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     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,487 @@
     1.4 +Prism Hearts 
     1.5 
     1.6 +Epilogue
     1.7 
     1.8 +Simple and Clean
     1.9 
    1.10 +by Amazoness Duo
    1.11 
    1.12 +amazonessduo@hotmail.com
    1.13 
    1.14 +
    1.15 
    1.16 +'Every new beginning is some other beginning's end.'
    1.17 
    1.18 +
    1.19 
    1.20 +
    1.21 
    1.22 +At first, there was only darkness. It stretched out for an eternity,
    1.23 
    1.24 +a sea of blackness that knew no end. But slowly, ever so slowly, a
    1.25 
    1.26 +glimmer appeared. Then another. And another. Like stars shimmering in
    1.27 
    1.28 +the night sky, they appeared, delivering light unto the darkness. 
    1.29 
    1.30 +
    1.31 
    1.32 +“I told you she would save us,” Aerith said, smiling faintly as the
    1.33 
    1.34 +blackness began to take shape under the light. 
    1.35 
    1.36 +
    1.37 
    1.38 +“Perhaps,” Harle replied, the dragon god remaining in the form of
    1.39 
    1.40 +the female harlequin. “But she did envelop everything in darkness
    1.41 
    1.42 +before she did.”
    1.43 
    1.44 +
    1.45 
    1.46 +“We will rebuild. Just as we did before. And this time, without the
    1.47 
    1.48 +Heartless.” The young blonde girl named Aya smiled at her twin
    1.49 
    1.50 +sister, Maya. Yes, Kairi had given them a second chance for this
    1.51 
    1.52 +world. 
    1.53 
    1.54 +
    1.55 
    1.56 +“But of course, you do realize that nothing is ever completely gone,
    1.57 
    1.58 +right?” Harle asked, raising an eyebrow. “Wherever zere is light,
    1.59 
    1.60 +zere is also darkness.”Aerith smiled, nodding. “And where there is
    1.61 
    1.62 +darkness, there will always be light. Perhaps they're inseperable.
    1.63 
    1.64 +Like life, death, and rebirth. Now, the worlds can all be reborn.”
    1.65 
    1.66 +“If you'll please hurry, that would be appreciated. I hate having to
    1.67 
    1.68 +ferry the dead back to the land of the living,” Sophie says softly,
    1.69 
    1.70 +angel wings seemingly holding her aloft in the darkness. 
    1.71 
    1.72 +
    1.73 
    1.74 +“All good things take time, Sophie. But it won't be much longer
    1.75 
    1.76 +now,” Aerith promises.And around them, the worlds slowly begin to
    1.77 
    1.78 +take shape once more. 
    1.79 
    1.80 +
    1.81 
    1.82 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    1.83 
    1.84 +
    1.85 
    1.86 +Dear diary,
    1.87 
    1.88 +
    1.89 
    1.90 +Everything seems fine here on the Destiny Islands. I'm sitting on
    1.91 
    1.92 +the pier with my feet in the beautiful aquamarine water. It's so nice
    1.93 
    1.94 +and warm. Quisty and Seifer are playing Triple Triad again behind me.
    1.95 
    1.96 +I'm so tempted to scoop up some water and splash Quisty. It'd be fun!
    1.97 
    1.98 +But I'm not sure if she'd think so. She concentrates too hard when
    1.99 
   1.100 +playing games. Which is why I have so much fun trying to distract
   1.101 
   1.102 +her! She's sitting behind me, so I'm resting my back against her as I
   1.103 
   1.104 +write this. She's so cuddly. 
   1.105 
   1.106 +
   1.107 
   1.108 +Anyway, no one really knows what happened at the Heart of the
   1.109 
   1.110 +Universe. Everything went black and that's the last thing anyone
   1.111 
   1.112 +remembers. After that, we all kinda woke up back home. The Destiny
   1.113 
   1.114 +Islands are beautiful again. No weird holes, no scary, ominous skies.
   1.115 
   1.116 +THe ocean's beautiful and warm again. It's like nothing ever
   1.117 
   1.118 +happened. We looked for the door that led to the End of the World,
   1.119 
   1.120 +but it was gone. It's almost like it was all just a dream. 
   1.121 
   1.122 +
   1.123 
   1.124 +Elder Seymour stepped down from his place as the highest elder. I
   1.125 
   1.126 +said we should nominate Quisty, but she said she was too young for
   1.127 
   1.128 +the position. Wouldn't it be great if Quisty could be the elder of
   1.129 
   1.130 +the Destiny Islands? She's all cute and serious! She'd be the perfect
   1.131 
   1.132 +new leader for the islands. All of the children listen to her. Well,
   1.133 
   1.134 +except for Seifer. But he just doesn't listen to her because he has
   1.135 
   1.136 +fun riling her up. 
   1.137 
   1.138 +
   1.139 
   1.140 +Tidus is back! He says he doesn't remember anything after Sin got
   1.141 
   1.142 +him, though. Which is probably better. I wouldn't even want to
   1.143 
   1.144 +remember Sin getting me if it was my choice! Poor guy. But you know
   1.145 
   1.146 +Tidus. Nothing can keep him down. He's already back to playing that
   1.147 
   1.148 +water soccer game thing he made up with Wakka. 
   1.149 
   1.150 +
   1.151 
   1.152 +Yuna's doing better. She felt awful for the longest time, but we've
   1.153 
   1.154 +all been trying to cheer her up. We're trying to let her know that
   1.155 
   1.156 +none of us blame her for what happened. I probably would've done the
   1.157 
   1.158 +same thing if something had happened to Quisty! I think that catgirl
   1.159 
   1.160 +Yuna and I found, Rikku, has been helping Yuna a lot. Only she's not
   1.161 
   1.162 +a cat anymore. How sad! She made such a cute kitty! But she's been
   1.163 
   1.164 +there with Yuna the whole time. Yuna smiles a lot around her, so that
   1.165 
   1.166 +makes me happy. Rikku asked Yuna to come travel the different worlds
   1.167 
   1.168 +with her. Isn't that romantic? I wonder what Yuna will say. 
   1.169 
   1.170 +
   1.171 
   1.172 +No one knows what happened to Kairi, Riku, and Sora. We haven't seen
   1.173 
   1.174 +any of them since Kairi ran off to the Heart of the Universe. I hope
   1.175 
   1.176 +they're okay. They have to be, right? They are. I know they are.
   1.177 
   1.178 +They've made it through all sorts of things. A little thing like the
   1.179 
   1.180 +collapse of the universe wouldn't stop them. They're out there,
   1.181 
   1.182 +somewhere. And we'll all be here waiting for when they come
   1.183 
   1.184 +back.Well, I better get back to distracting Quisty. Good luck out
   1.185 
   1.186 +there, everybody. Booyaka!Selphie
   1.187 
   1.188 +
   1.189 
   1.190 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.191 
   1.192 +
   1.193 
   1.194 +Leaning back against her blonde lover, Selphie gazed up at the
   1.195 
   1.196 +clouds. They floated lazily above their islands, enjoying the
   1.197 
   1.198 +beautiful weather. They were reassuring, almost like whispers that
   1.199 
   1.200 +everything was finally all right. That feeling was reinforced by the
   1.201 
   1.202 +sensation of Quistis's pink dress rustling against her back. Knowing
   1.203 
   1.204 +the blonde was nearby always lifted Selphie's already high spirits.
   1.205 
   1.206 +“It's so pretty... Quisty! Look! It looks just like a paopu fruit!”
   1.207 
   1.208 +The brunette pointed up at the heavens, gazing at a cloud that
   1.209 
   1.210 +resembled her favorite romantic fruit.Turning, Quistis adjusted her
   1.211 
   1.212 +glasses. She smiled faintly, nodding. The vaguely star shaped cloud
   1.213 
   1.214 +wouldn't have immediately made her think of a fruit from the island,
   1.215 
   1.216 +but she found it cute the way Selphie's mind worked. The other girl
   1.217 
   1.218 +was such a romantic. “It is, isn't it?” “And I believe you lose
   1.219 
   1.220 +again, Miss Trepe,” Seifer interrupted, smirking. No matter how often
   1.221 
   1.222 +Quistis told him to stop calling her that, he insisted upon it. She
   1.223 
   1.224 +was the most mature person he knew on the Islands and he liked the
   1.225 
   1.226 +way it ruffled her feathers. Quistis was probably his best friend.
   1.227 
   1.228 +Where was the fun in that if he couldn't tease her now and again?
   1.229 
   1.230 +
   1.231 
   1.232 +Quistis turned quickly, blonde hair swishing over Selphie's head.
   1.233 
   1.234 +“What?” Quistis frowned. “Seifer, let me see those cards. You're
   1.235 
   1.236 +cheating, aren't you?” That was the third time he'd beaten her today.
   1.237 
   1.238 +It was usually more give and take. Laughing, Seifer gathered up his
   1.239 
   1.240 +cards. “I'm wounded, Miss Trepe. You know cheating isn't my style.
   1.241 
   1.242 +But I do always cherish the chance to mop the floor with my favorite
   1.243 
   1.244 +tutor.”He raised a blond eyebrow. “Another game, perhaps.”Sighing,
   1.245 
   1.246 +Quistis nodded. “Of course.” This was their ritual, wasn't it?
   1.247 
   1.248 +Playing this game for hours, winning by such slim margins. But always
   1.249 
   1.250 +just so they could all play together. And of course, she had a
   1.251 
   1.252 +constant disadvantage. “But it isn't fair with Selphie trying to
   1.253 
   1.254 +distract me.” Selphie's fingers were currently in the bottom of her
   1.255 
   1.256 +sandals, tickling the undersides of her feet.Seifer simply grinned.
   1.257 
   1.258 +“That's why she's your girlfriend and not mine.”
   1.259 
   1.260 +
   1.261 
   1.262 +“But you're so much fun to distract!” Selphie squealed, turning to
   1.263 
   1.264 +hug Quistis tightly from behind.Quistis sighed overdramatically as
   1.265 
   1.266 +Selphie began kissing her cheeks, but Seifer could see her smiling.
   1.267 
   1.268 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
   1.269 
   1.270 +
   1.271 
   1.272 +Waves crashed inches away from a small brunette girl gazing out to
   1.273 
   1.274 +sea. Her thoughts were muddled. She still felt guilty about the part
   1.275 
   1.276 +she had played in the recent chaos. She had let her fear of life
   1.277 
   1.278 +compell her into sending everything into the world of death. They had
   1.279 
   1.280 +every reason to hate her for that. But they didn't. And the one girl
   1.281 
   1.282 +she had betrayed the most had even followed her into that world of
   1.283 
   1.284 +death. “And now she wants me to go with her,” Yuna whispered to
   1.285 
   1.286 +herself. 
   1.287 
   1.288 +
   1.289 
   1.290 +Should she go? Should she travel that infinitely vast universe by
   1.291 
   1.292 +Rikku's side? It was exciting, but it was also terrifying. She had
   1.293 
   1.294 +never been away from the Destiny Islands before. What might be out
   1.295 
   1.296 +there? Boundless possibilities. Her stomach rolled in anxiety. Rikku
   1.297 
   1.298 +would be leaving soon. What would she say? It would be a fresh start,
   1.299 
   1.300 +a chance to see all the many worlds untold secrets. And by the side
   1.301 
   1.302 +of the girl she loved no less, a girl who had sacrificed her life for
   1.303 
   1.304 +her. It would be a chance to get away from her pain and fears, to try
   1.305 
   1.306 +to discover the joys of living. Was it worth the risk?
   1.307 
   1.308 +“Yunie?” Rikku broke into the brunette's thoughts. She wrung her
   1.309 
   1.310 +hands as she stood in front of her. Would Yuna agree? Her heart was
   1.311 
   1.312 +all over the place. She didn't want to leave without the beautiful
   1.313 
   1.314 +brunette. What if she wanted to stay? What if she was too afraid to
   1.315 
   1.316 +leave? Yuna looked up at her, her blue and green eyes almost flashing
   1.317 
   1.318 +in the sunlight. “Please, Yunie, come with me. I don't want to go
   1.319 
   1.320 +without you. I... I love you!” The blonde dropped down next to Yuna
   1.321 
   1.322 +on the sand, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I finally found you, the
   1.323 
   1.324 +treasure I've been looking for all my life. I want to show you
   1.325 
   1.326 +everything. I want to see everything with you.” She clasps Yuna's
   1.327 
   1.328 +hand tightly to her chest, pleading with her swirling emerald eyes.
   1.329 
   1.330 +“All the beautiful things the worlds hold, we can see them all.
   1.331 
   1.332 +Please, Yunie. I just want to be with you for it all.” Yuna smiled,
   1.333 
   1.334 +blinking back tears as she gazed back at Rikku. Her hand cupped
   1.335 
   1.336 +Rikku's cheek. “Rikku... Of course I'll go with you. I... I want that
   1.337 
   1.338 +to. To see everything... with you.” Leaning forward, the brunette
   1.339 
   1.340 +lightly kissed the blonde. It was strange now that Rikku wasn't a
   1.341 
   1.342 +catgirl. She was used to the scratchy tongue against hers. But this,
   1.343 
   1.344 +she admitted, was very, very nice as well. Rikku nearly pounced on
   1.345 
   1.346 +the petite girl in her joy. Her arms wrapped tightly around Yuna as
   1.347 
   1.348 +they fell back onto the sand, kissing. She kissed Yuna as deeply as
   1.349 
   1.350 +she could, her heart aching for the girl in her arms. Each kiss was a
   1.351 
   1.352 +tiny 'thank you' to the brunette. She was coming with! They would be
   1.353 
   1.354 +together. All across the universe.
   1.355 
   1.356 +
   1.357 
   1.358 +The tears rolling down Yuna's cheeks felt wonderfully freeing. She
   1.359 
   1.360 +was happy. She was going to be with Rikku. No matter what. From now
   1.361 
   1.362 +on. Her heart soared. Her hands stroked up and down Rikku's back as
   1.363 
   1.364 +they kissed. Though she was a bit embarrassed about the way Rikku was
   1.365 
   1.366 +kissing her so deeply right out in the open, she wouldn't trade it
   1.367 
   1.368 +for anything in the world. Let her embarrassment come. She could deal
   1.369 
   1.370 +with it. She kissed back as best she could. 'Oh, Rikku...' she
   1.371 
   1.372 +thought dreamily. Though still anxious about where this journey may
   1.373 
   1.374 +lead, she knew her blonde ex-catgirl would be there to see it through
   1.375 
   1.376 +with her. And that was all that mattered to her. “Yunie...” Rikku
   1.377 
   1.378 +said between kisses, trying to calm herself down enough to finally
   1.379 
   1.380 +pull away. But for once, Yuna's hands would let her go. Yuna held her
   1.381 
   1.382 +close, kissing back again and again. Rikku giggled, kissing deeply
   1.383 
   1.384 +again. “Yunie, they're here,” she got out at last. The sound of the
   1.385 
   1.386 +gummi ship landing finally caught the brunette's attention. Yuna
   1.387 
   1.388 +blushed cutely and slowly let go of Rikku's waist. The thief helped
   1.389 
   1.390 +Yuna to her feet, watching the gummi ship come to a halt.
   1.391 
   1.392 +
   1.393 
   1.394 +As the doors slid open, a brunette ninja came into view. Yuffie
   1.395 
   1.396 +gazed out onto the beach, her heart stopping for a moment. Her little
   1.397 
   1.398 +sister smiled at her on the beach, vibrant and alive. Alive. Kairi
   1.399 
   1.400 +had done it. She'd fixed things, after all. “Thank you, Kairi,”
   1.401 
   1.402 +Yuffie whispered. Tears burned at her eyes, but she tried desperately
   1.403 
   1.404 +to force them back. She was the greatest ninja ever, damnit. Ninja's
   1.405 
   1.406 +don't cry. Seeing the indecision in Yuffie's eyes, Relm, brushed her
   1.407 
   1.408 +knuckles over the ninja's cheek soothingly. “Go see her, Yuffie.
   1.409 
   1.410 +She's missed you.”Yuffie didn't need anymore prodding. She ran out to
   1.411 
   1.412 +meet her sister, gripping her tightly in a hug. “Rikku!” When Yuffie
   1.413 
   1.414 +had seen Ansem cut her sister down, she had thought she'd never see
   1.415 
   1.416 +Rikku again. Now, Rikku was in her arms and she was afraid of letting
   1.417 
   1.418 +her go. What if she disappeared? What if it was just a dream? No...
   1.419 
   1.420 +It was over. Her sister was back. She slowly stepped back, putting a
   1.421 
   1.422 +goofy grin on to hide her tear stained eyes. “You aren't a cat
   1.423 
   1.424 +anymore.” A stupid thing to say, but the best she could get
   1.425 
   1.426 +out.Laughing, Rikku nodded. “Nope. Not anymore.” She smiled back at
   1.427 
   1.428 +Yuffie. Her big sister had tried so hard for her. That was so sweet.
   1.429 
   1.430 +It was so nice just knowing Yuffie cared. “It's good to see you, too,
   1.431 
   1.432 +Yuffie.”Shaking her head, Yuffie can only smile. The pieces were all
   1.433 
   1.434 +falling into place. They had done it. They'd saved the universe. And
   1.435 
   1.436 +these small things, being with her sister again, it all made it
   1.437 
   1.438 +worthwhile. 'Kairi, wherever you are, we did it. We won.' She was
   1.439 
   1.440 +glad for her journey with the Keyblade Mistress. It had led her to
   1.441 
   1.442 +the girl she loved. It helped her find her sister again. It had fixed
   1.443 
   1.444 +their wounded worlds. She only hoped she could see the princess again
   1.445 
   1.446 +someday. They were a team, Kairi, Relm, and herself. She felt that
   1.447 
   1.448 +something was missing without the princess. “Yunie's coming with us!”
   1.449 
   1.450 +Rikku said excitedly. Taking Yuna's hand, she pulled the brunette
   1.451 
   1.452 +closer, smiling brightly. Yuna blushed faintly and nodded. Laughing,
   1.453 
   1.454 +Yuffie nodded. “Is she joining the Radical Dreamers? Relm's coming
   1.455 
   1.456 +with us, too. She's going to paint the backgrounds for out
   1.457 
   1.458 +performances. People will be so dazzled that they'll practically be
   1.459 
   1.460 +asking to give us their gil.” The ninja winked smugly. “Yunie could
   1.461 
   1.462 +dance! That would be great! We could fit her into our performances!”
   1.463 
   1.464 +Rikku hopped from foot to foot. Having seen Yuna dance, she knew
   1.465 
   1.466 +plenty of other people would love to see her perform. And with their
   1.467 
   1.468 +travelling troupe of actors/thieves, it would work perfectly.
   1.469 
   1.470 +“They'll be enchanted!”“Wait!” Yuna blushed and shook her head.
   1.471 
   1.472 +Performing? In front of people? She didn't know they'd be doing that. 
   1.473 
   1.474 +
   1.475 
   1.476 +“It'll be great, Yunie!” Rikku assured her, squeezing the other
   1.477 
   1.478 +girl's hand, already picturing Yuna dancing in front of packed
   1.479 
   1.480 +crowds. “How cute!”Relm laughed, wrapping her arms around Yuffie's
   1.481 
   1.482 +right arm. “Looks like we'll be able to put on some interesting
   1.483 
   1.484 +performances.” She nuzzles the other girl's ear, whispering. “But my
   1.485 
   1.486 +favorite performances are the onces you give when we're alone.” She
   1.487 
   1.488 +delighted at the blush that crossed her sarcastic ninja's face.
   1.489 
   1.490 +Giggling, she kissed the other girl's cheek. She now had something to
   1.491 
   1.492 +focus her considerable painting skills on. And she got to travel with
   1.493 
   1.494 +her beautiful ninja. Granted, it was so they could steal from all
   1.495 
   1.496 +sorts of places, but she could live with that. It was pretty easy for
   1.497 
   1.498 +her to accept that Yuffie was a thief. As long as she was her thief.
   1.499 
   1.500 +“Are ya'll comin' or not?” Cid called out, irritated. “Buncha kids.
   1.501 
   1.502 +We got places to go.”“We're coming, old man!” Yuffie yelled back. “I
   1.503 
   1.504 +knew I should have taken the ship myself.” The ninja shrugged. “Well,
   1.505 
   1.506 +we all ready?”“Yep!” Rikku smiled, turning to Yuna. 
   1.507 
   1.508 +
   1.509 
   1.510 +Yuna nodded slowly, smiling. “Let's go.” The group of girls made
   1.511 
   1.512 +their way to the gummi ship. Relm paused at the entrance. She thought
   1.513 
   1.514 +she heard something. She turned, looking out at the beach. It felt
   1.515 
   1.516 +familiar.“Relm? You okay?” Yuffie asked curiously. Relm looked deep
   1.517 
   1.518 +in concentration. “What's takin' ya'll so long?” Cid called
   1.519 
   1.520 +down.Yuffie slammed her hand into the wall near her, trying to get
   1.521 
   1.522 +Cid's attention. “Hold on a minute!” She turned back to watch Relm.
   1.523 
   1.524 +There it was again. Distant, but unmistakable. Relm stepped away from
   1.525 
   1.526 +the entrance, glancing around rapidly. Where was it coming from? It
   1.527 
   1.528 +had to be real, right? It couldn't just be her imagination. And
   1.529 
   1.530 +again. A bark. And this time she saw its owner racing towards her.
   1.531 
   1.532 +“Interceptor!” she cried out, elation running throughout her as the
   1.533 
   1.534 +dog her father had left to protect her pounced into her waiting arms.
   1.535 
   1.536 +He was alive! Her best friend was alive. She'd known him since he was
   1.537 
   1.538 +a puppy. They'd always been together. And he was back again.
   1.539 
   1.540 +Interceptor licked at her cheek as she giggled, holding him close.
   1.541 
   1.542 +Their journey had been long and hard. But it had been worth it.
   1.543 
   1.544 +Resting her hand on Relm's shoulder, Yuffie smiled. “Come on. Cid's
   1.545 
   1.546 +getting cranky again. Let's get out of here.” Relm nodded, letting go
   1.547 
   1.548 +of Interceptor. Her dog, loyal as ever, stayed near her, afraid she
   1.549 
   1.550 +would be whisked away from him again. She followed Yuffie into the
   1.551 
   1.552 +ship, taking the ninja's warm hand. 
   1.553 
   1.554 +
   1.555 
   1.556 +Yuffie shook her head, but smiled faintly. “Fine, but he's not
   1.557 
   1.558 +sleeping in our room.”Yuna hurried to the window with Rikku. Yelling
   1.559 
   1.560 +and cheering arose from the island below. The brunette smiled as she
   1.561 
   1.562 +saw all of her friends waving goodbye to her. Tidus and Wakka had
   1.563 
   1.564 +written 'Goodbye, Yuna' in the sand. Lulu was casting magic in the
   1.565 
   1.566 +air like fireworks. The others waved as she lifted away. “See, Yunie?
   1.567 
   1.568 +They could never hate you,” Rikku said, hugging Yuna from behind.Yuna
   1.569 
   1.570 +watched her friends through her tears, still smiling. “Yes, I guess
   1.571 
   1.572 +you're right....” She placed her hand on the glass. She was happy to
   1.573 
   1.574 +know they still cared about her.
   1.575 
   1.576 +
   1.577 
   1.578 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.579 
   1.580 +
   1.581 
   1.582 +“Arise, Queen Garnet.”Garnet stood up, cheers erupting around her.
   1.583 
   1.584 +Beatrix smiled at her, nodding. She gazed out at all the people. She
   1.585 
   1.586 +was now their queen. It wasn't something she had been expecting. But
   1.587 
   1.588 +her mother had insisted, stepping down from the position. All she
   1.589 
   1.590 +knew was that she would try her best for the people of Alexandria.
   1.591 
   1.592 +“Thank you. Everyone.” A flash of purple brought a smile to her lips.
   1.593 
   1.594 +At least she wouldn't be alone. She turned her attention to Eiko. The
   1.595 
   1.596 +younger girl smiled brightly at her, urging her on. The summoner girl
   1.597 
   1.598 +had declined going back home, choosing instead to stay in Alexandria
   1.599 
   1.600 +with Garnet. And Eiko's support bolstered Garnet. She could do it.
   1.601 
   1.602 +Alexandria needed her. She stepped forward to accept the throne.
   1.603 
   1.604 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.605 
   1.606 +
   1.607 
   1.608 +They stood side by side on the rooftop bridge spanning the ice-laden
   1.609 
   1.610 +cliffs above the town, watching the snow fall peacefully around.
   1.611 
   1.612 +
   1.613 
   1.614 +“It’s so beautiful,” Terra said softly, looking out with wonder.  “I
   1.615 
   1.616 +don’t remember it ever being this beautiful here.”
   1.617 
   1.618 +
   1.619 
   1.620 +“It probably hasn’t,” the other Magitek Knight nodded.  “This is the
   1.621 
   1.622 +first we’ve been without the Heartless.  Even the factions against
   1.623 
   1.624 +the Empire have died down for now.  Personally, I’m glad for a little
   1.625 
   1.626 +peace and quiet.  Might even have time to make a home here instead of
   1.627 
   1.628 +wandering.”
   1.629 
   1.630 +
   1.631 
   1.632 +They fell silent for a moment, content with simply enjoying the
   1.633 
   1.634 +natural splendor that presented itself.
   1.635 
   1.636 +
   1.637 
   1.638 +‘I’m so glad Kairi could set things to rights,’ the green-haired
   1.639 
   1.640 +woman thought.  ‘Otherwise none of this…none of us would be here. 
   1.641 
   1.642 +Even Kefka’s doing well, serving the Emperor again.  And we…we can
   1.643 
   1.644 +finally be free….’  She leaned closer to Celes and intertwined their
   1.645 
   1.646 +fingers.  “Can you ever forgive me?” 
   1.647 
   1.648 +
   1.649 
   1.650 +“There’s nothing to forgive,” the blonde smiled softly, reaching
   1.651 
   1.652 +over and placing an arm around Terra’s waist.  “Nothing at all.”
   1.653 
   1.654 +
   1.655 
   1.656 +Terra smiled back gratefully and rested her head against Celes’
   1.657 
   1.658 +shoulder, the snow dancing light-heartedly through the skies.
   1.659 
   1.660 +
   1.661 
   1.662 +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.663 
   1.664 +
   1.665 
   1.666 +“Kid! Did you catch dinner yet?” Leena asked, stepping out onto the
   1.667 
   1.668 +docks of Arni. She spotted the pretty blonde struggling with a
   1.669 
   1.670 +fishing line.“Dang blasted thing won't work! I'm a thief, not a
   1.671 
   1.672 +fisherman,” Kid growled. Taking the line from Kid's hands, Leena
   1.673 
   1.674 +reeled the fish in. Smiling, she kissed the other girl's cheek,
   1.675 
   1.676 +handing the fish to her. “Go wash up. I'll start dinner.”Kid merely
   1.677 
   1.678 +blinked in stunned silence. Was there anything the redhead couldn't
   1.679 
   1.680 +do. “Err... Yes, dear.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.681 
   1.682 +
   1.683 
   1.684 +“It seems like almost everyone has returned except the princess,”
   1.685 
   1.686 +Rinoa stated, sitting around the grand library of Hollow Bastion with
   1.687 
   1.688 +Squall, Aerith, and the Turks. “And Cloud,” Squall added. Rinoa
   1.689 
   1.690 +nudged him hard in the side. She'd intentionally not mentioned him so
   1.691 
   1.692 +as not to worry Aerith. Aeirth smiled softly. “Cloud will come back
   1.693 
   1.694 +to me. He always does. It's only a matter of time.” And time was
   1.695 
   1.696 +something she had plenty of. She would wait as long as it took for
   1.697 
   1.698 +him to find his way back to her. Just as Kairi had Sora and Riku, she
   1.699 
   1.700 +had Cloud. And just as surely, she knew he would return to her.
   1.701 
   1.702 +
   1.703 
   1.704 +“But what do we do without the Princess?” Reno asked leaning against
   1.705 
   1.706 +a bookshelf. “Should we just wait for her?” Elena nibbled on her
   1.707 
   1.708 +lower lip. “That's assuming she is coming back,” Vincent pointed out. 
   1.709 
   1.710 +
   1.711 
   1.712 +“But if she's not, what can we do?” Elena shot back.
   1.713 
   1.714 +
   1.715 
   1.716 +“We do what we can. We rebuild. We try to make Hollow Bastion as
   1.717 
   1.718 +beautiful and as wonderful as we can make it. It's what Princess
   1.719 
   1.720 +Hikari would have wanted.” Aerith stands up. “It's all we can do for
   1.721 
   1.722 +her. But I know it will make her happy.” 'We'll protect your dreams,
   1.723 
   1.724 +Kairi. Forever. It's the least we can do for your sacrifice. And if
   1.725 
   1.726 +you can ever find a way back, I'll make sure Hollow Bastion is
   1.727 
   1.728 +waiting for you.'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
   1.729 
   1.730 +
   1.731 
   1.732 +“You're sure you haven't seen her? She looks a lot like me, but with
   1.733 
   1.734 +shorter hair,” an auburn haired girl asked, standing beside a
   1.735 
   1.736 +brunette boy around the same age. The two waited eagerly for the
   1.737 
   1.738 +reply.The blonde girl shook her head slowly. “I'm sorry. I don't
   1.739 
   1.740 +think I have.” Turning she looked over her shoulder. “Kumiko! Come
   1.741 
   1.742 +here.” 
   1.743 
   1.744 +
   1.745 
   1.746 +A girl with long, braided brunette hair came up to the small group.
   1.747 
   1.748 +“Yes, Megumi-chan?”Megumi pointed back to the auburn haired girl.
   1.749 
   1.750 +“Have you ever seen someone who looks like her? With shorter
   1.751 
   1.752 +hair?”Shaking her head apologetically, Kumiko looked at the girl.
   1.753 
   1.754 +“No, I haven't.”“That's okay. Thanks for your help,” the brunette boy
   1.755 
   1.756 +smiled before walking off with the auburn haired girl. “So she isn't
   1.757 
   1.758 +here, either.”
   1.759 
   1.760 +“It's okay. I didn't think she would be,” the girl replied, brushing
   1.761 
   1.762 +some hair from her eyes. “But she's out there. I can feel it. She's
   1.763 
   1.764 +waiting for us.”“Then let's not keep her waiting.” The boy looked
   1.765 
   1.766 +down at the girl, grinning. “It's so weird not that you're smaller
   1.767 
   1.768 +than me, Riku.”“Don't start that, Sora. You know I can still send you
   1.769 
   1.770 +away limping just like always,” Riku said, a smile splaying across
   1.771 
   1.772 +her mouth. This body was Kairi's gift to Riku. With his body
   1.773 
   1.774 +destroyed, his soul would have returned to the Lifestream, but she
   1.775 
   1.776 +had left her body for him. It was taking a while to get used to it,
   1.777 
   1.778 +though. He had let the hair grow out longer and wore a different
   1.779 
   1.780 +style from Kairi, but the fact that it was female still threw him for
   1.781 
   1.782 +a loop now and then. 
   1.783 
   1.784 +
   1.785 
   1.786 +The two had travelled across so many worlds since the universe had
   1.787 
   1.788 +been reborn. And they would continue travelling until they finally
   1.789 
   1.790 +found Kairi. That was their mission, to find the girl they both
   1.791 
   1.792 +loved. No matter where it took them. And they wouldn't stop until
   1.793 
   1.794 +they were with her again.“The next world?” Sora asked, pulling up his
   1.795 
   1.796 +Keyblade.Riku nodded. “Maybe we'll have better luck on this one.”
   1.797 
   1.798 +'Just wait a little longer for us, Kairi. We're
   1.799 
   1.800 +coming.'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   1.801 
   1.802 +
   1.803 
   1.804 +My wrists ache. I tug weakly at the bandages that cover my wrists.
   1.805 
   1.806 +They remind me of the wristbands I wore as part of my outfit back on
   1.807 
   1.808 +the Destiny Islands. But those weren't tinted red. Owwwww....“Hikari,
   1.809 
   1.810 +don't play with those. You'll just make it worse,” mom says worriedly
   1.811 
   1.812 +as she sets down a tray with some noodles. 
   1.813 
   1.814 +
   1.815 
   1.816 +I stop plucking at them and look better at her. I still feel guilty
   1.817 
   1.818 +about almost leaving her all alone. But she's been as sweet and
   1.819 
   1.820 +supportive as ever. “Thanks, mom,” I whisper. She smiles back and I
   1.821 
   1.822 +feel a little more at ease. She doesn't blame me, at least. That
   1.823 
   1.824 +makes it a little easier. 
   1.825 
   1.826 +
   1.827 
   1.828 +“If you need anything, I'll be in the other room, sweetie.” Mom
   1.829 
   1.830 +waves as she exits the room. 
   1.831 
   1.832 +
   1.833 
   1.834 +I slump back in my bed, stuffed characters falling in every
   1.835 
   1.836 +direction. It try not to look, knowing Riku's doll is lying just at
   1.837 
   1.838 +the corner of my eye. Damn. I can't help it. My eyes shoot to it and
   1.839 
   1.840 +my heart plummets just like I knew it would. It's been a few weeks,
   1.841 
   1.842 +but I still feel the pain of the night I had to say goodbye to them.
   1.843 
   1.844 +I miss them so much. I finally found them and I was the one who had
   1.845 
   1.846 +to leave. Hugging the Riku doll tightly, I gaze at the wet, rainy
   1.847 
   1.848 +window. Are they happy? Did our sacrifices matter? I can only hope
   1.849 
   1.850 +the other princesses got to remake everything. That the Destiny
   1.851 
   1.852 +Islands are bright and beautiful again. As long as it was worth it,
   1.853 
   1.854 +then I'm glad about what I did. I'd love to go back, but mom needs
   1.855 
   1.856 +me. I didn't realize just how much until now. And now that I'm gone,
   1.857 
   1.858 +the doorway is shut. The Heartless, the darkness of reality can't
   1.859 
   1.860 +filter in. All that I love there is finally safe. 
   1.861 
   1.862 +
   1.863 
   1.864 +They said they were surprised I made it. They did everything they
   1.865 
   1.866 +could to revive me, but in the end, the doctors said it all depended
   1.867 
   1.868 +on me. If I hadn't stopped Hikari... No, that's not right. I am
   1.869 
   1.870 +Hikari. I remember everything that happened from both of our sides.
   1.871 
   1.872 +If the light in my heart hadn't changed my mind, then I would have
   1.873 
   1.874 +died. And all of those beautiful dreams would have died with me. And
   1.875 
   1.876 +mom would have been all alone. 
   1.877 
   1.878 +
   1.879 
   1.880 +Mom's been overprotective lately. I can understand why. And it's
   1.881 
   1.882 +really sweet of her to be spending so much time with me. We've been
   1.883 
   1.884 +playing games together every night. She said she's going to take me
   1.885 
   1.886 +to a videogame/anime convention in a month or two, so I need to pick
   1.887 
   1.888 +out what costume I want her to make for both of us. This is why I
   1.889 
   1.890 +couldn't have stayed there and closed the door. Because I love her
   1.891 
   1.892 +too much. I could never entirely give up on this world. I wonder what
   1.893 
   1.894 +Aya and Aerith gave up in this world when they went to the other
   1.895 
   1.896 +one?But still... I miss them so much. Turning my head, I gaze at the
   1.897 
   1.898 +picture I drew, framed by my bedstand now. There's the me from the
   1.899 
   1.900 +Destiny Islands kneeling with Riku sitting on my left and Sora
   1.901 
   1.902 +resting against me on the right. Yuffie and Relm are standing behind
   1.903 
   1.904 +us. My friends. The boys I love. And now all I can do are draw
   1.905 
   1.906 +pictures of them, or dream about being together again. My heart aches
   1.907 
   1.908 +everyday. I love them. I know that. I will always love them. I hold
   1.909 
   1.910 +the tiny trinket, all I still have from that world. A tiny key on a
   1.911 
   1.912 +chain that I wear around my neck. 
   1.913 
   1.914 +
   1.915 
   1.916 +That world is safe now. I'm happy for my part in that. Sacrifices
   1.917 
   1.918 +had to be made, but I understand that. Now I am back in the darkness
   1.919 
   1.920 +of the world I sought so hard to escape. But... Even in darkness,
   1.921 
   1.922 +there will always be light. I have my mother. And one day... One
   1.923 
   1.924 +day... I'll have you both again... I'll be waiting for you. I love
   1.925 
   1.926 +you. Always. 
   1.927 
   1.928 +
   1.929 
   1.930 +
   1.931 
   1.932 +
   1.933 
   1.934 +
   1.935 
   1.936 +Author's notes: Well, this is the end of Prism Hearts for now. ^-^
   1.937 
   1.938 +Kairi has completed her journey. She has shut the door between the
   1.939 
   1.940 +real world and the other world. The Heartless can't reach it anymore.
   1.941 
   1.942 +Riku and Sora will continue searching for her, no matter how long it
   1.943 
   1.944 +takes them. I'm happy with how it all turned out. ^-^ It took me a
   1.945 
   1.946 +year to write, and it went in all sorts of directions I hadn't
   1.947 
   1.948 +expected, but I'm happy with it. ^-^ There were times when I was
   1.949 
   1.950 +worried it wouldn't get finished, so it's with a bittersweet heart
   1.951 
   1.952 +that I put the finishing touches on my baby. It's so beautiful
   1.953 
   1.954 +watching stories grow up, letting them grow on their own, but trying
   1.955 
   1.956 +to help them here and there. ^-^ I'm sad to see it end, but I'm glad
   1.957 
   1.958 +that it all worked out. Maybe someday I'll return to Prism Hearts. ^-
   1.959 
   1.960 +^ After all, Kairi's own daughter has a story to tell. Her own
   1.961 
   1.962 +journey to travel, sacrifices to make, and loves to find. I'd like to
   1.963 
   1.964 +thank my wonderful Lainebear for her help with the FF6 scene in this
   1.965 
   1.966 +story as well as for letting me force her to read all of the chapters
   1.967 
   1.968 +when I'd finish them. ^-^ And Chi for being eager enough to want to
   1.969 
   1.970 +see me finish this series. ^-^ And Jason, as always, for letting me
   1.971 
   1.972 +bounce ideas off of him. ^-^ And to all of you who accompanied Kairi
   1.973 
   1.974 +on her journey. ^-^ Thanks to all of you, from both of us. And always
   1.975 
   1.976 +remember, 'Even in Darkness, there will always be Light.' 
   1.977 \ No newline at end of file