A/N: Hey. Sorry about the delay. I was my dad's. So, thanks for all the reviews...and here's chapter 28 (just so you know, it may not be the most exciting chapter, but it is a cliffie ... well, sorta...anyway, please r and r.

Choices

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Victor?" I said, dumbfounded. How was it that he seemed to pop up every time that we had a situation?

"Aye, 'tis me, Laddie," the leprechaun said. He was staring me down again, but this time I detected a little hint of-could it be-concern in his deep green eyes. "I..heard about what happened down in the sewers...and I just, ya know...wanted to make sure you're doin' okay, Laddie."

"Oh yeah, couldn't be better, really," I said sarcastically. "I barely escaped with my life from this evil psycho, and now he's after me more than ever, and all he wants to do is rip me limb from limb...oh, and to get my powers back I have to get a scale from him, and just because I don't have any powers, everyone thinks I'm incompetent and that everything's too dangerous...yeah, I'm fine."

"Well...I know I'm just a mere leprechaun...but maybe I can be of assistance..."

"What'dya mean?" I didn't really know why, but I seemed to be having a harder time forgiving and trusting him than I had Rose. Maybe because I'm not attracted to him. Who knows? But there just seemed to be a certain quality to him...in his eyes...something that made me wonder whether I should be his friend or distrust him...

"Well, Laddie, I know that you need your powers back, and you need a little bit of scale..."

I was instantly interested. "What? You mean...you have a scale?"

"Ach...sorry, Laddie, that I do'no' have...but I might be able to help you get some of one..."

"How?"

"Well...we leprechauns are excellent and molding gold and such things...most of our life's work revolves around it. We do not use fire, though, to melt our metals, but a potion that no one else, not even the most powerful sorcerer knows how to make...it will melt the strongest substance in the world..."

I was confused. "A'ight...so you can melt stuff. But...what does that have to do with my problem?"

Rose spoke up. "I think I see where he's going with this."

"Okay," piped up Spud, who had been sitting in my computer chair, wide-eyed as I had my conversation with Victor. "Okay," he repeated, "if you know where he's going, will you draw me a map, 'cuz I'm lost!"

"It is quite simple," said Gramps. "If he can melt a little of the Dark Dragon's scale off to put in the potion-"

"-I'll get my powers back!" I finished.

"Yo, this is off the chain," said Trix.

"Ach!" interjected Victor. "There is just one more thing you should know: you are not to let anyone know that I was the one who let you have the potion. I am not to be involved in this. We'll go to my village, get the potion, and then I shall leave you to your business."

I felt a wave of disappointment. So he wasn't really in on it. But no problem right? We could handle them...right?

I sure hoped so. We also had the problem of the Huntsclan now knowing that Rose had turned against them...but we could really think of no solution to the problem...so decided to face it when the time came. With the help of my friends, I finally convinced Gramps and my mom to let me come. So we got ready to leave.

After I had been nearly choked to death by my mom again, this time with a promise that I would be grounded when our mission was over, Fu joined our group and we headed to Central Park, using all the alleys and back roads so that Victor wouldn't be spotted. When we arrived at the secret entrance to the leprechaun village, we were about to open the door when we heard a shout behind us.

"At last! A magical creature! A leprechaun! Ha! I knew you vere mixed up in this, Mr. Long! And now I have you!"

We turned, and I groaned. Professor Rotwood.

A/N: Okay. I know it wasn't as interesting or exciting as some of the previous chapters, but trust me, it should get a lot more interesting. What do you think Rotwood's gonna do? I know that was an odd place for him to come in...but it'll make sense in time. So, please Read and Review! Chapter 29 will either be here tomorrow morning or sometime Tuesday...just please don't stop reading! Okay, I'll update asap. until then, peace out (i gotta clean my room!)

~Emachinescat ^..^