Slowly, the elevator rises as Hero takes a deep breath, leaning against the wall, catching his breath. He spots Mari standing across from him, but not the dream or Mari, what appears to be her ghost, or mayhaps a hallucination.

"You've made the right choice," she smiles.

"Are you a dream too?" Henry inquires.

"The dreams are alive," Mari retorts, "But no. That Mari downstairs was Dream Mari."

"So I am dreaming."

"Yeah. Afraid so, but for what it is worth they will live on when you wake up."

"And you?"

"I'm already gone, you know that."

There's a solemn sadness for a moment.

"I miss you," Henry sighs.

"I'll see you eventually," Mari assures.

"But what if you are just a dream?" Henry asks sadly.

"Then why dwell on it?" Mari inquires, "When it won't change?"

Mari smiles and assures Henry, "I'm not going anywhere, when we meet again is a matter of when, but, I want it to be far far away from today. As far as it can be. Understand?"

Henry nods.

"And one last thing," Mari adds, "Take care of Sunny, he needs a big brother now more than ever."

Mari hugs Henry, reminding him, "I miss you too, but move on from me, OK?"

"I will," Henry replies with a bittersweet smile as he hugs Mari back. Mari fades away in his arms, leaving Henry alone.

He looks at the elevator doors, his resolve renewed as the doors open...

The Hero grips his scalpel in his hand, glaring at The Culprit, no, Dream Sunny, as he corners him against the back of the penthouse, Dream Sunny backed against a window overlooking the under water locales of Deep Well.

"The Hero!" Henry exclaims.

"You're still standing?" The Hero demands, "Why? I'm what the world needs, what you need to be."

"No," Henry retorts, "The world doesn't need heroes, being a good person is enough to make the world a better place, such things occur as a byproduct of being a good person, you're just going to lead me to self destruction by placing to much pressure on myself. I am Henry, and I am enough. Doing my best while trying to be happy, balancing work and life, is enough!"

"He killed Mari!" The Hero screams.

"It was an accident!" Henry retorts, "I'm going to do the right thing."

"No," The Hero growls, "You're just to weak to do what's right!"

The Hero attacks!

Henry is acting HEROIC.

The Hero is acting VILLAINOUS.

Henry makes the first move, striking The Hero with his frying pan, a moving attack which sends him staggering back. The Hero counters by making an incision in the stomach, a moving attack which draws blood, already wounded, Henry collects himself.

Henry CHERISHES.

Henry recalled Joey's words. "The point is, you are my family, and I'll always love you as such."

Hero finds his strength renewed as The Hero strikes again, demanding, "What happens when no one else will fight? You will need me again! Just as Aubrey did! Without me she would still be in that abusive home!"

The Hero slashes wildly at Henry, slicing him apart, drawing blood from arms as he shields his face with a moving blow.

"I only needed the recording!" Henry retorts bitterly, "I had no reason to fight aside from my own sadism!"

Henry HEATS his pan up and strikes, burning The Hero's face with a moving blow that injures him gravely and should be lethal...

But The Hero did not succumb.

The Hero's clothes are suddenly stained with blood as he slices at the skull, drawing blood from Henry's forehead. Henry feels his strength begin to leave him and his strength leave him...

Henry CHERISHES.

Henry recalls Kel's words. "Honestly, you, Basil, Sunny, Aubrey, and Mari were what I would call my family."

Henry finds his strength renewed. The Hero once more makes an incision, this time in the neck, drawing heavy blood and breaking Henry's guard with a moving attack.

Henry THROWS SPICES into The Hero's eyes, blinding him with chilli powder that lowers his guard, ability to strike, and speed at which he can move due to his impaired vision.

The Hero slashes wildly, first a sideways slash which Henry manages to avoid, a lunging attack to the stomach which does land, followed by an upward slash, shallow in the flesh, but a moving blow all the same.

Henry retaliates by renewing his RESOLVE, restoring him from his wounds and steadying his next attack to land in the heart.

The Hero tries to make an incision, Henry narrowly avoiding the blow as he HEATS his pan, landing a blow to the heart which is truly moving. The Hero staggers back, growling, "No..."

The Hero did not succumb.

The Hero's eyes glow red with hatred as nightmarish energy gathers around him. The Hero demands bitterly, "What about Kel, who you've had to be there for because your parents never were?"

"Kel needs Herny," Henry retorts, "Who is kind and compassionate, not some bitter sadist!"

The Hero slashes wildly, stabbing Hero three times in the chest, he feels his strength leave him once more but RESOLVES to keep on. He finds the strength he needs to continue, avoiding an incision from The Hero and countering as he HEATS his pan, scorching the Hero's face with a moving blow...

But The Hero did not succumb.

The Hero demands bitterly, "You're going to let Basil and Sunny get away with killing Mari? Who we loved!?!"

"No," Henry growls, "I am going to forgive my family for an accident that wasn't their fault."

The Hero slashes wildly, stabbing Henry in the heart and then twice in the stomach.

Henry feels his strength leaving him and he CHERISHES one final time...

He recalls Aubrey's words. "You gave me a family and a new home where I'm genuinely safe and happy."

The Hero aims for Henry's throat, which Henry narrowly avoids before he HEATS his pan, the metal red hot as he exclaims, "It's over!"

Henry strikes The Hero one final time in the heart, The Hero, from this moving blow, but...

The Hero does not succumb.

"Just die already!" The Hero screams, tackling Henry and slashing at him with enraged abandon.

He strikes Henry in the heart.

But Henry did not succumb.

He stabs Hero in the stomach.

Blood now pools around him, staining the floor.

But Hero did not succumb.

He wrestles the scalpel out of The Hero's hands, knocking it away, forcing The Hero to resort to his fists, beating Henry down in the face with the last of his strength...

But Henry WILL not succumb.

The Hero collapses, Henry rising to his feet, stating with a glare, "It's over."

"We really are Henry," he chuckles, "Aren't we?"

"We were never a Hero," Henry retorts.

The Hero sighs, "Take care of them, OK?"

Henry nods as the Hero turns to dust. He approaches Dream Sunny, extending a hand, "Come on kiddo, let's get you back to your family..."

Henry returns to Hero's office where Hero and his friends are tended to by gators. Hero leads Dream Sunny to Hero, stating, "Here. Safe and sound. Take care of him, would you?"

"Will do," Hero nods, "You guys aren't to bad when we aren't at each other's throats, stop by the park sometime. Maybe we could have a friendly spar. I bet with my friends I could win."

"Is that a challenge?" Henry chuckles.

"If you're down for it," Hero replies, "But for now, come on Sunny, let's go home. Mari and Basil missed you a lot..."

Hero and Sunny leave, leaving the party to discuss.

"I think this means you're not going to dream again," Spacekid sighs solemnly, sadness in his eyes.

"I'm afraid I need to wake up," Henry responds.

"But Henry-" Sweetheart protests sadly, not wanting him to go, trying to buy some time.

Joey steps in, seeing Sweetheart is upset, "But you can sleep in a little maybe, when you sleep in our world you awaken in yours, we could go handle any unfinished affairs you have here, and then head back to the castle where you can rest."

Henry nods in agreememt, "Yeah that sounds fine."

With that, he exits the Last Resort with his party, and, deciding he has no other business to tend to here, heads for the castle.

At last, the name of this new castle is revealed, Sweetheart had a name in mind from the start which is...

A HERO'S FINAL RESTING PLACE

"Are we just visiting or..." Sweetheart asks hopefully.

"I think it's time for me to go," Henry concedes sadly.

Mutantheart inquires, "Friend... leave?"

Sweetheart forces a smile and reassures her, "It's OK, he'll be somewhere where he'll be happy."

"Pleasant dreams Henry," Roboheart adds, "You will be missed."

"I guess I'll show you to your room," Sweetheart explains, holding back tears.

Author's Note: This next scene was written to go along with song 166 "You Must Carry On" from the Omori ost and goes well with it, would recommend reading it with the song.

She walks at the front of the group, Joey nudging him, "You're really gonna break her heart like this?"

"I mean I know how she feels but-" Henry sighs.

"You should at least talk to her about it," Spacekid adds, "At least give her some closure. Don't you wish you had the same for Mari?"

Henry sighs, "Yeah... I will."

"Hey," Joey states hugging Henry, "Be nice to my real world counter part man. He clearly means a lot to you."

"You're like a brother to me," Henry responds, "I wish you and him were both real."

Joey hugs Henry tighter, crying, "I'm going to miss you, brother."

"I will too," Henry responds.

"I'm not one for words," Spacekid concedes, "But... when we're both old as dirt..."

Spacekid extends his arm for a fist bump, "I'll see you on the other side, brother."

"It's OK to cry," Henry assures, "Focus on life until then, brother. I will always love you both as family."

"I'm not crying," Spacekid lies, tears leaking from beneath his eye patch.

Henry walks forward, "Be there for each other and Sweetheart, I understand this is hard on all of you."

Both nod in understanding, leaving Henry with the confidence he needs to enter the room.

The room is very quaint, with a kitchen area to the side and a bed dead center, the other side is a photo of the party going through the Last Resort, happy together which Henry examines.

"Basil took it while we were going through the place," Sweetheart laughs bittersweetly, "We really do look like a family... Do you like your room?"

"It's perfect," Henry responds with a bittersweet smile. "But before I go we should talk..."

"Please just don't wake up," Sweetheart begs crying, "Sunny slept for four years and-"

"You know that isn't sustainable," Henry reminds, approaching Sweetheart to comfort her, "I know it's hard and it's unfair, but sometimes things don't work out."

"But I love you," Sweetheart begs, still crying "Genuinely. As a partner, as an equal."

"Then you can love again," Henry replies, "For what it's worth if you were real I would date you but... that's not how things are, Sweetheart."

"Will you be there when I pass on?" Sweetheart inquires.

"Only if you focus on living a long and happy life," Henry retorts, "Otherwise I'll feel bad about driving you into depression."

"I know focus on life," Sweetheart sighs, "I just... I'm going to miss you. I love you."

"I love you too," Henry replies wiping her tears away, "But you must carry on. You have a family and a home, you've become a better person. I know you can be happy."

"Thank you," Sweetheart smiles through the tears, "I hope you find joy when you awaken."

"So do I," Henry replies.

He turns to the bed, large enough for just one person, soft pink sheets and a painted pink frame. It's warm, so warm and comfy he could sleep forever, like it'll swallow him whole."

"Wait!" Sweetheart exclaims as he climbs into bed.

Henry stops.

"Is it wrong of me to ask for just one kiss?" Sweetheart replies.

Henry requests, "Close your eyes for a second."

"OK," Sweetheart replies shutting her eyes.

Henry walks over, kissing her deeply on the lips before hugging her with some final reassuring words, "You're going to be OK. I'm not saying it'll be easy but you will get past this."

"I know..." Sweetheart replies, "You get some sleep, I'll get the lights on my way out."

Henry climbs into bed, and already feels exhaustion overtake him, yawning out, "Goodbye... Sweetheart..."

"Sweet dreams," she replies before turning out the lights...

"My hero..."

...

Henry wakes up.

He feels oddly nostalgic for those old Sweetheart and Spaceboy comic books, but...

He can't quite place why.

That doesn't matter right now though because...

Sunny and Basil get out of the hospital today...