Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Cloud 2 and never will.

Chapter 1: Ambushed

So, this was it. Max couldn't believe it. Emperor Griffon had been eliminated, and Monica was going to go away forever. He thought this adventure of theirs would never end. But, just as quickly he had been pulled into it, he had come out, all in one piece, with Monica. It had happened too fast. Now, while spending these last few days with her, it seemed like it had never happened at all. They both knew she had to leave soon, and both enjoyed each other's company for as long as humanly possible these last few days. Monica had even slept in Max's room, on a separate bed Gerald had ordered to be moved in. Late into the night, the talked with each other until they were so tired they could talk no more.

Max didn't think he'd be able to go on without her. The day he had met her on the train, he had had a small crush on her. He couldn't help it. She was so graceful and pretty. But on their adventures, they had grown very close. Even getting through the first forest, Max's feelings began to blossom. Many things had tried to pry them apart, but only brought them closer. By the end of their adventure, Max knew that he loved Monica. He was willing to do anything for her, even give his life if necessary. And he had been very willing, facing Emperor Griffon and his minions. But he had never confessed his feelings to her. He was afraid of rejection. He knew she liked him. There was no doubt about that. In his eyes, though, there was one tiny problem. He loved her. And he had no idea if she would return those kind of feelings.

But now, he had a conflict. A few more days and Monica would be gone forever. If he never confessed his feelings to her, he would go insane after she left. The feelings would have to stay bottled up. If he didn't tell her, he sure as hell wouldn't tell anyone else. Max realized he needed to let her know. Even if she did not feel the same way about him, at least she would know how he felt. And he would feel a lot better after she left. So he decided to invite her to the Rainbow Butterfly Woods, for their last fight together, and, after eliminating the monsters, a picnic, to say good-bye. This, Max said to himself, is how I'll let her know.

Little did Max realize, however, that Monica was having a similar inner conflict. Monica knew she had grown to love this boy over their adventures. His hair, his eyes, his fun personality, she loved everything about him. It had started from a little crush, and turned into love. But she knew that soon she had to leave. She knew they could never be together. She was 100 years older than Max, after all. She laughed aloud at the though, but was not at all amused. Disrupting the space-time continuum for her own reasons seemed pretty selfish. But, she did have to let him know how she felt. So when Max offered to take her on the picnic in the woods, she immediately accepted. She decided to let him know how she felt there.

That Saturday, they decided to walk the long distance from Palm Brinks to Sindain. They did not even notice the distance, however, because they were to preoccupied by each other. Even in those rare moments when neither of them talked, Max secretly hoped they would never reach Sindain. He hoped they got lost and kept on walking with each other, forever and ever...

Consumed by these thoughts, both were surprised when they stopped in front of the entrance to the butterfly woods. Both just stood there for a long time, silently. Max finally spoke up.

"So...are you ready to go in?" Monica nodded, drawing her sword.

"Yes. Let's go." It would really be pointless to describe to you how easily the destroyed any monster that stood in their way. Soon, when they felt the forest was peaceful enough, they walked into a clearing. Max set down the picnic basket and turned to Monica.

"Monica, there's something that I need to tell you," he said, rather nervously.

"Yes?"

He sighed. "I just wanted to say that I..." But he was cut short by a rustling in the trees. Before Max could even blink, half a dozen archers had emerged in the canopy of the trees, arrows on string. They wasted no time, and released the arrows.

"Monica!" Max leapt in front of her, shielding her. In that split second before the arrows reached him, he knew he was going to die. A tear rolled down his face. He would never have the chance to tell her how he felt. But at least Death's peaceful sleep would bring him comfort. And he would die shielding his love.

He crossed him arms, defending his face and chest, and braced for impact.

A/N: Please review. Chapter 2 is coming.