Chapter 1913 - 1912 - George

It had been 30 years.

The cemetery had gone to seed a bit since the church was closed down but he could not blame the Vatican for that. The collapse of so many countries and danger of the environment just making it impossible to keep them going made everyone pull back.

Still, George drove his car there every year. His wife, Cherise, understood. He would never have met her if not for James.

He could not discard the memory of his dear friend for that and so many other reasons. More, his mother had been such a wonderful lady that welcomed him for the 7 years he had known his friend.

His own family had either passed away or had no desire to speak to him as their beliefs vastly contradicted his own. When things really went to Hell, it was too late.

Still, he lived close enough and still had a job when so many did not. His children also loved going to see 'Special Grandma' every year when his mother-in-law lived pretty far. Fuel costs and the broken roads made getting to her difficult.

Planes were also essentially out of his reach these days.

He felt really bad about that but no one could do much about it. The world had gone to Hell and it was all many could do to survive.

As his dark sedan turned into the cemetery he frowned at the moss and poor care of the graves. He drove down the gravel path that was still fairly clear.

He saw several families brush some graves clean but the vast majority were abandoned.

As he turned the corner, he saw the gentle visage of Erin. Her hair was now more white than brown but her figure was as good as ever.

He had heard she spearheaded a farming effort for her neighbors to survive the breakdown of the supply chains.

Grocery stores were not consistent anymore for anyone so reversion to an agrarian society had started a decade ago.

The government could not afford the fuel to send out their own forces so it was just good will and necessity that kept the peace these days.

Who knew the collapse of modern civilization would bring peace in a way no one had known for decades. Still, it was a much harsher world for everyone. The fact he had a car drew eyes but no one dared charge at him.

Money meant power and George had to protect his family.

His large frame belied his efforts to be healthy. He missed new anime or mech models. Still, he had a higher priority as he saw Erin smile.

"You came." He smiled back and hugged her tight. He felt how light she was. He worried about her but she refused to leave the ranch house in the countryside. It was isolated out there but he could not convince her to leave the home James grew up in.

"I wouldn't miss one time." He had carried the casket with a few other friends 30 years ago. His hair had gone white too but he was not bald! He had overcome his family curse!

Cherise and Erin caught up as his kids piled out. They were all grown but could not afford cars of their own. They lived nearby him and had been able to find jobs to make living possible.

George cursed the current world. It was the end but it was lingering. It would almost be better if a swift collapse came and ended all the hope people foolishly clung to.

The USA was just a concept at the current point. People just went through the motions and it was barely holding on. They were far from alone.

Other countries were in worse or the same state. Companies that had once had massive profits were now gone. They had been wiped out by their own greed yet they had destroyed the world.

He shook such dark thoughts away as their group moved down the rows of graves. They had come to honor his friend on the day of his birth. As they headed away from the road, he frowned to see a rather large group ahead.

There had to be over 20 people easily in their way. Who could they be there for? Their clothes were rather extravagant and he froze as they saw they had weapons.

Swords, maces, and more were clear to his eye. The blue sky and sunny rays glinted off of them but then he frowned even more deeply as they almost seemed like cosplay.

He found that distasteful despite his previous activities. The world was not so kind a place anymore.

He was about to shout when he felt something off. They were not LARPing but solemnly bowing to a headstone. He realized whose it was. It was James'!

"Ahem, I would like to get through if we could please. I am bringing my friend's mother to her son's grave." The group turned as one and he felt a pressure he could not explain press down on him but a man at the front raised his hand.

His features were insane. He had emerald hair! How did he get such a vibrant color?!

The man had crimson robes lined in gold and black. He walked slowly forward and stood before Erin. He was a good head taller than her but he smiled gently before kneeling down before her.

"You look wonderful. How are those fish? Are they still trying to leap to their deaths when the tank is being cleaned?" The words made George go cold. What was this stranger asking?!

Erin was caught off guard but she smiled and made small talk. She even mentioned that the fish she cared for had to be let go as she could not take care of them anymore.

The young man smiled sadly but nodded.

"What about the garden? Are the tomatoes still putting up a fight?" George felt a chill down his spine. What was this guy asking?! Had he been stalking Erin?!

Erin froze and then looked more closely at the youth. She looked at his emerald eyes and began to cry. He smiled up at her.

She then grasped at him and he hugged her right back! What was going on?!

"HEY?! WHO ARE YOU?!" His kids beat him to the punch but the young man glanced at them with a smile before he looked up at him.

"George, I liked you better when you were lecturing me on the TARDIS and mobile suits. When did you become so serious?" George felt the floor fall out from underneath him While a lot of people might know of his obsessive fandoms decades ago, few would now.

Cherise stared at the youth but he moved forward.

"Who are you?!" George saw the youth separate from Erin with a smile that tugged at his memory.

"Lind, is this really your best friend from your first life?" A dark skinned woman spoke as she had 2 swords at her hips. The youth looked at her and nodded.

"George was an obsessive otaku but he is the best friend you could ask for. HIs cubicle was barely able to contain all those mobile suit models and do not ask him about faster than light travel!" He felt a throb in his chest. Tears stung his eyes.

Only one person would remember his cubicle and conversations about FTL! George nearly stumbled as his kids looked worried.

The youth looked at him with a smile.

"What is wrong, George? Oh, I know! You always wanted one of these!" The hand wave upward and a circle of emerald energy appeared in the sky! A massive metallic future floated down and landed in a kneeling position with a massive broad sword!

It had primary colors of blue, red, and gold with a crown of gold in thunder bolts as its eyebrows! George felt tears form as he looked at the person holding Erin so close.

"J–J–James?" He spoke without thinking and the man before him nodded.

"I was once him. I am Lind Frey now. I have a lot to tell you, but first." The youth looked up and frowned. "Idiots. They are lucky I am kind."

A wave of emerald light shot outward and the air felt cleaner and the temperature became far more comfortable.

What was going on?!

"George, I am so glad you got married and had a family! I want to catch up but I have a lot of work to do. This world needs some adjustment after fixing it. I do not want to be rude but will you let me heal you?" The words made no sense but he found himself nodding.

The youth then glowed with emerald light.

Erin got younger! Her white hair and wrinkled face vanished to be replaced with the dark brown and smooth skin he once knew! Her dark spots and stiff skin were like they were 30 years ago!

His own body shivered and he felt better than he had in decades! His hair darkened and Cherise got younger as well! His own children, already adults, seemed to become teenagers!

"WHAT?!" He could not seem to get any words out but the youth smiled at him.

"You have a lot to learn. I have made you all Soul Realm cultivators for now. I am not surprised that you are a 6 elemental, George." He had no idea what the man was talking about but he suddenly felt something warm inside him.

Golden flames surrounded him all of a sudden!

Knowledge filled him and his eyes went wide. Cultivation! The fantasy was real!

He then looked at the youth and the gentle smile was truly of his old friend!

"You–You were reborn?" The man, Lind, smiled at him.

"We have a lot to catch up on. The wars are over and this world is now mine. We have all the time in the world. I am now Lind Frey, the Eternal Emerald Dragon, but I am still your friend. These are my wives, children, and friends. Still, you are my best friend." George felt the sting of tears even more strongly.

He fell to his knees and the youth moved to him. The power in those arms dwarfed him but he felt it. James was alive! He was reborn!

Tears flowed off of him as he grabbed on tightly to the youth.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Lind had come back to old Earth. It had nearly collapsed but he repaired the damage. His wives had then moved to knock sense into the various governments but cultivation would negate their idiocy in short order.

He then came to his grave. He had known the date but not that his mother and best friend would come. His Mother had understood he was there and it healed something in him.

George took some convincing but after he and his family became cultivators, he felt the final chains fall away. He had eternity ahead of him yet he knew he could choose to die.

For the moment, however, he brought his old life together with his current one.

He was the Eternal Emerald Dragon and he would not let his home fall into oblivion. Lind ended all mortal conflicts and rendered the more dangerous technology inert.

He smiled and looked at his original life and current one come together. He did not know what he would do with eternity, but he knew he would give all his family and friends a chance to live forever.

He had come to the place his mother would be for sure and George had come too.

He had no regrets. The new universe was mortal at the core with the Sea of Realms all around it. Outside of that was the Eternal Land. He had made the ascension barriers and eventually, the whole of it would become one.

He glanced up and felt the spirits of Heaven and Earth disapprove of some of his actions but they did not stop him.

He was the Eternal Emerald Dragon. He had restored the balance and removed the Bastard Fiend.

What he chose to do with his life going forward was his business alone!