A/N: Finally! I'm updating again! I've been ultra-busy, so I've not been able to update for like 3 days, but I have been checking my reviews. Thanks so much! I now have 93! Wow! Speaking of reviews, the replies are at the bottom!

Okay, well, here's chapter 21. Enjoy! (Warning: Chapter may be short and not the most interesting of the lot, but provides vital information and has a vital turn of plot that sets the stage for chapter 22 to be extremely suspenseful.)

Choices

Chapter Twenty-One

I was a little nervous as we approached my house. I just knew I was going to be busted big time for what had happened. I mean, if she had blown up on me just for being gone for four hours, what would she have to say about me spilling out my problems to a total stranger, getting myself captured by my arch foes, and then almost being executed by them? She would kill me (ironic, isn't it?).

"Gramps," I said, "maybe this wasn't the best idea. Moms will totally freak when she finds out what happens. Or maybe...we should just not tell her."

"No, young one. We must tell her, because you are not out of danger yet. She will do everything she can to assure your safety. Now that I think about it, your idea was rather good. Your home does seem the ideal place to hide."

"Yeah..."

Rose had been quiet all the way home, but suddenly she piped up. "I just thought of something."

"Yeah?" I asked, extremely interested in what she had to say. But it turned out not being very good.

"The Huntsclan will find out where you live. They know who you are now, Jake, and they will go looking for you. They can ask people where you live. They'll find out."

"Oh, right...what do you say 'bout that, Gramps?"

"It will still buy us time. If you can get your powers back before they find us, that will be great. We just have to hold on 'till midnight. We'll be fine," spoke up Fu Dog.

"Not really," said Rose, frowning slightly.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Well, the potion that Victor gave you...it really takes away powers for good."

"Say what?"

"The Huntsclan did that as an extra precaution. If you were somehow to escape, they would still be able to recapture you again without much effort if you were still in human form."

"So, I'm like powerless? Forever?" I suddenly felt sick, and an emptiness inside of me I had never felt before.

"This is not good," said Granpa. I could tell that he was thinking hard.

"Duh, Gramps! What do I do?"

"Is there an antidote?" Fu asked. "Because if there is, I might be able to whip it up."

"Well...yes...but..."

"What is it?"

"When...when the Huntsclan invented the potion, they decided to make the antidote impossible to make..."

"What is in it?"

"Feather of Griffin, Eye of Newt..."

"Well that isn't impossible! It's actually is easy!" crowed Fu. "I got the hook up for the both of'em! See, I got this lady friend, and..."He suddenly stopped short, red in the face. "Never mind."

"That's great!" I cheered! "I can get my powers back easy then!"

"I have a feeling," said Granpa, interrupting our "fiesta", "that there is an additional ingredient that Rose hadn't gotten to yet, am I right?"

"Yes, sir," said Rose miserably. "A scale of the Dark Dragon." I stopped short. There was no way for me to get my powers back now...a scale from DD?

"That's impossible," I said. I turned to Rose sharply and said, "Why didn't you let us know before?"

"I...was just...I don't know...I guess...I just...Oh, I don't know! I was so intent on saving you that I forgot to tell your grandfather. And then, I was just so happy that you were okay...I'm sorry. I only just remembered. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not..."

"We must not be put down by obstacles. We must try to get a scale."

Even though Gramps was acting like we could do it, I still felt it was impossible. As we approached my house, I thought about how it was all my fault. Me and that stupid wish. I should have learned before now, but at last, I finally understood the meaning of the phrase: "Be careful what you wish for, because you never know what you'll get."

A/N: Wow! That chapter took an unexpected turn, even for me. I was about halfway through when I was struck with the antidote idea. Sweet. Anyway, please, please review and tell me what you think about this chapter...Thanks! And have a great day! PS-I'll try to update sometime tomorrow or maybe even tonight...I'm not sure though, because me and my mom and my little sis are planning to watch "Because of Winn Dixie"...so it'll probably be tomorrow. Thanks! PSS-Did anyone get to watch the new episode of AD:JL on Thursday? Was it good? I missed it! Darn! Anyway, I'm sure I'll see it later. Later on today, I'm gonna go to and see when the next episode is coming out...Thanks for r&ri-ng, and I'll update ASAP! Love, EMcat...chapter 22 should be here soon!

~Emachinescat ^..^

Review Replies

To snowboarder9: I'm glad u liked it. Please, please don't tell him where I live! That was pretty good. I liked that. That sure got me going. If I didn't update, I'd probably be dead. + LOL. Anyway, I hope you like chapter 21. Peace out, EMcat.

To EvilAngelOfDarkness: I'm glad u loved it. Yah, it was short, but then again, most of my chapters are. Hmmm...don't know why. Anyway, I hope you like chapter 21 too. Luv, EMcat.

To Worker72: I see now. It is a very good idea. If I do end up using it, I'll have to have your permission, though. I like it...thanks for the idea. Thanks for reviewing, and thanks for the great idea. Love, Emachinescat.

To Fuddog: Oh, yes, I know I'm clever! LOL. No, really, I'm glad u liked it...but really, I just sorta let the story unfold for itself, I just use my imagination and then let it go...so...Rose probably was the clever one. Who knows. Anyways, thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like chapter 21. ( Love, Emachinescat.