AN: For this one, I'm not going by chronological over, instead going for what I think works best. Please enjoy! I'm going on holiday again tomorrow, so please review, and enjoy this final installment of Persona Duality. I'll still be doing some extra material later, including shedding some light on a particular part of this epilogue. But yes, this is goodbye to this story. Thank you all so much! I may have other Persona stories lined up, maybe actually based on canon characters, but I'll need to plan those.
EPILOGUE
Chapter 101: Another New Motion
|January 5th 2013|Cairo, Egypt – Graveyard|9:51 am|
Amara and her father stepped into the cemetery, where her mother's grave was. Sophie was there with them. The minute she came here, it all came rushing back. Her mother had requested that she be buried here, in her home country, as it was here that her forebears were interred. Thus, Amara had to be flown here with her father, so they could say their goodbyes. It had not been an easy time. When Amara wasn't crying, she was sitting alone, fiercely guarding her mother's heirloom. She had it in her head that if she protected it hard itself, it would let her mother come back to life.
So much had happened since her mother's death. She had grown from a girl to a woman, and was doing her best to become a great artist. Many more people had come into her life. And in the last year, she had been part of a very special team indeed. One that had risked everything, and finally managed to eke out a victory.
Rudo and Amara stood in front of Ayodele's grave. Both knelt down in front of it, in full reverence, and gazed deeply at the tombstone. The sun was shining, gleaming off the black marble. Amara placed down a bouquet of pink flowers, ones that her mother used to love putting on the kitchen windowsill.
"...Hi, mum." Amara said. "Sorry we took so long to come back. It won't be another fifteen years until the next time, I promise!"
"Hello, Ayo." Rudo said, smiling. "I'm sorry as well. In truth, I could have come here many times. But I didn't have the courage to come back here, to face the knowledge that you were gone once more. Yet thanks to our daughter...I see the world so much more positively."
"Dad...?" Amara asked.
"I can look back on our time together, and smile. Even if you were gone too soon, you gave me great joy, and plenty of laughter. You might remember our disaster when we tried to decorate our first home together. I was stuck in the floorboards for quite a while... You will always be my beloved wife, Ayo. It was not for myself that I worked so hard. It was for us."
"Don't worry, Mum. The old house is still in great shape. All my art is still there!" Amara said. "And...I had a few close calls, but I still kept your necklace. There was a nice boy called Ethan who saved it, not long after we left here. I actually saw him again recently. He...hasn't aged a bit!"
Rudo looked up in surprise. Clearly, he had forgotten the boy's name. But he did remember his kindness. Perhaps it was best Rudo could remember nothing of the other world, she thought. Knowing that the polite young man from the past could end up as twisted as Nihane was a fearsome thought.
And before long, Amara and Rudo began their tales of what they had been doing, since that fateful day in 1998. While her father talked in depth about Tomas, and how he had become a part of the family, Amara had to resist the urge to talk about her hidden ordeal. All of those hard, gruelling battles against Shadows. The harsh echoes of Nihane's sadistic laughter. The sight of Janus looming over her, refusing to cease its attempts to crush her body, spirit and hope.
Wait a second. I don't need to tell you any of that. I wore your necklace the whole time. You were there, mother. Saving me time and time again. My Persona...it looks so much like you. You'll always be part of me, no matter how much time passes.
"Mother, I...love you so much." Amara said. "I hope you're proud of me. I'll become a great artist someday. And it will be thanks to you. For everything."
Rudo held her right, as they began to say farewell once more. Ayodele Furaha may be a fleeting memory to some, but to others, her love and energy had never left.
|Rome – Pizza di Spagna|12:00 pm|
Rome was a city of incredible history. Nearly every day, its current inhabitants saw remnants of the ancient empire that once stood there. Back then, the people of Rome could never have imagined that their Empire would collapse, separating into so many different pieces. Nor would they ever have considered the country of Italy forming, taking Rome as its capital city. Even to this day, however, there was no forgetting the majesty and brilliance of what an Empire accomplished in its long lifetime.
Nathan and Priscilla, like so many others, were caught up in the blend of modern buildings and historical relics. While the Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna were much younger than the Roman Empire, dating to 1725 AD, they were no less amazing. Especially with the great view offered at the top, where an obelisk stood, combined with the Fontana della Barcaccia beneath them. Sixty years ago, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck made these steps famous as they starred in Roman Holiday.
"Wow, look!" Priscilla said, pointing to the fountain beneath them. Inside, there was a shape of a half-sunken ship. "I didn't notice it so much from down there, but...it's amazing! Everything here is utterly amazing!"
"Isn't it?" Nathan said, arm around her. She leaned her head closer to him, admiring the view. "It sure beats sitting in my office. Although this isn't a very wintry place, is it?"
"Maybe not..." Priscilla said. "But this was your idea, after all. And one of your best! Nathan, just where did you get the idea from? I don't know anybody who's been. Not even from Albion Inc."
"...Josephine." Nathan said, slowly. "You know who she really is now, right?"
Priscilla gulped, looking at him with fright. "I do. Nathan, please don't hate me for saying so, but...I doubt the other me will ever forgive her."
"I understand. Her actions can't just be brushed aside." Nathan said, solemnly. "Every time I saw her – no, thought of her – I wanted nothing more than to slay her. Her mere existence was enough to send me into a brutal rage...loathsome, isn't it?"
"You can't be blamed for hating her for what she did." Priscilla said. "But she was more than just a villain for you to overcome. You understand, right?"
Nathan nodded, reflecting back on her existence fading. In that illusion of what would become Tara's family home, he had watched Josephine disappear before his eyes, along with all her vanity and desperation.
"Josephine was looking for a way to relive her happiest days." Priscilla said, sadly. "To regain that feeling of youth and wonder, alongside the man she loved most. The exact same feelings we have for each other..."
"And Janus warped that desire into something monstrous. He might have taken some years off her face, but he gave her one ugly heart." Nathan said, angrily. "She and the other Ater Vox...they should have just been able to live normal lives. Perhaps Josephine can find peace in the next life..."
"That'd...be nice." Priscilla said. "As much as I hated her...no one really deserves to burn in hell. In the end, she saw her own misdeeds, and accepted her end. That's enough for me. Her tale is over...maybe a bittersweet ending, but it's better than us wasting time on grudges."
"Yes." Nathan said. "That's not the Albion – no, that's not my way! Josephine showed me her memories for a reason. To remind me that, even if my life isn't as wonderful as this forever...I should be happy to have seen days like these."
"...In a perfect world, we might have grown to like Josephine Johnson." Priscilla said. She glanced at her new watch, a beautiful silver model Nathan had bought for her at Christmas. He wore a matching one, albeit larger to fit his wrist. "But if Josephine gave you ideas for a lunch venue, I might just start a fan club."
"Haha! She didn't...but that's part of our adventure! Shall we, my dear? There's a big bowl of spaghetti carbonara with my name on it!" Nathan said, licking his lips.
"Alright, darling...but we're dieting when we come back. I want you to be able to fit in that tuxedo." Priscilla said, prodding Nathan's belly. The two laughed, as they descended the steps past the throngs of enthusiastic tourists.
|Germany, Cologne – Hohenzollern Bridge|14:20 pm|
Kyle and Serena had been honing their amateur photography skills during their stay in Cologne. Or as it was called in its native language, Köln. The French name for the city had become the one known to most English speakers, perhaps due to several occupations from the French and British. It, as with most of Germany's cities, suffered severe casualties and damage in the Second World War. From that point on, a major effort to preserve the historic buildings began, resulting in a very diverse cityscape.
This was true for the grand Hohenzollern Bridge, which crossed the Rhine river. World War II saw it destroyed, but in the new era it was a beautiful landmark of the city, seeing 1200 trains cross it every day. Serena, Kyle, and their parents were at the right bank, admiring statues of the Hohenzollern family. Their members had been Prussian kings and German Emperors.
"Wow." Kyle said, taking a picture of a statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I. "I thought Silvana Bridge was great, but look at this!"
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Cheri said. "This river is so much bigger than anything I've ever seen! It had to be at least double the size of ours!"
While Cheri and Serena's parents began talking among themselves – mostly about other travel experiences – Serena walked closer to Kyle. As luck would have it, today was clear skies. And for a winter in Germany, it was quite pleasant. Kyle was admiring the grand view of the fourth largest city in the country.
"I still can't believe Mum made me dress up like this. I look like a giant marshmallow!" Kyle said, gazing at his thick jacket. To go with this, he was wearing knitted gloves his mother had made, as well as a matching hat and scarf. "Why, Serena, did you have to get her a new knitting set?"
"Because I knew she'd make you such a cute little outfit!" Serena said, giggling. Her winter outfit was a bit more stylish, such as a blue coat to match the purple one Amara had. "It feels weird, both our families going on holiday together."
"Tell me about it. You used to spend all of registration period complaining about them." Kyle said, smiling. "But you seem to be getting along more now. Nothing like your 'worst birthday ever'. It's nice. They look like they're having fun now. I just wish they would stop calling us lovebirds..."
"Ah, ignore them." Serena said, blushing. "They're alright, I guess. Now I just feel lucky to have them at all. Losing a parent stays with you forever...I learned that from the others."
Seeing how sad Blaine was, twenty years after his father's passing, had dwelled on Serena's mind a lot. Perhaps she wasn't as close to her father as Blaine was with his, but she knew now not to waste anymore time. For no matter how old she was, she would always be his daughter. No matter what mistakes he had made.
"Losing a parent..." Kyle said. "...The other me went through a lot of pain because of that. Mum, she...that Pierre...even I can remember it. The flames...and the years of anger afterwards. Now I'm really glad she's still here. My dad might not be around much, but she's always been there for me. It's time I appreciated her more."
"What was that, honey?" Cheri asked, happily. "Appreciating me more? Oh, sweetie! You do enough for me as it is! For Christmas – listen to this – he actually made me a video game to play on my phone!"
"He did?" Hilda asked. "That sounds complicated..."
"No, it was actually pretty easy." Kyle said. "It was just a trivia app based around her favourite subjects. Like 'Saragel Sunlight' and 'Moving Stories'."
Serena shuddered. These were two dueling soap operas filmed in New Motus City. In the few times she had seen these shows, she had wished desperately to have the power to blow the TV up. However, middle aged women like Cheri seemed to love both shows, never missing a single episode.
"I've been playing it since I downloaded it, and it's amazing! There must be over a thousand questions in here. Even about that explosion in the cheese factory!" Cheri said, eagerly showing Hilda. Fred shuddered, and walked over to the younger pair.
"You've created a monster, young man." He said, shaking.
"It never should have escaped this far from the lab." Kyle said, hanging his head in shame.
|Hong Kong – Avenue of Stars|15:12 pm|
Hong Kong may have returned to Chinese rule, but its inhabitants were still proud of their unique history. To be a blend of Western and Eastern ideas, standing out from the rest of China's metropolises. In fact, it was considered a 'Special Administrative Region', and to an extent had its own government. The buildings had gotten even taller, and the economy was booming. The wildlife was unlike anything Blaine had ever seen, including some very unusual beetles, butterflies and even giant moths. And even if he barely knew Cantonese, the people here just smiled and were more than happy to give him a few pointers.
In Kowloon, there is a popular 'Avenue of Stars', paying homage to beloved and iconic figures of Hong Kong's film industry. Its location is perfect for two reasons; offering views of the glorious city's skyline, as well as presenting plaques and statues of icons such as martial artist Bruce Lee.
Blaine and his party – Lucy, Dan & Shirley – had gone to the popular Avenue of Stars, situated on Kowloon. This place paid homage to beloved and iconic figures of Hong Kong's film industry.
"Awesome!" said Blaine, a keen tourist. "Dan, remember when we saw Game of Death?"
"Oh yeah! Lee was the man!" Dan said, eagerly.
"It's kind of amazing how much of an influence he made, considering how few films he actually made." Shirley said. "Such a legend..."
"I've actually written about him for Real People. This article about foreign films. I had to research a lot of Asian actors like him as well. Personally, I'm quite partial to Jet Li." Lucy said, giggling.
"Oh yeah?" Blaine said, grinning. "I know what else you're partial to! Hehe."
"...Blaine, we're in public!" Lucy said, panicking.
"Not that!" Blaine said, laughing. Quickly, he took off his shirt, and attempted to mimic Bruce Lee's pose. Dan, not wanting to be left out, did the same, although he couldn't quite keep a straight face. Fortunately, most of the other tourists and locals just laughed. Two Japanese ladies in particular were enamoured. A middle aged woman, who wasn't shy with her cleavage, and a rather...rotund young lady. One could practically see the love hearts in their eyes.
"You guys..." Lucy said, shaking her head. Regardless, she took plenty of pictures.
"Always showing off..." Shirley said. "And we're supposed to be the young, silly ones."
"Haha...we're young at heart, ladies." Blaine said, scratching his head. "Sorry, you two." The two guys quickly put back their shirts on, and gave their girlfriends a quick kiss. This immediately caused the two admirers' jaws to drop. After a few seconds of dismay, they fell into each other's arms, crying their hearts out. The older woman apparently was the girl's 'sensei', but it was hard to make out her words from their wailing.
"...What's up with them?" Dan asked.
"I think they wanted to see more." Shirley said. "Not that I blame them, but they're taking it a bit hard."
"...They broke down in tears because the guys aren't single?" Lucy said, bewildered. "That's kind of sad. Not that they could compete with me!" She quickly wrapped her arms around Blaine, holding him close.
"Yikes...you scare me sometimes, Lu." Blaine said.
"For those ladies, there's plenty more fish in the sea. They just need better bait." Dan said, reflecting.
The four of them continued their tour of Hong Kong, the city where East meets West. It was rather easy to get around, since most locals spoke English and Cantonese. And as long as one was friendly and made an earnest effort to communicate, the people showered tourists with kindness. Blaine was particularly fond of saying Ni Hao to the women of Hong Kong, despite Lucy's objections.
"Are you always this much of a flirt!?" She asked, frustrated.
"Hey, I'm on vacation. You're my girl, not them." Blaine said, hand around her waist. "Sorry...I just never thought I'd go here! Hong freaking Kong! I thought the buildings back home were big, but...this place is the bomb! I've never seen anything like this before! Even the bugs here are cool! And the food, the drink, the clothes...everything!"
"We don't get many chances to see the world." Dan said. "So...we're letting off some steam. Having a blast."
"Ah..." Shirley said, suddenly looking shifty. "We've not had that many holidays – or vacations – either. Perhaps we need to do something to make this more memorable for you guys."
"More memorable?!" Lucy said. "We saw the Ocean Park! The Golden Bauhinia Square! Even the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple!"
"Oh yeah, don't forget last night at the Temple Street Night Market." Blaine said. "Saw some cool stuff there!" He pointed to the new silver watch on his wrist, showing it off. Dan had found a new smartphone there, a Huawei, and had received a somewhat exhaustive crash course on how to use it. Although his large fingers made typing a little awkward.
"Maybe there's a place more memorable...for us women." Shirley said. "I've got an idea. Lucy and I will hit the Ladies Market. You two can go do something else till we go back to the hotel."
"Aww...what?" Blaine said, with a jokingly sad face. "I have to spend my vacation with this bozo too?"
"But we've hung out the four of us for most of this trip..." Dan said. "Why are we splitting up now?"
"Because..." Lucy said, with a knowing smile to Shirley. "Us ladies want to have some girl time. Don't worry, we'll be seeing you both later. Try to be good, okay? Don't make anyone else cry!"
"Hey, we're the oldies here. We can handle ourselves in Kanaloa just fine." Dan said. "You girls have fun shopping." Shirley and Lucy waved goodbye, as they ran off towards the Ladies Market in Mong Kok.
"Man, and I thought the biggest shopping experience was Roger's mall." Blaine said.
"An eye-opening trip, am I right?" Dan said. "This place is way bigger than anywhere I've ever been to. I just wish...it hadn't taken until I was this age for stuff like this to happen for us."
"Better late than never." Blaine said, slapping Dan on the back. "C'mon, maybe we can try some Hong Kong beer before we meet the girls. They're doing their own kind of shopping, so let's do ours!"
"Alright! I could use a refreshment...I'm not used to this kind of heat in December! Phew!" Dan said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Last one there's buying the first round!"
"Hey, wait a second!" Blaine said, as Dan sprinted off. The two of them ran to the nearest bar, with Dan in the lead. Blaine had to open his wallet yet again, and get the two men some Tsingtao. While they had a hearty drink with fellow tourists and locals, their minds wandered to just what their girls were up to.
I once heard 'Shopping is a girl's best friend' on TV...nearly wanted to bang my head on the coffee tale. Please, Lu, there are only so many bags I can carry...
|Clairdol Village|9:30 am|
While Clairdol was quite popular during the summer time, in the winter the tourists were gone, due to the town being much cooler than the city. This meant that for Karl and Liam, they virtually had the place to themselves. The village's most expensive hotel, the Lady Iris Inn, had very few guests other than them, making it a much more relaxing stay. For the locals, the main draw of this place was the pub and restaurant, but for foreigners, it was a classy, quiet place to get away from the stress of hectic lives.
In their room, on the fourth floor, everything was just as elaborate as it looked on the outside. There was an actual, beautifully decorated with a grand mantelpiece above it. The floors were covered with a pleasant blue and gold carpet, which matched the walls which were lightly tinted with blue. Karl had been afraid that, having asked for a room with just one large bed, the hoteliers would give him dirty looks or treat him unfairly. However, they just treated them like any other guests, and happily gave them a discount for drink and food in the restaurant.
"Now this is the life." Liam said, looking out of the window. There was a grand view of the fields beyond the roads, and plenty of patches of snow. "It's so quiet here...no one else would bother staying here in the winter! We might just have the whole place to ourselves!"
"Yeah, you're right. And we've got all the sports channels on this TV, too." Karl said, flicking through them all. "This place has everything a guy could want! Even a fully stocked mini bar!"
"We didn't come here just to watch Sky Sports and drink San Miguel, did we?" Liam said, amused. "Come on, it might be freezing outside, but our Christmas gifts ought to keep us nice and toasty. Plus, there's something adorable about you in that woolly hat."
Who am I, Kyle? I'm not the cute one everyone fusses over...although your sisters seem to think so. Boxing Day at your family home was an adventure to say the least. Frankie and Izzie seemed pleased to give me the 'good' gift, this sweater. If I had turned out to be a prick, I'd have ended up with those itchy socks...
"Me, adorable? With this beard?" Karl asked. He used to shave regularly, until he had finally had enough of admirers commenting on his baby face. Thus, since 2011 he had let the face fuzz grow. "It's supposed to look tough and rugged! Man, I thought growing this thing would stop that!"
"Ah, give it a few years, kiddo." Liam said, tickling his boyfriend's beard. "Enjoy your youth while it lasts. Unless you watch the paparazzi writing nasty articles about wrinkles and botox."
"Oh, no way. I'd rather bet on England winning the World Cup than me injecting that crap in my face." Karl said, laughing. "Next year ought to be interesting. I'm thinking Brazil stand a good chance."
"Me too! But Spain were awesome in 2010...maybe they'll keep the title!" Liam said, excitedly. "Too bad New Motus didn't qualify. But they're playing against Denmark in a while. Maybe that'll give us some recognition."
"Awesome! Don't worry, we'll practice hard till the cup after the next. We'll be world famous someday!" Karl said. Winning the FIFA World Cup...that'd be amazing! But you know, actually saving the world was kinda cool too. Everyone else can talk about that freely with their partners, but...no, I can't. Liam must never know what I went through. It was hard enough talking to him about Aimee.
"You bet we will. Someday, Karl, you and me are going to be remembered like Messi, Maradona, the lot!" Liam said, in awe. "But what I'd really like is to inspire more kids to take up this sport. Even if they're like us."
"I just wish we could tell more people...I hate hiding this side of myself." Karl said. "When I finally told Mum and Dad, they were shrieking at me for not saying anything for so long. I was worried for nothing. But the other guys on the team, and our fans...they might not approve. Richard knows, but he's a cool guy anyway."
"We'll find the right time, buddy." Liam said. "As long as the people who matter know. You keep saying I ought to meet your friends. One of them was your ex, though...everything fine with you two now?"
Karl nodded. How he wished he could have been with the others in the airport, as they flew across the world. Hong Kong, Rome, Cologne and Cairo...all so far away from here. But they'd be back soon enough, ready for the next big adventure. Karl couldn't wait to be back with his other team.
"Now that we're just friends, I'd say better than they ever were."
|Museum of Egyptian Antiquities|12:04 pm|
Visiting her mother's grave had been a solemn, but cathartic experience. Now, however, Amara decided she would enjoy herself during her first solo trip to the city she was born. The days of going to work in the daytime, and fighting Shadows at night were finally over, and yet, she wasn't as happy as she imagined. Perhaps she had more fun using a Persona than she had realised. Or it was the idea that she wouldn't be seeing Nathan and the others as often.
Now she, her father, and Stella were here, in a museum home to the most Egyptian artifacts in the world. To have descended from such a wondrous culture still gave Amara pride. While their civilization may have ceased to exist as it was, their impact was still strong. Just wandering around the streets, she had seen many people stare at her necklace in admiration.
The Museum was vaster than any Amara had been in, and yet she heard that they had so many items, they had to put some in the basement. She saw many visitors today, both local and tourists. It felt odd, being both. She had lived in New Motus for so long, she felt like one of the natives there. And neither of her allies had treated her any differently, and she loved them for that. She stared for a long time at the statue of King Tut, a golden monument to an ancient king. She also managed to see items that belonged to King Ramses II, and his wives. Seeing them still in such good condition made her feel like she had gone back in time.
One of the highlights, however, was seeing paintings of Isis. Nothing like the Persona she had gained during that night in Nakanobu Hotel, but she had the same dignity and power. Amara smiled, and walked by. The one regret she had, while wandering the halls of this palatial museum, was not having Zao with her. He would have been cheering with excitement, at the many displays. And she would have told him off, yet smiling at his delight. Without him, life felt more silent.
Oh Zao. Is it wrong to be enjoying myself like this, so soon after? I really wish you could have been with me for longer. Don't get me wrong, I love being back home, especially in this museum. But it's not the same without you.
She looked around. Her father and Stella were admiring a collection of Egyptian jewellery that had survived to this day, and were having a lengthy discussion over politics. At least those two seemed happy, she told herself in an attempt to ease her thoughts. This was no place to sulk in self-pity. Especially not with what was in front of her.
Another coffin, recently discovered, of a Pharaoh no one knew at the moment. It had lost some of its colour over the millennia, but Egyptian beauty never faded in Amara's eyes. Taking pictures wasn't allowed, but she could at least paint it from memory. She stood there, gazing back and forth from the head to the toes, trying to capture every detail.
The Egyptians really wanted their dead to rest in peace...no wonder they built so many tombs for their Pharaohs. I doubt they ever imagined they'd be dug up and put on display. But I don't mean any disrespect. I'm just proud to know that my ancestors were so advanced. What would they think of me, though? The greatest achievement of my life, I can't talk about to most people. So the world will probably forget all about me, just like this Pharaoh.
When she focused on the feet for longer, however, she leapt back in front. A young man had been standing next to her, smiling innocently, staring at the coffin with the same focus as hers. She settled down, and looked at him closely. Black messy hair, that could use a good brush, but twinkling green eyes. He was growing a beard, currently in the form of thick stubble, which clashed with his youthful looking face. He wore a loose beige short-sleeved shirt and brown cargo shoots, as well as black sandals.
"...Hi?" Amara said, finding herself smiling too.
"Bonjour." The man said, waving slightly. "Haha. I didn't mean to frighten you, madam. I couldn't help but notice you staring at this coffin. Unknown he may have been, but this Pharaoh clearly was admired."
"I...um...wanted to remember it. So I could paint it from memory." Amara said. Perhaps telling this man such a thing would be embarrassing, but she found it slip out of the tongue. He grinned, and looked over the head of the coffin.
"In that case, you might like to know who found this coffin." The man said, playfully. She looked at him, curious. It mentioned a few names on the information guide, but Amara rarely paid attention to those details.
"...You?" Amara asked.
"Oui." The man said, lightly patting the glass case. "I'm an archaeologist, so I'm often sent out on trips to look for historical items. Just my luck, I get to go to Egypt on a dig. Now that was exciting!It was in the hot morning sun, and we must have looking through countless ruins in the desert. Finally, when we were all tired, sweaty and hungry, we saw something shining in the wall, and...we dug as hard as we could. Easily the best find of my career."
"It's certainly something, alright." Amara said. He seemed rather cocky, but perhaps discovering an ancient Egyptian coffin gave someone the right to be. Yet she had been modest about saving the world from Janus. Not that she could just casually mention that. "You must be proud, Mr..."
"Ah, where are my manners? Pardonnez-moi." The man said, apologetic. "Je me appelle Marcel Bonheur."
"Nice name." Amara said, again without thinking. He grinned, flashing his teeth. "And I'm Amara Furaha. Nice to meet you!"
"An even better name. And the pleasure is all mine." Marcel said, holding out his hand. She shook hands with him, and managed to relax. "You want to paint a picture of this, you say?"
"Yeah!" Amara said. "I'm an artist. There's nothing better that capturing something forever in art, and that's why I go to museums so much. And this place has given me a lot of inspiration."
"I can tell." Marcel said. "Out of all the ancient empires, Egypt's is the one that interests me the most. The Pyramids, for example. What's interesting is, Cleopatra was born closer to the release of the first iPhone than she was to the building of the Great Pyramids."
"...Really?" Amara asked, confused.
"Great Pyramid of Giza, 2540 BC. Cleopatra's birth, 30 BC. Apple's iPhone, 2007." Marcel said, pointing to his forehead, smirking. "History is sort of my speciality. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I've spotted inaccuracies in media. Which means I have to be quiet if I'm going to a film with someone..."
Amara chuckled. To think this man, who she had known for minutes, had such charm. Perhaps it was his French accent. However, she figured it was something more than that. His outward friendliness, as if he was treating strangers as friends.
"I'm the same way with art. It has to be perfect, in every detail, before I can call it finished. I just feel that if I'm going to paint or draw something I want everyone to see, it has to be at its very best. Anything less is an insult to its viewers." She said. "Those who respect art should be treated with respect."
Marcel smiled, intrigued. He looked on ahead, at the other exhibits. "If you wouldn't mind, would you like to look around here with me? Maybe there's more inspiration to be found."
She just noticed that her father and Stella were watching her, curious. And they had heard his offer. Panicking, she glanced at them both, but Stella smirked. Approvingly, Rudo nodded.
"Oh, were you not here by yourself? My apologies again. I didn't mean to distance you from your friends..." Marcel said, worried.
"Relax, Monsieur, I think they've given me approval. Let's go! I'll see them both later, anyway." Amara said, happily. This seemed to please Marcel, who gladly led the way.
|January 6th|Rome – Colosseum|14:42 pm|
Nathan and Priscilla, having explored several sights yesterday, had explored most of the Roman Forum today. By this point, they were on a high, enjoying the great authentic food, and making the most of their luxury hotel suite. Now, however, the young lovers had ventured to the ancient gladiator arena – the Colosseum. Nearly two thousand years old, and yet so much of it had been preserved. Nathan could imagine the brutal, harsh fights between armoured soldiers. Not to mention prisoners having to fend off lions.
"Hmm...I don't suppose this place looks much different since Josephine's time." Priscilla said, looking around. "Or anyone's time. Most European capitals are known for their historic beauty, but I've never seen so much of it anywhere else. So much of our city is built up and modern looking...even Nova Albion is teeming with high rises."
"It's not all bad." Nathan said. "A lot of the newer buildings can mix well with the classic ones. That's part of our city's beauty. Everything comes together, not clashing. People are starting to remember that sense of unity, too. Ever since we beat Janus, lots of great things are happening. More and more people across both sides of the Atlantic are talking about our city."
"I know what you mean. I saw a large group of New Yorkers the other day, wanting to know where the best bagels were. I like to think our bakeries could match their expectations, but maybe we're not that advanced yet..." Priscilla said, chuckling.
"And not long ago, I saw a family from Newcastle who thought I was "our mate down the pub with the glass eye"." Nathan said, amused. "It's good to know my hometown is loved."
Priscilla nodded, as she stood nearer the outer wall of the arena. "Love is what it needs the most. For people like Joe...he puts on a brave face, but I can tell his heart is still broken. If only there was more we could do for him..."
"Don't get upset..." Nathan said, arm around her. "Joe will be alright. He's part of the Albion family now. We wouldn't just leave him in his time of need."
"You are so sweet..." Priscilla said, resting her head on his shoulder. "Although you weren't so civil to him before. That was before we knew what was really going on. His wife seems like a strong woman...he's in good hands."
"Then so am I." Nathan said, stroking her hair lightly. "Thanks to you...there's so much more to my life than inheriting the family business, and becoming rich and lazy. Now there's a better path to take. One where I'm always working for the betterment of others. And never putting people down because of their class."
"What are you talking about?" Priscilla asked. "You weren't that bad, were you?"
"Priscilla, when we were kids I always went on about how ignorant and brutish the savages of Kanaloa were." Nathan said. "You never saw them that way, though...you had the heart money couldn't buy."
Priscilla blushed, and gave Nathan a huge kiss. As they did, they received a few whistles from fellow tourists. One of them, a young lady from Sicily, offered to take their picture. Despite struggling to operate the 20 megapixel camera, she finally got the shot that would remain on the mantelpiece for years to come.
Even if there were a group of Swedish punk girls posing behind them.
|Old Town – Haus Löwe|20:18 pm|
Serena's group were at a traditional German restaurant, and the smell of delicious stews filled the rustic, but charming eatery. Serena and her parents managed to impress the staff with their mastery of the language, by ordering everything in German. After holding quite a long conversation with the rather bombastic owners, the group were now finally eating their main courses. Serena had gone for an interesting plate of Bavarian style meatballs. Despite having slight amounts of pineapple in them, these were incredibly tasty, especially when combined with sauerkraut and fries. Kyle had gone for a pork schnitzel, rather squeamish at the thought of the veal option.
"This is a great place. Too bad there aren't many places like this back home." Fred said. "These days, you get so many trendy restaurants trying far too hard to be glitzy and commercial. Here, I feel like I'm looked after, not just another customer pressured to leave a good review online for a free starter.."
"I was in France with Kyle last year, and I know exactly what you mean." Cheri said, eating her roast chicken dish. "The first place we went to was awful. Poor service, and bland food. That's what you get for going upmarket, I suppose."
The adults once again went off into their own world, talking about their experiences eating, at home and abroad. Serena and Kyle, as they were prone to do this trip, began talking among themselves again.
"Oh, cool." Kyle said, checking his phone. "Dan got a new phone in Hong Kong. I hope he didn't end up with one of those knock offs. Like that NCKIA thing we saw in Takanawa."
"Oh yeah! Next to the 'HaiPhones'!" Serena said, giggling. "I hope everyone else is having a good time, wherever they are. When we next get together again, I wanna hear all about their trips! I just hope it's soon, though...it'll be lonely without them."
"You got really close to those guys, huh?" Kyle asked. "In a way...I did too. They're all good people. Truth is, I was worried when you started hanging out with older people. Yet if you hadn't, we might not even be having this conversation."
"We were kind of thrown together. None of us would have ever met each other if it weren't for that other world. As horrible as fighting all those Shadows was, it might have been the best thing we ever did."
"I'll say. You saved the whole world!" Kyle said, beaming. "Look all around. None of the people here would exist if you hadn't kept up your fighting. Serena, you really ought to be proud."
"I am. I just wonder...what else can I do that even comes close to that?" Serena asked. "Not that I want to be in mortal danger again, but I want to feel like I'm making a difference..."
"You can, Serena. With your pen and paper, you can tell everyone what you went through. Just change a few names here and there. Course, you'd have to get published, but we can figure something about." Kyle said, happily. "Just like how you tried to tell me back in June."
"Writing about our journey together..." Serena said, thoughtful. "It's a wonderful idea. When we get back, I have to ask everyone what they feel about it. I don't want to just write about my feelings...it's our story. How they felt during all of those battles...I want to get all of that down."
"Perfect. Something else to do when you all get together." Kyle said. "I've got a good feeling you'll be seeing a lot of them from now on. Don't forget, we've got a wedding to go to later this year..."
"Oh, yeah! We've got to get new outfits for that! ...Wow. I sound just like Colette." Serena said, disturbed. "I've never been to a wedding before..."
"Me either." Kyle said. "Jeez, we've got a lot of stuff to get to when we get back. High school is nearly over...I wonder what Adam and the others are gonna do?"
"Adam? He's going to study something in Cambridge. I wasn't listening too closely, but...actually, no one was." Serena said, sadly. Indeed, he had tried to discuss his future plans with his classmates, but they had all become bored of his elitist behaviour. Upon realising this, Adam seemed dejected, and left the school on last day of term alone, eyes to the ground.
"Don't let him get to you. Maybe someday we'll get along with him. He just needs to put people before books for once." Kyle said. "What about Catherine? She going back home?"
"I think so. She wants to go to college somewhere in her home state. But she told me that she wants to come back here when she's on break, so we can all meet up again." Serena said, happily. "Who else...Steven said something about studying political science."
"...Huh." Kyle said. "What about Lucas? He's bound to be up to something awesome, right?"
"You bet. He's applying to study this health and fitness course. So he's stressing out about how he's going to improve those grades of his. He might be needing your help!" Serena said, giggled.
"Oh good lord, it'll be hard enough revising for my own exams!" Kyle said, grimacing. "I mean, the ones that aren't my specialist subjects. Mrs Barrs will have to host a few more study sessions after school."
"Oh, your Geography teacher?" Cheri asked. "I met her once at parent's evening. She's quite good. I didn't expect her to give me a bullet point plan on how to help Kyle get even better marks. I must congratulate her next time I see her."
"Congratulate her on what?" Fred asked.
"Weren't you listening, Fred? Their teacher is having a baby!" Hilda said.
Serena couldn't believe her ears that day. She had heard a little bit from Blaine about Mrs Barrs and her husband – Kaman – struggling to conceive. Then, out of the blue, Blaine called her to give some amazing news. The news was supposed to be confidential, but Kaman couldn't wait to tell someone. So thus he confided in his best barman. Blaine had been told to keep quite, but he was just as excited too. And thus he had blabbed to a few select people.
I hope this isn't bad luck. Kaman deserves a good life in at least one world. And I can tell he'll be a great father, somehow. When I think about the last time I saw him alive...I wonder. How does it feel, heading to your own death? He was so brave, accepting what he had to do. Him and Keisha. I ought to keep them both in my thoughts.
|Blaine and Lucy's Hotel Room|
Blaine was sitting on the king bed, having changed into a red button-up shirt and his best pants. Tonight was the group's last night in Hong Kong, and he wanted to look the part. Lucy had come back, but hid her shopping bag behind her back. Quickly, she ran into the bathroom, and she had been there for over half an hour. He could smell the sweet fragrance of an unfamiliar perfume, different from the usual one she had kept for years.
"...You okay in there, baby?" Blaine asked.
"Yes! I'm just...getting ready! Wait until you see this!" Lucy said.
"I saw the computer controlled toilet roll already, babe." Blaine said, curious. He stood up, and looked out the window of the room. All around him, the most vertical city in the world was teeming with life. To see so many wondrous landscapes around him was breathtaking. His homeland wasn't nearly as impressive...at first glance.
Hmm. I wonder how everybody else is doing? When are we all gonna get together again? Can't expect Philemon to play matchmaker next time. I guess I'll see them when I see them. Right now, though, I think Lucy's got something big planned -
The bathroom door flung open, and the unusual, but pleasant smell permeated the room. Blaine turned around, and his eyes widened. Before him was a bewitching beauty, dressed in a tight, red qipao – a traditional Chinese dress – which was tastefully decorated with authentic Chinese flowers. It showed off her slender, yet voluptuous body rather well, especially the slit that exposed the silky smooth right leg. This woman stepped forward, making sure to expose this bare leg for all it was worth. Blaine looked up, and after taking in the details of her body, saw her face.
"Ni Hao." She said, blowing him a kiss.
"Ooh baby..."
Her usual shade of pink lipstick had been swapped with a deep, passionate red. A light amount of eyeshadow of the same colour had been applied. Her brown hair had been swept up into a classy, almost regal bun, yet leaving some strands to frame her face.
"You'd be amazed what you can find at that market." Lucy said, stroking Blaine's chin. He smiled warmly, holding her close to him. "Looks like I picked the right one..."
"Hell yeah you did." Blaine said, trying his best to sound husky. "Shirley doing this with Dan?"
"Yup. He's probably caught in her spell, just like you with me..." Lucy said. "I knew you had a thing for outfits like this, but this is a city where East meets West. What better way to do that than have an American girl put on this beauty? But this is our last chance to have a romantic dinner for two. And I wasn't going to waste it. We wanted you to remember this holiday for a long time. How often are we going to get away like this? If it can only be once a year, or even less, we have to make it count."
Blaine nodded, face as red as her outfit. "Tonight, it's just you and me. I don't want this babe slippin' from my fingers."
"That's right." Lucy said, running her hands through Blaine's hair. "Come on, let's go."
They left their hotel room, and saw Dan and Shirley, hand in hand. He had dressed up in his best blue long-sleeved shirt, while she had gone for a shimmering sea blue qipao to match her hair.
"Blaine, I think it's safe to say we're the luckiest guys on the planet right now." Dan said, fondly holding Shirley's hand.
"I'll say. I kinda wish I had seen this Ladies' Market now." Blaine said. "I might have picked up something better to wear, too."
"Ah, don't worry bout that. We must be doing something right. Look at our company for tonight." Dan said, gazing at Shirley's face – as well as her chest. She sighed, but he laughed jovially.
"We'll be seeing you later, then." Shirley said. "Have fun. This whole city is ours for tonight." She and Dan left, both enamoured with each other.
"You heard her!" Lucy said. "Come on, let's get out there! I want everyone to see us!"
"Oh baby, they're not going to be able to take their eyes off you." Blaine said, firmly clutching her hand. "We depart, my lovely geisha."
"Those are Japanese, you idiot." Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
|Vatican City – St Peters Square|
No trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the centre of the Catholic Church. This may have been the world's smallest recognised state, located entirely within another city, but it was still a grand spectacle to behold. Centuries-old artwork and architecture survived to this day, still as marvellous as it was in days gone by. Michaelangelo, Raphael, and many others had their legacies carry on even into the 21st Century, and probably many others.
After a long and scintillating tour of the sacred buildings, such as St Peter's Basillica, the Vatican Museums, and of course the incredible Sistine Chapel. While Nathan and Priscilla weren't devout Christians, they were still utterly amazed at the history and wonder around them. Perhaps they weren't lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Pope, but this sacred place was still instilled with historical grace.
"That moron, thinking no one would notice him trying to take a selfie in the Chapel." Nathan said, shaking his head. "I didn't think you could hurt a man so much with that handbag."
"Oh Nathan...a lot more of the other me has crossed dimensions than you think. I was able to dispatch a great number of Shadows, perhaps more than the population of this place. One disrespectful tourist is no match for me." Priscilla said, playfully swinging her bag.
"That's my Priscilla!" Nathan said. "Beautiful and dangerous. The perfect combination. Blaine can brag about how awesome Lucy is, but you're the most 'badass' woman New Motus has ever seen!"
"Haha! I wouldn't go that far. I do have some major competition..." Priscilla said. "I might need a heavier bag if I'm going to win that title!"
"You're fine the way you are, my love." Nathan said. Giddy with excitement, the couple held hands as they left the Vatican, to return to their hotel room. There, they would rest until yet another exquisite meal. While they were on their way, however, Nathan's thoughts drifted to other companions he had made.
"What's the matter?" Priscilla asked. "Don't say nothing. I know when you're worried about something. You look off into the distance, without really paying attention to anything, and you hope I won't notice. Well mister, you can't fool me."
"I...I was just wondering about the others." Nathan said. "Not everyone else on holiday. I was talking about the rebels. Most of them have never left that city...the Holy Cross, wielding the archangels themselves, have never come close to being here."
"That isn't your fault." Priscilla said. "You did all you could for them. And defeating Janus is no small feat! It might be some time before they can go off and see the world, but they're at least safe."
"I know that...but I can't help but worry. What will happen to them all? Especially..." Nathan said, trailing off. One distant, troubled young man was at the forefront of Nathan's mind. The man's future was in chaos, for one reason: His face was known to all as the city's ruler. And yet he was another person at the same time. What was he to do?
"Ah..." Priscilla said. "Poor Ethan. He's lost all his old friends, and now he's faced with rebuilding the other world's New Motus City."
"Yes, and we can't do much to help him out. Not even inviting him over for dinner..." Nathan said, sadly.
"There's another you over there, remember. He and I might just be doing our best to help him. In fact, I know so." Priscilla said, undaunted.
Nathan looked at her, surprised. Of course. How could he have forgotten this? Ethan wasn't alone. Another Nathan Albion was doubtlessly rallying around to give Ethan as much support as he could.
"Yes, of course. That's what we do best. You and me, we'll lend Ethan a helping hand whether he likes it or not. It's our duty to those less fortunate, so we won't prosper alone."
"I'm glad to hear you say that!" Priscilla said. "A year ago, you were only focused on people as lucky as us. You wouldn't have let people from Kanaloa even breathe the same air as you. And now look at you. You're donating money to improve schools over there!"
"Of course." Nathan said. "We've got a chance to really improve the lives of the children of this city. So many of the schools in Kanaloa are failing to meet standards. With just a bit of help, I can help them get back on track. Maybe the original dream of Kanaloa isn't dead just yet, eh?"
"Ah...maybe you're right!" Priscilla said. "Perhaps not as grand as its founders intended. But it'd be nice to have it mentioned on the tour guides here and there, right? Already, I hear people talking about places to eat and drink in Kanaloa as hidden gems."
"You have?" Nathan asked. "I suppose there's Blaine's house. That's the best place there is to get a meal, in my humble opinion."
"Ah yes, our little double date." Priscilla said, in reminiscence. A day before New Years, Blaine had invited Nathan and Priscilla around to his place, and Lucy was there as well. A few kitchen disasters from the latter were quickly averted by Blaine, who had turned into quite the house husband. Able to slice vegetables, keep an eye on the roast chicken, and casually chat to Nathan about his putting game.
"Those two certainly are moving fast. Already they're planning on living together." Nathan said. "Perhaps I should have been more like him...then I wouldn't have waited so long to pop the question."
"Oh, come on. It's already like we're married, isn't it?" Priscilla asked. She held his hands tightly, and despite the cold January weather, Nathan could feel their warmth. "There doesn't need to be a ring around my finger for us to be happy together. For a long time, I've known who I want to be with."
"You were just that nice girl at that party at first..." Nathan said. "That nice girl became the greatest woman in my life. The one I can turn to when nothing turns out the way I planned. Or when the sky turns grey, and there's no end in sight. You're always there to console me, hold my hand, and give me strength. Priscilla Lancaster, I love you!"
Priscilla, face red, kissed Nathan passionately, never wanting to let go. As they embraced, both of them felt each other's warmth and strength, radiating in this cold winter weather. Now invigorated, the two of them continued to walk, twirling in each other's arms. This was going to be one swell year for the two of them, and it was off to a great start.
|Cologne – River Rhine|21:20 pm|
The team walked down the Rhine, admiring the night time views. It almost felt celestial to wander down here, Serena thought. As she did so, her mind began to wander to all the days she was in the other world. Her fictional worlds seemed to become reality, and yet now they were slipping away. Any day now, Ethan would show up. Without any more Shadows left in the city, there would be no more power to fuel any NDD, and thus the link would be broken. From that point on, Serena would never be able to see the other world again.
I shouldn't be sad about that, I know. Without any Shadows, we can live in peace again. And everyone can relax at long last. Still, I really liked meeting so many new people. Even if I ended up confusing them a lot. I might never get that again, even in college. Will I end up like before? With only Kyle as my friend? I know, I'll meet up with the others at Nathan's wedding. I really can't wait to go...
But we don't have a common goal anymore. We might be making promises to stay in each others lives now, but how long will that last before we go back to the way things were? I'm...terrified. I don't want there to be only one day left that we can be together.
"Are you alright?" Kyle asked. He had faithfully slowed down his wheelchair, and thus kept a steady pace by her side. "Getting bored with hanging out with the old folks, huh?"
"What? No, I -"
"Relax, Serena. When we're back in the hotel room, we'll get right back into our Christmas games." Kyle said, happily. "Until then...how about a romantic walk down here? Granted, only one of us is actually walking, but the first word sure as hell is right."
"Of course it is!" Serena said, happily. She held his hand, as they continued to stay behind their parents. "We've still to tell your dad about us. Do you think he'll like me?"
"I hardly get to talk to him. But a sexy, smart kinda-German lady like you? What's not to like?" Kyle said, rather confidently. "He said something about coming over this Easter. You might like him, Serena. He actually gave me his old Atari ST and a ton of games. He might not be around much, but he sure has great taste in technology."
Serena smiled, listening to Kyle discuss his happier times with his father. Now they were less inclined to complain about their families. Instead, they would find the courage to put aside their differences, and open their hearts.
The future had plenty of doubts. Yet the one certainty was that it would be one with Kyle, her one and only.
|Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade|
This place was a traditional place for lovers in Hong Kong. Many landmarks were accessible from here, true, but the main highlight from walking down here was the tremendous skyline, as seen beyond Victoria Harbour. At night, the lights were dazzling, and countless couples were walking in all directions, holding hands. Blaine and Lucy were one of the happiest there. Having eaten at a quiet, dimly lit restaurant, they were once again faced with the sight of thousands of gigantic skyscrapers. There was a group playing traditional Chinese music, a rather slow and intimate melody. Blaine and Lucy's footsteps seemed in time with the beat.
"It's so beautiful...and massive." Lucy said, as she gazed across the harbour.
"It is." Blaine said. "I always thought I was doomed to be stuck in Kanaloa. But here I am. All thanks to you."
"...Not really." Lucy said, blushing. "I'm sorry. I...kind of asked Edmond to help pay for some of it. Hong Kong is expensive, after all..."
"So you had a bit of help. I don't care. We'll pay him back somehow." Blaine said, with a twinkle in his eye. "Point is, meeting you really give my life a shot in the arm. Look at me now. I've got a great new job, even if it's not much more money. I'm seeing the world, one country at a time. And best of all, I get to be with you."
"Me...?" Lucy asked. "I don't think I'm that special..."
"You kidding me?" Blaine asked. "Look at all the hard work you've done for your magazine! And your degree! And you still find time to fling yourself into my arms and hear about my day."
"That's nothing. You were fighting actual monsters in that other world..." Lucy said, shuddering. "That's really all over, isn't it?"
"It is." Blaine said, arm around her shoulder now. "I did have to do a lot of fighting. Doesn't mean you're not incredible too."
"...Too?" Lucy said. "You arrogant..." He smiled at her, winking again, and the two of them laughed. "That's one of the things I like about you the most. Your confidence."
"Hey, I get scared sometimes." Blaine said. "Plenty of times over there, I had to fight guys – and girls – who could mop the floor with me. Wasn't so easy to handle."
"Now the worst you have to deal with is my parents." Lucy said, nudging Blaine. "You might be the sexiest barman I've ever met, but you'll need to brush up on your non-alcoholic cocktails for my pops."
"No sweat." Blaine said, leaning in closer. "I...I love you, Lucy."
"Blaine, you've told me that at least twenty times this holiday." Lucy said, grinning. "...Not that I mind hearing it. Course, that's because thanks to you, I know I can have my career and good friends. I love you too!"
They wrapped their arms around each other, and they held the longest kiss of their relationship so far. To have her all to himself was magical, Blaine thought. This bossy, sassy American, who came up next to him one evening at the bar...she was the love he thought he had missed out on.
Dad, I might not have ended up exactly like you. But this is good enough, huh? You don't have to worry anymore. Your little man's going to be just fine.
Giggling, the couple twirled around, caught up in the magic and wonder of the world's tallest city.
|Clairdol Village – Loire Beach|13:49 pm|
After a hearty lunch in the Lady Iris' restaurant, the two young soccer players had gone for a walk along the beach. Far less developed than the Saragel shore, it was a place full of life, with sparkling clear water and bright white sand. Seagulls were flying overhead, and Karl gulped, afraid one might leave a mess over his hat.
"What do you look so afraid about?" Liam said. "We're not going for a swim this time of year!"
"I know that! It's just, that seagull over there keeps staring at me!"
"Probably because you've still got crumbs from lunch over your mouth." Liam said, rolling his eyes. He quickly wiped said crumbs away, his fingers brushing across Karl's face lovingly. With barely any hesitation, he leaned closer for a kiss. Karl, surprised, held the kiss, and all he could hear was the sounds of the beach.
"Most romantic walks along the beach are in the summer, you know..." Karl said, face bright red.
"We do things differently. This is one of them." Liam said, hands on Karl's shoulders. "And admit it, you've been waiting for a chance to snog my face off all day."
"Um..." Karl said, embarrassed. "I sure don't mind it, anyway..."
"Then enjoy it. This trip is just about you and me. At this time of year, who's going to be on this beach and point fingers?" Liam said. "One step at a time, Karl. We won't have to hide who we really are forever."
"With you, Liam, I'm not hiding anything." Karl said. The two of them continued to walk along the long beach, further and further away from the village. Finally, they reached the tall cliffs at the south end of the island, where there were several birds flying overhead. Occasionally, one could see dolphins swimming near here, but they were not present today.
"Oh..." Liam said. The two of them were not the only people here. Instead, there was a large group of boys and two girls playing a game of football, using rocks and seashells to create a fairly large pitch. "I was hoping we could be alone here, but...this isn't so bad."
The two men stared from the distance, watching the two teams play. For them, it was exhilarating to be the only spectators. Anyone else would have seen a bunch of twelve year olds playing with a tattered ball. Karl, however, saw champions skilfully scoring goal after goal, dominating the pitch. For he had been like them long ago, dreaming to play for real.
"Takes you back, doesn't it?" Liam asked. "Haha. I still remember playing for my primary school's team. People said I took that game too seriously, but I knew better. Now I'm the player that the kids write about as their hero. You too, of course."
"I wonder if they've figured out who the two guys in the crowd are yet?" Karl asked. "Want to be a coach for the day?"
"Absolutely. That defender on the left team is all over the place. And that referee is letting her friend get away with more fouls than I've had fish suppers." Liam said. "Let's do it, Karl. We're going to turn this kids into champions. So we can pass the reins onto them someday."
Once the match had reached 'full time', as it were, the teams bickered over the somewhat biased results. Fortunately, however, two of their idols had come down to share with them some valuable advice, which would stay with them until the future.
What they would never know was that one of their heroes had saved said future.
|Museum of Antiquities|
Amara followed her new friend, Marcel Bonheur, throughout the museum, and listened to him detailing his work. It was a hard job, conducting historical research, but in his short time as an archaeologist, he had learned almost everything there was to know about the ancient empires of the world. He had even researched prehistoric finds from what would became the islands of Japan. During this, Amara would describe to him her favourite art techniques, and all the tools of the trade she had collected over the years.
"You know, the names of watercolour paint still confuse me. 'Chinese white'? 'Indian yellow'? Thank god for pigment identification codes." Amara said. "The thing with watercolours is, you have to learn how to work with the behaviour of water on the paper, not try and control it. It's why it's my favourite way to paint."
"Interesting. I'd love to see some of your work." Marcel said, happily. "What do you do, might I ask?"
"I do the art for this magazine." Amara said. "Although I want to move onto something bigger. That being said, last year was really challenging, but...for other reasons."
"Oh?" Marcel said. "I see...not so long ago, life was rather bleak to me. Yet my brothers managed to get me back on my feet. A girl like you must have a lot of friends, yes?"
"Well, I like to think I do!" Amara said, smiling. "That last year, though, I made some really special friends. Both at work, and outside. And with all of them, I ended up accomplishing a lot. We...had a lot of difficult times to go through, though."
"You look quite cheerful now. Have things settled down?" Marcel asked.
"Well, yeah. I'm not sure what's happening about my job, or what my next move will be, but I know one thing. I'm going to be okay!" Amara said, happily.
Marcel, impressed, smiled. "I think I've deprived your party enough of your grand presence. That being said, it'd be good to talk more. Would it be possible for you to slip away for long enough, and meet me later tonight?"
"...I think so." Amara said, happily. "It'd be a shame to lose touch so soon." They exchanged phone numbers.
"Well then, we shall rendezvous later tonight." Marcel said. "Au revoir!" Waving, he ran off, just barely catching his bus.
Amara suddenly felt numb. She stood there, frozen, as the bus vanished into the distance. It was only just as he left that she realised what was really happening. This new man she had just met...she was drawn to him, his passion and his confidence. How could she let herself fall for someone so soon after Zao?
"You look like you've seen a ghost." Sophie said. Amara gasped, turning around. Her fellow psychic waved, with Rudo not far behind. "So, who's your new friend? I didn't know Frenchmen were your type..."
"My...my type? We've only just met!" Amara said, sweating – and not from the heat. "His name is Marcel Bonheur, an archaeologist...he might know more about this museum than I do."
"It's good to see you meeting new people, even here." Rudo said. "The heir to a computer giant, a fantasy loving schoolgirl, a bartender biker, a genuine psychic and a footballing ex. Your friends certainly are diverse. Now you've got a suave archaeologist!"
"He said...he wanted to meet me tonight." Amara said, nervously. "I think...I want to go."
"...Ah." Rudo said. He had that look in his eyes, one of understanding. Amara knew that was when he could see right through her. "Then do it. If you have any doubts at all, you can always come and find us. We won't be far."
"...You don't mind?" Amara asked. "I mean...it's still only been a few months since..."
"This doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be." Sophie said, holding Amara's palm. "But if you've got a good feeling about this Marcel, you should go for it. Even if all you will be is friends, you know by now that's still a wonderful thing."
Amara looked at her, and realised. Of course it was. Not just everyone from Real People, but all her comrades. Those were relationships that were priceless, even after their mission was over. Now she could meet people without having to kill monsters with them.
Zao might not be here anymore. But if she had the chance to speak to him, she had a feeling he'd be encouraging this night out as well. For he wanted Amara to be happy. Life would go on, with or without him. So why not take a few risks, and see what the future brings? Doing nothing would result in nothing at all.
"...I'm going to see him!" Amara said, triumphantly. "Whatever happens tonight, the future's still going to be amazing. Because I'm going to make it that way!"