Chapter 13
Gaea opened her eyes and saw only the light. For a long time all she saw was the light. Then it slowly faded into the night sky, dappled with stars. She blinked looked around her. She saw Degen holding Solanara to his chest. Athena was at her feet, curled us sleeping. She stood up and tried to figure out what happened. {Where are we, we're all her, but where is here? And what happened to Othi and the Dark One? Did we win? All I remember was feeling Serena and Rini and the princesses protecting the inner 4 plants come to me in my mind. Then…Mother was there.}[ At that a tear fell from her cheek to land on a path of starry sand. The whole world was made of stars and mist. She herself wasn't completely sold. She seamed to be made out of the stardust.
:Actually, you're made out of the Elements themselves.: Came a voice from behind her. She turned to see a face that she had not seen for 10 years now.
:Mother? Is it really you?: Gaea was astounded. How could her mother really be here standing in front of her now? Unless she was…
:You won. The Light has finally conquered the dark. Never again shall the Dark One kill or destroy.: Persephone was beaming with pride. She glanced over at the sleeping Degen and bonded as Athena padded over on the starry path.
:Hello Mistress. Does this mean what I think it does?: Athena looked up at Persephone with eyes that were the night sky. There was no pupil, iris or whites…just night sky.
:Athena…your eyes!: Gaea blurted as she stared.
:Your eyes too, Dearheart, are like mine. As are Degen's and Solanara's.: Athena said, clearly amused at her bonded's reaction. Persephone smiled and turned to Athena.
:Yes. The prophecy has been fulfilled.: Gaea looked first at her mother then at Athena and back.
:What prophecy? What's going on? Where are we? Athena! You promised, no more secrets!: Gaea was almost in tears, but form frustration this time.
:Dearone, this was no secret. It was something that was in front of you the whole time. You never asked Athena bout your future did you?: She paused to look at her daughter. :I thought not. If you had asked, she would have told you everything. But I guess it would have been better that you didn't know what was to happen to you. You are I the sky castle built for you by the Spirit's of the Light. You live in mind only. You will never appear in the flesh again until the Universe is completely safe again.: Persephone stopped to sigh, giving Gaea time to spit out what was on her mind. She was angry, but at whom, she didn't know.
:But you said that the Dark One was dead, destroyed, no more would evil reign and reek havoc! Is the Universe not safe?!: Gaea forced herself calm and sat down on the path where she stood.
:Yes, but the Dark One had suck a will to destroy the Light and all who served it that she could still comeback. We must be sure.: Gaea could se the pain in her mothers weary eyes. But there was something else, something that she wasn't telling Gaea.
:What about Rini? What role does she play in al of this? She has to be involved in this somehow.: Gaea knew that she was prying. But she had to know! With a sigh Athena let the rest of the information out.
:Yes Dearheart, the little one has a role. She will raise your daughter. All that stuff that Degen said was true. The Spirits of the Light told him everything when he renounced the Dark.: Athena looked up at her bonded with an indifferent stare, but Gaea could feel the jealousy beginning to grow. {This could be a problem that I'll have to deal with later. Now is not the time.} Gaea thought with an annoyance behind it. She nodded to her mother and her bonded tiger.
:I understand now. My daughter will be the one to fight whatever evil comes along, won't she?: At Athena's silence and her mothers glance away, she knew it was true.
:Well then I shall have to deal with it when it comes.: She sighed and felt the burdens begin to pile up again. Suddenly she looked up to find her mother fading away. :Mother! Come back! I need you!!!: Gaea screamed, but she knew that Persephone couldn't stay, she had fulfilled her part of the scheme and now it was time for her soul to rest once and for all. Another tear came and fell on to her mothers cool, translucent hand.
:Good bye Gaea. I'll love you always. Take good care of Degen and the animals. They'll need you.: With that she smiled winked and winked out.
:I love you Mother.: The only answer she got was a kiss on the neck from behind where Degen had come up soundlessly to comfort his new wife. She felt someone hugging her, she closed her eyes to find Rini hugging her mental image. She hugged her back and told her they were ok. Rini nodded and disappeared. {She's probably waking up about now. Ah well, she knows where to find us should she need us.} She turned to Degen and found Athena and Solanara gone. She kissed him and held him tight as he picked her up and led her off the path a ways. An oak tree appeared I the silver mist. He lay her down kissing her and lying down next to her. She kissed him as she unlaced her dress. He laughed and rolled her on her back.
After they finished making love, and they lay in each other's cool arms, she smiled as she realized that she was truly happy. All her pain and sorrow was gone, forever.
Little did she know that her and Degen had set in motion a destiny that would lead to the destruction of the worlds as they knew them.
Gaea opened her eyes and saw only the light. For a long time all she saw was the light. Then it slowly faded into the night sky, dappled with stars. She blinked looked around her. She saw Degen holding Solanara to his chest. Athena was at her feet, curled us sleeping. She stood up and tried to figure out what happened. {Where are we, we're all her, but where is here? And what happened to Othi and the Dark One? Did we win? All I remember was feeling Serena and Rini and the princesses protecting the inner 4 plants come to me in my mind. Then…Mother was there.}[ At that a tear fell from her cheek to land on a path of starry sand. The whole world was made of stars and mist. She herself wasn't completely sold. She seamed to be made out of the stardust.
:Actually, you're made out of the Elements themselves.: Came a voice from behind her. She turned to see a face that she had not seen for 10 years now.
:Mother? Is it really you?: Gaea was astounded. How could her mother really be here standing in front of her now? Unless she was…
:You won. The Light has finally conquered the dark. Never again shall the Dark One kill or destroy.: Persephone was beaming with pride. She glanced over at the sleeping Degen and bonded as Athena padded over on the starry path.
:Hello Mistress. Does this mean what I think it does?: Athena looked up at Persephone with eyes that were the night sky. There was no pupil, iris or whites…just night sky.
:Athena…your eyes!: Gaea blurted as she stared.
:Your eyes too, Dearheart, are like mine. As are Degen's and Solanara's.: Athena said, clearly amused at her bonded's reaction. Persephone smiled and turned to Athena.
:Yes. The prophecy has been fulfilled.: Gaea looked first at her mother then at Athena and back.
:What prophecy? What's going on? Where are we? Athena! You promised, no more secrets!: Gaea was almost in tears, but form frustration this time.
:Dearone, this was no secret. It was something that was in front of you the whole time. You never asked Athena bout your future did you?: She paused to look at her daughter. :I thought not. If you had asked, she would have told you everything. But I guess it would have been better that you didn't know what was to happen to you. You are I the sky castle built for you by the Spirit's of the Light. You live in mind only. You will never appear in the flesh again until the Universe is completely safe again.: Persephone stopped to sigh, giving Gaea time to spit out what was on her mind. She was angry, but at whom, she didn't know.
:But you said that the Dark One was dead, destroyed, no more would evil reign and reek havoc! Is the Universe not safe?!: Gaea forced herself calm and sat down on the path where she stood.
:Yes, but the Dark One had suck a will to destroy the Light and all who served it that she could still comeback. We must be sure.: Gaea could se the pain in her mothers weary eyes. But there was something else, something that she wasn't telling Gaea.
:What about Rini? What role does she play in al of this? She has to be involved in this somehow.: Gaea knew that she was prying. But she had to know! With a sigh Athena let the rest of the information out.
:Yes Dearheart, the little one has a role. She will raise your daughter. All that stuff that Degen said was true. The Spirits of the Light told him everything when he renounced the Dark.: Athena looked up at her bonded with an indifferent stare, but Gaea could feel the jealousy beginning to grow. {This could be a problem that I'll have to deal with later. Now is not the time.} Gaea thought with an annoyance behind it. She nodded to her mother and her bonded tiger.
:I understand now. My daughter will be the one to fight whatever evil comes along, won't she?: At Athena's silence and her mothers glance away, she knew it was true.
:Well then I shall have to deal with it when it comes.: She sighed and felt the burdens begin to pile up again. Suddenly she looked up to find her mother fading away. :Mother! Come back! I need you!!!: Gaea screamed, but she knew that Persephone couldn't stay, she had fulfilled her part of the scheme and now it was time for her soul to rest once and for all. Another tear came and fell on to her mothers cool, translucent hand.
:Good bye Gaea. I'll love you always. Take good care of Degen and the animals. They'll need you.: With that she smiled winked and winked out.
:I love you Mother.: The only answer she got was a kiss on the neck from behind where Degen had come up soundlessly to comfort his new wife. She felt someone hugging her, she closed her eyes to find Rini hugging her mental image. She hugged her back and told her they were ok. Rini nodded and disappeared. {She's probably waking up about now. Ah well, she knows where to find us should she need us.} She turned to Degen and found Athena and Solanara gone. She kissed him and held him tight as he picked her up and led her off the path a ways. An oak tree appeared I the silver mist. He lay her down kissing her and lying down next to her. She kissed him as she unlaced her dress. He laughed and rolled her on her back.
After they finished making love, and they lay in each other's cool arms, she smiled as she realized that she was truly happy. All her pain and sorrow was gone, forever.
Little did she know that her and Degen had set in motion a destiny that would lead to the destruction of the worlds as they knew them.