The Oracle

Chapter 66: The Fight for Peace

AKARI

I find myself appearing in a field of golden rods, the golden sun hanging in the sky overhead and lighting the light grey stone pathway that runs ahead of me through the golden rods, a stone temple in the distance.

"Where am I?" I wonder aloud, slowly looking around.

My breath hitches when I spot a blonde woman standing in the distance near the end of the pathway, her white summer dress blowing in the warm breeze as she holds her white beach hat down, keeping it from flying away, her blonde wavy locks blowing behind her. I slowly take a few steps closer and watch as the woman turns partway to face me, her blue eyes honest.

"Mom?" I breathe out, my eyes widening as memories of her flash through my mind.

"Akari," my mom smiles sadly, turning to fully face me, "my dear, look how much you've grown."

"Mom?" My eyes begin to water and my pace quickens as I get closer to her. "Is it really you? What's happening?"

"I want you to know that I'm proud of the woman you've become," my mom says, her smile never fading, "and I know this is a lot to ask of you and that we could be using this precious time for so much more, but I want you to do what I could not. I need you to save the world, Akari, please."

"Mom?" I cry out. "Mom, don't go!"

"I love you, Akari. Always remember that," my mom smiles warmly before she fades away, blowing through the wind like golden dust, and I cry as I fall to my knees just feet from before where she was standing.

"Akari?" A voice hesitantly comes from behind me, and my eyes widen.

I slowly move my face from my hands in order to look over my shoulder through my tears at Clea, watching as she smiles sadly at me, her blonde ponytail swaying in the breeze. Clea holds out a hand and I hesitantly reach out to grab it before she hoists me to my feet.

"Clea..." I breathe out, my eyes wide. "You knew...didn't you? That this would happen?"

"I did," Clea swallows thickly, her smile sad, "but I don't want you to be sad."

"That's just like you," I laugh hollowly and Clea laughs in return, smiling through her tears.

"It was my choice," Clea continues. "If I didn't let things play out as they did, I don't think we would've ever found peace. You were always meant to be the Oracle, Clea. I was just holding on to it for you. I think, deep down, I knew that it was my destiny to fulfill the role as best as I could, but that it was never meant for me to keep. I could've chose differently, but then things wouldn't ever change the way they should."

"You're wrong," I shake my head. "You're so wrong. You were the best Oracle. You were bold, selfless, kind, and were never afraid to speak your mind or the honest truth. That's everything an oracle should be. No matter what you say, no matter what you think, being Oracle was your destiny-- and now that you've fulfilled yours, it's mine. And I swear to you, Clea, I will do honor by your name. Nobody could ever replace you, because nobody could ever replace anybody, but I promise that I'll do things right. I promise to honor your choice and fight for the peace you sacrificed yourself to try and create. I won't let you down, Clea. I couldn't. You're my family, whether you were related to me by blood or not."

"That means so much to me, Akari," Clea sighs before she pulls me into a tight hug. "You know, you may have been my cousin, but I loved you like a sister. I always will. Now, do the rest of the world a favor and wake up, okay? Fulfill your promises. I know you won't let me down."

"I love you too," I laugh quietly as I hug her in return, "and I won't let you or anyone else down. That's another promise."

"Good," Clea smiles sadly, a tear running down her face as she closes her eyes and hugs me tighter, "I know you won't."