Chapter 11: At the End of the Universe with You?

Once upon a time... there was a star creature. He was an outcast from his people, who were perfect in every way. Being unlike them, he kept away by exploring.

One day he came upon a woman of his kind in a field of celestial flowers. She was beautiful and he felt drawn to her. The outcast did not approach her though, for fear of her recognizing him as the one who was different.

She would come to that place every day, and every day he learned more and more things about her. Before long, he realized that he hadn't become infatuated with just any star creature, but had fallen for the Princess herself.

Building up his courage, he finally talked to her. They conversed and when she asked for his name, he could not tell her. For he was still afraid. So the Princess named him Puppycat and the two decided to meet every day.

They were in love, and they both agreed they were meant to be together. The princess decided to run away with him, and they planned to meet at their favorite meadow before they escaped. When the night came, the outlaw waited and waited for her arrival. Yet, she did not appear. Instead, the Space King's warlocks did. He was trapped.

He thought the princess had lied, but she had been confined to the castle. The Space King sought to keep her away from the outcast and, in his mind, keep her safe. Now, the outcast was deemed an outlaw. He was surrounded by the King's army of warlocks. Filled with anger from what he thought was her betrayal, the magic that was meant to capture the outlaw instead transformed him into a monster, and he escaped...

When the Princess found of his fate, she applauded him for escaping the world that treated him so cruelly. In heart, she wondered if she too to escape her circumstances. It was then that the Princess took it upon herself to leave her suffocating royal life. She took up a dagger, made of the very stars her ancient people once consumed, and ended her existence. Rumors of the event spread across space and soon, many had heard of the tale of the Outlaw who made the Space Princess disappear.

Yet none had heard of the young star creature who wanted more out of her life. The very same one, who decided an ended life was better than living an empty one.

/It wasn't a fairytale… Stories like that have a hero. A hero who saves his princess. Not someone who was used because he was weak./

Puppycat looked at the sleeping woman, sprawled out on the couch under her blanket. He sat on her stomach, watching her snore and continued on with his confession.

/In the end, I'm still weak. You saved me, so… I guess I'll stick around./

Bee snorted and smacked her lips.

/Only for a little while./

He stood on all fours, studying the girl with long brown hair. She liked their neighbor, the guy called Deckard. Puppycat didn't mind him much. Until Deckard smiled at her familiarly.

Out of reflex, he quickly swatted at the man's leg grabbing his attention from Bee.

Puppycat didn't mind him much. He didn't...

Bee protected him. Too much.

He felt his pride take a blow harder than one of her punches to a bad guy. Puppycat admired her strength, but at the same time despised his weakness. The want to protect her and keep her out of this constant trouble started to grow more each mission.

How can I help when I'm not even me anymore?

So he vowed to become stronger even in this weak form of his. For her.

"You're really in love with yourself, you know that?"

/I'm the best, so I course I love me./

"Yeah, but you overdo it?" Bee told him. "It's like you're a little princess or something."

He eyed her silently with a frown, not at all liking that comparison. He knew he had been acting cocky and very self-proclaimed royal-like. He deserved to though. After so long of being the bottom, he felt it was time to be on top.

I'm king here.

"Mm, noooo… You're not delicate enough! Plus, your royal highness looks cute trying to tell people what to do."

He gave an angry retort to that. Knowing full well he was not cute. Although, he didn't mind much when she smiled at her own jokes like that…

I guess… I'll stay… he thought, seeing Bee struggle with the screw cap to the jelly jar.

His mind was reeling. What should he say? A lie? She'd buy it, but could he keep up a farce long into the future when he could show himself to her?

Distrust.

Anger.

She'd never believe him ever again. Then, he'd have to say the truth. Or, at least a part of it…

"Ah, nevermind. I guess this all seems silly to you anyway. Me dreaming about a bunch of yous in space like that… Forget I mentioned it, okay?"

She walked into the other room, leaving him to sit by the couch in silence.

Hug… I can hug you now…

Come with me…

/Let's leave Earth./

Has—Has she, always looked like that? …cleavage.

He laughed. Of course she wouldn't mean it any other way. It's Bee!

BEE. YOUR BOOBS. STOP MOVING!

No!

Shaking his hands, gesturing her to stop, he sat there in the water trying to calm her.

I wasn't thinking like that this time!

Damn it all… Hands rubbed down his face none too roughly to rid the tears from his eyes.

/A monster…/ She hates me… /She—/

/— hates me…/ I said under my breath, breaking out of my thoughts.

/Silence,/ a guard ordered before hitting me between my shoulder blades.

I grit my teeth at the pain that bloomed and spread through my back at the blow. Nonstop aggression was handed to me at every turn since my capture. The hero, was no hero. He was a monster answering for his crimes.

I'm sorry, Bee, I thought miserably. I hope you'll forgive me someday.

Tossed forward, I stumbled before falling to my knees. Hissing at the sharp sting that shot up my thighs, I breathed deeply, trying to not dwell on what was happening. I knelt there on the hard ground, waiting for the inevitable. It soon came. With the penetrating silence that overcame the guards framing me on all sides.

Footsteps.

I heard them loud and clear. As the clacks of shoes walked across the stone floor of the balcony overhead from me, I felt the tension rise within the ranks of the multitude. He stopped at the railing and looked down on me.

Like he always had.

/My guards, I commend you all on your retrieval of the accursed outlaw. His evasion to paying for his crimes will now end./

A bitter laugh escaped me and I couldn't help but show him my contempt.

/Something amusing, Puppycat?/ the Space King asked me short of a growl.

/Yeah, the fact that you're still accusing me of nothing!/

A quick jab to the juncture of my neck and shoulder sent another wave of stinging pain throughout my body. Leaning forward to gasp at the feeling, I quickly taken back upright by a jerk of my hair.

/Insolent. You deceived my only daughter and attempted to make away with her. Such treason against the royal house is unacceptable and will not go unpunished./

Shaking my head, I swallowed the rising heat that climbed up my throat. /Because love is a crime… Well, you were deceived too, it seems. Because your daughter was the one who said we should leave. Not me./

/LIES!/ he shouted with anger. /Captain! Ready his execution!/

A tall man with sparkling orange skin stepped forward and motioned to the two men on my sides. Picking me up by my upper arms, I was hauled to my feet quickly and dragged backward. The king looked down at us from his balcony and gripped the thick railing tightly. Making eye contact, I stared at him unabashed. He didn't turn away.

In a flutter, I felt my hair settle with the gravity that came softly on me from the instant travel to Royal Space. Looking around, I saw that I was near the front end of the ballroom on the side where the food had been. Now empty, the area was vast without the dancing colorful creatures of the stars.

"If I were a mean dad…" I whispered to myself, "where would I execute the guy who tried to elope with my precious daughter?"

My eyes shifted to the double doors ahead of me across the room.

Outside.

Remembering the balcony the king had stood on when Helystn and I escaped last time, I quickly, but quietly, made my way toward the expensive entrance. An open walkway to my left stopped me in my tracks to do an immediate tip-toeing backtrack when I saw a guard passing by. I waited for him to cross, then leaped over to pass the open door.

Studying my surroundings, I made sure no other guards were around before making a break for the door. Taking hold of the handles, I pulled and had no luck opening them. The rattle of the lock was loud and I silently shushed the noise. Trying to push, I knocked the doors to a shake and winced at the sound. Hearing clomping foot steps to my left, I gave up trying to me quiet and tried my best to force the door open.

/Hey! Who're you?!/

My gasp resounded in the empty room, overpowered by his yell. Freaking out, I scrambled to force the door open quickly as he ran towards me. Giving up, I placed my hands on the panels and hoped I had some cool exploding powers. The guard was within just a few feet of me when the doors blasted away. A shout of surprise from the both of us hesitated my run, but then I saw a kneeling figure out far in front of me.

The man holding a sword above Helystn jumped back in surprise at the sound of the doors flying off their hinges.

"H—HELSTYN!" I screamed.

He raised his head at the sound of his name and I saw his eyes widen. Running to him, I bypassed the several guards who stood in shock at my appearance.

/No! Catch her! She's aiding the outlaw!/

Spurring into action, some of the men immediately rushed at me with the king's command. Already within an arms' reach of Helystn, I dodged the closest one to me and flung myself down on to the stunned alien. My arms wrapped around his neck in a hug and I laughed at the feel of him in my arms.

/Bee?/

Sensing someone come close to us, I focused the same way I had on Earth. Feeling that I found it I turned around, with one arm still holding Helystn, to flip off the King on the balcony of the Royal palace. His appalled face faded away as we folded into deep space.

The two opened their eyes at the same time when the feeling of gravity dissipated. In awe, and Helystn took the sight of a beautiful array of colors that spread out before them in winding, languid trails.

"My dream…" Bee whispered. "It's my dream, but we're awake."

Helystn turned to look at her. He stared at the human woman who shouldn't be there. Her vibrant purple hair floated around her in soft, fluffy tendrils. The barely indistinguishable hue of pale pink alighted her cheeks. Unable to avert his gaze, he simply stared at the new, but very familiar sight of what was Bee.

/How?/ he asked softly.

Bee looked at him, her eyes bright and reflecting the many colors that shone around them. Cocking her head to the side, she hummed as if to ask him what he meant.

/How are you here? You're supposed to be on Earth./

She licked her lips and flitted her eyes to the side for an instant before gathering her words. "Well, I had some supernatural help."

/What? But—/ he shook his head and gripped her upper arms. /Bee! How're you here? You're breathing in space! We're—! We're… Where are we?/

"Uh…" Bee trailed off. "The edge of the universe? I think?"

/You think?/ Helystn sighed and pulled Bee into a hug, leaning his forehead on her shoulder. /I don't even know if I want to know how this is all possible, Bee. But… I'm glad you're here./

She smiled at that and returned the hug, patting his back.

"It's a long story, but seeing as how we've literally have all of the time in the universe, I'll tell you when you feel up to it."

/I think I should hear it now. First though,/ he raised his head to meet her gaze, /tell me… Why did you come back for me?/

Her smile wavered under his scrutiny and she pursed her lips to swallow. "I had to come back for you," she said.

She couldn't think of why he thought she wouldn't come for him given the chance. He had thought there was none, so of course his surprise was warranted. Though, Bee had a gut feeling as to the real meaning behind his question.

/Bee. I wanted you to live on. You didn't need to come after me. Earth is your home. Home with Deckard and Cass…/

"No, not anymore. Helystn, I want to stay with you."

Frowning, he knit his brows at her words. /You don't. You want to stay with Puppycat. Not me./

At that, Bee pouted and broke away from his hold and slapped her hands to his cheeks. Yelping at the sting of her palms, he met her stare and felt himself grow warm as her hands stayed put on his face.

"You listen up. Puppycat was the only part of you that I'd known. When you returned to your true self, it's not as if you changed completely. Puppycat was my friend. That automatically makes Helystn my friend to."

/Friend?/

"Yeah!"

/That's the problem. I don't want to be friends,/ he announced without thinking.

Hearing his confession, she let go of his cheeks. Realizing what he said aloud, Helystn waved his hands in front of him to dismiss the statement.

/No! That's not what I meant! I do want to be friends, but I mean—ah… damn./

Bee looked down to her feet, not feeling this shy since she had first met Deckard. "Does that mean, that that kiss was real?"

He cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair, avoiding her sight.

"That wasn't the first time we kissed, was it?"

/…So you were awake?/ he asked after a pause.

She nodded.

He groaned, very embarrassed. /I'm sorry. I shouldn't have./

"Friends don't kiss."

/I know,/ he sighed, shutting his eyes.

A fleeting peck on his lips startled him and Helystn opened his eyes to see Bee blushing. Her chest lightly glowed and her flustered face was close to his. Not able to form words, he moved in closer, hesitantly, as he deliberately looked to her eyes then her lips. Before their lips met, stopped as a question finally came to mind.

/What do you see me as?/ he asked her, their lips barely grazing each other's.

Bee pushed forward. Finding his hands, she held them as they exchanged a sweet kiss that they both dared not to break first. Simultaneously, they pulled slightly away. The new gesture they'd experienced felt strange and daring. They both wanted more, but felt they could not indulge just yet.

"I feel," Bee began, "that you are everything to me."

Eyes searched hers and she didn't look away.

"You're my world. No…"

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, the woman knew exactly what she felt when she searched for Helystn. He was so easy to see in her heart. Her being felt for him.

"You're my universe."

Helystn gave a soft laugh.

"Yes. Forever and Always."

[A/N: cheesy-bomb~! Told you this was a 'wait wha?' ending. I cannot BEElieve. Anyway, if you has questions, ask away. This fic is officially OVER! I'll do a separate not affiliated with this one story for smut lovers. It'll be a whole lot better than what I delivered here, thats for sure. (Don't believe me? Check out my M fics fufufu) PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THIS. I felt we all had high expectations for this story that were not met. Let me know what you sincerely thought. Until I see you all again in a different time, addio~]