An Unavoidable Fate

by MetaSigma

You know how they never really specify when and how the earth is covered in the 21st century with ice? Well now you will... Part 7 now up

7. The Return of a Hero

An Unavoidable Fate…The Return of a Hero

A few hours later…

Shane was already up and pumped for the adventures that lie ahead. "Today will start a new chapter in my life," he thought, "No more regular school boy life. I have a major responsibility once more." He gave a slight laugh and looked at Jen. Jen was still sleeping but she looked like she was amid a dream of intensity. She twitched a moaned a little and while Shane thought about waking her up. He didn't want to QUITE yet. A few words did escape from her mouth from time to time but as the movement and moans picked up so did the words that came out.

"No…mumble…you can't…don't go…I…love…mumble." Something about this piqued Shane's interest and he let her sleep a LITTLE more. "Keikito! DON'T DIE!" She suddenly screamed and made Shane jump a little before she woke up sobbing. "No! Keikito! Don't leave me!" She whispered between sobs.

"Hey…don't cry now. I'm here for you," Shane touched her tear gently.

"Oh…I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…scream so loud. I didn't wake your parents up did I?"

Shane laughed a little, "Nah, I'm sure they're sound asleep. If you screamed like that AGAIN, then maybe they'd come up to see what the matter was, but other than that everything should be fine."

Jen breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Is it time to leave already?"

Shane nodded, "Yup. Now is the time. I still don't know how long we'll be gone but after this is all over. We'll talk to your parents about you leaving home like you did."

Jen moaned and nodded slowly, "Just hope they understand that I left them and traveled over 1000 miles just to see you when we told them that you lived near me."

"I think they'll understand…at least I hope they do. If not…I'll kick their butts," Shane gave Jen a slight wink and laughed.

Jen shook her head and said, "I feel sorry for YOUR family if that's how you handle things!"

Shane abruptly stopped laughing and said, "Only in certain circumstances. In any case…it's time we get to Zainlain and take care of business there." Shane touched his watch and a portal opened. "I preprogrammed the next jump to take us directly to the outlying area of where the medallion is stashed."

"Why not just program the jump to the room it's in?"

"You think I'd just leave the co-ordinates for the thing in Windstrom? He gets hacked; someone takes the medallion; and boom, all hell breaks loose."

"Point made."

"At least the co-ordinates I'm using will get us about a day's journey from where the temple I hid it in is."

"A day! What the hell!"

"What. You think a day is too short a walk?"

"You said the outlying area of where the medallion is!"

"Yeah, and there is over a day's journey in those outskirts. This is a BIG area where I hid this thing."

Jen shook her head, "Men, they just don't understand the word simplicity."

"You're one to talk Jen," Shane replied.

Jen responded with a shot to the ribs with her elbow and Shane made a slight ouuff sound. "I'M not one to talk Shane, and might I suggest some manners when it comes to talking to a lady?"

"Since when did you ever ask me to be a gentleman, and for that matter I'll act however I want to. I'm not going to change because someone doesn't like how I am."

"Oh come on Shaney…pwease be nicer to me?"

Jen gave him the cute look and Shane's eye started to twitch before he sighed a reply, "Fine…I'll be nice."

Jen hugged his arm and replied, "Thank you Shaney!" Jen still attached to his arm Shane stepped through the portal and reappeared from the portal in a large and vast desert. It was a bit cool and a slight night wind blew to enhance the mood. Jen looked around and then looked at Shane again. "Umm…so where's the temple? Cause all I see is sand."

Shane pointed in a direction, "That way."

"How can you tell in all this sand?"

"Because…I can sense the power from the medallion. It might be hidden but it still is giving off QUITE a bit of energy. I'm surprised you can't sense it."

"Well excuse me if I'm not able to feel something from a distance that's more than a day's journey. I AM only 14, and I'm NOT some overpowered hero like you are."

"You say that like it's a BAD thing."

"Well maybe it is," she joked back to him.

Shane laughed, "You silly girl. Come on, we can make this in a few hours if we hurry."

The two took off at a slightly faster than relaxed pace toward what appeared to be open desert.

Japan…

The last 5 months had brought about MANY changes. Usagi and Mamoru had finally tied the knot and Usagi was already 4 months pregnant with her first child. The child that would eventually become the future Chibi-Usa and the new Princess Serenity. Somehow between being a wife, living on her own now, and being pregnant Usagi still had the same vitality and vigor to keep getting through school. It was almost graduation time and the fact she WAS graduating was something many didn't think possible. She proved them all wrong as her grades suddenly shot up out of nowhere and she was one of the smartest people in her class. Makoto ended up hooking up with one of the basketball players that she played in leagues with. A youthful, handsome, but charismatic man named Jigen. Minako ended up becoming an idol like she had always wanted and was about to head out on her first tour, which ironically started out in the US. She actually sang English AND Japanese written songs and each one sounded as clear and energetic as the energy she herself put into them. When it came to singing no one came close to her it seemed. Rei and Yuuichiro FINALLY decide to start dating, and who knew Yuuichiro was as wonderful a person as he claimed to be. Despite his appearance and lack of useful skills he made Rei a VERY happy girl. Ami ironically changed the most however suddenly taking a GIANT risk and moving out of her mother's house and into an apartment that Urawa and she decided to share. She also held a part-time job at a clothing store that helped pay for the rent, but still had a lot of time for her studies and school. Everything was as ideal for each of the Scouts as could be possible…little did they know that the REAL war for not just Earth, but all of humanity was about to re-engage in a war that could rip apart everything they had, and everyone they loved.

Mamoru's apartment…

"Mamo-chan! You're breakfast is ready!"

Mamoru sauntered in dressed in his work tux and tie and sat down at the table. Slowly he lifted his cup of coffee to his lips and sipped it in a rather relaxing tone. "Can you believe it's been 4 months already? It seemed like yesterday I was calling you odango-atama and teasing you about how silly you were."

"I know…a lot has happened in the last 3 and a half years. We've gone through countless battles, faced countless enemies…and our love has endured that."

"And through all of that your cooking has only RECENTLY gotten better," Mamoru joked.

"Oh you hush!" Usagi replied laughing, "The only thing that my cooking has that's making it better is my love for you." She placed some eggs on Mamoru's plate and some on her own plate sitting down at the table. "Soon I'll have to make food for 3 of us." She beamed a smile that Mamoru nodded and smiled back at her. After about 30 minutes Mamoru looked at his watch and stood up signaling his venture out to work. Usagi got up and walked over to her husband and engaged in a gentle, somewhat romantic kiss. "I'll see you when you get back from work honey."

Mamoru touched her nose with his finger softly and replied, "See you after work…odango-atama." After this he left the apartment as Usagi cleaned up the dishes. It was just another day at the Chiba residence.

In the US…

Minako twirled a little showing off the dress she was going to wear when she sang tonight. It was a little skimpy for her tastes, but it was what the clothing director thought she should wear considering the US was more…casual about dresses such as the one she wore. Her English was now quite good but when she sang it sounded almost like she was born an American. The irony of how popular she was in the US only signaled how high she could become in the world of fame and fortune. Pondering all that has gone on in the months since Shane left so abruptly she realized that she was in the country where he was from. She hoped perhaps her stardom would make him come to one of her concerts and she could catch up on what's been going on in his life. Using her native Japanese tongue she sighed, "Man this is so…SHORT. HOW can American girls WEAR these things and not feel so…slutty?"

"Minako!" her agent tapped on her dresser room door, "It's time for lunch!"

Minako heaved another sigh and responded looking at the mirror one last time adjusting the dress, "Coming!" She stood there for a moment and thought about what Shane would think seeing her in something like this. Maybe he would think she was cute? She made a slight laugh at that notion knowing the time he was in Japan he never once made rash decisions even in the face of danger or the fact of a woman going where most don't touch men so casually.

Zainlain…Suiko

The compound that Shane and Jen had come upon looked more like the Great Wall of China. Design, size, even the material used to make it reminisced of something during that era. Shane stared at the building and took slow deep breaths as if his stress level was way above normal. Jen looked at him and asked, "Hun…are you ok?"

Shane slowly nodded his head as he took large amounts of oxygen in still and replied, "Yeah, right now though I'm scared beyond belief."

Jen took a step forward and looked at what appeared to be the entrance. "This the way in?" she pointed.

Shane took a few more heavy, deep breaths and finally returned to his normal breathing pattern responding, "Yeah, that's the way in."

Jen looked back at the wall and cracked her knuckles, "Let me take care of this one then. I can handle a little old wall."

"Jen wait…I don't want to set off the alarm."

"Alarm?"

Shane looked toward the top of the building. See that giant sphere up there on the top of the left tower?"

Jen moved her head around until she locked onto it. "Yeah, I see it."

"That thing responds to any movement that makes contact with the castle that could penetrate the outer wall."

"So what's the plan?"

"Only way to breach the outer barrier and not set off the alarm is to take that sphere out."

"Shouldn't be to hard."

"And now is where I take a step back to give you some room."

Jen smirked a little and yelled out, "Crystal Dragon Power, Maaaake-Up!" A crest appeared from the centerpiece between her breasts and colors of blue, black and purple engulfed her swirling around. From the swirling two black dragons each with navy blue eyes flew around her waist creating the white leotard of her fuku. After that, the dragons flew down to her feet swirling around and made appear a pair of sheik navy blue high heels with purple dragon anklets. Next, the dragons split and each flew onto one of her arms engulfing it in swirling colors revealing gloves that went up past her elbows and finished with tree purple ringlets at the ends, and navy blue markings appeared on the wrists of her gloves. The dragons eventually smoothly glided down to her thighs swirling around making her navy blue skirt appear and a stylish purple ribbon appear on the lower part of her back near the base of her hips. The dragons then glided away from one another as well as away from Jen and turned their heads toward her engulfing her in a giant pillar of blue flame. After a few seconds the flames died down revealing her full fuku with a purple bow and navy brooch situated in the center of her chest. Around her neck situated a navy choker and a silver tiara with a navy jewel was bestowed up on her forehead. Smiling, a set of ancient and mythical navy dragon earrings appeared one on each of her ears. A seductive navy bow gently lifted her long hair and tied it holding it in a long ponytail. Holding out her hand the two dragons twisted together into her hand revealing her main weapon. The Dragon Crystal Sword. With a pose that made Shane try not to be drawn into she winked and smiled fully transformed. "So…how do I look?" Crystillia asked all giddy.

"If I had to answer that with honesty then I most likely would forget what I was doing here and have you moaning on the ground," Shane joked.

Jen looked at him with a seductive face and replied slowly bringing the sword up to his face pointing it at him. "Care to repeat that Shane?"

Shane laughed and responded, "Can you just get on with it please? I don't rather enjoy having a weapon pointed at me when there's no chance I'll live should it gouge me."

Jen muttered something and turned her attention back to the wall. "Ok…here goes." She raised her sword to the air and started to draw power into it. "Sword of Crystillia I call upon you now…destroy that sphere! Crystal Boomerang!" The sword began to glow a bright navy blue as she quickly lowered it and threw it at the sphere many meters above her. The sword twirled gracefully giving off a blue light and ripped through the sphere. The sphere shorted out and shattered breaking like glass dropping tiny shards everywhere. Crystillia smiled and said, "Oh yeah! That's a shot for the ages! Only I could do something like that!" She caught the sword as it boomeranged back at her and she turned facing Shane with a big grin on her face. "So tell me," She posed and laughed, "Aren't you impressed?"

Shane was more blah faced and replied, "I don't know…I might make your ego bigger."

Crystillia's face flushed red and she took a slight kick at him missing on purpose and replied, "We next time you need my help don't expect it then!" She pridefully walked over and kicked the wall in where Shane had said the door was. Bricks and debris flew as her kick devastated the wall. "You know I didn't have to help you with this. You are more than able to do this all by yourself you know," Crystillia said a little mad at him still.

Shane turned away and responded, "Actually…you're wrong about that."

Crystillia laughed, "Don't lie to me Shane. You're more than capable of handling anything you set up even without your Meta powers."

"Jen…you don't understand how I set this up then. You see…I…I set it up based off the fact that…I…I based it off of…of us."

Crystillia's face blushed a little and she responded confused, "Based off of…us?"

"Jen…I made this tower so that I could not ever get back in…just using my abilities. I couldn't have hit that sphere up that. No matter how hard I would have tried. I made it so that if I wanted my medallion back. I'd have to do it with someone I loved. Someone that could help me out."

Crystillia's face blushed even more and she responded, "What if I was in trouble and the only way to save me was with your medallion! Did you ever think of that!"

Shane shook his head, "Jen…you're more than capable to take care of yourself. You've matured a lot in just a few years; your looks, attitude, everything about you. I know you wouldn't be put in that kind of a position without being able to get yourself out of a jam. You didn't need someone like me holding you back always saving you. I was only stunting your growth…"

Crystillia walked up to Shane and put her sword away and stopped in front of him. She looked him at him and slapped him across the face hard. "Don't you EVER think that you held me back or did something to hurt me! All…Sniffle you ever…did was…" Crystillia turned her head away and started crying.

"Jen…"

Crystillia turned back around and screamed at him hitting his chest with her clenched fists crying, "ALL YOU EVER DID WAS KEEP ME SAFE! YOU PROTECTED ME WITH YOUR OWN LIFE LIKE A HUSBAND WOULD HIS WIFE!" She continued her flurry of hits on his chest and eventually sunk in tears.

Shane looked down at her and replied, "I'm sorry Jen…but you have to remember what happened so many years ago, and how I responded to that."

Crystillia pounded the ground tears still streaming down her face, "I just…I just…hate you how you always are so arrogant, and you always try to act so macho, but when you need to do something simple…make something simple…you make it as complicated as possible!"

"What can I say?" Shane smiled with a little laugh, "I'm a complicated guy, but," Shane knelt down to Crystillia's level and tipped her chin to his face and his smile became very gentle, "you know that in your heart those are just such small things you complain about compared to how well I treat you. You know I wouldn't do something unless I had a for SURE feeling about its outcome in life. I did have to wait for a while to see you again, but it was worth the wait. Someone as gorgeous as you. Someone as…wonderful as you are. I'd wait an eternity for someone as perfect as you. It felt like an eternity to come back here honestly, but here we are. Together. Not just me, and not just you. BOTH of us…are here working to help each other out. I can only do so much on my own, but when it's you and me, I can do things that even I though were impossible. So," Shane placed his hand on her gloved hand and continued, "let's get back on our feet and move forward through this castle of puzzles together. I need you, and I know that in your heart you need me just as much to be there for you."

Crystillia smiled lightly and pounced him pinning him to the ground, "But I still don't forgive you for thinking that all you did was stunt my growth. It'll be a LONG time before I forgive you for that one hun."

"Or the very least until I make up for thinking like that."

Crystillia gave him a few playful punches to his chest and replied, "Either or. Which ever I choose."

Shane stuck his tongue out a little, "Alright alright. Now can you get off of me?"

Crystillia shook her head, "I kinda like this really. You're completely helpless."
Shane blushed a little and responded, "Jen, this isn't the time or place to be thinking about romantic stuff like that ok? We have a MEDALLION to get."

Crystillia miffed and responded, "Yeah…you're right I guess. Well come on then hero. I don't want to spend the rest of my life saving someone who could in all honestly protect himself." Crystillia got off of Shane and helped him back on his feet.

Shane stared up at the castle again and eyed it almost in thought and responded, "The next obstacle will take both of us to get through." Slowly Shane made his way inside closely followed by Crystillia.

The future…

"The barrier is still as strong as it was before we killed that last of the resistance members," one of the cadets told his superior officer.

"Are you sure of this cadet?" the sergeant asked wanting a confirmation.

"Yes sir. Preliminary reports show that our weapons are having no effect on the barrier still."

"Something does not seem right then…" The sergeant rubbed his chin slightly and finished, "Could it be that we didn't kill anyone from the royal family?"

"Sir."

"Continue with your scans and try to find a way to breach that barrier. Something tells me that we're no closer to meeting our goal now than we were when we had the resistance members alive. In any case I will relay my findings to the commander."

The Present…

The interior of the castle was despite it's age relatively new looking. Tapestries and Paintings lined the walls as Shane led the way down the hall. No sound other then the light tapping of Crystillia's heels as they touched the ground could be heard. It was a rather serene yet intensely ominous feeling. Looking around Jen couldn't help but notice that the paintings seemed a little funny. They looked strangely like memories of her past. Memories of Keikito, of the Moon, of her time spent in the military on the moon. Memories of…meeting Shane, being with Shane, laughing with Shane, and crying with him. She paused for a second and looked at one of the paintings. Slowly the memory began to play out for her…it was her 10th birthday party and Shane wasn't able to make it. She remembered how much it hurt her that her own b/f wasn't able to make it to a day to celebrate her birth. Her parents tried to tell her it would be ok that maybe he just got really busy all of a sudden or…something happened. She shook her head crying knowing that Shane wasn't one to break promises, and he promised her he'd show up at her party. Eventually the party guests left and before Jen knew it, it was 10:00 and time for bed. She could only weep and tell her self that she hated Shane for breaking a promise like this. She slipped under the covers of her bed and felt something like an envelope or a letter touching her foot. Curious as she was, she pushed her covers away and found a letter with her name on the front. She opened the letter and inside found a note saying, 'Meet me at the park were we first met at in 15 minutes.' Her heart raced a little and she had a few things on her mind she wanted to say when she saw him. Quickly she switched back into her clothes and rushed over to the park. She stopped and looked at Shane angrily as he sat on a bench looking at the sky. Slowly he said, "Sorry…I didn't…make it to your party hun. I bet you're wanting an explanation." He turned to face her and his entire right side looked like it had gone through hell. Jen gasped and ran over examining him asking him questions if he would be ok.

"How…how did this happen?"

"I was drawn into a trap on my way here, and I didn't get myself free until a little bit ago. As you can tell, I'm going to need a little time to heal up, but I'm very sorry I missed your birthday party hun. I know it meant a great deal to you that I be there-"

Jen put her hand on his mouth silencing him and wrapped herself around Shane in tears. As a wisp of breath she said happily and in tears, "Thank you…thank God you're ok."

Shane put his arms around her and gently stroked her hair and cooed to her, "Hey it's ok. I told you I'm alright and I'm here for you." She remembered that's all she did. She didn't say anything. She just cried in his arms the entire time they were in the park. Slowly she began to succumb to the feeling of the memory, and slowly it started to take her away from the reality that she knew was still in front of her. "Jen…Jen…JEN!" a voice ripped her back into the reality she was in.

"Wah! Huh? Shane?" Jen shook her head a little dizzy. "What…what just happened?"

"You got caught up in dream tapestries. Another of the little traps I placed in here."

"Dream tapestries?"

"Yeah. The threads of the tapestries contain a reflective material that sifts through the memories of your mind and makes them a visual memory in front of you. What they do is draw you back into the feeling of that memory and zone you out…until you die."

Jen shrieked a little and shook her head. "Why didn't you warn me about this before we got to this point!" She hit Shane in the shoulder.

"Ouch!" Shane rubbed his shoulder a little and replied; "well for one…I had forgotten myself, until I had a memory that made me remember what it was these things were here for." Shane pointed to one of the tapestries. It appeared to have been burned as the fibers looked singed and black.

"How the…what did you do?"

"I realized that it was only a memory and I broke free from its grasp it had on me. Once I did that…the tapestry couldn't hold it's shape anymore and it burst into flames."

"Interesting," Suddenly looking over at Shane in a way such as to make sure not to expect anymore surprises she responded, "So boy genius…you got anything more I should be aware of? Anymore…SURPRISES!"

Shane put a hand behind his head and gave her a sheepish grin and replied, "If I remember any…I'll let ya know."

Jen sighed knowing there was nothing more she could get out of him. A lot of times Shane would open up to her, but there was just this one face that she knew no matter what she tried she wouldn't get anything else out of him.

They continued on deeper into the castle and avoided eye contact with anymore of the tapestries; Crystillia still on her guard incase Shane had anymore 'surprises' he 'forgot' to tell her about. Moving beyond the Tapestries the two came upon a wide chasm that appeared to not have a bottom. "So…anything I'm supposed to know about before I do something I shouldn't do?" She looked at Shane half-expecting a trick or trap like the others.

"Give me a minute to think about this," Shane said looking around hoping something in his mind would be set off and he'd remember anything. Slowly scanning so as not to miss even the slightest of details and get himself and Jen killed he slowly moved his head. He stopped and noticed a set of two levers on the other side and pointed. "There…one of those levers is the right lever to hit. You hit the wrong one though, and we're literally going to die. I can't stop anything from the trap I placed here."
Crystillia looked at him and asked, "So what happens if we hit the wrong lever? How do we die?"

"Instant asphyxiation. We'll literally die like we were in the void of space. No air. Instant."

"For the love of…Shane were you literally trying to kill people when you set up this house of hell horrors!"

"You know I think about it now and I might have been out for that honestly," Shane gave a laugh but finished, "but now it not the time to think about my past insanity even brief or not."

"So any idea of which lever is which?"

"I wish…I wonder though..." Shane trailed off.

"Hmmm? Something you remember?"

"Well you know how I said that some traps it would take us both?"

"Yeah. Hey…you don't mean to tell me…"

"That we have to hit BOTH levers at the SAME TIME."

Crystillia sighed and said, "I hate your thinking sometimes Shane."

Shane gave a little laugh and said, "It's only sometimes though and I'm sure you just LOVE the side that whisks you off your feet from time to time!"

With a light laugh Crystillia replied, "Of course, after all you're just full of surprises." She looked at the levers and questioned, "So tell me, how do you hit a lever? You don't have anything that you could use."

"True…I don't." Shane looked around and saw a rock that was large enough to knock the lever into position and was light enough he could launch it across the large chasm. "Hey…say a prayer hun. Our lives depend upon my pitching this rock."

Crystillia smiled, "I'd have no one else I'd risk my life with. You ready?"

Shane looked at the levers with confidence and replied, "It's time to become a Hero again…"

He launched the rock at full strength across the chasm and Crystillia threw her Dragon Crystal Sword screaming, "Crystal Boomerang!" The rock and sword were heading toward their intended targets and appeared they would hit at the exact same time.

Something suddenly went off in Shane's brain and he screamed, "OH SHIT CRYSTILLIA GET READY!"

She looked at Shane and then felt the ground start to shake and asked, "What the HELL DID YOU FORGET THIS TIME!"

Shane replied trying to keep his balance, "Just be ready!"

The rock and the sword hit both levers at the same and jarred them loose making a light bridge appear leading across the chasm, but the shaking earth only got worse. A large fire looking light started coming from the chasm and Shane motioned for Crystillia across the bridge as FAST as she could. The Dragon Sword came back to her as she started across and she screamed, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! WHAT'S THAT LIGHT!"

"A FUCKING DRAGON! A MYSTICAL FUCKING DRAGON!" Shane screamed his swears showing just how bad he forgot about something THAT big.

From out of the chasm a dragon emerged. It looked a lil miffed and pretty hungry, but it's white skin and innocent look had fooled many a traveler it would appear as a bone necklace of what appeared human heads around it's neck like trophies on wall. "Shane…how the HELL do we kill that THING!"

"Simple! We DON'T"

"WE DON'T! WHAT THE HELL?"

"JUST RUN!"

The dragon roared at its travelers and puffed its lungs up like it was going to breath fire or some other ghastly thing. It shot its head forward and extended opening its maw and exerting a massive black energy blast. Crystillia grabbed Shane and pulled him to the ground as the blast went whizzing over their heads.

"SWEET JESUS!" Shane's eyes grew to mammoth proportions as he saw the energy go flying by his face only a few inches above him.

"Did I ever tell you how much I HATE your surprises!"

"You think I enjoy springing most of them!"

Crystillia got up quickly and grabbed Shane up and started running again. Again the dragon roared ferociously and puffed its lungs up sticking its maw into the air getting ready to unleash a second wave of deadly light. Crystillia and Shane were ¾ of the way across when it extended and unleashed. Crystillia turned at the last second and put her body in front of the blast protecting Shane. Crystillia stood there screaming each fiber in her body raging in pain. After a few seconds the blast subsided and Crystillia dropped to her knees slowly. "CRYSTILLIA! YOU FOOL! WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH DOING A BONEHEADED THING LIKE THAT!"

Crystillia looked up at him as he held her ravaged body close to his. Crystillia just smiled and responded, "I…j…just wanted…to…protect…you…like you've always protected…me."

Shane buried his head into her shoulder and quietly said to himself, "You fool…you crazy fool…"

The dragon could only watch this spectacle and puffed its lungs up for another shot shortly after seeing Shane lay Crystillia on the ground and stand up; a wave of anger in his eyes. Crystillia looked up at Shane and said weakly, "You…can't beat him! Don't throw…your life away for me!"

"Don't worry Crystillia…I have no intention of leaving you again, nor am I going to die right in front of your eyes." He watched as the dragon extended and fired again. The wave of pure darkness rushed toward Shane and he stood there like he was ready to embrace it. "BEGONE DRAGON!" He screamed just before the wave enveloped him, and a barrier of light went up around Crystillia and himself. The barrier forced the darkness to part ways around the side and the dragon looked on almost with a smile. It did a couple of low growls and shifted a little as if to see if the side was anymore accessible than a frontal assault. As if its options were exhausted it slowly sunk back into the chasm and growled one more time acknowledging what it seen. The barrier surrounding Crystillia and Shane subsided and Shane rushed over to Crystillia's side lifting her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way across the bridge. The fight had worn Crystillia completely out and she looked like a limp piece of cheese.

As Shane continued to carry her through the exit of the cave she stirred a little and said wearily, "Did we win? Is the dragon?"

Shane nodded and replied, "Yes Crystillia. The dragon is gone, and we're no longer in the chasm room. We're safe now. We have only to walk to the medallion room and get the Meta medallion, and then…you can go home and sleep in my bed." The latter half of Shane's comment was almost a joking manner and Crystillia made a slight giggle slowly becoming aware of the Shane was carrying her. She blushed slightly being so close to his chest and curled herself closer to it like a baby snuggling with its mother. "Someone is a little embarrassed," Shane thought to himself and smiled.

Eventually after a few more minutes of walking the two travelers came upon the main room of the entire place, the medallion room. "Shane," Crystillia squirmed a little.

"Everything ok hun?" Shane asked as Jen squirmed a little more.

"Can you put me down? I'm…alright."

"Sure," Shane replied setting her back on her feet.

They looked across to the other end of the room and enshrouded by light upon a pedestal was the medallion, the Meta medallion. Shane could only be drawn into its splendor and beauty. Sitting there gleaming, almost begging to be taken back after such a long hiatus of non-use. Shane just looked at it acting like he didn't even notice Crystillia was standing there nudging him in the shoulder. After a few unsuccessful nudges she covered his eyes with her hands and said, "Shane! Hey! Snap out of it already!"

Shane blinked for a second and shook his head, "Huh? Oh. Sorry Crystillia. I was just…its been such a long…"

Crystillia put her hand over his mouth and shook her head responding, "I know. I know Shane. She removed her hand from his lips and stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed him and finished, "Go get it. It's been a while since I've seen him too."

Shane smiled gently and nodded. As if the world had suddenly gone into slow motion he began moving toward his intended target. Waves of memories came flooding back into his mind about everything that he had ever encountered; joy, pain, excitement, loss, frustration, trust, and…love. Each step was like a slow moving eternity of memories, with each one reminding him of who and what he is. Eventually he stood in front of the pedestal and saw it up close for the first time in what felt like ages. He could barely breath. The emotions coming over him so quickly were almost smothering him, and his eyes were huge and restless. He turned around one more time to look at Crystillia almost as if it was the last time he would ever see her, and warmly smiling she nodded mouthing the words, "Go for it." Shane turned back around and slowly picked up the medallion holding it in his hands. Lightweight but sturdy it stood for everything that he always was. He studied it further touching it like it was a foreign object that made no sense. Slowly a smile parted his lips and he nodded approvingly. He turned back to Crystillia who had tears in her eyes. After everything they had gone though. It was over. She prayed to God thanks for getting them all the way here in one piece and thought to herself, "A hero…has returned."