Morg: Heyo! Hasn't been too long, right?

Ikuto: Sure. Let's go with that.

Amu: You could wait longer.

Morg: I thought this was a story that you liked.

Ikuto: She only likes one thing.

Amu: Not you.

Morg: Oh snap!

Ikuto: Whatever. Morg may not own us, but I sure as hell own Amu.

Amu: That's why we're having problems in this story. No you don't.

Morg: True that!

~Guardian of Light~

Suddenly, there was no battle. No fighting. No sounds of dying. No anguish. Confused, Amu looked around herself. She was supposed to be grappling with Ikuto. The winner would take complete control. He was there. Ikuto was only a few feet from her, but Amu couldn't move. By watching Ikuto look around and attempt to take a step, she realized that he couldn't move either.

Amu opened her mouth to speak. She wanted to call out to him and ask him what he did. Wherever they were, Amu hadn't brought them here. But nothing came out. Her voice would not sound.

You will not speak until I wish for you to speak.

Realizing that the voice that she'd heard definitely wasn't Ikuto's, Amu picked her head up to find the owner. Her movements were mirrored by Ikuto. He was obviously just as confused as she was.

Beyond upset that he was being held prisoner, Ikuto struggled against the force keeping him in place. Whoever it was that thought they could best him was about to learn something unpleasant.

You will not move until I wish for you to move.

Stilling because he couldn't break free, Ikuto glared at the ball of light he was certain the voice was coming from. The object swirled. The colors mixed and separated as it kept its form. There was nothing else in the room besides a phoenix perched on a stand.

Su brought you here for me. She is a most trusted creature.

Amu couldn't figure out if the voice was feminine or masculine. The Guardian of Light supposed that either way it didn't matter. The swirling form of every color to ever exist clearly needed no gender.

I can be a man or a woman. Whatever makes you more comfortable. I don't appear the same to everyone.

Closing his eyes, Ikuto forced himself to take a breath of air. Whoever this was, he wasn't going to be let go until they were finished. Once he was out of his binds, Ikuto would have his revenge.

Amu glanced at the Angel out of the corner of her eye. Ikuto didn't look at all pleased to be wherever it was that they were. Then again, she couldn't blame him for feeling a bit frightened. Sure, Ikuto looked angry, but Amu had spent enough time with the other to learn that that was how Ikuto dealt with his fear.

So much anger. You've both brought your own. Ikuto, Angel of Darkness. You carry anger so strong. Though you do not know the source of the overwhelming feeling, you direct it at everyone you come into contact with.

Amu, Guardian of Light. You carry anger, as well. Though, you know where yours has come from. Knowing the source doesn't make the emotion any less dangerous.

Mostly because she couldn't speak, but also because she was in awe with what she was hearing, Amu dropped her head the bit that she could. Her body wasn't under her control, but shame filled her. Yes, she was angry. Angry at Tadase and Tsukasa from keeping her identity from her. Angry at Ikuto for repeating the same mistakes of the other Angels before him. Amu wasn't going to lie about the anger in her heart. The pinkette knew of its existence.

Ikuto, on the other hand, wasn't certain that he wanted to hear what the ball of light had to say to him. Anger was an emotion that everyone felt. Why should he feel ashamed for experiencing it?

It isn't that you've felt the emotion, dear one. It is the fact that you used it as an excuse to harm others. If something makes you angry then you should attempt to solve the problem, not ignore it by taking your anger out on others to feel better about yourself.

As much as Ikuto didn't want to hear it, he couldn't not hear the words spoken directly into his mind. For the first time in his life, Ikuto felt ashamed of himself. It was an emotion that he did nothing to push away. In this moment, he couldn't.

So much wrong has happened, my children. Tell me, what would you have me do? I created this world and the two of you to have balance. How shall I get that back? Once balance is lost, something must be sacrificed to return it.

Amu couldn't lift her face. Not because she wasn't allowed to move much, but because she couldn't look at their creator. The Guardian felt that she didn't have the right. She'd failed the one job she'd been given. Amu kept her eyes on the golden tiles that lined the floor she and Ikuto were standing on. Clearly, they were not worthy of even being in the Creator's presence.

Why would you not be worthy, little one? I created you, didn't I? You are mine. I will love you always. No matter what choices you have made. Now, instead of fixating on what has happened, let's fix it. Ikuto, we'll begin with you.

Ikuto flinched slightly at the words being spoken within his mind. He didn't particularly want to go first. Then again, he didn't have a choice.

The Angel was the first to break the balance. In order to restore what has been lost, we must start at the beginning. The Angel that broke the bond became jealous of the Guardian working so closely with the Creatures of Light. The reaction is no one's fault.

Some of the conflict that Ikuto had always felt in his soul began to settle. The Creator hadn't referred to the Angel before him as if that Angel were him. The moment was short as he realized that Amu had been right all along. His actions and his choices were always his own.

The anger inside of you doesn't completely belong to you, Ikuto. I shall remove it.

As if the previous realization hadn't affected him enough, Ikuto felt as though everything inside of him was suddenly cleansed. All the hate he'd been carrying was gone. He felt right for the first time in his life. Unable to help himself, a few tears escaped Ikuto's eyes.

Rest in peace for a few moments, my child.

Amu didn't bother to look at the Angel. Ikuto needed his moment of peace. That was clear. Instead, she kept her eyes focused on the ground before her.

Your anger, Guardian, is directed at others because you feel hurt. You were lied to by those only trying to protect you. You feel betrayed by the Angel. This anger is rightly felt, though still unneeded now. Release it. Let it go. Be free of such hurt.

Sucking in a deep breath, Amu thought about everything that hurt her. Tadase and Tsukasa, Ikuto hurting others and starting a war. As she let go of those feelings, Amu realized that she wasn't just angry at others. She was angry at herself for not being able to do more. But as quickly as the emotion filled her mind, it disappeared. The Creator took it all.

Ikuto, my beloved Angel of Darkness, what would you give to restore the balance? To be back at Amu's side?

For only a second, Ikuto hesitated. Then, his voice bubbled up from his chest as if he couldn't control it. The sound of it was weird to his ears. "Everything."

You understand that you would no longer be her equal in terms of power. You would be by her side, but not rule by her side. You would give up the power that you coveted so greatly?

Turning so that he could look at Amu, Ikuto didn't wait for the Guardian to look back at him. Even if she decided that she no longer wanted him, Ikuto knew that he loved her. To be beside her, even if she never looked at him, would be enough. "Yes, to be by her side is what I want. It is all that I want. I'm willing to give up everything."

Amu's eyes widened at the revelation. She kept them facing towards the floor in order to not look over at Ikuto. There was nothing that she could say. Her voice would not work. The Creator didn't want her to respond. Not yet.

Then it is done.

Ikuto waited for some sign that he was no longer the Angel of Darkness. He waited for some tingling feeling or pain or something to show that his powers were gone. Nothing changed.

You will forever be by Amu's side.

Guardian of Light, you have been wronged. For this reason, I will not ask you what you would give to right the balance. However, there are still Creatures of the Dark. They must have a ruler. Would you take the power of Ikuto to rule over all as Queen of Life?

Closing her eyes, Amu thought back to all the creatures that she'd met. She'd made friends with both Creatures of Light and Creatures of the Dark. She'd come to love them all. The sight of them in her mind quickly changed back to the battle field that they'd just left. Even if she became a supreme ruler, most of the creatures were injured greatly. "No! I don't want that!

Ikuto was shocked by Amu's outburst. He had no idea what she was thinking. The Creator seemed to be flustered as well. The swirls of colors that made it up seemed to spin a bit faster.

"Please," Amu bowed her head lower as she clenched her fists. They couldn't die for their mistakes. "Don't let them die. I will give up everything to save them all. Don't let death befall those who have done nothing wrong."

Ikuto was struck speechless.

My Guardian, you would give up total power in order to save those beneath you?

Amu didn't bother to respond to the question. She'd already said that she would. Her mind would not be changed. She would not regret her decision. Not if it meant that Nagi and Rima could be safe, or that Dachi and Ran both had a chance to run free again.

Then it is done. Any injuries resulted from the battle have been healed. No one shall die on this day. However, the Creatures cannot be without a ruler. If neither of you will take responsibility then another solution must be found.

For the first time, Amu looked up to Ikuto. "I might have one. If you agree?"

Feeling as though he really shouldn't be consulted due to his poor use of power before, Ikuto nodded to hear what Amu had to say. "With you? Always."

Smiling at the other, Amu turned back to the Creator. "Make them human. We never did have power over the humans. Those were always yours. Make us all human and let us live normal lives."

The Creator seemed to think about it for several minutes as Ikuto and Amu stood side by side as they waited. The suggestion wasn't a bad one. Amu knew that it could be a possible solution.

Go then, return to earth and live as you have requested. Know that your power shall never return to you. Live humbly amongst those you once ruled.

Turning to say something to Ikuto once more, Amu could only smile as fire sprang up from the ground to surround them. This time, the pinkette wasn't worried. Su was only taking them back to earth. No harm would come to them. Of that, Amu was certain.

.

Morg: Holy cow! I've been working towards this chapter for so long. I can't even believe that we're here.

Ikuto: Great.

Amu: Is this the end?

Morg: There is an epilogue that I'm going to post sometime soon. I just want to thank everyone for sticking with me through this story. I've never had so much fun writing and planning. I can give everyone a list of all the creatures and what they are in the next chapter! Let me know if you want it!