Epilogue: Three Years Later

The cold water feels great against my bare skin. I don't think I have ever felt this good. Not in my memories or even in Riku's. This is the best feeling in the world.

I stop moving altogether and float on my back. I let water carry me in whatever direction it wants to. I could get used to this. I could even get used to the idea of having a tail. Well that could take a little longer to get used to.

Roxas swims up quickly along side of me. His green fins are a blur as he kicks the water.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Roxas finally kept his promise about showing me Atlantica. It took a little longer than expected because Roxas had a hard time learning the magic required to turn us in to mermen from Donald. Me, I'm learning some magic. I'm even pretty good at some of the spells, but nothing as complicated as this. Too bad Riku's magic didn't pass along to me with his memories.

"I never imagined a place like this. Riku should come here sometime. He would really like it.

Roxas stops kicking and comes to a stop next to me. We're quiet for a few minutes, enjoying the sounds of the water and the feel of the current.

I never figured out how it happened, but I got better after the night that Roxas stayed with me in the medical wing in Radiant Garden. It was almost instantaneous. I went to sleep feeling like I could barely move. When I woke, I felt fine. I wasn't weak or tired or sore. I felt better than new. I suspect it has something to do with Roxas, but I don't have any proof of that.

Things have been different since then. We've actually managed to live a rather quiet life. All six of us share Sora's house back on Destiny Island. I actually managed to finish school, even with all the time that I spent out looking for Roxas and saving the world. I'm thinking about maybe going to a university soon. I have no idea which one. There are so many throughout the worlds it is hard to choose. Maybe I will end up back in Radiant Garden. Who knows? Instead of making my decision, Roxas and I have decided to do a little traveling before we settle down and make plans for the rest of our lives.

We've been to so many worlds. Worlds we've been to before in one memory or another. And some worlds, we just discovered on our own. King Mickey insisted that we stay in Disney Castle for no less than a week as his honored guests. Atlantica is out last stop on this adventure.

Throughout this calm and quiet life, I've never forgotten the words that Andriel told me in my time asleep. I know that someday the quiet life will have to end. "There are other enemies that you and your friends will have to face." That maybe true, but today is not the day. I can accept that I have a destiny bigger than what I truly want and when that time comes I will stand up to the challenge. I also won't let that stop me from enjoying the moments of peace.

That's why I decided not to tell Roxas about my encounter with Andriel. That would only ruin the peace. The day will come when he will find out about whatever it is we are going to have to face. But, for right now, Roxas needs to be able to enjoy his life just as much as I need to. Knowing that there is some new enemy out there would only have him on his guard all the time. He would never be able to relax.

I never told anyone about meeting Andriel, except for Kairi. It was something that we had in common. A bond that we share with no one else. Our experiences were very similar. The white place. Andriel with the flowing robes. Making a choice to save someone that we love no matter the harm that came to us. I think it makes us different from the others. Not bad different. Special.

"I could stay here forever." I love the sound of Roxas's voice. It sounds so calm and contented. Before it sounded hard, like he was always preparing for a battle. Even when we first met he sounded like that. Maybe he always knew that Xemnas would find a way to get to him.

"Too bad we can't. We only have three days to get back home. As it is, we're cutting it close. You know if we miss the wedding, we're dead."

"I know, but we had to make this one last stop. We would have been fine if someone hadn't gotten us lost in Wonderland for two days."

I smile at the memory. Roxas hadn't really warned me about all the twist and turns in Wonderland. I didn't know that just going through a door would cause the whole room to flip on its side. And the Lotus Forest maze didn't help either. But it was worth it. It was a nice calm adventure for Roxas and I to share.

He takes my hand as we lazily ride the current. "Roxas? Do you remember when we went back to Twilight Town? When we went after Maleficent?"

"I don't think that is something I'm ever going to forget."

"When she called the Heartless to attack us, it was almost like they didn't even know I was there. Why didn't they attack me like they did everyone else?"

"That's something that we talked about with King Mickey when you were asleep. The Heartless only attack people who they can sense have a powerful heart. King Mickey thought that when you were born the light inside of you was so powerful that it hid your heart from the Heartless. They couldn't attack you because they couldn't feel your heart."

"I never thought about it like that. But that would mean that now, and ever since we left Radiant Garden, that I am vulnerable to the Heartless attacks."

"Yes, but you know that since Maleficent and Xemnas were beaten, the Heartless don't have enough power to infect the worlds anymore. They are so weak that it doesn't even take a Keyblade to destroy them."

"I know. I'm just thinking." If that's really the case, then the enemy that Andriel was talking about isn't the Heartless. Then who is it? Over the years, I've asked myself that question many times. No matter how many times I've told myself not to. With that question in my mind, it is impossible to live in the present, to enjoy my time with Roxas. And that's what I want to do right now. So I push that question out of my head.

"Where do you want to go now? We could go to the palace and see King Triton. Or I bet we could go to the surface and see Ariel. I'm sure she would love to meet you."

"We don't have time. If we don't leave in a few minutes, we won't have enough time to make it back. Namine was very adamant about us getting home in time. I really don't want to have to face her if we're late for her wedding."

"She did look pretty serious before we left."

We both start kicking the water slowly, moving us towards where the Gummi Ship is parked.

"I can't believe that Namine and Riku are getting married." I kick my fins a little faster letting the cold water sweep over my skin. "I always thought Sora and Kairi would be first. They've been dating longer."

"Maybe Sora and Kairi want to take it slower. That's their right."

Roxas starts kicking his fins harder. He's trying to turn this into a race. I don't have a chance of beating him, but that isn't going to stop me from trying.

"Roxas?" It's much easier to talk and swim when you are merman. "Do you think because Riku and Namine are getting married and Namine is Kairi's other half, that part of Riku loves Kairi?"

"Maybe. You're Riku's other half, can't you tell?"

"No. There are some parts that Riku and I keep from each other."

"Same with me and Sora. Yeah, I think a part of Riku has always loved Kairi. Just like part of Kairi has always loved Riku. He found that part in Namine."

"Well if that's true, then does that mean because we're together a part of Sora and Riku love each other?"

Roxas grabs my arm and pulls me closer to him, sending air bubbles flying around us. "Stranger things have happened." I feel his fingers working their way across my back. It tickles a little but I don't move. Slowly he moves towards me until our lips touch. There is softness in the kiss, something I can still feel long after he pulls away. "Come on, Dexlin, let's go home."

End Volume 2