Chapter 15

Earth Rift

The battle was finished, the Mulldack defeated and his army all but destroyed.

There was work to be done. Bodies to bury. War does not come without a price to pay. For now, however, Z had done his job. He, along with his friends, collapsed upon the grass of the courtyard and fell into a deep sleep.

This day was finished and tomorrow it would start anew.

7 days later…

The fortress had undergone extensive repairs since the battle, but now, a week since, it was looking a little better. The brutal scars of battle, the blood, the bodies, the craters, had been removed and it looked far more hospitable.

Some things were not so easy to take away or repair. Much of the fortress had been destroyed and it would take many months to rebuild. The lives that had been lost, of course, were never to return.

Z knew that it was time to leave. He had fulfilled his part of the bargain, the Mulldack was defeated and peace restored and now it was time to go home. His real home, planet Earth. So why was he upset? Z guessed he must have grown attached to this world, as crazy as it was, but he had to go. It was, after all, only fiction. But how hard to tell yourself that after having almost given your life to save it?

The sun was rising over the horizon, the start of a new day. Z sat on his hill, watching the golden spectacle of light. It was still morning, and the grass was wet with dew, but he did not mind. Watching the sunrise from a hill in the great fields of Disney Creek. It was the last time he would do so.

Z heard a shuffling of the grass and he turned to see that Lirael had joined him.

"Good morning. It's a nice day."

"Yes."

An awkward silence fell.

"Lirael…you know…I'm leaving today. Okay?" She did not look surprised to hear it.

"Really? Oh…"

"Yeah. Mickey promised he would send me back to Earth today."

"So…this is the last time you'll ever sit in Disney Creek, huh?"

"I guess so."

A butterfly flew by. Z noticed its wings, the beauty of its colour and grace. Just a simple butterfly, yet so complex in its design.

"You've been coming to this hill every morning since it happened."

Z turned to gaze at her, but said nothing. He looked back at the butterfly as it rested upon a flower.

"I know."

"Why?" Z thought for a moment. Why had he been coming here?

"I suppose its because I like it. Its peaceful. There's no noise here and you can listen to the birds sing. I never used to listen to them, not much anyway. They sing so beautifully, yet I never noticed it before. Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know…"

"I think its because I took it for granted. Back in the throne room, with the Mulldack. I was almost killed. I felt the cold embrace of death. Do you know what it taught me?"

"No. What? What did it teach you?"

Z turned back to the butterfly. It glided silently over the grass, brushing each blade.

"It taught me to savour life. It taught me to admire the beauty of nature, to look, each day, at how precious each moment can be. We don't live for ever, you know."

Lirael was concerned. She knew Z had been through a lot, but even so, this wasn't like him.

"Z…when you died…what did you see. Afterwards, I mean. What comes after death?"

Z turned back to her, and stared deep into her eyes.

"You wouldn't understand it. Its not like this life, not at all. Its so…so very different. You don't see things in the same way. If you see them at all. All I can tell you for sure is that its not like this life. Savour every moment of this life, because the next isn't the same."

The butterfly flapped its wings, soaring high into the clouds until Z could see it no more.

"So," he said, grinning broadly. Lirael sighed. It was the same old Z she had known. "Lets go get my guns."

"Why do you want them? Do you need them?"

"No…not really. I guess I want them because…because they're mine. I want them because they're mine. I haven't had the courage to go back and get them yet. Now I shall."

They walked back to the fortress together, through the great field. Workers were walking back and forth, carrying large stones and wood in stretchers. They came to the gates. They were new, Z remembered how his tank had destroyed the old ones, and Mickey had replaced them.

The courtyard was next and as they opened the gate they caught sight of a few familiar faces. There was Rikku, amongst the crowd, and Jak carrying working tools.

Z walked onwards, to the great wooden doors that led to the corridor beyond, where, only a week previously, his friends had fought for their lives. No workers had been through these doors, most out of fear.

Lirael pushed them open and they walked to the corridors end, a few splashes of Dark Warrior blood still smeared upon the walls. Then came the doors to the throne room.

"Z, are you sure you want to go back inside?"

"Yes. I have to get my pistols, I can't leave them."

The doors creaked open and they entered once again the magnificent, massive throne room. The window was still shattered, no one had replaced it. (although the body of the Mulldack had been removed and burnt to ashes) The candles had long since burnt out, tiny stumps of wax remaining. Thousands of glass shards covered the floor like a glittering carpet, and, in the centre of this, lay Z's duel guns.

Daylight had flooded the room and any menace it had once held had gone with it. Z walked through the shards, the sound of cracking glass and his footsteps echoing on the marble filled the room. He stopped before his pistols, bent down and picked them up.

Lirael thought she heard him speak. She could not be sure, but it sounded like "I've missed you."

Z holstered one gun and wiped the other clean with his sleeve, then he did the same with the second. When they were gleaming once again he holstered both and headed back for the door, where Lirael was waiting.

"You okay?"

"Yeah…I'm fine."

"Come on." She said. "Lets get you home."

Z smiled as Lirael walked back out into the corridor, then he turned, took one last look at the throne room, and closed the door behind him.

"Hey, Z, Lirael! Wait up!" Daz shouted over as they left the corridor behind them. He ran over, panting for breath.

"Come on…you've got to follow me back to the fields…its time." Z nodded. He understood. They left the fortress, Z reflected, for the last time. He turned back briefly to catch a glimpse of it, it was so beautiful, even with the damage. Lirael pulled his arm and they continued.

Daz broke the silence.

"So, are you both going back?"

"I'm going. I like it here, but Earth is my home. My real home. I have to go back. How about you Daz?"

"Yes. I'll go back to Blitzen City. I have work there, but fist I must destroy the Fiction Dimension Port. Its far to dangerous, anyone could use it to break into the fiction world for their own purposes."

They wondered on through a field of waist high flowers, each pink with a purple centre and hundreds of insects buzzing from one to the next.

"Lirael? Are you going back?"

"Yes…I suppose. I have no where else to go."

A huge black shape loomed on the horizon. Z brushed his pistols with his thumbs, despite already knowing what the shape was. As they walked closer it became obvious the shape was a marble statue of some sort. It had been carved from black marble, as black as coal. The first piece was easily over ten feet tall, flat and shaped roughly like a tomb stone. This was positioned upright, atop another slab of black marble, twice the size, acting as a sort of platform.

Into the standing piece thousands of words were carved, each carved word painted in gold. The words were names, each and every one of them. This was a war memorial.

For a few minutes the little group stared at the marble tablet in silence. Lirael bent down beside it and plucked a handful of pink and white flowers, gathering them into a bunch. She stepped forward onto the raised platform and dropped the bunch onto it, so that the bright petals brushed the golden names at the bottom of the list. Then they moved on.

"That…was a nice gesture Lirael." Silence returned. In the distance they could see a group of people, maybe five or more, congregating on a small hill. Z knew that among them were Mickey and Samos, the people that would transport him back to Earth. Soon he would be home once more.

A few minutes later Z, Daz and Lirael arrived, joining the group.

"Good to see you again."

"You to Ruby." Lirael smiled. Kiz turned to them and grinned, happy they had come. She had made a good recovery, her strength had returned, a few scars and burn marks all that was left of the damage.

Z shivered, looking down at his own wrists and the scars that they bore. That they would always bear. Facing away from him were, as he had expected, Mickey and Samos, sitting on the grass and meditating. He approached Goofy.

"Why aren't they greeting us?"

"Because they're meditating, building energy and strength. They need it to send you back to Earth. It requires a great deal of power."

A summer breeze blew over the hill, rustling the grass. The world, it seemed, was still.

"How's Donald?"

"He's doing fine. He wanted to come and see you go, but he isn't strong enough yet. The injury was pretty serious, but a Fairy managed to heal him in time. He'll make a full recovery, he just needs some rest, that's all."

"Glad to hear it."

Goofy turned away for a second, uncertain if he should ask Z the question they all wanted to know.

"Z…how are you?"

"I'm fine…why?"

"No, I mean…how are you feeling after…you know."

Z knew what Goofy meant. He was surprised no one had asked sooner. After Z had killed the Mulldack and shattered the remains of his army, he had fallen to the grass in a deep sleep. When he awoke, his skin was no longer white and his eyes had returned to their normal colour. The power of the Crystal Element had receded.

However, Z noticed he did feel different. Since he had absorbed the full power of the complete Element Z felt stronger and faster than before.

"It has not come back. When I went to sleep the power left me, for the moment at least."

Mickey finally stood from his meditation and addressed the group.

"I am glad you have come. It is time now."

"Mickey…I have to ask you something…"

The question had been spiralling through Z's head for days. He had to ask it now, it was his last chance.

"Go ahead."

"My power…will it return?"

"You mean the complete power? The full transformation?" Z nodded. Mickey sighed, leaning upon his staff. Half of the Crystal Element had once been fixed atop it, but no longer. Now it ran through Z's veins.

"Its hard to say. I think, however, that it will. The Crystal Element is within you, Z, there is no way of ridding yourself of it. It will likely return in full force, as it did when you faced the Mulldack. When? I cannot say, though I would guess when you are feeling strong emotion, anger or grief could set it off."

Z looked at his feet. He had been scared of this. What if he ever got angry at someone? What if he burst into white flame and killed them?

"Do not worry yourself Z. What you have is a gift, a blessing, not a curse. You are in control of your power. It will not be a danger to you. Now we must set up the Rift."

Mickey walked over to Samos, shaking him on the shoulder. The sage stood from his meditation.

"Is it time to send them back old boy?"

"Yes. Prepare the Rift!"

Lirael frowned, turning to Goofy.

"Rift? Why a Rift, why not a Porthole?"

"A Porthole is a shift in the fabric of space that allows those who use it to travel from one point to another, between worlds and dimensions. However, fiction and reality, as they are called, are not different worlds or dimensions. We have discovered they are, in fact, different universes. To travel between them you need a Rift and a Rift requires immense power, much more than a Porthole. Samos and Mickey will have to work together to achieve it."

Samos turned to Daz.

"We'll send you back first. Ready?"

"Yes…I'm ready." Daz took a deep breath. He'd travelled through these before. He would be okay. Samos plunged his staff into the ground and Mickey did the same, power coursing through their bodies. Mickey's staff began to glow a bright blue, then Samos felt his staff channel a surge of energy, and it began to shine a blood red. Mickey and Samos held hands, clasping tightly, and the energy they had collected began to clash violently, the blue mixing and twirling into the red until all that was left was a sharp, clear purple energy, the product of the two.

Together they let the combined power course through them, then Mickey raised his staff high and Samos followed, the purple energy rushing to the two pillars, collecting at the twin peaks.

Z stared on in awe. It was amazing, he had never seen such a sight. He glanced round, and saw in an instant that people were watching. Down in the field a group had formed, maybe fifty people or more, all come to watch the spectacle. Z saw a few people he knew, Jak and Ratchet were there, as was Alex and Flames, Z's dragon friend. A few were waving, saying goodbye for the final time.

Mickey cried out, a single word that was lost in the rushing noise of the energy, like a thousand waterfalls. Then the purple mass of power shot out from the two points where it had collected, forming two ropes of energy that began to twirl into each other, swirling and entwining until they become one.

They spiralled out once again and now Z could see that it was forming a shape, a gargantuan circle in the air. So this was the Rift, like a massive porthole in the air, formed from pure potent power. Now Z understood why they had to create the Rift in the fields of Disney Creek. It was to large, to powerful, to be summoned within the fortress walls.

And now the purple colour began to clear, with every second that passed it was becoming transparent. Daz gasped. It was like a giant window to another world. Another universe.

The colours were collecting and now they could all see, in perfect clarity, the destination. Through the Rift was Daz's lab. There was no mistaking it. Z could see every detail, the same grey metal tables, the same discarded coffee mug, the same green curtain, behind which the Fiction Dimension Port lay in wait.

There was no doubt, none at all. The Rift was showing a glimpse into its destination. Blitzen City.

Electricity crackled through the air, booming out into bigger streaks. They could not hold the Rift open for much longer. Daz had to go now.

"Daz…go!"

"One second." Daz turned from Goofy. He had to say goodbye.

"Before I go, I want to say thank you. Thank you all. Goodbye Kiz, Ruby. You to Lirael, you saved us all." He hugged them each in turn, trying to hold back his tears.

"Goodbye Z. You were a good friend, but I understand that you must go home now. It is your path, you must follow it. I will return to my home and you must to."

"Goodbye Daz. I hope I see you again one day."

They hugged tightly, and Daz stepped back, turning to the Rift.

"Thank you Goofy. I have no doubt you have saved all our lives many times."

"Just doing my duty."

Daz turned towards his friends, seeing them for what would be the last time. He waved once, stepped forward and was sucked into the Rift. In seconds he was gone and the Rift collapsed, the purple energy returning to the bodies of Samos and Mickey. The two sat down on the grass once more, meditating.

"They need a rest." Goofy explained. "Even keeping the Rift open for a short period of time takes immense strength. They need to meditate for a while. They should have the required strength in…ten minutes. No more."

Ruby was crying now, although silently, the tears running down her cheeks without a sound. Lirael sat upon the hill's edge, hugging her knees tight to her chest.

Z could barely believe it. Daz was gone. He was back in Blitzen City. Would he ever see him again? Z doubted it. Would it be the same for Lirael, Kiz and Ruby? Perhaps he would never see them again either. Z stood, watching the shimmering air as the last vestiges of energy crackled and evaporated.

Soon he would be back on Earth. Was it really what he wanted?

Daz stumbled from the Rift, falling face first onto the cold floor of his lab. He picked himself up, glancing around. It was his lab, that was for sure. The coffee mug he had drained before falling into the Fiction Dimension Port was still there, sitting atop his metal desk.

Everything was the same. Nothing at all had changed. Why? It only took Daz a few minutes before he found his answer. There was red tape across every doorway, blocking access to the room in which he stood. He bent down, looking closely at the tape. Printed upon it were the words 'Police: Do not enter'

Daz stood, frowning. So his lab was a crime scene now. Of course. Those men who had forced them through the Fiction Dimension Port had used poison gas and Z had killed at least two of them. It was an emergency incident and the police force would have been called immediately.

That, of course, meant trouble for Daz. He had to get out of his lab before any officers returned to the scene. First, however, there was one last job to do.

Daz walked briskly across his lab and threw back the green curtain, stepping through the mass of red police tape as he did so. In the centre of this room was a hulking circular object with a white sheet thrown over it. So the police had seen his invention. He would have to hope they had not taken any notes on how it operated.

Working quickly now Daz yanked back the sheet, the dark centre of the Fiction Dimension Port staring back at him. For a few seconds he did nothing but gaze at this miracle of science that he had created.

Then he shook himself. He had to destroy it, Daz could not let anyone get their hands on his device. If they did it would spell destruction for the world of fiction. Daz slid a hand inside his pocket, gripping tightly to the small pistol he had placed there.

He withdrew, levelling his weapon at the Port's control panel. For a second he held still, then realising he could delay no longer. He gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger.

The bullet shot straight into the heart of the control system, destroying it in an instant. The green display light winked once and disappeared. The Fiction Dimension Port was no more.

Daz nodded, turning and climbing back through the web of red police tape. He took one last look at his surroundings and left the lab for the last time, locking the door behind him.

Z sat upon the hill, Lirael Kiz and Ruby lying against him sleepily. It was almost time and Z watched as more and more people congregated in the field, ready to watch his departure. He spotted Cloud amongst them, climbing onto the back of Flames and hoped the dragon would be cared for.

Then the air began to crackle. Lightening streaks popped and whizzed around them, the air swirling to a point. Z stretched and yawned, opening his eyes fully and shaking Lirael gently.

"Goofy…do you feel it, in the air?"

The swirling was intensifying, bolts of energy surging around them. There could be no mistaking it, a porthole was about to appear, but who had made it? What was its purpose?

The entire group had awakened now, Kiz and Ruby still sitting and stretching their legs.

"What is it? What's going on?"

"It's a porthole isn't it?" Goofy nodded, as perplexed as they were. Now the shape emerged, a circle of streaking blue energy.

Z tensed, stroking his guns. Then he remembered.

"Its okay. No need to worry." Lirael turned to him.

"Who is it?"

"It's the Fairies. I had forgotten my promise to them. They're here to mind wipe us. They can't afford to let us go while we still hold the knowledge of their race. Crazy, of course. They are fictional beings, and, further more, they are in a book back on Earth. Our knowledge cannot harm them, but they do not understand that."

The porthole was complete, a swirling mass of energy, hovering inches from the ground. Then they emerged, three figures. At first they appeared as shadows, human in shape. It looked as if the shadows were travelling through a tunnel, about to emerge at the other end.

The first Fairy pushed through and the shadow became a blaze of white light. Then the porthole opened fully and the three Fairies fell to the ground, carrying with them a bulk of equipment. Two large white cylinders, a flat panel computer screen on the side of one, each connected to the other by two great lengths of tubing. On the end of a third tube was a small device, a little like a Hoover's nozzle. It was a daunting piece of kit.

"Z, we can't let them mind wipe us! I want to keep my memories."

Z stepped forward, addressing the Fairies as a group.

"You are late."

"Late?" The leader of the bunch squeaked, a shrill voice that rather grated upon the ears.

"Yes, late. My friend has already gone through the Rift."

It took a moment for the information to sink in.

"WHAT? You let him leave before we arrived?"

"Yes, its not as if we'd wait for you. There's no point now, leave while the porthole still works."

One of the Fairies, the youngest judging by his features, turned to leave, but was stopped by his comrade.

"We are not going. Our orders were to come and mind wipe you. If one has already left, we will just have to mind wipe the rest of you."

Z paused, contemplating. Was it really the best idea to tell them that they were nothing more than fictional characters? Probably not. He had a better idea.

"So, your definitely going to mind wipe us?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes! We are going to mind wipe you all, you are trying my patience!"

"And how do you propose to do that when none of your equipment works?"

The Fairy did a double take.

"Well…what? None of our equipment is broken. It works fine."

Z snatched a gun from his holster, gripping its the barrel. He aimed carefully and fired two shots, the first ripping open the lengths of tubing and slashing through the wires within. The second shot buried itself into the cylinder's computer screen, each of its green lights flickering to red.

"It works fine? Perhaps you'd like a second opinion?" Z grinned, holstering his weapon. The Fairy's little faces had turned a deathly pale, their eyes gazing blankly at the ruined mind-wipe technology.

"I'm leaving now. We're all leaving."

Mickey and Samos stood together, turning back towards them.

"We have gained sufficient energy. We're ready when you are."

Z nodded. He gestured to the Fairies.

"Leave us." For a moment they hesitated, but then they turned back and evaporated into the porthole, lugging their broken equipment behind them. Z smiled, stepping back up to the hill's summit.

"They won't bother us any more. Its time to go. Who's next?"

Kiz nodded. "Me and Ruby will go, if you don't mind."

"Go ahead. Your destination?"

"Well…" The two girls exchanged looks, their eyes downcast.

"We…don't know. We have no home. Tell them Ruby."

Z frowned and sat upon the grass, laying back and stretching his legs. It had been a long day.

"You have no home?"

"No. How we came to be in the fiction world we have no clue. One day we just woke up and there we were. No memory of the past. Nothing. We worked for Mickey and became strong. We are his scouts, travelling to other dimensions to settle debts, collect information…that sort of thing. We have no real home."

Lirael looked down sadly, plucking at the blades of grass that settled on her feet.

"That's awful."

"Yes…we have nowhere to go. We will remain with Mickey, there is no other choice."

Z's mind raced, with each second he brushed past weeks, months, years, delving further into the past. These girls…Ruby and Kiz. They had been his comrades for what felt like an eternity. He had saved them and they had saved him, countless times.

Their past was so similar. It was almost a reflection of Z's own. He also had woken in a strange place, with barely a memory of the past. He remembered the crash, the crush of steel and glass and then…nothing. Could these girls have been linked to his past self? The Z who had lived on Earth, his home planet, the single thing he remembered of his old life. Earth. That one word, the one picture that remained of his fractured memories.

He thought back, as hard as he could, his mind blazing as he forced his way into the unknown regions of his mind. Nothing…but…maybe…could it be? The faint glimmer of two young girls, standing together, their faces shrouded in darkness. Was it perhaps possible…?

Z shook himself. It was probably his imagination. It would be easy to fall to a trick of the mind. Far to easy. But, nevertheless, he knew what he had to do. He had always had a dream, to find his real home, perhaps even the people he had known and loved there. He would share it.

"Ruby, Kiz. Come with me."

A cool breeze blew across the hill and the grass rustled, leaves shooting over the plains. Everyone was silent and for a second the world seemed to stop.

"What…what do you mean?"

"Come with me, to Earth."

"But…why? Why are you asking now?"

Z sighed and gazed down the hill, towards the magnificent fortress.

"I…our lives. They are so similar. Its strange, but I feel as if I've known you all my years. I am in the same situation as you, the only difference is that I have a home, a place to go to and seek my dreams. I want you, both of you, to accompany me. Share them with me. There is no reason for you to stay and there is no place for you to go. I am offering a solution. We can travel together, become a team. You will have a home, I can promise you that. Will you come?"

For a few seconds nothing happened. Then, as if it had finally sunk in, the two girls rushed forwards, hugging Z and thanking him. They grinned and cried together, tears of joy and grief springing forth and rolling to their lips.

"Thank you…yes! Yes of course we will come!" Kiz laughed along with Ruby, squeezing her hand lightly.

"To have a home…it is what we have always dreamed of. We will travel with you and find happiness."

Z laughed with them and, beyond the group, the three figures of Mickey, Goofy and Samos smiled quietly together.

"They have become true friends." Mickey nodded, his eyes bright with joy.

Z turned to Lirael, offering her a hand and helping her to her feet.

"That leaves only one person. Lirael, your destination? Back to the library perhaps?"

Lirael nodded, but said nothing. Mickey and Samos both held out a staff, planting them into the ground as one. Electric power, immense in size, began to build at the tip of each. The process began.

"Lirael…are you sure this is what you want?"

She did not answer, nor did she look at Z. Lirael knew that she could not, she could not bare it.

"…I…I have to go back. The glacier is my home, I belong in the fiction world."

Nobody spoke. It was, after all, Lirael's decision. The pure purple energy rushed forth, collecting for the final push. Mickey cried the command and the power rushed to one point, two ropes of energy entwining once more.

The great sound of rushing electricity surrounded them, light pouring over the hillside and into the great plains of Disney Creek, illuminating each blade of grass. Goofy spoke over the cacophony, barely audible.

"This is it…the Rift is almost ready."

Lirael turned to Z and gazed at his face, etched with awe and coloured purple as the light spilled forth from the formation of the Rift, washing over his features. Then she looked past him, at the faces of Ruby and Kiz, who had protected her and fought with her again and again.

Lirael choked, her heart racked with indecision. She struggled to keep her determined mask, but could not repress one tiny crack in its armour. A solitary tear broke free, sliding down her cheek and falling to the thick grass below, mingling with the morning dew.

"Lirael…Lirael, are you okay?" The girl sniffed, wiping her eye with a finger.

"I'm…fine."

"You sure?"

This time she did not reply. Lirael knew she would burst into tears if she did. The Rift was formed. It was exactly as before, a massive window to another world. Through it they could see everything and Z gasped as he made out the details of the library in which he had found Lirael.

There were the bookcases, huge numbers of them, each one filled with hundreds of books. All were bound in leather and decorated beautifully. Books of all colours, shapes and sizes. And beyond, the spiralling staircase that twisted down to the next floor of the library.

Z turned to Lirael.

"Well…I guess this is goodbye." She turned to him, but said nothing, bowing her head and staring intently at her feet.

"I'll…I'll never see you again…will I?" Z shook his head. It was the truth, there was no point lying about it.

Lirael began to cry. Slowly at first, and quietly, a muffled sob that grew in intensity. Then she hugged him, throwing herself forwards into his arms.

"I…I don't want to go!"

"Lirael…the glacier is your home."

"I know, but…I don't want to go."

She stepped back and rubbed her eyes, red and watery. Then she sniffed and cleared her throat, taking a deep breath of the crystal clear air.

"I want to come with you. You and Kiz and Ruby. I want to travel with you to Earth. I can't leave you…I can't."

For a second Z faltered, he did not know what to say. The glacier was her home…could he let her leave it, after he had struggled so hard to return to his own? Then he smiled. It was her decision, not his. He felt immense happiness. He would not be alone on his journey. Kiz, Ruby and Lirael. His friends. His comrades. He would never be alone again.

"Of course you can come. If that's what you want." Lirael grinned and Z did the same and they laughed together. Then Lirael stepped forwards and for a second in time the world slowed its pace, sliding to a halt. Then she kissed him, and Z felt her lips on his.

Lirael left Z's embrace, her face slightly red and a flustered look on her features, but still grinning. For a second Z looked puzzled, then he smiled to and they embraced once more.

The Rift shimmered, changing its appearance. The library evaporated, replaced with the deep purple energy, then it shone once more, a mirror again.

Z looked up and watched in amazement as Earth appeared before him. The four companions gazed up, studying their destination.

A row of houses, each painted white with two floors, a small gravel driveway with a car parked in each. There was one, sometimes two, for each house, and each car differed in colour and size. The street was long, and Z could see it stretch around a bend, the tarmac turning past a group of road signs.

There were trees, many, and rows of hedges and small beds of flowers. Hundreds, white and yellow in colour. Each house had a lawn, mowed to perfection, tiny blades that were so unlike those of Disney Creek.

It was night on Earth. The moon was out and the sky was dark, shining brightly with billions of stars, pinpricks of light. Lampposts were positioned at intervals along the street, each casting a circle of yellow light upon the pathway, like islands of illumination in a sea of darkness.

It looked beautiful. Z gasped, taking in every little detail, savouring each tiny part. His home world, Earth.

"That's it…Earth." The group stood together upon the hill, all of them smiling. A new world. A new beginning. A new home.

"Hurry, there's little time left." Goofy ushered them forwards, towards the great Rift, the opening in the sky.

Mickey and Samos were sweating now, gritting their teeth with the effort. It had taken immense power to change the destination, from the glacier's library to Earth, and they could not hold it open much longer.

Z sighed, closing his eyes for a second and breathing the fresh, clean air of Disney Creek.

"The Earth Rift…" The four walked forwards together and said their final goodbyes.

"Goodbye Goofy…make sure you tell Donald how brave he is!" Kiz laughed and shook Goofy's hand one final time.

"Goodbye kids…I'm gonna miss the lot of ya!"

Calls of 'bye!' and 'we'll miss you!' could be heard from the field below and Z turned, taking one final look at his surroundings. The splendour of the creek, the beauty of the fortress and below him, his allies and friends. He waved, shouting a goodbye across the plains, and turned back to the Rift.

"Seeya Mickey, Samos. You've been great friends. I'll see you again, in the next life…believe me. We'll meet." Mickey managed a smile, despite the concentration it was taking to keep the Rift open.

"Lets go."

Z gripped his pistols tightly, breathing heavily as nerves overcame him. He was going back. After all these years, he was going back to Earth, his home. He smiled and closed his eyes. It was time.

The four friends stepped forward together, and, shouting a final goodbye, tears sliding from their eyes, evaporated through the surface of the Rift.

Mickey and Samos gasped a sigh of relief, falling back into the grass and breathing heavily, sweat running from their foreheads. Goofy joined them, sitting between the two and stretching his legs.

"So…they've really gone." Mickey broke the silence.

"Yes. We'll never see them again."

"Ahh, but we will. In the next life."

Samos frowned.

"You think Z was serious?"

"Well…I guess so. He is, after all, the only one who's seen it for himself."

"That's true…" Mickey smiled, laying his head down upon the earth.

"I had a feeling those four would leave together."

"Yes…It wouldn't have been right if they had gone their separate ways."

Then, one by one, they began to laugh. It was tentative at first, a chuckle that rose in intensity, spiralling to a loud, hearty, shouting laugh of happiness. Peace was restored once more and the world of fiction was joyful again.

Z looked up. He was kneeling down, he could feel grass brushing against his wrists. For a second everything was dark, then the glint of a thousand stars caught his eye and he grinned, pushing himself to his feet.

Z turned, helping the others up from the ground. They had landed in one of the small, pristine gardens. Lirael stumbled forwards, still a little uneasy from the after affects of the Rift.

"Everyone okay?"

"Yeah…no problem. So, this is Earth?"

"Yes…Earth. My home."

Kiz and Ruby supported Lirael and the group stepped out onto the path, turning along and following the road. The night was cold, a stinging wind blowing from the North, but there was no rain.

The world felt magical. Z's hair blew in the breeze, the moonlight illuminated all it fell to and the night was quiet. Almost silent. There were no people and the only thing that could be heard for miles was the footsteps of four people clapping on concrete.

"Where are we headed?"

Z shrugged.

"I have no idea. Lets go where the wind blows." The footsteps carried, echoing through the street and into the distance. The four young companions strode on, passing under the glaring light of each street lamp, their shadows cast tall against the tarmac.

Then the last lamppost passed by, and the four mysterious figures passed through the light and into the deep, enveloping darkness of the night.

A new world. A new life. A new home. They would go where the wind blows, searching for their dreams. Now, grinning in the darkness, they were happy once more.

THE END