This is the last chapter for this story. :')

*.*.*

Epilogue:

Home At Last!

.oOo.

Melvin had never been so happy to be back at his cave. His cave, which wasn't flooded. He looked back at his new friends in intrigue, wondering what he would do with himself. In such a short amount of time, he earned their trust, even when things looked their bleak.

Oh, if only he could spend more time with them. But he knew he couldn't. He looked at Balin, rushing up to him and giving him a hug. It was so good to see him in his dwarvish form. It made things better.

"I'm going to miss you," Melvin said, chipper.

Balin petted him. "I'll miss you, too. I'm glad you didn't behead me."

"I nearly thought about it," Melvin chuckled. He admitted, seriously, "But no. I wouldn't do that." He looked up at him with newfound hope. "You mean more to me now than any dwarf I've met! Who knows? You might turn over a new leaf."

"To think, I could have been stuck as a mer-dwarf for the rest of my life," Balin chuckled, not liking the sound of that!

"Well, I better get going," Melvin said, bowing his head to his new group of friends. "It's been fun, but it's time we all went home."

"Good luck," Amelia said with a smile, watching the killer rabbit return to his home. The cave to disappeared, along with the rabbit, leaving her and her friends alone with their thoughts.

.

Melvin opened his eyes. He was back home, back in his land. He looked around in anxiousness. Where was Fred? He had to apologize to the white and brown rabbit before it was too late. Melvin wasted no time. He hopped towards Fred's house, where he spotted the white and brown rabbit kissing his wife's ear.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I was interrupting your moment," Melvin said, about ready to go.

Fred laughed. "Well, this is a surprise." He blushed. "What are you doing here, Melvin?"

"I came here to apologize and hope I've gained a new friend," Melvin said, sincerely. "I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I hope things are better now."

Fred shook his head. He smiled, appreciating the killer rabbit's apology.

"You're forgiven, but I must say, this world wouldn't be the same without you," Fred said, smiling. He gestured towards the cave, curious about where the killer rabbit had been. Maybe some things were best left unsaid. But still… "Where were you when your cave disappeared? It seemed like a journey."

"It was," was all Melvin had to say. He smirked, admitting, "Maybe I'll tell you the story sometime about merfolk and how I defeated them."

"That sounds fascinating," Christy the brown Holland Lop rabbit, and Fred's wife, said in delight. "I look forward to hearing it."

"I'm sure we will," Fred said with a smirk, waving to Melvin. "Good luck with your journeys."

"Oh, I imagine I will enjoy it very much," Melvin said, making his way back home to his cave.

He sighed in delight, grateful to be home again. He looked at a group of soldiers and a king, wearing a crown over his grey helmet. No way! They were approaching his cave. Melvin smirked in delight. Well, it was time for the fun to begin again.

.

Frodo smiled, watching the cave disappear. Now he could spend more time with his darling wife. He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying her presence. "Well, I think it's time for a vacation. A real one. But…" he nodded, "…there are personal quests we must attend to sometimes. Don't you agree?"

"Yes. Personal quests bring out the best in all of us," Amelia said, kissing Frodo on the lips. "And I'll be glad to share them with you." She kissed him again, embracing him. It was so good to have the old gang back. That much was certain.

This was their time to live. They wouldn't miss it for the world.

The End.

*.*.*

References:

The king with the crown over his helmet is Arthur, King of the Britons, from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".

-x-

That's it for my Ocean's Breeze Academy Fanfiction Duology. :) I'm sorry if it ended quickly. This was a pretty straightforward story. I thought it would last longer, but I guess not.

Thanks goes to the following people who reviewed, favorited, and followed my fanfic: Jaya Avendel. Thanks everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this fanfic until the end. It is much appreciated. :)

My Fanfiction Stories by Theme Collection will continue now. I hope everyone enjoyed this duology. I'll see you in the next story. Bye! :)

Aria Breuer