Return to Vale, part 1

The ship was parked on the river near Vault; it had been generally agreed that it would be better to walk the rest of the way. Soon the group was approaching the last hill before Vale.

Jenna was practically skipping. "Finally! We've reached Vale!"

Garet, on the other hand, was not so happy. He was, in fact, rather hesitant.

"What's the matter, Garet? You're finally home again. Aren't you happy?" asked Sheba.

Ivan, having traveled with Garet for longer, understood. "Garet's just worried about what's happened to everyone in Vale."

"So it's just over that last hill?" asked Mia.

Piers was grinning. "I can't wait to see what your hometown looks like."

"It's beautiful... I'm sure you will like it, Piers," reassured Kraden.

Felix's father was also subdued. "I'm...just going to close my eyes. Someone tell me if it's all right to open them."

His wife felt the same. "Me too... Would someone else see how things are?"

"I'll go. Come with me, Felix," decided Isaac.

"How's it look, Isaac?" called Kyle.

"I'm almost there..." Isaac stopped short. "It... It can't be..."

"What is it, Isaac? ...Felix? Say something!" shouted Jenna.

Felix turned around, his voice catching. "I'm sorry, Jenna, but... Vale... Mt. Aleph... They're gone!"

He then turned on his heel and fled to the first refuge he thought of.

Return to Vale, part 2

Felix returned from Milliways, as usual, to the precise moment from which he had left.

Garet jerked back in shock. "What!?"

Everyone stared at the ethereal golden dome that had replaced Mt. Aleph, and the rubble-strewn plain that should have been Vale.

"This... This is terrible," muttered Felix's father.

"Is that Mt. Aleph?" wondered his mother.

Isaac's eyes were wide and brimming with tears. "Mom..."

"Dora..." called Kyle at the same moment.

Garet was weeping. "Mom... Dad..."

"They're here somewhere... They have to be here..." muttered Jenna desperately.

Piers, though not as grief-stricken as the people from Vale, was still troubled. "What can we do? How can we help them now?" he asked, gesturing to Isaac, Kyle, and Garet.

"I don't know... Call out to them... Such a tragedy..." Kraden was nearly incoherent.

"I'll call them," said Felix, strengthened by his time away. "Isaac... Garet... I understand what you're feeling. I've felt it, too. But standing here won't bring them back. Let's go back to Vault. We can rest there and think..." He kept his voice level, though every moment it felt like he would break down and cry again.

"... ..." sighed Isaac and Kyle.

"Your family's safe, Felix. You don't have anything to worry about anymore..." reminded Garet. "But what am I supposed to do? ...I'm all alone now."

Suddenly, a slightly-familiar female voice rang out. "Garet! Don't be so sad!"

"???" Isaac jerked in surprise.

"I'd thought you might be a little more confident after all your adventures!" This voice was a rich baritone.

"!" Isaac seemed to be incapable of words for the moment.

The next voice was young and female. "Ha ha! I got to see my brother crying!"

Garet looked up, hopeful. "!!!" [OOC: Obviously he has some Venus heritage.]

Everyone turned toward the voices as Garet's family stepped out of the woods. "So, you made it back, Garet... I knew it would take more than this to beat you, Son," called his father.

"Welcome home, Garet..." His mother was smiling.

"You look surprised to see us, Garet," noted his grandfather the Mayor.

Kyle was the first to regain speech. "How did you survive?"

The elder of Garet's sisters explained: "The Wise One warned us of danger. He guided us here to safety."

Garet's grandmother mused, "Everything was destroyed... Our homes, our town..."

"But the Wise One saved you all?" confirmed Kraden.

Garet finally managed to speak again. "I'm... I'm not alone!"

"If you all made it out, did Dora as well?" asked Kraden.

Garet's father motioned to his left, where Dora had arrived on the path leading from Vault.

"Dora..." called Kyle, just as Isaac echoed "...Mom..."

Dora was smiling widely. "Welcome home, Kyle... Isaac..."

"You survived!" shouted Kyle.

"So did you..."

The three of them rushed forward for a tight embrace.