Well, this is it. Let me say thank you to everyone who gets this far and I hope you enjoy this work straight from the heart. I have to thank Darth Azreal one last time for his great work, and making this possible, and readers who look at and comment on stories like mine. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Now, for the long awaited resolution...
Epilogue:
"All hail…" Reaver began, standing on the balcony of Bower castle before a cheering crowd, "the Mayor of Bowerstone and her new husband, General Ben Finn!" The people applauded excitedly as Ben Finn and Page went to the balcony, followed by the Queen and Prince Elliot. Garth followed behind them holding a small child.
"Here, my dear. Kelan is obviously hungry again." Garth handed Page her son, then turned to the other child, who rushed up the steps and hugged Reaver.
"Uncle Reaver!"
"Ah, yes, Bana...child, here, go to Uncle Garth." Reaver used his cane to push the girl into Garth's hands, looking repulsed, but all knew it to be an act.
"Reaver, you had to suspect that your sins would catch up with you some day," Garth said, hosting the child onto his hip and caressing her face, "But even I didn't believe that it would be Benjamina with whom you finally had a child!"
"Ha…yes…well, the less reminders of this complete failure, the better. Now come Garth we must look presentable for our dear student's wedding!" Garth set the daughter of Benjamina and Reaver down and focused back to the crowd before them. Page drew her weapon, the glowing and beautiful Avo's Lamentation, and held it up high so that the entire crowd could see it.
"I give this gift, the weapon used to slay those terrible demons and their leader, to my Queen, as a sign of the beginning of our great peace! To the prosperity and happiness of every person in this great land of ours," She exclaimed. She took the weapon and gave it to the Queen, who only said one word before the great crowd.
"Peace!" She yelled. The cheering reached a zenith as all the people yelled and screamed before the five greatest heroes of Albion.
Later the wedding party went to Bower castle to find a number of friends and allies waiting for them.
"May I offer congratulations to you, Page and Ben...and to you, your majesty," Kalin offered with a bow, "By slaying the allies and kin of the Crawler, you have saved much of the world from tyranny both Garth and I know of all too well."
"Indeed," Garth began, "Now, we have defeated the darkness and with Theresa as an ally against it, and I believe it will not threaten our lands again. And this is thanks to your heroics on the top of the Spire your majesty."
"But no, Garth, I must thank you. If you, Reaver, Ben and Page, and all of you hadn't come to rescue me, there would be no Albion. It is not I, but you who has saved this land," The Queen said, waving to all the people in the room. She then turned to the Castilian cataphract and held out her hand.
"Captain Corada. The injustices of the Castilian War cannot stand. You may know yourselves as liberated. Castile is no longer bound by Albion's whim," the Queen said, tearing an old vassalage treaty in half.
"Th…thank you your majesty." The captain said with a salute.
"Aurora is part of Albion, and it will always be as long as the people of Aurora wish it."
"And so it should be your majesty," Kalin said proudly.
"The same goes for your people Sabine."
"We proudly give ourselves to you, your majesty." Sabine said with a bow. Boulder, looking very confused, tried to bow as well, but fell over and tumbled onto the ground.
"Dammit Boulder! What are you doing, stop ruining the moment!"
"And to you, King Louis. I propose an extension to our alliance. Your merchants would find fair winds and many patrons in Albions ports."
"Indeed, your majesty. Our alliance will be extended. However, in Francian culture, this is normally solidified with a marriage. May I present my daughter, who may one day marry your son?" King Louis said, stepping aside to reveal a young, but beautiful looking girl, wearing a long, elegant blue and white dress. She curtsied very properly.
"Princess Sophie d'Artois, at your service my lady." The Queen smiled, and knelt down to the girl.
"Princess Sophie…this is Prince Zachary." The Queen pulled her oldest son forward. The two looked shyly at one another, then Zachary grabbed Sophie arm.
"Hey, let's play. My mum just brought me a brand-new play sword!" Zachary said, dragging the very regal looking girl with him. The Queen stood and looked to General Drusus, who was fully recovered and saluted.
"My lady, our armies have been reduced to peacetime companies. However, our soldiers are still ready to battle with any enemy, no matter who, or what, they are."
"Thank you Drusus." At that moment, Saker entered the room, saluting the Queen.
"My lady, the Imperial Guard is all ready and able now as well."
"Indeed, thank you," The Queen responded. Hobson rubbed his beard and looked very suspiciously at the man.
"Are you sure that it is a good idea to name this man as a…" Saker went to Hobson and eyed him threateningly.
"What's the problem Mr. Hobson? Is it that you don't think I'm strong enough for you? Perhaps I should show you true force." Saker said, cracking his knuckles. Hobson turned to the Queen, quivering slightly.
"He seems immensely qualified. Ahem, continue my lady." The Queen turned to Ben and Page, who held Kelan closely.
"Uh…your majesty, I think it may be a good idea if I…take some time off. You know, with the baby and all…" Ben said, taking Kelan, who began to squirm and whine.
"Don't worry Ben, your job will be waiting for you when you're ready." the Queen said with a smile. Finally, she turned to Reaver and Garth.
"And what will you two do?"
"I must return to Samarkand. I must speak to my father again. Perhaps we may even begin to resurrect the Heroes Guild."
"Actually," Reaver started, "I was hoping I might return as well. Perhaps…the women weren't as droll as I remember. Besides, if there is a fountain of youth anywhere, it's probably in Samarkand right?" Reaver said slyly, looking to Garth.
"I suspected our story together wasn't over just yet," Garth said, his normally cold stare melting into a smile. As the sun set on that night, the Reaver was packed and ready for launch, and Page, and Ben were the only ones remaining to see Reaver and Garth off. However, two others came, as well, though, not to see Reaver off as much to claim his possessions.
"So...is it true Reaver?"
"Yes, here you are, the keys to the factory. You are now in charge of Reaver Industries," Reaver said, halfheartedly handing over his company and the last ten years of his life to Boyle.
"Hah! I've made the recovery of the century. Down, defeated after losing Understone, and now, I've come to rule Reaver industries, by myself!"
"Well, not exactly…" Reaver said, pulling out a second set of keys and throwing them at the spitter from Brightwall. The man hawked heavily, and launched his tobacco; whether on purpose or not, it hit Boyle right on his shoe.
"Meet your co-owner. I hope you two get along nicely," Reaver said happily, turning back to the dock. Boyle and the spitter left the four heroes, and Reaver went to those he was leaving behind.
"Well, I suppose this is goodbye, my dear Page, and my dear Ben. It has been a pleasure, and I'm sorry we never had a private party before you tied the knot. Though…" Reaver leaned in close to the woman, "I'm still perfectly willing to enjoy your company, so just find me if you ever need an extra bed mate." Reaver nudged the woman, who couldn't help but laugh.
"And Ben, being the Hero of Skill for Albion is a great responsibility. Try not to be as destructive as me though, I plan to live on in infamy and I simply refuse to let you outshine me." Ben nodded and extended his hand. When Reaver grasped it there was a flash of light over their hands and their eyes flashed yellow. After letting go of Ben's hand Reaver turned to Garth.
"Now my dear man, I have 150 years left. Shall we then?" Reaver said signaling to the Reaver, which was now only waiting for them.
"Hmm…I suppose so. Goodbye Page. And Ben, protect my niece and grandnephew for me. And please, clean up the mess Reaver's left. I'll do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't come back and make a new one." Garth said, smiling, as he hugged his niece, shook hands with Ben, and kissed Kelan goodbye.
"Step lively, Garth, this ship's got places to be, you know!" Reaver said, taking the helm and putting on a naval top hat which looked like his old one. The steam engine started with a roar and as Garth boarded, the gangway retracted and the ship started off. Garth stood on the side, and a young girl jumped up beside him, much to Reaver's shock.
"I'm going to Samarkand with Uncle Reaver! Yay!" Benjamina's daughter ran up to her father and hugged his leg.
"Oh no…if she's anything like her mother…this is going to be a long 150 years…" Reaver sighed as the boat pulled away. Page and Ben watched as the vessel faded in the setting sun, ending the journey of the Hero of Will's return to Albion and perhaps the journey of the Hero of Skill as well, though all around found it unlikely. And Page and Ben returned to their small home in Brightwood, and tucked in their young child, and dreamed that night of the world they saved, and the heroes who helped them do it.