Epilogue: To Those that Remember Love, They'll Find the Way
When the Archangel reentered Gensokyo airspace, everyone who watched was filled with equal parts hope and dread.
Hope came from the fact they were returning. Dread came from the fact that they returned alone.
A crowd formed around the lake, at the front of which stood Mayu Asuka, with a nameless fear in her heart. If only the Archangel was back, what happened to the Eternal? What happened... to her brother?
The Archangel touched down, and all ways in and out of the ship opened up, from the MS ramps, to the smaller personnel doors. What they saw, however, was not quite motivating.
People slowly stepped out of the ship, and onto land, looking emotionally drained. Mayu saw Meyrin Hawke being guided off the ship gently by Rey Za Burrel, Andrew Waltfeld carrying Cagalli on his back, members of the Archangel crew with sombre expressions on their faces...
Shinn Asuka being gently guided by Hakurei Reimu.
"Shinn!" she called out, running up to her brother. When she drew close, however, she could tell that things were not okay. His eyes had a dull, defeated look to them, and even Reimu looked like she'd been crying. "What... what happened?" Mayu asked hesitantly.
"Mayu," Shinn muttered. "We..." Before he could finish, Shinn fell to his knees, and embraced his sister, sobbing gently.
Mayu was left rather confused, which was only compounded upon when Reimu did the same thing. Something important to note about human emotions, is that they're easily affected by the mood of those around them. "Sh...Shinn, Reimu, why are you..." Mayu tried to say, tears welling in her eyes. "Pl... please, why are... why..."
And before long, she, too, was crying alongside them.
Only two people remained on the bridge of the Archangel right now. Those two were Kira Yamato and Murrue Ramius.
"I guess war never really changes, huh?" Murrue said quietly. "We've won, but... it really doesn't feel like it."
Kira nodded solemnly. "So many lives, cut short by the cruel hands of others," he muttered. "The Lunar Rabbits, Lunamaria Hawke, Lacus Clyne... They deserved better. They deserved to live in peace."
"Such a cruel, unjust world we live in," Murrue noted. "I suppose... the only thing we can do is pray that they'll have a better lot in the next life."
Deep in Higan, Shiki Eiki was, for the first time in roughly sixty years, exhausted. Judging souls to go to Heaven, Hell, or the Netherworld wasn't the most taxing job, but when you're going through several hundreds, if not thousands, of souls, then exhaustion is bound to catch up at some point.
Fortunately, though, she was nearly done. The hundreds upon hundreds of Lunar Rabbits had been sorted, and sent off to the Neatherworld to await reincarnation, specifically as Earth Rabbits. After the shit they had to put up with up on the moon, this was probably the least she could do for them.
Now, there were only four souls left. Two belonging to human Outsiders, and two to Lunarians.
"To think a day would come where I'd get to judge Lunarians," Eiki muttered to herself, smirking rather triumphantly. "This might be in poor form for a Yama like myself, but I'll probably remember this moment for years to come as a guilty pleasure." Unlike the case with the three Outsiders a while back, these four souls did not have their corporeal forms, mostly because the three before were an exception to the norm. One of the Lunarian souls flared indignantly at the Yama. "Silence," she commanded, causing the soul to freeze in fear. "Through the Cleansing Crystal Mirror, I have seen all of your actions and thoughts. For you two Lunarians, the sins you have committed have left you both perpetually damned. Your fates are sealed, Kishin Sagume and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. The only fate befitting you two for your crimes is the Hell of Blazing Fire. Make peace with your crimes before you reach damnation."
The two Lunarian souls seemed to quiver in fear and outrage, as they faded from Higan. It would probably take about one month for them to get thrown into the flames, so Eiki thought it might be a good idea to schedule a day off. Perhaps invite some related parties to watch. One of the remaining spirits began to tremble, afraid to meet the same fate.
"You needn't worry, young lady," Eiki said kindly. "You'll not be sharing their fate." The soul relaxed slightly, before looking over to the other one in concern. Unlike other souls, which had a look that somehow crossed a burning flame with stretched, transparent mochi, this one was faded, flickering weakly, and hardly reacting to anything around it. "It'll be alright. While I must admit, she has a different fate in store for her, it'll be no worse than your own." Clearing her throat, Shiki Eiki forced her expression stern. "For the Outsider known as Lunamaria Hawke, I sentence you to reincarnation in the Outside World, effective immediately." Then, she softened her expression again. "As a little bit of personal advice, while you're in Tokyo, look for a green haired boy by the name of Nicol. He'll help guide you."
The spirit faded, leaving just the Yama and the worn out spirit. "And now, for you," Eikii said softly. "You poor, exhausted one. You have lived for what has amounted to a few thousand years now, but it is not your sin to bear." She looked up, to see two figures approaching from the fields. "You've made it just in time, Yakumo Ran-san," she greeted. "Is Yukari-san not with you?"
"Yukari-sama has gone to sleep early this year," Ran responded politely. "As promised, though, I have brought Haniyasushin-sama."
The Sculptor God, Haniyasushin Keiki, bowed politely. "It is an honour to be called upon by you, Shiki Eiki-sama."
"And I thank you for coming on such short notice, Haniyasushin-sama," Shiki Eiki replied. "As I recall, you rescued the soul of an Outsider from the Cosmic Era three years ago, that had been torn up by the Beast Spirits of the Animal Realm, and were able to send him back to his home dimension, correct?"
"As you say, Shiki-sama," Keiki said. "From what Ran-sama has said, you wish for me to perform this act again?"
"Indeed, though this time, you won't have to sneak around anyone's back to do it," Eiki said. "This one... there is only one reward I can think of for her trials and tribulations, but she would not last long without some intervention. Tell me, Keiki-sama, would you be able to replenish her life force?"
Keiki took a long look at the spirit before her. "I think so, actually," she said. "The last one, Shinn Asuka, was torn to shreds. Repairing damage like that was simple, like a jigsaw puzzle. Repairing a broken thing and a worn out thing are two different skills, sure, but both are ones I have."
"Then please, Keiki-sama. If you would," Eiki asked.
In response Keiki smiled politely. "Of course, Eiki-sama," she replied. "I'll just need half an hour."
A familiar soreness washed over her. How long had she been out? It felt... cold. Was this what death felt like?
Slowly, Lacus Clyne began to open her eyes. She was in a dark room, the only light being that of the street lights outside.
This caused her to do a double-take. Street lights? Did that mean she was back in the Cosmic Era? Dread began to fill her heart. Was she fated to repeat those two wars ad nauseam for the rest of time? To see friends at each others throats until she goes mad?
Then, she noticed something peculiar; it was snowing outside. That alone meant it couldn't have been February 14th, the day Junius Seven was destroyed. She had repeated that day many times, and considering she was nearly always in one of the PLANTs during that tragedy, she could safely say that there was never once snow there.
In fact, as far as Lacus could recall, on the PLANTs, it only snowed during one month; December. Because people just loved a white Christmas.
Lacus slowly got to her feet, and walked over to the window. Her legs felt odd. Unnaturally long. Not like a jump in height of feet, but maybe a little over two inches. Just enough to make it uncomfortably noticeable.
She placed her hand on the window, finding it cool to the touch. Well, that was to be expected, given how cold it was. She exhaled, her breath fogging up the glass, and froze in surprise.
The face that stared back at her wasn't of a 16 year old Lacus Clyne, but of one four years older. Her eyes had a more natural, fitting sharpness to them, even though they still carried their usual light optimism. She pressed her free hand up against her cheek, and found her skin to be just the tiniest bit drier that she would have usually liked. On top of all that, there was various miscellaneous, small signs of stress all over her face.
Rushing back over to the desk she had been siting at, Lacus turned on a screen, and looked at the date.
Her breath hitched when she read 24/12/75CE. Over one year since the end of the second Alliance-PLANT war.
Finally, Lacus took a proper look at where she was, and recognised it. It was her office, from when she assumed the role of Chairwoman of the PLANT Supreme Council. How long had it been since she'd last been in this office? Centuries, maybe?
No, more to the point, how did she get here? She remembered her last moments on the moon with Yakumo Yukari, but...
Her thoughts were cut short when she saw the picture frame on the desk. Slowly, she picked it up, seeing a group photo of herself, Cagalli Yula Athha, Athrun Zala, Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke, and...
The picture frame fell from her hands, bouncing harmlessly on the desk, as Lacus sprinted from the room, not even bothering to grab her coat.
[Track Set: Find the Way – Mika Nakashima]
Out of the building, through the gate, and a full sprint down the street. Past several pedestrians who looked in confused awe as their supreme leader ran like a bat out of Hell.
Lacus took a turn too sharp, and tripped over, falling face first into a pile of artificial snow. Just as quickly, though, she got back up, and continued running. For anyone wondering, no, she wasn't wearing heels. Lacus may have a knack for fashion, but uncomfortable was still uncomfortable, and who the hell was going to question the PLANT Chairwoman for wearing flats?
By the time she had reached her destination, Lacus Clyne was out of breath. But, that exhaustion, the pain in her feet, they were proof that she was alive; that she was really here.
Once upon a time, a grand mansion had stood on this plot of land. But, after the war, per Lacus' request, it had been taken down, and replaced with five moderate sized houses that could comfortably fit decently sized families.
Slowly, Lacus walked up to the door of one of those houses. On the nameplate on the door was written 'Yamato-Clyne'. Lacus traced her finger over the engraving, feeling tears well up in her eyes, even if a small part of her heart was still afraid to accept this as real.
Lacus reached for the door handle, yet froze as that fearful part of her tried to take hold. What would happen if she opened that door, and it all just... ended? Both the fear and the cold caused her to tremble greatly.
Then, as if aware of her fear, the door opened for her.
"Ah, your home," said the brown haired, violet eyed man, who smiled kindly and warmly like the sun. Said man's eyes widened when he saw the state she was in. "Is everything alright, Lacus?"
Lacus' voice caught in her throat briefly. "K... Kira...?" she asked.
Kira's smile returned briefly. "Yes," he replied. "It's Kira Yamato. As I've always been." Gently, he took her hand, and guided her inside. "Come on, you'll catch your death of cold."
That warmth was unmistakable. Any idea that this was an illusion was dispelled instantly.
With the slightest of brushes, Kira wiped the snow that had piled on Lacus' head and shoulders. "Did something happen?" he asked. "You look like you haven't seen me in years."
"I..." Lacus tried to speak, but each time she did, her breath hitched. She had so, so much she wanted to say, but every attempt to speak came with hiccups.
Gently, Kira placed a hand on her cheek. "Whatever it was," he said in a soothing voice, "it must have been tough, yeah?"
Finally, after giving up on words, Lacus rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Kira, and sobbing gently into his chest.
"It was... a long, sad dream," she whispered sadly. "One I... thought I'd never wake from..."
Kira gently returned the embrace. "It's alright now," he said softly. "Whatever it was, it's now over. If you want to tell me about it, then you can when you're ready. Until then, it's alright to cry; I'll still be here, by your side."
The small sobs turned into an open wail. She had wish so dearly for this very moment, and now, finally, it was here. He was here, in her arms.
Even without words, or wings to fly on, she had stood her ground against the winds of fate. Now at the end of this path...
She found her way back home.
A/N:
You really though I was going to end on an absolutely sad note? Who do you think I am? I may have been tearing at the eyes while writing this short epilogue, but I still pushed through.
Still, what a ride, huh? This was a combination of my first Mecha fic, first Touhou fic, and first Gundam fic.
This is usually the part when I talk about how much what I've put out has differed from the original idea, but largely, this has remained quite consistent with what I originally had in mind. A few small character swaps here and there, such as taking what I'd originally planned for Yorihime and putting it on Sagume, and that's about it for small changes. The only major change I can speak of is that I had a different first arc, which would have had the Moriya Shrine as antagonists. Of course, that changed, and they became more reasonable authoritative figures.
Now, then. I believe I still owe a prequel, don't I? I'll see ya there.
