The Incorruptible Bond

Epilogue

The rain came cold and dark, muffling the world. If it made any noise, neither girl collapsed on the ground registered it. The deafening ringing in the twin's ears made thinking nearly impossible. Hearing was out of the question. Aurora did, however, feel the leaves coating the forest floor soak up the water like thirsty sponges. She mentally sighed. This was why she hated the rain. It made the world a pot of mush.

To the right was Ember. Her body was lethargic, sprawled out on the muddy path they landed on. This wasn't to say Aurora was much better, but at least she was conscious. Using the small bit of strength that wasn't evaporated, she extended her arm to full length and manage to grip her twin's wrist. A pulse. Weak, but still there.

Their current incapacitated state would have alarmed Aurora immensely (given Pitch's wrath was just unleashed). Yet somehow she knew Pitch was gone, at least for now. The blast of fear, it was much too powerful for his feeble still newly reformed consciousness to handle.

<Thank goodness for that,> a voice spoke. This sentence had an odd sort of ring to it, like she could hear it, but it wasn't spoken aloud. It was in her mind. Despite the utter calm and relaxation this voice settled onto her, Aurora widened her eyes in shock.

<Ember?> she whispered in her head, reaching out toward the indispensable link that connected them. Her doubts at an answer grew steadily, but she needed the support of her twin at that moment. This needed to work.

<Auri,> came a confused wisp of a thought. <What--who was that?>

The white-haired girl frowned a bit. If her sister wasn't the strange voice, who could it possibly be?

<You have done well, girls.> There it was again!

<Pitch?> Ember angrily demanded. <Come out and face us you evil piece of-->

A warm feeling blossomed in both girls, spilling into every part of their bodies. The voice, they later realized, was laughing. <Have faith. You know who I am.>

The more coherent twin, Aurora, caught on quickly. <You're Máni, or the Man in the Moon.>

<Correct. I aided in bringing you into this world.>

<Umm...> Ember thought. <Wasn't that, like, a bajilion years in the future?>

<Less than that, of course, but it's not as simple as it may seem. I exist in all places, in all times. From the creation of the universe, to it's collapse, I am there.>

<But--But that's-->

Máni seemed to smile. <I assure you, it is not impossible. I'm sure you are both wondering why I chose you to defeat Pitch.>

<Very much so,> thought Aurora.

<I knew what Pitch would become in time. I also knew he had to be delayed, at least until I had the necessary force to destroy him.>

<Wait,> Aurora interjected. <Why couldn't you take care of him? Surely you have the power.>

<Simply taking Pitch out of existence is not an option.>

<What?!> Aurora winced as Ember's sharp thought was jammed into her mind. <Do you know how many people he's going to kill?! How many lives he is going to ruin?!>

<I realize his nature is one to fear. That is, in many ways, his purpose. However, I allow his existence because of this. Pitch is the force I created in order to bring together souls in which I believe will aid humanity as it desperately needs.>