The Elder
"Come in," a voice said.
The door swung open as if it willed itself. It opened to a large room which in the center was a long rectangular table. In the center of the table, a single white candle burned. Seated at this table were the Coucil of the Elder. A group of thirty people. They were of different nationalities, and of both sexes. To the elder, women were not weaker than men, and were treated as equals. All beautiful to Aramis.
On the far wall of the chamber was a large mirror. Next to it was a large carving of a rose in the stone. The rose bud was painted white, representing their spirituality. Along the walls, torches burned.
Morpheus and the others came in behind Aramis.
An intellegent white male stood up. He was tale, white haired, with a beard and mustache. "Welcome, Aramis, and friends."
Aramis smiled nervous.
The man continued, "My name is Arthur. It is good to meet the hero of this age."
Aramis laughed, "I'm no hero."
Arthur smiled, "Oh, and modest too. That's good. A real hero doesn't brag around. Of coarse that would go for anyone, intellegent, strong, wise, so on... So what do you think of this place?"
Aramis spoke, "I must say, this is a nice island you have here. If only everyplace could look like this. I've never seen so many cultures."
"Yes, well, the elder take on every form of human existance to experience living as mortals. Color, religion, political affiliations, creed, and sexual orientation are no big deal to us, they're all just people who want to live, so we experience it all."
"Such a beautiful group of people you are."
"Yes, you yourself are beautiful. You have a wonderful intellegence, purity and wisedom. Also, you have very unique psychic powers which you don't take advantage of. Qualities that are our most basic. Therefore, we would like to make you a member of The Elder. That way we could understand mortals better. It would serve as a bridge between our two existances. "
Aramis was startled. "I'm afraid. I don't quite got the bit down on being different."
"We understand," Arthur replied. "It's not easy being different. When you're different, people are afraid of you. Therefore you are often by yourself with nothing but the loneliness to haunt you."
Aramis listened. It was so true to him.
"Do you know how you deal with this?" Arthur asked.
Aramis had no responce.
"Instead of feeling sad and isolated and saying, 'Oh, nobody understands me,' go and understand the people who don't understand you. Be friendly with them, smile, let them know there's nothing wrong with being different."
Aramis was impressed. "Cool."
"There's still more you have to learn before you can become a member of The Elder and fulfill your prophecy. You must adopt the sign of the rose, which is peace, love and understanding."
Arthur gestures for him to look at the mirror across the room. "You are close to this understanding." An image of Aramis playing acoustic guitar to a bunch of drunks in a bar appears. Aramis sings, 'Everybody says she's looking good, and the lady knows it's understood...'
Aramis felt a little embarrassed.
"You showed caring for these people and sang to make them happy. That was one step showing people not to be afraid of the different. We know people used to fear you because you painted your face like the savage warriors of the fields do."
Arthur looks at Morpheus. He sent a telepathic transmission.
.
Under the Rose MIDI
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Morpheus sang: Though you may be pure of heart and free of sin
And though you have been chosen to begin
And yet you must be worthy of the prophecy
But seek and you shall find your destiny
.
The Council sang: Loneliness will haunt you
will you sacrifice?
Do you take the oath?
Will you live your life...
Under the rose?
.
Morpheus: The more you hurt the less you feel the pain
And the more you change, the more you stay the same
But now before you lies the quest at hand
And from this boy you may become a man
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The Council: Do you understand ?
Will you sacrifice?
Do you take the oath?
Will you live your life...
Under the rose?
.
The mirror across the room turned on and images from Aramis past flashed before him. All the lonely moments he suffered alone. He remembers thinking, who wants to be lonely? Then Michelle entered the picture. Aramis smiled. Suddenly the images changed to the dragon carrying her away.
.
The Council: Loneliness will haunt you will you sacrifice?
Do you take the oath?
Will you live your life...
Under the rose?
.
.
Aramis nodds, "I would love to take your oath and live a life of love and peace under the rose, but I'm not ready yet."
Arthur speaks, "So do you understand you must face all the parts of yourself even the parts that you dispise and deal with them, or they will never go away."
Aramis smiles, "I understand."
"We'll see you when your journey is complete." Arthur said.
Aramis nodded.
Suddenly the doors flew open, and Pocky ran in. He grabed Aramis hand and lead him outside. The warriors and the council got up to follow him.
In the far distance, over the ocean, dark clouds approached. So dark and rain filled.
Pocky ran down the stairs and looked at them. The wind began to blow. It made Pocky's sun dress flap as he looked at the rainy sky.
"It's Blackwell," Arthur said. "No negativity can get into our island, but his darkness will spread across the rest of the world if you don't stop it."
Aramis looked at him with a new strength. "Don't worry, we will."
Suddenly a gust of wind blew Pocky's dress upward. His bare butt is revealed. Everybody gasped. Pocky laughed.
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