The Commander's Return

While many believe that the Commander's return is a fictional story, this event is dreaded by anyone who believes in the existence of Eternals and Celestials. According to prophecies, the Commander of the Armies of War will enter the galaxy and proceed to conquer and destroy everything in his path. He will only be defeated by the Nine Guardians of the Temple of Peace, legendary heroes who will be the galaxy's only hope.

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So many in this world do not know what is going to happen to them. I grieve for the lives that will be lost, the pain that will be felt, and the fear that will emerge. This galaxy has always been divided, but now it will be broken. You do not know what is to come, so I will tell you. Do not tell anyone else, or something far worse will befall you.
The Commander will return. Who is the Commander, you ask? He is the Celestial of darkness, hatred, and war. His sister was the Celestial of light, love, and peace. I can not say more about their relationship, for although I know it, it is Unspeakable to anyone who has not heard the beginning of the story.
Long ago, there was a war. A war between the Celestials, between the dark and the light. A war between the Commander and Love. No, those are not their true names. Like most of their story, it is Unspeakable to you at this time. Once, everyone knew who they were and now, we only know them by their titles.
In this war, the Elemental Celestials were killed. One, the Celestial of fire, was killed before the war started, but the other three were killed in the battle. The Commander killed them all, and then he killed his sister, letting Death take her to the next world.
But with her final breath, Love cursed her brother and banished him from their world, tying his existence to the despair in the world. In her fear of death, however, she failed to bind him properly and instead tied his defeat to the Nine Guardians, forcing these future heroes to take on the burden of defeating him as well as their previous duties.
Because, you see, although all the stories and prophecies say that the Commander is the one the Nine must fight, that is not what it originally was. When the Prophecy of Nine was first told, they simply had to fight "the greatest evils of their world". But with this war, with this curse, they were handed the fight that Love should have won, and so the Commander's Return will happen far sooner than it should have.
His return? Yes. Because the Nine are close to appearing, the Commander will be able to return. Even now he prepared his armies to destroy them. For if he destroys them, if he removes them from the world, he will be able to return.
And when he returns, he will destroy anything he can. Good, bad, in between...nothing will be safe from his scourge. He will break this world and the only way it can be saved is if the Nine return.
But do not fear. He cannot leave this galaxy. And his reign will not last long. He will be defeated. Evil can never win over righteousness for long. The Nine may disappear for a time, but they will return. Heroes never really lose, if only because there are more of them than villains.
Have hope, dearest. His return is soon, but the Nine will come soon as well.

— The Storyteller

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Manifestation

The return of the Commander is said to occur when the "light of hope" has begun to fade from the world. With the appearance of the Nine Guardians, many enemies will arise to fight them. Despair will flood the world as time passes and allow the Commander, the Celestial of darkness, war, and hatred, to leave the realm he was exiled to during the Celestial War. The Armies of War will precede him and begin his destructive rampage.
According to both legends and the Prophecy of Nine, the Guardians will be pushed back by

the Armies of War, allowing the Commander to fully cross over. Many years of death will follow as the Commander destroys planets one by one, seeking out those who may know the Guardians' weaknesses so he can defeat them. Eventually, the Guardians will return and fight the Commander before defeating him once and for all. The Guardians will then continue to defend the galaxy for as long as they live.

One day, the Guardians will come.
One day, the Guardians will leave.
One day, the light of hope will fade.
One day, the Commander will return.

— an excerpt from the Prophecy of Nine

by Lilliana Casper

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Type

Metaphysical, Supernatural

Date
An undefined time in the future

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False Prophecy?

The age and drama in this story should cause almost everyone in the galaxy to know of it, but very few planets believe in the Celestials and anything related to them. Science has spread and most people believe that magic either does not exist or is limited to a select few people from Jaque and other planets. Anyone who hears about ancient prophecies claims that most of them are fictional and have no chance of coming true. These unbelievers think themselves safe in their ignorance. Those who do believe know that if the Commander's Return is a true prophecy, then disbelief will not save anyone. Only the Nine can do that.

The Guardians are not dead. Not fully. There is a way to bring them back. But the time must be right. When the Temple is in danger again, when the galaxy is suffering, you must return here and awaken us. Then find the weapons and the Temple, and wake the Guardians.

— Rebirth

Localization

Despite the apocalyptic nature of this future event, most scholars and parallel world experts believe that the Commander's return will be limited to the Janyan Galaxy. The nature of Eternals prevents them from leaving their world and associated realms and the Commander is no exception. Although he will ravage the galaxy before he is finally defeated, other worlds will be safe from his scourge.

by Lilliana Casper