AN: Hey guys and welcome to the nineteenth chapter of "Switching Sides." I want to thank everyone who had Followed, Favorited, and Reviewed!

I have a few things to tell you so I'll get on with it.

First, for those who wait for the rewrite of my first story, I am saddened to say that it will take me quite a while to complete due to unexpected obstacles that make it go longer than it should.

Second, like the previous chapter this one will also feature AU and OOC elements, but as you may know, I do not do these kinds of stuff without deeming them important and even if it doesn't look important at first know that it will serve a purpose in the future. So I hope you'll enjoy the AU and OOC elements that I incorporated in this chapter as well as waiting to see the consequences of those elements and their purpose before judging them :).

Third, I am happy to announce that I have decided to add two new members to the harem. Those two are probably the most unexpected two, and I think that none of you will be able to guess. I already know that they will be very controversial and that some of you will not like them, but I felt as if they'll be nice additions to the harem and can give things to Issei like the rest of the harem as well as receiving stuff from him. I hope that when the time come for them to join the harem, you'll like them :)

Fourth, The fight between Issei and Tiamat was written the way it was not because I am lazy or something rather because I felt that it is the perfect way to write it. I did not want to write the entire fight because I wanted you, the readers, to have freedom in this story to imagine how the fight went before the point I picked it in which I hope you'll appreciate :)

Now, without further ado, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

"..." Talking

'...' Thoughts

"..." Quotations

"..." Attacks

*...* Actions i.e., Yawning and Sighing

(...) Flashback and time skips

["..."] Talking through the Sacred Gear

{"..."} Talking through the Sacred Gear

['...'] Talking in the Host mind

{'...'} Talking in the Host mind

[...] Sacred Gear Actions and modes

[Dragon Shot!] Issei bellowed as he launched his signature attack on Tiamat once again.

It has been close to an hour since the two mighty Dragons had started their decisive battle and so far the end was not in sight.

Vali and the rest of her team could only stand still as they gaped at the sheer power the two Dragons emanated and the way their suffocating aura left little to no room for them to breath.

For Vali, the breathing wasn't a problem since she was also part Dragon thanks to her Longinus but for people like Arthur, Bikou, and Le Fay found their breaths to be hitching more and more as the fight progressed.

She wanted to help! They all did because the mere thought of losing Issei and the concept of living the rest of their lives without him was something that they all failed to comprehend.

Kuroka for her part watched the fight with worry and apprehension clearly written on her face and the more the fight progressed, the more it was clear for the rest that she was holding back the tears that threatened to burst any minute.

She knew... She knew that if the worst comes and, Issei will perish in this fight nothing will be the same ever again. He was her everything, the source of her happiness, the pillar that she needed, the family she never got to have, and the missing piece of her heart and soul that she never knew she lacked. She knew, and she didn't even need to think much that if Issei will die, then she would soon follow in his steps. She couldn't handle living when everything has been taken from her. She was no stranger to the feeling of being wallowing in agony as she was in the same condition until that night where Issei managed to do what she never been able to do after all this time. He managed to pull her from the depths of her agony and seal the endless pit that only threatened to swallow her deeper and deeper with each passing day.

"Issei come back to me... To us," She whispered to herself in hope, thinking that none has heard her desperate cry for her lover to return. But someone did, and when he looked at the Nekoshou, his eyes widened at the sight before him.

'Kuroka... Issei you bastard! You better come back, or I'll drag you back from hell myself!'

"You should just give up... You mere human cannot match the powers of a Dragon King," Tiamat derided Issei as she deflected yet another one of Issei's "Dragon Shots."

It has been an hour since the two started their fight and while she will never say it out loud, Tiamat was very impressed. She never expected Issei to last even ten minutes against her and the fact that he was still up and vigorously fighting was something that struck her with awe.

She was confident that the odds were entirely in her favor due to that while Issei is a Dragon as far as her senses told her, he wasn't a pure one thus making any powers he has both from his Dragon side or from Ddraig pale in comparison to her, a pure Dragon.

"Like hell, I'll give up!" Issei had roared before he lunged at Tiamat with inhuman speed.

"Tsch! You are a hundred years early for you to land a hit on me," Tiamat taunted in disdain as she evaded Issei's attack.

But her disdain was shortly lived as shock took its place when Issei vanished once again before he appeared above her and sent her pummeling to the ground with his punch.

"Then I guess a hundred years has already passed," Issei scoffed at Tiamat's remark as he smirked behind his visor.

['Issei dodge!'] Ddraig suddenly roared inside his subconscious, forcing Issei to focus back on the fight and dodge just seconds before a blue beam made contact with him.

'Thanks, Ddraig!' Issei thanked his partner before he focused on the source of the beam and was not surprised when he saw that it was Tiamat, who emerged from the debris.

"Not many lived to say that they dodged my "Cataclysm" so you should feel proud," Tiamat praised as she looked at Issei from her spot on the floor.

"Cataclysm" It was Tiamat's signature attack back from her early days as a Dragon King. Back then she realized that now that she was a Dragon King she couldn't rely solely on her strength and fire breath and so she sought help from the other kings who were more than happy to help her attain more power. The attack at its core is a beam of very condensed water. While it may not sound that impressive, this attack was praised as one of the deadliest among the known attacks of the Dragon Kings. Condensing water at the same level of Tiamat's attack was next to impossible, and that fact alone made it one of the highest ranking attacks and the damage it wrecked got many to fear this attack mortally. The Kings themselves knew something that made even them to slightly fear this attack, and that was the fact that Tiamat also merged her Chaos powers into the attack which significantly raised its destructive powers.

The more the Kings had trained with Tiamat on her new attack, the more they found out more about this marvelous talent that their fellow King possessed. As time went by, they noticed that Tiamat had been able to condense more elements other than water such as The Wind and surprisingly enough Lightning. With the wind being condensed she was able to achieve an attack that shamed any blade in existence while with lightning she was able to make the Angels light weapons look like toys in front of her lightning beam. A beam so majestic and powerful that many believed it to be God's own doing.

But the more they witnessed the growth of Tiamat's growth and understood the potential behind it the more they were filled with something that they haven't felt for years. They felt... Dread.

The event that transpired between Tiamat and her lover was still a fresh wound on the Dragon's heart, and they all knew it. But that was not what made them feel scared as they did. It was Tiamat's way of coping with that wound that made them feel that way. With each passing day as Tiamat got stronger with her powers she also got more... Sullen and morose. It was times like her mood swings from being the kind Dragon they knew back from their days at the rebel forces to a deranged Dragon who looked as if hatred was the substance that made her heart while her sick obsession with power was the one that made out her mind. They could see when she was who. Her cold stares, her smiles, her fuse being shorter and her attacks being much stronger from the hatred that fueled them.

The other Kings weren't dumb; they knew exactly what was happening. There were only two outcomes for that dreadful situation. Would Tiamat manage to win against her ever growing hatred and emerge out of this ordeal as a powerful King or will she be drowned in the sorrow and anger of her heart and will turn into the most dreadful Avenger that this land had ever known.

In the end, Tiamat had managed to win against her hatred by a miracle they didn't know who to thank for, and it was then that Tiamat had achieved her real strength now that she was finally complete.

"Well, I am not many," Issei smugly said as he returned Tiamat's piercing gaze with one of his own.

It looked to him as if the girl sought answers from his eyes despite their previous talk. Even though his eyes were covered by the visor of his Scale Mail, he felt as if the cover was nothing for Tiamat. It was as if she was in a turmoil and the only thing that could calm the storm within her would be the answer she would find in his eyes. It was said that the eyes are the window to your soul and despite not really understanding that saying Issei could not help but feel the need to maintain his gaze so Tiamat could get a peek through the window and into the answer to her turmoil.

After what seemed like hours, which in fact was only a minute, Tiamat smirked at Issei before she flashed out of existence.

Issei frantically looked around for her, but he could find no trace of her. It was as if she disappeared from the earth. He would've continued to think that if it was not for a single world followed by something that caused him to be filled with awe and horror.

"Pandemonium!" She shouted in her melodious tone as a beam so bright that Issei suddenly found himself thinking about Michael's golden wings.

Luckily for Issei, he managed to pull himself out of his daze at the last second and dodge the attack... Or so he thought before a sharp pain flooded his system as a piece of the Scale Mail shattered from its place on his left shoulder and fell to the floor with blood following closely after.

"Argh!" He cried in pain as he hurriedly clutched his left shoulder as he slowly descended back to the ground.

As he descended, he couldn't help but wonder why was it that he found himself in the daze he was in the first place? What was it about that attack that made him be that way?

He didn't need to think long as memories of what happened seconds ago flooded his mind and covered the missing parts that were made of his questions.

That power... It was outright terrifying! This was the power of Kings, but at the same time, it showed something entirely different as well. It showed something so clear that Issei found himself awestruck from the aura she gave as she built up her attack. That aura was the definition of chaos. Just like Issei's own was described by many to be the definition of domination or one of sheer domination that was the same for Tiamat. Her aura showed nothing but chaos, and for the first time in his life, Issei felt outright terrified. Sure, he has been scared of things before but to have an aura that matched yours in its purpose and transcended it in its power was something that made Issei shudder.

"I see you understand now," Tiamat said with a knowing voice as her gaze on Issei softened.

"Understand what?" He asked in perplexion, his voice slightly cracking as he spoke.

"The meaning of my powers," Her answer made Issei widen his eyes, but before he could talk back, Tiamat cut him.

"You see, each Dragon has a particular meaning for his powers. Yours is domination while mine is chaos. The purpose of your power is to dominate while mine is to wreck chaos. While we have a clear purpose for our powers, some don't. For example, the purpose behind Apophis, the Eclipse Dragon, powers is unknown as his name could be interpreted differently by each person, but some say that his purpose was to bring darkness to the world and its inhabitants by shadowing every source of light with his darkness. Some stated that his purpose was to surpass the strongest and achieve powers like none other. But while we do have a clear meaning for our powers it doesn't mean that we aren't free to do what we wish to do. Instead of wrecking chaos I became a protector and instead of dominating you became one that allowed things to progress naturally instead of seizing control on them. I can see it in you, the way you treat your friends as people on their own instead of trying to dominate them and force your opinions on them. I look at them, and I can see how their love is so natural just like a plant; growing naturally more and more. But while we do not have to act upon the meaning of our powers we cannot escape it. No matter how much you'll try to run from it, your aura will be one of sheer domination while mine will be of chaos,"

"I..." Issei found himself unable to speak as he digested the information Tiamat had dropped on him.

To have such a clear purpose in his life since the day he was born was something that stunned Issei greatly. His biggest purpose was to become a harem king, but that dream faded the day Rias, and the rest broke his heart, and in its place, the purpose of protecting those he loved has surfaced. He remembered the promise he made to Ddraig that day, the promise to retake his rightful title as the Dragon of Domination after it was taken from him for his new title as the Breast Dragon Emperor. The sorrow that it caused Ddraig was something Issei had never encountered before, and at first, he shrugged it off as the Dragon being overdramatic, but he soon realized that it wasn't the case. Ddraig, like any other Dragon, was very prideful and having his title stolen from him because of the actions of his host struck the Dragon hard. He never blamed Issei for it nor did he abhor him. In fact, Ddraig always came for Issei's aid and always wanted the best for his partner. He was the one who the brunette considered as someone he could always count on to help him in times of need and be an emotional pillar for him before Kuroka came along. He owed Ddraig so much and yet; Issei had done nothing to repay that but an empty promise he made.

Issei knew that back then the promise he made to Ddraig was hollow. It wasn't because he hated his partner or didn't wish for him to be happy, it was because Issei was scared. He was afraid of accepting the purpose that had been written for him since the day he was born.

Issei knew that Tiamat was right about what she said about him; he wasn't one to dominate. This part of Issei, the part of domination was something that Issei found himself struggling to accept. Forcing himself and his ideals on people, especially those he loved was something that Issei found appalling as he knew that people like that would never receive true love or kindness and that terrified him. At the same time, Issei knew, especially after what Tiamat had told him, that there's no escaping his title as his aura was a constant reminder to himself and those around him of his true nature.

Right now, as he held his left shoulder in hopes to stop the steady flow of blood that was leaving the hole that was formed by Tiamat's attack, Issei realized something. As he realized that he might not live through this fight, he allowed himself to think about everything, and upon doing it, Issei reached the definite conclusion. The conclusion that he should've reached a long time ago. He and Ddraig were not the same and thus he shouldn't try to become Ddraig nor Ddraig should try to become him. He realized that the answer for his biggest turmoil was right in front of him and once he did, all the fear that plagued his soul vanished as if it was not there in the first place.

For the longest time, Issei was afraid that should he accept his side of domination he will become a being that knows nothing but it, but that was wrong and only now did he realize it. Ddraig wasn't him; he was only a part of his soul. And by fully embracing Ddraig and the part of his soul that he presented instead of repulsing it because of what it stood for Issei knew that he would finally become whole. His purpose of protecting those he loved would not collide with Ddraig's purpose of domination. In fact, his purpose only strengthened Ddraig's own as he knew that he would do anything in his power to protect those he love by dominating those who seek to harm him and his loved ones. By accepting the domination part of his soul, Issei would finally admit to himself that where there's light, there's always darkness. The brunette will finally accept the fact that if he wants to fully protect those he care for he would have to do things that could keep him awake at nights and scar his mind. He would have to embrace this side that knows nothing but domination and instead of allowing it to consume him he would use it to make sure that everyone knew who is the Red Dragon of Domination. He would make his enemies think a thousand times before they even try to cross his path in order to harm him or those that are close to him.

He looked to his side back at his team, and he smiled behind his mask as he gazed at the reasons behind his purpose.

Kuroka, the one who gave him unconditional love and a pillar that he could always rely on even in the toughest of moments. Someone who would always be there to mend his heart should it be broken again. The girl who took his virginity and gave him her own, the girl who gave him a reason to fight valiantly even if he was inches from death. Her playful and teasing personality that could turn into a serious one at a matter of seconds, her absolute trust that allowed Issei to be the first one that Kuroka revealed her weaknesses to Issei and consider him as a part of the family she never had was what made Issei fall so hard for her.

Yasaka, the one who cared about her daughter above anything else even at the cost of forfeiting her own life. The girl that is so daring yet humble at the same time, the girl who gave Issei a place where he actually belongs, the one who gave him the family he always desired to have. The trust she gave him with the lives of both her and her daughter was something that he greatly appreciated. He felt as if he was a part of a small family with Yasaka being his wife and Kunou being his child and that thought warmed his heart. It gave him another purpose of keeping on fighting beside Kuroka, and it was those things that made him fall for the Youkai.

Le Fay, the one who was so pure that it seemed as if she was an Angel in disguise. A girl so pure that Issei found himself awed whenever he looked at her. A girl that gave him yet another purpose in his life; the purpose to protect her purity and to make sure she would never experience the things he did.

Arthur and Bikou, those who became his friends in the time he needed it the most. Those who gave him their complete trust and support by sharing their past with him.

And then... Then there was Vali, the one who would endanger her own life for those of her comrades. The one who doesn't know the word "no." as her determination is unwavering even against the toughest of obstacles. The one who knew Issei before everyone else as they fought against each other as rivals as Issei's feelings for the silver-haired continued to grow as time passed. The one who has a connection with him like none other, and the one who give Issei something to strive for be it the yearning to become stronger than her, his rival, or to uncover the hidden side of her. Those things had brought for Issei to fall hard for her, but despite his feelings, Issei knew that he couldn't be with Vali as the truth she hides beneath the surface is the final barrier between them and he would do anything to tear it down.

'I can't die... I won't die no matter what! Not when there are people who trust me and love me!' Issei thought to himself in valor as he slowly regained his breath.

"Just give up boy. You fought well, but in the end, it wasn't enough to defeat a Dragon King like me," Tiamat wistfully said as she gazed at the struggling form of Issei.

The more the fight prolonged, the more Tiamat felt close to the brunette in front of her.

At first, when she crashed into the headquarters of the Hero Faction there was nothing on her mind but the revenge she wanted to exact on Ddraig. Her mind was heavily clouded with the dire need for vengeance for the sorrow the Red Dragon had caused her that it refused to see any alternative. But upon meeting the strange brunette, she was currently fighting something unimaginable happened to the Blue King. His words, the words of a young boy who has yet to see the world and gain the wisdom of the elders managed to do what no one else did; he managed to vanquish the cloud of vengeance that surrounded her mind. With his simple words, words that conveyed so much sincerity and careless, he managed to extract the fuel that had kept Tiamat running for years and replace the stained and destructive fuel of vengeance that pumped through her veins into one pure like the day she and Ddraig fell in love with each other yet entirely different. Virginal hope took the place of rotten vengeance and allowed the King to feel as if she was back to the happiest time of her life.

But it wasn't easy for her to know that an entire lifespan of vengeance could've been avoided if she would've just been strong enough to vanquish the vengeance from her system. She felt weak, dishonored, and contrite. Self-loathing was flowing in the depths of her soul, and she wanted nothing but to rid herself of those feelings. When Issei told her his resolution, she knew that if she would kill the boy and exact her vengeance the purpose that guided her through a large part of her life would finally be achieved. She knew that in its wake, the feeling of weakness, dishonor, and contrite would be shadowed by the sense of wholeness and happiness for the achievement of her purpose.

But as she gazed at the dying form of Issei who clung desperately onto his life, refusing to let it go no matter what, she came to a realization that she did not wish for this boy to die. Why should he die? He did nothing to her but host the source of her sorrow, and even that was done without his saying. He did nothing but salvage her from the depths of the darkness that flooded her being. He replaced undying vengeance with a bright hope that he had no intention to break. He was her savior, and yet she wanted to kill him so that she could feel good about herself for a few moments before the same realization she just experienced would dawn on her moments after his death after it's too late.

"Don't fuck with me! I can still fight. Besides, I promised to ease your pain and make things right between you and Ddraig, and there's no way I am giving up now! Especially when we both have so much to live for," His words made Tiamat widen her eyes in admiration before it quickly disappeared in favor of a grin.

'What is he? He doesn't give up even when he's inches from death...'

"Very well then. Come at me with everything you got. This next showdown will signal the end of the fight," Tiamat told him before she started to charge her strongest attack.

"Heh, don't blame me if you wake up tomorrow with sore muscles," He tantalized as he charged his Dragon Shot and poured every ounce of his remaining strength into it.

'Ddraig... I know I caused you a lot of sorrow and still am. I never knew the depths of the sorrow that I caused you be it with my title as the Breast Dragon Emperor or my dire struggle to accept the dominating nature that I possessed. But I finally understand now, I understand that domination is something I can not escape from, and I will not allow it to consume me; I will use it to defend those I love as I restore our title as the Dragons of Domination. You were always there for me, you gave me strength when I needed it the most, you encouraged me to continue fighting, and you supported me when my heart had been shattered a second time, and yet I gave you nothing in return. You are not me, and I am not you Ddraig, but you represent a part of my soul that I harshly rejected. But no more, I realized that for every light there is darkness, and I cannot escape the darkness of my soul, my true nature as your host to dominate everyone around me, but I will not cower against it and reject you anymore. No, I will embrace you and will change our nature into one that dominates his enemies and protect his loved ones. We will destroy those who oppose us and those who seek to harm the ones we care deeply about for we are the Dragons of Domination! So please Ddraig... Give me the power to end this fight, give me power so I could finally begin to repay you for everything you did for me by returning the one you love to your side,' Issei told his partner as he charged his attack. He knew that he might not survive this showdown and he wanted Ddraig to know exactly how he felt.

"Cataclysmic Pandemonium!"

[Dragon Shot!]

The room shone brightly and everyone held their breath as the beam of highly condensed water surrounded by a heavenly beam that circled the attack collided with a read beam of pure power.

The two mighty attacks fought vigorously for dominance for what seemed like hours. Each attack pushed against the other and Issei's team frowned deeply when they saw the red beam that their teammate had produced begin to be overpowered by his opponent's attack.

"Issei!" They all shouted from the bottom of their lungs in utter desperation, hoping that the brunette would be able to hear their desperate cries.

[Boost x50] When all hope seemed lost it looked as if their prayers had been answered as Ddraig's voice suddenly roared as the last remnants of Issei attack began to regrow and overpower Tiamat's attack.

The Boosted Dragon Shot continued to overpower Tiamat's attack with no effort until the last remnants of the King's attack had vanished and the room had been enveloped in a bright glow once again.

When the light faded and the dust from the debris had settled Issei's team spotted two figures at the center of the room.

"It seems as if I lost," Tiamat weakly said as she held the newly formed hole that now adorned her side.

"It looks like it," Issei said with a weak grin aimed at Tiamat.

"There's something I wish to give you before I fade from this world. I want to give you my powers, the powers of a Dragon King and the embodiment of Chaos,"

"Why... Why would you give me your powers?" Issei asked in bewilderment as he looked at Tiamat with his mouth slightly agape.

"Because, I was never meant to experience happiness in my life, but you were and I want you to preserve the happiness you feel with my powers. I want to know that my powers were used for something far nobler than unnecessary vengeance. This is my parting gift for the two of you," Tiamat replied as her eyes began to close as the last remnants of her life left her.

"No! I will not let you leave! I promised the two of you that I will allow you to be together again and I am not going to break that promise," Issei desperately said as he struggled to find a way to keep his promise.

"Do not fret child; I was never meant to experience happiness. I am a being of chaos, and my death shall serve as karma for the things that my vengeance had caused. May the world hail the new Red Dragon King of Domination,"

Tears sprung to Issei's eyes as Tiamat's finally closed hers. He felt crushed, and hopeless that he failed to keep the promise he made to the two Dragons who deserved to live happily with each other after everything they've been through.

['It's alright Issei, it's not your fault. I thank you for trying, but it's just not meant to be,'] Ddraig told his partner in anguish.

'No...' Issei replied to Ddraig as he shook with each sob he released.

But as the brunette sobbed for the loss of Tiamat and the sorrow he felt at failing the two Dragons something suddenly dawned on him and in what seemed like pure instinct he hastily placed his left arm on Tiamat's head as he feared that if he would take too long something bad will happen.

He complied to whatever it was within him and closed his eyes and focus hard on finding the last of Tiamat's life force, and upon finding it he smirked as he realized that there was still hope.

['Partner? What are you doing?'] Ddraig asked in perplexion.

'Just wait and watch you impatient Dragon!'

Silence enveloped the room as everyone waited to see just what the brunette was planning when all of a sudden a glow of pale blue erupted in the room from one of the jewels of the Boosted Gear.

[Dragon Booster Third Liberation!]

Upon hearing this and seeing the new appearance of Issei's Longinus everyone had their jaws dropped to the floor.

The gauntlet looked to be the same but instead was now reaching up to Issei's shoulder where a new jewel was now resting. Five more spikes were also added to the new part of the gauntlet but the thing that surprised them all was the color changes.

Issei's fingers were no longer red and instead were now pale blue. The jewel on Issei's hand remained the same but the jewel that had been added back from his Second Liberation was now colored pale blue while the newly formed jewel seemed to remain the same for unclear reasons. The fires within the jewels seemed to remain the same but instead of a dim fire, there was now a pale blue fire that surrounded the original one across all jewels.

"Issei?! What the hell happened? Why is the Boosted Gear looks like this?" Bikou, who was the first one to recover from the shock, asked Issei in wonderment as he and the rest continued to gawk at the new form of the Boosted Gear.

"It's hard to explain but I kept my promise," Issei said with a smirk as he stared at his gauntlet.

Yes, by listening to whatever force it was that guided him Issei had managed to keep his promise to the two Dragons. He managed to locate the last of Tiamat's life force and by doing it he was able to absorb her soul into the Boosted Gear before it faded alongside the last of her life force, thus saving the Dragon king from death.

No longer was he Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor. No, now he was something more. He was now Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon King of Domination, the one who will protect his loved ones with every fiber of his being and spread domination and chaos across those who seek to harm him and those around him. He was now whole as he finally accepted the part of his soul that he vehemently rejected.

He kept his promise and had finally begun to repay his partner for everything he did for him. He defied Tiamat's karma and allowed her to experience the happiness she deserved to have. He reunited the two loves and took Tiamat's place as the new Dragon King.

['May the world cower before the power of the Red Dragon King of Domination']

{'May the world cower before the power of the Red Dragon King of Domination'}

Both Ddraig and Tiamat said from their place within the Boosted Gear before they both sincerely thanked Issei for allowing them to be happy again and cut their connection with the brunette so they could make up for the years they spent apart.

And so, this was the day where the two long lost lovers had finally found the happiness they missed so much. And as Issei and the two Dragons will forever rememeber this day as the day where the happiness of the two Dragons had been reborn, the rest of the world will know this day as the day where the Red Dragon King of Domination had been born.