Chapter Text
Gura slowly walked down the silent streets of the coastal town. Her eyes were seemingly absent, as she was lost in thoughts. From time to time, she would stop to see her surroundings, observing the buildings, the people, the sky and her own hands. She kept walking for many minutes that early morning. After all, that was her whole life at that point. An endless and somewhat lonely stroll.
As she reached the central square, the few humans and atlanteans there started to cheer on her, awaiting a performance. In that town, everyone knew about the beauty of Gawr Gura’s voice.
An elegant piano was placed in the middle of the square, under a wooden roof, for anyone to use it.
Gura took seat, cleared her throat, and started playing.
Her fingers traced the white and black keys of the musical instrument with such delicacy that it almost seemed like the shark girl was touching a living being. Soft movements that made the notes resound with just as softness.
Her gentle voice echoed in the square as well, filling the hearts of the people with a bittersweet warmth. Her audience smiled, enraptured by the powerful emotions conveyed by the shark girl’s music.
So much time had passed.
So many things were different.
Atlantis had expanded, to the point of reaching the shore. Humans and mythical creatures came to an understanding and a usually peaceful coexistance.
Her dear friends were long gone. Calliope's hiatus ended hundreds of years before. She had to return to the Underworld, but she never stopped working on her music. From time to time, usually every two or three years, she would take a small break to visit Gura and spend some time together, just to keep each other company in front of some warm food. Calli would always talk about Kiara acting recklessly, and Gura would always poke fun at the reaper for her blatant crush on the phoenix;
Kiara was now living in another dimension. She died a little after Calli’s hiatus had ended. Soon after, she was reborn, still holding all the memories of her friends. She would often talk with Calli in her many near-death moments in this new dimension and tell her to send her love and affection to Gura as well;
Ina lived her life normally, until the limits of a still somewhat human body inevitably got the better of her. The Ancient Ones made sure that she would have passed away in the most peaceful way, and then, the book was brought back to the shrine, where Ina’nis became a model for the whole cult and the priestesses to come.
Amelia too, being a simple human, couldn't do much about her lifespan. Timetraveler or not, she also had an expiration date. Together with Gura, they had a happy life, full of love and playful bickering. In her last moments, Amelia told her "See you later". Then, she closed her eyes and never opened them again.
It was sad and lonely for some time, but with every note she played, Gura smiled thinking back about one of their group's many disadventures. Those lonely notes, so beautiful to the ears of the people in the central square, were something much more meaningful to the shark girl. A way to remember.
When she finished playing the song, she smiled hearing her audience around her applauding at the beautiful performance. She stood up and bowed gently as to thank them. In a way, even that reminded her of the past.
As her eyes went up again, Gura let out a gasp, feeling her whole body freeze. There, among the many people of that coastal town, was a very familiar face.
"I really love your voice, you know? " Amelia said, smirking.
"A-Ame...?" Gura muttered, confused. Her eyes teary, her lips quivering.
“I bet you didn’t expect me to be here, uh?” She winked, giggling.
Gura opened her mouth again, but no words came out. It felt so impossible to the point that it was painful. In her mind, and heart, the shark girl was screaming. Please, tell me that this is real. Tell me that this is not just a dream.
"What? Did you really believed that I, a time traveler, would not have found a way to stay by my beloved dumb fish's side?"
"I... I don't understand..."
"It's ok, you don't have to understand. It's complicated anyway. Timelines, discussing with different versions of me, and other time travel shenanigans." Amelia shrugged.
"I..." Gura tried to speak again, taking a step closer to the blonde girl.
"It's ok, it's ok. To be honest, I'm just sorry that I'm this late..." Amelia said approaching the shark girl and gently stroking her cheek "... but I'm here now, ok? So, stop crying and be ha-”
Ame let out a soft "Oof" as she felt her body being squeezed by the shark girl in a tight hug.
"I-I missed you so much" Gura cried, sobbing loudly with her head resting on the time traveler's shoulder
Amelia gently caressed her white hair, and then moved her face so their eyes could meet again. She planted a soft kiss on the shark girl's lips, and with a thumb she wiped the tears away from her cheeks.
"You're not alone anymore, ok?"