The cruiser finally reaches its destination and the pilot calls out to you through the glass pane as it descends down onto the rooftop.
" We've arrived at your destination! The tablet that you were given has a request feature built into it if you'd like another ride somewhere else. Make sure next time you request a B-Class cruiser if you don't plan on having a bit of fun while you're airborne! "
You nod your head awkwardly before the door to the cruiser opens and you look at the rooftop that you're landing on. You can see a deep pool with glowing neon lights under the water that make it look like a galaxy, along with a small apartment on the far side of the rooftop. You see a woman in a red bikini swimming in the water, and when she emerges at the edge of the pool to look at the cruiser, you can't believe your eyes.
After she looks at the cruiser for a bit, you see her take notice of you and a look of awe and disbelief washes over her face. She obviously recognizes you and she looks just like Ariel did the day that you saw her die. Can it really be her?
" Actually, you can keep the tablet. "
You say as you get up and gently place the tablet on the seat that you were sitting at.
" I don't think I'm going to need it for the rest of the night. "
The woman in the cruiser sighs in an overexaggerated manner as she turns her head away from you and talks in a pouting tone.
" Ugh, of course. You're already spoken for… It's always a bore when the pure ones stay loyal and don't let me have my way. "
You turn and look at the pilot as you exit the cruiser and make one final remark.
" Thank you for the ride. "
" Don't mention it, buster! You take care now, and remember, Praise Vol! "
The pilot says as you step off onto the rooftop and the door to the cruiser closes before it flies away. As you turn back towards the pool, you're caught off guard as the woman quickly hugs you tightly after getting out of the pool and running to you while you were looking away. She begins to cry with her face buried in your chest and her wet body starts to soak your clothes. You're completely stunned and you don't know what to do, so you gently put your arms around her and as you speak to her.
" Ariel? "
She looks up with a smile and tears in her eyes as she responds to you.
" Donny! "
Holy shit. It really is her.
" How? How are you alive? "
You ask her as you both walk over to a poolside chair and sit together on it. She squeezes you tightly as she answers your question.
" I don't know… One day I just woke up and I was here… I couldn't find you or Rosie anywhere and I didn't know what to do… This place… This place is so strange and I never thought I'd see you again. Where's Rosie…? "
That's right. Ariel was killed before Rosie. She has no idea that your daughter is dead. Your heart aches as you recall the memories that Noeh showed you. You barely muster a response as the feeling of grief sinks a deep hole inside of your chest.
" She's… she's gone, Ariel. I lost her a few years after I lost you… "
" No… no, Abbadon… no… "
Her happy tears immediately turn into tears of grief as she begins sobbing uncontrollably. She buries her face in your chest again and screams in emotional agony as you silently cry, softly holding her. You reach over to the chair next to you and grab a towel, putting it around her and hugging her in order to keep her warm as she bawls in your arms.
How is she alive? Could The One be behind this? This couldn't be another version of Ariel from a parallel universe because you erased her entire multiverse after you lost Rosie. Even if it was an alternate Ariel, she wouldn't have met you or knew who you were because you're a singularity within existence and there's only one you. None of this makes any sense.
After a moment of her bawling in your arms, Ariel calms down and looks up at you, pressing her face against your chest.
" We should go inside… "
You nod your head before you both stand up and Ariel leads you into the little poolside apartment on the far side of the rooftop. The apartment is just one room with a bed and a kitchen in it, and it's decorated just like Ariel's cottage was back then. Ariel dries off with the towel draped around her shoulders and wipes the tears from her eyes before wrapping herself in a blanket and using a machine on the kitchen counter. She snuffles and takes an emotional exhale before asking you a question.
" Would you like some tea? "
" Sure… "
You say as you walk over and sit on her bed. The machine makes two cups of hot tea instantaneously and she brings the cups over to you. She sits next to you, offering you a cup, and you take it from her gently and she snuggles up next to you holding her cup in her lap. Once you put your free arm around her, her voice trembles with emotion as she speaks.
" I missed you, Donny… "
" I missed you too, Ari. "
You say in a reassuring manner. Her breath shudders as she tries her best to stop crying before asking you a question.
" What about you? How did you get here? "
You gently rub her thigh with the hand of the arm that's embracing her as you answer.
" I'm on a mission with Tom. It's too much to explain right now, but we're trying to put an end to a serious struggle. "
Ariel then puts her hand on top of yours and holds it on her leg as she replies with her head down.
" Oh… So you and Tom are still going on your missions, huh? Figures. You two were always inseparable… "
There's a brief moment of silence as she sits with you. You can tell that she's thinking about something. Then she squeezes your hand as she speaks up, looking you in the eye.
" Run away with me, Donny! Stay with me for the rest of my life! We can go wherever we want and we can start over! I'll get another cottage, and grow another rose garden, and we can have another baby before I die so I won't leave you without a child after I'm gone! Please… please stay with me and we can live happily together… "
Your heart yearns for her and what she says shakes you to the core. You seriously contemplate it as you imagine what a future with her would be like. It would be everything you've ever wanted. It would be the perfect vision that you had shared together before what happened. Still, the responsibility on your shoulders weighs heavily on you as you think about what's at stake if The None is to continually devour existence like he has. You may not have gotten your happy ending, but the happy ending for others hasn't been lost yet.
You take a deep breath before you answer Ariel with pain and sorrow in your voice.
" I… I can't. I have a responsibility to save those who can't save themselves. I'm the only one who can do it, and if I don't, then an unlimited amount of people are going to be robbed of their happy ending just like we were. I'm sorry, Ariel. I love you and if this was any other circumstance, we'd be gone together in an instant… I hope you can understand. "
More tears begin to run down Ariel's face as she looks at you, obviously upset with your answer. She then puts her head back down and trembles as she makes a request of you.
" Then can you at least just stay with me tonight… please… "
You nod your head as you hug her close to you and you both sit there on the bed together in silence, then you put your finger under her chin and look at her with admiration before kissing her on the lips. Ariel continues to kiss you over and over as she drops her blanket, puts the cups on the floor next to the bed, props herself up onto your lap and puts her hands on your shoulders. She then tugs on your shirt and you help her take it off before she pushes you back onto the bed, kissing your neck. She rubs your chest softly with her hands as she continues to kiss you. As Ariel breathes heavily on top of you, you look over to the side and see a vase of roses on the nightstand next to the bed. The roses immediately fill you with love as you remember the symbolic meaning that they hold because of Ariel's philosophy, then you notice something strange…
The roses in the vase don't have any thorns.
Ariel slowly works her way down your body, kissing your neck, then your chest and your stomach before trying to undo your belt. You ask her a question in a nonchalant manner.
" Ari? "
Ariel removes your belt as she answers.
" Mmm… yes, Donny? "
" Why don't your roses have any thorns? "
Ariel immediately answers you as she pulls your pants down to your knees.
" I dethorned them so they wouldn't scar up my fingers when I put them in the vase. Why do you ask? "
Your face goes cold as you immediately understand the reality of what's happening. You talk to her coldly as you feel an abhorrent disgust from the deception that's taking place in the image of your dead wife.
" I guess you don't truly love roses then… "
Ariel looks up at you with a confused face as she replies.
" What? "
You immediately grab Ariel by her throat and levitate into the air, pulling your pants back up with your other hand. Ariel chokes and struggles in the air as you hold her neck with a firm grasp.
" Who the hell are you? "
Ariel continues to struggle, barely able to breathe as she answers you in a confused voice.
" What? Donny, why are you doing this to me! "
You slowly close your hand a bit more around her throat and she coughs and squeals as you question her again.
" Answer me, bitch. Who are you? "
" Donny… it's me… you're hurting me… "
You pull her closer to your face as you tighten your grip slightly more and threaten her.
" Lie to me again and you'll die like Anito. "
Ariel's face begins to turn blue and her body writhes around for a moment before she finally answers.
" Okay! "
You drop her down onto the bed and her body slowly morphs into what looks like a succubus with gray skin and red eyes. She looks up at you, aroused as she rubs where you were choking her with one hand and the other hand between her legs. You look down at her coldly as you mutter her name.
" Reylesh. "