The next day the two friend headed for school. The though of the past couple days ate at them. taking a break in the cafeteria the friends sat with Curcit as always joined by there other two friends Teddy a orchid colored butterfly with blond hair, and Edwin an orange haired purple dragon sporting nerdy square lensed glasses, tiny orange wings and a curved spiraling horn that the friends had recently just met the previous week.
Teddy: So thats what they were here for? I saw them here a few days ago. I thought it was suspicious that there was so many of the.
Edwin: Uh....I...
The shy little dragon looked down at the floor, his attempts to speak made his friends turn to him.
Edwin: M...my dad... knows someone... He's uhm... he's part of that club.
Immediately the friends attention turned to the little dragon. leaping slightly in embaressment the purple dragon continued.
Edwin: h.. he works with him...
Zenny: Are you serious. Eddy can you tell us more?
Lani: Yeah! Can we meet him?
Edwin: w-well.... I uh... I might be able to get dad to let us meet him... you guys can come over after school if you want...
Curcit: What do you hope to accomplish by meeting this person?
Lani: Well the main thing is I want to find out what they were talking about back at the headquarters...
Curcit: And once you do?
Lani: If its as sinister as it sounds stop them.
Curcit: We could barely stop the small group at the headquarters. That cult is monumental how do you hope to "stop them"?
Lani: Well...-
Zenny: If I understood the conversation right most of the members are being controlled somehow. That much was clear when we were freely walking each floor and the members just walked past us as if we weren't even there...
Teddy: So your thinking that if you can find out whats controlling them and stop it that will take them down.
Curcit: Even If you do that Im sure they have people who are there because they actually believe in what there doing. What do you plan to do about them?
Lani: Well take it one step at a time. If what they said is true though it means there brainwashing and controlling people. If thats the case I cant just stand by and let them use people!
Zenny: Well you know im with you no matter what buddy.
Letting out a sigh the little yellow fox fixed his eyepiece and looked back up at his two friends.
Curcit: Well I guess you'll need all the help you can get so I may as well come to.
Teddy: Sure why not.
Zenny: So eddy do you mind asking your dad if we can meet this guy?
Edwin: N- no! not at all!
Lani: Okay! after class then well all meet up. Thank you Edwin!
***
After meeting up with each other the party set out for Edwin's house. once there the little dragon invited them in and, after telling them to make themselves at home he scurried out the room. Looking around they all gawked in aww at the lavishly decorated house. the dragons room was very neat and roomy. a large bed lay against one corner of the wall. a couple of dressers sat against the wall adjacent to it. a multitude of stuffed critters also lined his bed; however, his walls were completely blank accept for a solitary window.
Zenny: Heh. Lani his bed reminds me of yours.
Cucit: Yes; however, lani's bedroom isnt this clean.
Lani: Your one to talk curcit.
Curcit:...
Chuckling at the two bickering teddy plopped onto the edge of the bed and looked up at his companions.
Teddy: So what do we do once this guy gets here?
Lani: Interogate him of course.
Curcit: Im not sure that a good Idea. We should try and allocate his trust. Things will go by alot smoother that way.
Teddy: What exactly are we gonna ask him.
Zenny: Well first and foremost if he knows anything about what the bossman back at the headquarters was saying.
Curcit: I might have an Idea -
At that moment the little dragon reentered the room holding a plate of snacks with a cute yet shy smile sprawled across his face.
Edwin: H-here you guys go!
With some words of thanks the party ate as they again talked about what had happened before.
Zenny: So what happened eddy?
Edwin: d-dad said he should be here in about an hour.
Lani: Thank you so much Edwin... Now well finally get some answers.
Zenny: By the way eddy. Your house is gigantic!
Teddy: Yeah. I guess its true what everyone sais about you. Well part of it anyway.
The little dragons face went to the floor immediately after the comment. His facial expression quickly went to a kind of saddened look. His friends looked over at him curiously them back at teddy.
Zenny: What do you mean what everyone sais?
Teddy: Its not really that important.
***
After about an hour the doorbell rang and quickly the dragon stood up and ran to the door. Upon his return Lani Zenny and Curcit all stood up immediately alert. Teddy sat on the bed curious as to why the friends were now all so serious. To them it was clear; however, because along with the purple dragon in also walked the leader of XZR the old menacing looking wolf man they had met at the headquarters. As soon as he made eye contact the man gave a malicious smirk. Without warning and with an entense glare at the old man Lani spoke in an angry voice.
Lani: I think we should take this conversation outside.
XZR Leader: As you wish young man.
After relocating the group immediately started there interigation aware that Curcit's plan was now obsolete
Lani: Okay spit it out! We heard everything start talking!
XZR Leader: What ever could you mean young man.
Zenny: Don't play dumb old man! You know exactly what were talking about!
Lani: Your brainwashing and attacking people! Tell us why!
XZR Leader: Im afraid im not ablidged to tell you anything. But perhapse I can show you how my little trick is done...
Gracefully the man rose his hand his palm facing the little dragon boy. The little dragons head fell to his chest then rose his eyes glowing an earie green color. His dragons friends attention immediately drawn to him.
Teddy: Look!
Zenny: Eddy? Hey you alright man?
The little dragon remained silent. The kistune curiously walked over to him and gently placed his hand on his shoulder shaking him gently. Immediately the dragon swung at the fox. Recognizing the attack the twintail did a back flip landing on his feet, but in shock at what had just happened. The friends gasped in shock there attention changing back to the Xzr leader. Zenny Shot the wolf man a peircing glare.
Zenny: What the hell did you do to him!
XZR Leader: Don't worry you'll soon join him.
From his sleeve the dragon drew what looked like an old style shoulin monk type chain linked whip a gem decorating each link and at the end was a spike that resumboled a pair of scissors. The dragon began spinning the steel chord his attention aimed at Zenny.
XZR Leader: You got away from us once, but it won't happen again! Kill the rabbit and bring me the others edwin!
The dangerous chain of jewels rotated over the dragons head like the blades of a helecopter. Sending the spike flying towards the hare Zenny immediately drew a pair of arrows from his quiver. The chain wrapped around the arrows and the were suddenly in a tug of war. Luckily the dragons small size allotted the hare the advantage and he yanged the chain from the dragons hands causing him to loose his balance and fall to the ground. Lani immediately dashed for the dragon from behind and wrapped his arms around Edwins. The dragon struggled but since the two were relatively the same size he successfully subdued him. Meanwhile Teddy pulled out what looked like a deck of playing cards and making a horizontal slashing motion the cards lined up forming what looked like a blade of paper. At the same time curcit pulled what looked like a handle from his backpack and pressing a button on the side two beams of light shot out from both sides. The two friends rushed the grey wolf who quickly turned to look at them holding his hand up. A barrier formed around him deflecting the two friends attacks causing them to fly backwards and hit the ground.
XZR Leader: Pathetic...
Right as he spoke an arrow struck him in the shoulder. the man let out an angry growl of shock and ripped the arrow from his arm tearing flesh from the wound with the steel pike. Instead of blood however the wound dripped a strange white substance. The man shot a glare at zenny who had a cocky smile on his face. The man immediately turned to Lani and rose his hand. A sharp pain shot through the fox and releasing the dragon hi fell to his knees wrapping his arms around himself. He began to hear voices in his head that weren't his own. His mind seemed to be slipping away every second and his friends voices grew fainter by the second. In an effort to shut out the intruders in his mind her covered his ears but they had no effect. The bunnys attention quickly turned to his friend. a twisted smile was sprawled across the wolfs face. The rabbit quickly drew a trio of arrows and fired them at the XZR leader. who broke his spell on the kitsune to deflect the arrows with his shield. Putting his hand down he looked into the Zennys eyes and gave a dark smile.
XZR Leader: I think we've played enough for one day. Take this as your only warning. Don't metal with us.
With a cryptic laugh the man did a slight spin. Dark fire circled him and in an instance he was gone. Edwin almost immediately fell to the floor. Angered but worried about his fallen friend the bunny quickly ran to the foxes side kneeling down next to him.
Zenny: Lani are you okay!?
The kitsune didn't say anything. His pupils had grown tiny his eyes wide. His gaze was fixed on the grass below him but his mind was going through a thousand things at once. Again the hare asked him if he was okay. Shaking his head and moving his hands between his legs he looked up at the hare and knodded his eyes returning to normal. But as the rabbit went to check on his other three fallen comrads the foxes gaze again went to the ground. Somehow... he had been planted...
***
That night the little fox layed in his bead his head facing his pillow. His mind was on everything that had happened that day. He couldnt stop thinking. How was he suppose to fight if the enemy could take control of him whenever he wanted. He would be putting his friends in danger. What could he do?
