So! Looks like we made it! As the credits roll, let me shout out to citizenjess, my ever-present ally and friend on this adventure. And you, the incredible, awesome people still reading, still enjoying the story. Your reviews, well, let's just say that on the worst days of the last year or so, I invariably came back to find a little notice in my email that somebody out there thought I was worth something. You kept me going. So this one's for you.

The quote at the end is from Richard Bach, from his book Jonathan Livingston Seagull which, if you haven't read it, you absolutely should. Especially if you're a Max fan. Just sayin'.

Don't own them and never will. But it doesn't matter – they're part of my heart and my creativity, and just like I can't profit from them, you can't take that away!

Enjoy!

P.S. Be on the look-out for my next Mighty Max crossover. Demons. Monsters. The ancient world returning to claim civilization. And a whole new cast for the Mighty One to irritate! Where are we going this time? Hold onto your seats and get ready for the ride… It's going to be a good one.

"Well…uh, I guess this is it," Max said awkwardly, holding out a hand.

"Yeah," Presley mumbled. He took the offered hand, but abruptly pulled the Mighty One into a hug instead. There was so much to say, but no words to say it. And yet somehow both boys knew what neither could verbalize. Watching, always nearby, their guardians hid smiles.

The early morning sunlight illuminated the San Francisco bay's reconstruction, the once golden bridge now a sad pile of stone and steel. Returning to the city the night before had been rather a rude shock for Presley and the mummies; after all, it was rare for their adventures to leave visible scars on the world. The boys had discussed it with their mentors, but it was Max that comforted the reincarnated prince.

"Think of it this way, Pres: only real heroes have their cities torn apart by the bad guys. You just jumped up into the major league with the rest of us. Besides, it'll do people good to realize there's more in the world than they want to believe. And they can't even pin it on you, so don't feel guilty about it. The bridge'll get rebuilt, and it'll be as good as new. Sometimes we have to start over to know what we did right the first time."

But now that the chaos was over, now that Babi was banished and order and balance had been restored to Presley's world, it was time for Max and Virgil and Norman to return to their own dimension. Among other considerations, Skullmaster's defeat was sure to enrage the bony baddie, and the Mighty One needed to be present to thwart his revenge. Or, that's what Virgil said, anyway.

"I wanted to thank you both," Ja-Kal said, turning to the two guardians from another world while his boy said goodbye. "You've…you've shown us so much about ourselves and our prince, and we can never repay you."

"You honor us," Virgil smiled sincerely, "but honestly, I think they learned as much from each other as they ever have from us. So we have you to thank for that as well."

"Don't be a stranger," Nefertina put in shyly.

"Yeah. I need a challenge every now and again," Armon rumbled. Norman nodded once in return.

"It has been the utmost pleasure to work with you, Virgil," Rath said, clapping the Lemurian on the shoulder lightly. "I shall miss your intellect as well as your company."

"Yes, well…" the fowl stuttered. "I enjoyed our time as well. But destiny calls, and we cannot hold it at bay any longer." In truth, Virgil was uncomfortable with saying farewell to the mummies. They had seen much together, survived much, and faced their worst demons together. Though he could not bring himself to admit it, the Lemurian felt that the mummies and their ward would live within his heart even across space and time. But it was not in him to express it, not yet, even after all he had learned.

"Mighty One," Norman called gently. The Viking was hesitant to leave as well, but less for himself than for his boy. Max was taking the parting harder than anyone but Presley. Still, the time to leave had come, and they could all feel it.

"Look, take care of yourself and the guys, okay?" Max said, stepping back from his friend. "And take care of that soul of yours, too."

"I will, I promise. Take care of your Cap, too. And your guardians."

"And hey! Maybe someday the 'great cosmic forces' or whatever will throw you our way. Who knows? These things do tend to be sort of circular," the Mighty One said, smiling a little. It had been a rare comfort to be in the presence of someone who could comprehend the pain of his duty, the weight it put on him, but Presley had also reminded Max precisely why he accepted the mantle of the Mighty One time and again. As he prepared to head back to his own dimension, he did so with a steady soul, his purpose clear and his resolve strong. Although he would miss this boy who understood his life as no one ever had, he was ready to go home.

Presley rallied himself and managed a smile in return. His time with the Mighty One had been the best in his life, the best and the worst, and it was in no small part because the boy before him had helped him so much. Even against his best intentions, the boy-prince had long suffered from self-centeredness and irresponsibility; now, thanks to Max, he had come to terms with the reality of himself, and within that truth he had found a new way of thinking and a new challenge to overcome. If Presley was ever fortunate enough to be thrown into Max's world someday, he intended to meet him, not three steps behind the Mighty One, but as a true hero. An equal.

"I'd like that," the prince nodded.

"Well, then, I guess it's time. See you around, everybody," Max announced, his brightness only a little forced. Virgil and Norman moved to join their boy, and Presley backed up slowly until Ja-Kal had put a hand on his proud shoulder. Regarding each other, the Mighty One and Prince Rapses both smiled. They were the same, and in that, they were together.

At Max's silent command, the Cosmic Cap came joyously to life, opening a portal that was uncommonly brilliant. With a final wave, the Mighty One led his friends through the doorway, a bounce in his step even as he resisted the urge to look back. The magic swirled and hummed in the air, enveloping the three heroes in its light. Then, though the sound and feel of it hovered still in the clearing, the portal itself and those it had carried were gone.

"I'm…going to miss him," Presley admitted shakily after a few seconds. "Do you think we'll ever see them again?"

"Well," Rath began, "as one of your wise writers has said, 'If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood! But overcome space, and all we have left is Here. Overcome time, and all we have left is Now. And in the middle of Here and Now, don't you think that we might see each other once or twice?'"

"What does that mean?" Nefertina asked.

"I think it means," and Ja-Kal smiled widely, "that I would be very surprised if we did not find ourselves fighting side by side once more."

"I hope so." And with that, Presley led his protectors and friends down the hill and into the morning.

--==OOO==--

As the trio exited the portal, Max managing to end on his rear instead of his feet, a small sorrow settled over him, the same sensation that often followed him to school after a long vacation. Their world was, thankfully, just as they had left it, but it was still filled with danger and uncertainty and a perilous future. There was no "happily ever after" here – there was work to be done and heartache to deal with and major evil to defeat. But for today, it could probably wait.

"Hey Virg?" the Mighty One asked as he pulled himself upright. He didn't want to dwell on what he had left behind, on what he had been so near to losing. Max wouldn't forget, but for the moment, he didn't want to remember either.

"Yes, Mighty One?"

"I just have one question for you." Only Norman noticed the glint in his boy's eyes as Max shook himself back to his usual cheerfulness.

"Yes?"

"Um…how exactly did you do CPR with a beak?" At Virgil's astonished look, Max burst into relieved giggles.

"I…uh…it's rather complicated, you know!" the Lemurian said defensively, glaring at the boy who was so much trouble, and so much more.

And as Virgil swatted at Max's shoulders defiantly and Norman let out his own rumbling laughter, Max grinned. Tomorrow would be another adventure.

--==OOO==--

And from a place deep within the earth upon which the Mighty One stood, a voice saw and growled.

"You have no idea what awaits you, Cap Bearer. You and all those meddlesome allies. Enjoy your victory for now. And prepare yourself, for soon I will remove that smile from your face and revel in your screaming…"