Well this is it. The end of The Copycat. I hope you all have enjoyed some part of my story. I thank all of you who have stuck with me since chapter 1.

Chapter 10

*Mae*

I opened my eyes at the sound of chirping birds. A breeze was gently blowing through an open window. I was in my room…in my world. It felt like so long since I was last here.

"Mae?" a voice came softly from beside me.

It belonged to a face I had known and loved all my life, "Joe? What happened?"

"You ran away. I looked everywhere, searched every world, for you Mae!" he tackled me in a hug knocking me back into the bed. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"Um, Joe? Can't breathe," I squeaked.

"Sorry! Sorry!" he said pulling back, "What happened? Where did you go?"

I was silent as I let the memories of Mexa rolled over me. My eyes burned with tears and I choked on sobs as I told the story of my binding friendship with Demyx, my love for Axel, and my death. When the story was told Joe held me in his arms and I cried.

I stood just outside the throne room. I was able to still wear my favorite white pants, blue shirt, brown moccasins and vest. After all this time they still fit. Proves I am destined to be short for the rest of my life.

I had to face my father. I hadn't seen him since he clapped that bracelet on me and tried to trap me here. As future queen I had to do what was right. I took a deep breath and opened the doors.

I had forgotten the magnificence of this room. It was made of a polished stone that gleamed in the sunlight shining through the windows. I looked along the walls and across the ceiling at all the carvings of the exploits of past kings and queens. My adventures did not belong in this place.

"I see you've awakened Mae," he said looking down on me from his throne.

"Father I must speak with you," I had to hold my ground.

"Tisk tisk. Mae how many times must I remind you that pants are for men and dresses are for women? Well after you and Keith are married there will be no more need for you to own such cloths," he rambled on ignoring me.

"Father!" my voice echoed through the chamber, "Father I will not marry Keith!" the king fell silent and looked as though he might have me executed. "He has no interest in me," I continued, "or you, or the wellbeing of this kingdom! All he wants is the power that comes with being king!" as he sat there dumbstruck I took advantage of the opportunity while I had it, "He's not fit to rule…and neither am I."

"Hold on right there Mae! You are my daughter and rightful heir to this throne!" he shouted pounding the arm of the king's chair to emphasize his words.

"No father! I'm not. Joe is and you know it! You know he will be the best king this world has ever known! He'll have to…because I won't be here."

He looked me right in the eyes. An expression dressed his face like I had never seen.

"Where will you be?" he said quietly.

"Traveling," I turned to leave, "there is someone I need to find."

Radiant Gardens. I hadn't been here in a long time. I had searched so many worlds looking for him. No luck. No sign of him anywhere.

I walked down the streets. I remembered them from that one time Axel brought me here with Roxas and Xion. I couldn't help but smile at the memory, but that was quickly chased away as I realized that was when all the trouble started.

I bought some ice cream from a small shop on the corner. As I walked away a flash of red caught my eye. A redheaded girl walking away between two boys, one with long silver hair and the other with long brown spikes; but that's not what I was staring at. With them was a tall, lean man with long, red, spikey hair. I dropped my ice cream and ran after them.

"Axel," I said out of breath grabbing his arm.

When the man turned I looked him full in the face. It was very much like Axel's but not quite the same. The teardrop tattoos were gone. He wasn't Axel.

"I'm sorry," I stammered, "I thought you were someone else." I turned and ran.

I ran right out of the city till I reached the waterfall. I had been to so many worlds, would I ever find him?! The sun began to set. I curled up in the soft grass and let my troubles float away in the sound of the waterfall behind me. And slowly I drifted off to sleep.

"Miss?" someone was shaking me awake, "Miss are you ok?"

It was the red-head from yesterday. "Yes. I'm fine," I said sitting up.

"How did you find this place?" he even sounded like Axel. This was torture.

"I came here once when I ran away from home."

"Did you really forget me, Mae?" he said with a smirk.

My jaw dropped in surprise, "How do you know my name?"

He smiled and shook his head, "You did forget me. I'm hurt. I was the one who showed you this place."

I stared at him for the longest time thinking back to my first time here; then I remembered getting into a fight to help two young boys.

"Lea!"

He laughed, "Obviously you didn't have it memorized."

Have it memorized? Wait a minute, "Axel?"

Lea's face became serious, "Really Mexa? It took you this long to realize it was me?" I was so happy I just threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back.

"Why did you do that to me Mae?" Lea whispered into my ear.

I pulled away to look him in the eye, "Why did I do what?"

"Why did you trick me into killing you? Why did you play a trick like that?" pain filled his eyes as he said these words.

I let my arms and my gaze fall from him, "Lea…I had to. It was the only way to get you to fight back. If you hadn't killed me they would have killed you! I couldn't allow that."

Before I realized what was happening Lea pulled me close and kissed me. It was like our last kiss before I died, but there was feeling, real feeling in this kiss. He pulled away and smiled at me.

Placing a hand on the side of my face he said, "I love you Mae. I loved you when you were Mexa…I just didn't realize it at the time. It killed me to lose you! Don't leave me again."

I smiled. I had waited so long to hear him say that. I kissed him and whispered in his ear, "I love you Lea. And I will never leave you."