The Final Dream

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Calem's POV

The Celestia, somewhere over the rainbow 

I opened my eyes, surrounded by a pale white light. It was impossible that I was still alive. I had been obliterated by the machine. I had known death.

Suddenly, I heard a voice calling out my name in the distance.

"Calem?"

I paused. 

I knew exactly who it was.

Even though it had been four years since I last heard her voice, I still knew it.

As the voice came nearer and nearer, tears started to well up in my eyes.

It was as if an invisible force was guiding me, pushing me to go.

The voice drew closer, and closer.

"Marina!", I called out.

No reply came.

Maybe it wasn't her.

Maybe it was someone else.

I started to walk away, when suddenly, I felt someone's arms wrap around my body.

I knew who it was now.

I turned around and faced her.

She looked as immaculate as the day I saw her for the first time.

I pulled her into an even tighter embrace, both of us crying tears of joy.

"At last, Calem. We're finally together again.", Marina said.

"We are, my little candle in the wind.", I told her jokingly.

"Oh, you! I told you I don't like that nickname."

"Why do you hate it so much?"

"Haven't I told you why?"

"Nope, you didn't."

Before she could answer my question, a rolling, booming voice was suddenly heard.

"I stand witness that the two of you are presently here on this location."

It was Arceus, and we both kneeled.

"Rise up. I have something to tell you two."

We both stood up, wondering what it was.

"The one who wrote your destinies has been unfair. The fates prescribed to you was enough to convince me."

Marina and I looked at each other, confused at what that meant.

"I have decided to extend your lives, you two. Go, and be happy.", Arceus said, with a slight smile visible though slightly obscured by the cloud cover.

"Now, close your eyes, and listen to the incantation I will speak of. By the time it ends, you shall have returned to your home world."

We did as told and closed our eyes.

A blinding white light momentarily flashed before us.

I opened my eyes again. I was inside the machine again, but it was now inactive.

I walked across the bridge connecting the machine to the hallway, where I thought I would have died, but I didn't.

I walked out of the tower, which was still not reached by the League Security Corps. Team Flare was practically gone by now. 

I went out of the building, rushing to get to Marina in the hospital. I slowly smiled. I was finally, after all these years, going to see her standing up again.