This is it. The end of Revelations. I hope you like my ending. After this the story will be all mine, with some elements from Uru mixed in.

Melody sat in the other chair and stared up at the light. She was afraid she was too terrified to fall asleep, but the light did the trick and soon everything went dark.

She was floating once again. Only this time Dream was dark red in hue, reflecting the danger Melody felt closing in around her.

"You have returned," the Keeper said. "The last time you were here, Dream served you well. And yet you see it now as dangerous. Why?"

"Keeper, you have to help me," Melody pleaded. "A little girl's mind is trapped here. I need to find her and get her to return to her body quickly!"

"Understood," the Keeper said. "I did feel a disturbance in the balance of Dream. Come, I will lead you to it."

They moved forward until she saw two balls of light in the distance. One she recognized as Yeesha. The other was a red ball that was attached to her by hooked strands of energy.

"Interloper!" the Keeper said in an accusing tone. "That one is unknown to me! I did not guide him here! He is using the child's mind to anchor himself here, otherwise his own mind would become lost and quickly crushed."

"It's like she doesn't know he's there," Melody said. "Yeesha! Snap out of it!"

"The anchors he is using are powerful memories both he and the child share. But he has jumbled them up with other memories and is using the confusion to hide himself from her. She cannot return to her waking mind while he is holding her down."

"How do I break his hold?" Melody asked.

"Enter the memories and find the ones that bind them together. Memories they share. Separate them from the memories that belong to her alone and you will break the anchors."

She touched the first anchor. The memories that played through her head were so jumbled it was no wonder Yeesha was confused. Scenes from Tomahna, Serenia, Spire, a book, a chess set, Atrus, a dress, fish, rocks, crystals… Melody began to panic at the overload of information.

"Calm yourself," the Keeper told her. "Concentrate. Focus on finding the memories that he and Yeesha have in common."

It took a couple of tries, but Melody finally saw what he meant. By following a chain of linking items and events she was able to piece together a conversation between Sirrus and Yeesha on Spire.

Yeesha's voice. "Daddy's really good at chess. You should play him."

Sirrus. "I'd like to Sis, but I don't have a chess set."

"You can make one, just like you made my water symbol."

"I could, but it's really hard to carve figurines that small. They break so easily"

"Well… maybe Mom and Dad could give you a set as a present. I'll tell them to when I link home."

Sirrus laughing. "Right. And I suppose you'll tell them to make it out of the same rock as this chamber. That way, I'll never be able to break it."

Melody suddenly felt a force propel her backwards. She was seeing the two balls of light again, only this time some of the anchors were broken. The red ball was shining brightly, almost angrily.

"Well done," the Keeper said. "By sorting that memory from the others, you severed some of his hold. But he is aware of what you are doing and pushed you out to try and stop you. You must go back in the memories and work quickly to sort them before he can force you out again."

Melody didn't hesitate. If Sirrus wanted to fight, she would provide him with one.

The next set of memories were even more jumbled than the last. What made it more difficult was that she could only hear Sirrus talking in these memories. She saw different objects and tried to match the memories with the object. She felt as though a heavy weight was pressing on her and knew that Sirrus was trying to stop her.

Sirrus' voice, gloating. "See this globe little sister? See how round and smooth and empty it is?"

The chair appeared before her as he continued speaking. "When I turn this switch, the chair that you're sitting in will activate. And everything that's you will be sucked out of your body, leaving behind the perfect disguise for me to step into."

The D'ni book appeared. "Father and Mother will teach you the Art, never knowing it's really me doing the learning."

An image of Atrus and Catherine appeared. "Of course I'll kill them as soon as I know how to write Ages."

The capsule appeared next. "Then I'll put my memories back in my body and no one will be able to stop me."

Melody cried out as she was propelled backward again, this time more forcefully. She watched as the last lines were severed. The red ball tried to reattach itself, but the blue ball moved quickly away from it.

"You have done it," the Keeper said. "The child has rediscovered the way back to her waking mind. Even now she begins to return there." Melody watched the red ball. "Do not fear him. Without my guidance to protect him, his mind will soon be crushed by the weight of the Dream realm. Go, return to your world. Until we meet again young traveler."

Melody opened her eyes. She forced herself through the fog of drowsiness and bolted out of the chair.

"Yeesha," she started to say, then stopped.

Achenar was releasing Yeesha's bonds. "Is it done?"

"Achenar! Are you alright?"

He coughed. "Is Sirrus gone?"

"Yes, I broke his hold on her. Yeesha is safe." Achenar's shoulders dropped in relief. He was still breathing heavily. Melody moved to support him. "Achenar, we need to get you help."

He shrugged off her supporting arm. "Had to break the glass… otherwise it wouldn't have worked… course that made things kinda lethal."

"Oh Achenar…" Melody murmured, tears in her eyes.

He smiled at her. "Don't cry for me. It's better this way. All the things I did…"

Yeesha jerked awake. Achenar knelt before her chair. "It's okay," he told her. "Sirrus is gone. It's okay… everything is going to be alright little sis…"

He gradually slipped to the floor.

"Achenar?" Yeesha asked worriedly. "Achenar!"

Melody ran to catch Yeesha as the little girl tried to shake her brother awake. Both of them began to cry as his breathing became slower and slower. Yeesha clung to Melody, sobbing her brother's name.

Running footsteps made Melody looked toward the doorway in alarm. Two figures came racing into the room.

"Daddy!" Yeesha cried as she flung herself at him.

Atrus held his daughter close. "Yeesha… my Yeesha… forgive me…"

"Trace!" Melody exclaimed from where she was trying to lift Achenar. "Help me!"

Trace was immediately beside her. "Atrus," he said. "Go and get the Protectors. Tell them we need any kind of antidote they have."

Atrus stood holding his daughter and staring at his son like he'd never seen him before.

"Atrus!" Melody cried. "He's going to die! Hurry!"

That seemed to snap him out of his reverie because he immediately raced from the room, still carrying Yeesha, shouting for help.

It was close. Even after they administered several doses of antidote Achenar's breathing was still labored. They had all returned to Tomahna. Achenar was lying on a makeshift bed in the living room/kitchen area as it was the warmest of the whole house.

Atrus explained that after the storm had died on Rime, he had returned to Tomahna to find the bridge destroyed, Yeesha's room ransacked and all of them missing. When he'd discovered the destroyed linking chamber he'd been terrified that his sons had escaped. Following their trail, he had first gone to Spire, then Haven and finally to Serenia. After the Protectors had filled him in on everything that had happened, he'd immediately guessed that they were in the old memory chamber. He'd found Trace unconscious in the chair in the room that Melody had not investigated and together they had found Melody, Yeesha and Achenar.

It was hours later. Late at night. Trace had gone to Tay to get Catherine. Melody leaned against a balcony, looking at the stars. Why did things always have to change? And why, when they did change, did it always seem to be for the worst?

Atrus and Catherine, who had already lost so much, had now lost a child and may still lose the other.

Yeesha, who had never harmed anyone, who had barely begun her life, had suffered heartbreak and betrayal from a brother she loved and may lose the only one she had left.

And Melody, she felt a sense of loss as well that had nothing to do with Sirrus or Achenar.

"My friend?"

Melody turned to see Atrus coming out to stand with her. "How is he?"

"It's still too early to tell. Hopefully his years in Haven have made his body strong enough to fight."

Melody looked through the doorway at Yeesha sleeping with her head on Achenar's arm. She hadn't left his side since they'd returned. "Will she be alright?"

Atrus looked at his daughter. "I hope so," he said gravely. "She's always been a strong little girl. Time will tell. I believe it will be easier for her if Achenar survives."

The pain in his voice was more than she could take. "Atrus?" she said, her voice cracking from her tears. "I'm so sorry… I should've stopped him sooner. I should have never let him take her…"

"My dear Melody," Atrus said. "Please do not believe this is your fault. If any blame is to be passed, it falls solely to me. I placed my daughter in danger by making the linking chambers in the first place. I was foolish to believe that I could possibly contain my sons like animals in a cage. Perhaps that was what pushed Sirrus to…" he cleared his throat. "I feel as though a door has closed inside of me, despite everything I have done to keep it open."

"Sirrus is gone," Melody told him. "But in losing one son, you have regained another."

He smiled sadly. "Yes. Achenar has proved himself reformed. That is a comfort to me. Thanks to you and Trace, I now have the opportunity to get to know my son again, whom I have been neglecting for his brother. I see now there is more to Achenar than I once thought. Also, my daughter is safe."

Melody nodded. "And I promise I will never miss any part of her life again."

"She will need you… all of us… to give her the love and attention she'll need to move on with her life. Just as we must move on with ours." He looked up at the sky. "Endings are just another form of beginning. The harder an end is to face, the more hope we bring with us to the next beginning."

They stood there for a long time after, not saying anything. Melody knew that she could never have the same relationship she'd had with Atrus and Catherine before. Although she would forgive them for keeping the last six years from her, she would never forget that they had not trusted her with the truth. She still loved them dearly, but did not feel as close to them.

That was what she had lost from this tragedy.

But, she thought with a smile, she had also gained something. Trace. She knew now that he loved her as much as she loved him. They would marry, have children and live out their lives together.

So even though they were in a sad place, the future was looking brighter.

And that was all she could ask for.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

They had been clearing debris from the bridge collapse when they heard Yeesha's cries.

"What is it my darling?" Catherine asked as Yeesha ran toward them.

"He's awake! He's waking up!"

Atrus, Catherine, Melody and Trace immediately followed the excited little girl. Achenar was lying on the cot, gazing around like he couldn't believe where he was.

"Achenar?" Catherine asked worriedly, moving to kneel beside him. "Can you hear me?"

His eyes went to her, roamed her face. "Mother?"

"Yes my son," Catherine said, tears of relief in her eyes. "I'm here."

Slowly, he reached up and touched her face. Then he looked at the other faces around him. "Sirrus? He's gone… right?"

"Yes Achenar," Catherine answered.

"And Yeesha… she's safe?"

"I'm right here Achenar," Yeesha said, taking his hand.

"How are you feeling?" Atrus asked.

"Fine," Achenar answered automatically. Atrus and Catherine recognized his tone as the one he used whenever he spoke to his father, like he thought he was saying what Atrus wanted to hear.

"No son," Atrus said sincerely. "How are you feeling? Tell me. I'm listening this time."

Achenar stared at Atrus. "Don't remember much," he finally said and looked around. "You're Melody," he said slowly, as though he was trying to separate facts from dreams.

"Yes," she nodded.

"Thank you for believing me."

"Thank you Achenar. If it wasn't for you keeping the heart flower alive, I wouldn't have been able to save Yeesha."

Instead of responding, his gaze went to Trace. He frowned.

"I'm sorry," Catherine said. "You have never met. Achenar, this is Trace. He helped carry you here."

Achenar still looked unsure about something. He stared at Trace for the longest time without speaking.

Trace shifted uncomfortably. "You need rest. The poison has left you weak," he turned to Atrus and Catherine. "I need to go to Tay, to check on things."

"You're going to leave?" Melody asked. "Now?"

"Only for a few days," Trace assured her. "I have responsibilities in Tay. If you want to stay here, you can. It's nothing important. Besides," he added, grinning in Catherine's direction. "I'm sure you'll be very busy."

"Oh yes!" Catherine exclaimed. "I almost forgot! Melody, we have a wedding to plan! You need a dress and flowers and we need to find a beautiful place to have the ceremony. Oh and you'll need to make invitations, oh and the food…!"

Melody looked at Trace and he laughed at her panicked look. "Take me with you!" she pleaded.

Achenar looked confused. "Wedding?"

"Trace and Melody are getting married! Isn't that great?!" Yeesha said excitedly.

"Yeah, real great."

Only Melody seemed to notice that Achenar spoke in his 'father' tone. He had said what he thought was expected of him, not his true feelings. He was still staring at Trace, not with animosity or distrust. More… confused was the only word that she could think of to describe it.

Leaving Catherine still making a list of everything she needed for her wedding, Melody followed Trace to Atrus' study and the Tay book. "Thanks a lot," she grumbled. "I'm not getting any sleep tonight."

"It will take her mind of off things," he said. "And it is important."

Melody sighed. "I suppose. Really it doesn't matter to me where we have it or what we wear or whether or not I have flowers. The only thing that matters to me is that you're sure you want to marry me," she looked at him searchingly. "You are sure… right?"

In answer, he wrapped his arms around her. Pulling her close, he rested his chin on her head. "I have never been more sure of anything. I love you Melody and I am going to marry you. No one will ever take you from me."

Melody winced as his grip tightened.

He seemed to realize because he let go. "Sorry," he said. His eyes looked glazed over and troubled. He rubbed his forehead as if to sooth a headache.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned. "You don't look so good."

"I feel strange," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking around as though in a daze. "I'm just tired," he finally said. "It's been a long couple of days."

"Are you sure something's not wrong?"

He smiled. "I'm just tired," he repeated. "Everything will be fine. Don't worry."

She watched as he linked away. He was probably right, but she couldn't help worrying. She'd dragged him through all those Ages and had not asked once if he wanted to rest. How could she have been so selfish? She was used to exploring Ages, solving puzzles and going until she dropped. She'd just assumed Trace was the same way. Had she run him too hard?

She decided not to worry about it. A couple of days' rest in Tay and he would be fine. She had to help Atrus clean up Tomahna, help Catherine nurse Achenar back to health, be there for Yeesha for the nightmares that were surely going to trouble her, and plan a wedding.

Melody firmly pushed away the doubts that were nagging at the back of her mind.

She had no time for them.

I can hardly believe it is finally here. Did you like my ending? Come on, you knew I couldn't let Achenar die.

But something is wrong with Trace. Why did Atrus find him unconcious when we know he was awake before? Why is Achenar having such a strange reaction to him?

I have the subtlety of a mariachi band so I'm sure you guys have already guessed, but maybe you haven't guessed everything. After all, I did say I have changed the direction multiple times...

You'll have to wait and find out.

Thank you for reading!