~*~ Disclaimer, etc. in part one ~*~ Authors notes: Fading Sunset, the end of an era. The last and final chapter of Mayhem Mountain. I know all of you are sad, but don't cry! As I told you before, I've already started work on a sequel! YAY! I plan on writing much, much more Lost World fanfiction, so this is so not the last you'll be hearing of me. I also just want to clear up a few things:

As a few of you asked me, yeah I had some problems with my hand. I had a cyst in my right hand which was making it hard for me to type (lots of pain). I had it worked on and the cyst is gone, although I have a feeling it's slowly coming back. Everyone please pray that it doesn't come back, because then I'll have to have surgery on it. WAAAH! It would be my first surgery, and I don't want it... Anywho.



Mayhem Mountain (14/14) by: Brandy Leigh

~*~

Marguerite sighed inwardly as she sat on the balcony of the treehouse, her eyes grazing across the fading sunset of the horizon. The past week had been a rough one, full of death and pain and suffering. Somehow they had all managed pulled through it, but each of them were haunted by their experiences.

The visions that had once tormented Marguerite were thankfully long gone, but left overs from the horrid images still tended to drift through her mind whenever it would wonder. The pain from the bullet which tore through her body still made her wince every time she thought about it. She knew Roxton was suffering from that one as well, and that bothered her.

Losing William to the same freak accident made what had happened with Marguerite far much worse for Roxton. He had just known that she was dead, and the knowledge that he had shot her would never let him go. It still rested heavily on his shoulders as he made his way to the balcony where his beautiful lady sat.

The way her eyes went wide as the bullet hit, the pain he knew she was feeling as she slowly slipped to the ground. The dying words that escaped her lips as she died by his hand. Although Marguerite was still well and alive, and although her death had only been an illusions, Lord John Richard Roxton would forever live with the guilt of shooting her.

Sensing the movement of the hunter behind her, Marguerite spun around. She smiled lightly when she saw that it was Roxton, but her face soon fell to a frown when she noticed the anguish in his eyes. She knew what he was thinking about, for it was the same sad expression he wore whenever he was thinking of William.

"John... come here," she said to him, lending an outstretched hand to him.

Taking it carefully, Roxton stepped closer to her on the balcony and took a seat next to her. His eyes were tired, his face was creased with lines of worry and guilt. His posture was that of a man who had been without sleep for ages. He cast his eyes over at the sunset for a moment before glancing back over at Marguerite.

Marguerite sighed when her eyes met his. She was worried about him, and with good reason. Tugging him closer she rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him.

"You still blame yourself, don't you?" she asked softly.

"I shot you," he murmured against her hair.

"Not on purpose, John. Not to mention it was only an illusion, it wasn't real."

"I didn't shoot William on purpose either, Marguerite."

With a sigh Marguerite sat up and took Roxton's face in her hands. She stared him straight in the eyes, a look of fierce determination on her face. She licked her lips slightly to prepare herself for a lecture, noticing how Roxton's eyes watched this movement.

"You risk your life every day to save us, you have saved me more times than I can count! I told you once before and I'll tell you once again, I don't know what I'd do without you by my side. I need you to realize how much you mean to me, John Roxton. I need you to snap out of this and realize that it was NOT your fault!"

"But Marguerite, I-"

"Not buts!" Marguerite exclaimed, cutting him off. Before he could pretest any further she pressed her lips to his, pulling him close and putting everything she could into it.

Roxton wanted to stop her, he wanted to pull back and tell her that she was wrong, it WAS his fault. But as much as he tried, he couldn't stop himself from kissing her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist, sighing inwardly. He couldn't figure out what he had done to deserve a woman such as this.

After a few moments Marguerite pulled back and gazed into Roxton's eyes once more. She smiled and brushed his hair back, then tussled it affectionately.

"I'm going to help you through this, John. I'm always going to be here for you," she told him.

"You said always," he pointed out.

Marguerite nodded and said, "Forever, John."

Roxton pulled away from Marguerite and stood, making her wonder for a moment if she'd said something wrong. Her doubts where soon put to rest when her handsome lord dropped down onto one knee in front of her. With a charming smile that began to ease away the lines of pain on his face, Roxton began to speak.

"My beautiful, beloved lady, you have promised me forever, and I plan on taking you up on that offer. Marguerite Krux... will you be my wife?"

"I... I..." Marguerite stuttered, unable to form coherent speech.

"So, is that a yes or a no?" Roxton asked with an amused smirk.

Marguerite couldn't believe that Roxton had just asked her to marry him! She took a deep breath, a thousand thoughts racing through her brain. Would she be a good enough wife for him? Did he really love her with all his heart, or when they got back to London would he run after anything with breasts?

She knew that marriage was a big step, but one that was surely unavoidable. She was deeply in love with Roxton, and judging from what he'd said and done for her over the past three years he loved her, too. She wanted to marry him, she really did... Putting her doubts aside, she forced a grin at him. Nodding slowly, her eyes began to water with tears.

Roxton stood up and launched himself at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He pulled her up from her seat, hoisted her into the air, and spun her around. She giggled as he spun her and he chuckled along; they were both more happy than they had been in ages.

"Marguerite said yes! She's going to marry me, she's going to be my wife!" he shouted happily as he sat her down, not caring who heard his proclamation.

"John!" she exclaimed with a smile, whacking him in the arm. "You don't have to tell the world!"

"Of course I do," he said lovingly. "If we're going to be wed, I want the world to know."

"What in the name of science?" Challenger asked as he came up from his lab. "Who said what about marriage?"

"You finally asked her?" Malone asked as he came running into the room.

"She said yes?" Veronica asked excitedly as she ran into the room right behind him.

Marguerite scowled up at Roxton and asked, "Everyone already knew?"

"Ah well, everyone but Challenger," he replied as he looked over at the clueless scientist and chuckled.

"For someone who walks in at all the wrong moments you sure are cluless, George!" Marguerite exclaimed as she and everyone else joined in the laughter.

"Wait, you mean... you two are getting married?" Challenger asked the still embracing couple.

"Yes!" Everyone exclaimed at once.

"Well, congradulations!" Challenger managed to say before running over to Marguerite and Roxton and hugging them both.

Veronica and Malone grinned and went over to the threesome, joining in on the giant hug as well. The five stood there like this for some time, relishing in the rarely felt happiness that was radiating throughout the room. It was the perfect moment as the sun set behind them, the pastel colors splaying across the plateau and throughout the treehouse.

The souls that Marguerite and Veronica set free danced wildly in the receding light, smiling in that magical way that only spirits could. Their singing voices drifted throughout the meadows, whispering like the wind. Through the treehouse they went, touching each resident of the treehouse as they passed.

"What was that?" Marguerite asked, separating herself from the group hug.

"I don't know," Veronica said, pulling away as well, "but it was friendly."

"Friendly indeed," Challenger added. "It felt calming, if I do say so myself."

"The spirits released from Ultouma," Malone said with a grin.

"You think so?" Roxton asked, glancing around the room.

"I know so," Veronica answered, smiling as she looked around as well. "Rest in peace, you're finally free from the fear."

Another cool breeze went through the room as if in response, causing each of the explorers to look at each other and smile. Things were finally looking up for them all, and perhaps now there would be peace in the treehouse. No more demonic fear demons, no more bickering from Marguerite and Roxton... or so they thought.

~*~ End part fourteen ~*~ Authors notes: WAAAAAAHHH, it's over!!! *collapses to the floor and bursts into tears, banging her hands and feet on the floor like a child* I can't believe it guys! This has been the most wild and amazing journey I've ever been through. I know this chapter was short, but it's sort of like the last clip of show before the end credits roll, you know? *just sniffles and grabs a tissue from the box before passing it on to all of her readers* I know you guys need them, so tissues all around! Now, what I need from you guys is for you to send me DETAILED reviews that run through the whole story. What I mean is, what are some questions that you have? What didn't you understand? What would you like to be explained and/or explored in the sequel? Let me know! With lost of love... this is Brandy Leigh signing out.