As they traveled to their home galaxy, Sheath embracing Sword once more, she questioned their victorious master.

“What does it all mean? What end have we been trying to achieve with the victory in their galaxy?”

The One glowed in their hearts.

“It means that a new time is born. There shall be no more death. I will wipe every tear from the eyes of my children, and they shall know darkness no more, for I will be their light.”

“When will we know this time? War has not ended in our galaxy, yet. Your servants Purity and Aboc have continued ending war after war in our absence.”

“Let us speak with them.”

As the triumphant deities reappeared in the galaxy, Purity and Aboc met them on Terra, holding hands upon a mountain top. Aboc, though mortal, was made strong by Purity’s faith.

“Master, we have shown your victory to the other planets, and seeing Aboc and knowing his resurrection, they believe in you, more than ever,” she reported.

“Wars continue, though,” Aboc nodded, “But we will stamp them out. We have learnt that no weapon may prosper against our faith.”

“Then go,” the One spread hands to encompass all creation. Purity, however, stepped forward.

“Master, there is a matter I must discuss with you.”

“After all you have seen and done, still you have questions?” Sword wondered with mirth.

“Let her speak,” Sheath hushed him.

“This planet of your creation, master, I would know why it caused you to leave this galaxy in Sword and Sheath’s care.”

The One’s head inclined in curiosity.

“How do you know it was Terra that caused me to leave?”

“Sword and Sheath created all the other planets and races of this galaxy, but not this world, or its people. More importantly, neither Sword nor Sheath knew you before Will Riser reunited them. This planet is the only clue to this mystery.”

“Very well. Recorder?”

The firstborn seraph sprung from the One’s forehead, opening a gilded book whose pages outshone Sol. Magnificent wings folded around the sacred pages, Recorder read to them.

“In the ten thousandth year after the One’s sojourn on this world, the human race remained discontent. War divided the species, and the planet itself became uninhabitable. Humans cursed the name of the One, which had spread far more grief than joy.”

As Recorder read, the gods and mortals gathered there noted the sadness on the One’s face.

“Realizing that humanity was disillusioned with faith in a god they could not see, the One created Sword and Sheath, deities representing endless War and everlasting Peace. These deities would reign over the galaxy in the One’s stead, and would walk within the sight of their creations rather than interfere covertly. Not knowing their creator, Sword and Sheath went throughout the galaxy, creating their own people and planets before discovering Terra. So it was that the One took leave of this galactic spiral, and pursued other designs.”

“Andromeda,” Sheath murmured.

“You grew weary of their grumblings, as I did,” Sword said, “But I enforced them, while you left them in peace.”

“Your separation from Sheath,” the One said, “Was the same separation experienced in my heart. Though I loved them, they cast me out. The pain in my heart became you, Sword. The love in my heart became you, Sheath. I knew that to force love is not love at all, so I heeded their wishes, and left them in the care of gods they could see.”

“But you were never really gone,” Aboc smiled, “The same way you did not leave me.”

“Yes,” the One’s face lifted from sadness, “I could never leave them. My hands and feet will bear the marks of my love for eternity, but those marks will become the salvation of all.”

“Thank you,” Purity bowed, “That is all I ask.”

The One brought wounded hands together.

“I shall give you one final gift.”

From the One’s hands dropped a speck of light that alighted beside Purity and Aboc. It formed into the son, who slung the Tenfold Sword over his shoulder and clapped Aboc on the back, sending the surprised man staggering.

“Purity! I see you found a replacement for me!”

“Will!” Purity gasped, “What are you doing here? I thought you were in eternal rest!”

“Woman,” Will laughed, “Fixing the galaxy is my rest. This time, however, I’m going to do it right, with you and your boyfriend’s help.”

“He is not my boyfriend!” Purity insisted, helping Aboc regain his bearings.

“Fine, then. Call him husband from this day onward, and he shall call you wife. I give you my blessing, free of jealousy, for we have much work to do.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Aboc sputtered, though he reached for and held Purity close, “Shouldn’t we be given time to think about our union?”

“In the new time,” Will mused, “There will be enough time for everything.”

Will turned to his father.

“There is one question that remains. What will we do in this new time to come? What’s the motivation?”

The One rested a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“The Joining. Love, the uncreated power that I cannot begin to comprehend, shall join all souls as one. At last, I shall have my Bride, and then, only then, shall the One become Two. In the new time, we will begin our adventure into the mysteries of love, pure love.”

So it was, with the blessing of Will Riser, that Purity found solace in the companionship of Aboc. It was this union that set the example for the rest of the galaxy, to cast away pride and doubt for the simple pleasure uncreated love gives. The One watches over the children of the galaxies, and in the still silence following the dawn, a voice can be heard singing in the sunrise. It is a song of hope, resonating in the hearts of all.

“Soon!” the voice cries in yearning, “Very, very soon!”

END