On the far side of the galaxy, thousands of light years from the Lylat system, lies an extraordinary blue-green nebula. Surrounded by this mass of stardust and gas, a binary star system shines. With only a single terrestrial planet in the entire system, it is hard to imagine that this is where our story takes place.
In the early formation of this small star system, the larger star called Drixil, pulled the planet into its orbit causing the climate to be inhospitable to life. The surface was smoldering and only small bacterial life managed to survive deep beneath the crust. However this was not meant to last. Thousands of years later, a moon-sized clump of rock smashed into the planet. The blast was so powerful that it knocked the planet out of its orbit from Drixil. The smaller star, Thanos, managed to pull it into its gravity before the planet was sent flying out of the system. The events were however, catastrophic. The small life that survived deep within died within moments of the crash. Leaving only their remnants, and a seed for new life.
The planet's new but strange orbit gave rise to many new forms of microorganisms. But it was hard for life to adapt to the wide range of temperatures. Many were unable to adapt to the extremities of the environment. Its elliptical orbit caused the planet to experience temperatures well below zero for nearly fourteen months, while the remaining five months were spent in blistering hot conditions. This was because for those five months the planet was squeezed in between the two stars, and the rest of year was spent at the farthest points of the system. Despite the hostile temperatures, life thrived and evolved to adapt to the harsh environment. The tiny organisms pumped out gases for nearly a millennia and in turn a thick atmosphere was born. The atmosphere allowed for rain and snow to fall from the skies, washing over the barren wasteland, creating rivers, lakes and oceans.
Soon the planet was covered in lush forests and vast, yet strange ecosystems. Chlorophyll evolved to absorb shorter wave lengths of energy from the stars to fuel their hosts. In turn, the stems and leaves of these plants were often blue and purple. In the winter months the plants released the stored energy heating up the area around them, the leaves turning silver when the energy was released. While in the summer months the energy was stored and saved when the opportunity to do so was at its highest. A unique landscape flourished over the planet, a hidden gem from the rest of the galaxy. Millions and millions of years passed, and a diverse society of anthropomorphic creatures rose and grew. They became strong, adaptable and intelligent.
This planet, in which the inhabitants call Seva, is the home to a traditional but yet, advanced society. Where the populace live for thousands of years happy going about their daily routines. Never really wondering what lies beyond their systems borders.
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For many years Seva was governed solely by a highly regarded Emperor and Empress. As the planet became very populated and cities thrived, they decided to divide the provinces by factions and political beliefs. Within each province they placed a representative to represent the empire but also the people of the provinces to the Empire. For over a millennia, Seva flourished and its people thrived.
Once the diverse inhabitants had evolved enough for space travel and intergalactic relations; they were contacted by a cosmic entity known as Trymera, a very powerful phoenix with unearthly beauty. Who soon explained that she was a part of a special race of entities who were dedicated to protecting life in the universe. The Emperor and Empress were curious as to why they were contacted by her and were skeptical of her presence. She told them that she was the guardian's leader and had come to extend the invitation for them to join their empire. The skepticism of the Sevian rulers overcame their curiosity and asked to why she was the leader, and not a male in her place. Trymera disappointedly shook her head at their traditional views and explained that she was very special, if not to her people than to the rest of the universe.
Trymera's light energy lit up the room as she explained her origins as the universe's light incarnate. Being reborn out of the ashes of the last Queen in at first the form of a star but then in the form of a phoenix. The other guardians were also phoenix's but were not as powerful as she, and wielded less complex elements. Her power was special because she represented all that was light in the universe and such a powerful element was preserved for only one to master. If anything were to happen to her or her cycle, the universe would collapse into complete darkness. Trymera explained that the reason for her visit was to warn them that by advancing this far, they would be prone to attacks by forces that they couldn't hope to stop. Darkness was always spreading and more forces were needed to stop it. Trymera promised that Seva would always be under the protection of the guardians, but insisted that they join her in the pursuit of achieving intergalactic peace.
But the Emperor and Empress were too proud, and refused to join the guardians cause. They explained that an outside force could disrupt their nearly perfect system, and degrade all that they had fought and maintained for so many years. The Empress rationalized that they were already self-sustaining, they needed no protection from any possible outside enemies. They requested that the guardians and Trymera never make contact with them again.
Word of the rulers decision to not join the guardians got out rather quickly. The representatives disagreed with the Emperors and Empresses decision, and said it was wrong of them to make this decision without the approval of the council and Seva's common people. Eight out of the Eleven factions voted to seek out the guardians again and join them. The Emperor and Empress attempted to reach out to the guardians again but no response was ever made.
Many accused them of being dishonest. Others also said that since they did not want to join the guardians, that they didn't even attempt to make contact. The provinces and factions became enraged with political strife and riots ensued. Little by little Seva's peace slowly deteriorated each day, its people becoming more and more resentful of the empires choice. And on the first official day of summer during the start of the 78th millennium, the Emperor and Empress were found dead in their palace chamber.
Most of the people mourned and many unsure of what would happen next. There were no heirs to the throne and it was not written who the successor would be. The leader of one faction found the data regarding the contact of Trymera and the guardians, showing what they gave up. Some factions and provinces believed they made the right choice while others disagreed. The cities and nations went in an uproar, fighting over what sort of government should be in power, what ideals should be represented and how to best move forward. After years and years of disagreement, the planet was plunged into a century long war.
During this difficult time many tried to find solutions to end the fighting. The planet was being polluted even by their advanced eco-friendly technology. Overuse caused a wide spread evacuation of one of the larger provinces, causing an over population in another. Introducing a slue of problems that had never been encountered in their history.
In the capital, there were two very intelligent geneticists, Dr. Edwyn Jil and Dr. Availyn Sorwarski. Known especially for their work together in Epigenetic's and Biomechanics, they were the head of the team searching for a cure of the disease that had spread through the provinces. Over the course of their work together, the two fell madly in love. Fantasizing that they could be the ones to rescue their once beautiful planet and bring about peace. Availyn was a beautiful white and silver avian, having a mixed family heritage of both hawk and eagle. Edwyn too had a diverse family heritage and was the product of many different avian backgrounds. His feathers were various shades of red with tints of teal throughout. His eyes were likely the most spectacular feature he had because they were a deep emerald green.
The two often worked alone trying to discover a genetic marker, a specific gene that could be activated to allow the body to be immune of the disease. To their surprise after many years of research, they were successful. They immediately shipped out a formula to help prevent the disease from spreading. The number of deaths fell and Edwyn and Availyn soon found themselves swimming in money.
Edwyn and Availyn were married not long after, and on their honeymoon they visited a lonely island not far from the capital. There, they found an ancient archive, filled with information of the guardians. After discovering this information, they decided to break into encrypted files, thus recovering that the old Sevian empire had data on special objects from the guardians homeworld that were always under guard and key. These objects were very precious, and very dangerous, and to be kept hidden from the rest of the universe. One thing of particular interest to Edwyn was a vile filled with the blood of an ancient powerful being, who left their blood as a gift to the guardians. Edwyn had an idea but wasn't quite ready to share it with Availyn.
Over the years, Edwyn became obsessed with the idea of becoming the new Emperor of Seva and getting his hands on the vile of blood. Availyn and Edwyn were perhaps the wealthiest on Seva and could practically take the throne whenever they wanted. Availyn often talked about children in which Edwyn was delighted to hear it. After all, his plan involved a baby.
It took some convincing, but Edwyn convinced his wife to design a child. After a lot of thought, Availyn agreed. Having knowledge and expertise in the field herself. Understanding the benefits of choosing which traits for their child to have to give it its best chance.
Before Edwyn could execute his plan, he needed that vile. But the only way to get it was through a guardian, since the vile was locked away on the guardian home world, Ryniky. But no guardians had been seen near Seva in nearly 70 years. Since he was a wealthy man, he paid some of the Sevian scouts to search the borders of the system, and beyond to find him a guardian. One happened to be seen in the nearby star system after a routine scouting mission. The scouts of Seva had discovered that this particular one had gone rogue.
As if fate would have it, Edwyn had found the guardian sitting in the dark corners of his office a few weeks later. He towered over Edwyn, who concluded that he had to almost be seven feet tall. His breathing was deep, but strong.
Edwyn turned on the light and took a few steps back. Almost in disbelief by what he saw. He was a very robust male phoenix, with vibrant green feathers and a sharp black beak, similar in shape to that of an eagle. The tips of his feathers were blue and purple and his eyes shimmered like gold. He wore only robes and metal bands around his muscular arms. Surely all of the phoenixes did not look like this one.
"I had heard talk of a very wealthy man on Seva looking for a thief." He said with a booming, deep voice. Lightning swirling around his hands.
Edwyn had heard the legends of the power that the lightning phoenix's wielded, but he was so caught up in his dream that he was willing to risk his life for what he wanted.
"I am." He tried to say calmly, the phoenix having him backed up against the wall.
"What is it that you seek?" He asked looking the smaller avian in the eyes.
"The vile.."
"How much?"
Frantically searching for his research tablet, Edwyn pulled up his account which read 200 billion Sevian currency. Which equaled a similar amount on Ryniky.
The phoenix grinned, "It will be done."
With a boom and a flash of lightning, he was gone.
Availyn grew worried about her husband. He spent much of his time discussing how fascinating the guardians were and less about how to make Seva a better place. He had also mentioned to her about becoming the new rulers, but Availyn did not share that dream anymore. She wanted a child and a simple life. But mostly, she just wanted her husband back. She could see that he was slipping from her but she refused to believe it was true.
After about a year, the phoenix had returned with the vile. Edwyn had paid him the promised amount and he was gone. A part of Edwyn had wanted the guardian to stay, to protect him and his family for when they took the throne. The other half of him was unsure of the idea of a guardian around was wise. Nonetheless, he was gone.
Finally, within his hands, lied the secret weapon he was looking for. He could mix the genes of this ancient being with their own, and threaten the people of Seva to give them the throne. Their child would be the monster who would help them keep Seva governed by fear.
He got to work right away. Stripping the genes from the blood and mixing them into the embyro. After seconds, the embyro turned dark blue and then turquoise, shaking and nearly cracking the the petri dish. Edwyn touched it, it was freezing cold. He was not sure what that meant nor did he care. He attempted to stabilize its properties in order to examine what it would become. But it was useless, the embryo needed to be planted right away or it would die.
The next day he implanted the embryo into his wife. Who at this point, just wanted him back. She was willing to go along with whatever plans he had for the future. He had promised her everything she wanted but he just wanted to secure their future. Availyn, had no idea that he had spent the majority of their money on the vile to get what he wanted.
During her pregnancy, she experienced unusual symptoms. She would shake from cold, feeling as if her blood was freezing. Edwyn however, did not show any remorse and refused to comfort her during this time. Instructing the royal maidens to care for her. While she sat at home suffering with freezing cold symptoms and shakes, Edwyn had scared Seva enough that they were allowing him and his wife to take the throne.
Finally it was time, Edwyn and Availyn had the throne and now the baby was coming. The public shuttered as they heard their empress cry out as she gave birth to their child. They all feared that a monster was going to be unleashed and all ran into their homes waiting to hear the news.
But instead of a monster, a baby girl was born. Sweetest as they could come, her feathers as turquoise as the Sevian glaciers and as blue as the deepest ocean. Her touch was cold like ice but her heart warm and pure. Availyn awed over her new baby, but Edwyn was resentful and hateful. This was not the monster her had hoped for.
The new Sevian princess was to be named Celestia. She had her fathers eyes, and they sparkled green like emeralds up at her parents. When word got out about the new princess, all sighed in relief happy that the threats were untrue.
The Emperor knew that what could not be bred could be taught.