Note there is HEFTY spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker in the story.

Wonderful artwork by  StarfallHybrid

Story written by me

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Delving deeper into the aetherial sea via the Aitiascope, Chip and his elder sister Nastazya battle through dark memories of felled foes. Some so forgotten they no longer have recollection of anything more than their hate.

With his gaze set onward, Chip fails to realise one such being approaching from behind.

"Chip!! Look out!" Yells his enshrouded sister, the creature too far for her to handle with her scythe.

The younger sibling shields himself, before a shot rings through the air accompanied by the telltale whoosh of a swung blade. The dark memory dissipates into naught but mist, Chip peeks out from his closed form.

Disbelief stretching across his face, he could barely find the strength to speak, only just managing to croak out some few words. "It can't be..."



Much alike the memories of slain enemies, there were warm memories of friends, family, many who had fallen in unfortunate circumstances. What Chip gazes at is the soft yellow glow of his parents memories, they're smiling at him. His bespectacled father wielding a magitek pistol and his imperial-armoured mother with an gunblade of similar make, they would not let those hateful souls strike their children down.

Nastazya similarly finds herself at a loss for words, she returns to her patched armour when her voidsent avatar retreats from the shroud, her fur the same shade as her brothers. She staggers towards the two souls, . "...Mum, Dad? But, you... You can't be here, you can't..."

The mother looks to her daughter, at first a sad smile which shifts to a determined gaze. She raises her hand and clenches her fist close to herself, followed by a resolute nod. Her belief in her children strong.

The elder sister lowers her saddened gaze, her teeth grit as she sharply turns away. She can't bear to let her mother see her like this.

Chip looks up to his parents after seeing Nazstazya's response, tears beading. "You... You both died? H-how? Who, what, was it the-?"

His father interrupts the son's croaked questioning by making a soft 'shush' motion. His mouth moves and yet no words come out, these fallen spirits incapable of speech. And yet the meaning is crystal clear to Chip.

"Chin up, Chip." The younger sibling speaks his father's words, tears fell and yet he smiled through it. "You always did say that when I was upset way back when, and things always turned out alright in the end. They always did." His gaze meets the gentle faces of his parents. "You don't need to worry about us now, we'll do you proud. I promise you that."

The two souls nod in acceptance, bringing an arm around each other's side. Wisps drift off from their forms and bit by bit they dissipate into particles of light, on their way to become one with the Star, together.



Chip takes in a deep breath and gives out a staggered breath, turning to approach his sister. "...Stazya? You good?"

"I..." She mutters. "My mind is swimming with thoughts, sadness, anger. How are we meant to just go on like nothing's different?"

"We don't. We go one step at a time." The younger brother responds, patting a hand upon his sister's shoulder. "They're trusting in us, they know what good we're capable of and I'm not going to disappoint them. So my first step is just that, continuing the way we were. We'll have time to mourn after we've dealt with the Final Days."

Nastazya looks to her brother with a sad gaze, she sighs and straightens her stance, readying her scythe once more. "Since when's the younger sibling more wise in his words than the elder?" Her face lightens with a smile, she gestures onwards. "Come, then. We've got a Star to save."

Chip wipes the remnants of tears from his cheeks and grins to his sibling. "Now that's the Stazya I know. Let's get going!"