Disclaimer: Hey Jerkies! Don't take that the wrong way; I was being nice. I do not own the WWE Talent or any venues mentioned in the story. If I did, I'd be General Manager. I'm introducing Dusty Rhodes as the Raw GM in the story.

The Road to WrestleMania: One Man's Journey to the Top
Chapter XV
Pick Your Poison

Only six days remained until the biggest event of the year, WrestleMania. The event is scheduled to emanate from the First Mariner Arena in Baltimore, the hometown of Drake Williams. Tension has been running high between Drake and the WWE Champion Edge. The Champion has made it his top priority to break the spirit of the challenger but thus far, all attempts have failed. Edge often interfered in many of Drake's matches or even used Lita to distract him.

All these actions merely strengthened the Crusader's resolve, so with a week remaining until WrestleMania, Raw General Manager Dusty Rhodes set up two matches for each one the main event participants. The matches were billed as "Pick your Poison", meaning both Drake could pick an opponent for Edge and vice versa. Drake chose to pit Shelton Benjamin against Edge on this night. After a tough battle, Edge defeated Benjamin and picked up some momentum before WrestleMania. After the match, Lita gave Edge a mic; the WWE Champion had something to say.

"I know your back there, Drake. Lemme make a few things clear." Edge held the WWE title in his hand as he spoke. "This belt is mine, all mine. You're not taking it away from me. You're not even in my league." Before Edge could finish, Drake Williams came out with his own mic.

"Oh, I'm sorry Edge," Drake said mockingly. "I thought you were done. Please, go on."

Edge was obviously displeased with the interruption. "You think you're funny," Edge said. "Let me give you a history lesson. WrestleMania is this Sunday, and I've never lost at this event. This year will be no different. WrestleMania is my event and I'll never lose. Bank on it!"

"Well, Mania might be your event," Drake said. "But news flash; your event will smack dab in the middle of my home. I didn't come all this way just to get knocked of the mountain. So I suggest that you get ready, because at WrestleMania, I gonna whoop you're stank ass and walk out of my hometown as the next WWE Champion."

Drake was about to leave before stopping and he said, "Just for the record, Edge, you're right. I'm not in your league. I'm beyond your league."

The crowd was ever so behind Drake as his music started playing again, but Edge was pissed off as Raw went to commercial. After the show returns, it was revealed that Edge had chosen Drake's "poison"; Kurt Angle. Drake was well aware of Angle's accomplishments so naturally this was going to be far from easy. By the time the main event for Raw came about, Edge and Lita came back out to the arena but went to the Raw announce table. It seemed they were going to join the "J Team", Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman for commentary. Kurt Angle made his entrance for his match against Drake Williams, complete with the crowd chanting "You Suck." Drake Williams came out next to a big pop from the crowd and stared a hole into Edge as he came out on the stage. On this night, this was in fact Drake's first one on one match with Kurt Angle; just six days before the biggest and most important match of his career.

Drake was mouthing off to Edge and Lita when Kurt Angle tried a cheap shot to start he match. Drake saw it coming and blocked, firing back with right hands on Angle. Angle fought back with a knee to the gut followed by a European uppercut to send Drake staggering. Angle immediately went for the Angle Slam but Drake slipped out of it; then Williams tried to use what is now called the Celestial; formally the Widowmaker. Angle slipped out of that and escaped outside of the ring. Drake Williams stood tall in the ring while Kurt Angle paced around ringside trying to get his bearing. Meanwhile, the WWE Champion Edge watched on intently as Raw took one final commercial brake.

When the show continued, Angle was in the driver's seat, working on Drake's midsection with a gut buster followed by a near fall. Angle put Williams in a headlock and the Crusader looked to be fading away as Edge and Lita laughed. The ref lifted Drake's arm and it stopped midway; the Crusader was still alive in the match and managed to get up before hitting a back suplex on Angle and turned it into a pin attempt; Angle kicked out. For a moment, both men were down but Williams nipped up much to Edge's dismay. The Crusader started getting fired and got the crowd behind him as he hit a hard clothesline on Angle followed by another. Drake tried for a third clothesline but Angle ducked and hit a German suplex followed by one more. Drake reversed the move and hit his own German suplex before hitting another. Drake tried for a third one but Angle rolled through and locked in the Ankle Lock.

Kurt Angle had the hold locked in until Drake kicked Angle away. Drake tried to strike but Angle kicked him in the gut before hitting the Angle Slam. Kurt Angle made the cover but Williams kicked out somehow. Edge sat at the announce table and complained that it should have been three. Angle got to his feet and pulled the singlet straps down; his way of saying it was all over for Williams. Kurt Angle went for the Ankle Lock again but Drake rolled him up for a near fall. Both guys quickly got up but Drake managed to catch Angle and hit the Celestial out of nowhere and made the cover only for another near fall. Drake started arguing with the referee when Kurt Angle somehow locked in Angle Lock and this time he had synched in tight.

Drake Williams screamed in pain and desperately crawled to the ropes but Angle pulled him back to the center every time. Angle eventually grapevines the leg, thus making it more difficult for Williams to crawl. But the ever resilient Crusader refused to tap out and actually dragged Angle across the mat; Drake would finally grab the bottom rope. This prompted the ref to force Angle to break the hold. Edge seemed to be getting a bit nervous watching Drake suck up so much pain. Kurt Angle tried to lift his prey to his feet, but Williams somehow caught Angle and hit another Celestial and this time, Drake Williams got the win and some momentum heading into WrestleMania.

"Here is your winner, Drake Williams." announced Lillian Garcia.

Drake stood one the middle turnbuckle and again stared a hole directly into Edge. The WWE Champion tore off his head set and stood up on the table, holding the title over his head. Drake Williams stood on the turnbuckle pointing at Edge and making a gesture around his waist, as if to say "that belt is coming home with me." Sunday night at WrestleMania, it will be Drake Williams verses Edge for the WWE Championship. It is do or die now.

After the show ended, Drake return to his locker room and started packing his things when something felt to the floor. Drake picked up the object, which was in fact a picture of a group of people. Drake was in the picture with his arm around the shoulder of Christy Hemme along with three other people; a young man who looked to be the same age as Drake and an older woman and older man. A knock came on the door and Stephanie McMahon came in.

"Hi, Drake." She said. "Did I catch you at a bad time?" Drake shook his head before answering, "No, Steph. I was just packing my things." Stephanie noticed the picture and asked, "Is this your

Family?"

"Yeah, but my dad died when I was young." Drake said. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." Stephanie said. "It was a long time ago, Drake said. "While it still hurts, ironically it keeps me going forward. Their gonna be at Mania this Sunday, can I ask for a favor?"

"Sure," Stephanie said. "I want them in the first row of ringside." Drake said. "I need them by my side."

"I'll see what I can do," Stephanie said as she left for the door. She turned around and said, "Good luck, Drake. Everybody's pulling for you."

"Thank you, Stephanie. For everything." Drake replied.

Stephanie left the room as Drake continued packing his things. In six day, The Crusader would find himself in what will be the most important match of his life. It is going to be all or nothing as Drake Williams will battle Edge for the WWE Championship. Everything is on the line and Drake must come full circle.

Author's note: We are almost at the end of the journey. It's all or nothing for Drake. Please gimme some reviews.