Epilogue: Where Gardens Grow (Darling in the Franxx Alternate Ending)
Word Count: ~2,250
The dust of apocalypse still hung heavy in the air, a gritty film coating the ruins of Gran Crevasse. Silence, profound and unsettling after the cacophony of battle and VIRM's departure, blanketed the shattered landscape. Yet, within the heart of the colossal klaxosaur core – now a fractured, cooling mountain of alien biotech – life pulsed faintly.
Dr. Franxx, his body frail but his spirit fiercely ablaze with newfound purpose, directed the recovery teams. Beside him, Nana and Hachi coordinated with a quiet efficiency born of desperate hope. They'd witnessed the impossible: Hiro and Zero Two, fused into the gargantuan Star Entity, channeling the combined will of humanity and klaxosaur against VIRM, a sacrifice play meant to shatter the invaders and seal the dimensional rift. But something had changed at the last moment. The Klaxosaur Princess, her millennia of rage and sorrow transmuted into a final, protective act, hadn't merely lent her strength; she had intervened.
As the Star Entity unleashed its annihilating light, the Princess had enveloped its core – where Hiro and Zero Two's consciousness resided – with the last vestiges of her planet's energy, forming a resilient, crystalline cocoon woven from klaxo-sapient technology. It wasn't enough to stop the blast, but it was enough to shield the precious life within from total disintegration. The cocoon, along with the Princess's own grievously wounded form, had been hurled back into the ruins of her former stronghold.
Now, days later, search teams dug through the pulverized crystal and twisted metal. Goro, his arm in a sling but his determination unyielding, heaved aside a massive shard. "Over here! I've got a signal!" His voice, hoarse from dust and shouting, cut through the tense quiet. Ichigo scrambled to his side, scanners in hand, her eyes wide. "It's them... it's faint, but it's all of them. Hiro, Zero Two... and the Princess. Bio-signs are critical but stable."
The discovery ignited a flurry of activity. Carefully, reverently, they excavated the cocoon. It pulsed with a soft, internal light, veins of blue and magenta energy flickering beneath its translucent surface. Within, entwined like roots of an ancient tree, lay Hiro, Zero Two, and the Klaxosaur Princess. Hiro's skin was pale, marked with faint blue traceries that mirrored the Princess's own patterns. Zero Two's horns were cracked but intact, her hair a stark white against the crystalline glow. The Princess, her majestic form reduced, looked fragile, her breathing shallow. Their hands were clasped – Hiro's holding Zero Two's, Zero Two's resting atop the Princess's clawed fingers, the Princess's own hand covering Hiro's knuckles. A silent testament to the impossible bond forged in the crucible of shared sacrifice.
Recovery and Revelation:
The journey back to the fledgling settlement – built near the remnants of Plantation 13, now dubbed "Gardenia" – was tense. Medical teams, a blend of former APE scientists under Franxx's new ethical guidance and klaxosaur-derived healing tech specialists (learning rapidly under the Princess's telepathic guidance as she drifted in and out of consciousness), worked miracles. Hiro was the first to wake fully, his body humming with a strange new energy – a permanent echo of the blue oni transformation, a bridge between human and klaxo. His first sight was Zero Two, sleeping peacefully beside him, her hand still unconsciously seeking his. His second sight was the Klaxosaur Princess, resting in a specially designed bio-pod nearby, her crimson eyes fluttering open to meet his. There was no hostility, only an immense, weary sadness and a flicker of something else – recognition, perhaps kinship.
"I saw... everything," Hiro rasped, his voice weak. "Your memories... your pain. Why... why save us?"
The Princess's voice resonated directly in his mind, a complex symphony of sorrow and resolve. "You... and my other self... Zero Two. You showed me... a path beyond vengeance. You fought for life... not just your kind, but all life. Even mine. Your sacrifice was pure... but unnecessary. My world is dust... my people are echoes. Your garden... is worth preserving. And... you carry a part of me now, Hiro. As I carry a part of you... and her."
Zero Two awoke soon after, her fierce spirit tempered by profound exhaustion and a dawning understanding. The Princess's consciousness had been intertwined with theirs during the final moments, sharing not just power, but thoughts, fears, and the raw, desperate love between Hiro and Zero Two. She also saw the Princess's loneliness, the crushing weight of extinction, the betrayal by APE that mirrored her own childhood torment. The hatred she once held for the klaxosaurs dissolved, replaced by a complex empathy.
"It's strange, Darling," Zero Two murmured days later, sitting beside Hiro under the rebuilt settlement's nascent trees, watching the Princess (who had requested they call her Sapientia – 'Wisdom' in the old human tongues) slowly walk among the recovering klaxosaur cores, coaxing dormant flora to life with a touch. "She feels... familiar. Like a reflection in a cracked mirror. All that rage... I understand it. But seeing her now... trying to heal... it feels right that she's here." She leaned her head on Hiro's shoulder. "With us."
Hiro wrapped an arm around her, his gaze fixed on Sapientia. "She saved us. She showed me the true cost of her existence. We share a connection now, deeper than biology. It's... complicated. But it feels... necessary." He turned to Zero Two, his eyes earnest. "What do you feel? This... us... with her... it's not what anyone expected."
Zero Two traced the faint blue lines on his arm. "I feel... complete. You are my Darling. My reason for being. But she... she is part of me too. A part I never understood. Protecting her, helping her heal... it feels like healing myself. Protecting us. As long as you are with me, Hiro, at the center... my heart has room." She offered a small, genuine smile. "And she needs an anchor. We can be that. Together."
Ten Years Later: Gardenia Blossoms
A decade transformed the wasteland. Gardenia was no longer a cluster of repurposed APE structures; it was a thriving town of timber, stone, and seamlessly integrated klaxo-bio architecture. Buildings pulsed with gentle internal light, grown rather than built. Verdant gardens, cultivated through a blend of human agriculture and Sapientia's bio-harmonization techniques, sprawled around crystalline reservoirs filled with pure, filtered water. The sky, once choked with dust, was a clear, vibrant blue.
The heart of Gardenia was the old Plantation 13 square, now a bustling community hub. And today, it was adorned with vibrant ribbons and fragrant blossoms for a wedding.
Goro stood nervously adjusting his simple linen tunic, a traditional design revived from old archives. Beside him, Kokoro, beaming, fussed with his collar. "Stop fidgeting, Goro! You look wonderful." Miku, holding hands with an equally grown-up Ikuno (who now managed Gardenia's burgeoning library and historical archive), grinned. "Yeah, Captain Serious, try not to trip over your own feet walking down the aisle!"
The "aisle" was a path of soft moss leading to an arbor woven with glowing klaxo-vines and terrestrial flowers. Zorome, now a skilled engineer working on integrating klaxo-tech into sustainable energy systems, stood as Goro's best man. "Relax, buddy. She's been waiting for this since forever."
And then Ichigo appeared. She wore a flowing dress of pale green, woven from klaxo-silk that shimmered softly. Her hair was adorned with simple wildflowers. Gone was the intense commander; in her place was a woman radiating serene happiness, her eyes only for Goro. Futoshi, now a renowned chef running Gardenia's most popular communal kitchen, wiped a tear from his eye as he played a gentle melody on a recovered violin.
The ceremony, led by Nana (who had become a respected elder and community organizer), was simple and heartfelt. Hachi stood proudly beside her. As Goro and Ichigo exchanged vows they'd written themselves, promising partnership, patience, and unwavering support – a love forged in the fires of battle and tempered by years of peace – the entire settlement cheered. Their kiss was met with a shower of flower petals and klaxo-pollen that shimmered like stardust.
The Found Family:
Watching from a shaded balcony overlooking the square was the trio whose survival had made all this possible. Hiro, taller, calmer, but with the same gentle strength, now served as Gardenia's chief liaison between the human settlers and the klaxo-sapient council advised by Sapientia. He wore simple clothes, the blue traceries on his skin a permanent, accepted mark of his unique nature.
Beside him, Zero Two remained a vibrant force. Her horns were polished, her hair a cascade of healthy pink and white. She ran the settlement's creche and early learning center, her fierce protectiveness channeled into nurturing the next generation. Her laughter, loud and genuine, was a common sound in Gardenia. Her hand rested possessively on Hiro's arm, but her gaze often drifted fondly to the third figure.
Sapientia stood tall, her form less intimidating now, more regal. She wore flowing robes woven from bio-luminescent fibers, a blend of human and klaxo aesthetics. Her crimson eyes held ancient wisdom but also a newfound softness, especially when they landed on the two small figures playing with model Franxx and klaxosaur cores at her feet.
Hikari, a girl of five with Hiro's dark hair but streaks of vibrant pink and tiny, barely visible nubs on her forehead, was carefully explaining her model's "special attack" to her younger brother. Kaito, three, had Zero Two's bright pink hair and Hiro's thoughtful eyes. He was more interested in making his crystalline klaxo-core model hum softly, a talent that came instinctively. Both children bore faint, beautiful patterns on their skin – Hiro's blue tracery mingling with Sapientia's crystalline motifs.
Sapientia reached down, her clawed hand surprisingly gentle, to adjust Kaito's collar. "The resonance frequency requires finer control, little spark," her voice resonated gently in their minds. Hikari beamed up at her. "Auntie Sapi, watch my Franxx do a flip!"
Sapientia's lips curved in the faintest approximation of a smile. "Adequate form, Hikari. But remember balance." She looked up at Hiro and Zero Two. "They possess remarkable potential. A true synthesis."
Zero Two chuckled, leaning against the railing. "They're a handful. Kaito keeps trying to make the water in his cup vibrate during meals." Her tone was fond, exasperated, and utterly maternal.
Hiro smiled, watching his children. "They're our future. Proof that coexistence isn't just possible, it's beautiful." He reached out, taking Zero Two's hand in his right and placing his left gently on Sapientia's arm. The contact was familiar, comforting. It wasn't a conventional love story, but it was theirs. A bond forged in shared trauma, profound understanding, mutual respect, and a fierce commitment to protect the fragile garden they had nurtured. Sapientia wasn't a rival; she was the missing piece that completed their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. She was Zero Two's heritage made manifest, Hiro's bridge to a deeper truth, and a vital, cherished guardian of their shared family and future.
Life in the Garden:
Later that day, Hiro and Sapientia walked through the "Harmony Fields," an experimental zone where terrestrial crops grew alongside klaxo-bio flora engineered for nutrition and environmental repair. Hiro consulted a data-pad, discussing nutrient cycles with Sapientia, her telepathic insights offering solutions no purely human science could devise.
Nearby, at the newly opened "Stamen & Pistil Academy" (a name chosen with wry humor by the former Parasites), Zero Two was teaching a group of children – human, and a few showing subtle klaxo traits like Hikari and Kaito – about basic mechanics using salvaged Franxx parts. Her teaching style was energetic, loud, and incredibly effective. "No, no, Sora! The coolant line connects here, see? Don't make it explode before it even walks!" The children giggled.
Ichigo and Goro, taking a break from wedding celebrations, strolled hand-in-hand towards the observation platform overlooking the restored coastline. The ocean, once toxic, now teemed with life – some familiar, some wondrously new bio-luminescent forms nurtured by Sapientia's guidance. "It's hard to believe," Goro murmured, squeezing Ichigo's hand. "After everything... we get this."
Ichigo rested her head on his shoulder. "We fought for it. We earned it. And we have each other." They watched a pod of large, crystalline-skinned creatures breach the waves in the distance, glinting in the sunset. Peace wasn't the absence of conflict; it was the active, daily choice to build and nurture, a lesson learned through immense sacrifice.
Sunset Reflections:
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange, purple, and the faint, shimmering green of klaxo-energy fields, Hiro, Zero Two, and Sapientia stood together on a hill overlooking Gardenia. The sounds of the settlement – laughter, music, the hum of sustainable tech – drifted up on the warm breeze. Hikari and Kaito slept peacefully in a small, organic pod-structure nearby, watched over by a benign, dormant klaxosaur core that glowed softly.
Zero Two leaned back against Hiro, his arms encircling her waist. Sapientia stood slightly apart, yet connected, her gaze sweeping over the thriving settlement, the restored land, the star-strewn sky free of VIRM's taint.
"It worked, Darling," Zero Two whispered, contentment radiating from her. "Our garden."
"It did," Hiro agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. He looked towards Sapientia. "Because we chose to build it together. Not just us, but everyone. Humans. Klaxo-sapiens. All who call this place home now."
Sapientia turned to them. The fading light caught the facets of her crystalline skin. "The path was unforeseen. Fraught with pain and sacrifice. But the destination... this fragile, persistent life... it holds value I had forgotten." She extended a hand, not needing to touch to feel the connection thrumming between them. "You showed me that love is not a finite resource, Hiro. Nor is it bound by form or origin. You and Zero Two... your bond is the bedrock. My place is beside it, a guardian of the balance you embody. Protecting this garden... protecting your children... it is my purpose now. My redemption."
Hiro reached out, his fingers brushing hers – cool, smooth crystal meeting warm, blue-traced skin. Zero Two placed her hand over both, a gesture of unity. "Our purpose, Sapi," Zero Two said, her voice unusually soft. "Our garden. Our family."
They stood there in the gathering twilight, three beings who had defied death and destiny: the human who became a bridge, the hybrid who found her humanity, and the ancient princess who found a reason to live again. Their love was a complex tapestry – the passionate, consuming fire of Hiro and Zero Two, interwoven with the deep, ancient, protective resonance shared with Sapientia. It wasn't simple, but it was strong. It was the foundation upon which Gardenia blossomed.
Below them, lights began to twinkle in the settlement – human electric lights mingling with the soft, organic glow of klaxo-bio luminescence. The laughter of children, human and new-generation hybrids, echoed faintly. The distant hum of the ocean, teeming with recovered life, provided a constant, soothing rhythm.
The war was over. VIRM was banished. The old world of APE and forced piloting was ash. In its place, nurtured by hands that had known violence but chose creation, grew something precious. A garden. A home. A future built not on stolen life, but on the hard-won understanding that true strength lay in connection, in acceptance, and in the boundless, complex capacity of the heart to love.
As the first stars emerged, Hiro held Zero Two close, felt the quiet, powerful presence of Sapientia beside them, and knew they had found something more valuable than mere survival. They had found their place. They had found their meaning. They had found their forever, together, in the garden they built from the ashes. The story wasn't about dying for a cause; it was about living for it. And their living had just begun.