THE END

[mayfield_mods]

You've walked for what feels like ages down the highway as a group- all those who chose uncertain freedom over certain death. Within an hour, Mayfield became a distant speck on the horizon before ultimately fading into the hills and trees. The only sign of the place you've escaped is the sky, which remains an eerie brown even after night falls and you've put Mayfield hours behind you.

Try as you might, it's impossible not to imagine that you've been led into a trap. What if this is all part of some new sick game of Johnson's- or even Zemekis'? It certainly wouldn't be the first time. What if the events of the past few months- saving Annie, Gray's "ghost", Zemekis' apparent death -what if it's all been nothing but the latest in a long tradition of Mayfield's-

These thoughts fade when you see the first sunbeam.

This road isn't like the ones before: the roads that looped endlessly into themselves, inevitably leading back to where they began. This road has an end.

Keep walking forward and you'll find yourself in a new town, both similar to Mayfield and utterly unlike it. The buildings here are crude and unfinished- the streets little better than paved paths of dirt. There are no drones here, no hazmats, no one in sight other than you and your companions. But all of these things are nothing more than trivial details, when compared to what you feel the moment you enter its boundaries.

There's power here- you can feel it in your fingertips. Each and every one of you can, from the most godlike seraph to the most ordinary human: power, faint but unmistakable. The power to build a world, and to destroy it. The same power that's been lorded over you for four years... but now, it's yours to command.

You can create a new life here. It isn't the home you remember- the home you remember, after all, was never yours to begin with. For some of you, that's a blessing. For others, it's a hard truth you'll have to live with. But even though you can't go home, with the power you've been given, it might just be possible to bring home to you. Bits and pieces of it- locations you remember, small creatures from your world- no people, though. That's one power Annie decided not to give you.

The place you've found isn't perfect- there will be work, hard work, and pain. The place you've found is your own: there are no overseers here, no Zemekis, no Johnson. The place you've found may not be paradise- but it's the nearest thing you're going to get.

You've found, at last, a better place to live.

Comments

Re: ????

[ceasetoexist]

[Some things, in the end, are better left secrets. What's important is the journey and the point you come to at the end of the road, and in the end not everything needs an explanation. Sometimes things are better to be left as they were, secluded little mysteries that are never really discovered.

But that's a philosophy for people with patience. And patience is something Pokey has always been lacking.

He tries to ignore the building. He really does. Pokey walks around the new town - their town, his town - again and again and again. Each time he comes back to that secluded, boarded up building.

The last time he comes to it, he has a hammer. And every intent to try and pry the boards away, just to see what's behind it.]

Re: ????

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke's carrying his cane, which he uses to try to help Pokey pry off the boards.

His face looks tired. Relieved, but tired.]

Need a hand?

Re: ????

[imjustpicky]

[The road here was long, so long, and his legs were so, so tired by the end of it all... but this new place was so incredible, Picky didn't care. He wanted to see it all, to try everything, to see what everyone else could make and build and do, and that gave him the energy to run and explore and smile for just that bit longer.

A stick in hand, dragging through the dirt road, he walked alongside his big brother. But that building kept drawing his attention, too.]

Uh... hey. Hey? I think I...

[But he didn't want to interrupt, not really, and there was so much else to be excited about....

And it was even more exciting when Pokey got that hammer and decided to do something.]

...I heard something! You heard it, right? Huh?!

[mayfield_mods]

The boards will offer some resistance, but not much. Beyond them is a large metal door, something that would belong on a safe or guarding a prison. It would be impossible to break into it without specialized equipment.

Or it would be if the lock keeping it closed wasn't clearly rusted. The door will, in fact, push open easily if you try.

Re: ????

[ceasetoexist]

Yeah, I heard it.

[It takes him a moment after the last board comes off along with Luke. He nods to Luke in gratitude, before looking back to Picky.]

Stay behind me, alright runt?

[And then back to Luke.]

You want the honor of opening this hole up?

Re: ????

[imjustpicky]

Right, right. I'm right behind you.

[And still holding his stick. Just in case. He'd keep behind his brother, and give Luke a little nod. He should get to see this, too.]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ And shana watches over them all, quietly. Where has she been? No one may ever know, her own painful struggles were pretty much silent during this time, but it doesn't bother her anymore, here at the end of all things. ]

[ceasetoexist]

[Maybe you're just watching Shana. But Pokey notices you.

And waves. Come over.]

????

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke nods.]

Let's see what this place is.

[And he pushes the door open.]

[mayfield_mods]

The door is very heavy. It will take a lot of effort, but the three of them may be able to budge it.

[ceasetoexist]

[Pokey watches for a moment as Luke struggles with the door. Deep in his mind a small part tells him to push Luke out of the way. That it won't open because Luke isn't good enough.

But a bigger part tells him to help. He goes to one side of Luke to start pushing, looking back to Picky.]

Get on the other side squirt. We're pushing on the count of three.

mind if i hop in?

[perfectsymmetry]

[How about a tall, board teenager to help? Crowe silently approaches, and gets ready to help push when Pokey gets to 3.]

[strike_you_out]

Need a hand?

[Well, have another. Slugger is ready to help.]

[imjustpicky]

[Picky doesn't have to be asked twice. He drops his stick, rushes in, and finds a spot where he can help push. Hey, he's not 8 anymore. He's 9, and a bit bigger and a bit taller.]

Alright! One! Two...!

[...but who knows how much more strength they'll have joining in by the time they get to "Three"?]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Have the help of a little godling-contractor, guys. She just adds her strength wordlessly. ]

[tenderoblivion]

[Godlings ought to come in pairs. Shana blinks and a violet-haired girl beside her has a palm on the door. She doesn't push so much as she leans forward slightly.]

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke watches in amazement as more and more people join in, everyone lending a hand to help. There was a time when Luke believed it was impossible to unite Mayfield, but now...?

It looks pretty darn united to him.]

Three!

[And push!]

[magicalrealist]

(And right beside them, they might notice a hoof from a purple unicorn. She may not be strong, but she's adding her strength to everyone else's.)

[mayfield_mods]

Very slowly, the door will give way to their combined strength. It is clear the door has partially rusted in place, and moving it every inch takes effort, but their combined effort will get it open enough to go inside.

[ceasetoexist]

[And once it's open?

Pokey hesitates. But just for a minute. And before he knows it?

His feet are taking him through the door. Wordlessly. No time for talk, not yet. Not as far as he's concerned.]

[hintcoinplz]

[And as soon as it's opened, Luke waits only a few seconds for some horrible creature to come lunging at them before walking inside with the others.]

[imjustpicky]

[Picky hesitates too, but only for a moment. Then he's trailing right behind Pokey, holding his breath.]

[tenderoblivion]

[Yuki, on her part, simply stands back silently and allows the others to enter. This world was for humanity to seek and discover on their own. A data copy of a data entity... With this conclusion, her duty was complete.]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Shana walks behind him, still not saying a word. There's work left to be done, though she's not sure exactly what kind. ]

[reluctantnanny]

[Germany, and probably more, slowly walk closer, also curious of what's been found... He's still lacking a left eye, wounds in his chest and head having mended only slightly after a night's rest.]

Be cautious, everyone.