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crazkoala

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       Fate pulled her towards him with all of the strength he could muster, until her face was a fraction of an inch from his. Pressing his lips into her brow, he spoke. His words mere wisps of wind. Ivory’s pained cries muffled. She was screeching his name, clutching his skin, crying for help. Fate’s entire body relaxed, drifted away, sounds faded to serene silence, sight dulled into shadow. His words still lingered, forever in the breeze, whispers of hope and memory…

       “Goodbye, Ivory Grace Forester…” 

...years later

       Everything lives on, whether in physical form or in the cherished memories of a loved one. Or sometimes, even, in a spirit that dwells over the land. As Ivory sat alone in the rebuilt remains of Odyn, the familiar noises of village life around her, she tried not to think of the things she had lost as gone. Her father wasn’t banished from the world simply because his life had diminished. His spirit lingered in memories and in the good he had done in the world.

       Wisteria’s army and influence weakened and vanished all together after Fate’s army attacked. Peace had swept over the land and enveloped the living in a sense of security. His efforts were not in vain.

       She smiled sadly, tracing a finger along the wrought leather hilt of her ancestor’s sword—that of her father, grandfather, and his father. So much evil it had expelled from a potentially pure world—demons and tainted souls. But, it had failed in the hands of Fate, failed to protect him from Wisteria. A tear slid down the bridge of Ivory’s nose, pearly; opaque.

       Though her smile did not fade, for the feel of his skin would not be forgotten— it didn’t need to be remembered.

       Laughter floated through the open windows of her father’s old house on the hilltop. The crunch of gravel beneath broad boots was apparent; the noise mingled with a deep chuckle and the light twittering giggle of a small girl.

       Ivory glanced out the window and warmth greeted her, flooding her veins in welcome at the sight. She stood and pushed open the door, standing in the threshold possessing happiness greater than she had ever known. Nothing could diminish it.

       A man—long silken gold hair sweeping lengthily across his forehead, silver eyes that possessed great wisdom for the youth of their adulthood gleamed blissfully—was walking up the winding trail to the house. Poised upon one broad shoulder was a little girl, legs dangling over his chest. She had inherited her father’s blonde hair; it hung in gentle, spiraling curls, but her eyes were a soft lilac; the precise shade of her mother’s.

       When she saw Ivory standing in the doorway, a wide smile lit up her angelic face. Fate stooped close to the ground, lifting her from his shoulder and setting her onto the earth below. The girl closed the distance between him with the graceful scurry of a four year old. Her voice drifted to Ivory with beauty easily compared to a hymn of angels.

       “Mommy! Mommy! Look what I got!” she cried.

       Ivory crouched down and swooped her daughter into her arms. “What is it destiny?”

       “A Reffet!” she whispered, eyes wide. At that moment long, mouse-like creature poked its adorable nose from Destiny’s flowing curls. It sniffed hesitantly before scampering down the girl’s petit shoulder and wedging its ropy body in the crook of her arm. Destiny giggled.

       “A Ferret?” Ivory pressed her lips onto the Destiny’s forehead.

       Destiny nodded, stroking the head that peeked out of the cloth of her dress momentarily before disappearing again. Fate’s melodic laugh caressed Ivory’s ears. She gazed up at him—her hero, her love, her husband, the father of her daughter. Always his smile reassured her, made her feel as though nothing bad would ever happen again.

       He leaned forward and brushed his lips onto his daughter’s rosy cheek. He wrapped his arms around the both of him, and a feeling Ivory hadn’t quite gotten used to the existence of consumed her—complete and utter harmony. Irrevocable bliss.