The Long Overdue Talk
"Rose, dear, how come you're living with these monsters?" Rose's Mom asks.
"Mom, they're not monsters." Rose explains.
"But you were raised to be their enemy." Rose's Dad replies, confused.
"And I used to believe that before I learned my boyfriend is the American Dragon." Rose explains. "After that, I was unable to see any dragon as evil just for being a dragon."
"And, aren't there any dragons who still hold it against you for being a dragonslayer?" Lily asks.
"Mostly dragon girls who are jealous of me because I'm dating Jake Long."
"No offence but, that boyfriend of yours doesn't seem to be that popular." Lily replies.
"You say that because you don't know how much he's done for the Magical World." Rose explains.
"Rose, not that I'm complaining but, how did you escape from the Huntsclan?" Rose's Dad asks.
"It all changed when a planet alignment turned me into the Light Dragon." Rose explains.
"The what!" Her family asks and Rose explains all about the Dark Dragon and the original Light Dragon.
"Wow!" Rose's Dad explains. "First a dragon slayer, then a dragon's girlfriend and now you're a dragon yourself. What an awkward life."
"I know." Rose says with a smile. "But enough about me. What about you?"
"Well, our lives are quite dull in comparison to yours." Rose's Dad sheepishly answers. "I'm just an accountant."
"And my boyfriend's Dad is a financial planner." Rose quickly replies. "What's the big deal?"
"Nothing." He answers. "I'm just trying to imagine a dragon sitting behind a desk."
"My boyfriend's draconic heritage comes from his Mom." Rose explains. "His Dad is a normal human."
"Wait a minute." Lily asks. "You said your boyfriend's surname is Long, right?"
"Right?"
"Like in Susan Long, owner of Susan's catering service?" Lily asks.
"You know her?"
"Not in person, unfortunately." Lily replies. "But she catered the wedding of Jasma Sancere and Thad Rochefort-Chaise. You gotta let me know her."
"Mrs. Long and I aren't on such terms yet." Rose sadly replies. "But I'll let her know how much you'd like to know her."
"Rose, you don't need to live at this island." Rose's Mom offers. "You can move in with us."
"Mom, as far as the slayers at large know, I still think my parents are dead and I have no family outside the Huntsclan." Rose replies. "They also think the dragons either killed me or are holding me captive. If I show up, they'll know I betrayed them and, if they find out I know about you guys, they'll use you as hostage to force me to betray the dragons. Are you really ready to take the risk?"
Some hesitation is noticed. "We… we can make arrangements." Rose's Dad says. "We can require police protection."
"Or you can use these Light Dragon powers to scare away those slayers." Rose's Mom suggests.
"It's dangerous." Rose sadly replies. "Everybody around me would be in danger."
"The FBI can give us new identities." Rose's sister suggests.
"Lily is right, Rose." Rose's Mom replies.
"We'd have to leave our lives." Rose says. "I couldn't stand leaving Jake."
"Rose, we've waited your whole life to finally see you again." Rose's Dad pleads.
"And now you know I'm fine." Rose replies. She then shows her dream bracelet. "This is a dream bracelet. I can use it to enter people's dreams and talk to them in their dreams."
"How can we know if it'll be real or not?" Lily asks.
"I can take things to you through them." Rose explains. "A note, for example."
"Well, I guess this is better than nothing." He comments. "Now I'd like to talk about this boyfriend of yours."
"Sure." Rose replies. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, I noticed some dragons call him the American Dragon." He says. "What exactly does that mean?"
"As the American Dragon, Jake Long must protect the magical creatures living in America." Rose explains. "New York is the main territory but he'll occasionally defend magical creatures in other areas."
"But he's just a kid." Rose's Mom says. "Why can't an adult dragon handle this?"
"Well, his Grandfather helps." Rose replies. "But the title of American Dragon cannot be held by anyone other than dragons born in America and Jake is the first one to fit the category."
"Rose, when you say your boyfriend defends magical creatures, does it also include defending them against people like the dragonslayer you used to be?" Lily asks.
"Yes." Rose sadly says. She then notices her parents' reactions. "Please don't hold this against him. It's my fault for attacking magical creatures. Honestly, I was more likely to hurt him than the other way around."
"Rose, we're just afraid your boyfriend might hurt you." Rose's mother pleads. "We hardly know him."
"Believe me, he'd never hurt me." Rose replies. "Other than the times it was necessary to stop me from killing him or the innocent magical creatures he protects."
"But why do you still risk yourself for them?" Rose's Dad asks.
"I still have the desire to help." Rose replies. "Jake just opened my eyes about my concept of good and evil."
"Rose, aren't you just remorseful after finding out your boyfriend happened to be the dragon you tried to slay after all?" Her mother asks.
"That too." Rose concedes.
"Then why don't you leave those dragons behind?" Rose's Dad asks. "Sure, now you're one of them but you can hide this."
"Mom. Dad. I had to choose between the Huntsclan and Jake. Please don't make me choose between you and him." Rose pleads.
"Well, either way we'd like to meet this boyfriend of yours." Rose's Dad replies.
Later on, Rose's family meets Jake.
"So, you knew all the time where our Rose is." Rose's Dad accusingly comments.
"I wasn't sure if it was safe to tell, Mr.…"
"Smith."
"Mr. Smith." Jake says. "The Huntsclan could be spying on you."
"Anyway, we'd like about you dating our Rose." Mrs. Smith replies.
"Are you folks uncomfortable with the idea she's dating a dragon?" Jake worriedly asks.
"Well, it'd be hypocritical of our part since Rose is a dragon herself." Mr. Smith replies. "We're just worried she might be risking her life for you."
"Dad!" Rose exclaims.
"We're just concerned, dear." Mrs. Smith explains. "The idea of teenagers risking their lives and accepting it so naturally is too much for us."
"Dad, despite my change of sides, I was trained to accept the risk." Rose says hoping they'll understand.
"Jake, are you willing to let her risk her life?" Mr. Smith asks.
"I couldn't stop her." Jake explains.
"Jake, I was told that, for almost the whole first year of your relationship, you and Rose believed each other to be just another human who doesn't know about the existence of magical creatures." Mrs. Smith says. "Did you plan to live a lie?"
"I would have told her during the school's Ski Trip but then I found out she was a slayer and I became afraid of her." Jake explains, failing to ignore Rose's guilty look.
"Well, Jake, the more I'd like to drag Rose away from you and this dangerous life I reckon she's already too involved." Mr. Smith says. "I'd just like to be a part of her life."
"We can think at something, Sir." Jake replies.
"Thank you, Jake." Mr. Smith says.
Please Review. I've tried to make this chapter longer.
