A/N This is it. The final chapter. The last enemy that shall he defeated has finally been bested. I thank you all for joining me and I thank you for all the support you've given me. There's only one thing left: bring this whole series to a close. So without any further delay, I welcome you to enjoy the final chapter.
Chapter 22: The end
Mike slowly opened his eyes as consciousness began to refill his head. He sat up and groaned while rubbing his chest, which had recovered from his previous injury. He quickly scanned the nearby area and saw that all the shed blood, and the missing body parts, began to evaporate into grains of sand and disolve, joining the divide, as matter cannot be created or destroyed. That being said... these body parts and fluids belonged to people... Mike slowly glanced up and saw that his siblings, alive and well, were already standing and staring down at him.
"Look who's finally awake." Tina said with a chuckle.
"He always was a late riser." Mac added. Mike grinned at them and they smiled back. Fin helped Mike to his feet, allowing hin to join his brethren. Mike glanced over to his side and saw the dead body of Zach, having lost the challenge of the divide, he did not return.
"Good riddance." Frisk mumbled.
"Yea... I guess that's that then." Marco said.
"Yep. And while you were taking a nap," Star said to Mike. "We heard that the facility was taken back by everyone that came to help us. They got everything all under control down there with absolutley no casualties."
"That's great news..." Mike murmured. His sheepish silence bothered everyone. They cocked their heads at him.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Fin asked.
"It's... it's nothing." He insisted. They, however, weren't buying it.
"Come on, man. We didn't slog through heck and high water for all this time for nothing. We know you better than that. Now spill what's bothering you." Chara said. Mike hung his head a bit and caved.
"I... I'm no hero... You guys did most of the heavy lifting. I just... I dunno." He rubbed his arm, not entirely sure what to say. "After all this time, all we've gone through, I'm always the one getting injured. Always putting myself at risk... I know you can handle yourselves... and i know I'm not as strong as you... but I always felt that... If i tries hard enough... I don't know..."
"Hey..." Fin said as he placed a hand on Mike's shoulder. "Stop that talk. You've done more than anyone could ever ask of you."
"Yea man. You've taken beating after beating and still rose up to the challenge." Mac added.
"You took more than just physical trauma too. Your body is strong, but so is your mind." Marco said.
"You managed to keep it all together despite everything that was thrown at you, even if it cost your life." Star pitched in.
"You're kind, and caring, and not afraid of doing what needs to be done." Chara said as she joined the growing circle.
"You may thing you're less than us, but you're not. In fact, you're an inspiration. A beacon of determination." Frisk said, somewhat ironically.
"And last but not least, you're always there for us." Tina finished. "You faced the world with only us as your goal, a one man army for our sakes. And if anything makes you worthy, then that definitely does, by a huge margin." Tina smirked a bit. "Now dust yourself off and quit being so sentimental, you softie." Tina punched Mike in the shoulder, to which he rubbed his arm and chuckled.
"Heh... thank you... I mean it. But now..." Mike said as he stared off into the setting sun. "Now what do we do?" He finished as he took a seat at the edge of the building, lightly kicking his legs as they dangled off the edge. Soon, his brothers and sisters joined him.
"We live, Mike. We live." They replied. "We can finally rest now, nothing is holding us back, and nothing is in our way." Mike smiled and nodded.
"Well." He began. "Here's saying hello to the first day of the rest of our lives." And with that, they all kicked back and for the first time in a long time, they relaxed, a job well done, and all the time in the world. This truly was a new beginning for all of them. Who knows what the future will have in store?