Work Text:
One week. Seven short days. Ralsei had spent an eternity alone in darkness, waiting for the heroes, for the Girl and the Cage, and all the time they had together amounted to a measly seven days. If they were lucky. Ralsei didn’t feel particularly lucky, as of late.
Every time the three of them closed a fountain, that was the first and last time the Fun Gang would ever experience that world together. Their first and last time riding a roller coaster over Queen’s city, or playing video games on the Green Room couch, or biting into a jam-filled doughnut in the heart of Scarlet Forest… none of those moments would ever repeat themselves. Ralsei would never get the routine, the easy rhythm of school days into crisp autumn evenings at the library or the diner or anywhere you set your mind to, in the same way that Kris and Susie would. And that was fine. Ralsei had made peace with it.
But… with half of the Delta Warrior’s time having already ticked away, Ralsei had begun to dream vivid dreams. Dreams of a room filled to bursting with memories of the trio’s adventures, a monument to their friendship. Dreams of wearing anything Ralsei wanted to wear–dresses that glimmered against the dim light of the Grand Fountain, ribbons bouncing with each step. Dreams of being herself, of living beyond the role the prophecy had thrust upon her without asking. And perhaps most selfishly, dreams of carving her own mark onto Kris and Susie’s soul; to never be forgotten by either of them, even if she knew from the way they looked at each other and at Noelle that their hearts would never be hers, not like that. It was too much to hope for. A tender kiss on the cheek, a lingering embrace, a held hand and a soft gaze, Ralsei would take any of those if it meant she would be remembered forever.
She hoped she had enough time.