There was only two days remaining before the elections that will determine the new Prime Minister of Japan. Gao, his family, the three dragons, Kiri and his buddy were checking the news and right now, it was Hinako who had the short lead.

"She got the advantage," Drum said with a small smile.

"It's only a sample Drum, and the sample aren't always right," Suzumi replied.

"That sure wasn't helping the moral," the red dragon grumbled as he crossed his arms. He checked on his buddy and asked, "How's your wound?"

"Almost completely healed up thanks to the spellcard," the boy replied.

"I still can't believe you accept to fight Tasuku like that," his father commented.

"You could have died or end up kidnapped," his mother told him again.

The boy's been through that enough and replied, "I'm sorry. I couldn't back down."

They sighed.

"Tomorrow is the day, right?"

"Yes dad. With everything Tasuku said, we must act tomorrow. This won't be easy at all," Gao admitted.

Tenbu added, "Don't let your hopes down. You are all united together against Azi Dahaka and his troops. I have faith in all of you."

The red dragon chuckled as he scratched the back of his head, "Y-yeah. After everything we went through, we won't back down. If I can face dad, I can face Azi Dahaka!"

"You can count on my help," Halberd said as he cracked his hands, "Hanako won't come with me, but I will do everything to assure victory. They cannot win this election and go away with everything they might be plotting."

"Don't forget about us," Kiri said as he finished checking his spell cards, "After we've been through, we will fight by your side."

"That's right. They will be left frozen in fear. We shall make them regret everything they've done to us as we break the ice!" Joker yelled as he raised his blades.

The group was pumped up and had faith in their victory, even if it seemed that many things were against them. They had come from a very bad situation in a few weeks.

"Don't cut the ceiling!" Suzumi warned the ice monster when she saw the blade really close from it.

"S-sorry!"

Chapter 144: Prelude To The Final Battle

When the night came, Gao was in his bed with Drum sleeping by his side. The boy couldn't fall asleep. With everything going on, the back of his mind whispered of the consequence of the possible failure. He was a little anxious as he gazed at his buddy, sleeping as if there was nothing to worry about. He wished he could sleep like the dragon but couldn't. He heard something and saw Tasuku gently knocking at the window.

Gao made sure to let his buddy rest and joined him. He saw the boy using his buddy skill with the green dragon by his side in his SD form.

"Tasuku. What are you doing here?" the boy whispered.

The boy saw the red dragon sleeping and lightly snoring. He smiled and answered quietly, "I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to talk to someone. I wanted to check on you and saw you were awake."

Gao lightly frowned at him, "Kinda like stalking me."

The blue-haired boy nervously chuckled, "Y-yeah."

The boy joined him outside and climbed on the ceiling.

Drum woke up and looked around, "Gao?" he sniffed the air and smelt that he went outside. He also smelt Tasuku and Jackknife. He checked on the ceiling and saw nothing, knowing they climbed even more, "I should let you with your friend," the dragon declared as he climbed back in bed and turned his back, are you worried for tomorrow?

Gao, Tasuku and Jackkknife, in his SD form, were laying down on the roof of the boy's house and looked at the sky.

"You couldn't sleep either Tasuku?" he asked his friend.

"No Gao. After telling you everything and knowing that everything will come to end tomorrow makes me nervous," he shook his head, "This is completely different than helping Jack."

"It's not about saving me anymore, but the world. It's much bigger," the green dragon replied.

"Thanks to you. We know everyone who's living there and can plan to attack them," the boy replied with a thumb up at the blue-haired one.

"No problem… Gao," the boy gazed at his friend, "When we begin the mission, I want to be the one to arrest Davide."

"Why?"

"Because he's the one, with his buddy, who greatly wounded me when I searched for Tasuku when he joined them," when the green dragon said that, his buddy looking down with regret, "So there is a bit of revenge in his desire."

"I want to make sure he regrets what he has done to you, but I'll do it my way, not like he did," Tasuku insisted with a small smile, knowing that it was the right thing to do.

"Still. We have many to fight without thinking about Azi Dahaka. I just don't know if we'll be too tired when we fight him," Gao admitted.

"That's why you have trouble sleeping?" Jackknife asked.

"Yeah. I just can't help, but think about what would happen," the boy replied as he tried to adjust his hat but wasn't wearing it right now and felt awkward.

"Then you'll have to avoid any fight and directly challenge Azi Dahaka," Tasuku replied as he sat down, "You are the best between us and you have the biggest chance with your buddy. Drum has a new form he could take to fight Azi Dahaka," the boy sighed at admitting that.

"But we will obviously do our best to join you as quickly as we can and prevent Azi to get help," Jackknife added.

"W-wait! You think me, and Drum are the best?"

"Sure Gao. You defeat me and Demios with Jackknife, when you never fight with him before. You even had a buddy skill activated in such a short time… Also, Azi Dahaka claimed that you are the strongest human he faced," the blue-haired boy admitted, "And I go second."

"How?"

"When he shook our hands in the ship, he was checking in our power. That's how he knows you are the strongest."

"That's why he's after you Gao," the green dragon understood.

Tasuku pensively said, "For someone as powerful as Azi Dahaka, he knows that you are someone dangerous to face upon. I don't see who's the buddy he would want to put you with. He already has Kyoya."

"Anyway. Those thought aren't important Tasuku," the green dragon concluded this little talk.

They watched the stars and the moon for a few minutes.

"Tasuku."

"What is it?"

"I'm glad you are back in the Buddy Police Force. Even if I'm the strongest, you are the best at this job. I can only come second," he chuckled.

His friend and buddy also chuckled, "You aren't the most organised. You even got extra class because of this."

"Don't remind me of that!" the boy replied with his face turning red.

"You have to study more Gao. I'm sure your parents told you that," the green dragon declared.

"I know and I'm doing that. I just find this too boring and pass stuff after a while," he answered. He sighed, "And don't try to sound like my parents when you are saying that."

"I wasn't trying," the dragon replied.

The blue-haired boy was pensive for a few seconds, looking at his friends and saying, "Gao."

"Yeah?"

"I hope that this time… It will be the last time we have to fight with our all against each other's. I… I don't ever want to hurt you again like I did back then. I'm sorry again for what I did and-"

"I already forgive you Tasuku. You know, I also want this fight to be the last one," he gazed at this friend, "Because it wasn't easy to fight you back. I'm… I'm not sure if I could give my all another time."

"Me neither Gao," he closed his eyes, "But if you are going the wrong path, I will do the same you did for me, but I'll make sure fighting is really the last option. So, don't try to be too stubborn if you believe you are wrong. Take example from me."

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything. I am someone stubborn too."

They both chuckled as the green dragon thought, they are sure very good friends. There is nothing to worry about if they stayed that way, he was reassured by their little talk.

They continued watching the stars, before Tasuku stood up, "Well, I guess we should go now. We need to be ready for tomorrow and I don't want to be half asleep when we are going to stop them," he turned toward his friend. His buddy joined him in the air.

Gao stood up, "Guess I have to do the same. I can't end up falling asleep when telling Azi Dahaka we are going to arrest him. That would be really awkward for everyone."

They chuckled at his poor joke.

"Gao. We are in this together, so let's not forget that our friends are also with us," the blue-haired boy said as he activated his buddy skill.

"I won't. See you tomorrow."

"Bye," his friend replied.

Gao was left alone. He continued looking at the stars for a while, before going back into his chamber. He looked at his buddy, still asleep. He quietly climbed in the bed and gasped when the red dragon asked, "Feeling better?"

"Drum… Y- yeah. Sorry. I woke you up," the boy replied.

"Don't be. I wasn't sleeping since you went outside. I just felt like you were gone and wake up. Don't worry about me," he snickered, before adding, "Did Tasuku feel the same?"

"Yes. He was nervous about everything too. This is going to be a big battle and we must be ready. I'm… not sure if everything will go okay," the boy replied. He then confidently said, "But we are not alone."

"Good. Remember that Gao. I am your buddy and I'll always be here with you. Together, we won't let anything get in our way. Tomorrow, we fight until victory."

"Yes," Gao replied with a small smile.

The two closed their eyes and quickly felt asleep. Finally believing that they could win no matter what the odds were.

There was one dragon who woke up much early than anyone else in the house. Tenbu woke up and it was still the night. He checked the clock and saw that it was almost midnight, there is still time before the mission Drum, the old dragon thought. He floated in the air and crossed his arms, entering in deep thought.

I was hoping that something would happen, but right now, it didn't. Neither Gao or Tasuku managed to fully grasp the hope for a better future as I wished them to reach. Just like everyone else, no one managed to reach their true potential. It is still dormant inside of them. Though… I'm glad Azi Dahaka didn't manage to grasp this potential too. Thought, I'm sorry I cannot help you in this fight, I must keep my sacred promise, for your sake. That's why, you must awaken your true potential.

"Only those who could foresee the future can grab it in this world. A world that is different from its peers. A world where the vision of the future has the power to change things, as it did before," he lightly smiled, even so, I'm glad Drum bettered himself and control his temper much better when facing darkness dragons.

After thinking about it, he flew in the loving room and looked outside, observing the silver moon, And when this is over, it means that you will return soon. Drum… Gao… You must win this fight, because Yamigedo won't be the same type of enemy than Azi.

AC: This is the end of this chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

Next: The Grand Operation Part 1.