Fantasy Island and all associated characters (except mine and MagicSwede1965's) are owned by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, Columbia Pictures Television, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. All persons described herein are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Copyright infringement is not intended.

Chapter 10: Renewal

Roarke closed his eyes as he felt something warm well up inside him and burst forth like a geyser. His wounds healed, the pain dissipated, and what he'd lost was restored. He was suffused with a vitality equaling, and potentially surpassing, that which he'd had when in his prime. He breathed deeply in wonder. Was this how Andrea had felt when she had first become aware of what she was?

Then mental impressions formed that weren't his own: the spirit now within him was communicating without words. He saw himself as being vigorous and immortal. This image was overlaid by a small spark that gradually strengthened into a luminous entity, which he interpreted to mean that the powers that he already had at his command would be enhanced. A twinge of anxiety surfaced; he'd never sought more power than he could handle, and this would challenge him in new ways.

Next, a sliver of energy rose from that form and transformed into a key: the price for his restoration was that a fragment of his life force was to be imbued into an item that represented his power. This wasn't surprising, since power always came with a cost.

The final image was of himself opening a door onto a view of a galaxy full of stars. He needed to be open to the possibilities. At any other moment, such would've been difficult for him to do. He was far too accustomed to knowing himself and being in control. But now, there was no other choice to make. He wanted this: to live on his own terms, free of the pride and the guilt that had chained him for centuries. And he wanted to live alongside Andrea, whose love and loyalty would never waver.

The instant that he responded in the affirmative, there was a sharp pain in his chest, as if a blade had struck him. He involuntarily cried out and opened his eyes to see the watch glowing brightly. Instinctively he grasped it and he felt better at once. His perceptions expanded, becoming richer, more nuanced, more alive.

After spending a few moments to gather himself, he slowly sat up.

"Well done," Andrea said with a relieved smile. Gracefully she rose and offered her hand.

He clasped her hand and stood, noticing that the glow had faded from the watch. It still looked like the fob watch that he had worn before the Tribunal had taken him, but now it had become much more significant. Automatically he slipped it back into the waistcoat pocket where it belonged.

"You'll need to keep that near you at all times until you become more acclimated," Andrea advised. "Otherwise, you'll feel like part of you is missing."

With a nod, he took another deep breath, reveling in his renewed health. "Right now, for the first time in years, I feel… complete. Thank you." He brought her hand to his lips to kiss it, and then pulled her into a hug, not caring at this moment about who would witness them.

Leslie, her eyes still glittering with tears, came over. "Father…" she whispered joyfully.

"My dear daughter," he said softly, releasing Andrea to hold Leslie and give her comfort.

Leaving the two alone for the moment, Andrea surveyed the beach. Her favourite place on the island was no longer pristine, with debris everywhere and a large crater in the sand where the explosive had been planted. The fires were quenched, leaving behind plants that were scorched and stripped of their foliage.

Ingrid and Jen came to her side, exhibiting numerous lacerations that were rapidly healing themselves. "We're all well, and the situation is under control," said the former. "Jen and I put out the fires. Petra and Rosa have gone to find if there are any other explosives hidden nearby."

"Thanks for being so efficient." Despite having been out of action for many years, her allies still retained their training. Cleaning up after a crisis was just as important as dealing with the crisis itself.

Ingrid gave her a nudge. "You had your own issue to resolve. Will he adjust well?"

"I'm confident that he will," she said, smiling, "and I'll be here to help him."

Jen joked, "So, the mentor becomes the student now?"

"No," came Roarke's voice from behind them. He clasped Andrea's shoulders and said, "We are equals." With a concerned look, he asked, "Do any of you require medical care?"

"Elementals heal fast," said Jen. "Just a few more minutes and we'll be right as rain."

"And once I regain my energies," said Andrea darkly, "there's another thing that I need to do."

She didn't even raise her voice. And nobody in the Realms dared to stop her. Either they'd been warned by Blue to not interfere, or they were simply too intimidated by the stony-faced Elemental to make an attempt. When she arrived at the cell that housed Red, she used a portal to whisk the entire structure – walls, bars, and all – to a small asteroid in orbit around the Cygnus X-1 system. She'd promised Red a fate worse than death, and had made certain that she got it.

The word quickly spread that although the Elemental could potentially be a powerful ally for the Realms, angering her was not recommended.

With a little over an hours' worth of work and judicious use of various abilities, the beach was restored to its former state. The jungle plants would grow back naturally within weeks, erasing almost all traces of the damage. Petra had disarmed several other explosive traps in the area surrounding the resort, including a particularly nasty one that was rigged in the clearing next to the seaplane dock – fortunately before the weekend guests were due to depart.

Once those last tasks were complete, Andrea formally introduced Roarke to all five of the Elementals before they left to return to their homes. He thanked them sincerely for their willingness to come out of retirement to help him, and they were glad to have what effectively was new blood within their ranks. This led him to think more about the different elemental powers that he'd witnessed, and where he would fit in.

"I once told Leslie that I wasn't 'just' a matter manipulator, but a very good matter manipulator," he told Andrea once they were alone. "My ancestry has also blessed me with an amount of Mind-Bender and a smattering of other clan powers, although I haven't yet determined the precise origin. In this," he gestured to himself, "new state, I wonder what type I would be. My abilities are so broad that they don't fall into any one category that the traditional elements represent."

"Quite true," she agreed. "But it's a big universe, so who's to say that all aspects are known? The existence of myself and others prove that water, earth, fire, and air are only the beginning of a much longer list: ice, wood, metal, electricity, mind, time, space, even gravity."

"That's an impressive assortment," he said, and then glanced uncomfortably at his own hands. "It's disconcerting to think that I might now be an entity that's so unknown, so powerful, that I could potentially become a threat to those around me."

She clasped his hands with a knowing smile. "Now you know how I felt when I first came here. Remember what you said to me on that first day: fear must be set aside in order to gain understanding."

"I remember," he said with a chuckle. "You gave me such a look that could have daunted any lesser man. It was then that I knew what a challenge you would be to train, and how much potential that you had."

"And look at us now." As she gazed at him, her heart soared. "Whenever you have a spare moment, I'll help you understand the abilities that you've gained. Until then, I suggest meditation and other calming exercises to keep your aspect in control."

"I believe the saying is, I know the drill," he teased gently. "I do have one question, however: why does my aura present as a deep blue?" It was the first thing he'd become aware of as he'd helped with the cleanup. "It's not a shade that I would expect of myself."

"It usually reflects one's element, or in your case, your nature. You appear cool and unfathomable to most people, much like the ocean. But to those who know and understand, you command respect and have a great depth of experience."

He raised his eyebrows thoughtfully. "That does make some sense." Then he gathered her into his arms. "As much as I wish to enjoy your company longer, there's a discussion that I should have with Blue concerning the recent events. The time when I must return also approaches."

"No, it doesn't, aroha." Andrea said playfully, poking him with a finger.

Stunned, he held her at arm's length. "I beg your pardon?"

"Didn't you feel it when you bonded?" she asked. "You're now in possession of your full powers, and no longer need to rest in an incorporeal form. You can savour life again."

Roarke stared at her in growing wonder. It was true. Part of the gift that the elemental spirit had given him was to restore his body. He was whole, and better yet, free. "Mi amada," he whispered, and kissed her out of sheer joy.

"We are honoured that you've graced us with your presence, Leader," said Blue when Roarke joined her and several of his fellow elders in the Realms. He could detect a slight amount of sarcasm in her voice and attributed it to annoyance at his lingering on the island for longer than was needed. "What is your reason for presenting yourself in your physical form?"

"I wish to do so," he said in an even tone, without elaborating. He'd determined that he could still render himself incorporeal, but it was a tremendous relief now that it wasn't required. "Is that of any relevance to what we will be discussing?"

"Not at this time," said a voice from his left. "Of primary concern are the events that took place over the last few days. Specifically, the behaviour of the one who designated herself as Red. Although she acted in a most deplorable manner, her observation that you were spending more time than needed on Earth was valid."

"I shall repeat what I said when she and her accomplices confronted me on the issue," Roarke said. "My duty to our people is to advise and provide an ameliorating influence on those who don't appreciate this world or its residents as much as they should. I have done that to the best of my ability. Furthermore, I was given permission to aid my family with clan-related concerns, and to visit them freely if I was otherwise unoccupied. I have not overstepped the bounds of those conditions."

A different voice spoke from Blue's right. "Strictly speaking, you have not. We shall concede that point. However, we are quite troubled about the involvement of the woman called Andrea Trenton. She is neither of your family nor a clan. In fact, she and her allies potentially could pose a grave threat to us. Particularly after they were allowed to come here." The final sentence was directed at Blue, who cringed.

"Don't place any blame on Blue," Roarke insisted. "She did what was necessary. Had she not, I might still be imprisoned, or even dead."

The voice to his left said, "Even so, she revealed the location of this place to powerful entities with as-yet unknown origins and agendas."

"As their de facto leader, Andrea has assured me that she and her friends pose no danger. By the same token, she expressed concerns that our people might be a threat to her. It's clear that there's a mutual distrust that should be addressed."

"Distrust!" blurted a third voice that hadn't spoken until now. "Leader, do you know what she did to Red? How could any of us trust a being who has the power to do such?"

A rare anger began to bubble up inside him, and he took a deep breath in an effort to stay calm. He'd been warned that his emotions would be more difficult to control now that he was hosting. "Yes, Andrea told me what she did. I disapproved of course, but to use the Earth vernacular, Red had it coming." Holding up a hand to quell the protests from the others, he continued, "As far as trust, given all that has occurred, I trust her with my life, as she trusts me with hers. That should be sufficient indication of her honour."

This time he allowed the group to exchange their opinions for a short time while he mentally fortified himself for any further arguments. He didn't begrudge his peers their concerns, but their questioning was indicative that his influence on them might be starting to falter. That could potentially change things a great deal.

At last Blue said, "Leader, we shall hold you to your word that Ms. Trenton will neither threaten nor interfere with us. As long as that remains true, she may rest assured that she's in no peril from us. Is that acceptable?"

Roarke nodded gratefully. "She will be pleased to hear that."

"I've one more question before we adjourn, if you will," said Blue. "Will you tell us what happened after Ms. Trenton returned to Earth with you? I myself observed the depleted condition that you were in, and by your own assessment, were likely to remain so for some time. Yet mere hours later, not only do you appear to be completely healthy, but you are remaining corporeal without effort."

He couldn't help but smile; he was going to enjoy this. "Andrea had a contingency in the event that I'd suffered any severe trauma, the details of which I'm not at liberty to reveal." While Andrea hadn't explicitly asked him to not talk about it, he believed that he owed it to her. "With her assistance I was able to regain my strength, as well as that which had been sundered from me. As a result, I no longer need to return to an incorporeal form to replenish myself."

There was an appalled silence for a full five seconds before criticisms burst out. He let them squabble for a few minutes before once again raising his hands to quiet them.

"This in no way means that I intend to abrogate my responsibilities," he said sternly. "I might have initially ascended to this position rather unwillingly, but I recognize the importance of supporting our people." By all rights, he could tell them that since he was their leader by acclaim, they should be the ones answering to him and not the other way around. But he wasn't that harsh. "I will, however, likely spend more time on Earth when my presence is not needed here."

Blue asked sardonically, "May I assume that Ms. Trenton is the reason?"

"You may assume, but I will speak no more on that."

15 June 2014

Andrea took a deep breath of the tropical air with relief. The weather that day at home was cooler than average for the time of year, and she was happy to have another option. It had been a week since she was last here, which was by her own choice. After everything that had happened, she'd decided it would be best to let the islanders regain their normal routine. The time had dragged by even though she'd tried to occupy herself with her work and other responsibilities.

There'd been no word from Roarke at all. That wasn't surprising, and she'd figured that he was engaged in an important project for his people. If he really wanted to see her, she knew that he could simply show up on her doorstep, but he was too much of a gentleman to do so without warning. And for her to pop into the Realms uninvited would be a transgression of the highest order.

She missed him dearly. But she would wait for him as long as needed. What was a few days, after all, after three decades?

The timbre of the ocean waves caught her musical ear and brought to mind another Japanese tune that she knew. It often seemed to her that Japanese songwriters were able to pack more emotion into a song than many others could. On a whim she pulled her cellphone out of her pocket, played "Itooshii Hito no Tame ni" and began to sing along with it.

Halfway through, she realized that she'd had an audience. Roarke was standing a short distance away, and she hadn't even sensed his arrival. Either she'd been too engrossed in the song to notice, or he'd shielded himself extremely well. Her voice failed her for a few seconds, and she swallowed. "How did you know? I wasn't projecting. Not that I'm not glad to see you," she amended hastily as he approached.

"I felt you," he said, lifting a hand to his chest, "here."

Her phone dropped to the sand as their lips met. Emotion like a wave swamped them, wild and uncontrolled, and their auras burst into life. When they broke the kiss, it took a few moments and a substantial mental effort for both of them to wrestle themselves back within constraints. "Sorry," Andrea murmured.

"Don't be," was his soft reply.

"Anyone nearby would have felt that, sensitive or not."

In a surprising departure from his usual attitude, he said, "This once, let them make of it what they will. I shan't conceal the fact that I've a counterpart whom I care for deeply."

She looked up at him somewhat abashedly. "I just hope I didn't interrupt anything vital."

Reluctantly letting her go, he said, "Nothing that couldn't be deferred for a short while. The timing could've been better," he allayed the sting of the words with a bright smile, "but since we're here, I do have something that I wish to ask of you." He straightened up and schooled his expression.

Andrea could see anxiety come into his eyes. "Are you all right?"

He gave a small, rueful shake of his head. "Yes, although beneath this long-practiced façade of calm and poise, I feel like a teenaged boy on his first date," he confessed.

"Why?" she asked reasonably, taking his hands and squeezing them in reassurance. "After all we've been through, I'd think that you'd be comfortable with talking to me about anything."

"It's because of the risk; that no matter how knowledgeable one might be, there's always the fear of the unknown." He let her hands go and held up his own to forestall her from speaking. "Please." From a pocket of his jacket he withdrew a small, ornate metal box. He opened it to reveal a delicate gold ring with a tiny teardrop-shaped ruby in the setting.

With a surprised gasp, she said, "It's so elegant." At once she knew why he was so nervous, and what he wanted to ask her, but she held herself firmly in check to allow him to speak his piece. Her own planned revelation to him could wait.

"This was known as the Tear of Berenice. When King Ptolemy III of Egypt returned from the wars abroad, his wife Queen Berenice was so overjoyed at his safety that she shed tears, an occurrence that was said to be extremely rare. In honour of her love and fidelity he had this made, and presented it to her on a day very much like this."

She stared at the ring, and then at him. "You make it sound as if you were there."

"Do I?" he asked, his eyes glittering with merriment.

With a grin she teased, "It wouldn't surprise me if you actually were there." Knowing how long-lived he was, she couldn't help but believe him.

Roarke removed the ring and slipped the box back into his pocket. "While I merely gave you instruction, you repaid that manyfold by giving me love, life, and freedom. In this special place where we discovered our love for one another, I now offer you the same."

Temporarily rendered speechless, she felt tears begin to well up. There were an untold number of things that she didn't yet know about him, but in his eyes, she could see the fullness of his love and the depth of his soul. The details no longer mattered. She wanted to be with him forever. And yet…

When he shifted his stance in preparation to kneel, she took his outstretched hand in both of hers. "Aroha, if I allowed you to ask and then turned it down, that wouldn't be fair to you. Marriage is a commitment to be together always, and I couldn't accept if it would take you away from your people. Even though you're now free from the necessity of going to the Realms to rest, you're too noble a man to abandon them. They need you."

He sighed in resignation. "I expected such a response, but I wanted to ask regardless. Thank you for your understanding." Bringing his free hand up to clasp hers, he continued, "I have no intention of forsaking my people, either in the Realms or on this island, and I've told them as much. Yes, they might need me, but I also need you." His dark brown eyes met her chocolate ones. "Will you agree, then, to be my partner in all ways? Together, shall we guide and protect my people and yours, even though we might not see each other for extended periods of time?"

"Put that way," she said with a grin, "I don't see how I could refuse. In this special place, I answer: yes, Roarke, I will." And she meant it with her entire heart.

With trembling hands from the elation that now coursed through him, he slid the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. It fit her perfectly. Then he gently kissed her. "You have something that you wanted to tell me?"

Coyly she glanced downwards before meeting his gaze again. "I'd been trying to determine when a good time would be to mention it. That time is now, particularly after what we've just agreed upon." She took a deep breath and let it out. "You once said that in order to make the effects of a fantasy permanent, it required a sacrifice. You've already endured enough on behalf of all your people. I'm prepared to make my own sacrifice in order to be your true partner, for as long as the universe will allow it."

With a deep concern, he took her face in his hands. "Mi amada…"

She smiled lovingly at him. "This is my choice and I'm informing you freely. I wish to shed my duality and accept existence as an elemental, as you have. Ageless and immortal, able to use one's full power at any time, and a total connection between us."

Roarke's eyes widened in a rare moment of discomfiture. "You would leave your other life behind? Your family and friends, your anonymity?"

"Yes, I would. Not today, but perhaps in the future, when the time is right – when you and I can commit without hindrance."

"That is… monumental," he breathed. "Why?"

Chuckling, she said, "Aroha, you know very well why. All these years, since I first discovered my powers, I've felt like I was living a lie. Always having to keep a tight hold on my emotions, isolate myself whenever I need to use my powers, make excuses to people when situations happen unexpectedly. It's exhausting." She paused to glance at the scenery. "Here on this island, I don't need to do that."

"Then let this place be your sanctuary, where you may come and go free of any obligation other than those you might set yourself. I believe that my family will eventually understand how special the gift of your love is."

"Speaking of gifts…" She reached into her own pocket and retrieved a velvet box. It contained a well-crafted men's gold ring, set with a small square turquoise flanked by two oval-shaped blue topaz. "A friend of mine creates jewelry as her business, and I commissioned her to make this." She took it from the box and held it out. It seemed fair to her that if they were going to be partners, they both should wear a symbol of such. "Since I was a child, you've inspired me to embrace my talents and act to improve the lives of those around me. I wish to do that for you as well. In this special place where we discovered our love for one another, I ask you: will you be my partner in all ways? Will you wear this in honour of our promise?"

Now it was Roarke's turn to be dumbstruck, and his eyes misted. He had to clear his throat before saying, "Once again you've surprised me, mi amada. Your kindness and wisdom have no bounds, and I feel deeply privileged. In this special place, I say: yes, Andrea, I will gladly do so."

After she slid the ring onto his left-hand fourth finger, she took both his hands. Looking up at him, she finally uttered the words that she'd wanted to say thirty years ago. "Roarke, I love you."

In a most uncharacteristic gesture, he joyously swept her into his arms and twirled her around before carefully setting her back on her feet. "I have waited so long to hear that. I love you, Andrea, so very much. Neither of us will be lonely again."

"Together, we can do anything," she murmured, and kissed him.

As they stood there, they surrendered their minds and hearts to each other, as easily as slipping into a well-worn and comfortable glove. Strands of silver and cobalt blue emerged and curled about them as their elemental essences resonated. Anyone with a modicum of telepathic ability within several miles sensed the outpouring of love and power from the two of them, and were gladdened by it.

Afterward, they lingered in each other's arms, watching the ocean waves. Even though at times they must be apart, nothing now could truly separate them. Each held a tiny piece of the other, a subtle touch of warmth that resided in the back of their minds. They were linked, willingly and irrevocably, forever.

It soon became known that the two Elementals were a benevolent force that was unparalleled. Both Fantasy Island and the Realms would be well protected.

THE END

Sailor Chronos
November 2020

Thank you to the following people:
My husband, as always, for his support.
My beta-readers Doc0157 and MagicSwede1965.
Gene Levitt, for creating the world of Fantasy Island to dream in.

References

Chapter 1: The characters of Leslie Hamilton, Christian Enstad, Rogan Callaghan, and Blue are borrowed with permission from the works of MagicSwede1965.
Chapter 1: Roarke's god-daughters Delphine and Julie appear in S4E20 Delphine/The Unkillable and S5E1 Show Me a Hero/Slam Dunk respectively.
Chapter 1: The conversation with Tattoo at the end mirrors one in S1E2 Return to Fantasy Island.
Chapter 2: Roarke reveals his origins as well as that of the Tribunal and the Clans in MagicSwede1965's work "Explanations".
Chapter 2: An exchange between Roarke and Andrea was inspired by a scene with Roarke and Nyah in S4E2 Flying Aces/The Mermaid Returns.
Chapter 2: The "other Roarke" refers to the 1998 revival series starring Malcolm McDowell.
Chapter 2: Roarke's illness and the sacrifice of the "other Roarke" occurs in MagicSwede1965's work "My Cousin, My Nemesis".
Chapter 3: Roarke gives up his lover Julie Mars in S7E5 Roarke's Sacrifice/The Butler's Affair.
Chapter 3: Helena Marsh was Roarke's lover in S2E8 Return/The Toughest Man Alive, and he marries her in S3E7 The Wedding.
Chapter 4: The scene with Gotcha was inspired by the YouTube channel Gotcha the Cockatoo, particularly the video "Quarantine Week 4" posted on April 9th 2020.
Chapter 4: "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes" is a quote from Doctor Who S12E1 Robot.
Chapter 5: Rogan's mention of Paola refers to MagicSwede1965's work "Paola".
Chapter 5: Reporter Christine Connolly tried to prove Mr. Roarke a fraud in S6E6 The Beautiful Skeptic/The Lost Platoon.
Chapter 5: The quote about the "second self" is from S5E20 Forget-Me-Not/The Quiz Masters.
Chapter 5: Roarke leaves instructions for Tattoo on how to continue the fantasies in S4E1 The Devil and Mandy Breem/The Millionaire.
Chapter 5: The phrase "Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me" is from The Incredible Hulk S1E1.
Chapter 6: The song "Takishi-do Mira-ju" or "Tuxedo Mirage" is the ending song from the third season of the anime Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon.
Chapter 6: Roarke was summoned to the Realms for trial in MagicSwede1965's work "Roarke and the Tribunal".
Chapter 7: Character morality is a trait in many role-playing games, Dungeons and Dragons particularly.
Chapter 7: "The universe hangs from a delicate thread of coincidences" is a quote from the 1996 Doctor Who movie.
Chapter 8: Andrea's "wrinkle in time" quip refers to the book A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
Chapter 9: The Galactic Law that Andrea quotes is a paraphrase of Articles of the Shadow Proclamation referenced in several episodes of Doctor Who.
Chapter 9: Miessa is the name of the star that marks the "head" of the constellation of Orion. Naming a planet for it was an oblique reference to the "Eye of Orion" resort planet from Doctor Who.
Chapter 10: The paragraph where Andrea traps Red is an allusion to the Doctor's punishment of the Family in Doctor Who SR3E9 The Family of Blood.
Chapter 10: "Itooshii Hito no Tame ni" or "For the Sake of My Beloved" is the opening song from the anime Fushigi Yuugi (Mysterious Play).
Chapter 10: The conversation where Roarke presents the ring to Andrea was inspired by a scene from S3E7 The Wedding.
Chapter 10: Roarke mentions the sacrifice requirement in S7E5 Roarke's Sacrifice/The Butler's Affair.