Love Always A Tale of the Legion of Super-Heroes by Todd

5 February 2993

My dear friend Tasmia,

It's hard to believe it's been six months already since I wrote you last. I know not whether you are even receiving these letters, but I have hope that you are. I'll never forget your parting words to me, counseling me to remember that there is always hope and a way. And you, as always, were right.

Twice a year now for the past nine years, I have journeyed to the place where I broke through the barrier allowing you and Dawnstar to return from this dimension. On the anniversary of that day, the first of September, and today, your birthday, I breech the barrier sending you these missives. I often hope to see you there waiting, or to find a letter from you, but neither has ever happened.

I wonder if you even think of me anymore. Would you even care that I think of you daily? It was your friendship that helped me adapt to my time in the Legion, as well as teach me that kindness and concern are much more powerful than anger and rage. I valued those lessons and they have served me well.

In case you have not received any of my previous letters, I will share with you what has happened since we last saw each other. Those first few months of being back here in our Marzal-universe were difficult. We had only been in your universe for just over two years, but we were not prepared to give it up so soon. While it was true that we had spent our whole lives here except for those two years, many of us had ventured elsewhere on Earth and made friends and found loved ones. Some citizens even accused me of purposely causing our premature return. This lead to a brief civil uprising which I quickly handled.

Once this was over though, and everyone realized that we had to put the past behind us and continue on with our lives as we always had before we'd even discovered Earth, things calmed down. In addition to being their protector, the citizens have elected me to the position of leader/protector. I've found the role to be as challenging as it is satisfying. I never would have suspected that I would enjoy leading my people in their daily lives, not just in times of crisis.

It's more than what Lar, Drake and Garth did during my time in the Legion. I don't decide who to send out on missions, and decide which planets we need to show our presence on. I have to deal with real issues, such as how we are going to feed ourselves during times of poor crops, finding more room for a growing population, repairing our failing power supply. These issues and more like them are truly what are deserving my efforts, all of our efforts.

I know that you were once your own planetary protector, and could very well still be if Grev hasn't matured enough yet or wasn't interested in returning to Talok VIII either. I realize that you felt that joining the Legion was what would serve your planet's best interests, but I wonder if that is really true. I recall your tales of civil unrest between your people and the Yakka-Mahor. Would it not be better to work on assuaging the tensions between your peoples than to battle such people as Organus, Psycho-Pirate, Absorbency Boy and Bounty?

I must apologize. That was unfair of me. The Legion does serve a purpose. It was the Legion that defeated Mordru and the Dark Circle when they declared war on Earth. That epic battle truly was worth the efforts of the whole Legion, though Brainy's creating Omega wasn't a bright mark on the annals.

A better example though would be Condo's sacrifice of his own life in order to prevent world war. I barely knew him before he died, just four brief months. He was just six months older than me when he died. He was truly a hero, to the planet Earth, to his own people, and to me. He more than any other Legionnaire showed me what it meant to be a Legionnaire. We were symbols for people everywhere of what the universe could be like if only we worked together, putting aside our racial and planetary differences. It will be eleven years in just five days since his self-sacrifice. He will be honored here, as he is every year.

As usual though I have become distracted from my real purpose in writing you today. Today is your thirtieth birthday, and I want to wish you well. You were my closest friend during my time in the Legion, and one of the few who could really understand my troubles and predicaments. I never properly thanked you for your understanding and your friendship, and now it is far too late. You were willing to even let the others search for your kidnapped mother in order to help me and my people. I only hope that you do not regret your decision, and that your mother and the others escaped unharmed. As you know, if it weren't for Lar, I would have definitely been suiting you, for I truly do love you even after all these years.

I know that we discussed this before back while Lar was carrying on his one man war against the Khunds and you were still on Earth with the Legion. I shared my feelings with you and you told me that you cared deeply for me, but you loved Lar even if he was inconsiderate of you at times. I was very jealous of him and couldn't understand why you would stay with him. But after I saw how much he loved you as he stood by your bedside in constant vigil during those five hours while we all waited to see if you would live, I knew I could not compete with his love for you.

So today on your birthday, I honor you and your love for Lar. I believe that I have also found love. Nichelle has been a great help to me during my time as leader-protector. She is my right-hand, my organizer, and my confidante. She reminds me a lot of you, as she's filled with the same determination and moxie that you are. She also resembles you very much. Her eyes are the same mysterious, alluring black, and in the shadows when her hair hangs just right, I could swear she was you.

Nichelle has asked me to marry her, but I do not know if this is right for me at this time. She wants children, and so do I, but Marzal is troubled and I don't know if it is right to bring a child into my world when we are facing the horrible consequences of overpopulation. Our island just cannot continue to produce the food supplies for our people at our current birth rate, and yet they are also unwilling to limit their progeny to a zero growth rate. As leader-protector is it not my duty to set an example for my people?

I have told Nichelle that I would have an answer for her by the anniversary of our return to our universe. She on the other hand hopes to be pregnant by then. I'm being very careful though, and always use protection, so that should not be a problem. But the question still lingers as to what I should do, shall I marry her and live a fulfilling life as leader-protector of my people or dare I even consider the possibility of leaving Marzal to join you back on Earth?

Time is running short, so I'll leave that question to be answered another day. For now I teleport to the barrier at the edge of my universe to tear a hole in the interdimensional fabric once again to deliver this letter to you. It seems easier each time, and I wonder if one of these times Marzal will not return to Earth, but until then we'll have to be satisfied with our memories.

Take care, my dear friend, my true love, and have the happiest of birthdays and of lives. May you always honor your sacred ancestors.