Chapter 18: It's not Really the End, is it?

Ylisstol Castle, Balcony of the Royal Bedroom, Two Hours Before Collision

"Was it worth it? Saving all those lives, liberating the kingdom, if all we've done is just bring about the end to everything?" Chrom said to Sumia. "I'm sorry if I'm sounding disheartening, but-"

"Save the sadness for whatever comes next. Right now, I want these final hours to be peaceful, for everyone. It was better if everyone else in Hyrule and Ylisse didn't know," she replied.

Chrom looked up, and saw what most would interpret as a beautiful night sky. The vibrant purple with a hint of magenta mixed throughout, like a pallette of mixed paint, with little bright specks of stars illuminating it. Most would love to see and cherish it, and it was a sight to behold. Chrom could even see people in the distance, holding lanterns and looking at the curtain of night. But he just couldn't do the same. He looked up, and felt resentment. He saw only saw the end. A beautiful lie. Inside, he had a gut-wrenching feeling that this was going to be the cataclysm that Naga warned him about. The warning that he chose to ignore.

He sat on a cushioned bench, which fit him and Sumia, who was holding infant Lucina, who was fast asleep. Two guards stood behind them, behind the closed balcony doors. The end really just felt abrupt. The feeling that everything would end in a blaze of colliding universes. Maybe not in a blaze, but collision was definite. Yet, it just seemed too peaceful. It was probably for the best this way. No anarchy, no riots and mobs in the streets, and the only chaos that would unfold would be the ultimate end.

Hyrule Castle, Outside of the Throne Room, Two Hours Before Collision

Had Hyrule come close to the end of the world? Probably, in the long timelines of past Links, but Hyrule as it was now, so ever close to Twilight, it hadn't. Even more so, Link was powerless to stop it. However, the feeling that cut deeper was knowing this was the last time that he'd be around everyone. Despite this, he chose to spend the next hour or so aimlessly wandering the pillaged castle. He brought himself to the balcony outside of the throne room, the highest part of the castle, and the closest part to the purple skies above.

"The end of the world is coming, and you're choosing to face it alone?" Zelda asked as she approached from the ascending stairs.

"..." He said that the end to the whole debacle was bittersweet. Save Hyrule, but at the same time, they doomed it.

"So you'd rather spend the last hours revelling in shame and despair?"

"..." He responded by saying that he'd be more blissful if he didn't know that the end was coming.

"That's quite ironic. I presumed that someone like you would live like there is no tomorrow, or rather, since there is no tomorrow."

"..." Even then, Link didn't think of himself as that interesting of a person. Then he asked what Zelda thought she should be doing right now.

"Well, something that would involve you, but it is illegal for a member of the royal family to do so with someone who is not her betrothed."

"..." That law hasn't stopped Link before.

"Heh, I remember that. After you rode back into Castle Town. I told the guards to leave, and we did it behind the throne."

Link continued to stare down at the sparsely lit Castle Town. He spaced out as he looked into the distance, and Zelda's voice was drowned out. When she noticed his lack of attention, she placed her right hand on his left hand. He looked at it, and looked back up to her.

"I'll be in my bedroom," she said.

She upped and left down the flight of stairs down to the castle. Link waited for a moment, until he decided to follow her down the stairs.

Ylisstol Streets

The shepherds that weren't inside the castle were spread among the populous of Ylisstol. It looked as normal as any night would be. The density of the crowds was a bit larger from the sky, but nonetheless, the unsuspecting crowds went along with their usual business. It turns out that waiting for the end of the world is boring. Or rather, it was only as boring as you made it. Lon'qu was unluckily limited from not being able to use his right arm, which was now just dead weight. Subsequently, he was a bit more arrogant than usual. But that didn't stop Sully from bringing him out of the castle, and to the farther parts of Ylisstol.

"Who knew that the end of the world could look to vibrant," said Sully.

"Well uh, I suppose, for what it's worth, the sky does look, uh, rather, uh," replied Lon'qu.

"Man. I've seen anxious, but you really don't know how to act around women, do you? I thought you were past that stage when we became each other's spouses."

"Admittedly."

"Really, what happened? What made you so fearful around women?"

"I'd rather not say," he firmly said.

"If you don't get it out now, you won't get it out ever. Whatever skeleton you have in the closet, it must have been eating at you for years to make you like this."

"For a woman, you don't act like any I've ever seen. Guess that's why my aversion isn't as bad around you. You're the first since Ke'ri-" he said, until he abruptly stopped.

"Ke'ri, huh?" Sully questioned.

"Dammit," Lon'qu uttered.

"You know you're not getting out of this."

"You don't want to know. You really wouldn't."

"You have two hours left in your life. Don't you want to relieve that feeling?"

"Uh," he said, and then paused. He looked up, groaned, then came back, and said "Let's go somewhere where there's less people."

"Now we're talking," Sully responded.

They walked farther from the castle, which got less densely populated the farther one went. They weren't quite at the edge of Ylisstol, but they were a good ten minute walk from it. At this hour, people decided to turn in after a quick look at the sky. The only people outside were the infrequent elderly men that sometimes walked by. Though, they usually steered away from the two of them.

"It was in Chon'sin. I lived on the streets. But, she was there. Ke'ri. She had a better life than me, yet she chose to spend her time with me. But, one day, a group of bandits rode into town. I still remember those unsightly green hoods," Lon'qu said. "During the panic, I got separated from Ke'ri. I rushed to find her, and found her being chased by two bandits. I charged at the first one, and grappled his head against a wall. I tried to get her away, but one stray arrow flew in our direction. One that was meant for me."

Lon'qu paused, with hesitance in his breath. He struggled to get out the words, which he had hoped that he would never narrate in his life.

"The arrow missed," he said with heavy baggage. "It hit her, through her chest. She fell, and died in my arms as the bandits came by."

"Damn... what happened after that," Sully said.

"They knocked me out cold. They took my body and Ke'ri's to the market area. I don't remember much, but from what I gathered before I left, Yen'fay and his group of soldiers came along. They captured all of them, and held a public execution for them. I can only imagine that Ke'ri and the other people who were killed had funerals that were paid for by the royal family," Lon'qu explained. "When I came too, I was in a house. And next to me, I see a dressed up body: Ke'ri's. I was in her house, with her incredulous parents. They blamed me for it. 'If only she hadn't left the house to spend time with that street orphan, she wouldn't have been killed,' they thought. I couldn't bare it. I left their house, and hopped on to a boat that was leaving across the sea. I was only twelve at that time. I had no idea where it was going, but I didn't care. That's when I ended up in Regna Ferox. This cold, freezing, stoic country, filled with pride of their way of the warrior."

"So that's how you ended up in there," said Sully.

"I had nowhere to go. No home, no money, and no idea where I was. That didn't matter. A battalion of soldiers found me, and I got put to work. Or rather, training. From that moment, I wasn't gonna be the one who has to avoid bandits. And then, it all just happened. Seven years later, and Khan Basilio notices my sword skills. One year later, and I'm his champion. Three years later, I get my ass handed to me by Lucina," said Lon'qu.

A silence filled in as they stopped at a street intersection, illuminated by two lanterns on opposite corners. Lon'qu felt a feeling of relief, but at the same time, all of the repressed feelings were working their way through his body. His hands tensed up, as did his shoulders.

"Hey, you know, on a second thought, maybe you didn't have to say-" Sully said.

"Don't. It's, it's fine. I just, never told anyone. I thought I'd be taking that to my grave," he replied.

"For what it's worth, I don't think Ke'ri's parents would be holding a grudge against you for eleven years. Who knows, they might have forgiven you by now."

Lon'qu paused and looked down. He interrupted with "Why'd you bring me out here in the first place?"

"Because you were sittin' on your ass with a glass in the barracks, and Naga forbid that I want to spend time with my husband before the world ends," she responded.

"No really. The only people who've made an effort to socialize with me are Robin and Gaius."

"And you just want to wallow in your despair for your whole life? There's a person behind that myrmidon I met three years ago, and I'm going to find him, in life, or whatever happens after death."

Lon'qu sighed, and the two of them stood in the street. Lon'qu turned around, and started to walk back to the castle. Sully went and followed him. He felt tempted to shoo her away, but he also felt another feeling being with her, someone he was comfortable around, and someone who made an effort to understand him. He let her walk back with him.

Ordon Village, One Hour and Fifteen Minutes Before Collision

"Has Link come back from Castle Town yet?" Colin said to his father.

"No. Afraid that he won't be back until tomorrow," Rusl answered.

"Do you think he's seeing the sky right now?" Colin asked.

"Oh, I'm sure he can see it," Rusl answered.

Rusl sat down with Colin on the porch of their house and watched the sky. Until this point, they'd never seen anything like it. From the quiet little village of only a few people, it was easily the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. The one thing that could make it better was Link being there.

Ylisstol, One Hour Before Collision

Robin lied in bed, next to Say'ri. He was reading the last chapter of the book "A Dragon and His Follower," while Say'ri rested her head on his shoulder. The last line read "No one knew what happened to them after, but it is believed that they flew to another kingdom, where dragons were much more tolerated. Or, their premonitions caused them to leave, escaping the wars that were yet to come. Even then, one can sometimes hear the roar of the Dracus and the laugh of Jackson." Robin finished, then closed the book. He placed it on the night stand, and relaxed further into the bed.

He looked at the tall clock to the side, and said "One hour."

Say'ri moved up and said "Until the end."

Robin paused, and then asked "Say'ri, how is death viewed in Chon'sin?"

"Hmm. Death is like an end to your first life. Then you begin your life in a world that is beyond ours. But, your deeds in your first life decide where you go in the world beyond. It is believed that if you are a kind, chivalrous, pure individual, then your later life will be rewarding. However, if you're filled with despicable intentions, then I suppose one would be in a prison of sorts, after they die," she answered. "What do you suppose?"

"I'm not sure. Really, I've only had memories of the past four years, starting with when Chrom found me asleep in a field. We've also seen Naga with our own eyes, so does she have something for after?"

"To me, it does not seem probable. Nay, it isn't reasonable, one could say, but I just never believed in such a thing. But what does it mean if there isn't anything?"

"It means you have more of an incentive to live your life while you're alive, for however long that is." He paused, and repeated, "However long that is..."

"What is it?" Say'ri asked.

"I just remembered. I can only remember the four years that led up until now, but I never knew how old I actually am. Then Miriel did some spell, and she said that she estimated my age to be of twenty-six. But I can only remember the past four years. It makes me wonder what happened before Chrom found me in the field."

"I'm sure you were the shining tactician you are, with or without those twenty-two years."

"

Later...

Their last luminous moments were interrupted by the luminous light outside. It shined brighter than the sun after he gets out of his dark bedroom. Its fiery and purple light spread an evanescence between all who saw it. Even if they weren't aware before. It was now, where they realized that there was no way to get out of this. The only thing to do is accept it.

As the rumbling of the ground set in, Robin said "You know, once you accept it, its kind of peaceful. It's a beautiful way to die."

Hyrule Castle

Link and Zelda quickly sat up, looking out of the window, in their state of undress. The ground was rumbling, and the earthquake was only a precursor to what would unfold. The same bright light of evanescence poured through the tall, stained windows, illuminating the room in an array of colors. In the midst of green, teal, purple, and golden light, decorations fell from the walls. Books fell from the shelves, and the Master Sword, formerly perched against the wall, had fallen on to the floor. Zelda got up, and locked the door to her room, to Link's confusion. He signaled a confused state of mind to Zelda, to which she responded "I don't want the guards to come in. They'll rush here and try to protect us- or, well, me, but I'd rather that my end be with a true companion, and not just another person who will blindly follow. What use is a bow if it doesn't have any arrows?" She lied back down on the bed, as did Link. They stared at the ceiling, as the rumbling grew more intense. But at least it blocked out the sound of the guards pounding on the door.

Ylisstol Castle, Royal Balcony

The rumbling started, and the piercing light barged through the sky, to everyone's distress. The guards opened the doors and came to Chrom and Sumia.

"Milord, what's going on?" the guard exclaimed.

"Calm down," Chrom said. "It's nothing to be worried about."

"With all due respect, it seems as if the end of the world is happening!" he shouted in response.

Chrom remained seated on the bench, and silent, not responding at all, as did Sumia. The only thing left to do was wait. And soon, they were shrouded in light, and then there was just, just...

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

One could watch this happen for hours. Two little balls with a straight string connecting them. These two balls were swinging around each other, forever and ever, until they were doomed to stop, or when the threading of the string began to tear. But just the endless motion of them swinging around in circles in harmony was enough to entertain a person.

But as expected, the sting was growing too weak, and it tore. But, the balls didn't drift apart. They came closer. And as they grew closer, a light shined as if they were heating up. They come together, and then they separate. Then they repeat it, again, and again, and again. Each time, the light grew brighter and brighter. It continued to grow, until it was just pure light. The light did not last forever though. As it faded, sight of the balls came back into clarity.

And there were not two, but one.