Flash had failed, and now Dale was married to Ming the Merciless.

As her hair was styled by the court beautician, she had to admit, things weren’t so terrible as she expected.

Ming called himself merciless, but only because he’d been treated so badly. He really just wanted to conquer the galaxy so he’d be left alone to work on his painting.

The wedding went well, she reflected. Ming was quite nice about it all. The only interruption was Flash, once again trying to fix everything himself. But as he raced up the aisle through the bridesmaids, arms out to rescue me, something clicked.

He stopped in front of me. Looked at me, arms outstretched. He probably couldn’t see me through my glittering veil, so I shook my head and took Ming’s hand. “Let it go, Flash.”

He just kind of stepped back, stunned.

Frankly I was tired. Tired of tagging along like a good girl and always getting captured and having to be rescued but never a choice for myself. I never got to make plans.

And the night before, Ming came to talk. He was really sweet about it. He opened his evil dark heart to me, and promised me adventures and power and more than Flash could ever give.

I decided he was the one.

I still remember Flash’s eyes, hurt and betrayed, as Ming’s guards took him away. He was told to leave and not come back.

Dr. Zarkov understood, I think. He gave me a sad smile as he too was taken by the guards.

I gave Ming my hand that night, and I’ll never look back.