Hello hello, my darlings!
So this is it...the final chapter-HAHA NOPE! One more chapter after this! MERRY CHRISTMAS, GUYS!
You know, I was thinking, what on Earth was it that made this story so popular? Was it that it hd never been done before? Was it because I started out uploading so quickly? Was it because o the lack of Apostle stories that to have one based solely on them was a relief? You'll have to tell me in the reviews, I'd like to know.
In case I don't get a chance to say this in the next chapter (since we're going on vacation and I need to pack), I'd like to thank EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for sticking with me this long. You are all the reason I keep writing, and I like to think of you all as my friends. Especially The Omega Mega 1 and Mio-san, who both were so helpful in the creation and maintenance of this story, Omega for helping me edit almost every single chapter (sometimes at ungodly hours of the morning) and Mio-san for helping me brainstorm and for still loving the plot even though I spoiled some of it for her. THANKS YOU TWO AND EVERYONE ELSE!
Now, please enjoy the second-to-last-formerly-last chapter of Nurturing Purple, Soothing Green, Innocent Black!
April 3, 2052
Location: San Francisco, C.A.
7:00 A.M.
The smell of spring was present in the morning air as the wind blew to the north, scattering with it tiny puffs of dandelion fluff. Ferns and cattails swayed in the wind as the sun began to peak over the hills, its tiny streams of light setting the world ablaze. As tiny chipmunks and squirrels rose from their slumbers and began to climb about their trees or search the tall blades of grass for food, a small group of people stood on a dark hill.
"September 23, 2039…" Marion began "I got a call from Wyler, telling me he was leaving." He shook his head sadly. "I tracked his GPS device, but when I found the car it had been abandoned…" He sighed. "You two didn't get there quickly enough, but when I got there he was right outside the car. It wasn't the machines that picked him off…bandits attacked his car. Killed him and stole most of the valuables. I didn't know he'd taken Stella with him. Hell, I didn't even know she existed." He looked down. "So I buried him here."
"Y pensar…" Mii whispered "That's why he never reached her. He was…" She paused, almost like it was too painful to say.
"The Professor really did love her." Lirio said, taking her hand to comfort her.
"But she died thinking he didn't."
"She knows now though." Stella piped up. "I-I'm sure she does."
Lirio placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "You're right." He assured her. "They can be together now."
As he said that, Gold Saw and her attendants ascended the hill, the four workers carrying a stretcher.
Stella choked back a sob. White looked beautiful; they had done her the honor of closing her eyes, and her face had slacked, so she now looked like she was sleeping peacefully. She was adorned by a plain white dress, and her long snowy hair was loose and flowed around her; she looked like an angel.
No one said anything. Gold Saw stood to the side as the attendants lay the stretcher beside the empty, freshly dug grave next to the tomb that Professor Gibson was buried in. Immediately after, six guards followed them, leading a young girl with grey hair.
Stella couldn't help but cringe. Nana had never looked so feeble. For just a moment her gold eyes lifted and locked with Stella's, and she saw the depths of utter sorrow turning her older sister's eyes into hollow abysses of pain. But then Nana turned away, and she disappeared between Cecil and Dragon Slayer, who stood on each side of her.
Gold Saw looked at Dragon Slayer. "Are you sure she's safe here?"
"She wanted to see her mother one last time." Cecil spoke up, her quiet voice strangely defiant. "I…I told them she deserves that much."
They expected Gold Saw to fight back, but she only nodded.
Everyone was silent as the guards lifted White from her stretcher and lowered her into the grave. Gold Saw quietly took her handful of rose petals and sprinkled them over her body, whispering "Volo eseis anzen'na tabi."
Everyone else followed in suit, casting red, white, and yellow rose petals and all but Stella and Nana whispering "Volo eseis anzen'na tabi."
Stella turned to her mother. "What does that mean?"
Mii didn't turn to look at her, but Stella could see her eyes filling with tears. "It's the ancient language of Haven." She whispered. "It means 'I wish you safe journeys.' It protects the dead on their journey to the afterlife."
"Is it hard to get there?" Stella asked, a bit worried. "Will she be happy? What's it like there?"
"I don't know." Mii confessed. "No one knows but the dead…however, it's said that to get there, one must pass through the garden of stars, and use it to find their way through the darkness."
"The stars are the memories of all good deeds done during life." Lirio chimed in. "However, crimes bring darkness like stars bring light, so depending on how many crimes have been committed, they may have to find their way in complete darkness."
Stella began to panic. "But she was the reason for the invasion!" She cried. "The entire human race almost died…what if she can't find her way?!"
Mii smiled, suddenly and reassuringly. "She won't be in the dark, Mija." She assured.
Stella wiped away tears. "How can you be sure?"
"Because she did one good thing in this life." He father whispered.
He mother wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Whether it be by accident or intent, she gave us you."
"She tried to steal me away…"
Her father smiled and laid a hand on her head. "And in doing so, brought our races together. Accidental good deeds can create stars, too."
Stella nodded and looked down at White's body one more time. "Goodbye, Mother." She whispered, to soft for anyone to hear. "If things had been different…"
As the first shovelful of dirt was tossed onto the corpse, no one thought to turn around. However, had they, they would have seen several shimmering figures gathering at the top of a neighboring hill, among them standing a young woman with long white hair, bright red eyes and an eye patch, and next to her an little four year old girl with long white hair and purple eyes. Between them was an older man, his black hair adorning grey streaks, and smile wrinkles having formed around his eyes.
Slowly ascending the hill was another figure; another albino woman, her white hair and dress flowing around her. When she reached the top, her magenta eyes lit up, and she rushed into the man's arms. He caught her in a tight embrace, laughing as he did, and she cried tears of utter joy at being reunited with him.
As their joyous reunion continued, more figures appeared behind them; 21 young girls, all smiling peacefully. Alana with her blue hair flowing around her, Virda with her wounds healed, Alba and Blanca holding hands, and each one of their sisters, all with looks upon their face that read only of forgiveness and happiness.
The Professor released White, and taking her hand, slowly led her toward the group of girls, the other two standing beside him hanging behind for a minute.
Ekishou silently turned back towards the crowd, still gathered around White's grave, and her eyes rested on three individuals; Xiaoming, standing with his head bent at the edge of the congregation, and Rothcol, now with his arm around Shizu's waist.
She smiled. "Take care of him, Shizu." She whispered. "You too Rothcol, and Xiao. Live a good, happy life-"
"Ekishou, are you coming?" The little girl asked, and Ekishou looked down into her big, purple eyes.
"I'm coming Alejandra." She whispered. "Just saying goodbye." And with that, she grasped Alejandra's tiny hand, and the two joined the others as they disappeared over the hill and into mist.
…
"What will happen to Nana?" Stella asked as Gold Saw began to turn away.
The older woman shot a look at her. Nana was on her knees next to White's grave, and while she wasn't sobbing, she was shaking and tears were flowing down her cheeks like two steady rivers.
"…We're going to take her back to Spire." She told her. "I know a few other doctor's there. They'll be able to help her; get her back on her feet."
"Will they torture her?" Mii asked bluntly.
"I'm not my father." Gold Saw replied, her tone as smooth as ever. "I'd never send an innocent girl somewhere she would get hurt."
Mii nodded, still looking a bit skeptic.
"If it would assure you further," Gold Saw continued "I can allow for you to visit her occasionally, Stella. You are her sister-"
"Stella?"
They all turned in surprise at the sound of Nana's voice. She had raised her head but had not turned to look at them, although anyone could see she was now alert.
Stella quietly approached her older sister and knelt beside her. "I'm here, Nana." She whispered.
Nana turned and looked at her, her eyes desperate. Suddenly, in a wave of tears, she threw her arms around Stella and held her, sobbing into her shoulder.
Stella, in turn, wrapped her arms around Nana. "I'll always be here."
Cast your eyes on the ocean,
Cast your soul to the sea.
When the dark night seems endless…
Please remember me.*
…
May 4, 2052
Location: Koishikawa Korakuen, Tokyo, Japan
6:00 P.M.
Her mother had never looked so beautiful.
Stella watched as her mother, adorned in her simple yet elegant wedding dress, held out her hand, and her father slipped the ring on her finger; a simple gold band, yet twisted like rose vines and studded with a blood red ruby. Mii repeated the gesture, and as Phobos pronounced them husband and wife, they kissed, and Stella could see the passion burning between them, and it was enough to make her cry.
They separated, and then kissed again, and finally Stella ran up to them and wrapped her arms around them both, her own dark purple dress rumpling a bit, but she didn't notice.
Instead of pulling her off, Mii and Lirio embraced her in a hug, too. They cuddled together as everyone else clapped, their joy spreading through the crowed.
Mii kissed Lirio again. "Nunca he sido tan feliz."
He smiled, but before he could answer, someone interjected.
"HEY!" Nafhe shouted. "Aren't you going to throw the bouquet?!"
"Oh, es cierto!" Mii cried. "She turned around so her back was to the crowed. "Ready?" She tossed the bouquet behind her.
Elly and Loveness practically jumped on top of one another to grab it, but the person it landed in front of was neither of them.
The flowers rolled to a stop at Ram's feet.
Slowly, she picked them up, smiling smugly at her two fighting friends. Then suddenly she looked to her side, and her smile disappeared.
Shizu was standing a few feet away, one hand on the noticeable bulge in her belly. She was smiling at her and looked genuinely happy, but…
Ram briskly walked over, and without a thought, thrust the flowers into Shizu's arms.
The other woman looked startled. "Oh, no I-"
"Take it." Ram gently commanded with a smile. Her eyes flickered toward her pregnant stomach, but only for a millisecond. "You need it more than I do."
Shizu smiled. "T-Thank you."
"I gotta say," Mazuma piped up "Zaha was surprisingly cool about you being pregnant with a human baby."
"Why exactly was that, Daddy?" Nafhe asked the older man, who rubbed his temples and sighed.
"Mii and Lirio adopted Stella, we've allied with the human race, one of my soldiers is now pregnant with a human child, I figure I've lost control of my entire squad and ship."
"So you've basically given up?" Mazuma asked.
"You're still on weapon room duty." Zaha answered.
Meanwhile, Loveness and Elly had given up their catfight, although they were still shooting glares at each other once in a while, and Elly had thrown her arms around her sister and now brother-in-law.
"I am SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU TWO!" She squealed. She hugged Lirio much too tightly and babbled "So where are you taking her for the honeymoon? It's gotta be someplace expensive, right? You know that's how it works, right? Cause that's how it works."
"Gods, you're annoying." Lirio sighed, and then muttered in a whisper he thought was too soft for anyone to hear "I'd hate to meet my mother-in-law-"
"MII! HE'S TALKING ABOUT MOM!" Elly cried.
Mii rolled her eyes. "Elly, please."
"But he's the one who-"
"Auntie," Stella interrupted, holding out a plate "I brought you some cake…"
Elly was silent for a minute, before she squealed again. "MY LITTLE NIECE IS SO ADORABLE!" She took the cake from her and covered her in kisses, which Stella just stood and accepted.
Mii and Lirio smiled at each other, and Stella even giggled and wrapped her arms around Elly in a tight hug.
"You are so sweet!" Elly cried, hugging her with her free hand. She looked at the couple behind her. "You did a good job with her, sis."
"Oh, we're not done yet." Mii replied. "Remember, she's still only twelve."
"Wait until she gets a boyfriend~" Elly teased them, and Lirio clenched his jaw slightly.
It was several hours later that the group began to disperse. Stella was helping Elly "clean up" some of the desserts (which mostly consisted of Elly eating as many as she could), when she looked behind her and saw her parents standing up on a small hill, the sun at their backs making them glow.
As she watched them, Mii rested her cheek in Lirio's hand, and he gently stoked her cheek with his thumb. They leaned forward and kissed right as the sun went down in a flash of gold and orange light, and Stella smiled, noticing that, after all these years and even now that she was married, her mother still wore her engagement necklace, which now gleamed in the light of the stars above.
Stars…
*Dante's prayer, Loreena Mckennit, 2009
And there we have it. Mii and Lirio have finally married and society is whole again.
Once again, I love you all, and the bonus chapter should be up in a few hours!
BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE!