*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Prologue

 

                "What do I do?  He's gotten away so much...I can't even figure out where he lives!  I swear, when I find him, he will die."  Peter stalked back and forth in his hideout.  Six years in prison...and he had only one to thank for it, "I'm going to find you, Gareth.  I haven't forgotten how you humiliated me..."

                "Peter, don't forget what we planned after Tom's school today."  A female's voice called from another room.

                "I won't Amy.  It's not something I'd want to forget!"  Their son ran through the building, bringing a smile to Peter's face, "Who knew Amantha and I would get married?!  Maybe we'll get another boy this time..."

                "Peter, I'm leaving now!"

                "Okay!  Call me when you're done!"  Peter waited until she had gone out the door, then frantically started rubbing his forehead, "This stupid chip is driving me crazy!  What the hell is wrong with it?!!"  He'd had that chip for six years, recieving it as a favor for helping his wife get out of jail.  Of course, back then she hadn't been his wife, back then she had been another anthro out to get Gareth.  Now they were both out to get him, since he had ruined both of their lives.

 

*Drakis and Tamaria copyrighted to Eric Huston

*All other characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 1

The Start Of Something New

 

                "Bye Ingrid!  Have a good day!"  Gareth waved to her as she walked to school.  This would be her first real day at a public school!

                Hana slowly approached him from behind, "You look worried, darling.  What's bothering you?"

                "Hmm?  Oh, nothing."

                "Nothing?"  Hana made him look at her, "Every time you've ever said that you were trying to hide something from me.  What's wrong?  Are you having those nightmares about Peter and Amy again?"

                "No, I guess I'm just a bit nervous.  Don't forget that she can do the same thing that I can."  Gareth changed his scale color to remind her of his shape-shifting powers.

                "Oh, don't worry.  You haven't spent the last six years of her life trying to tell her how dangerous it wasn't!"  Now, come back into the house.  I need some help with the laundry."

                "Laundry!"  Gareth smiled at his wife, "Which kind of laundry?  Are we putting some away or are we making more for the washer?"

                "What do you think?  Start folding!"

 

                Ingrid waltzed down the street happy as could be.  She had decided to be seen in public with a mix of her father's and mother's colors.  As a result she was now a deep dark green.  It felt odd, having known only what the outside was like by looking out the windows, but she was okay.  Today she could go out on her own!  The only kid she knew was a boy water dragon named Ralf.  He came and visited her a lot since their parents were such close friends.  He was two years older than her, but he was nice and had even promised to show her around the school today!

                She waited at the bus stop for her friend to arrive, and waved at him when he rounded a corner with some of his other friends.  He smiled and waved back, "Hi Ing!"

                "Hi Ralf.  Who are your friends?"

                These guys are friends I made at school.  You ready?"

                Ingrid shifted her 'backpack' and gave him the thumbs up sign.  The school bus slowed down and stopped right in front of them.  A nice looking yellow dragon sat in the bus driver's seat, waiting for them to get on.  Ingrid jumped onto the bus last and handed the driver her note.

                "Hold up, kid."  the driver motioned for her to come back, "I can't read this signature.  Who signed this?"

                "My dad."

                "Mm-hmm.  I meant, what is his name?  I just need to know so I can call him if something happens to you."  The bus driver smiled.

                "His name is Gareth Brik.  I'm Ingrid."

                A shocked look passed over the driver's face, "Gareth Brik?  I see...Thanks Ingrid.  You can go sit now."

                Ingrid sat and scratched a thin line she'd had on her forehead since birth.

 

                Once all the kids had left the bus for the school, Amy pulled out her cell phone, "Boss, It's Amantha."

                "Amantha...I told you never to call us again, girl.  You were fired when you failed to bring us Gareth."

                "I might have something better, sir.  I drive his daughter to school!"

                There was a gasp on the other end, "Does she have the same powers?"

                "I don't know yet, sir.  I have an idea on how to find out though."

                "Very well.  You can be hired again if you determine if that girl has the powers and if you bring her to me.  Make sure you aren't followed."

                "Don't worry sir.  The only things that can follow me are children."  She cancled her call and dialed a new number.  When the other line was answered she spoke, "Peter, I've found them."

                "You did?!"  Peter's voice sounded--not surprised, but overjoyed, "And?!"

                "And I need you to kidnap his daughter for me.  If you do, I'll give you their address."

                "WHEN?!!!!!!!!!"

                "As soon as possible.  His daughter currently looks like a dark green mountain dragon."

                "How am I supposed to tell her apart?"

                "She has a gold-colored scar line on her forehead.  You'll need to look closely.  I almost didn't see it."

                There was silence on Peter's end, then his voice, "I can get her to you in a week.  Come to my ruined house the next time I call you."

 

                Peter hung up and rubbed his hands, "Finally...I can finally kill them both!!!!  I've waited for six years, and now I can finally get them!!!!!"

                "Dad?"  a little blue water dragon with gold-tipped wings tugged on Peter's shirt, "Dad, I'm hungry!  Tell Sylo to get me something to eat!"

                "Thomas, what did I tell you about the small things?"

                "I'm not supposed to make others do things I can do on my own..."

                "Exactly.  I'm sure you can fix yourself something to eat, son.  Don't forget what your mother told you."

                "And I'm only supposed to ask if it's impossible for me..."

                "Good.  Now go get something to eat.  I'll treat you to some sweets later."

                "You will?!"

                "If you get yourself something to eat that isn't filled with sugar.  Now I need you to go.  I have some plans to attend to."

                "Can we get more video games?!!!!"

                "Not that kind of a plan, son.  I have to kidnap someone in order to get back at another person I hate."

                Thomas started jumping up and down, "Will you let me torture them this time?!"

                "I'm afraid not, Tom.  I promised the victim to someone else."

                "Aw man...."

                "You can have the next one.  You and I will grab someone off the streets, okay?"  He smiled and patted his son on the head.  A thought occured to him, "Say, Tom, ask Sylo if he knows anyone working as the janitor in any schools...I have some ideas I want to run by him."

 

                "Hey, Gareth!"  Ace shouted as he knocked on the door, "Are you busy this week?!"

                Gareth opened the door, "My daughter just started her first day of school this morning, Ace.  I can help you on weekends only until she gets a school break."

                "So I should ask Drakis?"

                "Might be a good idea, yeah."  Ace fidgeted as Gareth folded his arms and stood in the doorway, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish folding the clothes before Hana finds out I stopped."

                "Gareth, you're not done yet!"

                Gareth flinched, "Rrrrrggghhhh...There goes my plans with Ingrid tonight.  I was gonna take her to the park."

                "Why can't you?"

                "I made a deal with Hana.  Unfortunately, she just won.  See ya, Ace."

                Ace stared behind Gareth as Hana came into view, "Ahh...Gareth, look behind you..."  Hana was sneaking up behind Gareth with a mischevous smile on her face.  She had a bit of a rounded belly, which spoke proof of what they were expecting to come soon.

                Gareth flinched and slammed the door shut.  Ace could still hear his voice inside, "I'm working Hana!  Ace came by to ask if we could go with them on tour!"

                Hana's voice came throught the door, "That's what you said last time!  C'mon, Gareth, you have more riding on this than just the afternoon with Ingrid!"

                Ace chuckled, "I wonder what else she was talking about?  Oh well, I'll see if Drakis is busy."

 

                Drakis wasn't busy at all.  Ever since Mt. Stolis he had thought he wouldn't have had a life beyond that of the Deep Rockers secondary bodyguard, but that idea had changed with the meeting, and loving, of Tamaria Rivers.  He was starting to fall asleep when he heard someone knock on his door.  He answered it and smiled when he saw Ace standing in his doorway.

                "Drakis, are you gonna be busy at all this week?"

                Drakis just stared at him.

                "Stupid question, I know.  I just thought you might have made plans..."  He squirmed under Drakis' gaze, "Say something!  It's unnerving whenever you do that..."

                Drakis allowed himself to smile and laughed a little, "Isn't that why you hired me?  Why couldn't Gareth go?"

                "His daughter is staring her first day of public school today.  I went over and asked him, but..."

                "Hana again?"  Drakis smiled at the thought of that Risso dragon, how she and Gareth seemed to always know what the other thought.

                "Yeah.  So you'll be at the train station tomorrow morning?"

                "Sure.  where're we going this time?"

                "Well, we plan to travel all around the island again.  Would you like us to stay in the cities a bit longer so you can look around some?"

                "I'll be fine.  See ya then!"  Drakis closed the door and started packing for his trip tomorrow.  His hand brushed a little picture he had kept with himself for years now, "I miss you, mom...I wish you were still here."

                Warm tears fell from his face as he held the picture in his hand.  She was still gone, and there was no way to bring her back...he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Tamaria's face, "Hi, Tami..."  He sniffed and wiped his nose as he set the small picture into his suitcase, "How are the kids?"

                "They left for school this morning, Drakis.  Just like Ingrid and Ralf did.  We're worried about you.  You've been having nightmares constantly for the past month.  You used to only have them once in a while...Isn't there any way we can help?"

                He wiped the last of his tears away and held Tamaria in his arms, "How is it we managed to get those triplets, anyway?  They're all so different from each other!"

                "I think it happened from all the kids they've met.  Which reminds me...Why won't you ever let them meet Ingrid?  They'd become great friends if you did..."

                "Gareth personally asked me not to introduce her.  Remember what she can do?  He wants to make sure she can control herself before she goes out on her own.  Don't worry, if what you say is true and Ingrid is going to school, I can almost bet she will find them and make friends immediately.  Let them like each other the way kids are supposed to..."

                "It just doesn't seem right to keep children isolated like that."

                "Isolated?!  Since when have we kept our kids isolated?!"

                "I meant Ingrid.  She's kept indoors almost all the time."

                "That's because she and Gareth different from everyone else.  She have to learn to like others for who they are...not for what they are, or have.  It's the same way you and I were brought up.  Just more enforced."  Drakis sighed, "How long until they come back?"

                "They left a few hours ago.  They'll be home soon."

                "Good.  I want to say goodbye to them before I leave tomorrow."

 

                Ingrid walked to the lunchroom while she stared at everything.  It was all so new to her!  She didn't know if she'd ever get used to it.  Ralf was standing at the door to welcome her and showed her which tables the first graders sat at.  Ingrid nervously sat down at the end of a table.

                "Hi!  I'm Tom!  Who're you?"

                "I--I'm Ingrid...Are you new here too?"

                "Naw, I was here in kindergarten!  That kid you were walking with, wasn't that Ralf Rance?"

                "Yeah...His parents are friends with mine, so we see each other a lot.  He's the only friend I've had so far besides grown-ups..."

                Tom smiled, "Wow!  Yoy get to be friends with Ralf!  That makes you a cool kid!"

                Ingrid looked at him, "Why?  He's fun to play with, but he isn't special..."

                "Isn't special!  Ingrid, he's Kia's and Pik's son!"

                "Yeah, so?.."

                "So he's the son of two of the Deep Rockers!  Haven't you ever heard of 'em?"

                "My dad and mom are they're guards all the time.  The Deep Rockers are just like the rest of us.  My dad taught me to never judge someone by how famous they were.  It isn't good for making friends.  Don't tell anyone, okay?  I don't want any kids to become my friend just because I'm friends with him."

                Tom laughed, "Okay Ingrid!  What's your next class?"

                "I have art next...what about you?"

                "I'm goin' to band.  I play the drums, like Pik!"  Tom chuckled right then, "Did you have to ride the bus here?"

                "Yeah..."

                "I knew it!!  Ha!  I only have to come to school for a half-day!"

                "Only half ?!!!  Lucky!  Do you ride the bus home?"

                "Yeah, my mom drives my bus.  I--"  The end-of-lunch bell rang then, so they promised to talk again after school.  Ingrid skipped off to her next class happily.  She had already made a new friend!