Well this is it guys: the end of the story. I hate to see it happen, but after two months it's time I suppose. There was so much more I wanted to do with it, but update size and story length kept me from it.

Please read after the story as well and answer the questions if you would. Also sorry for the long post, but I didn't want to make it into four parts.


Eniitan : I enjoyed it and didn't at the same time. I enjoyed the writing greatly but I also cried several times at it. Lol I wanted to make it happier but it had to go how it did. It was just right.

Mynamescox44 : Well yeah, someone was doomed either way. Believe it or not that was the "good" ending, because as you said, it's what the main character would have wanted, as you'll see in this post.


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"Traveler."

Your eyes flutter open and a feeling of peace and warmth fills you, and a happiness like you've never known wells up inside.

"Traveler, arise." it's the woman from the spirit realm calling you.

You sit up and look around, but something is different from the last time you changed realms. You don't see the beautiful trees and flower petals, the unexplainably comforting breeze isn't here anymore. You hear something very out of place for the spirit realm, or at least the part of it that you have seen so far. Is that...crying?

"Sidhe, can you give me a few moments please?" Aoife's voice?

You rise to your feet and turn around. Sure enough, you're still in the same realm, but you can clearly see yourself lying on the ground, your head still in Aoife's lap.

"Of course, Aoife." he says sadly, and you can't help but wonder if that's the first time he's ever called her by name. "I'll be right over there if you need me."

"Thank you." is her only reply, as she rests your head gently on the ground and kneels beside your body.

"Aoife." you say in hopes that she will hear you, but she doesn't seem to.

"Sheridan," Aoife says looking down at your lifeless body "what am I going to do now? Who am I without you?" she asks as a tear falls from her face "You've always been there for me. You were the one I turned to when life got too hard. You were the one whose arms I cried myself to sleep in the night I realized my parents had died, and finally realized what that meant." she stops and draws a ragged sob torn breath "You promised to never leave me, but now..." another pause, this one longer as she struggles to maintain her composure "You said we won, but if this is victory...if this is what winning costs...if YOU are what winning costs, then why couldn't we have just lived on in peace until the day we lost together?" she finally falls apart and buries her face in your chest, sobbing uncontrollably and clutching tightly to your shirt.

"Aoife." you say as you wrap your arms around her. She doesn't seem to notice this at all, but perhaps by coincidence, or perhaps by reaction, she manages to pull herself together enough to at least catch her breath and begin to calm down slowly.

"Thank you for what you did to save me." she says, her voice broken still "You always did try to take the hurts for me. But just this once I wish I could have taken it for you. Why didn't you let me die? Did you really think leaving me like this would be better? Less painful? Because this hurts! This hurts worse than anything he could have done to me, Sheridan!" she's shouting now and slamming her fists against you repeatedly "Why did you leave me like this?? Why?!?"

"Aoife! Aoife, stop! Aoife!" Sidhe shouts as he rushes to her side and wraps her in his arms. As he does so she finally lets go of you and collapses in his embrace, quite literally wailing.


"Traveler."

you turn to see the woman from the spirit realm standing behind you, arms outstretched.

"Why do I have to see this??" you shout angrily, but she doesn't answer. "Why?? Tell me! Don't I deserve that much after what I've done?" still she does not answer and you walk toward her to shout some more, but instead you find yourself falling into her arms where she holds you tightly, and you feel her love and sorrow for you.

You remain there for quite some time until the anger and pain subside, and when you finally step back you look into her eyes and that feeling of warmth and peace returns. Turning back you now see Sidhe bending over to pick up your small frame and together he and Aoife walk away with you.

"They're going to bury me aren't they?" you ask looking at her again.

"They are." she says as she places her hand on your shoulder.

"What's going on? Am I dead for good this time?" you ask, unsure of whether you appreciate that fact or if it scares you.

she shakes her head "You live on in three more realms, as you'll recall, you passed by two when you came here, and you live on in the realm from whence you came."

"Oh yeah...that one." you say as you hang your head disappointed "Why couldn't I have lived on here with them and died there?" you ask, not really seeking an answer. "Can I come back here? I mean, can you bring me back to life here? And let me stay?"

She seems taken aback by your request and looks at you in surprise. For that brief moment you wonder if you said something wrong.

"Traveler..." she says as she stares at you still looking shocked "Do you realize what you ask?"

"I do." you say resolutely "But you can do that, right? I mean people have been brought back to life by miraculous means before. Plenty of times in fact! You've done it before."

"Nay traveler, I've not resurrected anyone." she says almost as though she's embarrassed to have such things ascribed to her "I am merely a messenger. The light alone does such wonders."

"But the light can do it then, right?"

"I'm afraid that is not to happen here, traveler."

"But"

"Do you regret your decision, traveler?" she asks confused.

"No, of course not!" you reply almost indignantly.

"Then why do you seek so diligently to undo what has been done?"

"I don't. I just want to be with Aoife again. She's all I've ever known that mattered in any of the realms I've visited." you pause for a moment and a thought comes to mind that you've yet to get answered "Do I know her in any of the other realms? Who is she there so I can meet her if I don't? Can she remember me in them?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer these questions, traveler." she answers looking almost upset "They are secrets not meant for mortals to"

"Enrayana. [In-ray-on-uh]" a masculine voice calls out of seemingly nowhere, cutting her short.

"Yes, my lord?" she turns toward a bright ray of light that now shines from nowhere in particular, and bows to the ground.

"Tell the traveler what they seek to know. And that I grant them the power to manifest." he commands.

"But my lord, such power and knowledge in the hands of mortals?" she says with her face still to the ground.

"Enrayana, rise." the voice says and she does so, the voice then proceeds to speak to her in a language you cannot understand, but she seems quite humbled at his words, managing only to answer with nods.

"Yes, my lord." she says with a bow "As you will." presently the light disappears and she turns back to you. "The light has granted your petitions, traveler."

"So I can come back??" you say, overcome by excitement.

"In a manner." she answers "This has been decreed: you may return here, but only by manifestation. Your body will not be raised, but you may control your presence in all realms at all times."

"But how will I be here with no body?" you ask puzzled.

"By manifestation, traveler." she answers again "As you know all realms are mirrors of the true, and all proceed forth from the true. As such, your forms are many, but your spirit is one, and your one spirit is present in each realm. You may appear to Aoife by manifesting yourself. You will be able to see her and aid her, but she will not be able to see you, nor hear you."

"So...I'm going to haunt her?" your excitement fades considerably. This doesn't sound much like a gift.

"Haunting is a myth of man, traveler. True manifestation is quite the opposite of haunting. You may manifest your presence to her in various ways, and in visions of the night."

"So I can literally see her again in my dreams?"

"Indeed. As for your desire to know her in the other realms." she begins looking even more uncomfortable than she did with the last announcement "You and both of your friends will be granted the knowledge and awareness of all realms and their inhabitants."

"So we'll be together again?...in the flesh??" hope wells within you again.

"Yes..." she sounds quite apprehensive about this "But use this ability wisely, traveler. I have told you, and I tell you again, that people who can switch between realms have the power to do great good or great harm. This power I speak of now is even greater, and none other outside of the spirit realm possesses it. The light has found you worthy and entrusted you with it, so I shall not question. But be wary of how you use these powers. And never tell another soul of them, nor of the realms."

"Not like they'd believe me anyway, right?" you laugh but noticing the unamused look on her face you quickly correct yourself "I promise not to abuse these gifts." she seems mildly comforted by this.

"And now traveler, the light has decreed that you may appear once more tangibly in this realm to comfort the brave souls who fought alongside you. Use your time wisely."

And with that you find yourself standing behind Sidhe and Aoife, and Enrayana is nowhere in sight.
In front of you, Sidhe pours dirt into a hole that you guess must be your grave. They have buried you just outside of your village, you suspect it's for Aoife's comfort more than anything. Aoife stands back watching as Sidhe pours more dirt over you. She wipes silently at her cheeks as he does so, and you feel her sorrow like you never could have in your flesh.

"Aoife?" you call softly and her head snaps up quickly.

"Sidhe, stop!" she shouts and rushes to the grave.

"Behind you." you call as you walk toward them slowly. They both turn and see you at the same moment. Sidhe looks happy but confused, and Aoife looks frightened. "It's okay. It's me. Sheridan." you hold your hands out in front of you, palms first.

"Is it..." she walks close "is it really you, Sheridan?" she holds her hands out and places them against yours. "But how?"

"The spirit realm" you begin and correct yourself "The light gave me one last chance to say goodbye."

"Oh Sheridan..." she falls against you, wrapping her arms tightly around you "Why did this have to happen? Why can't you come back?"

"I don't know why, but I know it had to happen to someone. I have no regrets that it was me, Aoife." you say as you pull back from the embrace and look her in the eyes "I'd do it all over again if I had the chance. Please, try to understand. And try to forgive me for leaving you. I do know it hurts. It hurt me seeing you so broken, and it still hurts seeing you suffering."

"You saw that?" she casts her eyes downward.

"I did. And I understand." you say as you hug her once more "And thank you Sidhe for being there for her."

"No problem, shrimp." he answers as he walks toward you "But tell me, what's going on? Why am I still here? Shouldn't I switch to another realm or something?"

"About that." you let go of Aoife and back up a bit, then proceed to explain everything to them.


"So we can still see each other?" Aoife asks, and you can feel her heart aching.

"Here, in your dreams. Yes. But I'll always be with you. Count on that."

"And in the other realms...I'll know you there like I do here?" she asks.

"Yes. This is our reward I suppose." you say as you wipe a tear from her face with the back of your hand, and she nuzzles against it, appreciating every last moment she can.

Sidhe and Aoife grab their heads in unison as though fighting a headache, and as suddenly as it starts it subsides.

"I can see the other realms..." Aoife says her eyes downcast and scanning left to right then back again.

"Yeah, so can I." Sidhe seconds "And...wait...I'm a cat?? What's with that??"

"You're a good cat though, Fluffy." you laugh softly "And I promise to feed you plenty of good kitty chow when I get back home." Sidhe makes a gaging face at this comment.

A warmth covers you and you see the dismay in their faces. Your time is ending, and you're fading from sight. Aoife grabs you tightly once more.

"Don't go, Sheridan." she pleads.

"I have to. My time is up." you answer as you squeeze her back. "But I'll be right here still, even if you can't see me."

"Promise me, Sheridan."

"I promise, Aoife. Any time you feel sad, you can talk to me. I'll hear every word. And I'll see you each night."

"And we have the other realms." she says softly into your sleeve.

"Yes we do."

"I love you, Sheridan."

"I love you too, Aoife."

And you're gone. She backs away slowly and turns to Sidhe who takes her in his arms once more.


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A familiar buzzing sound awakens you, and your eyes open up to see your room. Everything is exactly as it was the last time you remember seeing it. Apparently you've been living life as usual back here, which seems odd to say the least.

Sitting up you hang your feet over the edge of the bed and slide them into the slippers resting nearby, because you still don't like your warm feet touching the cold floor, just like always before.

Standing up you walk over to the alarm and turn it off like always before. You walk to the bedroom door and open it. It creaks just like always before, and you make a mental note to get something to put on the hinges to keep it from making that annoying noise, just like always before.

You pad your way to the kitchen to make your oatmeal just like always before, and you scratch your pet Jaguar's head as it sits by the table just like always before. You begin remembering the monotony of this routine that you used to love, but now it irks you to your very core. You hate this life of same old now.

Then it hits you: there's a jaguar sitting at the table!

"Sidhe! Or...Oliver? Thomas? Whatever your name is, it's you!" and like a loon you drop down on your knees and hug this beast. But this is no ordinary cat. It now has a keener awareness about it, and for just a moment you think you see sparkle in it's eye. "I'll take that as a 'good morning, shrimp'".

Looking about you see a food bowl with chicken in it, and you can't help but laugh.

"What? No cat chow?" you tease and the cat balks then shakes it's head. Sure enough, he understands you. Sidhe is definitely in there and fully aware.

Aoife! You remember your new ability and focus on her for a moment. A nameless face springs to mind, one you remember from work! She's been working in the same building with you all this time?

"I gotta go, buddy!" you say with a pat on the cat's head, a pat that it seems to resent, and again you chuckle "I have to go meet Aoife!" it's ears pick up "I'll bring her by her to meet you, don't worry you goob." and with that you race to the bathroom, skipping breakfast and dressing in record time.

Catching an earlier bus than usual, you arrive a half hour early, then it's up the stairs you run and into the lobby. Shocked looks show on the faces of a few of your coworkers who have earlier shifts, including Bob (who you still don't like). Clearly they don't know how to take you being there early and not acting robotic. You laugh under your breath and begin scanning the area for the familiar face, but see nothing. After looking around for a bit, you head to your office dejected and begin working away like every day before, and you allow yourself to fall back into routine to protect yourself from the feelings of disappointment.

"Sheridan?"

Your ears perk up and you look from the screen to a woman standing before you.

"Aoife?" you found her, or she found you rather. Looking in her eyes you can see the recognition of that world so far away...or perhaps it's a world that's rather close. No, not another world, but another viewing angle of the same reflection.
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Question time!
On a scale of 1-10, what would you rate this thread/story?

Should we try this again sometime?

I was very careful not to call the main character by any masculine or feminine terms and used only unisex names. What did you picture them as, male or female? Plot twist: they were meant to be a girl.

Fun facts:
Sidhe, Thomas, and Oliver were all chosen as a reference to his jaguar from. All are names of famous cats.

Aoife was chosen for a name because it's the name of a mighty female warrior of Irish legend.

Aoife and the protagonist were intended to be viewed as two females, each viewing the other as a sister, having been raised together. Not a male and female in love.

The language Enrayana spoke when the protagonist first awoke in the spirit realm was Irish. Try running it through a translator.

All of the characters in the final realm had Irish names, though Sidhe's may have been the Scottish spelling of it.

Enrayana is partly named after a user on here.

In the final realm the protagonist was nearly a dragon before a last minute change as I began writing it.

At the start of chapter one when there was a scratching outside? Yeah, I had no idea what it was either. In fact I had no idea what it was until it jumped on the protagonist. Lol I was writing as it came to me.

I had no idea what this story would be about until then start of chapter four.

In the end, there was nearly no special abilities granted, aside from manifesting in Aoife's dreams and in other various ways. Yeah, it was nearly really sad. That didn't fit though so I decided to keep this ending.

I had more fun with this thread than with any other I have ever made. No question about it.


Thanks so much for reading, guys!

Eirinn : Um....this chapter left me felt....pretty empty for some reason and that isn't a good thing. I read this as soon as you summoned me, but I needed time to think about what I was going to say. The story overall was amazing as you said we were leading the story by the choices you laid out for us. Thanks for taking the time to so something so awkward and weird. I enjoyed most parts of the chapters though. I'm just not sure how to fully explain the last one, all I can say like before I felt empty. Like a void was missing there for me.


Question time!
On a scale of 1-10, what would you rate this thread/story?
Eh....I would have to say 8. Main reason because of how the story played out to be. It was really well balanced between from happy chapters to the sad ones as well.

Should we try this again sometime?
I'm not too sure how to answer this. From my first experience of going through one if I am going to be honest it would probably be a no. Like in the beginning I was really excited for this story. But, then things kinda changed when I read this from start to finish.

Eniitan : Not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting that response at all. I guess I read too much into the activity level in it, but I do thank you for supporting it throughout.

It indeed ended up going in a direction no one could have expected, but honestly I'm mildly proud of that since predictability and cliché are often very similar and it's really difficult to avoid falling into them when writing an original piece, especially since so many stories have already been written. Almost nothing can seem truly original anymore, and even this story isn't the first of it's kind I'm sure.
I also fear that had the incredible not intervened soon after the start it would have grown mundane quite fast. Not too much within my realm of abilities could be done in that setting without introducing the fantastical like I did. I do lean a tad bit too heavily on fantasy and conflict in stories (even though I dislike writing the actual fight scenes because I feel I become repetitive in them). That's something I'll have to work on, but I'm not sure if I could do anything else with it honestly. And hey, I suppose there's a big fan base for both fantasy and conflict stories out there so not all of that is bad.

As for the end, I was very conflicted about the ending: I was very conflicted about that, and I even spoke with The Star of Music about that. Of course she didn't offer input on what to do (which I appreciated), but I was telling her that I had no idea how to end it. There are a few reasons for that, namely because there was so much that I wanted to add but so little time and space. There was almost another battle before the end, and I considered more realms, but this felt like the best it would get (the final realm that is) plus two months is a long time. Another reason was because I didn't know if this ending was too generous or if I needed a more real and sad ending. I settled on this for various reasons. And the ending was abrupt and not exactly the mist desirable outcome, so the empty feeling makes sense. I feel like it slipped somewhat out of character, but not as badly as the other ending could have. There was a lot of thought and meaning behind each entry in the story and I wanted to preserve that meaning above all else and this entry aimed to do that.


I hope you weren't too disappointed in the end though.
Thank you so much for honest feedback. That actually means a lot to me.

Don't get me wrong, I had the same kind of feeling here, but it wasn't due to disappointment. I mean sure, it kind of shows you had more planned for the story, what with the abrupt ending and all, but that doesn't necessarily take away from the experience. 

Considering this was all written entirely as a first draft, I thought it was extraordinary. You definitely have a knack for writing, to say the least ( you're the only person on the site whose stories I follow, honestly lol ). Maybe it's just common interests, or maybe I'm just more easily impressed than every one else, but either way, this was some thing I really enjoyed being a part of. Brought me back to the days of my childhood reading those corny Choose Your Own Adventure books, excluding the part where you could go back and change your answer if you didn't like the outcome XD

How would I rate the story / thread ?
I'd probably give it a 9. My only request is it could've continued a little bit longer lol.

Should we try this again some time ?
I'm all for it. I'd be more than happy to be a part of some thing like this again, and really hope we can bring in more users to participate if it comes to be, as well as getting them to stick around.

Mynamescox44 : I actually was worried that you guys were wishing it'd end soon. Lol Had it not been for that and the fact that the last realm we entered ended up the way it did (it just felt like that couldn't be topped), this would have went on another realm or two at least. In fact I nearly added one more realm of sorts in which Enrayana let you know that you had only defeated The Dark One's physical form in that realm and as such had to defeat his spirit form as well (thus effectively dragging you and Sidhe and possibly Aoife into the spiritual side of the realm), after all he has access to all realms and could potentially just keep conquering the others. This spiritual realm battle and the ending we got were the only two that could have really concluded the story without leaving a plot hole, unless we resurrected the main character in the realms she died in. But even still, this is not how the story was meant to end, no.

As for the feeling, as I told Eniitan, I felt the same way. Maybe it was the abrupt ending not leaving us with proper closure, or maybe it was the ending entirely. I'm not sure. It would have definitely been more fleshed out were it in normal story format though.
And thank so much for the kind words! It's great to know my writing is enjoyed. I think that sealed the deal for me...I'm writing another story but was unsure of whether I should share it on Vizzed or not. I think I will now. It's inspired by a few different things unlike this one which, as I said, came pretty much at a whim. Lol It'll just be a straight up story though.


And about another thread like this: I'd like to try it again sometime if we'll have participants. I'll also probably try mixing this idea with an RP to see how that works sometime. But I definitely want to try this again at some point. I hope you do join in again when and if that happens man! And maybe next time you won't see through everything before it happens! xD I will surprise you one day!