Alrighty! As promised, here's an alternative ending for you all! I thought I was a bit unfair to poor Vince by making him suffer so much in the proper ending, so think of this as a similar thing to a kind of 'deleted scene' extra feature you'd find on a DVD. This ending takes place in Vincent's perspective, and replaces the second part of chapter 28, just in case you were wondering where to start reading from. It follows immediately after the statement of: 'He would pay dearly for this...he would suffer...I would make sure of that...', just where the horizontal dividing line is.

If you liked the other ending, then you don't have to read this if you don't want to, and I'll leave it up to you to decide which one of the endings this story should use. Okay, so without further ado, let's get started, hm?

Hope you like it!

"You bastard..." I heard myself hiss with rage, feeling my blood boil as the hatred within me built up higher and higher, never stopping. I gasped in agony, as yet another sharp pain almost seemed to rip my body apart as I collapsed to my knees, bent over, clutching that repulsive wretch's blood-drenched rapier within the grasp of my right hand. Hatred reeled out of control, and madness overtook me...and I have a feeling that you are aware of what happens when the madness within surfaces.

I don't remember much of what happened next...and even if I did remember, then it was far too horrifying and confusing to even begin to describe. When Chaos takes over with such seething hatred as he and I shared in that moment, things happen. Things beyond words that occur too quickly for my mind to comprehend...but all I can say is: whatever happened that night was called for, if not deserved. Chaos' rage only calmed down by a fraction by the time that all the soldiers lay dead, mutilated on the ground, the once green grass transformed to a crimson field, glinting sinisterly under the full moon. Bernard Dylan had also fallen, but was not yet dead, lying cold and pale alongside the rest of his loyal, dispicable followers. Garnet, leathery wings folded themselves in, and I felt my body become tense as I grasped the sword tightly within my clawed hands. Now was really the time to make him suffer, and show him how much I would make him pay for so much as daring to scratch my beautiful 'doll'...

I approached the man, his cowardly side showing now that he was unarmed. His fear smelt delicious, and I savoured every second of it as I came closer. He forced himself to shuffle away, trying to run...trying to escape, but I wouldn't let him. Not now, and not ever. I wanted this fool out of mine and Elena's lives forever! My grip tightened on the handle of the bloody sword, and with one quick thrust of my arm, I had pierced his heart. His agonised screams for mercy died down quickly, the body soon following. I left him there that night, lying murdered beneath the cold eyes of the merciless full moon within the sea of blood, bodies and gore, his sword protruding from his chest like some grotesque monument, casting a vulgar silhouette over the gore-stained grass. And if that 'monument' were to represent anything, it would be the fact that: no matter who you are, I will make you pay with your life if you so much as touch Elena...

Chaos had seen her, and was watching Elena slowly die, an odd smirk on his face. How could he possibly enjoy watching the one I loved...no...the one we loved suffering so much? She must be in so much pain...

Perhaps I should put her out of that misery... growled a voice from outside of where I lay dormant within Chaos. Could he...really be considering that...? I felt my left hand tense as I slowly made my way over to Elena. I knew Chaos' plan...I knew it, and I also knew that I had to stop it. I would not be the one to murder her! 'STOP!' My mind screamed out to his, but the beast ignored me. He soon crouched by Elena's side, his leathery wings unfolding and stretching out as he slowly and gently lifted her into his arms, gazing up at the star-filled sky above. What was he doing? I thought he wished to 'end her misery'?

"Just a little longer..." his strange growl promised as he held the delicate female gently yet firmly within his grasp. He was injured too, and this was causing him utter agony, but he wasn't showing it. Either he didn't notice the pain, or he was willing to make this sacrifice for her sake. "You...will be saved..." Time was our enemy on this unfortunate night, and there was none to lose. Without further hesitation, Chaos took to the sky, his wings causing him pain each time he flapped them...but he didn't care. The destination would be reached soon enough.

We fell from the sky ungracefully, Chaos collapsing outside, a bloody mess. This was when I took over...and my body was wracked with agony when I did. I couldn't even move the pain was so severe...I just grasped Elena tightly, holding her to me, never, ever wanting to let her go.

"Vin...cent..." she gasped weakly, her hand reaching up to touch my cheek as she rested helplessly in my arms. If I didn't do something soon, I would lose her forever. She had no more strength. We had been so close to living a normal life...so close...too close...but it had all been stolen away at the last second. I couldn't help but cry...cry like a child as those beautiful honey-coloured eyes slid closed.

"Hold...on..." I begged her, trying to force my body to move, but I failed. I felt weakness taking over, and a heavy fog masking my eyes."Why...? Why did it have to be you?!" I demanded with the last of my strength, the darkness grasping me and take pulling me away from consciousness, and possibly even away from life. "Please...open your eyes! I...I love you! Please!" I received no response...her eyes remained closed, her head tilted to one side as her white-blonde hair fell across her face. Blood trickled from between her lips, and seeped from her wounds. I had failed her, and I knew it, and yet...there was nothing more I could do about it. "I'm...sorry...Elena..." I whispered, as my eyes slowly closed. It was over...it was all over now...

I was surprised to feel my eyes open once again. I had been granted another chance at life...? I had been allowed to live on even after I had failed her so miserably? A pang of guilt pained me even more than my wounds ever could as I thought back to how I had let Elena die so soon...she was so young, and yet she had died in such a tragic way. "She's...gone...it's all...my fault..." I murmured softly to myself, sighing as my gaze wandered over to the other side of the room.

"Only the good...die young...Valentine..." a gentle, yet weak voice teased in response to me. I knew that voice! My eyes shot wide open, and I almost opened up some of my old wounds by sitting up so fast, only to feel myself fall back to the hospital bed, gasping in pain as it felt as though someone was stabbing me again and again. That feeling slowly ebbed away, though, as the person who had answered me had gained my complete attention. The young blonde smiled at me, her honey-coloured eyes fondly watching as my gaze was fixed only on her.

"Y-...you're...! H-...how did...?" I began to stammer. How in the world had she survived? No, what was I thinking? That wasn't even important...what mattered was that she had survived. I would be able to see her...feel her...be with her and hear her voice as often as I wanted, and nobody would ever get in our way again. Ever. When we left this hospital behind, I would take her away...I would take her somewhere where we could be safe, and where we would be free forever. We could finally be happy. I wouldn't have to live in fear of losing her any more. A smile came to my lips as I remembered something that I hadn't technically gotten a proper answer for, even though I had asked. "'Lena..." I began, feeling happier with every second that passed. I was just so relieved that she was alright. This time, I would have no hesitation when asking. Hesitation only wastes time, and the time that I have with her is precious. I had learnt that lesson well from all we had been through. "...Marry me?" I waited for her response in silence, somewhat nervous, but pushing that feeling aside.

For the first time in a long while, I heard her laughing, even if the laugh was a weak one. Those wonderful honey-coloured eyes met mine, and she nodded once. "Yes." I had remembered how much she had wanted to say yes...I remembered that she had told me after she had been attacked, and now hearing her say it was the best feeling in the world...it helped me to block out the dull pains and aches that my healing wounds were causing me after our experience. It really had been too close...we could easily have died that night, but we were lucky enough to survive.

But that didn't matter anymore...what mattered now was getting out of hospital and beginning a new life alongside her.

I just couldn't wait to sleep by her side once again, knowing that I would wake up in the morning to find her there.

And judging by what I've read in her diary, she felt the same way...

Ok, there's your alternate ending. I hoped you liked it! I might change it here and there when/if I tweak the story.

The 'diary' bit at the end is referring to Elena's chapters of the story. I wasn't sure where to add this in, but it goes like this:

Vince - Narrator of the story, telling whoever is listening (Reeve, or Tseng, or someone...or you guys! You decide.)

Elena - Recording the events in her diary. I originally was going to have it so that Tseng or Reeve found her diary and discovered that she was dead by talking to Vincent and hearing his side of the story, therefore finding out about Bernard Dylan but I wasn't sure how to make it all come together like this. Anyway! I hope you enjoyed that story! Remember to review!