Chapter 30 - Good-bye
Arche two is over! Is he alive or dead? All answers coming in this chapter. I was originally gonna drop the bomb in the last chapter, but what would be the fun in that? 465 reviews for an update. As soon as we hit 600 the review cap is off... unless I get greedy. Make sure to read the author's note at the bottom.
Saturday, February 16th 9:30 AM - High Council chamber
Kori's POV
"kori...," Vic says.
"What has happened?," I ask, the worry evident in my voice.
"Dick, he's..." My heart rises into my throat as I anticipate then news I have been expecting to come at at any time. "He's awake." A smile crosses his face and I notice his tears are not of sorrow but of happiness.
My eyes widen and my heartbeat quickens to an impossible rate. I replay what he said in my mind just to make sure that I heard it correctly. "Please tell me this is not the joking," I plead with him. I surely cannot take it if it is.
He shakes his head. "No, I ain't joking. He woke about ten minutes ago."
I feal my heart soar, and a huge smile crosses my face. I then feel tears of joy begin to trickle from my eyes. "So, he is the okay? He is going to live?," I ask frantically.
"We're not out of the woods yet... but yeah, I think he is gonna be alright. That is if you don't maul him to badly when you see him," he says, I think jokingly, but I am sure it is a real concern. When I become excited I lose control of my strength at times.
Letting out an 'eep,' I rush over to Vic and leap into his arms, crushing him in a hug. "I must see him at once," I exclaim as soon as I release him.
He nods with a smile before taking my hand and leading me out the door.
"We are not done here," I hear Niro call as I exit the chamber.
"My chosen is waiting on me, I am more than done here," I call back. At this point I do not care what they say.
It seems to take a life time to reach the medical bay even though I am moving rather quickly... some would say running. The flys of butter have became eagles flapping their wings in my stomach. I am nervous, excited, and anxious all at once.
From just beyond the medical bay's door as we approach, I hear wally proclaim his love for Richard, which would make me laugh if I were not in the emotional state I am currently in.
Finally walking through the door, my heart skips a beat when I see his eyes are open, though barely. Our friends are all around him, Wally hugging him, Bee holding his hand, and Gar holding a very exhausted Raven up.
I see him notice me, and a light smile plays across his face. I assume that is all he can muster, but it is enough to set me off.
"Richard!," I squeal, before flying over like a jet and tackling Wally out of the way so that I may be beside him. I know Wally loves him as well, but he has had his turn to do the gushing. It is now mine.
I bury my face in his neck, and for some reason I am not sure of, I begin to cry. I feel his hand run through my hair and him whisper 'shhh' into my ear.
"Come on guys, lets give em a minute," I hear Vic call from the doorway, followed by Wally saying "Don't die on me while I'm gone, okay?"
Richard nods against my head, and then I hear the sounds of exiting footstep, the door shutting shortly after.
Now alone with him, I begin to cry even more. I do not know what is wrong with me.
I feel Richard's lips against the top of my head so I raise up and crush my lips into his. The kiss is full of want, passion, sorrow, and every other emotion I have experienced in the last eleven days. When I break away, I look him over. His hair is a mess, his eyes are dull, his skin is pale, and he is absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
I run my hands trough his hair as I smile down at him, still teary eyed. "I missed you so much. Do not ever leave me again."
He smiles a little. "I want. I'm here," he says. His voice is very weak, almost a mumble, but it is the most glorious thing I have ever heard.
"Oh X'hal, I love so much," I proclaim, before hugging him tightly to me. I almost fear that if I let go he will die.
"I Love you too."
"Do you remember what happened?," I ask him once I have finally released him.
He thinks for a moments before replying. "Most of it. What happened to Karras?"
My heart briefly stops. Oh, this is not good. I truthfully had forgotten about Karras. I consider lying to him, but we have made the deal, we do not lie to each other on issues such as this.
"Richard," I begin hesitantly. "I have done something bad."
His eyes open a little more and he looks confused, but that could just be because he is on the killers of pain medication. "What do you mean "bad,"" he asks me.
I shift nervously and drop my eyes to floor. "I thought you were dead, and then he seemed so proud of himself for killing you. I became very angry and I lost control. The next thing I was aware of was me holding Karras against the stadium wall by his neck, and then..." I trail off, not wanting to explain any further.
"You killed him?," he asks in disbelief as he trys to set up.
"I was so angry, Richard. I had just lost everything in a few seconds. What was right and what was wrong no longer mattered to me," I attempt to explain.
When he does not respond I become even more worried so I continue my nervous ramble. "Please understand that I was not rational, and you truly cannot be angry with me because what would have you done if you had to watch someone kill me then listen to them gloat about it in front of you?"
"We don't kill Kori," he says sternly and I cringe. "I didn't kill zucco when he killed my parents, I didn't kill the Joker when he killed Jason, and I didn't kill Slade when he tried to kill you. It's wrong. We can't judge who lives and who dies. It's not our place. If we kill we cross a line that makes us no better than them."
Tears fill my eyes, this time of sadness and anger. "You believe me to be like the man who killed your parents? The joker? Karras? Slade? I am like them?"
A deep sigh escapes him. "I'm not saying that. I'm saying what you did is wrong no matter the circumstance."
"I did not kill for greed, or power, or evil. I killed because I just watched the man I love die right in front of me," I say, almost yelling without intending to.
"You killed for revenge," he retorts.
My fists clenched together. On some level I know he is right, but why can he not see that what I did, I did for him?
In a fury on turn on me heals and storm out of the room. I am angry because he now thinks I am just like the people we try to stop, and yet I am sad for the same reason. Is what I did justifiable? I do not know the answer to that, but right now I wish to be alone.
I have learned through my many months with Richard that there is no use for us to talk while we are angry with each other because it just results with me crying and him locking himself away in a room for hours. I hastefully walk past my friends, ignoring their questions on what happened and where I am going.
Maybe if I go somewhere and do the clearing of my head everything will be the okay later.
Saturday, February 16th 10:00 AM - Waiting room
Normal POV
Gar glanced from the door Kori had just stormed out of to Raven who was standing beside him. "What was that about?"
"My guess is Dick found out she killed Karass. I'd be lying if I said I didn't know that was gonna happen."
Wally chimed in. "She should have lied. That's the key to a healthy relationship, lying to get of trouble," he said, sounding very sure of himself.
Bee frowned at him. "Like you know anything about a relationship. Your just as big a man whore as Dick was before he met Kori."
Wally just smiled widely as if that were supposed to be a compliment.
"So, are we gonna do anything?," Vic asked to mainly Raven.
She mauled it over. "They'll work it out themselves eventually, but I really don't wanna fly home with them arguing about moral ethics the whole way. I'll talk to Dick, who wants Kori?"
Wally abruptly stood from where he was seated. "I got this," he proclaimed before zipping out the door in a blur of red and yellow. Exactly two seconds later he was back. "Where is she by the way?," he asked with a sheepish smile.
Raven closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them. "Her room's balcony."
No quicker the he said "gotcha," was he gone again.
"You sure he was the best person to go talk to her?," Bee asked.
"Not really, but it's worth a shot," Raven shrugged before turning and walking through the door of the medical bay.
When she walked in she found Richard laying flatly on the bed, a pillow over his face.
When he heard the door shut, he raised the pillow to find Raven now sitting in the chair beside his bed. He grumbled something under his breath before laying his head back down.
"So why are you mad?," she asked even though she knew.
"She killed Karras. We don't Kill," he said, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Raven rolled her eyes before they began to glow white and black energy coated the pillow, removing it from over his face, earning a glare from him. "You're mad because she killed him because she thought he killed you? I think her reaction is justifiable."
"We don't kill, Raven. It's wrong," he retorted.
"Wrong to humans. She isn't human. Look at her culture, killing someone isn't viewed here like it is on Earth. Just because you were raised to live by a certain moral code, doesn't mean she was. You have to look at it from her view point. In the blink of an eye her world came crashing down. Her mindset wasn't a rational one."
Richard just sighed. Why did Raven alway have to be the voice of reason?
"Where is she?," he asked.
"On the balcony in her room. Wally went to talk with her," she replied.
Richard's eyes widened in horror. Out of the people that could have went, why on God's Earth did it have to be Wally?
Meanwhile on the balcony, Wally came to a skidding stop right beside Kori, who was looking out into the red sky.
She looked over as him as he adjusted his arms on the balcony's rail so he could lean on it beside her. Once comfortable he turned to look at her. "So, come here often?," he asked, wiggling his eye brows beneath his mask.
Kori glanced at him with an odd look. How could she come here often? She had only been on Tameran two weeks. "Not really," she answered matter-of-factly.
"A shame, the skys so... red. He looked from the red blanket above to over at her. "So, what's up?"
"My boyfriend is the douche of bags," she answered with a frown.
Wally burst into laughter. "That he is, but you got to love him."
"I love him very much, but he is impossible to do the dealing with at times. I tried to explain to him that I was enraged when I killed Karras, but he says killing makes me no different than the Joker or Slade. I am not like them," she defended herself. "Yes, I may have killed for revenge, but I had lost everything. I did not care what was wrong or right at the moment."
Wally let out a sigh, becoming serious. "Dick's pretty serious about that no killing rule, but he is Batman's kid after all. Ever since Dick was a eight Bruce has been forging him into a copy of himself both physically and mentally. One day, probably sooner rather than later, he's gonna be Batman and that comes with impossible expectations. When something goes wrong in Gotham, it's not the mayor's fault, it's not the police force's, it's not the city officials, it's Batman's."
Wally looked over at Kori to find her clearly interested so he continued. "Bruce has always tried to prepare him for what he knows is coming. Some would say he done to good of a job."
Kori thought it over a moment before saying anything else. She understood why he was angry, but she still didn't think she was wrong for what she did. "Do you believe what I did was justified?"
He shrugged. "I really can't answer that. I've never been in love like you two before. I don't know what I would do if I faced that situation, but I can almost guarantee I would be pissed enough to do it. Rather I'd act on it or not is a different story."
Kori sighed. "Do you think he will forgive me?"
"Oh, yeah," Wally assures, waiving his hand dismissively through air. "He's kinda like an overgrown baby who just woke up from a long nap, a little grouchy and probably needs to be burped."
Kori laughed at the analogy. Wally may be a little hyperactive, but he really was a people person.
He extended his hand out to her. "Come on, let me take you back to your douche of bags boyfriend."
She laughed more. "Very well."
Saturday, February 16th 10:30 PM - Medical Bay
Kori's POV
When I walk back through the door of the medical bay, Richard is now sitting in the middle of the bed, looking a mixture of tired and contemplative.
When he sees me enter he gives me a half smile and pats the spot on the bed next to him.
I look at him unsurely for a moment, not wanting to argue anymore, but seeing he is relaxed, I walk over and take a seat. "I will not apologize for what I did," I say definitely. It is an odd way to start a conversation I know, but I wish to clear that up before we get started.
"You don't have to. Raven kinda explained things to me in a way that I can understand. I was just a little tired and grouchy I guess."
I beam a smile at him, glad the argument is over before it really got started. I love Raven, she is the only who he will listen to at times. "Wally suggested that you most likely just needed to be burped."
Richard frowned before a chuckle escaped. "Whatever you do don't listen to anything Wally says... ever."
I giggle and kiss him lovingly on the lips. He may be the douche of bags, but he is my douche of bags, and I love him.
We lean are foreheads against each others for a long time before he says anything else. "So, what happens next?"
I think it over for a moment. Truthfully I had myself so convinced that he would die I have not thought about what is to happen after. "The High Council has lost all authority on the matter, so now I am free to do as I wish. I must select a Grand Ruler then we are free to return to Earth," I inform him. "I shall call for an address tonight, and will announce the knew Grand Ruler then."
"Oh, you know who you want to replace you?"
I nod. "Yes, I knew who was going to take my place before we even left for here."
"Galfore?," he questions.
I smile and nod. "He is very wise in the way of our people, and I think he will make an excellent Grand Ruler."
He yawns very loudly as he nods.
"You are sleepy, yes?," I ask worriedly.
"Yeah, figure I wouldn't be so tired after sleeping for so long, but I'm so exhausted it's ridiculous," he responds and I see his eye lids begin to get heavy.
I do not think I wish for him to go to sleep. What if he does not wake up? "Must you go to sleep? Could you not manage to stay awake for a few more hours at least?"
He shakes his head and lays back on the bed. Outsretching his arms he beckons me to lay down with him. "Come here. I wanna cuddle."
"If I do you must promise me you will wake up," I say.
A light smile crosses his face. "I promise."
That is all I need to here. I lay my head on the pillow beside his, and he throws his arm over my waist. I inch closer so that we are stomach to stomach, and no time later he is asleep. "I am glad you are back," I whisper before kissing his forehead. As I stare at this stubborn, infuriating, complicated man that I love, it has never been more clear to me that he is mine and I am his for the rest of both of our lives. Perhaps I shall get my fairytale ending after all.
Saturday, February 16 7:00 PM - royal palace
Kori's POV
I stand in the room just outside the balcony where I am to address the people of Tameran for the second time and final time. Galfore is at my side and Nightwing and my friends are behind me. I told Richard to not come, but does he listen? No, of course not. He said he wished to listen to my speech which is ridiculous because he cannot even understand what I am saying.
I believe the only reason he really wished to come is because he knew I did not want him to. This is what I do the dealing with everyday, but I must admit I missed it very much.
Looking back to make sure he is the okay, and seeing the he is being helped along by Vic and Wally, I look up at Galfore.
"I believe I am ready," I state.
"Very well, I am most curious to see who you have selected as Grand Ruler."
A knowing smile crosses my face. "You shall see soon enough. Let us begin." I stand tall and raise my head high before walking toward the balcony and looking out over it's edge. The hundreds of thousands of Tameranians below look up at me curiously, which is expected considering I have not been seen since the challenge.
"Greetings my people," I exclaim with a smile. It his hard not to smile when you are as happy as I am at the moment. Hearing my enthusiasm, the crowd begins to cheer. I raise my hand and they quiten instantly. I still wished that worked on Richard.
"The reason I have called for this coference is because I have a few things to say." I look over my shoulder and Nightwing and motion for him to come to me, and he does so with the help of Wally and Vic. I hear gasps from below. I assume that it was widely believed that he had perished.
I wrap my arms around my chosen, supporting most of his weight, which is an easy task thanks to my strength. Turning my attention back to the crowd, I notice some appeared amazed that he is alive let alone standing. A cannot stop the satisfied smirk that crosses my face. Everyone doubted him, including myself, but he proved all of us wrong and I could not be more proud to call him my chosen.
Refocusing on the situation, I begin. "My chosen, has defeated Prince Karras in combat, and therefore has obtained the right to marry me, and we shall, but not here." I hear the crowd begin to trade whispers and I raise my hand to silence them once more. "My home is not Tameran, it is Earth. My heart is there, along with my chosen and my companions."
I pause, smiling to myself. "It is the Grand Ruler's responsibility to do what is best for Tameran, and that is surely not me. I am far to young to have any idea how to rule and no one can deny that, so I have selected a new Grand Ruler to take my place."
"This man is far more capable than I am. He is the greatest warrior of our planet, and the wisest person I have ever met, far more capable than I am." Out of the corner of my eye, I see my K'norfka's eyes widen in realization.
I turn an motion for Galfore to step forward, a huge smile on my face. Once he is at my side, I remove the silver crown from head and float just enough off the ground so that I can place it on his head while still keeping ahold of Nightwing, who I am not sure has any idea where he is at the moment. The killers of pain Vic gave him before we came were rather strong.
I study Galfore's utterly stunned face for a moment before looking back at the crowd. "I now give you he who is truly best for Tameran's future, Emperor Galfore."
The crowd below traded glances before dropping to their knees in a bow. "All hail Emperor Galfore," they echoed.
Galfore, recovering from his shocked state, looks down at me and I can see a slow smile spread cross his lips. "This is what you want?"
My response is to bow, pulling Nightwing too the ground with me as I did. I am sure I saw the glitter of a tear in his eye, but it quickly vanished and he returned his attention the crowd. "I am beyond honored and astounded to receive such a position, but I shall makes this promise, I will return Tameran to it's former glory." The crowd cheered loudly, much louder than I had expected.
Galfore is of the warrior class, not the royal as I am. I expected backlash, but the people of Tameran are smarter than I gave them credit for. They can see that no one could lead this planet through these troublesome times like this man before them, and I am happy to leave Tameran in such hands.
After a short ceremony, the night came to a close. From a common room I listened to Galfore speak of what of he is going to do for the planet for nearly an hour, and the conversation would have went much longer than that if Nightwing hadn't fallen asleep on my shoulder.
After saying good-night to my K'norfka, and telling him what time we would be departing for Earth tomorrow, I carried Nightwing bridal style to our room. If he were awake he surely would be complaining about this, and I must admit it somewhat amusing to see a girl as tiny as myself carry this 6'2, 215 pound man around the royal palace as if he were a sleeping baby.
After stripping him into underclothes and tucking him under the covers of our bed, Vic placed a portable heart monitor on him, which worried me that he was still in danger of dying, but he assured me it was just to be on the side that is safe... No wait, safe side. Yes, that was it.
After wishing my friends a pleasant sleep, I took a long shower to calm my mind. Now that this was all finally over I really did not know what to do with myself. With no longer having to worry about being called back to Tameran I was free to truly live for the first time in my life. It was like the weight of the world have been lifted off my shoulders. No longer could anyone make me do something I did not wish to do.
My mind began to to focus on the future. I could imagine the glorious wedding I was going to have with Richard, our first child, possibly a second and third one following, growing old together. I cannot wait to partake on life's journey with him. It is all I have wish for, truthfully since the day he smiled and said 'hello,' and now it was in my grasps. Yes, this is my fairytale ending, but with the lives we lived there is always that possibility that this is only just the beginning.
Sunday, February 17 3:00 PM - landing pad
Normal POV
Kori and Nightwing stood in front of the same vessel they had travled here on, their friends already boarded. Glafore stood in front of them, one of his massive hands on each of their shoulders.
"I shall miss you Koriand'r," he said with a sad smile.
Kori wiped away the gathering tears in her eyes. "I shall miss you as well K'norfka, but we shall talk through transmissions everyday, and I shall visit at least twice a Earth Year," she promised.
The man smiled lovingly down at her before turning his attention to Nightwing. "I expect you to take care of her."
Nightwing smiled. "Trust me, she gets whatever she wants." How true that was. One bat of an eyelash or one look with those puppy dogs eyes and she could have the world at her feet in moments. Lucky for him she wasn't that kind of person. If she was he would have never fallen head over heals for her in the first place.
Galfore gave a brief smile before turning serious once more. "And if you are ever to break her heart..."
Nightwing interjected him. "I know, you'll kill me."
"Then we understand each other?"
Nightwing nodded with a smile before looking over at Kori. "I'll see you one the ship," he said before turning on his heals and walking up the metallic ramp. He thought they could use a moment to themselves.
Kori turned back to her K'norfka and floated up in the air to hug him. Tears finally escaped her as she buried her face in his beard. "I love you."
Galfore smiled warmly as he closed his eyes and carrassed her hair with his hand. "I love you as well, little one. I am very proud of not only the man you have selected, but the person you are."
She sniffled a little. "I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am truthfully glad that I have left Tameran in your hands."
"I promise you that I shall restore Tameran to what it once was."
Kori floated back and gave him a sad smile. "I know." She glanced back at back at the ship. "It is time that I depart."
He nodded before drawing her into one more hug. "Take care... my daughter."
Kori beamed a teary smile. He was her father, just as Bruce was Richard's. Having the same blood didn't make someone your parent. Them truthfully loving you did. Her father never loved her, but Galfor did. He was her real father. "You as well, my father."
With that Kori turned and boarded the ship, leaving her past behind and now looking toward her future, which seemed to light up the sky with it's brightness.
As the ship took flight, Galfore wiped a tear from his eyes. He was going to miss her, but he knew just as well as she did that her home was Earth, she belonged with that mighty Earth warrior that earned not only his respect, but his daughter's heart.
Important Authour's Note!
Yep, he's... for now. Speaking of which, I need ideas for little stories like in chapter 23. For example Heat, A Watch Tower Christmas, and Promise. It can be literally be anything you can think of, and from absolutely anyone's POV. I'm not just talking about the main characters. I could probably right a short from Kitten's POV if someone had an idea for that. Either PM or put it in the review. I already have three called 'The Silkie,' 'Silkie Sitting,' and 'Fading.' I'll let you rationalize what those are about.