[ WP ] `` Sorry , but ... you 're actually NOT the Chosen One . ''

Jake groaned and propped himself up with his sword. Just a month ago he was heading to the Bahamas to escape the winter cold, now he was in a volcano and all he wanted was some chill air. Lava spewed from the charred floor. It dripped off igneous icicles, sizzling in a sprout of fire before steaming into nothing. 
 
 “ A fucking dragon, ” Jake chuckled and stood on shaky knees. He counted two broken ribs on himself. It brought his month long count to sixteen. 
 
 The dragon ’ s roar echoed inside the volcano, making it sound like it was coming from all directions. Jake grimaced and readied himself. Unlike the stories, dragons were surprisingly quiet creatures, roaring only before attacking. This one had spent all day roaring, it was probably scared because it knew it was the last one. 
 
 “ C ’ mon you bastard. ” Jake muttered. 
 
 The roar grew louder. Jake squinted into the heart of the volcano beneath him, its orange lava glowing like the sun. Pitch black eyes stared back, growing larger by the second. The dragon ’ s scales glowed orange. Another warning. Jake lunged to the side as a stream of fire erupted from the dragon ’ s mouth. The dragon followed its fire to the ceiling. It circled Jake, waiting for its chance to swoop down talons first. 
 
 “ You ’ re only going to have one shot, Jake. ” Cortana said through Jake ’ s headpiece. “ Your shield won ’ t last much longer and those were the last of our batteries. ” 
 
 “ That ’ s fine, ” Jake said, “ I won ’ t die here. We have a date after this. ” 
 
 “ Jake, focus. ” 
 
 “ I ’ ve never been more focused in my life! ” Jake grunted as he dodged to the left. The talons were almost as big as Jake and even sharper than the crappy holy sword he had found. “ After all, you promised to tell me your real name after this, Cortana. ” He joked as the dragon flew back to the ceiling. 
 
 “ This isn ’ t a joke Jake. ” Cortana said. It must ’ ve been Jake ’ s imagination, but Cortana sounded worried. 
 
 “ Relax, I ’ m the Chosen One. ” Jake replied sarcastically. Those were the words that had nearly got him killed five times and counting. Apparently, being the Chosen One also meant you were supposed to dive into whatever danger you could. 
 
 The dragon swooped down again. This time, Jake charged straight at it, his eyes set on its soft underbelly. With a sharp cry, he swung his sword up only to feel the impact tremoring through his body. Sparks flew from the tip of his blade and once again, the dragon flew back up. The dragon ’ s scales were harder than steel. 
 
 “ Jake, ” Cortana whispered. 
 
 “ Yes, princess? ” 
 
 “ You ’ re not the Chosen One. ” 
 
 Jake laughed and eyed the dragon circling above. “ It ’ s no time for jokes Cortana. Focus. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m sorry Jake. ” Her voice trembled as if she was about to cry. “ We found our mistake after the third dragon, but you were doing so well. ” 
 
 For the first time in the past hour, Jake let his eyes dart away from the dragon. “ You ’ re kidding me, right? ” 
 
 “ No, Jake. We found the real Chosen One and he turned tail and ran. ” 
 
 Jake sighed. “ Shit. Why are you telling me now? ” 
 
 “ In case… ” Cortana ’ s voice faded away. 
 
 “ In case I don ’ t come back? ” Jake laughed. “ Relax Cortana, we have a date after this, and there ’ s no way I won ’ t be there. ” 
 
 “ But don ’ t you get it? You ’ re not— ” 
 
 “ Who the hell do you think I am? ” Jake screamed. “ I never thought I was special until you told me I was, Cortana. I don ’ t give a shit about what some monk wrote thousands of years ago. I dare fate or God to come between me and our date. ” 
 
 The dragon returned his scream with a deafening roar. Its scales glowed orange once again. 
 
 “ Jake, ” Cortana was definitely crying now. “ I like French. And don ’ t be late.'' 
 
 Jake stared at the dragon, his mouth spread into a wide smile. “ I ’ ll see you soon. ” 

