Hello again!

I think that I may be setting a record here with my update speed. I'm sorry to report that this is the end. My eternal gratitude to all who read my story, and the same one hundredfold to those of you kind enough to leave a review.

I'd like to let you know that there was a sort of glitch when this chapter was first loaded. My computer, for reasons that I suppose will remain forever unknown, my computer ate three-fourths of the epilogue. So for those of you who wonder why there was such a strange ending, I hope that this answers your questions.

Standard Disclaimers Apply.

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Two Worlds, One Soul

Epilogue – Until We Meet Again

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The company walked slowly through the empty corridors, their feet echoing hollowly in the deserted chambers. It seemed that with the fall of the Orois, all his henchmen had evaporated. They weren't complaining by any means, but it was strange nonetheless.

"So now that he's finally gone…how long are you planning on staying?" Aaron. Kenshin's sword bumped softly against his leg as he walked.

"Well, I'd assume that if Origin has power enough to blow Orois through the glass wall like that, he has enough power to send us home." Said Sheena.

"So you're just up and leaving?" asked Sam.

"Come on, you can stay one more night, can't you? We all need rest from the fight." Said Kyle.

"You said it…I'm beat." Said Lloyd, heaving an overdramatic sigh and only partially faking an exhausted stagger.

"What say you?" Asked Aaron, indicating the company in general. He received a chorus of replies ranging from Kratos' indifferent "…" to Zelos' hearty cry of "Yahoo! Party at Aaron's house!"

"Oh, brother…" Said Sam, rolling her eyes.

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As they passed the armory door again, Lloyd once again stopped and went inside.

"What are we doing here again?" asked Genis.

"I just thought that it would be a shame to leave all these weapons here, y'know?" said Lloyd. He shrugged. "Orois doesn't need them."

Yuan got out his bladecase. "All right, we'll take as many as this can hold. Choose carefully, we'll most likely not be able to take them all."

They made their way around the room, picking and choosing, and depositing their finds in the case. Lloyd had more than a little bit of fun putting in a twelve-foot spear. They pushed it into the case, and it just kept going in and in and in. He knew it was going to do that, but it was rather cool to watch.

After they had forced everything that was possible into the little case, the room was actually completely clear. There had been several items that they hadn't put into the bag, but those were small enough to be carried.

"Well, that's that." Said Lloyd, as they left the empty room. "Now this place can blow up and there won't e anything lost."

The company went buggeyed. "BLOW UP!"

"Yeah, when I was looking at Orois' computer up there, I set it to self destruct." Said Lloyd. He cast a smug look at the professor, who was gaping at him.

"Wow, Lloyd, you're as smart as the professor!" chirped Colette.

"Wow…I never even thought that Lloyd could be smart enough to use a calculator, much less a computer." Said Genis.

"Huh? Computer? Nah, I just pressed a big red button that said 'Do Not Press. Ever.' and then this message popped up on the screen that said 'Self-Destruct Activated'"

They sweatdropped. "Typical Lloyd." Sighed Sheena.

Yuan looked nervous. "And precisely how long did it say we have to get out of here?"

Lloyd thought for a moment. "I'd say we've got about five minutes left."

They gaped at him again, then took off as is Orois himself was behind them. As they ran, both Kratos and Raine were whacking Lloyd's head and wondering where they had gone wrong with him.

"Uh, Lloyd? Eternal Sword us outta here before we all get blown to Kingdom Come, please!" Shouted Aaron.

Lloyd instantly conjured up the blade and held it in front of him like a lance. The he stabbed forward and carved it upwards. In its wake was a rift in the air, and Lloyd ran through it without hesitation. (Think Golden Tiger Claws) They followed, and found themselves on the same hill they had initially arrived from, and as the final member jumped from the hole in space, the structure began to shudder. Thirty long seconds later, it was consumed in a blinding flash of flame. When they could see again, there was nothing but ash and shards of blackened chrome.

"Shall we?" asked Kyle.

Lloyd sliced another rift in space, and they were gone.

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The group stumbled into Aaron and Sam's living room, and the portal faded.

"All right, guys…Let's just go to bed. We'll talk in the morning." Said Sam.

To tired to debate, they just stumbled off to beds.

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Kratos' sleep was deep and fitful for much of the night. He felt as though the giant weight that had been dragging at him for the past few days was suddenly removed. His sanity was intact, and so was his family. There truly were such things as happy endings after all.

Do not make such assumptions, Kratos Aurion. You know better than most how easily it is to deceive.

'What? Who?' Kratos found himself standing on a rocky platform, which itself was floating over an abyss of endless blackness. 'Show yourself!'

I am already here, but to your eyes I am formless in my present state.

Kratos nevertheless found himself straining his vision to find the source of the voice.

All is not as it seems, Kratos Aurion. Powers greater than yourself are at work here. This is the calm before the storm, Kratos Aurion. Be ready…or be destroyed.

'What do you mean?' asked Kratos, 'Who are you?'

A power that was created…a power that was resurrected… and a power that was imprisoned since the dawn of time…

'And which question does that answer?'

In more than one way, it is more than one answer, Kratos Aurion…

'You speak in riddles.'

It is a curse, I'm afraid…My time runs short. I must leave before I am sensed here…Goodbye for now, Kratos Aurion.

The dream faded to blackness.

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As the company arose the following morning, they slowly made their way into the kitchen, where Kyle and Aaron were helping Genis and Regal make a giant breakfast of pancakes, sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs. The smell was absolutely entrancing, and it had them all salivating. They all dug in, and friendly conversation filled the room and they all laughed easily. Even Kratos, mystified as he was about the dream, found himself roaring with laughter over the antics of Zelos. He was attempting to get the maple syrup out of the bottle and accidentally squirted it all over Sheena. When she leapt to her feet, Aaron got up, pushed her back into her seat, and confiscated the syrup from Zelos.

"No fighting today, even between you two." He said.

"But Aaron…" Sheena grumbled, indicating the sugary goodness that was now soaking into her shinobi robes.

"Should I let her?" Aaron asked the world in general.

"YEAH!" cried the group.

"Just this once, I suppose. It's only fair that she pays you back, Zelos." Chuckled Sam.

"Don't I get a say in this?" asked Zelos mournfully.

"No!" remarked Sheena cheerfully, and squished his face into his plate of syrup-soaked pancakes.

Zelos sat up slowly, his face covered in butter and his hair drenched in syrup. Sheena erupted in laughter, but soon received a spoonful of scrambled eggs in her face. She immediately seized a handful of sausage like kunai, but Aaron caught her wrist before she could throw. Kratos relieved Zelos of his plate and his makeshift catapult.

"I believe that we said no fighting?" Kratos said, almost sweetly.

He immediately got a pancake in his face.

There was no stopping it now, the war was on. Breakfast flew around the room in an unrelenting storm. Everything was dripping syrup, butter, and bacon grease. For ten minutes pancakes fell like rain and even Yuan got into it. Then everyone settled down and sat back to rest and observe the damage.

There was syrup and food everywhere. It reminded Aaron of the pool deck after the swim team's Ice Cream Party (And resultant Senior's Chocolate Sauce Free-For-All). Don't ask, not a pretty sight.

"I told you people that something bad was going to happen if we got to infighting." Grumbled Aaron.

"Oh come on…that was the most fun I've had since I got here!" said Lloyd, grinning and licking his fingers.

"All right…if we're going to ever get this cleaned up, we're going to need your help." Said Sam.

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Hours and several castings of Spread and Tidal Wave (at much-reduced pressures and volumes) the kitchen and its occupants were finally clean. They also managed to repair the dart holes in furniture and walls, fix the broken windows, and patch the hole in the garage wall. It was about two when anyone felt like doing much of anything again.

"Well, thanks so much for your help fixing this place up," said Sam, sinking deep into a leather recliner.

"It was the least we could do. After all…it was our fault that the damage was done anyways." Said Kratos.

A few more minutes passed. "Hey guys…" said Kyle.

"Yes?" asked Raine.

"You want to have a party?"

"What for?" asked Yuan.

"Who cares? It's a party!" cried Zelos. He and Lloyd started cheering.

"Ahem." They quieted. "Why? To thank you guys. You, who we never in our wildest dreams believed we would be able to meet, suddenly appear out of nowhere and take us along on the adventure of a lifetime. Besides." Aaron grinned, "do you really want to just up and leave without some celebration for vanquishing a dreaded foe?"

"I suppose not…" said Kratos.

"It can't hurt." Said Sheena. Aaron noticed something odd in her voice. Was it…reluctance?

"As long as you don't expect me to dance." Yuan grumbled.

"Oh come on, it'll be fun!" said Colette, her eyes bright.

Yuan harrumphed dismissively.

"You're no fun. Why don't you live a little, you old coot!" said Lloyd, deadpan.

He and Genis were joined in uproarious laughter at the expression on Yuan's face.

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In half an hour, Genis and Regal brought out an assortment of snack foods for the party. Lloyd was instantly salivating over a giant platter of nachos and cheese and had to be dragged away by Kratos before he busted his suspenders. Colette and Zelos found the whole affair highly amusing.

Aaron and Kyle put together a collection of music that ranged from Nickelback to Queen to even favorites from the ToS soundtrack. Sam held up a CD of slowdance music and pointed to Lloyd and Colette, then Genis and Presea, then Zelos and Sheena. The three of them laughed conspiratorially to themselves, though Aaron had a strange dubious expression on his face at the last one.

Soon the furniture was cleared from the dining room and the stereo was set up on the impromptu dance floor. Aaron raised his hands like a conductor, counted off with his fingers and called loudly, "And a one, and a two, and a one, two, three! HIT IT!" He flicked the switch and the music started on. The group immediately fell into party mode and the enjoyment lasted many long hours. There was tons of soda, and Lloyd drank himself nearly sick. Zelos complained loudly about the lack of alcohol, but was silenced by a dagger glare from Raine.

"Personally, Zelos, I don't trust you when you're sober. I'd hate to see you drunk." Said Sheena. Zelos mimed being stabbed in the heart.

"You slay me, my voluptuous hunny!" said Zelos, gasping in mock pain.

"Just for once, could you stay slayed for a little while?" grumbled Sheena.

The night went on.

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"Hey…look at that." Whispered Sam in Raine's ear. She pointed to the couch. Over the backrest, they could see Lloyd and Colette (The backs of their heads, at least) sitting very close together on the couch. They spoke in hushed tones, and blushed or giggled every so often. As they watched, Lloyd put his arm around Colette and she snuggled against him.

At the same time, on the opposite side of the room, Genis and Presea were engaged in a conversation that was making even Presea's face tinge a faint pink. The young mage stuttered out something to the axegirl, and she smiled almost knowingly and whispered something in his ear. Genis stared at her in a mixture of shock, amazement, and apparently extreme happiness for several moments before Presea broke his trance by taking his hand in hers.

"I told you so…" said Aaron. "All it would take was a change in atmosphere and he would do it."

"Right. And the fact that she saved his life has absolutely nothing to do with it," said Kyle. They grinned anyways.

Regal, Yuan, and Kratos were standing together on the dance floor, sipping sodas and talking amongst themselves. The music prevented their words from reaching the others, and no one wanted to intrude upon what seemed to be an intensely personal conversation.

The terrans and Zelos convened at the stereo. Sam waved the slowdance CD, and the others nodded in hearty agreement.

"Maybe now my voluptuous honey will dance with me!" said Zelos, heart-eyed.

Sam stopped the music and called out to the group. "Please clear the floor, the next couple songs will be for just that, couples! I repeat, the next several songs are for couples only!" she inserted the disc and presses 'play'.

As Kratos, Regal and Yuan moved off the dance floor, Lloyd and Colette moved on. As they embraced and began to slowly sway to the beat, Presea came on with the crimson-faced but smiling Genis.

Sheena even allowed Zelos to dance with her, but "Only for one song, and if I catch your eyes anywhere but my face and your hands anywhere but my waist, I swear I'll…" she let her expression (and razor-edged cards) finish the sentiment for her.

Off to the side, Sam and Raine were having a heated debate with Yuan, Kratos and Regal. The three men protested dancing, seeing as they 'had promised themselves to only one' and would not join in now that their loved ones were gone. Sam would take none of it, and soon Kratos found himself on the dance floor in Sam's arms, and discovered that he enjoyed it despite himself.

Raine, as it turned out, was determined to give the stubborn men a good time whether they wanted it or not. Aaron caught something about 'not wanting you to be boring sticks-in-the-mud for the rest of your lives,' and it was enough for him. She took Yuan first, and after the song swapped him for Regal, who had actually been dancing with Presea. It was comical, to say the least, to watch the towering CEO attempt to dance with the diminutive axegirl, and they were all laughing. Except Genis, of course.

Aaron and Kyle stayed largely off the floor, neither being comfortable at such events, and to be truthful, a little bit intimidated by the company. Aaron noticed that Sheena had disappeared after dancing with Zelos and then Lloyd, so when Kyle was picked up by Colette, he went to find her.

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"Sheena?" he said. He looked into the kitchen, but there was no sign of her. He shrugged, and then went to look outside on the deck. There he found her, looking up at the stars. She looked back when the door opened, and motioned for him to come out and join her.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, leaning over the railing next to her. "You're missing the party."

She was silent for a moment. "I'm just not comfortable at these sort of things. My whole training in Mizuho was 'conceal yourself in shadows, stay hidden, never reveal yourself'. After a life like that, it's rather difficult to adopt yourself for social interaction. I always hated it when my diplomatic duty forced me to those Royal balls…I never fit in, never felt right."

"Hmm…I suppose I know what you mean." He murmured. At her odd look, he continued. "Not the ninja training, the party thing. Something never feels right about it. Something's…I don't know, missing." He paused. He thought back to the school dances, and how he had always thought that he didn't really belong there. He and Sheena talked for God-knew-how-long. Then, they just got quiet, staring out into the night.

After a time, Aaron looked up towards the sky and asked quietly. "Do you think that we'll ever see each other again?"

She blushed lightly, but then it faded when she asked, "The entire group, or us two in particular?"

It returned when Aaron answered, "Both, I think." He paused for a moment. In the quiet, Sheena asked,

"This whole ordeal must have been incredibly strange to you guys. I mean, we show up out of the blue and drag you off on a crazy adventure to stop a crazy madman on a rampage…what was it like?"

"What was it like?" he echoed, "It made me question my sanity at first. I mean, I never once expected the people I enjoyed so much time with on a TV screen to suddenly end up standing in my living room. I never would have dreamed that I would end up adventuring with them and discovering that one of my favorite graphic novels could be used as a history book. I never in my wildest dreams anticipated spending time with people that I had only wished were real before." He paused for breath, "It makes you wonder if there really is a higher power out there."

"Do you believe in one?"

"I like to think so. What about Martel? Is she still a Goddess to you?"

"I don't even know anymore. It turned out that the Goddess was a twisted tale spun by a madman, and then she was resurrected as part of a Summon Spirit… it'll take me a while to sort it all out. What power holds your faith?"

"Destiny." He said simply. "How else could anything this incredible actually have happened?"

"Destiny, huh?" she smiled and stared off into the night.

"So…do you think we'll meet again?" he asked.

When she turned back to him, there was a smirk on her face. "I suppose that all depends…on destiny." She said cryptically. They laughed. "That, or a certain thick-headed swordsman with the power to alter reality." They laughed again.

"Okay, now you're just teasing me." he chuckled.

"But really. I think that we will see each other again."

After a moment of silence, there came another voice. "Hey, you lovebirds…it's the last chance to have a dance!" they jumped in surprise and ended up in each other's arms. Without noticing their position, they yelled in unison, "We are not!"

Zelos looked pointedly at them. "Suuuuuure you aren't."

They looked back at each other and jumped apart. "Shall we?" asked Aaron.

"It'd be a sin not to." Said Sheena. And together, they punched Zelos' lights out.

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As they waited for Zelos to recover, they said their goodbyes. When at last they were ready to go, Yuan reached into a pouch on his belt and removed three rounded crystal pendants on silver chains. He handed one each to Sam, Aaron, and Kyle.

There was a rune-carved band of silver around the base. Yuan explained that they were communication devices, and soon all of the company would carry them. They were activated by speaking your name and a special password of the owner's choosing. They could then speak to anyone else who held one.

Sheena shot Aaron a look that said See? I told you.

Then, while dragging the semi-conscious Zelos, Lloyd created a rift in space and they stepped into it. In a flash of white light, they were gone. The music in the background slowly faded out.

"Na na na na. Na na na na. Hey, hey, hey…goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye…"

They were silent for a time. Kyle finally breached it. "You realize that no one is ever going to believe us…"

"I don't even have pictures, darn it!" grumbled Sam.

"Does it matter what other people think? We know what happened. That's enough for me." said Aaron, fingering the pendant. One word kept echoing in his mind.

Destiny…

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Well, that's that. Personally, I don't like parts of this anywhere near as much as the first time, but that's what happens when the computer eats your files.

By the way, you know the plot overhaul I did on Heart Soul and Sword? Well, I'm going to take that and make it into the sequel to Two Worlds, One Soul. Don't expect it for a little while, but it is coming, I promise.

Sheena/Aaron? Possibly. I'm really not sure at this point, that whole scene just sort of happened. It was really there to foreshadow something completely different in the next one.

See you all next time.

-ZZ