Dragon Flames

Chapter 3

By: Malaca

The crowd was uncontrollable. The crowd screeched and converged, pushing all those against the crowd back. It surged, becoming it's own ravage animal. The large, balding man stood and watched all of this and grimaced. The mob surged again, becoming closer and closer to gaping animal jaws. The animal roared and reared it's ugly head higher. The man coughed loudly into a microphone, in a futile try to diverge the animal's charge. The animal pulled back and examined the principal. They calmed down and once again became the crowd of average, normal teenagers eager to greet the new students. The principal grimaced slightly before allowing a wide smile to grace her face.

"You have all been called here to greet four new students to our school. The first is Horo, an exchange student from Canada," he said in a microphone.

He gestured towards off stage and a medium sized boy appeared. His warm brown eyes searched the crowd. A bang of gray hair fell down over his face. He flipped his hair back on his head and smiled shyly towards the crowd of students.

"And next we have Ashira and Korin, twins from China," the principal said over-enthusatically.

Two teenagers emerged from behind the stage curtain. One was a black haired, almond eyed girl, who was no taller than five feet tall. Her brother, was identical to his sister, except for the fact that he was taller by at least 5 inches. They glanced cautiously over the crowd before walking over to stand next to Horo.

"And last, not least, is Malaca from England," the principal said once again, reminding the crowd of a game show host.

Malaca rolled her eyes and complied to what the principal had told her to do. She walked up, out of the back of the stage. The crowd gasped and Malaca grimaced before giving a friendly smile.

Kento sneered as Malaca entered the stage after the other students. Ryo cheered silently and Rowen looked up from his book. Sai looked slightly confused as the crowd had become deathly silent. He turned to Kento.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" he whispered to Kento.

Kento only shrugged his shoulders, and grinned ruthlessly, "Don't know what she did, but she's is getting what she deserves."

Rowen glared at him sharply and Sage elbowed him hard in the ribs. Kento barely flinched. Sai looked at Malaca sadly. She held her head up high, even though the crowd had not excepted her. Ryo watched, silently encouraging Malaca with every breath he took.

'Damn-, why did I even bother coming? I only get rejected by the whole student populace. Why do I bother? I could kick myself sometimes,' Malaca told herself.

Sai caught her look and smiled back in attempt to calm Malaca down before she did something drastic. Malaca nodded slightly, allowing her anger to vent off slowly. The principal huffed nervously and fixed his tie with one hand. He coughed anxiously in to his hand, before continuing his speech in to the microphone.

"Umph-Well, that's all for now. You are now to go to your second period class. Have a good day," he told the students.

The students grumbled as they slowly filed out. That is except for five young boys. They waited for Malaca to walk over to the principal to receive her schedule. She jumped off the stage easily, and read her schedule as she walked slowly past the Ronins. She didn't want to cause anymore trouble than she had already done. Ryo looked concerned and followed. Rowen did the same, after giving Kento a look that would melt steel. Sage sighed chased after his best friend. Sai looked over at Kento and then back at his other friends. He went after the others after giving Kento an apologetic glance. Kento rolled his eyes and followed.

"Malaca! Wait up!" Ryo called after her.

Malaca stopped and turned slowly, meeting Ryo in the eyes. There was sadness in those eyes, along with wisdom unknown to her age. She looked at him carefully.

"Yeah?" she answered.

"Well, umm-, what classes do you have?" he asked motioning towards the small scrap of paper she held in one hand and rung with the other.

The other Ronins caught up with them in time to hear the conversation between the two. Kento grumped deep in his breath. Malaca eyed him evenly before turning to Ryo.

"Look, the only reason I'm here is because of Talpa's new attack. It may be better if we just act like we've never met. That way, I won't split up a really good team, that is needed to save the world," she in turn looked at each of the Ronins.

"But-," Ryo started.

"No, Ryo, don't make it harder than it already is. Fight no more battles for me, fight no more between yourselves about me. I am just a roommate, no more, no less. Understood?"

When the Ronin of the fire made no answer, Malaca slowly backed off and ran down the hall. Sai looked on sadly.

'What did she do to deserve us?'

"You see the chosen?" a voice asked.

"Yes, my master. We have located her," another familiar voice said in reply.

"Good work Ashira. Make sure your brother, Korin stays in task. I don't want him to get caught up in any thing else besides your mission," the voice commanded.

"Aye, my lord. I understand. And if he betrays us?"

"Destroy him," the wicked voice laughed.

Ashira laughed in reply as she left the room. Another shadow appeared and watched as Ashira go on her way. The shadow grimaced.

'There will be much bloodshed if I don't find the chosen before they destroy all hope of a future.'

The figure sighed and walked away.

The rain continued to pour down. The young girl looked nervously out the window. She ignored questioning glances from her friends. She sighed deeply as she thought.

'This is the last class before lunch. Then I'll have to find an excuse to stay away from them. Why don't they understand that if they all don't trust me, that I'm just a hindrance and more of a danger to them than a help.'

She chuckled softly to herself.

'How can they understand, when I barely do? This is all too confusing and the Dragon hadn't been answering my summons since that time she returned to the mansion.'

Her face darkened at the thought of that fateful day. And then, by choice or not, she was dragged in to those painful memories.

"What's wrong Lady Malaca?" Artus questioned happily.

Malaca growled low in her throat. The female warlord smirked.

"It's time to return to us, Lady Malaca. Time to join at the right hand of our Lord, Talpa," she said again as she laid the blade of her broad sword on Kento's bare throat.

Kento groaned in pain.

"Why don't you just join them traitor?" he squeezed out.

"Yes, why don't you join us?" Talpa laughed.

Malaca's eyes narrowed, "If you even dare to hurt him, I'll destroy your soul!"

The wind picked up, blowing her hair in every direction. Her eyes began to glow and then change color, from that of hazel, to a deep emerald green. Artus didn't notice her anger.

She smirked, "You'll do what?"

She tightened her grip on the broad sword and Kento's armor. Malaca growled deep in her throat, then allowing her body to erupt in blue flames. The Ronins stepped back in surprise.

"I'll do this!" she said viscously as she let energy rush at Artus.

Artus cringed and moved up out of the way. Malaca smirked and let the illusion drop. The energy ball disappeared. Artus gapped in surprise. Malaca smiled sweetly.

"First I get you away from my friend. Next I destroy you and your master. Happy now that I'm all FLARED UP. ARE YOU TALPA, YOU BIG FUCKING MAGGOT?" Malaca screamed in fury.

Artus's eyes widened as she jumped another energy blast, this time it was real.

"DO YOU WANT TO SEE TRUE POWER? THE POWER OF THE EARTH AND THE DRAGON? THE POWER THAT HAS BEEN EXTINCT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS? TO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW TALPA! FACE ME!" Malaca screamed in pure fury.

"So be it."

Malaca crouched down low and focused her chi, ki, power, or life-force, what ever you call it; it's all the same. Her aura of blue fire flamed up higher, encompassing her entire body. She called on power she never knew she had. She whispered one word that would change her life forever.

"Dragon."

Her aura changed from a blue flame to a golden glow. The light flared, not allowing anything to see in to it. Talpa and his warlord Artus were blinded by the light. The Ronins struggled to see what was happening. The shape grew larger and with a roar, shed the light. In Malaca's place was a dark blue dragon, the size of Mia's house. It roared again, and then with a huff, it's hazel eyes looked around. A pink tongue flickered out of it's mouth as it tasted the air for enemies. The eyes silted as she focused on Artus.

"What happened?" Sage whispered.

Revenge looked at Sage with a scarred eye and briefly let the mental barrier between himself and the Ronins drop.

~The next stage of power, shapeshifting~ he answered.

The other Ronins remained still, as if in shock. The warrior of wisdom, content with the answer for now, also turned back to watch.

Talpa glared at this human child who had the nerve to stand up to him. He looked over at his warlord.

"Artus, plan B," he roared.

Artus grinned and lurched for the fallen warrior of strength. Malaca's eyes dilated as she saw the warlords attack. The dragon lunged with reptile swiftness and knocked the warlord away from Kento. She crouched down low, protecting the fallen warrior with her body. Kento groaned and looked up to see the dragon standing over him. He felt the color leave his face as he fainted. Malaca looked down concerned before returning to the battle at hand. She blew smoke from her nostrils.

Then in a deep, inhuman voice she stated, "The battle is lost for you today Talpa. Your lies no longer have an effect on them. Leave now, or be destroyed."

Talpa's shadowy figure flickered for a brief second.

"Very well, Malaca of the Dragon. You have won this battle now and protected the Ronins as you've have sworn. But I will return and you will serve me. Artus return!"

"I will never serve your evil cause, Talpa. I will die first. These warriors will remain in my protection. You will be destroyed another day. I swear it to the world. You will be destroyed," Malaca vowed deeply.

With a laugh Talpa left leaving Malaca to once again pick up the pieces of her destroyed life.

Malaca snapped back to the present to realize the class bell had rung. She sighed and collected her books. She followed the crowd out of the room and slowly paced her way out towards her locker. She didn't notice a shadow following her.

"Malaca?" a familiar voice asked as she buried her head in to her locker.

She whipped around to see Kendra looking at her in concern.

"What's wrong Malaca?" she asked.

Malaca sighed, "Nothing, I just got in a fight with some of my friends. I've decided to stay away from them so I won't destroy their friendship."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Kendra answered, leaning against the lockers next to Malaca's.

"Sounds like a good idea, but it's not always a good idea. I'm having trouble staying away from them. And now I have to avoid them in lunch too!" Malaca huffed.

Kendra nodded, "Why don't you join us? I meeting some friends in the cafeteria, want to come and say hi?"

Malaca smiled and shut her locker door, "Sure, thanks."

"No problem. I always like to make friends with as many as possible."

Malaca smiled in response, she sure liked this charmistic person. She hoped they could be friends. Malaca followed Kendra through the crowded hallways towards the lunch room and her new friends.

Hey All-

Just some notes to wrap up this chapter. Single quotes means thinking. ~ this means telepathy. And double quotes means speaking.

Another note- I haven't been receiving much mail, and I think that's okay. After all I rarely write to some of the authors that I read on these pages and other. Just remember, you like get mail and SO DO I FREAKING WEIRDOES!

Nuff said. As you must realize, I have had sugar today. *Grin* Okay enough rambling from me. Blah, blah, blah, more shit. Okay that about wraps it up. Bye now!