A/N: this is part 2 of chapter 7. Also, to those of you who think my OCs are Mary Sue's…Shove your flames in a place where the sun don't shine and don't let the doorknob hit ya where the god lord split ya on the way out. On with the show.

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Rose watched as several more memories were played. She watched as Jake witness the birth of his sister, first started school, when he found out he was not allowed to tell anyone of his secret., and then saw as he was told that he was to be the very first American Dragon, and would someday have to be a part of the dragon council. All of these memories made Rose realize that Jake's life was far harder than it needed to be.

" Wow, and I thought my life was hard. Only seven years old and he didn't get a choice in the fact that he was going to be a guardian to all the United States. And I only made things harder. He's stronger than I'll ever be." She thought. Suddenly, a new memory surfaced.

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Jake was walking with his mother towards his cousin's house to celebrate the twin girls eighth birthday. He held his mother's hand and was smiling.

" You think Ashley and Sammy will like the presents I got them?" he asked.

" I'm sure they'll love them honey." His mother said. Jake smiled and they continued to walk towards the house..

When they reached the house however, they both realized something was very wrong. The front door was kicked in and the front windows were broken.

"Mom…..what's wrong? Auntie Tracy never leaves the door open." Jake asked. His mother looked panicked. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Dad, its me. Look, call the council, and then get over to Justin's house ASAP. Something's wrong. And Dad, hurry." She then closed her phone, then turned to Jake.

" Honey, stay close to me okay?" she said. Jake nodded.

They both entered the house, Jake clinging to his mother's leg horrified by what he saw. The small lying room was all but torn to shreds, and blood was everywhere. Glass and bits of broken furniture were scattered everywhere. Jake's mother called out.

" Tracy? Sam? Ashley? Where are you?" there was no answer. Jake whimpered. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice coming from behind the overturned sofa.

" Help….." Jake immediately bolted to the sofa and tried to shove it aside, though to no avail. Jake then shifted into his dragon form, then using his claws tore at the couch. After a few tense minutes he found the owner of the voice. Lying bloody and hurt, was a little black and gold dragon girl.

" MOM! I FOUND ASHLEY!" Jake yelled. His mother bolted over to him and she gasped. She bent down and scooped up the little dragon.

" Ashley, what happened? Where's your mom and sister?" She asked. Ashley whimpered.

" A bad man took them. He said mommy was a traitor, and he called her a bad word. Then he said if he couldn't have her then daddy couldn't either. Then he tried to grab Sammy, so I bit him. He hit me and then he threw me. I can't member anything else. I couldn't save Mommy or Sammy. I'm a bad dragon." She cried. Jake's mom hugged her then pulled away to look her in the eye.

" Honey, do you remember what this bad man looked like?" She asked the frightened girl.

" He had a skull thingy on his head and he smelled like blood and he talked funny. And he had a funny glowing stick. He hit me with it." She whimpered. Jake's mother had tears on her face.

" Come on, me and Jake will take you to your dad. Hang on…..Jake come on. We have to go." Jake nodded and shifted back to his human form. Then both he , his mother and the injured Ashley ran out of the house.

Rose was horrified. Jake had not lost one, but two members of his family, and nearly lost a third. She knew , just by the amount of blood and debris, that this attack had been done by her Uncle. Tears fell down her face. Anger surged through her. Her uncle had hurt her boyfriend, all because a girl married someone other than him.

" I'll make you pay for this Uncle. I promise that the next breath you take will be your last."

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Ashley flew as silent as the breeze. She knew the area she was in far to well. After a few minutes of scanning she finally found what she had been looking for. She landed on the roof of the now abandoned building. Tears streamed down over her black scales. She wandered over to the skylight window that her father had put in years ago. The same window she and Sammy would look out every night to look at the stars. The last place she ever spoke to her. The last place that held on to her memory with an iron grip. After a moment of grim silence, she spoke.

" I'm so sorry Sammy,…I tried to save you and mom, but…..I..I just…I just wasn't strong enough. I failed you. You always were there to save me…..and I failed to save you….I'm so sorry, so very sorry….. I love you both. But I can't keep doing this… I have to let you go. ….I'll never forget you. …..Goodbye." She turned, and taking a deep breath, took off into the night, and away from her past….. Forever.