Author's note:  Okay, this one admittedly is an Endless Chapter from Hell, but I didn't know how to break it up!  For better or worse, it is the final chapter.  Many, many thanks to those of you who have so faithfully reviewed this sucker.  This story didn't come particularly easily, and without your encouragement, it never would have been completed. 

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The next day – the Transylvanians' final day on Earth – Adrianna and Frank went out "sightseeing," as she had requested in her earlier conversation with him.  Of course there were no sights in Denton that were particularly worth seeing, but that actually suited her purposes perfectly – she just wanted to see what an ordinary, small American town was like.  The two of them went window-shopping on Denton's charming, old-fashioned Main Street, ventured to a nearby park to watch the picnicking families and children at play, spent some time in the public library looking through back issues of the Denton Tribune (where they were "shushed" at least twice by a particularly militant librarian after she heard them laughing over various "news" items) and ate lunch at a small, family owned restaurant noted for its fried chicken and homemade apple pie.  It was all hopelessly – and rather disconcertingly – wholesome.  It was an interesting change from their normal lives, but one neither would have particularly cared to repeat any time soon.

Despite the apparent aimlessness of their wanderings, there were two tasks they took care of during the course of the day.  The first was actually surprisingly sentimental.  Upon their return home, Frank would be giving Adrianna his mother's stunning engagement ring, set with Transylvania's traditional glowing red gemstone, the Amorite.  However, to commemorate that the first formal announcement of their engagement had taken place on Earth, Frank decided he wanted to buy her a diamond ring as well.  Part of the spending money he'd used on Earth had come from the sale of some carefully selected pieces of his mother's jewelry.  Now that the mission was about to come to an end, he used the remainder of that money to purchase a gorgeous ring with a flawless, three carat center stone, set with smaller - but equally flawless - diamonds on either side.  Adrianna, not exactly unaccustomed to fine jewelry, was overwhelmed both by the beauty of the ring, and by Frank's desire to buy it for her.   As the salesman (excited by the realization he'd reached his sales quota for the month with one transaction) rang up the purchase, she took Frank in her arms and kissed him at such great length that the salesman was left standing there, ring box in hand, until she finally pulled back.

She purred in his ear, "I'm not quite sure how I can ever thank you properly…but I'll certainly do my best once we get back to the castle."

Frank smiled at her.  "You've made a more than adequate start already."

Under other circumstances, the second task – involving the local Holiday Inn – could have had a high romance potential as well.  However, in this case their business in the hotel was purely that – business.

Upon leaving the Holiday Inn, Frank and Adrianna decided they'd been exposed to just about as much of the "small town America" experience as they could handle.  They beat a hasty – and grateful – retreat to the castle, where they spent the next two or three hours indulging in some exceedingly unwholesome activities involving, among other things, massage oil, velvet ropes and a blindfold.

Once the stigma of purity and innocence had been properly exorcised, they joined Rocky and Columbia for dinner, then prepared themselves for an encounter neither was looking forward to with any pleasure whatsoever.

After at least a half hour spent discussing everything except the task at hand, Frank finally looked at Adrianna and said, "It's almost 8 o'clock.  We might as well get this over with."

Nodding, she got up, and they again walked hand in hand down to the basement.

As before, Riff Raff and Magenta looked up sharply at the sound of footsteps…but this time, they were expecting their visitors.  The two couples – the victors and the vanquished – stared wordlessly at each other for a long moment.  Breaking the silence, Adrianna asked, "Have you come to a decision?"

Although Riff Raff knew the alternative they'd chosen was their only possible means of salvation, he still found himself unable to actually say the words.  Magenta, understanding Riff's inner turmoil, saved him by uttering the blessed – and cursed - words on his behalf.

"Yes.  We have chosen to remain here on Earth."

It was done.  With that response, Riff Raff and Magenta gave up their home, their goals for the future, their very selves…in short, they gave up everything they'd ever known, with the all-important exception of each other.  Silent tears streamed down their faces as they mourned their losses, and feared for their futures.

Adrianna and Frank, although steadfast in their decision, were not unaffected by the anguished faces before them.  Their demeanors, however, betrayed none of their unease.

Adrianna said, "Very well.  We have had a servant pack up your belongings.  Your possessions are waiting for you.  You should be aware that every item was carefully checked, and anything even vaguely resembling a weapon was removed."

Riff Raff opened his mouth as if to voice an objection, but closed it again and remained silent.

Seeing Riff Raff had changed his mind about speaking, Adrianna continued.  "We are not leaving you entirely without resources.  You may retain the pickup truck you have been using as your means of transportation.  We are also giving you the remaining operating funds for the household, amounting to approximately $1,500 U.S. dollars.  Finally, we have made a reservation for you, under the names Richard and Maggie O'Brien, at the Holiday Inn here in Denton, and have paid in advance for seven days.  After that…you shall be on your own."

Riff Raff and Magenta nodded wordlessly.

"Frank and I have asked Eddie to come to the castle this evening.  He will escort you out, and stand guard over you until the castle takes off.  I would strongly suggest you not even think of attempting to escape from him in order to reenter the castle before it departs.  You may not have weapons…but we have seen to it that he will."

Paling slightly, they nodded again.

With a grim smile, Adrianna said, "Fine.  I believe we understand each other."  She paused for a moment.  "I should say I am genuinely sorry things had to work out this way.  Riff Raff, you are truly a genius, and your scientific knowledge shall be sorely missed.  However, your highly destructive ambition shall not be.  Lest you be concerned about the welfare of the Transylvanian people, allow me to assure you that Frank and I are more than up to the task of leading and protecting them."

Riff Raff looked startled.  "What do you mean by 'Frank and I'?  What does he have to do with this?"

Adrianna raised an eyebrow.  "I thought a servant would have filled you in by now.  Upon our return home, I shall be marrying my 'personal sex toy,' as you so charmingly put it, and we shall rule Transylvania together.  Alone, I am strong; with him by my side, we shall be invincible."

Riff Raff moved his mouth, but no sound came out.  Magenta, again, stepped into the breach.  In a hollow voice, she said, "Congratulations to both of you."

Frank smiled slightly.  "Thank you."  He looked at the two prisoners.  "Good luck to both of you."

Magenta, in turn, smiled slightly back at him.  "Thank you."

With a sigh, Frank turned to Adrianna.  "Eddie should be here by now."


In response, Adrianna went over to the intercom and pressed a button.  Columbia's voice greeted her.  "Yes?"

"Columbia, has Eddie arrived yet?"

"Yes, he just got here."

"Would the two of you, and Rocky, please come down to the basement?  It's time to escort Riff Raff and Magenta from the castle."

"Certainly."

Within a couple of minutes, the three of them appeared.  Eddie was brandishing a small version of the laser that had formerly been in Riff Raff's possession.  "Don't either of you try anything funny."

Despite the situation, Riff Raff still managed to look at Eddie with complete and utter disdain.  "I assure you, we shall not try anything 'funny', as you so eloquently put it."

Eddie, nobody's idea of a Mensa candidate, was still fully capable of recognizing condescension and disrespect.  He glared at Riff Raff.  "You'd better not."

Frank broke in.  "Okay, everyone, that's enough."  He looked at Eddie.  "Have Riff Raff and Magenta's possessions been brought outside?"

Eddie nodded.  "Yeah, I put them near that clump of trees you told me to bring them to while we wait for the castle to take off."

Frank smiled.  "Perfect.  Good job."  Eddie smiled proudly in response.

Adrianna walked over to a hook on the wall, from which hung the keys to the cells.  She was about to unlock Magenta's cell door when Rocky said, "I'm sure neither Riff Raff nor Magenta is foolish enough to try to harm you, but I still think it would be a good idea for you and Frank to leave.  Columbia can go with you.  Eddie and I can take care of getting them out."

Adrianna was about to object, but changed her mind.  "Yes, that would probably be best."  She handed the keys to Rocky, and she, Frank and Columbia turned to leave.  However, she turned back to Riff Raff and Magenta.  "Do you have anything else to say before we leave?"

Riff Raff smiled tightly.  "Do you mean like, 'I'm sorry'?  Or 'Good luck?'  Or 'I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job'?  No, I'm afraid I don't."

Adrianna smiled in response.  "I wasn't expecting anything that warm and fuzzy.  I thought something along the lines of 'Screw you' would be more likely.  However, we'll just let things stand as they are."  With that, she walked out, with Frank and Columbia on either side of her.

Rocky waited a couple of minutes, to insure the three of them would be safely out of the way.  He then opened the cell doors and grabbed Riff Raff by the arm, while Eddie grabbed Magenta.

Riff Raff hissed, "There is no need to hold onto us that way."

Rocky smiled.  "Oh, I think there is.  And even if there isn't…it just makes me feel good."

He and Eddie brought Riff Raff and Magenta outside to the grove of trees Frank had indicated.  Once there, he was surprised to see another young man, clearly another motorcyclist, waiting for them.  Eddie said, "This is my friend Marvin.  Since there are two of them, I thought it would be good if there were two of us to watch over them.  This way we can keep holding on to them, and I'll still have a hand free to hold the laser."

"Good idea, Eddie."  Marvin grabbed Riff Raff's other arm, and Rocky released his hold.  Smiling, he said, "Thank you for the help.  We all appreciate it."

Eddie looked embarrassed.  "Hey, no problem.  Listen…will you tell Columbia goodbye for me?"

Rocky nodded.  "I certainly will.  Good luck, Eddie.  I hope you enjoy your new job."

Eddie grinned.  "Thanks.  It'll be cool.  Hey, have a good trip."

"We will.  I'd better get back in there, before they leave without me."  With a smile and a wave, he returned to the castle, closing the door firmly behind him.

Riff Raff and Magenta stood as still as statues, their faces expressionless but their eyes glued to the castle.  For what seemed like endless minutes, all was silent.  Suddenly they heard a powerful roar.  As the four of them stood there, watching in fascination, the castle lifted off into the star-filled sky.  Within a couple of minutes, it vanished from sight.

Then, and only then, Eddie and Marvin released their holds on Riff Raff and Magenta.  Eddie said, "Do you want us to put your stuff in the back of the truck?"

However, no answer was forthcoming.  Both Riff Raff and Magenta were glued in place, their eyes still focused on where the castle had been only moments before.   As Eddie and Marvin watched, tears started running down the siblings' faces.

Eddie and Marvin, unused to emotional displays, stood in awkward silence.  Finally, Eddie cleared his throat and repeated his question.  "Do you want us to put your stuff in the back of the truck?"

This time, the question managed to penetrate Magenta's consciousness.  "Yes, please."

Eddie and Marvin each grabbed a handle on one of the large trunks, and they slouched off toward the truck.  Magenta gently shook Riff Raff's shoulder.  "Are you all right?"

Riff Raff turned slowly to look at her.  "Not at the moment, but hopefully I will be."

Magenta put her arms around him and kissed him softly.  "We will make this work.  I don't know how, but we will."

Riff Raff murmured, "I cannot accept the idea of the two of them ruling Transylvania.  It should have been us."

She looked at him and shook her head.  "Let it go.  It is her birthright, and she has chosen him to rule alongside her.  What will happen back home cannot be helped; we need to concentrate all our energies on creating a life for ourselves here.  Whether we like it or not, this is our home now."

At that statement, tears sprang anew to Riff Raff's eyes.  However, he turned to face Magenta, a shaky smile on his face.  "You're right.  I know you're right."

As he finished speaking, Eddie reappeared.  "Everything's on the truck."

Magenta managed to smile at him.  "Thank you, Eddie."

He mumbled, "You're welcome."  With that, he and Marvin got onto their motorcycles, and roared off into the ebony night.

Riff Raff turned to Magenta.  His smile was slightly stronger.  "Are you ready, Maggie?"

She returned the smile.  "Lead on, Richard."

They got into the truck and drove away from the last vestiges of their former life.   What they were driving toward, they knew not…but whatever it was, at least they would reach it together. 

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End note:  Before anyone asks…I don't know what happens to Riff Raff and Magenta!  Or to Frank and Adrianna, as far as that goes, although I might revisit them at some point.  To be perfectly honest, I'm not "engaged" enough by Riff Raff and Magenta to put forth the effort it would take to continue the story of their life on Earth.  If anyone feels particularly inspired to do that, feel free…with the caveat that if you'd want to post the story on fanfiction.net, e-mail me before you get started, as there are a couple of things I absolutely would not want to see in any continuation of my work.  Thanks!