Warrior Princess

There she was standing at the top in a state of inaction. The rays of light in between the scattered clouds created a mesmerizing glow. The angelic glow highlighted the contours of all the buildings with hues of golden orange. "How funny," she thought, "the ghetto looks magical, sort of beautiful, as if there is hope after all."

"Hope," her inner voice echoed. "HOPE--yeah right?" She mumbles in sarcastic tone. She takes two steps forward and time alters. Everything turns surreal. As life before her stops life inside her amplifies. Her internal dialogue feels like hours.

"Hope is for those that care. I am tired of caring. I am tired of waiting for things to change. I am tired of believing. It's not my fault this 'gift' is inside of me. Sure, I have siblings, but they have no time for me. Maybe they fear me. So, I must pretend to not care that they do not care or show any interest in me. They show attention only to exert their authority over me and use my gift for their benefit. Then they call it a gift. As if they know better. Truly, age is but a number. But don't get it twisted. I am not up here because of family woes. No! I learned very early to let that shit go.

I am here because my heart burns and I can't breathe. Every day I hear my kind being hunted. I want to find relief from this. There is something in the sky that calls me; maybe I can just fly--step over and be free . . ."

On her second step the voice came, a peaceful, all knowing voice. Like magic she heard the words crystal clear: "It's not your time yet princess" She smirked at hearing this voice call her 'princess.' "Look around you. Look at these streets. There is so much more meant for you. You have dreams to . . ." As she heard the words, she frowned. Her inner voice stepped in, " dreams? all is a dream." Distracted by her inner voice, she had to refocus to hear once more the magical peaceful voice: "Yes, you have much to do. So, step down princess and just learn to breathe."

Not understanding what just happened, she stepped down, took a deep breath, and in mental silence, her inner voice said: "I guess I'll just learn to breathe."

She felt the breeze caress her skin. She felt alive again. "I guess I'll learn to breath;" this time she utters the words aloud. Without her knowing, this was the beginning of the warrior awakening. Without her knowing, this was the moment breathing consciously was activated. Without her knowing, she was the warrior princess in the making.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the sun's rays. The clouds had completely dispersed. As if anointed by the powers that be, she delighted under the sun's soothing heat. She repeated the words, "learn to breathe." Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft brushing sensation on her forehead. This unexpected grooming felt good. Yet, her curiosity got the best of her. Maybe it's that voice making its grand appearance. She opened her eyes and, to her dismay, it was Jake caressing her forehead with a fluffy dandelion. Handsome Jake, sexy Jake, stranger turned into confident friend Jake jokingly says: "I guess wishes do come true." Despite seeing his welcoming smile, she was confused.

Ana realizes she's in a country field not on a rooftop. She's remembering she had laid down in a bed of grass. She's remembering the act she performed. She's remembering that all is not a dream. "But that was, or was it?" She stares at Jake. This magnetizing, charming man she had recently met had encouraged her to do something no one else could or would. She should feel happy too.

Jake noticing her disappointment, laughs in amusement, "hello to you too. I should have left you . . ." Ana replies, "sleeping?" Her mind revisits all she had dreamt: the voice, the rooftop, a younger her with a different life experience. Immersed in self contemplation, Ana unconsciously speaks, "it felt so real."

Jake doesn't care the context of her words. He is ecstatic that she speaks. For the short time he has known her, today she speaks again. Today she has stepped into her grace. Today he has witnessed that angel that helped him on that rainy storm car crash day. Jake recalls driving in a night were the southern rain felt like and endless waterfall. She was the angel that with words removed the pain and blood from him. He has been waiting for her to feel free and speak magic words again. With enthusiasm he says, "We should do this everyday. Train your skill. I mean, you do get drained. I get it. With practice you'll get stronger. Like muscle, I work out everyday because discipline makes muscle stronger. Your muscle is your word and that energy you have; you know that chi. Like Star Wars, you are a Jedi . . . a sexy Jedi and . . ."

Ana effortlessly places her index finger on his lips. He smiles taking the hint. Ana knows he is right; she will train. She remembers mustering this heat energy inside her belly, electrifying her as if she was a plug connected to a wall socket. She remembers shooting an invisible force from her skull, her eyes, her cheeks, her shoulders, from every inch that is her. She remembers directing this force to the sky, parting the clouds and summoning the sun with her words: "I command sunlight now." She also remembers her need to rest. Then the dream came. Jake is right. Doing this everyday will help and may also bring further explanation. If her words are powerful to manifest here, maybe commanding to have the same dream is possible too.

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Returning from their afternoon stroll, Jake and Ana arrive at the entrance. The welcoming yellow pineapple hangs in the center of the front door. Ana reaches the doorknob when Jake smacks his beautiful, dark-brown majestic hand like a fly swatter on the golden pineapple. Ana steps back in amusement and gives him the big eyes.

"So, agreed." Jake insists, "After dinner we begin practicing your skill."

Ana squints her eyes, raises her hand, bends her wrist, creating a ninety-degree angle and imitates a puppeteer. She opens and closes the tips of her fingers.

"You got it." Jake smiles, "Your skill of talking and making shit happen with your energy, your chi. Deal?" He extends his hand, inviting a deal sealer handshake. Ana playfully rolls her eyes and links her hand to his. Their hands wrap around each other, and they squeeze.

In the split second of that squeeze, the scene changes. Lights of neon blue, pink and purple surround the two bodies who are now suspended in air. Naked, love making is seen as the two bodies wrap around each other. Where one begins, and the other ends cannot be seen. Sweat and glow radiates from their skins. Breath and moans over power the scene. With each sound they elevate higher and the lights surrounding their bodies become brighter. These are the most vibrant colors ever seen and the most erotic sounds ever heard. The scene abruptly ends.

Ana and Jake release their handshake and in frozen shock stare at each other. There's a curious, naughty moment of silence in their eyes and they both do their best to hold back their gratifying sighs. Finally, both burst into laughter. He chuckles; she snorts. When their joyful laughter concludes, at the same time, both say: "What was that?!"

Ana shakes her head, turns the knob, and opens the door to the heartwarming melodies of her uncle's music. He was always a Mozart with his keystrokes. She starts a hello wave when suddenly a roaring sound emerges from the left side of this beautiful southern country home. Simultaneously, a glitch on the arch of the kitchen entrance is observed. The kitchen blinks unsteadily like a light bulb fading in and out. A blast occurs, and Jake sees her uncle's body catapult to the other side of the foyer. Ana instinctively rushes to the rose quartz crystal hidden inside her uncle's ivory grandfather clock. Jake moves after her.

Uncle T yells, "NO! She knows what to do." His voice bellowed such an authoritative order, Jake knew better than to question it. Jake knows every decision in battle is time sensitive and this feels like an attack. Uncle T takes of his golden heart shaped locket and hands it to Jake; "taker her somewhere safe, secluded. Say these words aloud 'I AM THE LIGHT FOR ME THERE ARE NO BARRIERS.' Repeat them, until you believe them. It will only work if your heart is pure to the core and the pure vibration of truth comes out of you."

"What does that even mean?" blurts Jake. "I'll say whatever you want after we get you help." The old man set in his conviction, yanks the piano piece penetrating his femoral artery and chooses his fate. "She cannot be captured by anyone. Speak the words into this locket. The rest will be revealed. It's you Jake. I know you love her."

Ana is doing some rose quartz ritual. She's closing this portal. Jake sees shadows forming on the other side of this illusion. But trusting the order given by uncle T, he lets her be.

From where Ana stands, unlike Jake's view, she sees more than shadows. She sees clearly the face of someone she already knows. The very same face she has begun to adore and have feelings for. The very same face she chose to break her vow of silence for. The very same face who at this moment is helping uncle T. "How could this be? Who is he? What is this?" But emotions aside, she had been trained for this. As the solidity of the kitchen is regained and only a small circle of translucent illusion remains, both his and her eyes meet. His eyes are older and fighting some war. His eyes show recognition of her from some 'before.' His lips move, "learn to breathe." This startles Ana. She's remembering where she really is but knows she must finish this. Mustering all her force within, she closes the translucent circle between them. The kitchen regains normality. Ana drops the rose quarts and faints.

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In a secluded safe house known only to Jake, we hear: "I am the light, for me there are no barriers." The golden heart shaped locket in Jake's hand does not open. Ana resting on the sofa, awakens. She knows she must open the locket. She kisses Jake with passionate gratitude for being her guide even in here, takes the locket, whispers in his ear: "I'm waking NOW beloved, do you hear?" Then, she commands the words:"I AM THE LIGHT FOR ME THERE ARE NO BARRIERS."

With a blinding beam light, she wakes again. There're lasers shooting around her. She rips the straps and wires out of her skin. She moves painfully for her thigh wound is fresh. Her beloved Jake, older Jake, the space warrior Jake is holding them off. He sees her awake and presses on to defend the ship. She dials symbolic code on the digital screen. There she is, her younger she appears in another reality. She's our last hope; she must live. Slicing her finger with an edge, she presses her blood on the golden heart shaped locket and in a meditational trance communicates: "It's not your time yet princess." Ana speaks to the warrior princess in hiding. We are coming, all the ships are coming, we are setting you free. She's the angelic voice from a parallel reality.