Harry and Percy moved – floated, mostly – towards the growing light. As soon as the warmth touched their essences, they felt themselves solidifying, their souls compacting into their bodies.

The next thing they felt was pain.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered. He massaged his scar, trying to numb the stinging. He sat up and was immediately suffocated by a forest of bushy brown, vivid red, creamy caramel and bright blonde.

"Harry!"

"You're alive!"

"If you ever scare me like that again, mate, I think I'll kill you myself!"

"Hey!" Percy said, sitting up and using an arm to prop himself up. "I'm alive, too you know!"

Suddenly, he, too, was surrounded by the assorted hair colors.

"Percy!"

"Oh my gods, Seaweed Brain, don't ever do that to us again!"

"They're both alive!"

After the main shock subsided, the Two of Destiny were able to explain what Nico told them, amazing everyone and bringing smiles to their faces.

"The purpose of life is living," Annabeth said with a calculating look in her stormy grey eyes. "That actually makes sense."

"It does," Hermione agreed. "It provides sufficient evidence for the life of many heroes who were in fatal situations."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Ron said, helping Harry to his feet. "They've assigned us a mission we must take!"

"To live?" Grover asked. "That's a mission I'd love to take."

"What I don't understand, though," Harry voiced, "is why Percy and I were able to communicate with each other telepathically before I freed you guys."

"I can answer that," Delian answered, giving them a mischievous smile. "There's something I haven't told you guys."

"And what's that?" Percy asked.

"You two… are connected. You're kind of brothers, in a way… Brothers through dimensions. Why do you think you look so alike? Jet black hair, green eyes. That's not a coincidence."

"Wait," Harry said. "What?"

"You're one essence, divided into two people."

"Mind," Percy said slowly, "blown."

The Two of Destiny looked at one another skeptically, unsure what to think of that new tidbit of information.

"I guess I'm handsome both ways," Harry said with a shrug. Percy laughed, and Hermione slapped Harry playfully.

"Nah, man," Percy said, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm better looking, obviously. I got all the looks of the essence."

"That means I got all the brains," Harry countered with a smirk.

"Um, never mind," Percy said with a chuckle. "We're equal."

"You guys have to go," Ellie said sadly. "If you're to finish your purpose, you have to do so in your own dimensions."

~oOo~

Percy's POV

This is it. The moment we part. Goodbyes were exchanged, tears were shed, and hugs were shared. It never really occurred to me that we had to part.

This is the last time I'll ever get to see my dimensional brother.

It hit me, and I looked over at the people I may never see again. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ellie and Delian. Delian was like a brother to me too.

This is it.

~oOo~

Harry's POV

"So, I guess this is where we say goodbye," I said to Percy softly. He was the only family member (sort of) I had, and he, too, would be ripped away from my life.

"Yeah," Percy said, matching my soft volume. "I think I'm actually going to miss your accent and insults."

"And I think I'm actually going to miss your smart arse comments," I countered with a small smile.

"Tata, mate," Percy said in a very fake British accent.

"Bye, dude," I said, sounding every bit as stupid as he did.

We gripped hands in that manhug kind of way, and then Ellie and Delian made us separate portals to return to our own homes. This was it.

We looked at each other one last time. I watched as Percy, Annabeth and Grover walked into their portal and dissolved into blue mist. Hermione and Ron hugged me and walked one after the other into our gold portal. I looked one last time at Ellie and Delian.

"Thank you."

"No, Harry," Delian said with a smile. "Thank you."

Ellie approached me and planted me a tiny, soft and delicate kiss on the lips, smiling as she pulled away.

"Goodbye, Boy Who Lived."

"G-goodbye," I said a bit shell shocked. "I'll try to keep out of trouble."

"We all know that's impossible," Ellie said with a wink.

I smiled at them both one last time. Then I walked into the portal, and dissolved into the arms of Ginny, who looked ecstatic to see me.

~oOo~

And so the Two of Destiny went their separate ways, looking forward to leading their very own normal lives.

Unfortunately for them, nothing is ever normal for the Two of Destiny.

~oOo~

THE END