Command and Conquer? DUDE! No offense, but Command and Conquer? Aiiieeee-yaaaiii-yaaiii...

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Chapter 5: Until Death Do Us Part.

Moments ago, Jake had wondered, if he could tell Rose about this. About being the American Dragon, being her mortal enemy, with the blind hope that, maybe, it might fix everything. But now though, Jake had been revealed, and he didn't feel any sort of hope. Instead he was left with the hollow feeling of something in his life being shattered and scattered to the winds. It was all he could do to force a smile, albeit a guilty, weak smile, when trying to respond.

"Er...hi Rose?"

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At the shop, Grampa and Fu Dog were returning, wondering where Jake was.

"Are you sure you left a message for Jake to tell him where we were?"

"Whoa, come on now, I wrote down everything like ya asked me to. Least it wasn't the Huntsclan spooking the trolls..." Fu Dog replied.

They both looked around to see if Jake was present.

"Hey, where's my note?" Fu Dog grumbled, "I left the darn thing right on the counter."

"I am afraid something may have happened to Jake. We must hurry and find him."

"We gonna need Ralph the Goblin again?"

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"All this time, all those battles, it was you I was fighting?" Rose asked.

Jake managed to nod, then winced. Doom's punch to the face must've pulled a muscle or two in his neck.

"Yeah, but it's not like I chose to be. It's like your birthmark. I was born to it."

"And you knew it was me...? How?"

"The ski trip..."

"..When you first saved my life...that explains why you became so distant...but...why did you open up to me again later?"

"Your eyes...when we first met, I could tell you were special because of how beautiful your eyes were...even knowing you were the Huntsgirl, I still couldn't forget you."

Rose was surprised. Here she was, hearing straight from the dragon's mouth, that the only one who cared for Rose outside of her looks, happened to be what she'd been trying to slay for years now.

"Isn't this a kick in the head..." she muttered, "This is what Doom meant by letting life's irony causing misery..."

"You must hate me..."

"I...I don't know what to feel right now...for most of my life, I was brought up to hunt magical creatures, especially dragons. Yet...here I am, and all this time, I'd been in love with one..."

"That's how I felt when I found out about you when I found out..."

"But you still saved me."

"Huntsgirl or not, you were still Rose! I couldn't just ignore that."

Rose was silent. She watched Jake struggle on the chains, gritting his teeth. Considering what he'd just been through, she doubted he was in any condition to get loose...

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Fu Dog wished he had a barf bag. Riding on Grampa in a flight over the city wasn't exactly thrilling for him, but he had to hold the bag of potions. Come to think of it, it was a bag...

"Fu Dog, don't even THINK about it!"

The sky was dark, with black clouds over the city. Rain was coming soon, and they still didn't know where to find Jake. They couldn't get hold of Ralph, so there wasn't going to be any super-sniffing for locating him, and they had no time to use a magic potion to try to find him, so they had to do it the old fashioned way. They flew over the embassy building, trying to find signs of Jake. Down below them was an outdoor event of grand proportions, with hundreds if not thousands of people gathered to attend, many being the media.

"Hey, what's that about?" Fu Dog asked.

"We haven't the time to-"

Grampa would have continued, but a very familiar voice was heard over the crowd, thanks to the 'magic' of loudspeakers. Grampa growled hearing it. He knew what happened to Jake now...the Huntsclan would've set an ambush in the shop for all of them. This...was someone much more dangerous, someone who'd said they'd gladly forfeit the lives of every person in the city, for just one chance...

"I am aware that rain is coming, so I will make this brief. To all nations of the world, my homeland has long remained in the times of the Dark Ages. Hiding in fear, in terror, of what they did not understand. Lashing out upon those in their borders that ran contrary to their ways, their beliefs, their way of life. It is time now, for my land to grasp hopelessly in the dark no more! It is time, for a new dawn to shine upon not just Latveria, but upon all lands, with the unification of Latveria into the world's stage! With the coming of this dawn, the light of hope and progress will shine upon the land, and perhaps a light to shine upon the entire world, for hopes of a day, when mankind will no longer persecute it's own, no longer detest what it doesn't understand. For one day, for all countries to be truly united!"

"Victor..." Grampa muttered, "He has Jake."

Grampa was facing down at Doom, eyes narrowed. Fu Dog knew what he was planning.

"Whoa, don't even think it! We can't go down there! You do and everything magical's gonna be revealed to everyone in the world!"

"If you have a better idea on how to find my grandson, then tell me!"

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There had been silence between Jake and Rose, for what felt like hours to them. Rose had been reflecting back upon her memories of Jake. The times they shared, or tried to, both as plain, ordinary teenagers. They had nearly shared a kiss many times, yet always held apart by their destinies, their other lives. Rose wondered, if the taunts, the hit-on lines, that Jake had used when fighting her as Huntsgirl...if they were all only that...

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Fu Dog was currently hiding behind the potions bag. He'd gotten through to Grampa, but Grampa wasn't the least bit happy about it. The crowd below was dispersing, the event over, the people returning to their lives in the city. Doom, however, remained, as the others left. He had said something to the other ambassadors. What wasn't heard. Soon, however, only Doom remained outside. A crack of thunder was heard in the distance, and Grampa could wait no longer, diving at Doom, landing behind him, as Doom was facing the building.

"Where is my grandson!"

Doom only laughed.

"Do you know, the inscription of the Statue?"

"There'll be no games Victor, where is he?"

Doom turn to face Grampa, Fu Dog hiding behind Grampa, seeing why Doom was intimidating.

"'Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses, yearning to be free, as I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door.' Those are the words Liberty holds in her arm, as she stands in silent vigil. Your grandson is going to the other side of that door soon enough. I have planned for emotional pain for the three of you, as well as physical."

"Why you-"

Grampa swung down at Doom with his right claw, more than intent on inflicting serious harm, not expecting Doom to catch his claw, and hold it at bay with his left hand. Doom grunted however.

"Not bad. That's more than I expected when I built this armor's physical boosters. But still weak."

Doom then backhanded Grampa back, knocking him down onto Fu Dog.

"Omph! Watch it will ya?" Fu Dog shouted.

"Hmph! If you still seek me, you will find me in the city. It shouldn't be hard.."

Doom then strode off into the night, Grampa and Fu Dog recovering.

"We have to find out where Jake is from that jerk!" Fu Dog said, getting up.

"He already told us..." Grampa stated.

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Rose came out of her memories, when she heard Jake groaning.

"Jake!"

"Ugh...Rose? I want to...apologize..."

"For what?"

"For the...lumps and bruises I caused...the things I said...and for being the American Dragon..."

"..Jake, there's nothing to forgive. It's what you had to do. Like I had to be part of the Huntsclan..."

"...thanks Rose...ugh..."

Jake's head then slumped forward, and his muscles went slack.

"Jake? Jake! JAKE!"

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I think I don't have to say anything, but... Is Jake dead? Will Grampa find them? What of Doom?