A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've had a stomach virus. Icky! Anyway, before I begin chapter 35, I do want to apologize for a mistake I made...um, I said the council member's name was Ansem, but it's Andam. (Thanks for the tip, Fudogg!) So now that that's settled...CHAPTER 35, everybody!

Choices

Chapter Thirty-Five

Finally, the meeting was over. I said good-bye to the Council members, with a promise that I would begin training the very next day. Then, feeling as if I were carrying a huge weight on my shoulders, I went into the living room.

"Jake! How're you feeling? Your mom said you got into a little accident."

I smiled slightly at my dad and said, "Uh, I'm a lot better. Thanks."

I remembered a time that I had been really close to my dad, but that was before I found out about my dragon powers. Ever since then, the secret I kept from him kept pushing us further and further apart.

I then realized how much it bothered me that I had just defeated the most horrible being in the magical community, and couldn't even tell my own dad about it. He would have to find out someday. I watched as he freaked out over what he thought was a snake, then laugh it off when he saw it was a sock. But he couldn't handle it. Not now.

I trudged upstairs, thinking about all that I had to face over the course of the next few weeks. I flopped onto my bed, sighing, then picked up the phone. I was going to call Rose.

I dialed Trixie's number, remembering that she was staying with Trixie until she found another place. The phone rang several times, and then I heard someone pick it up. "Hello, Carter residence."

"Uh, hey, Mrs. Carter. Is Rose around?"

"Sorry, honey, she's out. Trixie's here though. Want to talk to her?"

"Yeah, I guess." I was really needing to talk to Rose, tell her what the Council had said, but I could tell Trix first if Rose wasn't there.

"Jakey, what up?" Trixie said into the phone. "What'd they say?"

"You know Chang?"

"You mean that psycho that was all into helpin' the Dark Dragon? Yeah."

"Apparently she escaped from jail, and now she's after me, wanting to 'avenge her master'."

"Man, Jakey, you have a lot of pressure on you at one time. Hey, why are you on the phone when you have company, baby?"

"Say wha-oh, the Dragon Council left ages ago."

"No, Jake. I mean Rose. She's been gone for about an hour, and she said she was going to visit you."

"What? Trix, Rose isn't here!"

"Uh oh. I hope nothing happened to her!"

"Gotta go, Trix! Bye!"

I flung the phone down on my bed, not even taking the time to hang it back up. "Mom!" I yelled, running downstairs. "Mom!"

"What, Jake?"

"Rose is missing! I gotta go look for her!"

"No, Jake, it's dark, and that Chang lady is looking for you."

"Mom, I gotta do this! Rose could be in danger!"

"Oh, no, she's fine," came an eerie voice seemingly out of nowhere. I gasped.

"Jake..." muttered Mom, looking alarmed.

"Who was that?" Dad asked, carrying Haley, as he walked into the kitchen with us.

"I don't know," I replied truthfully.

"She's fine," said the eerie and somewhat familiar voice. Suddenly there was a swirl of color, and to my horror, Chang was standing in front of us, in Dragon form.

Dad went white. "What is that?" he muttered, then gripping Haley tightly, he motioned for my mom and I to follow him. "RUN!" he screamed.

I started to follow, but Chang barred the door. "Who said you could leave? Actually, I am rather glad that your family left. I wanted to talk to you alone, Mr. Long."

"What have you done with Rose?"

"As I said, she's fine." A holographic image of a frightened Rose sitting in what seemed to be a dungeon cell came into view.

"For now, she's fine. Surrender, American Dragon, and I will release her."

"Chang, you don't have to do this!" I yelled up at her, trying a different approach.

"Oh, yes I do...you destroyed what I lived for, and now, I destroy you!"

A/N: So how was it? I know it may be a little weird, but it'll make since later on in the story. Trust me. Now that that's settled...I have some good and bad news.

The good news: Christmas Eve is the Day after Tomorrow

The bad news: I probably won't be able to update until late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning, unless I'm able to update early tomorrow, which is highly unlikely. I'll be gone from about 12:00 tomorrow until 6:00 Monday, but I'll try to update ASAP. But don't give up on me! I'll update asap!

Please read & review, but no flames:)

~Emachinescat ^..^