A/N: Hello everyone! Before you read this chapter, I want to let you know that I have made edits to the previous chapter. I moved a couple of parts around; added a smidge of dialogue. It's a bit different, but the general gist is the same. So, if you'd like to go back and read it, be my guest. Otherwise, here's the latest and probably toughest chapter I've written.


Not very long ago...

Venus wasn't one for reminiscing nowadays, but of all the things she salvaged from her home, her old diary was definitely worth acknowledging.

Flipping through its pages, she finally stopped at one.

I guess I'm getting adjusted to Monster High but it hasn't exactly been easy. Probably cause I'm really not very good at going along just to get along.

Even when I was just a little sprout I wanted to do things my own way.

Venus almost smiled as she closed it. She ran her thumb along the spine before returning it to her knapsack.

The other day, she parted ways with Robecca as each ghoul ventured off on their own headstrong journeys. A small smile flickered across her face. Soon, she'd see Rochelle and Lagoona. The others back at camp told Venus not to leave so soon after the rain, but it didn't matter to her. Even if mud caked her clothes and smudges of it transferred onto her diary, she didn't mind.

Venus remembered how her hands trembled when her mother handed it to her. How her cheeks burned from smiling. Recycled and biodegradable. The diary was the perfect addition to attending Monster High. Every monster was unique but, since the beginning, Venus always felt like she was on a mission of her own. Save the planet, recycle—she had to make monsters care, sometimes literally. Venus sighed and ran a hand through her once pink brown strands of hair. Her pollen wasn't much for persuading nowadays.

Now, even with sharing the same goal as others, the plant monster still felt like hers was the only mission that mattered. Five years and she still couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

At least some still cared. At least she still had her friends, who cared now more than ever. Venus wished she could show them how much she appreciated it. If only it didn't take a catastrophe for them to understand.

Venus looked down at her hands. Her thorns felt like they were pricking her instead of the other way around; the very tips of their pointed edges were a deep black. Venus clenched her fists and shook her head. She needed to keep moving.

Venus took another step up the mountain until, finally, Abbey's ice cave was in sight.


Now...

Rochelle didn't expect to get a call from overseas. She especially didn't expect to hear Catty Noir's voice on the other end. There was a time when she would've been ecstatic to hear from the pop star, but now she took surprises with a grain of salt.

Catty passed the phone to Elissabat. "I know you just made it to Scaris, but when is the soonest you can return?"

Garrott snored softly at Rochelle's side. "Why?"

There was a long pause. "Rochelle, I'm sorry to inform you..."

Elissabat cut to the chase.

Never had Rochelle felt more like stone than at that moment.

Elissabat went on about how important she felt it was for the monsters to mourn her. Catrine told Rochelle about the vampire queen's role amongst their group of monsters. This was her next step. Elissabat only wanted them to move on. She thought it was best.

That's what leaders always thought.

Rochelle took a deep breath, and her voice broke. "I'll be there."

-.-.-.-

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you, mon cher?" There was something different in Garrott's green eyes. His grip was stiff in Rochelle's hand.

She placed her hand over his and avoided his gaze. "Oui mon amour," she said, barely above a whisper. Rochelle never thought she would experience more longing or pain than separation from her lover until today.

She needed to do this alone.

It felt like centuries before the two parted, and Rochelle boarded the plane. When they finally took off, she closed her eyes. Rochelle would come back for Scaris someday, but for now, she needed to let her mind take off too.


"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Draculaura's voice came out like a squeak.

"For the thousandth time, Draculaura, yes." Robecca raised an eyebrow at the vampire's boyfriend.

Clawd sent Robecca a quick nod before facing his ghoulfriend. "Draculaura, you said you wanted to help Robecca and I'm one of the only ones who know the way out of the forest. Since it's day, we can avoid the hellhound. Plus, I know its scent. We'll be fine."

Draculaura poked his chest. "You mean the hellhound that attacked you and you whined about last night?" She put her hands on her hips. "'Oh, the pain! Draculaura, will you kiss my boo-boos?'"

Clawd raised his hands in surrender. "Hey! I was beat up pretty bad, but I'm a werewolf. There were no broken bones just some scratches."

The vampire gave him a pointed look.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, deep scratches but it doesn't take too long for me to heal. Besides, who's to say the kisses didn't help?"

Draculaura bit her lip and sighed. "Sorry, it's just so eerie here. Why didn't we just take the bus?"

"Clawdeen took it yesterday to," Clawd lowered his voice, "you know."

Robecca tuned them out. She knew what Draculaura would say next. Though she and Dracula's daughter had remained good friends these past five years, it astonished her how little she changed. Robecca was glad to have found a friend who was as anchored in her personality as she was. It reminded her that big changes were temporary. Everything would be fine because that is how life was.

At least, it was for some.

Robecca knelt to adjust a loose screw near her kneecap. Their time at the mansion gave her the chance to repair her limp for the most part. She straightened and stretched out her legs.

Rochelle had landed in the city a few days ago and had since been journeying as close as she could to the mansion. When Robecca said she wanted to travel across the forest to reconvene with her, the others were against it. They said she'd already done so much, but Robecca couldn't get enough. Hiding these past few years was necessary, and she was probably the only monster who relished the lack of electricity, but it was boring. Robecca needed something to get her gears turning and traversing through a hellhound's forest would do it. Especially if it was for a friend.

Bright green strands brushed against her legs with every step. She closed her eyes and held her hands out.

Is this what it feels like? Gears, nuts, bolts, and steam. Copper instead of skin. Robecca clenched her fists. She would never completely understand what other monsters, animals, or even humans felt. It couldn't come close to what Venus had felt.

"Robecca?"

She opened her eyes. The monster couple was a few feet ahead of her.

Draculaura's cheeks were wet. Her voice was soft, "Let's keep going."

Robecca quickly shook her head. "Right." She moved to catch up with them.

Clawd cleared his throat. "So yesterday, Draculaura told me that you went to find me and Jin and Jane." He turned to her with a glow in his eyes. "Thanks."

"Of course, Clawd." Robecca looked to the ground. "Deuce went to search for you lot as well."

"Only because you inspired him," Draculaura said with a pointed finger.

"If it weren't for my blasted leg I would've continued myself."

Clawd chuckled. "I don't doubt it."

They were nearing the edge of the forest. Robecca activated her boots and glided beyond the trees.

Rochelle greeted her with a warm smile and outstretched arms.

Robecca clung to her until the couple approached them. She smiled at the gargoyle. "I don't suppose you've got a black dress in that suitcase?"

-.-.-.-

The trek back was a silent blur. The front lawn glared at Robecca upon their arrival. Enticing, lush green grass and blooming black rose bushes.

Venus would spend all day out there.

Rochelle returned to her former room as Robecca went into hers. She was fortunate to have a black dress in her closet, but some monsters weren't so lucky.

They gathered outside in the darkest colors they could muster. Harsh sunlight cast long shadows beneath them.

Robecca held her head high and surveyed the scene in the backyard.

Monsters were lined up to speak. But not Rochelle. She stayed with Robecca in the back and took hold of her hand.

Clawdeen spoke first, and Robecca found it fitting. After all, she had once shared a body with Venus.

Then Clawdeen talked about how she died; how she found her.

Robecca stared at the ground. She wasn't unfamiliar with loss, but there was nothing she could do to combat the absence of hope. Robecca couldn't search for Venus; she couldn't hope she'd return someday.

Robecca's eyes were dry.

The shadows beneath her shifted and darkened.

Rochelle squeezed her hand. She looked up. Monsters went back into the mansion. Except for Lagoona, whose shoulders shook from her knelt form.

Robecca couldn't bring her gaze back to the gargoyle. She stumbled over her words. "I suppose I lost track of time."

-.-.-.-

The sun was nearly set by the time Robecca returned.

Lagoona was long gone and another monster sat in her place. Robecca made her way to sit beside Rochelle but stopped short when she heard her speak.

"Mother Nature," the gargoyle rasped. "I'm not sure how this works and you probably cannot hear me but... Please, take care of her." She buried her head in her knees.

"Rochelle..."

She wiped her eyes and faced her. "Oh, Robecca."

Robecca's joints creaked as she sat beside her.

There was no tombstone. Not even a casket. None of that was necessary for a plant monster's burial.

All they needed was healthy soil.

The gargoyle brushed her hand along the grass. "It's beautiful, non? Much better than the camp."

Robecca managed a smile. "She wouldn't have wanted anything less."

Rochelle stared wistfully into the open. "Do you remember that large old tree at Monster High?" Rochelle looked at the dirt with a gentle smile. "I think that's where she would have liked to be should things be different. Don't you think so?"

The school ruins flashed in Robecca's mind. "'Should things be different'. Never did I think that Venus would become so daring." She let out a dry laugh. "And I called myself a daredevil."

"What they said during the ceremony... I still can't believe it." Rochelle shook her head. "And how honorable of Elissabat to host." Her lip curled. "She has not a clue."

The robot ghoul looked to her feet. "I didn't hear quite that much."

"Oh. Well..." Rochelle sniffed. "They called her brave."

Robecca stared at the plot of dirt, and she wasn't sure if it was minutes or hours before she glanced back up. "She was always brave."

Rochelle whispered, "I know."

Silence ensued as night settled over the mansion. Robecca tilted her head back to look at the sky. It'd be decades since she last saw so many stars. She let her hands sweep along the grass.

What was it like for you, Venus?

Robecca had never visited the Queen's city, but she knew the effect it had on Venus. Ever since the razing of New Salem, her friend longed to bring their home back to its natural state. Robecca remembered the gleam in her eyes when she talked about it; how she would finally hold the Queen responsible.

But over the years, Venus' skin grew pale. Her hair became dry and brittle. Yet she wouldn't budge.

Even before the world was wrecked, Venus wanted to save it more than any of them.

Rochelle gasped. "Look."

Robecca followed the gargoyle's pointed claw to the dirt, and she managed to cough out something between a laugh and a sob. A tiny, green sprout staggeringly poked out from the plot of dirt. "Hello there."

Robecca looked up at the night sky. Her vision blurred as she returned her gaze to the sprout.

She slumped onto Rochelle's shoulder with a choked laugh.

Venus wasn't coming back, she knew that, but seeing the sprout made Robecca realize there was more to their loss. The ache in her heart changed, and she felt as if it may burst.

The ghouls lost track of time together, awestruck at the little bit of life growing proudly at their feet.