A/N: Like I said, I'm skipping episodes 33 & 34 since nothing really happens in those episodes. After this chapter I only have three more episodes to write and the epilogues and then this book is completed! Enjoy!

EDITED ON JULY 26TH, 2018 @ 7:16PM

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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - HOUSE OF CARDS

𝓣𝙰𝙽𝙽𝙴𝚁

I WAS OUTSIDE REEFSIDE HIGH School. Ethan was playing a game with Devin while I was doing homework. "Ooh, enchantment spell. Now your trolls are under my command." Ethan said. "Counter spell, bro, sorry. Now the release thing can be set on loose on your castle." Devin stated. "Ooh, magic arrow card. Now my archers can hit five of your warriors with one shot." Ethan explained.

"Oh, not if my warriors are wearing enchanted armor, thank you very much." Devin stated. I rolled my eyes as I continued doing my homework. "This is so completely lame." Cassidy commented. "For once I actually agree with you, Cassidy." Kira added as I hummed in agreement next to her. "You guys just don't understand 'cause you've never experienced Dragon War played to its fullest potential." Ethan told us.

"Yeah, I mean, the intelligence and concentration that it takes to play this game is more than what most people can comprehend." Devin added. Ethan nodded in agreement. "Really? That must be why my 6-year-old brother is so into it." Cassidy stated. "Besides, you guys know Randall will freak if she catches you. It's against school rules to play cards." I added.

"Dude, can we get back to the game? I believe I was about to charge your castle." Devin said as he set a card down. Ethan looked at his cards. "No way. It can't be." Ethan said. "What? What is it?" Devin asked. "Ruby Dragon Card." Ethan replied, holding up a card. "No. No way, that's impossible." Devin said. "Ooh, what's a Ruby Dragon Card?" Kira asked. "The rarest and most powerful card of them all. Nothing can beat it." Ethan replied like it was nothing.

"No way, man, I quit. Game over, you win." Devin said. "See?" Ethan stated. "Hmm, you know, sometimes my job is just too easy." Principal Randall said, walking up to Ethan and Devin. "Principal Randall, you are looking especially lovely today." Ethan complimented. "Mr. James, if your friend Mr. McKnight can't pull that off, then what makes you think you can?" Principal Randall asked.

"All right, well, perhaps I can appeal to your sense of compassion." Ethan replied. "If I had one, maybe, but I don't. So give me the cards now." Principal Randall ordered. "But he just got the Ruby Dragon Card." Devin explained. "Yeah." Ethan added, pointing at the card. "Oh! Oh, well, you keep them then." Principal Randall said. "Really? All right." Ethan said. "No, hand them over." Principal Randall ordered. Ethan and Devin both handed the cards to her.

"Hmm, hmm. Now, off to class." Principal Randall said. "I can't believe it. I'll never find another one of those." Ethan stated. "Yeah, I know." Devin told him. We all got up and headed to class. "Okay, and we got stegosaurus, brachiosaurus, brontosaurus. What are some of the herbivores from that era?" Dr. Oliver asked.

"Ethan, you should know this." Dr. Oliver said, calling on Ethan who had his eyes closed. "Ethan, you all right? Can someone tell me what the problem is?" Dr. Oliver asked crossing his arms. I raised my hand. "It's Principal Randall. She took Devin and Ethan's Dragon War cards." I explained. "Dragon War? Isn't that a kids' game?" Dr. Oliver asked. "Come on. It's a game of strategy for all ages." Ethan argued. A few students laughed.

"Well, I hate to side with Randall on this, but you know you can't play cards at school." Dr. Oliver informed. "Dr. O., she took the Ruby Dragon Card." Ethan argued. "Dr. Oliver, it was brutal, man." Devin agreed. Dr. Oliver sighed. "All right, look, I'll talk to her after school. Maybe I can get 'em back. But for now, can you guys please pay attention?" Dr. Oliver asked.

"Hey, anything for you, Dr. O." Ethan answered. The bell rang as we walked outside and saw Dr. Oliver and Principal Randall fighting each other. "All of this because of a card? Something isn't right." I think to myself. "Okay, do you think Dr. O.'s going just a little over the top trying to get Ethan's card back?" Kira asked. "Well, maybe he knows something we don't." Trent replied. "Like what?" Conner asked. "I don't know. There's gotta be a reason he's fighting her." Trent answered.

"Trent's right. Dr. O. wouldn't fight Principal Randall for no reason." I agreed. "What is Dr. O. doing? He is so gonna get fired!" Conner exclaimed. "It's Elsa!" Ethan explained as he walked up to us. "Who?" Conner asked. "Randall?" Kira added. That's when Randall transfered into Elsa. "See?" Ethan said. Elsa then disappeared.

"Wait! Oh, don't go." Ethan said. "Don't go? Are you kidding?" Conner asked. "She has the Ruby Dragon Card." Ethan explained. "I can't believe we didn't work it out. They look exactly the same, except one has glasses." Conner stated. "Hey, Clark Kent and Superman look the same, but nobody ever puts that together." Ethan informed. "Good point." Conner said as he chuckled. "I just can't believe she got the Ruby Dragon Card. I have been looking for that card since I was a kid." Ethan told us.

"Look, maybe I can do something about it." Trent suddenly said. "Like what?" Ethan asked. "I don't know. Maybe I can think of something. Just leave it to me." Trent responded as he walked off. "What was that about?" Ethan asked. "Well, don't ask me. I can't figure him out any easier than you guys can." I replied.

"Hey, guys. We're still meeting later for training at the edgemuir woods." Dr. Oliver informed. "Yeah, we'll be there." Conner said. "Dr. O., who's the new principal gonna be?" Kira asked. "That's a good question. I'm going over to the school board right now to let 'em know what happened." Dr. Oliver replied. "They might want to screen the next one a little better." Conner informed. "Yeah, I'll let 'em know that. See ya." Dr. Oliver said as he got into his car. We all said goodbye to him as we headed off.

We were at edgemuir woods. "I don't know, Dr. Oliver. I mean, he's been acting kind of weird lately. Like, there's something he's not telling us." Conner said as he was talking about Trent. "Well, dude, you have to admit, Trent isn't exactly the most open about what's going on with him." Ethan stated.

"And what's with him going after the Ruby Dragon Card?" Kira added. "He'll be here. He probably just got hung up at the cyber cafe." Dr. Oliver told us. That's when a red dragon showed up. "Speaking of the Ruby Dragon Card..." Ethan started off. "Elsa didn't waste any time." Conner finished. "And if Trent went after the card..." I started to say. "Not good." Ethan finished. "We'll find Trent later. Right now we have more pressing things to deal with." Dr. Oliver said. "Ready?" Conner asked. "Ready!" All of us replied.

"Dino Thunder, Power Up! HA!" We all yelled. We morphed and got straight into Super Dino Mode. We then began attacking the ruby dragon one by one. We all got thrown to the ground. "The Ruby Dragon always wins!" The Ruby Dragon exclaimed. That's when he got attacked by lasers. "We'll see about that!" Trent said as he rode on his ATV. He got out his weapon.

"I'll handle this freak myself... if he's up for the challenge." Trent said. "Trent, that's crazy!" Conner exclaimed. "Conner's right. He's too strong to take on by yourself." Dr. Oliver added. "I know how to play his game." Trent informed. "Speaking of games, why don't you tell your friends the truth?" The Ruby Dragon asked. "I don't know what you're talking about." Trent replied. "Now let's do this!" He added as he attacked The Ruby Dragon.

We watched as Trent fought him and then he fell to the ground. "Trent, you okay?" Conner asked. "Yeah." Trent answered. "I've got him!" Conner said as he got ready to attack him. "Wait, Conner! Let me take him!" Trent exclaimed. "What's the matter with you? And what is he talking about?" Conner asked. Before Trent could reply, we got attacked.

The portal opened and I saw Tyrannodrones and Elsa. "Attack!" Elsa ordered. Trent was fighting Elsa while the rest of us were fighting the Tyrannodrones. Trent fell to the ground as Conner and I stepped in front of him. "And what fun would that be, huh? Then I wouldn't get to see you reveal your big secret." Elsa replied to whatever Trent said. "Secret? What secret?" Conner asked. "What is she talking about, Trent?" I added. "It's nothing. She's just trying to mess with us." Trent replied.

"Then why don't you tell them?" Elsa asked. "Conner, Can you take it from here?" Trent asked us. "Yeah!" Conner said. "Kira, Ethan!" Conner said as he took out the triassic shield. I stood back as they powered up the shield. "Battlyzer!" Conner said as he got into battlyzer mode. Elsa and The Ruby Dragon disappeared. "Nice one!" Trent said.

"Good job!" Kira added. "Trent, what was she talking about?" Conner asked. "If there's something you need to tell us, now's the time to do it." Dr. Oliver added. "We're your friends. Whatever it is, Trent, it can't be that bad." I said. We were back at the lab. "Trent, we're a team. We work together doing something that takes the ultimate trust in each other." Dr. Oliver explained. "If you're holding back on us, how are we supposed to trust you out there in battle?" Conner asked.

"You're right. Okay, look, this is how it is. I went to Mesogog's lab to get the card back." Trent explained. "You what? By yourself?" Kira asked. "I found an invisi-portal, and it took me right there. I was just trying to help you out, Ethan. So I took a shot." Trent explained. "That wasn't a real smart thing to do." Dr. Oliver said. "Yeah, it was stupid. I got knocked out by that thing. I barely made it to help you guys." Trent said.

"Look, Dr. O., he was just being a good friend. Any of us would've done the same thing." Ethan stated as Conner nodded in agreement. "Well, none of you better in the future. That's all I can say." Dr. Oliver said. "It won't happen again, I promise." Trent said. "So that's your big secret?" I asked. "Yeah." Trent replied. I looked as if I didn't believe him. "Look, I'm gonna go. My head's still feeling foggy." Trent said.

"Okay, get some rest." Dr. Oliver said. "See you guys later." Trent said as he headed out. "Is something on your mind, Tanner?" Dr. Oliver asked me. "I don't know. There's just something that's not quite right with him." I answered. "He's had a good knock to the head. I'd be feeling kinda spacy, too." Conner said. All of us looked at him.

"Uh, I meant, more than usual." Conner corrected himself. That's when the alarm beeped and The Ruby Dragon was on the screen. "Let's go!" Dr. Oliver said. "What about Trent?" Conner asked. "We'll let him get his head back together. We'll call him if it gets real ugly." Dr. Oliver replied. "Ready!" Dr. Oliver said. "Ready!" All of us replied. "Dino Thunder, Power Up! HA!" All of us shouted. We morphed and headed to the scene.

"Back for more?" The Ruby Dragon asked. We began fighting him. He attacked us with lasers as we were thrown to the ground. "That was harsh!" Conner exclaimed. "Okay, this guy needs a little hover love." Ethan stated. He called his hovercraft cycle as The Ruby Dragon attacked him. Ethan fired lasers at him. Ethan continued attacking him until he fell on the ground.

That's when Trent came in and attacked him with his weapon. "Trent, watch out!" Conner warned. He fired at The Ruby Dragon. "Let's bust out the Z-Rex on this trading card phony!" Conner exclaimed. We all put our weapons together. "Z-Rex Blaster!" All of us shouted. "Nothing beats the Ruby Dragon!" The Ruby Dragon exclaimed. We fired the Z-Rex blaster at the Ruby Dragon until he was finally destroyed. That is until he grew again.

"The game isn't over yet!" The Ruby Dragon exclaimed. We all called out our Zords. Dr. Oliver handled the Mesodon as we all got into our Megazords. The Ruby Dragon flew up into the air. "Nice view!" He said. He then attacked us. "Dino Stegozord! Tail Attack!" Trent shouted. He went to attack him but the Ruby Dragon Card caught him and threw him down.

"We've gotta work together!" Trent said. "He's right!" Conner said. "Yeah!" Dr. Oliver added. "Let's do it!" Trent said. We all attacked at once as we destroyed him once more. We were at Reefside High School. "Well, did you learn something from this, Ethan?" Dr. Oliver asked. "Yeah, leave the card games at home from now on." Ethan replied. "Dude, how about leaving it to the kids from now on?" Conner asked. "Yeah, seriously, you're much too smart for that." Kira agreed.

"You guys still don't get it." Ethan said. "That's all right. I don't expect you to understand." He added. That's when Anton and Trent walked by. "Hey, Anton. How are ya?" Dr. Oliver asked. "Tommy, I'm fine. Hey, I understand you're looking for a new principal." Anton said. "Why? Are you interested?" Dr. Oliver asked.

"Please no. If Anton Mercer becomes principal then I'm having Dr. O. help me go back to Briarwood before we defeat Mesogog." I thought. "I'm sure Dr. Mercer's far too busy to run a school." Kira puts in. "Yeah, far too busy." Ethan agreed. "Relax, everybody, she's right." Anton said. That's when something beeped. "Oh, see? Even as we speak." Anton said as he took something out of his pocket. That's when we saw a card fall out as well. We all looked down to see the Ruby Dragon Card. The same monster that we defeated.

Ethan picked it up. "Uh, how did you get this?" He asked. "Honestly, I don't know. Trent, is this yours?" Anton asked. "No. I don't know how it got there." Trent replied. Anton groaned. "Anton! Are you all right?" Dr. Oliver asked. Anton fell to the ground. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone." Anton whisper-answered. "We should get you some help." Dr. Oliver said.

"No!" Anton shouted as he ran off. We all followed him. "Leave him alone! He'll be fine!" Trent shouted as he ran after us. "He needs a doctor!" He continued to shout. We continued to follow him. "Anton, wait!" Dr. Oliver shouted. "Please leave me!" Anton begged. We followed him into the classroom. That's when we saw him transform into Mesogog. "No way! Mercer is..." Conner started off.

"Mesogog." Dr. Oliver finished. "Oh, this is one crazy week." Ethan commented. "This is your big secret? You knew this all along?" I asked Trent. "He's my father. How could I tell you?" Trent replied. "You will pay for betraying me, Trent. You will pay dearly." Mesogog said.

"I never betrayed you." Trent argued. "You betrayed us, if anything." Conner said. "Silence!" Mesogog said as he transformed back into Anton. He looked up at us. "Trent... I'm sorry." Anton said as he disappeared into a portal. We all looked at Trent.

"So, Xander. We found out the identities of Elsa and Mesogog. The thing is, Mesogog turned out to be Anton, Trent's father. That was his big secret. He betrayed us... Most importantly, he betrayed my trust..."

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A/N: I wanted to update this before I headed to bed for the night. Hope y'all enjoyed!

Word Count: 2663 words.