That day when Airya finally returned to the village, Aesha and Desmond stood there waiting. Aesha smiled and looked to above the mountains like she knew what Airya had just done and then ran to her, embracing her into a deep hug before touching Airya’s never-touched lips to hers. After that, and after Aesha had used her golden band to return home, Desmond and Airya spent the rest of the evening above the temple. They discussed what they could do for the Solocs and how much it would take to bring them all back. They talked about Desmond’s fear of rejection, losing her friendship, and the sad history behind his green eyes. They also discussed their plans for the future.

Months later, the Solocs were all moved back to their original village. Airya had spent many of those days trying to make friends with the Solocs and helping them fix up the village that had always rightfully been theirs. She knew that the Solocs would make Ausrine the peaceful and perfect paradise it had always deserved to be.

Hethei flew onto her shoulder as she hugged the last of the Solocs goodbye. He rubbed his beak against her ear.

"I'm going to miss you, old friend," she whispered, "You saved me so many times just as I saved you long ago." She wrapped her hand gently around his head, pulling him into her neck. She let his feathers tickle her skin as he melted into her for a second, "It’s time to stop putting you in danger, though. If you want, I want you to stay here. Stay here and watch over them. Come and find me if something ever goes wrong or if the Solocs are in danger. It will never be enough to right our wrongs, but I would like to try. It’s time to give them peace."

A tear fell as he took flight and she opened a portal to another world, forever leaving this one behind.

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Years later, Desmond was in college, going for his degree in anthropology and world cultures, which was a big help when it came to their new adventures together. Although Desmond did sometimes stay in Nokia, Airya’s new home was officially Nokia. At first, she had stayed in Aesha’s second home until Sedeth let her move into the palace, only under one condition. She became their official second queen.

There was bargaining on Airya’s end too. She wanted more time with Aesha away from Nokia to travel to other worlds. Although Aesha had to stay behind sometimes to watch over her people, and although it bothered Aesha because she was worried that Airya would get hurt, Desmond, Aesha, and Airya traveled to other places often to chase their freedom and to work on righting her people’s wrongs. They worked to find people, beings, or creatures that they could try to understand and then find vacant places in worlds where they could live and be at peace if their original lands had been broken or taken.

It was one night on one of those adventures after Airya, Aesha, and Desmond had spent five full days exporting crawling, succulent creatures from a burning converted world to a damp, peaceful one where they could grow, that Aesha proposed to Airya, wishing for her to be in her life forever and to be her official queen. Airya agreed, and they made arrangements right away, looking to Sedeth's blessings to be married. Months later, they laid on the ground at the feet of The Vizen, hands buried and locked together in the sand as they waited for three snakes to pass between them. Desmond and Sedeth kept watch and shared laughs with them. They also gave them water as the days that should have dragged came to a quick close when the last snake slithered between them on the third night, blessing their marriage and proving what they already knew. That with their relationship, they could conquer three times the amount of stress and obstacles that any other relationship could. With that strength, they wanted to save and help worlds and others’ lives.

After a big celebration with dancing and food brought from far-off lands that were normally unattainable thanks to Ariya, and a giant cake from the bakeries of Desmond’s home, Airya and Aesha discussed what their future would hold.

Love, learning, and peace.