Ok, guys…here it is. The big reveal! Are you sitting down? Good. Then I shall begin.

Chapter 7: The Rescue and the Ultimate Sacrifice

"Jake?" Haley called back.

"I'm tied up!" Jake yelled to her. "Can you get over here?"

"I'm, tied up too!"

They heard a loud roar and rustling in the trees. Haley screamed. Jake instantly forgot about his loyalty to the dark dragon. All that mattered was that he had to save her.

"Hang on, Haley, I'm coming!" Jake struggled painfully to get the knife.

"Jake, it's getting closer!"

With one last painful pull, Jake got the knife out. He took a couple of deep breaths.

"JAKE!"

Jake cut himself free, transformed, and flew to Haley.

Jake arrived at the Isle of Draco through the elevator. He gasped as he saw the council building in ruins. He growled angrily and flew to the Dark dragons' lair.

"Welcome, American Dragon." The DD said sinisterly

"Where are they you son of a bitch?" Jake demanded

"Jake!" He heard Haley call out.

Jake looked around the dark dragon and saw his friends and family in a wooden cage hanging over a lava pit. He gasped growled, and attacked. The DD fought back. Jake blew a fireball at the DDs' eyes. He growled in pain. Jake took the opportunity to fly to the cage.

"Hey, don't worry; I'll get y'all out of here."

The DD grabbed Jake and flung him towards the wall. Jake quickly spread his wings and landed on the ground.

"I gave you an opportunity to join me." The DD said. "You have refused. This is your last chance. Join me, or I will kill your friends and family. One by one. I will spare you."

Everyone (except the DD) gasped.

"You fiend!" Spud exclaimed.

DD glared at Spud. "You're first." Spud gupled.

Jake hesitated. There was no way out of this. "I'll join you." He said determined in a voice barely above a whisper.

DD chuckled. "Excellent."

"Kid, think about what you're doing!" Fu said warningly.

"Look, if I don't give in, he'll kill all of you!" Jake turned to the DD. "If I join, will you let them go?"

DD nodded. "Shades, take them to the council building."

The shades carried the cage out of the cave. Jake took one last look at his loved ones, and broke down crying.

Jake saw Haley tied to a tree and flew down to her. There was rustling in the trees behind her.

"Hurry!" Haley cried.

Jake cut her free, and they both flew to a cave.

"In here!" They flew inside a cave, detransformed, and flattened themselves against a wall as a shadow passed by.

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Don't you just love cliffhangers? Just kidding. R&R!