Withering World [MCSM Fanfiction]

EPILOGUE 1

- 5 Months Later -

Petra

Their bronze statues glint in the pinnacle-of-spring sunlight. I stand before two memorials of the friends I lost from the past events, right by where the central dark blue beacon shines.

Just when I thought Beacontown couldn't add to its nonsensical color spectrum, its vibrancy is most predominant at this time. That goes for the houses, the fun builds and especially the beacons, even if there are only five of them now - one at every corner and one in the middle at the heart of town to represent different members of the Order.

A spring clean was due as soon as we moved overground, parting from Champion City, Redstonia and Boomtown. Not even the slightest indication of abandonment shows up in any structure: no more vines; no corrosion; and definitely no stillness. But despite Beacontown being filled with noise and motion again, today was no day for work or errands.

Today, we recall the lost. Framed photos of absent faces hung up on both the interiors and exteriors of the streets.

I feel someone sneak up behind me, footfalls soft yet unsilenced.

"You doing okay?" asks my friend who's caught up. Our shoulders almost touch.

"It's crazy how accurate you made these," I say, not exactly centralizing her question, although I think that's enough to answer it. I glance at the bronze. "Even Radar's taller than you."

"I only wanted to do my best for them. Maybe it's just the hair."

"Face it, Jesse. You're short." It leads to both of us chortling. Only then do I focus on her attire: like me, she wears a back variant of her signature clothing. The left button of her overalls has been replaced with a blue mushroom pin, a badge everyone in Beacontown is currently wearing to resemble the freedom they have from the shackles of disease. Her hair is done into a neat braid topped with an oxeye daisy hairtie instead of her hair clip that rests on her shoulder. A select few wear the oxeye daisy - those who were cleansed from Wither Sickness. Survivors.

We exchange a few more friendly jokes and laughs about the statues. Then, a short, mental nudge prods Jesse to pause. "You ready?"

Several spectators begin to circle us and the memorials, anticipating the mayor's next moves with Jack and Nurm among the crowd. I nod.

In an ephemeral moment, Jesse saunters to the headstone in front of Radar's statue, pulling down the cloth draping over it like you'd do a flag in a revolution.

Engraved in the slab is this:

Radar
Friend of many and leader who taught us selflessness and loyalty. Everyday hero to all.

She then walks over to Lukas's headstone, dragging the curtain up and outwards like she's making wings for it. Her hands are a magician's hands performing a trick, except the stone remains when I thought it was going to disappear.

Engraved in the slab is this:

Lukas
Friend of many and author who taught us nobility and valor. Great and sacrificial hero to all.

Jesse returns to her initial place and gives me the cue. As I walk, I hear the hundreds of people behind us whisper a multitude of their sympathies and condolences. "Thank you," many say to pay their respects.

At Radar's, I lay an artifact of his that Jesse kept after his death, his glasses, in front of the engraved, polished stone. I take out one of the two oxeye daisies from my inventory and carefully place it on top.

For Lukas, I crouch to leave his journal by the headstone alongside the other oxeye daisy. But something inside me snaps when I step away from the memorial. I near it again and remove my necklace in the process.

"Are you sure, Petra?" Jesse questions, stirred by my gesture. "You said you'd never take it off."

"I should've died that day. He deserves all I have."

No turning back. I clarify my action and rest the chain and the sword pendant on top of his journal. That's when I get a closer look at the engraving, quickly reading the passage twice before standing beside Jesse again.

A few audacious souls step forward reading poems, uplifting passages from novels, or giving improvised speeches for their two heroes.

I do not. If anything, I bet the entirety of Beacontown is better with words than I am.

On the contrary, I let myself weaken, inflaming my system with the meaningful words transmitted by those who habitate in their gift of speaking as they engulf me with their ravaging collections of mini stories and testimonies.

Me and Jesse must have stayed for another hour after the townspeople left. Sat on the stage of the central beacon, we talk about the week to come, the next agenda to put in place, or perhaps a new, bright adventure that she could join me in for some time (if she finds someone trustworthy enough to lead Beacontown temporarily).

Our settling down doesn't take long.

An atmospheric squeak followed by a loud pop fills the air.

"What was that?" Jesse's head turns towards the gates. My eyes follow the direction of hers.

Fireworks. Lots of them making a public spectacle outside town. If it weren't for the lack of fireworks being set off here in Beacontown and the fact it's daytime, I'd have been convinced it's New Year. Their striking colors and captivating shapes are eye candy. A smile creeps onto my face.

"Is that coming from the Order's temple?" She speaks again, noticing orientation of the boisterous signals from her position.

"Spot on, Jesse. We better leave now."

"What, and abandon everyone?" she asks.

"It'll just be for a bit. You've nothing to do today, anyway. Plus, I think you'll be happy to see them."

I gave them six months to train for this moment. Who knew that time would quickly vanish?

"See who?"

"I'll tell you on the way," I say, dragging her wrists with me to the front of the stage and in line with the exit. "But first, let's race to the gates."

As if it was what she expected, she readies herself into a stance once I let go of her. "Ha! You're on!"

Soon enough, we're kicking up our feet, flinging off into the distance to be met with the outside world again for the first time in too long.

****

A/N

Hold up, guys. As much of a complete ending as this seems, the story doesn't finish here!

The second part of the Epilogue will come out next week Monday and that's when this book will finally be done.

Hope you enjoyed the penultimate chapter of the story!

~ Echo <3