Human's have strange beliefs. They say that you see a 'tunnel of light' when dying, and that tunnel is the gateway into heaven.

I knew different. I had an understanding of human anatomy due to the files stored in my hard drive. What they deemed the 'tunnel of light' was just the result of damage to the brain— specifically the left temporal lobe. They called it a Near Death Experience.

Currently I was seeing that tunnel. Or something similar to it at least, although instead of ascending towards it, I was descending down into it. The tunnel I was seeing wasn't exactly white, just a blur of assorted colours and distorted images. I'd never had any sort of belief in religion. Or Gods for that matter.

Meeting Lilo's parents had changed that. It had changed my perception of everything I'd ever come to know. And now I knew that Mitch really did exist inside of me and I had solid evidence of it... my view of life had changed. I had a new path to venture upon. A new journey to start.

The tunnel vanished. Blinding white obscured my vision and I felt my body lock up the tightest it had ever felt. It was my heart, after having been constricted, starting to beat again. I opened my mouth and drew in a huge intake of air, sputtering and through my blurred vision I made out a hulking shape before me. My hearing was distorted, as though I had earmuffs on. And then the muffled voices before me gradually returned to normal, like somebody had slowly started turning up the volume.

"...HE IS OUT OF VF ARREST!" I recognised a thick Kweltikwanian accent. "Heart rhythm has returned to normal. Oh 626... thank ROFPLAR...!"

I groaned and gasped for air. It was my father, crying heavily, and he buried himself into me. "I... I thought I'd lost you..."

I was very dazed. It took me a few moments to process what was going on around me. "G—G— G-Ga" I coughed, my voice raspy and hoarse. "G-Gaba iba?"

"Hush..." Jumba held my head in his hand, and I was aware of him briefly kicking away a defibrillator. "Here..."

An oxygen mask was slipped over my mouth. As I breathed in deeply a few times something clicked.

I... I was in control of myself...? Wait a minute—! I sat up a little, startled. I looked at my paws and flexed them. And then I started laughing. I laughed louder and louder before standing up suddenly.

"Whoa! Stop!" my father cried, pushing me back down. "Relax 626, you just had major heart attack!"

I laughed until I cried. Jumba was frantic. He took my head into his hands. "Stitch...?"

"Papa!"

He stared at that before looking at me a little hesitant. "626. Monitor shows that cell is dead. Please confirm to Jumba is being you and not..." He trailed off.

My head span at hearing that and I almost fell off the workbench. The cell... it was actually dead?! Did that mean...?

Had... I won? Had I really won...?

I was in control again. I had. I grinned widely. I had won. I HAD WON. Demon 626 was dead! Victory was finally mine!

I just stared at my alien father for a moment or so, before pulling down the mask slightly. I felt a little better, albeit a little distorted and groggy. After the brutal battle I'd fought before my current pain was minimal in comparison. To answer his question, I grabbed his head in my paws and pushed my nose to his. I saw tears flood his eyes.

"You're back!" he sobbed into me happily. "My son...! MY SON!"

"I missed you pa!"

Lilo came to my side at that moment, throwing her arms around me tightly and crying into me. She looked the worst I'd ever seen her, both eyes fully bloodshot. She'd been crying for a long while. "Stitch! You're back!" she wailed at me loudly, although I could hear some hoarseness to her voice. She buried her head into my chest alongside my father. "I thought I'd lost you forever! Thank goodness you're back..."

And then I sat back from them slightly, my mood instantly dropping as I recalled what had happened before. They watched me quietly, Chopsuey also stepping forth to observe from a small distance back.

I looked towards the floor for a moment. And then I reached up and felt my head. The horns were still there. I closed my eyes, looking away from my family in shame. "..."

"626... what happened to you?"

I gazed into my father's eyes as Lilo squeezed my paw tightly. I felt myself shudder and my fists clenched tightly.

I looked away from them.

"...Hell."

Twenty or so minutes later, I was propped up in blankets on the couch in a pair of spare pyjamas my father had given me. Jumba had me hooked up to a heart monitor and all of my diagnostics were up on display in the background on his computer, including the status of the cell. I kept glimpsing up at it in fear, terrified that it wasn't actually dead and it would reactivate.

That I'd feel myself being slammed back into that chair and restrained again as Demon 626 resumed control and actually killed me this time for killing him. That wasn't the case however—the cell remained dead the entire time I stared at the screen. I jumped a foot in the air though when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I was on edge and probably would be for a long while.

My heart gradually stopped racing. It was my beautiful angel, finally here beside me. I was able to hold her now and not view her from my own prison cell behind my eyes.

"Sorry..." she told me gently, putting her hand to my cheek after wiping at her eyes. "You're very jumpy."

I just gazed at her. And then I pulled her tightly into my arms and hugged her as hard as I could. She returned it.

"I missed you. So much..." I muttered into her ear. "You have no idea..."

She was quiet. She hummed her lullaby against me gently and I closed my eyes. I put my paws to her head and ran them through her hair, purring. Eventually she drew back and I felt her soft lips upon my own. I returned her kiss.

Lilo held it for longer this time. Much longer. I felt my heart race slightly again inside me. Drawing back, she pushed her nose to my nose before resting her forehead against mine. Our hands were clasped together firmly—my claws interlaced tightly with her fingers. But then my heart almost stopped again, for I felt her small, fragile hand take hold of my right horn. She ran her finger along it, down to the base where it had grown out of my head. I felt my body slump in response. I couldn't bring myself to face her anymore.

Reading me like a book, she tilted my head back to her, putting a finger underneath my chin.

"Stitch... it's okay." I opened my eyes slightly. She altered her position so that she was looking directly into my eyes. "Really."

"..."

She smiled at me. I just gazed back at her, unable to answer and avoided looking at her. I still felt shameful she had to see me look so ugly. But then she went to push back the covers to climb in beside me, and I heard her breath hitch. She paused, gazing downwards before looking at me again, eyes wide.

I cringed at that, sadly facing her before giving a sigh. I couldn't hide it anymore. She'd finally seen.

"Gosh, Stitch! Your tail is so long now! It looks like a... a—!" She faced me in pure alarm.

"I know..." I muttered. "Stitch isa butt-ugly monster."

I felt her take my tail into her lap gently, stroking it down to the pointed tip adorning the end.

It had changed back when the horns had grown. I hadn't realised it until after. She'd seen the horns but not that because I'd kept it hidden, pressed up against my back. Jumba had been the first to see it and he'd given me the pyjamas to help hide it. I hated it. I hated what had happened to me.

I'd been relaxing under the covers because I knew I could continue to hide it that way. I hadn't been expecting Lilo to climb in like that.

"You're not a monster or a demon..." she told me softly, continuing her strokes. "That... thing did that to you, didn't it?"

I lowered my head. "Naga..."

She looked confused. "...W-What? But... I don't understand...?"

"It didn't Lilo I did this." I flicked it away from her and her face fell. I took her hand into my paw again. "I have a lot to explain."

"Okay Stitch..."

I gave a nod. She sensed my mood easily and just hugged me tightly again as I glimpsed back up at the status of the cell on the monitor.

Lilo had fallen asleep beside me. I had been gazing down at her sleeping face for a little while when my family came to my side, Nani, David and Pleakley all looking frantic. They all hugged me, waking up Lilo.

"Jumba told us everything..." Nani told me, looking at my horns. "Oh Stitch... I can't believe you actually died again..."

Her eyes glossed over. I put a paw to her cheek.

"Yeah... isa not very fun."

"That's the third time now, huh?" I looked away from her at that statement. She laughed slightly. "You must be like a cat. Nine lives."

I tried to smile but I couldn't. She just hugged me. I'd given up on trying to hide my demon features because I knew they would see them eventually.

When Nani saw me fully she just quietly took up my tail and stroked it as Lilo had done before. David and Pleakley just stared in disbelief, although I heard David utter a small 'Wow'. They were all really intrigued by the changes Metamorphosis had done to my body, including the spines sticking out of my shoulders and arms. I just hated them and wanted them gone.

"What happened to you? You're back in control now, right? So how did this all happen...?"

I sighed. Jumba came forth at that moment. "Is one of 626's Metamorphosis abilities. Somehow he discovered it whilst under alter ego's control. I'm... deeply sorry... 626."

My ears perked up. "For naga telling me?"

He nodded. "Kept that from you because you'd already told me you felt like a monster enough as it was. I knew that would make it much worse."

He was right. But I'd accepted it and dealt with it. I had been forced to, considering I couldn't retract my horns. "What am I pa?" I asked him. "Why can I look like this?"

My father went quiet. I saw him sigh before taking a seat and pulling it up beside me. My family all sat down around me.

"I'm sure you've figured it out for yourself, 626."

I had. Somewhat. My DNA. "Preesta?" I asked him to confirm for me.

He nodded. "Very well. As you are aware, you are assortment of different species besides being pure Kweltikwanian. I used many different DNA sequences when creating you 626 and you are coded with the genetics of at least one thousand other creatures. I sent 621 out to find me DNA, but I also collected for myself. When creating you, I combined these all together into a pattern compatible with your biology. The process took a long time—at least three years of testing and experimenting. Space is vast. I had a lot of different opportunities when creating you. I envisioned you in a specific way so I used some of the most ferocious creatures in the galaxy to achieve that. Beasts with all sorts of different traits."

"Like horns?" I asked sadly.

"Like horns."

I looked down. My father put his hand on my head. "As result, you are able to alter your form in hundreds of ways due to this."

"Am I a shape-shifter?"

"Could call it that, yes. When I said you were most powerful creature in galaxy was meaning it. Nothing can top you."

I looked at my paws. He continued.

"Is why you can make your claws so long. Why you can grow extra spines, like here." He flicked at the spines along my upper arms.

Chopsuey had joined us, now sitting cross legged on the floor before me. He looked very jealous and pouted. "Let me guess Jumbo, I got nothing cool like that?"

Jumba frowned. The others all faced him.

"621 you are unique in your own way."

I stared at my cousin at that. He just glared back at me. I looked at my father again. "How?"

"Hm?"

"How?" I repeated, looking at Chopsuey. "How isa unique?"

Jumba sighed. "621 has ability too. Is locked away."

621 stood up swiftly at that, pushing past Nani slightly to come right up to us.

"GABA EIEK?!"

Jumba nodded. "I am not knowing what is, however."

"WHAT?! How could you NOT know?!" Chops shrieked, grabbing my father by the collar and yanking him towards him. I jumped up and pushed him back, growling. He swatted me away.

Jumba sneered at him, brushing himself off. "Because unlike 626, you were created in fusion reactor. When mixing your genetics, it was like a lottery. You ended up with this or that trait. Machine does not tell Jumba final result, instead I had to figure it out for myself. Why do you think you are known as experiment?"

621 just scowled.

"Your skill and dexterity was first result I was learning of. One strong trait you had that exceeded my other experiments. Is why I sent you out to collect DNA. To monitor you."

Chopsuey backed down at that, looking shocked.

"Around Gamada I couldn't run tests on you because as you know, she was stealing information from me. Due to my work, I couldn't make enough time outside of lab hours either. They drilled me to the point I couldn't escape. I had barely any time for myself. When you stole my Chop Suey one day I couldn't figure out how you'd done it. You left no evidence at all. Somehow you'd gotten INTO restricted area IN GDI and stolen it, and hadn't got caught despite being illegal and out in public. I thought co-worker had done it. Only when I saw my Chop Suey start to disappear at home shortly after did I put two and two together—you were cunning little thief with astounding ability to not be traced. So is why I named you Chopsuey."

"When I was about to run further investigation on you was when you started disappearing on me. I acknowledge I was too focused on 626 and neglected you and admit I was at fault for your turning on me. Like 626, I was not good creator to you. However, your turning on me just resulted in Jumba never being able to figure out what other trait you had was since you didn't want anything more to do with me and made attempts on my life. So, is locked away in there. Up to you to figure out. Maybe you have already figured out, maybe you haven't."

Chopsuey was speechless. Lilo was smiling, however. She stood up and went over to him.

"It's like I said! I TOLD you your name had meaning to it!" He looked down at her for a moment before looking back at my father. "Well? Did it?"

Jumba looked astounded. "Your name? Of course had meaning behind it. All my experiments names have meaning behind them."

Chopsuey looked at me. "So then what's his?"

My father closed his eyes. "Is based on something special to Jumba..." he said. "Probably not make much sense to anybody else why but is special to me. Makes me happy."

"Like what?" Chopsuey pressed. My father grunted.

"Highway."

My ears perked up at that. Much like Chopsuey I was confused.

"Yubiga?"

Jumba looked at me. He sighed, placing a hand onto my head. "When I was young child, parents took Jumba and siblings to vacation spot two parsecs from Kweltikwan in Zenon 13 quadrant. On planet, route to location was long famous highway, that stretched for miles and miles. In distance was very beautiful beach. Route was known as Route 6-26B—longest single route of any planet. Along 6-26B was lodge. Lodge was where Jumba first learned about genetic experimentation. When having take-out dinner there for stop over on way to vacation spot, Jumba discovered book in gift shop. Parents bought Jumba that book. Was only time they ever bought me anything, there in that place. Was neglected after that."

My father stood up and walked over to his desk, opening up a few drawers and digging around before pulling out a book. It looked very old and worn. He handed it to me. I was able to read the title easily as it was in Tantalog.

Cracking the Biggest Codes of the Galaxy: Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics

I flipped the book over before looking through it. As I was about to put it down, a small stack of notes fell down into my lap, stashed away somewhere in the back of the book. I picked them up and looked at them. Worn down and yellowed with age, they were drawings of little creatures, clearly drawn by a child. Some of them had lots of arms or legs and multiple eyes. Some even had wings.

My father took the drawings from me. "Book essentially changed course of Jumba's life. Moment I saw it was when I developed deep interest in genetic engineering. Gave Jumba dream to work towards and that was creating life. Creatures like you."

He poked 621 in the chest and he growled.

"Pa... yuuga drew these?" I asked. Chopsuey even walked over himself for a closer look.

"Yes. 626, remember picture you took from me?"

I nodded.

"That shirt was also obtained on Route 6-26B. From same gift shop. So... name 626 is special to me in many ways. Because route was not only turning point in Jumba's young life but also holds many nostalgic memories of good times as child. Before parents became abusive and neglectful. Good childhood before bad childhood. Bah... probably only good time of Jumba's life, when growing up with family."

Nani and the rest of my family looked utterly shocked. I was staring at my father in disbelief. I had been named after a memory special to my father. Everything tied back to that highway—my numerical name, the markings on my body. Even his gang!

I was perplexed. I let out a noise of surprise, but I didn't say anything—I simply just stood up and walked to my father and wrapped my arms around him.

"Name me special name. Like Lilo."

He nodded. I looked at Chopsuey. "Special name too."

621 glared at me again. But then his expression eased slightly. He looked away from us for a moment before looking at me.

"So then, what's YOUR story."

"Hm?" My ears perked up.

"Yes, 626," Jumba also spoke up. "What happened to you in there? What were you fighting?"

I sighed. Lilo came over to me and squeezed my paw. Closing my eyes for a moment, I looked up at my family.

"Meega? I... well. I was there, ih. I could see all of it, everything happening here. He let me see that."

Jumba frowned. "Who let you see? Alter ego?"

I nodded. "Demon 626."

"Demon 626?!" Jumba asked, surprised. "Who is...?"

"Isa him. The back-up. Evil me," they let me continue. "I was there, ih. Big black void, but it was Stitch mind. Think of a chair. Chair isa horrible... very scary. Covered in blood like in horror movie. Stitch... was in that chair. But I had ropes around me, very tight. I couldn't move. Only eyes and mouth. Stitch was paralysed."

My family looked horrified.

"If you want to know what hell feels like... well, that was it. Imagine most helpless feeling in world. Somebody taking your mind. Body. He controlled me. Made me do things 'n say things but I wasn't doing it. I was a puppet 'n he pulled the strings. He made me hurt you on purpose, Lilo. Tell you drawing was silly. Well... I was there. I was screaming to you. Telling you drawing was beautifa. Naga to listen to him. Except... Lilo could not hear me."

I saw my angel tear up at that. I looked at Nani.

"And Naanee... you saw moment he took me over. Was that day in mart, when you shopping."

Nani's eyes widened. Her hands flew to her mouth.

"I see you... and then everything freeze. I was slammed into that chair, and he took over. I call for help but you couldn't hear me. Then he tell you... he say things like put gun in your face. See how you feel. Was him talking, not meega."

Just like Lilo, Nani teared up. "Oh god..."

I nodded. "Got worse after that. He hurt me, break me. Make me want to give up. Make me... fat." I gestured to myself. "To be ugly and make Lilo turn on me. Taunt me that pa not love me anymore. Lilo not love me anymore. Family hate me. Demon 626 also had told me something else too..." I sighed.

Jumba was holding my hand by this point. "What, 626?"

"He tell me he control cell. He can make me change. All times I change and scare Naanee was him making me do it. He show me... I see myself change in mirror..." I looked up at my father. "I learn how. My emotions. Meega..."—I pointed to myself—"They power him. Power cell. More angry I am, more powerful he get."

Jumba's eyes widened at that as well.

"Stitch feelings become data for cell. Like how Jumba start Metamorphosis. Demon 626 knew this so he would try make me mad. He wanted to start the program but meega? Naga—I not get mad. Not let him win because I know what happen if I did. I go blank... broken. He snapped. Got mad at me and punch me lots. Make me see visions of me dying, make me think real. He confused my reality. Like when he would rip my jaw apart. Very scary and gory, but naga real. He also one that go to Lilo hula class... hurt Moses. Scare everybody. Because MAD!" I seethed. "Mad that I not mad! That I won't let him start program!"

I clenched my fists.

"He was so evil and so cruel. But also, he told Stitch something... that I can change my body. He could do it too. He actually look like this..." I gestured to myself. "Ugly horns and pointy tail! When I komst see, Stitch confused. Naga understand how was possible...? He tell me... tell Stitch that Stitch can change too! And so I try. I... get extra spines. I tried to grow guns. 'Cuz I wanted to kill him so badly, but naga work. Then... I try this..."

I pointed to my horns. "It worked and I realised I could change like him. But... when tried to go back I couldn't. Stitch stuck like this so I was very upset. I didn't want you to see meega like this, Lilo!" I couldn't look at them. "'Cuz when Jumba put device in meega, ih, it paralysed Demon 626 but it paralysed me too. I couldn't change back. Couldn't hide from Lilo and Stitch very embarrassed. So ugly. So that's why I look like a demon now like him. But I'm not."

Lilo gripped my paw tightly.

"Demon 626... he nearly killed me. He fight with me... and was the worst battle of my life..." I looked down at myself. I parted my fur and sure enough, the scars were there. My father almost flipped at seeing that. "Nobody know what happening to me 'cuz in here!" I pointed to my head. "It really happen though! Since he had my body was destroying it too. Inside out. And then he took control of meega again, when Jumba deactivate device. No escape so I... give up. I died."

My father clenched his fists. "Was when you had heart attack..."

I nodded. "Neesa then..."

"Then what?"

I looked at Lilo and Nani. "Stitch appear on hill. The one where I first die, in fusion chamber. I see a man. He talked to me. Asked Stitch why he give up. And then... I see lady too..." I smiled slightly. "I know them! They looked familiar because were Lilo and Nani parents."

"WHAT?!" Nani and Lilo both screamed at the same time. Nani took my head into her hands. "OUR parents?!"

"Ih. Retcha I tell you that I see white figures when first die? Could not explain?"

Lilo looked shocked. I'd never told her that.

"Yes?" Nani gripped my paw.

I nodded. "Were parents. Tell me... they in limbo. Naga dead, naga alive. Tell me I have to go back. I naga want to because to save everybody from dying from program I actually wanted to die. But then realise... I had to go back. But before I go back, I asked one question. I asked why Mitch was in meega. They told Stitch there are more dimensions! He go through one and into me when Jumba created me. And then he was there too. Mitch isa real. Is really in Stitch. Isa me."

They backed away from me slightly at that. Lilo leaned forth to stare into my face. "W-What?!"

I nodded. "Ih. I am human. I come back as alien," I looked at my father. "Come back when you create me, isa why I not evil. Stitch also discover that Stitch naga kaphong! 'Cuz Mitch out of me in limbo it prove Jumba DNA in me. Not bad. No thoughts to hurt or destroy. I was just like I am now."

"Do you mean to say that... you would not have been like alter ego? If back-up wasn't there?" my father asked me.

"Naga nota..." I responded. "Neesa... 'cuz I'm Mitch that was what was able to hold back Demon 626 and stop him fully taking over me. It's why I can speak better now too, I realised. I think if Mitch not meega, then ih... would have been evil. Cannot say. Naga answer. Perhaps Mitch be in me long enough that when he left me in limbo, I was able to be me. Not evil. Good influence. He could only leave me there because we were both dead."

I had to catch my breath. It was a lot to explain to them.

"But... that isa all. After that, I come back. Mitch vanish again. Become me. I wake up to find Demon 626 finally defeated. Lilo and Nani parents tell me to say that they are watching you. Always have been and have seen everything. So they knew me. They love you and miss you."

The sisters hugged each other tightly at hearing that. "R-Really Stitch?" Nani asked me, smiling.

"Ih!" I yawned. "Papa... you come through for me! Never give up on me! Knew Stitch in here trapped. You knew I was prisoner of Demon 626!" I tapped my head. "Love you. So much."

My father closed his eyes. He drew me into a long, long hug and kissed me on the head. I smiled happily before pulling back slightly and looking at Nani and Lilo again.

"I am way I am 'cuz I'm human too."

Jumba looked utterly perplexed. He reached out and stroked me across the cheek.

"So that is why you were never monster from start. You had my DNA but soul going into you made you different entirely."

I nodded. He looked to the floor slightly. "..."

My ears lowered. I wondered what was wrong and went to reach out my paw to ask him but Chopsuey distracted me. "Well then is he stuck like that?" he asked and then smirked. "Like a demon? Because it actually suits him."

My heart dropped. I wanted to snarl at 621 but I felt too upset to. Lilo looked annoyed. She knew he was taunting me. "That's not nice! How would you feel?"

Chopsuey just raised an eyebrow at her, crossing his arms to lean back against the workbench before tapping his foot. "Kid, I mutated myself. Worse than him. That's why I'm taller than I used to be. Side effect of it."

Lilo stared at him. She'd seen how Chopsuey had looked in that mutated form of his and I knew she didn't like it. She reached up and felt my horns again. "Jumba?"

My father looked at me. "Yes, is possible for him to go back to normal. However, is not something I can help him with. 626, you are only capable of changing form yourself. Is nothing I can do."

"But... B-But how?" I sputtered. I had been really hoping Jumba would fix me so I felt very deflated and I felt a my anger rise a little that it wasn't going to be as simple as I thought it would be. "I tried to before! Couldn't!"

"You can. Try harder."

"You DON'T get it! I CAN'T GO BACK!" I screeched and all of them backed away from me slightly when I lashed my tail. "Hurt when tried! Nothing happened! You have to do something! I don't want to be stuck like this!"

Chopsuey laughed.

"I told you, 626. Metamorphosis is YOUR ability. Only you can change form."

"Naga!" I screeched, feeling my anger rise and I grabbed my father by his shirt, startling him. "FIX ME!"

"..."

"OR I WILL MAKE YOU!"

My father just stared at me blankly. "626. Listen to yourself," he responded calmly. "Are you still demon or are you 626?"

My eyes widened at that and I let go in complete horror. I only realised then that my claws were fully unsheathed and it very quickly dawned upon me what I'd just done. I looked towards my family, studying their faces. They looked scared of me. Even my angel was ducking away from me. Chopsuey was smirking but I ignored him.

I'd just yelled at my own father when all he'd ever done was help me.

I looked at my paws. "..." A faint red glow was on them before it dulled down and went out. My eyes had been glowing, I realised. I choked.

Oh god...

"I—I'm soka!" I squeaked as my vision blurred. "I'm so so soka—!"

I pulled at my ears before yanking off the heart monitor and running away from there as fast as I could. All I knew was that I needed to get away from them.

"Stitch wait!" Jumba called after me. "No—!"

But I'd already run out of the ship.

Pressed up against the back of a tree, I shuddered, holding myself close. Why had I got so angry like that?

The cell was dead. I shouldn't be angry. Yet, I was— I'd taken my inability to remove my demon features out on my father, who had just dealt with me dying for the third time and having a heart attack. The worst kind of guilt I'd ever felt swamped over me.

What the hell was wrong with me?!

"Who am I?!" I cried, standing up and pounding my fist into the tree. "WHO AM I...?"

I wasn't a monster. I KNEW I wasnt! But if I wasn't then why was I stuck like this? Why couldn't I change back?

I just sat there for what seemed like ages. And then finally, I decided to just try again. It was a mistake—pain exploded around my forehead and when I reached up to feel if the horns had moved even so much as an inch, I just felt blood pool in my claws instead.

CRAP. This was bad. This was so bad!

"No!" I cried. I went to grab them and try to rip them off but that just made the pain even worse.

I wasn't a blasted demon! I was STITCH.

...Wasn't I? It was such a simple question yet even I didn't know anymore.

The cell was dead. I saw it for myself. Heck, I was back in control so it had to be dead. I had no reason to by angry and I just couldn't figure it out. I took my tail into my paws and stared at it. My eyes narrowed with tears and I put pressure on it, trying to snap it in half.

But then I stopped. I was only hurting myself by doing that. It wouldn't solve anything.

Maybe I was just mad because of everything that had happened to me. I was stressed out. That had to be the case because what else could it possibly be?

"..." Eventually I just sighed, slumping back against the tree.

I'd really thought everything was over. I'd really believed that my trip through hell was finally over. Perhaps I was wrong, though.

Perhaps... it was only just beginning.

I was a miserable, tired and defeated wreck by the time my family found me. Jumba picked me up into his arms.

"626..." I was too exhausted to react to it. "Come on son..."

My father carried me back to the ship and put me back into bed. After hooking me up again, he sat by my side as did the others.

"You've been through a lot 626 and it has taken a severe toll on your body, I can be telling. I've been thinking also that is likely reason why you cannot change back, however you you need to remain calm. Stressing out about it won't help." He rubbed my head. "Remember, I designed you myself and I know your body, so you need to believe Jumba when I tell you this... that you are able to change back and you will soon. Unfortunately is just not right now."

I cracked open my eye slightly and looked up at them all.

"You might not be able to until you fully recover, so could take days. We do not see you as any different. You are still my son. And as I've TOLD you, repeatedly, you are NOT a monster. So stop being silly!"

I flinched slightly at hearing that. "..." My angel snuggled against me.

"Is best for now that you just have long rest, even if you are fast healer. We will leave."

"I'm not leaving," Lilo stated abruptly.

"Lilo, I think for sake of 626 you shou—"

"NO!" she roared at my father, and he looked astounded at her fierce and sudden defiance. "I'm NOT leaving his side! Not now, not EVER!"

Nani just looked at her sadly. My father sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"Fine. Fine, Lilo. Come..."

My father and my family stood up and left. Lilo looked out after them angrily before sighing. I peeked up at her.

"Leelo?"

She gazed at me. "I'm sorry, Stitch. It's just that I don't want to be away from you right now. I need you."

I pushed down the covers slightly and held her hand.

"I need you too."

She snuggled against me and I stroked her hair. "Do... you truly not see Stitch as monster like this?" I asked after a little while had passed.

"No. I don't," she shook her head. "I was scared at first but... now I think it looks kinda cool... honestly."

I was utterly dumbfounded by that to begin with before I remembered that Lilo had an affinity for monsters in general. She was a unique girl.

"Wolf-Girl?"

Lilo stared at me for a moment, before realising what I'd asked. "Heh, yeah. I like monsters Stitch. Like vampires. And werewolves. I even dressed up as one just before. I just see it like a costume on you!" My angel smiled, and then pulled back from me slightly. A mischievous gleam was in her eye. "I... I think I have an idea! Hold on!"

My ears perked. "Leelo?"

"I'll be back soon!" She kissed my cheek before climbing down from the couch and running from the ship. I lay down again, staring up at the ceiling.

"Am I a monster?"

I held my paws up to my face. I thought back to the limbo I'd been in before. I thought of Lilo's parents and Mitch.

Lilo is a human, and humans aren't monsters. I thought to myself before frowning. I'm a human too, I'm Mitch. Mitch isn't a monster... No. I can't be. NO.

"Stitch isa NOT monster."

I clenched my fists together, sneering up at the ceiling.

"STITCH HAVE HUMAN HEART!"

I'd drifted off slightly. Somebody tapped me gently and I woke in fright, jumping again and giving out a yell.

"Shh! It's just me Stitch, it's okay!"

My vision cleared. I reeled back again and had to do a double take. "L-Leelo?"

She gripped my paw. She was back in the werewolf costume—without the mask, of course.

"Gaba eieky?"

She giggled. "I-I just thought this might make you feel better," she said timidly, looking away from me. "If you think you're a monster, then I'll be a monster too."

My heart wrenched. I felt tears form in my eyes. "Lilo..." I gasped. "You... You do that, for Stitch?"

She looked at me. "I don't want you to feel like you're all alone."

I closed my eyes, pushing my head to hers. "You mean so much to me..."

"Same for you..." she responded quietly, gripping my paw. "Why did you come back, Stitch?"

"Huh?"

"You died again," she said with glistening eyes. "You finally got to meet mom and dad. But... I know you. I know that you wanted to go to heaven to protect me and everybody else. But you came back. You didn't go through with it... And I want to know why."

I sat up at that. "For you. And pa..." Her eyes widened slightly. I continued. "Ih... I did want to stay there, Lilo. Because it would mean that Metamorphosis would never activate. Could save Earth. I do not want to be the reason your home taken away from you. Stitch... not want to ruin your life. You saw picture of meega, ih? In Metamorphosis."

She nodded. "Yeah... You were really big, like Godzilla. You looked so scary. Like you can destroy our world."

"I can..." I told her. I looped myself around her tightly. The only good thing about having a demon tail was that I could enclose her more, and I did just that. "Lilo... I am a doomsday device. You know what that is, right?"

Her eyes darted back and forth between mine. She nodded. I put my paw to her cheek. "You know lots of horror movies, ih? Like we watch? Movies like ones that show apocalypse— what happens when world ends and humanity dies?"

She gave a nod.

"Isa so scary... and horrible. Well... I would do that to your world Lilo. To Earth..." I clenched my fists. "Would end life. Because that's what I am. Doomsday device."

She was quivering slightly now. I rubbed her arms. "So that's why I wanted to stay there. But... I came back because I could not break your heart anymore than it was already broken. I saw you. I saw you get sick. They showed me that."

She began to cry at that.

"I could not stay up there with parents and watch you grow up to be so sad. They told me, you naga as strong as Naanee. You would grow up, but you would do so without Stitch. You would never be happy again. And to me? That wasn't worth dying for."

Lilo gripped my paw hard. She buried herself into me.

"You mean too much to me, Lilo. So I cannot die. I only die with you, but not without you. So is why I choose you over world. Humanity surviving important ih, but to me? You're far more important. 'Cuz Stitch had no choice in life. Was created way I am by Jumba against my will. Created to be unstoppable monster. He give me all these abilities to exceed anything else. But... I realised that I have right to choose my own happiness too. Not have that decided for me. Isa that really so selfish?"

"Stitch..." she sobbed against me, eventually pulling back to gaze into my eyes. "I really mean that much to you?"

I nodded. "I'm human Lilo... I can tell you that from here!" I put my paw over my heart. "So, I'm sorry. I made choice for myself."

She knew the implications behind me staying alive. She was old enough to understand those. There was a nod from her.

"Even if that program does activate and you do end the world... I wouldn't hate you for it. I would just accept it. Because you made me the happiest I've ever been Stitch and it's unfortunate, but sometimes we can't always get what we want."

I stared at her at that. She elaborated.

"I lost my parents. I was forced to grow up without mom and dad. Life is so up and down and it always has been for me. I didn't want it that way so I just had to adapt to it. When I met you I learned that I just had to make the most of what I had. I could choose whether I was happy or sad. And I chose to be happy."

"Lilo... chose that?"

She nodded. "That's why I never let Mertle get to me. I tried my best not to, at least. And that's what kept me going though each day, Stitch. But then when you came along? I had no reason to be unhappy anymore."

"And now you won't be..." I told her.

She smiled. She hugged me tightly and we remained like that for a little while. The monitor beside us beeped gently. When Lilo put her ear to my chest it made me sit up a little.

"Hm?"

She smiled. "Your heart. I can hear it."

"I can hear yours too..." I told her, and she looked at me curiously.

"Because of your good ears?"

I put my ear to her chest and opened my mouth. The sound of her heartbeat echoed out of it from my speaker and her eyes widened. "Is... is that my heart?"

I nodded, closing my mouth.

"I hear it all the time Lilo. Keeps Stitch going, knowing Lilo here with me."

"It sounds different to yours."

"Slower, ih..." I agreed. "You're human. My heart is still alien even if I am human."

"Stitch?" my angel asked and I gazed at her. "Do you feel like Mitch?"

I stared at her at that.

I felt the same as I'd had before. When Mitch was inside of me it was as though I was just living my life normally as him. It was hard to put into words but I tried my best.

"I am Stitch Lilo," I told her. "I know that because I grew up as that. Mitch is the part of me that knows right from wrong. Part of me that feels and cares and allowed me to change. And now I understand that, I feel him inside. I have memories that are his but are now mine too. Could never explain those. Identity crisis, I guess." She laughed slightly, making me smile. "Isa like both at once. Human and alien at same time. Just Stitch know that he is both. I know Jumba is pa. And Mitch know that Mr Kuakini is father."

"So who do you think you are then? A human or an alien?"

I shrugged. "I'm me."

"You?" she asked. "Maybe you're a fusion..."

A fusion? I'd never thought of it like that before. "Fusion of Mitch and meega?"

She nodded. "Fused together inside, so while you're both Stitch and Mitch too, you are just you. Stitch and Mitch together is what made YOU who you are."

I was elated at hearing that. It made me feel very content. Lilo had just told me what I could never accurately put into words. She truly understood me and who I was. "Ih!"

She grinned. "And that's the YOU I love the most!"

I purred and she kissed me on the nose. "Lilo?" I asked, something coming to my mind.

"Yeah?"

I sat up a little. "Do you... want to go away with me? For a little while?"

"Huh?"

I smiled at her. "Just me and you. Kinda like when we went to the motel, neesa naga under bad circumstance this time of course..." I rubbed the back of my head shamefully. "We go somewhere else. Just be away from famalee for while. Just two of us. I want to be with you."

She hesitated for a moment, but then she smiled. "I'd love to Stitch! Would we take the ship?"

"Ih."

Lilo looked worried. I took her hand into my paw. "I'll protect you. No worry. You're safe with me. Chi-chabada..."

"Okay Stitch..."

I nodded.

Truthfully I felt okay. Even though I'd died just before, after some rest I'd felt better. I had that advantage of being a supreme being that healed fast, even with all the damage Demon 626 had done to me. I was still sore, and I knew I wasn't fully one hundred percent back to normal, but I was strong for Lilo.

This was something I needed badly. I hoped my family would understand that. I'd endured hell for the past few weeks. All I wanted right now was to be with my angel. Just us... alone. Nobody else. If something happened to me... well... there was nothing could do about it. This was my only priority right now and I needed this for myself. I had to put myself first.

I had to show her how much she meant to me before something else went wrong. Because I had a feeling it would in someway or another. I could just feel it deep inside, a sinister brooding feeling I wasn't able to shake. And with me getting angry like that before I knew that wasn't a good sign.

I needed a distraction. So, I picked up Lilo into my arms and we headed down to the police cruiser quickly. I helped her inside before climbing in myself. I did want to try and get out of there before the family found us, however I was already too late.

"626!" I heard a roar just as I was about to close the hatch. "What are you doing?!" It was my father, Nani and David right behind him. "Wait!

I looked at Lilo. We'd been caught.

"I'm sorry..."

She gripped at my paw. "It'll be okay..."

Our family stared at us. Nani looked over Lilo in her costume and my angel turned away from her with her hair covering her face. I could tell she felt embarrassed and had only wanted me to see her in the costume. It was the same for me, however. At least hers was just dress up. My horrible costume was real.

I was so incredibly lucky to have somebody willing to put themselves into the same position as me just for the sake of making me feel better. This was why she was my angel.

She was a godsend.

"Lilo, what on earth are you doing...?" Nani asked, sounding scared. "And why are you dressed like that?"

"..."

At the same time, Jumba turned me to face him. "626 you need to be resting! I have no idea what your intentions are, but if anything you should get out of there and back up into sh—"

"Pa..." I said firmly, interrupting him. He went quiet and stared at me. "I'm fine for now. Please. I need this... you have no idea what has been like for me. Let me go. Let us do this. I just want to be with my best friend."

My love... I thought. Nani couldn't know that. A stare-down ensued between us. I held my position firmly. Finally, he slumped slightly and he looked away from me.

"I know I cannot stop you 626, you're too stubborn. If you really need this then do it. Just promise me you'll come back and you will keep me informed of your coordinates."

"Of course..." I said, looking at Nani. She looked scared. "I'm okay. Demon 626 not in control anymore. Lilo safe with me. I just want to spend time with her. Pleechi-ba..."

"Stitch," she started. "I don't think this such a good idea. Just how long do you intend to take that ship out for? What if you collapse or something?"

I didn't want to answer her at that. I didn't know what would happen to me out there. "You need to let us do this." I said to her. "Please...!"

She closed her eyes. "How long will you be?"

"I... naga nota. I'm sorry."

Nani grabbed my hand before I could close the hatch. "Don't be long. I mean it. Don't make me stress out again, you hear?"

I nodded. And with that I closed the hatch, making them back off. Before they could protest any further, I made my decision. I engaged the thrust and we took off into the night sky.