Chapter 37. "Forgivness"
Ember was woken up by knocking at the door. The pink dragoness cracked one of her eyes and muttered something with annoyance. It was just sunshine. "Who is coming so early?" She asked herself, watching his mate hopefully, but he was far away from being stood up reluctantly and yawned. Flame moved, as wave of cool reached his body, but he didn't wake up. Ember walked to the door, not hurrying at all. Anyone wanted to see her or Flame, if he came so early, he could wait. She opened door and felt that somebody hugged her.
"Hi mom!" Torch greeted his mother grinning cheerfully.
"Torch!"Ember watched him and Cynder staying right before her with surprise. "Cynder! You're back already?" She asked. The black dragoness nodded.
"Yeah, Tremor and Candice are here too."
"Flame!"The pink dragoness called her mate. "Come here!"
"Huh?"The fire guardian already woke up because of excited voices of dragoness, but he wasn't going to stand up at all.
"Torch's back!" Ember didn't have to repeat herself. Flame, as he heard that news, quickly stood up and ran to her. First thing he did, was hugging his son. Then, the fire guardian turned to Cynder.
"Hi, Cynder. Please, come in."Flame suggested. Theblack dragoness shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I'm here just to give you back Torch and I'm going straight to bed. I'm completely exhausted after whole that visit in Leafen and travel. Kids were so excited to see their parents again that we were in quite a hurry..." Cynder yawned deeply.
"Well, you spent quite much time there." Flame smirked. "I trust you weren't sightseeing all the time." The black dragoness smiled in reply.
"No, just a little. We had real problem to find that Glimmer." Then, she noticed that Ember and Flame had several new, fresh scars. "Have you fought lately?" She asked curiously. Ember nodded.
"Yeah, there was... incident. You had a fight too, didn't you?"The pink dragoness glared at long scar at Cynder's side.
"Mhm."Cynder agreed. "Well, I'll be going now. Because of whole that travel, I'm feeling, as if I could spend whole day sleeping, which isn't very far from the truth, as I guess." Then, she yawned deeply, as if confirming her words.
"See you soon." Ember and Flame said simultaneously.
"See you." Cynder flew away. She had plan to spend whole day sleeping and no one was going to disturb her.
Tremor woke up after only two hours of rest. He simply couldn't sleep. He couldn't wait, when he had an opportunity to make it up with Douten and become friends again, just like old times. Candice was surprised at first that he wanted to do it immediately, but she understood reasons of that decision. He promised it to Gaia, after all. The earth guardian was walking street hastily. Then, he heard that someone landed next to him. He turned around to see Viola.
"Tremor! Welcome back!" The ice dragoness greeted him cheerfully, so glad to see him again.
"Viola!" They hugged in a friendly way. "How did you find me?" Tremor asked curiously.
"By accident. I had no idea that you were back already." Viola explained. Tremor hissed with pain, as she put her paw at his left shoulder. "Oh, sorry." She quickly took her paw back. "Wow, you have a nasty wound here." Then she looked at guardian's chest. "And there, there... Dear ancestors, your chest! Did they pierce your lung?!" She asked with disbelief. Tremor just smiled and nodded slightly. "And your shoulder is..."
"I've been through worse." The guardian belittled his wounds.
"No doubts about that." The azure dragoness agreed, watching his chest carefully."You have to tell me, how that happened. And you better start watching for yourself." Viola said. "No one has such great talent to fall into troubles. You know, you have a family to care about." She noticed.
"I'm still alive, that's what matters." Tremor replied. The ice dragoness laughed.
"If I had such bad luck as you, I would be scared to leave my house, not speaking of being guardian. Anyway, where are you going?" Viola asked curiously.
"To Douten. I want to apologize him for all that happened between us." Tremor explained. Dragoness's eyes grew wide with surprise.
"I thought that you would never more speak with him again after your last conversation."
"This same here. But Gaia asked me to stop quarrels with him." The guardian explained.
"Gaia? What do you mean?" Viola watched Tremor with surprise. "I know that her soul helps you in fight, but would she have time for such a request in middle of battle?" She asked with disbelief.
"No. She asked me for it, when I was fighting for my life in hospital. But that time, I was the one to visit her at the other side."
"You mean... you were dead? Again?" She asked. The earth guardian laughed silently and shrugged.
"Maybe yes, maybe not.I have no idea, honestly. Medics couldn't explain, what have happened. I wasn't really dead, but neither fully alive. But still, I had chance to see my parents and Gaia." Viola smiled.
"You were really lucky. I never had an opportunity to see my mom once more." Viola admitted.
"Yes, I am." He agreed sadly. He really pitied the ice dragoness, as he felt great doze of envy in her words. "So, you're planning to go to Douten with me, aren't you?" Tremor guessed.
"I really want to see that." The ice dragoness still couldn't believe that they're actually going to become reconciled again. "Besides, I think I owe him something. After all, I broke his heart."
"You know that it may not end up as planned." Guardian noticedgloomily.
"That's why I'm here. If something goes wrong, I'll make sure you won't kill each other." Viola would smile, if only she was joking.
Douten watched the earth guardian with in reply. Thealchemist would never think that Tremor would visit him even once more. He didn't even try to hide surprise, but he didn't show a sign that his blood was boiling with anger.
"Welcome, Tremor, Viola. Please, come in." Three dragons went to living room, where was sitting about twelve years old fire dragoness, she was studying book about alchemy and finishing writing some to her, there were lying several phials with elixirs and at least ten kinds of herbs. Viola easily recognized her and she wasn't happy about that at all.
"Oh, it's you, Tris." She stated with gloomy voice. The fire dragoness raised her head and watched the newcomers.
"Hey, Freezer." She greeted Viola with no even note of sympathy. "You're Tremor, aren't you?" She asked the earth guardian.
"For you, guardian Tremor." Viola said coldly, before Tremor replied. Tris sent the ice dragoness hateful sight."You don't want me to beat you like last time, do you?"
"I am Tremor." The earth guardian decided to join the conversation understanding that letting their two on their own wasn't good idea.
"Tris, the lesson is over." Douten noticed. Theyoung dragoness noddedobediently and packed her stuff to small bag quickly. She walked next to newcomers and she was about to leave, when she turned around.
"Tremor, could you pay me a visit tomorrow? I'd like to hear some of your stories. Especially about my parents. From what I heard from Ray, you knew them quite well." Tris pleased.
"No problem." Tremor agreed.
"Well, see you tomorrow!"She bided them goodbye and left house. Two earth dragons said goodbye too, but Viola just hissed angrily.
"Do you teach her alchemy?" Tremor asked Douten with surprise.
"Yes, medical alchemy, I have to admit that she's really talented. I used to be very busy as the elder, so she could come to me only at the mornings" I'm not anymore, but you know, habits, habits..." Douten explained. "Could you wait for me for a moment? I have to do something immediately." He asked them.
"No problem." Viola said. The alchemist ran upstairs and disappeared from their sight. "Tremor?" The azure dragoness poked the guardian, who was glaring at Douten's equipment hanging at walls.
"Sorry." He shook head trying to forget about all that weapons. "Those metal gauntlets... I find them somehow creepy." Viola wanted to say something, but then the alchemist entered room.
"I see, you're back, Tremor. How was it in Teria?" He asked curiously.
"I wouldn't expect that you cared about me." Tremor replied. Alchemist just laughed.
"Cared? Not at all. I just wanted to get my gauntlets back." Douten earth guardian smirked.
"Well, Candice crushed one of them into parts. If you want it back so much, you can fly there and look for it in caves around city." Though Tremor's words weren't really offending, but there was something so malicious hidden within them that Douten would most likely hit the dragons were giving each other annoyed felt tension between them way too clearly.
"Hey, hey, calm down." She smiled trying to ease the situation. Thedragoness gave Tremor electrifying look. The guardian understood her suggestion. In mind, he thanked Viola for coming with him. He grinned to alchemist, this time, honestly.
"No offence, Douten."He said. Both earth dragons smiled, as if they were friends.
"I don't mind." The alchemist glared at Tremor with pretended good-heartedness. Viola noticed that alchemist's tailblade was covered in some transparent liquid, but she didn't ask about that. "As I guess, you were sent here on some special purpose, not just for friendly talking."
"No, I just wanted to talk with you, in fact." Tremor refused. Douten watched guardian with surprise. "And also..." The earth guardian took deep breath, unsure, how it was going to end up. "I forgive you and ask you for forgiveness, because of all that happened between us. I wish we could be friends once more." He finally spitted it out. The alchemist couldn't believe his ears. Douten laughed silently. At his laugh, there was something mysterious and evil. He stood up slowly.
"Forgiveness?Friends?" He asked with disbelief and note of amusement."In what world do you live?! Do you believe that by simple word you'll undo this, what... what you've done? This, what you stole or couldn't protect? Like Gaia?" Douten asked resentfully.
"Don't involve her in that!" Tremor stood up also and watched the alchemist angrily. Viola knew that she had to interfere.
"Tremor, Douten, please."She asked them. Earth dragons glared at her. "You're right, Douten, done can't be undone, but still, can't you just forget about this all and become friends, you know, like old times?" Viola tried to calm them both down. Three dragons remained in silence, no one knew what to Douten.
"Little foolish girl." Douten watched at Viola, as he interrupted silence. "Forgiveness is submissiveness. And when you're submissive, you won't even notice when world has stolen everything what you care about." The alchemist said coldly and he turned at Tremor. "Leave my house. Now. Otherwise, I won't stop myself from killing you." He was deadly serious.
"Do you really think you can kill me?" Tremor asked knew there was nothing to lose already, so he decided to at least annoy Douten a little.
"You wouldn't even scratch me." Douten turned around. "Farewell." He swung his tailblade. The alchemist intended to scratch guardian's face, but then, between them stood Viola. In effect, she got small cut at cheek. Tremor hissed angrily. He wanted to jump to the alchemist and knock him out, but the azure dragoness grasped his shoulder.
"Go home, Tremor, I'll talk with him." She suggested. Douten turned around and watched Viola with surprise, just like Tremor did.
"But..." The earth guardian tried to refuse.
"That will work well for both of you." Viola assured him. Tremor sighed deeply. He hung his head sadly and left house reluctantly. "Thanks, Tremor." The ice dragoness said, as he was already gone. The alchemist watched Viola carefully. He wanted to say something, but then, she slapped his face.
"How could you..." She started. Douten interrupted her by paw.
"Before you start shouting at me, do you want anything to drink?" He suggested. Though strange, that was his habit as alchemist's, after all.
"Yes, antidote for that freaking venom covering your tailblade!"The alchemist was completely aghast, he had no idea how she noticed that. He took small red bottle from shelter next to him and gave it her. Viola opened it and drank quickly, though it was disgusting. She watched the alchemist with contempt.
"How much time would Tremor have, if your plan worked out?" She asked coldly, feeling that her blood was boiling.
"Two weeks of least. And magic wouldn't help him much, I predicted that." Douten was honest. There was no point in lying. "Do you want to hear details?" He offered.
"Spare me that." Viola refused with disgust."I can't believe that you've fallen like that. To attempt to kill somebody, who asked you for forgiveness? To break promise given to the one, who you confessed love? I never thought that you would mention Gaia in such a way." The alchemist seemed not to care about her words at all. "I don't know you anymore. You're walking the path, where no one can follow you. That's why you're alone." Viola said sadly.
"I haven't changed my path. I'm just showing my real nature." Douten's sight was cold, like never before.
"Is that so?" Viola asked, surprised just a little. "You know, at first, I wondered if I did well reacting like that at your confession. You know, at the banquet, right after the guardians came. Breaking your heart... I answered so brutally, not even trying to be... gentler." Viola said. "Now I see my mistake. I shouldn't have cried. Someone like you don't deserve for pity." She explained. That did hurt Douten. He never expected such words from her.
"So we're not friends anymore?" He asked, surprised.
"From now, we're rather enemies." The dragoness gave him cold sight filled with disdain. "You're even worse than Venganza. Even they would never find their own kind their enemy." Viola said. Then, Douten laughed devilishly.
"So your fate will be this same as my enemies'. You'll die, burnt in the fire of Venganza." The earth dragon grinned in his sight told Viola that he didn't use the last word accidentally. Her eyes grew wide with fear and shock, as she figured out what he meant, as all the elements, seemingly chaotic and meaningless, started fitting the puzzle. She made several steps back, but then, she felt end of corridor behind her.
"N...no." She shook her head slowly with disbelief. Her voice was shaking. "Th...this can't be truth." Douten gave her evil smile.
"But this is truth, little, foolish girl." He was speaking very slowly. He seemed to enjoy every single word, every letter. "I am spy of Venganza in this city. Because I used to be elder, Venganza decided that this will be place of their last battle. I was the one to give themelixirs and equipment, I made Diego and Glimmer buy it." Douten explained.
"Impossible!" Viola shouted, hoping, it was just a bad dream.
"And now, I have to kill you, Viola." Viola's limbs were shaking with fear. She was unable to even twitch. "Do you want to know, what is the main reason, why you have to die?" Douten asked.
"Isn't that obvious?" The ice dragoness asked, as she made defensive pose.
"No." The earth dragon enjoyed situation with some sick, twisted pleasure. "There's something more than just this. You not only know truth about me, but also, there seems to be some connection, bond, between you and Sable. Not many dragonesses cuddle mutant wyverns."The azure dragoness watched him surprised.
"You saw us then!" She couldn't believe that.
"Exactly. And because you know Sable, you have information about him. And because information is weapon, you have to die."
"Why did you join them? Those wyverns have nothing to offer you!" Viola shouted at him in despair.
"They have something. It's thepromise of vengeance." Douten made effective pause. "Promise that I'll have anopportunity to kill those, who stole everything I had. To kill Tremor and Cynder .My own Venganza."
"You're mad. Abandon this darkness, it's consuming you!" Violabeggedin growing disbelief.
"I? Am I mad?" The earth dragon watched her with surprise. "This world is mad! World that did nothing about Cynder! Even, if she killed so many dragons, nobody even suggested killing her! And why?! Just because of this corruption shit and fact that she charmed Spyro to make him protect her! This world is mad, because it let such scum as Tremor become the dragon guardian! It's only his fault that Gaia died! I deserved to become guardian hundreds times more than him!That was my legacy and he stole it! He, some orphan who my family mercifully helped when he lost his parents!" Douten shouted. Viola tried to say something, but the alchemist interrupted her. "Madness, darkness, you say!" He laughed aloud, in such a way, as if he was twisted-minded. "You're right." He made pause for a second."Something in the darkness pulled me deeper! Something in the madness eased my mind!" He spoke, grinning in sinister way, as if he was barely stopping himself from laughing aloud. "Cut the strings that bind me to my kind. All I need is you." He made a step to her and put paw at her cheek gently. His face was just centimeters from her, watching her with loving sight. "Do you remember how you used to call my parents? Uncle, aunt... Don't you want to avenge them, to bring justice? Once we're done here, we'll travel at north and find there murderers of your mother." Douten grinned ominously. He dropped her cheek. And opened his paw wide open right before her. If she wanted, she could grasp it at any moment now. It was offer. "Join me, Viola. Together, with my elixirs, with your intelligence, we can change this world. Elders of this city, Cynder, Tremor, guardians, their companions, even Venganza... They're all just puppets! Not even in the hands of fate, as if it existed, but my own! I am their fate, I write it! This all what you've seen this far is just the beginning, the prelude of the true vengeance! You and me will judge and punish every dragon, every wyvern, every being who ever dared hurting the ones who we truly love. My list is so long. I know that yours is even longer. Together, we shall bring the justice back to this corrupted world. Join me Viola. Just take my paw and we will change the world." The ice dragoness watched his paw. What should she do? Did she doubt what was right? She knew that vengeance was evil. But...it was so tempting. Then, she recalled moment of her mother's death, her last words. And she knew the answer.
"My mother would roll in her grave if I avenged her. I promised her I wouldn't do it." Viola whispered, pushing his paw away. "Don't you remember what she used to say? Revenge is not justice, but crime. Murderers shall be punished sooner or later. And Cynder, Tremor... They're innocent. The ones to be blamed for all this death you want to avenge are already dead." From azure dragoness's eye dripped tear. "How foolish I was. I thought that you turned from dragon way just a little. But now, I understood that you chose completely opposite way." She wasn't scared of Douten anymore. She had to go through with it. She had only one choice. "You've fallen and you give me no choice. I'll protect my friends, even if it means killing you." She decided. The alchemist just laughed aloud and stepped back a little.
"Kill me? Do you really believe that you can do anything to me? You won't manage to even touch me!" He jumped to the dragoness and swung his paw, trying to slit her throat. But Viola didn't move she waited for right moment. When the alchemist was about to kill her, Viola blocked his blow by paw and shot at him ice spike. It scratched Douten's cheek making him jump away.
"I'm afraid, I have to disappoint you, I'm not going to die so easily." Viola made offensive pose, like her father taught her to do.
"I have to admit, I've completely forgotten." Douten wiped blood from his cheek and watched it. It wasn't just small cut, but quite deep wound. If he didn't avoid it in time, he would be dead already. "Yeah, my mistake. Since you're future candidate for the ice elder, I shouldn't give you any opportunity to scratch me again." Douten decided. Viola analyzed her situation. They were staying in the narrow corridor, between her and escape was staying Douten. In the half way between her and him, there were stairs at second floor. She started running to the earth dragon and cursed silently. Because her enemy was theearth dragon, she had big disadvantage when she couldn't even straighten her wings. Douten also started running. He shot big earth bullet, but Viola jumped. She bounced from wall, touched ceiling with hinder legs and bounced from it divingto her enemy. Douten jumped back from wave of cool, which Viola released from her lips. Thedragoness landed next to stairs, at which she started running.
"You can't escape!" Douten ran to stairs and he was about to shoot the earth bullet, when he slipped and collapsed at perfectly smooth sheet of ice, which Viola had created just before running upstairs. Douten hit ground by paws. From wall next to running dragoness appeared pillar, which hit both her front legs making her lose balance. She squeaked with surprise and rolled down the stairs, right to the feet of grinning alchemist. He was waiting to give her nasty blow. Douten swung his paw trying to slash her hinder legs in moment, when she was turned at him with her back. Viola blocked his attack kicking his arm and with second leg she kicked his face. Then, she rolled back on her feet, bounced in the air above him, so she was right above the alchemist and started spinning vertically, turning to the ground with her back. Her tailblade started getting closer to his face. Douten blocked it with paw, but then her tail wrapped around his throat and squeezed strongly. Viola continued vertical rotation lifting enemy, and when she landed with front paws, she released grip. The alchemist crushed with great speed at the end of corridor. He groaned painfully. The dragoness watched him with contempt.
"Power that I haven't dreamt about, my tail." Viola snorted scornfully. She stood before the earth dragon, lying on the floor, paralyzed by pain. "I wish I didn't have to kill you." The ice dragoness whispered. She raised her paw slowly and aimed at Douten's throat. She was about to kill him when she looked into his eyes. Their sights met just for a second, but it was enough. Viola put her paw on the ground and turned around from Douten. "What am I doing?" She asked herself with disbelief. She simply couldn't kill the dragon who she knew since hatchling."You will be judged for all that you've done, Douten." She decided. The ice dragoness walked to door, not even looking at lying dragon. "For attempt to double murder and working with Venganza, you'll be banished." Viola continued. "If lucky. But I don't think that Ray or my father will be gracious after you tried to kill me and Tremor. And it doesn't matter, if your father was hero." She was walking next to stairs, when ice at the frozen floor beneath her cracked. Viola knew that blow was coming, but she couldn't dodge it. Pillar of earth that appeared from floor hit her chest strongly, sending her in the air. Then, she felt that she was caught and thrown strongly at the wall, where several seconds earlier was Douten. The alchemist squeezed Viola's throat strongly. Very strongly. Viola grasped his paws, as her view blurred, she groaned painfully. Douten smiled pitifully.
"Little, foolish girl. To show your back to your enemy. To believe that I would fight fair... Farewell, Viola." He kissed her lips gently. Then, he squeezed her once more and dropped her. Theice dragoness fell on the ground, unconscious.
The alchemist stood in front of Viola, watching her beautiful body. Even, if they were enemies, he still loved the dragoness who he was going to kill. "I wish it could end up another way. Everything would be much easier, if you didn't know Sable. If you didn't have to die." Douten took deep breath, glaring at her closed eyes that were never going to open again. "Sorry, Viola, my honey. But I had to choose the lesser of two evils." He raised his paw and was ready to finish her life, when he heard noise of sword taken from scabbard. Stranger's katana appeared right behind him. The earth dragon tried to attack with earth, when he felt blade's edge pressing against his shoulder.
"One reckless move and you're dead." Douten heard cold voice. He didn't doubt that the newcomer wasn't knew that he could kill him before Douten would manage to do anything.
"How did you know that she's in trouble, Sable?" The alchemist asked curiously.
"Accidentally. I had to give you message. I was about to enter house, when I heard her voice."Sable explained, his voice was still filled with anger.
"Hide your sword." The earth dragonordered from wyvern. Then, katana's edge moved away from his shoulder. Douten wanted to say something, when it touched his throat.
"First, put your paw down." Sable made gentle move with his paw. At edge of sword appeared drip of dragon's blood, as Sable scratched Douten's neck. "Please." Cuarto said with demanding voice.
"To impose my conditions? Aren't you too insolent?" The dragon asked. Sable touched Douten's neck with point of blade. "She knows too much." Douten argued.
"There are ways to keep her silent without killing her. I can't believe that you want to kill dragoness who you love." Sable said.
"The lesser of two evils, Cuarto. I had to choose. What would you do, if you were me?" Douten asked curiously.
"I wouldn't choose any of them. I would make something else that she would be alive and Venganza would be safe." Cuarto replied without a moment of hesitation.
"You're indeed emotional. And foolish, even more than her." Douten stated.
"Promise that you won't kill her." Sable demanded.
"You know that with those words, you're putting your own life on the line for her?" The former elder warned him, not believing that Vengantimo would do it.
"I do." Sable confirmed. "Promise that you won't touch her, neither tell any Vengantimo to harm her." The lightning user ordered. "Don't make me repeat myself."
"Or what will you do?" The earth dragon asked. The wyvern snorted scornfully.
"How do you think?" Cuarto's katana was too meaningful to ignore it.
"Fine." Douten sighed deeply. "I promise, I won't kill her." The dragon said. Sable hid his katana to scabbard. "So, what news you bring?"
"Everything goes according to the plan. Venganza is ready, we'll attack as planned." Sable reported. Douten smiled. "I'm heading to the dragon guardian of fire right now to tell him the news."
"Good. Good. That's it?" Sable nodded. "Disappear then." The earth dragon ordered. Cuarto turned around as he was about to leave.
"If you break promise..." Sable started.
"I know." Douten interrupted him.
"No, you don't." Sable refused. He didn't turn around, but stood with his back to dragon right before the door. "It doesn't matter who are you, nothing and no one will stop me, neither Vengantimos, neither dragon guardians. If you dare hurting her, I'll give you the most painful and gruesome death that I can perform. And trust me, since I'm medic, I can do quite a lot of painful things with dragon body." The earth dragon watched Sable with disbelief. He never would expect words like that from Vengantimo, especially not from him. Cuarto smiled devilishly. "Don't make me do it. We both would prefer to avoid it." Thewyvern left house with back doors, this same way he came in. He respected dragons, but didn't care that he treated Douten so insolently. For Viola, he could break his own rules.
Viola opened her eyes slowly. She couldn't believe that she was still alive. Then, she saw Douten staying in front of her. The dragoness stood up and tried to run away, when the alchemist touched her throat with talons.
"I'm not going to kill you." He assured her. Theice dragoness still was unconvinced about that. "If I wanted to do it, you would be dead already." Douten noticed.
"What changed your mind? Pity?" She asked, trying to extinguish fear burning in her heart.
"No, you were lucky that Sable came here and stopped me." Viola watched him surprised.
"Sable?Was he here?" She asked with disbelief. Douten nodded. He noticed that dragoness's face expression completely changed, as if she hoped that she would catch up with wyvern and meet him.
"Viola, listen to me." The alchemist gave her cold glare. "I'm not going to kill you on one condition. You can't tell anyone about anything that you know about Venganza. Otherwise, even all guardians won't be enough to stop me from killing you." Douten watched the ice dragoness carefully. He knew that she was going to hate him for his next words. "And also, I'll tell Venganza that Sable betrayed them. That would be the death sentenceto your... friend."
"You...You wouldn't do that!" Viola couldn't believe her words.
"Do you really think so?"The earth dragon smiled devilishly. "Now, disappear from my eyes, before I change my mind. And remember, if you want to join me, you're free to do so."He ordered. The ice dragoness, not thinking much, ran to door and left house. Douten watched her calmly. He smiled sadly to himself. "So even Viola didn't want to follow my path. Too bad. But it means nothing. In bottom of her heart she seeks for vengeance, sooner or later, she will join me. And I... I'll wait for her and meanwhile, bring this all to the end."