Chapter 40: Frank's Story
"Our story begins in a time that came well before the West was Won; before Kings and Knights of the round table; before the Roman Empire; before the Egyptians even thought of building the pyramids; even before man thought of having a written word.
"Our story begins at The First War.
"This wasn't just any old war over some trivial thing like land, religion, or dominance. This was a war over the Power of Life.
"For whoever had that power, had power like the gods.
"This war was the longest war Earth has ever been witness too. It lasted thousands of years, and would no doubt still be going on today, had not a stranger come to put an end to it.
"No one knew who she was or where she had come from. Many believed that she was an exiled goddess. For her beauty rivalled that of no one. Her hair was as smooth as the finest silk, but glittered as if made from the thinnest strands of gold thread that swept the ground. She had a delicate nose that fit her features perfectly, her lips were full and almost always pulled into a smile like she knew something that we were yet to find out. Her eyes – they were never the same shade of green; always changing, sometimes like tree tops, some times like a deep pool. But the most striking thing about her were the pearl white wings that protruded from her back...
"She called the leaders from the six clans together under the pretence of peace, and convinced them that if they continued their ways then they would inevitably destroy each other and their world. But there was a away to save themselves. For if the Power of Life was so great, then there must be a way for all of them to share it.
"But they would need a leader.
"And before a battle could start right then and there over which chieftain was the most fit to rule, she asked for each clan to chose another to rule...
"Each of the chieftains asked for some time to think this over...they were driven to do anything for this beautiful Wing Goddess. So they all agreed to meet on the rising of the third day.
"But there was just too much resentment and hatred between the clans, and so they argued. They all felt that they themselves should be the one to rule over the time of peace and controller of the Power of Life. The argument started to get heated, almost to the point where another battle in The First War almost started, but the goddess pleaded with them, and begged them to stay their hands, and come to some kind of agreement.
"So they once again agreed to meet on the rising of the third day. This time however was quite different. As each chief knew that he or she would not let any of the others lead their people, and that none of the other chieftains would let them lead, there was only one other being who could.
"So it was on that Fateful Day that the six clans came together as one, under the rule of their Wing Goddess. And created an utopia, which they called... Atlantis.
"It was a beautiful place, with three rings of protection. The outer ring held animals, and the farmers that fed the new society. The middle ring was where everyone lived. At first the clans were wary of each other, but eventually found that they were not all that different from one another, and started to assimilate. And in the middle ring, Central Island, was where She lived and where she turned the Power of Life into a physical object. Using her powers, she turned the Power of Life into a fountain... more commonly know now as the Fountain of Youth.
"Here was also where the six chieftains and their sub-chiefs lived, and watched over the fountain. They made sure that the fountain's power would not be abused by any of the others. "
"But how does this relate to these pendants?" Hitomi asked, "And where do you all come into this story?"
"It sounds like you know this story better then just hear-say from generation to generation." added Mamoru.
"I know this story because I was a witness to it all.
"Maketu, Miruton, Tsurara, Joy, Kurisu, Sam, and myself are seven of the twelve Chiefs and Sub-chiefs. the other five are scattered across Earth and haven't been able to contact us yet.
"How the pendants fit in is because She had a pendant. Neither of the ones you are holding, but a green one, the same colour green as her eyes. And with the combined power of the fountain, and her own, she granted us eternal life.
"But not immortality. That privilege is only for the gods.
"So when we die we are re-incarnated with all our memories. But in return for this gift, we would protect Her and her family.
"This proved to be difficult at first as no one trusted any of the others. So we formed two shifts, day and night. And watched each other as much as we watched over Her.
"But as the years went by we began – with her encouragement – to get to know one another. And over the centuries we have become great friends.
"But unfortunately becoming friends wasn't our biggest obstacle.
"She had one daughter, raised her, taught her how to be a kind leader, and eventually left the way she came, giving her pendant to her daughter.
"Her daughter ruled fair and true, had a daughter, who in turn ruled like her mother and Grandmother. She too had a daughter, who was mother to a daughter passing the pendant from mother to daughter, and Atlantis prospered, growing to reach across the continent.
"Unfortunately, the saying is true; ultimate power ultimately corrupts. The people of Atlantis slowly became greedy. They wanted wings like the Wing Goddess who brought them this prosperity, and they wanted more power. So the Fountain granted them these wishes.
"First it gave all who wanted, pearl white wings, which made others jealous so they too got wings. Then the fountain created jewels which collected at the bottom pool, where they were then scooped by passers-by. These jewels were then turned into jewellery, such as rings, bracelets, and most popular…pendants. But these jewels were only imitations, as they never changed shade, but stayed a translucent pink. True they held great power, but nothing like the green pendant.
"By this time, there was no one alive except the twelve of us who knew that the wings were not as majestic as the goddess', or that the pendants did not hold the same power. We tried to tell them, but no one listened as they all thought that our gift of eternal life was just a myth.
"Then after few generations, a man spoke out, and challenged the power that he was given - that if they truly had the power of the Gods, then they should be able to create new life…a new world. So they set to work to create the world you now know as Gaea, which they created in our own image.
"But in doing so, they angered the gods.
"As creating new life is one of the few privileges that is reserved for only the gods.
"The gods never cared if the Atlanteans changed their physical appearance, or gained more power, or used that power to create the elaborate life style that they lived in. But by creating a whole new planet from the power of their will, the Atlanteans would have to pay a price.
"First the gods took away the new world, hiding it from our view. But this created an outcry from the people who created it, and so they tried to bring it back, to spite the gods. Unfortunately for them, the gods have ultimate power, and so any attempt to challenge the gods failed. And the gods punished Atlantis for trying to defy them.
"They destroyed Atlantis, splitting the land, and bringing forth magma that destroyed our homes and killed our families. They brought on winds that would make a class five hurricane feel like a gentle breeze. And as their finial act of vengeance, they separated the land, and brought the oceans to cover our city.
"There were very few survivors.
"None of us survived that attack.
"Though we figured that a handful of our people did survive. Where they lived we can only guess. As our biggest quest had begun.
"For we lost our princess. The direct descendant of our goddess was lost, possibly dead, and we were powerless to do anything about it.
"But before we could start to look for her, we had to find each other. As our gift gave us the ability to take another life, it did not, however, give us the power to choose where we would live, what race, or gender. So we were forced to live with primitive man. Only being able to travel once we were old enough, and only if we were male in most cases.
"It took many centuries before we started to find each other, as traveling became easier, and communication became faster and maps were made. We generally stayed out of history books, but never too far from it. Giving people like Plato an interesting story or two, nudging explorers to challenge the 'Edge' and helping inventers come up with their ideas."
"We have been very grateful for the internet," Chimed Joy, "As it has given us the resource to contact each other from any country."
"And it has helped us find our princess." added Tsurara.
"Though we weren't sure at first. There has been many candidates over the centuries. And it is very odd that she has a sibling; as there has never been but one daughter. Which also caused us grief, as per tradition, it is the female who changes her last name, which makes tracking very difficult." Said Miruton.
"Who is it?" Asked Hitomi.
"You," they all said together, but it wasn't just the seven sitting before them who said it, but the generations of people that they had to live.
"How do you know?" inquired Yukari.
"Because of that white pendant," said Maketu.
"It came to our attention that you really were our princess on the day your parents died. You only had shed one tear, didn't you. But in that one tear you subconsciously forced all your sorrow into it, causing it to turn to crystal." Said Kurisu.
"We didn't tell you because we felt that it was unnecessary. We have found you and would watch over you and your family till the end of time. Hearing your story tonight has convinced us that you are the great descendant of the Wing Goddess and that you are destined to do great things. Unfortunately for us these things will be on Gaea, the one place where we cannot protect you," said Sam.
"Why can't you protect her on Gaea?" inquired Amano.
"We are forbidden to travel across the gap unless summoned by the descendant using the green pendant," Frank told them.
"Which has been hidden in the form of a green energist, and was given to a friend to give to her son who was foreseen to become the guardian of the dragon armor," Joy informed them. "What's wrong?" She asked as Hitomi's face took on a look of complete horror, and Van's became stone still.
"My mother gave me that energist. But it has been recently stolen. And they probably know the power that it holds," Van stated.
There were various gasps and groans from everyone sitting in the room. Frank pinched the bridge of his nose as if to try to stop a headache from coming on. "Do you know if they know how to access the power?" he asked.
"I doubt it. Though I cannot be sure at the moment," replied Van.
"That means that there's still time to get it back." sighed Maketu
"Once they find out how to use that pendant to do their bidding, then there's next to no chance of stopping them," Mirton warned them.
"The only chance you will have to defeat them once they find out how to use the pendant, is your white one. But you cannot use it while you are with child.
"Your hormones will start to interfere with your powers. If you do try to use them, then you will see things after they have already happened, things that will never happen, and things that will happen if you try to stop it," explained Joy.
"And whatever you do, do not use the pink pendant. They have only ever given our people grief and sorrow," Sam told them.
There was silence in the room as the pressing weight of this confession settled on everyone.
Two new pendants,
Unthinkable power,
A lost civilization, found,
Twelve ancient souls,
A princess,
And for the first time... a prince.
Mamoru was the one to break the silence, as he got up and marched out of the expansive house, not saying a word to where he was going, or even a glance back. "Mamoru!" called Hitomi getting up to go after him, but Frank stopped her.
"Leave him be. He's got a lot to think about," he said.
Hitomi reluctantly sat back down beside Van, but kept her eyes on the door. Several more minutes passed then Kurisu sighed deeply, and dramatically flung his hands up in the air then slapped his hands down on his legs and pushed himself up. He then sauntered over to his entertainment center. "I thought that we were here to celebrate our friend's wedding," he confided to the electronics. "But yet here we all sit as if the world is coming to an end... When we could be singing KARAOKE!" He held out the microphone, turned on the machine, and switched on the monitor, which caused Hitomi to groan.
It was well passed three in the morning by the time everyone decided that it was time to turn in for the night... well morning. Van and Hitomi were ushered up the stairs by Joy, who was the only other sober one present, and said good night. They were staying in one of the suits, with attached bathroom, but on the bed were placed their night cloths... or what they were expected to use as night cloths. For Van a fresh set of boxers and for Hitomi... the move night gown. They then heard the lock on the door click, signalling that they were trapped in the room until someone decided that they could come out.
Van sighed and started to unbutton his shirt, exposing his toned chest, which caused Hitomi to blush. She then grabbed her nightgown off of the bed and then darted into the bathroom.
In there she stared at herself in the mirror. What was wrong with her? Didn't she just get ambushed into marrying the guy just now? And weren't they already starting a family together? So why was she so shy?
She sighed at her reflection, and then proceeded to get changed and get ready for bed. When she was finished, she poked her head out of the door to peek to see if he had changed yet or not.
To her relief, and a little disappointment, he was, and was starting to pull the covers back. "Um, the bathroom is all yours now," she said softly, cursing herself for the evident timidness in her voice, and the blush that might just become permanent. He nodded, and went to take his turn to get ready for bed.
She slipped under the covers and pulled them up to her chin. She knew that she was being childish, but she really couldn't help it. Then she realize that she would have to turn the lights off and the switch was on the other side of the room by the door. So she turned on one of the side lamps, and slid out of bed, and quickly walked over to the switch, turned off the lights and practically ran back to the bed.
Van came out a few moments later, turning off the bathroom light, then slid into the bed next to Hitomi. The bed was large enough that they could comfortably sleep with out touching one another. Van laying on his back, and Hitomi laying on her side her back to him.
Neither could fall asleep as they could feel the other just inches away.
She became completely fed up with herself for her timidness and hesitation, - for crying out loud, they were married! Hitomi turned over to face Van and slowly crossed the gap between them, first resting a hand on his chest, and seeing that her advance wasn't discouraged, she then pressed her body up to his. " 'Night Van," she whispered.
"Good night, Hitomi," he returned softly.
A/N: Hello there everyone! I don't really have much to say this time, just that i'm back at school which is keeping me pretty busy, and tha ti'm starting to work more... but I'm finding soem time to actually write my story which is a good thing.
BeowulfCaverias - thanks so much for your help with this.
Drakan - and here's another update! yay! hope you found their story intreging
mooncrisispower0 - well here it is. hope it stands up to expecations
darkangel - hoped you liked their story
trekker4life - he is and yet he isn't... it's just hat her friends take him by surprise by their boldness
Arienhod - don't ever lose hope, not unless the world really will end like tomorrow... but even then i think that i'd post something saying that i wouldn't be updating any more... so just hang in there, and if it gets too unbarable just send me an email telling me to hurry up and update
serenityrain2233 - well there is the next chapter and it took less time i hoped that i cleared up a bunch of stuff with this chapter. it's not as long as the last one, but has more stuff, i think. and i'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the last chapter. no garintees for how lon it'll take me to get the next chapter out, but i'll try to make it quick.
well see you all in the next chapter,
mysisterisasquijum