Opposing Force is the fourth episode of the first season in Dragon Booster. It first aired in the US on November 13, 2004. It was then aired in Canada on November 16, 2004 and in Australia on March 10, 2005.
Plot Summary[]
Rancydd, wearing a Grip of the Dragon crew jacket and riding a green Bull-class dragon, is getting away after a bank-heist, but is stopped by the Dragon Booster. The Dragon Booster is distracted by a civilian in peril and Parmon's binoculars malfunction due to which they lose track of him. Lance tries to help but is told to stay with Parmon. Parmon eventually uses thermal vision and catches up with Rancydd heading down an air duct. Artha finds the abandoned Grip of the Dragon crew jacket in the tunnel. Artha realizes that the tunnel led to the Down City Council Round Table and eavesdrops on the ongoing argument.
During the discussion, tensions are high between Phistus and Moordryd. Moordryd raises alarm over the Dragon Booster but Phistus doubts his motives. Rancydd walks in and whispers in Moordryd's ear but no one recognizes him from the bank-heist. Moordryd breaks the news that Phistus's crew was involved in the recent robbery which is corroborated by news coverage. He challenges Phistus' leadership through the rite of Dragon Joust as Phistus has disgraced the Council. Artha steps on a loose pipe and falls into the meeting. Moordryd gives the call to apprehend him but Beau breaks through the wall and rescues him.
Artha practices defensive and manoeuvring skills at the Gold Dragon Temple. Mortis informs Artha that if Moordryd beats Phistus, he can be challenged by one other on that day and pushes Artha to train harder. At Paynn Inc., Word reveals to Moordryd the next stage of his plan: defeating Phistus with the help of a wraith dragon he created with Mind control and invisibility gear.
The first round of the Jousting battle begins. Cain makes the Wraith crash into Brutaris, throwing Phistus off and allowing Moordryd to win. The second round proceeds in a similar manner and Moordryd wins the best-2-out-3 game. Dragon Booster now challenges Moordryd. Moordryd accepts but adds a clause: the winner takes the loser’s dragon. Before the round starts, Parmon spots the wraith using thermal vision but his binocs malfunction. Artha loses the first round like Phistus. Parmon fixes his binocs and Lance helps him improvise it to jam Cain's wireless controller. The wraith dragon is disoriented and Dragon Booster wins the round.
Lance spots that Cain is the one controlling the wraith. Parmon’s binocs malfunction again. In the last round, Artha is hit again but barely hangs on to Beau. Lance shouts to never give up, and he swings back onto his saddle, glowing with a green light. The next round starts with Parmon still unable to fix his machine; Lance drives his toy jousting dragon over Cain’s feet, making him drop and break his controller. The Wraith loses its invisibility on the track -- Artha is again knocked to the ground but this time, Moordryd's cheating is out in the open and he is disqualified.
Race Marshall Budge decrees Artha the head of the Dragon City Council but Artha transfers it to Phistus as he was cheated too. Moordryd reminds of Phistus’ crew member's bank-heist -- to which Dragon Booster holds up the thief's Grip of the Dragon crew jacket he had found earlier and peels the logo to reveal the Dragon Eye crew's logo. Moordryd slinks away and honour is restored to Phistus and his crew.
Important Events[]
- Phistus, Brutaris, his crew, wraith dragons and The Down City Council of Twelve are introduced.
- First sighting of Ignight of the Dragon Flares crew.
- Dragon Joust is introduced.
- Word Paynn's first direct encounter with the Dragon Booster.
Quotes[]
- "It is our duty to ensure peace between our dragon crews or there would be city-wide chaos. That is what this Down City Council does, what it's done for centuries." - Phistus
- “Dragon Booster! You have tasks ahead that will require endurance, will power and an inner strength you never knew you had. If there is one lesson you must learn, it's to know the true meaning of heart and to never give up.” - Mortis
- “It’s not how big you are, Lance Penn, it’s the size of your heart that matters. And when I look at you, I see courage as big as a mountain.” - Mortis. This quote could be a reference to future events in Episode 17: Faster Than Fear where Lance is the only one courageous enough to break through the illusions of the Shadow Track.
Trivia[]
- Phistus is remarked to be the all-time Dragon City jousting champion.
- There is a parallel plot of Lance being condescended but emerging as the saviour -- from directing the Dragon Booster to the thief's location to figuring out that the wraith dragon is remote-controlled, amplifying Parmon's signal jammer's reach, spotting Cain with the wraith's controls and getting him to drop and break it, to finally pepping Artha before the final round -- with an innocent toy jouster as his enabler.
- The green light enrobing the Dragon Booster at the end is likely the Green Draconium within the Gold that activates and helps him discover the nature of being stubborn, to never give up, a quality that people under Green Draconium influence are known for. This idea is reinforced by Phistus' comment.
- At the end, Lance realizes his toy dragon is still at the jousting arena. Moordryd and Cain are seen at the jousting arena, when somebody (presumably Lance behind the scenes) drives Lance’s toy dragon over Moordryd’s feet.
Gallery[]
| Season One | 01 • 02 •03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08 • 09 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 |
| Season Two | 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 |
| Season Three | 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 |
| Unproduced | 00 |