"It was a long time ago… but it felt like it was yesterday…
"Possibly you heard that before… but the story you're about to hear happens way before the Glorious Era of the Guardians.
"It is right for me to begin with the one that started everything: our dear mother Gaia."
"The story itself begins with Gaia. Also known by humans as Mother Earth. Born from the darkness of the universe as light, Gaia brought life to a molten planet that we now call Earth.
"First, there were giants and animals. Then, there were the chaos caused by Pandora, causing pain to the first humans."
Gaia observed the devastated ruins of a village.
'Dear Zeus… it's an awful sight,' she thought.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of sobbing from one of the destroyed houses.
Before Gaia was a little girl with blonde hair. She seemed sad and wounded. Mother Earth approached the child. When she looked up with her gold eyes, she tried to back away. "Please child, there's nothing to fear," Gaia assured.
The girl stepped back again, protecting her little brown-haired sister, who was hiding behind her.
"It's okay… I'm here. You two will be just fine." She reached a hand out to the blonde. Instantly, she felt something dark.
'These two... Are they from... the Box?'
But, then, she reached her hand to the brunette, and felt the warmness of light.
"Maybe not… Well, wherever they're from, they don't deserve being here all alone."
She smiled to them. "Come with me, dear children."
"It was when Gaia started to raise two orphan sisters that everything started. And that's when I get in the story."
Gaia arrived, carrying the two sisters.
"Luna?"
"Yes, mom?" A teenage nymph with blue hair that reached the middle of her back came in her direction. "Oh… who are they?"
"These two orphans need a home. And names as well."
"And do you have names for them?"
"For now, take them to my room. I'll speak with Zeus tomorrow."
"I was one of the servants of Gaia. We nymphs, especially us rare moon nymphs, have jobs like taking care of young children or cleaning up the temples. Sometimes this job's tough, but hey, someone's gotta do it."
Zeus and the Gods reunited on Mount Olympus.
"Gaia… mother... are you sure of your choice?"
"My son, they need me. I made you all out of nowhere, just like Chronos. And as much as you needed my help, these little girls need mine as well."
"What's your names, younglings?" Zeus wanted to know.
"We don't remember... Only thing we know is darkness was around us, until a light came on us. Then, we fled the darkness," the eldest spoke.
"I was scared… really scared," the youngest said.
"You don't have to fear no longer, darlings. I will raise you in my temple… as my own kids."
"You'll be… our momma?" The youngest's eyes glowed.
"Yes... Hermia."
"Hermia?"
"You're beautiful as a queen. And this name once belonged to an ancient queen of nymphs."
"Hermia… I l-like it… T-Thank you..."
"And you..." Gaia saw the eldest fiddling with her dark magic. "Hm… you seem excited, youngling."
"I never been here before. That's all. And I actually have no idea how I'm doing this."
"Hm… what do you think about… Eiri?"
"Eiri? Hm. I like it."
"Eiri and her little sister grew up as normal kids, and as students of Gaia. Each of them had a different personality. And like every pair of sisters, they had their differences."
A baby bird landed close to Hermia. His foot was hurt.
"Aww, poor little thing. There, there… I'll take care of this wound." She caressed the birdie's little paw, making it better.
"Ugh… that's why I hate training here in the garden. First, a cute bug, now a baby bird. Geez..." Eiri commented, trying to channelize her magic.
"Eiri… all lives need caring. That's what Gaia said."
"Yeah, I know… but she also said that you gotta control your powers. And you're not even focusing on your magic!"
"Power isn't everything. We need to be gentle."
"Girls?" Luna interrupted their conversation. "Gaia wants to see you."
The girls entered Gaia's room.
"Mom? You wanted to see us?" Hermia asked.
"Yes, Hermia. You see, we're about to receive new apprentices soon. And I was wondering if one of you could show them the place. I am really busy at the moment."
"Okay, Mom." Eiri nodded. "Let me show those pipsqueaks all this temple has to offer."
"Um, Eiri, actually I need you to help me here. Hermia, can you do this for me?"
"Um… okay." She answered, blushing, while Eiri stared in complete disbelief.
"Don't feel upset, dear Eiri. I know there'll be something important for yo to do futurelly." Gaia comforted her. The blonde sighed, and walked away.
Then, she observed as her little sister was admired by the newest apprentices. This made her growl of envy.
"It was a time of peace and delight to all races, humans and mytical entities… but even mythical entities don't live forever. "
Luna entered Gaia's room, hearing her coughing. Mother Earth stared at her, with a worried look. A flower on her dress fell.
"Gaia?" Luna asked, worried.
"Luna… I need a heir." Gaia said, with a weakened voice.
"People say entities are immortal, like gods. And it's true. But when a mytical entity dies, instead of vanishing, it normally assumes another life form. Gaia knew this very well, and prior to her death, she called her loyal students, after a long time of training."
"My dearest students… I fear my time will come soon," Gaia started, after hesitating for an instant. Hermia and Eiri sat in the front line. "I believe now is the time to have a heir to my throne."
"Guess who's gonna be?" Eiri said, really full of herself.
"Eiri! Please, some respect. Mom said her… time is coming," Hermia scolded.
"Sister, come on. We knew this day would come, didn't we?"
"But still… I don't trhink I'm ready for this..."
"As I was saying..." Gaia called their attention. "I have made my final choice. Luna, bring the flower crown."
Luna entered with a colorful flower crown, and trying to not show worry. Gaia looked at her with her calm smile, trying to comfort her.
She walked on her disciples' direction, and placed the flower crown in one of them. "Hermia… stand up as my heir, and future Mother Nature."
Eiri gasped. Hermia stood up, with her eyes glowing in surprise.
"But, Mother... my magic is not perfect," Hermia said, uncertain of that, and removing the flower crown. "I'm not sure I'll take care of everything."
"Or course you will," Gaia said, with a serene voice. "Your compassion and love are admirable, and I'm sure your magic will become better each and every day." She put the flower crown on Hermia's head, making Eiri irritated.
The blonde girl left the ceremony before Gaia could even talk, and Hermia smiled weakly to the audience.
"All hail Mother Nature's heir!" Luna said.
"We didn't see much of Eiri after the ceremony. And a few weeks after it, Gaia fell on her bed, sick."
"M-mom..." Hermia shivered, her eyes filled with tears. The nymphs and apprentices of Gaia also reunited there. "P-please… don't leave us..."
"Hermia..." Gaia said. "Don't suffer… for my depart… for even after I'm gone, life will go on. And I… I know the right choice was made. With time… come wisdom… you'll see… my beloved Mother Nature..."
Gaia closed her eyes for the last time, and started to glow. Hermia and the apprentices stepped aside, and watched Gaia's transmutation.
When the light disappeared, there, in front of them was a huge tree. So huge that it seemed to touch the sky. Hermia looked at the base of the Tree. There was Gaia's crown with the jewel still there. She sighed and knelt in front of the tree, while the others left with their heads down.
"Years passed as the Sins were locked thanks to the help of Elpis the Spirit of Hope, but life was never gonna be the same again for humans. For Oceanus and Uranus, the other two of the Three Deities, also passed away, leaving Hermia to take responsibility of the planet by her own. But the Three Deities left behind their four crystals of unspeakable power.
"Hermia, around their young adult ages, hid them away so they will be safe from the corrupted.
Centuries passed since the death of the Three Deities, and Hermia, now called Mother Nature, protected the world from darkness in fear of corruption. Through the Tree of Gaia, many nymphs were born, including one of the first fire nymphs."
A crimson colored rose bloomed on the tree, and from there, a little brown-skinned baby appeared.
"Welcome to the world, dearest child," Luna said. She had grown up a little more, and so did Hermia.
"What name should we give her?" a young nymph asked.
"Well, she came from a rose. So let's name her Rose."
The baby giggled.
"Overtime, the gods began to train humans their powers, creating a bond between them. During this time of peace, Hermia created four gems similar to the Crystals, but not as powerful, called the Elemental Gems. They were for an emergency, and so were hidden.
"Unlike the other gods, Hermia never had an apprentice, and without Eiri by her side, she felt a huge empty space in her life. Until one day, three boys changed the course of our history… and Mother Nature's life."
Hermia was out for a quiet walk in the woods. After all, even Mother Nature needs a break. She heard a chorus of howls nearby. Looks the resident wolf pack is hunting. But then, there came a scream of pain. That shocked her. They were attacking a human.
The young goddess sprinted along the forest floor, hearing the sounds of paws hitting the ground. She then heard more screams. These of fear. Hermia gasped when she saw several wolves surrounding three boys in ranging sizes and appearances.
The one in cream wraps with dirty blond hair and sea green eyes might looked like the eldest. The second eldest might be the blond one with blue eyes wearing blue. In their arms was maybe the youngest, who had brown hair and wearing green. His eyes were squeezed shut in pain.
There was a wound on his shoulder. A bite mark. Hermia became furious. How could they attack innocent children?
She looked in the growls' directon and gasped. They weren't simple wolves… there were Lupus Phantasma. There were many packs, but all were feared, except for the ones that followed the Lupus Queen's laws.
"Help! Please!" the eldest of the boys screamed in panic. Knowing she had to do something, Hermia raised her hand and a bright light shot out. The Lupus fled from the light.
The two boys shivered as Hermia stared at them.
"Ssh… it's okay… I'm here to help…" She walked up to them. The two uninjured tensed before setting the youngest one down. Hermia placed the child on her lap and gently laid a hand on his injury. Instantly, his shoulder healed. The other two stared in amazement. The brunet opened his eyes, revealing hazel orbs. Hermia smiled at the child.
"These three were Terrance, Arthur and Vincent. But later, as they were raised by Hermia and learned to control new abilities, they were nicknamed Terra, Aqua and Ventus.
"But as much joy that their arrival brought to Hermia's life, danger ended up reaching their lives… when Chaos appeared."
"Eiri had searched for help in the underworld and was raised by Hades and Persephone, being remnamed as Eris, Goddess of Discord. Before this, she had caused havoc to the Trojans and Greeks, thanks to a golden apple, but that's another story.
"And when she had left the Underworld at her adoptive father's request, she encountered a little boy. He seemed to have trouble with his parents, and so ran away. Feeling pity and guilt for the first time, she adopted him and taught him her magic."
In the Underworld, Eiri called for her loyal apprentice.
"You called me, mother?" A silhouette knelt in front of her.
"Dearest Chrona... it is finally time to sound the drums of war."
He stared at her, with an evil grin. "At last..."
Hermia ran into the cathedral. But she gasped at a horrible sight. The floor rugs were scorched. Tapestries were ripped. And in the middle of the chapel was two of her sons. But her boys were weeping.
She rushed over to them. "Terra! Aqua! Are you okay?"
Terra looked up her, tears streaking down his face. "M-mommy… where's Ventus?"
His answer was the sound of a door slamming, and Ventus being thrown into the temple.
"Brother!" the two children cried.
"A-Aqua… T-Terra… run..."
A man in a black robe stormed through the door. "Oh, my bad. I forgot to say I hate children."
"How dare you hurt my children and my mother's most valuable treasure?" Hermia scolded. "Who are you?"
"Oh, so you must be Hermia. My dearest mother and master Eris told se soooo much about you."
"Eris? You mean Eiri?" Hermia gasped at the mention of her name. And this man was her son?
"I am Chaos, Demi-God of Discord. And in the name of Eris, I shall dominate this world, and rule over every living soul on this planet!" Chaos threw an energy bubble in Hermia's direction, but she defended herself.
"Boys! Run!"
Ventus stood up despite his injury, and took Terra and Aqua by the hand.
Hermia kept defending herself, and eventually attacking with light, but Chaos tricked her and trapped her into his energy bubble.
"Strong light… but weak reflexes," Chaos mocked.
"Leave her alone!" Ventus ordered.
"Make me, you little rat!" Chaos tried attacking him, but Ventus split his attacks with his Air powers. With rage in his eyes, Chaos stomped on the floor, making the earth shake. Ventus grabbed his brothers' hands and the three of them ran out the door, as the cathedral crumbled into pieces.
Out of there, Chaos floated away, carrying Hermia with him. "Mom!" Ventus cried out.
"We need to warn Grandpa Zeus," Aqua said. "Maybe the other gods can help us."
"Uh… I think they won't be able to help that much at the moment," Terra said, as he took a look at the background. From the distance, they could saw a war scenery in front of them: raging battles all around, and many nymphs and apprentices wounded.
"Oh, my Muses…" Ventus gasped.
"Boys! Thank goodness we found you!" a familiar voice said. They turned and saw a brown skinned woman in orange and gold clothes.
"Rosie! A Demi-god named Chaos took mom!"
"He did WHAT?!"
"R-Rose..." they heard a voice. Rose looked behind and gapsed: it was her boyfriend, really wounded and about to faint.
"Pyce!" The four ran to him. He passed out in her arms. He breathed heavily.
"We need to take him to Uncle Apollo's temple. He's the only one that's probably not in battle at the moment," Ventus said.
"You're right. He isn't, because he's sending his apprentices to take care of the wounded. Plus, helping Hephaestus to bulid weapons, for he's also a war god."
"We know."
"Uh, guys. Pyce is still here. Let's go."
"Okay, quick." Rose whistled to call for her magic cloud. "Hop on." Her three brothers got on her cloud and they flew off.
In Apollo's temple, Pyce's wounds were healed in a short period of time.
"I'm so happy you're okay, my dearest Pyce. I was so afraid to lose you."
Pyce hushed her for a minute, and kissed her. The eldest and youngest brothers made faces of disgust, but the middle brother only said "aww". This made him gain looks of incredulousness from them. "And I was also afraid of never seeing you again."
"Thanks, Uncle Apollo," Ventus said. "If it weren't for you..."
"No problem, boys. But now we need to go. The gods, and their remaining nymphs and apprentices are reuniting while there's not a new attack. Now we must hurry."
Suddenly, there was an explosion that blew a hole in the temple.
"Hurry! A new attack won't take long," Apollo rushed to take them to his carriage.
As the chariot reached Mount Olympus, something suddenly shot it down, making it crash. Luckily, no one got hurt.
As they got into the Gods' Realm, many others screaming came inside with them.
The three brothers huddled together in worry. Hundreds of others were crammed into the temple, with voices of panic filling the room. Near the brothers were Rose, Pyce and a little girl with ponytails.
"Enough!" a loud voice boomed over the commotion. All noises ceased and everyone looked to the back, where Zeus stood. "Everyone! Do not panic! There is still hope to stop Chaos! And it's these!" Moving to the side, four glowing gems were revealed. The crowd admired them, including the six friends. "The Elemental Gems. Embodiments of the four elements of nature themselves."
"You think it's a good idea?" Terra asked.
"Youngling, your Mother created these gems to be used in emergencies. And this IS an emergency," Zeus explained.
"Grandfather is right, brother. We don't have a choice," Ventus said.
"Including that we discussed that the ones to use them... are her trustful apprentices." The brothers' eyes widened and everyone else gasped in surprise.
"Us?!" all three exclaimed.
"You must. Your mother and we all need your help." Athena knelt, holding Terra's hands.
"But they're just kids!" a nymph protested.
"And they have little experience with any magic!" a male apprentice added. Soon, the place was in an uproar. Some were complaints of why they were picked. Others defied the idea of sending the kids out there to fight a dangerous foe. The six friends looked around them in worry. Then, out of the blue, Ventus dashed forward through the crowd.
"Ven!" Aqua called, though his voice was drowned by the commotion.
"Ven, wait for us!" Terra shouted. The two followed him. Athena smiled at that. The three brothers had made their way up the staircase to the Gems. Zeus smiled down at them. The crowd went silent and watched. The three stopped and breathed deeply to catch their breath. Ven looked up at his grandfather.
"Are you willing to take this task?" the King of the gods asked. The white apprentice nodded firmly.
"I am, grandfather," he answered. He then turned to his brothers. "Will you join me, my brothers?" He held out his hands. The two stared for a moment. Then they nodded.
"If you're doing it, so am I," Aqua replied, taking a hand.
"Me too," Terra added, doing the same. Suddenly, the Elemental Gems started glowing harshly. Gasps filled the room as they floated into the air and started to circle the trio. The three then found themselves being lifted into the air. They felt great surges of power flow into them and they were engulfed in a bright light. Their friends below stood shocked. Three silhouettes appeared in the light. One was blue, another green and the last one was a creamy color. They were small, but suddenly started changing; the arms and legs got longer and the body shape changed a bit.
As he light lowered, it began to die down, leaving the silhouettes. When they touched the ground with the elements still circling them, the lights of the silhouettes faded... revealing three grown men in majestic robes. Every soul in the shelter gasped, even the gods.
They all observed each other, in surprise and wonder.
"Brothers... let's go save our mother," Ventus said, putting the Air and Fire Gems in his bag.
His brothers nodded, Aqua taking the Water Gem and Terra handling the Earth Gem.
"Chaos was eventually defeated by the three apprentices, and the three became the first Nature Guardians ever… but everything was far from ending.
"Before this, however, the Gods reunited with Hermia, and agreed in using the Deities' Crystals, along with a shard of the long-lost Time Gem, to create a weapon of extreme power, that would be useful in case of danger."
"What's this, mom?" Aqua asked.
"A weapon that can control all the Elemental Gems. We named it the Gaia Scepter."
"Ooh..." Terra wondered. "Hm… there are four crystals on them and a huge gem on the top..."
"All the Deities' Crystals, and the Pearl of Apollo, were merged into one weapon. We decided to keep it safely in the Gems' Chapel."
"Wow... If only Ven could see it," Aqua said.
"Yeah… ultimately, he didn't even seem to say anything more than hi or good night. I'm worried," Terra sadly admitted.
"Maybe he still didn't get over that thing with Chaos. It took me some time to get used to this adult body."
"So did I."
"Hey, just between us… I think you didn't only grow up in size. That way you used your vines last time we trained was brilliant."
"Thanks. I've been trainnig harder than ever… just for you to see how strong I could get."
"I know you're strong, little bro." Aqua put a hand on his shoulder. "And I'm really proud of you." Terra smiled at that. Unknown to them, a sea green eye was watching.
"A little after this, it was found out that Chaos had cursed Ventus before their battle, and with that, Ventus became the feared Black Storm.
Ventus told a messenger woodpecker to fetch his brothers and meet him at the Guardians' Cathedral.
He looked at the messenger, worried. "Be quick. Please." The woodpecker nodded and zoomed off. Ven's hair was almost completely black. The Air Guardian opened the door to the cathedral. Then, he held his head in pain. A tear of pain fell from his eyes, but unknown to him, it started to glow silver and float away.
Ven stood in front of the glass portrait of him and his brothers and the Earth Gem. He stared at the two in blue and green. In anger. Then he heard the door fling open.
"Ven!"
"Brother!" They arrived. By the sounds of their voices, they seemed excited. Ventus flinched in pain, one last time, before his eyes glowed black for an instant, returning to normal after this.
"Not another move," Ventus said, turning to his brothers. They stopped in their tracks in confusion.
"Ven, what are you doing?" Aqua asked. "We've been wanting to see you for so long!"
"You really thought I would just observe while people admired you both like a bunch of fools?" Ventus said. "Always asking for YOUR help and words of wisdom?"
"What are you talking about?" Terra asked in confusion.
"There can only be ONE Nature Guardian on the planet! And that Guardian... shall be ME!" Ven stomped firmly, and crushed the stained glass behind him, revealing the sky being covered by dark clouds.
Ven held his head, with an expression of pain, as the last few stripes of his hair became black with one silver. His eyes opened in panic as he was surrounded by darkness. When the dark energy slowly fade, the man laughed maniacally as he admired his new look.
Strong lashes of wind blew into the temple, knocking over small tapestries and blowing out the torches. It even blew in a big boulder that nearly crushed the brothers, but Terra made a vine grow and grab them out of the way. Aqua made an ice platform for them to stand on. They looked down at "Ven". Lightning flashed outside as it began to hail and the thunder boomed.
"Ventus, please! We don't want to fight you!" Terra said.
"Please, stop this storm! You'll destroy the surface of the planet!" the blonde pleaded.
"Ventus? Ventus is gone! I am Black Storm!" Black Storm proclaimed. "And there's only two things I'll destroy... and it's YOU!" He shot a bolt of lightning a them. Aqua brought the platform down to evade it.
"Terra! Get the Elemental Gems and the Gaia Scepter! I'll keep him busy!" Aqua told Terra.
"But, Aqua..." Terra started saying, until his brother put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll be fine. I promise," Aqua said, with a calm smile.
Black Storm sent another bolt of electricity. Aqua blocked it with an ice wall and held his ground. "Go! Now!" Terra slowly backed away before finally turning around and ran. Aqua's barrier started cracking. Eventually, it shattered, throwing the man in blue back and rolling on the floor. Aqua immediately got up.
Black Storm escaped through the temple door to run after Terra. Aqua created an ice line to skate after him. Outside the temple was a clearing in the woods. But a little away, there were the flickering lights of lanterns in a village.
Terra continued to run and he heard the crackling of electricity. He looked behind him and saw his corrupted brother coming after him. The Earth Guardian made a wall of thorny vines come up in his way, only for Black Storm use incinerate them with fire.
Aqua tried to catch up to his pursuing brother. Luckily, Terra managed to reach the village and entered a shrine like building that had a magic gate in front. Black Storm entered, followed by Aqua. In the shrine, at the far end, sitting on four pedastals were the Elemental Gems. In the center, being hung, was the Gaia Scepter.
"Don't even think about, brat!" Black Storm shouted and blasted him with a lightning bolt. Terra screamed in pain and keeled over.
"Terra!" Aqua cried, using his ice to slide under Black Storm to reach his little brother. "Terra! Speak to me!" The brunette groaned.
"I-I'm okay. But... we need to stop him..."
"I know." He helped Terra onto his feet. Both looked at Black Storm. "Don't make us do something we don't want to do, Ventus!"
Terra grabbed the scepter and held it firmly, and the Elemental Gems floated around him and Aqua.
Black Storm just laughed like a maniac. "Do you actually believe that you can use all four of the elements at once?" he mocked. "And without your big brother Ventus to help you?"
They didn't say a word as the Gems circled them faster. Aqua took hold of the scepter as well. But as they felt the energy, their eyes widened in pain before squeezing shut. Their bodies sparked with the energy going through their bodies. Terra and Aqua began to glow green and blue respectively. Black Storm just prepared to attack again.
Aqua saw his little brother flinching in pain. He knew they wouldn't survive this battle... or at least HE wouldn't.
He pushed his brother aside, letting the energy flow only around him. "AQUA!" Terra screamed in shock before hitting the ground and fainting from the pain from earlier. With tears of pain and sadness in his eyes, Aqua lifted up the scepter and attacked Black Storm, who also attacked. Soon, Black Storm's attack was drowned by the Gaia Scepter's light and he yelled as he was turned into a cloud of darkness and sent away.
As the light faded out, Terra saw Aqua's body motionless on the floor and his sprigs drooped, the scepter in his limp hand and the Gems beside him. He stared wide eyed with fear for the worst.
"AQUA!" he shrieked before quickly getting up. He ran to see if his brother was okay. But he gasped of shock... his body had gotten cold. Aqua was gone.
"No..." Tears fell from his eyes as he embraced his dead brother. "This is not fair... not fair..." He sobbed silently, his spiky hair flattening onto his face.
"Aqua's sacrifice saved the mythical and human worlds, but Terra remained as the only Guardian left once Black Storm was banished to the Underworld."
"Terra! Aqua! Ventus! Where are you?" Hermia called. The mysterious storm had just cleared, and she was worried for her sons. She came to the Gems' Chapel, where the gate was open. But when she came inside, she froze.
Terra sobbed while embracing Aqua's dead body.
"Terra… what happened?"
"M-mom… Ven… he was… and… Aqua… h-he..." Hermia walked slowly to him. The Gems laid around them, with the Gaia Scepter in Aqua's limp hand. Hermia fell to her knees in front of them. Tears streamed down her face.
"Terra... please... where's Ventus?"
Terra clutched the corpse closer. "In the Underworld."
"Terra's life somehow… felt worthless without his brothers by his side. He began to shut out everyone and barely spoke.
"But after some encouragement from a dear friend/sister, Terra visited Athena, his wise teacher and dear aunt."
Athena polished her spear slowly in her temple and finished a few seconds later. When she laid it down, she heard the door open. Someone walked inside and came to her study. The goddess was surprised by the person in a green robe with his hood up. She actually wasn't expecting him to come for lessons anymore.
"Terra?" she called.
"Hi Aunt Athena..." she barely heard him say.
The goddess already knew about Ven's banishment and Aqua's death. "What brings you to my study in your current condition?"
"I... I need your helpful words... I still haven't gotten over my brothers." Terra wrapped himself in his arms.
"Oh, my darling..." Athena removed his hood and kissed his forehead. "I'm sure you'll see them again. Good people don't leave forever. They reach a special place on your heart."
"But I don't want them only in my heart. I want them here with me." Terra embraced his teacher.
Athena sighed. "Listen to me, Terra." Her adopted nephew looked at her. "Would your brothers want you sulking and pushing everyone away?" The Earth Guardian shook his head.
"No. They'd rather die than see that. Or at least, Aqua would."
"Then he would've died now if he saw you like this. So it would make no difference if he were alive after that battle. Your brothers would want you to continue with your life. They'd want you to stay strong." Terra placed a hand over his heart. The goddess laid her hand on his. "And they'll be here to remind you that." The young brunette smiled, a tear of joy running down his cheek.
"Thank you, Aunt Athena." She smiled at this. Then, an idea came to her.
"But if you really DO want to see them again, there is ONE thing that might work." Terra looked at her in surprise.
"There IS?" Athena turned to her study and grabbed a book off the shelf. On the cover was a gold four pointed star.
"Although you won't see them in your CURRENT life, you'll see them in another." She opened to a certain page and laid the book on a desk. Terra inspected the pages. Covering both pages was a huge image with a dying man on the bottom and coming out of him was something like mist, and in the mist was the man in a spirit like form.
Terra read the context, which was Latin. His eyes widened. "A reincarnation spell?"
"With this spell, you'll have a chance of seeing Aqua again," Athena said.
"Really?"
"But it can only be used when you're near your own death. And it takes someone with real magical understanding to master this spell. I admit I kept this secret."
"I need to learn this spell. It may be my only chance of seeing my brother again. I love him." Terra placed his hand over his heart again. "I'm willing to train harder and get better at my magic, if it means I'll see him again."
"Terra... you must be put aware that you can't guarantee that your next life will be a happy one."
"As long as I'm with Aqua - be it I remember him or not - I'll be spiritually happy." He closed the book and picked it up. Turning to his adoptive aunt, he hugged her and she returned it. "Thank you for everything." She kissed his forehead.
"I wish you all the wisdom I can give you." With a nod of appreciation, Terra departed from the room in a happy rush. Athena smiled.
"The chance to see Aqua again gave Terra the motivation to take back his responsibility as Guardian. Terra ended up being crowned the first Gaia Guardian, with Rose, Pyce and his hybrid nymph sister, Flora, by his side.
But ever since he took up this responsibility, he hadn't had much time to spend with them. Until after he got everything done for the day, he and his three friends raced.
"But then... there came a scar that will never heal. Terra... was found dying at the hands of a curse. A curse laid by Eris.
"Black Storm, who refused to form an alliance with Eris, was trapped by her at the destroyed Guardians' Cathedral, and Terra's death caused the worlds to collide in a terrible war.
"Rose and Pyce became the first Fire Guardians, using the Fire Gem. Soon, another ally would come to help us. Beowulf's legend and glorious battles never were forgotten. Especially his last battle with a dragon.
"What wasn't written in most stories was that the dying dragon told Beowulf to drink a goblet of water with a silver tear it found, saying the tear will give him new powers. After Beowulf slayed the beast, he did so. They say he changed that moment, his eyes a green of the seas and the winds obeying his every command.
"But he admitted he felt something as he drank that water… something like pain and sadness. And he heard a child's cry for help. But he never knew exactly who that child could be. Even so, he searched, something guiding him.
"And that's when he was found the Guardians' Cathedral, the Nature Trio's old home now destroyed since Black Storm."
Beowulf stood before the ruined cathedral. The beast slayer approached before his foot rolled over something. He looked down, seeing a black sphere.
"What are you doing here?" Rose questioned. Beowulf turned around, to see Rose and Pyce. "This is a holy ground. No one but Nature Guardians are allowed here."
"Listen, I'm sorry for trespassing on this sacred place," Beowulf tried to defuse their tension. "But a mysterious force guided me here, in search of help. And I have been traveling for many moons to find him."
"Wait, Rose… do you feel that?" Pyce told her.
"Yes… it feels familiar… and yet different..." Rose agreed. "Um… listen, why don't you join us? Maybe Athena and Hermia will know how to help you."
"The Goddess of Wisdom and Mother Nature themselves?"
"Yes… but who are you again?"
"I am Beowulf of the Geats." The two gasped.
"The Slayer of Beasts?" Pyce asked. Then, he knelt to him. "You have my respect, noble Scandinavian warrior."
"As do mine," Rose agreed, joining him.
"And after that day, Beowulf joined us in the war against Eris. And with him, gods like Thor and Odin. But even through all the battles, he never found that child. So he came to Athena, asking for the same spell Terra asked for.
"But, as the battle became harder, Beowulf eventually was defeated. Rose and Pyce then hoped to avenge Terra and their fallen general by destroying Eris themselves."
Rose and Pyce prepared their weapons for the battle.
"Are you sure we can do it?" Pyce asked, polishing his shileld.
"If we don't at least try, no one will do anything!" Rose decided, putting on her helmet and grabbing her spear. "Let's go."
"No, sister! You can't!" a little brunette hybrid nymph with two ponytails pleaded, holding onto the Fire Nymph's skirt. "I feel that you won't come back!"
"Flora… I said it… if we don't do anything… who will?" Rose said.
"Please! I miss Terra as much as you and Pyce do! But I don't believe in revenge!"
"Flora Meredith, let go of me!" Rose scolded. Flora squeaked in fright. "Sorry, I didn't meant to… but Terra's death was really upsetting to the whole magical world. And now, it's not just about his death. It's about the world."
"I think I understand..." Flora felt tears escaping her eyes. Rose knelt down and stroked her head.
"Don't worry, little sister. Everything wil be fine." Flora nodded.
"Come back before you get too hurt… okay?"
"I'll try, Flora." Rose kissed the hybrid's forehead.
"But… she didn't come back. And neither did Pyce. After a terrible battle, their bodies were found side by side each other. When Flora heard the news, she felt her heart rip into pieces. The poor child had lost almost everything dear to her in a short bit of time.
"Hermia took the responsibility as mother, and teacher for little Flora. But for milleniums, she stayed even the slightest bit depressed. The memory of her beloved ones gone haunted her during all this time.
"Nymphs take really long to age, but not apprentices. And as years passed, many legions of Guardians came, following the steps of the first ones, and using weapons of honor to defend the mythical and human worlds.
"But even legions of powerful warriors have inner problems. Some Guardians had to leave to take care of their families, others fought agaisnt each other and never even returned. Little is known about who they exactly were… and the bits about their stories were lost forever.
"Flora Meredith had still not healed from the events millenniums ago. But she remained protecting the legions of Guardians along with Hermia and me.
"Until one day, after healing the maximum she could of the scar left by the loss of her beloved friends… Flora found a little sunshine in her life."
"You're just in time, sweetheart," Hermia told an adult Flora, following her to Gaia's tree. The goddess placed a flower from her hair on a giant white rose, that slowly bloomed to reveal... a little baby girl with short white hair.
"This is your sister," Mother Nature said, while Flora's eyes glowed in awe. She slowly picked up the little one in her arms.
"What will you name her?" Luna asked.
"I always liked... Wilhelmina," Flora answered, receiving a giggle from the baby. "She liked it. Wilhelmina Meredith."
The baby opened her eyes slowly, chuckling at her big sister. "I get the feeling that you are going to be very important in the future. And I'm going to help get you started." She turned to Hermia. "Mom… I want to ask something of you."
"Mina's birth gave Flora a new reason to keep going. She finally assumed the responsibilities of the second ever Gaia Guardian, after the Air Guardian at that time retired. Flora was given her own temple, where she was also assigned to protect the Earth Gem, the source of the planet's protection."
"You mean this jewel is responsible for the natural barriers of Gaia's treasure?"
"Yes, Flora. I still remember when she showed me this jewel for the first time."
Gaia removed her crown for an instant.
"You see, Hermia… this jewel in my crown is a small fragment of the Earth Gem itself. And just like it, it carries huge power."
"Impressive..."
"If I pass away, the fragment will eventually return to the Gem," Gaia explained. Little did she know was that Eris was hearing them.
"Hermia… I sense in you more than you think," Mother Earth said. "Your soul carries love and caring enough for all and every living being. Can I trust you to keep this secret?"
"Yes, mom. Of course."
"And you're giving the responsibilty of it to me?" Flora asked.
"There's no one I trust more than you, my dear Flora. Your kindness is the key, not only to your elements, but to your valuable role as the Guardian. I trust you'll be there to help those in need… just like I was for Terra, Aqua, and Ventus… and my mother was for me and Eiri." A tear escaped her eyes, remembering them. "You know how important you are to me, right?"
"Yes, mom. I know." Flora embraced Hermia.
"Flowa?" they heard a little girl's voice. "Whewe awe you?" A child with long white hair came up to them. "Thewe you awe! Oh, and hi mom!"
"Hello, Wilhelmina," Hermia said with a smile.
Eventually, little Mina tripped on her hair as she tried to reach her mother. She started to cry as she bumped her head. Flora calmly picked her up.
"Aww, calm down, hermanita… I'm here..."
"Are you sure you don't wanna cut her hair?"
"She likes it that way."
Mina giggled as her sister tickled her.
"After some of her years of peace, Flora sensed a presence she had not felt for a long time. It seemed that all her closest family members had been reborn and now living their lives as humans.
"Only later we would discover who they became.
"But a few months after feeling those presences, Eris returned and tried a new attack to become supreme Mother Nature. Her ambition, as much as her powers, have grown along the milleniums.
"And it was during a night of calm… that Flora faced her for the first time."
Even after that war, the survivors' hideout remained intact, just in case. Hermia kept watch on the wounded perople, while Flora vilgilated everything.
"Mom! Refuge yourself here! I'll try taking her away!"
"Flora, no! Please… I can't lose you too."
"Mom… I know it's risky… but it's for the good of our next generations. And it's my duty asGuardian to protect grandma's treasure."
Hermia nodded, and kissed her daughter's forehead.
Flora carried the Gems in her arms while running to her temple. After her was Eris.
"You can't hide from me forever, Flora!" she spoke. "I'll get the gems, then I'll defeat Hermia, become supreme Mother Nature!"
"Gaia chose Hermia! You have to accept it!" An adult Luna tried to stop Eris, giving Flora some time to run.
"Oh, Luna... always loyal to your mother and sister, huh?" Eris mocked, zapping her and turning her in to an owl. Flora reached her temple just in time.
"Flora... is that you?" Mina asked.
"Mina! Hide!" she said, hiding behind the Earth Gem's pedestal. But Mina didn't know where to go. Eris took the opportunity to attract Flora to battle.
"You or your sister, Flora," the Goddess of Discord challenged.
"Who's there?" Mina asked, innocently. "Do you wanna play?"
"Mina, NO!" Flora shouted, calling her little sister's attention, just when Eris hit her with a ray of dark magic. The youngling fainted.
Flora gasped, running after her little sister, while Eris flew away. "Follow me if you dare, Flora!" she cackled evilly.
"Mina... wake up..." Flora begged as tears fell from her eyes. She noticed the longer parts of Mina's hair turned black. This made her gasp, and take her decision.
"I'm Hermia's only hope now. I can't just stay here while innocents suffer on Eris' hands." Flora put Mina on her lap, and put her flower hairclips in her little sister's hair, adding some of her own magic into them. "I will not allow Eris to corrupt you. My magic will protect you for now on." Mina smiled as she slept, making Flora relieved that her defense power worked.
"I'm fighting. For you, little sister... for all of our friends... for Gaia!" Flora grabbed her Scepter and floated, with the Elemental Gems floating around her.
Eris saw Flora ready to fight, and powered up. With tears in her eyes by thinking about all the souls that suffered under Eris' hands, especially her family, the nymph lifted up the scepter and faced Eris with a powerful glow in her eyes.
Hermia saw the glow from the survivors' hideout and flew up to see what was happening. Once she got there, she saw Eris, as a statue, and Flora had disappeared, leaving behind the scepter and the gems, and the hibiscus that was in her hair. Understanding what happened, Mother Nature knelt and silently mourned her daughter's loss.
"Huh?" Mina slowly woke up, a little dizzy, but seeing way more better. "What happened? Where's Flora?"
Hermia, with tears in her eyes, embraced the little one, crying silently.
"All the Nature Guardians were gone now. The only one that knew what happened was Hermia, me… and little Mina.
"Time was generous… and brought the original Nature Guardians back… as special humans.
"Aqua and Terra were reborn as the eldest and youngest brothers of the Kratt family, Martin and Christopher, or Chris for short. Of course, Aqua came four years in front of his little brother, but, anyway...
"Rose was born as the youngest child of the Bambrick family, Koki.
"Pyce, as the only child of the Z family, James Norville, but he preferred being called Jimmy.
"And Flora was reborn as one of the twins of the Corcovado family, Aviva.
"Four of them were born with the powers of their past lives. Martin controlled ice, Chris commanded plants, and both Koki and Jimmy had power over fire. Aviva's powers were unknown.
"Some years after Flora's sacrifice, and after she was reborn as Aviva Corcovado, there was an incident with dangerous Lupus Phantasma, and their guardian, Athena, who have been observing the reincarnations, was ordered by Zeus to block their powers and memories of ever having them.
"Some years after this, Mina assumed her sister's role as protector of the Earth Gem. Because of this, she never left the temple for anything. Even though she was lonely, she stayed. Until one day, twenty-five years after the defeat of Eris, when HE discovered her temple."
"And the rest I know. We met her and became the new Nature Guardians," Chris said. Luna was telling him the Guardians' story, while he was meditating in Athena's temple. "This will sure blow the others' minds. And don't you ever miss your human form?"
"Yes… but only Eris was capable of undoing this spell. But it was forbidden by Hermia to ever release her again. At least it's really needed, she won't be coming out of that stone prison."
"This until she returned and we petrified her once more. And it was discovered that Chaos was reborn as our enemy Zach Varmitech. But why did it take so long?"
"Well… not always the reincarnations are immediate. Some of the reincarnated souls got lost on their way or hibernated deeply in the families' generations."
"That would explain it… Hey, I just thought about something. Aqua never learned the reincarnation spell. So how was he reborn?"
"Well, the best possibility was that his and Terra's bond was so strong, it connected to his spirit too."
Then, they heard the Tortuga HQ landing.
"Chris? Are you here?" Martin called.
"We got all the supplies we need," Aviva warned. "We can continue our trip."
"Oh, okay," Chris said, standing up. "Thanks, Luna. We'll see you later."
"Okay then." The owl observed as Chris rushed to meet his brother and the rest of the team.
"You guys will not believe the things I've heard," Chris assured, with a chuckle.
"Guardians… your lives may have changed with your reincarnation… but your friendship remains. And this power will be by your side forever," she stated, as she observed the Guardians rejoin and leave in the Tortuga.
