The Black Dragon’s Foot soared away from the fiery volcano world, Alfie’s new Blade of Fire glowing at his side. The whole crew was buzzing with excitement—well, except Skull Fire, who was busy cleaning lava off his boots.
But not everyone looked relaxed. Penny leaned close to Alfie and whispered, “You really trust Brooke and Luke? They were the Glitch Twins, remember? They nearly destroyed us before.”
J.J. puffed up bravely. “I trust them! They brought forks, remember?”
Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Trust isn’t about forks, J.J. It’s about choices.”
Brooke overheard, her face tight. Luke stepped up beside her. “We know we messed up. But we didn’t choose the ninjas—they controlled us. Give us one chance to prove we’re on your side.”
Alfie looked at them. He remembered Emberwing’s words: “Guard both your flame and your friends.”
He nodded. “Okay. Let’s see what you can do.”
The Shadow Ambush
The ship rattled as it dropped out of warp over a dark, watery planet shrouded in mist. According to Charlie’s compass, the Blade of Water was hidden somewhere below.
But before they could land, alarms screamed.
“Stealth signatures!” Eoin yelled. “Ninjas inbound!”
Shadow ships swarmed from the mist, their hulls almost invisible. Grappling lines shot out, latching onto the Dragon’s Foot.
The ninjas swarmed aboard. Silent. Deadly.
“Protect the ship!” Skull Fire roared.
The crew scattered into battle—Alfie with his Fire Blade, Penny and Laragh whipping their glowing braids, Eoin blasting with his laser tag armor, and McDonalds belly-bouncing ninjas into the walls.
But still, more and more shadows poured in.
Brooke & Luke’s Test
Brooke grabbed a glitch lantern from her pack, its light bending like liquid. “Luke—now!”
Luke slammed his palm to the floor. A wave of glitch-energy rippled out, revealing the ninjas’ camouflage. Their stealth tricks fizzled, and suddenly they were visible targets.
“Take them down!” Eoin shouted, unloading laser fire.
Still, the ninja leader leapt onto the bridge, blade drawn. “The Fire Blade belongs to us.”
Alfie braced—but Brooke stepped in front of him.
“No. Not anymore.”
She caught the strike on her lantern, sparks showering everywhere. Luke leapt behind the leader, pinning him with glitch-chains. “We fight with them now,” he growled.
Together, Brooke and Luke forced the leader back. Alfie finished it with a kata strike—Shizuki Ich—disarming the ninja and sending him tumbling into the shadows.
The remaining ninjas melted away, hissing in defeat.
Proving Their Place
Silence fell. Everyone stared at Brooke and Luke.
Olivia crossed her arms. “Well… I guess that was convincing.”
Penny still looked wary, but nodded slowly. “Alright. Maybe you’re not so bad.”
Alfie grinned. “You saved the Fire Blade. You’ve earned your place.”
Brooke smiled for the first time in a long while. “Thanks, Alfie.”
Luke added, “We’re not the Glitch Twins anymore. We’re… the Light Twins.”
“Bit cheesy,” Nutters muttered, “but I’ll allow it.”
The Next Trial
Charlie’s compass glowed, pointing downward. Through the mist below, a great spiral waterfall poured into the clouds. Somewhere inside was the Blade of Water.
Emberwing’s voice rumbled faintly in Alfie’s chest:
“Trust has been forged. But water will test the flow of your spirit. Be ready.”
Alfie tightened his grip on the Fire Blade. “Then we dive.”
The Black Dragon’s Foot tilted, engines roaring, and plunged toward the waterfall.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next up: Chapter Four – The Blade of Water.