Well, here's the last chapter. There's still an epilogue, this is just the last numbered thing.

So, thank you for the reviews on chapter 24. You guys are amazing, and I'm excited to have you read this!

25-It's Never Over

"Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds."
-Shakespeare

Will was the last to enter the fold. She closed her eyes at the bright light that was suddenly illuminated, and when it finally died out enough for her to open them again, she found herself stepping out onto a rough cement ground. She noticed the other guardians, but what caught her eyes was one of the heels Cornelia had been wearing. She looked up from the bare foot that stood next to it only to see Cornelia pulling off the other heel. She watched as the blonde dropped the other pair to the ground and then broke into a run.

"Cornelia!" She called her back, but she did not stop. Will felt herself break into a run after her, and the pounding of the feet behind her, and the hurried calls of Cornelia's name let her know the other guardians were not far behind her.

They chased her out of the alley they had folded into, down the busy road and past the bookshop. Will was thankful when the lighted picture of a person appeared on the traffic lights, signalling it was safe to cross. She knew that even if it hadn't turned, Cornelia would have kept going. Irma was now rushing at Will's side after the blonde. "Cornelia!" they both called.

Upon turning the corner, they panted in between sighs of relief. Cornelia had stopped the chase, and was crouching on the ground with her face buried in her palms.

Hay Lin was the first to kneel down next to her, pulling her face from her hands to reveal tear-stained skin.

"Don't cry," Hay Lin sounded as if she was begging.

"I-I-don't-" Cornelia began, but she didn't continue. Because she couldn't. Because she had received a slap across her cheek from Irma, who was now kneeling directly in front of her.

Will almost felt herself blurt, 'Irma!' But she stopped herself. Not even Irma would do something like that unless she had real meaning behind it.

Cornelia stared in the direction her head had reflexively turned after being hit. Her mouth was slightly open and the tears seemed to have stopped.

"Stop it." Irma almost ordered. "Stop crying, because the Cornelia Hale I know never used to cry this much."

Cornelia said nothing in response.

"And you don't have any idea how lucky you are to have had something so…real with Caleb. None of us…sure Taranee's got Nigel and Hay Lin has Eric…and Will sort of has Matt…" she paused, as if trying to collect her point, "But none of us can say we've ever felt that strongly about them!"

Cornelia finally turned her head back straight, but only to penetrate Irma with a glare.

Irma seemed to loose her train of thought again, but she collected herself quickly. "So stop going off like this. You're so lucky to have experienced something like this and you're crying about it." Her voice seemed to have gotten a little softer; only a little.

Will suddenly felt obligated to say something, "Irma's right." Was all she could get out. She didn't really know what else to say. Irma had said something completely true, and honest for one of the first times. Yes, she had always been blunt, but never in the way she just was.

Irma rose to her feet, and so did Hay Lin. Irma held out her hand to Cornelia, who was still crouched over. "And the Cornelia I know would never get her feet dirty on these nasty sidewalks." she added in, and Will let out a giggle. Even Cornelia couldn't hold back the slight smile that tried to creep onto her face.

"Where are we going?" Cornelia asked quietly.

That's right, Will thought. Where exactly was Irma planning to go?

Irma pulled Cornelia to her feet, and turned on her heel back to the main road, and replied, "To get some ice cream."

---

Elyon slowly made her way back to the castle. Some twenty paces ahead of her, Caleb stomped along with Julian just behind, making attempts to get his son to talk.

Elyon picked up her pace and thought. Thought about what just happened. About everything that had happened, but mostly about the conversation she had had with Will just last night.

Elyon had just taken out her braids and finished running a brush through her hair. She stepped up from her vanity and turned to her bed, only to see Will standing in her doorway.

"Will, it's late. You should get some rest."

"I can't sleep." Will replied. And then the redhead seemed to break down, spilling out her heart to Elyon about everything that had happened with Matt in the previous week. The fallout they had. She then complained how as stressful and troublesome it all was she didn't want it to end.

Elyon sat the girl on her bed and rubbed her back in an attempt to console.

"I'm sorry Will." Elyon felt tears stinging her own eyes, "I don't want it to end either."

Will nodded her head, and she turned to Elyon with a face carrying mixed expressions. "Promise me something? Please, Elyon?"

Her promise. Elyon had forgotten. She then pulled up the sides of her dress to get the extra fabric out of her way and raced up to Caleb's side. She stepped in front of him and came to a stop.

Caleb tried his best to move around, but Elyon stepped in his way, "I command you to stop."

And he did. He was under her order and no matter how he was feeling, he could not defy the queen.

"Caleb," she went on, "Will asked you…about returning to Earth, didn't she."

Caleb, without looking at Elyon, replied. "Yes."

"And what did you say?"

Caleb stood completely still, and replied in a firm tone, "I said I would."

"You still feel that way, don't you?"

Caleb's eyes seemed to wander downwards, then back to center, "Yes."

Elyon turned her head up to the sky. The sun was in the center, directly above them. She waved her hand in the air and then a fold appeared, bright and shining.

"Elyon…what are you-"

"Hurry up. You have two minutes at most before the sun begins to fall and the fold closes."

Caleb finally made eye contact with her, and it looked as though he was seeing everything in a new light. "What…where does it go?"

"To Kandrakar." Elyon quickly replied, "You're going to convince the Oracle to let you live on Earth."

Caleb clearly did not object, although, there was something holding him back. He turned around to face Julian, "Father…?"

Julian shook his head, "You need to go, son."

There were no more words said. Caleb would undoubtedly miss Elyon, and his father most, but there was something on Earth that was pulling him there. Like a million strings were attached to him and he was being pulled to the fold that held his fate. Caleb and his father shared a tight embrace, and Caleb placed a light kiss on Elyon's cheek.

"Hurry up, Caleb." Elyon said. And that was that. Caleb entered the fold, just making it through before it shrunk into nothing.

Caleb felt himself lifted into the air. The lights surrounded him until he found himself in the same spot he was yesterday. This time, he headed straight into the castle, without invitation. The oracle, he found in the room they had folded out of last. He was standing, staring at a wall. It seemed like he hadn't moved from the spot he had been when they left.

---

"Caleb." Hearing his name shocked him for reasons he couldn't place. Caleb stepped forward and opened his mouth to speak, but the Oracle began first.

"You are here to have me let you live on earth." It was a statement. Not a question.

"I-uh-yes." Caleb stuttered. Why was he so nervous?

The oracle turned, only enough for Caleb to have a side view of him. Caleb felt his heart drop out of his chest and into his stomach when he saw the slight shake of the Oracle's head. "I'm sorry. It is not possible."

"Why not?" Caleb was suddenly struck by anger. His nervousness diminished and he demanded an answer.

"It was never intended…" the oracle began, "That anyone from different world's feel the way you and the girl do."

Caleb didn't like the Oracle's way of speaking. She's not the girl. She's Cornelia.

"And that's your reason?" Caleb asked. He wasn't trying at all to hid his rude tone.

"The mass of it, yes," the Oracle replied, "There are other reasons that go beyond your understanding."

Caleb shook his head, "I don't have time to listen anyways. I…I just want to go to Earth."

He could have sworn he saw the Oracle's eyes flicker towards him. The Oracle once again turned, not fully, but enough for Caleb to actually see him and feel like he wasn't talking to a wall. "Caleb," he began, "If you can give me a reason - a legit reason - to let you go…then I may-"

"Because, I love Cornelia, and she's on Earth." Caleb could tell that wasn't enough, "And because I came here." He gave another reason. That one he wasn't sure how it could possibly help, and he was right. It didn't do much. A thought struck Caleb and he took another step forward, "Oracle," he had never actually addressed the man, and he wasn't sure if that was the correct way to address him, but he continued anyways. "Have you ever been in love?"

Now there was a slight spot of interest evident in the Oracle's expression, and finally, he turned fully, so he was parallel to Caleb. Caleb didn't know what was going to happen next. He felt his heart start to beat quicker. Had he said the wrong thing? Should he not have brought up memories in the Oracle that could mean his permanent stay in Meridian?

All doubts were quickly washed away when slowly, the Oracle smiled.

---

Hay Lin yanked open the back door revealing the kitchen of the Silver Dragon. She didn't expect to be embraced so suddenly by her Grandmother. She returned the hug with equal effort.

"Grandma, it's alright…its okay! We made it!"

Yan Lin pulled backwards and nodded, "I knew you would be alright. I'm just glad to see you back."

"We would have come back yesterday, but we stayed the night in Meridian to say goodbye."

Yan Lin looked as if she had finally understood something that had been bothering her a while, "So I was correct about it being your final battle?"

Hay Lin reluctantly nodded. It seemed that if she didn't say yes, it wouldn't be true. She was so caught up speaking with her Grandma that she didn't realize the other guardians had left the two to speak and had wandered into the basement. She looked towards the stairs and took a step forwards, "Oh, Grandma, would you mind getting us some ice cream? Corny needs it." And she bounded down the steps.

The girls had already seated themselves onto the couch (Irma pulled up a chair and sat on that), so Hay Lin took the floor.

They didn't really start up a conversation until Yan Lin brought down a carton of ice cream; she said they should eat the whole two litres. They deserve it.

Irma was the first to dig in her spoon and stuff her mouth. Then Will dipped in her spoon, taking half the amount Irma had.

"Oh!" Hay Lin suddenly jumped to her feet, "I promised Eric I'd call him when we got back!" She spun on her heel, but was stopped from dashing to the phone when she heard someone, she was almost positive it was Taranee, clear their throat.

She spun back towards the group and threw a hand over her mouth, "Oh my god! Corny, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"It's okay," Cornelia shook her head, but didn't bother to force a smile like she normally would have. "Go call Eric."

Hay Lin stood in her spot for a moment, as if contemplating if she should, but she already knew the answer. "Nu uh." She fell back onto her knees next to Cornelia, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"

"It's okay. Really, Hay Lin." Cornelia turned her head to the side and swallowed a lump forming in her throat. She didn't want to cry again. Not after what Irma did last time. And Irma was right; Cornelia knew how lucky she was to have even had Caleb. But she couldn't help it. The tears just came. She looked towards Irma, as if she was apologizing for crying, but Irma just sighed heavily.

"Just cry." Irma said bluntly.

"No," Cornelia argued and shook her head, "You were right, I have to stop this." She reached for the table, for a tissue from the box.

"It's fine, Cornelia," Irma said, and she reached for the box to drag it away from Cornelia's reach. "I was being hard on you earlier."

Cornelia let out a breath and let her eyes well up, "I'm sorry you guys. I-I just…I'm going to miss him…so much."

Beside them, Taranee was nodding her head, "You'll be fine." She said with heavy reassurance.

Hay Lin smiled, and patted Cornelia's back with her hand, "Everything's going to be okay…I promise."

Cornelia wiped underneath her eye and nodded her head, although she wasn't sure what for. Maybe she was agreeing with Hay Lin. She reached up to wipe her eyes again when Will's voice interrupted.

"Speaking of promises, it looks like Elyon has kept hers."

Her sudden comment caught the others by surprise. Besides Cornelia, the other girls looked up to Will with confusion on their faces. She wasn't looking at any of them. Taranee followed Will's gaze which was set on the back of them basement, by the steps.

"What are you talking about Will?" Irma suddenly blurted.

Will's answer was not to Irma, but to Cornelia. "Turn around, Cornelia."

Hay Lin and Irma turned instead, and both became stiff.

Cornelia turned her head up so she was now looking at Will. "…What…?" She asked the word slowly.

"Turn around." Irma now gave the order.

Cornelia ran a finger under her eyes once more, "Irma, what are you-"

But she never finished asking. She was interrupted by a voice all too familiar. A voice she wanted to hear. She needed to hear.

"Turn around," it said.

She felt lungs suddenly release what felt like tons of air as she slowly turned her head to look over her shoulder. It was completely done by her subconscious when she stood up and raced into Caleb's arms. He took two steps towards her and pulled her off her feet and as close to him as he could.

It only took a fraction of a second after he set her down for their lips to meet over and over again. When Cornelia finally pulled herself back, her words were fast and falling over one another, "What-why-you!" And she pulled him back to her for another hug.

Caleb was smiling so big that all of his teeth were showing (something he didn't do often). "Elyon…she made a fold for me and I spoke with the oracle and-"

Cornelia cut him with her lips. They both knew how irrelevant the anser really was at the moment now that they were together for real. Cornelia once again broke off the kiss. Caleb leaned forward again, ready to have their lips meet again, but Cornelia held up her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. She suddenly jerked her head towards Will, with a confused expression, "Will…what you said about…her promise…" she pursed her lips together before continuing, "You knew."

Will smiled slightly and nodded her head, "I spoke with her last night."

"Promise me something? Please Elyon?"

Elyon looked at Will, and slowly nodded her head. Somehow, she felt this was a promise she could make, "Of course."

"I finally understand how Cornelia's feeling, and she's gone through this for too long," Will started. Her eyes were still watered, but the tears stopped leaking out, "Promise me that after we leave tomorrow, if Caleb is still intent on coming…that you'll send him to earth."

Elyon's eyes widened. This wasn't exactly what she was expecting. But Will was right, if Caleb wanted to be with them on Earth, it was ultimately his decision, not the Oracle's. Once more, slowly as before, Elyon nodded her head, but that wasn't the only thing she did. She was sure of what she said next, "You need to promise me something as well, then."

"Yes…?"

Elyon smiled warmly, "Fix things with Matt."

Will finished her brief retelling of the promises exchanged the previous night. The entire time all eyes were set on her, all ears focused on what they were hearing.

Cornelia, who was still wrapped in Caleb's arms, had an unsettling look in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Will asked, unsure of what exactly could be bothering Cornelia right now.

"What are you still doing here?" Cornelia asked suddenly. Will had to think for a moment before she understood what Cornelia had been talking about.

"Go," the blonde almost ordered, "Go get Matt."

Will nodded in the same fashion Elyon had; slowly. She felt herself wander over to the stairs and suddenly break into a jog up them, and out the back door. Her jog turned into a steady run and after ten long minutes of this tiring pace, she was in front of the pet shop Matt was working in.

The bell on the door rang when she pushed it open and walked in. Matt, who was behind the counter, looked absolutely stunned to see her walk in so quickly. He stepped out from behind the counter where he had been cleaning and took a few steps closer to Will.

"Will…what are you doing here?"

His reply was a girl suddenly throwing herself into his arms. In response, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and resisted the temptation to kiss her on the top of the head.

"Is everything okay?" Matt asked. When there was no reply, he got ready to repeat his question. But his lips were silenced when Will kissed him lightly. The kiss didn't last long. When Will pulled herself away, she slipped her arms around his back and said softly, "I love you Matt. I'm sorry."

Matt grinned and kissed her head, as he had wanted to earlier, "I love you too, Will." You could hear the smile in his voice. They both jumped when once of the dogs in the pen set up on the floor let out a high pitched bark.

Matt chuckled and shook his head, "But you could have picked someplace a little more romantic to declare your unconditional love for me."

His smart remark was responded to by a playful slap on the arm, and Will's uncontrolled giggles.

yeah, so obviously the epilogue will have a much better ending. I would never end something just like this unless it was just a chapter.

I'm in a hurry so I can't write much more!

So, let me know what you think! Review!