Chapter Text
Prologue
Clouds blew in from nowhere smothering the golden fields of Elysium in murk and fog. What was once a sparkling paradise was quickly becoming a dark, cold, and barren wasteland. Helios stood helplessly watching as flora withered away and his utopian home was plunged into darkness. He hadn’t been prepared for this to happen again so quickly. It had only been a matter of days since the Earth last cried out in mourning when the King had died, leaving the young prince as the new ruler.
But Endymion hadn’t received word of his father’s death. Endymion was fighting the battle against Metalia on the moon; completely unaware that he was the crowned king of Earth.
Suddenly, Helios shivered as an overwhelming sense of grief and devastation consumed him. If Elysium was dying, that could only mean one thing: Endymion, its king, was dead.
Helios inhaled deeply and knelt before the statue of Gaia to pray for guidance. It was as if she spoke to him and he felt as if she was acting through him. Almost immediately he knew what to do. His movements were not his own, despite being fully aware of what he was doing and where he was headed.
He had to go retrieve the soul of Endymion or else the Earth would cease to exist. He closed his eyes and moments later found himself hovering above the bodies of Endymion and the Moon Princess. He didn’t have much time. Reaching into his robes, he carefully brought forth the Golden Crystal. Landing on the ground beside Endymion’s body, he placed the crystal on his king’s chest and prayed as the sounds of battle echoed around him.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever;
It’s loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep.
Endymion’s body glowed and Helios shielded his eyes from the brilliance. Within seconds, the glow transferred to the crystal and Endymion’s body was cold. Helios wiped away a tear as he gingerly placed the crystal that now contained the soul of Earth’s final ruler back into his robes.
‘We will meet again,’ he thought as he willed himself back to Elysium.