Here is the chapter before the epilogue.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Return of the King

The Shadowen that were still alive slowly started to disappear into black smoke. Alice glanced around herself as she watched the phenomenon take place. Samuel himself was standing up to, looking around himself as they were few soldiers that were doing the same.

"Is…is it over?" a soldier whispered.

"Jasmine," Samuel whispered, before he started to run.

Alice, hearing the name, took off after him.

The two ran through the debris around them and arriving on the large fields they were still filled with dead bodies, and she noticed a winged person standing there, holding a magnificent sword in her hand that glow a deep blue color, her green hair flowing in the wind.

Hearing them approach, the figure turned around and Alice feel her eyes widen.

It was Jasmine, she'd recognize that face anywhere. Jasmine looked at them for a few second before a smile grew on her face, her eyes shining with happiness at seeing them here.

"Samuel," she said.

The man took her in a hug, his entire body shaking with the tears that were falling from his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you…I had an Oath to your Father…I had failed you…"

"Samuel," Jasmine interrupted, taking herself out of the hug and caressing the Elf's cheek, "You have more than redeemed yourself for that. You defended my people when they needed the Light to guide them; you have done more than I could hope of ever achieving."

Samuel looked at her, his eyes taken aback slightly.

"You…thank you Jasmine,"

The green haired girl smiled at him, before her eyes shifted to the vampire that was standing a few little ways away. It was a good feeling to be seeing Alice again, but in the different clothes she was wearing, she could have passed for a Fairy.

She approached her, as Alice's yellow eyes watched her, the disbelief and the shock still showing through them. Jasmine raised a hand at her cheek, caressing it slightly drawing a gasp from the latter.

"Its…you're really here," Alice whispered.

"I am," Jasmine answered her, "I never thought I'd see you again…"

But she was cut off by a pair of lips that crashed unto hers. At first she was surprised at the action but she relaxed, before closing her eyes, leaning into the kiss. Her magic responded the same that it had did when she had hugged Alice that fateful day in front of Fork High School, fueling their senses with passion.

After a few seconds, Jasmine broke the kiss, her forehead leaning against Alice's.

"I love you," Alice whispered, her eyes still closed.

Jasmine looked at the girl.

"I…I wanted to say that forever now," Alice continued opening her eyes to look at her, "When we had meet in the dungeons, the words were at my lips, but I couldn't get them out."

Jasmine smiled at the girl before taking her in her arms.

"Thank you Alice, for everything."

The vampire hugged her back to.

"But," she continued, "As much as I want to stay with you forever…it won't be possible."

Alice disengaged herself from the hug, looking at her confusion running through her face.

"W…what are you saying…."

"I…I can't stay in this Mortal Realm," Jasmine told her, "I don't belong there. The Darkness had destroyed my body when it transformed."

"But…you're here, alive and breathing," Alice said, not understanding why.

"It's only temporary," Jasmine told her, "Aside from me, you have someone who is waiting for you at home, back in Forks."

Alice looked at her, her eyes widening

"Jasper…"

Jasmine nodded.

"He is waiting for you," she said.

Then a light drew their attention as an old man wearing gray robes appeared in front of her. He was shining with power, his white hair and bear blinding white as time froze before them. Jasmine glanced at the frozen Alice then back to the new arrival.

"You have accomplished your task Princess of Autelas," he said.

"Have you come to take me back?"

The old man approached her and extended his hand, "I have come for my Sword."

Jasmine blinked in surprise.

"What?"

"My Sword is not made to be in the Mortal Realm," the old man said, "It has accomplished its task into banishing the Darkness back into the Shadow World. That is the reason I have lent it to you is it not?"

Jasmine stared at the old man in front of him, "You're…Adam?"

The old man chuckled.

"Yes, that is the name I've given you and the appearance I wanted you to see," he said, taking the Sword from Jasmine's hand, "Is it not every day I have to come down myself to this World to do something."

He started to walk away as a light appeared in front of him.

"B…but what about me," Jasmine asked her, "I did die…and you said I can return only temporarily…"

"Your purpose in this world is not finished," Adam answered her, looking back at her "And I never said that you died. You were simply having an 'out of body moment'. Autelas will need a Leader, Jasmine Salvatore. Are you ready to take on that task?"

Jasmine stared at him, still shocked that he was letting her live her life. Adam did not wait for an answer as he simply turned toward the light and disappeared.

Then time started to advance again as Jasmine simply stared at the spot where the she had last seen Adam, a strange sensation running through her, as a smile grew on her face.

"Samuel," she said, drawing the Elf attention, "Gather as much soldiers as you can and search the wounded to the House of Healing. I have to speak with my dear brother."

Samuel nodded, as Jasmine turned toward Alice.

"I can take you back home but I have one last thing to ask of you," she said.

"What is it?"

"Will you stay until my Coronation is finished?" she asked her.

Alice stared at her for a few moments before letting a smile adorn her beautiful features.

"Of course,"

Scorpio was standing in front of the golden Chair of the King. He was there ever since the war had started and had heard of the battle that had surrounded the Castle Walls. He had expected the Shadowen to invade the inside of the Castle but it would seem that they didn't make it past the second level.

How could I have made such mistakes? Have I let my own pride and anger blind me from the truth?, he thought.

The door behind him opened, drawing his attention but he didn't expect to see Jasmine standing there at the door. That brought a panic through him expecting her to be that malevolent spirit that had promised him she'll kill him with her bare hands but before he can even move Jasmine spoke.

"Scorpio,"

He froze hearing Jasmine's voice instead of the thousands of voices that had been echoing when the Darkness spoke.

"You…it's really you?"

Jasmine approached him, her footsteps loud in the silence in the Room, stopping only when she was a few feet away.

"Yes, it's me Scorpio."

The Prince looked at her for a few moments before stepping away from where he was standing giving her a full view of the gold chair of the King. Jasmine watched the chair in front of her now, feeling a seed of nervousness running through her.

Autelas will need a Leader. Are you ready to take on that task?

Adam's words rang through her mind as she stood there looking at the Chair before stepping on the steps, one foot after the other before she was standing in front of the Chair. She spun around, facing the hall before taking a seat upon it.

She closed her eyes feeling the soft cushions beneath her. Then the magic that had been placed on the chair activated, running through her veins like liquid fire, but instead of it being painful, it was soothing, warm and welcoming.

Then Jasmine opened her eyes.

The Chair had recognized her as King.

And that thought made her smile. She glanced sideway seeing Scorpio standing there, his eyes wide seeing her seating on the throne that he had so wished to take. Instead of seeing anger and jealousy in his eyes, Jasmine saw fear…

Then he dropped on his knees, bowing his head low unto the ground.

"Please forgive me," he said, "I was wrong, I was so angry and bitter about losing mom that I completely disregard your feelings…"

Then he felt two pair of hands taking hold of his and he looked up seeing Jasmine kneeling in front of him, her eyes holding no anger toward him, only love.

"I can never hate you," she said softly.

Scorpio's expression would have been comical if the situation wasn't so serious.

"But…I should be punished…I broke the Ancient Laws…"

Jasmine shook her head, waving them aside.

"I do not blame you for what you did," she said, looking at him straight in the eyes, "Nor do Mother. She can never hate her children, and since her magic was used to bring me back to Autelas, I can feel her love for you."

Jasmine took him in a hug.

"How I be forgiven so easily?" Scorpio whispered, "I have brought nothing but pain and disaster to the Kingdom."

Jasmine smiled, "Then, maybe you can learn from those mistakes. You are a Prince of Autelas Scorpio, you can still make amends for the wrong you have done."

Scorpio himself couldn't understand how Jasmine could have forgiven him so easily. He had tortured her in the worst way possible, and had caused her so much grief to them…

"I don't deserve your kindness," he said.

Jasmine removed herself from the hug and stood up before extending her hand toward the still kneeled Scorpio.

"We're family," she said with a smile, "That's what we do."

Scorpio stared at her for a few before taking the hand with his.

It took nearly two weeks to get over the damage that the battle had caused, and giving the dead a memorial in the Wall of Heroes. They had given their lives to fight for their homes; a hero's memorial is the best honor that they could give them.

Samuel himself have been honored with the Crystal Star in his efforts in the battle in defending the city, the greatest honor any soldier could ever hope to achieve in their military career.

Everyone was surprised to see Prince Scorpio in the many helping hands at building the city but nonetheless, the people were proud to have their prince back.

Then, after those weeks of buildings, decorating, the most exciting event arrives…

The Coronation of the new King

Jasmine was standing in a side room outside of the Hall where the Coronation will take place. She was dressed in royal robes that were a deep red color with gold design upon them. They were also the ornament hung around her chest that bore the symbol of Autelas from the golden chains. Her hand were gloved in silk gloves which in her opinion were making her hand warm but nothing a quick cooling spell couldn't fix.

She heard the door open, and she turned around.

Samuel was there dressed in dress robes, a small smile on his handsome face. He looked good with his sword handing from his hip with the small crystal star hanging from his chest.

"Is it time?" Jasmine asked.

"No," Samuel said, "I just wanted to give you a gift."

Jasmine eyebrow shoot up in her hairline at this.

"Present?"

"Yeah," he said, pulling out the Amulet from his robes and Jasmine let out a small gasp.

"Where did you find it?"

"In Forks," Samuel told her, "It seems you lost it when you were fighting against Swen. Think it's the best time to return it to its owner."

Jasmine laughed heartily.

"I don't think I will need it anymore," she said, "The Dark times are over, all we have to do now, is to move forward and rebuilt what had been destroyed. We can maybe bring our World to better and safer times."

Samuel chuckled, making Jasmine glance at him.

"What is it?"

"It's just…you remind me of your father when you talk like that," he said.

A soft smile grew on Jasmine's face.

"I think he would have been proud of you as I have been," Samuel continued, "You have grown up to be quite an amazing woman."

There were some tears in Jasmine's eyes as she took him in a hug.

"Thank you Samuel," she whispered.

At that moment, someone, David, poke his head into the room.

"C'mon, its time," he said.

Jasmine nodded at him as straightened herself.

"Time to go," she said, a smile growing on her face.

Jasmine walked into the large Hall with Samuel and David at her side. The Hall of the King was well decorated with many banners which bore the symbol of Autelas as the many nobles stood up looking at her entrance. They were soldiers standing guard with their blade raised, making a steel arc for her to walk through. The ground was covered with a red carpet which she walked on arriving in front of the Golden chair.

There, Jasmine walked on alone, rising up the stone steps, arriving in front of the Gold chair before turning around facing the large crowd of the nobles that were standing in attention as the soldiers put down their blades back into their shaft.

Scorpio approached with Alice who was dressed beautifully in her outfit which was beautiful green charmed to look like sparkles were coming from it as she moves. Jasmine smiled softly seeing her there, looking beautiful and radiant.

In Scorpio's arm was a small cushion unto which the King Crown was placed. It was decorated with a simple charm that made it seems like a golden halo of light.

"With the blessed powers of the All-Father, and the Twelve Guardians of Everlast," Scorpio said, "I give you, King Jasmine Yael Salvatore, The Angel of Light."

As he was speaking Alice had taken the crown from the cushion and approached Jasmine who had fallen unto a kneeling position. With a smile, the vampire placed the crown upon her head. She gasped when she saw the golden light spread through Jasmine's body before it diminished into soft golden sparkles.

Then King Jasmine stood back up a soft smile on her lips as she glanced at Alice before raising a hand and said clearly, "Scepter of the Kings, come to me."

At her command a beautiful looking Scepter appeared within in her hand. It was gold with the design of a crown at the top with a deep blue jewel at the top that was pulsing with magic. At that moment that she holds it, Jasmine could feel everyone magic's within the Castle. It was a startling revelation to her as she holds the Scepter before stepping back and seating down unto the Chair.

"LONG LIVE KING JASMINE, LONG LIVE KING JASMINE,"

The soldiers started to chant as it resonated through the Hall of Kings.

The King have returned. Praise the All-Father for thsi blessing.

AN: the Scorpio moment was difficult to write. as most people would have expected Jasmine to throw him in jail...Scorpio's actions were being fueled by the Darkness. it was corrupting their hearts, with it gone, Autelas had returned to the peaceful World it was before and Scorpio had realized the many mistakes he had made, and Jasmine filled with her mother's love for her children take him with open arm...Sweet right?

Next is the Epilogue and this story is finished.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.