The crowd could only sit and watch. They weren't allowed to interfere in this fight. Many of them abandoned the arena after seeing the mighty Rau defenseless, while the few that remained where highly considering it. Zayzu, Leo, and Suziet looked on in horror and shock. They had taken notice of Nala's building resentment of Rau. However, none of them could have fathomed just how intense it had become. They couldn't ignore it any longer. Not when she was on the verge of taking a life. Further breaking the most sacred vow she held herself too since the beginning of her existence. Zayzu stepped forward, "Nal- Hey!" He looked back. Leo had grabbed his tail and was yanking him away. "What the heck Leo!? She's-" Leo let go and shook his head slowly. "I know... I know... but we can't... No words of ours could reach her now.." They both looked back over, anxiously anticipating what was to come. Suziet gulped and leaned against Leo slightly, her mind plagued with anxiety. "Nala...."

Rau gagged for a second as Nala squeezed his throat harder. She growled and leaned in closer, parting her jaws. She wanted to kill him. To make him suffer, or at least pay for what he had done. If he were gone then this darkness would finally end....... Or would it? The thought hit like a falling stone and she hesitated. Nala glanced around at the fleeing crowd. All who remained running in fear and defeat. Then At her friends, taking notice of their expressions.. their concern, and anxiety. Then back at Rau, who for one in his life looked genuinely terrified, and it reminded her of something. It was exactly how she looked four years ago when the eclipse first started. When her powers were taken and she became defenseless. Nala finally realized what the darkness was truly doing to her, what it almost made her become, and she let go.

Rau gasped a bit as he fell forward, catching himself just before hitting the ground. Nala lowered her head and backed up, looking down. When Rau caught his breath he sat up and looked at her. "Why did you just let me go..? I took everything from you. You should have killed me.." He admitted. She answered him, her voice soft and quiet but still able to be heard. "Because... killing you wouldn't make me any better than you. I may already have your blood on my paws but I'm not going to take someone's life..... Not when there's something still worth saving.." She looked him in the eye, her expression matching her voice as she stepped closer. "Please.... Rau.. let's end this together." Nala held her paw out to him. "I promise, things will be different from now on. We don't have to fight for this world. It's not ours to take. I never had any claim over it to begin with. Neither of us did... You know that.."

Zayzu, Suziet, and Leo's eyes widened. They were relieved but still curious, slowly advancing towards them. Not wishing to disturb the conversation. Rau considered his options, glancing at Nala's paw. He looked up at her face and narrowed his eyes slightly. "How can you be so certain..? You know nothing of the hell I've lived through each day in this miserable world." Nala kept eye contact. "You're right. I don't, but I can at least try to help you. If you'll only let me. What more do you have to lose?" Rau hadn't noticed until then but every last one of his followers had abandoned him, even the two guards standing at the entrance were gone. All that were left was Nala and her friends. He glanced uncertainly at her paw once more. "How do I know I can trust you..?" Nala thought for a moment then gave him a gentle laugh. "I could ask the same question, yet I'm choosing to anyway." She smiled a tiny bit. "We've both changed a lot these last few years. Maybe now we can both change for the better."

Rau paused at her words, then slowly took her paw. Showing a very tiny, and extremely awkward smile. She helped him up and the two walked back to the center of the battle ground. Rau lifted his wings to the sky and closed his eyes. Little by little the sun started to reveal itself again, returning the stolen light back to the land. Nala's wings reappeared as her powers returned, and much to everyone's surprise Rau's wings actually remained after his power faded away and all the creatures of the world celebrated. The four year eclipse was finally over.

Zayzu ran over and tackled Nala in a hug. Suziet following right behind him. Leo shook his head, smiling a little, and walked over to join them. Rau used this opportunity to slip away into the shadows; not to go and seek revenge this time but simply because he didn't want to burden them any longer with his presence. Don't worry though, him and my mother would cross paths again soon. I should know. After all, and you may have figured this out already.. Rau is actually my father. Heh heh... but that's another story.