The world seemed to reach its end. The emerald demons were all sealed and their priestess was a creature of stone and chains. The sapphire demons fared no better. While two of them remained living, it seemed as though their priestess was ready to follow the other priestesses into eternal darkness.
Nick and Kevin pushed away the caskets from their bodies.
Nick snarled and clenched his fists. “This can’t be the end… Minako! Wake up! We’re still here!!”
Kevin pushed aside another casket. “Minako! Wake up please!”
“Minako!! Minako!! MINAKO!!!” Their voices echoed across the empty room.
~*~
“Minako…”
Who?
“Minako…”
This voice…
“Minako…”
Minako stirred and winced as she opened her eyes to see a world filled with only darkness. She sat up slowly and scanned the room, then laughed meekly. “It’s just like when I first got here, but without those glowing eyes, it really is completely dark…” She wiped a small tear from her cheek, then held her hands to her heart. This is how I met Nick back then… Maybe we’re back there… Maybe he’ll come get me any moment…
“Minako…”
She peered into the darkness again. “That sound… it’s so far away…” She hugged her knees. It’s so quiet here… There’s no light… If there’s nothing, then am I just a normal girl again?
“If I could just die…”
Minako flinched at the voice, then turned to see a girl about her age sitting beside her. The girl’s light hair was held back by braids. Minako reached her hand out to her. “Who?”
The girl lowered her head. “If I could just die… Then everything would be over… But a part of my heart wants to preserve the memories I had with them…”
“Memories…”
The girl smiled as she began to fade back into the darkness. “You too, right?”
Memories… With who? Minako reached her hand toward her. “W-wait--”
~*~
God smirked at Nick and Kevin as it descended down the stairs toward them. “Devoted sapphire demons, there is nothing left in this world for you! Do you see how she’s shut her eyes to you?”
Kevin pushed another casket away from his torso. “Minako!!”
Nick clenched his eyes shut as he struggled to free his legs from the caskets. “Minako!!!! Wake up!!!! Everyone’s waiting for you!!!”
~*~
“Minako…”
“That voice again…” Minako put her hands to her forehead. It’s so quiet, but it feels so familiar...
“I hate myself…”
Minako flinched at the sound of a second voice and turned to see another girl about her age with light hair fluttering around her face.
The girl clenched her eyes shut and balled her fists. “I hate myself… what I am now… and the fact that I couldn’t stop myself from becoming such a hateful person… But even if I was horrible… There was still someone who loved me…” She turned to Minako as tears formed in her eyes. “I sure wish I could be happy with him…”
Minako lowered her head. Happy together with him… He’s...
“Minako…” A male voice echoed warmly across the darkness, as though it smiled.
Minako looked up and gasped. Tears began streaming from her eyes as she bolted to her feet and reached toward the voice. “AJ… It’s really you?! AJ!!!”
AJ pulled Minako’s hands to his chest, then gripped her cheek lightly. “You already gave me the warmth and strength of your kindness, now show the world that you’re already strong...”
Minako curled her fingers around his thumbs. “AJ, how are you so sure?! I don’t feel strong at all!!”
AJ smiled and put his hand on Minako’s head. “You’ve become strong enough to live and support others, you’re very strong. But you need to believe in yourself or strength means nothing.”
~*~
“Minako!! Open your eyes and show them your strength!!” Kevin struggled to push a casket from his legs.
“Minako, please!!!!” Nick slammed his fist into the ground and raked his claws against another casket.
~*~
“Minako…”
“I wish I could reach that voice… I feel like I know it...”
“I believe in your future, Minako…” A second male voice echoed warmly across the darkness.
“Brian!!!” She flung her arms around his neck. “But… everyone’s dead… Even…”
Brian cupped her cheek. “Not yet. And the power to reach that future exists beyond our physical forms.”
“Brian, there’s no power that strong!!” She lowered her head as tears streamed down her eyes. “That power doesn’t exist anywhere!!”
“He is correct, Minako…” A third male voice resounded in her ears.
Minako looked up and reached toward him. “Howie!?! You too, Howie… I didn’t know!! Howie!!”
Howie put his hand on Minako’s shoulder. “I am pleased to be able to give you my best wishes myself. Even if we all die, we are all still in your heart, therefore, the power of friendship and kindness survives beyond life and death.” He smiled. “Do you not agree?”
“Howie!” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, Howie!!”
~*~
Kevin and Nick pushed through the last of the caskets.
Kevin stood weakly and pointed across the room. “Tears are falling down her cheeks, perhaps she can hear us!”
Nick stood weakly as his legs shook. “Minako!!! I’m coming!!! Be strong!!” He clenched his fist and lifted his leg to begin running.
“You will never reach her, sweet Nickolas!” One of God’s energy blasts knocked Nick back against the wall.
Nick landed in the middle of the haphazardly tossed caskets. Kevin leaned down and gripped Nick’s shoulders as they slumped.
Nick clenched his fist and winced. “Minako… Don’t give in… We won’t lose either…”
~*~
“Minako…”
“I do recognize it! That’s Nick’s voice isn’t it?” She reached toward the sound, then buried her face in her hands. “It’s so far away… Nick! Come get me, Nick!”
A small chuckle filled the room. “…really are the only candle in the darkness, Minako…”
Minako pulled her hands from her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared up at the voice’s owner. “Renee!”
“What are you doing here, Minako?” She smiled. “This is no place for you.”
“Renee!” Minako reached her arms out toward her.
“This place may be safe, but it’s lonely and dark. No one but the dead would linger here.”
“Renee!!!!” Minako wrapped her arms around her. “There’s so much we have to talk about! There’s so much I want to say!!” Her tears streamed down her cheeks and splattered against Renee’s shirt.
Renee wrapped Minako in a tight embrace. “Later… I’ll let you yell at me later… Anything you want to say...” She ran her hand over the back of Minako’s head. “Right now, I want you to survive and protect the people you love. Everyone’s counting on you…”
Minako pulled back. “Everyone?”
The pale forms that had surrounded Minako separately formed a large circle around her with their open arms spread toward her.
Renee grabbed Minako’s hands and placed a small red candle in her cupped palms. “Minako, it’s your duty to light this candle for everyone.”
The girl with light hair and braids bowed. “Sapphire Pandora, I give you the power of one thousand years.”
Four demons kneeled and bowed behind her.
The statues in the castle… Minako gaped and her tears stopped abruptly. Four statues from the castle… This is… Topazuseihou’s priestess!
“My demons wish to endow you with white jackets, space, red ladders, and the gift of flight.”
“Topazuseihou Pandora…”
The girl with the flowing hair bowed as well. “Sapphire Pandora, I give you the power of one hundred hours…”
Five demons knelt behind her and bowed.
“Rubiihoppou Pandora…”
“My demons wish to grant you the colors black and blue, the power of the wind, the sunset, and the power of replacement.”
“Minako.” Renee smiled.
“Renee!” There’s demons bowing behind her. The emerald demons are supporting her!
“Minako, my demons wish to give you the power of diamonds, costume changes, night, snow, and the city lights.”
“Renee!”
“Sapphire Pandora.”
Minako whirled behind her to face the sapphire oracle and three similarly dressed maidens. “Britney!”
“Sapphire Pandora, the other priestesses have chosen you to create the world of the future. Remember that world so you can create the future where everything lasts for an eternity.”
AJ smiled as he walked toward her and patted her head. “Minako, create a world for us where there are mountains…”
Brian gripped her hands as he smiled. “Minako, use the power of friendship to create the oceans…”
Howie placed his hand on her shoulder. “Minako, we are all counting on your kindness to bring the world of rain.”
The three demons turned to each other, then held splayed hands over her hearts. “Minako, return to them and bring to us all the world where fire becomes music.”
“Minako…”
“Return to them and bring music?”
“Minako…”
A world where mountains, ocean, rain, and fire bring music?
The three demons smiled.
Howie removed his hand from her shoulder. “Minako, you must hear them calling you.”
AJ removed his hand from her head. “We’ll make it louder if you can’t.”
Brian squeezed her hands, then pushed them back toward the gems at her collar and released his grip. “Hurry to them!”
“Minako!!! Minako!!!”
“Kevin and Nick! I hear you!”
Renee pulled her into one more embrace as she smiled. “Minako, do your best. Remember for all of us and create that world where there’s music.”
Minako gripped Nick’s gem at her heart. Kevin and Nick! Memories… Just like the box… is my heart actually a container composed of everyone’s bonds? She crossed her arms over her heart and cupped all the gems in her hands. If I have all of that inside my heart, then maybe my soul does have the possibility for miracles! And as long as I keep holding that possibility tightly, I can be revived again and again like music!
~*~
Kevin stood and grabbed Nick’s hand, pulling him up forcefully. “Nick, it appears we will have to fight God on our own.”
Nick clapped his hand against Kevin’s shoulder as he lowered his head. “I’ll do anything for all of you! But why won’t she answer us?! No matter how loudly we call, our voices aren’t enough!”
Kevin glanced to the ground. “The priestess wins if she has strong demons.” He clapped his hand against Nick’s back and grinned as their eyes met. “As long as you and I are alive, we’ll win.”
God cackled as it continued walking toward them. “Oh? Do you truly think you can defeat me on your own?”
Kevin clenched his fist. “Even if we are defeated, the light in our souls will not fade until you vanish!”
God smirked as it raised its hands. “I’ll grant your wishes!! Die!!” God shot a large energy blast toward them.
Kevin and Nick raised their arms in front of their faces as they dove out of the blast’s path.
“Holy Box, as the guardian of memories I call to you!”
God clenched its fists, snuffing out a second energy blast. “This is…”
“Imbued with the sacred powers of all priestesses, I accept your will and seal!”
Kevin stood and scanned the room. “What is this spell? Where is it coming from?”
Nick scanned the room as well, but focused on the stone statues and empty altar. “Minako!”
“For the sake of your demons and priestesses, descend upon us and release your power to destroy the evil in the world!”
The box faded from the ground beside Renee’s stone body and the altar.
God began stalking toward the altar. “Impossible!”
Nick’s stare fell on Minako standing in the middle of a pile of caskets with her arms outstretched as she glowed with a blaze of sapphire light. “The box!!!”
The box appeared in Minako’s hands and she put her hand on the lid of the box. “Hear our prayers, thus be summoned and unsealed!” Minako tore the lid open.
Nick began running toward her. “MINAKO!!!”
Minako inhaled sharply as silver light spilled from the box and surrounded her body. “Silver?”
God clenched its fists as it began running. “Lover of demons, I will destroy you!”
Kevin landed in front of him, baring his claws and fangs. “You’ll have to pass me first!”
God snarled. “Do you dare to fight me?”
Kevin clenched his fist. “A god who does not protect his people does not deserve to be called ‘God.’”
Nick grabbed Minako’s shoulders and thrust her into a tight embrace. “Don’t disappear into this light! Not like before! Minako! MINAKO!!!”
~*~
“Pandora…” A deep voice echoed through the black.
Minako tried to blink away the darkness. “Who’s there?”
“The box has recognized you as the guardian of memories. Do you accept this charge?”
Minako clenched Nick’s gem at her chest. “I swear, I will help create that world where there is music because everyone needs to go to that world!”
“Listen closely, I am the true emperor of the heavens. I brought the demons to Earth.”
“You… brought the demons?”
“Yes.”
“Then, the God here--”
“That is no God. It is merely a distorted demon who believes it controls the world you seek.”
“A god that thinks it controls the world where there is music?”
“You entered his true palace the moment you began your journey.”
“His true palace…” Minako clenched her fist. “You don’t mean--”
“Yes.”
“Then it does make sense… Why that was the only place I felt that empty feeling… But, why me? Everyone else had stronger memories than I did.”
“I chose the priestesses that I knew would have the possibility to obtain the box with the strongest powers in the world.”
“But the demons have the powers… What powers do priestesses have?”
“For Rubiihoppou, the power of perseverance. For Topazuseihou, the power of faith. For Emeradotouhou, the power of intelligence. And for Safaiananpou, the power of kindness. I had hoped the powers would combine together, however fate wanted it to occur otherwise.”
“Enemies…”
“Yes, and I did not want my demons to die.”
Minako crossed her arms and cupped the gems again. “No… Everyone is right here within me.”
“Pandora…”
Minako clenched her fist. “I’ll return them to you, I promise!”
“You have the ability to use my holy power three times, Pandora. When you wish to use it, call to me with the word ‘nozomeru.’ I will then give you the power to carry out your wishes.”
“Nozomeru…” A gust of wind surrounded Minako and she shrieked.
“MINAKO!!!!”
“Thank you, Pandora. I have infused you with my power and you may return to your companions.”
~*~
The silver light faded around Minako’s body and she began sinking to her knees as her body trembled.
Nick pulled Minako closer to his chest and knelt to the ground with her. “Minako… You didn’t disappear…”
Minako let the box slip to the floor as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders tightly. “No… I’m… not… going… anywhere….” A quick burst of electricity shocked her and she shrieked as she buried her head against Nick’s shoulder.
God cackled as an orb of energy formed in its palm. “Are you too weak, lover of demons?”
Nick’s eyebrows pinched as he cupped her cheek. “Minako…”
“I’m… fine…” Minako raised her head and gripped a fold in his tunic. “I won’t lose… I can’t lose!” Everyone… please give me strength! Minako released her grip on him and grabbed the box again, then began trying to stand, despite her shaking knees.
“Minako!” He tightened his embrace around her as he stood with her.
God shot the blazing blast toward Kevin, knocking him against the wall again. It then whirled back around and began storming toward Nick and Minako.
Minako gripped the box tightly. “Nick, I need you!”
Nick hugged her tightly and held his audible breath as he smiled at her warmly.
“Help hold me up!”
“Anything for you!” He loosened his embrace around her.
Minako winced as she turned around. When her knees started to buckle, Nick pulled her back into his arms and wrapped them around her chest. Her hands shook as she clutched the box.
“That is no God.”
Minako clenched her eyes shut. “This needs to end!”
“Minako?”
“Nozomemasu.” Minako began to glow with the bright silver light.
Nick gasped and clutched her tighter. “Minako!”
Minako thrust the box forward. “Break the seal on the Emperor of Heaven and seal this illusionary God!” Brian, Howie, AJ… Give us strength…
The cloaked figure smirked. “Can your small soul really defeat me?”
Minako’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the box. “You’re right, in the beginning I was small… But I came here and someone else needed me! I learned what it means to be really important to someone… no, to all my close friends!” She opened her eyes, her stare boring through the cloaked figure. “They’re depending on me! So I won’t give up! Even if it shreds my soul!”
Nick growled. “Minako, you can’t! You can’t let your soul get shredded!!”
Minako lowered her head again. “Believe in me, Nick! I’m going to do my best! Even if it hurts!”
“Of course I do, but I won’t let that happen!”
She held the box farther from her body. “BE SEALED!!” The silver glow intensified around Minako’s body as a gust of wind rose from the box. Minako winced and struggled against the bright light and harsh cold surrounding her.
Nick clenched her tightly as the sapphire light flared across his skin and danced with the silver light surrounding her.
The false God yelled as it was enveloped in the bright beam of flaming silver light that shot toward the ceiling, shaking the room. The yell vanished into silence and the beam dissipated. Pieces of the ceiling began crumbling to the ground.
Kevin pushed away the caskets and scanned the room. He caught sight of only Minako and Nick surrounded by the stone statues. “We defeated it? I’m coming to you!”
Minako pulled the box toward her chest as her body trembled more violently, then began dropping to her knees.
“Minako!” Nick pulled her against his chest tightly as he knelt down with her.
Tears streamed down Minako’s cheeks. “I was afraid I would die… Now I see why the Emperor of the Heavens intended the priestesses to unseal the box together.”
Nick leaned his head on her shoulder as a few tears trickled down his cheeks. “Don’t die… You’re not allowed to die!”
Minako choked back her tears and pulled her arms toward her chest so that her hands rested on his arms. “Nick… I promise I’ll do my best to help everyone...”
“It’s not that…” He kissed her cheek then lowered his voice to a whisper as he spoke directly into her ear. “I love you. What would I do without you?”
“Nick…” She blinked away her tears as she turned toward him and kissed his lips quickly.
“Minako! Nick!” Kevin kneeled down in front of them. “That God--”
Minako lowered her head. “That God was an illusion… It usurped that position from the true Emperor of the Heavens.”
“Then the seal?” Kevin leaned forward and touched her shoulder.
Minako shook her head. “It wasn’t your creator’s intent.”
Nick turned to Kevin. “Can you heal her? I know you couldn’t when she heard our names… Is this different?”
Kevin raised his hand and a bright blue light began spilling from it. “I will try.” He pressed his glowing hand to her chest, then raised the other to her head, then ran it over various places in her body.
Minako smiled as a few more tears fell down her cheeks, but the trembling stopped. “Kevin, thank you.”
Chunks of the ceiling continued to fall around them, their pieces scattering and bouncing across the ground. As the large chunks hit, the caskets around them rattled and fell to the ground.
Nick tightened his grip around Minako. “This castle is falling apart! We have to go!”
Kevin stood quickly. “We’ll have to figure out what to do next once we’re outside.”
“Minako, can you stand?” Nick began rising to his feet.
She lowered her head. “Kevin… Nick… What do you want most in this world?”
“You already know the answer! Of course I want to stay with you! But we can talk about that after we get out of the castle!” He pulled her to her feet quickly, then wrapped his arms around her waist as he unfurled his wings.
Kevin lowered his head as he unfurled his wings. “Consider it while we escape to safety, Minkao. But if our duties are done, it might be nice if we were no longer demons.”
Nick loosened his grip as he gaped at Kevin. “Not have to be demons?”
Kevin smiled and patted Nick’s shoulder. “Then you could be together, right?”
Nick inhaled audibly, then exhaled as a large smile grew on his face. He tightened his grip on her waist. “Minako… Do you hear that? If I’m not a demon, then maybe we can stay in the same world.”
Minako raised her head, but a few tears streamed down her cheeks. “I know…” Of course I want the same thing as you, but I know where you all really belong and that would fulfill that wish… But I’ll also keep my promise to Howie... “Nozomemasu.” Minako glowed with silver light once more.
“Minako!” Kevin reached for her.
Nick’s panicked voice rang in her ears. “Minako! We can do this outside! The castle is falling apart!”
Minako tightened her grip on the box. “Bring peace to Safaiananpou and all lands, thus releasing the cardinal demons from their duties and sending their souls on their true paths!” She clenched her eyes shut again. Please… Not Nick… Not yet…
Kevin looked at his hands -- they were becoming transparent as they glowed a bright sapphire. He gasped. “Minako! I don’t understand…”
Minako opened her eyes, letting the tears spill from them. “Safaiananpou is safe and your life is yours… So you can go back to where you should be.”
“Back? I don’t understand…”
Minako smiled, despite the tears falling on her cheeks. “Be happy…”
Nick gasped and reached for Kevin’s hand. “Kevin!”
Kevin reached his hand toward Nick as well. “Nick…” The moment their hands touched, Kevin disappeared.
Nick’s hand flinched. “Kevin!! KEVIN!!”
Minako lowered her head. “Be happy…”
Nick pulled back his embrace, then pressed Minako’s shoulder as he pulled on her arm to turn her toward him. “Where did Kevin go without us?!
“He went back where he needed to. Where everyone needs to go...” She cradled the box with her arms and reached her hand toward his face.
Nick gripped her hand and pulled her toward him by the waist. “We were all supposed to be together! You can wish for that!”
Minako hunched her shoulders and lowered her head. “I don’t have that power, Nick.”
Nick pulled her closer to his chest. “You’re borrowing Holy power! Of course you have it!”
The tears continued to fall down Minako’s cheeks. “No… I don’t think God has that power either…”
Nick lowered his head and leaned on her shoulder. “Why release everyone?”
“So they can go back and be free...”
“Why can’t we do that here?!”
“In the box… The Emperor of the Heavens lends you his power and everything sealed is released, but… The last thing in the box is hope… And hope is what reveals the truth to you…”
“Then why am I still here?” Nick looked up as tears streamed down his face. “Why didn’t you release me too?!”
Minako’s knees buckled and she began sinking to the ground. Nick tightened his grip around her and knelt beside her.
Minako set the box in her lap, then threw her arms around his neck. “I didn’t want you to leave! I couldn’t handle it if you left! I told you I couldn’t do it without you!” She buried her head in his chest as she sobbed loudly. “I want to stay with you and you would disappear without me! How could I want that?!”
Nick leaned his head on hers. “I don’t either! I don’t want us to ever be apart! Let’s talk about this outside, the castle is breaking around us!”
Minako ran her hand up his hair. “And I wouldn’t get to say goodbye…”
Nick pulled back as his embrace tensed. “Goodbye?” He gripped her chin lightly and pulled her head up.
Tears streamed down Minako’s cheeks as she pulled her arms back toward her own body.
“What do you mean ‘goodbye’?!”
Minako glanced away as she picked up the box from her lap.
Tears began filling Nick’s eyes again as he brushed his hand through her hair. “Minako! Say something!”
“Nozomemasu.” Her voice was only a whisper as she glowed silver light a third time. Renee… For you...
“No! Minako!” His hands tensed as he reached for the box.
“Release all the priestesses back to their true lives by erasing their memories, ensuring only peace for these lands.”
He thrust his arms back around her and pulled her into his chest. “WHY?! YOU PROMISED WE WOULD BE TOGETHER!! YOU PROMISED!!” He tightened his grip around her, tensing his arms and balling his hands into fists. “I WON’T LET YOU GO!! I’M GOING WITH YOU TO YOUR WORLD!!”
Minako hiccupped and sobbed as she dropped the box back in her lap. “Nick… but--”
“NO! I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE!!” His voice softened as he cupped her head and stared into her eyes. “Except… you…”
Minako held his gaze, then wrapped her arms tightly around Nick’s neck and pulled him closer to her body.
“Minako…”
She brushed her hand through his hair and pressed a kiss to his lips as she continued to glow with silver light. Holy Box, I beg you! Please create one last miracle! Please give me the power to find Nick again through time and space! Please!
He cradled her cheek as he held her lips with his.
The weight of Minako’s hands on Nick began to disappear and Nick gasped as he tried to pull her closer. “Minako! MINAKO!!”
Tears streamed down Minako’s cheeks. “Nick… You have the power to create your miracle in a world of light! I swear it! If you can take even one step forward, you’re stronger than you were before!”
“DON’T LEAVE ME!! YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD STAY!!”
Minako lowered her head as she tried to sniff back her tears. “It was easy to make promises when I didn’t know anything…”
Nick shook his head. “I DON’T CARE ABOUT THAT!! WE SWORE WE’D STAY TOGETHER IF WE LIVED!!”
“Nick, even… even if all we ever shared was blood… and death… and tears… I’m happy… I’m always happy because I was able to share even a little bit of time with you...” Minako gave Nick one more kiss, then disappeared from between his arms. The necklace that had been around her neck fell to the ground with a small ringing sound.
Nick clutched at the empty air, then sank to his elbows and slammed his fists into the ground. “I won’t believe it!” Tears streamed down his face. “This can’t be real! THIS CAN’T BE REAL, MINAKO!!” He lowered his head and struck his fist against the ground. “MINAKO!! MINAKO!!” His teardrops splattered against the ground as it rattled beneath him.
He looked up to see the caskets falling from the walls all around him and chunks of the ceiling still hitting the ground. He opened his hands and scraped his claws across the ground. I was so focused on her, on our last moments together, that I forgot this place is collapsing around me.. He looked to the throne and altar. All the statues are gone, it’s just the furniture. He glanced at the ground beside him. Even the box is gone... Only… only her necklace… He grabbed it from the floor and clenched it tightly within his hands. She didn’t take it with her… Does she think I need it? He lowered his head as he stood. “Why? I thought I was stronger than this… In the end… It doesn’t matter...” He wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
“Be happy…”
He clenched his hands around the necklace. “Minako…” I’ll only ever be happy if I can find you! I have to get out of here and see you! Nick turned and ran toward the doorway. It’s going to take everything I have to leave this place alive!
He ran down the dark corridors and away from the altar room. Something about this place seems more inviting… It’s still dark, but not as musty...
He paused in the empty doorway of the musty room that had been sealed with chains and lowered his head as he clenched his fist. “Master…”
“So they can go back and be free...”
He lowered the necklace over his head and it jostled around his neck as he took a moment of silence for the dead. I hope you can be free of this darkness, Master… I hope there’s only wonderful things for you there...
Nick sprinted through the larger shattered doorway, then continued running through the corridors. When he finally reached the room where Brian had struggled against the seer, he stopped and stared up at the gaping hole in the ceiling. This is… the best way out! Straight to the sky! He looked down at his body and clenched his fists. I hope Kevin healed me enough! He walked backward to the open exit, then sprinted through the room as he flapped his wings. He sprung off one foot when he was underneath the hole, then soared through the empty ceiling until he appeared in the sky above the castle.
In the air, the foundation of the castle crumbled beneath its weight. Only its looming keep remained intact.
Nick scanned the sky. The smell of blood and death isn’t lingering in the air. Does that mean the miasma disappeared when Minako made her wishes? Did she purify this place?
Nick lowered himself to the ground in front of the castle. “This castle is turning into ashes... Now it really is a house for the dead.” He brushed his foot against the ground, laughing quietly as he brushed away his tears with the back of his hand. He stopped his foot and leaned down. I hit something... He continued brushing away the ashes with his hand, revealing a very small flower bud rising from within the ashes.
Nick sank to his knees. “Minako…” You did it… you created that miracle you promised… A world of light where there was only darkness... He lowered his head, then jolted and put his hand to his head. This sound… So sad that it makes me cry... I always remembered it deep in my heart… He put his hands to his heart slowly. Was it always trying to come out? This song… A very small tone… I remembered the tone, but never the words...
He opened his mouth and the song burst from his lips. “Guilty roads to an endless love… There’s no control… Are you with me now? Your every wish will be done, they tell me…”
Nick cupped his hand to his mouth as tears flowed down his cheeks. He lowered his head. “It’s a warning… Or maybe… Maybe it’s a premonition… He dropped to his elbows. “Minako…” I’m glad… I’m glad you rescued everyone like you said… But… But… He slammed his fist into the ground. It’s so damn lonely! It’s so damn lonely… I want… to see you... But if I can’t… I want to be where everyone else is! Tears streamed down his cheeks. “Please let me go there… PLEASE!!”
It hurts and stings! He wrapped his arms around his shoulders tightly, then his hands began glowing a bright sapphire light as they became transparent. Nick lowered his head. I want to see you… Let me go there… even if it means that I have to disappear… His teardrops continued to fall on the ground. It’s better this way… For someone who’s lost everything to lose themselves too…
He wrapped his wings around his body as he continued to disappear, then raised his face to the sky. “If I can’t see you… At least… let me go to them too… Minako…” The tears fell from his eyes as he vanished.
In the shadow of the crumbling castle, the sun was rising upon Rubiihoppou. For the first time in the years since the battles had begun, it seemed as though there was a brightness in the world that had been hidden for years. In the end, the sun had been born again through the stars.
Chapter End Notes:
Nozomeru (pronounced: noh-zoh-may-roo, you may remember from Chapter Two that the r is more of a soft r sound -- an alveolar flap -- similar in execution to how American English speakers would form the double t in “better” or a Spanish r without the trill) is the plain potential form of the class one verb nozomi (pronounced: noh-zoh-mee), “to wish.” In the story, Minako uses “nozomemasu,” the polite form (pronounced: noh-zoh-may-mah-soo; u after s is often muted, and especially at the end of conjugated verbs; while you would pronounce the /s/, you wouldn’t necessarily pronounce the “oo,” but it is part of the syllable). Minako is generally a polite kind of gal, but you should definitely be polite when asking the Emperor of the Heavens to give you holy wishing powers.
