A/N: For May 2021's writing prompts, I decided to take one of the more important scenes from Symphogear and explore a route that sees events taking place as they normally would, but changing what follows. Enjoy!

For The Future

Shénshòujìng. A relic capable of many things, such as the ability to cleanse the sin of all who come into contact with its beams. Tachibana Hibiki and Kohinata Miku are two such examples of Shénshòujìng's power, as contact with its beams allowed them to become unwilling vessels to divine power that would otherwise destroy a human being. In one life, with one another's help, they were able to be freed from their divine prisons and return to their normal lives. In another life, both parties were able to escape their prisons, but their lives would never be the same...

It was another normal day at S.O.N.G. Headquarters, as it had been for several decades. Following the defeat of Shem-Ha and the world tree Yggdrasil, the world had slowly but surely become more peaceful. Sure, it wasn't exactly perfect, but compared to life before the Curse of Balal was broken, there was a lot less needless bloodshed and destruction. But even still, the world needed someone to be able to protect it, and S.O.N.G. and its people were just the men and women for the job, as they had been for years on end.

Much like any other day, Elfnein had been working hard in her lab in any way she could to help S.O.N.G. and its Symphogear wielders, until a knock on her door got her attention. "Come in." The scientist said, stepping away from her desk to stretch after sitting for the past few hours as she always has. Upon her approval, the door opened and a woman in an orange dress shirt with navy blue jeans and long light brown hair entered. "Kana-san!"

"Sorry to bother you Elfnein-san. I just thought I'd see how you were doing today." Kana said. For the past few decades, S.O.N.G. had been run by Yuka Kana, a woman that wouldn't say much of her past other than that she was a descendant of the original Symphogear wielders Tachibana Hibiki and Kohinata Miku. Much like her , she was quick to become good friends with Elfnein outside of being her boss.

"You should know better than anyone it's never a bother to visit me. If anything, I can show you the upgrades I've made to the Symphogear system." Elfnein pulled up several files on the monitors to show the commander. "With these upgrades, we may finally be able to lessen the need for LiNKER in wielders and give them compatibility values equal to that of ones reached through LiNKER usage."

Kana smiled as she looked at the Symphogears on screen. "Man... It feels like only yesterday when I was using a Symphogear to protect people. How time has flown by..."

"I know what you mean, Kana-san. It's been so long since this body has aged up to that of Carol's original adult form that I almost miss being smaller. Almost."

The commander chuckled at that statement. "Guess that's just a natural part of adulthood. Sometimes, you just wish you could go back, even if the present is just as good. Speaking of time, it's almost dark out, meaning I should get going soon before Hikari starts to worry."

"It is getting pretty late, so I should be heading home for the night myself." "Actually, while I'm still here, I figured I'd invite you to come with Hikari and I to visit the others."

The scientist was quick to accept the commander of S.O.N.G.'s offer. "I'd be happy to. It's been quite some time since I've visited them."

"Then it's settled! I'll let Hikari know and I'll wait for you at the dock. See you in a bit, Elfnein-san!"

As promised, the commander waited for Elfnein to wrap up for the day and the two of them went to meet up with Yuka Hikari, Kana's wife, whose black hair practically glistened in the moonlight. "I'm glad you were able to come with us, Elfnein-san." Hikari said to the scientist. Hikari was a teacher over at Lydian Private Music Academy, but when she was off duty, she would more often than not visit S.O.N.G. Headquarters and chat with Kana, Elfnein, the other staff members, and even the current Symphogear wielders. When she wasn't working, she would usually be wearing the purple blazer Kana bought for her over her usual brown skirt and white top.

"I'm happy to be here with you two as well, Hikari-san. I'm sure the others will be happy to see me too." The couple looked to the scientist with nods of approval.

After a short drive, the trio arrived where the others were waiting for them, the cemetery. Every month, Hikari and Kana would visit one specific area of this place: the graves of the original 7 Symphogear wielders. "You know, everytime I see these graves, I think of how our lives used to be..."

"Kana..."

"I really do miss the good old days... Miku." Looking around to make sure it was just the three of them, "Hikari" nodded. "I know what you mean Hibiki. I miss them too. I don't miss how dangerous they were, but I miss them all the same."

"Kana" chuckled at that statement. "Even so, the only curse we had to worry about back then was the Curse of Balal. But now... Now we're cursed to live under fake names as we watch everyone we care about grow old and eventually pass away." Hibiki started to tear up as she remembered the last time she could hang out with any of her old allies aside from Miku.

February 12th, 2125

In that same cemetery, a much older Yukine Chris came to mourn her allies. She might not be as able as she once was, but this monthly trip to the cemetery was something she could manage to do. "Heh. It's funny if it weren't so damn sad, being the last of the original wielders left..."

"Chris-chan! It's so good to see you aga-"

Fortunately for the elder wielder, her accuracy in somethings hadn't left as she smacked the energetic Hibiki square in the head with her cane. "Honestly, all of this time and you're still just the same idiot from Lydian. And I'm not just talking about your body."

"Hehe. Sorry about that. I guess after all these years, it's still a bad habit of mine."

"Hmph. Whatever. Say, where's your wife? It's almost impossible to see you two separated outside of work these days."

"Hibiki! You should know better than trying to surprise Chris like that! She's 97 for crying out loud!"

"H-Hey! You make it sound like you and that idiot are my grandchildren! You two are as much old geezers as I am!" Miku sheepishly rubbed the back of her head after Chris' lecture, she did forget from time to time that they were around the same age despite their unwillingly immortal bodies saying otherwise. "Speaking of geezers, how goes life as S.O.N.G.'s commander?"

"It's been well!" Hibiki said gladly. "Elfnein-chan's working hard as always, the current generation of wielders are doing what they can to keep the peace we fought life and limb to achieve, and it's honestly just been great overall. What about you, Chris-chan?"

Chris chuckled at the youthful girl's question. "Well, life's been as it always has for me, Sleeping and watching television. Not like I can really do much else nowadays without pulling a muscle or two." Chris then turned the conversation to Miku. "And what about you? Anything interesting over at Lydian?"

"Compared to what you all used to get up to, not much really. Although there are some students that slightly remind me of you and Hibiki back in the day."

"That so?" Chris chuckled. "Well, I guess you can't really top throwing a shoe at an underclassman out of a helicopter and taking them out of the country now can you?" The three enjoyed each other's company, eventually saying goodbye to their resting allies and getting something to eat at Flower before walking Chris home. "I'm sure you've both heard much the same from the others before they passed, but I am jealous of you two."

"Eh? It's unlike you to admit being jealous of someone like me Chris-chan." Hibiki remarked.

"Hibiki does have a point there, what's with the sudden confession?" Miku asked.

"It's no secret that time is catching up with me. Hell, I honestly don't know how much time I have left until I join senpai and the others in that cemetery... So if on the off chance my time comes to an end soon, I at least want to die without regrets."

"Chris-chan..."

"I'm not jealous of your divine power if that's what you're thinking." Chris said. "What I'm jealous of is how easily you both are able to forgive those who have wronged you without having any grudges. Even now, I can't forgive people like Finé for what they did to me. But you both endured far worse than I did, mostly, and you still put the past behind you." Miku and Hibiki started to tear up. "But enough about my jealousy, I have a favor for you both."

"Name it Chris. We'll be more than happy to fulfill it for you." Miku said, happy to do anything for their last remaining friend from their youth.

"This may sound... silly... coming from an old coot like me. But ever since we all attended Lydian together, I've always wanted you two to call me your senpai. Sure I was verbal about it here and there when we were younger, but it truly is something I wish to hear before I leave."

Without another word, Hibiki and Miku embrace Chris in the softest, warmest hug they had ever given her. "If that's truly what you want, we're more than happy to grant your wish, Chris... Senpai." Miku said.

"We may not have been the best at saying so like Kirika-chan and Shirabe-chan, but you and Tsubasa-san were the best senpais a girl like me could've asked for. Thank you, for everything Chris-cha-" Hibiki was interrupted by an elbow to her side by Miku. "I mean, Chris-senpai."

The old Ichaival wielder started to tear up just like her kouhais. "Is there anything else you want before we go, Chris-senpai?" Miku asked.

"No. This is more than enough." Chris answered. "You two have done more than enough to last a lifetime for me."

"Well, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call, Chris-senpai." Hibiki said, waving as they walked home.

"Oi!" Chris shouted, catching Hibiki and Miku's attention once more. "Thank you, Hibiki, Miku, for everything."

The divine duo were both shocked and happy. Not once in their lives has Chris referred to them by any name other than the Idiot and her friend/wife. "Thank you, Chris-senpai!" They both replied. With that, the duo continued their walk home.

Once the duo were out of her sight, Chris went into her apartment and immediately went to her bed. Later that night, Chris had an unexpected visitor. "Yukine? Hey! Wake up Yukine!"

With a groan, Chris rubbed her eyes. "What do you want now-" she couldn't believe her eyes at who she saw. "Kazanari-senpai? But you're..."

"Dead?" Tsubasa answered with her own question.

"Well... Yeah." In that moment, Chris realized that she felt... younger? She looked at herself, noticing she was not wearing the same clothes she had put on this morning, but instead the outfit she wore around the time they fought Noble Red and Shem-Ha. "Wait, what's going on? Why am I-" Her eyes widened once more when she looked back at Tsubasa, who was standing next to her bed where the older body of Chris laid motionlessly. "Oh... So that's why you're here..."

"I'm afraid so." The bluenette answered solemnly. "It's time to leave this world in Tachibana and Kohinata's hands."

"Yep..." Try as she could to stop herself, Chris began to tear up, both from being able to see her friends and family again, but also from having to leave Hibiki and Miku as everyone else had. After some time, Chris dried her eyes and looked to her senpai. "Let's get going then." Taking her senpai's outstretched hand, Chris and Tsubasa began to ascend to heaven, the former watching her old body leave her view.

"Do you have any regrets, Yukine?"

Chris took a moment to remember the final time she talked with Hibiki and Miku, and smiled. "Not anymore..."

The next day, Yukine Chris' unmoving form was found by Elfnein who made regular visits in Chris' later years and soon after, her name was added to the memorial she would frequently visit, as well as a separate grave in memory of her parents by her request in her will.

"I know for a fact I would've gone insane by now if you weren't here with me Miku." Hibiki said as she looked at her hands. "Even now, I've wondered if that godslaying power I had when I used to wield Gungnir would work on me."

Miku grabbed Hibiki's hand and held it to her chest. "Don't say things like that Hibiki! You know how I feel when you talk like that!"

"I know. I know. But it's always the first thing I think of when I see our names on those graves. It makes the divine power we're stuck with feel more like a curse than the blessing we've made of it."

"I feel the same way Hibiki. But we can't change the past no matter how hard we try. All we can do now is honor their memory by living our lives for the future we all fought so hard for."

"Miku-san's right, Hibiki-san." The scientist finally spoke up. "It may not be the same without them, but I know they're all watching us, proud of what we were able to achieve. So please, don't give up on living!"

"Don't give up on living..." Hibiki smiled when she heard those words, remembering everything they helped her achieve. "You're right you two. I shouldn't let the past stop me from protecting our future. Even if the world may forget everything Tachibana Hibiki has done for it, I'll make sure that Yuka Kana and all that follow after her carry on that legacy."

"And be it as Kohinata Miku, Yuka Hikari, or whatever else, I'll continue to be where it is warmest, next to my Sun." Hibiki blushed at Miku's words, but she couldn't agree more with them.

"And of course we can't forget about you, Elfnein-chan. Without you, none of this would be possible."

The scientist smiled brightly at the praise. "I haven't let you down yet, nor do I ever plan to. If I gave up, then Carol's sacrifice for me would be for naught."

After some time spent chatting around the graves of their allies, the sun finally disappeared over the hills. "It's getting pretty late. We should probably head home now."

"Right. We'll get out of your hair now everyone. See you soon!" With goodbyes said, the trio leave and return to their lives as they always had.

In life, there will be times when you will have to say goodbye to those you enjoy the company of most. But instead of being sad that you are unable to see them again, cherish the memories you were able to create together. One day, you will meet with them again and create more memories to cherish. Thank you for taking the time to read this story, and I wish you all a good day.

A/N: A few things worth mentioning:

1. There were slight changes to parts of this story from the original as per request on the Symphogear discord (just some minor changes is all.)

2. A lot was omitted from this story to fit the allowed page limit. If I ever get around to revisiting and revamping this story, those missing parts will be added. (It may be some time before I do, but I hope to come back to this eventually.)

With that out of the way, I hope you enjoyed this story and I shall see you all in the next one!