Hey! This is Famfrit! I am planning for this to be the last installment of Carrot's Homecoming, so I hope you will enjoy it and the twist I have in store! This chapter is also most likely going to be shorter than all the others, but I don't know how it's going to end up. Who knows what this crazy mind of mine is thinking? Anyways, please enjoy and please review! Also, I do not own Square Enix or Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

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"There, there, that's all better now, isn't it?" Ezel said as he stroked Carrot's head. The pleased Malboro let out a delighted gurgle as Darcie applied another X-Potion to the spear wound. Finally, the shimmering remedies took their affect and Carrot was fully cured. She let out a pleased gurgle and wiggled her front tentacles merrily, almost like when she was playing with the pile of weeds.

"You sure are good with animals, kupo," Montblanc chimed in with an excited squeal. Ezel grinned as he petted Carrot's head affectionately.

"I all ready told you about my experiences in the Cadoan Magic Academy, didn't I?" Ezel asked, holding up his Vesper and slowly rotating to get a glance from every angle. "Boy, you sure did beat this baby up, didn't you Carrot?"

The Vesper's middle point was slightly bent, and there were two noticeable black scratches on the handle. The left point of the mace's end was also slightly chipped. "Maybe I'd be better off with the Cactus Stick," Ezel said with a chuckle. "Don't know why I didn't decide to use it in the first place."

Darcie watched a bit as Marche and Ritz conversed. Darcie had to suppress a giggle. It was funny how they seemed so shy around each other, but at critical moments you could've sworn they were boyfriend and girlfriend they were so-what was the word she was looking for-affectionate.

"I was really worried about you during the battle," Marche said to Ritz. Ritz blushed a bit.

"Don't worry about me, Marche. It was you I was worried about, being in that corner and all," Ritz said. Before she could finish her remark off with a giggle, Marche kissed her softly on the cheek. Her face flared up like a fireball as she turned away, but she did not giggle nor was she appalled. Shara and Darcie couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny, kupo?" Montblanc inquired, looking up at the two laughing Vieras. Darcie merely pointed in Ritz's direction, as the pigment of the redhead's face was identical to the pigment of her hair. Marche was seemingly speaking to himself, obviously telling himself that what he had done was reckless. But just when everyone least expected it, Ritz kissed him back, this time on the lips. Now even Ezel was laughing.

"Why are you guys laughing?" Ritz asked, and then her face flared up again upon seeing Shara point to her face.

"Smoochie-smoochie, kupo!" Montblanc teased as he fell to the ground, roaring with laughter. Darcie was afraid that Mt. Ritz was about to erupt.

"Guys, be quiet," Marche tried to say in a commanding voice, but it got squeezed to a mousy squeal, one that made even Ritz began to laugh. Even Carrot began to gurgle with laughter, eyes bright with enjoyment.

"Let's go back to Cyril," Darcie said, and everyone agreed, still grinning.

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Lady Nanabu ran outside, her intricate robe blowing wildly in the wind as she ran out to greet Carrot. The Malboro was happy to see Lady Nanabu, and there was no urge of instinct to tell her that she was supposed to be in Jagd Helje, which made her overjoyed. She was sick of instinct; she just wanted to be loved.

"How's my little Carrot doing?" Lady Nanabu said with a laugh as Donovan and the others walked out from the house. Even Nono decided to see what all the commotion was about.

"Montblanc!" Nono cried, seeing his elder brother amongst the rescuers. "Clan Nutsy saves the day again, kupo!"

"Yes, hurray for Clan Nutsssy!" Donovan cheered, and even Madeline joined in with the merrymaking, a smile on her usually pallid face.

An hour later, Carrot was happily eating a freshly prepared Chocoboro Pudding (that was the name Donovan decided to give Carrot's favorite treat) with a happy gurgle. Montblanc, Nono, and Lini were all chatting happily upon the business of gadgets and gizmos back home in Baguba. Darcie, Shara, Ritz, and Madeline were all talking about the latest Ivalice rumors, and Arthur and Ezel talked about Beastmastery back in the Cadoan Magic Academy. Lady Nanabu and Marche eagerly spoke about the journeys of Clan Nutsy while Donovan intently listened in.

Afterwards, Lady Nanabu hastily organized a formal dinner on the balcony overlooking the west courtyard, which gave a perfect view of Jagd Helje and the Koringwood. Off in the distance one could also see Siena Gorge, and farther to the north you could barely make out the tops of the buildings in Cyril and the merry smoke rising from the pub. Below the Chocobos were making their evening stroll while elegantly galloping as daintily as horses down the fields, careful not to step on the flowerbeds. Ezel was commanding them from atop the balcony in a graceful symphony of Beastmastery, while Montblanc decided to ruin it all by sending them in all directions with a swift call of Chocobo Rush.

"I would like to propose a toast," Lady Nanabu addressed, and everyone looked up to the mistress of the house. "To home, that we may all find where we belong."

"To home!" everyone cheered in unison and the clinging of glasses was just as soothing as Montblanc's taps with his War Trumpet. The night was upon the Nanabu household.

Clan Nutsy decided to spend the night at the household in the guestrooms, which had been hastily prepared by Deiter, Spengler, and Monica. Unlike most nights, Darcie slept deeply, mostly because the sleep she had gotten previously was so little. Madeline and Arthur sleep just as soundly after a midnight snack of cookies, eagerly donated by a willing Montblanc.

The morning was a sad one. Everyone wept as they bid each other farewell, including Montblanc and Nono. However, something quite peculiar happened. As Lady Nanabu wished Marche farewell, she approached Darcie to the side of everyone else.

"How did you enjoy yourself on that mission, Darcie?" she asked cheerfully.

"Rather well, in fact," Darcie said with a grin. "It was a lot of fun, now that I think of it."

"I've been thinking, Darcie," Lady Nanabu said, "that maybe your calling- your home-is not here. Maybe your home is with Clan Nutsy. Maybe you were meant to be in a clan and fight and have all the splendors and glories of battle."

"What are you saying?" Darcie asked, perplexed. "Are you allowing me to leave the household to join Clan Nutsy?"

"That's what I'm trying to say, yes," Lady Nanabu said with a smile. "So, what do you say?"

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Darcie called out merrily, hugging her mistress tightly. "Let me go gather up my things. Oh, this is so wonderful!"

Just as she called out, she looked into the eyes of Madeline and remembered all the playful times they'd shared. She looked at Donovan, who was smiling as he gazed at the flowers he had just planted. She looked at Lini, who was just as curious and quirky as always. She looked at Arthur, who was eying a cookie he had saved in his pocket.

"Guys, I'm going to join Clan Nutsy," she said to her friends.

"What? You can't leave, kupo!" Lini said sadly. "You are the most kupo Viera I've ever known! Oh, please don't leave, kupo!"

"You are leaving, Darcccie?" Donovan said sadly. "I'll misss you dearly if you do. You've been like a sssister to me."

"You're what?" Arthur called out, astounded. "You can't leave! Who would take care of Carrot if you left, hmmm? She only likes you now!"

"Fine, go," Madeline said coldly. Darcie tried to gaze into her eyes, but she avoided them at all costs.

"I only have a few minutes to go gather up my things," Darcie said sadly. "I won't be happy to leave, I'll tell you that much."

Donovan, Lini, and Arthur followed Darcie inside where she began to gather her scant belongings including her formal and common servant's garments and the small pendant her parents had given her as a child. By the urging of Arthur, she took his cookie and wrapped it in a silk handkerchief. Donovan gave her a pressed Blue Rose, and Lini gave her a pair of his old glasses and a scrap of magic vellum with her name on it.

As Darcie turned to leave, Madeline hugged her tightly. "I'll miss you, Darcie," she said with a grin. "I made something for you."

Madeline pulled a crude imitation of Carrot out of her pocket, stitched hastily but still plump as a fat Chocobo. It was just a little stuffed likeness of the Malboro, but Darcie cherished it all the same. She shook hands with Madeline and waved goodbye, wiping back tears.

Finally, she came upon the last place she would've wanted to go just a few days ago. She quietly crept inside into Carrot's room, tapping the Malboro on the shoulder. Carrot turned around with a happy gurgle.

"Hey Carrot," she said, wiping back tears. "Look what Madeline made."

She showed Carrot the crude impression Madeline had made of her. Carrot let out a happy gurgle, then touched the stuffed animal gingerly with a single tentacle. With slimy smile, Carrot looked up at Darcie. Maybe servants weren't so bad after all.

"Goodbye, Carrot. I'll never forget you. You did the same thing I did: you found your true home," Darcie said. "I'll miss you."

Darcie left the room silently, wiping the tears from her face. The small group of servants and Lady Nanabu were waiting at the entrance to the household, many of them crying, including Madeline.

"Come back and visit, kupo!" Lini cried out, wiping his glasses.

"Yes, we'll bake some fresh cookies!" Arthur called out after him.

"And I will make sssome Chocoboro Pudding and we'll have a cccelebration!" Donovan called out with a grin.

"I'll miss you!" Madeline cried out, crying and smiling all at once.

"We'll all miss you, Darcie," Lady Nanabu said, tears streaming down her tan Viera face. "You will never be forgotten. You will always be welcome in my household. Now go on, you don't want to be late!"

Darcie gave Lady Nanabu a quick hug, looked back at the house, and then ran to catch up with Clan Nutsy. She had finally done it, just like stinky Carrot. She had found her calling, just as Carrot had found her calling. They had both found their refuge: they had both found home.