Disclaimer: I own … Well everything that DC doesn't, and if you're not smart enough to figure what's what than don't take it out on me. Lawyers aren't very good people to deal with ya know.

A/N: (smiles manically) I know I just am so evil aren't I Pixie, BUT I am nice to! Check it! I updated in a matter of a couple days! You should be happy!

This chapter should clear things up even more then this explanation – and I mean really clear things up, the chapter that ties everyone together.

Enjoy!

Francesca: Mew!

Me: I just love you!

X: Get a grip on reality already.

Rorek: Has anyone seen my costume?

X: Relax you don't come on till … HAH! Actually you di –

Me: Letsgettothesotryalready!

Francesca: Mew!

Me: Sorry everyone, enjoy! X get on you're up first and shut your mouth about the ending!

--

Decisions: End Story

By the time X woke up, he already knew he was in the bad place.

A cage, cell, jail, holding room, dungeon, whatever it was called … he knew he was caught.

The poor thief wasn't claustrophobic … but he was beginning to get that strange fear rising higher and higher to a boiling point, his heart began to race and his pupils dilated to the darkness that was his current domain. Adrenaline was kicking in and the flight or fight response was there, the earlier being the most appealing decision. Laser cuffs to his wrists that prevented him from sliding his hand out – which he taught himself how to do if he should be in these predicaments. Yet laser cuffs … they were a different story altogether.

In order for him to get out of it he'd need a mirror or piece of glass of sorts … but seeing that he was in nothing but iron and rusted metal … it was hopeless. Eyes followed the beginning of the chain that was his wrist to the wall. Not allowed to go further then to the center of the holding cell he gulped when he also noticed there was no tiny hole or window he could sneak out of. His only way out was the heavy steel doors used on ships with no window to look out either.

The prisons he noticed were not very humane like on Earth.

Where there was light and at least something to look out to the world with, pitch black darkness was his friend and the only sources of light was the crack under the steel door. X knew if he were to be kept here he'd go crazy in a matter of days. Closing his eyes and leaning against the wall bringing his shaky hands up to wipe is sweaty and dirt covered face he gulped and blinked to try and adjust to the dull lighting. Determined not to think of what was to become of him in the cell he thought of something else, Francesca … yes, he noticed that she wasn't with him.

Probably took her away … he refused to finish the thought as a gruesome image of the little kitten-look-a-like came into view at the mercy of the elfin' guards. She was shot down and passed out … who knew what was to become of the tiny nightstalker.

The Mystics … that was right, they were supposed to rescue him and finish the Queen off … yet it did little to sooth his anxiety, Shit man … I don't do good in cells … again the cell came into his mind and being captured along with the near future chilled him. He just couldn't get his head out of the worse-case-scenario thought – he was a thief, so he had to think about those things constantly and wonder what he'd do if a mission was to go haywire.

Like if the three mystics couldn't make it, they were killed, or just gave up on him in general he'd have to be on his own. Not something that was very appealing. Yet, X gritted his teeth and sighed, his amber eyes glaring at the crack of the door, They better come for me … or I'll – all thoughts were chocked off as fear slithered into his heart.

Footsteps and the crack of the door darkening with a looming figure, X gulped and steeled him self for what was to come next.

The locks of the door thumped open and the steel swung in, X cringed and closed his eyes quickly to adjust to the sudden bright world. Blinking them open he saw two elfin guards standing at the entrance with stoic expressions. One of the guards walked in and undid the cuffs; X didn't know whether to make a run for it or behave … he decided the later was better … curiosity killed. The elf grabbed his elbow and pulled him out of the room wordlessly and the guard outside grabbed a hold of his other arm.

Both dragged him down the hall towards his fate, X looked up at the two and cleared his throat, "Don't suppose you guys speak English huh?"

No reply.

"Yeah … thought so."

Though a maze of hallways and stairways, X made note of every hall they passed for further reference whenever he should decide to retaliate. A final turn and the guards brought him to a door that lead to the roof of the palace. Or a corner roof, though it was still outside, fresh air compared to the cell. The nighttime light flooded over X and the bright city lights were to die for … he just hoped it wasn't taken literally when he saw the cause of his troubles.

The selfish Queen that just had to ruin his life.

Her long brown hair braided fluttered slightly in the wind along with her odd gown, she looked young … years young … young enough to be considered a 25-year-old! Though X knew it was probably just an illusion, because if he thought correctly she must have been years older. She looked over her shoulder just as X was forced to his knees into a bow, even his head and pushed down. Hissing he gritted his teeth and growled, "You guys better loosen up."

"They do not understand you," the Queen informed her chilling blue eyes giving Rorek a run for his money as she glared down at the thief that was supposedly her son's descendent

X looked up and sneered, "No, you think? Cause I could have swore one of them told me how much a bitch you were."

Islasmursa flared her lip up in disgust, but bent over and gripped his chin firmly, giving it a threatening shake as she bore her blue eyes into his soul. Freezing his blood with her ice cold touch and killing his confidence when her potent venomous words dripped onto his heart, "You can say whatever it is you want little one, but know one thing, your plan has failed. The dragon, the wizard, and the witch are as useless to you as you are to me now."

"Fuck you," X spat in her face when she pushed him away and back handed him with a had thwack! The thief clenched his teeth when he felt the side of his head bounce against the hard ground and lifted a hand to run it through the cut he felt she made on his cheek by her long fingernails. Now, X has never been slapped before, punched, kicked, stabbed, shot at, and pushed … but slapped? Nope, and now he knew the feeling, it was nothing like getting punched … it felt degrading and it just further pissed him off. You wanna play like that?

Without thinking he pushed off the ground and jumped for the Queen that sidestepped his attack and produced an aura sword, swiping at his gut. X rolled under it and crouched low glaring at the Queen he went in for another attack, but one of the guards that took him to her raised an open palm and clenched it shut. A shock of pain shot through his body. Withering his movements became suffered and forced until he couldn't take it.

His knees hit the ground and he wrapped his arms around his sides doubling over, the pain was so immense, the Queen sauntered to his side and looked down at him with a bored expression. Sighing she flicked her wrist to her drone signaling for him to let X up, he gulped and panted for air as Islasmursa shook her head, "Really, why try to be a hero? Stereotypical for a Prince"

"Me … a hero …" X chuckled, amber eyes suddenly brightening with much amusement as he looked up weakly to the Queen with a mocking smirk, "… you got the wrong guy … I'm no hero … and I'm sure as fuck ain't no damn Prince!"

"Such a foul mouth," Islasmursa scoffed and turned her back to him, walking passed her guards she looked over her shoulder to X and sneered slyly, eyes narrowing as she called back while still walking away, "maybe … as your first lesson in becoming my successor as the Prince of Ryrule City and Azalon in general … is to learn to be conservative with your tongue."

Amber eyes glared defiantly as the two guards came to either of his sides and grabbed him. Yanking him to his feet he snarled at the Queen, "You can't teach a wall to divide much less break my will."

Islasmursa chuckled as she reached the entrance into the Palace, hand on the knob she looked back to X and turned the knob and giggled, "No … but I know the perfect way to break your hope."

With a jerk she opened the door and Raven came flying out and rolling on the ground, her limp body coming to a stop, groaning she curled into a ball in order to hold her stomach. Obviously in so much pain, first instinctual reaction for X was to go check on her, but the guards held him back, so the best he could do was call out her name, "Raven!"

She groaned and slowly tried to bring herself back on her feet … but the best she could do was bring herself to her hands and knees. Only to sway and cough and chock on her own blood that she spat out onto the ground. Falling back on her side she stayed still … unable to move any longer after exerting herself. X gulped, he didn't like where this was going. Looking back up to the Queen he watched her chuckle amusingly and looked into the open door, gesturing with her hands she called forth to someone in the hall, X held his breath.

Rorek … he thought breathlessly as the battered silver hair was dragged, body totally limp and non-responsive the guards holding him threw the wizard with Raven. X couldn't believe that his worse case scenario was coming true! Everything was seeming bleak … he just prayed that Malchior was still free – hell, prayed he was still alive! Because with a single glimpse X caught a deep gash on the wizard's side, meaning death was almost certain for him if the bleeding wasn't stopped.

The Queen frowned and looked at the two guards, "Why is he in such bad condition … I thought I said to be gentle with the replacement."

The elf with dark blue nearly black eyes turned to his Queen and bowed, the second guard a female with captivating light lavender eyes turned with him and the duo bowed. The dark blue-eyed elf answered stiffly, "We had much trouble with him my Queen, it was inevitable."

Islasmursa took note of their evenly battered, but quick recovered bodies and took pride in her strong men and women in the female's case. Nodding she waved them off, "Very well, but I trust the dragon is still alive as well?"

Dark blue eyes came up and looked directly at the Queen a sinister grin snaking across his face as he stifled a chuckle in order to be serious with his majesty, "But of course … trust we had to sedate the beast, the dragon is barely alive as it is."

"Good, bring him out." With that the guards bowed and hurried their way into the hall to retrieve the dragon, while X gulped. He understood them … but very faintly. Remembering the strange assurance back at the Underground City, where he understood the drows … it was the same with the Queen … but for some reason his ability was blocked. Maybe it was by his anxiety and lack of straight thought. The thief blinked and shook his head, Shit … no … this can't be happening … I can't go out like this! What the hell does this bitch think she's doing anyway?

"Scared yet little one?" Islasmursa grinned at the lost watery look in X's eyes, when he blinked he didn't mean for it to happen, but a tear slipped. His body shook and he couldn't wipe the tear away because the guards were holding his arms down. The Queen shook her head, "Fear for your life little Kenneth? Maybe I have gotten to you."

X clenched his fists and jerked himself for the Queen, yet the guards' grip tightened and they yanked him back in place, but he wasn't going to stop there. Pure rage and hatred swelled … it was sickening to just stand here and watch her mock him like some crying child. He wasn't a kid, far from it! His life taught him to think better, faster, keener, meaner … right now the "meaner" part was more appealing. So much so the guards were actually having a hard time trying to hold him back as he screamed at the mocking noble, "You can rot in hell you fucking bitch! You think you can take me? Then come on! I'm right here! Knock off the psychological bullshit cause it ain't gonna work! Come on Bonny-Bad-Ass, fuck the theatrics and let's get to the point!"

"So quick to end the story?" the Queen snickered and looked to the door when a single guard entered dragging a clearly lost Malchior, the poor dragon looked even worse then Rorek! Dripping blood here and there, scratches and quickly appearing bruises littered all over his body with gashes everywhere on his person, X gulped … he was shocked that he could even recognize the FUBARed dragon under all the blood. Without much remorse the guard dropped Malchior with Rorek and Raven his dark black eyes gleaming with amusement at Red X's disbelieving expression. This really isn't happening.

The Queen snickered again, "Little Kenneth, you bring me to believe that you're the type to skip to the end of the book. That's just too bad, because in every story there has to be a climax … and the climax here little Kenneth … is you're decision."

Decision … X thought blankly, still angry, still in a deep rage at the noblewoman that closed the door after the three guards stood at their posts. Walking back to X she stood in front of him and smiled, at his confusion, "I'm sorry … but I just have to say … you look so much like your brother."

"Fernaco …" X blinked slowly and backed up when the Queen leaned down being a good head taller then him and traced his jaw line with his fingernail. X was just so tempted to bite her damn finger off, but refrained from doing so, wanting to know what his brother had kept from him all this time.

Islasmursa nodded and held his chin firmly, yet not as harshly as before, she just wanted to be sure he was looking her dead in the eye, "Yes … dear Fernaco thought he could beat me when we made a deal after you were curious enough to find our hidden domain –"

XxXxX

He was standing … staring at the strange door that he could have swore was never there before. The music of the Opera House filled through the honeycomb tunnels that Fernaco and him self played and trained in. The maze that no one on the surface knew, but the two of them … it was their little secret and Kenneth liked it like that. Fernaco was not only an older brother to him … but in away a father as well considering his father had walked out on him for whatever reason it was.

Young, yet so smart for his age, Kenneth looked back when he thought he had heard something echo in the tunnels, but when he saw he was alone turned back to the door. The odd door, tilting his head he thought for a moment, instinct tell him to beat it out of there and never look back. Curiosity killed and he reached a hand for the door … but just as he brushed his fingers on the old molded wooden surface his name was called in frantic fear, "KENNTH! NO!"

"Fernaco …?" he questioned, but even before he could turn to see if it was his brother his wrist was pulled and he screamed when darkness shrouded around him and fear took over his soul. Scratching, scrapping, pain, that was all he knew and since he was still so young it was too much a dose for his innocent mind to take. "FERNAAACOOO!"

XxXxX

" – it went a little something like this," the queen continued after X's miniature flashback of his past, her chilling blue eyes mocking him with her smirk doing nothing to ease her evil antics, "I would be kind enough to let you live if he was to retrieve for me one item that dwelled on Azarath, protected by the monks so when the time came for the dragon over there to emerge once the portal broke his curse he will take the jewel and order will be restored. However … I had much more important plans for it … you see … Azalon is a powerful dimension, more so than Azarath and it requires for me to have an even more powerful Jewel of Chaos to obtain its separation from Earth. Since my son selfishly hid the Jewel from me and dared to promise it to that dragon I had to have your brother steal it. Obviously enough, no?"

"Then why bother kill us over it!" X screamed and jerked his head out of the Queen's fingers, never caring that her long nails had cut into his skin once more, "You're not making any sense! Why would you have us killed when all you had to do was say it's importance and the heroes over there would be glad enough to give the stupid jewel to you!"

Islasmuras stood up and nodded, "Yes … that would be the "sensible" road to take … but I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated then that little Kenneth. I wanted all trace of my son dead that much you know, so I killed off your entire family … but somehow your bloodline always seems to elude me. Fernaco would be the first to actually find out my doings and would be the bravest to strike up a deal that I thought worked out … but he got a little too cocky. He was threatening to reveal my black past if I did not appoint him rightful Prince over Rorek … now I couldn't let that happen, especially since your elfin blood as been bred out of your system. So I decided to end it all in – as you would say – one shot, Azalon needed a new power supply and it would be the perfect plan for me to get rid of you and Fernaco along with your … mother.

"While Fernaco goes off to steal the jewel he will be greatly wounded by a guard planted by me, so once he arrives at Azalon for the completion of his mission he will be killed on sight. Meanwhile you will be killed with your dear mother in a tragic accident … however I had never anticipated Fernaco would betray me."

Enlightened with the information that was sinking in, X found himself smirking then chuckling when he looked up at the Queen with knowing bright amber eyes, "Fernaco gave you a fake … didn't he?"

Islasmursa raised a brow and nodded, "That he did."

Woo … this is fucked up …no wonderI go so much money whenI looked into the Post Office ... Fernacosold it off... should have known,he thought beginning to snicker, "I bet you he sold it off to the black-market, because after that night he never came back leaving me to think that he just abandoned me when you just killed him. He knew your plan … so I guess he had the last laugh when you found out it was a fake, huh."

"Jokes about something as extreme as this is not funny one bit," Islasmursa glared, "so where is the jewel now? You have it do you not?"

X couldn't take it, he burst out laughing as he said, "You can torture me all you want girl, but I know where the jewel is just as much as you do. So fuck off, cause Azalon is going to hell whether you like it or not. I bet you probably feel kind a shitty now, cause all your work was for nothing."

The queen chuckled, "Oh no, not all for nothing … I have a completed collection now … I can finally get rid of every single trace of my son and wipe my conscience clean of him. Granted the Jewel of Chaos is a problem … it is one that could be solved quite easily actually. So you can stop laughing little Kenneth, because this time around, I really do win."

She had a point.

One that X didn't like as it silenced him and he shrank back.

He was still in her hold and the three mystics were in no condition to fight.

Things weren't looking so good … X glared, "So what now? You going to kill us all and be done with it?"

"Yes …" she said with a tired sigh, "but I plan to do it with a little entertainment for myself. Release him."

X rolled his arms around when the guards stepped away, glaring at either one of them then at the queen he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, when she reached into a holster at her hip and tossed him a blaster. He caught it out of reflex and eyed the gun wearily, already not liking what she had in mind, especially with that snaky grin of hers, "They're dieing Kenneth, all three of them, dieing slowly and painfully … I'll let you decide whether or not to end their suffering with death's sweet release … or … end yours before it begins … all it takes … is the pull of the trigger. One, two, three … or just one? Your choice."

"Why don't I just shoot you?" X growled and cocked the gun then pointed it pointblank at her forehead just loving the idea of blowing a hole into her head.

The Queen shook her head, "You can try … but the blaster has a failsafe, if it is aimed at me and fired the gun will shoot backwards to kill you instead of me. I'm not an option … it's either the three … or yourself, it's not that hard really."

Kenneth put the gun down, "You're sick fuck you know that?"

"Sticks and stones little Kenneth, sticks and stones," Islasmursa laughed.

Kenneth chilled … what should he do?

Kill himself and end it all? Or survive, find a possible way out, but kill the three people he had come to know as odd friends and one distant family member. What could be done … what should be done … what would he do … he could pull the trigger that much he knew … but on who. The guards were a faint thought, but the gun probably had a failsafe for them too, not the ground cause then it be a waste of time. He couldn't throw the weapon away because then it be picked up and given back to him … there was really now other way.

Himself … Malchior, Rorek, and Raven … himself … the three … himself … the mystics … himself … them … him …

The gun was raised … it was pointed … and Islasmursa blinked stifling laughter as she grinned, "Interesting choice."

Kenneth closed his eyes, gulped, said a little prayer, and looked away already knowing his aim was true without looking. He held his breath, I'm sorry …

BANG!

Malchior was gone.

BANG!

Rorek was gone.

BANG!

Raven was gone.

It was all over … when the gun clattered to the floor and Kenneth dropped to his knees with it … he was thief … he was a Prince … but now … he was a murderer … and he never asked for any of the mentioned titles.

Islasmursa sighed, "Now … we can say End Story."

"I'm sorry your majesty," the Queen felt a cold chill shoot up her spin, Wha …

"But this story …" Kenneth blinked and slowly looked up, Who …

" … is far from over." Islasmursa looked back and gulped with narrowed eyes … Ellris?

--

Wait! Wait! Wait! Please don't kill me until you've read the next chapter, all will be revealed – well actually all will be confused as hell, but just don't kill me! I survived Red X, Malchior, and Raven's wrath enough as it is, just let me continue before you go be making the funeral arrangements!

(X in the back posts up a bull's-eye where cimple's head is targeted in the center, cimple is oblivious as the thief comes into the conversation)

X: Actually, you know what, I kind a liked this part. Pull the trigger, bang! Bang! Bang! I feel like a kid again!

Me: Shut it X! You're not helping!

X: So, who says I'll ever help you.

Me: (sighs tiredly) Fine, be that way, but anyways guys and gals, hope you've paid close attention to the three guards that brought Malchior, Rorek, and Raven in. If you've paid attention then you'll pretty much get everything else in the next chapter … if not … then the suspense will be murder until I update again. Anyway, see you in the next chapter.

X: L8er Daez!

Me: (fumes) That's my line!