Hello all you faithful readers! It hasn't been that long since I last updated, so I DON'T have to do the obligatory apology intro. For the bloody FIRST TIME EVER! Celebrates with the appropriate amount of alcohol. Anyway, I know I didn't get the 125 reviews I asked for (hang your heads in SHAME all of you, except those who reviewed who I love and adore and perform ritualistic dances in the name of) but I figured, hey, I'm a nice girl, I'll update anyway. It ain't a long chapter, but hopefully you'll like it just the same! Catch the FF9 reference (hereby disclaiming the ownership of Final Fantasy 9 or any of the Final Fantasy series)

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Matt stood in a grand marble hall. Huge, richly decorated pillars rose towards the sky. Opulent tapestries lined the walls and a finely woven red and silver rug ran the length of the cold stone floor. This was the ground floor of the Celestria castle, where many celebrations had taken place in the past, and many more celebrations would take place in the future.

This was no celebration.

Matt leant back against one of the pillars and shut his eyes tight. It was only a few hours ago that a palace guard had arrived where the theatre troupe had been working. She had informed the seven that Princess Mimi has called a Royal Attendance. And that they were required to show up.

None of them knew what this meant, but they all knew very well that they must go. It was a Hobson's choice. So they had quickly packed up what they had been working on, and had followed the young guard through the streets to the shuttle.

And now here Matt was. Faced by all the splendour anyone could ever want. Faced with the kind of life he'd never have. Faced with everything that had broken him. If it weren't for this he could still have Mimi by his side. If her life had not been so out of the ordinary… if she hadn't been so out of the ordinary… he could still be with her. Enjoying her laugh, her smile. Basking in the light she exuded. Observing her grace and beauty incomparable. Admiring her poise and cool elegance. He should have known she was not just another street kid.

He should have known better. Maybe if he had, this wouldn't be the very last time he'd be seeing her.

And that was a hard concept to face.

A light noise drew his attention. At the far end of the hall there was a stage, set about a metre higher than the rest of the room. When royal functions were being held, Matt supposed that was where the royal family sat. Separated from the rest of society. Quite literally emphasising the fact they were above the rest of society.

But up there now, a door was creaking. Four palace guards entered onto the stage and positioned themselves at the front of the stage. They were acting as a fence; a barrier to keep the filth away from their most precious Princess. In case the Princess let go of common sense long enough to want to be near them again.

Matt pushed himself off the pillar in anticipation. He barely even realised his feet were moving him towards the stage. It was if he was floating. He was going to see her. He was going to see her again. For the last time.

A terribly sadness washed over him as the Princess entered onto the stage. She seemed more perfect than ever as she looked down to them. He was irresistibly drawn to her. So close that the guards were getting worried. Not they needed to be. He'd do nothing. He knew his place.

She was wearing a long strapless periwinkle blue silk dress. Ridiculously more elaborate than the clothes he remembered her wearing when with them. The top was fitted, with a crisp white lace inlay, and the huge silk skirt billowed out from that. The skirt was made from overlay after overlay, each cris-crossing the last diagonally. Each overlay was trimmed with more lace, as was the neckline. Her little feet were enclosed in matching periwinkle slippers. Her long wavy chestnut hair was clean and soft, set perfectly under a silver coronet. The outfit was not one you could ever get dirty. Not one you'd go mountain climbing in. Not one you'd wear when painting a set. But then, Matt thought Mimi would never be allowed to do any of those sorts of things ever again.

So this is what she is used to, Matt thought. This is her life. Every new shade of luxury he took in was like a new burning knife through his heart. He couldn't even look at her any more.

She coughed a little to clear her throat, then raised her voice.

"I appreciate you all taking the time to come here today. There are, of course, some last minute items of business I must address with you."

She drew a shaky breath. Though on first glance she looked calm, collected and unflappable little fissures were appearing in the brittle façade. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her hands trembled as she clasped and unclasped them. Signs of weakness.

"First of all, I should very much like to thank you all from the very bottom of my heart. You took me in with no more than a name, and cared for me when I needed it. You gave me no conditions, merely the genuine decency of your souls. This will not be forgotten. Secondly, I believe it goes without saying that I shall… shall not be… accompanying you on your adventures any longer. It is simply no longer feasible. But as you were so very good to me for so long, both my parents and I wished you received something for your services. Name what you desire and we shall do our best to provide you with it."

The only thing Matt wanted from Mimi was Mimi herself. But he couldn't say that. He didn't think he could even speak at all. All he was capable of doing was staring fixedly at the floor.

Tai took his stead. "We don't need anything from you, Mimi." He replied simply.

"I… We can give you financial aid, or…"

"Mimi, you don't need to pay us for taking you in. It was our honour and pleasure to have you with us. As our friend."

He had hit on the magic word. Mimi's voice cracked as she spoke again. "If you are all absolutely certain…"

"We are, Mimi." Sora said with a note of finality that none of the other group members could have mustered. "But thank you all the same. It was a kind offer… You look beautiful today, by the way."

Izzy nodded and Joe added, "Radiant, even."

"We'll miss you, Mimi." Kari said, unshed tears glittering in her eyes. They all knew that even in the little while Mimi had been a member of their group, she had felt like family.

"It isn't ever going to be the same without you." TK looked similarly sad. Mimi knew it was for both he and his brother.

"We wish you all the happiness and luck for this life, Mimi. We're only sorry we can't have you around any more." Tai was doing a good job as stand-in leader, wrapping things up the way Matt would have, if he'd been able to say even one word.

A few moments of silence passed. Everyone was waiting for Matt to say something. Some kind of goodbye. Something that would allow him to leave her here and move on with his life. But there was nothing. He just continued to determinedly avoid meeting anyone's eyes.

Eventually Sora had to speak up. "Matt… don't you have anything to say?"

Every eye in the room was on Matt. Again. "… No." He muttered to his feet.

Some more nervous and uncomfortable silence passed before Mimi took command of the situation. "He need not say a word. I know this is… difficult."

Matt's head shot up and he gave her an angry look. She was giving him pity. He didn't want her pity. If he had her pity now then maybe all they ever had was pity. Maybe he had thought he was in love, when really all it had been was a rich, beautiful, perfect princess taking pity on a poor homeless boy. That was not how Matt wanted to remember it. That was not how Matt wanted Mimi to remember him. When all it could be was a memory.

One of the guards spoke for the first time. "Princess, you need to wrap this up. You have other commitments too, you remember."

Mimi nodded, feeling the hot ball of sadness rise in her throat and the tears forming behind her eyes. "Matt…" she whispered to herself, before addressing the rest of the room. "Very well. It was excellent to see you all again. I trust that if you should need anything, you will come here. Now I… I must take my leave. I… I shall miss you greatly. Farewell."

There was a murmur of goodbyes as Mimi turned to leave the room. She glanced around once more, over the life she wanted, then proceeded for the door, facing the life she had to have. There's never an escape, so why even try? Looking out over the group she had once called her friends, her eyes locked with Matt's.

His eyes were full of the pain she herself felt taking her over. But still he remained silent. Lest he see the tears falling freely, Mimi hurried out of the room.

A few moments passed before anyone could say a word. They all were staring at the door through which Mimi had left the room. The door through which she'd left their lives. Sora eventually broke the silence.

"Why didn't you say anything to her?" she demanded to know. "She was waiting for you to say something."

Matt paused a moment before answering, a note of guilt heavy in his voice. "I wanted to. Really, I tried…"

"So? What happened?" TK was curious too.

"I… I didn't know what I could say. On the way here I was getting a whole speech ready. Something I could say to give us both closure: 'Hey, Princess, how are you? You look good. Oh well, it was nice meeting you, but all good things come to an end, right? Good luck and have a nice life. Bye!' … But it would have been a lie. How could I lie to her? I couldn't do it. I couldn't pretend I didn't care. I just… I just couldn't do it. That's not how I feel at all. That's not how I feel… at all."

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So, you like? I hope I didn't use the FF9 tones too strongly… Review please! I'll update again at 140 or thereabouts.

Emma's useless facts about nothing in particular

Mr Potato Head was the first toy ever advertised on TV