Aurora Eos Rose auroraeosrose@heavensdawn.org http://heavensdawn.org Alternate Universe- Fantasy World PG- <> indicates thought A.S. = After Sealing +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chapter 1 – Birth of the Avatars +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Selene woke from her sleep. She was in the void, waiting for the time to become human again. She had sent the minor gods, servants and friends, ahead to be guardians and guides for the avatars. Selene knew the time was rapidly approaching. She would soon send the sleeping spirits of her friends into their vessels. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1000 A.S., The Star Kingdom*** The nobleman listened to his wife in the other room. He paced back and forth furiously. The midwife had said first children took longer to come, but he was still worried. It had been two long days now. Two days of waiting and praying to the gods. The man stopped for a moment, covering his ears to block some of the sound. A loud scream echoed from the room, followed by a baby's muffled cry and silence. The man rushed into the room. The midwife rose from his wife's side with a grim look on her face. She handed a tiny baby to him. "You have a son." Then she reached up and gently shut the eyes of the dead woman. The nobleman looked at his new son, and at the body of his dead wife. He closed his eyes for a moment. The baby looked at his father's face. "You must learn to be a wise man, Cato my son, for you will be alone in the world." The nobleman took his son and handed the boy to the midwife. "His name is Cato, but I cannot care for him. Please give him to one who can." The man left the room quickly, leaving the midwife holding the now quiet newborn. There was the sound of a sword being drawn, and then silence. The midwife hurried through the streets towards the ducal palace. She placed the bundle on the doorstep and ran off, glad to be rid of the responsibility. Reina heard a loud commotion from the servants' quarters. She found them huddled over a small bundle that was wiggling. Reina moved forward, the servants moving out of her path. She pulled back the dirty blanket and found the bundle was a very small baby. Tucked in beside the boy was a note. Reina looked over the scratchings. "He is the son of a baron. His name is Cato." Reina picked up the baby and left the puzzled servants to gossip. "I've always wanted a baby boy. And you're so beautiful Cato." Reina patted her rather large stomach. "Won't it be nice for my little one to have a playmate." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Reina pushed the child from her body with a loud scream. The baby dropped into the midwife's capable hands. Reina fell back onto the bed, grateful for the ordeal to be over. The midwife cleaned the babe and took care of the afterbirth. Reina was wiped clean and her husband was called. A small head peeked around the edge of the door. Reina laughed as Cato toddled into the room, falling every few steps. Her husband followed him. The man took the infant from the midwife. "Hello my son." The baby's dark brown hair echoed his father's exactly. The man chuckled at the resemblance. "Well, Fallon, you're born of noble blood." The man kissed his wife and beckoned for a maid to take the newborn and toddler. Cato peered intently at the baby, and brushed his chubby hand over the infant's dark curls. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Terra lay on the bed, too exhausted to speak. Her first child was being held by his father. The baby had been large and hard to birth. Terra closed her eyes, her husband's first words echoing in her ears. "The boy looks just like me. A child to mold into my image." Terra shuddered. The war being waged now was all to put that man onto the throne. Terra choked back tears. Soon her elder brother would be dead, and her husband would have the throne. Then she didn't know what would happen to her. She felt the baby being laid next to her and heard the door close softly. She opened her eyes and met a brilliant sapphire gaze. The baby's gaze was far too serious. Terra brushed a hand over the infant's wispy white hair. The door opened again and an old woman entered the room. She took the baby and sat down in a chair to rock him. Terra gazed into the old priestess' eyes. Maybe her influence as nurse and nanny would circumvent her husbands plans to create another tyrant. Terra closed her eyes and fell asleep. The old woman made sure Terra was fast asleep. Then she pulled a crystal from a pouch at her waist and passed it close to the infant. A bright symbol shone. The woman smiled and put the crystal away. "At last I've found you." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1000 A.S., The Earth Kingdom*** The midwife presented the loud, large infant to his equally large father. The man glanced over the baby. "A fit son to be a warrior. He will be powerful." Then the man handed the baby back and left to return to his training. The midwife sighed and took the baby back inside to the blonde woman who lay on the bed. She lifted her head. "Was he pleased?" The midwife nodded and handed the baby back to his mother. The boy immediately began searching for his supper. The woman on the bed smiled at the baby. The midwife cleaned up the room and left. The baby finished nursing and drifted off to sleep. His mother smiled at the infant. "I'll at least have you to love, sweetheart, until you're old enough to be sent away." She kissed the infant on the cheek and drifted off to sleep. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1001 A.S., The Star Kingdom*** Reina held her sister's hand tightly. The women were at an isolated estate to escape the war sweeping across the country. Reina's sister was in labor, and the army was just a few miles from the estate. Cato and Fallon were sleeping in the hay in the barn. Reina prayed the two would be safe there. Another contraction swept over her sister, causing the woman to bite her lip until it bled. Reina knew the babe would come soon. Hopefully before the soldiers made it this far. Reina held the newborn in her arms and huddled in the woods with the two boys. The babe had come just in time. Her sister had named the child Nolan claiming his looks would make him famous one day. Reina looked at the mop of red hair and the brown eyes. The baby was adorable. Reina closed her eyes tightly, hearing the soldiers entering the house. Reina's sister was still in the house, refusing to leave. The soldiers swept over the estate, torching everything. Reina kept her eyes closed, unable to watch the building go up in smoke. She knew that the new monarch would hunt down these three children and any other nobleman of the old dynasty. She had to keep them safe. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The older farmer grinned at the beautiful woman and the three children. He had never married and was childless. "You can live with me, mistress, in return for the children working when old enough and you keeping house." Reina sighed in relief. The children would be safe here, obscure farmers in the countryside. Cato tugged on the edge of the man's cloak. The old man smiled at the boy. "You can call me grandpa." Reina entered the small house. She collapsed on the bed, exhausted. The boys snuggled up to her and soon the group was fast asleep. The old man walked into the house and watched them sleep. A small creature winked into existence on his shoulder. "They are the ones. Thank you for obeying me, high priest." The creature spoke in a high-pitched voice. The old man glanced at the small black creature on his shoulder. "I will admit that I thought I was slightly insane for listening to you, but they are here as you said." The priest pulled three crystals from his pocket. He held them close to the sleeping boys and was rewarded with a symbol on each of their foreheads. He smiled again. "To think I have lived to see the birth of the avatars." "Now the task will be to see them raised properly. You will have lots of work to do, high priest. Without my help, I'm afraid. Now I must go, for my task here is completed." The creature started to fade. The old man gazed at his shoulder. Then he sighed and left to make something for the woman and the boys to eat. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1001 A.S., The Earth Kingdom*** The brown haired baby boy wiggled and squirmed in his mother's arms. She sighed and handed the baby to his father. The man had a solemn look on his face. "A male child. Don't get too attached to this baby, darling. The firstborn is always fostered out to the king at the age of eight." The woman frowned. She had been born a peasant, and all the rules of aristocracy made her angry. She didn't speak, just stared at her newborn son. She started crying. Her husband wrapped his arms around her. "We'll have more children sweetheart. Only the firstborn needs to be fostered." The woman buried her face in her husband's arms while the infant watched with wide eyes. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Prince held his firstborn son. The boy was only a child of a concubine, and could by law be disinherited, but the Prince saw his own golden hair and blue eyes in the boy. None of his wives had given him anything but females. He would make this boy his firstborn and heir. The prince handed the child back to a servant and left the harem. The young woman held her son close. Now she had caught the Prince's attention by giving him a firstborn son. She had been surprised when the Prince made the boy his heir. She was only a concubine. But the Prince had many daughters and no sons. She sighed and held the boy tight. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1002 A.S., The Star Kingdom*** The King of the Star Kingdom held the younger of his two newborn sons. His wife had given him three boys now. She fought him every step of every day though. The King listened to his advisors recounting the progress of the war. He had won a week ago, his sword ending the life of the last king. Now he was exterminating any survivors of the old kingdom, except for his beautiful wife. She hated him with a passion. The King gazed at the boy a moment longer and then rose, cutting off his war advisor mid sentence. He headed for his wife's bedroom. Terra held the infant close to her body. She would escape this time. She couldn't stand to be in this castle another minute. She had tried to escape dozens of times. This time would be different, it had to be. She rocked the baby in her arms gently. The other boy was with his father and she hadn't seen her eldest in weeks. But this was her only chance to escape. Maybe she could come back for the others later. She ducked behind a screen and waited for the guard to pass. She crept through the stone passages. She stopped to lean against a wall, tired and very sore from childbirth. The wall gave way and she tumbled into a dusty passageway. The King was interrogating the midwife. "You mean she just left? That's not possible. She just gave birth." He paced around the room; the newborn lay on the bed forgotten. He stormed from the room. She had to still be in the castle. She wasn't going to get away from him so easily. Terra hurried down the dark passages, tripping over the uneven flagstones, but she somehow managed to stay on her feet. She could hear the guards down the passage. The narrow corridor suddenly opened into a huge perfectly spherical room. In the center was a glowing white globe of crystal with a narrow walkway that led to it. Terra pushed herself forward, reaching for the crystal. The King's voice echoed down the corridor, yelling for her to stop. Terra touched the globe and the world disappeared in a burst of light. He watched the brilliant flash, and the walkway to the globe crumbled. The King eyed the globe. He didn't trust any kind of magic. "Captain, seal off this room inform everyone that my wife and son died in childbirth and kill all the witnesses." The old priestess held the infant boy while she watched his elder brother play. She drew out the scrap of crystal and smiled as the baby's forehead began to glow. "I didn't imagine that brothers would both be chosen. I wonder if the goddess has a purpose in all this, and in allowing the other boy and his mother to die." The woman began to sing an old lullaby, and the brothers drifted off to sleep. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The king of earth looked at the creature that had suddenly appeared at his feet. She looked exhausted. He bent to pick up the woman and found she was holding a tiny infant. The king's eyes grew wide. Could this be the goddess' answer to his prayers? An heir and a regent for his kingdom, appearing in front of his eyes? He decided to consult the priest as soon as possible. He carried the woman back towards the castle. Terra listened to the priest's words with a mix of shock and excitement. She had somehow managed to get to one of the sealed off kingdoms. It was impossible for her husband to find her here. She nodded absently to the priest while staring at the large man in front of her. He smiled at her gently, then took the baby and handed it to the priest. The priest looked very surprised, but he took the child and left the room. The king knelt in front of Terra and offered her a new life. The priest walked by a statue of the goddess holding a brilliant crystal. The baby began to squirm and a symbol appeared on his forehead. The priest was so surprised he almost dropped the child. Then he ran back towards the room yelling about the goddess' blessing and avatars. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1002 A.S., The Sun Kingdom*** The prince stared at his newborn daughter. Her brown-red eyes were very solemn. His wife was suggesting names for the little one. The prince nodded his head every so often, but for the most part ignored the flower names being thrown at him. "We'll name her Sophie Barr, wisdom gateway." The prince laughed at his wife's expression. Her mouth was hanging open and her eyes had gone very wide. "SOPHIE BARR? Well, at least Sophie is feminine." The woman sighed and held the baby gently. "We'll always be here for you sweetheart." ++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1003 A.S., The Earth Kingdom*** The winter storm howled outside the palace. The princess held her infant son at arms length, searching for any of his father in him. The boy looked exactly like his mother. She smiled; glad to see that the boy was like her instead of the child's dead father. "Someday this land will be yours, and you will not be a useless weakling like your father." +++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1003 A.S., The Sun Kingdom*** "The first is stillborn, my lord, but the daughter survives." The man held the baby girl up to the light. The girl cried loudly. The man grunted. "The girl is useless to me, I needed a son." The baby closed its eyes and in the blink of an eye became male. The man swore loudly and dropped the child onto the bed. "A demon child." He drew his sword. His wife threw herself over the squalling infant, who had changed back to a girl. "I'll take her to the palace, they'll know what to do. Don't kill her." The man grunted again. "That is not my child. Get rid of it." The man left, his child thrust from his mind in favor of new battle tactics. The woman sighed and picked up the baby. "Both of you are in there, I can feel it." She clutched the child tightly to her chest. "Two souls in one body. I don't know how or why, but I won't let anything happen to you. I'll name you Alexander Canace, protector of men, daughter of wind." The woman looked into her newborn's eyes. "And someday I know that there will be a way for you to have separate lives." +++++++++++++++++++++++ ***1004 A.S., The Sun Kingdom*** The princess was very angry. She didn't want to waste the time to have the bundle that now lay in her arms. Her husband had been informed of the child being born and had stopped long enough to give permission for her to have lovers if the child lived. She pushed the baby into the arms of the waiting maid. "Take her to her nurse. Her name is Meredith Delphine, for our kingdom's location and crest. I don't want to see her again unless she's summoned." The maid nodded sadly and left the arrogant princess alone once more. "Poor little thing, I hope you find love elsewhere, because you won't receive it from your parents." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Serenity lay on the bed; the golden baby snuggled in her arms. Adnan sat on the edge, his gaze full of love. "She's so beautiful. She looks just like you. Golden hair, and those beautiful amber eyes. What are you going to name her, darling?" Adnan glanced at the child, brushing a hand over the girl's golden curls. "I think I'll name her Aurelia Electra." "The Golden Star. It suits her." Serenity's eyes filled with tears. She had to tell him. She bit her bottom lip, and then forced the words out. "I've stayed far too long already. I have to go back." Adnan closed his eyes, the pain of losing her again ripping through his soul. "I know, I know." The baby reached towards her father, and a golden sun appeared on the child's forehead. Serenity was so startled she almost dropped the baby. Adnan opened his eyes and touched the symbol, a worried frown on his face. He had seen that symbol before, in the temples. He searched his memory. "Have you heard of the prophecy?" He asked. The baby closed her eyes and the sun disappeared. Serenity shook her head. Adnan turned his worried gaze back to Serenity. "Stay until her first birthday. I need you." Serenity nodded, unable to refuse him. Adnan kissed Serenity and the baby. "I have to go speak to the High Priest. Sleep well." He left his daughter and lover, intent on learning more of the prophecy. +++++++++++++++++++++ ***1004 A.S., The Moon Kingdom*** Dione held her newborn tightly. Her husband sat beside her, marveling over the sunny perfection of the little girl. "She shines like a gem, our little Mina." Dione looked into her husband's eyes. "I love you both so much." +++++++++++++++++++++ ***1005 A.S., The Moon Kingdom*** The whore tucked her infant into a basket in the corner, careful to keep the basket where it would be concealed from her clients. She hated this business, but it kept her and the baby fed. She brushed a strand of red brown hair from the baby's face, and then opened the door for her latest customer. +++++++++++++++++++++ The woman left the child on the steps of the temple. She had considered keeping the baby, but the child's violet black hair brought back memories of the night she'd been raped every time she looked at the baby. She knocked quietly on the door and slipped into the night. +++++++++++++++++++++ ***1006 A.S., The Moon Kingdom*** Cynthia held the baby gingerly, afraid that a sudden movement might break the tiny infant. "Can I hold her please?" The weak voice rose from the curtains surrounding the bed. Cynthia pushed back the white satin and looked at her elder sister. The woman's face was very pale from the hard labor and loss of blood. Cynthia studied her sister's labored breathing. She leaned down and placed the baby girl in her mother's arms. "She looks just like you, my queen." The queen brushed her hand over the baby's head of wispy silver strands. "But she has her father's eyes." The queen looked at her baby one last time. She kissed the sleeping babe on the cheek and then lowered her head back to the pillows. "Take good care of her, Cindy. I love you both." Then Serenity, High Queen of the Moon Kingdom, closed her eyes and let out her last breath. Cindy picked up the tiny princess. "I love you too, Rena." Cindy placed a kiss upon the woman's cold cheek and pulled the white sheet over her sister. Cindy turned around and left the room, silent tears running down her face. The babe in her arms woke. The girl reached a fat hand up towards the water falling on her face, brushing against the yellow-blonde braid hanging over Cindy's shoulder. Cindy wiped her eyes and looked at the child. "I guess you need a name, little one. I suppose I'll name you for your mother." The baby smiled brightly. "And you're a perfect little princess. Serena Ferelith, the tranquil perfect princess, that's a wonderful name. But to me you'll always be Sera." Cindy laid the girl in the cradle. She turned and walked toward the door, but stopped and collapsed in tears. Cindy continued to sob, her forehead against the cool marble floor. She banged her fists against the white tiles in frustration. The baby's eyes followed Cindy. A crescent moon appeared on the child's forehead, glowing gently. A white light surrounded Cindy. A woman appeared, floating in the air in front of the weeping Cynthia. "My child." Cindy raised her head. "Goddess?" "This is no dream. I am Selene. And I have a task for you, priestess of the moon. You have been destined for this day since birth. Your training at the temple has taught you more than you realize. You know of the prophecy. It has come to pass. You shall have charge of five avatars. They are my trusted companions of old. I shall guide you, and send you assistants. I shall also mark you as mine. I will show you what you need to know." The vision reached forward and touched Cynthia. A burst of light flashed between the two. The vision faded. Cindy looked down at her hands. A strand of her hair drifted in front of her eye. Cindy yanked her thick braid around, marveling at the new silver color. Cindy rose and walked out the door, new purpose in her step. The glow faded from the room and the crescent moon disappeared. Baby Sera stuck her thumb in her mouth and fell asleep. +++++++++++++++++++++= The surprised scholar took the squirming bundle from his mistress. "She's mine?" The man looked at the child. "I don't know what to do with a baby." The woman laughed at the man's confused face. "Go read a book about it." She walked out the door, leaving the bewildered man behind. "A book, that's an excellent idea." He tucked the baby into a drawer of stockings and went to hunt for a book. ***1007 A.S., The Sun Kingdom*** The baby was quickly taken from her very sick mother and placed in the waiting arms of the orphanage director. The midwife helped the woman sit up and wiped blood from her mouth. The woman coughed again, blood splattering. The orphanage director scowled and quickly left the room. "This child had better not contract that illness." The baby slept in the woman's arms, oblivious to the world around her. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ The group gathered around crystal, watching their charges brought to human form. "How much longer before the vessel's paths are revealed?" "Let them grow a bit first. They must be strong of mind and body before they are awakened. But we must go to them soon."