Dark Kingdom Transgressions - Part 01 Fallen

********


Elios felt very small as he knelt alone in the middle of the cavernous auditorium. A large crowd of Priests, Shrine Maidens, Acolytes, lay Pegasuses and quite a few fairies restlessly flitting about, surrounded him in the tiered seats that ringed the room. Elios didn’t look up as he again tried to focus on the purifying prayers Merak had taught him. No matter how hard he tried though, his mind refused to stay away from why he was there. Today, if all went well, he would be dedicated to the Golden Crystal. Merak had said if the Crystal found him worthy it would fuse with him and they would become one. From then on, only someone of Earth’s royal lineage would be able to separate him from the powerful item.

Elios fervently prayed he\'d be worthy. This was the reason he and his sisters had been brought to Elysion and this was why they had endured so much. It had been a very difficult transition for all three of them.

********


Elios remembered that it had still been dark when the five Pegasuses and three siblings entered Elysion. His sisters had fallen asleep soon after they took off but he was still wide-awake. Dawn was just beginning to touch the edges of the sky as they approached the shrine and a large, clear dome at the center spilled light into the early morning gloom. From above, Elios thought it looked like the moon glowing pure and clear in the night sky.

The group landed in front of large steps that ascended to the shrine. Mammoth doors silently swung open above them and many priests and shrine maidens glided down the staircase to surround the travelers. Before Elios realized what was happening, delicate hands had reached up to slide his sisters off of Merak’s back. The still sleeping little girls were instantly absorbed into the group of shrine maidens and as one they silently disappeared back into the shrine.

Craning his neck in a futile attempt to see where his siblings had gone, Elios protested as hands also reached for him. “Wait! Where did they take them? Bring them back!”

Elios was set on his feet as Merak transformed back into his human form. The group of priests had taken Elios with them as they respectfully stepped back from their high priest, and it was taking three sets of hands to keep Elios still. When Merak’s transformation was complete, he gave the priests a reproachful glance and Elios was immediately released.

A few quick steps and the young boy stood directly in front of the high priest. Looking way up to challenge Merak’s placid gaze, Elios demanded, “Why were my sisters taken away? Where did they go?!”

Merak crouched down and smiled reassuringly at the upset boy. “The girls are fine, Elios. They are with the shrine maidens who will teach them now.”

In spite of himself, Elios found Merak’s quiet, reasonable words calming. Reluctantly nodding his understanding, Elios tried to smother a yawn.

Merak continued, “I’m sure you are very tired after having had your night’s rest interrupted.” Two of the Pegasus priests stepped forward and Merak introduced the older, heavier priest then the younger. “Elios, I’d like you to meet Brother Akastos and Brother Tylus.” The two men bowed and Elios politely did likewise. Merak continued, “They will show you to your room. Please rest this morning. The shrine maidens will bring you lunch and after that you will begin your shrine training.”

Elios nodded then turned to follow the two men into the shrine. They led Elios down some marble steps that spiraled the inner parameter of the shrine. The steps led to the lower levels of the building where the priests and shrine maidens lived. Elios was amazed at how much bigger the shrine was on the inside than it had looked from the air. As they passed many doors, Elios looked up and asked, “Which room is my sisters’?”

Akastos answered, “The shrine maidens live on the next floor lower. Your sisters will sleep there in the novice maidens’ dormitory.”

The priests stopped in front of a door that looked just like all the other doors. They ushered Elios into a small, private room and he saw a bed, desk and dresser. Elios also noticed there were no windows and no definite light source yet, just like the rest of the shrine, the room was comfortably illuminated. Looking up at the priests again, he asked, “Where are the lights?”

The priests looked a little surprised by Elios’ question then chuckled. Brother Akastos kindly explained, “The shrine walls gather light from the dome during the day and use it to illuminate the lower levels.”

Brother Tylus added with a wink, “When I was new I wondered that too. You can control the glow level of your room by telepathy.”

Elios nodded then smothered another yawn. The two priests smiled sympathetically and Akastos offered, “We’ll leave so you can get some rest. Welcome to the shrine, Elios.”

The priests bowed goodbye and Elios also bowed. He politely thanked the two older men before they left him.

Now alone, Elios could barely keep his eyes open. He yawned again as he wondered how to go about turning out the lights. Surface humans often became uncomfortable around someone who could speak telepathically so Elios’ parents had carefully avoided it with each other and their children. Elios understood the theory behind telepathy of course but using it was a totally different thing. Scrinching his forehead with effort, Elios tried to think, [Lights out.]. Nothing changed so he tried again. [Lights off…get dark…] but still nothing happened. Now getting frustrated, he demanded out loud, “Turn off light!” The glow still didn’t diminish or even flicker.

With a sigh, Elios decided to give up on the lights. Kicking off his shoes, Elios realized he still had his pajamas on from home. He walked to the bed in the far corner of the room and flopped down. Closing his eyes, his last conscious thought was, [I wish I knew how to turn off the light.] The room darkened as Elios quietly began to snore.

********


An unknown amount of time later, Elios awoke. Something didn’t feel right to him and he tried to identify it. He realized that even though it was dark, he couldn’t hear his brothers breathing in their sleep or any of the other normal night sounds. He opened his eyes and the pitch-blackness of the room was unrelieved by the moonlight that should have been showing through his curtains. He couldn’t see the outline of the window that was supposed to be above his bed and his surroundings didn’t even smell right.

Momentary panic and disorientation woke Elios fully and he finally remembered the previous night’s events. A tear slipped down his cheek as he realized why everything was so foreign. Another tear soon followed then Elios rolled over to bury his face in the sterile smelling pillow. His smothered sobs broke the silence that surrounded him.

The sound of someone turning his doorknob made Elios catch and hold his breath. Two shrine maidens silently entered his room and the walls began to dimly glow. The smell of warm food had also followed the women and Elios heard the quiet click of a tray being placed on the desk. No words were spoken out loud as the two women turned and quietly shut the door behind them.

Elios exhaled the breath he was holding and shakily gulped oxygen as he wiped his eyes and nose with his sleeve. He gratefully noted that the room had stayed lit. Even though Elios felt like he never wanted to get up again, his stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before and the smell of food silently enticed him.

With a sigh, Elios rolled over and sat up on the edge of his bed. Looking around, he noticed a second door. When he stood and hesitantly opened it, he found a small bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet.

Elios had finished his lunch, showered and found some robes in the dresser drawers. He figured, since they were his size that this was what he was supposed to wear. The over robe was light blue with a thin, plain, white belt and loose, gauze sleeves. The pants were the same light blue color and white shoes completed the outfit. He had just finished using a comb to try to bring some kind of order to his unruly, white curls when he heard someone knock and open his door.

Hastily dropping the comb, Elios exited the bathroom to see a tall, very solidly built priest wearing a dark blue robe in his room. The priest looked Elios up and down critically. [Hello,] he telepathically greeted. [I’m Brother Phrontis. You didn’t do too badly with the robes considering it’s your first time.] He reached down to pull Elios’ belt loose then retied it with a different knot to the left side.

Elios had silently watched. The priest then looked at Elios a little perplexed. Finally, he verbally insisted, “Elios…”

Looking up startled, Elios asked, “Yes?”

The priest again looked perplexed but he pointedly added, “It is expected that you properly greet a priest when he greets you.\"

Elios blushed and confusion was written all over his face as he quietly stammered, “Y-y-yes, sir…um…N-nice to meet you, sir.”

With a look just as confused as Elios’, the priest verbally responded, “I said my name is Brother Phrontis.”

Quickly looking down, Elios added, “I-I apologize, Brother Phrontis. I guess I-I didn’t hear you.”

Phrontis smiled. “That’s okay, but pay attention. You have a lot to learn.”

Elios nodded and Phrontis telepathically added as he turned towards the door, [Let’s go. We need to get your ears pierced and your neck jewel.]

Looking up surprised, Elios sprinted after the priest that had suddenly left his room with large strides.

********


Phrontis led Elios down the spiral steps past three more floors. They entered the next floor and there were many Pegasus, both laymen and priests, milling around the large open room. Elios couldn’t help gaping as he took in all the hustle and bustle around him. Fortunately for Elios, Phrontis was large enough that Elios could keep him in sight. Phrontis headed toward the far corner of the floor where a large Pegasus, in Pegasus form, was using his wings to blow wind over a metal forge. The forge glowed steadily hotter and brighter, and Elios became mesmerized by the pulsing heat and light.

Another Pegasus priest, also in a dark blue robe, stood up from the desk he had been hunched over and put down the jeweler’s tools he had been using. He and Phrontis bowed to each other. They both turned to look at Elios.

The jeweler greeted Elios telepathically but was ignored as Elios continued to stare at the forge. Phrontis sighed and telepathically explained, [He seems to be having a hard time paying attention. Maybe he’s a little overwhelmed.]

[Well, he better get over that fast,] the jeweler telepathically responded. [There’s too much to be done for him to waste time daydreaming.]

The jeweler reached out to tap Elios on the head and Elios startled. Blushing bright red, he bowed and quickly offered, “Hello, sir!”

The jeweler turned to pick up a thin, gold spiral that had a golden charm dangling from it. He handed it to Elios and as Elios was admiring the pretty choker, the jeweler lifted a spring-loaded clamp. He telepathically told Elios, [Stay still a moment,] then wrapped Elios’ head in the crook of his elbow to brace it. The jeweler deftly centered the clamp on Elios’ earlobe and squeezed.

To say Elios was surprised when the jeweler’s arm wrapped around his head was an understatement. The jeweler was strong and when Elios felt the earring point painfully stab through his flesh, he could do nothing but scream.

The jeweler, shocked by the reaction, quickly released Elios\' head and he fell to the floor sobbing as he held his throbbing ear. Elios’ scream had reverberated through out the entire open floor and all the Pegasuses stopped what they were doing to turn and silently stare at the loud boy.

Looking up at Phrontis with a bewildered expression, the jeweler shrugged. Phrontis sighed then closed his eyes and rubbed his temple in frustration.

Elios looked up with tears running down his cheeks. Chokingly, he demanded, “What did you do that for? It hurt!”

Phrontis quietly answered, “All shrine acolytes wear hoop earrings. At ordination they receive their crystals.” Phrontis pointed at the crystal ornaments, dangling from the hoops in his own ears, to illustrate.

Elios stared and the realization came to him that they were going to want to do that to his other ear too. Shaking, Elios stood and tried to run to anywhere but there. Of course, the Pegasus who had been fanning the forge easily stepped in front of Elios to block his escape.

Phrontis, who had seen the panic in Elios’ eyes, walked up then knelt to be eye to eye. He quietly explained, “You can’t be a priest if you don’t do this.”

Elios collapsed into a ball, covered his other ear too and vehemently wailed, “No, no, no…” between sobs.

Standing up, Phrontis looked at the jeweler apologetically and telepathed, [I have no choice but to send for Him.] The jeweler nodded then turned to sit back at his desk while Phrontis telepathically called for Merak.

It wasn’t long before all the pegasuses on the floor again stopped what they were doing to silently stare at the sight of their high priest flying swiftly over them in Pegasus form. The ceilings were high for this very reason but the Pegasuses rarely flew inside the shrine and only for dire emergencies.

Merak landed in front of the forge and transformed back to human form. The Pegasus that had been blocking the way stepped back to let the high priest through.

By this time, Elios had worked himself into such a fit of misery that Phrontis couldn’t even approach the boy. Merak quickly scooped Elios into his arms and hugged him. When Elios realized it was Merak, he sobbingly tried to explain. Merak shushed Elios and rubbed his back until the boy finally quieted. Merak then asked, “Didn’t Brother Phrontis explain this to you before hand?”

Elios shook his head no and Phrontis responded his defense telepathically. [I specifically told him we were going to get his ears pierced. He didn’t protest so I figured he was okay about it.]

Merak looked confused then shrugged. He asked, “Elios, does your ear still hurt now?”

Thinking about it, Elios looked up surprised. “No. Not really, I guess.”

“That’s because Pegasuses are fast healers. I’m sure you’ve known that.” Elios nodded as he remembered how he and his siblings’ scrapes and bruises from play would disappear almost as fast as they had happened. Merak continued, “I realize this was difficult but you really do need to wear the earrings. Now that you know it won’t last long or surprise you, how about you just get the last one over with?”

Elios reluctantly nodded and a few minutes later he grit his teeth with admirable courage as he endured his second piercing.

That evening, Elios ate dinner with Merak in his private suite up on the shrine’s top floor. Merak tried to put the boy at ease by telling him as much as possible about what he’d be doing during the next few weeks. Merak explained how acolytes usually joined the shrine at the age of four. Elios would have quite a bit of catching up to do before they could start his golden crystal training.

********


The next day Elios joined the other acolytes for breakfast. They all stared at him when he was introduced and Elios noticed he was the smallest and probably the youngest one there.

Elios was pointed to an empty seat at one of the long tables. He sat down as shrine maidens began to set bowls of food out. A boy sitting next to Elios, who was only a little taller but much huskier than Elios, looked at him. Elios glanced up, shyly smiled, and the boy verbally greeted, “Hi. I’m Linus. Where’s your bed? I’m in the second intermediate room, bed 8.”

Elios hesitated. “I’m, um… in a room by myself. I’m not sure if it has a number.” Even though Elios’ voice had been low, every other boy sitting around him stopped eating to turn and look.

Linus responded with surprise, “Your own room! How did you manage that? Only priests have their own room.”

“I-I’m not sure,” Elios stammered. “That’s just were I was told to go.”

An older and much bigger boy across the table interjected, “I had heard you’re favored by high priest Merak. I guess it’s true.”

Elios wasn’t sure what to say as the boys nodded then went back to eating.

********


After breakfast, Elios was told to join the flying practice class in the clearing between the shrine and the Crystal Lake. The teacher and the other acolytes silently stared as Elios quietly admitted that he didn’t know how to fly. “Not at all?” the teacher asked incredulously. Elios shook his head and the teacher sent him to the other side of the clearing to join the novice shrine maiden\'s beginner’s class.

As Elios walked to the beginner’s class, he spotted his sisters in identical, long-flowing novice shrine maiden robes, standing off to the side with their heads bowed. Elios walked over to them and when the girls looked up, he realized they were crying.

“Elios!” the two girls whispered, throwing themselves into his arms. “We didn’t think we’d ever see you again!” Alcyone sobbed.

Wrapping his arms around the two little girls, Elios asked, “Why are you standing here and not in class with the rest of the shrine maidens?”

Pleione shakily explained. “We were told we weren’t paying attention and to stand here during class to ‘reflect on our behavior’.”

With a sigh, Elios hugged his sisters tighter. “Yes, I’ve been told the same thing.” Elios knew this was too much of a coincidence. He thought hard about it and suddenly realized what they could be missing. He continued, “I think they use telepathy a lot here and we’re not used to it. How about we try really hard to notice when someone is speaking telepathically? Maybe it will help.”

Alcyone looked up at her brother with a confused expression and Pleione asked, “Elios, can you…t-tell…tell-e…path-y? Can you show us how?”

Elios shook his head. “I don’t think we need to be able to use it though. We just need to hear it.” He thought some more then hesitantly offered, “If you hear a voice in your mind, look around. If someone is looking at you, ask if they were talking to you.”

Both girls’ expressions suddenly lit up with comprehension. Pleione exclaimed, “Voices? We hear voices in our minds all the time but we thought it was just our imagination!”

“No. That’s how people sometimes talk to each other here.” Elios added to himself, [I’m glad the girls noticed the voices. Maybe they’ll be able to pick it up quickly. I don’t even hear the voices. I’m going to have to work really hard at this.]

An older shrine maiden began to walk towards the siblings and they dropped the subject. The teacher kindly greeted Elios then brought the three of them over to the class.

********


It didn’t take long for Elios to get the hang of flying. He practiced a few days on his own and was soon ready to go back to the older Pegasus’s flying class. Elios watched as the other acolytes flew high above him. Some were wearing blue and others green, team ribbons that fluttered from their manes. They looked like they were enjoying tossing a colorful, braided, rope-wreath to each other with their mouths. The group slowly worked themselves from one end of the marked playing area to the other. Every once in a while, someone from the opposing team would intercept the wreath as it was passed between teammates and the play would turn to move towards that team’s end area. After what Elios had thought was forever, one team finally got the wreath the entire length of the playing area. That was when they called Elios in to play.

When Elios was on the surface Earth he had been known for being good at games - especially running ones. He had often enjoyed a similar game on the surface that had a ball passed around using only feet until a team made a goal. Elios decided flying in a game couldn’t be much different from running.

After Elios tied the green team ribbon in his hair he transformed into a Pegasus. He was the smallest on the team, but if they gave him the chance, Elios thought he could make up for his size in speed and agility.

Play began with the other team having the wreath. Elios’ team tried to intercept a few times before they finally succeeded. Elios watched his teammates leisurely pass the wreath back and forth and began to get impatient when a few opportunities to try for a point were ignored.

Eventually the wreath got tossed in Elios’ direction and he caught it. A few teammates were looking at him expectantly and Elios saw a clearing to the goal. With a sharp bank to the right around an opposing team member, Elios folded his wings back and easily darted to the end unimpeded.

Happily tossing the wreath up, Elios caught it again with his mouth then looked around. Both teams and the teacher were staring at him. His elation gradually faded into confusion as he heard the teacher telepathically call a halt to the game and everyone landed.

The teacher trotted up to Elios and telepathically stated, [I don’t know what you were trying to do, but that’s not how the game is played.]

Elios may have finally gotten the hang of listening to telepathy, but he still couldn’t respond back so he gave the wreath to the teacher and transformed into his human form. Confusion was in Elios’ voice and eyes as he asked, “Isn’t the goal of the game to make a point?”

The teacher then also transformed and echoed, “Point? What kind of point are you trying to make? This is *flying* practice. How can everyone practice if one person keeps flying off with the wreath? I think you should stay on the ground and just watch how the game is played for today.”

Elios reached up to untie his team ribbon as he sighed. The rest of the group again took to the air. As Elios watched, he realized nobody cared if they got to the goal first or who got there most often. When the game ended everyone tossed their manes, telepathically cheered that it was a great game, transformed, and happily left to their respective chores or classes. Turning, Elios stomped off in a dejected funk. He thought, [Why bother playing if nobody cares if they won or not?]

As Elios walked toward the shrine, he looked up and saw Merak walking towards him. Merak stopped and smiled. “Elios, I’m on my way to lunch. Would you like to join me?” Elios nodded and fell into step with his mentor.

When Elios saw the table set with lunch for two in the outer courtyard, he realized Merak must have planned their meeting. Elios sighed and thought, [It sure doesn’t take long for things to get back to him.]

The two of them sat down. As Merak reached out to pass a plate of food, he asked, “How are things going for you, Elios?”

“Okay, I guess,” Elios quietly answered.

Merak looked up. He prompted, “I heard things didn’t go so well for you during flying class today. Maybe I could help if you talk to me about it.”

Elios hesitated then blurted, “What kind of a game doesn’t have winners and losers? Why even bother playing?!”

Merak nodded. “On the surface you probably played many games where someone won and someone else lost.” Elios nodded, and Merak continued. “It’s different here. The acolytes need to practice flying and the game is just to keep it from getting monotonous. Pegasuses aren’t very competitive.”

Elios nodded. He was starting to realize how different Pegasuses were from surface humans. He wondered if he\'d ever be able to fit in.

That thought made Elios remember something else and he changed the subject. \"Merak, some of the acolytes said only priests have their own rooms. Why am I the only acolyte that has one?\" He looked down and quietly finished, \"They said it was because I was your favorite.\"

Merak, who had begun to eat, looked surprised by Elios\' question. He finished chewing a bite of food then explained, \"In a way yes, you are my favorite. You are going to be my apprentice after you become ordained. That isn\'t a secret though. Have the boys given you trouble about it?”

Elios shook his head. “They only mentioned it.”

Merak nodded. “I would have been very surprised if they had. Pegasuses don’t get competitive about things like that either.”

He still hadn’t fully answered Elios’ question so Merak continued. “The acolytes that live in the dorms have completed their basic priest training, and some are apprenticed, but they won’t be ordained until a priest retires and a position opens. Your position is new and as soon as you complete your training, you will be ordained then begin training with me. The shrine training won’t take very long. I thought it would be easier to have your own room from the beginning than have you settle into a dorm then move out so quickly.”

Elios nodded. He internally sighed as he realized there was very little chance he’d ever fit in with the other boys.

********


As time went on, Elios gradually learned all the things he needed to know to become a priest. When he had been there six months, the council ordained him. A pair of slender crystals were hung on Elios’ hoop earrings to show that he was now a full-fledged priest.

From that day on, Elios was by Merak’s side. He quietly listened and learned as Merak went through the daily chores of running the shrine. Merak often asked Elios to take notes or he would make sure he explained what he was doing and why to Elios. Every opportunity Merak got he sat down in an outer courtyard alcove with Elios and taught him about the Golden Crystal, Earth’s royalty and their responsibilities as Pegasuses to them and to the shrine.

Elios’ favorite part of training was when Merak would bring one of the ancient texts and teach him the prayers that were written in it. The words welled up from the pages and flowed out Merak’s lips to swirl around Elios until he became totally submerged in the pulsing waves of the earth’s energy. Elios picked the words up quickly and automatically echoed them back. Throughout the day, the words would come to his mind and he even heard them in his sleep. Invariably by the end of the week he could recite them perfectly on his own.

One day, the shrine’s daily routine was disrupted by a visit from the King of Earth. Although outwardly the Pegasus priests looked as calm as they always did, Elios could feel the expectation and excitement that was in the air.

When Merak called Elios to be presented to the impressive looking man, Elios thought his nervousness would shake him apart. When he looked up into King Stanton’s dark blue eyes, he saw an unexpectedly kind smile that helped him feel a little more at ease. The training from his parents had also finally kicked in and afterwards Elios was relieved he had somehow managed to avoid making a total fool of himself.

From that day on, Merak increased Elios’ Golden Crystal training. One evening after spending all day memorizing a particularly dry passage in a tongue unfamiliar to Elios, he tiredly asked his mentor, “Why do I need to learn this when I don’t even understand the words?”

Merak carefully closed the fragile tome and placed it on his lap. He quietly answered. “The Crystal is going to require many things of you, Elios -- your dedication, your protection, your courage and your knowledge. There could come a day when Earth and the Crystal will need these powerful words. You don’t have to understand their meaning, only carry them and be willing to let the Earth and Crystal use them.

Elios nodded. He thought about Merak’s answer then questioned, “What is the Golden Crystal? Is it only a very powerful stone or is it an entity?”

\"The question isn\'t that simple,\" Merak cryptically responded. He saw Elios\' confusion deepen and elaborated. \"Does the crystal serve the Earth or does the planet feed the Crystal or do both the Earth and Crystal work together to protect the people of the planet?\"

Elios whispered, \"Oh...\" and looked down.

Merak smiled. \"I don’t even know the answers to some of those questions. What I do know is that we are here to serve the Earth, its royal family and the Golden Crystal in any way we can until the Ancients tell us otherwise.\"

Lifting Elios\' chin to look him in the eyes, Merak continued. \"Elios, you\'ve learned a lot since you moved here. It\'s time to ask you. Do you want to serve the Golden Crystal? Do you want to help protect the Earth and it\'s royal family?\"

Elios looked back down at his hands in his lap. He thought about his family and the friends he had left on the surface, about his sisters and the Pegasuses he had met here in Elysion, then of the king he had recently met and the queen and prince he had been told of. Elios now understood that to protect and serve the Golden Crystal was to ultimately protect the dreams and the futures of all the people he cared about.

Looking back up, Elios answered, \"Yes. I want to protect the Earth. I want to serve the Golden Crystal.\"

********


Elios\' thoughts snapped back to the present when Merak, the royal blue lined, white cape of his formal high priest’s robes flowing around him, moved to the center of the large room and turned to address the crowd congregated there. “Today is a momentous day for Elysion’s Shrine and people. There hasn’t been a day to compare since the Ancients gave us the Shrine and Holy Texts. The time of Intercession will end and what happens here today will be pivotal to its completion. The Golden Crystal requires a champion to protect it and to reveal its secrets to the people of the Earth. If the Crystal finds Brother Elios worthy, then we will be one step closer to our goal of Golden Kingdom and Silver Alliance unity.”

Pausing, Merak raised his arms in front of him, palms up. The entire congregation stood, lifted their arms and as one recited with Merak, “Eternal Crystals in Unity and Balance!”

As everyone sat down, Merak turned toward a pedestal and opened a black lacquered box that sat upon it. Silent tension hung in the air as even the active fairies stilled in anticipation. Merak reached inside the box and carefully lifted a faintly glowing, golden cone. He held it up for all to see.

Gasps and murmurs of awe rippled through the crowd and a few of the pegasuses even dropped to their knees and wept. For all but the shrine\'s inner council, this was the first time they were privileged to see the legendary Golden Crystal. Even though it was shielded within the safety of a receptacle, every being in the room could feel the power radiating from it.

Reverently carrying the crystal, Merak approached Elios who was still kneeling with his head bowed. “Brother Elios,” Merak spoke formally, “how do you pledge to be of service to the Golden Crystal of Earth and Elysion?”

Elios looked up and clearly answered, “I pledge to serve the Golden Crystal and to protect it for the Earth’s royal heir. I will faithfully perform the Golden Crystal’s prayers and continue in this service even unto death.”

Merak held the slender, cone shaped receptacle above Elios’ head. He explained, “The Golden Crystal will now judge Elios’ dreams and intentions to see if they are truthful and worthy.”

When the High Priest touched the base of the receptacle to his apprentice’s head, a bright light filled the auditorium. As the golden glow gradually faded, everyone’s eyes adjusted and they looked at Elios. The young priest still knelt in front of his mentor but now the Golden Crystal’s receptacle was securely fused to his head.

As Merak reached out to help Elios stand, he confirmed, “Brother Elios, the Golden Crystal has accepted your service. Congratulations.”

Elios looked relieved, surprised, happy and a little frightened as the crowd stood to applaud and the fairies took to the air in song.

********


A few weeks later, the shrine’s pegasuses were busy preparing to celebrate the coming of the new year. This was their most important holiday. It had been traditional, for as long as the priests knew, that on the last day of the year they would take a careful account of the previous year to make sure all conflicts were resolved and tasks were completed. Anything that was allowed to carry over into the new year could weaken the power of the new beginning. Each priest was required to be ready by midnight to start his life over new in whatever way was required of him in the coming year.

Both Elios and Merak spent the last moments of the year meditating together in the prayer room. It was especially important for them to start the new year praying for the protection of the Earth and Golden Crystal.

Being that this was Elios\' first New Year as a priest, he wasn\'t quite sure what to expect. At the stroke of midnight he felt a strong prompting to open his eyes and look up to the large dome suspended above him. His mentor also looked up and both of them clearly saw a vision. As the procession of angelic beings projected by the dome gradually faded, Merak spoke. His tone of finality laced with awe made Elios shiver. “The Ancients approach…the Intersession has ended.”

Continued...

Thank you for reading my story. I hope you are enjoying it. If you did like my story, or if you have any (kind and gently worded) suggestions/comments about my story, please let me know. I truly appreciate feedback. You can email me at ndeblock@att.net .

This story was edited and enhanced by the great minds and imaginations of my three wonderful betas, Sophia Prester, Yumeko & Loki. Their help and ideas have been of great value to me! Each is also a fabulous Sailor Moon fanfic author. Sophia Prester’s and Yumeko’s stories can be found on Fanfic.net with an author’s name search (Yumeko\'s author\'s name is Heavely Pearl). Loki’s work is on AriasInk.com. I highly recommend reading all of their stories. ^_^

Bye, Luna Hope

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, her lover, her friends, her family and her enemies all don’t belong to me. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I just borrowed them for a little bit of fun. All original characters in this story do belong to me. ^_^