Epilogue

Atlantis

Six months later, June 1935

With hammer and chisel, Milo carved the last touches on a massive oval-shaped stone and backed away from it, gazing proudly at his handiwork. The carving was of King Kashekim that Milo had personally helped to design for Kida who had now ascended to the Atlantean throne as Queen and to honor the previous ruler's centuries-long reign. Since he had begun living alongside the Atlantean people, he had put on a few more pounds, mostly muscle as Kida and several others taught him their way of life while in return, he had started up a school for those wanting to learn of their peoples' history, using the Shepherds Journal as a guide. All ages, young and old, joined in his classes, many of them catching on and starting to be able to read and write. It hadn't been easy but it was well worth it to see the glow in their eyes as they learned something new or accomplished something they had never done.

Kida stood beside him, dressed in the long, ceremonial robes with an elaborate headdress made of exotic feathers that a Queen would wear. She was the spitting image of her mother. She gazed over the stone sadly as grief and regret briefly entered her mind. Seeing this, Milo gave her a sympathetic glance and stepped back to allow her to say her final goodbye to her father.

Kida approached the stone, bringing her crystal pendant to her lips and gently blowing on it. The crystal came to life, flashing its brilliant blue color. Smiling wistfully, she touched the slab with her crystal and watched as every single line that made up the king's likeness began to glow brightly.

The people of the city watched as the stone, now alight with the crystal's power, slowly rose from the courtyard and ascended into the air. Kida and Milo backed away, craning their necks back as the stone reached greater heights, soon passing the roof of the palace above them. Smiling in excitement, Kida grabbed Milo's arm and dragged him away from the stunning sight.

Following Kida's lead, Milo climbed up the leg of one of the stone Atlantean warriors that stood watch over the city, finding that with his healthier physique, the climb wasn't as strenuous as it had been before.

It wasn't long before Kida reached the top of the warrior's head, startling a flock of the green pterosaurs that had been resting upon it. They screeched and fled as she clambered up on top of the warrior's stone helmet, grabbing Milo's arms and pulling him up beside her.

Silently, they watched as the king's stone monument rose higher and higher to join the other past kings that encircled the Heart of Atlantis, grasping each other's hands lovingly. Milo took a deep breath, causing Kida to turn away from the Heart and stare at him questioningly. "What are you thinking?" She asked him gently.

Milo met her eyes and squeezed her hand. "For the first time in my life," his eyes went misty. "I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be. I know what my purpose is."

Kida smiled and stepped closer to him and laid a hand lovingly on his cheek, stroking it with a thumb. "And I do as well." She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his. "Right here beside you, Milo Thatch."

Without another word, Milo slowly reached up and cupped her face gently in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Kida closed her eyes and melted into his embrace.

Below them, the city of Atlantis thrived, more then it ever had before.

And it was all because of one man's life's work fulfilled by the determination of his grandson who never stopped believing.

Somewhere above the surface...

In the dark depths of the ocean, schools of fish swam about in a frenzy. And it wasn't because of the giant cargo ship that slowly glided on the surface of the water overhead, the hum of its motor shattering the watery silence of the deep.

The enormous monster swimming beneath it showed no interest in the fleeing fish. Passing through them, it followed the ship closely, brushing the tips of its long tentacles along the bottom of it. It never upset it or gave it any trouble. It just kept swimming beneath it, the intricate markings in its iron-like skin glowing a dim blue.

THE END

Cue the Raiders March! or Mya's "Where the Dream Takes You"... or both!

I was hoping to finish the other day but there was a few more things I wanted to add before I posted the rest. I had the ending planned in my mind for quite a while so it was easier to write.

I just want to thank everyone for reading, favoriting, following and leaving reviews for this story in the past eighteen months of its existence. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope it was enjoyable enough to come back to. I won't be marking it as complete just yet, as I'm gonna go back through the whole thing and fix any grammar or spelling mistakes. Knowing me, there's a lot!

This story was pretty predictable since we've all seen the film but I'm proud to say that the sequel is in the works and there's a lot of surprises so hopefully (fingers crossed) it will be better then this one!

I'm still plotting the outline and sketching out possible cover designs but I haven't started actually writing it yet. But I will tell you that I've finally decided on a title for it: Indiana Jones and the Secrets of Atlantis. Seems generic and silly, but there's more to it then you think. ;)

I don't have a set date but our sequel is on its way. Once I have the cover done and a chapter or two written, I will post it.

Thank you so much for your support and interest in my fanfictions. Y'all are amazing!

Until we meet again. Happy reading and writing!

ladyofthelake92