The day is sweltering, and I'm taking a break and having a drink in the parking lot of some no-name rest stop. Business meeting was out in the middle of nowhere, not even within hours of an airport, so I'm stuck driving. Barely even worth the gas.

Author's note: when I finished The Nightingale some years ago, I promised to add a little more to the story, to tell what happened finally to Sasha. I didn't realize I had let so much time go by before I posted this. This isn't a stand alone story, though. It must be read with The Nightingale to, well, make sense. The song Gale sings is called Dante's Prayer, by Loreena Mckennitt. Listen to it here, it's wonderful. Better yet, have it playing when Gale sings in the story.

This chapter is a prequel to book two of this story, about how Chang gained much of his technology and weapons.

The titles says it all. “The Fall of Megatokyo.”

Caution: This is a very dark chapter, with nudity and violent scenes. Though, there are no sexual situations in this chapter.

THREE MONTHS LATER

“Stop being so nervous!” Dad admonishes me as I nearly hyperventilate on the back seat of his car. “This is something you want to do, it’s something you know you’ll be good at, so the sooner you relax and start enjoying it, the better.”

“I know, I know,” I breathe, fanning myself with my hands. “It’s just- it’s just all so new!”

“Well get used to it, because that’s life for you,” dad states bluntly.

Having returned to their home reality, the group finally confronts Hanna.

In the G Gundam reality, Birdy and Tsutomu have their child. Then, they must begin their training as a gundam fighter.

Elsewhere, in the Bubblegum Crisis reality, Natsuru begins his training at an academy, to become a AD Police office.

And in the Black Lagoon reality, Akira begins training under Shenhua, Sawyer, and Revy.

One cannot be a badass without the proper training, and while their training will differ, each of them will have the training they need to be badasses, in the situations they find themselves in.

By Melanie E.

Rudy/Ruby has been having a heck of a time with the Princess program. It all seemed like such a great opportunity to indulge, but it turns out it's a lot of work! Add in a mysterious valentine, and what's a boy/girl to do?

Prophecies are abound. All one has to do is understand them.

The group of travels have finally made it to Oriotera, the Federation capital world. Now, they get a chance to see the sights.

Meanwhile, Birdy and Tsutomu take care of some personal matters. And it is not good news for them.

Chapter 30 - Kidnapped

Daisy wanted to make a good impression on whoever Ivan had invited to the party on his yacht. If she looked too shabby or slutty, it could mean that the work she had done to get close to Ivan could go down the drain.

Badasses Of the Multiverse: Book 1: The Martial Artist, The Space Cop, The Superhero, The Magical Girl, The Wrestler, And The Fool for Love.

I would like to officially submit my resume to the laughing academy, in multiple parts.

The mystery is to figure out the mysteries.

It has been years since Hatsushiba Akira moved from Japan to American to attend college, after horrible events happened to him back home.

Now, a more mature Hatsushiba Akira is about to be unwillingly dragged into the craziest, and most dangerous, adventure this fool for love has ever had.

Another story written in the posting window for BCTS. Maybe, if I get myself in the habit here, some of my other projects will start to advance too.

"God, this should not be this hard," I complain as I sit in front of my dresser, staring at my anxious (but impeccably made-up) reflection.

"You've taken bigger steps that this before, much bigger steps," Sarah reminds me, wrapping her arms around my shaking body. And she's right- I have.

A lot of us have something in our pasts we'd change. Today I got that chance.

Chapter 29 - Plans Are Hatched

Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.

Daisy arrived back at the apartment and, as was normal, filled Linda in on everything she had observed during her shift. Today she was excited because a new player had shown up at the club: A dark-skinned bearded man, with long greasy hair who looked like he had just learned to walk upright. Ivan had greeted him like a long lost relative and even Ivan's bodyguards were deferential to this guy.

My palms are clammy and my breathing is erratic. I'm a bundle of nerves, but that's okay- most of the other people in this room are as well. I'm currently sat in a large hall with 200 other 16 year olds sitting my final GCSE exam- maths, a subject I'm not terrible at but not exactly great at either.

I brush my shoulder-length hair out of my eyes and tuck it behind my ears as I listen to the middle-aged woman talk as she makes notes on the whiteboard. I fidget a little in my seat- I've been wearing my school uniform all day and even though three months from now I'll have worn it for the very last time, I'd pay anything to go home and slip into something more comfortable... Like a cute skirt and a pair of warm tights, as opposed to my itchy cotton shorts and polyester trousers.

This is another true story...

Road Picture

by Storytimer

While I was going thru transition, I had a friend named, well, call her Debbie. Debbie was going through transition, too, and we kind of were a support group for each other. Debbie was short, slender and blonde--blonde to the bone sometimes.

Originally posted 2005/05/03.

I pout my deep red-coloured lips for the camera as I take shot after shot of me in various poses. My dark brown hair has been styled into a feminine bob, framing my immaculately made-up face.

Spells'R'Us: The wizard offers Simon a fresh start...

Chapter 28 - Ivan

"Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear." Albert Camus

I leaned back in my seat and looked through the binoculars toward the building. Night had fallen but within the fenced in compound there was plenty of light.

“See anything?”

I looked over at Chris, “Not yet. Most of the employees have left but there are still way too many cars in the lot.”

Chris nodded, reached behind the seat, and pulled out a bag that held a pair of sandwiches.

“Are you hungry?”

Curiosity Killed The Boy

My older sister always had more clothes than I. Her closet and dresser were full. The closet in the spare bedroom was packed with outfits that didn’t fit her or were deemed out of style. There were boxes of her old clothes on the floor of the closet. Since Monica took care of her clothes, Mom had a habit of saving her stuff. “You never know when they may come into use,” she would say.