"A long time ago, when magic ruled the world, creatures much different than now thrived. Fairies, mermaids, centaurs, half-men half beasts. Even some people wielding magic could be found. But none were as powerful as the forces of land, sea and sky. Sometimes taking shape, sometimes completely anonymous, they would shape the lands to their will. All magical creatures did this to a degree. Showing off your powers was an ultimate display. It was a way to signal to others that you are not to be messed with. Battles and wars were common, for the stupidest little things. You can see how such hubris affected everything around them. The ground shook, the winds roamed, and the oceans boiled and froze without any rhyme or reason. Some were overwhelmed with it all, choosing to retreat into slumber, just to escape. Those remaining. Well..."
Two armies were running towards each other. Yelling creatures of all kinds, used unimaginable powers to kill their opponents. Weaker creatures tried to use their numbers as their advantage, but land deities caused the ground to swallow them in large chunks. Air deities used hurricanes to blow others into the stratosphere. Water and lava wrestled. It was all too much. At one sudden moment, the earth broke. Not an island, not even a continent. The crack was felt through the entire planet!
Everyone stopped, uncertain what was happening. The most powerful deities collectively shrugged. This was not their doing. The tortured planet had its fill, and now, all it could do was collapse. No one was prepared for the sudden large gap forming. It grew larger and large, until the planet's core was completely visible. It spread its magma as the sky grew dark. All that could spread their appendages joined forces to stop the gap from spreading. Using all their gifts, the creatures barely managing to keep a quarter of their planet from floating into space. They managed as much, through strain and horrible pain, cursing themselves and others for the horror it led them to.
After a long time, once all the creatures were certain their destinies were sealed, the greatest power of all paid them a visit.
"Well, well, well. No surprises here. Leave you alone for one moment, and you already tore your home to pieces," a booming, somewhat smug voice was heard. The magical creatures looked around. It seemed to be coming from everywhere. The sky, the surrounding planets, even from their own heads, but they all knew who was causing it.
"Oh great Father of the Universe, won't you please help us wretched creations," one begged.
The creature next to him scoffed. "Don't stand there, old man. Help us!"
The space around them collectively hummed. "I don't see why I should. You never seem to learn your lesson."
One particularly strained forest guardian groaned. "So you came here just to gloat!" Her arms tore into numerous vines, stretching out so far, her body was almost non-existent.
"Oh please, what kind of monster do you think I am?" the force took on a humanoid form just so he can scrunch his nose in protest. "I will not leave you like this for the rest of eternity. However, if things return to what they were, a new catastrophe is inevitable."
"Then what do you suggest we do, of glorious creator!" the ass-kisser spoke again.
The floating figure pondered, gliding his beard.
Viniria told her story, her face absorbed by melancholy. "That is when we accepted the deal. Return the planet to normal and we will go into voluntary slumber. It may not seem fair now, but at the time, anything was better than the chaos we caused."
Luka, who was sitting next to her, listened, with his jaw wide open. "Wow!" he gasped.
"Indeed," Viniria slowly nodded.
"And you all accepted it? Being asleep all this time?"
"Of course. Once a deal like that is made, you cannot go back on your word... That is why these awakenings scare me. If even deities are waking, it is only a matter of time before we go back to those horrible times."
The devastated boy hugged her tightly. "I wish my parents were here."
Viniria caressed his hair, thinking the same.
Meanwhile, alive and well, Aidan and Zora were saying their goodbyes. A large crowd had gathered, with Kofi in the middle. "I wish we can do something about your boat. Perhaps, if you stay a while, we will have time to make one," he said.
"No need," Aidan waved, grateful. "We do not need it anymore. And besides, I believe you will soon be busy making ships of your own."
"Are we allowed to leave now?" Zora asked the mother priestess.
The woman in white slowly nodded her head. "The Great Water Giver approves. Also, make sure to send her regards to the... vine lady," she scrunched her nose, not sure if she heard it correctly.
"Will do," Zora added. In an instant, the shiny hoop opened, with their beloved forest on the other side.
"Goodbye," the couple waved to their new friends before disappearing.
At the same time, in the old castle of the Seven Hill Kingdom, Aidan's brother, the prince, was observing something through the telescope. His wife, the senior princess, entered the room. "Is something the matter, dear?"
Without turning, he handed her a letter. "This arrived this morning from far away lands. Someone is selling a magical harp and a hoop that can take you anywhere."
"But, this can't be," the princess read in disbelief. "These things belong to Zora and Aidan. They would never give them away... Unless," she paused before gasping.
"Unless they were dead," her husband had a more relaxed reaction. "And, if that is true, it means..."
The princess pondered before timidly replying: "That we can take over, so our children could rule?"
He turned to her, stunned. "It means that we can put my brother Nathaniel back on the throne."
"How? We do not even know where he is!" she protested.
The senior prince smiled, seeming much more confident than usual. "We will, once we get the hoop. Oh, dear wife, you do not know how happy this makes me. This will finally-"
The sound of trumpets, made his body shiver.
"Make way for the king and queen! The king and queen have returned!" the announcer could be heard from the other hill.
The senior princess passed her frozen husband and looked through the telescope. She could clearly see the royal couple, returning from the forest. Luka was overjoyed, sitting on his father's shoulders. Viniria followed behind them, smiling and crying at the same time.
"Is it them?" she heard her husband's terrified voice.
"Yes. Looks like your plans of taking the throne will-" she wanted to say before she could feel his hand press over her lips.
"Hush, dear! They might hear you," the senior prince said, in his typical weak-kneed tone. She side-glanced him, annoyed more than mad.
That evening, after everyone was asleep, Zora joined Aidan on the balcony.
"Poor Luka. He did not want to go to sleep. He kept begging me not to leave him ever again," she said.
Aidan sighed. "This must have been very frightening for him. Not knowing when or if your parent's will return."
Zora lowered her head.
"I cannot blame him. All these creatures keep coming after us? Every day seems more chaotic than the last. And Vinira says there are far more powerful ones out there. What will we do if they awaken?" he said, anxious.
She pressed her head against his shoulder. He turned to her, gently caressing her arm. Reminiscing about something, she smiled. "How did our wedding vows go again? Be selfish, not of each other, but selfishly guard your union as if it was your own flesh and blood?"
"Something like that. What does that have to do with this?" Aidan said.
"Well, despite everything that happened, you cannot say we haven't risen to the challenge," she proudly replied. "What can hurt us when we are together?"
The king smiled, kissing her hand. Zora sighed, completely in love. "So when the creatures do come, what will we say. Stand back beasts, for we are a creature of our own!" he said in a joking manner.
Zora chuckled. "We'll see when the time comes."
They stood on the balcony and gazed at the stars, with their hands clutched tightly.