Author's Note: Heyy, welcome back to my little world of madness. Here is another update. Lately I've been reading lots of supernatural/fantasy fiction, and I dunno, it brought me back to fanfiction lol.

Anyway, let me know how you find this chapter, if there's anything that pops out.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything

Warning: Fluff, fights, fun-ness.

Tattoo

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Chapter 11: Attack and Defense

"Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.:"

Trixie Carter couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Her gaze stayed locked on Spud's tattooed palm, the strange, inky lines twisting in intricate patterns, shifting just enough to make her wonder if she was imagining things. It wasn't just a mark. It wasn't normal.

Magic lived in that tattoo. She could feel it humming beneath her fingertips like a pulse beneath the skin.

They were still in Jake's room, the dim light from his bedside lamp casting long shadows along the walls. Posters of past Dragon Council missions, video game cases stacked haphazardly on a shelf, and a pile of sneakers shoved near the bed made the space feel lived-in, familiar. Yet tonight, it felt smaller—like the walls were closing in, the air thick with something unspoken.

Spud shifted uncomfortably, curling his fingers into a loose fist. "So, uh… does that mean I should be worried? 'Cause the way you're looking at my hand is making me feel like I got a death sentence."

Trixie inhaled sharply, snapping out of her thoughts. "I don't know yet." She straightened her shoulders, schooling her expression. "But we need to find out."

Jake frowned, arms crossed as he glanced at her. "Trix, I don't think you should—"

"She's right," a gruff voice cut in from behind them.

They turned to see Fu Dog hopping up onto Jake's desk, his expression unusually serious. "If that thing's got magic woven into it, we need to figure out what kind before it decides to bite back."

Trixie's eyes widened as she took a step back. For the first time in years, she was face-to-face with Fu Dog. The last time she'd seen him, she was just a kid, still wrapped up in the normalcy of life before the trio had gone on their separate ways. Now, standing here, the weight of time hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Fu Dog?" she breathed, her voice somewhere between shock and something almost nostalgic. "I— wow. It's been a minute."

Fu Dog gave her a once-over before smirking. "Yeah, kid. You grew up. About time."

Despite everything, Trixie let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Still as handsome as ever, I know," Fu Dog quipped, before his face turned serious again. "But we don't got time for reunions. We need to deal with that thing." He nodded toward Spud's hand.

Trixie hesitated. "I mean, I still don't—"

"Yeah, yeah, we know, kid. You're still green," Fu Dog interrupted, waving a paw. "Wait—hold up." He squinted at her, suddenly more curious than dismissive. "Why're you the one doing this scan? Shouldn't Jake be—"

Jake cleared his throat. "Uh… yeah, about that. Trixie's a wizard now."

Fu Dog blinked, staring owlishly at Trixie. "Say what now?" Then blinked again. "Wait, you? A wizard? No offense, kid, but I never pegged you for the spell-casting type."

Slightly offended, Trixie crossed her arms, her stance defensive. "You heard him, Fu. I got magic now."

Fu Dog let out a low whistle. "Huh. Didn't see that one coming ." He shook his head before muttering, "Man, you disappear on me for a few years, and everything's flipped upside down."

Trixie winked teasingly at Fu, "Aw, glad to know someone missed me."

Shaking it off, Fu refocused. "Alright, well, that changes things. But the spell's still basic, so you should be good to go. Which is why we're gonna do this the old-fashioned way."

He hopped down and padded toward the shelves, digging through the clutter of scrolls and books before pulling out a thick, dust-covered tome. "Jake, grab the Magic Encyclopedia. We're gonna try something simple."

Jake grabbed the glowing, heavy book, flipping it open on the table as Fu Dog clawed through the pages. "Alright, there it is—Basic Energy Scans for Novice Wizards. This one should be safe enough for even Trixie to try."

Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."

Fu Dog ignored her. "All you gotta do is focus your energy while holding your hand over the mark. The spell should detect any weird magical properties and give us a read."

Trixie swallowed. She wasn't great at spells yet, hell, Jake hasn't even taught any at all. But this didn't sound like anything crazy. Just a test. A scan. A way to get answers.

She rolled her shoulders back, drawing in a steady breath before extending a hand over Spud's. Some of her doubted she could even pull this off, but another—one she wasn't used to listening to—told her she could. That maybe, just maybe, she was more capable than she thought. The air around them seemed to shift, growing thick with an unseen weight as she closed her eyes, focusing.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, she felt it—an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her fingertips, a soft vibration in the air. Trixie's breath hitched. She was actually doing it.

But the moment her fingers hovered above Spud's skin, the tattoo reacted.

The ink flared, glowing a deep, dark red.

A sharp, unnatural chill rushed through the room.

Then—

Spud jerked backward with a sharp gasp, yanking his hand away like he'd been burned. His eyes went wide, his breath coming in shallow bursts.

"What the hell was that?!" he panted, gripping his wrist. "That was— that was—"

His voice cut off as the room shifted.

The overhead light flickered once.

Then again.

A deep, electric hum filled the space, like something beneath reality itself had been disturbed.

And then, the mirror across the room moved.

Not a reflection. Not a trick of the light. The mirror physically warped, distorting like ripples in water.

Trixie's breath caught in her throat.

No.

She was here.

A figure formed in the warped glass, her shape bleeding into existence like ink spreading in water.

The same sharp eyes. The same smirk curling in cruel amusement.

Inner.

She tilted her head, watching them. Watching Spud.

"Hey there, handsome," she purred, her voice dripping with something dark and knowing.

Spud froze.

Trixie moved.

She shoved herself in front of him, arm raised, ready to cast— but the mirror snapped back to normal.

Inner was gone.

The humming silence stretched for a beat before Spud let out a nervous laugh. "Okay, uh… I'm just gonna say it. That? That was bad. That was really bad."

Jake exhaled sharply, his face tense. "Yeah. No kiddin'."

Trixie couldn't speak. But beneath the shock, buried deep under the fear and uncertainty, there was something else—something sharp and unexpected. A flicker of pride. She had made the energy scan work. Even if the results were terrifying, even if she wasn't sure what to do next… she had done it. And that meant she could do more.

She had seen Inner before, in dreams, in moments of exhaustion where the lines between them blurred.

But never like this.

Never so real.

Her fingers curled into her palms, nails pressing against her skin. She turned to Spud, her voice unsteady but firm. "We need to get that tattoo checked. Now."

Spud swallowed, eyes still flickering back to the mirror. "Yeah. Yeah, okay. Definitely."

Jake grabbed his jacket, already moving toward the door. "Then let's go."

No one argued.

As they stepped out, none of them looked back at the mirror.

Because if they had, they might have noticed it wasn't empty.

Not really.

Because deep beneath the surface of the glass, a shadow moved.

And it wasn't Inner.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The streets of New York pulsed with their usual energy—cars honking, neon lights flashing, voices carrying on the wind—but to Trixie, everything felt muted. The trio moved deeper into Manhattan, the towering buildings enclosing them like silent sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of hot pretzels and exhaust fumes, a stark contrast to the suffocating weight pressing on her chest. The neon signs from late-night bodegas and fast-food joints flickered against the pavement, their glow reflecting in puddles from a recent rainfall. The streets weren't as crowded at this hour, but the occasional cab sped by, tires splashing through puddles, reminding them that life never truly slowed down in this city. As she walked ahead of the others, her arms crossed tightly, all she could hear was the rapid thud of her heartbeat.

Her fingers still tingled from the energy scan, the magic lingering like static in her skin. It should have felt like a win. It should have made her feel stronger. Instead, it just reminded her that Spud was in danger now.

Because of her.

Spud, still rubbing his palm absentmindedly, attempted to break the tension. "Sooo, uh… on a scale of one to 'we're completely screwed,' where do we think we stand?"

Trixie stopped walking.

Jake and Spud nearly collided with her.

"You think this is funny, Spud?" Trixie's voice was sharp, cutting through the usual banter.

Spud's smile faltered. "Whoa, Trix, I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean to get mixed up in this? You didn't mean to have some creepy, dark version of me stamp a magical bullseye on you?"

Spud blinked. "I—well, no. But I didn't exactly ask for it either."

Trixie scoffed, running a hand through her curls. "Yeah? Well, neither did I."

Her voice cracked. She hated how raw she sounded.

Jake stepped in. "Trix, come on—"

His voice was softer now, less of a command and more of an offering. He stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him. "I know this is a lot. But you don't have to carry all of it by yourself."

Trixie's breath hitched for just a second, the sincerity in his tone cutting through her frustration like a blade. For a brief moment, she wanted to believe him, wanted to let her guard down.

"No, don't 'Trix' me." She whirled on him. "I barely know what I'm doing! I can't even shoot a magic beam straight half the time, and now I'm supposed to fix this? How am I supposed to protect anyone when I can't even control myself?"

Jake hesitated for a moment, then—without thinking—he reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist. The moment their skin touched, Trixie's breath hitched again, but this time for a different reason. Her gaze snapped up to meet his, and for a second, everything else faded.

His eyes—dark, steady—searched hers, not with pity, not with frustration, but with something else. Understanding. A quiet reassurance that settled deep in her chest, making it harder to breathe. It was brief, but it was enough to make Trixie freeze, her anger flickering into something more vulnerable. She should have pulled away. Instead, she found herself rooted in place, her pulse thrumming in her ears.

Silence.

Spud looked down at his tattoo.

Jake's face shifted with delicate softness, a sight that succeeded in alleviating Trixie's stress level. She exhaled, voice softer now, tears threatening to leave.

"I should've never come back in your guys' lives."

Spud finally spoke, serious for once. "Yeah, well… you did. And for what it's worth, I'm glad."

Jake nodded. "Let's just get to my grandpa. Fu Dog knows a lot, but if this thing is tied to magic even he isn't familiar with, he might be the only one who can break it down for us."

Spud raised an eyebrow. "So we're heading to the electronics shop, then?"

Jake nodded as they neared a familiar block. Lao Shi's electronics shop was tucked between an old bookstore and a run-down tailor shop, its sign slightly flickering with age. It looked inconspicuous to the average passerby, just another mom-and-pop store lost in the sprawl of Manhattan. But for them, it was a gateway to answers, to magic, and hopefully, to a solution they desperately needed.

Jake nodded. "Yeah. It's late, but he's always working on something. He'll help."

Trixie wanted to doubt him, to tell herself that no one could promise things would turn out okay. But this was Jake—if there was anyone she trusted to have her back, it was him. So she exhaled, letting a fraction of the tension ease from her shoulders. For now, she'd hold onto that.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The trio stepped into the dimly lit alley leading to Lao Shi's electronics shop. The streets had grown quieter the deeper they ventured into Manhattan, the towering buildings shielding them from the city's usual noise. A flickering neon sign reading Lao Shi's Electronics buzzed above a worn-out glass door, casting an eerie glow on the pavement. The shop's exterior blended seamlessly with the other aging storefronts, a relic of old New York tucked between a dusty bookstore and a run-down tailor's shop. To anyone passing by, it looked like nothing more than a struggling repair shop. But the three of them knew better.

Jake pushed open the door, the familiar chime of the entry bell ringing overhead. The front of the shop was just as Spud and Trixie had remembered—if a little more cluttered than before. Shelves packed with outdated radios, dismantled television sets, and tangled heaps of cords gave it the air of an old-school repair shop. The glow of an old computer monitor flickered in the corner, illuminating an assortment of hidden magical artifacts disguised as spare parts.

But Jake didn't stop here. Instead, he led them toward the back of the shop, weaving past old stereo systems and broken gaming consoles until they reached a beaded curtain. He pushed it aside, revealing a hidden doorway embedded in the wall.

Spud's eyebrows shot up. "Uh… was that always there?"

Jake smirked. "Magic shop's gotta have some magic tricks, right?"

He rapped his knuckles against the wooden panel twice, and with a soft click, the door slid open, revealing a staircase leading downward. The air grew noticeably cooler as they descended, the dim glow of lanterns lining the walls flickering against ancient Chinese scrolls and dragon carvings.

The real shop was here—hidden at the far back of the store, beyond where any regular customers would ever venture. Only those who knew its secrets could step past the ordinary electronics into the heart of the magical world that Lao Shi guarded. The scent of old wiring, burnt solder, and aged parchment filled the space, an odd but strangely comforting mix. Shelves were packed with outdated radios, dismantled television sets, and tangled heaps of cords. The glow of an old computer monitor flickered in the corner, illuminating an assortment of hidden magical artifacts disguised as spare parts.

At the far end of the hidden chamber, Lao Shi sat hunched over a long wooden table, an ancient scroll unrolled beside him. He was carefully etching symbols onto what looked like a talisman, the faint glow of enchantment hovering over his hands. Around him, shelves lined with old tomes and mystical artifacts filled the underground space, a stark contrast to the electronics store above. He barely looked up as he muttered in Mandarin, his voice gruff but calm. "Store's closed. Come back tomorrow."

Jake cleared his throat. "G, it's me."

Lao Shi finally glanced up, his sharp eyes studying them beneath thick, silver brows. His gaze lingered on Jake first, then drifted toward Trixie. His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression shifted from mild curiosity to knowing recognition. There was a pause—brief but heavy—before he spoke.

"Ah… it's been a long time since I've seen you two." His gaze, however, didn't waver from Trixie. "And yet, your presence feels... different." His gaze flickered over Jake first, then shifted to Trixie and Spud. His expression tensed for a moment, recognition flickering in his eyes. "Ah… it's been a long time since I've seen you two." His expression softened for a split second before it hardened again, his gaze flickering toward Trixie. He let out a slow sigh, setting his tools down. "So… you've awakened."

Trixie stiffened. She hadn't expected him to recognize it so quickly, but there was something in his tone that made her uneasy—like he had already known before she even stepped foot inside. Lao Shi's gaze sharpened, scanning her carefully, not with suspicion but with deep understanding. Then, he gave a slow nod, as if confirming an unspoken thought.

"Magic leaves a mark," he murmured. "Yours clings to you like an untrained fire—wild, untempered." He folded his arms. "You've felt it, haven't you? The way it moves beneath your skin, the way it responds even when you're not sure how to control it?" It had been years since she'd last stood in this shop, back when things were simpler, before everything changed.

"Guess there's no hiding it," Trixie muttered.

Spud, still rattled, shifted awkwardly before blurting, "Awakened? Uh—yeah, you could say that. And also—um—maybe cursed?" He glanced around the shop, nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Man, I forgot how cool this place was. Y'know, back when we used to kick it here in middle school, it felt way less ominous. More 'mystical gadget store' and less 'magical crisis center.'" Also, wow, it's really been a minute, huh? You look the same, but like, more wisdom-y. But, uh… how'd you know Trix was, y'know… all 'abracadabra' now?"

Lao Shi's eyes didn't leave Trixie. "I've lived long enough to recognize the energy of an untapped wizard," he replied. "It is not just something you see—it is something you feel." He exhaled deeply, the lines on his face deepening. "And hers is barely beneath the surface."

Jake stepped forward, placing a hand on Spud's shoulder to steady him. "We need your help, G. Spud's got a magical tattoo, and we think it's linked to… Trixie's situation."

Lao Shi's eyes narrowed as he studied Spud, but the weight of familiarity settled into his gaze. "You both have changed… and yet, here you are again, tangled in things beyond your control." Without a word, he extended a wrinkled hand. "Show me."

Spud hesitated before reluctantly extending his palm.

Lao Shi took Spud's hand, his fingers tracing the inked lines with a precision that sent a chill through Spud's arm. With a quiet hum, Lao Shi reached beneath the counter and pulled out an old, folded scroll. As he unraveled it, intricate symbols—eerily similar to those on Spud's palm—etched across the ancient parchment.

Trixie swallowed hard. This wasn't just some random mark.

Lao Shi traced a finger over the scroll, murmuring something in a language none of them understood. The tattoo flared for a brief second, reacting to the energy. His expression darkened.

"This is no ordinary mark," he muttered.

Spud laughed nervously. "Yeah, I kinda figured that much."

Lao Shi ignored him, turning to Trixie. "It's a tether. A binding mark."

Trixie felt her stomach drop. "Binding to what?"

Lao Shi met her gaze, his expression grim. "To her."

The words hung heavy in the air. The room felt smaller, the hum of the electronics dimming beneath the weight of realization.

Spud swallowed hard. "You mean… I'm linked to Inner?"

Lao Shi nodded. "And that means whatever she wants… she can reach you."

Trixie clenched her fists. "Then we have to break it."

Lao Shi exhaled, rubbing his beard. "It won't be that simple."

The air inside Lao Shi's shop felt heavier now, thick with unspoken words. The weight of the revelation settled over them, pressing against their chests like an unseen force. Spud rubbed his palm absently, as if he could scrub the mark away, while Trixie paced, arms crossed tight over her chest. Jake leaned against a shelf, watching them both, his expression unreadable.

Spud let out a nervous chuckle, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "So, great. I've got a magical tracking device courtesy of Evil-Trixie. Love that for me."

Trixie stopped pacing. "This isn't funny, Spud."

Spud raised his hands. "I know! But what do you want me to do? Freak out? Scream? Maybe throw myself into traffic?!"

Trixie's stomach twisted, because that was exactly how she felt.

"This is my fault," she muttered, shaking her head. "If it weren't for me—"

Jake's voice was firm but calm. "No. This is Inner's fault, not yours."

Trixie gritted her teeth. "Doesn't matter. She came from me. She marked Spud because of me. How am I supposed to fix that?!"

Her voice cracked, and that infuriated her more than anything.

Jake stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Trix, you're not alone in this."

Trixie let out a bitter laugh. "Aren't I?" She turned to him, eyes burning. "You left, Jake."

Jake stiffened. "Trix—"

"You and Spud both walked away from my life. And now that I've got magic, now that it's convenient, you want to help?"

Silence.

Spud looked away, guilt written all over his face. Jake clenched his jaw.

Spud suddenly slammed his hand on the counter. "You think I wanted to leave?! You think I liked pretending we weren't friends?!"

Trixie flinched at the sudden outburst. Spud never yelled. Never snapped. But now, his face was red, his voice shaking with something raw and unfiltered.

"You don't get it, Trix! Jake had his Dragon thing. You had… whatever you had. And me? I was just Spud. No magic. No purpose. Just the idiot friend tagging along. So yeah, maybe I walked away. But don't act like you weren't already gone."

The words hit harder than Trixie expected. Because some part of her—one she didn't want to admit—knew he wasn't entirely wrong.

Jake exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Then, his eyes snapped to Trixie, frustration flashing across his face. "You keep throwing the past in our faces like it changes anything. It doesn't. What's done is done, Trix. We can't go back and fix it, and honestly, I don't know if it would've changed how things ended up anyway. But standing here, blaming each other, that's not getting us anywhere."

Spud muttered, "Yeah. Before I end up possessed or something."

Trixie opened her mouth, ready to fire back at Jake, but the intensity in his stare stopped her. He wasn't just angry—he was tired. Tired of fighting, tired of old wounds being reopened every time they were together. She swallowed hard, recognizing the weight behind his words.

And for the first time, she let them settle instead of resisting.

No one laughed.

Lao Shi finally interjected, his voice steady. "This connection—this tether—it wasn't made lightly. Breaking it will require more than just a spell or a charm. You'll need to understand why it was formed in the first place."

He turned his gaze toward Trixie. "And that answer may lie within you."

The tension lingered, unresolved, as they turned their attention back to him.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The night was crisp, with the lingering coolness of spring and the scent of rain still fresh in the air. The trio had just stepped out of Lao Shi's shop, their emotions still raw from the revelation about Spud's tether. The streets hummed with distant city sounds—cars honking, the faint murmur of people in late-night diners—but something felt off.

Trixie shivered, despite the mild air. "Tell me I'm not the only one feeling that."

Jake's eyes darted around, his dragon instincts tingling. "You're not. Stay sharp."

A sudden growl rumbled through the alley behind them. The shadows stirred, and from the darkness emerged a twisted, spectral-looking creature, its glowing eyes locked onto them. Its form flickered unnaturally, its body somewhere between a wolf and a panther, but it was eerily distorted—like it wasn't fully in this realm.

Spud took a step back. "Okay, that is definitely not supposed to be here."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "That thing's got Inner's magic all over it."

The creature lunged without warning, a blur of dark energy and sharp limbs tearing through the alley, heading straight for Trixie. Its eyes burned with an eerie, unnatural light, a predatory hunger locked onto her like she was prey.

"Dragon Up!"

Trixie barely had time to react before Jake shoved her out of the way, his body shifting in a heartbeat—scales rippling across his arms, his claws elongating, his pupils slitting into a draconic gaze. He let out a low, guttural growl, flames licking at his fingertips as he braced for impact. He blocked the creature's attack with his arm, flames flickering at his fingertips.

The beast recoiled but didn't retreat. Instead, it let out a sickening snarl, its jaw unhinging wider than it should have, jagged teeth gleaming in the dim alley light. With a burst of unnatural speed, it whipped around and lunged at Spud.

Trixie's heart pounded. No. Not again.

She forced her hands up, channeling her magic the way Jake had been teaching her. This time, her lavender-purple blast hit—hard. The moment the energy surged from her fingertips, a wild rush of heat shot through her chest, spreading down her arms like fire beneath her skin. Her heart pounded in her ears, deafening, her pulse racing in sync with the power she was commanding. For the first time, she wasn't just releasing magic—she was controlling it. A blinding wave of lavender-purple energy exploded on impact, the sheer force sending the creature skidding backward, its claws scraping violently against the pavement. Trixie's breath hitched, her body thrumming with raw energy. She could still feel it surging, demanding more, begging to be rereleased. But the creature—though staggered—was already recovering. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to steady her shaking hands.

Jake turned to Spud. "Run."

Spud hesitated. "Dude, that thing's literally tracking me! Where am I supposed to go?!"

Before Jake could answer, the creature reformed faster than expected, its gaze locked onto Trixie this time. It lunged again.

Trixie didn't think—she reacted. Magic surged through her veins, heat flooding her fingertips as she spun to the side. She threw her hands forward, a swirling vortex of lavender-purple energy erupting from her palms. The blast slammed into the creature's chest with an earth-shaking force, sending it spiraling backward, its body convulsing as cracks of raw energy split through its form. It let out an otherworldly shriek, its body flickering between solid and shadow.

The creature snarled, its form flickering wildly before finally collapsing into shadow, dispersing into nothing.

Jake exhaled, rolling his shoulders, but his eyes didn't leave Trixie. His expression was somewhere between awe and disbelief. "Trix… that was incredible."

Spud gulped, his wide eyes bouncing between Trixie and the fading remnants of the creature. "Okay, not to downplay the actual monster attack we just survived, but—Trix. That was insane. Like, full-on, superhero movie levels of insane."

Trixie smiled sheepishly, "Training is starting to pay off."

Spud gestured wildly. "That's an understatement, Trix. You just blasted that thing into next week!"

Trixie steadied herself, her hands still glowing faintly with a soft lavender-purple aura. She was still catching her breath, the weight of what she'd done sinking in. She had controlled it.

She had actually controlled it.

Jake took a step toward her, eyes still locked onto her hands. "I knew you had it in you, but that—" he shook his head, a small grin forming. "That was next level."

Trixie exhaled, still out of breath. For a moment, she glanced back at Spud's still-glowing tattoo. The more she looked at it, the more she was confused about this ordeal.

She believed Spud, when he was adamant that Inner had put a tattoo on him. The limited time she's gotten to know Inner, she showed a little bit of favoritism towards him. Come to think about it, Trixie wouldn't be surprised if this was done purely out of boy-obsession. She didn't understand why or where it came from, but Inner was just that obsessed about him.

So why would Inner orchestrate an attack?

It wouldn't be her style to attack Spud in the first place.

Yes, maybe she'd scare him, but not deliberately attack him.

Just as her thoughts came to a conclusion, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed through her skull. Her breath hitched, her vision blurring for a moment. The street around her seemed to ripple, distorting like heat waves off asphalt. She winced, pressing her fingers to her temple.

A faint whisper curled at the edges of her mind, familiar yet chilling.

'Everything is not what it seems…'

Trixie's stomach dropped. The voice wasn't her own.

She blinked rapidly, her eyes darting around. And then she saw it—her.

At the mouth of the alley, just beyond the reach of the streetlights, Inner stood watching. A spectral presence, her silhouette blurred at the edges like a reflection in rippling water. But her expression wasn't mocking. It wasn't threatening.

It was… calm.

'This wasn't my doing.' The voice echoed in Trixie's head again, Inner's lips unmoving as she spoke.

Trixie's breath came fast and uneven. What?

And then, just as quickly as she had appeared, Inner faded into the darkness, swallowed by the night.

Trixie immediately straightened up, "Guys, I don't think Inner was the one who orchestrated this attack."

Both guys turned to her, unable to stomach this truth. "Nah, no way."

But before they could get another word out, the ground trembled again—this time, followed by a massive shadow blotting out the nearest streetlamp. A deep, rumbling growl filled the air, sending a chill down Trixie's spine.

Trixie rolled her eyes, stress evident on her features, "Damn, like foreal? Can't we just end the night normally?!"

Before anyone could say another word, a massive, hulking figure emerged from the streetlamp's shadow. Standing nearly ten feet tall, its greenish-gray skin glistened under the flickering streetlights, and its thick arms rippled with muscle. Jagged tusks protruded from its lower jaw, and its beady, glowing red eyes locked onto them with undeniable hunger.

"Oh, great," Spud muttered, sweat-dropping. "Because one nightmare creature wasn't enough tonight?"

The ogre let out a deafening roar, its thick arms flexing as it swung a massive club, shattering the pavement where they stood just seconds before. The shockwave sent all three of them stumbling backward, its massive foot stomping the ground hard enough to crack the pavement. It wasn't just attacking them—it was blocking their way.

Still in his dragon form, Jake's eyes narrowed, stepping forward as flames curled around his fists. "We don't have time for this."

Without hesitation, he launched himself forward, dodging the ogre's next wild swing. His dragon instincts kicked in—he ducked low, then sprang up, delivering a fiery uppercut straight to the ogre's jaw.

The creature let out a furious bellow, reeling back from the impact. But Jake wasn't done. With a swift motion, he shifted mid-air, wings sprouting from his back as he twisted into a devastating kick, slamming both feet into the ogre's chest. The force sent the massive beast crashing into a lamppost, bending it upon impact.

Jake landed back on the ground, his breathing steady as he watched the unconscious ogre slump to the side. "Let's move—before this thing wakes up."

Spud let out a nervous chuckle, shaking out his hands, as he was getting up from the concrete ground. "Okay, that was ridiculously cool. But, uh, maybe let's not fight every single magical horror creature that crosses our path?"

Trixie walked up to the boys, seriousness radiating from her stance, as she folded her arms. "...As I was saying, this is not Inner's doing. She'd be the type to do the attacks herself, face-to-face. Not send someone to do the damage for her."

Spud grimaced, not completely in agreement to the statement. "But Trix, I mean, she did stab you. She's capable of anything."

With both of her fingers on her chin, in a thinking manner, Trixie paced back and forth. "Exactly my point. She did it in cold blood, hell, she looked at me in the face when doing it. So why would she resort to sending someone to do the deed? With the time I got to know her, she is the lone wolf type."

Jake's expression darkened. "Which means we need to find out who did."

Spud sighed dramatically. "So, uh, magical Google search? Or do we go straight to the source?"

Jake's gaze hardened. "Probably the magical realm. The witches and wizards—if anyone knows about this kind of magic, it's them."

Trixie nodded. "It's risky, but it might be our best shot. We might even find out more information on Spud's tattoo."

Spud let out a nervous chuckle, shaking out his hands. "Alright, magical road trip it is! Just, uh, someone tell me there's a version of Yelp for wizard-friendly hotels, 'cause I am not sleeping on a floating rock or something."

Jake and Trixie both look at Spud incredulously, shaking their heads.

"I'm dead," Trixie snorted, doing her best to hold in her laughter. "Spud, them creatures almost took our heads out and you're worried about that?!"

"I don't know about you guys, but I value too much my beauty sleep."

No matter how much Spud changed physically, he was still himself. No matter how dire the situation presented, he'd always crack a few jokes.

In a way, it comforted Trixie, knowing that this traumatizing drama hadn't broken him.

Author's Note: Welp, looks like the three amigos are back :) From here, it's about to be a funnnnnn time.