Her Fate

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from ADJL; I only own those who I make up.

Rating: PG-13

AN: When I call Rose "Rosie" it's because it's Gracie's POV without it really being her POV. Does that make sense? It's like the story, at the moment, focuses on her. And since she calls Rose "Rosie" I'll call her "Rosie". But when it focuses on someone else, I call her "Rose". Get it? I hope that makes sense because that's the best way to explain it.

I'm So Sorry

"Rose. Rose. Rose, wake up!" Jake yelled at the unconscious woman in his arms. Everyone surrounded them.

Luckily, Jake noticed when Rose looked unsteady and was able to catch her before she hit the ground.

"Dude, is she gonna be, like, ok?" Spud asked.

Jake looked up at everyone; he was kneeling on the ground holding the ex-Huntsgirl. "She'll be fine, she just fainted."

"I didn't expect that… Rosie never faints." Gracie spoke, astounded. Jake laughed slightly before returning his attention to the blonde in his lap. "C'mon, Rose. Wake up, please."

He knew that she was breathing. Her heart was beating. There was nothing wrong with her. But he was still worried. He didn't like her being like this. He wanted to see her beautiful oceanic eyes.

"Dragon?" her eyes fluttered open; Jake felt relief fill his being.

"Yeah, but you can call me Jake." He told her as she sat up. Gracie dropped to her knees beside Jake; who was still holding Rose and wasn't about to let go.

"I'm really sorry for not tellin' you guys." She said.

"It's ok. I get it now." Rose told her. She tried to get up but was just pulled back down. "Um, Jake?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry." He apologized as he let her go. He hadn't realized his grip was so tight and he was filled with disappointment the moment he let her go.

She stood up again, assuring everyone she was fine. Lao Shi had her sit down in the chair he occupied earlier. Jake looked over at Trixie; she seemed less than thrilled at having Rose in the same room as us.

"Ok, everybody, story time isn't over. There's still some explainin' to do so everything's understood." Gracie spoke up.

Everyone turned their attention to her. Gracie shook her head and turned to Rose. "You know the story better than I do."

Rose nodded. Once everyone's attention was on her and the room was quiet, she began, "Yes, I was, at one time, known as the Huntsgirl of the Huntsclan. I fought with the American Dragon, Jake, on multiple accounts. I did this because I was raised believing dragons were evil and untrustworthy creatures; that all creatures magical were no better than the dragons.

Since I, as everyone of my blood, was born with the birthmark in the shape of a dragon I was taught that I was born to slay dragons and hunt magic creatures. I understood that. It was my fate and there was nothing I could do about it. So I accepted my destiny instantly.

I actually liked it. The fighting, it was always such an adrenaline rush. The fact that I was different from any other girl kept me going. I had a destiny; I could do things not many could. I fought things not many believed in. I was born for it; I thought I could do it all.

I tried to slay the American Dragon. I tried to kill him, I thought I wanted his blood on my hands-"

"Why are we listening to this! Is there a point we're listening to her life story?" Trixie interrupted.

Jake glared at her, "Shut up, Trixie." She gaped at him. He turned back to Rose, "Go on."

She nodded, "As I was saying, I thought slaying the American Dragon would make me happy. I wasn't happy, I thought it was because I hadn't killed the dragon and therefore not properly initiated into the Huntsclan. But whenever I had the chance to slay him I would choose to gloat or make fun of him and in that bit of wasted time was always enough for him to escape.

"I hadn't even realized that I did that until after I left. Seven years ago my uncle, the Huntsmaster, ordered me to kill a phoenix. I trapped her; I was ready to kill her. No one was around to stop me. I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill her, I thought I could but I couldn't.

So I ran away since going home was, obviously, not an option. I ran away to my auntie, I knew she'd take me in since she left the clan when I was young. She was the first to ever leave. I later learned why she ran away. She had fallen in love with a magical creature, her husband. He was a changeling as was his daughter, Gracie.

Then, Auntie told me something I was never taught. The Huntsclan is only two hundred years old. Before then there were to different groups, the Slayers and the Protectors. The Slayers were the original dragon hunters. They slew the dragons and the magical creatures of the world.

The ones who bore the mark of a dragon, they were the Protectors." She paused for a moment.

Jake looked at his grandfather who was suddenly looking rather sweaty at the moment.

"The Protectors," she began again, "protected the dragons of the world. They protected them, their secrets, their identities… They kept the dragons safe from the mortals who wished them harm. But the council of the dragons didn't like that. So they tried to get rid of them.

They eventually wound up killing the leader of the Protectors, angering the leader's daughter. She went to the Slayers and combined the Protectors with them, thus forming the Huntsclan."

"What! Gramps, is that true!" Jake asked.

"Yes, I am afraid it is…"

"Oh, yea it is. I was alive when all that was goin' down. I knew a few Protectors myself when they were around." Fu informed.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Jake demanded.

Before Lao Shi could speak, Fu already answered, "Ya see, the Dragon Council wanted to keep it hush, hush that they were the cause for one of the biggest threats to the magical community; so they passed a law that kept all the new commin' dragons from being told about it. Only those of the council were allowed to know about it."

Lao Shi nodded, "Since it was before my time I wasn't supposed to know either. But I once found an ancient scroll that told of it. The council found out and destroyed the scroll after swearing me to silence."

"So, like, where's that leave Rose?" Spud asked.

"Well, after I learned about the history of my birthmark, I knew that everything I was taught was based on this one thing the dragon council did. The other dragons weren't responsible at all… The hatred was pointless. Dragons aren't evil and neither are any of the magical creatures, I mean I'm related to changelings so I know that they aren't.

The point is I came back because I'm going to recreate the Protectors and bring the Huntsclan to an end. I'm choosing my own destiny now."

Spud sniffled, "That was so beautiful."

Trixie elbowed him in the side. "Ow."

After her speech, Lao Shi and Gracie started talking about the plans for the shop and Rose left the room. Jake followed her.

"Pretty weird, huh?" Jake spoke as he came up behind her.

"Hm? Yeah, it is. But, it makes a lot of sense, too. I mean your sudden change in attitude to me. Why you seemed so sad when you saw my birthmark. Why you didn't let me fall…" she trailed off.

"I'll never let you fall, Rose."

"I know you won't." she replied softly.

Sick of looking at her back, Jake grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. He grabbed her chin and lifted her face so she would look him in the eyes. Her eyes were brimmed with unshed tears.

"I remember when I was the one who had to look up." He said.

She cracked a small smile, "I liked you still."

"And I like you still, even if you're the short one now." He smiled at her. His smile dropped when she looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry…" she said quietly. He almost couldn't hear her.

"It's ok." He assured her, trying to get her to look back up at him. She shook her head and turned around.

"No, it's not." She said heading for the shop door.

Jake sighed and walked in front of her, determined to get her to look at him and stopping her from going anywhere. "Rose… I know it's hard to understand but-"

"No, it's easy to get! I can't believe I hurt you. I hurt you! And I hate myself for it! You should hate me!" she yelled as she fell to her knees. Jake kneeled down and took her into his arms as she wept into his chest. He rocked her back and forth, trying to soothe her.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She cried.

"Shh. It's ok, it's alright." He told her in a soothing voice as he held her tighter to him, resting his cheek on her blonde head.

"Calm down, it's alright. I'm fine, everything's ok."

He brought her back into his lap and continued to rock her as she continued to cry. "I could never hate you, Rose."

I think I'll end it here. I had some more things I wanted to write but I like this ending. Everything is out in the open now. Jake knows all about Rose and vise versa.I hope you liked it, please review.