Just wondering, are you still doing the part? 

(If not, tagging @Poinsettia) 

Hi guys! Would everyone be okay with it if the part I write is the final one? I feel like we're at a good place to end the story by now. If you're not okay with it, PLEASE SPEAK UP so that I know what to write :)

hey lizards! just letting you know I'll try to get out the next part today.

Yes. It was members of the Ordinary Brotherhood. And the Forest Witch, her hair tangled and messy, was there as well.

"Who goes there?" asked Crieff, his voice hard.

"We could ask the same question of you," replied the other man. "Only we know who you are, and we want you under arrest."

"Or perhaps just killed," said the Forest Witch.

"Oh indeed?" Ardie had a little smile on her face. "Think again." She looked straight at one of the men before her, who wore a hood over his face and had not spoken. "You are the leader of the Ordinary Brotherhood - don't think you can hide your identity from me. I would know you anywhere. You imprisoned Gruff years ago, you've ruined all our lives at one time or another. And your time has come."

Suddenly a bolt of fire shot out from her raised hand and circled the Brotherhood. It was an odd fire, not really red, but almost rose-colored, glowing with a beautiful soft tinge that intensified as it continued circling the men.

"This fire will remove your magic," Ardie explained conversationally. "We fire elementals are capable of that only once in our lives, though we can't choose when that once will be. And I'm capable of it right now. I'm just going to make sure you lose all your power and you can go live in cottages by the sea and have grandchildren and enjoy life. And because you are the most powerful members of the Brotherhood, when I'm finished, the entire organization will collapse and Delfer will be saved."

She paused, her eyes bright and shining. A second later the fire vanished.

"You'll pay for this, Ardie," snarled one of the figures - Gold.

"No, I will be rewarded," she said calmly, with a sweet smile.

"Well - we've still got our swords, anyway. Haven't we, boys?" said Gold, drawing a blade from a scabbard.

And he rushed at Gruff.

There was a wild battle. At first it seemed that the Brotherhood would win - there were more of them, and they were skilled with their swords. To Akhalia, watching, the world seemed to shrink to instantaneous images of swords flashing through the air. Xavier's face set and strained, his dark hair falling over his brow. Gold's cruel eyes shining with satisfaction. Gruff falling to the ground. And then suddenly a yellow arch of light curving through the air from Ardie, coming so close to Akhalia that she felt its heat, and falling directly on the swords as they crashed against each other in midair.

For a second all was light and sparks and heat, but it was blessed heat, the sort you feel when the sun emerges from the bone-chilling clouds of January and soaks you with life again. Akhalia closed her eyes for a second. Why did she feel as life were beginning again?

Because life was beginning again.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the others standing still, their swords now only a mass of molten metal lying on the ground.

"I suppose now you'll want to wrestle," said Ardie disdainfully to Gold. "Or have you had enough finally?"

Gold stared at her for a long moment, but her clear blue gaze was steadier. Gold's eyes wavered.

"We've had enough."

And the Brothers strode away, to, perhaps, have cottages by the sea and have grandchildren and finally enjoy life - and, Ardie hoped, do some thinking.

Crieff came up. His arm was bleeding, but his keen gray eyes shone.

"Ardie, you were wonderful. Well, I mean, you've always been wonderful." He smiled a lopsided smile. Her heart swelled with love for him - had she ever had such a loyal friend and companion? Akhalia was the person she loved most in the world, of course, but she had to admit there was no one like Crieff.

"You are too," she said simply, and impulsively hugged him. For a moment the two friends were locked in an embrace, just the two of them, forgetting all the world. Then Xavier tapped them on the shoulder. 

"Hey, do I get to be in on this?"

"Of course!" Ardie exclaimed, holding out her arms, and the whole group of friends united in a hug.

Gruff was the first to pull back.

"We'd better go on to Delfer and finish fixing things up," he suggested. "And then I guess we can have cottages by the sea and settle down too... I left a wife back in Delfer, and I'm eager to see her again."

"Yes, we should go fix things up," said Akhalia. "I'm so happy!"

And they set off, triumphant at last, to tie up the loose ends and finish saving their country.

----

I really want to see this scene made into a movie... my writing didn't come out as well as it could have, and it should really have music and images to get the full effect. But anyway. Hope it was climactic enough~