MASS POST WARNING: GO BACK AND READ THE CHAPTERS IF YOU HAVEN'T. If you don't remember Chapter One, go back to refresh your memory, or the emotional impact of this chapter might seem like 'meh'. I also recommend reading 'Puella Magi Yuuko Magica,' as it answers a lot of questions also. "xïéë" is a good song for this chapter. The lyrics really get me, even though it's not in English.

However! This chapter isn't necessary to understand the Epilogue. After reading the first poem, you may skip this chapter if you don't want any confusion.

I'd save you from that ocean

I'd dig you up from the earth

I'd slice those ropes around you

I'd stab my own self and let you live

Just to prove how much I love you

Because love is different from obsession

That terrible sickness I still battle

Stay away, far away,

Kill me if you must,

If that means you stay safe from me

That's how much I love you

Chapter 40: My Very Best Friend

Meroko, as far as the diagnostic Garrett just performed on her system, she was mostly intact. Aside from the obvious physical damage, she was okay. There was one damaged memory sector, but the transistors wouldn't be too hard to replace. She would definitely make it. A few memories would be corrupted, but it was better than death. Garrett was just surprised and relieved her A.I. Crystal was still intact—that fall was enough to pulverize a normal Persocom' body. But it seemed Dr. Lee-Young had used military-grade parts in Meroko as well.

"We have to go back."

Amber's head jerked to the right. What was Garrett even implying? Return? To Elysium? The gate already was closed.

"That's crazy. We don't need to go anywhere, Garrett. It's done."

"I'm absolutely sure that we have to go back," repeated Garrett, looking towards the sky where the gate had once been.

They had unfinished business on that other side. He knew that for sure. Garrett may have not remembered anything specific, but in his soul he felt that was the right thing to do.

He helped the heiress to her feet and smiled. As she processed what he had said, her brow had furrowed into her typical, confused expression.

"Garrett, the Game is over. How could we possibly—"

With the lightest of force, Garrett set her off-balance by tugging on her arm. She stumbled into his chest clumsily and blushed.

Trying not to smile even broader, he lowered his lips to hover near her earlobe. In feather-light tones he whispered to his lady-love. "I have administrative rights, remember?" Placing one of his hands on the center of her back, Garrett pat her gently. "And I've got the key right here."

When Garrett touched her, it was as if a jolt of electricity shot through her. She flinched in response, although there was no pain. Her heart did respond to his touch very erratically, its rhythm becoming like a reckless 808 drum.

Still, it wasn't making much sense. After the contest, the doorway should have been closed, right? What he was saying seemed a little too presumptuous.

"But—"

Garrett placed a finger on her lips. She pouted, but didn't protest his veracity any more, just folded her arms and waited.

"Shhh. Just listen."

He embraced her tightly, as if she were to disappear any moment. However, he knew better than that. Garrett no longer had to fear losing her.

Even though he shouldn't have known, Garrett knew. Even though it was not recorded in his memory, he could say the magical words. He simply knew instinctively. It was as if winning had downloaded some sort of 'winners instruction manual' right into his internal storage.

Through the bloodsoaked fabric of her clothes, Garrett could feel her heartbeat. Strong and steady, it was unlike how it had been earlier. At first, he had not registered it, but that short trip to Elysium seemed to have healed them of their ailments—Garrett being no exception. The exposed fibers in his leg were no more, and even the slight abrasions on his skin from every-day wear and tear simply were gone.

Both of the looked brand new, wearing clothes too torn and raggedy to be considered presentable.

Garrett tucked Amber's head under his chin and stroked the back of her head, smoothing down the frizzed out curls.

"Amber, I need you to relax and close your eyes."

"Why?"

Garrett sighed heavily, wondering why he even fell in love with such a stubborn creature. "Can you just listen to me for once?"

Without inquiring further, she obeyed.

Also closing his eyes, Garrett smiled slightly. Her heartbeat was speeding up even more. Most likely she thought he was going to kiss her again, but that wasn't true at all.

One phrase floated from his mouth. The magic words he had been given. What they would do, he had an inkling of what it was, but to be sure, he had to try it out himself.

"TimeHeart, open the gate to Paradise."

The dimensions melted away, blurred. Around them the partially ruined rubble of Tokyo disappeared. Replacing that landscape was something entirely different. As the two faded from the grey landscape of a city, they were gradually being poured into another plane.

They existed. They didn't exist. And then they existed again.

…

The two of them were now standing in a garden. Right beside them was part of an enormous tree trunk, one that made trees on earth seem as thin as a hair. They were standing in the shade of a gargantuan tree whose healthy leafy limbs stretched upward into an expanse of blue that almost redfined the very color.

This was Elysium. A garden above time and space. The only true haven in the multiverse.

A sweet-smelling warm breeze blowing through the area made Amber stir. She still had her eyes closed shut, but she could tell that they weren't standing in Tokyo anymore.

From around the tree Garrett heard faint footsteps. It was well out of the range of Amber's hearing, however, he could tell that they belonged to someone, not quite small, but very light.

Already, though, Garrett had opened his eyes. He could already see the faint outline of the individual he heard walking towards them.

A thin line of white was emerging from behind the tree. Following it was a touch of pink and peach. The form was gradually coming into view until the whole body was visible.

"You came after all," said a gentle zephyr of a voice.

'That voice!'

No matter who she was. No matter what body she was in. No matter how torn and broken her soul was—Amber would always rcognize that voice.

Covering her mouth in shock, the young woman opened her eyes—tears already flowing from them. When she could no longer contain herself, Amber turned to see nothing short of ten miracles.

It was a girl. She looked to be no older than a middle-school student. However. She also seemed to radiate an ancient, peaceful aura that permeated the entire area that they stood in.

Beautiful did not quite describe her. Nor did the word 'cute'. However, she was immensely graceful, and with every step on the ground, a trail of flowers would follow. A single white rosebud would pop up from the grassy terrain. However, the translucent white wings, similar to a fairy's, folded behind her back indicated that she was not accustomed to walking. Flying was most likely her main mode of transportation through this wonderful paradise. For such a pure creature to actually take the time to walk probably was why the ground was blossoming in happiness.

The girl smiled tenderly at Amber, and the girl felt her heart stop in surprise.

"Madoka?" she asked, wondering if she were truly dead.

"Yes?" answered the girl immediately.

At once Garrett found himself abandoned.

Amber had left him without a second thought. In that instant she had stopped being 'just Amber'. The recollections swirling in her head and the hurricane of feelings that accompanied it were all crashing upon her at once like a giant ocean wave. However, she still swam against the current, wearing herself out, even, to reach this otherworldly girl.

"Madoka!"

Even though Amber collided with the girl head-on, the being called 'Madoka' did not budge. Instead, Amber was left hugging the girl so tightly that a normal person would desperately gasp for air.

This was the greatest present anyone could ever give her.

All the pain of her past life—she could feel it unwravel as if the knot had been cut through with one blow.

Even though Garrett was left standing alone, the warmth he saw from watching them embrace was far greater than he would ever feel again.

"Yes, it's me," said Madoka tenderly, patting the girl on the back. Even though she was a smidge shorter than Amber, she was comforting her like an adult would. Her youthful appearance was wholly deceiving.

"I never thought," Amber had so much to say that all her thoughts were running into one another. Despite this, her most honest feelings were able to spill out. "I never dreamed that I could ever see you again."

It had been only a fond wish for it to happen.

Madokami took in her comment, though, and smiled again. She had known how hard this one girl tried to reach her. The goddess outstretched her hand and within it materialized a flower. It was pink and fluffy, and seemed to represent the divine girl perfectly. "Here. It's a Berrirose."

Reaching out, Amber took the flower hesitatingly, staring at it as if it were a check for all of the money in the world. "That's…" she muttered, barely moving her lips.

"Yes. In potions, Ms. Kirsu told us what it meant," said Garrett breathlessly, finally speaking up. He was looking ahead with a strange intensity, almost in disbelief. He….he definitely knew this person. As much as he wanted to say that he didn't—Garrett knew.

Amber turned to look at Garrett, her mouth wide open, but unable to ask why he knew that.

"It's good to see you again," Madoka nodded towards Garrett in acknowledgement, "you've changed quite a bit." Although her friend was slow on the uptake, she had not been fooled—not even once. She had recognized his soul instantly.

Even he felt a little thrill of happiness at that, and returned the nod.

"Again?" said Amber, looking at Garrett as if she had seen him for the first time in a century.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize him? He came here thrice already. He chose to be reborn three times over, just to search for you."

Her eyes bugging out, Amber nearly choked on the air. "Th-Three times...?"

"You may have known him as Wantannuki," explained Madoka patiently, stifling a small giggle, "and before that he was Clow. But the first time around, he and I died together. We both knew him as—?"

That last hint really made Amber do a double take. She gave a horrified expression, almost as if someone was trying to force-feed her a lump of dog-poop. "No. Wait. You're not serious, are you, Madoka?!"

Garrett scratched his head. "Geez. Took you long enough to recognize me, oujo-sama."

"But-but-but—," stammered Amber, her face getting redder by the second. Something was unfair about this whole thing.

"If you're honest with yourself, Amber, you'll realize how much he hasn't changed," noted Madoka, giggling. She brought her white glove to cover her mouth as she did so, and it sounded like the jingling of many tiny bells.

Amber, narrowing her eyes, accepted this. "You're right. No wonder he's still a pervert."

"Yup," said Madoka with cheer, "he's always been a dirty old man."

Garrett visibly bristled. "Hey!"

Madokami and Amber giggled at Garrett's enraged expression. That little test still worked.

"It's definitely him," said Amber, almost disappointed. How she had given her heart so such a person was beyond her comprehension.

"Most certainly is," agreed Madoka. Seeing the two of them fall in love was actually very satisfying.

Their mirthful laughter died down then.

Amber looked from the flower to her friend, and then sighed. As much as she was enjoying this, she knew this visit had to end sometime soon. "I wish I could stay with you forever."

Madoka still continued to smile, albeit, it was now touched with a hint of sadness. "I wish you could stay with me forever, too. But part of the other me is still on Earth."

"Oh. You're talking about Chii, aren't you?" asked Amber, smelling the flower innocently.

"Precisely," Madoka clasped her hands together. "She still is a fragment of me, after all. Even if the other fragment is safe and sound here, I want you to watch over Elda. Can you do that for me?"

Of course, Madoka didn't even have to ask twice. Amber would watch over a million Madokas if it meant keeping her safe. "A-Anything for you. Of course! You know I will!"

Unfortunately, there was still some official business to be had, here in Elysium. Musing aloud, Madokami sighed, thinking of the upcoming headache of a meeting coming up. "There's also the souls of Angel and Kamijou to worry about, but we'll handle that up here. Oriko and Bēta may have escaped once, but it seems they are far too dangerous to allow to be reborn again." Looking annoyed for some reason, Madoka's eyelids drooped a millimeter. "I and the other gods and goddesses will have to discuss their fate."

'I knew she was familiar...'thought Amber, frowning. However, none of that mattered right now. Only one thing was on her mind. Looking a bashful, Amber kicked at the ground in front of her and looked down. "Madoka?" said the heiress meekly, "is it okay for me to visit you here? I mean…" The girl looked askance, feeling her courage suddenly drain away.

"Amber." Madoka laid her hands on Amber's shoulders and sighed peacefully. "You've won. You overcame this test, and besides that, we're best friends. Why wouldn't you be able to see me?" The goddess winked. "From now on, and forever. Always."

"Thank you…" said Amber meekly, feeling shy. She felt a little unworthy of such an honor, even if it was one-hundred percent true.

"But now that you've made it here, alive, I guess there's only one thing left to say." Gripping both of Amber's hands into her own, Madoka broke into a resplendent grin that seemed to light up all of Elysium. "Congratulations."

In that bloodstained world marred by sorrow and anger, Amber had been longing to see that nostalgic smile once again..

Don't forget:

All paths lead home.

No matter where you are,

No matter who you are,

You can find your home

As long as you remember

That you are not alone