Zodiac Circle

Epilogue

People were gathered at the central cathedral of the Zariel realm, which lay at the foot of the Placidus Mountain. A deep voice spoke through the cathedral hall at the altar while the crowds of people eagerly listened to him, all of them dressed in black suits and beautiful, festive dresses:

"Brothers and sisters of the Rose Cruce, we have gathered here today to unite the hearts of our two brethren with the solid ties of marriage. Let us send our kindest wishes to them for their bright future! 

"Scott Blutendorf the Golden Mars Celestial Lord, and Danielle Schatzen the Golden Venus Celestial Lady - these two brethren of ours need our whole support on this important day of theirs!"

At the altar, Scott, dressed in an elegant black suit, and Danielle in a beautiful white wedding dress, stood together, smiling to each other and blushing at the same time. Both of them looked back at Edmund, who was the exact one to lead the wedding ceremony and make the speeches.

"Brother Scott, do you pledge your love and loyalty to your chosen one, Danielle, for eternity to come?"

"I do".

"Do you pledge the oath to be forever supportive of your beloved, and aid her at all costs, no matter how difficult the times may be?"

"I do!"

"Sister Danielle," Edmund now turned to the woman, "Do you likewise pledge your love and loyalty to your chosen one, Scott, for eternity to come?"

"I do".

"Do you further on pledge the oath to be forever supportive of your beloved, and aid him at all costs, no matter how difficult the times may be?"

"I do!"

"Well then, by the power bestowed upon me as the Magister of our sacred Order, I, Edmund Jaeger, hereby pronounce you husband and wife!"

The groom and the bride brightened and turned towards each other. Scott bent closer to Danielle and softly touched her lips with his own. They exchanged a loving kiss. The crowd roared with happiness and whistled and clapped, applauding for the newly wedded.

"Hurray!" Tiger and Riza, wearing wonderful festive dresses, whooped in joy and hugged each other, "We're real sisters now!"

Tamie and the other 'sisters' of theirs, all standing beside them, watched them with smiles. They were joyful for their dearest friends - finally, both of them had formed a giant devoted family...

"Well, I guess you know what this means, brethren," Edmund spoke again, now with a grin, tearing off the mask of a wedding priest, "Back to the Zodiac Palace! We throw a party!"

"Yeah!!!" 

The people deafened the hall with whoops. Everyone rushed out of the cathedral up the hills, towards the Peak of Placidus where their Order Headquarters lay. 

Tiger, Riza, Tamie, and the 'sisters' sat on the back of Getsuryuu, who had taken his dragon form, while the newly wedded couple - Scott and Danielle - were taken up by Fireball, who had also turned into a dragon.

Once the brethren reached the Zodiac Palace, they all barged in and a grand party began. Of course, the elegant hall of the Palace couldn't change the usual mood of the Rose Cruce members - they sat and enjoyed the feast for a while, but after drinking alcohol, they got drunk as usual and whooped and danced and sang to their fullest. Many of them personally congratulated the newly wedded couple. Others who weren't that close with them just enjoyed the party, joyful for their brethren.

Danielle finally found happiness within - she had formed a true family, with an amazing man, and two beautiful daughters... However, at one moment, when she and Scott were enjoying their dance at their wedding party, Danielle caught a glimpse of Fireball in his human form walk out on the second-floor terrace somewhat gloomily. There, she recalled - her previous husband, Marvin Wagner (who had long been sent to a special prison of outrageous criminals after he had been defeated in the Zodiac Council), had killed a lot of dragons in his active years, and it included, according to Scott's words, Fireball's family too. Goose-bumps ran down her spine - could it be..?

Noticing her sudden uneasiness, Scott raised an eyebrow:

"Dana, dear, what's wrong?"

"Scott," Danielle stopped dancing, tiny tears gathering in her eyes, "Back when you told me about Fireball... of how... how Marvin Wagner destroyed his family... Was there perchance something more that you did not mention?"

"Why such a question in all of a sudden?"

"I saw how he sadly left the hall just now..."

"Oh," Scott mechanically looked around, searching for Fireball. Then, he heaved a sigh: "I didn't want to tell you because... I didn't want you to worry too much".

"W... What is it?" Danielle clutched his shoulders - so there indeed was something!

"Well... When I said Fireball lost his family to Marvin Wagner's hands, I did not mean his parents. They were long deceased. I meant... his wife and daughter".

Danielle widened eyes in dread - his wife and daughter?! 

Tears gushed from her eyes - her former husband, Riza's very own father, had massacred Fireball's family, and not just any family but a wife and a daughter?! Goodness!

She felt Scott's arms embrace her and press her to his chest:

"Dana, please, I..."

"It is fine..." Danielle managed to mumble through her tears, "It is fine, Scott. Thank you for telling me".

At night, when the party had ended, Danielle walked out on the terrace and indeed found whom she was looking for - Fireball in his human form, leant on the balustrade of the large terrace, watching the starry sky. As he heard soft footsteps behind him, he flinched and looked back.

"Ah, hello, Danielle... Why here so late?"

Danielle walked up to him and cast her eyes down in sadness and sorrow.

"Fireball, Scott told me about... well, about your family..." tears had gathered in her eyes, "I am so sorry..." she covered her face with her hands, unable to hold the tears back anymore, "I am truly so sorry..."

She felt a warm touch her head. She started and looked up at Fireball, only to see his kind gaze upon her.

"Why are you apologizing? You haven't done anything".

"But, that man was my husband, and... Riza's father..."

"Still has nothing to do with you. I'm sure Scott has told you already - neither he nor I hold grudges. What has happened has happened. I'm not the type to dwell in the past. I live and walk forward, for their sake, too..." Fireball looked up at the sky again.

Danielle blinked in stupefaction - a dragon, and so kind?!

I guess, in the end, humans turn out to be the cruellest creatures...

"She was like Riza, by the way..."

"Huh?"

"Amethyst, my daughter... Riza reminds me of her a lot. Added that she too was a Sagittarius," Fireball chuckled. "I am so glad Scott has got to experience what it means to be a father, and he has such a wonderful family now..."

Danielle watched him with amazement. Then, she beamed and hugged him:

"You are a kind dragon".

Fireball blushed:

"Thanks..."

The new family of Scott and Danielle finally came together, including Scott's faithful companion dragon, Fireball. Thus, the Rose Cruce Order became even more solid of a family than it ever was before - the place where both dragons and humans lived in harmony and peace.

The Royal Order where resided the guardians of the eternal zodiac circle.

____

The book "Zodiac Circle" can be purchased on Amazon both in electronic and paperback forms on the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFKXQWR