MEL

"Melody…you can't change Fate. What you saw in the vision is Fate. That is how it's supposed to end."

"You're the one always saying anything is possible…and now you're telling me it's about to be my fault that all the worlds will plummet into darkness…and there's nothing a can do about it?!"

"Anything is possible…but Fate is unstoppable. You have to understand the difference. You can't prevent that vision from happening…"

"To hell I can! I will stop it and I will prevent it from happening! I will not watch everyone I care about get their Hearts taken away. No one deserves that, especially if it's my fault."

"Melody…I am sorry. There is nothing you can do. If your friends want to sacrifice themselves…that's their choice. They are choosing their own Fate."

"I will not just watch them fall to darkness! I refuse to let that happen! I will keep an Elixir with me."

"You know that Zexion with think of that. He will search you and make sure you have no tricks up your sleeves. He is very witty."

"There has to be a way. He may be witty, but I am stubborn. I will win this…"

"You know…either way you will have to lose your Heart…"

"I know…Uncle Ansem…I know…"

"I understand why you want to save your friends so bad. I had that voice in my Heart as well. You know that Riku will not take it well…if this works."

"Yes…he will."

"He loves you Melo. I know you love him back. This will make your decision harder."

"No it won't."

"And why is that?"

"Because…I may still lose my Heart…but I will be saving his."

"Along with everyone else's?"

"Along with everyone else's."

"My Heart and mind tell me that this isn't going to work. But I believe your Heart's strength and stubbornness. Good luck…my Melo."

"Wait…you're leaving me?"

"Yes…you realize your Fate and future. I have taught you all you need to know…"

"B-but what if I get lost? What if I do need you? I will need your guidance…"

"Follow the light in your Heart, Melody. It will be all the guidance you need."

I slowly opened my eyes and saw sunlight shining through the window on the other side of the room. I lifted up my head and saw Riku sleeping next to me; his hand was holding mine. He was so sweet and extremely easy on the eyes…but I could not let us get any closer than we already have. I knew he understood why. He knew something bad was going to happen, he could feel it. He could tell something was going on by the way I talked last night. I reached over and gently stroked the side of his face. For how mature he has always looked for his age…you would think he had some kind of stubble. He doesn't though. He has a baby face. As my fingers moved down his cheekbone his eyes opened slowly. I smiled lightly as his aqua eyes focused on me. My hand went down to his jaw, but he brought his hand and covered mine. His eyes closed as if he was taking in the moment. He is beginning to realize… that we won't be together much longer. He took my hand and kissed it gently.

Why did I just let that happen? Mel! You know you shouldn't let this continue. You love him, but you can't get carried away. Remember? It will be harder to say goodbye!

"Tell him! Tell him the truth! Tell him how you feel!"

I took in a deep sigh.

"Riku…I lo.."

He quickly placed two fingers over my lips.

"Melody…I know…but like you told me last night. It will make goodbye harder."

RIKU

I wanted to hear those words from her so badly. I wanted to say those words to her just as bad. I knew…I knew I shouldn't, though. My Heart and my mind argued with me, but I knew she was right. Her eyes grew sad and as she sat up. The door opened and Yuffie came in holding two cups. Steam was coming from both of them.

"I thought you two would be awake. Here…I brought you both some hot chocolate."

She handed one cup to Mel and the other cup to me. She then casually sat on the chair that I had been originally sitting in.

"Cid made some breakfast and he told me to come over here and see how you two were holding up."

"I just woke up…" I said, "As did she…but I think we're both fine."

"Are you hungry? He told me that you both need to come in and chow down. He made more then enough for all of us."

"Actually……I am hungry. What did Cid make?" Melody said.

"He made flapjacks…"

"You mean pancakes?" Mel asked.

"Uh…yeah…sure…"

"Awesome!" Mel cried.

She jumped out of bed and stretched. Then her clothes changed into a light pair of jeans, a brown belt around her waist, a tanktop that was torn around her stomach and then she made her tiara appear on her head. Her black hair was long and perfectly straight and my blind fold was tied around her wrist. She had two necklaces on; one that matches Kairi's and then another one that I had never noticed before.

"Where did you get that necklace?" I asked.

I knew I had seen that symbol before.

Isn't it on her tiara, too?

"I found it in Uncle Ansem's drawer in his desk, before I died." She said.

"Oh…"

"Come on, I'm starving!" She complained.

"Alright."

MEL

We went next door to Merlin's house and were greeted by many hugs and handshakes. Even a few slaps on the back. After Riku and I were both finished stuffing our faces everyone joined us around the table and we sat and talked for hours. It reminded me of a family's thanksgiving. Cid had brought out some kind of alcohol and he became very drunk. Everyone told me how thankful they were that I saved them. All I could do was sit back and giggle. I of course replied with 'your welcome' and 'I couldn't have done it without Riku…he helped me every step of the way..' It was all true, of course. If Riku hadn't been there…I wouldn't have made it past Sephiroth and Maleficent. Through the entire conversation, I couldn't help but watch Riku. I knew he was watching me back. We shot glances at each other making eye contact and other times we would miss eye contact. Finally night came along with the decision of when we were going to leave and where. We were going to Twilight Town and we were going to leave tomorrow morning after breakfast. Everyone bid each other goodnight, and I was escorted to our vacancy house. Riku led to me to my room as everyone else settled down in their spots in the living room. I changed myself into some white silk pajamas and then crawled into the bed. He smiled at me as he said 'goodnight' then he was about to shut the door.

"Riku…"

He peered at me from around the door. His face was solemn and his eyes were tired.

"You know you are not going to be able to sleep in there…"

"I-I know…"

"Why don't you sleep in here? I don't want to be alone…"

Riku looked down at the carpet-covered floor and I waited for his answer. My Heart wouldn't stop pounding.

"You know you want him to sleep next to you again. You thought so yourself…it feels right that he sleeps next to you. He belongs by your side. You both belong together."

That may be true…but you can't get attached to him. You mustn't let him get attached to you. You know the end for all of us is near. You mustn't let your Heart get in the way of the right decision. What is best for RIKU? Not yourself.

Riku came into the room and closed it behind him.

"So…you want us to share the bed…again?"

It was a hard decision, whether or not to let Riku stay beside me or go off and be alone. I didn't want him to become anymore attached to me than he already was. I also wanted to spend as much time with him as I could before my plan came to action.

"Yes," I finally said. "Please…I don't want to be alone…not again…"

"Again…"

"I want to be with you for as long as I can. Soon…I know I will walk a road separate from you. A road that takes no where but deeper into darkness. I will be alone for a very long time. Forever…in fact."

Riku came and crawled onto the bed and put his hand on the side of my face.

"You will never be alone…"

"Riku…can I tell you something?"

"Anything…"

"Promise you won't forget it?"

"I swear."

"No matter how far away you are…you will always be in my heart. No matter how thick the darkness is between us…we will always be together. Riku…I want you to promise me again that you will go back to Destiny Islands…no matter what happens to me."

"Alright….I promise…again."

"You promise that you won't stay behind? You promise that you won't take revenge? You promise that you'll let me find you no matter how long it takes?"

"Yes, yes, Melody! I promise…" He said with a small chuckle. "Why are you making me promise all this?"

"I just have another feeling that something bad is going to happen to all of us in Twilight Town. If my hunch is correct…I intend to stop it…no matter what it takes…"

"Peaches…" The way he whispered my name sent shivers down my spine. "Please…whatever your plan is…promise me that whatever happens…you'll be there with me…"

I looked away and his hand dropped from the side of my face. Tears whelped up in my eyes as Riku lifted my chin.

"I'm sorry…but I cannot promise that…"

Tears rolled down my face.

"Mel….what are you saying?" He asked frantically.

I refused to look at him.

"How much of this suicidal plan have you mapped out?"

I refused to answer him.

"Melody…we've been through this before…please…don't talk like your not gonna be here with me. Just don't!"

I turned away from him and laid on my side. I tried to ignore him. I tried to ignore my Heart. I tried to ignore my mind. I tried to push everything away. Tears ran down my face and I sniffled aloud. Riku leaned over me and wiped away my tears, then he laid down on his side of the bed. Soon I began to drift away. The last thing I heard Riku say was, 'You have no idea how much you mean to me..' I don't think he meant me to hear it. He mumbled it under this breath.

RIKU

I heard Melody breathing deeply, which was the sign that she was asleep. I sat up and watched her quietly. I felt like I was never going to see her again. She was certain that she was going to lose her Heart and with her being pessimistic about it, it's hard from me to be the one that's optimistic. It just doesn't work. If she's down in the dumps than so is everyone around her. I can't see the brighter side to this. What if she's right? What if you can't control Fate? What if all of this was for nothing?

"Did you hear that promise she made you though? She said 'no matter how far apart you are nor how thick the darkness is between us, we will always be together.' That was a promise. She saying that even if she does fall to darkness…she will find you. Or vice versa."

Yeah…you're right. This can't all end badly… can it? She has a Pure Heart now, though. How can she come back?

Of course there was no reply to this and so I sat to ponder my own question. Unfortunately, I saw no positive answer. I glanced at Mel, who slept silently beside me. My mind was in a jumble of questions and my Heart was in a mess of feelings, but I knew one thing. I may not ever see Mel again after tonight. Sora said it takes less than an hour to get from here to Twilight Town. I leaned over her and gently put my lips against her hair, which really did smell like roses, and then took in the moment.

I will never have a chance to do it again.

Then I turned away and laid on top of the covers and slept by her side so she would not be alone, as she asked.

I will miss you. We were right for each other…and I know I will not be able to let you go.