Happy endings are possible though they are not void of sadness. They signify having the strength to move on and find your own happiness. They are the new beginnings.

For Leonie, the sun broke through the clouds when, with the help of her brother, she had managed to heal her best friend, the one being who stood by her side no matter what happened. Yet, even as Rimar started stirring and his eyes slowly blinked open, Leonie was worried.

What if her friend was no longer the same? What if all the precious moments she had shared with her dragon were due to her father's presence? Would she even recognize Rimar without it?

"Leonie, are you okay? Did we win?" Rimar asked the moment he was conscious enough to ask anything.

"That's all you have to say? How about explaining to me why would you do something as stupid as to jump in front of me? Was it my father? Did he force you to do that?" Leonie asked, trying to sound stern though all she could feel was relief.

While the discussion was happening, Amitola, Nald, and Toras decided that they should go and save the trolls by removing the water lilies. Also, they decided to check on Adamina and make sure that she was not seriously injured. However, another reason they chose to do so at that precise moment was that they did not wish to stand between the girl and her dragon.

"What? No, of course not! Rimodar would never force me to do anything I didn't feel comfortable with. We both wanted to protect you. It was an instinct. I am not even sure which one of us was in control at the time," Rimar said as truthfully as he was able.

Leonie proceeded to hug him so tightly that even the great dragon felt a bit uncomfortable at how strong her embrace was. It was much stronger than a girl her age should have had.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Leonie said through her tears.

"I promise," Rimar said, hoping that there would not come a day when he would be forced to break that promise.

"So, am I to assume that you were able to heal me?" Rimar asked.

"Yes, me and Nald. You know about that?" Leonie asked.

"I know most things that Rimodar knows. That was one of the things we were late in understanding. I think although Nald was always kind and gentle by nature, it never occurred to Rimodar that he might have the healing powers. It did not even cross his mind that both of his children could have much more power than he could have ever imagined." Rimar said.

"I have to ask. How much of your personality was yours, and how much was it my father? Are we even friends, or was all of that my father talking?" Leonie babbled on.

"Leonie, relax. I know this is all confusing, but one thing I know for sure is that we are friends. We will always be. Your father's spirit residing in my body rarely interfered. He was just there to provide help when need be, and he did offer some sage advice through my voice, but that is all. Most of the time, he was just a quiet presence in the back of my mind. You were spending time with me." Rimar said.

"How was that for you? Sharing your mind with someone? Did father ever bother you? Did you ever wish him gone?" Leonie asked.

"Well, it was different from how you and I are connected. Most of the time, I was barely aware of Rimodar's presence. However, from time to time, Rimodar took control to help both of us." Rimar said hesitantly.

Leonie could feel that there was something he was not sharing with her, which made her sad. She could not fathom a reason for him to keep any more secrets from her. The evil was defeated, the world was saved. There was nothing more to trouble oneself with, was there?

"Did we truly defeat fear?" Leonie asked.

"My dear Leonie, fear can never be extinguished. It is an essential part of being as much as anything else is. What we did is far more important than erasing fear from existence." Rimar said.

"What is that?" Leonie asked, unsure she understood what he was thinking.

"We faced our fears, accepted them as they are, part of us, and learned to go on with our lives. Now we understand that some amount of fear is healthy for us. As long as we don't forget that lesson, we will never be faced with the possibility of fear overrunning our existence." Rimar said.

What Rimar told her made sense to Leonie. Fear was, at times, a necessary deterrent, and as much as she disliked to admit it, it could be helpful. The important thing for them was to find balance of living a good life while still having a healthy amount of fear to temper their actions.

Denying fears existence had led them to nothing but trouble. However, accepting it as a small part of who they were would lead to them never repeating the same mistake.

Still, Leonie could not comprehend what Rimar was continuing to hide from her. She was hoping that there were no more secrets to be held. There were no reasons to do so. The only exception that came to her mind was that Rimar was trying to protect her from something. Something that would tarnish the perfect image she had of her father.

Then she recalled that odd conversation she overheard in Rimar's cave of what she assumed at the time to be a conversation between Rimar and Toras, about her mother. Only after everything that she had learned did she realize that perhaps the conversation was taking place between Rimodar and Toras.

"What are you not telling me? Is it about your argument with Toras that day in the cave?" Leonie asked.

"You heard that?" Rimar was surprised since he had believed she was asleep at the time.

"Yes, but I didn't understand why you would be so against it. I thought you might have been feeling my hesitation to allow anyone to take my father's place in my mother's life. However, I soon realized that you seemed much madder by the prospect than I ever was." Leonie said.

"Well, that's the only time your father and I had a... misunderstanding. He was so angry at Toras that in his rage, he took over without my permission. As you can imagine, I wasn't happy about that, but he made amends later." Rimar said.

Leonie lowered her gaze, thinking through what Rimar said. It made sense that her father would do that, right or wrong, since his one goal in life and death was to protect his family.

Misinterpreting her silence, Rimar started justifying her father's actions since the last thing he wanted was for her to think badly of him.

"He wasn't himself at the time. He was confused by the worry that Toras could have been after his wife while he was alive, that he might have been plotting to get to her for a long time. It was irrational but also something your father couldn't control. His love for his family was far too great for him to consider things rationally at times." Rimar said.

"Rimar, it's okay. I know that my father wasn't perfect. None of us are. Maybe in my mind, he was the greatest father one could be, but that doesn't make him infallible. We all make mistakes, and I am glad that he had the chance to correct his." Leonie said.

"Then what's the matter?" Rimar asked since it was clear that something was bothering Leonie.

"Did Toras know about this, about my father being with you? Is that the big secret you were both hiding from me?" Leonie asked.

"Yes. You remember how the moment I ascended; I was off to hunt? Well, hunting wasn't all I did. The moment I ascended was the moment when your father's spirit asked for permission to connect with me. When I allowed him to do so, we went to Toras, who was expecting us since he knew your father well enough. Not only that, but he was also familiar with all the ways humans could connect with dragons." Rimar said.

"But I am not human, am I?" Leonie asked.

"Well, most of you are still basically human, though with a bit more powerful than the villagers," Rimar said with a huge grin.

Moments later, an enormous yawn overcame Rimar. It served to remind Leonie that mere moments ago, he was seriously wounded and needed to rest. Her questions could wait, but she was glad to at least understand that her friend was still with her. Not much had changed between her and her dragon.

"I am sorry. I am asking too many questions. You are tired, you should rest. I'll go and see if I can help mom with Adamina." Leonie said, looking at her mother, who seemed to be having some trouble bringing Adamina back to her senses.

"Yes, you go ahead, and I'll just take a nap," Rimar said.

As Leonie started to walk away, Rimar's voice stopped her.

"Oh, and Leonie?" Rimar said.

"Yes?" she said.

"Thanks for saving my life and all that," Rimar said.

"Right back at you. Now rest. You were amazing, but you need your rest now. We will take care of everything else now that the hard part is done." Leonie said, smiling at her friend.

Wind's gentle caress, fire's warm crackling, and waters quiet gargling filled the air as Leonie approached Adamina. Thus, followed a family reunion of wonder.