So, at long last, an epilogue.
I know, it took months, but hey...
Before we start, I just want to thank everyone who read, reviewed, followed, or favourited this story.
Your support in those early days was a great confidence boost.
Thanks everyone!

I never thought I would see this day. Not that I feared that I wouldn't live to see it, but that I would be viewing it from where I was. Friends have a way of doing that, of helping you through everything, no matter what you have done. Even if everyone else finds what you have done horrible, there will always be a friend who sticks by you to the end. I was lucky. I had eight of the best people I would ever know by my side who I could call my friends.

Isaac swallowed, panting as the severity of the day finally hit him. Here he was, wearing a formal tunic, ready to walk down through the central street of New Vale to the Psynergy Stone at the town's centre. After all he had been through, after facing monsters, death, and the impossible itself, he felt himself having a stress breakdown as he was about to be married.

The men around him chuckled at him as he fell into the simple white wooden chair. He was a wreck in all honesty, having buttoned and unbuttoned his shirt several times over now. He constantly tugged on his collar, seemingly struggling to breathe in the clothing. He still wore his father's yellow scarf though. He just refused to not be seen wearing that thing. The others could understand that though. Kyle was one of three people that should have been here, but could not.

Isaac sighed as he stared at his hands, the hands that had helped kill his father and his future wife's parents. He knew it wasn't his fault really, but still, it was the reason they were not here today. His father couldn't offer him support, celebrate with him, nor could Jenna's mother or father. They were gone.

Felix patted Isaac on the back, running a quick Cure through his body in some effort to calm him down.

"Relax." He ordered, "I won't have you looking like this when you marry my sister."

Garet laughed as he punched Isaac in the room, "Yeah, if she sees you like this she'll probably kill you."

Piers chuckled in response to this, crouching in front of Isaac to redo the buttons of his collar, "Just give him some time, this is a big moment in his life."

Ivan shook his head, being sure to take cover behind Garet, "He's not worried about the wedding, he's worried about tonight! You know when he's alone wi-"

"Ivan!" Felix cut across, reaching for the boy, which is exactly why he had used Garet as a human shield. The boy laughed as he retreated to the other side of the room, Felix shaking his head in embarrassment and disgust.

Isaac rose to his feet again, almost knocking Piers, who had just finished re-buttoning his shirt, onto the floor. He stared into the mirror, looking right into himself, his blue eyes staring into their mirrored reflection. Internally, he was very nervous about this.

It had been just over a year since the reunion in Contigo when Jenna had kissed him for the first time. It felt odd to have their wedding as an anniversary to that moment considering the heartache that followed in the weeks that followed up until the Mars Beacon was fired. He was just afraid he would hurt her, that it would always remind her of how he hurt her.

They had been together happily for the past few months though, all thanks to Mia. She was there for both of them whenever they needed to talk, and Jenna had quickly become the best of friends with her. The two got on very well now, considering their somewhat fractured relationship because of him. There was no awkwardness held between them, they could easily hang out together and laugh without any hindrance.

Still, Isaac feared he would hurt Jenna somehow. If he did, though, he promised he would do everything he could to make it better.

Jenna took a very deep breath as she looked herself over in the mirror. She had bought the dress many weeks in advance, pretty much a week after Isaac had proposed. She remembered that day with such elation, the happiness and joy that had filled her. Much of New Vale still consisted largely of tents when he had popped the question, but he had done all he could to make that evening as special and romantic as he could.

He had taken her away to an excluded clearing in the nearby woods where he had a table set up, all lit by candles hanging from the branches of trees. She was amazed he hadn't started a forest fire. Then, he revealed the food that had been prepared for them, which she later learned Kraden had made. Once dinner was done, he produced an expensive bottle of champagne that Piers had smuggled from King Hydros. As he toasted her, he proposed, slipping the glittering diamond ring onto her finger. The jewel itself surrounded by several small rubies.

She smiled, looking at herself in the mirror again. She took a deep breath as her thoughts went to her parents, and exhaled sadly. She really missed them. Yes, she had largely gotten passed their deaths before Mars Lighthouse, but the second time was still fresh in her mind and she was still mourning their loss, mainly because they could not be here today. She could almost picture her mother crying now, telling her how beautiful she looked in her dress, and her father trying to hold back his tears, biting his lip, as he told her how happy he was for her. She sighed, turning away from the mirror that she had just seen her parents standing behind her in.

She smiled as she stepped out from the curtain which cut the room in two, to see her bridesmaids. Each of them was wearing matching white dresses, she wasn't cruel enough to make them wear some god awful dress like she had seen during some of the weddings she had been to when they were younger. They four of them looked amazing, beautiful. She smiled expectantly, preparing herself for the assault of comments she knew was coming.

Sheba squealed excitedly, clapping her hands over her mouth, hopping up and down when she saw her friend. Tears quickly appeared in her eyes as she tried to voice whatever she wanted to say. Kay's mouth dropped as she saw Jenna, the lips slowly pulling into a smile which became a beam as she gasped. Karst had by far the gruffest reaction, which was expected, she simply nodded with a slight smile.

Mia gasped, her hand coming up to her mouth as tears began to appear in her eyes, "Jenna, you look beautiful."

Jenna couldn't stop herself from letting out a self-appreciating giggle, "I do, don't I? " She smiled, playing with some parts of her dress.

Sheba eventually regained control of herself and ran to hug her friend, wrapping her up in her small arms. She laughed into the hug before she let her go, "I told you this dress was the best!" She squealed, taking her friends hands and doing a small dance with her, "You have to help me pick a dress when I'm getting married!"

Jenna giggled again, wondering if Ivan would ever ask Sheba to marry him. Not because she doubted their love for each other, but because she doubted Ivan could ever take something like that seriously enough to do it, "I promise."

"Jenna…" Mia said quietly, her eyes still glittering with some tears.

Jenna walked closer to the girl who had allowed all of this to become a reality, "Mia… I… I don't even know what to say."

Mia smiled, letting out a little laugh as she gave Jenna a quick hug, "Then don't. I'm so happy for you."

Jenna smiled back, still feeling a little guilty about this. She still was not sure how Mia felt about her and Isaac. She insisted that it was fine, and that she was happy for the two of them, but Jenna couldn't imagine that what they had could just leave her like that. Isaac still talked of Mia fondly, how could he not after all, she was wonderful.

But, Mia was perfectly happy for them. Yes, she still loved Isaac, but she wasn't in love with him. She loved him like she loved Garet or Piers. He was one of her closest friends and she would never forget what they shared in their time together. She was just so glad to see him and her best friend Jenna so happy today.

There was a sudden knock on the door, which turned the gazes of the five women within toward it. Ivan's blonde head poked through the door, beaming excitedly, though it quickly dropped into a look of complete awe. His jaw dropped open and he did his best to regain whatever he had come to say.

Sheba was quick to give him a gentle slap to the back of the head, which brought him back, "Wow… you all look beautiful."

The girls' all blushed, save for Karst who simply accepted the compliment. Frankly, she thought she looked stupid in a dress, but she was doing this for her boyfriend's sister so it didn't matter.

Ivan walked up to Jenna and took her hand, smiling warmly, "Oh… Jenna. What I would do to you…" Jenna blushed through the rather dirty compliment, perhaps the best she could expect from him.

Sheba quickly slapped him in the back of the head, though much harder this time, "Ivan! I'm your girlfriend!"

Ivan recoiled, releasing Jenna's hand as the girls laughed at him, "Ow! Don't worry, baby, I'd do stuff to you too."

Sheba pouted, rolling her eyes, though failing to prevent a smirk from growing across her face, "You better."

"What did you come here for, Ivan?" Mia asked, trying to get back to the original topic, rather than the rather lewd one it had taken on… which always seemed to happen when around the Jupiter Adepts these days.

"Oh, yeah, we're just about ready here, so get ready girls." Ivan smiled, "And Jenna. Congrats."

"Thanks." She smiled warmly as he and the girls filed out.

She stood alone, waiting for the music which signalled her walk. Kraden was to come to walk her down the aisle, he being the closest thing she had to a father figure these days. She had thought of walking alone, to honour her father, but he would want her to include all of her friends as best she could and to be happy today, not to worry too much about him.

She smiled and waited.

Mia smiled to Garet as she hooked her arm with him, leading the groomsmen and the bridesmaids up the aisle to the makeshift altar where Isaac stood at the centre of New Vale. She began the march forward toward the elegant archway before the large Psynergy Stone that New vale had been centred around. As she walked she saw several recognisable faces. Ivan's parents, the lord and lady of Kalay, Iodem of Tolbi, Hama, Feizhi, Master Feh, Nyunpa, Faran, Susa and a pregnant Kushinada, Lady Uzume, the elderly Donpa, and many other faces that they had all helped in their own quest.

She beamed to Isaac as she reached the altar with Garet. The man returned the bright gleam as he always did, his eyes brimming with the happiness he felt. He quickly whispered thanks to them before they took to their sides on the altar. She watched happily as the others all walked up to Isaac, even Karst and Felix. She was still surprised that Felix was so receptive to this, though he had mellowed since the end of the quest.

Mia paused, time seeming to slow down as her eyes turned to Isaac who was sweating profusely. She didn't think she had ever seen him so nervous. Somewhere within, Mia felt rather guilty. She thought that it might have been because of her and the past that they shared that Isaac was so tense. She had assured him many times over the months that he and Jenna had come together that she had no problem with it. It had been her idea after all.

Of course, she did still feel love for Isaac. At times, she did feel for him more than as just a friend, like she did in the early throes of their relationship before Contigo. How could she not? She had been so happy. She had been rather smitten with Isaac in those days, and an attraction remained even now. She was not jealous though, far from it, she knew that Isaac and Jenna were meant for each other, that it was the right thing. Still, that didn't mean she wouldn't have liked to have been in Jenna's position given the chance.

She shook the thoughts from her head, finding them rather unbecoming right now. This was their day, and though there was just a slight bit of disappointment lingering within her, it was subdued by the happiness for the two people she had grown so immeasurably close to. Isaac turned and smiled to her, dabbing a cloth at the sweat pouring from his forehead. She beamed back, doing her best to reassure him.

Mia turned expectantly as music began to ring throughout the air.

Sheba smirked excitedly as she hooked arms with her boyfriend. She couldn't wait for the day when she would be walking to the end of an aisle like this and it was him standing there. Still, for now she was more than happy to just be with him. Her time with him over the past months since they had gotten together had been the happiest of her young life. He filled the emptiness within her that she had dealt with all of her life, that feeling within cause by being left by her parents.

He just made her happy and she could never ask for more. She did pray for the day when she could make a family with him. She promised herself, and him, that she would be the best mother ever. She would never let her children experience the pain that she or Ivan had when they were growing up. She didn't care, she would make sure her children always got whatever they wanted, she would constantly dote over them, but she'd be damned if she'd raise a brat because of that. If any child of hers thought they could glide through life with no problems they would be in for a rude awakening.

Beside her, Ivan began to chuckle, no doubt having just read her mind. She smirked in return, noting the blush that had crossed the young blonde's cheeks. She gave him a gentle nudge in the ribs, transferring a few thoughts to him, both of children and what led to children, which had him blushing even deeper as they reached the altar.

She giggled as Isaac thanked them both for being there for he and Jenna. The two of them quickly dismissed it, saying there couldn't be a wedding if they weren't a part of it, and they took their positions.

Felix nodded simply to Isaac as he glanced at him from the altar. He still did not fully approve of this after everything Isaac had done to hurt his sister, yet at the same time he was happy that it was him standing there to be wed to her. He had always imagined this moment, even during his time in Prox with the elder Valeans. He still remembered all the time they spent together as children, how happy the two of them always were together.

He had fond memories of how happy his sister had always been in his company, it was what kept him sure that she was cared for in vale when he was gone. He still remembered the day that she and Isaac had made that silly promise to always run to each other. They had thought they were alone, but Felix would never have allowed that. He smirked at the memory.

He may not have approved of all Isaac had done, but he was aware of how happy he made his sister. Over the past months he had been doing all he could to redeem himself and help her deal with the deaths of their parents for the second time. Felix's eyes fell on Mia, who was smiling to Isaac. He reminded himself to thank her.

It was because of her that today had become real. True, this day would have come sooner or later, but positions would be largely reversed without her intervention. It may have been Garet, Piers, or some nameless Valean man in Isaac's place had Mia not forfeited her relationship for Jenna. He wondered what gave her the strength to do that… he couldn't imagine any other person wold have done it for Jenna, especially since they had been enemies for so long.

He smiled wider as music began to play, being sure to fully express his gratitude to her later.

Isaac swallowed, feeling sweat pouring down his forehead as he stood at the makeshift altar. He did his best to just breathe, telling himself that this would all be fine, that this was the happiest day of his life. He felt a light tap on his shoulder and he turned to see his four friends smiling to him. Felix, Piers, and Ivan smiled to him, giving a reassuring nod. Garet handed him a handkerchief, tapping him on the shoulder.

Isaac smiled, nodding back to his friends and dabbed the cloth against his forehead before tucking it into his breast pocket carefully. He looked across the altar, smiling to the bridesmaids. Mia beamed fully back, as the maid of honour she couldn't be happier. Isaac could feel his heart go to the girl. It was thanks to her immeasurable compassion and kindness that this day was allowed to be.

Certain days during his more reflective times or quiet moments he imagined what may have become of his life had Mia never told him to go to Jenna that day in Prox, or if he had never kissed her in the first place. He did still care for her immensely of course. She was the most amazing person in all of Weyard, and likely the strongest of character of the eight of them. He did still have the rogue thought in which it was Mia he was being wed to.

He loved Jenna though, and Mia knew this. She always had.

He smiled back to her fully, nodding to the blue haired angel. She looked amazing in her white dress, seemingly shining. Sheba and Kay were beaming madly at him, which he returned with a slight laugh. He nodded to Karst, who curtly returned it. They had gotten past her quest for revenge thanks to Felix. He had assured her that Isaac had been left no choice, of course there was still some hate there, but it was largely subdued.

Isaac turned just enough to catch his mother's eye. The elderly woman was smiling to him, the shimmer of tears evident in her eyes. He smiled reassuringly to her, his eyes then falling on the three vacant chairs next to her. The seats meant to honour his father and Jenna's parents. Perhaps they were here in spirit, looking down on the wedding from wherever they were in their life after.

Music began to ring through the streets of New Vale. Isaac turned to face down the aisle, the end of which had a makeshift wall and door to conceal Jenna as she approached. The doors suddenly swung open.

Isaac's jaw literally dropped.

Jenna swallowed as she heard music ring through the air. A knock at the door signalled Kraden's arrival. She opened the door, smiling fully to the aged scholar. The tears in the man's eyes were magnified by his glasses as he returned the smile Jenna was giving him. Jenna took his arm in her own as they started toward the makeshift barrier between them and the ceremony.

The doors opened as they approached thanks to a Psynergetic trick several of the Valean Venus Adepts had conjured. Jenna beamed wide as her friends and fiancé slowly came into view as she began her walk toward the altar. She tried to restrain a giggle as she saw Isaac's mouth drop open when he saw her. He looked incredibly handsome, if not a little dumbstruck, in his formal tunic. He was still wearing his yellow scarf, his father's gift, around his neck. She smiled wider at that, happy that his father could be here in some tangible way.

Her eyes fell onto the three empty chairs in the front rows, the chairs reserved for his father and her parents. She held back the want to sigh, they would not want her grieving or even looking upset on this day. She knew they were happy in their life after, and that they would always be watching over her and Isaac. Her eyes fell to the only family she currently had, her brother.

She allowed a quick breath of laughter to escape her. She didn't often get to see tears or pride expressed on her brother's face. Felix returned the laugh with a full-hearted smile as he passed a hand across his eyes.

Mia turned next to the woman without whom none of this would have been possible: Mia. Her best friend. She beamed gladly to her, resisting the urge to wave or laugh in thanks to the cerulean-haired girl. It was all thanks to her that this day had become real. Some could have argued that without her it would have happened anyway, but Jenna didn't like that thought at all. She couldn't imagine today being complete without Mia being here.

After all they had been through together, after everything Mia had done for Isaac and her, it wouldn't be right for her to not be here. In truth, she would not have minded if their positions were reversed today. She had come to accept hers and Isaac's relationship by the end of their quest, and she would have been honoured to be a part of her wedding. Still, she could not be happier that it was Isaac at the end of her walk and not someone else.

Jenna beamed to the girl as she reached the altar as Kraden was thanked by her husband-to-be, and took her place beside him, smiling fully to the tearfully smiling man.

Jenna looked beautiful. She looked amazing, breath-taking,simply stunning. Isaac had to stop himself from walking down the aisle to take her into his arms and simply hold onto her. The white of her dress hugged her torso before spreading outward at her waist and trailing behind her. Her fiery, burgundy, hair was allowed loose for the first time in years.

"You look beautiful." He whispered as she finally stood next to him.

A soft pink graced her cheeks as everyone sat and turned to the Great Healer standing at the centre of the altar. He began the usual speech always spoken at Valean weddings, speaking of the union Jenna and Isaac were making, the love and happiness they shared, and a little extra added in to address their efforts to save the world and the price it had cost them. Everyone listened calmly to each word, as the Healer's deep voice was carried over the ceremony.

Eventually the time came for the vows, and Isaac had insisted that he and Jenna prepare their own vows. Jenna turned to him, taking his hands in her own as she stared into her eyes. The girl smiled, swallowing down whatever happiness was currently stopping her, and began her own vows.

"Isaac. All our lives we were together, through the best and worst times of our young lives. When I was taken from you that day in Sol Sanctum, I could still feel you beside me day after day. Every day I could feel you with me in whatever I did. Then, when we were reunited, I felt separated from you for the first time ever. Yet, that separation helped me realise just how much I love you. I just want to thank Mia for helping bring us together again. I love you, Isaac, and I promise I will love you forever."

Isaac breathed deeply, turning to his beautiful wife-to-be in front of all of his friends. He had insisted that they each write their own vows, not just because he wished to hear what Jenna wished to say to him, but because he had something he wished to say to her. He had spent weeks perfecting the words, and even longer memorising them, making sure they were perfect. Yet, now, as he stood on the altar with her almost crying with joy, with all of their friends looking up at them happily, he found his heart in his throat, its beating making the very act of breathing difficult, let alone the act of speech.

"Jenna. When we were younger, we promised each other that we would always run to the other no matter what to save them. We were young then, and it expressed the early love we shared between us. Yet, I found a flaw in it. When it was time, and I ran to you, it caused us and everyone we cared about so much pain. Mainly because of my own foolishness. Here, now, though, I wish to make a new promise to you, not just one of our eternal love and marriage. I don't ever want to be apart from you ever again. Jenna, I promise to always be with you, so we never need run again. I love you, Jenna."

Isaac exhaled slowly, his words spent. Jenna was biting her lip to stem the smile that was growing on her face and the tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks. Isaac would have taken a glance into the crown as he was sure he could hear Garet and several others openly crying from his statement, were he not so immersed in Jenna's beauty. The Great healer cleared his throat, and the two turned to him, finding a single tear streak rolling down his cheek.

"Under the light of Sol and Luna, and the eye of the Wise One, I know pronounce you man and wife." The aged healer said, his deep voice reaching all of those gathered, "You may kiss the bride."

A great cheer erupted as Isaac and Jenna embraced and kissed each other. The two almost laughed through the kiss, feeling the other's tears against their cheeks. They broke apart and turned to everyone who had come their wedding, doing all they could to meet eyes with everyone there.

Garet was teary eyed, shouting out his praise as he clapped. Occasionally he would bring a hand up to his mouth to stifle a sob of some form or wipe his eyes as he celebrated his two best friends' union.

Ivan was cheering, having climbed atop a chair to incite more praise from the crowd. Sheba jumped up beside him, kissing him and helping him rouse the crowd. Then, they fired lightning into the sky together, which alerted all of the Djinn to fly through the air, trailing streaks of light through the sky above them.

Piers was smiling broadly, applauding the union, though he remained silent. He was never known to make much noise. They were sure he would give them his best later when he could speak to them easily.

Felix and Karst were clapping, their smiles stretching wide against along their faces. Isaac swore he saw the glittering remnants of wiped away tears on both of their faces.

Kraden was by far the most emotional. No doubt he was unused to such publicised statements of love, especially with such close friends. His aged face was shimmering with the damp trails left from his tears, and he was blowing his nose in between whatever applause he could muster.

Everyone else who had managed to gather, those they had met in their journey, cheered and clapped, yelling their congratulations to the happy couple under the noise of Mars Djinn firing small explosions into the air high above them.

The new couple slowly walked from the procession. They no longer needed to rush anywhere. They had made a promise to always be by each other's side.

There would be no more running.

And there's some fluff to finish off this largely angsty and non-fluffly story.
And of course the epilogue was going to be a wedding, surely everyone saw that coming.
Let's disregard the fact that they live miles from each other by the time DD comes aroun, eh?
Let's just assume for happiness, ease, and the story's sake, that they live together for the rest of their lives, mmkay?

Thanks again for reading, everyone!

Your friend and writer,
Droory