So, I take it you guys were happy with the last chapter.
Now, just a warning, this might get a bit sappy, because it IS an Isaac/Mia, and (I'll just give away this teensy bit – don't look if you don't want to know until you read) they are going to clear things up.
(Safe to look now) Thank you to EVERYONE who read, especially to those who reviewed, for all the past chapters and those who will review for this last one. I'll finish with the big, long ending note later – but I will have one more update after this, dedicated to each and every single person who reviewed!! So the next update will not be a chapter, but only a long thank you, review response, ending, recommendation, plugging, and introduction-to-my-new-fic note. ^_^ I'll let you guys enjoy the last chapter now! But remember – read the note at the end. And review after you read this, if only because ... well, you'll find out.
Alex – How did you know that? I was going to write a sort of spin-off, or a sort of pre-story, centering mostly on Mia and Picard (most likely not a romantic one – surprise, surprise). Do you know of any good Mia/Picards to read? I want to check some out. Nope, THIS will be the end, sadly.
PhishyKiss – I agree. Cute things deserve 'awww's. ^_^
Jupiter Girl – Yes they would be surprised. Everything will work out. I like Alex too. ^_^ He's cool.
Midnight – You were so close, you almost stepped right on my plans! Naw, just kidding. But really, a very good guess.
Snoopy – Aw. I hope the review button works this time. Anyway, thanks for the compliments... enjoy this chapter! Finally... this fanfic is ending.
Akiko – Thanks you!! I loved writing this, as well. It's been very fun. Indescribable, really.
Wanderer - *sniffs* I feel so honored that this would touch you so much, you would use up a box of tissues. But, moving on past that, I suppose I did sort of leave it mysterious. I like to focus on one thing at time, usually – all dialogue, all description. I find it hard to do both things at once, and for the most part I don't like to read too much of the mixes, because if you muddle them up too much, you might lose track of the conversation or the describing part. Or maybe both.
Triad – Wow!! I'll make sure to do that when I have the time then... compiling, I mean... *goes off to do just that* Thanks for reading!!
13 – Lullaby
Mia stayed on watch longer this time, until she woke Sheba for her part of the night shift. Fighting the urge to snicker, she smiled serenely and waited until she was sure that their Mercury Adept friend was asleep. Then, she nudged Ivan.
Scrambling up so quickly that any doubts of him already being asleep flew away, he sat down cross-legged next to Sheba on the bare ground, swept clean of snow.
"That was Alex. I am very sure of that," Sheba murmured tonelessly, her mind searching for any presences near them.
"I guessed as much. Mia... does miss him." He said carefully. She only nodded, closing her eyes sleepily.
Luna watches over
As you sleep for the night
The goddess watches your slumber
While dancing in stars' sight
It was almost dawn. Ivan had fallen asleep, after switching watches with Sheba so she could get some rest. She watched over him with a muted joy on her face. A small brush to his cheek with light fingers, slightly unbelieving that he was still in his cross-legged sitting position. His body quivered, but he did not wake. Looking back, Sheba watched Mia sleeping peacefully. There were still tearstains on her cheeks, but weren't too visible. A wry smile twisted her lips. She thinks Ivan and I don't notice anything is wrong... but we hear your anguish every night, friend Mia...
Turning back to Ivan, Sheba pulled her quilt around his shoulders. Even at dawn, it was warmer than the night, but cold the mountains remained, in the deep of winter and with snow surrounding them. False dawn – the light playing off the sky, with a dim glow in the east – had drawn her attention, and she'd watched, humming the melody of the lullaby that she could faintly remember from her childhood. Humming the lullaby she could barely remember her mother and father singing to her. She knew Mia would probably know the words – it was a Mercury Clan lullaby, a piece of knowledge Sheba had no idea how she had known. It had just sparked in her memory, a mere night ago, as she listened to Mia weep.
Luna touches your dreams
Singing night's songs
She will chase your nightmares away
And right all the world's wrongs
She hummed it quietly while Mia searched for any signs they might have left of their presence. Mia insisted that the make things appear as normal as possible again. It helped that it was snowing ever so gently, and even their lightly-tread footsteps in the snow were disappearing. Mia was nudging the snow here and there with her Psynergy, melting some to cover signs of their few days in the mountains, moving some to cover some bushes shaken free of the white flakes. Ivan was standing besides Sheba – their powers could search farther when working together.
Starting out of her search-trance, Sheba turned to Ivan, eyes wide open in shock. His did the same.
"You saw them too!" It was a statement – not a question.
"We have to stall Mia until they get here," Ivan whispered, glancing back to make sure Mia wasn't watching them. When both were sure she wasn't watching them, they bent their heads together and mind-conversed with each other, shaking their heads or nodding occasionally.
"It would be better if we could get them to meet on accident... tell Garet and the others! Can you talk mind-to-mind with them?" Ivan asked Sheba. A slight frown appeared. "I will try."
Luna watches over
As you sleep for the night
She weaves your sweet dreams
Into Her glowing moonlight
Mia sighed in exasperation, resting a light hand on Ivan's cloth-swathed shoulder. "How could you lose your item bag? I thought you kept it with you at all times." It was snowing more quickly now, enveloping them all in a veil of gray sunshine. Sol hid behind the clouds, but when Mia looked in the Lighthouse's direction, she could barely see the lit building standing radiantly. It was beautiful, sparkling in so far a distance. Now, not so angry with Alex, she could appreciate what he had done for them.
"You're killing yourself! This illness comes every year, and every time it passes, you wither more!"
A fight they had had, a couple years after his arrival. He argued that healing was becoming too much for her. She only said that this was her calling – healing. She had to help the villagers. They depended on her, with the help of Justin, Megan, and him as well. It was something they had never quite agreed on. The closest they had come to a conclusion was that they would agree to disagree, albeit unhappily.
Bowing down her head, Mia shooed Ivan away, and told him to keep looking and get Sheba to help him. The snow fluttered down from the gray clouds gently, clinging to her hair and her robes. In a small clearing, Mia lifted her head to receive the little sunshine peering through the clouds. Her Psynergy felt replenished, surrounded by the snow and the mountains. Water would have helped more, but snow was more refreshing in some ways.
Mia felt a nudging in the back of her mind, but wandering in her thoughts as she was in the middle of the clearing, she did not notice until footsteps walked up behind her. Odd, I thought I told Ivan and Sheba to look for his item bag...
"Ivan, what are y-"
Turning around, she froze in shock, her next words halting at the tip of her tongue. Blue eyes met blue eyes. Neither noticed Garet, Jenna, Felix, Ivan, or Sheba standing in the shadows at the edge of the clearing, waiting breathlessly for the outcome of their meeting. They didn't notice the 28 Djinn, 7 of each element, watching silently for once, with solemn expresses on their tiny faces.
Luna grants your wishes
She sings to calm your fears
Dancing in the starlight
She sings to still your tears
Regret gripped Mia's heart. How could she even have thought of hurting him? Reaching out a suddenly shaking hand, Mia touched his face to make sure he was truly in front of her. Not an apparition, an illusion of her heart's making, as she so feared.
Her fingers met damp cheeks. Tears, she thought numbly. Mia could distantly feel her own sliding down her cheeks, to drip onto her warm robes. He looked so ethereal, standing in the misty morning, with snow floating to the ground around him.
An overwhelming pain swept over her, and snatching her hand back, Mia could only stand, sobbing. Her knees gave out beneath her.
Luna watches you smile
As She sings your tears away
And your fears fly beyond
Until with Sol comes day
Isaac caught Mia before she could crumple to the ground. Mia...
He hadn't really expected to catch up to the three before they reached Imil. But, he wouldn't dally away the time now that he had. His angel... even her tears pained him.
Yet crying in his arms, she still retained her radiant beauty. The snowflakes melted in her hair, catching the sunlight and sparkling. And there were the soulful blue eyes, gentle and caring for always whenever they'd happened to glance upon him.
"Mia," Isaac whispered painfully, fighting his own tears. "Please don't cry."
In answer, she curled up in his arms. Her face muffled itself in his chest, and her arm both curled themselves around his neck, bringing his face closer to hers. She managed to choke out a murmured phrase through her tears, and he could feel her desperate attempt to smile.
"Don't leave me. I love you, Isaac."
Glancing up, she caught his eyes again. She watched as her words brought a joy into his eyes, watched as they glimmered with his own tears.
"I love you with all my heart, Mia. I will never leave your side." His gentle words cradled her, made her feel safe within his arms. Instinctively, she buried herself deeper into his embrace, gladly drawing his face closer with every movement.
"Mia... accept this ring as a token of my love to you. It is a promise that I will cherish and love you forever." A small velvet box appeared in his free hand. It was the same ring he'd tried to give her before. But now, instead of releasing her unhappiness, it triggered a joy unmatched by any other that Mia had ever felt.
"Marry me."
Their lips met to seal the everlasting promise.
Luna watches you smile
As She sings your tears away
And your happiness soars free
With Sol and coming day
The End
And that was the end. I hope you liked it! The short poem was mine – it took awhile to figure out what to say. But, I guess I made the ending a solemn poem-chapter. ^____^
But here are my final words, to finish it off. Please read this note.
I want all of you to know - I've had a lot of fun writing this (and frustration when writer's block and homework came along), and I can't tell everyone how much I appreciate your wonderful reviews. They helped me along when I had trouble, and it always feels good to see that someone else loves to read what you love to write. The special thanks will come in the next, FINAL chapter, which will consist of only thank you notes to the people who nagged at me and threatened to hurt me if I didn't continue, who reviewed this story every chapter to show their support. ^____^
It will also have some other things, but you'll find out when you review, right? Yes!! Please review, if ONLY because this is the LAST chapter. You can review and only write a few words and I wouldn't mind, but please review! It would mean a lot to me. Besides, I'm aiming for 100 reviews on this fic!! It will be a first. Actually, having any fanfic with over 60 reviews is a new one for me... so yeah!! *grin*
Thank you so much for reading! I can only hope that you enjoyed reading "Embrace the Stars" as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thanx again! I love all you people! *hugs everyone*Kadevi-chan