Still Here: The Final Song

Esca’s hand turned slowly like a mechanical stage that held only Sayane. Her hands held on to Esca’s enormous metal fingertips for support as she closed her eyes and felt the embrace of the instruments. Soft, feminine piano and string melodies beckoned.

“So long ago

Just yesterday

I told myself

One day it would be okay.”

Faint hints of life pulsed from deep within the cloistered heart of the Shard. As Sayane sang, hums from the choir of songstresses hidden in her throat began to rise to support her.

“But with every hurt

I lost my dream

That I would ever see those better days.

I cried and tried

To cling to hope

But then life came and ripped it all away…”

Once she was a child running free and full of hope. Once she was a teenager dreaming of a thrilling life on stage. Once she was a newly announced idol, looking ahead to the joys of a career in music. Once she was becoming more and more lost. Once she was broken. But now, as she stood there held by Azag’s supportive machine, none of that held power over her anymore. Only goodness, love, acceptance, peace, and hope lived in her spirit as she opened her eyes to see the Shard moving to her.

The instruments followed her lead and exploded into a strumming, cascading flow of drums and digital guitar that sent a rushing thrill through Sayane’s body. Her head flung forward and her hands raised in freedom.

“I watched all my dreams burn out!!

Then I hit rock bottom

And the bottom dropped out!

Broken down and broke!

All those words we never spoke!”

Tears of reflection poured out with more intensity than ever before. It was all worth it. Every moment. Every failure. Every loss. All of it led her to this. It was never too much. It was enough. She was enough. Death could finally have her. She did not welcome it like a friend, but she accepted its verdict. Her life was full and her spirit was healed.

“Sunsets turned to flames that turned to fear

The hopes almost faded out but they never faded away

In the end nothing remained except for me

AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNDDDDD I’M STIIIIILLLLL HEEEEEEERRRRRE!!!

Down below, the battle began to stall. Sayane’s voice carried across the land like a thunderstorm, drowning out all of the screaming and terror. Purple light began to shine in the chests of all who listened.

“In the dark

I found a light

It was weak and it was frail

But it got me through the night

I kept it close

And fanned the flame.”

Purple glows turned to purple beams that rose in thousands of bodies. Not just there on the battlefield, but across the realm, all those who were listening through the Voice Carriers began to feel a bittersweet victory building in their souls. Tens of thousands of purple glowing lights began to rise high into the heavens. Their light pierced upwards until they reached the glowing blue barrier.

“As the fire spread

I began to warm

From that day on

Nothing was ever the same

I clawed my way out of the haze

And set out to find those better days!

A blast from an imperial ship fired at Sayane, but a burst of light engulfed her and Esca in protection. The attack was redirected back towards the ship, striking it and sending an explosion through the sky. As the fireball roared, Sayane’s music rose once more.

“I watched aaaaaaaaaall my dreams burn out!!!

Then I hit rock bottom and the bottom dropped out

Broken down but never brooooooken!

So many words still to be spoken!!!

Digging myself out of the cave in

My heart gave out but I never gave in!!”

The Shard was near her now. Streams of white ran from its barbed edges like tears from an eternal font. But its color was returning.

“Sunset turned to suuuuunriiiiissssee!!!

I saw the light with my own eyes

The hopes faded out but they never faded away

I felt hints of peace as I found my way

I had to believe that I’d see those better days

In the end, nothing remained except for me

And I’m still here,

And that was where I found you, dear…”

Sayane could not help but turn to Azag as she sang. Dust clung to the wet streaks on her face as the blood dried and she felt the warmth return to the Shard. Thousands of purple beams greeted her in support. Down below, the battle had all but stopped as the armies of both sides had frozen to listen.

Three white beams appeared from the far corners of the world. They were enormous, magical, and full of support. Sayane knew it was the other Shards who were calling their sibling forth. The music softened as Sayane sang directly to Azag.

“In our abyss

In our despair

You held me close

With a tender care

I never dreamt of this

But this world was where

Sorrow could turn to bliss

No more dismay

Every sunrise announced a better day.”

Sayane’s hand reached out for Azag even though she knew he could not reach her. Instead, Esca’s thumb rose softly to find Sayane’s touch.

The song reached its bridge and hundreds of soft hums echoed across the land. Pulses of white danced around Sayane and she turned to the Shard, who was finally nearby. Her fingers extended slowly, and the Shard almost retreated, but it stayed and allowed Sayane to touch its harsh edges.

“I know what it’s like to be broken. I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through,” Sayane said as she felt the Shard’s energy pump into her hand.

“I’m sorry such cruelty was done to you. And you might feel like you’ll never shine again. But I have to tell you; You can always shine. No matter how dark it gets, your song and your light will always be there. You just have to be in the right place, surrounded by the right people. So please. Come shine and sing with me…”

Purple beams grew in intensity as the music built into a heroic, loving crescendo.

Across the realm, the three white beams began to strobe in sequence with the drums. A massive dreadnought neared Sayane and she could see dozens of cannons aiming towards them, but she didn’t flinch.

“Everyone’s waiting and cheering for you. You’ll do beautifully, I know it…” Sayane whispered.

The cannons charged with energy and red light coated Sayane in imminent annihilation. All she could do was close her eyes.

“This life is beautiful,” she said to herself as everything froze.

There was a blast as the cannons fired their complete fury. But just before the beams struck, there was a cataclysm of white as millions of voices sang in unison. The last Great Harmony Shard awoke. Its awakening sent out a shockwave of music that tore the murderous beams into nothingness. Every malicious imperial vessel exploded, filling the sky with red, and blue bursts. The burst spread from the ships and down to the great capital city, where waves of energy struck every tower and column, snapping them and sending their once grand buildings crashing down.

As the fires rained through the sky, the purple beams of the captive listeners all surged in power.

There was a chime, then an ear-splitting shatter. The blue hexagons of the great barrier all snapped and collapsed. Sunlight burned through in true brightness for the first time in a century. Through it all, Sayane stood there with her arms extended. Millions of cheers and cries of gratitude rushed through her spirit as she felt The Silence’s grip on the realm finally break. It was done.

A laugh of pure happiness shook her chest as the music continued to play. Cheers of absolute wonder rose from the ground below. Sayane looked down to see the armies all on their knees in wonder. All of it felt like Sayane’s body was being restitched from nothingness, and she wondered if this was her final chorus.

“Sayane! Sayane!! Sayane!!!”

Screams of worship and reverence made their way high into the air and coated Sayane in appreciative wonder. It was over. They had done it. No matter what was ahead, the Dissonance was gone and The Silence was all but destroyed. The Shard pulsed in glorious white and blue as it rose high into the sky. A fourth and final beam of white shot into the heavens to join the other three, and the world was in harmony once more.

Color returned in waves as clouds broke and golden dawn light covered the land. Azag’s cry of joy echoed out from Esca’s cabin.

“SAYANE YOU DID IT!!!” he cheered in wonder.

Sayane could not help but jump into the air and scream in rapturous joy as she clapped aloud. Clapping caused specks of glowing purple to drift from her hands. A gasp of sorrow and understanding escaped her lips as a thousand emotions broiled in Sayane’s heart. This might be it.

“Sayane! Sayane!! Sayane!!!”

Sayane closed her eyes and listened to the wondrous sound of the crowd cheering for her, but more importantly for hope. She let the feeling of completeness stitch itself to her heart for all time and inhaled to say farewell. As she faced the world below, she lifted her hands and the music began to return.

“We watched all our dreams burn out.

We hit rock bottom but we got ourselves out.

Our broken souls were remade 

Filled with a light that wouldn’t fade.

Digging out of the cave in

Our hearts gave out but we never gave in.

Sunsets warmed our skin every day.

The hopes almost faded out but they never faded away.

We found peace and found our way.

We had to believe that we were in the better days!”

Sayane spun in joyous abandon as the thousands of voices rose to join her. Buildings collapsed all around her and Azag, but she kept dancing. Every twirl and spin and stomp sent blasts of music into the world as tears hung from her face like ornaments.

“In the end, something remained within us, and we’re still here.

And that is why I hold this world so dear.

And that is why I hold this world so dear.

And that is whyyyyyyyyyyyy I hold this world soooooooo deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeear!”

As the music burst into its final notes, everything flashed white and Sayane braced as the floods of cleansing harmony blanketed the world to wash it anew.