Some ties can never be broken, such as the bonds that are forged in the fires of ones' hearts. Those kinds of emotional connections cannot be severed by anything. Not even Death herself can destroy them. That is what family connections are, unbreakable bonds that join us for eternity.

Leonie was both thrilled and annoyed by the reappearance of the other elementals. She found it rather convenient that they would come only when the battle was fought and won, only when the danger had passed.

What made her furious was the fact that they would leave their own sister behind and cower away when their powers could have made their victory so much easier. It was incomprehensible to Leonie how anyone could do that to their own family.

"Why haven't you come earlier? Why have you abandoned us?" Leonie could not restrain herself from uttering.

"Leonie, my dear, I am sure that they have their reasons. We mustn't be so quick to judge." Amitola said, putting a comforting hand on Leonie's shoulder.

"Reasons we had; If we were here, you'd all be dead," Aqua said.

"What do you mean?" Amitola asked, for the first time incapable of understanding her favorite elemental.

"Trying to protect our sister would have caused a twister. Leonie's power would have decayed, the fears would have stayed." Aqua said.

"I don't understand. What does that exactly mean? Why would protecting your sister cause a problem?" Leonie asked.

"Toras is too weak our vision to seek. Will Leonie be meek, our vision to speak?" Aqua asked.

"Fine. I really want to understand what possible reason you could have for doing something like that, for abandoning your family." Leonie said.

As she got ready for Aqua to enter her body and soul, Leonie was shocked when she lost her breath as a consequence of too much air that rushed through her body in a sudden swoop. The weight of air was oppressing her unaccustomed body. Thus, it took her some time to regain her composure before the vision flashed through her mind.

Moments later, Leonie was coughing violently, as Airy blew out of her body as it was Airy and not Aqua, who entered Leonie's mind. Still, the visions she shared were those that all the elementals had seen through the link they shared.

"What is it? What is it?" Nald asked, drawn by the strange events.

He and Toras had managed to get rid of all the water lilies. Since trolls were slowly coming to their senses, there was nothing more fun for Nald to do than to witness his sister's communion with the elementals.

"Aqua has had many different visions, many different possibilities of the future, of what could have happened here today. However, in every vision, if any of the elementals besides Adamina were present, we all end up dying." Leonie said.

"Ouch, dying doesn't sound pleasant at all. I am glad the elementals weren't here." Nald said.

"Why would that happen?" Amitola asked, curious to know how beings in the service of good could cause such devastation.

"In one version, where they all come to our assistance, they try to protect her. When I try to dispel the darkness, they stand before Adamina, and, instead of helping her, they end up possessed by the darkness as well. Thus, Fears end up winning and killing most of us. Only a few Gatherers and villagers survive the slaughter." Leonie said, her eyes glazed over as she saw into the visions of what could have been true had the elementals interfered.

"I am not surprised. Having so many powerful beings in one place is bound to bring some type of imbalance. Having in mind the need of good beings to protect, it would open itself up for injury." Toras said, catching Leonie's last statement as he approached them.

"Are the trolls alright?" Leonie asked.

"Yes, the trolls will be just fine. They are still a bit disoriented, and my presence confuses them even more. That's why I put Dancing Rock in charge to make sure everyone is okay and to explain what has occurred." Toras said.

"They've almost sacrificed their lives to save ours, they deserve the truth and so much more," Amitola said.

"They do, and I'll make sure that ample gratitude is given to the trolls from everyone they saved," Toras said.

"Thank you, Toras," Amitola said, smiling gently at the wonderful man that Toras was.

"What I still don't understand, though, is how could Fears get their hands on such a powerful elemental such as yourself, Adamina," Toras said.

"Mistakes were made; I ran into their blade," Adamina said.

"What do you mean?" Toras asked.

"Disappointed and sad, I visited many a land. The new purpose I needed in life; I was tired of strife." Adamina said.

"It led me to snow and ice, and to pay it was a small price. I found my passion again; I broke my earthly chain." Adamina added.

"What does that even mean?" Leonie asked.

"Adamina went away to find a new purpose in life since being an earth elemental was too painful for her. She found her passion in winter and freed herself from the complete connection she shared with earth." Toras explained.

"Can you show me?" Leonie asked, extending her hand.

"Leonie, I don't think that's such a great idea. One elemental sharing their memories is already a lot. Two might overwhelm you." Toras warned.

"Don't worry, Nald will be here to heal me if need be," Leonie said.

Nald puffed up his chest at the praise, but Amitola was not as convinced of the necessity to put her daughter in yet another danger. Looking at Toras, she saw him give her a slight nod and thus concluded that he had regained enough power to be of assistance if something went wrong.

"Very well," Toras said.

The moment Adamina's hand touched Leonie's, she could feel a cold wave rush through her body, almost freezing her in place. Then, the flashes came, the memories, much stronger than the flickering visions Airy had shared.

She admired winter. It was the season that took control over the whole world, coloring it in peacefulness and making all the living beings cower away from its frigid embrace.

That was what Adamina was looking for, something that people would respect, a power that would be revered and never challenged. It was the connection she wanted to make. After all, did it not mean that being an earth elemental, she could connect with everything that fell upon it?

She was hypnotized by the glaciers, by their magnificence and their strength. So much so that one careless move, one silly action caused Adamina to plummet into the icy abyss.

Everything happened so quickly, there was no time to do anything. There was no time to think or even scream. Yet, more than enough time to be utterly terrified.

In all her long existence, Adamina had never felt such a primal, all-consuming fear. It gripped her so tightly that it was painful to endure.

Its intensity beaconed to them. Without Adamina knowing it, they latched onto her fear. It drew them like a moth to the flames.

Fears rushed through from the deepest depths to which they had been cast out, enveloping their dark tentacles around her frightened body.

Feeding on her fears. Rejoicing at her horror.

In mere moments Fears became part of her very existence. They nestled comfortably into a new vessel, the one that appeared just perfect for their goals, a powerful one with the ability to think. While Adamina became a prisoner in her own mind.

Corporeless as they were, the fears could still feel. However, they lacked the proper means to exact their revenge. Though they knew not, that was what they planned until they had seized Adamina's thinking body.

Thus, they brought the body to the surface.

Once the eyes opened, black as night, Adamina could no longer be seen anywhere.

"That's enough!" a faraway voice said.

In that instant, Leonie was back to herself, overwhelmed by another's memories she had lived through. It was not the same as watching someone's memories. It was so much more. She could feel how terrified Adamina had been, and Leonie could not help but feel horrible that Adamina had to go through all that.

"That sure was intense. I am sorry. You've been through so much, and here we are, asking you questions. You should be with your family, get your life back." Leonie said with compassion.

"Thank you for being kind; it's nice to have back my mind. You did a great favor to us; call if anything bad comes to pass." Adamina said.

Then she proceeded to hug her family. Their family embrace was the most beautiful thing Leonie had ever seen before. It was a miracle that could not be described in words.

The water danced with fire; winds played with snow. Colors burst in all different shades and shapes as the happy family waltzed away in their joy.

Upon their departure, Amitola hugged both of her children as they enjoyed the soothing sounds of a snoring dragon and trolls coming back to their senses. As she did so, she could see Toras looking at her with uncertainty.

She smiled at him, nodding in affirmation to the question she read in his eyes. As a consequence, he came to stand beside her wrapping his hand around her shoulders.

That was how it came to pass that a new bond was made and old ones strengthened. A family persevered against fear and pain by standing stronger together, refusing to back down and surrender since what they were fighting for was far too precious to give up.

Family.