Disclaimer: Milo, Kida, and all others mentioned here are property of the Disney film Atlantis.
Summary: what happens between the moment Kida returned and the end of the movie. It might change later, though. This is my first Atlantean story and my first fanfiction written in English. As I am French, please feel free to correct me about any grammar mistake I might have made. I would be grateful. And if you have some time to spare, please review it! (-;
An Endless Mystery
Kida felt as if her whole world – which had paradoxically just been saved by Milo Thatch and his friends – was collapsing. So much had happened in such a short time! And there she was, in the throne room, sobbing and crying painful tears. She could not believe her father, her Tahbtoap, the man who had been watching over her for centuries, her only family, was dead. He laid there, resting in Death's welcoming arms while the entire city of Atlantis was celebrating its victory against Rourke and his mercenaries. Yet victory tasted bitter for Kida. What a victory it was! The Atlantean king had been cruelly murdered, and she, Kidagakash, the mighty warrior princess, had not been able to do anything to prevent it. Kida's body suddenly began to shiver with anger and sorrow. She felt so guilty, so lonely, and the burden of royalty which had brutally fallen upon her just seemed way too heavy for her to bear. King Kashekim Nedack's corpse laid on the throne. Kida could not remember the last time she had seen his body filled with such peace. The Atlantean princess knew that her father would not have lived much longer anyway. Kida just wished she would have been there to help him, to hold his hand reassuringly and to smile to him until the very last breath came out of his lungs. But Kida had not been there. She had failed to tell her father one last time how much she cared for him and how much she loved him. Kida knew she would never forgive herself. Tears rolling upon her warm cheeks, she fell onto her knees, clutching like a lost treasure her father's hand. It felt so old, so cold, yet so comforting. While her body began to relax a little, Kida wondered how much time had elapsed since she had awoken into Milo's gentle arms.
"Milo…" she whispered.
Automatically, a soft smile spread over her mourning face. Milo. He had given her so much! He had answered questions she had been wondering about for centuries. He had been able to awake the Atlantean flying machines which had sunk into oblivion for so long. He had followed her without a mere doubt to help her and decipher the ancient murals. He had risked his own life to save Atlantis. He, who had only arrived the day before, had been ready to sacrifice himself for her people.
Kida sighed deeply. Thinking of Milo brought her peace but it was synonymous of sorrow, too. She felt her heart – or, at least, she assumed it was her heart – aching and contracting painfully beneath her skin. Milo would soon leave Atlantis forever. He would return to his home, to the surface world where he belonged. He would leave the lost empire, which meant her, behind him. Kida promised herself she would assure Milo and his friends that they would always be welcome in Atlantis and could return whenever they wanted to. The Leviathan would be ordered to let them pass without any harm.
Kida stoop up quietly and put her father's hand on his chest, where it had to rest for all eternity. Stroking silently his hair, she stopped crying and waited for the night to pass. It was not long before she heard the door open, almost noiselessly. Turning around, she spotted Milo, standing in the darkness, not moving a muscle, apparently unsure of what he should do next.
"Um…Kida?", he hesitantly asked.
"Yes, Milo? What do you want?", she answered him, though she did not get an inch closer to him.
"Oh...well…I just wanted to check if you were okay. I mean, no, I know you're not okay, but I thought that maybe I could help?"
"That is very kind of you, Milo, but no, I don't think you can help, unless you can bring my father back to life. Can you?"
"Er…no, I can't, but-"
"Then there is nothing you can do for me.", Kida brutally interrupted him. "You should leave me here and enjoy yourself with your friends. It is no every day you can celebrate like this."
There's no point to celebrate anything without you, Kida.
Milo slowly made his way towards the Atlantean woman he had grown to care so much for. She did not move. While walking, Milo took the crystal King Kashekim had given him out of his pocket and handed it to Kida. Her face hardened.
"How comes you had this crystal ?!"
"Your father gave it to me before he passed away." Milo answered matter-of-factly. "He made me promise to save you and Atlantis. You have been saved. I kept my promise and I suppose I now have to return this crystal to its rightful owner. That means you."
Kida could only stare at the glowing piece of crystal Milo was handing to her. Shaking her head, she reached out for his hand, took the crystal and placed it around his neck.
"This crystal is yours. My Tahbtoap wanted you to bear it. I will not steal it from you."
"Kida, if it can be of any help, I just want you to know I understand how you feel and-"
"NO ! You do not understand at all !!", she cut him off, suddenly yelling. "How could YOU understand how I feel?! He was the only family I got !! He was everything to me! And now he's gone!! He's gone and I did not even bid him farewell !!"
Milo did not respond immediately. He just stood there, in front of her, saying nothing. The crystal around his neck glowed slightly, and Kida barely saw a single tear dropping from Milo's eyes. He slowly turned his back to her and walked away. Before he left the throne room, he stopped in his tracks.
"You know, Kida…You are right, I can't understand how you feel: I don't even remember my own mother and father. At least you got the chance to know your parents."
Kida's jaw dropped open. A wave of shame overwhelmed her as she realized how harsh she had been towards Milo, who had only wanted to comfort her. She felt horrible.
Milo did not wait for her to apologize. He smiled sadly.
"My Grandpa once told me that death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."