Hey, welcome back for the 23rd chapter of my beloved story. I'm glad so many of you were happy that Allen was back, now wait and watch as even more of the tale unfolds. Go on and read, I know you must be itching to know what happened next!

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The Rebels had been traveling almost nonstop towards the fort, now. Never stopping from dusk until dawn other than a water break here and there and maybe a quick stop to unpack some food that they would eat while on the move.

Lili led the front of the back, Pong to her right and Genki and Holly side by side to her right. Behind them came two lines of soldiers marching together in side, and the original rebels walking along at their own pace at different intervals along the line. Golem and Big Blue brought up the rear, standing side by side as the gigantic sentinels that guarded them from behind. Everyone was silent, for the most part, and listened for any sound of someone approaching. Still, no one had attacked them on their way to the fort, and they were getting edgy about it.

"We'll stop here," said Lili as the sun began to drop over the edge of a hill as they grouped together in the middle of a small valley with a stream that meandered through it. "Eat and get some rest, we'll be up bright and early in the morning."

"How much longer do you think it will be?" asked Pong, taking her place with them by the fire Pixie had made.

"At least another week," said Lili, shaking her head as she did. "We move slower with a group like this. Not that I'm complaining from the extra fighting power, but still, with our smaller group we would've been able to cover twice the distance by now."

"Strength can be greater over speed," reasoned Pixie slowly, who had fought with armies before. "Still, speed can be to your advantage at times...." She glanced at Genki, who nodded in reply. He hadn't been all that strong as a young boy on his first trip, it was his speed that had saved him and kept him alive all those times and for it he was grateful.

"It doesn't matter now," said Holly quickly. "What's done is done. We'll make due with what we have as we have since the beginning."

"You're right," said Lili, helping her chop up some fish for a soup for them to eat for dinner. "We did it before and we can do it again."

"Look what I caught!" cried Slip, running over to their camp with a fine catfish speared through the middle on his small blade.

"Nice catch," said Lili, pretending to act all serious as she inspected it. "Go and see if Claws will gut and cook it for you, she's good at making a mean fillet with these."

"Alright, thanks!" Slip ran off, his face glowing with pride as he showed it to the catdoll, who agreed to help him out for a taste of his fine catch when it was done. The food was good, and soon everyone feel asleep by their fires with a full stomach, fully ready to face the day ahead when the sun rose once more.

Lili led the group as she always did, seeing a spot shaded by the trees as the noon sun climbed high into the sky. "Can we stop there?" asked Genki, having seen it as well as he shaded his eyes so he could look up at her. "Just for a minute, I mean. We haven't taken a break all morning...."

"Alright," said Lili, agreeing with his logic. "Ten minute break in the shade over there. Take care of any business you have and come right back there and wait until we leave again."

"My feet are killing me!" groaned Ice, laying on his back with his paws to the sky.

"So are mine!" added Temi, mimicking his motions exactly.

"You little wimps," teased Stormy, lying next to them and looking just as fresh as she had this morning. "You've only been walking for half the time. I carried you most of the way here! We're going to have to toughen you up some..."

"Aw, mom!"

"Can't you see we're in pain here?!"

"Hang on," said Lili, coming over to them smiling. She touched each paw with the tip of her finger, taking away the soreness and making them thicker as well. "There, is that better?"

"Hey, they don't hurt no more!" said Temi in amazement, jumping up and down some and deciding she was well enough for some play time as she shot towards her father. "Wow, thanks Lili!"

"Don't mention it, ever," replied Lili, even though she knew the puppy could no longer hear her.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" asked Genki as he sat by Holly on a rock in the shade, putting his arm around her as he did.

"I'm alright," she replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "Tired, I guess, but that's alright."

Genki frowned. "We can stop longer if you really need to..."

"No, it's alright," replied Holly quickly, shaking her head as she did. "I'll be good to go after we-"

"EVERYONE, DOWN!!!!" Every monster and human dove for cover behind the rocks and the trees as a rain of fire blew down on them, the grass going up in flames and trapping some of the fighters between the rocks.

"Arctic Freeze!" cried Slip, quickly using his new found power with ice to put out the flames.

"Protective shield!" yelled Holly, covering those who had lost their cover as another hail came from the other direction.

"They've got us surrounded," said Lili, sending out her scans and kicking herself for having not done it earlier. "On only three sides. Run towards those hills and regroup there!"

Everyone ran for their lives, Slip and Holly keeping them shielded as best they could while the army attacking them emerged before them, just as numerous and fearsome as the last. Something was bothering Lili, though, something just didn't feel right.

"Glad to see me again?" asked a voice from the middle of the group, a familiar face showing itself among the many who stood there, waiting for the order to attack. Lili took on her new form automatically, those from the battle before completely shocked and surprised.

"Zelda," said Lili, standing before her without any cover at all from the rocks. "How lovely. I suppose you Master kept you alive long enough to make you his faithful lap dog once more?"

"Hardly," snorted Zelda, rolling his eyes. "Like anyone could ever tame me enough for that. Still, traitor, I see you've evolved some..."

"To a certain extent," replied Lili, grinning toothily. "What do you want this time, Zelda?"

"Same as always," she replied coyly with a shrug. "Your death and to turn your friends into my Master's minions."

"And I, as always, must refuse," said Lili, letting the large group behind her show. "It won't be as easy for you to hold us down before you die this time, Zelda my dear."

"We'll see about that. Attack!"

"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" yelled Lili, staying where she was for the moment. "Stay back and keep the rocks as a shield! Golem, Big Blue, watch the pups and keep them back out of harm. Slip and Holly, stay to the back and hold shields where we need them!" She had no more time to give anymore orders as the swarm surrounded her, encasing her in the grasp of battle as she used her new powers to her advantage, and decimated those dumb enough to get in her path.

Those behind the hills were able to easily repulse the attackers, Pixie and Genki at the front as they battled away with those around them and Holly and Slip in the back protecting everyone from anything that came from overhead.

Lili spotted a flash of tan fur within the melee and went after it, knowing instinctively who it was. She drew her sword and swung out, intending to kill for the final time the one who had taken her son's life....but her arm jerked back and she grazed Zelda's face on either side, leaving a fine red line there that began to slowly drip blood.

Everyone ignored them as Zelda leapt at her, angry for having drawn her blood. Lili threw her back and suddenly slashed her palms, using her claws this time. Catching Zelda by the head, she pressed her cuts to the hybrid's, letting the blood mingle together as they began to glow.

"Sphere of Purity!!!" The blaze of light that followed blinded everyone who was close by, leaving dots in their vision and a monster in Lili's hands that had not been there before. A Tigress who was taller than most with tan fur and greens eyes sat looking at her, no sign of scars on her cheeks. Lili checked her own hands, a small pink mark left in the middle of each palm as she had expected.

"Thank you."

"Of course, Daughter." The Tigress glanced around, noticing the battle that surrounded her.

"There is work to be done here, Mother."

"And work you must to gain the trust that you never had."

"Then gain it back I will." The Tigress charged into the battle next to Lili, her eyes flashing as she used normal monster attacks that were far more powerful than that of a regular monster, but built just like one in every other way.

The attackers soon fled, their General having vanished into thin air and more than half of their numbers dead. "How did we fare?" asked Lili as she walked back to the front lines, the Tigress right beside her.

"We did fine," said Pong, casting a practiced eye over the troops. "Some scratches here and there, but your Holly and Slip are taking care of them...who is that?"

Everyone seemed to gather around as all eyes focused on the Tigress, sitting there calmly as she belonged in their ranks. The original Rebels pushed their way to the front of the crowd, regarding the Tigress as they realized who it was.

"Argh!!!" cried Allen as he charged towards the monster, sword drawn and pointed directly at it's heart. She didn't even blink as Lili pulled out her weapon faster than they could see and blocked him, her brute strength sending him stumbling back a few steps. "Huh?! That's Zelda, the one who killed Zephyr, you idiot! Let me kill her once and for all!!"

"No," said Lili calmly, standing there before the Tigress like a protector of sometime. "The Zelda you knew that took my son's life is gone, Allen. I was able to get rid of her seed. This is my daughter Zelda, who will no longer hurt us but instead fight by our side."

"Fight by our side, Hmph!" growled Hare under his breath as he gripped a spear in his paws. "More likely kill us in our beds!"

"That's enough!" said Holly suddenly, taking a step forward. She looked at Zelda carefully, the lupine staring right back as calmly as ever. "Are you or are you not with us, Zelda?"

"I am," replied Zelda quietly. "I don't remember much of the past, taking away that evil seed that was controlling me did that. But I do remember trying to kill you, and I do remember killing my brother, Zephyr. I am sorry. Had I known....had I had control of my mind none of this would've ever happened..."

Holly paused for a second, seemingly listening to a voice that none of them could hear. "I believe you," she said, coming and kneeling before the Tigress, giving her a hug as she did. "And I forgive you as well."

"Thank you." Everyone was surprised as the monster began to silently shed tears, large ones that ran down her face to Holly's shoulder, Lili staying in her guard position but sending her daughter a smile to let her know she was there for her as well.

Temi hesitantly came forward, nudging Holly with her nose so her human friend would let her through. "You killed my uncle," she said quietly, her very body quivering as she tried to remain in control of herself. "And that made me very sad for a long, long time. But you know what? I don't think he would want me to hate you. He never did, he was just sad that he had to fight someone who was that close to him. So, I don't think he would want me to hate you either."

Temi paused there, breathing deeply as she kept herself from crying. "He'd want me to love you, just like he loved me, so that's what I'm going to do. Not because he told me to, or because I want you to replace him in my life, but because it's the right thing to do. Everyone deserves a second chance, and yours is now."

"She's right!!" cried Ice, running through the crowd and slipping between his parents paws to stand right before Zelda with tears in his eyes. "I forgive you, aunt Zelda, for all the things you did in the past, because you're not like that anymore! I can see it in your eyes, and in your heart!"

"How can you be sure??" questioned Genki quickly, suspicion still evident in his face. "Others have been given second chances before and succeed in their change." He glanced over at Pixie, who's face was hidden behind her hair as she struggled with the emotions raging on inside of her. "But they were not as far gone at this one is, they still had a heart, locked up deep with in them somewhere..."

"She had a heart," argued Slip, pushing his way through and standing with the pups, Holly, Lili, and Zelda. "It was just not under her control. She's a new creation entirely with what The Master did to her dispelled from her being!"

"How can you be so sure?!" demanded Allen angrily.

Slip set his jaw stubbornly, his eyes blazing with determination. "I just can."

"That's not good enough!!"

"Is an assurance from the Phoenix good enough?" asked a voice above them, the Phoenix himself gliding down and landing on Lili's shoulder. "It's the innocent and the young that keep your races so pure. Zelda is now both."

"Then she can never go back to the way she once was?" asked Pixie, suddenly, walking forward a few steps.

"Correct," replied the Phoenix, noting the hurt look in Pixie's eyes. "Do no feel resentment, Daughter of Vengeful Hearts, that not all must suffer the way you did to regain their lives and hearts back. They will have a pain all their own as they grow old, the pain of remembering their past and knowing they had no control over it what so ever."

"Yes, sir," said Pixie, bowing her head slightly.

"You have all done well, and it is good that your numbers have increased for this final battle," said the Phoenix, turning so he was facing all of them at once. "There is only one more chance to defeat The Master, and it comes, now! The Five of the Stone, combine your powers to defeat him or all will be lost, that is all I can say. Daughter of Vengeful Hearts, stretch out your right and hand and repeat after me!"

Pixie did so, waiting to hear what he would say.

"Homnos, eros!!"

"Homnos, eros!!"

"Mes amies et moi."

"Mes amies et moi."

"Metts nous!"

"Metts nous!"

"A la fortifie!!"

"A la fortifie!!"

There was a loud clap of thunder and a flash of light as the entire group disappeared, onto the fort and onto their destinies....

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Another little twist....now they're going to the fort, what do you think will happen next?? Review are appreciated, as always, so please do, it's not that hard, really. Much thanks to a friend who gave me the idea of bringing Zelda back to life (I love long band bus rides...so resourceful...). Anyways, here's the count for right now as far as a prequel or sequel:

Prequel:2

Sequel:8

Be sure to vote if you haven't already!! BTW: Sequel does not necessarily imply that it will include people's children or that they will automatically be the main characters of the story. Sequel does imply before this fic concerning Lili's adventures and her transformation and such with in the MR world.

Thankies Much!!!

~crosseyedbutterfly~