It was quiet. Not a sound was heard in the entirety of the area. It was early in the day according to the clocks, but above were only the light of false stars. The atmosphere was calm. Peaceful. Stable. The passing noise of a stiff breeze was all there was to be heard.
Until it was broken. By the sound of footsteps.
Down along a path was someone walking. Someone young, someone brave, someone considered a friend. They walked confidently down the path, keeping their focus ahead of them. Their footsteps echoed out into the silence of the area as they walked across a bridge. They stopped a few feet away from it once they crossed.
They looked back, seemingly confused, and stood waiting for something.
For someone.
Finally, someone came to them from further down the path. They greeted them, and they replied happily, running to them and joking about their being late. They shared a good few laughs, they walked on together.
At the town, someone else joined them, and they kept walking along the main path, on into another area. There they met someone else they knew, all of them, and they walked together onward. They soon met someone else, and found another in the next area. Further ahead, they found another friend they all knew.
They arrived at the end, and walked in together. They all talked and laughed, happy to see each other, and agreed that it was time.
It was time for everyone to go free.
They all stood together, and reached out with their souls.
One other stepped up with them, joining their soul power to theirs.
It was finally time.. for all of this to end..
The Barrier shattered against their power, gone in an instant of time, and what was left of it faded anyway to nothing in the morning sunlight that now shone through.
It was over.
Everyone's hopes were fulfilled.
They all walked out together, with many more friends by their sides, and took in the sight of the surface.
The Prince gave a positive speech to the monsters with him. His father added to it, speaking of hopes of peace as monster kind returned to the world. Even the Queen herself had some words to say, strengthening everyone further.
The ones who had journeyed here took off together, hopeful of seeing their homes and families again. Two though, stayed behind. For they had no home or family to return to. They were already there and with them.
Once the excitement had died down, others came to see the surface world for themselves, happy to be blinded by the sun and its light.
They all stood in awe of it.
Someone then asked a question, a very important question.
We were the only ones? Were there others like us? Trapped, now freed? How vast was this world, and how different were the lands beyond our sight? Who was out there waiting for us?
No one could answer.
Everyone in due time spread out, but were never far apart. Everyone had their dreams to see through, their hopes to make real, their lives to live to the fullest in this new world.
But a few stayed behind. Cursed with a responsibility too great to ignore. Deep in the mountain, they stood watch. Keeping busy with various things to occupy their time. Including wondering about other worlds, of what could have been, and what never will be.
The day would come, when the secrets buried in the mountain would be found, but it would not be by those whose lives were fueled by greed, by violence, or by hate. It would be found by those of pure heart. Or at least, that was the hope. It was far more likely that everything left behind would be forgotten.
Which was for the best..
These few that stayed behind had their own stories to tell. Stories of justice, compassion, understanding, endurance, integrity, heroics, and determination. But they rarely told them because of their humility. When provoked though, they would gladly tell them.
Just as one of them did now, to ones who were his family. Two of them listened intently to his story of justice and bravery. Of mistakes, and redemption. Lessons were learned, and wrongs were made right.
I was glad they were here. The little tots.
I was glad this future existed..
When I had finished telling my story for the umpteenth time, heh, the kids had their questions as usual. Their father stopped them and informed them they had to get home before it got much later.
They were of course disappointed.
He gave me a trusting smile as he rounded up his kids. I returned it, proud of him, and glad he still existed. He thanked me, as he always did, not just for the story for the kids, but for everything I had done.
I thanked him for helping me to do so by his example.
When he left, I felt the loneliness of this place surround me, but it didn't last long. Beside me, tired from hearing the same story for the thousandth time, was my brother. He argued about my interpretation of the how everything had happened, as he always did, and I argued about how good his memory was, as I always did.
We gave up the argument pretty quick, heh.
We looked out over the old city of New Home. Beyond it, deeper underground, was what we watched over. Secrets buried in the past where we planned to let them remain.
Together we stood watch. Watching over the better future we had made. That we all made.
We never gave up hope.
And no one was forgotten.
