Author's Note: Another shorter than usual chapter, sorry about that, but that's because it's the 'wrap up' of the last storyline. I've decided as for continuing the story to carry on with Twilight of the Immortal, making it basically the 'Arcadia' phase of Olose's life, and then if later on I decide to do further tales after she's died (since she's not immortal), that will probably be a new story. Sure, technically Olose could bite Arcadia to make her immortal too, but he would never inflict the curse upon her, so she has to die eventually (as do the whole Destiny crew, which is a real shame).

Anyway, I have lots of adventures lined up for the Destiny and her crew. Well, two at least currently, and maybe more, taking inspiration from all over the place (I'm not very original). And these two won't be like the short sailing chapters, but slightly longer adventures spread over a couple of chapters hopefully. So that's my current decision, so this is not the final chapter, just a wrap up for the storyline.

CHAPTER 24

REGENERATION

Olose screamed loudly in agony, his back arched upwards. Fur covered his body, it rapidly retracting and expanding as his body began to regenerate its wounds. His face slowly began to twist and change. His nose became smaller, his eyes seemed to widen, coming towards the front of his face. Even his hair began to grow in length. His jaw became slightly smaller and his skin seemed to darken a shade. His hair was no longer brown, but black. His entire body seemed to adjust itself, he became slightly shorter in height, but just as muscular as before. The fur finally retracted into his body, and the new figure let out a slight groan, lying in front of the amazed crowd.

"Does that hurrrrt?" Suse asked, watching in awe.

"You have no idea." Olose sighed, smiling slightly, before blacking out.

His eyes opened again some time later, and he found himself staring at a roof that he instantly found familiar.

"He's awake!" Came an irritatingly loud, yet incredibly cheerful, cry. Suse was smiling over him. He suddenly became aware of somebody gripping his hand tightly. He sat up to see Arcadia holding it, and began to take in the familiarity of her room. He was lying in her bed, with Suse smiling sat beside him and Arcadia holding his hand in joy. Arcadia struggled for words, and settled for a tearful smile of pure happiness. Suse however, did not remain silent. She threw herself around Olose (much to his surprise). "We thought you wouldn't wake up!" She cried cheerfully. "You're awake! You're awake!"

"Yeah, I noticed." Olose grumbled in slight surprise. "What happened?"
"You passed out after you-" Arcadia paused, unable to think of the right word.

"Regenerated?" Olose suggested.

"Yes. After you regenerated in the caves." Arcadia explained. "You were still breathing, but we could not-" Her voice cracked from sadness, the memory of how worried she had been was still fresh in her mind. "-we could not wake you." She finished. "We carried you back to here so that you could recover safely."

"You'rrrre heavy." Suse input in a moody sounding grumble. Olose laughed.

"Thanks." He said, beginning to sit up before wincing in pain. "I'm sure regeneration didn't hurt this much last time."

"Did you get blown up last time?" Arcadia inquired. "That is what happened here."

"I got my face sliced off. That didn't exactly tickle." Olose smirked. "So, how do I look?" He asked, looking over his hands. "Hm. Skin's a bit different." He observed. He swished his tongue about in his mouth, feeling the inside. "New teeth. That's weird." He remarked. He managed to get out of bed, and stand shakily. Arcadia rushed to his aid, helping him stay upright. He had luckily been dressed in simple black pyjamas so that he wasn't entirely naked, which was probably for the best since he had just gotten out of bed in front of everybody. "Have you grown?" He asked Arcadia, who was stood by him. She smiled sweetly. "Or have I shrunk?" He questioned, looking over to Suse as if to check his height. "And I'm sure my hair didn't come down to my mouth last time."

"Would it be easier if you had a mirror?" Arcadia asked with a slight grin that disturbingly looked like the sort of expression Olose would make.

"It might." He answered in a laugh, suddenly swaying and falling over again. Arcadia tried to hold him up, but was just pulled down with him. She landed on top of him, their faces close to each other. Olose could feel her sweet breath. She let out an embarrassed laugh and quickly stood again.

The door to the bedroom swung open, and Olose looked over, rather surprised to see nobody there. He then looked down a bit, seeing Phabrizoe walk in, who let out an annoyed frown, apparently aware that Olose had completely failed to notice him at first. Trevia and Nadia followed him in.

"Glad to see your awake, Captain." Phabrizoe remarked.

"Yeah. Feel like I've got one hell of a hangover though." Olose countered, rubbing his head and grinning slightly. "Thanks for showing up, by the way. Of course, I had it all under control, you understand."

"Oh come on, you can't do anything without us." Nadia smiled. Olose laughed slightly, managing to sit up in the bed.

"How did you find me? I thought the clue was pretty cryptic." Olose asked.

"Crrrryptic?" Suse repeated, and Olose assumed she didn't know what the word meant. "I used to worrrrk for Abaj you know! It was obvious!"

"I was employed by him too, and all that got me was thrown out of a window." Trevia pointed out with a smile.

"Was that a joke? From you? Trevia?" Olose asked in shock.

"Just a humorous truth." She answered with a grin.

"So what happens now?" Nadia asked, folding her arm across her body.

"Don't Olose and Arrrrcadia get married and live happily ever after? That's what happens in all the storrrries I rrrread." Suse said smiling. Arcadia and Olose laughed, embarrassed.

"Well, I figure Arcadia still needs a bodyguard, and with Abaj gone, I'd like my old job back." Olose suggested, trying to move away from Suse's ideas.
"You appear to be the one who needs the bodyguard." Arcadia smirked.

"And who would captain the Destiny?" Trevia cried, sounding unusually worried.

"Nadia. You. Phabrizoe. I dunno. Maybe it's time we retired her for a bit." Olose suggested. "You know, just live a peaceful life, away from all that."

"Sounds boring." Nadia shrugged.

"We can't return to the ship easily." Olose pointed out. "The Captain Sampson that commanded that vessel is dead. Replaced by this shorter version. Everybody take note! I'm shorter. It's unpleasant." Suse giggled at Olose; he was still taller most of them.

"With all due respect, Captain, I think I should complain about shortness." Quipped Phabrizoe.

"So what do we do? I don't want to lead a peaceful life." Nadia interjected.

"Alright, what about a less peaceful life?" Olose suggested. "Arcadia, I'm your bodyguard, right?"

"Well, yes." Arcadia answered, puzzled.

"So technically I'm in charge of security?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied, trying to figure out where he was going with his new idea.

"Well then, what if I decided we need a squad of protectors, because, as proven, I can't protect you all the time." Olose explained. "What if I said we needed about, oh, I don't know, four more bodyguards?" Arcadia smiled as the other four realised what he was suggesting.

"Well, if you thought it was for the best, there is little I could do to argue." Arcadia replied, still smiling. Olose grinned.

"So it's settled then!" He cheered. "We're the new security force for Arcadia's protection, so no more madmen manage to kidnap her."

"What about the Destiny?" Trevia asked, and Olose got the impression that she was deeply attached to the ship and their experiences on it.

"As a group of bodyguards, we'll pretty much be mercenaries when Arcadia isn't travelling." Olose pointed out. "That means we take the Destiny and do what we do best. It's win win."

"If you say so, Shorty." Nadia grinned.

"Hey! Cut that out!" Olose protested.

"You're not our captain anymore." Nadia laughed.

"I'm still your boss." Olose pouted. "So no 'short' jokes, okay?"

"Okay. That's that. So, what do we do now?" Suse asked, almost bouncing around in boredom.

"I'm hungry. Anybody else hungry?" Olose asked. Arcadia's face fell flat.

"I saw you…all….blown up." She answered, struggling to find words. "I do not think I shall be eating for a long time."

"Well, I died." Olose replied. "That takes it out of you. I'm hungry. Let's grab some food." Olose got up, and promptly fell on the floor.

He looked up angrily at the others, who were laughing riotously. Even Arcadia chuckled.

"Dammit. This didn't happen last time." Olose groaned, getting his legs working again and staggering to his feet. Arcadia slipped her hand around his waist to support him. Olose smiled at her gentle touch.

"So, where arrrre we getting food?" Suse asked, still bouncing around.

"I am sure my chef could prepare us a delicacy." Arcadia offered.

"Or we could just go to that restaurant. You know, the cheap one." Olose suggested. "I love cheap food."

"That is because you have the digestive system of a werewolf." Arcadia stated rather bluntly and humorously. "Greasy food makes my stomach hurt. My chef can prepare whatever you desire."

"Fish!" Suse cheered.

"She lives on a boat." Trevia said to herself. "You'd think she'd be overrrr the fish by now."

"Okay, fine." Olose grumbled. "We'll eat here. Come on, let's get downstairs." Olose gestured to the door and the group began to head out. Arcadia paused.

"Olose?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Olose turned.

"Can I talk to you alone for a moment?" Arcadia requested. Olose shrugged.

"Sure." He turned to his crew. "See you guys in a minute!" His crew filtered out the door and Arcadia walked up to him, her hips swaying in an almost seductive manner (something that seemed very out of place for Arcadia). She didn't say anything, but just kissed Olose.

"It would appear I no longer need to go on my tip toes for that." She smiled. Olose folded his arms with a grumble.

"I'm not that much shorter. If you took those high heels off I bet you couldn't reach." He said in reply. Arcadia laughed.

"I've missed you so much." She said softly. "And now it's over, and we can spend our lives together." She hugged him tightly, filling Olose's nostrils with her sweet scent. He embraced her happily.

"We can. I promised you we could. I promised you it would end." Olose smiled. "No more running. No more hiding."

"You realise a girl like me falling in love with her bodyguard will be frowned upon by the whole of my society?" Arcadia pointed out, slightly hesitant.

"I'm a werewolf and hungry. If they complain, I'll eat them." Olose joked. Arcadia giggled slightly.

"You have a slight point, I think." She translated Olose's joke into a new meaning. "You meant to say who cares, am I correct? What does it matter what everybody else thinks?"

"Actually, I was just making a cheap joke, but I'll take that." The two kissed passionately, before staring deep into each other's eyes.

"We should probably catch up with the others." Arcadia decided.

"Yeah, we have eternity now, right?" Olose shrugged, heading for the door.

"Oh, Olose." Arcadia called, and Olose turned. "I found this in the cave." She held out his brown jacket, and he grinned. She considered throwing it to him, but deciding that she couldn't throw at all, and would probably just embarrass herself. Olose took it off her, slipping into it. "Hm." Arcadia mumbled. "It appears to be a little large for you now."

"What did I say about the short jokes?" Olose warned sarcastically.

"You may be in charge of the others, but my family are the ones employing you." Arcadia reminded him. "That means I can make short jokes."

"Damn." Olose grumbled. "Guess that's just a sacrifice I'm going to have to make."

"Sacrifice for what?" Arcadia asked.

"To be with you." Olose smiled.

"Sweet Altana, that's the worse line of dialogue I've ever heard." Came a voice from the doorway. Nadia was leant in it. "Hurry up, I'm hungry. We told the chef what we all wanted. Hope you like fish, Suse insisted you try some."

"Okay, we're coming." Sighed Olose. Arcadia smiled, following him.

"You know, that jacket looks a little big on you now." Nadia pointed out as they walked, and Olose rolled his eyes.

Author's Notes (again): I apologise for some more corny romantic dialogue, but at least I had Nadia make the comment I'm sure everybody was thinking this time. Which, out of interest for utterly obscure references comes from the old Earthworm Jim cartoon which had the dialogue exchange "It's time to put the APE back in APEOCALYPSE!" "That's unquestionably the worse line of dialogue I have ever heard." which I thought was hilarious. Earthworm Jim. What a great show. Ahem.

Oh, and "New teeth. That's weird." was a Doctor Who reference from when he regenerates in the new one.

And if anybody senses any innuendo in the 'short' jokes (especially since they've all seen him naked now technically) you're imagining it! I did notice when writing it though that people may find it unintentionally funny (I'm sure Bootus would be giggling if he read this!), so that was accidental, it's not supposed to imply anything!