samaqi: This ending happens when Acma and Raddie's relationship did not work out throughout their journey.
0800
"Acma! Quistis just delivered!" Raddie burst into the Esthar research lab, catching Acma and Bruno in the midst of their work.
Acma's heart raced as she turned to Raddie. "Oh Hyne, is everything alright?" Her voice trembled with concern.
"Yeah... everyone is safe and sound," Raddie replied, trying to reassure her.
Acma's mind filled with worry. "Has he..."
"No, unfortunately," Raddie's expression grew somber.
"What's the baby's name?"
Raddie replied and the answers hit Acma like a thunderbolt, leaving her momentarily stunned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing… Good… good news."
"I need to go and inform Ellone. I'll catch up with you later!" Raddie's hurried departure left Acma deep in contemplation.
"Who would have known, huh?" Bruno sighed, his disappointment evident.
Acma was still processing Raddie's news, not fully paying attention to Bruno. "Know what?"
"That kid... who would have thought he would end up with Ellone. What's their age difference? Ten years? I can't believe Ellone chose him over all her other options," Bruno blurted out, seemingly discontented as he had been the one who assisted Ellone in her research and magical training journeys.
"What?"
"You don't know?"
"…"
"That kid wasn't lying when he said he had a thing for older women."
"No… he's certainly not…" Acma said, her voice heavy with disbelief.
Acma excused herself from Bruno and walked slowly back to her room, trying to make sense of everything.
It doesn't add up.
She opened her drawers, finding her notes piled up. Most of them had been torn down, leaving only a few remaining. The most recent note was dated two weeks ago.
'Biolure'. What does it mean?
She took out a blank note and began to write the date.
Quistis and Seifer. Time travelers. Ellone?
She tapped her pen repeatedly on her head.
Ellone.
Acma knocked.
"Who's there?"
"It's me, Acma. I baked some cakes. May I come in?"
"Come in, Acma."
Acma entered the room and looked at the woman before her, whose once black hair had turned grey—a trademark of psychomagic and time manipulation.
"Bruno told me you like this flavor..." Acma said, holding out the cakes.
"Thank you. That's very nice of you."
"You're welcome. Well…"
"Is that all, Acma?"
"Uhm…"
"Again, Acma?" the woman asked, smiling as she stepped closer.
Instinctively, Acma took a step back, her vision darkening shortly afterward.
0600
The next day, Acma woke up on her bed, startled by a phone call.
"Trepie #23?"
"Hey, girl. I'm just calling to check on you. Raddie told me you passed out again," Trepie #23 said.
"I'm okay," Acma reassured her, memories flooding back as she reached for her pocket.
"Great, don't work too hard. I know you're up to something with time travel, heavy stuff. I wish I could help you by just winning cards like in the good old days..."
"Aw... how sweet of you, Trepie #23. I'm okay. How's everything going in the Garden, Madam Chief of Operations?"
"It's crazy... I miss the days of just babysitting kids. I mean, babysitting dozens of kids was already hard, but all this paperwork..."
"You could raise that many kids, I'm sure you can do this."
"Haha… Hey, Acma... Actutally, I call because… I couldn't find info about Zyma's last mission. He hasn't been back for over two years now. I'm worried. Have you heard from him?"
Z… I'm sorry Trepie #23. Acma's heart sank. Aczyma had disappeared after Acma's time travel into the future.
"Yes, he did send me something, not using his name, though. You know his type of missions... But he's alright. Don't worry!"
"Great! Phew... I thought... But it's good to hear, Acma. On a darker note, I lost all his GF cards, haha. I'm not sure when, I swear I saw them just last week. Our new janitor seems suspicious. Those cards are worth a fortune, all high-level magics."
"Fortunately, our world doesn't rely on high-level magic anymore, Trepie #23. I don't think he'd be mad at you."
"Right, thanks to you, the Hyne's messenger. Alright, I was feeling uneasy, so I called you early. But it's good to hear that all is well. I'll be here waiting for you whenever you want to go home."
"I'll visit you soon. Love you, Trepie #23!"
"Take care, Acma!"
Acma turned on the biolure retrieved from her pocket and retrieved her notes from the drawer, her mind filled with thoughts and uncertainties.
Knock on the door.
"Raddie?"
"Are you okay? You passed out in Ellone's room, and I had to carry you here again. It's been happening quite a lot recently. Are you sure you haven't missed any check-ups?" Raddie asked, concerned.
"No. I'm fine. I'll take a day off today, don't worry".
"Okay... well, I just wanted to check on you again... if you need anything..."
"Thanks, Raddie. Well... have a great day!"
"Okay. You too."
"Raddie…"
"Yes?"
"Tell Ellone... thank her for me."
"... Sure thing. I'll tell her," Raddie replied and left.
Acma replayed the biolure over and over again, lost in thought.
"Sleep, until I summon you again, my little Pawn."
You took my Knight…
2200
A knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Acma asked, feeling a sense of unease due to the numerous visitors and phone calls she had received throughout the day.
There was no reply.
She looked through the peephole and, seeing no one in the hallway, opened the door cautiously. As she stepped forward, her foot hit something on the ground.
This box…
Something about it felt familiar.
Muffins?
Suddenly, someone seizing her wrist from behind and applying a twist. Acma instinctively dropped to a seated position.
"Good. You remember," a voice said.
Acma's heart dropped at the sight of her assailant.
"You're taller... I need more time to get used to your new body. And what's with the white hair, master?" the person taunted.
Acma could think of many retorts.
Acma was a smart girl.
But she didn't need to show off.
And she didn't want to wait.
She jumped onto the tall figure with dark hair and unleashed her love.
You took one of my Knights… Now see how this Pawn becomes a Queen with the other…