Chapter 37: The End of the Beginning

The next day they began to head back to Cornelia. As they walked each couldn't help but think that this might just be the most beautiful day ever. The sun was perfectly bright and warm, the grass soft, and the trees more serene than ever.

About half-way Nate asked "So what do you think we'll have to go through once we get back?"

"I have no idea." Tom said. "I've never had a triumphant return before."

"Typically people line the streets waiting for you as soon as word gets out you're on your way back." Garland said. "The king comes out and greets you, a party is held, and the tale is told to the librarians and scribes to preserve it for future generations. After that it all depends on how amazing the task was. With you, lets see, you'll probably be invited to every city around, have to retelling your tale at each place for them to record it, attend numerous balls, parties, and feasts, and then disguise yourselves so that nobody knows who you are just so you can have some peace and quiet."

"I'm sorry I asked. Think we should pretend we died in the fight?" Nate said.

"Don't tempt me." Sami replied, with numerous nods from Tom, Lily, and Maron. "But as soon as we went back into town even for a loaf of bread people would realize what had happened and we'd be done for anyway. Might as well face it and get it over with."

"Guess you're right." Nate mumbled. "Just as long as they don't make any action figures of us."

"What's an action figure?" Maron asked.

"Never mind." Nate said. "A relic from the place I'm from."

"Besides," Lily said, "we could always sink into obscurity once the novelty wears off. Should only take, oh, twenty or thirty years."

"Only?" Sami muttered.

"I think you're over exaggerating. How bad can it be?" Tom asked.

"Princess Sara might try to get you to marry her." Maron said with a smile.

Tom paled. "You're right. Proceed with caution."

They were now in sight of the gates. A guard on the wall saw them and ran off, and soon you could hear cheering from inside the walls.

"Well guys," Tom said, "time to face the music. Any last request?"

"Can we not go in?" Nate asked.

"How about we send Garland and he tells them we got eaten by wolves." Maron said.

"We've been through this. They'll track us down anyway; a guard saw us." Tom said.

"Then how about we run in, bow, and run out?" Lily said. "I think I could cast Invisible on everyone."

"How about Nate casts Dark once everyone sees us, and we fly off and live with the Lufenians?" Sami proposed.

"Tempting." Tom replied.

"Doesn't matter now." Garland piped up. "We're here."

The great gates of Cornelia opened and it was just as Garland had said. People were lining the street, cheering. They were greeted by the king himself and ended up telling everyone about their adventures right then and there. A party was indeed scheduled for the next night, and the heroes were given rooms in the castle to give them even a little peace, though only the king threatening the staff with a lashing for pestering the Heroes of Light kept them at bay. The only ones who were allowed to see them were the court healers, but that was to tend to their numerous bumps, bruises, and wounds. One tried hitting on Nate, who with his veil gone was a much easier target. He quickly found out he could put it back up again, much to the disappointment of the healer. Sami was happy about that though; she had said something about him looking weird without it.

The party began, and they once again had to tell their story in front of everyone. The king announced a new holiday to celebrate the defeat of Chaos and the blight that had covered the world. A feast was set and they were able to eat a little between questions and fans vying for their attention.

Finally there was a dance, the last part before the party ended. This was perhaps the worst part, since each one of them received at least a half-dozen marriage request. In a moment of relative calm Nate was dancing with Sami and asked in a hushed voice "Is it just me, or is everyone here wedding-crazy?"

Sami snorted and said, "It's not just you. I'm about to go get my war hammer from my room to beat all these guys off."

Nate nodded. "No kidding. I might just do your last request and Dark our way out."

Sami laughed, then suddenly became more serious. "Uh oh. Sara's coming. Tom's in for it."

They turned to see what was about to happen. Princess Sarah was approaching Tom, who was not oblivious to her despite how he was trying to avoid her gaze. As she got closer he started looking around to find a way to keep her off him. He saw Lily and, closing the gap between them in no time flat, kissed her.

Sara stopped, stunned, then hurried off in another direction. Lily blushed bright red, and everyone else laughed.

The dance lasted late into the night, with Garland being reinstated as a Knight of Cornelia near then end. Sami found a way to keep everyone off her by playing the lute, which netted her a very captive audience that, in the end, consisted of everyone there. Calmed by her music and the late hour everyone gave them some breathing room until the party ended. The Heroes of Light left as soon as was permissible and returned to their rooms. When they got there, Nate just stopped. Everyone looked at him.

"What's wrong?" Sami asked.

"Nothing. That's what's wrong. There's no demon to face, no fiend to prepare for, no crazy cave standing between us and our goal, heck, not even the imps are trying to pick a fight with us. There's nothing wrong!"

Lily laughed. "You're right. It's strange, isn't it."

"I don't know. It feels kind of nice." Sami said. "We can, for a little while anyway, relax."

"That's true." Tom said wistfully. "How long has it been since we rested? Really rested? I've lost track."

"I don't know about you guys, but I don't think I can just sit around all day any more." Maron said. "After all we've been through, everything is going to be a vacation."

"True." Nate said, then sighed. "We did it. It's done. And what's more, we all made it out alive."

Everyone smiled, then laughed. There was a final group hug, then each went to their own room for a well-deserved rest.

Quite the end to a grand adventure, a final fantasy.

THE END