The Blue Rose Farewell

Seeing that the Cosmocrats were retreating during their battle, Flen, Valerius, Blackwood, and Grandmother Mimi followed them to where they were headed. Theo was surrounded by the Cosmocrats, they marked him as a traitor. He was much stronger than they were since the ritual was finished. Scarlet on the other hand was worried about Theo and contemplated how to help him.

Scarlet was feeling a little dizzy after absorbing the rest of Rose’s memories into her. Her eyes started to glow brightly.

She entered into the memory realm in her mind.

Scarlet sees Rose wearing all white sitting next to a water fountain.

“Rose?” Somehow, they can communicate in her mind.

“Yes, that’s right. You’re a Rose too, you just have forgotten.” The Rose apparition giggled as she drifted.

“I don’t know what to do, the Cosmocrats are outnumbering us. I’m afraid they will defeat us. I want to save Theo.” Scarlet said worryingly.

Rose disagreed. “No, no that’s not true. We are the biggest threat to the Cosmocrats. Back then, the nobles thought summoning unworldly beings to our land would help us, but it backfired on us. They started wanting more power and control over us. They started wiping out our lineage for ages.”

Rose looked up confidently, “We need to seal them away.”

That’s what Valerius got from the goblin, it was their secret. The Cosmocrats aren’t from this world, they were just summoned here.

Rose bumped her head with Scarlet’s. “Stop thinking us as separate, you and I must merge completely to use our ability to the fullest.” A bright light illuminated as their heads touched, and they began to fuse together. Dazzling sparks danced in the air around them.

Scarlet opened her eyes and left the memory realm. She noticed the Memory Book was taking a nap, using its wings as a blanket. She poked it to wake up and asked Roin for assistance.

“Roin, can you help read some of these pages?”

“Yes, I absolutely can, Scarlet.”

She found a spell; she started to recite it with the help of Roin. The Elder sensed danger and found Scarlet holding the untouched Memory Book.

“Stop her from chanting! She’ll destroy us!” He directed several Cosmocrats in her direction.

Meanwhile, Theo was bracing himself along with the others, they were prepared to fight against the Cosmocrat army. The Cosmocrats were all charging their spells to aim at Theo. He rolled more dice from his pockets and summoned his thirty-two chess soldiers. They were all made of marble. The pawns pushed forward against the Cosmocrats. Theo’s trusty knight leaped over the pieces and was about to strike one on the head.

Roin saw the Cosmocrats running close to attack Scarlet.

“Scarlet, please chant as quick as you can, they’re right behind us!”

She responded, “Right!”

Scarlet closed her eyes and folded her hands together and chanted:

We summoned them into the world,

For we thought they were good,

We summoned them into the world,

To help us tell right from wrong,

We banish them now, for they must go,

Shame, Shame, Shame, Shame,

We banish them now, for they must go,

Disgrace, Disgrace, Disgrace, Disgrace!

Finally, Scarlet chanted her last words, the Memory Book expanded its size once more. When it flapped its winds, it caused a giant spiral whirlwind at the Cosmocrats. They were swept up and consumed into the vortex.

AAAAahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Their screams were heard while they were in the process of being swallowed. Then, there was silence.

The dark energy that was corrupting Theo was also lifted from his body and into the book.

As the book’s pages flipped around, little people can be seen trying to escape. The book then closed temporarily.

Roin mentioned to Scarlet, “The Memory Book needs an eternal guardian, it is the only way to truly make sure it is locked away from an evildoer’s hands.”

Scarlet smiled, “If that’s how it should be, I will gladly accept.”

If I can protect the people I care about, it’s worth it.

Scarlet looked at Grandmother Mimi sadly, “You’re my real grandmother, I’m going to miss you.”

Grandmother Mimi nodded with open arms.

“Yes, I am. You remember me now… I’m going to miss you too.” She hid her tears and sniffled.

Blackwood waved his hands at Scarlet. “You’re a fighter, you’ll do us proud.” They went in for warm hug.

Kina yelled, “Hey, come back wuss! I only just got to know you and you’re leaving!” Her eyes were streaming out tears. Her face was red and puffy from crying.

Scarlet hugged Kina. “Still insulting me till the end. You will be fine without me.”

Flen overheard everything and his facial expression was gloomy.

“Flen!” Exclaimed Scarlet.

“I would not mind spending an eternity with you,” Flen said softly.

“You shouldn’t throw your life away for this.” Scarlet was concerned.

“I’ll stay by your side for as long as you’d have me, Miss Scarlet... Rose.”

She jumped in his arms and hugged him.

There were footsteps running towards her.

She turned to look, and it was Theo, she looked at him happily. She held his hands gently.

“You’re free now, you can do whatever.” Scarlet smiled wide.

“It won’t be the same without you.” Theo was saddened.

“It’s all my fault; I brought you into this world again to disappear.” He started to shed tears.

“I wanted a second chance…. a second chance with you, and learned that from the wise old man, you were alive and well living in another other world. I thought bringing you back here would make everything okay again.”

Scarlet spoke, “I want you to live freely on your own terms. You came into my world and gave me a reason to live. Now, I want to do the same for you.”

He can live without the shadows of his other self and orders from others.

Pim interrupted and whimpered, “Woo, woo.”

“Aww Pim, my sweet Pim.” Scarlet hugged the creature tightly. His hoof was on her shoulder, not wanting to let go. He licked her face.

She looked at Pim, “Now since I won’t be around as much, you’ll have to look after Grandmother Mimi and Theo for me.”

“Wooo, Woo,” Pim cried.

She pressed her lips on Pim’s forehead, giving him a goodbye kiss.

She turned to Theo again and placed a hand on his cheeks delicately.

“Theo, live for me.”

Flen looked at him. “Please forgive me Theo, I blamed you for a lot of things that weren’t really your fault.” They shook hands.

Theo’s eyes were filled with melancholy, “I never blamed you for it.”

It was time for the eternal guardians of the book to assemble.

The Memory Book came for them using its wings to wrap around Scarlet and Flen. They flew up in the sky while being right by each other’s side.

Scarlet then pulled the blue rose from her headband and tossed it down to Theo.

Carried by the wind, the blue rose, swayed in a delicate final waltz before reaching the receiver. It gently fell into his hands, after one touch, the world drastically changed around him with cheerful voices in the air and vibrant colors filled the corners of every street. The threat was no more, and peace had returned once again.