Jake Long III (Season Five)
Chapter/Episode Ten: Love Before Anger
Holly, Stennis and Carmela all exited the building where Storm's room was. "Why exactly are we looking for her?" Carmela asked.
"Because I want to talk to her." Holly responded.
"You said that you weren't happy that she's accepted her diagnosis." Stennis said.
"That's what I want to talk to her about." Holly said.
Stennis smiled hopefully. "You...You're going to convince her to go through treatment?"
"I think it would be in our best interests to try..." Was Holly's response.
LINE BREAK
In the Main Hall, Councilor Asil and Councilor Dingane were standing together, Asil telling Dingane something in a hushed voice, when Holly, Carmela and Stennis stepped inside the building.
"Councilors." Holly said, making both Asil and Dingane turn from each other so that they were facing her as Holly, Stennis and Carmela stopped in front of them.
"Councilor Jennings." Asil gave her a small smile. "I hope you're feeling a little bit better."
"Where's Storm?" Holly asked.
"We were just talking about that." Asil said, his smile slowly fading. "We just saw her."
"So, you know where she is?" Stennis asked. "Where can we find her?"
"She's down in the crypt." Asil told them. As Holly, Carmela and Stennis reacted with shock, Asil added: "She's down there with Councilor Agata and Councilor Yara. She's making burial arrangements."
LINE BREAK
Down in crypt, in front of Riley and TJ's graves, Storm stood with Councilor Yara. They both watched as Councilor Agata stood about two rows ahead, her back to them. After a few seconds, Agata lifted her head up and turned to face Storm and her fellow Councilor.
"Well?" Storm asked.
"I'm sorry." Agata answered. "Nothing on this row. Perhaps the next?"
Storm sighed. "I guess." She said.
Nodding, Councilor Agata turned and stepped over the gravestone she was standing in front of, stepping onto the next row.
"Don't worry." Councilor Yara put an encouraging hand on Storm's shoulder. "We'll get you a grave as close to your husband's as we can find." She said.
"I'm sure you will." Storm said.
"Aw!" Just seconds later, Councilor Agata lifted her head and turned around to face Storm and Yara, showing them a cheery smile. "What luck!" She exclaimed. "I found one! Why don't you come over here and check it out? Will it be close enough?"
"It's the nearest one." Storm answered.
"Why don't you go over there and see how it looks?" Yara suggested. "See if you'll be satisfied."
Without a word, Storm started to walk over to Councilor Agata, stopping in front of the grave a few moments later. As soon as Storm stopped in front of the grave, Agata turned around so that her back was to Councilor Yara.
"What do you think?" Agata asked as both women lifted their heads up.
"It will have to do." Storm replied.
"It's the one you want?" Agata asked, turning to face Storm. "You are satisfied with it?" She asked as Storm turned to face her.
"As it is the closest I can get to my husband, then yes." Storm replied.
Agata smiled. "Very well then." She said before she turned to face Councilor Yara. "Councilor..." She began as Storm also turned to face Yara. "...She has decided that she likes the grave. Do me a favor and go tell Councilor Asil and Councilor Dingane that she has chose-" However, before she could finish, Agata started to trail off as she saw that Holly, Carmela and Stennis were walking up beside Yara.
"C...Councilor Jennings..." Agata stammered.
"Storm..." Was all Holly said.
"Why are you down here?" Storm asked before she started to walk over to her sister-in-law and her children. Within seconds, she stopped in front of Holly. "There's no need to be down here. I've figured everything out."
"You're selecting a grave." Holly said.
"Yes..." Storm replied." "...That'll happen when you get old and very sick."
"Storm..." Holly tried again.
"Not now, Holly." Storm said. "I'm tired, and I'm not in a mood for much talking. Stennis. Carmela." She added. "Maybe later, after I've gotten some rest, I'll show you the grave I picked out."
"Mom..." Stennis tried.
"Stennis, what I said to your Aunt goes for you, too." Storm said sternly. Then, without another word, she walked around them and started to leave the crypt.
LINE BREAK
That night, in her room, Holly was lying on her left side, wide awake. "I have to take my daughters down." Her words to Phoebe, Dynean and Demetria ran through her mind. "I've known this, but now I can't put it off any longer. My daughters must be put down the next time I face them."
Sighing, the former American Dragon rolled over onto her back. As she stared up at the ceiling, her memories still refused to let her have any peace. "Wh...When are you going to face her again?" Jake III's question plagued her mind, quickly followed by her response:
"I don't know. But when I do, it will probably end the same way. I'll go in knowing that I have to put her and her sisters down, but I won't."
Growling in frustration, Haley rolled over onto her right side. "Come on, Haley." She whispered to herself. "You need to relax."
Trying to do that, Haley forced herself to close her eyes. Seconds later, she forced herself to take a deep breath, and then exhale. After this, it seemed like Haley had succeeded in calming herself down, until...
"This type of dark magic thrives off of anger and hatred." Holly's explanation of how the dark magic worked forced itself into Haley's mind. "Any living being that it engulfs that holds no anger, no hatred, will be destroyed by the magic. Your daughters have a lot of anger in them."
Remembering Holly's words, Haley's eyes snapped open.
BLACKOUT; PLAY THEME SONG
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
The next morning, Haley was sitting on the edge of the island, her legs dangling over the side. As she sat on her own, she had no idea that Demetria was walking up behind her. Stopping, Demetria watched Haley for about five seconds. Seeing that Haley did nothing in that span of time, Demetria mustered up the courage to speak: "Mrs. Harris?"
Gasping slightly, Haley turned her head to the side, now being able to see that Demetria was right behind her. "Mrs. Harris, are you okay?"
"I guess." Haley said before she turned her head back to normal. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About a thought that occurred to me last night." Haley said. "I think I might know a way to finally put down my daughters."
"That's...good..." Demetria managed a smile.
"Yes, but there is kind of a catch." Haley added before she turned her head to the side. "If I am right, and this plan works, it involves me dying."
LINE BREAK
Inside the cafeteria, Holly stood near the entrance, looking around to see if she could find any sign of her niece and/or nephew. Seeing no sign of them, Holly sighed and turned around, only to gasp when she saw that Haley was standing in the doorway. Holly watched as Haley took a step closer. "There you are." Haley said.
"Can I help you?" Holly asked.
"I need to talk to you." Haley told her. "It's about the dark magic and it's about a way to stop Socorro, Cleo and Kay."
"Haley, I'm not in the mood for this." Holly explained. "You probably haven't heard, but my sister-in-law has cancer. She's being stubborn and refusing treatment, and I'm very, very stressed."
"Why is she refusing treatment?" Haley asked.
"Because she's depressed after the death of her husband, so she's more than willing to accept death." Holly said.
"I can understand how she feels." Haley admitted. As Holly gave her a confused look, Haley sighed before she continued: "All those years ago, when Socorro, Cleo and Kay were first corrupted by dark magic, you told me that the magic feeds on anger and hatred. Any subject that it comes in contact with that is not angry and hateful will be destroyed."
"Where are you going with this?" Holly asked.
"And I told you that my daughters want to corrupt me..." Haley continued.
"Yes, and they can't." Holly said. "For that exact reason. You'd be destroyed."
"But what if that is my goal?" Haley asked. "The dark magic that is in that box is the remainder of the magic that corrupted my daughters. That is to say that the magic that corrupted them is only part of the dark magic. So, if I let myself be destroyed, could that also have an effect on my daughters? Could it...also destroy them?"
"Haley..." Was all Holly, with wide eyes, could say.
"Holly..." Haley said softly. "...I think I need to do this..."
LINE BREAK
A few moments later, Haley turned around a corner and started to head towards the Main Hall. However, just as she was about to pass by the building, Demetria, Phoebe and Dynean all turned around the corner, stopping when they saw that they were in front of Haley.
"Hi." Haley told them. "Um, not now, okay?"
"Look, Demetria told us about your plan, Mrs. Harris." Dynean said.
"She did?"
"You're going to sacrifice yourself to stop them?" Phoebe asked. "Really? You're really going to?"
"Right now..." Haley put her hands on her hips. "...I think it's the only way that I'll actually be able to bring myself to put them down. At least with this, I won't have to live with any potential guilt."
"Is the Council even going to allow this?" Dynean asked.
"Well..." Haley told them. "...I'm about to find out..."
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, Holly made her way to the room where Storm, Carmela and Stennis were staying in. Upon reaching the door to their room, Golly turned to face it and quickly brought her hand up, knocking three times at the door.
"Who is it?" Came the sound of Stennis' voice as Holly pulled her hand away from the door.
"It's me." Holly answered. "I need to talk to you. I tried to look for you in the cafeteria, but I couldn't find you. Can I come in?"
Holly's answer came in the form of Stennis opening the door, showing his Aunt his grim face. "If your mother is here..." Holly explained. "...I'd really like to talk to her."
"Well, I suppose you're in luck." Stennis said. "She's in bed. She's not feeling well. That's why you couldn't find us." After saying this, Stennis stepped to the side, allowing Holly to walk into the room. Turning around, Stennis started to walk alongside her, taking her to his mother's bed. Within seconds, they reached the bed, where Carmela was sitting at the side, holding her mother's hand as Storm appeared to be in a pained sleep.
"Now might be a good time to try and convince her." Stennis said softly.
"What even happened?" Holly asked.
"I don't know." Stennis answered. "Starting early this morning, she started to feel really unwell. She's obviously in a lot of pain." As Stennis spoke, Storm moaned twice in her sleep, weakly moving her head back and forth. "Aunt Holly, please..." Stennis put his hand on Holly's shoulder. "...Convince her to see a doctor."
Slowly opening her eyes, Storm could see Holly walking around Stennis, stepping on-between him and Carmela. Holly looked down at her sister-in-law. "What are you doing here, Holly?" Storm croaked.
"Storm, look at yourself." Holly said. "You need help."
"It's late for that." Storm croaked. "I'm dying. I don't have long left."
"Mom!" Carmela panicked.
Holly thought about what Storm had said for a brief moment before she finally decided what to do. Taking charge, Holly narrowed her eyes. "No, Storm." She said. As Storm looked up at her with confusion, Holly continued: "I don't think you are on your death bed just yet, but you are feeling the effects of your illness. And even if you don't have that much time left, you still need medical attention. Otherwise you're just going to be spending a lot of time in pain." She finished as Storm moaned in discomfort. "I know you want to give up. I know you just want to slip into a deep, permanent sleep, but that's not going to happen. This is going to eat you alive. Get used to this pain, because unless you opt for treatment, it's basically all you're going to know from now on."
"Treatment is a waste of time." Storm croaked.
"Is it?" Holly asked bitterly.
"The cancer's already eaten enough of me." Storm said. "It's spread. Treatment won't relieve the pain. It'll only make it worse. You just don't want me to give up."
"That's right." Holly said. "I don't. I don't think you should. Your children feel the same way, if you've noticed."
"Holly..." Storm tried.
"Just think about it, Storm!" Holly raised her voice. "Just think about it! I think it's selfish of you to just give up. You miss Riley. Well, so do I, and so do Carmela and Stennis. If you think that you can just give up on life so that you don't have to deal with your loss, while you leave Stennis, Carmela and myself to deal with a second loss so soon, then I think you are selfish! Please, Storm! Think about it! Just think about getting treatment! Just think about it!"
After saying this, Holly turned and started to walk away. However, after only a few steps, Holly froze when she heard Storm moan. "Holly..." She said softly, prompting Holly to turn to face her.
"Yeah?" Holly asked, seeing that Storm had her head rolled to the side so that she could look at her sister-in-law.
Storm managed to take a deep breath and then exhaled. "Okay." She said hoarsely. "I'll go through with treatment. I'll do it. I'll do it...for you three." By the time Storm had finished saying this, Holly had a small, relieved smile on her face.
LINE BREAK
A short time later, Holly found herself walking towards Councilor Agata's room. With a smile on her face, she turned to face the door once she reached it, and lifted her hand up and started to knock. After knocking once, she prepared to knock for a second time, but before she could, the door opened and Agata stepped out to face her.
"Councilor!" Holly showed Agata her smile. "I've got good news!"
"Oh?"
"Yes, I've managed to get Storm to agree to go through treatment." Holly said proudly. "So, if you'd be so kind as to call for that magical surgeon you mentioned yesterday, I'd be-"
"Oh, I will, Councilor." Agata returned the smile. "But I can't right now."
"Why not?"
"I'm needed." Agata explained. "You need to be there too, in fact. Dragon Harris needs us for something."
Upon hearing this, Holly's eyes widened. Immediately, her memory took her back to the short conversation she had had with Haley earlier that morning. "Yes, and they can't. For that exact reason. You'd be destroyed."
"But what if that is my goal?"
"Oh, no."
LINE BREAK
Inside the Main Hall, Haley stood in front of Councilor Yara, Councilor Asil and Councilor Dingane, Councilor Asil holding Socorro's box filled with dark magic. To the side, Demetria, Dynean and Phoebe were standing together. Clearing his throat, Asil started to speak: "Dragon Harris, I'm a little confused. What do you want to do with this dark magic, exactly?"
"I think we should wait until Councilor Agata and Councilor Jennings get here before she explains." Yara said.
"It just so turns out that I already know what she's planning." Came the sound of Holly's voice. As quickly as she could, Haley spun around to see Holly and Councilor Agata entering the building together. Seconds later, the two stopped in front of Haley. "We had a discussion about it this morning." Holly added darkly.
"Well, let Dragon Harris explain it to us." Yara said.
"She doesn't need to, because I'm putting my foot down right now." Holly said. "Haley, you are not sacrificing yourself to defeat your daughters!"
In response, Yara, Asil and Dingane all gasped in surprise, Haley sighed and turned around to face the other three Councilors. As they stared at her in disbelief, Haley sighed again. "Yes, Holly." She said. "I have to do this."
"No!" Holly said. "I won't let you give your life up!"
"But how else will I defeat them?!" Haley demanded. "If I don't do this, then I'm just going to keep on facing my daughters. It will never end. Unless I do this. Councilors, this is my choice, and I accept it."
"Councilors..." Demetria spoke up, making Holly, Agata, Dingane, Asil and Yara turn their heads to the side to look at her. "...Socorro was my friend before she was corrupted, and Mrs. Harris is one of the nicest dragons I have ever met. That aside, I...support her decision. Socorro's caused a lot of problems, and if she can't be cured..."
As Demetria trailed off, Dingane, Asil and Yara all turned their heads back to normal, just in time to see Haley step forward and gently take the box of dark magic. "Please." She begged softly.
Asil stared at Haley for a few seconds before he finally spoke: "Councilors, i...if you have any objections, please voice them now."
"I do." Holly said, but of course, she was the only one.
"I'm sorry, Councilor Jennings..." Asil said. "...But it appears you are in the minority."
Hearing this, Haley couldn't help but give a small, sad smile. "Thank you, Councilors." She said. "I know I've asked a lot of you, but if I could ask for just one more thing-a final request, so to speak?"
BLACKOUT; COMMERCIAL BREAK
BACK TO THE STORY/SHOW
A short time later, Lin-Lin and Jake III were walking towards the Main Hall. Both had smiles on their faces. "So, the Dragon Council told you that they have a mission for us?" Jake asked.
"Yep." Lin-Lin said. "The wait wasn't too long, was it?"
"Actually, that wasn't long at all." Jake replied. "I was fearing it would be a lot longer."
Lin-Lin laughed as she reached out and took Jake by the shoulder, shaking it.
Seconds later, the two reached the Main Hall and stepped inside, where they found Haley and the Council waiting for them. "Jake." Haley said with a small smile.
"Aunt Haley, what are you doing here?" Jake asked.
"Your mission..." Councilor Asil said. "...Will be helping her down in Central Park."
"Oh, okay." Jake said, managing a smile. "I guess that sounds good."
"What will we be doing, exactly?" Lin-Lin asked.
"I'll give you the specifics on the way there." Haley explained. "I'll be right out in a few moments. If you don't mind, could you wait outside while I...do something important?"
"Um, okay." Lin-Lin said, reaching out and putting her hand on Jake's shoulder. Together, they turned and started to walk out of the building, exiting it a few seconds later. Stopping, Lin-Lin took her hand off of Jake's shoulder and crossed her arms while Jake turned around, looking inside the Main Hall to see Demetria, Phoebe and Dynean walking up to Haley. After just standing in front of each other for a few seconds, Demetria finally opened up her arms, Haley, although she kept her grip on the box of dark magic, did the same and hugged her.
LINE BREAK
A short time later, Haley and Lin-Lin were in their dragon forms, flying through the air while Jake III sat on Lin-Lin's back. "So, what're we even doing?" Jake asked, turning his head to the side, watching as Haley continued to fly. "You told us that you'd explain on the way."
"Oh." Haley said, quickly remembering that she did tell him that. "Well, we're almost there." She turned her head to the side. "I'll tell you once we get there. It's not complicated." After saying this, Haley turned her head back to normal.
Not necessarily satisfied, but knowing that this was the best he was going to get for now, Jake turned his head back to normal as well.
A short while later, they finally reached their destination. Quickly, Haley swooped down, Lin-Lin following her. Within a few more seconds, Haley landed several feet in front of the cave where Socorro, Kay and Cleo had tried to corrupt her in, with Lin-Lin landing several inches beside her, giving Jake enough room to jump off her back and stand beside Haley.
Together, the three of them started to walk toward the cave. "Okay." Haley said. "It's time to explain. I'm hoping that my daughters are in there. I'm going in there and finishing this once and for all."
"That's great!" Jake said. "What are we going to do?"
Just after he asked this, they reached the cave, and quickly, Haley stepped forward and turned to face them. "You are going to stay out here." She said.
"What?!" Jake's eyes widened. "Aunt Haley...no!"
"No, no, no..." Haley quickly lied. "It isn't like that. You have a very important job. In case something goes wrong and one of my daughters manages to get out of the cave, you two have to be here to stop them. This is very important, and I know you two can do it."
"Oh." Jake said softly, starting to feel silly for jumping to conclusions.
"I know I can count on you." Haley repeated with a smile before she quickly got closer to Jake and wrapped her scaly arms around him, giving him a loving final hug. As quickly as she had grabbed him, Haley let go and quickly turned and starting to walk into the cave.
As Haley got deeper and deeper into the cave, Jake turned his head to the side to look at Lin-Lin. "She just hugged me." He said.
"I know." Lin-Lin said, starting to unsheathe her sword.
"It's actually kind of odd..." Jake continued, turning his head back to normal and starting to unsheathe his sword as well. "...Now she hugs me like that. Before we left the Island of Draco, I saw her hug Demetria, Dynean and Phoebe."
LINE BREAK
Getting deeper and deeper in the cave, Haley took quick, rapid breaths to calm herself. "Please let them be here, please them be here..." She muttered to herself. "...Please let-" She had intention to continue, but when she heard footsteps, she froze.
Standing completely still, she heard footsteps for a few more seconds before she started to hear flapping wings. "They're here..." She whispered, smiling with relief.
A split second later, her smile vanished as a torrent of flames was shot at her, making her yelp and duck. As Haley remained squatted so that she wouldn't get incinerated, the torrent of flames vanished, and in the aftermath, both Kay and Cleo swooped down and landed on the ground, watching as their mother slowly straightened up.
Both daughters blew out a ball of fire into their clawed hands and prepared to throw them at their mother, but Haley stopped them. "No!" She shouted. "No, don't!" As Kay and Cleo stared at her in confusion, Haley held out the box. "I surrender." Haley said. "I'm here to surrender. I'll let you corrupt me."
LINE BREAK
Back outside, Jake III slowly started to lower his sword. "Hey, Lin-Lin?" He asked, turning his head to the side. "Can I ask you something?"
In response, Lin-Lin also lowered her sword and turned her head to the side to look at him. "Sure." She smiled at him.
"I've wanted to ask you this for awhile." Jake said, turning to face her.
"Okay."
"It's about how you've been treating me."
Lin-Lin blinked in confusion. "...I've...mistreated you?"
"No." Jake told her. "It's the opposite, really. You've kissed me repeatedly, and after you confronted your mother, you told me that you thought you loved me. You...You love me, don't you?" He asked as Lin-Lin turned to face him.
"You don't feel the same way?" Lin-Lin asked.
Jake waited a moment before he spoke: "I do like you, Lin-Lin. I told you that before. I like you."
Lin-Lin smiled slightly. "Good to know." She said. "Um..." Her smile faded as she ran a clawed hand through her hair. "...This is going to be an awkward question, but...how well...do you like me?"
"Um..." Jake could only say.
"You wouldn't..." Jake could have sworn that he saw a blush on Lin-Lin's face. "...Like me enough to be my first...my first boyfriend, would you?"
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, back in the cave, Socorro was alert and was waiting for her younger sisters to come back. Seeing them return with their mother, who was still carrying the box of dark magic in her claws, in-between them, Socorro gritted her teeth and growled.
"I don't suppose you're here to return my magic to me." Socorro spat.
"She actually is..." Cleo said.
"Shut up!" Socorro barked. "You two get over here, now!"
Although both Cleo and Kay scowled, they did as they were told, walking over to their older sister, turning to face their mother once they reached her. "Okay." Socorro growled, crossing her scaly arms. "Why are you here, mother? Is what Cleo said true?"
"Yes." Haley said, holding out the dark magic box. "I'll let you corrupt me." She told the wide-eyed Socorro.
"R...Really?" Socorro asked, an evil smile appearing on her face. When her mother merely nodded, Socorro laughed and snatched the box out of her clawed hands. "Excellent!" She declared. "Just excellent! Together, we'll destroy the Dragon Council!"
"Yes." Haley said softly, just silently hoping that her suspicions about the workings of the dark magic were correct.
Chuckling evilly, Socorro put one of her clawed hands on the lip and lifted it open. "Please." Haley whispered to herself, closing her eyes as the remainder of the green-colored dark magic shot out of the box, quickly going straight into Haley's body.
Dropping the box, Socorro's evil grin was one of sheer anticipation. However, as Haley simply exhaled peacefully and started to glow green from the dark magic, Socorro's grin vanished, both Kay and Cleo's jaws dropping.
Before their very eyes, Haley's body disappeared within the glowing magic, which then condensed itself in midair, becoming a decently-sized ball of dark magic. "What the-?" Socorro could only ask, but was cut off by both of her younger sisters shrieking in fear. Looking in both directions, Socorro could see that Kay and Cleo started to glow with dark magic. Now panicking herself, Socorro turned her head back to normal and looked down at her own body, just as she started to glow green.
Panting, Socorro jerked her head up to stare at the ball of dark magic that had once been her mother. "Mother, what have you done to us?!" She demanded.
Just a second later, Kay, Socorro and Cleo all disappeared within the green glow of dark magic. Another second later, the three forms of dark magic broke up into a bunch of tiny particles, all of them floating up to the ceiling where they vanished into thin air. Five seconds later, the ball of dark magic that had once been Haley Harris, once been Haley Long, once been the second American Dragon, did the same. Upon breaking into several particles and floating up to the ceiling where they vanished, it was over.
Haley had been right.
LINE BREAK
Back outside the cave, both Lin-Lin and Jake III stood guard. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, Jake cocked his head to the side. "Lin-Lin?" He asked.
"Yeah?" She replied as he straightened his head.
"Do you find it weird that we haven't heard anything?" He asked. "We should be able to hear the sounds of fight from here, I would think."
"I don't know what to tell you, Jake." Lin-Lin returned.
"I think we should go and check it out." Jake said, lowering his sword.
"Yeah, but she-" Lin-Lin said, turning her head to the side, only to stop and gasp as Jake bolted, running into the cave. "Jake!" Turning her head back to normal, Lin-Lin started to run after him.
LINE BREAK
Moments later, Jake III arrived at the spot where Haley had sacrificed herself, taking out her daughters. As Jake started to look around, Lin-Lin caught up with him.
"I don't see anything, Jake." Lin-Lin said, just as Jake's eyes fell on the empty box that had once contained the remainder of the dark magic. Without saying a word, Jake dropped his sword and ran towards the box, crouching down and picking it up once he arrived.
Quickly, Jake stood back up and turned to face Lin-Lin. "My Aunt Haley was holding this when she entered the cave." Jake said, his eyes filling with worry.
"But wh...where is she now?" Lin-Lin asked. "What's going on?"
LINE BREAK
Back on the Island of Draco, Jake III and the now human-formed Lin-Lin stood before the seated Council. Jake was trembling with fear and confusion. Sensing Jake's anxiety, Lin-Lin reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.
This seemed to help calm Jake, for he swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as his shaking started to lighten up. "Wh...What happened back there?" Jake managed. "Why was my Aunt Haley gone?"
Seeing the apprehensive looks on all of the Councilmember's faces, Jake's eyes widened. "You...You know something I don't, don't you? Tell me!"
"Listen..." Councilor Asil finally spoke. "...This is going to be hard for you to hear, but-:
"But what?!" Jake demanded.
"She's dead." Asil said simply. "She sacrificed herself to defeat her daughters."
"There weren't any bodies." Lin-Lin said, while a look of complete devastation immediately appeared on Jake's face.
"No, apparently not." Agata said.
"You...You knew?" Jake asked, tears starting to form in his eyes. "YOU KNEW?!"
"Yes." Asil said softly. "Dragon Harris came to us to tell us her plan."
"If it brings any comfort to you..." Yara butted in. "...It was her decision, her plan. She knew that she wasn't going to come back. To her, it was the only way."
"But why didn't you tell me?" Jake demanded. "Why did you let us get involved?"
"It was a request from Dragon Harris." Asil explained. "She wanted a chance to get to say goodbye to you."
"BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" Jake roared.
"She didn't want you to know." Asil said softly, but loud enough for Jake to hear. "I am so sorry."
Turning her head to the side, Lin-Lin watched as Jake started to break down. As she took her hand off of his shoulder, his tears started to slide down his cheeks, more and more tears being produced as he also started to hyperventilate.
"Jake..." Lin-Lin said softly, turning to face him. "...Now you know why she hugged you and those three others you mentioned. Jake..."
As Jake became more and more unstable, he brought up his hand and bit down on it in order to stifle a sob. "Jake, please..." Lin-Lin begged quietly.
Slowly, Lin-Lin stepped up to Jake and put a hand on his shoulder, gently turning him to face her so that she could wrap her arms around him and comfort him. With no hand to silent him, Jake released an anguished sob before he buried his face into Lin-Lin's chest.
Lin-Lin didn't care about this at all, and simply just held him as he sobbed. "Sh." She said softly. "Jake, it's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Trust me. I love you, Jake, and I'm going to be here for you." As she continued, her voice started to crack. "You helped me, and now I'm going to return the favor. It's going to be okay. Everything's going to be okay."
BLACKOUT; END
A/N: It's done! Finally, after years, JLIII is done, and now I have some things to say:
1. I planned Haley's sacrifice from the beginning. It's been years since I've started, but I think I knew that Haley was going to sacrifice her life before I even finished Future Dragon. So, I definitely planted the seeds, such as Holly explaining that the dark magic would destroy any person who is not angry, Socorro stealing the box and hiding it, and Holly telling Haley that she was surprised that Socorro, Cleo and Kay tried to corrupt her. Still, as I wrote it, I became worried that this was an idea that sounded much better in my head than it would being played out. So, I'd like to ask you what you think about it.
2. Yes, Jake III and Lin-Lin are a couple after this.
3. Storm went through treatment for Holly, Carmela and Stennis, and because of that, she lived another year and a half-two years, dying with her kids and Holly at her side sometime in 2087.
4. The next few upcoming Dragon Saga projects! I'm going to name a few right now, so you know what's coming (in order):
-South African Dragon: Dikeledi Okafor: This is the return of Dikeledi, her mother, Kefentse, Letsego and Siboniso. This will be a "film" instead of a series, and just like JLIII, although Dikeledi is the titular character, it's more of an ensemble.
-Another "film". All I'm going to tell you is that it is called Earning the Darkness. That's all I'm saying for now.
-A "film" about Sadie, with Gussie as a major character. On second thought, I won't reveal the title, because it could potentially be a spoiler.
-The Powerless Dragon: All I'm telling you is that this will be a "film" followed by an eight episode-long (tentatively) mini-series.
-Another eight episode-long mini-series (once again, the number of episodes is tentative). The titular character is a secret.
Believe it or not, there will be more after this, including Huntsclan History and more about Lao-Shi. What can I say? The Am Drag universe is a big one, and I want to explore it.
Anyway, I'm relieved that this is done with, and I look forward to my break from writing all these episodes. Please leave a review.