The Pool of Her Birth

Part I: The Society 2101

Fifty years after World’s End, In the Hawaiian Islands a society began to form under the jurisdiction of one being. Man referred to him as the Doctor. His philosophies dictated the formation of a juvenile civilization. There was no diplomatic discussion granting the Doctor with any formalized jurisdiction, his commanding conviction and unnatural grasp upon the attention of man bred compliance. No opposition was presented to his societal structuring; his knowledge of resource allocation was expertly sufficient; people were fed. A random assignment of occupation occurred, The Agricultural District, The Lumber District, The Livestock District, The Mining District, The Fishing District, and The Medical District. Families were assigned together and it was understood that the offspring would fulfil their parents’ role within their district. There was no formation of any type of communication between districts, The Doctor convinced the broken Man that he was best fit to fulfil this role and vowed to ensure all will be provided the necessities of life. He captivated audiences by appealing to their fears, promising order, and painted himself a martyr, assuming critical responsibilities in order to allow the survivors to spend the rest of their days with their loved ones. However, the surviving Man many not have been better off. The first generation understood the price that was being paid, however the direness of their reality killed any opportunity for revolution. The societal rebuilding was unlike before. Inspiration, courage and creativity might as well have evaporated with the atomic extinction. With no means to protect Man, the Doctor had no obstacles in constructing his societal vision. The human race was learning to walk again, vulnerable to manipulation, and its future uncertain, potentially unable to ever recapture any goodness that had been obliterated.

Part II: A Sacrificial Blessing ABR

The Mother winces in pain grabbing at her womb. The Nurse lunges to assist but her efforts are swatted. The Mother regains her footing and fiercely looks up and direct into the Nurse’s eyes. “This labor is mine, and mine alone. This child is fully of my own conception. Her significance will be far-reaching, and yet still to be written. You must take me to the pool of the Medical District, I know it is close to us. Once we arrive, you must leave, and ask me to questions. For you are merely a guide; to me, this one time, and to my daughter, for the rest of her life. Do you understand, Teresa?

“…No. My lady… the trek is too risky! You cannot make this travel in this condition!”

“I must. For the sake of this child… I must. My husband, he…” the mother looks to the full moon out the cabin window, “come now, we must go, there is no time to waste.”

“Please, my lady, I beg of you, you must wait for the Doctor, he is the best of us and his love for you and this child, it is undeniable.”

Part V: The Awakening

For ten years Regina has never stepped foot out of her father’s cabin, Regina has never even stood upon her own foot. Oddly enough, Regina’s body displayed no atrophy. Her skins shines with a radiance that could be perceived as a royal glow. Any time the Nurse feels hopeful of an apparent display of health, she requests of the child to rise to her feet and step out and into the sunshine; however, the mere request could exhaust her back into a slumber that could last for weeks.

Until one day, on one chilled Sunday morning, the beautiful Regina will arise from her decade of slumber, and she will speak. Her words will possess an elegance, not simply beyond her years and education, but beyond even the perceived realm of awareness that exists amongst today’s Man.

The Nurse descends from the forest edge with a basket filled with remedies to regress Regina’s fever. As the Nurse makes the final turn and the cabin comes into sight, a figure in the distance stops her in her place. It is not normal to see people in the Doctors plantation, especially during his absence, but before any notion of fear could materialize within her, she catches a bright glimpse with her old eyes. The vibrant reflection of hair so bright white, it must have been its first interaction with sunlight. A voice never before heard echoes a name unsaid for over 10 years.

“Teresa!”

Regina runs, white gown fluttering as her long slender and powerful gait effortlessly glides through the garden to her caretaker of a decade. Tears of joyous disbelief flow down the Nurse’s face as young Regina takes her first steps into her sight. The two meet in a full contact embrace and roll into the long grass.

“Regina!” the Nurse sobs, “Regina… my dear, you are awake!”

“I have arisen.” Young Regina grabs a hold of the Nurse’s face, “thank you for all your years of care Nurse Teresa, you’ve kept me comfortable. My mother…” a tearful smile blossoms upon Regina’s face, “my mother is so gracious to know you have stayed true to her wishes.” The Nurse caresses the small white hand upon her face.

“I do not understand, child… my name, how do you know my name? No one has called me Teresa… since you mother left us 10 years ago.”

Regina softly smiles,” Mother! She has taught me so much, and she has told me all about your friendship. She speaks to me now, and she says sincerely, ‘Thank you.”

“Your mother? But child, your mother… she passed away in the forest, the day you were born?” Regina rises and assist the Nurse to her feet.

“I cannot explain just now Nurse Teresa, there is no time. I need you to take me to the Pool of My Birth. We must go now.” The Nurse looks to the sky with a large breath of air. It was a moment of forfeiture, a resignation to the world, an acceptance that there exist forces beyond her comprehension.

“Regina, beautiful… your father, he would be furious to know I have allow-"

“No, Nurse Teresa, you must understand you possess no accountability for my actions, you have fulfilled your life’s duties. You have cared for me, and now I ask of you one more deed. Lead me to the pool and then you will rest for the rest of your years. Come now, we must be going.”

***

“It is beautiful, exactly how I had dreamt of it. Thank you Nurse Teresa, now sit. Sit and rest, for you have performed your contribution.” Regina begins to strip off her clothes until she is nude and walks into the cool blue pool until she is completely submerged. She stays there for a couple minutes, and as the second minutes comes and passes, the Nurse’s concern grows. Before she is able to rise from her resting place, Regina reappears. Hair bright as the Sun’s shine and eyes identical to the hue of the pool, she begins to walk out of the pool. As her shoulders emerge from the depth, a golden chain is visible around her neck and a heart shaped locket is positioned in the center of her chest. Regina takes a deep breath and kneels down to see the locket in the waters reflection. She touches the heart with both hands and closers her eyes. She whispers to herself, “Farewell dear mother, I will cherish this wisdom and I will do what I must. I love you.”

As she stands to exit The Pool of Her Birth, a chilling blast of wind and a sudden apparition materializes. The Doctor stands before his daughter and he looks upon Regina and rejoices;” My Child!” he cries out to the world as he falls upon his knees, “My beautiful Regina you have overcame that accursed sickness!” Regina stands still and her blue eyes meet his. The Doctor looks upon her and sees the golden locket around her neck, his demeanor shifts as he rises to his feet. “Regina, my daughter, forgive me for the suffering you have endured. I have worked tirelessly to prepare a solution for your sickness and it is finally complete!” the Doctor pulls from his leather satchel a vile containing a dark green solution. “Come, my daughter, exit that pool and come to me. I have waited too long to speak with you and hear your voice. I have so much to teach you, for this world is yours and these men will worship you, Princess Regina. Come to me now and drink this solution, it will rid you of the corruption of the burden that lays upon your chest.”

“No, Doctor. I will not be condoning any world of your conception, for I have received my education and I see no redemption of the society you have created.”

“My dearest child, you must listen- “

“I am no child of yours! I am the child of my mother, who in the pool, in which I was born, rid me of your wicked contribution. I am a holy conception of The Spirit of Man. The Spirit in which you have sought to destroy. I will undo the oppression you have set upon the surviving Man and I will see Man flourish upon my knowledge.”

“You do not understand the words in which you speak!” for a decade, your mind has been sickened by that wretched locket. I have organized Man in a manner that will guarantee their survival. The locket compels you to claim you represent the Spirit of Man, and yet you fail to see the errors in their ways? These men are not worthy of your knowledge, Princess Regina. Their societies past wage wars and make a mockery of Earths bounty, they do not possess the capacity for prosperity, I must facilitate their peace! No man goes without food in our society. No murder occurs. Young Regina, come to me and let me set you free, so that you may bear witness these truths. I beg of you, my daughter, take this solution, for it is your salvation. A salvation I have crafted for you, drink this, and you will understand.”

“You speak of peace and yet all I see is oppression. You dare utter of truth and yet you hide and construed what is true. You are a thief of truth. You have stolen Man’s liberty, you have squashed Man’s confidence in collaboration, and consequently, you have destroyed all that is beautiful. I look upon your society and it disgusts me. Your interpretation of peace has stifled the potential of Man. Without your deception, Man will turn to each other again and prosper together with love and unity and all that is beautiful. I command you to set free Man from your grasp. Your influence is the only sickness that I have had to endure, keep your solution for it serves me no purpose. Leave this World and take your philosophy with you, I command it!”

“I do not answer to the commands of Man, foolish girl!” with his final shriek of discontent, the Doctor melted into the shadows, seeping down below the soil, the bedrock, and deeper still.

“Where has he gone Holy Regina?” asked the Nurse.

“He has fled, deep into the coldest and darkest places below the surface. This being is thousands of years old. We can consider this day a victory of Man, for I suspect he will seek his rest and lay dormant, which will allow me the opportunity to enlighten the survivors. However, this conflict has not ended. We must be diligent in our work for he will return to impose his influence once again. But for now, let us rejoice, for the future of Mankind has hope, let it be good. Let it be beautiful and let it be the way it has always intended to be, for this world is plentiful, and Man’s capacity for love is plentiful as well.”