Chapter 30: Rebuild and Rejoice

The flight back to Amber Village was quiet. After the initial relief and joy of having defeated Mortem, the weight of the dead finally took effect, and everyone’s moods became bittersweet. A thousand combatants, and ninety percent were killed off. Of the soldiers who accompanied Laura and the others, only Gordon and Taylor had survived. However, Gordon had lost his right arm, and Taylor became permanently blind. Having finally calmed down, Berus got his stomach wound fully healed. Nothing could be done about his left eye, which he accepted.

Cello leaned over to Laura and asked, “What are you going to do once we get back?”

Laura’s gaze lowered, and she stared at Ferral’s corpse, which had been wrapped up in cloth. “Well,” she said, “first, we have to give all of the dead proper burials. Then, we’ll focus on rebuilding the village.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Armin leaned forward in his seat and said, “If you guys want, I’d be more than glad to roll up the old sleeves and help around. Get some of the other scientists to lend a hand.”

Laura smiled and replied, “Thanks, Uncle, but you don’t have to do that. If you want, it’d be great if you could join us for the burials.”

“Sure thing, kiddo.”

Laura looked at Anthony and Everett. “Anthony, Mrs. Romanova, you guys can join too. If you want.”

Anthony smiled and nodded. “Sure thing,” he said.

“Gladly,” Everett added.

The plane made it to Australia, dropping off the remaining human soldiers at their complex. Then, made stops at the other villages of the Amber Empire before dropping Laura and others off at the Dead Zone. The group made their way back to Amber Village, expecting to be greeted by the deserted and destroyed settlement. However, they all stopped, stunned and speechless when they found villagers walking the grounds. Several at work; men, women, elderly…even children! They were all cleaning up the rubble and debris of the charred buildings, some carrying the dead to the village’s cemetery.

A few of the villagers noticed Laura and others standing at the entrance, and their faces lit up with joy. They dropped their tools or debris and came running over.

“Prince! Princess! You’re alive!” A man exclaimed.

“Oh, thank God you two are safe!” A woman added.

They all surrounded the group, welcoming them back with great joy. Laura, Berus, and Cello didn’t know what to do; they didn’t expect anyone to still be around.

“Wow,” Armin muttered, surprised. “They said there was no one here.”

Cello’s eyes darted around the crowd, her eyebrows raising when she saw the top of a man’s head in the back of the crowd. “D-Dad?” she said, slowly pushing through the crowd. “Dad!”

Mr. Fenik’s face finally came into view, and he locked eyes with Cello. His eyes widened, stumbling as he made his way toward his daughter. The two embraced tightly, Cello bursting into loud sobs.

“Dad!” She cried into his chest.

“Cello!” Mr. Fenick said. “I thought I’d never see you again, sweetheart!”

Cello looked up, stammering with her words. “I-I-I didn’t find your body…I-I thought you were dead…oh, dad!” She went back to crying into his chest.

Mr. Fenick stroked her head and said, “Some of us managed to escape, but we went into hiding. We waited for two days until we thought the coast was clear.”

Laura and Berus managed to peek through the crowd and see the reunited family. Laura smiled, happy for her best friend. But her smile slowly faded when she remembered that the siblings wouldn’t have such a moment. She let out a small sigh, Armin placing a hand on her shoulder.

He smiled. “It’s alright, kiddo,” Armin said. “Your parents wouldn’t want you to feel so bad.”

Laura gave a faint smile back. “Yeah…”

Afterwards, the group, along with the rest of the village survivors, held a small funeral ceremony for all of those who died not just in the attack on the village, but during the battle at the Forbidden City. Ferral and Nia’s bodies were buried next to each other, Laura using her father’s gauntlet as a headstone and her mother’s armor for hers. The villagers had gone back to cleaning up the village while Laura and others stayed for a while longer. Berus stayed at the back, paying his respects to his mother from a distance. Once the ceremony was over, the experiment trio would say their goodbyes and help with the cleanup. They all stood by the entrance of the village.

“You kiddos positive you don’t want us to help?” Armin asked.

Laura nodded and said, “Yeah, but thank you for offering, Uncle.”

“You probably have a plethora of problems waiting back home,” Berus added.

Armin chuckled and said, “Certainly not looking forward to those meetings. Hannah’s not gonna believe me when I tell her about this.”

“I’m sure this will sound like a typical Tuesday to her,” Laura joked.

Everett walked up to Berus. “Don’t hate your father too much, Berus,” she said. “Sometimes…sometimes people fall into the dark, and they’ll do things they end up regretting. Ferral was like that; he had so much hate and resentment toward himself for his actions.”

“So, am I just supposed to forgive him for what he did?” Berus scoffed.

“No…but…he tried to make up for his sins. He would die a million more times to repent.”

Berus lowered his gaze and let out a long sigh. “I’ll think about it.”

Everett gave a smile. She could see so much of Ferral in Berus, down to his personality. She knew the young prince wouldn’t hold a grudge forever. Anthony was already outside the entrance, awkwardly flipping rocks over with his foot. Laura saw him and walked over, smiling when their gaze met.

“I’m glad to have seen you again,” Laura said. “Even through weird circumstances.”

Anthony chuckled and said, “Maybe…maybe we’ll meet again. But, you know, when we’re not tracking down some monster.”

Laura giggled, moving closer and leaning into his ear. “I’ll. Be. Waiting,” she whispered, enunciating each word.

Anthony’s earlobe turned red, and he fell back into some bushes. Laura gasped before bursting out into laughter. Armin and Everett chuckled at the two; Cello gave a faint smile and rolled her eyes. Even Berus flashed a small grin. Armin walked over and helped Anthony up, Everett joining, and the three said their final goodbyes before turning and heading back to the plane. Laura, Cello, and Berus began walking back to help the villagers.

Berus moved his right eye to look at Laura and said, “I just remembered something, sis.”

“What’s that?” Laura asked.

“You are now Empress of the Amber Empire.”

“Oh yeah, you’re right!” Cello gasped. “Wow, I would’ve never have thought of that so soon!”

Laura was at a loss for words. She didn’t even think about that until now; it never once crossed her mind. Before, she would’ve been ecstatic, but now…

“So, Empress,” Berus said with a smirk. “What’s gonna be your first action?”

Laura thought long about that question. She walked a few feet in front of the two and turned around. “As my first decree as Empress,” Laura declared, “I am stepping down and giving the position to you, Berus!”

“What?!” Berus and Cello exclaimed.

The young woman smiled and nodded. “Mmhm, mmhm. Yep!”

“B-but why?” Berus asked.

“I’m not cut out for the political side of the job, nor do I want to. I want to explore and defend the empire without all the boring meetings and paperwork and junk.”

Laura pointed at Berus and continued, “But, you’re great at all that. Not to mention, everyone loves you, no, they adore you. You’re also much stronger than me. You were born for this position, Berus.”

Berus, still recovering from the initial shock, could help but smile wide. “Thank you, Laura,” he said. “I accept.”

Laura cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted, “Hey, everyone! Berus is the new ruler of the Amber Empire!”

The villagers stopped what they were doing, stunned at this information. But they all started to applaud and gather around the young emperor, congratulating him. Berus blushed with embarrassment, scratching the back of his head.

Cello walked next to Laura and asked, “What are you going to do then?”

Laura shrugged. “I don’t know. Oh, hey! Maybe I’ll be the new general for the defense force? I can transform now, and into Super Full Power!”

“Oh yeah, I saw that. How did that happen?”

Laura shook her head and said, “I’m not sure, but I’ve got a lot to tell you about what Papa told me.”

The villagers of Amber Village were able to clean up and begin rebuilding their home with the guidance of the new emperor. Laura had told Berus and Cello all of the things Ferral had told her. How she was once a human and her foster father’s fall to darkness. Hearing this, Berus began to understand what Everett had told him, and while he still could not forgive Ferral, he did not hate him the same. Now, Berus had begun to regret not being able to hear his father’s words. But, there was unfortunately nothing that could be done. Laura showed off the picture of Ferral and his foster family, striking awe in Berus and Cello. And so, after a month, the village was, for the most part, up and running again.

During that month, leaders of the human settlement were furious. Wanting to take action against the experiments now that their militaries were weakened. However, Armin made sure to deter such frivolous ideas. Threatening the leaders that if they were to try to attack the experiments again, he would shut down and destroy all weapon manufacturing buildings, and let them fight unarmed. They reluctantly withdrew the idea. Anthony continued with his work, trying to pretend that nothing happened. To forget past events and people. One day, at the facility, Everett called her son into her office. When he got there, Armin was standing beside her.

“What’s all this about?” Anthony asked.

Everett straightened more and said, “Did I ever tell you what happened between Ferral and me?”

He shook his head.

“One day, he stopped by my place in the dead of night and knocked at my door. I opened it, and he immediately pulled me into a kiss. Ferral told me he loved me, and left…I never saw him again for many years after that night. Now, while I very much love your mother, do you know what one of my biggest regrets is?”

Anthony shook his head again. “No.”

Everett continued, “Is that I didn’t run after him. I didn’t chase after that man and stick to his side as though we were glued together. I loved him very much, but I let him slip away…I don’t want you to make the same mistake I did.”

“I-I don’t understand.”

Armin sighed, walking over to Anthony and smacking him in the back of the head. “She means, why are you still here and not with Laura?”

Anthony became flustered. “Wh-what?! Why are you two suddenly…I don’t…it’s just…huh?!”

Armin gave him a light smack on the shoulder. “Look, kiddo, we know you’ve ducked every chance to meet her, and I’ve already formally accepted your resignation.”

Anthony quirked his brow and said, “Wait, what?”

“It means, go out there and bring me back some grandchildren!” Everett raised her voice.

Anthony jumped. “Alright, alright! You crazy people!” he said. “I’m just…nervous and awkward.”

“We know,” Both Armin and Everett replied.

Anthony took a jeep out into the jungle later that day, but it wasn’t fully filled with gas, so the car had died midway through his trip. He cursed and went the rest of the way on foot. However, night was approaching, and light in this jungle was already scarce, so the young man got lost. He trekked through the foliage, feeling as though he was going in circles. By the time night had come and a full moon shone over the tops of the canopy, Anthony was about ready to give up. That was until he heard a familiar sound. High above the trees, the alluring melody of a flute drew nearer. Its tune was beautiful and peaceful, growing louder and louder the closer it got. He heard the trees rustle, and the music was right on top of him. Suddenly, dozens of red eyes started popping up and looking down at the young man. The music stopped, and a figure dropped from the trees onto the ground. Anthony quickly pulled out his flashlight and turned it on in front of him. A beautiful young woman clad in black stood in front of him, with her arms behind her back and a smile on her face.

“Hi,” Laura greeted, batting her eyelashes.

Anthony gulped and chuckled awkwardly. “Hi,” he replied.

The two gazed at each other, Laura’s crimson eyes and Anthony’s icy blue eyes never looking away. Through impulse, Anthony glided over, grabbing Laura by the waist and pulling her into a kiss. She was stunned at first, but melted into it, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.