srwu | Ray of Hope

1. (Lenore)

[Not long after the mission is over, Lenore is by an untouched patch of land on Gloster Foundation property, burying what looks like parts of the Gatekeeper that she had retrieved from the battle in the fashion of graves. She even places tombstones on each buried piece.

Carina had finally been defeated, and Seta had returned. But to Lenore, this was the most important matter that she had to settle immediately.]

It's over... It's finally over, everyone. Carina isn't going to trouble anyone anymore.

This is the most that I can do for you now, but I'll get them to make it official for you. So, rest well.

-

2. (Seta)

[The Empress of The Kijin Realm - that is what Seta referred to herself as. It's no lie.

For those looking for an explanation, she stands by the tree that holds her last message outside Alhambra Base - the shadow she casts on the ground looks like her new, dragon-like Craft instead of a human. Speaking of ominous things, the armor she was in is no longer there, at least - she instead wears a flowing, regal-looking dark blue coat.]

You wish to know what happened...so I will tell you.

I survived because of Madame's intervention...even though she was already gone. The keepsake she gave to me drew in Invicta's soul, and that is what you destroyed on that day. Invicta is no more, and you were the ones who finished it.

When I awoke, I was alone, with no way to return. My real form had been crippled by the battles I fought, and the only way I could survive was to fuse it with the remains of RB. The result of that is Union.

I eventually recovered through the Kijin Realm's influence, and as I traveled, I discovered that it was in a state of chaos after Invicta's death.

Following your examples, I made new allies, new friends - my own Unity Group - and I continued to fight...this time to unite my kin.

[She falls silent for a while. And one can tell that while she appears the same physically, there is something very different about her - she seems very tired, aged.]

I do not know how long it has been since the last time I saw Earth. Time passes differently in the Kijin Realm, but the amount was not small.

After all, even on Earth, cities and civilizations do not become what they are overnight.

As for Lenore...

[She crouches down to touch some flowers that are growing.]

She came to me in a dream. I heard her calling for help...for power that she could use to right what was wrong; I could not say no to that. And in time, it became clear that she met all of you. She was my only link to Earth, until the Gate opened again. Through her, I could sometimes hear your voices...and that reassured me.

...I do not understand how it happened, but I know that I am one of her genetic templates.

Perhaps... I was communicating with part of myself, through the boundary of dimensions.

-

3. - (Both)

[Some time later, Seta and Lenore are on one of the docks by Sakihama City, looking out at the ocean.

There's no conversation at first. It's more like the two are awkwardly standing there together. No one can blame them given the circumstances they met in...for Lenore, it's like finding out your fairy godmother is real, and not just stories told by others.

But Lenore is the one who eventually breaks the silence.]

You know...I've been thinking about something.

Y-yes...?

It's something Astara said to me - to not look at the past anymore. I couldn't do it back then, but now...

You can finally put it aside, is that right?

...Yeah. All I've been doing is fighting ever since I escaped Carina. Fighting for that...it almost made me go against everything I stood for.

That's why...I want to stop for a while. I want to go out there and see... no, remind myself why I'm really doing this- Erk!

[Despite being taller, Lenore suddenly finds the other Kijin's hand resting atop her head.]

I agree. You are a good person, Lenore. But all you have ever known is fighting.

If you truly feel that way...that fighting is what you want to do...then I will not stop you. But you should experience the world first, and then decide.

My teacher would not have agreed with me - yet I feel that this is necessary for all of us.

...But what about them? The Unity Group's fight isn't over yet...I can't just...

Do not worry about the Unity Group. I will stay until their battles are done.

The Kijin Realm is in good hands. I have informed those in charge - my most trusted friends - and they were already prepared. They know how much this means to me.

Moreover, I started our relationship as a species with the Unity Group. So it is only right that I see it through to the end.

[While they speak to each other, neither seem to have noticed you yet. But if you have anything to say about this, now is the best time.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I missed everyone...and everything here as well.

You should know that while I was there, I even made sure that the Unity Group's tales were heard of.

There is no Kijin on that side who does not know of your names now.

[There is a long silence as Kei isn't really sure how to take that.]

That's good. So the Kijin world is stable now? Politically.

Yes.

It was far from easy to reach this point. But your legends inspired them the same way they inspired me.

For the first time, we share a goal that is not domination.

That's good to hear. We've slowly started to get on top of most of the threats here, though there's still work to do.

What of the ones you were to fight specifically?

The Wulgaru.

The Wulgaru gate has been destroyed and they can't enter the solar system anymore...At least for now, they might find another way or steal some tech from a different interstellar empire.

That is good to hear...

But it also means what you are fighting now are great threats as well...

Yes. The Lady has a lot of control and a lot of the various terrorist organizations we've been fighting have allied to fight against us. But things are better than they were before.

The truth is: when I went through that Gate...I was expecting to see an entirely different Earth.

I did not know if it would be better or worse. Or... if Unity Group would even be around at all...

So, these threats, however many are left - I am glad that I will fight them alongside you again.

It's good to have you back with us.

[There's a long pause.]

I really missed you...I thought I'd had to bury another friend back then...

I know that nothing I say will make up for what I put all of you through...

But words have never been my strong point...so, I will let my actions speak for me instead.

Edited 2016-03-05 19:27 (UTC)

It's not your fault...I just missed you and felt awful about what Invicta had set up to avoid death.

...

[There is something about this that just doesn't sit well with Seta, especially with Kei mentioning that she felt awful.

So, going with what she just said about 'actions speak louder than words', the Kijin takes one of the rabbit's hands in her own - just to prove that she's actually, physically there.]

It is not much, but...does this help you feel better?

It does. Just knowing that you're okay does.

Ray of Hope

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