Epilogue:

Hikaru walked out onto the balcony of her bedroom to watch the sun rise over Cross Realm City. Her white blond hair moved gently in the breeze. Her Prism Crystal had been revered by one of the Ryokos before Derek's realm had been vaporized. With it Washu had been able to restore Hikaru's appearance to what it had originally been. Apparently she'd bonded with Shadow's energy so she couldn't be removed, but the two had learned to get along. Shadow had become a part of Hikaru, and Hikaru a part of her.

Over a month had passed since Derek's defeat, and the anime realms had completely recovered. All the armies had been either reintegrated into their hosts of placed in stasis for the time when they were needed again. Hikaru hoped that day would never come. She had grown close to many people during her stay in the Cross Realm, and had decided to stay. Now all she had to do was tell her family. She slipped on a light blue t-shirt and a pair of shorts and stepped out into the main hall.

Marie, Russell and Tyler were waiting in the man hall for Hikaru. Sasami and Tyler were playing cards, and Russell and Marie were talking with professor Oak. Hikaru appeared at the top of the stairs and slid to the bottom.

"Hey everyone," Hikaru greeted. "So, are you ready to go home?"

"You're not coming with us?" Marie asked. Hikaru had told her she would give everyone her decision in the morning, but she'd been hoping Hikaru would return to her old body and come home as Steven.

"No, I'm staying here," Hikaru replied. "This is where I belong. I just wouldn't fit in in your world."

"But you could go back to your old body," Tyler said. "I don't care what you look like, you're still my brother!" Hikaru drew Tyler into a hug.

"I know, and you'll always be my little brother, but you all have to understand something. When Derek killed my body, and I was reborn as Hikaru, Steven died. I'm only Hikaru now. This is my home, and my new family is here." Kurumi and Bloom took Hikaru's hands. They had become best friends and now all lived in the castle. "Don't worry, I'll drop by every now and then. Remember, time passes differently between our realms, so I'll always be here if you need me. Here," Hikaru said as she gave each of her old family members small black balls the size of peas. "Washu made these for you. They'll alter your memories so that during the funeral you'll believe I'm really gone. Then after everything's done, your real memories will be restored."

"I hope you come and visit," Sasami said to Tyler, who blushed.

"I will."

"Oh, before I forget, I have some gifts for you," Hikaru said. Washu brought over three boxes and Hikaru handed one to Tyler, Marie, and Russell. Tyler opened his first. Inside he found a small blue crystal. "That will allow you to do simple things like teleportation and levitation, but you can only use it when no one's around. Understand?"

"I understand. Thanks Hikaru," Tyler replied.

"Mom, Dad, these are for you." The second two packages contained the same Pokemon Russell and Marie had met at the tournament; An Eevee for Marie and a Growlithe for Russell. Both boxes also contained two bowels for food and water. "The bowels will always have food and water in them so you'll never need to buy it. Also, both Eevee and Growlithe will only be visible to you and people you want to see them."

"Thank you," Marie said, drawing Hikaru into a family hug. All four members remained locked in each others arms for over a minute.

"Just promise to come and visit soon," Russell said. Hikaru smiled.

"I promise. Now, I guess it's time." Hikaru summoned her wings and generated a sphere of white light. When it faded they were back in the real world. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you. Bye!" Hikaru folded her wings around her and vanished in a white flash.

"I'll miss him," Marie said.

"We'll see her again," Tyler replied. "Steven won't be dead, as long as we remember him. Now let's get ready." A moment later Steven's body appeared. Washu had placed a perfectly natural looking aneurism in his brain that would seem to have been the cause of death. The three of them activated their memory devices and called 911.

…

When Hikaru arrived back at the Cross Realm, Kurumi came up to her.

"I know that had to be hard, but I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I've got a whole new life to live, so I'd better get started. Feel like going shopping girls!" Hikaru called out. A chorus of shouts answered her. "Great, let's get going!" And so Hikaru and her friends all left the castle to shop, and for Hikaru to start her new life, and she had absolutely no regrets.

The End!