Albireo's End

The final Gate slowly rumbled open. Figures of the enemies they had slain leered down at Conlei and Albireo. They're obvious menace contrasted clearly with sweet music that filtered in from the room beyond, sweet music that touched Albireo's soul in a way he couldn't quite describe. Both he and Conlei were surprised to see the inside of the room. Instead of the Treasure room or Dungeon they had been anticipating, they found themselves standing in the grandest cathedral either had ever seen. White marble flowed around from a midpoint in a circular pattern that extended all the way up the walls, and met again around a gigantic stained glass window near the top of the vaulted structure. The window was in the shade of a great Wyrm in the color of the sky at dusk. Rows of pews all faced an ornate black marble alter adorned with images of sun, moon, and stars. But it was behind this alter where their eyes were drawn, despite the golden figurines around and the magnificence of the mural that covered the roof.

Behind the Alter was a stature of a girl, beautiful with stunningly perfect features and hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her face and pooled at her shoulders. From all around there were chains running around the girl, tying her firmly to the ground. Her face was placid and peaceful, yet seemed to gasp for aid at the same time. It was sad, yet somehow beautiful, and most disturbingly of all, it seemed....right.

Albireo approached the alter, Spear in hand and gazed down on it. On its top there was a slot, surrounded by the symbols of Moon and Sun. The slot itself was inside of a star, and it seemed the perfect size for...

“The spear..” He whispered as he looked down on his second spear, the one Corbenik had created for him. Unlike the Divine Spear of Wotan, this one embodied what Albireo lived for, not what some uncaring God did. It's thin blade mirrored the slender form of Albireo himself, yet it shared the same strength of purpose that he did.

He exulted in this moment for a split second, then plunged the spear into the opening. It fit mechanically, and for an instant nothing happened. Then the world was torn asunder. The music intensified in volume and tone, becoming a shrieking wail in Albireo's ears, as though a thousand souls were being ripped to shreds even as he listened. Light started to spill from the statue.

Albireo stepped back quickly, all the way back to the gate where Conlei stood. He began to shield his eyes as the light grew more strong. The chains slithered off the girl like headless snakes. The stone slowly changed into flesh and clothing as the girl became real.
Finally, the light dimmed into a halo around the girl. The music transformed into a haunting hymn that sent terror through both Albireo and Conlei.

“The Angelic maiden...” She whispered softly at Albireo's approach. The girl nodded slowly, the sighed deeply.

“You should not of woken me...You begin a great sorrow.”

At her words, a roar filled the cathedral. It was loud and bestial and it echoed off the marble until it finally faded almost half a minute after it had sounded. Then it came again, this time shaking the temple to its very roots. The window shattered and fell to the ground. As it did the pieces joined together, fusing together to form a whole. Before Albireo's stunned eyes, the glass shards turned themselves into a real representation of the Dragon they had depicted. The Dragon spread it's blue-black wings and landed softly on the temple's floor, near the girl. It was a terrible sight to behold. His head was great maw topped with hate-filled eyes and wicked horns. As soon as it landed it swiped at the girl with it's long talons, but she nimbly floated out of the way of the blow. Albireo was astounded by her ability to simply fly, though he dashed the admiration in a moment as he realized he had more pressing concerns.

“The Twilight Dragon...It is said to be it that will end our world and bring on another Darkness...” Conlei whispered again, though this time her voice trembled in fear. Albireo tightened his grip on the spear, ready to fight but completely ignorant as to how he should do so. Conlei was literally shaking in fear of the beast, nearly dropping her staff as a tremble passed through her. Albireo moved closer to her, and took her hand in his. She reacted stronger to that then to even the dragon, almost jumping away from him despite her fear.

Why don't you just leave? Her former words rang in his head, said in the Labyrinth they had endured to get here. Spoken after Albireo had given up part of his soul in exchange for her life. Spoken after they had shared the greatest journey a man could ask for. Albireo's terror was suddenly swallowed by his sorrow, and he nearly languished in it as he watched the girl and the dragon fight.

“This is an enemy you cannot fight with Hate.” The girl said as she dodged another swipe, and went in herself with a tiny dagger she had produced. She stabbed the clawed hand and the blade bit through. Frost crept out from the wound and spread all up the Dragon's arm. It roared in fury and the other arm came across at the girl. She tried to wrench her dagger out and pull out of harms way, but it was stuck fast. Albireo watched as the hope for his people was struck down by the dragon's claw.

She took the blow on the shoulder, and it sent her flying up into the wall. She slowly floated to the ground as the dragon thrashed, trying to pull out the irritating dagger. The girl came to a rest on the ground before Albireo and Conlei. Albireo knew that she was finished. The claws had rent the whole front of her body, and he could see the blood pulse out in time to her heartbeat.

“'All our hopes...Gone.”he said as he watched the Angelic Maiden die before him.
“Hope? Dead? no. I was never the hero, Albireo. I was only the messenger. It is you that will defeat this evil and balance our world once again. Everything you have suffered here was to prepare you for that one truth. That is what I exist for. This was never my fight, it is yours. You are the Hero of Twilight. Now go at take up your fate...” Her voice trailed off as the color drained from her face. She smiled, and the sight lit a fire in Albireo's heart. Then her eyes fluttered closed and the flowing blood slowed to a mere trickle.

Albireo stared at the dragon, still trying to pull out the icy blade. He looked back down at the dead girl. Then finally he looked over at Conlei, who was still in terror of this force she could never fight. Albireo didn't blame her for a second. How could they fight this? But yet he knew in his heart that he must try, and so he turned back to the dragon and hefted his spear. He let out a battle cry, then charged down the pews towards the Wyrm.

From the first blow Albireo knew it was a doomed effort. As he and the Dragon met, Albireo dodged the dragons attempt to bite him and stabbed his spear into the dragons chest, using all the momentum of the run to try to pierce the scales there. The spear slid as though it had been glass, and Albireo nearly tripped from the loss of balance he incurred after. Albireo made a desperate lunge for the Dragon's frosted arm, and caught the dagger that was lodged there. For him it came out smoothly, and Albireo cast his spear back across the cathedral. It slid to a stop before Conlei's feet, and she propped it up against the wall next to her.

Albireo wielded the dagger awkwardly, he had never found the need for such a weapon. He found that the dragon was much more intelligent then he had expected, as it coordinated it's attacks well, and it took all of Albireo's skill and speed to keep out of the way of the deadly claws and jaws. He stabbed every once in a while, when there was an opening, but soon realized that the small blade was more of a nuisance then an actual hindrance to the mighty dragon. After one particularly nasty blow, the dragon reared up and roared again, once again making it seem as if the whole world was falling apart. Then it drove it's head down towards Albireo, his mouth opened to display rows of deadly incisors. Albireo dove out of the way, but still felt his ankle get flayed by the teeth. Desperate for any advantage, Albireo scrambled to his feet and ran back to the dragons head. Mustering all of his strength and courage, Albireo fell, his blade point out beneath him...right into the Dragon's eye.

This roar was much less intimidating, much more pain-wracked, and no less intense. Albireo fell to his knees as the sound overwhelmed him, then watched as if in another life as the Dragon's tail whipped towards him. He felt it was a bad time to realize that the dragons' tail had a cruel point, as this is something that you usually need to know before it enters your body.

The tail ripped through Albireo's armor, and struck straight and true to his chest, piercing a lung and shattering his rib cage along his whole right side. He stared down, dazed, at the tail that extended through his whole body. Then he looked up into the dragon's eyes. He tried to speak, but only a bloody foam came out. The Wyrm snarled and a claw ripped through Albireo's flesh. The force sent him through the pews and into the wall where his spear was, which fell on top of him. Conlei shrieked as she looked at this wounds. Albireo didn't care. He couldn't feel much of anything anymore.

Unfortunately, the Dragon's head whipped around to Conlei at the sound of her voice, and it's one good eye glowed red. It started to walk down the aisle towards her, then it's speed increased to a frenzied charge.

Albireo could do nothing but stare, and see what would happen in his minds eye. The Dragon would rend her flesh apart, and they would fail. Utterly. Not only would they fail, but she would die. The only thing that mattered in his life, would be gone. Her light would be extinguished forever.

And why not? A spiteful voice in his head asked him. What had she done to him? Spurned him and avoided him ever since she had changed her heart and rejected his. What made him think that she deserved better?

As the Dragon ran and his sight started to grow white around the edges, Albireo berated himself. He new what she needed, what she wanted. And he could give it to her. As he looked, three images started to spiral around the beam of pure light streaming in through the broken window. One was a man, dressed in the attire of a warrior and a knight, with shining shield and longsword in hand. IT wore his face, and he knew it as part of himself. The next wore scholars robes and glasses, along with a face that was all too familiar. Maseru, the spirit that had lived in him and showed him the truth when he needed him most. Then the third came into focus. It was himself, just as he was there. The only difference was in the eyes. While Albireo's left was green and right Ruby, this figures left was Ruby and right Green. Like a mirror. Corbenik. His soul given manifestation.

you know what you must do. they all said in unison.

Yes...Yes I do. He thought as he gripped his spear once more in his hands. All three parts of his soul grabbed their weapons at once, and Albireo felt a great strength return in him. The spear gave off a white glow, one just like that that had surrounded the girl. He rose to his feet, and roared defiance once more, just as the Dragon was approaching Conlei. He charged it even as it's claws raked through the air towards the woman he loved. Albireo's spear pierced the bottom of the Dragon's head, going though to the brain, even as the Dragon's attack that was meant for Conlei tore into Albireo's flesh once again. He went flying into the walls once again, this time with a sickly thump and a spray of blood, and didn't move. The dragon thrashed, and Conlei ran towards Albireo as it lashed out all around in its death throes. Finally, it's good eye darkened, and it too rested.

Conlei quietly approached Albireo's body. He still breathed, though very shallowly and his blood was everywhere. Conlei's healing skills told her that he was doomed to death. Almost as shocking, though strangely right to her mind, was that his spear was shattered all about him. She stared into his odd eyes as he struggled to speak, one las t time.

“We...We won.” He said through the blood and his injuries.

Conlei started to cry as he smiled. “Yes. Yes we did.”

He met her gaze, and shakily reached over and put his hand on her own. Her's was clean and perfect in it's just-tannedness. His was covered in his own blood and gray with his impending death.

He looked into her green eyes and mouthed “I love you softly.”. Then he stifled a moan, and stiffened. After a moment his breath stopped. Conlei reached and closed his eyes, then started crying.

Albireo was dead.

Author's note:
Despite how much this might look like the end, it's not. It should be painfully obvious that Albireo and his journey represent me and my own life. He faces after trial to come to the end of his purpose, to...what? The problem is that I don't know. I don't know how this will end, but I've included both possibilities here. I hope either of them will help. There are some obvious similarities. In fact to a point they're the same, but it all depends on one important variable that drastically changes the stories' end.

Ending 1:

“What do you do with a second chance?”

The halls were quiet but for Conlei's sobs. She had taken the dead hand in her own and stared down at the dead man that had given up so much for her. Had he deserved this? Any of this? She knew what she could do, and even as she felt her heart breaking for his death she prepared herself to bring him back. She had trained her whole life as a healer, and she knew that resurrection was not an unheard of occurrence. And she knew that she could do it now. From within herself, she brought forth the power she would need, but was then interrupted. A hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

“It won't work.”A voice whispered in her ear.

She jumped up immediately, turned, and leveled her staff at...Albireo. No, it wasn't him, but it looked just like him. She was stunned, and lowered her staff slowly.

“Who...are you?” She asked, though she thought she knew the answer already. He had t he taint of a phase, and there was only one of those cursed beings left alive.

“I am Corbenik. Also known as the Rebirth. I'm the manifestation of who Albireo was, not what he showed to the world. You  can't bring him back.”

“Yes I can! I have the power.” She was starting to grow angry despite the tears. Who did this...THING, think he was to speak to her like this?

“You have the power, but you're missing on variable. Think, there's one variable you're missing here. What did all the people who've ever come back have in common?”

Conlei thought he was trying to trick her, then began to cast the spell despite him. Golden light poured from her eyes and mouth, her black hair lit up in the brilliant radiance of the power she had called forth. The light curved and entered Albireo, then faded. And nothing happened. Then she knew.

“They have to want to return...” She whispered as she stared down at Albireo once more.

“Exactly, and he's not. Not for you at least. He died doing what he believed was right. I was there with him in the end. His last thoughts were for you and your life, but beyond that it was for your happiness. He resolved to give you the one thing he had left to give you, that had been missing, that one thing that could heal the wound between you both that you caused when you denied him.”

“What...” She asked.

“Closure. He bought wit h his life what had avoided you two. Closure. You wouldn't take him, and he wouldn't give you up. He destroyed himself fighting a war he couldn't win, fighting against himself. What was he to do? Betray what he believed and lose the only one who had ever stood beside him? Or would he fight you and everyone to keep you, even if it would never work? How could you possibly answer a question like that? How could you pose a question like that to someone. And so he ended it. He died. And for you. Now you're free of him. In the end he didn't care about this quest or his life. Only about you. And so he did the only thing he could.”

“So he ran away from the problem? Why couldn't he just accept it? Would that of been so terrible? Would everything change so badly? Why-”

“You stupid girl. You really don't understand do you? Have you looked at how you've acted lately? He trades me part of who he is to bring you back to life, and do you even give him a thank you? No. He tried to comfort you before the might of a Dragon, and you shirked away from him. Hell I'D of taken his hand then!” The Phase's face grew red as he let out the pent up anger of a soul too long abused. “And he bore it all in silence. All of it. You watched as Orca and Balmung fell away from you for what you had done, then blamed that on him. ON HIM! You sent wicked words that left barbs in his spirit that no one should be forced to live with. Only one person there had any reason to hate you, and where was that one person always to be found?”

“Right by my side...” She whispered as her eyes strayed to Albireo once again. She knelt beside him and stroked his hair, pulling it back from his content face. “He was always there when I needed him... And for what did I do to deserve it? He should of hated me...I hated him for loving me. I...I don't think I would come back if our places were reversed either...”

“Better that you had faced Sevein's mirrors, maybe this would of never happened. But now it has, and I ask you, what will you do about it? He wont come back for you, not like this.”

Conlei's hand wound it's way over to the broken spearhead, and her fingers wrapped around it's edge. Through her tears she looked at Albireo's face once more, then faced the Phase.

“Then I will go to him!” She took the spear head and made to plunge it into her own heart. But she couldn't. Not for lack of trying, but it was as if some force was keeping her hands back Then she realized that a bloodied hand had grabbed her arm, and she looked up at the Phase before her. He was fading, even as she heard shallow breathing start again behind her.

“No. You've looked into your own mirror now. Phases exist to teach humans, and now I've taught you both. I will give you him. For me he will come, and now for you he will live.” As Corbenik finished he faded completely from view, becoming nothing more then a few twinkling fragments of stone that fell to the ground. They were ten diamonds that shattered as they fell, each releasing a small white orb. These spiraled into the air and joined together, becoming that much larger and brilliant. Then the larger orb shot into Albireo, who was just starting to come about. For a brief moment Conlei thought she saw an image of three people, each similar in appearance to Albireo. The images superimposed onto each other and became one in the blaring light before her. Then it was done and Albireo gasped for breath. His wounds were healed completely, and even his armor was intact.

“What...what happened?” He asked dumbly, his face marred with confusion.

“I made my choice...” She said as she took his head in her arms and cradled it to herself. “And you'll never be alone again.”

Ending 2:

”Learn to be lonely,
Life can be lived, life can be lived, Alone.”


The halls were quiet but for Conlei's sobs. She had taken the dead hand in her own and stared down at the dead man that had given up so much for her. Had he deserved this? Any of this? She knew what she could do, and even as she felt her heart breaking for his death she prepared herself to bring him back. She had trained her whole life as a healer, and she knew that resurrection was not an unheard of occurrence. And she knew that she could do it now. From within herself, she brought forth the power she would need, but was then interrupted. A hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

“It won't work.”A voice whispered in her ear.

She jumped up immediately, turned, and leveled her staff at...Albireo. No, it wasn't him, but it looked just like him. She was stunned, and lowered her staff slowly.

“Who...are you?” She asked, though she thought she knew the answer already. He had t he taint of a phase, and there was only one of those cursed beings left alive.

“I am Corbenik. Also known as the Rebirth. I'm the manifestation of who Albireo was, not what he showed to the world. You  can't bring him back.”

“Yes I can! I have the power.” She was starting to grow angry despite the tears. Who did this...THING, think he was to speak to her like this?

“You have the power, but you're missing on variable. Think, there's one variable you're missing here. What did all the people who've ever come back have in common?”

Conlei thought he was trying to trick her, then began to cast the spell despite him. Golden light poured from her eyes and mouth, her black hair lit up in the brilliant radiance of the power she had called forth. The light curved and entered Albireo, then faded. And nothing happened. Then she knew.

“They have to want to return...” She whispered as she stared down at Albireo once more.

“Exactly, and he's not. Not for you at least. He died doing what he believed was right. I was there with him in the end. His last thoughts were for you and your life, but beyond that it was for your happiness. He resolved to give you the one thing he had left to give you, that had been missing, that one thing that could heal the wound between you both that you caused when you denied him.”

“What...” She asked.

“Closure. He bought wit h his life what had avoided you two. Closure. You wouldn't take him, and he wouldn't give you up. He destroyed himself fighting a war he couldn't win, fighting against himself. What was he to do? Betray what he believed and lose the only one who had ever stood beside him? Or would he fight you and everyone to keep you, even if it would never work? How could you possibly answer a question like that? How could you pose a question like that to someone. And so he ended it. He died. And for you. Now you're free of him. In the end he didn't care about this quest or his life. Only about you. And so he did the only thing he could.”

“So he ran away from the problem? Why couldn't he just accept it? Would that of been so terrible? Would everything change so badly? Why-”

“You stupid girl. You really don't understand do you? Have you looked at how you've acted lately? He trades me part of who he is to bring you back to life, and do you even give him a thank you? No. He tried to comfort you before the might of a Dragon, and you shirked away from him. Hell I'D of taken his hand then!” The Phase's face grew red as he let out the pent up anger of a soul too long abused. “And he bore it all in silence. All of it. You watched as Orca and Balmung fell away from you for what you had done, then blamed that on him. ON HIM! You sent wicked words that left barbs in his spirit that no one should be forced to live with. Only one person there had any reason to hate you, and where was that one person always to be found?”

“Hiding form what was so simple for him to do!” She retorted, anger filling her eyes as well. “He brought all of this on himself! I didn't ask for any of it! I would have been happy if he had just LEFT ME ALONE. I hate him, I hate it. He was so strong, so resolute, and yet he couldn't let go of something so simple! You preach at me, but I tell you that he deserves exactly what happened to him! He died to escape, and for me or no I'm not going to honor that. He was weak. So weak he couldn't even lose something as trivial as what we had.”

“For him it was far from trivial...”

“I never asked for his love! I never asked for him to die for me! I never asked for him to ask me every day what was on my mind! I never asked for him to stifle me with his damn caring! I never asked for him to fight what I said every step of the way. I just wanted to live my own life...I just wanted him to leave me alone...”

“And isn't the fact that he wouldn't accept that proof enough of his love? No one should ever be alone. And to him you meant the world. Don't you think he was killing himself every time he hurt you? What do you think went through his mind when you cursed him for being weak, just because he wasn't doing what you wanted?! He was the strongest man you could ever of met! He fought against impossible odds to keep something that meant more to him then his very life, and yet you scorned him for it. He wasn't too weak to let go, he was too strong to do it! Better that you had met Sevein then him, you're the one who need to look into his cursed mirrors!”

“I know what I want and what is within me, and damn him if he'll act against it.”

“I think it's a bit late for that...” Corbenik sighed as he turned to the broken body lying on the marble floor.

“Corbenik. Who are you really?”

“I'm the only person who's never abandoned him. I'm the only one who gives a damn about who he is and what he wants from this life. I'm the only one who'd do anything to make his life better, and I'm the only one who'd give any part of myself up for him. I am himself. He's never had anyone but me, and I'll be with him forever. Just like he'd of done for you.”

They both stood quietly for a moment, then Conlei suddenly turned and left. She walked right out the gate, shutting it behind her with a loud note of finality. The music that haunted the room died out and the light from the window began to fade. Corbenik sat beneath Albireo's body as the light faded. Outside the false sun was setting, and would never again rise. Corbenik propped Albireo's head up on his leg, and started to brush back hairs from his still face.

Just before the light faded he spoke one last time.

“Don't worry, Albireo. I'll always be here with you. Just you and me. You and yourself. Sleep well, old friend. Maybe one day she'll come back for you. Maybe one day someone will remember you and find you here. Maybe one day any number of things will happen, but what I do know is that when that day comes, they'll find me right here with you.”

Tears sparkled on Corbenik's eyes as the light faded and the final Twilight fell.

--



And that's it. Tell me what you think of it. I apologize for trashed feelings so much, but some words need to be spoken, and this seemed the least painful way to say them. Forgive me. You know I do it not to harm you or anyone.