Epilogue

Solipsism

sol·ip·sism /ˈsäləpˌsizəm/

noun

1. the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist.

A blue butterfly flittered among lush gardens. The insect alighted on a blooming azalea. Rays of the morning sun shimmered on lingering dewdrops. The sunshine sheared through morning mist, fresh off the roaring sea.

The clash of the waves could be heard from anywhere on the island, from the center where I stood to the heights of the palace touching the clouds. I was close enough to touch its bricks. My toes curled into the dirt, and I looked away from the pillar-shaped palace.

The garden within the palace's inner gates held sprawling bushes and trees. Rows of tulips flanked the pathway behind me. Thorny rose bushes hugged the high gates. Silence fell where, normally, the clank of guards' armor would chime.

A gentle touch tucked a white azalea behind my ear. "Good morning."

Brown curls framed her kind smile. The queen's crown was a modest gold circlet. My fingers brushed the soft petals in my hair. She had no business speaking to me. "What do you want, mother?"

The Queen of Atlantis chuckled. Her silky-smooth fingers filled the holes between my own. "Is it wrong of me to want to spend time with my daughter? Your father would say so, but he's not here."

Her voice lowered to a shrill whisper, which suggested she visited me against his orders. I glanced around the gardens. Was their emptiness her doing, also? "Why would you want to see me?"

"I always want to see you!" She moved behind me, one hand on my shoulder and the other playing with a particularly stubborn tuft of white hair at my left temple. She was careful not to disturb the azalea, I noticed. "How are you feeling?"

"…Lonely."

"Oh," she said, her pout plain in her words, "that's tragic. I'm here for you. Tell me more. You don't have anyone to talk to, do you?"

"No. I have three friends, but they don't visit. I don't want to bother them, either."

"But friends they are. Who wouldn't want to see you, dear? I promise you don't have to be lonely. I'm here now."

I pricked my finger on a rose bush and watched the blood run. "You said that already."

Mother rounded to face me from the front. She clutched the skirts of her red velvet dress and bit her scarlet-painted lip. "Talk more. Please. Let's get breakfast – blueberry pie, your favorite! I want to hear more from you, _ _ _ _ _ _!"

The word was distorted like a disrupted radio broadcast. I blinked. Her visage flickered. "What?"

"I said we need to talk more, _ _ _ _ _ _."

An exhale escaped my nostrils.

"I would," I said, "if you were real."

And it all crumbled: the palace, the gardens, the sea, the sky. My mother. The fake world unfurled for the truth. The cloudless blue sky had a still image of an afternoon sun. Light sparkled on the bars of the Gilded Gate piercing the sky. Soft green grass and tiny flowers clustered around a brook. A white violin and bow lay beside my bare feet.

Being trapped in the Spirit World's excuse for an afterlife meant I could transform the landscape into whatever my mind desired. I did not want this. Those words of comfort were not from my mother; they were creations of my own mind. It was impossible for those poorly-crafted shades of memories to fool me.

Their unbecoming was always when they tried to say my name. They couldn't access knowledge I myself had lost, so whatever name may have once been mine was unknown to them, also.

My azure butterfly fluttered around my cranium. I reached for the azalea tucked behind my ear.

My hand passed through empty air.

A sigh escaped me. No; those words of comfort could never come from anyone else.

I lifted the violin's bow, and my finger glanced down the taut strings. The butterfly landed on the tip. Beyond its cerulean wings, I spotted the church crowning the mountain.

Rain and I walked through those doors together; we usurped the fake king Zeman together.

Yet still they kept me locked up in this cage. I looked to the bell tower in the distance. She said I saved the Spirit World. She acted like her contributions meant nothing and her existence accomplished little.

Yes, it sounded just like Rain, but it made me sad regardless.

I wondered if she would remember me. Obviously, she didn't when she saw me. She wasn't supposed to remember anyone. A small part of me hoped she would – that I would be her exception. Stupid hope.

She remembered now, though. Would she visit? Would she recognize me?

Would she know my name?

The jangle of chainmail caught my attention. Another shade trying to fool me, or – no. This time, it was Timaeus, one of the Legendary Knights who shared the Gilded Gate with me.

Whenever Timaeus appeared as a mannequin of memories, he had both his eyes. The real Timaeus had a scar over the right. Puffy, white flesh surrounded the wound. My subconscious must not have wanted to acknowledge the imperfection.

He said, "Good day to you, Rain."

My heart twisted. I could correct him if I had a name to give him. "What do you want?"

"There is no need to be on the defensive," he assured. "We worry over you after last week's spar. Has the Crimson Dragon afflicted you since?"

Last week? The incident felt like centuries past. Huh. He actually… worried over me? I touched the bridge of my nose, and my bangs brushed my fingernail. "It's puzzling. The Crimson Dragon has no connection with me; only my other half. I haven't felt anything from him since, no. I wonder if it has to do with her comatose state."

"Coma?" Timaeus asked.

"Yes. The me in the other world is in one. Have I not told you?"

"We rarely speak."

He appeared… hurt? No. I must've been seeing things. I said, "I try not to disturb anyone who has built fortresses of memories around themselves."

"It is no trouble," he said. "You add to the peace, not take away."

"The nature of this place is the opposite of peace."

"Oh? I swore I saw you in Atlantis moments ago. It's perfectly alright. I appreciate the moments I am able to spend with my wife and children thanks to the afterlife built for us here."

My arm dropped, and my butterfly took flight. "They aren't real. They're creations of your own mind. The shades are closer to imaginary friends than your true kin."

His chuckle was not a happy sort. "If you believe that, you must be driving yourself insane here."

The opposite, in fact. To give into the wiles of the Gilded Gate was to lose grip on your sanity. I refused. Let him live his life here without my judgement, though. "No. I'm okay. How about I try another spar to quell your worry?"

Spinning the bow of the violin in my hands shifted it into a pale blade with a sapphire hilt. My statements lifted his spirits. We crossed the landscape into a field of violets. I wondered if it was someone's creation or the truth behind the imagination.

Two other knights sparred in the opposite corner of the Gilded Gate. Hermos, in red, was thrown onto the grass. He said, "Aw, what? You cheated!"

"Distraction tactics aren't cheating, imbecile. I don't know why you bother challenging me." The black-armored knight heard my approach and glared at me. "The statue's here."

"Tame your tongue, Critias," Timaeus said. He had followed close behind me. "She's ready to make another attempt."

Critias's sharp blue eyes burned holes into me. "Take an easy one, then. Hermos! Stand!"

"Hey! I am not easy!" He growled at Critias then sucked in a breath and ran a hand through his mess of brunet hair. "Fiiine. You can do it this time!"

I raised my blade, but when I did, crimson marks shone along my body. I grimaced.

As the scarlet glow swept my consciousness into a vision, I cursed how that Dragon had the worst timing.

The sun was near to New Domino City's horizon. Orange light fell upon Leo and Luna. The twins wore what looked like uniforms, Luna's being red and Leo's being blue.

They walked through a crowded plaza and stopped at a flower shop. Luna said, "What about roses? Think she'd like white ones? Her favorite dragons are white."

"I don't care what kind they are," Leo muttered. "As long as they're the biggest and best! We have to outdo Kalin somehow!"

"I don't think you'll ever…" Luna giggled. "Oh, what's the harm? Sure. How about you choose, Leo?"

"Aw, yeah! I'm gonna pick the greatest ones, you'll see!"

Luna tailed him through the shop as he scrutinized each flower. She whispered, "Do you think Kalin's okay?"

"Huh? Uh, I guess so. He's been working super hard and designed the whole bridge. Isn't that what Rain wanted? It sucks what happened to her but he seems fine. He smiles every time I see him!"

"Don't you think he did the same to Rain when he was keeping that secret from her?"

"You're overthinking it," Leo said. "Why are you worrying about that creep so much, anyway?"

Luna gazed into the blossom of a red rose. "That's not nice. He's not horrible. Besides, the spirits told me something."

Leo looked to her but she wouldn't meet his eyes. "What does that have to do with crazy dude?"

"It's Torunka. He used his magic, and he could hear Rain."

"Aaand?"

Luna bit her lip. "Forget it. Have you picked a kind out yet?"

"Oh, I'm picking out a bunch of kinds! It's gonna be a whole bouquet!"

Luna giggled, and the scene shifted. Yusei sat in front of a laptop in an underground garage. Akiza strolled around his red duel runner behind his corner. "Huh. You said you leased an apartment, not a basement."

Yusei's eyebrow lifted. "Appreciate the compliment."

Her smile was sly. "You, er, haven't been as talkative as usual. Something up?"

Yusei set his jaw and sighed through his nostrils. "We've made lots of progress moving on from everything that happened. Jack's even going to be living with me and Crow. It finally feels like we're all friends again. The problem is Kalin. He avoids me. I know he has it rough because Rain's out, but he won't talk to me. He hasn't accepted my forgiveness, either."

"Might be bad to talk about the whole trap thing Roman put her in since it seemed really private what she showed off," Akiza said, "but I know you were forced to watch, too. They both wanted to die. They didn't for each other. He's alone now. He has it more than rough."

"I understand. That's why I'm trying to give him some space, but it doesn't change this feeling I have – like nothing I say makes a difference."

Akiza tossed him a look over her shoulder. "To tell the truth, Yusei, it might not. There was a time when I- I enjoyed using my psychic power. That girl didn't deserve to be saved. That girl didn't deserve your help."

"How can you say that? Of course you did! You're amazing, and sweet, and incredibly-"

Aki rested her hand over Yusei's clenched fist. "I know you think that. I know, but that can't change how I feel about the person I used to be, understand?"

"No, I don't understand! You're different now, and he is, too!"

"As much as I would like to believe that," Aki said, "she's still a part of me. That will never change."

Yusei searched her eyes. "Could you talk to him?"

Akiza glared at him. "If I have to talk to Kalin Kessler, I will gouge my eyes out with a spork."

"Okay! Okay. I doubt it'd help. He only smiles and never talks about himself. Him and his damned lies again," Yusei grumbled. "Anyway. How's being back home?"

A glimmer of red danced upon her right forearm. Akiza withdrew her hand. "My fa- that is, the senator has already gone back to ignoring me the way he used to. He's already planning on shipping me off to Duel Academia again. I plan on taking a stand. I'll force him to let me go to the school in the City one way or another."

Yusei shot up from his chair, whose rollers spun out of control. "So you're staying? That- that's great, Akiza!"

A smile played at her lips. "Excited, much?"

Yusei glanced at the still-spinning chair. He cleared his throat and leaned on his duel runner. "It's, well, it's great news."

The vision swept away, displaying the entrance to a hospital. Half of the sun's disk was visible. Red-orange washed over the courtyard, giving Crow's three criminal marks a glow effect. He was standing in front of the revolving door. Someone ran straight into him.

"My bad," Kalin murmured. He wore a faded brown leather jacket over a gray shirt and jeans. He glanced up and grinned. There were dark trenches beneath his eyes. "Oh! Hey, Crow."

"You visiting again?"

"Yeah!"

Crow's eyebrows scrunched. "You're not looking too good, dude. You doing okay?"

Kalin ran a hand through his hair, grinning. "I'm fiiine."

"I can't believe you would do this again." Crow shook his head. "This is just like the end of our team. Isn't it time you told the truth? Everyone's been worried about you!"

"Huh." Kalin's face fell. "That can't be right. I'm not important."

Crow shouted, "Are you kidding me? All those times in the Satellite you saved us, and the Bridge-"

"Hey." Crow broke off and stared at Kalin's small smile with wide eyes. In a quiet voice, he said, "I get it. It's hard for me to accept, you know?"

"Y-yeah. Sorry for yelling."

"No problem. I get that you're just trying to help. Look, I have trouble sleeping all the time now. That's probably why I look like a dead man walking. Not much I can do to prevent it. I know I'm overworking, but it makes me feel better. Eh. As 'better' as I can feel."

"Sorry about that," Crow muttered. "Hey, I have an idea. Since they accepted your design, they're hiring construction workers for the big job. I'm shooting for supervisor, personally! Gotta make sure they do it justice. That could be some regular hours for you. Why not give it a shot?"

Kalin rubbed at the back of his neck. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks for looking out for me. Sorry for scaring you."

"You, uh." Crow's gray eyes scanned his old leader. "You're different."

Kalin smiled and tapped his temple. "Thanks, friend."

With that, he brushed past Crow and entered the hospital. Crow busted out a laugh. "With the way Rain acted at the end there, and the way he's acting now- They've swapped places! God, I can't wait for her to wake up and see this. I'll keep a popsicle waiting, Rain!"

The scene shifted to show Jack Atlas standing in a hospital room. Outside the window, dusk swept over New Domino City. Streetlights flickered on one-by-one like fallen stars piercing the night.

Jack gazed at Rain, who was passed out on the bed and hooked up to various machines. A tiny flower pattern spotted her paper hospital gown. Scratches and bruises stained her skin where visible, and bandages covered her arms and legs. On the table beside her rested a vase full of bright yellow goldenrods. Their color was reminiscent of her criminal mark.

"Little late for you to be here." Kalin slipped into the room and stood beside him. The sight of Jack changed his demeanor drastically. "I don't think I've seen you visit before. Actually, I haven't seen you since you used your pretty boy powers to get me and her that helicopter ride to the hospital from the Satellite!"

Jack glared at him. "Stop calling me that. I'm here because I was waiting for you."

"An audience with the King? I'm honored!"

"Ex-King," Jack growled.

"Oh, right. I didn't miss Yusei kicking your ass to the curb like you did his. How the hell are you able to be in his company? He's practically a saint. I can't stand being near him. We'll never be on the same level, not after I…"

Jack crossed his arms. "One mistake doesn't have to ruin our friendship."

"Oh, one. Riiight," Kalin muttered. "My pile is so high, I could reach the moon. I'd say heaven, but there's only so much rejection I can take, you feel?"

Jack sighed. "If you want to work on making it up to him, the best you can do is be his friend. That's all he wants. I realize that sounds ridiculous to people like you and me, but it's the way Yusei is. A saint. Sure, when I look at him, all I can see is that look on his face when I betrayed him. It gets better, Kalin. Being near him helps more than avoiding him hurts."

Kalin grinned. "Aw, did you visit just to ease my aching heart? I didn't believe Carly, but damn, she really did change you!"

Jack flinched at the mention. "No, I didn't visit for that, but – you and I are friends, too, Kalin. I realize I haven't been around these past three weeks. That's because Carly… forgot everything. She doesn't remember being a Dark Signer like you do. She acts the same way she did before, and it's painful. But, you. You're in pain, too. Wouldn't you rather forget? I want to know if this is the best for her."

"Are you kidding? It hurts like hell!" Kalin swept an arm towards Rain. "I have to stand here and know I did that! You're wrong, though. I wouldn't forget if I had the choice. If I lost them, I wouldn't have changed. I don't doubt that I would follow the same path, never listening to anyone, and end up hurting the people I care about all over again.

"Carly's different, though. She didn't choose to be a Dark Signer. Did you know that? She never wanted revenge on you or anyone. In fact, she only dueled you because I convinced her to."

Jack snarled. "You what?"

"She asked me how I could go through with dueling Rain since she was in the same position. I told her exactly what I thought, and she agreed. She wanted to save you so badly, Jack." Kalin observed the anger darkening Jack's features and his clenched fists. "You can hit me. It's fine. I don't deserve any less. Take it from me, though. It won't feel so good afterwards."

Jack grabbed Kalin by his coat collar. Kalin's expression remained neutral as Jack demanded, "You're going to tell me exactly what happened in that duel between you and Rain."

"…Why?"

"Do it, Kalin! I need this!"

Jack released him, and Kalin glanced at Rain. "If it'll help you, fine."

He described the details of the duel up to the point where the Earthbound Immortal attacked Rain, and she almost died. Jack stopped him. "Did she say, 'Don't tell me you thought I'd give up on my partner so easily?'"

Kalin raised his eyebrows. "Those words exactly."

"Afterwards, did she say, 'If that's what it takes, then I'll put every last beat of my heart into this duel. My partner deserves no less?'"

"If you already know, you didn't have to make me tell the whole story again, dude," Kalin muttered while staring at his own boots.

"You don't understand. Rain saved my life with those words."

"Then you and I have a lot in common."

Jack frowned. "I suppose we do. Carly trapped me in a hallucination during our duel, making me think I had lost. I came back as a Dark Signer, and it showed the world as it would be if the Signers didn't win. We were like a king and queen of this – this hell on earth.

"I almost- I wanted to stay because she was there and alive, and if that wasn't the truth then what did I have left? What would I have left if I did win? Without her, I would be that asshole excuse for a 'King!'

"Then I heard Rain's voice. She appeared in that vision, and she was broken. How she managed to stand is beyond me. Then she said those words, and that's how I broke free of that hallucination. My partner deserved no less, either.

"I was able to admit that to her once we returned to the duel. She agreed and said she was fighting for the same reason. She didn't want me to die. That makes sense now. The dark god wouldn't let her fold, so I had to end her myself. I thought- I swore she was dead, but Rain saved her. I was so happy to have her back, but she doesn't remember any of that. She doesn't remember giving me this."

He slipped a card out of his pocket and held it in the moonlight filtering through the hospital window. King of All's artwork displayed a gleeful Jack being praised by a huge crowd.

"Every time I see this, I hold onto the belief that someone like her saw the good in me. Without the real Carly, though, that feeling is slipping away. I don't know what to do. If I tell her the truth, won't that hurt her? I don't want to be selfish. I want what's best for her!"

"Uhhh." He rubbed at the back of his neck, avoided Jack's eyes, and stared at Rain. "I think you killing yourself over this decision means a lot on its own. Why d'you need her to keep proving it when you are yourself? So. I'd say be happy just to have her around."

Jack's expression softened. He said, "I'm sorry."

"Then repay me by taking a bit of my own advice. You have no way of knowing what's best for her. Only she can make that decision. For me personally, I'd go the route of honesty."

"Alright." Jack's chin dipped the slightest bit. "You've changed, too. I hope you know that. She would be happy. Will be."

"Whatever. I hope you know this nice little conversation won't keep me from giving you shit!"

"Same goes for me, Kessler. That's what friends are for." Jack glanced over Rain. "I had an eye-opening conversation with Rain similar to this once. It was while she thought you were dead, and she consistently looked so sorry for herself I had to offer something. That backfired. My being so open made her assume I was speaking to confess my love for her."

Kalin's brows lifted. He choked. Then he laughed and laughed. He buried his face in his hands, which masked his laughter.

"Fuck," he said, "I miss her."

"We know, and we're here when needed." Jack turned to leave but paused. "Take care of yourself."

Kalin flopped his hand. "You've gotta be like the sixth person to say that to me! I must look like death again. Fine."

Jack smiled as he left. Once he was gone, Kalin sat on the floor next to Rain's bed. He leaned his head back so it fell next to her open hand. The moonlight added silver to his eyes. "This is some way to teach me patience, Rain. I said I'd wait as long as it takes, and I meant it. You're worth that and so much more. But."

He flipped so he was on his knees and buried his head into the hospital mattress. Kalin slipped his fingers through Rain's and shut his eyes. His eyelids shivered, and his voice shook.

"It's so hard without you here. We agreed to live, and I'm not doubling back. I just didn't think I would have to do it alone. Now I don't feel like I belong anywhere. I'm afraid to sleep. I always see you, and it hurts so goddamned much when I wake up. I almost don't want this heart. I'll hold on as long as it takes for you. That's a promise, and hey, I don't break my promises, either. Not anymore. Jesus, I'm so tired. But I can't… I…"

His breathing slowly steadied. The night was still and silent. Blackness engulfed the room, leaving me suspended. The glint of a silver line fell from Rain's back, and the vision followed it.

The thread splashed through the blue seasky until it landed on the other side of its connection, and my mind returned to my body.

The crimson glow dissipated. I doubled over. My blade hit the grass. My eyes were empty and unfocused.

"Oh, great. There she goes again," Critias groaned. "I can't believe you're supposed to be our general. I've lost all respect for you, Rain! What is this, the fifth failed spar?"

Rain?

If Rain were here, she'd sniffle and bawl. If she were…

Hermos punched his shoulder. "Chill out, man! She went through hell in the human world. You know how it is."

"Talk to us," Timaeus said. "We're friends. Why does this keep happening?"

Friends? And he said they were worried about me. I tried to straighten. My muscles were stiff. Like Critias said, I was more like a statue than a person. "That accursed Dragon shows me all she's bonded to on the surface. Her damned threads are tearing me apart. I've never even met them, but I- they're in so much pain. I can't do anything. I'm trapped here while they- The partner especially is- he's-"

Timaeus rested a hand on my shoulder. "Perhaps we can help. If we use Legend of Heart, you might reach him."

"Why would I waste my power to help humans?" Critias said. "Shouldn't we learn from Rain's story and realize the above world is a lost cause? We're better off leaving them to deal with it!"

"Eh, I dunno, Critias. That world turned Rain into who she is now! She used to be kinda terrifying, if you remember. No offense."

Timaeus said, "That's true, and remember what strength that change gave her. You can respect strength, can't you, Critias?"

"Whatever it takes to get you idiots to shut up," Critias said. "And if we do this, no more ruining our fencing sessions!"

I blinked. "I agree to your terms."

They crossed their blades, and I knelt before them. My hands clasped together as though in prayer. Timaeus said, "Three lines."

Stars above. I had to think quickly. I hardly knew this Kalin guy, but Rain liked him, I supposed. What would she say? He'd believe my voice was hers, so…

"Ready?" Timaeus asked.

"Yes."

Sapphire light danced up the length of Timaeus's blade. I said, "You don't have to suffer alone."

Scarlet sparked after Hermos's hilt. "I'm always with you."

Black aura swarmed around Critias's sword. "I believe in you."

The three colors exploded into a grand light that split the sky. A trail split off the main beam and dropped on me. I collapsed backward on cold linoleum. I blinked. For some reason, only my right eye moved.

I was back in Rain's hospital room. Moonlight fell upon her and Kalin. My head tilted. This angle was different than the Crimson Dragon's vision. I reached for the hospital bed.

Steel chilled my skin.

My hand darted back to me like a spooked spider. This wasn't right. This wasn't my world. My physical presence was meant to be locked in the Spirit World. How was I transported? Would I ever be able to go back? How in all the stars-

White blinded me. I stumbled forward and blinked with both eyes this time. "Uhhh. You guys may have laid it on a little thick. I was in the other world."

Critias smirked. "But you love the humans, general. You're saying you don't want your soul tied to one?"

"You did what?" I said.

"Critias!" Timaeus shouted.

Hermos scratched beneath his hair. "Er, I thought the general and Rain were already connected."

"You're assuming she's tied to Rain," Critias said.

Kalin. He meant Kalin. I gulped. My everlasting soul. Connected with some guy I'd never met. Ha-haa. Great. Wonderful. I suddenly had an urge to vomit.

Timaeus marched towards Critias. He waved the blue knight off, saying, "Relax. She can come and go as she pleases. No harm, no foul. General! Thank me with a spar and keep your side of the arrangement."

The hilt of my white blade fit into my palm in the next instant, and I ran at him. We traded blows. My thoughts and instincts focused solely on the match. Critias overcame my scrappy offense with a stalwart defense, and he disarmed me. "You win again. Good match."

"Hardly," he grumbled.

"You don't always have to be such an ass," I snapped. "We all know Timaeus can outspar you any minute of the day."

Critias's sneer spelled fury. Hermos laughed, saying, "Ya got him all riled up now!"

"Why do you talk like that again?" I asked.

"It's been since The Domino Incident," Timaeus explained.

Ah, yes. The Incident I could not remember; the Incident after which I was thrown into this giant cage. Ancient Fairy Dragon jailed me citing crimes I did not remember committing.

At least I had the other knights. My spar seemed to improve their moods. Timaeus said, "It brings me joy that you are back to creating landscapes also."

"Come again?"

He pointed over my shoulder. The dark and twisted boughs of a winter forest stretched back towards the corner from whence I came. Impossible. I couldn't have created that. Only places from memory could spurn to life in the Gilded Gate.

It couldn't be a coincidence that the woods spawned right after my soul linked to Kalin's. Was it a place he'd visited before? What-

I clutched at my aching heart. "My butterfly. Where is it?"

"Your- oh! The thingy always flyin' around ya!" Hermos spun his finger and grinned. "Swear I saw it fly in there earlier!"

I sprinted into the forest. The gnarly, black branches twisted together like witches locking arms to block out all sunlight. Dead leaves crunched underfoot. The trunks thickened and closed in on me, forcing me onto a single path.

The cluster of boughs opened to a clearing. Rather than the blue of the Spirit World, the sky above was a misty white haze. Thick underbrush gave way to a clearing. A massive tree wide as a house filled the center. Roots large as canoes lay sunken in the barren dirt.

Thousands of branches clawed through the fog. Their tips were white with disease. I blinked. Something was hanging from them, but it was blurry and flickering like floaters in my vision.

I thinned my eyes. The objects refused to come into focus. Almost as if…

I covered my left eye with my hand.

My lungs shrank and heart palpitated. Tied nooses hung from each individual branch of the massive tree. A wind passed, and the ropes swayed. I blinked. No. Nononono.

She hung from every single one, her neck bruised and broken, her body over and over and over swinging in the wind.

It couldn't be real. It couldn't be. I covered both eyes and ducked my head. Let it not have been. This couldn't – shouldn't have been from Kalin's memories or mine. It was some trick. A dream; a nightmare.

The howl of blazing flames tore through the woods. Purple fire caught on the trees surrounding me. Violet cinders drifted upwards past the bodies and into the mist.

Don'tletitbedon'tletitbedon'tletit

Smoke flooded the forest. I coughed. The smoke stung my eyes, and tears blurred my vision. I touched my throat. Breathing was a struggle. The rushing flames formed an image in the sky.

I'd seen it before.

I coughed and coughed. Black ate away at my vision. My body hit the earth. Words were trying to reach me, but they were garbled and indistinct. Clarity broke through like a rock shattering a window.

A cackle rung throughout my thoughts. An icy, feminine voice said, Listen closely: Everyone's forgotten about you now. All those memories of you? Poof. Disappeared. Now you're really alone again.

Dark flames spiraled and dragged me into another vision.

Leo and Luna walked past the ruins of the Arcadia Movement on their way to the hospital. Above them, clouds coiled towards the storm's eye. A massive bolt of lightning cracked the sky. From it, a nigh invisible force erupted. Luna and Leo stopped when it passed them though it was as inconspicuous as a light breeze.

Leo said, "Um, where were we going again?"

"I don't know." Luna cocked her head. "Hey, Leo, who are those flowers for? You got a crush at school now?"

"N-no!" Leo blushed and held them behind his back. "I… don't know where I got these!"

"Suuure you didn't. C'mon, who is she?"

The scene swept away while Leo stammered a response. Between City skyscrapers, Jack walked with purpose towards Carly. She gushed, "Oh, hi, Jack! Um, how are you doing?"

He grasped her forearms. "There's something very important I have to tell you, Carly. I l-"

The dark wind passed him and he backed away, holding his head. "What was I saying?"

"Not sure," she said. "Looked kinda serious, though! Are you okay?"

"I don't know. I feel strange."

"Maybe you haven't fully recovered from your duel with Rex?"

"…Maybe. I'm going for a ride. See you later."

The vision shifted to Crow and Yusei meeting next to a fountain. Yusei said, "I found a place for us to stay. Plenty of room for you, Jack, and I. The landlord is a friend of Martha's, and she's crazy about me. Something about what she's seen on the news about us."

"Ugh, it's so weird, right?" Crow asked. He bunched up his sleeve to show his crimson birthmark, that of the tail. "Strangers keep coming up to me and asking about it. They'll want pics and autographs all because of us taking down Godwin. Being a Satellite was supposed to be a shame."

"I know it's annoying, but at least we're changing that," Yusei responded.

"Yeah, at least," Crow grumbled.

My mind was tossed back to the hospital, where my human half was unconscious. Dawn light fell upon Kalin. He pushed himself up from the hospital bed and, realizing he was still holding Rain's hand, quickly released it. "S-sorry! Huh?"

He kept his curious gaze on Rain and stepped forward. Calling to a nurse, he said, "'Scuse me. Who's in this room?"

"That room? It's unoccupied!"

"Uh, no, it's not."

"Huh?" She peered into the room, gasped, and hurried inside. "I don't remember anyone being in here. Let's see. Rain, is it? Is she a friend of yours?"

"Sort of. Is she okay?"

"According to this, she's been in a coma for three weeks."

"A coma? And you didn't remember her?"

The nurse set her mouth in a thin line. "I don't know what's happening here. I'll be right back."

Kalin watched Rain for a moment, reached for the door, and stopped. He gasped and staggered back. He leaned on the bed and, gaping at her, stuttered, "Was that- was that you, Rain? I could swear I just heard…"

He shook his head. Kalin reached towards the vase and withdrew a single flower. He said, "If that was you- No. Must be going crazy. Again. I don't remember what your voice sounds like. I hope you feel better, Rain. I really mean that."

Kalin left.

In the wake of the vision's end, my consciousness recovered within the fields of the Gilded Gate. The thick woods and tree of demise had vanished. My corner was back to its typical state: lush grasslands, babbling brook, and white violin by my feet.

The dark mark no longer scorched the sky, but its impact would not be forgotten.

I breathed in, out. Rain's friends forgot her. It was like she never existed in their world. What was that voice? Why did it sound familiar, and why did it have it out for Rain?

Did it… have something to do with the tree?

No. No, I refused to believe the tree meant anything. The intense gripping of my heart remained. Right. The reason I rushed into the forest in the first place was my missing butterfly.

I scanned the area. A spot of color high above caught my eye. A sharp intake of breath stabbed my lungs. Between two bars of the Gilded Gate, a spiderweb had formed. The intricate silk was woven from bright green threads, and the design reminded me of ripples.

My azure butterfly was caught in the middle of the sticky trap. My shaking fingers curled into my sweaty palms. The insect was meters and meters too high for me to reach. Its wings twitched wildly.

The struggles achieved nothing.

...the timeline continues in [Clear Skies]

A/N: MMM DON'TCHA LOVE SEEING THEM SHIPS SINK. Clear Skies directly follows up this ending, and guess what? It's posted in its entirety (less 1 epilogue), so you can read the whole story unlike waiting on slowww ol' me to update every week :p

FIRST OF ALL biggest thanks to RepentMF who's been there from the beginning and beta'd every word and read this story like five bajillion times I love u and can't wait to marry u bff

Moonie, Eth, Rose, Nish, Lilah, Kiki, Wyv, Kawfee, VSierra(Joestar), andie, Winter, exe... I couldn't have made it this far w/o y'all ( •̥̥̥ω•̥̥̥ ) fr whenever i get a comment seein' how you guys n gals feel makes all the time I've poured into fanfic worth it! I LOVE U GUYS and thanks for stickin' with my collection of idiot characters C:

As for the future.

YGO5D'sMonth starts July 7th! I rec you all to check it out and I'll be posting every day! SO SORRY to everyone who follows me. +D After that?

TO DEFY HER ENDING ARRIVES AUGUST 18TH. :D Around that time, you'll see epilogues uploaded for Under the Apple Tree and Clear Skies! DEFY will be in the Yu-Gi-Oh section sooo CS Epilogue will be the last thing in 5D's section I post for a whiiiile. I'm sad! I love it here!

Time Thief, signing off... as always, every single one of you is worth every second ❤