Good day, all. This is my first 'angst' fanfic. Here is the storyline.

The American Dragon has finally been slain, and within a few seconds, Jake Long is dead- killed by the hands of the Huntsmaster he had so long wished to destroy as well. This fanfic, originally intended to be a one-shot, is compromised of a series of flashbacks, a present day section, and two letters written by Rose- one to her uncle, and the other to Jake himself. Enjoy, I suppose. XD

Letters

YFWE

Dear Uncle,

I fully regret that we could not speak in person on this matter. Lord knows I wanted to. But you were busy.

You're always busy.

Have you noticed the trees in Central Park? You never go there. I wonder if you ever have.

Those trees represent my life as it is right now. Pay attention.

The number of leaves on the tree are dwindling- swept away by the Autumn breeze that has recently come upon us. Like my dwindling patience with what I have been doing over the past few months. What you have forced me to do.

Of course, I didn't know back when it began. I didn't know that the dragon we had sworn to slay was in reality one of my best friends in the world. Jake Long. Did you ever know him?

He was a person, too. And try as I might to make you understand it, I don't think you ever will. But- just as we, the Huntsclan, always have and always will be human, the dragons- they are human as well. You killed a human being, uncle.

A human being with feelings. Feelings for me! As I had feelings for him. You see, ever since I discovered Jake's alter ego, I hadn't wanted to fight. I wanted it all to end.

But I knew it couldn't, that you wouldn't allow it. And I couldn't tell you that I was friends with the enemy. I was afraid... of what you'd do to me.

I see now that not telling you, not getting out of this, has taken its toll on me. On my life. On my everything. If I had pulled out, I wonder... could I have saved Jake? Would he still be alive, standing by my side right now?

It's something that has haunted me since that fateful night, when it happened.

Remember the trees I was talking about- in Central Park? Not only are the leaves falling from the trees, but before they do so, they change. Change their color.

The winds of change are upon us all, uncle. They've already taken Jake from me. And soon, they will take me, too. I don't know where, but I do know that it won't be here.

Don't think that because you have slain Jake is the sole reason I'm leaving. This was just the final straw. A hugely crucial last straw. I had been planning to somehow escape from this for a few weeks.

So here I am. Taking my life and relocating it. Where, I don't know. It would be hard to stay in New York; you might search for me. But before I DO leave, I think I'll visit Jake's grandfather.

Why would I do that? Firstly, I want to apologize to them. For your actions... and my actions. I seek forgiveness from the lips of my mortal enemy. I don't know if I'll get it, but... I'd rather die than to never receive it. I hope they can help me. I want them to hide me. Maybe even give me a new identity.

You've always said that my parents are dead. Killed in a plane crash.

I'm not sure if I believe that anymore. I wonder if they're really still alive. I think that the dragons could enable me to find them. If they're still on this earth. I want to find them.

And if I can... then maybe I can be happy again. But I doubt it.

After what you've done, I don't know if I can ever happy again.

If you want to look for me... just don't. Don't even try. I am at a loss for even seeing your face again.

You killed a human being. A living, breathing, human being.

I hope that you can forgive yourself.

Because I never will.

Sincerely,

Rose

"Jake, they're coming!" Lao Shei shouted over the drone of footsteps clapping lightly on the staircase nearby. What had begun as a routine check of the gryphon on top of the Empire State Building had quickly turned deadly.

"I hear 'em," Jake said, a hint of cockiness in his voice. "I say, bring 'em on. They've never done anything to us before!"

Members of the Huntsclan stepped lightly up the winding staircase that led up to the top of the building, and their ultimate target, the American Dragon and his master, Lao Shei.

Leading the pack was the Huntsmaster, leader of the Huntsclan, and his apprentice and niece, Huntsgirl. The man seemed very intrigued of today, of this battle. Huntsgirl could see this. In his eyes. But she- she wasn't so thrilled about being here.

She knew that her good friend, Jake, was the American Dragon. The Huntsmaster, of course, did not know this yet.

The door to the outside burst open, and the Huntsclan members scattered out and quickly surrounded the two dragons.

"Aw, hey, Huntsmaster! How nice of you to-..."

END CHAPTER