Inside the great hall, all the Jinn and warriors gathered around again. This was the moment they had all been waiting for all through the tense night. A murmur, a happy wondering one this time, surged through the crowd.

Rona limped towards the pod and Nodine followed. The girl had discarded her helmet and was looking all around the huge room for a faded red hoodie and head of red-brown hair that had become so familiar. But BJ was nowhere in sight. She wondered if, perhaps, he had already been returned to the Stomper world and felt disappointed that she didn't get the chance to really say goodbye to him. But as she came up beside the General and looked down at the blooming pod, all that was driven from her mind.

The pod, actually no longer a pod but a beautiful white water-lily, floated dead-center in the pool of water. Just above the center of the flower was a small cloud of sparkling gold motes of light. It hovered there for a second before streaming up into the air. It circled around behind Neem and between Maude and Grubby, all of which had amazed grins on their faces.

Next it moved around Rona, pausing for a moment over her shoulder. The General closed her eyes as she felt something like a phantom hand cup her cheek. It felt warm and exactly like Tarn's. It was comforting and heartbreaking at the same time.

Then the lights moved on, out into the crowd. Everyone there watched it move among them in awe. Some stood frozen, unable to move. Some stepped back, but not in fear. Finally the lights reached its intended target. A Daisy Jinn stepped back as the motes circled once around his Marigold son. In a soft burst of light the motes transformed into the glowing image of King Tarn crouched beside the boy.

The former King grinned at him. "Look after them for me." He said, nodding his head out at the Jinn. His voice was hollow and distant. The Jinn boy just looked back at him with wide eyes.

Rona could stop herself from stumbling forward a couple of steps and that slight movement caught Tarn's and the boy's attention. Even though both turned their heads to look up at her, she only had eyes for the King, her King. Tarn smiled, white teeth flashing in his dark face. Rona found herself smiling back. There was still sadness in her eyes, but that smile was one of love.

"There's that smile." Tarn teased in his usual playful manner. Hearing those words, Rona silently vowed that, yes, she would make an effort to smile more. And she knew deep in her heart that every time she did she would remember this moment and him.

Tarn turned back to the Marigold boy and lifted his head to plant a light kiss on the boy's forehead. At that moment, the motes of light that made up the former King's image grew brighter and gathered up into a single point. The light flashed, blinding everyone for a moment, and then was gone. Tarn was gone, but had made his choice of heir so plain that no one could contest it. The Marigold boy had been transformed. His heat petals were a pure white instead of orange and his clothing changed to a much more elegant form with a white petal cape like what Tarn had worn falling from his shoulders.

The new King blinked and looked down at his transformed appearance. He gasped with glee and looked up at his father standing behind him with a wide grin. The Daisy Jinn could only stare back at his son in shock, unable to say anything. For a long moment, no one could move at this turn of events.

Finally Neem stepped forward and gave an exaggerated curtsy. "Your Majesty." Still grinning, the boy bowed in return to the caterpillar.

All the others in the room took this as the signal to pay homage to their new King. Warriors went down to one knee, a hand over their hearts. Civilians bowed or curtsied. Rona and Nodine were some of the last to kneel, Rona going down first. Nodine looked around the room once more for BJ and then realized that she was the last one still standing. So she knelt next to the General.

The girl took that moment to take a long look at the older woman. She couldn't describe how relieved she had been to see that Rona had made it out of Wrathwood. It was almost like having her mother back again. She gave a little giggle and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. "You look terrible."

Rona glanced sideways at the girl and sat back against the pedestal. She wasn't really surprised that she looked terrible. She felt terrible. Getting out of Wrathwood had taken more out of her than she cared to admit. And it was probably only the fact she had armour on that had kept her from having anything more serious than bruises. She had been lucky not to end up with any bones broken in the fight with the Boggans. "Hey, did you see how many times I got hit? I learned that from you." she told the girl with amusement. That made Nodine laugh.

"You're not going to make me say all the stuff I learned from you now, are you?" she asked, looking away for a second. She wouldn't have been surprised if she did actually. She would certainly deserve such a lecture. Or even an, I told you so from the General. In fact she rather expected it. What she got, when she turned back to Rona, was something completely different though.

"Well, you would have learned a heck of a lot more from your mom." Rona replied with a somber expression. The General had done a lot of thinking since that morning when Nodine had quit. And she realized that she had been pushing her perhaps a little too hard into the role of Leafwoman. Still, she couldn't help but think how proud Nodine's mother would be of her daughter right now. And that was such a shame that her friend never got to see the girl live up to such potential. "I was a pretty poor substitute."

Nodine knew she had to fix this. Rona hadn't actually done that badly by her. She realized now that it couldn't have been easy for the older woman, managing the duties of being General with suddenly becoming a surrogate mother to an unruly rebellious adolescent. Nodine certainly hadn't made things easier and she could have at least tried to. "Aw, don't beat yourself up." She said, trying to sound very much The Grown Up, but failing utterly at it. "Lately you've shown some real promise."

Rona started to chuckle at that when another familiar voice broke in. Both of them looked up in surprise. "Oh, please. Just say you love each other." BJ said with amusement, standing over the pair of them with his arms crossed. A wide grin broke out on Nodine's face to see him.

"I thought we just did." Rona answered in a deadpan tone and with a shrug. It was obvious though that neither teen was paying much attention to her at that moment.

"Hey, you're still here." Nodine said as she got to her feet. It was a statement of fact rather than a question.

BJ answered it like it was one though. He grimaced a little and looked away. He was still sort of coming to terms with the fact that he was stuck there. "Yeah. I guess I missed my chance."

Nodine heard the disappointment in his words. She didn't know why he had missed the blooming, but she suspected it had something to do with getting the bats drawn off. If that was the case, she felt both badly for and proud of him at the same time. "I'm sorry." she said and meant it. She did feel sympathy for him. But still, maybe she could also show him that her world wasn't such a bad one to live in. At least he still had her and Rona. The girl held out her hand to him and added in a hopeful tone, "But not completely sorry."

BJ had to smile a little at that. It just seemed so typical of Nodine to try to point out the bright side of things. Right then he decided that this wouldn't be the end of the world. He could make do. So BJ took the offered hand. But at that moment an unusual force pulled at him, causing BJ to tug on Nodine's hand.

"Wow! Strong grip!" she teased, not realizing at first that it wasn't actually BJ that was doing it. Quickly though, she realized the truth. BJ grabbed onto her arm with his free hand and she grabbed his. Seconds later the boy was swept off his feet and Nodine had to bend backwards to keep her balance while holding onto him.

"What's happening?" BJ cried in bewilderment.

"A King brought you here." Neem said. Both teens looked at the caterpillar as Rona got to her feet. The caterpillar turned sideways and pointed with three of her hands as she continued, "How about a King send you back?"

Behind her was the new King. He had his face all scrunched up in concentration and his fingers pressed to his temples. The force that was trying to draw BJ away was coming from his new-found powers. The boy suddenly grinned. "It's working!" And behind the King, the boy's father could only stare open-mouthed in stunned silence at his son's powers.

BJ transferred his grip from Nodine's arm to her shoulder as he looked back at her. "We have to say goodbye!" Even though going home was what he wanted, he wasn't quite ready to leave just yet. There was so much he wanted to say now. He had been just about to accept remaining in this world, but now he was being sent away.

"What for? You're part of us." Rona put in before Nodine could say anything. And it was true. No matter that BJ was a Stomper; he would always be a part of their world. She gave the teen an approving look as she held one arm around her abused ribs.

Just then Grubby appeared at the General's elbow, a Leafwoman helmet still perched on her head. "Many Leaves, I always say." The snail said pompously and then saw Rona giving her a look. She started to stammer and sadly pull off the helmet. "I mean… I mean, uh… the Leafmen say. Not-not that I'm a Leafwoman."

She handed the helmet to Rona and turned away. Rona looked down at it for a second and then back at the snail. "Says who?" The General asked rhetorically, smiling a little and slapping it back on Grubby's head, giving it a rub for good measure. Grubby gasped and grinned in glee, taking that statement as her acceptance into the ranks of the Leafmen. She latched onto Rona's arm, hugging it happily. Rona couldn't help but curl her lip a little in disgust at such a blatant show of affection.

"We'll find each other! Just follow the slime!" Maude called, coming up beside Nodine and BJ.

The boy gave a little laugh and replied, "I will, Maude." He still couldn't really get over the fact that the slug had such a crush on him. Just then the strength of the force pulling him away got stronger, almost lifting Nodine off her feet as well.

"You're really leaving." she said, again more of a statement than a question. They had gone through so much together. She didn't want to believe that this was happening even though the truth it was practically smacking her in the face. BJ looked back at her, tears actually shining in his green eyes.

"Put-put your arms around me!" he cried and she didn't even hesitate. Nodine threw her arms around his neck and BJ wrapped his around her as well. The two held each other close, pressing their cheeks together.

It wasn't enough for Nodine though. Just as BJ started to pull away she drew him back and pressed her lips to his, kissing him. Maybe it was a crazy thing to do, but it felt just so right at that moment. She couldn't bear letting him go without doing it. BJ was feeling the same since he kissed her back just as hard, cupping her face with one hand.

Unfortunately it had to come to an end. The force of the new King's magic slowly pulled the two teens apart. Nodine kept a hold of BJ with one hand as long as she could; letting his arm slide through her fingers until at last she had to let go or be carried away with him. BJ smiled and waved down at them all as he was lifted up and out of the great rock.

Nodine never once tore her eyes away from him until long after he was out of sight. Finally she dropped her upraised arm down to her side.

Rachel staggered from side to side as she walked down the forest path in the light of dawn. She had never had to run so far or so fast in her life. She was utterly spent from having to lead those horrid bats away. She carried her headset and vest in one hand. In the other was the photo she had been looking at the night before. She hadn't even realized that she had stuck it into her pocket when she had left the house. Winded, the Professor braced herself against a boulder to catch her breath.

A rustle in the bushes ahead of her made her look up, shading her eyes with the photo. A deer bounded towards and then past her, disappearing again into the underbrush. Rachel watched it go for a second when the sound of footsteps made her look back in the direction it had come. She gave a little gasp as BJ walked up, the dawn light glowing around him.

She was so happy to see him and see him back to normal size that she wasn't sure at first what to say. She looked down at the photo in her hands. She ran a gentle thumb over the smiling face of her ex-husband. "I always hoped if I, uh… if I proved it to him…" Rachel's lips trembled and tears filled her eyes as she trailed off for a moment. BJ stepped forward and covered his mother's hands with his own. She looked up to meet his eyes.

"… he'd, uh… you know." she finished as two tears trailed down her cheeks. BJ could see now just how much his mother still loved his father. And that she missed him just as much as he did. The teen didn't say anything but did something he hadn't done since he had been a very young boy. BJ gave his mother a hug, holding her tightly.

Rachel was stunned, but only for a moment. She hugged him back just as tightly, burying her face against his shoulder. Finally the gaping hole between the two of them felt like it was healing.

"Well, what do you think?" Rachel asked, showing off the sketch. It was days later. It had taken that long for BJ to recover from his adventure and to tell her everything that had happened to him in the forest. She had been thrilled to hear all about the Jinn and their world. The two of them were compiling all sorts of information on them. She was even doing sketches based on what her son had described. The table in front of her was covered in them.

BJ leaned over the table to look at the drawing. It was actually a pretty good one. It was of a Leafwoman that looked suspiciously like Nodine, though in a pose that he'd never seen her in, leaf shield upraised and with a few of arrows sticking out of it. There were a few glaring differences though and he had to point them out. "It's perfect, Mom. Except, the boots are higher and the sleeves are longer." He put his chin in his hand as he looked back at his mother and grinned. "And they wear… they wear actual helmets, not acorns."

"Really?" she asked and laughed, putting down her pencil and holding up one such acorn. "They should seriously consider the potential." BJ just smiled and shook his head slightly. She was still as enthusiastic as ever over the Jinn. Especially now that they had permission to study their culture. Rachel was always coming up with odd things to improve some of the Leafmen's equipment.

Mollie began to bark then, running into the room and wanting attention. BJ turned to look at the little dog. "Mollie! Here you go, girl." He picked up the little stuffed Boggan toy he had made for the pug. BJ found it hilarious that it had become Mollie's favourite toy ever. He pretended to make it growl before throwing it to her. Mollie started running around the room, shaking the toy vigorously.

However, the pug was not at all careful when she was playing with her toy and usually ended up running into things. She ended up knocking over a broom and the projector screen which broke one of the glass jars that still cluttered the room. The mess wasn't as bad as it had been when he arrived at the house, but it would probably take a long time for the two of them to clear out most of it. Rachel just shook her head while BJ turned to watch the destruction.

Just then the GPS unit on the table next to Rachel went off. BJ spun around and reached for it at the same time his mother did. Their hands bumped and he looked at her embarrassed. "Umm…"

Rachel just laughed and waved a hand. She had only reached for it out of reflex. Years of jumping to whenever it went off did that. Besides, it was amusing to see her son do exactly the same thing now. "Go. It's always for you, anyway."

BJ didn't wait to be told twice. He snatched up the GPS and practically launched himself into the next room. The teen bounced into the office chair and sent it rolling across the floor to the desk. Tapping a quickly familiar code into the ancient computer, he activated the screen. Nodine's image appeared. A few days ago, Rachel had set up a camera phone in the forest as another way for him and the young Leafwoman to communicate. BJ wondered sometimes if his mother suspected anything more in his friendship with Nodine. Still, he wasn't going to complain. "Hey."

"Hey." Nodine answered with a grin, running a hand over her ponytail. Truth be told, she was a little unsure about this whole Stomper technology thing, but it did make it possible for her to talk to BJ at the same speed.

"How's work?" BJ asked, crossing his arms on the desk. It was odd to say the least to have a friendship with a girl who was only two inches tall, but after all that had happened to him, he was getting very used to odd. It certainly wasn't the strangest thing in his life any more.

Nodine drew her sword, swinging it a few times. "Oh, it's not work when you love your job." She said. She was in training now to be a full-fledged Leafwoman. She had actually come straight from practice so she was still in uniform. She still liked to show off though and did so at every opportunity. The girl flipped the blade into the air and caught it again, balancing it point down on the end of her fingers. "Many Leaves, One Tree, that's what I always say."

BJ grinned and gave her a skeptical look. He had the suspicion that that was the first time those words had ever passed Nodine's lips. "Uh-huh." he drawled in an unbelieving tone.

"What do you think you're doing, Leafgirl?" Maude said, popping down from above the camera phone. The tone she said Leafgirl in made the word into an insult.

Nodine jumped in surprise at the slug's sudden appearance, losing her concentration and making her drop her sword. It fell point down into the tree branch she was standing on. She gave Maude a dirty look as she yanked her sword free. "Leafwoman. You know it's Leafwoman." She retorted as she re-sheathed the blade. She was getting more than a little peeved by this nick-name Maude had insisted on calling her.

Maude dropped down onto the branch and gave the girl an equally dirty look. "Is it? I wasn't sure." The slug turned, pretending to only just now see BJ on the screen behind her. She shoved Nodine out of the way. "Hey, BJ! What's going on, my pet?" she asked, batting her eyestalks at him.

From behind Maude, BJ could see Nodine give him a can you believe this look. He just chuckled and rolled his eyes. The slug still had a crush on him it seemed. No matter what anyone said to Maude, she still believed that he liked her in that way. It would be creepy if it wasn't so funny. "Hi, Maude."

Nodine took one of the slug's eyestalks between two fingers and pulled Maude's head back from the screen by it. "We were talking." She pointed out, meaning her and BJ. And that the slug was not welcome. The girl wiped her fingers off on her leg after letting go of Maude's eye.

"There's a big sack of shut your flat-face over there by that tree. Why don't you go pick it up?" Maude gestured behind her as she got up in Nodine's face. She was not about to let this girl hog BJ all to herself. Nodine had just about had enough of the slug's attitude towards her. This was seriously getting ridiculous.

"Listen, slick…" she started to say, hands on her hips, when BJ interrupted.

"Girls, don't fight." Seriously, BJ didn't need his life getting any weirder by having a slug and a Leafwoman fight over him. Sometimes this rivalry between Nodine and Maude was a little embarrassing.

Maude was already starting to pump herself up for said fight. "Oh, it won't be a fight. I could whip her with both eyes behind my back." To make her point the slug turned her back to Nodine, but swivelled her eyestalks back to keep her eyes on the girl. Nodine just looked at BJ; her arms spread a little in exasperation at Maude's antics, and then rolled her eyes.

"I'd like to see you try, jelly-butt." she said, laughing. Nodine put one hand on the slug's head and shoved her down out of the way of the screen. The girl laughed again and shook her head as she turned away. Little did she know what would happen next.

"I didn't want to have to do this!" Maude warned as she rose up behind the girl, mouth wide. Nodine's eyes widened and she yelped as the slug proceeded to try eating her. It was the most disgusting thing she had ever experienced. Not to mention that Maude had the vilest breath. And she was pretty sure the slug was rubbing her tongue all over her face on purpose.

A look of horror crossed BJ's face. He was a guy and most guys could handle gross things, but seeing Maude literally try to swallow Nodine's head was beyond gross. "Ew! Maude, get her out of your mouth!" he ordered. Unfortunately the slug wasn't listening at all. With a sigh, the teen turned to look at his mother standing in the doorway.

"Mom, I gotta go, uh…" BJ glanced back at the screen and tried not to wince. He could not believe that he actually had to say this. Just when he thought it couldn't get any stranger. "…gotta go Heimlich my friend out of a slug."

Rachel leaned over to look at the screen herself. Being a scientist, she had seen all manner of strange things so this wasn't at all horrifying to her. It was unusual though. "Yeah, that looks… pretty weird. Oh! Here-here-here, don't forget this." She set the sketch book down and picked up the modified bike helmet. As BJ stood up, she put it on his head.

He grinned and flipped the goggles down. He had to admit that he sometimes found it kind of funny to watch his mother move and talk at the speed that the Jinn saw her at. He could give Nodine and Rona that much, though he doubted he'd ever say so to them, especially Nodine. She'd probably never let him live it down.

"Teeeellllll tttthhhheeeemmm aaabbboouuuttt thhhheeee aaaacooorrrnnn hhheelllllmeeeettttssss." He heard Rachel say through his helmet. She held up her hand with thumb and forefinger a few inches apart as if holding an imaginary acorn.

"Or," he replied, reaching down and picking up her headset, "you can tell them yourself." He set it on her head as she started to bounce like an excited child. She loved it when the two of them went out together into the forest. She always got to see more when BJ was with her.

She laughed and bent down to Mollie, who was watching them. "Oh! Come on, Mollie!" The little pug barked happily and bounded out the door ahead of them. BJ and Rachel laughed as they ran out of the house, playfully chasing each other. They sprinted through the long grass of the yard and disappeared into the trees.

Heading into the forest where sparrows flew and bees buzzed.

And tiny warriors in green armour guarded it all.

~Fin~

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Author's Notes: Thank you for reading and like I said at the beginning; I hope you enjoyed it.