FINAL CHAPTER

     Ryo continued to ascend the mountainside, the young Cody was strapped to his back, the horse just couldn’t make it.  Ryo couldn’t tell whether or not the boy was still alive or not.  But that fact would not stop Ryo from reaching Kero.  He had promised Lara that he would get the life Dragon to help them.  Tears began to once again build up in Ryo’s eyes as he remembered leaving her lifeless body up against a tree at the base of the mountain.  The poison was just to strong for her to hold out any longer, and he could still see her eyes fixated on his when she died.  Then he could remember being glad that Cody was unable to understand what had happened to her.  Then he cursed himself for thinking it.
    Ryo continued on, the trail starting to level out the higher he went.  The last time Ryo made this trip, he had the power to just teleport to Kero’s home, and of course, he didn’t have an eight year old boy strapped to his back.  Thankfully, he reached the top just minutes later.
    A soft whimper slipped from Cody’s mouth, and a wave of relief swept over the Fire Dragon.  Ryo stood upright and looked over the large bowl-like valley that curved into the mountain at the top, like a mystical valley amongst treacherous cliffs.  Ryo stepped down into the grassy land that covered it.  Just into the distance, he could see Kero’s house.  From here, it looked almost like a laboratory.  Ryo headed towards it as quickly as he could.
    As he walked, many animals passed him, half of which don’t even exist anymore outside of this valley.  Kero, Ryo remembered, always liked to preserve life, especially that which was close to extinction.  Everything except one, human life.  Ryo knew this first hand.  It didn’t take much longer for Ryo to reach the building.  Not worrying about whether or not he was welcome, he entered.  Inside, there was many books, papers, maps, all just scattered around on tables, chairs, and shelves.  And, a plant of some kind, some of which seemed to be alive and moving, took up the places not covered with papers.

 “Kero!  Where are you”, he yelled, the sound reverberating throughout the home, “Kero!  Dammitt old man…”
 “There is no need for shouting Ryo”, a voice from behind said, “Although, you’ve never really been the quiet type have you.  It’s been a long time my son.”
 “Not long enough old man.  Believe me, I wouldn’t even be here if I wasn’t desperate”, Ryo replied as he turned to face Kero, the Life Dragon.
 “I figured as much.  What is it?”

Ryo undid the straps, which held Cody to his back and laid the sickly boy on the floor.

 “Areaus has poisoned him, I know you can cure him”, Ryo said desperately.

Kero knelt down beside the child and placed one of his hands on the child’s forehead.

 “He is near death, you got him hear just in time.  I will cure him”; Kero said as his hand began to glow a greenish color.

A few seconds passed before Cody started to wake, and his strength was already starting to return.  Ryo and Kero got to their feet, and looked at each other.

 “There is one more thing.  His sister was also affected by the poison”, Ryo said sadly.
 “Well, where is she?”
 “She…she didn’t make it.  I had to leave her at the base of the cliff”.
 “Oh…if you’re going to ask of me what I think you’re going to ask of me, then you know my answer”, Kero stated as he started walking way from Ryo.
 “God Dammitt Kero!  Will you never grow a heart in the empty husk you call a chest!”, Ryo yelled.
 “Seems like we’ve had this conversation before Ryo.  You know now just as you did then, I will not bring back the dead”, Kero growled.
 “What if someone you really loved and cared for was suddenly killed before their time”, Ryo asked.
 “I would accept it as a way of life, it always happens eventually”, Kero explained.
 “That’s a typical answer for someone who’s never loved before”, Ryo glared.
 “Better to have never loved then to have loved and lost it”, Kero said turning to look out a giant window.
 “No Kero, you’re wrong.  To have never felt someone’s love; to have never known what it’s like, knowing that someone cares about you as much as you do about them, is to have never felt a feeling greater than any feeling possible.  That feeling…is more than worth the pain of losing it.  Then again…like I said…you wouldn’t know anything about it, would you”, Ryo said as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Silence filled the room, with the exception of Cody playing with some device nearby.  A couple of minutes passed before Kero broke the silence.

 “I’ll revive the Girl on one condition”.
 “Anything”, Ryo replied.
 “Don’t ever ask me to do this again, and I want your word”.
 “You have it”, Ryo said in a low voice.

Kero raised his arm and a trail of smoke followed it’s motion.  In a burst of light, Lara’s body appeared before them. Cody came running and fell to his sisters side.  He tried to wake her, thinking she was only sleeping.  Ryo pulled the boy off her and held him while Kero placed both of his hands on the deceased girl’s chest.  The green energy returned, only this time it was brighter and there was more of it.  The energy seemed to seep into Lara’s body, as if she were absorbing it.  Suddenly her body jolted as the last of the energy had gone into her.  Kero removed his hands and waited.  Ryo and Cody looked on.  Lara’s eyes started twitching and creeped open.  She looked up at her brother and smiled.  Cody started to cry as she sat up and took him from Ryo’s arms and held him.

 “Oh Cody, I’m so happy you’re alright”, she said, tears streaming down her face.

Ryo smiled, seeing them together made feelings that he thought long gone return within him.  Kero got up and walked into the next room.  Ryo got up and followed him.

 “Why Kero?  Why this time and not before?  Why wouldn’t you bring Emma back to me”, Ryo asked, his head lowered.
 “Because…when you asked before…all I could see in your eyes was anger.  You almost killed me when I refused you.  But this time…this time…I saw in your eyes exactly what you explained to me…love.  Before today, I had never seen a Dragon cry”, Kero replied.
 “I know you’ve done a lot for me already, but I need to ask you one last favor”, Ryo sighed.
 “What is it this time?”
 “Teleport me somewhere, and keep an eye on them until I return”, Ryo explained.
 “Why, what are you going to do?”
 “To reestablish an old vow, and piss off some old friends”.

Kero smiled.

~ ~ ~ ~

 Ryo once again entered the sanctuary that housed his lost love’s grave.  Ignoring the structure that marked where she lay, he strode over to one of the small pools that sat within the cavern.  He dipped his arm into the pool and pulled out a sword.  The blade was of great quality, and the handle was black with an orange jewel on each segment.  Sheathing the blade in a cover on his back, Ryo walked over to a second pool that sat on the other side of the room, and pulled out a second sword like the first.  This one he placed in a sheath at his side.  Ryo sighed and walked over to the grave.

 “Emma…I’ve decided to get on with my life…I know that’s how you would want it.  I’ll never forget you, and I’ll still visit you once a year”, he said.

Ryo smiled and turned to leave, but suddenly stopped.  He turned around and removed the locket from around his neck.  He looked at it, then once again hung it around the jeweled cross.  Ryo smiled again, and pulled out one of his swords.  He held it in front of him and it started to glow.  He swung it around, a trail of fire filled the air, and a burst of light followed.     Then, Ryo was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Korak and Sasha sat at a table enjoying a feast, when Ryo suddenly appeared before them.

 “Hello Korak, Sasha.  Long time no see”, Ryo grinned as his eyes glowed with anger.

Ryo lunged out and grabbed Korak around the neck, then lifted him into the air.  Sasha stood but was sent hurdling by a backhand from Ryo.  Korak struggled to get air into his lungs.
 “I just have one thing to say to you Korak.  I’m back.  So, if you or any of your pitiful Dragons piss me off any more than you already have, I’ll return and beat the living shit out of you all”, Ryo growled, “And that goes for you too bitch”.
 “You…you don’t scare me Ryo.  You…never have…and never will”, Korak gasped.
 “That’s where you’re wrong Korak”, Ryo glared, “I’m gonna make sure you do fear me.  And, when you don’t, I’ll be back to remind you”.

Ryo threw Korak up against the wall and once again teleported away.  Sash helped her man to his feet.

 “It seems Ryo is going to be a bigger problem than I had originally thought”, he growled.
 “I don’t know, I think he’s kinda sexy when he’s mad”, Sash smiled.
 “Shut up”, Korak roared, pushing her away and walking out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Back at Kero’s place, Lara and Cody were ready to once again set off as Ryo returned.  While Cody sat on the new horse Kero provided, Lara and Ryo talked.
 
 “You seem, I don’t know, different in some way”, Lara said smiling.
 “I am.  I think that for the first time since I lost Emma, I feel whole again.  I guess the things you said to me, along with my talk with Kero, really made me realize that I can’t go on living a life of regret and sorrow.  I know now that I need to get on with my life, and begin anew”, Ryo explained with a smile.
 “That’s good”, she replied, “Where do we go from here?”
 “I’m not sure.  I feel I still owe it to you and Cody to take you to a safe place, away from me, and the trouble I bring”, he replied.
 “Well, what if we don’t want you to leave us?  What if we don’t mind the trouble that follows you?  What then?”
 “Then, I believe that maybe the poison is still affecting you some how”, he said laughing.
 “Because, I honestly don’t want you to leave us, to leave me”, she sighed.
 “If…if that is how you feel, then you are more than welcome to join me in whatever quest I find myself caught up in.  But, I must warn you before you decide, it could be extremely dangerous at times”, Ryo warned.
 “Don’t be silly Ryo, I’ve already died being with you, I don’t think it can get any worse”, she smiled at him.
 “Then, you can join me”, he smiled back.
 “Okay”, she smiled as she turned to head for the horse.
 “Oh, and Lara”, he called to her.
 “Yes?”
 “I honestly don’t think I would’ve left you two anyway”, he smiled.
 “I know”, she replied.

Ryo could only smile at the woman’s remark.  He could see so much of Emma, his lost love, within her.  And, like he said, he did feel whole again.  As if for the first time, the regret and heartache that had been tearing at him had suddenly vanished.  Though he has been alive for nearly eight hundred years, his life was just beginning.  For he once again had people to care for, and to care for him in return.  This had always been something he has wanted, and needed.  The last time he had it, he lost it.  But, this time, he vows, he won’t lose it, not like that, not ever.  After all, it is in his heart, his spirit.  The spirit, of a Dragon.

The End
 
 
 

© 1998 Sean Gauthier. All Rights Reserved.