Chapter 36 “Past vs Future”

Academy City was in a bustle. The fly zones were overfilled with dragons and riders and even the street ways below were jammed. All were heading to one place, the Academy.

Everyone was curious as to the coming up announcement, for it was not often that Argos, the man the Rider of Legend had put in charge, called the entire city together. There were even rumors that the Rider of Legend herself would be present and this caused a buzz of excitement.

No one noticed a few dragons and riders, who joined the endless lines in the fly zone, that looked lost and constantly gazed at the scenery around them with wide eyed, seeming more intrigued than anything. No one noticed how some of them had suspicious cloaks on that were enough to hide pretty much anything underneath.

Seth and Dominique ended up in the same group. Dominique could almost swear he had seen an evil glint in Gina’s eyes when she had suggested it, yet he did not complain. For Seth’s group would be the first to attack the Academy.

There were ten in the group. It was by far the largest and yet to Steeson would seem small, making him certainly think that this group was a distraction.

“How long until Steeson will make an appearance?” Seth asked Dominique. The two had doubled up on Seth’s dragon as Steeson had Breeze, and while neither of the boys seemed comfortable with the arrangement, they had Gina to thank once again.

“Until the area below the balcony is overfilled. It should still take some time,” Dominique replied.

Seth nodded. “We’ll go right for the Academy then. If we go later he may already start the announcement and we won’t be able to stop him. We don’t need to take any chances,” he said.

Dominique didn’t disagree. Seth was right. At the moment there weren’t enough people gather at the Academy yet for it to be worth to Steeson to make his announcement. If there were, then when the Academy students attacked he could decide to start to reveal himself and Deception to the crowd right away.

“Sure hope your plan works,” Dominique muttered as Seth signaled to the rest of the group that was following.

No one in the fly zone paid any attention as suddenly when the mass neared the Academy nine dragons dived right, leaving the fly zone and heading to the entrance of the Academy instead of the side where everyone else was gathering.

No one in the group spoke as their dragons approached the courtyard. They could see the figures of a few riders in it suddenly hurrying about as they realized that the nine dragons were heading right for them.

Steeson checked the screen before him one last time to make sure that the area he had ordered be used for this occasion was truly filling up with civilians. He smiled as he watched dragon after dragon drop their rider off and then proceed to the Stabling area. As planned, the entire city would turn up. Just as he hoped the rumor of the Rider of Legend being present which he had started had helped in gathering the masses a lot.

Turning he shot a look at Akira who sat in the far corner with a blank face. Her dragon was in the other room to which they would proceed towards in a moment, the room from which they would make their exit out onto the balcony that the council had added on a few years back, the balcony which was five stories up, high enough to be above the ground and yet still to be seen, though not clearly, just to be on the safe side that no one would notice the black rings around Akira’s eyes.

Deception was currently also with Redemption, yet Steeson was not sure how good an idea it was. The two dragons seemed to not be able to stand each other and would constantly eye each other while growling, yet Steeson had made it clear to Akira to order Redemption not to make a move. If things were going to go his way, he needed to find a way to make Redemption more agreeable. Steeson frowned as he thought it over.

A sudden knock at the door made him turn his attention to it. He watched as it opened and Argos slowly made his way in. He was suddenly pushed out of the way and Nemis casually strolled in.

“We have nine dragons approaching the Academy,” Nemis spoke.

Steeson raised an eyebrow but turned to the screens behind him only to see that Nemis was telling the truth, for one screen showed nine dragons rapidly approaching the courtyard.

“Well, well,” Steeson walked up to the screen. “So they are finally here,” he peered closer at the screen. “Well hello Dominique,” he chuckled when he realized one dragon held two riders. “Don’t have a dragon of your own?” He grinned as he remembered the two dragons he had locked up.

“Shall I have our Night Riders and Watchers pull back from watching the crowds and come to take care of them?” Nemis asked.

Steeson did not reply for a moment as he watched the dragons dodge the Shocker balls a few Watchers that stood in the courtyard shot. A moment later the first of the nine dragons touched down in the courtyard and their riders jumped from their backs, shedding their cloaks to reveal Academy clothes and weapons, ready to fight.

“Send a few, enough to take care of them, not more,” Steeson decided.

“You sure?” Nemis frowned. “I mean if they are attacking then shouldn’t we…?”

“Look at them,” Steeson nodded at the screen which showed the riders now clashing with the few Watchers in the courtyard. “There’s only a few. They’re a distraction,” he shot a look at Akira. “No, they want us to concentrate on them, take our focus off the crowd outside. They’ll most likely attack in full force from amongst the crowd. Its logic, the perfect place to hide,” he smiled. “They cannot outwit me. I have them all figured out.”

“But…” Nemis began.

“Do as you’re told,” Steeson snapped.

Shrugging Nemis turned and slunk off to go and call a few Watchers and Night Riders together to take care of the group in the courtyard.

“Now,” Steeson turned to Argos. “You will get the crowd quiet and let them know that we have a special guest. You will then introduce Akira and Redemption and assure the crowd that she is the Rider of Legend and he is the real dragon. I shall join her then along with Deception,” he turned to look at Akira, “you know what to do and exactly what to say.”

Akira nodded, her eyes lifeless.

“Good girl,” Steeson grinned. “Now,” he began to walk to the door. “How about we go meet up with our dragons and get ready to face the crowd?”

He waited for Argos to lead the way out before he followed, not even a grain of doubt in his mind that Akira would not follow him by herself.

Akira slowly stood up from where she had been sitting. She stared at the screen which showed the activity in the courtyard before she turned to walk from the room.

It seemed as though something made her suddenly pause and she cocked her head, as though listening t something. For a brief second the black rings around her eyes seemed to flicker and yet then suddenly they re-appeared and the blank look returned to her face. Without another moment of hesitation she followed Steeson.

No sooner had Emerald’s paws touch the floor in the courtyard than Dominique was off her back. Seth was right behind him, throwing off the cloak he wore once he was standing in the courtyard on his own two feet.

There were a few Watchers and some Night Riders who pulled forth Shockers and tubes before charging at the intruders. A few dragons appeared from the stables and took in the situation before joining in the fight.

Dominique turned his tube into a pole and was the first one to launch into attack from the group, facing off against a Night Rider who had the exact same weapon.

Seth calmly unsheathed the two swords from his back and twirled them as he approached two Watchers. The others from the group followed his lead, pulling their swords and various weapons and taking care to dodge and Shocker balls which they had been warned about.

The Watchers and Night Riders in the courtyard had the disadvantage of having been caught by surprise and it did not take long for the group from the past to cut down the numbers. Yet when it seemed like they had gotten rid of most of the Night Riders and Watchers in the courtyard the Academy door suddenly burst open and more poured out. A roar from above made the group look up only to see a few more reinforcements circling above on dragons.

“What do you think?” Dominique asked Seth as he came up beside him and stared at the sky.

Seth didn’t reply as he seemed to take a quick count. He shot a look at the reinforcements that had come out of the Academy and smiled. “Only about two dozen,” he said, “Steeson took the bait.”

Dominique felt relief fill him. “Shall we give the signal for the others?” he asked.

“No,” Seth shook his head, “not yet, just a little longer. Let Steeson think he has us figured out.”

“Fine by me,” Dominique shrugged as he turned to face the Watchers and Night Riders coming from the Academy

“Get them Emerald,” Seth told his dragon as he pointed at the dragons circling above.

Emerald responded by shooting upwards, aiming for the belly of the approaching dragons, a few dragons from the past followed her lead. They would slow the dragons and riders above down, prevent them from descending too fast so that the riders in the courtyard could take care of the other Watchers and Night Riders in that time.

Seth turned his attention back to the activity in the courtyard. A few feet away from him Dominique dodged a Shocker ball. Seth watched him before he suddenly whirled to the right. The end of a whip swished past him.

“You know, just because I don’t have eyes in my back doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re there,” Seth said as he turned to face the Night Rider who stared at him in surprise, seeming to wonder how Seth had dodged the whip.

Yet the surprise soon disappeared and the Night Rider pulled forth a second whip, grinning as he cracked them both and faced Seth challengingly.

Shrugging Seth twirled his swords once, never taking his eyes from the Night Rider. The Night Rider suddenly flicked one wrist, following it with the other. Seth calmly stepped to the side before ducking; avoiding both whips one after the other.

The Night Rider frowned and suddenly his eyes narrowed. His thumbs seemed to move ever so slightly and suddenly the two whips lit up, shimmering a light blue while making a faint humming sound.

“Pretty,” Seth told the Night Rider.

Growling the Night Rider responded by flicking both whips towards Seth once again. Seth dodged the first yet the second curled around his sword.

The Night Rider grinned in triumph and yet seeming to realize that Seth was not affected in anyway his grin turned into a frown.

“Reaper metal,” Seth told him as he nodded to his sword that now had the whip around it. Not giving the Night Rider time to respond he brought his other sword around and brought it down, attempting to cut the whip that held his sword. When it did nothing but bounce off he stared in surprise.

“Nice right? You can’t cut it,” the Night Rider grinned.

“Yeah,” Seth agreed, “Nice.” He jerked his sword towards himself, making the night Rider lose his grip on the one whip and sending it flying.

The Night Rider’s eye followed the whip and in that moment Seth launched himself at him. He lashed out with his sword but the Night Rider realized it just in time and suddenly pulled a tube forth, turning it into a pole a protecting himself just in time.

Seth raised an eyebrow as his sword clashed against the pole. “Impressive,” he said.

The Night Rider grinned.

“But you forgot about this one,” Seth added as he jerked his second sword forward.

The Night Rider’s eyes widened and he let out a gasp. He stared down to see the blade of the second sword buried deep in his stomach.

“Good try though,” Seth told him before he pulled his blade back out.

The Night Rider dropped limply to the ground. Seth didn’t shoot him a second glance as he turned just in time to see Dominique dodge a blue Shocker ball. Unfortunately Dominique had been right in front of him and now the Shocker ball was aimed at Seth.

He ducked his head to the side just in time. When the ball passed by harmlessly he straightened and shot a glare in Dominique’s direction.

“Sorry!” Dominique yelled, though he didn’t sound it in the least.

Seth shook his head before he suddenly turned and raised his swords just in time to block a blow from a metal pole. Still, the force behind the blow sent him stumbling back a few feet and he suddenly found himself beside Dominique, facing in the opposite direction.

“So, how are things going?” Dominique asked casually as the dodged a blow.

Seth didn’t reply as he himself dodged a blow and followed it up by lashing out with his sword. Unfortunately the Watcher he had aimed it at jumped back just in time.

“You know I forgot to tell you about Akira’s new look,” Dominique continued. “It’s different but I have to say, it kind of suites her, makes her seem…more grown up,” he knocked a Watcher’s Shocker from their hands with his pole. “More like a lady you know?” he grinned as he shot Seth a glance before he knocked the now defenseless Watcher out.

Seth blocked a blow by crossing his swords over and pushed his attacker back before he turned to Dominique with a frown on his face. “I appreciate you caring for Akira Dominique, I really do,” he told him honestly. “But I really would appreciate it if you kept those feelings to yourself,” he ducked to avoid another blow.

“Why dude?” Dominique asked, feigning innocence.

“Because,” Seth knocked a Watcher out with the hilt of his sword before continuing, “She's already taken...dude,” the word sounded foreign on his tong.

“That can always change,” Dominique smirked as he turned to face Seth.

Seth raised his eyebrow before he suddenly raised his sword and slashed it right at Dominique.  Dominique jumped aside with wide eyes. Out of the corner of his eyes he witnessed Seth's blade running through a Night Rider that had crept up behind him and would have had him had Seth not intervened.

“Uh…” Dominique began, not sure what to say.

“Just give the signal for the others to come over already, it’s time,” Seth told him.

Dominique nodded. He hurried over to a fallen Watcher and snatched the Shocker from him. “Thanks,” he told the Watcher, though he knew he couldn’t hear him.

Out of the corner of his eyes he witnessed Emerald land beside Seth who swung himself onto her back before she charged at one of the dragons from above who had successfully landed in the courtyard along with his rider.

“Alright then,” Dominique looked around. Upon seeing a second Shocker he hurried over to it. He retracted his pole into a tube and stuffed it into his pocket before he bent over to pick the Shocker up. At the same time there was a sizzling sound and a whoosh above him. Dominique glanced up just in time to see a Shocker ball pass over his head. Had he not bent over he would have been hit straight on.

Clasping the second Shocker Dominique straightened back up and found himself looking at the offending Watcher who was staring at him, seeming to not believe Dominique’s luck in having mistakenly dodged the shocker ball.

“Seriously?” Dominique told the Watcher as he raised a Shocker in each hand and charged them simultaneously.

The Watcher’s eyes widened and he turned to run.

Dominique shot both Shockers at once. He watched in admiration as they both hit the Watcher simultaneously.

“Dominique! Signal!” Seth yelled from across the courtyard.

“Yeah yeah!” Dominique replied with a roll of his eyes.

Looking up he made sure the sky above him was clear before he turned both Shockers so that they were aiming upwards. He let them charge simultaneously and then shot that at the same time. No sooner were the blue Shocker balls released than he began to re-charge the Shockers, sending fresh Shocker balls after the first. The result was a continuous flow of Shocker balls shooting upwards in two lines, something the others who should be nearby would see.

The Shockers in Dominique’s suddenly began to suddenly sizzle and heat up.

“Crap,” he said as suddenly one and then the other ceased to work and smoke seemed to suddenly pour out of it.

“Well I hope that was enough to do it.” He shrugged before he threw both now completely useless Shockers away. Obviously, they weren’t made to be shot so many times in a row without giving them time to cool down. No wonder the Watchers always took so long to fire.

Seth and Emerald easily took care of a Watcher and his Dragon. Once they had done so they saw twenty dragons suddenly coming their way from the fly zone. The others were coming.

They were upon the courtyard within moments and landed just in time to help get rid of the last Night Riders and Watchers.

“It’s time,” Seth announced as he saw that the situation in the courtyard was being taken care of by the others.

“Go,” Emerald told him as she skidded to a halt a few feet from the entrance to the Academy.

Seth nodded and slipped from her back.

“Good luck,” his dragon told him.

“Stay safe,” was Seth’s reply before he headed for the doors. Dominique fell into step to his right while Gina suddenly appeared to his left with Drake right beside her.

“Ready?” Seth asked.

“Definitely,” Gina grinned, her eyes sparkling.

It never ceased to make Seth wonder at just how happy she seemed when in battle.

The Academy door was not even locked. No one thought the group from the past would even make it that far.

Seth pushed the door open and the others followed him in. The other students from the courtyard would get rid of the bodies of the Watchers and Night Riders as well as their dragons, storing them in the Stables, but first they would strip them of their uniforms and don them themselves.

It was a new twist to Seth’s plan with which he hoped to fool any Watchers or Night Riders that passed by that everything was fine. It would also allow the group to split in half and for the group that was to go to the roof tell the Night Riders and Watchers there that they were to relieve them and take over the roof duty, preventing any more fighting and thus any more life loss.

Will was overseeing this as Seth, Drake, Gina and Dominique would make their way through the Academy in search for Steeson himself.

“For such a smart person this Steeson guy is really dumb,” Gina noted as she stared at the abandoned hall while they walked over to the lift.

“Tell me about it,” Drake agreed.

“Wait!” They had just reached the lift when the voice stopped them.

Seth seemed the only one that was unaffected. He pulled the cord to make the lift come while the others turned to find who had asked them to wait.

They were greeted by the sight of Anita hurrying towards them. She had on the Academy clothes like all the others, yet instead of a sword or any such weapon she had a middle sized curved blade strapped to each of her thighs. On her back was a long leather strap that was filled with a long row or smaller knives she easily reach when she needed them.

“Anita,” Dominique frowned. “You’re supposed to help in the courtyard.”

“I’d rather come with you guys,” was her reply as she caught up to them.

“Okay then,” Gina shrugged.

“But that’s not part of the pl…” Dominique began to argue.

“Says the guy who wings it,” Gina shot him a look.

Dominique shut up while Drake chuckled.

“You guys coming?” Seth asked.

They turned to find him already in the lift which had arrived. Without a word they hurried in after him.

“Fifth floor?” Seth asked.

Dominique nodded and Seth pulled the cord.

“But the lift can only go ten stories,” Drake argued. “So why bother going ten up when you have to use the stairs to go five anyways? Why not just go five up from the ground level?”

“Because dummy,” Gina slapped him playfully across the head, “Going down is faster than going up.”

“Oh,” Drake nodded, pretending to understand while Anita bit her lip to keep from laughing.

The lift jerked to a sudden halt and the group found themselves staring down a long corridor where two Watchers were casually standing and chatting to each other. However, as soon as the lift arrived they turned their attention to it. Upon seeing the intruders their eyes widened and they raised their Shockers, charging them simultaneously.

“Not good,” Drake announced.

Dominique took a step forward yet Anita beat him to it. She leapt from the lift while reaching her hands behind her back and pulled forth two knives. As quick as lighting she threw her hands forward. The blades flew perfectly through the air, each hitting one of the Watchers right in the chest.

Both Watchers crashed to the ground without a sound before they could complete charging their Shockers.

Dominique stared while Drake’s mouth flew open.

“Like I said,” Anita turned to send a smirk at them, “I’d rather come with you guys.”

None of the guys replied. Seth, seeming in a hurry got out of the lift and started down the corridor.

“Honey, it’s not polite to stare,” Gina scolded as she pushed Drake’s mouth shut. She turned and walked up to Anita. “You go girl,” she grinned and the two hurried after Seth.

“Come on,” Dominique told Drake, “We’re getting left behind.”

The group hurried towards the stairs. Seth led the way and soon they were charging down the stairs to the fifth floor.

“Sir!” Steeson turned in annoyance to the look at the Watcher that had burst into the room. “They have broken into the Academy.”

Steeson blinked. “Who?” he asked, his mind blank.

“The intruders that attacked the courtyard!” was his reply.

“Ah,” Steeson frowned. “I thought you had taken care of them?”

“More came to their aid. A few are on their way here!” was his reply.

“So they aren’t planning to attack through the crowd after all?” Nemis asked as he stared at Steeson, something seeming to run through his head.

“How many?” Steeson demanded of the Watcher.

“There were only ten in the courtyard but now there are about…”

“Not the courtyard you idiot! In the Academy!” Steeson demanded.

The Watcher paused, as though considering. “Five,” he finally said.

“Five?” Steeson snorted. “Then what is the problem? Send every man on this floor to take care of them, and do not bother me again!”

The Watcher looked like he was about to say something, yet seeming to think the better of it he nodded and quickly retreated.

“Now,” Steeson turned to Argos. “Go out and quite the crowd down. You know what to say.”

Argos nodded and headed to the far side of the room where there was a curtain from behind which there was a large amount of noise coming.

With a smile Steeson turned to face Akira. “We’re almost there,” he told her. He turned his attention back to where Argos had disappeared, yet had his eye stayed a moment longer on Akira he would have seen the black ring flicker once again.

Deception, who had been watching her, felt satisfaction fill her. “Yes,” she agreed, “We’re almost there.”