A/N: I'm back! So...this is the ultimate battle...the ultimate chapter. Just don't be surprised if there is an unexpected twist in the chapter...so here goes! Please don't forget to read and review, 'cuz this is like the major climax of this story!

Choices

Chapter Thirty-One

The Dark Dragon looked fearful only for a minute; he then lunged for me. I dodged out of the way, hoping he would not be able to stop in time and crash into the ground. It was a vain hope. He stopped and turned before crashing. This time I decided to make the move. I lunged at him, but with one swipe of his enormous arm, he sent me down to the ground. I shook my sore head and got up.

"It is over, boy," I the Dark Dragon said menacingly.

"Oh, really?" I said. "'Cuz I was getting the feeling that it was just getting started up in here!"

"Really?"

"Bring it!"

I fought like I had never fought in my life. I kicked, punched, and even scratched at the Dark Dragon, all the while ducking blows from him. I was pretty scratched up, but I ignored it.

"You cannot win!" he roared.

"Oh, yeah," I said, while punching him in the arm (getting scratched across the face—again—as a result), "Why is that?"

"I think you're forgetting—I have many great powers…I have time in my hands…"

At that moment, the Huntsclan unfroze. They looked up at us fighting. I saw a few of them exchange bewildered glances, muttering amongst themselves. "HUNTSCLAN!" The Dark Dragon roared as we continued to fight. "STOP BEING LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHING SLACKERS! HELP ME SLAY THIS DRAGON! NOW!"

Oh, great, I thought. There was no way that I would be able to defeat the Dark Dragon and the Huntsclan. But to my great surprise (and disbelief) the Huntsclan did nothing. Huntsmaster himself looked from me to the Dark Dragon to Rose (still frozen), and said, "No."

"YOU'LL ALL DIE THEN!" said the Dark Dragon.

"You're forgetting something!" I said. "You've gotta get past me first!"

The Dark Dragon raised a scaly fist and brought it down. It was about to hit me when I blew fire all over it. I then continued to breathe fire down his arm. Suddenly the Dark Dragon began to roar madly, thrashing about in the air. I realized that I had burned what was left of the skin that the potion had already went to work on.

I had weakened him. His right arm was burning so fiercely that he could no longer use it. We fought and fought. Even though I had weakened him some, he was still stronger than me. Amazing as it seemed, he seemed to be regaining power in his arm by the second. Soon he was able to use it again, and was slashing at me so much that I could barely block it. I, on the other hand, was getting weaker and weaker. I was using up so much energy…

I felt like I was going to black out, so I let myself fly slowly down toward the ground. I heard a voice in my head, saying, Just give up…you cannot defeat him. It is your destiny to die by the likes of him…let it go. You can't do it. 'Tis impossible. My eyelids began to droop. I was losing all control of my body and mind…if something didn't happen soon, the Dark Dragon would have me completely under his control. I saw dimly that the Huntsclan were beginning to look a bit restless and impatient. I wondered why. Then I saw, fuzzily, the Dark Dragon about to finish me off, bearing down upon me…but then—there was a flash of green light, and I started to regain control. I got shakily to my feet (still in dragon form) and saw the Huntsman with his Huntstick pointed at where the Dark Dragon had been flying. Now I saw that he was on the ground. He slowly got up. "You betrayed me," he muttered to Huntsman. "You will pay."

I had no idea why the Huntsman had helped me, but I realized that he had weakened the Dark Dragon enough to where it wouldn't be as hard to fight him, but once again, as we were fighting, he seemed to grow stronger and I weaker. I suddenly realized (after a very painful blow from the Dark Dragon) that he was getting stronger from my emotions. He had the power to read minds—but hadn't he mentioned earlier that at one point we developed some sort of mental link? He must have been feeding off of that! Off of my emotions, thoughts…my very existence and being. I had to fight back. But how? I didn't have any special powers…right?

I realized, however, that I had to do something. I could feel myself getting weaker by the second. I concentrated fully on trying to fight back. I thought about nothing but how much I wanted to destroy the Dark Dragon…but that only made things worse. Once again, I felt as though I were about to black out…I saw blearily that Rose was still frozen. I stopped thinking about destroying the Dark Dragon. My mind wandered to Rose. What would happen to her when I was gone? I loved her so much—I couldn't let anything happen to her! And, oddly enough, as I dwelled on Rose, I began to feel stronger. It was then that I realized that love…my love for Rose was fighting back at Dark Dragon's evil heart.

I concentrated solely on one thing: love. I felt stronger than I had in a long time. I saw the Dark Dragon roaring and snarling. This was working! After what seemed like an eternity, I heard the Dark Dragon scream and roar. There was a deafening explosion, and I opened my eyes and saw that he was gone. Not a trace. I had fought back…mentally. I had overthrown his mind. I had defeated him…just like the prophecy had said. Only in an unexpected way.

All of a sudden, however, I felt strangely weak, weaker than I had felt ever, even weaker than when I was in the clutches of the Dark Dragon. What I had done had completely wiped me out. I felt like I was about to pass out…or even…I didn't want to think about it, but I felt like my heart was about to give out. This experience had been too much for me…

I keeled over, and, breathing heavily, noticed that I was looking at a pair of boots. The Huntsman. "Yo, thanks," I muttered, barely aware of what I was saying (or who I was saying it to). "I couldn't 'a done it without you."

"I did not do it for you," said the Huntsman. "I realized that the prophecy said that you and only you would defeat him…we were tired of him. He will not relent his curse…he lied to us. But now that he is gone…" he snickered evilly, "you can be too…" he pointed his Huntstick at me… I was too weak, I could do nothing.

"Good night, American Dragon. Good night for good."

A/N: So there you go. Sorry about the cliffie...I'll update ASAP, and this story is not near to being over yet. By the way, I think I'm gonna start working on another ADJL fan-fic as well...I've had the idea for a while...Called "Broomsticks on Fire". I know the title sounds weird, and it doesn't have much to do with the story, but it will be a crossover, but that's all I'm telling! You'll have to see for yourself! I'll probably post first chapter in a little while! Yay me! Anyway, please r and r, and I'll update ASAP!

~Emachinescat ^..^