The sky was alight with stars, clouds swirling about on the wind as the moon shone brightly down onto the still lively city of New York.

A long shadow spliced through the air, cutting up some of the mist as it rose to be silhouetted against the moon, then corkscrewed as it plunged down, wings spreading at the last minute so it could float on the wind effortlessly.

Jake Long, the red Chinese dragon flying about on the breeze, took in a deep breath and let it out in a hiss of flames that danced behind him. This was a time that he enjoyed, the quiet moments before the storms where he could just enjoy the night sky and the stars and the freedom he got from flying by himself.

"Yo! Jakey-Boy!"

Well, practically by himself.

"What's up, Trix?" he asked, eyes turning towards his ear; there was a mic in his right one his friends had put in to make communication easier between them.

"I know you're up there enjoyin' yourself an' everythin'," Trixie Carter started, her voice crackling a little bit. "But we need ya to come back down here in case we get some action?"

"Yeah, since most of the creatures walk around, dude," Spud added.

"Got it guys. Be down in a sec."

He curled his back around and swirled down towards the streets, coal eyes examining the streets until he spotted his two friends boarding down the sidewalk. They stopped as he landed and stretched his wings out, fanning them to their full span.

"Feels good to let my wings out for a bit," he sighed, letting them rest on his back as his friends kicked up their boards and took off their helmets. "Haven't been able to get out much since Christmas, even for patrol."

"Same, boo," Trixie said. "My parents had me wrappin' so many presents I'm pretty sure I still have tape stuck under my nails!"

"At least you two got some time with your parents," Spud said, twirling his helmet haphazardly on his finger. "My mom and dad left me with my aunt and her kids again. Do you know how many times I had to let them wrap me up in their leftover wrapping paper? I was picking shreds out of my shirts for two days."

"Well, now we can get back to work," Jake sighed. "I wish Fu could have torn himself away from his new potions, but it looks like it might be quiet enough for us to go by ourselves."

"Good thing too," said Trixie. "No one wants to deal with magical mayhem so soon after - "

Something brushed right through them, whipping their clothes about and raising the hairs on their neck. Jake shook himself off and followed the swift shadow as it raced across the sidewalk, then raised into the air, some sort of ominous cloak flapping out behind it.

"Aw maaan," he lamented quietly.

He flew off the ground and started after the shaded form, having trouble keeping tabs on it even with his enhanced vision. It zagged and swiveled and pivoted about in the air, as if trying to lose him, before coming to a stop on the edge of a skyscraper. Jake caught up just as the figure turned so he could see him clearly in the moonlight.

The man's appearance took him off guard. First off he was wearing a white spandex suit and a red cape, and had his giant black hair up in two spikes that gave him a devilish appearance. He looked up at the dragon hovering closer to him with a fanged grin on his blue face, red eyes gleaming menacingly enough for Jake to pause a few yards away.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famous scaled protector of New York," the man chortled, scrutinizing the creature before him. "Looking a bit thinner in the flesh aren't you?"

"Puberty does some things to people," Jake shot back, tiny arms crossing over his scaled chest as he gave the man a sideways glare. "I see most of your growth went to that humungo wacked-out hair of yours."

He flapped back a bit when the blue skinned man laughed in amusement, the spines on his back raising even more now. There was an unusual energy swarming around the floating man, not unlike the Huntsman but...stronger? Different, not like anything he'd felt yet. He wished Fu had pulled himself away from his potions now...

"You remind me so much of the foolish boy back at home!" the man was saying, fixing him with a squint and a wide grin. "Just as uncouth and ill-mannered. It's really a waste when young children such as yourself are saddled with such power. You don't ever seem to know how to harness it."

"Look here, ya caped-doofus, I - "

A short gasp left his throat when he caught sight of something glowing being thrown at him, but couldn't dodge in time to avoid it hitting him square in the chest. The orb felt like fire hitting his scales and sent him hurtling out of control; he frantically flapped his wings and steadied himself, rubbing his chest of the burns and gaping at the man before him. He'd floated closer to him, arms raised to his hips and glowing with the same pinkish energy that he'd thrown. Jake backed away and took a more defensive position, readying a fireball deep in his stomach.

"Don't know what you're playin' at, but I ain't in the mood for nonna this," Jake warned, bits of flame escaping his jaws as he spoke.

"Ooh, have I made the dragon angry?" the man taunted, curling his fists tighter to bring forth more energy. "Perhaps you'll have to - how you say - 'show me who's boss'?"

"Oh I'll show you who's boss!" Jake snarled.

He took a deep breath in and released a wave of flames at the man, watching it head straight for him and block him from sight.

His eyes widened when the man sliced through his attack with one of his hands, shoving the flames aside and smirking at him.

"Hey!"

"Hey indeed," the man taunted. "If you're not going to put up a proper fight, child, then I suggest you turn tail and flap home."

Jake growled low in his throat and coiled up, before launching himself at the man, shooting fireballs in his direction and opening his jaws wide for an attack. The man swayed away from the first two and blocked the other three flames with his forearm, then swatted Jake's body away from him before the dragon could close his jaws. Jake yelped and corkscrewed before swirling into a stop, facing the man again. An angry flame started up in his throat as he watched the man yawn mockingly into one of his glowing fists, floating leisurely where he'd been for the last two minutes. He let out a roar and hurtled towards him again, claws raised to strike and another flame ready to fire.

The man flickered from view, causing him to give pause. The next thing he knew he was inches from the spandexed man, one of his gloved hands wrapped around his long throat. He gagged and scratched at the hand, tearing through the gloves before the man lifted him up and then threw him down. He attempted to get his wings out to stabilize himself but the man soon followed after, plunging with him before striking him with another beam. Jake's acceleration increased until he finally slammed against the concrete of the sidewalk, creating a crater around him that sent cracks and chunks of stone in every direction.

Jake groaned as searing pain raked up and down his body, fighting to keep his dragon form from dissipating as he cracked open an eye. The blue-skinned man was hovering just above him, that same taunting grin on his face as he gently landed outside the crater.

"I suppose you weren't much of a match after all," he sighed, even though he didn't seem disappointed. "No matter. I've made arrangements for our next meeting to be more intriguing."

"Jake?" he faintly heard Trixie call. "Jakey?"

"Ah, I see your friends have arrived," the man said, looking off into his friends' direction before smiling at him. "I'll leave you then, Jake Long. Toodle-oo!"

"H-Hey wait!" Jake shouted, shakily lifting himself up and watching the man float off. "G-Get back here! I'm not done with you yet!"

"Jake!" Spud and Trixie shouted, finally reaching him and jumping into the crater.

Jake let out a low groan and was engulfed in flames, shrinking down to his human form. His raven hair with green ends was laying matted against his sweating forehead and his coal colored eyes were glossy as he dizzily looked up at them.

"Are you okay, baby?" Trixie squeaked, dropping to her knees and cradling him in her arms. "What the heck happened?"

"That guy really did a number on you man!" Spud said, searching through his chestnut bangs for the floating man. "Who was he?"

"D-Dunno," Jake stammered, wincing when Trixie gently started to lift him. Spud came and wrapped his arms around his torso, letting his smaller friend lean against him. "Said s-somethin' about us meetin' again though."

"Ooh, I don't like the sound of that!" Trixie groaned, shivering. "C'mon, boo, you've had enough Dragon Upping for tonight! We gotta get you home!"

"Yeah man, before that creepy devil-dude decides to come back."

Jake nodded in a daze and let his friends lug him across the sidewalk, trying to ignore the sting of his body every time he moved. He hadn't been beaten like that in a while, not without some hits being landed on his side at least. Who was that guy anyway?

Kinda not the best way to end a chapter BUT! I can't really think of a proper endy thingy.

I am pleased to announce that this will mark the beginning of the Duo becoming a TRIO!

*cheering* *glasses clinking* *strange dancy music playing triumphantly*

Hopefully I have captured the Jake Long characters well, it has been a while since I've experienced the awesomeness that is the show.

I went with the season 2 dragon form, I hope that does not anger some, but I found that I liked either form for different reasons, and it's supposed to be later in his show, so we'll go with PUBERTY EXCUSES AND WHAT NOT. Basically so it can be ribbed at you know?

Anywho, I hope this segment has been enjoyed. As always let me know what you think, opinions are always appreciated! I hope to have next segment tomorrow if not the next day, but I will do my best to get into a regular schedule again, to the best of my ability.

Thank you all! Good Night!

- Stryker Young