Hello again and welcome to the latest instalment of Lost and Found. I don't remember what chapter we're up to, but it's all big numbers now. Anyway, thanks to my loyal reviewers and well-wishers. It's been a long road getting here, but as just4reviews guessed, we're getting near the finish now. So bear with me for just a little longer, and enjoy this episode.

x-x

Mimi rode hard by day, taking shelter in dark forests and caves by night to give her horse some time to cool down. She herself barely slept, always fearful that the Guard was going to appear out of nowhere and cart her home again. She was also deeply regretting not packing anything to eat. A few stale biscuits she'd found in the riding jacket pocket had sustained her for a short while, but they had not lasted long. With her resulting rumbling stomach, and toes that froze in the cold night air, Mimi occasionally found herself crossly hoping that whatever awaited her in Altair was worth all of this. Then she mentally slapped herself and remembered that nothing could be worse than what she had run from.

She finally reached the gates of Altair four days after leaving Celestria. The sky was turning pink as the sun hovered just over the horizon. It had taken her longer than it normally should have, as she'd had to avoid all civilisations for fear of capture. And she'd got slightly lost in the Bethadian Forest. She'd dismounted and led her horse to the posts marking the city's entrance. Tying it there so it couldn't escape, she examined her surroundings.

Mimi could see only faint glimmers or the gateposts' former majesty. They were made of the finest black and silver marble, each carved with intricate detail. Mimi saw in her mind's eye each of them rising to the sky. The image was so vivid it could have been somebody's memory. But now one was almost nothing more than a pile of rubble, and the other was half gone. A silver plaque remained attached to the part that still stood, though it was largely hidden by overgrown weeds. Barely recognisable ornate engraved writing read, "Altair, Realm of Eternal Promise". A graffiti artist had painted over this so that it said instead, "Altair, Realm of the Forsaken".

Mimi tightened the jacket around her form as a cutting wind blew past. She told herself not to be afraid, but she couldn't help questioning her decision to come to this desolate wasteland. The wrought silver gates were bent, broken and lay on their sides. Anything that could be removed or detached had been stolen by thieves years ago. Taking a deep breath and hoping that any past thieves had not lingered, she stepped carefully past. Smiling, she felt a weight leave her. She had officially entered Altair.

She'd almost been expecting something to just hit her like a lighting bolt, filling that space in her that felt so empty. When it didn't come, she moved further into the barren city. Tumbledown wrecks of houses lined the cold, empty street. One or two that were being inhabited by drifters had an orangey glow in the windows.

Mimi still couldn't see so much as a flicker of hope.

She continued to walk down the dilapidated road, her eyes roaming for something, anything that would tell her that the Guardians had been right. That this had not been folly. She was seriously considering turning on her tail and returning to her horse when she glanced over to her left.

Her eyes came to rest on… no, it couldn't be. Her eyes came to rest on a tall male figure. He was at least six feet, with a shock of spiky blonde hair. He was facing away from her, so she couldn't see his face. Mimi told herself to be calm, that it was probably just a Matt look alike. But she couldn't hide the fluttering in her chest; her leaping heart that know for certain that it was really him. She approached slowly, stopping abut a metre behind him.

Wringing her hands, she asked nervously, "Matt?"

The man turned and looked at her. With an electricity that hit her directly in the stomach, she saw that it truly was Matt. He didn't seem surprised to see her there. Nor did her look upset, nor did he look happy. His face was utterly impassive as he turned back away from her, and that scared her more than anything.

Her fear at him not wanting her, not caring for her, rooted her to the spot. She didn't run into his arms like she desperately longed to, but merely stood shock still. It was as if someone had slapped her. All she could do was wait. Matt remained silent for some time. Mimi just kept watching him, praying for him to turn around, face her and smile his wonderful smile. To call her to him. To wrap himself around her and never let go.

When he finally did speak, it was into the wind. Mimi had to struggle to hear.

"This… all of this is mine. I suppose it's really only fitting. All my other belongings are in such a state of disrepair."

Mimi could make neither hide nor hair of this statement. What was he talking about? She couldn't see anything. Tentatively, she asked, "What is yours?"

Still without looking at her, he replied with a sigh. "This is. This town."

Mimi just blinked. She didn't know what to say to this. It took her a moment to recollect herself suitably to answer. Her speech was hesitant, just in case she was completely off the mark.

"But that would mean… would it not… that you must be… a prince? Royalty."

She heard some ragged breathing and waited impatiently for it to subside. She was unable to quash the rising heat inside her. The fast beating of her heart that needed the truth now.

Matt took a deep, calming breath before responding. His voice was thick. Telling this story pained him somewhere so deep inside he hadn't known he could hurt there. It was all so unreal. His words came out jumbled as he tried to make sense of everything; to articulate his feelings.

"Yes… my parents ruled this town back when it was prosperous. They were… killed, so this should all have fallen to me. I should be ruling it. But I wasn't here. Look at what it has become without leadership. I don't know what I can do… I just don't know… but I should. This is supposed to be who I am… that's what this pendant means…"

He showed her the pendant from around his neck. Mimi did a double take. She recognised it well. She had one of her own, after all. A royal birth certificate. Mimi couldn't believe her ears or her eyes. Her jaw was somewhere in the vicinity of the ground. She didn't know where to start. What could she say to this? Ultimately she decided to focus on the positive.

"Well, it is good, is it not? That you finally know who you are?"

Something inside Matt finally clicked. He realised who he was talking to. He abruptly turned to face her. Mimi was startled at the change in him. His every edge seemed hard and unforgiving. His eyes blazed, but not with the soft shine she was used to. They were fiery; the deep blue seeming icy cold and infinite. His very stance seemed to radiate a fierce power she'd never seen in him. When he spoke, it wasn't in the wondering, unsure tone he'd held a few moments ago. It was gruff with anger and pain.

"And that it just so happens that I'm worthy of your affections now, right Princess? I know what you're thinking. Good thing he's a prince, because otherwise I'd never be able to marry… be with him. You'd marry a complete stranger though, if I'm not very much mistaken. It's all about the blood for you, I suppose. It's just so lucky I turned out a prince, otherwise I'd never measure up to what you need."

"That is not what I'm thinking at all, Matt!" Mimi exclaimed, desperate for him to understand. Her words were restrained, but inside she was panicking. "I loved you when you were nothing! I would have left my titulary for you. I am here, am I not? You being a prince changes nothing. You were always worthy."

Matt closed his eyes, gathering the strength to do what he must. "Mimi…" he began, hoping she couldn't see his heart breaking into tiny pieces. "You know I care about you. But I just don't know if we should be together. I don't know if… if it would ever work."

Mimi's heart gave an almighty lurch and she crumpled into a heap on the ground. Tears fell freely as she gasped for air. She felt like something was clutching at her heart; squeezing with a steely grip and not letting go.

"Why?" She cried, giving up on coherency and restraint as she poured her heart out. "Why? No, Matt, please! I love you! I need you! I cannot live without you!"

Matt turned away from her, unable to watch. Every wail pierced him with a force he didn't know existed. He wanted to run over, to hold her and kiss away her tears and tell her they'd be together for all time. But it just didn't work that way.

"Just go, Mimi." He said, trying to remain level. "You're only hurting yourself if you stay."

These words were hardly the consolation she needed. "I may as well hurt!" she sobbed. "I may as well die if you have no affection for me."

Matt choked down tears as he replied, "We're too different. Just leave."

Mimi took some steadying breaths and got to her feet. Wiping down her face, she willed herself not to break down again. She prepared herself for her final rational plea. If this didn't work… it didn't bear thinking about.

"Look into my eyes, Matt, and tell me you do not love me. Love is all that truly matters. If you still feel for me, everything else can be worked out. We are not so different. Any time you need to come to grips with what you have learned and to decide on the best course of action, I will give you. If you wish to rebuild Altair, I will be beside you to support and give assistance. But if you hold nothing in your heart for me, I have no purpose being here. I will leave you. It will hurt, but for you I shall do it."

He turned to gaze at her, before turning his eyes back to the ground.

"Mimi… I… I can't provide what you need. Please… don't do this. Don't ask for something I can't give."

x-x

And that's all folks. At least, for now. If you want to see what happens you're just going to have to review. Should they end up together or should I throw in a nasty finale?

Emma's useless facts about nothing in particular

The main library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.