Emerging Fates - Protector
by: Usa Serenity
It raced across the endless blackness, oblivious to the stark, cold
beauty it passed. Waves of it's power roiled in colorful streaks that
followed behind it like streamers on a child's kite. It did not choose
the path in which it now traveled, for it did not contain the
intelligence necessary for that choice. A meteor is not a living
thing, regardless of the destructive power it holds. So, without the
knowledge of it's consequences, it tore through the heavens on a
collision course with a land of incomparable elegance....
Protector
The sun peaked on the horizon, pink and gold just beginning to stain
the blue-black sky where it met the deeper hues of the ocean. The
view from the balcony on which he sat was one of the most
spectacular on the island. He watched the gulls, bathed in the pink
light of the dawn, dip perilously close to the sea in an attempt to
capture their breakfast. The great emerald lawn sprawled beneath his
perch, glistening with fresh dew, to where it met the great cliffs that
plunged straight down to the churning water below. Swans that had
been the bane of his childhood began to awaken and roam about the
deep, plush grass, trumpeting the arrival of the sun. He sighed as he
looked the crystal mounted in the corner of his balcony retreat. It was
time. He let his eyes travel one last time over the landscape that he
loved so much, and turned to enter the house with a heavy heart. The
last sound he heard as he pushed through the door was the
wrenching call of the swans.
He dressed slowly, hoping to prolong his peaceful morning as much
as he was able. The faint chiming meant he could not stall any
longer. He made his way down the winding, marble staircase to his
visitor waiting in the foyer below.
"Your Highness," she said with a respectful bow.
"Senshi," he returned the gesture politely. "Please, let us go into the
study. I think I need to be sitting down for whatever it is you have to
say." His face was a study in conflicting emotions. While he smiled
with his mouth, his eyes gave away the grim sadness he felt in his
heart.
The strange twosome walked to the small study on the first floor. He
led, with the uniformed visitor following at a very respectful two step
distance. He stopped by a small square crystal mounted on the wall
just inside the study and spoke softly into it. He then gestured to a
pair of deep, leather chairs that faced each other. "Please, be seated.
I've called for tea. Now, what is it that you need to speak to me
about?"
"I can tell you have an idea about my intentions, why don't you tell
me what you think I'm going to say," she smiled and settled into the
chair, carefully arranging her long green hair over her shoulder and
propping her staff against the wall.
"Alright, I know you are a Senshi, that much is obvious by your
uniform. I also know there is rumor of a prophecy detailing the
demise of my kingdom that was discovered in the libraries of the
Serenity Kingdom, on the moon. I assume you are here to warn me
of that prophecy and ask for the evacuation of this island," he
finished with a bitter tone to his voice that was not missed by his
visitor.
"You are close to the truth, but not completely accurate," she paused
to study the man seated across from her. He was very attractive, with
inky black hair and violet eyes. An aristocratic nose, full mouth and
strong, square chin completed his handsome face. His skin was
smooth and fair, with just a hint of olive. The strength he possessed
was not overtly apparent, but to a careful eye, it existed; dormant,
waiting for the moment it would be needed. Most of all, he was regal.
The royal bloodline visible to any who cared to look.
"Please then, Senshi, tell me the rest," he replied.
She took a breath before continuing. "A prophecy was found, by me,
in fact. You are correct that I am a Senshi, but what you probably
don't know is the element I align with. My planet is Pluto, and my
element is time," she stopped again to let the information settle on
the young king. "As I said, I found the prophecy in the library, the
Serenity Archive to be exact. It does detail the end of your kingdom,
but it also foresees a new beginning. An evacuation order will be at
your sole discretion, however, I must insist that one person survive
the apocalypse.....your son."
It was his eyes, again, that gave away his true reaction. They
widened and almost seemed to shake for a moment as the shock of
the revelation sank into him. His face remained passive, however, as
he replied to his visitor, "That is where your prophecy makes a
mistake. I have no son."
"Not now, but in time you will marry, and I assure you he will be
born." With that, she rose from the chair and retrieved her staff. She
closed her eyes and raised the staff slightly and the space behind her
seemed to shimmer. The last he saw of her was a look of sadness on
her face as she stepped into the void and disappeared.
She looked so fragile and small in the large bed, surrounded by
pillows of all shapes and sizes. She was propped on some of these as
she listened to her son talk about the visitor he'd had this morning,
her violet eyes following him as he paced.
"Alonzion, I can see that you believe what she had to say. Why do
you punish yourself by trying to deny your own thoughts?" she
questioned him. He was much to young to in the position that he was.
Eighteen was awfully young to have to face reality and rule a
kingdom of thousands, but he had no choice. His father had died, and
she was too weak and ill to rule. He accepted his fate without
question, but sometimes his youth made him reluctant to accept
some ideas.
"Mother, I don't know if I believe her or not. How can some dusty, old
book in a library on the moon predict our future? You should have
heard her! She didn't care about this land at all, just about some son
I may or may not have!" He paced as he ranted, back and forth
across the worn rug in his mother's bed chamber. She smiled
inwardly as she listened to the contradictions in his speech. The
fatigue that plagued her began to overtake her body again, and she
had no choice but to close her eyes and give in to it's wrath.
"I think I'll go to this Serenity Archive and see the prophecy for
myself," he stopped as he realized that she had drifted off to sleep
again. It hurt him deeply to watch her slowly dying before his eyes.
He went over to the bed and brought the coverlet up to her chin and
left the room, the crystals that provided light automatically dimming
as she slept.
Alonzion went into his own suite of rooms and lay down on his bed.
His mind whirled with thoughts and memories. He remembered his
mother, healthy and happy, playing hide and seek with him when he
was a boy. He remembered his father, wise and caring, a great king,
just before he left on the interplanetary journey that would end his
life. His ship had grazed an asteroid and the pilot lost control. They
had plummeted into the gaseous interior of Jupiter, and died.
Alonzion had been only fifteen at the time, and took the news badly.
It had taken all of his mother's considerably abilities to bring him out
of the depression that had claimed him. It was a double blow, when
his mother fell ill. Taking the throne was the last thing he wanted,
but he knew he had to do it, for his father. He had been king for
almost three years now, and it was always a difficult job at best.
Children, heirs..were the last thing on his mind, but now he was
forced to think about it because of the Senshi of Pluto. There was a
girl that came to mind when he thought of a queen to sit beside him.
Gaia. The name was music to his ears, and he almost smiled when
her face graced his mind. They had been seeing each other in secret
for about six months now, but he doubted his mother was in the dark
about their relationship with her telepathic abilities. Pleasant
thoughts of mischievous adventures gone awry because of her gifts
flitting in his mind. It was only a momentary refrain, however, as the
words of the Senshi came back to him. Apocalypse. That was how she
referred to the prophecy. The end of a world, his world. The end of his
life too, it seemed. How would he be able to be happy when he knew
it was only for a few brief moments? How could he bring a child into
the world knowing he would have to endure it's end and lose
everything that made up his identity? These questions, among others,
circled in his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
Queen Antonia Endymion lay in her bed, her long, dark hair coiled in
a neat braid that rested beside her. She was too weak to walk, and
had to have everything she needed brought to her. The illness that
struck her not long after the death of her husband was unknown, and
incurable. That in itself was cause for alarm, for there had not been
an incurable disease here in Atlantis for centuries. Every elder and
seer and prophet on the island had been to visit her over the years,
but none could determine the cause or the reason for her plight.
Antonia, however, knew why she was ill, and what was causing it.
She had been born with the gift of inner sight. Telepathy. She had
polished her ability over her lifetime and was now able to read even
the most closed mind. She also had visions, usually in the form of
dreams. It was one of these visions that told her of the coming
destruction, and the part her son must play in it. The vision also told
her why she had become ill. It seemed her lifeforce was connected
with the island on which they lived. She was a direct descendant of
the original inhabitants of Atlantis. This she knew very well, and had
documented it in detail because she had always been fascinated by
genealogy. She was the only blood descendant left on the island. This
put her life in jeopardy, for when the island died, so would she. Her
illness was a precursor to the coming events that would destroy her
home. Some days, she could almost count the minutes until the end,
but others, it was like it was all just a dream. But, the illness
remained, so she knew the end was coming, just not when.
Alonzion's shock over the Senshi's prediction of his son paled in
comparison to hers. This had not been revealed to her in her visions.
She had thought that it would be Alonzion who would escape the end
somehow. She knew now that the Senshi was correct. While she slept
before, another vision had come to her. She saw a young boy of
about six years. He had jet black hair and midnight blue eyes. The
hair from his father, Alonzion, and the eyes from his mother, Gaia.
She saw him surrounded in a golden aura streaked with silver. The
gold was familiar to her. In the royal vault, there was a golden crystal
that was said to hold great power, but no one had ever been able to
call upon it. She saw this boy wielding the golden crystal and making
use of it's almost unlimited energy. The silver in the aura was a
mystery to her. She tried to decipher it's meaning, but eventually
gave up in the futility of it all. If the visions wanted her to know, they
would make it clear.
Time passed, and eventually Alonzion was able to put the prophecy
to the back of his mind. There was the more pressing business of
ruling Atlantis to occupy his mind, and also, there was his newly
announced engagement to Gaia. They had met at an embassy ball
almost a year before. She was the daughter of one of the cities
nobles, and had considerably standing in the aristocracy. Alonzion
wouldn't have cared if she was the cleaning lady, for he had fallen in
love almost at once. His first sight of her had left him almost
breathless. She had been wearing a pale blue evening gown that left
her shoulders and a long expanse of her back exposed to be kissed by
the night air. Her auburn hair had been piled on top of her head with
a few strands left loose to curl around her face and accent her soft,
creamy complexion. Her large, midnight blue eyes dominated her
delicate face and her ripe, pink mouth completed her perfection. But,
as exquisite as she was, it was the kindness that radiated from her
very soul that drew him to her. That night gave them just one brief
dance, but it held promise of more that left both of them searching
one another out in the crowd. Alonzion came to discover a sharp mind
lurked behind her lovely features, and they had many philosophical
discussions over the course of their courtship. He had yet to bring up
his conversation with the Senshi of Pluto to her, though. It never felt
as if it was the right moment. He put the unbidden thought out of his
mind and concentrated on the royal decrees that lay before him on
the blotter.
Gaia was happier than she had ever been in her life. She couldn't stop
staring at the beautiful engagement ring that now rested on her left
hand. The setting was magnificent, platinum with a large star
sapphire surrounded by eight diamonds that represented the other
planets in the system. One perfect pearl was set off-center in the
sapphire to represent the moon. It was the most beautiful ring she
had ever seen. She loved Alonzion with all her soul, but at times a
sense of unease would overcome her. The women in her family had
always held the gift of healing, but usually had to use the crystals to
focus their energies. Gaia didn't need them. She could heal with her
touch alone. The unease she felt around Alonzion sometimes
reminded her of the feelings she got when sensing someone in need
of healing. But, with him, the sense seemed to come and go, and that
shouldn't happen with a normal ailment. She had mentioned this to
Queen Antonia once, hoping the queen's telepathic insights would
help her determine the cause of her feelings. The queen had only
given her a small, sad smile and said, "What will be, will be. Please,
try to be happy while you are able." This statement left Gaia even
more troubled than before, but she could not press further because
the queen had drifted off the sleep.
Gaia tried to put her unease aside, and for a time the feelings seemed
to abate. The marriage ceremony was enchanting, and her wedding
gown was a vision of silk and lace. Almost the entire kingdom
attended, with the excess crowd spilling out into the streets of the
city. Queen Antonia had been arranged in a wheeled chair and sat
proudly while her son and new daughter-in-law exchanged their vows
and because man and wife, and after Gaia was presented with the
royal scepter, King and Queen. The celebration lasted into the dawn
of the next day, with the newlyweds slipping off around midnight to
begin their month-long honeymoon on a neighboring island. Antonia
was carried back to her bed chamber where she slept a peaceful and
contented sleep. The vision woke her some time later, and she sat
up, shaking and soaking with cold sweat. Her breath came in ragged
heaves and it took her several minutes to bring it back into a normal
rhythm. This vision was very different from any of her others. She
had seen clearly the end of her world, and it had frightened her
badly. The vision had started innocently enough, with Alonzion, Gaia,
and the blue-eyed boy she had foreseen before. The small family had
been picnicking on the lawn in the back of the castle. The boy
suddenly jumped up and bolted for the cliffs that marked the edge of
the island. Alonzion shouted for him to stop, but fell to the ground
clutching his chest in agony. Gaia was torn between going to her
husband and running after her son. Her decision was forgotten,
however, when the sky blackened and the boy stopped and help his
hands up towards the heavens. A golden glow began to emanate from
his small fingers and the golden crystal materialized in his hands. He
closed his eyes as a burning streak tore across the sky and impacted
in the city below. Antonia watched, horrified, as the vision played out
before her eyes. There was no sound, but she could see Gaia
screaming silently as she hovered over Alonzion's unmoving body.
The boy still stood, eyes closed, and gathered the power that had laid
dormant in his young body. The golden glow spread over his mother
and the body of his father, it spread over the entire castle and into
the city below. The glow seemed to solidify into a dome that covered
most of the city, except for the area already devastated by the
meteor. Beads of perspiration began to pop up on the boys brow and
the dome began to shrink. The fireball that began at the impact site
spread as the protective dome retreated, consuming all that was
before it like some gluttonous giant. That was were the vision ended,
and was why Antonia awoke in her current state.
On the six month anniversary of their marriage, Alonzion and Gaia
announced her pregnancy. The kingdom erupted in celebration for the
heir to be. It was a difficult for Gaia, and she was confined to bed for
the most part. Alonzion stayed by her side as much as possible, and
wheeled his mother into Gaia's room often so the two could keep each
other company. Antonia had visibly worsened in the last six months,
growing thinner, and losing part of her luxurious raven hair. It
tormented Gaia to see her beloved mother-in-law in the constant pain
that seemed to plague her lately, but all her attempts at healing had
failed. Gaia now smiled as Antonia was brought into her room. Today
seemed to be a better day.
"How is my grandson?" Antonia asked with a grin.
"How do you know it's a boy?" Gaia returned her smile easily. It was
a constant dialog between the two, familiar and comforting.
"Gaia," Antonia began, her face turning serious, "Do you remember
when you asked me about Alonzion's health?"
"Yes, I do, very clearly. I also remember the cryptic answer you gave
me, 'What will be, will be'. That statement confused me very much,"
Gaia replied.
"I know it did, my dear, and I apologize for that, but it would have
been dangerous to reveal the truth to you then." Antonia's brow
knitted in a spasm of pain.
"Mother! Are you alright? Do you need me to do something?" Gaia
asked, alarmed.
"No, it's important that I tell you, just give me a few minutes and I'll
be fine," Antonia said through clenched teeth.
Gaia kept her eyes on her mother-in-law and saw the spasm pass and
the agony leave her face. She breathed a sigh of relief as Antonia
relaxed and continued to speak.
"Gaia, you know that I am a telepath, but did you know that I also
receive visions?"
"I think Alonzion mentioned that to me before," Gaia said with worry
in her voice.
"Well, it is true. I have recently had a vision of the end of our land,
Atlantis. This will happen in six years. Your son will survive that
catastrophe, but I don't know if anyone else will." Antonia paused to
let Gaia absorb what she had said. Gaia's hands flew to her enlarging
stomach and her eyes widened in shock.
"Alonzion?" Gaia questioned hesitantly.
"No, dear, I'm sorry," Antonia said as tears began to pool in her violet
eyes.
When she was able to speak, Antonia went on, "I think that is the
reason for your occasional uneasy feelings around my son. I labored
whether or not I should reveal this to you, but I finally decided it was
your right to know. Please, I beg of you, don't dwell on what will
happen. Be happy that your son will survive, maybe to build Atlantis
anew! Make the most of your short time together and be grateful of
the years you will have," Antonia was crying openly now, sorrow
written on her aging face.
Gaia could only nod numbly and rub circles on her abdomen with
shaking hands.
After the difficult pregnancy, the easy birth was almost anticlimactic.
The prince was born with the black hair of his father and the midnight
blue eyes of his mother. The doctor gave the couple a few minutes
alone with the newborn at their request. Gaia sobbed and held the
baby as close as she could, and Alonzion seemed shell shocked. He
reached out and caressed her shoulder and she leaned into the
support he offered.
"Oh, Alonzion! I know the time will go by so quickly! I can feel the
end racing towards us!"
"My darling Gaia," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "We can't
dwell on the future. It will only make us miserable. We have to think
of his well being. Please, dry your eyes, we have to think of a name."
He took her face in his hands and dried her tears with a sweep of his
thumb.
"I know, I'm sorry, I was just overcome for a moment," Gaia replied
as she tried to compose herself. "I've already chosen a name, it
means protector, because that is what he will be," she said with awe
in her voice. She looked at her husband and he nodded for her to go
on. "His name will be.....Mamoru."
*****
Part 2
Mamoru Endymion grew into a delightful child. He had his father's
dark hair and aristocratic good looks, and his mother's deep liquid
midnight blue eyes. Even at the age of six, he showed both the
kindness of Gaia, and the strength of Alonzion. He could sometimes
by overly serious for a child his age, but most of the time he was just
a normal, happy six year old.
He was especially excited today, because he, his mother, and his
father were going on a picnic.
He ran through the great palace at the impossible speed that only
young children seem to be able to maintain, and rounded the
corner into the sitting room, only to collide violently with one of
the staff.
"Excuse me!," he exclaimed, panting. The young boy stood quickly,
but after seeing what he had caused, fell just as fast back to his
knees to help clean up the pile of broken tea cups that now lay in a
help on the floor.
"Your highness, please, it's not necessary for you to do that, I can
clean this up," the maid replied, smiling. This wasn't her first
encounter with the prince, and she knew what his reply would be.
"I made the mess, I'll clean it up," he said determinedly, his face
serious for a moment, but then breaking into the handsome grin
that kept anyone from becoming angry with him.
The day was glorious. The sun shone it's warmth down on the
emerald lawn from a sky so blue that it seemed almost unreal. Th
sound of the surf crashing into the cliff base far below the palace
grounds was soothing and wonderful. Mamoru helped his father
spread the picnic cloth on the ground with exaggerated gestures,
both laughing as they played. Gaia laughed with them, but was
overcome by a wave of panic as she began to unload the heavy
food basket. She paused, keeping her face turned down to prevent
either her son or her husband from seeing the unexpected tears
that had begun to course down her cheeks. She brushed them off
hurriedly, and put on her best face before raising her head and
announcing the lunch was served.
They ate in a peaceful silence. The panicky feelings that Gaia had
felt earlier seemed to be gone, but she was left with a strange
sensation of deja vu. She tried to dismiss it, and enjoy the day
with her family, but couldn't completely rid herself of the
uneasiness.
Antonia lay in her bed, gasping. The vision/dream that had awoken
her was the final one she would have. The day that had plagued
her for so many years was at hand. She could feel the meteor
racing towards her homeland, and knew that the kingdom of
Atlantis was living it's last days. She concentrated on the task that
would be the saving grace for much more than this jewel of an
island, perspiration beading on her forehead as her eyes glazed
over strangely.
In a hidden chamber below the very center of the palace, a
beautiful golden crystal began to resonate. It had been in this
sacred place for an eternity, it seemed. No one, as of yet had been
able to activate it's powers, but all knew how great they were. The
crystal rose off it's pedestal, and seemed to vibrate subtly. It gave
off a great flash of light, and seemed to burst into millions of
glittering starpoints.
Antonia Endymion slumped over in her bed, her thoughts were
almost unconsciously carried out at this point, as she reached out
her mind one last time.
"mamoru," the voice was very faint, but he knew it instantly.
"Gamma?" he questioned softly.
"yes...you must listed very carefully. I have to go away...my time
here is over, but I need you to do one last thing for me before I go."
"What is it Gamma? I don't understand?"
"I know you don't my darling, but it will all be clear very soon.
Now, I need you to run over toward the cliff..."
"But Gamma, mother says..."
"I know dear, but this time it's okay. Look over there, do you see
the golden lights?"
"Yes! They're so pretty Gamma! What are they?"
"They're just for you, Mamoru, now, run over to them...I love you, Mamoru..."
"I love you, too, Gamma....," Mamoru whispered, and felt the tears
begin to pool in his eyes. Gamma was gone, but he had something
to do for her. He got up and looked at his mother. Gaia was staring
at him with a fearful look in her eyes. He knew she had probably
heard part of what he and Gamma had been talking about, but he
couldn't worry about that right now. He turned towards the golden
lights, they looked like fireflies, but he knew that fireflies only
came out at night. He began to run towards them, and heard his
mother scream his name.
"Mamoru!"
He reached the sparkling lights and felt them enter his body. It
was a strange sensation, but not unpleasant. He suddenly felt very
strong, and turned towards his parents. He was going to call out to
his Mother, who was on her feet and jogging towards him, when
the sky suddenly went black. He heard Gaia scream again, and was
shocked to see his father collapsed on the ground. Something in
his mind clicked, and he knew what to do. Mamoru raised his small
shaking hands towards the heavens and felt the power explode
from his body.
It was dark, but he wasn't frightened. A soft golden light
surrounded his body and seemed to emanate from his chest. He
held his small hands up towards the heavens, *...the moon....*,
and concentrated with all the strength of his six year old mind.
*save them....I have to save Mama....Papa's not here now....and
Gamma.....Gamma's gone, too....* His thoughts were fragmented,
unsure. He was oblivious to the destruction around him. Explosions
rocked the island as chunks of the deadly meteor continued to rain
down upon Atlantis. It had broken up in the atmosphere of Earth,
and now fell in house sized pieces. His mother could only scream
as her gaze traveled from the hellish scenes around her to the
lifeless body of her husband which lay on the ground before her.
Her eyes were wide with panic when she turned them to her son.
She gasped as she realized that it was he who was protecting the
castle and most of the surrounding land. A golden dome stretched
from his small hands and made a wide circle that encompassed a
good part of the island. The city below the castle was beyond his
reach, however, and the macabre rain storm pelted it with the fires
of hell. She had known about this, her mother-in-law had predicted
these very events years before, but her mind still could not grasp
the sheer annihilation of her homeland. Her healing senses
shrieked as people fell with their homes. She brought her hands up
to her ears in a futile attempt to stop the torment caused by her
gift.
*can't hold it....heavy....too hard...* Beads of sweat appeared on
his brow, and his body began to shake with effort of controlling the
protective dome. He felt something slip in his mind, and the dome
inched inwards. He broadened his stance and put everything he
had into the spell, but the dome did not grow. It retreated a few
more inches, and his young mind could no longer take the
pressure. His concentration faltered, and the dome came rushing
toward him, the falling meteorites claiming more and more of his
home. He managed to stop the dome mere feet from his mother,
and held it there with all the power in his soul. Gaia was screaming
again, as she helplessly watched the life-sustaining dome close in
on her son.
*Mamoru* The voice startled him. It sounded like a young girl, and
filled him with strength. The dome grew slightly.
*Mamoru....please answer me*
*How do you know my name?* he replied silently.
*I don't know....I just know I can help you....I have to help you.*
She sounded like she was crying, and Mamoru felt tears running
down his face as well.
*OK.....can you save Mama?*
*I don't know....I'll try....* The voice faded, and Mamoru felt the
dome beginning to collapse. He focused all his energy on the
golden crystal and just when he could hold it no longer, thin silver
streams of energy wrapped themselves in his aura. The dome
began to grow again, slowly. Mamoru found it easier to hold this
time, almost as if someone was there with him, supporting him. He
held it until the nightmarish meteor storm abated, and then he fell
to the ground, unconscious.
In a palace far away, a two-year old princess collapsed in her
nursery. The frantic nanny said the girl had gone into what looked
like a trance, smiling and crying at the same time, before she fell.
Gaia opened her eyes to an apocalyptic scene. The city below the
castle was decimated. Where there had once been wide streets
filled with merchants, stately homes and graceful fountains, there
was now only a smoking ruin. Sea water was just beginning to fill
the deeper craters, with the intention of taking the entire island to
it's cold, dark, depths. The castle, however, was relatively
unharmed. The only marks on it's grand visage were a few charred
places that still smoked slightly. The grass on which she lay was
still green and lush, and the view to the cliffs that fell into the sea
was the same as she remembered. She forced herself to her get up
when she saw the small, unmoving body of her son, their
protector. She rushed over to him and turned him face up on the
grass. Grateful tears coursed down her face when she heard the
soft sounds of his breath. She held his limp, sleeping, form to her
and hugged him close as she wept for what she had lost, and what
she had not. Some time later, his voice woke her from her reverie.
"Mama....did I...save....our home?" he questioned in a trembling
voice.
"Oh yes, baby....now you can rest," she replied, smoothing his dark
hair with her hands.
"She helped me, Mama....the little girl.....the silver girl," he
whispered as he drifted off to sleep.
Gaia stared into the sleeping face of her son. His words confused
her, but the peaceful smile on his face brought her so much joy
that she was able to let it go for now.
Rebuilding was an enormous task. There had been a few survivors,
mostly those who had taken refuge in the castle. Gaia had
managed to heal a handful of people who had been on the outskirts
of the city, just inside the dome before it shrank away from them.
Together, they had repaired the castle, and built new homes on the
land that still rose above the sea. The castle grounds were on a
higher plane than the unfortunate city had been, so when the sea
claimed that ravished land, they had been spared. Their biggest
problem now was food and supplies. There was a large stockpile in
the castle, but it would not last forever, and with the city gone
there was no place for them to replenish. Gaia sent an expedition
out to sea to try and find other civilizations with which to trade.
Rationing was necessary as weeks turned into months without
word from the expedition. Gaia grew thin and weak, as she gave
most of her rations to Mamoru. Another alarming discovery was
that the remaining part of the island was slowly sinking into the
sea.
"Your Majesty, we have to leave this island. I and my colleagues
have studied the information, and we predict we only have a few
more weeks until the ocean
consumes us all," he was trying to be calm, but was failing. He had
been only a guard before the wrath, as they now called it, had
come. He'd had limited experience in engineering which had grown
substantially since, but he was still unsure of himself as he now
advised the queen.
"I understand, but without word from the expedition, I'm afraid..."
she stopped mid-sentence as Mamoru came barreling into the
room.
"Mother!! The boat is back! The boat is back!" he shouted and ran
out as quickly as he had come.
Gaia and the reluctant engineer stared at each other for a moment,
then both bolted outside to see for themselves.
Tears of relief fell down her thin, worn face as she saw the ship
docking at the harbor, heavy with it's cargo. She ran up to Mamoru
and put her hands on the boys shoulders. He looked up at her and
smiled brightly.
"I knew they would come, the silver girl told me."
Gaia hadn't heard him mention the silver girl since the wrath
came, and it vaguely disturbed her on some level, but she shook
the unpleasant thoughts out of her head and watched the weary
sailors begin to unload their bounty.
That night was a celebration. The feast, although wisely
conservative, was still more food than they were accustomed to,
and each person ate voraciously. The dancing went on well past
midnight, when Gaia took Mamoru up to his room to sleep.
"Mother...I need to tell you something....," the boy began slowly.
"Yes, Mamoru, go ahead. You know you can tell me anything," Gaia
smiled at her son.
"I talked to the silver girl again tonight....she says we have to
leave here," tears pooled in his midnight blue eyes, the same
shade as Gaia's.
"Mamoru...who is this silver girl?" she tried to keep her voice light,
but fear welled up unbidden at his revelation. How could he know
of her conversation with the engineer? He must have been
listening at the door before he came into the room today. Her mind
whirled, trying to think of a plausible explanation.
"She helped me save us, Mother. It was her silver light that held
the bubble together. I couldn't hold it anymore, it was too heavy.
She came and helped me hold it," he replied, seeing the fear in his
mother's eyes, and becoming frightened himself.
Gaia gathered the boy in her arms, "It's alright Mamoru, don't be
frightened. This silver girl sounds very friendly, maybe I could
meet her next time she talks to you?"
"I only talk to her voice, Mother. I don't know what she looks like. I
want to meet her, too," Mamoru said, calm now, and heavy eyed.
"Maybe we can meet her together," Gaia replied, glad that his eyes
were closed now and he couldn't see the fear in hers anymore.
Gaia walked back to her room, thinking about what Mamoru had
said. A vision? Could it be? Antonia, Mamoru's paternal
grandmother, had visions of the future. Maybe Mamoru had
inherited the gift from her. He was certainly on the mark about
them having to leave the island. Oh, what a burden for a seven
year old to carry. Antonia had suffered because of her gift during
her last years. She had foreseen the wrath and was helpless to
stop it. She had known she would die, along with her son,
Alonzion, and could only wait for the inevitable. Gaia had tried to
make those last six years as pleasant as possible, bringing Mamoru
in to see his precious 'Gamma' several times a day, but in the end
it hadn't mattered. Antonia and Alonzion had died, not because of
the wrath, but because both were connected to Atlantis at it's basic
core, and when life left the island, life left both of them as well.
Gaia fell into a restless sleep, hoping the her Mamoru would not
have to suffer from his visions like Antonia had.
Two weeks passed with the island steadily sinking into the sea.
Gaia had ordered ships built and supplies loaded for a journey that
would find them all a new home. The sailors from the first
expedition told of a fertile land to the east that was almost as
beautiful as Atlantis had once been. Finally, they were ready to
leave, almost eight weeks after the supply ship had returned to the
island.
The water was visibly closer now, lapping at the castle wall on one
side. The cliffs that had once plunged sharply to the sea were now
only a sandy beach that was level with the water. Gaia, Mamoru,
and almost two hundred Atlanteans boarded the two vessels and
set sail on a clear night. Mamoru cried on his mother's shoulder as
he watched his home get smaller and smaller on the horizon.
Six months is a long time to be at sea, especially for a seven year
old boy. The awful nausea of seasickness ravished his body for
almost two full weeks. He grew pale and drawn, and Gaia worried
that dehydration would take his young life. She sat patiently with
him and helped him sip water from a wet towel. She prayed to
whomever would listen to make him well. Her healing abilities
didn't seem to work on Mamoru, so she was helpless. Slowly, he
began to recover, and within the second month of the journey, he
was almost back to normal.
The long months at sea were a hardship on them all. They lost
almost half of their population to an unknown illness. Gaia had
been on one vessel, and the deaths had occurred on the other, so
she had been unable to help them either. The toll of the deaths
wore on her soul, and there were days when she could think of
nothing else. Mamoru tried to bring her out of the deep depression
that seemed to be claiming her, but was only able to draw thin
smiles from his once light-hearted mother.
"Mother, can you sing for me?" he asked.
"Not today....I'm very tired, Mamoru. Can you go play on the deck
for a while?" she replied in a hoarse voice.
And so it went. Gaia fell deeper into her depression, and Mamoru
took on responsibilities that no seven year old should have to bear.
His use of the golden crystal had given him a certain maturity, but
he was still only a boy. His despair over his mother's condition
gave way to a bitter anger. How dare she abandon him when he
needed her the most? Thoughts like these made him feel guilty,
and he spent his nights crying with shame over his conflicting
feelings. The only comfort he could find were his brief visits from
the silver girl. Her voice would fill his mind in the darkest hours of
the night, bringing words of comfort, and empathy.
*Mamoru....don't cry....it hurts...*
"I'm sorry.....you won't leave me, will you?"
*Never....I don't think I can leave you..*
Their conversations were never long, but always left him filled with
a sense of well-being and strength.
"Bring around the telescope. Let's have a look."
The cry of "Land-HO!" rang out throughout the two ships. Mamoru
ran down to his mother's cabin to tell her the news.
"Mother! They've found land! We'll be stopping soon," he happily
shouted.
"Mamoru, are you sure? Oh, I hope so! " Gaia smiled at him then,
a real smile for the first time in months. Mamoru ran to his mother
and threw his arms around her. She returned his embrace,
whispering words of apology and love into his hair.
The weak and weary travelers rowed towards the green, dry earth
with happy hearts. When the last of the small boats was ashore,
Gaia stood and quieted the group so she could speak.
"My friends, I know we have had a difficult journey, and have lost
many of our loved-ones. It will be hard to put aside our grief and
fear as we start our lives anew here, on this foreign land, but I
have to ask that of each of you. We will need the full strength of
every person to build a new Atlantis. I hereby christen this land the
homeland of the Golden Kingdom!"
Shouts rose up from the wayworn group. Their number had been
reduced by more than half, but they were strong. Gaia smiled at
her son, and thought that he was probably the strongest of them
all.
by: Usa Serenity
It raced across the endless blackness, oblivious to the stark, cold
beauty it passed. Waves of it's power roiled in colorful streaks that
followed behind it like streamers on a child's kite. It did not choose
the path in which it now traveled, for it did not contain the
intelligence necessary for that choice. A meteor is not a living
thing, regardless of the destructive power it holds. So, without the
knowledge of it's consequences, it tore through the heavens on a
collision course with a land of incomparable elegance....
Protector
The sun peaked on the horizon, pink and gold just beginning to stain
the blue-black sky where it met the deeper hues of the ocean. The
view from the balcony on which he sat was one of the most
spectacular on the island. He watched the gulls, bathed in the pink
light of the dawn, dip perilously close to the sea in an attempt to
capture their breakfast. The great emerald lawn sprawled beneath his
perch, glistening with fresh dew, to where it met the great cliffs that
plunged straight down to the churning water below. Swans that had
been the bane of his childhood began to awaken and roam about the
deep, plush grass, trumpeting the arrival of the sun. He sighed as he
looked the crystal mounted in the corner of his balcony retreat. It was
time. He let his eyes travel one last time over the landscape that he
loved so much, and turned to enter the house with a heavy heart. The
last sound he heard as he pushed through the door was the
wrenching call of the swans.
He dressed slowly, hoping to prolong his peaceful morning as much
as he was able. The faint chiming meant he could not stall any
longer. He made his way down the winding, marble staircase to his
visitor waiting in the foyer below.
"Your Highness," she said with a respectful bow.
"Senshi," he returned the gesture politely. "Please, let us go into the
study. I think I need to be sitting down for whatever it is you have to
say." His face was a study in conflicting emotions. While he smiled
with his mouth, his eyes gave away the grim sadness he felt in his
heart.
The strange twosome walked to the small study on the first floor. He
led, with the uniformed visitor following at a very respectful two step
distance. He stopped by a small square crystal mounted on the wall
just inside the study and spoke softly into it. He then gestured to a
pair of deep, leather chairs that faced each other. "Please, be seated.
I've called for tea. Now, what is it that you need to speak to me
about?"
"I can tell you have an idea about my intentions, why don't you tell
me what you think I'm going to say," she smiled and settled into the
chair, carefully arranging her long green hair over her shoulder and
propping her staff against the wall.
"Alright, I know you are a Senshi, that much is obvious by your
uniform. I also know there is rumor of a prophecy detailing the
demise of my kingdom that was discovered in the libraries of the
Serenity Kingdom, on the moon. I assume you are here to warn me
of that prophecy and ask for the evacuation of this island," he
finished with a bitter tone to his voice that was not missed by his
visitor.
"You are close to the truth, but not completely accurate," she paused
to study the man seated across from her. He was very attractive, with
inky black hair and violet eyes. An aristocratic nose, full mouth and
strong, square chin completed his handsome face. His skin was
smooth and fair, with just a hint of olive. The strength he possessed
was not overtly apparent, but to a careful eye, it existed; dormant,
waiting for the moment it would be needed. Most of all, he was regal.
The royal bloodline visible to any who cared to look.
"Please then, Senshi, tell me the rest," he replied.
She took a breath before continuing. "A prophecy was found, by me,
in fact. You are correct that I am a Senshi, but what you probably
don't know is the element I align with. My planet is Pluto, and my
element is time," she stopped again to let the information settle on
the young king. "As I said, I found the prophecy in the library, the
Serenity Archive to be exact. It does detail the end of your kingdom,
but it also foresees a new beginning. An evacuation order will be at
your sole discretion, however, I must insist that one person survive
the apocalypse.....your son."
It was his eyes, again, that gave away his true reaction. They
widened and almost seemed to shake for a moment as the shock of
the revelation sank into him. His face remained passive, however, as
he replied to his visitor, "That is where your prophecy makes a
mistake. I have no son."
"Not now, but in time you will marry, and I assure you he will be
born." With that, she rose from the chair and retrieved her staff. She
closed her eyes and raised the staff slightly and the space behind her
seemed to shimmer. The last he saw of her was a look of sadness on
her face as she stepped into the void and disappeared.
She looked so fragile and small in the large bed, surrounded by
pillows of all shapes and sizes. She was propped on some of these as
she listened to her son talk about the visitor he'd had this morning,
her violet eyes following him as he paced.
"Alonzion, I can see that you believe what she had to say. Why do
you punish yourself by trying to deny your own thoughts?" she
questioned him. He was much to young to in the position that he was.
Eighteen was awfully young to have to face reality and rule a
kingdom of thousands, but he had no choice. His father had died, and
she was too weak and ill to rule. He accepted his fate without
question, but sometimes his youth made him reluctant to accept
some ideas.
"Mother, I don't know if I believe her or not. How can some dusty, old
book in a library on the moon predict our future? You should have
heard her! She didn't care about this land at all, just about some son
I may or may not have!" He paced as he ranted, back and forth
across the worn rug in his mother's bed chamber. She smiled
inwardly as she listened to the contradictions in his speech. The
fatigue that plagued her began to overtake her body again, and she
had no choice but to close her eyes and give in to it's wrath.
"I think I'll go to this Serenity Archive and see the prophecy for
myself," he stopped as he realized that she had drifted off to sleep
again. It hurt him deeply to watch her slowly dying before his eyes.
He went over to the bed and brought the coverlet up to her chin and
left the room, the crystals that provided light automatically dimming
as she slept.
Alonzion went into his own suite of rooms and lay down on his bed.
His mind whirled with thoughts and memories. He remembered his
mother, healthy and happy, playing hide and seek with him when he
was a boy. He remembered his father, wise and caring, a great king,
just before he left on the interplanetary journey that would end his
life. His ship had grazed an asteroid and the pilot lost control. They
had plummeted into the gaseous interior of Jupiter, and died.
Alonzion had been only fifteen at the time, and took the news badly.
It had taken all of his mother's considerably abilities to bring him out
of the depression that had claimed him. It was a double blow, when
his mother fell ill. Taking the throne was the last thing he wanted,
but he knew he had to do it, for his father. He had been king for
almost three years now, and it was always a difficult job at best.
Children, heirs..were the last thing on his mind, but now he was
forced to think about it because of the Senshi of Pluto. There was a
girl that came to mind when he thought of a queen to sit beside him.
Gaia. The name was music to his ears, and he almost smiled when
her face graced his mind. They had been seeing each other in secret
for about six months now, but he doubted his mother was in the dark
about their relationship with her telepathic abilities. Pleasant
thoughts of mischievous adventures gone awry because of her gifts
flitting in his mind. It was only a momentary refrain, however, as the
words of the Senshi came back to him. Apocalypse. That was how she
referred to the prophecy. The end of a world, his world. The end of his
life too, it seemed. How would he be able to be happy when he knew
it was only for a few brief moments? How could he bring a child into
the world knowing he would have to endure it's end and lose
everything that made up his identity? These questions, among others,
circled in his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
Queen Antonia Endymion lay in her bed, her long, dark hair coiled in
a neat braid that rested beside her. She was too weak to walk, and
had to have everything she needed brought to her. The illness that
struck her not long after the death of her husband was unknown, and
incurable. That in itself was cause for alarm, for there had not been
an incurable disease here in Atlantis for centuries. Every elder and
seer and prophet on the island had been to visit her over the years,
but none could determine the cause or the reason for her plight.
Antonia, however, knew why she was ill, and what was causing it.
She had been born with the gift of inner sight. Telepathy. She had
polished her ability over her lifetime and was now able to read even
the most closed mind. She also had visions, usually in the form of
dreams. It was one of these visions that told her of the coming
destruction, and the part her son must play in it. The vision also told
her why she had become ill. It seemed her lifeforce was connected
with the island on which they lived. She was a direct descendant of
the original inhabitants of Atlantis. This she knew very well, and had
documented it in detail because she had always been fascinated by
genealogy. She was the only blood descendant left on the island. This
put her life in jeopardy, for when the island died, so would she. Her
illness was a precursor to the coming events that would destroy her
home. Some days, she could almost count the minutes until the end,
but others, it was like it was all just a dream. But, the illness
remained, so she knew the end was coming, just not when.
Alonzion's shock over the Senshi's prediction of his son paled in
comparison to hers. This had not been revealed to her in her visions.
She had thought that it would be Alonzion who would escape the end
somehow. She knew now that the Senshi was correct. While she slept
before, another vision had come to her. She saw a young boy of
about six years. He had jet black hair and midnight blue eyes. The
hair from his father, Alonzion, and the eyes from his mother, Gaia.
She saw him surrounded in a golden aura streaked with silver. The
gold was familiar to her. In the royal vault, there was a golden crystal
that was said to hold great power, but no one had ever been able to
call upon it. She saw this boy wielding the golden crystal and making
use of it's almost unlimited energy. The silver in the aura was a
mystery to her. She tried to decipher it's meaning, but eventually
gave up in the futility of it all. If the visions wanted her to know, they
would make it clear.
Time passed, and eventually Alonzion was able to put the prophecy
to the back of his mind. There was the more pressing business of
ruling Atlantis to occupy his mind, and also, there was his newly
announced engagement to Gaia. They had met at an embassy ball
almost a year before. She was the daughter of one of the cities
nobles, and had considerably standing in the aristocracy. Alonzion
wouldn't have cared if she was the cleaning lady, for he had fallen in
love almost at once. His first sight of her had left him almost
breathless. She had been wearing a pale blue evening gown that left
her shoulders and a long expanse of her back exposed to be kissed by
the night air. Her auburn hair had been piled on top of her head with
a few strands left loose to curl around her face and accent her soft,
creamy complexion. Her large, midnight blue eyes dominated her
delicate face and her ripe, pink mouth completed her perfection. But,
as exquisite as she was, it was the kindness that radiated from her
very soul that drew him to her. That night gave them just one brief
dance, but it held promise of more that left both of them searching
one another out in the crowd. Alonzion came to discover a sharp mind
lurked behind her lovely features, and they had many philosophical
discussions over the course of their courtship. He had yet to bring up
his conversation with the Senshi of Pluto to her, though. It never felt
as if it was the right moment. He put the unbidden thought out of his
mind and concentrated on the royal decrees that lay before him on
the blotter.
Gaia was happier than she had ever been in her life. She couldn't stop
staring at the beautiful engagement ring that now rested on her left
hand. The setting was magnificent, platinum with a large star
sapphire surrounded by eight diamonds that represented the other
planets in the system. One perfect pearl was set off-center in the
sapphire to represent the moon. It was the most beautiful ring she
had ever seen. She loved Alonzion with all her soul, but at times a
sense of unease would overcome her. The women in her family had
always held the gift of healing, but usually had to use the crystals to
focus their energies. Gaia didn't need them. She could heal with her
touch alone. The unease she felt around Alonzion sometimes
reminded her of the feelings she got when sensing someone in need
of healing. But, with him, the sense seemed to come and go, and that
shouldn't happen with a normal ailment. She had mentioned this to
Queen Antonia once, hoping the queen's telepathic insights would
help her determine the cause of her feelings. The queen had only
given her a small, sad smile and said, "What will be, will be. Please,
try to be happy while you are able." This statement left Gaia even
more troubled than before, but she could not press further because
the queen had drifted off the sleep.
Gaia tried to put her unease aside, and for a time the feelings seemed
to abate. The marriage ceremony was enchanting, and her wedding
gown was a vision of silk and lace. Almost the entire kingdom
attended, with the excess crowd spilling out into the streets of the
city. Queen Antonia had been arranged in a wheeled chair and sat
proudly while her son and new daughter-in-law exchanged their vows
and because man and wife, and after Gaia was presented with the
royal scepter, King and Queen. The celebration lasted into the dawn
of the next day, with the newlyweds slipping off around midnight to
begin their month-long honeymoon on a neighboring island. Antonia
was carried back to her bed chamber where she slept a peaceful and
contented sleep. The vision woke her some time later, and she sat
up, shaking and soaking with cold sweat. Her breath came in ragged
heaves and it took her several minutes to bring it back into a normal
rhythm. This vision was very different from any of her others. She
had seen clearly the end of her world, and it had frightened her
badly. The vision had started innocently enough, with Alonzion, Gaia,
and the blue-eyed boy she had foreseen before. The small family had
been picnicking on the lawn in the back of the castle. The boy
suddenly jumped up and bolted for the cliffs that marked the edge of
the island. Alonzion shouted for him to stop, but fell to the ground
clutching his chest in agony. Gaia was torn between going to her
husband and running after her son. Her decision was forgotten,
however, when the sky blackened and the boy stopped and help his
hands up towards the heavens. A golden glow began to emanate from
his small fingers and the golden crystal materialized in his hands. He
closed his eyes as a burning streak tore across the sky and impacted
in the city below. Antonia watched, horrified, as the vision played out
before her eyes. There was no sound, but she could see Gaia
screaming silently as she hovered over Alonzion's unmoving body.
The boy still stood, eyes closed, and gathered the power that had laid
dormant in his young body. The golden glow spread over his mother
and the body of his father, it spread over the entire castle and into
the city below. The glow seemed to solidify into a dome that covered
most of the city, except for the area already devastated by the
meteor. Beads of perspiration began to pop up on the boys brow and
the dome began to shrink. The fireball that began at the impact site
spread as the protective dome retreated, consuming all that was
before it like some gluttonous giant. That was were the vision ended,
and was why Antonia awoke in her current state.
On the six month anniversary of their marriage, Alonzion and Gaia
announced her pregnancy. The kingdom erupted in celebration for the
heir to be. It was a difficult for Gaia, and she was confined to bed for
the most part. Alonzion stayed by her side as much as possible, and
wheeled his mother into Gaia's room often so the two could keep each
other company. Antonia had visibly worsened in the last six months,
growing thinner, and losing part of her luxurious raven hair. It
tormented Gaia to see her beloved mother-in-law in the constant pain
that seemed to plague her lately, but all her attempts at healing had
failed. Gaia now smiled as Antonia was brought into her room. Today
seemed to be a better day.
"How is my grandson?" Antonia asked with a grin.
"How do you know it's a boy?" Gaia returned her smile easily. It was
a constant dialog between the two, familiar and comforting.
"Gaia," Antonia began, her face turning serious, "Do you remember
when you asked me about Alonzion's health?"
"Yes, I do, very clearly. I also remember the cryptic answer you gave
me, 'What will be, will be'. That statement confused me very much,"
Gaia replied.
"I know it did, my dear, and I apologize for that, but it would have
been dangerous to reveal the truth to you then." Antonia's brow
knitted in a spasm of pain.
"Mother! Are you alright? Do you need me to do something?" Gaia
asked, alarmed.
"No, it's important that I tell you, just give me a few minutes and I'll
be fine," Antonia said through clenched teeth.
Gaia kept her eyes on her mother-in-law and saw the spasm pass and
the agony leave her face. She breathed a sigh of relief as Antonia
relaxed and continued to speak.
"Gaia, you know that I am a telepath, but did you know that I also
receive visions?"
"I think Alonzion mentioned that to me before," Gaia said with worry
in her voice.
"Well, it is true. I have recently had a vision of the end of our land,
Atlantis. This will happen in six years. Your son will survive that
catastrophe, but I don't know if anyone else will." Antonia paused to
let Gaia absorb what she had said. Gaia's hands flew to her enlarging
stomach and her eyes widened in shock.
"Alonzion?" Gaia questioned hesitantly.
"No, dear, I'm sorry," Antonia said as tears began to pool in her violet
eyes.
When she was able to speak, Antonia went on, "I think that is the
reason for your occasional uneasy feelings around my son. I labored
whether or not I should reveal this to you, but I finally decided it was
your right to know. Please, I beg of you, don't dwell on what will
happen. Be happy that your son will survive, maybe to build Atlantis
anew! Make the most of your short time together and be grateful of
the years you will have," Antonia was crying openly now, sorrow
written on her aging face.
Gaia could only nod numbly and rub circles on her abdomen with
shaking hands.
After the difficult pregnancy, the easy birth was almost anticlimactic.
The prince was born with the black hair of his father and the midnight
blue eyes of his mother. The doctor gave the couple a few minutes
alone with the newborn at their request. Gaia sobbed and held the
baby as close as she could, and Alonzion seemed shell shocked. He
reached out and caressed her shoulder and she leaned into the
support he offered.
"Oh, Alonzion! I know the time will go by so quickly! I can feel the
end racing towards us!"
"My darling Gaia," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "We can't
dwell on the future. It will only make us miserable. We have to think
of his well being. Please, dry your eyes, we have to think of a name."
He took her face in his hands and dried her tears with a sweep of his
thumb.
"I know, I'm sorry, I was just overcome for a moment," Gaia replied
as she tried to compose herself. "I've already chosen a name, it
means protector, because that is what he will be," she said with awe
in her voice. She looked at her husband and he nodded for her to go
on. "His name will be.....Mamoru."
*****
Part 2
Mamoru Endymion grew into a delightful child. He had his father's
dark hair and aristocratic good looks, and his mother's deep liquid
midnight blue eyes. Even at the age of six, he showed both the
kindness of Gaia, and the strength of Alonzion. He could sometimes
by overly serious for a child his age, but most of the time he was just
a normal, happy six year old.
He was especially excited today, because he, his mother, and his
father were going on a picnic.
He ran through the great palace at the impossible speed that only
young children seem to be able to maintain, and rounded the
corner into the sitting room, only to collide violently with one of
the staff.
"Excuse me!," he exclaimed, panting. The young boy stood quickly,
but after seeing what he had caused, fell just as fast back to his
knees to help clean up the pile of broken tea cups that now lay in a
help on the floor.
"Your highness, please, it's not necessary for you to do that, I can
clean this up," the maid replied, smiling. This wasn't her first
encounter with the prince, and she knew what his reply would be.
"I made the mess, I'll clean it up," he said determinedly, his face
serious for a moment, but then breaking into the handsome grin
that kept anyone from becoming angry with him.
The day was glorious. The sun shone it's warmth down on the
emerald lawn from a sky so blue that it seemed almost unreal. Th
sound of the surf crashing into the cliff base far below the palace
grounds was soothing and wonderful. Mamoru helped his father
spread the picnic cloth on the ground with exaggerated gestures,
both laughing as they played. Gaia laughed with them, but was
overcome by a wave of panic as she began to unload the heavy
food basket. She paused, keeping her face turned down to prevent
either her son or her husband from seeing the unexpected tears
that had begun to course down her cheeks. She brushed them off
hurriedly, and put on her best face before raising her head and
announcing the lunch was served.
They ate in a peaceful silence. The panicky feelings that Gaia had
felt earlier seemed to be gone, but she was left with a strange
sensation of deja vu. She tried to dismiss it, and enjoy the day
with her family, but couldn't completely rid herself of the
uneasiness.
Antonia lay in her bed, gasping. The vision/dream that had awoken
her was the final one she would have. The day that had plagued
her for so many years was at hand. She could feel the meteor
racing towards her homeland, and knew that the kingdom of
Atlantis was living it's last days. She concentrated on the task that
would be the saving grace for much more than this jewel of an
island, perspiration beading on her forehead as her eyes glazed
over strangely.
In a hidden chamber below the very center of the palace, a
beautiful golden crystal began to resonate. It had been in this
sacred place for an eternity, it seemed. No one, as of yet had been
able to activate it's powers, but all knew how great they were. The
crystal rose off it's pedestal, and seemed to vibrate subtly. It gave
off a great flash of light, and seemed to burst into millions of
glittering starpoints.
Antonia Endymion slumped over in her bed, her thoughts were
almost unconsciously carried out at this point, as she reached out
her mind one last time.
"mamoru," the voice was very faint, but he knew it instantly.
"Gamma?" he questioned softly.
"yes...you must listed very carefully. I have to go away...my time
here is over, but I need you to do one last thing for me before I go."
"What is it Gamma? I don't understand?"
"I know you don't my darling, but it will all be clear very soon.
Now, I need you to run over toward the cliff..."
"But Gamma, mother says..."
"I know dear, but this time it's okay. Look over there, do you see
the golden lights?"
"Yes! They're so pretty Gamma! What are they?"
"They're just for you, Mamoru, now, run over to them...I love you, Mamoru..."
"I love you, too, Gamma....," Mamoru whispered, and felt the tears
begin to pool in his eyes. Gamma was gone, but he had something
to do for her. He got up and looked at his mother. Gaia was staring
at him with a fearful look in her eyes. He knew she had probably
heard part of what he and Gamma had been talking about, but he
couldn't worry about that right now. He turned towards the golden
lights, they looked like fireflies, but he knew that fireflies only
came out at night. He began to run towards them, and heard his
mother scream his name.
"Mamoru!"
He reached the sparkling lights and felt them enter his body. It
was a strange sensation, but not unpleasant. He suddenly felt very
strong, and turned towards his parents. He was going to call out to
his Mother, who was on her feet and jogging towards him, when
the sky suddenly went black. He heard Gaia scream again, and was
shocked to see his father collapsed on the ground. Something in
his mind clicked, and he knew what to do. Mamoru raised his small
shaking hands towards the heavens and felt the power explode
from his body.
It was dark, but he wasn't frightened. A soft golden light
surrounded his body and seemed to emanate from his chest. He
held his small hands up towards the heavens, *...the moon....*,
and concentrated with all the strength of his six year old mind.
*save them....I have to save Mama....Papa's not here now....and
Gamma.....Gamma's gone, too....* His thoughts were fragmented,
unsure. He was oblivious to the destruction around him. Explosions
rocked the island as chunks of the deadly meteor continued to rain
down upon Atlantis. It had broken up in the atmosphere of Earth,
and now fell in house sized pieces. His mother could only scream
as her gaze traveled from the hellish scenes around her to the
lifeless body of her husband which lay on the ground before her.
Her eyes were wide with panic when she turned them to her son.
She gasped as she realized that it was he who was protecting the
castle and most of the surrounding land. A golden dome stretched
from his small hands and made a wide circle that encompassed a
good part of the island. The city below the castle was beyond his
reach, however, and the macabre rain storm pelted it with the fires
of hell. She had known about this, her mother-in-law had predicted
these very events years before, but her mind still could not grasp
the sheer annihilation of her homeland. Her healing senses
shrieked as people fell with their homes. She brought her hands up
to her ears in a futile attempt to stop the torment caused by her
gift.
*can't hold it....heavy....too hard...* Beads of sweat appeared on
his brow, and his body began to shake with effort of controlling the
protective dome. He felt something slip in his mind, and the dome
inched inwards. He broadened his stance and put everything he
had into the spell, but the dome did not grow. It retreated a few
more inches, and his young mind could no longer take the
pressure. His concentration faltered, and the dome came rushing
toward him, the falling meteorites claiming more and more of his
home. He managed to stop the dome mere feet from his mother,
and held it there with all the power in his soul. Gaia was screaming
again, as she helplessly watched the life-sustaining dome close in
on her son.
*Mamoru* The voice startled him. It sounded like a young girl, and
filled him with strength. The dome grew slightly.
*Mamoru....please answer me*
*How do you know my name?* he replied silently.
*I don't know....I just know I can help you....I have to help you.*
She sounded like she was crying, and Mamoru felt tears running
down his face as well.
*OK.....can you save Mama?*
*I don't know....I'll try....* The voice faded, and Mamoru felt the
dome beginning to collapse. He focused all his energy on the
golden crystal and just when he could hold it no longer, thin silver
streams of energy wrapped themselves in his aura. The dome
began to grow again, slowly. Mamoru found it easier to hold this
time, almost as if someone was there with him, supporting him. He
held it until the nightmarish meteor storm abated, and then he fell
to the ground, unconscious.
In a palace far away, a two-year old princess collapsed in her
nursery. The frantic nanny said the girl had gone into what looked
like a trance, smiling and crying at the same time, before she fell.
Gaia opened her eyes to an apocalyptic scene. The city below the
castle was decimated. Where there had once been wide streets
filled with merchants, stately homes and graceful fountains, there
was now only a smoking ruin. Sea water was just beginning to fill
the deeper craters, with the intention of taking the entire island to
it's cold, dark, depths. The castle, however, was relatively
unharmed. The only marks on it's grand visage were a few charred
places that still smoked slightly. The grass on which she lay was
still green and lush, and the view to the cliffs that fell into the sea
was the same as she remembered. She forced herself to her get up
when she saw the small, unmoving body of her son, their
protector. She rushed over to him and turned him face up on the
grass. Grateful tears coursed down her face when she heard the
soft sounds of his breath. She held his limp, sleeping, form to her
and hugged him close as she wept for what she had lost, and what
she had not. Some time later, his voice woke her from her reverie.
"Mama....did I...save....our home?" he questioned in a trembling
voice.
"Oh yes, baby....now you can rest," she replied, smoothing his dark
hair with her hands.
"She helped me, Mama....the little girl.....the silver girl," he
whispered as he drifted off to sleep.
Gaia stared into the sleeping face of her son. His words confused
her, but the peaceful smile on his face brought her so much joy
that she was able to let it go for now.
Rebuilding was an enormous task. There had been a few survivors,
mostly those who had taken refuge in the castle. Gaia had
managed to heal a handful of people who had been on the outskirts
of the city, just inside the dome before it shrank away from them.
Together, they had repaired the castle, and built new homes on the
land that still rose above the sea. The castle grounds were on a
higher plane than the unfortunate city had been, so when the sea
claimed that ravished land, they had been spared. Their biggest
problem now was food and supplies. There was a large stockpile in
the castle, but it would not last forever, and with the city gone
there was no place for them to replenish. Gaia sent an expedition
out to sea to try and find other civilizations with which to trade.
Rationing was necessary as weeks turned into months without
word from the expedition. Gaia grew thin and weak, as she gave
most of her rations to Mamoru. Another alarming discovery was
that the remaining part of the island was slowly sinking into the
sea.
"Your Majesty, we have to leave this island. I and my colleagues
have studied the information, and we predict we only have a few
more weeks until the ocean
consumes us all," he was trying to be calm, but was failing. He had
been only a guard before the wrath, as they now called it, had
come. He'd had limited experience in engineering which had grown
substantially since, but he was still unsure of himself as he now
advised the queen.
"I understand, but without word from the expedition, I'm afraid..."
she stopped mid-sentence as Mamoru came barreling into the
room.
"Mother!! The boat is back! The boat is back!" he shouted and ran
out as quickly as he had come.
Gaia and the reluctant engineer stared at each other for a moment,
then both bolted outside to see for themselves.
Tears of relief fell down her thin, worn face as she saw the ship
docking at the harbor, heavy with it's cargo. She ran up to Mamoru
and put her hands on the boys shoulders. He looked up at her and
smiled brightly.
"I knew they would come, the silver girl told me."
Gaia hadn't heard him mention the silver girl since the wrath
came, and it vaguely disturbed her on some level, but she shook
the unpleasant thoughts out of her head and watched the weary
sailors begin to unload their bounty.
That night was a celebration. The feast, although wisely
conservative, was still more food than they were accustomed to,
and each person ate voraciously. The dancing went on well past
midnight, when Gaia took Mamoru up to his room to sleep.
"Mother...I need to tell you something....," the boy began slowly.
"Yes, Mamoru, go ahead. You know you can tell me anything," Gaia
smiled at her son.
"I talked to the silver girl again tonight....she says we have to
leave here," tears pooled in his midnight blue eyes, the same
shade as Gaia's.
"Mamoru...who is this silver girl?" she tried to keep her voice light,
but fear welled up unbidden at his revelation. How could he know
of her conversation with the engineer? He must have been
listening at the door before he came into the room today. Her mind
whirled, trying to think of a plausible explanation.
"She helped me save us, Mother. It was her silver light that held
the bubble together. I couldn't hold it anymore, it was too heavy.
She came and helped me hold it," he replied, seeing the fear in his
mother's eyes, and becoming frightened himself.
Gaia gathered the boy in her arms, "It's alright Mamoru, don't be
frightened. This silver girl sounds very friendly, maybe I could
meet her next time she talks to you?"
"I only talk to her voice, Mother. I don't know what she looks like. I
want to meet her, too," Mamoru said, calm now, and heavy eyed.
"Maybe we can meet her together," Gaia replied, glad that his eyes
were closed now and he couldn't see the fear in hers anymore.
Gaia walked back to her room, thinking about what Mamoru had
said. A vision? Could it be? Antonia, Mamoru's paternal
grandmother, had visions of the future. Maybe Mamoru had
inherited the gift from her. He was certainly on the mark about
them having to leave the island. Oh, what a burden for a seven
year old to carry. Antonia had suffered because of her gift during
her last years. She had foreseen the wrath and was helpless to
stop it. She had known she would die, along with her son,
Alonzion, and could only wait for the inevitable. Gaia had tried to
make those last six years as pleasant as possible, bringing Mamoru
in to see his precious 'Gamma' several times a day, but in the end
it hadn't mattered. Antonia and Alonzion had died, not because of
the wrath, but because both were connected to Atlantis at it's basic
core, and when life left the island, life left both of them as well.
Gaia fell into a restless sleep, hoping the her Mamoru would not
have to suffer from his visions like Antonia had.
Two weeks passed with the island steadily sinking into the sea.
Gaia had ordered ships built and supplies loaded for a journey that
would find them all a new home. The sailors from the first
expedition told of a fertile land to the east that was almost as
beautiful as Atlantis had once been. Finally, they were ready to
leave, almost eight weeks after the supply ship had returned to the
island.
The water was visibly closer now, lapping at the castle wall on one
side. The cliffs that had once plunged sharply to the sea were now
only a sandy beach that was level with the water. Gaia, Mamoru,
and almost two hundred Atlanteans boarded the two vessels and
set sail on a clear night. Mamoru cried on his mother's shoulder as
he watched his home get smaller and smaller on the horizon.
Six months is a long time to be at sea, especially for a seven year
old boy. The awful nausea of seasickness ravished his body for
almost two full weeks. He grew pale and drawn, and Gaia worried
that dehydration would take his young life. She sat patiently with
him and helped him sip water from a wet towel. She prayed to
whomever would listen to make him well. Her healing abilities
didn't seem to work on Mamoru, so she was helpless. Slowly, he
began to recover, and within the second month of the journey, he
was almost back to normal.
The long months at sea were a hardship on them all. They lost
almost half of their population to an unknown illness. Gaia had
been on one vessel, and the deaths had occurred on the other, so
she had been unable to help them either. The toll of the deaths
wore on her soul, and there were days when she could think of
nothing else. Mamoru tried to bring her out of the deep depression
that seemed to be claiming her, but was only able to draw thin
smiles from his once light-hearted mother.
"Mother, can you sing for me?" he asked.
"Not today....I'm very tired, Mamoru. Can you go play on the deck
for a while?" she replied in a hoarse voice.
And so it went. Gaia fell deeper into her depression, and Mamoru
took on responsibilities that no seven year old should have to bear.
His use of the golden crystal had given him a certain maturity, but
he was still only a boy. His despair over his mother's condition
gave way to a bitter anger. How dare she abandon him when he
needed her the most? Thoughts like these made him feel guilty,
and he spent his nights crying with shame over his conflicting
feelings. The only comfort he could find were his brief visits from
the silver girl. Her voice would fill his mind in the darkest hours of
the night, bringing words of comfort, and empathy.
*Mamoru....don't cry....it hurts...*
"I'm sorry.....you won't leave me, will you?"
*Never....I don't think I can leave you..*
Their conversations were never long, but always left him filled with
a sense of well-being and strength.
"Bring around the telescope. Let's have a look."
The cry of "Land-HO!" rang out throughout the two ships. Mamoru
ran down to his mother's cabin to tell her the news.
"Mother! They've found land! We'll be stopping soon," he happily
shouted.
"Mamoru, are you sure? Oh, I hope so! " Gaia smiled at him then,
a real smile for the first time in months. Mamoru ran to his mother
and threw his arms around her. She returned his embrace,
whispering words of apology and love into his hair.
The weak and weary travelers rowed towards the green, dry earth
with happy hearts. When the last of the small boats was ashore,
Gaia stood and quieted the group so she could speak.
"My friends, I know we have had a difficult journey, and have lost
many of our loved-ones. It will be hard to put aside our grief and
fear as we start our lives anew here, on this foreign land, but I
have to ask that of each of you. We will need the full strength of
every person to build a new Atlantis. I hereby christen this land the
homeland of the Golden Kingdom!"
Shouts rose up from the wayworn group. Their number had been
reduced by more than half, but they were strong. Gaia smiled at
her son, and thought that he was probably the strongest of them
all.