((I'll add stories to this, sans the end of the world stuff. CoH may be gone, but Paragon, and my characters, will always exist within me. They still live...))
Kiara Drako had always found peace here, among the floating islands of Ouroboros. A distant part of her wondered if the Menders would ever truly accomplish their task. If, and when, they did ... would they remove this realm? What then would become of her favorite place to meditate? What would become of the place where she rediscovered her identity, and was reunited with her love?
The thought of losing access to this island was unpleasant. So, she chose to yet focus on happy memories. Those memories were the reason she felt as connected to this place as she did.
Was it two years already? It had to have been at least one. Kiara arrived in Paragon City, on this realm called Earth, after having left her home. The land of the Whispering Winds was no longer the place for her. Not after she met her Eternal, the dragon King Alexander. He opened her eyes to so many things. She fell deeply, and hopelessly in love with the eternal dragon who never appeared to her outside of his dragon form.
Oh, she knew he could change. She knew he was an ancient and powerful being. But his human form was just one, of many, things he'd kept from her. For as much as she showed him her love, and even once proclaimed it, he kept her at arm's reach. It was a pain almost too much to bear. But worse would be the pain of ever losing him.
She felt unworthy of his love, after a time. Amongst the other gods, she was young and also a half blood. Her mother's brief affair with a human man brought her into this world. Kiara never thought that a disadvantage, until she thought it might've been why her Eternal would not return her love.
But from the moment he arrive in the Whispering Winds, until the day he did disappear, Eternal protected her fiercely. In many instances, there was no need for protection. It would be Kiara's cousin Liandra who would prove the biggest threat. Liandra was a full goddess, and envied of Kiara's blood inheritance to the fire throne. Kiara tried to ignore her cousin's ire, as she tended to the mortals of the realm. Kiara would never neglect those who worshiped her. In Liandra's eyes, it was Kiara's biggest weakness. In the eyes of the other gods, it was foolery to show any respect for the mortals.
Eternal took in her compassion. Kiara saw in his eyes, the emotions he denied from his lips. Would he ever tell her?
He would not. Instead, he would vanish Whispering Winds without her.
It was not long after, that Kiara left herself. She long carried the guilt of leaving the mortals behind, at the whims of the other gods, but Whispering Winds was no longer her home and there was only so much she could do against the others. So she left, and traveled to dimensions far and wide, helping those she found in need. But the purpose of her life had long since vanished from her heart.
For some time, she had a traveling companion. It was with him that she arrived in Paragon City. But he too would vanish, causing Kiara to question the validity of her own existence. This Paragon City had remarkable beings of its own. How could it be that there were others here with powers great and strong? Perhaps ... perhaps it was time to return her life to the Eternal Flame. Her life would end in this form. But the Eternal Flame would accept her. The Eternal Flame was all existing, and through it she could be a guide, a blessing to one worthy of such a gift of power as this.
If her life was no longer of use ... she would relinquish it.
Kiara would never forget that day. When she was resolute in her decision, and it was only a matter of time before she brought herself up to completing the task. it was the day that Liandra found her.
The skies darkened in a manner unnatural to the weather. An angry voice cackled across the clouds. Liandra descended, and the battle of deific blood against deific blood ensued. Relinquishing her life was one thing. But Kiara would not allow her cousin's envy to rip it from her.
Kiara survived the attack that spanned across the city, but at the cost of her memories. She awoke in medical center. There were no machines or wires. She did not think of it at the time, but now, as she reflects, she figures there could have been no way for the instruments to have been inserted into her skin.
A goddess, and a Time Lord greeted her when she awoke. All Kiara could remember was fear. But the two showed her kindness instead. The sun goddess took her in, providing her with room and board. Kiara could not recall the last time she'd received such kindness with nothing expected in return. Typically, she had performed some act and garnered worship. It was not something she relished, and so she would move on. But these who have seen her at her lowest, took her in without question.
But they did more than that ... through fate's hand, these would be the people who reunited her with her love, her Eternal.
A young man had access to the lair in which Kiara took residence after her release from the medical center. He was a fire wielder, new to his powers, uncertain of where they had come from. For some reason, young Alexander was drawn to her. Kiara thought this as nothing more than attraction to the Eternal Flame that resided in them both. Yes, she felt it, the draw, but that was all that it was. Or so she thought.
As the two spent time together, Kiara was still distant, albeit thankful to spend time talking with one who could understand so much. But then ... it all began to change.
Among the floating islands of Ouroboros, Alexander encouraged her to find the strength within to reconnect deeper into the flame. Through it, and through her powers, he was confident she would find the answers to who she was. He was right. In peace, she found strength. That strength allowed her to summon the fire guardians she'd forgotten she had. They rejoiced when they saw her, dancing around her in happy sorrow; sorrow for having lost her, and joy for being reunited with her again. Then ... they merged.
The merge brought her memories surging to the forefront. It was a powerful connection. Once it was complete, Kiara began to sense something more from the young Alexander. What could possibly be hiding in such a young mortal? The energy was muddled. She could not place it at first. But soon, she did. She gasped, as tears flooded her eyes. How could she reach her Eternal inside? How could she will him to remember? She had to keep her emotions together. But, would he accept her once he pulled through the chasm? Or would he reject her again?
There was only one way to find out. She encouraged Alexander in much the same way as he did her. She allowed her, now stronger, connection to the flame to encompass and empower him. It proved unnecessary though, as she should've figured it would. Her Eternal was powerful, and lie trapped inside, but his strength still remained. He awakened within the young mortal. His body began to change with the transformation. Kiara could no longer keep the tears at bay. And she was done for when Eternal proclaimed what she'd waited half a century to hear from him.
He proclaimed his love.
Paragon City would be her home now. She found love, life, and once again her purpose; to protect this city by her husband's side. As time drew on, the dangers they faced and pains they endures, the two made a pact. They would not spend their lives as they did in the past. They would not neglect of themselves or each other, strictly for the sake of always protecting those who would forever need protection.
They would alternate between their work and retirement, spending equal amounts of time in each. They would rediscover each other in their time away, and they would worry not, for their daughter would protect the city in their stead. Sera Delina, their twice blessed gift, was stronger than her parents combined.
Paragon City brought Kiara's family to life. Life, love, and purpose were found here...
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7ytHK4OaT-qYzl6Q1NpWF9WWnM