Hello all!

I'm finally back and I owe a big THANK YOU to everyone who has continued to read despite that fact that I have been writing this since 2014.

it has always meant a lot to me personally to finish writing projects and am working to become more disciplined in that.

In any case this is what a lot of you have been waiting for! As always READ and RELAX.

Chapter 19

~Maria's POV~

The sound of Wrolf's bark was still true in Marias ear. But her attention was shifted back to Ramero who beckoned his twisting vines towards him. And going on an arrogant tirade of how he had the magic vines at his will, something about an ancient tree imbued with magical properties, with the vines traveling anywhere he wished.

Nothing that comes from him is his own, it's all things he's stolen, observed Maria. These thoughts came to her because she refused to believe this is where she would die. Even if Wrolf didn't get here in time there had to be something she could do.

She attempted to struggle as Ramero brought her closer to the bubbling nasty stew.

He watched her with narrowed eyes. "You've no idea how much I'd like to shove you off this cliff, how insufferable you have been to deal with,"he smirked, giving his head a tilt making him look that much more insane. "but I want Robin here when I slit your throat, it won't be any good to me otherwise."

Ramero turned away and picked up the small pot. "Trying to make you fall in love me was the worst, so killing you will be almost as effective." He dumped the contents of the pot onto the fire it had been over, it began smoking terribly. The vines tugged Maria, like a ragdoll, with her face over the smoke. The vines released her mouth but held on to her head. The pungent smell disgustingly filling her mouth and nose despite her resisting to breathe it in.

Holding her breath only lasted so long as she slowly felt sleepy. With a drooping of her head she let go of her breath, she wasn't quite asleep but was unable to stop herself from breathing. Her lungs felt tight and heavy as the smoke filled them attaching themselves to every space they could.

Somewhere off in the distance she could hear a chuckle, before she was dropped to the ground mere feet from the cliff side.

A bark came to her ear that seemed farther away than before.

"Ramero!"

"Nice of you to join us Robin. Just in time."

The noise and voices came through a hazy far off land, all she saw was white.

~Robin's POV~

Wrolf had surprised Imala and I the moment we were outside the castle. I still wasn't sure where the castle had come from, I'd never seen it in the woods before. I couldn't tell where we were which is why Wrolf was such a lucky charm. He always did know when to show up.

We knew our best guess was to follow him. And it wasn't long before I began to recognize the forest the more we ran. I also noticed that we were heading towards the cliff side where Maria and I had brought everyone when we got rid of the Moon pearls.

The moon, it's a full moon tonight. That meant magic was out and about like London town people on a Friday night stroll. I had no idea what that could mean for Ramero's power.

Every now and then Wrolf had to stop for us looking back as though he were trying to say hurry, hurry.

Imala was in better shape than I was and even she was struggling to help me with my limp.

"Do we need to stop?"I asked her as Wrolf barked at us.

"Never, if we stop now it may to late for Maria." Holding her side Imala took some deep breaths then stood up straight looking more determined than ever. "Let's go."

We ran though the bushes barely catching the sight of Wrolf's tail with each turn that he made.

"I never did find out." I began, "How you ended up in the dungeon." I had wanted to know and even rushing to save Maria, I thought about this.

With a little gasp I could see Imala remembering. "I saw him in the market, I didn't believe it was him at first, but I chased after him. I begged to know why he hadn't come back to us when. . back to me." Taking a moment before going on.

Wrolf barked once more as we burst through into the clearing of the stone stage.

"Ramero!" I saw him standing over Maria, who looked half dressed, lying on the ground in a heap.

He chuckled. "Nice of you to join us Robin. Just in time."

"Get away from her." I shouted at him as I ran down to where he was. He stood inbetween me and Maria.

Wrolf joined my side, growling at Ramero.

"You let me go on purpose."I snarled at him.

"Of course I did the moment I noticed you making a fight." I wanted to knock that obnoxious grin off his face and into the sea. "Well then, now that you're here, the show can start."

With utter horror I watched turn around to kick Maria closer to the edge.

"Maria No!"I heard Imala shout, while I stood in shock.

Wrolf had no trouble acting.

"Take a good long look Imala." Ramero sneered. "This is the monster I really am."

Imala cowered, absolutely petrified at the change in him.

Wrolf threw himself at Ramero but he saw the black lion coming at him. With a wave of his hand he knocked the precious animal towards the cliff, he was mere feet from Maria his large head hanging precariously over the edge.

I took a slow step towards Ramero. "You're not going to kill her."Each word I spoke carefully. "You still want to see my pain."

"Well, of course."Ramero rolled his eyes. "But plans change."

"Robin, Maria!"

My head darted up to see Loveday and Sir Benjamin running in the hall. Pure anger lit up Ramero's face as he threw up a series of vines to cover their entrance. My friends were close behind them but now they could only watch in this formed arena shouting for us.

This was not going to be how it ended, I would not allow Maria to die here tonight. Even if I die she needs to live her life.

"How many more annoyances am I going to have to deal with tonight!?"Ramero screamed lifting Maria's body with vines up an proceeding to shake her making my heart squeeze. "If this little brat would just wake up, we'd get this over with!"

Being distracted with Maria, Ramero missed seeing an injured Wrolf get up the next thing I knew Ramero was screaming as Wrolf took a hold of his leg. A fitting injury given his monsters treatment of me.

With out waiting I lunged forward grabbing first for Maria, to get her away from the ledge. With Ramero distracted it was easy to pull her from the vines. Turning around ready to retaliate I was instantly hit across the jaw sending me to the ground. Trying to get up Ramero slammed me back down.

"I won't let you have this!"He screamed, completely unhinged.

"Funny, I won't let you win either."I kicked at his feet but he jumped away. That gave me important seconds to get to my feet. I was lucky my adrenaline hadn't dropped yet, but the shock of my wounds was dying away at alarming rates.

Ramero made a rush for me succeeding in hitting my chest. I let a groan and vaguely hear people calling for me. From the corner of my eye I saw Imala at Maria's side. I needed to wrap this up quick I wouldn't last much longer.

Throwing a jab at his shoulder doesn't do much. Damn! This is bad.

Coming back around Ramero gave a wild punch that made contact with my jaw again then he grabbed at my dirty hair so that I would look at him.

"I wanted this to be so satisfying."He growled. "But now It's just pathetic." He kicked my stomach making me cough up blood.

"So if you win this one."I sputter, completely spent. "You gonna stop then? When I'm dead?"

"You never know."I could sense him looking done. "After all, Your little lover will hate you so I might just take her away. Use her for experiments if I feel like."

That thought. That one single thought of what he'd do if he won. It was to much. My brain stopped thinking I let out a deep guttural scream. With no thought to my body slammed into his chest getting him to the ground, very near the edge, sitting on top of him I have the advantage. Punch after punch I hit his face, it got to the point I couldn't even see his face anymore only red and white.

"Robin stop!"That was Imala, she was grabbing at my shoulder. I jerked away pushing her back as she let out a scream.

Ramero slammed me away, rolling me over so he was on top. Now he was going at my face. The hits suddenly stopped and I heard a man's scream.

"Robin, Wake up you dolt!"Danny?

"Robin, Imala please help her."That was Loveday.

I looked up at my sister then at where Imala was last. Be she wasn't there, neither was Maria.

"Robin!" The shriek came from over the cliff. With realization dawning on my I scrambled to the edge to see Imala holding on. Nearby Maria stood frozen looking over the edge.

"Don't worry. I'm here." Reaching for her hands I noticed my own, they were completely covered with blood. Without clear thinking I grabbed onto her and struggled to haul her up. A lot of my energy was spent up and now getting her up without the blood making her slip wasn't easy.

"Robin I'm slipping!"

"I know."I mutter through my teeth. Another pair of hands joined one big pull I grip her dress sleeve. I'm not about to lose her either.

With a hold on the fabric making all the difference I and the other person lugged her up. All of us breathing heavy. It was Luke when had he…?

Still struggling for breath I whispered "Love. . .day. Maria. Get. Through."

To much was going on for me to comprehend, smells overwhelmed me, the ground felt liquid at my touch making it hard to move.

"I'm right here Robin."I felt arms pull me up to lean against something. They'd gotten through Ramero's wall. I looked up at the face of my sister and smiled weakly.

"It's over."

She had tears in her eyes which she rubbed away as she nodded. A few feet away I noticed Sir Benjamin, looking extremely worried and holding Maria who had fainted.

"Maria. Wake up."He was saying.

I was more steady now, getting my bearing back.

My thoughts went to terrifying places. "Loveday, what happened?" I was sitting up now.

"We saw Maria wake up and barrel for Ramero we were afraid she would fall with him. Some how she managed to stay up but she didn't move a muscle after I think the levity of it all hit her so she fainted."

Sir Benjamin was patting at Maria's scratched cheek.

"But how did… you get through?" I tried to turn to see where the vine wall was but everything was hurting now.

"Moments after Ramero dropped… The wall fell for us."

He was gone. No, we had to be sure. Was it possible to survive a fall like that again? "Ramero might have survived, I should go after, AGH."The quick movement of my leg sent burning pain through it. Even so I couldn't take my eyes off Maria.

"Robin!"Loveday cried out at my own. After calming again she noted. "Robin, is it likely the wall would have fallen if he hadn't died?"

I didn't know. I didn't know anything anymore. More things were possible than I had thought.

But… she was okay. Maria was alright, safe. And she hated me.

"Please remember me, Maria, Please."I whispered.

~Maria's POV~

That courage had been spur of the moment, if it came again Maria would not have recognized it. But watching a man fall, screaming for his life and knowing it was because of her that he was dead had been to much for her.

She could feel strong arms holding her. A bitter smell that reminded her of Ms. Heliotrope.

Voices. Soothing ones.

She was waking up now.

Loveday had waved the smelling salts for her, making Maria's nose wrinkle. Her eyes still felt heavy but she wanted to open them.

"My dear Maria."Uncle Benjamin was saying. But that wasn't the

"Maria?"Robin asked cautiously. And she opened her eyes to see him, how could she not standing in front of her, looking as though he was afraid to touch her but desperately wanted to. Slowly Uncle Benjamin raised her to her feet, guarding her arm tenderly.

She stood by herself her face placid as she remembered everything that had happened in the last month. She walked towards him he stepped back slightly scared. She threw her arms around him and kissed him hard, his surprise melted as he put his arms around her waist and neck deepening the kiss, making it passionate. Pulling away was so hard to do for the both of them. Embarrassment was tossed to the wind with the bystanders.

"Hello Robin."Tears spilled down her dirty cheeks. He had them too.

She remembered it all.

I don't know if this was the end that people expected, and i wrote it all very quickly, but I hope you enjoyed it.

I plan on having an Epilogue so it doesn't end here.

Again Thank you so much for reading my work! it means a lot to get feedback from other people.

I LOVE YOU MY READERS!