Hello again, welcome to the Pit. I would like to send heartfelt thanks to all my reviewers: Lily312, Zestychicken2; XV-Dragon; Daydreamer9; Izzy; GlitterP; Nemrut; Kirric; Sokai; Lilly Tiger; Shocklance; Krystal of Nol; Ice Silver Crystal; Knightof Faerun; Sportsman; Invader Spyder; Guardian's Light; Jade Tipster; Nerd4eva; and Micki. Thank you all for your comments and for your votes.

Donut club: GlitterP; Nemrut; Knightof Faerun. Thanks guys for paying great attention to the story.

Now, I asked at the end of the last chapter if we wanted an epilogue. Most of you said yes, but I decided not to do an epilogue. I decided to do a whole new chapter!! So without further ado, may I present the final chapter:

Chapter 33

Hay Lin awoke with a start. Irma was bleeding in the snow, broken and battered beyond comprehension. She screamed as she watched her sister beaten mercilessly.

"Hay Lin, it's okay; you're safe now."

The Air Guardian swallowed and tried to slow her breathing. She recognized that voice.

"Taranee?"

"Yeah it's me. You're in your Chamber; everything is alright."

Hay Lin let out a thunderous breath of relief. She remembered now. The battle on Mount Thanos was over; the Guardians had prevailed with the help of Meridian's young queen, Elyon. They had survived, although with some severe injuries. Hay Lin twisted her head, trying to see her shoulders.

"There's no scarring, if that's what you're worried about," Taranee said. "Your Chamber took care of even the deepest cuts."

Hay Lin smiled and threw her arms around Taranee's neck.

"Oh Taranee, we did it didn't we? We defeated Nerissa and her goons for good!"

Taranee laughed and hugged Hay Lin back. "Yeah we smoked 'em good. They're not coming back for a while, and I don't think Nerissa willever be back."

"Ever?"

"Ever. Elyon buried her alive on the mountain."

Hay Lin gasped softly. "Buried her alive?"

The Air Guardian thought of the implications of not having precious air to breathe. Nerissa would surely perish from suffocation; and Hay Lin wasn't sure how she felt about that. Sure, Nerissa was the most evil being in the universe, and she had tortured her best friend to death, but still. Every being had the right to live didn't they?

Hay Lin closed her eyes and remembered. Irma lying on the cold floor of Nerissa's collapsed lair, her heart stopped and her body lifeless. Irma having to experience the Joining and reliving her week of torture over and over as her Chamber struggled to revive its Guardian. Irma, her mind ravaged and raped by an evil spell, struggling to keep a shred of her sanity. Irma's body shattered on the mountain, Hay Lin forced helplessly to watch as her sister was brutally tortured anew.

All that pain and suffering, in an attempt to force the young Water Witch to relinquish the Heart of Candracar and doom the universe to endless misery and woe. Nerissa should have known Irma's devotion was stronger than that. She would never willingly give up the Heart to evil.

But that hadn't stopped evil from trying.

Hay Lin's eyes snapped open and in them shone a fire more fierce than anything Taranee could have conjured.

"She got what she deserved," Hay Lin said with raw emotion. "Death is too good for her, but I think I can live with it. For all she put Irma through..." The Guardian shook her head and clenched her fists, unable to continue.

Taranee swallowed hard. She had never seen Hay Lin so angry, and it scared her.

"Irma will be okay, Hay Lin. She just needs time to recover."

"Recover? Recover?! Irma may never recover from this; her mental and emotional state may be shot forever. What if she's no longer the Irma we know and love?"

"Whoa, time out," Taranee said, her hands forming a T. "Irma's not even awake yet; we have no idea what she's going to be like."

"What if she's an emotional wreck? What if she's...she's," Hay Lin scrambled for the right word. Finally she settled on a term Cornelia had used some time ago. "What if she's nucking futs?"

Taranee giggled slightly in spite of the seriousness of the situation. "Hay Lin, you can't think like that. Irma's survived everything Nerissa has thrown at her to date; she'll survive this, too. She wouldn't let us down now...she knows how much she means to all of us. We have to trust that she handle it."

"I know she can handle it; like you said she's shown she's tougher than Nerissa gave her credit for. But what if it's all been too much now? You know, the straw that breaks the camel's back?"

"Then we'll deal with it...if that's what's happened. Remember, Nerissa removed that spell from Irma's mind. She should be quite a bit better now."

Hay Lin looked pensive. "How do we know that for sure? All we have is Nerissa's word on that and we already know she's a liar."

Taranee shook her head. "We have another source of information on that. Irma should be able to feel a difference, herself. Plus I'll be able to tell if she lets me read her mind."

Hay Lin grinned then. "Taranee, you can always make me feel better. You always seem to know what to say. Thank you."

"Hey it's no big," Taranee shrugged. "Friends are there for each other."

"Yeah I guess we are," Hay Lin smiled. "So how are Will and Cornelia?"

"Cornelia is still recovering in her Chamber, and Will is still going through the Joining. We're the first to wake up."

"How long has it been?" Hay Lin asked.

"About a day since the battle."

Hay Lin nodded. "I guess the others will be out of commission for a little while, then?"

Taranee nodded. "I've been to see them all, and they seem to doing okay. I don't feel any desperation form the Chambers, at least. Will's Chamber feels a little different from the others, but I guess that's due to the Joining."

"How do the Chambers feel, exactly?" Hay Lin asked curiously.

Taranee thought for a moment. It was sometimes hard to put what she felt into words. "I guess you could say they feel serene...protective, I suppose. Almost like a mother with her child."

"It must be so wonderful to be able to feel something like that. I envy you, Taranee."

Taranee just smiled. "Thanks, Hay Lin, but your invisibility is something I wish I could do. Guess we'll just have to be content with what we have."

"Content...that's something I don't think I've felt for a while. So much confusion and fear...it's a wonder any of us are still sane."

Taranee laid a comforting hand on Hay Lin's shoulder. "But we're okay; that's the important thing. I thought for a while we might lose Irma and even Cornelia, but they're both going to be alright; we're all going to be alright. We have to hold onto that when we think back on all that's happened to us."

"I'm still going to be afraid for a while, Taranee. I can't help it. You didn't see what they did to Irma on the mountain. I'm going to have nightmares about that for a long time, I think."

"You'll get through it, Hay Lin; I know you will. We'll all be there to help if you need us."

"If I need you? I don't know what I'd do without you."

Taranee just smiled and hugged her dear friend. "We'll never leave you, Hay Lin. We'll always be here for you...no matter what."

Hay Lin hugged Taranee tightly, almost like a lifeline. "Thank you, Taranee. Thank you."

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Taranee was tired. She had been experiencing the joys of Luba's obstacle course for several hours, and she had had about enough. Unfortunately, Luba hadn't.

"Again, Guardian."

Taranee moaned and rolled onto her stomach. Pushing herself to her knees, she pleaded silently with the big cat.

Luba shook her head. "You must complete the course once more, Guardian. Then you can rest."

Taranee sighed and stood up. It had been three days since the battle on Mount Thanos, and she had been Luba's slave for the past four hours. Both Cornelia and Irma had had the pleasure at one time, and Hay Lin had finished her go-rounds with Luba just yesterday. Now it was Taranee's turn.

The Fire Mistress decided she would show Luba she could handle it; she would complete the course in record time. Determined, and with renewed vigor, Taranee flew back to the beginning and resumed the necessary torture.

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Hay Lin splashed her feet in the coolness of the Water Chamber's huge pool. She loved the impossible blueness of the water and longed to submerge herself in its depths. But Irma was still recovering at the bottom, encased in a protective bubble, and Hay Lin didn't want to take the chance of disturbing the healing process.

While she was thus thinking, something grabbed her ankle and yanked her into the pool. Hay Lin squeaked in surprise, and fought her way to the surface. Sputtering slightly, she looked around for the offender. Irma was still encased in her bubble, and Hay Lin saw no one else. Feeling slightly nervous, the young Guardian began to think she had imagined it all.

Until she saw it.

A huge wave was coming right for her. Too late to dodge, Hay Lin braced herself to get soaked. And soaked was exactly what she got.

As the wave crashed over her head, Hay Lin could thought she heard laughter...but no one was there. Then it struck her. The Chamber was playing with her. The Chamber had drug her into the pool and splashed her to within an inch of her life. And the Chamber was laughing at her now.

"Oh you think that's funny?" Hay Lin grinned. "Then let's have at it, Chamber."

With that, the Air Mistress splashed a wave of her own towards the center of the pool. In return, she was buffeted by more splashes. Hay Lin took loads of watery abuse...and she loved every minute of it. Irma was the same way; playful and mischievous. She wondered if perhaps her best friend hadn't rubbed off on the Water Chamber, or if the Chamber had been like this when Cassidy was a Guardian.

An hour later, Hay Lin surrendered to her watery opponent and climbed out of the pool. She lay on the floor, laughing until her sides hurt. She had needed that laugh; it had been a long time since she had managed to laugh like that.

"Thank, Chamber. You really made my day."

In response, a small wave splashed the Air Guardian, eliciting another giggle of contentment. After a while, Hay Lin looked back down at her best friend, still asleep in her bubble.

"You are taking good care of her aren't you?" she asked the Chamber. "She's my best friend; she's like my sister. I can't bear to think of losing her."

The water sloshed peacefully in the pool.

"She means the world to me...please don't let her die." Tears began to form in Hy Lin's eyes as she imagined life without her sister.

"Please don't let her die..."

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Taranee was at Cornelia's side when the Earth Guardian finally came to. With a moan, the blonde girl sat up slowly, her head in her hand.

"Someone get the number of the steamroller that ran over me," She moaned.

Taranee grinned. "I think it was a rock more than a steamroller; but if you'd like I'll get his number for you, too."

Cornelia opened her eyes to see her friend sitting on a rock near the protective grotto.

"Taranee!" Cornelia squealed, throwing herself at the Fire Guardian. Taranee hugged her friend back and both girls remained quiet for some time.

"How long was I out?" Cornelia finally asked.

"Three days," Taranee answered. "How do you feel?"

"I feel," the Earth Guardian answered. "I feel everything, and it's so wonderful. You have no idea how great it feels to be able to stand, and walk. It's so amazing what you take for granted."

Taranee nodded. "So the Chamber did its job. I'm glad to see you're alright."

"It's good to be alright. All you boys at school can breathe a sigh of relief. Cornelia will be returning for your viewing pleasure."

Taranee laughed and shook her head. "Still the same old Cornelia Hale."

"Would you have me any other way? How is everyone?"

"Hay Lin and I are doing fine; Irma and Will are still recovering."

"I could hear what was happening to Irma, but what's up with Will?"

"She's doing the Joining to repair her facial scars."

Cornelia shuddered. "Sucks to be Will. But I guess it's a good thing in the long run."

"It takes a lot to go through something like that; especially knowing what you're getting into. I don't envy her having to relive that lightning strike over and over until the Chamber can heal her."

"Me either," Cornelia answered. "Still, I applaud her for going through with it."

Taranee nodded. "She's got guts."

"I'm just glad it's not me. Can you imagine if that had happened to this face? Oh the horror!"

Taranee laughed and punched her friend playfully in the arm. "Yeah, you're gonna be just fine."

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Hay Lin slept by the pool in the Water Chamber...and dreamed. She dreamed Nerissa had returned to torment the Guardians. Returned to take her revenge against Irma. Returned to hurt them all purely for sadistic pleasure.

She tossed and turned by the side of the pool, moaning in her fitful sleep. She heard something calling to her, calling her name. As Nerissa turned to face the young Guardian in her dream, Hay Lin suddenly, she felt a sharp jab in her head as if someone had struck her with a hot poker. She screamed and sat straight up, fully awake.

"Hay Lin!"

The Air Mistress looked wildly around, searching for the voice that had called her name. Her eyes landed on her best friend, hanging onto the side of pool, her hand stretched out to her sister.

"Irma!" Hay Lin cried, leaping onto her friend, burying them both in the water of the pool. Irma surfaced first, laughing and coughing. As Hay Lin's smile broke the surface, Irma reached out and mussed her sister's hair.

"Hiya, Hay-Hay. How the heck are ya?"

Hay Lin answered by pinning Irma to the side with a hug.

"I'm so happy to see you. I'm so happy to see you. I'm so happy to see you!"

"Yeah I got that," Irma choked out under Hay Lin's suffocating hug. "Hay Lin...little help here."

Hearing Irma's choked response, Hay Lin released her hug. Irma drew in a great breath, and grinned at her friend. She flashed a thumbs-up and nodded her thanks.

"Sorry," Hay Lin said, "I'm just...oh I can't contain my excitement!"

Irma laughed and hugged her best friend. "I'm glad to see you too."

"How are you feeling?" Hay Lin asked tentatively.

"I feel pretty good," Irma answered immediately. "And what's more I don't hear anything in my head. I think Nerissa really freed me, Hay-Hay. I really think she did."

Hay Lin smiled. "That's wonderful, Irma."

"So what's the matter? What had you screaming in your sleep?"

Hay Lin's smile fell and she turned away. Her elation at seeing Irma started to fade as she recalled her dream. She didn't want to ruin the happy moment with thoughts of ugly dreams.

"I don't really wanna talk about it, Irma," Hay Lin replied, treading water.

Irma's arm snaked out and grabbed hold of her sister. She wrapped her arm around Hay Lin's stomach from behind and pulled her close.

"Hay Lin," Irma whispered into the girl's ear, "I'm your best friend, and I want to be here for you. Please tell me what's wrong."

Hay Lin closed her eyes and basked in the security of Irma's embrace. She had to tell her about the dream; Irma wouldn't let up until she did.

"I dreamed of Nerissa...that she was alive. That she was back to take revenge on all of us." Hay Lin turned then to face Irma. "I don't want to think of her being alive, Irma. I don't want to face her again, ever."

Irma hugged the Air Guardian tightly. "Shh, don't think like that. The way I heard it, Elyon buried her alive. She's not coming back from that."

"But what if it was another vision?"

"It was a nightmare, Hay-Hay; just a mean, ugly, old nightmare. It doesn't mean anything. She can't hurt us anymore."

Hay Lin hugged Irma tighter and prayed she was right. "I hope you're right. I can't go through this again."

"We won't have to, Hay Lin." Irma released her sister and placed a hand comfortingly against Hay Lin's cheek for a second. "Now tell me about the others? Who's awake?"

"Everyone but Will," Hay Lin replied. "The Joining seems to be taking its own sweet time."

Irma nodded, the memories of her own Joining still very fresh in her mind. "Well it does take some time, but she'll look a lot better when it's done."

Hay Lin giggled and playfully slapped Irma. "You're evil."

"I am," Irma grinned. "But it's the truth; she will look a lot better when it's all over. Plus she won't have to worry about losing the Heart in front of her mom or something."

Hay Lin nodded. "Going through life with a mask is no way to live. I'm glad she decided to do it."

"I'm proud of her for it," Irma agreed.

Hay Lin couldn't contain her smile. "I'm so relieved to see you, Irma. I wasn't sure you would be...well...you know..."

"Normal?" Irma asked with a raised eyebrow.

Hay Lin looked immediately ashamed. "I'm sorry, but yes. After the Joining, you were really messed up. I was afraid you would be the same way now. I mean, I know you didn't go through another Joining or anything, but-"

Irma placed a finger on Hay Lin's lips. "Hay Lin, I know...I get it. Thanks for your concern, but as you can see I'm perfectly fine."

As Irma lowered her finger, Hay Lin hugged her again. "I know, and it's wonderful!"

Irma patted Hay Lin's back. "I'm okay, Hay-Hay. I'm okay."

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Will awoke in her Chamber, screaming. The lightning struck her again, and her hands flew to her face. Expecting to feel charred and ruined flesh, Will was surprised to feel smooth skin. She was even more surprised to feel her hands being pulled away from her face.

"It takes some getting used to, but I promise you only experienced that lightning strike once."

Will turned towards the voice and propped herself on her left elbow. She grinned at her friend.

"Irma. I didn't expect to see you."

"Not sure if that's good or bad, but here I am."

Will laughed. "It's a good thing. I'm glad to see you. How long has it been?"

"About four days."

"Four days?!" Will sat bolt upright.

Irma shrugged. "The Joining takes a while. Trust me on this one."

Will nodded and lay back down. "I feel so exhausted."

"Yeah, that's pretty normal, too. You've been through a lot, but it looks like it worked."

Will placed her fingers to her face again and sighed with relief. "Thanks goodness. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't worked."

"Lots of masquerade parties?"

Will sat up and playfully punched her friend in the shoulder. Irma pretended to be hurt, but couldn't help laughing in spite of herself.

"So how are you feeling, Irma?"

"I'm doing just fine, Red. I feel like my old self. And I gotta tell ya...it feels really good."

Will smiled. "Glad to hear it. You really took a beating on Mount Thanos; I was worried we were going to lose you."

"Nah...I'm too ornery for that. Besides, I couldn't let all of you down. Who else would bag on Cornelia when she gets too self-centered?"

Will grinned and nodded. "So you're really doing okay? I mean all of you?"

"Will, I'm as normal as I've ever been. Now I realize that's not saying much, but it is what it is. I'm more concerned about you. How are you really feeling?"

"I feel weird, Irma. Like I've just gone ten rounds with a heavyweight prizefighter...and lost. I feel achy all over. I also feel kinda freaked out...like I was hit with that lightning two-hundred times. And though I know it was only once, it still felt like..." Will sighed. She didn't know how to describe it.

Irma nodded. "I know; that's how I felt, too."

"But I had an advantage you didn't. I knew exactly what was going to happen, and that it was only in my head. You had no way of knowing that you weren't in Nerissa's dungeon, and still being tortured. I can't even imagine how you got through it."

Irma only nodded and looked at the floor.

"Can you ever forgive me?"

Irma's head snapped up and she looked her leader in the eyes. "Forgive you? For what?"

"For putting you through that. For making you think you were still with Nerissa and still being tortured. For helping her damage your mind the way she did. For every way I've failed you these past months."

Irma furrowed her brow. "What are you talking about?"

Will's eyes filled with tears as she continued her painful confession. "I made the decision to put you through the Joining. I made the decision to help Nerissa cast that awful spell on you. I made the decision to battle her in the Aviary without any sort of plan. I made the decision to walk right into her trap on Mount Thanos. I put all of us at risk and nearly got us all killed. But the one who has suffered the most in all of this is you. Please, Irma; can you ever forgive me?"

Irma was shocked and a little uncomfortable. Will had done everything short of prostrate herself at Irma's feet. Why was she asking forgiveness for something that needed no repentance?

"Will, there's nothing to forgive. You saved my life with the Joining. How could I be upset about that? And that spell? Well, Nerissa put you in a bad spot and forced you to make a choice on the fly. You were only doing what you thought was best. It's going to take some time, but eventually I'll forget about that. I know you would never intentionally hurt me, Will; you would never hurt any of us. You're a good leader and you need to start accepting that. We trust you, no matter what."

Will hugged her friend tightly. "Thank you, Irma. Thank you so much. It means the world to hear you say that."

"It's okay, Red. Everything is going to be okay."

Will released Irma and smiled at her briefly before becoming serious again. "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"When you had the Heart, and Nerissa was asking for it, were you going to give it to her?"

Irma hugged her knees and closed her eyes. She had been dreading this question, and hoping no one would ask. But she also knew she was going to tell the truth, even if it took her skin off.

"Yeah, Will, I was going to give it to her. I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't stand to be a prisoner anymore. Any chance at freedom was a chance worth taking. I knew Nerissa was a liar, and was likely lying then, too; but I didn't care. If there was even the smallest chance she was telling the truth..." Irma trailed off, ashamed of her revelation.

Will placed her hand on Irma's shoulder. "It's okay, Irma; it's okay. The important thing is you didn't give her the Heart. I think anyone would understand why you wanted to give it to her; how can any of us say we wouldn't have done or thought the same thing?"

"But none of you did think the same thing. Come on, Will; none of you would have given up like that."

"Given up? What in the name of all that is good and holy makes you think you gave up? You were trying to save us all from a fate worse than death. You endured nearly a week of the most brutal torture imaginable just to save us from walking into a trap. You had your mind invaded by the most evil creature in the universe, and became her plaything for over a month. You tried to hide it from us because you didn't want us to worry about you. Then you were put into an impossible situation with no way out: either give up the Heart or you and your friends would endure a lifetime of torture. You were willing to sacrifice everything to save us. Everything you have done has been for us, Irma. How can anyone say one disparaging thing against you?"

"Please stop it, Will. I don't deserve it."

"Stop it, Irma! You deserve this and much more. You are a true friend, a loyal friend, and you paid a terrible price for that loyalty. I don't think any of us would have survived what you did. To want it all to stop...how can anyone blame you for that?"

Irma clenched her fists and struggled not to cry. Will's words were hitting her heart, and she didn't want to believe them. For some reason, Irma wanted to believe she was some pitiful creature unworthy of love or kindness. She felt so much self-loathing because she was ready to sacrifice the entire universe for her own selfish reasons. Now here was Will Vandom, the girl Irma admired most in the whole world, telling her she was wrong to feel this way.

"But that's just the point, Will. I was willing to sacrifice everything. All that we've worked for would have been for naught had I been given two more seconds. If Elyon hadn't shown up when she did, Nerissa would have everybody in chains right now...probably including us. At least with the Heart we'd have had a fighting chance. But I took that away from us...away from you. I would have doomed us all to a lifetime of fear and despair. Without the Guardians to stand in her way, Nerissa would have enslaved the whole universe. No one would have been able to stop her. That's what I was doing when I decided to give Nerissa the Heart. That's the choice I was making. Now stop calling me a hero...I don't deserve it."

"Irma Lair you are a hero. You're my hero! You saved my life and the lives of all of us by giving me your life-energy back in the Aviary. Oh yes, I remember that, Irma. Without you, none of us would have made it to our Chambers and I know at least Cornelia and I would have died. You stayed alive and defiant long enough on Mount Thanos to give Elyon time to reach us. It doesn't matter what you were thinking, it only matters what you did. And you didn't give up the Heart, Irma. That speaks volumes to me."

"Will..."

"No, Irma, no more arguments. You're one of us, a Guardian of the Veil, and that's never gonna change. So get over it now, cuz you're with us for the long haul. But more than that...you're our friend, and we don't abandon friends."

Irma couldn't stop the tears then. She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and belonging. She twisted around to look at her friend and leader.

"Do you really mean that? You're not just trying to make me feel better?"

"I really mean it, Irma. Let yourself believe it."

Irma twisted back around and looked at the floor. "I'll try, Will."

"That's all we can ask," Will said, laying her hand on Irma's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Irma wiped her tears with her blue-clad arm. "Well, how do you feel about an impromptu water fight in my Chamber?"

Will laughed happily. "It sounds great."

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Some distance away, in a cave far below ground, Nerissa lay waiting for her opportunity. The Guardians had to be feeling very smug right now, and the evil hag couldn't wait to wipe it off their faces.

"Be confident in your victory now, Guardians. But you haven't seen the last of Nerissa. I will return and I will have my vengeance."

The End

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And thus it ends. It is a bittersweet moment for this author. The story has been with me for over a year, and I have come to love writing it. Nonetheless, there had to be an ending somewhere. I hope y'all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. A final thank you to all who read it, and all who reviewed and/or sent PM's. I thank both my talented editors AzhureTigress and Visigoth. You both did a fabulous job for me and I shall remain forever grateful. Thank you all again for reading and to my loyal Pitters...you mean the world to me. :)