Nero rode at the front of his host of guards, legionnaires, companions and allies alongside General Tullius up the hill of Solitude. They had arrived at midnight, as the moons were high in the sky, and all of Skyrim seemed hooked by a deafening silence.
Thalmor stood atop the walls of the city watching as the host slowly approached, and at their head, Rulindil, who stood atop the gates, a sly smile across his lips.
Nero stopped not too far from the city gates; he remembered Elenwen being stood here months ago, expecting to take him away from his life. Now she was dead, and they were here. He looked up to see the elf on the top of the walls.
"Nero," addressed Rulindil, "I must say, I never expected to see you again. And with a band of rebels no less."
The host were all silent, watching the elves on the walls. And Nero said nothing.
"How's that whore wife of yours? I didn't get to formerly congratulate her, but the carriage ride was fun."
Nero's expression did not change; he simply eyed the elf, until finally he spoke.
"Rulindil, if you surrender yourself now, release the people of this city as well as the people you hold captive in Northwatch, then I promise you, I will make your end swift. But if you refuse… then I will not show you an ounce of mercy."
Rulindil laughed, "ha! This might come as a shock to you, Nero, but… I have the better power here. I have the Warrior. He seems very desperate to finish your business."
"I have no business with him," said Nero firmly, "he's just a mercenary, a man paid by you. We can pay better. My business is with you, and this land you're no longer in charge of."
"There's no business to discuss, Nero. Thrandonir will be here by midday tomorrow, and then you and your Empire, your friends, your people, and your pathetic wife will all die. It begins here, Nero."
"No. It ends here."
A gentle breeze passed over the city.
"I'll give you one last chance, Rulindil. Open the gates. Tell your people to surrender, and we'll spare them."
"But not me?"
"Your fate is sealed, Rulindil."
For a moment, Rulindil looked slightly worried; he had never actually seen this side of Nero, in a calm rage.
"Oh Nero. Even if you do somehow manage to defeat my army and my Warrior… you won't save Skyrim. When Thrandonir arrives and sees every last Emissary dead save for the footsoldiers, do you think he'll believe you? Any of you? He'll see a rebel country at the heart of an Empire that's time has come."
Nero frowned as Rulindil put on a very smug smile.
"You kill me," he said, "and you start the Great War."
Nero spoke and the ground rumbled, "so be it."
"Indeed," Rulindil turned to his guards, "kill the people inside the Palace, and the Jarl."
"NO!" cried Rikke.
Nero unsheathed his swords, "FUS RO DAH!"
His shout blew the gates open and Rulindil took cover.
Nero cried a battle cry of fury and rode forth, and his host rode with him, into the city. The fighting began. Nero began cutting down Thalmor here and there, along with the host behind him. He leapt from his horse and cut down a soldier nearby.
The city erupted in a large battle. Aela bashed with her shield and cut with dagger in hand, whilst Lydia dismembered a thalmor with her axe and Jordis cut down two herself. Tullius and Rikke fought together, killing soldiers here and there. Delphine unleashed a flurry of attacks on three thalmor altogether.
"Come on, men! To the palace!" bellowed the General, and his Legionnaires joined him.
Nero looked about and dodged an attack from one elf before delivering his sword into the elf's neck in return. Then he parried a swing from a mace and followed through with a strike downwards. Rulindil. Find Rulindil. Nero looked up; he wasn't on the walls. He must've gone back to Castle Dour.
Vilkas, Farkas, Aela, Lydia and Delphine followed him to the castle through the army, making their way separately. Nero was the first up, he saw Rulindil in the courtyard.
"There!" Nero raced forward.
"Nero wait!" the others bellowed.
He didn't see the runes that were cast, and at the very last second, he rolled forward out of the way as they exploded and destroyed the gate, creating a heap of rubble that separated him from the others. He looked back and cursed it before facing forward again and getting to his feet, then he stopped.
The Warrior stood nearby, in front of the entrance to the castle, sword and shield in hand.
"You survived," he said.
Nero paced around him, "missed my heart by an inch, I'm afraid."
"This is a sign. You are clearly meant to be the one," said the Warrior.
"Look. They paid you. You don't owe them your life. I can pay you more, if needs be. You can walk away, we don't have to do this."
"I do not do this for the elves. I do this for no one, but myself."
Nero wore a look of confusion, "look I've made a lot of enemies, but I don't remember you. Do you just disagree with me? Revenge? What is it?! If not for them or for money, then what?!"
"Sovngarde."
That made Nero speechless.
"Only you can send me to Sovngarde with honor."
Nero blinked, "you… want me to kill you?"
The Warrior said nothing.
"THAT'S what this is all about?! You stood there while they took my wife, they tortured my friend, they strangled this country, and you did nothing just because… you want to be beaten?!"
The Warrior remained silent.
Nero got past that, "if it's a fight you really want, then if I agree to fight you another time-"
"No. No other time. I have waited too long for this. You are here now, healed. You must fight me. If my not moving means you will fight me, then I will stop you from entering. You will not pass. None shall."
Nero frowned, just as the others came from the other side, and he smiled.
"Fine. But I'm not doing it on anyone's terms now."
The Warrior noticed the others who circled him.
"As you wish," he said.
Nero battle cried and ran forward as the others came too, and all engaged the Warrior.
Across the city, Tullius and Rikke killed the Thalmor attempting to enter the palace and went in themselves, where people were huddled together in fear with their families. Elisif was nearby holding a sword and defending a family.
"Jarl Elisif!" called the General.
"General!" she exclaimed.
"We've come to protect you," said Rikke.
"The people, they need protection. Can we get them out?"
"Not until we've secured the stairway."
At the foot of the stairway up to the city beneath the windmill, a group of Thalmor stood waiting, guarding it. Seconds later, Hadvar came forth with his own group of legionnaires and slew the thalmor guards. Once they were all dead, he began ascending the stair.
"Men, we need to keep this clear for the people to get out," he ordered.
In Castle Dour, Rulindil ran through the halls with his own personal guard, and they descended the stair beneath the windmill.
"Is the boat ready?" he asked.
"It's ready to set sail, Emissary."
Halfway down they came face to face with Hadvar and his men, and Rulindil drew his daedric blade.
"You people just don't know when to quit!" yelled Rulindil as he threw his blade down on Hadvar who blocked it.
Hadvar then kicked Rulindil in the chest and disarmed him, holding his imperial blade to the elf's throat.
"I have you now, elf."
"A fool like any man," said Rulindil as he threw a rune that exploded the stone and blew them all apart.
Rulindil quickly got back to his feet and continued descending, abandoning his own guards. Hadvar and his men slowly got to their senses along with the other Thalmor, who then proceeded to come at them again.
In the courtyard of Castle Dour, Nero threw a flurry of attacks at the Warrior who blocked each except a slice from Farkas which he answered with a bash of his shield. Vilkas saw the opening though and cut the Warrior's armor. The Warrior backed up, but the companions weren't done.
Together, Aela, Jordis and Lydia delivered a combined attack across the Warrior's back that only his armor defended him from. He was losing. Then he cast a cyclone of frost around his body that froze anything near him, which made the others back up a bit.
Aela took out her bow and began shooting arrows as the others circled the Warrior who blocked each arrow. Delphine went for the back and the ice froze her armor but the cut pierced the ebony. The Warrior stumbled a bit, and Nero went for his chance; he began throwing very hard strikes at the Warrior, here, there, and bashed his shield so hard until he dropped it. Finally, he breathed in, and,
"FUS RO DAH!"
The shout blew the Warrior through the wall of the castle where he stumbled. Nero slowly walked forward, as the Warrior got to his feet. Nero noticed him, breathing in, ready to shout back.
"FUS RO-"
"WULD NAH KEST!"
Nero flew forward into the Warrior before he could shout and both tumbled along the floor. When Nero got to his senses, he looked around to see the Warrior slowly standing up, just as Delphine came in and engaged him. She threw strikes very quickly and with power that the Warrior struggled to block and dodge, until,
"ZUUN HAL VIIK!"
Delphine's blade flew from her hand to the Warrior's who caught it and was about to strike.
Nero jumped to his feet, ran, and tackled the Warrior back into the courtyard, and tumbled along the floor. Nero got up quickly, and turned around just fast enough to notice the blade's sword being lobbed at him which he barely blocked in time, before the warrior summoned a spectral sword and came at him, now on a furious warpath. Each strike he threw was heavy and fast, and he didn't seem to be losing energy. Finally, he went for a downwards strike that Nero blocked with both swords, and stood there, pushing against the giant above him. Nero began screaming and pushed the summoned sword away. Now he went on the defensive. He began striking the Warrior once, twice, every now and again getting past the sword and cutting through the ebony, sending sparks here and there. He slowly picked up steam, cutting chest, arm, leg, and finally, an upwards strike took the Warrior's helmet off. The man was on his knees, cut, bloody, and beaten in the courtyard, and the others stood around him.
Nero stood above the man on his knees who was no Nord at all. He was Redguard!?
Suddenly the Warrior breathed in again to shout, but just as he did, Nero delivered one final strike with his sword and stabbed it through the Warrior's chest. The Redguard spurted out blood onto the cold stone of the courtyard, and simply knelt there gasping, until he looked up.
"So… this is my last vigil. You've done it."
Nero said nothing, simply looking down at the Redguard.
"You have fought bravely, Warrior. Now go to Sovngarde with honor."
The Warrior smiled, and fell backwards onto the stone, breathing his last, until he died.
Nero didn't know what to think of this Thu'um master here; he still wondered where he'd come from, who he was, and how he'd learned to shout. Somehow, he felt he would never know the answers to those questions. They were struck from his mind though as he remembered Rulindil.
"Come on!" he told the others and made his way into the Castle with them behind him. He ascended the stairs, looking about.
"Rulindil!" he yelled, kicking open doors looking for the elf.
"He's not here," said Aela.
"Where could he have gone then?" asked Vilkas.
"Cowards tend to rattle off when there's fighting," said Delphine.
Nero looked back at her, "you're right."
He instantly raced out to the windmill where he climbed the steps and looked out.
"Oh, son of a bitch," he cursed as he saw the boat leaving the docks.
The others joined him and looked out.
"Come on," said Delphine, "we need to get a boat and get after him!"
"There's not enough time," said Nero, "it's nearly morning, and Thrandonir gets here by midday. I have a better idea."
He took a few steps back and took a few breaths.
"Wait, Nero, no, not now," began Aela as Nero began running, "now is not time for one of your asinine PLANS-!"
Nero leapt off the side and began falling, and at the top of his lungs, he bellowed, "DURNEHVIIR!"
The undead dragon appeared beneath him and he began riding him.
"Qahnaarin, what-?" began the dragon.
"No time, Durnehviir. Chase that boat."
"Ol hi hind, Dovahiin," replied the Dragon and swooped down in quick flight after the boat.
On board, Rulindil walked along with the captain, "how soon will we arrive in the Summerset Isles?"
"It will be a long journey, Emissary. But the wind is with us."
Oh well, he didn't need to know how long it would take, only that he was on his way there, away from Skyrim and the pathetic Empire. He sat down and gave a huge sigh of relief, closing his eyes to imagine it. Thrandonir would arrive and would either be killed or return with news of war. Either way, he won. And he smiled.
"Captain?" called one of the crew.
"What is it?!"
"What is that thing in the sky?"
Rulindil's eyes opened wide and he turned around horrified to see his fears were confirmed.
"ARCHERS!" he bellowed, "ARCHERS! KILL IT! BRING IT DOWN! DO NOT LET IT NEAR ME!"
Archers came out onto the deck and began nocking arrows.
Nero saw them even from here as the wind rushed past his face, soon followed by arrows.
"Okay, Durnehviir, don't land on it, but fly by it!"
The dragon swooped down, and Nero slowly stood up, keeping his balance as he had to time this right. Three. Two…
He leapt from Durnehviir and landed on the deck, skidding to a halt with the crew and archers around him, and Rulindil at the front of the ship. Nero stood up, saw him, and smiled.
"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!" ordered Rulindil.
Nero unsheathed his blades and went on a killing spree of the Thalmor around him; he cut leg, chest, and head, flooring more Thalmor before they had time to draw their swords. The Captain drew his sword and went at Nero, but Nero took out his crossbow and impaled him with a bolt to the chest. There was no one left.
Rulindil watched as Nero stood among the dead thalmor around him before he looked up at Rulindil and smiled. Rulindil began backing away in fear, just as Nero slowly came forward.
Rulindil fetched one of the bows and quivers and stood up; he nocked an arrow, aimed, and shot it, but Nero simply hit it away with his sword. Rulindil nocked another and shot it, but Nero deflected again. He nocked a third, but Nero smashed the bow away and kicked Rulindil in the chest, breaking a few ribs in the process. Rulindil fell back, screaming in pain, while Nero dug his swords into the wood beside him. He grabbed Rulindil by the collar and pulled him up to face level.
"This is for kidnapping my wife," said Nero before he punched Rulindil in the face so hard he broke his nose.
"AGGHHH!" Rulindil screamed, before Nero threw him across the deck.
Rulindil held his bloody face as Nero came forward before he noticed a quiver of a dead Thalmor and from it he pulled an arrow. Nero watched as the elf clambered to his feet and ran at Nero with the intent to stab him. Almost in one move, Nero grabbed the wrist before the arrow even came close and sent a punch upwards on the elbow that broke his arm.
"AAAGGGHHH!"
"That was for calling her a whore."
Rulindil screamed and fell backwards, cowering away from the rage of the dragon.
"Please, please Nero, I beg of you, I'm sorry… I… I…."
Nero pulled his sword out of the ground, and slowly raised it, "this is for me."
"Please… please… please!"
Nero felt the rage fuel him, the anger of all he'd suffered at the hands of the Thalmor, all that Serana had suffered, his friends had suffered, his people had suffered. All of it was in his arm ready to strike. Every single person they had harmed, tortured, abused, oppressed, now a hurricane ready to smite them down.
Every single person he loved, even… his daughter. She looked up at him, smiling, giggling. His rage started to leave him. Nero saw her growing up and playing and laughing, all three of them, a happy family. They lived and played, and they were free. Other families were together too. At peace.
He had suffered so much. All of Skyrim had. But this wasn't the way. No more. As the sun rose up on the horizon, Nero slowly lowered his sword. Rulindil slowly opened his eyes and looked up in terror. He saw Nero looking down at him, sword in hand by his side.
"You're not gonna harm another soul in Skyrim every again," said Nero with a furious firmness, "when Thrandonir gets here, you're gonna tell him everything that happened, everything that you and Elenwen did."
Rulindil was silent, just as Nero took him by the collar and came closer, "because if you don't, I'm gonna find you in the war, Rulindil, and you're gonna wish I had killed you here today."
Nero stood up, "do you understand?"
Rulindil was speechless, "I… I…"
"Maybe I'm not making myself clear," Nero picked him up by the collar and held him overboard with his sword at his throat.
"No-no-no, okay! Yes! I'll leave and I'll never come back! You'll never see me again!"
"War won't be started today, will it?!" demanded Nero.
"No! I'll tell Thrandonir everything!"
"You better. Because if you don't, and war is declared RulindiL, I promise you, I am gonna find you. And when I do… I won't stop."
Rulindil nodded very quickly.
Nero threw him back on deck onto his broken arm and he screamed again.
"Durnehviir!" called Nero, and the dragon who was hovering nearby flew closer.
"Ah, Qahnaarin," said the dragon and both began speaking in a language Rulindil couldn't understand.
Then the dragon landed on the boat and Nero climbed on top of it before it spread its wings about to take off. Rulindil backed up just as it grabbed him in his claws and took off back towards the city.
In the middle of the market, Tullius and the legion had retaken control; the remaining Thalmor were on their knees in surrender and the people had been rescued, including the Jarl.
"And he just took off?" asked Tullius.
"On a dragon, yes," answered Delphine.
Just as they were speaking, Durnehviir flew overhead and dropped Rulindil to the ground in the middle of everyone. The people around him stared, before some angry faces began to grab their weapons. Rulindil got to his feet as an angry crowd surrounded him and were coming forward. They were stopped though as the dragon landed, and Nero jumped off it.
"Legate Nero," said Tullius.
"General," said Nero who came forward and kicked Rulindil back to the ground.
"I thought you said you'd kill him," said Rikke, a look of pure hatred in her eyes towards the elf.
"I did. But… as much as it pains me to say it… he was right. We need at least one Emissary here to explain to Thrandonir what's happened. If he hears it from a bunch of legionnaires around a pile of thalmor corpses, we'd just as well declare war ourselves," Nero looked down at Rulindil, "we need him alive."
"WHAT!?"
A furious Delphine came forward, sword in hand, ready to strike Rulindil down.
"No, Delphine!"
She stopped shy of a few metres from them, "you said you would kill him, Nero. You SAID! I came here because you promised you would do that. He needs to die. He deserves to die. Just look around. Every single person in this city agrees. There is no hope left of stopping the war. Are you seriously that dumb that you can't see that?!"
"He's right, Delphine," said General Tullius, to whom she turned back to in confusion.
"If Rulindil's alive at least, we can show the Canonreeve that we haven't just started a rebellion; it'll prove everything that they've done," explained Tullius.
"And what if he lies, hm? That's all they're good at! He will lie to Thrandonir, and then a month later they'll come back with an armada ready to wipe us all out!" argued Delphine.
"No he won't," said Nero.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!" demanded Delphine
"Because, Delphine, if war is started, I will ride alongside every one of you, and we'll fight the dominion, and we'll find him, and when that happens," Nero looked down to the elf, "he's gonna wish we never had."
"Nero," said Aela who came forward, "I hate to say it, but that is a seriously dim hope."
"I don't think so," said Nero who saw the terror in Rulindil's eyes, before he turned to the crowd.
"Look, everyone! I know you've all suffered at the hands of the Thalmor, at the hands of him! But if we kill him now, then it won't be much longer until the real fighting starts. But you know what the difference will be? Not everyone will come back from that. Your families. Your mothers and fathers, your brothers and sisters, your sons and daughters. They've taken away so much already, don't let them take any more."
He turned to Delphine, "give me this chance to stop the war, and if it fails, then I promise you, we will ride together, and we will kill all of them."
Delphine went silent, along with everyone else who were all looking at each other.
Tullius took the opportunity to speak up, "I will send men to Northwatch Keep where your loved ones are being wrongfully held, and we will bring them back to you. I will see that everything the Thalmor have done will be undone. But the Dragonborn is right. Let us not lose anything more because of the actions of these criminals."
Elisif came forward too, "both the Dragonborn and the General are right, my people. Don't have the courage to fight. Find the courage to make peace. We should not lose anything more."
A man came forward from the crowd, Nero recognised him as someone from the market.
"I don't know how you found the strength to spare this elf, Dragonborn. They have done a lot of harm to you, we all know. But if you believe that sparing him will keep the peace… I am with you."
Another person in the crowd came forward too, "so am I."
Pretty soon, people were agreeing that Nero's decision was the right one. He smiled, before turning back to Delphine.
"What do you say, Delphine?" asked Nero.
"That's twice you've failed to kill someone who deserves it," she answered, "but this time, there seems at least a somewhat noble reason for it. Fine."
She walked towards Rulindil, "you only said 'alive' right?"
Nero nodded, and she delivered a strong kick into Rulindil's stomach that completely winded him and he began writhing in pain. Delphine watched, before turning to Nero.
"Well Nero, see you either very soon, or never again," then she turned and began walking away.
"Where are you going?"
She turned back, "I'm a free woman now, remember?"
And with that, Delphine left Solitude, leaving Nero and the rest of their company to deal with the thalmor.
"Well, what now then?" asked Lydia.
"Now," began the General, "we need to prepare to meet Thrandonir when he arrives, which shouldn't be too much longer."
"I will also attend this meeting," said Elisif, "as a witness to all Elenwen and Rulindil have done."
"I will take some men to Northwatch," said Rikke, "to free the people taken captive."
Hadvar came forward, "I must return to Helgen. The Stormblades there still require guarding until a trial can be scheduled."
"That may take some time, Captain," said Tullius.
"Hopefully that's time we have now, General," replied Hadvar.
Then they turned to Nero, "well, Legate? What will you do?"
"Sorry, General. I'd love to stay for the interesting conversations, but I have a wife and a daughter to go home to."
Tullius thought of Serana and her reaction if he kept Nero any longer, "that's probably for the best."
"We'll ride back," said Aela for her, the companions and the housecarls.
"Yeah, there's not really a house for me to guard anymore," said Jordis, "think I'll join you in Whiterun until things are figured out."
"I'll see you all there," said Nero as he walked towards Durnehviir.
"Wait, Legate," said Rikke and Nero turned back.
"You never did say who the Warrior was."
"I have no idea who he was," answered Nero, "I've never met him before."
"But he could shout, just like you, couldn't he?" asked Elisif.
"Was he Dragonborn, like you?" asked Rikke.
"No. He could shout but he wasn't dragonborn. I would know if he was. In truth… I don't know where he learned to shout or how he even knew… and I doubt I'll ever find out."
The others seemed disappointed with the lack of an answer.
"Well, whatever he was, he's dead now," said Tullius, "and our concerns are with the living. Now, let's get this city back under government, ideally before the Canonreeve gets here."
"Aye, General," said Rikke who went and grabbed Rulindil, "come on, elf! You've got a lot of talking to do!"
Nero nodded and turned back to the Whiterun lot, "I'll see you guys there. I'm just gonna take a faster route."
They waved, "see you there, Nero."
Nero clambered up on Durnehviir and took off from the ground into the skies of Skyrim, back towards his family.
~ Jorrvaskr ~
Serana cradled her daughter who was now sleeping after being fed. She looked so peaceful. Meanwhile Valerica leant in the corner, a look of annoyance on her face.
Serana sighed, "what is it?"
"Your husband is 'it' Serana. He shouldn't have left your side."
"Are you ever going to drop this hatred for him?" she asked.
"I don't 'hate' him, Serana, I just moderately dislike him. He shouldn't have left."
"Gods' forbid someone doing something drastic in order to prevent a war from starting, huh?"
Valerica glared at her daughter, but Serana simply turned down to her own daughter.
"Have you thought of a name yet?" she asked.
Serana smiled, "I have one in mind. I'm going to run it past Nero when he gets back."
"You mean if he gets back?"
Serana glared at her mother now, "if you're not gonna pretend to be happy, wait outside?"
Valerica sighed, and Serana rolled her eyes.
"Here, do you want to hold her?"
That earned a surprised look from Valerica, "what?"
"Baby. You. Hold. Want to?"
Valerica looked puzzled, but reluctantly came forward, "okay."
Serana handed her daughter carefully to her mother, who looked down at the tiny child. She opened her eyes and looked up at Valerica, looking as if about to cry.
"Oh no, Serana, no, I'm scaring her, she's about to-"
Then she grabbed Valerica's face and started giggling.
"Ah, what, no, stop that, stop that right now-agh!"
Serana began laughing, "I think she likes you."
"I'm an immortal soulless creature of the night, I am not a funny-"
She grabbed Valerica's nose and continued giggling.
"Here, give her to me," said Serana and Valerica quickly handed her back.
Serana smiled down at her little one, just as a wind blew over the mead hall, and the sound of a large dragon landing ran over the town. Serana smiled and looked down at her baby.
"Guess who's here. Your daddy is here!"
"Oh come on," said Valerica, "it could be anyone riding a-"
The door opened, and in walked a man, clad in dragonbone armor with swords strapped on his back and the look of war painted across him, until he took off his helmet, and the husband and father appeared.
"Honey, I'm home," he smiled.
Valerica looked him up and down, "you're looking very dirty."
"Yeah, sorry, haven't bathed in a while."
Valerica looked back at Serana, "well… at least he came back."
She walked past him to leave the room, but Nero stopped her, "thank you for protecting Serana."
"She's my family, Nero. I would do anything to protect her."
Nero nodded, "I understand that completely."
Valerica regarded that and then walked out, leaving Nero alone with Serana and their daughter.
"How was she?" he asked.
"She cries very, very loudly," said Serana, "but eventually I got her to sleep."
Nero took off his weapons and most of his armor until he was normally clothed, and he came over to them.
"How did it go?" Serana asked.
"Well… we'll find out pretty soon. But for now… I'm not leaving your side again."
He clambered into bed next to them and kissed Serana for the longest moment. When finally he pulled away, he looked down at their baby, who was looking up at them.
"So, have you decided yet? Remember, it's your choice."
Serana smiled, "it took me a while, but I think I thought of a good one."
"Oh really? What?"
"Julia."
Nero went speechless and looked at Serana. That was the name of his mother. Julia Agrippina.
"What do you think?" asked Serana.
Slowly, Nero began to smile, "Julia… I like it."
He looked down at their baby girl, "Julia Dragons-bane… has a nice ring to it."
Serana smiled and rested her head on Nero's chest while they cradled little Julia together.
Author's Notes
Hello again my readers. I haven't done an author's notes in a while. I sort of felt that the chapters had a better cliff-hanger feel without me summing everything up at the end, but here I couldn't keep my silence any longer.
So here we have it, the end to this arc. There will be one more chapter as an epilogue to this to finally finish some of the things left open ended, but after that, I think I'll be taking a break of sorts. Not one as long as SS3DJ's (I hope) although it would be funny if I said that's the end for now and then someone else wanted to continue it in their own fanfiction XD (my god, that would be a fanfiction of a fanfiction of a fanfiction, fanfiction CUBED! :0 ).
But anyway, like I say, there'll be one more chapter summing this story up, so don't get the end feels too soon! I mean to deliver this quickly as well, not like a month later. So I'll see you all in the epilogue!