It’s hard to reread Aleena’s goodbye to AIL without getting a little emotional.

Read up and you’ll see why.

 
Aleena's starship exited the atmosphere and soared through the heavens. Its sleek black exterior glistened in the sunlight as the turquoise engine thrust cooled and came to an end.

On the inside, Aleena changed the holographic displays to show the sights around them, making the walls of the ship appear invisible. It appeared to Aleena, Dash, and Konall as if they were standing in the middle of open space, or in Konall's case, on his knees throwing up into open space.

"I thought you said you wouldn't get sick," said Dash.

"Aleena said this was a ship." Konall roared. "I've been on ships before. THIS ISN'T A SHIP!"

"Aren't you a sailor?" Aleena asked.

Konall didn't like that remark. "I said this isn't a ship. I don't know what to call it, but it's worse than sailing through the worst of storms in a cooking pot." Konall had more to say, but instead he continued to vomit up the last of his dinner. His sick vanished almost as soon as he could spill it, returning the interior to its pristine state. Dash took note of it.

"Handy little feature," Dash commented. "This view is amazing, don't you agree, Konall?"

"It is. So, Aleena, do all of your people travel like this?"

Aleena felt a little surprised. The first thing she expected to hear was something profound, like the fragility of life, or the smallness of problems, the unimportance of disputes. Being out here can help one with perspective. But, the Kingdom is an amazing place in its own right - seeing such wonders on a regular basis may cause the wonder of seeing one's home from orbit to have been diminished. "Only some of us do," Aleena replied.

Konall thought for a second. "So why don't the rest go? Do they hate it as much as I do?"

"Aleena mentioned something to me once," Dash said, recalling something from either a previous conversation or the dream life they'd once lived together. "Once her people leave their homeworld, they lose their ability for magic."

"Our souls are bound to our world. For most of my kind, space flight is impossible. We are so much a part of our world that it would result in our death to leave it. And yet, a species will die if it never leaves the cradle of its homeworld."

"I see," said Konall. "That would explain why I lost my connection with the spirit world right after we took off. That's it. I'm getting out. Where's the door?"

Aleena laughed softly. She changed the display to that of a wooden sailing vessel on an ocean. "Konall, you will be fine. I promise."

"Better," said Konall. "What happens to someone if they die in here? If there is no connection to the spirit world, who will guide them to the afterlife?"

"Maybe you can jump out then," teased Dash, though Aleena gave a more serious answer.

"I do not know. We believe that when we die, we rejoin our world's spirit. But by going into space, we are forever separated. We lose our magic. A part of ourselves. It is a lot to give up. It is why there are not many of us - those few who can survive going into space, and those even fewer who would choose to do so," Aleena answered, almost mournfully.

"Meh," Konall shrugged. "Magic is overrated. Your eternal future is more important. That's why I've dedicated myself to a righteous life of fighting and pillaging. This is the first time since I was a child that I've actually been scared though. Terrified. I'd hate this life."

Dash folded his arms over his chest, not sure if he should interrupt. But when a few seconds passed without conversation, he chimed in, "I'd miss the fresh air. And sun."

"Those too," added Konall.

Aleena laughed and the scene shifted to the river side where Aleena had met Katherine Swift, where Dash had his camp on the shore. The sounds of water gurgling over the rocks, the scents of flowers and moss and trees flooded the cabin. "It's not so bad."

Konall looked around. "This ship has a lot of nice devices. Does it have one that can spare your soul from an eternity wandering the void instead of going to the world beyond?"

That caused Dash to chuckle.

Aleena frowned. "I do this for my people. Without us, our world is vulnerable. To hazards both natural and artificial. We are the ones who explore, who protect, who set up the gates that allow those who dwell upon the worlds to travel."

"And you need to get back to them soon, don't you," Dash said, drawing it as more of a statement than question. "Are you sure you'll be safe?"

Dash knew it was a pointless question.

"I will miss you both terribly."

Konall almost said something, but went back to examining his boot laces.

"You've been an amazing ally," Dash said, "and a better friend. I'll thank our holy spirits for your time with us." Dash paused. "I'm sure Konall enjoyed your time here as well. Right, Konall?"

"Yeah," said Konall.

Aleena pulled the two men close, giving each a firm hug. "This will not be the last you see of the space elves."

"Maybe it would be better if it were," said Konall. "Sometimes a clean break is the best. Our culture and yours, we have no need to meet again."

Dash shook his head. "Konall, I don't think you'd forgive yourself if she took your advice."

"Maybe," said Konall.

"I know." Dash looked away from the others, frowning deeply. "That's how I felt after my marriage ended. It's.." Another pause. "It's how I felt about Catrina."

Konall looked at him. "That wasn't what I was talking... Nevermind."

Aleena frowned. The hatch of the ship opened revealing they had returned to the outpost. Hot dry air from the outside invaded the cool spring environment of the cabin. Konall leaped out of the ship immediately.

Dash starred in disbelief. "Let me guess, we're twenty feet up?"

Aleena laughed as the ship touched down. "Hardly. Goodbye, Sebastian. I will always remember you and the times we've shared fondly. Goodbye Konall, you are a very worthy man."

Dash turned, kissing her on the cheek. "Goodbye, Aleena. I'll never forget you. Come back to us someday."

Aleena smiled, tears running down her cheek. The hatch closed. They could see her ship picking up Cyber Sunset in the distance. Then, her ship shot into the sky leaving Dash and Konall behind.

They watched Aleena's ship recede until it could no longer be seen. Finally, Konall turned to Dash. "Were you married? And you didn't mention this earlier?"

Dash smiled at the bittersweet memories. "Yeah, It was a while before I met Catrina. I"ll tell you about it later. If you want. So.. what do you think you'll miss about Aleena the most?"

Aleena, Sebastian and Konall are vastly different characters who always make excellent storytelling when the story brings the three together. This isn’t the last we’ll see of Aleena in AIL, but it sure feels like a proper goodbye.

Aleena only briefly visited AIL as a proper player character from the end of the first season til now. Konall and Dash were the first two AIL characters and are still active, although Konall took some time off along the way.

The following line was also listed as voter Ichiro's 'runner up' for funniest line, although that didn't earn it any points.

On the inside, Aleena changed the holographic displays to show the sights around them, making the walls of the ship appear invisible. It appeared to Aleena, Dash, and Konall as if they were standing in the middle of open space, or in Konall's case, on his knees throwing up into open space. "I thought you said you wouldn't get sick," said Dash.