Author's Note: This is the final chapter of this fiction. I hope you have enjoyed it. I certainly had fun writing it. :) A special thank you to Dash master 48 who reviewed every single chapter as they came out. The encouragement was greatly appreciated. To all readers, please stay safe and aim for your own happy ending.

Chapter 26

Takeru woke to the soft light of a new day. It had been three days since the battle against the Unknown Rider. Hiiro, Taiga, and the others had taken out the other clones even before the battle had ended. Amu Kimura had been taken into custody by the remainder of the Gamma World's Security Forces with the promise of an intent to rehabilitate. Her belt had been locked away in the crypt along with the other things the Gamma World residents wanted to forget.

Takeru apparently hadn't been the only one out of it after the battle. Sento apparently hadn't lasted much longer than Takeru himself and Alain had collapsed half way through the battle. Despite it all, no one had ended in critical condition and Emu and the other doctors had left after patching up the wounded and ordering bed rest.

The cure had been finished the same day and the distribution had begun soon after. The recovery was slow but sure and Emu had promised to return to check on everyone after a week or so.

Sento and his companions had returned to their world yesterday, apparently intent on working on some unfinished jobs. He was lucky Emu hadn't still been around to hear that. Takeru was sure the doctor would have tied the scientist to the bed if he even had an inkling he intended to return to work when he was meant to be resting.

Takeru on the other hand, had taken the opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep. His head still spun if he rose too quickly and there were still times food didn't seem to agree with him. On Emu's request, he'd stayed in bed since the battle. People had come and gone in short visits but Takeru remembered little more than the basics. He enjoyed the visits and the news people bought him but today was the day he was intent to re-join society.

He pushed the covers back and sat, taking it slowly. He stood carefully and shuffled out to the hallway.

The castle was bustling already, people rushing to and fro with an assortment of supplies in their hands. A banquet, perhaps?

Takeru stuck close to the wall, trying to stay out of the way as everyone moved around him. He inched to Alain's room and knocked on the door before entering.

There was no one there.

Confused, Takeru left the room and headed to the main hall.

He'd had lots of visits during his bed rest but many of them had been from Emu, Sento, and the others. Akari, Makoto, Alain, and Onari had apparently been by his side when he first woke but he hadn't seen anyone but Onari since. Onari had told him Alain was still recovering and Makoto and Akari had gone back to the Regular World to resupply. They were meant to be back today.

Takeru stumbled into the main hall.

There were lots of people there but none that Takeru recognised. He had been right about the banquet, however. The entire hall was decorated and the centre table was covered in food and drink aplenty. There was no sign of the hall still having been used as a sick bay less than 24 hours ago.

The quantity of fresh supplies meant that the portal team had returned, though.

So where were they?

Takeru checked the throne room, the kitchen, and even the catacombs where Makoto and Alain sometimes gathered in remembrance. There was no sign of his friends anywhere in the castle.

Takeru slouched into the courtyard. They were busy, he supposed. The crisis had only just been averted and plenty of damage had been done during its pending devastation.

Takeru sat on a stone wall, looking out over the new growth, so foreign to the Gamma World. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. He should just be happy everyone was ok. It had been a close call. At least he had the interdimensional phone to keep in contact with everyone this time.

A hand on his shoulder startled him back to attention and he turned to find Makoto grinning down at him.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Takeru stood with a bright smile.

"I'm good," he nodded. "Much better."

"Good to hear," another familiar voice said from behind him.

Takeru turned to see Alain striding towards him. The man looked like he'd never been sick. The natural tan had returned to his skin and he held himself as strong and confident as ever.

Takeru grinned at him.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Never better," Alain answered with a grin.

"Takeru!" Another voice called.

Akari came running from the crowd and she embraced him.

"I'm so glad you're ok."

Takeru laughed nervously.

"I'm glad you guys are here," he said, pulling away from Akari when her grip loosened.

Akari pulled him back into a hug and Makoto and Alain joined in laughing.

"Everyone! Don't forget about me!" Onari cried, running down the hill and almost bowling everyone over as he joined in.

Takeru grinned as the arms of his friends connected to hold him. This was it. This was what he had missed. And it was exactly what he needed.

Parado lay on the roof of the hospital, hands behind his head as he watched the clouds go by. Emu and the others had been busy upon their return. With two of their critical doctors missing, the hospital had ended up with quite a few backed up emergency cases and Taiga had quickly been swept away by his impudent intern the second he'd stepped out of the portal.

Parado still wasn't sure how he felt about the whole situation. He was glad Emu and the others were safe but there was a part of him embarrassed that he hadn't cleared the whole challenge by himself. If he had just taken out that Unknown Rider right at the start, before she'd had a chance to clone, Emu might never have been put into danger in the first place. The thought that Emu's portal could have led to space or somewhere equally as dangerous played on his mind quite a bit. It had been pure luck that they had ended up somewhere able to sustain human life.

It could have been the last time he saw Emu. He should never have let the two of them get separated.

At the time, he hadn't been concerned about anything other than getting Emu to safety but what if he'd lost him then? What if he had to live the rest of his life without Emu? The rest of his life alone? The rest of his life half a man?

Parado shook his head. He couldn't continue to regret it. Like with everything, he would learn. And he would never do it again.

"Parado."

Parado rolled to find Emu standing behind him.

Parado stood up, dusting off his colourful pants and readjusting his scarf.

"Let's play a game," Emu said.

A game? Really? Parado's expression lit up like a child at a candy shop. Then it darkened again.

"What about your work? The emergency cases?"

Emu smiled.

"They're under control. I've got a few days off."

A few days? Was he dreaming?

Emu held out his hand.

"That new game you were talking about: let's go play it."

Parado grinned and took the offered hand.

"Let's do it," he said.

Sento was working hard on Banjo's upgrade. Gentoku's report and Sawa's phone repairs had been completed a while ago and no new inspiration had struck him in the meantime so he worked on begrudgingly finishing the new device.

The jobs had taken longer than expected with one arm out of action. It didn't hurt enough that Sento agreed with the amount of bandaging on the limb but he'd had to admit the dexterity wasn't efficient when he'd almost melted Sawa's phone battery while trying to solder a nearby circuit with the offending arm. He was certain the error had been severely exacerbated by the bulky cast and unnecessary sling but couldn't deny it wasn't the whole problem. Besides, Banjo had threatened to completely break the arm if he took the cast or sling off and Sento was relatively sure he meant it.

In some ways, Sento already missed the challenge of the Unknown Rider. At least with an immediate threat, he'd been allowed to work on his own projects and fight the good fight. Sitting in his lab without a passion project just didn't suit him.

He stood, limping to the necessary screwdriver with an annoyed frown at the less than optimal leg.

"You shouldn't be moving!"

The loud voice made Sento flinch. He clutched the screwdriver and turned to the intruder in annoyance.

"Idiot. If you want your upgrade, I'm going to need to move a little," Sento berated.

"I meant you shouldn't be walking around on your own," Banjo griped.

"So what? Are you going to brace me every time I need a screwdriver?"

Banjo turned away so Sento couldn't see his expression.

"Idiot. Who'd do that?"

Sento sat back down and started tightening some of the connections.

"It's not finished yet. Come back in a few hours."

"I'm not here to pick up the upgrade," Banjo said.

"Huh? What do you want then?" Sento asked.

Banjo turned around, hands in his pockets and head down.

"There's some sciency show thing at the Museum," he said. "The others are already waiting."

"You want me to go to a show?"

"It's by some famous scientist."

"Like me?"

"Idiot! You don't have to come! We just thought you'd want a break and all after-"

Sento stood and patted Banjo's shoulder.

"Ok. If you really want me to go, I suppose have no choice but to enlighten this so called 'scientist'."

Sento started up the stairs with a smile.

"Idiot! I never said I wanted you to come!" Banjo yelled, chasing Sento up the stairs.

"No need to be embarrassed," Sento called down to him, only just maintaining his lead.

"I'm not embarrassed!" Banjo yelled.

The fridge door closed and the lights to the lab turned off for the first time in a while.