Disclaimer- don't own anything.

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Chapter 1

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Jake inhaled deeply tilting his head back and closing his eyes for maximum effect, the smell of the market filled his nostrils, the odd mix of spices, food and magical residue--it smelt like relaxation to Jake--finally a day off from dragon duties, to spend doing whatever came to mind.

Usually he would of spent any free time he had with his two best friends hanging out around the city, but today was different, a massive heat wave had hit the city melting ice-creams before they could even be licked and forcing the entire teenage population indoors to bask in front of air-conditioners or spend hours soaking in backyard pools.

But for Jake there was no way he was going to spend his day off crashed on the couch waving a magazine in his face for air, Fu had suggested taking Jake into one of the magical hidden markets to do a little exploring, the dog had been in need of a few scented candles anyway and it was the only way Jake would get permission to go.

So here he was strolling down the streets of one of the biggest markets in NYC, Fu at his side and a mass of variety stores surrounding them, all selling good of different kinds.

Jake stopped suddenly as a display of shiny good luck charms caught his eye. "whoa, hold up there kid," Fu warned quickly grasping Jakes sleeve and holding him back, " if it ain't sold by a leprechaun then it ain't lucky." the magical pooch explained, ignoring the scathing look he received from the Manticore standing behind the counter.

"But leprechauns don't sell their luck," Jake pointed out pivoting on his heel to face Fu.

"Precisely kid, lucks not supposed to be bought, it's supposed to be earned," Fu answered pulling Jake away from the display and back into the crowd of mingling creatures.

A few more yards up the street, and many dodged beings on Fu's part they reached a more secluded part of the market that sold more Wicca supplies, then magical trinkets. The stalls had a few customers browsing including what Jake guessed might be a Hag who shuffled past them on the right muttering a string of curses.

"stay here, I won't be long, the owners an old friend of mine, we go way back," Fu said smoothing out his fur and adjusting his collar before starting in the direction of a small doorway directly ahead of them, as he left Jake heard him mutter something like " I just hope she doesn't remember how exactly I met her,"

Jake sighed heavily puffing up the front of his black and green hair; if this owner was anything like most of Fu's old friends then Jake would be waiting a while.

He swung around on his heel squinting his eyes in the harsh sunlight to get a better look at the stores around him, a wave of warm summer air washed over the market rattling wind chimes and drawing Jakes attention to a store three down from the one Fu had entered, it had beads covering its doorway and a blackboard resting on an aisle out the front that read ' eye of newt reduced, buy one jar get one free' it was below that, what caught his attention in worn white chalk read 'free psychics vision for every customer.'

Jake slipped his hands insides his pockets and jingled the small amount of coins there, supposing he could just buy a stick of gum or something to pass the time, he headed to the store and swept past the door of beads to be met with an atmosphere of refreshing cold air.

'must be a charm or something.' he thought gazing around the room and moving to the counter his hands still in his pockets, it was a small room with shelves stacked high holding potions ingredients and books covered with years worth of dust, the small counter in front of him was made of pine and came up to just above his waist the surface was clean however and had a small display of sweets on one side with a small locked wooden box on the other.

Jake surveyed the small bunch of sweets for sale before reaching forward and plucking a packet of exploding candy from the holster.

Before he could even find out what it actually was there was a loud pop! And a sudden voice made him jump. "That'll be $1.50."

Jakes head snapped up as he looked at the woman who had suddenly appeared behind the counter, her hawk like eyes were narrowed in suspicion, and that added with he sharp features and long hooked nose gave Jake the impression that he was looking at an oversized bird of prey.

"Err…I'll take it." he said quickly, and remembering a warning from his grandpa about staring he quickly lowered his eyes and tossed the packet of candy onto the counter.

The woman didn't say anything but instead waved her hand in front of the small wooden box, her blue finger nails the same color as the thick scarf around her neck.

On command the golden lock slid out of place and the box sprang open, Jake placed a few coins on the counter, for the woman to snatch up and toss in side her box before removing another bronze smaller coin and handed it to him.

Jake took his candy and was almost out the door when the woman's voice sounded behind him. "aren't you forgetting something?" she said.

When Jake turned back she had not changed from her position, she was merely staring at him, "did you not read the sign?' the woman said her mouth barley moving yet her voice clear.

Jake swallowed and looked down at his watch; it had been barley five minutes since Fu had left him in the street he still had at least fifteen minutes to kill, "well…" he trailed off thinking. "Okay." He finished turning back into the store waiting for her to tell him what to do.

The woman smiled revealing a mouth full of gold teeth and clapped her hands, magically making two chairs and a small table appear in the center of the room covered with a scarlet table cloth with gold trimmings that looked like it surface was rippling like water.

"Then take a seat." She said sweeping across the floor to take the seat furthest from the door, hesitating only a moment Jake walked forward and sat down across from her watching the table cloth that continued to shimmer.

"Place both your hands on the cloth, and focus on what you wish to see." The woman instructed watching him closely. "And close your eyes" she added sharply.

Feeling slightly foolish Jake did as he was told and took a breath, the woman nodded satisfied and waved her hand over the table cloth muttering something, the cloth glowed and she instructed Jake to open his eyes, as he did the glow faded.

"Now look," the gypsy instructed pointing to the table. "The cloth will not lie for it will show you the future according to current events, be aware that the things you will see could change at any moment, with every choice we make." She said.

Jake nodded and lowered his gaze to the rippling surface in front of him, it shifted and changed until he was staring at it so hard that he seemed to sink into its surface, as the room around him melted away and he emerged in the world below him.

Jake felt like he was floating gradually falling to the ground beneath him, his sneakers touched ground and his eyes opened looking out at the world the surrounded him, he gasped, it couldn't be!

All around him the magnificent streets of New York City stood, but they were not like he remembered…not at all.

Where before there had been walls, were now piles of rubble, where once there were parked cars now lay piles of flaming scrap metal, the sky was dark with smoke the pavement was cracked, all around he saw remnants of what he remembered his home to be, no people walked the streets no children played in the park that was now brown and grey instead of green.

Jake gasped as he looked at the world around him "no!" the roaring silence was broken by an inhuman shriek from the sky, Jakes head whipped up at the sound and he stared aghast at the dark streak that was plummeting towards him, his jaw went limp,

It was a dragon!

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End.

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a/n- I'm sorry for any grammatical errors or just general errors as I am Australian and a few things are different. Flames welcome.