The battlefield was quiet. Shards of broken ninja ships drifted through space, glowing faintly like fireworks fading in the night. The crew of the Black Dragon’s Foot stood on the bridge, catching their breath after the wildest fight yet—one that had looked more like a school performance than a battle.
But Alfie knew it wasn’t over.
The chained Shadow Dragon fortress loomed in the distance. Even cracked, it pulsed with dark energy, and now a chilling voice rolled across the void:
“You may dance with stars, little warriors… but shadows eclipse the brightest light.”
The fortress shuddered, and the Shadow Dragon began to stir. Its scales gleamed black as obsidian, its eyes burned violet fire, and broken chains floated around it like ghostly whips.
“By the stars…” Charlie whispered, clutching his compass. “It’s waking.”
The Eclipse Begins
The dragon stretched its colossal wings, blotting out the nearby suns. A darkness spread across the battlefield, swallowing light. Even the glow of Alfie’s Fire and Water Blades dimmed.
“I can’t see!” Eoin shouted, firing blindly into the dark.
“My braids aren’t glowing!” Laragh gasped.
Even Cluckles clucked nervously, lightning sparking weakly from his feathers.
Alfie steadied himself. “Don’t panic. This is an eclipse. We can fight it.”
Emberwing’s voice was faint, almost drowned by the Shadow Dragon’s roar:
“The eclipse feeds on fear. Hold to your flame. Remember your training.”
Alfie’s New Moves
Alfie closed his eyes. He thought back to Cluckles teaching him—heel picks, roundhouses, inside-out blocks. He pictured his school performance, the courage it took to step on stage in front of everyone. He remembered his dad’s proud smile when he handed over the Father’s Day mug.
All those moments gave him strength.
He opened his eyes. “Okay, Shadow Dragon. You’ve had your eclipse. Now it’s our turn to shine.”
Alfie moved into stance. He launched a step-up front kick into the darkness, the strike glowing brighter than before. Then a roundhouse—sparks flew like fireworks. He finished with four rapid knuckle punches, each one shattering patches of shadow.
Light burst back into the dojo-like bridge, giving the crew courage.
The Crew Unites
Inspired, the others followed:
- Skull Fire unleashed a massive roar of dragon flame, piercing the dark.
- Penny and Laragh’s braids flared, lashing shadows like whips of light.
- Eoin’s blasts fired in rhythm with Alfie’s punches.
- Charlie raised his compass high, projecting a guiding star through the gloom.
- And Cluckles, wings sparking furiously, shot upward like a lightning rocket, pecking the Shadow Dragon right on its nose.
The dragon reeled back, furious.
The Warning
For a moment, victory seemed possible. But then the Shadow Dragon’s eyes glowed brighter, its wings tearing the sky.
“You cannot defeat me. I am every fear, every shadow, every doubt. You will face me in full… in the final eclipse.”
The fortress and dragon both vanished into a storm of shadow, retreating for now.
Alfie lowered his blades, breathing heavily. He knew this was only a taste of the battle to come.
“We’ll be ready,” he whispered.
Skull Fire put a hand on his shoulder. “Aye, lad. And when that dragon comes back—we’ll eclipse it instead.”
Cluckles puffed his chest proudly, his samurai helmet gleaming in the starlight.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next up: Chapter Ten – The Final Blades Awaken.