Nein (Alternate Ending)

by MediaMaster 263

The Nein manga ends with the shopkeeper showing the original outcomes of the worlds Noel visited and since Horizon 5 was fixed, Noel's life was fading back into Hiver Laurant. Here is how I thought the ending would've been like instead. Warning: Noel and the shopkeeper maybe out of character

As Noel walked into the alley, he received a visitor. And one that could change his fate.

"The time has come to fulfill the promise between that anttique and you boy" said the shopkeeper. She seemed to have something in mind for Noel. Noel could only stand in horror for what was about to happen.

"And now's the time to fulfill your promise!"

Noel shut his eyes and embraced the price...only to have the young shopkeeper poke his nose to say, "Just kidding."

"EEEEEEHHHHH!"

"In all my years of traveling, never before have I seen a man such as yourself. Usually, my customers would let their own greed control them and try to 'fix' lives, but in the end only change a lifetime of history to come. You, however, had the opportunity to save all those lives from tragic ends. Why did you return them back to normal?" asked the shopkeeper.

Noel stayed silent, for he was also pondering that. Finally, he spoke. "If you could fix something in your life, you would not even need to pray to God. All of the negative emotions we feel would never exist. But it's not that simple. The pain and hurt we feel are what keep us going. We strive for a better future because of our past mistakes. I don't know about you or anyone else, but I don't want to dismiss my life, nor the ones who supported me. My life may be crap, but it is still my life. Because of the things that happened, I exist today."

The shopkeeper stood in silence with a straight face, though she was amazed by his answer. They stared at each other for a longtime, but the silence was broken with the shopkeeper replying "In other words, the past can hurt, but it's best to learn from it rather than hide from it." Noel could only nod in response. With that, the shopkeeper smiled, backed away, and vanished with only this to say:

"Your life is an interesting one, 13th customer. Live it well."

Noel stared at the wall again, but smiling knowing that what he experienced changed his outlook on life and beyond. He turned and walked to his concert, ready to perform new songs inspired from what he learned today.