"Curt...Curt," came a voice.

Curt slowly opened his eyes to see Autumn looking down at him with a look of deep concern. He smiled, and a look of great relief came over Autumn's face as she returned the smile.

"Hey, Love," Curt whispered.

Autumn bent over and gently kissed Curt before helping him sit up. Curt looked around and saw that he was surrounded by his friends. They were all still sitting in the crater.

"Everyone's ok?" Curt asked.

"Yeah, everyone's ok...even my father," Autumn replied. "No one seems to know what happened though."

"Welcome back to the land of the living!" Melly said cheerfully.

"Don't you ever run out of energy?" Curt teased.

"Hey!" Melly chided.

"You had us all scared there for a moment, pal," Paul noted.

"Sorry, guys...guess I got too close," Curt said.

"Were you able to see what happened? Seems we all blacked out soon after the orbs shattered," John inquired.

"All I remember is seeing a flash of light come from the sky and strike that man...then I saw a figure of light or something...it caught the man as he fell and then laid his body on the ground over there," Curt said as he turned and pointed to an empty patch of ground.

"Sounds like that guy is gone for good then," Mark stated.

"And so is the miasma," Shara added. "Thank goodness."

"You're kinda quiet over there, Richter. What's on your mind?" Curt asked, turning to Autumn's father.

"I was a fool. I can't believe I trusted him," Richter said sadly.

"You got a lot to atone for, but it's not too late to do what's right," Curt said.

"I don't know if I have the strength left to try," Richter replied.

"Well, I know someone who wants to help you find the strength you need," Curt said, nodding toward Autumn. "Start there."

"You're a gracious man, Curt. Thank you," Richter said.

"Not to break up a lovely moment, but let's not forget about Ren, Jimmy, and the crew," John interrupted.

"You're right, John. We should go see if they survived the crash," Mark concurred.

Everyone rose to their feet and began to make their way back along the path toward the beach.

A while later as they walked past the Myrrhauder, the group of friends suddenly heard a voice call down.

"Hey, guys! You're alive!" someone shouted.

Everyone looked up to see Ren and Jimmy waving down at them.

"Captain Ren! Jimmy! We thought you guys bit the big one in that crash!" John shouted back.

"I guess we're made of stronger stuff than we look," Ren joked.

"That would seem to be the case! Let's get out of here, Captain!" John replied.

Everyone made their way to the bridge of the Myrrhauder, and soon they were on their way back to the mainland. It was decided that they would all return to Sumira to rest and tend to the wounded. John spent the whole trip back telling Ren and the crew what had happened on the island.

Richter added a few details of his own, explaining how he had discovered the island on a military expedition with General Chilton. They had found the crater and met the exiled Guardian, who promised to give them power and wealth in exchange for their allegiance and help in controlling the world. General Chilton rejected the offer and attempted to kill the Guardian, but he was much too powerful. Chilton and his soldiers were all killed, and Richter was left standing alone. The Guardian gave Richter one last chance to accept his offer, and fearing for his life, Richter accepted. Richter returned to Torenada City alone, claiming that the others had been killed by a monster attack. Minister Olmos decided to promote Richter to General of the Torenada City military. Over the years that followed, Richter struggled with the desire for power, his allegiance to the exiled Guardian, and his desire to help the world. However, his heart became increasingly darkened with corruption until only an inkling of hope remained. And that was the state in which Curt and the others had found him.

It was almost morning by the time the airship reached the outskirts of Sumira, and Curt and Autumn walked out onto the deck to watch the sunrise. A few moments later, Melly joined them.

"Hey look, Curt! A great eagle! It's Guardian Ramuh!" Melly suddenly exclaimed, pointing.

There in the distance soared an enormous eagle with golden brown feathers that sparkled in the light of the dawn.

"You think so?" Curt questioned.

"Absolutely! It's gotta be him. It's the biggest eagle I've ever seen! Come on...isn't it the biggest you've ever seen?!" Melly said excitedly.

"It sure is. He's magnificent!" Curt agreed.

"Now you're like Grandfather...one of the only two people to have seen all five Guardians...only you're even more special..." Melly said softly as she looked knowingly at Curt.

"You think so? Could it have been?" Curt asked, catching the meaning of Melly's glance.

"You saw Him...it had to be...because you remembered Him..." Melly said with a smile. "Don't ever forget."

"I won't," Curt replied, smiling.