Cause Paradise is anywhere where I can be with you, leave behind the heartache and pain that I've been though. I'm safe in your arms, safe in the world tonight, for you are my Paradise – Paradise – Styx

She knew she was falling. She couldn't feel anything but fleeting warmth in her arms, and when that was gone she knew she wouldn't feel anything. She wasn't even sure if she was holding the Zoi anymore, or even if she was in Unknown Space.

Then suddenly she felt something. Kathleen realized she wasn't falling anymore. Then she felt a different warmth. It wrapped itself around her. She closed the eyes that couldn't see anything and snuggled against the warmth. Sleep called to her, tempted and beckoned to her. But she knew she couldn't give in. There was still so much to do before she could finally sleep.

It was almost over. Sol had seen Companion and New Sirius literally ripped to shreds by darkness and light. It had been both horrifying and beautiful to witness.

There were no doubts in his mind that she was really gone this time. She was not going to show up in some little known corner of the Universe harboring vengeance in her heart. She was never going to hurt anyone again. He looked toward Polaris. Companion wasn't going to control anyone anymore either.

But the pain in his heart was not soothed. Companion's death and Alpha's death and the death of New-Sirius hadn't changed that. Andromeda was still just as dead as she was when she had died in his arms. How long ago was it? Hours? Days? Weeks? Time didn't matter here in Unknown Space. They could have been fighting that battle for years. Nothing had changed!

Then he saw Sirius and Kathleen. Sirius had flown up to catch her the second she started to fall. Now she was nestled in his arms with her arms around his neck. Her eyes were closed, but Sirius was gazing at her with an expression he had never seen the green luminary wear before. It was the expression he knew that he himself would wear if he and Andromeda were in Sirius and Kathleen's place. It was an expression of unfathomable love.

Overcome with emotion, Sol turned away from them. But the view from that direction was not much better for him.

The second Companion was dead He had flown over to The Master.

"Now," he commanded the dark man. "Now we destroy it." The Master was in no place to argue with the great luminary, and nodded.

Both of them sent out huge tendrils of power toward the white walls of the castle. The strings of gold and deep purple blended with the walls immediately. The walls acted like a conductor, taking the power strands from their entrance point on the bare wall and spreading them over every inch of the palace within moments.

When the highest point of the tallest tower was consumed by their power they turned to each other and smiled.

There was no loud, grandiose explosion or flash of blinding light. There was barely even a whisper. Just a simple sound like a summer's breeze through the trees and the palace was gone. Disappeared without a trace. The green grounds around the palace were gone. Nothing was left but the crushing blackness, and one tiny spot of light. Where the castle had once stood, there was a figure of silver light. It was She, and she was wearing the most beautiful smile He had ever seen anyone wear.

She was speechless. When He had shown up on the battlefield, she knew it was all over for Companion. If he had come all this way for her there was no way he was going to let a nothing like Companion stand in his way.

Then before she knew it he was standing there looking at her and their eyes met. In that one moment all the thousands of years between them melted away. She started moving closer toward him and she realized she was flying, and so was he. Before she knew it she was being clasped in an embrace and silent tears were spilling from her eyes onto his shoulder.

"I wasn't… I wasn't sure if you…" she struggled out, but he put a finger to her lips.

"I have always and will always love you," he said gently. "Never doubt that for a moment." She simply nodded and allowed herself to be held, trying not to think of the awful thing that must come next.

Sol turned from them and stared at the empty dark ground, trying in vain to ignore the ache. The phoenix necklace that Andromeda's Zoi had become for him weighed heavily on his chest. He clasped it in one hand and traced its outline with his thumb. Sol's eyes were vacant and far away.

Polaris only signed with relief. The whole mess was over and done with. Companion was dead, Alpha was avenged, Kathleen had been rescued and Sirius potentially tearing up half the Universe in rage was no longer an issue. Practically all of his concerns tied up in a neat little box with a ribbon on top. Normally, Polaris would have been very content to simply go home and forget that this entire mess had ever happened. But he realized that he didn't want to just leave them here. He wanted to make sure that everyone got out of this last chapter of their situation okay. Polaris smiled to himself when he realized that he honestly cared about what happened to Sol and Sirius and Kathleen. His thoughts flew back to the day when he had come to Sirius' sphere for the sole purpose of getting rid of Kathleen, to "exterminate" her. He shuddered. Andromeda and Sol had been there too, and he had practically ignored them, he just saw them as threats to his mission of ridding the Universe of the Earth-Child.

Who had that unfeeling creature been? The creature whose zeal for the protection of the Universe had been the sole reason that he had accompanied them into Unknown Space?

Now Andromeda's death weighed heavily on his heart. He saw Sol looking more depressed than even Sirius was and, putting two and two together, realized why Sol was so upset at Andromeda's passing. This caused him to feel for Sol as well. But seeing Sirius with Kathleen made him feel overjoyed!

Tears sprang into his eyes and he wondered where they had come from. He wondered if so much emotion felt for the subjects of the Universe was a good idea for a luminary in his standing. Then he pushed the thought away when he realized that it was a remnant from the old Polaris. The Polaris who's only friend was a luminary being controlled by Companion.

This new Polaris turned toward them and his smiled broadened.

His friends.

She finally pulled away from him and looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes.

"It's not over," she said softly. "One more thing has to be done, and I don't want to do it."

He looked at her with concern. "What is it?" he asked quickly. "I'll do it for you; you don't need to worry about anything ever again." She shook her head.

"No one can do this for me. It's something that I have to do entirely alone."

"What is it?" he asked again. She pointed to the monsters.

The monsters were still behind the wall of light that He had created. The light had been continually weakening until Companion had been destroyed. Then the light had sprung up to its full and complete height and the monsters cowered behind it. The Master was eying them, daring even one of them to try and come through. He would destroy it using its own darkness against it.

"The monsters aren't going to go away," she said sadly. "They're as much a part of this Universe as the luminaries are. But the luminaries cannot keep fighting them off. We have to seal them inside Unknown Space again."

"But this time we'll seal them from the outside," he replied. "We're not sealing you inside with them again." She shook her head sadly.

"No. If we seal them from the outside then someone can break it just like Companion did. Then all the luminaries, our children, will be in danger from them again! We have to seal it from the inside and the outside this time."

"But you're not going in there again. I will not allow it! I haven't come here to hold you for a few moments and then have you torn from my arms again! I'll go! I'll seal myself inside, you can stay out here!"

"You cannot. To seal it you have to use the Anti-Zoi, and I refuse to subject you to that. No one should ever have to come near that awful thing again. I will make sure of that."

"You!" he shouted, rounding on The Master. "You knew about this the whole time! Why did you tell me I could have her again? Why did you give me so much hope?!"

The Master slowly turned and fixed his piecing gaze upon His face. "I told you that you could have her again. I did not say for how long."

"You tricked me!"

"A little, yes. It is something I still cannot help, regardless of the human in me."

Desperation was etched into His face. "Please," he whispered to Her, his voice cracking. "Let me come with you. We can be sealed together forever. Please. Don't make me say goodbye to you again." Golden tears began in his eyes.

She couldn't help it. Despite her resolve to remain strong silvery tears started to stream down her cheeks as she listened to his plea. Her heart was being torn in two because of what she knew she must do. She wanted nothing more than to stay with him forever, to be beside him and to be held and to kiss him. But she couldn't. She couldn't let him be corrupted by the Anti-Zoi, and she couldn't leave her children all alone out there without any protection.

"No, my love. I won't let you. Someone has to stay outside and protect the children. What happens if some other horrible thing comes through from another Universe? Who will protect them? You have to stay and guide them. That's your calling."

"But what about you?! You always wanted to protect them! Stay outside with me, we'll guard Unknown Space together to make sure no one breaks the seal!" He was grasping at straws now, refusing to believe that he could only have her back for such a short time. He had this all planned out before he even laid eyes on the castle! He was going to rescue Her, and take her back to the Universe with him and they would never ever worry about Unknown Space or the monsters ever again. But seeing her again after all this time had completely shattered his resolve. He didn't want to do anything right now but stay with her regardless of circumstances.

"You know I cannot do that." Her words were like daggers in his heart. "I've gone over it again and again in my head, and this is the only way that we can ever be sure that they won't run free again." She suddenly looked up at him fiercely. "Do you think I want to do this anymore than you? Don't you think all I want to do is…" Her voice was choked off by a sob. He opened his arms again and she gratefully stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his neck. He mentally chastised himself for making her cry like this. Of course this wasn't easy for her! She turned his face up towards his and he kissed her gently. She returned his kiss, savoring every last sensation, knowing she would never experience it again.

"Kathleen?" A far away voice. A beautiful, melodious voice. "Kathleen?"

"She's exhausted," an angrier voice. Protecting her. Sirius.

"I need her help."

Kathleen was almost afraid to open her eyes. The last time her eyes were open they couldn't see anything but a swirling darkness.

Her eyes fluttered open and her heart sank. She could feel Sirius' arms under her back and knees, supporting her, but she couldn't see him.

"Sirius," she said, slightly panicked, "Sirius I can't see anything!"

But before Sirius could reply she felt another presence quickly approaching. A good, dark presence.

"It's not permanent," The Master said. "Just all the light overloaded her eyes. I can fix it. Close your eyes Kathleen." She obeyed and felt a cool hand slowly graze across her eyes. She could feel Sirius stiffen nervously. He doesn't want him to hurt me, she thought happily.

"Okay, all done," he said.

This time when Kathleen opened her eyes the first thing they saw was Sirius' smiling face. She grinned back at him and asked to be let down.

The Master was standing a few feet away, also smiling a contented smile. Polaris was distant from her, but smiling. Sol was the farthest away, and looked miserable. It was then she noticed that someone was missing.

"Where's Andromeda?" she asked, and immediately regretted that she had done so. Why did she feel as if she already knew the answer?

"It was Alpha," said Sirius. "Alpha was being controlled by Companion and he murdered her."

Immediately an empty place was created in Kathleen's heart. This couldn't be! Andromeda was wonderful and gentle, why should she have to die?

Through the tears forming in her eyes she could see Her and Him standing together, lost in each other's eyes. She had been the one to call her. She needed help again, and Kathleen would be only too happy to oblige.

Sol shook himself out of his daze in time to see the silver luminary with three wings calling out to Kathleen. She was standing by Him and there were tears on her cheeks. Confused, Sol went over to Polaris.

"What's going on?" he asked. Polaris was about to shake his head, but suddenly the voice behind him made them both jump.

"She has to stay here" It was The Master.

"Kathleen?!" cried Sol.

"No, of course not," the shadow replied. "The silver one. Her. She has to stay here and seal Unknown Space so that the monsters can never threaten the Universe again."

"But that's not fair," said Polaris. "She's been stuck here for thousands of years!"

"Of course it's not fair," replied The Master. "But it is what She wishes. She wants to protect the luminaries. And nothing is going to stop Her from doing what She believes is right."

"Kathleen," She called again.

"Yes," she replied, and slowly walked toward her.

"Kathleen we have one thing left to do. I have to seal Unknown Space from the inside with the Anti-Zoi. You have to stay out here and seal it from the outside with that Zoi. The only way it will stay shut forever is if we seal it with darkness and light."

"I guess I understand," she said, "But if you seal it from the inside, doesn't that mean…"

"Yes, it does. But remember our talk?" Kathleen nodded. "Well, I now know without a doubt that He still loves me. That's going to be enough for me. I can stay inside knowing that. Even if I never ever hold him in my arms again, at least I will always know." Kathleen got the feeling that this speech was meant for Him more than it was for her, and as such she kept silent.

"You're going to have to seal it at the same time I seal it. Just send a stream of power from the Zoi to me, and follow what I do."

With a sad smile on her face, she hugged Kathleen briefly and then She went back to Him.

Kathleen tightened the grip on the Zoi she still held in her right hand. The thorns dug into her skin and she felt blood beginning to well up in her fist. The tears that had been solely for Andromeda were now for Her as well. Sirius swiftly walked over and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Kathleen covered it with her left hand and let the warmth course through her.

Polaris, The Master, and Sol, now all fully understanding what was about to happen, came to stand with Kathleen and Sirius.

He kissed her for what He knew would be the last time. When She pulled away she allowed the tips of her fingers to dawdle on the backs of his palms. She drank in his fire, determined to remember for all time what it felt like.

She backed away from him slowly. The Anti-Zoi was lying on the ground near where the battlements of the castle had been. As she picked it up in her fingers she shuddered as she felt its evil try and flow into her. But she easily resisted. She had His love to fend off the hate.

He backed away to stand in line with the other luminaries. He took one last look at her as she was, silvery hair long and wavy, eyes bright and brilliant. Then he shut his eyes and concentrated on that image. That was the last image he wanted to have of her. Knowing she was about to be consumed by darkness, he kept his eyes shut throughout the entire Sealing.

With one last smile at them, She brought the Anti-Zoi over her head in both hands and tendrils of darkness began to swirl around her. Kathleen mimed her with the Zoi she held and was consumed by tendrils of light. Beyond the light she sensed the silver luminary and the darkness, and sent all of her power in that direction. Simultaneously, the dark power rolling out of Her came to meet the light.

Good job Kathleen. Now can you feel the doorway?

Yes. One side of the door is made of light and the other side is made of darkness.

Yes. But there is still some Unknown Space on your side of the door. You have to push all of it through.

I can feel the edges of it… My God my side seems so small compared to yours!

The true extent of Unknown Space is horrifying, but the small section on your side will be terrified of your light. Use it to scare the darkness through the doorway.

My… my head…

It's okay, your body isn't used to so much power coursing through you.

I think… Yes, that's all of it.

Now close the door, and see the lock?

Yes.

When I count to three, we'll both lock the door. Then we'll be completely cut off from each other.

Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?

Yes I am.

Okay.

Are you ready?

Yes.

Alright then. 1, And Kathleen? 2, Thank you. 3, Thank you so much.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Kathleen didn't fall this time because there was nothing to fall to. Where the luminaries stood there was no Unknown Space any longer. Sirius had been supporting Kathleen for the better part of five minutes as she finished helping Her to seal the door. They only thing they had seen was Unknown Space retreating in on itself to just before where She had been standing. Now they drifted in some kind of limbo, where there were no nearby stars by the darkness was not as oppressive. It felt freer here, and they all noticed it.

The light stopped swirling around Kathleen and she sagged against Sirius in a dead faint. He once again placed one arm under her back and the other under her knees to carry her. They would finally be going home.

There was nothing more to see in front of them, only the black wall that now sealed Unknown Space. So they turned away. Lights glittered from far above them. They had emerged to see the stars once more.