A doomed love affair from the far past or the far future. You decide.

Captured Moments

by Chris Bartholomew

Aquarius, the planet of plenty, of peace. Modeerf, the planet of doom and destruction. There was a planet earth once. Someone there once said something about 'never the twain shall meet.' This was a kind of rule, one that both planets took pains to make sure never happened, neither liked the other and they stayed clear and life was as each wanted it, until one day, there is always that one day…

The men of Modeerf conquered other planets, other people. This is what they did. When the man Drolk became the ruler, he looked at Aquarius and decided to take the most beautiful of the maidens for a bride. The inhabitants of both planets tried to dissuade him from this horrible idea, after all, there was no contact between the two for as long as anyone could remember.

Naturally, Fuschia was the one he chose. Gorgeous in looks and manner, no one was surprised in the choice, but they wondered that someone who could rule an entire planet could make such a pronouncement about someone as extraordinary as she.

Fuschia was the keeper of the souls. She was the one to defend against enemies, the one who stood at the gates of the heavens to keep everyone safe. She stood day and night in the garden of good with a pure heart, a steadfast commitment to the life everyone enjoyed.

On the day Drolk arrived with an entourage of fifty, everyone thought for sure Fuschia would strike them all down with a glance. Those who were providential enough to be standing there when the two met would say that electricity passed between the two and they went walking.

In the blink of an eye, it seemed as if Fuschia and Drolk had always been together, and for a few times, they were as one. Then one day, as she saw the sky darken, and the planet sadden, she backed away from her betrothed and given but one chance to come with him. She refused; then struck frozen, as if dead.

Flowers began to wilt, green leaves turned dark brown. The pink sky turned black as space, the only thing of beauty was in the garden of good, and that was the frozen statue of Fuschia.

Aquari, the mother of all children on Aquarius sat and pondered the scene before her. In her wonder mirror, the lights going around the frame entranced her. She could see the messenger arriving to his destination. As the most beloved of all creatures on the planet stood staring yet unseeing, animated yet perfectly still, the messenger looks and tries to find a way to reach her.

Stooping down and trying to catch her unseeing eyes, he blinks back a tear as he realizes there is nothing he can do. Fuschia - fearless and beautiful as she was had lost the war, and would not be coming back to the living.

The End