Atlanta stared at Ryuujinn. She didn't know what to say. She didn't really understand any of what had just happened, Ryu transforming into Ryuujinn, Ryu being the Dragon Zone. She didn't understand any of it and she didn't really care. She only wanted her Ryu, the man she fell in love with.
"So Ryu…you're Ryuujinn huh?" she asked.
Ryuujinn smiled.
"I am the same Ryu you've always known Atlanta" Ryuujinn said.
"We finally did it. We defeated Tristran in spite of all the odds we faced" Atlanta said.
"Yes, we did. I finally fulfilled my destiny" Ryuujinn said.
Crystal and the other Dragon Saints bowed before Ryuujinn.
"So you can turn back into a human…and we can all go home, right?" Atlanta said though she knew in her heart that it wasn't going to be so.
Ryuujinn remained silent.
"Right Ryu?" Atlanta asked with a trembling voice.
She knew what his answer was going to be but she didn't want to believe it.
"I'm sorry Atlanta…but I cannot do that" Ryuujinn shook his head. "This technique, succumbing to the power of my soul…was a one way ticket" he said.
"N-No, no way, that means…" Atlanta said in shock as tears began to flow down her face.
"Yes…Atlanta, I will remain a dragon…for eternity" Ryuujinn said.
"No! You're lying! You're lying!" Atlanta screamed in denial.
"No, I'm not" Ryuujinn said.
"Why?! If you knew that…this would be the outcome, why did you do it without thinking of how I would feel?!" Atlanta wept.
"I did it precisely because I love you. As long as you were alive…I didn't care about anything else. Besides that, I failed…I failed to keep my promise to you. And I don't want you to return to a hell of loneliness so…I decided to choose that path instead. I decided that I would return to a life of loneliness in your place" Ryu said.
Atlanta hugged Ryuujinn's foreleg.
"But I don't want that Ryu. I want…to be with you" Atlanta said sadly.
"I'm sorry Atlanta but…we can no longer be together. My duty now is to the world, the ryu. I must learn to control my powers. I will return now…to the centre of creation" Ryuujinn said.
"Take me with you" Atlanta pleaded.
"I cannot…do that. Atlanta…I want you to find happiness. Even if that happiness is without me" Ryuujinn said.
Then he walked to Shekan and Nemesis' bodies.
"You two have suffered for so long. I forgive you for all your sins. Rise to the heavens and enjoy an eternity of bliss" Ryuujinn said as he breathed over their bodies.
Shekan and Nemesis' spirits came out of their bodies. They talked excitedly. The others couldn't believe that those two were the enemies they had once feared and despised.
"Now, it is time for me to return" Ryuujinn said as he ascended into the heavens.
"RYU!!!" Atlanta cried.
Michael and the others were shocked and sad as well but not as sad as Atlanta was. They were actually quite happy for Ryu, though they felt sad for the fact that they knew they would not see him for a lifetime.
Ryuujinn clenched his jaw tightly. Hearing Atlanta call him so desperately and seeing the pain in her eyes was like death to him.
"I now understand why Master Hiruko said that I'd pay the ultimate price" Ryuujinn said as tears filled his eyes.
Atlanta fell on her knees and wept bitterly.
"What do we do now?" Ken asked.
"Why don't we pay our final respects to the memory of Ryu at Ryu no kokoro?" Rokkan suggested.
Atlanta nodded sorrowfully.