Adventure of a Lifetime Ch. 7

TF Story 1.7

Part 2

Laura’s Story</u>

Laura pulled up to the shelter. No one in her entire life had ever known that she was parentless. Though she hid it really well. Her parents had died from a car accident when she was just a baby. Ever since then she had been trying to get away from “Morghen’s Care Center for Girls”. She hated the place.

She got out of her car and placed her package in the trunk of her car. Thankfully after today. She wasn’t going to need a care center anymore. She had a job -Though she didn’t like it.- and an apartment all set up. Laura took one deep breath. “Time for another days adventures.” she said as the walked through the front door.

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“Hey Laura, going to pack?” said a voice, “Need some help?”

Laura looked up from her duffle bag to see Ariel. One of her friends in the care center. “Nah,” Laura said, “Ill be alright.”

“Finished.” Laura said as she zipped up her duffle bag. She picked up her suitcase and walked out the door.

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“Make sure you write me when you get to your apartment Laura!” Said ariel. Leaning against the window of the car.

“Don’t worry, I will.” Laura said as she turned the key to start the ignition. The car turned over once and then revved into life.

It had taken a little while to find her new apartment. She reached inside her blue jeans pocked and fished out her key. The key slid in easily into the key hole. She twisted and the door unlocked.

It was a small furnished apartment. With a small twin sized bed. One bathroom and one kitchen. Just enough for her and her needs.

Laura sat her stuff down that she had carried from her car. She walked towards the refrigerator and opened it up. It was empty.

“Well, first order of business is to get some food.” she said to herself. Laura closed the door to the refrigerator. Grabbed her keys, and walked out the front door. Careful to lock it.

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Laura was at a local convenience store. She was looking at her list as she ran into someone. “Ooof- Sorry, I did not see you.”

The person was a little shaken. “Oh, that’s ok. That’s been happening a lot to me lately.” The guy brushed his shirt off. “Did I hurt you? I did not mean to run into you. I was just thinking.”

“What?” Laura started, “Oh, no, I think its my fault.”

“Um...oh...um...Is this one on the comments that no matter what I say its wrong?” The person asked. She nodded. “Well, I’m glad to meet you miss...”

“Laura, Laura Swanson.” She replied filling in the gaps.

“Ah, well, Laura, I’m James.” He held out a hand, “Pleased to meet you.”

She grabbed it, and they shook. “You too.”

She was turning away when James said something to her. “What?” She asked and Laura turned again to look at James.

“I was wondering if you know were I could get carabineers. Not one of the cheap ones. The ones for rock climbing.”

She shook her head, “Sorry I don’t know where you could get them. Though if your looking for a way to get some supplies, I go rock climbing with a club. If you want to join. I’m sure they would be happy to lend you some until you find your own.”

“Wait, your saying that there is a rock climbing club?” James asked. She nodded. “Well where is it? I’d like to join.”

“Well, we move around to new spots each meeting. I could drive you to the first one. Can you tell me where you live?”

“Ah,” James said, “Well I am living up in the mountains right now, and probably for the rest of the time im going to college. But I can show you.”


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Laura walked up the steep steps to James’s house. She reached out her hand and knocked, a minute later. James opened the door. “Hi, ready to go?” Laura asked.

James looked back. “Yeah can you help me with a few things.”

She rubbed her hands. “Sure.” James walked over to a box and opened it up. “Can you carry the belays? Ill do the ropes and harnesses.”

She walked over towards the box and grabbed the belays. The whole time that They were taking things out to her car James said nothing. “Whats wrong?”

“Hymm? What?” James said.

“I said is there anything wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just thinking.”

They placed the last contents in Laura’s car. As Laura was placing the last box in the car, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She looked and it was his arm. It had a small patch of scales.

“James? Did you have an accident with a green marker?”

James looked up.  James reached for his arm and rubbed the spot where green scales were starting to appear.  “Uh, yeah, I had an accident with a marker.  He showed her the arm and the scales were gone.  See? Its ok.  

Well, you ready to go?  Laura asked him.

Sure,  James said.

They got into her car. Laura knew what those scales had meant. Even if he tried to hide it. He had been to ‘The Second Identity’.
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Drethan was working in the back room as the door opened to his shop. He looked up as Laura came barging in. Face red with anger. “What did you do to James?” She yelled.

“Why, dear Laura. What are you yelling about?” Said Drethan in the calmest voice. The tone of the voice angered her. “What on earth did you do to James Hertz?” She yelled at him. Face about four inches away from his. Drethan was secretly grateful for the counter that was between them.

He gave a curious look toward her. “Why I did nothing to, what did you say the name was? James? He was the guy that died in the accident up in the mountain right?”

She was seething now. “Don’t play dumb with me old wizard! I know James has a suit. Remember, I saw one of my best friends turn into a Blastoise. I know what the signs are. Even if you did modify everyone’s memories to think he was dead.”

Drethan readjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Why dear Lau-“

She cut him off. “Don’t you ‘dear Laura’ me! Tell me what happened. I knew that that was him during the funeral.” Drethan sighed, and started walking into the back room. He opened the door and beckoned. “Follow me.”

Laura, still fuming, reluctantly followed him in this all to familiar work room. Drethan closed the door behind her. She turned around, “Where is he?”

Drethan shook his head. “Now, I can’t answer any of your questions if your yelling.”

She glared at him. “You would be too if someone you just barely met, had his life turned upside down, and everyone thinks he’s dead! I mean, he was my friend!”

Drethan wagged his index finger at her. “Tsk-tsk-tsk. Yelling again.” Laura exclaimed out loud, pounding her fist onto Drethans workbench. The force of the swing made some of the odd looking tools on his bench rattle.

“I just barely met him, and im very protective when it comes to people that are your victims old man.”

Drethan just stared at her. He was keeping his anger down. This was just a girl. He could handle her.

She breathed heavily. “Now, what did you turn him into that would cause him to loose his family like that?”

Drethan looked at his costumes. He had made another one just like it. Unfortunately he had not had anyone interested in it. He got up and walked silently over to the rack which was full of other mythical being. He reached for the costume that he had made shortly after James had picked up his dragon one.

“This,” Drethan paused as he pulled out the suit from the rack. “This is what I made him, though his is a green not bronze.”

Laura gaped. She was dumbfounded. The costume was a beautiful dragon. It had a complete armor set. Including a helm for the head. The armor was acid etched with runic markings that she had never seen before. They seemed to glow and move about. Tied around the hanger but not attached to the suit yet, was a sword of unimaginable craftsmanship.

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Drethan looked into her mind and he could tell that she wished to become the bronze dragon. Drethan could see the internal conflict within her. He saw on one side, her desire to be someone else. On the other side, was the fear of what might happen. It also included the memory of what happened to her friend Loch.

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“Why did you make armor?” Laura asked, “I mean, you make costumes not armor.”

“Ah,” Drethan said, “You see, the armor and weapon that I made are also powered by his wishes and power as a dragon. Im working on a way to not have an object bond to the owner but still use the wish energy from the person. Though I have not been able to create an object that would attract that type of power from the persons wishes. So im using the costume as an intermediary for now. So the armor is connected to the suit and it feeds off the extra wish energy that the suit doesn’t need.”

Drethan continued, “He came in with a book of dragons that he was making, and he wanted me to make one. I chose this faction of dragon. Partly because it seemed a challenge for me.”

“I already knew he had a costume. Why did it cause him to lose his family?”

Drethan walked towards his desk and laid the costume on it. “The first one had some major flaws. With what the dragon had as powers...They were not normal ones. I mean there were some, but others were very complicated.”

Laura folded her arms, “You mean there were some side effects.”

“Yes. Though now im positive that I got the flaws out on this one.”

Laura glared at Drethan. “Where is he now?”

Drethan shook his head, “No.”

“What do you mean no?” Laura yelled.

“Yelling again.” Drethan said again, with a little amusement in his voice.

Laura took a deep breath and then stopped. Let it out and said quietly, “What do you mean no?”

“Ah, that’s better.” He said as he sat on a chair and propped up his feet on the desk itself.

She glared at him. Drethan stared back. “If you want to find him you’ll have to find him yourself. Though I imagine it would be quite difficult. Go and look for him if you wish. I don’t care what you do, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“If he’s in trouble. Ill come back and...and...”

“And what?” Drethan replied. Laura sighed. “Nothing...”

“Uh hu, that’s what I thought.” Drethan said under his breath. “Though,” he continued, “There is a way you could help him.”

Laura had a growing suspicion. “I’m not putting on any of your freak costumes.”

Drethan shook his head. Glasses flashing in the light from above his workbench. “You know that Loch had a great time being a Blastoise. Maybe you would too.”

“You sly old man. What would ever convince me to buy this costume from you?”

Drethan put his feet down on the floor. “Why, another chance to save your friend. Another chance to save another person that might wear this. Besides, it will help my research go faster.”

Was Laura seriously considering his request? If I take the costume, then someone won’t suffer. “Fine” She said, “But I want to make one thing clear. I’m doing this to help all of the rest of your victims and would be victims.”

“Fine.” Drethan said, “I’ll get a bag.”

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Laura had not believed it. She had actually bought the bronze hero dragon costume from Drethan. What made her think of such a thing, she’ll never know but the fact was, was that she bought it.

I can’t believe I bought one of his stupid costumes! After what I saw my friend go through. She sighed. Well, I guess its partly because im the only one that knows what actually happened to James, besides Drethan.

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As Laura reached her apartment and opened the door. She sat down on her bed. Looking at the clock it read four thirty. “Well, might as well get this over with.” She looked at the bag with the costume in it.

She new how it worked, and also knew that a lot of clothes would slow up the process. But Laura wanting to conserve her modesty, kept her clothes on.

She reached for the costume. She found a slit across the front of the beautifully made costume. As she opened it up, the costume started to slowly get warm. She slipped one leg in and then quickly the other. Soon though, the costume had tightened around her legs. Laura panicked and tried to push the costume off of her legs, but to no avail.

Realizing what she must do. She relaxed and let the costume do its work. Tendrils of the costume split and started covering her torso. “This is an interesting feeling.” She said, mostly to herself. As the costume finished covering her torso, she felt some very weird feelings in her legs. As she looked at them they began to break and enlarge to fit a dragons proportions. Pain shot through her. Before she realized it. The tail had attached itself to her spine. Causing her legs to spread out and crack.

“Awwwww, crap.” Those were the only words that came out of her mouth before the mask slipped over her face. She couldn’t breath. Laura struggled for air. Then the mask adjusted so that she could breathe.

Laura panted. Though the covering of her body was over. The transformation that was just beginning wasn’t. The suit got a little warmer, and them more popping and cracking sounds came from her body. She writhed in pain, and soon the costume had to control her thrashing so that she wouldn’t hurt herself.

Soon the wings filled out and connected to her shoulder blades. Through the pain, Laura realized that there was just one more thing. The costume became extremely hot, almost unbearable. The costume seemed to melt into her skin, while also melting away her clothes. As the transformation was complected. Laura panted from exhaustion, and slowly lapsed into a deep sleep.