1652

A golden harvest moon hung in the night sky. Down on the Earths surface many villages are gathering, feasting and planning before the long harvest season that begun the next day.

Unbeknownst to them, conversation of a serious matter was taking place in the night sky of which they feasted beneath.

The Man in the Moon spoke to someone hidden in the shadows, his voice rich and layered with wisdom accumulated over the eons, "My dear Lady, look down upon the earth, look at how they have grown since long ago, when you left them. Do you deny this truth, the knowledge they have acquired?"

The one he'd spoken to stepped gracefully from the shadows to peer down at the world. The light of the moon fell on her, revealing an elegant form of a spirit. Her dress fluttered and shined, seemingly made out of folds of darkness and pinpricks of light. It flowed from the straps on her shoulders, down to cover her silver slippered feet and trailing out behind her like a black river dotted with stars. Her ivory skin almost glowed with the effect of the moonlight as she gazed down at the world. Her young face portrayed no hint of the vast ages she'd lived-no, her word for it was endured- nor did it betray any emotion at the sight she saw. Her rosy lips were held in perfect definition, eyebrows dark and high. Light brown/gold layered hair hung down to her waist and framed her slightly pink cheeks. And her eyes, oh, her eyes! Ancient emeralds that pulled you deep into their swirling depths if you were not careful. They gleamed with immeasurable age, with emotions roiling and clamoring to be heard. Grief of a betrayal committed long ago, resentment of that wrong, of the feeling of weakness and sorrow. Then, a look of loneliness and longing welled over the rest. A loneliness that stretched on for thousands of years, a longing to be a part of something that she had long ago pulled herself away from.

Then she spoke:

"No, dear Man, I do not deny this fact." her voice was like the waves of the ocean, a rushing wind, waterfalls, the trill of a bird, it exuded an air of complete calm and nature. "It has been clear to me for some time now that they have acquired much since I left them, ages ago." her eyes clouded with confusion, "Why have you called me here? Was it simply to show me what I have already known? Another reminder of my endless endurance alone? I have only just come to find peace in my walking amongst these starry hosts, why do you dredge up these painful memories?" Her shoulders were stiff, as if she carried a heavy load upon her back.

The Man in the Moon, or MiM as his friends called him, walked over to the Lady.

"Lady Nature, you know as well as I that I would never purposefully harm you in any way, shape or form, do you not?" He implored, searching her face with his golden eyes.

Lady Natures lips twitched slightly at the corners, "Of course I do," MiM smiled, then "that is why asked for a reason to this pain." her lips no longer held any mirth, her gaze falling upon him, like hammer driving against a nail.

MiM sighed, he had known he would get grief over this subject with her. But he had to continue. "I think it's time you took a life amongst the humans again. Humanity is the strongest part of your nature, and this solitude has not been easy on you."

"Do you think I do not know that?!" Her glare softening but still indignant and her gaze now averted to the earth. "I did not choose this solitude willingly. The humans were the ones who abused my powers! When I chose a human to become a host for the entity of nature, they used it for evil! Do you not recall the Ice Age? Noah's Flood? No, I cannot do this."

"I know your past with humans is painful, but they have changed much. They understand the world much better than they did ages ago. And if you choose someone with the right personality and surroundings, then it won't be like lat time." MiM reasoned. "I fell something is coming, something terrible, that goes against nature itself. You need to be at your best, amongst nature, to fight what is coming now."

"Oh, so now you are afraid of the big bad wolf." She sighed. "I am against this idea even from my inmost being. But," she continued, stifling his next plea. "But, if it is as you say, that a battle against nature is coming, then you are right, I must be at my best."

"I have no doubt in my mind of this war. Even now, it fast approaches. An encroaching darkness consuming all in its path."

"I suppose, then, it is up to me, to stop this hungry beast in it's tracks? Fine, I do as you say is best. I will choose a human and prepare. And when the time comes, I will go to war against this force, be it the death of me and all within my protection." She sighed in resignation.

MiM smiled and gave her a half bow. "Thank you, Lady of Nature! But do remember this! Even in the heat of battle, you shall not step alone. In the days you have been gone, several spirits, 'Guardians' they are called, have arisen to protect the children of the earth. They would gladly back you in battle." He reassured her.

"Great. Another bunch likely to be killed before this is all over." She muttered under her breath. Then smiled grimly and said, a little louder, "Just like you to be continually optimistic, even whilst we face imminent destruction."

MiM laughed. "We may yet pull through this. Just be prepared," he turned grim at his next thought, "this force that comes...She will not be merciful."

The Lady's eyes widened and she whirled to face MiM , who seemed to relize what he had just said and took a step back in fear. "She? SHE?! You said nothing on this topic!" she attempted to calm herself. "Is this truly who I believe it to be?"

MiM hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I fear it is true."

Nature turned back to the earth, her eyes now alight with a fire rarely seen. "If she has arisen, then no doubt I will have to fight to the last of me to win.

"And when the time comes, I will meet my sister, Chaos, in a battle only once preceded in history."