Carolyn's Comments:

Mood: Angry at myself

Rant: As I was reading all your reviews, I realized something. You are all absolutely right; I swear WAY too much in this fic. I'm very sorry about this. (Force of habit) When more than one person started complaining, I realized something was up. I'm going to cut back on the curse words now. Once again, I'm truly sorry for this, and I hope we can put this behind us. There are no curse words in this chapter. (I think. They might've snuck in there while I had my back turned)

And as for the quotes I ripped off from different movies (looks around embarrassed) I wrote the earlier chapters when I was young, stupid, and thought I could plagiarize anything and not get away with it. I'm smarter now. (and as for the Three Musketeer quote, I haven't seen that movie yet, but it's a widely used saying). I will also stop ripping off sayings. I realized I have a good fic going here, and I don't need to ruin it with plagiarism.

I will say it once more, I'm really very sorry about this. I have taken steps to ensure it will not happen anymore.

For a moment, time seemed to stop for Tal. Everything around him was frozen. His mind was frantically trying to make sense of what had just happened.

"JADE!" Tal screamed. He eyes were wide with pure horror.

Virus pulled the sword from her stomach. Jade's eyes were full of shock and pain. He let her drop to the roof of the tower. His eyes wore a triumphant look.

"YOU SICK MONSTER!" Tal roared as tears of fury and grief poured down his face. He sprinted towards Virus. His right hand was clenched in a fist. Virus laughed and jumped to the side, dodging Tal's furious attack easily. Tal dropped to his knees helplessly. He glared hatefully at Virus. He clenched his teeth in animal rage as his tears gushed down his cheeks. "YOU MURDERER!" He screamed.

Virus laughed. "I am, what I am!"

Carolyn: And that's all that he is! (Realizes that this is the saddest part of the fanfic and bursts into tears)

Virus drew his sunstone from his cloak. Tal was too grief-stricken to move, so he could only watch helplessly. Virus began to move the stone in a pattern, forming a symbol with the light. It was an unfamiliar symbol that Tal had never seen used in a Sunstone spell before. Virus then held his hand out so his fingertips brushed the surface of the symbol. Then he stepped into it; there was a flash of light and both Virus and the symbol faded.

Just then, Jade whimpered. Tal's mouth dropped open. She was still alive! He scrambled over to her and cradled her head in his arms. A trail of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"Jade?" He choked, "Come on, stay with me sweetie."

"Dad?" She managed to choke.

"Don't talk," He said gently, "You have to save your strength. You'll be okay. I promise, I'll get someone to heal your wound…" But he secretly knew it was hopeless. This injury was severe. By the time he managed to find someone who knew healing magic, it would be too late.

"Father…" She whispered. Her voice was wavering. Her weakness was becoming apparent. "Do you remember mom now…do you?"

An image of Milla's face flashed before Tal's eyes. He smiled weakly as his tears continued to flow. "Yes…yes Jade…I remember her now. She's beautiful."

Jade smiled. Her eyes turned up towards him. They remained wide open. For a moment, he thought she was thinking of something. Then he noticed her eyes had a blank look to them. They seemed glazed over. Then the horrible realization dawned on him. She was dead.

For who only knows how long, Tal just sat on the roof and wept. He'd never been in more emotional pain for as long as he could remember. He sat, soaked in Jade's blood and his own tears, and cried until there were no more tears left. Then he just sat wallowing in his own pain. The whole time, Jade was still and unmoving. Her breathing and heartbeat were halted completely. Tal reached up with a shaky hand and pushed her eyelids down. She looked much better now. In fact, she looked very peaceful; it would've appeared she was only sleeping, if her face hadn't been streaked with blood.

Finally, his heart heavy with sorrow, he gathered Jade's figure up in his arms. He turned and carried her down the flight of stairs where Milla and Crow waited.

"Tal!" Milla asked, "What-" Her voice came to a halt when she saw Jade. Her eyes widened as her brain tried to comprehend this. Crow's face was white as snow; tears were already beginning to pour down his face.

Tal set Jade down on the floor in silence and sat down next to her. It was his friend's turns to weep. As he listened to their sobs, Tal could only think in bewilderment.

Virus had killed her. Why had he done it? What had possessed him to kill Jade, who had never harmed a fly, just to spite Tal? It didn't even begin to make sense.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. And now here he was, trapped in a cycle of death that Virus had set up for him. He would marry Milla, have Jade, separate her and Virus, and die for it. Nothing he did could change that now.

Or could it?

A thought struck Tal. His tearstained eyes widened as he thought about it. It was amazing; it was impossible; it was dangerous.

But what if it worked?

Tal stood up slowly. He looked down at his best friend, the girl he loved, and his butchered daughter. He had no choice; he had to do it for them. He turned and began to walk back up the stairs.

"Tal?" Crow managed to choke as he clutched Jade's lifeless form to his chest. "Where are you going?"

"To stop this." Tal said flatly. He continued up and out of his friend's sight, ready to accomplish the impossible, and face the final battle.