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annotate old/stories/prismhearts-end.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights

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[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'
author rlm
date Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500
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rlm@2 1 Prism Hearts
rlm@2 2
rlm@2 3 Epilogue
rlm@2 4
rlm@2 5 Simple and Clean
rlm@2 6
rlm@2 7 by Amazoness Duo
rlm@2 8
rlm@2 9 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2 10
rlm@2 11
rlm@2 12
rlm@2 13 'Every new beginning is some other beginning's end.'
rlm@2 14
rlm@2 15
rlm@2 16
rlm@2 17
rlm@2 18
rlm@2 19 At first, there was only darkness. It stretched out for an eternity,
rlm@2 20
rlm@2 21 a sea of blackness that knew no end. But slowly, ever so slowly, a
rlm@2 22
rlm@2 23 glimmer appeared. Then another. And another. Like stars shimmering in
rlm@2 24
rlm@2 25 the night sky, they appeared, delivering light unto the darkness.
rlm@2 26
rlm@2 27
rlm@2 28
rlm@2 29 “I told you she would save us,” Aerith said, smiling faintly as the
rlm@2 30
rlm@2 31 blackness began to take shape under the light.
rlm@2 32
rlm@2 33
rlm@2 34
rlm@2 35 “Perhaps,” Harle replied, the dragon god remaining in the form of
rlm@2 36
rlm@2 37 the female harlequin. “But she did envelop everything in darkness
rlm@2 38
rlm@2 39 before she did.”
rlm@2 40
rlm@2 41
rlm@2 42
rlm@2 43 “We will rebuild. Just as we did before. And this time, without the
rlm@2 44
rlm@2 45 Heartless.” The young blonde girl named Aya smiled at her twin
rlm@2 46
rlm@2 47 sister, Maya. Yes, Kairi had given them a second chance for this
rlm@2 48
rlm@2 49 world.
rlm@2 50
rlm@2 51
rlm@2 52
rlm@2 53 “But of course, you do realize that nothing is ever completely gone,
rlm@2 54
rlm@2 55 right?” Harle asked, raising an eyebrow. “Wherever zere is light,
rlm@2 56
rlm@2 57 zere is also darkness.”Aerith smiled, nodding. “And where there is
rlm@2 58
rlm@2 59 darkness, there will always be light. Perhaps they're inseperable.
rlm@2 60
rlm@2 61 Like life, death, and rebirth. Now, the worlds can all be reborn.”
rlm@2 62
rlm@2 63 “If you'll please hurry, that would be appreciated. I hate having to
rlm@2 64
rlm@2 65 ferry the dead back to the land of the living,” Sophie says softly,
rlm@2 66
rlm@2 67 angel wings seemingly holding her aloft in the darkness.
rlm@2 68
rlm@2 69
rlm@2 70
rlm@2 71 “All good things take time, Sophie. But it won't be much longer
rlm@2 72
rlm@2 73 now,” Aerith promises.And around them, the worlds slowly begin to
rlm@2 74
rlm@2 75 take shape once more.
rlm@2 76
rlm@2 77
rlm@2 78
rlm@2 79 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 80
rlm@2 81
rlm@2 82
rlm@2 83 Dear diary,
rlm@2 84
rlm@2 85
rlm@2 86
rlm@2 87 Everything seems fine here on the Destiny Islands. I'm sitting on
rlm@2 88
rlm@2 89 the pier with my feet in the beautiful aquamarine water. It's so nice
rlm@2 90
rlm@2 91 and warm. Quisty and Seifer are playing Triple Triad again behind me.
rlm@2 92
rlm@2 93 I'm so tempted to scoop up some water and splash Quisty. It'd be fun!
rlm@2 94
rlm@2 95 But I'm not sure if she'd think so. She concentrates too hard when
rlm@2 96
rlm@2 97 playing games. Which is why I have so much fun trying to distract
rlm@2 98
rlm@2 99 her! She's sitting behind me, so I'm resting my back against her as I
rlm@2 100
rlm@2 101 write this. She's so cuddly.
rlm@2 102
rlm@2 103
rlm@2 104
rlm@2 105 Anyway, no one really knows what happened at the Heart of the
rlm@2 106
rlm@2 107 Universe. Everything went black and that's the last thing anyone
rlm@2 108
rlm@2 109 remembers. After that, we all kinda woke up back home. The Destiny
rlm@2 110
rlm@2 111 Islands are beautiful again. No weird holes, no scary, ominous skies.
rlm@2 112
rlm@2 113 THe ocean's beautiful and warm again. It's like nothing ever
rlm@2 114
rlm@2 115 happened. We looked for the door that led to the End of the World,
rlm@2 116
rlm@2 117 but it was gone. It's almost like it was all just a dream.
rlm@2 118
rlm@2 119
rlm@2 120
rlm@2 121 Elder Seymour stepped down from his place as the highest elder. I
rlm@2 122
rlm@2 123 said we should nominate Quisty, but she said she was too young for
rlm@2 124
rlm@2 125 the position. Wouldn't it be great if Quisty could be the elder of
rlm@2 126
rlm@2 127 the Destiny Islands? She's all cute and serious! She'd be the perfect
rlm@2 128
rlm@2 129 new leader for the islands. All of the children listen to her. Well,
rlm@2 130
rlm@2 131 except for Seifer. But he just doesn't listen to her because he has
rlm@2 132
rlm@2 133 fun riling her up.
rlm@2 134
rlm@2 135
rlm@2 136
rlm@2 137 Tidus is back! He says he doesn't remember anything after Sin got
rlm@2 138
rlm@2 139 him, though. Which is probably better. I wouldn't even want to
rlm@2 140
rlm@2 141 remember Sin getting me if it was my choice! Poor guy. But you know
rlm@2 142
rlm@2 143 Tidus. Nothing can keep him down. He's already back to playing that
rlm@2 144
rlm@2 145 water soccer game thing he made up with Wakka.
rlm@2 146
rlm@2 147
rlm@2 148
rlm@2 149 Yuna's doing better. She felt awful for the longest time, but we've
rlm@2 150
rlm@2 151 all been trying to cheer her up. We're trying to let her know that
rlm@2 152
rlm@2 153 none of us blame her for what happened. I probably would've done the
rlm@2 154
rlm@2 155 same thing if something had happened to Quisty! I think that catgirl
rlm@2 156
rlm@2 157 Yuna and I found, Rikku, has been helping Yuna a lot. Only she's not
rlm@2 158
rlm@2 159 a cat anymore. How sad! She made such a cute kitty! But she's been
rlm@2 160
rlm@2 161 there with Yuna the whole time. Yuna smiles a lot around her, so that
rlm@2 162
rlm@2 163 makes me happy. Rikku asked Yuna to come travel the different worlds
rlm@2 164
rlm@2 165 with her. Isn't that romantic? I wonder what Yuna will say.
rlm@2 166
rlm@2 167
rlm@2 168
rlm@2 169 No one knows what happened to Kairi, Riku, and Sora. We haven't seen
rlm@2 170
rlm@2 171 any of them since Kairi ran off to the Heart of the Universe. I hope
rlm@2 172
rlm@2 173 they're okay. They have to be, right? They are. I know they are.
rlm@2 174
rlm@2 175 They've made it through all sorts of things. A little thing like the
rlm@2 176
rlm@2 177 collapse of the universe wouldn't stop them. They're out there,
rlm@2 178
rlm@2 179 somewhere. And we'll all be here waiting for when they come
rlm@2 180
rlm@2 181 back.Well, I better get back to distracting Quisty. Good luck out
rlm@2 182
rlm@2 183 there, everybody. Booyaka!Selphie
rlm@2 184
rlm@2 185
rlm@2 186
rlm@2 187 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 188
rlm@2 189
rlm@2 190
rlm@2 191 Leaning back against her blonde lover, Selphie gazed up at the
rlm@2 192
rlm@2 193 clouds. They floated lazily above their islands, enjoying the
rlm@2 194
rlm@2 195 beautiful weather. They were reassuring, almost like whispers that
rlm@2 196
rlm@2 197 everything was finally all right. That feeling was reinforced by the
rlm@2 198
rlm@2 199 sensation of Quistis's pink dress rustling against her back. Knowing
rlm@2 200
rlm@2 201 the blonde was nearby always lifted Selphie's already high spirits.
rlm@2 202
rlm@2 203 “It's so pretty... Quisty! Look! It looks just like a paopu fruit!”
rlm@2 204
rlm@2 205 The brunette pointed up at the heavens, gazing at a cloud that
rlm@2 206
rlm@2 207 resembled her favorite romantic fruit.Turning, Quistis adjusted her
rlm@2 208
rlm@2 209 glasses. She smiled faintly, nodding. The vaguely star shaped cloud
rlm@2 210
rlm@2 211 wouldn't have immediately made her think of a fruit from the island,
rlm@2 212
rlm@2 213 but she found it cute the way Selphie's mind worked. The other girl
rlm@2 214
rlm@2 215 was such a romantic. “It is, isn't it?” “And I believe you lose
rlm@2 216
rlm@2 217 again, Miss Trepe,” Seifer interrupted, smirking. No matter how often
rlm@2 218
rlm@2 219 Quistis told him to stop calling her that, he insisted upon it. She
rlm@2 220
rlm@2 221 was the most mature person he knew on the Islands and he liked the
rlm@2 222
rlm@2 223 way it ruffled her feathers. Quistis was probably his best friend.
rlm@2 224
rlm@2 225 Where was the fun in that if he couldn't tease her now and again?
rlm@2 226
rlm@2 227
rlm@2 228
rlm@2 229 Quistis turned quickly, blonde hair swishing over Selphie's head.
rlm@2 230
rlm@2 231 “What?” Quistis frowned. “Seifer, let me see those cards. You're
rlm@2 232
rlm@2 233 cheating, aren't you?” That was the third time he'd beaten her today.
rlm@2 234
rlm@2 235 It was usually more give and take. Laughing, Seifer gathered up his
rlm@2 236
rlm@2 237 cards. “I'm wounded, Miss Trepe. You know cheating isn't my style.
rlm@2 238
rlm@2 239 But I do always cherish the chance to mop the floor with my favorite
rlm@2 240
rlm@2 241 tutor.”He raised a blond eyebrow. “Another game, perhaps.”Sighing,
rlm@2 242
rlm@2 243 Quistis nodded. “Of course.” This was their ritual, wasn't it?
rlm@2 244
rlm@2 245 Playing this game for hours, winning by such slim margins. But always
rlm@2 246
rlm@2 247 just so they could all play together. And of course, she had a
rlm@2 248
rlm@2 249 constant disadvantage. “But it isn't fair with Selphie trying to
rlm@2 250
rlm@2 251 distract me.” Selphie's fingers were currently in the bottom of her
rlm@2 252
rlm@2 253 sandals, tickling the undersides of her feet.Seifer simply grinned.
rlm@2 254
rlm@2 255 “That's why she's your girlfriend and not mine.”
rlm@2 256
rlm@2 257
rlm@2 258
rlm@2 259 “But you're so much fun to distract!” Selphie squealed, turning to
rlm@2 260
rlm@2 261 hug Quistis tightly from behind.Quistis sighed overdramatically as
rlm@2 262
rlm@2 263 Selphie began kissing her cheeks, but Seifer could see her smiling.
rlm@2 264
rlm@2 265 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 266
rlm@2 267
rlm@2 268
rlm@2 269 Waves crashed inches away from a small brunette girl gazing out to
rlm@2 270
rlm@2 271 sea. Her thoughts were muddled. She still felt guilty about the part
rlm@2 272
rlm@2 273 she had played in the recent chaos. She had let her fear of life
rlm@2 274
rlm@2 275 compell her into sending everything into the world of death. They had
rlm@2 276
rlm@2 277 every reason to hate her for that. But they didn't. And the one girl
rlm@2 278
rlm@2 279 she had betrayed the most had even followed her into that world of
rlm@2 280
rlm@2 281 death. “And now she wants me to go with her,” Yuna whispered to
rlm@2 282
rlm@2 283 herself.
rlm@2 284
rlm@2 285
rlm@2 286
rlm@2 287 Should she go? Should she travel that infinitely vast universe by
rlm@2 288
rlm@2 289 Rikku's side? It was exciting, but it was also terrifying. She had
rlm@2 290
rlm@2 291 never been away from the Destiny Islands before. What might be out
rlm@2 292
rlm@2 293 there? Boundless possibilities. Her stomach rolled in anxiety. Rikku
rlm@2 294
rlm@2 295 would be leaving soon. What would she say? It would be a fresh start,
rlm@2 296
rlm@2 297 a chance to see all the many worlds untold secrets. And by the side
rlm@2 298
rlm@2 299 of the girl she loved no less, a girl who had sacrificed her life for
rlm@2 300
rlm@2 301 her. It would be a chance to get away from her pain and fears, to try
rlm@2 302
rlm@2 303 to discover the joys of living. Was it worth the risk?
rlm@2 304
rlm@2 305 “Yunie?” Rikku broke into the brunette's thoughts. She wrung her
rlm@2 306
rlm@2 307 hands as she stood in front of her. Would Yuna agree? Her heart was
rlm@2 308
rlm@2 309 all over the place. She didn't want to leave without the beautiful
rlm@2 310
rlm@2 311 brunette. What if she wanted to stay? What if she was too afraid to
rlm@2 312
rlm@2 313 leave? Yuna looked up at her, her blue and green eyes almost flashing
rlm@2 314
rlm@2 315 in the sunlight. “Please, Yunie, come with me. I don't want to go
rlm@2 316
rlm@2 317 without you. I... I love you!” The blonde dropped down next to Yuna
rlm@2 318
rlm@2 319 on the sand, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I finally found you, the
rlm@2 320
rlm@2 321 treasure I've been looking for all my life. I want to show you
rlm@2 322
rlm@2 323 everything. I want to see everything with you.” She clasps Yuna's
rlm@2 324
rlm@2 325 hand tightly to her chest, pleading with her swirling emerald eyes.
rlm@2 326
rlm@2 327 “All the beautiful things the worlds hold, we can see them all.
rlm@2 328
rlm@2 329 Please, Yunie. I just want to be with you for it all.” Yuna smiled,
rlm@2 330
rlm@2 331 blinking back tears as she gazed back at Rikku. Her hand cupped
rlm@2 332
rlm@2 333 Rikku's cheek. “Rikku... Of course I'll go with you. I... I want that
rlm@2 334
rlm@2 335 to. To see everything... with you.” Leaning forward, the brunette
rlm@2 336
rlm@2 337 lightly kissed the blonde. It was strange now that Rikku wasn't a
rlm@2 338
rlm@2 339 catgirl. She was used to the scratchy tongue against hers. But this,
rlm@2 340
rlm@2 341 she admitted, was very, very nice as well. Rikku nearly pounced on
rlm@2 342
rlm@2 343 the petite girl in her joy. Her arms wrapped tightly around Yuna as
rlm@2 344
rlm@2 345 they fell back onto the sand, kissing. She kissed Yuna as deeply as
rlm@2 346
rlm@2 347 she could, her heart aching for the girl in her arms. Each kiss was a
rlm@2 348
rlm@2 349 tiny 'thank you' to the brunette. She was coming with! They would be
rlm@2 350
rlm@2 351 together. All across the universe.
rlm@2 352
rlm@2 353
rlm@2 354
rlm@2 355 The tears rolling down Yuna's cheeks felt wonderfully freeing. She
rlm@2 356
rlm@2 357 was happy. She was going to be with Rikku. No matter what. From now
rlm@2 358
rlm@2 359 on. Her heart soared. Her hands stroked up and down Rikku's back as
rlm@2 360
rlm@2 361 they kissed. Though she was a bit embarrassed about the way Rikku was
rlm@2 362
rlm@2 363 kissing her so deeply right out in the open, she wouldn't trade it
rlm@2 364
rlm@2 365 for anything in the world. Let her embarrassment come. She could deal
rlm@2 366
rlm@2 367 with it. She kissed back as best she could. 'Oh, Rikku...' she
rlm@2 368
rlm@2 369 thought dreamily. Though still anxious about where this journey may
rlm@2 370
rlm@2 371 lead, she knew her blonde ex-catgirl would be there to see it through
rlm@2 372
rlm@2 373 with her. And that was all that mattered to her. “Yunie...” Rikku
rlm@2 374
rlm@2 375 said between kisses, trying to calm herself down enough to finally
rlm@2 376
rlm@2 377 pull away. But for once, Yuna's hands would let her go. Yuna held her
rlm@2 378
rlm@2 379 close, kissing back again and again. Rikku giggled, kissing deeply
rlm@2 380
rlm@2 381 again. “Yunie, they're here,” she got out at last. The sound of the
rlm@2 382
rlm@2 383 gummi ship landing finally caught the brunette's attention. Yuna
rlm@2 384
rlm@2 385 blushed cutely and slowly let go of Rikku's waist. The thief helped
rlm@2 386
rlm@2 387 Yuna to her feet, watching the gummi ship come to a halt.
rlm@2 388
rlm@2 389
rlm@2 390
rlm@2 391 As the doors slid open, a brunette ninja came into view. Yuffie
rlm@2 392
rlm@2 393 gazed out onto the beach, her heart stopping for a moment. Her little
rlm@2 394
rlm@2 395 sister smiled at her on the beach, vibrant and alive. Alive. Kairi
rlm@2 396
rlm@2 397 had done it. She'd fixed things, after all. “Thank you, Kairi,”
rlm@2 398
rlm@2 399 Yuffie whispered. Tears burned at her eyes, but she tried desperately
rlm@2 400
rlm@2 401 to force them back. She was the greatest ninja ever, damnit. Ninja's
rlm@2 402
rlm@2 403 don't cry. Seeing the indecision in Yuffie's eyes, Relm, brushed her
rlm@2 404
rlm@2 405 knuckles over the ninja's cheek soothingly. “Go see her, Yuffie.
rlm@2 406
rlm@2 407 She's missed you.”Yuffie didn't need anymore prodding. She ran out to
rlm@2 408
rlm@2 409 meet her sister, gripping her tightly in a hug. “Rikku!” When Yuffie
rlm@2 410
rlm@2 411 had seen Ansem cut her sister down, she had thought she'd never see
rlm@2 412
rlm@2 413 Rikku again. Now, Rikku was in her arms and she was afraid of letting
rlm@2 414
rlm@2 415 her go. What if she disappeared? What if it was just a dream? No...
rlm@2 416
rlm@2 417 It was over. Her sister was back. She slowly stepped back, putting a
rlm@2 418
rlm@2 419 goofy grin on to hide her tear stained eyes. “You aren't a cat
rlm@2 420
rlm@2 421 anymore.” A stupid thing to say, but the best she could get
rlm@2 422
rlm@2 423 out.Laughing, Rikku nodded. “Nope. Not anymore.” She smiled back at
rlm@2 424
rlm@2 425 Yuffie. Her big sister had tried so hard for her. That was so sweet.
rlm@2 426
rlm@2 427 It was so nice just knowing Yuffie cared. “It's good to see you, too,
rlm@2 428
rlm@2 429 Yuffie.”Shaking her head, Yuffie can only smile. The pieces were all
rlm@2 430
rlm@2 431 falling into place. They had done it. They'd saved the universe. And
rlm@2 432
rlm@2 433 these small things, being with her sister again, it all made it
rlm@2 434
rlm@2 435 worthwhile. 'Kairi, wherever you are, we did it. We won.' She was
rlm@2 436
rlm@2 437 glad for her journey with the Keyblade Mistress. It had led her to
rlm@2 438
rlm@2 439 the girl she loved. It helped her find her sister again. It had fixed
rlm@2 440
rlm@2 441 their wounded worlds. She only hoped she could see the princess again
rlm@2 442
rlm@2 443 someday. They were a team, Kairi, Relm, and herself. She felt that
rlm@2 444
rlm@2 445 something was missing without the princess. “Yunie's coming with us!”
rlm@2 446
rlm@2 447 Rikku said excitedly. Taking Yuna's hand, she pulled the brunette
rlm@2 448
rlm@2 449 closer, smiling brightly. Yuna blushed faintly and nodded. Laughing,
rlm@2 450
rlm@2 451 Yuffie nodded. “Is she joining the Radical Dreamers? Relm's coming
rlm@2 452
rlm@2 453 with us, too. She's going to paint the backgrounds for out
rlm@2 454
rlm@2 455 performances. People will be so dazzled that they'll practically be
rlm@2 456
rlm@2 457 asking to give us their gil.” The ninja winked smugly. “Yunie could
rlm@2 458
rlm@2 459 dance! That would be great! We could fit her into our performances!”
rlm@2 460
rlm@2 461 Rikku hopped from foot to foot. Having seen Yuna dance, she knew
rlm@2 462
rlm@2 463 plenty of other people would love to see her perform. And with their
rlm@2 464
rlm@2 465 travelling troupe of actors/thieves, it would work perfectly.
rlm@2 466
rlm@2 467 “They'll be enchanted!”“Wait!” Yuna blushed and shook her head.
rlm@2 468
rlm@2 469 Performing? In front of people? She didn't know they'd be doing that.
rlm@2 470
rlm@2 471
rlm@2 472
rlm@2 473 “It'll be great, Yunie!” Rikku assured her, squeezing the other
rlm@2 474
rlm@2 475 girl's hand, already picturing Yuna dancing in front of packed
rlm@2 476
rlm@2 477 crowds. “How cute!”Relm laughed, wrapping her arms around Yuffie's
rlm@2 478
rlm@2 479 right arm. “Looks like we'll be able to put on some interesting
rlm@2 480
rlm@2 481 performances.” She nuzzles the other girl's ear, whispering. “But my
rlm@2 482
rlm@2 483 favorite performances are the onces you give when we're alone.” She
rlm@2 484
rlm@2 485 delighted at the blush that crossed her sarcastic ninja's face.
rlm@2 486
rlm@2 487 Giggling, she kissed the other girl's cheek. She now had something to
rlm@2 488
rlm@2 489 focus her considerable painting skills on. And she got to travel with
rlm@2 490
rlm@2 491 her beautiful ninja. Granted, it was so they could steal from all
rlm@2 492
rlm@2 493 sorts of places, but she could live with that. It was pretty easy for
rlm@2 494
rlm@2 495 her to accept that Yuffie was a thief. As long as she was her thief.
rlm@2 496
rlm@2 497 “Are ya'll comin' or not?” Cid called out, irritated. “Buncha kids.
rlm@2 498
rlm@2 499 We got places to go.”“We're coming, old man!” Yuffie yelled back. “I
rlm@2 500
rlm@2 501 knew I should have taken the ship myself.” The ninja shrugged. “Well,
rlm@2 502
rlm@2 503 we all ready?”“Yep!” Rikku smiled, turning to Yuna.
rlm@2 504
rlm@2 505
rlm@2 506
rlm@2 507 Yuna nodded slowly, smiling. “Let's go.” The group of girls made
rlm@2 508
rlm@2 509 their way to the gummi ship. Relm paused at the entrance. She thought
rlm@2 510
rlm@2 511 she heard something. She turned, looking out at the beach. It felt
rlm@2 512
rlm@2 513 familiar.“Relm? You okay?” Yuffie asked curiously. Relm looked deep
rlm@2 514
rlm@2 515 in concentration. “What's takin' ya'll so long?” Cid called
rlm@2 516
rlm@2 517 down.Yuffie slammed her hand into the wall near her, trying to get
rlm@2 518
rlm@2 519 Cid's attention. “Hold on a minute!” She turned back to watch Relm.
rlm@2 520
rlm@2 521 There it was again. Distant, but unmistakable. Relm stepped away from
rlm@2 522
rlm@2 523 the entrance, glancing around rapidly. Where was it coming from? It
rlm@2 524
rlm@2 525 had to be real, right? It couldn't just be her imagination. And
rlm@2 526
rlm@2 527 again. A bark. And this time she saw its owner racing towards her.
rlm@2 528
rlm@2 529 “Interceptor!” she cried out, elation running throughout her as the
rlm@2 530
rlm@2 531 dog her father had left to protect her pounced into her waiting arms.
rlm@2 532
rlm@2 533 He was alive! Her best friend was alive. She'd known him since he was
rlm@2 534
rlm@2 535 a puppy. They'd always been together. And he was back again.
rlm@2 536
rlm@2 537 Interceptor licked at her cheek as she giggled, holding him close.
rlm@2 538
rlm@2 539 Their journey had been long and hard. But it had been worth it.
rlm@2 540
rlm@2 541 Resting her hand on Relm's shoulder, Yuffie smiled. “Come on. Cid's
rlm@2 542
rlm@2 543 getting cranky again. Let's get out of here.” Relm nodded, letting go
rlm@2 544
rlm@2 545 of Interceptor. Her dog, loyal as ever, stayed near her, afraid she
rlm@2 546
rlm@2 547 would be whisked away from him again. She followed Yuffie into the
rlm@2 548
rlm@2 549 ship, taking the ninja's warm hand.
rlm@2 550
rlm@2 551
rlm@2 552
rlm@2 553 Yuffie shook her head, but smiled faintly. “Fine, but he's not
rlm@2 554
rlm@2 555 sleeping in our room.”Yuna hurried to the window with Rikku. Yelling
rlm@2 556
rlm@2 557 and cheering arose from the island below. The brunette smiled as she
rlm@2 558
rlm@2 559 saw all of her friends waving goodbye to her. Tidus and Wakka had
rlm@2 560
rlm@2 561 written 'Goodbye, Yuna' in the sand. Lulu was casting magic in the
rlm@2 562
rlm@2 563 air like fireworks. The others waved as she lifted away. “See, Yunie?
rlm@2 564
rlm@2 565 They could never hate you,” Rikku said, hugging Yuna from behind.Yuna
rlm@2 566
rlm@2 567 watched her friends through her tears, still smiling. “Yes, I guess
rlm@2 568
rlm@2 569 you're right....” She placed her hand on the glass. She was happy to
rlm@2 570
rlm@2 571 know they still cared about her.
rlm@2 572
rlm@2 573
rlm@2 574
rlm@2 575 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 576
rlm@2 577
rlm@2 578
rlm@2 579 “Arise, Queen Garnet.”Garnet stood up, cheers erupting around her.
rlm@2 580
rlm@2 581 Beatrix smiled at her, nodding. She gazed out at all the people. She
rlm@2 582
rlm@2 583 was now their queen. It wasn't something she had been expecting. But
rlm@2 584
rlm@2 585 her mother had insisted, stepping down from the position. All she
rlm@2 586
rlm@2 587 knew was that she would try her best for the people of Alexandria.
rlm@2 588
rlm@2 589 “Thank you. Everyone.” A flash of purple brought a smile to her lips.
rlm@2 590
rlm@2 591 At least she wouldn't be alone. She turned her attention to Eiko. The
rlm@2 592
rlm@2 593 younger girl smiled brightly at her, urging her on. The summoner girl
rlm@2 594
rlm@2 595 had declined going back home, choosing instead to stay in Alexandria
rlm@2 596
rlm@2 597 with Garnet. And Eiko's support bolstered Garnet. She could do it.
rlm@2 598
rlm@2 599 Alexandria needed her. She stepped forward to accept the throne.
rlm@2 600
rlm@2 601 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 602
rlm@2 603
rlm@2 604
rlm@2 605 They stood side by side on the rooftop bridge spanning the ice-laden
rlm@2 606
rlm@2 607 cliffs above the town, watching the snow fall peacefully around.
rlm@2 608
rlm@2 609
rlm@2 610
rlm@2 611 “It’s so beautiful,” Terra said softly, looking out with wonder. “I
rlm@2 612
rlm@2 613 don’t remember it ever being this beautiful here.”
rlm@2 614
rlm@2 615
rlm@2 616
rlm@2 617 “It probably hasn’t,” the other Magitek Knight nodded. “This is the
rlm@2 618
rlm@2 619 first we’ve been without the Heartless. Even the factions against
rlm@2 620
rlm@2 621 the Empire have died down for now. Personally, I’m glad for a little
rlm@2 622
rlm@2 623 peace and quiet. Might even have time to make a home here instead of
rlm@2 624
rlm@2 625 wandering.”
rlm@2 626
rlm@2 627
rlm@2 628
rlm@2 629 They fell silent for a moment, content with simply enjoying the
rlm@2 630
rlm@2 631 natural splendor that presented itself.
rlm@2 632
rlm@2 633
rlm@2 634
rlm@2 635 ‘I’m so glad Kairi could set things to rights,’ the green-haired
rlm@2 636
rlm@2 637 woman thought. ‘Otherwise none of this…none of us would be here.
rlm@2 638
rlm@2 639 Even Kefka’s doing well, serving the Emperor again. And we…we can
rlm@2 640
rlm@2 641 finally be free….’ She leaned closer to Celes and intertwined their
rlm@2 642
rlm@2 643 fingers. “Can you ever forgive me?”
rlm@2 644
rlm@2 645
rlm@2 646
rlm@2 647 “There’s nothing to forgive,” the blonde smiled softly, reaching
rlm@2 648
rlm@2 649 over and placing an arm around Terra’s waist. “Nothing at all.”
rlm@2 650
rlm@2 651
rlm@2 652
rlm@2 653 Terra smiled back gratefully and rested her head against Celes’
rlm@2 654
rlm@2 655 shoulder, the snow dancing light-heartedly through the skies.
rlm@2 656
rlm@2 657
rlm@2 658
rlm@2 659 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 660
rlm@2 661
rlm@2 662
rlm@2 663 “Kid! Did you catch dinner yet?” Leena asked, stepping out onto the
rlm@2 664
rlm@2 665 docks of Arni. She spotted the pretty blonde struggling with a
rlm@2 666
rlm@2 667 fishing line.“Dang blasted thing won't work! I'm a thief, not a
rlm@2 668
rlm@2 669 fisherman,” Kid growled. Taking the line from Kid's hands, Leena
rlm@2 670
rlm@2 671 reeled the fish in. Smiling, she kissed the other girl's cheek,
rlm@2 672
rlm@2 673 handing the fish to her. “Go wash up. I'll start dinner.”Kid merely
rlm@2 674
rlm@2 675 blinked in stunned silence. Was there anything the redhead couldn't
rlm@2 676
rlm@2 677 do. “Err... Yes, dear.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 678
rlm@2 679
rlm@2 680
rlm@2 681 “It seems like almost everyone has returned except the princess,”
rlm@2 682
rlm@2 683 Rinoa stated, sitting around the grand library of Hollow Bastion with
rlm@2 684
rlm@2 685 Squall, Aerith, and the Turks. “And Cloud,” Squall added. Rinoa
rlm@2 686
rlm@2 687 nudged him hard in the side. She'd intentionally not mentioned him so
rlm@2 688
rlm@2 689 as not to worry Aerith. Aeirth smiled softly. “Cloud will come back
rlm@2 690
rlm@2 691 to me. He always does. It's only a matter of time.” And time was
rlm@2 692
rlm@2 693 something she had plenty of. She would wait as long as it took for
rlm@2 694
rlm@2 695 him to find his way back to her. Just as Kairi had Sora and Riku, she
rlm@2 696
rlm@2 697 had Cloud. And just as surely, she knew he would return to her.
rlm@2 698
rlm@2 699
rlm@2 700
rlm@2 701 “But what do we do without the Princess?” Reno asked leaning against
rlm@2 702
rlm@2 703 a bookshelf. “Should we just wait for her?” Elena nibbled on her
rlm@2 704
rlm@2 705 lower lip. “That's assuming she is coming back,” Vincent pointed out.
rlm@2 706
rlm@2 707
rlm@2 708
rlm@2 709 “But if she's not, what can we do?” Elena shot back.
rlm@2 710
rlm@2 711
rlm@2 712
rlm@2 713 “We do what we can. We rebuild. We try to make Hollow Bastion as
rlm@2 714
rlm@2 715 beautiful and as wonderful as we can make it. It's what Princess
rlm@2 716
rlm@2 717 Hikari would have wanted.” Aerith stands up. “It's all we can do for
rlm@2 718
rlm@2 719 her. But I know it will make her happy.” 'We'll protect your dreams,
rlm@2 720
rlm@2 721 Kairi. Forever. It's the least we can do for your sacrifice. And if
rlm@2 722
rlm@2 723 you can ever find a way back, I'll make sure Hollow Bastion is
rlm@2 724
rlm@2 725 waiting for you.'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 726
rlm@2 727
rlm@2 728
rlm@2 729 “You're sure you haven't seen her? She looks a lot like me, but with
rlm@2 730
rlm@2 731 shorter hair,” an auburn haired girl asked, standing beside a
rlm@2 732
rlm@2 733 brunette boy around the same age. The two waited eagerly for the
rlm@2 734
rlm@2 735 reply.The blonde girl shook her head slowly. “I'm sorry. I don't
rlm@2 736
rlm@2 737 think I have.” Turning she looked over her shoulder. “Kumiko! Come
rlm@2 738
rlm@2 739 here.”
rlm@2 740
rlm@2 741
rlm@2 742
rlm@2 743 A girl with long, braided brunette hair came up to the small group.
rlm@2 744
rlm@2 745 “Yes, Megumi-chan?”Megumi pointed back to the auburn haired girl.
rlm@2 746
rlm@2 747 “Have you ever seen someone who looks like her? With shorter
rlm@2 748
rlm@2 749 hair?”Shaking her head apologetically, Kumiko looked at the girl.
rlm@2 750
rlm@2 751 “No, I haven't.”“That's okay. Thanks for your help,” the brunette boy
rlm@2 752
rlm@2 753 smiled before walking off with the auburn haired girl. “So she isn't
rlm@2 754
rlm@2 755 here, either.”
rlm@2 756
rlm@2 757 “It's okay. I didn't think she would be,” the girl replied, brushing
rlm@2 758
rlm@2 759 some hair from her eyes. “But she's out there. I can feel it. She's
rlm@2 760
rlm@2 761 waiting for us.”“Then let's not keep her waiting.” The boy looked
rlm@2 762
rlm@2 763 down at the girl, grinning. “It's so weird not that you're smaller
rlm@2 764
rlm@2 765 than me, Riku.”“Don't start that, Sora. You know I can still send you
rlm@2 766
rlm@2 767 away limping just like always,” Riku said, a smile splaying across
rlm@2 768
rlm@2 769 her mouth. This body was Kairi's gift to Riku. With his body
rlm@2 770
rlm@2 771 destroyed, his soul would have returned to the Lifestream, but she
rlm@2 772
rlm@2 773 had left her body for him. It was taking a while to get used to it,
rlm@2 774
rlm@2 775 though. He had let the hair grow out longer and wore a different
rlm@2 776
rlm@2 777 style from Kairi, but the fact that it was female still threw him for
rlm@2 778
rlm@2 779 a loop now and then.
rlm@2 780
rlm@2 781
rlm@2 782
rlm@2 783 The two had travelled across so many worlds since the universe had
rlm@2 784
rlm@2 785 been reborn. And they would continue travelling until they finally
rlm@2 786
rlm@2 787 found Kairi. That was their mission, to find the girl they both
rlm@2 788
rlm@2 789 loved. No matter where it took them. And they wouldn't stop until
rlm@2 790
rlm@2 791 they were with her again.“The next world?” Sora asked, pulling up his
rlm@2 792
rlm@2 793 Keyblade.Riku nodded. “Maybe we'll have better luck on this one.”
rlm@2 794
rlm@2 795 'Just wait a little longer for us, Kairi. We're
rlm@2 796
rlm@2 797 coming.'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 798
rlm@2 799
rlm@2 800
rlm@2 801 My wrists ache. I tug weakly at the bandages that cover my wrists.
rlm@2 802
rlm@2 803 They remind me of the wristbands I wore as part of my outfit back on
rlm@2 804
rlm@2 805 the Destiny Islands. But those weren't tinted red. Owwwww....“Hikari,
rlm@2 806
rlm@2 807 don't play with those. You'll just make it worse,” mom says worriedly
rlm@2 808
rlm@2 809 as she sets down a tray with some noodles.
rlm@2 810
rlm@2 811
rlm@2 812
rlm@2 813 I stop plucking at them and look better at her. I still feel guilty
rlm@2 814
rlm@2 815 about almost leaving her all alone. But she's been as sweet and
rlm@2 816
rlm@2 817 supportive as ever. “Thanks, mom,” I whisper. She smiles back and I
rlm@2 818
rlm@2 819 feel a little more at ease. She doesn't blame me, at least. That
rlm@2 820
rlm@2 821 makes it a little easier.
rlm@2 822
rlm@2 823
rlm@2 824
rlm@2 825 “If you need anything, I'll be in the other room, sweetie.” Mom
rlm@2 826
rlm@2 827 waves as she exits the room.
rlm@2 828
rlm@2 829
rlm@2 830
rlm@2 831 I slump back in my bed, stuffed characters falling in every
rlm@2 832
rlm@2 833 direction. It try not to look, knowing Riku's doll is lying just at
rlm@2 834
rlm@2 835 the corner of my eye. Damn. I can't help it. My eyes shoot to it and
rlm@2 836
rlm@2 837 my heart plummets just like I knew it would. It's been a few weeks,
rlm@2 838
rlm@2 839 but I still feel the pain of the night I had to say goodbye to them.
rlm@2 840
rlm@2 841 I miss them so much. I finally found them and I was the one who had
rlm@2 842
rlm@2 843 to leave. Hugging the Riku doll tightly, I gaze at the wet, rainy
rlm@2 844
rlm@2 845 window. Are they happy? Did our sacrifices matter? I can only hope
rlm@2 846
rlm@2 847 the other princesses got to remake everything. That the Destiny
rlm@2 848
rlm@2 849 Islands are bright and beautiful again. As long as it was worth it,
rlm@2 850
rlm@2 851 then I'm glad about what I did. I'd love to go back, but mom needs
rlm@2 852
rlm@2 853 me. I didn't realize just how much until now. And now that I'm gone,
rlm@2 854
rlm@2 855 the doorway is shut. The Heartless, the darkness of reality can't
rlm@2 856
rlm@2 857 filter in. All that I love there is finally safe.
rlm@2 858
rlm@2 859
rlm@2 860
rlm@2 861 They said they were surprised I made it. They did everything they
rlm@2 862
rlm@2 863 could to revive me, but in the end, the doctors said it all depended
rlm@2 864
rlm@2 865 on me. If I hadn't stopped Hikari... No, that's not right. I am
rlm@2 866
rlm@2 867 Hikari. I remember everything that happened from both of our sides.
rlm@2 868
rlm@2 869 If the light in my heart hadn't changed my mind, then I would have
rlm@2 870
rlm@2 871 died. And all of those beautiful dreams would have died with me. And
rlm@2 872
rlm@2 873 mom would have been all alone.
rlm@2 874
rlm@2 875
rlm@2 876
rlm@2 877 Mom's been overprotective lately. I can understand why. And it's
rlm@2 878
rlm@2 879 really sweet of her to be spending so much time with me. We've been
rlm@2 880
rlm@2 881 playing games together every night. She said she's going to take me
rlm@2 882
rlm@2 883 to a videogame/anime convention in a month or two, so I need to pick
rlm@2 884
rlm@2 885 out what costume I want her to make for both of us. This is why I
rlm@2 886
rlm@2 887 couldn't have stayed there and closed the door. Because I love her
rlm@2 888
rlm@2 889 too much. I could never entirely give up on this world. I wonder what
rlm@2 890
rlm@2 891 Aya and Aerith gave up in this world when they went to the other
rlm@2 892
rlm@2 893 one?But still... I miss them so much. Turning my head, I gaze at the
rlm@2 894
rlm@2 895 picture I drew, framed by my bedstand now. There's the me from the
rlm@2 896
rlm@2 897 Destiny Islands kneeling with Riku sitting on my left and Sora
rlm@2 898
rlm@2 899 resting against me on the right. Yuffie and Relm are standing behind
rlm@2 900
rlm@2 901 us. My friends. The boys I love. And now all I can do are draw
rlm@2 902
rlm@2 903 pictures of them, or dream about being together again. My heart aches
rlm@2 904
rlm@2 905 everyday. I love them. I know that. I will always love them. I hold
rlm@2 906
rlm@2 907 the tiny trinket, all I still have from that world. A tiny key on a
rlm@2 908
rlm@2 909 chain that I wear around my neck.
rlm@2 910
rlm@2 911
rlm@2 912
rlm@2 913 That world is safe now. I'm happy for my part in that. Sacrifices
rlm@2 914
rlm@2 915 had to be made, but I understand that. Now I am back in the darkness
rlm@2 916
rlm@2 917 of the world I sought so hard to escape. But... Even in darkness,
rlm@2 918
rlm@2 919 there will always be light. I have my mother. And one day... One
rlm@2 920
rlm@2 921 day... I'll have you both again... I'll be waiting for you. I love
rlm@2 922
rlm@2 923 you. Always.
rlm@2 924
rlm@2 925
rlm@2 926
rlm@2 927
rlm@2 928
rlm@2 929
rlm@2 930
rlm@2 931
rlm@2 932
rlm@2 933 Author's notes: Well, this is the end of Prism Hearts for now. ^-^
rlm@2 934
rlm@2 935 Kairi has completed her journey. She has shut the door between the
rlm@2 936
rlm@2 937 real world and the other world. The Heartless can't reach it anymore.
rlm@2 938
rlm@2 939 Riku and Sora will continue searching for her, no matter how long it
rlm@2 940
rlm@2 941 takes them. I'm happy with how it all turned out. ^-^ It took me a
rlm@2 942
rlm@2 943 year to write, and it went in all sorts of directions I hadn't
rlm@2 944
rlm@2 945 expected, but I'm happy with it. ^-^ There were times when I was
rlm@2 946
rlm@2 947 worried it wouldn't get finished, so it's with a bittersweet heart
rlm@2 948
rlm@2 949 that I put the finishing touches on my baby. It's so beautiful
rlm@2 950
rlm@2 951 watching stories grow up, letting them grow on their own, but trying
rlm@2 952
rlm@2 953 to help them here and there. ^-^ I'm sad to see it end, but I'm glad
rlm@2 954
rlm@2 955 that it all worked out. Maybe someday I'll return to Prism Hearts. ^-
rlm@2 956
rlm@2 957 ^ After all, Kairi's own daughter has a story to tell. Her own
rlm@2 958
rlm@2 959 journey to travel, sacrifices to make, and loves to find. I'd like to
rlm@2 960
rlm@2 961 thank my wonderful Lainebear for her help with the FF6 scene in this
rlm@2 962
rlm@2 963 story as well as for letting me force her to read all of the chapters
rlm@2 964
rlm@2 965 when I'd finish them. ^-^ And Chi for being eager enough to want to
rlm@2 966
rlm@2 967 see me finish this series. ^-^ And Jason, as always, for letting me
rlm@2 968
rlm@2 969 bounce ideas off of him. ^-^ And to all of you who accompanied Kairi
rlm@2 970
rlm@2 971 on her journey. ^-^ Thanks to all of you, from both of us. And always
rlm@2 972
rlm@2 973 remember, 'Even in Darkness, there will always be Light.'