The last disclaimer: Réné Goscinny, Albert Uderzo

The last chapter!

Two weeks later the scars of the destructive battle that took place in their village were erased, many thanks to Obelix, who appeared quite apt a dealing out orders when the occasion called for it. Some of the village's inhabitants were not yet quite as fit as before. But that was only a matter of time, and so tables were being set for another great dinner, although it was still an early afternoon. Roasting boar took some time, after all.

Asterix and Phyllis both sat on the bench in front of his house, absorbing the rays of sun that hit them.

"It's a good time to travel south," Asterix remarked.

"Yeah. Following the light. Imagine that," Phyllis smirked, but her soft tone betrayed that she was not being entirely ironic.

"Are sure you're not going to stay for the dinner? I know you want to see your parents ,but one more evening….." He gave his own comment some thought, and shook his head. "Forget I said that, I mean of course you want to go right now. It's just…."

"You want to make sure we arrive safely….I get it. But you also know that will not be a problem," Phyllis said. "You need some more time to recover, Asterix, and frankly, so do I. I'm not ready for parties. I…I just never imagined there would be a life for me after Mesmeron."

She stared at the patch of grass where Goliath was grazing in the sunlight, Bravura curled up on her back. There was more she wanted to say, more thoughts swarming her mind. It was easier when she had no voice. After fighting Mesmeron, she had gotten a cold. Despite the healers in the village all being in recovery, Getafix had taken good care of her. But she had not been able to utter more than a whisper for several days. It hadn't mattered; she had felt comfortable watching in silence how life in the village regained its usual pace.

She and Bonny would travel south tonight. She did not know exactly where her parents lived nowadays, but she knew it had to be somewhere in Greece, near Athens. If they had changed plans on that, they would have let her know somehow. And since her father was quite well known in Athens, tracking them would not be that hard.

She had not talked much with Bonny, but she had accepted her request to accompany her. Frankly, she was sick of being lonely. And while she sat here, chatting with Asterix and being waved at by the villagers, she realized she wasn't. Traveling home was something that she had longed for desperately….but it did mean giving up on this feeling of being welcome, being cared for. At least for a while. Phyllis would miss that. She would miss Obelix and Asterix and how they didn't judge. How they had accepted her. She would miss Asterix. But unlike her, he was surrounded by friends, and he had them in every corner of the world. He would never be lonely. He had a home. She was not sure if he would miss her, and she was not going to ask.

It almost seemed like Asterix had nothing to fear in the world. Phyllis knew it wasn't true. No one who cared and loved could ever be that way. But still, he knew what he wanted and where he belonged, and she didn't. He had given her the chance to discover. And that was what she intended to do.

Asterix broke the silence: "I know you didn't imagine it. Life. But if you hadn't hoped for it, you wouldn't be here today, wouldn't you? You'll be fine."

Phyllis stood up: "I'm going to help Bonny pack the horses. It's good that Getafix lends us some potion for the horses, they would faint under the things Bonny collected here if he didn't.

Asterix raised an eyebrow: "So those three bags standing in my living room belong to Bonny? Interesting. I don't recall her bringing them there. And I don't recall you carrying them with you from the forest either."

"Shut up Asterix."

He smiled and leant back in the sun.

Phyllis led Goliath towards Bonny, who had been watching them while she was fumbling with the equipment to pack the horses. "I have no clue how this works," she murmured.

"Of course not, you were way to busy spying on me to pay attention. And you're holding those ropes upside down."

They worked in silence for a while, saddling and packing. "Are you really planning to use the potion for the horses?" Bonny asked.

"Why, would you rather carry your horse then? It will catch a lot of attention, I can tell you."

"Riding at lightning speed won't?"

"We'll hold back."

"Yeah, that's really like you Phyllis, holding back."

Bonny stared at the dining table that was being set. Obelix was explaining something to Asterix in front of the stand the boars were roasting on. Asterix answered and chuckled, but without paying too much attention. Bonny felt like it was a conversation they had held many times before. Would she and Phyllis ever become that way again? There was a time they would have discussed what really mattered, instead of their way of traveling. But how could she offer advice when they had barely started to talk again? Still, Phyllis had accepted her to come along….

"You know," she started "They really want you to stay for this celebration. We could still…"

Phyllis shook her head. "It's…I'm not really into lengthy goodbyes. And that's still what this is. I like it here. I'm not sure where mom and dad live now, how they are doing. I don't think they really believed I would still return one day." She stopped.

"It doesn't really feel like going home then," Bonny offered.

"It does. There is nothing I want more than to return to them. For now."

They stayed silent for a while.

"Well," Bonny said, "At least there is always a goodbye kiss to give." Her smile quickly faded when she noticed Phyllis' terrified look. She stepped forward to hug her smaller friend in comfort, but Phyllis leapt away, and started to fuss with the equipment again. Bonny sighed, exasperated.

"Oh, come on, Phyllis. Asterix likes you. And for someone like you, saying goodbye isn't final. You've always traveled, to Greece and back and once where there you can return. Besides, the Forest House is my home. Weak and helpless as I am, I will need you to return there."

This time, Phyllis did smile. A blush went to her cheeks. "I don't kiss people," she said. "Not for goodbyes." Cryptic as he words were, she still looked around wildly to check if there was no one around, and Bonny laughed.

"Come on, before you have to murder someone for overhearing you."

Half an hour later, the villagers were gathered, and the two girls stood in front of Vitalstatistix, who was holding the most elaborate goodbye speech they had ever heard. Or Bonny had heard, because Phyllis did not seem to catch a word of it. Bonny prodded her when the chief was finished, hoping that her friend would be able to pronounce something sensible. Phyllis took some time to react.

" I….I never thought I would walk away from Mesmeron one day. Well I used to but then…" She took a deep breath to control her rambling.

"But now I'm free. I had stopped imagining ever being so, so it feels surreal. I had kind of accepted I would never seem my family again. Being able to return to them is indescribable. So thanks, for accepting me, for helping me and for standing behind me. When I made the choice to fight Mesmeron with his own weapons, I knew it meant I would be alone. But I did not know how hard that would be, or how much it would change me… Still, while I was here, I remembered what it was like, not being alone. That why I want to find my parents first, before celebrating…Let them know I'm still alive."

Asterix stepped forward. "We understand. You know Phyllis, celebration dinners are not exactly rare in our village. Missing out on this one isn't the end of the world; you can always catch the next one."

She stared at him with saucer-like eyes, and Bonny silently thanked Toutatis, because Asterix had, probably without knowing, taken away one more of Phyllis's fears.

Phyllis responded with a tight hug, which instantly reminded Asterix that he was indeed still recovering.

"I'll miss you,"

It was nothing but a whisper, but he heard it nevertheless. A few weeks ago, that same voice had threatened him, scorned him, yelled at him. Yet these few whispered words were easier to believe.

"I'll miss you too….so do come back to visit us ok? And if you are ever in trouble, which I know is very unlikely…(Phyllis snorted)…let us know."

Phyllis let go of him. "That goes for you too," she said, giving Asterix one of the intense looks he had learnt to know well, even if he had first seen it only weeks ago. "I know your regular share of Romans is nothing but exercise, but…" she trailed off, trying to look for something that woúld require her help. It was hard to imagine. She realized the chance they would ever need each others' help again was slim.

"It's true that most people think the magic potion rules out the possibility we would ever need help," Asterix said. "But, I'm glad you're not one of them."

Phyllis looked away. "The magic potion is just a tool, Asterix. It will always be just that. It is not what makes this village invincible. Although I'm sure it helps…"

Asterix laughed: "Oh yes, it helps, and not a little. But I understand what you mean."

Phyllis started to back away towards Goliath, although she did not turn round. Goliath walked towards her, touching her head as they reached each other, urging her rider to take action. Phyllis grabbed the reins almost automatically. Her smile returned.

"No second thoughts about riding with magic potion?" Asterix asked. "Bonny seems to have some." He pointed towards a very insecure looking horse and rider, who eyed each other with suspicion. It was clear Bonny preferred carriages. Without any magical enhancements on the animals that pulled them.

Phyllis flashed him a grin. "Nope." She took the top of the bottle she had received from Getafix earlier, and gave some drops to both horses. Next, she all but pushed Bonny on her horse, and jumped on Goliath herself. Her face relaxed.

"Take hold of the manes, not the reins and you'll be fine," She instructed Bonny.

"Yeah sure, I'll just let go of the steering," Bonny snorted.

Phyllis smiled again. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm a good guide." As she winked at Asterix, he almost swore he saw some of the familiar golden twinkle in her eyes. But then they set off, and in merely seconds, both horses and riders were well gone. Which made waving them goodby feel quite superficial

"Well, then," Obelix said. "Time for dinner, don't you think?"

As always, their adventure ended with a large feast, and Cacofonix almost made it half through before Fulliautomatix lost patience with him. Manilla was still there, though tomorrow she would return to the Forest House. She would have to look for a new teacher soon, because, as she told Asterix and Getafix, Bonny was one of the people who taught the new arrivals at the Forest House. It was clear she did not expect Bonny to part from Phyllis soon.

Chewing on some boar, Obelix managed to get a remark in between the conversation: "Phyllis was actually also a good teacher. Except for the attacking part…."

"I'm not sure Phyllis can ever feel at home at the Forest House again," said Manilla. "But I will not give up hope ever again that she will."

Obelix looked at Asterix, who shrugged. Truth to be told he had no idea if that would ever be the case.

"Is there not quite a big chance that Phyllis younger sister will be a healer?" Getafix asked.

"It's not a law, but since Myrna and Phyllis are both healers, and Lucius too, if you think about it…that is indeed quite possible," Manilla agreed.

"Well," Getafix said. "As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. Time will tell us where it will lead."

Asterix rolled his eyes. It was nothing but a wise way of saying they all had no clue. But it did sound nice, of course. He felt happy. What had started out as the grimmest adventure ever, had somehow not destroyed their village, but left it stronger once again. Safer. He believed Phyllis. They had made a new friend, one who could stand her ground even against the unusual dangers his village sometimes attracted. He hoped Phyllis felt the same. Being invincible was great. Knowing you did not always have to be, turned out to feel even better.

The end.