Purah’s plan to take King Melon ends in a major victory for us but at a cost. My boyfriend, the only love of my life, is dead. Seeing his lifeless body doesn’t feel real. How can this happen? He’s supposed to be strong and greater than me! Why is this happening to me?

I cuddle on the right side of his lifeless body and lament for his soul without any self-control on how loud I am. People around try to calm me down, but it only makes me cry louder. It takes Purah to shoo them away to allow me to have some control over myself. Nion lays a purple blanket over Zazy’s body but keeps his face exposed. It’s gentle and warm to the touch. Plus, it smells like the white flowers I used several times to make my aroma extra pleasant during nights when I would sneak out to see him.

“Soldiers, gather the fallen. We must put them to rest,” Nion says. Hearing Zazy as one of the fallen and saying he’s a soldier saddens yet angers me.

“They are heroes,” I say to correct her.

“Yes. Heros. Brave men and women.” She glances to her right to nod at Tagenta. “Numen, where do you wish to lay our heroes?”

“My land has changed so much. I hardly recognize most of it anymore,” Tagenta says, slowly turning in circles as he checks out the landscape. “Nion, remind me what that city is called again.”

“It’s Garavis. Former King Melon built and repurposed the old city to his standards.”

“No way!” A Spargarian says from their stock. More people not from our group show their shock.

“I can smell the stench of his immorality stinking up my hallowed city. Selanto.” The other man with white with orange streaks in it takes a step forward to him. “Fix it, please, my son.”

“With me, commanders,” Selanto says. He takes off into the city with ten Spargarian soldiers who didn’t come from our camp.

“What did you mean by that?′ I say.

“It’s best not to know the details,” Nion says.

“You’re going to kill them.”

“Some,” Tagenta says. “Once they’re done, I’ll lay my people to rest there.” The idea of mass death for the Melonians doesn’t bother me. After experiencing years of suffering and witnessing the murder of my beloved boyfriend, I’m happy they’re getting what’s coming to them.

“Are you going to destroy the city?”

“Yes.” He raises his eyebrow as if he just heard something stupid. “It’ll take less than ten minutes for my son to expurgate the city. Once that is done, Nion will build a glorious cemetery.” I examine the city’s outskirts to help me figure out how eleven people can clear a massive city. It’s way too big to be destroyed that quickly.

“Less than ten? How is that even doable? Garavis is huge!” After saying that, explosions ripple through the city. I watch tall buildings come crumbling down while caressing Zazy’s arm in my lap.

“My soldiers will be weeding out the invaders all over the planet.”

“I wish you could see this, Zazy,” I whisper, tearing. “You would love this.” My tears turn to sorrow, then sorrow to uncontrollable weeping. “Why did it have to be you?”

----------------------------------------

Selanto and his band level the city like Tagenta said it would happen. Nion uses her golden staff to vaporize the rubble, its foundations, and the dead people amongst it. The ones that are alive are transported somewhere in massive black metallic ships. All that’s left is soft grass. The Spargarian soldiers and the people from my camp wrap all the fallen in white cloth. Zazy gets the same wrapping, including the purple blanket Nion manifested early on. Purah carries Zazy. I can barely hold him up in my arms because I weakened myself from crying, so I carry the remaining cloth to cover his face.

“Right here is good!” Tagenta says to command everyone to stop. “They will sleep here. Nion, if you would, please.” Nion bows her head and slowly swings her staff to the left and right. Sparkles of what looks like twinkling stars pour out from the tip of it. Trees, colorful flowers, and bushes grow in symmetrical rows as structures begin forming a massive cemetery. The ground beyond the bushes opens up in a perfect rectangular shape for the bodies to lie in. I have to momentarily stop looking, so I won’t increase my grief for the moment I have to put Zazy in one of them.

“Alright guys, it’s time,” Purah says. “Come on, Vodkis. Let’s find a perfect spot for Zazarel.” We walk down the main center pathway. The soldiers who can fly find spots ahead of us while those who can’t stay on the ground take the closest holes.

“Will these be unmarked graves?” I say.

“No,” Nion says, appearing out of nowhere.

“Ah!” I jump. “Nion, what the hell!”

“My apologies, Vodkis.” She bows her head with her right arm across her chest. “If you like, I’ve chosen a spot for Zazarel.”

“Where?” She points at the tree at the end of the walkway. Purah takes Zazy over to that area, but I remain standing where I am. “Why there?”

“Go and see.” She rests her hand on my shoulder and prompts me to move with a small push. Purah heads around to the right of the tree and then stops to look at something behind it on the ground. When I reach the spot, Nion’s hand moves off my shoulder. I look at her to see what she’s doing. Her eyes are pointed down, so I trace the position to see what’s got her attention. It’s a bed of beautiful colorful flowers. Purah carefully lays Zazy in the bed with his feet facing down the pathway.

“Rest, my son,” Purah whispers as she adjusts the position of the flowers around his face. I kneel to feel his cheeks. He’s cold. Not a sign of warmth anywhere I touch. I cry but force myself to stay quiet. To my surprise, Purah is also doing the same thing.

“Why are you crying?” I say.

“I only knew him for a few months, but I loved him as if he was my own son.” Her words confuse me, but then I remember she’s our foremother.

“I already miss him,” I say. “We were... He...” I stop myself from openly speaking about the future we planned on having once we get free. “Never mind.”

“You can talk to me about anything.”

“Same, if you like,” Nion says.

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I rub the cloth for his face with my thumb while I think about whether I should cover his face right now. If I do this, I’ll be putting him away for good. I can’t... I can’t... “I don’t think I can do it.”

“Do what?” Purah says.

“Lay him to rest.” All my emotions come bursting out of me. “You big dummy! Don’t leave me!” I take all my emotional anger out on Tagenta. Purah tries to calm me down but it riles me further. He stands still, straight face while I curse him for all the trouble he’s caused for leaving us.

“Vodkis, that’s enough. You know why it was our fault for what we suffered.”

“Bull crap! I didn’t do anything wrong!” I yell in Tagenta’s face. He continues looking down at me without making the slightest flinch. “Why?” I grab his shirt, gripping the soft fabric tightly in my fists. “Why did you do this to me?”

“I didn’t,” he says in a calm, clear voice. “Your ancestors mutinied against my wishes.” He reaches for my hands but I take them off his shirt before he can grab them. “I waited several lifetimes for them to change.”

“Vodkis,” Purah says with her arm around my right arm. “I should’ve shown you the manuscripts. There’s history about us that’s hard to read because of how vile we were to ourselves.” She looks at Tagena before continuing. “And him.”

“What did we do?” I say. My question is rotted with sass and attitude. She opens her mouth but shuts it tight, slamming her teeth together. Her eyes move to him like she’s waiting for him to speak or give her permission to say something. When he gives her a slight nod, she answers my question.

“They were thieves, mudereres, slavers, abusers to themselves and to others.”

“The ones that came to your aid are the decendants who weren’t,” he says.

The confirmation of the revelation shocks me to my core. My legs buckle. I fall on my knees and catch myself by planting my hands on the ground. I feel like I’m about to puke out my guts. My stomach clenches several times before I can force it to stop.

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“That can’t be!” I say.

“It’s the truth,” Purah says, comforting me from behind with gentle back rubs.

“But we’re not like that anymore!”

“I know,” she shushes me using her soft voice. “The memory of our past has faded.” She cleans the tears off my face with her thumbs, including the new ones I produce.

I look at Tagenta to help me understand his departure. He hasn’t changed his look. Does he still hate us for what our ancestors did or has he forgiven them? Why is he back with an army of Spargarians? Where are the civilians? There are so many questions scrambling through my head but I’m not in the mood to listen to them answered.

“What’s on your mind?” Tagena says, keeping his voice soft.

“I have nothing to say,” I say then stand on my feet. “I need to put Zazy to rest.” I hand Purah the last bit of cloth wrap so she can wrap Zazy’s face.

“Are you ready?” Purah says.

“Wait one second. I need to give him something.” I rip off a part of my hair and stuff it down into the cloth around his neck. “Take a part of me so you won’t be alone.” I hold my stomach to prevent myself from getting sickened with grief, kiss his cold lips for one last time, and then say, “I’ll make sure they know who you were.” In the corner of my eye, I see Purah’s eyes open wide for a moment. “I love you, Zazy. You will always be my soring joy. I’ll miss you till the end of my days.” Purah covers his face with the remaining wrap. Nion uses her staff to make his body sink into the ground, and then a tombstone of his name emerges from the ground.

Here lies my soring joy, Zazarel.

“Thank you, Nion,” I say, crying some more. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re welcome,” Nion says. As I’m examining Zazy’s headstone, blue sparkles rise out of the ground. Some graze my skin as it floats up into the sky.

“What is that? Is there something happening to Zazy?!”

“I don’t know,” Purah says. “Nion?”

“Oh,” Nion elongates.

“Do you know what’s happening?” I say in a panic.

“Zazarel’s entering the Kitaken. It’s an existence in the afterlife where he’ll be in.”

“Are you saying he’ll live again?”

“Yes.” Hearing her say that makes me smile. It gets some happiness, but I’m worried he’ll be lonely without me.

“Is there a way I could visit him in that place?”

“Unfortunately, no. I’m sorry.” Now I’m sad again. “But he won’t be alone, so you don’t have to worry. He’ll be in good company.” Her eyes dart around in the direction of the sky as she smiles. I look to where she’s looking and find more sparkles from other graves floating up to the sky.

“Are you okay?” Tagenta says.

“As fine as a griefing girlfriend can manage,” I say.

“I’m sorry for your loss. Purah, how are you doing?” She smiles, but it mixes in with mild crying. He opens out his arms, and she flies into his embrace. Watching him hold her makes me want to be hugged. Out of nowhere, Nion hugs me from behind.

“Here you go,” Nion says.

“How did you know I wanted one?” I say.

“You told me with your mind.” I don’t feel like trying to understand how that’s possible, so I let her keep hugging me. Her hold around my stomach added with radiating warmth, is soothing. “For now on, I’m here for you. I don’t age, so I’ll be here until you move on.”

“Thanks, I guess.” For a time, all of us stay quiet. It’s not until Purah’s subtle purring breaks the moment. “That must be one good hug.”

“Sorry!” Purah says multiple times.

“Relax,” I say, laughing. Purah blushes and then hides her face in Tagenta’s chest. Since he is here, I’m curious to know more about this so-called deity of ours. “Tagenta.”

“Yes?” He answers in a calming voice.

“How should I address you?”

“Tagenta is fine. I’m not really into formal titles, but sometimes my people can’t handle themselves.” Purah giggles in a muffle.

“Purah told me that she’s basically our foremother. Does that make you my forefather?”

“That’s right. I recreated life after my world was whipped.”

“Whipped...” An idea pops into my head. If he’s all-powerful, maybe he can bring back Zazy. “With your power, could you—”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” I say somewhat snapping at him.

“I can’t override the rules I created.” He goes on to explain a ruling he set in stone when he repopulated the erased galaxies. His power is great but limited. He can’t bring the dead back once their verve reaches Kitaken.

“Oh... He’s truly out of my life.” He tightens his lips when he double-confirms my words with a slow head nod. “Or least living somewhere else, right?”

“That’s correct,” Nion clarifies. Knowing that doesn’t make it any better. I’m still alone.

“Um, Tagenta, can I talk to you in private,” Purah says. She pulls him away from us, out from the range of my sensitive ears. He stays still yet focused on what she’s saying. At the end of her short speech, he nods and says something.

“I can,” he says when I read his lips. She cheers while clapping and jumping in circles.

“Vodkis,” Nion says, putting her arm around my shoulders. “Do you mind walking with me for a bit?”

“Uh,” I say, hesitating to leave Zazy’s grave. “Do you need something?”

“Need? No. I want to discuss the future together.”

“The future?”

“Yes. Lots of things will change, and I want you to know the gravity of the scale. Plus, I want you to thrive within it.” She offers me her hand to help me stand up. “The Melonians’ reign is finally over, so Spargarian rule will ensue once again.”

“Were you around during that time like Purah and Tagenta?”

“Mhmm.”

“What was it like before my generation screwed up?”

“I think the best explanation I can give you is to not describe it but let you live through it.”

I walk with Nion away from the cemetery. The more distance I create from Zazy, the greater the urge to run back to him. This entire day is taking a toll on my mind and body. After seeing and speaking with Tagenta, I don’t find him too grandiose. He seems like a normal guy. He’s not scary or king-like, shouting orders and whatnot. How will he fix our world?

*Two Weeks Later*

The siege of Garavis and the death of my cherished boyfriend still haunt my dreams. To keep myself occupied, I continue honing in on the Purah’s dynamism training. I’m getting stronger and quicker, yet flying still illudes me. The best I can do is control the way I fall at extreme heights. Sometimes when I’m falling, I think about the moments when Zazy catches me and cradles me with his big arms. I miss those small moments about him. His scent remains in our tent, but it’ll eventually fade away in nature’s natural smell. I don’t think the plantation he lived in would have at least the fumes of his existence. Eventually, I will have nothing of him I can smell. What will I do on that day? Will I be able to cope or lose myself when it finally arrives? Can I even keep his promise?

My worries about the future make me static on keeping my mind busy to not worry. I barely train, eat, sleep, and socialize. All I do is think about Zazy. I continue to remind myself of his happiest days, best moments, worst moments, the love we shared, and even the weekend walks I would go on to see him.

Even though life is getting better as the days go on, I struggle to move on. The new Spargarian government has subjugated all Melonians on the planet. Any Spargarian has Tagenta’s permission to have Melonian slaves to whatever their needs are, but there are rules in place to make it somewhat ethical. We’re forcing them to rebuild our old towns and plantations into creating new megacities for us to live in. Garavis will become a megalopolitan in the future. The two plantations Zazy and I lived in will merge into one city named Courage. Zazy’s rebellion is the inspiration for its name. The town will have farming land, food markets, neighborhoods, and general needs for whatever may be the case. Also, I’m getting a home of my own. It’s a two-story house, with lots of land and great scenery all around.

Nion and I are sitting together on a hill while I look at the blueprints of my house. She will make some arrangements to get Melonian workers to build my house. She’s expecting it will be done within a week. I know nothing of the architect, but by the measurements of the building, it seems like the building process should take longer.

“Nion,” I say, showing her a copy of the blueprints. “Isn’t this a massive project for them?”

“It is. They’ll work day and night until it’s complete,” Nion says.

“Wouldn’t that be hard to do?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give breaks,” she says sarcastically. “Remember this, the roles are flipped. What you went through, they’ll get it too.”

“I see...”

“As it stands right now, it is a forever contract. You’re set for life.” My workers roll all the equipment to start construction. Watching them work doesn’t fit my mental image of them. They are not known to do any sort of work, but who knows? These workers might be from somewhere else.

“Well,” I say and stand. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Oh, one more thing.” I stop midstep, heading to my tent. “Tagenta is offering you a big job.”

“A what?”

“How would you like to be an ambassador of peace?”

“Wha— what is that?”

“A representative of a nation you belong to. The job title requires you to be a shining beacon for freedom to the endless worlds in our galaxy.” She waves her hands into the sky to make the stars visible above. “Most of what your seeing are other planets that are under some form of a tyrannical government.”

“Oh my! Really?”

“Yes. As an A.O.P., you’ll negotiate to end conflicts as well as assist the virtuous people with words or your fist.”

“Will I be the only one, or will there be others?”

“There is a whole galactic union from various worlds you can be a part of. They will become your extended family.” Her hands come to cross inward over her head. The view of the stars returns to the normal sky. “You don’t have to give me your answer now, in a month, or even years from now.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna need some time to think. I’m trying to move on with my life as well as train. And I’m still grieving.”

“Take your time. You don’t have to accept.”

“Thanks for the offer.”

“If you have any questions or need me for anything, just yell my name.” She floats over to the workers to oversee the construction. I head to my tent, thinking about what I should do today. With all the things going on in my life, it’s hard to focus on anything. I still miss Zazy, I still can’t fly, and I don’t know what to do with my life.

“Maybe I should just accept the job,” I think out loud. I crawl halfway into my tent to smell what’s left of Zazy’s scent on the blankets. “You’re almost gone from me. Stay a bit longer, please. I’m still not ready for you to leave me.” I coil the blankets around my body and snuggle my face into them. Out of nowhere, right as I’m about to lay down, my stomach cramps up. I quickly sit up to brace for the sharp pain. “Ah!” I realize what’s happening and quickly move the blankets away from me to not bleed on them. “This can’t be happening! No, no, no!”

“Vodkis?” Nion shouts from a distance before appearing at the entrance within less than a second. The speed at which she travels kicks up a gust of wind at me. “What’s wrong?” I can’t control myself to answer her with coherent words. “Okay, okay. Shuush. I see.” She manifests a bowl of water and towels to give me. When I see the blood dripping out from between my legs, I freeze. “Vodkis,” she says, pressing my hand in between my legs to soak up the blood. “I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

“Reading my mind?” I say, trying my hardest not to cry.

“I did. You hoped to bear his child.”

“I lost him and the chance to have his child. I have no purpose anymore.”

“You do have a purpose. Remember Zazy’s promise.” I stop crying when she says his nickname. “You must live in the freedom you both fought for. Don’t disappoint him, Vodkis.”

“Nion, I’m glad I met you,” I say, taking full control of the cloth between my legs. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”