1. Chapter Only

**Yeah, yeah. So much for an update schedule, hm? Anyways, I just got into this Zenonia thing, and I had this incredible urge to write. So what do I write? A Zenonia fanfiction of course! So I share my stuff with Volcora before anything gets published. She does the same with me for Zenonia stuff. Yup, that means I get to see stories that you'll never see! Be jealous! Just kiddin. So anyways, right, Zenonia. Heh heh...**

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Entry 1/5

On some rare occasions, some people may seem to stay forever young for many years. They reach a maximum of twenty years of age in development and appearance. There are a few causes and factors that lead up to this unnatural event.

1. (Very rare) The anomaly was born with this disorder. Through magical waste and "pollution", the child is turned into an unaging mutant, though they will look and act the same as any other child.

2. (Somewhat more common) The anomaly is exposed to high levels of dark energy, therefor causing their body cells to desperately scramble to retain the somewhat dark characteristic of "beauty". This characteristic is easier to achieve with youth.

3. (Almost never) The anomaly was resurrected from the dead. They are then reborn in an eternally young body. The means of which this could ever happen is still under research.

For all three cases, the anomaly is always assumed to be younger than they actually are. When told of their assumed age, the anomaly will usually go through fits of anger and shouting.

XXXXXXXXXX

Ecne was staring up at the small, young-looking boy up in the tree. Said boy was sitting calmly and polishing his large black blade.

"Are the rumors true?" She demanded. "Did you try to seduce one of my maids?"

Regret glanced down at her curiously. "Yeah. So what if I did?"

Ecne chuckled. What a fiery attitude.

"Oh, I could just eat you up! You know, I think I'd be chasing after your love if you weren't so young!"

Regret's eyebrows shot up, and his words were muttered through clenched teeth.

"Excuse me?"

Ecne's grin soon grew to a smile of pure delight.

"I said that you would be too young for me." She said teasingly.

Regret jumped down from the tree, eyes shadowed. He took a few steps too close to Ecne, invading her personal space.

When he looked up, the female general saw pure flames of rage pulsing through his intense glare.

"I... AM... NOT... THE LITTLE BOY YOU THINK I AM." He muttered darkly.

Ecne stepped back, her smile gone.

"What?"

Regret looked up and pulled up his now shiny blade to the commander's throat.

"SAY IT ONE MORE TIME AND PAY DEARLY. SAY IT!"he shouted.

Ecne looked stunned... And scared.

"Okay... Jeez. I won't say it." She muttered.

The blonde boy's figure relaxed ever-so-slightly and he began to walk slowly away. He turned back and said, with a forced voice, "I'm somewhere in my 50s. Probably older than you. Remember it."

Ecne was frozen in pure shock and fear for a few seconds after the blonde boy left.

XXXXXXXXXX

Entry 2/5

Predictably, the anomaly will be quite energetic like any child or teenager. After all, most people are more active in their youth than in old age.

The anomaly will display extreme agility, stamina, and strength, for both their physical age and their actual age. They will probably try to show off this extreme ability by entering races, weight-lifting competitions, and obstacle courses.

XXXXXXXXXX

Ecne had learned her lesson about calling Regret "too young". Nowadays, she would do just the opposite and call the boy an "old geezer".

He didn't mind.

At the moment, she was watching Regret and, although this seemed quite unlikely, his SON walk through the gardens.

Chael was chatting aimlessly with his father, straying the topic to this and that.

"Hey, did you know? I finally asked Frey out on a date! She was pretty happy. Aren't you proud? Huh? Aren't you proud?" He asked the smaller blonde.

Regret bumped the commander on the back and said, "Nice job, son! Score! When is it?"

Chael puffed out his chest and answered proudly.

"We're going to that one nice restaurant near the bar. It's tomorrow!"

Regret laughed and quickly narrowed his eyes. A devilish smile began to spread across his face.

"Have you... Oh.. I dunno... TRIED anything with her yet?"

Chael took a while to process this question fully. When finally understanding the hidden meaning, his face lit up like an apple.

"FATHERRRRRRRR!" He yelled beginning to chase the smaller blonde around the garden.

Ecne watched intently as the commander chased the hero around the garden. Chael soon fell far behind. Regret was just too fast...

Super-humanly fast.

Finally, the commander stopped and began to pant for air.

"Okay, okay! I give! Don't think you're off the hook just yet, father!"he yelled to Regret.

Ecne examined the small blonde and found that he was not at all fatigued.

'Hmmmm...' She thought.

XXXXXXXXXX

Entry 3/5

The anomaly will usually be annoyingly immature, even more immature than usual for their physical age.

Equipped with an adolescent sense of humor, the anomaly will probably go around bugging anyone they possibly can at the moment. A tip for anyone that lives near one of these perpetually young mutants would be:

Don't ever let them catch you in an embarrassing situation.

XXXXXXXXXX

Frey snuggled contently into Chael's chest and sighed. They were sitting comfortably on a wooden bench in the garden. The wind was calm, the flowering plants added a sweet aroma to the air, and the temperature was perfect. Over all, the two lovers were quite happy staying in their current position for the whole day.

Chael breathed steadily to try to calm his speeding heart.

Suddenly, the still feel of the moment was ruined by a certain blonde-haired hero popping up from the bushes, making the couple jump.

"So... When's the baby coming?"

The two stared at Regret blankly until the implications settled in.

When, finally, they understood what the question actually meant, living hell broke loose.

Chael started to chase Regret around the garden while Frey angrily shouted after the mischievous blonde boy.

Like before, it wasn't long after the chase began that Chael tired out and slowed to a stop.

"FATHERRRRRR! Why do you have to be so damn immature!" He shouted as Regret chuckled and stopped running.

When Frey caught up to the two boys, she began to scold the smaller blonde. All three people were quite unaware of the eavesdropper that was hiding in the bushes.

'Hmmmm...' General Ecne thought as she watched Regret face the wrath of an enraged girl.

XXXXXXXXXX

Entry 4/5

The anomaly, along with being quite immature, will also be exceptionally flirtatious. Many have been known to be womanizers even. Young women will naturally be drawn to the anomaly's eternal youth, so the mutant will accustom to responding.

The anomaly will usually decide against settling down and loving just one person because that person will most likely age normally, submitting to the grasps of oldness.

A tip to all families with daughters:

Keep your daughter away from these perpetually young mutants.

XXXXXXXXXX

Regret sat at the bar, leaning back against the counter, elbows behind his head in a relaxed position. All around him, men and women were laughing and saying things they'd rather not say while sober. Regret sighed.

He was physically too young to have any alcoholic drinks.

Suddenly, the door swung open and in walked a timid brunette girl. Her long brown hair cascaded past her shoulders. She looked to be around 14, and she was obviously NOT here to get herself some booze. The way she stepped gave away too much innocence, not to mention she was under-aged.

The girl walked to the counter and began to talk softly to the bartender. Regret could catch all of the conversation due to the fact that she was standing right next to his seat.

"My father wants some... uh... white wine. It's 40 gold, right?" She asked.

The bartender nodded and the girl slid a small pouch of gold over the counter. She quickly received the bottle and began to leave when Regret gently tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey, what's the hurry? Stay a while." The girl bit her lip nervously. She was debating whether or not she should be talking to the handsome young man.

Regret patted the seat next to him and chuckled.

"Don't worry, I don't bite."

The girl reluctantly sat down next to the blonde and began to nervously look left and right. Her figure was tense and she was obviously mapping an escape route.

Regret gave a frustrated sigh and tried again to reassure the girl before making a move. It was no fun toying with a nervous, uptight girl.

"You know, I'm sober."

The girl still didn't relax.

Regret was nearing the end of his patience. He tried to play his last card.

"You still don't trust me, hm? Well, just make you a bit more agreeable, I'm from the Holy Guard!" He shot up, kneeled down on the floor, and put his hand to his chest.

"Sir Adas, at your service." He said, glancing up playfully.

The girl snorted and began to crack up.

"Adas? As in the shoe brand?"

Regret shook his head.

"It's just my name. I'm not tied to the shoe brand in any way or form. Sucks for me, huh?"

The girl began to relax, and she eagerly nodded.

"W-what's it like? You know... Being in the holy guard?" She timidly asked, already warming up to the charming blonde.

Regret blinked a few times. This girl was just SO innocent, so sweet.

So JUICY.

He played along and said,

"It's pretty nice, but to get the whole feel, you'll have to hear out my tale. Would you care to listen from the beginning?"

The girl nodded and Regret launched into words.

"I came here foolishly seeking fame and fortune. Little did I know, I would find both, plus one more thing. That one thing was more important than both of what I originally searched combined. That thing was a just purpose in life..."

He went on and on, telling wondrous tales of tundras and forests, comrades and enemies, angels and devils.

The girl listened, soaking up every single detail with great joy. She loved a good story.

When finally, the hero neared the end, he jumped up from his seat, drawing his sword.

"The vile monster showed no fear when I drew this very blade. He thought he could defeat me, destroy me, without breaking a sweat. That misconception would soon cost his life."

Regret climbed onto an open table, causing many people to look up and stare.

"I cut off his first leg, just like that."

He said, slashing his blade at nothing in particular. Then he stabbed the sword into the wooden board of a table that was his stage.

"Then I cut off the other three with just as much ease."

Regret chuckled as he dislodged his blade and jumped off the table.

"Without his legs, Shaturu could not support his body anymore. He collapsed, leaving one of his most fatal weak points open. His face."

"I swung my blade in a straight horizontal line, slicing at his eyes. Blind and exhausted, the monster turned back into his smaller form, where he shortly disappeared from this world."

"And so was the end of the Dark Lord, Shaturu."Regret concluded as he sheathed his sword and bowed, earning much drunken applause from the customers of the bar.

The girl stared at the blonde in wonder.

The bartender chuckled behind her, slowly cleaning a wine glass.

"Quite the story-teller, ain't he?" He said, winking at her. "The amazing thing is that all his tales, every single one of them..."

"Are true."

The girl gasped. She had been talking to a real, flesh-and-blood hero!

Regret sat back down.

"Now that you've heard my story, you'll understand when I say, 'the Holy Guard gives me something to do.' It's not very life-threatening nowadays. But-" he paused. "-enough about me. Let's talk about you. What's your name?"

"Aria... Aria Sanchester. I-I'm 15."

Regret nodded slowly.

"Aria... A beautiful name... Fitting for such a beautiful girl."

Aria began to blush profusely.

"Come again?"

The blonde hero smirked.

"I said that you had a fitting name for such a beautiful girl."

Aria couldn't believe her ears. Much less did she believe her eyes as the blonde lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.

The brunette tensed, but quickly relaxed as Regret reassuringly patted her on the back. she knew that she should be running away by now, but it felt so good...

'So warm. So soft...' She thought dreamily.

Then, something unexpected happened. The blonde hero slipped his tongue into the girl's mouth.

Out of sheer surprise and terror, Aria's hands shot open, completely disregarding the fact that they were holding the bottle of wine she had purchased earlier.

Regret quickly pulled away from the kiss, leaving the brunette to catch her breath and gather her wits. The blonde moved like the wind, grabbing the neck of the bottle just before it touched the ground. He then straightened up and held the bottle out to Aria.

"I believe you dropped this."

'Impossible.' Aria thought. 'He would've had to have lightning-fast reflexes to catch that bottle.'

Suddenly, the door opened again, revealing Commander Elisa of the Holy Guard.

"Sir Adas! There are some monsters straying dangerously close to town and I'd like you to go-" she stopped, realizing that no one was listening. All she had to do was take one look at the timid brunette's blushing face and the small hero's smug grin to understand the situation.

"Adas! You cheesy little flirt! What did you do to that poor little girl?!" Elisa yelled.

Regret chuckled.

"I kissed her. Ain't that right, Aria?"

Said brunette covered her mouth with one of her hands and nodded slowly.

Elisa slapped her forehead and let out an exasperated sigh. She wearily pointed to the door.

"Out. Now."

Regret pranced out the bar with a devilish smile.

No one noticed the woman in booth 4 with wild, curly blonde hair observing the scene.

'Hmmmmmm...' The woman thought to herself.

XXXXXXXXXX

Entry 5/5

Although we have been calling these mutants perpetually young, in the first and second cases of the mutation (the mutant was born that way and exposed to dark energy), the anomaly will NOT stay young their WHOLE lives. After hitting 60, the anomaly will quickly and painfully age for a week, the end of the week marking their death. For the first day or so, the only sign will come as a sort of sickness.

The anomaly will have used up all its life force on staying young, therefore cutting their life-span short. There is nothing they can do about this, as it quite hard to regain life force.

XXXXXXXXXX

Chael finished reading the page, placed his bookmark, and leaned back in the wooden seat. He looked around his room, taking in his surroundings. The candle on his desk gave out a flickering light, casting eerie shadows on the walls and his bed.

Chael looked back down at the book. The title was "Ye Olde Guide to Monsters and Mutants". General Ecne had handed him the book last week, telling him to read the last chapter before vanishing without a trace. She was not sighted from there on out.

There was one page left of the chapter and Chael figured he could save it for the next day. At the moment, he was completely and utterly exhausted from the day's events, so he plopped down onto his bed and promptly fell asleep.

Through the light snores of the commander, one might've heard a small creak as the bedroom door opened.

And through the light of the flickering candle, one might've also seen the red eyes peeking through.

No.

A simple red would not justify these malicious irises. These eyes were a deep, dark, _sinister_ crimson.

These eyes weren't merely red.

They were blood-red.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next night...

Frey walked slowly down the dimly-lit hallway towards Chael's door. The commander had not been out for the whole day, and Frey was starting to get worried.

At first, when he was not at lunch, everyone had just assumed that the blonde man had locked himself in his room so that he could do some concentration training (he did this at least once every week). No one had bothered to look for him.

But now, things were getting weird. It was around 8:00 p.m. and the commander had still not come out. He was usually done by now.

Frey quickened her pace. She walked past door after door until finally reaching Chael's room. She knocked on the door and heard no response.

"Chael? I'm coming in." She called out softly, beginning to turn the knob, only to find that the door was locked.

Frey looked up and glanced around, searching for the key Chael usually hid somewhere near his room.

After about ten minutes, she was about to give up when she spotted a golden glint out of the corner of her eyes. She walked toward the glint, leading her to a small lantern mounted on the wall of the hall.

The key had a piece of string looped around it that was attached to the lantern. Frey grabbed the key and yanked, easily snapping the thin, fragile string. She inserted it into the keyhole and turned.

She couldn't see anything in front of her due to the fact that there was no light in the room. She went back outside and grabbed the lantern off the hallway wall, plunging the hall into darkness as she took it inside the room.

The sight that awaited Frey froze her dead in her tracks.

The room was splattered with blood. Thick, dark, repulsive blood, all over the walls, floor, and ceiling. And right smack dab in the middle of it, the source of all the viscous red liquid, was...

... Chael.

His eyes were blank and his facial features were pulled into an expression of pure and utter horror. His body was covered in deep slashes, fatal wounds. Right next to him was a half-full wine glass. The glass was filled with a red substance.

"... Chael?" Frey whispered. She slowly began to walk towards the body, ignoring all the blood around her.

"... Chael?" She called out again, knowing said commander wouldn't respond. She kneeled near the corpse, desperately shaking her lover by the shoulders. Tears were starting to spill out of her eyes, landing with a plop on the blonde man's face.

"Chael! Come on... Wake up!" Frey yelled, ignoring the rational side of her mind. She rested her head on the commander's chest, finally accepting the truth. Someone had murdered Chael and drank his blood.

She gently pressed her lips on the commander's forehead, and then onto his slightly open mouth. One last kiss.

Then, Frey shakily stood up. She scanned the bedroom, searching for clues that would give away the identity of the killer.

She would get revenge.

XXXXXXXXXX

Frey glanced onto Chael's desk. Maybe something he was working on would spread so,e light onto the situation.

She peered at the mess of documents and contracts on the commander's desk. One thing caught her eye out of all of it. A single, brown leather-bound book jumped out at her.

Frey picked up the book and turned to the page marked by the bookmark. She took a deep breath and began reading.

XXXXXXXXXX

Entry 5/5 cont.

As for the third case, certain facts are still missing. There has only been one subject on which experiments have been taken.

Theoretically, if the anomaly in the third case is living in isolation, they will die when they hit age 56. Just like the first two cases,they will begin aging rapidly and painfully for a week after their 56th birthday before meeting their end.

However, if allowed to live in civilization, the anomaly will mercilessly slaughter any person in their path, completely disregarding any laws of affection binding them to friends or family.

Why do this? Although it has already been stated that it is hard to regain life force, there is a possibility. In the third case, the anomaly is granted a dark magic to take life force from blood.

The anomaly will extract blood from their victims and drink it.

XXXXXXXXXX

Frey reeled in horror from the words on the page. What could this mean? She flipped to the beginning of the chapter.

The chapter was named "The Perpetually Young". Hmmm...

Mercilessly slaughter...

The multiple slashes on Chael's body.

Drink blood...

The half-full wine glass filled with red liquid.

Perpetually young...

Who seemed to not age?

Suddenly it hit her.

The killer's name was...

Frey was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the soft creak of the door opening behind her.

Nor did she see the red eyes that emerged from the darkness of the hallway.

No.

A simple red would not justify these malicious irises. These eyes were a deep, dark, _sinister_ crimson.

These eyes weren't merely red.

They were blood-red.

And the owner of these eyes was a small, blonde boy.

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**Yay! Done! It took a long time (3 days) to actually get this finished. This is BY FAR my longest single chapter. Give a shout-out to Volcora for editing the last entry. Anyways, I would really appreciate some feedback so I can improve my writing. Sanks!**

	2. Read! Urgent!

Help spread this!

UPDATE TO ALL OF YOUR STORIES:

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

READ:

A message from dracohalo117 and Leaf Ranger...SOPA is back, that is right people, the bill that is threatening to take away our freedoms on the internet and beyond is BACK, and not only is it back, but it is trying to be passed quietly so nobody notices, SOPA will guarantee that anybody who streams a video, whether it be on youtube, a walkthrough for a video game, or a kid singing a song that is 'copyrighted' they will be treated as a felon, that is right, a FELON, do you understand me? YOU will be treated like the highest form of criminal for uploading a video game walkthrough on YouTube, for singing a song on karaoke, heck, you could be arrested and treated as a felon for posting a screenshot...

Now, why am I telling you this? Because this is only just the beginning, how long until Fanfiction is being attacked, how long until a Fanfiction writer is being carted off to a maximum state prison for writing a character from Naruto into their Fanfic, or a character from Bleach, or a character fro Sekirei or Seikon no Qwaser, Highschool DxD, Trinity Blood, Witchblade, how long until THAT crap is happening? I assure you that if this passes, it will not be long, oh no, it will not be long at all, because once this passes, then ANYTHING goes, Fanfiction will be attacked for using canon characters in a fanon manner, authors will be arrested for writing a book whose main character has glasses, just like in another series, artists will be arrested and confined for using sapphire blue in the iris of one of their characters like another author. We CANNOT let this happen!

Don't believe us? Look at the links below, remove the spaces, see for yourself, and please, PLEASE spread the word and fight this assault on our freedoms, because this isn't just going to affect americans, oh no, it will affect EVERYBODY across the globe!

: / www . huffingtonpost 2013/08/07/unauthorized-streaming-felony_n_3720479 . html

: / www . washingtonpost blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/08/05/sopa-died-in-2012-b ut-Obama-administration-wants-to-revive-part-of-it /

: / www . techdirt articles/20130805/12472124074/administration-cant- let-go-wants-to-bring-back-felony-streaming-provis ions-sopa . shtml

and the video which caused us to find out about this horrible thing...remove the spaces, and spread the word...

: / www . youtube /watch?v=1fTt4K4Cae4

POST THIS MESSAGE AS AN UPDATE TO EACH OF YOUR FICS! PM EVERY AUTHOR YOU'VE EVER TALKED TO AND TELL THEM THE MESSAGE! TELL ALL YOUR OFFLINE FRIENDS AND FB FRIENDS! SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE

* * *

**Hey, guys! I'm not gunna change this message between all my stories, so I'm gonna go for a general.**

**Im not even sure if this is true, but it means a lot to my friend, and if it isn't just pulling my leg, this is just BS. Just... No. No. No. You just DON'T do that.**

**Copyright? Dudes, we're having FUN! This website is FANfiction. Emphasis on FAN. We all know we're not the owners, any possessive brat who thinks otherwise can take their ideals and... Erm... Shove it.**

**So post this anywhere- anywhere at all- and know that I'm writing the next AR chapter for my FANFICTION. Got that, law guys? FANfiction.**

End file.

Ye Olde Guide to Monsters and Mutants: The Perpetually Young by violinist12234


A Poem

This is just a test!

By A Third Eye

Test Story

Third Party.

Goodbye is not an ending

When you know that people truly care,

For miles may come between you,

But warm thoughts are always there.

Goodbye is not an ending,

But a different start for you

A time for making brand new friends

And seeing dreams come true

Goodbye is not an ending,

For you'll find along life's way

Within your heart, you'll always discover,

A part of yesterday

End file.

A Poem by A Third Eye


Zetman Alternate Ending

**Zetman Alternate Ending**

**Just like the title says an alternate ending to the anime this will most likely be a One-shot however if anyone else would like to write a story based off this your more than welcome to. I dont own Zetman.**

Jin was walking towards the edge of the building deciding to let Kouga live though he would never forgive him he killed one of only three people he ever loved. As Jin glanced at Hanako's corpse one last time watching the small lights fade he couldnt help but be sad once again he let someone who was his family get hurt.

Jin prepared to leave when an idea struck him if the Ring of Exposure could make Players reveal themselves why couldnt it reverse it as well. He quickly ran to Hanako's corpse hoping by some miracle this would work. As he place his left hand on her corpse the Ring of Exposure began to glow and the small blue lights began flowing back into her body. "What are you doing she's a monster!?"

Jin turned, never taking his hand off of Hanako to face Kouga seeing his face twisted with anger "I'm fixing your mistake now shut up before i decide to regret letting you live!"

The others were shocked to hear him say that ,Konoha though couldnt help but feel a bit of sympathy her own brother had killed her mother and father she would probably never speak to him after today. As the lights retracted Hanako's body glowed bright before shrinking back into her human form...naked.

Jin caught her in his arms as she began to stir. The first thing Hanako relized was that her body felt normal again although she felt a bit cold and didnt know why, as she opened her eyes she saw Jin in his Zet form thats when all the memories started coming back her being abducted, being held hostage, being transformed then... She gasped she hugged Jin tightly wrapping her arms around him. "I thought...I though"

"I know but its over now come on lets go home...you must be cold." Jin replied hoping to subtly bring her attention to her clothing...or lack there of. Hanako eeped doing her best to cover her modesty she had no problem with Jin seeing her like this but she knew they werent alone. Jin just let out a small laugh and jumped away from the tower towards home with his family.

**3 years later**

Jin was hopping from roof top to roof top after his conversation with the Sweeper, heading towards his home in lowtown. He calmly walked to his door and openned it only to be glomped by Hanako "How'd it go, are you hurt your not hurt are you!?"

Jin just laughed this more or less the routine for the pass 3 years he'd go take out a Player that was causing trouble and she'd be waiting to make sure he was alright she also would make him a meal due to the fact that leaving his Zet form always made him a bit hungry. "No Hanako i'm fine though its nice to see you didnt burn the house down this time."

"Hey I've gotten better at cooking your lessons really helped." Hanako replied giving him a small punch in the arm and a kiss on the cheek. "Anyway I made some beef stirfry your fav."

Jin just gave her a kiss on the cheek as they stood up and walked inside "Thanks its nice to have someone waiting for me." Hanako just smiled as she led him to the kitchen. Yep this was his routine for the pass 3 years...and he wouldnt change them for anything.

**Ok its short but hey its my first time writing also i know my grammer isnt that good but i just finished watching the series and felt Jin deserved a happy ending also I only covered the scenes with Jin to show the changes everything else was cannon so thanks for reading and leave a review if you like.**

End file.

Zetman Alternate Ending by The Bird Of Hermes77


These Violent Delights

**_These Violent Delights_**

_"I was not, I was, I am not, I have no more desires."- A common inscription on Roman tombstones during the decline of the empire_

I.

There's a belief that when you reach a fork in the road, part of you goes one way and another part the other. One half goes on and the other continues the life you might have had if things had changed ever so slightly, if you'd chosen better. It's meant to be a comfort, to think that in another life, another time, you got it right.

But it isn't. Because nothing ensures that the other life was truly right.

In another part of Verona, one Shakespeare forgot, Juliet awakens, pale fingers stopping the poison's arc toward Romeo's mouth as his fingers clasp her dagger, driving it away from her heart and into silent ground.

That was the real tragedy, she decides. Not that Romeo and Juliet died, but that, in another life, they didn't.

II.

In a version of their lives, some forgotten thread, like a dream or a distant memory, he dies first, giving himself mercy before his eyes can turn, coughing around the blood in his teeth. She isn't far behind, because Romeo and Juliet die together, everyone knows that, so she takes down the Z that took him before she even feels the wound, and then she gives herself mercy with his weapon. It's a tragedy, of course, but its the way it should be.

In another part, or a hundred different days all forming one, a zombie that won't stop takes them both, and it doesn't matter if he rips out both their throats or not because the room never opens, and there's no one inside, and she never remembers the flashbacks because the dead can't remember anything at all.

Or maybe they die separately, with her mind broken in jagged pieces and he trying to help her find herself, a butterfly necklace in a child's hands and a hail of bullets and they both fall because there was no place in California for either of them.

Or, - and no one would believe this version - maybe they find themselves in California, five years beyond the mythical cure, without a zombie in sight, and with no blood left on their clothes. It's a fairytale, of course, and it's only logical that she finally realizes why everything seems out of balance, as if a new ending has been written, and in the process the significance of the work has been lost.

Because Romeo and Juliet were never supposed to survive the play, but Shakespeare forgot.

III.

Mack was always the one who clung to her. It's strange in a way, because she can't even remember his middle name and it seems pointless to ask again, and she doesn't know if he had siblings or even what he liked to do before it all fell apart, only that it seemed like he'd been there forever, and at the same time like they'd just met. She's been distant, and even cold, shoving when he reached for her, running when he tried to help, but pushing Mack away was like trying to fight the direction of the tide.

He's still the same way, no matter how many times she's walked away from him, and after a while she simply gives up and let's him stay. He has nothing, after all, and neither does she, so it makes sense they have each other. He gives her all he has, and she tries, she does, because he's good and decent, despite all they've gone through, kind and gentle, the sort of man who picks wildflowers and tries to take her on dates in the middle of the apocalypse, and she wishes there was a heart left in the hollowness of her chest, a way to feel anything for him at all.

In another copy of the play, Romeo doesn't take the poison, and he waits patiently by Juliet, waiting for her to wake, hours passing into days, and days to weeks, believing that she'll come to life, never knowing she never will.

It's then that she decides that Juliet wasn't committing suicide at all. She was trying to give herself mercy, and she didn't know how.

IV.

Mack starts slowly, trying to move on, trying to build a life. It's a date at first, in some little diner, and it even goes well until a tray drops and she's down on the floor, a knife to the waitress's forehead before Mack grabs her hand and drags her away.

After a while he starts talking about marriage - three proposals before he seems to take the hint - and eventually he seems to accept things the way they are.

He talks about children once - starting slow, with just one, then maybe another later on, but she only closes her eyes and pretends to sleep. She wouldn't be any kind of a mother, she knows, because she doesn't remember a single word to a lullaby, or how to hold a baby, and the only thing she could teach them is how to kill.

In some lost and forgotten writing, there's the pages where Romeo and Juliet grow apart, where Romeo stops trying, and simply gives up, where he stays, because he doesn't know any other sort of life, not when half his soul is in Juliet's body, but the light goes out of his eyes and he dies a different sort of death than the one Shakespeare intended. And Juliet, well, Juliet, she thinks, never even notices.

V.

In some final copy, dusty and unopened, only Juliet dies, bloody and violent, with crimson staining her hands, laughing through jagged teeth and swollen lips, and the way she ends doesn't matter, and never did. Romeo moves on, as he should have, maybe with someone else, or maybe alone, because maybe they didn't both have to die after all.

Mack would never do that, she knows, and this version of herself was a survivor, not one to fall in scarlet and darkness, so she clings to him in the quiet, fingernails digging into shards of rib and heart, and they live, both of them, the destroyed and the destroyer, and she's never sure which of them is which, or whether they're both at once.

He never complains, and she never says she loves him, but they go on, even if there are no words after the final page, because the bard no longer knew what to write.

End file.

These Violent Delights by Cruelest Sea


Healing Tears

_"Sherry...you fought so hard...please forgive me. I'm the one who should've died" Brago said, holding Sherry's limp body._
Sherry's POV

It started as an ordinary day for me and Brago. We had been going out to find more mamodo to fight. We were stopped by yet another group of 300 year old mamodo controlled by Zophis.

The weather was dark and dreary,the clouds looking like they would rain down at any moment. It was about noon when the mamodo surrounded us. There was one small one, one large one, two covered in full armor, and a water one. The water one was simply defeated by the first spell, Reis. The large one was taken down by Groverei. The first armored one was taken down by Brago's brute strength, leaving the second armed one and the small one.

"Gigano Reis!" I shouted. Brago raised his hand and a ball of gravitational energy fired at the mamodo. The mamodo didn't seem affected by it.

"Ion Gravirei!" I yelled. Brago attacked, blowing the mamodo into his owner. I stood there, waiting for Brago's order.

"The book" he said, glaring at me. I nodded and yelled "Reis!" The book was destroyed. I watched the book burn, feeling little remorse. I was used to this, this was a part of my everyday life.

"One left" Brago said, glaring at the small mamodo.

"Just try to defeat me" the mamodo said smugly.

"Ion Gravirei!" I shouted, holding the book up. The mamodo dodged the attack. "Dioga Gravidon!" I shouted. Brago attacked skillfully, though his efforts were in vain.

"Damn it! He's too fast" Brago growled.

"Do you give up?" the mamodo asked.

"Never! Dioga Gravidon!" I shouted. The mamodo glared at me, dodging the attack. "This should finish you off! Barberuga Gravidon! Bidom Gravirei! Rioru Reisu! Onuga Reusa! Gravidon!" I shouted, hesitating after every spell, giving Brago the chance to attack. The mamodo laughed, dodging each attack. Now that I had used all the attacks I began to worry.

"Is that it?" the mamodo asked, bored.

"Not even close" I said, unsure of myself.

"What the hell are you doing? Those are our only spells" Brago hissed.

"I have an idea. If the owner is destroyed the mamodo can't attack. I said, pulling a dagger out of my left boot. Brago stared, half surprised by the weapon. "Let's do this" I said, throwing the dagger at the opponent's book owner. The mamodo caught it in midair and dropped it to the ground.

"You're not sinking that low are you? I would hate to have to fight a prissy little girl" the mamodo said.

"Then don't. I'm your only opponent here" Brago said, stepping in front of me.

The mamodo pointed its weapon at Brago, making it appear that he would attack him. The attack was shouted and there was a blast of red light. Suddenly everything went black. In the pitch black I heard a voice. It was...apologizing to me. I felt something wet.

I opened my eyes and saw Brago clearly trying to fight back tears. With great pain and effort I lifted a trembling hand. Brago quickly snatched it and held it to his heart. I could feel his pulse under my fingers.

Normal POV

When the red light died down Brago saw something lying on the ground. The enemy? ...No...

He ran to the body and found, much to his dismay, that the body was none other than Sherry's.

"Sherry!" he exclaimed, shaking her. There was no response from her. "Sherry! Sherry! Answer me dammit!" he shouted, shaking her harder. There wasn't even the slightest movement from her. "Why?!" he shouted at the skys. He looked back down at Sherry.

"Sherry...you fought so hard...please forgive me. I'm the one who should've died" he said.

"Had I known this human was your weak spot I would've killed her off sooner" the the mamodo said as he and his owner left.

Brago felt something wet roll down his cheek. _Tears?_ _Am I crying?_ he asked himself.

The tear hit Sherry, causing her to stir. She began opening her eyes slowly. She lifted a shaky hand as if to say 'Don't cry.' Brago quickly snatched her hand and held it to his heart.

"Sherry...you idiot..." he said, half-angry, half-joyful. "You could've died" he said sternly, loosing every ounce of his joy.

"That's optimistic" Sherry said. Brago looked clearly pissed, he seemed to be at a loss for words . He began stuttering, unable to put words together.

"You idiot! That's all you can say at a time like this?!" he shouted, after a long moment of strange, inhuman sounds.

Sherry suddenly had a flashback of a memory of Koko.

_"Koko, you have to be more careful" Sherry lectured. _

_"I know, i know" Koko said. _

_"You could've been seriously injured" Sherry said sternly. _

_"That's optimistic" Koko said. _

_"I'm being serious here!" Sherry exclaimed. _

"Sherry" Brago said, snapping her out of her memory.

"Yes?" she asked.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" he asked furiously.

"You have a dream...a goal...to be the mamodo king" Sherry said.

"What's the point of that if you're dead?" he asked, picking her up.

"Where...where are you taking me?" she asked. He tossed her over his back and began walking.

"We're going home. You need rest" he said after a long silence. Sherry nodded and rested her head on his neck.

End file.

Healing Tears by Jaden Tao