It was an entity beyond description, beyond even the minor distinctions made by the sentient species that had entered its domain. It was older than them, even older than the worlds they now walked upon.
They were a race that seemed as Gods and Goddesses to them, though that was far from an accurate description. After all, as the planets had the ability to generate avatars, so too did they need a presence of mind to choose such. A will, a Grand Will, a force of nature that carried with it sentience; these could be found in any world.
But the grandest of them all rested within a star itself.
As such, when life bloomed within the realm claimed by a star, it often took the name of that which the small beings called it.
This one called itself ... Sol.
I have found these creatures that inhabit my system to be very unique. While those that grow on the third planet still seem to be developing, those that came from outside of my realm seem to be further ahead.
And sadly, also they seem to be just as foolish.
One carries with them a focus of great power, which they have termed ‘ginzuishou’. This focus can take life force, and change it into what they term ‘magic’ force, to the point they can bring life to dead worlds, return life to dead shells, and much more.
And yet, this object does not have a single safety to ensure that the user does not exhaust their life force past the point of continued survival. I find this a great sign of foolishness on their part.
But they also show great possibilities. They have found a way to tap into the souls of the worlds they stand on, to the point of allowing themselves to become avatars for those worlds. Even now, I can hear the songs of the souls of those worlds ring loud. Though to name them such; Mercury? Venus?
Very curious, these creatures from afar.
But they also seek to create an imbalance.
We of the Stars know what results from such an imbalance. Already, I can feel the correction of such forming within my shell, a dark force that I contain to protect them. But as the imbalance grows, my hold slips, and I fear for them when the reigns are lost to me.
I do not understand why they do such? Order? Chaos? Do they not see both are needed? Order without change is death? Change without stability is no life? Can they not understand these concepts? They seem obsessed with order, to the point where it seems that Chaos has been vilified.
Such fools these mortals be.
My fears have been proven true.
The great beast born within me by their tampering has lead to their deaths. They called it: Metallia.
The worlds that once sung such songs of joy now sound silent.
And Earth ... it too has suffered the wrath of this attempt to restore a balance.
Even I myself have suffered.
In my times on that world, I begot three children willingly. They were those destined for greatness, perhaps even one day to ascend and become stars themselves.
And now two lay dead, the third forced to be reborn imperfectly, the result of a spell cast in great haste by a dying love.
Draco, my oldest child, a ‘dragon’ as they called him; slain.
Hippolita, my youngest and only daughter, dead.
And my middle child, one who was closest to becoming a future star; Saffron, set to be reborn with failing memories.
I do not blame him for this, or the woman he loved who placed the spell upon him. She was dying, and hoped to save the man she loved. Had she been healthy, I am positive my son would have been reborn healthy and with full memories of his time.
But alas, I fear this folly will force me to act again.
This ‘Metallia’ could be considered my child as well, I suppose. A child by Chaos, but still my child. But she does not cherish life, as all Stars do. Even those who still dwell within the souls of black holes value life more than her.
And I fear I will be forced to slay this child of darkness.
Queen Serenity, a creature who stood against the darkness, she truly has earned my attention. She used all of her life force knowingly to stop the corruption brought on by Metallia, and sealed it away.
But alas, I would not save her life. We conversed as she passed beyond her shell.
She asked that I guide her court, try to help them see and not make the mistake of not heading my warning.
I find myself ... desiring to do so.
Curious...
In the time since my worlds stopped singing, I have wondered about this ... mortal ... life. What does it offer? What do I fail to understand? What do I miss?
I have experienced it briefly, it was necessary at times to assume a shell for a brief stint in order to explore my worlds, even to beget my children. But even in these shells, I retained what defined me.
But to be born ... and die ... mortal?
Curious...
I have time to conduct such a query. But for how long? How long do I follow the path these creatures follow? How long do I forget my place as a Star?
I discussed this with my remaining child, as we overlooked the ‘graves’ of my fallen children. He had placed them in the hillside overlooking a valley with small springs and glistening pools of water. Even as I slowly set about restructuring the ‘spell’ that renews him, he recalled enough of his love to tell me that this mortal experience is unique and deserving of an attempt.
So I make ready, attempting to influence the wheels of destiny and fate to stay me in this realm, to keep me near my true home, and to bring me to my families should they need me.
I wonder ... will I be mortal or Star when Serenity’s court returns.
I guess ... we shall see.
Ranma slowly opened his eyes, the barest hint of sunlight creeping through the window of his room.
Panda’s not here ... that’s good at least.
It had been a little over a week since Saffron ... since the weird dreams and the failed wedding.
But it was the dreams that wore heavily on him rather than the upset look on Akane’s face.
He remembered killing Saffron, a seemingly amazing amount of power seeming to flood him when he needed it to pull off the attack.
He remembered Saffron being reborn; he remembered walking up to the child to ... do something...
And then ... it was as if time itself had skipped forward without him. For in that time, Saffron had taken an adult form, and was looking on him with ... sadness? It was more than what the battle had been about; the Phoenix God had punished the fools who had raised him to be such.
But the way he had looked at Ranma ... it was if he was looking at him as a reminder of something. It was the same look Mr. Tendo got when he looked at pictures of family no longer there.
But what it all meant, why he felt now as if a larger piece of him was ... missing, he couldn’t say.
The fact he was even asking himself these questions... Ranma shook his head. “Man, I must still be tired,” he muttered. He was thinking about things way too much for his liking.
Slowly, he tried to get up. After all, as much as he would like to sleep, he knew it wouldn’t be safe to do that in his room. The tomboy would come in to wake him, a fat panda would attack him, a rival would show up, or a fiancée would come in and try and further gain proof that he was theirs.
Snorting at that, he grabbed his pillow and blanket, wondering if he could hide out in the storage area in the dojo’s ceiling. No one ever looked for him up there, and as long as he didn’t snore like the panda, they’d never try and look for him there.
Shaking his head, he opened the door, hoping to get out before noticed, only to find...
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(Posted Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:32)
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