I'M SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY!

I hope none of you thought I abandoned you or this story. The problem was that the last time I tried to upload this, it all broke and nothing went up. And my health hasn't been so great recently, so doing the entire thing again was a huge effort. I really hate this site sometimes. In any case, my sincere apologies for the long wait.

Because this is the end!

I'm uploading this, the last chapter, and the epilogue together, because they go together, and because, well...I really think the epilogue stands on its own. I hope I haven't lost any of you with the delay because I wanted you to know how much each one of you has meant over the course of this. This was and still is, in my opinion, the greatest work of fiction I've ever written. This story is very personal to me, but it's also an old story from an old fandom. That it found new life here and new readers makes me incredibly happy. I've loved reading your comments and hearing your ideas. Thank you all so much for this.

Seygram 13 - Missed you last time around! I wonder that too. A lot, in fact. I'm not sure she'll be such a pariah if no one knows, and it's highly possible that no one outside of her father and her friends will know, although it's certainly something I've thought about. But that's a story for another time. You've been really incredible, thank you for everything.
e-chan16 - Sorry for the wait! And sorry for the sad! I promise no more Zel crying! gives you a cookie
Gerao-A - I would say things are looking up, but that's all my lawyers have advised me to release. Thanks so much for reading, you guys.
Lyra Pelgina - AAARGH, sorry for the wait! Why do I suck so? There's only a little more, I'm sorry to say, but I hope it meets with your approval. :) Thanks for everything. hugs
Klutz82 - I didn't mean to make you cry! I mean, I'm kinda glad you did, because then it means you were really into the story and it was emotional, but...hands you tissues I wish there was more for you, and I'm sorry for making you wait. You've been so awesome. hugs I'm really gonna miss you.
Raven Summersong - Thank you! Thank you a hundred times!
Hoshi-chan1 - Thank you. hugs I'm glad you came back for the end. :)

Oh, and one other thing, I love e-mail and I check it all the time, so if anyone ever wants to talk about what they think happens afterwards, or my own impressions of where the story goes, please just send me a note. I'd love to hear from you. :)

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Part XIX- E Pur Si Muove (Still, It Moves)

"Life's but a walking shadow..."
-Macbeth

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"Did you really defeat Dark Star all by yourself, Lina-san?"

Lina grinned at the wide-eyed Mikale, expertly ignoring the way Gourry practically facefaulted into the horse he was saddling at sheer disbelief of her arrogance.

"Of course I did!"

"Ahem."

"Alright, Gourry helped."

"Ahem."

"So did Zel."

"Lina-san..."

"And Amelia."she sighed, and glared at them all. "You guys always have to have some of the glory, don't you? Sheesh."

"Lina, if we hadn't been behind you in that last battle, Valgaav would have killed your sorry ass in seconds."Zel countered back with his own stone look across his coffee mug.

"Language, Zelgadis-san!"Amelia admonished him.

"Don't worry about it, Princess."Nijil piped up from where he stood behind the another horse. "Mom swears all the time."

"I do not!" Arika was aghast. "I merely express myself in colorful terms."

"Colorful enough to make the sailors blush." Dkkar patted his mother's shoulder and winked at Dhitney, who stood on her other side.

"You sure I can't come with you, Lina, Gourry?" she laughed helplessly. "My own family seems to be turning against me."

"If you've handled them this long,"Gourry tousled Mikale's hair. "I think you'll be fine. Besides, you haven't seen Lina on her bad days."

Mikale's eyes widened.

"You mean...these...weren't her bad days?!"

"Shut up." Lina grumbled.

Amelia giggled gently, wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck, glancing up at Zelgadis and receiving one of his rare, warm smiles in return. She blushed, and smiled back, then wandered over to Lina and Gourry to give them their farewell hugs. Although they'd only been in Merrid two days since their return, the pair was setting off for Seyruun ahead of their companions to tell Phil his daughter was safe. Amelia also suspected, however, that although she wouldn't admit it, Lina wanted to plan her wedding.

"You stay safe, alright?"Lina hugged the small princess tightly before passing her to Gourry for a bear-hug and a kiss on the forehead.

"You have a good trip too, alright?"Amelia grinned and winked one of her silver eyes, flashing Lina their victory sign.

"You know it!"Lina jumped up on her mount and waved good-bye to Arika and sons. "Thanks for everything, and Amelia, we'll see you soon! YAH!" She snapped the reigns and took off down the road.

"Ja!" Gourry offered with a little salute, and followed after her quickly.

"They're quite a pair, aren't they?"Dkkar watched them as they disappeared from view.

"You don't know the half of it."Zel shook his head, and led Amelia back inside.

Arika had insisted that they stay a few extra days just to make sure they'd both healed well. Of course, all were aware that it was more because she didn't want to see them go than anything else.

"Mom would hold you hostage if she could," Dkkar had told them after Dhitney had recounted the harrowing experience of being alone on a boat with a starving Lina and Gourry. Amelia and Zel had sympathized with her completely.

When it did come time for them to leave, almost a month after Xellos had dropped off Amelia in Arika's care, the healer was loathe to let them go. She made sure they had enough food for an army or three days with their companions, and she'd forced more sweaters and pants on both of them, not to mention a smart black riding cloak for Amelia and leather gloves for Zel that she insisted should be worn by someone who was about as handsome as her late husband had been.

"I want you to come back and visit, and you know what, I don't give a damn if it's stupidly far from Seyruun." Arika had held back tears as she hissed at Zel. "And I expect wedding invitations."

"I...uh..."Zel flushed furiously and tugged on his collar.

"You don't have to answer, sugar, I just wanted to see you blush one more time."she kissed him , and then pushed him aside for Amelia. "You have a man there who loves you, and he may have a hard time showing it, but if you never trust anyone else, trust me on this."

"I know, Arika-san."Amelia smiled faintly, her cold-pink cheeks darkening.

"That's my girl."

Hugs were exchanged between Amelia and all the boys, and she obliged Nijil a kiss on the cheek; the boy had never smiled so broadly.

Mikale checked the horse's saddle about three times, and each time around made Zel promise to take good care of Amelia. Zel promised that he would.

Shortly after, they were racing through clear air and dusty snow, Amelia a comfortable weight on his chest as she sat in the saddle in front of him.

Arika watched them go and ran a hand through her long hair as she shook her head.

"Those two..."

"You know, momma," Mikale spoke up. "I've decided that if Zel-san ever does anything really stupid like letting her go again, I'm going to walk down to Seyruun and teach him a lesson."

Arika laughed and pulled her son into a hug.

"Something tells me that that's the last thing you have to worry about."

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"They're on their way back to her kingdom?"

"Yes, mistress. She seems to have recovered remarkably well."

"Wonderful. I would have absolutely had your head if you had failed me. You know that, of course."

"Eheh...of course I do. Which is why I did the spell, as you said I might have to."

"You did well, Xellos."

Purple hair brushed past his beaming face as he bowed to his mistress.

"Thank you, Beastmaster-sama."

"You know you aren't done with them yet, though."

"At this rate, I doubt I ever will be."

"You're catching on." Xellas Metallium winked at her protege.

All he could do was sigh.

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Water was dripping somewhere far away.

No, it wasn't water, nor was it any great distance.

It was blood dripping from his own mouth. It had been doing that for...for...

How long had he been here in darkness, on his hands and knees, coughing up black bile and ebony blood, feeling like he had been torn apart?

Of course, he had been torn apart, that much was certain.

Releasing an unearthly sound of anguish from his throat, he pulled back to rest on his knees and ended up slumping onto his side, gasping. He was almost glad his priests couldn't see him now; they would certainly have been hysterical.

Well, he hoped they were burning in some special hell just for them.

Betrayers.

He coughed again, and more fluids clogged his throat. It was a miserable feeling, and he hated it.

Running his hand down his torso, he could feel the open flesh where the Sword of the Gods had cut through him, destroying his fine clothing, robbing him of the perfect dignity he'd maintained for eons upon eons.

Damn them all.

No, damn himself, because it was his own mistake in his own equation that had ruined everything. The inconstant variable...how could he have been so stupid?

He lay cursing himself for what seemed like forever, and then, a faint hint of something from another world appeared in the back of his mind.

The sword.

His perfect treasure, his demon sword, had been left behind.

The idea heartened him somehow. Oh, he didn't know what it would mean for the future, but it gave him hope that there would be a future. And when the time came, he'd know where to get his best weapon, and then... then he'd remember to factor in all the variables.

Still, that would take time. This wound was not going to heal easily, and he knew that there was no power in the world that could hasten it. No matter.

Dynast Grausherra faded into his true form and reminded himself that he was very good at waiting.