| The Messiah Chapter Ten Several days had passed since San and Sor had sacrificed themselves so that Sie would live. He remembered what they had told him when he was saddened by the loss of the Pollyne that aided them in the camp. A part of him knew that they had given their lives for a cause they believed in, but still an anger filled his heart. He flew down to a lower branch and began to punch at the tree. Within a few seconds, he found himself sobbing both tears of sadness and anger. �Why must all near me perish? If I am the chosen one � why must I surrounded by pain and death?� he shouted into the swamp around him. But there was answer for his question. He fell to his knees sobbing. He had done everything according to the decrees of the apostles. He had done everything that the first children had asked of him. So why was everyone around him dying? �Everyone expects me to save them � but I know not how I can? How can I save them alone?� he asked weakly. He looked up to the canopy for a sign, but there was nothing. He forced himself to his feet. Now was not the time to feel pity for himself. Others had given their lives so that he could complete his mission � his holy quest. If he gave up now, their sacrifices would be in vain. He was about to head off when a ray of sunlight shot through the canopy. By the time the light reached the branch he was on, the light was shadowed in numerous places and revealed the sign of the apostles. Sie fell to his knees and thanked the children for aiding him. He quickly got up and looked around. He knew now that he was heading in the right direction, but which way was next? It was then that a strong wind almost knocked him off the branch. Dozens of loose leaves were blowing north � but then another sharp wind turned them west. Just as suddenly � the wind died. �I am not alone. The children and the apostles are with me.� he said to himself. He flew off in the direction that the children had guided him. *** Many more days had passed since he saw the sign. Since then he had visions of the children aiding him. He heard the voices of sages long known to be dead. He saw subtle signs in the leaves, plants and trees. Even the animals he encountered seemed to point him in the direction he had to go. On the sixth day, he slowed down. In the distance he could see many temples dedicated to the demon C�an. Sie looked around to see if the signs were mistaken, but a sharp wind blew him towards the temples. �Our once noble prophet � is there?� he asked himself. He put aside his fears and flew in the direction of these temples. As he neared the C�antora temples, the forest gradually changed. The luscious trees and lively plants seemed to look older and older as he neared. The waters shifted gradually from blues and greens to grays and blacks. And the once proud looking trees shifted slowly in color from healthy browns to grays and whites. Even the air � air that was usually crisp and clean became thick and wretched. Sie had to land to prevent from falling into the bubbling black waters. The strange odors made thinking difficult, made moving a chore. He was about to collapse when he heard the branch he was on breaking. He leaped over to a healthier branch just in time. he looked over and watched as the fallen branch was eaten by the bubbling black waters. �What � what is this place?� he slurred. He looked up and saw strange looking trees. They were a rusted color and went up into the temples that were taller than the tress. He tried to breathe, but the near toxic air hurt. Each breath felt as though he was inhaling fire. He was about to move on when the black waters began to bubble. He smiled. The children made him listen � the prophet would talk with him! but then a grayish slime rose to the surface. Sie shook his head and staggered back. The slime was what was left of at least a hundred Swamplop children. �This place is cursed.� Sie gasped. He flew as best he could away from the nightmarish sight he had witnessed. In his now weakened stated, he didn�t make it far. Roughly a hundred meters or so away, he collapsed again. The poison that was in the air was weakening him. His mind began to wander. �So � so this is to be my fate?� Sie sobbed weakly. Just then, the grayish black waters began to bubble again. Sie lifted his head and looked over and watched. He wondered what horror this would be � but then he got his answer � the monster C�an leaped up and landed a few feet away from the barely moving Insectorr. "You put up a merry chase bug � but now you are mine!� C�an hissed. Sie closed his eyes as the pain overwhelmed him. just then � the water began to bubble again. C�an slowly turned around. The water that was bubbling � was blue. Just then a living healthy vine shot out from the water and coiled around the demon. Before it could react, he was flung away. The vine then grabbed Sie and pulled him into the water. *** Some unknown time later, Sie began to awaken. His chest burned from the poisons he had inhaled by the C�antora temples. He slowly sat up and studied the strange place he was now in. �Where-where am I?� he asked weakly. He slowly got up and looked at the religious items that were all around the place. Some of them looked to be hundreds of years old. Some showed pictures of what had to be the apostles. Some of the artifacts were of the Great Life Tree and of the first children. He tensed up for a moment. �I perished.� He muttered. �Don�t talk foolish. It ill becomes you.� A surly voice stated. He quickly looked around, but the room he was in was empty. If he wasn�t dead, there was only one other possibility. �Are you here Parisitica?� he hesitantly asked. Silence was his answer. �I have traveled far to speak with you great prophet.� He added, but still there was no answer. Sie slumped down to the floor. He had not fully recovered from the effects of the poison air he had breathed. �Have you brought me to this wondrous holy place to ignore me?� he asked. �That � I haven�t decided yet.� The voice answered. �Then why did you save me?� he asked. The room was silent for a few moments. He was about to ask another question when a gusher of water began to flow down from a crack in the roof. Sie struggled to stay above the water, but the current was strong and seemed to be pulling him under. He fought hard and finally got his head above the water. Oddly enough, as soon as he did, the waters calmed. He desperately swam around. The water was near the roof. If it rose any more, he would not survive. �Why do you fight the inevitable?� the voice asked. The water level rose a few inches. Sie managed to keep his head above water with a great deal of effort. �I do what I must for my people.� He answered. The water rose again. There was only an inch between the water�s surface and the roof. He used his hands and feet to desperately hang onto the roof. �Just give up. The people don�t care.� The voice retorted coldly. �I don�t � I can�t believe that! The children still hope and dream!� he replied. the water touched the roof and then was sucked down. Sie slowly opened his eyes and realized that he was still alive. He slowly looked down and saw a creature that looked different than anything he had ever seen. Its entire body was made of water. It possessed only two arms and two legs and wore a dark expression on its face. Sie dropped from the roof and slowly made his way over to where the creature was. �You�re him � the one mentioned in the books.� Sie commented. The creature stared at him but remained silent. Sie knelt down and bowed before what he recognized as Parisitica the water prophet of Quagmiria. �Rise � false humility won�t serve you here.� The bitter prophet stated as he walked over to a throne made of rocks. Sie slowly looked up but remained kneeling. He looked around the lavish place that looked much like the Pollyne, Crabytese and Insectorr temples. He hadn�t seen the other temples, but he was sure that it looked like every other temple as well. �I apologize if I offended you sage of sages.� He replied. �I was disturbed from my slumber by those you would call the first children. They said that someone was coming desiring an audience. I told them flat out that I washed my hands of your people when they betrayed the apostles.� Parisitica stated seriously. �If I may ask sire � how is it that I am here? Why did you save me?� he asked. �I said I washed my hands of your people � but leaving you to die there would serve no one. Rest until you are well and then I will return you to your home.� He answered coldly. �You can�t � people have given their lives so that I might speak with you.� He replied nervously. Parisitica looked away from the Insectorr. �You have spoken. I will not deliver your people from C�an. Your people turned away from the apostles � they turned away from me. Your world � your problems no longer concern me.� he replied. �I will not say my people are perfect. I will not say that we have not made mistakes. We are merely children born of children born of the apostles. Occasionally � our imperfections are obvious. Even more often do the children stray. This is not because we are bad � it is because with all that we have lost it is hard to believe in something better. Do you have any idea how many children have their brothers stolen away? Do you have any notion as to how many fathers lose their sons to the C�antoras? Our world is dying � our people suffering � and the thin veil of faith that has kept so few of us going grows weaker every day.� Sie said impassioned. �Our books spoke of how your wisdom helped us. It also tells how you turned your back on us when we erred. I ask you Parisitica, as your great wisdom makes me seem like the child I am, where would we be today if the first children turned their backs on their sons when they erred?� Sie asked barely able to retrain his emotions. �Most likely where your people are now.� He answered. �Then answer me this � when the children turned away from the apostles so long ago � when they betrayed your trust in them by warring with each other � just how much did you want our people to suffer? How long do we have to beg for forgiveness from a prophet that despises us?� he asked emotionally. Parisitica rose from his chair and stormed towards the insolent bug. �You dare speak to me this way?� he demanded. �The sun shines equally on all living things � all therefore is equal. So said the apostles to the children.� Sie replied calmly. Parisitica was enraged by the response and wanted to strike the insolent bug. He raised his arm to strike, Sie made no move. The water prophet grunted and walked away from him. �Damn you.� He hissed lowly. �It is not my wish to anger you � but I don�t know what to do. People have died believing I am the chosen one � the one spoken of in our text that will save our people � but I don�t know how I can save them from the evil that is C�an. If you want me to beg, I will do so. If you want me to say how evil and ungrateful we have become, say it � and I will tell you what you desire to hear. If you want my life � take it � but please, ignore your people no longer. If you do, there will be none left to remember the greatness that is our apostles. I have said my piece. The decision is yours.� Sie concluded. Parisitica looked over his shoulder at the young Insectorr. �After so many years � a child of all things � teaches me the ways of the apostles.� He said quietly. He walked back to his thrown and sat down. �So many years ago � when those known as the first children perished. I awoke on this world by the will and guidance of the apostles. Their way � their love � their life was everything to me. All I wanted was to see that all knew the true greatness that was the apostles. When the war happened � I stepped away I watched in horror as the children turned on each other. When the rain of tears flooded paradise, I was so angered that these children had corrupted � tainted the ideals that made the entirety of my being that I had to leave. Had I stayed � I might have been able to teach them the right path, but the scars of that betrayal went too deep.� He stated in a distant voice. Sie slowly looked up at the prophet. �That war was not your fault.� He commented. �Easy to say � not as easy to believe. Since that day � the day I left � I watched. I saw your people lose hope. I saw them exodus in huge ships. I saw all of the suffering that your people felt. I heard the voices of the first children asking for my help � but I was too proud � too stubborn. When I first witnessed the C�antaris � the C�antoras � and C�an himself � a part of me believed them to be divine justice. Justice for the betrayal � justice for my pain � but I knew it wasn�t. By then it was too late for me to save them.� he continued. �Where there lies hope � there is always time. I believe one of my sages told me once. The love of the apostles is strong � no matter what wrong you have done, what ill you have caused � if the love for the apostles is in your heart is true � the apostles will always forgive you.� Sie stated quietly. Parisitica laughed and then sighed. �That was from one of my books.� He commented. �I believe so.� Sie replied. �Young one � I wish I could help you. I really do. I see in you what I saw in myself so long ago. C�an has grown too strong for me to fight. If you wish to stop him � you will need help from people stronger than I.� The prophet stated quietly. �There must be something you can do.� Sie replied. �I wish that there was. My powers come from the waters of this world. So do I. The waters have become corrupted � and in doing so I have become weak. Saving you from C�an required more of me than I thought it would.� He replied. �Then tell me all you know of C�an � perhaps knowledge will be the only weapon I need.� Sie requested seriously. Once again the prophet laughed. But what harm could come from sharing knowledge. �From what I can recall � a small ship landed in the trees away from where the children lived. They were not Desorns nor Parisauns � they were different.� He began. He sat back and remembered every detail he could of them. �Was it C�an?� Sie asked. �No � it wasn�t him. there were two of them. They looked disfigured � hideous. I was going to approach them, but they got back in their ship and left. They never returned, but a few months later many children went missing. And then the C�antaris began to hatch in areas near the children. They tried to fight, but for every one C�antaris that fell, hundreds of children paid the price.� He recalled. �Wait � the children were able to beat the C�antaris?� he asked. �Yes � I would wager that I have seen ten of the eggs fall. You wouldn�t hear of it because all of those that face them perish. To continue, after that a small fleet of ships approached. They had the same markings on them as the ship that first visited our world. But the monsters that exited these ships looked nothing like those I first witnessed � they were the C�antora as your people called them. I watched as your people tried to fight them � but it didn�t work. I then saw the creature you call C�an. By this point � I knew that I had stayed away too long � then things went from bad to worse.� He continued. �I watched the mass destruction and mass desecration of the old temples and shrines. I also witnessed the black seed that took root at the water�s floor. They showed that seed to your people � but more were planted.� He stated. �More? How many?� Sie asked. �There is one beneath each of C�antorian temples. There is a stem that goes from each seed all the way up to the temples. The temperatures there are so hot that the water boils. I do not know what these seeds are doing � but I know that they are killing Quagmiria � and I know there is nothing I can do to stop them.� he replied. �There must be something.� Sie pleaded. �If knowledge is your weapon � perhaps this will help. Although their language is alien to me, I have heard the C�antora say a word repeatedly. At first I believed it to be their word for C�an � but it wasn�t. I believe there is a higher power that this C�an has to answer to � and I believe it was those two beings that I saw that day.� He replied. �What did they say?� Sie asked curiously. �Best as I can pronounce � Watchur. If you find these two Watchur you might be able to end the menace that is C�an.� He replied seriously. Sie slowly got up and walked over to a portrait of the apostles. �How could I alone defeat anyone that controls something as powerful as C�an?� he asked sullenly. Parisitica knew that would be a difficult fight � even with all of the children. There was only one way he could succeed. �There is a way. But it dangerous � and there is no guarantee that it would work.� The prophet began. He walked over to where the young Insectorr was and looked at the portrait. Sie looked over at the prophet . �A slim chance is better than none at all.� Sie replied. Parisitica raised his finger and touched each image of the apostles. Sie watched but couldn�t understand what the gesture was supposed to mean. �The apostles must stand as one. Divided they will not be able to stand against C�an or the Watchur.� He suggested. Sie looked at the painting but didn�t understand. Just then, the spots that Parisitica had touched lightly glowed. One red � one blue � one green. It took the young Insectorr a few seconds to understand � but he saw what the prophet was trying to advise. �The Desorns and Parisauns � if they stand with Quagmiria � we could turn this evil away. You are right � such a quest will be dangerous. The Desorn hate our people as much as our misguided hate the Parisaun. If I make peace with one � the other might not.� He stated. �I can see no other way. The C�antora seem to be born of both Desorn and Parisaun. If such is the case � it stands to reason that their worlds are in peril too. They would have to decide which is stronger � their hate of each other � or their hate of C�an. I have no more wisdom on this issue. The choice is yours as to what you will do.� He concluded. Sie looked at the three apostles and smiled. �The three were always meant to be as one. I don�t really have a choice in the matter. I will try to make peace with two people we have seen as enemies. If death is the reward I receive for my efforts � I will be at peace with the apostles.� He replied. �That is very profound. I will make this vow to you � what is your name?� he asked curiously. �I am known as Sie.� He replied. �I will make this vow to you Sie � or whoever succeeds in your wake � that upon your return, when C�an and the Watchur are no more � I will return to the people once more. On that day � both the children and I will have a chance to heal.� He offered. �Your offer is most generous sir � but how am I to make peace with the Desorn and the Parisaun if I am trapped here on Quagmiria? The blessing of the apostles may be on me, but even I have limitations.� He asked. �You are not as limited as you would believe. Come with me.� he suggested. The two made their way out of the room. Sie looked around in wonder at this amazing place. Every area seemed to be a shrine of sorts to the apostles. Within moments, the two were in a room with a pod-sized ship. �Where did you get this?� Sie asked. �When the C�antora attacked the ship yards � this one fell into the swamps. I found it and brought it here. There were many a time that I looked at this ship and thought of leaving � something always stopped me.� he stated seriously. �It was the will of the apostles.� Sie replied. �I suppose it was.� He replied. �When I return and Quagmiria is free � I will hold you to your offer.� He teased. �And when you return � I will honor it. Fly with caution. If you are spotted too soon � you will not make it. I will do what I can to cover your escape. If you think you are being followed � dive the ship into the water and I will help you out. Once you are free of the planet � do not stand bewildered. They have means of seeing things beyond our skies.� Parisitica warned. �I will do as you say.� He replied. �I know you will. May the apostles guide you, and may the first children protect you from harm. You are the one Sie. You are the one that was prophesized so long ago. You will save your people. May the apostles blessing carry you.� He concluded. �Until my return.� Sie replied with a confident smile. �Until that time.� Parisitica replied. Sie got into the ship. The prophet watched as the ship exited the room and sank into the watery pool beneath it. In his mind he could see the ship slowly rising to the surface. He made it to the first stage. The ship burst through the fungus and fallen debris. He had succeeded the second stage. The prophet tensed up � he saw a few C�antora ships heading his way � but they then turned away and went somewhere else. He watched as the ship flew through the canopy � no problems � no one in pursuit. �All you have to do is get away from the planet � do this and you will be beyond their reach!� he said seriously. He closed his eyes and watched as the tiny ship vanished into the sky. �Do not look back�� he whispered. Just then, he could no longer see the ship. He had made it. �Apostles � protect him.� he requested. He left the room and made his way to his temple. He had to pray for his sins and had to pray for the survival of the children. |