She sat on a golden throne lounging casually with her legs dangling over the arm rest. An Asgardian priestess fed her grapes from a silver platter. Karnilla sucked on a seed, shooting it at one of the royal guards. The seed clunked against the man's helmet and skipped along the marble floor. She swung her legs in front of her and sat tall as Balder entered the room.

Balder was handsome as they came. Tall, like the rest of the Asgardians, and muscular, built for war. He kept his blond hair short and tidy, swooped to the side and out of his oceanic blue eyes. His face was chiseled and chin squared with a dimple the size of her pinky finger. She often liked to poke at it when they would spend lazy afternoons in bed together.

Oh, how she had missed him. They had a love-hate relationship but after his unintentional death so many years ago she had thought she had lost him forever. The only thing Karnilla was grateful of Odin for was his ability to bring Balder back and cursing him with an invincibility spell. Nothing would take him from her again.

Or, so she thought until he met that Midgardian bitch Nanna. Balder had promised Karnilla that he would retrieve her stone for him but while on Midgard he met and fell for the mortal succubus's charm. Having Baleor inadvertently kill Nanna was not her plan from the start, it only happened to end that way. However, after Nanna's death Balder disappeared into an unreachable trance.

It was one of the many reasons Karnilla had needed the stone. Balder loved her, she knew he did, he only needed a little push to remember. After all they had been through it would have been silly of him to still be saddened by his Midgardian pet's death. She was doing him a favor.

Balder strolled to the throne, his gloved hand on the hilt of his sword that hung at his waist. He bent forward, taking Karnilla's hand in his and placed a small kiss between her knuckles. She inhaled at the familiar shape of his lips.

"My Queen," he nodded, standing tall, "you look radiant as ever."

Karnilla coyly smiled, offering Balder to take the seat next to her. He thanked her and sat taking several grapes from the tray placed in front of him. Karnilla watched him gingerly place one grape at a time between his teeth, squirting the juice down his chin. She pursed her lips together, forgetting what a pig he could be when he ate.

Clearing her throat Karnilla waved the priestess away. The woman bowed out, and left taking the grapes with her. "Thank you," she curtly nodded. "It seems that dropping off the face of nine realms has suited you well."

Balder licked his lips. "I had other matters to attend to, yes."

Karnilla arched a prominent brow. "For almost a century?"

"So, I see you've taken over Asgard," he changed the subject with a wave of his hand to the city outside.

Karnilla smugly smiled. "Temporarily," she purred. "I will relinquish control as I see fit."

"Where are my brothers?"

"I haven't killed them if that is what you mean," she regarded him coolly, eyeing him up and down.

Karnilla had forgotten his loyalty to his family was hard to break. The last time she was able to convince Balder to renounce his servitude to Odin had not ended well, despite her efforts to make him see the truth of his affections for her.

"What tricks do you have up your gown this time?" he asked, leaning back in his seat. His thumb rubbed against the leather of his belt. "Do you plan to kill them so I will confess my love for you?"

Karnilla bit back on her tongue, the heat rose to her cheeks. She inhaled sharply and looked away from him. "I have no tricks."

The entrance doors blew open, rocking off their hinges and falling to the ground. Thor followed closely by the two of the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. Each of them had their choice of weapon drawn and pointed directly at the throne.

"Karnilla, what have you done!?" cried out Thor, his face red and tense. "Are you mad, woman!?"

She slowly rose from her seat, gathering the bottom of her skirts as she descended down the small flight of stairs. "I am only seeking my revenge. I am almost finished here and will move on soon enough."

Thor tightened his grip on his hammer. "I should have killed you when you tried to have me assassinated so long ago."

Karnilla rolled her eyes. "I thought we had gotten pass that?" She stuck out her bottom lip and whined. "It truly hurts my feelings that we cannot be friends."

Before Thor had the chance to react Karnilla pulled out the stone and whispered into it. It pulsed in the palm of her hand, the black blood-like substance oozed onto her fingers. A white light emitted from the cracks of the stone, shining toward Thor.

Balder was quick to his feet, lunging in front of the attack and blasted square in the chest. He landed with a loud thud and skidded across the marble floor. She brought the stone to her lips again, the light grew bright aimed for Thor.

He raised his hammer high, leaping into the air, bringing the mighty mjolnir down. Karnilla disappeared, the hammer kissed the floor hard, breaking it into small pieces that flew around Thor. He stood tall, turning around to face Karnilla and the white light that penetrated through his chest. Thor cried out, his friends rushing to his aid. Karnilla thrust forward her free hand, sending Hogun, Volstagg and Lady Sif slamming into the wall.

The light died out, the pulsating stone ceased. Karnilla pocketed the stone in the folds of her gown, careful not to let the black liquid touch the silk. She looked to Thor, his eyes a light green the same shade as her own. A small smile crept onto Karnilla's face as she turned to face Balder. He groaned, rising to a sitting position with his thick hand to his forehead. Balder blinked a few times, looking up to reveal the same sea-foam tint all the others under her control wore.

Hogun, Volstagg and Lady Sif were coming to. Karnilla watched as they clumsily stood to their feet using the damaged wall for support. "My love," she cooed to Balder. "Thor," she smiled as both men flanked her sides, "take care of them, will you?"

Thor and Balder advanced. Hogun lunged forward, but Balder was quicker and side-stepped Hogun's blow with ease. He slammed his fist into the back of Hogun's head, causing the silent warrior to fall to the ground. Volstagg was at his friend's aid, helping him rise to his feet when Thor brought mjolnir down. Sif kicked at the back of Thor's knees, bringing him down like a giant.

"Karnilla!" She rolled her eyes at the familiar voice, inhaling sharply as she brought her gaze toward the broken doors. Baleor, still disguised as Thor, rushed in, his face covered in blood and healing scabs. "You are not going to be very happy."

"Of course I'm not," she spat, side-stepping out of Thor's line of fire as he sent Volstagg flying across the room. "Look at you! What happened!? Did you kill her?"

Thor-Baleor-cocked his head to the side and pulled up his lips in a tight smile. "Eh, not exactly."

Karnilla stepped forward, her lips twitching. "What," she hissed, "does that mean?"

"Th-the man in iron, he bested me and while I was under attack the Midgardian went through the Bifrost..." his words trailed off into silence.

Karnilla inhaled deeply, her lungs pushed against her chest. She slowly curled her lips into a smile. "You are telling me that she is here?" she sweetly asked, her voice thick like molasses. "That the Midgardian bitch is in Asgard? Is that what it is that I am hearing?"

Baleor swallowed hard, Thor's adams apple barely move. "I-I-she is rather fast for a mortal and tiny..."

Karnilla barked a laugh. "Tiny? You are using tiny as your excuse?" She inhaled deeply, holding the palm of her hand forward, her fingers curled into a claw. "I do not care for excuses."

A ball of fire roared to life in her hand. Baleor's eyes opened wide, their natural blue returned. The light of fire swirled within them, sparks leaping out toward his face. She pinched her lips together, sucking on the inside of her cheek. Baleor began to plead with her to spare him but she was in no mood for forgiveness.

The flame ate at Baleor's face, peeling away the guise of Thor to reveal his true identity. His blue eyes remained wide as the fire engulfed his entire body from head to toe. He screamed, his cries stalling the fight between her puppets and the sheep. She waved her hand in front of his face, the echoes ceased upon command.

With the wiggle of her eyebrow she pointed to the window. Baleor shook his head, silently crying as his feet walked forward. He tossed himself out the window, shattering the stained-glass. The setting sunlight poured into the room, spilling a dark red across the marble floor.

Karnilla sighed, bringing her hands to her temple. She closed her eyes, rubbing the side of her head with her fingers. She needed to think. Apparently she underestimated the little rat one too many times. She wasn't about to take that chance again.

Inhaling deeply she opened her eyes to see Thor holding onto Hogun and Balder groaning on the ground. She crinkled her brows. "Do I dare ask what happened?" Her breathing was harsh and heavy.

"Let us put aside petty words and acknowledge that we at least have captured one of them," grinned Thor, tightening his grip on Hogun's arm.

She chuckled to herself, wearily dragging her hands to her side. "The others escaped?"

Balder rose to his feet, gripping at a healing side wound. "It would seem so my lovely queen."

Karnilla turned her nose up, feigning a smile toward Balder. "I really do not think that I should have to order you to find them."

"Oh!" exclaimed Thor tossing Hogun to Karnilla's feet. She placed a sandled foot on his thick chest and shook her head when he started to struggle. "We will find them," he beamed turning sharply on his heel.

"Not you," ordered Karnilla as Balder began to follow after Thor. "I need your assistance in holding Hogun down while I-" she flicked her gaze from Hogun to Balder and sweetly smiled, "well, you know the rest," she purred pulling out the stone.

"Where is it!?" I muttered tearing through my pile of suitcases. "I swear it was in here!" Clothes went flying across the room, landing among the broken rubble.

All of Asgard was in a similar state as my room was, some places even worse. Streets were torn apart. What once used to be paved in golden brick was now turned up stones scattered across mud and ash. Buildings that stood tall and gleamed against the three suns sat in ruin, painted black from extinguished fires. Asgardians holed themselves away while warriors with bright green eyes pillaged and terrorized anything that moved. I didn't know what to expect upon my return to Asgard but never did I expect to see it in such a state.

I could see the guards rushing down the rainbow bridge to the Bifrost, their weapons pointed in my direction. Fandral bent down and helped me to my feet, protectively pushing me behind him with his sword turned toward the small army of men. My heart pounded against my chest, my fingers clenched tight onto Fandral's arm.

"I hope you can run as fast as you can think," smiled Fandral, his grin charming even in the face of death.

Without time to respond Fandral charged the twenty armed soldiers, ducking low as a sword swung above his head. He kicked his foot out, slamming it hard into a guard's knee. The Asgardian warrior toppled forward, Fandral slid beneath him, tossing the nearly seven foot man over his back and into one of his comrades. The men fell backwards, screaming as they tripped off the side of the bridge.

My eyes buzzed back and forth looking for an opening when one of the guards broke free from Fandral's swinging blade. He wore a permanent scowl on his sun-weathered face, his trident pointed directly at my stomach. I ran around the dome, trying to put distance between the guard and I when an arrow shot out and grazed the sleeve of my blouse. It cut the dirty fabric, slicing the skin so that it puckered and began to bleed just enough that I cried out in shock.

Fandral looked up at my cry, distracted from his fight. One of the guards took the opportunity set before him and brought his blade clean through Fandral's shoulder, bringing him down on one knee. The golden Asgardian bellowed in pain, ripping his shoulder free from the man's steel. He rose, his sword arm thrust forward plunging the blade of his sword through the guard's chest.

I looked away, feeling the hands of my pursuer grasping at my wounded arm. My feet caught one another and I fell forward, slamming my hands hard against the cold floor. The guard roughly grabbed my ankles, pulling me toward him. I tried to kick free from his grasp, my heels slipped from my feet, Wildly, I screamed as I clawed at the ground.

I did not come here to die, I reminded myself ripping my ankle free. I came here to help and the only way for me to do that was to get to my suitcases. My foot made contact with the guard's armored chest. He barely budged. A sharp pain buzzed in my ankle and up my calf. The guard reached forward, pulling me up by my torn and bloodstained top, tossing me backward into the wall.

My back slammed hard against golden armor. An arm wrapped around my waist and pointed a spear at the guard. Bolts of lightning emitted from the spear's tip. They soared through the room, creating a human-like hand with fingers that gripped onto the man's face. His body convoluted, shooting sparks out of his fingertips. He fell to the ground, smoke dripped from his open mouth.

The hand that held onto me released me, turning to face Fandral and the remaining warriors. Four men laid dead at his feet while several more were missing. Sweat smeared with blood soaked his face and disheveled tunic. His shoulder was healing but his jaw tightened with every sharp turn he took.

I looked up at the focused gaze of Heimdall's golden eyes. He gripped onto the spear in his hands, slamming the butt of it against the floor. Sparks shot up from the tip, soaring towards the guards, directly hitting them in the chest. Each one cried out, falling to the ground just as the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had.

Slowly, Fandral rose to his feet, looking around at the damage done. He exhaled quickly, turning up his lips into a small smile that was overtaken by a groan. Fandral keeled over, grasping at his side. I called out his name, rushing to him and kneeled on all fours to get a better look at the broken spearhead that protruded beneath his ribcage.

I gasped, reaching toward it only to pull my fingers back. "Hayden," Fandral winced, moving his gloved hand away from the wound. Blood gushed around the broken weapon, dripping onto the changing bricks underneath us. "You must, or I cannot heal."

I pulled my face together, biting hard into my bottom lip. Exhaling loudly, I nodded. With trembling hands I grabbed onto the slick metal, pulling as hard as I could. Warm bood spilled between my fingers and I closed my eyes, cringing at the heat of the thick liquid. Fandral inhaled sharply, his muscles contracting around the broken shard.

I released the metal, breathing unevenly. "Fandral, I can't," I cried staring at my shaking hands.

"Hayden," he begged, clenching his teeth together.

Licking my lips, I tried once more. My fingers wrapped tightly around the sticky metal, using all the strength I could muster. I pulled hard, clenching my teeth together as Fandral hissed at each tug. The metal slipped loose, falling out of my grasp and onto the bridge. I inhaled on a whimper, wiping the blood onto my skirt, smearing it off of my palms.

"Thank you," groaned Fandral, rising weakly to his feet.

I nodded, keeping the tears at bay and stood up beside him. He turned toward the dome and I followed suit. Heimdall was gone. I looked around to face the chaotic Asgardian city but he was no where to be seen.

"Hayden, you need to return home-"

"I can't," I told him walking toward the city entrance. Fandral lightly jogged to catch up, his hand pressed firmly to his side. "I think I know how to stop Karnilla. But, I'm going to need help getting to my room."

Fandral gave me a bewildered look. He opened his mouth to speak when the dome began to groan and spin. I turned on my heel, my mouth dropped open. Fandral looked between the Bifrost and my expression, frowning beneath his goatee.

"I take it that it is not a friend coming to visit?" he asked as I broke into a run toward the city.

"Not exactly," I replied, looking behind my shoulder to see the dome spinning faster. "It's Thor-"

"Thor has gone to confront Karnilla," informed Fandral, his brows knitted together.

I gave him a wary look, slowing down. Thor was my last hope. If Karnilla was able to take control of him then my plan-should it even work-already failed. My breath caught in my throat. I really was just a liability to everyone, completely useless.

Unless..."I know it isn't Thor," I responded, daring another look behind my shoulder. The dome began to slow meaning the Thor look-alike was going to arrive within seconds. I turned my gaze to the enclosing city, hoping that what I was about to attempt wouldn't fail.

"It's a Thor copy but his eyes-"

Fandral whispered something in Asgardian under his breath. "It is Baleor. Karnilla's filthy rat. He does all her dirty work and specializes in transformation."

I nodded, glad to see my theory was headed in the right direction. "Where is Loki?"

Fandral glanced at me, his lips pulled into a thin line. "We have only returned from war, I know nothing of anyone. Thor saw the Bifrost opening and advised that I greet whomever came through. I can say I was taken aback when it was you."

My lips pulled into a frown. "Can you get me to my room?" I asked.

"Of course," boasted Fandral, his trademark smile plastered to his face. "Though I wished you tell me why."

"Let's just say I'm feeling very lost right now."

How little did I know those words would bite me so soon. Everything was piecing together but nothing was fitting at the same time. It was like a puzzle though it was missing the corners. I could see the picture before me but it was hard to clearly understand what it was that I was looking at.

It all came back to Karnilla, that much I knew. The book that Loki claimed he couldn't read was one that I had read several times in my youth. In its faded pages there spoke of a legend about an iron staff called Gríðarvölr.

The staff was given to Thor by a Jotunn named Gríðr. According to the myth, Loki had agreed to hand his brother over to an ice giant named Geirröd, who had a vendetta against Thor. Gríðr knowing of Loki's deceit she gave Thor the powerful weapon to slay the giant Geirröd. The staff was then shattered, lost to those who knew where to find it.

The memory of the staff came to me because of the naive notion that if I could find it back then perhaps Loki would get his powers back. I poured over books in the library for any hints that would lead me to it. I figured Loki was lost, that without his powers he would fall into an unreachable void. I only had meant to save him. I was so stupid not to see it before, to see the way that Karnilla was dangling everything in front of me. It all came sliding into place as I tore apart the dressers in my room.

The staff was described as the most powerful and dangerous piece of magical weaponry. So powerful that only those of Asgardian royalty and those of Jotunn blood could use it. My original intent had been stripped away while speaking to Tony replaced with an intuition that I had to believe was right.

The Warriors Three had given me an empty blue cloth. "For when you feel truly lost, then you may open it." Pretty words, I told myself when the cloth remained empty inside my palm the first time I had opened it.

It was a long shot. But, it was my only hope. Unfortunately I had torn apart my entire room and found nothing. Crying out in frustration I dropped to the floor and scrunched up my gave. Heat filled my cheeks and the tears licked at the fire, burning in streaks of defeat. My cries were cut short as footsteps sounded from outside my door. Inhaling unevenly, I dove beneath the bed, pulling myself underneath.

Scuffed and weathered boots filled my line of vision. They stopped right before my bed, turning sharply on their heels to walk around. Each step they took was louder than the next, pounding against the floor in matching beats with my heart.

I swallowed hard, turning my face from their boots. Underneath a broken heel, crumpled into a small ball was the silk cloth that Hogun had presented as a gift. Suppressing a shout of success I reached out and tugged at the cloth just as a pair of hands clasped onto my ankles and dragged me from underneath the bed.

Without thinking, I stuck my hand inside the folds of the cloth, squeezing my eyes shut. My fingers wrapped around cold, metal adding a weight to my weak arms that I had to use both hands to keep it from falling on top of me. Snapping my eyes open I pointed the weapon at my attacker, knowing full well that it wouldn't do me any actual good.

"Gríðarvölr," whispered a female voice, pulling her blade away from my face. She clasped onto my wrist and heaved me to my feet, her brown eyes wide in stunned surprise. "It has been lost to legend," claimed Sif sheathing her sword at her side. "How did you find it?"

I shrugged, looking down at the heavy silver staff in my hand. I had expected it to be glorious, extravagant like everything else on Asgard. But, this was not Asgardian magic but that of Jötunheimr. The line work was crude, coming to a claw at the top where an iron ball so thin it was nearly translucent sat.

"Where is Thor?" I asked, gripping tightly onto the metal staff.

Sif frowned deeply, her messy ponytail slipped over her shoulder and down her back. She didn't need to speak. I already knew. "Karnilla has claimed him as one of her own."

I licked my lips, hoping not to regret my next course of action. "Do you know where Loki is?"

She pursed her lips into a thin line. "What is it that you expect to do here?"

I lowered the staff, my arms strained to hold it up. "I-I don't know exactly. I just know that-"

Sif took a step forward, her heels crushing the rubble and strewn clothes beneath it. "Hayden, this is not a fairy tale in some book that you have read. The meek princess does not find courage to fight against the evil queen. She does not save the disgraced prince. If she fights, she will die."

Her chocolate brown eyes softened but her voice grew harder. "If you fight, you will die. This is reality, there are no luck filled chances that lead to a happy ending. People will lose their lives because of this. You will-"

"I know," I snapped, inhaling deeply. My hands twisted against the metal in my sweaty palms. "I know I am just a mortal but Karnilla picked me and because of that I indirectly caused all of this! I have to do something! I can't idly sit by while-"

"But you can! And you should!" exclaimed Sif wrapping her hands tightly around my shoulders. "You will die in vain. No songs will be written in your glory. Death will be your only companion if you do not go home."

"You're right," I whispered looking down at my trembling hands. "But if I don't try, who will?"

"I will."

"And so shall I, my fair Lady."

I spun around to face the broken doorway. Volstagg entered the room, his gut hung over his belt and sword swung mightly over his shoulder. He grinned beneath his face full of thick red hair. Fandral followed close by, his charming demeanor undamaged unlike the cuts that he wore on his neck and leg.

"Where is Hogun?" I asked, peering behind Fandral.

"He is lost, just as Thor and Balder are," responded Fandral, his smile wiped from his face.

"More reason to stay and fight," I swallowed.

"And what of you?" demanded Sif, her face pulled together. "You can barely hold a weapon and Gríðarvölr only works for those of Asgardian royalty and men of the ice, which you are clearly neither."

I ignored her and turned my attention to Fandral and Volstagg. "Where is Loki? Has he fallen under Karnilla's spell?"

I swallowed hard, hoping to hear that he was under it the entire time. That the things he said were nothing more than meaningless and I could go back to pretending we had never met. If it wasn't Loki but Karnilla's puppet the entire time then I really didn't know who Loki was. Should I survive this, at least after I would be able to nurse a broken heart faster than the wounds I had already received.

But if he wasn't under he control and everything he did was of his own free will...

"If he ever was," coughed Volstagg, shifting the weight of his blade to his other shoulder.

I crinkled my forehead. "What do you mean exactly?"

"From what we've heard he resides in the dungeons," sighed Sif. She brought her callused hands to her temple.

"Any alliance he had with Karnilla broke the moment she took over Asgard," gruffed Volstagg. "If you-wait! Where are you going?"

"To talk to Loki," I replied, looking over my shoulder at the three open-mouthed Asgardians.

"Are you mad? If Karnilla or anyone under her spell sees you they will kill you," sputtered Fandral rushing to my side as I strode down the empty, dark corridors. He gripped onto my shoulder and pulled me to a stop. "Hayden!"

Fandral twirled my body to face him, his blue eyes wavered back and forth. "Do you not understand the implications of this foolish task? What if Loki is still working with Karnilla and this is a trap? If you give him the power of Gríðarvölr all will be lost."

"If Loki is on Karnilla's side then we've already lost," I snapped, pushing the tears to the tips of my eyelashes. They clung like melted cellophane. "She would have given him his power back."

The bile soaked in my mouth. It was why he wanted the stone all along, it was why on our second meeting he had asked for my assistance. I had told him no and he dropped it, and I had forgotten all about the stupid stone as I fell victim to Loki's magicless spell. I did exactly as Karnilla and he had hoped.

"Either way, if he is still at her disposal then giving him the staff won't do much damage that hasn't already been done," I pointed out, hoping that my logic was sound. At the moment everything I said and thought felt jumbled together like the word searches my mother loved to do.

Sif stepped forward, placing her hand on top of Fandral's. She nodded and he hesitantly released his grip from my shoulder. I moved slightly at the lifted weight, knowing that my body was ready to collapse at any given moment.

"Do not be a martyr, Hayden." Her voice was soft that I had to strain to hear her words. "We shall assist you. Tell us what needs to be done."

My jaw unhinged, and I quickly gathered my wits as the three brave warriors stared expectantly at me. Swallowing hard I shrugged, "we just have to get this staff to Loki."

"Done," Sif nodded, stepping in front of me, nodding to Fandral who flanked my side.

"A bunch of fools you all are." grunted Volstagg. "The lot o' you will surely perish in this endeavor." Then underneath his surly beard of flames he grinned, laughing so his belly shook. "To glory...nay, Valhalla! Let our deaths be sang in songs for days to come."

"Aye," Fandral smirked clasping his hand over his friend's beefy shoulder. "I shall go with Lady Hayden whilst you two-"

"I shall go with Hayden," interrupted Sif. "You and Volstagg check the area and make certain that no one will interrupt our friendly visit to Loki." She turned to me and cocked her head to the side, her lips pulled into a frown. "I truly hope you know what is that you are doing."

I forced a small smile, only managing half of one. "I hope so too," I breathed following after Sif as she and I ran down the empty hallway.

A/N: Wow you guys. We're almost finished. I can't believe what a wonderful experience this has been for me. I'll make this short but I just wanted to say thank you, all of you for taking this new journey with me.

Also, I've been asked about a sequel but I don't have anything in the works at the moment. But, I do plan on starting a spin-off to this story called When They Fall. I'll post the link right before the replies to your comments. Just a reminder that I don't plan on writing it until I am completely finished with this story but I do have the first segment posted so you can read it and if you chose follow/favorite. See you there!

s/9732991/1/When-They-Fall

K-bird Lily 2: Ta-da!

Happy-Valley: oh! Thank you! Yes, Karnilla is very easy to hate and that's why I love her. She's so manipulative and makes your skin crawl! And don't refresh too much! I really don't want to have to put up a disclaimer that any broken button or mouse is not a liability of mine haha (:

Marie-Allen: Yep! I even have the next chapter just waiting to be edited so it can be up just as quick.

Kateskate24: I do love cliffhangers! Though I suppose they are much more bareable when you can just read the next chapter straight away.

Why Fireflies Flash: I want to apologize, I do. But, I just can't help it! It's a disease, really. My friend Vicvic221 and I always say that writers are sadists and they feed off their readers tears. See George R.R. Martin for references haha but at least you enjoyed the chapter, and hopefully this one as well!

Poodle Warriors: Thank you for the lovely comment. And you're right! It's definitely a bumpy ride from here on out. Buckle up!

Ryuno Chu: and it just gets better!

Fandral: wow! I must commend you for reading it all day. Thank you and I am glad you are enjoying it!

Ninjaloki: Thank you soooo much! (:

OhHaiSerah: Maniacal laugh. Maniacal laugh.

Missing a Muse: It was most definitely due (: