Hey everyone! I'm back from Italy and had a great time! Thanks everyone for being sooooooooooo patient with me and not sending me scary pms for not updating. I was kinda sick when I got back. But you guys don't want to listen to my babble you're here for the story! So let's get down to it, shall we?

Ch.12

After my sisters talked me to death about the dos and don'ts of ruling the Earth my mother finally woke up from her nap. I sheepishly apologized to her and she accepted it with a smile. My mother then proceeded to ask me a thousand questions like: How are you? Are feeling alright? Did you clean your room? You weren't out with any boys were you? You look tired, do you need a nap? After I said no for what seemed like forever mom asked me if I've taken a shower latterly, I guess my greasy hair gave me away, and when I said no once again my mother marched me up a flight of stairs and into a white bathroom complete with a shower. Mom told me to take a shower and closed the door behind her before I could protest.

I sighed as I shook my head "I see she hasn't changed a bit. I wonder why she and dad were acting so weird back at the house."

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Taylor?" It was mom again, "Give me your clothes so I can wash them."

I did what my mom told me and cracked to the door open enough to hand her my dirty clothes.

"Sheesh, looks like a pig had a field day with these," mom commented.

I rolled my eyes and then began to take a well needed shower. I was surprised at how hard it was to get some of the dirt off my body but after a while I was all squeaky clean. I called for mom asking her if she could bring back my clothes as I dried myself off. My mom entered the room with a glories, golden ballroom dress; similar to Bell's in Beauty and the Beast.

I eye twitched, "Mom, where are my other clothes?"

"Well, they were so dirty that I had to wash them again so I brought you this to ware instead."

"But mom, you know I hate dresses"

"Oh come on Taylor you'll look so pretty in it," mom pegged but I just grounded.

"You owe it to mom to ware that dress," My sister Emily said as she and Lauren appeared at the door, "You need to suck up to her big time."

Mom gleamed, "Yeah that's right." She knew I could fight back with my sisters backing her up.

"But I don't even have any underwear!" I complained.

The next thing I knew I had a pair of undies and a bra thrown into my mouth. I spit them out into my hand a grumbled.

"Gee thanks guys," I said.

"No problem," Lauren sang.

Getting the dress on was easier said then done, no wonder Disney princes are so skinny! It took both my sisters and my mom just to get the stupid thing zipped up. But after everything was said and done I was shocked by my own refection. I never knew I could look so beautiful but I refused to thank my mother, letting her know she was right on the count of my pride that I got from my father. But I don't mom really cared cause she just smiled a she told me over and over again how beautiful I was. After my mom was done embarrassing me my sister Lauren began painfully styling my wet hair.

"OW! Lauren! That hurts," I shouted.

"Sorry but you'll have to suck it up. This is the cost of beauty," Lauren said.

"If this is the price then I rather be ugly," I mumbled under my breath.

An hour past by before Lauren was done and I once again was shocked by my appearance. I looked just like Queen Elisabeth who lost her life in the French revolution but with light brown hair and eyes. Just then a small monkey wearing a maid's outfit came walking in.

"Dinner is served," she squeaked.

"Wow, it's night time already? I thought it would never come."

"Ah, good I think we're all really hungry," my mom said and my sisters agreed.

We all followed the small maid through the maze-like corridors to a large dining room; complete with animal horns hanging of walls, long wooden tables and chairs, and a large stone fireplace to give you that great barbaric feeling….blech.

"Where's dad?" Emily asked.

"He'll be here shortly," the maid answered and sure enough the heavy wooden door we entered from opened and the gray monkey that was my father step through.

My father waved his hand to the maid signaling that she could go now and gave me a big warm smile.

"Come here and give me a hug," My father greeted.

I smiled back at him and he gave me his famous bear hugs that I've come so accustom to.

"Do you know how quiet it is around here without you?" dad gave out a few fake sobs, "Promise me you'll never leave again."

"Dad, don't over react," I said as he released me from his choking love.

"Let's eat, I'm starving." Lauren announced.

My family and I began walking over to the large tabled when the monkey maid came trotting in and she gave me a little bow before she spoke.

"Empress, the search party has just return with Mistress Kapricia," She reported, "The mistress wishes to speak with you right away. She is waiting for you just on the other side of the door."

"Um ok. Mom, dad, I'll be right back ok?" I said.

"Ok, baby bear," mom answered.

"Just hurry up ok? I wanna to eat," Emily complained.

I ignored what she said and walked to the other side of the door. I saw Kapricia talking to five hooded figures; four of them were about half my size while the last one was about my size, 5 foot or taller.

"I see you found your way home," I said interrupting Kapricia's conversation.

We smiled at each other and hugged in greeting.

"So did you find the Monkey Team?" I asked.

"Yeah, and just in time for search party to find us. It took me forever to convince them not to fight the Monkey Team," Kapricia answered.

I giggled nervously, "Sorry about that, it's hard to control your followers when you're not there. I'm glad you made it back safe though."

"Me too, but we got to get down to business," Kapricia said.

"Sure what did you want to talk about?" I asked.

"About howyou killed Nova," One of the shorter hooded figures said.

My blood ran cold as I watched the figure step forward pulling off his hood. Sparx's eyes were cold, filled with hate, pain and sadness. I had no answer for him, I knew no matter what I said it wouldn't help.

"Why did you kill her? WHY!" Sparx demanded. "What has ever she done to you? Nothing that's what! You just took her life like it was no big deal!"

A mixture a hatred and sadness swept over me as Sparx continued to yell and scream at me until I couldn't take it any longer. Tears escaped my eyes as I slapped the red monkey with all my might. Sparx was stunned into silence as he slowly turned his head back to me.

"You bastard! Do you think I meant to kill her, I tried to stop but…..but….I..I couldn't. All Nova was trying to do was to help me and that's how I repay her? Oh, God I'm a horrible person... So there! Are you happy now! I have to live with the rest of my life knowing that I took someone's life." After that I choked on tears.

"Taylor are you ok? We heard yelling," Emily said as she cracked the door open.

I sniffed, "Yeah I'm fine." I turned my back to Sparx, "Now if you excuse me I'm going to have dinner with my family," I said bitterly, "are you coming Kapricia?"

"Taylor wait," I heard Chiro say.

I turned around and saw Chiro and the rest of the team with their hood off. Gibson, Sparx and Otto looked away, avoided eye contact while Chiro and Antauri stared me straight in the eye.

"So the whole gang is here, huh? What do you want Chiro?" Iasked coldly.

"What you said, did you mean it?" Chiro asked.

"Idiot, of course I meant it, don't insult me with stupid questions like that," I said. "Since you'll all here I guess I have to let you spend the night. The maid will show you to your rooms but after tonight I want you off my planet."

I said nothing more, closed the door behind me, leaving the Monkey team and Kapricia behind, and walked back to the table with Emily. I tried my hardest to forget what Sparx said and enjoy my dinner with my family. It seemed like I haven't seen them in months and it felt good to see them smile and laugh again. We talked long after we finished dinner but as time went by we all began to feel tired.

"Well I think I'm going to turn in,' Dad said with a big yawn.

Everyone else also decided to go to sleep, even me. We wished each other good night and my sisters lead me to my room. I quickly got ready for bed, having some difficulty getting the dress off, and jumped into bed. The sheets felt nice and I quickly fell asleep, completely forgetting that the Hyper Force was spending the night.

As I rested peacefully, I dreamt the strangest dream. I was walking down a blackened hallway; my only source was the flashes of lightning from the ongoing storm roaring outside the windows. I was looking for something, no, someone, but I didn't know who. Whoever they were, I felt unrelenting rage towards them.

"How dare he," I heard someone say, "How dare he treat me like that."

"Who…? Who dared what?" but I got no answer.

I felt dazed and wondered what I was doing when I finally found the door I seemed to be looking for. Another flash of lightning filled the hallway as I silently open the door and walked in. Someone was sound asleep in their bed, unaware of my presence.

"Time to die whelp."

Once again I felt my hand transform in to a giant monkey paw with claws as sharp and as long as a steak knife, but it was only my hand that transformed.

"No…..never take another's life," I pleated weakly.

I took a step forward.

"Please…..no……They don't deserve it."

"Save the sob story for someone who cares."

"You have to run," I pleated to the slumbering being.

No response.

"Run…"

I was now looming over the body.

"Run!"

My arm raised up, posed for a killing blow.

"RUN!"

My arm slammed down but right before I could do any real damage I was attacked from my right, knocking me down to the ground. I looked at my attacker, but only saw their silhouette in the dark. It wasn't until lightning filled the room that their identity was revealed. My eyes widen as a twinge of fear played around my mind.

"No, it can't be. How can you be alive? I KILLED YOU!"

My mouth felt dry as another flash flooded the room; confirming what I saw wasn't my imagination. It was her.

"Nova…"

Sweetness! Nova is back baby! What? Did you really think I would kill off one the only girl on the team? Ha! As if. Thanks again for you patient and I hope this chapter was worth the waiting. Well that's it for me, until next time.