"Come on, we've got to get to Central Park," Newt said urgently.
He jerked his chin toward the north, seized Jacob's arm, and Disapparated with practiced ease.
A flash of warped space later, the three of them reappeared on a bridge near the sprawling park.
Far ahead, an ostrich-sized blur, actually the escaped Erumpent, was charging at full tilt. Even from this distance they could see the blasted remains of the zoo wall.
Newt rummaged frantically in his case, tossed Jacob a wooden breastplate and helmet, then sprinted toward the chaos.
"Why do I have to wear this?" Jacob turned helplessly to Aiden for an explanation.
"You know, an Erumpent is about the size of an elephant, and you're an ordinary human. Our internal structure isn't quite the same," Aiden said delicately, twirling a finger around Jacob's midsection as a hint.
A thunderous roar shook the zoo grounds. Several streets away, Tina heard the sound, dashed back to her rented room, and found it completely empty.
By the time the trio reached the gate, the massive Erumpent was bearing down on a defenseless rhinoceros. Given the difference in bulk, if the charge connected, the poor rhino would almost certainly be killed.
Newt uncorked a small vial of musk distilled from a Graphorn's horn and dabbed a little on his palm with careful precision.
Beside him, Aiden had already transformed into his gleaming silver dragon form, ready for whatever might go wrong.
"Wow, you turned into a dragon again. And I have to say, you make one beautiful dragon," Jacob blurted in genuine awe.
Aiden winked one massive eye. Newt flipped open his case and began the ridiculous courtship dance that usually enticed an Erumpent.
The great creature responded immediately, flopped onto its back, and rolled playfully, about to wriggle happily into Newt's magical suitcase.
But then a sudden gust of wind made Jacob sneeze violently. The precious musk scattered all over him in a cloud of irresistible scent.
The Erumpent's head perked up, nostrils quivering with interest, and she stared straight at Jacob with unmistakable romantic intent.
"Jacob! Don't run!" Aiden called desperately, but it was already too late.
Man and beast tore out of the zoo, Jacob shrieking in terror as the lovesick Erumpent thundered after him with single-minded determination.
Newt whipped out his wand, only for a mischievous capuchin monkey to snatch it and accidentally blow itself sky-high with a stray jinx.
"Merlin's beard! Aiden, a little help!" Newt shouted over the chaos.
A dragon-shaped blur shot overhead. The silver predator's shadow made every zoo animal lower its head in primal terror of an aerial hunter.
"Newt! Aiden! Help me!" Jacob had scrambled desperately up a tall tree while the Erumpent rolled on her back below, hind legs flailing frantically to reach him.
When that strategy failed, she drove her explosive horn into the trunk. Wood detonated in a shower of splinters, and Jacob pitched earthward.
An instant before he hit the ground, a silver streak dove from above, caught him securely in powerful talons, and climbed away to safety.
"Aiden?!" Jacob found himself dangling face-up, meeting his rescuer's draconic gaze.
"Told you not to bolt," Aiden replied with exasperation.
"What now?" Jacob hugged the claws around his waist for dear life.
"Wait until Newt gets free. Sorry, but I need you as live bait for a moment. Don't worry though, she'll never match my speed."
Aiden's draconic grin was undeniably wicked.
"Aaaah!" Jacob screeched as Aiden banked sharply, the lovesick Erumpent in hot pursuit below.
Meanwhile, the monkey, still clutching Newt's wand, blasted itself senseless against a tree. Newt grabbed his wand back and Apparated to the nearby riverbank.
"Aiden, over here!" Newt called, waving frantically.
"Coming!" The dragon pitched into a controlled dive, the Erumpent following the same dangerous arc.
Seeing that lethal horn aimed straight at him, Newt broke into a cold sweat.
"Aiden, don't fly straight at me!"
Aiden nodded, wheeled sharply with Jacob in a tight loop beside Newt, and skimmed gracefully over the Erumpent's head.
The massive beast tried to turn mid-charge, but sheer momentum sent her skidding forward. Newt snapped his case wide open at the perfect moment. The Erumpent slid neatly inside like she'd been planning it all along.
Mission accomplished, Aiden gently set Jacob down beside the relieved Newt.
"Splendid work, Mr. Kowalski," Newt praised the thoroughly frantic baker.
"Just call me Jacob." He shook Newt's hand with his left, then, unable to resist the temptation, patted Aiden's gleaming horn with his right.
Aiden tossed his head with amusement and reverted to human form.
"First time I've ever touched a dragon horn," Jacob murmured, staring at his palm in wonder.
"First time for a lot of things today," Aiden said, rolling his eyes.
"All right, enough chatter. Inside we go," Newt said, opening the case for the three of them to climb down to safety.
Up on the bridge, Tina peeked cautiously around a stone pillar.
When she saw all three disappear into the seemingly ordinary suitcase, she rushed over, snapped the latches shut with determination, and headed straight for MACUSA headquarters.
But on the way, a surge of dark magic whooshed overhead, strong enough to make her stumble and nearly drop the case.
In an opulent hotel across the city, political and social elites were mingling at an exclusive gathering.
Media tycoon Mr. Shaw was working the room for his son, Senator-to-be Henry Shaw, who was destined for great things in politics.
Henry stood confidently on stage, expounding his policy platform to an attentive crowd, completely unaware that death was drawing near with every word he spoke.
The lights suddenly failed as a black cloud of malevolent energy ripped through the electrical cables. Darkness swallowed the grand hall, and an unseen force lifted, twisted, and then smashed Henry Shaw to the marble floor with sickening finality.
The senator's shocking death sent immediate shockwaves through both the magical and No-Maj communities. The International Confederation of Wizards convened an emergency session in New York.
Representatives from nearly every major wizarding nation crammed into MACUSA's main chamber to debate the catastrophic breach of magical secrecy.
"I never imagined our American friends would allow such a colossal exposure to endanger every one of us," thundered Hector Fawley, British Minister for Magic, from the elevated podium.
"I'm not taking lectures from the man who let Gellert Grindelwald slip through his fingers," President Seraphina Picquery shot back with ice in her voice.
Just then, Tina burst through the heavy doors, lugging the suspicious suitcase behind her.
"President Picquery, I have something urgent to report!"
She looked around nervously. Almost every delegate of international importance was present for this crisis.
"Madam President, yesterday two British wizards arrived in our city with a case full of dangerous magical beasts," Tina declared loudly.
"Yesterday? You waited twenty-four hours to report this, until after someone was killed?" Picquery said with deadly calm.
"Who was killed?" Tina asked, suddenly sensing something was terribly wrong.
"Where are they?" Picquery pressed relentlessly.
Tina set the suitcase carefully on the polished floor and opened the latches with trembling hands.
Newt, Aiden and Jacob climbed out, blinking in the harsh magical lighting.
"Mr. Scamander?" Minister Fawley's face darkened with recognition and growing concern.
"And who is this... this half-blood?" Picquery asked, eyeing Aiden with obvious distaste.
"A dragon-man! A Prewett dragon-man!" someone in the crowd screamed in terror.
"Impossible!" "They went extinct decades ago!" "Those war-mad maniacs bred another one!" The entire chamber erupted into chaos.
Aiden felt dozens of burning gazes sweeping over him like searchlights.
"You, boy! Your name? How did you come to be here?"
Fawley lunged forward eagerly, desperate to grab Aiden's hand for confirmation.
"Oops, this looks like trouble. Newt, I'll come back for you," Aiden murmured via telepathy, flashing Newt a meaningful glance.
Before the eyes of dozens of powerful witches and wizards, he simply vanished into thin air.
"Graves! Lock down the entire building immediately!" Picquery barked with authority that brooked no argument.