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Horror ran on the streets, buildings crashed down and terror lurked in every corner of town. In the blink of an eye the “perfect” lives of gelfling and pod people alike came burning down like it had so long ago. The paradise they had built was no more, the years and sacrifices had come undone with the arrival of a strange fire girl who robbed them of their greatest treasure. What she had no clue of however, she had taken with the shard a very personal treasure as well.
Kira struggled to even sit, she laid still in bed surrounded by hoards of medics trying to keep her stable but to no avail. Her life was one with the crystals and as its light faded so did hers. There was nothing anyone could do, nothing but console her that Jen would return back soon. She could feel him nearing and she knew he was hurting greatly. He was losing it all, his home, people and what hurt him most, he was losing her. It was worse because this had been the second time he had lost it all. A feeling or memory he had tried to completely forget was coming back and worse than ever. He had failed to save her once and there was no saving her now. Getting her back had been a gift from the Urskeks and Thra, but with them gone and Thra dying there was no hope.
Jen limped his way over to the bed, being held up by the guards. Fizzgig, who also found it laborious to get in bed with them, slowly struggled his way up getting a little boost by a maid and slowly rolling his way to Kira’s chest, where he laid peacefully. Jen had done everything in his power to get the shard, his robes were torn, his face was scratched and bruised, blood seeped on to the white gown. Yet he felt none of that pain, for the pain in his heart was greater than all the wounds combined. As he was laid down, Kira’s head gently turned. She slowly shifted to his direction, even though she had been urged to stay still, she tried her best. Her hand gently pulled back a piece of his hair to see his eyes, and as she expected, his gaze was gone. Gone in the memory of “what if”, regret and loss.
“You’re thinking too much, my love,” Kira said with a small smile.
Jen slowly turned his head over, a big smile appearing on his face. He chuckled slowly shifting to his side to look at her “You think so? It’s probably because I do it for both of us” he replied wittily. That was his usual answer back then.
”Sarcasm looked better on you when we were younger, love.” She teased, reaching her hand over to caress his cheek. Age had worn them down both, it had been what, a 100? 150 years? It was going to get to them eventually, it had even gotten to Fizzgig. Yet their love never withered, never lessened or suffered from the passing years. They were as close as they could possibly be, they were always in a constant state of dreamfast, always caring and cherishing each other. They had been able to create a bond so strong that no matter where they were on Thra, they could feel each other's presence by their side.
Maybe it was the fact he had lost her, maybe it was that they had been bonded by the Urskeks with their words “You’re part of each other”, or maybe they just loved each other and were meant to be. When he looked at her, the age on her made no difference. She was as beautiful as she had always been, bright in herself like the three suns, hair now turned from blonde to white that had the radiance of the sister moons and that same smile that had pulled him out of dark places so many times before.
All the goodness he ever had came from her, and now, she was slipping away again. He felt their dreamfast weaken and it frightened him when he saw the light dim in her eyes. Though he was unaware of it, his own life was leaving him as well. Kira noticed it, but she decided against acknowledging it.
”Do you think.. our love could take us away together?” Kira whispered softly, afraid her words would shatter whatever was left in him. She knew there was no amount of power for them to live on, they had ran their course so she at least desired to pass with him. It would’ve been a punishment if one of them had to live on with the other, it would be a pain too big to bear.
Jen’s smile disappeared and brows furrowed, his trembling hand slowly reaching for her cheek.
”Like the Urskeks, we can go together and-“ she was stopped gently by a kiss, Jen pulled away a calm expression on his face.
”Love brought you back to me, I think we can do whatever we want with it.” He smiled, a weak smile, but full of love and adoration. Kira could tell he was doing his most to show her his love before they slipped away. His hand had gripped hers tightly, shaking as he filled her head with memories.
Memories of their youth, running around the forest, learning how to talk to animals and going for swims in the Swamp of Sog. Partying with podlings till sunrise and waking up in a tangle. The sleepless nights of cuddling, crying, talking, joking, reading and love. The many pranks and goofs they had done on the royal service when newly crowned. The brief memory of their son, Jarra, a short and painful yet wonderful memory. His golden hair, big dark brown eyes, chubby cheeks and a dreaded violet hue to his skin. Jen’s guilt slowly seeped in with the memories but Kira quickly caressed his hand reassuring him everything was ok.
Kira reciprocated, she shared the memory of their wedding day. It couldn’t have been any better. Their day hadn't been perfect, on the contrary, it went oppositely as planned yet it had been incredible for them both. The morning of that day had been full of breakdowns and panic attacks, Kira’s perfectly crafted dress had broken at a seam, Fizzgig had accidentally misplaced a ring which initiated a half hour long search for it and it had started to drizzle in their reception which was in the Dark Forest. Even with all these things, their day hadn’t been shined with a negative light. Jen overcame his worries, Kira made her own alterations to the dress, everyone had a laugh when the ring had been found in between Fizzgigs teeth and Jen and Kira had been the first to jump in in the rain and had their first dance. Their marriage blessed by Thra itself as wildlife scurried out and relished the scarce rain that had been occurring in the season. The memory of Jen, looking as handsome and dorky as ever, with obvious tears in his eyes but fighting them with might, and Kira who was beside herself with excitement and wore a dress so beautiful it made Jen quiver at the first sight.
They went through all they could recollect, even the tough moments like when their ruling didn’t go exactly as planned, their fights that lead to small moments of silence but in the end brought them back together stronger and a dark moment where an illness plagued them and their people. They knew well there was no good without bad so they shared it all. A lifetime of memories, shared in seconds in case they were to go now.
”Maybe where we’ll end up, Jarra will be there, we’ll see the stars with him like he wanted..” Kira said with labored breaths. Fizzgig woke up the moment he heard her struggle, whimpering and licking the side of her face as comfort. Jen’s breath shook as he nodded.
”Tell me more,” he said softly, his arms wrapping around her, caressing and planting soft kisses on the top of her head.
Out of all the years, months and days, this moment took him to the night they spent in the forest after escaping the Garthim.