Chapter Text
The island never looked so dark. For a place that could hold so much beauty, Lilo was amazed that it could fill her with so much fear. It wasn’t a darkness of night, but a darkness of feel. Everything seemed much greyer. All the colour seemed to fade as time passed. Perhaps it wasn’t actually the world that was losing itself, though. Maybe it was her.
Lilo’s hands were incredibly numb. The Longer she held on, the less she was able to feel her fingers. Letting go was not an option, however. She looked down to see rocks jutting dangerously out at the bottom of the cliff face. Cold, salty water battered the side of the cliff, as if wishing to claim her into its black endless depths. The longer Lilo held on, the more she wished it wouldn’t have ended up like this. I can’t believe this is how I die. After all I’ve been through. After all that’s happened, this is the outcome? Trying to tighten her grip and get some sort of footing, she looked up. Staring down at her was the little blue experiment she had come to love. His eyes, like dark pools, showed sadness as he wished to come to her rescue.
“No Stitch!” Lilo called up to him. “I’ll be okay. You need to go save the others.”
Stitch looked at her. He could tell she needed him. But he knew she was right. Nani, Pleakley, Jumba, and the others were trapped. If he didn’t get to them now than they were surely to be killed. He looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes. Just a few hours ago they had held so much joy and love. He could still see the love in them. The love he knew she held for him. Love that could conquer anything, even death. If he had any hope to save her from falling down the cliff he needed to hurry. She could hold on, everyone else could not.
Lilo saw that he understood what needed to be done. She feared that she would never get to see the ocean blue fur that she loved so much. Never feel the warmth and strength of his arms around her. What pained her heart the most, was that she might never feel her lips on his again. Showing her love for him, the best way that she knew how. The eyes that she would lose herself in for days still held all the love in the world for her, but she also saw the sadness take hold. I know he doesn’t want to leave me. She knew he had to. No matter how important she was, she couldn’t let down her family. She would hold on for as long as she could. Just to make sure everyone she loved, especially Stitch, would be safe. If he comes down to save me, everyone else will die. Her vision became blurry as tears began to stain her cheeks.
Stitch saw her begin to cry. It tore at his heart to see her like that. No matter how much he knew he needed to turn away, he couldn’t. I just need to see her a little more. Something inside him told him to take in as much of her as he could. One more time he lost himself in her eyes. Watched as her raven black hair blew in the ever increasing wind. Everything about her, even now, caused his heart to flutter.
“Meega can’t leave you!” His voice was cracking.
“I know. I don’t want you to. No one else can save them, though. I will be here. I can hold on.”
“Youga promise?”
There was a moment of hesitation. Stitch’s eyes began to swell with tears. Something told him, again, that this was not going to end as happily as he hoped. The entire day seemed to be so painful. This was the moment though. This moment is what will change his life forever. To save the love of his life, or save the family that the two of them loved so much. Time continued, time that was being wasted.
“I promise. We’re ohana right?”
“Ih. Ohana means family.” His tears began to sting, she was too far to reach in time to save the others after.
“Family means nobody gets left behind.” Lilo knew. This was it.
“Or forgotten.”
“I love you, Stitch.” Lilo yelled. She could feel her grip slipping, but she didn’t want Stitch to see. She needed to know her family was going to be okay.
“I love you too, Lilo.” Stitch stood up from the cliff side, feeling the pain from the wound on his leg. He took in Lilo’s beauty one more time before he went to rescue everyone else.
“Thank you.” Lilo’s thanks fell on deaf ears though. The wind had grown stronger. Anything she said now would go unheard. Lilo saw the love of her life get up and turn away. It hurt her immensely to see his back turn to her. It’s for the best. The others will be safe. I can hold on a little longer. She was lying to herself, and she knew it. She tried her best, but as she lost feeling in her hands, she could tell she wouldn’t be staying there for long. Stitch vanished from her sight. Her heart tore. Suddenly, her grip slipped.
Lilo could feel the cold air sting her skin as she fell. She no longer feared her fate. As far as she was concerned, her fate was now sealed. The fate of those she loved was not. She began to say good-bye to everyone she loved.
“Good-bye Pleakley, …
Jumba …
Angel …
Victoria …
Nani….
Good-bye, Stitch. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.”
As she thought of Stitch, she thought about everything they went through together. From the time they first met, to Stitch’s glitch, to capturing all the cousins, to the time that Stitch left. She thought that that would be the saddest day of her life, but it wasn’t. She thought the day he returned would be the happiest day of her life, but it wasn’t. The happiest day of her life turned out to be the day she confessed her feelings for Stitch. The embrace and kiss they shared that day felt like no other. She was almost able to feel herself melt into his arms. His lips set her on fire, the only thing that mattered was that they had each other. Her life changed forever in that moment, and she wouldn’t take it back for the world. As it turned out, the saddest day of her life was this day. The day she would reluctantly leave Stitch and her family for good. She didn’t want it to end this way, but it seemed like the earth was about to claim her.
As quickly as she fell, she felt the darkness surround her. Am I dead? She didn’t know the answer. No one was around to give her an answer either. All she could see was darkness, and all she could feel was peace. Inside the darkness she could hear something. Something far off in the distance. It sounded familiar. It sounded like Stitch.
“Wake Up. Please wake up.”
I’m asleep? Then I’m not dead! But, why can’t I wake up? She tried. She tried harder to wake up than she ever tried in her worst nightmares. Nothing she did worked.
Lilo was stuck in a sleep from which she could not wake. Stitch watched over her. Never wanting to leave her side. Everything was going so well, and to think about a month ago everything was still what they considered “normal.”