*return to present*
-Lalna's POV-
I separate myself from the drunken dwarf and spaceman, sipping at my drink, and finding that most of it has sloshed out of the mug while I was singing and stumbling around with the boys. I slip through the ring of clapping and laughing people, all of my friends together in one place. As I head towards the bar, I see Rythian slumped over a drink. The he closes his eyes and seems to be asleep; a smile twitches at the corner of his mouth, and then fades away. I see a single tear drop down his cheek; then more and more, and I know he's remembering Zoeya. A stab of guilt shoots through me; I put that nuke there, back before I knew that Rythian had changed. He had turned from a bitter, vengeful creature to a happy, smiling, almost- human being capable of love. I had destroyed the one thing in the world he truly loved. These tears are my fault, I thought to myself bitterly. I have forgiven him, and maybe someday we can be friends, but how could he ever forgive me? A huge paw lands on my shoulder. I turn around to face the green dinosaur that is standing there, resolute and silent. But then again, he's always silent.
"I am so sorry," I say. "All of this is my fault. If he can't forgive me, will you? Please, Teep, this is tearing me to pieces. I need to know that at least someone can forgive me."
Teep just nods his head, and then envelops me in a hug. And believe me when I say you haven't been in a bear hug until a dinosaur does it. I'm so happy, I start crying a bit. I extract myself from the dinosaur's grasp, and fly upstairs to the room I turned into my lab at the factory so long ago. As soon as I set down, I begin to cry. I cry for myself, for Zoeya, for Teep, and surprisingly, for Rythian. Is it possible, even for me, in this state, to... care about him? Either way, I'm crying now, and I can't stop. I cry for the moment when Zoeya left me alone in my castle, to be with the one she truly loves. I know then what I need to do. I break a hole in the side of the factory, and fly over to where Blackrock hold used to be.
Finally, I touch down beside the grave that now has flowers blooming all over it. Most of them are red; I suspect that was Rythian, honoring his fallen love. His only love. I feel the tears hitting me again, and I sink to the ground slowly, tears clouding my vision.
"I'm so sorry, Zoeya," I say to myself, choking the words out in between sobs. "I am so, so sorry."
I forgive you, whispers a voice, from far away.
