Vanessa thinks about what her father told her.
All the way in Chicago, Hunter is in the Field Museum, talking to all of his operatives for a strategy plan.
Hunter: Already too long, we've been at this fray. Not a single one of us has had any success in the past few months since New Year's Day. The Canadians will grovel to anyone with strength, but how will they believe our strength when we cannot take matters seriously?!
Fox: We have been, boss. We've done all we could to just… expand our borders, and we keep failing to them.
Rufus: Not only that, but we're running out of options.
Hunter: Look who I'm talking to.
[five second silence]
Hunter: Hmmm. The Canadian Forces have the Alpha Team, who all have dragons, and we have only a few. However, we have aircraft, while the dragons can get tired and not be very obedient. So with it, we would have an advantage.
Tiger Blade: But sensei, our pilots will be reluctant to uproot, for our machines rely very much on gasoline and oil. Burning the fuel means getting more, which would cost us greatly, and they are already running out for the war in the wild zone.
Hunter: Dammit. Anyone else?
Snoop: We're pretty much out of options right now. If we keep this up, we might… take our men to a suicide mission.
Hunter: [beat] A suicide mission, Mr. Snoop? [furious] WELL, WHO'S TALKING ABOUT THAT?! Are we trying to kill ourselves when we're making America bigger?!
Snoop: No, of course not. I was only saying some advice, Hunter.
Gordon walks over to the meeting. He thinks of something, as he stares down at the map of Ontario on the table, then he gets an idea.
Gordon: I got one. Although it is true they have dragons, the one other downer about them… is that they need to eat.
[operatives laugh]
Gordon: They have to eat more than humans do. When we think about food, we'd think about… the farmlands where they all grow and harvest what we all like to stuff our faces with.
Hunter: Are you suggesting?
Gordon: We'd storm the farmlands. Just like you did before, but this time until there's… nothing left. And when the people have no meat, they would… go berserk and shit.
Hunter thinks about it, and he grows a smirk on his face.
Hunter: Perhaps that plan… would work. If we can't take out the dragons, we can starve them out. This plan of yours better work out for us.
Gordon: Yes, sir. Um, of course, Hunter.
Act Three
At Loblaws Isabella Street, McKenzie brings over the last carton of milk to a worker at the back.
McKenzie: That's the last of them. Now you enjoy yourselves and have a good day.
Worker: Sure thing. But, uh… can you keep up with all the work? Cause, you know, being old and stuff.
McKenzie: Nay. I'm a strong farmer.
Done with his job, McKenzie begins walking off to his pick-up truck.
McKenzie: Ha! Old? What was I thinking? I ain't old. Huh?
He turns around to see a boy scout helping him walk across.
Boy scout: Don't worry, Pops, we're almost across the street.
McKenzie: Hey, I don't need any assistance.
Shooing the boy scout away, McKenzie continues to walk until a ball rolls next to him. Then a trio of kids rush over to him.
Boy 1: Hey, mister, could you throw the ball back over here?
McKenzie: Hey, how's about I join you kids?
Boy 2: Uh… sorry, sir. We already go… five, and we want to keep it an even number.
McKenzie: Hey, wait a second, five isn't an even-
Then, one of the boys snatches the boy and runs off with the others.
Boy 3: That was close. We would've gotten that old people smell.
Boy 1: My dad said he was born around 1961, and that's really old.
McKenzie overheard what the boys said, and he looks dejected as he walks away to his truck, igniting the engines.
McKenzie: [peeved] I was born in 1969. Augh, the youth today.
At Harvey's on Elgin street, Tyler and Gilbert are both having their meals, while McKenzie is counting with his fingers.
Tyler: God, I missed burgers. We had to eat bugs and fish for meat, and coconuts for… vitamins.
Gilbert: This is unhealthy, but at least I'd get to drink some soft drinks with ice cubes.
McKenzie: 1984, 1985, 1986….
Gilbert: Grandpa, what are you doing?
McKenzie: Trying to count how many years old I am. 1987, 1988, 1989…. I'm out of toes and fingers! What else can I count with?!
Tyler: I'd tell you now, but there are kids in here. [laughing]
[five second silence]
Tyler: I was talking about your hair.
McKenzie: [depressed] Ah, it's no use. I'm too old.
Girl: Mommy, my burger tastes funny.
Mother: Well, no wonder. It's all old and dried out. Now put that thing where it belongs… in the garbage.
As the girl walks towards the trashcan, McKenzie grabs her patty before she can get there.
McKenzie: Well, little patty, we're two of a kind. We've both lost our luster.
So he takes a bite out of the patty, having a thought about it.
McKenzie: It's not old. It's just cold.
Gilbert: Now grandpa, you should calm yourself. There had been many kids today who just… don't understand as much as we all do. They just need some guidance, that's all.
McKenzie: No, I don't want to guide somebody! What I want is a youth potion!
Furious, McKenzie throws the burger into the trashcan.
McKenzie: I'm having enough with this ridicule! My family was part of the pride in Scotland, and always had respect all over the country! Even in England!
Tyler: Hey, calm down. I understand what you're saying, but our days of war are over.
Then, a ding is heard. Tyler reaches into his pocket to take out his phone, and he sees a text: Jones and Hackett, General's office, pronto.
Tyler: Gilbert, we'll have to book it. The General wants us.
Gilbert: Blast. Just when I was feeling relieved here. Grandpa, I'll be home soon.
The duo take their leave, while McKenzie goes back to his depressed state.
McKenzie: If only I was born in the 1990s.
Later, Tyler and Gilbert stand before Stanley in his office.
Stanley: As you know, tomorrow marks the 9th anniversary of my brother's death. Now that the war's over, I'm looking forward to going there and… give my prayers to Jacob.
Gilbert: Yes. Tyler has told me all about it.
Stanley: But while I'm there, the Alpha Team can do their stuff on handling the Lunar Flare. Simply to train it or just send it away. In the meantime, I'm putting you both in charge of securing the city while I'm gone.
Tyler: [stunned] Us? As in… being in charge of the city?
Gilbert: No, the Prime Minister is. But I am curious, sir. While the two of us?
Stanley: Call it a faith in how well you two cooperate. You see, leading an army is enough for one man. But for a whole city? That takes a politician to work, and none of us do politics. And you're both best friends, so with that, you'll have no problems safeguarding Ottawa in a partnership.
Gilbert: No, I don't see what's wrong with that.
Tyler: But we will take it seriously, sir. [salutes]
Meanwhile, Kane is alone in a dark room, staring at the Magni-Axe in his hand, deep in thought.
Kane: What is this axe? Somehow… it's made me feel… stronger… faster… and….
Then, Cursula enters the room, speaking to him.
Cursula: Mighty? That's what Magni means. He was the god of strength in the old Norse myths. And it responds to you, as if you're related to the Viking Sindri the Savage.
Kane: Me, a Viking? Not sure how that works.
Cursula: Only the axe would know it, Mr. Kane. But why not use it again? And this time on the Dark Saber?
Kane: I would. But I don't even know where he'll be going without causing an alarm to the Canadian Forces.
Cursula: Well, I have many ways of knowing. In fact, Redman intercepted a message, regarding the Dragon King going to St. John's.
Kane: [sinisterly] Yes. That city is also troubled… with the Lunar Flare. Two beasts, one blade.
Act Four
The next morning, Drake is in the Shelters' hockey rink as Bastion follows him, and he's writing a checklist on some of the cages filled with dragons inside.
Drake: Let's see, we have a Javelin Cobra, which has sharp spikes. A Flame Jet that can unleash a gas from its tail. A Desertclaw burrowing through sand. A Boulder-Back who can curl up into a ball.
Then, one of the cages is banged from the inside.
Drake: And… a thick-headed Rockhead who's a nasty piece of work. Some of the smaller ones, like Sick-Eaters, Nightscreams, Crested Harpies and Unusual Bristlemouths, are all scheduled to be studied and stuff.
Bastion: So you got all that from this Isla Calypso. I really wish I could be there with you to see. But what else was there?
Drake: A Metrobat, but… he's been taken by the Sea Demons. Chances are, he might be enslaved.
[gunfire]
Drake: Augh.
Outside, Vanessa is shooting her shotgun at every object in sight. Drake and Bastion both run out to see the commotion.
Vanessa: The hell with it!
Drake: Okay, what's going on?
Quinton: Vanessa's been shooting at inanimate objects all day.
Drake: She's really wound up about St. John's.
Michael: No, it's what she witnessed. Back in 2038, when she was just a little girl, she ran into the Lunar-
Vanessa throws a knife at Michael, which lands inches away from his face, lodged in the wall.
Michael: [scared] …Flare.
Drake: The Lunar Flare? As in… that bioluminescent storm dragon? Why not just go in and see it?
Vanessa: NOT A CHANCE! I can't go there. That thing scared the hell out of me, and I've been staying out of St. John's ever since. As far as I know, there's no way I'm going there, so that's final.
Drake: Okay, okay, let's take a deep breath. Just because we're going there, doesn't mean the Lunar Flare will be there.
Ethan: I'm afraid so. Because that dragon has been known to roam all over St. John's, both in the sky and the sea. Its spectral glow and banshee-like scream are both unmistakable.
Quinton: And the Lunar Flare has a plasma blast, dubbed Dive-Bomb. A semi-fire mass alight with an acetylene/oxygen flame.
Bastion: I've also heard it has sharp spines, sharp enough to slash through a boat. Pretty cool, huh?
Vanessa loses it and throws Bastion to the ground, planting her boot on his face and pointing her gun at him.
Vanessa: Don't ever say something like that! Because I was traumatized and my godfather was murdered by that dragon!
Bastion: Take it easy, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. So… can I please get back up?
Drake: General on deck!
By Drake's alarm, the Alpha Team stand up and salute, while Bastion does the same, as Stanley walks over to the scene.
Stanley: At ease. Team, hope you're all ready to go. Because it will be a warm afternoon over there, and that glowing dragon usually appears at night.
Drake: All of our dragons have been given a large breakfast, so we should be in St. John's at around 1500 hours. Giver take.
Vanessa: General, I strongly protest me coming along. Why not just-
Stanley: It's already been decided. Troops, mount up.
Drake: You heard him! Let's go fly!
The Alpha Team mount up on their dragons, ready to go. Vanessa is reluctant at first to go, but when her father elbows her, she mounts Ariel with him. So they all take flight into the air, on their way to St. John's. But on the ground, Bastion watches the team leave, and he becomes deep in thought about something.
Bastion: Man. That must be so cool.
Then, a honking is heard. Bastion sees McKenzie's truck at the parking lot with Tyler and Gilbert riding in the back.
Tyler: Need a ride?
Afterwards, the truck drives out of Ottawa and into the farmlands.
Gilbert: I get it. You really want to try riding a dragon?
Bastion: It was my dream to fly when I was a kid. When I heard about Hunter attempting to train dragons, I knew that some of us would get to ride one of our own, so I…. I followed along with the Blackhawks, but only in hopes that I could fly away from Chicago.
Tyler: I'd understand that. It would work. Unless Hunter has the item of having his animals microchipped. But we can worry about that later. Right now, one of us feels downed today. Our local dairy farmer here.
Gilbert: Apparently, my grandfather feels like he's at the end of his rope, and wants to feel young again.
Bastion: But didn't he do so back in Chicago. Cause… I heard he-
Gilbert: Yes, but not so much today.
McKenzie: Hang on tight, lads. We're making a stop at Morris's.
The pick-up's tires skid to a stop. McKenzie gets out to a fence, but he stares wide-eyed at something. The other three follow McKenzie's gaze and are aghast when they see a sheep pen. It's a ghastly, bloody mess. Scattered on the churned up ground a few dismembered sheep legs and heads are all that remain of the flock.
Gilbert: The bloody hell happened here?
McKenzie: The flock's… all over the place.
Tyler: Gilbert, with me. Bastion, stay with McKenzie.
Tyler and Gilbert leap out of the truck to investigate.
McKenzie: Morris?! Where are you?! Anyone?!
Bastion: Anybody home?!
Tyler dashes into the house, while Gilbert checks around outside, and Tyler comes back out.
Tyler: Nobody inside.
Then they spot something lying in the middle of the snow: a hat. Still looking all around, Gilbert squats distractedly to pick up the hat. Suddenly, they all stumble backwards in shock. It is a mangled face staring up at them, eyes and mouth frozen open in a death grimace.
McKenzie: Jesus Christ!
Gilbert: That's Morris!
Tyler: The hell's going on? I mean WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!
Bastion spots something; he finds footprints from boots and some kind of dragon.
Bastion: Tracks. Someone was here… with a dragon. And….
Tyler: I see them too. They're from a Winged Warhead, and I know a few people who'd go around with one of those.
Gilbert: Blackhawks. Hunter's onto us again.
McKenzie: Hunter? Is this another attack like before?
Tyler: Not sure. But we should inform some scouts to look around and check the entire perimeter. Everyone, back in the truck.
Everyone makes a run for it back to the pick-up before it drives away. But in the trees, Tiger Blade and Wallbreaker Ice are watching the scene with their Winged Warhead at their side.
Tiger Blade: Good. They've taken the bait.
Wallbreaker: Yeah, dog. I knew they would after showing them all the tracks and the severed head in the snow. [to the dragon] Ain't that right, Pesky?
[Pesky burps]
Wallbreaker: So y'all got it covered for Brockville.
Tiger Blade: But we should tag along. The plan is to alarm the military and return to the others.
Wallbreaker: Right. Pesky, let's book.
Pesky lowers herself, letting the two humans mount on her, and she flies off into the air.
Act Five
All the way over Newfoundland, the Alpha Team flies over the sky, while the General gives the order.
Stanley: Now troops, we're gonna split in two while we get there. One half handles the dragon, while the other half safeguards the people.
Drake: So Stilwells, you take-
Stanley: You take the safeguard side with Czarski!
Rocky: You got it, chief.
Drake: Um… can anybody even see me back here?
Ethan: We can, but it would be wise to follow the General for now.
Stanley: So, the rest of you will handle the dragon-training part.
Vanessa: Um… maybe I could go with the Stilwells and-
Stanley: Denied.
Vanessa: [disappointed] Augh!
Quinton: Okay. So we'd get to… train a ghost-like dragon. But it's allergy season.
Stanley: Gunn!
Quinton: No excuses, sir. And it's not me. Helios has allergies. But we'll suck it up.
Drake: Just hang on, guys. We're almost there.
All of a sudden, there is an engine roaring from behind. The team looks back, and that's when they find an A-10 Thunderbolt flying towards them, piloted by none other than Charlie, who gives a hand signal to Stanley. The General gives a hand signal too, before the attack aircraft joins the formation.
But the scene is being seen by Cursula, who's watching them from her bubbling cauldron.
Cursula: So… they left the sanctity of their capital? No matter. Now that we know where they're going, Kane will have his chance to take out the Dark Saber without being seen.
Then, Thorn enters the room through the door.
Thorn: So? Anything yet?
Cursula: They're on their way to St. John's. Attempting to "train" the Lunar Flare.
Thorn: Oh, I wouldn't count on it. Because I've been able to tame Razor, and my Sea Demons will be teleported there.
Cursula: I understand, but we cannot use the Hockey Platoon when the ice is melting.
Thorn: They don't need the ice… while they have rollerblades. But is there a report on the island we tried to take?
Cursula: I sent one of our scouts Neo to scour the place. But I thought she told you the report.
Thorn: Hmmm. Very suspicious. But I'll talk to her later. Right now, I gotta make a call.
Thorn dashes over to the telephone on the wall, dialing and calling.
Thorn: Hey, doc. I've got an order to fill. I need… sea-based robots. Whatcha got? [beat] Two? Well, let's hear it. Scuba and Jelly-Sub. [suspiciously] Wait, the last one doesn't squirt jelly, does it?
[five second silence]
Thorn: No? Good. Give me seven Scubas and one Jelly-Sub. [hangs up] There, done. Ready the Hockey Patrol and make sure Razor is fed. Because I want him to feast on Dalloway meat for dessert. So ready the teleportation spell.
Cursula: As you wish.
Thorn: And…. [to intercom] Neo, come over here to my throne room.
Right on cue, Neo enters the room through the door, and approaches Thorn.
Thorn: Just in time. I've been waiting for your report. Any news from the island?
Neo: I went there like you told me. Unfortunately, it's still… occupied. So our chance of taking it is not going to work.
Thorn: Well, it doesn't matter. Besides, there's always a plan B. We'll just go to Florida instead. It's closer to the mainland. And also, with our contract with Dr. Redman, Dalloway's reign will end… this year.
In the afternoon, the Alpha Team makes it to St. John's, landing at the airport where the A-10 Thunderbolt lands next to. Charlie steps out of the aircraft, and walks over to Stanley for a handshake and a hug.
Charlie: Didn't think I'd miss this out, did you? I knew you'd come here for your brother's prayers.
Stanley: Charlie, you have no reason not to come here. Jacob always knew you and I were good friends. Although there won't be a second funeral.
Charlie: Oh, of course there wouldn't be. You can only get one in your afterlife.
Stanley: [chuckles] Ah, that cracked me up. [clears throat] Anyway, team, you all know your assignments. Scour the downtown area, and do what you can. I'll be in touch.
Drake: Yes, sir. We'll search all we can.
Stanley: And Vanessa… try being brave.
Vanessa: [nervously] Yes, General.
The Alpha Team takes flight into the air, leaving Stanley and Charlie to themselves. They make a ride all over to Water Street, landing right into Harbourside Park. But then, one bystander spots them and gets excited.
Bystander: Hey look, it's the Alpha Team!
Dozens of people crowd around the team, snapping pictures and selfies of them one at a time.
Bystander 2: Big fan!
Quinton: Yeah, thanks.
Drake: Hey, um…. Who saw a dragon last night? The Lunar Flare?
But then, the picture-snapping and chittering stops when they hear what Drake is asking. Everyone is silent, until one bystander walks over to him.
Bystander 3: As in… the dragon that glows? Sadly, none of us has seen it, but I do know someone who's seen it many times. He lives in a hut down at Harbour Drive.
Drake: Thanks. I'll… give you an autograph for that. So team, you stay and-
But Drake looks back to see Vanessa riding Ariel away from the scene, but he rushes over and grabs Ariel by the horn to stop them.
Drake: Where'd you think you're going? Harbour Drive is that way.
Vanessa: I don't want to hear it, Drake. So don't try to stop me.
Drake: Who said anything about stopping you?
Vanessa gives him a look that says "I know you're planning on stopping me".
Drake: Okay, Vanessa, I have to stop you. Look, Tyler told me everything. I know how terrified you are of the Lunar Flare, but this is not going to be the same thing. We're going to face it, train it and then it'll leave everyone alone.
Vanessa: Don't tell me you haven't been dreaming about the Lunar Flare, going after it, learning about it, training it?
Drake: Well, you know, Vanessa, training dragons isn't the only thing I think about.
Vanessa: Are you actually saying that to me with a straight face? Plus, my uncle died trying to save me, when I was supposed to stay put. Going there will be a bad idea, so that's that. Ariel, let's go!
But Ariel stays put, because Drake is holding onto her nose horn.
Drake: She's not going anywhere, and she knows who's got the horn.
So Vanessa smacks her hand to her forehead in surrender.
Vanessa: Alright! ALRIGHT! If I go along with you, will you please… be on the lookout?
Drake: As long as we stick together.
Vanessa: Okay! Man, with you.
Quinton: Excuse me, you two. We found the guy.
Act Six
Later, Drake and Vanessa both walk down Harbour Street towards a shady hut near the St. John's Harbour. The man they're looking for is on a wheelchair staring at the water.
Drake: Excuse me. We were told that you've… encountered a glowing dragon?
Man: Aye, lad.
The man turns his wheelchair around, revealing he's lost both legs and the right hand, save for the left. He scratches his chin and smokes a cigar, letting out all the smoke.
Man: I did see it. Many times in me time. The Lunar Flare. It shines as bright as a comet in the night sky. With fishing season coming, that beast comes in and ruins the fishermen's job for a living. I tried to handle it meself, until it bit on me hand right off.
Drake: And…. And your legs too?
Man: Hell no. That was my fault. I charged forward to kill it, but without looking, I fell down the hill. I survived, but me legs didn't. So now, all I could do was… sit and watch… and hope.
Vanessa: Okay, so, uh…. When did you last see it?
Man: Only… three months ago. I thought it was going to invade, but it just swam around and back to the open ocean. However, not too long before I lost me legs, I've heard rumours about the beast having a nest somewhere on Signal Hill. I went there meself, but no such luck.
Drake: Maybe there is a map. Because most dragons who'd live near the sea would… have to bury their eggs for safety.
Man: Aye. Crocodiles and alligators do the same. So… go to Signal Hills if you have the balls. But be warned…. Never look it in the eye, for it can see your fears.
Vanessa is terrified, fidgeting her fingers together, then Drake drags him along to head off.
Man: God, please protect the kids.
Meanwhile, a dozen strong, tough farmers have huddled in McKenzie's living room for a talk, including Patrick. Red-headed Carter, scarred and missing fingers, is stirred up, while his friend Matthrew is reluctant. Tyler and Gilbert are with them too, along with Bastion, to listen in.
McKenzie: These men have become psychos, cutting people's heads off! And all of the sheep have been butchered and chewed on like pieces of candy!
Carter: Yeah. But what news from the Army? Huh?
Tyler: We've already sent troops to investigate. So with that, everything will be maintained.
Matthew: I hope so. Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.
Patrick: But we should alarm the whole neighbourhood.
Then, Gilbert checks on his phone, showing a text that alarms him.
Gilbert: Oh, dear. Brockville's been taken.
Tyler: What?
Gilbert: The Blackhawks have taken Brockville.
Tyler takes Gilbert's phone, reading the text message, and he stares at it with a blank stare.
Tyler: If Hunter has taken Brockville, he could invade Kingston next, and he'll be one step closer to the capital.
Bastion: That's right. That's what he's doing. He's trying to divide and conquer the landscape. It was one of his plans. And I should know, because I was forced to work with him.
Gilbert: Gentlemen, let's all calm down. If we're in trouble, we can always inform the military to take care of any crisis here.
But McKenzie is deep in thought about this, and he gets a determined look on his face.
McKenzie: No. We cannot always rely on the Canadian Forces to do everything for us.
Patrick: What are you suggesting?
McKenzie: We can fight back. Ourselves. Show the world that we're not easy prey to the slime of humanity. So it's up to us! We show them we won't lie down to be their targets!
Carter: I agree with McKenzie! We fight 'em!
Matthew: Every man who had the will to fight was drafted to the military. We can't beat an army, not when we're just farmers and shepherds.
McKenzie: We have to try, Matthew. Because if we just let this happen, there will be no one to take us seriously. Not even the city.
Gilbert: But grandpa, you can't just storm into a fight. Not without a strategy.
Tyler: More than that, you're all civilians. Taking you into a battlefield would be out of the question.
Bastion: Actually… we can give it a shot. Because back then, it was all of us against the dragons, so maybe we can equip them and prepare them with the right tools to engage the Blackhawks.
Tyler: Bastion, this isn't one of these militia that you can-
McKenzie: You're outnumbered, Tyler. Now, do we all agree on what we should do?
The farmers all take some time to think about this decision, and they all stand up, saying yes to the idea.
McKenzie: Good! Now Bastion, tell us everything you know about these American scoundrels.
As Bastion speaks to the others about the Blackhawks, Tyler and Gilbert walk down the hall together in defeat.
Gilbert: This will not look good in our reports.
Tyler: We may as well go with the flow.
Back in St. John's, it is now night. The Alpha Team stands on Signal Hill, which is where Vanessa's uncle was last seen before he was killed. However, the Stilwells are absent.
Ethan: This is where the General's brother stood. Right before the Lunar Flare blasted him.
Quinton: It's already nighttime. It should be out by now.
Vanessa: Uh… maybe it's still sleeping. So I guess… there's no point in….
Drake: Okay, we are going to observe the Lunar Flare, Vanessa. We are going to see what we can learn about it, and try to redirect it. If we can't, we are falling back to town. Understand?
Vanessa: Sure.
Drake: Say the words "I understand, Drake.".
Vanessa: Fine. I understand, Drake.
Drake: [sarcastically] Well, that just instills me with confidence.
Michael: Hey, I think I see it coming down on us.
Vanessa screams; she jumps up and falls onto the floor, which makes a large hole in the process.
Michael: [laughing] Kidding!
Vanessa: Happy?! How are we gonna fix this?!
Drake: Wait…. Look.
Drake looks into the hole. Out of curiosity, he jumps into the hole into a secret passage, illuminating the way with his flashlight. He looks up to notice the hole is really a trapdoor.
Drake: It's a tunnel. It goes all the way over there. This must lead somewhere.
Vanessa: Maybe this isn't a good idea.
Quinton: Now, there's the understatement of the 21st century.
But then, Shadow picks up a scent and barks in alarm. The other dragons pick up the scent too, while their riders look around to see nothing. Drake climbs his way halfway up, looking around. Then, they hear a ghostly roar from afar, coming from the coast. Quinton and Ethan look downhill, seeing a glowing being swimming across the harbour.
Quinton: It's here.
Vanessa: [scared] It…. It is?
The glowing object jumps out of the water and flies upward at lightning speed, reaching the top of Signal Hill. It is the Lunar Flare, a light blue dragon lacking legs, with a pair of wings acting as arms, and another smaller pair. It has spines running down its back, a white underbelly and purple spot-like markings on the whites.
Ethan: Aiyah!
Drake: The Lunar Flare!
Seeing it, Vanessa screams in fright before hiding behind Ariel. The dragons shoot their fire breaths at it, but the Lunar Flare dodges and shines its bright light at them, blinding them. Next, it shoots his Dive-Bomb at the trapdoor, but Drake jumps out of the way in time.
Drake Shadow, let's go!
Drake mounts on Shadow, then Vanessa jumps onto him at the last minute, before the Dark Saber takes flight as the Lunar Flare goes after them for another attack. In the air, Shadow manages to fend off the Lunar Flare for the time being with his tail and Thunder Blast, and he flies off, falling back to the clouds. Unable to spot them, the Lunar Flare lets out a huff before it returns to the water, so the trio land on the ground.
Quinton: That was a close one.
Ethan: Yes, but… it seemed to be protective or something.
Michael: Protective for what? It would've killed us all. My face is so pretty, I wouldn't want it to destroy this thing.
Drake: Guys, let's stick to the plan. We now know it's here, so we'll do what we can do. Investigate and see about training it. And by investigating, Vanessa and I will search that tunnel.
Vanessa: HUH?! No way, I'm not doing that! Also, Michael, why the heck would you think it would blow your face off?
Michael: Well, I said that because I actually met a girl. And a busty one too.
Ethan: Oh please, you're being as ridiculous as Rocky. Speaking of which, where are the Stilwells?
Quinton: Oh, it just happened. Rocky and Dusty built an emergency bunker in the neighbourhood.
Michael: Emergency bunker? What do you say we check it out?
Ethan: I wouldn't waste your time. We have other things to do than just to stay indoors all night.
Michael: Hah, we'll see about that.
Drake: Anyway, let's go, Vanessa.
Vanessa: I'd prefer the bunker than to-
But as Vanessa walks away, Shadow grabs her by the shirt with his teeth, and drags him all the way into the trapdoor, dumping her into the tunnel. Drake jumps in next, joining her, and Shadow climbs into the tunnel.
Vanessa: Augh, this is not funny!
Drake: Sorry, but Shadow likes no exceptions. You guys, stay up there and keep out of trouble.
Quinton: Don't you worry. Because we're gonna be up here… worrying.
Act Seven
At Battery Road, the Stilwells are both setting up a bunker, and letting in some of the people.
Rocky: Okay. Lots of people are gonna want to get into our awesome emergency bunker when the Lunar Flare attacks. So, we need to have a secret signal to know who's in and who's out.
Dusty elbows him in the shoulder.
Dusty: How's that?
Rocky: Not bad, but I feel like there should be a few more steps to it.
She takes a second to think, then proceeds to punch Rocky in the face.
Dusty: What about that?
Rocky: I like it. You sure it's not too complicated?
Then Michael walks towards the doors of the bunker.]
Rocky: Hey, mister. Where do you think you're going?
Michael: Uh, inside the emergency bunker.
Rocky: Are you on the list?
Michael: Pfft. List?
Dusty: Let's see here. Martin. Marvin. Melvin, Morris. Nope. Not on the list.
Rocky: Sorry.
Michael: What do you mean "Sorry"?
Rocky: Like… you're being let go, your department's being downsized, you're part of an outplacement, we're going in a different direction, we're not picking up your option.
Michael: That's The Emperor's New Groove.
Dusty: I know, right? Well…. How about this one? You come here with a date, an actual date, then we can let you in.
Michael: Ugh, fine. Come on, Surfboard. [beat] Surfboard?
But Michael sees Surfboard walking into the bunker.
Dusty: He's on the list.
Michael: [furious] Ugh, last time I'd hold his face.
Underground, Drake and Vanessa are going in the passage. With their flashlights shining the way, they see something. Decomposing corpses rest in niches carved into the stone walls. Grotesque skeletal remains with rotting linen stretched across blackened bones. Drake holds the light up as he and Vanessa inspect symbols carved into the walls, which look like pictographs.
Vanessa: Whoa, look at this. Is this something to do with the Aboriginals?
Drake: It is. Quinton used to show these to me. So… this must be a burial ground, and….
But then, Drake finds something that grabs his attention. A picture of something he's familiar with. He takes out the leather cloth, which contains the prophecy of the Ultimate War, from his pants pocket and does a comparison. The pictures are both identical, much to his surprise.
Drake: The prophecy. The story that foretells a guardian angel when the world is at war. This is incredible.
Vanessa: They look exactly the same. But what do they both say?
Drake: Well… Quinton translated the cloth in saying only what the guardian angel will do and what it's capable of.
But when Drake sees more pictographs, it's something that surprises him. It shows a man with white wings, possibly the prophesied guardian angel, having one of its hands as a pincer, and another picture where the pincer changes to an axe.
Drake: Okay. That's something we didn't see coming.
[Shadow chirps]
Drake: Yeah, let's keep going.
Soon, Drake and Vanessa come upon a narrow passageway. The water is knee-deep and teeming with rats. Thousands of them crawling on one another's backs, squeaking, squirming, thrashing in the water.
Drake: Oh, rats….
Vanessa gasps as the rats scamper between her legs. But Shadow snarls at the rodents, which is enough to send them all the way, scurrying out of the way.
Vanessa: You're better than having an exterminator.
They continue the path and upon reaching the other end, they discover that the other tunnel is glowing.
Act Eight
Back outside, Michael knocks the door to the bunker, and Rocky comes out of it.
Rocky: What's the password?
Michael: I'm gonna break your face.
Rocky: Close enough.
Michael: I got a date. Right here.
He holds up a rainbow-colored chicken, and Rocky laughs his head off.
Rocky: Oh man, you're killing me! This is too much!
With Rocky laughing hysterically, Michael sneaks his way into the bunker with lightning speed. Suddenly, Fin and Flip slaps him right back out, crashing him into the trashcans. Rocky stops laughing as Dusty walks to the door.
Dusty: And stay out!
The door closes, and Michael spits and tosses garbage off of him as Ethan and Quinton stare at him.
Quinton: Saw that coming.
Michael: Why couldn't Neo be with me?
Quinton: Who's Neo?
Meanwhile, Bastion is teaching some of the farmers how to shoot guns and how to aim at barrels with painted targets.
Bastion: You never fire a bullet in anger. That's the most important thing. If you get too emotional, you'd shoot blindly.
Matthew: That I could understand. My father used to be a hunter, but… by the time I would learn from him, he passed away.
Bastion: Simply draw your gun. Aim for the target… and then shoot.
Matthew takes aim at the target painted on a barrel. He takes a few seconds of breathing calmly, and opens fire, hitting a bullseye.
Matthew: Bullseye!
Farmer: Beginner's luck. Try again.
So Matthew aims again and shoots, having another bullseye.
Matthew: Ha! That's too in a row.
Bastion: Very good, Matthew. You're a natural.
At the other end, Carter is slashing and jabbing a haystack with a combat knife, while Tyler is tutoring.
Tyler: Hold it! Don't attack without thinking. Study your opponent. Let him make the first move, then you move. Back, forth. Duck, jab. Dodge, parry, strike.
Carter: [heaves] It's a little harder than I thought. I used to play online games when I was your age. But I guess… time's getting the best of me. Even if I have to kill somebody.
Tyler: It's not about killing. It's all about protecting, not just yourself but everyone who's counting on you. Keep it up.
McKenzie, on the other hand, strikes a dummy with a pitchfork like it's a polearm weapon, then he finishes it by stabbing it straight through. Gilbert looks at it, shaking his head in denial.
McKenzie: I still got it, lad. I'm gonna pummel those Trump bastards.
Gilbert: Yes, by grandpa, they'll be having firearms, while you choose to fight with a pitchfork like you're in an angry mob.
McKenzie: A test of manhood. Back then, you'd know what kind of man you are without the need of guns, because my father once told me that a man who fights with a gun can be shown as a coward.
Then, Patrick rushes over to McKenzie, taking a breather.
Patrick: I saw them! You were right; they're coming back here.
Gilbert: How many are coming?
Patrick: Thirty-five, at least. They have a Winged Warhead with a rider.
McKenzie: This is it. [to everyone] Hey, lads! Are you ready for a fight?!
[farmers cheering]
Back in St. John's, Ethan sits on a rock near the bunker as Quinton gazes at the ocean.
Ethan: Oh, Michael, you've finally lost it. Young women wouldn't just… swim around to an island in the middle of the ocean and then… flutter off into oblivion, like some-
Michael: I'm telling you, Ethan, she was real! Surfboard was there, so I'm gonna find that girl. [beat] One way or another.
Quinton: Well, I would like to say that…. Metrobat!
Ethan & Michael: What?
Quinton points ahead to indicate Razor, the captured Metrobat, flying over the St. John's Harbour and heading towards downtown.
Ethan: Call the General!
Quinton: I could, but I don't have his number! Only Drake and Vanessa do!
Michael: Guys, cool it. This is a random dragon attack. So we just… do what we can.
Ethan: He's right. Mount up! We're going in!
Ethan and Michael mount on their dragons and fly ahead. Michael goes to do the same, until he realizes that he's running into Ariel instead of Surfboard, who is still in the bunker. He lets out a sigh, then he mounts on the Furious Phantom.
Michael: Okay, Ariel. You're a smart dragon, just as smart as Vanessa. So, uh… just try to go easy for me?
Ariel spreads her wings and flaps over to join the others.
At the streets, vehicles are seen flying down the street as Razor flies overhead not far behind, accompanied by Back in Black played by loud speakers. The dragon lands on top of a building, and laughter is heard as Thorn stands on top of his back.
Thorn: Yo, wassup, losers?! I hear you have a hero who dares challenge my power of pure awesomeness. Where is the one they call Dalloway? Challenge me, if you dare!
Then, Helios breathes fire in front of Razor, startling him, and Quinton fires an arrow at the roof near his feet. Then it detonates, scares Razor away. But when Quinton sees the dragon closely, he sees Thorn mounted on him.
Quinton: [shocked] It's Thorn! He's tamed the Metrobat!
Ethan and Michael arrive at the scene, also shocked to see it.
Ethan: Aiyah!
Thorn: Surprised? And I got more bad boys where this came from. Hockey Patrol!
Right on cue, dozens of hockey thugs come out of hiding, armed with their chrome sticks.
Michael: [thrilled] Alright, a good fight!
Michael hops off of Ariel, and engages the thugs in hand to hand combat, easily beating some of them. Ethan joins in, and with his martial arts, easily defeats them as well. But then, Michael accidently punches Ethan in the face.
Michael: Oh, shit, man.
Ethan: MICHAEL!
Michael: Trying to get on the groove!
Quinton: Look out!
Another hockey thug charges ahead on his rollerblades, but Michael throws a rock at him, causing him to pummel down to the harbour.
In the meantime, Drake and Vanessa venture deeper into the tunnel, and discover the source of the light: glowing algae. All of it is coming from the grotto at the other end. Drake examines the algae, looking at it.
Drake: Dinophytes. Planktons.
Vanessa: Planktons. You mean like that one-eyed puny guy from SpongeBob?
Drake: There are many types, but these ones are called sea sparkles. When it's really dark outside, they glow in a bright blue colour like nightlights. It's the same as fireflies and glowworms. And I think… this is what the Lunar Flare is after.
Vanessa: Not getting it.
Drake: You ever tried to get between Michael and a girl he's into?
Vanessa: Yeah. That's something you only do once. But we should-
Then, Vanessa sees a human skull in front of her. She screams in fright, jumping back, and falling into the water. But when Drake shines his flashlight at it, it turns out to be a dead man's skeleton with a hole through the ribcage.
Drake: It's just a skeleton, Vanessa.
Vanessa: Wait a minute.
Vanessa walks out of the water and towards the skeleton, where she takes out a military dog tag. She sees the name: Falcon, J.
Vanessa: [realizing] Uncle Jacob! He survived!
Drake: Well, the blast, maybe. But not… the second time. By the looks of that torso, the Lunar Flare shot him through. Still, your father would've wanted to see this.
Vanessa: No, he would never made it past the rats. He hates rats; scared to death of them.
Shadow picks up a scent, hissing at the glowing water. Drake now knows what that means, so he drags Vanessa along and pushes Shadow into hiding behind a rock. But Vanessa goes back to swipe the dog tag from the skeleton before going back to Drake. Then, the Lunar Flare comes out from the water, walking like a seal before eating some of the glowing plankton. It then looks sad for some reason as it trots over to a nest, which has broken egg shells in it. Drake and Vanessa both witness, understanding what the scene means.
Vanessa: [whispering] It…. It was a mother?
Drake: [whispering] So that's why. Jacob must've found the nest, and… killed the babies before she… killed him next.
Vanessa: That was the primary objective back then.
The Lunar Flare lets out a mournful moan, like a mother weeping for the lost of its child, until… she picks up a scent, sniffing the air. She stands up, hissing. Vanessa ducks down, now back to being scared, as Drake shoves Shadow out of the tunnel, gesturing him to get out, which he does.
Vanessa: This way.
So the two of them crawl through another tunnel, as the Lunar Flare sniffs the air and follows the trail. She sees the tunnel, but it is too small for her to get through, so she walks away to go somewhere else.
Outside, Drake and Vanessa both crawl their way out the tunnel, standing up on the coast where they can see more glowing planktons splashing around with the waves.
Vanessa: Phew. I think we ditched her.
Suddenly, the Lunar Flare pops out from the side of the wall, and when Vanessa sees her, she screams in horror. Drake sees it; he rushes over to aid her, and when the Lunar Flare is about to fire, he blocks with his shield. The Dive-Bomb blasts Drake's shield without leaving a dent, but it knocks him off the coast and into the water.
Vanessa: Drake!
[Lunar Flare screeches]
Vanessa, scared out of her wits, backs up and tries to load her shotgun as the dragon advances towards her. Suddenly, the Shadow arrives with a roar, bumping the Lunar Flare onto the wall. That causes the glowing dragon to go after the Dark Saber instead. They both head upward, while Vanessa sees Drake in the water, and she dives down to get him.
Before Shadow could get higher, the Lunar Flare gets in front of him and blinds Shadow with her bioluminescence, causing him to crash. Shadow rolls and narrowly avoids being hit by the Dive-Bomb, and the next thing he does is shoot his Thunder Blast, electrocuting the Lunar Flare, forcing her to land hard on the ground. She tries to get back up in the air, but she's pinned down by Shadow pressing her down with his front paw.
[Shadow hissing]
[Lunar Flare growling]
The two Storm Class dragons stare at each other for a while, but Shadow calms himself, knowing that killing her wouldn't be worth it, so he lets her. The Lunar Flare is puzzled about it. She lets out a call, which sounds like the Dark Saber's barking, and Shadow responses back to communicate. Then, he takes his leave.
Act Nine
In the water, Drake floats along to watch all the glowing plankton in the sea, then Vanessa snatches him, swimming back up the surface.
Vanessa: Are you trying to drown in there?
Drake: No, but I was just….
But then, something swims towards the scene. Drake looks down and that's when he sees it: the Jelly-Sub. A large aquatic robot measuring 27 meters tall. It resembles a large jellyfish that has a lavender body with two yellow cylindrical sections and in between, a section of Jelly-Sub's body has red cores embedded on it. It is surrounded by a large hemisphere-shaped dome that appears clear although small areas of it can flash with multiple colours. Attached to its main body are several white tentacles each with a lavender nozzle at the end.
Drake: Vanessa, there's a robot heading this way!
Vanessa: What?! Swim for shore!
The two of them swim as fast as they can back to shore, climbing up on dry land. But when they get there, Kane stands in front of them, holding the Magni-Axe.
Kane: You have a nice swim?
Drake: [glaring] Kane.
Kane: And now… you die tonight.
With his axe, Kane swings it to strike Drake, who dodges the blow. He blocks it with his shield, and then he punches Kane in the face. But the dragon slayer looks unfazed before he spits a tooth and some blood out of his mouth.
Kane: That's a good one. But I've done better.
Back in downtown, the Hockey Patrol is finally dealt with. However, another threat emerges from the water: Scuba. An amphibious humanoid model of dragon-hunting drones standing up to 2.83 meters and able to fight both on land and underwater. It has four fingered-hands and flippers for feet. Its head is long and torpedo-shaped, even sporting a pale green propeller on its back tip and it has a fin on either side of its head. Its face is pitch-black with yellow optics and armed with retractable laser cannons attached to their arms. Six more show up, firing their cannons, forcing the Alpha Team to take shelter.
Michael: Where's Tyler and Gilbert when you need them?
In the meantime, dozens of Blackhawk troopers march towards the farmlands side by side, followed by Wallbreaker on Pesky. They are all going through the woodlands, and when they reach a clearing, they made it to the ranches. However, the moment they arrived, there was nobody around. Nothing alive except for some cows. Tiger Blade eyes the scenery with Wallbreaker at his side.
Wallbreaker: Nobody around, dog. What's the dealio?
Tiger Blade: They must be fully aware of our presence since this morning. We must be on high alert.
Wallbreaker: Got it.
The troopers advance closer and deeper in the farmlands, but also keeping a sharp eye out for any ambush. As they trot on the snow and listened to the wind, all they can hear are still cows, but none of them notice that the farmers are hiding behind barrels and haystacks. And when the Blackhawks are close enough….
McKenzie: NOW!
All the farmers jump out of hiding, attacking their American enemies. Tiger Blade draws his katanas, ready to fight. However, before he can, Bastion swings down from a barn like Tarzan, and gives Tiger Blade a hard kick. As he jumps out of the way, Tiger Blade shouts in frustration for what he just saw.
Tiger Blade: TRAITOR!
Patrick and Matthew throw some tomatoes at a heavy assault trooper, but just before he can shoot back with his Mossberg shotgun, Carter stands on top of a barrel with a tea pot.
Carter: How about a spot of tea, punk?!
He tosses all of the boiling tea on the guy's head, agonizing and burning him. Tiger Blade comes out to challenge him, but he is knocked out into the barn by a speeding cow.
McKenzie swings his pitchfork around, easily beating up the Blackhawks in sight. But then, one of them throws a net to snare him. Just before it would be the end of McKenzie, Bastion charges ahead and shoots the Blackhawks out of the way, before he frees the old man.
McKenzie: Thanks, lad.
Bastion: Anytime.
With that said, McKenzie moves Bastion out of the way, saving him as he takes down a Blackhawk.
Tyler and Gilbert run into the action, take cover from blasts, and they fired back at troopers, taking some out.
Tyler: Just like in the early years, huh?
Gilbert: Yes, except that we weren't fighting humans. [beat] Hey, can I try that?
Gilbert borrows Tyler's RPG-7, fires on troopers and sends them flying.
Gilbert: By Jove, I like this thing.
Just as Carter chased some men into a cage by frightening them by making himself look like Jason Voorhees, one of them aims at him with an M23 rifle, but he is tackled by Matthew, shoving his face into manure.
Matthew: Now that's what I call bullshit.
Bastion shoots dual pistols at the troopers, sending them all running off, but he runs into one trooper with a riot shield and an AK-47 with a bayonet.
Trooper: Traitor!
Bastion and the trooper with the shield battle. The trooper knocks Bastion down, and just when he is about to end him, Tyler shoots him with his shotgun, helping him out.
Tyler: No time for naps.
Wallbreaker: Yo, start picking some flowers, Jones, for your funeral.
Pesky spits out some venom, and Tyler ducks down with Bastion in time before it would hit them. But Tyler takes out a flare, ignites it, and the Winged Warhead gets pacified by the light.
Tyler: Come on. Follow the light.
He runs as fast as he can to get away from the chasing Pesky.
Wallbreaker: Man, you're so stupid this way.
But Tyler stops in his tracks and throws a garlic. Pesky gets a whiff of the garlic, and she finds it so nauseated, she backs away and crashes onto the barn, tumbling on top of Tiger Blade.
Tiger Blade: Augh! Retreat! Retreat!
Finally, the invaders are chased out, and the farmers celebrate their victory.
Carter: And stay out!
McKenzie: HAHAHA! It finally went through for me, boys! I feel young again!
Tyler: Man, Drake is missing out all the fun.
Act Ten
Back in St. John's, Drake and Kane are still having their fight. Drake blocks all blows from the dragon slayer, until his shield is knocked out by the Magni-Axe.
Kane: Tired, Mr. Dalloway?! That's a damn shame… CAUSE I'M JUST GETTING WARMED UP!
Then Shadow arrives with a roar, blasting his Thunder Blast, which Kane parries with his axe's blade. This allows Drake to make a run for it, and retake his shield. However, the Lunar Flare is flying away, and Kane sees it before throwing his axe, hitting her and making her land into the water.
Vanessa: [gasps] Oh no!
She feels like she has to do something, but she realizes that she's still scared of the Lunar Flare. But when she notices the Jelly-Sub nearby, Vanessa takes her chances and dives into the water. She swims as fast as she can, shaking the unconscious dragon.
Vanessa: Wake up! Come on, girl! That jellyfish thing is coming!
Vanessa looks down at the Jelly-Sub, still getting closer. Then, the Lunar Flare wakes up, seeing Vanessa is at her side, then the Jelly-Sub fires a 2.1 meter torpedo from one of its tentacles. Seeing that, the dragon submerges with Vanessa holding onto her back, and swims around to avoid the torpedo, which is heat-seeking as it follows her. But when Vanessa gets an idea, she stirs the dragon around and towards the Jelly-Sub with the torpedo closing in. As she gets close enough, the Lunar Flare jumps out of the water in a way of Free Willy, and the torpedo hits the Jelly-Sub, destroying it.
In downtown, Thorn hears the explosion and stares at the harbour in shock.
Thorn: Dammit! There goes the Jelly-Sub!
The Alpha Team are still fending off the Scuba robots, then… BOOM! A couple of bombs are dropped in the air. It is the Stilwells on their Ironback, bombarding the Scubas, and Thorn growls in angry defeat.
Thorn: Augh, Cursula's gonna kill me. Razor, let's book it!
Razor takes flight and gets out of St. John's. The citizens roar in cheer for the Alpha Team's success as the Stilwells stand on solid ground.
Michael: What kept ya so long?
Dusty: Well, the bunker was cozy, but it… didn't have any Wi-Fi. [giggles]
Ethan: No time for this. We gotta help Drake. He's still at the mountain.
Back at the coast, Kane regains his axe, and he slams the blade so hard on the ground, it makes a rockslide from above. However, Drake jumps up onto Shadow's back and he flies out of the way in time, then Kane jumps very high like magic, landing on top of Shadow's back.
Kane: Surprised?
He swings at Drake's head, but he ducks down. Then the dragon slayer kicks him right off his saddle, making Drake land on the ground. With the rider off, Kane is about to strike Shadow next, but the Dark Saber uses his electric charge, electrocuting Kane before it sends him right off to land on solid ground as well. In anger, Kane is about to strike Drake, then Drake punches him in the face and tackles him. The dragon slayer tries to get back up, but with his shared strength from Shadow, Drake pins him down, as the Dark Saber walks over to hover his opened mouth of sharp teeth at his face.
Drake: Don't even try it, Kane. There's no point in facing me, when I'm the only one who has a Dark Saber. You may have slayed dragons in your time, but in the end… you've never faced the likes of us before. You've failed.
Kane: No, boy. You have failed.
Kane kicks Drake's rear with his knee, knocking the latter onto Shadow's face, and stands up to confront him face to face.
Kane: You're still too late to do anything right. Only… for the civilians. Billions of human beings. They're singed and gobbled hearts are in your hands.
Drake: The world was facing overpopulation, so… regardless of the outcome, it would've been for the best.
Kane: You say that now, but if you won the Ultimate War, things will be different. That's also an outcome. So is this saying: three heads are better than two.
Then, Razor arrives and pins down on both Drake and Shadow. Thorn slides down the Metrobat's tail, standing beside Kane.
Drake: Now Thorn's here too?
Thorn: Double your villains, double your fun! [laughing] You know, I went through quite a few remaining dragon slayers worthy to fight you, but man… it wasn't good enough! So… I had to free Dr. Redman so he could build me some of his robots, then I ran into this guy. So… I'd say, triple your villains and triple your fun.
Drake: So it was you who freed him from Stonewall. Shouldn't be surprised, since you use magic to cheat your way.
Thorn: Cheat? CHEAT?!
Kane: I wouldn't let that bother me. Because most of the time, everyone cheats life like it's an easy task. You should know, son. You did the same thing during your basic training. So… you're no better than the crooks you bring into everyone's lives.
But then, Shadow's tip of the tail shifts into a pincer, just like in the pictograph, and pinches Razor's wing-leg, forcing him to get off of him, then he fires his Thunder Blast at the two human enemies, sending them away. Before Thorn and Kane can react, they see the Alpha Team flying over on their dragons towards them.
Thorn: We're gonna have to retreat. But this isn't over yet, dweeb!
So they both take their leave on Razor, flying away once again. The team arrives at the scene, aiding Drake, and Stanley comes over with Charlie.
Charlie: Well, we missed the fight.
Stanley: What's the situation, Corporal?
Drake: You just missed Thorn and Gerard Kane. They're both working together now, and…. [realizing] Vanessa!
Vanessa's voice: I'm over here.
Vanessa swims up to shore, soaking wet as Stanley aids her. But before they could be together, the Lunar Flare walks to shore and looks over at Vanessa, who is trying not to be scared anymore. She looks at her in the eye, sniffing her hair, and the dragon lets out a calmed coo, no longer seeing her as a threat. So the Lunar Flare dives back into the water to feed on the glowing plankton.
Stanley: [stunned] Vanessa…. You didn't….
Vanessa: I know, General. She was… in danger, and I had to let my fear go for… the time being. But anyway, we found him.
She takes out the dog tag, and gives it to her father who looks at it.
Stanley: Jacob. You actually… saw him?
Drake: Whatever's left of him, but yeah. He survived the blow nine years ago, but he…. He was found dead, estimated to have killed the Lunar Flare's nest.
Stanley: [sympathetic] Oh. Now I see. She was… a mother. Or going to be. But hey, we all had our reasons back in those days. [beat] I wish I was there with you.
Vanessa: There were rats down there.
Stanley: Rats?
Vanessa: Yeah, big ones.
Charlie: Heh! You always hated rats.
Stanley: [defensively] Because they bring disease and famine! And don't get me started on their tails!
Vanessa: [laughing]
Stanley: [clears throat] Anyway, looks like the mission's accomplished. Let's book in for the night and be on our way home.
Team: Sir, yes, sir!
Stanley walks ahead with Charlie and Vanessa, but Drake tails them as he listens to his friends.
Drake: So now Thorn has control of the Metrobat, enslaved and-
Quinton: Uh, Drake? We looked at its neck. There's no control ring. So that means Thorn has learned how to train the Metrobat.
Ethan: I'm afraid he's right. There was nothing we could do. So now another one of our enemies can tame dragons.
Drake: So then… that means… we may have bigger issues to worry about.
Back in Ottawa, the farmers are all at McKenzie's farm, celebrating for their successful fight with the Blackhawks. Bastion is having a phone call with Tyler and Gilbert at his side.
Bastion: Got it. Seeya then. [hangs up] That was Drake. He managed to handle the Lunar Flare and found its nest at Signal Hill.
Tyler: It was in Signal Hill? I knew it!
Gilbert: Oh, you knew it, did ya? Then how come we spent a week searching the bottom of the ocean?!
Tyler: That was your idea!
Gilbert: But anyway, now the Blackhawks know the farmlands have fighters, they'll be expecting it to come. Even with a short fight like this one.
Bastion: I don't think so. When it comes to battles, Hunter wouldn't go for a short one. Not even in the middle of winter. So I should think… he might be up to something that we don't know.
All the way in Brockville, which is now occupied by the Blackhawks, all the troopers settle in within the abandoned houses, loading up their guns, driving vehicles around for a patrol, and target practicing. At Windsor Heights, Tiger Blade is meeting with Hunter and Gordon in a tent.
Tiger Blade: So much to our surprise, sensei, the farmers have decided to fight back. They had Jones and Hackett with them, so it would've been them who led the revolution, but they had the traitor Bastion with them.
Hunter: How many casualties were there?
Tiger Blade: Sixteen. Fourteen for us, but… the enemy has two deaths.
Hunter: So for that, it proves that we have gullible idiots!
Gordon: Either way, Hunter… the plan was a success. Because we distracted the military, allowing the rest of our troops to… deliver the package.
Hunter: [pauses] You're right. So for that, we can rejoice… for now.
Meanwhile, a Blackhawk runs out of a sewer that goes underground, and approaches Wreck-it Rufus, who is feeding Bloser at the opened manhole.
Trooper: They're all in position, sir. They have been sedated, starving a little bit, and they'll wake up in due time.
Rufus: Good to hear. The boss is gonna love this. Now let's head back to Brockville while we're at it.
Trooper: Yes, sir.
As they ride away, a sound of snoring and coiling can be heard from the opened manhole. Whatever the Blackhawks put in there could be something really bad.
The End