A Wonderful Change

"Mordecai, you traitor!" Lyra was the first to voice her disapproval of seeing him and Zemyna holding hands. She thought Mordecai wanted to see Zemyna fall from grace like the others because he never spoke up when he heard them talking against her. However Mordecai's silence at those times was not because he felt as they did. He simply acknowledged that he lacked the influence over his siblings to steer them in a more positive direction. All he could do was allow things to play out.

"We thought you were working so hard in the temple and with grandfather so that you could challenge Zemyna for the Sun-Throne one day!" Lilianna added in displeasure.

Mordecai almost went numb from hearing his sister's words. He could tell that the time to stay silent had past. Using the newfound emotional and mental strength he gained from becoming closer to Zemyna he responded to them by saying, "I never had any such intentions! I was only striving to hone my talents and cultivate my gifts so that I could be worthy of my title as prince. And I didn't want Zemyna to have to bear the burden of excellence alone."

Mordecai's confession nearly made Zemyna blush and the others all gasped.

"Che!" Lyra, Lilianna, and Zara all sucked their teeth in shared disgust.

"I see why Zen did not come with us to see about her favorite sister. She would certainly not be able to control her emotions if she saw us acting like this. I'm grateful we won't have to deal with one of her tantrums today." Michael said remembering their youngest sibling while watching the scene before him.

Zen is the youngest of all the princes and princesses the Chief Archon and Head Priestess brought into this world and she was the most attached to Zemyna. To Zen, Zemyna was already a true goddess. An existence to be revered above all others. Her admiration for her eldest sister ran deep. A little too deep in fact. Zen often had to be kept in seclusion to keep her from starting a fight with her siblings whenever they even dared think something negative about Zemyna. But she has always been talented in the arts of meditation and cultivating her divine life energy so seclusion suited her just fine. She would only come out on Zemyna's behalf or to undergo her lessons that were required of her as a princess.

The thought of having to deal with Zen made the others nervous apart from Zemyna.

"You're right, Michael. We should calm down. Zen may come out of seclusion just to punish us. And although she is the youngest of us and far from the strongest, the way she doesn't hold back when it comes to Zemyna, is simply terrifying." Zara rubbed her temples and sighed as she thought of her past conflicts with Zen.

"Ohhh I don't think she's that bad." Zemyna let out a small chuckle before changing the tone of the conversation. "And you will all need to get along while I'm gone. You finally have your chance to build a closer bond with our father. The Chief Archon will need you now more than ever. With me gone under such circumstances, others who wouldn't dare oppose our family before will be emboldened. They'll begin to look for anything that could be a weakness to exploit. You must protect our father and present a united front at all times. The consequences of my failure in the Rite of Ascension would indeed be catastrophic, but you all not being able to keep the peace in my absence could be just as dire."

Within Zemyna's words of caution were truths that her siblings hadn't quite wanted to face yet. But now they had to. Zemyna's presence in the ninth heaven had ensured peace because of her unparalleled strength. Dissension was not not a thought that was entertained in anyone's mind so long as she was around. And of course, Chief Archon Zariah did not only inherit his title through birthright, he was quite the force to be reckoned with himself. But with Zemyna gone for such a long time, and the Chief Archon's heart being heavy from from having his most cherished daughter and heir undergoing such a perilous trial, the royal family was looking more vulnerable by the minute.

"Do not look so downhearted my brothers and sisters. We were born for this moment. I have complete faith in us." Zemyna said when she saw how the gravity of the situation began to sink in for the others.

Zara then chose to speak up and ask what the others were to embarrassed to. "We have scorned you and sought your downfall for all these years. Yet, you are still so good to us. How? How do you not hate us?!" She asked with moisture gathering in her eyes.

They all looked at Zemyna with expressions that clearly showed theat Zara's question was a pressing one they all shared.

Zemyna smiled and said, "The answer is simple. Since the moment mother gave birth to all of you, I chose to love you all unconditionally. And I re-made that choice everyday. No matter what."

There is a deep magic in forgiveness when it is accepted. And as Zemyna said these words to her siblings, a wonderful change came over them. Jealousy, scorn, anguish, and all the negative emotions they had allowed their hearts to become addicted to were suddenly uprooted. They could not exist in the same space as the love Zemyna had stirred within them. An intense feeling of peace and wholeness overcame them.

Zemyna could feel that she had finally gotten through to them so she let go of Mordecai's hand and outstretched her arms. Zara was the first to enter her embrace, followed by Michael, then Lyra, Lilianna, and finally Mordecai.

Because of the nature of a heavenly beings constitution, this catharsis had a profound impact on all of Chief Archon Zariah and Head Priestess Meera's begotten. But they were all to enamored in the blissful feeling of the moment to notice.

This change in her siblings reached Zen as she was meditating and aroused her from her trance-like state.

Meanwhile the Head Priestess had also sensed that her long-awaited heartfelt desire had finally come true. All of her little offspring were finally on the path to reconciliation and unlocking their true strength. And it couldn't have happened at a better time. She then called to Zen who she could feel was awake through their divine tether.

"Come to me, daughter. I have a mission for you. I need you to do something on Zemyna's behalf."

Zen smiled from ear to ear as she relished the opportunity to do anything for her dear eldest sister.

While Zen prepared to teleport to the palace, Zemyna began to release her siblings who had bawled their eyes out in her arms.

"I wish I could stay longer and enjoy this moment more with all of you." Zemyna said as her arms returned to her side.

"It's alright, Zemyna. It was our stubbornness that kept us from embracing you sooner. You go now. And become the goddess you were always meant to be. We will be waiting for you. And we won't disappoint you." Michael said.

Zemyna nodded at his words. She then kissed each of them on the head like she did when they were infants, and said to them, "I know you won't."

And lastly, she wanted to say one more thing to them. "Remember: One Family, One Love, One Destiny."

Then she grabbed Mordecai's hand and they teleported away.