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I couldn't move. I was trapped inside my own mind, peering out like my eyes were windows to observe a scene that I couldn't touch. But I was moving. My legs were stepping, one before the other, walking forward. I wasn't in control, but I was moving. Was that even possible?

Oh, wait. I was being possessed by that shady Demon Lord, wasn't I?

I walked - no, the Demon Lord walked me - up to him, where he grabbed my wrist and stood up, cape sweeping gracefully behind him. (He really was a cliche villain.)

"Oh, no you don't!" Utau screamed, charging at the Demon Lord with a trident.

"Stop," he said calmly, and Utau stopped short before crumpling to the ground.

Utau! I willed myself to scream, but no words came out.

"If any of you approach Miss Hinamori, I will do the same to you."

"What did you do to her?" Kukai demanded sharply. He rushed over to Utau and quickly checked her pulse.

He chuckled softly. "I just knocked her out. No worries. But I might treat you a little worse next time."

Kukai grit his teeth. "Don't you dare -"

The Demon Lord grabbed my hand with both of his. His fingers brushed my palms and I tensed up inside. His hands were icy and I didn't want him touching me in the first place. But of course, I was powerless. As usual. And this time, my friends couldn't make heroic sacrifices to save me.

"Come on, Miss Hinamori," he drawled. He tugged me forward, and when I didn't move, he simply sighed and willed me to walk towards him, never releasing his freezing grip. I was simply a puppet, and so I had to obey my master.

"Let her go," Ikuto growled. His expression was murderous. "Don't you touch her. You already have control, so there's no need to lay a finger on her."

The Demon Lord cast a devilish smile in Ikuto's direction. "She is mine. I can do what I want."

Ikuto gritted his teeth. "Let her go."

"No."

"Then I'll -" Ikuto took a step forward. The Demon Lord raised a hand in reaction, black smoke snaking from his fingers.

"Stop, Ikuto!" Rima commanded. "Do you want to be killed?"

He hissed through his teeth. "Who knows what'll happen to her?"

"I'm not saying we're going to let him take her! Just don't charge with no reason!"

"Then how do you think you can save her?"

No. I breathed in. You've saved me enough times already.

I sighed deeply. I still have control over my essential functions. This is my gateway.

Breath in and out, deep breaths, sigh loudly. Gain control with every breath I take of my own will.

I imagined that every breath I took melted ice that stopped me from moving. Slowly, but surely, the steps the Demon Lord commanded I took slowed.

The ice is melting.

"Hurry," he said, and flicked his hand. But my footsteps did not speed up.

"What's wrong with you?" he grumbled, turning to face me. "Sure, you have power, but I should still be able to. . ."

I gasped, and the sharp burst of air seemed to dissolve the ice that still caged my soul. A sensation like cold water dripping down the back of my neck spread through me, each droplet returning power to me.

The Demon Lord swore and lunged at me. I stumbled backwards, but he shoved both hands in my direction. The power of the mind control was so strong it was almost tangible. This was multiple times stronger than the control I'd broken through just now. If this caught me, I wouldn't be able to break free.

"Armad!" I shrieked. The golden shield expanded from my outstretched palms and the magic rebounded momentarily. Within seconds, though, it was snaking around my shield and beginning to trap me.

"You can't do this to me!" I wailed.

"Yes, I can," he growled, and the mind control closed in.

No. You can't cage me. I am a Guardian, I am a rebel.

I am Amu.

I looked straight into the nearly invisible webs of magic that were tangled around me. In my mind, I envisioned the magic loosening and falling away. I imagined my fingers tugging the ever-tightening knots and breaking myself free.

I drew my sword and slashed through the magic.

I opened my eyes and stepped forward slowly. For real this time, I pulled out my sword and let the mind control magic wind around it. I was free, and now, it was I who was in control.

I screamed a savage battle cry and charged at the Demon Lord with my sword. The webs of magic that had nearly ensnared me were now wrapped tightly around my glowing blade.

I pinned the Demon Lord to the ground and willed the mind control to turn on its former master. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the magic fell away from the sword and tangled gently around him. I knelt in front him him, watching as the magic dissolved into the Demon Lord and a connection sparked to life between my commands and his actions.

Sleep, I ordered. Lose consciousness.

He crumpled to the ground, chest rising and falling in deep sleep.

"Nevi," I muttered, and a net dropped around him. I exhaled shakily. It was over.

"Amu!" Yaya cried, running forward and enveloping me in a bear hug. "That was ah-may-zing! What did you do?"

"Yeah, how did you get out of that mind control?" Nagihiko asked wonderingly. "One second you were under control, the next he was on the ground."

"Well, to escape his control, I took advantage over the fact that I could still control my breathing. By breathing a lot, I basically gained control," I recalled.

"That makes sense and doesn't make sense at the same time," Rima said.

"And then?" Tadase prompted.

"He tried to take control of me again, but with much stronger magic." I paused. "And then. . . that's where it gets confusing. Even I'm not exactly sure what I did."

"Give it a shot," Kairi advised. "We might be able to piece it together."

"I imagined myself breaking free, I think," I began thoughtfully. "I actually ended up gaining control over myself by pretending I sliced through myself. Then the mind control magic started obeying me instead of the Demon Lord, and. . .yeah."

Kairi shoved his glasses up his nose. "That's extremely interesting. I'll look into it later, but for now we need to talk to the King and Queen."

I stiffened. "Why can't we just go home? Miki's safe -"

"And I'm truly grateful for that," the blue-haired teen cut in. She walked over to me. "I led you into capture, I messed up this whole revolution. I even got Nadeshiko killed."

"You were under control," I reminded her.

Miki sighed. "I'm sorry, nonetheless. I feel immense guilt for what I did, I. . .I wish I could repay you somehow for what my actions caused you."

"You can't bring back the dead," I said softly.

"I know," she replied. "But I will get you - all of you - home, without fail."

"You were originally gonna use the palace portal to go back to Earth?" Yoru asked.

I nodded.

"That portal is very unstable if not supervised properly, because of its large amount of worlds and universes it can take you to. I think it's a one-in-ten chance that all nine of you will get to the desired location, unharmed," Miki added.

Ran continued, "Assuming you get there safely, If we explain everything to the King and Queen - who should be free from the Demon Lord's control, thanks to you - there's a good chance they'll have you go through peacefully with no risk of danger."

I crossed my arms. "It'll be safe?"

Miki shrugged. "The safest option we've got."

"Let's go," I said with as much authority as I could muster. I pursed my lips, trying to hide the nervousness that was floating inside me like hordes of butterflies.

This was the end, the real end. This was where all the sacrifices we'd made till now would either come to fruit or fall to nothing. I remembered Nadeshiko with a pang, and suddenly the nervousness was gone. Determination had taken its place.

The throne room displayed the grandness of the central chamber, only multiplied by ten. It opened with a traditional set of gold double doors. The carpet laying out the path to the thrones at the head of the room was a lavish plum shade lined with gold tassels. Tapestries depicting various scenes from Tiraldae's history and its royalty lined the walls. The whole room seemed to gravitate towards the identical royal blue thrones with gold frames and rich velvet cushions at the end of the carpet. These thrones, however, were empty.

Miki cursed quietly (I had never thought she'd be the foul-mouthed type). "Your Majesties?" she called, low voice echoing in the empty hall. "This is Miki, your servant-maid. I have. . . guests."

"Miki?" the queen's high voice, dampened by a sleepy tone, drifted back to us. "Guests? This late?"

"We'll be out in a minute," the king said drowsily.

"Very well," Miki answered stiffly. She then mouthed an extremely foul name in their direction.

"You sure like these people," I whispered.

"Shh," she replied in a hushed tone. "Yes, I am proud to devote my life to serving my King and Queen," she exclaimed loudly.

The king and queen entered together, dressed hastily in flowing robes that somehow looked perfect even though they were wrinkled and trailed messily on the floor. The king's solid gold crown was tipping to one side of his head, half-lost in the tangles of brown hair. The queen was hastily smoothing out her robes and combing through her silken hair.

"And you are. . .?" she asked, nodding in my direction.

"I'm -"

Her eyes snapped open. "Amu Hinamori!"

"Miki, why is she not chained?" the king reprimanded. "Handcuff her this instant!"

"Your Majesty," Ran cut in. "Why do you want Amu captured?"

"Why? Because she has a magic power that could threaten to overthrow -"

"No."

"Ran!" he exclaimed. "Do not cut off your superio -"

"I'll cut you off as many times as I have to," Ran growled. "How do you know she has the power?"

"Just her having a chance of holding it is enough!" the king snarled.

"You're wrong," she contradicted him. "You've been manipulated."

"You're losing your mind, servant!" the king shot back. "Who would dare to control me?"

"Your head official," Ran said. "He's a demon, and he's been playing with you all along."

"How dare you say such a thing!" the king hissed. "I'll have you in prison at the end of this, traitor!"

"Please," Miki interjected softly. "Perhaps you'll listen to me, your personal maid?"

"d'Atsa, give her a minute," the queen suggested. "I'm just as suspicious as you are, but it's possible that her words hold truth."

"If you must, Kiandyr," he grunted. "If you will, Miki."

"This official has been exerting mind control magic on you," she began. "He's the Demon Lord, named as such because of his ability to control minds. He has been using you to obtain Amu for his own purpose, distorting a small fear you had of Amu overthrowing you into a multi-world search to capture one girl."

"How do you know all this?" I whispered. "We didn't discuss it."

"It's called inferring," she hissed back. "And taking chances."

"Amu stopped the Demon Lord and he relinquished control on you. I think the effects of the spell will linger until it's brought to your attention that you were under control."

"That's nonsense!" the king shouted. "I would have known if I was. . ." His face suddenly went slack. " . . .I was under mind control. . .?

"It's true!" the queen cried. "I never would have ordered Amu Hinamori captured of my own volition!"

"That mind-controlling wretch!" The king clenched his fists. "He played us like puppets."

"We'll lead you to him, if you let Amu and her friends go back home safely," Yoru offered. The slight malicious glint in his golden eyes hinted subtly that this was more than an offer - it was a threat.

"Who are you?" the queen demanded. "A peasant?"

Yoru straightened, an impressive presence despite his shabby clothes and messy hair. "A peasant, but a citizen, nonetheless."

"We, the peasants, are stationed to overthrow you here and now," he continued. "If you don't send Amu home safely. . .it's easier to kill royalty than you'd think."

The king frowned. "So it's like that," he murmured. "Who devised this plan?"

Miki stepped forward. "It was none other than I, your so-called faithful servant."

"Miki," the queen addressed the pensive teenager. "It was you?"

She nodded. For a split second, I thought I could see a flash of guilt cross her face before reverting to her usual dark stare. She really seemed to detest the king and queen, yet she still felt bound to them.

The king and queen exchanged glances. After a brief pause in which the two shared a silent conversation, the king began to speak.

"This. . .magic. . .Amu Hinamori and Nadeshiko Fujisaki attempted to take was one that stripped away illusion. Those who possessed it saw everything exactly as it was, free of all bias or prejudice. Because of this, we were afraid that should Miss Hinamori have obtained it, they would have overthrown our government and demanded a democracy. Naturally, we wanted to avoid any rebellion or war, so we banished Amu Hinamori."

The queen narrowed her eyes at me. "But it seems. . .Amu Hinamori does not have the magic."

She paused, her icy gaze shifting to the girl standing beside me, the one they called servant, the one they caged in a palace, the one who was the most free without ever knowing it.

"Miki - the one to secure the magic after Misses Hinamori and Fujisaki attempted to steal it. She does."

The servant's eyes widened. "Me?"

"None other would have plotted rebellion. There has not been a plan to overthrow the government, not once in the history of Tiraldae. We were safe, as long as no one had this power, but now, the fate of the kingdom is in your hands."

"Wh-why don't you just kill me, then? Rid the world of this threatening presence and all will be well again, r-right?" Miki stammered, the cold manner she normally used with the king and queen gone.

"Well then, who would have ruled in our place?" the queen asked calmly.

"Me," Miki replied, slightly surprised by the king and queen's apparent serenity.

"How would you have won the support of the people?"

"I would have used Amu's power -" she stopped abruptly and shook her head. "I would have used my own special powers of "clarity", if you will, to judge and rule fairly."

The king nodded. "Would you have confidence in all you were to do?"

"I would make no decision alone," she answered steadfastly.

The two rulers shared another look that carried a whole conversation between them. "In that case, we will step down."

"What?!" I broke in. "Why would you do that - not that I'm supporting your rule, but -"

The king sighed deeply. "We no longer have the support of the people. After what happened with Miss Hinamori appearing here. . .the country demands a reason. They're questioning our every move. You chose the perfect time to rebel."

Miki turned white. "You're saying. . .?"

The queen stepped forward. "You will fake our execution and we will disappear as normal citizens. I hope that you still have enough lingering affection for the two of us to let us go. We will disappear, and you will rule."

"What if the power isn't enough to help me in my rule? What if I fail, and the country falls?" Miki second-guessed herself.

"The magic you have is made specifically for fair ruling," the king assured her. "And we have no other choice. Unless you step up, this whole country will be swallowed by rebellion."

"I -"

"Go on." Yoru placed a hand on her shoulder. "We believe in you."

"Oh, Yoru. . ." Miki's voice broke. "Where's the -nya?"

"I decided it was childish," he chuckled.

The queen cleared her throat. "Amu Hinamori, I must apologize. . .it is true that you and your friend committed various crimes - theft, infiltration, all of that - but the torture you've been through was far too much for what you did."

"We cannot keep you here - the people are terrified of you. Even if Miki revealed the truth, your presence would stall the healing of this nation," the king went on. "We will, however, send you and Miss Fujisaki back to Earth with your curse lifted - humans shall be able see you."

A lump rose in my throat. "Your Majesty, Nadeshiko. . .is no more."

The queen's face darkened. "Is that so." After a moment, she added almost wearily, "Just another wrongdoing on our pile of crimes."

"Would it be too much to ask for forgiveness?" the king sighed.

I winced. "Yes."

"Very well, then," he said. "Come with me, all who wish to return to Earth."

"Bye, guys." Ran waved farewell. "We'll never forget you people!"'

Yoru clapped Ikuto on the shoulder and whispered something in his year that made him inhale sharply and almost slap the younger teen senseless. "Cheeky little cat."

"Same to you." Yoru smirked.

"Amu." Miki was suddenly wrapping me in a tight hug. "Thank you for everything."

I returned the embrace. "Rule well, Miki. I know you can."

Her hands, always trembling, clenched into fists. "I will," she choked. She shook with fear and sadness. Miki had a long road ahead of her. I wished I could stay to help her climb the mountain that appeared in front of her within minutes, but she already had people to catch. My destiny lay elsewhere.

"Come, now." The queen gestured to the doors. I stepped away from Miki and joined my friends at the door. I couldn't stop myself from looking back at the three peasants watching us leave before the doors creaked shut.

The king and queen led us through the mazelike passages of the castle. The curtains were drawn tightly, making the halls even darker without the moonlight to illuminate them. We walked in tense silence. The end was near - a bittersweet one.

What had I given up to get here? My family, my pride, my independence, Nadeshiko. This had been a journey for me simply to learn to leave everything behind. I wondered, for a fleeting second, if it had all been worth it. But then Nadeshiko was whispering in my ear again, her voice barely there, ghostly memories of words she had once spoken. Even if I'd lost all else, the mere remnant of her voice was enough for me to grit my teeth and keep walking.

I stopped as a door opened silently to my right. A small girl with wavy locks of caramel hair stepped out. Shadows hid her face from view.

"Amu." She took my hand in hers, squeezing it tightly and glancing up at me with expressive brown eyes. "Hi."

"Ami," I whispered. "I'm going back to Earth, for good this time. You're never going to have to deal with the humiliation of being my sister again."

She flashed a smile that came and went so quick that I almost didn't see it. "It's not so humiliating for me anymore." And then the warm touch of her tiny palm was gone. She slipped out of sight silently as she had come, pausing at the end of the hallway to send a single phrase to me on silver wings. "Stay well, big sister."

I didn't call after her or hold her close one more time. I figured it was less painful that way.

The king and queen led us in the opposite direction of where my sister had gone. They either hadn't seen what had just happened or were simply not acknowledging it. My friends, though, hovered around me like a cloud of birds, snatches of comforting whispers reaching my ears. I was grateful, but I no longer needed constant support.

The king opened a set of small doors, unimportant-looking compared to the grand double doors at the entrance to the throne room. He then vanished inside, the queen halting us before we could follow him.

"He's preparing the portal," she explained. "Don't interfere."

When the king reappeared a few minutes later, it was with a grim face and steady determination in his voice. "It is ready. Go quickly."

Utau led the way inside the room, which wasn't much bigger than a closet and almost completely taken up by a multicolored mass of light.

"This is it," Rima breathed.

Memories flashed through my mind - arriving in Tiraldae, teaching my friends magic, my encounter with Ami, secrets uncovered, battles fought, journeys undertaken and completed, rebellions, captures, death and life and love -

I closed my eyes and let myself fall into the portal.

Whew! This is the last "official" chapter. There will be an epilogue, slightly longer than the prologue. Thank you so much for your support so far.