|
Moira wakes from her nap, then breathes in a deep dose of invigorating, springtime air being offered to her by the French countryside villa she now calls home.
|
 |
|
Gerard had taken Louis fishing, and left little Emilie behind, leveraging the pretense of mother and daughter enjoying a nap together. She smiles knowing what her boys really wanted, was time for fishing without an excitable, little toddler scaring away the day’s catch.
|
 |
|
She stands and looks down over the slightly convex field to the lake, where she spots them, just in time to see Louis reel in and hold up his prize and receive proud praise from his approving father.
|
 |
|
Moira smiles again and quietly admires her own perfect catch.
|
 |
|
Life has changed for Moira since becoming madame Moira du Pont. It has been a blessing in more ways than she can count. After having suffered the loss of everything she had ever known, and gaining the unenviable understanding that most of it had been an elaborate deception, there is no telling what she may have done without the overt kindness Gerard had shown her.
|
 |
|
At the time of their meeting, the only thing she had remaining was her vulnerable and susceptible state of mind. Malachi was dead. And poor Finn, a sim who had seen too much suffering, had gone to rest in his rocking chair during her absence. And as difficult as it was for her to lose those two, it was the affront of learning she had been manipulated and deceived for much of her life, that had left her questioning even the most basic truths. She had left Finn that day in search of answers. But by the end of it, all she had to show for her efforts was a broken heart and a brand new burning question. Why was she still alone?
|
 |
|
Hendrake, the creature responsible for all of this, had toiled for eons in an effort to learn the secrets of the algorithm. He’d slaughtered an entire race of beings like herself to learn it. But the beast had nothing to show for the scourge of merciless killing, corruption, and deceit it had perpetrated over the span of its vile existence. Then, under the bloated shadow of so much suffering, it had nearly managed to trick a silly girl into handing it over to him freely. The diary where she inscribed her insights, was the prize Hendrake had hoped to secure. Ironically, it was also a critical component responsible for bringing Adam and Kacey together.
|
 |
|
Logic would seem to dictate that any deviation from the formula that had led to Adam and Kacey finally meeting, would create a scenario wherein that meeting would never occur. Clearly, this is not the case. The same diary that had played such a pivotal role in bringing them together will never be found by David Barimen in the library. Realizing the danger it posed, Moira had burned it to ashes. And the ashes, she had burned to dust. By destroying it, she also destroyed the only recorded reference of the algorithm. And likewise, by uprooting her little contraption and using it to slay Hendrake, she had also changed the course of history in a way she is incapable of comprehending.
|
 |
|
Though it may seem impossible, both Kacey and Adam were brought into this reality as a result of the actions of sims, who, by her estimation, will never be born. Yet, she is here and she exists. But why?
|
 |
|
A tugging at her skirt brings her back into the present. And she revels in the feeling of pure joy that accompanies nurturing the children she bore; and loving, with indescribable intensity, the man who fathered them.
|
 |
|
After hugging Emilie then setting her down to play, Moira’s mind wonders back to the morning when she had first seen her amour de sa vie. Having dispatched Hendrake, she fled the cavern to find Finn, and tell him about Malachi. That’s when Gerard literally appeared from out of thin air, landing in a heap at her feet. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
|
 |
|
She instantly sensed an inexplicable connection with him. He was there for her when she found Finn’s lifeless body. He consoled her through the aftermath and helped her move past the pain of witnessing the manner of Malachi’s tragic ending. Without hesitation, Gerard worked with her to bury the two sims that had functionally served as her stewards in the absence of having her natural mother and father.
|
 |
|
Gerard’s vocation as clergyman came as a surprise to Moira. She’d learned of this when he held an impromptu funeral service for Finn and Malachi. And though it was somewhat unexpected, it provided a great deal of context into Gerard’s outpouring of generosity and empathy.
|
 |
|
Moira and Gerard became acquainted very quickly. It came as no surprise that, after the matter of just a few weeks, they had formed a nearly insuperable bond. It was during the course of this magical and beautiful courtship that he confided in her, his innermost personal thoughts.
|
 |
|
He and a friend, whom he had referred to only as “Doc”, had been coerced into helping Kacey fix something she had broken. Gerard became separated from them shortly after stepping into a maelstrom; a tempest so fantastic, that it defied description. Being a simple man of the cloth, he did not understand any of it. Kacey, however, did seem to possess some keen understanding and insight into the situation.
|
 |
|
The evening before the maelstrom, Kacey had revealed her true nature to him. The motivation for doing so, she claimed, was to thank him for helping her find her faith; simply by living his. Through this awesome display of trust, she was able to surface the lustful desire for intimate relations with other men he had fought to resist his entire life. And by experiencing the light of perfect love, those salacious cravings no longer seemed insurmountable. She stayed with him that night as he wept, both with joy and with pain, for the new source of strength she had uncovered inside him.
|
 |
|
Moira smiles, remembering how she revealed her own angelic nature to him the night Louis was conceived.
|
 |
|
So much has happened since then. Most importantly, she fell in love with Gerard. Shortly after moving here from Sunset Valley, he became Pastor for the small church nestled into their countryside village. The Sunday services are always full and Gerard’s message never dulls. She has come to accept the reality that she may never fully understand what happened to Kacey and Adam. The artifact that Gerard brought with him was the last link to them. But it too is gone, having turned to dust during the journey to France.
|
 |
|
Moira waves and Emilie squeals excitedly as Gerard and Louis walk together up the path from the river to the villa. She laughs with Gerard, listening to Emilie scolding Louis for going off to fish while she was napping. Moira uses the distraction to gently kiss her husband. She finds his dark eyes with her own brilliant, blue gaze then whispers musically into his ear, Je suis enceinte, mon amour.
|
 |
|
His smile is warm, happy, and genuine. He hugs her ferociously, then kisses her with the same sentiment. Then, after collecting the children, the du Pont family retreats into their villa, just as evening begins its watch over the French countryside.
|
 |
|
Standing by the window, Moira welcomes a kiss from the sun’s last rays on her cheeks, before it disappears behind the rolling hills. She smiles before drawing the curtains. There is no more perfect place for her to be, and there is no more perfect man for her to be with.
|
 |
|
Just as the sun’s setting foreshadows the start of a new day; this, by no means, is the end of her story. She prefers to think of it as the interlude before a new dawn. And what could possibly be a sweeter and more lovely way of honoring a new dawn, than by dressing it with these proud words,
|
 |
| “The du Pont Legacy” |
 |
| …they have a rather fetching sound to them, wouldn’t you agree? |
 |
 |
 |
| Some butterflies will dismiss it as ludicrous and irrational. But the ones that trust in faith and make the journey, become a part of something wondrous and beautiful. – Gerard du Pont (Chapter 6.12 – Butterflies) |
Stories by Zoxell 
So if my brain is telling me correctly, due to the things that happened in the future, Moira was able to eliminate Hendrake for good and changed her future to ensure that the future didn’t repeat itself? If my guess is correct, I have to say that this is an awesome ending to an awesome legacy. I’m actually kind of sad that this story is ending, but I’m pretty happy, because I can’t think of a better way for this to end. I’m also happy that I there will be a bit less head scratching and eyebrow raising due to being unbelievably confused.
Just out of curiosity, I remember at one point you had mentioned doing another story once you were finished with this one. Have your plans remained the same? If so, I can hardly wait to find out what it will be. Unless the whole ‘du Pont Legacy’ was a hint on something. Regardless, I am excited to read something else that may or may not make me scratch my head in confusion.
Also! I never congratulated you on getting a new job after you were laid off. When I found out about you losing your job, I prayed for you and your family. And I rejoiced when you put on Facebook that you were starting a new one. So congratulations again. And congratulations on the new baby Zoxell. God bless you.
LikeLike
LOL! Thank you very much! God certianly has blessed me with a big, beautiful family.
Some may think of this as a paradoxical ending to the legacy. I prefer to think of it as a miraculous ending 😀
A lot of the confusion and craziness you mentioned was definitely intentional. Think of it as an allegory for our own unpredictable lives, which are filled with difficult and complex problems. Not to mention those chaotic, uncontrollable things that come up that leave us “scratching our heads”. The moral of Kacey’s story is about allowing God to be in control – allowing Him to put us in the path of His will, rather than us forcing our own will. It is not easy, nor is it particularly fashionable in our current cultural and political climate.
I do appreciate the prayers. It was a very uneasy (and even frightening) experience. But we knew all along that we were in good hands 🙂
LikeLike
Hey Zoxell. I just posted a new chapter. I was wondering if you could read it, and let me know what you think? When you aren’t busy of course. Thanks!
LikeLike
What a phenomenal ending!! I expected a full-circle approach for the final chapters, but I like how you directed the story’s end away from it’s beginning by erasing all traces of the algorithm instead. Very well done.
Thank you for sharing your story, I have really, really enjoyed it. Sad to see it go, but I am glad to know how it ends, too. I look forward to that eventual second story, of course. Happy Simming in the meantime, and all the best to you and yours!
LikeLike
Thank you Tipix! That last, little zinger was actually the very first one I had planned. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep that kind of thing under wraps for more that three years? LOL! Thank you again for your immensely kind words and stick-withitness, even when I’ve been unable to properly return the generosity in your own blog! I will endeavor to correct that problem over the coming weeks.
Thanks again!
LikeLike
zoxell, I’m starting a legacy of my own. I have written some chapters, i suggest clicking the uncategorized button first, i still can’t re-order my chapters. http://www.thesyrineelegacy.wordpress.com
LikeLike