For quite some time after we had defeated Mithos and reunited the two worlds I felt like I was standing still while the world moved on around me. I was glad that we had managed to craft a new world, and we saved future generations a lot of pain in changing the system established by Cruxis as well as preventing Yggdrasil's Age of Lifeless Beings. But we also created a whole passel of new problems.

The populace viewed the Church of Martel with general distrust after we revealed the religion as a puppet of Cruxis and part of the Desians. People lost the faith they had held for generations, and some members of the Church lost their positions and their lives in riots. Tethe'alla's nobles had suspected the upper levels of the Church for some time, especially with how political the Pope had become, but Sylvarant's people were caught completely off guard. And in Sylvarant the Church had been the unifying governing force of the world and the opposition to the Desians. In addition, the people of the formerly declining world were at a significant disadvantage when dealing with the rich people of Tethe'alla and their unification under a King.

Whole landmarks changed, people were uprooted and left in an unfamiliar land. And the question of discrimination became even more prominent than it had been. Rich and poor, Sylvaranti and Tethe'allan, human and half-elf, all had to learn to deal with each other in new ways. And none of us were prepared for how to handle all the change.

Lloyd and Sheena went off together to collect ex-spheres as they had promised each other in Flanoir before the final battle. This was a worthy cause, and the two of them were the best anyone could imagine for the task. Their names were well known among the people of both worlds for putting their lives on the line to defend anyone in need. Even so, especially in Tethe'alla, stopping the use of ex-spheres was difficult. They had become a part of technology, like the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. People had to first be made to understand that they were using people's lives before they were willing to give up their comfort and power.

But Lloyd and Sheena were charismatic, and their sincerity was hard to resist. They did well, and were kind and helpful wherever they went. They used Lloyd's strength and Sheena's summoning ability to help rebuild wherever they traveled. The two became very well loved by people everywhere. Soon their budding relationship was part of the hottest gossip throughout the world. It came to the forefront at a party to celebrate the coming of the first spring with the worlds united that was held at the base of the Giant Kharlan Tree. There in front of the entire world, Lloyd proposed to a flustered Sheena and they kissed under the tree in the starlight. I watched them with a gentle smile and an ache in my chest, standing still at the edge of the group.

Raine began working closely with Regal at the Lezareno Company. Her knowledge of machinery and the ancient world was an invaluable resource. Together, they created a new tourism and educational outreach with the remnants of the Church of Martel that still believed in the Goddess. They told the story of the history of the Ancient Kharlan War and how it had led to the divided world. They highlighted the difficulties each side faced as they competed for mana. The two elder members of our traveling group used the temples and the Houses of Salvation to tell the story of the Chosen. We were shown as the people used as tools by Cruxis to maintain the strange cycle of mana flowing like an hourglass. It sometimes hurt to remember all the lies I had believed, but I was so glad the story was being told.

Regal brought the truth of history and tactics for working together to all the upper crust of both worlds. The merchants and lords of cities respected him and were generally amenable to hearing his message. Raine faced a little more discrimination as a half-elf, but doggedly traveled the area of both countries teaching her message in schools to children and adults alike. When needed, she worked her way into people's trust by healing their hurts, whether it was a bruised knee or a deathly illness. She learned to work her magic on crops and animals as well, healing the land as well as the people with herbs from the Giant Kharlan Tree. Her presence soon came to be in high demand.

I ran into them fairly frequently at parties that Zelos hosted and insisted I come to. I would always see the two of them chatting animatedly with people while I stood still in a corner sipping on a drink or nibbling at a bite of food. I didn't understand why Zelos had me at those parties anyway, I spent most of my time trying not to be noticed or recognized for who I was. The failed Chosen who started this whole mess was not really someone in high demand. Quite the opposite in fact, as I was a living reminder of the lies everyone had believed.

Genis and Presea made an odd little pair, as they both were much older and wiser than they looked at first glance. However, they took on the large task of working to create understanding between humans and half-elves. Both of them were living examples of how horrible discrimination can be, and the two childlike friends presented a powerful message. They also worked to make the travel routes safer from all the monsters loosed in the explosion of mana when the Giant Kharlan Tree was born.

I heard of more than one traveler that had been set upon and found themselves saved by Genis's powerful magic and Presea's strong axe. They never stayed in one place for long, and I found myself often standing still and watching their backs as they headed on to some new adventure.

Zelos resumed his life as a Tethe'allan lord and diplomat, working alongside the lawmakers of both worlds to help them understand each other and make compromises to help their people. His charming wit and perfect grace combined with his confidence and good looks made him a regular in all the highest circles. He was always surrounded by men seeking his advice or beautiful women seeking his attention. He danced in the midst of a sparkling crowd while I was left standing still, a wallflower watching from the sidelines.

I felt like there was no place in this new world for me. The institution of the Chosen was gone, and although I still believed in the Goddess Martel that was the guardian of the sacred tree, her worship was not something that would be popular again for a while yet. The people had been too hurt by the breech of trust from the Church. I was a living reminder of everything that had been horrible under Cruxis, as well as the Chosen who had failed Sylvarant while enveloping Tethe'alla in chaos. I was the reason their lives had been disrupted and changed. I was the reason many of their loved ones were dead.

Generally I got a cold shoulder at gatherings. My friends definitely still cared for me, but even their love was not enough to anchor me. I had been full of purpose my whole life, and now I was adrift in a world where I was neither needed nor wanted. I retreated to the Tower of Mana and used my solitude to study and pray. I would have never emerged had my friends not come to get me every once in a while. Zelos especially came often to take me to this or that party. I never really enjoyed going and being stared at and shuffled away from him at the first opportunity, but I appreciated his efforts and so chose to not disappoint him.

One day he climbed the tower to find me on the very top, staring out over the land as my hair and cloak whipped about me. I could feel a summer storm brewing in the air and was enjoying the feel of the world.

"Colette!" He called from the stairs, his own wild red locks being caught and teased by the breeze. "What are you doing up here?" He asked, coming closer and pausing to plant his feet for balance against a sudden gust.

I turned to face him and smiled as the wind died down, flying on to other places. "Just standing still." I answered with a shrug, tucking a bit of my long blonde hair behind my ear.

"Standing still huh?" He answered, sounding contemplative. His blue-grey eyes met mine and his usual flirty mask softened. "You don't really want to come to some party with me tonight, do you?"

I bit my lip slightly. I could hear in his voice that he was honestly asking this time, not just trying to get me out of the tower, but instead wanting to hear my opinion. I slowly shook my head from side to side.

One side of his mouth turned up in a slight grin and he brushed a hand through some of my hair. "I didn't think so. I've been getting the impression that you haven't enjoyed them too much as of late."

I shrugged. "I enjoy that you come and ask me to join you, Zelos, and that is enough for now." I answered him softly but frankly.

He chuckled a bit at that, "Thanks, Colette. How about I just stand still with you here for a while then, instead of dragging you off to do what I want to do?" Without waiting for my response he gently twirled me back around for a good view of the horizon, and wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on top of mine.

I was surprised for a moment and then leaned back into his comforting embrace. "Thank you, Zelos. I'd like that."

We stood still in silence for a while, just looking at the sky as the sun crept downward and painted the horizon in a riot of warm colors. Zelos drew me closer and in that moment I was glad to be simply standing still with him while the world turned about us.

Revised 2.12.2012