Lucan led Nikka through the trees. He carried a basket and had a new iron leg with a flat bottom. His gait almost returned to normal, even though he still walked a bit lopsided.
"Keep your eyes closed, no peeking." He said gently as they walked along.
"Lucan," Nikka walked with her hand on his shoulder, and the other stretched out in front, trying to detect any obstacles. "You know I don't like surprises. Can't you just tell me what it is already?"
At long last, they came to a small clearing. "Alright, now open your eyes!"
Nikka gasped. On top of a giant oak tree, was…
"A brand new tree fort!" She exclaimed happily.
"You like it?" Lucan asked, scratching his head. "I didn't really have time to…"
Nikka kissed him. "I love it!" She jumped to the ladder, like a kitten arriving at its new home.
"Hey!" Lucan shouted after her, "Slow down! And I thought we were gonna eat first."
"Oh." Nikka stopped. "You mean this cake?" She held up the morsel. Lucan checked his basket. It was empty.
"When did you…" Nikka giggled. "Race you to the top!" She shot up the ladder.
"You know it's not nice to make fun of the handicap." Lucan walked after her, his leg sinking slightly into the forest ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Captain Slowbeard." Nikka continued climbing.
Lucan stepped onto a small platform hung by ropes. He flicked a lever and he rose up. At the top, he stepped out, just in time to beat Nikka.
"I win." He swaggered.
They sat down to eat. Halfway through their cake, a blue messenger bird hopped in through the window.
"Merlin here." The bird cleared his throat. "Certified communications emissary. Message from Senn Voltaris."
"Senn?" Asked Nikka, "wasn't he that white Ardoni we met at Felora in the tunnels?"
"Ah, yes." Lucan said. "He's the new Voltaris master?"
"He is very happy to announce that his clan is being united with the others once again, and after hearing of your actions at Felden, he has invited you both to attend."
"Oh, that's very nice of him, but I think we'll pass." Lucan said politely. "We only just got settled in, and my leg still needs some time to heal."
"Very well." Merlin chirped. "It's common courtesy to compensate an emissary such as myself for services rendered."
"What? Oh, right." Lucan scrounged around and took out a few seeds. He left them on the sill for Merlin and returned beside Nikka.
"I thought you couldn't see yourself settling down?" She asked.
"Well," Lucan put his arm around her shoulder. "Not alone."
Nikka rested her head on his shoulder. Her ears softened as they enjoyed the cake and the view over the treetops.
"I must say, being the Netherking is… overwhelming." Volcannus said. They stood before the Nether portal at Crown Peak. "It was never my wish to become king. I only did because my brother cannot be the king."
"Not to mention you are de facto zee Enderking as well." Saxon added.
"Hmph." Volcannus sighed. "I still haven't figured that out yet."
"Will you be able to convince the Netherans to recognize your rule?" Trevor asked. "Especially after you fought against so many of them."
"A difficult task, I am sure," Volcannus replied. "but I will do what I can to ensure the Nether and End realms remain at peace. One of the first things I will do is to free the remaining slaves."
"Thank you for everything you have done Vulcannus." Abbigail said. "You will always be welcome among us as an ally, and a good friend." She blushed slightly behind the helmet. "And you have changed my life for the better."
Volcanus nodded and began to leave. His guards went first into the portal. However, he stopped and turned around.
"Abbigail," he said, "I know a human's lifespan isn't long compared to that of a Netharan's, and you have many responsibilities to take care of, but I hope that you, er…will make time to convene, and to remain friends, or possibly… Woah!"
He was slammed into the portal by a dragon's tail. Luna casually retracted hers, nuzzling with Thunderdome. The Enderknights, especially Abbigail, scolded her with their gaze.
"Luna! Let him finish!" Abbigail chastised.
Luna rolled her eyes. "So what if he's taking a little too long?" Abbigail retorted. "If you hadn't wasted time, we would have been back to help defeat Pythus!"
Senn stepped into the newly built Song Shrine. Before him stood the Knights of Ardonia, some Felinas and humans, but most importantly, Ardoni of all colors who have come to join the new Voltaris clan.
"Today," he announced, raising the Voltar high above his head, "We celebrate many things. We celebrate the end of a war. We celebrate the foundation of New Voltaria. And most impotantly, we celebrate the birth of a new Voltaris clan, reunited with the others!"
Senn focused, and slowly, his markings turned from brilliant white, to a glowing red. It was not fierce, nor was it weak, but steadfast, sturdy, like an anchor.
"After Ingressus Voltaris, our former Master, and the false Nether king Pythus were both killed, the war came to a decisive end. I was with him when he died. All his life, everything he did, was for the benefit of the Voltaris. He died a hero, and will forever be remembered."
"The masters of the five clans declared a state of peace and harmony, and vowed to uphold this peace as long as they ruled." Senn continued. "The Tournament will still be held, but the Champion will no longer wield the Prime Songs. Instead, he, or she, will be honored by all and will be the protector and upholder of peace for the Ardoni. The Primes have been entrusted to the Enderknights, who have locked them away in the uncharted territories of the End, in a location only they know of."
Val entered the engine room. Frederick was perched on top of a ladder, taking down a redstone torch.
"What are you doing?" She asked gently.
"I'm, ugh," The engineer ripped a repeater out of its socket, "taking apart my device." He descended the ladder and wiped his hands on a piece of cloth. "Ria asked me to destroy it and leave nothing behind, not even blueprints."
"What are those?" Val was confused.
"Put simply, papers describing how the device is built." Frederick answered. "From the start, I knew that this day would come. I poured my heart and soul into it, but as a machine of war, we, I, cannot let it fall into the hands of another."
"Perhaps that is for the best."
Hasan approached the gate between K'arthen and Cydonia. With him, he brought chests of meat, vegetables, wheat, and other food items. As he came to, he was greeted by Borgen, who awaited him with chests of diamonds, iron, and bronze. With him was also a group of Magnorites carrying farming tools and filters.
They shook hands. "It ist ein pleasure to be doing business agaan." Hasan said, bringing forth his goods.
"The pleasure's all mine." Borgen replied. He waved his team forward. "The minerals are just part of our trade. My team will also help Cydonia to restore their farmlands."
"Arr you president of K'arthen?" Hasan asked.
"Not exactly." Borgen replied. "But they have elected me as chair of the council. I intend to uphold the peace and prosperity between out kingdoms so long as I am there."
"You haave my gratitude, chair Borgen." Hasan said. "I hope for ein bright future for both our kingdoms."
"For all the kingdoms." Borgen said. "The borderlines between kingdoms and races are fading and the six kingdoms are uniting once again. Crown Peak is being restored to a city of diplomacy and democracy. They are refurbishing the palace into a hall for councilors, no longer a throne for a king to rule from."
"Luna?" Abbigail called out. The End was not like how they first came. Most of the crystals have been restored, and Endermen now populated the vast yellow plains. The realm was alive once more, but there still was much to be done.
"Have you seen Luna recently?" Abbigail poked her head in again into Trevor and Saxon's workshop. They have been trying to make enchanted potions, so that the Endermen will not have side effects when drinking them.
"Abbigail, you've been pestering us for a week." Saxon said, stopping his work. "No, we have not seen her anywhere around here.
"Thunderdome?" Abbigail called. The large dragon at long last landed before her. "Do you know where Luna is?" He hesitated, then nodded his head.
"Can you show me?" Thunderdome hesitated again, then knelt down for Abbigail to climb on.
He took her to a small cave on the edge of the continent. It had no portal membrane, and there was no light inside. But, through the End's eternal night, Abbigail could make out the figure of a dragon.
"Luna?"
Luna growled, bearing her teeth. "What's wrong, girl? It's me. I've been looking for you. Where have you been?" But her dragon did not let down her guard.
Thunderdome went in and covered her with his wing. Luna looked at him, and he returned with a reassuring gaze. Luna seemed to concede, and she slowly stood up, revealing…
"Luna, this is wonderful!" Abbigail exclaimed. "You laid eggs!" She resisted the urge to charge in and give them both a hug. "Now we can find new Enderknights!"
"Wait," Saxon said as she told them the news, "Then Thunderdome is the father?" Trevor kicked him in the foot.
"The aftermath may appear grim, but the survivors retain hope, for they will continue to fight for the land and lives which they have already given so much to protect. The Second Great War, 14th Wall of Time." They finished reading the inscriptions.
"It's perfect." Ria said. "You've done a great job, Nitsuke."
"We had to rewrite a few walls in order to include one for the Fall of the Voltaris." Nitsuke replied, slightly awkward. "Hopefully by keeping our history accurate we won't make the same mistakes again."
"Although," Senn hesitated, "Are you sure you don't want to write more about Alec's story?"
"I'm sure." Nitsuke felt her hair, ears drooping. "As much as I adore him, these walls must remain factual." She chuckled. "But they say the only thing we learn from history, is that people NEVER learn from history."
"Hopefully," Senn said, "It will be different this time." He walked over to Ria, overlooking the snowy plains below. "Do you remember the stories Thalleous would tell during his visits?" He asked gently.
"How could I ever forget?" Ria returned with a smile. "We never missed hearing a single one."
"I always would imagine us on those adventures," Senn said, gazing over the snowy landscape of Northwind. "Exploring distant lands, fighting monsters, protecting those in danger. But this," He held Ria's hand, "This is perfect."
"Is this the ending of our story?" Ria asked, tapping her antler on his. "Living happily ever after? Like all the bedtime tales?"
Senn laughed. "I think ours is just beginning."
The Ardoni kids wrestled in the farmland. The boy had scarlet red markings. The girl sported pleasant violet markings. She pinned him to the dirt and stood up triumphantly.
"Victory is mine once again!" She declared, fist high in the air and puffing out her chest.
"Not so fast!" The boy brushed off dirt and stood up. Grabbing a stick from the nearby bush, he hollered, "Let's see how you do when I've got this!"
He charged, and just when he was about to hit the girl, a spear with a small flat head appeared and blocked him.
"Ky'Ria?" The girl gasped.
"Mother?" Gasped the boy.
"A wise Ardoni once told me." Ria gently took the stick out of the boy's hand. "That our strength comes not from the power of our weapons, but rather how we choose to wield what power we have been given."
"Sorry," The girl apologized. "But farmwork is so boring."
"It's okay." Ria consoled them. "The war may be over, but the need to fight and defend our home will never truly be gone. Continue training you two." Her face turned stern and serious. "But not with this!" She snapped the stick in half and threw the bits into the bush. "Afterwards, I want you both to help in the fields. I don't want to see a single weed when I come back. Got it?"
"Yes." The children answered grudgingly. Ria turned and left. As soon as she was out of earshot, the boy fished the bits out. "Cool!" He exclaimed. "Now we have a sword each! I challenge you to a duel!"
"To the death!" shouted the girl.
Ria came to Senn's side, where he was sitting before Thalleous's grave. His deep blue markings shone beneath the cliff. Beside his was another, that of his brother, Galleous.
"The teachings of Thalleous live on." Ria said.
"They are good words to live by." Senn agreed, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Even after ten years, even in these peaceful times."
"He wasn't the only one to speak those words you know." Ria leaned her head against his shoulder. "Pythus said something very similar in his final moments."
"But we don't want to be taking after Pythus now do we?" Senn asked gently.
"No." Ria chuckled. "But it makes me wonder: how much do we know about our world? And our Enemies?" They both contemplated the question.
"When are you leaving?" Ria placed her hand on his. "Grek's growing agitated like a child."
"As soon as Grim puts his stuff together." Senn answered. "He's insisting on coming with us."
"Will you come back?"
"I will." Senn touched his red antler to her blue one. "I will always return to you, Ria Sendaris, no matter what happens."
Abbigail stepped into the Nether palace. It had been restored to the warm orange atmosphere of King Kronus's time. She approached the throne, where Volcannus sat. Seeing her, he stood up immediately.
"King Volcannus," Abbigail began, "I am here to help."