Hello all. I only received three reviews this time. I used to get at least four or five. I'm not trying to sound greedy or anything; I was just wondering if my story is really getting so bad that only a few people are reading it now. Or are many of you just too lazy to leave a simple comment or two? Well, whatever it is, I want to thank KrazyShadowNinja and Worker72 for reviewing until the end. As a personal expression of gratitude, they were the very first to read the final ending before anyone else. :) Thanks so much! I also want to thank RadiantBeam for being the third reviewer. You're too kind.

I hope the rest of you lazy people enjoy Chapter 10, the last chapter of my fanfiction. :(

Chapter 10

The Shadow Creature held Jake several yards from the ground of an isolated alley. Moments before the boy collapsed in its powerful grasp, the creature dropped him, laughing maniacally. The cool air rushed past Jake's face, waking him from his drowsy stupor. A slight scream escaped his lips, and his eyes widened in fear as the pavement swiftly came up to meet him. He was two feet from plunging head first into the ground before the creature caught him. It soared back into the air and dropped him again. This time, however, Jake was ready. He quickly changed back into his dragon form and flew in the direction of Huntsmaster's place. He looked over his shoulder as he expected the Shadow Creature to be in hot pursuit, but thankfully, it didn't follow him. He shrugged off the uneasy feeling that suddenly appeared in his stomach and rushed to his destination.

When he finally returned to the window where he found Nic and Huntsgirl, they were gone. Silently kicking himself for letting the Huntsclan get a hold of the unicorn, he flew back to his grandpa's shop. As he walked through the backdoor, he was surprised to see Grandpa sitting in the middle of the room, alone and meditating. Jake thought it best not to disturb him, so he silently closed the door and tiptoed to the front of the shop. After several minutes, Grandpa came into the room. He took one look at his grandson and noted the apprehension in the boy's face.

"Do not worry, young one. Nic is still alive," he said.

"How do you know that?" Jake asked. Grandpa raised an eyebrow as though questioning Jake how he could ask such a thing. Jake understood the expression and added, "Never mind."

"He is still being held captive by the Huntsclan, though."

"Yeah, but Gramps, he's not a unicorn anymore," Jake explained, not able to look into the old man's face.

"This I know, but I have a plan." This time Jake's eyes met his grandpa's. They were calm and had a slight twinkle in them, which made Jake fell hopeful. "Fu is making a potion as we speak." This caught Jake off guard.

"A potion that will turn Nic back?" Jake asked, bewildered.

"Of course not! Use your head!" Grandpa shouted. "It will assist us in the transformation, though," he added. Jake was puzzled, so he decided to think about something less confusing. Finally, a question popped into his head.

"Hey G, why aren't you guarding the phoenix?"

"There is no need to guard her at this point," he said.

"Why not?" Jake asked, his face contorting in confusion once more.

"Because," he began, "we want the Huntsmaster to finish the potion."

"Say what? Why? Grandpa, I don't understand."

"You will see," he said as a mischievous smile played upon the old man's lips.

XXXXX

Huntsmaster and Huntsgirl were in their lair looking over several maps which were splayed out on a long table. Numerous marks lay all over the maps signifying all of the places they've been to in search of the phoenix. They were looking over them for about a half an hour before Huntsmaster grew frustrated and swiped his hand over the surface, scattering the maps everywhere.

"We've searched every possible location I could think of!" he roared. Huntsgirl stood calmly at the table. She was too used to his sudden bursts of anger to be alarmed.

"We haven't searched everywhere," she said.

"I've told you before," he began impatiently. "Those insolent dragons wouldn't keep the bird in the same place that we attacked it earlier!"

"Maybe not, but perhaps that's exactly what they want us to think," she replied.

"Fine! If going there will make you stop bothering me about it, then go!" he spat.

Huntsgirl grabbed her staff, tapped it twice on the floor and disappeared. She was gone for fifteen minutes before she returned with a smug expression plastered on her face. She stood there with her hands behind her back and waited for Huntsmaster to acknowledge her return.

"It took you that long to realize nothing was there?" Huntsmaster asked her rudely. She glared at him while he was busy looking over the maps. At last, she spoke.

"After analyzing the situation carefully, I soon discovered my chances of obtaining the feather myself," she replied calmly.

"What are you mumbling?" he said as it was obvious he was not paying any attention. She rolled her eyes with annoyance.

"The phoenix is still there," she said bluntly. Huntsmaster immediately stopped what he was doing and stared at her in disbelief. He considered the possibilities and then brushed the comment aside.

"Impossible," he stated simply. Huntsgirl sighed with frustration.

"Then where do you suppose I got this?" she asked him in a similar tone as she pulled out a dazzling golden feather from behind her back. Huntsmaster gazed at the feather hungrily and then shifted his attention to Huntsgirl.

"I specifically remember telling you that I wanted to get the feather myself," he said, his voice menacing. He advanced towards her and viciously snatched the elegant feather out of her hand.

You're welcome, she thought scathingly.

"How did you even manage to get this?" he asked.

"The phoenix was asleep. I snuck up behind her and plucked the feather before she knew what happened. She was furious and turned her head, most likely to harm me in some way, but I was already gone," Huntsgirl explained.

"Well, since you did help me with my recovery, I will let your disobedience pass, but be warned," he said threateningly. Huntsgirl firmly nodded her head once in acknowledgement. He turned away from her and made his way to a huge cauldron. The potion inside it hissed furiously as Huntsmaster dropped the feather into the thick bubbling liquid. His eyes sparkled with malice in the pale golden light.

XXXXX

Grandpa and Jake flew in the direction of the Huntsmaster's lair with Fu Dog in Jake's arms.

"Yo, Fu," Jake panted. "You need to lose some pounds dawg. It feels like you're getting heavier each time I carry you." Fu glared at him and dug a claw into the dragon's soft underside, making him yelp with pain.

"That is enough you two! Now, focus! We have a great deal to do and not a lot of time to do it," Grandpa said.

They arrived at the Huntslair as a faint golden light shone from the entrance several yards away. The Huntsmen that were keeping guard didn't notice a thing as the threesome snuck past. Jake rolled his eyes at their complete lack of security and went in the direction of the light while Grandpa and Fu headed through a dark passageway leading downward. Jake crept up to the entrance and cautiously peered around the wall. The Huntsmaster was looming over a huge cauldron as the rest of the Huntsclan was circled around him. Huntsgirl was standing by a podium which held a big brown book.

"Thorn," Huntsmaster called, while he kept his eyes on the potion. "Bring me the book."

The dragon watched as she lifted the book off the podium and began to make her way towards her master. Jake jumped out from behind the wall and swiftly flew to Huntsgirl, snatching the book right out of her hands.

"Wassup, baby? You miss me?" Jake taunted. Huntsgirl glowered at him as he ascended out of reach.

"SEIZE HIM!" Huntsmaster bellowed, making some rubble fall from the ceiling.

Okay, now all I have to do is stay up here until G shows up, Jake thought. Man, this book is heav— "Aaaahhh!" he yelled as several green blasts soared past his left side. He opened the book and began to flip through it quickly while trying to avoid the blasts of the Huntsclans' staffs at the same time. As he dodged one blast, another was waiting for him, singeing his tail. He dropped the book in surprise and the book plummeted to the floor. Huntsgirl caught it, but the book was too heavy for her to handle. She lost her grip. As it hit the floor, it broke in half and skid across the floor in separate directions. Jake nose-dived for the half closest to the cauldron. Huntsgirl ran for the same half. Jake arrived there first, but Huntsgirl was only seconds behind. She kicked the half of the book out of Jake's paws and twirled to kick him in the stomach. Jake doubled over and she grabbed the half of the book. As she examined the part of the book she had, her face dropped. The spell was near the beginning of the book and she was holding the end. She frantically searched for the other half all the while keeping the American Dragon in her sight.

Finally, she located the other half, but she didn't like who was holding it. Her eyes met with the blazing eyes of the Chinese Dragon. He smiled at her cunningly and gave the book to Fu, who extracted a piece of paper and a pencil from the wrinkles of his skin. Grandpa protected him from the advancing Huntsclan while he wrote down the spell. She also realized that they brought Nic, who was kicking at some members of the Huntsclan. When Fu was finished, he tore out the page of the book and stuffed it deep into his wrinkles so as not to be found.

Huntsgirl ran at them. She needed to get that piece of paper in Fu's paw. While Grandpa was fighting four Huntsclan members and Nic was busy with two, she took a flying leap over the two groups and landed right in front of Fu.

"Hand the paper over you pathetic excuse for a dog," she snarled. Fu looked up at her with wide, scared eyes. Then, he glanced over her shoulder and smiled.

"What are you grinning at?" she said as she took fleeting look over her shoulder. There was nothing behind her, but when she looked back at Fu, he was missing. Instead, a very cocky looking red dragon was before her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you expecting someone else?" he asked her arrogantly.

"You're dead dragon!" she yelled. She jumped in the air, spinning, with her feet towards Jake, aiming for his head. He dodged her easily, and as she sailed by, he kicked her in the stomach. She hit the wall and slid down. He began to walk over to her, but she got up quickly and vaulted for her staff that lay nearby. As Jake came closer, she swung at him with great force and hit Jake with the back end on his right side. He staggered. Huntsgirl swung at him again, twirling so the hit would have more force. As she brought the staff across the front of her, Jake grabbed the staff from behind at both ends, pinning her to his body. She fought back, throwing punches and kicking at him, but she missed every time.

Grandpa and Nic managed to clear a path towards the cauldron where Huntsmaster was watching the battle. He sneered at them as they began to walk in his direction.

"Give me that paper and maybe I'll let you live," he said as he snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. He looked around to see every single member of his Huntsclan on the floor and immobile.

"You were saying?" Fu scoffed. Huntsmaster looked worried. He nervously took a combat stance and waited for them to make the first move. Grandpa stepped forward. Huntsmaster sped towards him, but the dragon was too fast. Grandpa quickly leapt out of the way, stuck out his foot, tripping the Huntsmaster, and struck him hard on the back, making him fall to the floor. He didn't get up.

"Well, that was easier than I thought," said Grandpa, chuckling. As they made their way to the cauldron, Fu shoved some thick blue liquid into Nic's mouth. He swallowed it with difficulty.

"Yuck! That was disgusting! It was even worse than that purple stuff you made me drink before," he said. Then his eyes grew wide. "Hey! I'm talking! Cool potion."

"Nic! Stop fooling around and say the spell!" Jake grunted as he was still trying to restrain Huntsgirl. Fu held the paper in front of Nic so he could read it.

"Oh, right. Ahem, Power—"

"NO!" cried the Huntsmaster, and out of nowhere, he flung himself forward, knocking Fu to the floor. Huntsmaster scrambled for the piece of paper in the dog's fist, but Fu scrunched it up and threw it to Jake. The paper ball fell short and Huntsgirl struggled vigorously to free herself from the dragon's arms. He pushed Huntsgirl to the side while he dived for the paper. She grabbed his tail and pulled him back, making his fingers miss the ball by inches. Huntsmaster snatched it from the floor in a very cocky manner and began to straighten it out. Jake managed to shake Huntsgirl off his tail. He flew towards the Huntsmaster and took the paper from his hands before he knew what happened. Jake straightened the rest of it out during his flight and landed next to Nic.

"Hurry!" Jake shouted, holding the paper in front of Nic as Fu did. Various members of the Huntsclan began to run at top speed towards the horse and the dragon, so Nic read in an extremely rapid pace.

"Powers of the spell arise,

Course unseen across the skies,

I call you near within this fire,

Grant to me what I desire!"

Jake hastily blew on the paper, enflaming it, and dropped the burning paper into the potion. As soon as the paper came into contact with the bubbling liquid, an amazingly bright yellow light burst out from the cauldron, blinding everyone.

The light began to dim, but a dazzling white glow was surrounding Nic. His mane and tail were golden once again, and protruding from his forehead was one long golden horn. The entire Huntsclan gasped as their eyes settled on the unicorn that they destroyed earlier. Huntsmaster gazed into the cauldron and groaned. Not even a tiny drop was left of the potion.

"We will meet again, dragon!" Huntsmaster shouted. With the Huntsclan defeated once again, Grandpa, Jake, Fu, and Nic began to make their way back to Grandpa's shop.

"The magical creatures have found an inconspicuous location for their secret grove at last," Grandpa began. "You will be able to return to them when they come to get you at midnight." Nic nodded his head.

"Thanks for everything, Shao Lei. And thanks to you too, Jake. I guess I really should have listened to you," Nic said. Jake gave him a shocked look.

"Yeah, well, maybe I shouldn't have been so mean to you earlier, and then none of this would have happened," Jake replied. The boys gave each other weak smiles.

"So, we're good now?" asked Nic.

"Yeah, we're good."

"How ssssentimental," hissed a voice Jake knew only too well. "And here I thought you only had feelingssss for me. I'm hurt." Jake looked around and spotted a pair of glowing red eyes behind him.

"What do you want now?" Jake spat.

"Why, I thought you knew. We have ssssome unfinisssshed businessss, little lizzzzard." Jake looked around for Grandpa and Fu, but they went on ahead of him and Nic to give the boys some time alone to work out their issues.

"You ssssee, I wassss fired from my previoussss employer; ssssomething about not needing my sssservicessss anymore." He appeared to be not at all upset with being let go. In fact, he seemed to be grinning. "Sssso now, I get to kill you like I sssshould have done earlier." Jake was beyond worried. He didn't get a chance to ask Grandpa about the Shadow Creature let alone how to defeat it. The creature observed him with careful eyes, watching his every move. Suddenly, Jake changed into his dragon form and jumped into the air, but the creature anticipated this and was upon Jake in a second. The impact of the creature's tackle was too much for Jake to handle though as they both went barreling into a nearby wall, separating Jake from the creature's grasp. Jake landed on the ground on all-fours and was panting furiously. White spots danced before his eyes. He shook his head as a means to clear it, but instead, the motion made him woozy.

"Aaaww, poor little dragon. I guessss I'm jusssst too much for you. Oh, but don't worry. I'll make thissss quick," it hissed as a hand materialized from the creature's blackness and began to strangle him. Jake made choking noises, and his eyes grew wide and fearful. Then, Nic came up behind the creature and jabbed it with his horn. The creature screamed in agony and let go of Jake, who slid to the ground gasping for air. When Jake looked up, the creature appeared as though he was being torn in different directions, then it finally split into thousands of pieces, scattering everywhere and then evaporated.

"Whoa! How did you…?" Jake asked.

"Not only can unicorns heal, but we can also take life away when the occasion calls for it," Nic replied, grinning. Jake smiled gratefully at the unicorn.

"You sure you have to go back so soon?" Jake asked, patting him on his thick neck. Nic only laughed.

XXXXX

When Rose entered the classroom of her Mythology class, she almost walked right into a group of girls surrounding Jake Long. Her curiosity got the best of her, so she conspicuously inched closer to hear what they were saying.

"Where's your cousin, Jake?" one of the girls asked him.

"Oh, uh Nic had to go back home. He was only visiting after all," he replied. The girls moaned disappointedly. Rose couldn't help but feel a little sad as well. He was fun to hang around; and not to mention very cute. Oh well, she thought as she sighed heavily. She pushed those incommodious thoughts away and began to make her way towards her seat. However, one thing still bothered Rose as she sat down: How was Jake really affiliated with that unicorn anyway? He couldn't have possibly known what Nic truly was… could he? Maybe there was something more to Jake Long than he made people believe…

.:THE END:.

Well, that's it. I hope you all enjoyed reading my story. I want to thank every single person who reviewed again. You guys are so completely awesome, and I hope many good things come your way! Thanks. :)