A/N: Short chapter before the grand finale. Enjoy. Review. Consume.

Well, crap.

Jaheira was off doing...something. I don't know what. Somehow, the one time that I need a distraction, everyone vanished. Of course, that said, a distraction would only be cruel, would only delay the inevitable.

Aerie wept on my freshly-bandaged chest. Great, heaving sobs that made my heart hurt. Made me feel like someone was reaching into my insides, grabbing a fistful of organs, and twisting. Hard. She shoulders shuddered. I couldn't do much but watch, in my condition. Well, I could. I was getting better. But I didn't want to. I couldn't. I mean, she'd be there with me through a lot. Over time, I had really developed a soft spot for her. But I did what I could, when I could for her. Despite everyone's complaints that she was a whiner, I felt that maybe what she needed was a little looking out for, like Jaheira always did for me. I mean, she had been in a cage most of her life.

I reached out, stroked her hair. She just looked up, blonde locks askew, tears streaming down her face. Her huge blue eyes held such hurt...I couldn't really fathom it. She stared into mine, searching, and asked one question.

"Why?"

I couldn't answer. I really couldn't. I loved them both to tell the truth, but I loved Jaheira more. I don't know how else to put it. She ran off, and I sort of sighed. What was I supposed to do?

It took a day before I was good to go anywhere. Aerie hadn't spoken a word to me since, but at least she was still with us. But I had already made the decision. I called everyone together.

"Alright, everyone. Four down, one to go. From here, we go to the Solar. I need some advice."

Everyone nodded. The looks on their faces ranged from grim and stoic and out and out happy. They were ready for another balls-out fight already. Made me smile, on the inside. I brought us all to the Abyssal Cottage with minimal theatrics, and we all looked around. No Solar. No Cespanar. We had fought all the challenges, found ourselves. I knew what I was going to do.

"People, crowd around. There's something I want to say."

My people took a knee, looking up at me expectantly. They expected a rousing speech before we went off and took on Balthazar.

"I just wanted to thank you all. You've all always been there for me, at the risk of your own lives. At the risk of terrible loss to yourselves. At the end of the day, I just want to let you all know how much you mean to me. That's what I'm here to say. Thanks. But, in the end, I've dragged you all further and faster than I've had any right to. I appreciate it, I really do. But now it's time for you all to go and live your own lives. No more risk. Some of you have family to go home to. Some of you have jobs, kids. I can't take that away from you. I need to do this last bit by myself. If I make it, I'll look you up, no problem. We can split a pint, act like normal people for a day. Until then, I'm sending you back to where you came from. I'll travel the coast, up and down it. You people have obligations. And so do I."

Minsc stood, outraged. He was absolutely livid.

"Minsc and Boo will stay by your side to the end! Nothing can part us, nothing!"

"Minsc, your dejemma is over. Statues, send him to Rashamen. Goodbye, old friend. See you soon."

And then he was gone. Others stood, outraged. They had every right to be. But I couldn't bear it. A wave of my hand, and Nalia was back at her keep, probably yelling and gesturing at her majordomo. Jaheira was positively enraged. Red in the face. I sent her to the Friendly Arm Inn with a thought. She knew I'd turn up in Beregost as soon as I was able. Sarevok I sent to Nashkel, where (hopefully) no one could club him upside the head. Little Sis, Edwin and a bunch of others I sent to Candlekeep.Aerie was the only one to reach me, clutch on to me like it would keep us together. It didn't work. In twos and threes, they were sent back to their homes. Most of them were angry. They all objected, yelling their displeasure. Keldorn was the last to go. I was going to miss every one of them. He just shook his head, looked damn disappointed. The instant he looked like he was going to open his mouth, I sent him to his living room. I didn't want to hear it. It was unfair. I hated to see them go. But they had their own lives to lead, dammit.

I told the statues to send me back where I had come from. After that, well, I remembered that the smugglers owed me a favor. And guess who was waiting for me in their cave?

Yeah. I know.

Saemon Havarian. That snaky bastard. He smiled, gave me the run around. Yes, promised me the world...he'd help me kill Balthazar! He'd sneak me in at no cost. He'd watch my back. Of course, he did none of the above. He took off at first opportunity. He sold me to Balthazar's thugs. Oh, and I think he took some of my money, too. I ended up fighting three of them by myself, kicking down his door all pissed off.

"Lathander's limbs! What's your problem?"

He looked rather surprised. He started from his throne, waved off his bodyguards.

"I'm just doing what I need to do. Once I kill you, and Melissan, I'll kill myself, and our father will never return to life. It will be an honorable sacrifice."

"Why me? What did I do to you?"

"Nothing. But the tainted blood must be cleansed."

"Or we could use it. You know, do good, take down the five...oh wait, I forgot, you're one of them, you evil bastard!"

"I'm not evil. I'm working for the greater good. I'm in fact working to bring them down from the inside."

"Yeah, you're real good. While you were sitting on your ass, starving this town, I went out and killed Sendai and Abizigal!"

He thought a moment.

"Well, that changes things."

"Yeah, it does. How's about this- I met a Solar, and she's been advising me. How about we give her a visit?"

"Your words ring strangely true. Plus, you did my job for me, so I can fire all these damn mercenaries. Damn union dues have been killing me."

BG BG BG BG BG BG BG BG

Me and Balthazar just sort of stood there, jaws slack. Solar flamed and stood there, watching. She was typically satisfied with turning my world on its head, informing us that an ally was in fact an enemy. She was all divine and unreadable, but you could tell she was happy with a messed-up day's work.

"So..."

"Yeah. Melissan has been playing us like violins."

"Yes. Most troubling."

"So, what do we do?"

"Kill her, I suppose. She is an evil mastermind, after all."

"Good idea. So, yeah. Murderous vengeance, holy retribution, etc."

"That's the spirit."

"Alright. Solar, where is Melissan?"

"She is at the Throne of Bhaal...the place where your father's dread essence has gathered."

I thought about it a moment. My monkish companion just seemed confused.

"That sounds...bad. She shouldn't be there. And it sounds rather hard to get to."

"That it is, young godling. In order to get there, you must fold this plane in on itself and confront her. This is your destiny."

Yay, destiny, yay. Another battle.

"CESPANAR!"

"Yes Masters?"

"Go home. Go visit relatives or whatever it is you'd do if you weren't here."

"Errr...ummm...okays. Bye bye!"

And he was gone. I nodded to the Solar, looked at Balthazar. He was ready.

"Do it."

BG BG BG BG BG BG BG

After everyone got to wherever I sent them, as I was told afterwards, they all had the same reaction. They all flagged down the nearest peasant or knight or caravan and asked 'How much for that horse?' After that, well, they all rode as hard as they could to the nearest place they thought they could get help.