Thanks so much for your reviews, everyone!! I really appreciated them!!

Jade: -pushes his glasses up- Yes, she was...quite literally...bouncing off the walls.

BG88: Go proofread and I'll give you some pins for your Dist doll, Colonel. And I might let you keep that halo.

Jade: -goes off to read with a grin on his face-

BG88: And I'll answer reviews. :D

Harada Risa: I suppose he really was a bit OoC, but I figured that when you're dying, you're not really so much worried about your image as you are about getting your final words out. Thanks for the review though, I appreciate it!

SoldierSteak: Omg, thanks, your review definitely made my day! I'll definitely take you up on your advice about the long syllable. I really only copied it like that because that's the way Van says it, but hey, I could have deviated. Btw, yeah, that was just a bit subtle, the hinting to Jade's bad battle habits, eh? Heheh. Yes, that's part of the reason I control him. Plus of course, he's awesomely powerful and his moves rock. I just love to cast Meteor Storm!

Oh, and one more thing. About the grammar, spelling, and such in my story, there's a reason it's good as opposed to a lot of other stories; I proofread it, spell/grammar check it with Word, then proofread again and tell anyone who finds one of those imperceptible to the computer or me errors to let me know. Good strategy, ne?

SilentCat: Jade Freaks unite!! Whoo-hoo! Anyway, yeah. For my first ToA story, this was rather sad. Still, the epilogue you've been waiting for is now here! Check it out, and tell me what you think. Thanks for your review.

Rena Chan: -snickers- If Jade didn't crack you up in the game, I'd be sort of weirded out, y'know? He's totally the comic relief. Between him, Guy, and Anise, you can't stop laughing. Oh, and thanks for the full name, I didn't know hers, so I wrote what I didn't know. I'll be sure to edit that into the story. Thanks for your helpful review!

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'Kay, now that that's over, I'll just want to tell you one thing...

Jade: You didn't do half bad. Just a few errors.

BG88: Eh...thanks. -hands over pins-

Jade: -skitters away-

BG88: Anyway, I've already started a sequel to this. The epilogue here gives finality to Imperfect, but it also starts the way for Degeneration. I'd not planned on writing another story like this, but there you are. If you liked Imperfect and you also happen to like Dist, then you might like this sequel, so keep an eye out for it. Imperfect and Degeneration are sort of like stories that are meant to kick me back into my habits of fanfiction writing, so I'll be focusing on this sequel more, then...hopefully...start updating the rest of my stories.

Now, on to the epilogue!

When the others left Eldrant on Luke's command, they acquiesced to his one request—to leave Jade's body. It took some convincing, but eventually even Anise figured it was owed to the replica.

"T-take good care of…of him..." she'd ordered.

Now, Luke was surrounded by a fonic barrier of sorts, his lifeless friend's body at his feet.

"I'm sorry, Jade…it's my fault you're dead…" Luke murmured. He could almost hear Jade's reply in his mind.

Of course it's your fault, Luke…but I suppose there's nothing more to be said on it. What's done is done, and you cannot change it. But you can better yourself.

Luke sighed, trying to focus on the task at hand. The Key of Lorelei shuddered in his grip regardless. It mattered little, however, since he soon dropped it in order to catch another lifeless form.

Asch?

He glanced pityingly into the pale face of his original, burdened by the guilt of two deaths now. Flames began to circle around Luke, gathering into a somewhat human, but flickering form before him.

"So the world did not vanish," the voice said. Luke knew this had to be Lorelei. "To think that the future I foresaw would be…rewritten…you have done admirably."

Luke didn't feel he'd done admirably. Maybe to Lorelei it was enough…but he'd not saved Jade. He'd blundered in the battle, and the one to pay the price had been the cynical fonist…

"Lorelei…you…you're the Seventh Fonon…is there any way that…that you can save the life of someone? Not replicate, but…bring back to life…"

The flames that were Lorelei flickered.

"I am limited," Lorelei told him. "But for the sake of you, the one who rewrote this world's future…I shall attempt."

Luke let his emerald gaze shift to Jade.

"Thank you."

The flames circled around Luke, then the lifeless body of Jade. Although it touched the man's cold flesh, the fire did not burn… instead, some entered his body, causing it to glow, while the rest shot upwards.

…From the center of Eldrant, a pillar of golden light rose into the sky, disappearing into infinity. The rest of the group watched from a distance, safe on a cliff about a kilometer away, knowing as the stream of light rose that Lorelei had achieved its wish to be a part of the fon belt. They could only hope that Luke would fulfill their wish for him to return.

Still holding Asch, Luke gave Jade a glance.

I won't know…until I see it…

Asch's arm twitched, and Luke looked somewhat startled for a brief moment. What was going on?

It's nothing to worry about. It would have happened regardless of what independence either of you had, a caustic voice told him in his head. I wouldn't put it past you to panic, though.

Luke's surprise grew more pronounced as he recognized the voice, but rather than do what it had indicated he might, he simply closed his eyes and felt his fonons seem to separate and mix with Asch's…

THREE YEARS LATER

Toue Rei Zue Kuroa Ryuo Toue Zue

Kuroa Ryuo Zue Toue Ryuo Rei Neu Ryuo Zue

Va Rei Zue Toue Neu Toue Ryuo Toue Kuroa

Ryuo Rei Kuroa Ryuo Zue Rei Va Zue Rei

Va Neu Va Rei Va Neu Va Zue Rei

Kuroa Ryuo Kuroa Neu Toue Rei Kuroa Ryuo Zue Rei Va

Rei Va Neu Kuroa Toue Rei Rei…

The rest of the group—Natalia, Anise, and Guy—stood back and let the sound of Tear's hymn flow over them. As Ion has so aptly put it, the hymns that composed the Grand Fonic Hymn were indeed nostalgic. Moreso for they who had fought in the final battle. They'd met just outside the fallen Eldrant, as if paying homage to those that had not returned.

Growing bold, the extravagantly dressed princess of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear spoke.

"You didn't come," she said quietly to Tear. "I believe your presence was requested for Luke's coming of age ceremony at the Duke's manor…"

Tear shook her head sadly.

"I'm not interested in some ceremony…in front of Luke's grave…" she said quietly.

"That's why you came here, right?" Anise asked quietly, her voice reserved. She'd not only been reminded of Luke, but the Colonel as well. Since Luke had been unable to convey the message, she'd taken it upon herself to see that his final wishes were fulfilled.

"He said he'd be back," Guy said resolutely, "So let the others sit around and tell stories at his grave, but I won't be joining them!"

The young one sighed, looking away. Her and Natalia knew that what the others had said was right.

"We should be going. The valley's dangerous at night," Natalia said quietly. Tear sighed, knowing that they really should go. She slid off the rock as the others turned to leave…then stopped in mid-turn herself.

There were two figures off in the distance, and she could have sworn she could recognize at least one. The other was shadowed behind the first. She gasped lightly as the red hair and white overcoat caught her gaze.

It…it's…

By now, everyone could see the man approaching, and they could scarcely believe that on this, of all days, he would return…

Tear stepped forward slowly.

"W-why are you…here?" she queried.

The man smiled.

"This place has a nice view of Hod," he replied. "And also…I promised someone."

Tear seemed struck by those words. She went rigid, shaking almost imperceptibly. He'd…he'd remembered!! Slowly, she felt the tears trickle down her cheeks as she rushed forward.

"And to think…you wanted to hide it so badly," said a deep, soft voice. "Now we know, Tear. It's best to admit your undying affection for him."

The hidden man stepped from behind Luke, revealing his identity.

Jade Curtiss smiled softly at the others as they froze.

"C-Colonel! But how?!" Anise asked, shocked. The man smiled.

"My friends…made a wish upon the Seventh Fonon for me…and so here I am…" Jade said quietly.

The group seemed to realize themselves again, and walked towards their friends, delighting in the moment of utter happiness at being reunited again.

And never having to mourn the souls of those thought long-gone anymore.

Upon their return to their homes, Luke and Jade brought happiness to the ones who had believed them dead. Beginning in Kimlasca, Luke was welcomed with open arms into his family again—the true Luke fon Fabre of House Fabre. There, his uncle, King Ingobert VI, honored him as the savior of Auldrant, as well as the others, though they'd been honored once before. Rather than stay in his home at Baticul, however, Luke decided to take up traveling as an ambassador like before, if only for the memories of his journey with the others.

When Jade returned to Grand Chokmah, Emperor Peony XI and his sister Nephry Osborn likewise greeted him happily. To be honest, he was showered with far more love and kindness than he could stomach, and ended up retiring to his office for many hours. It was some days later that a visitor from the Malkuth prison requested to speak with him.

It was Saphir Wyon Neis, who had feared Jade's death more than his own and mourned it even longer, despite his vow to hate Jade forever when the Colonel arrested him. Despite their bitter rivalries and differences, the two seemed happy to see each other.

That is…in the taunting, annoying way only they knew how to show their emotions.

With the band of saviors brought together once more, the world of Auldrant—both of its countries of Malkuth and Kimlasca-Lanvaldear included—came to see a prosperity even they could not have imagined. Under the watchful eyes of Luke fon Fabre and his comrades, it wouldn't be any other way.

Fin