The Shadow Maker

"No, I mean someone even worse... Someone you don't know..."

"Great," i muttered. "There's always someone worse."
"Well, what are we standing around here for?" Falcon suddenly snapped moodily. "Let's get going!"

"Where, exactly?" Surrokumon asked impatiently. I looked up into the sky. No way, it can't be. I defeated him so many years ago, right after I left Cyrus... I looked down. I'll just have to tough it out, I guess. So look out Sevukon, here I come! I looked up. "Right, let's go."

"The Spiral Mountains i guess. It's our only clue."
Darren turned into a black dragon. "I'll head back to HQ to see if there are any more reports. Keep me posted."
"I'm coming with you," Laia said to me.
"No," i growled.
She snarled. "Quit treating me like a weak female! I can fight, Storm! I've even beat Falcon!"
"Just cuz i let her," he mumbled.
Before she could go on i cut her off. "You don't know half of what's inside of me, Laia. The thing you saw back there, we're hunting the creator of that."
She swallowed.

Surrokumon and I turned into our Dragon forms. I looked to Laia. "He's right, you should go. This is going to be a dangerous journey. You never know what terrible things could happen."

She planted her feet, the fight coming back. "No. I won't sit back idly this time."
The look in her eyes pretty much stopped the words i was about to shoot out. I sighed. "Fine. But if we tell you to leave or stay back, you better listen."
"Understood."
Darren spread his wings for take-off. "Little cloud cover, Drey?"
I smiled. "Of course." A thunderstorm immediately kicked up, black clouds completely camoflaging his scales.
"See you later," he called, and left."

OOC: wont be back on for a while; gotta shovel the driveway.

OOC: ooh, how exciting!


Surrokumon looked at everyone. "Well?" I elbowed him in his long ribs. "Have patience, Roku."

I smiled. "Looks like we're heading back to the Dragon Kingdome."
"Can you turn dragon now?" Cloud asked nervously.
"Yeah, i think so." I pressed into the dragon side of me, which was hesitant because i had succumbed to my darker side almost completely, but with a little effort i could remain a dragon again. "That's good; we can use the flumes again. Everyone follow me."
I took to the air, almost clumsily. I was still a bit numb.

I flew to one side of Drey, and Surrokumon flew beside the other. "We'll help you, just in case."

"Thanks," i grinned. "But once we enter the flume, you'd better stay on my tail. Only i can really use them." Laia, Cloud, and Falcon were right behind, Falcon below Laia to cover her lavender scales.
We hit above the clouds, and an electric tunnel opened up. "Laia, you've never been through the Storm Flumes, have you?"
She shook her head.
"Just stick with Cloud and Falcon. Everyone stay close." I stared straight into the tunnel. "It's going to be bumpy, and it's going to be fast."

Surrokumon and I flew right behind Drey. "After you."

"Everyone brace yourselves!" i called, and shot through the tunnel with a crack of thunder, pulling everyone behind me.

I raced alongside Drey, going with the pull. Surrokumon tried his best, but just was dragged along because of his long and big, snake-like body.

I flinched. I'm not going as fast as i usually can. Things look a little dizzy too.
The data i received with each bolt told me the nearest we can exit is ten leagues from the mountains. That's not good, that's still quite a ways.

I flew up cautiously to Drey, using my own electricity to keep in place. "Drey, do you want me to lead?"

I shook my head. "You won't be able to. The storm would drop you out like a rock. It only responds to me." Which, now that i think about it, is quite odd. No dragon in history ever had an affinity for storms like mine. Yeah, there's been weather dragons, but...

Surrokumon flew up to me. "It was worth a try."

I snapped back to attention. "The exit's coming up. Watch out for the back-fire."
We dropped out of the storm flume at normal speed, a bolt of lightning trailing us. I turned around to make sure everyone was okay. Laia wobbled in the air, dizzy.
"Th-th-that was f-f-fast..." Falcon flew up beside to stop her fall. I chuckled, and got the lay of the land.
In the distance the snow-peaked mountains gleamed in the sunlight. Below us was open pasture.
The air started spinning again. I had to flap a few times to keep steady.

Surrokumon and I flew next to Drey. "Where are we?"

"We're back inside the kingdom, just a little off course. Those mountains are where we're heading."
"Hey, Storm!"
I turned around, and saw Falcon grinning. "Did you ever take your buddy through one of those?"
Next to him cloud was holding what looked like a pitiful black cloth. It was Kragis.

Surrokumon chuckled. "What happened to him?" I just gave him a warning glare. He returned it with a smirk. I just looked away. Sometimes Surrokumon and I didn't get along very well, and this time was one of them. He nudged me. "Cheer up. I know what's really running through your h4ead. Can't fool me." I nodded, trying to hold back the memories.

I laughed too. "He'll be alright. He wouldn't have been my Shadow if he couldn't handle even that." It's so weird talking about that now. "Come on, let's go. We've got about an hours flight."

I flew right past Drey and called back, "Race you there!" Surrokumon laughed. "Finally have some competition now, don't ya, Drey?"

"Like you have a chance!" I called, and sped up with him. Falcon came, too. Cloud and Laia remained behind, shaking their heads. Kragis just groaned.

I folded my wings and let my electricity drag me. I was moving close to the speed of light. Surrokumon just groaned and flew next to Falcon, Cloud, and Laia.