The Present – A Story of Tranquility
By: kawaya

Chapter Sixteen

Madison took a breath, seeing things she had never seen before.

"What do you plan to do?" Caed asked, getting a little worried.

"Nothing much." Madison answered, "Just a little trick I learned."

"You realize this isn't the time to do something foolish? You could get hurt, or worse, get someone else hurt." Caed said.

"I know that!" Madison snapped.  "But it has to work."

"If you would only tell us what is was, maybe we could help you." Lian said, watching her carefully.  "It's not as if we weren't willing to help."

"I know." Madison sighed, "But I also know that you can't help."

"MADISON!"

Madison felt a chill down her spine at the voice.  "Miisa? What are you doing here?!" She turned towards the voice and saw Michael as well.  "You two shouldn't be here!"

"Phfft!" Michael snorted, "That's what I told her…but noooo she wouldn't listen would she? Besides," Michael grinned at her, "What are you doing here?"

"You know perfectly well what I'm doing here." Madison snapped, feeling worry weigh down her heart.  "Well what are you standing around there for? You better get inside the barriers."

Miisa and Michael walked in, as Lian lowered the barriers for them.

Michael walked up to Madison, "Miisa said something that really got to me." He whispered, giving her an excuse for being there.  "She said if I wasn't going to try to do something, then what's the point of becoming someone of power?" Michael's eyes had a faraway look in them.  "When I was little, on Earth, I was always picked on by bullies.  When I was accepted into the Elite School, I thought things would change.  But they didn't.  Who knows? Maybe I was just an easy target or something.  I didn't do anything about it, I just let them have their fun.  But one day, my sister was killed because she didn't give them her cookie.  It was then I realized that I should have done something about them when I had the chance."

Madison looked at him.  Despite the situation that surrounded them, she couldn't help thinking how much he cared about the people around them.

"From that day on, my entire life was centered on getting stronger to protect those people who like me, knew that they had to do something about it, but didn't know what to do.  When Miisa said that to me, it hit me like a ton of bolts that in the midst of getting stronger, I forgot what had made me want to get stronger in the first place." Michael said in a low tone, "And even if The Queen Dai herself ordered me to let others fight this battle, I would not go home."

"Michael." Madison whispered, "You are one of the strongest people I know, and I trust you.  But this is something I have to do."

"You keep saying that, but you don't expect us to believe it, do you?" Michael asked, "I mean, what can one person do that a group of people can't do better? Especially in this situation."

"You'll see." Madison said, with a twinkle in her eye.

Michael sighed and muttered, "Why am I always the one who caves?"

Madison laughed, "Because, some of us are a lot more convincing than you."

"Uhh…" Alcander started, "Do you guys mind putting your reunion aside for the present task? It's kinda urgent!"

Both Madison and Michael laughed to hide their fears.

"Do we join?" Aiken asked, opening and closing his hand.

"I don't want you to." Madison said.

"WATCH OUT!" Miisa shouted as a stream of light, rebounding from the princesses hit their barrier.  The barrier died under the power.

All actions on the battlefield seemingly stopped as the barrier collapsed and revealed the group.

Silently, The Elites, Michael, and the Association of Tranquility descended upon the battlefield and stunned the soldiers with their magic.

The soldiers, yelling their war cries, rushed headlong into the battle.

The sounds of the battle merged together and faded as Madison was pulled into a dream.  In her dream, she remembered.

"With the power given from Tranquility, I Alyssa, free you from your bonds.  With the power from my people, I heal your lands.  With the power from my soul, I give you your lives.  Powers of Chaos… be banished!" Madison whispered over and over again, with each repetition growing stronger.

On the last repetition, another voice joined her:

"With the power given from Tranquility, I Dai, free you from your bonds.  With the power from my people, I heal your lands.  With the power from my soul, I give you your lives.  Powers of Chaos… be banished!"

And thus did the memory of Queen Alyssa finally rest in peace.

-- - -- -- - --

Madison felt herself grow cold as her energy was depleted.  Tears fell from her face in relief as she smiled at Caed.  "It's finally over." She whispered.

Caed nodded, unable to speak.

For just one moment, it felt as if each and every person in Tranquility was connected.  For just one moment, everyone closed their eyes and smiled in relief.  For just one moment, simplicity and tranquility ruled.

"It's like suffocating under a blanket, for so long you can't even think anymore…and then having that blanket torn away, allowing the ever fresh air in.  That wave of clarity…the relief it's indescribable." Madison smiled, "Just like the feeling of today, the joy, the happiness, the relief…is just too hard to explain…it has to be felt, and it was…by each and every person on Tranquility."

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Last night I had the strangest dream
I've ever dreamed before
I dreamt the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and with men
And the papers, they were signed and said
We'd never fight again

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round
While guns and swords and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I've ever dreamed before
I dreamt the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

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Disclaimer

The poem above, Strangest Dream, was not written by myself.  I don't know who wrote it, sorry! I sang this song way back in elementary school (about 5 years ago) and somehow it stuck with me.  

Author's Notes

Well, this is it! The final chapter is over! *sniff* but no worries! There's another chapter that will wrap things up…it's a short little chapter that occurs about a week after the end of the Universal War.  I hope you enjoyed this story is far! When I've finished The Past – A Story of Tranquility, I'll post it k? It's about Dai's childhood and her experiences.  And trust me, she's a lot different there than she appears in this story! Sorry about the short chapter though, it was originally going to be long but I didn't feel like writing it (-.-') Anyways, that's why I'm posting the epilogue right after just because I wrote a short final chapter^-^