Romance Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Stars Above - A Cassunzel Fanfic ❯ Chapter 34: Epilogue ( Chapter 34 )

It had been two weeks since the battle between Zhan Tiri. Corona was being rebuilt, again, so Cassandra and Rapunzel decided to stay and help until it was finished. Nova had been returned to them a day after the battle who, apparently, was being taken care of by Dallas in a secluded area.

After Cassandra rescued Nova, Cassandra placed her in Dallas’s care for the time being. Dallas told her she knew of an area that would keep her safe and due to the short amount of time she had, Cassandra easily agreed. Dallas heard of what happened (Hell, all of the Seven Kingdoms heard what happened and it went even farther than that) so Rapunzel and Cassandra were a huge deal at the moment.

Apparently, Zhan Tiri had been terrorizing villages all over the world even before Cass and Rapunzel left Corona. So now they were known as the ‘heroic star-crossed lovers’ all over the Seven Kingdoms and then some. They didn’t have to worry about being judged, chased, disgraced and run out of villages anymore. Well, there were still people out there who hated them and their relationship, but for the most part, they were pretty safe.

People all over the world had visited Corona the past two weeks; either to help them recover or shower Rapunzel and Cassandra with sob stories, thanks and gifts. Mostly for Cassandra. Cassandra had never been called a ‘hero’ before other than by Rapunzel so it was all new to her. She wasn’t used to people coming up to her, willingly, hugging her and telling her how thankful they were. She had always been outcasted so the fact that they came up to her to specifically thank her made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. She felt something that she hadn’t in a long, long time: Pride. Pride for herself. Pride for her friends. Pride for her family.

Even though it was nice, she missed the private, secluded time with Rapunzel that they used to share. Over the last two weeks, they barely even saw each other and she hated that. But at least she was alive. And although the warm and fuzzy feeling she got at being adored made her feel amazing, nothing could ever compare to the relief she felt that Rapunzel was alive and by her side.

When Rapunzel ‘died’, Cassandra had never felt more lost, more hopeless, more heartbroken in her entire life. It was like a part of her was maliciously ripped away from her and all she felt was - well - nothing. She went numb. She was careless. She nearly got her friends killed. She nearly got innocent people killed. And although Gothel very much deserved to die, she brutally murdered her with no hesitation. She barely remembered what happened after Rapunzel died in her arms and that scared her. She could have attacked any one of her friends and not even realize it. But now that Rapunzel was alive and well, she was finally taking anger-management classes so she can better herself and learn how to control her untamed anger.

If she was being honest, the classes were going quite well. She was starting to get much better at controlling her emotions. But what was there to be mad about anyway? Perhaps she was still mad at Gothel for abandoning her then trying to kill them, perhaps she was mad at Zhan Tiri for murdering her best friend and so many other innocent lives, perhaps she was mad at herself and perhaps she was still mad at Rapunzel for carelessly giving her life away to save her. But you know what? None of it mattered now anyway.

She was surrounded by people who loved and adored her, she was seen as a role model, she had a beautiful daughter and lastly, Rapunzel was alive and breathing right next to her. So what was the point of holding onto past anger when everything was so perfect? There were no dangerous magical imbalances hanging over their heads, there was no fear of dying running through their veins and there were smiling faces all around her. Everything was perfect.

Well, not perfect, perfect, but perfect enough for Cassandra. Cass was still having problems with Rapunzel’s father but he was starting to warm up. Sort of. Rapunzel and Arianna had forced them to try and talk stuff out but it only ended up in Arianna having to hold the king back and Rapunzel having to hold Cassandra back so they dropped that plan real fast. While the king might never accept her as his daughter’s lover and the second mother of his grandchild, she could care less. She was nothing to him in his eyes but he was letting her be with Rapunzel. That was all she needed.

When Rapunzel introduced Nova to her parents, they were all over her in a matter of seconds. They had babysat her on more than one occasion so Rapunzel and Cassandra could get some duties done. With Nova, the king actually acted... sort of nice around her. He didn’t glare at her nor make nasty comments but he didn’t specifically talk to her unless he absolutely needed to either. But neither did Cassandra. They shared a mutual agreement to behave around the little baby. 

At first, Cassandra was worried that the king would turn away Nova because of her but he did quite the opposite. When Nova was placed in the king's care and it was just the two of them, Cassandra often caught the king showing sides of himself she had never seen before. And although she strongly disliked the king, it warmed her heart, as well as Rapunzel’s, to see him being so carefree and gentle instead of being so serious and bland.

But on the other hand, Cassandra and Arianna had formed a mother-like daughter-in-law friendship like no other. She was like the mother Cassandra never had. Cassandra had nearly teared up on multiple occasions due to how Arianna treated her as one of her own; which warmed Rapunzel’s heart.

But today was different. Rapunzel and Cass had finally got an opportunity to have some time with each other. But since the king and queen were busy, Cassandra and Rapunzel had asked Eugene to watch Nova for them for the night. Well… Let’s rephrase that. Rapunzel asked and Cassandra was forced to agree. So, because of that, Cassandra was currently giving Eugene the run-down of what to do; despite Rapunzel and his annoyance.

“Don’t forget to feed her... and, oh-” Finally, after 20 minutes of this, Rapunzel stepped in as she placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Cass, I think he gets it.”

“But-” Rapunzel shot her an annoyed look and sighed.

“Just go get Nova and shush.” She reprimanded. Cassandra grumbled but otherwise did what she asked as she left the room to retrieve their daughter from Rapunzel’s bedroom. Rapunzel shook her head and sighed before looking back at Eugene.

“Sorry about that Eugene, she’s not ususally so... over-protective and pushy.”

Eugene snorted. “Cassandra ‘not ususally pushy’? That doesn’t sound right. She’s the most pushy person I know.” He teased.

Rapunzel ran a tired hand down her face. “Yeah, but she’s been extra pushy and over-protective lately towards the both of us. I love her, but it’s kinda getting a bit on my nerves, you know?”

To her surprise, Eugene’s facade dropped as he looked towards the door where Cassandra left. “I can hardly blame her if I’m being honest,” Eugene spoke, still staring absent-mindly at the door. Rapunzel gave him a surprised expression at the sorrowful, pitiful expression he gave her when he remet her eyes. “When you, uh...” He trailed off, not able to finish that sentence as he shook his head slowly and continued. “She was a wreck. I have never and I mean never seen her like that before. She just wasn’t... her. All I could see was anger and immense pain until the very end even when she ‘appeared’ to be holding up fine. I mean, you... what happened... we were all a mess. But her... it was different. She just seemed so lost, so broken, to the point where her eyes, her voice, her movements, it just all appeared... empty and without reason. Like she was alive physically but mentally… she wasn’t there. She was running on instinct and adrenaline and fear... and...” Eugene ran a tired hand down his face. “...Ugh, I know we’ve never gotten along very well but to see her like that... I don’t know.. it broke me. To see someone so usually strong and reserved break into a million pieces right in front of our eyes...” He shook his head. “It was like we lost both of you.” Rapunzel’s annoyed expression immediately turned to one of guilt after Eugene told her all that but suddenly, he smiled. “But yet... she still took charge... and pretty much saved Corona and the world. Despite all the pain and heartache, she picked us up and led us to victory; as she promised. I don’t think any of the people from Corona, not even your father, will ever forget that. I now see what you see in her, sunshine.”

Despite almost being led to tears, Rapunzel smiled through it anyway. “She’s always had it in her. She just needed to see that for herself.” Suddenly, her smile fell and she looked down. “...I just wish it didn’t take me dying for her to see that.”

Eugene smiled sadly. “Me neither.” They shared the briefest of smiles before Cassandra finally returned with the bubbly baby. Eugene and Rapunzel immediately put on a face to hide the fact that they were talking about anything somber; especially about her. Cassandra immediately stopped though and raised an eyebrow. She saw right through them as always.

“What were you two talking about?” She asked skeptically.

Both Rapunzel and Eugene struggled for an excuse. “Uhm, nothing?” Rapunzel mentally smacked herself. What kind of answer was that?

Cassandra seemed to take it though. Or at least, she didn’t push the subject. “Right…” She responded skeptically before placing Nova in Eugene’s arms.

“Her bedtimes at 6.” Cassandra said, getting that last little bit of information out. Rapunzel rolled her eyes but her and Eugene’s conversation was still fresh on her mind. Afterall, whenever Rapunzel tried to talk about what happened... Cassandra always immediately changed the subject. Rapunzel didn’t get many chances to press the subject due to the fact that they’ve been so damn busy lately - so she was hoping she could finally get something out now that they could finally have time to themselves. Rapunzel knew it was still too painful for her but they needed to talk about it to move past it. And unfortunately, she’s probably gonna have to corner her again to get anything out of that stubborn heart of hers because, once more, she closed herself off. “Oh and if anything happens to her, it’s your head.”

“Cass!” Rapunzel reprimanded, momentarily knocked out of her thoughts. Cassandra only narrowed her eyes at Eugene.

Eugene rolled his eyes. “Don’t you worry, ice-queen, Nova will be safe with Uncle Eugene.” Eugene smiled as he bounced Nova and she giggled.

“Uncle Eugene?” Rapunzel asked with an eyebrow raised and an amused smile.

“Yep,” Eugene said confidently as he tickled the little baby, again making her giggle. “The best and most fun uncle in the world.”

Cassandra only rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure.” She responded sarcastically. 

Rapunzel smiled and placed a hand on Eugene’s shoulder. “Thanks for this Eugene, really, we really appreciate it.” Rapunzel said, sending a glare towards Cassandra who only rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath.

“It’s no biggie,” Eugene responded. “Now you two take a load off and go have fun!”

Rapunzel thanked him one last time before dragging Cassandra away. Literally dragging her away. But before she completely left the room, Cassandra looked back at Eugene and narrowed her eyes. She placed two fingers over her eyes and pointed them back at him. I’m watching you.

Eugene slowly shook his head with a smile as Cassandra was, once more, dragged away by an annoyed Rapunzel. Eugene looked down at the small bundle of joy in his arms. “Your parents are really strange, you know that?” The baby only stared up at him with a giggle.

“You’re too hard on him, you know.” Rapunzel said eventually as they walked through the familiar halls, her arm looped into Cassandra’s.

“Someone’s gotta keep the guy on his feet,” Cassandra responded. “I mean, I kinda stole his girlfriend, so...”

Rapunzel huffed and elbowed her, making the warrior laugh. “So you can trust him to save the world with you but you don’t trust him with our daughter?”

Cassandra scratched the back of her neck and looked away. “Well, there wasn’t very much to lose, so...” It was said more under her breath but Rapunzel heard it nonetheless.

Rapunzel’s smile fell and her heart cracked as she remembered the conversation her and Eugene had. “All I could see was anger and immense pain until the very end even when she ‘appeared’ to be holding up fine.” His words kept ringing through her head. “To see someone so usually strong and reserved break into a million pieces in front of our eyes...” Sighing, Rapunzel suddenly stopped as Cassandra gave her a confused look. Rapunzel hated to bring up such painful memories on the day they finally had together since everything was slowly starting to calm down... but they needed to talk about it eventually. And there’s no time like the present, right?

Cassandra had told Rapunzel everything that happened while she was... not around. From being stuck in some weird void, to the memories she was shown, to the very end. She didn’t leave out a single detail but Rapunzel seemed to be intrigued by her tale. But there was one thing that Cassandra did leave out (as she usually does)... Her feelings during that time. 

“Cass, that’s... actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Cassandra stopped alongside her and from the look that was in her eyes, Cassandra knew exactly what Rapunzel was talking about. She quickly shook her head. “No.”

“Cass-”

"No, Raps.”

“Cassandra, you can’t keep avoiding it forever.”

“I can and I will.”

“Cassandra-”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Rapunzel.”

“I know you don’t,” Rapunzel responded. “But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.” Cass looked away. Sighing, Rapunzel walked forward and gently grasped both of her cheeks to make her look at her. Rapunzel hated the hidden pain she saw hiding behind her beautiful newly blueish-green eyes. “I know... what happened... is still eating at you but-”

Cassandra pulled away from her. “Of course it’s still eating at me! You died, Rapunzel. It wasn’t fake, it wasn’t like when you were injured in the hospital, you died in my arms.”

“And that’s exactly why we need to talk about it.” Rapunzel argued, grabbing her once more. Cass tried to struggle away from her to escape the pleading eyes that were boring into her soul. She tried to look away but Rapunzel’s grip was too strong to escape the one conversation that she’s been dreading for weeks. “And I know you’re still mad at me.” Rapunzel added.

Cassandra snapped her eyes back towards Rapunzel, her eyes angry. “Of course I’m still mad at you,” Cassandra seethed. “You carelessly threw your life away. You should’ve warned me-”

“I tried, but there wasn’t enough time, Cass.”

“I don’t care,” Cassandra responded. “You should’ve stayed put like I told you too.” Rapunzel glared at her and was about to respond when she realized that they were being watched by on-lookers. Rapunzel quickly pulled Cassandra towards her room before shutting the door and took a deep breath to calm herself. She then turned around to face her equally pissed-off lover.

“Look, I’m sorry but-”

“You’re ‘sorry’?" Cassandra repeated as if she was offended. Which, from the sound of it, she was. “You put me through hell and that’s all you have to say?”

Rapunzel glared at her. “What else do you want me to say, Cassandra? What did you expect? I was just gonna let you get impaled?”

"Yes!" Cassandra responded. “Anything was better than you jumping in front of me! I mean, do you have any idea what you put me through?”

"No!" Rapunzel shouted back. “Because you refuse to talk to me!”

“You want me to talk? Fine. But you’re not gonna like what I have to say.”

“Then just say it!”

“Fine,” Cassandra seethed. “You’re an idiot.” She started off. She could see the quick anger and offense in Rapunzel’s eyes, but she continued anyway. “You’re such a fucking idiot. You refused to listen to me. Twice. You tried to intervene when I specifcally told you not too. If Eugene wasn’t there when he got there - you would’ve been killed before I even got a chance to get to you. You were careless with your own safety. You didn’t listen. You were stupid. You were selfish. You carelessly threw your life away like it was nothing. I had to watch you die - slowly - in my arms. Do you even know what that’s like? Do you have any idea how powerless I felt?” Up until that point, Rapunzel was seething. But when Cassandra’s voice started to break, despite it still being angry, all anger left Rapunzel’s face. “K-Knowing that...” Cassandra swallowed. “...Knowing that there was nothing that I could do... and then having to carry on! H-Having to hold an entire city... to save an entire city... without you by my side? Do you have any idea how alone I felt? J-Just the thought of having to carry on... of having to raise Nova on my own without you...” Her voice only became more angry and more distraught. “And that’s to say if I survived! If any of us survived! Nova could’ve been an orphan because you were too damn stupid to listen to me! I didn’t even want to be go on, after you left, I didn’t even want to be alive anymore! But I had too - because I promised you and because Nova needed me - b-but yet you didn’t even keep your promise! You promised me everything was gonna be fine, you promised me you would be by my side forever, you promised me that you wouldn’t try anything so damn stupid again and you lied! What happened to never breaking a promise, huh??” At this point, there were tears running down her face. Rapunzel’s heartbroke at the sight of it. She tried to take a step towards her with her hand extended but Cassandra only took a step back as she gave her a weak, angry glare. “....You lied...” She whispered, her voice still very much angry as well as shaky and broken. She never broke the glare.

Rapunzel lowered her hand and stayed where she was. “I know,” She responded back. “I know I did. And you’re right. I shouldn’t have jumped in front of you, I shouldn’t have put my life on the line.” She paused, her eyes hardening. “But I did. And I would do it again if I had too.”

Cassandra, blinded by her own tears, furiously rubbed at her eyes to get them to stop as she mummlbed angrily and shakily: “So stupid, so fucking stupid...” Rapunzel took this opportunity to rush forward and pull the warrior into her arms. Cassandra tried to struggle and push away from her but Rapunzel only squeezed her eyes shut and held her even tighter as she pressed her head against her chest. “S-So stupid...” Cassandra kept mumbling until eventually her words started becoming less and less coherent and she finally succumbed to the hug. She didn’t know how to do anything else at that moment as she raised her shaky arms and wrapped them around the princess all the while hiding her face in Rapunzel’s shoulder. The facade she had been holding since Rapunzel ‘died’ finally broke as she started to sob into her arms, her body shaking as she gripped Rapunzel’s shirt so tight her knuckles were turning white.

“I know,” Rapunzel whispered as she once more squeezed her eyes shut, tears running down her own face as she dug her hand into the warrior's hair and pressed it to the back of her head, pulling her even closer. “...I know.”

Neither knew how long they stood there. All that could be heard were silent sobs and the sound of heavy breathing. Taking a shaky breath, Rapunzel decided that enough was enough as she gently pushed the older woman back by her shoulders. Cassandra didn’t even try to resist, she couldn’t even glare at her anymore. She was just too weak at the moment. But she did tear her tear-streamed face away from her gaze. Rapunzel wasn’t having that as she placed her hand on her cheek and directed her eyes back towards her. This time, Cassandra didn’t have the energy to look away as she stared into Rapunzel’s golden-green eyes. Rapunzel stared back, her heartbreaking the more she read the emotions in Cassandra’s eyes, before she leaned forward and caught her lips into a soft, gentle, loving kiss.

Cassandra tensed for a second but as the kiss continued, she slowly melted into the kiss, closed her eyes and pressed back. The kiss lasted a good 30 seconds before Rapunzel finally pulled away. She placed her hand on Cassandra’s cheek once more. “I’m sorry. I really, really am.” Rapunzel said, this time her voice was full of sincerity and guilt. “...But you have to understand, Cass... that if I hadn’t... I would’ve lost you. You’re so strong, my love... you can, you have, overcome anything. If I hadn’t saved you and you died... knowing that I could have done something... I wouldn’t be able to handle that. I wouldn’t be able to bounce back from that o-or... or do what you did.” Rapunzel’s face slowly morphed into a sweet smile as she rubbed her thumb over her cheekbone. “But despite what happened, you still got back up and you saved hundreds of innocent lives. You did that. With your self-determination, your loyalty... you jumped into that leadership role... and you overcame it. You won, Cass. And god, Cass, you have no idea how proud of you I am.”

Cassandra was silent for a minute before she responded. “...Really?”

“‘Really’?” Rapunzel repeated in almost defense. But unlike Cassandra, it was said with a smile and like she was in disbelief that she would think otherwise. “Of course, silly! Why wouldn’t I be?”

Cassandra looked down. “I-I brutally murdered someone, Raps...”

Rapunzel’s smile faltered for just a second. “I know,” She responded. “But if I’m being honest... she deserved it.” Cassandra snapped her head back up. Did she hear that right? Was Rapunzel really okay with that fact that she murdered someone? “She was a horrible woman, Cass. She did horrible, unspeakable things. No one’s gonna miss that witch. She didn’t have a family, any friends, she had no one. Which is quite sad now that I think about it. But it was her own fault. Just like with Zhan Tiri... the worlds better off without them.” Cassandra didn’t respond though as she looked back towards the floor. Sighing, Rapunzel moved to sit on the floor in front of her and placed her hands on Cassandra’s knees to force Cassandra to look her in the eye. It worked but Cass still tried to avoid her eye contact.

“I know you’re mad at me and you have every right to be. But I wasn’t just gonna sit around and let the only thing I had left die right in front of me. Not when I could do something.”

Cassandra slowly looked back towards her. “...The only thing you had left?” Cassandra asked.

Rapunzel shrugged. “Well, yeah. We couldn’t return to Corona so I couldn’t exactly see my friends or my parents. You and Nova we’re the only things I had left.” She paused. “...And I’ve already lost you once before.” Rapunzel slowly shook her head before opening her eyes and whispered: “I can’t do it again.”

Cassandra’s eyes softened at that before she looked down and sighed. It was silent for a minute or two before Cassandra finally looked back up to meet her eyes. Rapunzel was taken back by the amount of fear in her eyes. “...You scared me. Wait, no, that’s an understatement. You absolutely petrified me.” Rapunzel’s eyes softened guilt as she got up to sit next to Cassandra. Cassandra still refused to look at her. She only stared at some place on the floor, her arms wrapped around herself. “...I never felt like... how I did... before. Everything was just dark and confusing a-and..” Groaning, she ran a tired hand through her hair and down her face before looking back at Rapunzel. “Don’t ever do that to me ever again.”

“You know I can’t promise that, Cass...”

"Please.” Cassandra begged, catching the princess off guard. Cassandra never begged. “I-If we’re ever in a situation like that again, I need you to stay back.”

“I can’t, Cass, I-”

"Please, Rapunzel.” Oh shit. She used her full name.

Sighing, knowing she wasn’t gonna win this one, Rapunzel gave in. Or at least, she pretended like she did. “Fine.” She hated lying to Cass but this wasn’t something she could agree on…

“Do you promise?” Nevermind. Goddammit, she knew her too well.

“...But what if-”

"Rapunzel,” Cassandra said through clenched teeth. “This is a no-arguments type of situation. Remember when I said that your actions were selfish? This isn’t just about you. It’s about me, Nova, your parents, our friends... You had no idea what type of shit you put us all through.”

Rapunzel looked away and mumbled: “...You didn’t have to lead off with the insult...”

“It wasn’t supposed to be a-'' Cassandra closed her eyes, took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair before reopening them again. She scooted closer to her wife and placed her hand on top of hers. “...It wasn’t supposed to be an insult.” Cassandra repeated, this time in a much calmer tone. “I just need you to understand how serious I am about all this. We got lucky this time but...” She trailed off before continuing. “...but we won’t the next time.” When Rapunzel still looked perplexed, Cassandra added: ”Please, Raps.”

Rapunzel took a chance to look her in the eye. That was the wrong move. The amount of fear and exhaustion in her eyes... Come to think of it, ever since Rapunzel was brought back to life, Cassandra had been constantly tired. She had nightmares nightly, some of which Rapunzel had to wake her up from. She always pushed her off, saying that she was fine, but that was far from the truth, wasn’t it? For the last couple of weeks, Cassandra has had this... look in her eyes. Rapunzel could only describe it as anxiety and shaken. There were things that Rapunzel was now realizing that she didn’t see before due to her agitation at Cassandra’s attitude lately and all the work that needed to be done. Like how whenever even an inch of danger came near her, Cassandra’s eyes filled up with so much anxiety and panic. That’s all she’s been seeing in her eyes lately. Anxiety. Fear. Pain. Panic. Exhaustion. 

How did Rapunzel not see all this before? Here she was, forcing Cassandra to talk to her because she was closing herself off again, when it’s been clear as day that she was still gravely affected in the first place. She thought Cassandra was fine. Well not fine but you know, over it. Considerably, it was over, they were safe, they were moving on and they were happy. What’s the point of living in the past? But Rapunzel realized... Cassandra wasn’t her. She dealt with things differently. And while Rapunzel could push things away and bury them so deep until they just eventually went away, Cassandra couldn’t. And it didn’t happen to her. She wasn’t the one put through the pain, the heartache, the loss... So who was she to decide if they should move forward or not? Or at least, if Cass should move forward or not. 

Cass was right - this wasn’t about her. It was about those around her, those who had to watch her die and be forced to experience what life would be without her. Maybe she was only gone for a couple days but - she realized - those couple days must have felt like a lifetime to Cassandra. Rapunzel knew this... because she had to watch both Eugene and Cassandra die; hoping, just hoping, that there was a way to save them. How could she have forgotten that feeling of hopelessness? That feeling of… emptiness? Eugene died in her arms and Cassandra... Cassandra died just after Rapunzel finally got her back after fighting so damn hard.

Rapunzel realized that Cass was still waiting for a response. Sighing, Rapunzel reluctantly responded: “...I promise.”

Cassandra was nearly taken back due to the fact that she actually agreed. “Really?”

Rapunzel gave her a sad smile. “Yeah,” But then it dropped as she looked towards the ground. “I never thought that me dying would... affect you as bad as it did.”

“What?” Cassandra asked as she looked at her in confusion. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“...I was hoping that you’d just move on.”

Cassandra shook her head. “I’m not like you, Raps,” She responded, catching Rapunzel’s attention as she looked back at her. “I can’t just... move on and pretend like nothing ever happened and still go day-to-day with a smile and a positive attitude... You dying destroyed me.”

Rapunzel was quiet for a minute or two as she hugged her knees close to her body. Cassandra was starting to think she wasn’t gonna respond but, eventually, she did. “...Do you remember after the battle against Zhan Tiri? The first time - after I just got you back.”

Cassandra gave her a confused expression. “...Yeah... but what does that-”

“...Do you remember when you died?” Cassandra was taken off guard by that question.

“I... died? You told me I was unconscious for a bit, you never to-”

“I lied,” Rapunzel responded without looking at her as she hugged her knees even closer to her chest. “After Zhan Tiri was defeated, I was focused on the combined moonstone and sunstone. I was happy and ecstatic - I mean I thought.. it was finally, finally, over. After all the fighting, the bickering, the terrifying unknown whether I was gonna be able to bring you back... It was over. For the first time in months, I felt relaxed, I was happy... Zhan Tiri was gone - or so I thought - and I finally had my best friend back. But...” Rapunzel squeezed herself into an even smaller ball as a pained, distant expression came upon her face. She still wasn’t looking at Cassandra but rather directly in front of her.

“...But then I turned around. You were just there, laying on the ground - you weren’t moving, you were pale and when I finally got to you, you weren’t breathing. You must’ve got hit in the blast and I didn’t even know. I felt so helpless, so scared, so... mad. After everything I did to bring you back - after all the fighting and clinging and the pain and the gripping fear of losing you - the universe decided to tear you away from me. It wasn’t fair. While horrible creatures like Zhan Tiri and Gothel got to live thousands of years, you were ripped away from me in the blink of an eye. They got to live a long, long time. They committed such horrible acts that the universe should have decided to take them out a long time ago. But no - the universe decided to take you. After everything - I thought - was it all for nothing? Was it all pointless? Was this the fate the universe had planned for you all along? I-It just wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair. You’re such an amazing person. A person who made mistakes and was not given a second chance. A chance to shine - a chance to redeem yourself - a chance to be yourself. Then I looked up and I saw the stones just floating there. I thought: No, this wasn’t your fate. This wasn’t how our story ended. I would bring you back or die trying. So I did - unknowing to the fact if it would even work or not. I mean, the sunstone's healing abilities had been gone for a long time already. Why would they work now? But it was the only option I had. It was the only hope I had. I had to try. I was hoping with the moonstone... it’d give out enough power so that I could save you. When I saw color return to your face and saw you take a breath... God, I had never been more relieved and happy in my whole life.”

Cassandra was in complete shock. She didn’t even know she had died and she most certainly didn’t know everything else she was just told. “...Why didn’t you tell me all that?”

Rapunzel turned her head to look at her. “I wanted to, I knew that you deserved to know. But when you asked, I just... I froze. It hurt too much to talk about, or even think about, so I lied. Just the thought of never seeing you again, never hugging you again, never.. Never being able to apologize.. I couldn’t even fathom it.” She looked away again and rested her head on her knees. “Everyone thinks that I can just... get back up again with a smile, new-found hope and some positive remarks.” She slowly shook her head. “But that’s far from the truth. When you, uh.. took the moonstone for the first time, I pretended like everything was fine. That I was fine. I put on a smile for the people, for Eugene, because that was all I knew how to do. I tried to force myself to be fine - anything to avoid thinking about it. But as time went on and things started to escalate, I realized that I couldn’t pretend like everything was fine anymore. But I had to keep a brave face on. Everyone was scared... and I couldn’t break down - not when you needed to be strong for you. So I kept going because I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know any better. That’s how I grew up - I always had to pretend like everything was perfect and happy to avoid being attacked and put down by Gothel.” She took a deep, shaky breath and paused. 

“...B-But in the couple moments where you.. weren’t with me.. I realized that this was something I couldn’t just move forward on. I knew that if I couldn’t bring you back, I would never be the same. I had never felt such... such fear before. I had never felt more guilty before. I mean, you were out there in pain and scared and confused and I couldn’t even do anything to help because I was the one who caused that pain. It took a hold of me and wouldn’t let go. Just the thought of spending the rest of my life without you... I was already starting to shut down.” Rapunzel suddenly turned towards her, her eyes watery as she wiped her unfallen tears away with her arm. “If I wasn’t able to revive you from dying… I don’t know what or who I’d turn out to be. I was terrified - terrified of losing you because of some stupid, careless, selfish mistake on my part. You were put in that situation because of me. You were manipulated because of me. ...And you died because of me. If I wasn’t able to save you…” Rapunzel slowly shook her head. “I probably wouldn’t be here today. Even to this day I am still horrified and shaken by what happened. It was just too close. Way too close. I could have lost you… and I would have never even gotten to tell you how sorry I was for the way I treated you then.”

“So... I get it. I know what I did was selfish and stupid and careless but... I don’t regret pushing you out of the way. I’ve lost you twice already. Once to my own stupid actions that made you want to turn on me... another to death itself. I wasn’t about to lose you again. And I know for a fact that you would’ve done the same for me - because you have - countless times. So you can be mad at me all you want. I don’t blame you for being angry. I promised you that I wouldn’t do it again and I intend to keep that promise this time, as much as I don’t want to, but I refuse to apologize for saving you because I would do it again  a million times over if I had too.”

Cassandra was shocked into silence. She always seemed to forget that Rapunzel hid her true feelings even better than she did, especially when it came to heavy stuff like this. And apparently, there was still some secret baggage that Rapunzel was still carrying around. Cassandra eventually sighed. “Unfortunately, I know you would.” Cassandra crawled over towards her before pulling the princess into her lap. “...I’m sorry I got so mad, Raps, I just-”

“Don’t.” Rapunzel stopped her, holding her hand up to get her to stop talking. Cassandra only gave her a confused expression. “Don’t apologize for feeling a certain way. You had every right to be mad - I would be pretty mad at you, too, if the situation was switched.”

Cassandra looked down guilty. “I still should not have lashed out at you like that. That was a bit to... harsh.”

Rapunzel smiled and leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. “But you were right. As always. And I can always count on you to give me the truth instead of sugar-coating it like everyone else does around because I am a princess. They always act as if they have to walk on eggshells around me like I’m going to throw them in the dungeon or something if they speak ‘out of line’. But you’ve never had a problem with giving it to me straight. That’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with you.”

Cassandra looked down and gave her a sweet smile before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead. But then she let out a playful grin. “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say I was giving it to you ‘straight’.” Rapunzel gave her a confused expression at first before Cass finished her joke. “I mean, that’s impossible. I can’t give you something ‘straight’ because I’m not straight myself. Zig-zaggy, I would say, works better.”

Finally getting her joke, Rapunzel let out a small laugh. “You’re so weird.”

“Yeah, but you know you love.”

“Hm... Do I know that?”

“Oh, I bet you do.” Cassandra smirked before sneaking her hand under Rapunzel’s shirt and started to slowly trail it up. Rapunzel’s breath hitched in her throat which only made Cassandra’s smirk widen.

“C-Cass... W-we can’t. What if someone walks in?” Cassandra couldn’t hide the grin at the way she kept stuttering before she gently pushed her off, got off the bed and walked over to lock the door.

“There, problem solved.” Cassandra responded as she made her way back towards the bed; desire very much present in her eyes. Rapunzel blushed deeply as Cassandra stalked towards her. She was not expecting Cassandra to suddenly grab her arms, all but pretty much tear her off the bed, then push her roughly against the wall and catch her lips into a fiery kiss. And that’s when all worries and current thoughts suddenly vanished from Rapunzel’s mind as she wrapped her arms around Cassandra’s neck and kissed her back just as fiery.

Cassandra didn’t waste a single second as she shoved her hand in Rapunzel’s pants and entered her with her fingers. Rapunzel quickly pulled back. “A-Ah!” With her neck exposed, Cassandra attacked her neck. She licked, nipped, kissed, sucked... all things that were driving Rapunzel crazy.

“You know,” Cassandra mumbled hotly against her neck. “I thought that... we wouldn’t be able to do this again. I promised myself that if I ever had a chance too, I would fuck you so hard you’d forget your name.”

Rapunzel couldn’t even reprimand Cassandra’s language even if she tried. “Y-Yeah?” Rapunzel asked breathlessly against the wall, her eyes half closed as she let out a low moan when Cassandra slowly started pumping in and out of her.

“Yeah, tonight is different.” Cassandra responded as she licked a trail up her neck before reaching her ear. “Besides, I’m still mad at you. Punishing you sounds only fair, hm?” She whispered hotly, making Rapunzel shiver. Rapunzel wasn’t able to respond as she involuntarily nodded, making Cassandra smirk at the fact that she was already writhing below her. Oh, only if she knew what Cass had planned for her... It was going to be a long, interesting night.

Cassandra decided that they were done talking as she recaught Rapunzel’s lips into another fiery kiss. She removed her hand from between Rapunzel’s legs, making the princess groan, then pushed her hands under Rapunzel’s shirt and slowly started to trail up. Rapunzel tensed as the feeling of her wife’s warm hands took over her senses.

Cassandra pushed her body more against the wall with her own as she suddenly grinded against her, surprising Rapunzel enough to get out a low moan. “You really weren’t kidding, were you?” Rapunzel asked breathlessly.

Cassandra only smirked that heated smirk that Rapunzel equally hated as she did love it. The type of smirk that meant Cassandra was going to uphold that promise. “You’re gonna be screaming in no time. Everyone else be damned.”

As much as that sounded wonderful, Rapunzel didn’t want the entire castle hearing her private, dirty side. Even if there were barely anyone in the castle in the first place because of all the construction on the town. “Cass-”

Rapunzel didn’t get a chance to continue. Cassandra, who usually listened to her when it came to stuff like this, didn’t even let her get another word in. “Shut up.” Cassandra demanded as she mumbled against her lips before pressing the rest of the way forward. Usually, Rapunzel would be pretty pissed at being told to shut up, especially by Cass. And she was. At first. But then she realized... Cassandra did say that tonight was different.

Rapunzel could tell that Cassandra wasn’t holding back at all, demands and assertiveness included. Cass had already said things to her she wouldn’t normally say in the last hour. Starting from insults - to this. But she did say she was gonna punish her. Although Rapunzel had gotten Cassandra to come out more and more over the years, especially with intimate activities, she could always tell Cass still had just the tiniest bit of restraint. And now, Cass didn’t have any restraint at all. Which meant total dominance and assertiveness. Rapunzel remembered how dominant and assertive Cass acted the first time Rapunzel got her to heavily punish her. It was hot as equally as terrifying. So now that she let go fully, phew... Rapunzel was in for one hell of a ride.

It was then that she realized Cassandra was actually not kidding about fucking her so hard that she’d forget her name. She was going to fulfill that promise and the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she was actually quite excited. If anyone heard her, well... She’d deal with that later cause she had feeling that she wasn’t getting out of this. Not that she really wanted too anyway.

When Rapunzel looked her in the eye, she practically shrunk at those dominant blue-green eyes staring back at her. Her mixed eye-control made her look breathtaking and dangerous. But there was something... different in her eyes. Something wild. Something dangerous. Something unleashed. Something new. If Rapunzel didn’t know any better, she would be terrified. She now felt bad for all the enemies that got that look but in different circumstances… Well, sort of. Anyone who got that look most likely deserved it. She looked terrifying, dangerous and something else Rapunzel couldn’t quite put her finger on.

...And it caused liquid to pool between her legs.

Rapunzel realized rather quickly that the warrior pretty much read her thoughts by the way her lips suddenly curled into a heated smirk. God, did this woman know what she was doing to her? The answer to that was: Yes, yes she did. And she was enjoying watching Rapunzel turn into a horny, jellified mess right in front of her. She was enjoying torturing her. But Rapunzel couldn’t move. She was lost in her beautiful, desire-filled eyes. Well, that and the fact that the way Cassandra was looking at her made her lock in place.

Rapunzel must’ve stared too long because Cassandra saw her momentary distraction as an opportunity to tear her shirt to pieces. It wasn’t until Rapunzel heard the tearing of fabric that she was knocked out of her stupor. “Cass- Ah!” Rapunzel tried to reprimand her but Cassandra, already expecting the reprimand, caught her breast in her mouth as she started to knead the other with her hand. Rapunzel was completely taken off guard by it as she threw her head back and moaned.

Cassandra licked, nipped and sucked for several minutes before she turned her attention to the other way and kneaded the other one with her hand. Rapunzel moaned as the warrior made little bite marks before trailing her tongue up her neck to her ear. “I’m gonna make sure you remember who you belong to.” She whispered before trailing her tongue over her ear, making the princess shiver.

“Mmm...” Rapunzel moaned as Cassandra rocked against her. “...I don’t need a reminder. I already know who.” Rapunzel responded back breathlessly.

Cassandra only smirked and fixed her with a heated stare. “Then I’m gonna make sure everyone else knows who you belong to.”

Rapunzel tried to protest but with the way Cassandra’s hips thrusted against her... she could hardly focus. And Cass knew that. She decided that she didn’t give a shit if anyone heard her or not. “...Then shut up and do it already.”

“I don’t think you’re in any position to be making demands, princess.” Cassandra responded, giving her an exceptionally hard thrust. Rapunzel could only throw her head back and moan. She was trapped.

“...Well, I just did...” Rapunzel mumbled.

Rapunzel could practically see Cassandra’s eyes darken. “You just love to push my buttons, don’t you?”

Rapunzel, although her mind was a little occupied, grinned. “It’s just so fun; my favorite thing to do.”

“Yeah, well, you’re gonna regret it later.”

Again, Rapunzel knew what kind of trouble she was getting herself in too. But she was far too horny to care. “So far all I’ve heard is talk and no action.”

“Is that so?” Rapunzel had to hold back from shivering at the dark tone of her voice. But she stupidly continued anyway.

“Yeah. I mean, if you’re just gonna be all talk then-” She didn’t get to finish. Cassandra spun her around and pinned her to the wall so that her back was facing Cass.

Cassandra leaned forward and whispered into her ear. “You’re gonna regret that, Ra-pun-zel.” Rapunzel shivered at the way she brought out each syllable of her name. But, thanks to her stubbornness, Rapunzel just had to get one more sentence in.

“Oh yeah? Whatcha gonna do about it? I mean, it’s not like you-”

Cassandra suddenly chuckled darkly. The type of chuckle that made Rapunzel’s heart drop. She fucked up. She really, really fucked up. “You sure you wanna continue with that sentence?” Well, she’s already fucked (no pun intended) so why not push her the rest of the way? What’s the worst that could happen? And that mindset was gonna be the thing that will be written on her grave. But again - she could care less at the moment of what Cassandra’s ‘punishment’ will be for pushing her over the edge. Actually, that was a huge lie. She was gravely curious of how far she could push the warrior and what the consequences would be of doing such. She always knew that her curiosity would be her downfall. But she finished the sentence anyway, despite her instincts telling her to submit and back down now.

“....have done anything to prove it.” Oh yeah, that did it. Cassandra suddenly spun her around so fast she got dizzy and pinned both her arms above her head.

“You just have to always go the extra mile, don’t you?” She asked, her voice dark and threatening. But Rapunzel knew Cassandra would never seriously hurt her. Her eyes bore into her... locking Rapunzel into place once more.

But she still responded. “...Apparently, you haven’t met me.” 

“Oh, trust me, I have.” Cassandra responded. “And that’s why punishing you is so much fun. Because then I can do this...” Cassandra suddenly picked her up and surprised her by quickly entering her. Rapunzel threw her head back with a surprised moan.

“W-When did you-” Rapunzel tried to ask. When the hell did she get that thing already set up? Has Rapunzel really been in a trance that bad?

“I’m sneakier and faster than you think, Rapunzel,” Annnnd… she used her full name. She was very, very, very fucked. Suddenly, Cassandra’s eyes darkened and she grinned. “And I’m not just talking about this.” Rapunzel’s blush deepened at the hidden message behind her words. Now that her legs were open and wrapped around Cassandra’s waste, Cass had free range to fuck her against the wall as hard as she possibly could. But she wouldn’t... would she? This new position was making Cass deeper... deeper than she’s ever gone. It made Rapunzel experience a pleasure like never before. It felt so good but it was too much. Apparently, Cassandra didn’t care as she snapped her hips forward, making Rapunzel let out a deep moan. She gave Rapunzel only a second or two to prepare before she started snapping her hips forward repeatedly, each thrust more powerful than the last.

It wasn’t long before Cass’s promise of making her scream started to come full circle. Because with each thrust, each snap of Cass’s hips, each burning pleasurable sensation that lay deep within her body... Rapunzel’s moans rose higher and higher until she was practically screaming. Cassandra kept her hand behind her head to make sure the princess didn't hit her head against the wall as she pounded into her over and over again. Without warning her, Cassandra suddenly twisted them both around, all but threw her on the bed before climbing back on top of her, entering her easily and continued her torturous thrusts all the while catching her lips in a dominant, hot kiss; not wasting a single second as she roughly shoved her tongue into her mouth.

Rapunzel found it nearly impossible to keep up with Cassandra’s stamina. She would go from kissing her roughly to roaming her hands all over her body to fucking her brains out to all at once. She bit, nipped, licked, kissed and sucked anywhere she could as she continued to repeatedly pound into her. At this point, Rapunzel was screaming and before long, she found herself dangerously close to the edge. Cassandra, being the observant person that she was, pulled out right before Rapunzel would have had a release.

Cass couldn’t help but smirk at the way Rapunzel groaned in exhasperation and sexual-frustration. After a couple seconds passed, Cassandra flipped the princess around and entered womanhood from behind. Cass kept a firm hand under her stomach because Rapunzel was finding it especially difficult to stay up. Rapunzel could feel Cass trace her backside, which made her shiver as she pounded into her as Rapunzel moaned and tightly gripped the sheets. Another minute passed and she was close but again Cassandra pulled out. Before she could make a big fuss at the fact that her wife was teasing her, Cassandra picked her up and deposited her in her lap, entering her that way as she massaged her breasts and kissed her neck from behind. She used one hand to force Rapunzel’s hips down as she thrusted upwards.

The new position did wonders for Rapunzel and as Cassandra continued to pound into her all the while roaming her hands all over her body and kissing, licking and nipping everywhere she could, Rapunzel quickly found herself over-stimulated and very close to the edge even more than before. But this time, Cassandra didn’t pull out. In fact, she sped up her harsh thrusts before trailing her hand down between her legs and started to massage her clit. That did it.

Rapunzel’s mouth fell slack, her body tensed and convulsed as she had the most amazing orgasm she’s ever had in her life. It nearly lasted a full minute before Rapunzel could catch her breath again. In the back of her daze-filled mind, she felt Cassandra thrust up a couple more times before she stilled her hips and wrapped her arms around her stomach, buried her face in her neck and held on tightly.

When both women could almost catch their breath, Cassandra pulled out of her and Rapunzel immediately fell forward onto the pillow. Cass took off the thing and plopped next to her; both women were still breathing roughly.

“...Wow.” She heard Rapunzel say breathlessly after some minutes as the princess stared up at the ceiling with bewildered, dazed amazement. Cassandra looked over at her and her heart skipped a beat at how dazed, satisfied and in awe she looked. “That was just... wow...” That seemed to be all she could say at the moment.

Cassandra couldn’t even hold back a smirk even if she tried as she wrapped an arm around the princess, the other one going behind her own head to prop herself up, and pulled her into her side. Rapunzel immediately relaxed and cuddled into her. “So I’m guessing you enjoyed yourself?”

Rapunzel could only nod as she looked up at Cass in a daze. “I could have done without the constant pulling out though.”

“I did say it was a punishment. I couldn’t let you have fun the whole time.”

“Well, did you get it out of your system? Are you still mad at me?”

Cassandra looked down and gave her a heated look that came with a heated glare. “Oh, honey, this is just tonight. You’re not getting out of it. You have a lot of things to make up for.”

“Sooo... I’m guessing you’re still mad?”

“It’s not just gonna go away,” Cassandra said seriously this time. “You really scared me.” She paused. “...And pissed me off.”

Rapunzel looked up at her before escaping her grasp so that she could lay on the pillow directly in front of her, making it so that they were facing each other. Rapunzel reached forward and brushed her bangs out of her face. “I didn’t expect that it would just go away,” She responded. “And if you need to ‘fuck’ me into oblivion for as long as you need to let go of some of that anger, then so be it. You won’t see me complaining.”

Cassandra’s eyes were wide for a split second by her language before she rolled her eyes at the joke. Hearing Rapunzel cuss was still very foreign to her and surprised her every single time considering she didn’t do it often. And she was Rapunzel. “You won’t be saying that when you can’t walk tomorrow.”

“I guess it’s a price I have to pay then.” Rapunzel suddenly grinned. “But now you’re gonna have to do all my princess duties then.”

Cassandra snapped her eyes back towards her and Rapunzel had to bite her cheek to stop herself from laughing at the panicked expression on her lover's face. “Hell no!” She responded before shaking her head. “Not happening. And you’re not going to do them either. Your ‘princess duties’ can wait. You’ve been working day in and day out these last couple of weeks and I actually, you know, wanna spend time with you without our ‘adoring fans’ getting in the way. And you need to actually rest because you tend to forget sleep is a thing.”

“You tell that to my lady-in-waiting.”

“I was your first lady-in-waiting so I have a say. Besides, if anyone has a problem with it, then they’ll have to deal with me. And I really think they don’t want that.”

Rapunzel shook her head with a smile. “So violent.”

“Not violent, intimidating.”

“Yeah, alright, whatever you say.” Rapunzel responded sarcastically then giggled and leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. “You don’t ‘intimidate’ me.”

“Maybe not yet,” Cassandra responded as she grabbed her hips and pulled them into her, making the princess let out a loud groan at the sudden movement.

“Nah,” Rapunzel responded after she got her bearings. “You’re way too sweet to be intimidating.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“And- Hey, wait a second...”

Cassandra gave her a confused expression at the way she suddenly narrowed her eyes at her. “What?”

“You are getting on my case about not sleeping,” She started. “When you look like you haven’t slept in a week. Or rather - a couple weeks. Not to mention all the power you used when fighting Zhan Tiri. You’re gonna end up dropping from exhaustion.”

Cassandra looked away. “I’m fine, Raps,” She responded quietly. The warrior was shutting down again. But this time, Rapunzel was having none of it.

Rapunzel huffed and grasped both of her cheeks to force her to look at her. “No, you are not fine.” She practically growled. “You are going to rest. And then I’m going to make you food and you’re gonna eat. Do you understand me? If you’re not gonna take care of your health then I am going to do it for you and force you too. You stubborn ‘I never take care of myself because I am always focused on others’ you.”

“Look who’s talking,” Cassandra mumbled, earning herself a glare. But not used to Rapunzel talking to her like that, Cassandra couldn’t help but agree anyway. “Fine,” She responded, making the princess drop her demanding attitude into a content smile. “But you have to stay here with me.”

Rapunzel giggled before cuddling into her side. “I can do that.” She responded. Cassandra smiled and wrapped both arms around her as she breathed in the scent that was all Rapunzel. The scent she never thought she would get to smell ever again.

It was quiet for a minute or two before Rapunzel spoke. “Cass, uhm... can you sing the song for me?”

Cassandra only responded with a sweet smile as she placed a kiss on her forehead. “Of course.” As Cassandra started to sing, Rapunzel slowly started to drift off to sleep listening to the soothing sounds of Cass’s voice and her heartbeat. By the time Rapunzel’s breathing slowly evened out, Cassandra had finished the last verse. As she looked down at the sleepy beauty in her arms... she couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest woman in the world. She had friends... she had a home... She had a family... all the things she’s always dreamt for. All things that she’s ever wanted. For once in her life, Cassandra realized that dreams did come true even if you don’t exactly know what you’re dreaming for.

As Cassandra closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep with Rapunzel safely in her arms, she couldn’t help but smile. Her whole life - she had been trying to achieve greatness, recognition, honor... But she achieved that and so much more. She finally found the reason to live, to keep going and to smile. She found a reason to be herself.

She always thought that she was unlucky. That she never would have, nor deserve, a happily ever after. But as she felt the princess nuzzle against her, she realized that was far from the truth. All she needed was to be patient and wait for it to find her instead of the other way around.

She’s been waiting in the wings for as long as she can remember. But now... now she didn’t need to anymore. Because she had everything she’s ever wanted in life. She can finally be free. She can finally let go of all the pain, heartache and anger... And coming to that realization, she had never felt lighter in her entire life.

She was finally happy.

Finally safe.

Finally home.

Finally herself.

And she was never gonna let it go.

"Sa lumière a été trouvée."

Her light has been found.

-------------------------------------

So, that's it. We are finally to the end of this story. I first started this story so I could make my own spinoff on the series. Not once did I think it would get as popular as it did. But I couldn't have done it without you all. All your comments, encouraging words... They've helped me get this story done and see it to the end. I don't know if I'm going to make a sequel (that isn’t a no though) for this story because I have another story I want to start (Another Cassunzel one). So if you really want to, go check out that one when it's posted! Again - thank you all so much for pushing me and for making this memorable. Thank you for coming on this journey with me from start to finish. You are all the ones that made this story possible. So, thank you and I hope you enjoyed the crazy, emotional journey I put you all on. PS: I’m still making a bonus art chapter so stay tuned for that!