Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Flint: The Time Detective or the Lara Fabian song The Dream Within from the epic and one of a kind movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. I know its been a long journey to this point, fans, but this is the closing sequence for My Future, My Past. Explanations first:

1. Why I chose Forever and One (Neverland) as the song for the earlier chapter is simple really, it was dramatic, beautiful sounding in my mind for such a heart-filled battle. It seemed to tie in with Merlock living the lies of the future Jillian gave him as well as the lies of the barriers of his mind that hid the truth from him all his life. Merlock, even though he killed his father, who represents his true destiny as a vampire, still loved his father despite the lies.

He will miss both those of the past and future, shedding tears for the fallen and lost. Merlock never forget the pain of what the truth cost, his father's and mother's lives, his friendship with Bindi, and a normal life. Forever and one means forever and beyond to me, one time greater than the last.

As is the love Merlock feels for Sara is eternally true and boundless, so is the time it will stretch, in life and death. The song concerns love and time, staying in fantasy world will only shatter you. It seems decent to protect someone from a tragic past with fantasy, but its still all lies. The lies were broken through this story and the painful truth and destiny brought to light by the night. Accepting it is only part of the battle, to remember it in his mind and not letting it engulf him is the true victory for Merlock. Now you shall see if he gave in or conquered.

2. The reason for borrowing monsters and a couple lines from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is because, simply, a powerful vampire should be with powerful allies and beasts of lore, all drawn to the darkness they were cast in by the old gods and jealous mortals. Scylla was a victim of such tragic fate and turned from pristine beauty to sea beast, as was the Minataur a creature of a god's petty revenge on an ungrateful king. Zombies are creatures doomed to roam the dark and light without rest or escape from the pain of being undead, eternally needing flesh, brains and blood to remain alive in their own terrible way.

Creatures of the night are outcasts and terrors in the eyes of humans, set apart from normal people because of their curses to crave the flesh and blood of the living. Outcasts, essentially, vanquished by an outcast of humans, the hero of the game Alucard, the son of Dracula. The theme of vampire's own child ending the pain of time the master is set upon humanity seemed to coincide with Merlock's life. We never really hear much about his past is that he possibly has a clan, one we never see in the series, and he's got the genetics of vampires in his blood to help him heal faster. He does not exactly state that he is fully blooded, at least that's what the episodes say.

It just made me wonder why he never spoke of parents or where he clan was exactly, so this story was my own interpretation of why he never speaks of them, maybe he never knew them or forgot them somehow. I really don't know how it was with Merlock, aside from comedy relief he didn't seem to deserve, but if there is ever a second season, I hope the creators do more with Merlock than they did the first time around. A girl can dream can't she? Oh yes, and DOWN WITH BINDI and MERLOCK AND SARA FOREVER! No other pairing will do him justice but her.

Now, on with the final installment, his for all you very, very patient fans. Thanks for pushing me so hard to complete my first Merlock story. If I forgot to explain anything, let me know.

Epilogue

Kiss From a Rose

~ Bureau of Time and Space ~

- One Year Later -

Tony balanced a cold, sauce-wet meatball on his finger, staring at the steadily spinning hands of the wall clock. Normally his visits home were fun, like he'd get to go on adventures with Flint and Rocky or play some new video game he bought with his absent minded uncle, and his sister, he'd tease her and brag to the family about how well his career was going. He could almost hear her musical laughter, that wisp of fuchsia as she'd pass by and the skies of her bright eyes.

Not anymore, Sara wasn't coming back. She and Merlock had been out of their lives ever since Count Ezekeil's terrifying plot ended. None of them, except Flint, knew completely what happened that fateful night. Flint didn't talk about it, even when he was asked. Flint seemed very sad that they were gone. He did shed some light on why Merlock even came to the bureau in the first place. Merlock had been seeing Sara behind their backs. Tony had never really liked him. He felt Merlock was too sneaky and disappeared a lot, not to mention being a vampire.

Free….the dream within,

The stars are crying….a tear.

A sigh escapes from heaven

And the world's end.

It was too late for regrets and old vendettas from a lost childhood. Flint had come back alone from the castle in a daze, then wept openly with his father and Pterri. All the boy said through the sobs and tears was that blood leaked out from under the door, that he tried to get in, but nothing worked.

All the child could do was watch the blood coagulate by the door, the clatter of metal and smell of flames and ash in his nose. He had come out from the palace an hour after running away from the door, to get their help to open the door. No sooner had he reached them did every shutter, window, grate and door seal tight, locking them all out.

Hours of vain attempts, of summoning every Time Shifter except Bindi to get back in, Flint ripping a tree out of the ground to use it as a battering ram, and even his father's Hammerhead Rock attack. Nothing worked. The palace was sealed from all for who knew how long.

Flint was better now, but still, at times, Tony and his uncle would walk in on him crying softly to the moon, hugging his father tightly. Wracked with sobs of their own of hidden mourning, they'd embrace the poor child and cry for their lost friend and relative.

It was nothing if but poetic in a way, like Romeo and Juliet. Merlock and Sara, gone from this life in that room, all for love, to defend their hearts, and it got them killed. They dared not return to that time, even if they were allowed. Jillian immediately forbade that area and time from all of them, even herself.

Tony had been in her office when she made the statement concerning retrieval of the bodies. Her nose had been so puffy, her eye bloodshot and wet with endless sorrow, trying to sound as superior authority as she could. They found out then that she had adopted Merlock when he was a child, a fugitive of his time that couldn't be sent back. She and her parents had helped to raise him best they could, therapy was used to make him forget his nightmares and wiped out his recollection that was from the past.

They had tried to do the same about his being in the future, but that wasn't so easy. Jillian had raised the little blue bundle into a handsome and overly romantic young man. By the time she reached the end of her proclamation, she broke down and cried.

Breathe….the dream within.

The mystifying….

We tremble and spin,

Suspended within!

Tony hated it. They didn't know for sure, did they? Sara might be alive, Merlock too. Flint never saw the bodies, only blood and heard noises. Tony played it over and over in his head so much it made a vein throb is his forehead. Thanks to Jillian and the rest of the Time Police superiors, Viso and the castle of Count Ezekeil were off limits regretfully, for it was labeled a hazardous environment, nearly cast into chaos by Petra's greed. None of them had the power to even help themselves, let alone lost comrades and loved ones.

He let the meatball drop and splatter on the floor, how his heart felt, like it was falling to pieces with grief. Right now, he'd have nothing good to say to Sara about his dying career. All year, his grief took its toll on his skills and his team. He finally asked for leave. The coach understood he was grieving his dead sister or lack of his sister's presence, but only gave him a few months to regain himself or he was off the team. Tony couldn't blame the guy. So many winning streaks before the nightmare, and now they were last in the league.

He sighed, not hungry as he sat there alone. Flint had actually refused to eat quite often, feeling utterly lost and responsible for what occurred. He and his uncle and Rocky did their best to calm Flint's anxiety of blame down, but only Flint could master it. They'd leave it to him and his father. Flint wouldn't die from refusing a few meals, but over time, he'd get sick. Tony didn't want to lose someone else, not again, not ever.

His thoughts were jolted as the doorbell rang, and he lifted his brunette-haired head up slightly, lost blue eyes stare towards the metal door. The doorbell came again, then loud knocking. Finally, Tony slid out of his seat and went to open it.

He looked dully at a deliveryman with a metallic tube package. "Yes, may I help you?" Tony said dully.

The elder man, his shaggy brown hair sifting about in a slightly breeze. I hope so. I have a package for the Bureau of Time and Space….for a Tony and Bernard Goodman, Flint and Rocky Hammerhead as well. I was debating on whether or not you'd be here….we've had this scroll for a long time."

"How long…?" Tony asked, eyeing the package a bit more intensely. "About….five-hundred and seventy-four years, six months, three days and….," he said, looking up a bit as if he had memorized this answer for a while," ten seconds now."

He held out clipboard first. "Sign here please…." Tony nodded and did so. "Over 500 years? Who would…."he said, then stopped, his eyes widening a bit in mid signing.

Merlock? SARA!?

He shook his head, smiling a little as he finished his signature and gave the man back his clipboard. The man nodded, tucking it away neatly, then gave Tony the metal tube. He barely got to tip his hat as Tony slammed the door in his face, sprinting to the control room as fast as his legs could carry him.

~

Uncle Bernie and Flint were still in there, along with Pterri and the soon to depart Getalong. She only visited these days, no Time Shifter came to Earth for very long. The Old Timer felt they should remain with those of The Land of Time for their own safety. Who could disagree, or had the feelings to do so, then….

They were all blandly monitoring time, nothing much happening, as always. Petra was still missing, gone without a trace. None of them knew where she was, nor did they care. Time was quite safe and normal, hopefully for a long time. He just smiled at them all, prying open the tube as he jogged up to them. Uncle Bernie looked up first as the parchment within slid into Tony's hand, the symbol faintly shining in all their eyes. They'd all seen the symbol of the ruby eye in blue and black, a few sparse tapestries of the castle of Ezekeil had been littered, areas they only saw upon entering, not exiting.

Look beyond where hearts can see.

Dream in peace.

Trust, love, believe....

We tremble and spin,

Suspended within!

'Where'd that come from?" his uncle asked, sounding a bit breathless as he and Flint stared at it. Tony broke the seal and opened, reading to himself quietly. His grin grew wide as he did, tears daring to cross his creamy cheeks.

"Mail service….its…they're alive!" Tony wept, not being able to stop shivering and sobbing as he tried to contain his bliss. His uncle took it from him carefully, reading as well, smiling broadly and his eyes watered.

Flint was jumping up and down as Tony wept happily, Rocky's eyes bouncing around in his stone head. "What is it? Read! Read!" Flint begged.

Uncle Bernie nodded, wiping his eyes with his dusty lab coat, taking a few deep breaths to control his tears and heart from exploding all over the letter:

Dear Goodmans, Hammerheads, Pterri, Jillian and all our friends,

We know it has been a long time, but not nearly as long for you as it was for us. The castle finally opened up for us….so many centuries we lost in our dreamless sleep. We have a couple surprises for you in this letter, but…the signature reveals one such. We do apologize for making you wait so long, but Petra escaped the castle, possibly long before I even reached the throne room. I found no bones in the dungeon I discovered them in on that fateful night I entered the castle. I suspect they left a while after I refused to help them. The Catamaran was long gone as were they, stranding us in the past. I, Merlock, have atoned for my lost past. Ezekeil….was my father. He was the last of my supposed clan, the only Azure vampire other than myself left. No need to go back in time, the castle still stands thanks to us. WE are still there, waiting for you. It should be exactly a year after the day you were kidnapped….that you receive this. Sara and I hope you will all come….except Bindi. I'll never forgive what she did to Sara and to me.

We truly hope you will come to see us. A lot has changed….and Sara and I both hope that you will forgive me for what has occurred. I was only trying to save her….and no worries. The beasts of this castle will no longer trouble the living….or the dead.

Sincerely,

Merlock and Sara Holmes

"Alive! YEAH! All right, Sara and Merlock are alive!!" Flint cheered, tossing his father up and down in the air, the poor stone father weeping happily. Uncle Bernie's lip twitched a moment, looking half ready to cry or start laughing.

"They….they….they…." Uncle Bernie was saying. Tony wiped his eyes, breathing hard as he stared at his uncle. "What? What's wrong?"

Then Uncle Bernie made a goofy grin. "They're married. Ohhhhh….." he said right before he fell over, fainted away. Tony simply blinked with Flint at the poor man.

Free….the dream within,

The voices calling, a song.

A prayer from deep inside you

To guide you.

Tony smiled then, patting Flint on the back a but with a knowing look. "He's happy….trust me. I'll uh….go call Ms. Grey…you go get a bucket of ice water and wake Uncle Bernie up….ok?" Tony told the cave boy. Flint nodded and trotted off, Tony thus following him out a few moments later, only one solitary thought brimming in his once sorrowful mind.

Sara….oh Sara, you're alive!

~ The Castle of Lord Merlock and Lady Sara ~

Time had blessed Viso, Romania from the nightmares of the past. A lot had changed since the woman with green hair and the lad in the cloak disappeared into the dark castle. The people of that generation were blessed days later with the disappearance of the monsters and terrible noises unnatural to the norms of night. Only crickets and animals could be heard, not ungodly howls and the click clatters of beasts and demons upon their rooftops.

The castle stayed quiet, the lands safe from harm as was its people. The town blossomed from superstitious and sickly to a wonderfully thriving and brought about gothic beauty beyond measure. Fear of the undead and beasts became a thing of legends, a past that was only in ghost stories and to wow the tourists. Then four hundred years later, the castle had light within the gothic windows of untouched stained glass. The fear nearly returned until a letter reached town, informing the public that the castle was being restored by foreigners who were left the castle in a will. It laid fears to rest slightly, but no one ever saw those restoring it.

Time went on, electricity and gas gave heat and light and plumbing brought about cleaner water that in days of old that were acquired only by fireplaces, candles and the village well. The castle seemed to be the first to start the trends, making contributions from their unseen family fortune to the town's well being. Everyone wondered who they were, but no one dared approached the dark surroundings of the place of many ghost stories. To them, fear conquered all, and to those inside the castle, love conquered all.

Be….the dream within,

The light is shining.

A flame on the wind,

Salvation begins.

If they bothered to sneak upon the grounds, they'd see a garden full of red roses, sparkling dreamily with fresh dew and care. The garden was well loved, as was the castle, untouched by blemish and the slime of monsters. It was a fairy tale of gothic hearts, beautifully dark like an onyx jewel that pierced the sky. If the town bothered still, they would see much more. To walk deep inside, to the secret pathways to the far away cliffs near the toiling and foaming sea, they see the master and mistress of the castle standing there, a bouquet of roses in the woman's hands and an urn of silver in the man's.

~

Merlock just stared out at the dawn-blessed sea, holding his father's ashes close to his chest. He was an adult now, the transformation was done with. He had not been pleased to be forced to bite his beloved's neck and drink what little life she had left, but it was all she had. To death was all one needed, and he was only half a vampire. True, for all his eternal life he would have to drink from the living. He had made sure it was only from terrible criminals and those that were truly terrible. He only needed to feed once a month at best, as would poor Sara. He couldn't give up on life or hers, so he chose to live on as what he was, the last of the Azure vampires.

Sara had been surprised he skin was the same shade as his, but at least her hair was more or less the same, growing just a touch lighter. Her eyes were still the same startling blue, the color of the sky at first light, enchanting to the end. The bite and sharing of blood did it all. Cutting his wrist with his fangs did hurt, but Sara was dying at that moment, not nearly enough blood left to keep her alive. Then he put the wound to her paling lips, letting her feed off of him so they would be the same, alive in a way and always together. They were the same thing now, dhampires, free of the weakness of vampires, to live in eternity, together and forever in love. Merlock was happy she was all right and had forgiven him for his choice.

"You told me we'd be together forever. I don't think any less of you, Merlock, not for doing as your heart tells you. You're very brave, loving and true. I love you, not just for who you are, but for what you are….You're the man I love, the man that I will love forever and beyond. I almost wish your mother and father could join us….if fate hadn't been so cruel to them. I just know that I could never be angry with you for doing anything….for love." She'd told him when they woke up after nearly four centuries of sleep, their bodies aging into 22 years olds at best. He was as tall as his father was now, Sara an inch or so below and her figure blossomed to full womanhood.

Merlock didn't care how old she looked. He simply loved her for her ethereal beauty most of all, her good heart and those enchanting eyes. He grew out of being a sneaky romantic, he wasn't a child anymore. He was a man, and now the master of the castle. He kept the monsters at peace and did his part to help Viso heal with them, to make up for his father's grief stricken mistakes. There were no more illusions to face. All they needed was love and forgiveness. He had forgiven his father more or less for what he'd done. Today was the day to make it official, and say good-bye to him.

Soon, Sara's family would be able to visit them at long last, and they wanted everything in order before they arrived. There were surprises enough in their letter, but they had not anticipated the current surprise within Sara's womb, now seven months grown round her belly. Merlock had nearly had a heart attack if he were still capable of having one when she told him. Ever since then, he'd been nothing but happy. Soon he'd be a proud father as well as a noble husband.

Look beyond where hearts can see,

Dream in peace.

Trust, love, believe.

We tremble and spin,

Suspended within!

He gazed at Sara's pristine face, her lovely, heart-shaped face glowing like a new robin's egg. She was even more stunning in the sunrise. She was always beautiful, no matter what, but she got even more beautiful every day to him each time he looked upon her innocent beauty. He sighed a bit, taking the lid off the urn. "Ready, beloved?" he asked, voice full of tender love.

She gave her sweet smile to him, unwrapping the delicate and blood red bouquet as the wind tussled her hair a bit. "Yes….let's give him a proper send off….we need to do this finally. We've healed the wounds of Viso and most of our own….its time to tend to your father. After all, without him….you'd never have known where you came from." She said softly.

He nodded a bit, tilting the urn over a bit as the wind picked up. "Yes….though some I'd rather to have to have never remembered, but you can't run from your past or you'll never have a future. Yeah, its time to say good-bye to my father after so long. I hope he found mother….and they're happy. I know I am, my love. Let's do it." He said proudly, and poured the pale ashes to the elegant threads of the wind, to carry it to the cloud where it belonged.

Sara let the flowers go free too, many petals breaking free from their crown of their thorny staff. The petals of crimson soared through the ashen littered winds, climbing into the soft morning clouds, vanishing in spirals of shade and color.

"Now….it is over. Good-bye, Father….I may not have agreed with your methods to see if I was worth leaving the castle to…but, I know you meant well in your own mind. I will miss you and mother terribly. However, its time to let go. I am still happy….and the castle is safe. Just rest….good-bye….forever." he whispered to the wind, blushing gently on his slender cheeks as Sara hugged him warmly.

Her smiled at her, leaning down to capture her soft lips in a kiss. He explored her mouth with gentle sincerity, deepening the slide of his tongue with hers as they grew warmer.

They parted after several minutes, smiling lovingly into each other's eyes. "So what are you hoping for, dearest?" he asked her playfully, teasing her hair a bit with his slender and dark gloved fingers.

She made a coy smile, flicking one of his buttons. He had grown used to the clothing style and colors his father had bestowed upon him. It suited his tastes. It was blue at least. "Well, a girl….I'm hoping. You? A boy I bet." She replied, her tone teasing him, jovial chuckle mixed into it.

He had to smirk at her, leading her back inside the pathway that led home. "I don't care either way. I'd like one of each really….but from what the doctors say, we're only having one right now. Our….-blush-….reproductive fluids don't work the same as they did when we were more human. It takes more time to conceive children for a dhampire, as we've discovered. It was wonderful realizing it though." He chuckled, getting a light punch on his arm.

"Don't be such a hentai….heh, yeah it was wonderful. Well, I'd like to have more than just one. In due time anyway….for now….we'll wait for our little one to be born….Oh. –giggle- The baby just started to kick again." She sighed, patting her stomach. He put his hand to it, feeling the little kicks hit his hand smoothly. He simply smiled, pecking her cheek.

"Nothing but happiness for us now….I'll be your noble and true husband forever, my beloved angel."

"Aww, you're so sweet….I plan to do the same, forever and beyond, nothing's going top hurt us again. If anything happens, we'll face it together….Oh, I love you so much, Merlock."

"And I you, my pristine goddess…." He sighed

"And I also know you love me enough to make me a triple-decker fudge, banana, sushi, and peanut butter brittle sundae with extra whipped cream and a cherry on top."

He almost fell over, but simply chuckled. "I love you enough to make you two of them….I'd do anything for you, Sara dear." He smoothed, leading her home to toil over the wiles of pregnancy cravings.

Free….the dream within,

The stars are crying….a tear.

A sigh escapes from heaven

And the world's end.

The couple walked away from the cliff side opening, never seeing a dark wisp of air pass it by, the devil's laugh inside as it whipped away into the long gone dawn. Neither heard nor seen, it vanished, the opening gone cold.

Death is Never The End….

Author's Note: Yes, at last My Future, My Past is complete. I hope everyone enjoyed it, but as I finished this off, -evil giggle-, a sequel came to mind with Merlock and Sara's kid as the main character. Stay tuned this spring or summer for Zodiac: Stones of Time.