Part 44

As the glow fills the room, the group jumps up and bands together.  They push Kyle and the baby back towards the door, allowing them a quick escape if necessary.  From out of the light steps a woman with long blond hair.

"My children," says the woman.  "You have defeated the evil that had tried to overtake our world.  The battles were fierce, and for many years, we were forced to live under the tyrannical rule of Kivar, but our people never stopped fighting.  Zan my son, how did you defeat him?"

"Mother, in this world, I am called Max.  And it wasn't me who was able to defeat Kivar."

"Then who my son?  Was it Rath?"

"No, Mother, Liz was the one who destroyed Kivar."  Max reaches back and pulls Liz forward.

"Cierra, the royal advisor?  It was you?  We thought you had died," says the woman.

"Please, Mother, can you sit while we explain this?  It may take a while," says Max.

"Of course, my son," says the woman.  "Vilondra, my daughter, come sit beside me so that I may have my beloved children on either side of me."

Max leads his mother to the sofa and introduces each person, saving Liz for last.  After that, he explains to his mother what has happened to them over the last three years.  He told his mother about the dupes, and Tess and Alex's death, and the birth of Cassie.

"Oh please, may I see the child?" she asks.

Kyle steps forward with Cassie in his arms.  "Your Highness, this is Cassiopeia, my daughter."

"Please, call me Marilonia," says the Queen.  "I am often able to see what unique powers a person will develop while they are still a child."  She holds her hands over the baby's head and a soft blue light surrounds the child.  "You have a beautiful daughter, and she is going to be very powerful as she matures.  She will have her mother's gifts of changing people's perceptions.  You must guide her, so that she will be able to choose the best path.  You have all seen first hand what can happen when someone with those abilities does not have someone to love and guide them," says Marilonia, referring toTess.

"Liz, will you come here please?" asks Marilonia. 

Liz steps forward, sitting on the low table in front of the Queen.  Marilonia places her hands above Liz, and the same soft blue light surrounds her. 

"Ah, I see," says the queen.  "You have your mother's unique powers, but when Max healed you, it also activated the latent healing skills you possessed."

Catching the confused looks on all their faces, Marilonia explains, "It's like what you would call a recessive gene.  Liz had recessive genes for healing and dream walking.  When Max healed her, it somehow modified the gene and made it dominant.  Max also had a recessive dream walking gene and when it linked with Liz's, it became active."

She places her hands over Max's head.  "Liz healed Max but it did not trigger his recessive dream walking gene to become dominant.  How interesting.  It only worked while they were linked. There is so much we don't know about how this world will effect you, but sending you here was our only hope."

"And now my children, you have the opportunity to come home with me, home to Antar.  Our planet and our people await your arrival.  It was decided, as we fought to free ourselves from the oppressive rule of Kivar, that we would devise a new government, with a legislative body, but there is still a role for our King in this government." 

Max looks at the others.  After so many years, and so many battles, no words are necessary.

"Mother, we can't leave Earth.  It is our home now.  We belong here.  There are people here who love us and need us.  We can't leave them.  However, the others should have their say as well."

Isabelle turns to her mother, the love and longing in her eyes.  "Mother, I can't leave.  I love you and I want to know you, but I also have parents here that raised me.  I can't leave them, and I can't leave Alex.  He suffered so much for us!"

"Marilonia," says Liz.  "I was born here of human parents, I can't leave them, and I won't leave Max."

"All my life," says Michael, "I was looking for a way home, but last year, I found out that my home is right here, with Maria."

"Kyle, what about you and Cassiopeia?  Do you wish to return to Antar?"

"No thank you ma'am.  I need to be here, with my dad, and everyone else.  We belong together."

"Very well, I can see there is a bond between you all that cannot and should not be broken.  Take care my children.  I love you, all of you.  You are true heroes, and all Antar will remember you names forever." 

Marilonia steps into the beam of light that opens again, and as she starts to fade from sight she whispers, "I love you, and I will return to you again."