The Dawn After the Darkness

"It's.......over. I.......won."

Kimi said to herself as the overhead storm cleared, and with tears running down her face - she saw as all of the Common Folk around her transformed into flashes of light, all of them returning to the other world, to Japan - while she was still there in the realm. Kimi cried as she looked around, knowing that she was unable to do anything to save anyone, all she could do was stare and accept her pyrrhic fate, the fate of what victory meant in this world. 

"You have indeed - won."

Akio said as he emerged in front of her in his wingless dragon form, hovering in front oh Kimi as Sota, Haruto, and Aoto joined him in their winless dragon forms as they looked at her with their steely eyes, stacked double mouths, and centered jewels in their heads. 

"You've overcome battles of arms and battles of the heart."

Haruto said as Kimi turned to him, nodding as tears continued to run down her face.

"Darkness could not consume the fire or the light within you."

Sota then said to Kimi as he looked at her, though she couldn't respond except for gazing at him with tear-filled eyes. 

"Not even typhoon waves nor endless ashes could hold you down."

Aoto finally said, as Kimi then sank to her knees with her enchanted sword at her side as Akira then manifested before her, the wingless dragons moving aside for him to approach Kimi.

"I would ask you to rise - but I have been in this position of destiny, sacrifice, and solitude long enough to understand that all the strength from any universe couldn't break through what you're feeling right now."

Akira said as he stepped forward, reaching down and lifting Kimi's chin gently as he wiped her tears.

"Listen closely to me, please, listen to me as best you can. You'll rule over this world - and Haruto, Aoto, Akio, and Sota will guide you going forth. You'll be able to travel between this realm and Earth - so do not despair more than need be. The weight of this position is indeed one of despair, yet you will not be able t run from your destiny to hide in the aura of despair. Now, it is time."

Akiara said as he guided Kimi to her feet looking into her eyes as he started to glow, then becoming a flash of light as Kimi was left there with Haruto, Akio, Aoto, and Sota. Kimi dropped to her knees and sobbed, screaming up into the sky!

"NOOOOOOOOO! I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS! I WANT TO GO BACK!"

Kimi screamed and sobbed - the weight of victory being something that she could no longer run from in terms of fighting in battle, or resting in the loving arms of Kana. As she caught her breath, she laid down carefully with her enchanted sword beside her. 

"And yet - I don't have a choice....."

Kimi said to herself as she took breaths, knowing that despite her despair, despite her longing for Kana, her longing for her parents and her old life - she was now made into the ruler of this realm, the ultimate ruler in stewardship to the wingless dragons before her. As Kimi sighed, she stood up, wiped away her tears, and gazed at Haruto, Akio, Aoto, and Sota.

"I have to go to my throne room - I - I have to take this in."

Kimi said as she mustered up as much courage as she could, while the wingless dragons looked at each other and then flew off, leaving Kimi there in the center of the armory and forge grounds - grounds that had less than an hour before been a desperate battleground. As she began to walk into the main fortress, Akio, hovering high above - whipped his spike-ended tail as the battle damage instantly disappeared from Kimi's fortress and armory. Kimi smiled up at Akio briefly, before continuing her journey inside. Kimi couldn't help go from feeling abject despair and longing to feeling a deep sense of contemplation and refection as she made her way to her throne.

As Kimi sat down on her throne, she sighed and looked at the ivory and ruby inlaid box of Sorcerers and Slayers cards, before picking it up and opening it, seeing a new card at the top. Undoubtedly, Akira had placed it there, that's what Kimi thought as she gazed at the card:

A Monument to all Your Pain: Creates an ivory and ruby inlaid statue of your greatest desire and greatest longing.

Kimi felt tears run down from her face as she took the card, and standing up - let out the signature slashing motion to activate the card as before her, in the middle of of the throne room, a life-sized, flawless and detailed neoclassical ivory statue of Kana with ruby inlay for her eyes, lips, and fingernails. 

"I promise, I'll come back for you - I'll do anything to be with you once more."

Kimi said softly as tears rolled down her face, as she then hugged the statue. She couldn't help but feel determined to go back to the other world, back to Japan to find Kana and reunite with her however she could. Kimi was determined to be with Kana somehow, even if she had to travel between this realm and Earth to see her. 

Kimi then sat down on her throne, feeling overwhelmed as she sighed, then falling into a deep, exhausted, emotional sleep.