AN: At last, I'm finally ending Persona Duality, a story I've worked on for a long time. With this chapter, I wanted to show the future of the main characters. I already knew for a long time how I wanted things to pan out, but now I finally can write it and show it to all of you.
To everyone that's been reading this story, thank you so much! Persona Gnosis will continue, I promise. I do have some regrets, namely that I could have been more imaginative with some of the character's names, and the second part of the crossover with MoldyJellyBean never did come to pass. Still, it's been great, and I hope you've enjoyed this story as well. I may go back over the story and fix up certain chapters, but this is it. Please read, review, favourite, and you can follow if you want, but there won't be anything after this, and this time I really do mean it.
With that said, here we go!
It has been quite some time since the two-headed god sought to destroy the island of Motus. Painful battles were fought, but Janus and its pawns were felled, and true peace has reigned since.
Janus' will was once overwhelming and full of hatred. Yet I can no longer sense its power. Not even a faint echo of its voice, uttering words of pure hatred and despair.
Much has changed for those I granted my power to, I can sense. Yet memories will always remain of those days, both cherished and tragic.
While I will never need their power again, their strong will has continued to bring them happiness.
I, Philemon, will visit this city for nostalgia's sake. I shall see old faces, and no doubt some new ones – the blessed children of youth.
FINAL EPILOGUE
Chapter 115: The Decisions of the Future
|May 30th 2022|New Motus City – Farawell – Yewlands Drive|15:00 pm|
As typical of May, the city was enjoying a spell of beautiful, albeit hot weather. And this was set to continue for most of the summer, leading to an influx of tourists seeking an alternative summer destination. For one particular family, they were delighted to return back to this island, after a very rainy trip to see relatives in Paris. In their home's scenic back garden, the family were relaxing, enjoying their time together.
"Here you go, Amarie! Just as you like it!"
A tall, handsome Frenchmen was pouring a glass of home-made orange juice. He added a copious amount of ice, as he had come to expect.
"Merci." The woman said, taking a seat. Feeling tired, she yawned. "Phew..."
"What's wrong? Are you still jet-lagged?" Marcel asked.
"Yes, a little bit. Flying back and forth from here to Paris takes it out of you. But I always end up enjoying it at lot. Especially when we have time to ourselves." Amara said, with a sly smile.
"It is a city of romance, after all. Of course, it was this one that we got married in..." Marcel said. "So many cultures mix here with little fuss. That's what I love most about this place."
Amara nodded in agreement, and as she did so, she saw a little girl run up to them – the one who had entered their lives five long years ago.
"Mum, dad! Look what I found!" She said excitedly and pointed to a beautiful blue butterfly. It had rested on one of the flowers Marcel had planted last spring, and was slowly flapping its wings.
"Wow, what a beautiful papillon!" Marcel said with delight. The girl stared at him, confused, while her mother giggled. "That's the French word for a butterfly, my little belle!" The girl's doting father knelt down and ruffled his daughter's black hair, already much like her mothers. However, she had taken on her father's eyes.
Amara nearly gasped. The colour of the butterfly made her think of a special event in her life, so many years ago now, but it always stuck in her mind. The day she started a new job at a magazine named Real People, and met several people that would remain her friends even to this day. However, that night, she had wound up inside another world, one very much like her own, but it had diverged from hers entirely.
That other world had been one where monsters called Shadows infested her own city, and the Aeternus company overthrew the government to control the people. Isolated from the world, the city's inhabitants had lost hope of salvation, dependent on the Ater Vox for survival.
In that world, Amara had discovered her power of Persona, which manifested as the goddess Hathor she had admired in her youth. With this power, she wielded burning flames as her weapon and became one of a group of many like-minded Persona users. Each of them had different reasons to oppose Aeternus, but their will was as one.
Philemon had appeared before her to grant her the ability. He first appeared before her as a butterfly, very much like the one that her daughter was enamoured with. A strange thought entered her mind. This could be very much the same creature. But she shook her head – after all, her city had some colourful insects, and butterflies weren't exactly uncommon in the summer. Still, a lot of memories were swirling in her mind, especially of her earliest comrades.
It's nearly time for our yearly reunion. We see each other a lot of times throughout the year, I know, but the seventh of June will always be our special day. It was ten years ago it all began, and nine years ago it all ended. Or rather, we made a whole new beginning for ourselves. Even if he didn't get to see it.
"Ava, be careful! Don't scare Mr. Butterfly away!" Amara said.
"But he's so cute! Can't we keep him?" Ava asked, pouting.
"No, darling, butterflies need to be free, just like you…" Amara said gently. "Maybe he'll come back and see us another time."
"Aww… okay." Ava said, sulking. "Maybe I'll draw a picture of him. He'll come back and see it, won't he?"
"Maybe he will! Mummy will help you, of course!"
As she said this, Amara looked up to her husband, who even after nine years, was still as charming as ever. It was the little things, like his accent, the way he smiled, and his kind, romantic gestures. Meeting him in that museum in Cairo had been an amazing experience, and while thy had to go their separate ways, they remained in touch – increasingly often, too.
It was after we defeated Janus for the last time that things got a lot more serious, of course.
Indeed, as Marcel had promised, he came to visit Amara in July 2013. This was only a month after the two worlds had finally been separated for good, and neither would be plagued with Shadows again. She still had the people of that other timeline in her mind, especially her counterpart. The other her, whose family had been taken from her. While part of her was glad to be finally free from fighting Shadows, she wished there was some way to reach out to the people of that world, and find out how they were doing with rebuilding the city.
It was in October of 2012 that her boyfriend Zao Yuria, a fisherman with a big heart, died tragically when facing his other self. During the union of the two worlds, she had been able to reunite with him, as he had managed to form a new body to temporarily join his friends once more. Yet once the worlds were split apart, he had to move on once again.
Then there was Ethan Walters. The one who stayed behind in the gap between worlds. The invisible realm where Shadows were born. His duty, chosen by himself, was to eternally watch over Janus, and perhaps even reform him. This could well be an endless task, but one he was determined to follow through. In the years since, Amara wondered if he was still there, constantly watching over the two cities from afar.
However, when Marcel came to see her, Amara finally started to let herself feel love again, and stop worrying about Ethan as much. It had been hard enough when her relationship with Karl Davenport collapsed, and having Zao die in front of her had broken her heart. Yet when she was giving him a guided tour – mostly of her favourite art museums – she felt all her pain and worry fade away. She could finally just have fun, and introduce a new friend to her city's beauty.
Eventually, he had to go back to Paris, for he was a rising star in the archaeology field. Before he left, however, he kissed her for the first time in one of her favourite spots, the Biela Vitra. That moment was when she decided she wanted to be with Marcel, and with some encouragement from her friends, she planned a surprise visit to France.
He had been astonished to find her outside his front door, but was delighted to see her again. It was there that she learned more about his past, namely that he had been married before – to a woman named Saskia. Sadly, she had developed breast cancer only one year into their marriage, and despite her best efforts, she lost the battle, and died.
I couldn't believe it. He was in mourning just as much as I was. And it had been so hard for him to believe in love again, until he met me. That was when I told him about Zao, or at least as much as I could tell him. I met his parents, his older brothers, and a lot of his friends. I became part of his world, and he became part of mine.
Indeed, when he came to see her again later that year, Amara was getting ready to attend a very special event – a wedding, between Blaine and Lucy. While she knew he may be busy, and she had been very busy with her artist career, she invited him as her plus one regardless. He accepted, and quickly befriended Blaine on his stag night.
However, Blaine ended up having one too many, and ended up revealing quite a lot about their time in the other world. Nathan, a little drunk himself, vouched for the story, leaving Marcel very confused. When he spoke to Amara and Serena several days later, they finally confessed the truth. Including how Zao truly died.
I thought that if I told him, he'd just think I was utterly insane. After all, it sounds so bizarre. But he didn't run away. He just wanted to hear more and more, and even Karl got involved. I promised not to hide anything from him before, and that we'd never have to fight in that other world again. It took him a while to get it, but he did, bless him.
The wedding was a beautiful day, and Amara was full of joy for the happy couple. Marcel left for Paris again, and Amara wondered when she'd next see him. Her artwork, aided by the data that Ethan had left behind, was getting a lot of praise. In fact, she was getting quite a lot of offers, and her name was popping up more and more in the art world. She was even invited to Tokyo, and was able to meet a distinguished Japanese painter, Ichiryusai Madarame. There, she got to see the revered painting Sayuri.
Then it turned out he was a plagiarist. In other words, scum. The whole business with the Phantom Thieves was kind of interesting. Stealing people's hearts... I bet Philemon had something to do with that too. Kind of wish I could meet them. Although I'll be back in Japan soon enough. At a new art show that Madarame's former student Yusuke Kitagawa is attending. He seems quite a passionate artist.
It was when she was returning to New Motus from Japan that she learned her work was going to be displayed in the city's most prestigious museum. It was the first of many milestones in her career, and she celebrated with her friends. However, Marcel was working in South America at the time, and she found herself missing his company quite a lot.
"You can't stand being apart from him, can you? Then tell him how you feel! You don't want to be a long-distance girlfriend forever, so do something about it!"
Lucy's words had heavily influenced her next decision – during one of her many online chats with Marcel, she confessed she'd love to be able to spend more time with him, and even live with him. She couldn't quite believe she was being so forward, but after what he knew about her already, she knew she could be open about her feelings.
He paused for what felt like hours, but finally admitted to her that he felt the same way. That she was the one he wanted to be with, more than anything else. With some effort, he ended up finding work in Tachibana University, seeking to get his PhD. The two of them soon found a house together, the one they were in right now.
One sunny evening, after an exquisite dinner at Kaman's restaurant Soma,the two of them went to the Biela Vetra. While Amara went on another long discussion of the artistic integrity of the place, she noticed he was down on one knee. She gasped, and heard the question she had been waiting for – in both French and English. After quite a few tears, and a moment to take in how quickly her life was changing, she said a very loud 'yes'. And then followed up with a louder 'oui'.
Thus, in July of 2016, the two of them finally got married, and her loyal friends were there. Sophie and Serena, were bridesmaids, while Marcel's eldest brother was best man. It was a delight to have so many of her friends there, including her former Real People colleagues. Soon after, Marcel became a Professor of Archaeology, and continued to make strides in the profession. Eventually, he uncovered human remains on the island of Motus, on the outskirts of Clairdol, that seemed to date from 500 AD. This discovery helped make him famous, and with her rising success, the couple were now something of celebrities on the island.
The next year, life was as normal for her – but then she discovered something that she hadn't prepared for. She was pregnant. When she told Marcel, she was afraid of how he'd react. Becoming a parent was a huge step, after all, and she had doubts she could be a mother herself. Yet the minute she told him, he was delighted, and embraced her. And soon enough, their girl was born.
After much deliberation, the two finally settled upon the name of Ava. Amara couldn't quite remember where she had heard it before, but she really liked it. And so did Marcel, thankfully. Even at her young age, she had taken to drawing, and while she had yet to approach her mother's skill, she continued to doodle anything that grabbed her attention.
"Are you alright, Amarie?" Marcel asked, as Ava ran inside to get her camera from upstairs. "You've been daydreaming for a little while…."
"I'm fine. It's just, it's nearly June 7th. You know how important that day is..."
"Oh, of course." Marcel said, no longer smiling. "I need to remember that this world still exists because of you..."
"Hey, stop it! It wasn't just me fighting Janus!" Amara said, embarrassed. "Now I can just be an ordinary person. A very fortunate one..."
"It must be your reward for all your battles. There were quite a few times that all seemed to be lost, right? Yet you survived, and ever since then, our lives have been blessed." He took her hands, and leaned in close. "It's important to celebrate the day you truly saved this city, with everyone that made it possible."
"Yeah. I better check everybody will be available, of course." Amara said, thinking of her friends. Each one of them had their own responsibilities, but every year, somehow they managed to keep the 7th of June free. This time, she hoped would be no different.
"Mommy! I'm – where'd he go?!" Ava cried. To her dismay, the butterfly had already flown into the distance.
"Don't worry. I'll paint it for you myself. It'll be better than any photograph, right?" Amara asked slyly.
"Okay..." Ava said, disappointed.
"Don't be sad, Ava. After all, we're going to Clairdol tomorrow!" Marcel said, eagerly. "You love that little village, don't you?"
"Yeah..." Ava said, smiling. "Especially when we're there with Mummy's friends! Like last time I got to see Miguel! And Lois & Samantha!"
"That's right! My old friends from the magazine were with us!" Amara said, beaming. Juan and Colette had married in 2014, and were blessed with a son very shortly afterwards. Sheila had finally managed to find love herself, with a man called Peter. Their daughter Lois was born a few months after Ava. Karen & Roger had some difficulties, but they were finally able to have a daughter of their own. Little Samantha was now seven, and already bossing her parents around.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Amara quickly ran up to get it, and she smiled as soon as she opened the door.
"Hey!" Sophie said. Today, she had changed to a blue curly wig, and had chosen an outfit that Colette had given her. It consisted of a white sleeveless vest, a blue tank-top, and light blue jeans. "I'm not too early, am I?"
"Course not!" Amara said, smiling. "You can help me with the swordfish we're having. Obviously, you can't predict when the perfect time to take it out of the oven is -"
"Thank god. But I can always guess. Come on, let me see your little Princesse. I've missed her!"
The two girls entered the garden, and Ava ran to Sophie, who was effectively her aunt. In the years since Janus' demise, Sophie had remained in close contact with Amara, and had almost become a sister, much like Serena.
While Sophie had never married, or even dated anyone in those years, she had become a hard-working psychiatrist, work far more challenging than any psychic reading, but infinitely more rewarding. Ava had taken to her, always amazed at how 'magic' Sophie's hair was.
"Hey Ava! Tell me all about Paris!" Sophie said, sitting next to the little girl.
"It was nice! Grandma got me a new dress, and some really pretty colouring pencils!" Ava said cheerfully. "I bet they match all your hair colours!"
"Maybe so..." Sophie said, amused. "You'll have to show me after dinner!"
"We've still got three more guests to arrive, of course..." Marcel said, looking at his wife. "I hope your swordfish can feed the hungriest footballers in the world."
"Karl and Liam certainly eat a lot...don't worry, though. I picked the tastiest swordfish I could find." Amara said, proudly.
A certain someone taught me the technique for picking out the best. And so much more.
|Nova Albion – Inglessia Court|16:00 pm|
The Nova Albion area remained a touch of class for the city, especially in the recently built Inglessia Court. The grandest manor here belonged to a red-haired man, one who had guided his family business into a new and exciting era. Even as he approached forty years old, his hair remained as vibrant as ever.
"It's nearly been ten years since that day already. It's hard to believe it's been so long."
Nathan walked out onto the patio, gazing fondly at everything that was around him. The garden he had helped cultivate in his spare time was looking even more verdant in the sunlight, and the yew tree was tall and majestic. On top of that tree, however, was a treehouse, built last summer. And three young children were playing, with the eldest taking control as usual.
"Dinner's almost – oh, there you are!"
Priscilla had appeared by Nathan's side, her hair was as long and blonde as ever. It seemed for her that time had almost stood still. Yet she still had achieved some amazing success in the city's orchestra, with hundreds coming to watch her and her fellow performers each night. She and Tara had continued to hone their musical skills, and their families loved to hear them practise.
"Ah, I was just going to tell the children to come down for dinner," Nathan said, happily. "Your casserole is perfect in this weather. Still, it's a shame to interrupt their playtime."
Priscilla grinned. "Well, we're going to the park later for that 5-a-side football game. They'll have plenty of time to play then."
Nathan nodded, and looked up. He could see the two boys sitting around a short table, with the girl wagging her finger, a gesture she had become known for.
"Okay! Then it's settled, starting from today, the three of us are the founders of the New Nova Albion Queendom! Our first order of business, we go to war with the Spencer-Kingsley Kingdom Alliance! And we'll win!"
Kayla Louisa Albion didn't inherit her father's scarlet hair, but her golden locks were very much like her mother's. Her eyes certainly twinkled like her father's, however, and she was already quite tall for an eight-year-old, taller than Nathan remembered himself being. Very much a bossy child, her brothers often complained about her demands, but did whatever they could to meet them.
Six months after we saved the world – again – she was born. I couldn't stop crying, she was so beautiful. It was thanks to her that I fought so hard to stop Janus. I couldn't wait to show her to everyone…
Soon enough, all of Nathan's friends came to meet the newborn Kayla. She cried louder than he thought was possible, but Amara didn't mind at all, and got to hold her for quite some time. Then, while it was Serena's turn, the artist took some high-quality pictures, for the sake of painting 'The Albion Family Portrait, 1st Edition'.
Seeing Kayla made Blaine rather giddy, and he couldn't help but play peek-a-boo with her. He claimed it'd work better with an 'actually handsome' face. He, Serena, Karl and Amara practically became family, and Kayla started playing the recorder at an early age to impress everyone. Her talents lay in music, Priscilla could tell, and at some point, she planned to have a specially made flute.
"War, huh? But they've got one more on their side! There's three of us, but they've got Jake & Barry and Cara & Isaac! We'll need allies! Let's get Ava on our team!"
Glenn Rolland Albion, the middle child, had recently turned seven. He had a good head for numbers already, although he was something of a show-off. The boy had inherited red hair, but his eyes were closer to his grandfather's.
A war with only four soldiers in each army? Just what are they up to? I just hope they're not going to get all muddy again. Glenn does have a habit of dirtying up his clothes. Then again, so did I.
Both Nathan and Priscilla didn't want Kayla to be an only child, and so in 2015, they had their second, and first son. The boy was headstrong, but very easily talked into things by his sister. He was almost the spitting image of his father when he was a young boy, and had a similar attitude. Thankfully, however, he'd been taught to be kind to those less fortunate. Glenn, with any luck, wouldn't be deemed 'snobby' by anyone when he was an adult.
He seems to really like playing with Ava. Who knows, maybe – no, it's far too early to think about that. Then again, I knew Priscilla when I was very young. Anything can happen, though. If we had failed all those years ago, nothing would be happening. This planet would be gone, and maybe nothing else beyond it would exist.
"Why do we have to play war again? It's so boring! Can't we just play football?" The smaller boy said, trembling a little. "Or one of those old games Aunt Serena let us have?"
This was the youngest child, Charlie Darell Albion. Only five, he was quite excitable and could outrun his two older siblings already. However, it was hard for things to hold his interest, yet he loved playing with the football Karl had given the family one Christmas. Charlie eagerly told everyone that he'd be a star player for Nova Albion's team,
I still remember that day I told everyone I was going to be a dad for the third time. Amara had big news that same day, and while she was excited for me, she was really scared herself. She was going to have her first child with Marcel. And so, about two months apart, Clyde and Ava came into our lives.
We defeated hordes of Shadows together and even toppled the Ater Vox. We won in the end, but not without our hardships. The tragedies of the other world will always stay with us. Tomas, Rudo, Keisha, Kaman, and…
"Nathan, are you alright? You don't normally get this emotional at dinner time..."
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I'm just...reminiscing. It's nearly time for our little reunion, after all."
Priscilla gasped. "Oh my goodness, that's right! The day my bag got stolen, and you ran after that thief...I was so worried that night! And that was before I knew what you were really involved with."
"We don't have to worry about that any more. I've never heard Philemon's voice since we defeated Janus for the last time. Although, I just wish Zao had lived to see this day. Every time we go towards Saragel, I think of him..."
"Yes, he truly should be here. Or maybe he already is." Priscilla said, pointing to a blue butterfly. It was flying past the treehouse, and the children inside were staring at it in amazement, distracted from their small argument.
"Whoa! It's so pretty!" Kayla said, cheerily. "That'll be our New Nova Albion's indigenous wildlife!"
"Huh? What's that word mean?" Charlie asked, mystified.
"I think it's like...it comes from that place," Glenn said, although he himself didn't quite grasp his sister's vocabulary.
"Don't worry, when you're bigger, you'll understand the words grown-ups use!" Kayla said, grinning. "Oh! Mummy, Daddy, is it dinner time?"
"That's right, Queen Kayla. May we invite you and your loyal subjects to dinner?" Nathan said, smirking.
Kayla giggled, and came down the ladder, followed by her brothers. The five of them soon gathered around the table, and were enjoying their mother's favourite recipe. The same one she had prepared that day nearly ten years ago, and countless times since.
"So, what's this 'war' game you're playing?" Priscilla asked.
"It's a board game Mister Kyle made up for us!" Glenn said, with a mouthful of food.
"Glenn, don't talk with your mouth full..." Kayla said, rolling her eyes – albeit with a sly smile.
"Basically, it's this 'cyber-punk' thing, we all get sci-fi laser guns and we get to build our own space colonies! But there's magic spells and stuff too!" Charlie added. "My character gets a robot suit!"
"What? If you're getting one, so am I! And mine will have wings!" Kayla said.
"I want one too! And mine has a big moon laser thing! Like that really old robot show Serena told us about!" Glenn said, happily.
"Well, as long as you're not getting your nice new clothes muddy. Unless your laser guns have a 'Mud' setting?" Nathan asked, amused.
The family continued their dinner, basking in the warmth and light of this beautiful day. As they did so, the butterfly continued towards its next destination.
|Legarte – Aquamarina Court|
A silver sleek car was pulling into the driveway of a large home, in the beautiful Aquamarina Court of Legarte. Very close to the sea, it was a fairly expensive neighbourhood, and thus most of the residents were older, wealthy retirees. Not the blonde woman getting out of the car, however, she was only twenty-seven years old. And with her blue summery sleeveless dress, flowing past her knees, she looked even more different than her neighbours.
"What a beautiful day..."
It had been a long day for this young lady. She had lost count of the number of books she had signed. Most of them were for her latest novel in her Duality series, Emptiness of Bygone Days, but many were keen for her to sign the earlier instalments, Reunion and Rivalry, Advent of the Divine, Conflict Begins, and the first, A New Motion.
The success of her book series had taken her completely by surprise. Yet, her stories seemed to resonate with a lot of people, both in her home city and abroad. And while she was dedicated to writing Duality, other projects were taking up her writing time. She couldn't just rely on her memories of her teenage adventures, she realised. Her own imagination had to be harnessed, sooner rather than later.
As she walked through her large new home, and reached the front porch, she heard the sound of fast typing. Smiling, she walked through, to see her husband working hard on another work project. While still small in stature, he had become much more mature looking than he did in his days at Lucille Valley High, with a beard coming in nicely, a crew cut, and more muscle definition in his arms.
"Ah, Serena! Glad to have you back!" Kyle said, looking up. She leaned in for a quick kiss, and sat at the white table next to him. A glass of rose wine had already been poured for her, she noticed.
"Thanks..." Serena said. "My hand hurts from writing my name so many times. Serena McHale still sounds great to hear, though. Even when I write it in katakana."
"Oh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, you're quite popular in Japan now. I've checked the searches from there many times, and you're ranking quite highly." Kyle said, pulling up the data he had recorded on his wife's success and popularity. "Thank god we found a good translator."
"Two Japanese fans came today. Shintaro and Kohaku, they said their names were. They actually spoke really good English, too!" Serena said, remembering the encounter. "They reminded me a little of us back when were still in school."
"Really?" Kyle said, curious. "Every now and then, I miss Lucille Valley."
"Me too. So much has happened since we finally finished our exams. I still can't believe I did so well on mine. For most of that last year, well..."
"Yes, you certainly had your hands full. Saving the world sort of has to take priority over writing about Anna Karenina, doesn't it?" Kyle said, amused.
So many sleepless nights, trying to finish all our coursework right after I had to fight Shadows. Scary times. At least I don't have that on my mind any more.
Serena had triumphed over Janus for good nine years ago. With that hurdle out of the way, nothing was to stop her from enjoying the remaining days of being a high school student, and then celebrating her graduation with her classmates. Adam, Lucas, Catherine, Steven, and of course, Kyle. Each of which had high hopes for the future. Only Kyle knew, of course, that Serena was one of the few people who had safeguarded said future.
Soon after that, Kyle and Serena were enrolled in Motus Lindwell College. They quickly moved into the dorms, enjoying their first taste of independence. While Kyle's condition did cause some difficulties, their college years were peaceful, yet full of hard work. And they had made several new friends, most of which were still in regular contact with them. Their best friends were Leon and Yasmeen, the former from Canada and the latter from India.
After four years of their studies, they soon passed their respective courses, with high grades. Kyle ended up studying Software Engineering, becoming something of a savant in Python and Ruby. He also delved into website design, a talent that would later become of great aid. Serena, on the other hand, had chosen to study English Literature, having already made a decision with her allies long before. She wanted to write a series of books based on their journey, which to everyone else would be pure fiction. But she would need to learn more about writing and literature to truly prepare her for this.
"Serena, you're right. We should let the world know the truth, in our own way. And with that SD card Ethan gave me, I'll always be there to draw the artwork for these books."
"Whoa, are you serious? Amara, what if my books don't sell? What then?"
"Don't think about the worst-case scenario already! We made a habit of doing the impossible before. You've worked harder than I did back in college, I bet. And even if you can't get on the bestseller's list, you can just write for yourself."
Indeed, by the time she was due to graduate college, she was already in the process of getting her first book published. It was fairly short, based on how she, Nathan and Amara had met in the other world for the first time and defeated the Harlequin together. She didn't use their real names, of course.
Then came the lengthy graduation ceremony. It was one of the greatest days of her life, and her parents were overjoyed. Before she went to the ceremony, however, she looked to the sky, and said a few words to the sister that had passed on so long ago.
"Nina, can you believe it? Today, I'm a college graduate! And I might just get my first novel published soon, too! Kyle's really excited, and so am I! My parents are so happy, and everyone else is calling me to congratulate me. They're so wonderful, everyone in my life right now. But I still wish you could be here to watch me graduate. That's my only regret. And it's why I always wear your necklace. Don't worry about me, okay? Janus is finally gone. We still have our city, and our beloved memories."
The ceremony went without a hitch, and soon enough, the students and their families were having a party in the grand celebration hall. Kyle, having graduated with Honours, had worked hard on a special treat for everyone. He had managed to create a short role-playing game, in the style of 2D sprite based classics. The 'party' was based on fantasy stylized versions of Kyle, Serena, Leon and Yasmeen. There were four dungeons, each based on their years of college. After clearing each dungeon, the party would fight a boss and win a strange 'Rune' of odd patterns.
Finally, after defeating the final boss, the four runs combined, revealing a message in clear English. Upon reading it, everyone gasped, and all eyes were on Serena's table. For the message was actually a question. As she read it, Kyle spoke it straight to her.
"Will you marry me, Serena Agnethe?"
Her heart stopped for a moment. She hadn't guessed for a moment he would propose then. Especially not in front of so many people. Everyone waited eagerly for a response. Finally, she replied with "Yes", as loud as she could.
And so, not wanting to waste time, the two quickly married in Saragel, surrounded by friends and family. Kyle's mother was the most emotional out of all the guests, proud to see him so happy. Then there was Kyle's father, who had come all the way from Scotland to see his son. The two were only 23 by the time of their wedding in 2018.
After graduation, the two swiftly started making their own way in life. Serena's book was finally published, and Kyle had found employment in a medical firm, seeking to improve the lives of people with disabilities. He hadn't yet managed to create as high-tech a wheelchair as his counterpart had done, but he was determined to come close.
Now, both of the young adults had achieved fame with their innovations and contributions towards their fields. Serena's books had taken off significantly, more than she expected. And even people from Japan were coming to have their books signed. The way Shintaro was looking at her and his book, she wondered if he had been through something similar to her.
Could he and Kohaku be – no, surely not. Still, the thought of others like us across the world is kind of exciting.
"You look like you're lost in thought again." Kyle said, smirking. "It's nearly time for the reunion, right?"
"Oh yeah!" Serena said, suddenly realising how near June 7th was. "I can't miss out on that. Especially not on the ten year anniversary, right?"
"You made some great friends ten years ago. And all of them are still that – great friends." Kyle looked at the sea, which was down a long slope from their grand new house. "Every now and then, I think about what Zao would be doing."
"We're not that far from where he used to live, you know." Serena said, looking over the distance. She could still see his apartment building, that Amara had pointed out to her once many years ago. Of course, since his death, she had never returned, and no doubt someone else lived there. "The sea was his real home, of course."
"Yeah, that was where he felt most alive. He'd probably be trying to turn all the kids into his fishing apprentices." Kyle said, imagining a group of hyperactive children being lead by a man of equal energy.
"He should be with us, enjoying the peace we earned for everybody. But..." Serena looked to the flowers on the table, a beautiful pink and purple bouquet arranged by Bianca Miyazaki. It was only then that she realised a blue butterfly was perched on one of the flowers, slowly flapping its wings.
"He's not really gone, is he?" Kyle said.
"No." Serena replied. "He's always with us, cheering us on. That's why we meet every year on the seventh of June, to celebrate the start and end of our journey."
"You've got a little while until then, though. Don't forget, we've got company tonight!" Kyle said, grinning. "A little Lucille Valley High reunion of our own!"
"Oh!" Serena said. It had been so long since she had seen her classmates from high school. Catherine, Lucas, Adam, Steven and Julia amongst others were going to arrive. No doubt they were curious about the geeky girl, whose name they kept seeing in physical and digital books. "That's right. I've not cooked for this many people..."
"Relax. Blaine's recipes have never failed us, have they?" Kyle said, with a wink. "Poached salmon with beurre blanc. It ought to please even the unappeasable Adam!"
"I hope you're right." Serena said, still nervous. "But I guess if we're working together, we'll do just fine."
She and Kyle locked eyes, and soon came their lips. As they continued to kiss, the butterfly disappeared to another sea-faring part of the city.
|Kanaloa – Greengrass Road|16:30 pm|
In the back garden of a large home in Kanaloa, two boys of five years old were approaching a large outdoor dining table, with several jugs of water already placed. While they looked identical facially, one of them wore blue, the other red. Their eyes and hair seemed to be nearly the same shade of light brown, and their faces were a mixture of their parent's features.
"Mommy says Daddy's got some 'ree-oon-yun' thing soon. What's that?" Jake said, the one wearing blue. His hair seemed a little messier than his brother's.
"I dunno..." Barry said, confused. Being only five years old, the table was only just barely beneath their eyes. Yet they could see some very delicious looking baguettes, an accompaniment for the barbecue their father was slaving away over. "There's a lot of plates. Is the ree-onion thing tonight?"
"Maybe. Daddy's bread smells great..." Jake said, drooling. He quickly started to reach for the basket of bread, but alas, he was too small to reach it. Barry tried his best as well, but being his brother's mirror, the bread was out of reach.
"Boys!" A man over forty said, walking over. He crouched down, and put his strong hands around his sons. "We've got Uncle Dan and Aunt Shirley tonight, remember? We need to leave some bread for them! Don't want Cara and Ian getting hungry, do we, my little guys?"
"No, daddy, but we're hungry now!" Jake whined, his stomach rumbling.
Their father laughed, and pointed to the barbecue. "Don't worry, Daddy will cook a feast for everyone. The biggest he's ever made! We'll eat once everyone arrives. Why don't you go and help your beautiful Mommy with the salad? I'll let you have an extra hot dog..."
"Okay!" The two boys said, and ran into the kitchen. As they did so, Blaine Spencer chuckled. They were almost the spitting image of him at that age, but had some of their mother's softer features in them. Yet they were growing up in a much more opulent Kanaloa than Blaine had grown up with.
We barely had any money, or any space, too. Dad worked hard, way harder than anyone else, but even so, we could barely make ends meet. But he and Mom did whatever they could to put food on the table, and always made me feel loved. That's the one thing I hope these boys know for sure.
Returning to the barbecue, Blaine continued to brown the meat, hoping to get it just right for when the guests arrived. His parents had never been able to afford a barbecue, and their tiny house didn't have much of a back garden to put one in. It was times like this that made him realise how lucky he was, especially compared to ten years ago.
Didn't think handing over a lost necklace would cause my life to change so much. Weird, huh? One minute I'm heading down to that mall to give it back, the next I'm surrounded by strange creatures and smashing them to pieces with Tlaloc. And that other world was a terrible place. A lot of bad stuff went down there. Still, it was soon after that when I met -
"Oh, that smells great! Doesn't it, kids?"
Entering the back garden, carrying a large bowl filled with salad, was the woman most dear to Blaine's heart. She had grown out her hair somewhat since she turned thirty, and it was now reaching below her neck, and somewhat silky. Yet her eyes were still as passionate as ever, and Blaine still enjoyed gazing deep into them. Just as he had done when he went to The Mole for a quick drink. There she was, alongside several of her colleagues. It was only later that he discovered these were Amara's colleagues as well. One of many happy coincidences.
Back then Lucy was only planning a quick drink with her workmates. Guess she didn't plan on meeting the love of her life then and there. And true, we didn't talk much that first night. Not that we needed to. I knew right away she was perfect. Fiery, though. Ten years younger, and drop-dead gorgeous, and she didn't prattle on about her clothes like that blonde with her.
"Mom, what's this re-nun thing?" Jake asked, still confused.
"Reunion? Oh...it's when people get together to chat about old times. You might understand that when you're a bit older." Lucy said as she put the bowl on the table. "He's meeting up with Nathan, Serena, Amara and Karl!"
"How come we can't go?" Barry asked sadly. "You never let us come to these things!"
"Kids, kids..." Blaine said, coming over again. "You'll get to see your daddy's friends soon, I promise. But this is just something for us grown-ups. So we can reminisce about how we first met. Now, go and wash up, okay?"
"Aww..." The two boys moaned at the same time, and walked back indoors to the bathroom. Being twins, they had a habit of doing everything in sync.
"They're so alike. Makes me wish I'd had a twin sister back home..." Lucy said, nearing her husband. "It was kind of lonely, being an only child. Still, compared to what you went through..."
"Hey, this isn't a pity party." Blaine said, shaking his head. "Look how great things are now. Ever since our little guys came into our world, our hearts have been full." With that, he quickly gave her a kiss on her cheek, and beamed her a great smile.
"It's hard to imagine life before the great JB Spencer duo." Lucy said, laughing. "Although after – oh, that's them!"
They had been interrupted by their video doorbell, and sure enough, a notification popped up on Blaine's phone, of his best friend pulling a silly face. Next to him was a somewhat mortified Shirley. Although he couldn't see them, he assumed Ivan and Cara were there as well.
Blaine joined his wife, and went through to the front door. As they did, he recalled their wedding day, a joyous time of his life unlike any other.
I'd never see Lucy look so beautiful before, or so happy. That white dress with the trail, it made her look like an angel. Which was odd, considering she had the Devil Arcana back in the other world. Angel or devil, I didn't care. She was the one I wanted to be with more than anything else. I didn't even hesitate to say 'I do'. Nor did she. And that kiss...best kiss of my whole damn life.
Life was already great after that. I didn't have to worry about fighting any more damn Shadows, and Dan was finally getting his life back on track. Lucy was covering huge stories in the news, and she even became kind of famous after she exposed that shady medical firm. And I was one of the top chefs at Kaman's new restaurant. Then, five years ago, she waited for me to get home, to tell me the big news. Despite being really, really careful, she was pregnant. It took me ages to get a word out. And I think I probably cried a lot...
Despite not having planned this, Blaine quickly came around to the idea of being a dad. After all, Nathan, Roger and Dan had already become parents, and even Amara was a mother. Soon, he and Lucy decided to throw themselves into becoming parents for the first time, and eagerly awaited each scan. Then, it was discovered that she was carrying two babies.
Blaine briefly panicked – he was worried he'd have his hands full with just one child. Still, he decided to face it head-on, and then the day came on March 19th 2017. Lucy gave birth to two healthy boys. Holding them for the first time was an event that brought Blaine to tears of absolute joy. Especially when they wrapped their tiny hands around his finger.
Naming the boys was difficult. They almost went with Tim, but then Blaine changed his mind. He wanted to give them a name unique to either the Spencer or Crossman families, and so after much consideration, came up with Jacob – Jake for short. He had seen the name on a plaque somewhere in Nova Albion, and quite liked the sound of it. Lucy chose Barry's name, sheepishly admitting it was the name of an imaginary friend she had when she was five.
The twins remind me so much of myself back in the days. When it was just me, my parents, and sometimes, Archie. If only they were all still here. They'd be fussing over the boys just as much as Lu and I do. Still, it's the best thing that ever happened to me. If we had lost to Janus back then, these kids would never have come into this world. They'd never believe me if I told them about it, though. I'll let them read Serena's books about it, and see if they can guess which character is based on their big, strong dad.
They opened the door, and there they were – Dan Kingsley, a man Blaine still considered a brother, and his own wife Shirley. She was still very close to Lucy, as they had been in the other world, and spoke every single day. Now, of course, their gatherings had four extra participations.
"Hey, guys! Hope you're hungry!" Blaine said, smiling at the two children as they walked through the door. Cara nodded, holding her father's hand. At six years old, she was the oldest and bigger of the four children and liked taking charge. Her hair was very much like her mothers, except she had pigtails this evening. Yet her face had many of her father's features, including the eyes. Tonight, she had on her white frilly skirt and a blue t-shirt, and the sporty watch that her father had given her, so she could go running with him every weekend.
"Oh, we are. Can't get full before coming to yours. Your food is too good to go to waste!" Daniel said, smiling, as he gave Blaine and Lucy a quick hug. He had changed his look considerably, having grown his hair out slightly, and the goatee had developed into a somewhat thick, bushy beard. Yet his tattoos were still visible on his arm, vivid as ever. He had a pair of simple black shorts on, and an orange buttoned shirt. It reminded Blaine somewhat of Zao's sense of fashion.
Ever since Dan got one of those new houses a few blocks from the beach, he's been wearing shorts all the time. Reminds me of something in one of Serena's games. Still, he's having a lot more fun than he was back when we were dealing with Shadows. And he finally got rid of that stupid goatee.
"Dan, relax. There's enough here to feed our old estate. Including your bacon-wrapped burgers."
"Estate? Wassat?" Little Ian asked, holding his mother's hand. The youngest of the children, at only four years old. Still, he was growing at a fast rate and was already nearly as tall as Jake and Barry. He looked quite a bit like Matthew did at his age, with a very similar mess of hair, but his eyes were more like his mother's. And he was much shyer than Matthew had ever been, clinging to either of his parents whenever he was outside. He had a green t-shirt that his 'uncle' had bought for him as a gift, with designs of Kings from a cartoon he was very fond of.
"I'll tell you later. Come on, Ian, let's go to the back garden. Uncle Blaine cooked your favourite hot dogs as well, I bet!"
"Did you make those tasty rolls again, Uncle Blaine?" Cara asked, excitedly.
"You bet!" Blaine said, cheerily. The girl squealed, charging to the dinner table outdoors, followed by her brother. The twins joined them as well, and they soon began talking animatedly amongst themselves about all sorts. Lucy and Shirley soon joined them, helping with their napkins and pouring them a glass of ice-cold lemonade.
"...Never would have imagined this, ten years ago." Dan said, gazing fondly at the children at the table. "Back then, our idea of a good evening was hitting the pub and not getting home until three in the morning."
"Yeah. Our lives were pretty empty after...Matthew left us." Blaine said, looking at one of the framed photographs on the windowsill. It was the last one he had of him with the two Kingsley brothers. Dan looked at the photo, and his smile faltered, but only briefly.
"...He's never really gone. He's always gonna be my little brother. And Uncle Matthew to the new Kings of ours."
One day, when they're older, they'll understand just how special their dad's kid brother really was. I wish I could see him in the other world, whatever he's up to. Maybe he and Tara are still together, touring the world. Or they're still working hard on rebuilding the city.
Dan, looking poignant still, continued;
"Back then, we never would have imagined Kanaloa would end up as a popular place to live and eat. Thank god for the new Mayor's reforms, huh? The schools are better, employment's up, and there tons of new places on the promenade to get a great family meal. Yours, though, is always gonna be on top."
Blaine laughed, thinking to the restaurant he had owned since 2019. Kaman's restaurant was doing really well in Takanawa, but he could tell Blaine was feeling wistful for Kanaloa. Thus, he decided to invest in an idea Blaine had toyed with – a barbecue grill restaurant, for families of all shapes and sizes. It quickly took shape from there, and on the day it opened, the place got great reviews, for the fresh food, the service, and the atmosphere. The front part of the restaurant allowed great views on the Promenade, especially of the ocean. The back garden area was also pleasant to visit – most recently visited by Karen and Roger.
The place is doing pretty well. All of Kanaloa is. It's a place people actually want to raise a family now. Still has a lot of rough edges, my old Kanaloa, but I love it to pieces. And even Lucy can't imagine living anywhere else. Janus better not try and come back and ruin everything. If he does, I'll kick the shit out of him.
Later on that night, Lucy was in the kitchen preparing some after-dinner cocktails for everyone. Of course, the children were having non-alcoholic ones, but they were made with mastery nonetheless. Admiring the colours, she nodded, smiling. The boys were now chasing a blue butterfly in the back garden, while Cara kept yelling at them to stop. Just then, Lucy noticed someone entering the kitchen.
"Relax, Blaine, I can at least make some drinks. Just like you taught me."
"Those look great. Colourful, vibrant, enticing…just like you. Hehe..."
Blaine, feeling affectionate, embraced his wife, nuzzling her and kissing her on the cheek. However, she now looked serious, and gazed up at him, biting her lip.
"...You okay, Lu?" He asked. "Something's up. Come on, tell me. You're away to cover some huge story in New York again, aren't you?"
"No. nothing like that..." Lucy said. Finally, she settled down and took Blaine's hands. "You've noticed I've not been having anything to drink tonight, right?"
"Huh?" Blaine hadn't actually focused on what Lucy was drinking, but he didn't recall her pouring a single glass of wine, even from the bottle Shirley had brought. With that, he had a sudden flash of realisation, "Wait. Are you saying what I think you're saying?!"
Lucy simply smiled and nodded. "By this time next year...Jake and Barry will have a new brother or sister."
Blaine stood there, stunned – for only one second. Then, he let out a happy cheer, and wrapped his arms around her. In pure bliss, he twirled around, his eyes welling up. So many emotions were swirling in his head at once, but right now, the strongest was his sheer happiness.
"T-Take it easy! I..." Lucy said, red in the face.
"But this is fantastic!" Blaine said loudly, prompting some confused chatter in the living room. "I've...I've actually been thinking about this for a long time. Us having more children...I know we're busy enough with our jobs, and the boys, but we've made it work so far. I can't wait...and this time, we'll decide on a name well ahead of time!"
"Sounds good..." Lucy said, wiping her own eyes. It was just then that they noticed Dan had entered the room, and judging from the huge grin on his face, he had heard the big news.
Now, Blaine would have to get used to cooking for nine people. Whether he had a third son, or his first daughter, it didn't matter. They would have a special place in his heart.
|Legarte – Romano Manor|16:45 pm|
Today, in one of Legarte's largest homes, a boy of five was in the back garden, practising his soccer skills. He was wearing an orange t-shirt, bearing the colours of his nation's football team. Although it was for a child, someday the child hoped to wear the adult size in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of screaming fans. Staring at the goal ahead with fierce determination, he stepped back, his new white soccer shoes gleaming in the sunlight. A butterfly with blue wings flew by and landed on one of the flowers. It almost seemed to be watching intently, but remained still.
"Now!" A man in the distance cried. With an athletic, lean build, he had become known for his incredible skill in football, and now, he was watching his son practice.
Upon his father's command, the boy kicked the ball, sending it flying towards the goal. It struck the net behind, and as it did, the boy squealed with excitement.
"Nice shot, Cathán!"
Karl Davenport ran over and ruffled his boy's hair, proud. He had a ginger cut not unlike his dad, in both hue and style. Having watched the New Motus Team played many times, he saw all the team as his heroes, but none as much as his two dads.
"Just you wait! I'll be on the Motus team someday like you!" The boy said, happily. "And we'll win every game!"
"Easy there, kid. First, you need to be the champion of the school team..." Karl said, gently, kneeling down. "But you already know how to pick a good team, don't you?"
Cathán nodded, confidently. "Yeah! Especially goalkeepers. They have to be tall, fast, and great at jumping. Like Eden!"
Richard certainly was great at all of that back in the other world. And in this world, he's still got it! Which reminds me, I need to ask him when Keisha's having their housewarming party.
Ten years on, Richard had become almost legendary as a goalkeeper, still nimble and agile. Some reporters had taken to describing the goal he valiantly defended as 'The Garden of Eden'. As his popularity grew, so did his bond with recruitment consultant Keisha Vivaldi, and they had recently returned from their honeymoon in St. Lucia.
Just as he said this, another man walked over, putting away the phone he was recording the video on. This was none other than Liam O'Sullivan, the other dad in Cathán's life – and the one who named him, too. His Irish ancestry had inspired him to pick a name he thought sounded 'strong'.
"Daddy!" Cathán cried. "You think I can make the school team?"
"With your shooting skills? Sure, they'd be fools to not pick you first!" Liam said, smiling. "We gotta work on your dribbling skills too. But first, we gotta get you dressed up for tonight!"
"Where are we going?" Cathán asked, curious. "Oh, Uncle Blaine's place again? He does the best cheeseburgers ever!"
"Not this time. This time, we're having seafood." Karl said, beaming. "We're going to Amara's house for dinner. Ava will be there too!"
"Yay! She's so lucky, going to France all the time. I wanna go too!"
"Well, maybe someday. But for now, you'll get to see the pictures Ava took just for you." Liam said, looking slyly to Karl. They had in fact already planned a family holiday to the south of France, and were keeping it a surprise. "So come on, get ready! Or there won't be any food left by the time we get there!"
Cathán, somewhat terrified at this notion, ran back into the house and bounded upstairs. As he did so, the two men chuckled.
"He's always so energetic when it comes to food," Liam said, holding his husband's hand. "Of course, he gets that from you..."
"Oi..." Karl said, blushing. "We sportsmen need our energy."
They walked back into the house, and looked at one of the framed photos on the wall – it was of the two men in their finest blue suits, on their wedding day. It had taken Karl a long time to find one he liked, but with some help from Nathan, he finally got a fitted one that he fell in love with.
"I never get tired of looking at this. Or at you, obviously." Liam said, admiring the picture of himself and his beloved. "Now that was a great day. Especially when the band started, and everyone started dancing. You were a terrific dancer then...and even better now."
Karl grinned, and as he looked at his husband's face, he leaned forward, and they kissed.
"And still a great kisser. Great at everything, actually." Liam held Karl in his arms, and their lips locked again.
"Well, I do my best. At everything that comes my way."
"And it pays off, too. We've won so many games together, both at home and abroad! Not to mention you achieved the small task of saving the world. Twice, too!"
Karl bit his lip. He still felt a little awkward, talking about his ordeals in the other world. Especially how he had ended up there for the first time.
It was like a nightmare or a horror movie with a ridiculously high budget. I ended up in a haunted old school, and nearly got killed by a giant angel statue. Then it turned out that Amara and Zao had been fighting Shadows with my sister, and kept it from me for months. I was so angry with them back then. But they couldn't really just come out and say it, could they? Hey Karl, while you were out at the pub, your sister healed our injuries and plotted to overthrow a corrupt government? How is anyone supposed to react to that?
Despite a rocky start, Karl truly discovered his potential as a Persona user. His power put an end to many a Shadow, even if he lagged behind the more experienced members at first. But it was after Zao's tragic death that he decided he would redouble his efforts, and become even stronger. And thus, he became a pillar of support for his allies, especially his sister.
Janus almost killed us – twice, too! But it's not my style to just let a monster like that get his own way. And now Ethan's keeping a close watch over it. All on his own. That's why I have to make the most of every day, as my way of saying thanks.
"I didn't do that on my own, you know. It's like football. You need the team to work together in perfect harmony. Otherwise, it falls to pieces."
"Well. you're my MVP. Just remember that."
Karl nodded. As the two of them sat down, he looked at the silver ring on his hand, in particular the pale blue etching of his and Liam's initials.
I still remember the day he proposed. So soon after we separated the worlds and...I had to say goodbye to Aimee all over again. I just thought it was going to be a family dinner, and we'd just be exchanging embarrassing stories about each other's childhoods. Course, that did happen, but then after we finished dessert, Liam got everyone to be quiet. Then he did something no one had expected.
The older footballer had fallen for Karl more than he had let on, it seemed. In fact, he had gathered their close families for a reason – he wanted to propose to him, and make their relationship official. Everyone was stunned, and all eyes were on Karl, as they eagerly waited for his response. Liam was staring right up into Karl's eyes pleadingly, hoping to hear the word he had been dreaming of. And of course, Karl said yes, crying tears of joy.
And before long, everyone knew that they were engaged. The rest of the team weren't all that surprised, and Richard, in particular, was delighted at the news. Alas, on the internet, there were some ignorant, or downright hateful comments. Most of these were swiftly deleted by various websites. However, Karl heard some vicious slurs hurled at him one evening, when he was going out to the cinema with Liam. These were toxic words that still haunted him, yet now only faintly.
"I didn't think they would say these things to us in public. Especially that 'f' word I hate so damn much. Karl, it makes me want to cry too. But...I'm here for you. And so are all your friends. Wasn't Amara going to do another painting for the wedding?"
Every one of Karl's allies was excited about the upcoming nuptials, but Amara seemed the most thrilled. Before long, she had finished a watercolour painting of one of Karl's favourite soccer players, his personal hero. At the time, her own relationship with Marcel was getting serious, yet it would be a few more years until their marriage.
In April 2014, Karl and Liam finally tied the knot, in a grand ceremony attended by many friends and family. Everyone they loved was there, apart from two very special women. Liam's late mother, and Karl's precious little sister Aimee.
If only she could have survived in this world too. But I'm doing just fine without you, sis. I'm not alone any more, as you can probably see.
It was during the honeymoon in Cyprus that Karl finally told Liam about his past forays into the other world. He left nothing out, including the day Zao died. As he tearfully told his story, Liam kept silent. Finally, when he finished, and the sky was dark and full of stars, Liam finally spoke.
"This is real, right? If I asked Amara and your other friends about this, they'll vouch for you, right? No...you wouldn't have talked for so long about this if it wasn't true. And you wouldn't make something this unreal up. Not to me. Karl, I knew you were amazing, but the fact is...you're part of the reason I'm still alive. Don't worry. I won't talk to anyone else about it. Let's focus on the future."
The New Motus City national football team soared to new heights around this time, and achieved some stunning victories internationally. It became clear to fans that even if they didn't accept their lifestyle, Karl and Liam were still dedicated to the beautiful game. Eventually, after one evening out alone, Karl looked at one family celebrating their son's birthday. It was then that he realised something was missing in his life.
When he got home, he stammered a little, but finally asked his husband outright about the future. More specifically, about expanding their family. What Karl wanted most was to be a father, and to have Liam be a father by his side.
"I'm going to confess something to you too. I've wanted to have this exact same conversation with you for quite a while. That same feeling that something's missing...I've felt it too! The time is right. We should start a family. Someone to cheer us on at home and at the stadium!"
And with the help of a kindhearted friend Karl knew rom school, the two of them became fathers to a young boy. Genetically Karl's, the headstrong lad grew to consider both fathers as his heroes, both at home and on the soccer pitch. And right now, the boy was running down the stairs, dressed in his best white shirt and black shorts.
"Looking smart, son!" Liam cheered.
"Course he does. He learned his fashion sense from the both of us." Karl said. The two dads got to their feet, and walked out to the car out front. Liam took the wheel, and soon they were off to Farawell. The family started singing along to the tunes on the radio, and as they did, Karl thought of the upcoming reunion between his former allies.
I wonder if Cathán will ever understand just how important our yearly reunion is. It's a little hard to explain. Still, one day, when he's older, I'll try telling him what I can. Especially his aunt Aimee. She'd love him. But she's looking after him from wherever she is. Right, sis?
|Yewlands Drive|17:20 pm|
"Oh, that's them!" Amara said, hearing the doorbell. She ran, and sure enough, the Davenport-O'Sullivan family were there, with little Cathán standing in front.
"Hi! How was Paris?" Karl asked.
"Beautiful as always. Ava took lots of pictures! Want to see, Cathán?"
"Yes please!" The boy said politely. The three went to the garden, and Sophie waved politely to the new guests. Marcel stood up to give them a warm handshake each, and poured everyone a glass of juice. In this sweltering weather, any refreshment of the cold variety was welcomed.
"So, how are things?" Sophie asked, looking at Karl. "Still living the dream on the field?"
"Oh yeah. The Nova Albion team are facing us soon. But...they don't stand a chance." Karl said, grinning. "We know their every move. They try to defend themselves, but they're just too open for an attack."
"Sounds like one of Alastair's food reviews," Amara remarked.
He certainly doesn't hold back. When he loves a restaurant, he'll practically write poetry about how we should all stop fretting over life and just get down there and eat what he had. When he hates a place, it's a badge of severe dishonour. Thank god he loved Blaine's restaurant.
"Ah, Mr Clark's brand of cruelty never fails to amuse me," Marcel said, in high spirits. "There are very severe critics in Paris, of course. He'd fit right in."
Over the past ten years, Alastair Clark's career as a food critic had more or less continued, and he eventually started his own blog and website. People sought out his opinions on all aspects of fine dining, taking his word as gospel. When not deciding the fate of a newly opened eatery, he was spending time with his wife, Miranda, and their daughter Justine.
"And you're off to Japan soon, aren't you?" Karl asked, looking to Amara. "You still remember any phrases."
"Hai, Karl-kun. Watashi no hobākurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu." The artist replied. "Serena's been giving me a lot of pointers. All her hours watching anime subbed must have paid off. Maybe she could be my interpreter."
"Oh, Cathán! Guess what? I saw the cutest butterfly earlier!" Ava said, beaming.
"Butterfly?" Karl asked.
"It's an insect that flies, daddy. I thought everyone knew that?"
"I know what a butterfly is, son! I was just about to ask what it looked like? I saw one just while you were practicing your shooting..."
"Um, well, it was really deep blue! Mummy's going to paint it for me later so I can show you! Right?" Ava asked her mother, eyes twinkling with hope.
"Absolutely! It wasn't like any butterfly I've seen in this world."
The adults looked at her, curiously. In an instant, they knew exactly what she meant. This evening, they had been visited by a force, who had guided them once before. Why they were here now, they did not know. But hopefully, it was just for curiosity's sake.
"Mum…? Why did you say in 'this' world?" Ava asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah, is there another world?" Cathán asked.
"Uh, no, It's nothing like that." Amara quickly added. "Come on, it's time to eat. Everyone better be hungry!"
Will we ever tell our children about the other world? I don't know. I'd rather not. It's in the past. Ava will never have to face a Shadow. She'll never need to summon a Persona. Perhaps it's best she never knows about them.
The night continued, and everyone soon forgot Amara's words. All that mattered was that these peaceful days would carry on, for as long as possible. The day of the reunion was approaching, marking ten years to the day Amara first discovered her Persona. The day everything changed.
|June 7th|Farawell – Teardrop Fountain|9:30 am|
On this occasion, Amara got to choose the place everyone would meet. On this year, she opted for the stunning Teardrop Fountain, which had recently been repainted. It now had a gold and blue lustre, and the water was clear as always. Several others, mostly couples, were around, taking pictures to show their families back home. Amara was approaching when she saw Karl, already there.
"Wow, you're the first one here?!" She said, amazed. "I thought I'd always be the earliest to arrive..."
"Not this time." The ginger footballer said, smug. "It was a good record, though. But records were meant to be broken. Don't forget, though. You started killing Shadows way before me. So you've won on that front."
Amara laughed, thinking about the variety of Shadows she had incinerated. They had so many different shapes and sizes. The humanoid ones stood out in her memory the most, such as the Musha, the Idol, the Mothers and the Magus. But the worst Shadow she had ever faced was the Mummy, the embodiment of Death.
"It always felt good, beating those things. Must be the EXP we got after killing each one, if I understand Serena's logic correctly."
"My logic, Amara?"
Serena was arriving right that second. Today, her outfit was a white shirt and long skirt – not too unlike the one she had worn the day she awakened to Artemis. Yet she had completed it with a blue blazer, and high heeled boots.
"There are some things you don't forget." Amara replied. "To be honest, I think your gaming talk actually helped out a lot. I don't know about levelling up, but I felt like I got stronger every battle."
The authoress nodded, wisely. "We were probably all Level 100 or more by the end. And now look at us. We're just normal adults, enjoying normal lives. And so few people know that we risked everything to make sure this city was still here, ten years on."
Karl looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Don't all your readers know? I mean, those books are basically our story. The whole world knows about us!"
"In a way, yes. But the books are loosely inspired by real events, you know." Serena said, slyly. "Don't worry, your character is just as strong and fast as you. And Nathan's character is still a courageous redhead, wearing the sharpest blue suits ever made."
"Can't argue with that, Serena."
Nathan had shown up just then, and right behind him was a jubilant Blaine.
"Hey, you two!" Serena said cheerily. "And there's Blaine, the bravest biker in all of Kanaloa. Rough around the edges, a penchant for profanity, but a heart of god. Did I capture you right?"
"Down to a tee!"
The five embraced each other quickly, glad to be back together. Chances for all of them to be together were rare these days, but as long as they continued to reunite for this day, they would never grow apart.
"So Amara, where are you taking us first?" Karl asked.
"The Marianne Art Museum, where else? If there's artwork, I'm there. Whether it's mine or someone else's."
Nathan smiled at the thought of this place. He had taken his own family there once or twice, and enjoyed Kayla's amazement at the masterpieces hanging there.
"Excellent choice. Then I'm going to show us the Caramathia Department Store...and maybe Aurelia Square." he added.
Serena nodded, excitedly. "And me, the Crystal Palace Bowling Park...I've already booked us a lane later this afternoon, of course."
"Again? The last time we played, Amara's ball stopped halfway down the lane!" Blaine said, laughing.
Blushing from embarrassment, the artist quickly nudged him with her elbow.
"Sorry. Yeah, that sounds good. Oh yeah, for me, I'd like to take you guys for a nice walk along the Kanaloa promenade. It's a real diamond now, as you guys might have noticed."
Karl, amused, chuckled lightly. "Not just because your restaurant's there, right?"
"Hey, there are lots of great places there that are almost as nice as mine. They all add up to make Kanaloa a damn fine place to live." Blaine said boasted. "So that leaves your place, Karl. Where are you gonna haul us to? You're picking the place for food, right?"
"Where else? The Solar Ray Mall. That's where you guys planned a lot of our journeys to the other world, isn't it?" Karl said. "So let's go there for old time's sake."
Amara nodded, thinking back to the many times she met everyone else there, to discuss the events of the other world. Pondering how best to deal with Shadows, and later, how to thwart Nihane Kronos's schemes. Having food with friends beforehand made each trip that much easier, she realised.
"Yes. Then...you know where we always end up last." She said, now serious.
"Right." Karl agreed. "Let's get started. We've got a full day ahead of us, after all..."
"Before we get started….I got big news for you all!" Blaine proclaimed, smiling. "I was going to tell you earlier, but Lucy and me, we're gonna be -"
"Oh my god!" Amara said, elated. "Let me guess. Jake and Barry are gonna have a brother or sister?!"
"Yeah!" The Kanaloan man said, ecstatic.
"That's great! They'll be a big brother at last!" Serena said, delighted.
"Congratulations. I had a feeling you wouldn't stop at the twins. The power of three, right?" Nathan said, beaming.
"What if it's another set of twins?" Karl asked.
"Don't say that! The twins I have already are hard work as it is..."
"Relax, Blaine. Come on, tell us more. But first, we better get moving! Let's go!" Amara said, leading the way, as she had often done in the other world.
With that, the group began their tour of the city, heading to the art gallery on foot.
|Sacred Heart Church - Graveyard|19:00 pm|
After all five stops, the group had enjoyed many delights, and Amara's bad luck at bowling had finally stopped. She even managed to get a single strike, after several gutter balls. The food of choice at the mall had been Italian, as usual, and now everyone was stuffed. The main topic of conversation was, of course, Blaine's child, of course, but everyone else's future plans were discussed.
"I still can't believe those two from Japan came all the way here just to have their books signed. What were their names again?" Nathan asked.
"Shintaro and Kohaku. I didn't ask where they came from, but they were really friendly. The boy seemed like a real bookworm. Asking me for other top New Motus novelists to follow, and about the city's music scene, too."
"Could they have a story like ours…?" Karl asked. As soon as he said this, he shook his head. "That's stupid, isn't it?"
"I dunno. Philemon might just have helped others before us, and after us." Amara said. "Maybe Japan has a ton of Persona users, like us?"
"Hey, maybe you're right. That painter guy you're meeting might have one too!" Blaine suggested. "And maybe he has friends like him! You gotta ask him about it, then we can swap stories!"
"Let's not worry about that now. We haven't needed our Personas for nine years. And I want to keep it that way." Amara said, adamantly. "If there are others over the world like us, then we'll be just fine."
I might just ask Yusuke Kitagawa about a Persona, however, and see how he reacts. I just hope he doesn't freak out.
"Anyway, here we are. The final place."
At least, the group had reached the place where a certain friend was resting. Every single year, the group finished their reunion with a visit to Zao Yuria's grave. They had resolved to never forget him, no matter how much time would pass. And so, they were here again, ready to see their old friend.
Amara took the lead and kneeled in front of the gravestone, that read out his name. Seeing his date of death brought tears to her eyes, but even so, she smiled. In the years that had gone by, Zao's grandfather Deo had passed away as well. His grave was right next to his grandson's with a very similar headstone. He had reached seventy-eight years of age, and there was a memorial for him in the Legarte Harbour.
I always thought your grandfather would have lived longer. We never did meet him again after your funeral. But he's keeping you company, isn't he? I always hated the idea of you being alone. And after all my travelling, I've barely had any time to come up here and see you.
"Hey, Zao. You didn't think we weren't coming this year, did you?" She began. "I've been really busy, but you probably knew that."
"We're all doing well. The family business is thriving, and all because of our hard work." Nathan said. "And my children are all healthy and happy. In fact, Kayla's taking part in a recital at school. If only you could hear it, she's amazing!"
"And the books I've written about us are selling like hotcakes! Whatever those are. I made your character really cool, too! Just like you were. No, like you are. Kyle's working hard as always. He might just make a wheelchair like he had in the other world!"
"The restaurant's really getting popular. More importantly, Lucy and I are having another kid. I know, I thought the twins would be enough. But having another baby's getting me excited just thinking about it! I'm gonna be a daddy again!"
"Cathán's getting bigger every day. And he's determined to be like his dad – both dads, actually! He's always teasing me, though. Just like you." Karl said, laughing a little. "I miss you tons, though. You and sis. You better not be lonely up there, okay?"
The group were silent for a moment, as they reflected on their times with Zao. When the worlds separated, he was gone once again, and his memory lingered in everyone he ever loved. Amara laid down the blue flowers she had purchased earlier in the day, next to ones that seemed to have been left by his parents.
"We better get going," Nathan said, solemnly. "Everyone's got a busy day tomorrow."
"Yeah, I know. Zao, I'll try and come back sooner, okay? Take care."
The group turned to each other, and joined in a group hug, forever glad to have known each other. And for the rest of their lives, they would be connected, no matter what happened.
As they finally left the graveyard together, Amara took one last look behind. As she turned back, she noticed the others had stopped dead in their tracks.
"What's...everyone looking at?" She said, but when she stepped forward, she immediately saw him. Walking towards them was someone they had never imagined they'd see again. Someone they thought they had bid farewell to, forever. Yet now he was in this world, looking older, and yet much happier.
Amara walked right ahead of her friends, getting closer and closer. Finally, as they were right in front of each other, she spoke.
"We've been waiting for you."
THE END