Authur's Note: Sailormoon does not belong to me, even though in my dreams she does. ^_^ Here is chapter nine of Eternal Hope. Once again, Princess, Kannuki and the villians belong to me.
As the smoke cleared, Princess Serenity and Tuxedo Kamen saw four girls lying on the ground in a heap.
"Sailor Senshi!!" Princess Serenity cried in horror. "Noooo!!!"
Inertia laughed heartlessly. "Do not worry, Princess Serenity! They're not dead -- yet."
"What did you do to them?" Princess Serenity said angrily.
"They are in suspended motion, which means that if I do not give them the antidote, they will remain dormant. Forever."
"What is your price for their safety?"
"Simple. I want you in exchange for their lives."
"Don't do it, Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen shouted. "You have to save yourself first! You can't trust Inertia!"
"Tuxedo Kamen is right," Princess Serenity said calmly, "I cannot save the others if I am captured also." She smiled sweetly at Inertia. "You are right about one thing though, I am the price of their safety!" Princess Serenity instantly transformed into Sailor Cosmos.
"Becoming Sailor Cosmos means nothing to me, Serenity!" Inertia snarled. "You are still the same person underneath! I can still defeat you like I did so many years ago!"
"Oh really?" Sailor Cosmos said. "Did you forget that I won our last battle? You cannot beat me this time, Inertia, this is my world!" She closed her eyes and waved her right hand over her staff. The star started to glow.
"Cosmos Sovereign Star. . .Ignite!"
A chain of stars and crescent moons shot out from the staff. The chain was covered by the four powers of the Inner Senshi--fire, water, thunder, and love. It surrounded Inertia and tied her so that she could no longer move. She struggled, but could do nothing.
"Go ahead and kill me, Serenity, but you'll never win! There are many followers of the Pernicious Court, they will replace me! Give up, Serenity! Princess Iniquity will finally have her revenge on you!"
"How many times do I have to tell you? I did not steal Prince Endymion from her! He chosed to be with me because he loved me, and I chosed to be with him for the exact same reason! At least, that is what I use to believe. Now, that love is dead."
Tuxedo Kamen's eye widened. Inertia continued on as if Sailor Cosmos had said nothing.
"Tell your loved ones to be careful, because we're going to destroy them one by one! After, of course, they watch you die! There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing the pain and anguish a person goes through!"
"Maybe for you," Sailor Cosmos said softly, "but we don't do things that way. I don't want to kill you Inertia, but if you don't let the Senshi go, then I have no choice."
"I'm not afraid of you, Serenity!" Inertia sneered. "If you kill me, then the Senshi will never be free!"
"That is a risk that I will have to take then," Sailor Cosmos said calmly. As Sailor Cosmos twirled her staff in her hands, she began to whisper the incantation that would destroy Inertia.
"Cosmos Jeweled Star--"
Suddenly, Sailor Cosmos paused.
"Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen cried out when he saw her hesitation. "Do it!"
Sailor Cosmos gripped her staff tighter.
"Activation!"
Inertia screamed as the energy hit her, but surprisingly, she did not dissolve into dust as expected. As the positive energy slowly cloaked her, she felt warm and safe.
"I ... I don't understand," Inertia murmured. "I've felt this before. This light, this warmth. It's like I belong here in the light."
"You do." Pause. "Princess Aiko."
Inertia let out a gasp. "You ... you remember me?"
"I'll never forget you, Aiko. You were one of my good friends." Sailor Cosmos smiled sadly. "Besides, you were also the twin sister of my other best friend, Princess Naoko. Remember?"
"I remember," Aiko said stunned, as remembrance dawned. "We use to do everything together. Our parents even said that we must have been connected in our past lives, because we shared our secrets and stuck up for each other all the time."
"After Prince Endymion broke his betrothal to Naoko though, Naoko became different. She walked around in a daze, and she wouldn't even talk to me. She kept saying that she would get back at you one day, Serenity. She said she would never forget. No matter what, she would never forget."
"That is when she turned to dark magic?"
"Yes. No one saw her for days, and Mother and Father were getting worried about here. I was even more worried. I knew that there was something really wrong, otherwise she wouldn't keep herself locked up like that."
"It was all my fault. I made her like that." Sailor Cosmos whispered.
"No, it wasn't. I think deep down, Naoko was always jealous of you, Serenity."
"Jealous of me? But why?"
"Because you were the best at everything. The most beautiful, the most talented, the most loved, and the most powerful. Even though Naoko was the heiress to our kingdom, it couldn't compare to the Moon Kingdom. She wanted the most powerful kingdom. She wanted to be the goddess of the universe, not just of our kingdom."
"No! Naoko was never like that! We were best friends! Yeah, she joked about it all the time, but she would never attempt to harm me in any way! I was the one who harmed her first!"
"Naoko never did anything because she always knew that she would one day be married to Prince Endymion. That was enough to placate her. She may have been second best in everything else, but at least she had the crown prince of Earth."
"Until I took him away from here," Sailor Cosmos murmured.
"No!" Tuxedo Kamen cried out. He had been listening to Sailor Cosmos and Princess Aiko's conversation, and the more he heard, the more he finally remembered. "It wasn't anything like that, Usako! You didn't steal me from anyone, and even if you did, I was willing to be stolen." Tuxedo Kamen's head bowed down as it became clearer to him.
"It all started on the day Father told me that I was to be engaged to Princess Naoko. . ."
"What?" an enraged Prince Endymion yelled. "You're marrying me off to some girl I've never even met before?!"
"Now calm down, son," King Endymion said smoothly. "You're going to meet her before the wedding of course, but I just want you to know that your mother and I wish for you to finally settle down."
"Settle down? Why should I settle down? I enjoy my life, Father, and it's not as if I run around with all the young virginal maidens on Earth."
"Endymion!" Queen Gaia scolded her only son. "How can you even speak like that?!"
"It's true, Mother," Prince Endymion said wearily. "Besides, I thought we already had a talk about this. I would get married when I wished to be married, and I would also get to select who I spent the rest of my life with."
"Yes, but that was before the little incident last night," King Endymion said pointly.
"What little incident?"
"You didn't really think that no one would notice you and Kunzite romping through the gardens drunk as a dog now, did you?"
Prince Endymion reddened. "So we had a little bit too much to drink."
"I would think so," King Endymion said calmly.
"But it was just last night, Father! How can you condemn me for one mistake?"
"We're not condeming you, dear," Queen Gaia interrupted. "We just think that you need a wife to help smooth out those rough edges of yours."
"Thanks for your vote of confidence, Mother," Prince Endymion muttered.
"Now don't blame your mother for this, we both decided on it. It is high time that you became a respectable husband and what not. Besides, your mother and I are anxious for the grandchildren we are going to have." King Endymion chuckled.
Prince Endymion's icy glare showed that he was not amused by his father's attempt at humor.
"So do I get to know the name of the person I'm going to marry, or will I not find out until the wedding day?"
"Her name is Princess Naoko, and she is the oldest of twins." Prince Endymion rolled his eyes.
Great, he thought with irritation, it's a package deal.
"Beautiful and smart, she is also the heiress of her kingdom, one of the most powerful in the universe."
"When do I have to meet her?"
King Endymion glared at his son for his choice of words, but said nothing. Queen Gaia tactfully answered her son.
"We're going over there today, so you will meet her later on. Your father and I won't be there for a majority of the meeting because we have some business matters to attend to, but we will meet you both for dinner at the Moon Kingdom."
"Why the Moon Kingdom?"
"Queen Serenity is holding a ball in honor of her daughter's eighteenth birthday, and we were invited. You will be attending as Naoko's partner. It will give you both a chance to get to know each other better, and you will also meet Naoko's friends and find out what you two have in common."
"And while I am being bored out of my mind, you two will be socializing with everyone else, correct?"
King Endymion and Queen Gaia both cleared their throats nervously.
"Ha. I knew it." Prince Endymion groaned. After a moment of silence, he took out his pocket watch and flipped it open. "It's almost noon. Let's go and get this show over with."
"Endymion. . ." King Endymion said warningly.
"Hey, I said nothing. Leave me alone." Prince Endymion walked out of the room.
"Oh dear," Queen Gaia breathed.
Prince Endymion stared boredly at the ceiling while his parents exchanged congratulations with Princess Naoko's parents.
"Endymion," King Endymion ordered, "come and meet your future in-laws."
Prince Endymion dutifully bowed, kissed the back of Queen Kara's hand and shook hands with King Yari.
"You're such a strong and handsome young man, Endymion!" Queen Kara gushed.
Prince Endymion rolled his eyes.
"And this is your future queen, Prince Endymion," King Yari said proudly, moving aside to reveal a tall and slender girl behind him with hair of dark violet.
Prince Endymion was stunned. He had seen many beautiful women before, but Princess Naoko surely surpassed everyone he had ever met. Confident and sophisticated, Princess Naoko was a true princess, but that wasn't what had shocked Prince Endymion. What had shocked Prince Endymion was the fact that he was not drawn to her, physically or emotionally.
Prince Endymion felt absolutely nothing toward his future wife.
"Princess Naoko," Prince Endymion murmured, taking her hand and placing a chaste kiss on the top of it. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh no, Prince Endymion," Princess Naoko purred. "I assure you, the pleasure is all mine." Prince Endymion smiled tightly and tried to refrain from losing his breakfast.
"I almost forgot to introduce my sister," Princess Naoko said innocently. "How silly of me. Aiko!"
A woman who looked exactly like Naoko stepped out from the shadows hesitantly and curtsied in front of Prince Endymion.
"Sir," Princess Aiko said quietly.
"Princess Aiko," Prince Endymion bowed and bestowed upon Princess Aiko's hand a kiss also. He was taken aback when he felt Princess Aiko stiffen at his touch. Glancing up, he saw a look pass between the two sisters and realized with shock that Princess Naoko was angry at her sister.
So jealousy runs deep in this family, doesn't it? Prince Endymion thought to himself. Interesting.
"So are we all ready to go to the Moon?" Queen Kara asked expectantly. "I wouldn't want to be late to such a grand party!"
"I believe we are," King Yari smiled, holding his arm out to his wife. She accepted it with a giggle.
Prince Endymion turned to Princess Naoko with the same gesture, but frowned when he saw her doubled over at the waist, her arms wrapped around her stomach.
"Um, Princess Naoko?" Prince Endymion asked hesitantly. "Are you all right?"
"Oh Naoko!" Queen Kara cried. "What is wrong, sweetie?"
"I don't feel good at all, Mother," Princess Naoko moaned. "I think I must have ate something bad earlier today. I don't think I can make it to Serenity's ball."
"Oh dear! Whatever am I going to do?" Queen Kara wailed.
"I'll stay with Naoko, Mother," Princess Aiko volunteered quietly. "Balls aren't really my thing anyway. I'll just stop by Serenity's later and celebrate her birthday with her. She won't mind."
"Are you sure, Aiko?" King Yari asked his youngest daughter.
"Of course, Father," Princess Aiko smiled. "You and Mother have a good time together. I'll take care of Naoko." Placing her arm around her older sister's shoulders, Princess Aiko slowly guided her out of the room, leaving King Yari, Queen Kara and Prince Endymion alone.
"Well then," Queen Kara said smoothly, her composure quickly back. "I guess I'll just have to have two handsome partners for tonight, won't I?"
King Yari chuckled. "That you do, my dear."
Prince Endymion groaned inwardly.
For the second time in the same day, Prince Endymion found himself studying the whiteness of the ceiling. All around him, men in tuxedos were twirling laughing women in glamorous gowns on the dance floor.
Standing next to the buffet table, Prince Endymion grabbed something from a nearby plate and popped it into his mouth. He almost chocked on it though, when he realized that he had just ate a mustard-covered snail. Grabbing his drink, he quickly downed its contents, hoping to get rid of the disgusting taste left in his mouth.
"It usually is better to look at what you're going to put into your mouth before you actually do it," an amused voice said.
Turning toward the voice, he saw a woman standing a few feet away, chewing on a celery stick. She was wearing a long, flowing white gown that had a subtle rainbow and gold shimmer to it whenever she moved, and her hair was golden blonde.
Prince Endymion's eyes widened, and he had the distinct feeling that his mouth was about to fall open.
She's beautiful, he thought in awe, like an angel. A beautiful and pure and innocent angel.
Prince Endymion was on the verge of asking her who she was when he saw the moon insignia on her forehead.
Princess Serenity?!
"I'm sorry, that disgusting snail must still be caught on your tongue. I'll just find some other unlucky man to talk to." Princess Serenity started to move away from the table.
No!
"Princess Serenity!" Prince Endymion said quickly.
"Ahh, he speaks." Princess Serenity joked.
"I'm so sorry, I was being unbelievably rude." Prince Endymion bowed and placed a gentle kiss on her hand. The touch of her cool skin against his warm lips sent shivers up his spine and as he looked into her eyes, he knew she felt it too.
"Happy Birthday, Princess," Prince Endymion said softly.
Princess Serenity blushed. "Thank you, but it doesn't seem very happy right now."
"You should be out there dancing with many handsome suitors," Prince Endymion said, gesturing toward the dance floor.
"Been there, done that," Princess Serenity sighed. "Sadly though, the others didn't seem to get the hint. I had to keep stuffing food into my mouth in order to look like I was busy."
"Then I assumed it worked?"
Princess Serenity grinned mischievously. "Like a charm."
"Well then, would I not be taking a hint if I asked you to dance with me?" Prince Endymion asked casually. Princess Serenity stared at him for a good couple of seconds without saying anything.
Please say you'll dance with me, Prince Endymion pleaded to himself, please say it.
Princess Serenity then blushed and shyly looked away.
"Actually, you would be taking the hint perfectly by asking me to dance," Princess Serenity said softly.
Prince Endymion couldn't stop the thrill that coursed up his spine.
Offering Princess Serenity his hand, he led her onto the dance floor, noticing from the corner of his eye all the envious looks that were tossed at them--from men and women alike.
Placing his left hand on Princess Serenity's waist and taking her right hand firmly but gently with his own hand, he began to sway to the beat of the music. She followed his steps with perfect clarity.
After a while, Princess Serenity leaned her head back a little so she could look into Prince Endymion's eyes.
"We've been talking for all this time, and I don't even know your name." Princess Serenity asked.
"Prince Endymion of--"
"Of Earth," Princess Serenity finished in wonder.
"You honor me by knowing my name, Princess," Prince Endymion smiled.
"My Prince, there is not a girl in the Moon Kingdom who does not know your name!" Princess Serenity exclaimed. "We have heard of your daring feats and accomplishments, and each one of us has yearned for the day when we would finally meet the crown prince of the Earth Kingdom!" Pause. "In fact, this is indeed the best present I have received thus far."
"Princess Serenity, I do not think that I am so great that I should be categorized as a gift," Prince Endymion began, "but it is still a great honor to--" Prince Endymion never finished his sentence, for Princess Serenity had leaned up and brushed her lips across his cheek.
Prince Endymion couldn't speak. Princess Serenity on the other hand, blushed and looked at the floor.
"Forgive me for being so forward, Prince Endymion," Princess Serenity whispered to the ground, "but I just wanted to thank you. For this dance and for keeping me company."
"You're ... you're welcome." Prince Endymion stuttered.
She kissed me, he thought in amazement. Sure, it wasn't hot and wet or even on the lips, but she kissed me!
"I should probably take my leave now," Princess Serenity said sadly.
"Is ... is the ball ending soon?"
"No, but I fear that I have greatly disgusted you, otherwise you would not be in such a state of shock." Princess Serenity whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "I know that people who are shocked usually start stuttering and everything."
"N-No! I mean, I mean, it's nothing like that," Prince Endymion managed.
"Then why are you still stuttering?"
"Because I was so happy that you kissed me I couldn't think straight," Prince Endymion blurted out.
"What?"
"I'm sorry," Prince Endymion quickly apologized, "now I am the one being forward."
"No," Princess Serenity whispered softly, "not at all. In fact, you are the one person whom I have met this entire evening who did not trip all over his feet in order to impress me."
"Well, the thought had crossed my mind, but when I saw you standing there with such a sad look on your face, I decided to risk my chance of being a stuttering idiot and to try to cheer you up instead." A small smile pulled at Princess Serenity's lips, and Prince Endymion thought his heart would burst at the sight.
"But then again, I think I already came across as a stuttering idiot, so what the heck!"
"You did stutter," Princess Serenity pondered thoughtfully, "but I didn't think you were an idiot. In fact, I thought you were most charming." After speaking though, Prince Endymion saw Princess Serenity try to stifle a yawn.
"Princess, you must be exhausted from all this excitement," Prince Endymion began.
"Well, it has been a long day, and I haven't had much time to rest, but I think I can manage." Princess Serenity smiled weakly. "I should probably sit down though, otherwise I fear I may faint dead away."
"Allow me to escort you outside," Prince Endymion offered, taking Princess Serenity's hand and leading her out to the back garden.
The clock had almost reached midnight, and the wind was picking up. Princess Serenity shivered as the cool wind blew around her bare arms. Though she tried to hide it, Prince Endymion saw her involuntary action and quickly unclipped his cloak from his shoulders. He then placed the cloak around Princess Serenity's shoulders.
"Oh, but Prince Endymion," Princess Serenity started, "you'll be cold also."
"No, my armor will keep me warm," Prince Endymion assured. "Besides, you would hate to catch a cold on your birthday, wouldn't you?"
Smiling gratefully, Princess Serenity pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders. "It's so peaceful out here, isn't it?" Pause. "Sometimes, when things become too much for me to handle, I like to just sit out here and stare at the Earth," Princess Serenity said quietly. "It's so beautiful from here."
Prince Endymion said nothing. He never had taken the time to admire the beauty of his planet, and now sitting with Princess Serenity on the Moon, he began to feel her own wonder.
"Yes, it is," Prince Endymion agreed.
For awhile, neither prince nor princess said a word. They just sat in each others company, enjoying the beauty and the tranquility of it all.
Suddenly, Prince Endymion felt Princess Serenity leaning against him. He looked down at her and saw that she was fast asleep, her eyes closed, and a dreamy smile playing on her lips.
Raising his hand, he gently caressed her cheek with his fingers, smoothing her hair away from her face and running his thumb along her lips.
"So beautiful," Prince Endymion murmured. "So very beautiful."
Leaning down slowly, so as not to disturb Princess Serenity, Prince Endymion placed a soft kiss on her lips. And in that moment, Prince Endymion knew that he would never feel this way for another woman.
"Prince Endymion?"
Opening his eyes, Prince Endymion saw Princess Serenity awake, looking at him questioningly.
"I ... I ..." Prince Endymion stammered, flustered at having been caught. "I apologize, Princess Serenity, I should never have taken such liberties. I assure you, I ..." Moving quickly, Princess Serenity placed her right hand at the back of Prince Endymion's neck and pulled his head down to hers. Placing her lips on his own, she then proceeded to give him her own kiss.
Prince Endymion was shocked motionless for a few seconds, and then he wrapped his arms around her waist, responding back with his own passion.
When at last they separated, neither could speak or move.
"Oh, Serenity," Prince Endymion gasped. "I ... I ..."
Princess Serenity placed her hand gently against his lips, stopping his half-hearted apology. "Shh. I wanted you to. I wanted to."
Pulling her back into his arms, Prince Endymion buried his face into the side of her neck, inhaling her rosy fragrance.
I'll do right by you, Serenity, he thought, I won't betray you. There's no way that I can marry Princess Naoko now that I've found you. I can't lie to her, and I definitely can't lie to myself. You were the one meant for me. You are the one that I am suppose to spend the rest of my life with.
I love you, Princess Serenity.
"Prince Endymion fell in love with you, Serenity," Princess Aiko whispered in awe. "He truly fell in love with you."
Tuxedo Kamen nodded. "Yes, I fell in love with Usako the moment I saw her. And when we kissed, I knew that I would never love another woman like I loved her."
"But you lied to me!" Sailor Cosmos cried. "You lied to me about being engaged to Naoko! How could you have kissed me and hugged me when you were engaged to be married to another woman?"
"Love is blind, Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen argued. "Do you think that I wanted to hurt Naoko or you? No! But I couldn't stop myself; I couldn't stop myself from loving you." Pause. "Even to this day, I can't stop myself."
"No," Sailor Cosmos whispered, "you don't really love me. If you had really loved me, you would have told me the truth. You would have told me that you were promised to my best friend!" Sailor Cosmos sank to the floor, her hands covering her face as gut wrenching sobs tore through her body.
Tuxedo Kamen's heart nearly ripped into two. Tearing himself away from the ropes that bounded him to the pole, he ran to the woman he loved more than life itself. When he reached her, he tried to take Sailor Cosmos into his arms, but she shoved him away.
"Don't touch me!" Sailor Cosmos shouted. She looked at him with a tear-stained face. "Stay away from me, Prince Endymion! I don't want to hear anymore of your lies right now!" Turning away from Tuxedo Kamen, Sailor Cosmos took a calming breath and then turned back to Princess Aiko. "What happened to you afterward, Aiko? How did you turn into a warrior for Princess Iniquity?"
"After Naoko turned to the dark side, she filled me with dark power, turning me into her slave. She killed our parents so that she could be queen, and then she cast a spell on the kingdom, changing it and the people into vessels for her evil. She had a plan to eliminate her hated rival."
"Me," Sailor Cosmos said sadly.
"But the plan failed and Queen Serenity banned us from ever setting foot in her galaxy. For a thousand years, Naoko has been plotting her revenge. Time has not altered her beauty, but she is wiser and more powerful than time itself. She will see to it that you suffer, Princess Serenity." Princess Aiko began to slowly fade away.
"Aiko! Wait!"
"I can wait no longer, Princess Serenity. My soul has been trapped between Hell and Heaven for the past century, and it is time that I return to my rightful place in this universe. My parents have been lonely by themselves, and it is time that I see them again. Good luck, Princess Serenity, and remember, when you see Naoko again, she will no longer be the one you played and shared your secrets with. She will be evil, and you will have to destroy her."
"I ...I don't know if I can."
"Do not hesitate, Princess Serenity, otherwise all will be lost. Remember ...." Princess Aiko's voice carried on as she disappeared. "Our friendship is eternal!"
"Aiko!" Sailor Cosmos cried, as fresh tears ran down her face. "Thank you! So very much!"
"Traitor!" Princess Iniquity screamed to the empty room. "How dare Inertia turn on me?! Princess Serenity, you shall pay! You stole everything that was mine, Endymion, even my own sister! Mark my words, Serenity, tomorrow will be the day when everything you love will be destroyed! I will be avenged, and then I will finally rule the universe! Only I, Princess Iniquity, will be the fairest and most powerful of all in this entire galaxy!"
As Sailor Cosmos stood at the side watching, Tuxedo Kamen checked to make sure that each Senshi was okay. When Princess Aiko had disappeared, Inertia's spell had been broken, and the Sailor Senshi had slowly waken up. After they had verifed that everyone was okay, they all turned to Sailor Cosmos expectantly. Looking at them, Sailor Cosmos felt dead and empty inside.
I have nothing to say to them, she thought to herself with bitterness. Just like they have nothing left to say to me. It's over. It was over a long time ago.
Turning away from them, Sailor Cosmos began to walk away.
"Sailormoon," Jupiter pleaded.
"Princess Serenity," Venus cried.
"Neo-Queen Serenity," Mercury whispered.
"Usagi-chan," Mars begged.
"Usako," Tuxedo Kamen called.
Sailor Cosmos stopped in her path, but she didn't turn around.
"Your Highness," Luna began, "please forgive us! We have mistreated you so, and Sailor Mars should never have said those words! Please, Usagi-chan!" Luna sobbed.
"Usagi-chan," Artemis added, "try to understand. What could we have done? You were the one who had thrown yourself into the vortex, I mean ..." Artemis stopped when Sailor Cosmos whirled around, anger flashing in her violet eyes.
"I was the one who had thrown myself?! Do you think that I wanted to? Do you think that I had even wanted to be Sailormoon in the first place? No! But I did it anyway, because it was my destiny, because I was the Chosen One!" Sailor Cosmos sneered.
"So what happened? I almost get killed. But I kept going at it anyway, I kept risking my life time after time. How can that be true though, right? All I do is hide behind everyone else. You're right, I am lazy, I am a coward, I mess everything up, and what's worse, I whine. Isn't that exactly what you said, Rei-chan?" Sailor Cosmos taunted.
Sailor Mars winced. "I didn't mean it like that, Usagi-chan. I ..."
"Save it, Rei. I don't want to hear anymore." Sailor Cosmos said bitterly. "Don't worry about it, you can keep the position. I don't want it any longer."
"Usagi-chan?" everyone cried.
"That's right, I quit. From now on, no more Sailormoon, no more Sailor Cosmos. I retire." Sailor Cosmos turned and disappeared.
There's the 9th chapter! The next chapter will probably be the last one, as I wrap up some loose ends. I still don't know whether or not to continue this story, or to make a sequel. Sorry about taking so long for this one; I'll try not to take so long on the next! :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
