Hey there everybody! Welcome back for another Interlude! Today we've got a special interlude, a continuation actually. It's the sequel to the last interlude 'The Night', which had served as the prologue to 'The Fall of Vale'. This serves as the epilogue.

As always, I'd like to thank everyone who left a review last chapter. Thank You Drake D Zero, ZHsteven, Vostok2142, jin0uga, Nordlending, Baoh joestar and Archilean! I'm glad you all liked that action packed romp of destruction there.

Before we get started, however, I'd like to address the fates of Emerald and Mercury. Throughout the previous arc, we've seen numerous characters get killed off, some in the case of Kevin murdered 'off screen'. But their deaths were definitive, there was a body. And it is no accident the way their apparent demises are described in a similar manner as Pyrrha's. A good rule of thumb when reading this story, unless there's a body, they probably are too dead.

Well, anyways, I think I've taken enough of your time. On with the interlude!

The Dawn

It was late into the night when The Woman began to stir to the sounds of far off voices. Raising a hand with her semi-conscious faculties, she reached over to her side in order to wake and alert her husband, but instead, she found a still warm vacant space left in his wake. With tired eyes and a curious mind, The Woman sat up in her bed, pushing aside her long brown bangs from her face and looking to the doorway.

Throwing the covers off, she shifted her body and placed her feet to the carpet floor before standing. Tip toeing out of the room, she was careful not to disturb the children even with the feint voices flowing through the hall. She stops momentarily, popping her head through the open doorway of the children's room, finding them all sprawled out, fast asleep after a long day spent running wild throughout the home.

A warm smile graced her features as she stared in wonder after her children. To think they were getting bigger every day, it wouldn't be long until her little bundles of joy would be men and women with families of their own, living their lives far and free as she once did. But she pushed those thoughts aside, those days wouldn't be for quite some time. So she stepped back, closing the door all together and continued onward through the hall after the feint noise.

She walked past a wall of pictures she'd taken, collected and hung over the years. She paused in her steps, catching sight of the images. Even in the dark of night, she could make out the features and distinct appearances of her long time friends, a woman and her giant machine gun, a blind fox and a man who could move mountains. She then looked off along the wall, catching sight of images of herself and her husband in their earlier days, together, with the rest of their friends, posing in front of the capitol building of New Vale. But then the voices grew distinct, the sound of a Pumpkin Pete's cereal commercial, earning The Woman's attention once more.

Stepping into the living room, The Woman couldn't help but frown, her long ears falling slightly at the sight. Seated in the living room sofa was her husband, looking weary as ever as he tried to loose himself to twenty-four hour news cycle.

It didn't take The Man long to realize he had company. He glanced over to his wife, meeting her stare. A silent conversation was held, an acknowledgment of The Man's inability rest, too restless and unsure, plagued by days long past and moments to dreadful to speak of.

So The Woman stepped forward, closing the distance between them and joined her husband on the couch. She placed an arm around his waist and hugged him tight, resting her head against his broad shoulder. She knew The Man very well after their many years of union, she loved him for all he was, imperfections and all. And she would not abandon him ever in his time of need. The Man thanked his wife, leaning over and kissing her forehead before throwing an arm over her to keep her warm in the cold inert home of theirs.

And then they sat there for hours, together in each other's company. Out over the horizon, the sun began to emerge, cascading its mighty rays throughout the land and greeted the couple. The Woman was content, The Man's nightmares were gone, and the night has ended with the coming of the dawn.

The dawn of a brand new day…

Cardin/Velvet.

I don't really have much else to say about this interlude, other than it being a the second part of the interlude prior to this one.

The next story arc, as well as every other story arc afterward has me nervously excited. Because we're past volume 3 now and anything can happen now. And it feels so liberating. If you thought last arc was crazy? Wait until you see what I have planned down the line.

Next Arc: Brand New Day!