Author's Notes: If you are still reading after that last chapter, I applaud you for your perseverance and patients with my story. Again, comments and reviews are encouraged as long as the criticism is constructive.

My eyes snapped open; I was laying on my back and in a cold sweat. It took me a moment to remember where I was, but I sat up to see Marlo looking at me, legs crossed, eyes fixed. "Congratulations, you have completed the trial of Heart."

I regained some composure and replied, "How do you know that I was successful?"

He smiled and replied, "You wouldn't be in any fit state of mind to talk."

I conceded the point and said, "So, what now?"

He continued, "Now, your next trial. No one has ever gotten this far before." He stood up and motioned for me to follow him. We walked through another door and down several long corridors without seeing anyone or saying a single word. I could see that it was well into the night outside. We finally reached a room that Marlo motioned for me to enter. I walked in and saw two tables, with cloths over them. Marlo shut and locked the door and then stood between the two tables.

He spoke, "You have overcome so much and impressed me at every step of the journey, it all comes down to this, the Trial of Spirit. As a ruler, you are expected to show the utmost devotion to your duty, no matter the cost. So your final trial, is a choice. Your first option..." He removed the cloth from the left table, "...is royalty." There was a crown and scepter on the table all that I needed to be able to marry Blaze.

Before I could say anything, he continued, "Your second option..." He removed the cloth from the other table, "...is Blaze, you must choose. If you choose the crown, you will be crowned a prince at this instant, and be the first to ever complete the trials. But your romantic relationship with the princess will be forfeit. Or you can choose the princess, but you will not be crowned a prince, and you will fail the trials."

My world shattered, I couldn't believe it, no matter what I choose, there was no way I could win. I could take the crown and lose Blaze. Or I could take Blaze, but lose her anyways.

"You knew. Why did you suggest it if you knew that it would come to this?" Marlo had no words for me this time. But it was my own question that got me thinking, why would he suggest these trials if I could never be with Blaze, regardless of the outcome.

He spoke, "I know what your wondering, and to be honest, I don't know myself. What I do know is that you need to make a choice." I could never turn my back on Blaze. I had no idea how we were going to make it work, but we would, my choice was clear.

"Blaze." I whispered.

Marlo asked, "What?"

I spoke louder, "Blaze, I choose Blaze."

Marlo let out a sigh, "Well, I'm sorry then, you fail." I hung my head in defeat, unsure of what to do. I heard Marlo walk past me to leave the room, "I don't regret it."

Marlo stopped. "I don't regret my choice. Blaze was my whole motivation for these trials; I would not lose my integrity."

Marlo let out another sigh, "I understand, but that will not help your cause. What's done is done." He began to work the lock.

A couple tears streamed down my face, "Don't you have any sympathy?"

He stopped again, "I lied to you, there has been one victor to these trials..." He walked back towards the table, and I raised my head to look at him. "...the king is not a native of this land. He is from the nearby nation of Folet. He came to Epistria, seeking fame and fortune. Needless to say, he joined the army and made a name for himself. He also fell in love with the princess, and she with him. When he was told that the only way he could marry her was to complete these trials, he took the challenge, overcoming every obstacle and making it to this very spot where he was presented with the same choice. The king chose differently, choosing royalty over the princess. This broke the princess' heart and she very quickly lost the will to live. She died soon after. The king blamed himself, and after he became king, forbid any record of his past, so that no one would know. He lost his integrity, he forgot what he was fighting for and focused on the prize. You however, did not. You stuck to your beliefs and chose Blaze in the end. That, I believe, is the whole point of the trials."

I got a slight smile on my face when he picked up the scepter and crown and brought them over to me. "And with that, I crown you Prince Silver..." He placed the crown on my head and continued, "...may you prosper in your future." He offered me the scepter, which I accepted.

He then walked past me and opened the door, "Go, find her. I'm sure she will be happy to see you."

I nodded, "Thank you, for everything." He smiled and then I sprinted past him, trying to find my way back through the library. But I must have taken a wrong turn because I found myself in a part of the palace that I had never been to, but I found a door that led out onto a balcony, overlooking the gardens. Below, I could see Blaze sitting on a bench. I wanted to jump down to her, but then I heard some footsteps and I looked over to see a strange figure, and all black cat walking over to Blaze.

There was another set of footsteps, these were behind me. I turned to see the king, "I see that you chose the first choice. I guess that means you also forfeit your relationship with my daughter."

I replied, "No, I was granted both, for completing the trials."

The king shook his head, "There is so much you don't understand. You can only have one, never both, no one can give you both."

I replied, "But Marlo administers the trials, he can interpret the rules any way he wants."

The king shook his head again, "You are wrong, and now it will be proven. Prince Addsworth will propose, as he is the only eligible suitor." The king motioned below. The black cat was on one knee, holding a small velvet box.

"And what about me?! I'm eligible too!"

The king calmly replied, "Are you so sure? Be my guest to find out."

I jumped off the balcony and landed right beside them,

"Silver!?" Blaze said abruptly, "Prince Addsworth was just explaining to me what happened. I can't believe you took the crown, but I understand." Her voice was very cold, it made my heart ache.

"Blaze, I don't know what he told you but it isn't true." I knew I had to say something, quick, "Blaze, will you marry me?"

There was silence, but the next words were from Prince Addsworth, "I believe that you had to forfeit your relationship with the princess, in order to be a prince. Which means that you can't marry her."

I retorted, "Well you're wrong, I got both."

Addsworth calmly replied, "And what proof do you have?" I wanted to speak, but I was dumbfounded, the only witness was Marlo.

"Marlo, he was there."

Addsworth replied, "And where is he now?" I was trapped, I had no idea where he was, Marlo, my only proof. Addsworth continued, "I guess since you have no proof...I would like an answer Princess Blaze."I turned to Blaze,

"I-I don't know. I need a night to think." She said. Prince Addsworth stood right up,

"Very well, we shall talk in the morning, good night." And he was gone without another word. I was ok, at least for the night. I looked back up at the balcony the king had gone and Blaze and I were alone again.