Sakura stared out at the city below her as she sat atop a building. Now that Broadway was gone King Tallas had started rebuilding the city. The wind blew across Sakura's face, ruffling her hair as she watched her friends helping with repairs. She gave a wistful sigh as Ryo approached from behind.
"What are you doing up here?" he asked as he sat next to her. She looked at him as gave a small smile.
"Nothing." She replied.
"Why aren't you helping?" He asked gently. Sakura turned her face away at his question.
"Because I'm not wanted." She said softly. Ryo looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean you aren't wanted?" he asked. "I want you to help us. Alecie wants you to help us. And so does Sage, and Rowen, and…" Ryo began listing off the names when Sakura interrupted.
"No, the cloudrunners don't want me." She said. Ryo's eyes lighted in understanding now he understood.
Even though what had happened to Sakura wasn't her fault, most of the cloudrunners still gave her the cold shoulder, even though the king had removed the escort rule.
"Look, even if the cloudrunners don't like you it doesn't matter. I know and the others know that you really didn't mean to fight against us. It wasn't your fault." He said.
"It's never my fault." She said suddenly as Ryo looked at her surprised.
"What?"
"It's always someone else doing something to me. It was Seriyu who stole the crystal and it was Broadway who used it on me. It may not be my fault, but I'm still the one paying the consequences." She said sullenly. "I still have my father's reputation, and because of that stupid chaos ruby, it just made the cloudrunners believe that I am like my father."
"Then you have to work and show them that you aren't." Ryo said.
"I have, but it's no use." She replied bitterly.
"Then stop whining." Ryo said as Sakura looked at him.
"You can't just give up. You can never have universal popularity. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like you. But you can't just assume that there isn't anything you can do to try to change their opinion. You can still show them that you are different than your father."
Sakura thought about what Ryo had said as she nodded with a smile.
"Your right." She said standing up. "Thanks Ryo."
Ryo gave her hand a squeeze. "Anytime." He said as the two flew down to help their friends.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A few days later the king held a ceremony for the Ronins.
"I on behalf of all cloudrunners would like to thank the Ronin Warriors for their help in defeating Broadway." The crowd of cloudrunners gave a cheer as King Tallas held up his hand for silence.
"And because of their help, I now declare the Ronins honorary cloudrunners. And as proof, each Ronin will have their own soaring stone and be welcome at any cloudrunner city." The crowds gave another cheer as Ryo stepped forward.
"You honor us greatly King Tallas. On behalf of the Ronins, we thank you." He said as he gave a bow. "But as much as we have enjoyed our stay, I believe it is time for us to go back home."
"Feel free to come back anytime." King Tallas said as the Ronins moved to leave. Alecie watched from beside her father as Ryo and the others left, her eye on Rowen. She felt a prick behind her eyes as she tried not to cry, but she had to stay, and she had told him that last night. She may not be next in line to rule, but her people may still need her and she was bound to her people. Besides, once again her father would never approve. She bit her lip to keep from crying as Rowen gave her another look. She waved goodbye as he rose in the air with the others and soared out of sight. King Tallas watched his daughter's reaction as Rowen flew away.
"You love him don't you?" He asked her as Alecie turned to look at him surprised. She gave a muted nod as King Tallas smiled.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go with him."
Alecie's mouth hung open in shock. "But….but what about my people and what if Marcus needs my help and what about…" she started to stutter as her father put a hand on her shoulder.
"Lecie, you are not next in line to rule, your brother is. And while I would enjoy you staying here with your mother and I forever, I won't hinder you from the man you love, even if he is an earthwalker." Alecie smiled as she hugged her father.
"Thank you daddy." She said as he kissed her forehead.
"Feel free to come home and visit." He said as Alecie nodded as kicked off from the ground, flying fast in the direction she had seen Rowen go.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura and the others looked back at Rowen who was trailing behind, looking despondent as the city grew smaller in the distance.
"Hey, cheer up." Sage said. "We're going home. I thought you wanted to go home."
"I did, but it's just not the same without her." He said as the others looked at each other unsure how to comfort him.
"Come on, we need to hurry if we are going to make it home before nightfall." Ryo said as they sped up. "You coming Rowen?" he asked when he noticed that his friend was falling behind.
"You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up later." He said. Ryo nodded as they soared off, leaving Rowen alone with his thoughts. Rowen landed on top of a mountain peak as he stood on the edge, looking back in the direction of the cloudrunner city. He heard footsteps behind him as he kept his eyes straight ahead.
"Guys, please, I just want to be left alone." He said.
"Then I'll wait," a female voice said as he whirled around.
"Lecie?" he asked as Alecie walked toward him. "But, I thought that you had to stay there. I mean you said…." Alecie cut him off as she placed a finger to his lips.
"You were next to me in my picture. Those pictures are never wrong, and who am I to argue with destiny?" she asked as Rowen smiled and hugged her to him, kissing her soundly on the lips.
A.N.- that is the end of Wings in the Sky and I hope you all enjoyed the story. I don't know when I am going to get my next one out, but I will try to get it out soon. So please R&R and tell me what you thought of the story and the ending and any questions be sure to ask and I will answer as best as I can.
-vegetasgirl4eva
