ENDING 1: GRATEFUL

Aphmau's POV:

I dropped the ball to my feet, and everything around me disappeared into the bright light that was burning my body. I screamed and cried, but it was pointless. No one was here to help me. I accepted my fate, and died.

I then woke up and I was in a white room. I walked around for a bit until something flew past my face. I froze up as it passed me again. Then it finally came to a stop, and went up to my face. I finally recognized the figure. It was a star. It was my wish.

"Good evening, Ms. Aphmau." The star greeted.

"Oh! Uh, hello to you too." I stuttered, taken back by the star.

"I understand that you have destroyed the void. You have sadly passed away in the process, but you might have a chance of living again. Ask me for anything, and your wish is my command." The star swore.

I remembered what I promised. My alternate self is waiting for Alina. If this is my one shot to get Alina home, I have to take it. No one else matters. Not even me.

"I wish that the little girl, 'Alina', could return home to her world."

"Are you sure this is what you wish for? After this, you cannot go back." The wish asked for confirmation.

"I'm sure. I want to return her home." I ensured.

"As you wish." The star rubbed its nubs together, and the room became brighter than it already was. I squinted my eyes open when the light began to subside, and I saw Alina before my eyes.

"I will allow you to return her home." The wish said. "I will give you a portal to her realm." The star began to spin fast and uncontrollably until a white portal appeared in front of us.

"This place will also be your deathbed. Is that alright?" The wish asked me.

"Yes. Thank you, so much." I thanked. "C'mon Alina, let's take you home. We walked through the white portal, and were in front of burned-down gates to a small town. Alina recognized the place before I did, and she was indeed excited to be home.

"YAY! I'm finally back home! Thank you, thank you, thank you other momma!" She hugged my leg tightly. As she did, I could feel my strength weakening. I took a shaky breath and patted her on the head.

"It was no problem. Now, let's go find your real momma." I walked her down the abandoned village. Then Alina turned to me, worriedly.

"Other momma, what did that star-man mean by this would be your deathbed?" She asked. I didn't want to talk to her about this. She's too young. I'll tell her mother to tell her when she's old enough.

"Nothing, He just means I have to go back there before I go back to my world." I lied. "Oh, okay." She didn't seem convinced. We walked down the village until we came across another set of gates. Alina ran over to them and began knocking in an odd way. Kind of like morse code.

"Guys' it's me! Open up!" She shouted to the other side. A few seconds later, the big gates slowly opened. I walked to Alina and waited for them to open completely. There were two guards at the door, ready to greet Alina.

"Lady Ali- Who is this? It must be an Imp!" The female guard held her sword to my chin.

"No no, wait! This is other momma! She's been taking care of me, and now she found a way to bring me home!" She explained in her best way. The guards looked at me skeptically, But I didn't care. I just had to return Alina before anything worse happens to my body.

"Please, let me return her, and I will be out of your way." I crossed my heart. The guards looked to each other and back to me.

"Fine, but you'll leave as soon as she's returned."

"Aw, but momma has to thank her first! Please let her stay a little while?" Alina begged. One of the guards sighed and rubbed the bridge of their nose.

"Alright, Lady Alina." The guard said. I walked with Alina into the village, and saw many giving me odd looks. I could understand why, but I didn't care. Alina seemed to know the way back to her home, so I let her lead the way.

We suddenly stumbled upon a house, and Alina ran towards it. I assumed that was her house. Alina banged on the door repeatedly, waiting for someone to swing it open. I laughed to myself and pulled her away from the door. Just then, the door opened, revealing a familiar face. It was my counterpart again, and she looked rather sleepless. She looked at me surprised, but then looked down to Alina in tears.

"Alina! Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" She hugged her daughter tightly, tears streaming down her face. Alina wept as well.

"Momma! I missed you so much!" She hugged back. I smiled at the reunion, but unintentionally ruined the moment by coughing up more blood. The blood covered my hand, and I tried ridding it by wiping it on my cloths. My counterpart stopped me from doing so.

"Please, let me help you. It's the least I could do for you protecting my daughter." My duplicate begged.

"No," I whispered to her. "If you did, you would take my place in death. I am not fit for this world, unlike you."

"But if I don't help, you'll surely die!" My doppelganger reasoned.

"I know. It was a price I was willing to pay to keep everyone safe. Please, my only wish is that you only tell Alina of me when she is old enough. She will not remember me at her age." I asked. My copy looked upset with my decisions, but followed them nonetheless.

"Come this way," She said. "I will find you a proper place to pass." My twin took Alina's hand and walked with her. I followed behind, holding my burning wounds. I couldn't walk much further. My vision began to blur, and my time to permanently die had come. I only hope that my Aaron does not sadden deeply. If only his memories of me did not return. I blacked out, and my life had officially ended. The last thing I heard was my own voice, from my other self, calling my name.

EPILOGUE:

Alina's POV:

It was my sixteenth birthday. Another year to celebrate how old I am. As much as I love birthdays, I hate getting old. I got out of bed, early in the morning, and stretched. I proceeded to walk down the stairs to the living quarters, to see my mother sitting on her bed.

"Good morning, Mother." I greeted.

"Ah, Alina. Come, sit with me." She gestured. I sat down with her, and she kissed me on the forehead. "Happy birthday, my daughter." She smiled.

"Thanks, mom." I smiled back, not knowing what else to say.

"Be grateful, that you are alive. I don't know what I would've done if it wasn't for the woman that cared for you." She said.

"You mean your duplicate?" I asked.

"Yes. I'm glad that you care to remember. That was the last thing she wanted," She explained. "After all that she had done, I so desperately wanted to heal her wounds, but she refused. She said it would've killed me. She seemed so caring, so much more than even me. She wanted us to live, all of us, and thanks to her, we have our big happy family now. Your father's curse disappeared after you vanished, and then she safely returned you home." Mother went on.

"That must've been hard. Mom, why do you think, she chose to save me? Couldn't she have saved herself?" I asked.

"Because she promised me. When I met her first, she protected me from a dangerous creature. She asked me to help, and I agreed. When the fighting was over, she sent me home. Before I left, I asked her to return you. She promised me that you would come home safely." Mother answered.

"She may be dead, but til' the day I rest myself, she will not be forgotten." I swore.

The End