Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade nor it’s characters, but I do own the plot idea of this Fic, and the world of Chrysalis.

Author Notes: Well this is the long awaited final chapter. Tying up some loose ends, and leaving off with a bang. Please enjoy!

Chapter #27: A Wish Made, A Destiny Fulfilled

Two Weeks Later…

Grand Blanc was experiencing a blizzard, a common occurrence midwinter. The snow blew thick and blinding outside the castle’s ancient walls. However with all the cold outside, to the inhabitants of the castle it was just as cold and barren inside.

Two weeks had passed since the battle on the plains, and yet Vega hadn’t woken once. Much had happened, and yet the woman slept on, oblivious to it all.

The tense atmosphere in the castle bothered everyone on a fundamental level. Even Robert was affected, often he found himself closing his eyes and focusing, seeking to isolate the faint trickle of energy emanating from Vega’s body, checking that she was still alive. The guilt at the whole situation was practically eating him alive, though he wouldn’t be caught dead admitting, or showing that to anyone else.

In the silent wing of the castle where Vega slept, only a few servants dared venture. The melancholy in that wing was almost palatable. Her room was always shrouded in a veil of darkness. The heavy curtains have been drawn tight to bar out any and all light, to conceal the two melancholy watchmen.

Kaosu sat in a chair in the corner, watching the woman like a hawk with an expression of unbelievable pain.

Farrell sat closer, his chair pulled up right next to her bedside. In the past two weeks the two left only for meals, if even that. Often the girls had to bring them food, because Farrell refused to venture out. Farrell would only leave willingly for sleep. As the tiger demon would revert to his true from the second he dozed off.

Visitors came and went, mostly the girls coming in to talk to their sleeping friend, so sure were they that she could hear them. The servants stopped coming two days after the vigil began. So terrified were they of the tiger and the dragon.

Even Kira stopped trying to pull Farrell away, even as the tiger demon noticeably began to give into his melancholy. The captain had sent the other swords away, save for Maki, not wanting them to see their lord at his weakest, so broken over events he couldn’t control.

Even Dyami’s nearly infectious positivity and unyielding faith that Vega was merely resting after her big battle did nothing to lift spirits. The rooster demon would box anyone’s ears for merely suggesting that Vega might die. Even as one by one, people around them began to lose faith.

The other king demons had lingered around the castle for a while, but eventually scattered, leaving only the rooster demon behind.

Tahmores had been the first to vanish overnight, though that was not entirely surprising. Everett and Taurean followed, the two felt no particular need to linger around, even if they did acknowledge a sort of debt paid by the woman who had killed them by her own hand previously. The other seven king demons that Gallaxia revived acknowledged a sort of life debt to the woman. Perhaps it was Charly’s hand that had revived them, but it was Vega’s bravery that had led to the liberation of their souls from the prison that was Ryomaru’s remains. Brooklyn had chosen to abstain telling them that it was he who pulled them out, and he stopped anyone else from saying it. However redundant that was, since Lamis probably knew the truth, through her power. Wisely however, the sheep demoness remained quiet, understanding the apostle’s wish to remain an unsung hero.

The last to leave were Ryukai, Anais, Nyoka, and Lamis. Returning to their residence, Ryukai decided to single-handedly repair the damage done to the Blackwater palace. It would keep him busy for a year. He had left with a word of caution to Robert that their truce was unwritten, should Robert trying something, the truce would be forgotten. The dragon demon didn’t take lightly to become a Jurgen’s puppet. No one expected him to take that one lying down.

Ever since the last departure, the silence in the castle became almost suffocating, and so, it was just another quiet dinner upon the palace this evening. Robert had banished his minstrels, and no music played. The hall was so eerily quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The evening was as the thirteen before it, complete with three empty places at the table, places set, but always empty. Vega’s, Kaosu’s, and Farrell’s.

The last course was just being wheeled out, and desert was being served when the atmosphere suddenly changed. Everyone adept to feel the change suddenly froze. Even the servant demons paused for a split of a second.

“The aura…” Wolborg uttered.

Kira and Maki felt the tremendous heaving surge in Farrell’s magnetic aura; something only they could feel. It came in a great, tremendous wave, building up powerful to a breaking crescendo before crashing to a normal level.

“Vega-“ Max uttered.

Before he could finish, Charly, Hikaru, Takara, and Lilly rushed out of the room like bullets fired from a revolver. Kira got up as well, with a look exchanged to Maki, he followed.

“Vega’s aura just faded,” Maki announced.

Tala slammed his fork into the table hard enough to jam the prongs into the table’s wood. His head bowed, his eyes closed, and as he passed his hand through his hair, no one saw that he was actually trying to wipe at his tears as inconspicuously as he could. Ever proud, the assassin refused to cry openly.

A split second of absolute frozen time passed before everyone felt the following surge. Like a candle lighting up in the darkness, instantly turning into a wildfire, and then a forest fire, Vega’s aura returned. A torrential waterfall of energy that blew through the halls of the castle in waves, making the servants shudder at the alien unfamiliarity of this power.

Tala was out of his chair and out the door so fast, he might have been able to surpass Farrell’s signature cut.

“She’s awake!” Max suddenly shouted. “I can hear her thoughts!”

Dyami was next to flee the room.

Soon enough the dining hall was deserted.

Charly and the other girls arrived to see a sight that stopped them cold. Vega was sitting up in her bed, on either side were Farrell and Kaosu. Both had their arms wrapped around her.

“Hey,” Vega greeted.

“Oh God Vega… we though you bit it there,” Charly muttered.

“I will if these two clingy puppies don’t get off me,” she replied, meaning Kaosu and Farrell.

“Off you two. Now!” Charly commanded.

As if scolded, both moved away, but lingered sitting on Vega’s bed.

“How long have I been out?” Vega asked.

“Two weeks,” Farrell replied.

“Kaosu make yourself useful, go get her some water. I reckon she’s thirsty,” Charly ordered.

The dragon demon looked affronted, but then turned to the pitcher of water standing across the room. Raising one hand he flicked his claws. A stream of water rose from the pitcher, flying across the room, neatly deposing into a cup on Vega’s bedside table. He picked the cup up, and offered it to Vega. The woman downed it, and the demon was just too glad to draw more with another flick of his claws.

“Tala is coming,” Farrell announced.

No sooner had he spoken the words that the door opened, and the redhead appeared in the doorway.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” Vega began, smiling broadly if a little weakly.

“Alright, lets leave them alone, and that means you too!” Charly put her hands on her hips, glaring at Farrell and Kaosu. Farrell got up and left the room without an argument, but Kaosu attempted to glare back, only to be defeated when Charly didn’t stand down. The dragon left the room, glaring at Tala all the same. Charly ushered the other girls out of the room and closed the door behind herself, leaving Tala and Vega alone.

Tala stood there, unsure of what to do or say. Vega wasn’t all that surprised at his sudden muteness.

“I assume I got Lueaxanna, right?” she asked.

“Yea, you got her,” Tala replied.

“Good… I was mostly out even before the blast died down.”

“You almost died falling from such a height,” Tala volunteered.

“I had faith in you guys, I knew that if I came tumbling… one of you would catch me.”

“Robert was the one that caught you,” Tala almost bit his tongue off saying that, he wanted to take the credit, but knew that if Vega ever found out, there would be a bigger hell to pay.

“He did?” Vega’s brow creased in confusion, now why would Robert do that, she wondered. Surely he wasn’t a complete fool, he knew she still had enough incriminating blackmail on him. He didn’t need to catch her, had he let her fall, he would’ve been safe from her blackmail. However, he didn’t, he chose to do what right, as opposed to what would serve him. “I have to thank him, next time I see him,” Vega added.

“You have nothing to thank him for, you were cleaning up his mess in the first place.”

“True, but… there are some things that just have to be said.”

“There is something else,” Tala began. “For a split second there, before you woke… your aura vanished. It was as if you died. Now it’s even stronger than it was before you pulled that stunt. None of this makes any sense.”

“Nothing around me makes sense at the moment. I woke with Kaosu clutching my hands, and for once his hands weren’t cold, and wet. What happened?”

“Akasha restored him and Wolborg to flesh and blood after you passed out.”

“I guess I did end up fulfilling something we talked about. I wanted to give him his body back, and Wolborg too. I gotta remember to say thanks to Akasha if or when she comes to visit.”

“I doubt she can visit you in your own world,” Tala replied.

Vega grinned, and it took him a split of a second to figure out the meaning of that little grin.

“You’re thinking of staying,” he finished.

Vega nodded.

“Why? You were so dead set on going back to your world, why stay?”

“Why leave? I got nothing for me over there. All I’m looking at is working my whole life away. I’ll never be happy there, not after what happened here. Too much adventure, too many dear friends. I just wish there was some way to tell my parents where I’d be. I’m sure they’d understand. This has become my home now.”

Tala remained quiet throughout her speech. Inside however he was ready to celebrate, like Farrell and Kaosu, the past two weeks were rough on him. Not knowing if Vega would live through it all was like torture, and add to that knowing that if she did, she’d leave for her world didn’t help him any. However, hearing her say that she thought, seriously thought of staying here, it sent all sort of emotions through him.

“And besides… if I had no other reasons, there would still be the ultimate reason to stay, you.”

Tala froze like a pole, his mouth suddenly very much drying like the Sahara desert. She would stay for him? Of all the selfish reasons he wanted her to stay, she would stay for the one he deemed the most selfish.

Before Tala could formulate some sort of reply that he could actually utter out, instead of choking on it, the door opened.

“I heard the princess woke up, came to see for myself… hopefully I’m not interrupting.”

Vega’s eyes widened like two saucers, in the doorway, proud and broom-headed as ever was Dyami. His whole expression glowed with joy that was oh so trademark of him.

“And I almost believed I was awake. Almost!” Vega suddenly spoke up.

“Oh but you are,” Kaosu entered the room, pushing Dyami through the doorframe, to be able to pass, sending the rooster a dirty glare, glad his barging in didn’t cause Vega to go into a second, two week coma.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Dyami teased.

“I’m still seeing it!” Vega retorted.

Dyami laughed, the sound almost echoing off the walls. For the first time in two weeks, someone in the castle was laughing simply because they wanted to.

It was Kaosu who shut him up when he jammed an elbow into the rooster demon’s side with enough force to cause him to sputter. “No, he’s not a ghost Vega. When you lost consciousness… by the grace of Gallaxia and Eteros, Ryukai and his group were all restored to life. We were hoping to tell you before you saw any of them… but this rooster-brain barged in here before we could stop him.” The dragon demon explained.

Vega chuckled, “Yep… I missed way too much in the past two weeks. What other secrets have you been hiding from me, spill now.”

Tala was glad that the spotlight wasn’t on him anymore, he was still mulling over what Vega had said to him. Moreover, it left him temporarily mute. Better let the others catch the woman up to things, he could use the time organize his own thoughts. There was much to think about, much which needed to be sorted out.

An hour of catching up later, and Vega was left alone in the room with Kaosu. The dragon demon refused to leave so adamantly that his eyes had glowed. Farrell had refused as well, but in the end was outdone by his cousin. Kira had to remind him of the impropriety of the whole thing.

Farrell had tried to reason that Kaosu being allowed to stay was improper too.

Kaosu however reminded everyone that his situation is different, on grounds that now having a body, did not change the fact that he had been with Vega for such a long time that any impropriety was rendered moot. You can’t get any more intimate with a person after sharing their very thoughts for a month or two.

“The doctors are saying you should stay in bed for a day or two longer, to recover your strength. You’ve also dropped weight, and that’s not healthy,” Kaosu began.

“Don’t worry, I plan to pig out as soon as I can. Speaking of which… when am I going to be fed here?”

Kaosu laughed, getting up from his chair.

“Where you off to?” Vega wondered.

The dragon bowed, “My princess has ordered her humble servant to fetch her some food. This humble servant will do so.” He murmured.

Vega shook her head, watching him exit the room. It was a little strange not to be hearing him in her head, but she was glad that Kaosu had his body back. He was free from his long prison sentence, confined to an amulet, at the bottom of a lake. He was free to do as he pleased. Which made her wonder why he still hung around; surely he could be doing other, more pleasant things?

She settled back down comfortably, sighing. It was over, finally over… Lueaxanna was defeated; Chrysalis was no longer on the brink of a catastrophe. Then why did she feel bothered? What other loose end was there left to tie?

There was a flash of aura in the room and Vega sat up. Only a handful of candles lent the room light so the shadows were long, and the darkness deep, and whoever had just appeared, was powerful enough to appear in the castle.

“Show yourself,” Vega, instinctively raising her hand.

Miy emerged from the shadows, only to be whipped in the face by water from the pitcher.

“Calm yourself milady, it is merely I,” he announced, wiping the water from his face.

“What do you want Miy?”

“Well, well, well Milady. It would seem… distance from Kaosu had not taken away your power. Oh mighty water witch.” The shadow priest quirked an eyebrow, grinning cattily.

“That’s weird. I should have lost it the second Kaosu regained his body… must be just some residual energy… I mean I did share-“

“Nope, it would see you have been gifted with your own little seed I’d say.”

“Wait a minute, how the hell did you just pop up? I though the castle was protected.”

“Protected from everyone, but me,” Miy replied, it was then a piercing glow on his forehead revealed the secret.

“You’re an apostle too?”

“Quite right, though… not by birth. Everyone now knows of my greatest trick. Ach I dare bet Lord Jurgen is unhappy with me, his humble servant. For the pawn had outsmarted the king. Would you not say? Alas how ill unfortunate it is, that the king has been outsmarted by them all in this great final act of her ladyship’s ploy.”

“I don’t think you came here just to tell me that,” Vega murmured.

“Ach no,” Miy bowed, a shadow hand snaked out of his right sleeve, bearing a sealed scroll.

“I bear a message for thee, lady fair, oh nomad queen. For it would seem, news travels faster than sound and light themselves. My ladyship, the avatar, has stirred quite a concern with the demon council. Enough that they would send lord Jurgen a message. However, this poor trickster is but a deceitful messenger, milord need not know about this scroll.”

Vega grabbed the scroll from his shadowy hand, popping the seal open by its ribbon. Surprisingly enough the message was in a language she could read.

“They want… what?” she asked in shock upon reading the contents.

“They wish to see your ladyship, post haste,” Miy reiterated.

“I got that part, what I did not get is why!”

Miy chose that moment to melt back into the shadows and vanish. Vega stuffed the scroll under her pillow when the door handle jingled, and opened. Kaosu stepped inside with a tray of food in his hands. The woman tried to look nonchalant, but it was bothering her. What did the demon council want with her?

“I got you some soup,” Kaosu smiled a little.

“Oh thanks, I’m really hungry…” Vega returned the smile; for once she was glad that Kaosu was no longer in her mind. In previous days, she wouldn’t be able to conceal the scroll from him, now she knew that she had to conceal it from everyone.

Vega woke up the next morning; the room around her was empty, but just to make sure she cast a gaze wearily around, making sure that Kaosu wasn’t lurking in some dark corner. Reaching under her pillow she withdrew the scroll, re-reading it again, and again it did not make any sense to her.

Why would the council of lords wish to see her? Moreover, why would they be writing to Robert that ‘concealing’ someone so powerful was a breach of some sort of agreement? She wasn’t powerful; sure… she slew Lueaxanna and blasted Ryomaru to pieces, but not on her own. Akasha had given her the power to do so. Brooklyn should’ve gotten the credit, technically when she blasted Ryomaru; he was already on the verge of falling apart, the souls having been removed. Even Lueaxanna was technically dead after Brooklyn extracted all the souls from her.

She needed to talk to Brooklyn, that much she knew.

“Lets see just how much power I have left…” the woman closed her eyes, focusing with all her might on the inhabitants of the castle. She found it to be surprisingly easy to do, almost too easy. Moreover, she quickly spotted Brooklyn’s unique presence.

“Library.”

Throwing her covers aside she swung her feet over the edge of the bed, getting up to her feet, moving to the screen to change.

She found the half-blood in the great library of the castle, seated on a rung halfway up one of the shelf ladders, wings loosely folded about his form. What surprised her was his appearance, he was in his demon form, and yet his wings were snow white. The black stripes that normally adorned his cheeks weren’t there, but the choker he normally wore was still around his neck. She could tell he has in demon form by the fact that he was filling out his tailed jacket.

“Brooklyn?” Vega asked.

The half-blood turned and smiled. “Ah, the castle’s princess. I was wondering when you would seek me out.”

“What’s going on?”

The man hopped down from the ladder, catching himself with his wings. “I have to thank you,” he began.

“Your form…”

“Ah yes, this… that’s why I have to thank you. In order to tap into my powers the right way to help you… I had to finally let go of my fears… to trust myself not to hurt you, my friends. And… when I did, I became… this.” He explained.

“You’re-“

“Both of my halves are in harmony now. I’m both an avian… and a demon, but first and foremost… I’m the white-winged angel of death.”

“And the choker?”

“It was meant to suppress my demon blood, when I embraced it… the choker lost its power over me. I still wear it, as a reminder.”

“Well I’m glad you’re alright… but that’s not really what I came here for… its this.” Vega reached into her sleeve, withdrawing the scroll. Brooklyn took it from her hands and unrolled it, skimming over the contents.

“I see…” he murmured while reading.

“They think I defeated him single-handedly. You were the one who actually killed Lueaxanna, not me… why didn’t you take credit?”

“This is exactly why I did not want to take credit, Vega. The council would be terrified of me. All they are aware of is that you, a mere human woman, was able to destroy Ryomaru’s reanimated body. Had they known of the divine involvement in the case-“

“They already know. Miy told me. They know I’m the avatar.”

“I am sorry, miss Vega… but its best they do not know the full involvement of Akasha’s apostles. Let them think that you were but one actor in this play. The council chooses to disbelieve the legend of the other four. Were we to shake their foundations… the repercussions could be dire. They would seek to keep an eye on us, or worse yet, to control us.”

“What is this council, exactly?” Vega wondered, taking the scroll from his hands and rolling it back, tying it shut and slipping it back into her sleeve.

“They are a group of demons of considerable status. Lord Jurgen is one of them, and so is Lord McGregor. However… presiding over the twenty lesser lords are five high lords. They are chosen by vote and they consider themselves the guardians of Chrysalis. It is their job to oversee all matters in demons society. Our presence would be a threat to them, a threat to their power and authority.”

“Great, there are people more pompous than Robert?” Vega asked.

Brooklyn nodded solemnly.

“And how do you know this?” the woman asked.

“It’s no great secret that such a council exists. They do not meddle in the affairs of humans and elves. However, you, my lady, are an exceptional case. I find it peculiar though that they would call you a nomad queen.”

“You know, that stroke me odd as well. I’m no queen, I mean… I-“ Vega’s breath died in her throat, suddenly something clicked in her mind. “They don’t… no.”

“What is it?” Brooklyn wondered.

“Think about it! They warn Robert that further actions would be a breach of his status, his position… that I’m to be presented at court prior to further actions. Then they go and refer to me as a nomad queen. They think Robert hid me, because I’m his… bride!”

“Oh how wrong they are,” Brooklyn laughed.

“Indeed. I would sooner kiss a toad.” Vega replied, placing her hands on her hips.

“I assume our gracious host has yet to see the scroll?” Brooklyn asked, but it sounded more like a statement than a question.

“No… Miy brought me the scroll last night, without showing it to Robert, and now it makes sense why.”

“Perhaps it would be wise for you to show him the scroll… after all the message was meant for him. Miy did you a great service warning you before Robert had the time to scheme.”

“Yes, I’ll go find Robert now. Pardon me.”

“Oh nonsense… I wish to come with you. I’m fascinated by how this will play out.”

“Then c’mon. Lets go torture Robert some.”

That evening everyone was gathered in the great hall for a celebration and dinner. The castle was once again alive with excitement and life, everyone was jovial because Vega was all right. Robert however looked brooding, the news over the scroll had bothered him some.

Vega sat to his right, the lady of honour for the evening, she was laughing with the rest of the women. Their last evening on Chrysalis and together. It had been decided that despite everything they would leave the next morning. It was an abrupt departure, but they decided that if they lingered any longer, they would lose their nerves and stay.

Vega was yet to tell even her friends that she intended to stay, she decided she’d tell them the next morning. No use making them feel upset about the separation earlier than they had to. However, this world was her home now, and it appeared that this new home was more than welcoming her. They were rolling out the red carpet.

The only one privy to the secret was Tala, and as much as it hurt him, he knew what he had to do. He knew he wouldn’t let Vega regret her decision.

None of them knew that Robert was planning the same thing as Tala. He knew that if the council got their clutches on Vega, she would be a pawn to their games. Even if meant losing her influence and power, he would prevent the council from assuming any more power. He loathed that pompous bunch even before Vega’s actions had taught him a grave lesson. Now with hindsight he realized the high council was no better than Lueaxanna, but perhaps even more dangerous. Vega did not realize what she was trying to face, what hornet nest she was willing to stir. It was his duty, as he saw it, to pay her back by protecting her from all that.

In the meanwhile, he was going to enjoy the woman’s company. It would be a great loss, once she was gone. He had grown accustomed to her presence, but there was a limit even to his selfishness.

The next morning the group was gathered in the great hall, the girls had gathered their possessions in satchels. Everyone Ryukai had arrived upon Miy’s summons to say goodbye. The women stood in the center of the great hall, Lilly held Gallaxia’s crystal in her hands.

“This is it then,” Charly began.

“Pretty much,” Hikaru agreed.

“Alright then… we do not wish to make a long, and melodramatic speech and a sorrowful goodbye. That is not something we want to be remembered by. But before we go there are a couple things we need to do and say.” Charly picked up. “Thank you everyone for everything… you have been wonderful friends, and allies. But-“ she choked.

“When we began this journey, we had wanted this so bad… and now that we have it, it’s the hardest thing ever. We will remember you all, fondly.” Hikaru finished. She reached up to play with the relic around her neck. “This is one of the things we must do. We had borrowed these items to use for power… but they don’t belong with us.”

“No more than we belong here,” Takara added, though she was addressing everyone, her eyes were focused on Bryan alone.

“With that, we return these…” Lilly voiced. Reaching behind her neck she unclasped Bast’s tauk from around her neck, catching it before it fell. She kneeled and placed the necklace at her feet.

“Desert rose… I reject!” Hikaru intoned, taking hold of the crystals around her neck and closing her eyes. The crystals began to glow, before their eyes, the chain between them snapped, exploding in a shower of sparks. The crystals floated, and as she extended her hand, they floated into her hand, forming the completed and closed desert rose. She too kneeled and placed it down at her feet.

“Thank you, Raikou.” Takara whispered, touching her own necklace where Raikou’s summoning stone hung, in the hollow of her throat. The stone glowed as the woman pulled the necklace of her head, the necklace’s chain retreated back into the stone. She kneeled, placing it on her floor at her feet.

Charly reached for the rosary binding the sol stone’s cuff. Slipping it off, the flames began to dance around her hand, but the woman reached for the clasp and undid it, the cuff slipped off easily. The flames instantly dying. “We trust you all to return these items where they belong.” Charly said. she kneeled and placed it down as well.

“Do the honours Charly.” Lilly extended Gallaxia’s crystal to the fire witch. Charly raised her right hand and placed it over the crystal. Vega placed hers over Charly’s, Takara followed suit, with Hikaru.

“Crystal of wishes… hear our prayer. By your power we ask for but one wish. Form a portal, take us home!” Charly chanted. The crystal glowed and suddenly began to hum.

“Wait!” Tala called, rushing foreword. The crystal floated away from the women, snapping open and emitting blue light. There was a flash and a burst of bright red flames. Suddenly right before their eyes a portal formed, a brilliant red and orange vortex.

Tala embraced Vega, knowing that he would need to push her through the portal before it closed.

“Goodbye,” Charly bowed, tears were streaming from her eyes as she glanced one last time at Kai. He looked outright grief-stricken, but one would need to look closely, and know what to look for, to read his expression. She wanted to memorize him. With a sad smile, she was the first through the gate.

Hikaru just waved, too choked up in her tears to even utter the words goodbye. She spared Johnny a special smile, he nodded. With that said the woman jumped through.

“Goodbye, everyone.” She spared Bryan a smile, and with a final nod, jumped through.

Lilly was crying very openly, so choked up she couldn’t say anything. She bowed her head.

“Goodbye, Lilly.” Max called. He could read her thoughts, they were jumbled, but what she couldn’t say, she was broadcasting loud and clear. With a final sniffle, and a wave of her hand she was gone.

Vega sighed, watching the portal. Once it closed, she would be alone here. She had told the other girls that she would be staying, and they had taken it maturely. Though sorrowfully. Tala took her in his arms, and before she could protest, kissed her, right there in front of everyone.

She was going to snap, slap him for his boldness. However, the grief stopped her. She didn’t even feel his arms tightening on her shoulders.

“Goodbye Vega,” he broke away. The woman’s eyes widened. Tala simply pushed the woman towards the portal, powerfully but gently enough to simply off balance her. Vega stumbled, vainly grasping at air to catch herself, but as she was beginning to regain balance, Robert appeared, one hand outstretched, as if to catch her. Instead, a blast of wind from his body pushed her through just when she regained balance short of the portal. “Goodbye.” Tala repeated as she vanished. Her outstretched hand was the final part of her to cross over. A long second later, the portal shimmered, and shut with a pop and a fizzle. The crystal of wishes floated in its place, glimmering, before gently floating to the ground.

“You could have caught her,” Tala murmured, watching Robert’s back.

“She did not belong here. She would’ve suffered more had she stayed,” the wind demon replied. He simply walked off, never once turning to face the Avian. He didn’t want him to see that letting go of Vega went against everything, even his own heart.

It was snowing even in Tokyo. The portal opened in a deserted park, allowing the four women to step out. They turned to glance back at the aperture, and were shocked when Vega tumbled out, landing on her back in the snow, just as the portal closed.

“They… pushed me,” the woman mumbled in shock.

“Who?”

“Tala… and Robert! They… pushed me through!”

The four other women kneeled in the snow, around their friend, still weeping.

“It’s over… it’s all over… everything… we’re back. This is Tokyo! Look there’s the tower!” Charly murmured, clutching at Vega. It would be hours before their tears would dry, but not before their clothing was saturated with the melted snow.

It was the police that eventually found them, and upon realizing whom they were, called their parents into the precinct.

The overjoyed shouts of their parents echoed in the meeting room.

“Mom!” Charly shouted, rushing into the open arms of her mother.

“Mom! Dad!” Hikaru and Takara called in echo, rushing to their own respective parents.

Lilly was almost tackled and bowled over by her own father, he swept her off her feet and twirled in place with her, disbelieving that his little girl was back.

Her own parents calmly embraced Vega. Though they weren’t crying as openly as the rest of the adults, they were overwhelmed.

“We’re back,” Charly laughed. “We’re finally back!”

“Back?” Charly’s mother asked.

“It’s a long story… and you wont believe it, trust me…”

“I want to know why you are dressed so strangely,” Cedric McLeod demanded.

“That’s part of the story,” Vega spoke.

“Well then we demand an explanations Ladies. You vanished over three months ago-“

“We know, and we’ll tell you… just not here. Let’s go home,” Vega chided.

“Yes,” Cedric agreed.

They led their children out the room door, completely oblivious to the great sorrow in their hearts. A sorrow that would be revealed when the five human girls from Earth told their amazing story to their disbelieving parents.

Author Notes: Well I’m sad to say that this is, indeed the very final chapter of WFE. And it’s been a long, long time since I began this story. The first chapter of the first book went up in June 2004. Almost four years to finish the three books. It took a little longer than I thought it would, but I think I did a darn good job at it. I hope you have enjoyed reading WFE even half as much as I enjoyed writing it. This story was really my own personal affirmation that I do have what it takes to write long, and complex. My skills have evolved from the beginning to the end. And I’m almost sad to see this part of my life go. It’s been a big part of my life for over four years. And I honestly do not know what I will do now. I very much doubt that I will write any more trilogies. They take too much time, and I am not as young as I used to be. I don’t have enough free time. And I have also decided to go into Law School come September, so yea… I will likely have even less time.

Bonus Content:

Yes, another collection of songs. And this collection befits the moods touched upon by the third book. All the drama, the pain, the darkness, and all that good stuff. A few notes about this list, yes there is more than one song from a group called ‘Within Temptation’. But if you listen to these songs, you will understand why I have chosen them. They are eerily fitting of WFE in general, but the third book in particular. Overall this ‘soundtrack’ is a real night and day difference between the first and third book, even the second book was lighter than the third. But I do hope you enjoy it.

Mummer’s Dance – Loreena McKennitt (Miy’s Theme)

Breaking The Habit – Linkin Park (Tahmores’ Requiem)

Don’t Call Me Baby – Madison Avenue (Envy’s theme)

Gangsta’s Paradise - Coolio (Greed’s theme)

Soldier– Eminem (Wrath’s theme)

My Immortal– Evanescence (Lust’s theme)

Bother – Stone Sour (Pride’s theme)

Forsaken – Within Temptation (Fimbulwinter Arc Theme)

Getting Away With Murder – Papa Roach (Wrath’s Elegy)

Hand Of Sorrow – Within Temptation (Ryukai’s Requiem)

The Howling – Within Temptation (Ragnarok Arc Theme)

Wont Back Down – Fuel (Lueaxanna’s Theme, Ragnarok Arc)

Stand My Ground – Within Temptation (Vega’s Theme, Avatar State)

My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (Final chapter Theme)

Time – Backstreet Boys (Ending Theme)