One Final Choice.
Iris opens her eyes and noticed Max next to her. Both of them looks around. Chloe is standing in front of them, watching the tornado. Which still happened, no matter what they tried to do, it still happened.
"Oh, Chloe!" Max runs up to Chloe and hugs her tightly.
Chloe turns around "I see that the real Max is back... So, how was your time trip, dude?"
"Shut up. Oh, you're alive! You're alive, oh... all of us! I did so much to bring you back, Chloe... and it worked. It actually worked. You're with me again" Max said in relief.
Chloe hugged Max "It looks like even fate doesn't want us apart. And... you traveled through multiple realities just to... save my ungrateful ass over and over. I hope it was worth it, but... I don't blame you for wanting me out of your life, after all my drama".
"Come on. I'm the official Drama King and Queen of Arcadia Bay this week. Just look at what my powers have caused in... just a short time. I mean... I'm nobody" Max said.
"Max, you are a reckless idiot. But you are not a nobody. You are much more than that" Iris said as she walked up to them "I admit, I have been pissed at you for throwing me around in all your time manipulation and constantly screwing up my chance to start a new life. But you are still my friend Max. And friends stick together even when they make mistakes".
"She's right. You're Max-fucking-Caulfield, Time Warrior. Even if you weren't, you're kind and caring. Nobody could have a better best friend... Nobody. You didn't ask for any of this to happen, but it did. You need to accept how awesome you are" Chloe said.
"Maybe I willed it subconsciously, or something. I always wanted my life to be special... an adventure... but not without you. And it didn't happen until I moved back here, so... without you, my powers wouldn't even exist" Max said.
"Then for whatever scientific, mystical reason, that we'll obviously never figure out... We were meant to be together at this exact moment in history. I have to think that Rachel was somewhere behind the scenes, fighting for justice..." Chloe said.
"I'd like to think that, too... We all owe Rachel Amber. Now tell me everything that happened. You... You remember, right?" Max asked.
"Well, we... we left the party and made sure Jefferson couldn't find us. For once, I was glad I lived in an actual fortress. Then the storm got hella crazy and... and you said we would be safe at the lighthouse" Chloe explained.
"Chloe, look! The storm is getting bigger now. It's coming closer. I... I can't even believe this is real, but this is happening because of me" Max said in shame.
"Stop it! Stop beating yourself up, okay? We've both paid our dues already on that. Oh, God, look at that! Look at that monster! Who knows... This could be Rachel's revenge... Our revenge. The lighthouse is out of the way of the tornado. Come on!" Chloe demanded
"Oh... What... Chloe..." Max collapsed in Chloe's arms.
"I've got your back, Max" Chloe said.
"Max are you... Ok...?" Iris said before she felt everything go dark.
When she opened her eyes she was in the empty space she was in before. She looked around trying to find someone. But there was nothing but darkness. She began to walk, hoping to find a way out... but what she saw... made her grow more scared.
She saw her memories... memories of her past life. She saw all the times she spent with Gladio when she was a kid, when she first mat Noctis. All the time she spent with the guys, all the fights she tried to help them with... both good and bad memories kept hitting her in the face.
"Why am I seeing this now? I've spent all this time trying to move on" Iris said to herself.
"Oh, so you are just going to forget about us now? You always were useless, but I didn't think you were this selfish" Came an all to familiar voice.
"Of course she is selfish. She let you die and abandoned me" Came another familiar voice.
Iris looked up "Jared... Talcott?".
"I'm surprised you even remember our names after what you did. You claim to be an Amicitia, a powerful shield. But you did nothing as that bastard killed me" Jared said in disgust.
"No. I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do" Iris said in shame.
Talcott scoffs "Some shield you are. You even left me so you could go on a live a good new life. But it hasn't been a good life, has it? That's called karma you selfish-".
"SHUT UP!" Iris screamed as she rushed through them "I am not going to let some fake ghosts torment me".
"Fake? Nothing is fake here, my little twin" Iris looked up and saw... herself?
"Who are you?" Iris demanded.
"I am you. The real you, the one you've been trying to deny" Her other self said.
"I don't understand" Iris said.
Her darker clone smiled "It's simple. I am the truth behind your lies. You talk so much about being a shield, a loyal and true friend. Yet you left your entire world behind, your family, friends. All for your own selfish desires. You couldn't stand living by the rules of your real home, so you abandoned everything in a pathetic attempt to start a new and better life".
"You're right... I didn't want to live a life where my destiny was decided for me. I wanted to be free. I wanted a life where everything was my choice. My new life has not been perfect, but at least it's my life" Iris said.
Dark Iris laughed loudly "Do you really believe that? Have you really not noticed that you are still letting others decide your life for you?".
"What?" Iris asked in confusion.
"HAHAHAHA! So you really haven't noticed. Very well, let me show you" Dark Iris said as she moved her hand and showed the memories of Iris and her time with Max and Chloe "Take a good look at all these memories and tell me which one of them was your idea? Which one of these memories happened because of you?".
Iris looked at them "Wh-what are you trying to tell me here?".
Dark Iris shook her head "You are so dense, I am embarrassed to be a part of you. Ever since you arrived in this crappy world, you've let Max and Chloe drag you around and into their own messes. You never made a single choice on your own. You just let them take charge and followed them around like a loyal pup. That is what you are, Iris. A stray pup who blindly follows her new owners".
"That is not true! I chose to be with them! To be there when they needed me. And I did my best to help them" Iris argued.
"Only for dear little Max to undo all your efforts. Because at the end of the day, she is the one who has the power. And she abused them to the highest level. She could have done so much more with them, but she only used them to futher her own agenda" Dark Iris said.
"You are wrong! Max may be reckless and don't always think things through. But she is a good person, and a good friend. She did her best to help everyone" Iris continued to argue.
"Oh spare me that crap. Max only cared about herself. She wanted to be special, and of course she risked destroying reality so she can have a blue haired tomboy to fuck" Dark Iris said.
"Max loves Chloe, of course she is going to try and save her" Iris said.
"And yet Chloe has done nothing but use Max as a tool in order to achieve her own selfish goals. And she used you as a meat shield to save her own ass" Dark Iris said.
"Chloe and her family took me in. I would be a homeless girl on the streets if not for her. Helping her when she is in danger was the least I could do" Iris argued.
"There you go again, acting like you had a say in the matter. Chloe made you are darling little sister, and you became her loyal guard dog who can't think for herself. You said you chose to be with them? Even if that is true, it still don't change the fact you let them decide how your new life has been these past few days. They made all the decisions, and you just went along with them. You even stayed put like a dog when they didn't want you around for the moment" Dark Iris said.
"Shut up! That is not true!" Iris said, beginning to shake.
Dark Iris smirked "Isn't it ironic? You left everything behind to start a new and free life. You hoped to reach heave, but fell to hell!".
"SHUT UP!" Iris screamed as she punched her darker self, making her surroundings shatter like glass.
Iris fell to her knees shaking "Iris!".
She looked up "Max?".
Max ran up to her "Iris, are you OK!?".
Iris quickly grabbed her shoulders "Max, I need you to tell me something. And please be honest".
"Of course, what is it?" Max asked.
"Am I real person? Am I really your friend?" Iris asked.
Max looked worried "What are you talking about? Of course you are".
"Be honest Max! I haven't done anything worth while. I just followed you and Chloe around. I didn't help you in the slightest" Iris cried out.
"That is not true, Iris!" Max said as she grabbed Iris' face "You protected me from Nathan. You protected both me and Chloe from Frank. You helped save Chloe from the train. You made a lot of our missions a lot easier. And most of all, you saved my life by telling David about the Dark Room. You promised to be our shield, Iris. And you were".
Iris tried to calm down "Really? But almost non of all the choices was my own".
"If you feel that way, then once this is over. Me, you and Chloe are going to do whatever you want. You will decide the future for our little family" Max said.
Iris could not help but to smile at that "Thank you Max... I love you... and Chloe...".
Max hugs her "And we love you, Iris".
With that, everything went white.
Iris and Max fall to the ground. Noticing Chloe had carried them to the lighthouse.
"Max? Iris? can you two hear me? Please, say something" Chloe begged.
"Chloe? I... we must have passed out... Sorry" Max said.
"More like we got trapped in a nightmare" Iris said.
"Oh, thank God... Don't you ever do that again, okay?" Chloe pleaded
"I swear... but that nightmare was so real... was so horrible..." Max said.
"It felt like hell" Iris said.
Chloe takes their arms and they stand up. Max watches the tornado, horrified "This is my storm. I caused this... I caused all of this. I changed fate and destiny so much that... I actually did alter the course of everything. And all I really created was just death and destruction!".
"Fuck all of that, okay? You were given a power. You didn't ask for it... and you saved me. Which had to happen, all of this did... except for what happened to Rachel. But without your power, we wouldn't have found her! Okay, so you're not the goddamn Time Master, but you're Maxine Caulfield... and you're amazing. Max, this is the only way" Chloe said as she hands Max the photo she took of the blue butterfly.
"I feel like I took this shot a thousand years ago" Max said as she looked at the fateful picture that started it all.
"You... You could use that photo to change everything right back to when you took that picture... All that would take is for me to... to..." Chloe began before she holds her face in her hands.
Iris got wide eyes when she realized what Chloe meant "No!".
"Fuck that! No... no way! You are my number one priority now. You and Iris are all that matters to me" Max argued.
"I know. You proved that over and over again... even though I don't deserve it. I'm so selfish... not like my mom... Look what she had to give up and live through... and she did. She deserves so much more than to be killed by a storm in a fucking diner. Even my step... father deserves her alive. There's so many more people in Arcadia Bay who should live... way more than me..." Chloe said with tears running down her eyes.
"Don't say that... I won't trade you" Max said, her voice cracking.
"You're not trading me. Maybe you've just been delaying my real destiny... Look at how many times I've almost died or actually died around you. Look at what's happened in Arcadia Bay ever since you first saved me. I know I've been selfish, but for once I think I should accept my fate... our fate..." Chloe said.
Max was beginning to feel hopeless "Chloe...".
"Max, you finally came back to me this week, and... you did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven't done in years. Wherever I end up after this... in whatever reality... all those moments between us were real, and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision" Chloe said.
"There got to be another way!" Iris shouted, hating every second of this.
"We tried the other ways. Max tried everything else. But it all kept on coming back to this" Chloe said pointing to the storm.
"Chloe... I can't make this choice..." Max begged.
Chloe grabs Max's arms "No, Max... You're the only one who can".
Max looked at the picture, her whole body trembling from the horrible decision she would have to make. Iris could feel it too. This was the moment. This was the moment that would end it all. The choice that would decide the future. The final choice.
"Max... it's time..." Chloe said softly.
"Chloe... I'm so, so sorry... I... I don't want to do this" Max cried.
Chloe hugs Max tightly "I know, Max. But we have to. We have to save everybody, okay? And you'll make those fuckers pay for what they did to Rachel. Being together this week... it was the best farewell gift I could have hoped for. You're my hero, Max" They share a passionate kiss "I'll always love you... " She looks at Iris "And Iris... you are the best little sister I could've ever hoped for. You are a true guardian angel. I love you so much".
Iris was shaking, knowing the choice Max made. Chloe walked up to hug her, but Iris couldn't take it "NO!".
She suddenly snatched the picture from Max, tore it up and threw it in to the storm. Max and Chloe looked at her in utter shock, neither expecting her to do that.
Iris turned around, tears streaming down her face "Who are we to force Max to make such a choice? I am done standing on the side lines and doing nothing as you two make all the decisions. I made this choice! You hear me!? Everything that happens from now on is because of me! THIS IS MY DOING!".
"Iris..." Chloe whispered, not beveling she didn't see how much Iris must have suffered from the crap they made her go through with them.
Iris was breathing hard but then her face was struck with realization of what she just did and she turned back to the storm "Oh gods... Courtney! I am sorry Courtney! I'm so sorry! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" She fell to her knees "I'm sorry! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!".
Max and Chloe hugged her from the side as Iris broke down crying hard. She didn't think her choice through at all, she just reacted out of panic. No matter what she did, she would be forced to sacrifice one loved one to save another.
"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..." She repeated over and over again.
"Iris... We will always be with you" Chloe said.
"Forever..." Max added.
Chloe and Max hugged Iris more and they watch as the tornado hits Arcadia Bay. Iris finally decided to make her own choice... and it ended up being the most heartbreaking choice she ever had to make.
"Do not worry child... this will not be the end" Came a voice that was both familiar and yet Iris didn't know who it was.
"What...?" Iris wondered silently, until she saw the sky lit up and a large hand reached through a portal before making the storm go away.
Iris got wide eyes "Wait... you are...".
"The time manipulator weakened the walls of reality just enough for me to do this. But this is all I will be able to do for you, child. This will be your last chance to make your own life. Fail again, and you are on your own. We will not speak again" The powerful god that sent Iris here in the first place said before he vanished forever.
Chloe blinked several times "What the fuck just happened?! One minute the storm was about to fuck everything up, then there was a bright light and next thing I see, the storm is over and town is fucked up but still standing".
Iris smiled weakly "Maybe... destiny finally threw us a bone... come on, let's check on the others".
"She is right... let's go..." Max said.
The storm had destroyed a lot, but thankfully, most of the people had pulled through. Chloe found her mother, and quickly ran up and hugged her hard. Joyce hugged her back. Despite all the difficulty they had gone through, right now they were just happy they were both alive and together again.
Iris looked around for a while until she noticed Courtney, and with tears in her eyes she rushed over to her. Courtney wasted not time to kiss her hard, and Iris happily returned it. After such a close call, they needed this.
It took several weeks to clean up the mess that the storm left. A lot of the buildings were damaged and a lot of people were hurt. But slowly, life began to come back to Arcadia Bay. Nothing would ever be the same again, but at least they were alive to see another day. The school were not damaged by the storm, so the students could still stay there, though everyone got some time of to recover and talk to their family. A rough end to a horrific ordeal.
In Courtney's bedroom, both her and Iris were sleeping together, naked. Last night they finally did the deed and had sex. Iris was more than happy to give up her virginity to the girl she loved. She woke up when she heard some buzzing, she looked at her phone, yes, Iris had finally gotten her own phone. She picked it up and checked the message.
It was from Chloe, and it said: Rise and shine, sleepy head. It's time.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot" Iris said to herself, before slowly removing Courtney's arm from her.
"Leaving already?" Courtney asked as she woke up.
"Sorry, but this is important. I will be back soon" Iris said as she got out of bed.
"God, your ass is so cute" Courtney said while admiring the view.
Iris blushed but smiled "Get used to the sight. You will be seeing it a lot more soon".
"Oh I will" Courtney said while licking her lips "And your pussy was real tasty too".
"Alright, now you are being a perv" Iris said as she grabbed her clothes.
"If loving your body makes me a perv, then so be it" Courtney declared.
Iris rolled her eyes before putting her clothes on "You are hopeless, but I still love you. See you soon".
Iris gave Courtney a goodbye kiss before hurrying outside.
"Come on Iris, you overslept. It's almost time!" Chloe urged.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Iris said as she ran in to Chloe's truck and they speed away.
The truck came to a stop and the three girls ran towards the light house. They made it just in time.
Max put up a new camera she borrowed for the day "Alright, the camera is set. Hurry and get in to position!".
They ran to the bench and sat down, with Iris in the middle, Chloe to the right and Max to the left. They waited until the camera took the picture and hurried to check. All three smiled as the camera have perfectly captured both them and the sunrise.
"Now that is one hella good looking team" Chloe said.
"A happy team" Max agreed with a smile.
"A family" Iris said "I am just so happy that we all got to enjoy this moment".
"All thanks to destiny finally cutting us some slack" Chloe said.
Iris had considered telling them the whole truth about where she came from and how she got here. But she decided not to, since now she was finally ready to leave her old life behind and start a new one. Max had sworn to never use her powers again, it was simply to risky. It was better to just let destiny take it's course now.
Max looked at the sunrise "This may look like a overused happy ending. But I'll take it".
"Yeah. We all got a second chance at life, better not blow it... even though my Step-Father is still a bit of a douche" Chloe said. She had finally learned her lesson, and managed to make peace with David. It would take a while, but one day they would be able to call each other a real family.
Iris smiled at that "And you are still a punk. And Max is still the humble nerd. But I wouldn't change that even if I could".
"Hey, I am not a nerd... anymore" Max said.
Chloe laughed "Babe! You are my future wife now. So get used to being called many names".
"You both suck". Max grumbled.
Iris giggled before watching the sun set. They beat destiny this time, but there would still be more challenges in the future. But there is one thing they all learned from their experience.
Life is Strange.
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And there you have it. This is the last chapter of this story. I know some of you might be a little annoyed at the happy ending. But considering I would've been forced to pick between two heartbreaking endings if I decided to follow the game. Yeah, I pick my own ending, thank you very much. After all the crap the characters had to go through, they deserve a happy ending.
Well, I would like to thank you all for reading this story. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I am very happy you all stuck with it all the way to the end. But now that it's over, I have other stories to focus on.
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Let me know what you think of this final. All reviews are greatly appreciated.