"What is a last request?" asked the leader, cocking his head to one side.
Mel must have sensed that the Doctor was about to talk as she shot him a quietening look. Jack recognised it from looks that Rose, and Martha had given him, and he always stayed quiet. 'Mind you, I've seen Yan and Gwen give me that look! Must be a friend-stroke-companion look; that they give to the leader when they need to keep their trap shut!' thought Jack with some amusement which was whipped off his face at what he heard Mel say.
"It's a human ritual that is done when a person is about to face their death. The person is allowed to have their final wish granted. As I might be facing my death, I wish to have my final wish granted!" She stood tall, and her wounds had already healed. However, Ianto could sense her trepidation.
"Alright, we will grant you your wish. Name it!"
"I want to kiss, hug and give a little advice to everyone in the room!"
The lead Shadow Hunter seemed to frown, but nodded and with a wave of his hand the force field around her disappeared. She stumbled up to the Doctor first. He was surprised when she was able to go through the field and hug him. He gathered her into his arms and smiled as she kissed his cheek.
"Now Doctor, I know you're wondering what all this is about. It's the Phoenix Ritual. You've heard Aurora tell you the story. And before you ask; you are the time element as you are a Time Lord, the earth element is soil of some kind, the space element is star dust, the life element is Sable as he is the other half of my soul, the friendship element is Jack as he is my friend, and lastly the love element is Ianto Jones because I love him dearly."
She hugged him again and murmured something into his shoulder which no one heard. They shared a smile and he chuckled as she ruffled his hair as she moved to Sable. She knelt down and hugged the wolf Sable. He put his front right paw around her and licked her cheek after she had kissed the top of his head. "Sable, I know you're ready for this, as am I. So I'll just say that it has been a pleasure sharing my life with you. I love you, my Soulster!"
She smiled and patted his head, before she moved over to Ben and Jenny. Jack and Ianto hadn't noticed that they were awake, and felt slightly guilty about forgetting about the other couple. They both gathered her into a mutual hug and each kissed the cheek closest to them. Ben was on her right and Jenny was on her left.
She gave Ben a peck on the mouth, and said, "Now Ben, you've got a lot of experience now and you'll never be happy in any hospital. I know you don't like the idea, but I want you and Jen to go and work for Torchwood." He opened his mouth in order to say something or argue but she placed her hand on his mouth, so that he couldn't.
She continued "Hear me out, Ben. You now know one of the highest ranking Torchwood members, aka Jack. He'll make sure that no harm will come to Jenny. Plus your knowledge of alien medicine will help them in the years to come. Think about it, and I think you'll be more help to Jack if you went to London or to Kenny up in Scotland to Torchwood Two. Or if not, you could go to Emma in Torchwood Ireland; she owes me a favour or two, so mention my name and she'll take you on.
"And for God's sake, man, hurry up and marry the woman. You've been engaged for nearly four years! I think you've had enough time to get used to one another, or find someone else if she wasn't for you. Add a plain wedding band on that ring finger soon, or I won't be your friend!" She chuckled as she said that, and then cupped his cheek and kissed his forehead.
She turned to Jen and mimicked what she had just done with Ben. "Jen, I know you're scared of Torchwood, but they've changed since the fall of Canary Wharf. Jack and Ianto will make sure that nothing will ever happen to you like it did to me; Jack will tear One apart if it ever went back to being like before. Just because your Kalatonian, doesn't mean you can't use your skills here with humans. Go with Ben to Torchwood, your intelligence and skills will be swallowed up. And look after Ben, because he does need looking after. Take care Jen."
She went to get up but stopped as each of them held a wrist to prevent him
from moving. They said together, "But Mel, you can't do this! We won't let you." Her smile was one that someone would give to a rather slow child.
"I have to do it and you both know it! And you don't have to watch. Do you want to watch while I do this and stand beside me; or do you want to go to sleep and not watch?" She smiled as they both said that they would prefer not to watch. She bent to kiss their foreheads once more, but this time they both fell backwards into sleep. She stroked the hair out of their eyes and made her way over to Jack.
He looked oddly sad. But when she stepped into his tube, he grabbed her into a fierce hug. She cushioned her head on his shoulder and simply stood there. She giggled as he whispered, "Can I keep you? And do I get my kiss now or later?"
'You, Captain Harkness, are a tease! Now I have some advise for you; keep them close and love them well. I don't know if I'll make it Jack and if I don't please be there for Yan, like I always have because he'll need you.' She sniffed, burying her face the crook of his shoulder continuing, 'And if it looks as if I didn't make it do me a favour. Take me to a nice quiet room in the TARDIS or back in the Hub, and put a burning candle in my hands and let it burn. If I don't come back by the time the candle has burnt out, then do what you normally would with an alien corpse.'
She pulled back, wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled shakily. She chuckled as she looked over to Ianto, "Sorry Yan, but a promise is a promise." She turned to Jack and gave a cheeky grin as she said, "Pucker up, handsome, you've pulled!" She wasn't surprised when he hauled her to him and began to kiss her breathless.
She, of course, responded. When he licked her lips, she allowed him access to her mouth which surprised them both. So she pulled back, gave him a quick squeeze and moved back out of the tube. His hands were shocked as he tried to grab hold of her again. She chuckled shaking her head and moved off.
Ianto wasn't surprised or jealous of their kiss, but he wanted his own. Like Jack, as soon as she stepped into his tube he grabbed her into a fierce hug but this time she hugged him just as tightly. They were both crying silently, but it wasn't noticed by either of them. Jack wanted to go over and wrap them both up in his arms.
"This isn't the end Mel! I won't let it be! You can't leave me!" The last bit had been a shouted sob. Mel gathered him to her, and soothed him while he sobbed into her shoulder. Jack was staring at the pair, and he hadn't realised until that moment that Mel was facing him. Her face was pale and tear streaked, and was laid against Ianto's head, but it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were begging him to keep his promise to her.
It was only when he nodded and told her mentally that he would, that she began to cry also. The pair comforted one another, and stopped crying when Mel suddenly shouted in a temper, "Enough! No more tears, Yan. Enough, enough!" She wiped his tears away and kissed his forehead.
She smiled as he growled, "That best not be the only kiss I get off you!" Her smile was as tender as his, as he wiped her tears away and then hauled her to him and began to kiss her. The kiss they shared was filled with love, desperation and fear. The Doctor was looking away discretely and had coughed once in embarrassment. Jack watched spellbound as Mel's hair began to lift as if it were in water, and then both she and Ianto began to hover so they looked as if they were flying.
Finally, Mel pulled back from the kiss and Ianto. She lowered him to the floor, as a glow began to appear around her. She stroked her hand down his face tenderly and kissed his forehead, whispering "I love you, Ianto Gavan Jones. And I'm so sorry!" Ianto was shocked by the force field trying to get her once she floated out of the tube, just as a single tear fell on the back of his hand.
She floated into the middle tube which instantly filled with light, as did the whole room. The light was a soft warm orange colour, much like the colour a room went when a fire had been lit. Ianto was on his knees crying silently as he watched his dearest friend glow. She had closed her eyes at some point, and when she opened them they were a blood red living flame.
"THE SIX ELEMENTS OF LIFE ARE PRESENT!" She looked to the Doctor, and smiled. Her next words caused the tube to light up in a bright yellow. "THE ELEMENT OF TIME SHOWN BY A FUN-LOVING, ENERGETIC TIME LORD. HE LOVES LIFE AND FIGHTS TO PROTECT IT! HE IS A CONSTANT NO MATTER WHAT FORM HE TAKES."
She winked at him, then turned to glance at the tube with the earth in it and it lit up brown. "THE EARTH ELEMENT IS SHOWN BY SOIL. FROM EARTH LIFE BEGAN, AND TO THE EARTH LIFE MUST RETURN WHEN IT IS OVER."
Her gaze then turned to the tube containing the stardust, causing it to light up with a dark blue almost black light. "THE SPACE ELEMENT IS SHOWN BY STARDUST. STARDUST IS WHAT LIFE STRIVES TO CAPTURE BUT NEVER WILL."
She smile was affectionate and loving as she looked at Sable. He nodded his head, as the tube light up a light blue while she said, "THE FRIENDSHIP ELEMENT IS SHOWN BY MY SOULSTER. A SOULSTER IS A CONSTANT FRIEND AND COMPANION, BUT ACTS AS A CONSCIENCE AND GUIDE."
She signed the words 'I love you' to Ianto as his tube light up red. He signed it back as she said, "THE LOVE ELEMENT IS SHOWN BY IANTO GAVAN JONES. THE LOVE OF THIS MAN FLOWS THROUGH MY BEING AND I WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT HIM. LOVE IS THE REASON LIFE EXISTS AND THRIVES!"
She winked, and blew a kiss at Jack as the tube light up green, whilst she said "THE LIFE ELEMENT IS SHOWN BY CAPTAIN JACK HARKNESS, THE MAN WITH LIMITLESS LIFE." He shook his head wryly, but never took his eyes off her as a pulse went through the room.
The three men and Soulster frowned as her tube light up also. However, her tube light up like a flame as the light shifted and changed between orange, yellow and red. "NOW THAT THE ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN CALLED THE KEY WILL BE ACCESSED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO THE BALANCE. I, THE MELODY AURORA, AM THE KEY AND OPEN THE BALANCE!"
Everyone shielded their eyes as the room seemed to explode in light. Once they opened their eyes, the room was white and it looked as if they had been transported. The Doctor was sat on the floor and looked around him as he recognised it as dead space or perhaps someone's mind.
Jack and Ianto were staring at Mel. It looked like something out of the X-men. Melody at the heart of a magnificent fiery elemental phoenix! Her hair was billowing around her and looked as if it were suspended in water, and her dress was now a reflection of the flames that surrounded her and it was also billowed around her legs and body.
The Shadow Hunters looked exhilarated to be there. The head Shadow Hunter stepped forward and bowed to the phoenix. His eyes sparkled as he spoke. "Mighty Phoenix, we have brought you here to open the balance. We, the Shangbone clan of Shadow Hunters, ask you to tip the balance toward the darkness in life and bring back the Shadow Hunter Race!"
Melody frowned, and a circle of flames appeared around the three present Shadow Hunters. Her voice boomed in it's anger and disgust, and all those quaked when she spoke "FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION AND TRYING TO USE THE BALANCE TO TIP THE SCALE, I WIPE YOUR RACE OUT OF EXISTANCE AS YOU DID WITH MY KIN. ONLY THOSE WHO ASK FOR THE BALANCE TO REMAIN BALANCED RECIEVE THEIR WISH! SO I LEAVE THE BALANCE AS IT IS; BALANCED SO THAT LIFE CAN MAKE IT'S OWN CHOICES AND DECISIONS."
The Shadow Hunters screamed in agony as the flames swirled around them until they disappeared. Once that had happened, Melody came down and landed on the floor. With a wave of her hand they appeared on Earth, on top of the Rift. She looked once sadly over at Ianto, Jack and the Doctor who were all a distance of six foot away.
Ianto watched spell bound as she tipped back her head, brought her arms to shoulder height and screamed as a single tear rolled down her face, "I, THE MELODY AURORA, NOW CLOSE THE DOOR TO THE BALANCE OF LIFE FOREVER AND AS THE LEGEND AND RITUAL STATES I GIVE MY LIFE!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Ianto screamed as he ran to catch Mel as she fell forward. The Doctor was cradling and stroking Sable, as he had fallen at the same moment as Mel. He looked up at the Doctor and licked his face before looking at Jack and saying weakly, "Go to them!"
Jack stroked the wolf once more, and patted the Doctor's shoulder before slowly making his way over to Melody and Ianto. Ianto had Melody in his lap, and he had her cradled close while crying into her hair. Jack bent down and knelt beside the pair; he put his arm around his lover's shoulders and clasped Mel's hand in the other hand.
He could see her face and it was deathly pale, but peaceful and smiling. Her eyes looked at him, and he was surprised when she pulled him closer to plant a kiss on his cheek. She whispered, "Take care of him for me, won't you Jack? And remember to keep your promise!"
He sobbed, and nodded. He looked up as the Doctor came over, lying Sable down beside her and then hurried back over to check on Ben and Jenny who had rather been forgotten, as they were leaning up against the TARDIS.
"Ianto love, I'm sorry but I had to do it there was no other way!" She cupped his head and made him look at her. "Now, remember what I told you Yan. And... And live... And live your life... to the full!" Her breathing was becoming shallower and her grip on Jack's hand tightened before slowly loosening.
Ianto's sobbing increased as he muttered under his breath between sobs. "You can't die Mel! You're like Jack remember, you can't die! Please don't die. Please, please, please don't die! Don't leave me Melly!"
She swapped the hand that was in Jack's, so that her hand was on Sable's head. Jack stared in horror as Sable took his last breath and whined quietly; immediately his gaze swung round to look at Mel. She pressed her head against Ianto's shoulder, and squeezed Jack's hand one last time before taking her last breath, closing her eyes and going limp.
Ianto's gripped Mel as hard to him against him sobbing that she couldn't leave him and that she couldn't die. Jack was there with Ianto crying as well, and let them have half an hour before he coaxed Ianto to let go of Mel and he carried her into the Hub, finding an old storage room that hadn't and wouldn't be used.
He had called to Gwen and Martha as Ianto followed him down. The two women entered hearing his gruff call, and immediately came to their aid. Gwen rushed to Ianto to give him a hug and comfort him, and slowly lead him to the coach where she sat him down and let him cry himself to sleep. She herself was silently crying, but she had to be there for Ianto.
Martha came over to check Mel's pulse and shook her head in her sadness. However she followed Jack, when he asked her silently with a pleading look. He would keep his promise to her. He laid her briefly on the floor before clearing off a long table that would act as a bed for her to lie on, with the help of Martha. Once he'd positioned it in the middle of the room, again with Martha's help, he then asked her to get two white sheets and a candle. She nodded and went out of the room, but not before she squeezed Jack's shoulder.
Jack gathered Mel in his arms, and stroked her head as it lay on his shoulder. "I'll look after him, but you best pull a miracle out of your bag, Mel. I don't know why you asked me to do this, but it had better be important!" Martha came back, but he looked up as he heard two more sets of footsteps only to find that Jen and Ben had awakened. Ben was carrying Sable in his arms.
Jen was crying as she helped Martha to spread the sheet over the table, but stepped out of the way as Jack got to his feet and put Mel onto it. He then took the second sheet off Martha and draped it over Mel. Ben laid Sable on top of the sheet, so that he lay next to her legs with his head on his paws. After he had done that he stroked her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. He frowned as Jack took her hands out and placed the candle between them before lighting it.
He left the room in search Ianto, following Martha out, so that Ben and Jenny could have some time alone to mourn their friend.
HI everyone! Ohhhh, i bet you all hate me now!!! mwhahahahahahahaha *evil laugh* what a cliffy! will Mel recover? will she come back from the dead? or will she leave everyone heartbroken but safe? Ok i want lots of review! so click on that just below this and review, weither it's good or comments for improvements!!!!