The Last Celestial

To Remember What Was Lost

It didn't take long for the Keepers to land on the forest of the Zodiacs. They arrived there safely along with Andrew, Hyacinth and Landon.

A crowd of almost eight hundred people gathered in the middle of the forest. Where they prepared a feast, not only to Celebrate life. But also to celebrate the bravery of the Keepers who laid down their lives.

“They’re here!” Regina screamed with joy when she saw silhouettes from a distance. “They’re finally here!”

Regina helped with the preparations as she cooked a special dessert she learned from her mother. The Lithuanian Lazy cake, as her mother calls it.

And it is not the first time that she made it. For she and her son had been welcomed here with such love and compassion that only a small space on her heart is still aching from losing her husband.

The Keepers welcomed her with open arms after she told the story of her lineage's relations with the Sagittarius Celestial. It happened one time when the Keepers decided to light-up a bonfire in the middle of the forest to Celebrate the mid-October in Scorpio's honor.

Curious about the history --- Sumeria, a Keeper whose expertise is extraction, borrowed the pendant from Regina. She marveled at its beauty and asked the mother to tell-tale the story of how she was saved.

As the Keepers around the bonfire listened, tears rolled down their eyes as their hearts were filled with joy.

"Ah--- the Sagittarius Celestial truly has a heart that loves his servants." Emelly cried.

"Yah got that right, lassie!" Nad screamed.

And all laughed at her accent --- which she was totally oblivious of.

Now, the Keepers who accepted Regina are coming together to see the woman who inherited the power of the Taurus. All of them came after Tahani received the news of Elder Diomedes. All of them were excited to see her.

The first one to march towards the crowd is Dah and Diomedes.

The Elder met his wife, Jacqueline... kissing the forehead of their only child Dominique.

Dah ran towards Tahani and his sister Nad.

"Dah, yeh bum, I missed yeh so much I feel like I haven't seen yer' skinny backside since the Capricornian era!" She shouted as she gave her brother a tight hug. How she missed him so much.

"I miss you too!" Dah reciprocated his sister's tight embrace. Soon Tahani walked towards her two children and joined in the warm moment.

But not all Keepers can experience this sense of warmth that the others were feeling. For not all of their loved ones will return, as most the Keepers perished protecting the life of others and the relic. The day that half of the island of Mindoro sank, will be known in history as the Disappearance of the Island of the Taurus Celestial.

Out of all the hundred and fifty Keepers that were stationed and assigned there, only fourteen survived. Only fourteen of those people will manage to kiss and greet their loved ones as they return home.

There were also one hundred brave Keepers who came from countries who were close to the Philippines that helped, and only three of them managed to survive. Making the survivors only seventeen out of two-hundred fifty Keepers.

Guanio, Kareella, Assunta, Darlene, Rocco, Rajesh, Maxino, Lovelia, Grella, Landon's child, Sampaguita, Bing-Bing, Ellena, Mariposa, Kenneth, Yves and Rosalind managed to survive.

It's more like a defeat --- as their hearts sink with so many lives lost.

Hyacinth and Andrew came in next. And the crowd of almost a thousand people went silent when the rays of the sun seemingly made Hyacinth glow. Her long hair stood, and slowly formed into horns.

As Andrew and Hyacinth walked closer, their height almost didn't differ from one another and it surprised the Keepers as they knew Landon's wife to be a small woman. Now she is standing only a few inches tall from Andrew who's height is a towering 6'3. Hyacinth was standing at 5'8.

She grew even taller throughout the flight. Not only did she grow taller, but her muscles grew as well as she got bulkier and well built. Her fair skin glowed and her eyes were the beautiful colors of green, brown and gold --- the same color as the forest.

Some of the Keepers awed in her beauty.

From afar she looked like a vision, and now that she's near their line of sight, truly, she looked like the Celestial in the painting. A goddess they thought they would not live to see.

"All of us... in honor of the rebirth of the Taurus will celebrate." Diomedes enunciated at the crowd. "Not only that but we will honor the sacrifice and the bravery of our family that we have lost. We will honor their sacrifice forever and ask the Celestial --- Sagittarius to give them peace in the afterlife, along with him in the stars. And may they shine brightly as we look at our fallen families in the sky."

The Keepers all shouted and screamed "Shine bright, during the night!" as the families and loved ones cried.

Kriyanne's husband and child --- Duke and Avegail could only wish that she would now rest in peace as her dust ascended up to the sky as they paid respects.

All Keepers then began to feast. Drinking wine, and eating meat from lambs, pork and chicken. They also ate fruits and vegetables that came from different nations.

Gifts given by the people who were saved by the Keepers.

On a long table enough for thirty people to fit and seat in, Diomedes along with Timothy, Dah, Andrew and Hyacinth and the other survivors ate. But there is still one thing that bothers the Keeper who can't seem to celebrate and join the feast.

In her heart, she is truly happy that the Taurus Celestial returned. But if she will be true to her feelings, then the ache of seeing this boy she holds onto will be forever an orphan hurts and burns her to the core.

"Elder." Darlene spoke up, as she looked down on Landon who was sleeping in a bassinet beside her. "What are we going to do about little Landon?" She asked bravely, pouring her heart out. And her question was loud and clear, not caring if others would be interrupted with their feast.

"I know this is a time for Celebration and Lamentation, a feast for the dead. But I just have to know what will happen to this boy..." Darlene continued.

Diomedes was silently eating when he heard the question. Darlene was seated on the edge of the table, while he was seated in the middle. Yet he heard her, loud and clear. He swallowed, and then he spoke.

"I know you are weary of what's going to happen to this boy." He started to speak, and looked at the woman with a pained expression on her tearful eyes. "But I am not." He paused then smiled as he stood up. He walked towards the Keeper and the baby... looking down to little Landon when he was near enough.

The Elder bent down, and gave his forehead a kiss. "...I know you love this boy with all of your heart." He said, then looked up to Darlene, meeting her glistening eyes. "And I know you're going to be an excellent mother... Even though you did not give birth to him, you were ready to sacrifice your life for this little one. And I see that as an ultimate sacrifice... but it is too easy to die, now the real challenge comes... you must live and be strong for this boy... give him everything you've got."

Darlene pursed her lips, and looked away from the Elder. She looks down at the boy, and it is true... all she could feel is warmth and love. As if the Celestials touched her heart... but there's still one thing on her mind...

"I accept it, I know... that this boy's mother..." She was tempted to mention the name, but bit her tongue instead. She looked at Hyacinth, who was sitting quietly while she feast... almost sucking everything --- every food on the table.

Darlene could only smile. "...will not be able to fulfill the duty but I know in her heart how much she loves this boy. I will do my best, to love him like she would have done if she was still herself. And I will make sure... to be his mother and father so that he won't be longing for that kind of love."

Then, Darlene felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked behind her and saw Rajesh looking at her with a smile.

"Why would you take care of him alone? I am here. I'll help you raise the child and give love as well."

Darlene was taken as she did not expect this from Rajesh. As she only knows him by the name and his face. They have only encountered each other six or seven times, and this is the only time that they've really gotten close.

Her heartbeat raced, as she stared at his handsome face. His caramel skin looked beautiful against the sun. Not knowing, she was slowly blushing as she smiled and said... "Thank you..."

Rajesh reciprocated the smile, and unknowingly, his smile widened showing his beautiful rows of teeth. "...then it is settled. We are his parents now."

"Oh happy day!" Nad squealed when she overheard Rajesh and Darlene's conversation. She was sitting beside Tahani and Dah. "Oh, yeh lovebirds are totally twitterpated! So when is the wedding? Make it grand and beautiful and perfect and make mi' wee heart sing with joy! I be----"

Dah noticed how awkward the situation is for Darlene and Rajesh. He could only stuff a whole chicken leg to stop her sister from saying more. "Shut up, Nad! I think they're not like that!" He hissed through a whisper, not knowing that it's a bit loud that some of the Keepers heard it.

Tahani looked at the two, who instantly became three. "Oh, now that there's a baby standing between them, their love will blossom. That's for sure."

Nad ate the chicken, and then began to speak with a little bit of food in her mouth. "Aw, Mum... who knew yeh are' a romantic type of woman too!"

Tahani shook her head at her daughter's reply. Maybe Nad had too much coffee that was made from the waterfalls named after Pieces. A drink that helps Keepers stay awake whenever they need to do something important. "Next time, Nad, my dear... don't drink too much Piesciean coffee, okay? You're acting coo-coo, like your Dad."

"Yes, Mum!" Nad answered with a wide smile and her eyes closed. Her eye-bags were so dark, she almost looked like a raccoon.