Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Resurrection. I'm just a fan; a fan is all I am, a very poor fan who will not profit from this work in any way. So don't sue me okay? Thanks and enjoy the show!

Author Note: Hello all! Raza here and welcome to the official release of my second fanfiction! Hooray! (Long time coming no?) But before we get to the story, let me just start things off with a few notes. First of all, I'd like to thank all of you for the huge success that was Princess Jealousy! Seriously guys! The reviews have been phenomenal, the feedback has been invaluable and honestly, it was all just a great start for me as a fanfiction author! So thank you all so very much *takes a bow*! Okay, now that that's out of the way, let me just talk a little about this story. The story is set 2 years into the future although I only acknowledge events up to about Ch. 70 in the manga. That just makes it easier on me. Furthermore, my intention with this story was to try and work out a continuity for Princess Resurrection since there's a lot of unanswered questions floating around, and while I love the OVA and the anime was pretty good too—though the manga is the best in my opinion—nothing really explains much. So here's my interpretation of the Princess Resurrection lore and what better way to explain everything than to end the series! It actually works out quite well since the manga is supposedly ending in 2013. So this is my ending as well as my explanations. Tell me what you guys think and as always don't forget to review/comment/follow! Thanks guys! Enjoy!

Princess Finale:

By: Raza Stanza

Chapter One: The Last of All My Enemies:

It was all over. The last sword thrust and slash were the final say in a long awaited decision, and then it was all over.

Hime, the second royal princess of the monster realm, loved by all, feared by all, lay face down in a pool of blood…

Hiro was a few feet away though he wasn't any better… His left arm was cut almost clean through leaving exposed tendon while a giant axe lay set in place slammed deep into his right shoulder blade. To say that there was a lot of blood would be like saying the ocean was a stream as Hiro's usual white polo t-shirt was soaked in crimson with bits of ripped up cloth clinging to bits of ripped up skin, and there was no smoke or regeneration. No movement or whisper. No signs of life… Only signs of death…

Riza was there too but she got the worst of it.

Well of course she did…

Her arms were transformed into her werewolf claws but they were bloody, a few fragile fingers bent back broken, her mouth slacked off ajar dripping a mix of saliva and blood down her face while a few deep cuts lacerated what was left of her body… A lone silver dagger was the final act of defeat pinning her as it pierced through her chest cracking deep into the marble tiled ground below…

Reiri now was the farthest away. She hung high up stapled to the wall, her entire body dangling from her left hand, a white ash stake refusing to let her wrist go allowing for a healthy stream of blood to roll down her arm drenching what was left of her school uniform, the bottom skirt of which was ripped up leaving her panties partially exposed. Her hair was down too covering her eyes and blood dripped down the tip of her nose stemming from some invisible head injury.

And last but not least no matter her size, Flandre stood as the only one left standing. She didn't move nor did she 'fuga', her maid outfit was torn up leaving rust colored blood prints from the splatters of the foes she slew. Her face was scratched as well, scratched and scarred, the right side had the epidermis peeled back exposing the camera circuitry of her eyes, a few quick sparks escaped from the wound and a delicate flash flickered behind a dull gray lens threatening to go out…

And for what easily could have been an eternity, there was no sound or change in the room. All lay buried in their respective graves, all lay defeated in their final tragic resting spots, and all that mourned their passing was the faint orange hue of the weeping evening Sun…

But it was not the end…

"Francesca the door!"

"Fuga!"

And just like that, with a thunderous crash, the lobby door exploded from its hinges and there in the shattered doorframe, through the dust and smoke and gloom of the hour, in walked a maid.

And she was one hell of a sight to behold, dressed as she was in a ripped up apron and a bloody black-laced dress hinting at the battlefield she'd walked through to get there… Not to mention she was tall, very tall and also very thin, not at all like Flandre—the only other maid in the room. And there was a great porcelain-like beauty to her as well as she wore her short black hair tied or rather "bolted" back on both sides, she simply glowed immaculately despite the globs of dirt and blood she carried on her face, the contrast so great, it was as if her skin and her hair and her body were all designed to be perfect and damn near was, able to reflect the sun and gentle the wind.

"Fuga?" She called once more. She took her first steps into the lobby room looking around as if she could see perfectly despite the dust and glare kicked up by her entrance… but even so… even as she looked around, evidently seeing everything clearly, her eyes widened behind her oval spectacles, perhaps the closest thing to surprise she'd ever show, she looked around once and then again and perhaps even once more as if unable to comprehend the sheer amount of blood she must have seen…

Were it that she had a little more time to process…

"Francesca!" Called a voice jolting the tall maid to extend her hand blocking the way of a small albeit pretty young girl as she walked into the lobby with a giant panda by her side.

This girl now was noble by birth, that much was certain as she carried herself high with dignity even as she buckled underneath the haze of dust, that no matter what she did, she like her sister, and perhaps the rest of her family, were royal, regal in all their actions. But that wasn't the whole story for she was still her own person, unique even by royal standards, tomboyish and overly eager, childish and yet somehow mature, all of this was summed up perfectly by the one name she was known by, Sherwood, the third and youngest Princess of the Monster Realm.

Though, as she continuously pointed out… to Hiro mostly… and anyone else who cared to listen, she'd grown quite a bit and to be fair she had. She had indeed grown during the two long years she'd spent being a part of her family's civil war. Granted, she was still the shortest out of Hime and the gang and she was still technically a child, but indeed she, Sherwood, was starting to take on the shape of a young maiden, finally passing through the stage where girls stop being cute and start becoming beautiful—a coming of age—a happy one, and perhaps the only happy thing in the world in that moment…

"Onee-sama where are you?" Sherwood called as she waved away the last bit of dust and despite better judgment, moved Francesca's hand from her way. She didn't make it very far… In fact, she didn't make it past the first step…

W-what is this…?

She asked meekly as she looked around the room. She blinked several times but the images in front of her refused to change… no rather they got worse… the haze of dust that may or may not have distorted her vision finally subsided and the room and all its evil slid clearly into focus…

What. Is. This…?

She asked again in disbelief as she looked from one body to the other, paralyzed in shock…

Francesca on the other hand had already moved forward, going up to each body in a systematic way, kneeling sometimes or giving a passing glance, each time she said the same exact thing in the same exact way. "Fuga… Fuga… Fuga…" As if she were scanning for life but continuously found none… She eventually stopped at Flandre and there she did her best for the bite-sized maid but even that proved hopeless as the light that had been flickering in Flandre's eyes went completely out… as if a summarizing metaphor to all that had happened…

They were all "Fuga…"

They were all dead…

"Riza…Reiri… Flandre… Hiro…" Sherwood said hushed and then her eyes fell on the one thing she feared most.

O… O… Onee-sama…

She said the words but she didn't believe them… how could she? And so came the denial…

She had to go check. Yes, Yes! That's right. She had to go check and yet she found it impossible to do for even she, Princess Sherwood, was unable to take another step further into that ghastly room… because even after all the horror the war had wrought, even after all the terrible and ghastly sights she had seen with Hime, none of that was more terrifying, more debilitating, more cruel than seeing her sister, seeing her friends, dismembered and butchered… the wounds on their bodies only vaguely hinting at the screams they must have made when receiving such blows, and the cracks that covered the walls like craters from mini meteors only barely hinting at the sheer force used to create them, and the smell… it would take a lot of blood to accurately recreate the stench of murder that clung to the floors of that lobby—that no amount of cleaning or reconstruction would ever remove the tainted intent of killing that now made its home in the darkness of that hour.

That's what was in front of her. That's what she had to face. That's where Sherwood found her sister…

And while it wasn't like her to become this upset—she'd long since prepared for the worst case scenario, for herself and her sister—to come so close and yet to end up so far here at the end of all things… like tripping right before the finish line…or seeing the one thing you prayed against your whole life happen anyway… it was frustrating… it was horrifying… it was spirit-breaking…

And yet she was moving toward it, like seeing sharks in the sea and then diving in anyway, perhaps involuntary or unconsciously, she was moving into the room. Her legs knew she had to go see but her heart knew her mind didn't want to. And so of course her body was confused as it resisted each step she took wobbling nauseously toward her sister's corpse. And soon she was right in front of it and she didn't say another word.

Get up… Sherwood didn't know if she thought that or if she said it, but it was the only thing that came to mind.

Get up… She went again…

Please…

Onee-sama…

Get.

Up.

The body didn't move.

Sherwood fell to her knees.

She wanted to shake her sister, wake her up somehow, as if she were only sleeping but as she reached forth her timid hand she couldn't bring herself to do it. Her sister, her beautiful, strong, elegant sister was face down in blood, so drenched her dress was more red than it ever was black… even her sword was completely covered in blood, the handle drenched demonstrating how hard she had gripped it and how furiously she had swung… and her hair, her lovely flowing gold-spun hair was soaked beyond comprehension with soggy clumps ripped out, scattered all around with what appeared to be tiny bits of bone fragments mixed in…

"It couldn't have ended here…" Sherwood finally spoke, her voice breaking under the sum of the truth… "She… she wouldn't… not like this…" Francesca as if finally realizing the sheer overwhelming horror of the room walked over from Flandre and put her hand on Sherwood's shoulder but the young princess just slapped it away. "Leave me alone! I… I don't believe it…"

Onee-sama…

Don't leave me…

Please…

Yesterday, Hime's lobby…

"Onee-sama! Onee-sama!" Sherwood cried as she exploded into the mansion's lobby pushing her way past the door... and Riza—much to the werewolf's chagrin.

"… I'm right here Sherwood. There's no need to shout." Hime said walking down the stairs with Flandre at her side.

"Of course there's reason to shout! Haven't you heard the news?" Sherwood screamed even louder, practically filling the mansion with her voice. "DAMN! To think they haven't gotten here yet!"

"Oh my… who?" Yawned a seductive albeit tired voice as Reiri walked into the lobby rubbing her sleepy eyes.

But right as Sherwood was about to start yelling again, as if to answer all questions and explain all matters, a knocking sound came from the front door and there standing right outside the open-frame was a company of no less than 15 soldiers, their outfits elegant and regal, as if they served the greatest kingdom ever to grace the Earth.

The royal guard? Reiri thought taken aback as an uneasy feeling crept over the lobby.

"Oh hell no! Not you guys again!" Riza snarled as she jumped back from the door into a fighting stance. "Don't tell me you're here to try and arrest Hime again!?"

"Peace Riza…" Hime said quietly and yet it was more than enough to silence the room… "These are no ordinary royals… they are emissaries, messengers of the war…"

"A thousand pardons you're highnesses…" The captain of the guard called as he fell to one knee and the company behind him did the same, all in unison. And it was… truly a sight to behold. That is the magnificence of his dignity and the magnificence of his strength, to profess his respect to one more than worthy, all the while his company did the same and Hime just stood there indifferently albeit ceremoniously, it was the perfect image of king and subject, and the captain himself was sturdy, built into his uniform which glistened high under the sun, the fine silk sewn and tailored to his fit that no human man could recreate, only his head remained uncovered by the magnificence of his uniform, and he appeared before them all as a giant with an elk like head.

"At ease…" Hime said as she nodded in acknowledgment. "So tell me… Captain… Is my brother dead?"

There was icy nip to that, a cold sort of indifference. Hime spared no effort dressing up her point with formality or subtly, she was as direct and as precise as ever. Though perhaps, hidden deep within, there was also some sorrow…and the room went silent as everyone looked on at her as she in turn looked on at the captain.

"… Yes… all of them…"

BANG.

"Princes Gilliam, Fuhito… and… Emil… have all met their end… C-congratulations…" The captain stuttered on that last part… it was a… custom to say that…"congratulations" after delivering such news… as if it was a victory in it of itself… it never felt right…

"Oujo-sama! I—Oh…" Sawawa said bumbling into the room but even she, the clueless albeit well-meaning wonder silenced herself as she saw the serious looks on everyone's faces…

"The full report based on all we know is detailed herein." The captain said as he handed over the rather dense file to Flandre. "I'll take my leave." And that was that. The captain turned on his heel as did his men and that was that, all just done to business… and yet, as he made to leave, as if he couldn't help but feel the need, he turned once more and bowed deeply. "Good luck your highnesses. May fortune favor you both." And with that the captain was off, rounding with his men, they went off and they were gone… disappearing from the human world in the blink of an eye…

"Onee-sama…" Sherwood finally said after a few silent seconds ticked by, everyone at a standstill realizing what the news truly meant. "We need to talk…"

And yet, even despite the severity of the news, even despite knowing exactly what it all meant, Hime just stood there, proud and dignified, as always, undimmed in her glory even before the breaking of the world, she just closed her eyes indifferently giving a subtle sigh before she finally turned to walk back up the stairs. "Sawawa…" She called. "Bring up some more tea."

"Of course Oujo-sama!"

"I have a feeling this might take a while…"

"Yo Hime!" Riza called after her prompting Hime to give a what-is-it-now kind of look. "Well… Um… What do you want me and Reiri to do?"

"Hmpf… I don't know. Do whatever it is you two usually do."

"Tsst! Hime!"

"Fufu… I'll bring you both up to speed later." And just like that Hime and Sherwood disappeared up the mansion's stairs with their respective maids following right behind them.

"Geazz!" Riza said scratching her head as she turned to look at Reiri who in turn just shrugged her shoulders.

"Onee-sama…" Sherwood said quietly as she walked into the dining room with Francesca at her side. She took her usual seat to the right of Hime who had already sat down and started drinking tea.

"What is it Sherwood?"

"It's just that… you seem so…unsurprised by everything… Did you… did you know that this was going to happen?"

"Of course not."

"Then why?"

"Calm yourself Sherwood. I just had a feeling." Hime said still sipping her tea nonchalantly. "Our brother had already made it clear he planned to attack Fuhito… yes? It wasn't a secret or anything… I had my own reservations about the idea but Gilliam was always stubborn… As for Emil, both you and I knew he wasn't really dead… he mentioned in his appearance to us before that he was having trouble maintaining himself in this 'time period'… as it so happens that worked out perfectly as he was able to stay 'dead' while working on whatever it is he was planning. Based on how things turned out… he was after Fuhito… and Gilliam was the spark that ignited the powder keg… the only real shock then was the two years it took for Gilliam to strike…"

"… I… I guess…" Sherwood said as she looked down at her lap trying to follow Hime's omnipotent logic… "But… but even so…I mean Fuhito didn't make a move either…"

"That's not odd at all…"

"Eh?"

"… Fuhito was destroyed in one of his battles and that cost him the throne… he may have come back… he may have gotten stronger… he may even have become immortal…

But…

He was not a complete Phoenix. He was probably waiting for some opportunity. Perhaps even win the war without having to actually fight… It's only been two years since his arrival… compared to how long he's waited to be resurrected… a few years figuring out a completely safe way of winning… that'd be inconsequential. He had no blood warriors, no support especially after we wiped out Dunken's mansion and facilities… any conflict he was getting involved in was going to be fought by himself. Sure he challenged us face to face but then why not just kill us right there? He had many opportunities to kill us… and our siblings but he didn't… that's because even Fuhito, the strongest of the royals, needed a plan… because even he must have had some weakness… and rather fall to the same trap he fell in before, he opted to fight conservatively."

"… And now he's gone…"

"Yes."

"You aren't going to look at the report then?"

"I can image what it says…"

"Hmmm…" Sherwood sighed as she reached forth her timid hand. She hesitated for a moment but then she finally mustered herself picking up the dense file and opening it upon her lap.

After a few minutes of reading, she had to stop. She felt like she had read some religious doctrine, that god's had fought upon the day, the sheer magnificence of the destruction detailed… and the power of both Emile and Fuhito which threatened to swallow the world, despite what Hime said, it was impossible to image how something like that could fear the word weakness… and so, regardless of how pointless or past the fact, Sherwood finally asked the one question she'd long since meant to ask, "O-onee-sama… w-what did we plan to do if Fuhito attacked us?"

"…"

"We never talked about a strategy… or a way to counterattack… which was careless of us but… what could we even have done? From this report… Fuhito was… I mean if Emil or Gilliam didn't intervene… What did you have in mind?"

"Does it matter… Sherwood…?"

"…I… I guess not…"

"…If we were attacked by Fuhito… I would have simply done my best to ward off his assault…" And with that Hime reached for her cup of tea and sipped it quietly… Sherwood though continued to stare… as if she was waiting for something more… a better explanation, some sort of hope or reassurance… none ever came…"

"That's it?" She finally whispered… "That's was our plan all along?"

"Fufu… yes…"

"Are… Are you kidding?"

"Hmpf. To be fair… If Fuhito really did attack us… I would've transformed into my royal form…"

"'Royal form?' You mean the form you took during your possession? H-how? Do you know how to control it? For how long you can maintain it? How powerful you are while in it?"

"Relax Sherwood I have no answers for you…"

"WHAT?"

"I don't know the answer to any of those questions… but I do know I had no intention of dying… and when I was in an absolutely hopeless situation, when I was just about to die… I entered that form… like I had so much power all of a sudden simply because I willed to live, and I could feel the world creaking underneath me… Fuhito used something like that… those purifying flames… he said I taught him how to use it…and Emil as well…"

"Wait… let me get this straight. So you mean to say you bet our entire battle with Fuhito on chance… The chance that you would somehow transform into this… pseudo-phoenix form… a form we have no information on, that may or may not be the same form Emil was in, or Fuhito himself, a form that could have serious consequences on your own body, you mean to tell me, that was your… no… our only strategy for dealing with Fuhito? Knowing that the probability of transformation would be next to impossible?"

But even as Sherwood finished her grand analysis, for it was perfect and it was unfortunately accurate, Hime didn't say a word. She just sipped her tea silently with her eyes closed like nothing had happened and Sherwood knew then to drop the topic…

It was just like Hime, that plan, and furthermore that stone-wall silence, like a switch she'd turn on or off whenever a conversation didn't suit her or she simply didn't care to respond, that stone-walled silence that could shut anyone up… it hadn't changed… and indeed Hime herself hadn't changed much over the last two years… I mean for one it'd be impossible to image how she could become any more beautiful… though to be fair, she did undergo one physical change. Her… um… bosom had grown a bit—though it certainly was no Sawawa or Sylvia! And truth be told that was probably a good thing…

She did however change in one other way. She became a little more… expressive… that is to say, Hime was slowly starting to show her feelings, in her words, in her tone, even now she was being exceptionally vocal as she shared her thoughts and plans with her sister—she was always direct but now she was forthcoming—emotionally—letting down her guard, opening up to the people who knew her best… Yes… Hime was becoming prone to moments like this where she didn't speak her mind but rather she spoke her heart, and though she'd never admit it, Hime the famed ice princess was indeed beginning to thaw… and just in time for the ending of the world…

"…Anyway…" Sherwood finally said clearing her throat still in disbelief. "We need to think of a good plan now that it's just us and Sylvia…" At this Sherwood realized the atmosphere of the room suddenly got really chilly—just as expected… she was reaching into taboo topic now but she didn't stop… this was important… "Onee-sama…" Her eyes met with Hime's. "We need to think about attacking Sylvia… we need to think about making the first strike…"

Silence…

"Look I know you and our sister have history but we can't wait for her to gather anymore strength… our war has been on a two year hiatus with Fuhito looming over our shoulders and surely she must have been planning something… Onee-sama… I know you know what I'm saying… Sylvia isn't Fuhito. But she's still a very great threat… we need to end this war… now… you know this don't you?"

Silence… that's all Sherwood heard, silence as it once again claimed the room but this time Hime nodded, she actually nodded, acknowledging Sherwood and all that she had said, it was simple and perhaps even half-hearted, but Hime agreed and Sherwood sighed lightly smiling in her head. That was half the battle, getting Hime to take her seriously… though it was also kind of scary… that Hime was actually taking something seriously… it was really the final gambit and everyone knew it, even Hime despite her indifference and her own personal feelings, she knew Sylvia had to be taken done, if not for the throne, simply for survival. "Now then…" Sherwood called clearing her throat. "I know you told Riza and Reiri that you were going to fill them in later but Hiro really should be here for this… where is he anyway?"

But just as she asked that question, as if on cue, a familiar voice echoed throughout the room.

"Hey Riza Reiri! What are you guys doing by the dining room door? Where's Hime?"

"AH! HIRO! SHUT IT!"

"Hiro SHHHHH!"

"WAHH!" Squealed the voice as the outside of the dining room suddenly rumbled with life.

"Hiro…" Hime called calmly. "Get in here."

"R-right!" Called the voice meekly as the dining room door finally opened and in walked Hiro Hiyorimi with several scratches or rather claw marks newly tattooed across his face. "P-princess Sherwood…" Hiro bowed weakly as his eyes spun in their sockets… to which the young princess smiled warmly but then her smile quickly vanished…as if the comical presence of his arrival had only lightened the mood, and now the tension once again solidified…

"Hiro…" Hime called his name again, carrying only the slightest tang of urgency, enough though that Hiro knew something was wrong… "We're going to attack Sylvia tomorrow…"

And for a second, Hiro just stared at her, blank faced and vacant minded, back at his beautiful princess, as if he didn't quite hear the words she had said… But Hime stared solemnly back, waiting for his mind to catch up, the words she had spoken self-proceeding such that repetition was unnecessary, "What has happened?" was all Hiro could ask…

"Gilliam and Emil niisama… and Fuhito as well have been killed." Sherwood cut in. "It's just me, Onee-sama… and Sylvia left in the war now…"

Once again, Hiro couldn't quite understand the words being spoken to him or rather it wasn't that he couldn't understand, he just wasn't ready for them, like running into a brick wall even after seeing it ahead of time but still feeling the shock and the impact. He did his best to shrug off that feeling, now wasn't the time, and so he went standing high at attention as he stood before both Hime and Sherwood. And he was splendid to look upon in that moment, devoted as he was, indeed Hiro had changed the most out of everyone there and the two years of relative peace had brought out the man in him as he stood a few inches towering over Hime. Yes. Hiro had become quite the young man, and not just physically, his body becoming leaner and toner bring out his handsome qualities, he'd also gained a fair bit of wit, able to think logically and perform competently in battle. He was still as clueless as ever, perhaps due to being human, there were just things he could never understand about the monster world, like now, hearing deaths in a war, to just accept it without explanation was impossible but he knew enough to know that this was the greatest moment of the war…the final battle… and Sylvia was the last enemy to be destroyed… and so with a strong resolve he'd grown to be known for he spoke… "What would you have me do Hime?" Hiro stared unwaveringly at his master, his eyes completely changed into their yellow silted blood warrior form. Hime and Sherwood couldn't help but smile as they watched those eyes…

"Fufu… we'll be marching on Sylvia's mansion tomorrow."

"A direct assault?"

"Fufu… you disapprove… my blood warrior?"

"Not at all."

"Fufu…and you Sherwood?"

"Need you ask Onee-sama!"

"Good… We're marching in blind and besides her two blood warriors, Mikasa and Madeleine, and her android Francette… I don't know what else our older sister will have up her sleeve… Tomorrow… everything will become clear…"

"Hmm. " Sherwood sighed in confidence. "Well then Onee-sama… I've got to go make some preparations… Hiro. I'll be counting on you as well…fufu…"

"I won't let you done… Princess Sherwood." Hiro smiled bowing, and just like that Sherwood and Francesca disappeared from the dining room and out the front mansion's door… and that was that… that was their plan. It wasn't anything flashy or grand as Hiro would have thought, walking in through the front door, in fact it sounded kind of silly, but with Hime and Sherwood fighting side by side and he too would be fighting right alongside them, there was a great hope that now blossomed in their weary hearts, a great hope and kingly spirit, that charging head first into death or glory, this was the greatest plan of all—for it suited royalty, it suited them all just fine. But despite this feeling, despite their conviction, as Hiro turned his attention back toward Hime, he couldn't help but notice she was acting strange. She had gotten out of her seat and left her tea behind, tilting her head away, her eyes distantly staring out the window… like she was holding in a great burden. He was about to call out her name when finally she spoke answering all of his questions with a single phrase.

"For good or for ill…" she whispered just loud enough for Hiro to hear her as she watched her sister leave from the dining room window. "Tomorrow we end the war…"

And with that Hiro understood everything. It was a soft statement, what Hime had said and yet it was the world. All the troubles now she laid bare that'd she'd only vaguely expressed, still too indifferent to be completely honest with herself…

"Then let's end it." Hiro said suddenly as Hime turned around to see him standing right behind her. He was smiling that same smile, the one he gave whenever someone asked if he would gladly die for her. Always… that was the answer, and even after two years, that stupid little smile, that stupid silly selfless little smile hadn't changed a bit nor had the answer. Always… And yet he had, what a splendid man Hiro had become, what a splendid blood warrior, such that his great nature had even gone so far as to force itself upon Hime's notice. And she did notice. Always… He would always be by her side. He would always be her Hiro. And to be fair… she chuckled lightly causing him to give a questioning look. She would always be his… she would always be his Hime… "Yes. And after we are done I'm going to have Sawawa make us some tea."

Just like always…

The world was filled with promises that always ended in "always…"

And Hiro couldn't help but smile. That was the punch-line, that was the give-away… what Hime had said, the meaning behind it. As if defeating Sylvia was just another chore, despite her own feelings on the matter or the fact that a great war was coming to an end, certainly all these meant more but here she was back again, as nonchalant as ever, perhaps due to her impulsiveness, professing to Hiro that things were going to be the same after they'd won even though things wouldn't… never mind whether or not they'd actually win. Their happy albeit abnormal life together with everyone would continue as sure as Sawawa's cup of tea that she brewed daily…

It was a lie…

Of course…

But Hiro and Hime took comfort from it… it was a better way of being in denial. And tomorrow all that would matter was war… so they stole time… yes… they stole time, believing in the miracles they bought perhaps the closest thing to praying either of them would ever do… they would see each other on the other side… and they would be together… as a family… and maybe this time… as something more…hopefully… because if everyone believes a lie… then who's to say it's not the truth?

Hiro…

Hime…

God… she was something else. She never stopped stunning him, the sheer magnificence in her eyes, in her beauty, oh sure she still rarely showed any emotion and to be quite frank she was kind of scary to maintain eye contact with—even after two years, but even so, even still, in the end these were all just different aspects of what made Hime… Hime… and Hiro loved that. Aye, yes, he loved that. And what tenderness she had gained, for even though Hiro was still pretty clueless despite all his growth, even Hiro could see a great light in Hime's eyes, as if her emotions were bubbling up at the seams. Her voice remained toneless but her body language said it all just like so many times before—as their fondness for one another grew so too did her emotion. How whenever he came into the dining room to talk to her after school—about nothing in particular, she would just sip her tea quickly prompting him to pour her more, as if to keep him busy so he wouldn't have to leave. And her way of asking questions right as Hiro ran out of things to say whereas she normally would remain silently waiting till the stone-wall silence ended the conversation, all that and more told Hiro all he needed to know.

And he half wondered if it was appropriate to embrace her, god knows how much he wanted too, not to mention that he and Hime had definitely become more… intimate—by her standards of course… but that was still progress and yet there was always something holding them back, something that lagged behind stopping them from calling out to one another, perhaps the words, the feelings, the unspoken things always on the tip of their tongues but always withheld. Perhaps due to the war. Yes. That's it… Hiro thought. Tomorrow the war will end… and I'll embrace Hime… that was a promise he made to himself as he looked upon the woman he loved and watched her looking back in the same way, like two partners who had absolute faith in the other…

For better or for worse, the world was now in motion and tomorrow would be the end… and both Hiro and Hime would be standing side by side ready to meet whatever fate that entailed for that was their fate as well… the one they choose, to be by each other's side, even now, here at the end of all things…

Hiro…

Hime…

Their names were on each other's minds even as they all lay awake that anxious, final night…

Present day…

Sherwood was hunched over her sister, her head downcast as her back blocked the light from the sun. Shadow hid her face but her words said it all… "Onee-sama please…" They were fragile… like sticks that snapped before the hollow wind… a pleading begging prayer that would never be answered.

"Onee-sama please…" Sherwood said again this time with tears in her eyes as she finally became overwhelmed, begging her sister's corpse to come back to life. It quickly became rather painful to watch as Sherwood gasped hysterically at the air trying to breathe as she hyperventilated all the while Francesca just gripped her shoulders tightly not knowing what else to do or what else to say… and few men or women could stomach the sight of such misery for there was only misery in that moment as Sherwood slumped down to her lowest point finally realizing the entire truth. The truth that all of her siblings were dead and she was the victor… she was going to become king… and that was victory… a sick joke that quickly became a terrible one because it was all true…that was justification, that was righteous declaration for the two years of war and horror and suffering she along with Hime endured…never in a million years did Sherwood think she'd ever win… never in a million years did she think she'd never want to…

And just when time and fact and cruelty all seemed blended into one, when all hope seemed despised and lost, when the war was just about reaching its pitiful, miserable end…

There was a sound.

That's right… a sound… fragile… but there… a sound. And it was small, not big… and it was soft, beautiful, impassive… female… it was a voice… that's right, a voice, one that could shatter the heavens and make you believe in god for there was no sound as sweet or as powerful as that one very specific voice that filled the room, answering all questions with a single word, a name.

"… Sherwood…"

Onee-sama... you're… you're alive?

Yes… Sherwood…

I am…

NEXT TIME: Hime is alive! Oh my god she's alive! Shocking I know! Princess Lillianne finally awakes and finds herself staring across a battlefield! Find out what happened during Gilliam's battle with Fuhito and Hime's battle with Sylvia as the Phoenixes descend to make their official decision known in a two chapter double-feature release! Brace yourselves folks as Hime and Sherwood realize that there's no such thing as a perfect victory…. And happened to Hiro and the rest of the gang? All that and more next time on Princess Finale!

End Note: Alright folks so this chapter felt a little uneventful… Geazz that's what I said about the first chapter of Princess Jealousy! (Déjà vu much?) But honestly, I felt it more here with this chapter. I guess I really didn't think this story was going to be as ambitious as it turned out to be… I'm burnt out just writing the rough drafts! But don't worry! I will finish this story though again it might take some time and for that I apologize. I know especially since it took me basically another two months to deliver you this story—though to be fair that was because of college and my studies and what not. Furthermore, I know I should have offered a little more… meat in this chapter. Think of this though as the set up, the intro, the prologue. The real story I'd say starts around chapter 2 to chapter 3 but I couldn't just drop you in the middle of the world and scenario I envisioned, so if this started off slow, I apologize for that and I hope at the very least it was entertaining to read and a little tense—rattling you guys up for more! Oh and on that note, here's a tentative schedule of my upcoming works:

Princess Finale (4-5 chapters)—current story

Princess Resurrection One-shot

Princess Resurrection Mature Story (4-5 chapters)

Princess Resurrection Spin-off (+5 chapters)—huge project, original plot, original characters, rooted in Princess Resurrection Universe.

These are a list of upcoming works before I move on to other animes or for a little while. I have a ton of other projects in the works—some of them school related others just original works… more on that in the future. If you want more information on those or the stories I listed above don't hesitate to ask! I enjoy discussing my work very much! Anyway, before I get carried away with that, tell me what you guys think of this story—this first chapter, if you liked it, if you hated it, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, and what not you guys know the drill, leave a review and as always PM's are more than welcome. Thanks guys! Couldn't do any of this without you! Raza out! Oh and one more thing… Happy 2013! WOO-HOO!