"You think because you'll run away from me that you will be free!" I growled. "Well, what about our mark of love? You can never be rid of me! I will always be on the back of your hand!" Julia looked at the back of her hand. The black X was clearly visible against the whiteness of the rest of her hand. "I'll wash it off! I'll scrub and I'll scrub until there's nothing left!" She replied angrily. I couldn't help but smile ruefully. "You honestly think that will work? My power is absolute! The only way you'll get rid of that mark is if you remove your own hand!" I said triumphantly. Julia headed for the door. "Maybe I will!" she yelled before she slammed the door closed. The noise echoed through the empty hallways of my castle as well as through my empty heart. Once again, I had been rejected by what I wanted most. Was this really my fate? Was I doomed to forever be rejected by everyone? Then I remembered what an old friend had told me, what seemed like a lifetime ago. 'Then your fate will be in your own hands...' That was what Garn had said before he died. The memory of his death brought a wave of sadness over me. He was the only friend I ever had. The only living creature that didn't cringe at the sight of me. I missed him terribly. He seemed to know the answer to everything. But had he been wrong about me? I wandered around my castle in despair, until I found myself on the roof. I raised my head to the sky. "I did what you told me, Garn! I found the Queen Comet! I came to the wonderous planet of Thol! But even here I am not accepted! You told me this place was a haven of peace, but there is hatred even here!" I shouted to the sky. My voice echoed across the valey. It bounced off the mountains and came back to me. I looked at my surroundings. It looked exactly as I imagined it when Garn told me about this place. The mountains, the vast oceans, the bright, vivid, blue skies. It was all there. It was the Gallagains that made this place undesireable. Just like the stars in the NeanderVerse. If only they were more accepting. I hung my head. "What use is it to have the power of the Queen Comet if I am still unhappy?" I whispered. I felt a chill in the air. That's right. It was winter. Although it never snowed here... The snow was the first great wonder I encountered on this planet. And it was what Julia most enjoyed. I went back down into my castle and started up my snow machine. Perhaps if it snowed, Julia would know that I was sorry. The white, fluffy, ice crystals flew from my snow machine, and fluttered down to the town below. Julia wouldn't even be all the way down my hill yet. Perhaps she'd come back. I flew out of my castle and hovered over my hill to see if I could see her. She was halfway down the hill, and had just barely noticed the snow that had begun to fall. I zipped through the air toward her, but kept my distance. Julia stopped and held out her hand. She caught a snowflake and sighed. "Oh, Cosmo." she whispered. I crept closer and hid behind a tree. "Cosmo, why must you be so difficult?" she continued. "If only you were normal. Then no one would mind if I loved you." My heart seemed to freeze. Julia didn't love me anymore because of the way I was? "Does everyone's opinion of who you love matter to you that much?" I asked sadly. Julia jumped. "Cosmo?" she asked in bewliderment. I stepped out from behind the tree. "Do you really need the approval of your people to love me?" I asked. Julia hung her head. I stepped closer. "Is that what this was about?" I asked her. "It wasn't really about the fight with Edmond, was it? It was about me." I reached out and touched her face. She didn't move. Fear rose up within me. "Julia!" I gasped. "Tell me it's a lie! Tell me that it's not because I'm the way I am that you don't love me anymore!" I begged. Julia kept her head down. I took my hand away from her and took a step back. Tears burned behind my eyes. "So you're just like the rest of them, then." I said unevenly. Suddenly, a voice echoed on the hill. "Julia! Julia! Where are you?" Just then, a head poked up through the bushes nearby. "Julia!" Edmond said. Then his eyes found me. "You!" He growled. "What are you doing to her? Get away from her!" He grinned wickedly as he came forward. I knew what he wanted. He wanted another fight. But I was in no mood for that. I took several steps away from Julia. She still hadn't raised her head. "Did that monster hurt you, Julia?" Edmond said gently. Suddenly, Julia let out a cry and threw her arms around Edmond's neck. "It was awful!" she sobbed. "I escaped from his castle, but he followed me here! He caught me by surprise as I was coming back to the town! He attacked me!" I felt my jaw drop in horror. So this was the end of it? Julia didn't want me anymore, so she was turning me into a monster? I suddenly noticed the look of fury on Edmond's face. He was looking at me. I was afraid. I turned and ran. I could hear the rhythmic pounding of his feet on the ground behind me. I took off into the sky. "Flying away isn't going to save you, Space-boy!" I heard Edmond's voice from below. I could hear the whistling of him spinning something below. Suddenly, something wrapped around my arms and legs and pulled me to the ground below. I landed face first in the snow. It was falling heavier now. I struggled to get up and run, but heavy chains and metal balls restrained me and wheighed me down. Edmond laughed triumphantly. "How do you like my new bolas? Made them just this morning." he bellowed. I was astonished. Just how strong was Edmond if he was able to throw balls and chains of metal at a flying target? I hadn't expected this. I used every ounce of strenth I had and tore through the metal chains. They cut through my arms and legs, leaving large red slashes, but I didn't care. I had to get away. Then I took off into the sky again, zipping left and right as I flew. I didn't slow down or look back until I made it back to my castle. Once I was safe behind the stone walls of my castle, then I was brave enough to look back. Far in the distance, I could see Edmond. He had his arm around Julia as they walked down the steep hill. I watched them until they disappeared into the town far below. Tears of anger and humiliation ran down my face. What good was it having the power of the Queen Comet if I was too cowardly to use it in combat? I tended to the wounds that the chains had inflicted on my arms and legs. What would I do now? I would never be able to show my face in the town again. Julia and Edmond would tell them all what a horrible monster I turned out to be. I would have to disappear. At least until I could get strong enough to defeat Edmond. Then I would finally prove to everyone that he was wrong about me. If I could just get Edmond to quiet down long enough for me to explain myself. That would require me to knock him out cold. Which didn't sound too bad to me. I started to work. First, I would have to vanish. I closed all the windows and doors in my castle. I stuffed rags and crumpled paper into any cracks or holes that let light in. All was dark in my castle. Then I lit as many candles as I could find. Then, I delved deep within myself to the comet that resided deep inside me. I needed to contact the Queen. Several days had passed. I sat completely still on the stone floor of my castle and listened to the silence. I was close. I could feel the Queen Comet's power viberating inside me. Suddenly, I wasn't in my casle anymore. I was back in the NeanderVerse. The small, white comet hovered in front of me. I instantly knew that I was facing the Queen once more. "Your Majesty." I said quietly. "Young Cosmo. You have ventured deep into the cavaties of your spirit to call me here. What is it you wish?" the Queen's soothing voice purred. "I need your strengh, Majesty. I have utilized your power to become a Galligan, but the inhabitants of the planet Thol still do not accept me. I need your power to bring justice and peace to the Galligans." I said slowly. "Justice and peace for the Galligans, or for you, young one?" the Queen asked. I swallowed. "I just want to be accepted." I said, a little less evenly. The Queen's gentle, bubbly laugh echoed through space. "You want to fit in, and yet you ask for my boundless power?" she asked. "I ask for your power so that I can have a chance to prove myself worthy of the love and acceptance of the Galligans of Thol. Garn taught me of what a wonderful place it was. I still want to believe that that wonderful place still exsists." I said, wording my sentences carefully. "Ah, Cosmo. You've gained much wisdom since the last time we met. I will grant you your request. It will take much training and practice, but I will see you through and assist you in learning how to control my power." She said gracefully. "But know this," she added. "Don't let the prospect of having much power cloud your vision of what you truly want. Love. Belonging. Too often, those who are granted with power become corrupted." she warned. I nodded my head. "I understand, Highness. I will do my best to be careful." I promised. The Queen seemed to smile. "I know you will, dear one." she said softly. Then, the NeanderVerse vanished and I was sitting on the floor of my castle again. I stood up. It was time to work. Months had passed. Years, possibly. I had lost all track of time. The only lights in my castle were the candles I kept lit at all times. I ate when I was hungry, slept when I was tired, and worked on perfecting the Queen Comet's skills the rest of the time. I was growing much stronger. I could feel the power of the Queen Comet building up inside me, waiting to be unleashed. I had also gotten taller. I was powerful. And I was going to prove it to Edmond once and for all. Once I was ready, I was going to teach that town a lesson they'd never forget. No one messes with Cosmo Galveston.