Villain Retirement

"For both your sakes… let her go."

"Why… are you saying that, Mother? That's…not nice."

"You know why, Riley. Please… please wake up."

"..."

Silence. Riley had always treasured it, just below the screams of all the people he had killed and tortured. But at this very moment, it was as if there was something knocking on his head. In silence, there should only be a persisting whistle… so what was this knocking that was whispering in his ears over and over again?

And as he looked at Aerith; her eyes closed and her face at peace—he felt something he couldn't quite figure out yet.

"Why would I let her rest, Mother?" Riley tightened his grip even further as he truly refused to let go of Aerith's hand, "That does not make sense—if she is tired, then she will rest on her own."

"We have been over this again and again, Riley," Diana sighed, "I've always managed to convince you that Arlusia isn't real, but when it comes to this… when it comes to Aerith—you regress."

"..." Riley's eyebrows began to furrow.

"This is the part where you once again go away, and then I will follow you to some other part of the Universe. We…

…have been at this for almost 5 years, Riley. A lot has changed… It's time for you to wake up back to reality, the real one."

"..."

"..."

"I suppose I can believe you that Arlusia is fake, Mother," Riley then shrugged, "And so, how were you able to do it? Is Paige here somewhere creating illusions?"

"Paige is on Earth, waiting for you. Along with your sister, the norinlad—we're all just waiting for you to come home."

"Are you saying I imagined everything in my mind, Mother?" Riley breathed out as he started looking everywhere, "It felt too real to be fake, Mother."

"That's what Alice said too."

Diana moved away from Aerith as she flew in front of her son, "She said that everything felt real. She told me one time that she forgot she was bathing you, that you were in the tub—because for her, you truly weren't there… she almost drowned you."

"..."

"You're now older than she was when her illness won, Riley."

"Then do I have what biological mother had, Mother?"

"...Maybe. I don't know yet, dear. But what I do know is that you took it to the next level," Diana turned to look at the thousands of asteroids that were scattered like flies around them,

"You're using your telekinesis and… another ability to make whatever it is you're seeing to truly feel real to you. It's… fascinatingly scary."

"Hm," Riley turned his head down, before he once again turned to Aerith and shook his head, "She is real."

"She is."

"I hear her cry at nights, she smiled at Bert's son—and she even tried saving them, Mother," Riley breathed out, "How will that be possible if only I see what I saw?"

"...This is the part where you regress as soon as I tell you. You will leave, and repeat the scenario in your head again and again."

"Tell me, Mother."

"You already know what happened, dear…

…you tell me."

***

"Riley… just take me away."

5 years ago, when the remains of Theran and its people still reflected in Aerith's eyes—Riley wrapped his arms around her, the smile on his face ever-persisting as Aerith's words entered his ears.

"Of course, Aerith…" Riley breathed out as he rested her head on Aerith's shoulder,

"...anywhere with you."

"Then let's die."

"Hm…?"

It wasn't only Riley. The others that were there watching the scene unfold could not help but move parts of their body as they heard Aerith's words. But before Aerith's words could fully register in their minds… something happened.

"...Megawoman!?"

Riley blinked a couple of times. He was just resting his head on Aerith's shoulder just moments ago, and now she was facing him—her hand, deep into his chest.

"...You can't kill me, Aerith," Riley just tilted his head to the side after looking at Aerith's burrowed arm.

"I know," Aerith smiled as she looked Riley in the eyes, "I'm going to have to go first."

"...Aerith?" Riley's eyes very slowly widened as he returned Aerith's clear and melancholic gaze.

"And I know I can't leave if you're here."

"What are you—"

And before Riley could finish his words, he saw his vision very slowly fade away. But still, he continued to stare at Aerith's eyes even through the last moment… only to notice that the light in her eyes was also fading away.

And as soon as Riley realized what was happening, he used the last of his strength to summon a clone, then hastily looking at Paige and mouthing something to her before he was sent to the Overvoid.

"..." His stay in the Overvoid just fleeted away—he didn't really do anything. Nothing was there, saying something to him; but everything was just a blur until his eyes once again finally saw Aerith.

He was on the ground… with Aerith resting in his arms. As for the clone that he left behind, it was currently turning into ashes as Diana had her arm wrapped around its neck.

"Riley! What are you doing!?" Diana then quickly rushed toward Riley, but Riley quickly created a telekinetic bubble to block her path, "Give her to me, dear. Don't let me break this barrier and just please hand her to me."

"..." Riley just looked at Diana for a few seconds, before turning to look at the other people there.

Hannah had her hand covering her mouth; her head, clearly trembling as she stared at Aerith. Paige wasn't looking at all, just letting her tears freely fall from her face as she bit her lip.

Bernard was just standing as straight as he could, holding his helmet on his chest as he looked at Aerith with eyes filled with respect. Hera was on the ground; her face, filled with pain.

Tomoe… was just bowing toward Aerith. Even Tsula, who was previously hiding beneath the deepest parts of New Theran was now on the surface.

As for those that weren't from Earth, they also had the same expressions—mostly of a lingering regret.

And then finally, Riley looked at Aerith—carrying an expression that Riley had seen before. The very same face she had when he recovered her body back from the Government.

At peace.

"...Oh," Riley breathed out as he very gently caressed Aerith's cheek, "You're taking a rest again, Aerith. I understand, I'll wait for you to wake—"

"She's not resting, Riley!" Diana did not let him finish his words as she lightly slammed her palm on Riley's telekinetic bubble, "She… she sent herself to Eternal Death…

…she's gone, son."

"No, she's not," Riley shook his head as he placed a finger under her nose, "I can still feel life in her."

"You're doing that…" Diana's breaths slightly became gasps as she looked at Riley; her eyebrows slightly turned up, "...You're preventing her from dying."

"..."

"Just let her go. Let her go with her dignity intact, Riley. Just her go, please," Diana pleaded, "To prevent a themarian that wants to die from reaching Eternal Death is the greatest disrespect one could do to us…

…you are disrespecting her, Riley."