Atlantida City returns to Nagaloka

Atlántida City Returns to Nagaloka

Long before there was life in the planet Nagaloka, Atlántida City already existed, built billions of years before in another Nagaloka (which in their own language means “Serpent Planet”). There are millions of Nagalokas just in this galaxy, and the Naga Lords keep seeding and planet-forming planets to extend the reach of life across the known universe. That is their job: creating life. And since time-immemorial, I Pamelon IV, have been helping them to do just that.  

I have lived well over five hundred thousand years in this marvelous city, my own life and youth extended by the incredible “tree of life”, one of the marvels of the gardens of the city, and the reason that death does not exist here.  Neither death, nor old age, nor sickness exist in Atlántida City.  Our immortal city, currently resting at the bottom of the deepest part of the great Snake Ocean in planet Nagaloka, is also a kind of “paradise” for its inhabitants, and the reason of the visions of the final rest in various religious beliefs.

It is a city of gardens and rivers. It is also a city of tall pyramids. Eight circular rivers serve as the base of the city, which has a gigantic transparent dome and thousands of tall pyramidal buildings, which house the roughly five million souls who work, play and live, eternally for the betterment of the Naga Lords and the expansion of life throughout the universe.

Kukulkan, our Lord or Lords, supreme chief of the city and the uncounted millions of planets which the city has seeded throughout the universe, a great dragon with long-serpentine body and white-and-green feathers lives in the center of the city, in the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which is the original upon which was based the pyramid of Quetzalcoatl on Teotihuacan, planet, Earth. He is rarely seen, since his meditations are too profound to be interrupted. But he is worshipped by all the residents of the city equally, and he is considered a living God by all who know him personally. His omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience all well known to all, and the mere act of thinking of him, can, on occasion, disrupt his meditations and make him do a “house call”.  The love for this incredible being is absolute, and all the citizens in the city, all five million of them, are personally known to him and have been in his presence at least once in their immortal lives.

Regarding the secret of immortality and the “tree of life”, it is a well-known secret, and we, as citizens of Atlántida City are honor-bound to guard the secret for all who are not citizens of the city. The fruits of the tree are free to all citizens, and trees of life grow in every inch of the city, providing health and immortality to all. But exporting this tree is considered a powerful taboo, and although a tree of life is planted in every planet that is seeded by us throughout the universe, said tree is always left with a powerful guardian and it’s location is hidden from all but a few initiates who are profoundly bound to the interests of the Naga Lords.  Immortality for all beings in the universe could be a huge problem, since most beings are not really spiritually prepared to be immortal.

So, how did I come to be a citizen of the immortal city?

My own place of origin, the place called Shadow World by all but those who live in it, is the place that was created by the dreams of all children. It is a fairy-world in a distant dimension, which took form and shape by the collected dream-stuff of children all over the universe, and as you might already suspect, it is populated by the most exotic and notorious creatures to be found in children’s fairy stories, including elves, such as myself, ogres, witches, goblins, dragons and mermaids.

My life, as such, was as heir to a powerful Fairy Kingdom: the Pamelon Kingdom, which was started by my great-grandfather, Pamelon the First, also known as the scourge of the goblins. As my parents before me, I was born a prince to one day become King, with a castle, a village, an army and of course, a pet dragon.

But I was never really satisfied by this charmed life. In my youth, I adventured in various ruins, dungeons, forbidden forests and various other dangerous places in search of adventure and glory. And I found all I could deal with and more. But… it was somehow, empty.  I slew goblins, orcs, ogres and giants by the hundreds, but… it made no difference. The basic questions of my own existence, unanswered, made me dour and unsatisfied.

And then, rumors of a great city that had appeared, floating over the ocean came to my ears.  And I went rapidly to see it for myself. A whole squadron of dragon riders followed me as escort, and I flew easily in my great white drake, Ariana, a good natured dragon the color of fresh-fallen snow.

I was not really prepared for what I saw.

It was not “just” a floating city. It was a whole land. You could see it hundreds of kilometers before you reached it. It was as big as an island, and it had thousands of buildings. It floated lazily about three kilometers above the water, but its size was unfathomable. It was easily 100 kilometers in diameter, and somehow, it just floated there, doing nothing. It did create a great shadow over the water, as if it was a storm turned into solid city.

Loosing no time, Ariana and I flew to the encounter of the great floating city. My loyal dragon-riders followed, fearful for my safety.

And instantly, we were met by another white drake, much bigger than my own, and quite different from mine. This was a snake-looking dragon, with white and green feathers and a wise, powerful face, with eyes that spoke of ancient and terrible wisdom.

“You are not allowed entry into our city, strangers.” It spoke into my mind directly, and I knew instantly that my dragon-riders had also heard the powerful voice inside their own heads.

Ariana stopped in mid flight and descended back upon the beach. My men followed suit and surrounded the newcomer, who landed next to me.

Immediately upon landing, the great white dragon changed form, taking the form of a simple human being, wearing a green-and white- feather crown and white tunic. His skin was pale and his beard and hair brown. His eyes were the same as the eyes of the great dragon, but much smaller.

“I am Kukulkan, the Lord of that City, and I must respectfully ask you not to try to enter it. There is an invisible wall, and if you try to cross it, you might be harmed by it, and we wish you no harm.”

I looked with amazement at this perfectly ordinary human, who was in fact a great and powerful dragon, and I decided to bow to him out of respect. My own village and castle were nothing compared to his great city in the sky.

“I am Prince Pamelon IV, of the Kingdom of Pamelon, and these are my men at arms. We also wish you no harm, but your city appeared suddenly over the ocean, and we had to investigate. How is it that you can move a city so great with such ease?”

“We have come from far beyond the stars, hoping to learn much from your world, and from your people. Our magic is powerful, but we are a peaceful folk, who wish only to learn from you.”  Said Kukulkan, bowing back.

“Beyond the stars? Are you Gods?”

“We have been called that by some, and to some we are, but to you, we can be friends, if you prefer, since we did not create you, you were created by the dreams of children across the universe, and we consider that something quite special and magical.”

“How is it that you know how we were created?” I asked.

“Because we have been studying your world for many, many years. Reality, it seems, is really created by thought and the thoughts of this reality are many and quite strong. It is an amazing world you have, and your existence is quite a miracle.”

“So if you have been studying us for many years, why only now does your city appear to us?”

“Because we are about to leave your world, and we wanted our story to be told.”

“Then tell me your story.”  I said, feeling profound.

“We are the Naga. Immortal serpents who live in all the habitable worlds of space, and who make worlds habitable for life in places where there is not life. We have been around since the beginning of creation, and we have found the secrets of immortality. We have also found the secrets to travel in time and space, so we have gone to the end of time, and we have seen the edge of the void that is nothingness, where there is no life, no light, no sound, no mind, no body, no thought, no consciousness and nothing. It is something we fear greatly, and this is why we seed life wherever there is no life, and this is why we try to keep death far from the worlds where we have been and we are always looking for new worlds where there is no life, to go seed life there and make sure that the end of all never comes. We also know our struggle is one we are bound to loose, but perhaps not for many, many thousands of millions of years.”

“Did you seed us too?”.

“No… Humans seeded you. With their dreams as children. You are a magical world, ruled by rules we do not understand, but now that we have been here for a while, we have found the secret of seeding more worlds like yours throughout the universe.”

“What is the secret?”

“Humans. We shall seed humans everywhere so their dreams will create more worlds like yours.”

“Humans!?” I said horrified.  “But humans are the most terrible of monsters. They are genocidal maniacs, willing to kill anything that is not human, they are proud, arrogant fools, who are willing to kill each other for a few unimportant things they value more than life, such as gold and some gems. Humans create great empires and then war upon themselves, slaughtering each other and especially anybody who is not human. They have no love for living things, and they consider themselves supreme above all creation.  Seeding such horrid creatures everywhere in the universe is a terrible thing!”

“Yet it is the dreams of humans which make your world possible. It is the dreams of humans which keep death away. Although we fear them, we also admire them, for they are a great race, which is bound to find a way to cheat the death of all.” Said Kukulkan and then looked at his own city, floating above the waves. “It is time to leave.”

“Wait. I would go with you.” I said, suddenly, desperately.

“Yes, I knew you would ask me. And yes, you might come. But you must know that you can never return here, to Shadow World. You will leave everything behind and never look back. You will even leave death behind, and that is a great sacrifice.”

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Because I have known you since before you were born, Pamelon IV. I am omniscient, and I have been waiting for this day since before your birth. You were destined to live forever in our city, and this is the real reason we appeared to you.”

My loyal guards were looking lost and confused. My loyal dragon, Ariana, was crying. Memories of my youth, my family, mother, father, brothers and sister… All conspired to keep me here, and yet, somehow, I knew this was also my destiny, it was the sum of all things that had led me to this point. It was the certainty that I would never be satisfied with anything less.

“What am I really leaving behind?” I asked.

“Everything you know. Your family, friends, future wife and children. Old age and death. And after death, rebirth in some other form or body. Our souls are released upon death, and they take upon a myriad of forms birth after birth. Once you enter our city, you leave death behind, and this form, this ridiculous, frail, imperfect elf body will be immortal, you will never age, nor will you be reborn. This is a terrible thing we ask. And you must be very certain to want it. Just think, if you can die, and be reborn in other bodies, you might, one day, be a God somewhere. Or a powerful dragon, like myself. But if we rob you of your death, you will forever be Pamelon IV, an elf.”

“Are all souls reborn?” I asked. I had heard of re-incarnation, but I had never had it confirmed by anybody.

“Yes. Upon death, some are born into better or worse bodies and families. Your karma determines your rebirth into higher or lower realms. But if you eat of the tree of life, you will not die. Ever. And this might make you spiritually incapable of reaching the creator of all life. It is a sacrifice we make in order to work for life.”

So I was to be immortal. The dream of many. The nightmare of the wise?

I turned around and called upon my captain.

“Captain, you have heard all that was said here?” I asked him.

“Majesty, I have.” He said.

“And you understand what it means?” I asked.

“It means that you will not return with us?” He asked.

“That is correct.”

“Your father… The King…” He began to say…

“You will tell the King what has happened here, and he will understand. I don’t suppose you will hear form me again, nor will anybody in my Kingdom, but you understand the importance of what I am about to do here?” I asked.

“My Prince, if I return without you, my head might roll in the garden. But I understand your choice, and I will relate it to our King without delay.” He said, and bowed.

Next was my dragon. Ariana did not speak. She only knew things which affected our emotions. She knew she would never see me again, and she was heartbroken.

“Ariana, my faithful steed. Go home and lay many eggs. Have a great progeny to serve my father and brothers as you have served me.”

Her long serpentine neck rubbed against my side lovingly. She was panting.

It was just then that I began to weep. I understood, finally, what I was about to do. My faithful Captain took the reins of my dragon and untangled her neck form my side.

“I am ready.” I said to Kukulkan.

The humble human once again transformed, before our eyes, into the gigantic feathered serpent.

“Climb my back and grab on to the feathers.”  He said directly into my mind.

I did as told, and found that his wide body was warm to the touch, and his feathers very soft but firm. And just as I grabbed a bunch of feathers form his back to place myself, he took to the skies and flew, faster than any of our own dragons, directly to the city.

In no time, we were above at the central pyramid, which now I know serves as his temple and home. We landed in a plush garden just outside the pyramid where an orchard of trees was being cared for by a dozen humans of various ages and races, all dressed barefoot in white tunics with golden bridles and golden crowns on their heads.

Kukulkan landed among them and they all bowed to him and immediately afterwards went to help me climb down form him. Suddenly, dozens of children came out of the garden and began to caress the great snake and tickle him.

“Oh my! Oh my! An ambush!!” he cried, mockingly, and began to writhe joyously under their little hands.

One of the humans, a white-skinned old man with a great read beard came over and shook my hand.

“Welcome to Kukulkan Garden in Atlántida City, stranger. Since you flew on our Lord’s back, I can only assume you are an honored guest and I am here to greet you. My name is King Eric the Red, and before, I was a great and powerful Viking on planet earth. Now, I take care of these trees for my Lord.”

“Well met, King Eric. I am Prince Pamelon IV. Of the Kingdom of Pamelon.”

“Well, Prince Pamelon IV, here…” said King Eric the Red taking a strange red fruit form one of the golden-leafed trees around him. “Eat of this and you will become immortal for ever and ever. But know that if you eat this fruit, you will forever be in de debt of our Lord Kukulkan and you will have to obey him on all things forever.”

He placed the curious fruit on my hand. It was similar to an apple, but it was NOT an apple.

“So if I eat this I will never die, but then I will obey Lord Kukulkan forever?” I asked.

“That is right.”

I looked at the great serpent playing with the children who seemed delighted to be next to such a powerful and fearful being, but utterly without fear of him.

Then I looked at the pyramid, and the garden, and the rest of the city. The great dome above our heads was invisible, and I could see how we were raising above the clouds rapidly. Pretty soon, we had left the planet, and we were in the darkness of space, looking at the stars as they came closer and closer. I was amazed and just a little terrified.

But what had I had to lose?

I would never die.

I bit into the fruit. Eric the Red laughed powerfully and profoundly. Then he threw his great arms around me and gave me a powerful bear hug.

“Welcome Brother. Now you are a real immortal Atlantean.”

All the humans around me laughed with him and they came over to congratulate me and give me hugs. Half a million years later, I can remember the moment as if it had happened yesterday.

I bit the fruit of eternal life.

And it was delicious.