Post by The Pantheon Dragon on Dec 23, 2007 7:39:23 GMT -5
A/N:This is loosely based on The Ultimate Act Of Love.And a few other stories done in the past.Rest assured,this long after Hong Kong Longs.
You're not alone.
Together we stand.
I'll be by your side,you know I'll take you hand.
Suburbs of New York City,Year:Twenty-eighteen.
Rose and Jake rushed around continuously to place their rambunctious toddlers into their pajamas.Wendy,brown-haired and blue-eyed,gave a large leap from couch cushion to cushion while her brother kept both of his parents preoccupied by threatening to destroy a puke-ish green vase.
"Son,"Rose had her hands up,coaxing him carefully."Put...it...down."
The radio suddenly surged and Cole,blond-and-black haired with the same eyes as his father,dropped it in surprise.Jake gave his son a small wink over the ugly,shattered family heirloom of Rose's late aunt Margret.
"Coleton!"
"We'll get the dust broom."Jake laughed as she turned to him warningly.
"It's the same thing every night,"her voice traveled to his ears as he and Cole went through the kitchen into the laundry room."We have to round the kids up like cattle practically and something almost always happens."
Jake located the broom and handed the dust pan to his 'guilty' son."Now, dear.They're getting to the point where we can discipline either 2 ways."
She looked intrigued as he returned,folding her arms."I'm listening."
"It's as simple as this.We can beat their little rear ends and shout at both of them or,"he gave the broom to Cole."We use can positive motivation."
"Such as?"
Jake's knowing look on Cole narrowed."A certain video game some-"
Suddenly,he felt his arm grasped and was turned around to see his wife's shocked face."Bribery!?"Rose accused incredulously."Oh,honestly Jake!"
"It's not that expensive,dear."
She kept glaring at them.
The twenty-four-year-old sighed resignedly."All right.No TV then."
Wendy suddenly raced for him and leaped energetically into his arms.
"Whoa!"Jake boosted her up to his level."Careful,baby."
"Daddy,if I go to sleep will you read tonight?"She inquired cheekily.
Rose smiled and stroked Wendy's hair back with her hand."If he agrees to this,I want you both in bed and not out other then for your nightly run."
"Aww,but what if baby Sissy sees a monster in her closet again?"
Once his parents looked down in unison at him,Cole immediately hushed.
"It's okay,"Wendy said quietly."I'm not afraid anymore."
Jake pecked her forehead."Of course,sweetheart."
x.x.x
"Parenting,"Rose mused beside her husband that night."It can be odd."
"Hmm?Oh,I agree."Jake yawned drowsily,still preferring his side to his back while Rose choose to stay on hers."But it's well worth it in the end."
"Yes,but sometimes I wonder what they'll be like,"she said."They look a lot like us but what kind of decisions will they make and are we teaching them right."That made Jake open his eyes more widely to see her clearer.
Under the covers she looked so innocent and fragile;when she had on her business-type wear she appeared tactful and in charge.A Thorn that was plenty sharpened and yet to her family she was of the softest Rose petals.
A tough Havard attorney who hadn't known for the first fourteen years of her life needed an outlet for a split personality.Jake's memories fell back.
"You never seem this concerned about our raising the twins,Rose."
She nodded."I don't,do I?Sometimes I wonder if we're there enough.You with your Car Dealership and dragon duties while I'm doing court duties."
Jake felt the uncertainity building inside of her and brought his arm under her shoulders to pull her close to him."Honey,I know we're probably not going to win awards or anything.I know I won't for sure.But what does it matter as long as were together?We're going to make it through together."
"I believe you,"Rose said softly,resting her head against his strong chest."I guess that sometimes I can feel too unsettled,maybe it's just my paranoia."
The two fell into sleep,any major concerns assuaged.
x.x.x
"Cole?"A lone voice whispered in the dark."Cole,are you awake?"
"Mmm."
"I think there's someone outside."
Wendy wanted to peer out for herself to see,but she knew she couldn't.It was pitch black outside the window when normally a porch or street light would reach her sight.But now it was as though they were deep in space.
Into the vacuums of an eerie void.
"Cole?"She persisted.
"You're dreamin'."he told her."Go ta sleep."
His assurance was something that Wendy felt she could always count on when she felt scared,but this time was different.She not only felt that there was something out of place,she knew it.It was like knowing anything else.
"Well,I'm wide awake and I'm leaving to tell."
For the first time there was movement on across the room in her brother's bed."You'll get in trou-ble."he sang lightly."Dad told me if we don't bother him and Mom for the next few of days I may get to have a baby brother!"
"Yeah,right."Wendy scoffed as she was now walking and groping for the door knob,her eyes strangely beginning to make out the small brass circle.
"Wendy,come back and get in bed.I wanta baby brother named Cole Jr."
A pricking feeling entered her suddenly."Shh."she looked in the direction of the window and Cole,saying softly."I can feel it coming closer Bubby."
"You're feelin' things.Now shut up and get back into bed."
"No!I can feel-"The window suddenly rained inward in a hundred pieces with her voice rising to a wailing scream that rocked the two story house.
x.x.x
Jake was immediately out of his bed and into his children's room,Rose in the process of phoning the police on her cell phone out in the hallway.He flipped the light switch on to see his daughter was sobbing at the foot of her bed and his son was backed up against the wall,looking very shaken.
"C'mere,"he ushered Cole over and lead the kids into the hall.With a fuel of sensible protection turning to wonder,Jake stepped quickly over to the window.Not quite yet noticing that he was stepping on it's glassy remains.
The night was windless and completely wrapped in itself.Although it was well after ten o'clock now,there still should have been some light source in one of the well-spaced houses around them.But everything was darkened.
"There must've been a fuse blown across our neighbourhood."He tried to assure his nervous family."Lights everywhere have gone out it looks like."
"Jake,"Rose said in a low voice."If that's the case,why do ours work?"
Before anyone could think of an answer,an explosion of red erupted high up to the already broken window.Jake pushed both the children into his wife's arms and urged them to go downstairs while he faced this enemy.
'Someone's out for the American Dragon.'he thought."Rose,get going!"
Jake watched as she clutched the twins to her and did a tuck-in flip down to the first floor.When heard a second crash,he morphed with a brilliant blue blaze that lit up the whole room and along the ceiling to the kitchen.
x.x.x
When Rose saw the faded edge of that bright hue,she continued down for the basement with the kids silently shaking against their mother with fright.
"What is it,Mama?"Wendy's voice ached."Who's after us?"
She stared down into their faces at the bottoms of the stairs,eyes wide in fear but a strong sense of seeking.Finally,she could only shake her head.
"I don't know.But you two need to stay here until I return,understand?"
Rose carried them over and hid them in a closet with dread beginning to swarm."Whatever happens,you two need to stay here until I come back."
The shadows closed in on them as she closed the door and the length of her leg's shadows stalled there for just a moment.And then she was gone.
x.x.x
Jake sent volley after volley of flame down upon his front lawn,unhappy about the fact that he was disintregrating his recently mowed grass but more concerned with torching the person that threatened his family's lives.
He had been through enough to know family first,possessions second.
Finally a lump of flame caught in his throat and he felt his large muscles straining from not inhaling enough to cast out so many fire balls.He panted there for a moment and used his dragon vision to scan every square inch below.Nothing but blackened craters was in his sight.Jake heaved a sigh.
"Where is he?"A female voice hissed."Where is the American Dragon?"
x.x.x
Rose had been startled to discover that a woman inside a wine red suit that resembled the long-ago Huntsclan uniform was waiting in the kitchen upon her remergence from down in the basement.The stranger rested her back up against the fridge,sipping one of Rose's diet colas rather casually.
"Awnser me,traitor."she said."Before I force it's whereabouts out of you."
"Who are you?!"
"Oh,"The woman rose up on her high-heeled boots and threw the empty can to the floor,slinking over to a portrait of Rose and Jake with the twins as newborns."You know who I am,Rosey.And you will cooperate fully."
She seethed with a deep hatred,recognizing this nickname."I killed you."
"Did you?"Sharp brown eyes peered over at her with interest."All of us?"
A wave of remembrance stunned Rose."The Huntsclan is gone.88 and 89 never came back.Ten years ago I managed to destroy all the Hunts lairs."
Vixie kept aimed the staff that was almost trident-like at her,it's five points were inches from her forehead across the table."All but one,little Rosey."
Such shock penetrated her that she couldn't budge until flames burst forth.
The two woman were seperated by a wall of fire.Rose stumbled back up against the counter while Jake emerged from the searing heat on her side.
x.x.x
"Let's go."he said abruptly."We need to pack up the kids and leave."
Rose stood there staring into the high infernal,everything was catching fast and soon the whole house would be entirely ablaze.She still did not move.
"Come on."Jake yanked her out of the room and changed back as he lead her down the stairs."We'll go in my sports car.It'll get us to Canal Street-"
"No."her voice tremored as she spoke.Rose kept her eyes trained on the eyes that leered at her from the flames,that were intent on seeing the utter demise of the American Dragon."We need to seperate.All of us need to."
"Rose,what are you saying?"
"Jake,it'll be harder for her to catch us if were spread apart."
"No.That's crazy.We need to stay together because there might be more."
"There's only one of them,Jake."
"Rose..."
"Think of the children,"she sounded so close to tears."They're endanger."
"All right."Jake gave in for the second time that night."For the time being."
To be continued...
You're not alone.
Together we stand.
I'll be by your side,you know I'll take you hand.
Suburbs of New York City,Year:Twenty-eighteen.
Rose and Jake rushed around continuously to place their rambunctious toddlers into their pajamas.Wendy,brown-haired and blue-eyed,gave a large leap from couch cushion to cushion while her brother kept both of his parents preoccupied by threatening to destroy a puke-ish green vase.
"Son,"Rose had her hands up,coaxing him carefully."Put...it...down."
The radio suddenly surged and Cole,blond-and-black haired with the same eyes as his father,dropped it in surprise.Jake gave his son a small wink over the ugly,shattered family heirloom of Rose's late aunt Margret.
"Coleton!"
"We'll get the dust broom."Jake laughed as she turned to him warningly.
"It's the same thing every night,"her voice traveled to his ears as he and Cole went through the kitchen into the laundry room."We have to round the kids up like cattle practically and something almost always happens."
Jake located the broom and handed the dust pan to his 'guilty' son."Now, dear.They're getting to the point where we can discipline either 2 ways."
She looked intrigued as he returned,folding her arms."I'm listening."
"It's as simple as this.We can beat their little rear ends and shout at both of them or,"he gave the broom to Cole."We use can positive motivation."
"Such as?"
Jake's knowing look on Cole narrowed."A certain video game some-"
Suddenly,he felt his arm grasped and was turned around to see his wife's shocked face."Bribery!?"Rose accused incredulously."Oh,honestly Jake!"
"It's not that expensive,dear."
She kept glaring at them.
The twenty-four-year-old sighed resignedly."All right.No TV then."
Wendy suddenly raced for him and leaped energetically into his arms.
"Whoa!"Jake boosted her up to his level."Careful,baby."
"Daddy,if I go to sleep will you read tonight?"She inquired cheekily.
Rose smiled and stroked Wendy's hair back with her hand."If he agrees to this,I want you both in bed and not out other then for your nightly run."
"Aww,but what if baby Sissy sees a monster in her closet again?"
Once his parents looked down in unison at him,Cole immediately hushed.
"It's okay,"Wendy said quietly."I'm not afraid anymore."
Jake pecked her forehead."Of course,sweetheart."
x.x.x
"Parenting,"Rose mused beside her husband that night."It can be odd."
"Hmm?Oh,I agree."Jake yawned drowsily,still preferring his side to his back while Rose choose to stay on hers."But it's well worth it in the end."
"Yes,but sometimes I wonder what they'll be like,"she said."They look a lot like us but what kind of decisions will they make and are we teaching them right."That made Jake open his eyes more widely to see her clearer.
Under the covers she looked so innocent and fragile;when she had on her business-type wear she appeared tactful and in charge.A Thorn that was plenty sharpened and yet to her family she was of the softest Rose petals.
A tough Havard attorney who hadn't known for the first fourteen years of her life needed an outlet for a split personality.Jake's memories fell back.
"You never seem this concerned about our raising the twins,Rose."
She nodded."I don't,do I?Sometimes I wonder if we're there enough.You with your Car Dealership and dragon duties while I'm doing court duties."
Jake felt the uncertainity building inside of her and brought his arm under her shoulders to pull her close to him."Honey,I know we're probably not going to win awards or anything.I know I won't for sure.But what does it matter as long as were together?We're going to make it through together."
"I believe you,"Rose said softly,resting her head against his strong chest."I guess that sometimes I can feel too unsettled,maybe it's just my paranoia."
The two fell into sleep,any major concerns assuaged.
x.x.x
"Cole?"A lone voice whispered in the dark."Cole,are you awake?"
"Mmm."
"I think there's someone outside."
Wendy wanted to peer out for herself to see,but she knew she couldn't.It was pitch black outside the window when normally a porch or street light would reach her sight.But now it was as though they were deep in space.
Into the vacuums of an eerie void.
"Cole?"She persisted.
"You're dreamin'."he told her."Go ta sleep."
His assurance was something that Wendy felt she could always count on when she felt scared,but this time was different.She not only felt that there was something out of place,she knew it.It was like knowing anything else.
"Well,I'm wide awake and I'm leaving to tell."
For the first time there was movement on across the room in her brother's bed."You'll get in trou-ble."he sang lightly."Dad told me if we don't bother him and Mom for the next few of days I may get to have a baby brother!"
"Yeah,right."Wendy scoffed as she was now walking and groping for the door knob,her eyes strangely beginning to make out the small brass circle.
"Wendy,come back and get in bed.I wanta baby brother named Cole Jr."
A pricking feeling entered her suddenly."Shh."she looked in the direction of the window and Cole,saying softly."I can feel it coming closer Bubby."
"You're feelin' things.Now shut up and get back into bed."
"No!I can feel-"The window suddenly rained inward in a hundred pieces with her voice rising to a wailing scream that rocked the two story house.
x.x.x
Jake was immediately out of his bed and into his children's room,Rose in the process of phoning the police on her cell phone out in the hallway.He flipped the light switch on to see his daughter was sobbing at the foot of her bed and his son was backed up against the wall,looking very shaken.
"C'mere,"he ushered Cole over and lead the kids into the hall.With a fuel of sensible protection turning to wonder,Jake stepped quickly over to the window.Not quite yet noticing that he was stepping on it's glassy remains.
The night was windless and completely wrapped in itself.Although it was well after ten o'clock now,there still should have been some light source in one of the well-spaced houses around them.But everything was darkened.
"There must've been a fuse blown across our neighbourhood."He tried to assure his nervous family."Lights everywhere have gone out it looks like."
"Jake,"Rose said in a low voice."If that's the case,why do ours work?"
Before anyone could think of an answer,an explosion of red erupted high up to the already broken window.Jake pushed both the children into his wife's arms and urged them to go downstairs while he faced this enemy.
'Someone's out for the American Dragon.'he thought."Rose,get going!"
Jake watched as she clutched the twins to her and did a tuck-in flip down to the first floor.When heard a second crash,he morphed with a brilliant blue blaze that lit up the whole room and along the ceiling to the kitchen.
x.x.x
When Rose saw the faded edge of that bright hue,she continued down for the basement with the kids silently shaking against their mother with fright.
"What is it,Mama?"Wendy's voice ached."Who's after us?"
She stared down into their faces at the bottoms of the stairs,eyes wide in fear but a strong sense of seeking.Finally,she could only shake her head.
"I don't know.But you two need to stay here until I return,understand?"
Rose carried them over and hid them in a closet with dread beginning to swarm."Whatever happens,you two need to stay here until I come back."
The shadows closed in on them as she closed the door and the length of her leg's shadows stalled there for just a moment.And then she was gone.
x.x.x
Jake sent volley after volley of flame down upon his front lawn,unhappy about the fact that he was disintregrating his recently mowed grass but more concerned with torching the person that threatened his family's lives.
He had been through enough to know family first,possessions second.
Finally a lump of flame caught in his throat and he felt his large muscles straining from not inhaling enough to cast out so many fire balls.He panted there for a moment and used his dragon vision to scan every square inch below.Nothing but blackened craters was in his sight.Jake heaved a sigh.
"Where is he?"A female voice hissed."Where is the American Dragon?"
x.x.x
Rose had been startled to discover that a woman inside a wine red suit that resembled the long-ago Huntsclan uniform was waiting in the kitchen upon her remergence from down in the basement.The stranger rested her back up against the fridge,sipping one of Rose's diet colas rather casually.
"Awnser me,traitor."she said."Before I force it's whereabouts out of you."
"Who are you?!"
"Oh,"The woman rose up on her high-heeled boots and threw the empty can to the floor,slinking over to a portrait of Rose and Jake with the twins as newborns."You know who I am,Rosey.And you will cooperate fully."
She seethed with a deep hatred,recognizing this nickname."I killed you."
"Did you?"Sharp brown eyes peered over at her with interest."All of us?"
A wave of remembrance stunned Rose."The Huntsclan is gone.88 and 89 never came back.Ten years ago I managed to destroy all the Hunts lairs."
Vixie kept aimed the staff that was almost trident-like at her,it's five points were inches from her forehead across the table."All but one,little Rosey."
Such shock penetrated her that she couldn't budge until flames burst forth.
The two woman were seperated by a wall of fire.Rose stumbled back up against the counter while Jake emerged from the searing heat on her side.
x.x.x
"Let's go."he said abruptly."We need to pack up the kids and leave."
Rose stood there staring into the high infernal,everything was catching fast and soon the whole house would be entirely ablaze.She still did not move.
"Come on."Jake yanked her out of the room and changed back as he lead her down the stairs."We'll go in my sports car.It'll get us to Canal Street-"
"No."her voice tremored as she spoke.Rose kept her eyes trained on the eyes that leered at her from the flames,that were intent on seeing the utter demise of the American Dragon."We need to seperate.All of us need to."
"Rose,what are you saying?"
"Jake,it'll be harder for her to catch us if were spread apart."
"No.That's crazy.We need to stay together because there might be more."
"There's only one of them,Jake."
"Rose..."
"Think of the children,"she sounded so close to tears."They're endanger."
"All right."Jake gave in for the second time that night."For the time being."
To be continued...