Chapter 3: The Whole Family's Here

The two dragons carried their passengers over the valley, which from their vantage point looked like a winter wonderland.

"Where are we heading?" Mega asked from behind Zatana.

"To Kijo's Glen. He's a friend to all their Half-Kins and their friends, and his glen is one of the safest places in the valley. You see the river down there?"

"Yes."

"That's the Starsparkle River, and it has a strange curative power. If anyone is injured or not feeling well, then by just soaking the wound or drinking the water they can be healed. It also is a antitoxin for the poison of the Scavenger Serpents, who hate the Half-Kins with a passion, as well as a poison to them. If they touch it, it burns them like fire does to us. Or at least to Half-Kins." Mega couldn't hide a smile. "Kijo, now, is another story all together. He's the spirit of a unicorn whos name is forgotten to history that once saved a Half-Kin's life, but died in the process. His last wish was for his horn to be cut off and dropped into the river so it would continue to help Half-Kins, which gives the water its amazing qualities. And from that sacrifice came Kijo, a water spirit now, the soul of a unicorn that resides in the water and is a good friend of mine." Just then, Blackwing, Zatana’s dragon, roared. Zatana looked over the black dragon's shoulder and at the ground. "I'd say that those are the ones Blue Glider was taking about." There, on the ground near the river, were two humans and another creature on four legs. The looked so familiar to Mega...

"I can barely see them." Blackwing glided lower to give them a better view. Firehart, Zantar's dragon, joined them.

"Can you tell who they are?" the cat called over.

"Not really." Suddenly one of the three sent up a small whirlwind of air and snow that nearly blinded them all and made the dragons loose their altitude. They barely dodged out of danger.

"Ahhh!" Zatana cried out in surprise, and Blackwing voiced her own confusion. Mega gripped Zatana's waist for a moment to regain his balance, then looked down at the three, recognizing that type of blast as easily as he‘d recognize his own.

“Can you get us lower?” he asked Zatana.

“I’ll try.” Blackwing slowly hovered lower and lower until Mega could clearly see the blond hair of a girl, a reddish dog, and an older man in a lab coat. But they were too far below the dragons to see who the passengers were.

“Can I send a shot into the water?”

“I guess.” Mega reached around Zatana and got his arm cannon ready. He fired a single shot, aiming way over the three’s heads and into the water, where it kicked up a lot of steam. The dragon riders saw the three look at the river, then back up at the sky at the dragons. No more blasts came their way. Blackwing flew a little bit lower again, and now they were more within yelling range. Mega leaned around Zatana, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled,

“Dr. Light! Roll! Rush!” Blackwing swooped low so all could see each other clearly. Roll called out Mega’s name, and Blackwing, at Zatana’s bidding, landed. Mega slid off and was greeted by Roll and Dr. Light and Rush. Zatana slid off herself and stood next to her dragon.

“When you went missing and no one could find you,” Dr. Light said, “we thought something terrible had happened to you.”

“I’m okay, and I’ve made some new friends.” He introduced them to Zatana and Zantar, who was still in the sky.

“I’m going on back!” he called down to them. “There’s still a lot of things to do before the twenty-fourth.” And he and Proto flew off.

“Was that Proto Man we saw on the other dragon’s back?” Roll asked.

“Yeah. He fell through something that Zatana’s people call portals right along with me, and - ” His eyes brightened as he got an idea. “Dr. Light?”

“Yes?”

“If, oh, say, I needed reprogramming, could you do that?”

“Yes, but why?” He was a little startled, needless to say. “Your programming is flawless.”

“Not mine.” Mega grinned. “Proto’s.” They stared at him in surprise. Zatana grinned.

“What do you mean?” Roll asked. “Has he decided to change sides for real?” Mega knew she was referring to the time when Dr. Wily had Proto pretend to change sides.

“Not really. We’ve convinced him - well - almost convinced him to allow himself to be reprogrammed for more free choice. That way he can decide whether to be good or evil for himself.” Dr. Light smiled.

“I believe I can.” Zatana climbed up onto Blackwing’s back.

“Then let’s go.” She helped Dr. Light and Roll up behind her. But Mega declined.

“This time I’ve got my own transportation.” Rush shifted into his hover board mode, and Mega hopped on.

“Okay. If you can keep up.” Mega grinned.

“If you can.” They had a friendly race back to the city.