Kirby, Taranza and Susie have arrived at the Divine Terminus, after traveling a large distance across the cosmos.
And as they arrive, Morpho Knight is here like he said he would be. He's standing right in front of the altar, and he still doesn't have his sword on him. Not like there'd be any point to have it on him right now, considering what's planned for today.
He was looking away at first, but the sparkling noises of the trio's warp star catches his attention. He turns around to look at them.
As the three come down and hop off the warp star, Morpho Knight flaps his wings a few times and greets them.
"Welcome." he says.
The three then come up to Morpho Knight. The warp star they used stays in place from where they hopped off at.
"I brought them! I brought them!" said Kirby.
Taranza and Susie become astounded when they shoot solid glances at Morpho Knight. This is the very first time that either of them gets to see the elusive fluttery entity in person.
And they get to see him without even having to see him as a butterfly first!
"Oh, my Nova... I can't believe it!" Taranza says, with a lot of excitement in his voice. "It's actually you, Morpho Knight! I've heard stories about you!"
"As have I!" said Susie, with her not sounding quite as excited. Maybe because the pessimism she displayed earlier is still not gone. "Anyhow... Kirby told us that you visited him this morning."
At that, Morpho Knight bows, as he gives his wings another flap.
"Indeed, I did." he responds. "And I'm sure you both know exactly why he brought you here."
Taranza is quick to jump in excitement.
"Yes... yes we do!" he exclaims. "Susie and I are so ready to get back the ones we loved and lost! Is it true that you can bring dead people back to life?!"
Morpho Knight approaches the three a bit more closely, as he then bows again.
After bowing, he lets out a rasp right before he speaks.
"Ahem. To answer your question, yes, I am indeed capable of bringing dead people back to life. However, I am usually not willing to revive people in normal circumstances, and I want to make that clear. As you well know, death is inevitable for all life. It happens that people die, and I can't just give everyone a second chance. But you two are in luck. As Kirby spent both of his wishes on bringing your loved ones back, I will be making a very special exception. As he asked, I will bring back the ones that you two have lost. Perhaps Kirby already told you this, but I acknowledge those two very souls in the afterlife. I'm aware of the soul of Sectonia... who was formerly known as Joronia, as well as the soul of Max Profitt Haltmann. I've spoken to both souls and informed them about this very rare occasion, and they both anticipate their revivals as we speak."
The last sentence takes the three aback, as they're very stunned.
He's capable of speaking to souls?! And that he informed Sectonia and Haltmann about their incoming revivals, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING BROUGHT BACK?!
It's eliciting visceral reactions out of both Taranza and Susie, especially when it brings the thought to their mind that how their loved ones... have most likely been watching over them this whole time.
And that frightens Susie in particular. It makes her blood run cold, nearly terrified of what her father might be thinking of her.
It did also bring a fuzzy feeling to Taranza's heart to hear that Morpho Knight even knows that Sectonia was formerly known as Joronia, though.
The revelation of Morpho Knight having apparently spoken to Sectonia's and Haltmann's souls also made Kirby startle. He... he didn't know that this guy was capable of such a thing!
"Heheh, I can tell that left you surprised." Morpho Knight continues to speak. "Anyways, let us not waste any more time and get your reunions to occur. I can't have them both happen simultaneously, since I'm only able to revive one person at a time. Which one of you wants to have their loved one be brought back first?"
Taranza and Susie immediately shoot each other a glance, and Kirby glances at them both.
As they glance, Taranza can clearly see the anxiety coming out of Susie. She doesn't always have the easiest expressions to read since she has no visible mouth, but the nervous look in her eyes, as well as the fact that she's beginning to quiver again, are more than readable enough for Taranza.
Stars... she is really worried, isn't she? Part of him feels bad. He was maybe considering to be generous enough to gamble in his head to possibly let her go first, but the anxiety present in her expression makes it look like that she doesn't want to go first.
"Do you want me to g-"
"Yes."
Susie then turns to look at Morpho Knight again. It takes her strength to stop quivering as she begins to speak.
"You may go ahead and revive Sectonia first. I am perfectly fine with letting Taranza have his reunion first."
After speaking, she then takes a step back.
Given the look on Morpho Knight's eyes, it appears that this wasn't what he expected.
"I must say, I'm surprised." he says. "You... seem a little nervous."
... She is! She doesn't want to admit as to why, though, and she's trying to restrain her visible nervousness. But it's hard! Internally, she's simply too overwhelmed by anxiety and fear about what her dad might be thinking of her. How he could hate her and be judging her for the horrific mistake she made that got him killed in the first place.
It doesn't exactly help that even Kirby looks at her with a sad expression on his face.
"I-It's okay, just let her be." Taranza says, reassuring them. "It's just a lot for her to take in, really. She just didn't expect such a thing to happen today, and I'm sure she's still trying to fathom it. I'll be more than glad to go first. I can't wait to finally see Sectonia once again!"
"Very well, then..." said Morpho Knight.
Phew. Thank Taranza for saying that. For Susie, it'd actually be helpful to watch Taranza's reunion with Sectonia happen first. It gives her time to mentally prepare for when Max Haltmann gets revived.
She's aware that there is a legitimate chance that her father will be understanding enough to forgive and love her... and she of course really hopes for that, but she's still not entirely confident of that happening. She figures that she might as well as well try to brace herself for the chance of potential vitriol coming from him if it really comes down to it.
At least it'd be a just a tiny bit less distressing if she were to be prepared, as opposed to not.
Morpho Knight flaps his wings a couple of times.
"Okay!" he says. "So how this works is that I will hover above up here, and then make my magical move to revive your loved one. Be warned, however, that the process of bringing someone back involves creating very bright lights. So, I recommend you cover your eyes when that occurs. Once I complete the process of reviving someone, they'll appear here above the altar's stairs. Allow me to get started."
He pointed at the structure of the large orange butterfly-like wings as the place he'll hover above to make his move. The exact place that held the Jamba Heart before, when the cult was still the enemy. Where Void Termina was summoned.
As Morpho Knight flies above that structure, the others stand back. Kirby and Susie move further away to provide some distance.
Taranza, while standing back, is closer to the altar than the other two. This is his reunion, after all, so he'll still be just somewhat close enough.
Once everyone is in their desired positions, Morpho Knight makes his move.
He curls himself up. He buries his face in his arms and folds his wings to cover his body. A moment later, he makes a shining bright light around him, and just like he recommended, the three use their hands to cover their eyes as they lean their heads in other directions.
Taranza only has six hands and thus couldn't cover all eight of his eyes, so he forced his remaining ones shut.
It's a few moments later when the entire area is surrounded by shining bright lights, making the three practically incapable of seeing anything but white for the time being.
This entire whiteness goes on for about thirty seconds until it begins to fade.
After the dust settles and the bright lights finally fade away completely, everyone stops covering their eyes and begins to go back to looking at the scene.
When the three of them, especially Taranza, look at the scene of where Morpho Knight made his move... they're all both stunned and pleasantly surprised at what they see above the altar's stairs.
Taranza's heart races as his mouth opens wide in astonishment, gasping loudly.
It's... astonishing.
He... he can't believe it.
He's... he's...
Oh, my Nova...
... Sectonia...
... No, actually, JORONIA!
It's the REAL her.
SHE'S BACK TO BEING A SPIDER AGAIN, JUST LIKE HE IS!
And she's wearing the exact same clothing as she had on the last time he saw her as a spider. The clothing that's extremely similar to his. Just like what he remembers before she underwent dramatic change.
Taranza had to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating. This is so mind-blowingly wonderful to the point it felt unreal at first.
He also wasn't quite prepared for just how much this was going to make his heart race to the point of almost making him collapse. Thankfully, he manages to prevent himself from doing so.
But no... it's really her. Just like what she was before the dimensional mirror kickstarted a bodily change for her.
IT WAS TRUE ALL ALONG! WHAT A SUCCESS!
She's right above the altar's stairs in front of the orange winged area that Morpho Knight made his move in.
Currently, she's not looking at Taranza's direction. Instead, she's facing to the left of the altar's stairs, with Morpho Knight in front of her as they look at each other.
"You should be good now." Morpho Knight says to her. "How do you feel?"
Here we go. Here comes Sectonia's first words after revival.
"I... It feels strange, truthfully! It took me several seconds to realize I'm back to being solid flesh again. It's been so long, I've forgotten what it feels like to actually be alive again!"
Holy... her voice! She's truly there!
There is so much joy inside Taranza right now. It's internally driving him nuts. This is exciting him to unlimited levels!
"Sectonia!" he impulsively yells out her name before he even realizes he's doing it.
A second after he yelled it, she turns around to his direction.
He and she meet eyes.
Oh, my Nova...
Truthfully, Taranza was startled at the first few seconds of meeting eyes. Again, it was impulsive for him to have yelled out her name like that, but the overwhelming enjoyment inside him was simply far too great.
He's surprised at himself for not yelling it any earlier than this, even.
Admittedly, though, Taranza still currently has a little bit of worry over what Sectonia will think of him. He's not nearly as pessimistic over this as Susie is over what her dad will think of her, but he also remembers when Sectonia often took a lot of her issues out on him... and that's part of the reason why he had the concern that she'd hate him to begin with, alongside the mirror of course. She could just immediately blame him for his death right now... and if she does that, he'll be lightning quick to apologize and express all his remorse, confident it could make her go easier on him.
While looking at him, Sectonia gasps.
"Oh my... Taranza!" she says. She gasps a second time. Her mouth is largely open, like his is.
Taranza's heart races even faster now. The tone at which she said that was one of worry, as well as… relief if he heard that right?
Is... is she relieved and heartfelt to see him again, too?!
Well, he recognizes that he should speak again. He has her full attention now.
Once again, he begins his words without realizing it.
"SECTONIA!" he yells louder this time. He thinks he might already feel tears coming out of his eyes.
He kneels a little bit as he presses his two middle palms together, while still looking at her.
"JORONIA!" he continues. "Oh my... OH MY NOVA! YOU'RE ALIVE! I... I can't believe that I'm finally seeing you once more. I'm... I'm so happy to see you again. I don't know if you hate me for everything that's happened, as well as the fact that I've had to make new friends while you've been gone... but if you do, I'm SO sorry for all of it! If you're mad at me at all... I promise I'll make it up for my mistakes, as I wish I had never given you that mirror. I really want you to know... that I love you!"
His voice gradually increases in emotion as he speaks... just as he figured it would. He can also feel his eyes water a whole lot more now. How couldn't that be the case, after looking directly at her in her true self once again?
As he speaks, Sectonia comes down from the altar's stairs... approaching him more closely. And her eyes...
Wait...
Is Taranza seeing that right?! ARE HER EYES WATERING, TOO?!
Sectonia covers her mouth with one of her hands as she rasps, indicating that she may be about to speak again.
Taranza's blood runs cold as soon as she stops covering her mouth... bracing for whatever it is that she might say.
... And sure enough, her eyes are INDEED watering like his are.
"You're... really asking me if I hate you or not, Taranza?!" Sectonia asks, with her tears streaming down her face. "No. I don't. I don't hate you at all. I don't even have the right to hate you at this point. Nor do I even have any right to be mad at you... I've literally even watched over you to see your regret! But if anything... I'm more culpable for everything that happened than you are! WAY more culpable! In fact, it even surprises me that you've still been going out of your way to love me and want me back after everything!"
Those last few sentences... leave Taranza surprised, admittedly. Back then, Sectonia was not someone who would blame herself on things. Or at least... to this extent. Again, she often took her issues out on him.
She... she fully realizes what she's done during her descent into madness?
But Taranza doesn't see a reason to not still love her, honestly.
"You weren't in your right mind when all of that happened!" he's quick to reassure. The tears in his eyes are more prominent than ever, however. "It wasn't the real you! It's okay, Sectonia! I forgive you for all of it. I'm just so happy that you're alive again, and that you're now back to normal. And of course, I would still love you. It's not like you anticipated to do all the things you did when you were corrupted, and so I can't hold it against you. At least you're not doing all those things anymore!"
As he speaks, he sees a surprised look in Sectonia's face, as her tears continue to increase. Maybe because she's surprised by his sheer dedication.
After all, she did cast him aside at the end when he miscalculated, and he did end up helping Kirby put her down. But it was clearly reluctant. He clearly wished that it didn't have to get to that point.
But he's just happy that she's here again, and in the form that she should be!
"T-t-thank you..." Sectonia relents, with her voice unsteady. "Thank you s-sooo much for never giving up on me. I'm astounded by it... b-but you don't know how much that truly means to me. I'm so sorry for everything I did to you, including all the vile things I've said to you, and blasting you off that balcony at our castle. I'm not sure that I really deserve your forgiveness, though. I can't even begin to expla-"
She fails to finish talking, as she's taken aback and gasps when Taranza comes over and wraps her in a hug.
He squeezes her as tightly as he can.
"You do deserve my forgiveness..." he says extremely emotionally, while hugging on to her. He's... basically crying at this point, with his tears streaming down his face. "It looks like you feel really guilty over what's happened. It's okay. I'm here with you and am letting you know that it's okay, as it's well and over with. I promise that we can make up for our mistakes together. I just wanted you back and I'm so glad that you're back."
Shortly after he finishes his words, he weeps.
And he means every single bit of it. Yes... she did do horrific things, including treating him horribly. But she's not in that phase anymore. And he can see how much regret she has over it. She's not unforgivable, no matter how much she thinks she may be.
He'll always love her.
A few seconds later, Sectonia fully returns his embrace.
"THANK YOU!" she yells. "I LOVE YOU, TOO!"
At this point, both spiders sob loudly while tightly hugging one another. They are... they are so happy to be together again, as much regret as Sectonia currently might be feeling for what she did. It's okay. There's no real reason to be mad at her anymore.
Ten years after Sectonia died, she's back. And back as a spider, just like she was supposed to be.
This hug goes on for several minutes.
Kirby and Susie are still further back. As they've been watching Taranza reunite with Sectonia, it's made them highly emotional.
Susie's dad hasn't even been brought back to life yet, and she's already having tears in her eyes here at the Divine Terminus. Despite being someone that's liked to be seen as stoic for a while, she can't help but be openly emotional about watching the closest friend she's ever had reunite with the person he's long mourned. Her closest friend that's constantly looked out for her, that she's constantly looked out for. She remembers the times that she let Taranza hug onto her while he's still been upset about losing Sectonia, and her uncommon moments of empathy where she was able to talk to him about how painful it is to see someone you love waste away and die.
And to now see him be back with the one he's loved so much... Susie feels it in her heart to watch the two spiders hugging each other. She really, really wishes that her father will let her have a hug with him when he gets brought back, but she's at least happy to see her dear spider friend get a well-deserved hug with the one he's reuniting with.
Kirby has tears in his eyes, too. He's so emotional over this. He's known how sad Taranza was about his loss... he's just so joyful to watch him have Sectonia back, and he's also so joyful to see her being alive again.
When the spiders calm down on sobbing, they slowly pull away from their hug. They wipe the tears off their eyes.
Taranza feels an amount of happiness that he hasn't felt in a long time. It's not that he's been unhappy the entire time Sectonia has been dead... he's absolutely had happy moments with the friends he's made since then, but it just makes him so giddy and joyful to see her again. So giddy and joyful that she's alive again as a spider, and doesn't show any signs of wanting to continue that wrath she once committed.
"It's so, so wonderful to have you back, Sectonia." he says. "... Or rather, Joronia!"
"I... I don't think I want to be called that anymore!" said Sectonia. "Or at least... I feel like I don't deserve it after everything I did. But I kind of just don't want to be called that anymore, anyways!"
At that, Taranza frowns.
Good Nova... she still feels so guilty to the point she feels like she no longer deserves her original name?
"Awww..." he says. "I think you do deserve it, though! But if you really don't want to be called Joronia anymore, I won't."
Sectonia shakes her head after his response.
"Yeah, no... I don't! Sorry." she says. "And besides... even though I really do appreciate it, I'm still amazed at how much you choose to forgive and love me. I would think that what I did to you was nothing short of heinous. Everything I told you and directed at you. Everything I put you through. That would've had to hurt, wouldn't it? Didn't it hurt so much? And if I must be honest... I actually wanted to die at the end there. I felt like I deserved it! And if I'm being real with you, I legitima-"
"NO!" Taranza interjects. "Don't say that! Please don't say that, Sectonia! You did NOT deserve to die!"
His voice became louder than he even intended it to be, but those last few sentences she said had internally upset him so much to the point he simply wasn't going to hear any more of it.
Sectonia literally came back to life, and yet she's saying she thinks she deserved to die? And she's just bashing herself? That she essentially hates herself to the point that she says she wanted to die?
She has expressed self-hatred in the past... but even now, it hurt Taranza to have heard what she just said. It's already been distressing enough for him to hear Susie bashing herself, but for him to now hear Sectonia do it after she's been revived? That's on another level.
He comes over to hold one of Sectonia's hands.
"If you're really curious as to whether or not the things you put me through had hurt me... yes, it did actually hurt me." Taranza continues. "But like I said earlier, you weren't in your right mind when you did all those horrible things. You didn't start out that way as the mirror's influence warped you. I'm not mad at you for it, especially when I know you wouldn't have done it if we never did anything with that mirror. You're back now, and so I'm not holding any sort of grudge about it. And because you weren't in your right mind, I really believe that you did not deserve to die. Those times don't matter anymore. I'm happy that you're back, and I believe that you deserve to be happy that you're back."
At that, a distraught look is put on Sectonia's face as her hand gets squeezed by him.
"It's unbelievable how insanely sweet you are, Taranza." she says. "You are really the best. But I'm still deeply worried. What are people going to think of me now that I'm back to what I was? What if I get seen as ugly again? I suppose I deserve it after what I did, though. I guess I'm just stuck as ugly. I don't even know what I like about myself!"
"No... No, NO!" Taranza responds, grabbing yet another one of her hands, and squeezing it tight. "Please stop bashing yourself. Please do NOT worry about being 'ugly'. Don't you dare even insinuate that you 'deserve' such a thing. All that matters is that you're alive again, and I love you all the same regardless of how you look. And personally, I do not think you're 'ugly' at all. I think you're absolutely beautiful, and this is the best you've ever looked! And I mean it. If there's anyone out there that would consider you 'ugly'... then that's their problem, not yours. Their opinion doesn't matter! Please ignore them. You are perfect enough as you are, and you have so many things to love about yourself. And I'm not going to let us ever have anything to do with one of those dreaded dimensional mirrors ever again. Screw Dark Meta Knight and everyone else that comes from that wretched place. Let's just have you the way you are, and that's more than good enough."
Sectonia hangs her head, seemingly in shame. Perhaps because of how much she's upsetting him with the things that she's saying.
As she hangs her head... tears come out of her eyes again? At least that's what Taranza thinks when he sees droplets hit the ground.
He... he can really see the regret, shame, and depression she feels. How ashamed she feels for what she's done. He's already told her that he forgives her and loves her regardless. There's no real need for her to still beat herself up.
A few moments later, she looks up at him again, with the tears in her eyes now more evident as they stream down her face.
"T-t-thank you so much..." she says, as she then proceeds to hug onto him again. He is, of course, quick to return that embrace. "I can't thank you enough for your unwavering support. For being so understanding over what that mirror made me become, and for assuring me that I don't need to worry how others may think about how I look. When I was watched over you as a soul, I was really, really regretting everything I did to you. I'm sorry, and it means everything that you're willing to forgive me. And don't worry about you feeling regret for giving me that mirror... I know that you didn't know expect it to mess me up like that. But it's just... horrible to accept all the atrocities I've caused and convinced you to cause. Is it possible for me to have a better future?"
At that, Taranza squeezes her more tightly during this second hug.
"Yes. It is absolutely possible for you to have a better future." he responds, tone now softer. "And don't worry, I completely understand why you feel so guilty over everything. But it really means a whole lot that you're sorry for how you treated me... I remember back then when you never apologized to me for those things, but here you are now. That you felt sorry even when you were watching over me as a soul? It just makes it even better that I've finally gotten to see you again. Your future can be better, okay? I know how much it hurts to carry the burden of what you did, but I promise it won't hurt as much over time. Can you please at least try?"
A couple of moments pass before Sectonia can utter out a response. Taranza supposes he can't fault her.
"I-I-I'll try..." she says. "I promise I'll try as hard as I possibly can."
"Thank you, Sectonia. That's all I'm asking." Taranza responds. "We can live happily together in Royal Road again. Now... I'll warn that you still have some infamy in Floralia, but I promise to assure everyone there that you won't do what you did before. I'm sure they'll be understanding enough. I'll help you have a better future. And not just me... I can get my other friends to play a part in helping you, too. Don't worry, things can and will get better for you, I promise."
A few minutes later, as they calm down, they pull away from their second hug. He helps her wipe off her remaining tears. He ended up having some new tears on his own that he also had to wipe, though.
"And speaking of my other friends..." Taranza continues, as he then gestures towards Kirby and Susie. "... I want you to meet these two right now! Well, I know you've already met Kirby before, but now you get to meet him as your real self! He's the one that asked Morpho Knight to bring you back when he let him make wishes! And then here's Susie, someone who I became close with over the years. I wonder if you've observed them during your time as a soul by any chance?"
Sectonia approaches them more closely.
"Funny you ask that..." she begins. "... because I have!"
Kirby and Susie both get taken aback at that revelation, especially Susie.
The fact that they're just now learning that Sectonia has confirmed to have been observing them?
That's... that's wild!
Seeing their reaction, Sectonia giggles. Even she can tell that they were shocked by it.
After giggling, she comes over to Kirby first. The pink puffball gives a cute, cheery smile.
"Hiiii!" Kirby greets. "You're back! You're back!"
Staring at him, Sectonia smiles. Quite frankly... who couldn't smile at the pink puffball once they're no longer an enemy to him?
"I'm still beyond awestruck that you had the heart to wish for me to come back." she says. "You cared so much as to try to get me and Taranza to see each other again! I... still feel reallyawful about everything I've caused, but I really do appreciate that you asked the grim reaper over there to make our reunion possible. Thank you so much for that!"
"Don't feel too bad, Sectonia, at least you're back at your normal self now!" Kirby reassures.
At that, she smiles again. Kirby has always been very forgiving to people that have done bad things in the past, but are not doing so anymore.
She shakes Kirby's nub of a hand. During this handshake, he happily bounces back and forth, showing he's happy to have helped bring her back to life.
This really was better than any wish that Kirby could've had for himself.
After that handshake finished up, Sectonia then turns her attention to Susie next.
Susie unintentionally gasps when they meet eyes. But then she makes a second gasp, with this one being on purpose, as she watches Sectonia squint at her.
It makes her quiver a little bit to be squinted at.
... Why is she squinting at her? Does this... does this have something to do with Susie and Taranza becoming very close friends?
After all, Sectonia did confirm that her soul has observed Susie. But assuming this has to do with how she's been with Taranza, why would she squint? One would think she'd be glad about that, right?
Is she... trying to initiate some sort of stand-off? If so... why?!
Taranza comes over to right beside Sectonia, unsure whatever it is that she may be doing or thinking.
"Ummm..." he says. "... Is something wrong, Sectonia?"
For a few seconds, she doesn't respond.
This... this is strange!
"Nah!" she says, as she finally stops squinting. "Sorry about that. I just did that as a joke."
That made Susie stop quivering, calming down as she realizes it was a joke.
Sectonia then smiles, still looking at Susie, as she then reaches out one of her hands to her.
"Susie..." she says. "I have to say, thank you for looking out for Taranza and being support for him while I've been gone."
This stuns Susie for a couple of seconds, but she then takes Sectonia's hand to shake it. She also smiles, with her big blue eyes happily squinting.
"Oh, it's the least I can do after he's been support for me!" said Susie cheerfully. "He's been so good to me. He's gone out of his way to be there for me many times. I really appreciate him, and so I've come around to be there for him as well. He's missed you so much, Sectonia. I've been someone that he can vent to and hug whenever he's grieved you... and so it made me really glad to see him and you finally be able to see each other again!"
She doesn't feel comfortable enough to mention anything to her about her own grief yet.
Part of her has the feeling that Sectonia may already know about it, anyways, assuming she observed her and Taranza long enough. And thus, there was no real point in mentioning it. Heck, Susie was even afraid to mention it, since she had the impression that Sectonia knows her dad in the afterlife… and assuming they've interacted, Susie wasn't ready to be spoiled ahead of time about what he's thinking.
Luckily, when Sectonia responds, she says nothing on that matter.
"Thank you, because it would've made me really sad if Taranza had chosen to be all alone just because of me." she says, as she and Susie finish their handshake. "Also... good Nova, can I just say that it's funny that your voice sounds very similar to mine?"
... She's right.
Their voices do sound very similar.
Susie knew about it the entire time since Sectonia has been brought back. She knew it the moment Sectonia said her first words after revival. Taranza had told Susie previously that her voice sounded a lot like Sectonia's voice, and as she's just now witnessed it, he was not joking. She didn't doubt Taranza on the matter back then, but it was still quite the pleasant surprise to actually hear Sectonia's voice herself, confirming that he was right.
"I even said it before!" Taranza exclaims. "It shook me the first time I heard Susie talk when I met her! I have to admit that hearing her at first... reminded me of you, Sectonia."
Both girls giggled. Stars... even their giggles don't sound that different!
As they giggle, Kirby comes up to the others, and looks directly at Taranza, giving him a smile.
Upon seeing his smile, Taranza wraps Kirby in another hug.
"Once again, Kirby..." he says while hugging the pink puffball. "Thank you so much for making the wish to bring her back. It means the universe."
Sectonia floats to the other side of Kirby during the hug. She pats the pink puffball on the head.
She continues to pat his head, even after his hug with Taranza finishes up.
Morpho Knight, who was standing above the altar's stairs, now comes flying towards the group, catching their attention.
"Alright, everybody!" he says as he lands on the ground. "I believe I'm ready to activate Kirby's next wish. Let me know when you're all ready for me to do it."
At that, Kirby and Taranza both shoot a glance at Susie, curious to see if she's ready.
She notices their glances. She looks at them for a few seconds, and then glances back to Morpho Knight.
Before she says anything, she tightly presses her palms together for about five seconds. After releasing her palms, she speaks.
"I'm ready to have him be brought back now."
Truthfully, despite announcing that she's ready, Susie is still nervous.
Watching Taranza's reunion with Sectonia did help her gain just a little bit of confidence, though. She was pleasantly surprised at how well their reunion went. She was stunned at how quickly Sectonia forgave Taranza, and how she even expressed guilt herself that far outweighed his guilt. Susie literally had tears in her eyes as she watched their first hug... as she thought it was beautiful to see them happy seeing each other again, despite how ashamed and distraught Sectonia looked.
Before their reunion, she wasn't sure about how likely it was that Sectonia was going to forgive Taranza. But after seeing how well it turned out for them, it somewhat helped her imagine how her reunion with her father may turn out. Maybe he could easily forgive her, too.
She hopes so much for that to be the case, but she's still worried.
However, in addition to being worried about the likelihood of being forgiven, Susie would also want to know what happened to Haltmann while she was stranded in Another Dimension. She's come to the conclusion that Star Dream was responsible for erasing his memories to the point of forgetting about her... but why? He was definitely overusing that machine for some reason after her disappearance, but she's never come to understand why. Nor does she understand why he even kept it after it banished her.
If her real dad's spirit is out there, and if he still loves her, then she'd think that he would care enough to explain what he was doing after that dimensional rift sucked her in.
Most likely in that case, he would. But that's if he actually loves her, and forgives her for accidentally killing him first... which is still what she's been concerned about the most.
Even though watching Sectonia easily forgive Taranza helped Susie become a little bit more optimistic, she still has clear skepticism and worry. After all, her painful past continues to give her pessimism that she still can't effectively shake off.
A moment after Susie confirmed to be ready, Morpho Knight bows.
"Excellent." he says. "It's the same process as the previous revival. Once again, bright lights that will occur, and he'll appear above the altar's stairs after the lights fade. I suggest you all now get ready to cover your eyes as I begin the process again."
He starts flying back over to the same place he performed the previous revival at. The group then starts becoming ready for it, with Kirby, Taranza and Sectonia standing far back, and Susie standing closer to the altar than they are.
It's now Susie's turn.
Part of her can still hardly believe this is happening. Before today, this is something she would have never expected to happen. Previously, she thought it was impossible to bring her dad... her real dad, back to life.
Before Morpho Knight fully makes his way to the orange-winged structure where he'll make his move at, Susie does something peculiar.
Unlike the previous revival, she doesn't use her hands to cover her eyes against the incoming bright lights this time. She merely shuts her eyes closed by themselves.
Instead, as she shuts her eyes closed, she also hangs her head down and presses her palms together.
Her heart races while she's doing this, with clear nervousness still present in her.
What she's doing with her hands is praying.
Susie is praying that her father, Max Profitt Haltmann, will forgive her for causing his death on accident, and love her just like he did when she was a child.
One can only hope that he will be understanding enough.
Taranza's reunion with Sectonia worked out well enough. Let us hope that the same happens for Susie and her father.