It took quite a long time to write this chapter. Well, not so much when I actually sat down and finished it. Can't believe it took me two years and more to finish this story. But now it is, and I hope you enjoy this last chapter. And I also want to thank you for all of your kind reviews.

Oceans of love

The first thing that entered Wendy's conscious mind was the sensation of soft fabric against her skin. This wasn't the cotton sheets she was used to from her bunk on SeaQuest, but much more silky. As she opened her eyes, she found she was in a strange bed, in a strange room. Then her memory came back and she smiled at the thought of Ecco. Wendy carefully stretched her limbs contentedly as a cat and sat up in the bed. She wondered how long she had been sleeping, but since there were no windows in the room she couldn't tell by the light. "How silly of me," she thought. "I must be miles and miles below the surface."

Wendy got up and put on the beautiful dress Ecco had given her before. It fitted perfectly. Then she saw the silver bell, which he had told her to ring when she was ready. Wendy felt a little silly to ring for service like someone out of a 19th century novel. But she realized that she would only get lost trying to find her way, so she picked up the bell. It chimed a beautiful sound, and not long after there was a knock on the door. Wendy opened and she saw a fair woman with long black hair and same shining blue eyes as Ecco.

"Good evening Dr. Smith, I will take you to the Great Hall now," the woman smiled. "Did you get some rest?"

They went out in the long corridor and Wendy felt the soft fabric of the dress caress her body as she moved.

"Yes I did, thank you. By the way, how long was I sleeping?"

"Not more than a few hours," said the woman and gestured to a huge open door, and inside the Great Hall, Wendy spotted Endrean.

"But Ecco has been pacing to and fro ever since he left your room, waiting for you to wake up," the Prince of Fire continued her escort's sentence. Wendy looked around and met Ecco's eyes, he was smiling sheepishly.

"I've been waiting too. So that we could eat!" Endrean said and laughed merrily.

Finally words seemed to find their way out of Ecco's mouth.

"Yes, we have prepared a feast," he said and gestured to a long table, where besides Endrean, Chandra, Jeralynthia and Calondryl were also sitting. Cal looked much healthier and stronger than when Wendy had last seen him.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you waiting," she said but Ecco walked up to her and took her in his arms.

"Don't worry. You are worth waiting for," he whispered. "Come now, let us eat!"

It was indeed a great feast, with lots of strange and exotic fruits that Wendy had never seen or tasted before. But they tasted sweet, and the golden liquid that were poured in their glasses by servants, was equally as wonderful. Though she felt lighthearted, she couldn't escape the feeling of a creeping doom covered in mirthfulness. So when there was a pause in the laughing and joking, she decided confront whatever was beneath this surface. She turned to Calondryl.

"So, Cal... Any words of advice?"

The Hall instantly fell silent, and Wendy could practically feel the silence creeping up her back like cold shivers. Cal looked her straight in the eye and answered: "I am sorry, I cannot help you. You will understand."

"Neither of us can help you, for we do not know what you are about to face, save Calondryl and I do not believe he is allowed to," Chandra said apologetically.

Cal gave the Princess of Earth a grateful nod. But though their words didn't exactly calm Wendy, she took a deep breath and said to Ecco: "I am ready. "

"Are you sure?" he answered as if he had trouble to get the words out of his mouth and wanted to delay the moment as much as possible.

"Yes, I am."

Ecco nodded.

"Then we will go."

The four elementals rose from their seats and Wendy did the same. Ecco took the lead out of the Hall, and through a myriad of long corridors. No one spoke, and Wendy felt like she was walking to her own funeral. At length, they came upon a door with no door knob nor handle. Ecco put his had to the door and whispered some words unknown to her, and it opened slowly as if it hadn't been used for a thousand years or more.

It was a small and perfectly round room. The light was dull and sort of blueish. In the middle there was a square elevation point, and as she stepped closer she could see markings on it, pentagrams, half-moons and other esoterical signs.

"Wendy, if you will, step up into the square," Ecco said in a low tone of voice and held her hand as she stepped up onto the square. He seemed unwilling to let go of her, and she turned and faced him, his eyes looked frightened and for the first time Wendy realized the seriousness of what she was about to do. Throwing herself into the unknown, and there seemed to be a very slim chance that she would make it out alive. A discreet cough from Endrean made Ecco let go of her hand, and Wendy suddenly felt so lonely.

The four place themselves each in on corner.

"Wendy Smith, daughter of Christopher Smith and Lexington Fischer-Smith, we will now give you our blessings. Will thou take them?" Endrean spoke in a booming voice.

"I will."

"Then turn to each of us in turn, clockwise. I will begin, when you are ready."

"I am ready," Wendy said and looked straight into Endreans eyes. He then raised hand and seemed to aim somewhere over Wendy's head.

"I, Endrean, Prince of Fire and Flame, give thy my blessing to pass!"

Instantly Wendy felt as if she had been dropped into a volcano. "I'm on fire!" she thought she screamed when she looked at her arm which was licked by flames. After a while the feeling of heat faded slowly. She felt out of breath and took a while to calm herself down. She then turned to Chandra.

"I Chandra, Princess of Earth, give thy my blessing to pass!" she too raised her hand and a green beam joined Endreans yellow.

The room quickly darkened and suddenly, Wendy felt as if she was dragged down further and further through soil. It was dark and she couldn't see a thing, let alone breathe. But, wise from the previous experience she waited until her lungs craved for air, and she took a deep breath and so, the darkness ceased too.

Wendy swallowed hard before she turned to face Jen.

"I, Jeralynthia, Princess of Wind and Storms, give thy my blessing to pass!" and she also raised her hand and a pink beam joined the other two. Wendy had almost acknowledged the tension from the beams when she suddenly was engulfed by icy winds, mixed with gentle summer breezes. She hugged her arms tightly to her body, to protect from the cold, but to little use, it felt as the winds blew right through her. It seemed like half of forever had passed when the winds finally ceased.

Wendy could feel the energy from the beams pouring down in her body. It seemed to press her down like gravity and she could barely stand up straight. She rubbed her arms to get rid of the cold, before turning to Ecco. He seemed to hesitate and she heard his voice in her head: "I love you." And then he too raised his hand before she could answer him.

"I, Eccorion, Prince of the Sea and Rivers, give thy my blessing to pass!"

And as his energy flowed down into her body, Wendy was pressed down to her knees and the sensation of being under water came over her. Then she fell to the floor, and all was dark.

"Wendy!" Ecco cried and he jumped forward and took her gently in his arms. His hand was trembling as he fumbled to check her pulse. He exhaled a deep breath of relief when he found it to be there. Weak, but steady. Ecco slowly lifted her up and followed by his brother and sisters, he carried her into the room in which she had slept and lay her down on the bed. He then took her hand and sat down beside her. Worry colored his fair features.

"No, my dear brother, you know you can't stay with her," Jeralynthia softly spoke.

"She might need me!"

"You know you can't interfere, we will watch over her." Endrean said.

With a long look at his loved one, who seemed to be peacefully asleep, Ecco sighed and got up and went out of the room. Jeralynthia followed him. The other two remained, silently watching over Wendy.

"Wake up, Wendy Smith," a voice softly called. She opened her eyes but found she could see nothing but darkness. "Have I gone blind?" she thought and rapidly threw herself up in a sitting position.

"Do not worry Wendy, you have passed the first test, and you are alive," the gentle voice spoke once more. It was as if it was two voices speaking simultaneously, one man and one woman.

"Where am I?"

"You have passed out of the realm of the living and into another dimension."

"I see. What will I have to do?"

"Choose," said the voice and gave Wendy a shiver down her spine of foreboding.

Ecco was pacing by the table where they earlier had had their feast. Jen was sitting down and watching her brother's distressed motions.

"I know all too well what you are going through," she said at length. Ecco stopped in his tracks and looked at his sister.

"If only Cal, would say something about the Path, then maybe..."

"Then maybe what? You know you can't interfere, or giver her your strength. She can have no advantages."

Ecco continued his pacing. Suddenly he stopped again and kicked a chair to the other side of the Great Hall.

"I don't understand why we were given the power to love if this is what we have to suffer through."

Jen seemed to think long and hard about this.

"I do not know, but I do know this: I do not regret a single moment I have spent with Cal, or even the anxiety when he went through whatever Wendy is facing." Ecco looked into her eyes.

"Not event that he took Ribon away from you to Hyberion? You don't resent him for that?"

"I can't. I love him," the Princess of the Wind simply said.

Ecco walked a few paces back and forth. Then he sat down opposite of his sister.

"What if she dies from me?"

Jen took his hands in hers.

"I know."

"No, what if... She dies... from me?"

Pink eyes met blue.

"I know."

The darkness had faded, and Wendy stood now in a forest. Its trees were tall and lush and green, and the moss beneath her bare feet were damp from dew. It was dawn, and the sun was rising in what Wendy assumed to be the east. Birds where chirping and she could see a squirrel make its way up a tree. It seemed to be a blissful morning in a beautiful forest.

"Now Wendy Smith, This is your first test." the unknown voice said.

"What will I have to do?"

"Survive through the woods."

Her heart began to beat faster as she realized the fair scenery had only been a facade. She swallowed hard and took a few trying steps into the forest. The light began to fade the further she got among the trees. Soon, she got her heart in her throat as she saw something grey move towards her. It was two great wolves that came proudly walking towards her. Then they sat down a few paces before her and looked at her solemnly.

"What shall I do?" she thought frantically. Instincts told her that if she would try to go past or around them, they would only kill her. Then she caught one of the wolves' gaze. It was emerald green as Chandra's eyes. Wendy decided to try telepathy.

"Are you friends?" she thought to them innocently.

She was startled when one of the wolves answered.

"Yes, we will be your guides through the woods if you will have us?"

"Wendy knelt down before the two wolves.

"I would be so thankful if you would help me through."

The wolves rose.

"Prepare for a dangerous journey."

The two animals assembled one on each side and they started walking. Though it seemed to have been dawn, darkness grew thicker again and the leaves and flowers began to wither away, leaving dead haunted trees. They had not gone far until Wendy felt something rip at her right shoulder. It had felt like a branch but as she turned she saw only dead bushes and trees. It was only a flesh wound so she covered it with her hand and continued on. The wolves had quickened their pace somewhat. Not long after, more and more trees started to whipping their branches after her.

"How far?" she thought to the wolves, but got no answer. Then, in the corner of her eye Wendy noticed someone coming towards them. It was a little girl, perhaps five or six years of age.

Wendy stopped to meet her.

"We cannot linger!" one of the wolves growled in her head.

"But it's just a little girl," she thought back.

"I am lost," the girl said and reached out her hand to Wendy's. "Would you help me find my way out?"

"Of course!" she answered and just as she raised her hand she realized how unnaturally pale the girl was and at the same time, one of the wolves slammed its jaws tight around the girl's wrist. Immediately the girl's face changed. She hissed and showed large fangs, and her hands grew long claws that slashed at the wolf. Wendy backed a few steps, uncertain what to do.

"Run!" the other wolf growled, which broke her spell of immobility. A she ran, more and more ghosts and demons came up from the trees, and their long-drawn moaning filled her ear drums and almost drew her insane. She started running almost blindly between the two wolves. Thorns pierced through her bare soles and she screamed in agony. Wendy had lost track of any time perception she might had had, when bright sunlight met her eyes and the trees was once again, green and healthy. She limped out of the woods with the wolves slowly going by her side. Then she caught a glimpse of the wolf that had bitten the undead.

"Oh no!" she cried when she saw its wounds and fell down on her knees, gently touching the torn fur. "I.. I am so sorry," she stammered. "If I only had my medical bag, then..."

"I thank you, for your concern, Wendy Smith. But you needn't worry about us. But for your concern I will do this for you." And the wolf started to lick the hurt soles of her feet, with a cool tounge, and soon, all the wounds were healed.

"Thank you," she said and tears filled her eyes, both of gratitude and sadness.

"I suppose we part ways here?" she asked.

"We do. Take care Wendy Smith, you journey has only begun."

And the wolves dissolved.

Wendy got up and started walking. The sun were at it's zenith at it grew hotter and hotter. As she got up on a sand dune, two huge lions came to greet her.

"Hail, Wendy Smith. We will show you the way through the desert."

"I thank you!"

They started walking and now Wendy had her senses at full stretch, she knew the way through the desert wouldn't be an easy one. The hot desert winds did little to cool her, in fact she felt as she was breathing warm sand. There were bones of various creatures scattered around, and as she looked up in the sky she saw vultures circling her head.

Endrean watched the unconscious Wendy lying in the bed.

"I pray that I never fall in love," he said gravely when he saw her tossing and turning as if she had nightmares. His sister could only nod in agreement.

A man came crawling towards them.

"Water! Please!"

Wendy looked with a wait-and-see attitude.

"Water! Please! I will perish!"

"I have no water." she said apologetically.

But the man seemed in no mood for apologies. He suddenly stood up and quickly grew to five times Wendy's height and raised his feet to squash her. The lions didn't have to tell her to run. The very sand began to take the form of demons, and with long claws they slashed at her and she got a serious wound in her left arm. They kept on running, and at length Wendy started to sense that it was a little cooler. Indeed, soon the whole desert had changed into an icy tundra. The lions had left before she got a chance to thank them. Wendy was very weary, and though she had at first welcomed the icy winds, she was soon cold in the thin dress she was wearing. It was full of tears and Wendy started crying because it seemed ruined and she felt alone with no clue as what to do on this icy barren land. Soon she heard the soft flapping of wings and two white-headed eagles landed before her. One eagle cocked its head at her.

"Are you ready for the next stage of the Path?"

"No!" Wendy sobbed. She was dead tired, and the wounds she had gotten felt as to have been infected. And not only her body was tired but also her soul yearned for sleep. The two birds waited silently.

"Do you want to give up?"

The thought of the warm comfortable bed she had woken up in, what seemed like years ago, beckoned her. And then her thoughts wandered to Ecco.

"No, I do not want to give up!" she said grimly and rose to her feet. "But I can't walk here, my feet were almost burned to a crisp in the desert and they hurt," she said and looked out on the frozen tundra.

"You are not going to walk."

"I should have figured as much," she muttered. "How do I do it?"

"Just follow us."

The two eagles flew up and Wendy instinctively leaped after them, and found she didn't fall back to the ground.

"So what's next? More demons trying to kill me?" but the eagles were silent.

Though it was a wonderful feeling to be flying, Wendy could not relax. She anticipated more demons and this time they didn't seem to bother to disguise themselves. Suddenly, the enormous clouds had huge, hideous faces and the blew icy winds to get them off course. Wendy sobbed by the cold and by the thought that they had saved the worst for last. She forced herself to fly as fast as she possibly could, and follow the eagles, who also seemed to have trouble holding a steady course.

Then the winds dissipated and the eagles flew in separate directions and Wendy found herself falling freely. There wasn't enough time to be scared, before she plunged in to the sea. At least the sea was luke warm, she thought absently, as she waited for her escort. After a long while, she realized she would have to make this one on her own and started to swim slowly. Then she heard a long moaning sound, which she couldn't place at first. It felt friendly but she didn't quite dare to trust it. The song was heard again, and it dawned upon her that this was the song of a great blue whale. She swam as fast as she could towards the sound, hoping to see her friend The Big Blue. The sound took her deeper and deeper. But instead of seeing the whale, she came upon a sunken ship. Wendy stopped swimming. All of her sixth, seventh and eight senses told her that there was something dangerous with that ship. An sure enough, she saw faint veils of souls rising up towards her. And the words of Set was ringing in her ears. "Is there anything more treacherous? You cannot love the Sea for the Sea cannot love you back!" Wendy was paralyzed and the ghosts of the dead that had drowned were approaching. Then, the thought of that time at the Alpha colony, brought back the memory of Ecco's love. And with the sole thought of him she pushed herself further. The song of the whale was heard again, and she swam towards it for her life. The water grew shallower and at length she could throw herself upon a sandy beach, just as the sun was about to set. She panted heavily as she lay there in the sand.

Jeralynthia entered the room where Wendy was lying.

"How is she," she asked, though she could see no change.

"She tosses and turns sometimes, but she is hanging in there," Endrean answered.

"How long has it been?"

"One day and one night."

A trace of worry flew over Jen's face.

"Cal didn't take this long..." she whispered.

Though warmth lingered in the sand where Wendy was lying, it didn't stop her from shaking with cold and fever. It was a long time ago since the infections had begun to spread throughout her body. But she didn't fear for her body at the moment. All the images, from the little girl in the woods to the storm demons was threatening her sanity.

"Why am I here?" she thought absently. "Why am I not back at SeaQuest?"

"Well done, Wendy Smith, you have walked the Path and came out alive, not many could have done so." the unknown voice spoke. "Your compassion to others almost killed you. But you had a great help through the sea"

"Please, can we speak of something else? I am trying not to remember everything that has happened the past few hours. Or is it days?" she suddenly wondered.

"You have yet one more test to pass," said the voice.

As the last rays of sunshine passed into the horizon, Wendy felt that she was being lifted up by some invisible hands. She flew straight up into the atmosphere, until there was nothing else around her but darkness and stars.

"Now, you must choose."

"Choose what?"

"Look behind you."

Wendy turned easily around and saw what she first thought was the sun. It looked like huge half open eye. The oval was shining so bright that she first had to cover her eyes. And then she felt it. The total, unconditional love. A feeling soothing for her wounded soul, and she felt that this was a place to mend and be whole again. Wendy saw, and was amazed by how everything, from the greatest of planets, to the smallest of bug in the tiniest planet was embraced by this ambra colored light.

"Is this heaven?" she thought.

"Some call it that. It has many names and no name. The question is, do you want to go into that light, or do you choose life as an immortal and thus, giving up on you place here?"

Wendy yearned for the light, her soul needed it and she was a part of it too. She began moving towards the light, and as she drew closer she heard celestial tones and she felt like her chest were about to explode with tears of happiness.

"Have you chosen, Wendy Smith?"

She was about to say yes, when a memory stirred in the depths of her heart. "I've felt this before" she thought. "But when?" Wendy searched for the eluding memory, and saw a dark, gloomy mining colony.

"What's this?"

In her mind she was sucked in to the colony and into a room where two persons were sitting, holding hands and now she recognized who they were. But more importantly, she saw the light flowing back and forth between those two people.

"Ecco can give me the healing that I need. I love him, I choose him!"

"It is done," the voice said and Wendy found herself in a whirlwind that brought her downwards.

"She's hardly not breathing at all!" Endrean said and ran up to the bed and to Wendy's wrist to check her pulse. It was frighteningly slow.

"What should we do?"

"Nothing, we cannot interfere either, and..."

"I'm getting Ecco!" Endrean said and dashed off before Jen could speak. Soon the two brothers were back.

"Is she..?" Ecco's voice trailed off.

"I do not know, she might be."

Ecco slowly went up to the bed and sat down. He took Wendy's hand, and just as he did so, she opened here crystal blue eyes. She looked a little disoriented and tired, but as their eyes met Ecco's, she smiled widely. His siblings quietly left the room.

"Hey you. I thought that... That you were lost."

"I almost was," she said and stroked away one of his tears with her thumb.

"How are you feeling?"

Wendy thought about the question.

"I feel... Like I can see things more clearly now, how everything is connected. And I feel stronger. Strong enough to do this!" she said with a mischievous smile. And she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips, and he eagerly answered that kiss. As their lips slowly parted, he couldn't help but ask.

"Strong enough for..?"

Wendy just laughed and pulled him closer for another kiss.