Matt woke up surrounded by all white; no walls or entrances. It was an enclosed white room.
I'm dead.
"No you're not." Max said as Matt turned around. The android no longer had red hair, but jet black hair with icy blue eyes and wore a white suit. "You're in the Zone."
"What?" Matt asked.
"It's basically the Big Bang all over again. You get to decide the fate of Cyberspace and Earth." Max said. "Walk with me."
Matt hesitated, but walked beside him as a black path was created for them.
"When the microchip was inserted into Hacker's ship, it send CYRUS into overdrive. I didn't know at that point CYRUS had basically controlled the electronic utilities on Earth. Which is why they went into WWIII. But by then the Earth was destroyed, and Cyberspace was floating on a tilted plate. That microchip reversed all the events that happened. Everything." As Max stood in one place.
"What about everyone else? Slyder, Inez, Jackie, Digit..." Matt gripped his hand. "Aren't they dead too?"
"Cyberspace is portrayed as a figment of you earthlings' imaginations. At least, for the most part. When Hacker shot you, it was an illusion." Max said. "You didn't really get hurt. It just feels like you did."
As he looked up, he saw his friends materialize before them, all confused and wondering what the hell happened.
"Guys!" As they heard Matt. They ran up to him as they gave a group hug.
"Are we dead?" As Jackie clutched her cross necklace.
"No." Matt smiled. "Not at all."
Inez gripped Matt by the neck as she kissed him fully on the lips. "I was so scared."
Matt placed his forehead against hers, "I was so lost without you."
Max cleared his throat. Digit jumped back.
"HOLY SMOKES!" As Digit exclaimed, a not amused Max raised a dark brow.
"And now, you have to grant the wish of everything and everyone." Max folded his hands.
"Hold on what?" Slyder stopped the android.
"I have to make a decision." Matt grimaced.
"A really big decision." Jackie said.
"This decision will change the fate of our worlds. I suggest thinking wise about this." Max warned.
"No shit."As Matt paced.
"What could he possibly wish for that will be the best for us all?" Inez wondered. "You can't ask for more wishes can you?"
Max chortled.
/
As Matt drifted further from his friends, he encountered a few more close friends by him.
"Dr. Marbles." As he hugged the professor. He stood slightly taller than Matt wearing his old white lab coat smiling.
"Hello Matthew." He smiled, "You got a lot on your plate now."
Matt sighed, "I know, this isn't easy."
"Trust me Matt." He winked, "It's not that hard at all. Think about what you want. Then there will be no consequences for that."
"I thought every choice we make may have a later consequence of some sort." Matt asked. Dr. Marbles nodded.
"Whether good or bad, it will always balance out. Don't worry." As he disappeared from thin air. Then another hand gripped his shoulder.
"Dad." As Matt hugged him. He gripped him tightly as he felt the weight on his shoulders lifted.
"My son." As his dad lifted his chin, "My boy. I'm sorry...that, I couldn't be there for you."
"No Dad...I was angry at myself...I let that consume the best of me. And I'm sorry I never listened to you." Matt apologized.
"No Matt. As your father, I let my work come before my family. Like Slyder's father. God that was tragic. I'm blessed that my life was spared for the sake of you." He wiped a tear. Matt sighed.
"What am I going to do Dad? I have to make a huge wish. I haven't made a wish since I was in the 2nd grade." Matt sighed. "I don't know...if...if what I want, is for the best."
Dad shook his head, "You're my son Matt. You know what to do. You're just a little hesitant. Whatever it is; I know it's the best decision."
Matt hugged his Dad once more, "Thank you." As he felt his presence disappear in thin air as well. He walked back to his friends knowing what he had to do.
/
"I know what I want." He entered the circle facing Max.
Max took a moment to read his thoughts. He nodded slowly.
"Are you sure of this?" Max asked.
"Sure of what? Matt you better tell us!" Jackie folded her arms.
"My decision. Sorry guys, you'll find out eventually." Matt smiled.
Max folded his hands, "And I must ask for the four of you to leave us."
Inez heart sank, "What about Matt?"
"We can't leave him." Slyder protested.
"Yeah!" Digit tipped in.
"You have to. Or unless you'll like to stay here for all eternity." Max suggested. The rest of the squad grimaced. This was it.
"This is it huh?" Slyder scratched the back of his neck facing Matt.
"Yeah." As he gave him a hard handshake and a brief hug.
"See ya Matt. Thanks for everything." As Slyder closed his eyes and faded away. Inez and Jackie were appalled at Slyder's leave.
"No...wait...but-" As Jackie turned to Matt, her eyes filling with tears; gripping him in the tightest hug. "Oh Matt. I'm going to kill you if you don't come back."
"But-" Matt protested.
"BUT NOTHIN'" Jackie growled. As she began to fade, "Got it?"
Matt closed his eyes as Jackie faded as well, "Yeah."
Now left the four of them; Max, Inez, Digit, and himself. Digit levitated himself as he hugged Matt's head.
"Boy I'm gunna miss ya Matty." Digit admitted as a tear fell from his eye. Matt cradled the little avian as he hugged him.
"Me too man. Take care alright?" Matt smiled. Digit began to fade as he gave Matt the biggest grin.
And he was gone.
Inez was filled with tears, not wanting to leave. She didn't want to leave him and think it was going to be the last time. Matt approached her, holding her arms.
"Inez..." He held her gently by the waist.
"No...I don't...want to go..." Inez sobbed in his neck as he closed his eyes.
"I'll come back." Matt stared back at her dazzling brown eyes. "I promise."
Inez hugged him by the neck as she shed her last tears. "You better. Or else."
Matt leaned back as he grinned, giving Inez one last long kiss; fingers entwined as he felt her presence fade.
"Goodbye Matt." As she closed her eyes and faded. Matt closed his eyes tightly as he was left with his identical twin.
"For once, the best decision." Max smiled. He offered his gloved hand as Matt placed his on top. Around them began to glow brightly as soon Max slowly began to fade.
"What's going to happen to you?" Matt asked.
Max opened his eyes, "I don't know, but from the looks of your vision, I'll live. Thank you Matt. For everything."
"No." Matt told the android, "Thank you, Max. Remember you soon."
He nodded as he faded away as Matt was engulfed into a bright blue light.
/
( 7 months later)
"And now, I salute you, Class of 20XX. I wish for you all the best on your journey and throughout your lives. And remember; you'll always have a place in the home of the Ligers." The principal announced as the graduating class threw up their blue caps as the audience applauded.
The valedictorian Inez also threw up her gold cap, followed by her boyfriend and salutatorian Matthew as they hugged.
"Congratulations Inez." Matt smiled as he kissed his girlfriend.
"Thank you." As she ruffled his reddish hair. In the front rows were their other two best friends Slyder and Jackie cheering. In the audience the parents of the four teens all applauded, proud in their children and their outstanding accomplishments.
After the ceremony, the squad met by the entrance after taking several pictures hurried as they folded their gowns. Giving them to their parents, Matt scowled as his mom gave him a long kiss on the cheek.
"You kids be safe." Jackie's dad said. They waved their parents as they hopped in Slyder's new car as they finally relaxed.
"Finallllyy!" Jackie relaxed as he moved a strand of her curled black hair behind her ear. "We're officially college students!"
"And freshmen." Inez grinned. Jackie scowled as he moment of glory was ruined.
"Aww Inez, just try your best and not try to show off on the first day. I hear they still got teacher's pets in college." Matt grinned at his girlfriend.
"Did you know that 60% of highschool valedictorians become teacher's pets?" Slyder grinned as Inez pouted.
"That's so not true!" Matt laughed.
"Trust me. I may be arguing with those professors if they doubt my logic." Inez pouted. The squad laughed as the car parked by a playground.
/
"No more cyberchasing for us." Slyder faced the truth.
The wind blew as the sun set in the horizon. Jackie stretched as she leaned against the tree.
"Matt, I hope whatever you decided for Cyberspace was indeed for the best." Inez stared at her boyfriend.
"Trust me." As Matt assured the gang, looking up "It was."
/
You're probably wondering why we're here. This playground was where we first met each other. We were probably little kids when playing tower defense with sand castles. It was also where we first learned math before we knew what it really was.
It was also the last place where we saw Max. It was a week before today and he was there once standing by the slide and the next gone by the wind. We all figured things had completely changed, but I guess some stayed the same.
Once he gripped me by the shoulder and when I looked at him; I saw a different person. He finally became the person he always wanted to be; himself.
We were all satisfied with our parents smoothly playing their roles in our lives again as we were brought even closer. Even though Slyder and Jackie are attending different colleges from us; I think they're inseparable. As I think Inez and I aren't either.
We crossed two worlds to solve problems and keep the balance. But I felt, somethings won't always stay the same and they needed to be on two different plates.
So I guess the reason Max has been here more often is because he wants to remind us that Cyberspace is still there, and it's a part of us.
Always.
Guys, this is the final chapter for Zero Game (with maybe a bonus chapter later on) and I'm just both sad ans glad it's over. It's been a while working on this and I'm glad I finished it.
To my reviewers, followers, anons, and etc, who have supported this story one way and another I just want to say a thousand thank yous.
Thank you (x1000) lol.
I appreciate those who decide to share this fanfic among websites...and just, man, a lot. Just thanks. I mean, you can share this story with your friends as long as you cherish this as much as I did. What's mine is yours. It's just a fic and I don't mind.
My next fic will be a reconstructed PJO story so I'll be working on it later this year...eventually. But for now I'm taking a mini-vacation.
Thanks again, and see you soon!