*All dragons copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 18

Resistance

"Why will it take longer for us to reach Hop City?" Gareth asked as they boarded the train, "Isn't it closer?"

"It's the train, Gareth. This train needs to go slower." Pik tried to explain, but it didn't seem to help.

"Why?"

Kia scowled, "Because it runs on a different power source than that other one. We've told you a million times, already!!"

"But it just doesn't seem right. The distance we're traveling looked to be at least half of what it took to get to Bay City." Gareth insisted.

Player laid a hand on Gareth's arm, "We don't question, we just take what we take. C'mon, it should be fun! Think of it as a longer opportunity to intimidate all those anothros!!"

Gareth smiled, "I don't think I'm as threatening like this, Player."

It was Tammy's turn to speak, "You don't really look different."

"Well..." Gareth checked himself over once more. He had given himself jet-black feathers, with white-tipped wings. He had made his hair white to match what he'd looked like as a dragon. His scar was hidden by all of the feathers that covered him, "I don't know..."

"Oh come on..." Hana grabbed Gareth's arm and pulled him aboard, "Think about your appearance later. Let's go!"

"Wait!!!! Hold the train!!!" A girl shouted behind them. Gareth glanced back and saw a yellow wingless dragon running toward them. He couldn't place what type she was.

"Maybe she's a mixed breed..." Gareth politely held the door open for her as she climbed onto the train. He also made himself ignore the look Hana gave him. The train started moving only minutes later.

Peter grimaced, "She made herself be noticed on purpose! Why did I let her come?!" He forced himself to stop staring at her figure again and spoke to the other three behind him, "She made it. Get into your positions. I'll deal with her after we're done here."

Amy smiled to herself, "If that doesn't bother Peter, nothing will. Doesn't he realize that the easiest way to sneak onto a train is to put yourself in plain sight?" She gazed around the car she was in. She had already spotted each of the other four she was supposed to be with, but she purposely stayed close to Gareth's side, "At least I hope it's Gareth. When did they hire a griffin? No, it's him. That's the Risso he has for a fiance."

"Look, ma'am, I like you and all, but do you have to stay constantly by my side?!" Gareth asked as he scooted away from her again.

"May I stay with you? Please? I don't know anyone on this train..." Amy made the most sorrowful face she could, "Ever since my family died..." She smiled to herself, "Feel sorry for me, Gareth. There's plenty of room where you go to sleep."

Gareth was by her in an instant, "Will you be alright? We have plenty of spare bunks in our room--OW!!!!" Gareth's hand shot down to his foot as he looked over at Hana, "That hurt..."

Amy supressed her laughter. That was the third time Gareth had been kicked so far! She wondered just how many more times she could make it happen, "Would you let me? I would be so grateful..." She turned a pleading stare to Hana, "C'mon Hana...You can't resist me! I can stay for one night."

Hana squirmed under that gaze, "Well...I suppose you could for one night..."

"Oh, thank you!!!" Amy promised she wouldn't be any trouble, that it would only be for one night, but inwardly, she smirked, "Those fools! By the time I'm finished with Gareth, he won't even recognize Hana!!!!!" She smiled and left them, saying she had to visit the restroom. Amy walked through a few cars, then stopped when she saw Peter's fin disappear by a table. She made her way to the table and sat down. There were soon four others there beside her, "Well, what do you think?"

Peter scowled, "I hate it, but I have to admit it. That was a stroke of genious, Amantha. You'll have the perfect shot at both of them tonight!"

"Idiot. Perhaps you aren't as smart as they say." Amy cleared her throat, "Then I'm excused for letting myself be seen like that?"

"Yes, but you had better not do it again, Amy. I'm watching you..." Peter got up and left, followed by the rest of his group.

Amy felt almost like skipping back to Gareth's side. This was too easy!!!!

The minute Amy had closed the door, Hana growled, "What are you doing Gareth?!"

Gareth winced, "I'm just trying to be nice, Hana. You heard her story."

"No, I heard a lie!!! She likes you Gareth!"

"Well, then that means she has at least one friend on this train already. Maybe two."

"WHAT?!!"

"You were the one who said it was okay for her to stay with us tonight. Why would you do that unless you trusted her?"

"I don't remember saying that!"

"Well, you did. I don't think you have to worry about her, Hana. She just seems scared."

Hana scowled and crossed her arms, "Sure she was. That bitch is trying to get Gareth into her bed! Doesn't he realize that?" She watched Gareth's expression as Amy walked back to their seats. He smiled at her and invited her to sit back down with them, "I bet he does. Why else would he act this kind to her? I don't trust that girl..."

Gareth kept up his smile for as long as he could, "Why won't Hana give her a chance?" an odd thought occured to him, "Is she jelous? I don't believe it!! Hana should know by now that I'm only going to love her. What's wrong with making a friend or two that isn't a rock star?" He purposely avoided looking at Amy directly. The last time he'd let himself do so he'd found his mind thinking of what she'd look like with nothing on! What was worse, it almost seemed like Amy wanted him to think that! It became very hard to concentrate. Gareth sighed, "I know this girl likes me. Anyone but an inconsiderate jerk could probably see that! But why is it so hard to not look at her?!!" Gareth felt something stiffen between his legs at the thought of her, and excused himself to the bathroom. He shuddered once he was alone, "Hana's right. There's something wrong about her, but what?! Why do I feel like I wanna have sex with her right now?!! What even made me offer to let her sleep in our room?!! I need to think..." Gareth splashed water on his face, "Why is it that whenever I think about Amy, I can't get out any other coherent thoughts? Maybe I should decline my offer...Wait. I can't now that Hana's said yes. God! Why did I do that?!!! This is not my day..." He came back, hand on his head, "Hana, I'm going to bed. I don't feel so good..."

Amy scowled to herself, "He's stronger than I thought. I can't leave now without Hana suspecting me." She turned a smile to Hana, which was returned as mockingly as possible, "Rrrrggghhhhh...and she knows it too! I know! I'll get up and head the other way...that way Hana will go to Gareth and make sure I don't come, but when I do, she'll have to let me in because she said I could!" Amy smiled once more and left in the opposite direction. When she turned around, Hana was nowhere in sight, "Perfect. Now all I have to do is wait a few minutes, say I'm tired and go to bed. Hana will probably get in bed as well, but she won't wake up." Amy made sure she still had her tranquilizer before walking to Gareth's room. She was about to knock on the door when she heard him and Hana talking inside.

"...be alright?"

"I don't know, Hana. I can't seem to concentrate whenever she's around. I was hoping you'd stay with me. That girl doesn't feel right."

"I'm glad you finally did something right, Gareth. I'll find her and tell her."

Amy backed away from the door, "They might not let me stay?! Damn!!! These two aren't easy!!! I'll have to reconvince them...Hana, you'll let me stay. All of the other rooms are full. You have to let me stay." There was some mumbling on the other side of the door. Hana's voice carried just enough for Amy to hear.

"Wait Gareth. We can't turn her down now! Every other room is full!"

Amy smiled. The chip she'd been given was working like a charm! She absently scratched a tiny area on her forehead. It was worth it to keep it! After they had found out what it did for that Poseidon fellow, they'd put it in nearly every operative they'd had! Including herself.

Gareth's voice sounded worried, "You're sure? Then we have no choice! She stays for tonight, that's it. I shouldn't have helped her get this train in the first place."

Amy shrugged to herself and knocked on the door, "Gareth will be mine long before the morning comes. They won't be able to make me leave!" Hana opened it.

"Hello, Amy. If you want a bed, we have two empty bunks right there." Hana pointed to a pair of bunk beds clear on the other side of the room.

"Thanks. That suits me fine." Amy walked in and sat on the lower of the two beds, "Gareth, you're sleepy. Turn in."

Right on cue, Gareth spoke, "I'm going to sleep, Hana. See you in the morning."

"Good night Gareth." Hana said as she climbed to the top bunk.

There was a lamp on each side of the train car. One on their side, and one hers. Amy pulled down the blanket from her top bunk and changed into her nightgown right there. She turned off her light and pretended to go to sleep. After two hours had passed, she rose from her bed. On the other side of the room, both Hana and Gareth were asleep. Gareth seemed to be having a nightmare, for he tossed and turned so much that it was a wonder he stayed on the bed. Amy pulled out the tranquilizer gun she had hidden under her pillow, and aimed it at Hana's neck. The sound of the shot was so quiet, she doubted any but the lightest sleeper could have woken from it. Gareth was writhing in his bed now. When Amy got closer to him she found he had transformed into his black dragon form in his sleep. She gently shook Gareth from his sleep, "Excuse me, who are you?"

Gareth jumped, "What do you mean?" He looked at his hand, "Oh no...Well, I guess it could've happened sooner or later. Amy, It's me, Gareth. I--I can change to look completely different."

"You woke me." Amy made herself sound confused, "You sounded like you were shouting for someone..."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Whenever you said their name, it came out like a bunch of gibberish. What were you dreaming about?"

Gareth froze in place, "Nothing. I didn't dream." He gazed up at her, "Why aren't you scared of me? Why didn't you doubt me when I said I could change?"

Amy forced a blush to come, then said, "I have secrets of my own that I keep."

Gareth smiled, "It can't be as extreme as mine. Show me your secret, and I'll promise not to tell anyone. I won't even gasp when you tell me."

Amy looked at him questioningly, "You know you can't promise that. Besides, what makes you think I'd want to tell you?"

"You saw mine. Fair's fair, right?"

"This man is interesting. He's already put my discovery of him behind and moved on. How can anyone be so trusting?" Amy smiled, "I guess so...You'll promise not to laugh?"

Gareth chuckled, "There. I got it out of the way. Now I can promise I won't laugh no matter what."

"Okay..." Amy turned around, "Could you loosen that for me?" She pointed to a knot in the back of her nightgown, "I can't quite reach it..."

She knew Gareth would blush, "I--uhh...okay..." She felt warm hands gently pull at the knot until it was loosened enough for her to pull it the rest of the way.

Amy walked forward before Gareth could let go. He gasped when he saw her bare back underneath the nightgown, "Is he gasping because he saw I had nothing on? Or is it because of my scale color?" She thought about the light in the room, "It's because I had nothing on. I look yellow to him right now."

Gareth was opening and closing his mouth, trying desperately to speak, "I--you--why did--" He sighed, "I don't see anything wrong with you, Amy."

Amy reached out, stretching to make more of her body visible to Gareth's eyes, and turned on her lamp, "Can you see it now?"

"Oh yeah..." Gareth mumbled. He coughed a few times, cleared his throat and said, "No, I don't see anything wrong with you, Amy."

"Turn on your light. We need more in here." She turned to lean and flick his lamp on. She had to bend much farther this time, exposing nearly her entire body to Gareth's sight. Because of his position on the bed, he didn't see her breasts at all, but probably hadn't been able to stop himself from looking elsewhere...Amy turned so he saw her back again, "Look at my scale color."

"What? I don't see--gold..."

"There." Amy sighed, "You see why I don't make many friends? I try to hide these freak scales so that others won't laugh at me."

Gareth seemed to remember something, "Just what kind of dragon are you, anyway? I can't figure out what type at all."

"I'm a Common dragon."

"Then why don't you have wings?"

"It was a birth defect. They had to cut them off when I was a baby." Amy jerked. She was starting to tell someone the truth about her past!

"Well, you look lovely, Amy. I don't think you'll get much ridicule over your color. In fact, I think that color makes you look even better." Amy pretended to be surprised by what he said. It made him blush where he sat, "I'm serious, Amy. Those scales will probably make you more noticable in any city. Other anthros would probably come up and ask why you looked like that. Pleasant conversation is probably the easiest way to make friends."

He reached out for her. She twitched when he took her hand, but didn't make him let go, "C'mon you...You can't stand it anymore! You need to have me in your bed! It doesn't matter what Hana thinks! You need to!!!!!!!!" Just like that, Gareth let go of her. She made herself look confused as she kept making him think those thoughts, "You've never wanted anything more than my body! Give in and force me to your bed!!!" Gareth flinched after she made him think that.

"What the hell is wrong with me?!!!! I would never force someone to have sex with me! Who put that thought into my head?!!" Gareth felt intoxicated whenever he glanced at Amy. It was becoming harder and harder to resist these impulses. He saw his arm reach out for her again, but forced it back before he could touch her. He didn't know what he'd do if their scales made contact. Amy laid a gentle hand on his shoulder; Gareth couldn't control himself any longer.

He glanced to make sure she was in the right position, which she was, then fell off the bed to put his weight on her. He couldn't understand why this was happening to him, but he had to do it!

"Gareth, what are you--"

Gareth slapped a hand over Amy's mouth, "I'm sorry. I don't know what's come over me, but I have to do this! I can't stand it anymore!!!!!!" He thought about his pants not existing, and pulled Amantha's nightgown over her head. There it was, just waiting for him, "What am I doing?!!! This is crazy!!!!!!!!"

"Gareth?.." Amy asked as he fought with himself. Gareth realized then that she hadn't struggled at all when he'd started.

"She's been trying to get me to do this all the time! She planned this!!!" Suddenly, his lust vanished, "You're a whore..."

"Gareth, what are you saying?" Amy half-fought against his weight on her, "Gareth?"

"Whore...You're just a bitching, damned whore!" Gareth thought of his pants again and got off the floor. He waited for Amy to get up as well, "Get out of here! I don't want to see you again!!!!!"

Amy sat up, "But--but Gareth..."

"OUT!!!!!" he screamed, "LEAVE BEFORE I THROW YOU OFF THE TRAIN!!!!!"

She scurried across the floor, fear showing in everything she did, "But I--I thought that you--"

"GET OUT NOW!!!! GODDAMNED BITCH!!!!!! I WANT YOU GONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She left in a hurry, "I almost had sex with a whore. I can't believe I was lusting enough to take a whore!" Gareth shook himself and stood up. He glanced down the hall to make sure she had gone, then went back to bed. Before he got in, he noticed something shine in the light of the room. He gently pulled something from her neck, "Please don't be poison!!" He shakily smelled the tip of the dart, "It doesn't smell like the last poison. Is that good?" He shook Hana back and forth, "Hana, are you alright? Hana, wake up..."

She didn't budge.

Peter was waiting for her to come to him, "So that's your game. I told you to kill him, Amy! Nothing else!!!!"

"Oh, shut up, damn you! I am not under your power!"

"Really? Then explain why I was able to subdue you! If you aren't anywhere under my power, why was it so easy?!"

Amantha scowled, "I let you. I was testing something, and I thought it had worked, but he was able to resist me!" Angered, she let loose her phychic power. Peter slammed against the wall and rose a foot off the ground. She made herself levitate and brought herself eye to eye with him, "I am doing something much more important than your little attempt at revenge! If he dies, I have thousands of ways to make you suffer! I need him alive and able to come with me. If you interfere again, you will not live to see another day! Now leave me alone!"

She sneered at Peter as he fell to the floor. He held his throat, as if he was choking. His eyes widened as he realized she was still controling him. Amantha made him choke until he lost consciousness, then left him for what she wished was dead. Morning came, and she peeked at Gareth's room as he came out. It was only for a split second, but she saw Peter holding a gun up and aiming it at Gareth's forehead, "I thought I told you not to kill him!!!" Her powers held him in place as she made her way over to him. Once there, she whispered into his ear, "I told you not to touch him, Peter. If you fire that gun when I let you go, I will be at liberty to take you to my real boss so that he can do to you what he likes. He doesn't like failure, and if I show him the one responsible for my failure, he will do things much worse to you than death. I am not the type to kid, Peter. Don't fire that gun." Amy released him from her mind powers and followed Gareth as he and Hana left to the dining car. She glanced behind her to make sure Peter wasn't following as well, and smiled when she saw him on the ground, shaking, "I wonder what I said that scared him so much?.."