I've been bored lately, so I decided to post a rewrite of my story, Fall of Demons. My writing has improved a lot since then and I plan to make this version more romantic and detailed. I'm also gonna be changing a few things. Not sure how far I'll get, but I'm going to try to redo at least the first two or three chapters. This one is merely a sweetened prologue.

She groaned quietly in her sleep, watching the colors fade into darkness. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, revealing the dark soil that served as her home's ceiling. She gasped, bolting upright. Had all of that, meeting the rats, unraveling her husband's secret, been a dream? She rubbed her hands together, looking down to see fresh, white bandages wrapping her palms.

"You're awake."

She turned at the soft voice, seeing Ages with a small bundle resting in his lap. She soon realized it was Timothy, his chest moving in uneasy sleep.

"What happened?" she whispered. "How did I get here?"

"You house was successfully moved," the old mouse muttered. "Though not according to plan."

She turned, seeing a faint red glimmer. It was the Stone, concealed by a fold of the blanket thrown across the foot of her bed.

"Yes," she rubbed her hands again. "I-I remember now…"

She turned back to Ages, who was tucking Timothy back into his own bed. She was quick to notice the old mouse no longer had a cast, his crutch leaning against the cork he'd been sitting on.

"Are you still in pain?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No," he moved back to his seat. "The Stone did more than move your home and revive your children."

"What do you mean?"

He gazed at her, a slight smile forming on his lips.

"It healed my broken leg," he explained. "And affected everyone near you when you unleashed its power."

"What about the rats?" a sliver of fear sunk into her heart.

"They're preparing to leave," Ages said. "And should be gone within the hour."

"Oh."

She lowered her head, letting her hands fall to her lap.

"However," Ages' lips quirked further. "Justin wishes to see you. He's waiting outside."

"H-He wants to see me?" the young mother's heart raced in her chest. "A-After all the trouble I've caused?"

She looked to the Stone, still faintly shimmering. After seeing the power it contained, after seeing what lines would be crossed to get it, she knew she could never wield its power. She reached out, taking the gem in her hand, pulling a random cape from the folded pile beside her bed. She tied it tightly around her neck, tucking the blood-red gem deep into its folds.

"Are you sure he wants to see me?" she asked. "Where is he?"

"He assured me he wouldn't leave without seeing you again," Ages told her. "And if he told me the truth, then he should be just outside the rosebush."

"Thank you," she slipped from her bed. Her other children were cuddled together in a corner of the living room; she tiptoed past to avoid waking them. Auntie Shrew was nowhere to be found. A sliver of moonlight leaked in through the entrance tunnel, providing her just enough to see by as she slipped into the outside world. She looked around, seeing a thick blanket of grass had sprung across her house, covered in buds she somehow knew would bloom the next morning. She turned to the east, seeing a tall, slim figure moving slowly towards her. The scent in the air confirmed who it was; she sped forward with a sound of joy. He laughed, taking her off her feet as he swept her into a warm embrace.

"Oh, Justin," a single tear slipped down her cheek. "I'm so glad to see you."

He smiled, wiping the tear away.

"I'm happy to see you, too, Mrs. Brisby."

He set her back on her feet, kneeling before her. She noticed how much he had changed.

"Ages told me the magic affected you," she murmured. A shock of hair rested on his brow, his dark eyes glowing in a way they never had before. He'd changed into a dark blue vest and white shirt, a dark cloak shielding him from the cold. Her left hand drifted up from his chest, running across his shoulder, then down his arm to his wrist. She felt there was something different about him, though couldn't place exactly what it was.

"It's affected you as well," he said quietly. His fingers slipped through the fur on her cheek. Like him, her hair was longer, the tips of her bangs brushing against her lashes. Her sparkling blue eyes were a shade or two darker. The blush on her cheeks matched the pale pink cape draped around her slim body. He felt his heart race in his chest, fighting the urge to take her in his arms again. "You're so beautiful…"

Her blush darkened; she reached in her cape and pulled out the Stone.

"You deserve this more than I do," she whispered. He gazed at her in shock.

"I couldn't," he said. "Jonathan left it for you."

She put the chain around his neck, letting her hands fall back to his chest.

"I know," she whispered. "But it frightens me. Please, take it."

He looked at her, then gave a low sigh.

"As you wish."

"Thank you."

She gazed at him, becoming lost in his dark stare. Before she realized it, she'd pressed her lips softly to his.

"Oh, my," she pulled away. "I don't know where that came from. I'm sorry."

She turned to leave, feeling his hand wrap firmly around hers.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," he brought her closer, cupping her face in his hands. He gave a brief smile, then kissed her with barely concealed passion. She gasped, feeling his embrace tighten around her. It felt like hours had passed before he pulled away, his breath soothing to her flaming face.

"I'll write you," he whispered. "Once the colony is finished. I want you and your family near me as soon as possible."

"I already await your invitation," she smiled. "But, before you go, will you do one last thing for me?"

He nodded. "Anything."

She moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I want you to call me Elizabeth."

He breathed in her sweet scent, a mix of rose and iris with a hint of lavender.

"Elizabeth."