Two days had passed since the return of Ryu and Rokkan. Everyone was beginning to feel uneasy. They wondered whether they would survive the impending unsealing of Shekan. It was night and they all sat around a fire, finding it quite difficult to sleep. The final moon of Tristran was set to appear the following night.
"We don't have to worry. If we can stop Nemesis before he unseals Shekan, everything will be fine" Michael said optimistically.
"I'm just worried about fulfilling my promises to Atlanta and Nemesis" Ryu said.
"You made a promise to Nemesis?" Shroud and Anna asked in shock.
"Yeah, I promised to free him from his curse of immortality" Ryu said.
"Excuse me Ryu but Nemesis is suffering from a lot of things, the one thing he definitely is not suffering from is immortality. In my opinion, I think he is happy with being immortal" Anna said.
"Then you don't know him quite well. Perhaps, I know this because we clashed fists. Nemesis' fists are filled with sorrow and so are his jutsu" Ryu said as he walked away.
"What's bothering him?" Anna asked Atlanta.
"I'll speak to him" Atlanta said as she followed Ryu to the river.
She found him sitting in front of the river with his feet in the water. He seemed to be lost in deep thought.
"Tell me Ryu, what is really bothering you?" Atlanta asked.
"Atlanta, I've been wondering. What if…Shekan's not all evil? What if there's a part of him that is actually good. Would you want me to…destroy him…or save him from his darkness?" Ryu asked.
"What is making you think about all this? Did you have an encounter with Shekan or…did someone tell you something good about him?" Atlanta asked.
Part of Ryu wanted to lie to Atlanta to keep her safe, another part wanted to tell her the whole truth but he simply remained silent.
"There is something more to this isn't there?" Atlanta asked.
Ryu stood up and turned to face Atlanta. There was a look of anguish in his eyes and Atlanta noticed it. He shut his eyes tightly as if he were in agonizing pain. His teeth were clenched and his fist was trembling uncontrollably. Atlanta noticed all this. She smiled reassuringly and approached Ryu. She held his fist in her hands.
"You don't need to tell me anything" she said.
Ryu's fist slowly relaxed.
"It's not just that. How…How am I supposed to defeat a…a…how will I keep my promise? At this rate, the alignment of the moons of Tristran will be inevitable! And then Atlanta…even if we do survive, I'll…I'll never see you again. You'll just leave and return…" Ryu was saying.
Tears streamed down Atlanta's eyes.
"Ryu…don't you think it's difficult for me too? Do you actually believe…I'd prefer to leave…LEAVE THE MAN I LOVE?!" Atlanta cried.
"Atlanta" Ryu muttered as he opened his eyes in shock.
"There, I finally said it. I love you Ryu. I love you so much and you are the first person…and the only person I've ever felt this way about. When you're with me, I feel safe. I feel like nothing could ever separate us but…it was a promise to the Dragon Of Destiny" Atlanta said sorrowfully.
"I'm pathetic aren't I? I can't even assure you that everything is going to be alright. If I hadn't died in the first place…" Ryu said regretfully.
"If you hadn't given your life to save me, I'd be dead and unlike you…it might have been forever. I don't think you're pathetic Ryu. I always said I loved you whenever you could not hear me but…I was the one that hurt you the most. And even when I'm not hurting you…I had no idea…you were always suffering for me…or rather, I chose not to believe it but…you loved me anyway and you always protected me…even from myself" Atlanta said.
Ryu hugged her tightly.
"I guess there is only one thing to do then…I'll definitely…definitely kick Tristran's tail!" Ryu declared with new determination.
Atlanta smiled.
"Tristran?" she wondered.
"Atlanta, if I manage to defeat Shekan after the alignment of the moons of Tristran…you'll stay with me won't you?" Ryu asked.
"I…I can't promise that Ryu" Atlanta said.
Ryu looked downhearted.
"I see" he said.
"But if you managed to find some good in Shekan, I'd want you to try all you possibly can…to save him from the darkness" Atlanta said and then she let go of Ryu.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Meanwhile, Michael and Nadia stood before the entrance to Hurricane's cavern. When they were away from the others, they stopped walking. They remained silent for a while. Michael took in a deep breath.
"It's a really beautiful night, don't you think?" he asked Nadia.
"I-I guess" Nadia said but she didn't seem so happy.
"Why are you so sad Nadia? Don't you believe we can all make it through this?" Michael asked.
Nadia remained silent.
"Besides, I'm sure you're going to punch all Shekan's lights out" Michael said with a laugh.
"Give it up already! Stop pretending that everything is alright! Today might be the last day we have in this life!" Nadia roared angrily.
Michael was a little shocked at first. He turned away sadly.
"I'm sorry" he said.
Nadia looked at him and saw how hurt he was.
"I know I'm not strong like Ryu and Rokkan and I feel pretty bad admitting that my little brother is stronger than I am. I couldn't even protect you from Shroud and the Shadow ninja. Someone as weak as I am doesn't deserve a strong person like you Nadia. When you received your power from Torpedo, I couldn't even congratulate you because I didn't want to look weak in front of Ryu. If there is one thing I'm proud of…it's that I've kept you all alive through all our battles so far. I thought I could make you proud of me by creating and leading a front dedicated to protecting the ryu. I didn't realize that I only made you feel lonely" Michael said as he avoided looking into Nadia's eyes.
"Michael" Nadia called as tears flowed down her eyes.
Michael was surprised to see her tears.
"I'm sorry, I've been so selfish. I was always angry with you for what you said when I received Torpedo's power. And then, you left to unite the ryu and create the resistance. I thought you cared more about defending the ryu…than you cared about me. I didn't realize that you were doing all this because you felt…weak but Michael, I've never seen you as weak. It's true you're not as strong as Ryu or Rokkan but as a strong person, I know that without a good head, it's only just a matter of time before you are defeated. I'm not really bright when it comes to other stuff, all I'm good at is brute strength so seeing you lead everyone like family…protecting everyone, even strangers you did not know…I was just awed by how compassionate you were though you sometimes act cold. When you protected everyone in the Wind ryu without letting a single person lose their lives…it made me believe…maybe…just maybe…this is the man…the man who will help me restore the Water ryu and bring happiness to my people. Before I knew it, I was in love with you Michael" Nadia said.
Michael looked her in the eyes and saw how sincere she was.
"Nadia, after all this is over and Shekan is finally defeated…will you marry me? I want to be with you forever, to protect you and…watch you punch my lights out every single day" Michael said.
Nadia laughed.
"If we live through this, I will marry you Michael" Nadia promised.
Michael leaned forward and kissed her. For those two, it seemed like time had suddenly come to a standstill.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Tanya and Rokkan were also at another part of the forest.
"Rokkan, before we begin to battle once again, I have a melody I want to play for you. I can't explain it but whenever I look at you…whenever you're close to me, this melody plays in my heart. I call it…'A New Beginning' because that is what you gave me, a new beginning, a chance to really live" Tanya said sincerely.
"Let me hear it" Rokkan said with a smile.
Tanya took out her flute and placed it to her lips, and then she began to play.
Rokkan opened his eyes in surprise as memories flooded his mind. He saw himself travelling with companions he could hardly recognize. Among them was a man who resembled Tanya very much. The man played the same melody Tanya was playing now and his flute looked exactly like Tanya's. Rokkan could hear other instruments harmonizing with the music Tanya was playing. He stared at her in awe. He could feel the power in Tanya's melody. He could feel her confidence and faith in him. After Tanya had finished playing the melody, Rokkan smiled at her.
"How do you know that tune? It's from my earliest memories" Rokkan asked her.
"I don't really know" Tanya said. "Rokkan" she called after a moment of silence.
"What is it Tanya?" Rokkan asked her.
"What do you plan to do after we defeat Shekan?" Tanya asked him.
"I guess I'll search for my family" Rokkan said.
"W-Will I be part of that family Rokkan?" Tanya asked shyly.
Rokkan was surprised at first but he smiled with joy.
"Of course, my family will not be complete without you" Rokkan said as he gazed at the stars.
Ken, Shroud, Anna and the recovered Shadow ninja had a feast. They joked, laughed and duelled one another for the fun of it. There was true happiness about. Ryu and Atlanta, Michael and Nadia, and Rokkan and Tanya joined their company a while after.
"If we're having this much fun on the eve of the total alignment of the moons of Tristran, imagine how much more fun we'll have after the defeat of Shekan" Ken laughed.
"You're quite the optimistic one aren't you?" Ryu laughed.
"That is because I believe in you, Michael, Rokkan, Nadia, and Tanya, my family" Ken said.
"We believe in you too Ken" they all said.
"Then let's not disappoint, let's conclude this epic with a big bang!" Rokkan said with a half-smile.
"Definitely!" Ryu declared with a confident smile.