To Infinity And Beyond

When she released Golbez from the shackles placed by Shinryu, it took him a while to recover. The Lunarian stumbled about, hands pressed to his wounds and he fearfully eyed Shinryu's head, sitting in the center of the world and bleeding life. Golbez often checked over his shoulder and sought out darkened undergrowth to hide in. Cosmos let him heal.

Healing was often a nasty process.


"Uncle Golbez!" Ceodore gasped and his sword clattered to the training room floor.

Opposite him, Kain groaned, what was this? A new tactic to escape the grueling stances he put the young prince through? Ceodore did want to become the next King of Baron and Kain will swear loyalty to none but the best paladin. The prince bolted across the marble floor, his striped scarf whirling and the dragoon spared a moment of pity for both the boy and the King. They missed Golbez terribly. Exhaling through gritted teeth, he pushed his helmet up his forehead, bunched his long hair irritably together and stalked after the departing Ceodore.

"Uncle Golbez!"

The shout rang loud, clear and stepping out of the portal which lead to the scorched fields of Baron, Golbez only stared. War raked its devastating claws across the beautiful Kingdom of Baron and disorientated, the Lunarian gawked for a while. A tower to his right crumbled, grey blocks of stone heaped to one side. The spiral staircase leading to the top of the watchtower lay bare to the elements. Cannon shot and lightning scars pressed against the great doors leading to the Castle.

Blood stained the ramparts.

Running feet drummed the earth and turning slowly, Golbez smiled in spite of himself. In the distance, his nephew ran with carefree abandon, screaming gleefully in the wind and the man's smile inched wider. The past several months, his head, his mind became a plaything for the dragon Shinryu. He was trapped in a vice, a pawn without intention, sent to wreak havoc and destroy his home world. How could he?

Baron meant everything to him.

Patches of green grass pushed its way through the blackened field and Golbez forcibly ignored the flaw. A part of him knew it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. Cosmos? He sifted through blurred memories, through recollections of pain and strife and his hand automatically went to his chest where a new scar healed. Golbez remembered a white furred creature, a moogle, with eyes of burnished gold and he shivered

The Interdimensional war drew to an end.

With heavy feet, he trudged across burnt grass. The reek of ash and death tickled his nose. All of that washed away when Ceodore skidded to a halt in front of him; the child's serious and noble facade shattered as a boyish grin seized his face. Golbez braced himself as Ceodore tackled him, short arms squeezing his torso, the prince asked no questions, he simply hugged his uncle with all his might.

Meters away stood Kain, blinking disbelievingly. He ought to call the King but suspicions cropped the back of his mind. Where was Golbez? Why did he disappear so suddenly and reappear in a similarly abrupt manner? The dragoon's eyes swept across the healing land of Baron and his irises narrowed at the bleeding horizon, dusk set in, turning the sky scarlet. Was Golbez part of the war?

Did he instigate all of this?

"Father...the King is waiting to see you," Ceodore's solemn statement broke through Kain's musings and he tensed. "The King will have a lot of questions for you," the prince warned, casting a sidelong glance at Kain who nodded gravely. Ceodore clasped Golbez's hand in his own and lead his uncle to the palace which cast looming shadows in dying sunlight. Questions buzzed at the back of his brain and he kept his mouth shut. Uncle Golbez's hand was large and littered with ugly scars but to the prince, it represented comfort and safety. "I'm happy you are back," he blurted and ascended the steps leading to the castle foyer. "I missed you," he gave a fleeting smile to his weary uncle and paused at the throne room doors.

A question at the back of the prince's mind beat relentlessly. Letting go of his uncle's warm grasp, he waited for Kain to push the doors apart and as the ornate gates groaned open, Ceodore asked:

"So how is she...how is Lady Cosmos doing?"


Chaos slumbered in his domain, his wings and tail wrapped protectively around him. Lava oozed sluggishly around the cracks emptying into his pool and the demon slept, undisturbed by nothing. He occasionally snorted and a tendril of fire leapt from the pool and lapped at the barren surroundings. Regally poised at the edge of the pool with magma steaming her bare feet, Cosmos observed the sleeping entity, he showed no signs of waking and she waited for another minute, where Chaos breathed evenly and deeply, before spinning on her heel and wandering away.

The center of the new universe sprouted from Shinryu's head. It still lay there, bleeding ichor and swelling the world with life. Stagnant irises of burnished gold stared accusingly at her, Shinryu missed several razor sharp teeth and she sat on a stone bench wreathed with ivy.

Here, once upon a time, in a distant, different world, the dragon taught her everything. And here it all ended. Cierr Harmonia rested in the hands of Death but the weapon always came when Cosmos summoned for it.

Life surged plentiful, the backdoor to the Void remained open. The space always whispered of darkness, of temptations and the hisses disgusted Cosmos. When she entered the Void, the tree shed its leaves of light, carpeting the way for her. On the surfaces of the planets, she watched her Warriors throw themselves into work.

Y'shtola Rhul, her no longer blind Warrior, took center stage as she spearheaded the disintegration of the Garlean Empire and travelled to heal the planet.

Firion, a wanderer, often returned to the site where Pandemonium sunk. He planted rose bushes around the perimeter of raised earth and a thorn of barriers kept wild animals and the stray monster at bay.

Balamb Garden surged with new students; Cosmos followed Squall Leonhart as he sauntered through the corridors, indifference plastered on his face. Cameras swiveled to record his every move and he suddenly stopped and looked back, straight at the Goddess. She smiled at him, conveyed her gratitude through time and space and the scar slashing his face contorted.

He smiled.

Elsewhere, a young woman waited for her sister in Valhalla, cotton candy pink hair streamed softly in the wind. Behind her stood Snow, ever patient and waiting. Waiting. The woman, Serah, smiled sweetly and Cosmos retracted with breathless prayers gracing her ears.

Another voice joined them: Lightning.

Lunafreya and Noctis tied the knot, Cosmos' fingers lingered at the Oracle's cheek and she held the newlyweds' hands in her own. Overcome with emotion, Noctis, a man of over twenty, choked on his words whilst the Oracle beamed brightly. The Goddess did not waste her feelings on sadness for Lunafreya's part, instead, she kissed the bride and groom on their foreheads and wished them a long, long life.

Noctis tumbled over his words, cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Lunafreya laughed and blew her a kiss.

The goddess exited from the Void, the tree lost its brilliance. She walked, leaving a trail of pearls in her wake and knelt on the soil. It healed, slowly but surely. Trees conspired together to form a forest. The forest became the homes of animals and smaller plants. It birthed magic. Grass encroached on barren land, forcibly pushing the memory of war to the edge of the world.

Cornelia Plains, usually stretches of coarse grass, teemed with life.

Stone gates sprang up and in their hollow interiors, Cosmos breathed magic. A portal to different worlds. Some things shall never change, she mused as a drop of ichor swelled on her forefinger and she used them to ink runes inside the circles. This one, she paused, will lead to the magnificent city of Alexandria.

Cosmos studied the gate, watched how the runes dissolved to show throngs of people flocking a certain orange bannered theatre. She clapped along with the rest when Zidane bowed and smiled coyly. The actor glimpsed the goddess and gracefully launched off stage, holding bouquet of roses out to her. Gratitude shone in the depths of his irises and despite the audience members clamoring around him, Zidane crouched to the ground and bowed to Cosmos.

His heart skipped a beat and the goddess heard it. The desperate plea for companionship.

She gently touched his hair and vanished as he raised his head, a sad smile painted on his lips.

Sometime in the near future, the goddess knew as she worked to coax water to a spring, Chaos will wake, fully reformed and ready to start the war anew. She wondered who will be a mediator and straightened when a geyser of water soaked her from head to toe. Droplets of water sparkled like diamonds in the early morning sunlight. Perhaps they did not need a mediator? All good and bad will be judged between the entities of Chaos and Cosmos.

Yes, she decided. During this war she will have the opportunity to see her warriors again, or maybe, newer ones will take the place of old.

Hands cupped around a struggling flower, Cosmos tenderly scooped it back into the earth, her mind bubbling.

Bartz roamed the earth and when she briefly stopped to see how his world fared; the Goddess was a bit disappointed when the Warrior did absolutely nothing to contribute to the reconstruction of his world.

"There are others taking care of it." He grinned and patted the saddle behind him whilst Boko chirped in agreement. "Want to take a ride to the Forest?" he asked, "it's expanding again."

Shantotto continued with her illicit experiments and laughed in the face of punishment.

"Ohohoho!" The black mage simpered disturbingly and waved her gloved hand at Cosmos. "Punishment is never your forte," Cosmos closed her eyes in resignation, "beauty and grace, that is what you portray." Shantotto finished quietly and held the goddess' gaze warmly.

Whilst Narshe Outskirts will forever remain the frosty, desolate land of snow broken by clusters of pine trees, the Ruins transformed into a haven for the Espers. Alighted on the outskirts of the once wasteland, Cosmos observed the half-human, half-magical beings as they helped reconstruct their home. Alarmed by the growing community, the Empire sought to crush it, only to meet fierce opposition headed by a fuchsia beast. The Esper snarled in their faces, tore their helmets from their heads and her claws spoke for themselves.

Balanced precariously on the steeple of a newly built tower, Terra kept a hawk eyed watch for intruders. She lowered her head respectfully for Cosmos, but her eyes held a fierce pride.

Ark and Luneth jolted in surprise when she materialized from thin air.

"How did you get here?" the Onion Knight asked bluntly, brushing his shoulder length hair impatiently to the side. Behind them lay a camp for four people, the enclosure hummed with energy. A cheery fire crackled in the middle and two tents framed it on opposite sides.

The goddess smiled at the question. "I have fully regained my power," she replied enigmatically and Luneth frowned quizzically.

"She means she's omnipotent and omnipresent," Ark helpfully translated and the Onion Knight nodded slowly. "Can you visit us anytime you want?" Ark questioned, notes fisted in tight fingers. His wizard hat leaned sideways and Cosmos somberly shook her head.

She had pressing duties to attend to after all.

The Galbana joined the myriad of airships circling Rabanastre and Vaan, despite the godly presence amidst them, grumbled endlessly. He still wanted to be a pirate though Cosmos suspected he only paid lip service. There was no mistaking the way her Warrior carried himself, an envoy of the Queen; a Knight of Dalmasca. Vaan continued pilfering Captain Basch's pockets and presented the Goddess with a silver pocket watch.

Cosmos did not need to keep time. She represented time. But the ornament looked beautiful wreathed around her neck, clattering against the imperial golden necklace adorning her bosom. It showed her Rabanastre's time zone and she smiled when Vaan showed her the intervals when the Galbana took off for duty; and stopped patrolling for the day.


Golbez's wounds knitted together. Skin grew on his upper arm, covering the knots of muscle. Hwit's dagger once stabbed the man in both the chest and arm and the scars will never smooth over. The man cautiously ventured out of the dense canopy of the forest and courageously sat on the stone bench, gaze fixed numbly at Shinryu. Cosmos delicately sat next to him and his shoulders drooped.

"It is time for you to go home," The goddess softly stated and reached out, laying her fingers gently on his hand. Golbez tensed and briefly pressed his temples, shaking the remnants of the bronze dragon's control. Even in death, he exerted a great influence.

He pulled his hand away. "I want to go home," he haltingly spoke, eyes taking on a faraway look. "I miss Cecil." The pain of separation and betrayal throbbed in his veins. "Ceodore..." he recalled the day the young prince came kicking into earth. Ceodore's loud screams filled the birthing chamber and Cecil retreated to a corner, shaking uncontrollably and turning to Kain for guidance. Golbez stared at his nephew.

At the pure innocence whose screeches reverberated through stone corridors.


In the dream world of Zanarkand, approachable only when Cosmos slept, floated Tidus. His environment changed all the time, depending on his mood and circumstance, but his favorite scenery was of underwater, with a giant whale swimming placidly around him. He often thought about his life, of what he could be if he lived and grew up and Cosmos listened attentively, her hair streaming upwards in the water and providing a golden screen for copper colored fish to swim through. Tidus invited Cosmos to play Blitzball with him but the goddess refused.

Smashing Tidus in the face did not sound much fun.

Cloud Strife polished Fenrir zealously and Tifa watched in amusement. Outside the new Seventh Heaven, Vincent tapped his phone, blanching when he received a call from Yuffie, he quickly muffled the ringtone and stuck the device in his pocket. The gunslinger regarded his bronze claws.

Fenrir purred and dressed in his traditional black leather, Cloud swung a leg over the seat, delighted by the return of his bike. The mental and physical scars of facing Sephiroth a second time have yet to fade and in the meantime, he slunk forlornly from bike shop to bike shop, scrutinizing and internally criticizing every motorcycle he came across. He eventually gave up, pondering on a life lived without Fenrir and as he consoled himself, Cosmos popped out in a flash of light.

The blonde man invited her to the bar, Tifa will be really happy to see her and so will the children, however, Cosmos smiled mysteriously and pointed to the street and to Cloud's disbelief, there stood Fenrir, polished, smelling of motor oil and powered by a silver of the goddess' power.

He cracked a smile. It did not come often. Yet, the sheer happiness in his heart manifested itself on his face.


The King of Baron looked up when the doors to his throne room ground open. The noise filled the hall. Kain entered, his helmet pushed up his forehead and sensing something grave, Cecil stood, the beads in his hair clinking. Two individuals strode in after Kain and the King's knees grew weak at the sight of his brother.

"Brother Golbez," his voice shook and he descended the short flight of stairs and opened his arms for an embrace. The young prince excitedly circled around his father and uncle, eyes shining. Respectfully, Kain paced at a distance. "I am happy to see your return home," Cecil related earnestly and while he had a myriad of questions to ask of his brother, he swept them aside and invited Golbez further in the castle.

In the corner, Cosmos closed her eyes, savoring the moment of sibling bliss.

"I thank you for everything," Golbez bowed, he wore a cloak of purple, hiding the scars on his body. His hair, previously a ragged mess, flowed silkily. "You have brought peace to this world against overwhelming odds," he pointed to the bronze dragon, "and for granting me the opportunity to join my family again, I thank you."

Cosmos listened, tears sprung to her eyes as Golbez bowed humbly. He echoed the sentiments off her Warriors and her ears sung with countless prayers. She closed her eyes and listened to the orchestra of gratitude spilling from all dimensions of the universe. Golbez straightened, politely bid her farewell and stepped through the portal.

Back to the Kingdom of Baron.

Back to his, brother and nephew.


The Astrals rose from their magic circles and gazed at the world anew. It partly resembled the world of old, barren stretches off grass and pools, streams of water leading to a volcanic land. Here and there, forests towered, oak and elm blotted the sky.

Titan plunged his hand underground and veins of precious metals spread from his fingertips and enriched the soil and water. Bahamut unfolded his wings, casting light to distant stars and Leviathan stamped her feet, bursting the river and stream banks.

With Cierr Harmonia humming pleasantly by her side, Cosmos acknowledged the Astrals as they blessed her land anew.

Ifrit took off to the volcanoes and she smiled at Shiva and Garuda working together to freeze the tops of mountains. Her bright blue eyes pulled to the small sanctuary she constructed in Cornelia Plains, a simple, white limestone domicile sitting near a lake. Sensing her sadness, Shiva twirled towards her and pressed Cosmos into an icy cold embrace.

"This is all yours," the ice goddess murmured. "It is your duty to keep an era of harmony."

Harmony...

"No," Cosmos shook her head and disentangled herself Shiva's grasp. "My duty is to govern the world impartially." Hwit's words echoed in her head. "I must watch and wait and be patient. I must provide the mortals with everything and observe as they shape the course of history. They are the stars and I am simply a stargazer." She smiled sadly, the future was not inscribed in stone, however, Cosmos knew the future of mortals. They were capable of both great good and evil. "I accept this responsibility fully." The goddess drew herself up. "I shall bear a silent witness to their struggles and deal my hand in subtle ways. Fate is theirs to make."

Shiva stared at her friend, at the weight of responsibility and determination weighing on Cosmos' shoulders. The goddess wore her duty like jewels and Shiva had to tear her eyes away from such brilliance.

Cosmos spun on her heel and walked the earth; her bare feet skimmed over the lake's glittering surface and carried her to the sanctuary. Inside a spartan room furnished only by a full-body looking glass, a set of gold trimmed armor and an ornate throne, sat a motionless man.

A manikin.

Her Warrior of Light.


A/N: WoL just doesn't die does he?

This is the end, the epilogue. The story was sometimes hair-raisingly difficult to write and other times, I found it pretty fun. Thanks to all the readers who took the time to read, I hope you all enjoyed the story

At Nonny: Yeah, this is the end. I have to thank you for the constant support and reviews, it's fun discussing things with you. Shinryu is a cliché enemy, he's basically power hungry and if a bit lonely. Hwit separated from him due to lack of faith in himself, as you mentioned and yes, Cosmos is infuriated at Shinryu and to a lesser extent, Hwit, for becoming wayward. Chaos did reincarnate, he's currently in a blissful snooze. As for WoL…not having him in the thick of things just felt wrong. As you can see, he's still hanging around.