Next chapter... I'm sure you're all so excited. ;; Well, here's the beginning of the end! Have fun reading it!

"No..." Trunks whispered almost in defeat. Then he closed his eyes for a moment, and he saw the true Hotaru and her gorgeous smile. He smiled at the image and replied to her once more, "I'll save the real Hotaru. I love her, and you can't ever stop her from being true to her heart."

Looking slightly surprised at his courage, Hotaru recovered quickly, and walked on until the ball could progress to dinner, and then some more dancing.

"You really look nice, Hotaru-chan!" Bulma said. Gracefully, she replied,

"Why thank you Bulma-chan, you do as well!" Trunks watched this in amazement because before she had scoffed at him, and then just told him off for loving her. Then he realized that this wasn't really her.

The ball involved little dancing toward the beginning. When dinner came around, Bulma had Vegeta go up and say a few words before calling Hotaru and Trunks up to the microphone.

"This girl is an amazing fighter, and gifted in talent, grace, and skill. I'm very happy to say that she's also a quick learner. Her name is Hotaru Tomoe, and she's come to us the entire way from Saturn. She is their princess, and soon will be the Saiyan Queen!" he said. Hotaru looked at him with narrowed eyes. Trunks smirked evilly at her, which she noticed. Then Vegeta handed Trunks the microphone, and Vegeta held Hotaru still on the stage, she didn't struggle after she felt his grasp on her, and he whispered something into her ear about discontinuing her training.

"Thank you father." Trunks said, accepting the microphone, and watching him hold Hotaru in place. "When I first met her, she accidentally set me on fire. She's done the same thing to my heart every day after that. Hotaru, I love you so much, and I'm so glad you've accepted my proposal to become my wife." Trunks said warmly, some tears in his eyes.

Michiru and Serenity both looked surprised to hear this, although they clapped along with the rest of the crowd. They didn't think that she'd truly accepted yet, but they trusted that Trunks had a plan.

"I'd like to play the song, "Let Me Be Your Wings" for us to dance to." Trunks said to the D.J. The man nodded, and he began to play the love song, while Vegeta took the mic and announced that Trunks and Hotaru would have this first dance alone in the middle of the floor. And as the first strains came on, Trunks placed his hands on his hips as Michiru had earlier instructed.

'Let me be your wings
Let me be your only love
Let me take you far beyond the stars

Let me be your wings
Let me lift you high above
Everything we're dreaming of, will soon be ours

Anything that you desire
Anything at all
Every day, I'll take you higher,
And I'll never let you fall

Let me be your wings
Leave behind the world you know
For another world of wondrous things

We'll see the universe
And dance on Saturn's rings
Fly with me and I will be your wings

Anything that you desire
Anything at all
(Anything at all!)
Every day I'll take you higher
And I'll never let you fall!

You will be my wings
(Let me be your wings)
You will be my only love
Get ready for another world of wondrous things!

We'll see the universe
And dance on Saturn's rings!
Heaven isn't too far
Heaven is where you are

Stay with me and
Let me be your (You will be my) wings!'

They danced the entire song, with Hotaru's eyes slightly narrowed in anger. Then, just as the song was ending, Trunks pulled Hotaru close to where their bodies were touching, and he slid his hand onto the back of her neck. He placed his other hand on her hip, and pulled her neck in closer. He waited until he was an inch from her face and he slowly closed his eyes, and kissed her. Shocked, and her eyes still open, Hotaru tried to return the kiss.

At first, her other half wouldn't let her do so. Then as the curse began to lift, she closed her eyes, and sank into the magnificence she had waited for since the day she had met him. Her arms went around his neck, and pulled him closer to her, and the sparkles from the curse floated in a glorious silver out of her and into the air where they disappeared from the view of all of the people around them. They all applauded loudly, and Hotaru finally relaxed into Trunks's waiting arms.

Michiru was equally surprised at this easy transition, and although she knew that the Shi no Tenshi was safely locked away again and the curse was lifted, she couldn't help but feel concerned. She decided to return to her dimension and bring back Haruka to help her assess the issue. Spinning on her heel, she left with a mental message to Serenity who would explain things to Hotaru.

"Trunks, thank you so much!" she said to him.

"You're welcome!" he said to her. "There's just one question." he told her.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"Will you be my queen? For real?" he asked her.

"O-of course!" Hotaru accepted gleefully.

"I love you Hotaru!" he said to her.

"I love you too, Trunks!" she kissed him again, and they danced the rest of the night.

Okay, so this isn't the last chapter, there's one more. And it's longer, again. ;; I'll see you all in the grand finale! –Jade Hallet