Prologue

Disclaimer:I do not own American Dragon: Jake Long. I do own this plot line, so please don't steal it. :)

This is the first chapter of my first fan-fiction, so I'm a bit excited! I hope you all enjoy it! Please leave some feedback it would be super appreciated! Enjoy!

Nine-year-old Ellie Shepherd happily skipped along next to her mother without a care in the world. This was her favorite time of day - being finished with training early enough to join her mom for a relaxing walk in the park. It was exactly what she needed after her training, which was intense...too intense. Often times it put her on the brink of tears, even when she felt she couldn't go on, her masters screamed at her to keep going. "You have to be strong. You have to be unbeatable, or some day, your lack of training will kill you." Her father always told her. She supposed it made sense, after all, it was her job to hunt dragons, vicious and horrible beasts, but right now, she was still only nine.

But Ellie's mother understood her. She always tried to find a compromise to please both her husband and her child. This time, she worked it out that if Ellie worked hard enough in her training and completed her daily objective, then she could have some relaxing time - hence the walk in the park. It wasn't much, but it was more than she ever could have hoped for, because one couldn't hope for much when you were in the Huntsclan, especially when you were the Huntsman's daughter.

Yes, her father was the Huntsman. He wasn't the worst father in the world, but he wasn't the greatest either. He pushed her to her breaking point both physically and emotionally, but one could tell he did it out of love. Even so, Ellie didn't have a good relationship with her father, and she struggled seeing him as anything other than her master. But Ellie did have a fantastic relationship with her mother, Janet. She kept Ellie going with her kind and carefree spirit, and actually was a much better trainer than the Huntsman. She had a very natural skill at hunting that she passed along to her daughter. In reality, Ellie was probably the strongest nine-year-old member of the Huntsclan...ever.

Ellie was having a blast at the park, she and her mother were laughing a lot, they went to the playground, and Ellie was able to actually play with some of the other children: on the swings, the jungle gym, tag, and anything else their young, creative minds could think of. Janet loved watching her daughter have such a great time; she was almost sad to have to call Ellie over to leave. But first, Janet decided, she would treat her daughter to an ice-cream. As they sat and ate, they got to chat and enjoy each other's company.

"So Ell, I've been wanting to ask you what you might think about going to a normal school and just doing your more intense training exercises before and afterwards, how would you like that?" Janet grinned at her daughter. She knew all Ellie wanted was to be more like the other kids, and this would give her that chance. "I mean, you excelled at the academy for a year and have been fantastic this year at home. Perhaps a wider education should be in order?"

"Mom, are you serious? I... I don't know what to say, but – yes! I would love that!"

Ellie couldn't believe it. This was her dream coming true, and it was yet another example of her mom doing her best to please her.

"Great! It's settled then! I've already discussed it with your father, I just have to enroll you for next year." Janet watched her daughter jump for joy and smiled. Life didn't always work out the way one thought, but it sometimes worked out for the better. At least, that's what she thought, until she went home for a... difficult conversation with her husband that reminded her just what she was, and what she had become. A conversation that changed everything.

Not even a week after this devastating conversation did Janet decide action needed to be taken. She had to get her daughter out – and quickly. But it wasn't that simple; she couldn't get Ellie out, not quickly anyway. Ellie was a sworn member of the Huntsclan, she loved her father, and was stubborn as heck. She knew it would be impossible to get Ellie out without making a scene... the Huntsman would search for his loyal and brilliant daughter as long as it took; he would never give up. Janet knew Ellie would have to be old enough to help Janet escape, instead of hinder her. But she also would have to break Ellie's faith in the system... and in her father. She couldn't say too much – not to a nine-year-old, but enough to give her doubt. It would be a slow process – but she had waited this long; she could wait a bit longer. All of these thoughts led to Janet's first conversation with Ellie to make her a bit more aware of things, on one of their walks through the park – their last walk.

"You know, Ellie, someday, you're going to have to decide where you want to take your life, and I want you to make your own decision, uninfluenced by what people expect of you. But, I want you to find all the facts before you make your decision, and...I need you to be wise, honey. I made a mistake...a long time ago, and I...tried to make up for it nine years ago. It was the hardest choice I ever made, and then, you came along, and that changed things. But – I was prepared - to leave the Huntsclan, sweetheart, and I...need you to understand why. But, now, is not the time, just trust me, sweetie, and please, tell no one of this conversation."

Ellie was confused. What on earth was her mother talking about? It sounded bad, so when she was training with her father that night, she brought it up. After all, certainly her mom didn't mean she couldn't talk to her dad about it, he probably already knew. Spouses weren't supposed to keep secrets from each other.

"Hey, um, dad, I wanted to know if you happen to know, and it's fine if you don't, but - "

"Get to the point, Ellie!"

"Well, mom just was acting...strange earlier, and she was, um, talking about some weird stuff, and she said something about leaving the Huntsclan...are we leaving?"

Her father's face turned deathly white, then confused, then beyond angry, then almost a combination of all three. "No, Ellie, we're not...I – I need you to go continue your training with Harvey for the night, okay? I – I need to talk with your mother some, I believe she is confused...work hard in your training."

Ellie tried to think things through as she was in bed that night. Why had her parents both behaved so strangely? What did her father want to discuss with her mom? Were they really leaving the Huntsclan? And what about - Ellie's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when her mother came frantically racing in toward her daughter, throwing her arms around her, sobbing hysterically.

"Everything I did was to protect you, sweetheart, never forget that! I knew he'd never let you go! You'll have to make a choice someday, I pray to God it's the right one! Here, take this," she handed Ellie a book entitled, The Origins of the Huntsclan. "Tell no one I gave you this book, all right? Not even your father! I want you to read it when you turn... fifteen, okay, not a day earlier! I love you, honey! Remember, no matter what they say about me, it isn't true. They twist everything to what best benefits them, they... they..." She was interrupted by screaming in the hallways near them.

"I think she went this way, come on!"

Panic filled her mother's eyes as they heard the shouts outside. Janet cupped her daughter's face in her hands. "I love you sweetheart, never forget that." She kissed her daughter on the forehead and then turned and ran out the door, as fast as she had appeared.

Ellie never saw her mother again.

A virtual high-five to any who caught the Avatar: The Last Airbender quote.