By morning, our heroes are leaving the elves outside of their hometown, Stagmoon. The villagers cheer, as many elves help carry into the town, sacks of the rare herb, Crelos Moon. "Thank you so much," bows Lily, "For sharing much of the herb with us. With these plants, I may be able to learn how to grow them myself. So, there will never be another victim of Zev's evil poison." "Really?" beams Faeda, "That's wonderful!"

Adie: "That's pretty cool, Lily." (^_^)V
Henry: "Yeah, that's Lily! She's very cool, and smart, and beauti- I mean..." (*^_^*)
Faeda: *giggles* (^_^)
Edeline: "You've been a great help, Lily and Henry. I can't thank you enough." (^o^)
Lily: "It was our pleasure. I hope your friend will be okay." (^_^)
General Lu: "He will, now that we have the cure!" (^o^)
Adie: "Oh, and Lily, after I finish my quest with Faeda... will it be okay if I'd come back to visit?" (;^_^)
Faeda: (o_o)
Vi: (o_o)
Edeline: (o_O)
Oar: (-_-)

"Sure!" smiles Lily, "I could use some help, researching on how to grow Crelos Moon. I mean, if that doesn't sound too boring for you." "Are you kidding me?" laughs Adie, "That sounds SO cool! I'll help, for sure!" "Wow..." Faeda whispers to Vi, "Looks like Adie really did get over her fears of elves." Vi nods. "I think it's a good thing." says Oar, overhearing their whispers, "She was afraid of people, for no good reason." Faeda and Vi laughs nervously, but agrees.
"Well," sighs General Lu, "We better get back and tell Galen the good news." "Yes." nods Edeline, "We only had seven days. How long has it been?" "This is the third day." assures Oar, "Don't worry. We have plenty of time to head back." "Well," says Adie, hugging Lily and Henry, "I guess this is goodbye, for now." "Goodbye!" the elves cheer, "Goodbye, friends!" As our group ride away on their horses, the whole village waves to them, including a very happy Lily and Henry.

Adie: "Aw... they're such wonderful people. I'm gonna miss them!" (;_;)
Edeline: "Funny... there was a time you would have been relieved to be away from elves." (o_O)
Adie: "Yeah... that was so long ago, I almost forgot how silly I use to be." (;^_^)
Oar: "It was just yesterday." (-_-)
Adie: "Yes, doesn't it seem that way? Heh-heh..." (;^_^)
Oar: "Annoying... Your denial reminds me of someone I don't like..." (-_-)
Adie: "I don't know what you mean." (;^_^)
Oar: (o_O)
Faeda: *giggles* (^_^)
Adie: "Anyhoo... I can't remember why I was so afraid of elves. They're so cool and SO cute!" (^o^)

"Ignorance." says Vi, flatly. Everyone gives her a nervous look. "What's that, Vi?" asks Faeda. "She feared the elves, because of her own ignorance." says Vi, not looking at anyone. "Yes," nods Oar, "Ignorance breeds fear. We often fear the unknown or things we can't understand. Adie didn't know about the elves and their small size was something she was not accustomed to. Therefore it was confusing to her and it made her afraid." "Oh," nods Edeline, "I see."
"Hey!" frowns Adie, "Are you saying I'm stupid?!" "No," waves Faeda, "Not at all. It's just that you didn't know or understand elves. That's what made you so afraid." "The human mind is tricky that way." nods General Lu, "We often don't understand things, so our emotions go back to it's primal instincts of fear. And with fear, in time, it breeds into hate. It wouldn't be surprising if that's the case with Zev." "Huh?" asks Adie and Faeda at once.
"Yes," nods Oar, "What if Zev's hatred, for every living creature of Serenity, started out as an fear. Maybe he didn't understand others and became afraid? And soon his fears turned into hatred?" "It's possible." nods Edeline. "I think about it," says Lu, "All the time. But in Zev's case, I think it may be too late for his ignorance to be corrected, like Adie's were. Zev is nothing more than a swirling mass of unending hate and darkness. There are layers after layers of his cruelty. Trying to reach out to him, to help him into light, is just useless."

Faeda: "When you put it like that... I kinda feel sorry for Zev." (-_-)
Adie: (o_o)
Faeda: "I know, I know! I shouldn't! He did so much damage to everyone in Serenity. And to my friends... But..." (;^_^)
General Lu: "You have a huge heart, seer. No need to apologize for it. Your love is what makes you the chosen one, to save all of Serenity." (^_^)
Edeline: "Yeah. You're a lot stronger than me, Faeda. I could never feel sorry for Zev... or forgive him." (u_u)
Vi: "Neither could I. But I think that's why Faeda is so powerful and why even the very miracle of finding the herb was granted! It's because Faeda is so loving and kind, that good things are bound to her. And as her friends, we are blessed." (^_^)
Faeda: (*^_^*)
Oar: "You know, crazy as that sounds, that makes a lot of sense." (-_-)
General Lu: "Yes. I will have to agree. Faeda is one in a million." (^_-)
Faeda: "Please stop, you're embarrassing me!" (*^_^*)

Riding non-stop, our heroes reach Scarletwood by that evening. They are tired, but happy, as they carry sacks of Crelos Moon towards Dr. Elund's office. Once inside, everyone drops the herbs before a very stunned doctor. "There you go, doctor." smiles Edeline, "You can start making that cure for Galen now!" "B-but..." gasps Dr. Elund, "H-how...?" "We have enough here to cure people for a long while." nods Adie, "And Lily, from Stagmoon, she's going to learn who to grow these herbs so there may be an endless supply in the future!" "T...That's..." shakes Dr. Elund, "So WONDERFUL!!! I don't believe it! This is a great day for medicine! No! For all the ill of Serenity!"
"Um, doctor?" frowns Edeline, annoyed with his dance and shouts of joy, "Are you going to start on that cure, anytime soon?" "Oh," says Dr. Elund, stopping in mid-jig, "Right. I'll start on it now. I just need only one herb. Nurse Wells!" "Yes, doctor?" asks a woman, peaking from another patients room. "They have the herb!" he cheers, "And lots of them! You'll have to put the others in refrigeration, please." "Yes, sir." she says and hurries towards the sacks. "I'll help." nods General Lu. "So will I." says Oar, carrying two.

Edeline: (^_^)
Faeda: "Maybe you should go tell Galen the good news, Edeline." (^_-)
Edeline: "Huh? Oh, right... Well, maybe we all should." (;^_^)
Adie: "Nah! We'll come in later. But for now, you should be the one with him." (^_-)
Edeline: "No, I'm sure he'd like to hear from you guys first." (;^_^)
Faeda: "Huh?" (o_O)
Vi: "You're afraid, Edeline..." (>_>)
Adie: "WHAT?" (o_o)
Edeline: "Yeah... it's true..." (-_-)
Faeda: "But... why?" (O_o)
Edeline: "The last time I saw him... he looked so bad. It's been almost four days. There's no telling how bad the poison has gotten. I hate to see him so hurt... and weak... and helpless. It makes me want to cry." (-_-)

"You really do love him," says Faeda, "Don't you, Edeline?" "Yes." she admits, looking towards the floor. "And I understand it must be difficult to see him so hurt." Faeda nods, "But don't you see? It's because of the fact, that you love him more than anyone here, that you should be the one to tell him the good news! You should be the one to look into his pain and say to him, 'Galen, you're going to be okay'!"
"Yeah!" smiles Adie, "Faeda's right! Galen's heart will be SO warmed, when the woman who loves him, comes in with the great news! You will be his angel! Oh, it's WAY too romantic!" "Adie." growls Edeline. Adie and Vi giggle. "I kinda get what you're saying, Faeda." sighs Edeline, "I guess it's up to me, then." Edeline bravely goes to Galen's door, but hesitates at the handle. "It's okay, Edeline!" calls Faeda, giving her a huge smile. She takes a deep breath and heads inside.
Galen is much paler than before. Tiny blue veins are showing in his face and arms. His waxy skin is cold to Edeline's touch. "Galen?" she says in a small voice, trying not to cry, "Are you still... alive?" "Eh." he answers, opening his eyes slowly. "I must look horrible." he apologizes, "I'm sorry you have to see me this way."

Edeline: "Galen, it's okay! We found the cure!" (o_o)
Galen: "Hmm... I must be hallucinating again... she's not here..." (-_-)
Edeline: "It's me, Galen! I'm really here!" (o_o)
Galen: "Edeline... I miss you. I keep thinking you're here, with an cure. But that's really stupid. I want you here with me, even without a cure." (-_-)
Edeline: "Galen..." (-_-)
Galen: "Just come back. Stop chasing myths and be here with me." (-_-)
Edeline: "Stupid monk..." (;u_u)
Galen: "I don't want to die alone. I rather die with you here... by my side!" (-_-)
Edeline: "Galen!" (;_;)

Edeline cries, while laying in Galen's arms. "Stupid monk!" she sobs, "I'm right here! I'm not a hallucination! I'm right here! You're not going to die! We found the cure! Even if we didn't find it, you have to know... I would never let you die alone! I'd be right here! You have to know that!" Galen weakly wraps his arms around Edeline. "I know." he says, "I know that now." "I kept smiling," she sobs, "I kept smiling for a long while. But for a while I couldn't. And now I can smile more honestly, forever, because you're going to be okay. You're going to be fine, Galen!" "I'm..." asks Galen, "Going to live?"
"Yes," smiles Edeline, tears flowing freely, "You're going to live Galen! You're going to be with me, Adie, Faeda, Vi, and Oar, forever and ever!" "Wow..." he sighs, "That sounds like hell." "Not funny!" growls Edeline, punching him in the shoulder. "Ow!" he yells, "I'm sick remember? Please be kind!" "Hmph," frowns Edeline, "Stupid Monk!" The rest of the group peaks in. "Hey," frowns Adie, "Sounds like they're fighting." "Well," shrugs Vi, "Might as well go visit. We won't interrupt anything romantic here."

Faeda: "Hi, Galen!" (;^_^)
Galen: "Hi, kiddo. How are you holding up?" (^_-)
Adie: "Hey! That's our line!" (o_o)
Galen: "Yeah, well... the current news is that I'm going to be fine." (;^_^)
Oar: "Hmm... you would think he'd be more happy." (-_-)
Galen: "I am. I'm just too weak right now to do any type of dance about it." o(^_-)O
Vi: "Wait? Galen dances?" (o_o)
Galen: "Yep. I'm the best mover-and-shaker on the dance floor!" (^_^)V
Edeline: "Not really... He moves and shakes like an dizzy chicken." (^o^)
Galen: "Hey!" (;u_u)
Faeda: *giggles* (^o^)
Edeline: "Just being honest." (^_-)

That night, Dr. Elund gives Galen the cure and by morning Galen is mostly well. He's still pale and little weak, but strong enough to hold Oar in a headlock... which he does. "Hey!" growls Oar, "Let me go! Crazy Monk!" "Come on," sighs Galen, "We're having fun." "Who's having fun?!" shouts Oar, struggling to get away. "Hmm..." says Edeline watching, "I wonder what makes Oar so choke-able? First it was Adie and now Galen." "No," corrects Faeda, "Galen choked Oar first, in Howlingrift, remember?" "Oh, yeah." frowns Edeline, "Over funnel cakes."
"Girls!" shouts Oar, "Stop chatting and save me!!!" "What a wuss." sighs Galen, letting the guy go. Oar growls to himself. "Well," says Adie, "Where to next, Faeda?" "Oh, right." she smiles, "Our journey. Well, the song says to head for an island, named Yellow Butte." "Named what?" snickers Galen. "Yellow Butte." repeats Faeda. Oar and Galen snicker. "Oh, grow up!" frowns Edeline. "So," says Vi, "It's an island. Which means we'll have to travel by sea..." "Oh no." gasps Galen, "You don't mean..." "Yep." nods Edeline, "We'll have to go back to Fox Arbor." "Oh no." frowns Oar.

Faeda: "Yes, we need Captain Pete!" (^o^)
Galen: "Gah!!!" (>_<)
Oar: "Just great..." (-_-)
Adie: "Hey, it won't be that bad." (;^_^)
Galen: "Are you kidding?! Don't you remember what happened last time?!" W('O')W
Faeda: "Well, we have no choice. There's no other way to get to Yellow Butt, without a boat." (^_^)
Oar: *snicker* (^x^)
Galen: *snicker* (^x^)
Edeline: "There they go again..." (;u_u)
Vi: "Well... we better get going. We've made the Guardians wait long enough." (-_-)
Faeda: "Yeah..." (;^_^)

"Well before you go," says a voice, "I must say goodbye." They turn to face General Lu. "Hi there!" smiles Faeda. "No, my dear." he says, "It's time for goodbyes." "Thanks for all of your help, General Lu." bows Edeline. "I'm happy to see that Galen is well." he nods. "I'm not one hundred percent." says Galen, "But I'll get there." "I don't doubt that." smiles Lu. The General steps closer to Faeda and places a hand on her shoulder.
"My dear," he says, "Don't ever change and don't ever doubt yourself. I am honored to have met someone as brave, wise, and powerful as you. Please, let an old man stay honored, by staying yourself. Always." "Yes." she blush, "I will do my best." General Lu looks towards Edeline, "I trust that you will take care of the seer?" "Yes, sir." she salutes. "We all will." says Galen, stepping forward. "Good." nods General Lu. Our heroes wave goodbye to the General, as they ride off, heading for Fox Arbor. Edeline has left her gift horse, from the mayor, in the stables of Scarletwood. Instead, she rides on the back of Galen's horse... a horse who's no longer lonely...