Ashley, Abbe, and Jaimie watched the scene in horror, not knowing what was going on around them. Not even caring. Kyler had not yet noticed his best friend's fatal fall, but those who had been paying attention (namely Jaz and Allysson) could later recall that on Darnoc's last breath the bass drum exploded, and from within that crucial instrument came every song mankind had ever known. The ground shook with haunting ballads, tearful love songs, stupid ditties, and all the cutting edge songs from every era and every part of the world. As this was going on, the whole moor was enveloped in a thin, peachy mist that smelled strongly of hair dye, and from that mist rose all who had fallen by Conrad's hand. Annod Yawnoc, Julia N., and Ping-Pong, all in mystified form swarmed about Conrad angrily, shouting obscenities. Aiden swirled about too shouting at them to play. Even Darnoc herself arose from the mist.

"You must FEEL the bass drum within you! YOU…DID NOT PLAY…THE CRESCENDO! DON'T TURN YOUR HEAD!"

With all the sounds from the drum, the music, the dead, and the battle still raging, plus the sounds from the three students from Miltonborgo High playing their hearts out, the din was almost enough to wake the dead. Not quite enough, but for those near death however….

When the music began to play, Nicole inhaled a huge breath, and sat up, straight as an arrow.

"NEWTONS!" she screamed before falling back on the stretcher, unconscious once more. This time, however, it was not some evil trick of a twisted band sorceress. Merely the effect of the mist, whose aroma was far from pleasant and had an effect on everybody in the area. One by one, they all dropped where they were standing and went into the deepest of sleeps, and the mist faded. The only person that this didn't have an effect on was Jaz, who watched in bemusement as friend and foe fell before his eyes. He looked around wildly for Aiden so she could give him an explanation before he remembered, and fully understood that the vivacious little girl would never again offer any wisdom in her childish voice. It brought him more grief than he would have expected. Cassie was nearby, curled in a ball, dried tears staining her cheeks. Next to her, faded in time was the body of the man she had been with the evening before during the go fish game. All around him were his fellow band members, some living some not. He closed his eyes, despair about to overwhelm him. But something floated across his mind.

Pear shampoo, and a smiling face drifted lazily, enticingly across his mind. The fear he had felt when she had been about to kiss another. Where was she? Her hair, not bright, not altogether eye catching was what alerted him to her whereabouts, and the fear he felt when he saw her unmoving figure would never truly leave him.

Making his way gallantly to her side, relief flooded him when he saw her breathing and unharmed. Her eyes were closed and her lips were curved in a faint smile. All thoughts save her loveliness in sleep were pushed from his mind as he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the castle. Not stupid enough to think he could do this up a winding flight of stone stairs, he settled for Annod's old room. The coverlet was pulled back very neatly, and it seemed to Jaz that she was fated to lie there. Candles in an elaborate chandelier were burning softly, and the room smelled of gardenia. An overstuffed chair sat close at hand. Jaz frowned, the convenience making him suspicious. However, his arms were beginning to tire, and he deposited his precious burden, and made himself comfortable. For right now, nothing was on his to do list except sit and watch Ashley wake up.

Cassie opened her eyes blearily. She was alone in her bedroom. She would never find out how she got there, and she never really cared. As soon as her brain focused, pain knifed through her and her tears began anew. Her fist clenched closed in an attempt to stay them, and a cold pressure on her palm stopped her. She opened her hand, and she found herself holding the pin Saber had used to keep his cape fastened. It was his family coat of arms, a simple, very familiar sword dominating the picture. Through her grief, a feeble smile formed on her face, a pinprick of gladness. She pinned it to the inside of her shirtsleeve and curled up to go to sleep again. It took her quite some time to realize that her beloved rubber duckie pajama bottoms and her red shirt had been restored to her.

In time, everybody woke up. They were all warm, in beds, under blankets. Those who had been defeated faded into their own times. Those however who had overcome the odds and shed blood for the cause of Good would have one more night. Bread was broken, and drinks were passed as all celebrated their victory and honoured the dead. Jaz stayed by Ashley's bedside. He listened to the party just outside the door, and wondered frantically why she wasn't up and about yet. All the others had stopped in for a moment. To offer congratulations, and inquire about his well being. They had all left after a few seconds, with knowing smiles and hasty excuses. Even Cassie had made an appearance. She looked very out of place wearing such happy clothes with such a forlorn expression, but she had hugged him quickly and demanded that she be notified the second Ashley woke up.

She had dreamt that she had been rescued from the pits of Hell and carried like a princess to a soft cloud where her aching head was instantly soothed. She sighed in contentment, and it was that sigh that made her aware of her surroundings.

"Good morning Princess." was the first thing that she heard, and knowing that it was Jaz who had said it filled her with such happiness that everything else that had happened over the past few weeks was blocked out.

"Hey Jaz," she said sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "How long was I asleep?"

"A few hours I think. I wasn't really counting, but you have to go and see Cassie. She made me swear on your life that as soon as you woke up I would make you go see her, so yah. But after that, I want to talk to you." Ashley's stomach clenched in sudden anticipation. Maybe, just maybe. She fished around in her pocket for the pack of gum she knew was in there. In relief, she found it, and offered the first piece to Jaz. "You're my hero," he said, accepting it gratefully.

Cassie was easily recognisable by her red shirt and all too colourful pants. She was outside with the rest. The lawn was lit with tiki torches, that those from the past eyes suspiciously. She was helping herself to a brownie. When Ashley was embraced, it became a part of her shirt, but she decided not to mention it in light of recent events.

"Hey," she said pulling back. "How are you?" Cassie shrugged a shoulder.

"I've been a lot better actually, but I guess I might feel okay eventually.

"I'm sorry Cassie. But I have a question. What would you have done if Saber had…I mean, if things had turned out differently?"

"I really don't know. I'd been agonizing about it for days. I guess the choice was out of my hands wasn't it?"

"Cassie! Ashley! Get over here! We need to teach these barbarians how to do the Chicken Dance!" Nicole yelled. Ashley looked at Cassie uncertainly.

"Go on," Cassie urged. "Somebody should have fun while we're here." Even Jaz joined in, which shocked Cassie as she sat and watched. Abbe had had a greater effect on him than probably even he knew. It seemed that everybody had changed during this trip. Well, not really Abbe. She was running around, chasing a terrified chipmunk screaming "NO! DON'T RUN FROM ME! I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" Kyler looked about as bad as Cassie felt, and her heart went out to him.

"I never had a chance did I?" He asked nodding towards Ashley who was teaching Jaz The Chicken Dance.

"No, thank God!" Cassie exclaimed, then seeing Kyler's stricken expression, "I'm sorry, but me and the girls have been trying to get them together for two years now. She really likes you though," she added encouragingly.

"But she loves that skinny boy doesn't she?" He didn't wait for an answer. "And you loved Saber. I'm so sorry." Too overcome to speak, Cassie just nodded. "I'll make sure nobody ever forgets him. I'm going to tell this story to Arundel for the rest of my life, and it will be passed down. If you ever hear it in your own time, you'll be able to see how warped it became over the centuries." An outburst of laughter interrupted them. Little Arundel had apparently mastered the dance, and was doing it to his own chant of "Bread and Honey." Cassie fished around in her bag, and pulled out the camera she had brought. The one picture she took of her trip was light hearted. The parents would never suspect a thing. The song changed to I Will Always Love You, and Ashley and Jaz were slow dancing.

"No," Kyler said. "I never had a chance.

'No matter what,' Ashley promised herself, 'I will never forget tonight.' The sky was pink and blue with streaks of lavender dashed across for colour. There was no orange. The air was heavy with the scent of spring. Fresh, untouched. And she was dancing with the one she loved. Never had she felt so light-headed and giddy, but at the same time so grounded, so right.

"This has been interesting," Jaz said, breaking through her thoughts. "This whole trip I mean."

"Yes. But such horrible things have happened." She said, stopping her sways and looking down at her feet. "I mean, look at poor Cassie. I'm not sure she'll ever really be okay again, and once we get home we'll just be expected to forget everything…" She would have gone on for some time, but Jaz lifting her chin up kind of distracted her from her course. He wiped a tear away with his thumb. She had been crying? She was sick of crying. And she felt like doing it some more for some reason.

"You'd better not forget. Remember everything Ashley. No matter what. Promise?" His eyes bored into hers. The big crescendo of the song began, some people lit off fireworks, and they illuminated the sky.

"Promise," she whispered, and before she could draw another breath, he took her face in his hands, and kissed her like he had been longing to for weeks. As red and gold sparks lit the sky, the entire gathered crowd began to clap and cheer. The spinning earth slowed to allow them more time it seemed. Her arms twined around his neck, instinctively bringing him closer. She never wanted to let go. She wanted to stay like that forever, his arms resting comfortably in the dip of her waist. Unseen by all, a star shot across the sky, its silver light mingling with the fireworks. The heavens were appeased, and peace would reign.

"God, I've wanted to do that for so long," Jaz said, his voice husky. So he did it again.

The End