Well, I know I labeled this a one-shot, but I've been doing a lot of
thinking. I really want to thank everyone who reviewed this story, because
I really am touched by all your support. And well, RETD was talking to me
about a serious fic he was thinking of, and I was explaining my newest
Kenshin-inspired romantic fantasy to B/k, and I decided I want to write up
that alternate ending I was telling you all about. I'm not so sure I can
write it as well as the other one, but I really want to do this. If you
are opposed to character death, I understand if you won't read. Otherwise,
I'll appreciate feedback. Having an alternate ending is kinda weird for
me, since I usually never second-guess my writing. Anyway, here it is now.
I'll probably babble on a lot more later.
Before I start though, let me stress that this is the rejected ending, presented much for the same reasons they have deleted scenes on a DVD, for the readers' enjoyment, and that the ending I chose in chapter one is the real ending. REPEAT: this is not the real ending. Only an alternative. The other one is the real one. AGAIN: the other ending is how it really ends. This is not the real ending. Now, please enjoy the NOT real ending.
***
Finally, she appeared in front of him. Her tone softened. Her eyes, though smiling, were filled with tears, the same way his were. She spoke softly again.
"Please, try to understand. It is not that I don't care. Only that this is how it must be. When you have atoned for what you have done, then you will be permitted to join me. But only then. It is your fate. I wish it were not so, but there is nothing I can do."
"Nonsense," he convinced himself, the tears welling up again. "Whoever is there, they can't stop me!"
"Please Maximillian, please don't!" she looked scared and small. "I was sent to stop this! It is not your place to decide, this is bigger than you are! I don't want to see you hurt!"
"Listen to me!" he stood quickly and instinctively put his hands on her shoulders. She was solid, but only just. Her eyes widened even more, she really was scared. "Whatever powers are here, they've made my life hell. I can't take this any longer, and nothing will stop me now." He threw his arms around her, but she didn't react at all.
She looked down sadly. "I can't stop you now. I am sorry Maximillian, but I must leave. I failed in my mission; I can do no more for you. I am sorry." And then she was gone, like so much mist on a sunny morning. He stood for a while after she had gone, closing his arms around air. He tightened his grip onto his own arms, and the tears finally fell hot from his eye. His knees buckled under him, and he sank to the ground again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the light of the window glinting off the dagger blade. He reached over and grabbed it. The sharp end of the blade cut into the soft skin on the palm of his hand. The blood ran down the blade, making a red river on the reflection of his face. He stared into the dagger for a moment, then quickly drove the tip of the blade into his heart. Only a small gasp escaped his lips as a trickle of blood ran down the knife and soaked into his shirt.
As the life slowly sank out of him, he looked back at her portrait.
"Don't worry about me Cecilia; I did this of my own will. My fate is mine to make. I would fight for all time to keep you from being punished for what I did. I will join you soon. I may well pay dearly for my actions in this world, but I need you to know." He finally fell to the floor. His eyes filmed over and then closed.
"I did it all for you, my love."
***
I didn't want to ruin the mood while this was actually being read, so I stick it in as a footnote. SOB! This is SO hard for me. It took me 5 fucking minutes to get up the nerve to write that one sentence.
So, there it is. *Sigh* omg, that was hard.
Once again, I will make sure it is imprinted on all you're fanfiction- addled brains (hey, I include myself in that category, too) that this is NOT the way the story actually ended. The first way was the real way.
But with that said, I really am interested to hear the feedback from this. Was it sadder than the other ending? Happier? Better-written? Worser- written? Is Worser a word? *shrug*
And now that I've provided the extra space, I'll do review replies. Thank all of you so much for your support, that's what makes writing all this worth it.
ThunderMistress: *blink blink* I really made a Pegasus Hater cry?! Omg, I can't believe this was that good! Thank you so much for reading!
D-Bay: heh. I'm not so sure I'm mentally okay as of NOW, but I think I was when I wrote this originally. I'm glad you liked. And I dun mind if you use that idea of mine, actually I'm rather flattered! Thanks for asking anyway.
Tatooinedweller: YAY! Whoa, I made the YAMI cry!? 0.0 I-I'm totally thrilled! I'm really glad you liked it so much!
RETD: oh, I feel really bad for making Chibi Anzu cry! Er . . . one question though, why'd u let her read a PG-13 fic? O.0 whatever. But thanks so much!
B/k: -_- erm, not fooling anyone dear. And I know what you mean about R&J. obviously it's sweet, but this is sadder.
Mittens no Hikari: YAY! Another Pegasus fan! \/\/007! I'm really glad you liked this so much!
Woodelf193: yet another one! I swear, I know all of the Pegasus fans! It's creepy . . . /^_\\ and I already knew the emoticon, but thanks anyway! It rules!
Shadow Ishtar: thanks! Whoa, another fan . . . I swear, it's like you people are magnetically attracted to me . . .
ToonMasta: and another one! ^^ but I'm not complaining. Only RETD is kinda upset now . . . and I totally understand about the E-mail, and I can't wait till u get it! Please e-mail me! I'm sure we'll be great friends!
Linka: TY!!!
Okay, so that's everyone. Once again, thank you all so much. I really am amazed this story turned out so well. But I promise, I have no other bonuses, this IS the only new chapter going up. Thanks for reading!
Before I start though, let me stress that this is the rejected ending, presented much for the same reasons they have deleted scenes on a DVD, for the readers' enjoyment, and that the ending I chose in chapter one is the real ending. REPEAT: this is not the real ending. Only an alternative. The other one is the real one. AGAIN: the other ending is how it really ends. This is not the real ending. Now, please enjoy the NOT real ending.
***
Finally, she appeared in front of him. Her tone softened. Her eyes, though smiling, were filled with tears, the same way his were. She spoke softly again.
"Please, try to understand. It is not that I don't care. Only that this is how it must be. When you have atoned for what you have done, then you will be permitted to join me. But only then. It is your fate. I wish it were not so, but there is nothing I can do."
"Nonsense," he convinced himself, the tears welling up again. "Whoever is there, they can't stop me!"
"Please Maximillian, please don't!" she looked scared and small. "I was sent to stop this! It is not your place to decide, this is bigger than you are! I don't want to see you hurt!"
"Listen to me!" he stood quickly and instinctively put his hands on her shoulders. She was solid, but only just. Her eyes widened even more, she really was scared. "Whatever powers are here, they've made my life hell. I can't take this any longer, and nothing will stop me now." He threw his arms around her, but she didn't react at all.
She looked down sadly. "I can't stop you now. I am sorry Maximillian, but I must leave. I failed in my mission; I can do no more for you. I am sorry." And then she was gone, like so much mist on a sunny morning. He stood for a while after she had gone, closing his arms around air. He tightened his grip onto his own arms, and the tears finally fell hot from his eye. His knees buckled under him, and he sank to the ground again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the light of the window glinting off the dagger blade. He reached over and grabbed it. The sharp end of the blade cut into the soft skin on the palm of his hand. The blood ran down the blade, making a red river on the reflection of his face. He stared into the dagger for a moment, then quickly drove the tip of the blade into his heart. Only a small gasp escaped his lips as a trickle of blood ran down the knife and soaked into his shirt.
As the life slowly sank out of him, he looked back at her portrait.
"Don't worry about me Cecilia; I did this of my own will. My fate is mine to make. I would fight for all time to keep you from being punished for what I did. I will join you soon. I may well pay dearly for my actions in this world, but I need you to know." He finally fell to the floor. His eyes filmed over and then closed.
"I did it all for you, my love."
***
I didn't want to ruin the mood while this was actually being read, so I stick it in as a footnote. SOB! This is SO hard for me. It took me 5 fucking minutes to get up the nerve to write that one sentence.
So, there it is. *Sigh* omg, that was hard.
Once again, I will make sure it is imprinted on all you're fanfiction- addled brains (hey, I include myself in that category, too) that this is NOT the way the story actually ended. The first way was the real way.
But with that said, I really am interested to hear the feedback from this. Was it sadder than the other ending? Happier? Better-written? Worser- written? Is Worser a word? *shrug*
And now that I've provided the extra space, I'll do review replies. Thank all of you so much for your support, that's what makes writing all this worth it.
ThunderMistress: *blink blink* I really made a Pegasus Hater cry?! Omg, I can't believe this was that good! Thank you so much for reading!
D-Bay: heh. I'm not so sure I'm mentally okay as of NOW, but I think I was when I wrote this originally. I'm glad you liked. And I dun mind if you use that idea of mine, actually I'm rather flattered! Thanks for asking anyway.
Tatooinedweller: YAY! Whoa, I made the YAMI cry!? 0.0 I-I'm totally thrilled! I'm really glad you liked it so much!
RETD: oh, I feel really bad for making Chibi Anzu cry! Er . . . one question though, why'd u let her read a PG-13 fic? O.0 whatever. But thanks so much!
B/k: -_- erm, not fooling anyone dear. And I know what you mean about R&J. obviously it's sweet, but this is sadder.
Mittens no Hikari: YAY! Another Pegasus fan! \/\/007! I'm really glad you liked this so much!
Woodelf193: yet another one! I swear, I know all of the Pegasus fans! It's creepy . . . /^_\\ and I already knew the emoticon, but thanks anyway! It rules!
Shadow Ishtar: thanks! Whoa, another fan . . . I swear, it's like you people are magnetically attracted to me . . .
ToonMasta: and another one! ^^ but I'm not complaining. Only RETD is kinda upset now . . . and I totally understand about the E-mail, and I can't wait till u get it! Please e-mail me! I'm sure we'll be great friends!
Linka: TY!!!
Okay, so that's everyone. Once again, thank you all so much. I really am amazed this story turned out so well. But I promise, I have no other bonuses, this IS the only new chapter going up. Thanks for reading!