Distant Shores 2: Waves Of Time

Rest In Peace Magdalena

You narrow your eyes at Monterey, but you reluctantly hand over the compass, as it starts shaking once again.

Through a shimmery mist, Magdalena appears. Her blue eyes glow with affection for you as she gives you a sincere smile. The compass is gently placed back in your hand.

"Coral, my descendant. You did it and I could not be more proud of you."

You can't help but let a couple of tears fall. She was counting on both you and Robert to succeed.

"I'm sorry, but Robert didn't make it. He's gone and it's my fault; he sacrificed himself for me."

Edward takes your shoulders and turns you to look at him.

"Don't ever say it's your fault, Coral. Robert knew what he was doing. He chose to die. As selfish as it sounds I'm glad he made the decision he did because it means you're staying here with me."

He gently rests a palm against your stomach.
You lean up and kiss his cheek, grateful that your future husband is helping you put things in perspective. It still hurts though; you thought you and Robert could both stay and have a cousin relationship.

"Thanks, Edward. It's just hard to feel like I failed."

Magdalena's calm voice floats on the breeze as she consoles you.

"Oh, child but you didn't. You may have noticed the bodies of the fallen are gone, are they not?"

You nod your head. You'd been wanting to ask that, but never got a chance.

"Yes. What happened? Where did they go?"

"The Tritons that perished have moved on to the afterlife. Their souls stay with the body so they can still live as they did on Earth. Robert however is back in the 21st century."

"How the hell is that even possible? Is the portal from the temple still open?"

Magdalena shakes her head, her burgundy hair flowing from side to side.

"You see, when the curse was broken, the portal permanently sealed. I took Robert's body to the portal and put him through it before the seal was completed. He's alive in the future, but that is where he will remain. As for you, this is your home now, Coral. The portal will never open again, and you and Robert will live out the rest of your lives in these current time lines."

Relief floods over your whole body. It's done. All the turmoil, the fear of going back and forth, being separated from Edward and your crew; it's over.

You look over your shoulder and see three more figures floating through the mists; a man and two women. The women look identical with ombré hair in red and brown. The man has dark brown hair and rests a protective hand on each shoulder of the twins. You realize this must be Magdalena's family; Thomas and her daughters, Marcelline and Marcella. Their ghostly outlines can't hide the smiles they have at being reunited with their wife and mother. Magdalena's tears of joy slide down her cheeks, covering the silver dust. After hundreds of years dealing with the curse, she can finally move on. She looks at you all one last time before she stars floating away. Realizing at the last second you wanted to ask her two things, you immediately run after her as best you can with your pregnant belly.

"Magdalena! Wait!"

She turns around and stops for you.

"Coral? Is everything alright?"

You take a moment to catch your breath.

"Yeah everything is great. It's just well, Robert may have a warrant out for his arrest."

"Are you taking about him attacking that curator when you two stole the compass?"

You're about to ask how she knows that when you remember she was literally in the compass.

"I don't want him to go back to the future just to end up in prison."

Magdalena lets out a soft chuckle.

"Coral, don't you know that ghosts are great at blurring out tape footage?"

Before you can respond, she cuts you off with a wave of her hand.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Just live the best life you can here. Be a great captain, wife, and mother. Trust me; they grow up too fast."

She gives a fond look to her daughters, still waiting patiently for her.

"Thank you, Magdalena...for everything."

"I should be thanking you child. You went through hell and back to break this curse. It is because of you I am finally free to be with my family."

You start crying as well. You can try to blame pregnancy hormones, but you know that it's because you're going to miss Magdalena. She's the reason you're even here after all.

Magdalena reaches out and embraces you. Her skin is cold to the touch, but you don't care. You just sob, letting your ancestor cradle you.

"I will always be with you, Coral. I promise."

Your fingers rub against the compass in your palm. It'll never work again and that's fine for what you want to do with it.

"Before you rest in peace, could you do something with this for me?"

The two of you share a secret grin as you tell her your idea for the fate of the compass; the trinket that truly started it all.