A/N: Hello! Well, amazingly enough, I have time to update today. I may not update on Broomsticks on Fire, though. Who knows? I don't (which is really sad 'cuz I'm the author!) LOLz. Anyway, I want to give a super shout out to Fudogg, who has given me an awesome idea. Go you, Fudogg! Don't be surprised if you see your idea being followed through with, really soon. MUAHAHAHAHA! Oh, and sorry if this chapter is short, but Okay, here we go with chapter 38!

Choices

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Fighting with Chang would normally not be as challenging as fighting the Dark Dragon, mainly because she was nowhere near as powerful...however, I was still a little weak from my fight with Dark Dragon, so it was a pretty big challenge. I wondered why nobody had heard the commotion and called the police. Then I remembered that we were on a backstreet that hardly anyone ever went on, and if there were any curious onlookers, Mom would shoo them I punched Chang (only to be kicked painfully in the stomach a few minutes later), I saw that the leprechauns, although smaller than the trolls, outnumbered them by a landslide, and they were winning, especially with Gramps right there beside them. My heart leapt. It sunk again, however, just a few seconds later.

Over half of the trolls were lying motionless on the ground, and when Chang saw that her army was falling apart, she paused in her attack on me long enough to yell, "BRING IN THE REINFORCEMENTS!"

I gulped. Reinforcements? I watched, dejected, as out of many alleys came hundreds of evil looking creatures, most of which I didn't recognize. I glanced over at Rose, to see if she was trying any means of escape, since she was, after all, Huntsgirl (at least, she had been). I knew that she would be a big help, but then I realized that something was wrong. She was sitting in the cage, looking pale, not even trying to get out.

"Rose!" I yelled. "Are you alright?" She merely looked at me, unreadable look in her eyes.

Chang took this opportunity to dig a claw into my shoulder. I yelled in pain as she slowly brought it down, scratching me down my back. Groaning, I fell to the ground. I heard Chang laugh evilly. I slowly raised up and looked at Rose. Her face was deathly pale as she lay on the bottom of the cage, and I saw her lips silently form my name. "Jake," she whispered.

Anger coursed through my entire body, then was replaced by a determination that I had never felt to defeat Chang and save Rose. Although it was painful, I took flight and met Chang in the air. "What have you done to Rose?" I growled.

Smiling evilly, Chang gripped me by the shoulders without warning (I cringed as she touched the scratch) and pulled me so close that I could see my reflection in her large eyes, and feel her breath (which oddly smelled like peppermint) on my face as she said, "Have you ever heard of the Elbirroh Nosiop?" Seeing that I didn't, she pulled me closer and hissed, "It is the most deadly (although slow acting) poison in the world." My breath caught in my chest, and I felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of me at once.

"No..." I whispered.

"Yes, and, oh, I forgot to tell you," she snarled evilly, "there is no cure. Only the most powerful magic from before time can stop the slow death of its victims..."

"No..." I said, voice catching in my throat. I felt nothing. Nothing but pain, coursing through my veins, cutting my heart into. "NO!" I yelled. "SHE'S NOT GOING TO-" I faltered. I felt a stinging sensation in the corner of my eyes.

I broke away from Chang, my breath coming uneven. Every breath I took was painful...

I punched Chang in the face, and once again we began fighting more fiercely than I had ever fought, my one focus being Rose.

At that moment, I heard a sound from above, and saw with relief that the Dragon Council was flying over us. Then from an alley came a large group of unicorns, brownies, and even a fairy or two. Soon there were trolls and other evil creatures lying motionless. I sighed in relief. Our army was prevailing.

The others realized that I was fighting Chang alone, and most of our army advanced toward Chang. Finally, Chang seemed to realize that she couldn't win this time. She was over powered. She growled threateningly and said, "Fine, you win this time...but I will be back, sooner than you think, Jake Long! My master will be avenged! In the meantime, say goodbye to your friend!" And she disappeared.

I ran over to the cage, where several members of the Council had released Rose. I fell down on my knees beside her and saw that she was hardly breathing. "I love you, Jake..." she whispered.

Tears filling my eyes, not caring who saw, I took her limp hand in my own and pressed it to my lips, muttering, "Rose, no!"

A/N: Well, how was it? Do you think Rose is really gone? Hmmmm... I'll update ASAP, please R&R! Thanks!

PS-Does anyone know the exact day the Hunted is being aired?

~Emachinescat ^..^