Persona: Duality

by Sraosha

Amara Furaha is an aspiring artist living in the idyllic metropolis of New Motus City. One day, she is stranded in another world, and is attacked by unholy creatures - the Shadows. She, along with many others, will begin a journey to eliminate them and put a stop to the organisation that has jeopardised the safety of her beloved city. Yet, she must also try to live a normal life.

71. Our Resolve

AN: Another long chapter - so long, in fact, there were some planned scenes here that I'm going to have to leave for Chapter 73. As for what Chapter 72 involves? Well, that should become clear soon...

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Chapter 71: Our Resolve

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|Secret Base|15:32 pm|

Everyone had returned to the base, and now they heard two pieces of awful news. Keisha was now working for Aeternus, and unlike past Last Soldiers, there was no chance of her abandoning them. Even worse, the mystery of the other Zao had finally been answered. The truth of this had shaken everyone to their core, especially Amara. All she could think about was Zao, the naïve man he was, being dragged into an operating table and being injected with vile concoctions.

"Are you going to be okay?" Other Amara asked. Zao nodded, but his eyes were still watering.

"I can't believe all of this!" Tara exclaimed. "How could Keisha do that to Matthew? I should never have let her come to the village that day!"

"Tara, I'll be fine..." Matthew mumbled. "I'm just glad you were there, Dan. And you, Richard."

"Glad to be of service!" Richard said, giving him a full-on salute. Kazuya sighed, but Bianca let out a loud chuckle.

Karen seemed like she wanted to say something. Yet every time she opened her mouth, she stopped. Perhaps she wanted to ask about Roger, Amara considered.

"I don't think I met Keisha, but..." Lucy said. "This blows! Why would she go for them? The whole time I was with them, I was miserable!"

"As was I." Shirley said. "Being with Lucy was wonderful, of course, but that dreary place, filled with such vacant people...it wasn't a good experience. I just missed being at The Mole."

"You were missing Dan, weren't you?" Kaman said. "Come on, you might as well say it. It'll make his day."

"Kaman, don't. I'm just glad she's safe here." Dan said. "Besides, someday soon, I'll get to hear you play again. As long as you don't mind me listening. Do you?"

"Of course not! Although, about us being safe...Keisha still knows the code for the NDD, doesn't she?" Shirley said, concerned.

"Oh, FUCK!" Kyle yelled. Everyone gasped, and both Serena and Lucy spat out their water over Blaine. "I never thought of that! The problem is, when NDDs are created, they have a code that can't be changed. So the only way forward is to snatch an NDD from somewhere else and replace ours with it. I don't even know where we can find one that works! This is a freaking nightmare!"

"At ease, Sir Kyle. I will locate one in the near future. I do not foresee any intrusions tonight, however. The search will begin shortly, and thus the information Keisha holds shall become null and void." Seraphina said.

"Yeah, she's right. Try and relax, Kyle." Other Serena said. "Come on, we can go try out that machine you were making! I want to kick Pierre's butt!"

After some more chit-chat - and Lucy admiring Blaine as he took his damp shirt off - those of the normal world went home.

|September 27th|Nova Albion Inc. - Nathan's Office|12:11 pm|

The sky was blue, with a few clouds flying by. This was the perfect weather for Nathan, as he completed yet another report. There was difficulty in maintaining his performance both here and in the other world, however. If only it were possible to pick only one, he thought. Drinking his coffee, he moved on to the next order of business. Before he could reply to a supplier's e-mail, he saw the door open. Priscilla was there, and she looked nervous.

"Oh, good afternoon!" Nathan said. He got up from his chair, and gave her a quick kiss. "Is it time for lunch already?"

"I...have something to tell you, Nathan." Priscilla said. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but I never got a chance. But I couldn't wait any longer. I have to tell you now!"

"A-alright, Priscilla, don't look so worried...what is it?" Nathan asked. "Are your parents okay?"

"They're fine, it's not them. Well, it sort of involves my mother." Priscilla said. "You know I love playing the flute, don't you? Recently, I've been wondering - why didn't I practice it more? Like Tara and the violin?"

"You're really good as it is!" Nathan said. "Your mother was a legendary flautist, and it runs in your veins too. So if you want to play it more, go ahead."

"I do want to play more. A lot more. So...I'm thinking about leaving here to train professionally." Priscilla said.

"Oh?" Nathan said, surprised. "I thought you loved working with me? Aren't you happy here anymore?"

"I thought I was. But this isn't my calling anymore. I need to live for my own goals, not just because I want to be with you." Priscilla said. "So I think I need to change my life around. I might not be as famous as my mother, but I will do everything I can to succeed. So..."

"Are you sure your mind's made up?" Nathan asked. Priscilla nodded. The two of them stayed there, gazing into each other's eyes. Then Nathan wrapped his arms around her, and held her close.

"Nathan..."

"Priscilla, you don't have to worry at all! No matter what we do, no matter where we go, I'll be there for you! You've been there for me when I needed you, right? You'll be playing in the orchestra, just like your mother! And I'll be there to hear you, every night! So...just go ahead and do it!" Nathan said, tears streaming down his face.

"I...love you so much, Nathan." Priscilla said, burying her head in his chest.

Whilst they were in an embrace, Nathan saw someone enter the room in the corner of his eye. Reginald, who was looking prouder than ever.

"Looks like he took the news well, then." Reginald said. "Priscilla darling, it'll be a shame not seeing your lovely face here as often."

"Don't be silly. You'll be my father-in-law!" Priscilla said, her face beaming. "Well then, I better get back to work. Oh, I should probably tell Joe as well!" With that, she left the office.

"There's always been romance in this building, hasn't there?" Nathan said, looking out the window.

"You're quite right, son. Here is where I proposed to your mother. Right where you're standing." Reginald said. "That was incredible. I had all sorts of worst-case scenarios in my head, but they all vanished when she said yes. I must have held that kiss for five minutes long..."

"Dad, there's something I wanted to ask you about as well." Nathan said. "I know you're thinking of retiring. So perhaps it's time we discussed -"

Reginald's face lit up, and he held out his hand.

"You taking the reins? Indeed, it's about time. You've got a bad habit of keeping people waiting, you know. Well then, forget about whatever you're doing, and come to my office. Or your office in a few months." Reginald said. Nathan took his father's hand, and they left, to discuss more life changing decisions.

Nathan Albion, C.E.O. of Albion Inc. I always did like the sound of that, growing up. It sounds like my dad does, too.

|Aeternus HQ - Meeting Room|14:00 pm|

"Welcome, everyone." Nihane said. "We only have one Divine Spark to go, and yet we cannot sit idly by. Inanis is under threat by Rudo Furaha and Tomas Weiken."

"So are we going to go there and destroy them?" Nina said. "We have to! If they can seize one Divine Spark, they might seize the others! Then where will we be?"

"It certainly would be a predicament. So we have to nip this in the bud." Nihane said, looking grim. "Alas, my analysis of Inanis wasn't correct. I merely focused on the energies of the Museum. Rather disturbingly, it appears there are Shadows in that area that refuse to answer my calls."

Carlos was outraged. He slammed his fist on his desk, and Pierre raised his eyebrow in derision. "Are you serious? If he takes all the Shadows in Inanis, we're screwed! We'll lose the Eternal Road for sure! And if they take it, we can kiss our existence goodbye!"

"Settle down!" Josephine said. Carlos sat back on his seat, and his face went back to his usual calm temperament. "We need to approach this carefully. Obviously, ignoring the situation will only make it worse. Unfortunately, if the six of us go alone against such quantities of Shadows, it's quite possible we will be overwhelmed. And most of the Ornatu Legion aren't capable of neutralising the Shadows of Inanis."

"Indeed." Archibald said. "Only SD01 is currently active, and my research on him is incomplete. So where do we go from here? Use Shadows from the rest of Inanis?"

"But if those two can seize Shadows in Inanis, and we move more closer to him, he'll just take them for himself!" Nina said. "If only we had anticipated this sooner..."

"Alas, there is no time to lament past mistakes. We're going to need to find a way to ensure our victory. The six of us against an army of some of the strongest Shadows in existence...that would be called taking a gigantic risk." Nihane said. "Any suggestions?"

"Well..." Nina said, deep in thought. Everyone else ruminated over the possibilities, yet they came up with nothing. Then Nina spoke again. "This might be a long shot, but perhaps we could have the rebels join us?"

Everyone was silent. She gulped, as she saw Nihane gazing into her eyes. Perhaps she had made a bad suggestion. She herself did not enjoy thinking about this idea - and there would be two Serenas to deal with. However, to her surprise, Nihane smiled.

"Very good. After all, they have no desire to let anyone use the Eternal Road at all. They've been trying to sabotage us for a decade now, and with their current numbers, they are indeed a force to be reckoned with. In combat, they've proven their strength. Even against us." Nihane said. "In fact, even when facing me, four of them managed to withstand my sheer power."

"So you're praising them and yourself at the same time. Marvellous." Pierre said. "But how are we going to get them to aid us? Sure, they don't want anyone to handle the Divine Spark, and Amara's father is one of our enemies. Yet how are we going to convince them to handle working with us, even for a short period?"

"I might have an idea on that, actually." Carlos said. "Keisha was one of them very recently, as you all should be aware. She thus should have information on their whereabouts. The only reason she hasn't divulged it so far is that Roger no longer resides with them. So we give them a reason to join us."

"Ah. A threat." Josephine said. "It would be very perilous for them to lose their base - and all too easy for us to destroy it."

"Well then, it seems Nina's proposal will go into action immediately." Nihane said. "Congratulations. Although perhaps I should reserve my accolades upon success."

"Thank you, Nihane..." Nina said, blushing.

"I'll leave the five of you to decide who does exactly what. Simply create a message that clearly states what is at risk if they do not co-operate. Then Keisha can act as delivery girl." Nihane said. "Oh, and all of us will rendezvous at 1900 hrs tomorrow evening."

"Should we enlist Roger Martin as well?" Archibald said. "I'm sure if we tell him Karen might be in trouble, he'll do anything we say."

"Do as you please." Nihane said, smirking. "I'm in a good mood. So for the first time in ten long years, we shall eat together tonight."

He left the room, and chuckled. Tomorrow evening, he would be able to eliminate a thorn in his side. And then it would be a matter of days until the last ever Divine Spark. What then?

The complete rebirth of Amurdad.

|Other World - Clairdol Village|14:28 pm|

Tara had left her house to do some shopping. While she wasn't working today, she had no plans. She had seen everything the island had to offer, and since Matthew was busy at the police station, she was by herself. Going to the city wouldn't exactly be a laugh, either.

Just as she was about to go to the bakery, she heard lots of screaming and shouting. Stunned, she hurried to the town square. There, lying on the ground, was a hysterical woman, and next to her was an overturned pram.

"Are you alright?!" Tara shouted, rushing to her aid. She glanced at her, and gasped. "Your hand!"

"My leg, it's..." The woman wailed. "Those men! They took my daughter!"

"Your daughter!?" Tara excliamed. She looked to the pram, and a horrible feeling echoed throughout her mind. Baby snatchers. A crime Matthew had spoken vehemently against. "Where did these men go!?"

"I think...they left the town! Someone find them! I can't...I can't move!" The woman screamed. She feebly tried to get to her feet, but the pain was too severe.

"Right, listen everyone!" Tara said, looking at the other bystanders. "Someone call the police, and get anyone you can on the case. In the meantime, get this lady to a doctor. Now!"

"Are you going after them?" Mrs Galloway, the chemist, asked. "That's crazy! You could be in danger!"

"Come on, how many times have I saved people from drowning? I know I can do this! I'll be back soon!"

Before the townspeople could object further, Tara sped off towards the town exit. If only she knew who to look for, and where they were going. Sadly, there was no time to waste. She sped off down the long road, with endless grassy fields on either side.

|Outside Clairdol - Hallsbury Road|14:49 pm|

Tara was running as fast as she could. The scum that had taken this baby...she had to get to them, and fast. Something in her was propelling her forward. Perhaps training with Maká had made her stronger. Then, right ahead, she saw two men, wearing black. And one of them was holding something very small.

That's the baby! Hang on, I'm coming!

"Oy!" Tara screamed. "You stop right there, you bastards!"

One of the men swore, and ran away. The other, flustered, stood still, holding the child.

"Goddamit!" He shouted. "Who the heck are you?"

"You don't need to know my name. Just give me that baby, and right now!" Tara roared.

Oh no. What have I gotten myself into? If this were Inanis or the city, I could have beaten this guy!

"You don't understand! I need this baby! I...I'm not a monster, I swear! I just...I need her!" The man wailed. Then the baby started to scream, and began reaching upwards. "Ugh...she's just like -"

"Just shut up! I don't care what you need, other than to go to jail! This baby needs her mother, not you! So you can do the right thing here and give her back. Or we'll get the police here and throw you away for a long time. What's it going to me?" Tara demanded. "That baby belongs in Clairdol, not with you. So shut the hell up and give her to me, now!"

The man looked into Tara's eyes, and she could see tears in his. She merely gave him a piercing stare. If he wasn't holding a baby in his arms, she could have mopped the floor with him. Alas, this was a delicate position. Had she been too aggressive? Perhaps her words had ruined any chance of rescuing the little girl.

Suddenly, the man quickly came closer to Tara, and lowered the baby into her arms. Before Tara had a chance to accost him further, he ran away, whimpering the whole time.

"Looks like it's over." Tara said, panting for breath. She looked closer to the baby, which was still bawling away. "Hey, don't cry. You're going home!" She slowly lifted the baby into her arms, and smiled. She was a beautiful little girl, she thought. The eyes felt familiar. And so did her tufts of hair.

If I had been any slower, what would those creeps have done? Taken her overseas? I...

Suddenly, she heard police sirens, and three cars parked near her. Matthew quickly got out of them, and he was in a panic. This had to have been one of the more serious incidents he had gotten involved in.

"Tara!" Matthew shouted, hurtling towards her. "You got her back? Thank god!"

"Yup. I got there in the nick of time." Tara said. "Sorry, miss. It's time to go back to your mommy, so this is goodbye now. Matthew, um..."

"Tara, you're not a police officer like me! What if they had shot you?" Matthew asked, his face pale. "I was scared I was going to find you - I can't say it."

"I know it was risky. But it's over now. Anyway, it makes a change. You're the one who wants to be a detective. I've been worried sick about you plenty of times!" Tara said. "Even without Maká, I know I can do it. I know I can make a difference to Clairdol."

"Maká?" One of the older policemen asked.

"She's probably one of them New Age people." The other policeman said.

"...You really are something." Matthew said. "I'm just glad you're safe. Where are the kidnappers?"

"They ran towards the forest." Tara said. "Come on, hurry up and catch them. They're unarmed, anyway. Don't worry, I can get back by myself."

"Okay, but you really oughta hurry! We'll talk later, okay?" Matthew said. "Come on, guys! We have to go!" He and the other policemen rushed into their cars, and their siren echoed throughout the area.

"It's okay..." Tara said soothingly, cradling the baby girl. "We're going back to your mother now."

|Clairdol Villager - Entrance|15:17 pm|

"Tara!" Mr Jenkins, the librarian, exclaimed. "Martha told me what happened. You saved the poor little lamb!"

"It was pretty scary...I can't believe I did it." Tara said. "Matthew's busy looking for the kidnappers. You guys tell him I'll be at the doctors, okay?"

"Well done, Tara. This village is lucky to have you!" Linda, the barmaid, said. "You and Matthew!"

Tara smiled, and as she headed towards the doctor's, she heard the locals all congratulate her.

It's not like I did anything special. I just did what was right. I love my city...and I love my village.

|Clairdol Villager - Doctor's Office|15:19 pm|

The minute Tara walked in, she could hear a woman crying from the office. The receptionist looked downcast - but upon seeing Tara, she seemed greatly relieved.

"Oh, you saved the baby after all! Come on through, and hurry! She's been worried sick!" she said, and opened the office's door. Tara quickly walked in, and saw the tearful mother from before sitting on a chair.

"You again - Oh my god! Claire!" she said. Tara slowly lowered 'Claire' into her mother's arms, and as she saw the two of them, her heart soared. Now she knew she had done the right thing. It had been a big risk, but if she hadn't taken it, what would have happened?

"Ah, so that's her name?" Tara asked. "It's really pretty. And don't worry, she looks just fine. She just missed her mum."

"I missed you too, honey..." The mother said, kissing the baby on the head. "Now that was a nightmare. Those awful men, shoving me to the ground and taking my little angel away...how could they do that?"

"I don't even know." Tara said. "But once Matthew has them in jail, we'll get to question them. Rest assured, they'll be brought to justice."

"This village...it's full of such nice people. Ever since I got away from the city, life has been so quiet. And so lonely..." The mother said.

"The city?" Tara asked, alarmed. "You're from New Motus City too?!"

"Oh..." The mother said, panicking. "Those two did tell me not to tell anyone. I can trust you, though. You went above and beyond to save my baby girl, after all. Yes...I'm originally from Kanaloa. Ever since what happened a decade ago, my life has been in chaos."

"Because of the Shadows." Tara said. The woman slowly nodded, as she cradled her child. "How did you get out?! And who's the father?"

"Him...I never did find out what happened to him." The woman said, shuddering. "He was wonderful. The Miller family opened their mansion to people with nowhere else to go. I was one of them, and he was part of the unit the Ornatu Legion sent. And he was amazing. A bit older than me, but he didn't look it at all. Handsome, charming, considerate, and as I soon discovered, an excellent kisser."

"I see..." Tara said. Something clicked in her memory. The people who were in her family home, and that letter she found in her room. Was the writer of that letter the same person? Now that she could take a closer look at this woman, Tara was surprised. She looked quite youthful, yet very worn down. Light brown hair, and blue eyes. "What was his name?"

"Adrian Gale." The woman said. "He said he planned to go to university, and work in the music industry. He was quite clever, too. Wasted in the Ornatu Legion. If only he had made it here...then we could start over together."

Tara gasped. Now everything came together. The man she loved in another world - he truly was a good man. Yet here, he had given his heart to this woman. Tara didn't know what to think.

"How do you know about Shadows, then?" The woman asked.

"My name is Tara Miller. You took refuge in my old home. You see...I know who Adrian is. And you as well. I found your letter."

"My letter - my god!" The lady said. "When I wrote that, I was pregnant, and Adrian was gone. I didn't think he'd ever come back. He promised another group of soldiers would come, but they never arrived. I realised I couldn't stay there, but with the city the way it is, I was doomed to die alone. I was in a dark place...but then they saved me."

"Oh! Those people you mentioned earlier!" Tara said. "Who were they?"

"They were strange. They only ever appeared to me wearing cloaks. But they said I had to come with them. Everything that happened was such a blur...I remember having to walk through this big white empty place. They didn't tell me what it was. Then I was outside the city barrier, and then...everything felt wonderful. Seeing the world, still intact. It was fantastic!"

Cloaked people. Tara had a feeling she knew who she meant. The strange other versions of Nina and Archibald, who seldom appeared. What were their plans? Why just save this lady?

"But before they left, they gave me a few documents. A false identity, so no one would know I was from the city. After all, the United Nations are desperate to get more information. If I ran into the village saying I was from there, the whole world would go crazy." The lady said. "So I had to pretend I was from Atlanta. It was pretty difficult to remember everything, but I think I can handle living here."

"That's...amazing." Tara said. "I'm just glad I found you. Me and Matthew...well, we're fighting to save the city. And, about Adrian...I'm sure you'll see him again."

"Thank you." The woman said. "Oh, and if you read that letter...you remember I spoke about Sophia. Her last name was something like White. I...was a horrible child. I always taunted her about how she had lesbian parents. I know, you must think I'm evil...and it was. So when I thought I was going to die, I thought about her. How she cried every time I laughed at her. And the worst time, when I...nearly killed her."

Tara wracked her brains. She couldn't recall meeting anyone called Sophia. However, about a decade ago, there was a story all over the TV about a girl being severely injured in a bullying incident. And that happened in a high school in Kanaloa. Sophia White...she would have to investigate. Perhaps Seraphina would know.

"I know I could never ask for her forgiveness...but I just hope she's happy now. If you ever find her, get her out of that city. Find somewhere nice for her to stay." The woman said. "Tell her...Samantha said sorry."

"I will, Samantha." Tara said. "And I promise, on behalf of my grandparents, you can stay here for as long as you wish. We'll find work for you, and the older generation love to babysit. And if you ever want to take Claire to the beach, I'll be there."

The two women smiled, and briefly hugged. Then Tara got up, as she saw Ms Oakley enter the office.

"Oh, goodness me! You saved the child after all! Tara, you have my gratitude."

"There's no need, Ellen. You ought to check these two over. Sorry, Samantha, but I have to go find Matthew. Take care!" Tara said, running out.

"Thank you for everything..." Samantha said. She turned back to Claire, and softly sang to her.

|Outside Doctor's Office|15:25 pm|

To Tara's surprise, Matthew was already outside, alongside his friend James.

"You guys!" Tara said. "Did you catch them?"

"We caught one of them. The others are still looking for the second guy. The guy we found, he's pretty inconsolable." Matthew said, frustrated. "I dunno what his story is, but we'll get the facts from him as soon as we can. Is the lady okay?"

"Yeah, and the baby's fine too. Her name's Claire." Tara said, smiling. "Funny, isn't it? Clairdol, Claire. It's like the old story."

"Ah, I remember. Claire and Dolly." James said. "Tara, as incredible as you were, you really ought to leave these things to us. We're trained to deal with situations like these, even if they hardly ever come up. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful everything turned out right. But Matthew would be pretty upset if you got in trouble."

"Hey, you needed to talk to the woman, right? You go on ahead. I need to talk to Tara." Matthew said. James shrugged, and wandered into the office. "You...look really happy. You want to talk about it?"

"Sure, but can we go to the beach later? I need somewhere I can think more clearly." Tara said. Matthew nodded, and whilst he returned to the station, she left for her grandparent's home. They would be out of their minds with worry by now...

|Saragel Soccer Stadium|17:02 pm|

The final match was drawing to a close. The score was 5-5 - both teams were playing at their absolute best. So far, Karl had scored two goals, whilst Richard had managed one. The crowds were cheering, as the match went into extra time. And now...Karl had the ball. If he could score, this would be the victory he dreamt of his entire life.

Zao and Amara were sitting on tenterhooks. It seemed to happen so slowly - Karl dribbling the ball, and the many opposing players trying to reach him. Then, it happened. With one sharp kick, the ball went flying - straight into the net. With this, the entire area felt alive- half the crowd was moaning with disappointment, but the other half were ecstatic, standing up, waving their flags. Zao was bounding up and down, and had to coax Amara into standing up.

As for Karl...he stood there in disbelief. Then he realised what he had done. He had made his mark - soon, everyone would be talking about his achievement. Pretty soon, he was roaring with pride, as he ran rushing at his team. They were exuberant, Richard especially. The dream had come true. Now, they were set to become stars, even internationally.

"I can't believe it!" Zao said. "I always knew he could win, but...wow! What a finish!"

"This is everything he's been praying for..." Amara said. "There was no way he could have lost. Karl never gives up. Even with everything that's happened, he won't quit, not until he wins!"

"Yeah! That's our Karl!" Zao cheered. "This is just like when we were at the final, so many years ago...except he was here, cheering. The minute we go out of the stadium, he was going on about how he'd be on the field holding the trophy! And look at him now!"

After the lengthy closing ceremony, during which the Lyeds team drank a healthy amount of champagne, Zao and Amara decided to head home. Karl would no doubt be celebrating with his team all night long, and from here on out, his career would only go higher and higher. Perhaps in 2014, he'd be playing in the FIFA World Cup.

"That was amazing...I'm glad I went." Zao said. "That really took my mind off things."

"And we're going to keep it off those things!" Amara said. "You're not getting mopey today of all days! You're coming home with me!"

"Oh, of course! Your dad's throwing you a birthday meal, isn't he? Will Tomas be there?" Zao said, anxiously.

"He always is. When he's not totally insane and corrupting my dad, he's alright." Amara said. "Blaine said as soon as everybody's free, we have to go out and celebrate! Anything for an excuse to go out and get drunk..."

"Nothing wrong with being a party animal!" Zao said. "Besides, hanging out with you guys is always a blast. Especially when we're not killing things. Oh, and...crap! I left my gift back at my apartment!"

"Zao, you don't live that far away. We'll stop off there, okay? Tonight, I want you to relax and get happy. It's a time to smile!" Amara said. "Oh, hold on...there's a text message." She took out her phone, and saw the recipient's name. Karl. "...Karl?"

"He should be busy partying with the team! What's he saying?" Zao asked. Amara opened the message, and read it out loud.

Happy 22nd Birthday, Amara. I'm glad you were watching. Have a wonderful evening, and take care of Zao.

"Take care of me? It's like I'm a kid!" Zao said, sighing.

"He's worried about you. Not long ago, you were in tears in that stadium." Amara said. "So shall we go? I'm curious as to this present. I hope it's as nice as that seahorse necklace."

"Trust me, you're going to love it. Karl might not think so, but I'm good at picking great gifts!" Zao said. He grabbed Amara's hand, and steered them to his place. This was going to be a special birthday.

|Serena's Bedroom|18:04 pm|

"Man..." Serena said, staring despondently at her Geography textbook. No matter how many times she read the source notes, nothing seemed to sink in. If she didn't do well in her final year, how could she possibly get admitted into a good college? Then she would never be able to live alone. She went back to one of the problems in the practice paper, but it made even less sense.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in..." Serena said, half-heartedly. The door opened, and in came her mother. Serena rolled her eyes, but Hilda didn't seem to notice. "What is it, mom?"

"We heard you speaking to Kyle about the Geography test. Are you doing okay?" Hilda asked.

"Just fine, mom." Serena said. Normally, Hilda would have sighed and stormed out. Not this time. Hilda took the other chair, and sat down. She began reading the material, and nodding.

"Now this takes me back. I remember studying the Weimar Republic in great detail." Hilda said. "Serena, I know Geography isn't your favourite, but if you work hard at it, it will come in useful someday. Especially if you have your heart set on Akihabara."

"How do you know about that place?" Serena asked, surprised. "Wait, do you even know where it is?"

"Tokyo, Japan. You've talked about it with Kyle numerous times, with quite some zeal if I might add. If you apply yourself, some day your knowledge will make travelling much easier. And perhaps we can go to Germany at last. To see where your heritage comes from." Hilda said.

"Mom..." Serena asked. "Did you do well at Geography?"

"Let's just say I surpassed the teacher. Now, do you want to show him how clever you really are?" Hilda asked. "Then stop being lazy. We'll work through this material together. You're forgetting I was a substitute teacher once."

Serena grumbled slightly, but obeyed. With each question, Serena found herself being challenged - but once she finished them, she actually felt like knowledge had sunk in. Within about an hour, the test paper was complete, and Serena had managed 75% correct answers.

"See that?" Hilda said. "You're just as smart as your sister was. She wasn't too happy about me teaching her, either!"

"Mom...um, thanks for helping. I can handle the rest from here on out, but..." Serena said, trailing off.

"Alright, but if you get stuck, call me or your father. I'll be downstairs if you need me." Hilda said. There was an awkward silence, but Hilda gave Serena a quick kiss on the forehead. Stunned, Serena moved on to the Mathematics papers.

|Shirley & Lucy's Apartment|18:30 pm|

Delicious smells were coming from the kitchen, where Shirley was toiling away. Despite a feeble protest, Lucy had to admit that her cooking was 'sub-par', and thus focused on setting the table and tidying up the place. Blaine had come here many times over the past few months, yet every time she worried the place was too dirty or she might end up spoiling the evening.

The previous night, during a phone conversation, Lucy decided to invite Blaine for dinner again. However, since Shirley wasn't planning to go out alone, she thought she might as well invite Dan as well.

"Oh, I getcha. We're playing matchmaker, huh?" Blaine had said, laughing.

"Uh, well I never thought of it like that, but...wait, you really think they could work?" Lucy had asked.

"Why not? We're doing just fine, so why not them?" Blaine had replied. "Even if it doesn't, it'll be fun. Dan could use the company anyway!"

Now, Lucy was cleaning the coffee table for the second time. Every time she saw fingerprints or dust, she grumbled and got out the cloth. If only she could get the place redecorated in twenty minutes...

"Alright, this casserole is good to go." Shirley said, leaving the kitchen. "I'm a bit surprised you're letting Dan come here. Is it just so I have someone to talk to whilst you and Blaine are being all loved up?"

"Um, no! It's just...yeah." Lucy said, blushing. "Remember that night when Edmond came round, and it ended up being just the three of us? You were just staring at us speechless!"

"Of course I was. You were practically sucking his face off!" Shirley said. "Well, at least this time I have someone to laugh about it with. And Dan seems like a good man. He even appreciates my music! I wonder if he'll like my origami?"

"Since you failed to make a swan five times in a row, probably not." Lucy said. "Go on, get changed. I'll get this place clean if it's the last thing I do!"

Half an hour later, outside the apartment

"How did I let you drag me here...?" Dan said.

"What else were you gonna do? Do wheelies the whole evening?" Blaine said. "Come on, man. Lucy invited us both, and I don't want her to think I've got rude friends who disappoint cute girls."

"Me, disappoint cute girls? How many times have you made a girl run away crying in your life? Thirty nine, by my last count." Dan said, shaking his head.

"Point taken. But that was the old me! The new me is gonna make this work, so just relax and have a good time. And Shirley's there, too! You like her, dontcha?" Blaine said, nudging him in the elbow.

"...A little." Dan said, looking away.

"Ha! I knew it!" Blaine said. He slung his arm around Dan, and laughed. "Then tonight's the night! Come on, we've kept those girls waiting long enough. Make your move, buddy!"

"My move? Blaine, don't be stupid -"

Blaine ignored him, and rang the bell. Immediately after this, the door swung open, and someone had flung themselves into Blaine's arms.

"Sorry we're late. You're looking pretty amazing tonight..." Blaine said softly.

"So are you!" Lucy said. "I'm just glad you're here! Come on in, both of you!"

Whilst Dan was taking off his coat, Shirley walked over, hands behind her back.

"Hello again. It's been a little while, hasn't it?" Shirley said.

"Good to see you, Shirley. How've you been?" Dan asked, with a small smile.

"The usual. I just signed up to play at a few venues during the True Revolution Festival! The big TR!" Shirley said, beaming. "Not just the piano, but singing too! I never thought I'd get to perform in public like that before!"

"I'm not surprised. You're an amazing musician." Dan said. Shirley's face went red, whilst Dan hung his coat up on the hat stand. "What dates are you performing? Maybe if I've got time, I'll come and watch."

"That would be great!" Shirley said. "Anyway, I hope you like tonight's dinner. If I had let Lucy handle it, well, you might have left this apartment on a stretcher."

"That's how I feel every time he decides he can cook!" Blaine said, laughing. "Trust me, no matter how beat I am when I get home, I make it my mission to make dinner. Anything to eat something edible."

Dan laughed sarcastically, and playfully punched Blaine in the shoulder. "Oh yeah, big shot? You're the one who couldn't put up a shelf! How did you end up knocking the wall down, anyway?"

"Um...I hammered in the nails too hard?" Blaine said, sheepishly. "But enough about that! This wine looks great. Good vintage, too. We've got this at The Lounge, actually. Never tried some before."

"It took me ages to find one I thought you'd like." Lucy said, smiling. "Drink up, everyone!"

Half an hour later

"I gotta tell you, Shirley, this is one awesome casserole." Dan said. "You ought to tell Blaine the recipe, so I can have it more often!"

"Oh, are you sure you couldn't pull it off yourself?" Shirley asked. "Well, if you're as bad a chef as Lucy is, then perhaps I shall. Really, it's just another of my constantly changing hobbies. I even did parkour once. Like they did in that French film."

"No way! So you could jump over roofs and stuff?" Blaine asked. "I dunno if I could do that. I'd probably fall and break a leg."

"Shirley tries her hand at everything. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't." Lucy said. "One time, she tried plumbing. We ended up having to pay for a new bathroom..."

"It wasn't that bad! The sink was mostly intact!" Shirley said, giggling. "What about you, Dan? How did you get into motorcycling?"

"Me? Back when me and Blaine were kids, there were stories of these really badass bikers. I forgot their names, but they were pretty much inseparable, not to mention the greatest speed demons ever. They weren't like most bikers today, cause they didn't just drive around to show everyone who was on top. They really tried to clean up Kanaloa, in their own way. They beat down the crooks who stole from people, or helped guys in danger. So when I was old enough, I took up lessons." Dan said, smiling.

"Hmm." Shirley said. "Perhaps it's time I took up driving lessons. I'm getting bored of riding the bus all over the city."

"Aww, really?" Dan said. "That's a shame. You never know, someday I might end up as your driver."

Lucy and Blaine stared at each other, and laughed as quietly as possible. It seemed that things were going well - they had played matchmaker.

"Well, it's not so much the driver. Rather, just dealing with everybody else. When you have to teach piano to the most spoiled brat imaginable, you don't want to have to listen to dumb schoolgirls taking self-pictures." Shirley said. "How long have you been a bus driver, Dan?"

"Ever since I left school, really. It was only gonna be for a little while, until I found something else. Then I realised I liked doing it. There was something I loved about getting people places. And I get to go all over the city, even Nova Albion." Dan said. "But now, it's starting to be a drag. Just about every passenger is an ungrateful, selfish bastard who whines about traffic jams, fare prices, or even when there's car crashes and the route has to be diverted. And all my old buddies there left."

"Whoa, man. How come you never talked about this before?" Blaine asked. "If you're hating this job that much, just waltz out of there and quit!"

"Then what would I do?" Dan said, acidly. "I'm not qualified for much else, am I? I'm thirty two...I'm too old to go back to school. I'm just going to have to stick at it. Oh...sorry, ladies. Didn't mean to depress you."

"It's...fine. Honestly. We all have bad days...right?" Shirley said, nervously.

"Of course." Lucy said. "The other day, Juan was bragging about climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, and Colette was wondering what you'd wear to go up there, and Sheila told them both to shut up because she was working on this protest she's part of, then Amara started doodling pictures of her boyfriend, then..."

|Other World - Clairdol Beach|19:34 pm|

"So you want to find Sophia White?" Matthew asked. The sun was setting, and the waves were calm. The sky was filled with shades of orange, yellow, and even some blue.

"Yeah. And Seraphina will be able to find her, I'm sure." Tara said. "But the best part is, even if I never got to properly meet Adrian in this life, I know he made a big difference to someone else. He really helped Samantha during such an awful time, and I got to save his own daughter!"

"Looks like no matter what universe you're in, Adrian's part of you." Matthew said. "You know what? This is the happiest you've been since that Divine Spark in your house. I'm really proud of what you did. We all are."

"I really should apologise. You're the cop, not me." Tara said. "Tomorrow, I'll be back here, and you can be the one chasing purse snatchers!"

"Hahaha!" The two of them laughed for a while, then they turned to the setting sun. "You know, back when I realised I was stuck here, I really hated this place. It just seemed so boring, with nothing happening at all. But after all this time, I think I love the hell out of this tiny village. I got to meet you, too."

"Matthew, you and I don't always get along. But I'm glad you're here. This village is your second home, after all. I was in a bad way during the start of this mess, too. Yet somehow, having to take care of you made it bearable."

"We've still got a job to do over there." Matthew said. "You and me, Tara. We'll finish it together! With my brothers too!"

"Of course we'll win. We always do, in the end." Tara said. They stared at each other, then hugged each other close.

"And you know what? If I have to fight Keisha again..." Matthew said, looking back at the sea. "Then, if you're with me, I know I can get through it. No matter how many times I fall down, I'll get right back up! And so will you!"

"Come on. Let's go for a drink. Tonight, we celebrate friendship." Tara said. Matthew nodded, and started to walk towards the town. For one last moment, Tara steered her eyes towards the sea. There was something in her heart, that felt stronger than anything ever before. Knowledge that she could survive anything. Faith in herself. And a strength that couldn't break.

For both Clairdol and New Motus City, she would never lose.

|Nova Albion -Terpischore Opera House|19:58 pm|

Karen & Roger were laughing and chatting, as they left their balcony for the exit. Tonight had been a splendid show - filled with tragedy, comedy, and unbelievably talented performers. And it was the perfect place for Roger, a man who thrived on such fine entertainment. He and Karen had never seen such a good show at the Terpischore. Strangely, when he was watching the sadder parts of the opera, he felt somewhat downcast. As if something untoward had happened with him here. Yet he had no bad memories inside the Opera House.

"Roger, I have to thank you again. Going to watch an opera didn't sound so appealing before I met you!" Karen said. "And what an ending. So bittersweet...I saw you wiping away a tear!"

"It was a manly tear, my dear." Roger said. "Now, we have quite a bit of time until our dinner reservation, so shall we have a drink beforehand?"

"That would be lovely - oh, good lord. My mother's calling me." Karen said, looking at her phone. "Hold on, I won't be long. Hi, mom! What's the mater?"

Whilst Karen was trying to calm down her mother, who seemed to be worried about her tumble dryer, Roger saw a certain secretary of his walk by. Keisha Vivaldi, a diligent worker. There was no doubt she was competent, but it was hard to make her have a conversation.

"Well this is a surprise! Keisha, hello!" Roger said, cheerfully. Keisha looked up, in fright. "What's the matter? Did I startle you?"

"No, not really..." Keisha said. "I just didn't expect to see you here tonight, sir. I think you'll agree that was a stellar performance."

"One of the best." Roger said. "Are you here by yourself?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, none of my friends were free. Even if they were, I doubt they would appreciate such art." Keisha said. "I take it you're having another wonderful evening with the famous Karen?"

"Indeed I am! We're going out for dinner shortly. Keisha, I hate to speak out of turn, but you don't seem like someone who's having a good time. Are you alright?" Roger asked.

"Of course I am. No need to interfere - I mean, thank you for your concern." Keisha said, with a slight frown. "I...should be leaving. It was nice to see you, sir." With that, she hurried herself outside.

"Who was that?" Karen asked, as she came over.

"That was the secretary I told you about. Keisha, she's called. She seems rather down in the dumps. I wonder why?" Roger said. "I don't think I've ever seen her smile."

"Perhaps she has too much work to do." Karen said. "It can't be easy being your secretary. Why not give her a raise?"

"Hmm... Maybe." Roger thought to himself. Could Keisha merely be stressed about work? She had the time to come to this place, and even after that, she was still rather miserable. Something in her personal life must be troubling her. If so, it was not Roger's place to intervene.

"Worry about her later. There's a wonderful winery around the corner I think you'll love. Shall we?" Karen asked, holding Roger's hand.

"Of course." Roger slowly pulled Karen into a loving embrace, and kissed her repeatedly on the cheek. After some confused stares, they quickly left to the Petit Monde Winery. On the way, Roger saw Keisha wandering aimlessly in the opposite direction. What could be plaguing her mind?

|Serena's Bedroom|20:06 pm|

Serena was now busy with Physics. While she was familiar with most of the material, she felt unable to really grasp it, unlike Catherine. Then again, she was planning to study the subject in Oxford, England. Catherine was a genius, like Kyle and Adam, Compared to them, Serena felt completely overshadowed. Just as she was scratching her head at the second question, the door knocked again.

"Mom? Is that you again?" Serena asked.

"No, honey, it's me." Fred said. He came inside, and sat besides her. "You're studying hard, I see. At least I don't have to ask you to turn down the volume when you're watching 'Axis Powers Hetalia'. And before you ask, I do try to pay attention to your interests!"

"Dad, do you know anything about Physics?"

"Do I? For crying out loud, I did a Masters!" Fred said, amused. "Now studying for that was a nightmare. It wasn't just memorising the Periodic Table, either. That was kid's stuff compared to what I have to do. So come on, let's take a look at this question - got it. Want me to help you?"

"Um...yeah. Will you?" Serena asked.

"You're my little girl, Serena. Of course I will." Fred said. "This brings back memories. Nina wasn't always the genius we make her out to be - she struggled plenty. We all do. So what we did was sit with her, and help her understand. Make it feel worthwhile to learn. I'm sure all your anime has taught you much, too. But now you have to study for real. Let's get started."

Another hour had passed. Serena had spent most of it in awe at how easily her father solved these problems, whilst it took her a while to figure out the solutions. Even so, she felt proud of herself for having listened to him. Finally, she was finished, and all that was left was to read through her Computer Studies textbook.

"Well done." Fred said. "I know I don't say it often enough...but I'm proud of you."

"Dad..." Serena said. "Thanks..."

He smiled, and like her mother earlier that evening, gave her a kiss. The way he looked at her, Serena could see he meant every word. All this time, her parents had been paying attention. They knew her favourite shows, and probably the games she had tucked away in her cupboards. And they knew what subjects she found difficult. Why, then, had she been ignoring them so much?

Then it hit her. They weren't perfect parents. Yet if she didn't give them a chance, and turned her back on them, she wouldn't have anyone to call family. And she knew someone who would give anything to see his mother and father again. How could she go around bashing her parents when there were some who missed theirs, even into adulthood.

On the verge of tears, she shut her textbook. She wanted to call Kyle, but he was busy eating out with his mother. Blaine had said he was having a date with Lucy. Amara was probably celebrating her birthday with Zao, and she didn't want to disturb Nathan now. There were only two people she could talk to this about, and they were right under her own roof.

With trepidation, she climbed down the stairs, thinking deeply on her parents. The days when Nina were alive had been idyllic. Maybe she couldn't bring back those feelings, but it was worth a try.

"Wait. That's..."

To her surprise, she could hear the first opening theme of Death Note. Yet she had never discussed that show with her parents before. Why was it coming from the living room? Anxiously, she walked in - and saw her parents sitting there, with the box set on the coffee table.

"Guys, what's going on?" Serena asked.

"We thought you could use a study break. And since we have a new HDTV, we thought it'd be nice to see one of your shows. It looks quite sinister, at least from this opening." Hilda said.

"Why not sit down with us? Perhaps you can educate us for a change!" Fred said, chuckling. He gestured towards the empty space on the sofa. Serena, eyes welling up, sat between them. She had never felt this kind of warmth in her own house before. And she was not about to let moments like this slip away again.

"Okay, so as you can probably tell, it's about this notebook that can kill people, and this detective who really likes eating sweets..."

|Shirley & Lucy's Apartment|21:32 pm|

After finishing off Shirley's grand meal, the four of them had sat in front of the TV. With nothing interesting to watch apart from wrestling, they decided to listen to the CD Blaine had lent Lucy. One thing no one would expect from Blaine, going by appearance, would be that he liked jazz rock.

"That was some delicious mango pudding earlier, Shirley." Dan said, cleaning his face. "Where did you find the recipe?"

"I looked it up online. It's quite popular in Chinese restaurants, but I actually got it from this place called Miyazaki Sushi." Shirley said. Blaine's eyes widened as he heard that name. Kazuya...he had never really met him in this world. In fact, he had never spoken to most of the Holy Cross. Bianca he had purchased flowers from several times. Amara vaguely knew Alastair from work. Karl played on the same team as Richard.

"You alright, Blaine?" Lucy asked. "You seem worried."

"Nah, I'm alright. Just...uh, wondering how the final soccer match went!" Blaine said, shrugging.

"I wasn't really checking. I'm not really into soccer." Shirley said. "Are you two into athletics?"

"They're always working out at the gym. So sometimes Blaine's still sweating when we meet up..." Lucy said, rolling her eyes. "And now you want to take up boxing! Aren't you strong enough?"

"It's not about strength! It's about technique! And I thought you'd love the chance to see me in boxing shorts?" Blaine said, winking.

"Well, if this makes you happy, go for it." Lucy said. "Just as long as I pick out those shorts."

"So transparent." Shirley said, rolling her eyes as well. "But actually, I don't think Lucy's told you yet, but I do some martial arts myself. Tae Kwon Do, to be specific."

"Whoa, really?" Dan said, surprised. "I never thought you were into that stuff. Is there anything you can't do? Cooking, singing, playing the piano, and, uh...Tae Kwon Doing!" Shirley blushed again, and giggled.

"Those are just the things I've tried that I can do." Shirley said. "Trust me, I suck at everything else. I can't keep flowers alive, I'm no good at painting, I'm useless at dancing, and I'm awful at fencing. And that's just a few."

"I guess you never know until you try, huh?" Dan said. "Good for you. Maybe I should have been more like you. Bit late now, though."

"Come on, Dan. You're thirty two, not fifty eight!" Blaine said. "Live a little! Anyway, it's time we got going. But Lucy, I loved tonight. C'mere." She readily kissed him, and from the way he was holding her, one might think it was for the last time.

"You're still meeting me tomorrow for lunch, right?" Lucy said. "You better not take me to that burger place again. All those screaming kids trying to draw on the walls...it was like Amara at work!"

"Don't you worry, Lu. I'll find us somewhere good." Blaine said.

"Have a safe journey home, you two." Shirley said. "Oh, before you go Dan, I'm not going anything special this weekend. Would you like to join me on a Karaoke night somewhere?"

Blaine and Lucy looked at each other, beaming. He nudged her with his elbow, grinning.

Hell yeah! I knew they were good together! Dan, you stud!

"I...um, can't. I have to work most of the weekend...I'm really sorry." Dan mumbled, shaking his head.

Blaine was stunned, and his mouth hung open in shock. Lucy looked confused, but didn't speak.

The fuck? You've got this weekend off! Why wouldn't you want to spend it with her? Come on, man! She likes you! And I know you like her! You spent all your time talking to her tonight! So what the hell?!

"Oh..." Shirley said. Although she remained smiling, the disappointment could be felt from the sound of her voice. "That's...alright. Another time, maybe."

Whilst they were on the way home, Blaine just wanted to scream and shout. Yet he couldn't. The words didn't come. And Dan offered none of his own. He just sat on the window seat of the bus, staring into space. Why would he make excuses for something like this? Blaine was going to find out, no matter how hard Dan tried to stay quiet.

|Blaine & Dan's House|22:23 pm|

The minute they got home, Dan went straight to the living room and sat down on the sofa. Before he could grab the remote, however, Blaine snatched it away, fuming.

"The hell is up with you?"

"That's what I wanna ask you, you fucking idiot!" Blaine shouted. "You've got the weekend off! You could have hung out with Shirley as much as you wanted, and you lied to her?! Why? You said you liked her! I saw the way you and her were laughing...so what's going on?!"

Dan sat still, without saying a word. Then he got up to his feet, and grabbed Blaine by the shoulders.

"You shut your fucking mouth, man. You got no business telling me how to run my life!" Dan yelled so loud, Blaine's ears were hurting. "You wanna know so bad? There's no point, that's why! Me and her could never work out, and you know it! She's a lot younger than I am!"

"So what? Lucy's young, but look at us! She's my equal, no matter how big the gap is!" Blaine said, angrily. He took Dan's hands away from him, and prodded him sharply. "And Shirley seems pretty mature. Exactly the kind of girl I know you like! The calm, cool and collected type! She could be perfect for you, but you won't even give it a try? All cause you're hung up on a little age difference?"

"Blaine, I really don't wanna hear any more of this. Okay?!" Dan shouted. "There's just no point in anything! Shirley, my job, this place...nothing matters anymore!"

"The hell are you talking about?" Blaine said. "You could do anything you set your mind to! If you have to go back to school, do it! You can be a mature student, and if you can't pay the tuition, I'll help out! How can you give up on things so easily these days?"

"I already told you. Nothing matters, not after..." Dan trailed off. His fists were shaking, and he was furious.

"Matthew?" Blaine said. "Dan, I miss him too. But even if he's gone, we have to go on with -"

Before he could finish, Blaine felt a massive pain in the face. Then, his body felt numb, and everything happened so slowly. His body crashed onto the ground, and the coffee table shook from the impact. Dan stood over him, still holding his fist out. Then, his lips quivered. He stood there, shaking, whilst stuttering.

"Dan..." Blaine wheezed.

Dan rushed out of the house, slamming the door behind. The minutes went by, but it took half an hour before Blaine got himself back up. To think Dan could have struck him so badly - his face was covered in blood. He got to the bathroom, and as he looked in the mirror, he gasped. Dan had given him a nasty black eye, as well as a cut lip.

Blaine slowly tried to clean himself up, but the more he washed his face, the worse it looked. Then he noticed...tears. They wouldn't stop, no matter how many times he washed them away.

Dan...I should have known...where are you? Come home...just get home...

|Secret Base B - Amara & Serena's Room|11:30 pm|

Amara was in the second base, doodling in her sketchpad, whilst Serena was playing Link's Awakening DX. The two of them were humming along to the over world theme, and had burst out laughing when Serena had Link steal from the store, only to be annihilated by the shopkeeper's laser.

"I'm going to have to hunt down Oracle of Seasons, too!" Serena said. "It kind of sucks I'm playing on old consoles, though..."

"I know what you mean. Most of these pens and pencils are useless." Amara said, tossing away another worn-out pen. "I'm going to have to ask Matthew to pick up some supplies at Clairdol for me. If only I had the money to cover them..."

"You could always try stealing them, but then you'd probably get a Megidolaon to the face. Then everyone would call you THIEF." Serena said, giggling. "Hey, if I can find another one of these, do you want to play Pokémon Gold? There's a Pokémon with a paintbrush!"

"Maybe. With everything that's happening, we might not get a lot of time to play video games. Or doodle." Amara said, putting aside her sketchpad. "Serena, I've been wondering. What was Nina like before all of this started? I was an only child, so I never did have any big siblings."

"Nina..." Serena said. "She was really kind. But I think she hated being so much older than me. Mum and Dad would always tell her off for trying to show me 'grown-up' things she liked. But she let me borrow her favourite records anyway. Nina was really clever, too. Mum said she became fluent in German when she was only 13."

"Oh yeah, I remember you saying your grandparents were from Germany." Amara said. "Did you ever go there?"

"No, but we always talked about it. They wanted me to learn how to speak the language, but it was hard! I liked reading more, anyway. And games! Nina was the smart one. But if she was helping me with school, I had a lot more fun. Then she stopped paying any attention to us..." Serena said.

"I remember hearing that Blaine was ordered to kill you. Good thing the Commander's a total softy!" Amara said.

"I heard that!" Blaine said, standing outside the door. "Shouldn't you girls be asleep?"

"Hey, we're young! We can handle late nights!" Serena said. "Anyway, where are you off to?"

"Me? I'm doing some late night training. Me and Lucy were going to go after lunch, but we got kind of distracted, and, em..." Blaine said, blushing. "Um...gotta go!" Amara and Serena giggled, as Blaine hurriedly left via the NDD. Straight after this, Seraphina appeared from the NDD, and entered the room, closing the door behind her.

"Yo, what's up?" Amara asked. "Everything okay at your base?"

"I could not fall into slumber. Ever since the laboratory went up in flames, our only way into the enemy's stronghold has been lost. Forgive me for saying so, but Sir Weiken has caused us all so much pain and suffering. I wish dearly to inflict the same on him." Seraphina said.

"Hey, relax. I'm just as pissed, too. We're going to have to fight him, aren't we? He and my father..." Amara said, morose. "I should have known...I couldn't be the only lucky one. Everyone else has lost their family. Why should I get to have my father?"

"Lady Amara! No one here ever felt jealous of you, that I am sure!" Seraphina said. "You must understand. We all sympathise with you, dearly. No one should have to face someone dear to them. The fact that Lady Serena and Lady Nina must fight, or you and Sir Rudo, is nothing short of a terrible tragedy. Yet I am by your side. I trusted you with one of my many secrets...so now, I shall tell you of another."

"Wait, secrets? Does this mean we're going to know Seraphina's past at last?" Serena asked. "Awesome!"

"If only I could share your enthusiasm. You may already be aware that my counterpart in the ordinary dimension calls herself Stella Cleon. A name derived from my birth mother, Stella White, and the heroine 'Cleon the Wonder Star'. Seraphina said. "Alas, I have never known my father's name. Nor do I need one. Stella and Seraphina were the only parents I ever needed."

"So what's the problem?" Amara asked. "If they loved you, who cares what everyone else thinks?"

"It is kind of you to say that. I truly wish you had been one of my classmates during my formative years. Alas, the children of Kanaloa were not so understanding. Prejudice was common - and with lesbian parents, I in turn had to endure much of that. Without my mothers, I would have given in to my despair. We were taking a small vacation in Saragel when the Shadows arrived. Perhaps it was fortunate that we could not return home before the Divine Spark..." Seraphina said.

"So...what happened from there?" Serena asked. "Is that when you discovered your Persona?"

"Not entirely. I experienced the earliest vestiges of my divine potential then. My mothers were unable to decide what to do. Our home was destroyed, and they could not find work with Shadows rampaging everywhere. Then they found out about a scheme - displaced Kanaloa citizens could receive shelter if they worked for Aeternus. So the three of us lived in the Aeternus HQ - for a time." Seraphina said.

"No way! Your parents are Aeternus employees?" Amara asked. "But how did you get out?"

"I did not initially seek escape, as long as I could stay in the HQ with my parents. However, my abilities to predict future events were noticed, and Archibald was assigned the task of testing if I had the potential or not..."

|August 10th 2004|Aeternus HQ - Training Floor 1 - Potential Testing Room|14:30 pm|

"Is this really necessary, Mr Ebert?" Stella White asked. She was a meek looking woman, rather short, with a youthful face and soft voice. "Our daughter is only a child!"

"There's no need for panic." Archibald said, nonchalantly. "If your daughter is in danger, I personally shall halt the experiments. Are you not convinced? If not, perhaps you can find employment in another district."

"No!" Seraphina said, shaking her head. Her hair was blonde, and in pigtails. Her eyes were blue, and she wore a pretty cream dress. "I'll do it! This is important!"

Seraphina White gulped, and held her partner's hand. They were ushered out of the room, whilst Archibald entered the control booth. The lighted were dimmed, and a strange triangular black device raised from the ground.

"Are you ready to proceed?" Archibald asked over the intercom. Seraphina nodded, and clenched her fists. Archibald turned to his controls, and one button created a thick blue membrane around the young girl's body. She touched it, and immediately she could tell what it was - a shield enchanted by Tetrakarn and Makarakarn spells. The idea was to see if her potential would activate in the face of danger, as it had done so for the Commander.

Out of the triangular device came a large amount of black, translucent substance. Soon, a mask appeared from within it, and the body moved slighty from its entry point, parts of it raised to resemble hands. Seraphina gasped - it was staring her up and down, making unbelievable sounds. Suddenly, it came closer, and by instinct she screamed.

"No!" her mother wailed. She and her partner held each other, eyes shut. Desperately, they were waiting for the tests to be called off, and for Seraphina to be left alone. Yet she had already foreseen what would happen - which was the true reason for her fright.

Little by little, the Shadow chipped away at the barrier, until it completely fall apart. Despite several attacks being reflected upon it, it remained tenacious and vicious. Seraphina saw Archibald's Persona in the corner of the room, but she knew tonight that her power could no longer be hidden. A blue mist began to form around her, unlike anything she had ever seen. She gasped - it felt so soothing, moreso than her brief vision the previous morning.

Her mind suddenly went black, and all she could see was a butterfly. It had a voice, and a name - Philemon. He spoke of the many masks humanity wore, and how with a great sense of self, one of her masks would become her...

"Per...so...na!"

In a massive pulse of blue power, her Persona emerged, and she was amazing. A sorceress in a beautiful purple dress, with incredibly long black hair, she had striking purple eyes with star-like pupils. Her sheer power sent the Shadow cowering into the distance, and an elated Archibald excitedly dismissed Thor.

I am thou. Thou art I. I cometh from the sea of thy heart. I am Hecate, she who enchants the crossroads with witchcraft.

Seraphina watched in awe, as her heart soared higher than ever. This thing called a Persona was stronger than she had imagined, and it was directly hers to control. After all, they were aspects of the human psyche. I am thou, thou art I. She would remember those words well. Hecate managed to dispatch the fearful Shadow with a single Zan spell, and immediately after doing so, the lights turned back on.

"Excellent!" Archibald said. "So your psychic abilities were related to a Persona. Finally, I was able to prove it. Josephine will be rather displeased of my success again. Now then, miss. You are one of the precious few capable of using this power by natural means. From this day forth, you will be sent into the streets of our city, to protect the masses from the Shadows!"

"...I see." Seraphina said. She took a good look at Archibald, and shuddered. Hecate was already telling her something was off about him. It was not just Mr Ebert, however - the rest of the Aeternus leaders felt ominous to watch. Their words rang hollow, and their motivations seemed murky.

And then it hit her. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes began to water. The Aeternus that had been working non-stop to eradicate the Shadows were the ones responsible for their arrival. And they had something truly apocalyptic in store with them...

I've got to get out of here. And soon.

|Amara & Serena's Bedroom|11:40 pm|

"So much had changed in a few minutes. I knew I could not stay, for my life would be devoting myself to a goal that would not be realised - at least not under their employ. That night, I must have cried myself to sleep. Ignorance truly is bliss.."

"That's...horrible." Amara said. "No wonder you left."

"Right. However, abandoning the HQ seemed to be an almost impossible task - and even if I prevailed, my mothers would be tortured for my whereabouts. It was a predicament of the worst kind." Seraphina said, glumly.

"Then you must have come up with a plan, right?" Serena asked.

"Exactly." Seraphina said. "If they believed I was alive, they would hunt me down to the ends of the earth. Yet if they had no reason to believe that, then my mothers would be free, and I could hunt down others of my talent...so therefore, I did create a plan."

|August 16th 2004|Potential Testing Room|13:30 pm|

"Greetings, Ms White." Josephine said, towering about the young Seraphina. "I trust you are already aware of who I am, yes?"

"Ms Josephine Johnson of the Ater Vox." Seraphina said, nervously. "Um...I like the beauty mark on your face."

Josephine smiled, and laughed. "Well, aren't you kind. The other members of the Ater Vox think of it as a mere mole. They're not like you or I - they cannot appreciate true beauty." Seraphina laughed, and tried to smile as well. However, she knew that if she made one wrong move in this test, there would be grave repercussions. "We're on a tight schedule, however, so we must proceed. Any questions?"

"No, miss..." Seraphina said. She went instead, with no shield this time. Her Persona would act as one. Josephine quickly marched into the control booth, and began activating the machinery. Outside, Seraphina's parents were watching, holding hands.

I'm sorry...but I really have to do this! Don't cry...

Josephine activated the Shadow Releaser, and out came a large Dice Shadow. She blinked in confusion, but did not end the test. Little did she know that Hecate had influenced the random number algorithm in the computer that held the Shadow summoning data, so that the right kind would be used.

"No need to panic. This is just a slightly stronger Shadow than I was expecting." Josephine said, without even looking at the concerned, trembling women outside."If there is need to intervene, I shall do so."

Seraphina could not believe this woman. False hope was coming out of her mouth. If she remained part of the Ornatu Legion, she would forever be contributing to schemes of world degeneration. And Josephine would never lift a finger to protect her. The Dice Bashed into her, and she fell back, yelping. However, she fought back with a Zan, sending it down. No matter how much magic Seraphina had, however, it kept getting back up.

"You have to be stronger than that." Josephine said, rolling her eyes. "Don't tell me that's your only mode of attack..."

Seraphina, fighting against her tears, used one more Zan - the trigger for the plan. Right that second, she invisioned Hecate, giving her precise commands. Immediately, Hecate began to act on them, without moving. The Dice, however, was beginning to flash brighter and brighter.

"Damn! Stay away from the - what?!" Josephine screamed, staring at her screen. The entire data had been corrupted by a peculiar untraceable signal, and none of the control booth's functions were working. "What is going on -"

"NO! SOPHIA!" Stella screamed, banging on the glass.

"SOPHIA, RUN!" Seraphina shouted, holding her wife back.

To the two women around the window, as well as Josephine, all they would see was tremendous flashes of light. The ground shook, and there was a mighty loud sound. Josephine managed to teleport outside before the control room was caught in the blast. Once the light had faded, all that could be seen was piles upon piles of ruined equipment, set aflame. Yet on the floor, near to the completely destroyed doorway which had been blocked by the rubble, was a pile of black ashes and strands of blonde hair.

"...Sophia...where's Sophia?!" Stella shouted. She grabbed Josephine, and began shaking her in fury. "Where's my daughter?!"

"Hands off me!" Josephine said, easily breaking away. "What on earth happened? That was far more intense than Last Resort usually is!"

"Where's our daughter?!" Seraphina asked, looking around frantically. However, she saw nothing. Then, their eyes fell upon the ash pile. "...No..."

"...What?!" Josephine shouted. "This can't be right! She was a Persona user! ...Archibald is going to have a field day. You two, come with me! We must see Nihane right away!"

The two hysterical women eventually had to be dragged away by the Ornatu Legion, whilst Josephine sulked all the way to the Meeting Room.

"I'm sorry..."

Sophia looked around the corner, and saw nothing. Her wig had been consumed by the flames, yet she had another in her bag. Thanks to Hecate, the cameras had been temporarily deactivated. But there was no more time to lose. Her plan had worked, albeit with a terrible cost.

I...really made that explosion huge, didn't I? I just thought I'd make myself invisible and let the fake body be destroyed...mum...Sera...I'm really...sorry...

Wiping away her tears, she began to move. The staff were focused on putting out the fire in the destroyed testing facility, as well as dealing with the loss of data. Shadows were bound to appear soon, unrestrained by the Shadow Releaser anymore. Then, she saw it - the blue gate of the NDD.

"Where do I go?" She asked herself. Then she realised something - it did not matter. As long as she got away from the Aeternus HQ, she would be able to use her powers for the good of the city. Punching in a random code, she phased through, and was gone for good.

|Amara & Serena's Bedroom|11:46 pm|

"It was quite some time until I happened across Aimee & Kyle. They were pleased to have me in the team, of course, but mystified as to my secrecy. Even they could not know...neither could Priscilla or Dan."

Whilst the two of them looked at her in shock, Seraphina placed her hands on her head. Slowly...the wig came off. Serena gasped out loud, whilst Amara was speechless.

"It did not take long for me to fabricate a new image. Seraphina, the teal-haired princess, with a passion for theatrics. No longer Sophia White, the distant bald girl from Kanaloa."

"...That's incredible." Serena said. "Amara, did you know that before?"

"Only by accident. So your parents don't know at all?!" Amara asked. "Didn't you try and see them at all?"

"I did try. Do you recall my secret conversations with Rudo?" Seraphina said. Amara gasped - the night the lab blew up, Seraphina had spoken to Rudo without allowing Amara to overhear. So this was why. "He knew of my parents. The years since my departure took their toll. Thankfully, they were unaware of my rebel activities, and continued their work in the same department, albeit with no joy whatsoever. Then came the day we ventured into the HQ..."

|August 21st 2014|Training Facility 1 - Corridor|21:00 pm|

"Seraphina, what are they weak to?" Other Nathan asked. Seraphina, however, stared in the distance, having sensed something. Familiar scents and sounds...voices she knew and loved. Beyond her expectations, they were right on this floor. The same floor she had faked her own death.

"They're here..." Seraphina said. "Close by..."

"Who are?!" Other Amara demanded.

"Very important people..." Seraphina said. "I must go... Use Agi and Aqua spells to quickly defeat them..."

"Wait a minute! You can't just leave us here!" Other Serena said. Seraphina dashed around a corner, and slowly walked nearer her destination. For the first time in many years, she would come across her only family. If only she could talk freely with them, cast aside their grief...but that could not be. Not now, and maybe never.

Then, near the very end of the hallaway, the two women were there. That familiar small brown-haired woman, a rather timid looking lady. Next to her was the taller, strong-looking teal haired woman that had been her partner for a very long time. They both seemed tired, and drained.

"Oh. Good...evening." Seraphina said slowly, yet respectfully.

"Hello." Stella said, apprehensive. "...Are Shadows truly in here?"

"They are indeed. This place has become dangerous tonight, due to scheming behind the scenes. Conflicts of both heart and sword have begun, and both shall break thoroughly before they can be healed. Do not fear, ladies. Claim the ebon stairs, and remain seated in the safety of the lounge area." Seraphina said.

"...Very well." The true Seraphina said, barely reacting. "Are you one of the Last Soldiers?"

"Correct. My name is...Cleon." Seraphina said, shakily. Suddenly, she heard noises behind her. Two dangerous looking Beast Shadows had happened upon their prey. "...You must depart! Leave these to me!"

"You have my thanks, Cleon." Stella said.

"Mine too. Please, stay alive." The real Seraphina said. "Our daughter...died thanks to those creatures. If you can...destroy every single one!"

"That, my lady, is my duty." Seraphina said. The two women ran up the black stairs, as instructed. Now, Seraphina could breathe a sigh of relief. She could summon Hecate without having to reveal the truth. If they knew the truth now...they would not be safe. "Megidola!"

|Serena & Amara's Bedroom|11:50 pm|

"The courage to tell them the truth never came. If the laboratory had not been destroyed, I would have told them! I could have asked Aimee to take them in! Yet there is no way back now!" Seraphina said, angrily. "I was so selfish. If I had stayed, my mothers would have never had to mourn my passing!"

"You did what you had to do, right?" Serena asked. "If you had stayed, you would have had to use your powers for terrible things. We might have even had to fight you!"

"Seraphina." Amara said. "Or...Sophia. Someday, we'll get back in the HQ! And your parents are going to get out of there, alive! You have my word!"

"You would promise me their safety?" Seraphina asked. "...I never expected such dedication from you. Such optimism is boundless - and I am grateful. So grateful."

"Oh! I'll help too!" Serena said. "There could be a secret passage somewhere! Um...Seraphina, are we allowed to tell anyone else?"

"Not just yet. I will find the time to inform everyone of this. Thank you for listening." Seraphina said. Serena smiled, then gave Seraphina a big hug. "You have yet to brush your teeth. Do so, now."

Serena, grumbling, left the room. From what Amara could hear, Lucy was taking her time in the bathroom, and Serena was banging on the door.

Seraphina chuckled. She shook her head, and then she stared at her teal wig. Then, she pulled something out of her other pocket. A bright blonde wig, in the exact same hairstyle as the teal one. She elected to put that one on. Then, off came the teal eyebrows, to be replaced with new blonde ones.

"Sophia?" Amara asked.

"Sophia." Seraphina said, smiling. "When the end of our journey comes, all can call me Sophia once again. For now, it will only be you."

"Alright. Sophia, we're going to win, for sure! No matter how many times we have to summon Hecate and Hathor, we will win!" Amara said, cheerfully. The two of them embraced, joyous in each other's arms. Then, once they stopped, Sophia shut her eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Hecate...she is changing form. My heart has grown stronger...so has she." Sophia said. "Soon, Amara, you will see the strength of my new resolve. I will see to it that my parents get out of this nightmare alive."

Sophia quickly changed her hair and eyebrows back to 'Seraphina', and left the room. Amara got back to her sketchpad, and began doodling again. Two women, and a little girl between them.

Stella, Seraphina, and Sophia. The White family.

|Nova Albion - Augustus Square|11:56 pm|

Night had fallen, and the stars shone brightly above the square. Yet only a few brave souls were able to venture outside to take in the wonder of the starry night sky. One of those was Blaine, who was exhausted from destroying some rogue Shadows.

As he arrived, he realised he was not alone. Someone was standing in the very centre, his gaze focused entirely on the celestial heavens that canvassed the sky. That was Archibald.

The hell is he doing here?

There was not a sound to be heard. Archibald's eyes remained fixed on the beautiful stars above him, transfixed by their glow. From the way he was standing, Blaine doubted he knew he was here. Rage suddenly built in him, and he pulled out his gun.

"Are you really going to look for a fight? If it's all the same to you, I'd rather behold these magnificent stars." Archibald said, without averting his gaze. Blaine, stunned, put away his weapon. He slowly advanced towards Archibald, but even as he got directly in front of him, Archibald refused to look at him.

"Hey. I got something I wanted to ask you." Blaine said. Archibald frowned, but said nothing. "When I was Commander, everybody in the Ater Vox treated me like shit. I got no respect, no matter how hard I tried to kill Shadows. But you were different. You sometimes gave me time off. You got me a better bed when I started complaining about my back. You even found my favourite beer. Why, man? Why you, and no one else?"

"What would you do if I told you?" Archibald asked. "What difference would any favours I did make at this point? We are now on opposing sides. You almost murdered me in front of Lorean Tower - I think you'll agree we are now far from being friends."

"I know you had a reason for doing all that. It wasn't just cause I was strong, and worked my ass off. No one else gave a damn for that. They laughed in my face every time I reported on the extra work I was doing! Archibald, there's something you're hiding, isn't there?" Blaine asked. "Something big. Every time we meet, I can see it in your eyes."

"Ah. So you're sharper than you look." Archibald said, finally looking at Blaine. "On that day at Lorean Tower, I revealed to your friends my motivations. To return to the only truly happy time of my life - my 'golden age', if you will."

"Yeah, I get what you bastards are trying to pull. The Eternal Road shit. What are you getting at?" Blaine demanded.

"...A long time ago, my marriage ended. Her name was Mona. She could never stand my passion for my work. When she filed for divorce, I saw it coming. Yet what I did not expect was for my colleagues to vilify me and take her side. It seemed I was such a workaholic, I never paid attention to anyone else's feelings." Archibald said.

"Sounds like you, alright." Blaine replied.

"The whole situation was a mess. With no respect in my career, I just kept trudging along, wondering what I could do next. Then it happened. Work brought me to Kanaloa, of all places. In the 80's, it was a violent place, and rather stupidly, I had put on a rather expensive watch. When those thugs jumped me, I thought I was going to die. Then...someone arrived on the scene, and my attackers were wrought with fear. They quickly fled, leaving me in a pool of my own blood. I assumed the stranger was going to claim my watch as his prize, but instead, he helped me stand up. That man asked me - repeatedly - if I was okay. I was so stunned, I didn't know what to do. Then he dragged me to his house, where his wife was making dinner, and his son was working on his homework."

"No..." Blaine said, shaking. "You can't be..."

"That's right, Blaine. For five years, I was Timothy Spencer's dear friend. You must remember now, don't you? He asked me to stay for dinner, claiming his wife's spaghetti Bolognese was to die for. Then he apologised to her, because he forgot to ask if she had made enough. She simply laughed, and commented she always had enough for four, due to how hungry you were." Archibald said. "Then I got to help you with your homework. You were a bright lad - you even understood what I did at work, even if just barely." Archibald said. "So when I finally left, Timothy asked me if I wanted a drink that weekend. I couldn't believe it - this man was nothing like what I expected from Kanaloa. Brave, strong, kind, considerate. Of course, he could really hold his liquor."

As Blaine stood there, reeling, Archibald smiled. He put his hands on Blaine's shoulders, and stared directly into his eyes. That was when Blaine finally realised - he did know this man. The friend his dad always went out with. His hair was darker, and his eyes were brighter, but it was definitely Archibald Ebert. Or...

"Uncle Archie..."

Archibald nodded. The scene was quiet again. Blaine's mind was filled with vivid images of a younger Archibald, smiling and laughing, alongside his equally cheerful father. Memories that he had pushed out, to cope with the pain of losing his father...they were flooding back. The happiest days of Blaine's life...a golden age.

"You look just like your father, Blaine. I think - no, I know he would be proud of you. If only..." Archibald said. "No. Even with this, we can never go back. Your team will oppose ours, for as long as we continue to pursue our goals. Blaine...if I have to destroy this entire world to bring back those days, I will."

Archibald completely vanished, leaving Blaine behind in his own thoughts.

No wonder I forgot about Archibald...thinking about Dad was always too hard. It just made me realise Dad was gone forever. And Archibald, he...must have loved my dad. Enough to want to throw away this entire universe, just to go back to those times. Maybe I would have done the same...if I was 10 again, I probably would have sided with him.

But not now. Not after meeting Dan, Matthew, Lucy, and everybody else. Even if this city's gone to hell, I can't just have everything be destroyed. Dad would never forgive me if I did. If he's watching this, he's probably crying. Dad, I'm sorry...I have no choice. I have to fight Uncle Archie. If I don't beat him, that's it. As wonderful as being with you was, I know I have to look to the future. Not stay in the past. So...Dad, forgive me. If killing Archibald means saving the world, I'll do it.

Now, Blaine was the one looking to the stars. Somewhere above them, Blaine thought, was his father. Timothy Spencer, his hero. Fate had taken a cruel turn - turning those who had once loved each other to cross swords. There was no other way.

Blaine would someday strike down his beloved Uncle Archie.

|Dan & Blaine's House|12:09 am|

The door opened, and Blaine immediately looked up. There, looking slightly dazed, was Dan.

"You...waited up for me?" Dan asked. Blaine curtly nodded, and gestured for him to sit down. Dan did so, looking at his feet.

"Where did you go?" Blaine asked. "You were gone for ages! I was going to call the police!"

"I...needed a walk. Before I knew it, I was all over town. I even passed by our old school...it hasn't changed at all." Dan said. "Is it really midnight? We better get some sleep..."

"You stay right there!" Blaine said. Dan looked closer, and when he saw the bruises on Blaine's face, he gasped.

"I did that...to you?" Dan said. "Does it hurt?"

"Of course, dumbass." Blaine said. "You're one of Kanaloa's strongest. You carried me home once, remember? Of course it hurts. But I don't care about that right now. Dan, I should have realised..."

"Realised what?" Dan said.

"...How much Matthew meant to you." Blaine said. "Dan...I'm the same. I can't forget about him, either. Whenever I wake up, I keep thinking he's gonna be hogging the bathroom, or rambling about how cool the cops on the TV last night were. And how much he wanted to be like you..."

"He said the same to me about you." Dan said, seriously. "Matthew...he was only two when you and him met. As far as he was concerned, you were another big brother. Hey...do you remember when you almost left home? When your mother drowned? You were really upset...we all were."

"Upset? I was devastated." Blaine said. "I thought she might get better, so we could go back home. Then I got the news...and the next day, I packed my bags and left. I still don't know how you managed to find me to drag me back."

"Simple. You were at your favourite seat on the boardwalk. On the far left, as usual. Me, the far right. And Matthew right in the middle. Do you know how long I was sitting there, waiting for you to notice me?" Dan asked. "You started babbling about how you didn't belong with us. Then I told you that if you left, Matthew would cry, and then I'd have to kick your ass. And that was final."

"Yeah...but when we got back, remember what happened? Matthew ran up and hugged me, and begged me to stay home. I couldn't say no, could I? I...hated seeing him crying like that. That night, Matthew couldn't sleep. He was still worried I'd end up vanishing again. So I let him cuddle up with me. Then you...did the same." Blaine said.

"I couldn't just lie there awake and watch you two being all gloomy. And I sure as hell didn't want you to disappear again, either. Matthew, he..." Dan said, He started to shake, and looked straight into Blaine's eyes. "Matthew was...he was our brother...why did he have to...have to..."

Finishing that sentence was just too much. Dan's voice became a pitiful whimper, and his eyes were filled with sorrowful tears. For the first time, he looked smaller than Blaine.

"Dan..." Blaine said. Then it hit him. Nothing he said could work. So he needed to do something he should have done more often. He put his arms around Dan, and held him as close as he could. That was when Dan let it all out. He sobbed, his body numb, as Blaine held him tighter. Then, Blaine felt Dan's arms around him.

"Blaine...I'm sorry...I'm sorry for everything...I didn't...say it...but you're my brother too..." Dan said, between his tears. Blaine shut his eyes, but he felt himself getting teary too.

The two of them fell asleep, in each other's arms.