~Don't ever look back...~

Resolution

Michael

"We will stop you if necessary, Michael." Shane stepped up and bared his hands, fireballs appearing.

"I believe we are fighting on different levels... Shane."

"Not if he has me as well." Joshua.

"And me." Mira. They all revealed their Fallen forms, the students behind them that also escaped from the cube watching.

"Oh, so you all want to drop to your deaths? Don't you see why I had to do what I did?! " I challenged the trio.

"We are already trying to prove a point by transforming, but you don't see it. We have to put you under control, no matter the odds." Mira held her scythe and went into a stance.

"Oh? Hehe... " My tentacles emerged, and lunged for her, only for her to dodge it, her elegant figure doing a flip before landing gracefully.

"I have had my share of time with the Fallen, Michael..." she taunts.

"But your experience fails you." I smashed her hand, making her lose grip of her scythe.

"Ugh! You don't play fair!"

"We'll take over, Mira." Shane and Joshua stood side-by-side, nodding to each other.

"Michael!" A fire blast came from their hands, quickly followed by slamming their fists into the earth, an area of fire heating up the ground.

"Cliché... Otis brothers. How cliché."

"Ugh..." Their bodies on the floor, I looked down at them, the feeling of triumph the resultant feeling left.

"Elise's love for you was surely wasted. As much as she was eccentric in her own right, one that walked her own path, she has always been the thoughtful one. Haven't you thought the same, after all this crap?" Mira stood up, claws bared as her alluring eyes showed no signs of hesitation.

"...? Her love... Elise..."

She was definitely out there. Bullied by him. Taken advantage of. Manipulated.

And by now... a Fallen Queen.

Your feelings for her... they never waiver.

They never did... my other. And I was brought back, all because of someone mentioning her. I owe her more than my life, for she sacrificed herself... to save our feeble selves. I have attained a new power, yet I don't use it to save her. I myself... am no longer pure.

But I will make amends... I can't make it another day without her.

"We shall stop here." I was ready to leave. To think of a way... I slumped to the floor, weak from my sudden power regression.

"What's this?" That's... her?

"I can't... believe you're back so soon." I looked into her eyes to find that feeling, the click. But it never appeared. Elise could only faintly smile... a sad one. Everything about her... was simply hidden under a shroud. A cape. A cloak. A robe. A mask.

"I'm here... to take you back to Esmonia, Michael. Your presence is wanted... by my King."

"Do you know the real enemy here, Elise?! Why are you on their side?!" Mira ran up to her, but infected flesh caught her neck.

"I... I'm sorry... Mira..." Mira collapsed to the hard earth, infected limbs replacing her old ones.

"I... Elise!" Her outburst was in vain, however, as she somehow had realized something and suddenly went quiet.

"I... Queen Ophelia, I will let you explain then..." Inconceivable... Mira... acknowledging Elise's new role?

"I'm now Queen... as Mira called me. I'm Ophelia now... I'm afraid..." Her hand materializing into a glove, touching me without consequence, "that we can no longer be friends, lovers. Forgive me, Michael. It was the path I had to take." The soldiers that accompanied her, stood at attention.

"What made Mira..." I gestured to her, as Elise could only regretfully reply, "I... still can't control this well... I will take her under my wing as compensation... She will be well under my care." Her glove morphed into infected flesh and back into a glove again, the action unwanted.

"It must be Xandor's doing... all the more I have to..."

"He knows everything about me... but now I know everything about him. If I follow you... he might kill me by killing himself."

"How does that make any sense, Elise? You're you!" The students could only watch, Mira hurrying to Elise's side.

"An incident happened... that she cannot afford to tell. A secret, that can only be known by the King and Queen themselves..." Mira explained as if it was a prophecy.

"If so, bring me with you. As for you all..." I faced the students, as much as I was not their teacher, they gazed at me, hoping I would protect them... 

"Joshua... Shane... and Zane - I leave it all to you guys now." They were slightly shocked, but as if grown up, they bowed and signalled their farewell.

"Take care... you all." I addressed them for the last time.

"I... Zane, Joshua, Shane... Helena... I will miss you guys... consider this the last reunion we will ever have." Elise bowed as well to her former classmates and turned to me.

"Are you sure you don't want to run away?" I shook my head.

Very smart indeed, Michael.  Jason complimented. Well... I guess I was prepared when I agree to go there.... that hellhole.

"I finally see you again even though we didn't part for long. It's destined I follow you... everywhere, even if you reject me."

"Michael... thank you... I will bring up the matter to Xandor... and ask that he let you be my royal guard."

"Still as thoughtful as ever... if only this world of Light and Darkness never existed... we might actually live a happy life elsewhere..."

"But Michael... without this world, as twisted and nightmarish as it is, we would never meet... for I could never meet you in your human life, as Michael Jackson, the King of Pop." As a tear fell, I saw her face reveal itself in the sunlight, a joyful one.

"Times have changed... I should let nature take its course, isn't that right, Queen Ophelia? I... want to give my blessings to you, and your King." Another tear, not from me, but her.

"I appreciate it... really. I'm grateful for this, my former beloved..." The third drop... and the last, fell. We started the journey to Esmonia. For me, it started with uncertainty. The portal appeared and we walked through it, as I contemplated Xandor's reasons for making her his wife... slight jealousy plucking at my heartstrings, but I had to give her my blessing - after all, she is now officially married.

While I might die alone...

Well, Michael... you won't die... you will be reborn.

***

Elise

I believe Michael yearned for me as much as I did for him...

But it has turned into a yearning for my King. Xandor's childhood... I felt within it, his innocence and a love for someone that might give him true happiness.

My love... you miss me already? Xandor's voice made my heart flutter, as much as I had Michael in my presence.

My King... you gave me a new life. I was just... remembering how your childhood was so difficult. I smiled again, in pure joy.

"Queen Ophelia... we are not moving." Jaden, my guard, reminded me.

"Yes, Jaden... I'm sorry about that. Let's move on." The palace in the distance, the Fallen greeted me as I passed along that long walkway, still uncertain of my allegiance even with me as their Queen.

"I don't think they were that welcoming when you were still with me, right?" Michael was intrigued by their respect, but the reply that he received was a bunch of hissing and growling from the Fallen.

"For fuck's sake, I'm a Fallen!" His tentacles burst out, breaking him free from my guards, but not damaging them.

"Michael!" Landing on the floor hard, Michael's tentacles receded, snapping his fingers to reveal a hoodie he wore over his body and pulled the hood over him, his only eye... that was never covered by his mask fluctuating between being hostile and a kind entity.

"Oh, Michael. C'mon. We are almost at the steps to the palace." I pulled him with me, dashing to the first hall.

"Well, here we are, in Xandor's palace. Take your time if you want, Michael. I'm getting Jaden and Casey." I dashed out again and got my guards to their feet before returning with them, but not to Michael, to the throne.

"He will come soon, my King."

***

Michael

"Did she always have to leave that fast?" I mumbled to myself, as the dark and empty, yet lit surroundings of the palace led to a room at a far end. I leisurely walked to the doors, opening by themselves as I approached.

"Really, have I become the audience in "Ghosts"? Ah, those were the good days." I saw Xandor and Elise on their thrones, watching me. Elise had a hopeful gaze, but she never said a word.

"Michael... you willingly came to kneel to me, when you could have fought." Xandor rose from his throne and carefully tread down the steps, to stand close to me.

"Don't you ever think of trying to do the undercover act, Michael. I can see your thoughts... all of it." His words were like poison, weakening me.

"Well... I did have the intention... but when I'm one of you... what can you expect? Of course... I want to compensate for my... cowardice." I gritted my teeth as I said the word, knowing I did leave him there due to my incompetence.

"It seems you know your mistake," Xandor then kicked my shins hard, and I fell on my knees, only for my head to be pulled back, close to snapping.

"... Hmm... Michael... the eyepatch..." He delicately removed my eyepatch, and stood there, albeit frozen in his tracks as he took in the sight.

"You... how are your eyes different from each other?! I had Jason give you the vial to make you a ghoul! What is this?!" Is he high on teenager hormones? I am a ghoul now, what the heck is he talking about?!

"No, I can't let you be like this. A Fallen, yet not...preposterous! Hera!" Hera? A lady shrouded in a black cloak similar to Xandor's, hurried over to us.

"I'm afraid he retains some traits of his past, my Lord! It is simply unheard of!" Hera went on her knees, head flat to the ground.

"Oh, Hera. Things sometimes just don't go our way..." Suddenly, Hera choked, coughing out a vile black mass... was it their blood?

"Thank you for your service. I'll find someone better than you." Elise simply sat down on her throne, trying to ignore the sight, but couldn't fight it in the end, and placed a hand to her forehead as she seemed to revel in the fact that she liked the murder that had just taken place.

"Indeed, useless." A glowing orb floated from Hera's body as it was absorbed into Xandor's. I snapped as I found energy in my legs again, my little tentacle friends pushing him back to his throne.

"Well, Lord Xandor, I believe we need a talk... one-on-one. Not even you, Elise." Elise nodded to Xandor and disappeared behind a door.

"Well, what do you want, Michael?"

"Well, what's it about my eyes?" I sat on the floor, staring at him.

"I do not know either! Hera says it's your past! Something must have happened, and I will find out for myself! You will serve by my side till I find out what that is... Michael."

"Xavier... I will trust that you won't do harm to me."

"You shouldn't." He replied, but my head slightly tilted to an angle, before saying, "You will, Xavier. I know."

"... Follow me." He went to the back of his throne, and a secret door opened, leading downwards.

"Afraid... are you? Thinking you're trespassing on forbidden grounds... but you're not, so hurry up." He swiftly descended, and I had to catch up.

The stairs lead to a small room... a meditation chamber? I'm not entirely sure. However, the candles and paintings were resemblant to those temples...

"Sit down." Xavier gestured to the other cushion on the floor as he sat on his own.

Following suit, his glove retreated, revealing infected flesh, like Elise's. He reached for my eye and touched it, only to pull back after a few seconds.

"You... I can see... how this has shaped you." His hand morphed back into a glove, and he moved closer.

"They gave this to you." He held my shoulders, and his grip tightened.

"Honestly, Xavier. What are you talking about?!"

"I don't know either!"

"Okay, let's not talk about this, let's talk about what you did after Jason got you to drink that vial."

I killed... I ate other ghouls... their souls living in my head... haunting me, from time to time. I'm not surprised at all.

Being a ghoul has its benefits, Michael... don't listen to him. You didn't exactly kill me, see? I'm still alive.

That is true, Jason...

"Of course, Xandor, I'm a ghoul now, what do you think I did?" I wiped my mask clean, and swiped the eyepatch from his hands, wearing it on me.

"I did it to live." I clenched my fist, trying to appease the anger by physical pain.

"But I have no choice, do I? The only way I can live on now is to stay with you... brother." I kneeled down before him, my curls blocking my eyes from seeing whether he was in tears.

"Michael... I can't believe you still care about us." Xavier helped me up and embraced me like the old times.

"Of course, brother." I returned the hug, and felt a warmth from him, along with a lost soul who found his guiding light.

"I want to ask though... how did Elise... get the same condition as you? I mean, the infected hand..."

"I just simply passed on what I had to give, as what a husband would give her wife."

"You do know that infected mass caused me to go insane, did you? You implanted that on me... through Wayne. It took a lot of effort to remove that."

"Ah, Wayne. I have turned him into the monster, indeed. Ophelia's with him now. I wonder what you will say if he is probably teaching her how to be the most unpredictable lady on earth?" Xavier's back was arched, letting out a laugh.

"Xandor!" I held onto his shoulders, as his grin disappeared.

"I... I'm sorry, did... I scare you?"

"I don't think so, brother. I have committed probably enough to be on the same level of sin as you are."

"That's good. Michael, I would very much hope we have no need to fight on the palace grounds. Think of Elise... we both love her, want the best for her. I... also know you still have a duty. Protecting her. I can let you... if you let him... throw this world in chaos. It's what he wants, besides Elise. You have to, Michael. Else, we will have no end... to this unnecessary fight." Xavier steeled himself, before removing his hood and showing me the mask formed over his face.

The shining red eyes behind that black facade... they tell me of a troubled past.

Oh, Michael. Looks exciting to be the bad guy, after being the good one all this while.

There's nothing to be a villain for now when the whole world itself is chaos, my other.

You already are on the dark side of the balance, why do you lie to yourself?

"If I can still protect her... until the Protectors come back, I would have carried out my duty. I can trust you, my brother... take good care of her."

"I think you need to see something. I'll ask Elise to meet us there." We ascended back to the throne room and went around back to the courtyard.

What is it, I wonder?

***

"Hey... you two. And Michael, I can't believe you actually survived a conversation with Xandor without breaking into a fight." Elise greeted us as the door to a room.

"What lies beyond this door?"

"Its for you to see... to take in. Judge it any way you like - but it will be this way... forever." Xavier seemed to warn me, but he simply opened the door, and I was overwhelmed by a strong, dark aura... yet, the room was filled with the people...

That I knew.

"Lord Xandor." A female, a male, in harmony. Baron and Jeanna.

"They prevented Xandor from harassing me by changing sides the other time... if you haven't already forgotten." Elise placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to tell me I had no way to save them.

"They did it willingly for me, Michael. You don't need to feel guilty..."

"What about the rest? Varus? Weiss?"

"Hey, Varus! You too, Veil! Come over here! Michael is back!" Back? Is it because they regard me as a new member of the family?

"Captain... it's been a long time... we finally meet on proper grounds again." Varus kneeled before me, the sign of his undiminished loyalty.

"I'm no longer the Captain, let alone a Protector, Varus. So are you. We are equal now." I held his hand in a tight grip as we felt each other's strength, "You have grown stronger."

"Indeed, Michael." I turned to Veil as Varus moved back, of which I saw nothing but a silent man.

"Veil... no, Weiss." I inched closer to him, with every step, he seemed to look up more.

"Michael... the Protector I was told about."

"Don't worry, Veil, you don't need to fight him anymore... I think it's time we gave him back his memories, Xandor."

"Oh, but I won't let you." Lex. Pain. Walking in together.

"Brother Lex... and Brother Pain. Why do you object to our Queen's suggestion?" Weiss spoke up.

"Lord Xandor! His memories must not be restored..."

"You two... everything's already settled! My King wants peace now for the Fallen, you two... why do you want more chaos!? DO you two want to work against the word of Lord Xandor?" Elise's resounding voice was firm. Lex and Pain immediately kneeled on cue, their heads down.

"Excuse our impertinence, Lord Xandor!" They stayed that way, expecting that they will only be standing after a long wait.

"Veil... do you want your memories back?" Xandor's awkward feelings were apparent - never wishing an answer to be given, but Weiss glanced at his brothers, only to say, "Yes... for I want to know... remember, how this world became what it is..."

"Definitely shouldn't have brainwashed him, only for his memories to return." Elise, who had since removed her hood, cocked an eyebrow at Lex, who then stopped dead after he spoke the last word.

"I'll restore his memories after we're done... with our originally intended guests for the reunion." Xavier found a chair and sat down.

"Baron... can you remember me?" I tried to find my place in his eyes, but his cold stare told me... he didn't.

"I'm afraid they would have to stay that way... until I return their souls." Xavier held up two glowing orbs, their souls.

"Why don't you return them?!"

"Oh Michael, you don't understand - I made a contract." Elise stiffened as if she feared Xavier now.

"Why do you look scared, Ophelia? Wasn't it true? You witnessed it yourself." Xandor. Definitely not the right time to show up.

"I'm sorry, my King." Her hands tapped Xavier's neck, where Xavier's body relaxed from its upright posture.

"Him again... huh? Michael, their souls... I really cannot return them. It aggravates him. He wants to keep it... their current forms will have to do." Baron and Jeanna looked in the way of their daughter, somehow, they seemed to know that they were once related, just that they don't remember.

"Oh, father... mother... I wish you two will be back sooner than later. You all have suffered so much. How is this a happy ending... I don't know - but it is the best right now. Everyone's united under Xavier, and I believe it's not such a bad thing after all. Xavier is at the very least nice... I know you two won't register what I'm saying right now anyway - but still!"

"Okay, alright, everything's settled, 'kay? I'm the new addition and probably the most hated here, but you all have to live with me now. Besides... who said that I wasn't actually Fallen? Being a ghoul allowed me to understand the pain you all went through, the unworldly desires that you can't control, the circumstances. Maybe the Fallen aren't bad... at all. So shamone, 'cause this is our new home."

"Damn, have to agree with him. Don't you guys?" Elise smiled, not because of my words, but because she finally felt harmony and peace which she was, in turn, grateful for.

"My King, where to next?"

"Visit our people."

***

A few months later

Elise

Being Queen is actually a breeze in Esmonia. Because of my powers, I technically reach out to my people faster... my perception of the world has changed much, broadened - all due to my people's willingness to share with me their experiences. They have long accepted me, for they could feel that I was acting for their well-being.

In the palace, Xavier and I share many precious moments - some of which Michael was jealous of, but decided to take it out on the departed ones instead. He grew stronger in his own way, to fulfil his duty - but he has never stopped being guilty of allowing an unworldly desire to control him. He's been mentally strong ever since. Varus noticed it and made sure he followed Michael everywhere to help him reduce his burden.

My parents... they are still mindless Fallen beings, but they allow me to be with them, treating them like parental figures, seeming to become more like their original selves, day by day, as I tell them about who they were before they lost their memories.

Weiss, on the other hand, regained his memories. He was surprised I wasn't with Michael anymore, and in fact with Xavier. What he doesn't know is that Xavier was actually a good man at heart, and I don't think Weiss will actually believe that there were two sides to his Master. He still addresses Xavier as his Master to this day, and Xavier always had to give Xandor air time just to keep the lie going, draining his energy every time he had to change hosts.

Lex and Pain, they have become my subordinates. Whenever I faced Lex, the more often I remembered his stupid, foolish acts... when he courted me for the sake of it. On the contrary, he looks much more mature now, but his ideas are tainted with so much darkness, I worry he will be the next Xandor... but even more ruthless, without another kind side, a mass murderer. Pain follows Lex as a brother, and assists him in every way, like a blind follower. I've met him on countless occasions to ask him to think for himself, but he feels that Lex needs a loyal partner that he can count on, and he will make himself the one Lex can trust.

Mira, who stayed by my side as my aide since I took her under my wing - she did feel embarrassed to come out of her room on several occasions just because of her looks... she's become really obsessed with herself lately.

And lastly, myself. My Protector side has been really inactive ever since I accepted Xandor. I have since been finding it difficult to harness my halfbreed form. The infected flesh that has become a part of me sometimes haunts me - with dreams that I became really evil, killing for my own pleasure and temporary happiness - with no meaning to it, no purpose. Just for the odd satisfaction. Xavier tells me its nothing compared to his dreams, and the longer he lives with it, the less sane he feels. My powers were better after much practice alone - Xavier suggested we practice in different rooms to prevent Xandor from trying to take advantage of me should we train in the same room.

And of course, I felt that Xavier was the better match for me with every passing day. Maybe my love for Michael was an infatuation coupled with my obsession towards his human self. I can't comprehend how I could put Michael down so quickly, yet I feel that it was simply just because we were never meant to be, even with the short-lived moments we have shared together.

And yet, even in the early hours of a new era of peace, why do I feel that something looms in the horizon ahead?

Author's Note

Hey you guys! This is just the final numbered chapter of the book! The next will be an epilogue with Michael's POV :) Just his own conclusion to the events - and a befitting ending!

Love you guys for reading till the end of this book (took you a while to pick it up haven't you?) but no matter, more will be uploaded soon - it doesn't end here :D