Rodney leaned against the tree, despite the strong winds. She didn't want to cry infront of everyone. To her, crying was a sign of weakness. She couldn't believe how she cried infront of everyone else earlier. "Rodney!" came the voice of Glitch. Rodney turned to face him, and she gasped slightly. "Glitch, what are you doing?" she asked him.
"I don't know! Something just told me to come out and follow you!" Glitch yelled over the wind. He made his way over to the tree, and stood infront of her. "The wind is strong!" he spoke up. Rodney sighed. "Glitch, you shouldn't be out here…" Rodney said. "Neither should you. Its too dangerous…" Glitch said, his face getting serious.
She looked up at him. "Glitch, its not safe out here…" she said. "I'm not leaving you out here all alone…" Glitch said, his eyes looking into hers. Rodney began to cry, and she turned her back to him. Glitch tilted his head, and walked infront of her. He saw the tears sliding down her face. Glitch put his hands on the sides of her shoulders. "Rodney…" he said. She began to sob and began pounding his chest.
"Why did he have to die!? Why is this happening to us!? Why did I see him in the fog?! Why do all these horrible memories keep coming back to me?!" she yelled. She paused, and placed her two hands on Glitch's chest, and looked down at the ground. Tears fell from her face, down to the ground. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry I hit you…" she said. Glitch looked down at her. She began to shake, and Glitch pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back, enjoying the warmth and feel.
She felt the wind start to calm down. She didn't know whether this was just a coincidence or a sign that everything was doing to be okay now. Glitch saw that the sky still remained dark, but the breeze was gentle now. Rodney squeezed his arm slightly. "Rodney, just know you don't need to face this alone. We are all here for you. You've been living on your own with your sister and Aiden all these years. But now, know that you have a whole new family with you. We are going to take care of you. I promise you that…" Glitch said softly, stroking the back of her head.
Rodney pulled her face out of his chest, and looked at him. "Thank You Glitch. For everything…" she said. Glitch smiled warmly at her. "You're welcome…" he said softly. He ran a few fingers gently over her cheek. She continued to stare up at him. In his eyes she saw a child's spirit, mixed with nothing but kindness, care and concern.
She tilted her head up slightly, slightly standing on her toes. She closed her eyes, and could soon feel his breath on her lips as he leaned in to close the gap between them. His lips pressed softly against hers. It was a kind, sweet, gentle kiss. A kiss that Rodney knew meant Glitch would always be there to take care of her. They pulled apart slightly, and they both opened their eyes unsure of whether this was a fantasy or reality.
That's when Rodney saw him infront of her and she smiled. He returned the smile, his eyes glowing. She closed her eyes again as their lips met once again, and the breeze blew through her hair. Rodney felt more at home now than she did in the last eight years….
Cain stared down at Julia while she slept on the floor, next to him. His back felt sore from sitting against the stone wall. He saw that DG and Azkadellia had fallen asleep, and Jeb was asleep. Aiden was playing a counting game with his fingers. Cain turned his attention back to Julia. He was glad to see she was finally able to get some rest after all the tears.
Cain hated to see anyone cry, especially a friend. He shifted slightly. He wondered what would happen if the two girls did come back to the castle with them. Where would their royalty go? They each were heirs to their own throne. What if they went away and Cain never got to see them, even Aiden again? In the past few days, Cain had managed to forget all of the memories of the past and feel free.
Julia rolled over in her sleep so she was facing him. He smiled slightly. It was the first time she looked peaceful all day. There was some rustling and Cain looked over to see Rodney coming through the entrance, slowly followed by Glitch. Rodney turned and smiled at Glitch, before taking a spot not too far from Julia and laying down. She closed her eyes and tried to dream, but doubted any dream would be better than what she had just experienced.
Cain looked over at Glitch as he sat diagonal from him. Glitch had a small but dreamy smile on his face. "What's gotten into you?" Cain asked. "Oh? Nothing…" Glitch said. Cain tilted his head, and covered his face with his hat. "If you say so…" Cain said. "I kissed her…" Glitch whispered, although more to himself. Cain slowly reached up and took the hat off his face, and looked at his best friend.
"You did what?" Cain asked with a small smile. "I….kissed her…" Glitch said, blushing slightly. Cain smiled fully. "Wow. That's…wow. Good for you Glitch…" Cain said, placing his hat back on his face. "I know…" Glitch said. He allowed a childish smile to cross his face. He never had a real relationship with a woman before. Now that he had, he felt something wonderful. He couldn't describe it in words. It was like a strong happiness, sprinkled with unending joy. This girl was now everything to him, and he was going to protect her. With his life….
"Wake…up!" Julia said, nudging Cain in his ribcage. Cain groaned and took his hat off his face. "Good morning…" he said. "Come on. If we leave now, and find something to eat on the way…we will be back at your kingdom by nightfall…" Julia said with a small smile. Cain smiled. "I see your feeling better this morning. I'm glad…" he said. She returned the smile, and disappeared through the entrance of the cave.
"Hurry up! You're the last one out!" she called back to him. Cain groaned and stepped through, the sun meeting his face. He put his hat on his head. "Now where do we go?" he asked. "This way…" Rodney said. She walked past Glitch, blushing slightly as a smile passed between the two of them. Cain looked over at Julia. "So…how was your sleep?" Cain asked. "Um. It was good. I had the weirdest dream though…" Julia said, looking at him.
"Really? Was I in it?" Cain asked, raising an eyebrow. "Actually….yes…" Julia said. "Oh. Did I save you from the big scary monster?" Cain asked, with a playful smile. "Cain was in your dream. I am assuming it must have been a nightmare…" Glitch spoke up. Cain shot him a look and Glitch gave him an innocent smile. "No not exactly…but I…." Julia paused. She looked over at Rodney.
The woods were too familiar. She looked down and saw the dirt path. She bent down and touched it. "Its still in tact…" she said. Rodney looked up. "We are closer to it then I thought…I figured we wouldn't get here until noon…" Rodney trailed. Julia looked at Rodney. The two began sprinting along the dirt path. The rest of the group looked at each other. Glitch let Aiden climb on his back, before running after them.
Cain followed next, and the rest of the group followed suite. "Julia! Rodney!" Cain yelled. He could see the two figures disappearing behind and popping out behind trees and rocks. They disappeared through a hedge of bushes. Cain stopped and parted the bushes. The others followed through, including a whining Azkadellia who was complaining about how her feet hurt.
Once the whole group was through, Cain stepped through. He saw Julia and Rodney staring out at the ocean. They looked at each other. "This…is where our kingdom was…" Julia said, her eyes wide. "It…its completely gone…" Rodney finished. Glitch tilted his head. Cain looked over at Julia. "You're sure?" he asked. Julia nodded "Positive…" she said.
Aiden moved towards a rock, and sat down on it. He looked down to see a symbol imprinted. "Mommy…Mommy…" Aiden said. Julia and Rodney turned to face him. He pointed his tiny finger at the symbol. Julia and Rodney walked over and looked down at it. The letter "L", entwined with Roses and thorns was on the rock. Rodney paused. "No…look…" she said. She reached out and pressed down on the "L" which sunk slightly into the rock.
A light shone from the crack in the rock, and a woman with waist length blonde hair appeared. Her blue eyes looked sad, and her expression sulk. "My dearest Rodney and Julia…" she said. Julia turned. "Mom…" she said. "By the time you get this message, I will probably be dead. The kingdom will have seemed to disappear. But know my children, not everything is as it seems. Find the rose, and send it to the memories of our kingdom. I'm sorry there is only so much I can say. I love you both very much. Its time to fulfill your destinies…." She said. The image disappeared.
"Find the rose?" DG repeated. Julia and Rodney looked at each other. "The woods…" Rodney said. They turned to face the hedges. They both walked over to them, and began to spread apart random patches of the bush. Cain and Glitch looked at each other, shared a confused look, and then looked back at the two girls. "I found it…" Rodney said. Julia watched as she pulled out a beautiful red rose, with some raindrops still on it.
The two girls walked back towards the ocean. "Send it to the memory of our kingdom…." Julia said, staring out. She reached out, so both her and Rodney were holding the rose. They bent down and released it into the waves. The stood up and watched as it was carried out. The waves suddenly stopped. The rose began to twirl around in the water.
"So it was never an ocean then. The waves kept it hidden…" DG whispered to Azkadellia. Azkadellia nodded. The rose continued to twirl, and from the rose appeared a series of different colors. The colors spread over the now lake. The rose slowly began to twirl, and sank, still twirling. The colors began to set in place. The sun lit up the colors, and the group covered their eyes. Rodney buried her face in Glitch's shoulder, and Cain pulled Julia into him and squeezed his eyes shut in her shoulder while she hid her eyes in his shoulder.
Once they could feel the light die down, they all turned and opened their eyes. Rodney's eyes lit up in awe. Julia opened her mouth slightly. Before the group, stood a beautiful white castle. The Ligark Kingdom had risen once again.