Last chapter, people! Read and Review, PLEASE! Thanks!

Epilogue

Thor sat on the edge of the cliff, on which he had christened little Tiz a year before. He looked at the plants, and sighed.

He lost them. Mentally, automatically, he began to think of all of them, all in order of their deaths. Karim, Zia, Third – no, not Third. He's Heiza now – and Tiz.

He grieved for all of them. He wished he had second chances, just to express his love and gratitude to them. If he had a second chance, maybe he wouldn't be filled with sorrow now.

"Thor?"

He turned at the sound of Chen's voice. She came and sat next to him. "We were just thinking-" She hesitated, and looked away. He knew that by 'we' she was talking about her and Zagi.

"What were you thinking?" Thor asked.

"You, as our leader-"

"No, I'm not your leader," Thor said harshly. "No one is your leader."

"Just listen, why don't you?" Chen snapped. Thor fell silent and Chen nodded curtly. "You are our leader, and you know it. As I was saying, you should get married, get a life. Get over them."

"That's ironic." Thor snorted. "You yourself can't forget Heiza, and you want me to get over them?"

"I can't ever forget him, that's true," Chen returned. "But I don't sit around like a sack of dead plants, wishing them back!" She stood up angrily, and Thor touched her hand. "I'm sorry, but I can't," Thor said, as gently as he could.

"All right," Chen said after a moment's hesitation. "I suppose I could understand that you have four people to grieve over, but Thor, when they see you happy, it lifts their spirits to know that they too, can live a life."

"So I'm a role model now, huh?"

"Sort of." Chen sighed. "Please, think about it. There's someone whom we want you to meet and marry. And she's anxious to see you."

"Right." Thor gave a bark of laughter that lacked humor. "After an old crock like me."

"You're not old," Chen pointed out.

"I feel like I've aged a hundred years in the past year."

"Very well. Tell me when you wish to meet her." Chen started to walk away. Thor sighed.

"Chen, I'll meet her now." She turned and smiled.

"That's better. Come on." She beckoned him with one hand, and he followed her obediently, wondering whom this mysterious girl may be.

………………………

Thor had no idea where they were going until he saw the ruins of the Ochre Ring place.

"What are we doing back here?" Thor demanded. He didn't want to look around, and see Tiz's things! Nor would he want to see Zia's. Chen ignored him, and continued to lead him on into the main hall. Thor was surprised to see it still intact, though its walls have crumbled to the ground.

"Wait here," Chen told him, and slipped away. Thor sat down on one of the rocks, and looked around, bewildered. So many memories…

"If you can be Top, then I can too!" He remembered his words, the words that made him what he used to be. "It's a Try!" he heard Third cry in his head. He couldn't stop the torrent of memories…

"Thor!" He remembered the way Tiz cried his name in that high-pitched voice of hers. He turned and saw her running to him. "Tiz?" he whispered, hopefully, reaching out blindly, hoping to touch her stretched our hands…

And she was gone. He stared blankly at the wall, feeling frustrated, wanting to hit the wall 'til it broke, and shattering into tiny pieces. A tear slid down his cheek. And another, and another, all sliding down his cheeks, his chin, and hitting the floor.

"Top, don't cry for what you've done," Zia's voice said.She always tried to give him what comfort she could whenever she saw that he was down, or in tears. "Don't ever cry."

"I can't help it!" he howled into sky.

"Please Thor." The gentle touch on his shoulder startled him, and he whirled around to meet a pair of beautiful sea green eyes.

"Zia?" he breathed.

She nodded, and smiled, slightly. He touched her face, unable to believe that she was alive. "I thought you were dead!"

"Chen was of the same reaction," she replied, looking around.

"Chen knew?" She didn't answer, so he kept silent, although there were great many questions in his head. He contented himself by merely looking at her. Her hair was not as red, almost silver, actually, but her piercing eyes were the same. She wore a simple day attire, and she was as fair as he was before. Her sword was strapped by her side. She looked slightly gaunt, but other than that and her hair, everything was same.

"Were you the person who wanted to meet me?" Thor finally asked.

"Do I look like her?"

"I don't…" Thor started. She placed a finger on his lips.

"Yes, of course. I was she."

"How did you survive?" Thor blurted. "I saw the Phoenix go into inferno once I left."

She smiled. "Yes, the Phoenix went into an inferno, didn't she?" She was mocking him, as always. Her attitude had not changed, then.

"Can you stop mocking me and give me a straight answer?" Thor demanded. She stared at him, seemingly surprised, but she just laughed. This was one of the few times anyone heard her laugh without sarcasm, and the first for Thor. Her laugh was low and melodious.

"Thor, there is no such thing as a straight answer," she said, wiping her eyes. "Everything is a riddle, even you. But I will elaborate more, if that is what you want."

She gestured him to sit, and she sat next to him. "As you can see, I'm not dead. When the Phoenix burst into flames, it was she who died, not me. My body was intact still, but she crumbled into ashes. As everyone knows, Phoenixes will resurrect whenever they die, but as the Phoenix inside me was not a true and whole Phoenix, she could not resurrect.

"How I survived is a more complicating matter. I don't even know why. It is possible that, like you, I am not Heiza's and Aliza's true daughter, but a mere DNA experiment. Sorry," she added at his face. "I didn't mean for it to come out like that. Anyways, this is my theory: The Professor said that I would die when the ball reaches the center of Chimera, didn't he? And the Musa roots stopped it, right? So the ball never reached the center, and probably never will."

"So will you live forever?" Thor asked. She shook her head, grinning.

"Of course not, you dope. I'm not immortal, you know! I suppose I will live to a full age now, and then die. Unless, of course, someone stabs me in a fatal place."

He nodded. "Of course," he echoed. "With the Phoenix gone, is your curse lifted?'

"Curse?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

"You know, the marriage curse."

"Maybe." He grinned.

She smiled, and looked at him. Her eyes searched his. "I've…" she broke off, and looked down, embarrassed.

He took her hands. "I've missed you too," he said softly. He knew what she was going to say. "Chimera's not the same without Tiz and you."

"What of Karim?"

Thor shrugged. "I barely knew her."

"Yet you thought that it was alright for you to kiss her." Zia's face was slightly accusing.

"Was that why you hit me?" Thor asked, remembering that day. Zia shrugged. "You know it is," he said gently.

"You knew?" she asked.

"Well, I had a hunch." He pulled her closer to him, and she leaned against his shoulder, sighing. There was silence.

She finally broke it. "What occurred between you and my father when I was presumably lost? I've seen his body, so have no fear that the information will break my heart."

Thor looked down at her. "You've seen him?"

"When I was escaping, yes. The ladder was still functional. I was rather surprised that it survived the flames."

"Escaping?"

"Oh, just answer my question!"

Thor relented, and recounted what happened between him and Heiza. When he was finished, she was quiet. He thought she was grieving, and he let her. But he was wrong.

"I'd hate to say this, Thor," she said at last. "But my father was correct. You should've let him go. He could have landed on his feet and survived still. He wouldn't have needed to take the gun out. But then again, I suppose you didn't want him to risk it. I've never met anyone like you, Thor."

"What do you mean?" Thor asked.

"You risk your own life for others who have betrayed you, and your position as Top to believe me. What else do I need to mention?"

"You didn't mention the part about me trusting Zagi."

"I would be here reciting your deeds all day if I did."

He pulled her to her feet. "You would, but let me do another deed for you to recite." He ducked his head down while she looked up.

"Thor, it would not be right," she murmured.

He smirked. "As your 'leader' I say it is." Thor bent down, and pressed his mouth to hers.

-Fin-

At last! Freedom! Can fully contribute to my other stories now!! WHOOHOO!! Okay, okay. So I'm not as happy as I seem to be… I have to admit, I'm sorta sad that it's done… It was fun. Well, since this is the end of the story, I'll just have to add this part one last time for this! Please Review! Thank you! Luv you guys!

The One and Forever Authoress (I'm not the only one, don't worry. )

Dawn.Fire.Angel