626. Our Hearts Connected

626. Our Hearts Connected

“Stars…”

Dark Memoria’s voice cut through the chaos like the lead violin of a symphony.

“… Are such prideful beings, are they not?”

A heavy weight joined them, pressing the spear further into The Beast Forever’s barrier until the tip poked through.

“Attachment is the root of all suffering.”

Dark Memoria’s form was no longer in the shape of Galia. It was Elysia, with white hair stained with strands of black. Her apparel was an unsophisticated funeral suit carrying the stem of a petal-less flower in its breast pocket.

“But today, this root shall be associated with hope.”

Suddenly, a golden light appeared in the place of where the petals should be. In her raised hand appeared a blackened spear encased in white vines and thorns.

“The brambles that clamp us to the past and Cycles only needed to be watered and loved.”

With a single downward thrust, the golden spear broke through the second barrier, along with the third, fourth, and so forth, speeding up with each barrier it obliterated.

“Preferably by those we cherish, so that a flower can bloom from the soil marred by tribulations.”

They punctured through all defenses of The Beast Forever.

“To give birth to a flower that portrays us the best.”

And when they landed in the cavity where the fragile, humanoid heart resided –

“I’M HERE! Mother! I’m not going anywhere!”

– The Princess wrapped her arms around it, forsaking her weapon.

Her love alone was the only spear she needed to piece the heart of her Corrupted mother.

“I just wanted to be by your side… It’s not our fault that we couldn’t! People came into our lives and kept us apart. It’s my fault that I didn’t know any better! I believed everything they said. So don’t blame yourself for me. Mother… I’m sorry. I love you!”

The body of Micheala was stiff like a statue. Her arms cracked as she began to raise them to hug her child. Pieces of her body crumbled away.

But before she could fully disappear, she was at least able to have one firm embrace before her upper torso snapped off. The Princess wept into her chest, her tears only forming additional cracks.

Michaela’s hand finally cupped the back of her daughter’s head.

Frost had seen a similar phenomenon before. It was when Ber and Res transformed into different Corrupted once they had reached new epiphanies. The state Micheala was in reminded her of Res when she awakened from the cocoon, only that it was clear that The Beast No More…

… Was no longer.

The petrified torso of Michaela remained in her arms until it fizzled away to dust. The Princess kept her arms in place, hugging a phantom mother as she wept mournfully for what could have been.

“People… *Hic* blamed me… Hated me… Because of things I didn’t understand. You tried to protect me. I didn’t know. Mother. I’m sorry. I didn’t know… I’ll be a good girl… so please… Please… Let me stay by your side.”

Frost moved to support her. The tears never stopped flowing down her cheeks. The light of the Genesis Stone that dangled before them like the uvula of a beast flickered in tune with her muffled sobs.

“… I’ll... go along with the pain. And I swear I won’t complain. I have the dream you gave me… Miss Frost. I don’t regret being born any longer… I… have learned how to cherish life.”

The back of this tiny child was once the same that wanted to die. But she refrained. The pain of losing her mother must have made those thoughts encroach back into her mind.

However…

“… Even… if it’s hard to move on… And even if I can’t stop my tears… all of me is so warm because of you. Mother… I’m right here.”

The Genesis Stone resonated with her call.

“… I want to stay by your side as well.”

It throbbed like it was her own heart.

“Miss Frost…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t… hate mother… please don’t hate her.”

“… I won’t.”

“Promise me that you won’t. You’re from the future. I know I died. I know that I failed. But even if that’s true… right now you’ve given me this gift!”

Frost was taken aback. Her mouth opened but no words came out. A single groan followed. Then a hand reached to shield her eyes.

“Please. Don’t beat her up too badly.”

“… I promise. Yeah. I promise I won’t hate her… Princess.”

“I broke my own cycle all thanks to you. I feel like even if I disappear now then it’ll all be worth it. But I…”

The Princess trailed off, finally turning around to hug Frost.

“… how is mother in the future?”

“She’s looking for you.”

“No. I mean… how is she like? What does she like? Does she sleep somewhere nice? Does she have friends?”

“… so many friends. So many people trust her. There’s not a single person who can say no to her anymore. She’s reached out to people who didn’t know how to move on. She visits a garden that’s full of colors. It’s a place where people with white hair like you are allowed to live without fear.”

The Princess’ sorrow cleared up suddenly as she fondly looked over at something past Frost’s shoulder.

“I was able to save lots of people, right?”

“You did. You saved the world.”

“… It wasn’t in vain then. Because that meant that you were able to come back in time to save me.”

“A-Ahaha… Yeah. That’s one way to put it.”

“What’s the future like?”

“It’s… a work in progress.” Frost laughed, swallowing back her tears.

“But it’s a good place, right?”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Because you and mother are there! If you went this far for me, then who knows how far you’ll go for others!”

Frost finally broke down. It was no use trying to hide her tears any longer. Crystal clear tears tumbled down her cheeks. She had only known this child for hours, but it felt like they had been with each other since birth.

If Frost had a sister, then it would be her.

Other emotions filled Frost through her embrace with the Princess like an electric shock.

The sorrow of multiple ‘Hers’ came flooding through. But amongst them all she could feel a warm ray of sunshine as they collectively smiled, flickering through like a kaleidoscope.

All past Frosts from every Cycle flashed before her eyes. ‘Her’, the Captured Star, Sinder – all of them.

This moment was perhaps what they were all waiting for.

Cracks formed across the faces of them all.

Where the Princess had broken through her own Cycle, so did Frost.

She had made it the furthest of them all.

This was the truth Dark Memoria and the Arbiter tried to hide from her.

They had severely underestimated the kind of person Frost was.

Because amongst all past Frost’s there was still only one Frost.

“… I want to go too.”

The Princess whispered as Frost’s tears subsided.

“Then come.”

Frost responded with renewed vigor. Her words carried absolute certainty.

“… can I really?”

Her eyes moved to the Genesis Stone.

“That thing can make your wish come true. Granted, I don’t know how it’ll work, but I think it’s possible. Dark Memoria. Voice.”

Frost called her newfound friends. Dark Memoria made her presence known with loud footsteps, and the Voice revealed a prompt showing its commitment.

“Lend us a hand.”

“I may as well see fruition of your chosen path.”