Everything was dark and muted, everyone groaning as they regained consciousness. Unity, Loyalty and the Eldunarí maintaining the spell Eragon had created as they sat in darkness. Unity was in a sort of pain, knowing full well what was happening outside as he spent his strength protecting the others.

A minute or so passed in the disconcerting silence and darkness before their senses suddenly returned to them, painfully bright and loud.

Blue was the first to stand, leaning on his hammer as he took in the damage. Everything was filled with smoke, and there was a glowing crater where Galbatorix had been, the ceiling a mirror of the floor. There was a smell and taste of iron, the walls cracked and everything upon them utterly destroyed. Shruikan was still present in the back, most of his body reduced to blackened bone. The front of the room had completely blown outward, as well as every room after that. Down the great corridor leading outside, they could see a hint of what might have been daylight.

Blue slowly faced Eragon, the boy staring at the ruin in shock as he stood. A house-sized chunk of the ceiling then came crashing down by Shruikan's exposed skull, crumbling apart and scattering fragments everywhere.

Classic stood then, blinking in astonishment.
"Was that.. a nuclear explosion, or am I beginning to lose it?"
"It was." Blue answered dully as he picked up the dazed and still trembling Elva. She seemed to radiate a strange energy- one that Unity recognized in disbelief.

Arya then grabbed the young boy around the waist, climbing up Saphira's saddle and setting him there, pointing at the girl and shouting. "Throw her to me!"
No, I got it. GB surged to his feet, clamping his jaws around the back of her clothes and swinging her onto Saphira's back, whereupon she clung to her brother. They all surged forward then, even as Arya leapt off. "Wait! Where is the egg? And the Eldunarí? We can't leave them!"

Murtagh frowned at that, then mentally gave her what she needed. She took off, GB blinking before Draco snorted and waved to the exit.
Go, I'll help her.
But-
There's no time, we'll take a shortcut, just go! He bounded off towards the doorway Arya had vanished into, GB squawking in alarm.

"He's right, we need to hurry." Blue agreed, waving them all towards the hall as they scrambled. Blue teleported into GB's saddle, Elva in his arms as he tossed his hammer into his inventory. Fresh whuffed, picking up Chaos before she hugged his bony snout.

"Hold on." A voice interrupted, and they all hesitated at the incredible sight of Classic, a younger skeleton with goggles jogging up and blinking at the devastation.
"...You should take a shortcut." He held out his hand after a brief pause.
"We were going to." Blue hesitantly pointed out.
"You don't look to be in a good state to try that yourselves." He pointed out, a spark flying off his skull.
"I know I'm a bit late to all this, but let me help. I… I need to."

GB blinked at him, hesitant.
…How exactly do you plan on helping us? He asked.
"Like this." In a moment, the world bent around them, flashing blue before they all reappeared in a courtyard in front of the gate of the citadel. They all stumbled at the jarring form of transport before gasping at the devastation left behind by the explosion.

The first thing they saw was smoke. The second, alarmingly enough, was the looming shape of Error, charcoal skull poking through the wafting pillars as a great hum rang through the air.
Chaos, now on Fresh's backside, gaped at her father in amazement in recognition.
The canid ears on the back of Fresh's skull lifted up as he too, identified his parent.

He was suddenly charging forward down the street, soldiers and servants alike yelping and tumbling out of the way as Error took notice, emitting a tremendous warbling note as he bent down, leaning on his primary arms as his secondaries scooped up the wriggling godling, Chaos screeching incomprehensibly.

After a moment of cradling his adopted and biological children alike, Error glanced back at the group. He let out a low hum that shook the air before turning away, massive footsteps thundering as he left the city.
It was then that they noticed that the wall was simply gone.

Furthermore, fires blazed throughout the city, the roofs closest to them having been stripped away, smoke pouring up until it hit the underside of tge shelf, flowing like water upon it before entering the morning sun. The citizens around them were fleeing the city, silent and scared. No one bothered them, simply intent on leaving.

They all walked together, pausing at a distant rumble from within the hill, signifying the collapse of the throne room. They all stared in fear and concern, but Loyalty soon assured them that he felt they were still alive. Unity agreed, unexpectedly somber.

Saphira was the first to stop, groaning slightly before Eragon set the children on the ground.
"Do you know where your parents are?"
Nodding, the boy pointed to a large house nearby.
"Is that where you live?"
He nodded again.
"Go on, then." Eragon gestured, and the pair took off, the door bursting open at their arrival as a balding man stepped out and embraced them tightly. Glancing at the group, he guided his children inside.

Some yards away, Thorn wearily plopped down, huffing as Murtagh helped Nasuada down and then slumped against the red dragon's belly. He began to recite spells of healing for his dragon, to which Eragon mirrored with Saphira.

GB sat down, facing the castle and watching eagerly as Blue slid off, still processing all that had happened.
"So." Classic appeared before him, still somehow jarring with how similar yet different he seemed since last he had seen the other.. which was a long time ago now.
"What just happened?"

Blue stared blankly at him for a moment, then slowly made to speak. He hesitated, unsure of how to begin. Instead, he asked.
"What were you doing there?"
Classic glanced back at the slowly collapsing citadel, then out at the fields where the morning sun was shining across battered plains.
"Y'know.. I'm not actually sure. I felt Eve explaining some things, and heard about what this big bad king was up to and just made a split second decision. Wasn't actually thinking straight, I think. Everything's just…." He shrugged. "Gone. Like that."

Blue looked up at the sky through the haze, considering this.
"The Multiverse really is gone?"
"...I was there." He was surprisingly sullen.
"..I understand." Blue sighed, squinting at figures meandering over the ruined earth.
"..My brother…. Our families are out there." He noted distantly.
"Somewhere." Classic agreed, looking worn. "It happened too quickly."

"It did?" He blinked at the original.
"There wasn't enough time to get the necessary information out once we could. There's going to be a lot of confusion… there is a lot of confusion. Is that a therizinosaurus?" He squinted into the distance.
"A what?" Blue asked, following his gaze before blanking. "That is a dinosaur."
"That's a dinosaur." Classic agreed. "Not normal?"
"Alagaësia does not have dinosaurs."
"...Great."

They both jolted at the rasp of a blade being drawn, Blue glancing worriedly at Eragon and seeing the boy recoil, following his gaze to Murtagh and Nasuada, the other having torn her tunic to reveal horrendous welts all over her skin. He started healing her, the relief on her face evident. Blue was startled at how strikingly similar they were to what had been on Arya when they had originally rescued her from Gil'ead.

Classic wisely fell silent, observing their reaction as GB slowly dipped down until his face was level with Blue's.
"He's dead." He mumbled.
"He's dead." Blue agreed. Footsteps nearby had them turning, blinking at the sight of Abyss coming closer, his scarves bouncing with each step as the threads- now ribbons- hanging from his clothes swayed and defied gravity. His lights were wide and knowing.
"The king's dead. All of you are free. Remember." He stated.

"What?" Was all Blue could question before a memory hit him like a train, stumbling back against GB as the other honked in bewilderment. A moment later Saphira surged to her feet, eyes wide and glittering with a profound joy.

It had vanished from their minds so easily, and now they remembered.
"The- Vault of Souls- GB, she has-" He stammered as the skeleblaster crooned loudly.
"I know, I know!"
There was a faint thundering, and GB leapt up at the sight of Draco emerging from the castle, followed by Arya and the other elven spellcasters, all a little banged up but alive.

The pair of skeletal dragons met with a loud clatter, humming.
GB, there are other eggs! Draco cried.
I know, I remember too! He replied, regarding Saphira. She trumpeted at them, a new life having returned to her. Blue then raced up to the elves, spotting Eragon throwing his arms around Blödhgarm. Behind the elves floated a trail of metal boxes, and Arya herself carried a small wooden chest in her arms, face radiant with joy.

"Is that it?" Blue whispered loudly, Eragon regarding the chest as well with wide eyes. Arya glanced about in mild suspicion before cracking open the container to reveal a hint of the egg beneath. It was a verdant green, marbled with white.

It was then that Eragon gestured to the others, waiting until they were close to whisper in the language of truths of the eggs still sequestered in the Vault of Souls. Their eyes gleamed with inexpressible delight.
Then three voices spoke at once.
Shit. GB swore.
Eragon! Saphira called.
"Where are Thorn and Murtagh?" Arya questioned, and the sound of wings echoed throughout the courtyard.

Not long after, Eragon had glanced through the saddlebags Murtagh had left behind and called the elves to them, rushing to Saphira with a brief glance at Blue. GB regarded him then, turning to look at Draco as well.
"Go." The largest of them huffed. "He was their friend once."

Blue clambered into the seat as GB long enough to nuzzle his beloved, then his wings spread and he teleported into the air, a great flap signifying that Saphira was also following.
As the pair followed the scent of Thorn, the Varden began to send up cheers below them, ecstatic to see them alive.

As they flew, the path angled towards the Ramr, the river enormous and wide. They followed it for a few miles until they were almost atop the river, wherein it dipped towards the ground.
There, they saw crimson at the base of a hill, to which they flew down.

GB was ahead as always, bounding somewhat downhill to evade Saphira's wings even as Blue worked himself out of the saddle. There sat Thorn, eyeing them as Murtagh casually adjusted his saddle.

Blue stopped where he stood, watching Murtagh fiddle around, not looking at them. Eragon soon joined him and he finally spoke.
"Have you come to stop us?"
"That depends." Eragon replied. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know." Murtagh admitted. "North, maybe… somewhere far away from other people."
"You could stay." The boy offered.
At that, Murtagh let out a sharp, humorless bark of a laugh.
"You know better than that. It would only cause Nasuada problems. Besides, the dwarves would never stand for it. Not after I killed Hrothgar."
Blue winced, but chose silence as Murtagh finally glanced at them- specifically Eragon.

"Galbatorix used to call me Kingkiller. You're Kingkiller as well now."
"It seems to run in the family."
"You'd better keep an eye on Roran, then…. And Arya is a dragonkiller. That can't be easy for her- an elf killing a dragon. You should talk to her and make sure she's all right."
"We will." Blue finally stepped forward, Murtagh no longer fiddling with the saddle but not facing them, either.

"I don't expect you to want to be around others at this time- or anytime soon, for that matter- but should you ever want to see something new, you can come visit us. You are always welcome, and I imagine wherever us monsters go, things are bound to get interesting." He smiled faintly.
Murtagh turned his head slightly towards them. "I'll take your word for it."

He then turned around, revealing Zar'roc to be unsheathed and held close to himself as he repeated. "So, again: have you come to stop us?"
"No." They both replied.
With a hard smile he sheathed the crimson blade.
"Good. I would hate to have to fight you again."

Eragon then asked. "How were you able to break free of Galbatorix? It was your true name, wasn't it?"
At that, he nodded. "As I said, I'm not… we're not what we once were." He rested a hand to his dragon's side. "It just took a while to realize it."
"And Nasuada."
Murtagh didn't reply, just frowned and gazed thoughtfully across the nettles that grew by the river. The water rushed on by, babbling and rumbling softly.

The other two stood by him, watching the leaves. Murtagh then murmured. "Do you remember the last time we were at this river?"
Blue huffed out a laugh as Eragon replied.
"It would be hard to forget. I can still hear the screams of the horses."
"The lot of us, all together and sure that nothing could stop us…."
"We've all changed so much in so short a time." Blue sighed, glancing back at GB as the three dragons softly conversed.

"What now?" Blue then asked. "Now that you are free." Murtagh shrugged. "We'll sit and think. Maybe I'll build a castle. I have the time."
"You don't have to leave." Eragon offered.
"I know it would be… difficult, but you have family here: me and also Roran. He's your cousin as well as mine, and you've never even met him…. You belong as much to Carvahall and Palancar Valley as you do to Urû-baen, maybe more."

Blue shook his skull at that, knowing better as Murtagh did the same.
"It wouldn't work. Thorn and I need time alone; we need time to heal. If we stay, we'd be too busy to figure things out for ourselves."
"Good company and staying busy are often the best cure for a sickness of the soul."
"Not for what Galbatorix did to us…. Besides, it would be painful to be around Nasuada right now, for both her and me. No, we have to leave."

"How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Until the world no longer seems quite so hateful and we no longer feel like tearing down mountains and filling the sea with blood."
At that, they fell silent, listening to the trees rustling in the breeze.

Eragon spoke.
"When you no longer wish to be alone, come find us. You'll always be welcome at our hearth, wherever that may be."
"We will. I promise." His eyes gleamed briefly before he regarded Eragon. "You know, I never thought you could do it… but I'm glad you did."
"I was lucky. And it wouldn't have been possible without your help."
"It was his wyrd." Blue added.

"Even so…. You found the Eldunarí in the saddlebags?"
Eragon nodded.
"Good."
In the silence, Eragon reached out to Blue, GB and Saphira.
Should we tell them? He asked, his intentions clear.
Of course! Blue lit up slightly as GB stared northward, mind on his own children.
Yes, but do not say where. Saphira advised. You tell him, we will tell Thorn.

"There's something you should know." Eragon promptly told Murtagh. The other half regarded him, intrigued.
"The egg that Galbatorix had- it isn't the only one in Alagaësia. There are more, hidden in the same place where we found the Eldunarí we brought with us."

At this, Murtagh faced him entirely, stricken. Thorn also arched his neck and bugled joyously, birds fleeing in fright.
"How many more?"
"Hundreds."
Murtagh was left speechless.

In his stunned silence, Blue spoke. "And they are not the only ones. GB and Draco have eggs waiting in Du Weldenvarden as well. 11 in total between the two of them, but Saphira too, has laid 7 of her own elsewhere. There's a new race of dragons upon us."
Finding his bearings, Murtagh asked.
"What will you do with them?"

"Me?" Eragon questioned before blinking.
"I think Saphira, GB, Draco and the Eldunarí will have some say in the matter, but probably find somewhere safe for the eggs to hatch, and start to rebuild the Riders."
"Will you five train them?"

Sharing a look between each other, both Eragon and Blue shrugged, the boy answering. "I'm sure the elves will help. You could as well, if you join us."
Blue frowned and shook his skull as Murtagh looked up at the sky and gave a long sigh.
"The dragons are going to return, and the Riders as well." With a weak laugh, he eyed a strange, fluttering fairy of sorts, drifting about in absent confusion above them. "The world is about to change."
"It already has." Blue pointed out, looking down to see what looked like a red fox with long legs like a deer and an owl's head and wings.

"Aye." Murtagh agreed softly. "So the five of you- or perhaps just you and Saphira- will become the new leaders of the Riders, while Thorn and I will live in the wilderness."
Eragon made to speak, but Murtagh shot him a look. "No, Blue has understood; it is as it should be. You five will make better teachers than we would."
"I'm not so sure of that." Eragon admitted.
"Mmh…"
"You won't be alone." Blue smiled faintly. "We are in this together."

Murtagh studied the pair thoughtfully, then with a dip of the chin and a grunt, he said.
"Promise me one thing, though."
"What?" They asked simultaneously.
"When you teach them- teach them not to fear. Fear is good in small amounts, but when it is a constant, pounding companion, it cuts away at who you are and makes it hard to do what you know is right."
"I'll try." Eragon promised. Blue nodded in agreement, and to their faint surprise they realized the dragons were no longer talking.

Thorn shifted around, regarding the pair of Riders before focusing on Eragon with his majestic carmine eyes.
Thank you for not killing my Rider, Eragon-Murtagh's-brother. He spoke in an enchanting, musical voice. Murtagh was much more dry with his response.
"Yes, thank you."

"I'm glad I didn't have to." Eragon nodded to the crimson dragon. Thorn snorted then, bending and brushing his scales against the boy's helm, copying it with Blue as well, oddly enough.
May the wind and sun always be at your back.
"And at yours." The human and skeleton Riders nodded.

With a trumpeting call, they all turned to see Draco gliding down behind them, vibrant yellowish wings backflapping as he landed atop the hill behind them. He rumbled softly as he nuzzled GB, then his lights turned to Murtagh and Thorn, shifting in hue as his mind touched theirs.
"Why have you come?" Murtagh questioned, hand on his sword.

Mind washing over the group, Draco spoke sadly.
Glaedr wanted to speak with you before you left. He explained, the weight of the great gold dragon sitting heavily in the back of his mind, sequestered in his inventory.
Murtagh tensed, as did Thorn before Glaedr addressed them flatly.
You killed my body and you killed my Rider.

Whatever the Rider said next, it was to Glaedr alone, Draco the only one able to hear.
No, I cannot. Glaedr replied. However, I understand that it was Galbatorix who drove you to it and that it was he who swung your arm, Murtagh…. I cannot forgive, but Galbatorix is dead and with him my desire for vengeance. Yours has always been a hard path, since each of you hatched. But today you showed that your misfortunes have not broken you. You turned against Galbatorix when it might have gained you only pain, and by it you allowed Eragon to kill him. Today you and Thorn proved yourselves worthy of being considered Shur'tugal in full, though you never had the proper instruction or guidance. That is… admirable.

Murtagh dipped his head, Thorn speaking.
Thank you, Ebrithil. The honorific startled Murtagh, the human hesitating while regarding his dragon before Umaroth spoke from the pseudo-inventory behind Saphira.

We know much of the difficulties you have faced, Thorn and Murtagh, for we have watched you from afar, even as we have watched Eragon and Saphira. There are many things we would teach you once you are ready, but until then, we will tell you this: in your wanderings, avoid the barrows of Anghelm, where the one and only Urgal king, Kulkarvek, lies in state. Avoid too the ruins of Vroengard and of El-harím. Beware the deeps, and tread not where the ground grows black and brittle and the air smells of brimstone, for in those places evil lurks. Do this and, unless you are greatly unfortunate, you shall not encounter danger beyond your ability to master.

Murtagh thanked him and Blue spoke.
"If I might add, now that the Multiverse is in Alagaësia, to avoid strangers that walk alone with few belongs, for they are rarely as they seem. Beware a stranger that does not fear a dragon, and should you find caves made of webs or deep pits by the rivers, do not approach them. That is not entirely for your safety, but that of the territorial creatures that make them."

As he said, if you find fields of nests or simply singular nests of great size, I would let them be. Draco nodded.
Do not trust flowers that speak or a monster without a Soul. GB added. And if a human's eyes glow red, be cautious.
"In fact, if they have more than one Soul, they are likely a danger." Blue finished. Thorn hummed, Murtagh nodding and glancing back towards Urû-baen. "We should be off."

With that, he regarded the group once more.
"Can you remember the name of the ancient language now, or is Galbatorix's magic still clouding your minds?"
Blue cringed, GB frowning as Draco blinked. Eragon spoke. "I can almost remember it, but…" He shook his head.
"I'm afraid not." Blue confirmed.

So he spoke it twice. Once to remove the effects of the spell, then again so that they could remember it.
"I wouldn't share it with anyone else." He warned. "If every magician knew the name of the ancient language, the language would be worse than useless." To that, they agreed.

Blue finally hugged him then, Murtagh standing awkward and stiff until the skeleton let him go, chuckling softly. He then looked at Eragon, holding out his hand until the boy clasped his forearm. They stared for a moment, staring before the younger spoke.
"Be careful."
"You too… Brother."
Pausing, Eragon slowly nodded. "Brother."

He then checked the straps one last time and climbed into Thorn's saddle, the red dragon lifting his wings before the Rider called again.
"See to it that Nasuada is well protected. Galbatorix had many servants, more than he ever told me about, and not all of them were bound to him by magic alone. They will seek revenge for the death of their master. Be on your guard at all times. There are those among them who are even more dangerous than the Ra'zac!"

He waved goodbye, the two Riders left behind also waving as Thorn leapt off the ground, gouging the earth as he began to circle. He looped overhead three times, then turned to fly northward.

The three dragons and two Riders climbed the hill then, watching the scarlet dragon fade into the distance until only a gleam of red was visible.

With a sense of loss and yet completion, they gathered themselves and returned to the battered capital.