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The Guardian Dragon Chronicles

Denouement

Acorech returned to his room. Both he and Kardonyth went to bed right away. The day had been long enough, another long day in a sequence of long days, and it seemed as though the following day would be long as well.

At the crack of dawn they set out once more. When they arrived at their destination, they found themselves in front of a cave.

"What is this place?" Acorech asked.

"I wouldn't know, considering this place isn't on any map," Kardonyth answered.

"Fair enough," Acorech replied. "Shall we?"

The two entered the cave. The paths were narrow, and torches adorned both sides. They winded left and right, and fluctuated up and down. After minutes of mindless wandering, it seemed like the exploration was endless. The wanderers were just starting to be driven insane by the lack of excitement when something excitable happened.

"High up upon tall mountains, in the middle of a large cluster, this cave is secluded. Who are you and why are you here?" A voice asked with aggression. It took a couple of seconds for the person to come into sight.

"We are Guardian Dragons, so you better calm down," Acorech answered. "We are here for 'treasure.'"

"Prove your identity," the person commanded.

Acorech sighed, and then transformed back into his bestial form. Once confident that the person had a long enough look, he returned to being human.

"Now that the claim has been validated, how about you tell us who_you_ are," Acorech said.

"I am the resident of this cave, I am _its_guardian," the person answered.

"Wait..." Kardonyth said. "Don't tell me that there are no phoenixes."

"That is the truth," the person replied.

"What?" Kardonyth asked.

"Alas, it would seem that even the concept of 'phoenix' was also a metaphor," Acorech said.

"That is correct," the person replied.

"What do you mean?" Kardonyth asked.

"Those wretched clues should not exist!" the person exclaimed. "They defeat the purpose of keeping things secret!"

"What do you mean!?" Kardonyth asked. "Are the 'stones,' the phoenix eggs a lie!?"

"Follow me," the person commanded.

Acorech and Kardonyth followed their host deeper into the cave. After a couple of minutes, there were no more torches. From that point, all the lighting came from natural sources. When they reached the end of the cave, they were in a large, open area. It was bright, and the cave itself could not be seen. The whole floor was covered with flowers, and the rest of the cave was covered in vines. Towards the back were anomalous objects: A table, and on it was alchemical equipment. The person walked over to the table.

"Do we get real answers now?" Kardonyth asked.

The person pulled out a dagger. For a second, the Guardian Dragons thought they were meant harm, but the person quickly slit their wrist.

"What are you doing!?" Kardonyth asked.

The person poured a liquid into the wound. Within seconds, it was as if the affliction had never happened. "The nectar of the 'Phoenix Flower' restores to perfection," they said. They then revealed a scar, and poured nectar onto it. The scar ceased to exist. "I am not inclined to run around like a maniac, and neither do you I presume. Therefore, there will be no demonstration of the 'Phoenix Berry.' The juice of it eradicates all levels of fatigue and lethargy instantaneously. Within seconds people are completely revitalized."

"Flowers and berries!?" Kardonyth questioned. "I refuse to believe that this place houses not a single phoenix egg! There has to be one!"

"There is no such thing, but what _is_here must not fall into malicious hands! For that purpose I am but one of many generations who have guarded this garden. It is imperative that everything remains a secret! Tell no one of what you have seen and heard!" The person commanded. "You have been misguided. Now that you are aware that what you seek does not exist, you can now proceed to exit and never come back."

"Is there not a single _plant_in here that stops age progression?" Kardonyth asked.

"Agelessness is nothing but a myth," the person answered. "Discounting your cases, of course."

"That cannot be!" Kardonyth shouted. "If it is possible for some, it has to be possible for all!"

"The truth about truth, is that it is hard to handle. Life is easier when you accept truth. Stop dreaming, and accept reality," the person replied.

The truth crushed Kardonyth. He dropped to his knees, and Acorech looked at it him with sympathy.

"Are we just mere tools?" Kardonyth wept. "If so, why do we have feelings!? If love cannot last, why do we desperately desire it? Does that desire stem from the desire to know what a normal family is? Did 'he' even care about us? We never saw him, but he never spoke beyond the first day! He could have probably been like a father to us! I love you guys so much like brothers, but we need other people in our lives, damn it! How can that be if their life is an instant compared to ours?"

"Enough with the double standard!" Acorech spouted. "How can you come to terms with the limited time of friendship, but not the limited time of matrimony? You have been so blinded by your love, your judgment has been clouded!"

"Phoenixes may be absent in this world, but they have to exist in other ones! I will just travel from world to world until I find one that does," Kardonyth said.

"That is reckless, and you know it!" Acorech snapped.

"The Dragon Treasures! Something among them has to-" Kardonyth started.

"Don't you even think about it, damn it!" Acorech shouted. "We are supposed to be protecting them, nothing more! Don't pretend that you don't know that!"

"It is 'forbidden,' yes. However, it is not like 'he' is around to punish us!" Kardonyth laughed.

"Stop losing your mind and get a grip!" Acorech yelled. "Don't forget we all reaffirmed our oath to be Guardian Dragons! If you transgress against us, you'll be a traitor. Can you _honestly_say that someone who betrays their friends and themselves is someone Crystal could love and choose to be with? Heavens above, listen to yourself!"

"Damn it all!" Kardonyth cried. "Damned if I do, damned if I don't? I've been over this! I can't stand the pain of loneliness, but neither could I stand the pain of losing someone I care about. Could you?"

"I- I don't know..." Acorech answered. "I guess I'll find out."

"I'll be damned if agelessness is impossible after all," Kardonyth replied.

"I followed this through to the bitter end with you. It's time to move on," Acorech said. "You want to continue chasing down a solution, then think about it. You've been asking the wrong question. It isn't how to make someone ageless, it's what makes _us_ageless. It isn't the link between our body and soul, I know that much. We're done here, let's go back."

The two returned to their home in melancholy meditation. They passed the threshold, and their quiet contemplations were terminated.

"You two went out again!?" Calic asked.

"I'll just assume that that question was rhetorical. As far as investing time and effort into the investigation of mine, I'm done." Kardonyth stated.

"Your lack of euphoria says that it was a lost cause after all," Calic replied.

"Of course. There is no other reason for me to be irritable," Kardonyth retorted.

"You spent quite a lot of gold on all those resources you amassed. What are going to do with them?" Acorech asked.

"I am going to reduce everything to ashes," Kardonyth answered.

"Good answer," Acorech grinned.

Kardonyth dismissed himself from the group and went straight to his room. He found all the resources he had collected, and ripped them all into tiny pieces. Crystal arrived at the palace at her usual time with Sara, but Kardonyth was not at the front to greet her. She was directed to his room by Acorech. She felt a strange feeling in an ominous kind of way. Day after day she spent her time with Kardonyth, but she had never been to his room. The air seemed to thicken as she drew closer. She turned the last corner, and the door was in sight. When she was right in front of it, she just stood there for a few seconds.

"Kardonyth?" Crystal knocked.

"You can come in if you want," Kardonyth responded.

Crystal opened the door. Her introduction to his room was not a pleasant sight. Kardonyth sat on his bed with his head in his hands. She walked across the littered floor until she was right in front of him.

"Do you recognize me?" Kardonyth asked. "I do not seem to know who I am anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Crystal asked.

"Even after Cid came into my life, I did not realize how much I wanted to connect with other people until I met you. It is such a desperate desire. I am losing myself in fearing death- not for me, but others'. It is not fair! Why should everyone else die while we are forced to live limitless lives? My heart is hardening, and I am going mad! I have been asking too much of you. I have delayed our marriage, put you in harm's way, and now, for a few days consecutively you have trekked here. You want to marry me now, but I want you to marry the me that you fell in love with. You deserve nothing less. If you are going to spend the rest of your life with me, I need to be that Kardonyth!" Kardonyth cried.

Crystal took Kardonyth's face out of his hands and into her own.

"Crystal?" Kardonyth asked.

"It does not matter who you _think_you are. You are always Kardonyth, even if you are lost. It does not matter how deep in the darkness you are, you will always find the light," Crystal assured.

"_You_are light! How could you love someone in darkness?" Kardonyth asked.

"My foolish Kardonyth," Crystal smiled. "Light extinguishes the darkness." She kissed Kardonyth, to his surprise.

"It is not fair!" Kardonyth shouted. "My life is perpetual, but you are dying as we speak!"

"I am not sure if there is an afterlife, but I hope there is," Crystal said. "Then, someday, we may be reunited postmortem."

"Whether or not it exists, it is the same either way. I will be a Guardian Dragon for hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of years more," Kardonyth replied.

"It is not the same!" Crystal exclaimed. "There is most certainly a difference between losing me being temporary and being permanent. If there is no hope, no reunion, no afterlife, then this life will definitely be more painful for you."

"I mean that either way, death will be the end of a life of pain-regardless of whether or not death is the absolute end," Kardonyth responded. "We can hope that the afterlife exists, and we can fear that it does not, but we won't really know until we actually die, right?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I suppose only time will tell," Crystal replied.

"Time? I have had plenty of that, and I will have plenty more," Kardonyth retorted.

"Yes, but the time you have with me is waning, as you keep pointing out" Crystal stated. "Stop wasting it worrying about my dying, and focus on my living. Okay?"

"Okay," Kardonyth smiled.

"Now, let's clean up this mess," Crystal said.

"There is no need for you to subject yourself to the consequence of my foolish tantrum. I will clean this up," Kardonyth replied.

"Isn't marriage supposed to be two people sharing everything, meaning problems and burdens included?" Crystal asked.

"Yeah, you are right," Kardonyth answered. "I was a fool to forget."

"Nobody's perfect," Crystal replied.

Crystal and Kardonyth both knelt down and started picking up each scrap of paper. There were a few times when their hands would make contact. When that happened, they would pause and savor the moment. Even if it was not the end he wanted, Kardonyth was glad an end had come to his relentless quest nonetheless.

* * *

Kardonyth removed a ring from himself and put it on Crystal's finger. "Marry me," he said.

"I'd love too! I love you!" Crystal exclaimed.

Kardonyth took her hand and kissed it.

"I can't wait to marry you!" Crystal hugged Kardonyth.

"You have to," Kardonyth stated. "I'm sorry."

"What? Why?" Crystal asked.

"I love you, but I can't bear to make this lifetime commitment while your life and my life are incongruent. You're doomed to die while I have everlasting life. People normally outlive their spouse by a couple decades at most, but I can't bear the thought of outliving you by centuries, millennia. I've been searching diligently for a way to make your life everlasting as well, but so far I've been horribly unsuccessful. I know if I satisfy myself with marriage now, I'll grow apathetic in my endeavors. If postponing our marriage is what it takes to save you from death, then so be it," Kardonyth said.

"I can't believe how selfish you're being!" Crystal snapped. "This isn't about you! This is marriage we're talking about! It's not about one person or the other, it's about both people! You're unilaterally deciding to delay our life together!"

"I'm not asking for a whole lot of time, just a little. Please?" Kardonyth begged.

"Fine," Crystal whined.

Kardonyth kissed her. "That ring is very special. As long as you wear it, distances will be shortened. You will be able to travel to and from the palace in very little time. The time we do have now, we will be able to spend more of it together," he stated.

* * *

After the paper was disposed of, Kardonyth returned to his room with Crystal. He hugged her tight. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you," He sobbed. "I was so focused on saving you, that it distracted me from loving you. My desperation was replacing my love. Of course I don't want to not love you. I need you."

"Don't be distracted by guilt either," Crystal replied. "The past is in the past. You can't change it. All we can do is move forward."

"I don't know if I can let go of this regret," Kardonyth said.

"I forgive you, so forgive yourself. Love me, but love yourself first," Crystal responded.

"Okay. For you, I will," Kardonyth replied.

"No," Crystal said. "Anything you do for someone else is for them, but anything you do for you is for you. You can't do this for anyone but you. Loving yourself is a you thing."

"Okay, okay. I still think I need redemption, though. I'm not the best that I can be- that I should be. You can still love me, but I can't love a lesser version of myself," Kardonyth said.

"Don't worry about it!" Crystal replied. "If I love you, that should be good enough for you."

While Kardonyth and Crystal bonded, Acorech and Sara also bonded. In the midst of a large, grassy field, they sat upon a hill.

"It is almost hard to believe that we finally have real time to be together," Acorech said. "The past few days have sure been crazy."

"Indeed," Sara replied.

"Also, this is not just real time, this is _real_time," Acorech said.

"What?" Sara asked.

"I mean, the memories we are making now are legitimate. They are not fiction. Don't get me wrong. Those memories were priceless nonetheless, and it vexes me that they are gone. I just mean that these memories are not in danger of being lost. That is, unless someone else comes along and takes them from me." Acorech laughed.

"That is not funny," Sara replied. "What happened to you was serious."

"What happened to me brought us together. Who knows what other benefits I will get if another incident occurs?" Acorech jested.

"Acorech!" Sara snapped.

"I am sorry. I just..." Acorech's nonchalance faded. "What is it about me that you love?"

"I love that you are... honorable," Sara answered.

"'Honorable?'" Acorech questioned.

"Yes, honorable," Sara replied.

"That is it?" Acorech asked.

"That is a pretty broad range of qualities," Sara answered.

"No fair, giving the easy answer," Acorech sighed with a smile.

"Okay. I love that you- I love your... courage. I love your resolve, your convictions, I love your personality," Sara replied. "Why are you asking all of a sudden?"

"I am afraid of losing your love," Acorech answered.

"What? Why?" Sara asked.

"Our fake memories gave us the experience of falling in love with each other. We had the experience of growing up together. Now, we are just together. I am afraid that to stay in love, we have to _fall_in love again," Acorech answered. "We are basically strangers now. I am afraid of getting married in this condition."

"Do not worry," Sara assured. "We would only need to fall back in love if we fell _out of_love."

"That is what I mean, Sara. I am afraid of losing your love. Our experiences together are no longer known to us," Acorech responded.

"If I could 'falsely' love you, I can love you for real. My love for you will not change. In regard to the 'stranger' issue, we have time to make up for lost time," Sara replied.

"We are going to somehow cram roughly a couple decades worth of living into a couple months?"

"Technically it was only a day," Sara winked.

"You are... right," Acorech chuckled.

"Of course I'm right! I mean, trust me when I say I won't stop loving you. I never stopped loving you for as long as I have known you, so why would I stop now?" Sara asked.

Acorech laughed.

"What?" Sara asked.

"It's just that... you have a point," Acorech answered. "You made me think. Speaking of trust, I should have trusted in fate this whole time. The fact that we are even together means that we are meant to be together. I was silly."

"And don't you forget it!" Sara smiled.

"I won't- not unless my memories get taken again," Acorech responded.

"Seriously, that's not funny!" Sara snapped.

"Okay, I'm done joking around about that," Acorech said.

"Thank you," Sara said.

"So, what now?" Acorech asked.

"We have a wedding to plan," Sara answered.

Acorech had lived for hundreds of years, but the three months between his betrothal and his wedding seemed like thousands. Being patient seemed to be a far more difficult challenge than fighting Rak was.

The day of the wedding had come at last, and Acorech could not be more relieved. He was at last able to dress himself in the ceremonial attire that he had been holding onto. The vibrant silk proclaimed the occasion.

Unable to wait for the designated hour, Acorech stood outside the doors to the palace's shrine long before anyone else arrived. He gave Cid quite the surprise when the latter arrived to prepare the ceremony. Calic and Alakin actually found it amusing when they arrived. He greeted Zade and Teri when they arrived, escorted by Kardonyth. From that point on, Acorech's eyes never strayed from the end of the hall. He had just started to become anxious when the two final figures had appeared. Crystal escorted Sara to him. Then, his eyes could not stray from his bride. His trance was broken by the sound of the doors being opened by Crystal. This time, the doors, which had been repeatedly closed, remained open. Acorech grabbed Sara's hand and turned around. The ceremony had begun.

Sara and Acorech walked side by side, up to where Cid was. He stood behind a table with three candles. The center one remained solely unlit. When the lovers reached their intended position, they turned to face each other.

"Comrades," Cid began. "We have congregated here to recognize the love of the betrothed, and to consecrate it in this ceremony of Holy Matrimony. If anyone here has reason to deny this couple eternal companionship, let them now present their case, or it shall be taken to their grave." He paused in a formal, yet awkward silence. "Betrothed, take the candle closest to you."

The two did as was told.

"The candle you hold represents the solitary life you are now relinquishing to your beloved," Cid stated. "Groom, do you accept the bride as your wedded wife, in both times of glee and woe, in both times of affluence and poverty, in both times of ailment and health, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to be bound together until death?"

"I accept," Acorech affirmed.

"Bride, you may now blow out the groom's candle," Cid stated.

Sara blew out Acorech's candle.

"Bride, do you accept the groom as your wedded husband, in both times of glee and woe, in both times of affluence and poverty, in both times of ailment and health, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to be bound together until death?" Cid asked.

"I accept," Sara affirmed.

"Groom, you may now blow out the bride's candle," Cid stated.

Acorech blew out Sara's candle.

Cid lit two sticks. "Betrothed, take a stick."

The two did as was told.

"Two lives have ended, now it is time for one to begin," Cid stated. "This candle yet unlit represents the new life you are now beginning together. Light the candle, together, as one, and as one you shall henceforth be."

Sara and Acorech lit the candle together.

"You are henceforth husband and wife!" Cid exclaimed.

Sara and Acorech kissed.

The two couples were enjoying married life to the fullest. They were the happiest that they had ever been. Having women living in Dragonheart Temple made it more lively. Having a wedding band on her finger, Crystal gave Kardonyth his ring back. What Sara gave Acorech would be cherished by both of them for the rest of their lives.

A month had passed since their wedding, and they were jubilating. They celebrated their marriage at their one day milestone, at their one week milestone, and now they were celebrating their marriage at their one month milestone. The celebration went by no different than before, but Sara made sure that the day would not end before she made the milestone particularly special.

"I'm pregnant," Sara announced.

To be continued...