Always

They all watched as the Redwood Forest burned. They watched as the shadow spies died. They watched as Fenghuang sucked in all the fire back into her. And they bowed to her as Jewels and her animals approached Raiden and her family. Raiden's injured body wanted to fly to her and hug her. His eyes could not believe what he saw. Her beautiful figure moving from one shadow to the next firing fireballs at them as beams of fire burned through rows and rows of the shadow spies. When she spoke to them to fly east, it was then that he knew he was not hallucinating. She was awake. And she was strong. Stronger than he has ever seen her. His heart rejoiced in happiness as she made her way towards him. Ichi and Roku holding him up. His energy almost depleted from five days of fighting.

Jewels hugs him and kisses him before pulling her head back.

"Any more fire's to start and put out?" Jewels asked him.

"We received word that the rest of the shadow spies are small groups that have been annihilated. By tonight, I should have a confirmation of it and the death toll of Redbane soldiers and citizens."

"Shall we go home so I can heal you?"

"Lets go home." Raiden said as he finally let go and fell unconscious.

Jewels turns around to her Uncle and Pop pop and gave her a hug.

"Its good to see you up."

"Its good to be up." Jewels told them. " You're not injured are you?

"No we are okay." Pop pop said.

"Good. Lets go home."

The injured soldiers were sent to the palace to be treated. While Raiden, his bodyguards, her family and her guards came back to Jewels's infirmary. Jewels gave orders to the servants and guards again like the last time ordering them like a general. After two hours, everyone was patched up, drank down the potion that Jewels made, and were now eating the chicken ginseng rice porridge that Zeze and the other maids made.

Raiden had woken up in the middle of Ichi patching him up and watched Jewels order her people around as she ran back and forth between the infirmary room and the refining room. It was good to see her up and moving around again after the three months that he went through, laying next to her as she breathed. He talked to her and sometimes he pleaded with her. He told her all his secrets and he told her about his childhood. His kidnapping and why there was a darkness in him that called to her. It was as if his darkness was the side of the same coin to her darkness.

She fed him the porridge as he sat there and ate quietly, staring at her. He didn't want to sleep for fearing that she would still be in a coma when he woke up. After they all finished the food, it was Uncle Jude who spoke first.

"What happened?" Uncle Jude asks. "How did you get into a coma?"

"I broke through." Jewels said out loud. "High level 10"

Everyone in the room quieted down when they heard her. Raiden's bodyguard looks at her in awe. They met her when she was a low level 2 waste, now she held so much power at high level 10. She was a pure genius to be able to breakthrough her cultivation so fast.

Uncle Jude came towards her and held out his hand. She took it let him search her energy to confirm.

"You are to break through soon." Uncle Jude told her. "When you do, you'll be the first Grand Master in centuries."

"How long do you think I'll be in a coma then?" Jewels asked.

"I don't understand why you would go into a coma when you break through?"

"Lightning strikes me when I break through a level. When I broke through 10, I was struck 10 times by lightning. That's how I got into a coma that lasted three months."

"Why is it only you that gets struck by lightning?" Uncle Jude asks. "It never happens to us."

"Never?" Jewels said in disbelief. "Only me?"

"Seem so."

"It's just my luck I guess?" Jewels said as she shrugged.

--------

After every injured body went to bed, Raiden insisted to join Jewels in her bedroom to go to sleep. Jewels complied, but sleeping was the last thing she wanted to do. So with the help of his guards, they moved him into her room and she lied down next to him as he quickly summarized how they were able to catch the Masters of the shadow spies.

It was Lady Sofia's movements that gave her away. She never had anyone over to her home, but when Lady Bethany and Princess Isabelle showed up, word was sent to Raiden and his hidden guards flew quickly to Lady Sofia's house. When they broke down the door it was clear to everyone what was happening. As they tried to capture the girls, they were bombarded by shadow spies and as everyone fought, they were unable to capture the girls alive. But all three of them died, they released a huge amount of shadow spies in the Redwood Forest where the other portal was located.

After searching all of their homes, it was revealed that Lady Sophia's mother was a Theraland citizen. Her mission was to release the shadow spies into Redbane after the war so Theraland could gather information on Redbane. They still held a deep grudge against Redbane so they wanted to destroy the kingdom. It just so happen that Lady Sophia's mom, seduced her father and they created Sophia. Her mother taught her how to summon the shadow spies, but her cultivation level was to low to preform the whole ceremony. When she came to the city after her mother died, she quickly made friends with Lady Bethany and Princess Isabelle and slowly corrupted their souls. After convincing them to sell their souls for power, it was Lady Bethany who could open the portal and Princess Isabelle who could order the shadow spies around. The three of them created chaos for Redbane for 10 years.

The evidence found was enough to sentence all three side branches of the Osamu Clan to death. From elder to child, all three generations died for sins of the three girls.

"Did all of them needed to die?" Jewels asked as she lied in his arms.

"Yes, it was a cleansing of the Osamu clan and it will build trust in our citizens again telling them that we are not above them. That we sentence our own family to the same punishment as they face should they betray the Redbane Kingdom."

Raiden fell asleep soon afterwards and Jewels stayed awake listening to him sleep.

------------

The next morning, Nemean disturbed everyone at breakfast with news.

"I'm sorry, my human to disturb you when it is your time to break your fast, but it is time." Nemean told her. "The portal is ready and there is something that is happening in Nemea that is making my love nervous. It is time."

Jewels nodded and as she got up, Raiden's hand pulls her towards him and she falls into his lap.

"I want to tell you not to go. I want to tell you to stay with me. I want to bind you to me so you aren't able to leave. But instead, I'll tell you to watch your back, be careful and come back to me."

Raiden kisses her and hugs her tightly, squeezing her.

"One year." She whispered.

"One year." He confirmed.

Jewels was reluctantly let go and Jewels walked over to say goodbye to Uncle Jude and Pop pop.

"Take care of yourselves, don't forget not to get sick while I'm away. Don't do something stupid and get hurt and don't cause any trouble as well."

Jewels then went to Zeze and Thomas and hugged both of them, giving them instructions to take care of themselves and her family. She ran upstairs and cleared her whole training wardrobe and as she went downstairs, word had already gotten around that she was leaving. Everyone stood outside waiting for her. Jewels hugged her family and Raiden one last time before Nemean, Fenghuang, Roc and Jewels flew away from Brooks Estate.

The four of them entered the Redwood Forest, where Nemean would open the portal. Finding a nice place where sea of fire did not get to it, Nemean cast the portal and it opened. Jewels held Nemean's hand and step into it together. Fenghuang and Roc stepping in afterwards.

-------------

In the Kingdom on Nemea, it was hot, blistering hot. Where they appeared is the room that Jewels saw the first time they looked into the Eye of Futura. They quietly made their way around the room, looking for Nemean's wife, Ekhmet. The room was empty, so they made their way to his son's room. His room was also empty. They made their way deeper into the palace. Jewels called Fenghuang and Roc into her bracer. It would be easier to move if there were only two of them instead of four. They made their way towards the great hall. That's when Nemean froze.

"I will never marry you," Ekhmet roared. "I would rather die than betray my true King and Husband Nemean. As if marrying you would make you less of a Fake King."

A slap could be heard as the people in the hall egged the abuser on.

"Let my mother go." Leo cried. "Get off of me!"

"If you don't marry me, then your son will die!"

"You would then break your word to Nemean."

"Nemean will never come back. He is gone forever. He left with his tail between his legs and showed everyone that he was never strong enough to be King like I have."

"You have run our kingdom to the ground with your stupidity and greed. That is why you want to marry me so you think you would be able to access the treasury." Ekhmet said. "Only Nemean had the key to the treasury. He took it with him when he left."

Ekhmet was hit again and again. Nemean could not sit by anymore and he jumped into the room and he roared. As he roared, Fenghuang and Roc jumped out next to him. Jewels flew towards his wife and son and created a fire around them before any more guards could get to them. The guards that were holding them were trapped in the fire, as Jewels flew through the wall of fire and used her short sword to first kill the guards holding Leo. She threw her needle darts at the two guards who held on to Ekhmet and their bodies froze with the poison quickly overtaking them. Jewels walks up to them and pulls Ekhmet out from their arms and slits their throats.

"Who are you?" Ekhmet asked as she went to her son.

"I came with your husband, Nemean, to help him save his family and reclaim the throne."

"Nemean is here?" Ekhmet cried.

"Are you okay?" Jewels asked.

"Yes." They both said.

"You must trust me now. You must now hide so Nemean will not get distracted. I will take you to a place where you'll both be safe. You will be able to see and hear all, but will not be able to come out until I call you." Jewels said as she waved her hand over them and took them into her grey space. Nemean had left them a letter explaining the situation so they wouldn't get so freaked out.

Jewels flew through the flames and stood next to Nemean. The time, she took to put up the fire wall, kill the guards and put Leo and Ekhmet into Infinite Galaxy, was less then five seconds.

Nemean held the King's amulet in his hand. "I am the rightful King, hear my order. Anyone who attacks me or my friends will die a death by our hands. Step down now or face the consequences."

"Hahahahahah," Mark laughed. "As if the four of you could kill me and my army."

"Everyone who wants to live, now is the time to leave. Anyone who stays in this room will burn to death. Anyone who betrayed me in the past, get ready, for I will chase you to the end of the earth and have my day of justice. So I suggest you fight now and choose to die today."

Those that chose life, quickly made their way out of the hall, but they stayed in the hall wanting to see the fight. Wanting to see how the former King Nemean would burn his enemies.

"My brother's death is mine." Nemean told them.

When the sides were chosen, the four of them attacked without mercy. Jewels burned everyone into a crisp while Fenghuang turned them into ash. Roc electrocuted everyone around him. A chain reaction of electrocution jump from one person to the next as they died. Screams of horror could be heard as Fenghuang guarded the door not letting anyone run out of the room. Anyone who came close would turn into ash the very same moment.

Jewels used her fireballs and her sword to attack the lions. In their lion forms they were stronger and faster, but they were not immune to fire. As their fur coats burned, the pain of fire caused them to lose focus and try to put themselves out of fire. However none of the fires that Jewels and Fenghuang made could be put out simply by rubbing it out or throwing water on it.

The horror of the scene and the smell of the burning fur coats, made everyone who walked out the hall grateful that they did. Many of them were older and wiser men, who had always been loyal to Nemean and their sons and daughters who they forced to follow them outside. To see the brutality that the three friends of their King, made them look at their King in a different light.

Nemean jumped to his brother in three strides in his lion form. Mark also changed into his lion form. As they fought, they fought with teeth and claws. Biting and clawing at each other, trying to make the other one submit. When it looked like Nemean was going to win, Mark's guards came towards Nemean with the intention to stab him, but Nemean breathed fire onto the guards. Burning them also do death.

"You can breath fire?" Mark yelled out at Nemean clawed him in the face.

"Die." Nemean yelled as his jaws clamped on to Marks neck. His jaws locked and his teeth punctured through the fur and skin, drawing huge amounts of blood. Nemean, sent flames through his mouth, to the inside of Marks body and burned him from the inside out.

Mark's shaking body quickly stilled and when Nemean dropped him. His body fell to the ground and started burning. When Mark's supporters saw his dead body, they knelt and pleaded for mercy, but Jewels, Fenghuang and Roc did not give them mercy. They had their chance to choose which side they wanted to be on. And they chose wrong. The four of them slaughtered the whole room. Burning them alive or electrocuting them to death. Everyone in that room died a painful death. When the last body finally fell, Fenghuang breathed back the fire into her body. Blanketing the room in smoke. Roc swiped his arms once and the windows opened, swiping his arms again, he blew the smoke out the window. Nemean walked up the stairs to sit on his throne and when he did, Jewels brought out his wife and son. The both of them ran towards him and hugged one another for a long time.

From behind, Jewels, Fenghuang and Roc they could hear.

"Long live the rightful ruler of Nemea, King Nemean has returned victoriously! Ah hail King Nemean. Hail, hail, hail."

"Hail, hail, hail." The crowd shouted.

-----------

By the end of that night, all those who had betrayed Nemean were hunted and killed. Their family were hunted and killed. Their whole clan was hunted and killed. Nemean did not want one single trace of the betrayer's blood to remain in his kingdom.

Nemean did mostly the killings, for it would be his burden to bare. But, Jewels, Fenghuang and Roc also helped him. It would be the four of their burden's to bare together. By the end of the night, half of the city was smoking. They walked into his palace with several generals and ministers bowing to him. They failed him during the coup and to save their lives and his family's life, Nemean took the deal and banished himself.

"Rise," Nemean said as he sat down next to his Queen and Son, Prince Leo. "I have returned and all those who have betrayed me are dead, their family is dead, their entire clan are dead. Anyone found to have blood of the betrayers will die. 2000 gold will be given for the heads of the betrayers with proof of lineage. Anyone found to be hiding someone with betrayer's blood, will die along with their family and their clan. That is my first command. My second command is that, my friends who I brought here are to be treated with the up most kindness and respect. Anyone who slights them will receive whatever punishment that my friends feels would be the best punishment for the slight. No questions or inquires will be asked. Third, we shall not celebrate my return tonight. We will celebrate in three months time, when I figure out how much the fake king of a brother of mine has driven my Kingdom to the ground. Until then, there is a seven day prayer period to pray for the innocent souls of the departed. After seven days, generals and ministers, court will be held in this hall for explanations. I suggest you come up with a good one or you'll burn."

Nemean dismisses the group and afterwards, Jewels, Fenghuang and Roc stand in the middle of the large hall awkwardly. It was Jewels who broke the ice first.

"Yep, still not bowing to you." Jewels said as she approached him. "Now that you're King again how do you feel?"

"At peace." Nemean told her.

Jewels walks up to him and touches her forehead to his. "I release this contract of human and animal to call on this day. The day my animal to call reclaimed his throne."

Jewels stepped back to a shocked face of Nemean. "You have much more important things to do here than to babysit me and watch over my grave when I'm old and dead. Besides, I'll be old and dead so what would be the use of watching over me when we can't even bicker with one another?"

"You are the best human ever." Nemean told her.

"I know." Jewels said. "I'll stay here for two weeks, to help you and make sure the hold on your throne is secure before taking Fenghuang and Roc back with me to Redbane." Jewels told them.

"What about me and Roc? Aren't you going to release us?"

"Didn't you promise to see my goal through? Until I stood on top of the world, you would be my animal to call. Isn't that what you promised me? Is the promise of a phoenix a promise of lies?" Jewels teased her. "Besides, I was told by Nemean that my life is but a blip in your life. Once I'm dead and gone you'll miss me so much, but won't be able to talk to me because I'll be dead."

"Jewels stop talking about your death, please." Nemean pleaded. "You'll live a long life and have many children and grandchildren with Raiden. End of story."

"Who would have thought the King of Nemea would be such a romantic." Jewels joked. But then she realized something. When she first met Nemean, he said he did not have a name. She was the one who named her Nemean. But here, in the kingdom of Nemea, they also called him Nemean. What's going on here? Jewels thought. "Did I guess your name right?"

"What do you mean?"

"When we met, I asked you for your name and you said you didn't have one. So I named you Nemean, from the tales of Hercules. Did I guess your name correctly?" Jewels asked him.

"Yes." Nemean told her. "When you called me Nemean. I knew I have chosen correctly to bind myself to you in a contract. You had already known my name. It was destined."

Jewels had to sit down on the steps before her knees gave out from under her. How could this all be such a coincidence. She shouldn't be so surprised right? She did die and transmigrate here, so what if she was able to correctly guess his name. Is it destiny as Nemean said it was?

"You're thinking too hard and it's hurting my head." Fenghuang told her.

Jewels nods her head once and continues to stare into nothingness. The questions of life, second chances, and transmigration were swirling in her head. The coincidences in her pervious life and this life was too much for her to process.

"We lost her." Roc said.

---------

Two weeks later

In two weeks, Nemean was able to gain complete control of his throne. Everyone quickly fell in line after the display of power that he and his friends showed on the day he came back to Nemea. They have a plan in place to help rebuild the economy and build a stronger army. Empty positions in the government were filled as well as empty positions in the army. Nemean got to know his son and his son, looked up to him and admire him even more as the days passed. Nemean would teach him how to be a King every day. Teaching Leo, his ways and the ways of his grandfather. Teaching Leo, the exact same way that his father taught him. With a hands on approach, he filled the seat of King very well. There was a peace in the city and it's citizens. An excitement that was infectious. The rightful King was on the throne again and all would be well.

In front of the portal stood Jewels, Fenghuang and Roc. Nemean, Ekhmet and Leo stood in front of Jewels. Nemean hugged Jewels tightly and when he pulled back, he cupped her hand in his and gave her something hard and cold.

"This belongs to you." Nemean said. "It was the least I could do to help you since I wouldn't be there to witness your dreams coming true."

When Nemean pulled his hand away. Jewels saw the sea blue sapphire in her hand. Jewels looks at him and says.

"I... I don't know what to say." Jewels told him.

"Tell me that you'll accomplish your goal and stand on top of the world." Nemean told her. "It'll make me feel better that I won't be there to witness it."

"We can always contact you and let you know." Fenghuang told him. From the air she gave him five phoenix feathers. "These phoenix feathers will be able give you a message. Each message would burn one feather after the message is sent. We can send you five messages in her lifetime." Fenghuang told Nemean.

Nemean also gives Jewels the Eye of Futura. "So you can always find me should you wish to see me."

Jewels took the Eye of Futura and the sea blue sapphire and place it in her grey space. She hugged him one more time. She stepped back and hugged Ekhmet and Leo and let Fenghuang and Roc say their last goodbye to him.

"Keep her out of trouble." Nemean told them. "Make sure she grows old and has many children and grandchildren. Make sure no one bully's her and make sure that, that human of a mate does not make her cry. "

"Of course," Fenghuang told him.

"You and Roc are always welcome here."

"Thank you." Fenghuang said as she cried.

"My human," Nemean called out to Jewels once more before they stepped through the portal. "I shall always be your animal to call. Always."