Disclaimer: I DO NOT own ADJL. No copyright infringement intended
Starcrossed
Chapter I: Goodbye
She's gone. She's really gone.
Jake Long stood on top of the Pantheon Building, surveying the damage from the previous night's fight. It was probably the most terrifying fight of his life. Worse than the time he had to fight the Dark Dragon on Draco Island, worse than when he had to fake his death at the Huntsclan academy, and worse, certainly than when he found out Huntsgirl's real identity.
Rose. That memory of finally saying goodbye to his Love kept invading his thoughts like a stubborn army. He supposed he couldn't blame his mind. After all, it was just trying to prevent him from forgetting.
It was, however, still an extremely painful experience, seeing that scene in his mind's eye.
She was as beautiful as ever, her golden hair tied as usual in a graceful ponytail, her eyes glinting sapphires in the moonlight. She seemed to have two conflicting emotions on her face. There was a look of absolute determination as she watched the spell rise into the sky after she made the fatal wish.
And yet, at the same time, there was also a smack of fear on her. By wishing for the destruction of the Huntsclan, she inevitably wished her own death. And her absolute terror at finally meeting her maker was etched visibly on her trembling hands and quivering lips.
It was only when Jake looked closer that he realized the thir enotion on her face: Sadness. She was obviously very unwilling to say goodbye to her friends, and the elegiac expression that kept creeping onto her face only said as much.
With a brilliant green shockwave, the spell began to take effect. The Huntsclan birthmark on each of their arms glowing. Slowly, each member was lifted into the air and vaporized into thin air, a deathly scream being the last thing they could exclaim while death overtook them.
Jake, after being liberated from the chains by Rose, transformed back to his human self, and then approached her, worry the predominant expression on her face.
"Rose, why did you-" he asked, but Rose interrupted.
"I said there was only one way this could end. And this is it. With the destruction of the Huntsclan." Her eyes began to moisten, but she seemed to be holding back her tears.
"But you're one of them," Jake said, desperately hanging onto the Love of his short life," that means-"
"I know what it means," she shot back, " but even if we destroy the skulls, they know your human identity, Jake. They'll find your family like they did mine. This way, they'll be safe. They'll all be safe."
Suddenly, the Huntsman began to rise into the air, and like his lackeys before him, the #4 Threat to the Magical World was blasted into bits, the evil of the Huntsclan finally destroyed.
But Jake knew there was no time to celebrate.
Suddenly, Rose knew it was time.
With a small, humming sound, Rose was lifted into the air by her slender arm, ready to face her own demise.
Before she went, however, she needed to say a few last words to her only boyfriend.
"Thank you Jake. For everything. I'll never forget you."
Jake was having none of this "Goodbye forever" crap. He reached out as high as his 160cm body could reach, grabbing her hand.
"Rose," he said, nearly choking on the tears he was holding back," No!"
Rose knew it was no use holding her back, that the force of the explosion that would take her life would hurt, even kill, Jake, so she tried to soothe him.
"Jake, let go." Now tears were really forming in her eyes.
"I'll be ok," she lied, knowing full well that she would never be ok, because there would be no more her to be ok," I promise."
But it was a promise she'd have to break. Nevetheless, she had to assure him.
"I'll be ok."
Where there was once sheer determination to hold onto her, there was now only a deeply sorrowful understanding. Jake knew there was no choice. He would have to let her go.
With an expression befitting that of a man beside his wife's deathbed, Jake reluctantly forced himself to slowly let those marvellous, smooth fingers slip past his own. His heart was screaming for him to hold on tighter, but his head was ordering his muscles to let go.
In that second, Jake remembered everything between the two.
Their first meeting, back when he was still a lovestruck immature fool.
The Ski Trip, where he found out her secret life.
During the Equinox Hunt, where her feelings for him became apparent when she spared his life.
Seeing her in his dream, right after a three month stumble in the dark.
Finally physically reuniting with her in the academy.
Their first real kiss, when they were called to fight to the death.
Waking up from temporary death, and being greeted by her face.
Her telling him she loved him for what he was underneath, not what he looked like
Their every dream date
The Love Cruise
Finally, Homecoming.
In that moment, watching her float further and further away from him, Jake knew what he had to do.
Quickly grabbing the skull, he shouted to his friends,"We have to do something! Wehave to use the skulls to save her!"
He vaguely heard Fu and Grandpa objecting to this plan, but decided to ignore them.
"It won't be for my personal gain! It'll be for hers! She deserves a normal life, with a family who cares about her!"
With that, he raised the skull to the heavens, and yelled his last hope of saving Rose.
"I wish Rose was never taken by the Huntsclan!"
Like before, the spell lifted into the air, before exploding in another dazzling display of green light.
Jake quickly looked up into the sky, desperately seeking his beloved Rose. When he couldn't find her, he realized the inevitable had happened.
Rose Thorne, the Girl of his Dreams, had just perished.
With an infuriated growl, Jake Long hurled the skull onto the floor, where it promptly cracked, shattering into a million pieces. As if on cue, the other skulls also imploded, taking down the gargoyle statues.
All eyes were on the grief-stricken teenager. With a voice filled to the brim with anger, frustration, and most obviously, extreme sadness, Jake said,"Consider them destroyed." With that, he walked away, changing into his dragon form before taking flight.
Jake realized with a groan that it was almost ten minutes to school. After quickly transforming into Dragon mode, he flew off the building, hoping that Rotwood's idiocy would be enough to keep him pre-occupied at least for today.
Little did he know what awaited him that day.
The end! Hope you enjoyed. After re-watching Amdrag, I just had to write this sTory. Coming up next month, Jake's failed attempts at trying to forget her, and a touching sibling scene between Jake and Haley.