"Eternal Journey"
Ch.20?
"Long Lost Legacy"
"Misery....and Acceptance...." I thought quietly as I meditated on the grass.
"A friend, A brother, A companion....all to be lost...and here I stand, alone...knowing that I must take his place...
"But who am I to fill such big shoes? Who am I to say that I am going to take the place of the all-mighty Jaden? I'm just a kid....Someone who gave him a dim hope of surviving the fight against Ashura...A Kid...that loved him so much that I would give my own life so he would be happy...Now I have given up the fight and given my strength and love to him, but he has forgotten me...forgotten every reason I fought so hard for him...He will lie with the Dark One and smile because he thinks that is his Destiny...and I will stand, hopeless in helping him Fight the Darkness any longer...I lost because I had to let him go. I got my heart broken because I let him choose...I gave him free will to move on and allow himself to enshroud himself in darkness and not care about love...I allowed him to walk into his own destruction...because he believed it to be his destiny..."
A Glimpse Into The Future...
As my mind flooded with a blinding white light, I realized I had dropped into a state of unconsciousness. A figure with features unidentifiable appeared in front of me. I was in my white hooded robe. Instinctively, I knew this figure. She was my Mother and Creator, Gaia.
"Many a thing I have to show you, my child..." she spoke gently and her voice was like that of a trickling stream. Her arm raised and all I could see was the cuff of her robe sleeve in front of my eyes. I felt as if a sickening stroke of reality had hit me. The white surrounding area faded and I stood in the center of a war-torn city.
Beneath the exterior of the smouldering buildings and burnt skies, children played in the streets. It looked like a 3rd-world country, where as little as they had, the children still could have fun. No need of Electronic devices to keep their time occupied.
I strode upon the dirt and broken-pavement roads, and came upon a large cemetery.
Thousands of un-marked graves with dandelions and other small tokens of mourning lie beneath my feet. I felt a jolt run through me as one headstone stood out. There was no statue of memorial, or great inscriptions...just the name that it bore...etched in crude capitalized letters were the words:
JADEN DACARA MCCLOUD
Loving Brother, and Leader of Nations in the Great War.
May he rest in Peace and may his legacy live on forever.
1982-2005
I saw in my mind's eye all of the events that passed: Jaden fighting Ashura and the rest of humankind standing by with weapons of war. Jaden releasing the ultimate attack of Time Crash....and everything within a 40-mile radius was destroyed, burnt to dust...as well as Jaden and Ashura...And Jaden feeling it was a necessary measure because his soul had become as dark as hers. He had fought both side for so long, and just gave in...destroying it all. He had sacrificed his own life for the lives of others.
Hot tears streamed down my face and my knees collapsed. The dry red earth stained my robes and I touched the headstone. It was cold, and I felt bitter anger towards the world. I knew there was no way I could have stopped this War...but I wished there was a way to prevent this from happening.
Words spilled into my brain, a dull echo as if it was not of my own voice. Dry and brittle, speaking of great wisdom....it was my own...only older.
I...failed because I let him walk into his own trap...I let him tear into his own pain...
So here I stand, walking in his path, taking the same steps toward destroying evil, just as he did...teaching others, hoping he may be proud of me...Knowing that no matter what, he still loves me.
I walk the road less traveled...lonely but not alone...I learn from my brother's mistakes, I do not indulge in such emotions like sorrow and pain, and fear...nor do I hide them...I just deal with them...as for the pain of others is stronger than my own, I can help them with what I feel now. Teaching the next generations of the experiences I have had, this is my way of life.
I live every day as if it is my last, but I do not allow darkness in any way, shape or form into my life...I live alone in the forest, secluded, but still in touch with friends and family...a young nomad, like Jaden once dreamed of being. I train the ones under me as he once trained me...
The voice trailed off and I was left alone with a greater knowledge.
I stared up at the tree next to the headstone. It had yearned to grow, now it had an enormous trunk and even though its branches were dry and scraggly, it still was alive, with as little water was available to it.
I glanced over once more to the children playing in the street...and realized that even in the greatest losses, can come true joy.
The bright light flooded out the vision of the desecrated town and soon I was with Gaia again; my robes were no longer soiled and my eyes without streaks of tears. I wanted to hold my head in my hands and cry again. This was not what I wanted from the future.
"You see, everything in life has its purpose, and its place...everything in life has its consequences...and you, my daughter, have yet to see the true consequences of your actions...this is merely a branch on the tree of the ever-winding paths of Jaden McCloud...what you have seen may or may not come to pass...be wise in your decisions...for they are linked to his fate..."
The figure faded into the light and soon I regained my surroundings...The grass beneath my feet and the beautiful blue sky above...
Tears streamed down my face as I turned to walk back inside. This great gift Gaia had given me, allowed me to remember just how much life should be treasured. I walked inside and hugged Jaden and told him I love him...perhaps for the last time. But I will focus on how much be gained in the future, not what can be lost.
I know one thing for sure. I am going to take his place and I am going to make him proud.
