Before They Were Kings, Part I: God’s Messenger

Hello, everyone. With the Opening Saga now commencing, it won't be long until we face the Leaders of the World Government. But before we do, I think it's only fitting you know just who the Leaders were before they were kings. In any great series, character development is a must. Even for these guys. This chapter in particular continues from Chapter 29 of Seven Lights. (A fair warning though, this chapter has religious material that some may find sensitive.)

Palutena's Temple

"Phew!" Palutena brushed the sweat off her forehead after the exciting battle she just endured. "Glad to see Jennifer is as spry as ever. But at least Sector W managed to escape!"

"Um, Lady Palutena?" Pit spoke with an awkward expression. "I think the readers were hoping for an onscreen battle between you and Jennifer."

"Silly Pit, we need to save the budget for the battles that really matter!" The Goddess of Light grinned. "And that's only between the main characters. Besides, my first battle with Jennifer was a lot more exciting."

"But that was 2,000 years ago. My memory's not that good."

"In that case, Pit, would you be up for a little story? Not just about Jennifer, but I've been doing some research. The World Leaders have quite the histories."

"Can the Chronicler tell us the story?!" Pit asked excitedly. "He always makes them interesting!"

"You wanna brave the Chronicler's Element Trials just to hear a prequel story?"

"You made me do that for Crystal's story!"

"Well, you should have paid attention when it was happening the first time. Now sit back and listen to your goddess! Now then, let's start with Jennifer Bush. It was over 2,000 years ago…"

2,032 years ago

It was 500 years after the founding of the Fourth Age of Kids Next Door. As generations passed, this army of brave children slowly dwindled in numbers, until they became no more than a legend. However, the Sacred Trees that the gods had planted for them still grew about the Earth, serving as reminders of what the Kids Next Door had done. But it also reminded the world of the dark powers that be. The world knew that demons lived under the earth, and would rise again if the need suited them.

According to that legend, the Kids Next Door were aided by fairies, and after their victory against the demons, baby gods known as "Firstborn" rewarded the humans with a delicious cake with supernatural powers. But even in this age, people followed numerous religions, and many did not see eye-to-eye. Some were strong in the belief of one God, a God who was pure-hearted and wanted His children to follow the correct path. His followers believed that these fairies and other so-called gods were what attracted the demons in the first place. They strayed humankind from the right path, ideas of merpeople and fairies dirtied their minds and filled the demons with hunger.

That's why, if any of these accursed trees were seen, they were to be burned to ashes. These "Sacred Trees" were a call to the demons to feed on the organisms nearby, they had to be extinguished, so that one day those legends can be erased. In one peaceful village within the Oaklands, red embers rose to the clear night sky as a giant tree was in the process of disintegration. Everyone in the village could see it. Even the innocent family who lived on the hill in the forest far away.

"La da da da da." Jennifer Bush was an adorable girl at five years old. Her brown hair was shiny and her skin was fair. She danced outside in tiny bare feet, her pink dress flowing as she twirled. ♪ "Let it burn, let it burn." ♪ Jenny sang. "God, please punish the heathens." Her voice would make anyone smile. She was so sweet and pure-hearted, full of love and life. "When I die, may I be rocked to sleep in your loving arms, and may the people who planted those trees be eaten by demons."

"Jennifer, please come inside." A teen girl in a white blouse and long blue skirt called. Her brown hair matched her little sister's. "It's getting dark. You know the monsters come out at night."

♪ "I'm not scared, not scared." ♪ Jenny sang joyfully. "I am God's daughter, and I will banish the demons with my holy light!" Jenny twirled, and her body began to shine. She was born a lightbender with her pure spirit, but her family and the village accepted it as a blessing from God. They believed Jenny could warm the darkened souls and lead them to the correct path with her light.

"Won't you please share your light with your family?" Amy asked. "Your heart keeps us all warm."

"O-kay, o-kay." Jennifer happily skipped to her home. She hugged Amy's skirt. "Are you warm now, Big Sister?"

Amy smiled and patted Jenny's head. "I'm always warm around you, Little Sister."

Inside, the Bush Family said their prayers and ate dinner by candlelight. The light from Jenny's chi kept their food warm and pure. Jenny and Amy's mother was Mary, and their father was Joey. (Well, he prefers Joseph, but "Joey" kept the pattern going.) They were a simple family, but happy nonetheless. "Mommy, Daddy, if the evil tree was attracting demons, how come we never saw any?" Jenny asked.

"Demons don't always appear before our very eyes, honey." Mary replied. "Some demons become invisible and prey on our souls from up close. But I don't think we ever had to worry. Your light has kept them away from us."

"Do you think the priest will let me speak for him tomorrow?"

"Will you remember what to say?" Joseph asked with a chortle.

"Sure, sure! It goes, uh, in the beginning there was darkness, so God turned on the lights… Wait, but how did He do that? He lit a candle? No wait, let me try again!"

"Ah ha ha ha!" Amy giggled. "Don't worry, Jenny. Soon, you'll know all the words by heart."

"When I grow up, do you think I can be a priest, too?"

"You would be a priestess, honey." Mary smiled. "And I think you would be a great one."

"I hope I grow up soon so that I can be!"

"Well, remember, Jenny, big girls get lots of rest. If you go to bed early, you'll be up to greet the sun tomorrow."

"Okay, Mommy! But if the sun doesn't come, I'll wake up the village myself!" Jenny lit up.

When dinner was finished, they blew out the candles and went to sleep. Jenny had trouble keeping her eyes closed, for her young body still had energy to spare. A red glow had been steadily growing from her window. Jenny thought it was the distant flames from the burning Sacred Tree, but the level of brightness was odd given how far it was. So Jenny stood up on her bed and gazed out the window. The flames glinted off her horrified chocolate eyes.

Demons had risen from Hell and burned every acre in the forest. They were pig-like abominations, roaring and waving torches as they cried, "HAIL MALLADUS!"

"JENNIFER!" Amy ran in and pulled her sister away from the window.

"Sissy, why are there demons?!"

"I don't know, but we have to get out of here!" They were about to run outside with their parents, only to find their home surrounded by Bulblins.

"LOOK!" a Bulblin that sounded like Seth Green shouted. "We found four more! Let's glue their mouths together and make fun of them for kissing!"

"You dipsh**," another Bulblin smacked him, "we're supposed to be killing everyone in sight! Just burn their house and feed off their despairing souls."

"That idea's better than mine!"

"GO AWAY, DEMONS!" Jennifer shouted fearlessly.

"Jenny, don't!" Mary pulled her back as the family retreated inside. The demons set fire to the small home from all corners. The Bushes held each other close as the flames surrounded them.

"There's no way out!" Amy exclaimed.

"What do we do, Daddy?" Jenny asked, her adorable eyes tearing.

"We have to pray."

They folded their hands and spent the last moments of their life praying to God. Young Jenny's faith was the strongest of all, and her light kept the family warm and vibrant. After the flames burned their flesh, they knew their troubles would end. They would go to Heaven.

…

Jenny opened her eyes to a beautiful sky of fluffy clouds. She stood and felt her feet on a soft, white ground. The land before her was all clouds. Her face beamed, full of more love and life than she ever had. "I'm in HEEEEAAAVEEEEEEEEN!" She ran and danced and skipped and pranced, for she was finally in the world of her dreams. The golden sun shone on her vibrant soul as she made cloud angels and made cloudmen. She thought of nothing else and played for countless minutes. Then, a thought occurred to her: "Wait a minute: where are my wings?"

It was then she took sight of a marble temple not far away. Jenny skipped to it and entered. There was a garden flourishing with many delicious fruits, and a woman with long emerald hair and a white gown with too many decorations to describe was picking fruit to put into a basket. She turned to Jenny with a loving smile and eyes that matched her hair. "Well, hello. It's nice to see you've awakened."

"Are you an angel?" Jenny asked.

"Not just an angel." The woman turned fully. "I'm Palutena, the goddess who created light. I was the one who blessed you with lightbending."

"Ha ha ha! No you're not! God created light, and He gave me the power of light!"

"I don't mean to trample on your religious faith. Still, that was terrible what those demons did to your family. When the four of you landed in the Underworld, all they wanted to do was eat you, ignoring any judgment laws. Your parents and your sister were attacked and infected with Dark Chi by the time I sent my Centurions. Thankfully, I was able to rescue you and have the Grim Reaper uplift you to the Spirit World. At the moment, we're working to heal your family."

"But why did the demons hurt us? We burned the evil tree."

"That was a Sacred Tree. The Sacred Trees were planted around the Earth to keep Demon King Malladus sealed within the core. Because the mortals burned those trees, Malladus was able to escape. It was the courageous spirits of the Kids Next Door that gave the trees their power. Our only hope is if a new Kids Next Door arrives."

"But why doesn't God beat the Devil?"

"Jenny, this is a little difficult to explain…" Palutena said awkwardly. "You see… we're kind of part of a multiverse system. Meaning other universes that intersect with ours. And this universe is primarily run by… well, a different branch of gods than the one you're thinking of. And while the influence of the Catholic God and the other religions is still heavy in this world, I'm afraid that His power… well… It lies somewhere else."

"I…I don't get it…"

"Sigh, I really don't want to hurt your faith. But, the truth is, there are multiple gods out there, and not all of them can cooperate in the same universe. A while ago, we had visiting Greek gods from a different universe. They created fearsome and destructive Titans, so we had to… send them away. But I can assure you the God you know and love still exists." Palutena smiled. "However, I can't take you to Him."

"…" Jenny looked down and frowned. Palutena felt her sorrow and approached her. The goddess tilted Jenny's head up and said, "Until your family gets better, I promise to make your stay in the Spirit World meaningful. We're normally not allowed to do this, but I've given back the lightbending that you lost. You can be as sunny as you were before!"

"Um…thank you. But where should I go first?"

"Well, do you like to read, Jenny?"

"Sure!"

"I know a library that's chockfull of books about history, geography, fairytales, you name it. If you need a good way to pass the time, I can show you. But I should warn you, the librarian is… a tad scary."

"What do you mean?"

Spirit Library

Palutena brought Jennifer to a tremendous stone temple whose interior possessed endless floors of endless books. "Hello. I am Wan Shi Tong." The librarian was a giant black owl with a white face. "He Who Knows 10,000 Things and the most intelligent among spirits. Second to the Chronicler and his smartass apprentice, Kaepora, who happens to be my cousin. Regardless."

"Hello, Wan." Palutena greeted. "This young lady here is Jennifer. She's new to the Spirit World and we were wondering if she could spend a little time in your library. It is eternity, after all."

"Of course I will allow her. She looks like a bright young child, eager to learn. And just because someone is dead, doesn't mean they can't still gain knowledge."

"Wonderful! Jennifer, would you like me to help you find something?"

"No, Miss Palutena. I can manage."

"Hm hm, you sound like a smarty already! In that case, I'll be trying to manage the demon situation. I'll check up on you in an hour." The goddess left the temple.

For countless hours, all Jennifer did was read. On her request, Wan Shi Tong took her to a section with books on Palutena's branch of gods. She read how those gods gave mortals the power of elements. She detested almost every page that defied her religion, every page that could stray people from the righteous path. Eventually, she found an article about the Challenge Agreement: An element bender can challenge the god of an element to a duel. If the bender wins, the god must grant them a portion of their God Chi. If the bender loses, they must give up their bending.

"Palutena?" Jennifer asked the goddess after returning to the temple. "Will you teach me lightbending?"

"Why certainly, Jennifer." Palutena smiled. "With me as your teacher, you'll be a pro in no time."

For five years, Palutena spent her free time teaching Jennifer lightbending. They meditated under clear daylight, Jennifer learned a variety of moves like Flash or Refract. When Palutena wasn't around, Jennifer trained herself. The five-year-old spirit became skilled enough to tell Palutena, at long last:

"I challenge you to a duel!"

"Oh?" Palutena was caught off guard.

"According to the Challenge Agreement, you have to give me your God Chi if I win. Isn't that right?"

"Jennifer… this is really out of the blue. How long have you been planning this?"

"A long time. You're not afraid to fight me, are you?"

"I'm not, but… do you really want to risk losing your bending?"

"I'm not gonna lose. In fact, I have other wagers, too. If I win, you bring me to life as a grown-up, AND you give me one of your temples on Earth. Deal?"

Palutena hesitated. This girl was brimming with confidence, and the fact she had been planning this made Palutena suspicious. Regardless, she couldn't turn down the challenge. It was the law. "Very well, I accept your challenge and your conditions. In fact, I know the perfect place to host our duel." Palutena raised her staff and warped them in a flash of light.

Next second, they were at the top of an extremely high mountain, the sun shining directly overhead. Temples and statues of Palutena covered the mountaintop. "This is the Sun Pillar, the tallest mountain on Earth." Palutena explained. "My home away from home. If you defeat me, this entire mountain will be yours. Does it sound like a fair deal?"

"It does." Jenny smirked.

"Now, since I am a god and can therefore never get tired, your objective will be to both: knock the staff out of my hand, and knock me off my feet. When you've done both things at the same time, you will have won the battle. I hope you're prepared, because I won't hold back. This battle will utilize both of our strengths. And it begins… NOW!" (Play "Boss Theme 2" from Kid Icarus: Uprising!)

Hidden boss: Palutena

Palutena swung her staff and slid a giant light column across the ground, but Jenny dodged right, quickly blocking with Light Fists when the goddess bat her staff. Jenny kicked at Palutena's shin before rolling behind her, but when Palutena whipped around for a counter, Jenny had zipped behind with Light Feet and blasted Palutena with a Solar Beam. The goddess was down on her front, seeing Jenny coming at her and whipping her staff behind to send a Light Slice. Jenny jumped above to stomp down at her face, but Palutena zipped off with lightspeed and spawned a wide light spire around herself.

Jenny lit her feet with light and ran from the pursuing spire. She made a wide gap between herself and Palutena, but the goddess channeled her power to make giant spires around the mountaintop. They moved around in attempt to burn Jenny, but the child kept swiftly evading. Jenny was able to find Palutena's spire and had built enough momentum to dive straight through it, tackling the goddess and biting her arm. Palutena held her staff up to shoot light at the child, but Jenny quickly leapt to grab it. She held on and kicked Palutena in the face before successfully pulling it away.

Jenny smirked, now the holder of the staff. Palutena returned the look and lit her hands with light, waving them around the air before shooting giant Light Palms at her opponent. Jenny swung the staff like a bat to disperse them, a difficult maneuver given the child's size compared to it. Eventually, a Light Palm was able to push her back, but Jenny escaped before it could smash her into a wall. Palutena formed hexagonal shields from which her Reflections emerged, and Jenny shot them with the staff when they flew at her. Palutena suddenly zipped behind and took the staff back, knocking the child away.

Palutena manipulated the light that bounced off their figures, so the area was flashing with neon colors. The action made Jennifer confused, so she was forced to close her eyes and sense Palutena's movements by her energy. Jenny evaded the goddess's light attacks, turning her own fists and feet into light as she ran circles around Palutena. The goddess tried to follow her movements and brace for a surprise attack, but then Jennifer stopped a few feet in front and FLASHED! Palutena was a tad startled, then she was kicked in the back of the head and knocked down, but the goddess threw a light spire up to knock Jennifer airborne.

Palutena made Light Spheres surround the midair Jenny from all directions, but when they closed in, Jenny pulsed her own power and bounced them away. She landed, and Palutena made Solar Beams shoot from every direction, Jenny flipped and dodged with a smile on her happy face, grabbing two beams in her hands. She threw one that Palutena blocked, but the other she had fly around her and hit from behind. With lightspeed, Jenny zipped through Palutena's legs and knocked her down, then Jenny leapt on her back and tried to tug the staff away. Palutena's grip was firm, and the goddess was able to blow her off with a FLASH from her staff.

("How long does this fight go on, Palutena?" Pit asked.)

("About 10 hours. I'm surprised I remember every detail.")

("Can't we skip to the end?" Pit moaned.)

("Oh, fine.")

Jenny's hands and feet were shining brighter as she zipped around and threw a hit every second, and Palutena was quick to block with her staff. Jenny zipped ten feet away and shot back with a round of punches that Palutena blocked with a Mirror Shield, but the child leapt over and stomped the goddess's face. "You've become more ferocious since the start of this battle." Palutena noticed. "Your energy seems to be increasing instead of decreasing."

"I have the power of Faith!" Jenny threw Light Spheres around Palutena, who could only block a few with her staff. "The more I believe in God, the more power I have!"

"That much is true." Palutena smiled proudly. "Lightbending is strengthened by belief in what you hold dear. And your faith is not just your own, but your family's. It's that kind of faith that makes mortals stronger than gods."

"Oh, on the contrary." Jenny folded her hands as her body shone with white light. "O Father, who art in Heaven, if I am victorious, I will use my power to right the wrongs of this world. O God, I beg of you, give me the strength to vanquish evil."

A great ray of light erupted from Jenny's body. Palutena felt her growing power and formed a barrier around herself. Jenny zipped up, but instead of attack like Palutena expected, Jenny sang a high and lovely note. "Ooooooooooooo…" Her love and faith was poured into her vocals, and a piece of the barrier scattered into dust.

She's lightbending with the sound of her own voice?! Palutena gaped. Her faith is really strong! I guess I didn't trample on her religion after all.

Jenny seized the chance to zip inside, behind Palutena, and kick the back of her leg. Palutena stumbled back but kept balance—Jenny grabbed the staff and smashed down the barrier. In Palutena's attempt to zip up and take it back, Jenny erupted a light spire that surprised her, then she whacked the goddess in the face with her staff and knocked her down. (End song.)

Jenny aimed the ball of the staff at Palutena when the goddess looked up. She smiled. "You actually defeated me. A deal's a deal, Jennifer. I'm proud to call you my student."

Jenny grinned, showing her adorable pearly teeth, but it was a fake smile. Palutena took the staff back and raised it, flashing a ray of light into being as a lifeless body descended from it. It had shiny brown hair in curls and a pink dress like Jenny's. "This is a Gigai I had been constructing. It's what you would've looked like at 25 years old. I thought you might want to use it to revisit the Mortal World, but… I guess this will be your vessel from now on. Just jump in and you'll come back to life."

Jenny jumped with joy and jumped into the body. She was now a grown-up, 25 but with the soul of a carefree child. "And as promised, I not only give you ownership of Sun Pillar, I give you a piece of my God Chi." Palutena pulled a ball of light out of her heart and passed it to Jenny's body. "You now possess my sunbending, which also holds my power of Resurrection. It's a power that can heal injuries or restore life. You have a kind soul, Jenny. I have faith that you won't misuse it."

"I most certainly won't! Now that it is in the right hands." Without warning, Jenny shot a Solar Beam and blew Palutena back.

"Ahh!" The goddess landed on her feet. "Jennifer, the battle is over!"

"It's far from over, Palutena." Jennifer said with a conniving smirk. "You are not an angel, nor are you a goddess. You're a demon that stole God's precious light and claimed it as your own. You and all these other false gods continue to darken humanity's mind. But I know that my light is from God's love. I know that He wanted me to take His light back from you and lead humanity on the right path. I will be God in physical form and carry out His will. I will destroy all the demons that plague our world and bring light to all the misguided souls who follow you fake gods! But if I cannot… I will have to destroy them, too. ♪ Destroy, destroy, destroy…" ♪ She started dancing and singing.

"Oh! Also, I am renaming this mountain." Jenny decided. "In the name of my mother, Mary, and my father, Joey, this land will be called Mariejoa. ♪ Marie and Joa! Marie and Joa!" ♪ She twirled.

"…That is what you truly believe." Palutena smiled. "I didn't sense this ambition inside of you because you truly believe it is the right thing to do. …Jennifer… I won't go back on my word… but as you carry out your goal, remember the true difference between Light and Darkness. I'll be watching over you." The goddess ascended back to Heaven in a ray of light.

♪ "Alive, alive, I am alive, alive." ♪ Jenny sang. "Oh, but I don't want to spread the word of God on my own. And I also don't want to tear down these temples and build churches all alone. O God, thank you for this wonderful gift." She began to pray. "Thank you for giving me the strength to follow your path. Please, if I may have nothing else, send me others who share the beliefs that I have. Let us watch and protect the world as you do. Please…"

Her faith shone on her body as light and became a beacon for the whole world, and even the worlds beyond to see.

In a wasteland that was miles away from Mariejoa, the beacon shone across the cloudy heavens. But then an odd pink light flashed in the clouds, roaring like thunder as a small but powerful meteor descended unto Earth. It was roughly three inches in size, but its velocity was great enough to dent a crater in the earth. This powerful object was a simple 8-ball, flashing an array of colors and beeping as it rampantly rolled around the crater. An explorer happened by and discovered the object. His curiosity boundless over the strange phenomena, he bent down and picked it up.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" It felt like touching a million tiny suns at once. The tiny ball's power was so vast, and holding it showed him things he had never seen or could imagine. A giant fortress in space, a door with twenty locks, a triangular portal and the dimensions inside, and dozens of planets melding together into one.

By the time he decided to throw the ball back on the ground, he was overcome with pain. Yet, he felt the longing desire to hold it again. He would let himself rest and keep picking it up as many times as it would take.