Sun of Zartha/23

In the great banquet hall of the royal palace, about 100 people were assembled. Ambassadors, consuls, prelates, senators, potentates, viceroys, all of them aliens from several different planets who were allies of Zartha. The councillors of the Zarthan tribes had front row seats. The Men In Black (and by extension, planet Earth) were represented by Zed, Kay and Frank, who was wearing his black suit.

All were abuzz with excitement and happiness. This was the event they all had been waiting for, all these years. And after all the attempts to keep it from happening - including Serleena's most recent threat - this occaision took on an added joy.

The great hall was a circular hall with a stage set up in center.

The house lights dimmed, and the guests became silent. A small orchestra began playing a fanfare, with harp and long fluted trumpets bellowing out a mellow call to attention.

Jay entered the hall from one side. His stride was slow, measured and confident. His chest was bare, save for his medallion, and he wore a tunic, and all was covered on the back by a flowing red cape. He took two gold and crystal rings from one of the attendants. Laura arrived from the other side. Laura's head was shaved save for a tuft at the top.

Laura was wearing a flowing white gown with a silky veil. She also wore a huge shimmering crystal necklace. On her head was a silver headband with several round raised discs and a larger blue crystal disc in the center, with silvery strands draping from these discs, covering her face in a shimmering shower of silver.

The two walked onto the stage, faced one another and clasped hands.

Angelique was the last one to enter the hall. Her entrance was slow, confident and dignified. She had been crying, but there was a serene smile on her face. She was wearing a ceremonial robe, heavy, bright white and flowing, like a monk's robe. She was wearing a massive gold necklace with spherical accents of crystal.

This was the first time Jay had actually seen his mother in person since he was seven years old. Angie looked at her son with a smile. Her eyes flashed red for a second. A small tear rolled down Jay's face.

Angelique, Queen of Zartha, walked onto the stage, faced the guests and began to speak.

"My friends, and all my fellow Zarthans, this night we are made witness to a celebration. This is my final address as your queen. For tonight, you will see a new and glorious beginning for the people of Zartha. Here before you are my son, T'Va'an of the house of T'olaan, who is the Sun of Zartha. With him is his intended, Sh'ana'aa of the house of the S'aa, the Light of Zartha. In a few moments they will be married and installed as my immediate replacement as chief executive of the Planet and Federation of Zartha.

"It is the hope and belief of us all that as directed by divine will of the One Universal Creator, The Light and the Sun shall become as one star, bright and shining in the deep blackness of space. A beacon of inspiration for all who bask under its divine cosmic energy."

Angie turned to face the couple. "Give the ring, T'Va'an."

Jay placed the ring on Laura's finger. He handed the other ring to Laura, who placed it on his.

Jay looked at Laura. He held her gaze, basking in the warm joyful energy coming from his bride. The familiar electric fire began to dance inside of him again. His heart was racing a mile a minute.

And there was an electric second or two of smiling silence. This is it, he thought to himself. This is where my life begins, right now.

He then said, "I am one with you, Light of Zartha."

To which Laura replied, "I am one with you, Lord of the Sun."

Then Jay parted the silver strings and lifted the veil, and the two kissed.

"Anw'aan sha la ock," proclaimed Angie. "The marriage is commenced. T'Va'an, you are now the Keeper of the Light of Zartha. Sh'ana'aa, you are now the Keeper of the Sun of Zartha. Defend and protect one another. Educate and advise one another. Allow the energy, the respect, and the love of the one to strengthen and nourish the other, at all times, for all time, and beyond.

Angie's voice was shaking slightly at this point. "And now it is time to transfer my power and authority to the new couple."

Angie stepped over to Jay. She looked at him and was struggling to control her tears at this point. But Angie was a pro.

"My precious T’Va'an. Blood of my blood, divine child of the all-powerful, live giving, creative power of divine sunlight. Twenty-five years ago, I gave you up, in uncertain and desperate circumstances, wondering if the time would ever be right for this moment. Well, finally, it was.

"I was unable to finish raising you. I left you on Earth to become a warrior, and brought you back to Zartha to become a king. I asked you to face a reality you were told did not exist. You were unsure of all of this, and over these last few days, you showed us all that the Light of creation has the power to change hearts, the power to make us remember why we are here. The power to bring us to what we really are.

"Thank you, my son, for believing in me. Thank you for trusting the destiny. Thank you for coming back on the journey of the divine sunlight from which you came. Your soul is the original sun, your fire is the original flame. You are our child and you are our ancestor. And I know...that you know and believe that now. O' wo'o p'aack."

"O' wo'o p'aack, S'Vassa'an", Jay replied, and at this point a couple of tears were slowly streaming down his face. "I do know, Momma, now. I do know, and I do believe."

Angie looked up at her son and beamed a proud smile through her tears. She then took the large gold necklace from her neck and placed it around Jay's neck. The medallion fit neatly around the opening in the center of this necklace.

A couple of tears were rolling down Agent Kay's face right now.

Angie proclaimed to Jay: "From the fire you were born, and to the Light you shall go. Shakita."

Shakita, who was also dressed in a white robe, then stepped forward onto the stage and brought a smaller version of the same necklace. Angie lifted it from the pillow. She turned towards Laura.

“Sh’ana’aa, I love you as though you were my own daughter. I have always tried to be there for you, to advise you, teach you, and guide you, for your entire life, even when it seemed like I was nothing more than a fanciful dream to you. I am indeed the fairy godmother you always suspected was there, just under the surface of your imagination.

"Your mother was the best friend I ever had in this universe. She trusted me as her confidant and obeyed me as her queen. Her sacrifice lives as you. Child of cosmic starlight. Your mother even now is shining down on us with love and pride for you. I can feel her...as she and I have always felt you.

"And you, Laura, shine brightly even now as an example of truth, wisdom and the very power of creation itself. Thank you for helping my son to remember what he is. O' wo'o p'aack."

"O' wo'o p'aack, S'Vassa'an", Laura said.

"From the Light you were born and to the Light you shall return. Take off your necklace, Sh'ana'aa."

Laura obeyed. Angie then placed the gold necklace around Laura.

Then Angie said, in perfect Louisiana Creole French, "Vous êtes lumière. Vous êtes le soleil. Vous êtes roi et reine. Les deux de vous deviendront un grand tiennent le premier rôle dans les cieux.

"Now the both of you together must take the oath of royal office."

Angelique then said, "Repeat after me, both of you. O' wo'o p'aack." While she was saying this she raised her right fist to her chest, tapped it twice, extended it outward rapidly about 3-4 inches ahead, and tapped her chest with it again.

"O' wo'o p'aack," Jay and Laura both said at once. As they did so, they each raised a right fist to their chests, tapped it twice, extended it outward rapidly about 3-4 inches ahead, and tapped their chests with it again, then repeated the gesture, this time touching fists with each other.

Angie then said, "Now repeat after me: Anw'aan p'a'an sha la ock."

"Anw'aan p'a'an sha la ock." Jay and Laura both said at once. As they did so, they repeated the fist gesture a third time, tapping fists now with Angie.

Angie now said, "At this moment, my royal power now belongs to you both. You are now the joint and sovereign leaders of Zartha. You are to command the affairs of this homeworld with the utmost responsibility, the utmost respect, and with the highest possible levels of the wisdom of divine light and the fire of divine love. Treat all the people of Zartha, and all beings of the universe, as you would wish to be treated, for we are all one with another in the vastness of the universe."

Angie looked at Jay. "His Majesty will now make his first official address as king of Zartha."

Jay hesitated for a moment, collected himself, and then began to address the guests.

"My friends...distinguished guests...and my fellow Zarthans," Jay said, "Exactly three short weeks ago tonight, I was living the life of a citizen of the planet Earth. I was sworn to protect the people of that planet against those who would come from other worlds, and do grave harm to Earth's people. I took my duties seriously and performed them to the best of my ability. But I always felt, I always knew, in the deepest, darkest places in my soul, that something was missing, something critical to my existence - but I could not put that missing feeling into words. What I did not know was that I was not truly an Earth being, but that I am actually of Zarthan descent. What was missing for me was the knowledge of everything that being a creature of Zartha means - knowing the power of my own self. Knowing about my heritage, my spiritual and physical abilities. My identity. My self-confidence. My pride.

"The last three weeks have been nothing short of a tremendous life-changing experience.

"As I have come to learn, my mother worked tirelessly, and with the utmost honor and love, to conduct the affairs of this homeworld during her time of exile. Her dedication, her service - and her sacrifice - has culminated in what you have just witnessed tonight." Jay now turned to look at his mother. He could see that the tears were flowing from her eyes. "Momma, the time has now come for your long night of exile to end. The very first treaty I will sign with the Men In Black, and by extension with every government on the planet Earth, will be for the termination of MIB Level One protective exile, and for your formal release from St. Gabriel Prison, effective immediately. You shall not return to that jail cell tonight, Momma."

Angie bowed her head to her son. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she said.

Jay continued. "Everything happened so suddenly these past few days, but I know now that when I was a child, my mother, Anj'a'alia S'Vasa'an T'olaan, laid the foundation for me to become king. She plotted, planned and schemed behind the scenes all my life, without my direct knowledge, to make sure I received the proper education, the proper military and police training, the installation as an agent of the Men In Black and my time of service with them to protect and defend Earth. Because of this, I am well prepared to take over where Queen Angelique left off.

"Our planet faces many challenges. We have forgotten the sacred bonds of family that all Zarthans share, no matter what tribe they were born into. All Zarthan beings are family, and we must always remember that. I will partner with my wife, your new queen, to bring honor to my family - and that means the house of S'aa as well as the house of T'olaan, for both tribes are in my bloodline. That means we will also bring honor to the other tribes. I will do my best to help unify this planet.

"For it is the unity, the peace and the prosperity of Zartha, that will be the shining example to all the universe.

"We stand ready to lead and to serve you all. O wo'o pa'ack."

And with that, the ceremony was over. The orchestra began playing some light, peppy Dixieland jazz music.

The new king and queen remained on the stage together so the receiving line could congratulate them.

- end of chapter -

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