Chapter Text
Lydia sighed. Her ears drooped from exhaustion. The strain spreading throughout her body. So far there were no other assassins after them. Ishtar, Symphony and Alon all checked every possible hiding place that an assassin would be in. Nothing. However, Lydia knew they had to get back to the ship and finish looking into the outposts of the missing earth colonies. She could only hope that there were other survivors.
They were reaching the launch bay when Prince Scorpio shifted Lydia around to look at her face. The prince held a concerned expression on his face. “Are you alright?”
Lydia could feel heat crawling into her body. She found her tails wanting to coil around his muscled legs. The anxiety she had earlier was starting to melt away. “Yes…Just a bit tired. I do hope we get to our next destination soon.”
“I’m afraid you’re going to change course.”
Lydia felt her heart froze. She turned her head to the direction of the voice. Her tails curled around Prince Scorpio’s abdomen. Ishtar, Blazing Stars and Symphony stood their ground before Lydia. The familiars hissed.
Standing before was none other than Emperor Dusk. The Crog Emperor looked tired. His ears drooped slightly. His arms crossed against his chest. Beside him were more soldiers. All of them carried axes and halberds. He paid no mind to the civilians that stared at him with weary expressions.
“Father!” Prince Scorpio gasped. He set Lydia down as best as he could without dropping her. Ears upright with fright. “W-what are you doing here?”
Emperor Dusk sighed. “Long story short, when I didn’t receive anymore calls from you or General Leo, I decided to locate you myself and handle this matter.” He glared at Lydia. “Apparently, you’ve come across a Kitstella hybrid on your own.”
Lydia froze. Ears perked and fluffed out. “What do you mean?” She nearly landed on her butt as Prince Scorpio set her down as he safely could.
Emperor Dusk was about to approach them. Then, he was met with Rush’s pickaxe. He stared at it unphased. His guards aimed their weapon behind them.
Aikka appeared from behind them. “Stop it. All of you! We just want to settle this matter peacefully.” He glared at the Emperor. “You said you wouldn’t hurt anyone here.”
Emperor Dusk glared back. “I wanted to get my son and that nuisance. The others are of no consequence.”
Spirit stood in front, his bird wings spread out wide. Eyes cold with fury.
Without warning, Emperor Dusk punched Spirit as hard as he could. It caused the Philian Ambassador to be flung to the nearest cart. A loud crunch soon followed.
“Spirit!” Eva ran toward the wreckage with Aikka in tow.
Lydia’s whole world slowed. Her familiars springing to action. Debris fell slower. Bystanders ran to get out of the way. Screams filled the air. Her heart stopped beating all together. Her lungs trapped the air. Eyes wide. Flashes of dead aliens and kidnapped humans wormed into her mind.
She leaped in front of the Emperor. “S-stop!” She squeaked as a blade appeared near her throat. Lydia swallowed hard. “I’ll…go with you…”
Sagittarius stared in horror. “Lydia…” He instinctively took a step forward. He noticed a blaster aimed at him and Brinnia. He shielded her and the wailing Argen.
“You’ve got some nerve coming to us, traitor.” One of the guards glared at him. Yellow eyes narrowed.
Sagittarius glared back. “At least I’m appreciated for my brain than being a mindless brute.”
The guards growled. They raised their weapons at him.
General Leo soon appeared on the Rush’s right. In his arms was an unconscious alien. His eyes grew wide with shock at the sight of his Emperor. “Emperor Dusk!” He bowed, almost dropping his cargo. “Forgive me! I-I didn’t expect to see you here! By Kraam I made sure to be with your son. I swear-”
Emperor Dusk raised a hand to stop Leo’s blathering. “Don’t wear yourself out. We’ll talk more about this later.” He turned to Lydia. “Do you agree to come with us?”
Lydia nodded. “You have my word.” She straightened. Her eyes fixed on the Emperor. “On one condition.”
Emperor Dusk cocked an eye. Ears twitched. “Are you sure that’s wise to negotiate, little one?”
Lydia could feel the fury crawl under her skin. Fur slowly standing on end. Every instinct wanted to bite the Krog Emperor. She had to take a deep breath before she could speak. “Emperor Dusk, both of our respective races have been fighting for some time have they not?”
Emperor Dusk stood there for a moment. His gaze locked onto hers. Ears erect. Then, he finally answered. “Yes…I suppose so.”
Lydia began to calm herself. Her fur smoothed out. She gestured to Ishtar and Symphony to return to their smaller forms. Alon remained where he was. His eyes focused on the looming Crog before them.
“There was an old phrase that I once heard from a dear alien friend,” Lydia said. Her words turned sad as she recited her words. “Warriors are like blades of a sword. After years of swinging and breaking, eventually they wither away.”
Emperor Dusk’s eyes raised in recognition. “I…recognize that phrase. It was from someone I met a long time ago.” He bowed his head. “Very well then.” He turned to face one of the guards. “Weapons down. We’re leaving.”
The guards were silent for a moment. Then, they lowered their weapons. Rush and Brinnia did the same.
Lydia began to take a few steps toward the Emperor as the Crogs started to move. Suddenly, she felt something firm grab her arm. She turned to see Eva holding her wrist. Brown eyes filled with desperation.
“Lydia! What are you doing?” Eva’s voice crackled with each word. “You’re not really going with them are you? You know what’ll happen…”
Lydia covered the hand with her own. “I have to do this. It might give the slightest chance to obtain the one thing both races need. Peace.” She heard a low scoff but she ignored it.
Eva’s voice trembled. “But…You promised to help.”
Lydia hugged Eva. “I will. I have a few files on the ship. It might give you a few clues.” She broke the embrace and walked away. She bit her lip hard. Her eyes sting with tears.
Prince Scorpio and Leo soon joined her. The two black giants stood side by side. They briefly looked back at the group. They flinched at the sorrow that laid before them.
Lydia turned. She bit her lip. She waved as best as she could. Then, picked up Ishtar and continued walking.
Ishtar looked up at her. “Mistress…”
One of the Crog guards looked at Sagittarius. He pointed at him. “What about him?”
Emperor Dusk glanced back. His eyes landed on Sagittarius. The lower-ranked Crog soldier remained in his stance. Dusk was surprised at his shielding the little alien in his arms. “Leave him. He’s of no threat to us.”
The guards were surprised at this. However, they said nothing and went away.
Eva took only a step, but Aikka stopped her. His eyes filled with concern. “We must focus on what we need to do. Let’s find the colonies.”
—------------(In the Crog Ship)---------------------------------------------
Lydia wrapped her tails around herself. Her familiars hid in her fur. It felt cold and lonely on this ship. The hum of the ship barely broke the silence. Heated gazes from the guards barely did anything for her. Prince Scorpio was the only thing she had on her mind.
The moment she stepped inside, she was instantly taken to the prison. Prince Scorpio assured her that everything will be fine. General Leo looked unsure. Lydia gave them a brief glance before she followed them.
Lydia was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of something banging against the bars of her cell. She looked up to see one of the guards that had originally guarded her. To her shock, the slot slid away to allow the food to come in.
“Eat up, scum.” The guard turned back to his position.
Lydia stared at her food. She couldn’t explain it, but there was something in the smell that seemed off. The food itself was a strange mush. Pale gray and hard bits of…rock? She picked up the food and the spoon. At least they have the courtesy to do that.
Lydia took a bit. She tried not to shudder at the awful taste that came into her mouth. No wonder they’re so cranky! She thought. They really need to add some flavor! The fur on her tails puffed out as she swallowed. Her tongue stuck out.
Ishtar sniffed at it. She plugged her nose in disgust. “How do Crogs eat like this?!”
Symphony pecked it. Her eyes went wide. “Wait…There’s something in this-” A heavy thud broke her words. She turned to see Lydia writhing on the ground.
Lydia whimpered. Her tails curled around her body. “S-somebody…Help…” Her body felt like it was burning. Her throat strained, ready to vomit at any moment. Ears flat against her head.
—------------------------------(Further down the brig)-------------------------------------
“Father?” Prince Scorpio was hesitant to ask his father. He rarely asked for anything. However, this felt important. “Is it really necessary to lock her up?” He sat in his chair that was right next to his father. Its metal twisted to a wicked tree of thorns.
Emperor Dusk heaved a sigh. His demeanor changed from a cold ruler to a tired father. “Son…From the looks of her, she might be more dangerous than the rest of us.”
Prince Scorpio looked on helplessly. Blazing Stars sat on his head, sharing his master’s worried expression. “What do you mean? What are the Kitstellas?”
Emperor Dusk sighed once again. “You see-”
Crash! Screams vibrated through the halls of the ship. Guards cursed out.
General Leo, who still held Hemlock at the time, drew out his sword. His other arm cradled Hemlock. The female assassin moaned, eyes twitched.
Blazing Stars raised his head. Spikes on his back arched. “I…I can feel it…”
Prince Scorpio ears lifted. His hand instinctively went to his chest. For some reason…he felt ill. Like he wanted to vomit on the floor without a second thought. His body felt cold. He got up, eyes wide in panic. He turned to Emperor Dusk. “Father…What did you do?”
Emperor Dusk rose from his chair. Eyes filled with concern. “Son…It had to be done.”
The metal door before them exploded. Debris scattered on the floor, along with several guards. Ishtar stood on top of it. Her nostrils flared. Eyes burned with anger. Cradled on her tusks was a sickly Lydia. Wheezing filled the room.
Prince Scorpio’s heart stopped. His eyes wide. He got up from his spot and ran to her. “Lydia!” Arms stretched out. Carefully as he could, he lifted her off Ishtar’s tusks.
Blazing Stars leaped onto Ishtar’s head. “What happened?”
Ishtar bellowed. Her hoof slammed the floor of the ship. “Mistress was poisoned. Alon can’t cure her!”
Prince Scorpio whipped towards his father. “Father?! Why?” Tears leaked out of his eyes. He didn’t care if they were a weakness. He found himself holding Lydia tighter. His large frame trembled.
Emperor Dusk cautiously walked forward. “I want to see for myself. The moment I witnessed a creature appear from stone and your testimony, I wanted to see what kind of Kistella she was.” His eyes narrow. “Now I know for certain. She’s a Starpelt.”
“St-Starpelt?” Prince Scorpio’s ears lowered. He nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard coughing. He looked down to see Lydia looking up at him with tired eyes.
“Sc-Scorpio…” Her bright silver eyes dulled. A hint of vomit traced on her lip.
Prince Scorpio’s heart cracked at the sight of her. Tears streamed out of his eyes. “Lydia…I’m sorry…” He held her closer. “I’m so sorry!” He sobbed. He didn’t care who was seeing this, but his heart couldn’t handle this. “I didn’t know father would do this to you! I had no idea that he’d give you Blood Root.” Tears rained down on Lydia. “I want to protect. You…mean…” Sobs ruled once again.
General Leo lowered his weapon. Ears lowered slightly. Emperor Dusk said nothing, he only stared at his son. The guards that were originally on the ground now got up and stared in shock at what they were seeing.
Suddenly, Lydia began to glow an orange light. Fire consumed her but it didn’t burn her, Scorpio or Blazing Stars. Flames scattered around the throne room. Sparks threatening to destroy the console. A song, old as the stars, drifted in the air. It was to everyone’s shock that the song was coming from Lydia and the familiars. Once the song was done, the fire was gone and Lydia was now sleeping peacefully in Prince Scorpio’s arms.
—---------------------(Evening. Planet of the Crogs)----------------------------
Something smelled nice. It was a strange array of spices. Lydia moved her arm. A soft surface was beneath her. Her tails twitched and coiled. Ears twitched to silence. Her eyes were too heavy to move. She strained to listen. To her relief she heard her familiars sleeping nearby. Ishtar’s soft muttering being a strong indicator.
Lydia lifted her head. She could feel some of her strength come back. She rolled onto her stomach. Light came into her vision. It was dull but had a soft glow that made her feel welcome. Her eyes adjusted until shapes were finally made out. She got up slowly.
“Where…Where am I?” Her voice was a little raspy. Her tongue was dry as sandpaper. “How did I get here?”
A soft groan answered her question. She looked over to her right. She nearly jumped at what she just saw. Prince Scorpio lying on the floor. The Crog Prince wore a pair of red trousers with a brown shirt. He seemed to look so peaceful lying there.
Prince Scorpio twitched. He rolled onto his back. His eyes stared up at her. He gasped. “Lydia!”
Lydia backed away as he rose. He looked so fragile without his armor. His large hands warmed hers.
“Are you alright? How are you feeling?” Prince Scorpio’s eyes were filled with tears. They seemed more tired than normal.
Lydia tried moving her limbs more. Ears flicked up and down. She even had her tails move slowly. She never thought it’d be the day where she’s happy to feel her tails. “Yeah…I feel fine. Just…” Lydia let out a yawn, revealing a pair of sharp fangs. “Tired.” To her shock, she found herself in his warm arms.
“I’m glad,” he whispered.
Lydia looked up at him. Her cheeks flushed. “What happened?”
Prince Scorpio looked away, unable to look her in the eye. “You…don’t remember?”
Lydia thought for a moment. She touched her face, her fingers unable to acknowledge that she no longer needed them. “The last thing I remember…was the food.” Lydia flinched. She soon recalled the moment she took a bite of that strange slime. Her veins chilled to the point that she could no longer move. Ishtar’s screams. Alon’s frantically touching her. Prince Scorpio’s crying.
Lydia straightened up. Her tails erected and puffed out. She held Scorpio’s face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “What did you do?!”
Tears freely rolled down his eyes. “I’m sorry…” He sobbed. “I had no idea that they were going to do that to you! I swear. Father was the one who ordered the guards to poison your food.”
Lydia flinched. Eyes with horror. “Why in the galaxies would he do that?! Doesn’t he know what he’s doing?”
“Yes. Quite well in fact.”
Lydia and Scropio turned their heads to see Emperor Dusk looming in the doorway. He still had his Imperial clothing but his eyes were dull. Ears drooping slightly. He was trying to stand. Fatigue threatened to make his crossed arms drop.
Lydia felt fury made her belly spike. She flattened her ears and growled. All nine of her tails coiled around Dusk, startling her familiars awake. “That’s still stupid to do. Do you have any idea that how the Earth Coalition could suspect you for the disappearances of our fellow humans?”
Ishtar moaned. “What happened?” She blinked until she realized that Lydia was up. “Mistress!”
Alon, Blazing Stars and Symphony soon followed. They were still bleary-eyed. Some even mumbled about not getting enough sleep from all the noise.
Emperor Dusk glared at her. “Actually. We were this close to blaming humans for trying to poison us!”
Lydia's eyes widened. Her tails tighter around Scropio. She had completely forgotten that they were trying to figure out how the suits were poisoned. Lydia took a deep breath. Her fur smoothed out. “Ok…Just tell me what happened. However, I’d still want to know why you’d poison me.”
Emperor Dusk snatched a nearby chair. Even when it was just a regular chair, he sat upright like the ruler he is. “I’d best start with why you were poisoned in the first place. I had to make sure.”
“Make sure of what exactly? I know that I a bit strange looking-”
Emperor Dusk raised his hand. “No…I know an alien hybrid, but I wanted to see if you were an actual Starpelt.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. The word rang through her head. She slowly began to recall an old memory. Mercu holding her in his arms. Singing his favorite song he discovered on earth through her mother. His big grin. Tears slowly started to form.
Scorpio looked at his father confused. “A Starpelt? What in all of Krom is a Starpelt?”
Lydia took a breath. “Mercu once told me about them. The Kinesella are comprised of five different classifications based on their pelts.” She cleared her throat. “Firepelts are located in forests and manipulate fire. Sandpelts control the earth in their desert confines. Shadowpelts, the most dangerous, are said to be located in caves and control the darkness. Snowpelts control water and ice.” She shivered as she picked up one of her tails.
Scorpio raised a brow. “And Starpelts?”
Emperor Dusk's eyes held a troubled gaze. “All four elements and light. Far more powerful and rare amongst their own kind.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “I…heard of the story. Mercu…told me about it.” She looked Emperor Dusk squarely in the eye. “You’ve met him. Didn’t you?”
Emperor Dusk solemnly nodded. “Yes…By accident.”
—-------(Flashback, 20 years ago)-----------------------------------------------
A young Emperor Dusk was flying back home after a lousy negotiation. He leaned back against his seat as he was overseeing the Crogs managing the controls. His ears twitched with agitation. Eyes glowering. It wasn’t obvious but the other Crogs were terrified.
“Stupid fools! It’s bad enough my brother failed on his mission. Now I have to attend to my wife’s pregnancy!” He rubbed his face. Then, he looked at a holoprojection of his wife.
The Empress was sitting in a chair. The starless sky yawned out behind her. The glass floor gleamed against the torchlight. Her ears slightly drooped but she had a peaceful look on her face. The doctors said that she should be stable enough to allow the baby to come safely. However, she could suffer overtime.
He gripped his chair. His brother always made fun of him for picking someone as frail as Cynus. However, he found her to be the most beautiful and determined female he’s ever met. Even went as far as holding her ground against his parents. That was one of the many reasons why he fell in love with her. At least she didn’t die like Leo’s mother did. Emperor Dusk grimaced at the thought.
She was meant to have twins but the other died. Or…That’s what he was told. One of the nurses seemed to act strange on the day Leo was born. However, he never questioned it. As far as he and Kross were concerned, an additional heir was born. At least the baby will have company.
Emperor Dusk’s thoughts were broken by the shrill call of the alarm. He sat upright. Ears raised high. “What’s going on?!”
One of the Crogs held on to the counsel for dear life. “One of the engines has been hit!”
Emperor Dusk activated a few images. He couldn’t see anything besides stars. “By what?!”
Thud! Clang!
Emperor Dusk tumbled out of his seat. He growled as he got up. He peered through the nearest window. His heart almost stopped at what he was seeing. He couldn’t explain it, but the mere presence filled him with dread.
A large black body, barely visible amongst the stars. Red eyes glowered in the darkness. A mouth opened in a snarl. Red lights pulsed like lava. Smoky wisps that resembled tails twitched.
Emperor Dusk got on to his feet. He ran to the console. “Activate all canons! Now!”
The ship roared to life. Canons popped out of the sides. Light began to grow as they were charging. Glowing blades were aimed.
The creature took note of this. It stared for a moment. Then, it grinned menacingly. A harsh, deep laugh reverberated in the vacuum of space. Its head is thrown back to give a wicked howl. Without warning, it charged. It snatched one cannon in its jaws. In a single crunch, it broke in two. It was followed by another. One by one, they all started to be taken out.
“All weapons are destroyed!” One of the warriors shouted.
“Then, start looking for something!” Emperor Dusk shouted his commands at the top of his lungs as the alarms blared in all directions. I will not die! I’ll see to it that my child is born!
To his shock, something slithered amongst the flashing lights. Before he could react the darkness formed large spikes. His world soon became black.
Emperor Dusk groaned as he felt something metallic pressed against his back. He tried to get up, but he was met with resistance. What the… He pulled again but his arms screamed with pain. What’s the meaning of this? He opened his eyes to a dimly lit room. He could see strange symbols above him.
“What…” His voice rasped as he spoke. “What is the meaning of this?” He tried to move his arms again. As well as his legs. Suddenly, a large head loomed over him. Red eyes staring at him. Emperor Dusk glared back.
“Ah…You’re awake.” The creature spoke in a raspy voice. Something about this tinge of glee coming off of him was…unnerving. Even the nine furry tails slithering around Emperor Dusk’s body gave him a sense of unease.
Emperor Dusk growled. Ears twitched. He wiggled and squirmed. Then, a jolt of electricity shot through his body. “Unhand me at once! You are making a grave mistake. I am Dusk. Emperor of the Crogs! Son of-” His words were cut as something stuck into his side. He cried out in shock. “What did you…Wha…Did you?” The world swam around him.
“Enough chatter…” The voice began to distort. “You’re worse than the rest of them…Let’s…” Everything else went silent.
Sometime later, Emperor Dusk groaned. His limbs ached. His whole body screamed. He tried to lift a limb. There was no binding this time. However, lifting it felt like fire. He pushed those feelings aside. I’m a Crog! We bear with the pain!
Emperor Dusk growled as he lifted himself up. The spikes of pain came rapidly. His vision blurred for a little while longer. He blinked until his vision could finally focus.
He soon realized that he was in some sort of cell. Smells of rot lingered in the air. In the darkness, he made out a cell with iron bars locked into place. It reminded him of the dungeons back home. However, he’s not too thrilled at the idea of being part of it.
“If I ever get a hold of my captor and find my weakling crew, I’ll beat the leaving daylights out of them.” Emperor Dusk grunted as he got up on his feet. The pain wasn’t as bad as earlier, but still bothered him. He took a few steps to the bars until he noticed a familiar set of eyes staring at him. He nearly tumbled back in shock but made sure he held his composure.
Now that he was upright, he could see that this mysterious creature was about as big as he is. Nine large tails trailed behind him. He wore what looked like a lab coat with normal legging. Small glasses sat on the bridge of his snout. He held a sickening grin on his face. Traces of red markings only made the creature more sinister. “My…” The creature said in a whiny voice. “Aren’t we resilient? More resilient than your cohorts.”
Emperor Dusk glared. “Where am I? What have you done to me?”
The creature shrugged. “Oh just cut you in a few places and had some of my poisons put in your systems. They seem to do some damage but I guess you’ll do.”
Something about those words made Emperor Dusk feel uneasy. Almost to the point where his legs threaten to go beneath him. He marched over to the bars, hiding his fatigue. He gripped the bars. They gave a burning sensation. He didn’t bother to move.
“You’ll pay dearly for that.” His mouth felt dry as Emperor Dusk spoke. He hoped that the creature didn’t know his thirst. “Once I get out of here, I’ll make you regret messing with the Crogs. No one lives-” His speech was cut short as he was shoved further back into the cell hard.
The creature tsked. The red around him flared in annoyance. “Please stop. You’re just embarrassing yourself.” His tails flared out, all arched as spikes ready to fire. “Your race is nothing but a disease. You’d think that anyone would care if you were gone? To them, it’d be a great opportunity for power, and over time you’ll be nothing but dust.”
Emperor Dusk growled. How dare this creature insult his empire! Once his strength recovers he’ll grind that fool’s bone to dust! He adjusted himself on the wall. His head perked up as the cell doors opened. He found the black tails wrapped around his body, squeezing the sheer daylight out of him. The pain grew intense to the point where he cried out in pain. His face was now inches from the stranger.
“Now that you’re awake,” the stranger said. His voice held a giddiness that made Emperor Dusk want to vanish in a puff of smoke. “We can continue the fun.”
Emperor Dusk tried to thrash about. He cursed as he was carried away. Smells of death filled his lungs. He tried his best not to retch at it. Sights of blood splattered across the walls. His ears could pick up mutters of madness. His spine started to take on chills.
The stranger soon arrived at a massive metal door. It had the carving of strange, giant creatures with red markings that were similar to his. He bit a part of his hand. Blood leaked out of his mouth. He let out undistinguished words as he smeared it on the door. Once it was done, it creaked to life. It parted away to reveal a lush jungle before them.
Before long, Emperor Dusk was flung onto the ground. He cried out in pain. He clutched himself tightly before he was able to get up. He glared at the creature. Thankfully, there was moonlight so it allowed some adjustment. To his confusion, it got down on all fours. The cloth was gone, strewn on the ground. Dusk got up from his spot. “What in Kromm are you doing?”
“Testing.” The creature’s voice had changed. It took on a more menacing tone. Eyes narrowed. Tails twitched. A grin spread across his face, wider than ever before.
Emperor Dusk tried to hold his ground. Crogs never run from a fight. He raised his fists. To his own horror, they were shaking. His heart was pounding harder. He put a foot forward. Eyes narrowed. He took on the first move. He punched with all his might, but a tail stopped him. It coiled around his arm and tightened. A sickening crack resounded. He cried out. He punched with his other arm with the same result.
The creature sighed. “How typical…Can you pull off anything more clever?”
Emperor Dusk grimaced. He backed away slowly. Curses! I’ve never encountered a race with that amount of power. He’s obviously not bluffing. He looked around. I have no choice…I’m going to have to lure him into a small space to surprise him. With that, he began to run.
His legs felt like lead, but the urgency of running was too much. The mere idea that he was facing an opponent that can react this quickly could mean danger for him. Teal, blue and green swirled around him as he ran faster. Twigs snapped. Branches flung at his face. He stumbled but he didn’t dare look back. He reached for a small area where a large stone face stood before him.
Emperor Dusk ducked into a nearby bush. He grunted upon impact and hoped that the monster didn’t hear him. He continued to reach his spot. Then, he slowly got up as thundering paws reached the spot where he last stood. He peek through the brush. The creature looked massive from this angle. His heart was beating in his chest as it began to sniff.
“Where arrrre you?” The creature asked. He still had that wide-tooth smile. It looked like it could swallow him whole. He looked left and looked right. No response. “Hmm…Impressive. I’m sure you’re not too far. Probably invisible, I should think.”
Emperor Dusk got up slowly. His vision blurred for a moment. Then, he shook himself. All right, he thought. Now’s the time to- He nearly did a double take upon seeing that his enemy disappeared. “Where did he go?”
“Found you.”
Emperor Dusk felt a heavy paw slam him to the ground. Before he could even groan, he found teeth sinking into his shoulder. He cried out, but he found himself coughing violently. Blood settled on his tongue. He was tossed from one side to the next. His world spun and air escaped him as his back hit the stone face from earlier.
“N-no…” Emperor Dusk’s voice began to falter. “It-It can’t end…like this…” At the corner of his eye, he started to see purple and red webbing crawling up his left arm. Horror washed away any ounce of pride that he had left at that point.
“Oh rats,” The creature said. “Guess the poison still only works on fear alone.” He gave a menacing grin. “Guess I’ll have to try harder!” Teeth flashed as he lunged at him.
Emperor Dusk began to witness things in slow motion. A strange shape appeared before him. A flash of silver beamed in the moonlight. Two fox-like monsters staring each other down. Each one came at each other blow for blow. He found himself enchanted by these strange creatures and their customs. Their fight almost had a sense of grace, elegance and power that’s older than any Crog or Nourasian.
Before long the fight was over. A silver beast was standing over him. Eyes filled with concern. It opened its mouth and seemed to be talking. Whatever was being said was gargled away as Emperor Dusk once again sank back into sleep.
—------------------(End of Flashback 1)--------------------------------
Lydia and Scorpio stared in amazement. Lydia was the first to speak. “I can’t believe that you were in that kind of pain and yet was able to get away.”
Emperor Dusk looked down at the floor. “To say I was fortunate would be an understatement. It wasn’t until I returned to the lab that I found out what happened to my men. To put it simply, they were torn apart and became scraps for rats.”
Lydia fought off the urge to vomit. Again. Her hands wrapped around Scorpio’s arm as if to prevent her strength from failing. She had to listen. “What happened next?”
—-------------------------(Flashback 2)-------------------------------------------------------
Emperor Dusk groaned. His stomach felt like Kramm himself tied it in knots. Chills ran through his body. He tried to open his eyes but it was pure agony. All he could do was ride through it until he’s able to sleep again. That happened several times and he wasn’t able to tell how many days and nights he’s been like this.
One day he was able to open his eyes. They were staring up at the silver eyes of a silver fox alien. It was about as big as he is. Nine tails laid flat on the floor. A relieved smile was on its face. “Good, you're awake.” It spoke in a cheerful sing-song voice. No, it was a he.
“Uuugh…Bleiun…” Emperor Dusk wanted to unleash his long list of questions, but his mind was still fuzzy. On top of that- “Blegh!” He began heaving.
The silver fox quickly snatched him up and put him on what seemed to be another bed. Emperor Dusk could only watch as he quickly cleaned up the mess, much to his own embarrassment. Then, a cool cloth sat on his head. It did relieve some of the chills he had earlier.
The silver fox sighed. “That ought to do it.”His pale blue tunic was adjusted as well as his dark grey pants. He turned to Emperor Dusk. “Don’t force yourself to talk. Your body is still recovering from a mixture of Shade crystals and Stone Astrid.” He grabbed a nearby chair.
Emperor Dusk laid there for a moment. Taking in the scene before him. It was a modest room. A wooden chest in the far left of the corner. A tapestry of a fox dancing with a stick-like figure. The ruined bed was on the right by a nearby window. It was stripped of sheets. Plain white curtains waved in the breeze.
“Wh-where am I?” Emperor Dusk found himself more tired after just saying that sentence. His eyes threatened to close.
“Best if I introduce myself first. Name’s Mercu.” Mercu spread out his arms to the space around him. “This is my home. My room technically speaking.” His tails slithered out the window. Rustling was heard nearby. He leaned thoughtfully. “You’ve been talking in your sleep. Most I didn’t make out. You were like this for about a week.”
Emperor Dusk’s eyes raised in shock. A week?! I’ve been out that long?
“You’ve mentioned ‘Cassiopeia’ several times.” Mercu’s eyes were thoughtful. “Baby popped up a few times. Just nod or shake your head with the questions, ok?”
Emperor Dusk mentally groaned. It would be annoying to act like an obedient servant but if it was the only way to communicate without passing out again, he would just have to deal with it. Along with any hope of leaving this strange planet he’s on. He nodded.
“Is she your wife?”
Emperor Dusk glared hard at Mercu. He tried to cross his arms but they stung. He simply growled.
Mercu raised his arms. “I’m not going to hurt her if that’s what you’re worried about. I just want to get to know you.”
Emperor Dusk stared at him in pure shock. Is he serious? A low-class alien wants to talk to the likes of me? He sighed. Then nodded again.
“Ok. I’m sure that she’s really worried about you.” Mercu gave a warm smile. “What about the baby? Is that your child? Are they going to be born soon?”
Emperor Dusk nodded again. He didn’t know why but it seemed to calm him down a bit. He began to think of the warmth of his wife. The crown of rubies nestled on her head. Then, he continued to listen to Mercu.
Time began to tick by. Most of the questions Mercu asked were simple yes or no. He was even able to create a strange mixture from the herbs that he managed to grab outside. Then, he began to heat the bowl with his own claws. He sniffed the mixture until he was satisfied with the results.
“There. That should do the trick.” Mercu used three of his tails to lift Emperor Dusk into an upright position. He brought it over to his lips. “Drink this but slowly. It’s a bit hot and…I’m not sure how bitter it might be for you.”
Emperor Dusk rolled his eyes. Great…I’m to be talked down to like a child. I’ve handled worse things. Including this poison how bad- The moment he had it enter his mouth he wanted to spit it out. It made its way down his throat. A strong bitterness made his tongue curl. By Kramm! He wasn’t joking!
Before he even realized it, he raised his arms high. He almost punched Mercu right in the face. His arm was caught by a tail. It didn’t hurt but Emperor Dusk soon realized that he was heavily bandaged. He began to lift one of his legs. To his relief, it responded to his command. He lifted the other one. Thank Kramm, I can move!
Mercu laughed. “Wow. I’ve never met anyone have that quick of a reaction to an herbal medicine. You’re really hardy, aren’t you?”
Emperor Dusk gave an indignant look. “Hmph! Are you lot really that backwards? We Crogs can handle anything. One day we’ll rule over all that oppose us.”
Mercu raised a brow. “Huh…A Crog…So that’s what your kind are called? I thought it would somewhere along the lines of a Shadow Walker.”
Emperor Dusk gave a weird look. “A what? No. If anything, it’s about time I told you who I am.” He straightened his back, his limbs free of the tails. “I’m Dusk. Emperor of the Crog Imperium. I’ll take down anyone who dares defy us and create a new world order.”
Mercu lowered his ears. “Sounds a bit harsh. Sounds like something the creators dealt with years ago.” He got up from his chair and walked over to the door. “Come on. I’ll take you to a bath.”
Emperor Dusk got onto his fit. The room spun for a bit. “How dare you?! Don’t think that by saving me, you would be-”
“I’m not looking down on you.” Mercu turned to face him. “You just reek. It might help make you feel better. In more ways than one.”
Emperor Dusk growled in annoyance. His ears pinned to his head. Then, he began to notice something. An odor. He sniffed for a while. When he lifted his arm, he wanted to gag. By Kramm! I do reek! I smell like sludge with death. He sighed and followed Mercu down the stairs.
His feet wobbled a bit with each step. He had to hold onto the railing. It was a big mistake. It broke under his strong hands. He tried his best to hide his embarrassment as Mercu turned to him.
“Sorry about my house. I guess I should really make it more accustomed to outsiders.” Mercu reached the bottom of the steps. He opened a nearby door. “I’ve already got some herbs and oils ready so feel free to use those.”
Emperor Dusk began to see a better view of the foyer once he was done reaching the stairs. It was surprisingly nice for a back-water world. A crystal chandelier hung above the room, small rainbows dotting it around. Several potted plants stood against the wall. He could see a small entryway into the kitchen.
He went into the bathroom, undressed and allowed himself to bathe. To his surprise, the water was very warm. The smell of the herbs eased the strain that was on his body. I wish I could take these to my wife. He shook himself. Don’t be foolish! This world needs to be liberated of its spoils. Something of the Emperium is worthy of.
—----------(Present)-------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia gave a small smile. “He’s always been generous…” She found herself stroking Istar’s fur. “He was like that with me as well.”
Emperor Dusk’s eyes soften for a moment. His ears lowered. “Yes. While I did find it to be of a great advantage for me, I…found myself being more sane with his company. It took a while of planning to get back home.”
“Because you had no ship?” Alon, who’d been quiet throughout the story, raised his head in inquiry.
“That…” Emperor Dusk paused. Then, found himself looking away.
Lydia leaned forward. “You were worried about the Shadowpelt Kitstella would come after you and the Emperium.”
Emperor Dusk’s ears pinned back. “Yes.” He leaned forward. “However, I only told Cassiopiea about this. If word got out, my rule would have a coup.”
“That’s…a bit understandable.” Lydia lowered her ears. She hated the idea of an all-out war. Especially when alien races attack each other. “Now you know what I am…What are you planning to do?”
“For now…Keep you here and see what you know about the poison and your mission.”
Lydia froze at this. She didn’t want to betray her team. However, there may be a way to end the long conflict between Earth and the Crogs. It could also mean that she’s able to stay with Scorpio and learn about the culture in general. Even if most of it is cruel.
“Father…” Prince Scorpio said. “Why not give her a tour of the kingdom? I…wish to let her see some of our culture. She’s able to read our writing.”
Emperor Dusk stared at her. “Do you now?”
Lydia blushed. “Only a fairy tale…I only translated a few pages from other books but there were some words that were hard to make out.” She recited the words in Crog native language. Her voice squeaked at a few phrases.
Emperor Dusk chuckled. “Not bad. Aside from the squeaking, fragile nature and tiny stature, you could make a decent Crog.”
Lydia sighed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. A knob turned and a beautiful female Crog entered the doorway. She had rubies nestled on top of her head along with a gold chain. She was leaner then Emperor Dusk. In her arms was a little Crog wrapped in clothing.
Prince Scorpio straightened himself. He almost knocked Lydia over upon doing so. “Mother! You’re up early.”
The Empress gave an annoyed look. “Well after the fuss you all caused, I barely had any sleep at all.” She walked over to Lydia. With two fingers, she cupped Lydia’s chin. “So, this is the little creature that Scorpio fawned over.”
Prince Scorpio’s ears drooped. He rubbed the back of his neck. His gaze landed on a blushing Lydia.
Lydia gulped. “Nice to meet you, you’re highness. I’m Lydia.” She turned her attention to the Crog baby. Her tails wagged slightly. “Oh! Who’s this little baby?”
Empress Cassiopeia pulled her baby closer to her. “Perhaps you should be more concerned with being presentable among the horde. You’re…appearance might underwhelm them.”
Lydia soured her expression. This is silly, she thought. It’s just one little question. Then a realization hit her. “Wait, are you saying?” All around her, the familiars became more attentive.
Prince Scorpio nodded. “Lydia of the Earth Coalition. Welcome to the Crog Emperium home planet.”