It’s over.

At long last, it’s over; but what little relief I feel is washed away in a sea of sorrow.  My tears slide down my cheeks, without any attempt on my part to stop them.  I pull Fuu and Umi more tightly toward me in our three-way embrace.  It is cold comfort for us all.

How can something so right at the same time be so wrong?

She only wanted to love, and be loved!  That’s something that everyone wants, everyone needs - and yet it was the one thing that she of all people was forbidden.  In this one matter alone, beautiful Cephiro displayed a truly cruel aspect.

It seems that all joy must be paid for in pain, and the idyllic nature of life on Cephiro has cost us, as well as it, dear.  Cephiro has lost both its Princess and High Priest, with almost the entire planet torn apart in the struggle.

It pains me to think of how I misunderstood Zagato, how wrong I was in judging him.  He was only trying to protect the one he loved from harm, even the harm she would do to herself.  I can understand that, understand it very well indeed.  After all, I have fought for my own friends in much the same way - and if I were in his place I know I would have acted in the same manner!

But I realized this too late.  Only when Emeraude-hime confronted us for destroying her beloved did I see what should have been plain.  By then it was far too late to attempt anything else.  We had broken her heart by slaying her love, and the only way to make amends was to allow her to join him.

To set her free.

Free from the chains that Cephiro had bound her with; free to choose where she should direct her love.  It’s a simple freedom, one that all people should have, yet the Pillar of Cephiro was denied this.  The most important person on the planet was denied what could be the greatest joy in life.

Was it worth it?  I want to know, I need to know - were the years of happiness that the people of Cephiro gained truly worth such suffering?  Emeraude-hime must have thought so at first, but could not sustain herself through the years that followed.  I know that she is happy, now, as happy as her people ever were under her rule.

What will become of those left behind, I wonder?  It takes some effort to even care about them at first - but then I remember Master Clef, and Ferrio, and the other friends we met along the way…  What will they do now?

I feel my spine stiffen in dread.  They wouldn’t choose a new pillar, would they?  They couldn’t impose such a burden on yet another poor soul, could they?

Emeraude was strong, so very strong to be able to keep the needs of Cephiro so constantly above her own; and yet even she failed in the course of time.  Where could they possibly find another who is stronger than she was?  One who would be willing to take up so heavy a task?

I shudder, and feel my friends arms tighten around me.  I’m sure we’re drawing stares, three girls from different schools hugging at the top of Tokyo Tower;  I’m sure they’re all wondering what’s going on…  Cephiro seems so far away, but I have only to look at my companions to see it’s effects.  I have only to look within myself…

Emeraude is gone, but perhaps Cephiro lives on…

I can only hope so, hope that it was worth it.

Someday, I vow, I will return to Cephiro - and I will make sure that it’s worth it!