Chapter 3
Prophecies
In the early days of the White Moon Kingdom, when Selene was still a part of the world
of men, the third planet from the sun had no name. Orbited by Selene's white moon, it was a
beautiful blue planet ruled by a goddess called Danu. Danu was as beautiful as the planet she
ruled. Mortal men and faeries alike flocked to her, eager to become her lover. Danu accepted all
consorts, and to most, she bore children. But although Danu dearly loved every child she bore,
the blue planet's ruling goddess was unhappy.
Now, Danu was a favorite of Selene's and so the moon goddess was greatly troubled by
her distress, and pleaded with Danu to tell her what the trouble was.
"Dear sister," Danu said, "I have many children, all of whom I love. They are all sweet
and lovely, but not one is as beautiful as my beautiful blue planet. Besides that, all my children
are either faeries or mortal. My mortal children are all bound to die one day, and the others will
wander the faerie lands forever. When I return to the Realm of Gods, I will be forced to leave all
my dear children behind. Oh, Selene, I so long to bear the child of a god, a child who will return
to the Realm of Gods to live with his mother forever, and whose beauty could rival even that of
my home world. Oh, Selene, will you help me?"
Because Danu was so dear to her, Selene agreed to help her get her wish, and appealed
to Apollo, god of the sun, on her behalf. At long last, Apollo agreed to father his sister goddess'
child, and became her lover. Finally, Danu conceived and bore a son. Danu was delighted by her
youngest child, for he had the same worldly beauty as his mother, and with the fire of the sun in
his eyes, he was even more lovely that the blue planet. Danu called her son Dagda. She loved
him the best of all her children, and declared that when she returned to the Realm of Gods,
Dagda would inherit the planet from her, and rule over all his brothers and sisters as High
King.
With her beloved sister's heart satisfied at last, Selene returned to the task of governing
her Kingdom. For several centuries, all was at peace. Selene married and gave birth to a
beautiful daughter, who she named Serenity, and seven of the eight goddesses who ruled the
White Moon Kingdom were also blessed with daughters. Only Lady Saturn, ruling goddess of
the Silent Star, came before Selene with empty arms when the other goddesses presented their
daughters. Too proud to love a mortal, yet not wishing to accept an immortal lover simply to
conceive a child, Lady Saturn did not have a daughter to add to the team of warriors that the
other goddesses' daughters would someday form. Thusly, Selene granted Lady Saturn her
desire to remain forever in the World of Men, and Lady Saturn swore eternal chastity in return.
Once again, all was at peace in the White Moon Kingdom.
It was about this time that Danu faced her Passing, and returned to the Realm of Gods.
As was the way of every planetary goddess, Danu left her descendants with a divine treasure, a
powerful stone that she called the Golden Crystal. Soon after his mother's Passing, Dagda was
wed to a mortal woman. Dagda and his wife loved one another deeply, and were very happy
together. But all the love in the world could not alter one horrible fact that loomed over their
union like a storm cloud—and even in their happiness, they could not overlook it.
In her early womanhood, at the beginning of her childbearing years, Dagda's mortal
wife had been struck with a terrible disease. For several long months, she battled against the
illness that raged within her. For several long months, it ravaged her body and left her a weak
and wasted skeleton. More than once, she almost succumbed to her condition, but Morganna
refused to free her, for the girl was young, and it was not her time to die.
It came to pass that the healers cured her of her illness, but the joy of her recovery was
lessened greatly by the news that her disease had left her a barren woman. The months passed
and her strength returned, but she would never bare a single child in her lifetime.
This did not bother Dagda. He loved his wife too dearly to let her confession change
anything, but she could not let it go.
"A god should have a child," she told him sadly. "He should have a son or daughter. He
should!"
"I mind it not that we are childless," Dagda assured his Queen, "not if we are childless
together. I am not upset, so why does it trouble you so?" But the woman's distress went beyond
the desire to please her husband. All her life, she had longed to be a mother, and for years she
had lived with the understanding that it could never be. The knowledge tore her very soul to
pieces.
Selene saw how tormented the woman was over her condition, and how deeply her
distress hurt Dagda. Her heart was sick to see all the sadness there upon the blue planet. She
knew that she had to do something, or else her heart would never be at peace. So, one night,
when Dagda and his wife were asleep in their palace, Selene descended to the blue planet with
Apollo by her side, prepared to make the necessary sacrifice for the sake of her dear sister's son.
Stealing into Dagda's chambers, the god and goddess stood over the mortal woman's bed, and
bestowed blessings upon her.
"By the white moon that lights the night upon the blue planet," said Selene, "I shall
surrender the remaining fruits of my womb to this mortal woman. Whatever children I could
yet bear will be left to her. They will grow within her womb when Dagda's seed touches them,
and they shall be her children. She will be their mother, and Dagda, their father. Though gifts
from the hand of the goddess of the moon, the blessings of the blue planet will forever be upon
them. They and their descendants will be as fruitful as their home world for as long as their line
continues." With those words, Selene kissed the mortal woman's belly. Two tiny balls of silver
light fell from Selene's eyes, disappearing within the bosom of the blue planet's mortal Queen,
and for the first time since she had fallen ill, the woman's dormant womb stirred, and began
preparing itself for child carrying. Then, Apollo added his blessings.
"By the golden sun that brings light and warmth to the blue planet, may all my precious
son's children have the light of the sun in their souls, and its beauty upon their faces, for the
pleasure of his Queen, and for the delight of my dear sister, Danu, whose womb carried my son."
And he, too, kissed the mortal's belly. A golden light flowed from his lips and surrounded her,
illuminating her for only a moment before disappearing within her. Knowing their task was
complete, god and goddess vanished from the blue planet, returning to their home worlds to
watch the seeds of their blessings blossom and bear fruit.
Several months later, Dagda became the proud father of twins. There was rejoicing in
the Realm of Gods, for Danu was exceedingly pleased to learn that her favorite child had at last
become a father. In the mortal world, Selene and Apollo celebrated as well, for at last the strife
upon the blue planet had been laid to rest. But for all the happiness and celebration, there was
none so happy as the new mother herself. After so many hopeless years, her greatest wish had
come true. At long last, she had two beautiful children—one son and one daughter—of her very
own.
Her son, the blue planet's new prince, was a handsome creature, even as an infant. He
was of fair complexion, with soft white hair and golden eyes that shimmered like the sun. His
name was Helios. The princess, who came to be called Terra, seemed to be the exact opposite of
her brother. She was a tiny thing, and dark of face and hair, with eyes of the darkest, deepest
blue that had ever met the eye of god or mortal. The years passed, and the children grew,
continuing to contrast one another in manner and appearance. Terra remained small and dark,
while Helios only grew fairer. Terra spent most of her time outside the palace walls, where she
spent hours in the wild meadows, contemplating many things, most of which she never told her
parents or her brother. While Dagda and his wife became increasingly curious about the things
their daughter thought about, Helios never wondered, for he was content to learn from books.
In spite of their differences, the prince and princess loved one another dearly, and vowed
always to protect one another from whatever danger they would face in the course of their lives.
The blue planet's Queen delighted in her children, neither knowing nor caring what god or
goddess had broken the curse of barrenness that had weighed so heavily upon her for so long.
But Dagda knew. He could not miss the moonlight in his son's hair, or the light of the sun in his
eyes, nor could he ignore the fact that his daughter carried the mysteries of the sun and moon
with her wherever she went. He knew who had broken his wife's sterile curse, and he knew how
much he was indebted to them. And so he called for his father and for Selene, that he might
thank them and arrange to settle his debt. Both immediately refused any sort of recompense.
"You are my son," Apollo declared. "I would gladly do anything to make you happy.
Besides, it was not I who made the sacrifice for your mortal wife, but my sister goddess, Selene
of the White Moon." Dagda turned to Selene then, nothing but the purest love in his eyes.
"Dear Selene, since the time of my mother, Danu, you have showered blessings upon my
home world, sometimes at your own loss. I cannot thank you enough for granting children unto
my wife, and I will not rest until my debt is settled." But Selene only sighed and shook her head.
"Dear son of my brother and sister, I need no reward. I only want what is best for your
planet. I myself longed for some assurance that my own Kingdom would not become the target
for any dark god or goddess once I had left this world, and the answer came to me in the form of
my daughter, Serenity. I knew that a child would not only bring your wife joy, but if the child
proved fruitful, it would ensure the safety of your kingdom forever. I was only too happy to
provide such security to the home world of my dear sister."
"Oh, good and kind Selene!" Dagda exclaimed. "You have blessed my kingdom in ways I
had never imagined, and yet you ask for no reward? Then, may I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course," Selene replied, "for you, son of my sister goddess, are my dear brother god."
"Then, as my sister goddess, I am asking you to forever remain a guardian of my home
world. You have done so since the time of my mother, and I am asking you to continue doing so
forever." But Selene refused.
"Dear brother, before too long, I shall have to take my leave of this world of men. I
cannot be such a guardian as you wish me to be from the Realm of Gods. I shall continue to
bestow my blessings upon your home world, but I cannot be its guardian." But Dagda continued
to cajole his sister goddess, and at last, Selene relented.
"I shall leave my descendants to be the guardians of your blue planet, and to send aid
when it is needed. But I have one condition: if this is to be so, then I must ask that our
descendants never come in contact with one another. Furthermore, anyone who is loyal to my
daughter, Serenity, and who recognizes her as High Queen, must not set foot upon the blue
planet."
"Why do you ask this, sister?" Dagda wished to know.
"My reasons are my own, my brother god," she replied, "but I must ask that this
condition is met if I am to fulfill your request." After some consideration, Dagda consented.
"So it shall be, sister." With that, the gods and goddess took their leave of one another.
Time passed, and Selene faded from the world of men, leaving her daughter, Serenity I
to take her place upon the throne of the White Moon Kingdom. Not long afterward, Dagda's
mortal wife breathed her last, and was at last taken into Morganna's arms. As his wife's body
was made ready for burial, Dagda called for his children, and blessed them both.
To Terra, he said, "The blessings of the blue planet are strongest upon you, daughter.
You are happiest when immersed in this planet's wonders. You take joy in its fruitfulness in the
springtime, and weep for the dead in the winter. You are the true Queen of this blue planet, and
evermore, it shall bear your name." After these words to his daughter, Dagda turned to his son.
"Helios, my son," said he, "you bear the blessings of the sun god and the moon goddess.
The golden light of the sun is in your eyes, and the silver moon shines in your hair. You are a
scholar, and destined to become a priest. Go to the heart of this blue planet, where you will
forever serve the gods with your power and wisdom." Now, the twins knew that their father had
just revealed their true destinies to them, and both were pleased to know what gods had
intended for them, but it soon became clear that those destinies would separate them from one
another forever.
Terra wept when she learned the truth, but Helios took his sister into his arms,
comforted her, and dried the tears upon her dark little face.
"Fear not, dear sister," said he, "for we are twins and our hearts shall always be as one,
just as we are one with this planet, and with our grandmother's treasure, the Golden Crystal.
The Crystal, our planet, you, and me; our hearts will beat as one forever, and I shall always
protect you. Whatever children have your blood in their veins will be as my own, and I shall
protect them as well." With that, the twins parted forever, Terra taking her place upon the blue
planet's throne, and Helios descending to the planet's heart.
Under Terra's rule, the blue planet was peaceful and prosperous. Just as her father had
predicted, the citizens of the blue planet loved their Queen so dearly that they came to call their
home world Terra in her honor. Helios created a world of his own deep in the heart of Terra,
which he called Elysion. There, with two of Dagda's faerie sisters to guard the shrine, Helios
served the gods and received revelations. And for all of time, he kept the promise he had made
to his sister, protecting her and her descendants forever.
Time passed as usual, and Dagda was returned to the Realm of Gods, where he was
reunited with his mother and father, but the promise made between Dagda and Selene was
never forgotten. Serenity I—and all her descendants—maintained her position as Terra's
guardian, forever watching over the blue planet, and sending aid when trouble erupted. But not
one of them ever ignored the condition under which their celestial mother had made that
promise. Never were they or any their subjects allowed upon Terra, except for the ambassador
sent there on the Queen's behalf to make certain that all was well, for such was the will of the
gods…
"Humph." Lady Beryl of Terra muttered under her breath, sneering at the open page in
front of her, "Will of the gods indeed. Is this a book of history or a record of White Moon
Kingdom propaganda?"
"Are you studying diligently, my pet?" a familiar voice asked with amusement. Startled,
Beryl leapt to her feet, guiltily slamming the book shut upon her desk. Her chair clattered upon
the floor of her chambers as Metallia appeared in a curl of smoke, laughing softly.
"Mistress!" Beryl squeaked, coloring slightly. "You startled me!" The dark goddess,
cruel and beautiful all at once, smiled thinly at the Terran noblewoman, her eyes cold and
mocking.
"How are you faring with your books, my pet?" the goddess drawled, her voice dripping
with false honey. "Well?" Beryl's color deepened, and she averted her gaze.
"Mother and Father wish me to learn history," she mumbled apologetically, wringing
her hands nervously. "It was not my choice to read this rubbish, mistress. You must believe me."
Metallia chuckled with all the sadistic amusement of a venomous snake looking into the
frightened eyes of it struggling victim as it prepares to deliver the killing strike.
"There, there, love," she soothed dryly. "Do not fidget so. I am not angry. I heard you
mutter to yourself, so I know that whatever rubbish you were reading did not poison your mind
too terribly." She crossed to Beryl's desk, and traced the gold lettering upon the book's cover
with the tip of one finger. Beryl shivered as the sarcastic expression upon her mistress' lovely
face darkened into one of anger, her already frigid gaze growing even colder.
"Mistress…?" she asked cautiously.
" 'The Triumphs of the Light Gods'," Metallia read, her tone bitter. "Now why would
and intelligent young woman such as yourself be reading filth such as this, my pet?"
"I told you, mistress," Beryl replied through grinding teeth, "my mother and father wish
me to learn history."
"A girl your age still listens to Mother and Father?" Metallia asked mockingly. Beryl,
angered by the dark goddess' tone, bit her tongue to keep from speaking sharply.
"I am only sixteen years of age, mistress," she told her softly. "Besides, I am bound to
obey my parents until I am wed, which surely will not be for several years yet." Metallia
smirked.
"Ah, yes. Such is the life of a young noble woman, I suppose. Tell me, pet, exactly what
were you studying just now?"
"I just finished reading the story of Selene's promise to Dagda," Beryl said softly. "She
never revealed her reasons for insisting upon that condition, but I believe I know why she did."
"Why?" Metallia asked. Her tone was impossible to read, but Beryl knew that her
mistress would be pleased when she heard her response.
"Spite." Beryl said without hesitation, smirking. "She felt that she and her descendants
were far superior to the children of Danu and Dagda. Her power among the gods of light has
made her arrogant, and Danu and Dagda, being the cowards that they are, do not object." A
forbidding smile spread across Metallia's face. Slowly, she turned an indulgent eye upon her
young subordinate.
"I have taught you well, my pet," she cooed with all the compassion of a vulture circling
a horse about to die of thirst in the desert. Lady Beryl was suddenly scornful.
"I did not need you too teach me that Selene was arrogant, mistress!" she snapped.
"Anyone who has not been blinded by the propaganda delivered in their history books should be
able to see that!"
"But you did not see that Dagda and Danu were cowards, did you?" Metallia countered
patiently. "Few mortals ever see the ruling gods of their own planets for what they really are."
Beryl, realizing her mistress was correct, hung her head in shame.
"No, mistress. I did not. I was blind, and could not see the true faces of Dagda and
Danu. Forgive me." With the same cruel smile upon her lips, Metallia reached out to her
subordinate, and patted her cheek with a soft, cold hand.
"Never mind, pet. Let us not dwell on unpleasant thoughts. I have come bearing good
news." Lady Beryl glanced up eagerly. Good news would be music to her ears in this moment,
especially coming from Metallia's lips.
"Do tell, mistress!" she urged the dark goddess, who laughed with wicked glee.
"Tell me, pet, in any of your history books, have you ever come encountered a woman
by the name of Queen Nephrenia of the Dead Moon?" Lady Beryl's eyes grew wide in her young
face at the name her mistress, had voiced, for she had indeed come across such a name during
her unwilling study sessions.
"Is she not the woman who cursed the infant Serenity VI before her mother's eyes? I
heard that Queen Serenity sealed her away within a mirror for that." Metallia snorted.
"Nephrenia is indeed sealed within a mirror, the poor woman, but it is not because she
cursed anyone."
"But I thought she cursed the White Moon's princess!" Beryl protested. "I heard that
she cursed the princess so that she would die before coming to the throne!"
"Further proof of how much influence Queen Serenity has in the universe. My pet,
Queen Nephrenia was no more than a simple prophetess who happened to align herself with me
and my dark brothers and sisters. She tried to lure Serenity away from her service of the gods of
light, but Serenity would not have it. She had only just started to seal Nephrenia away when
Nephrenia predicted that Serenity's daughter would die before acquiring the throne of the
White Moon." Beryl was astounded.
"So Nephrenia's 'curse' was merely a prophecy? Why did Serenity think it was a curse?"
Metallia, hearing the condescending note in Beryl's voice, looked sternly upon her subordinate.
"You are questioning Serenity's intelligence now, Lady Beryl?" she asked, her voice low
and dangerous. The girl cowered slightly. She had, of course, been doing just that, but was now
second-guessing the wisdom of such an act.
"Well, mistress…" she stammered, not at all certain how to answer.
"Underestimating Selene's fifth descendant is both stupid and dangerous," Metallia
snapped. "Queen Serenity is a powerful woman and a treacherous enemy. She is not a foe to be
taken lightly. Serenity had neither encountered nor heard of Queen Nephrenia before that
meeting, and had she been less panicked by her words, she might have realized that she was
only prophesizing. But as you well know, Serenity V's King had died not long after the princess
was conceived. Naturally, her daughter is now the most important thing Serenity has, and the
very thought of losing her would be enough to make her act hastily and without thinking to
eliminate whatever she felt had threatened her child. In that case, it was Nephrenia. Queen
Serenity is no fool, Beryl. Do you understand?"
"I understand, mistress," said Beryl softly. Metallia smiled.
"Serenity is no fool," the dark goddess said, "but she will bring about her own end. She
made a fatal mistake in not recognizing Nephrenia's words as a prophecy and not a curse."
"What do you mean?" Lady Beryl asked, intrigued.
"What I mean is that although Serenity is not stupid, she is too loving for her own
good. It is that loving kindness that will be her undoing. You see, Lady Beryl, the Promise
Child has been born."
"The Promise Child?"
"Lady Saturn's bastard child. She is the daughter sprung from a bed of betrayal and
born to the light sister of the Silent Star, and she is the one whom Nephrenia predicted would
bring about the end of the White Moon Kingdom. But Serenity does not know the whole of
Nephrenia's prophecy and has taken it upon herself to raise the Promise Child, to help her grow
strong."
"What does it mean?" Lady Beryl asked excitedly. Of course, she knew what it meant,
but she wanted to hear it from her mistress' lips. Metallia grinned, showing her teeth in a
wicked smile.
"It means, my pet, that upon the white moon, before Selene's most holy shrine,
Serenity is harboring the key to the destruction of her Kingdom."
************************************************************************
Yes, Beryl is sixteen in the beginning of this story, and yes, Metallia has a human form.
Please review, peoples! I really need some reviews!
Prophecies
In the early days of the White Moon Kingdom, when Selene was still a part of the world
of men, the third planet from the sun had no name. Orbited by Selene's white moon, it was a
beautiful blue planet ruled by a goddess called Danu. Danu was as beautiful as the planet she
ruled. Mortal men and faeries alike flocked to her, eager to become her lover. Danu accepted all
consorts, and to most, she bore children. But although Danu dearly loved every child she bore,
the blue planet's ruling goddess was unhappy.
Now, Danu was a favorite of Selene's and so the moon goddess was greatly troubled by
her distress, and pleaded with Danu to tell her what the trouble was.
"Dear sister," Danu said, "I have many children, all of whom I love. They are all sweet
and lovely, but not one is as beautiful as my beautiful blue planet. Besides that, all my children
are either faeries or mortal. My mortal children are all bound to die one day, and the others will
wander the faerie lands forever. When I return to the Realm of Gods, I will be forced to leave all
my dear children behind. Oh, Selene, I so long to bear the child of a god, a child who will return
to the Realm of Gods to live with his mother forever, and whose beauty could rival even that of
my home world. Oh, Selene, will you help me?"
Because Danu was so dear to her, Selene agreed to help her get her wish, and appealed
to Apollo, god of the sun, on her behalf. At long last, Apollo agreed to father his sister goddess'
child, and became her lover. Finally, Danu conceived and bore a son. Danu was delighted by her
youngest child, for he had the same worldly beauty as his mother, and with the fire of the sun in
his eyes, he was even more lovely that the blue planet. Danu called her son Dagda. She loved
him the best of all her children, and declared that when she returned to the Realm of Gods,
Dagda would inherit the planet from her, and rule over all his brothers and sisters as High
King.
With her beloved sister's heart satisfied at last, Selene returned to the task of governing
her Kingdom. For several centuries, all was at peace. Selene married and gave birth to a
beautiful daughter, who she named Serenity, and seven of the eight goddesses who ruled the
White Moon Kingdom were also blessed with daughters. Only Lady Saturn, ruling goddess of
the Silent Star, came before Selene with empty arms when the other goddesses presented their
daughters. Too proud to love a mortal, yet not wishing to accept an immortal lover simply to
conceive a child, Lady Saturn did not have a daughter to add to the team of warriors that the
other goddesses' daughters would someday form. Thusly, Selene granted Lady Saturn her
desire to remain forever in the World of Men, and Lady Saturn swore eternal chastity in return.
Once again, all was at peace in the White Moon Kingdom.
It was about this time that Danu faced her Passing, and returned to the Realm of Gods.
As was the way of every planetary goddess, Danu left her descendants with a divine treasure, a
powerful stone that she called the Golden Crystal. Soon after his mother's Passing, Dagda was
wed to a mortal woman. Dagda and his wife loved one another deeply, and were very happy
together. But all the love in the world could not alter one horrible fact that loomed over their
union like a storm cloud—and even in their happiness, they could not overlook it.
In her early womanhood, at the beginning of her childbearing years, Dagda's mortal
wife had been struck with a terrible disease. For several long months, she battled against the
illness that raged within her. For several long months, it ravaged her body and left her a weak
and wasted skeleton. More than once, she almost succumbed to her condition, but Morganna
refused to free her, for the girl was young, and it was not her time to die.
It came to pass that the healers cured her of her illness, but the joy of her recovery was
lessened greatly by the news that her disease had left her a barren woman. The months passed
and her strength returned, but she would never bare a single child in her lifetime.
This did not bother Dagda. He loved his wife too dearly to let her confession change
anything, but she could not let it go.
"A god should have a child," she told him sadly. "He should have a son or daughter. He
should!"
"I mind it not that we are childless," Dagda assured his Queen, "not if we are childless
together. I am not upset, so why does it trouble you so?" But the woman's distress went beyond
the desire to please her husband. All her life, she had longed to be a mother, and for years she
had lived with the understanding that it could never be. The knowledge tore her very soul to
pieces.
Selene saw how tormented the woman was over her condition, and how deeply her
distress hurt Dagda. Her heart was sick to see all the sadness there upon the blue planet. She
knew that she had to do something, or else her heart would never be at peace. So, one night,
when Dagda and his wife were asleep in their palace, Selene descended to the blue planet with
Apollo by her side, prepared to make the necessary sacrifice for the sake of her dear sister's son.
Stealing into Dagda's chambers, the god and goddess stood over the mortal woman's bed, and
bestowed blessings upon her.
"By the white moon that lights the night upon the blue planet," said Selene, "I shall
surrender the remaining fruits of my womb to this mortal woman. Whatever children I could
yet bear will be left to her. They will grow within her womb when Dagda's seed touches them,
and they shall be her children. She will be their mother, and Dagda, their father. Though gifts
from the hand of the goddess of the moon, the blessings of the blue planet will forever be upon
them. They and their descendants will be as fruitful as their home world for as long as their line
continues." With those words, Selene kissed the mortal woman's belly. Two tiny balls of silver
light fell from Selene's eyes, disappearing within the bosom of the blue planet's mortal Queen,
and for the first time since she had fallen ill, the woman's dormant womb stirred, and began
preparing itself for child carrying. Then, Apollo added his blessings.
"By the golden sun that brings light and warmth to the blue planet, may all my precious
son's children have the light of the sun in their souls, and its beauty upon their faces, for the
pleasure of his Queen, and for the delight of my dear sister, Danu, whose womb carried my son."
And he, too, kissed the mortal's belly. A golden light flowed from his lips and surrounded her,
illuminating her for only a moment before disappearing within her. Knowing their task was
complete, god and goddess vanished from the blue planet, returning to their home worlds to
watch the seeds of their blessings blossom and bear fruit.
Several months later, Dagda became the proud father of twins. There was rejoicing in
the Realm of Gods, for Danu was exceedingly pleased to learn that her favorite child had at last
become a father. In the mortal world, Selene and Apollo celebrated as well, for at last the strife
upon the blue planet had been laid to rest. But for all the happiness and celebration, there was
none so happy as the new mother herself. After so many hopeless years, her greatest wish had
come true. At long last, she had two beautiful children—one son and one daughter—of her very
own.
Her son, the blue planet's new prince, was a handsome creature, even as an infant. He
was of fair complexion, with soft white hair and golden eyes that shimmered like the sun. His
name was Helios. The princess, who came to be called Terra, seemed to be the exact opposite of
her brother. She was a tiny thing, and dark of face and hair, with eyes of the darkest, deepest
blue that had ever met the eye of god or mortal. The years passed, and the children grew,
continuing to contrast one another in manner and appearance. Terra remained small and dark,
while Helios only grew fairer. Terra spent most of her time outside the palace walls, where she
spent hours in the wild meadows, contemplating many things, most of which she never told her
parents or her brother. While Dagda and his wife became increasingly curious about the things
their daughter thought about, Helios never wondered, for he was content to learn from books.
In spite of their differences, the prince and princess loved one another dearly, and vowed
always to protect one another from whatever danger they would face in the course of their lives.
The blue planet's Queen delighted in her children, neither knowing nor caring what god or
goddess had broken the curse of barrenness that had weighed so heavily upon her for so long.
But Dagda knew. He could not miss the moonlight in his son's hair, or the light of the sun in his
eyes, nor could he ignore the fact that his daughter carried the mysteries of the sun and moon
with her wherever she went. He knew who had broken his wife's sterile curse, and he knew how
much he was indebted to them. And so he called for his father and for Selene, that he might
thank them and arrange to settle his debt. Both immediately refused any sort of recompense.
"You are my son," Apollo declared. "I would gladly do anything to make you happy.
Besides, it was not I who made the sacrifice for your mortal wife, but my sister goddess, Selene
of the White Moon." Dagda turned to Selene then, nothing but the purest love in his eyes.
"Dear Selene, since the time of my mother, Danu, you have showered blessings upon my
home world, sometimes at your own loss. I cannot thank you enough for granting children unto
my wife, and I will not rest until my debt is settled." But Selene only sighed and shook her head.
"Dear son of my brother and sister, I need no reward. I only want what is best for your
planet. I myself longed for some assurance that my own Kingdom would not become the target
for any dark god or goddess once I had left this world, and the answer came to me in the form of
my daughter, Serenity. I knew that a child would not only bring your wife joy, but if the child
proved fruitful, it would ensure the safety of your kingdom forever. I was only too happy to
provide such security to the home world of my dear sister."
"Oh, good and kind Selene!" Dagda exclaimed. "You have blessed my kingdom in ways I
had never imagined, and yet you ask for no reward? Then, may I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course," Selene replied, "for you, son of my sister goddess, are my dear brother god."
"Then, as my sister goddess, I am asking you to forever remain a guardian of my home
world. You have done so since the time of my mother, and I am asking you to continue doing so
forever." But Selene refused.
"Dear brother, before too long, I shall have to take my leave of this world of men. I
cannot be such a guardian as you wish me to be from the Realm of Gods. I shall continue to
bestow my blessings upon your home world, but I cannot be its guardian." But Dagda continued
to cajole his sister goddess, and at last, Selene relented.
"I shall leave my descendants to be the guardians of your blue planet, and to send aid
when it is needed. But I have one condition: if this is to be so, then I must ask that our
descendants never come in contact with one another. Furthermore, anyone who is loyal to my
daughter, Serenity, and who recognizes her as High Queen, must not set foot upon the blue
planet."
"Why do you ask this, sister?" Dagda wished to know.
"My reasons are my own, my brother god," she replied, "but I must ask that this
condition is met if I am to fulfill your request." After some consideration, Dagda consented.
"So it shall be, sister." With that, the gods and goddess took their leave of one another.
Time passed, and Selene faded from the world of men, leaving her daughter, Serenity I
to take her place upon the throne of the White Moon Kingdom. Not long afterward, Dagda's
mortal wife breathed her last, and was at last taken into Morganna's arms. As his wife's body
was made ready for burial, Dagda called for his children, and blessed them both.
To Terra, he said, "The blessings of the blue planet are strongest upon you, daughter.
You are happiest when immersed in this planet's wonders. You take joy in its fruitfulness in the
springtime, and weep for the dead in the winter. You are the true Queen of this blue planet, and
evermore, it shall bear your name." After these words to his daughter, Dagda turned to his son.
"Helios, my son," said he, "you bear the blessings of the sun god and the moon goddess.
The golden light of the sun is in your eyes, and the silver moon shines in your hair. You are a
scholar, and destined to become a priest. Go to the heart of this blue planet, where you will
forever serve the gods with your power and wisdom." Now, the twins knew that their father had
just revealed their true destinies to them, and both were pleased to know what gods had
intended for them, but it soon became clear that those destinies would separate them from one
another forever.
Terra wept when she learned the truth, but Helios took his sister into his arms,
comforted her, and dried the tears upon her dark little face.
"Fear not, dear sister," said he, "for we are twins and our hearts shall always be as one,
just as we are one with this planet, and with our grandmother's treasure, the Golden Crystal.
The Crystal, our planet, you, and me; our hearts will beat as one forever, and I shall always
protect you. Whatever children have your blood in their veins will be as my own, and I shall
protect them as well." With that, the twins parted forever, Terra taking her place upon the blue
planet's throne, and Helios descending to the planet's heart.
Under Terra's rule, the blue planet was peaceful and prosperous. Just as her father had
predicted, the citizens of the blue planet loved their Queen so dearly that they came to call their
home world Terra in her honor. Helios created a world of his own deep in the heart of Terra,
which he called Elysion. There, with two of Dagda's faerie sisters to guard the shrine, Helios
served the gods and received revelations. And for all of time, he kept the promise he had made
to his sister, protecting her and her descendants forever.
Time passed as usual, and Dagda was returned to the Realm of Gods, where he was
reunited with his mother and father, but the promise made between Dagda and Selene was
never forgotten. Serenity I—and all her descendants—maintained her position as Terra's
guardian, forever watching over the blue planet, and sending aid when trouble erupted. But not
one of them ever ignored the condition under which their celestial mother had made that
promise. Never were they or any their subjects allowed upon Terra, except for the ambassador
sent there on the Queen's behalf to make certain that all was well, for such was the will of the
gods…
"Humph." Lady Beryl of Terra muttered under her breath, sneering at the open page in
front of her, "Will of the gods indeed. Is this a book of history or a record of White Moon
Kingdom propaganda?"
"Are you studying diligently, my pet?" a familiar voice asked with amusement. Startled,
Beryl leapt to her feet, guiltily slamming the book shut upon her desk. Her chair clattered upon
the floor of her chambers as Metallia appeared in a curl of smoke, laughing softly.
"Mistress!" Beryl squeaked, coloring slightly. "You startled me!" The dark goddess,
cruel and beautiful all at once, smiled thinly at the Terran noblewoman, her eyes cold and
mocking.
"How are you faring with your books, my pet?" the goddess drawled, her voice dripping
with false honey. "Well?" Beryl's color deepened, and she averted her gaze.
"Mother and Father wish me to learn history," she mumbled apologetically, wringing
her hands nervously. "It was not my choice to read this rubbish, mistress. You must believe me."
Metallia chuckled with all the sadistic amusement of a venomous snake looking into the
frightened eyes of it struggling victim as it prepares to deliver the killing strike.
"There, there, love," she soothed dryly. "Do not fidget so. I am not angry. I heard you
mutter to yourself, so I know that whatever rubbish you were reading did not poison your mind
too terribly." She crossed to Beryl's desk, and traced the gold lettering upon the book's cover
with the tip of one finger. Beryl shivered as the sarcastic expression upon her mistress' lovely
face darkened into one of anger, her already frigid gaze growing even colder.
"Mistress…?" she asked cautiously.
" 'The Triumphs of the Light Gods'," Metallia read, her tone bitter. "Now why would
and intelligent young woman such as yourself be reading filth such as this, my pet?"
"I told you, mistress," Beryl replied through grinding teeth, "my mother and father wish
me to learn history."
"A girl your age still listens to Mother and Father?" Metallia asked mockingly. Beryl,
angered by the dark goddess' tone, bit her tongue to keep from speaking sharply.
"I am only sixteen years of age, mistress," she told her softly. "Besides, I am bound to
obey my parents until I am wed, which surely will not be for several years yet." Metallia
smirked.
"Ah, yes. Such is the life of a young noble woman, I suppose. Tell me, pet, exactly what
were you studying just now?"
"I just finished reading the story of Selene's promise to Dagda," Beryl said softly. "She
never revealed her reasons for insisting upon that condition, but I believe I know why she did."
"Why?" Metallia asked. Her tone was impossible to read, but Beryl knew that her
mistress would be pleased when she heard her response.
"Spite." Beryl said without hesitation, smirking. "She felt that she and her descendants
were far superior to the children of Danu and Dagda. Her power among the gods of light has
made her arrogant, and Danu and Dagda, being the cowards that they are, do not object." A
forbidding smile spread across Metallia's face. Slowly, she turned an indulgent eye upon her
young subordinate.
"I have taught you well, my pet," she cooed with all the compassion of a vulture circling
a horse about to die of thirst in the desert. Lady Beryl was suddenly scornful.
"I did not need you too teach me that Selene was arrogant, mistress!" she snapped.
"Anyone who has not been blinded by the propaganda delivered in their history books should be
able to see that!"
"But you did not see that Dagda and Danu were cowards, did you?" Metallia countered
patiently. "Few mortals ever see the ruling gods of their own planets for what they really are."
Beryl, realizing her mistress was correct, hung her head in shame.
"No, mistress. I did not. I was blind, and could not see the true faces of Dagda and
Danu. Forgive me." With the same cruel smile upon her lips, Metallia reached out to her
subordinate, and patted her cheek with a soft, cold hand.
"Never mind, pet. Let us not dwell on unpleasant thoughts. I have come bearing good
news." Lady Beryl glanced up eagerly. Good news would be music to her ears in this moment,
especially coming from Metallia's lips.
"Do tell, mistress!" she urged the dark goddess, who laughed with wicked glee.
"Tell me, pet, in any of your history books, have you ever come encountered a woman
by the name of Queen Nephrenia of the Dead Moon?" Lady Beryl's eyes grew wide in her young
face at the name her mistress, had voiced, for she had indeed come across such a name during
her unwilling study sessions.
"Is she not the woman who cursed the infant Serenity VI before her mother's eyes? I
heard that Queen Serenity sealed her away within a mirror for that." Metallia snorted.
"Nephrenia is indeed sealed within a mirror, the poor woman, but it is not because she
cursed anyone."
"But I thought she cursed the White Moon's princess!" Beryl protested. "I heard that
she cursed the princess so that she would die before coming to the throne!"
"Further proof of how much influence Queen Serenity has in the universe. My pet,
Queen Nephrenia was no more than a simple prophetess who happened to align herself with me
and my dark brothers and sisters. She tried to lure Serenity away from her service of the gods of
light, but Serenity would not have it. She had only just started to seal Nephrenia away when
Nephrenia predicted that Serenity's daughter would die before acquiring the throne of the
White Moon." Beryl was astounded.
"So Nephrenia's 'curse' was merely a prophecy? Why did Serenity think it was a curse?"
Metallia, hearing the condescending note in Beryl's voice, looked sternly upon her subordinate.
"You are questioning Serenity's intelligence now, Lady Beryl?" she asked, her voice low
and dangerous. The girl cowered slightly. She had, of course, been doing just that, but was now
second-guessing the wisdom of such an act.
"Well, mistress…" she stammered, not at all certain how to answer.
"Underestimating Selene's fifth descendant is both stupid and dangerous," Metallia
snapped. "Queen Serenity is a powerful woman and a treacherous enemy. She is not a foe to be
taken lightly. Serenity had neither encountered nor heard of Queen Nephrenia before that
meeting, and had she been less panicked by her words, she might have realized that she was
only prophesizing. But as you well know, Serenity V's King had died not long after the princess
was conceived. Naturally, her daughter is now the most important thing Serenity has, and the
very thought of losing her would be enough to make her act hastily and without thinking to
eliminate whatever she felt had threatened her child. In that case, it was Nephrenia. Queen
Serenity is no fool, Beryl. Do you understand?"
"I understand, mistress," said Beryl softly. Metallia smiled.
"Serenity is no fool," the dark goddess said, "but she will bring about her own end. She
made a fatal mistake in not recognizing Nephrenia's words as a prophecy and not a curse."
"What do you mean?" Lady Beryl asked, intrigued.
"What I mean is that although Serenity is not stupid, she is too loving for her own
good. It is that loving kindness that will be her undoing. You see, Lady Beryl, the Promise
Child has been born."
"The Promise Child?"
"Lady Saturn's bastard child. She is the daughter sprung from a bed of betrayal and
born to the light sister of the Silent Star, and she is the one whom Nephrenia predicted would
bring about the end of the White Moon Kingdom. But Serenity does not know the whole of
Nephrenia's prophecy and has taken it upon herself to raise the Promise Child, to help her grow
strong."
"What does it mean?" Lady Beryl asked excitedly. Of course, she knew what it meant,
but she wanted to hear it from her mistress' lips. Metallia grinned, showing her teeth in a
wicked smile.
"It means, my pet, that upon the white moon, before Selene's most holy shrine,
Serenity is harboring the key to the destruction of her Kingdom."
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Yes, Beryl is sixteen in the beginning of this story, and yes, Metallia has a human form.
Please review, peoples! I really need some reviews!