I sat in my office, twisting the wooden ring that Leon had carved for me on my finger. I was uncomfortable, hot, and cranky. And I was bored. Leon was making me a cup of tea in the adjoined kitchen. Estrakulius was resting peacefully next to me against the desk. I had taken up residence in CiCi’s old office as it was easier than moving everything into mine. It had been interesting to find things about CiCi after she was gone. It made me feel like she was still here and comforted me. And she was right, all of the millions and millions of reports were very helpful, no matter how much I hated them.

Leon brought my tea and set it down in front of me, before sitting next to me with his own cup. I smiled, picked it up, and took a sip. Perfect. Some of the Caretaker’s own recipes that he sometimes sent for me. Several months ago, Leon had gone to great lengths to find him and beg him for some of his famous ‘be super calm and chill’ tea. Not that I could blame him, since he tolerated me as a lover.

“Thank you, my love,” I said gently, and he smiled at me adoringly. A little over a year had passed since we had put an end to my father, and CiCi had transcended. Leon reached over and stroked my hair. We had grown much closer than before, and now we were married. I remember the team teasing Rachel and Ivan about our decision to get married swiftly, and telling them that’s how engagements were supposed to happen.

My team was all thriving. Kora was now my Brave, joining the ranks with Artemius and Vivian who were still assigned to Claus and Leon. Elliot ran a toy store in his spare time, and he and Kora were now lovers. Apparently, the battle with the Spider-Beast had helped them grow up, or at least realize it was okay to grow up enough to be in love.

Rachel and Ivan were on paternity leave now, by my demand. They had just had a beautiful baby boy whom they had named Roland. Nakita was the same grumpy woman she always was. Now she helped teach an archery class for the younger range of Soulmates. Believe it or not, that woman was great with kids and Nakita’s favorite thing to do, other than shoot things and aggravate me, was cuddling Roland. She would make weird, smushy faces at him and speak in a strange baby-talk voice. It creeped us all out for a while, but Nakita hates adults and loves babies. It made sense to us.

Leon and I were sitting quietly, looking over the day's reports together, when I felt it. A strange pulling sensation, and for a moment, the world just felt wrong, and I gasped, looking up at Leon as he looked at me, his face furrowed. When it passed, I shook my head.

“What the hell was that?” I asked him, concern etched into my voice. I was in no condition to fight a new enemy.

“That, my love, was someone transcending into Limbo.” He answered, standing. “We should find them. Most likely, Malakaii will be the one to find them first. We will check with him.”

“Does he always find new transcendents?” I asked jokingly, and Leon nodded, grinning.

“He has a dragon. Which flies faster than horses?” He pointed out, and I paused before bursting out into laughter.

“Well. When you put it that way!” I exclaimed. “We’ll call the team on the way. We need to go!” I said excitedly. I was eager to get out of the office, and Leon frowned at me.

“You’re not in any condition to go anywhere.” He said sternly, and I glared at him.

“Leon, you are not keeping me caged up here in this office when there is a scared and confused transcended on the loose!”

“They’re probably sleeping. Remember how you slept for about three weeks?” He countered, crossing his arms. I slapped at his forearm gently with one hand, the other going to the hard lump that was now my giant belly swollen with Leon’s child.

“I am pregnant, not disabled. Nothing is going to happen to me or our little Alice. Call the team,” I insisted, and Leon scowled, opening his mouth to argue with me. Before he could, the speaker on my chest crackled,  and Malakaii’s voice came over it.

“Hey kid, you’re going to want to see this,” his old, gravelly voice emitted, and I sighed in victory as I touched my chest to reply, grinning a bit at Leon, who was glaring silently at me.

“Don’t tell me you’ve already found the transcended?” I asked, feeling a little bit disappointed at how fast that was. Here I thought I was going to get to have fun, racing the old man to find them.

“It’s not my fault! She practically landed on top of my house! The windows broke with the force!” The old man yelled into the speaker and my eyebrows went up in surprise.

“We will be there soon,” I promised before cutting off the speaker and smiling at Leon smugly. “Looks like I get to go anyway.” I teased and he huffed before throwing his hands up and leaving to gather the team and the horses. It was only a little while later that Leon, Nakita, Kora, and I were running in the direction of Malakaii’s cottage. The scenery was similar to the one that I had first walked out into the world of Limbo upon waking up at Malakaii’s house.

Forest and meadows filled the air with the sweet scent of pine and flowers as we flew our horses above the scene, taking in the shimmering warmth of the sunny sky. The journey was smooth and quiet, and it was only a couple of hours before we landed in a meadow a little ways off from Malakaii’s house. We walked the rest of the way due to the trees surrounding the little cottage. To our surprise, Malakii was already there, his face set in a grim expression, and I approached him, reaching out and putting my hand on the very tall man’s shoulder.

“In all my years here, this is something I have never seen before. Not since… well, not since Okard and I came,” he said, running his hand through his beard, looking in the direction of his house. I peered through the trees, but at this point, I could not tell anything different, and I looked up at him worriedly. “Come on, kid,” he said gruffly. I kicked my horse gently to get her to follow him and he led us through the path in the forest towards his cottage. We turned the corner around to the back of the little house, and we all squinted against a bright golden glare that met our eyes.

After a moment of shock, we blinked against the light and  turned our squinting eyes in the direction of the sparkling light. When my eyes finally registered what I saw, my mouth fell open and I inhaled sharply, my hands flying to my mouth to cover it in surprise. My heart all but stopped, and I couldn’t help but let out a sudden laugh, one that was fueled by shock and joy.

Amongst a few broken trees, almost right up against the back of the cottage were sea-green spikes and ivory claws. The magnificent golden creature was curled up in a ball, coiled protectively around a smaller figure. I struggled to get off my horse quickly, an action which made Leon jump down off his own black stallion and run to aid me. I wasn’t used to being four times my size, so getting off and on the horse was a struggle. Still, he tried to stop me from approaching the dragon, and I swiftly glared at him, narrowing my eyes.

“You will be sleeping here tonight if you do not unhand me, husband,” I growled at him, and he swiftly let me go, though the worry and defeat on his face almost made me feel bad. I approached the dragon, and when I found the point where the dragon's tail and nose met while coiled up in the ball, I took in the sight that I had been hoping to see.

“Yuzuki?” Leon asked softly, worry filling his voice.

“I’m fine,” I said, realizing now that my eyes were burning and tears had started to fall down my face. I reached up and wiped them away quickly, turning to my most trusted friends and allies, grinning.

Everyone stepped forward, curiosity on their faces and I gestured to the small sleeping woman who was curled up between the snout and tail of the gold and sea-green dragon before us.

“I would like to introduce you to someone I was very close to before I transcended here,” I explained softly, the smile on my face feeling a mile long.

“Please tell me she’s not a relative, I don't think I can handle any more of your relatives showin’ up here,” Kora said and I laughed, shaking my head vigorously.

“I promise you, she is not a relative. Everyone, this is my good friend Yuki.” I answered and Kora took in a dramatic breath, putting her hands over her heart.

“Oh, my stars! Do you mean the Yuki? The one who had premonitions? And a dragon friend? And is literally the coolest character in all of your stories of the living world EVER?!” Kora squealed and I nodded.

“She even looks the same,” I said, my gaze falling over the small woman who had a child-like appearance. “I never thought I would see her again.” I couldn’t help the cracking of my voice in emotion, and Kora came to me and wrapped her arms around me in a comforting hug.

“Bless your hormonal heart, love bug.” She murmured.

“But this is a good thing for Limbo, her being here,” Leon said, frowning. “Why are you crying?”

“Those are happy tears, you idiot. You fill her with child, expect tears. All the time. This is why I just borrow other people’s children.” Nakita said, rolling her eyes even though she smiled. “And thank the stars zat it isn’t another one of zat one’s family members.” She said, jerking her thumb at me, and I laughed.

“Thank you, Malakaii, for calling me,” I said,  and the old wizard huffed.

“I don’t know how long she’ll be asleep, but I know that if we move her that dragon will wake up angry, and my house is within biting distance of it.” Malakaii fretted, looking protectively at the little cottage he had shared with the little girl who had melted both of our hearts.

“Perhaps we can call Okard? She may be able to help communicate with Yuki’s spirit sister.” I suggested, and Malakaii stroked his beard, nodding. He pulled out his smelly pipe and took a puff.

“Sometimes you have good ideas, Kid. Let’s go inside and have a cup of tea while I call for her.” He sighed, turning to lead us all inside.

“When she wakes up, she’s going to have so many questions!” Kora gushed, and I nodded.

It wasn’t long until the scent of cinnamon and flowers filled the cottage, and I was telling my new family about the Dragon Speakers and the long history between the small woman who lay curled in the arms of her spirit sister outside. That day, they learned more about my life among the living, and we all agreed that we could not wait for her to wake up and tell us how she got here.

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Memoirs Of The In-Between: Table Of Contents

Epilogue

Endings Are Always Beginnings

I sat in my office, twisting the wooden ring that Leon had carved for me on my finger. I was uncomfortable, hot, and cranky. And I was bored. Leon was making me a cup of tea in the adjoined kitchen. Estrakulius was resting peacefully next to me against the desk. I had taken up residence in CiCi’s old office as it was easier than moving everything into mine. It had been interesting to find things about CiCi after she was gone. It made me feel like she was still here and comforted me. And she was right, all of the millions and millions of reports were very helpful, no matter how much I hated them.



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Epilogue

Endings Are Always Beginnings

About the Creator

Hope Martin

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