I DO NOT OWN BEN AND MARVEL
CHAPTER "CAROL DANVERS AND BEN
Carol Danvers sat in a chair wearing a white slutty shirt and black jeans, clearly showcasing her curves. I looked up at her short hair, the blonde locks adding to her beauty. Carol's soft cheeks framed her angular face and full lips perfectly, her small nose adding a cute factor that I wanted to poke.
Carol noticed this. "Hey, kid," she said, walking right up to me and planting a kiss on my cheek. "I hear you're going to another multiverse."
Ben nodded. "I just need to give you your final goodbye."
"So, Ben...," her grin turning sly as she looked down at me. "Should we do one more dance?" Carol winked at me before moving her hand to my hip. Okay, since this is the last time I'll see her, I don't know when we'll meet again. We start dancing to the music, our hands squeezing a bit tighter. As our bodies get closer together, the music volume drops. But our bodies heat up.
As the music finally ended, Ben gently grabbed Carol's chin and pulled it back to his face. He pushed his lips against hers, causing her to let out a surprised gasp. The feeling of Carol's full lips against his made his mind go haywire; his fingers giving her muscles a squeeze, her toned body feeling heavenly.
"Ben, I see, you've started advancing in your love life. You even started putting your Halberd inside Wanda." Carol said as she didn't know, Ben would suddenly kiss her. "Please keep yourself in control."
But my grin turned sly and lustful as one of my hands traveled to Carol's oranges another one down to her nether regions.
Carol removed her hand from her sacred region. "Kid, you have already had your way with Wanda, to relieve your beast. You don't need to do any more than that." She noticed he continued to fondle her meat balls.
"Ben, you are awaking my desires are starting to evoke themselves inside me. My flower wants to get deflowered by someone's big sword." She noticed. Ben continue poking and fondling her orange, while his other hand advanced towards her sacred region.
"If you have no problem, my snake is always ready to explore your forest. And since you are a 50-year-old virgin, this is the perfect time to lose your virginity." Ben said as he was not stopping; he had already opened the buttons of Carol's shirt, and his hands were fondling her oranges.
I had carefully pushed Carol up against the door, without her permission, as her fingers interlaced with mine. My lips pressed hard against her over and over. Her chest heaved for hair, letting me see the rise and fall of her breasts that were just below my face.
"I just can't get over you, Carol," I gasped. She was surprised to say the least; her mouth opened to respond. A finger over her lips stopped her from saying anything. My other hand unhooked the clasp of her bra, freeing her beautiful apples. They were so beautiful that I couldn't help but take a little bite. They were a C-cup size, a perfect fit for continued fondling.
Carol now accepts herself as she is turning into a woman. And she knows, her unexplored forest of secrets is today about to get invaded by Ben's snake, and it will remain open for his continuous visits from now on. She knows no one can save her from getting deflowered. It's just like a passionate war is going on the battlefield, and Ben's sword will make her bleed with red. At last, Carol has finally accepted that, her hymen is going to be broken by Ben's halberd, and she will bleed until he is satisfied. Even he will fill her with his seed. She knows she has become a ripe fruit after 50 years, and now Ben is going to break it and eat it.
So Carol didn't stop either, as she unbuttoned the buttons of Ben's shirt, while her hands started exploring him. Carol's eyes traced every bit of his well-muscled form, and she started licking every part of it. She wanted to explore him fully, knowing that their sacred ceremony was going to make them each other's King and Queen.
As I continued to explore my King, I was silenced by Ben's lips pressing against mine, making me moan out in surprise. The feeling once again put me into a near trance-like state as Ben picked me up, settling me down onto his lap. A set of arms wrapped around my neck. I opened my eyes for just a moment to see that I was sitting on Ben, our bodies entwined. I wanted to say something, but my voice was quickly drowned out by the gentle moaning coming from both of us. My eyes closed once again, a gentle blue light flashing against the darkness. I suddenly felt much warmer as two fingers poked into my C cup apples. I pulled away from Ben's lips to investigate the sensation and slowly opened my eyes, noticing a single strand of saliva dropping down between our forms.
As Ben's hand unbuttoned my jeans and in seconds I was naked, without any piece of clothing on me. Ben had undressed me completely, even my panties were taken off without my knowledge. While he was playing with my two sacred places, his one hand fondled my nipples, while his other hand rubbed my pussy's clit.
It's making me so hot, and I just want to get fucked by Ben. The first time I did it, I was naked in front of him. It was an embarrassing moment for me. I know I make dirty jokes all the time, but they are just jokes. And, I am in my 50s, but I can't seem to stop myself from being invaded by someone who is just in their 20s and makes me feel like an old pervert.
But what could I do? This was my first time; until today, I had never even considered the possibility of someone seeing my little curves, as I always wore full clothing or suits. But today, I am completely naked. And I know from now on, I will continue to be naked in front of my king.
My hands started to automatically unbutton my King's jeans. Then, slowly, I undressed my King. Now I could see my King in boxers, and his well-toned muscles. I couldn't help but lick my lips as I gazed at him, especially his chest area. I knew we were both well-toned, but I still had that feminine grace. My skin was soft, and my hips were full. I lacked a little bit in the butt department, but I knew my King would make it well-developed.
Carol's eyes were very focused on my chest and abs in particular; her hands made multiple passes down my body, feeling every inch. I knew before today, she had never seen anyone with such focus. As for herself, she hadn't even considered getting into dating. But today, she was showing me her entire body. And I knew from then on, she was mine, I could do anything to her, but she didn't even need to say it.
As she continued licking all over my body, and occasionally kissing me. I was playing with her nipples, and continuously biting and licking them. My other hand kept rubbing her pussy and ass, sometimes giving her a light slap on her ass. While playing with her clit, I started stroking it. At first, she was a little hesitant. But as she realized, destiny had written that she would be mine today, she started accepting my every advancement. I also noticed that her hand was often touching my sword, which until now was imprisoned within the confines of my underwear. She knew, she was going to bleed today with the same sword, which she was playing with.
Her eyes glanced back up to mine before her finger pulled back. "My King, I know it's rude, but I can control myself, and I want to see the snake which is going to explore my sacred forest." Carol grabbed my wrist and led me over to the bed, sitting me down on the edge. Her hand reached up and finally pulled back down my last piece of clothing, the most important one, my underwear. Which had till now contained a dragon, but now the dragon was fully awake and both Carol and my dragon were engaged in a staring competition.
As the staring competition was going, Carol make a advance and start fondling my Dragon. As she jerking up and down my Dragon. Which awoken my Dragon anger. As she knows my Dragon was angry and want some water and licking from her mouth. She start licking from tip to down, as she was awaking a curiosity inside my Dragon.
The skin-to-skin contact made my entire body feel hot; my eyes travelled downward to look at Carol's soft, toned body. I bit my lip as my gaze settled on her breasts, the mounds making my lips watering as I couldn't stop myself from taking a bite. Carol let out a small gasp, and then, finally, she took my dragon inside her mouth, but it was more than she could handle.
I felt a gentle sucking there, followed by a quick nip from her teeth. As Carol continued to suck, she became more confident and experienced in her actions. I couldn't help but groan as she suddenly bit down harder. I knew she had accepted me as her King, but she was also demonstrating her position by doing this; she would soon become my Queen, not just a slave.
The king will always be the king. I caught her head and started pushing down, as she gulped down my Dragon. Slowly, slowly, I started pushing her up and down on my Dragon. She knew she couldn't show her dominance over me, but she knew she had secured the Queen position for herself.
As I thought about it, I took her down on the bed. As her legs parted and revealed her most sacred place, until now, I had only gotten glimpses of it, and only touched it with my fingers, but now my full focus was on it. It was the most embarrassing moment for her, but she was also blushing. Her sacred region was so beautiful. Her folds were immaculately kept, not a single strand of hair in sight.
"I think you are absolutely gorgeous," I muttered. As her cheeks flushed, but where she became embarrassed, I became empowered.
As I began rubbing my member against her pussy, Carol's own arousal started. She made various facial expressions as I continued to rub her clit. Her patience was quickly wearing thin.
"Ben, please put it inside me, I just want to feel it all, please put it inside," Carol said as one of her hands moved down and wrapped around my shaft, wanting to quickly take it inside her.
"Good, that's my girl. But how quick can you get it in?" He asked with a grin on his face. "Say, Daddy, fuck me."
Carol saw me with comical anger. "No, I will never say it. You can put it inside." Her decision shocked me, because I had never thought anyone would control themselves in such a critical situation. I thought that her decision was proof that she considered herself my queen, not some slave.
"Okay, so now you said, My Handsome, Dashing, Invincible King. Please put your Mighty Dragon inside your Queen's sacred region, so it can explore fully." I knew my request was a little different, but she accepted it with a little blush.
"My Handsome, Dashing, Invincible King, please explore my Sacred Region with your Mighty Dragon." She said with so much embarrassment and blushing, but she was on her last stage.
As I finally played with myself, this time was to make her complete me, for so long I had been waiting for it, and now the moment had arrived, the little dragon finally entered the sacred forest, but only its head entered, she said. "Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh...!"
I knew Carol was in pain, and it was something every girl has to face at least once. And I knew how to handle it. As her tears were glistening in her eyes, I leaned over and started kissing her. The silken warmth that enveloped my dragon was almost enough to make me quicken my pace and thrust the entire dragon inside her sacred forests. But as I saw the blonde, shoulder-length haired goddess below me, I began consoling her.
As I saw the pain starting to subside, she smiled at me. "My King, this Queen will be able to take your sword." I agreed with her. I started pushing my sword, inch by inch, until finally my entire sword was inside of her. I knew not every girl's first time would be easy, and not every girl could handle having their King's full length inside them all at once. But Carol was superhuman, so she could endure this pain, knowing it was for her King. And her priority was to give him happiness, so she was willing to sacrifice herself to a little bit of pain for his pleasure.
Carol's eyes are filled with full tears. She knows, this pain was never like any pain she has faced before. And she knows she is a superhuman, but she isn't showing it on her face. As she deals with the pain with full bravery, just for her king. This sacred decision, made today, she is his queen. And he is her king.
She now knows. Her Unexplored Forest is totally explored by the Ben's snake. Her sacred region, which was never seen before, as she is superhuman, so she had no time to do any masturbation. But now her sacred region is invaded by a mighty dragon, which belongs to her King. In today's war, she finally bled when King's sword did the bloodbath. The red blood on her white blanket is proof of this. Her hymen has finally broken by Ben's halberd. Now her purity is completely gone. There is a sacred region between her legs, but it was completely opened up to her King's Dragon mercy. Her 50-year-old virginity is given to a 20-year-old, none other than her King Ben Tennyson. As she was thinking all this, her pain finally subsided with her King consoling her.
"My King, your Queen is ready to be ploughed." Carol said to Ben. As she slightly loosened herself, she felt like someone had put a hot, sharp sword inside her stomach. But now, instead of causing her pain, it was turning into pleasure. "My King, you have already broken the fifty-year-old juicy fruit. Please, now eat it; I am ready to be harvested. King, please harvest me." Ben noticed, as her pain subsided, he began to move inside and out. As her pain started transforming into pleasure. Her sobbing changed into moaning.
As Ben knelt down, shifting his Dragon inside me, while his both hands were holding mine, I was experiencing a mixture of pain and pleasure every time his Dragon entered my sacred place and exited. With each thrust of his sword, it felt like my shield was being broken, and the mix of pain and pleasure had my eyes opening and closing. It was like walking through hell and heaven simultaneously; but his handsome face gave me the strength to face any situation with bravery.
I know he is in his 20s, more than three decades younger than me; even half of my life he hasn't lived. Even I don't know what happened to me, as I advanced in dancing. I have never done this to anyone. Even I know he has Wanda. But my mind doesn't stop me. I started showing some resistance, but deep down, I had already thought about it and today's result is already there. I have been plucked by my king. Yes, from now on, he is my king, and I am his queen. Always ready to serve him.
While I was in the midst of pleasure, and I wanted to express it by moaning loudly. However, my voice couldn't escape from my mouth because my mouth was sealed by my King, who had complete authority over me. I didn't resist or complain; instead, I accepted it fully. Unlike other sexual encounters you may have witnessed in movies, this one was filled with love and passion. My King pushed his Dragon inside and out of my sacred region at varying speeds. This aroused my eternal desire for love. I longed to be constantly invaded by my King's Dragon.
He put his hands on either side of my head to look down at me. His own head dipped and his lips planted a quick kiss on mine before he stared me straight in the eyes and said, "I want to fully conquer this Kingdom as my own...forever. Right now I want nothing more than to fill your fields with my seeds, Carol Danvers. And this King always gets what he wants." The words stole my breath away; as Ben's hips slowly moved back up and then again it felt like his Dragon was back inside my sacred region. The breeze in the room cooled as his Dragon exited my deepest part of my Sacred Place, but not a second later again it invaded. The slow motions were making me lose control, but as I already knew from now I was already his property, so he could do anything.
As he asked about conquering my Kingdom, he had already conquered it. I was now at his mercy. His tongue filled my mouth, making me moan. The hands on his thighs moved up to wrap around my back. The King's Dragon was already deep within my sacred forest. His hips worked their magic, moving inside and out, over and over again. I didn't know when, but I was already cumming, not knowing how many times. Each time was followed by another that was slightly quicker than the last, each movement coating him with my fluids. The natural lube did wonders for us, as Ben's rhythmic movements picked up in speed, his arms making sure I stayed close to him.
Our lips remained locked as moans escaped between us; our tongues vied for power over one another. Ben won easily every time, and I didn't put up much of a fight. The ecstasy I was feeling was enough to make me not care about anything else going on around us; my mind was solely focused on Ben.
"Carol, how do you feel becoming a woman now?" I asked the question. But Carol didn't answer. Or she couldn't answer. I just flipped her, changing our positions, as she was on top now. But it looked like she had no energy left; she fell onto me. How could I finish this quickly? I started playing with her breasts, as she gave me a pitiful look.
"Wake up, Carol! Wake up, you're no ordinary girl. You're Captain Marvel. And I am a villain who's about to attack your kingdom. So it's hero time, Carol, save your kingdom." It looks like my cheers gave her some energy. She sat atop a dragon. Today, she became the Dragon Rider.
I caught her hips with my arms; she followed my movements up and down on my Dragon. As she started moving faster up, I would put her down, allowing my Dragon to completely enter her Sacred Forest. Her face showed a comical expression. Each time she moved up, I would put her down, causing her mouth to gape open, and her eyes to close. The simple act caused her to continue squeaking, but the noise turned into excited giggles and moans of pleasure.
Minute after minute passed by as our lips fought one another and our bodies connected on deeper levels, the decades older woman is so much juicy. And want to drink all the juice till now saved. And her superpowers was now showing the magic.
As she decided to surprise me with a very sudden visit to my lair, causing my dragon to rise even higher within her. That matched with my thrusts and more excited movements. Her hands squeezed, and she brought her down as I shot my hips upward. The rolling groans of pure pleasure were music to my ears as I started to move in tandem with Carol. I knew today Carol had finally become a woman. She had been doing it for over an hour, but her lustful gaze told me everything I needed to know.
I just give one eye signal and she will start serving me, she has finally taken the path, where she knows, her priority is to serve her King. She knows her field was anytime, anywhere only existed for ploughing by her King. So her King ploughed her and spread the seed in the field.
Carol suddenly grabbed my wrists and pulled them away from her hips, pressing them above my head and holding them there. Her folds took every inch of me and stayed there, grinding back and forth as she sat on my Dragon. I could feel my Dragon shifting back and forth inside her.
"Tell me what you want, my King," she said. I was confused for a moment as she hovered over me. Then I knew; she had decided to advance. Her stomach compressed and stretched to grind against her hips. Carol stared right into my eyes, the intensity of her gaze more intense than anything I had ever seen from her. "Please say it, my King." She whispered before biting her lip, a moan resonating in her chest a moment later. I could feel that she wanted, but she wanted me to say it. Maybe she was thinking about starting, when I told her to beg for it. Now she wants it back, she's literally a Queen.
As fulfilling her fantasy, this was the first time my Queen showed advancement. So, fulfilling her wish, I gave her a tight thrust and then we both locked our legs.
"I want to fill your fields with my seed, my naughty Queen," I answered, which she wanted. Truth be told, I had never done such a thing, because Wanda always showed me obedience. Sif never even gave a squeak. In her eyes, I was her everything. The kinky twist Carol had brought to this bed, and her pitiful, puppy-dog eyes had me wanting nothing more than to agree to her senseless wish.
"More, my King," she commanded. That left me speechless for a moment. As her hips lifted just an inch before sinking back down on my Dragon, her body keeping the movements at an agonizingly leisurely pace. "What do you want from your Queen, my King?"
I couldn't avoid it, I wanted to put her back in her place, but those puppy eyes, forget it. "Please let me fill your well with water, my precious Queen."
"Louder." Her voice demanded attention, and she raised her head slightly. "My King, I didn't hear it." The half-formed words were spoken in a commanding tone, but the shaking of her body betrayed her fear.
"I want to release the seed of a dragon into your sacred forest, my queen." I looked Carol in the eye as I said it, and with it, I also turned her down onto the bed, so that she was now lying down below me while I stood above her, still holding her tightly so that she couldn't move much.
"Fuck, My King. I just wanted to play a little game, and you got bored. Okay, My King, this Queen is at your mercy; you can release any herb you want, and this couldron will be swallowing it all, to make a good potion." As she accepted that the moment of seed spreading was coming within her body.
"This shows you, who is the winner. I am the conqueror; I have already conquered your kingdom. Now I want to fill your kingdom with my own territory marks. So it will help you realize, you belong to me, the conqueror." As I replied her, neither of us could stop the load moaning escaping our lips, Carol's fingers wrapping around mine.
With our hands clasped tightly together, our bodies closer, our eyes locked, and our senses overloaded by each other, we both reached the edge at the same time. Carol started to twitch, while her mouth twisted into a smile shape, her eyes closing tight. This showed her obedience; she knew that she was now his possession. Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel, savior of many worlds, had now become his kingdom. She knew from now on, every inch of her body belonged to him, her king.
I pushed harder with my hips, driving my Dragon deeper into the Sacred Forest, pressing it against Carol's. My seed started spilling out, ropes upon ropes of my seed shooting inside her. Every shot caused her to twitch; her body was accepting everything that happened to her. She gripped onto the sheets of the bed for dear life. I squeezed her body even closer to mine, and finally filled her completely, even quenching her thirst.
I was the first to come down, my chest heaving as I lay Ben in my arms. My heart pounded, but I held him tightly, savoring this moment of joy and pain.
Finally, I lost my 50-year-old virginity. Finally, my unexplored forest was explored and opened up. Finally, I turned into a woman from a girl. Finally, my sacred region is registered in Ben's name. The purity I held for over half a century, I gave it to a twenty-year-old king. This property is completely registered under Ben's name because this is not a one-night stand. This is a war between kingdoms, and Ben's sword has completely conquered this kingdom, leaving his mark on this kingdom, making it his personal kingdom.
As Aa Ben looked at me, I started blushing. He picked me up and took me to the bathroom. While my focus was on the dragon which flapped between his legs, showing the mighty look of a warrior who has conquered a territory. I started blushing, knowing which territory had been conquered by this dragon.
He started washing me, his hands filled with magic, or I felt as if I belonged to him, I didn't know what was happening. But his every touch made me feel comfortable, just like my body belonged to him, so it naturally felt comfortable with the owner's touch. He washed my entire body clean and with his gentle touch. I was in a blissful moment. After we had both bathed, he again picked me up in princess style and brought me to bed. Here he changed the bed sheets, then placed me on the bed. Then he also slept beside me, then took me into his arms. As our bodies leaned against each other, we both fell asleep.
I woke up after about 7 or 8 hours of sleep. This showed me that I had truly been exhausted. Ben was preparing dinner. "Go, freshen up yourself," his voice said. My body automatically started following this command. I knew that this voice belonged to Ben, and it worked like a form of hypnosis on my body. As I freshened up and began to put on some clothes.
But before it again Ben called. "Come here," Which I followed it. He make the table filled with food. "Sit." As the voice said I sit on Ben's lap. Even I don't know why I am sitting in his lap, because he didn't asked to sit on his lap. Even Ben was surprised by this action. Then he make adjustments for me, as I comfortably sit on his lap. As I know, even if I have sit on Million Dollar Soft Chair, i will not comfortable as Ben's lap.
"Open your mouth." I followed the voice commands as Ben start putting foods into my mouth. He started feeding me. At the middle of dinner. As I already tell, I am completely nude. And Ben has only wears trousers without any underwear. So I can completely feel his Dragon. But instead of any awkwardness, it makinge comfortable. As my hand start undressing him.
But Ben stop me, "Today was your first time. You need some times to healing."
"No Ben, I am full of energy, and I am already heal from all pain. See my Pussy Lips Is Also become new, I know I have not Virginity now, but I am Tight as first." I said and even show him my Sacred Place. Even I don't know, how much brave I became, and I don't feel any little bit of shyness showing my private place.
"Ok, do what you want." Ben Agreed with my wish. As I already start undressing him. As now I was sitting, my back was facing to Ben's Chest. So I want to turned around and, want to licks his body, but he stopped. "Dinner First." As I Readily Agreed. As I already undressed him. His Dragon Is now completely touching my sacred place. I give some rubbing to Dragon, as Dragon start awaken up.
"What you Doing?" Ben Asked, as before giving him any reply. As his Dragon was completely awoken up, I make some adjustments with hand, they give the entry to Dragon inside of Sacred Forest.
"You already Said, I can do anything, so I doing it." And then my movements started, Up and Down. Ben give me a stare, but seeing my puppy eyes. He start again feeding me. I am also so happy, as I getting feed from both side, one side Ben's Dragon feeding me, on the my upside feeding by Ben.
As our Dinner gets finished, Ben pick me up in his lap. Till now his Cock was inside my Pussy. He Brings me to Bedroom. As I know what was going to happen.
Two Days Ben stay with me, and In two days, I am really crazy for Ben, we have done it many places on my home. Bathroom, Kitchen, Bedroom, Dining Table, Wall, Door. Even my Spaceship was filled with Ben and my Sexual Intercourse Smell. Even I don't know why, I want to do every place.
Ben completes my many requests, but he turned down one request. I was anal sex, I want my ass also fill with his mighty Dragon, and live fluid inside it. But he turned it down. Because of this my ass is virgin. I don't know when I am going to lose virginity of my ass with Ben's beautiful, long and thick Dragon. It is also one of my Dream now.
Yesterday, Wanda also came to my home. First, she was angry with me and Ben. But after Ben's mighty dragon taught her about her place as his property. As she was also Ben's property. But the dragon had so much energy; both Wanda and I were powerless against it. This time, we knew, even if we joined forces, we would be powerless against it. Because we both fell at his feet, left and right, while his dragon stood proudly in between his legs and mocked us. We tried all the possible positions we know, doggy style, missionary style, horse riding, cowboy style, 69 position.
Finally, the day has come when Ben is going to leave this multiverse for another multiverse. He asked me to travel with him. But this universe is not completely problem-free, so I declined it. Even I don't know how I was able to do it, because if Ben just commanded me to nude dance, I would have obediently followed his command. But this time, I declined him. Ben accepted my wishes.
Ben made a device called the 'Time-Space Portal Watch,' which taps into his alien powers. He named it the 'Space Clock.' With this device, I am able to contact Ben at any time. Even if I want to visit his mighty dragon, using the Time-Space Portal Watch and the Space Clock, we create a stable portal for me to travel through.
As Ben was about to leave, my sacred forest was yearning for his dragon arrival. So I continued to get fucked by Ben for four hours. Both of us were pussies and mouths full of Ben's seed. Wanda's ass was also feeling Ben's semen, as she had already done anal sex with him. That day, Ben came eight times, three times inside Wanda, three times inside me, and twice on our bodies. If someone looked at us now, they would say we weren't superheroes; we were porn stars because we were completely naked. Wanda's pussy and ass were covered in Ben's semen, as both places were continuously flooded with semen. Her lips were also showing white from the semen. However, that wasn't all. Our bodies were also filled with semen. On my side, I knew my ass was a virgin, but since the semen fell on my body, it looked like my ass had been ravaged by a cock.
Ben give me goodbye kiss and goodbye fuck. As for whole 2 hours, I was sitting On his Dick, His dick was inside of me, not any up and down movement, only sitting on him, as I want to feel it. And this Ben's cock chair is very comfortable for me. Even I fight whole two days, and then come and sits on Ben's cock chair, I will become full energied. This shows my Pussy was simply made for always filled with Ben's Cock. When Finally Time Comes, After Getting Goodbye Fucked By Ben. He Goes To Unknown Place, for his adventures. And I whole 3 days fallen on bed, totally nude, whole body filled with my King's semen. I want to save this smell of my body, and Ben's Cock Chair in my beautiful memory.
(Wanda and Carol Vs Ben, on the next chapter)