Villain Retirement

Theran.

It is as clear as it could be as it reflects on Aerith's eyes. Most of her memory was contained on the planet; but very soon, the planet will just become a part of her memory.

"It's time to say goodbye."

"I said goodbye a long time ago."

The planet also reflected in Diana's eyes, but barely. For her, the planet has just always been a memory of her greatest failure—a reminder that her efforts weren't enough.

"Why would you say goodbye to a planet?"

As for the Princess of Varoif, her eyes were completely elsewhere; not reflecting even a single color of Theran as she just looked beyond the expanse of space.

"I don't know about you people, but I only have bad memories of the place."

Xra was also there, floating in the expanse of space—her eyes weren't even on Theran in the first place, she was just here to make sure that Diana doesn't escape before trying to resurrect her husband.

The four of them were floating between the old and the new world. And behind them was a white wall—an army of Rileys that had their eyes closed for some reason.

"1 minute," Aerith then breathed out as she looked at her companions, "Be ready."

"You have 2 million themarians behind us already. Are you sure you shouldn't just leave?" Xra said as she glanced at New Theran.

"I will save as much as I can," Aerith shook her head, "They might outnumber us, but our goal here isn't to fight—let them chase us if they want. Diana, are you sure New Theran can move fast enough to rotate around Theran?"

"Hm. It can even go hyperspeed if you want to," Diana softly giggled, "60 seconds, I have set the speed so that it will rotate around Theran in 60 seconds as you wanted."

"Alright. The clones and I will make sure to move ahead so the people we rescue could just fly straight up," Aerith nodded, "We will start with Varoif; Princess Esme and the King have already assured me that they won't stop us and that some of their people have already gathered—our only problem with Varoif will be the Grand Militia."

"They won't be a problem," Diana waved her hand, "They are too busy dealing with a coup, even the people guarding the sectors have all been called back."

"...What did you do?" Aerith blinked.

"I have been alive long before any of you three have been born—unlike the three of you, I have friends."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I've just been notified that the norinlad and the weird Elder have joined my crew and are observing the situation from afar." Xra broke the somewhat awkward silence as she looked in a certain direction and chuckled,

"It would seem they share the same idea to run away once this whole thing fails."

"I really don't like you," Aerith's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at Xra.

"That's for the better. Your brother liked me, look where that got him."

"You—"

"10 seconds," Diana raised her hand before the two could start arguing.

"9." And as soon as she started counting down a loud howl echoed throughout New Theran. And as its lands began to tremble, the themarians that were now living on it all nodded to each other.

Aerith told them not to fight and just focus on protecting their new world. But of course, most of them won't actually do that—just protecting it wasn't enough, they will fight for it.

"3, 2…"

"Several enemies approaching," the veins on Xra's pale face started to pulsate; any sort of friendliness on her face, now completely gone.

"It's time to—"

"Wait!" And before anyone could move, Aerith raised her hand; her ears, pointing at Theran,

"...It's Gary."

"A distraction," Diana's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you want to do?"

"It's not a distraction, it's my son," Aerith slightly raised her voice.

"I know, that's why I'm asking you what you want to do."

"Does it matter?" Princess Esme started floating forward, "I was told you hold no love for your son by Professor Riley, Princess Aerith."

"There's less than a thousand of them," Xra also raised her voice, "Decide now."

"..." Aerith held her breath as she stared at the incoming people. And after a few seconds, she closed her eyes,

"Let's wait. I… asked Riley to get Gary out—but I told him to get them out during all the chaos, not before."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Oh."

Diana, Xra, and Princess Esme all relaxed at the same time as soon as they heard Aerith's words.

"..." Aerith could really only roll her eyes. The three clearly didn't trust her judgment, but as soon as she mentioned Riley, all of them just nodded their heads.

"Mother!

And soon, Gary did arrive; carried and dragged by a young themarian while around a hundred more followed them from behind.

"We—"

"Princess Aerith! We are here on request of Professor Riley!"

"You…" Aerith could really only blink a couple of times as she stared at the girl that was carrying Gary. Although Aerith have only really seen her once or twice, she was sure of it—the girl was one of her cousins, the younger daughter of Princess Tifa,

"...Claudyne?"

"Yes!"

She… looked quite different. The last time she saw her, Aerith was sure she was a rowdy and rude girl that carried a lot of disdain for her. But now, there was something familiar in her eyes that Aerith recognized, but can't quite know what it is.

It wasn't only her, the hundred themarians behind her also carried the same weight in their eyes. Just… what has Riley been teaching these kids?

"Mother, we—"

"Riley, why is he not with you?"

"He has something to—"

"We meet again, and the first thing you ask about is Riley!?" Gary finally raised his voice, gritting his teeth as he looked his mother in the eyes. Everywhere Gary goes, everyone is talking about Riley—Earth, Theran. And he was sure that even if he goes to a completely different planet, Riley will still find his way into people's mouths.

"I'm asking because he's not here, Gary. I tasked him to get you out," Aerith sighed as she heard the frustration in her son's voice,

"And I'm glad you're here. I really am—but this isn't the time for us to have a little reunion, people's lives are at stake."

"...They always are."

"..."

"Claudyne, go join the others."

"Roger that, Princess Aerith," Claudyne nodded. She was about to fly toward New Theran with Gary, but before she could do so, Aerith suddenly grabbed Gary by the arm.

"Wait…" Aerith breathed out, "Gary, I know I haven't been the mother you wanted. Heck, I haven't been your mother at all. But I want you to know that you have always been important to me, okay? Just…

…I want to be your mother, I want us to start anew on New Theran."

"Mother this…" Gary couldn't control his trembling eyes, causing him to just close them and shake his head, "...this is a death flag."

"What's—"

"You're Megawoman, mother," Gary then opened his eyes and looked Aerith in hers, "I understand that that means you will always prioritize other people. It's… selfish for me to keep you by myself."

"...No. Once all of this is done, I will be your mother. Please, I want to."

"..." Gary shook his head, "I'm not strong enough to stand beside you, mother. So…

…just wait for me to become stronger."