Chapter nine:

Skull lands on the ground and Mello hurries off of Skull dropping his sword to the ground.

Mello rushes towards Lunar throwing his helmet off as he rushes. He hurries around Lunar. "Near!" He skids to a stop and looks to Near as the others are hurrying towards them.

Near lays there sitting against Lunar.

Mello takes a hesitant step towards him afraid that he's dead.

Then Near moves and looks up to Mello holding his shoulder where his armor was knocked off.

Mello feels relief wash over him and he jogs over to Near only to crouch beside him. "Are you ok?" He asks.

Near removes his hand as the two of them turn to the wound.

The bullet had hit his shoulder as seen by the bullet hole as well as the blood.

"I'm fine." Near says. "Lucky for me he hit me in my shoulder."

"I hope that it isn't damaged enough to cause problems with your arm." Matt says.

Mello looks back and spots the leader.

The leader is on the ground with Near's sword in his chest.

Mello gets up and goes over to him. He looks down at the leader but sees no movement. He kneels down and checks for a pulse finding none and he smirks at that the leader is dead. "He got what he deserved. I hope you like it in Hell." He says removing his hand from the leaders neck.

The person who gave the leader the scythe gasps in horror then turns rushing off somewhere deeper into the building.

Mello gets up and turns back to Near who is now standing holding his shoulder again.

The others look happy to see that they are all ok.

"I think that prophecy was talking about you Near." Matt says.

"Well it's not really correct." Near says.

The other look a little confused.

Near smiles softly. "It couldn't have been done alone. It took all of us and our dragons to do it."

The others smile at his words.

"Wow! That was so cool!" Linda says starry eyed making the others turn to the Whammys who are no longer cowering but still a little unsure about the dragons.

"So what they were trying to get from us was you guys." Rodger says in realization.

"So what now?" Matt asks. "We defeated the evil ruler so do we just go back to our old lives or what?"

"That's easy. The land needs a ruler to take it's place." An elderly woman says making the others turn to her as she walks out using her cane to help her with a few others following her. She is so old her hair is a greyish white color.

"Who are you?" A asks.

"I am the one that got the prophecy. I am a fortune teller." The old woman explains. "And now that you have finally arrived and freed the land it is time that we find a new ruler to take his place."

Everyone turns to Near.

Near looks down thoughtfully then looks back to the old woman. "I propose that all of us that fought against the evil ruler help rule over the land together." He says coming to a decision. "Because we wouldn't be standing here victorious without their help."

The old woman smiles proudly at those words. "I agree with your words."

"Oh my gosh this is so cool!" Matt says starry eyed.

"It shall be done." The old woman nods.

Later…..

The land has been called to a meeting with cameras to capture the news for those that couldn't come since it's being held in the same town where the newly deceased ruler lived.

The injuries have been treated and bandaged before this meeting.

The old woman stands at the front with the five dragon riders behind her in a line all wearing their usual clothing and the dragons behind them still wearing the armor and jewelry because they wanted to.

People wonder what is going on but go quiet when the old woman begins to speak using a microphone that is on a stand.

"Greetings to all." She says. "As you know I am Saya the royal fortune teller. I have news! The ruler has been defeated by these brave souls." She gestures to behind herself to the ones behind her.

The people cheer happily at the news.

Saya waits until everyone has calmed down before continuing. "And in honor of this news we are here to welcome them as our new rulers!"

Everyone cheers again and chants in acceptance.

And so together the group that defeated the evil ruler became the rulers.

They didn't agree all the time but they did their best to do what was best for the land.

Five years later….

Mello wanders outside in the garden.

Just past the garden is the home that was built for the dragons to sleep in.

Always and Beyond went out for some flying but now are currently washing their dragons by the dragons homes.

The dragons know how to clean themselves but sometimes their riders like to help clean them.

All of their dragons have shown interest in other dragons in the group and only two years after the battle against the evil ruler they decided on the ones they liked.

Those that are together are….

Skull and Lunar.

Sandy and Midnight.

With Koopador not having a mate yet.

Mello turns and finds Near sitting by the naturally made pond.

Near is staring at the water.

Mello finally comes to a decision. He goes over to Near and as he approaches the other turns to him. "Hey."

"Hey."

Mello settles down next to Near who turns to the water. "It's a nice day out today." He says.

"It is." Near says in agreement looking at the reflection of the sky in the ponds water.

"Say. Do you like anyone?" Mello asks looking off into the distance somewhere ahead of himself.

Near turns to look to Mello. "Why?" He asks.

Mello turns meeting Near's eyes. "Because I want to know if your heart is still available for the taking."

"Mello." Near begins but Mello continues.

"Listen Near. Sure I was jealous of you getting first place in the orphanage but under that jealously was a denied love that I held for you." Mello explains. "I didn't really notice until around the time after the others were captured. I became confused about what I was feeling since I wasn't really sure what it was at first but when you got shot I realized that I loved you. Sure it took me a bit to finally admit it and accept it because we used to be rivals." He continues.

"Mello." Near speaks. "Listen to me."

"Ok." Mello says then goes quiet listening.

"My heart is already taken. It has been for a long time." Near tells him.

Mello frowns in disappointment and is about to say something but Near hushes him.

"Let me finish." He tells the blonde. "My heart has been stolen by someone I never thought would love me." He continues. "My heart was stolen….. By you."

Mello looks a little surprised then a second later extremely happy. "I'm so glad." He wraps an arm around Near's waist pulling him closer.

Matt watched this from a window since he is inside and though he could not hear what they said their body language especially at the end told him all he needs to know. He smiles. "It's about time." He says then turns heading off somewhere deeper into the building.

Yes. Everything is perfect.

The group worked together to rule the land in peace and harmony for the rest of their life times.

While their dragons that are together have their own children their riders are looking into what they should do about heirs.

They decide to find a good heir material by watching the children of the land without the children knowing.

So their legacy can live on.

They of course find who they are looking for and took one child each under their wings to teach them to be good rulers.

The end.

AN:

I honestly did my best to not rush the ending.

I hope you enjoyed.

Reviews are awesome and flamers will be used to make cake!

Mello.