MagiStream

In a land far away, in a time unknown to man, there was a planet from which Sanars came from. Alas that planet was rife with wars and Sanars became one of the animals that became hunted for food. There came a time when Sanars were on the verge of extinction but for the founding of Sanctuary. In time, Sanctuary became home to all sorts of Vita who lived with each other in peace and harmony. But, as history would have it, the first Vita to inhabit the Sanctuary was called Sherri, a Sanar Vita. Her first few days in Sanctuary were days of exploration and wonder at finding such a precious place to peacefully live in. She found Sanctuary to be an ideal place for Vitas and so she spread the word to all and sundry so that Vitas, who wish to, may reside there if they so wished. As days passed by, she wondered when other Vitas would decide to come and live in Sanctuary. Soon, wondering turned to loneliness for despite being in a safe place, there was no joy to be had for she was getting lonely as time passed.

It was a year before a trickling of Vitas started to wander into Sanctuary and finding dwelling places to live in. Sherri was so excited at finally having other Vitas arriving to live in Sanctuary, that she greeted each new arrival, and guided them to places that might be suitable living accomodations for them. On one such day, a certain Sanar Vita, Hotaru, arriived with a childhood friend of his, Hikari. Sherri having appointed herself as a sort of hostess to greet and guide new arrivals, did her usual duty, but her eyes kept wandering over to Hotaru and could not help but think how handsome he looked.

Hotaru arrived at Sanctuary with his childhood friend, Hikari. And like Sherri who could not keep her eyes off of him, he was struck speechless at Sherri's beauty and mutely followed her, as she guided him and Hikari to a dwelling place that would best suit him, with Hikari, as a very close neighbor. He would have liked to have spent more time with Sherri, but more Vitas arrived and Sherri dashed off to do her duty to the new arrivals. As time passed, Hotaru would find ways to always accompany Sherri as she did her duty of guiding the new arrivals in Sanctuary. And there came a time, when no more Vita arrived and Sherri could now focus on more mundane things such as, Hotaru who ever followed her and kept her company as she played her role as guide and hostess to the new arrivals of Sanctuary.

There was chemistry between them, as Sherri and Hotaru nuzzled noses as they both relaxed near a gurgling stream. There was never any courting done between them, they just seemed to become inseparable as soon as Hotaru arrived at Sanctuary. Many Vita looked on favorably at the pairing for they could see the love that grew each day between the two Vita. The two could always be found either nuzzling with each other or cuddling intimately as the pair took their naps under the shades of trees. Hotaru had waited a year before he asked Sherri to marry him. However, as fate would have it, the Powers That Be that protected Sanctuary from the outside forces of destruction made themselves known and commanded that the first vita to inhabit Sanctuary must now become what they will call, the Oracle. One who would be given the power to heal, as well as the power to see a bit of the immediate future. But alas, the Powers That Be had also required that the Oracle must remain celibate in order for the powers given to them to continue to work properly.

Sherri and Hotaru was devastated as they heard the news of what fate had in store for them. Hotaru was all for leaving Sanctuary with Sherri to find a different place to live in, but Sherri was not that selfish and in her heart of hearts, she knew that she had already accepted her fate to be an Oracle much as her logical mind denied that she would have to part with Hotaru in so short a time. A special place of honor was constructed by the Powers That Be wherein the Oracle was to dwell. Servants and Guards were picked among the other Vita who inhabited Sanctuary and soon, Sherri and Hotaru must now part forever after. Their farewell was bitter for Hotaru did not agree with Sherri's decision to become the Oracle. But their last intimate embrace was heartfelt and Sherri fought with herself to let go the one Vita, whom she would have loved forever, so that Sanctuary may continue to be the Sanctuary that she and the others have come to know and love.

In a war torn land, two Vitas' survival was intertwined by fate and Hotaru and Hikari were bound to each other as friend, brother, sister, & family all in one. Though they were not related by blood, the two shared a bond that was stronger than family. Hotaru had always protected Hikari from any that would harm her and such deeds in time made Hikari fall in love with Hotaru. Alas that destiny would play with their lives for no sooner that they had heard of news of a Sanctuary for Vita, Hotaru up and fell in love with Sherri as soon as they arrived in Sanctuary.

Hikari suffered in silence as she saw Hotaru's face light up as he gazed upon the lovely Sherri when they first entered Sanctuary. She had thought about finding a dwelling place away from Hotaru, but he would not have none of that and she was given a place of her own right beside Hotaru's chosen dwelling. As she watched Hotaru finding ways to always be with Sherri, Hikari tried to find other things that would occupy her time and her mind, so that she would not have to think about Hotaru and Sherri being together. She all but avoided the pair, Hotaru and Sherri, whenever she could, for Hikari would not be able to stand idly by when the one she loved with all her heart has chosen to be with another.

As time passed, Hikari's heart died a piece at a time as she watched the love between Hotaru and Sherri, blossom ever stronger and brighter. And now, a year has passed and Hikari was really contemplating about suicide for she had heard from Hotaru's own lips that he means to marry Sherri soon. When she had heard the news, she had thought her heart had stopped and she would be dead soon, but all too soon, she heard her heart thumping ever strongly within her chest but oh, the suffocating hold that gripped her heart, as grief overwhelmed her, it felt as if grief was squeezing her heart to die. For a moment, she feared that her grief might very well kill her then and there but, she didn't want her beloved to see her die a slow death, so she put up a brave fascade and congratulated Hotaru on his upcoming marriage.

Hikari had been alone somewhere in a nearby park when she overheard what the Powers That Be wanted. For one fierce moment, she knew incandescent joy for it meant that her Beloved would no longer be bound to Sherri. But in the next instant, she despaired that Hotaru might do something as devastating as killing himself because of a broken heart. Soon it was that Sherri had decided to become the Oracale and Hikari shook off her worry, as one might shake water off of fur, and she raced around Sanctuary looking for her Beloved Hotaru. She found him, dejected under the shade of a tree near a stream. She was not to know, that the place was one of the many places that Hotaru and Sherri had spent time intimately together. All Hikari cared about was that Hotaru not be left alone, in case he did the unthinkable.

Hikari softly called out to Hotaru, fearing that he might yet chase her away, but Hotaru looked up with tear-strained eyes at his childhood friend. And it was as if a dam broke within Hotaru and he grieved and sobbed in the warm embrace of Hikari who couldn't help but go to him as she saw his naked grief in his eyes. Hotaru's body racked as he sobbed while he clung tightly to his friend. And as he cried, his unanswered question was chanted softly, "Why? Why would she choose to be an Oracle? Why not be with me?" These questions Hotaru asked as he cried himself exhaustedly to sleep in Hikari's arms.

Hikari wisely remained silent as she heard Hotaru ask those questions while he sobbed in her embrace. She herself had asked those same questions, but she would not push away at the opportunity that now presented itself. She would be by Hotaru's side until his grief over Sherri's decision to be an Oracle has passed. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, Hotaru would finally learn to look to her for love and affection as she so desperately wished with all of her heart.

Time passed somewhat slowly for both Hikari and Hotaru as Hotaru slowly got over the hurt of being rejected by Sherri. And as time heals all wounds, Hotaru slowly but surely noticed the depth of love that Hikari had for him. He was flattered to say the least, and for a time, he didn't think that he deserved such great love from one who he now held dear to his heart. But alas, love will always triumph over stubborn male logic and in the end, Hotaru started to court Hikari in earnest hoping that this time around, his love wouldn't be discarded like so much garbage.

Hikari was in heaven as she realized that Hotaru finally started to look towards her for love. But she knew that Hotaru would need time to reconcile with himself and so she waited patiently, and her patience was rewarded. Hotaru finally started to court her and Hikari was happy enough that the courting between the pair wasn't very difficult. In time, Hotaru finally found the courage to ask her to marry him and she happily said yes with all her heart and soul. And so, Hikari related the story of her love to her grand children who listened entranced to the story of how their grandparents finally found love with each other. It has been some years since Hotaru has died of old age, Hikari herself now lays near death's door, but Hikari still loved Hotaru with all her heart and she knows that Hotaru would be waiting for her on the otherside. As she breathed her last breath, their children, and their children's children bear witness to a love that lasted forever between Hikari and Hotaru.

The End.