The story of a life has no real end aside from death. But in a way, is not every homecoming in itself an end?
-Histoire
At the end of the day, everyone left the castle in high spirits. Night had fallen by this point as everyone pushed themselves to the limit one last time, but they had made it.
LAN Castle was cleared of monsters.
Naturally, IF knew they likely missed a few stragglers, but no one would be deterred by that; they had waged a minor war in the last few days, eradicating everything that got in their way.
Now that it was over, most of the agents rather preferred to hold an impromptu party instead of resting. The Leanboxians produced some instruments from somewhere and began to play with 5pb. in the lead, while CC2 pulled IF to dance. No one cared that neither of them could dance or how they stepped on each other's toes, or that 5pb. kept falling out of step because she was unused to making music with a group. Broccoli stepped up in place of proper fireworks, directing barrages of colourful magic into the sky; her mages soon followed the girl's example and added to the festivities while others joined the dancing Makers.
Despite how tired everyone was, especially after an hour of celebration, no one went to bed with a heavy heart that night.
Yet the events that transpired did not stay out of their minds forever. "I'm not happy that we couldn't protect everyone," Lyrica told the other Makers the next morning as they sat down for breakfast. "Even if our losses were low, I don't like this."
CC2 wrapped an arm around the blunette's shoulder and pulled her into a gentle sidehug. "Yeah, I get it," she told the other woman softly. "It sucks, but I rather you be sad than not care at all." IF had to agree there and even Broccoli appeared to be of the same opinion.
"It's what it is," the loweean girl told them with unusual reverence. "They all knew what they signed up for, so they were ready to take the risk. I know that doesn't make you feel any better," she added when her colleagues frowned, "but you shouldn't think you led unwitting fools to their demise, either."
As they ate, the Lastationites and Planeptunians were already busy taking apart the tech they constructed days earlier. IF originally meant to assist them, but had been shooed to have a proper meal after how hard she pushed herself on the final stretch.
They would be leaving the area soon, for a new group of Makers to return with new agents and the same task in a decade.
"Wanna ride with me?" CyberConnect2 grinned at her friends, IF being considered part of that group without any hesitation. "I'm already taking one group of freeloaders along, we have room for more." She pointed up at the anchored airship for Broccoli and IF to consider.
"Sure thing," the loweean agreed immediately. "It beats trecking back to the next city on our own."
She then channelled her magic into carrying her voice and addressed her white-clad agents: "Heads up, CC2 offered us a ride so we're passing on the survival training!" Her call was answered by cheers, followed by some laughter from the other agents.
IF had to think longer, seeing that she would be extracted either way. It would be nice to spend more time with her fellow Makers, but she was currently overseeing planeptunian troops.
After a few more moments, the brunette sighed as she realised how to solve this. "Sure, if you'd have me. I just need to see who's up for a detour."
So she stood and marched over to her own subordinates with a sandwhich in hand, who gathered together once they realised she was going to address them. IF looked around and found everyone present. Or rather, no purple attires anywhere else in her camp. "Alright, you heard it already, Lastation offers us a ride. Anyone who wants to kill some time and head home in style, hands up." A third of her agents raised their hands. IF nodded. "Okay, just in case, those who go with our own extraction teams, hands up."
Half of the agents raised their hands, leaving a few unaccounted. IF frowned and almost called them out, especially after seeing a few grins and understanding that they did it on purpose.
Instead of doing that however, she adopted her fake sweet smile she usually put on with kids who misbehaved. "Alright, and the rest apparently wants to walk home."
Her respone elicited some chuckling, though there were a few worried faces among the crowd; IF grinned and made to count again when she heard the loud cries of a flock of Phoenixes flying their way. She turned around while taking a large bite out of her sandwich, finding more than a dozen of the avian monsters approaching; then light blossomed and there was one less. And again.
None of them had done anything. The tanks remained silent and the artillery was already disassembled.
Then a pink blur raced through the flock and scattered it while destroying another three with slashes quicker than human eyes could follow. She came to rest in-between the gathered forces and the monsters, her presence settling over the area and calming everyone.
Purple Sister glimmered and exuded flame from her arms, the two streams flowing down their length and quickly forming into six superheated spears that darted toward the Phoenixes. Three more avian monsters fell, skewered by two spears each.
It went on like this and within a matter of seconds, the fight was over. The CPU turned to eye the strike team with surprise that remained unseen due to the distance, then she took up speed and descended to meet them.
All agents, even those of other nations, lowered their heads reverently on her approach; IF could not help but roll her eyes while she strode forward to meet her friend, quickly finishing her sandwich. The other Makers followed, a good bit of their tension and unease flaking away under Nepgear's soothing presence.
Blue eyes quickly took stock of the people present, of the destroyed tank at the side, and of the uneven numbers. The young CPU's face softened as she approached, though there was a certain amount of audible curiousity once they reached talking distance. "I was just hunting in the area," Purple Sister started with, giving a nod toward where the Phoenixes died. "Did something happen that made you pull out of the castle?"
IF just raised an eyebrow at her friend. "We're done is what happened." Her fellow Makers nodded, much to the Candidate's surprise.
"A full day ahead of schedule. Goodness, that is marvelous." Nepgear clapped her hands cheerfully and offered them a bright smile; wind softly stroked over the four, then her voice carried over the entire area, congratulating the Guild teams as well. "Good work, everyone!"
"Anyway," IF continued with a nod toward their mostly packed up camp, "we were making ready to leave. I'm going to take part of the team with the airship, so we will come back by train."
"Oh. Okay." Nepgear looked over everything again and nodded to herself, then floated up. "Do not let me stop you. Safe travels." She waved and darted away, her divine aura soon leaving the place. The others waved after her.
A downside of Nepgear's presence was that IF felt her soreness and exhaustion even more now, after it had been soothed somewhat for a few minutes. She heaved a sigh and turned to march back to her agents.
A quick call to the planeptunian transports later, she oversaw the final steps in the disassembly of their gear and watched all the other contingents being lifted into the airship. Her own transports arrived soon after, taking in the agents that decided to head home posthaste as well as the excess material. Several more were sent to tow the destroyed tank back home.
IF saw her agents off before stepping onto the final lift and being pulled upward. As the platform rose, she could see the anchors being pulled out of the ground and smiled.
It was indeed over.
CC2 expected her on top and pulled her along with a tired grin. "Come on, I commandeered us a place to stay."
And so she was pulled along into a comparably small stateroom, with two bunks in the walls and a few amenities. What IF noticed first however, was the fact both Broccoli and Lyrica were fast asleep, having already taken up the bunks on their own.
"What the, those guys were awake when I left," The blonde mumbled to herself as she looked over both mages, but IF tapped her shoulder to get her attention.
"Some sleep actually sounds great. Do you mind sharing with Broccoli?" She knew Lyrica would not mind either of them, but the loweean girl was not too fond of IF. CC2 shrugged and climbed into the lower bunk, cuddling the child to herself with a grin. The fact she did not even argue made it clear how tired she actually was.
They all were, really. IF climbed up into the other bunk and poked Lyrica, whose eyes fluttered open in confusion. "Move over," she muttered to the blunette, who did as told. It was cramped with two adults, but neither of them cared much. Moments passed until both of them had fallen asleep.
. .
. .
By the time IF woke, they had docked at a Lastationite city whose name she could not be bothered to learn or remember. She said her goodbyes and was drawn into a group hug by her fellow Makers, then took her remaining agents and took the next train home. The ride was more of a blur, seeing that she was still tired.
Yet her impressions slowly regained contrast and nuance, until she was mostly awake and looking out the metal giants rising into the sky. Nicos, her hometown, gleamed in the morning sun.
She got up and filed out of the train together with her agents, some of which were chatting with each other as they dispersed over the platform. IF herself, however, was immediately greeted by a ballistic purplette. "Welcome home!"
It took a moment to find her balance, but she got long since used to Neptune's antics and held her without any trouble. A glance found Nepgear and Compa waiting nearby to greet her as well; the sight filled IF with warmth.
She had been gone for only a few days, but with the battle and losses they had, it felt longer. IF still felt responsible for these good men and women dying, but she would get over it in time.
For now...
"Yeah, I'm back."
For now, she was home.
