This took a lot longer to update since I needed the right fight scene. Hard time figuring it out.

But I bring you the epic battle! Read, review and, of course, enjoy!

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(Kate)

Know how hard it is to sew a picture together and run at the same time? Nearly. Freakin. IMPOSSIBLE. I barely knew how to sew in the first place! Ugh! I cut my fingers so many times! But saving Keith would make the pain worth while. I had to save him. Not much time was left and the ranger union was looking. News probably spread through Pueltown.

"Kate!"

Grady, Dirk and Mac? And all their pokemon? What are the odds of running into them again in Altru Park? And at such a late hour?

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"We're out trying to find that flygon!" Grady replied.

"We're going to try capturing it. If not, we'll let the rangers handle it." Mac added.

A gulp escaped from my knotted up throat.

"Listen, have you seen where it or the rangers went?" I questioned.

"We just found a dragon scale." Dirk held up a green scale, Keith's. "It might have flown east. Rangers are spread out over Pueltown trying to get some answers."

"Guys I need a huge favor." I said. "Please tell the rangers that the dragon went south to Vientown."

"What? Why would we do that?" Dirk stared at me weirdly.

"Because that dragon they're chasing is the wrong one! That green one's mine!" I answered. "And besides, I saw the blue one that's causing this chaos went into the Vienforest. If it gets to the smaller towns, it'll cause a whole lot of destruction."

Please believe me….please believe me….PLEASE….

"Sounds reasonable." Mac shrugged.

"Vien forest it is!" Grady nodded. "Let's go find those rangers!"

"Yeah!" The other two cheered.

The three boys started running down to Pueltown.

"Good luck with your dragon!" One of them, unsure which, called.

I waved goodbye before racing to the east. Chroma Highlands, Keith might be there. It'd make some sense. He went there sometimes to clear his head or be alone. With Chia and Wave at my side, I raced through Altru Park and through the trees.

"Keith…" I whispered. "Please hold on…."

No one else was along the path leading the valley. Good. Less danger, questions and things to worry about. Another green scale told me that Keith was definitely up this way. I had to find him. The boy I liked was in trouble and if I didn't do something, I'd lose him forever. I'd never let him become fully dragon.

Chroma Highlands was dark and sort of spooky. I ran through the rocky cliffs and twists till I reached a large, circular part of land. There were stone statues surrounding it. Weird. Trying to catch my breath, I scanned the area. No sign of Keith.

"Chi….chippa…." Chia was trembling, seeming to be nervous.

Wave turned serious, on guard. The pokemon were detecting something but what?

Grrrrrrrrrrrr….

A low growl came from some feet behind me. I slowly turned and saw dark shadows lurking behind a pillar. Two glowing red eyes met mine. That wasn't Keith. As it walked out, its footsteps shook the ground. Moonlight revealed what it really was.

"Mer'du." I gasped, frozen in place.

Mer'du towered over me. His breath turned to smoke when exhaled from his lungs. This dragon never left its victims leave without a fight. And clearly I was the next victim of this blood-thirsty monster. With a roar, Mer'du raised its hand and was about to strike.

ROAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!

Another roar, different from Mer'du's. Next thing I saw was the salamence tackled and another dragon standing between us.

"Keith!" I exclaimed.

He came back. I noticed his stance was ready for a fight but also protective. His eyes were different. Not like when he went into dragon mode but not his usual self. Fierce, determined, willing to do anything to win the fight. It was like he was guarding me, making sure I wouldn't get hurt. Almost as if I he were putting his life on the line. For….me…..

The salamence growled, stepping forward. Keith readied himself and….hissed? He was hissing. Yeah dragons did that but I read it was only for severe emergencies. Keith must've sensed this was one of them. He and Mer'du glared at each other for what seemed like forever, neither making a move.

With a giant roar, Mer'du leapt towards Keith who slashed him. They were caught up in a dragon fight, one of the most deadly pokemon battles in the world. Blood was drawn as the dragons bit, scratched and whacked each other. This was more than a dragons usual rough and tumble. It was a fight to the death.

"Keith! You can do it!" I yelled out to him. "I believe in you!"

Wasn't sure if my words reached him. But he seemed to be fighting harder. Keith was ignoring the mass of injuries that gathered all over him. Aw no…he was in trouble. And here he was, pushing himself past limits. Keith cornered Mer'du against a pillar and repeatedly slammed him into it. I could see the rocks loosening. I got the plan; Keith was trying to get that giant rock to crush Mer'du. But Mer'du overpowered Keith and sent him crashing across the ring. He laid on the ground, weak and barely moving.

"Keith!" I ran towards him.

WHACK!

A strong force stung me as I flew away from Keith. Mer'du came over and slashed me across the back. An eruption of pain made me shriek, tears flowing from my eyes alongside the blood. I felt Mer'du's paw crushing my back, trying to crush me. This was it….the end…..

ROAR!

A headbut sent Mer'du off of me. Had to be Keith. He was bleeding all over the place and nearly beaten but he pushed Mer'du back into that statue. My sight got blurry but I saw the rock topple. It landed on top of the salamence's head and the rest of the statue crumble onto his body.

Mer'du was no more.

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(Keith)

With a groan, I collapsed onto the ground. Pain exploded all over my body, energy drained completely. Mer'du was dead, gone. I did it; I won the battle. It was weird. When I flew over the highlands, I could sense Kate was in danger. And when I faced against that salamence, I became powerful. It wasn't like when the violent dragon part of me came out. More like my dragon being worked with my spirit. All of my thoughts and desires drained into my strength until one remained.

Protect the mate.

Kate was my mate and I had to protect her with my life. I'd do anything to make sure she was ok. And Mer'du would pay for threatening her. During the battle, I fought like I've never fought before. As a human, I'd never do this. But here I was as a dragon. This was me, clawing at another dragon to defend the mate. The fight did get tough. Hearing Kate's words brought me courage and determination to take this beast down. And when I saw the tears in her eyes as she was attacked, it brought a rage full of power that gave me the final boost to take Mer'du down.

"Nnnnggg…."

"KATE!"

I crawl over to her side. Her back's drenched in blood, face down in the ground. Aw no she was hurt…badly. These injuries were severe. If she didn't get medical attention she'd…..she'd…..no…

"Sun's coming up…" Wave grimly said.

The black sky was getting lighter. Any moment, the sunrise would appear and lock me inside this curse. It was over. Kate would die and I'd be a dragon permanently. We may have killed Mer'du but we still lost in the end.

"Keith…" Kate struggled to look up into my eyes.

Those blue eyes; still had a tiny sparkle in them. But I saw mixtures of pain, sadness, worry and another one I tried to figure out. The smile worn on her face was a sad one. Kate stroked my face with her soft hands.

"I…I wish I had more time…" She whispered. "…to be with you…"

Without warning, Kate lifted herself and kissed me. Then collapsed into my arms.

"Kate…" Tears escaped from my eyes. "Please come back….please…I love you…"

Whooooooooossssshhhhhh!

A strong wind brushed past me as sunlight peaked over the Chroma Highlands. It felt like a thousand needles were poking me at once. But internally, a warm feeling relaxed my tensed spirit.

"Keith!" Chia and Wave exclaimed.

My arms…my legs and wings….every part of me starting glowing, turning to light! I was blinded by the sheer intensity of the brightness. It was then I felt myself melting, shrinking a little, my body shifting. After a moment, the light started fading and the warmness drifted. I slowly opened my eyes.

Hands….I had hands again! Feet, legs, arms, head; all of them back to normal! I was human again! Free of the curse!

Mend the bond, torn by pride. Open up the feelings, once cast aside.

It wasn't the picture that needed mending. The witch had been talking about my bond with….oh arceus….KATE! She was on the ground, unconscious and barely holding on. Kate was still in trouble, dying. Couldn't waste anymore time. I grabbed the jacket I was wearing and wrapped it around her, trying to stop the bleeding. Carrying her in my arms, I sped off towards Pueltown.

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I know in the movie when the mom changes back from bear to human, she's naked. For simplicity sake, Keith's clothed in this story.

But aint this a great chapter? I gave you drama and a fight! Keith's changed back to normal just in time. Now Kate's the one in trouble and running out of time. Can she still live?

More coming up very soon!