I dragged myself towards my wounded but brave little rabbit brother who was shivering and bleeding, Snowflake weeping. I put a paw on him trying to ignore the pain of my cheek and side.

"D-don't worry, Fiver," said I. "We'll get you to Blackberry as soon as possible."

"Thanks for saving me, Leo," smiled Fiver, shivering.

"I hope that rabbit will be enough to fill those wolves' bellies."

"I'm cold," said Fiver.

"Vervain," I said. "Thanks for saving him."

Vervain smiled gently and patted my head. I still couldn't get over how he was actually a sweet, gentle, warm-hearted rabbit trapped in the mind of evil under the circumstance of wanting bravery.

Bluebell, who had a lot of talent for digging, dug a burrow in just three minutes and everyone came up to me and Fiver who were lying wounded.

Hazel hopped up to me and gave me a warm hug. I never had a big brother before and it was wonderful to know what it would be like to be hugged by one.

"You were so brave, Leo," said Hazel.

"Bravery only comes for the sake of helping who you care for," I smiled.

"We need to get you both back to the down," said Hazel. "You're terribly hurt."

"We need to help Fiver more," I said. "He is hurt far worse than me."

Hazel hopped up to Fiver who was bleeding and shivering. Not caring about the blood, Hazel warmed his little brother by bringing him to his fur.

"Thank you, Hazel," smiled Fiver weakly.

"Just promise me you won't die," said Hazel desperately. "I can't lose you again."

"He won't," I said. "Let's just go home and treat him."

I clutched my bleeding side.

"You're hopping nowhere receiving your fresh battle mark," said Bigwig. "Get on my back, lad."

"You're a good friend, Bigwig," I smiled. I clambered onto his back and we were hopping away. Fiver was clutched onto Hazel's back, Snowflake following with a look of concern. I looked at Fiver cornered but proudly. A gentle half-sized runt achieves something he deserves anyway but going through an unnecessary journey. But if he had not, Snowflake wouldn't have learned much about him despite still being in love with him in the first place.

At those thought, I felt like resting. I closed my eyes that now started to feel relaxed and that was all I could remember of tonight's events.

…..

Coming to, I felt warm and cosy. My sight was blurry but when it started to come clear I started to make out the shape of a beautiful, blueish silver doe.

"Aunt Blackberry?" I said.

She gasped. "You actually called me it. You wonderful thing."

"I'm sorry," I said. "I was dazed."

"I longed to hear you call me that," she smiled.

"I'm so happy to see you again," I smiled as we shared a nuzzle. "I'm glad to be back home. I was thinking about you at one point yesterday. I remembered thinking that I would eventually have to go back to my wicked Aunt Madeline. But I wish you were my aunt. You're everything an aunt should be. You're beautiful, gentle and always there to banish a hurt if any."

"And I will be your aunt, Apple-Blossom," she smiled. "In this universe like Hazel, Fiver and Silverweed are your brothers here."

And we hugged each other tightly.

"I love you, … Aunt Blackberry."

"I love you too, Leo."

I shed a tear of the fact that I now have an aunt who actually loves me when my eyes fell on Fiver resting peacefully.

"Fiver!"

"He's okay," assured Blackberry.

"How is he? Are the cuts permanent? Is he going to die?"

"He is fine, the cuts will take some time to heal and he is going to live a long, healthy life."

I saw that his cut marks were all in green - including mine. I looked at the side of my belly and felt the dryness on my cheek.

"What's this?"

"Chewed doc leaf and fern," explained Blackberry. "The wounds were really nasty. Those two herbs and plants will keep the cuts from being infected. If that horrid rabbit had done any of this to my babies I would have bit his neck. I remember the time I nursed your wrist."

"It's long better now," I said looking at what was left of the linings on my right wrist: I had received it form Darklunn when he had held me captive. He tied my wrist to a snare.

Fiver was groaning. I went over to him when he opened his eyes looking up.

"Hello, trooper," I smiled.

"Is this Frith's Meadow?"

I presumed it to be their parallel of Heaven.

"No," I smiled. "We are back home at the warren, safe and sound."

"How are you feeling, Fiver?" asked Blackberry.

"Okay," said Fiver. "A little bit cold though."

Hazel hopped in to see his little brother wide awake. He crouched down beside him so Fiver would rest into his fur. Hazel put his arm over Fiver so he could rest on his paw. I joined in lying on my back and resting into Hazel's fur as his breathing drifted us two back and fore which I enjoyed. I always wondered what it would be like for Fiver have a big brother to rest against whether he was cold, ill, lonely or scared. He was very lucky.

"How I wish I was there with you two," said Hazel.

"I wish so too," I said. "Next time, we will all be together like brothers do."

Hazel ruffled my head. At that point, Silverweed entered and saw us huddled together.

"Any room for me?" he asked, and I made room. All four brother resting together.

…..

When we finished our nap, I was met by Gillia, Snowdrop, Mallow, Roseberry and Raspberry. We all joined a group hug.

"We got a surprise for you, Leo," smiled Raspberry.

I followed them into my former burrow. It was expanded and the shape of Gooseberry was gone and there a much more comfortable nest waiting for me.

"Who did all this?"

"All of us," said the kittens.

Gillia took over the explanation.

"When we heard Gooseberry was evil, we decided to put an end to his existence here at the warren. Seeing you had this burrow first we decided to make it better for you. But we're sorry if it's too big for you."

"Oh, I love it," I smiled. "This is wonderful. Thank you all."

"But I wish Gooseberry had a good heart," said Raspberry sitting down. "He seemed one to count on. A hero so to speak."

"I understand," I smiled. "We can't always have our carrot and eat it too. But you have a hero already. Your father. He is an honour to the warren. Uncle Hazel and Uncle Bigwig and Mother have told me many stories about him. How he was working under the circumstances of evil. He felt doomed with his feelings for he couldn't find the right choice to stay with Woundwort his former chief, or join Watership Down where rightfully and deservingly belongs."

Raspberry smiled.

"Thanks, Leo. I'm happy I have a father who is deeply honoured. Like how you yourself are honoured for the Necklace of Wisdom business."

"Oh I'm not as honoured much as your father," I chuckled. "He fought for it while I had help."

"From Uncle Fiver," said Snowdrop. "He tried to save you by swapping the Necklace of Wisdom with you."

"All hero's deserve honour whether they're helped or not," said Mallow. "You know what Father's motto is? 'Fifty claws prepared, elil dealt and dead.'"

"Fifty claws prepared, elil dealt and dead," I repeated. "Oh I understand! Fifty paws prepared, meaning if you have an army, elil shall be defeated easier rather than you fighting on your own."

"That's right," smiled Mallow proudly.

"Let's make it happen," I smiled.

I cornered the kits to a corner and I said in a playfully evil tone, "No one to save you know, little kits. Nice juicy little kittens to fill my empty, grumbling belly."

"Charge!" they yelled and they jumped on me knocking me on my back and jumping and hopping on and over me. I laughed but I felt the pain on my wounds which I had completely forgotten about in all the excitement.

The kits agreed to let me rest and fell on my back to feel my real nest. I felt really comfortable and I gave a long, enormous stretch with my arms, back and legs. I had completely forgotten how comfortable it was.

…..

Four days I stayed with the rabbits because with evil gone, for the time being at least, I wanted to spend more time with them before going home and a fine time it was too: All the kits gathered about me to hear the story of The Necklace of Wisdom. They all loved the story as well as me and Fiver being like brothers to one another, but the one part they loved the most was Hawkbit and Dandelion's misfortune of getting themselves drunk. I often looked forward to the days Aunt Blackberry would check on my cuts because I wanted to be with no aunt but her. Hawkbit, Dandelion and Strawberry had become the comedians of the warren when they put on their acts of mimicking the villain (In all honesty, I couldn't help feeling a tiny bit sorry for Gooseberry. Granted he was evil and murderous, but I just felt it was an issue of young-age jealously which went to a more severe length than it was needed). Hannah was now at peace with no Stuart around, with him gone, I would have to find a way to convince my parents he would be happier in the wild for I saw him with another mouse. With this new Vervain, I felt so warm and happy for him. Primrose hated him for what he did to her which was obviously not his fault, but I was told that when he explained everything to her, her apologised in tears for his carelessness and surprisingly, Primrose forgave him even though he had ruined half her life. I saw him now down by the hill hopping and dancing about like an innocent child and laughing and causing butterflies and somersaulting. I cried a little at the sight. To be free from something you have been trapped with for so long must feel wonderful. His happiness and child's heart was so heart-warming I thought of Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol when he the three spirits of Christmas gave him a second chance to live and set things right. And as for Fiver, I don't think I can recall a time when he was this happy, so much happier than Silverweed's revival. He had finally got what he wanted: a doe, a want that was more than well deserved.

One sunset, I was greet with a dishonest sight which moved to romance.

Dandelion was hopping through the area of the hill, where he saw Hawkbit trying to impress Bluebell who looked uncomfortable. Dandelion looked livid in the face.

"They don't match at all," I said. "I'll talk to him."

"I got this," said Dandelion. "Observe."

He hopped up to Hawkbit was facing forward. Dandelion turned and winked, implying it's good that he is not looking. He crouched down, bringing his face close towards Hawkbit's tail and he smiled evilly as Hawkbit kept talking.

"I'm sure I'll help you more with romance than Dandelion would. Everything that has happened to him, his hiccup episodes, the dress, the speaking backwards trick that backfired on him. Well I'm the sort of buck who - YEOWWWW! OW! OW! OW!"

Hawkbit was facing about clutching his tail with his paws.

"Hello, handsome," said Bluebell, nuzzling her head into Dandelion's chest.

He gulped and said "Oh, hello Bluebell. How are things?"

"Great that I am now full of courage to ask you something," she said giggly.

"Oh yeah?" he said going a little pink.

"Dandelion," she said. "the funniest, craziest prince I had ever met, will you be my mate?"

Dandelion stood still for a minute with a shocked expression.

"She chose me as my mate!" cried Dandelion! "She chose me! Oh my beauty!" he cried to Bluebell. "Come here! My poppy!"

He grabbed her and danced around with her not worried at all but giggling at his dramaticness.

Suddenly he slipped onto his back with Bluebell on top of him.

"Oh, err, sorry," apologised Dandelion. "I'm often clumsy with pretty does like you."

She giggled and scratched his under chin, which he found very relaxing. "The clumsier the better," she said as they brought their noses together.

I was proud if Dandelion. He was jolly rabbit and if Jason were a bit good-nature I reckon they would have been the best of friends.

"OWL!" screamed someone.

Everyone ran into the warren as did me. We saw a white owl standing outside,

"Leo Barning?" it said. It was a female.

Fiver had no visions of an owl invading the down so it must okay. I stepped outside.

"Here," I said.

"I come from Eve Frinvie."

"You brought me here!"

"Yes. I saw you on your joinery and after what you did for your rabbit brother, you earned a gift."

She was wearing a green acorn around her neck. She shook it off her head and put it over my neck.

"This acorn will give the opportunity to come back any time you want."

"So none of this was a derma to start with?"

"As a matter of fact, it was. You made it real due to your love and desperation to return and meet all your wonderful friends. again. TO go home or come back her, you simply open up the acorn like a locket."

…..

Sunset I decided to return home. I gave my usual goodbyes to everyone I knew before I finally went up to Fiver.

"Thank you for everything, Leo," smiled Fiver. "I wouldn't have got what I wanted if it hadn't been for you."

"You did it all yourself, Fiver. You fight for it. You eventually realised that beauty comes from within."

"What are you going to do when you go back?"

"I feel courageous enough to ask Rosie out."

"If she accepts, maybe you could bring her here. We would all love to meet her."

"I think you would. She's beautiful, she's warm-hearted, she's everything good. I might even bring my friend Michael. He is a hilarious prankster."

"And your brother?"

"I doubt Jason would be happy here," I laughed. "There is no way I would let him come here."

"And if he gives you any grief," called out Dandelion. "Use that speaking backwards trick on him."

We all laughed.

"Goodbye, everyone!" I called. "I shall see you all again soon! And thanks for protecting me yet again!"

Everyone said goodbye, as I embraced Fiver, Silverweed and Hazel and opened the acorn. A green glow surrounded me and I was spinning and spinning until….utter silence. I heard birds singing like I was inside someplace. I felt warm. I opened my eyes to find myself in a bed in a shack.