She sat on the beach under the tree with a tear rolling down her cheek, watching the credits playing before she shut off her tablet. Tari couldn't believe this was the end, the end of an era, SMG4 had worked on this show with her for years and now Meta Runner was over. That ending, it was so bittersweet and heartwarming at the same time.

From a technical standpoint, she wasn't dead, she was still alive and in that server with him. Why did Tari have to be so worried about her fate when she and SMG4 started working on the finale, but the ending was so satisfying, it had so many positive reviews.

Plus, she was really going to miss all of it; MD-5, all those game-hopping adventures and Theo as well. It wouldn't be long now until they had to say goodbye and see each other off, Tari and Theo had come here for some relaxation and to hang out a little longer after working on the finale together. Now, with work on the show completed, Theo would be heading back to his own universe.

He was playing with a couple of crabs, likely enjoying his final day in this universe before moving on. If only there was still time, but alas, all good things had to come to an end.

At least Tari would still enjoy her adventures with the SMG4 gang in this universe, especially outside of all that Meta Runner stuff. Perhaps one day, SMG4 would do a spin-off related to Meta Runner and maybe that version of Tari could return.

Until then, this was it and it was time to move on to better things.

'Farewell, Masa...' Tari thought to herself, 'You too, Lamar, Sofia. At least Lucinia's alive and well and at least Belle's okay. Good old, Belle, at least we're still together in this world.'

"You okay there?"

Theo had just come over from his fun with the crabs and was looking at Tari with a very, very concerned expression on the coconut boy's face. Tari looked at her dear friend, she'd known him since the day SMG4 summoned him from his universe to help work on the show, especially with the Ultra Jump Mania stuff. Silly Theo, reminding Tari of Mario, her other good friend.

"Y-Yeah... I'm fine..." Tari said weakly, wiping a tear from her eye and patting the kid on the shoulder, "Its just that, well, its over and we... we had the best of times."

"Its likely you'll see me again, Tari." Theo told Tari in an assuring manner, "We're not really gonna part ways forever, SMG4 did say I can hop in and visit you guys from time to time. Out of the whole group, Mario was very funny, real nice of him to let me eat spaghetti with him."

Tari chuckled, "Even though Mario wasn't part of the show, yeah, you two got along great and you share so much in common."

"Friends forever, right?" Theo held out a fist, gesturing for the cyborg gamer to give him a power bump.

"Friends forever." Tari fist-bumped the kid.

Just then, Theo yelped and jumped, a crab had just pinched his toe with its claws. Theo hopped around, trying to nurse his pinched foot and he bonked the little creature with his coconut. The crab let off a sort of snicker and then buried itself under the sand, heading somewhere else.

Tari giggled at the scene in front of her, that moment was so funny, she just wished she could have recorded it on her phone. Theo and crabs had a special connection with each other. Theo glanced at Tari with a wary expression on his face, almost embarrassed by the fact she'd just seen him get a sort of love pinch from the crab.

"Y-You're not gonna tell anybody about that one, are you?" Theo stammered.

"Maybe a little..." Tari replied honestly.

"Please don't, I can't begin to imagine Mario getting pinched by crabs. But, then again, I am about to go home and that was little Pinchy Jr's way of saying goodbye."

Right on cue, a light flashed and Tari rose to her feet, holding Theo in her arms. A portal had just appeared, glowing a bright shade of blue. This was it, there wasn't much time now. It was done, the time had now come.

With more tears flowing down her face, Tari looked at her friend and hugged him somberly.

"W-W-Well, Theo…" Tari sniffed, "This is it. Meta Runner is over and it's time for us to say goodbye and go our own ways. Take care of yourself back home, okay, old friend?"

"I'm sure I'll be okay..." Theo said, hugging Tari back, "We'll meet again someday."

"Hope so. Tell your world's Crab King I said 'hi' and don't get in too much trouble, don't go on any dangerous adventures or do anything reckless out there."

"Don't worry, Tari. I'll take good care of myself and I got my good buddy Mr. Tomato with me." Theo pulled out his sentient red tomato companion he'd been carrying around all his life. As soon as he did so, Mr. Tomato spoke in his wise and elderly voice.

"A parting is not forever…" The tomato said, "The bond between companions is strong, despite the odds, and there will come a day when old friends will reunite."

"Well said, Mr. Tomato." Tari said, "You keep givin' Theo good advice, mate."

"So I shall, young and hopeful Tari..." Mr. Tomato replied.

"Bye, Tari!" Theo said as he plopped out of Tari's arms. He walked towards the portal and turned to look at the blue-haired gamer one last time, Theo and Tari waved, saying their final farewells. Then, Theo walked into the portal and vanished in a bright haze along with his companion and the coconut he had as his ever-useful weapon.

No sooner than the coconut boy was gone, the portal closed and Tari was all alone on the beach, a small tear rolling down her cheek as she once again thought of the adventures that she had shared with Theo outside Meta Runner and during the events of the show.

"Until we meet again, good buddy." Tari said, wiping another tear from her eye.

She walked along the beach, ready to leave, and breathed in the fresh-air. However, before she left to go find Belle and the others, Tari looked towards the horizon and watched the waves roll in. The sun basked in the sky, bringing light and life to the world, and Tari smiled fondly with hope for the future, looking forward to days to come...

The End