FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"The Vale Bloom"

The chill of the evening air sent the sounds of a shrill whistle through the tall tower on the top of Kun'lai Summit. It was a tower that Cho had long since forgotten about, a massive prison constructed by the Mgu centuries ago to hold their most... resistant subjects. Since their downfall, the Shado-pan had seen no further use for it and had sealed it off. Cho remembered learning of its history, how the tower's closing was celebrated by a year-long celebration that sang throughout the entire continent; he'd hoped never to have to see this place in person, but as his caravan rode to the top of the final, and highest rise of the mountain, those hopes were abruptly dashed.

The building's construction looked as though it were made from large bricks of black stone, hardly weathered even after all this time, but he could see several flaws in the construction, even from this distance. Mostly on its upper tiers which he walls had collapsed and broken away from the main building. A chill ran down Cho's spine as they came closer and closer to it, and he couldn't help but run his fingers along his thick arm.

"Hold!" A voice took Cho's attention from the building as he noticed the path was now lined with several Shado-pan, dressed in drapes of black and crimson.

A solitary Pandaren stepped into view and Cho recognized him immediately. Taran Zhu's cloak whipped over his shoulder as he eyed the small party who had made the trip up the mountainside. His eyes settled on Cho and flashed with recognition. "Lorewalker Cho." He said. "It is good you could make it to the edge of the world." He said with a smile.

"Hmm... I did not feel I had a choice." He said gesturing to the rest of the group who dismounted to join the others. He dismounted on his own and landed in the snow which crunched and came up to his ankles immediately upon landing. "The matter was so urgent sounding that I was practically thrown into the cart."

"I trust my men did not harm you in any way?"

Cho shook his head. "No, but they did not really divulge the purpose of this meeting."

Zhu chuckled a bit. "That's because they do not know the purpose of this meeting. Please, come with me."

He turned and led Cho past him toward the tower in the distance. A light snow had begun, chilling him below his fur. He unconsciously brushed at it as Taran followed directly after him, the remainder of the Shado-pan remained behind. Cho looked over his shoulder and watched their shadows fade into the distance before he turned to speak. "Taran Zhu, it is good to see you again, but I was not aware that the tower was still in use."

"You are aware of the war crimes of the Horde warchief, I assume?" Taran said.

Cho nodded, then paused in his stride to look at Zhu. "You mean to say that it has been opened to house Garrosh Hellscream?" He asked. "At this point in the year, this place is likely to be below zero after dark."

"We did not imprison him here for his comfort." Zhu responded coldly. "He is responsible for killing countless people. Of the Horde, of the Alliance, of the Pandaren. He is an enemy to all, and we do not take such a man lightly."

"Oh, yes. I understand that, but this level of torture is--if you'll forgive the comparison, not unlike many of the Mogu tortures our kind have had to endure."

"As always, you are welcome to speak freely." Zhu said as they approached the gate and the Pandaren pushed the gate open. It creaked loudly as it clanged loudly at the end of its hinges and the pair walked into an open courtyard that sat below a long, spiraling climb up the tower. Inside the tower, the wind howled and its sealed nature seemed to make the insides feel even colder than the outside. "Hellscream is prisoner of the Shado-pan until the Celestials deem his punishment, but we are not heartless. We provide his cell ample heat to survive the days and nights here, though that is also in regard to his guards who must also stay here during his... "visit."

"And why is it that I am here?"

"They have been considering a ritual that may require your involvement. In your reviews of our historical documents, you may be among the only living Pandaren familiar enough with the ritual of the Celestial Flower to arrange it..." He paused and noticed that Cho had stopped walking, he stood rigid, his fists clenched and down at his sides as his mouth hung open in a moment of utterly shocked silence. "I... have heard of this ritual, and yes I am familiar with its intricacies, but never have I considered it a means to serve as a punishment for a crime."

"Since the decision of his guilt was made, many things have been considered for his punishment..." A voice made Cho jump as it came from behind him, and he turned to see the tiger celestial Xuen step from the darkness and approach the two of them. "This includes the use of the flower ritual."

Cho's mouth was agape at this, and he stared somewhat incredulously at the tiger. "But... the ritual requires a willing participant, one of a pure mind and heart, while yes this can be a means of quickly restoring the Vale, I do not believe Garrosh Hellscream would be such a participant."

"Our primary concern is to restoring the damage he has done. Our trust of these strangers was misguided with Hellscream, his former allies have rallied in a tremendous support of his capture and have trusted to us to properly punish him. As I am aware, the participant does not need to be willing to be given this form, it will be incredibly painful the less willing, but it can be done."

"Is... is that truly the best thing?" Cho asked. "Surely there are less extreme means of punishing him for his crimes than this."

"Our only interest is restoring the Vale to its former radiance." Xuen said shortly. "It is not our first choice, but it is one we continually discuss. The ritual will not kill him--"

"But his changed form would be that of the frailty and existence of a flower. You condemn him to die with this..."

"If it is needed, can you perform the needed tasks or not?" Xuen spoke again, sounding as though his patience was beginning to wane. "Taran Zhu says you are a historian and are familiar with many of our old rituals."

Cho frowned slightly. He knew better than to lie to Xuen, lest receive the great tiger's fury. "I... can. I am familiar with the ritual and what is needed."

"We are still discussing the matter." Xuen said calmly, a sense of a smile crossing his muzzle seemed to comfort Cho. "But it would be appreciated if we could have your assistance, no matter the decision we reach."

"I... I understand." Cho said with a slow nod. "I will do what I can."

"Excellent. I will speak with the others, and we will discuss this further." Xuen said, and just as quickly as he'd appeared, he vanished again in a soft wisp of smoke that faded immediately.

"We appreciate your assistance." Taran Zhu said, though his expression vanished upon receiving a cold glare from the Lorewalker.

"You tricked me here." He said shortly. "As if you'd blindfolded me and ordered me across a braided rope above a pit of tigers, you'll understand if I get a bit upset when you remove that blindfold." He sighed. "Guilty or not, we should not condemn a man to death."

"Learn well Cho." Zhu answered, now narrowing his eyes defensively. "There are many things that are beyond your control. Hellscream's punishment is assured, he must pay for his crimes. We have no form of crime and punishment established here, we have lived too long without the chaotic element of psychopaths. The Celestials will choose his fate, or we will turn him over to his kind, and I severely doubt their leaders will be able to keep him alive any longer than we can. He is our responsibility to punish."

"And who governs yours or the Celestials' actions as just?" There was a long pause as Taran Zhu's eyes stared , then lowered from their glare. "I will help you. I trust the Celestials' guidance. But it does not mean I have to like it."

"I understand how you feel." Zhu said softly.

"Mmm." Cho grunted a bit and shrugged, closing his eyes as he did so and he realized how tired he was. "Where is he now?" He asked.

"Why do you ask?" Zhu responded somewhat defensively.

Cho growled slightly. "If I am to condem a man to die, then I have every right to see him before the judgment is cast. And should the judgment come to his death, I must be there to see him through the ritual."

Taran nodded slightly. "He is kept above." He pointed up, his finger landing on a small point of light nearly halfway up the atrium. "Two guards are on him at all times, but you'll have to forgive his disheveled appearance, he is not dressed for company."

"Understood." Cho said as he sighed and turned to walk away.

Cho found the stairs and started to climb. They were cracked and broken, bits of stone crumbling from the edges and onto the surface of the blackened stone of the step below it as he climbed. After about fifty steps, Cho breathed heavily and looked around, pondering to himself it his staircase ever let out into the main atrium. Just as he thought this, he turned the corner and stepped into a room that was dimly lit, and much warmer than the stairwell. "Hello? Is anyone here?" He asked into the hall.

"Who goes there?" Two armed guards; one male, one female both suddenly appeared and aimed long polearms at the approaching lorewalker.

"Lorewalker Cho." He said quickly as he threw his hands into the air. "I was brought here by Taran Zhu."

"Our apologies, Lorewalker." The female said as they lowered their weapons. "We were not aware you were coming. What is your business here?"

"I would like to speak with him." Cho said. The two guards stood down and parted to let him through. Cho stepped between them and looked back and forth between them before continuing into the room. "I would like to speak with him alone, if you would." He said.

The pair glanced at one another, then looked at Cho. "We should not leave you alone with him, he's dangerous."

"Is he armed?" Cho asked.

The two passed a glance again. "Well, no..."

"If he somehow gets past me, are there not guards littered throughout this tower to subdue him?"

"I suppose there is a small army of Shado-pan here." The male said to his counterpart.

"Then, please. Allow me time to speak with him as the Celestials decide his fate, will you?"

The pair nodded and the female spoke up. "We will not be far then, Lorewalker. Please do not hesitate to call us back."

"At the top of my lungs." Cho answered with a smile. He watched the pair turn and walk from the room, they turned and pushed a large wooden door into view. With a long, loud creaking noise they closed it in the frame, and it was followed immediately by the loud metallic click of a lock being snapped shut on the other side. Cho breathed deeply and let his breath out as he turned toward a small dark red door in the corner at the back of the room. "So. It would seem you've made an impression on Pandaria." He said as he started toward the door. Taking the latch in the viewing port, he pulled it back to peer inside.

"So it would seem." The voice beyond the door growled back. The dim lighting of the room provided little to view, but Cho could see the dark tanned head of the orc as he stood against the wall. His arms were bolted to the walls by a pair of metal shackles. His body was draped in heavy chains that dragged along the stone floor with each attempt he made to move. His crestfallen eyes looked up at the ones peering at him through the port and he straightened up in an act of stubborn defiance. "Have you come to condemn the damned?" He asked. "Or was that to be my job?"

"The Celestials are still deciding your punishment." Cho said. "Do you remember me?"

"Lorewalker Cho." Hellscream answered coldly. "The fool." He added with a smirk.

"Yet I am not the one chained to the wall." Cho answered. "I am here in case what they decide needs one aware of the ritual preparations."

"Mmhmm, and what is the current debate?"

"Hmm. I'm not sure. I just got here."

"You are a poor liar." Garrosh said with a chuckle. "But I suppose that means you are trying to spare my feelings. At this point, I wouldn't give a damn if the one called Niuzao lifted his leg and made me drink his piss." He chuckled, but whether out of self pity or amusement, Cho couldn't pick it out.

Cho pursed his lip a bit and clicked his tongue before stepping back and pulling open the lock on the inner door. He opened the door and stepped inside. The dark room made his eyes narrow as they adjusted to the darker surroundings. "They... are currently trying to decide to use you as a means to heal the Vale through a ritual."

"Hmmph." Garrosh huffed angrily. "Is that all?"

"This ritual is normally designed to bless someone with the power of the Celestials. A sacred rite afforded to few, which has been performed only a few times over the entire history of Pandaria. Many seek it near the end of their lives, it is used to purify regions touched by the darkness of the Sha and clear its dark taint. It... purifies the spirit and returns it to the planet in the form of a rare bloom called the Celestial Blossom, which then releases the spirit upon the end of its life cycle."

"So, they are intending on killing me." There was a long silence that confirmed Garrosh's suspicions. "A reasonable precaution." The words that had followed caught Cho's attention. "I feel it... the darkness I'd felt in the Vale, the... commanding power still dwells in my veins. I suppose it would do the world a justice to remove its remnants from it."

"You... are taking this surprisingly well." Cho leaned back slightly.

"Do you think I would sit here simpering, whimpering, begging for my life?" He snorted. "I am still very much the orc I've always been. If I am to die, I will not weaken my honor with pleas of mercy."

There was a loud bang that made Cho jump, he turned around to see the red crane step into the room, Chi-Ji's eyes seemed like they glowed for a moment in the dull lighting as they crossed Cho's own sights, a sudden gust of cold air made the bear's fur flutter. "Pardon the interruption." He said, his voice was soft, almost gentle as he spread his plumes slightly and entered the room. "But the others have come to a decision. If you would come with me." There was a flash of light, and instantly the chains that held Garrosh to the wall shackled around Chi-ji's neck. He tugged slightly and immediately, the orc stepped forward, uncontrollably led by the restraints.

Cho had almost forgotten the actual temperature outside the room and he shivered as he followed Chi-ji and Hellscream from the room. It was a silent walk down through the tower, Cho couldn't help but notice how quiet Hellscream was, being dressed in nothing more than a loincloth and cold metal chains, he didn't even seem to feel cold. Even narrowing his eyes, Cho couldn't even make out goose bumps across his skin. The hall was glowing a soft red from the crane's aura, but the gentle light didn't lessen the anxiety Cho felt. A look that was expressed even in the crane's eyes as they descended the stairwell and entered a room which melded other glowing colors. Walking into the room, he noticed that Niuzao, Yu'lon and Xuen were gathered together. Yu'lon was hovering slightly above the ground while Xuen was seated in a corner like a statue while Niuzao paced back and forth in the center of the room. All of them came to attention as the red crane entered the room, the chains tying Chi-ji to Garrosh vanished and he stopped walking, standing bound in the middle of the floor.

"Garrosh Hellscream, you stand before the Celestials." Taran Zhu said, coming into view. "For the crimes you have committed against Pandaria, for its people and for your own."

"You have already been found guilty of your crimes, by your own admission." Yu'lon said. Cho watched as the orc's expression remained static, he didn't appear to have any emotion in his eyes, he just lowered his eyes and listened as she spoke. "You have been chosen to become the very salvation of the Vale; to undo the damage you have done, but you have one chance..."

"The power used for this ritual is very demanding." Xuen said. "A dark heart, a spirit unwilling will suffer unbelievable torture under this magic."

"Open your heart, Garrosh Hellscream." Niuzao growled. "So that you not know the pain you would otherwise suffer." here was a long silence, the Hellscream smiled a bit as he closed his eyes. Cho felt his mouth fall open, how could he possibly find amusement in such a situation?

Garrosh chuckled a bit. "Oh, please." He said. "You do not expect me to beg for mercy after what I've done." He looked up. "What I did, I did for the good of the Horde, and if that is my crime." He laughed. "Well perhaps I deserve this."

Xuen growled angrily. "Damn you, the power of pride has infested your heart as well as your mind."

"This is useless." Niuzao stamped a hoof. "Nothing will bring light to his dark heart, he's no better than the corruption he's poured into the Vale."

"Then it is done." Yu'lon said. "At sunrise, we will travel to the Vale and use Garrosh Hellscream to return it to its former purity. Chi-ji, you may return him to his cell."

"N-no wait." Cho said suddenly stepping forward. "Please, let me return him to his cell."

"Lorewalker--" Zhu started.

"If you are concerned with his overpowering me, I don't believe you should worry." Cho said. "I'm stouter than I look, you should know."

"Hmm. True." Taran said with a bit of a smile. "But perhaps you look a little too stout."

"If the Lorewalker wishes to escort the prisoner back to his cell, then I suggest we allow him to do it. He seems to be determined to do so."

"It is part of the ritual." Cho said. "I must speak to Garrosh Hellscream alone once more, there is something from him I will need to ready him for tomorrow's event."

"Understood." Chi-ji nodded, a flash of red light made a set of chains appear in Cho's hand. "Then please, return this... "warchief" to his cell then, Lorewalker."

"Will it hurt, Lorewalker?"

Hellscream's voice made Cho jump a bit as he led the orc up the stairwell toward his cell several floors up. He didn't make his shock visible, he simply responded carefully. "What do you mean?"

Garrosh smirked a bit. "The transformation... will it hurt as they say?"

"You almost sound like you want it to." Cho said.

"Maybe I do." His voice was cold, deadpan. It made Cho turn around and look him in the eyes. The stubbornness, the arrogance in his eyes reflected darkly with a smile.

"If your heart resists it, if you are truly without remorse for what you have done, it will hurt more than you can imagine. Can't you understand? No matter how much you fight it, it won't kill you, it will change you, and once you've become nothing more than a flower, with all the life expectancy of such. You'll die, slowly and alone, does that not matter to you?"

Hellscream was silent until they returned to his cell. When he spoke it surprised Cho again. "What do you hope to accomplish by speaking to me, Lorewalker? I have invaded your home, conquered your people, destroyed innocent people in the hopes of expanding my Horde."

"Everyone makes mistakes in the way of pride." Cho said softly before turning around and facing the orc. Flicking his fingers across the chains he caused them suddenly to fall from his massive body. He looked just as confused as he had when he was taken prisoner at that moment.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"I... I am not exactly sure." Cho said, dropping the chains he held to his feet. He unfastened the clasp of his tunic and dropped it to the floor. He took a step forward. "If you are truly ready, then... I want to give you one last night of pleasure before your sentence is carried out." His hand rested on the orc's cheek. "Dominate me, as your last act of Warchief." He said, his voice sounding more desperate than he intended. "Hhck!" He grunted, feeling the orc's fist wrap around his long mane of hair and pull him abruptly down, forcing Cho to teeter over somewhat backwards and off balance. He could hear a growl rumble through his chest and his throat. The warmth of the orc's flesh radiated through Cho's fur, he began to realize exactly what kept Garrosh warm in this frigid environment.

The intrusion of Garrosh's tongue surprised Cho, his dominating body almost completely encompassed his own in the bearish hug he'd received from the orc. For a moment, the orc's tongue dove down so deep it seemed impossibly able to choke him as he gave an impassioned groan, his arms flexing, his body shivering in the pleasure of the moment, his nails forcibly massaging deeper and deeper into the flesh of the Pandaren's ass, ripping the fabric of his pants as he was tilted even further over.

"Mmmph!" Cho felt Hellscream's freed hand grabbing desperately at the break in the front of his pants, tearing them free of his fur and allowing his shaft to spill out into the open air, it was almost immediate that it erected like a pike as Hellscream's palm grabbed his balls and made him grunt as they squeezed tight together. The orc broke their kiss as his tongue slid from the top of Cho's stomach all the way up to his neck, and Garrosh bit down on it, making him yelp in pain. Garrosh's large hand suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

"Silence, bear." He growled angrily, his eyes almost glowing as he glared down at the Lorewalker, he clenched his teeth as his fingers grabbed Cho's shoulder, his long nails tearing along the flesh under his fur. He grabbed the remainder of the Lorewalker's pants and ripped them completely free before suddenly pulling him to his feet and slamming him hard against the wall, his hot breath pouring over Cho's neck as he pressed himself against the bear, his thick shaft having fallen free of his loincloth it pressed against Cho's bare backside. "I don't want your screams being heard throughout the building." He chuckled playfully.

Garrosh spit into his palm, which Cho found crude, but as he felt the orc's thick fingers work their way into his hole he suddenly realized the meaning for it. First one finger shoved in deep, making Cho yelp loudly, and again his mouth was clamped shut with the orc's free hand as the other worked a second finger into him. Then a third as Cho's whimpers mellowed slightly. "Mmmmm... good." He purred into the lorewalker's ear. He angled the warm tip of his shaft against the fur, the flesh sliding between his cheeks and suddenly it slipped in. Cho grunted loudly as his body tried to accommodate something far larger than he was used to. Despite this, he felt a drip of something wet pour down his thigh as Garrosh lustily slapped his flesh against the bear's back. Hellscream grunted and pushed himself deeper and deeper with every thrust until his balls slapped and swung with the Lorewalker's own.

"Mmmph! Mmmph!" Cho's nostrils let out the noises they both felt in this sudden passionate fucking that the orc was more than willing to partake in with him. Garrosh continually nipped and bit along Cho's neck, harder and longer with each long insertion. Cho's eyes rolled up and fluttered as he felt himself suddenly cum from the pressure. Streams of his seed splattered against the wall, then his body was pressed against it adding more mess to his coat. It didn't take long before Garrosh's massive arms tightened around Cho's body as they slapped louder and louder together as the orc's precum began to make noises within his ring. The wet, sticky slapping filled the room as he bit the back of Cho's neck and let out a heated grunt, suddenly flooding him with a hot torrent of cum.

Garrosh's long, airy groan was hot against the back of Cho's head, he pushed in deeper and harder, his drive wasn't slowing down at all now, the orc's nails were still dragging across Cho's chest. Cho panted loudly as he realized exactly what kind of beast he'd made himself a victim for, but he wanted to be sure that for one night at least that Hellscream would be given a stay of comfort.

The night passed somewhat quickly, Cho had passed out after the fourth or fifth time Garrosh had cum in him. He wasn't sure if those last few loads were in him, or simply all over his back; but as the morning light seeped into the tower and roused him from his sleep, he knew he was covered heavily in the musky, sticky leftovers of their night.

Their cleanup was quick, and almost as dirty as the act itself as Cho splashed the excess dried fluids both trapped in his fur and coated across Hellscream's body. He'd ridden the Lorewalker many times the night before, and in so many positions that Cho thought he'd never be able to walk right again. Finding a quick remedy for his torn pants wasn't as easy as simply re-tying Garrosh's chains again, but as Cho finished putting on the last lock, the orc grabbed his hand and pressed it against his chest.

"You have given me something no one has." He said, his eyes almost with a repentant look to them. "I cannot change my crimes, and if I had it to do them over again, I would. My horde was strong under my rule... but you'd seen past that last night. I will not forget it."

Cho frowned a bit and nodded. "So long as you are ready, Garrosh, I will be as well."

Their journey down the stairs of the tower was accompanied by the Celestials, the ritual had been set up at the Vale, and thanks to the help of a mage, they were instantly transported to the shrine where hundreds of Horde and Alliance stood to witness the end of Hellscream's final tyranny. Once there, Hellscream was stripped of his chains, and his loincloth to be led out into the Vale where the Sha's touch of corruption still burned into the once-purified lands that he corrupted. His hands were shackled together and Chi-ji led the entourage out into the main yard. There, Garrosh saw a small hole that was dug into the corrupted land, and two Shado-pan minding it as he approached and was made to step into it. The pile was then covered over as Xuen stepped forward to address those present.

"People of the Horde. People of the Alliance. People of Pandaria. Today, we are here to witness the punishment of Garrosh Hellscream through an ancient rite we call "The Celestial Blooming". While once this was used to commit a dedicated soul to purify Pandaria, now will stand as a punishment and repentance for this man's crimes against all life across this world." There was a murmur of talk amongst the crowd, as Cho suspected the Pandaren were explaining to the others what this rite entailed. "Will the vessel step forward?" Xuen asked and looked at Cho.

The Lorewalker stepped forward, his appearance resulting in a number of gasps from the crowd as he approached Chi-ji and stood at attention before the red crane. "Lorewalker Cho, do you freely admit that you availed yourself to the prisoner, gained his mark, and will now give him to the corrupted soil on which he stands?"

Cho tried to avoid Garrosh's surprised look, but thought it better to look him in the eye as he answered. "I have. I will." He said, earning a stunned but almost... knowing gaze of respect from the orc.

"Then we shall begin." Niuzao said as he stepped to the western side of the orc. Xuen moved to his place at Garrosh's north, while Yu'lon moved to his eastern side. Chi-ji bowed his head toward both the Pandaren and the orc as he took his place to the south.

"You needed me to give in." Garrosh whispered to Cho. "To mark you, in order for this ritual to work?" Cho looked at him, but Hellscream smirked in response. "Good show. You have diabolical makings in you yet, Lorewalker."

Looking toward the Celestials, they began to glow in their respective colors and their colors scattered into the air above them, which showered down over the orc's naked body. Garrosh looked at his hands, which suddenly began to wither away, the flesh crumpling like parchment left out in the sun. Garrosh's eyes closed, he was obviously keeping the pain at bay. It wasn't until his knees popped and his legs began to wither away that he suddenly bellowed out a roar into the heavens. His roar turned into a scream as his spine popped, causing him to instinctively arch his back backwards as his arms flapped out to his sides like he was being controlled with unseen puppet strings.

Garrosh's jaw cracked and hang agape in a profoundly horrific way as his back and body twisted grotesquely. His legs snapped together as his skin began to lose its tan color and the color of green flooded it from his chest and out toward his extremities. His cock melded with his balls which then disappeared into his thighs as they twisted together. His nails extended out like red thorns and a sprout of reddish flowers began to tear through the flesh on top of his head. Cho watched his own flesh radiate with the color of the celestials, he was the vessel that was providing this new form for Garrosh, and he had to remain or they would both meet this terrible fate. The orc's dead white eyes now looked at Cho, and the Lorewalker could see him mouth "Thank you" before his tusks fell from his lips, which then sealed themselves shut. His limbs had extended, and then his body began to shrink. Nothing more of the orc remained that was recognizable now and when the glowing had subsided, something else was in its place.

The red flower was somewhat lovely, though its stems were somewhat crooked and distorted. Small yellow spores at the center of the blossom were the only thing not to seem to shimmer into different colors at different viewpoints. Sometimes it looked silver, others it looked blue, then white, and green. The Celestial Blossom would live on, even within the first moment of his transformation, Garrosh had purified the lands within a square meter of his final resting place. Cho knew that Garrosh would one day wilt and die as any other plant, he would be pissed on and defecated on for his crimes. But he would endure, for many years, he would live on. And the memory of that last night of passion made Cho feel as though... for some small part, that it was worth it.

THE END