BloodyCrystal: Hey, all! (crickets chirp) Eh, heh heh heh? Okay, I deserve this for being a lazy brat, but honestly! Someone should be here, right? Right? (crickets chirp louder) It's official, my only company is the crickets. Well, for those who might care, here's the last-minus epilogue-chapter of Dream Master. (sob) I can't believe it went so fast! Well, there's always the sequel…If I make one.

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing save plot, non-humans (minus horses and wyverns), Lani, Renj, Nadi, the Dream Master, Heath's family, etc. The game belongs to...Someone who is not me.

Ch. 13: Renewal
Lani sobbed, clinging to Heath's slightly warm body. She knew he wasn't dead, but the Tactician knew that he was close to it. Her friend, ally against the Dream Master, and confidante was dying by bits, and she couldn't do anything. The Non-Human Council couldn't intervene because of the balance of power, and none of them were powerful enough as it was. After all, they had told her that they would gladly disrupt the balance of power if it meant saving Heath, but that it would do no good; together and separately, it made no difference-they were powerless to save him.

Lani sniffled again, muffling the sound by burying her face in Heath's chest. She didn't know where his conscience was, but it wasn't in his body, at least not completely. He hadn't moved from his prone position since Lord Eliwood had yanked the sword out of him, freeing her conscience and his body. "Oh, Heath," she whispered, gazing down at him.

Even their settings couldn't cheer the desolate girl up, which was surprising since-for the first time in several years-Lani was back with her family. Rein and Aloa Green had taken their two youngest children to Etruria to live, and, since their house was both spacious and close to where the final battle had been, the army had taken shelter there with the couple's permission, not knowing the relation to Lani. Lani knew, but she hadn't revealed it yet. After all, her parents and blood-sibs were all but strangers now, and she wasn't sure of the welcome she'd receive since she'd helped to destroy the Black Fang. So the Tactician kept her hood up and her mouth shut-after all, none of her family had ever called her Lani, only Lanari, Lana, or-in the case of her young blood-sibs-Lanali.

Lani carefully wiped Heath's brow with the slightly damp washcloth that she had taken to keeping close during her vigil. She ran it along his face, frowning slightly when she noticed no change in her friend's facial expression. Even when sick or delirious, people's expression's always smoothed when a friend or loved one took care of them-it was just something in the human psyche that caused that.

Lani reflected for a moment on her knowledge of that intangible thing, the human psyche. She only knew of it because it was a Tactician's job to know all about not only battles, strategies, tactics, warfare, supplies and geography, but about humans. Humans were the ones who fought the battles, after all, and initiative could go a long way, as she herself had seen in fights against Nergal when, by all rights, her army should have lost. So Tacticians studied humans in general so that they knew how others reacted, and Heath should have relaxed at least a little with her, a close friend, taking care of him.

A close friend, Lani wondered, in no small amount of awe. I have a close friend. Tacticians were told to expect politeness, but not friendship or love. Tacticians were calm, collected, aloof, not needing the inter-human relations that all others of their species relied on. And yet, Lani knew she would've fallen long before were it not for her friendship with Lady Lyn, Lord Eliwood, Lord Hector, and, most of all, Heath. She remembered the stories of Tacticians who became friends with others, how it was normally still a mostly manipulative friendship, and never close.

I...am not a good Tactician, the crimson-eyed girl realized. And I don't care. The second realization was more startling than the first, for Lani had always cared mainly about being a Tactician-and a good one-and only then about Lloyd, Linus, and her family. How long have I only cared about being a good Tactician? I think...I think it's been that way since Nadi died. I didn't want to care so much about someone who I might have to order around and where my orders might kill them. So what changed me?

The answer to that query was so obvious, that Lani smiled, slightly embarrassed that she had needed to ask so obvious a question. Lady Lyn started it, back in Sacae, when she saved me. But the one who finished it was..."Heath," she whispered, brushing stray green hair off the older man's forehead. She gazed down at him, tenderly, and whispered, "I need you to come back, my friend."

Lani wasn't expecting anything to happen, so she was understandably surprised when Heath murmured, "A' course, Lan'; a' course," and opened charcoal gray eyes.

Everyone was so relieved to see him up that they completely ignored his right to privacy. Heath was glad that they all cared that much, but still. It got very annoying very quickly. The only person whose company he wanted was the one person who hadn't been to visit him since awakening. However, that was understandable-Lani had finally found her family again and she was taking time to get to know them again.

As for how the Greens had found out, well, that was an interesting story. Evidently, Lani had concealed her identity from her family, fearing that they wouldn't want her back after her part in destroying their life-long goal-the Black Fang. If I had been awake, I would have strangled that girl for not telling her family who she was. How could they not want her back, after all? Families are families, no matter what you do. I should know this, considering what big brother told me when I was not-quite dead.

When Heath had opened his eyes, Lani had all but jumped on him, squealing her delight. That had brought everyone else in the place running, including the Greens, whose home they were currently inhabiting. When Rein and Aloa had come in, Lani's hood had fallen back as she hugged Heath, lying almost on top of him on the bed. The two had looked up at the sounds of people coming in. Rein had dropped what he was carrying and him and Aloa had been next to Lani instantly, hugging her. Aloa had exclaimed, "Lanari! Oh, Lanari, you're back! My baby!" Lani had gotten a scared look on her face, which Rein had seen and interpreted correctly.

"Och, Lana, we be glad tae see ye, bairn, and whate'er adventures ye've haed will be tald soon, Ah'm sha'. Fae naow, wee wan, we be seein' ye're fraind safe," the man drawled, homey accent more than obvious.

And, sure enough, Heath had been tended to by everyone, and then the Greens had whisked all three of their children off for stories to be told. Before disappearing, Aloa had told all of them where everything was in the house so that they could take care of everything while the five were closeted. It had been three days and there was still no sign of them. And, even worse-in Heath's mind-Serra was forcing him to take foul-smelling concoctions so that he could "recover." He had tried appealing to Lucius and Renault, but to no avail-Renault said he didn't care, and Lucius sided with the pink-haired witch.

Exactly on time, Lucius appeared in the doorway, mug of poison in hand. "Come on, Lucius; the point's for me to get better, not be poisoned by that she-devil!" Heath exclaimed. He wrinkled his nose as the stench of said poison was wafted under his nose-it smelled even worse than the normal potion.

"Serra wouldn't poison you, Heath; she's a Bishop, after all. Now, please, don't complain and drink this, or you won't be fit for the banquet tonight. Yes, banquet, Heath. The Greens have come out of self-imposed exile, and just in time. The King of Etruria is throwing a banquet for us, here in Castle Fang, and all of us must attend. So, please, just drink this," the blond-haired Bishop all but pleaded.

"…" Heath eyed the goblet, then sighed in resignation and held out a hand. The other he used to plug his nose against the smell. Lucius smiled and handed the goblet over to the Wyvern Lord, who downed it in one gulp. Heath made a disgusted face and leaped for the water pitcher, which he proceeded to empty in short order. "There, happy?" At the Bishop's nod, Heath all but jumped out of bed and made his way to the door.

Lucius watched him go with a smile, knowing exactly where the older man was headed. "Good luck, friend," he murmured, well aware that Heath wouldn't hear it. "Blessed St. Elmine, watch over those two. May they be happy together for a very long time."

"Heath!" Lani cried, pouncing on Heath with a hug. She was dressed up in a dress rather than her usual uniform of skirt, shirt, and cape. It was modest and a bright purple, neatly complimenting her violet hair. Her crimson eyes glowed as she stepped back, looking up at him. "I'm so glad you're feeling better. Serra said you'd be up, but I didn't believe her..."

"I'm fine, Lani," he assured her, feeling the familiar clench in his gut that he got whenever he saw her. He pushed it away, firmly reminding himself of the Tactician's age. But it doesn't help when she's dressed up and glowing at me. He did claim a dance with his friend before turning her over to someone else-he thought it was Eliwood, but he wasn't sure.

Lani stumbled up the stairs after the party. I...I must've had a little too much to drink. How many glasses? Maybe no more than three or four...I gotta remember to not drink at parties, I always end up inebriated...At least I've never woken in someone else's bed... She stumbled again, and blinked, the room waving in and out of focus. Wake up, she hissed at herself, pinching her arm to no avail. Is this my door? she wondered, blinking in a semi-drunken stupor as she stared at the wood door that had appeared in front of her. I think it is. Gods, I hope it is. She walked in, almost hitting the door. The light was on, illuminating someone.

"Oh, sharry. M' mistake, frien'. Ah'll jes' be on me way," she giggled. The figure was at her side instantly, frowning down at her.

"Lani, are you drunk?" Heath's voice asked her. She nodded, and giggled helplessly, watching him think. It was sort of cute, the way he tilted his head just so and scrunched up his face. "All right, this way." He led her over to his bed, and tucked her in.

"Heath? What are you doing?" she asked him, confused. In her drunken state, she didn't fully realize what was happening.

"You can't make it back to your room, so I'm giving you my bed for the night," the Wyvern Lord replied, settling down onto a cushioned chair. "I've slept on worse, and this way you'll wake up comfortably, even if you've got a head from all the alcohol you drank. I should've known you couldn't keep up with Wallace."

Lani frowned, and then remembered. She'd had a glass or two when General Wallace-much farther gone than her-had stumbled over and challenged her to a drinking contest. She'd accepted, out of a combination of pride and drink. "Oh. Yesh, well, Ah could nae jes' let 'im win a contest. Ah haed tae do me bes', and tha' bes' won!" she stated proudly.

"Of course, Lan', of course. Now go to sleep," he chuckled, turning off the light. "Goodnight," he murmured.

"'Night, Hea'," she mumbled, falling into sleep, snuggling into Heath's comfy, warm bed.

BloodyCrystal: Okay, that's it. The last chapter before the epilogue. See ya next time.