At Long Last, The End.

Annie placed her hands on Lilin's shoulders, opening her Core and no longer trying to track how much Mana she was using. She felt it wheezing out, like a balloon pushing its last bits of air out. Lilin gasped, her body able to repair the worst of the damage with Annie's Mana.

"F-Fuck," she muttered, "Annie... I-I told you... Not to do that!..."

"It's your turn... T-To shut up," Annie said as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I-I hardly have any time left now, dear."

"A-Annie?!" Charlie exclaimed. "I-I..."

Annie turned to Charlie, chuckling weakly. "Goodness, you've grown up since we last met, haven't you? Well, I've grown up even faster." Annie let out a laugh, then took a deep breath. "You're such a graceful young woman now, dear. I knew you could do it, but... I'm sorry I couldn't visit you."

Charlie shook her head, a tear streaming from her eyes as well. "I-I... Thank you! Even though we barely got to know one another, y-you... You changed my life!" Charlie meant it. Without Annie saving her, she wouldn't be here. Without Annie's insistence on caring for her, she wouldn't have taken care of herself. She wanted to tell Annie all about how her life had gone since they last saw each other, but there wasn't any time. She had so much more to say, but she held it all back.

Annie nodded, smiling for her. "And you changed mine, dear."

Annie turned to Euwelyn. "Miss Euwelyn... P-Promise me, th-that... You'll watch over th-the children in my stead?"

Euwelyn nodded. "Yes, Miss Smith. I swear it, I won't let you down!" She knew she couldn't take any more time than necessary. She wanted to say more, or to do something, but... Annie didn't have the time left for that.

Annie turned to Six, smiling. "Six... Tell Deuce... That he's a fine young man. Clever beyond compare, a-and... Ngh, h-his mother would be pr-proud of him. And... T-Tell him... To get you a good nickname, too."

Six nodded. "Yes, Annie." She was trying, but her expression just wouldn't stay straight. No tears fell, but a deep frown crossed her face. "Thank you for doing this. You succeeded where nobody else could. You've united the kingdom. It is a shame you will not get to see it, nor lead it."

Annie nodded, chuckling. "Guess not, huh? Ngh... I wish... I could have baked cookies for you all."

Lilin scowled. "Hey, don't I get a turn?!"

Annie laughed as hard as her weakened body could. She turned to look at Lilin, reaching a hand up to gently touch her cheek. "Look at you... You've grown up so much. You even defeated your father, and after worrying so much about it!..."

Lilin's eyes watered as she held a hand up to Annie's, feeling the warmth of her fingers on her face. Annie took a deep breath to keep speaking. "Lilin... I want you to lead. The way you've changed, and how much you've changed... You're the best person for the job, as long as Euwelyn is by your side. You never needed me to teach you any lessons, just... Show you who you really are."

Lilin shook her head. "Don't say that, dammit! Y-You taught me a whole lot of shit! L-Like, the flowers! And the... The, uhhh...!"

Annie shook her head in response. "No, Lilin... I hardly taught you anything. Y-You were always like this. You're a wonderful young woman, and you... Ngh, you're the only person who can-...!"

Lilin scowled. "SHUT UP! Save your damn breath, I get it! You want me in charge, fine, whatever! Just!... Don't leave, not yet! I... I need you here! You... You were supposed... To be here, f-for me...! Y-You're not supposed to leave yet! Don't leave me!"

"I'm afraid... That's not an option, dear," Annie said. "I just have... One last thing... To say."

"Wh-What?... What is it, you bastard?"

Annie smirked, the insult bringing a flash of their time together to her mind. "Lilin... Nobody lives forever. We all try... To leave something behind... Something that we love... A-And... Lilin?"

Lilin leaned in closer, breathing shakily as she held back tears. "What?"

"I'm... Damn proud of you. I love you, Lilin."

Lilin broke down into tears as she saw Annie's breathing stop. She hadn't stopped saying "I love you too" since Annie had spoken her final words. She buried her head in her hands, ugly crying as she howled with grief. Nobody in the throne room felt happy, despite the incredible victory. Even the three generals who had never known this woman could tell that her loss was a heavy one. There was more to her than her simply being the one in line to lead.

"I am sorry for your loss," Tobin said. "She was a wonderful woman, and selfless to the end."

"Y-You don't... Know the h-half of it," Lilin said through sobs. "Sh-She... She was... Th-Th-The greatest... Woman... I ever met!"

Hrist nodded, folding her arms. She was wildly uncomfortable, having absolutely no idea what to do in a situation like this. She looked at Tobin, seeing he was equally uncomfortable. Slowly, the two of them started to leave the room. Tobin spoke up, wanting to make sure it wasn't a disgraceful exit.

"We will check the remainder of the castle," he said. "Ensure that those loyal to the late King are dealt with, and to inform all remaining."

With that, Hrist and Tobin left. Charlie sobbed over Annie, wishing they had been able to meet sooner. Six took several deep breaths, struggling to maintain her composure. Euwelyn closed her eyes, trying to remember Annie for the young woman she had first met, who offered everything she had to the children of that small town. She was so glad that that was her memory, and not that of a construct. Even Hinata was starting to break down, the sight of Lilin sobbing like a baby making his eyes watery.

"A-Alright," Hinata said, wiping the tears away forcefully before they could be shown. "Come on. If she was really that important, we should set up a funeral service."

"F-Fuck you," Lilin said in a hoarse whisper. Hinata grabbed her arm and lifted her up and away from Annie's corpse.

"Yeah," he said solemnly. "Fuck you, too."