Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Prologue (Where the Legend Begins)
Come friend. Come and join me for a while, and let me tell you a tale very few are privileged enough, or even old enough to remember a whisper of. Allow me to tell you the truth, of how life really started from our limited time in Existence, and the delicate balance that keeps that life from spiralling into Darkness, towards Life’s inevitable end.
Before there was life, before there was time immemorial. There was The Void. An ever-expanding abyss of nothingness. No Wars. No Hate. No Love. No light. No warmth. Nothing as far as any consciousness could hope to see that could possibly have existed in such a realm.
Eventually, there came a day where existence shone through. Some of us mere mortals call this phenomenon; The Big Bang (and any who references that god awful tv show!? No, just No! Shame on you!!!), others call it a miracle. Others still call it the act of some benevolent God/Gods; creating all that we know and all that could possibly ever be, simply to follow some Grand Design or Plan (or simply on their whim so that they may be worshiped by those they deem lower than themselves. There is such a thing as Godly arrogance you know!). Very few beings know, or even suspect or believe the actual truth. And fewer still are even old/privileged enough to be witness, or even remember how existence came to be.
For creation did not occur because of some master plan or divine intervention (or perhaps it did and the being/beings responsible have been lost/forgotten to the ever-expanding fabric of time, who’s to say!?), but one day a bright explosion of Fire and Light filled that endless void with the first ever source of life; The Flames of Creation. And on that day, Celestials, Titans, Old-Gods and New-Gods and eventually Mortals alike have both revered these Flames as a source of insurmountable Power, Inspiration and Life. As well as feared them (and coveted them in equal measure) for their Lethal and Destructive Force, capable of wiping out all that it once created.
Now, some of you will assume that these, seemingly Mystical Flames are just that. Wild, uncontrollable, elemental forces of power and destruction.
That is where you would be both right, and wrong. For the Flames did not spontaneously burst into The Void and then life soon followed. The Flames were created as the direct result of the first ever conscious, living beings, through the sheer power of their wills, forcing themselves into existence and the rest of creation were merely brought along with it as a result. And the first of these beings, as the only consciousness present for when all this power and fire were raging around it, the newly lit Flames of Creation coalesced into this being, bonding with its infantile mind and new soul, completing the formation of the first ever being to ever exist.
This being would remain nameless for Eons to pass, but soon those who were witness to its Might and Beauty would call out its name in awe! It was christened with the name of The Phoenix: The Mythical Raptor of Rebirth, and later as The Guardian of Creation. So named, for soon after this being came into existence, it bore witness to the unique circumstance of its birth and the subsequent birth of the rest of existence, proceeded to take a form of its own through some instinctual nature, as though the flames that surrounded it chose for them, becoming the form that we know today as a beautiful Fiery Raptor/Bird of Legend.
Seeing all the various Planets, Stars, Galaxies and Universes, along with other beings representing abstract notions that we know of today, such as Time, Space, Motion, of Order and Chaos and so many more beginning to form their own consciousness, appearances and bodies. Once done assuming its new form, came the awareness of what it had started and its purpose as its Guardian and Protector. To ensure that nothing threatens the delicate balance that would eventually be formed. To ensure life always will out, even if that means burning away that which no longer benefits Creation!
As these beings were birthed and choosing their forms, another phenomenon began to occur. The Birth of something, many mortals today attempt to quantify and prove the existence of, some simply believing it to be a notion or a flight of fancy and the ideas and dreams of the tellers of tales extraordinaire. The Birth of the Multiverse; Every Existence multiplied by Possibility, spreading outward in Infinite Measure. And what many, even those who know of several of the legends and theories or concepts behind the Multiverse fail to realise, is that like many a story or ancient legend, many ring with an air of truth, and some even circle back to the same, common phenomenon!
When the Phoenix saw that the energies responsible for the formation of this Multiverse would eventually lead to its own destruction due to their uncontrolled, chaotic natures that brought it into existence, saw worlds and Beings destroyed and created in equal measure, leading to SEVERE instability that would soon end it all before it even had the chance to begin, if action were not taken soon. Being the first to feel a new concept; a certain sense of responsibility from unknowingly being the cause of this chaos in the first place by being the spark that lit Existences Flames, this Mighty creature let its Fires loose for the first time and used them to mould the energy into such an array and concept that would allow for its growth rather than its destruction. And after much struggle, was ultimately successful.
Any who are familiar with the Norse Concept of Yggdrasil; The World Tree, have heard, even in passing of Odin; The All-Father’s penchant for stealing and hoarding any ideas/power/knowledge he deemed worthy of his over inflated sense of grander, will be familiar with the shape and purpose of the form that the Phoenix chose for the primordial energies of the Multiverse and Life.
That’s right! What we know from the Norse legends of this Mystical and Mighty tree, that could allow even those as seeming insignificance to the Norse Gods as mere mortals, to travel between the realms of their corner of existence, was in reality nothing more than a mere root or branch of a much larger, and much more powerful Tree. What the Norse had access to could only allow them to travel to the realms in their own reality, the True “Yggdrasil” separates all Realities and aspects of the Multiverse along its many branches. And for those who know where and how to look, will allow Travel between all Realities of Existence!
To put it simply; the main universe, the Prime Universe; birthplace of the Phoenix and other Celestial/Galactic beings, is at the bottom of the main trunk of the tree, and each realm/universe/reality, (whichever is your preference to describe something so indescribable) is a corresponding branch of the tree, and every stem of its leaves from those branches could amount to a corresponding world for the branch of Reality, and every leaf close to each other, or sharing the same area of their branch is a world where one choice was made by a lifeform on one world, and their opposite exists in another from the Leaf next to that one, maintaining a balance in all things.
Still confused!? Yeah, figured as much….
Let's put it this way!? You see someone has fallen over on the pavement, and many people are simply walking past, in one aspect of reality you simply follow the trend and walk on by; “Let them pick themselves up, they aren’t injured it was just an unfortunate tumble”. But in another you stop to help this person, become friends with them, discover you both share the same blood type and so on and so forth. Then one day you have a horrible accident and are in need of a blood transfusion or transplant surgery, they are ready and willing to help you, repaying your kindness and saving your life.
Coincidentally the first version of yourself would die in this scenario as the person with the same blood type wouldn’t be as close, or even nearby, to volunteer their blood and so on! Alternatively, this version of you may not even be involved in an accident at all, such are the intricacies of the Multiverse.
Still confused?? Well, there’s a reason why mortals are still only theorising about the existence of the Multiverse and whether any of these theories actually hold an air of facts or fiction to them or not. Probably better to simply accept that this is how things work behind the curtain and we can continue on.
Now additionally, in many of these realities, there are those of the human race, and potentially other races as well, who have entertained thousands, up to millions of others with fantastic tales and stories of heroes, magic, adventures, tales as old as time, of warriors and giants and titanic battles, tales that seem so bizarre and strange you are left questioning how any of it could ever be true and are left to wonder how these people managed to invent such wild fantasies/tales. Now while it's true some of these are born from an over excited imagination, many more are actually quite special themselves, and often very much real!
You see, some of these people have a slight… skill, or ability if you will, to peer beneath the veil so to speak. Be it in their waking hours or within their dreams, whichever method is chosen to describe how it’s done, the end result is the same in that they can see into any number of these worlds, and use them as inspirations for their tales and stories.
And with every tale, every story, every comic, every manga, every anime, every cartoon and movie, any and all stories or worlds that has ever been told, or shown, or made by their creators where they said that they had a sudden spark of inspiration or so on and so forth, there is a chance that they have actually peered into another world of the Multiverse.
Such worlds where a young man would be exposed to a radioactive/mutated Spider and was granted several of its amazing abilities. Another where a young and ambitious Young Boy discovers the existence of the Fairy Folk and becomes known as the Youngest and Greatest Criminal Mastermind of his age. Or another where an orphan was the container for a mighty Demon of immense strength and used its Power to save his precious people. Or another where the world is protected by great Avengers, consisting of that world’s Mightiest Heroes. Another example may include a being from another, dying planet was sent away by their family to save their lives and was granted amazing abilities whilst growing up on their new world, that they use to become its protector and Greatest Hero. Or even a world where society has all but collapsed, and where a little girl is the only one immune to a deadly disease that turns others into mindless, rabid monsters, little better than animals. The List can and truly does go on and on!
Each and every one of these tales, and those individuals that can peer into these worlds, were born as a by-product of the Multiverse and Yggdrasil’s creation at the Hands of the Phoenix. And all are protected and watched over by this powerful entity. You would think that that was all there was to it. That this being would not move from its perch and would be the ever watchful and all knowing Guardian of the Tree of the Multivese, and in some aspect you very well may be right.
But then how do you explain how there are tales spanning all over history, and many differing societies and nations that give depictions of that beautiful and majestic Fire-Bird of Legend. How do you explain the tales of this beings seemingly everlasting life and ability to be reborn from the ashes of its own destruction. And in that sense how too does the being itself know of its ability to do this if it spent all its time watching over Yggdrasil at the beginning of Creation, and nothing more!?
The answer to this, and the tales of the beautiful and equally powerful mate to the Phoenix that even fewer have ever heard of. This being: The Magical Raptor of The Spiritual and Chaotic Enigma, was the second being to birth itself through sheer willpower, and the being to bring the aspect/Power of the Spirit/Soul and Magik’s into existence, and was destined to be the Phoenix’s equal in all things, to help keep the balance of existence. The original concept of Yin and Yang, if you prefer.
Sorry, got a little off-topic. The answer to how we mortals have heard tales of these magnificent creatures is that they did not simply sit and stare at a tree for all of Eternity. Eventually they became curious (okay fine, they got bored, happy!?) of what they helped to create and decided that they wanted to explore, to experience as all beings eventually feel want to do.
Though they knew that they could not simply leave their posts and allow Chaos and disorder to descend upon Creation. So, they made the decision to separate a portion of their consciousnesses, powers and souls, and keeping the bulk of themselves to continue their vigil, whilst these separate portions descended into the realms of existence that they had created and experience what it is that they protect. And through this they hoped to have a better understanding and appreciation for those under their care. And indeed they did, for they experienced what we mortals have only recently learned over our millions of years, both the good and the bad.
They learned of the beauty of Love, and eventually expressed this love for each other, and reaped the ultimate reward and prize for such love. They experienced the horrors of battle and war (Every. Last. One of them), and the pains that come from inflicting pain onto others, as well as having this pain inflicted onto their physical forms, and experienced the greatest of losses a small family could possibly go through.
They saw the beauty of the worlds that were created in thousands of worlds across the millions of the realms that they could freely travel and explore. They lost themselves to the emotions they experienced as a result of their travels and committed atrocities in their wake, as well as atoned for these crimes through amazing acts of kindness and sacrifice, along with bringing about seeming miracles that appeared impossible to us lowly mortals.
And like the many of the mortals they have met and known through the Eons, have grown stronger from the experiences, and through the grace of the Gods themselves, (though one could argue if this statement holds true for those who appear greater than actual Gods!?!?!) Have reclaimed much of what they have previously lost, and now hold dearer than ever before.
Sometime near the beginning of their travels, they even dared to change their very forms and shapes, to hide what they truly were after too many mortals attempted to pester them for their miracles, or to capture them to steal/corrupt their power (as had happened or almost happened on far too many occasions for their comfort).
They had many forms during their travels across Yggdrasil’s branches and eventually settled on a sort of default form and home for themselves, which coincidentally was also around the time that a lowly little rock was created about 3 or so such planetoids from a yellow gas giant, out of a newly formed galaxy (give or take a few million years), and eventually decided to choose bodies based on the early humanoid life-forms, and live amongst them, once again experiencing life in all its measure.
Occasionally they would retake their original forms, either for the simple joy and relaxation of being comfortable in one's own skins (or feathers, so to speak) or to hide their identities when they had to step in to right a wrong or maintain the balance of creation and keep the wheels turning. This is where our legends and tales of these Mythical Avian's you often hear in many a Legendary tale.
But on the occasions where they travelled to those exceptional worlds, where superpowers and magic or special talents and abilities were paramount, when choosing their new forms and appearances they gave themselves a few unique traits of their own. Such as Accelerated Healing; for rather obvious reasons (just because they are the mortal/physical representations of Cosmic beings that can reform themselves if harmed does not mean they enjoy it or that it is a quick process, why waste the time and energy on completely reforming or designing something new when the original can merely be mended in a fraction of the time?! Efficiency people, efficiency!!) Other additions included were Empathic Mimicry, Intuitive Aptitude and Adoptive/Photographic Muscle Memory/Photographic Reflexes, just to name a few.
These latter ones allows for the replication of whatever special abilities or physical skills/abilities that they see or are near to, simply by remembering who that person was and how they felt about them (the Empathic portion of their Empathic Mimicry). And, through years of practice and training, has allowed them to call upon these abilities at will without this requirement, as if they themselves were born with and trained to develop those talents and abilities! This is not to say they did not have to train to fully master these acquired skills and talents, (nothing comes for free after all) it simply allows them to use these talents and skills at the fraction of the time and effort as the original owners of the powers, or perform the same skills/techniques much easier than those who originally developed them!
Whilst their bodies allow them a wide range of skills and abilities within the mortal planes, that is not to say they cannot tap into a limited Fraction of their true powers. Being the nexus for all life and the physical embodiments of Psionicand Mystical Energies throughout all of Creation, they have access to a massive range of Psychic/Mystical abilities; ranging from the classic Telepathy and Telekinesis, (and all accompanying talents to these skills; such as Astral Projection, Psionic Shields and Concussive force, Telekinetically propelled Flight, manipulation of objects and matter depending on the control of the user, control and manipulation of others minds and memories and immunity to such manipulations themselves, along with many, many more) though obviously far stronger than any others could possibly be capable of, and an almost instinctual control of all Mystical/Universal energies; be it their own, naturally occurring, or from other individuals.
All this is not to say that they could do so as they pleased, or that their mortal selves were as all powerful and invincible as you would think their true Celestials forms to be. They knew that lowering their consciousness to the mortal planes would create an imbalance, as no beings in any of these realms of the Multiverse can wield as much power as they do, least they tear apart the very branches of Yggdrasil that they strive to protect, nurture and explore with every step that they took.
So, to overcome this issue they installed certain…. limiters, or restraints if you will, into their forms and powers. Their mortal selves cannot freely access all aspects of their Celestial Might. Only a tiny portion can be dripped through to them. Picture if you will a well that has a finite amount of water at the bottom of the well, you can dig deeper to bring up more water, but if you dig too far, you’ll unknowingly open up a geyser that will overflow and flood instead of providing a source of life and sustenance. If they tap too far into their personal wells, they risk letting too much power through and destroying the world they currently inhabit instead of saving whatever it is they are drawing the power for.
That is not to say that this small amount of power (In comparison to their true power at least) does not still make them some of the most powerful beings in any of the realms of the Multiverse, though it does ensure that the realms that they visit are not under any undue strain from trying to contain the full scope of their might. As I’ve previously said, it's all about keeping the balance steady and strong!
Additionally, as to not interfere with other Cosmic/Celestial forces such as Destiny, The Fates, Time, Chaos and Order, and so on, they cannot interfere with events that must happen and has been pre-ordained to occur in whatever realm that they have chosen to visit/inhabit! (Otherwise known as Fixed-Points, be it in Time or so on!) The Wheels of Fate turn for specific reasons, and though some of these reasons may be particularly unpleasant (to put some events mildly). That is not to say that they have not interfered in the past, with sometimes limited, though more often than not frequent success along the way.
All must be maintained within the Balance. But these limitations do not mean that they cannot use the abilities of their physical forms/Avatar bodies to protect those that cannot protect themselves, or support those that are destined to do battle with the evils of those realities. I suppose you could bring it back to the balancing act once more; where they must toe the line as much as possible without tipping too far to one side or the other, though with the consequences for going too far being higher than most could possibly comprehend or fathom!
They also cannot engage in the battles that are meant for another! If one is destined to rise and vanquish some great evil or complete some legendary/mythical tasks or make sacrifices for some pre-ordained greater good or good for the cosmos, then they themselves cannot simply battle them themselves or make that sacrifice and simply “Re-spawn”, if you will, and take away another’s destiny.
However, this has never stopped them from that classic trope; that there must always be another way to solve a problem or resolve a situation. It NEVER has to only be the first or seemingly only option available, one merely has to search for an alternative and fight to make it so. And if they themselves still cannot do this, be it due to their limiters or some other factor that they cannot resist for one reason or another, they have endeavoured to set this example time and time again, so that others may search for these alternatives and never give up. This is not to say that they have always been successful, they have failed on many occasions and suffered the loss of many they have grown close to over the many years they have lived, as well as many personal loses of their own. Though that can be discussed later, perhaps!?
Many who have heard of their legends over the ages, and even a few living throughout the Cosmos have often speculated at whether these Ethereal-like beings were in fact the first ever Heroes to ever exist, and all other Heroes or historical Champions of the Light through time and whispered in legends have merely followed in their example. I for one cannot tell you if this is true or not, that is for yourselves to decide!!
And, of course, these seemingly mythical, impossible, all mighty and all-powerful beings were in need of new names to better hide themselves amongst those they live alongside and protect, to disguise their true origins and the purpose of exploring our worlds. During the course of their adventures and explorations they adopted many temporary names, as and when they needed them.
However, soon after saving the lives of an old Gaelic Clan they had stumbled upon in the middle of being assaulted by their enemies, were bestowed names from the Clans leaders and adopted into their family as one of their own as a way of thanks for preventing the extinction of their line. The Phoenix of Creations Flames was given the name of James ‘Logan’ McCloud and the, The Raptor of all of Magics Essence was given the name of Angela ‘Arella’ Roth-McCloud. Don’t ask why so many names, only she herself really knows the answers and (IMMENSLY) enjoys keeping the answer to herself, even from her Beloved! (Especially from her Beloved)
They spent many years living and learning from this Clan, till it was time for them to once more move on. Though they decided to retain the names they were gifted, as a sign of respect and camaraderie for the family they had come to love as their own, even after many, many centuries down the line and the original members of the clan having died out and almost vanished to history. By retaining their gifted names, they ensure their human family, one of many that they would be adopted into (often whether they wished to or not, and often much to Logan’s chagrin and Angela’s and others amusement) will never be forgotten.
There are of course further legends and adventures of these two if you happen to know where to look. And all these tales, will soon be shared with you; maybe even a version of yourselves, too, may be included!?! There's only one way to find out now isn’t there!?