The Princess is free, the friends reunited. Only one task remains, a far greater challenge than any so far. Now that the adventure is over, the heroes must act with wisdom…
Part Five- Feelings
The five of them rode into Nrefder's Palace on horses they had caught in the Scar to the background noise of a cheering crowd. Once Prysen- now stewing in a lovely dungeon- had been overpowered and arrested, they had begun to head back. However, as the most direct route did not actually lead through the Scar, they had split into two groups- Jozan, her sister, and the two Mages had wanted to see their home again, or to learn more about the strange magic. The others had seen, in Seto's words, 'no point', so they had split up and headed back by different routes. Now, the party that went to the Scar was arriving at the Palace, probably or so after the others. Nrefder seemed happy to see them, but, embarrassed, they hurried through the crowd and into the relative quiet of the Palace Grounds. Yugi, Jonouchi and Anzu were there to greet them.
"Danielle! You're back!"
"Yup!" She grinned, hoping down. She had put a spell on the horse, which had made her ride a lot more fun.
"Ryou! How'd it go?" Anzu asked, warmly, as her mage dismounted to.
"Very well." Ryou smiled, glancing at the remainder of the group. "But… it's good to be home."
"It's good to have you back." Anzu agreed, giving him a quick hug. He, as he always did, blushed profusely.
They headed indoors, where preparations for that evening's coronation were almost complete, deep in happy conversation.
"I hope you don't mind me tagging along…"
"Not at all! You were just as much involved as anyone!"
"The best bit was when she squashed Seto…"
"That was priceless!"
"Hey! That's uncalled for!"
"It was hilarious…"
"I wish to differentiate my opinion!"
It seemed things would all be alright now.
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The crown was placed onto Anzu's head, to the applause of those present. She straightened up, and, as her Uncle stood down from the ornate throne, she went and took her place before it, smiling down at those around her.
"Thank you." She said, looking exactly like the young ruler she was, eyes sparkling. "I am a very lucky person. I am, after all, now the ruler of a country of which I am very proud; and that I will protect and lead with everything I have. Of course, I must also thank those that lead the way- to my Uncle, for keeping Nrefder going; to my Godfather, who assisted… And also to those who, as I'm sure you're all aware, allowed me to be here today." She gestured at her rescue party, the members dotted around the room. Even Seto was in attendance. Perhaps he had nowhere else to go. "To them, I would like to say the largest thank you of all. To show my gratitude, I ask you all to accept some rewards."
They glanced at each other in surprise.
"First, to the two that came to my aid right at the very end." Anzu began. "The Royal Guard shall receive an increase in pay;" There was an almighty, rather unprofessional cheer. "But, among them, were two that never bowed to the pressure put upon them. Cloward, Karne…"
The two jumped, surprised to be included, but hurried forward, bowing.
Anzu smiled a little sheepishly. "I'm afraid I didn't know what to give to you… So ask."
The two looked at each other.
"What we'd really like…" Cloward began tentatively. "Is our old jobs back."
"In the stables." Karne added, just in case.
Anzu blinked. She hadn't been expecting that, but she nodded. "If that's what you want, let it be so. But, at least, accept twice the pay that the Stable hands do."
The two glanced at each other again, grinning.
"Thank you…"
"Finally, as in the custom in Nrefder…" Anzu added. "You shall receive new names, to show that you have serviced the country." This really was a routine practise, somewhat akin to back after the war when medals were given. "And so, let you be called Chloe, and Katie."
They bowed again, and backed away. Anzu took a deep breath, before calling Jozan and Amnis forward. She wasn't good with all this formal speaking…
"Jozan, Amnis. You did not have to help, and yet you did- and without you, they would have got no further then the Scar. For that, I thank you to, and give you the right to use any amount from the Treasury; until such a time that the funds are sufficient to have Li'anon rebuilt."
The two sisters gawped at her, and at each other, in shock. Then, they began to smile. In the audience, Danielle was grinning to.
"Now, go and do your best- Joanne, Amy."
"Jonouchi… Your first duty has always been to your Prince, and yet, you put your whole self into the task. Thank you. For you…" She gestured at one of her ladies in waiting, who stepped shyly forward. "I release this girl from her job contract, with Nrefder's full protection behind both of you."
"I…" Jonouchi stammered, blinking. Then he had a proper look at the 'girl' who was to go with him, and smiled. "Shizuka!"
"Jou…" She came, and hugged him hard. "Let's go home, okay?"
"Alright."
"Then go." Anzu smiled, genuinely happy. Shizuka was a good girl, and she'd miss her. But the girl had always spoke of her brother, and she knew that was where she needed to be. "Go, with the full blessing of Nrefder, and the given name of 'Joseph'."
He nodded, to overcome to speak, and the two slipped back into the audience. Seto was called next.
"Seto… Called 'The Silent Wind'…" Anzu smiled at him, wryly. She had known him a long time, and had grown used to his mysteries and moods. "I don't understand you at all, Seto. I had no idea how to reward you! But I had some sources who had some rather… productive suggestions…" Seto looked around. Jozan and Amnis gave him waves and thumbs up. He glared at them, wondering what they had got him into. "They brought it to my attention that, although you are a knight, you have no land of your own. So I am giving you land. The Scar now belongs to you." Seto stared at her. "You still have to let people pass freely through!" Anzu warned him. "But, anyone wanting to forage, or cut down trees, or whatever else, has to get your permission."
Seto looked at the floor. Amnis and Jozan had actually had a good idea. He smiled slightly. "Thank you."
Ryou was pulled up next.
"Ryou…" She said, fondly. "I cannot give you a new name, as you already have your Mage's one. But you have shown bravery and commitment that is not usually assigned to your job, and, indeed, used your skills in creative new ways- even in combat. For that… I knight you now." Ryou looked at her in surprise, but accepted the Knighthood. "You are the first Knight of Noxell, with all the privileges and responsibilities that go with it, able to use magic. May you be the first of many."
Danielle was so happy for him that she almost missed her own name being called. She hurried forward, bowing.
"Danielle…Just as Jonouchi and Ryou did, you went further then was ever expected or required of you. Your initiative and compassion are rare these days, and they proved invaluable to us, as you were the one who all but finished Prysen off. Thank you so much. To you, I give the right to any and every plant you find here in Nrefder that you can use. I also give you the title and status of our nobility, so others will know of what you've done for us." Danielle accepted, blushing a little at the generosity. She bowed again, and moved back into the audience.
Yugi was the last up to be called. He waited patiently, the only one among them who did not have to bow.
"Yugi… Prince of Noxell…" Anzu smiled at her friend. "The problem was not yours, but still, you came to help me. My oldest, dearest, friend, you have a large heart; you make good, just decisions, and I know that when your time comes you will make Noxell a fine King. You came here expecting to have our engagement formalised…" She looked right into his eyes. "But, with my sincerest apologies, I must decline."
There was a murmur of surprise around the room. Danielle gasped aloud.
"To me, it seems the struggles between our nations since the civil war have been for one to gain dominance over the other." Anzu explained. "If we were to marry, the question would still remain- which country would be absorbed into which? For that reason, and to avoid this struggle of power, I suggest an alliance secured not with our marriage, but with our word. Is this acceptable?"
Yugi bowed slightly, smiling in relief. "Very."
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Danielle was sitting with Jozan- or 'Joanne', she supposed- in a quiet corner of Anzu's celebratory ball. Yugi was with Ryou and Anzu, laughing at something. Amnis was striking up conversation with some of the people they'd been imprisoned with- as it had turned out, the other girls in the house had all been the daughters of various important people, from both countries. Seto was skulking in a corner, eying up the exit hopefully. Jonouchi was talking to the King of Noxell and the old Prince Regent. It was probably a good job that she couldn't hear what was said.
"It was a wise decision…" The King was saying, slowly. "But it does present another problem- A King should not be without a Queen when he gets older, and vice versa. They're such good friends… If they won't marry each other, who will they marry?"
Jonouchi smirked. "Perhaps you should have a word with their Mages…"
The King and Regent looked at him in confusion. "Elaborate…"
"Ow!" Danielle yelped, going cross-eyed as Jozan prodded her in the centre of her forehead.
"Sorry…" Jozan laughed. "I wanted to get your attention… I take it you're going back to Noxell?"
"Yes." Danielle nodded happily.
"Well… Come visit us!" Jozan commanded. "When we've rebuilt Li'anon to twice it's old size!" She smiled happily, but there was worry in it to.
"What's up…Joanne?"
Jozan rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh… Let's just stick to 'Jo' for now, okay?" Danielle laughed at her. "To be honest, I'm a bit nervous. I don't know a thing about building a village… I don't have much to go on, except…" She pulled a strip of red cloth from her pocket. "I have this. The last bit of Li'anon. It was a curtain, but most of it was burnt. I've had it with me since the day it burnt."
"You'll be fine." Danielle assured her. Just then, Ryou walked over.
"Excuse my interruption, but I do think our friend over there is getting impatient…" Ryou nodded over at Seto. "Is it time?"
Danielle nodded. "Jo! Make sure he doesn't leave!" She commanded, hurrying off to one of the back rooms.
"I'll try…" She muttered, wondering just how she was going to stop him in he tried. Then, he moved, striding purposefully towards the door.
"Ahhh, Seto! You're not going already, are you!" Jozan demanded, a little shrilly. Seto was heading towards the door. If he made it, it would ruin everything. She planted himself in his path.
"Yes." He scowled, stepping around her.
"But you can't!"
"And why not?" He raised an eyebrow, but he had stopped.
"Because…um… because…" Jozan floundered, inspiration, for once, escaping her. She glanced towards the doors at the other end of the hall. Still no sign. Where were they! "Because… because…" She'd thought of something, but was desperately trying to think of something, anything other then that.
"Four reasons?" Seto teased. "My goodness." He rolled his eyes. "Spit it out, or stop wasting my time."
"Because you haven't danced with me yet!" Jozan blurted out, resigned to her fate.
Seto looked genuinely surprised. "W-what?" He asked, taken aback.
"Yes, yes, come on!" Jozan said, slightly hysterically, grabbing his arms. "You have to dance with me! There's no getting away!" She began to pull him around jerkily, unable to believe she was doing this. Unable to believe she was dancing with Seto.
They'd better appreciate this. They owed her. Big time.
"…I see I have competition." Someone said, laughing softly from behind Seto's shoulder. He whirled around. Jozan sagged in relief and slipped away to give them some privacy.
"Az…!" He said, wondering if this was some hallucination. Had he picked something up on the quest? Was his mind playing tricks on him? "How did you-"
"Ssh." She said. And she held his hand.
Seto stared at it dumbly for a second.
"You can…?"
"Yes."
"And I don't…?"
"No." She smiled.
"Az." He smiled to, a rare, real smile, and then pulled her close to him. He could feel her warmth, feel her body pressing against his, feel her heart beating and her breath on his shoulder. She was here. She was touching him. For once, the how and why didn't matter to him. "Az…"
It wasn't so much that he didn't know what to say. He did. He knew exactly what to say. He had done for a long time. But he just couldn't do it.
"I love you." She whispered in his ear, from where her head rested on his shoulder. She didn't know how he would react, and he gave no reply, so she pulled away a little to look at his face. He didn't look happy. "Seto…"
"That's just what I was about to say." He complained.
Slowly, she smiled. "You could say it now."
"No, no, the moment's gone." Seto answered, stonily.
She smiled all the wider, and, unable to restrain herself, she took him round the neck and jumped up. He was surprised, but quickly got the message, and held her there. Held her close to him, her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist somewhere. So wonderfully close to him. "I don't care." She said, happily, looking down on his face.
And then she kissed him.
Ryou and Danielle, watching discreetly from across the room, gave each other a small hi-five when no-one was looking. It looked like a job well done. One Tree Spirit successfully separated from her tree in the nick of time, freed from her prison- and her family and home- but alive, and free. What a good job it was that someone understood the magic of plants and another the nature of spells on inanimate objects.
They'd never have got to see Seto and Jozan dance, otherwise.
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Danielle hung over the edge of the stationary boat, silently looking out to sea. The others had all disappeared below the deck, and there she was alone. Even her Yami had withdrawn from her. Perhaps he was running the events of the past through his mind just as she was. Places they'd been, people they'd met, duels won and lost- More often won. The next duel would be the last, though. Then she really would be alone.
"Mmm, the air feels good…" Jo stated, announcing her presence on the deck. So much had changed in Danielle's life, and so much would be different by this time the next day, but Jo had remained a constant fixture. She had always been there. "After being in ancient Egypt all that time, it feels nice to have some wind off the sea!"
"Yeah…" Danielle agreed, half-heartedly. Jo came to join her by the railing, as the boat began to judder slightly. It was almost time to go.
"Have you decided who's going to duel the Pharaoh yet?" Blunt as ever.
Danielle nodded. "I will."
"I thought you might say that." Jo smiled wryly, before looking down to the water, an inky blue colour as the evening progressed toward night. As another breath of wind flew over the water, the liquid itself moved and was alive. The trees tossed, and a leaf detached, dropping into the water, and sending ripples out all around it.
"Some people say…" Jo began, watching as the patterns spread. "That if you look into ripples you can see the future; or that ripples can show you another world, where everything and everyone is just a little different. Mistakes you've made, good things you've done, every decision- all different. New places and new circumstances… New personalities."
Danielle stared down to, but all she could see was the reflections of the stars before the boat started to move and the sky was consumed by the spray and ripples from the engines propelling them through the water.
"Other worlds, huh…?" She repeated, withdrawing before spray from the side of the boat could catch her face. "…You blatantly stole that from Doctor Who."
"Oh, c'mon…" Jo pouted. "The 'ripples' bit was mine!"
"Whatever, Jo." Danielle snorted. "At any rate, this is our world, and this is what we've got. That's the way the world is. Other worlds…" She glanced down again into the moving waters. "Yeah, right!"
But she was wrong. Somewhere, in a land far, far away, she and those around her were living happily ever after.
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At last, the adventure was over, and the heroes went their separate ways.
Anzu took the throne in Nrefder. The country experienced what came to be known as the golden years under her wise and caring leadership.
Ryou continues to work in Nrefder palace. He is now very respected.
Jozan and Amnis returned to the forest, with new names and a team of workers. They are now setting about reviving Li'anon, to twice the size it used to be.
Seto continues to come and go as he pleases, wandering the land. He is no longer alone. Az accompanies him, ensuring that the forests are safe.
Cloward and Karne live happily in obscurity amongst the pedigree horses at Nrefder Palace. The Bernard sits in the harbour, and occasionally runs trips for tourists.
Jonouchi went to reclaim his land. His father has disappeared, and his sister has also returned to the house. Between them, they are restoring the land and clan back to it's previous status. The first citizens are returning. Jonouchi is due to rejoin the inhabitants of Noxell Castle in a few months, and will back and forth between the two lands.
Yugi and Danielle returned to Noxell Castle, where life continues in a very similar train as it always did. They intended it to be so. Danielle is currently working on a way to industrialise the floatation charm, while Yugi is heading a crack-down on slavery and people smuggling in Noxell.
The people of Nrefder and Noxell alike are no longer afraid, and are looking forward to a bright and fruitful future.
THE END
A/N: And there we have it! Thank you for reading, if you got this far, and I hope you enjoyed! Happy birthday once again, Danniru:D Now, back to work on A Superhero Story… The next chapter is about two thirds done, and is much more my 'style' then this was. Still… I kinda liked it! And I hope you did to, if you've struggled on this far!
