Epilogue

"Okay, everyone… I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for helping me restore the world. After all, no one likes to be run by a cruel and vindictive dictator," Courtney said.

"Then why are we working for you?" Duncan asked.

"Oh, Duncan, please," Courtney said, "I want to thank you for all your help in the war."

"Well, you're welcome. It was my pleasure to help get rid of Chris," Duncan said.

"Let's just see if this can change you for the better," Courtney said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Duncan said, "I never said you could change me."

"It's good to see you haven't changed a bit," Courtney responded.

"Courtney," Harold said, "Duncan does not require your dishonesty."

"I wasn't being totally dishonest," Courtney said.

"Uh-huh," Harold said sarcastically.

"Anyway, Harold," Courtney said, "I hate to admit it… but you had some great ideas."

"Some?" Harold asked.

"Okay, you had mostly great ideas, are you happy?" Courtney asked.

"Not if you're not happy," Harold said.

"Okay, fine!" Courtney said, "I am forever indebted to you for the help you gave me…"

"You don't have to grovel," Harold responded, "I just didn't want you to sound indignant about having to offer a compliment to someone other than yourself."

"Speaking of giving indignant compliments…" Courtney said, "Heather, I suppose I owe you as well."

"Don't mention it, Courtney," Heather said, "I only did what I thought was necessary to save the world, repent for what I'd done in the past, and, of course, become famous."

"Your priorities always amaze me, Heather," Courtney said. "Alejandro!"

"Yes?" Alejandro asked.

"Thank you for saving me when I was alone," Courtney said, "I… I really feel like I owe you…"

"Nonsense," Alejandro said, "I only did what I thought was important to the cause."

"Yeah!" Katie shouted, "Same with me and Sadie."

"Katie and I are both glad to have worked for you, Courtney," Sadie said.

"Bridgette…DJ…" Courtney said, "I can't thank you guys enough. Without you two, the number of casualties would certainly have been higher."

"It's not a problem, Courtney," Bridgette said.

DJ added, "We're happy to help those in need."

"Geoff?" Courtney said, "Thank you for the sword as well."

"Like, no problem, Courtney," Geoff said, "It was totally fine."

"And where are my three star players?" Courtney asked.

"Are you talking about us?" Gwen asked.

"I most certainly was," Courtney said, "I thought that having fan favorites in the army would give me more support. But it's done something else. You guys were good."

"Of course we were," Noah said, "That shouldn't surprise anyone."

"It surprised me," Cody corrected.

"Only because you had no faith in yourself," Noah said.

"You don't have faith in yourself either," Cody responded.

"Only when it's about life or death, not when it's about good at or bad at," Noah answered.

"Well," Gwen said, "I guess we all surprised ourselves a little."

"Not as much as you surprised me," Courtney said. She turned to Trent and Sierra. "You two deserve my thanks as well."

"We didn't do much," Trent said humbly.

"What we did, we only did to protect all of our friends… like CODY! Right?" Sierra asked Trent.

"Right," Trent said, "We wanted to protect our friends."

"And Tyler… I hate to admit it, but you were pretty helpful too…" Courtney said.

"Of course I was!" Tyler shouted, "After all, I am a strong warrior."

"Yes," Courtney said, "I will give you that."

"Thank goodness the war is finally over!" Leshawna said. "Now I can go back to doing what I love best… not fighting!"

"It was nice to build some muscles," Eva said, "But I think that I should not kill people anymore."

"That's a very noble thought, Eva," Courtney said, "I'm surprised you said that."

"Don't make me change my mind by being condescending," Eva warned.

"Point taken," Courtney said. "Point taken!"

"Are you gonna thank me?" Ezekiel asked hopefully.

"Umm…" Courtney said, "Sure! Why not? After all, you did join our cause. At least you're loyal to the end."

"Yeah! I know!" Ezekiel said.

"Justin…Lindsay…Beth…" Courtney said, "Thank you for the help on the island and everything later."

"Like," Lindsay said, "We all know that helping is nice."

"Whatever. I owe you, Courtney," Justin said. "Thank you for not letting me die in a horrible gruesome way."

"You're welcome," Courtney said.

"I… strangely enough I enjoyed working with you again," Beth said.

"And… how can I forget…" Courtney said, "Owen...Izzy…"

"Yes?" Owen asked.

"What?" Izzy asked.

"Thank you for the help in the last few battles. We were seriously undermanned in the fight against Chef Hatchet, and I'm glad that you were there for us," Courtney said.

"Don't mention it!" Owen shouted, "We all love our friends."

Izzy said, "I didn't want anything bad to happen to you. Or anyone really."

"Thank you," Courtney said, "Now… I know that after today, we're going to go our separate ways… but there's something I just wanted to leave everyone with. No matter where we go in life, I want you to remember our time here. And then, whenever we feel hostile towards each other, we can remember that deep down, we always have the same goal."

Alejandro the Reformed Villain traveled the world as a diplomat. He had previously been accused of having ulterior motives, but no one ever said so again.

Katie the Small and Sweet lived in peace near her best friend Sadie, and never moved to a further location. There she found true happiness.

Sadie the Large and Sweet lived in peace near her best friend Katie, and never moved to a further location. There she found true happiness.

Bridgette the Saintly Surfer took time out of her schedule to provide for charities and protect the people who needed help. Everyone loved her.

DJ the Sensitive Helper never stopped working to help people and animals in need. He opened a hospital for people who were uncomfortable around hospitals. It was popular.

Geoff the Chronic Partier was happy to brag about all of the glorious battles that he had been in during the war. He never forgot to mention that it could have ended differently.

Gwen the Dark Loner never fought again, preferring to live in the peace of her own home. Flings happened now and then, but never amounted to anything serious.

Noah the Aloof Prodigy went back to school, learning all sorts of things that he could not use practically in business in the peaceful world. He brushed off everyone telling him so.

Cody the Pathetic Geek used his new battle credibility to pick up ladies. Surprising nobody except for Cody himself and one other person, it worked.

Trent the Hopeless Romantic did not try to become popular with the ladies, but every time he brought up his time in the war, they all swooned anyway. He was not unhappy.

Sierra the Huge Fangirl had no problems with the people she once knew even after being outed to them as a dragon. However, she was mostly discreet about this information publicly.

Tyler the Clumsy Jock had now become ripped thanks to his work in the battlefield. Even the (many) teammates who exceeded him greatly in skill level envied him.

Leshawna the Lady of War was happy that the fighting was finally over. For the rest of her life, she was hoping no new war would arrive. That didn't mean she wasn't on her guard.

Eva the Warrior Woman worked at a gym, and she did not forget her experience in the war. It had proven to be a helpful way to release her anger. Yet, she didn't miss it.

Ezekiel the Homeschooled Kid bragged to his relatives about his time in the war. No one believed him, but he spent the rest of his life attempting to dig up proof.

Justin the Pretty Boy was glad to finally be free of the battles, so that he could stop scarring himself. Ironically, the scars did not mar him but made him even better-looking.

Lindsay the Dim Bombshell never again went to fight, but rather spent the rest of her life in safety. She was able to keep her Pegasus, which she doted on all her life.

Beth the Nerdy Wannabe returned to her old life with Brady. He could never manage to get her to stay put but she did try to include him in her interests and activities.

Owen the Fat and Happy was glad that the world could live in peace. After the war, he opened a day care center where he could spend time playing with kids all day.

Izzy the Certified Nutball promised that she would only pick up an axe again if people in the world started to cross her. She never had to worry about following through.

Heather the Ornery Bow did not continue her fighting ways, although she did practice shooting constantly. One day, she hoped to surpass every archer in history.

Harold the Squealing Monk boasted about the ideas he had in the war, and about how the world would still be in jeopardy if it wasn't for him. Only half the listeners rolled their eyes.

Duncan the Rebellious Criminal went back to his old ways of petty crime. Sources say that he disappeared to the United States after the war. No one knows why.

Courtney the Guiding Light never forgot the experiences she had in the war…it made her a kinder and friendlier person in everyday life. Rumors say she was happier that way.

And the world became free and peaceful once again. These young heroes all accomplished the one goal to protect the others. It may be said they matured at the same time.

Fin.

Author's Note: Goodies for this chapter include major changes to the ending (Duncan died; Harold died; Alejandro died; Noah died; Cody died; Gwen died; Trent died; Sierra died), Blaineley's ending, Courtney and Duncan's paired ending, Alejandro and Heather's paired ending, Bridgette and Geoff's paired ending, Duncan and Gwen's paired ending, Gwen and Cody's paired ending, Gwen and Trent's paired ending, Noah and Cody's paired ending, Noah and Eva's paired ending, Harold and Leshawna's paired ending, Harold and Beth's paired ending, Tyler and Lindsay's paired ending, Justin and Beth's paired ending, Justin and Owen's paired ending, and Owen and Izzy's paired ending.