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There she is. All that waiting is worthwhile after seeing her smile-

HUBGH!

-but he didn't expect to get a tackle-hugged along with someone beside him. Is it someone that she knew?

"Aww. Hey, Ary." Gently said Rei, patting the head of the girl. It may be considered rude by her-but given their difference in height, that is the only gesture he can perform while in that position.

The girl took (actually, dragged them) to someone else; this time, Rei recognized who he is: the King of Shadows. Releasing himself from that increasingly embarrassing position, he noticed Arynek's expression: it was not a sad one. It was not one made by person in confusion or fear. It was a sweet, refreshing smile.

As the last salute, Rei bowed down before him before excusing himself away, taking Arynek's hand in his.

"So it has come to this..." Grumbled him, his face flushed with embarrassment from his own courage to drag a girl away while holding her hand.

They are now standing directly below the towering White Sword.

At that time, he remembered something important. No, not 'remembering', as he himself are disgusted by that fact. It's more like 'realizing'.
But somehow, he felt truly grateful.

"We, Fragments...are beings created from the remains of The Voice's memory. In that case, when do we truly started existing? From what point did our memory stopped being a fabricated one? When I became an Informant? When I obtained the pendant? When I almost killed myself in Blues' dispute?" Rambled him on, touching the surface of the White Sword. It was pleasant sensation of coolness, not one of a metal but one of polished marble.

"Did all of our memories...the tears we shed, the laughter we share--are all of that is just a mere Dream?"

He remained silent for a while, but nonetheless his lips are curled into a smile.

"I don't think so."

He reached into his neck, and half-surprised that his Pendant still stay. Did it also get recreated when his Fragment revived?

His memories started flowing back to him. From all of those years of daily lives, he recollected some events that held special meaning to him. Few are funny, few are sad, the rest was a mixture between.

But one event stood out from countless another.
It was a memory that is made only recently.

Yes.
It was the memory of his encounter with the girl currently standing before him.
.
Somehow, it held a certain significance. One which put it above all other memories. Is it also created by The Voice? Or is it a true memory that he made himself?

Either way-
"...it was not bad." Muttered him while donning a smile. Yes, it's not bad at all. In fact, he was grateful. Even if he was just a Fragment of The Voice's memory that has given form and role in order to partake in one giant hell of a play, he found that he was unable to despise 'IT'.

Strangely, he felt some kind of pity to 'IT'.

A Creator whose life solely dedicated to create greater perfection than before; like pot maker who can only smash the failures into pieces; like a swordsmith that could only melt a failed sword into molten metal to be reforged.

But even if 'IT' create something that's can be recognized as 'perfect', 'IT' can't see the next creation, sharing even the same level as the best 'IT' created before as perfect: the bar has been raised each time 'IT' created something perfect.

Repeating this for time he does not know, but by his guess nearly eternal, how did 'IT' feel about all of this?

Does 'IT' also feel that the things up until now is just a vain attempt? Or just a waste of time?

Either way, he still found something in his heart that want to say thanks to The Voice. Not for making this absurd world, not also for annihilating it over and over for god-knows-how-many-times.

He only want to say thanks for a single chance encounter.

Vrrrn.
The White Sword has flickered again. At the same time, Rei can see parts of his body turning into silvery light particles starting from the ends of his long, silver hair. Seeing that happened, Ary's expression turned sad-

"Hey, hey, don't make that kind of face right now. I'd like to go while seeing your smile, you know? Otherwise it might made me getting nightmares...just joking on that one." Said him, putting his hand on the girl's, clasping them.

"I'm sorry to make you feel sad. Or rather, for making you go to the Black Kingdom with me. Should you go to another Kingdom..."

He trailed away.

"Heh. Not that it would make a difference, right?" Rebutted him to his own words, seeing the fact right now that they are now standing in this place, only to make their goodbyes by the courtesy of the White Sword.

It's strange how he feel totally responsible for Arynek's fate. How was that possible? I only invited him to Black Kingdom, nothing else...so why did he feel so burdened?

"Huh...I guess this is truly it, then. I'm glad that I can see you for the last time, Arynek. If there's a chance...if there's a place where we can meet again, in any form or any situation-I'd like to say something-"

With a small laugh, he corrected himself.

"No. Let me say this now while we still have time. Thanks for making my life worthwhile, Arynek. Really thanks. I only feel really alive after meeting you."

"It's strange how thinking about other people can change one so much. Is this the power of Emotion you talked about?" Asked Rei to the White Sword, which remained silent.

The transformation into light continued. This time it has traveled up to his hip.

Turning his head to face the Mirror, and raising his eye level to the direction of the Sword, he said again:

"Thanks for giving me the second chance. I guess that's pretty generous of you."

He closes his eye.

"But there's one final guess that I had to make. If I can't conclude this without guessing who is the Voice truly is, then even if I vanish and nobody would remember, I'd still be ashamed-for my title was The Seeker of Truth. So, care to hear my last guess?" Said Rei to the Sword and to Arynek.

" 'IT' was the one who Creates. By incorporating the Fragments of Dream, obtained from 'IT's own Memory. 'IT's Pride is the only Downfall, causing 'IT' can only walk on the path of Destruction as opposed of accepting the Change...but in the same time, 'IT' continued to Protect something that is very dear: the memory of one 'IT' once serve: the True King. 'IT' Grieves at its own incompetence to create a perfect King because the memories of the Original; shattering each and every Reflections created from the Fragments as it were extracting a Revenge." Said him as he were reciting a script from a play, and placing his palm on one of the mirror's opaque surface.

He remembered something that he has heard in a time seemingly long before this. Once upon a time, a very powerful Silver King fell ill, and to their lover promised everything, even in death.

"You were the one who started this all. The Origin. Before all you existed. But you were not a god, nor a devil. You are just a being like me. Not a Fragment, but a complete being. My guess...is that you were the Queen-not a Rank, but simply the King's lover-from a Kingdom which is the root of all Kingdoms-you simply divided your powers into those Seven Kings to create the Fragments. All of those were 'You' in one sense, but their interaction changes what they used to be to what they are now, so you can choose from them what you deemed perfect candidate to a King."

Silvers were embodiment of Adaptation. Change.
It was not unheard for someone from the Silver Kingdom to change his/her affiliation. By doing so they will gain the ability which is shared by that Kingdom's citizen. That mean his theory is plausible.

But in the end, it was only his reasoning. There's no telling if it was true or not.

"Then this is where we part, Arynek the Jewelmaster. I will depart before you to secure the place we're going to. After all, I promised you that I will protect you, right? But don't blame me if we awoke in a different place-different time, different realm...for I will certainly seek you. No matter what form did you take, no matter what name did you goes with; no matter who the 'new' you will be. I will continue to try and find you. And if I did...please welcome me with a smile."

His time was up. All of his body have already transformed into light particle and started to dissipates. He forces his brain-no, the Fragment inside him; what composes him; what gave him existence up until now, for a name.

"Thank you for this experience and goodbye, The Voice..."

"-or should I call you...Zoobey?"

As he muttered that, the last speckle of his being, the glittering Fragment loses its light. Along with that, his Pendant, which somehow stays, dropped on the floor below him as the last proof of the Wild Card named Rei.





[REI=COMPLETE END]

Vanya awaited his arrival. All of their arrivals. She was practically stalking the door. When he finally arrived, she moved to him and stood tall, face serious and perhaps a little too proper given the situation. She was still his lieutenant though, wasn't she? Or perhaps that was a silly notion since they were all about to disappear anyway. Her concentration broke and she laughed a little at her own personal joke that was shared by most perhaps. Worrying about what happened to her in this world when none of it was going to exist after. Wasn't that just hilarious?

She eyed Wilson intently. "I don't know who you are out there. We've never met," she started, shifting awkwardly. "You could be a student, a horseman or a hunter," she put a hand up and shook her head as if to say she didn't want to know. "But as far as that's concerned, I don't care. If I remember this; any of it, you will have my friendship. You protected us; fought for us and gave your life for us even when we couldn't protect you ourselves." She faltered; having almost forgotten that she had failed him and suddenly realising that she had not seen him since that moment. "I suppose it doesn't matter now since it was inevitable but I'm sorry I let you down."

And then she addressed the others; her comrades in this stupid, pointless war. "That goes for all of you. Come find me out there if you can."

Xiu blinked in surprise at the kiss, lifting a hand to touch her cheek as she turned to look at Etzer. There was a moment of silence, and then she smiled, abruptly reaching out to pull him closer and hug him. "No, thank you. As a King, there were many hard decisions to be made but you...you stood by them and helped support me and the kingdom." When she drew back, she was grinning at him.

"From the very beginning up through the end, you never let me down, Etzer. I hope you know that."

Roch was being sneaky. He had been searching the area while the kings woke up, and had come up with a plan. Which was when he saw the others he headed for Bix and Wilson, dropping a hand on each of their shoulders.

"I suggest," he said quietly, "that we skip out when the pillar's not lookin', get back t'ship and skip outta here before--y'know, it's over. If I'm gonna die I'd rather be in space."

Because clearly this was something that could happen. He sure looked like it could.

There had been nothing but darkness until Mitsu was pulled into some frame of existence once again. She stood in the remains of their world her vision now returned and her ears picking up the chatter around her. Humming slightly she knew her voice was back as well. So this was the final goodbye? Somehow it wasn't as scary as before. There was something soothing about the end this time. The white pillar just made her feel like everything would be okay.

Turning she began to search through the crowd of people. Everyone seemed to be here. The people from her previous kingdom, their commander, and countless others she hadn't met. Her eyes continued to sweep the crowd wondering if he was here but with so many people it was hard to well. For now she drifted a little closer to her comrades in the white kingdom. At least they were familiar though the first thing she managed to hear from Wilson was something about his android. Uhhhh...best not to mention the damage to his ship in their final moments. It would likely not exist as well right? One could hope.

It didn't seem like Olivia's blush was ever going to fully fade, still stuck in a stupor from the sudden - and first! - kiss. Her attentions turned to Jing as he gave his toast to all of Blue Kingdom, and though she didn't know him as well - something she still felt bad about - she couldn't help but think how beautiful it was. Fitting really, for someone from Blue. Personal touches and she awkwardly added her own invisible cup to the group.

It was nice seeing them all together, one last time. She had missed going with the group up the stairs, passing her goodbyes to Andrew - did he? At least she was getting the chance herself, though she wasn't sure of what words to use. Or at least, just yet.

Olivia turned, her flush returning when Cee came upon the two of them, hip bumps and all. She was unfamiliar with the gesture and she stumbled a little, regaining herself as she was pulled in by the shoulder. And then kissed again. That face burning sensation came back in full force.

Well. At least this was going to be a pleasant goodbye. And completely shocking. "R-right." Olivia sputtered, now having to recover from that.

A forever blush and perhaps now wide eyes through until the end. Awesome.

There was a voice and a hand, though, pulling her a little from this bewildered bubble. A voice she was unsure she would hear when the end had come for them the first time. Her eyes were instantly on Molan, wider as was her smile. Though, not the sweetest of first words to hear from his mouth - though, rather endearing given the context - but words none the less. And as though it seemed forever since she had done it, Olivia giggled.

phantompanther13

iloveyouDIE

raja

"We were given a little more time here," he said with a small nod. As he watched her, he noticed that she didn't seem as sad as she was before. In fact, she was smiling. Shun smiled faintly in turn under the mask.

"I'm glad to hear that. The... other me. The one that was originally here before I came in.. he liked meeting you too. And I'm glad to have found you here as well."

She was still Mitsu, after all, even if she wasn't the real one.