Author's Notes: So, I couldn't wait? It's better this way because I can weave more into Origins of Odin. Then a lot more stuff. Go back to Reyning down and make sure you read the epilogue. And this chapter is in my favorite dude's POV. Here is the fourth installment of this series, which is yet to be named. I've got to come up with a name, you know? If anyone can remember the ages of the characters from Reyning Down, could you remind me? I want to figure out the ages of my charries now, but I feel too lazy to go back and check right now.

Prologue: Memories

Has it really been two decades? It all seems so recent, so fresh in my mind. Then again, since my awakening I have been unable to forget anything… Twenty years and still the truth is hidden in these memories. They have all grown up, have families of their own. All I have is you, and with you gone it is so much harder to bear. You know, when I sleep at night, the dreams still come, but clear now, so clear. They haven't aged a day in those dreams. Suijin and Jason are still hiding their relationship there, those delinquents, they aren't the open leaders of Galbidia Garden. Then again, Rinoa isn't dead there either, but I still keep the blade with her blood on it to prove that I beheaded her.

What has brought this on you ask? Fiera called last night, to make sure I was okay. Why did she do that? You know her better than I do, so can you tell me? The divorce might have been messy, but that was fifteen years ago! Okay, I admit that I live in seclusion, but still… I'm the Headmaster of Balamb Garden, people WOULD notice if I died.

I went to my parents' graves last night at the orphanage. Ward and his wife Ishuna, Fiera's sister, kept their distance, trying to keep their twins at bay, but I know they wanted to reach out to me. Their minds were screaming it at me, asking why I distanced myself… Hyne, if they only knew what I had become after the war. After seeing Quisty and Stel, Hyne keep my parent's souls, I laid flowers on the other graves and went to the cliffs by the lighthouse that I took you to. I laid the lilies there, by the cross. I still can't get over the fact that he died last year. The Ragnarok 1 had been in perfect order, I had checked it myself. The lift rafts all worked too. How did it happen? He was the last surviving Hero of the Two Wars, and he had been so vibrant. Then again, Nida had always seemed lost after Xu's death. And he hadn't had the illness like the others.

Did I ever tell you of it? The day we went to finish Ultimecia, the day I slew Rinoa, she had separated Quistus, Stelah, Irvine, Selphie, Zell, Fujin, Raijin and Nida from the main group. We learned a year later that they had been infected by a horrible virus. All but Nida had failed to recover from it and died painful deaths a decade ago. Even the Guardian Forces hadn't known how to stop it…

You know that twenty years ago people viewed Drew and Rella as traitors and now Drew is President of Galbidia with his wife Rella at his side and their son Laguna? Did you know that Laguna started to date Nida and Xu's youngest, the baby Xu born the day her mother was murdered? I bet you do…

Well, I think you know better than I do. I hope you come and visit soon. My time is coming near, so I fear it might be our last chance….

Your Loving Father

I know things are hard, but you are strong and you can make it. I promise to come visit next week; I'll have a break then. But tell me… How is he holding up? And don't play dumb with me Dad, I am the only one that knows everything about you, and I know you're hiding something. So since you didn't mention him…

Ever your daughter

Kalari

P.S. I'll talk to mom. Make sure you prepare everything.

You know Rhiale died of cancer two years ago… Yesterday was the anniversary. He… came to me. I hate this Kalari, my dear. My love for him is as eternal as the Phoenix tied to my human soul. Hyne… I need him to love me, but I was denied that long ago.

Dad

If it was, why did he go to you instead of his children?

Kalari

With a sigh I turned to regard the man in question. One could see the former Knight and President of Esthar curled up on the ebony couch in my quarters from where I sat in my office. The question of my 17 year old daughter was heavy in my mind. Why had he come to me? Was he here for a best-friend's understanding, the love and comfort of an ex, or had their dreams begun? Would the other one soon show up on my doorstep as well, also having severed all ties for a reason he didn't understand? Had they prepared temporary replacements as I had? Quietly I crept to the couch and reached out to touch the miniscule word engraved on his weapon… Mercale…

His emerald eyes opened with a growl and his hand quickly caught mine in its vice like grip. Blonde hair fell into his eyes as he continued to snarl. Quickly I jerked my hand free, though I doubt a lesser man could break his grip.

"Thief…" he snarled at me.

"No Reyn…"

Realization flooded into his eyes as his name escaped my lips, the first time I had said it in a decade, "What is happening to me?"

"The same thing that happened to your parents… and to me, in some degree or another."

"The Curse…"

"Yes, the curse."

"Why us?"

"We are divine."

"I don't understand. What is going on Corin?"

"The memories are returning, calling us home."

"Where is home?"

There was no answer for that, not yet. Here we were, at the end of our journey again, but our story only continued, and on a new path. It has always been so much easier when we began the journey with total knowledge though…