Disclaimer: I don't own American Dragon: Jake Long or any character from the series.

Author's note: This fic is dedicated to Hezpeller, who wrote the first ADJL fanfic where I found a Rose who didn't believe when Jake told her he's the American Dragon. She thought the American Dragon was 'pretending' to be Jake to keep her from slaying him during the Grand Equinox Hunt. Before reading that fic, I never considered that possibility. That fic inspired me to write my own story based on that scenario. The basic difference between the two fics is on how the Huntsmaster reacts when Rose tells him about the dragon's 'ruse'.

Rose Refuses to Believe

Reporting to the Huntsmaster

Rose's P.O.V.

Curse you, American Dragon. Not only you found out who I am, but you also had the nerve to pretend to be the boy I love. Once I report to the Huntsmaster he'll not only scold me for letting my feelings get on the way but will also say I should have slain you even if I believed your lie. Well, time to face the music.

"Huntsgirl, why didn't you slay the dragon?" He asked/yelled as I feared and expected.

"That dragon took advantage of my feelings for a certain boy at my school and used his shapeshifting powers to pretend to be him." I explained and then noticed this got him thinking. "I was too disturbed by this to react accordingly." I then bowed to him. "My sincerest apologies, Master."

"YOU FOOL!" He angrily replied. "You let him escape despite not believing he's who he claimed to be! And it wouldn't be an excuse even if you believed!"

I refused to stand up without my master's say so. "Please, master. Give me another chance!"

"By what you told me, I take it that the American Dragon knows your identity." I nodded in confirmation. "That's it! Huntsgirl, I'm sending you back to the Academy."

"NO!" I pleaded. "I'll not let that despicable dragon distract me with that trick again!"

"It's not only about this, Huntsgirl." He explained. "You must abandon your life as a schoolgirl since the enemy found out your identity. In fact, the both of us must abandon our penthouse as well. But first, tell me the name of the boy the American Dragon pretended to be."

"What? Master, what could you possibly want with this?" I asked out of pure surprise.

"We must investigate for the possibility the beast didn't lie." He said as if it was the most obvious thing on the world.

"You can't be serious!" I pleaded, not wanting to get Jake more involved in my dangerous life than the American Dragon already got. He already seemed to be afraid of me even not knowing about it.

"Can't I?" He replied with a malicious smile, not that most people would be able to notice with that dragon skull on. "We had already established that 'Jaren MacArthur' who showed up at that school was the American Dragon in disguise. You suspected the American Dragon was stalking you during that ski trip where you were hunting for that Yeti. With these facts on mind, we can't rule out the possibility that the American Dragon also attends Millard Fillmore Middle School, even if not as the boy whose shape he assumed during your failed hunt."

"Master, I know that boy." I pleaded. "He's too nice to be a monster."

"It's a façade like the one we put to live among humans who don't know the disgusting magical creatures are real." He replied.

"I don't want to get him involved into this, Master."

"If you refuse, I'll take this for an admission of treason." He threatened. "You know the penalty for treason, don't you?"

"Death, Master."

"So, what will you decide, Huntsgirl?"

Please review. What did you think of my explanation about how the Huntsmaster arrived at the conclusion the American Dragon attends the same school the Huntsgirl does?