Chapter 20 - Chapter 19

Susan could not sleep as her mind was filled with thoughts of David, wondering what he was hiding and why he refused to share it with her and others.

Susan now stood in front of the window, internally asking herself one question, "What was David hiding".

She sighed deeply, as she was unable to answers her question but upon doing so something caught her eyes from outside the window.

Her eyes had caught a strange figure seemly appear out of thin standing in front of the front gate.

Upon looking at the figure more closely, thanks to beautiful moon and its rays alone with that many stars that lit up the night sky, Susan managed to see the figure's face and upon doing so she gasped out confusion and shock.

It was David and upon seeing him Susan's suspicions about David being in some kind of trouble only grew.

Susan then saw David something that shocked her even more, using what seemed to be the elemental power of the earth he created a hole on the ground he stood on and then fell in.

Susan, upon seeing this, didn't know if she was dream or if she really saw what she saw.

To her knowledge David was a wind dragon warrior and as such he only possessed the power of the wind but she just watched him used the power of the earth which shouldn't be possible if he was just a wind dragon warrior.

"That can't be real, could it?" Susan asked herself while thinking about what she just saw, find it hard to believe what she saw but at the same time unable to denied that she saw it.

After a few moments of thinking of a logical explanation of what she saw Susan came up with the conclusion that she must have just imagined it but that was a conclusion she could not fully accept as she found it difficult to believe that a sight like that was a result of her mind playing tricks on her.

Susan tried to get her mind off what she just saw by going to bed, trying to convince herself that what she was just a fabrication created by a tired mind as she tried to sleep but the more, she tried to convince herself the more she found it harder to believe.

Susan, who could no longer sleep thanks to her mind tormenting her over what she saw, finally decided to find out if what she was indeed real and put an end to her doubts once and for all.

Susan then, with a deep breath, stepped out of her room and made her way to the part of the academy where the students who were air dragon warriors sleep, knowing that if she was caught there so late at night she would be in serious trouble, so she tried to be as quite as possible.

Once in there she turned in to water and then made her way, through the small gaps and spaces in the doors of the various rooms of the air dragon warrior student looking for David's room so she would be able to put her mind over what she saw to rest.

Having never been in that area of the academy, Susan did not know where David's room would be so she had to search random rooms hoping to somehow get luckily and stumble on David's.

After a while of search Susan got tire and exhausted of searching room after room, hoping to find David, she knew she could not risk continuing doing that over and over again, all through the night as it would most likely lead to her getting far to tire to continue and giving up or getting caught.

Susan, at that moment was thinking about giving up when she saw a familiar sight in the last room she searched.

It was Flora, fast asleep on her bed.

Susan knew that Flora knew where David's room was and would be able to take her there so she decided to wake her.

Susan then turned back to her normal form and then went to Flora's bed.

"Wake up Flora" said Susan while shaking Flora gently in an attempt to wake her up.

Despite Susan's many attempts to try and wake Flora up, she refused to open her eyes and just continued sleeping.

Susan then, out of desperation, decided to do something they would certainly annoy and enrage Flora but might be the only way to wake her up from her deep sleep.

"Forgive me Flora" said Susan with a deep breath before using her powers to send water out of her hand and splash on Flora's face, waking her up instantly.

Flora instantly jolted out of bed; upon feeling the cool water make contact with her skin.

"Hey Flora" said Susan nervously with a smile on her face.

Flora upon seeing Susan first looked at her with a look of both shock and confusing as she wondered why she was in her room, however the shocked and confused expression on Flora's face soon faded away and was replaced with a look of pure anger and rage as she had realized that Flora was the one who woke her up.

"SUS..." Flora was stopped from yelling by Susan covering her mouth with her hands, not wanting her voice to wake the other students.

"I know and I'm sorry, but before you do anything, just hear me out" said Susan in an attempt to calm Flora down.

Susan then removed her hands from Flora's mouth.

"There better be a good reason for you come here and soaking with ice cold water while I was sleeping" said Flora, trying her best to keep herself from exploding with rage and anger.

"I do, it's David" said Susan with a tone on her voice.

Flora upon hearing what Susan said felt her rage slowly fade away, replaced with a feeling of worry and concern for her friend.

"What's wrong with David?" asked Flora softly, fearing that David was in some kind of trouble.

Susan then told her what she saw in her room and asked then asked her to take her to David's room confirm if what she saw was true.

"So let me get this straight. You woke me up so late at night so I could take you to David's room to confirm if you truly saw him, an air dragon warrior, leave the academy by creating a hole on the ground" said Flora with frustration and anger in her voice as she spoke.

"Well, yes" said Susan, feeling a little embarrassed over what she did and understanding how crazy it must sound to Flora.

"I'm going back to bed" said Flora before collapsing back on her bed, wanting to continue her sleep as she didn't take Susan's word seriously.

"Come Flora, I'm serious. I think David is in some kind of trouble," said Susan.

"It's late Susan, please go back to bed. Heaven only knows you need the sleep" said Flora implying that what Susan's saw that night was due to her sleep deprived mind.

"I know what I saw Flora" said Susan, annoyed that Flora didn't believe her.

"Sure, you do and I'm a six eyed giant who can breathe fire" said Flora jokingly, teasing Flora.

"Flora please, David could be in some kind of trouble" said Susan with tears falling down from her eyes, feeling an overwhelming amount of a fear and worry for David, fearing that David was in some kind danger even though part of her knew that that might not be the case she could not stop herself from worrying about him.

Flora upon feeling Susan's tears fall down from her eyes and on to her skin got up and saw that Susan crying.

"You are being serious, aren't you?" said Flora.

Susan nodded her head softly before saying, "I just don't want anything bad to happen to him".

Flora just sighed before saying, "How are you and Steven related again. His so cold and bitter while you're kind and sweet. You worry too much about people which is sometimes adorable but also incredibly annoying other times".

Flora then wiped away Susan's tears.

"I still think you're worrying yourself over nothing but I also know if I don't do this you won't be able to sleep right and just end up bothering your mind over this" said Flora before grabbing Susan's hand and using her powers to turn to air and then blew away.

A few moments late Flora and Susan reformed in front of David's room.

"Alright, here you go. That's David room, just try not to wake him up when. you go in. I don't want to have to explain anything to him" said Flora while pointing at David's

Susan smiled softly at what Flora said before saying, "thank you Flora".

"You go in and get out as soon as possible, if we get caught then we would be in a lot of trouble," said Flora.

Susan smiled softly once again at Flora before slowly opening the door and entering the room.

Once in the room Susan gasped out of shock, fear and confusing upon seeing that David wasn't in the room as his bed was empty with his window wide open.

"Flora" said Susan, calling out to her friend to see that David was indeed gone.

Flora, not thinking much about the matter just went in to the room but was became shock and confused, just like Susan upon seeing the room was empty.

"Where is he?" asked Flora.

"I don't know but I think I know how we can find out but we are going to need a little help," said Susan.

A few moments later, in the part of the academy for earth dragon warriors stayed in, Akiri slept like a rock on his bed, snoring so loud that every earth underneath his bed shook almost as though an earthquake was happening on the ground underneath his bed.

Flora and Susan, in the form of air then blew in to his room and then reform in front of his bed.

"And I thought his regular voice was annoying" said Flora, annoyed upon hearing Akiri continuous snoring.

"Alright, let's wake sleeping not so beautiful up" said Flora before using the power of the wind to blow Akiri off his bed and sent him flying straight in a wall, waking him up instantly.

"Why did you have to do that Flora, what if he got hurt" said Susan as she rushed to Akiri who was more confused than he was in pain.

"Relax, earth dragon warriors as the toughest out of all dragon warriors. I'm sure whatever injuries he may have aren't serious and he'll probably just walk it off," said Flora.

"What if the sound for him colliding with the wall woke up the other earth dragon students" asked Susan.

"Please, if they can manage to get a good night sleep sleeping in a room next to him with his earth-shaking snoring then they can sleep through anything," said Flora.

Susan just sighed before turning her attention back to Akiri who was utterly confused, wondering why the two girls came to his room so late at night.

"Sorry about that, you know how Flora is" said Susan as she helped Akiri up.

"It's quite alright but why are the two of you here, in my room, so late at night" asked Akiri wondering why Flora and Susan had come to his room so late at night.

Susan and Flora then explained everything to Akiri, about David missing and how Susan has an idea of where he might be and how they could find him but they need his help.

"Hmmm, so David's missing and you two need my help to find" said Akiri.

"Yep" said Flora.

Akiri then took a moment to think before saying, "Are you two sure about this. We might get in to trouble if we leave our room searching for David".

Flora upon hearing what Akiri said was about to say something to him but Susan, knowing that Flora's intense words may drive Akiri away and since they needed his help, she could let that happen.

"I get it, you're scared and I can't blame after all being a prince and all you have to be on your best behavior, avoiding anything that would bring shame to you and your family's great name," said Susan.

Akiri upon hearing what Susan said just bowed down his head knowing that every word she uttered was the truth.

Akiri was a prince and because of that he tried as much as he could to avoid doing anything that would ruin his family's name, he felt as though it was his responsibility to prevent shame from coming to his family through his action.

This was why Akiri would often play it safe, avoiding taking any unnecessary risks and focusing solely on his academic work.

Akiri had tried, as much as he could, to avoid getting in trouble but if he agreed to help them it would mean taking a risk which might lead to him getting in to trouble.

"David is all alone and might get hurt or worse if his not found soon," said Susan.

Akiri just sighed before saying, "Why can't we just tell the Head master or one of the teachers".

"Because that may lead to David expelled from the academy or in some other kind of trouble," said Susan.

Akiri upon hearing what Susan said sighed once more before thinking about David and his kind, curious but somewhat naive nature.

He didn't want David to be expelled from the academy but at the same time the thought of him getting in to trouble with the academy frightened him.

"Alright I'll help but if we can't find him, we are going to have to report to the Head master" said Akiri.

Flora and Susan then nodded their heads, agreeing to Akiri's condition, knowing that it would be there best chance of finding David if they couldn't themselves.

"Alright then, what's the plan?" asked Akiri.

"Flora, do you think you can get us outside the academy without being caught" asked Susan.

"Yeah, but you two would have to hold on to me," said Flora.

Susan then held on to Flora's hand but Akiri hesitated to give Flora his hand, still being a bit unsure on whether or not what he was doing was right

Flora, upon seeing the unsure look on Akiri's face became annoyed with him and his indecision before grabbing hold of Akiri's arm.

"Wait not..." Before Akiri could say another word Flora turned both herself, Susan and Akiri to air and blew away.

The three of them then reformed outside the academy, in front of the academy gates.

"So that's how it feels to be air, I don't think I like it" said Akiri not find his experience being air pleasing.

"What's so wrong about being air?" asked Flora.

"Well for one, it felt like my entire body was scattered around and the fact then the three of us did it all at once didn't make the experience any more appealing" said Akiri.

"I don't see why you're complaining, you made it in one piece didn't you," said Flora.

"Wait, do you mean there was a chance that I wouldn't" said Akiri upon hearing what Flora said.

"Yeah, if I had lost focus or just didn't want to deal with you anymore" said Flora with a sinister smile, scaring Akiri a little.

"Stop it Flora" said Susan, annoyed with the way Flora was scaring Akiri.

Flora then looked Akiri with a sinister smiled on her face before whispering, "Next time you may not make it in one piece".

Akiri upon hearing what Flora said felt a drop of sweat fall down from his forehead.

"Flora" said Susan, getting even more annoyed with Flora.

Flora just giggled before saying, "sorry Susan but can you blame me, it's just too easy with him".

Susan just closed her eyes and nodded her heard before turning to Akiri, grabbing him by the arm and the dragging to the spot where she saw David from her room.

"Here, right. I want you to use your power to check if there is anything strange underneath the ground" said Susan pointing at the spot she saw David create the hole in.

"Strange, like what exactly?" asked Akiri, wanting to know what exactly he was looking for.

"You'll know when you find" said Susan not entirely sure how she was going to explain to Akiri that she was using him to check if David was hiding underground.

"Okay" said Akiri was a bit confused but still agreed to do it if it meant finding David.

Akiri then placed his hand on the ground and then took a deep breath before using his ability as an earth dragon warrior to sense the earth around him.

"That's strange, it feels like" said Akiri, sensing from the spot Susan pointed to.

"Like what exactly" asked Flora.

"It feels like a tunnel but that can't be right. Why on earth would there be a tunnel underneath the academy" asked Akiri.

"Well, there is only one way to find out," said Flora.

"Open it," said Susan.

Akiri then took a deep before using the power of the earth to open a hole on spot Susan pointed at which led to the tunnel underneath the academy.

Once the hole was open the three of them just stood above it, staring at it with different questions bubbling in their mind.

"Do you two really think this tunnel has something to do with David's disappearance" asked Akiri finding it hard to believe that David, an air dragon warrior could make the tunnel.

"I'm not really sure myself but David missing and this tunneling appearing under our school are too much of a coincidence to ignore," said Flora.

"That's because it isn't a coincidence, David created this tunnel" said Susan, speak with absolute certainty and not an ounce of doubt in her voice as she spoke.

Susan, upon seeing the tunnel was now convinced that what she saw was indeed real.

"How is that even possible unless..." Akiri stopped himself from continuing, not allowing himself to come to such a wild conclusion with any proof.

"David's definitely hiding something from us and the only way to know what it is down that hole. The question is do we dare to go down there and find out" asked Akiri.

Susan, taking a deep breath in and without uttering a single breath, jumped in to the hole, wanting to what David was keeping away from them.

Flora then jumped in after her, led and driven solely by curiosity, wanting to know more about David.

Akiri was the only one left, now having to make the choice between turning back and leaving or following his friends in and finding out what secret David was keeping from them.

Akiri just stood there frozen, tore between his fear and curiosity, unable to make a decision.

Then a burst of wind then blew out of nowhere and pushed him in to the hole.

"Really Flora" said Akiri with an annoyed look on his face.

"What? You couldn't make up your mind so I made the choice easier for you" said Flora as she went to him and helped him up.

"A simple, 'jump in' would have been enough you know" said Akiri.

"Yeah, but that wouldn't have been fun," said Flora.

"You are still sour about what I said about air dragon warriors being weak aren't you" said Akiri.

Flora then summoned a gust of wind to push Akiri back down to the ground.

"Maybe a little" said Flora with a small smile on her face which made Akiri heart skip out of fear.

"Flora" said Susan, annoyed with the way she was treating Akiri.

"I was just having a little fun," said Flora.

"Her fun is my torture" Akiri mutter softly as he got up.

"You don't have to follow us you know. You've already done enough, you can leave" said Susan softly with her face bowed down with sadness as knew that they would need him and his abilities to guide them through the darkness of the tunnel but at the same time she didn't want to get Akiri in to trouble.

Akiri just sighed before saying, "I'm already down so I might as well help find David. Besides, I'm a little curious as to how an air dragon warrior can create a tunnel like this" said Akiri.

"Thank you" said Susan, feeling grateful to Akiri for agreeing to say.

"That's what friends are for" said Akiri with a small smile on his face.

"Can you lead the way then," said Susan.

"With pleasure" said Akiri before placing a hand of the floor and sensing a path within the darkness they could follow.

"Got it, follow me and stay close" said Akiri before he began to lead both Flora and Susan through the dark tunnel, using his senses to guide him through the darkness.

As they went deeper and deeper in to the tunnel, Susan could only hope that David was alright, where ever he was.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, near the Temple of The Golden Dragon Warrior a small hole formed on the ground and from that hole a figure jumped out.

It was David, jumping out from the tunnel he created to get out of the academy without anyone finding out.

David now stood face to face with the temple, feeling an overwhelming but yet familiar power following out of it.

David, for a brief moment turned his head away from the temple to look at the academy far off in the distance.

In that brief moment he considered walking away and returning to the academy, hopefully he had not been gone for too and nobody had discovered he was gone yet but that thought left just as fast as it came when the realization that the temple was the only way he could get the answers he sought.

David then turned back to the temple and then took a deep breath, taking a moment to think about what he was doing, thinking about what he could possibly lose, a chance to understand a world he never knew along with friends he cared about, and what he would also gain, answers about himself, the only thing he ever wanted.

As David took a deep breath, he walked to the temple door and placed his two hands on it.

The moment David did so he felt the power from the temple connecting a within himself, a power David never knew he had.

As the power connected to David, David felt, like the last time he came to the temple, something within him begin to crack and break apart within and the moment it did so, he felt the entirety of the power the temple connected to flow through his entire body.

His body then began to glow with a magnificent golden light and then the temple doors, for the first-time decades since the death of the golden dragon warrior opened up.

David's body then stopped glowing.

David just stood there for a brief moment, trying to understand what just happened.

He had just opened a door no one, except the golden dragon warrior should be meant to open, a feat that made David question his identity even more as he began to wonder if he truly could be the son of the fallen golden dragon warrior.

David, knowing that there was only one way to find out the truth about everything including who he was and if his mother truly was the golden dragon warrior, just sighed before entering the open temple and the moment David walked in, the temple closed its doors.

Moments later Steven, on his fire dragon, flew down from higher up in the sky with a look of confusion and shock on his face, wondering if what he saw really happened as he looked at the temple doors.