So this story is a tribute and goodbye to Rave. The story may be over, but it's time for our heroes, and us, to move on to a new tale...
Thank you Hiro Mashima, from the bottom of my heart.
25: A New Page
Outside his house, just a short walk away, is an old, rickety wooden fence, which sits just at the edge of the cliffs. It's wobbly and not very comfortable, but if you sit just right, you can get a view of almost all the sea that surrounds the island.
That was where he found her, sitting as primly as she could, and staring out to see with a forlorn expression. He carefully climbed on, shaking it as little as he could, and settled next to her. The thin wood didn't feel all that nice on his backside, but he ignored it. He tended to ignore everything when he was close to her.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently. "You ran out of the house pretty fast when I showed you my room."
"Yeah. Sorry about that." She replied, not looking at him
"I know it's a mess, but I can keep it tidy, really."
"No… it's not that." She cast her eyes down to look at her bare toes. "It's really over, isn't it?"
He exhaled some air, knowing exactly what she was talking about. "Yeah, I guess it is."
"No more traveling. No more adventures. No more crazy stuff, or Raves to find, or Overdrives, or Aetherion, or guys trying to kill us…" She trailed off.
He smiled. "Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Maybe for everyone else on the planet… but what about us?"
"So, you want to go back to the old days of being chased by Lucia and not having any memory?" He sounded harsher than he wanted, but couldn't understand why she was being like this.
"Of course not…" She replied angrily. "But at least then, I had something to do. I had to find my past and save the world. I..I had a purpose. I was worth something." A tear slid down her face. "Now I'm nothing."
He placed an arm around her to hold her close. "You are not worthless. Ask me, ask any of the gang. We could never do without you."
Her head rested on his shoulder. "I know.. but I feel like I have nothing to offer anyone." She looked at her hands. "I have all this power inside me.. I was the savior of the world.."
She looked at him, her eyes telling him she needed an answer. "Don't you feel regret that you're not the Rave Master anymore… that you're not a hero anymore?"
He looked at the sea, two years of memories rushing into his head. "I miss it sometimes. I miss the fighting, the traveling, the feeling I got when I helped someone. But after a while… I just wanted it to stop. I just wanted a nice, normal life for me and all of us. I wanted people to stop dying. But the only way I could have that was to keep fighting."
He glanced at his feet. "If I had to do it again, I would. But I sure as hell wouldn't enjoy it."
"Me neither…" She trembled, looking more scared than he'd ever seen her. "But I don't know anything else. That life we led… it was the only life I knew. I'd never had a normal life like you."
She was crying now. "I know this sounds awful, but sometimes, I never wanted all that stuff to end. Cause even if things got bad… at least I would have a life… and you and the others would still be with me…"
She went silent, her head hung in shame. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and gently pulled her onto his lap. She didn't resist, more than ever she wanted to feel his warmth.
"You know, when I was little, I used to read a lot of comics." He spoke. She was confused as to this sudden topic change.
"Comics?"
"Yeah you know superheros and stuff like that. I loved all the adventures… and I got really upset whenever the story finished and there were no more issues. One time, I complained to my mum…" He paused for a second to reflect. "I was crying, and wishing the story could go on forever. Know what she told me?"
She shook her head.
"She said all stories have to end eventually. Because if we only ever followed one story, one way of living, life would be boring. That's why stories always end, and new ones begin. We can always re-read old stories… but we need new ones to more forward."
He took a breath, and she looked at him with a crooked smile. "That's pretty deep for a mop-head like you."
He chuckled. "I guess so."
His arms pulled her closer. "It's why I asked you to live with me. The old story is over… and I want to write a new one with you. One we can make for ourselves."
"I want to…." She turned to face him. "But I'm scared… I don't know how…"
"I'm scared too.." He smiled. "But I know we can do it. Once we start the beginning.. the rest will come in time.
That wonderful smile returned to her face. "So… what is the beginning?"
"I don't know. How do you think it should start?"
"I guess.. with the classic stuff."
"A romance sounds fun."
"With a boy and a girl who love each other very much."
"They could have a wedding."
"Or children."
"Nah, it should be both…"
They paused, staring into each other's eyes.
"You do realize my name would be something like Elie Resha Valentine Glory, don't you?" She joked
"Lucky you. I'll just be Haru Symphonia Glory the Third."
"Great. Our new story will have the silliest casting list ever."
"Yeah, but it'll be unique."
They laughed, feeling more at ease. Her arms reached around his neck, her face moved closer to his
"Before all that…" She spoke softly. "There's something every good story needs…."
Their lips came together in a tender, deep kiss, one which warmed them and seemed to connect their souls for just a moment.
"That's a good start." He breathed as they pulled apart.
"And it'll only get better…" She smiled.
And as they settled on the rickety fence, they held each other all night, a new tale in their lives underway.