by SJ McGarry
Johan Reiner VII, the King, reigned with his beautiful wife, Megan. Together they shared the responsibility of power and ruled on the everyday decision making of their country.
Rumors flew throughout the castle of the Queen's extraordinary powers. She was by lineage to succeed her grandmother, Grizel, as the next female warrior of the Centaurian Empire; instead, she stayed by her husband's side as his Queen, and mother to their unborn child. By the law of succession, the first daughter born would succeed to step into the elevated position.
Johan became ecstatic when he learned their family would soon become three. A boy or girl would make him happy. If a baby girl arrived to brighten their lives, he knew she would be the spitting image of her gorgeous mother.
As he pulled his wife into his arms, he hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Do you know how much I treasure you?"
"I do," she blushed, turning to look at his handsome, chiseled face. Minutes passed in comfortable silence as they reflected through time on the many challenges they faced together and conquered.
"Do you realize, my husband and king, how much I love you, your strength and wisdom, as do all the people of Utropia?"
Johan looked into her apple green eyes, surrounded by flakes swirling like golden dust when she became excited or upset. His fingers reached to move a rogue strand of hair obscuring her beautiful face and tucked it behind her ear. Her crowning glory always reminded him of the color of the sky when the sun met the sparkling ocean at sunset. "Well, not being able to speak for the others, I do recognize their loyalty," he said. "And you? What do you think, my lady?"
"I know of your strengths firsthand." Her fingers traced a small scar on the side of his face, a constant reminder of a not-forgotten battle with the wicked wizard, Zennibar, a bitter fight, which almost ended Johan’s life.
"Are you sure?" he teased as he leaned down and gave her a loving kiss. As their lips parted, she let out a big sigh and rubbed her swollen belly. She envisioned their baby daughter in her mind's eye and knew she would soon demand entrance into their world.
"Johan?"
"Yes, my love?"
"What should we name our baby girl?"
"I’ll leave the name for you to decide. How can you be so sure our baby is a girl?" he inquired as he placed his hand over hers.
"Johan, our baby is a girl!" She stated with conviction as contractions started in her lower back and she tried to control her breathing.
“She is the prophesied Princess Warrior who will reign and welcome in the New Milkomedia Galaxy."
Johan bent his head down, nestled his ear against her baby bump, and said, "Hey, you! Can you understand me? Quit kicking and hurting your mother. You need to show respect here. If you agree, kick once for yes, and twice for no. Ready?"
Kick!
Johan's eyes almost bugged out of his skull. "Honey, did you see her move?"
"No, but I sure felt it!"
Now excited and on full alert, he repeated once more, "So, are you a little fellow?" Nothing.
"Maybe she didn't understand the question. Try asking her again,” Megan suggested.
He raised his voice louder this time. "Are you a boy?" Still nothing. He decided to change his line of questioning, so Johan taunted in fun, "How about Gertrude for a name?"
Two huge kicks slammed across Megan's belly almost knocking her to the floor with the acute force.
"All right you two. Enough with this game. Stop the hundred-and-one questions before I’m no longer able to stand, walk, or catch my breath!"
Johan whispered, "So, how are you certain our baby is a girl?"
"Grizel sent me a message." Guilt consumed her as she glanced at her husband and saw his face lose its happy smile and wilt. She realized her mistake in not confiding with him first.
Johan could only stare at her with a look of a lost puppy dog.
"Grizel told me. She said she cleaned her pools of water while arranging her bowls representing the different planets in the galaxy. She prepared to scry on other future events when she received a vision. They showed our daughter's birth and a series of quick images from infant up to her 1,800th ring. Her BC message confirmed my conception. I wanted to make sure before I told you."
"Oh!" Johan replied. He tried to hide his disappointment knowing she had not confided in him when she first suspected her pregnancy.
He could not fault her since he made known to her and Grizel how he felt. Not being an enthusiastic supporter of the ancient ways of seeking answers or foretelling the future, he would never discredit their use of magic, but he preferred the newer methods. The old channels were unreliable and sometimes inaccurate because of individual interpretation.
Johan stood and turned to leave, not wanting to betray his thoughts. "Well, I better head back to work." A smile as broad as the Kickbot Stadium, where the Utropians held their significant sports events, spread across his face. With the future birth of his baby girl, his heart could only swell with love for his family and hope for the future of his beloved planet.
Megan patted her stomach and smiled. She sent her BC memories to the child she had carried the past nine months. "Don't worry, my sweet daughter, the name chosen for you is beautiful."
CHAPTER 9
Birth of a Princess
12th Centaurian Ring, 1st Spiral Cycle, 48911
Using the arm of the chair as support to help lift her awkward frame, she walked across the room towards her bedroom to rest before dinner. Before she could go more than a couple of steps, terrible convulsions began wracking her body bringing her to her knees. The pain was equal to a sparring match. She sent a quiet request to the Goddess so she would not end up with broken ribs or worse.
Not wanting to appear weak she tried to bide her time, but the pain won, and she went to her knees screaming for help. When no response came proving futile and unable to further vocalize for help because of her excruciating pain, she realized she had one other option. Her BCs began spirling out like an SOS or mayday rescue alert going out over the wires in battle "Johan, Konan, anyone, please answer me. We need to leave to the Cygnus Parental Portals Now! Our baby girl is about to make her debut; please hurry!"
With no mini-rings to spare, both answered her call.
Johan arrived first with Konan on his heels and swooped Megan up into his arms. He ran outside and with care, placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her safety belt. "We'll be there before you realize sweetheart. Hold on and take deep breaths." He turned and rushed to the other side of the Airstream. "I'll send a BC message to you Konan when the baby is born.”
Konan smiled and patted Megan's shoulder before the panel slid down and closed. "Everything will be fine my queen."
Panting through laboring breaths, she hissed in pain, "Our baby has a name!"
"Well don't keep us in suspense. Out with it," Johan yelled, as he ran around to the driver’s side sliding into the seat that molded to his form.
"Nella,” the name came spilling out between her gasping for air.
The panels slid closed. Nobody noticed the gray blur sneaking into the back area of the unit with the Airstream lifting into the air like an elevator on steroids.
Their arrival at the medical facility clocked under one spiral of the ring, setting a new speed record
ON OCCASION, IN ANY galaxy, a supernova occurs. This strange phenomenon happens when a star brightens to a high luminosity, outshining all others. It is a remarkable show in the heavens attracting many astronomers; they search the galaxies religiously hunting supernovae.
Little did anyone on planet Centaurius know a double-supernova would soon take place; an event which would alter the future of two worlds, two galaxies, and everything within the universe.
Centaurian scientist, astronomers, and wizards gazed through their telescopes. Mesmerized, as they saw two stars exploding in brilliance never before orchestrated within their studies of the beautiful space within their galaxies. The biggest double supernova made record history on Centa
urius. In the Centaurian sky, their moons shone extra bright, announcing the birth of Nella, the Princess Warrior of Centaurius, and ringing in a new era.
Recorded in the Book of Twenty:
Utropia, Centaurius. M31-NGC 224 (Andromeda)
12th Centaurian Ring, 1st Spiral Cycle, 48911
Sex: Female
Name: Nella Grizel Reiner
52.7 cm, 4.3 kg
Full moon
Cygnus Parental Portals (CPP) in the Kingdom of Utropia
Mother: Queen Megan Reiner
Father: King Johan Reiner VII
A nurse wrapped Nella in a soft blanket and handed the baby to the mother who smiled and marveling at her sweet baby girl. "Johan, isn't she beautiful?"
Johan kissed his daughter's tiny fingers. He leaned over to kiss the tip of Megan's nose, whispering, "I am the luckiest man in the universe."
Nella's little eyes opened and both their eyes locked. A flood of BC energy passed between mother and child.
"Oh, Nella," Megan murmured, feeling dizzy from the warmth and exchange of the telepathic BCs flowing between them. "I can’t begin to put to words how happy I am you arrived to fill our home with love." She rubbed her hand across her baby's soft cheek. She checked Nella over like a doctor to make sure she had all her fingers and toes. Golden flakes began to swirl around the greenness in Megan's eyes.
Freckles stretched across the bridge of baby Nella's nose and over to each cheek. The prophecy proclaimed a subtle sign would prove the girl's rightful calling as Princess Warrior of Centaurius. To those who believed in such cosmic magic, the shimmering freckles gave proof and resembled the Andromeda Galaxy.
"Is it normal to see the foretold sign this early?" Megan asked Johan.
With happiness swelling within his heart and hope for the future, Johan replied, "I believe it's supposed to be visible to all who believe." Gazing at Nella's face, he whispered, “This is the promise we’ve been waiting for.”
Outside the Cignus Portal Medical Center, streaks of lightning cut through the sky.
The illumination sliced through the hospital window, landing on Nella's forehead forming the letter "Z." It stayed there for several seconds frozen in time.
Roaring thunder followed and shook the walls of the building, causing both parents to jump in surprise.
The king rushed over to Megan's side, putting himself in front of the window and shielding both mother and child. The winds, lighting, and thunder disappeared as quickly as they appeared. Once again, the full moon began smiling down, guarding the peacefulness of the night.
"We are safe. The storm passed through," Johan assured Megan, as he wrapped both mother and child in a protective embrace. Johan did not miss the threatening message sent by the wicked Wizard Zennibar.
CHAPTER 10
Birth of an Earth Warrior
Earth January 1, 1984
On planet Earth, in the little town of Nehalem, Oregon, a man named Edward Killian McBride was smiling. His wife, Aine (Annie), had given birth to their firstborn son. They decided to give him the name of Allen Killian McBride.
Edward (Eddie), who was of Irish descent and a master artesian of wood, sat at a simple desk he had built by hand out of a big-leaf maple tree. Trying to unwind, he took a deep breath and exhaled. His hand pushed back his curly black hair that had fallen over his eyes while he wrote on a piece of plain paper.
Allen Killian McBride.
Nehalem, Oregon, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
January 1, 1984
21 inches long, seven lbs., seven ounces
Born: Home one AM
Father: Edward Killian McBride
Mother: Aine 0’ Halloran-McBride
Eddie looked at his wife's fiery ringlets, which fell around mother and child as she bent to kiss their newborn son.
"Eddie, he looks just like you," Annie smiled, stroking her little son's black ringlets that warmed his small head.
"Aye, that he does, but he has your cute button nose," Eddie replied, leaning closer to study his son's chubby face. "Annie, my love, what's that strange marking across the bridge of his nose?"
Annie brought her son closer to inspect what she had mistaken as freckles. "I don't know, Eddie, I'm not sure if it's a birthmark or not. I swear I saw the mark shimmering for a few seconds.
Coming from a long line of famous royalty, according to rumors and legends, Annie from her grandmother’s side was a direct descendant from the Irish Queen, Aine of the South Munster fae of Kock Aire of Ireland. The stories, legends, and history still held a prominent place in their rural communities. Storytelling as a child growing up told about the prophecy of a princess from another world prophesied to join forces with an Earth Warrior and together fight to restore order to Earth resources and establish peace to its inhabitants.
It seemed the powers, and magic her grandmother and mother exercised for some unknown reason chose to leave Annie with no magical powers that she knew of during her lifetime. She remembered her grandmother saying, ‘A sign will confirm the identity of the Earth Warrior in the way of a birthmark.’ Her heart raced as fear overtook her reasoning as she couldn’t help wondering about the possibility that her son might fulfill this prophecy.
Lightning flashed in the heavens. Light cut through the window, landing on Allen's forehead in the form of the letter "Z," just as it had with baby Nella on a faraway planet. The roaring thunder that followed shook their home's foundation, causing both Annie and Eddie to jump in surprise.
Eddie walked over and looked out the window, placing himself between the glass and his family, protecting mother and child.
Annie trembled as teardrops ran down her cheeks. "Eddie, I'm scared,"
Rushing to Annie's side, Eddie knelt by her side, wrapping his arms around her and their baby boy, protecting them both. "It's okay," he said, holding her close. "It's only a storm passing through the area."
A chill ran down both Annie and Eddie’s spine as they thought for sure they both saw the bold mark of the letter ‘Z’ hovering over Allen's head for two seconds, which baffled them, but neither confirming to the other what they were sure they saw.
"Ah, Annie, my sweet lass, you are exhausted. Your hair is sopping wet. Here, let me take Allen while you rest." Eddie's voice floated across the room like a smooth Irish melody, which soothed Annie's weary soul.
Picking up their tiny baby boy in his strong arms, Eddie walked over to the large wooden rocker he had spent countless hours designing and creating. It was a gift to Annie. He sat down and began rocking Baby Allen. As he stared into Allen's face, his eyes blinked. Eddie swore he had seen the freckles across the bridge of Allen's nose shimmer again for a second or two. Then he remembered the letter ‘Z.’
It is nothing but stress and lack of sleep. The brightness of the lightning has my eyes playing tricks on me. I am tired and imagining things, Eddie assured himself and then continued rocking baby Allen, as they both melted into the soothing motion of the moment.
THE LITTLE TOWN OF Nehalem sat on the western bank of the County. It had once been a thriving fishing and timber hamlet. Around 1920, Nehalem's community had convinced the county officials to build a bridge to give access to the railroad. The rest is history, as this attracted loggers, dairymen, fishers, and families from the surrounding hills and valleys.
Historical pictures that hung inside the door of the Nehalem Antique Mall gave a sepia-toned view into the town's past, in which the townsfolk took great pride. There were no castles in Nehalem, nor kings and queens, but it was the beauty and grandeur of the surrounding area that had attracted Eddie to settle there and raise his family. The waterways interconnected with the farmlands, and the hills gave protection from winter storms.
Allen's parents were so proud and excited. They bragged to everyone about how Allen had been the first baby born on New Year's Day in the small town of Nehalem, Oregon.
The local paper came to their cottage to take a picture of the happy couple with their new baby boy, and the m
ayor sent a letter of congratulations. Neighbors, local merchants, county officials, friends, and strangers lavished the McBride Family with food and gifts celebrating Allen's birthday, sharing this memorable event for their community.
A strange package arrived among the many other gifts the parents received on Allen's behalf. It was a small box made of an unidentifiable substance with a royal purple ribbon wrapped around the parchment paper attached to the tiny box, holding it together like an ancient scroll.
Eddie unfolded the delicate, scrolled paper and read. ‘To Baby Allen.’ One word appeared underneath the writing in elegant old-calligraphy handwriting: ‘I-PERM,’ along with a future line that date or numbers scrawling across the bottom which he could not read. No congratulations message or signature were present.
Edward and Annie opened the intricate box. Unwrapping the purple velvet fabric, they discovered another soft, gauze fabric that protected the hidden object's beauty much like a cocoon of a monarch butterfly. A spiral-shaped object lay on its side as if waiting to rise in all its glory covered in a sheath of amethyst, diamonds, and trimmed with gold.
Allen's parents thought the gift was strange; but they could see it was old, valuable and other-worldly. After a lengthy discussion and many unanswered questions over the cryptic message, they wrapped the jeweled object back the way they found it to keep it safe. They would give it to Allen on his eighteenth birthday.
If only Edward and Annie had looked outside their cottage door that eventful pre-dawn morning. They might have seen the strange and unexplained displays of nature that joined the celebration of a simultaneous, mirrored birth of two warriors from different planets and galaxies.