Ilaera stopped breathing for a moment when she realized that Lappy was going to make the ultimate sacrifice. She saw how Larianne was hold back by Tanaka. She couldn't help but feel pitty for the other girl, she had been through so much already and now this. Her eyes were full of tears after Lappy turned into the stone statue and they started to drop when she heard Larianne cry. She had been so happy before after they've won the battle, but that feeling was completely gone now. All she could hope for now was that a cure for Lappy could be found.

Sashi and Lorne stand together with her team among the large group of gathered protectors to watch the key ceremony, the girls fingers rubbing the top of the fox's head. Silent as the the the first key is spit back out, followed by the second, her heart sinking as she sees Lappy kick free from Larianne and walk to Eilwyn and his paw being placed in the third lock. A few tears roll down the warriors cheek, as she leans down scooping up her best friend and holding the fox tight pressing a soft kiss on his nose whispering softly "I love you my friend always." The warriors heart breaking a bit for Larianne and her loss. She prays that they will find a way to reverse this and return Lappy to his Mistress.

Epilogue: The Bell of Hope

Four Months Later

It's working toward the holiday season, but Ertrude is still feeling less than festive. Oh, the Wayward Squirrel is back in perfect condition, and both she and Winton like the fact that it has become stationary.

"Our Faerie and Elven friends can visit anytime," Winton says happily, "and we can head out to see them as well. We're just mist veiled until we open again."

"I agree," Ertrude nods. "Everyone seems happier, Thorson, Morrow, Lari...well, Larianne is as happy as she can be, I suppose."

"She could be a lot happier," Winton worries along with her. "I think she simply went through a lot of trials and hardships, and Lappy was the last straw. She pets that little statue every night. If it wasn't for Kelian coming by on a regular basis to cheer her up, I don't know what I'd do."

"Well," Thorson adds as he helps himself to the hot cocoa. "If she'd let Tanaka take him, there might have been some hope. Hayao and I got that tunnel into enough of a holding pattern with those renewable crystals for single trips back and forth, provided it's only used in an emergency. Besides, we rigged that bell with summon codes for each of us, so we could deal with anything dire."

"Dire is a good word for what tends to happen around here," Morrow puts down his mop and joins Thorson with the cocoa. "Those Unseelies are still giving me nightmares."

"We're safe and calm now," Thorson assures him, "and Termina's coming soon. She and I have been working on something which might ease all of our minds about Lari."

They listen with interest as Thorson explains the Wine of Maturity.

That afternoon, Larianne is summoned to Thorson's alchemy lab to meet with her self-appointed Faerie Godmother, Termina. As usual, the Dowager is looking about one-quarter of her age, but with the same penchant for not quite matched hit-and-miss fashion. Still, for her, the oddities work.

Termina regards her newest godchild with keen interest. On the surface, a serenely composed young woman gazes back at her, but on the inside, the Dowager sees a huddled teen overwhelmed by too much, too soon, and a sense of both grief and betrayal.

She's so afraid, to risk, to trust, to love. She's simply clinging to her mother and father without much hope. That bravado is such an act. Thorson was right. She needs this potion.

Putting down the wineglass she has been carrying, Termina fills it half-full with a golden liquid.

"Here, dear, this will make you feel just wonderful."

"Oh, I couldn't. I don't drink spirits, and I..."

"...will do this because I, your Faerie Godmother, command you."

Tentatively, Larianne raises the glass to her lips and sips. "Oh, my!" she exclaims, "that's like golden stardust."

Termina pours herself a glass and calls out to Ertrude to join them. "Here's to your first Chicfest, sweetie." She pours Larianne more and all three of the women drink and giggle.

About an hour later, Winton, Thorson, and Morrow peer through the door to see Ertrude and Termina retelling girlhood stories and Larianne passed out on the table.

"It works in reverse on the elders," Thorson explains. "It sets their emotions back to girlish innocence instead of bringing them forward and giving them the maturity they need. Fortunately, it's a temporary effect."

OneToo sticks his head in and snickerpurrs as Morrow sits down to hear the stories and Winton picks Larianne up to carry her to bed.

"Two-legs are strange," he remarks to the resident fuzzballs. "I think I go have an oil nightcap and call it a day."

Larianne sleeps through the night and a good potion of the next day. She doesn't seem hungover, but her manner is quiet and more reflective.

Finally, after dinner, she remarks to her parents. "You know, I've been thinking, and I may have been wrong about some things. Mom, Dad, have I been too much of a brat?"

Thrilled that Larianne seems to be truly at peace with herself for the first time since her Crystanian ordeal, Ertrude is too excited to sleep. As she turns over for the fifth time, she hears footsteps on the stairs. Sliding out of bed carefully so as not to wake, she creeps down to see Larianne heading out to the garden carrying Lappy's statue.

Ertrude tucks into a shadowed corner of the room and waits in silence. In about fifteen minutes, Larianne returns with a flower pot containing a Harmony Lily in bloom, its iridescent blues glowing in the night, and its silvery white petal borders aglow.

Slowly and carefully, Larianne opens the travel tunnel door. She bends down and puts the lily in place under the bell. Then she holds the statue of Lappy close and kisses the little head several times. Ertrude can see the tears on her face as she places the statue down beside the lily. Studying the codes below the bell, she carefully sounds the sequence she wants.

"I'm sorry, really, I am," she whispers. "I know I don't deserve it, but please come for him, please."

Then she closes the door, and sobbing, runs upstairs.

Ertrude doesn't sleep the rest of the night, waiting to run down ahead of her daughter in case nothing has happened, and, really, with such short notice, that may well be the case.

But, when she pulls the door open, the statue and the lily are gone. In their place is a note.

(sniff) Aw...

Dealing with her own recent loss, Lovecraft hears of Lappy and they will try for Larianne..."I will not cry," she tells herself wiping a single tear fron her face. "Warriors don't cry."

Quercus watched the ceremony without a word. She did look resigned when Lappy stepped forward but she was not completely surprised. The Unseelie had dragged the Wayward Squirrel through space and time for something and the only thing she had heard of that had changed was Lappy's arrival. She hadn't made the link to a key but that was the point. She watched his sacrifice, apparently deaf to Larianne's cries. Watching was hard but deep down she knew it was Lappy's choice. They had no right to deny him that. She watched the apologies to Larianne as the statue was held out to her. That they would find a way to make it right. Larianne's reaction was exactly as she expected. And why not? After everything she had been through Larianne had been denied the chance to understand, to say farewell. Quercus wasn't sure what Larianne's choice would have been over Lappy but it had been denied her. Tipper whined from her place in Quercus' arms. Star remained as Quercus did. Silent and watching. Quercus carefully scratched Tipper's ears and said nothing, watching and thinking about everything she'd seen. She shook her head. This had been a long battle. They had all fought and lost in some way. She touched the jacket she'd worn when she'd followed Lighting. She'd decided to keep it. She needed to remember how she'd been tricked on that journey. She turned her head and gazed out at the rolling dust that seemed to always swirl at BoarderTown. She could feel herself being pulled. She wanted to stay with her friends. She wanted to stay with the Squirrel and maybe help with the grief of a lost friend. But she could feel the pull of where she had come from. Home was calling and ultimately she knew it would win. She could leave it for a long time but not forever. The question now was how long she would resist it.

[Quote=Brynna]The feeling of jubilation that had been coursing through me since our amazing victory vanished as soon as I realized what Lappy really was. The gut wrenching heartbreak in Larianne's voice was too much. I ran at full speed back to the Inn, up the stairs and into my room. Slamming the door shut behind me, I learned my forehead against it and screamed.

It was unfair what that poor girl had gone through and losing Lappy like that was just too much. I desperately wanted to have someone to be the focus of my feelings of anger and frustration, but I knew that this was how it had to be and Lappy had known his fate and faced it as a true hero. Poor Lari though.

Pink was doing her best to make me feel better and focusing on Lappy as a hero was helping too. I dried my tears (Damn, but I had cried more in the last month than in the last ten years put together!) and gave Pink a snuggle then went to get a drink downstairs. I suspected the bar would be a popular place after all of us witnessing that ceremony, and I needed to be around people for a while...I just hoped that Lari wasn't there as I don't think I could be around her grief without breaking down again. Selfish, I know, but I needed an emotional breather.[/quote]

(OOC glad to read the epilogue and that there is hope :) )

((late reaction to Lappy + going off on a tangent? lol idk ;p))

Before the Catnip Thieves could really get to celebrating, they attended the key ceremony that would lock the Seelie world from the Unseelie world for once and for all. Everyone was relieved, but Gavin was admittedly a bit sad. After all, he fled from home when his grieving parents most needed him and traveled three years in a spaceship on a pilgrimage to the Unseelie world and learn more about his ancestry. The alchemist sighed. He wouldn’t trade his time with the Catnip Thieves for anything, but he still couldn’t help but think, ‘If only I had left home a few years earlier…’

Aodh wrapped an arm around Gavin. “Hey, brother. No need to feel down. I know a few folk songs and epics from ancient Unseelie times.”

Wyn, Scrap and Tab cuddled around the pale boy, comforting him. In reality, they were saying something along the lines of: “You’re not missing much by not going. Trust us, we’ve been there.”

The freckled boy smiled, and pet the animals. “Thanks, brother. I would like to hear those later.”

Meanwhile, Dana and Reyna hugged each other. Those few hours spent fighting the death dragon were a few hours too long. The mechanic inhaled, smelling the flower-sweet scent of Reyna’s hair. To think there was a chance she could’ve never smelled it again if that battle had turned out differently…Dana shook the evil thoughts from her mind. All that mattered was that they were here, now, together.

Celeste smirked, and elbowed Amalia, who rolled her eyes. “Fine, you win.” The warrior capitulated at long last.

“And you better not give me a sock.” the mage said.

The warrior ran her fingers through her shaggy black hair and thought. What else could she give Celeste? “Fine, no sock. How do martial arts lessons sound?”

The horned mage brightened. She had read passages on how certain styles of martial arts could enhance different types of magic. “That sounds great.”

Suddenly, another thought struck the warrior. “Hey, Celeste.”

“Hmm?”

“Is it ok if you’re not the only student in our martial arts class?”

“Um, okay?” She was a bit puzzled what this was about.

“Oi, Lizzy!” The warrior beckoned the polymath over. “Do you wanna join my martial arts class? I dunno if your little screwdriver will be enough to defend you from everything, and I won’t be there forever, kiddo.”

“Excuse you?” Dana spoke up, hearing this.

Lizzy smirked. “Is this you getting worried about me?” She teased.

“Pfft. Worried?” Amalia laughed. “The first thing you’ll learn in my martial arts classes is true fighters never get worried!”

“Really now.” Said Celeste, disbelieving.

“Yes, really. I only learned from the best senseis!” She boasted. “Anyways, you in, Lizzy?”

“Sure.” She smiled.

Reyna turned around. “Shhh! It’s starting!”

The team watched in awe as the first, then the second key were twisted in the tree root. Both Delgar’s locket and Kelian’s ring shot back out, deformed. The last key, however, surprised them. It was Lappy.

Tanaka hugged Larianne tightly, refusing to let her go as she struggled. “No! Not Lappy! No!” She screamed.

The Catnip Thieves could only watch in shocked silence as Eilwyn sadly led her creation to the root. She gave her oath solemnly as she stuck Lappy’s metallic paw into the final keyhole. The tree shook as the final key was accepted. The screams of Unseelies being thrown out of the Twisted Root back into their own dark world was deafening. After the ordeal, all that was left of the valiant robot dog was an inert bronze statue.

“Lappy…” Reyna’s heart panged. As a ranger, she’d never worked with robots before, but an animal was an animal, robot or not. Tears leaked out of her eyes.

Dana hugged her loved one tightly. She too was sad about Lappy’s sacrifice. Machines were always fascinating, and at times even selfless, creations.

Lappy reminded Gavin so much of Laika, and he couldn’t help but wipe away a few tears of his own.

After the ceremony, the Catnip Thieves all returned to their respective rooms. Reyna suggested they go for drinks later, and the crew half-heartedly agreed. In truth, they were all feeling pretty sad about Lappy.

Gavin sighed, throwing himself onto his covers. After he listened to Aodh’s epics and songs about the Unseelie and maybe went on a tour with the rest of his friends, then what? He felt empty. He didn’t accomplish what he had set out for, at all. In the alchemist’s home country of Ochia, teens who didn’t return from their own missions with detailed reports of success were often shunned. He sighed again. Gavin loved his parents, but he didn’t have to face to return home. But what could he do?

The freckled boy rolled this way and that, troubled. Eventually, his thoughts drifted towards his earliest role model, his sister. She was always optimistic and had a solution for everything. ‘Evelina, what would you do?’ Evelina, who had always dreamed of finding distant, sophisticated civilizations. Evelina, who left that day and never turned back. Evelina, who disappeared.

When he found himself hopelessly tangled in his covers, he stopped rolling. Gavin sighed. The alchemist had always kept hope that Evelina would turn up one day. She would act as if she weren’t even gone for that long. Maybe she would even say, “Hey, Gavin, you’ll never guess what I found!”. His heart panged. The majority of his rational, scientific brain screamed that it had been years, she would never come back, he would never see her again. But he still didn’t want to give up that tiny speck of hope that she was still out there, somewhere, alive.

Just like that, an idea hit him. Gavin knew what to do. He would find Evelina. And to do that, he knew he’d need some help.

"Well it's about time that girl got some relief and finally seems to be growing up." thought Atrueheart. "Thank the one for Fairy Godmothers."

[B]Reply To The Key Ceremony[/b]

Myra and Krios had followed the key ceremony and the drama concerning Lappy, Myra already in tears. She could feel Larianne there, if she thought about the possibility of loosing Shimmershadow, she would be absolutely heartbroken, too. Probably, it would be the other way round some time, when you consider the usual unicorn lifespan. Yet dangers were everywhere, obviously this adventure wasn´t borne at all, they would only get a break. "Let him always be safe!" Myra thought and sent a plea to Gaia, goddess and protector of all mythical nature beings. Krios took her hand and squeezed it. Normally, he would have felt bored and awkward amid such an emotional situation and would have broken loose and gone his way already, yet the mere thought of Rhea laying there, still and lifeless, let his stomach tense up. So the alchemist and the mage stood there, hand in hand, as Verrek toppled over, and looked startled and a little bit scared. Their new friend always was so composed and tough and experienced and now he seemed to be in extremis! At Verrek´s call, they both rushed forward, simultaneously with Lilith and Val, relieved to see that the pirate already helped Verrek up off the ground. "You heard Val, chum, what can we do for you?" Krios asked eagerly, somehow delighted to look forward to a new task. Myra was already rummaging in her dress pockets for healing remedies and Krios gave his staff an encouraging swirl. "Are you feeling ill?" the alchemist asked inquiringly, looking concerned. The cloud of words Verrek whispered into the comrades ears then let all of them turn pale. Myra looked at Krios and formed a mute "unbelievable" and Krios scratched his head. "My dear fellow, come home with us. I am sure we can help with your..... erm, problem..... yet we have to discuss this further. Perhaps, we need the help of the other Chimeriads, too." Krios looked around, searching for the other companions. "Pals, we have work to do! Let´s go!"

Late reaction...

Shasa watched the ceremony with curiosity, jumping slightly as the locket was shot back to Delgar. "It's been crushed..." she whispered the Kiska, who had curled himself around her arm. Kiska said nothing. He was watching the fairies arrive with narrowed eyes. "Something is wrong." he said softly. Startled, Shasa looked at him and then at the teary eyed Princess Eilwyn. "Yeah... I wonder what she's sad about.

Her question was soon answered as Lappy made his sacrifice. Shasa looked away, unable to watch Larianne grieving. Even Kiska said nothing. A short while later, they trooped back to the Squirrel. It had been quite a journey, and the ending was bittersweet. They had still won though, and Shasa resolved to hold on to that. Kiska climbed up her arm. "The canine is surely not dead." he whispered. "Kiska was a statue once too, after all." Shasa smiled at him. "That's true. I suppose... they'll just wait and see."