Visions of Yesterdays:
The Birth of a Prince
A FanFic By Andrea Readwolf ( readwolf@ufl.edu )
January 13 2000
Rating: YA

	Rich, lustrous layers of golden, sun-kissed 
hair fell in waves down her back.   A crown 
of delicate, yellow roses rested atop her head, 
looking more regal than any crown of any metal 
ever could.  She was beautiful, he thought, coming 
to a halt ten feet behind her-stopping and 
staring, unable to look away.  Breath-takingly 
beautiful, he amended.    

  Just then she turned, ever so delicately, just a 
shift of her face, but her whole body seemed to 
shimmer with the movement.  A slanted violet-hued 
eye glanced at him from under think blond 
lashes.  

  "They are beautiful, are they not?" she asked in a 
gentile voice, lifting one graceful hand to 
touch a small rose bud.  The bud came to life and 
grew before his very eyes, swelling into full 
bloom and beaming proudly at the beautiful goddess 
who took notice of him.

  "My Queen?" he hesitated, taking a small step 
towards her.  

  "The roses," she said, pointing to another bud.  
This bud, too, bloomed to full life.  "They are 
beautiful."

  She turned fully, to face him and he gasped with 
surprise.  She smiled, moving a delicate hand 
over her waist.  "I have had another dream, Elios," 
she said, walking past him.  

  "My Queen, I-"

  "I will hear none of it," she said turning on him, 
face him.  

  She looked up at the orange ball of shining fire 
in the sky and smiled.  She closed her eyes and 
smiled, as though soaking up the sun's warm kisses.  
She shook her long golden waves and they 
began to glow, as though they too were soaking in 
the sun's warm embrace.  They brightened and 
then darkened, simmering into a glorious expanse of 
red waves.  She turned away from the sun 
and opened her eyes.  Sky blue stared out at him.  

  "If the dream is true, then my son is in danger."  
Her small hands caressed her small waist.  "I 
will not stand for that."  She stared at him, 
choosing her next words carefully.  "I will be 
travelling 
up through the North Country, most likely spending 
some time on the Emerald Coast."  She paused 
again, knowing what she wanted to say, but still 
somewhat hesitant to say it.  

  "My Queen--?" 

  She smiled at him, placing one hand on his 
shoulder.  "Elios, you are High Priest of Earth, and 
will one day be Guardian of the Elysion.  Of all the 
people of Earth, only you are most 
knowledgeable.  That is way I have called you here."  
She paused again, taking in a deep breath.  

  "I wish you to search out all the young people of 
Earth," she said, her voice toning with an 
authority that bespoke no questioning.  "Find me 
four who will serve in attendance to my son.  
Four who will be his loyal friends and body guards."  

  She moved away from him.  The white haired boy 
could say nothing; he stared after her in shock, 
thoughts racing through his mind.  

  "My Queen!" he called after her finally.  She 
turned and stared at him.  "How long do I have to 
find these four?  Is there any preference you 
request?  What-"

  She smiled.  "I leave that up to you, my son," she 
said.  One slender hand came up to caress his 
cheek.  "I ask only that you find the best.  Take as 
much time as you need, Elios, but please do 
not take too long."  

  Smiling again, the Goddess, Queen of Earth blew 
the white haired young man a kiss.  Red and 
pink rose petals swelled up around her, swirling 
around her palm and accompanying the "kiss" 
to him.  He stared in bemusement, and looked up-to 
discover her gone.

*********

	Long strands of silky white hair fell forward, 
covering his profile.  Willowy limbs were 
positioned in such a fashion that did not look 
comfortable, but the young man did not complain.  
In fact, he seemed not to notice, so deep in 
meditation was he when the vortex opened beside him.  

  "Elios," an eternally youthful voice called to 
him.

  The boy looked up, startled, tumbling over from 
his precarious position.  The woman smiled, 
her twinkling laughter floating over the air to him.  
"What question so drives you that you forget 
time of day and night?" The vision moved closer, 
seeming to glide over the distance between 
them.  "Why do you drive yourself to such limits, my 
child?  You have not taken food nor water 
for days now."

  "My lady, my goddess, my Queen-" the white haired 
boy stammered.  

  The vision smiled again and placed a calming hand 
upon his shoulder.  "I have come for Gaia," 
she said, trying to ease his dis-ease.  A frown 
marred her perfectly featured face.  "But she is no 
where within the gates of the palace.  Tell me, dear 
Elios, where can I find the Queen of Earth?"  

  The white haired boy shook himself, took a calming 
breath.  "I am sorry, Mistress Pluto, but 
her majesty has-disappeared."  He smiled 
apologetically at the beautiful woman before him.  

  Ivy green hair fell about her in waves.  Pale blue 
gauze encased her body from torso to heal.  
White petal daisies were woven throughout her hair 
and dress.  Her large cornflower blue eyes
smiled at him, even as her coral shell lips curved 
upwards.  

  "She has escaped up into the North Country again, 
hasn't she?" the woman asked, still smiling-like 
a child she was, an eternal child.  "I can not say I 
blame her.  Too many of Earth's people have 
forgotten us… forgotten her."

  The woman turned away, a solemn air surrounding 
her.  "I wish she had left when the rest of us 
did.  I wish she did insist so upon staying here 
with these selfish mortals.  Primitive beings," she 
said with anger.  "They are not worthy of belonging 
to the Silver Millenium!"  

  "Mistress," the boy-man said diplomatically.  "My 
Queen, she cares deeply for all her children-
even if they no longer care for her."

  The Mistress of Pluto turned away, trying to hide 
the silver dewdrops sliding over her blossoming 
cheeks. 

  "Mistress-" the white-haired boy asked with 
surprise.    

  "Cousin," she returned with a smile.  "I will be 
fine.  Six full months of Earth's lush fields and 
valleys will do me wonders-" she trailed off, her 
eyes shimmering again.

  "What has happened?" he asked, placing a hand on 
her shoulder.  She turned in his arms and 
wept, surprising him.  

  "Chronos has been snooping around the Gates' of 
Pluto," she said when she was calm enough 
to speak.  "Rumor's whispers tell tales that he is 
looking fore an heir."

  "And heir?" the white haired boy asked somewhat 
shocked.  "What-ever for?"
 
  "I do not know," the youthful goddess sniffed.  
"But… but I fear… I fear for…"
  
  "For what?" he asked softly, gently.

  "For my daughter!" she rushed.  "Cousin, please, I 
beg of you your helped!"    She pulled away 
from his embrace to look at him full faced.  There 
was a bemused, almost stunned expression 
overcast there.  

  "What?" he asked slowly, almost afraid to know.

  "I could not leave my daughter behind.  Not with 
Chronos lurking about."  She motioned behind 
her, one slender arm extended.  Mist swirled and 
cherry blossoms danced, a mixture of Death and 
Spring, and then both dissolved to reveal a small 
child-no older than one or two Earth years, Elios 
surmised. 

  The child had large deep red wine eyes that seemed 
to gaze directly into your soul.  Her dark 
green hair was already long, falling halfway down 
her back.  Elios could tell that one day this 
would be not only very powerful but also very 
beautiful.  

  "She is the first child of the next millenium," 
she continued, looking at the small child standing 
there.  "I could not leave her behind… but not can I 
bring her with me."

  Large pleading eyes turned to him.  

  "Oh no.  No. You can't mean to-Persephone, please, 
don't ask this of me!"  

  "Elios, please!" the youthful mother begged.  "It 
will only be for a little while.  She is a very well 
behaved child.  Very quiet!  You will hardly notice 
she is here!  Please?"

  She held his hands tightly, her large cornflower 
blue eyes pleading prettily.  

  "Oh, fine!  But please don't take all spring.  I 
am *not* a babysitter!"

  The ivy-haired woman beamed at him.  "Oh, thankyou 
thankyou thankyou thank you!" she cried, 
throwing her arms around his neck.  

  "I better not regret this," he mumbled looking at 
the silent child.

  "You won't, I promise," the mother replied.  "Come 
here, my darling," she said softly, reaching 
out a hand for the small child.  With a grace that 
bespoke more maturity than Elios thought possible 
for such a young child, the girl took the offered 
hand and stepped forward.  

  "Darling," the ivy-haired woman said softly, 
kneeling down beside the child.  "This is Elios.  
You 
will be staying with him until I return.  You will 
be safe, I promise."  

  The child nodded solemnly and then looked up at 
the white haired boy.   Elios smiled and leaned 
over.  "Hello, Small Lady of Pluto," he said in a 
gently voice.  The child nodded in 
acknowledgement.  Elios looked up at the woman, 
questioningly.   

  "Everything will be fine," she told him.  "Just 
fine.  Don't worry a bit!  I must hurry. Mother will 
be furious if I am late!"  

  Petals seemed to swell up from nowhere, engulfing 
her.  "I shall return anon!" her voice carried 
to the two remaining figures.  

  Elios sighed wearily.  "Well, Small Lady," he said 
to the child.  She stood there, silently, staring 
at him through her large wine colored eyes.  "It 
looks like it is just you and me."  

  The child closed her eyes and nodded, and then 
looked at him again.  

  "What should we do first?" he questioned, not 
quite sure what children liked to do.  

  "We should find the future Prince's guardians," 
the child whispered in a timeless voice that sent 
ice chilling down his bones.  

  Elios gasped.  "What know you of the young 
Prince?"

  The child tilted her dark-green head.  "Only that 
his birth shall bring about the end of the Silver 
Millenium."  She paused, looked straight up at him, 
and then said, "The children of the Silver 
Millenium will live only to see its destruction." 

  "Who tells you such lies?" the white-haired boy 
asked angrily.  

  The child smiled-the first since she had appeared 
before him.   "Time tells no lies."  She looked 
away, her eyes closed once again, as though 
listening to some unseen whisperer.  "The ones you 
seek," she said softly, trance-like, as though 
repeating what was said to her.  "Seek them through 
the stars… four men… influenced by four planets… 
Mercury… Venus… Mars… and Jupiter…"  

  "Why?" he asked suspiciously.  "Why the four 
planets closest to the sun and not the others?"  

  Her eyes snapped opened, red wine staring deeply 
into cobalt blue.  "The four closest to the 
Earth are also closest to the Moon," was all the 
child said.  

*********

  "I have a son!  I have a son!"  Cheers rose up 
around the crying man as he rushed from one hut 
to another.   Mists of the early morning parted as 
the man rushed from one end of the tiny village 
to the other.   He came to an abrupt halt before 
running into a stranger.    

  The man looked the stranger up and down 
suspiciously before breaking into a huge smile and 
pumping the stranger's hand.  "I have a son!" he 
cried.

  The stranger smiled.  "I am happy for you.  May I 
see the boy?"  

  "Of course!  Of course!"  The man led the stranger 
to a hut and motioned for the stranger to 
follow him in.   There they found the exhausted 
mother cradling a wee babe.  

  Upon sight of the stranger, the woman took 
immediate fright.  "Who be ye?" she whimpered, 
cowering into the bed swaddling.  "What do ye want?  
Why 'ave ye come 'ere?  Ye can't 'ave 
'im.  I won't allow it!"  She pulled the babe closer 
and the babe whimpered.  

  The stranger smiled down at the woman.  "Your 
child has been born in the light of the morning 
star."

  "What be this?" the man shouted angrily.  "We care 
not for no pagan devilishness!"  

  The stranger turned to the man, still smiling.  
"Your child's destiny is one that leads to other 
realms."  

  "Ye can't have 'im," the woman repeated, 
whimpering.  "Ye can't…"  

  "If not in life, then within the embrace of 
Death," another voice said softly from behind the 
stranger, "We shall have the child."    

  Both the man and the woman paled as a figure 
stepped out from the stranger's shadow.  They 
stared in shock and dread at the small form of a 
child.  

  "The Gods have decreed it thus… and thus it shall 
be."  The child look from mother to father.  
"The child is no longer yours."  

  The woman cried out, pulling the babe tighter into 
her embrace, but her arms drew forth only 
empty swaddling.   She cried out again, looking from 
her empty arms to the child and stranger.  
The babe she had just birthed hung suspended in the 
air before the two.  

  The stranger reached out his arms and held the 
babe.    "Kunzite," the white haired stranger 
whispered, smiling.  And then the morning mist 
swallowed them.

*********

  "Look at the stars, my darling," the woman 
whispered, staring up into the night sky.  "Are they 
not beautiful?"    She sighed, one hand smoothing 
the soft, downy curls of the infant laying at her 
breasts.  "Many believe the stars control 
everything.  Your great-grandmother once said that 
all 
the great Gods and Goddesses of our world became 
angry with the human race and left Earth 
and that each bright star in the night sky is 
another God or Goddess."

  "Your grandmother was a wise woman," and voice 
said softly.  

  The woman looked up, startled her long dark curls 
capturing the breeze and flying about her face.  
She is a beautiful woman, the stranger thought, for 
a mortal.  

  The woman's posture relaxed and she smiled.  "It 
is you," she said softly, laying back down in the 
ground.  "I was wondering when you would come."

  The stranger was taken back by this, surprise 
written clearly across his face.  "How did you 
know to expect me?" he asked with some confusion.    

  The woman looked at him, smiling and winked.  
Holding the small infant to her chest, she rolled 
over to her side, placing the babe in the soft, 
fragrant green grass.  "The stars told me, of 
course," 
she answered with a smile.  

  "Then you know why-"

  "Yes," she said, cutting him off, looking down at 
the sleeping infant.  "I know, it is his destiny to 
go with you."  She hesitated, looking up at the 
stranger.  "I ask only-only that you bring me with 
you!" she rushed sitting up.  "Please bring me with 
you.  There is nothing left for me here without
my son, please.  Bring me with you?"

  The stranger looked uneasy and seeing this, the 
young mother tried another method of persuasion.  

  "Have you any knowledge of how much work a child 
needs to be cared for?  To be kept clean 
and well feed?  Clothed and well healthed?  I can 
help you… if you would only bring me with you!"  

  He looked at her, considering this, and then felt 
the tug at his side.  The stranger looked down 
at the small dark-green headed child.  She looked up 
at him and nodded.  He smiled.  

  "Very well," he told her.  "But you are not to 
interfere with his destiny."  

  The woman smiled gratefully.  "The stars would 
never allow me to," she answered, standing 
up with the infant in her arms.  

*********

  The three figures walked out of the drifting snow 
towards what seemed like a fortress.  As 
they neared what they assumed to be the gates they 
heard shouting.  

  "Leave the child!" an old man was shouting.  "I' 
twilln't survive the winter!"  

  "I cannot," replied the other man.  "I know you 
are right, but I cannot."

  "Don't be daft!" the old man shouted, raising a 
fist to the sky.  "I' tis custom!  Leave the child!  
I will feed no sickly babes in my home!"  

  "What?!"  

  Both men turned and for the first time noticed the 
three figures standing in the drifts of snow.   
Or, more appropriately, they noticed the tall woman 
with the thick dark braid.  

  "What 'tis it you want?" the old man barked.  

  "Did I hear you correctly?" the woman questioned, 
stepping closer to the two men.  "Do you 
intend to leave that babe out here in the winter's 
mercilessness?"

  "'Tis of no concern of yours, woman," the old man 
snapped.  "Get yourself home to your 
husband!"  

  "The lady asked you a question," the small child 
holding an infant said.   Both men looked at 
the child and frown.  

  "Give the babe to me," the woman said, stepping 
forward and taking the babe from the man's 
arms.  "Let the very forces of nature to which you 
would sacrifice him be his very strength and 
power."  

  She turned, shifting the two babes in her arms, 
and walked away.  The two strangers who had 
accompanied her arrival looked at the two men, then 
at the retreating woman, and then at one 
another.  

  "Very well, then," said the white haired stranger.  

  "So be it," said the child.

  The two turned away to follow the woman, leaving 
two very stunned men in their wake. 

*********

  "Burn the Witch!  Burn the Witch!  Burn the Witch!  
Burn the Witch!"

  "Please, no!  No!  You don't know what you are 
doing!  Please!"  

  "For crimes of witchcraft, the Holy Church finds 
you guilty.  You must burn for your sins, only 
then may your soul be free from Satan."

  "Please, I am not a Witch, I am not a Witch!"  

  There was a screaming infant in her arms.  One of 
the members of the crowd tore the child 
from his mother's arms.  "What of the child?" the 
other woman asked, holding the infant upside 
down by its leg.  

  "Surely it too is a child of the Devil!" another 
member of the crowd shouted.  

  "Burn them!  Burn them both!"  

  "Burn the Witch!  Burn the Witch!  Burn the 
Witch!"  

  Lit torches were waved in the air above the heads 
of the screaming crowd.  

  It was into this scene that three figures holding 
three infants arrived.    

  "What do you think you are doing?" a voice called 
out over the crowd.  The roaring crowd 
silenced, each turning to the other, before looking 
at the new comers.  

  "Hold back, newcomer," a man dressed in robes said 
as he approached them.  "Do not mettle
in affairs which you do not understand."  

  Handing one of the fussing babes in her arms over 
to her companion, the dark-haired woman 
stepped forward, shifting the dark haired baby to 
her hip.  "You are correct in assuming I do not 
understand, for all I see is a bunch of rowdy 
children playing none-too-nice!  By what right do 
you attempt to cause harm upon this woman and 
child?"

  The man glared at her.  "She is a witch, this 
child is that of the demon," he answered shortly.  
The crowd behind him made sound of agreement.  

  "I am not a Witch!  I am not a Witch!"

  The dark-haired new comer looked at the 
strawberry-blond woman who struggled against 
the ropes fastening her to a stake.  

  "By what right do you accuse this woman of being a 
witch?" she asked, turning to look at 
the robed man.  

  "'Tis no concern of yours, woman, unless you are 
her sister witch!"  

  The woman looked shocked at the accusation… and 
then she busted out laughing in the man's 
face.  

  But then she drew serious and looked at the man.  
"I need no magick to kill you where you stand."  

  The man paled and sneered, "You ARE a Witch!  You 
have been sent by the Devil to lead us 
astray!  You-"

  "You talk too much," she said, cutting him off.  
"Give me the child," she said, holding her hand 
out, and then, as a second thought, "And the woman."  

  The man made stir to protest.  

  "Silence," she snapped.  "Do not meddle in affairs 
which you do not understand.  Elios, Small 
Lady," she called over her shoulder.  The two other 
new comers stepped forward, a small-
bemused expression on the young man's face, the 
young girl smiling broadly.  

  The child stepped up beside the dark-haired woman 
and looked up at her, smiling.  The woman 
smiled down at her.  Together, sharing the same 
thought, they nodded.  The child looked at the 
man, a some-what devious smile on her sweet little 
lips.  She rolled her shoulders as though 
stretching….

  And the crowd gasped.  

  Elios shook his head, but finally understanding 
what his two companions were about he too 
rolled his shoulders and stretched out his snowy 
white wings.    

  "Give us the child," the dark-green haired child 
said, startling the crowd more.  

  "And the woman," the dark-braided hair woman 
added, cradling the crying babe in her arms.  
Bindings were cut and the woman fell to her knees 
before the three figures.  She looked up in 
amazement at the trio and then quickly crossed 
herself.  Others in the crowd were quick to do the 
same until the entire populace was on their knees.  

  "Thank you," the woman whispered in a shaken 
voice.  The dark-haired woman smiled at her.  

  "You are welcome to join us, if that is your 
wish," she told the mother.  The woman held her 
arms out for her baby, but the dark-haired woman did 
not return the babe.  "What ever your 
decision," she continued, "the child shall remain 
with us."  

  The woman looked at her, and then her two 
companions, shocked and confused.  "Then… 
then I shall come with you," she whispered in a 
choked voice.  
  
  The dark-haired woman smiled.  "I knew you would."  
She turned away then and began walking 
away from the center of town, walking away from the 
crowd.  The child and young man turned to 
follow her.  The worried woman got up from her knees 
quickly and chased after them, afraid to 
be left behind.  

  "You are a very bossy woman, do you know that?" 
she over heard the young man say to the 
woman.

  "I am not bossy," the woman replied.  "I am just 
very strong-willed."  She sighed and looked 
behind her.  "Hurry up my dear.  I am sure you do 
not want to be left here!"    She turned back 
to the white haired young man.  "Where to now, my 
Lord?"  

  "Home," the young man replied wearily.  

  "Home," the young child agreed.  "The time has 
come for the young prince to be born."

*********

  "Balderdash, Elios!" the dark haired woman as they 
walked through the mist.  "You worry too 
much.  The babe is not sickly, he is only hungry.  
Nothing a good feeding won't fix right quickly! 
 Just as soon as we get home."  She stopped and 
looked at the mist surrounding them on all sides.  
"Just where exactly *is* home, by-the-by?"  

  Elios shifted the fussing baby in his arms and 
pointed straight ahead of them.  "'Home' is just 
up ahead," he answered, shifting the baby again.  

  "Good!" the dark haired woman said with an air of-
of-well, he wasn't quite sure what it was, 
but he was beginning to find it-more than just 
annoying and-was that a bit of endearment too?  
He shook his head and continued walking, listening 
to her rattle on, hoping that he wouldn't regret 
bringing this strange woman along.  

  "My feet are killing me!" she was saying.  "And 
I'm sure you are all just as famished as I am, 
aren't you honey?" she asked, looking down at her 
side at the small dark-green-haired child 
walking beside her.  The child nodded solemnly and 
looked up at her with large wine colored 
eyes.  

  "I'll have to see your kitchen, of course, first 
thing once we get there.  And we'll have to make 
sleeping arrangements."  She looked over to Elios.  
"I don't suppose you've thought about how 
you are going to feed and take care of four babes, 
have you?  Do you have cribs for them to 
sleep in?  Maybe a couple of wet nurses or a beast?  
Some coverings?  I don't know how cold 
it is in this place you are taking us but babes 
still need to wear clothes!"  

  Elios looked at her as though he'd never seen her 
before and then slowly shook his head.  "No," 
he told her honestly.  "I had not considered 
anything beyond that of finding the children."  

  She sighed loudly, melodramatically.  "Well, I 
guess if it comes right down to it, I could nurse 
two.  What about you, Hon?" she asked, looking over 
her shoulder and addressing the other 
woman for the first time since they entered the 
mists.

  The blond woman looked in shock, as though she was 
travelling through a dream and expected 
to wake up at any moment.  She had stringy dark 
blond hair that needed a good combing, her 
face was streaked from tears, the clothes on her 
back looked no better than rags, her dark blue 
eyes looked hallow.  All in all, she looked a wreck.   

  The dark haired woman took immediate pity for the 
woman.  Smiling friendly-like at her, the 
dark-haired woman approached the blond.  "What's 
your name, darling?" she asked gently.  

  "Bri-Brighid," the small woman replied.  Only at 
this proximity, the dark haired woman realized 
this was no woman before her, but just little more 
than a child.  The nurturing spirit within the dark 
haired woman bloomed to full force.   

  "Hello, Brighid," she said, an adult talking to a 
child.  "I am called Deanna.  I apologize for not 
introducing myself sooner.  I'm afraid I forgot with 
all that excitement going on!"  She smiled 
encouragingly at the blond "child"-for she would 
never see her as more then a child from now 
on.  "Come on," she said, reaching out an arm to 
pull the girl forward.  "I'm sure you are hungry 
and tired too, what with all that ordeal.  We shall 
be home soon and then we can rest."  

  The blond-"child" followed meekly, still in shock.  
"Wh-where are you taking me?" she asked 
through white lips.  

  Deanna looked over to Elios before smiling down at 
Brighid.  "Some place where you and your 
babe will be safe," she answered.  

  "Why did you save us?" she asked weakly.  "Who are 
you?  What do you want with me?  
Why-"  her voice cracked and tears pooled into her 
large blue eyes.  

  "All questions will be answered soon enough," 
Elios said, trying to sound gentle like Deanna, 
but fearing he failed greatly when the dark haired 
woman shot him a look.  

  "Your son must fulfill his destiny," the green-
haired child said, looking up at the blond woman.  
The woman looked startled, staring at the child with 
the timeless voice.  

  "Let us continue," Elios said, then, urging them 
onward.  

  "Here," Deanna said, handing her baby over to a 
surprised Elios who now tried to juggle two 
babes.  He looked up at her with surprise and a 
little-could it be uneasiness?   But the dark haired 
woman was paying him no never mind, instead taking 
the babe from the green haired child's arms 
and handing it to the blond-no, Brighid was her 
name, he reminded himself silently.   The-Brighid 
looked at Deanna with surprise, also, but Deanna was 
reaching down and pulling the Small Lady 
into her arms.  Standing up straight she looked at 
them, looking at her.

  "Well?  What are you all waiting for?" she asked, 
sounding somewhat annoyed.  "Do we want 
to get home or not?  Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

  She took off, leaving them to follow.  Elios shook 
his head with mild exasperation, but he noticed. 
They hadn't gone five steps before the dark-green 
haired child was fast asleep.  He had a lot to 
learn about children, he mused, looking down at the 
two babes in his arms, one light, one dark.  
He looked over to-Brighid, and the two fair babes in 
her arms.  Yes, he had a lot to learn about 
children… and four babes to learn with.

*********

  "They look like angels," he whispered, moving 
closer to her in the darkened room.  

  "They are," she replied, shifting-just slightly-to 
allow him room next to the crib.  She shot him a 
knowing smile.  "At least at this age, they are."  
She looked back down at the four sleeping heads.  
"All babes are angels; all children are angels-
especially when they are asleep."  

  She gave him a wink and then moved on to the other 
bed in the darkened room.  "Who is she?" 
she asked, pushing stray strands of dark green hair-
black in the lack of light-away from the cherub 
face.  

  The white-haired young man followed her and stood 
beside her as she looked down on the 
sleeping child.  "She is the Princess of Pluto," he 
told her, barely noticing her startled look.  
Instead he thought on something that seemed to give 
him great sadness.  "And one day, she 
will be the Mistress of Time," he added softly.  

  'Mistress of Time,' she thought bemusedly. 
'Princess of Pluto…'

  "Are you Gods, then," she asked, almost afraid to 
look at him.  But that annoyed her so she 
forced herself to look at him.  He was smiling and 
seemed to give a silent little laugh to her 
question.

  "We have been called such," he said, not looking 
at her, but at the sleeping child.  "And we have 
been called much worse."  His smiled faded and he 
looked at her.  

  "I'm not stupid," she said just barely above a 
whisper.  He made to say something, but she cut him 
off.  "I know you are not like other people.  I know 
you are different," she continued.  
 
  He stared at her in silence, not knowing what to 
say.  Uneasy with the silence, she let her words 
tumble on.  

  "This place," she said, waving a hand in the air.  
"This place is different from any other place I 
have visited.  It is… magickal," she said finally, 
looking back at him.   Dark green-hazel, really-eyes 
held fast to cobalt blue.  "You are magickal," she 
whispered.  

  Her arms reached up and around his sides, moving 
over his back as though in an embrace.  
Surprised and startled, he stood there, still, as 
she somehow slid her body from before him to 
behind him, her hands still roaming over his back.  

  "What was it?" she whispered, almost seemingly to 
herself.  "What sorcery gave you angel's 
wings?"  Her hands stilled, and, though he could not 
see it, her face puzzled.  "Or was it just a 
fancy illusion?"

  He smiled, turning around to face her, capturing 
her hands in his.  "It was no illusion," he told 
her softly, still smiling.  "No, you are correct.  
Small Lady and myself are different.  We are not 
like you."  

  "I know," she whispered, taking another moment to 
stare into his eyes.  And then she looked 
away, looked towards the other bed in the room.  
"She is not a witch," she said, still standing 
where she was.  

  "I know," he said softly, not bothering to look at 
the woman in question.  The dark-haired 
woman before him looked back at him, a worried 
expression creasing her brow.  

  "She is not well," she told him.  "I-I do not 
think she will live very much longer."  

  "It was an act of mercy," he told her, staring 
into her expressionist eyes.  "She would be dead 
already had she stayed where she was."  

  "And me?" the dark-haired woman asked.  "Would I 
be dead as well?"    

  He rested his head against her forehead and was 
silent for a moment.  "How long do you think 
you could have survived before they came after you, 
too?" he asked softly.  

  She pulled away, walking to the other side of the 
room, stopping beside the crib.  She held 

herself tightly as she gazed down at the sleeping 
babes.  "My grandmother once told me that 
all the great Gods of the past tired of the human 
race and took to the heavens," she whispered.  
"I have always believed in them-I will always 
believe in them."  

  She turned and looked at him, tears in her eyes.  
"The Craft is in my blood.  I will never give 
it up.  Those of the one god do not care to open 
their hearts and understand.  They care only 
to conform and dominate."  She looked back at the 
crib.  "It would only be a matter of time 
before they found me and tried to kill me… like my 
mother."  

  She felt his hands on her shoulders, comforting, 
but more than that; she felt his warmth and 
understanding.  

  "Not all the gods left," he told her, pulling her 
into his embrace.  She held tight for a moment, 
and then she moved away.  Nodding and blinking some 
stray tears from her eyes she took his 
hand and made for the door.  

  "How 'bout some warm cocoa?" she asked, closing 
the door behind them.  

  On the bed a small green haired child smiled 
sadly.  "Be happy, Elios," she said softly.  "For it 
will be a long time before such happiness finds you 
again."  The child snuggled in closer to the 
warm bed linens.  "Tomorrow," she said, drifting 
back off into sleep.  "Tomorrow, the prince 
shall come."

*********

      The sun's kisses were already raining down 
over the morning dew, sparkling the world 
with life, when he awoke the next day.  Groggily he 
sat up in bed, startling when he realized 
he was not alone.   With a mixture of bemusement and 
confusion he stared down at the dark 
head resting on his pillow.  And then slowly, the 
events of the past six months began to filter 
back to him.  

  Gods!  Six months.  Had it truly been that long he 
had searched for the four chosen babes?  
The four who would be both friends and protectors of 
his queen's son?  But he had found them… 
and this woman.

  "Deanna," he said softly, testing the name on his 
tongue.  'A pretty name,' he thought, smiling. 

  He pushed out of bed, trying not to disturb the 
woman and cautiously tiptoed to the adjoining 
room.  Creeping over to the crib, he peered in, 
looking down at the four sleeping babes who 
had been the goal of the past six months.    It had 
taken time, but he had found them.  He had 
found the four who were born in accordance to the 
first four planets…

  "Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter," he whispered to 
himself as he stared down at the babes.  
"What is so special about those four stars, hmmm?" 

  He reached out a hand to the nearest babe, the 
fairest of them all with silvery hair not much 
unlike his own.  "Kunzite," he whispered, one finger 
gently tracing a satiny cheek.  "Born in the 
light of the morning star, the planet Venus."  

  He looked at the child sleeping beside the first.  
This child was fair, also, but his blond curls 
were a bit livelier, like golden sunshine, he 
thought whimsically.  "Zoicite," he said softly, 
tracing 
this child's cheek also.  "Born in the light of the 
evening star, the planet Mercury."

  The child laying across from the second was also 
fair, but his fair was more of a burnished 
golden fair.  Like the yellow of the flames from 
which he had been saved short days ago.  
Fitting, Elios thought, that the child should have 
been born in the like of the red star, the planet 
Mars.  "Jadeite," he whispered to the sleeping babe.  

  He looked down at the last babe in the crib, the 
dark-haired woman's child, Deanna's child.  
"Nephrite," he told the sleeping babe.  "Born in the 
light of the strongest and brightest star, the 
planet Jupiter." 

  He sighed, pushing away from the crib to turn and 
leave-

  And stopped as he became aware of the two bright 
wine-colored eyes staring out at him.  
He tried to smile, more to reassure himself than the 
child.  "Up so early?" he asked, trying to 
sound jovial.  

  The dark green haired child was silent, just 
staring at him with her solemn expression.  It made 
him more nervous than he cared to admit. 

  "They return," she said finally, continuing to 
stare at him.  

  "Who returns?" the white haired young man asked, 
clearing his throat and swallowing.  

  "Mother and two other women," the green haired 
child replied before looking over his shoulder.  
He turned too, to see what held the child's 
attention, but finding nothing there but the door, 
he 
turned back.  

  And then Deanna walked in, in her-what Elios now 
considered-normal state of mind.  

  "Here you two are," she said, sounding as though 
she'd searched the entire castle over for them. 
"I would think you'd be down to the kitchens 
grabbing a bite to eat before these little monsters 
wake up, howling for another feeding."  

  She moved straight to the crib, picked up the dark 
haired babe-who whimpered at having his 
sleep disturbed-and preceded to feed him.  Elios 
turned away quickly, red staining his cheeks 
and creeping up his neck.  The green haired child 
actually had the audacity to smile, he noted.  

  "I think food is a good idea," he said through a 
choked voice, walking over tot he child's bed.  
"Do you care to join me, Small Lady?" he asked, 
reaching out a hand to the child.

  The child stared at the white haired young man and 
then at the proffered hand before looking 
again over his shoulder at the woman nursing her 
babe.  Slowly, the child shook her green little 
head. 

  "Are you sure?" he pressed.

  "Leave the child alone, Elios," the dark haired 
woman cut in.  "She doesn't need to go down 
now if she doesn't want.  She's just fine right 
where she is."  She came up beside him, startling 
him more.  She smiled when she realized his 
discomfort.  He looked everywhere but at her.  
"I'll bring her down with me in a little," she said 
softly.  

  Their eyes met and they both stared.  She smiled, 
more of a reassuring smile than a teasing 
smiled.  "Go," she told him.  "Get some food into 
you.  We'll be down shortly."  

  He nodded, caught sight of white flesh, colored 
again, and moved out of there quicker than if 
he'd had wings.  Just outside the door the twinkling 
of laughter caught his ears and his feet stopped, 
captivated by the sound.  Slowly a smile crept to 
his face and he preceded down to the kitchens.

  'The woman has no shame,' he thought to himself.  
'None a'tall.'  And to make it worse, he 
was almost positive she did it a propose. 

  Deanna shook her head, laughter bubbling up as she 
watched the young man skit out the room.  
"You'd think the man had never seen a breast 
before," she said, shaking her head and handing 
the now-happily-well-fed baby over to the green 
haired child.  The child was more than happy 
to take the babe and smiled up at her.  

  "He hasn't," she said, looking down at the soft 
baby, tracing a satiny cheek with one of her 
little fingers.  

  "What?" Deanna stopped in mid-action of picking up 
another babe.  Zoicite whimpered and 
the woman quickly picked the hungry babe up and 
moved him to her full breast.  "Balderdash," 
she said, recovering from her surprise.  "Every one 
has seen a breast before," she told the child.  
"Even if it his own mother's!"

 The child shook her green little head.  "No Elios," 
she said firmly.  "He has no mother." 

  "Every person has a mother," Deanna told the 
child, moving the babe over her shoulder to 
burp him.  "Even Elios."  

  The child just shook her head and did not push the 
matter further, which was good, for just 
then trumpets blared from overhead.  The babes in 
the crib whimpered and began to fuss.  
Even Brighid, who had slept quite soundly until 
then, stirred.  

  "What in Tartan's Nation-" Deanna said, moving to 
one of the window slits.  

  "The Queen returns," the green haired child said 
solemnly.  

  "Queen?" Deanna turned, her eyes narrowed with 
surprise and suspicion.  "What Queen?"  

  "Why, the Queen of Earth, of course," the child 
said.  "Gaia."

*********

    She was in the gardens--as she was want to be 
more often than not.  You could wall her in 
with stones and wood, but her spirit would always be 
out here, roaming the pathways through 
vine, leaf, and petal.  Free.  One with the world 
she gave life to.  That was why she couldn't 
leave with the others so many centuries ago.  That 
was why she wouldn't leave now, despite 
her knowledge of the future.

  This was her world.  Let the others do what they 
wish.  Let them spread themselves across 
the galaxy, take chunks of rock and balls of gas and 
bring life to them.  She would stay here.  
And she knew there were others that shared her 
opinion, and together, they kept watch over 
the planet.

  "Earth," she whispered to the budding roses.  What 
a lovely name, she thought.  More unique 
than the other planets.  More poetic.  And quick to 
follow this thought was another.

  They had left her.  They all had abandoned her, 
left to seek out new worlds.  They were not 
satisfied with the beautiful world she had created 
for them.  They abandoned her, and they 
abandoned everything she held dear…and she could not 
understand why.

  Her grandchildren led the way, populating the 
other planets.  Some of the others populated 
the moons.  Still others were not satisfied and took 
to rest in the asteroid belt that stretched its 
path between Mars and Earth.   

  She didn't care.  They left her, so why should she 
care?  Let them all rot, she thought sourly.

  With a loud sigh she turned the corner--and 
started.  

  "Goodness gracious, child!  You startled me!" she 
exclaimed, one hand pressed against her 
racing heart.  

  The green-haired child in question stood silently 
in the center of the walk.  Large, blood red 
roses bloomed on either side of her fragile little 
body.  Her dark green hair fell straight down her 
back and around her shoulders, tiny wisps of bangs 
fringing her large, exotic-looking wine-colored 
eyes.  Overall, she was incredibly beautiful.  Even 
at such a young age.  

  The dark haired goddess frowned at the child's 
silence, feeling somewhat unnerved--a feeling 
she was very much unused to, even in the presence of 
her high and mighty children.  

  "Come her, child.  What is your name?" she asked, 
reaching out a hand invitingly towards the 
girl.  

  "Small Lady?  Small Lady?  Puu!  Where are you?" a 
voice called out from the gardens.  The 
child turned--just a bare fraction of an inch--and 
looked behind her.  From around another 
corner came a dark-haired woman.   "There you are, 
Puu!  Why'd you take off like that?  You 
know Elios is waiting for us!" the woman exclaimed 
as she approached the child and reached 
for her hand.

  But the child turned back towards the goddess and 
began to speak--in her timeless voice.

  "You majesty, may I present to you Deanna, a 
mother of one of the children who will be 
guardians to your son."

  The dark-haired woman stopped short, her thick 
braid bouncing over one shoulder, her 
eyes wide, and her lips parted in a silent gasp, as 
she realized she and the child were not 
alone in the gardens.  She stared in shock at the 
beautiful goddess before her. 

  Long ebony hair fell in silken waves to the 
earthen ground.  One thick braid, intertwined with 
gold and silver bands, was coiled evenly around her 
head like a coronet. Thick, sooty lashes 
framed midnight blue eyes.  Alabaster skin sparkled, 
as though dipped in stardust.  Lips of 
blush rose were curved in a soft smile.

  "Hello," the goddess said.  "I am Gaia, mother of 
all, and crowned Queen of Earth."

*********

  Elios heard the fanfare of the trumpeters and knew 
his Queen had returned home once more.  
He did not rush out to great her, though.  He knew 
that soon enough, when she was ready, Gaia 
would call for him.

  So he turned his mind from his Queen to another 
woman, the dark-haired woman, Deanna, who 
had shared his bed last night.

  Had anything…happened? He asked himself, and then 
colored when he realized he could not 
remember.  "Surely had something happened…" He would 
have remembered, no?  If they-- if 
he-- well, he would have remembered!  So did that 
mean nothing had happened?

  He sighed deeply, trying to push away the sick 
feeling that had taken root at the bottom of his 
belly.  He rubbed at his eyes before tugging at his 
temples, trying to force the tension away.  He 
needed a distraction, that's what he needed.  And as 
if on cue a servant came scurrying into the 
kitchen.

  "My Lord?  My Lord!" she said, finally finding her 
target.  Extremely out of breath she came up 
to him, "Thank the stars I've found you!  Her 
majesty, the Queen of Earth, has requested your 
presence, my Lord."  

  Elios sighed, pushing up away from the table.  The 
dark-haired woman who filled his mind-- and 
apparently his bed, too-- would have to wait until 
later.  For now his queen demands his attention.  

  Grabbing his cloak from the bench, he asked the 
servant where the queen was, but he was 
already out the door before she could gasp out the 
answer.  

  "The Royal Gardens," followed him out.  

  Laughter, floating weightlessly above the 
trickling fountains was the first thing he noticed 
as he 
entered the gardens.    Beautiful laughter.  So 
sweet and carefree and heartfelt.   Sadly, he 
wondered if he would hear much of it in the years to 
come, as he followed the pathways to the 
center of the gardens. 

  Their world was changing.  Too quickly, he 
thought.  And with the birth of the prince, 
everything 
would be changed forever, irrevocable.   He was 
secretly glad he would not be the one to tell 
Serenity that Earth has chosen a male protector.  
All hell was sure to break lose, he knew.   Since 
Serenity's throning not a male had been named 
guardian or protector of any planet.  It was not 
allowed.  But Gaia, great Mother that she was, had 
seen the direction her people had taken, 
pulling away from the matriarchs of olden days.  And 
so it was she had conceived herself a son, 
a male child who would be both guardian and ruler 
for her world.  

  He came nearer to the center of the gardens where 
the laughter was strongest.  The sound of 
other voices stopped him short.  Looking he saw his 
queen was not alone.  Indeed, the very 
woman he had been trying to forget was right there 
before him.  She and the dark-haired child, 
Small Lady, were sitting on the bench beside the 
queen, talking, chatting, laughing as though she 
was not in the company of royalty, but that of a 
bosom buddy.  

  The dark-haired child on her lap, leaned her head 
back, staring up at the woman with a cherub 
smile.  Positioning her head on Deanna's shoulder, 
Small Lady stuck her thumb in her mouth a 
preceded to twirl a strand of long dark green hair 
around one chibi-finger.  Suddenly she froze 
in mid-twirl and turned to look at him, directly.  
Deep wine colored eyes locked with cobalt blue.  
Noticing, the child's shifting, Deanna, too, looked 
up and saw him.  

  "Ah!  My dear Elios!" the exotic looking goddess 
beside Deanna and Small Lady cried out, 
rising the stone bench.  

  Elios immediately fell to one knee before her.  
"My Queen," he said softly.  "You called for me?"

  Two outstretched hands reached out for him and 
pulled him up.  Before he could comprehend 
what was happening, two arms wrapped around him, and 
the beautiful Queen of Earth embraced 
him, much to his surprise and embarrassment. The 
large protruding belly that hadn't registered in 
his mind before, registered now as it pushed into 
him and he felt it jump.  He jumped in response.  

  Laughing gaily, the queen too, pulled back, two 
hands moving to soothe her large stomach.  "He 
says 'Hello', too," she said, looking down at her 
belly lovingly.  

  Elios looked at her as though he had never seen 
her before but she didn't seem to notice.  

  "Ah, Elios," she said wistfully, looking back up 
at him, smiling.  "How I have missed you, your 
company.  Tell me, has everything faired well here 
while I was gone?"

  "Elysion still stands," he answered, his eyes wide 
with bewilderment as he took in her very 
pregnant form.   She took his hand and dragged him 
over to the bench where Deanna was 
sitting with Small Lady on her lap.  

  "You look like you've never seen a woman with 
child," she said, smiling teasingly up at him.   

  He stammered a look towards her, before staring 
back at the queen who had wondered off 
towards the roses.  "I haven't," he said softly.  

  She stared at him incredibly, waiting for him to 
tell her he was, of course, just kidding.  But he 
remained quiet, staring at his queen.  "Just where 
on Earth are you from?" she asked finally, with 
no little amount of exasperation.  

  He tore his gaze from his queen to look at the 
beautiful dark haired woman at his side.  "Here," 
he answered before waving a hand and looking at 
their surroundings.  "This is where I am from."

  "And where is this?" she asked before taking a 
moment to look around, also.

  There were roses.  Roses were everywhere; Roses of 
every color.  Climbing over walls and 
up pillars.  Growing into solid walls of thorns and 
leaves. And there were smooth white stones 
that made up the architecture.  Some were pillars, 
circular beams stretching high into the sky…

  Which took her gaze to the sky-- and oh!  What a 
sky!  It was a shade of blue-- so clear and 
pure.  She could never remembered seeing such a blue 
before--because it only existed here, in 
this place.  But beyond the sky was-- was a castle.  

  She caught her breath, her eyes wide with 
surprise.  

  It was more then just large.  But that was not 
what has shocked her so.  The castle looked 
made of gold.  It glittered in the sunlight-- 
sunlight?  But there was no sun-- and was encrusted 
with jewels of every making, sparkling brightly.  
Water gushed out of mouths placed high on the 
sidewalls, falling down in wondrous cascades-- 
creating the illusion of a large, gaudy water 
fountain. 

  And that was another thing.  All the water 
fountains.  They were everywhere.  Everywhere she 
turned, everywhere she looked.  Large ones, small 
ones, in-between ones.  Some that stood on 
their own; others that peeked out at you from the 
rose bushes; others still, that were fashioned 
from the walls and white marble pillars. 

  "*What* is this place, Elios?" she asked softly, 
still drinking in their wondrous surroundings.

  "This is Elysion," he said softly, smiling at her 
expression as she looked at his home.  "It is the 
location of the Sun Kingdom, and home to the people 
of the Earth Kingdom."  

  He stood up, crossing the short distance between 
the bench and the nearest fountain.  Staring 
into the watery depths, he lost himself in thought 
until a soft hand and gentle word pulled him back.  

  "Elios--"  Her large brown eyes stared up at him.  
Finally, all she could do was smile.  She 
looked over to the young queen-- she didn't look 
more than eighteen or twenty.  "Is she--?"

  The white haired boy nodded.  "Gaia is Queen of 
the Earth Kingdom, and ruler of all that you 
see here," he told her.

  The woman in question was smiling and laughing and 
conversing with her roses.  And the roses 
seemed to be responding, nodding their buds and 
blooms, swaying their stems and leaves.  Then 
she looked down to the bulging of her belly, two 
tender hands caressing the swollenness. 

  "She is very lovely," Deanna whispered in his ear, 
leaning into the white-haired young man.  

  "Y--yes, she is," he said softly, looking at the 
woman beside him.  " And so--"  

  The queen cried out, doubling over.  Deanna and 
Elios rushed to the goddess's side asking her
 if she was all right, if she had hurt herself.  

  The green-haired child who had been lying 
contentedly on the stone bench sat up and looked 
at them.  Tilting her head she said softly, "The 
prince comes."  

*********

    "How is she?" Elios asked nervously as Deanna 
stepped out of the room.  She closed the 
door behind her and gently pushed him back down the 
corridor. 

  "She's fine.  Tired, but fine," Deanna said, 
sounding extremely tired herself.  "Women have 
babies all the time, Elios.  It's a very natural 
thing."

  He shook his white-hair, but held his tongue and 
followed her into the kitchens. 

  "And the child?  How fares he?" Elios asked, 
taking up seating at the table.  

  "The child's fine," Deanna said wearily, spooning 
two bowls of cold soup.  "Sleeping.  Soon 
he'll be ready to feed, and then we will go back and 
wake her up."  

  She sat down next to him, placing one of the bowls 
before him.  Neither one touched the 
substance, but instead, sat there, quietly, staring 
out of the tiny window and the numerous 
stars in the sky night.  

  "What happens now?" a soft voice asked from 
behind.  

  The two turned and saw the goddess Persephone 
standing in the doorway, light from the 
corridor pouring into the darkened room in which 
they sat, highlighting her silhouette.  The 
ivy-haired goddess stepped into the room; her 
worried frown stared at Elios.  "What will happen?" 

  Elios sighed and shook his head, leaning heavily 
on the table before him. "I don't know," he 
said hoarsely.  The youthful goddess came fully into 
the room, dropping down into a seat across 
from them.  She, too, shook her head, her face a 
mixture of bewilderment, confusion, and sadness.  

  "What do you mean, 'What happens now'?" Deanna 
asked, her brow now wrinkling, too.  

  Persephone looked at the newcomer, resentment and 
distrust written clearly in her look.  Elios, 
however, sighed, and took the dark-haired woman's 
hand in his.  

  "Gaia has named the child as her heir, as guardian 
and protector of Earth," he said slowly.  
Deanna's expression marked her confusion.  

  With a small shake of her head she asked him, "And 
what's wrong with that?" 

  Persephone answered.  "Only females may succeed 
their parents.  That is how things are down.  
Power and supremacy are handed down from mother to 
daughter."  She looked at Elios.  "And 
only females may be guardians and protectors of 
their worlds.  Those are the laws of Serenity.  
Gaia knew this.  Gaia helped create these laws.  Why 
now does she retreat by her own making?"   

  Elios shook his head, unable to look at her, 
unable to voice the answer.  

  "Gaia knew these laws," Persephone said, on the 
verge of tears.  "The child-- the child 'tis a 
boy, a male, and yet still she names it as heir to 
the Earth Kingdom."  She reached across the 
table, her nails biting into his flesh.  "Why, 
Elios?  Why did she do it?"  

  Elios sighed, and finally looked at her.  "It 
makes perfect sense… for Earth."  He took a deep 
breath and then continued.  "The Earth has changed, 
Persephone, since the old gods left.  Earth 
is not the same place you remember as a child.  The 
people have changed.  Earthians have lost 
respect for the old ways; they no longer--" Elios 
just shook his head.  

  "Men now rule Earth," he continued.  "Gaia knew 
this, and so, she has given Earth a son.  
Someone to guard and protect them… someone they will 
look up to for leadership."

  They lapsed into silence; each lost within the 
rhythms of their own thoughts.   Persephone 
was the first to break the silence.  

  "What… what will she name the child?" the youthful 
goddess asked brokenly, still in shock 
and confusion.  

  Deanna smiled at the goddess.  "Endymion," she 
said with tenderness in her voice.  "She has 
named the babe Endymion." 

  "Endymion?"  She gave a small, sad laugh.  "Happy 
Birthday, Endymion," she said softly.  "I 
hope it will be worth the trouble it will cause."

  "What will she do?" Deanna asked.

  "What can she do?" Persephone returned, shooting 
the dark-haired woman a look.

  "When she is recovered, she will go to Serenity," 
Elios said, sighing.  "And then, it is up to her."

*********

  The door opened with a soft click.  The figure on 
the bed shifted, a pale--yet radiant--face 
looked out from a sea of dark curls.  She looked… 
fragile, Elios thought, stopping in the 
doorway.  And then a presence from behind brushed 
past him and into the room, a small 
basin and cloth in hand. 

  "You should rest more," Deanna said softly, 
setting the basin down and wringing out the 
cloth.  

  "I will be fine," the new mother said, trying to 
push up on the bed.

  "Will you now?" another voice asked from within 
the shadows of the room.  

  Deanna's head turned sharply, her whole body 
following the movement, nearly disrupting the 
bowl of water. But the other two occupants in the 
room seem as though all was normal.  

  "Yes, I will," Gaia answered, smoothing the bad 
lines over her lap.  "Thank you very much."

  "You are welcome," the voice answered with a hint 
of a smile.  

  "Were you here the entire time?" Gaia asked, still 
not looking at anyone or anything.

  Deanna fidgeted with the damp cloth, trying to 
ignore the voice, but found she couldn't.  After 
all, she had seen many strange things in her life, 
the majority of them falling into occurrence in the 
last five months, but that voice… that voice with no 
owner disturbed her more than she'd care to 
admit.

  "Of course."  It was female… a mature feminine 
voice.  

  "Oh?" she sounded surprised.  "Were there no 
pressing matters that demanded your attention?  
Another moon celebration, perhaps?"  

  Deanna dropped the cloth but immediately retrieved 
it with a shaking hand.  

  The voice guffawed. "No, the moon is still waxing 
and Artemis is at hunt."  There was a shifting 
of presence in the room.  "You sound displeased to 
see me, my queen.  Surely that is not so?"

  Gaia smiled immediately, a sad, tired smile.  "Of 
course I am pleased," she said softly reaching 
out an open hand.  "I am always pleased when my 
children come visit me."

  Following the out-stretched hand, Deanna at once 
saw the figure standing in the shadows of the 
room.  And then it stepped out into the light and 
Deanna gasped.  

  Gray gloss gauze shrouded the goddess's curves.  
Her dark eyes were large and intense, 
soul-seeing portals of mystery.  And her hair!  A 
shining sea of black gloss, falling freely to 
her waist, but that wasn't it.  It was the shocking 
streak of snow white that ran from temple 
to waist, a stark contrast to the dark ink 
surrounding it.

  She seemed to float across the distance separating 
her from the bed, taking up the offered 
hand in her own, a warm, loving smiling lighting her 
face.  Indeed, her whole person seemed 
lighted with an iridescence. "My Queen, my Mother," 
the voice said as the woman kneeled 
down next to the bed.

  "Hekate," the other answered, smiling with near-
unconfined happiness.  She squeezed the hand.  
"Oh, how good it is to see you again."
  
  "I am always here," the goddess said, leaning 
closer with a secretive smile.  "Rumour whispers 
there is a male child named heir bearing the name 
'Endymion'."

  Gaia frowned and leaned back.  "Rumour always did 
have a wagging tongue.  I would think 
someone would have cured her off that malady by this 
time."  

  "Then it is true then?" Hekate asked with a 
surprised look.  And then the goddess laughed.  
"Selene will not be pleased," she said, barely 
containing her laughter.  

  "Selene does not matter," Gaia replied, cooling 
Hekate's would be mirth.  

  "And what then of her daughter, Serenity?" the 
grey goddess asked solemnly. 

  Gaia closed her eyes, taking in reserve, and then 
opened them again.  "I shall deal with 
Serenity when the time is right."  

  The grey goddess Hekate stared at her for a 
moment, studying her, and then nodded.  With 
a slight tilt of head she asked over her shoulder, 
"Do you not greet me, child, though you profess 
to follow my teachings?"

  The cloth dropped again, and again, Deanna reached 
for it with trembling hand, but she stayed 
lowered.  "My Lady, My Queen, My Goddess, My 
Mother," she whispered, her eyes averted.  

  The grey goddess stood and approached the dark-
haired woman.  Kneeling closer she 
whispered, "There will be hard times for my 
children, from which I can not save them from--"  

  Deanna looked up started, tears stinging her brown 
eyes.

  "But not one passes for which I do not mourn."  
She reached out a hand a cupped the 
woman's cheek.  "My children will be free, one day.  
I have not abandoned them."  With one 
last smile, she stood up.  "And what of you?" she 
asked, looking beyond the woman.  "Do you 
not greet your mother?" 

  The white-haired boy was silent and the grey 
goddess looked back over her shoulder to the 
resting queen.  "Are you sure you want to keep him?" 
she asked.  

  Gaia smiled.  "I know you must have work.  Go now, 
and thank you for stopping by."  

  Hekate smiled.  "As always, it was my pleasure."  
Mist and leaves swirled up-- and then 
floated away, the grey goddess gone with them. 

  Deanna was shaking visibly and Elios wen to her 
side to comfort her.  But Gaia's voice 
distracted them both.  

  "Rumour's whispers are traveling fast," she said, 
pushing away from the bed.  "I must make 
hast to Serenity.  Elios, send word that I seek 
counsel with the Queen of the Moon Kingdom."

*********

  Large ornate doors spread open their arms and the 
Queen of Earth walked into the salon.   
She smiled at the sight before her: Queen Serenity 
was behind a large desk, the desk was 
smothered in papers.  

  "You know they have people to do that sort of 
thing now," Gaia said, stopping just inside the 
door.  

  Serenity looked up, at first surprised by the 
intrusion and then immediately overjoyed.  "Gaia!" 
she rushed, reaching to embrace the dark-haired 
queen of Earth.  "What a surprise!  How lovely 
to see you!  What?  Oh, this, I know," she said 
turning back to the mountain of papers on her desk.  
"They're for the new alliance with one of the other 
systems," she said, raising a hand to her head.  "I 
wish I could negate the to someone else but the 
majority require my signature for finalization and I 
just cannot let someone else do that.  Besides, I 
like to know what I'm signing, which means I have a 
lot more reading to do.  

  "But come," she said, taking the Earth Queen by 
the arm.  "Stay and sit with me for a while.  
It has been ever so long since we've last come 
together.  How fare's things on Earth?"

  They were seated on a sofa before the young queen 
had finished, and now she turned 
expectant eyes towards the Earth Queen.  Gaia 
smiled, patting Serenity's hand.  

  "Things must be very hectic for you," she said, 
avoiding what she had come here to say.  
Save the unpleasantness for later.  

  Serenity sighed heavily.  "Dear me, Yes!" she said 
with a small shake of her head.  "And 
everyone is all a tizzy what with Pluto now having 
an heir."  

  Gaia felt her heart jump and her stomach twist.  
It looks like later had come.  "Earth now 
has her heir, too," she said softly.  

  Serenity looked up surprised.  "Really?  Oh, Gaia, 
I'm so happy for you!  I can't wait to 
see her!  You did bring her didn't you?"  There was 
a pained looked on the Earth Queens 
face to which Serenity took immediate notice.  "What 
is it, Gaia?  What is wrong?"

  She tried to force a smile on her lips.  Taking 
Serenity's hands in her own she said softly, 
"The child is not a girl, Serenity."  

  At first confusion… a frown of misunderstanding… a 
troubled look… and then the 
dawning of realization, and a somewhat horror that 
it brought.  

  "Gaia--" she began slowly, warningly.  "All heirs 
to kingdoms are girls… that is how it is 
done.   Power is passed from mother to daughter…"

  Gaia shook her dark head sadly, begging silently 
for the young monarch to understand.  
"Three days ago, I gave birth to a son, Endymion.  
To him I bequeath my kingdom and powers."  

  Serenity's large blue eyes grew larger, her head 
still shaking from side to side, her voice still 
holding onto some sense of calmness.  "Power is 
passed from mother to daughter… it is the 
law…"

  "To my son, I give the power of the Golden 
Crystal--" Serenity gasped "when he is of age to 
handle it."

   "Gaia, you can't!"  The young queen pushed from 
the sofa and whirled.  "It is against the law!  
Against the law which you yourself helped 
collaborate!  And now you would go against that 
very law?  I will not allow it!  No!  Do what you 
want with the boy, but he shall not be named 
heir to the Earth Kingdom.  I will not stand for 
it!"  

  Gaia was quiet, watching silently as the young 
queen ranted.  She watched with tears slowly 
building in her deep blue eyes.  She watched and 
waited until Serenity finally fell to silence also.  

  "I beg you, Gaia," she said after several deep 
breaths.  "Do not do this."

  "It has already been done," the dark haired woman 
said softly, her gaze never wavering from 
that of the light-haired queen.  Blue eyes clashed 
with blue eyes, both pleading for the other to 
relent, neither one relenting.

  "Then you realize I have no choice in the matter?" 
Serenity asked as tears began to slip down 
her cheeks unchecked.  

  Gaia nodded, tears now falling from her blue eyes 
also.  "I understand."  

  Serenity turned away, turned back towards her desk 
and seated herself behind it.  "The council 
meeting is in five days," she said, her voice dead, 
devoid of expression.  "Your presence is no 
longer invited or welcomed.  Earth is now no longer 
a member.  All communication will be 
ceased in two weeks time."  She turned to a keypad 
on the desk and began typing.  "I will 
have notices sent to all the planets in our system.  
That should give both you and them time 
to evacuate any persons or beings that wish to 
return to their home world."  

  Gaia nodded, unable to say anything else.  She had 
known… had expected this… but still, 
she had been unprepared for the pain it was causing.  
She turned to leave, but made it no 
farther then the door before Serenity's voice 
stopped her.

  "Gaia," the young queen said softly.  "Mother… if 
you should change your mind before the 
council meeting… you have until then."  

  Gaia looked back at the child and tried to smile.  
"My mind will not be moved to difference," 
she said, and then walked out the door.  

*********

  He was tall, dark, and what some would consider 
handsome.  But he was cold, near lifeless.  
Millenniums of life had done that.  Years upon 
years… Centuries upon centuries… all lay out 
before him.  
  
  Time.  Time, as no other could understand it.  
Time as no other could appreciate it.  

  "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen," he 
said, his voice hoarse from lack of use.  

  The dark-green haired child came up beside him and 
titled her large wine-colored eyes up 
towards him.  "What happens now?" she asked, biting 
her lip as her voice rang out in the 
emptiness of this space, the emptiness of time.  

  He smiled down at the child.  "Now," he said, 
lifting a hand to her green-hair.  "Now we wait 
for the birth of a princess."

  "I'm a princess," she told him.  

  He smiled, and gave a small laugh.  Leaning down 
so he was level with her he said, "Yes you 
are, my sweet child.  But this girl is very 
specially.  And you know what?"

  "What?" she asked, smiling back at him.

  "You will get to met her!"

  "I will?" she asked with some bit of excitement.  

  He nodded.  

  "When?" she asked, again tilting her head and 
looking at him with her large wine-colored eyes.

  He couldn't help but smile at her.  "Very soon, my 
dear," he told her, standing up to walk 
over to the Time Gate again.  "Very soon."

****************************************************
****************************

Author's Notes:

Hello all!  It's wonderful that you made it this far 
down!  Congratulate yourselves, you've just read 30 
pages!  Now,
congratulate me, because I just finished writing 
those 30 pages!  ::smiles::  Seriously, though,  I 
have not really 
proofread any of this, although I did do a spell 
check-- but we all know how well spell check works, 
right?-- so I 
apologize for any mistakes there might be, 
especially in this author's notes because there is 
no spell check on this
baby.  

I'd like to take this oppertunity, before I lose the 
few who actually made it to the end, to first of all 
say thank you 
for reading yet another story, to say, please email 
me ( readwolf@ufl.edu ) even if it's just to say : 
'long story.  liked
it.'  or just 'good story'.  Writers are hams.  We 
love to hear that people liked our stories.  But 
even more importantly,
if you have any questions or confusions, 
disaggreements or corrections, perhaps, please TELL 
ME!!  Challenge 
me to know my own story!  Make me think-- gods know 
I don't do it any other time... er.. jk.

I'd also like to take this oppertunity to clear up 
some of what might be a bit of confusion or what 
not.

1.)  All Mythology used is based on a.) previous 
knowlege; b.) THE GODS OF THE GREEKS, written by C. 
Kerenyi
	c.) my own imagination-- it's called poetic 
license, I believe.
2.) Yes!  Gaia was/is a shape-shifter.  That might 
have been a bit confusing, especially when I did not 
come right 
	out and say so.  She was at one time, blond, 
red-head, and burnette.
3.)  Gods and Goddess's relations.  Guess what, 
guys, anyone who's made it through a mythology 
section should
	already know this, but, mythology is just 
FILLED with incest.  Because this story is heavily 
influcuated 
	with mythology, incest is too.  This does not, 
however, mean that I support incest.  
4.) Sorry guys, but Elios didn't sleep with 
Deanna... well, he did, but they didn't have sex.  
But anyone who's been
	in that situation before has got to admitt, 
once you realize you didn't do anything... it's 
kinda funny.
5.) Isn't Deanna wonderful?  I just love her!  Of 
course she has no belong to Sailor Moon.  She's 
completely my 
	character, but I love her anyway.  
6.) Leaving weak children at the mercy of the 
elements was a common practice among Vikings, from 
what I under-
	stand and have been told.  It was thought that 
a weak or sickly child would be a burden and 
hindrence 
	and therefore should be gotten rid of.  
Zoicite, therefore, would be of Viking Blood in this 
story, neat, no?
7.) The Witch Hunts were a very serious time in 
which no woman, child, and yes, or sometimes man, 
was safe.  
	People accused and persecuted (sp) for 
witchcraft were both hung and burned (hanging being 
the more
	merciful death-- if your neck snapped).  Some 
were thrown into streams and rivers with thier hands 
and 
	legs bound tight.  It was thought that if you 
floated, you were a witch.  If you sank, you were 
dead, but 
	not a witch.  Many innocent people were 
killed.
8.) For those of you who caught on, yes, Deanna is a 
Witch.  Brighid, Jedite's mother, is not... though 
she may 
	possess the power of one... but then, I would 
expect all of the Earth Generals to possess some bit 
of 
	magick... wouldn't you?
9.) Small Lady of Pluto:  ::smiles::  I have often 
wondered what Setsuna would be like as a child... 
and here was my 
	chance.  There must be some confusion 
surrounding her, I am sure.  First let me begin 
with, I believe Sets
	has always held a sense of quietness about 
her, a solemnness, if you will.  But I also believe 
she is/was 
	a true child, filled with all the curiosity 
and wonder as any other child.  But Setsuna is 
caught, trapped 
	withing a cage not of her making.  When we 
first met her in this story (the first child of the 
Silver Millenium
	to be born) Kronos (Time) has found her and 
despite her mother's (Persephone's) actions, he has 
already
	seduced the child into her future role, 
although she is as of yet, too young to fullfill her 
destiny as that of 
	the Senshi of Time, Sailor Pluto.  

	Hence, Small Lady P has been granted knowledge 
of the future... but without understanding it.  In 
truth,
	Kronos *does* whisper in her ear, and it is 
through his words that she knows what she knows.  
However,
	expect that to change as she grows older and 
becomes more aware of her powers... or potential 
powers as 
	they may be.
10.)  The use of Elios vs. Helios
	This is mainly because when I first started 
writing "I'll Be There For You" I used 'Elios'.  
however, since
	that time, I have come to learn more of Sailor 
Moon, more explicably, just the other day I 
completed 
	SMSuperS, thanks to Senshi TV.  With any luck, 
I will be able to complete Stars before the end of 
the 
	semester.  Therefore, I can now say: Elios is 
from the anime, Helios from the manga.  Ne?  Is that 
right?
	Or is it the other way around?  ::rolls eyes:: 
anyhoo.  I was planning on Elios being the son of 
Helios.  
	I have, since then, changed my mind, for 
reasons which might be mentioned at a later date.
11.) Hekate is a real great goddess, however, her 
characterization has been brought to life by me, 
myself, and I.
	She is Goddess of the three-crossroads (where 
three roads meet), Goddess of the New Moon, or Dark 
	Moon, and triple figure of the Trinity: 
Mother, Maiden, and Crone, of which she represents 
the Crone.
	Hekate is alwasy the Goddess of Witches.
12.)  Gaia  makes reference to "Moon Ceremonies or 
what not" to which Hekate replies "No, the moon is 
still 
	waxing and Artemis is at hunt."  This again, 
refers to the aspect of the triple goddess which
	was held in close relation to that of the 
moon: mother, maiden, and crone; waxing-full, full-
	waning, and new.  Artemis, the virgin goddess 
off the hunt represents the waxing moon.
13.)  Yes, I contradicted myself.  In the beginning 
Small Lady P said Elios has no mother.  And then, 
Hekate 
	refers to herself as his mother.  I'm still 
not sure where I'm going with that, or if I even 
*am* going 
	anywhere with that.  however, if you have any 
idea, please let me know.  
14.) Back to the incest thing (it's mythology, what 
'cha expect?)...  Gaia is mother of EVERYTHING and 
EVERYONE.
	She is like, THE first.  As such, anyone and 
everyone can and does call her Mother.
15.) Before men came to power, many of our societies 
were matriarchal-based, meaning, women ruled and 
power and
	rulership was passed down from mother to 
daughter.  If you think about it, this actually made 
more sense.
	I mean, you can Prove that a person is your 
daughter... you gave birth to her... however, you 
can never be
	certain who the father is... especially if the 
mother isn't.... reserved, shall we say?
16.) I do not, have not, and will never own Sailor 
Moon... however I currently
	own several issues of the manga, including the 
pocket mixx books, plus a
	couple of tapes.  Not bad, huh?

And I think that's about it, for now.  All and all, 
I am very pleased with this piece.  It has taken me 
two weeks to 
write... and that was started before school started.  
However, school has now started and having spent 
this 
first week in shock, I have come to the realization 
that I will actually have to study this term...  
::shakes head 
dazidly and bits lip::  What that means, 
unfortunately, is that I do not know when the next 
part of this Saga will
debut... I do not even know if anyone *cares* if 
this saga is completed (hint hint for email).  
However, I intend
to complete it... even if it takes a bit longer than 
originally anticipated, as such was the case with my 
first fanfic,
"I'll Be There For You."  

Also, this story is a prequel to "I'll Be..." but 
you do not need to read the other first.  Yes, that 
is correct.  I intend
for "Visions of Yesterday" to stand on it's own.  
There will be little action... mostly just relation 
histories.  What
happened and what forth.  

Shameful Plug:  During the holiday season, SuperKate 
and I took the time to write a series of stories 
entited "'Tis
the Season."  Since that time, we have only recieved 
three replies.  If you have some spare time, please 
go and take
a peek at these twelve stories and let us know what 
you think of them.

As always,

Andrea Readwolf