A TERRA ONE PREQUEL: BEFORE
PART TWO: REMEMBER
INSPIRATION: SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) by THE EURYTHMICS
and
SWEET DREAMS by BEYONCÉ
FLASHBACK:
"Are you sure that this is necessary? It just seems so extreme!" Hershel Green sat down in the hand carved rocking chair on his porch of the plantation style home.
Jackie touched her husband's cheek and passed on more of the visions that she'd been having over the last few weeks. Although she knew that she was capable of being a receiver, it had never happened for her until recently. More specifically, the visions started occurring after the visit from her lifelong friend, Dr. Fatima Grant - one of the most powerful beings she'd ever come across. And, as strong as Fatima was, her husband, Thom, was ten times stronger.
All the beings of other worldly abilities had - in one form or another - been given notice that something bad was coming. It was more than just an apocalypse. It was a cleansing, and it was long over due. These beings had been sent a task, and, unfortunately, Fatima and Thom - the overseers of Terra One - had been put in charge of making sure that the task was completed.
"So many lives…so many souls!" Hershel shook his head as tears streamed down his weathered, human face. He'd already started shedding his earthly form - it was just a matter of time before his true form emerged, just like the others of his elk.
"You know as well as I do that this world was never expected to be a viable part of the universe. The fact that it's been chosen to be the end all be all - instead of wiping out everything that exists - is a miracle! Especially now that Asgard is being rebuilt!" Dale sipped from his beer from his seat at the other end of the wide porch.
"Doesn't mean that we have to be ok with wiping out trillions of lives! How is this different than what Thanos wanted to do?" Erma said from her seat beside her husband.
"You act as if we have a choice," Gabriel replied offhandedly.
"We do," Rosita said. "We all have a choice. We can…"
"We can what?" Jackie asked the group, annoyed. "Let's not act like we have the power to choose anything! It's either everyone - every life - die by the hand of Arishem, or we pick the best of humankind, save them, and use the rest as collateral damage. Besides…it's not like we're the ones that have to do the dirty work!"
"No, we just have to aid in cleaning up the mess!" Hershel growled. "People deserve the benefit of the doubt! We were given that grace, why can't they have it as well?"
"We are their grace!" Thom remarked as he came out to the porch, followed by his wife and sat down. "That has been the sole purpose of the last millions of years! Terra One is a part of The Sacred Timeline! We should pat ourselves on the back that we've been able to keep The True Sacred Timeline hidden from all that seek to destroy Everything!"
"I didn't know you all were coming," Hershel stood and shook his comrade's hand. "Happy New Years!"
"Happy New Years!" Thom saluted, returning Hershel's handshake. He knew that Hershel was trying to nip the growing tension caused by his and Fatima's entrance to the farmhouse, and, he'd go with it. For now.
"Happy New Years, guys!" Fatima held up a champagne flute. "We were planning on staying home, but…we have some news." Fatima closed her eyes and telecommunicated with her 'family'.
"So…progress?" Jackie asked, hopeful.
"Yes. The Progeny aren't going to like it, but…it has to be this way."
"Hi Aunty Tima!" a little voice greeted from the screen door.
"Hi Aunty's Baby!" Fatima stood and picked up the little girl and kissed her cheek. "I missed you!"
"Miss you too!" Maggie giggled. Fatima sat the little girl down and picked up her flute.
She took a sip and regarded the people around her. "I've seen the time when The Progeny will go into their restorative sleep. Though, we still have some time, they've already hit puberty…their abilities have already started to show, and they are strong. Very strong. Especially Fitz…I've also seen the births of The Three Sisters…When Maya comes to you, accept her offer, she won't be able to raise them…her death is inevitable."
"Oh dear God!" Jackie lamented. "You've seen it?"
"Yes. But her purpose will be complete. It's the four lives she's going to bring with her that are important. I've already notified the rest of our family that they will soon be bringing life into the world as well."
"Is that why you're putting The Progeny to sleep?" Erma asked.
"Partly. At first I didn't know why they were born so early, but, now I think it was because they needed the time…"
"Whatever the reason," Thom interjected. "Our instructions have been clear. Agreed?"
Everyone nodded their heads as dread set in. They all looked out at the sun setting over the snow capped hills and mountains of the Georgia countryside on January 1, 2000. Even though it was winter, no-one felt the chill of the outdoors as they wondered at the beauty of the sun seemingly dipping out of sight. The beauty of Earth, that they'd taken for granted for so many years, now was especially special because they realized that life as they knew it was about to be over - even if the end was still a million years away.
Dale raised his flute. "To a new year, a renewed faith in purpose, gratitude and appreciation!"
Everyone raised their flutes and saluted Dale in agreement. It was a few hours after that that Fatima and Thom summoned a TimeDoor through their Temporal Access Device, or, a TemPad, and walked through it to Earth 616 to their abode in that universe, and waited.
Later that night, as Fatima and Thom finally got a visitor. "Hello, Loki," Fatima greeted casually.
"Storm," Loki grinned widely.
"Ahem!"
"Hello to you too, Father."
"Thor or Thom will suffice," Thom frowned, still peeved at his brother for taking so long to unshed the truth of what was going on. "Your looking a bit aged."
"Yes, well," Loki took a seat across from the most powerful beings in all the Verses. "You'd look aged too if you were holding all of time and universes together with mere grit and determination!"
"What do you want, Loki?" Fatima asked gently, wanting Loki to cease the long winded language and get to the point. "You must have summoned us for a reason."
"Ororo…"
"Don't call me that. Fatima will suffice."
"I never understood why you liked that name…"
"Ororo…that iteration of me, is long gone, just like my Earth, from my universe. You made sure of that when you sent my essence through space and time to this plane. My rebirth on the original Terra is who I am. I am Fatima."
"But you still go by Storm…"
"Storm is the name I gave my aura, my powers, so to speak."
"You seem upset that I saved you…"
"You stole me from my mother's womb and put me in her doppelgänger's womb! You did worse to Thom! You snatched him from everything he knew and stranded him on a plane he knew nothing about and you took his memories. Not to mention the fact that you rebirthed yourself as our child!"
"And if I hadn't gone back in time and done that, you both would have ceased to exist! Not to mention the fact that that child was never going to live! You'd been reborn on earth for hundreds of years without ever having a child! The only way you were going to have one was if I put my soul inside it's shell! And, not to mention the fact that I didn't even know that was what was happening! I didn't even discover who I really was until decades after puberty! You know, as well as Thor and I know that I am not biologically related - in any of my iterations - to Thor! It's not like I made you commit incest! You gave birth to me, I am your and Thor's son! And believe me, I am so grateful for that, because without you giving birth to me, I would have never had the power and strength to save the Terreans, but, most importantly, I never would have had my children - and you know that! I also wouldn't have had the most amazing childhood a child could ever have! Believe it or not, your my mum and dad - biologically and emotionally. I think that is what you are having a hard time reconciling!" Loki smiled at his parents fondly. "I've shown you the future, and what I have to do! The timelines are getting messier by the second! It was the only way!"
"So says you!" Thom roared, still angry, and not yet ready to let go of the anger despite the fact that he knew it was a lost cause. He did love his son - as well as all of his family. "We've retained all of our past memories except the ones that matter! Dr. Jane Foster may not have been my soul mate, but…I loved her! That much I know, but…the rest I'm foggy about! I want to remember her! She means a lot to me! I want her to be safe! She deserves that much! She deserves to remember as well!"
"And I'm here today to give you all of your memories of both your existences - before it disappears forever!" Loki spoke with determination. "She made it to Valhalla where she is living eternity with her true soulmate - Gorr. They have a daughter named Love, who, despite Valhalla being a resting place for Warrior Souls, she remains by their side because with her parents is where she is happiest. Love is the only Life that has ever walked the planes of Valhalla. I'm not sure how she does it…maybe it's Love. Pun intended. Jane is at peace, Thor. She truly is! I didn't steal her from you, I aided her to her true life's purpose - which she fulfilled when she helped me defeat a deadly force here on Earth 616."
When the jet landed, Loki walked with the Elder Grants inside their home and after making sure that there was no one else present, he opened the portal that Thor had helped build. Once inside the Citadel, Loki showed Fatima and Thom everything that had happened - ever. Then he opened another portal and took them to the new future where there was a version of Loki standing in what seemed like a void. "I'm weaving all the multiverses. You see, we've always assumed that Earth 616 was the Sacred Timeline, but, it wasn't. Terra One is the true Sacred Timeline. It is the only place in All Of Everything that doesn't have multi versions of beings."
"People born on Terra One are the original and only iterations of themselves, yes, we know…"
"Exactly. It's the reason why I brought you there as mere embryos."
"What about all the Kangs?" Fatima asked the question that had been forefront in her mind since the last time they'd been visited by Loki.
"I managed to destroy him - as well as all versions of him - by the year 2025, which is the version of me that you are seeing today. You no longer have to worry about your father, I assure you."
Fatima closed her eyes and projected her psyche throughout the universe. Loki was right. "Thank you," she gushed gratefully.
"Don't thank me yet. The merging of all the universes will cause havoc, as I told you previously. Not just on Earth, but all the other planets throughout all of the galaxies in the universe. Humans are strong, but, not as strong as other universal beings…they will need help to survive - to not become extinct during the many influxes. Another reason why I brought you back. They will need the powers of the strongest of the Anunnaki to help usher in a new age."
"What about Centauri, Nibiru, and Tiamat? Will those planets survive the weaving? Will what you're doing be enough to prevent them from being birthed as Celestials?"
"Yes, of course, but, like I said before, only in this timeline. You do realize that we - and those of us sheltering in place on Terra One - are the last of our people, right? As the other Verses merge, those lives, those happenings, will cease to exist. But, all the life forms of this Sacred Timeline will remain - albeit less in numbers. The people of Terra will eventually know that they aren't the only beings in the universe, but, we - the last of the Anunnaki - will protect them, then we will retire to our original home planet - Asgard, where we can watch over our distant 'cousins'. Contrary to popular belief, they are the center of the universe. Literally. The other planets - though they no longer have intelligent life forces - are maintained for a reason. The sun of Terra is small compared to the other stars. Billions of years seem like a long time, but, we know that is a drop in the bucket as far as time is concerned. But, that is a problem for another time…How much do the others know?"
"We told them everything you told us from your last visit. We'll need to update them…"
"Good. I don't want them in the dark. They need all the information so that they can be prepared."
Thom stared out into the abyss and watched the future version of his brother. "How long will you be able to keep this up?"
"As long as I need to. But, I've estimated that I should be done with the complete merging soon."
"You are, quite literally, Father Time." Fatima was in awe of her brother in law.
"No. That title will become Thor's and you will be Mother Time. I will become…something else." Tears sprang to Loki's eyes as he sighed deeply. "In a way…all the destruction, all the death that I caused - the ending of our home planet - led me to this. I will be…fulfilling my 'Glorious Purpose'."
"You always said you had one," Thom thumped Loki's back proudly, though he was terrified of the new moniker that his brother had bestowed upon himself and his wife. "When you're done, will you be coming home?"
"In one form, or another, Brother, or should I say, Father, for old times sake?" Loki gave his brother a watery smile.
"Oh, Loki!" Fatima covered her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I've 'died' many times, but, I fear that the task of saving the universes will be what eventually does me in for good. I can feel it, Mother."
"We can help you, My Son!"
"And I will take it - when the time comes."
"I've seen our deaths," Fatima added to the somber conversation. "But, then I saw after…and we're not dead, but…we are sitting on thrones," She didn't need to explain further, both Thor and Loki understood. "It's a good thing they'll sleep through it…
"Will you still communicate with us, My Son?" Thom asked Loki as he took his wife's hand, not giving her a chance to think further down that dark path. He knew that they had to have faith that their grandchildren would make it through the long tough road ahead.
"I'm afraid not. I took a chance coming to you tonight, but, I'm not sure if I'll be able to in the future."
"So…more visions?"
"I'm afraid so. It's the only way I can communicate with you without interrupting the weaving, for now."
"Alright. Well…in case I don't see you for awhile, goodbye, My Son."
"Goodbye, Father," Loki gave Thor a hug, then Fatima.
Fatima took a deep breath and slid her fingers through her husband's. It was time for them to get back to their own home and time. They had work to do.
END FLASHBACK
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Michonne took his hand and allowed him to lead her through the dense, forested knoll of his ancestors homeland deep in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. She marveled at the beauty as he led her further and further through the mountainsides until they reached the top. Letting go of his hand, she held her own up and beamed at the clouds flowing through her fingers.
"We can see the whole world from here. And look there!" Rick pointed up into the clouds and waved. There, sitting on thrones were some of their loved ones, waving back. Michonne's eyes filled with tears, but, they weren't sad tears. She was happy to see them though she knew that they were not of the 'Earthly Plane' anymore. When she'd gotten her fill of seeing her loved ones, and she knew that they were 'in a better place' she smiled up at the man she'd never met before he took her hand and led her to the place they were now standing. She didn't know him, and yet, she felt like she'd known him all her life.
"Son, what are you doing here?"
Michonne turned towards the voice to see two men facing each other. One man looked a lot like Rick, but wasn't. Standing beside him was another man she didn't know, but seemed familiar to her. He had reddish-blonde, curly hair and the same crystal blue eyes as The Progeny. As Rick and Michonne approached the two men, she saw his appearance change from one that looked similar to The Progeny, to one that looked like he was a God from the pages of old folklore stories. His hair darkened, and his already tall height became even taller. By the time Michonne and Rick stood before him, his hair was jet black, his clothing was now a regal costume not of earth and he was now sporting a magnificent helmet with horns that went up, then back, like those of a ram or bull. Michonne approached Fitz and held out her hand to shake, but, instead of returning the handshake, he just looked at her strangely.
Then, from behind him, stepped out her sister.
"Livia!" she called out excitedly.
"Chonnie!" Olivia returned, before hugging her sister.
"Who are you?" Fitz asked the tall, overpowering God.
"To you, I am Fitzgerald Thomas Grant the Second, or, your father. To All That Is, I am Loki. For now."
"Our father is dead," Rick announced, sending the God the fiercest glare Michonne had ever seen.
"As you can see, I am clearly, not dead. I am alive. I only came here when I felt the living walking on hallowed ground. Living are forbidden in Valhalla's lands. There has only been one that has been allowed to walk here, and she's only half living herself. YOU are fully living! And you can't be here!"
"This is not Valhalla. This is our Dreamscape." Fitz gestured around the mountains of Kentucky, but, as he did, the scenery changed. Though they were still on a mountain, it was no longer Appalachia, and, instead of green wilderness, the ground, and all the trees were covered in snow and ice. In the distance was a magnificent palace that seem to go on for forever.
"This is Valhalla, though, it is no longer actualized. I'm still working on bringing it back to it's full existence, and, you can't be here! The very fact that you are could be cataclysmic to the multiverse! I implore you to leave!"
The next thing Michonne knew, both her and Olivia were standing behind their husbands as they took a protective stance and aimed weapons at the God.
"We don't have to go anywhere! You lost your fatherly privilege when you murdered our mothers!" Fitz bellowed, his voice echoing across the Valhalla plane. Michonne blinked, and when she opened her eyes, all The Progeny were standing next to each other, their bodies tense and poised to strike and their significant others standing in their protective shadows. "This is our Dreamscape! Has been since we created it when we were children! But you wouldn't know anything about that!"
"I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you, and that I killed your mothers. I was very misguided in my thoughts at that time, but, I've changed, and I am now trying to save your lives, as well many lives in this universe. And this is not a dreamscape! It is a The Void At The End Of Time! I wasn't aware that you've been using it…that you'd built the bones for me to rebuild one of the most splendid lands in all the multiverse! You all are clearly so much more powerful than I could ever imagine…but, it doesn't matter! Right now, your presence here could cause so much destruction…So," Loki clasped his hands together. "Do as I say, and leave!"
"And if we don't?" Daryl queried, his Black Horton Scout HD 125 crossbow aimed at Loki's head. Michonne looked around to see all The Progeny aim their weapons.
Noah pointed his Beretta Cougar with attached suppressor. Jerry raised his double bladed battle axe. Stephen pointed his Glock 34, then cocked the hammer back after he checked his extended mag for ammo. Huck pointed his Glock 20, then changed his mind and pulled out two Navy issued KA-Bar Straight Edged Knives from their leather sheaths attached to each of his lower legs. With no struggle, Carol Jane lifted her Hungarian AKM-63 and peeped at the enemy through her scope. Glenn aimed his Colt Series 70 1911 with perfect precision. Rick had both his Colt Pythons pointed and cocked. And Fitz simply stood at the front of The Progeny, his eyes narrowed on Loki - he simply was the only weapon he needed. Apparently, Loki already knew that because he stepped back from Fitz with his hands spread out in a peaceful gesture.
"Listen to me! I am not your enemy! I love you, and I am trying to save you, and the universe, but your presence here is making that difficult! However," Loki smiled proudly. "You all are the best of your ancestors, and I'm very proud!" Loki just couldn't get over how wonderfully proud his children were making him. "For that, I am eternally grateful! The fact that you can astral project at your young Earth age is beyond astounding - you've even managed to teach your partners to do the same, or…you've found a way to bring them along with you - which is simply…amazing!" Loki stepped back from the group and raised his arms. "Be that as it may, you have to go! I'm going to put you back into your minds - don't be angry, it has to be done! And, when we've bested Arishem, I will answer any question you have, that I promise! In the mean time, please remember this moment…" He clapped his hands together, causing an enormous bang that brought about storm clouds, rain, lightening and thunder. Before Michonne could fully understand what was going on, everything went black…
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: WHEW! THOUGHTS? THEORIES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW!
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SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) by THE EURYTHMICS
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Hold your head up
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on
Keep your head up
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something
Writer/s: Annie Lennox, David Allan Stewart
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
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SWEET DREAMS by BEYONCÉ
Turn the lights on!
Every night I rush to my bed
With hopes that maybe I'll get a chance to see you
When I close my eyes, I'm going out of my head
Lost in a fairytale, can you hold my hands and be my guide?
Clouds filled with stars cover your skies
And I hope it rains, you're the perfect lullaby
What kind of dream is this?
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
Sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Somebody pinch me
Your love's too good to be true (turn the lights on)
My guilty pleasure, I ain't going nowhere
Baby 'long as you're here, I'll be floating on air, 'cause you're mine
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way, I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
I mention you when I say my prayers
I wrap you around all of my thoughts
Boy, you my temporary high
I wish that when I wake up you're there
To wrap your arms around me for real
And tell me you'll stay by my side
Clouds filled with stars cover your skies (cover your skies)
And I hope it rains, you're the perfect lullaby
What kind of dream is this?
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
Sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Somebody pinch me
Your love's too good to be true (turn the lights on)
My guilty pleasure, I ain't going nowhere
Baby 'long as you're here, I'll be floating on air, 'cause you're mine
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way, I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
Tattoo your name across my heart
So it will remain
Not even death could make us part
What kind of dream is this?
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
Sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Somebody pinch me
Your love's too good to be true (turn the lights on)
My guilty pleasure, I ain't going nowhere
Baby 'long as you're here, I'll be floating on air, 'cause you're mine
You can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way, I don't wanna wake up from you (turn the lights on)
Either way, I don't wanna wake up from you
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: James Scheffer / Richard Preston Butler / Wayne Andrew Wilkins / Beyonce Giselle Knowles
Sweet Dreams lyrics © B-day Publishing